Ready For Summer

I am really ready for the summer. It's not like summer is really any different for us as far as our schedules or anything like that, I think it's more that we can be outside, enjoy the sunshine, go on vacation and just enjoy some of the fun things St. Louis has to offer. I think also, it has been a weird winter. I have been pretty sick with this baby #2, but I am finally starting to turn the corner. I realized the other morning how sick I have been when I watched Tripp go into the bathroom, lift the lid to the toilet, make some coughing/spitting noises, then flush the toilet and say "I'm ok Mommy." I guess he's seen me do that a few too many times over the past few months. I really couldn't be more thankful/excited for this new life, I am just looking forward to having some days (and nights too) where I don't feel sick all the time. Plus, I know I could have it a lot worse and I know a lot of people who have had it a lot worse. So I have no room to complain. I have seen God's graciousness to me throughout this time and have felt him sustain me through some not so fun times. For that I am very grateful.

On another not so great note, my grandmom passed away a few weeks ago. She had Alzheimer's so I am incredibly thankful she is not suffering anymore, but it is definitely hard to be here without her, even if all she could do before she died was to lift her head and smile. It's also hard to see my mom and grandfather miss her, and to see my grandfather be alone after having been married for 64 years. He told me the other day that he and my grandmom were the third generation to be married for over 50 years. My grandparents loved each other and they both love the Lord. Their involvement and influence in our lives is beyond measurable, and I am just thankful for the time we did have together. Grandparents are definitely a gift from God!

And then on a much happier note, there's this kid.

I mean, he is really just awesome. I am thankful for his sense of humor (which he often comments on "I so funny Mommy") and his big smile. I love spending time with him and feel blessed to be his mom. Of course, we have our moments (like this morning when he cried/pouted for a good 10 or 15 mins cause I wouldn't let him watch a movie. I should have said yes cause it was ridiculously early and I have a theory that any screen time before 6:30 a.m. doesn't count as TV time for the day. It counts as "Mommy is really tired and you shouldn't wake up at 5:45" time but I felt like not letting him make a habit of it so crying ensued. but whatever.). Anyway, he is great, and Nelson and I just love being his parents! I know I've said it before and I know I will say it again, but it's definitely the hardest thing I have ever done but there are times when I have literally felt my heart swell with happiness for him and have cried tears of joy because of his excitement over something (most recently- the carousel at the zoo where he rode the penguin and as soon as we started moving, his face lit up like it was Christmas morning. He exclaimed "We're going up and down AND around Mommy!"). Seeing your kid excited about something is really the best. Just like I would much rather get hurt than him, I would also much rather him be excited over something than me.

Well this is post is getting long, and I think I have posted enough pics of Tripp, so I need to wrap things up. Here's to summer when I have to give Tripp a bath everyday cause he has played hard and gotten all sweaty, when we can go on walks and listen out for the ice cream truck, and when (hopefully) Nelson and I can go out on date nights again and I don't feel like I need to spend the whole time in the bathroom!