Just the Two of Us

Our life.  

We've spent the last 13 years together living this roller coaster of life and my how much has changed. Over the last 3 years our life has been less about 'us' and more about 'them'.

Them being the greatest accomplishments of our lives - our sweet, sweet girls.

It has taken some manipulating and change to continue to make our time together as 'us' just as special as before,  but there is no denying that its different.  I am laying here, as I type, with three baby girls in my bed and Bubble Guppies on the DVR.  Thats a good different:)  

Recently Jordan started to have real conversations with Jolie and Parker about Jesus, boys, life, love..

As real of a conversation you can have with a two and a half year old toddler(s).

I knew he was doing this,  but it didn't resonate as something they were understanding until one night at the dinner table he asked Jolie a very important question.

"Jolie, Who's my favorite girl?"  

Mama!!! she replied and I just about lost my mind with a flood of tears.

I am his number one after The Lord and I have remained there throughout these last 10 years of marriage + 3 years before that.  

I'm his favorite girl, and he makes me feel that way on a daily basis.

BB and Papa took the twins on Wednesday evening for a sleep over and kept them all day so that Jordan and I could spend the day together to celebrate this milestone anniversary.  We 'slept in' until 8am, drank coffee together, ate breakfast and watched the news and then Kelly and Michael.  Leisurely spent the morning doing 'quiet' things without getting caught up in the busy-ness of being parents.  I spent a full hour getting myself ready (hair and makeup) and then we headed out for lunch.

Sushi.

Hi.  I would like a truckload of sushi on a platter, please.

Our server finally told us that 'we were done' after she caught me glancing through the sushi menu again while she cleared the empty plates that sat in front of us.  

It was a long 9 months - don't judge.

After lunch we sat down for a movie - the matinee seating on a Thursday.  We were the only folks in the theater. Our perfect day ended as we headed to our favorite spot of the neighborhood to meet Brittany to capture the last moments of the sun as well as the end of this decade together.

This day-date was the perfect and only way I would have asked to spend our anniversary.  

With they guy of my dreams, still 10 years later.  

On August 14th, ten years ago I remember leaving the hotel (very tired) to catch a plane to the Bahamas.  It was my first trip to anywhere and I was taking it with the most perfect person, ever.

This morning, on August 14th, I woke very early and very tired, from a sleepless night of feeding a baby every couple hours and our other babies tapping me on the forehead and asking for chocolate milk.  Heading into another day of parenthood with the most perfect person, ever.

My how things have changed.

But the change is perfect.   

BFaith Photography 

T E N

TEN.  Today marks a big day.  A huge day.  The Gent and me are celebrating 10 years of marriage.  

Thats a long time.  We were wee little babes when we were married.. at just 20 and 23.  

I'll never forget my bachelorette party - we went to a impromptu comedy club (four day weekend is amazing if you are in the DFW area) and they included me in their show.. me the girl not looking a day over 16 and wearing a hot pink cowboy hat with a veil attached.  They spent a solid 20 minutes making fun, and asking me if we were 'going to bed' after this because I will have 'hit my curfew'. They wanted to bring me a drink and then didn't because, well because I wasn't 21.  

It made for a great laugh, but I will never forget it.

Putting together words to describe my love for this man always leaves me at a loss.  I cant hardly express how thankful I am for him. We were young and naive to what marriage really entailed and how it would rock our world forever. We have been through a lot in 10 years - they say for better or for worse, and thats exactly the truth.  While every day/month/week/year hasn't been the most perfect, I can say for both of us that we wouldn't change a single thing.  

The good times, the hard times, the happy times, the sad times..

All those 'times' of our life together have molded and shaped us into the people we are today- celebrating these last 10 years.  We are a unit.  A unit that is stronger and more confident than ever before.  

I'll ever never be the one to boast 'the most perfect marriage advice', but a few things (how about ten things?) I've learned over the years..

--It takes work.  Work to fall in love with one another over and over again, every single day.  

--It takes grace.  Grace to love each other through it, no matter what the situation.  Grace when a pregnant Amber is being absolutely ridiculous.  Jordan, you show grace so well.

--It takes protection. Protection of your marriage is something we didn't figure out until much later in our years together.  Make your marriage a priority and never fail to hold it to the highest standard of protection. 

