My Dearest Brooks, It was 365 days ago that your father and I arrived at the hospital knowing that we would soon be meeting you. The 8 months and 2 weeks prior were more than I ever thought I could survive. It was the longest battle and I spent most of it feeling as if […]

This is a few more wrinkles and smile lines. This is a few age spots and a body changed from pregnancy and five births. This is becoming comfortable in your own skin. This is being grateful for lessons learned in what you have walked through and weathered thus far. This is embracing your individuality. This […]

It’s a strange thing, isn’t it? To watch your children grow into individuals. Don’t get me wrong, they always have been individuals, but to really be at a place where you have to give them the room and space to be just that. For so long it’s been what we as their parents think is […]

My dearest Blake, We have had ten sweet years together, darling. Ten years filled with wonderful memories, moments that have made us giggle so hard that our sides hurt as well as some rough patches. I have stories upon stories of moments that you have struggled through when it comes to putting yourself out there. […]

My dearest Blair,  The other day you turned to me and said, “Mom… can you believe I am going to be in Kindergarten this year? Will you take care of Brooks for me while I am gone every day?” Oh, my darling. If you only knew how much I cannot believe those very words. And […]

Our favorite tunes from our family playlist quietly filled the evening air as we sat and watched the sun set on the desert. We talked about going to the movies with friends, how many times a day is just the right amount for the pool, the road trips we have been wanting to take and […]

My dearest Tanner,  Today came and went more quickly than I would have liked. But then again, so have the last twelve years.  It’s kind of a big year, you know? Turning twelve means the start of junior high this next school year. It means your last year before the official teenage stage. And you […]

The last time I shared a postpartum update was three months ago. And as it always is, time is flying by. We have our good days and we have our bad days. I have days where I am up and where I am down and through it all I am simply just trying to have […]

When you are expecting Baby, especially for the first time ever, I think it’s easy to fall trap to feeling like you need ‘all the things’. Right? Have you or are you feeling it? There are so many things on the market and if you do any bit of web surfing, you can quickly grow […]

We are straight shooters in our home. Not in an overly intense or harsh way, but our policy is to be open, honest and we tell it like it is. We don’t read the books and we don’t listen to the latest articles from childhood psychologists, but from the beginning of our parenting journey, Jarett […]

My Dearest Tanner,  For the last two years you have put one thing on your Christmas list. You have begged and pleaded for another sibling. Whenever I would ask you why your answer was always, “Because we are supposed to have more”. And while Dad and I continued to tell you it wasn’t going to happen, […]

My Dearest Tanner, You and I are both pretty good at telling it how it is. It’s one of the characteristics I love about you. While it may put me in some awkward positions now and again, I know it will serve you well in the future. Truth? Your birthday wasn’t the greatest. In fact, […]