Moms and Minis Easter Egg Hunt

Love these Mamas and their Minis. 

Happy Easter!

Life Update

Addelyn was interesting... I thought she was going to have a hard time gaining familiarity to our home however during the day she was fine, she just wanted a lot of attention and play time, nothing unexpected. However at night whew that was a different story. The first night, we didn't have any furniture yet so we set up the pack n play but she wanted nothing to do with it. We were exhausted so the co-sleeping began. Let me first add I swore up, down, left and right that I would NEVER co-sleep. And there we were two exhausted parents with baby in the middle. BUT when we laid our heads down to sleep we slept. I mentioned earlier the only time I could really make progress was when Addelyn was asleep so from 8:00pm-4:00am were my productive hours, so from 8:00 pm-4:00 am Addelyn would sleep in the swing, the motion would put her back and we got so much done, we ROCKED it. So at 4:00am I would scoop up Addelyn and give her a bottle for her nightly feeding and put her in the bed with us, so I wouldn't have to get up with her in the night. We slept from 4:00am-8:00am and juggled from 8:00am-8:00pm. A move with a baby is something I never thought we would do but we did and we survived again thanks to friends and family. Addelyn's sleeping habits were way messed up but thats life, we are finally almost back to where we were before we moved, if not better and I am beyond grateful for that. We are finally starting to understand what sleep feels like again!

Tucker on the other hand. WHEW he sure was good at making things harder- not intentionally of course but talk about a handful. Tucker has always had issues with separation anxiety and because of that he has learned to open doors... the doors in which we leave out of. He is an ESCAPE ARTIST. At the other house before he had figured out how to open the door, he would scratch and scratch and scratch, and chew his paws till they bled. So when he figured out how to open the door we were good with that, no blood or damage to the door GREAT! I knew moving would be hard for him so I made sure to have a transitional period. For a week we took him everywhere with us and reassured him that this was our new home etc... WELL, Kevin installed a dog door for us we had always wanted one but our patio door was all glass. Our neighbor had one and Tucker would escape out of our house into her yard, through the dog door and into her house he went. So the dog door thing was new to us and it wasn't instinctive for us to make sure it was shut etc... I did however go around the back yard and put bricks where there were gaps under the fence because he's like a little rat and can squeeze through anything to get out. So I left for the first time for an HOUR AND A HALF. I came home not to a dog but a mop full of mud... PAW PRINTS EVERY WHERE... all over our brand new home... the carpets, the tile, the walls, the window sills, the couch, the doors, the bed. IT WAS AWFUL, I actually broke down and yelled in front of Addelyn for the first time. I let the situation take over me. All I could think of was DEFEAT... we finally got things unpacked, set up etc... and there our brand new house was... (in my eyes at the time) RUINED. It took me twenty minutes to stop and tell my husband what had happened. It was of course a saturday and most carpet cleaning companies were closed we had just spent ALL this money moving and on the house, more than what we had planned. There were so many unexpected expenses and I just wanted to cry. I hadn't planned or envisioned the process being so hard, stressful, time-consuming, and financially wearing. So I got in touch with a after hours carpet cleaner and had the entire brand new carpets steam cleaned along with our couch. The mud was so bad due to all the freezes we had recently had since the ice was melting Not only did he do this once, not twice but three times. You'd think my mommy brain after this would remember to close the dog door. Luckily the last two times the mud wasn't wet enough to track paw prints everywhere. In the first two weeks we had been living in our new home Tucker had been bathed more than I had. We put rock down where he was digging and remembered to shut the dog door, he adjusted and now we can leave the house stress free, dog door open and come home to no mud. Tucker no longer feels the need to dig to china to try and find his way to us or his old home.

Unfortunately due to the lighting, the dark carpet and my iphone you can't see the ample amount of  mud but below... the patio looked identical as far as all the tracks of paw prints that were in the house. IT WAS BAD!

