Being Home.

Around the house, 

it's the time of year where playing outside is most comfortable, everything's a little more relaxed and it's hard for me to believe Brady J's upon his third year...

While Marcy sleeps her morning away, it's usually our special time together.

Of course, some mornings are wonderful, some become a nightmare... 

and some are just simply sweet.

I'm slowly learning stay-at-home mom life and so far all I have to report is that patience is key. 

I kind of figured that going into it, but the level of patience required is...well, I'm getting there.

What I've learned about my kids since I've been home is this:

-Brady wants to know what's ahead. I write down our agenda for the day and he's at ease...

he always wants to know what's next.

He's bossy. He taught me how to fish from his fort this morning. 

I never did it the right way, according to Brady.

-Marcy loves being home. 

She loves for us to sing to her. She loves to clap and dance.

...and she needs familiar surroundings constantly.

I took her to the mall the other day. She couldn't see me while I pushed her in her stroller.

But she faced everyone else in Greenville.

Big mistake.

So, to make life a little easier for us all, we've all become home-bodies.

I've always been this way. Brady always says "I love home" and Marcy is upset when we leave.

So, we stay.

Lilly's enjoying the time, too. The poor dog can't see, but chases her ball anyway.

Right now, Brady's sitting behind me in the chair and 

covering me with stickers.

We have nothing spectacular on our agenda for today, other than a grocery trip this afternoon.

And I love it.

You'll fall in love.

It was the week of dad's birthday, and I thought this might be

 -the- cake for him. 

So Brady and I got to work. Turned out pretty darn good.

Click Here for the delicious recipe!!

Of course, I used a bundt pan, and the icing, I'm a little ashamed to say...it was not homemade, in the least. I used (Betty Crocker, I think) buttercream frosting mixed with peanut butter. I cheated in a TERRIBLE sort of way on my diet. I basically inhaled the piece of cake. And it was so worth it. 

If you love chocolate, peanut butter, or any rich sweet in a major sort of way, this is for you.

...A very short post-worthy recipe you might want to try! Enjoy!!

Change is good and bread is not.

In the past week, things have been a little easier on me. I think God just gave me the patience I need or something, I can't put my finger on it...maybe I'm just adjusting to the change in scenery. 

I still know this is my calling, regardless of the difficult days. I did question it there for a second, if you want to know the truth. Change is good but change takes time. This applies to quite a few things our family is going through. Changes with income, though only slightly different, while we're grateful for opportunities that were made available. Change in our daily routine, because of the much longer hours Brian is working to support my new path. Change in the children's routine. We left the grocery store earlier today with half the customers knowing Brady tinkled in his pants. Because he told them so. Potty training is going pretty well. Marcy is on the move, crawling, not so much normally, but she gets around. Backward, sideways, she'll move. Brady doesn't nap like he used to.
That's scary altogether.

And becoming a stay-at-home mom, within the first week of becoming a nice little homemaker,
my yoga pants grew too small.
Homemade bread is truly a sin. 
Don't bother with it, it's just too good.

So now, alone, because truly I think my husband believes I'm crazy, I've lost ten pounds and I've got about the same to go. I haven't really had carbs going on my third week now, but I haven't even bothered exercising either. So now it's time to get back to that. 

It's now fall, which is exciting in itself, but fall makes me dream of food (like any other season, honestly) and well, I have to be a little more careful these days. Thankful for Pinterest and clean eating blogs, and all the good things the internet can be used for. 

They love each other, they really do.

Marcy's starting to mimic Brady's moves, which is another wild thought.

The look on his face explains a lot.

She's said "Da-Da", she cries what sounds like "Mama" and she loves to clap at everything.

She's just happy.

And he is too, and wanting to do everything...I mean everything, himself.

That came from his mama.

Marcy Lane 

is my angel, and I had no idea how I'd adore her.

A totally different love than for a son.

What it's like to know to the love for your son and your daughter.

To understand two different worlds of love. 

I've followed my calling.

Confidently, then no so much...

If I've learned one very important thing in my life...

