Infertility

A friend recently posted this article on her Facebook page.  

http://www.littlethings.com/dan-leah-pregnancy-journey/

I read it while rocking my sweet baby boy to sleep as tears ran down my face.  It was TOUGH to be thrown right back into the roller coaster that is infertility.  

Someday I might share more about my struggles, but honestly right now it is still too raw to process.  This is a subject near and dear to my heart as my sister-in-law also walked this road...along with a few of my close friends.

If I had to say one thing, I would want people to know that you are NOT alone.  While it feels extremely isolating... you are not in it by yourself. 

This verse hung in my bedroom while we walked in that storm...and now it hangs in my babies room. 

I clung to it and am so thankful the reminder that even when I felt alone, I was never without Him. 

I wanted to be a Mama more than anything in the world...and while it seemed for a while like it wouldn't happen or come to fruition.... holding this precious baby boy is better than anything I can even describe.  

Friday Favorites {5-27-16}

Again, I am linking up this week with some fabulous ladies!  

When I was working, I was super thankful for Fridays... time to relax, get everything done.... but now that I am a SAHM, I am even MORE thankful for Friday because it means Daddy is home and I have my partner in crime here to help me.  

Oh yeah, and relax, and get stuff done. :)

ONE

THESE Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies.  Seriously SO good.  I made them last week and decided we needed them again for our little road trip this weekend. 

TWO

We are headed to visit family this weekend...including my cute niece and nephew!  Here is praying that my sweet boy sleeps most of the way :)

THREE

I am SO enjoying blogging again!  

FOUR

Watching this boy enjoy eating.  His new thing this week is to grab the food and squeeze it as hard as he can while giving a loud 'ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh'.  It is just THE CUTEST thing... he raises his hand in the air while he does it which makes it even better.  

FIVE

Thankful for our military, and those who have served.  My Dad used to put this song on quite frequently, and I taught it to my 5th grade students studying American History.  We are blessed and grateful, and I look forward to teaching my son about our great nation.   

Hope you have a great weekend!

Thursday Confessions {5-26-16}

I just found another link-up...this sounds like fun!

Since I am just getting back into blogging, seems like a fun way to keep my on track!

ONE

I am an obsessive blog reader.  Since I read so many, and always seem to want to share things with my husband, I often will just tell him they are friends.  "Oh yes, my friend was writing about.." or "It was so funny, my friend posted this picture...".  Granted, I don't personally know any of these people but it seems like I know them like friends. 

TWO

I recorded the Billboard Music Awards and I know I'm not that old but WHERE DID ALL THE PANTS GO?!?!  

I seriously was blushing at some of the dancing.  And the outfits.  And the words.  And the hand placement.  Where did 'just singing' go?

THREE

Pinterest is my jam.  I could spend hours on there.  Hours.  I actually hesitate to tell people about my boards, or mention it because inevitably they will go on, and realize I have over 15,000 pins.  

Yes.  That is the correct amount of zeros. 

FOUR

I am eating super healthy these days.  After always always struggling with weight, being diagnosed with PCOS and hypothyroidism, then fertility drugs, and then pregnancy all in the past year, I am proud of what I have accomplished. 

But I may or may not have asked my husband to bring me home a vanilla milkshake tonight while he was having dinner with a friend.  

FIVE

I always eat the batter.  Cake, brownie, pancake.... I like to live on the edge I guess.  #whocaresabouttheraweggs #nevergottensick #yet

What's Up Wednesday {5-25-16}

What we're eating this week:

We have had THIS recipe TWICE this week because its so tasty!  

Other than that, we have been cleaning out the freezer so lots of leftovers and mismatched foods. 

My baby boy is just starting solids and he's been enjoying sweet potatoes this week along with pears, apples, oatmeal, We have found that bananas and green beans are not his favorite. #hetakesafterhisMama

What I'm reminiscing about:

My sweet boy just turned six months old last week.  I can't believe how fast he is growing!