It has been a transition for all of us- Hutto is so different than Round Rock and Austin. There are NO trees, which means the wind is crazy. Our flowers, trees and easter decorations are definitely feeling the wind. We miss the trees so bad, of course all of the homes have trees in their yards but they are small and are only in the neighborhoods. There is no HEB?! I have to drive to Round Rock to do our grocery stopping. At times when I've forgotten something at the store, we've had to skip out on what I had started cooking due to the 20 minute drive there and back. It's honestly like going to "town" LOL. I will say that it has taught me to be more intentional with my time and to be more detail oriented when shopping- aka Hutto vs the Mommy Brain, I'm getting better at it. Luckily the toll is nearby so it's usually a straight shot if I need to run to somewhere like Hobby Lobby. The train goes by OFTEN, I really didn't think we would be able to hear it.... well during the day we can't but in the evenings we can hear the lull of the train. At night the train goes by every 30 minutes if not more. At first we thought it was because it was the weekend, and we joked about "Friday night train night" but now every night is "______ night train night". We also joked that you should be able to "test drive" a home before you buy... but after getting everything moved set up and hung on the walls, it's very faint and almost unnoticeable orrr maybe we tune it out? I was so worried about being able to meet people and make friends in our community, thankfully we have! HONESTLY, I had only driven down the back county roads to visit my husband at work and only knew of two neighborhoods, the rest that I had seen were trailers and farmland. I thought everyone out here was going to be redneck, retired, or a farmer. But it is not at all-that way. The people here are just like anywhere else I've lived. Way to go Gina, for stereotyping and being naive but hey I did promise to be real here. We left some AMAZING neighbors and we wish we could have brought them with us. Luckily we are finding out that our new neighbors are pretty awesome as well. To say the least I've learned to slow down and enjoy life in a new way. My FAVORITE thing about Hutto is Jimmy is SEVEN minutes from work. I'm sorry did you read that? SEVEN!!!!!!! It use to take Jimmy 40-45 minutes to get home and most nights he wouldn't get off until 7:00 or often even later. Now we have dinner at a normal hour, and have family time in the evening. Jimmy is able to come home on his breaks occasionally to spend time with us over lunch. Since he no longer commutes we either get more rest or more time to sit over coffee together. I wouldn't trade anything in the world for the extra time we now have to be a family. 

The move was hard for all of us, as well as the timing. Nothing really went as planned and it's been a huge change but we're all better because of it. Transition isn't easy but now that we are settled we are all mostly adjusted.

Specifically in times of stress and chaos I try to stop myself and ask what is God trying to teach me right now. God is constantly working on our hearts and testing our faith and in all of this, the word patience just keeps popping up in my head. Something that I'm great at in some ways and in others it's non existent. With other people I consider myself patient and understanding. With myself not so much. I've always said I love change but not transition. I struggle finding patience in the projects I start and cannot finish right away. I struggle with the process. I struggle with starting something and not finishing it. I am proud to say that this experience God has revealed himself at large and is pushing me to be patient with myself. It's so easy to be hard on ourselves and I'm learning to take one step at a time.

I have ranted quite a bit here but it was needed. It feels good to tell my story of change and trials and to announce what God is doing our lives.

Stay tuned for our new home tour!

The MOVE

There's so much... I really don't know where to begin, I suppose I'll just start from the beginning. The Mortgage company had told us it would take around six weeks to finalize our loan. We started packing as soon as get got our approval (five weeks prior.) Well, we got a call 5 weeks later and they told us we were ready to close. We weren't 100% ready but all we had left were odds and ends, lighting fixtures and taking the furniture apart... Jimmy was given 3 days off, had to go back in on Saturday and then off his usual Sunday. Day 1 (Wednesday) Our appointment to close was at 10 and I remember thinking to myself... Okay we'll get the papers signed, run to get the moving truck load all the boxes in the moving truck and spend the first night at our new home. On Day 2 I had hopes the guys could get all the furniture moved while I unpacked all the boxes and took care of Addelyn. Day 3 was supposed to be spent putting all the furniture together, installing the appliances and lighting fixtures. Day 4 Jimmy had to go back to work I figured I could decide where I wanted everything hung and set up decor etc... Day 5 he could hang everything up, So that Day 6 Monday- we were all settled Jimmy could go back to work and focus. Welllll that isn't even what remotely happened.