 When your heart tugs you in one direction and deep down you know it would be so wrong to defy it, that's where you need to be. 

And so I'm here.

And blessings are here and more on the way.

The Chapter of Mom.

The blog. It's not forgotten. 

I've majorly underestimated the time I'd have free after two little ones on the go.

The "free" time I do have, it's devoted to being the housekeeper, cook, and finally when we see each other, the best wife I can be. Life with two is as wonderful as you make it to be. You can choose to see it as exhausting days (which they are) or you can choose to see each day as another blessed one to spend adoring your babies. That's also difficult on days where the only option you have is making the choice to stay afloat. I'm not sugar-coating life here, this is rough stuff. I knew this decision wasn't going to make life easier, but it would make mine right. 

Right for me. 

I'm a 25 year old stay-at-home mom of two little ones.

All you stay at home moms...with dreams of overachieving at this job, there's a child just wanting you to sing to her. To hold her. "Let's build a tower, mama." (I hear that one a lot.) 

I think this job is entirely different than I see with my eyes.

It's the most important kind of job. 

Last night, I read in my devotional,

"This is My desire for you: that you stay near to 

Me as you walk along your life-path."

This weekend, the boys headed out to camp together. 

They haven't made it home just yet, but my guess is that Brady ate entirely too many s'mores, I can only hope he brushed his teeth, and I hope Brian isn't ready to pull his hair out. 

I spent this magnificent weekend with the girls. 

Friday night, one of my dearest friends came by just to talk. We enjoyed plenty of popcorn and wine on the porch...the perfect beginning to a gorgeous weekend, don't you think?! The whole day Saturday I spent with mom. I never ever get to do this. We talked and talked and talked and I've missed her. We shopped all day, enjoyed Italian food, shopped some more. It was just good. And today, it's just me and my beautiful girl, soaking up what we can of a clean and quiet house. Resting while we can, watching movies and waiting to hug those boys again.

I've already learned that weekends really are for rest. I'm now doing the hardest work I know.

On top of being "mom", my mind is always wandering...

Here's what my mind is up to.

I've saved up a little money and bought a deep freezer. I've made 14 freezer meals so far and I'm smiling. Dinner is done. My crockpot is in for the wear and tear.

I've made two loaves of bread.

 And eaten them myself within a 5 day period. 

That stopped quickly when I couldn't fit into anything I own...

That was after I made this. Ladies, this is THE EASIEST thing to make. The center of the cake was swirled orange and purple, too... Just use the colors you want! I've had a few people ask me again for the recipe and here it is...

The Most Fun Cake Ever

One day I might open my eyes and say to myself "Morgan, you really need to stop loving food so much." but that's never going to happen, I can promise. Just to assure you, Marcy and I watched Julie & Julia this morning. I love food. My next venture is finding more recipes that are not so easy...Ones that I can feel a little more accomplished... that lean toward the healthy side. Is that possible? 

Delicious recipes are welcomed!! Please Share!

Away from the food...

I'm also starting a bible study and possibly a small group which I'm really interested in. These days are so consumed with the care of little ones, it's time I take care of myself. 

In a way that benefits myself in a positive way! I've got another very dear friend who has moved back to SC and sort of in perfect timing. I cant really explain, but I know how life gives you chapters, seasons, whatever you want to call it, and I'm moving on to my next one. 

And I'm just happy she's here to share it with me. 

She's someone I admire and truly look up to.

I thoroughly believe in letting the wrong things go and moving on with the right.

I've got some work to do, but it's time.

So, I'm excited to say, 

the page is turned and I'm beginning another chapter.

I really believe having a passion for everything you're doing is key to a happy life. 

Passion for those around you, everything you do, and everywhere you are.

I love being hairstylist.

I love being mom.

I love to cook.

...and who knows what's next...

In nine years, I met my handsome, we both started business life, had two babies, and now I'm doing something my whole heart believes in. 

It's just exciting, I'm not sure of a better word.

Hope you all have enjoyed this wonderful chilly weekend and 

you've all done something you love.