Patience.

"I can't wait to go out with him."

"I can't wait to be his girlfriend."

"I can't wait to be engaged!"

"I can't wait to be his wife."

"I can't wait to make a home with him."

"I can't wait to have children with him."

Now what?

This probably looks really bad, but I've recently discovered that my "can't waits" don't just happen anymore. I have to MAKE them happen. With our relationship, we have had so much thrown at us. We are just now learning how to be married to each other. When we were married, we were also preparing to be parents. We kind of skipped over the husband/wife title and went straight into being mom and dad. I want to create "can't wait" moments with him. I want everyday to carry something new. Is it crazy to want excitement? Life as a mother and wife probably doesn't seem very exciting, but it really is. For me, it's the little things. The laughter, the smiles, the way that the light shines in through our bedroom window in the afternoons. I guess all I want is to appreciate those little moments. I know that they are not going to last forever.

Color.

Aren't these beautiful?! 

I found these garlands while browsing through OhDeeDoh. They come from the Etsy shop This Neck of The Woods. 3-D screenprinted garlands! What an awesome idea! I think that we may have to purchase one of these for Bean's new bedroom...

Moment.

"You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel." -Pau Casals

Moods.

I feel like all my life has been lately has been looking at paint colors, window treatments and furniture. We officially get our keys next week (oh my gosh) and I can't wait! On the flip side, the work begins. Packing, painting, buying furniture...there is so much to do.

I found this website Olioboard and I created these amazing moodboards for the new place. I think they turned out really well! Olioboard has been such a great tool! I love this website because it pulls furniture and accents from many know stores. For instance, the bedding pictured in the bedroom board is the bedding that we already own! The couch in the living room board is exactly like the one that we have already. This made putting these together incredibly simple because I was able to base it off our current pieces. How great!

(Living Room)

(Dining Room)

(Bedroom)

I still need to create one for the office/playroom but I have NO idea what I am thinking for that room. It's going to be great either way!

Wish us luck, pictures of the interior of the house coming soon!

Double Digits.

I love that you want more independence.
I love that on Saturday mornings you wake us up by slapping us in the faces.
I love that you say both Mama and Daddy. Papa sometimes, but only when you feel like it.
I love that you already have a love for books.
I love watching you develop your senses. You are incredibly curious.
I love how red your hair is getting.
I love that you give me kisses when I ask for them.

You are the best daughter and I am thankful everyday for you.


Violet, you are ten months old today. Every day you are doing something new, and I can't help but be absolutely amazed at the little person that you have become. I see more and more of your personality everyday and I cannot wait to see who you are going to grow to be.

I am not entirely sure how people can leave places that they have lived in for a long time.

While Josh and I were on a search for our new home, I was told not to be "emotional" about the process. I immediately thought differently. I think about the past two places that we have lived in. The first place that Josh and I lived he proposed to me in, spent my pregnancy in and brought our baby girl home to. I knew that we would outgrow that tiny little apartment, and was forced to leave my emotions at the door. We moved into our current place in December of last year. I was thrilled to be able to decorate for Christmas and have a place for our threesome to celebrate the holidays. Christmas and New Year's came and went. Our baby grew into a tiny person, full of life and personality.

Now it is time to pick up and leave to a more permanent place. A place where we can create memories for a long time. I needed to find a home that I could see my family in. When I walked into this house, I could see Violet running around the house, playing in her bedroom and wrestling with Josh in the backyard. I knew that it was right when I could feel it. I needed to be emotional about this decision.

It's the feeling of being settled that is unfamiliar to me. I have lived a life of go, go, go and now it's time to stay. I can't wait to have the feeling of home, a feeling that I don't think that I have ever felt before.

Papa.

(Isn't this adorable?)

(Gosh, I love that smile.)

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life. While preparing for Father's Day this week, I got a chance to reminisce about the last almost 10 months as a family of three. My husband Josh could not be more of a stand up man. Our history has been more accelerated than most, and he has handled it with such responsibility. I am so thankful for the extremely hard work that he puts in for this family. I don't say it enough, but I am so appreciative of him. He loves Violet SO much and you can see on his face at all times. He is a wonderful father and I can't wait to celebrate him this weekend!

Home Again...

All I can think about lately is how much work needs to be done in the next 4 weeks or so. I HATE moving, so this should be really interesting considering we just moved into this house 6 months ago. There is furniture to buy, walls to paint, and everything to pack. We are slightly downsizing, so organization is key. On top of that, we are losing a garage. I won't have anywhere to hide my crap anymore!