Real World: Day 1- We went to close at 10am, Didn't get out of there until 1:30 ish we had to drive all the way out to Hutto to get the keys, eat something, and by then it was 4:00 when we got back to Round Rock. On the way home I was already feeling so defeated with how day one was unfolding I started calling a gazillion movers trying to get quotes and had a couple guys meet us at the house and EVERYONE told us that it was a 12 hour job just to move everything and put it in the garage and that didn't include taking the furniture apart and setting it back up. On average we were quoted 100 dollars an hour plus trip fees and mileage. So back to square one we call U-Haul to get the truck, we rent a 26 ft truck and watching Jimmy drive that home in rush hour traffic was to say the least SCARY. So we arrived home with the truck around 7:00 pm loaded as many boxes as we could, I was still packing while he was loading and we left to head to the new house at midnight, having to stop for dinner and gas we arrived at the new house at 1:00 am. Jimmy was so defeated he decided to suck it up, stay up and unload the truck that night so in the morning they could book it to the house to start taking everything apart and loading the truck. Day 2 Lets just say I didn't get to stay at the new house and unpack I still had MORE packing to do, 12 hours later... two car loads, TWO 26 foot u-haul truck loads later.... it was the end of the day, the guys were BEAT and decided to call it a night. Here is what's hard about moving with a baby: They are expected to make a million trips back and fourth and constantly be in the car- have I mentioned how much Addelyn use to love the car? Try singing the itsy bitsy spider an entire 30 minute car ride 10 times, LOL. I look back and can't help but laugh- but at the time not so much. Once you finally get out of the car babies want attention and it's such a juggling game between getting the car unloaded and meeting baby's needs. Honestly the only time that I personally could be productive was if Addelyn was sleeping so the sleepless nights began.... I started staying up till 3 and four in the morning to get things unpacked so on to DAY 3 Jimmy's last day off, there was still a good 1 and 1/2 moving trucks full of stuff at the house, so another day went where Jimmy and the guys had to spend most of his day at the old house packing stuff up. We only had the truck for three days so it was crunch time. Six o-clock came around and it was time to drop off the truck, a girlfriend of mine came over that day to help with Addelyn and I finally felt like I was making headway, there were still two car loads waiting at the house to be picked up Sunday but we did what we could and on Day 4 Jimmy returned to work. Day 4 was Saturday which meant Jimmy's mom-Nana was off work and was able to watch Addelyn, so off to Nana's she went. I got SO much done by that night everything was at least out of the boxes. Day 5 Sunday: Jimmy's day off came around and he was able to finally get the rest of the stuff from the house and get things hung up. It's so crazy what expectations we set for ourselves when the reality of things is so different. Before plans originally were put in place I literally thought that somewhere in there we would paint the entire house in a day of course with help before we started moving anything- CRAZY. All in all we had 90plus boxes, at which I quit counting. You'd think we were hoarders. So 4 1/2 26ft u-haul loads and 7 truck loads later we got everything out of the old house and into the new.

How we made it happen? WE didn't, thanks to family and friends things were able to happen as they did. I think if we hadn't had the help we might still be unpacking and setting things up. Jimmy's brother Kevin came into town and stayed for four days with us, as well as his lovely lady Mirah. Kevin was such a trooper with helping with all the heavy lifting, installing FIVE chandeliers and an outdoor lighting fixture, installing our front door, mounting tvs to the wall and helping put together furniture and SO SO much more. Is he amazing or what?! Thank you so much Kevin! Mirah helped me get organized, care for Addelyn and unpack boxes as well as Lynn. They are both such selfless giving ladies... Thank you! Jimmy's cousin Tyler pitched in a lot of help with by taking everything a part and moving the REALLY big stuff. Jimmy's momma watched Addelyn for an ENTIRE day so I could get stuff done. I have such an amazing family and I'm blessed to have loved ones to call on when things like this happen.

Salutations!

