stay-at-home mom

It is official (as of a month or so ago) that Jamie and I decided the best decision for our family is for me to stay home and raise Hammond (and the future Hargather chilen' to come).  Unboundary was super gracious when I let them know, and the truth is, I like to imagine I'll always be a part of that fun, quirky, crazy, loving family. :)  (I've already been back to visit three times!)

But...I am LOVING being home with my little man.  Motherhood is no walk in the park (have I mentioned how tough that first month was?!), but I do feel like we are in a great place.  We've worked hard, and Mr. Hammond is now on a really great schedule, and he gets more adorable, lovable, and just plain precious everyday!  So, although I'm homebound most of the time (by my own choice, as I try not to get him too off schedule and it's just a little more complicated to get out of the house now), I've found a way to get so many house projects completed.  Here are just a few...

re-painting a side table from the guest room

(it's the one originally intended for the nursery, but

then we had the gray fiasco that I referenced here)

making a bulletin board for H's nursery

And the one I'm most proud of...

drapes for the living room!

We've been wanting drapes for about as long as I've been wanting to learn to sew.  Well, my sweet Aunt Kathy helped us kill two birds with one stone when she invited me to Carrollton for a day of sewing (another benefit to stay-at-home-moming?  my new office is mobile :).  What better way to practice than on our new drapes?!

oh, the bachelorette

Yes, once again, I'm hooked.  And I just have to say...I am pretty much all team Sean.

But a little bit intrigued by her and Jef.  He definitely makes me laugh!

I'm not one of those people who likes spoilers AT ALL.  So, alas, I'll stick it out the next few episodes with baited breath...waiting to see who Miss Emily Maynard is going to choose in the end.  Why oh why is reality tv so addicting??

father's day

For Jamie's first Father's Day, we ended up having quite the crew.  My sister, Bob, and mom & dad were all in town for a wedding.  So we decided to have brunch before church to celebrate the dads.  

Scout and I woke up early to get started!

family

the spread pretty much came straight from Lindsay's repertoire of good for you eats!

so while we were full and satisfied with the yummy food, we didn't feel 

overly stuffed or in a food coma.

[pretty much all my faves: eggs in a cup, granola + yogurt, fruit, + oat pancakes]

there's nothing like a post-church afternoon nap with your dad

how precious are they?!  so sweet.

Jamie and his boys

That night, I brought out the best for the best new daddy in town.  Almond stuffed dates wrapped in proscuitto, topped with manchego and rosemary.  Tuna steaks (using my mom's amazing marinade), edamame + sun dried tomato salad.  And a bottle of wine I'd been saving since my trip to wine country last year with mom and sisters.

All in all, it was a fun day celebrating a great man.  I really can't think of any one I'd rather be on this ride with than Jamie.  He's a man of great faith, impeccable character, and [in my opinion] pretty darn good looking.  Plus, he's a great daddy to our little boy, and he serves our family so well.  

Hope you all had a great Father's Day as well!

thoughts on motherhood

These are some random observations I've made during my first few months of motherhood...

- I have figured out why most new moms are constantly in work out clothes.  And although some of them are actually wearing them to work out (you know, to work off the extra pounds the baby left), here are a few other reasons why work out clothes are the outfit of choice...  

There are times when a new mom just needs to get out of the house.  So you go for a walk around the block.  Sometimes multiple times a day.  If you're already in shorts and a t-shirt, you're all set.  

Another reason (for me at least)...they are the ONLY clothes that fit during this terrible in-between stage!  And when I say fit, I use that word loosely.  But, it's a lot easier to fit into a pair of stretchy leggings or shorts than it is to do so in my pre-pregnancy jeans.  And most of my t-shirts are not form fitting!

Have you ever seen a new baby spit up?  Let's just say we do lots of laundry, and I'd rather not be in my nicer clothes when the spit up comes in full force.  

And the final reason...when it's just you and baby all day, sometimes (especially in those first few weeks) it's hard to find the motivation to get dressed.  Let's just be honest.  No, I'm not "letting myself go," just takin' a little break. 

- It's really hard not to talk to Hammond in baby talk.  Have you ever tried it?  Talking to an infant in normal tone?  It's just not natural. 

- Even I can live off less sleep than I would have thought.  

- People are just as nice to me now that I've got a cute little baby with me as they were when I was pregnant.  Of course, they hardly notice that I am there, but why would they, when the most precious little boy is staring them in the face.  So I still get to have the random conversations with grocery store employees, neighbors, etc...just this time it's all about Hammond. :)

- For some reason I feel the need to explain to everyone that Hammond is a family name.  Maybe it's because as soon as they ask me his name and I tell them, they give me a slightly funny look.  Then I tell them it's family, and the look goes away.  Like I've explained it all.

- Once we became parents, for some reason it just become natural for Jamie and I to refer to each other and mommy and daddy.  Kind of odd, but I guess it makes sense considering my mom still refers to my dad as "dad" when talking to us.  

- It really is the greatest thing in the world.  Being a parent, that is.  I don't think I could love the little man more.  Even though it's hard and different and sometimes inconvenient.  It's awesome.  

Waumba Land

Today we took Hammond to Waumba Land for the first time ever.  As in, we registered, signed in, and dropped our 10 1/2 week baby boy off and went to church without him!

Now, we love our church and it's only possible for us to do this knowing that he will be taken great care of and in the hands of amazing believers who have a desire to see our son grow to know God.  But it was a range of emotions for the dad and I.  

I love our little man, but I didn't struggle with being away from him for an hour.  What got me all emotional was thinking about how these unique ministries at our church are going to have a part in Hammond growing to know Jesus.  The primary responsibility is on J and I, but we LOVE that our church partners with us in such amazing, creative, and intriguing ways.  And today was just the start of many years, environments, and opportunities that Hammond is going to have.  

I happen to think that Buckhead has some of the greatest children's' ministries around, but I am still nostalgic about my home church and my time spent there as a youth.  I'm so looking forward to watching Hammond grow and learn and enjoy his time on Sundays!

a blurry capture of a big moment :)

mom, dad, and uncle rich