Wasn't he just this sweet little newborn....yesterday?

What I'm Loving:

This age has been SO fun with my little guy.  He is so full of JOY.  His laugh is infectious, his smile lights up the room, and each day it seems like he is discovering something new.

What we've been up to:

We seem to have a pretty laid back schedule these days.  Between naps, play mat time, going for a walk, Nana's daily visits, cleaning up the kitchen, laundry, dishes, sweeping, baking, and reading blogs....we are pretty busy!  

What I'm dreading:

I started the school year, and had to go on maternity leave a bit early due to pre-term labor.  That meant a long-term sub would finish out the school year for me since I knew I wasn't planning on going back.  

However, that means that I have to clean out my WHOLE classroom.  Gulp.  

Thankfully, I have a sweet girl who is just starting her teaching career this fall and needs classroom supplies, so essentially I just need to pack it up all and put it in HER garage instead of mine.  But still. 

So. Much. Packing.

What I'm working on:

Mother's Day weekend, we built 4 raised beds.  Well, first we rototilled the side yard we have.  And by WE, I mean my husband. 

 The next weekend we filled them up with dirt, and then we planted!  So, I am working on a) not killing everything, b) patience to believe things WILL grow and c) learning about how all of this works.  Believe it or not, it is more complicated than plant, water, grow.  

What I'm excited about:

Blogging again!  I had a 'lifestyle' type blog for years...and then life just got in the way.  I was so exhausted coming home from school each day that I didn't feel like I had anything to say.  Then I had a teaching blog, and that was fun too, but since I am now a stay-at-home Mom, I thought I would give it a shot again.  Really enjoying it so far!

What I'm watching/reading:

While I don't watch the Bachelorette or Bachelor, I DIE over Sheaffer Told Me To's recap posts.  I usually end up reading them twice...once to myself, and then again to my husband. 

I am also working through James Dobson's "Bringing up Boys".  Somewhere recently I heard a quote talking about parenting/having a baby.  They said that the bet advice they heard was not necessarily to read books about giving birth and labor....that is going to happen in some way/shape/form no matter what.  But instead, focus on reading about parenting and raising your child as that will be determined by what type of parent you are, even from an early age.  I just LOVED this.  

Watching... everything is ending!  I still like my usuals...Live with Kelly, The Chew, and Ellen.  You can pretty much find these on my DVR at anypoint.  

What I'm listening to:

A few months ago, itunes started making you pay for their 'radio' services.  Not cool.  

BUT, I discovered Amazon Prime Music.  So, each day when I go walking, I plug in my earbuds, and turn on the current pop music...and off we go!  

What I'm wearing:

Mom life has me sporting spit up and baby drool; and baby led weaning has me sporting lots of baby food smears.  Throw in my comfy yoga pants, my workout pants, and a good old nursing bra.... nothing spectacular over here.  Just being real.  

What I'm doing this weekend:

It's Memorial Day, which means an extra day off for my hubby on Monday in honor of our nation's heroes.  We are headed over to his family's house where we will soak up family time, cousin time, and relaxing.  

What I'm looking forward to next month:

Walking!  Each summer, after my Mom is on summer break, my parents and I walk each morning through trails in our town. Three years ago, it was just the three of us.  Last year we added a dog.  And a baby bump.  And this year my little man gets to come too!

Thankfully it is wide enough for the stroller and the dog. 

What else is new:

5 nights in a row, the baby has slept from the time I put him down (between 6:30 and 7) until about 11.  Now if only he would CONTINUE to sleep...so tired.  

But I will take what I can get, and I love that he is sleeping so well! 

Show & Tell Tuesday: Favorite Vacation

I would probably say my favorite vacation was a spur of the moment trip my husband and I took to Hawaii a few years back. 

Now, I am NOT a spontaneous person.  At all.  

I make lists, just to check things off.  I actually put 'make a list' on my list.  That way I can have something accomplished as soon as I finish my list!