Hello, from Hutto! I'm elated to announce that we're getting back to the basics at the Wilcox Abode. It has been a journey to say the least. So much has happened in the past two, three, FOUR months and I have so much to unfold on this little blog. Bare with me as I travel back in time. Honestly, I don't even know where to begin. Life has been moving so fast on top of transitioning and getting settled into a new "city". Yes I said city, although Hutto is only a measly 20 miles from our previous home, life out here is much, much different and feels almost as if we have moved to a far away land- Ha, more on that later! Between packing, the home-buying process, moving, unpacking, nesting, decorating, tons of milestones and precious moments, I've been doing my very best to be present and in-tune with this new life we have commenced. Although the blog has taken the back burner, I'm so happy to say I've been able to focus solely on our little family and really enjoy all of these little precious moments. It was a much needed break but I'm so glad to be back!

Life Update:

We purchased a new home, packed, moved, unpacked and still have workers coming in and out of our home to finalize details. Let me tell you, moving with a baby is a MISSION in itself. The timing worked out perfect regarding to her mobility now. I don't know that we would be where we are today if she hadn't been a little blob then. I feel as if I have voyaged across the many seas, trekked through the desert and conquered Mount Everest. More on that later.

Transitioning has been a trial in it-self and I can honestly say I'm on the fence to declare who it was harder for- Addelyn or Tucker: Funny stories to come!

The move resulted in yet another sleep training fiasco but we are finally nearing the end! Looking forward to sharing the do's and don'ts- learned the hard way.

Addelyn is MOBILE! Since our move she has gone from sitting to balancing on all fours, rocking, scooting, and (drum roll please) CRAWLING! I honestly think it won't be long before she's walking. She is pulling up on EVERYTHING and we've already had our first big fall. Are we ever prepared for these petrifying experiences that our little ones endure? GRACE! Little A is talking- YES TALKING! Addelyn says Mama, Baba, Hiii and signs baba, more and waves. BIG GIRL! She has a mouth full of four teeth and 2 cutting through the gum as we speak. We pierced her ears- was terrified yet so worth it! She's grown out of the baby bath tub and is now in a big girl bath seat. She wants nothing to do with th exersaucer, walker, bouncer or anything that confines her. She is into EVERYTHING! She has leaped and is on the brink of another one- oh joy. I need to rewind big time and upload Addelyn's monthly updates and so much more, I have been itching to document and share all of these milestones with you!

We've celebrated two holidays: Valentines Day, St. Patricks Day, and are thrilled that Easter is around the corner.

We have hired a babysitter- oh Lord help me. I am THAT Mom. Who knew? Everyone- but me? YUP-ha! More on that later.

I have some vulnerable things to share regarding beating isolation and striving to be Super Mom. I am so blessed to have been connected with a fellowship of families that have the same love for Jesus. Thank you Ruthie Hart. These emerging friendships are so cherished and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to be surrounded with these sweet people. We are currently in search of a new church that is closer to home. I have recently started a Mom's Club and it is quickly evolving into something so special- let me add it has become my sanity! What better way to celebrate hump day than to get together with other moms and let the kids go crazy?! These ladies are so wonderful, coming as they are, and sharing their experiences, giving advice, having fun and just being REAL.

The past four months have been LIFE CHANGING. I've learned so much from Addelyn and my heart as been touched in so many ways and by so many people. Stay tuned as I backtrack and relive all of these fun, crazy, stressful, amazing and funny milestones!

Mama

OKAY. Call me CRAZY but I think someone is saying MAMA!!!!! She looked at me this morning and just straight said it with arms reaching for me, Ma-Ma. I reached for the camera and unfortunately I only got bits and pieces due to there not being enough storage on my phone (bummer). At first I thought no way, she must be babbling but she continued to respond to me with ma-ma, ma-ma-ma-ma-ma. She's really into copying us right now so I'm gonna take it! She may think everything is Mama right now, and may not know how to use it properly but SHES SAYING MAMA! So I'm not gonna get into the formalities of counting this as her first word or not however I am going to REVEL in this milestone and celebrate our little peach's new achievement!!!!

Happy Hump Day!

First Valentines Day

If you cannot tell... we are teething!

A little bit of spoiling for the hubs and I....

And of course for Little A too... Flowers from Daddy!

Looking forward to a much needed date night tonight!!! Thank you Nana!

Happy Valentines Day to you and yours!
- Love, The Wilcox Bunch