--It takes real and constant communication. We spend a lot of time communicating, and especially now after having kiddos we have found it to be most important.  Being on the same page of parenting and doing life together makes stuff just run smoother.  Often times arguments result from some kind of miscommunication.

--It takes a team effort.  We work as a unit.  Sure, we are both strong individuals, but together we are stronger. 

--It takes forgiveness.  Living our life with a spirit of forgiveness.  Sort of along the same lines of offering grace to your spouse, we should also offer forgiveness.  Early in our marriage (and while we were still so young) it was hard for both of us not to hold onto mental 'lists' or transgressions against us by the other.  Grudges, lists, and hurtful reminders do nothing but form a wedge in your relationship.  

--It takes effort.  SO much effort.  We spent a lot of time together before the girls were born, and now its more of a 'divide and conquer' to survive the day.  Since having kids we have failed many times to maintain our promises of regular date nights, but putting forth effort to get out of the house as a couple is so important.  Get a sitter.  Make the effort to get dressed - even if its just for an hour to grab a burger or chat over a cup of coffee.  We find it to be a breath of fresh air to our marriage relationship after going on a date, no matter what the size or shape.  

--It takes faith.  God is first.  Number one.  I learned a long time ago that it isn't about how or what I could do to control Jordan to make changes in his life - how he treated me, his walk with Christ, and how he carried himself in personal decisions he made.  I cannot change or worry about that of him.  I was not placed on this earth to be Jordan's personal Holy Spirit.  I vowed to be his partner for life.  All I can do is trust that he does walk with Jesus on a daily basis.  Growing his wisdom and his faith gives me security in his leadership of this house and his relationship with me.  

--It takes intimacy.  I am NOT a touchy person.  I'm not one that remains comfortable cuddling for hours on end while watching a movie or sleeping with zero space between us for 8 hours at night.  Jordan is the exact opposite. Our love languages are on complete opposite spectrums (I am words of affirmation and he is physical touch) but that doesn't mean I am not called to learn his love language and love him through it the way he best receives it and not the way I prefer it.  Being really really close to someone can be awkward and uncomfortable.. and basically take too much effort that I'm willing to give sometimes..  But, the reward outweighs it all.  Jordan is the one single person on this earth that I should be able to bare it all to- not just the physical, but emotional and personal as well.  He is my person.  He is going to be the one that watches me grow grey as our years go on and will still be the one to love me the most.

--In all the hard, I am reminded that it is so much fun.  It has been a sweet surprise that a decade later, it is still fun to be together.  When we are doing well, we are doing well.  Jordan and I both enjoy just being together.. we share a long history (13 years total) that is filled with stories and memories that don't require a ton of explanation as we reminisce.  He's my best friend.  Our marriage is work, but often times that hard work makes life easy to live.  We thrive on the like-mindedness that is held between our two heads.

I am so proud of being where we are.  Ten whole years of marriage.  I am so thankful.  So happy.  So emotional.  I am also SO postpartum, but I promise that isn't resulting in any or all of these emotions:)

We haven't learned it all. We are still growing and changing and going through the motions of this married life - and maybe by year 20 will have figured it out a little better.. but no matter what, we are doing it together.

Love you, Jordan Fort.

So much.

..And Then There Were Three

Well, we survived.  We are exactly one month into being parents of three little girls.  

Our house is messy..

..really messy.

I confess to have served my family delivered pizza twice this week.

..and chicken nuggets and mac and cheese three times.

I am tremendously thankful for sweet friends and family that have brought us real + healthy meals since the moment we brought Baker home.  

Seriously, if you have a pregnant or postpartum friend, bring them a meal.. or two.

We sit in front of the tv too many hours of the day right now.

..and sometimes another cup of coffee at 3pm in the afternoon is necessary for survival through the rest of the evening. 

Dress up tutus worn over pajamas + messy hair have been normal wear around these parts.

..as I type this I am realizing that its been a couple days since the twins had a real bath. 

Maybe thats what we while do after they wake from nap.

n a p t i m e.  

I've never been so grateful.  Sometimes I completely impress myself and get all three of them asleep at the same time.

bff tees c/o olive and birdie

All this to say and reading it back - It sounds like our life is in a constant state of chaos with the addition of number three.  It isn't THAT insane, but then again sometimes I find myself 'yelling' at Jordan in attempt to hold a normal conversation with my husband.

The energy level of these twin toddlers we have running around is at an all time high.