But, somehow, someway, my husband and I took the PERFECT vacation with about 48 hours notice.

I was teaching summer school, working with 7th and 8th graders in math.  My teacher partner was also teaching math, and he was taking his bride on a 30th wedding anniversary trip the following week.  #jealous

Somehow, my fingers typed in 'airline tickets' that night when I got home, and low and behold.... round trip tickets for $210 each.  SCORE. I emailed a friend who lives there and asked if we could come visit... next week.  She said yes, so the tickets were purchased and my panic set in almost immediately.  I don't do things like this.  How did this happen?

And then reality set in.  

A few days later I called to check in about when we would arrive, and she informed me that we could no longer stay at her house.  Uh-oh.  This kind of ruined my super cheap trip.  

Enter: my Mom.  She quickly called some family friends who lived in our old neighborhood and asked if we could stay there.  Thankfully they said yes, and the crisis was averted. 

As someone who literally packs WEEKS before a trip, here I am a few hours before we have to leave for the airport trying to figure out what to pack.   

Summer school ended, and the next day we got up at the crack of dawn and headed to the airport.  Was this really happening?!?!?!

And then another bump in the road.

"We regret to inform you, but your plane has been delayed until noon."  Couldn't they have told me that at 1AM when I was rolling out of my comfy bed? 

And then it was delayed until 5PM.  And then 10PM.  

We were supposed to already be there!  We were supposed to be enjoying drinks on the beach and getting some much needed sun on our faces before the start of another busy school year.  

But there we sat.  

In the airport.

They gave us food credit which we used to its full potential.  We also bought magazines, pillows, random chocolate, game books, and anything else to keep our minds off the fact that we were now MISSING OUR VACATION.  

We bought these so we could sleep.

I hadn't anticipated being COLD, so yes.  This happened.  #ihadbeenintheairportfor24hoursandwasgoingcrazy

This was NOT supposed to be our view for a whole day.  

Finally, at 1AM THE NEXT DAY, we boarded a new plane and took off to Hawaii.  

And it was the BEST vacation. 

No plans, no schedule.  Just the two of us for 10 days.  

We kept with the spontaneous theme and just...enjoyed.  

 We splurged for a convertible.  It was a much needed gift to ourselves.  And only 7 dollars more a day :)

 Island Snow.  The BEST shaved ice.

Hanauma Bay for a day full of snorkling.

Visited my old neighborhood and swam in our old pool!  I grew up here and learned to swim...so many memories!

 Beach life.  Exactly what we needed.

We ate a LOT.... and couldn't miss eating Hula Pie from Duke's.  Seriously.  The. Best. 

 It was by far the most spontaneous thing we have ever done.

Love the memories made!

Welcome!

Late last year, I hung up my teacher lanyard and became a stay-at-home Mom.  In between feeding, praying the baby sleeps, changing diapers, and staring at the monitor for hours, I sneak in some time for my others loves: reading blogs, loosing track of time on Pinterest, baking, pretending I know how to garden, and attempting to clean my house (I don't really love this, I just seem to spend a lot of time doing it...)..

Why "Boxed Cakes and Babies" you ask?

While I have a side business and bake cookies, cakes, do weddings, and generally make everything homemade that we eat.... my favorite desert is a good old boxed cake mix with a can of frosting on top.

And babies?  Well, having babies and being a Mom is something I have dreamed of since I was still a babe myself.  My journey to motherhood has been full of bumps along the road so I am soaking up each and every day on this great adventure.  My clothing, coincidentally, seems to also be soaking it up too.... soaking up each drool, spit up, poop stain, etc. :)

My hope is this blog will be an outlet for sharing stories, recipes, goals, weird things I find on Amazon while browing at 2AM since the baby is STARVING, and maybe even a place to find some common ground with other Moms who are in the trenches.

Here is to hoping that I get at least 2 hours of sleep tonight, and remember to post tomorrow!