Journey to the Hoosier State and back

Well log another successful and fun trip back to Indiana for the Hamilton's - family of three. We left on Thursday mid day headed to Indianapolis, from there it was another 2 hour drive North to Decatur. Our trip was spent visiting with family, friends and a few animals  (1 snapping turtle, a possible bob cat , 1 stray cat, 2 ducks with only 1 leg each and 1 bass- there are stories behind each one, just ask!) . Most of the time we were out by the pool soaking in the great mid west rays, swimming in the pool or the pond and kicking back with your beverage of choice- mine was Bud Light Lime! At night we made bon fires, hung out with friends, made smores and enjoyed the cool breezes that Texas does not have right now!

Adrian of course was the center of attention and I believe she enjoyed every minute of it! So much so that every night she was out by 8 pm and slept for 9 to 9.5 hours. She is a very lucky girl to have so many people that love her and that will be witnesses to her life.

On Monday the 4th we made our way back to Indianapolis where our flight was over an hour delayed but Adrian still did an amazing job and hung in there like a champ- I also like to think that Nick and I also were champs and perhaps even deserve a medal because flying with a child is not the easiest of tasks!  We are already looking forward to next trip in September!

She was not popular at all. All her cousins wanted to play!

Just arrived!

She loved seeing all her cousins!

Taking a ride with grandpa and Madison on the golf cart. Grandpas youngest grand babies.

Grandma Hammond came to visist and see Adrian!

Noah could always get her to sleep. She loved napping here after a long afternoon of playing.

Adrians favorite seat in the house- dads shoulders!

Aunt Krista always makes her laugh!

Adrians dinner time was fun to watch!

Loved being in the pool of course; even when it was 10 degrees lower than our pool at home. She loves the water.

Daddy daughter pool time!

4th of July dress!

Swimming and fishing in the pond.

Jack caught a bass!

He has to show it off- he kept saying"with no bait!"

About to head back home- we were all sad.

First time sitting in a restaurant high chair at the airport. She did a great job!

Video of Adrian sitting up and then talking to Pete. Very cute!

Hamilton Happenings

So I am almost ashamed that it has been so long since my last post! In my defense, every time I even looked at my blog I would get overwhelmed at how much there was to update on that I would get lazy and just switch the screen back to Facebook or TMZ. Well I am not that lazy lady today so here it goes!

-Adrian will be 6 months old next Monday and it is getting harder and harder to remember her as a tiny baby (which makes momma sad). She is growing into such a little girl and has developed such a distinct personality- that becomes more defined with everyday that passes. I have a feeling she is going to be a little too much like her mother haha.

-Adrian is officially sitting up! As most of you know my baby only likes to be held upright and looking out because she just loves to people watch like her parents. Well now she can sit up on her own and take it all in! She hasn't mastered pulling herself up but when placed there she can hold herself up for several minutes! Before you know it she will be walking! tear

-Adrian has 2 teeth and 2 more on the way! She is eating solids now and has a great appetite. Where has the time gone!?

-We put our house on the market! yikes! I have wanted to do this for awhile now, but once again, the thought of getting the house ready to sell was taunting but we slowly but surely got there and it is move in ready! We have had only 2 showings and one open house but I am positive that the right buyer is out there. It has been a wonderful first home for Nick and I. It is the house where we came home to after our honeymoon and began our life as man and wife and it is also was the home where we brought our baby girl home to and started our life as a family of 3. It will always be our 'first' and will always have a special place in our hearts but I am looking forward to the next home where we grow into as a family. Updates to follow!

-I have been swamped with work lately and have had a presentation every week for the past 2 months it seems but I am loving every second of it. My job challenges me everyday and forces me to think harder, be more creative and step outside of my comfort zone. I just surpassed my 1 year anniversary at Novation but it feels like I have been here for years due to all that I have learned and accomplished. I hope to be a fantastic role model for my daughter as my mother was to me - and one of the many things that I always looked up to my mom for was her drive, ambition and being a bad mamm jamma at work (if you knew her you would say the same).