I think it definitely has something to do with their age and surely to do with the attention needed after bringing home a baby to rock their little world.

I've had a handful of you reach out asking for encouragement or advice about getting through this season of crazy with the addition of another baby in the mix, which encouraged me to document because I'm sure I'll look back to this post again, for my own sake, as a reminder.  While I am NOT an expert and still learning about motherhood myself, I did want to share a little about what is working for us right now.  Most of what I share isn't my own 'original mama material' and I won't claim to be the first to share this kind of advice because we are not the first family to have gone from two to three kids, but this is really what is keeping our house somewhat normal, and there is no denying that. 

-- Play for the Same Team --

I am thankful for my teammate (Jordan) in all of this.  He takes the lead with much that has to do with the twins right now and we make sure to communicate often as to our plans for the day and week to come.  This has been so much more helpful than all the sudden him having to leave to run errands or check up on his part-time business or even just going outside to work in the yard.  Communicating and staying on the same page as Jordan helps for me/us to be mentally prepared for the day to come.  It makes it really easy to plan around what we each have going on.  That has been so important for us right now. 

-- Get Out of the House --

As overwhelming as that may seem- getting out of the house, even solo, has helped break up the long days.  Parker and Jolie are pretty easy going and 'go-with-the-flow' and I have never been so thankful for that than I am right now, but even with the most laid back toddlers, they are still busy bees and the walls of our house feel like they are caving in when we have been in the house too long.  I strap Baker to my chest and we make a trip to the library to read books for an hour, run up to Sonic for a happy hour root beer float, or head to the mall for some time in the indoor play area - sadly going outside right now is way too hot, but when the weather cools a bit evening walks and park play will be in order.  Jordan has taken the twins to the pool a handful of times and they LOVE it.  Just that little bit of change in scenery can make all the difference in the days attitude - and how quickly it can go by:)  Of course, the best and easiest time is when Jordan and I are out together, but I try not to let that stop me when I am home alone.

-- Time with One -- 

Or in my case, two.  I don't know if this is more important for mom or dad, but I think in our season of life right now, it is so important for me to spend time with Parker and Jolie individually without Baker on my arm as I'm fumbling to do puzzle or brush their teeth with one hand.  At this age, Parker and Jolie are a unit and we aren't quiet ready to separate them just yet because really, this all they have known their entire life.  Outside of a handful of times they have been split to run errands with just mom or just dad, they have never been apart.

I didn't really realize the importance of this quality time with them until yesterday when I left to go to the grocery store with Baker and Joran randomly texted me:

'you should take the girls to get pedicures and have lunch this weekend.  Spend some time with just them while I stay home with Baker.'

I responded with anxiety like I had done something wrong.. and then realized with his confirmation that this last month has been a lot to do about Baker and less to do about my first girls.  So.  This weekend we are having a girls day out:)

-- Keep the Routine -- 

This has been a struggle for me, but on the days we manage to maintain our regular routine (the routine we had before Baker's arrival) they seem to run much smoother.  

Breakfast - Play - Lunch - Nap - TV/Movie Time - Play - Dinner - Bath - Storied/Music - Bed

While I am still working on getting in this groove, we are slowly getting there.  Kiddos, as much as they fight it, thrive on regularity and routine.  So, when you maintain that, even during the craziest time (and there cant be much more of a crazy time than adding a newborn to the mix), they do the best.  Last year I started holding onto a few birthday and Christmas toys for rainy days.  Keeping a stash of coloring/activity books, stickers, Little People, My Little Ponies, etc. and pulling those 'new' things out in the throws of the afternoon.  Bringing each item out individually and they play together for what seems like hours with the new toys.

It is the resolution to breastfeeding in peace. 

-- Meal Planning -- 

If you have read this blog long you know that I am a major advocate of meal planning.

I have been slacking in this department since becoming pregnant with Baker - I only had the energy to cook a couple times a week and I cut back our grocery spending a lot because we just weren't eating as much prepared food items, and therefore I didn't need to keep a ton of ingredients on hand.  We did a lot of fresh produce and stuff like pasta salad that I could whip up and we could eat on it for a couple days after the fact.  This easy stuff has also carried over to life lately, too.

I was excited this week when I started to make a short list of necessities we needed - you know, the survival foods, and I had an interest to actually cook a couple recipes I had saved recently.  One was Pioneer Woman's Chicken Taco Salad (amazing), but it wasn't actually hard cooking but more like veggies tossed in a bowl - but buying the ingredients and planning our meals out for the week as I usually do was refreshing.