I made a slight detour yesterday while running errands with Bean and we just happened to drive by our new house!

We are making to-do lists and slowly checking off items one by one. I have so many ideas for this house, I don't know where to start! What color to paint Violet's room? New art for the kitchen? Chandeliers or ceiling fans? It sounds easy, but it's our home. OURS. We can do whatever we want! (I think that the idea of complete and utter freedom has gone to my head.) We have been working towards this moment for so long, and we have so much to do to prepare!

You Gotta Have Friends.

I have realized ever since becoming a Mom that relationships, sadly enough, do not stay the same.

I was the first in my group of friends to be engaged, married and have a baby. I had to learn the hard way that no matter how much I might have tried to hang on to those relationships, they were forever changed. On the outside, I was probably somewhat unapproachable. For some time I wondered why all of these changes were taking place. I suppose that I didn't expect such a drastic change. I was determined to stay the same, but motherhood had changed me. This I could not ignore.

I have spent the last 9 months cherishing the friendships that have stayed the course. It sounds corny, but quality not quantity has meant a great deal to me. I have an amazing group of women and men in my life right now. I know that they are the ones that are supposed to be in my life. They want to be a part of my life.

Linden Rain Wallace.

This is my new friend Linden. Her parents, friend (me) and family welcomed her to the world June 7th at 9:19 a.m. She weighed a perfect 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 19 inches long. She is BEAUTIFUL.

On the morning of the 6th, Jared (Shanda's husband) called me at 5:50 a.m. He sounded so incredibly excited and said that today was the day! I had been waiting so long for this. A couple of months before, Shanda honored me by asking me to be a part of her home birth. It was a yes, of course. I felt that it was the greatest gift a friend could have given to me. She told me today that she had wanted me to be there and knew that since very early in her pregnancy. I loved that! At around 4:30 or 5 in the afternoon I went over to the house. Jared and Shanda were doing so well together as expected. Shanda was in the tub making labor look incredibly easy. We spent some time talking and when the contractions came, she locked in with Jared and worked through it. Their connection was so incredibly strong, so intimate that it brought me to tears many times throughout labor. I walked around with them, taking some pictures, asking them how they felt. This baby was coming! When he/she was coming, we didn't know.

Sara, one of the midwives came over around 8:30 or 9 that night. She told us that she was there to stay. Shanda, Jared and Sara stayed in the bedroom for a long time. Her Dad, Stepmom, Mom and I were left to wait for any news or change. It was hard to sleep or do much of anything. With every moan from a contraction, we all became distracted. They told us that she was at 4 cm, and then 8. You could tell by the noise that Shanda was making progress was being made.

At 4:30 a.m. Shanda was at 10 cm and she told the midwives that she wanted to start pushing. We walked in and there she was, resting in the tub. We were at 24 hours at this point, and I knew that the work was just beginning. She never complained, never said that she didn't want to do it anymore, she was INCREDIBLE. So strong. Jared was amazing. He worked with Shanda so well. Every time something got really tough for her, she opened her eyes and looked right into his. The locked into each other. They were such a team and benefited greatly from each other. Capturing photos of all of this was amazing for me. I loved taking photos and videos that she and him would watch and see/remember this amazing experience. I was so proud of her, my warrior friend...

Pushing wasn't really working for Shanda in the tub, and the hour afterward outside of the tub wasn't working either. Shanda knew that something needed to change. Everyone except the midwives and Jared were asked to leave for a bit. Shanda was repositioned and with support, after an hour or so, started to crown. The family and myself was asked back in. I couldn't believe what I was looking at. With every push she progressed more and more. Shanda looked straight in the mirror the entire time, watching what she was doing. Jared held his hands out all the while. I think that he was afraid she was just going to pop right out. He was so ready for her! All of a sudden her head came out, and then the rest of her came flying out! Shanda's mom yelled, "It's a girl!" We all were amazed! We finally could call her a girl! We all were jumping up and down crying our eyes out. I asked Jared amongst the tears what her name was and he announced that it was Linden Rain Wallace. She was perfect and a gift from God. So loved in that moment.

In that 3o+ hours that they were working together, they were preparing to be parents. With every contraction, Linden was just a little bit closer. The journey was so long and so hard, but she was completely worth it. I am so proud of my friends and can't believe that I get to be a part of her life!

Yeah!

Short post today:

We started escrow on our potential new home!

Woo!