-Nicks parents came to town for a long weekend and we had such a great time! We went to the Stockyards and showed them what it really meant to be in Texas, had great BBQ at Coopers, had a cookout with family and friends and took them out on my parents boat for Adrians first boat ride. It was such a relaxing weekend where we were able to really enjoy eahcothers company. I cannot wait for the next visit!

-Last weekend my mom, Nick, Adrian and I drove to OKC to visit with our dear friends Jan, Lindsay and Romi. We had never met Romi before so I am so thankful we were able to do it before she turned a year old next month. She will have a little sister in October (hopefully on my bday!) so We will have to make another trip soon. Also, during our trip Nick and I attended my old friends Oakley and Susans wedding- this was so great because we were able to catch up with some of the best friends I have ever had. All in all we had a whirlwind of a trip that was much needed!

-As you will be able to see in the pictures below we had the privilege of visiting the new Cowboys stadium with Ben and Allison! It was a dream come true for those boys but was also very cool for us girls too. We took a million pictures as you will see. Nick told Adrian that he knew she would never remember this moment but that he would never forget it. He is such a sweet daddy!

I vow to not take this long to update moving forward!! Because when I do it is impossible to include all that you want to in one single post. I am sure I am leaving out tons of stuff such as birthday surprises, surgeries, engagements of wonderful friends, announcements of babies (1 Tuel boy to be exact) and one crazy housekeeper biting dog but that is just life...and I am so thankful to have so much good news/stories to write about! Love you all

Oh, also posted is the video of Adrian eating solids for the first time- I finally downloaded it!

A letter to Adrian

Dear Adrian,

It was just yesterday that you turned four months old and it was just last night that during dinner I turned to your dad and told him that I no longer could remember our life before you were in it.

Since the day that you entered into this world and into our arms I have fallen more and more in love with you. You constantly amaze us with how happy you are when you wake up in the morning, how much you love to "talk" about your day when you get home from school, how you become stronger every day and will soon be sitting up on your own, how you already don't like it when I put your pacifier in your mouth because you want to be the one to put it in, how you love to put anything that will fit into your mouth and how when you look at me directly in the eyes my heart still melts.

We have learned so much about who you are already in these four short months. I am looking forward to watching you grow up into a beautiful little girl who will continue to amaze me with every story told, song sang and look given. But I will say that I am not trying to rush time too much and cherish every minute we have together. You are such a blessing and your father and I try to remember that every day and thank God for all he has given us.

This afternoon I will be leaving work early to rush over to pick you up from school because I think we need some mom and daughter time together. I am already trying to start our traditions together especially because I know your dad has so many in store for the two of you!

A mom and dad could not be more proud or love their child more than we love you.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Pictures from Adrian waking up yesterday- not the best pictures because
they are from my phone but still a cutie!

Prayer with a twist

So today a coworker of mine passed along a link to Tina Fey's new book "Prayer for a Daughter"- I just had to repost a section of it because not only is it as funny as you would expect from Tina Fey but it also has so much truth to it. Sometimes our prayers for our children can run long and include everything under the sun but as parents we just want so much for our kids and I think this is a pretty great start! I will be buying this book tonight on my Kindle. Enjoy!

"First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer. Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers. Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.

Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed. A

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen."

Greys Anatomy

So now that I am back to work I am definitely going through Adrian withdraws ..they are the worst whenever I hit some downtime in my day and it makes me very sad but I also have to admit that I am experiencing withdraws from something else - rerun episodes of Greys Anatomy! I know I know...I am not proud but when you spend hours and hours sitting on your butt at home learning how to nurse a newborn baby you are bound to fall into some kind of a rut- mine just so happens to include McDreamy and McSteamy. Everyday from 1pm to 3 pm on Lifetime was 2 hours that I fell back in love with Meredith Grey and McDreamys love affair and I just couldn't look away! Of course, during the last 2 weeks of my "stay at home" mom adventure it changed times and only came on at 8 am and only for 1 episode! But I didn't care- I was awake and I was still obsessed! So now I have to DVR my "drug" and try to watch it at night- the only bad thing is that my obsession has become an annoyance to my husband and he will not even be in the same room with me while I watch fake doctors save fake lives. I need an intervention and I need one fast!