Normalcy never looked and felt so good.

Starting out the week with a plan for what we are going to eat - even if its a frozen lasagna or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, having a plan is SO helpful.

I hope to get back to the swing of things and meal plan more often (and sharing them with you!)

Check out my meal planning + grocery shopping tips HERE + HERE and check out my healthy meals + meal plans HERE

 -- Say YES -- 

When the twins were born, I don't know if it was my 'first time mom' OCD, Type A mentality, but I refused all help. I didn't want anyone helping me- I didn't want to take a nap, I didn't want someone making food for me, I didn't want the twins to take a bottle while I rested.. I wanted to do it all.  ALL of it.  

I learned really quickly that doing ALL of it was exhausting.  It still took some learning, but finally I realized that accepting help was okay.  It was more than okay- it was fabulous!

This time around, I am so thankful for each and every offer of assistance - from the meals to the play dates.. even when our favorite date night babysitter drove all the way to the house to bring me a coffee.  I was so thankful!  

BB and Papa have taken the girls a couple times for a day out of the house or for a sleep over - and having just one baby (that sleeps most of the time right now) is really amazing and refreshing for my mama heart.  When Parker and Jolie come home from spending time with their grandparents, I am excited to see them and ready to love on my girls and spend some intentional time with those two.  Often I find myself going through the motions of the day just to make it through, so I cannot express how important this is if you have the opportunity.

sparkle headbands c/o shelby chic // tee c/o emerald sky 

lace turban c/o ruby blue inc // sleeper / carters

Outside of those moments of feeling as if I am teetering on the edge of a breakdown - panic texting Jordan to hurry up and come home..or begging him to call in sick the night before he goes into the fire station for a full 24 hours - there is the realization that life with our three girls could be going much different.

We could have a couple of sister girls hating the fact that they have a new sister to share time with.

They adore her.  I mean, if their love could go any deeper, they will figure out how to get it there. 

We could have a baby that doesn't sleep or cries NONSTOP.

Baker is in fact a pretty good sleeper- making it easy for me to get a decent night's sleep before the day of crazy.  She also doesn't cry a lot outside of hunger, being in her car seat, or needing a diaper change.

 We could be completely on our own - zero time for a parental break.

So thankful for family and friends that live close by to take one or two of the babies so Jordan and I can get in a nap or take an uninterrupted shower.

It all could be going a lot different than it is, so I cannot complain one single bit.

This transition has seemed to come tremendously 'easy' as easy comes with having three under the age of three.  The easy ebbs and flows, of course, but the feelings of anxiety that filled my pregnant head during the sleepless hours of the night has completely subsided.  I was really worried of how it was going to go after we introduced Baker to the twins.  There was no amount of blog reading or encouragement from other mama's with multiple kiddos that was going to ease my thoughts.

As the days go on, our routine comes easier and more normal.  We have come up with sort of a method to our madness with a few wrenches thrown in here and there - but its working.

And 'working' is just fine by me.

Weekend Shenanigans

Well, that was fast.  The weeks go by faster and faster and faster.  Whats that secret life hack that makes everything slow down? 

No such thing? 

Surely not.  

We had another great weekend- this time we filled it with friends and food! 

I started my weekend off with a prenatal massage.  My first ever.  My boss takes pride in his amazing Christmas gifts, so when I received my gift card to Mokara I was just in the early weeks of pregnancy, I knew I had to save it for good use when this belly was uber huge.

Folks, we have arrived at uber huge.  Such a treat!  

 Friday evening we invited our Supper Club crew over for dinner and to celebrate Diana's 33rd.  

Can you believe that by Thanksgiving we will be nearly outnumbered by our kiddos?

Ash + I are due next month and Jacqueline is due in early November.  

Thats 8 babies between to 8 adults.  

 We were born to be parents.

 Saturday morning myself and another cousin on Jordan's side hosted family and friends to celebrate Miss Lauren.

Remember when P&J were flower girls for cousin Lauren back in October? She's pregnant and due with baby boy Gunnar at the end of July:)

custom banner / the olive grove shop

 So excited to meet this "Little Man' 

 Sunday, daddy was at the fire station- so the girls and I loaded up for our usual: Sunday morning service and trip to the grocery store.  Although I always appreciate Jordan's help when we grocery shop as a family, there is just something about being out and about with these little birds.

