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photo credit: Kelly Hicks Design

I never knew how fulfilling, wonderful and trying is the privilege to be a woman and mother.  As many of you know, I panicked when I found out I was going to have a baby.  Lately, I really struggle with the reality that I can’t hop on a plane (much less, hop in the shower!) whenever I feel like it.  For the health of my marriage and baby, I have given up dreams (at least for now) of advancing my education and career.  My day is mostly dictated by the schedule that is most healthy for Judah, who needs regular meals, snacks, nap-times, and most importantly, me.

My husband Zac and I sometimes talk about growing our family and when might be the opportune time.  Since Judah’s 1st birthday, all of my friends (even strangers!) are asking when we will have the next one.  (…as if you just pop into the corner store and pick one off the shelf.  I mean… did they miss the 7th grade sex-ed video?  sheeesh.)  As much as I am completely in love with my son, I can’t help but consider the cost of having another baby to care for.  I don’t mean financial cost, rather the sacrifices that I must make personally and professionally to be the mother I want to be.

The question I’ve been wresting with for more than a year now is: Can women really have it all?

 
Recently, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Princeton professor of politics and international affairs, wrote a cover story for The Atlantic Magazine entitled Why Women Still Can’t Have it All.  She eloquently and honestly describes the tension many women face when they want to work but also want to be at home.  In the article she says,   “…the minute I found myself in a job that is typical for the vast majority of working women (and men), working long hours on someone else’s schedule, I could no longer be both the parent and the professional I wanted to be…”  Can’t you relate?! 

 I highly recommend the article, but if you’d just like the cliff’s notes, watch this short interview.

What transitions will you make when you have children?  Have you struggled with this tension like I have?  I would love to hear your thoughts…     

This weekend Zac and I are celebrating our ten year high school reunion.  So much has happened since high school graduation (finishing college, the start of my career, marrying Zac, and having our son Judah).  In some ways I feel like I’ve changed so much that I don’t recognize the me in these pictures.  In other ways, it feels like yesterday!

Some things I miss about high school:

  • endless laughter with friends (especially Jen in the third photo, drinking a Capri Sun and being fed a cheese-it)
  • Zac’s Beatles hairstyle
  • I had a tan
Some things I do NOT miss about high school
  • being the only one left with satellite bangs until the 10th grade when I realized my forehead isn’t actually that big
  • my email address was ChickitaB@hotmail.com (wow.)
  • donating blood prior to track practice just because everyone else was doing it (BAD idea.)
I”m looking forward to seeing old friends and being in my hometown of Tomball, Texas.
Will you attend your high school reunions?  What do you miss (or not) the most?:)

photo credit: southernliving.com
Ever since we moved into our home 3 years ago we’ve been updating and renovating, one DIY project at a time.  There isn’t an inch of this house that we haven’t painted, sanded, or rewired…
…Except for the bathroom.  The sweet 1950’s pink tile lives on!  If you know me, you know how much I love all things vintage.  I’m obsessed.  Really, who isn’t these days?  For one thing, it’s just cheaper…and cheap is my middle name.  I’m that person who slows down to inspect the neighbors’ bulk items on trash day. Sometimes I get so excited about my thrift store finds that I can’t make it until laundry day, if you know what I mean.
Needless to say, it’s taken me 3 years to grieve and accept that the mold will likely infest my brain and the gas wall heater will likely burn my house down or asphyxiate us in our sleep.  It’s time.
Pinterest helps with the break up.  These bathrooms do it for me.  Don’t you just love the white subway tiles with gray grout?  I will be copying.  Also, where can I find a vanity like that?!
Any bathroom makeover tips?  What kind of lighting will ensure that I don’t leave the house with a uni-brow?

Evangeline Rae Parker
Born October 6th
5 lbs, 15 oz & 18.5 inches long
Is there anything more amazing than a newborn baby?  Ahh!  So sweet.  Looking at this little one, I can’t believe how big my own baby  is!  While I was photographing this little angel, my Judah was throwing remote controls and barking at the dogs.  My, how far we’ve come!:)  (To Judah’s credit, he was actually really calm and patient.  What a great guy!)
Jeremy and Lyndsi are going to be seriously wonderful parents.  It was so neat to hear Jeremy talk about the excitement and love he felt when he met this baby girl.  Congratulations, friends!

  
Judah and I love cuddling in the green rocking chair before bedtime and reading a stack of board books.  These are just some of our favorites.  Lately, we’ve been reading Little Blue Truck at least three times a day.  I love to peek over Judah’s shoulder to see him grin as the little blue truck greets the animals with a “Beep, beep, beep!”
What are your favorite children’s books?  I’m eager to expand our baby library, so I’d love to know!
P.S.  I learned Little Blue Truck has a sequel called Little Blue Truck Leads the Way.  So excited!

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