Happy Birthday Colt

Colt is turning 1 this week and I still can't wrap my head around the fact that it's already been a year since he was born. Even though he is only 1, God has used Colt in so many ways to grow me physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.

As I consider all the changes I've seen Colt make this year it has dawned on me how much I've changed. It's as if motherhood has changed who I am as a person and I never realized the depth of that change. From my tiny clutch purse to my huge diaper bag, from taking an hour to get ready to 15 minutes of prep time while Colt plays with my toes; everything about my life has changed.

I think back to before Colt was born, I was not like most pregnant women. I dreaded the change that a baby would bring. I shuddered to think about giving up "me" time and always focusing on another person. I have heard the many cliches and isms below before. But, unexpectedly, through Colt's growth, surgery and changes they have become my lessons this year.

- I have learned that I am a much stronger woman than I thought I was.
- I have learned that no matter how sick or tired I am, when I hear his cry I have the strength to take care of him.
- I've learned that being a good mother makes me a better wife and friend.
- I've learned how much it hurts to correct your child, especially when they cry at you.
- I've learned I can control my temper because little eyes and ears are watching (... well, I am still working on this one.)
- I've learned how important it is to have other people in your life to share experiences with.
- I've learned how little sleep I truly need.
- I've learned the true meaning of sacrifice.
- I've learned that when you love someone you don't consider the things you give up as sacrifices because your love seems greater than what you are giving up.
- I've learned how amazing God is.
- I've learned how much I need God to be a good mom and wife.
- I've learned how important a strong marriage is to your child
- I've learned I would do anything to protect my child.

The greatest of all the things I've learned in the past year is that no matter what has happened in my day, coming home and hearing "mama" is in fact the best sound in the world.

Colt is turning 1 and after looking back at all I have learned in the last year, I can't wait to see what the next year holds! HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLT!

Peek-A-Boo

Back in November Colt had surgery to correct a cranial deformity that he was present at birth. Titled craniosynostisis, it took two surgeries and two weeks in the hospital. During each surgery they had to go in, remove portions of his skull and reshape an area of his skull. It was a dangerous process for him and difficult for us, as parents, to watch him go through so much at such a young age.

The second surgery was worse than the first because they had to operate on the front of his skull. This left his swelling so bad that his eyes were swollen shut, leaving him temporarily blind. Being a nine month old Colt was not talking and barely knew sign language. He was so good about not getting too fussy when he couldn't communicate what he wanted with us. But, as all babies do, he did want to play outside of the hospital bed. He couldn't get out of the bed because he was hooked up to too many wires and IV's. So, to accommodate his desire to play he learned how to play peek-a-boo. Even though he couldn't see he would grab anything around him to hold over his face. However, because he couldn't see he would grab wires or a stuffed animal to "cover himself" and play. It was so adorable and we loved that he learned to communicate with us doing what he could to play.

We learned so much through our time in the hospital but nothing was as special as watching our little boy play peek-a boo ... because it was at that moment that we knew he was going to be ok!

"Jo-Jo"

We are blessed to have several couples that we can hang out with on a regular basis that also have kids. They both have girls, Addy and Savvy, so Colt is the only boy in the mix. But that's ok by him ... he can be quit the flirt.

Last night we all had a wedding to go to so the kids came over to our house so that they could play together and we could share a sitter. Addy and Savvy both have a stuffed animal that they love. It is a small, used-to-be-fluffy pet dog. Addy started it off by naming her little puppy "Jo-Jo". Then, when Savvy turned 1 Addy gave her a "Jo-Jo" of her own. The girls take their "Jo-Jo" dogs everywhere and even though they are the same stuffed animal, they know which is which.

The kids were all in bed last night when we got back from the wedding so we didn't get to talk to Colt after his little play date. This morning we were downstairs playing with Colt and he started asking for "Jo-Jo". We thought it was cute and dismissed it. But he kept saying "Jo-Jo, Jo-Jo, JO-JO"! He got so worked up, as only Colt can, so I handed him a giraffe stuffed animal that Addy gave him when he was born. He got so excited that he dropped to the ground and clapped for me. For the rest of the afternoon he would ask for "Jo-Jo", I would hand him the giraffe and he would clap for my understanding.

It is so cute to see him growing up and catching on to what items are called. It is hard to think that my baby is now a little boy but I would not trade the process for anything.

31 Flavors of Holly

I found these questions on a friend’s blog and thought it would be fun to answer them myself. You are supposed to have a one word answer for each. I will seriously attempt to answer each one with one word, but some might be answered with a short phrase.

1. Where is your cell phone? In my back pocket

2. Where is your significant other? Beside me on the couch

3. Your hair color? Changes almost weekly

4. Your mother? Inspiring

5. Your father? Admirable

6. Your favorite thing? Michael and Colt

7. Your dream last night? I dreamed I was on a beach, singing to the ocean

8. Your goal? To relax with my family

9. The room you are in? Brown

10. Your hobby? I am working on making blogging a hobby ... until then, shopping will sufice

11. Your fear? Colt being kidnapped

12. Where do you want be in six years? I want to have 2 more additions to the Wallace family ... be it dog or child

13. Where were you last night? Home

14. What you are not? Decorator

15. One of your wish list items? Maid

16. Where you grew up? North Carolina

17. The last thing you did? Wrote "Thank You" notes

18. What you are wearing? Grey pants, yellow shirt with brown and yellow tunic over top

19. Your TV? The Unit and OTH

20. Your pet? Callie

21. Your computer? Laptop

22. Your mood? Tired ... but hopeful

23. Missing someone? Julie

24. Your car? Nissan Murano

25. Something you are not wearing? A scarf

26. Favorite story? Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

27. Your Summer? Camp

28. Love someone? MANY!

29. Your favorite color? Black to wear, red and carolina blue to see

30. When was the last time you laughed? Colt's little dance

31. Last time you cried? Today during staff meeting

Live. Laugh. Love.

I am finally joining the "blogging train"! Although I have been reading your blogs for months I am just now beginning my own. After being inspired by you, I am going to start posting the snippets of my life: my living, laughing, loving (and sometimes complaining)! When Michael and I got married we made this quote our family motto. Since that time we have tried to live life to the fullest, laugh at things that don't matter and love others with all we have. That has lead me to realize that all of life falls into these three categories. For these reasons I feel compelled to write this blog. My goal is that by reading this blog others will be able to look at their own life to see laughter and love.