Just me and the girls.

headbands / pieces to peaces // cloth bead necklaces / peppercorn kids // gladiator sandals / old navy

 I'm beyond the point of ordering beverages at happy hour.  Just bring me the ice.  I don't even need a lid.  I've got the 'drink carrier' covered.

tee / hello apparel 

 After a nap that was non-existent, we met a couple of our favorite little people and made our first visit to a true spray park.  We have a 'splash pad' close to home thats really good for what it is- gets the job done to cool us down and proves to be outrageous fun for a couple of two and a half year olds, but Parr Park was really a blast for our toddler foursome.

poolside sparkle bows / shelby chic boutique // sunglasses / old navy (similar) // swimsuits / kortni jeane 

 We shared snacks and buckets of water and played the afternoon away with Miss Cate and Reese - not to mention I adored their mama's company. 

Parker and Jolie hit 2.5 years old on Saturday and this morning they have their 2.5 year well visit.  I still cannot wrap my brain around that.  My sweet girls are growing up..but thats for tomorrow's post:) I hope you all had a great weekend! 

Adventures with Auntie + Uncle J | Part II





Not everyone can say that they have amazing friends such as ours.  Ashley and Jarrett have been taking our kiddos as their own since they were wee babes - and by taking them, I mean keeping them overnight, bathing, feeding (even bottle feeding), caring, and playing with to exhaustion - all to return them to me in one piece the next day.  Last weekend Auntie and Uncle J took to girls while Jordan and I had a 'date night'..consisting of 3 hours of budget talks (we need a new car that fits three car seats!) and take out in front of a DVR'd Grey's Anatomy.  I have zero pictures of that fun - but you better believe I coaxed Ashley into taking 101 photos of the 24 hours they spent with P&J.

Ready for the photo dump? Its a whole lotta cute.

Checking out baby Grayson's nursery.  They are going to be amazing big sisters.  I thought that being a mom was so much fun in the first place - but thinking about how they are going to be with this little baby girl on the way brings a whole new pride into this mama's heart.

Also- make note that the super organized Ashley already has this baby's nursery 95% complete!  I felt accomplished when I finalized the plans for our nursery.. she has bookshelves. 

Books are lining the bookshelves.

hashtag what the heck.

Waiting for Uncle J to get home from the office.  First stop on the agenda is the park!



Onto the PARK!

The girls LOVE this park. They have been coming here since they could walk.

 ..and now they act like they own the place.

 The Wide Slide is their favorite.

Slides in general are the most fun part about this toddler life.

Slides and sunglasses.

 My favorite smiles!

 Uncle J's turn on the slide, and Parker thought he was hilarious. 

 I feel like I should blow this up into a canvas and hang it over my bed.  This sweet girl makes me laugh more than anyone I know.  She is constantly on fire for life.

Goals.

Dinner on the patio! 

Chips + Salsa + Queso

Not to mention the required personal dipping bowls.

They've already one up'd me at this point.

Those glasses have yet to be removed from their face.

 After dinner it was back home for a bath.

Ash doesn't need a single thing for bath time - she's basically covered all the bases from having Parker and Jolie with them so often.

 Brushing Uncle J's hair.  H A I R

The girls are so obsessed with his bald head.

I laughed SO hard when I read this post on the gram yesterday and couldn't stop thinking about how the girls are with Jarrett.

 Movie time

 I got this silly selfie right before bed and I was oh-so appreciative.

 Staying up past their bedtime to finish Despicable Me

 Good morning!  The girls slept in extra late- even Uncle J was earlier to rise than they. 

The Sleepover Tradition of a trip to the donut store + cartoons.

..only this time these two can pound back a dozen donut holes each.

I told Jarrett that pretty soon he would have a couple more babies to tote in their short walk to the donut store on Saturday morning.

The girls always have an amazing time with these two sweet friends of ours - talking about it for days after the fact.  I always appreciate how well planned these toddler dates are, and after seeing the fun they have via pictures - it makes me a tad jealous as to what I'm missing out on.

Ash is pregnant now with Baby Grayson (due just a week before me!) and it will finally be my turn to take that little boy off their hands for an evening!

More Adventures with Auntie + Uncle J HERE

Baby Vacay HERE