Learning to Juggle

Well it is official I am a working mom! I keep day dreaming that I will be one of those moms who has it all together-the one that in the movies has a set routine that always works, where she wins mother of the year and gets promoted on the same day and always has time for everything and everyone. But when I open my eyes and come down from the clouds I remember that it will never be like that and that everyday will be a new learning experience not just for me but for Nick and Adrian as well.

Case in point - day 1 back in the work force.

5:45 am Adrian and I woke up at the same time! Breastfed for 45 minutes and then tried to put her back to sleep but of course she was wide awake so dad had to take over while I got ready for work.

7:39 am Left the house with what looked like enough luggage for a week long vacation. Gym bag, breast pump goodies, a packed ("I just had a baby healthy") lunch, Adrians bag for school, work bag with laptop and of course Adrian. Just packing the car took 5 minutes!

7:50 am Dropped Adrian off at school. She was a happy baby but it was hard on mommy to walk out of the room and back out to the car.

8:30 am Arrived at work and found my new office (we moved offices when I was out). It felt like the first day of school where you have to find your new home room. I had no idea where I was going or what I was walking into. First on the agenda was finding where the restrooms and coffee were!

9:30 am Hour long Conference call

11:00 am Pumped at my desk - thank goodness for office doors!

11:30 Team lunch -no gym for me today :(

1:30 pm Pumped again

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Meeting with team

4:55 pm Ran to car and headed home

5:35 Arrived home to a sleeping baby in her swing- it was so hard not to wake her up and cover her with kisses.

6:00 pm Time for Adrians dinner

7:00 Nick and I ate dinner

8:00 pm Got together all 3 bottles for the next day, packed up my lunch and bag so the next morning goes as smooth.

8:30 pm Nursed again and got Adrian ready for bed

9:30 pm Picked out Adrians and my clothes for the next day (if not I would never make it to work on time)

10 pm Finally laid down and read for 30 minutes - then finally passed out.

So today is Day 2 and already my schedule has been thrown out the window since Adrian decided that at 4 am it was time for breakfast and then again at 7. But luckily I still managed it all and got to work 10 minutes early - yay me! Learning to be a mom has come naturally but learning how to juggle everything else I have a feeling is not going to be as easy. But knowing that I get to come home everyday to my little family makes it all worth it!

10 weeks and 10 pounds

I wrote this last week but never published..oops! Here you go!

Our baby is 10 weeks old now and weighs over 10 pounds! She has outgrown all her newborn clothes and has moved onto 1 size diapers - she is a growing girl and we are so proud! AJ (trying out the nickname) has officially found her voice and talks up a storm! It is amazing to hear her little voice and hold a conversation - even though it is a bit one sided :) She really does try and interacts so well that it excites me for the near future when she will be jabbering away (like her mother)! I cannot wait to hear all the funny, clever and sweet things that she will talk about. I know that she will be very opionated just like her mom and dad!



Over the next few weeks this little family will be particpating in several exciting events. Adrian will be heading to school next Monday which I am sure will be more of an adjustment for me then it will be for her! Luckily we will just be easing into it as I dont go back to work till the 22nd. Immediately following the start of school Adrian will be getting baptised into the Lutheran faith by the same Pastor that married us almost 3 years ago. This will be a very special day for her.

Four days after the baptism I return to work. I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and diving into some new projects but I am going to desperately miss my little girl. Since becoming a mom I have learned how to be a mom this way- stay at home- and now I am going to have to relearn as a working mom. I just hope that it is an easy transition. I am also fearful of losing my milk once I go back to work. Breastfeeding has gone so well so far and I do want to continue as long as I can but you just never know what my work schedule has in store for me! My plan is to play it by ear and try to be as flexible as I can and hopefully my body will adapt and keep up (fingers crossed)!

Life has been so incredibly amazing since Adrian entered the world. Every morning that she wakes up smiling and cooing it makes me think about how lucky we are and how I wouldnt change one thing!