grateful...

I don't know what brought this on, but I was just going through all our old blog posts from the beginning. This blog is my journal, really. I don't keep one and I have a terrible memory... so this is it. I should have started earlier.

Anyways, for some reason and I hope I'm not the only loco one, but every time I look at pictures from the past it makes me sad. I guess it's more of a bittersweet feeling, but the bitter part seems to dominate over the sweet. It just gets me thinking about so much, it's overwhelming.

It's been a crazy year for us. So much has happened and changed. For one, I would have NEVER thought in a million years that I'd be living in Tennessee of all places. Not even six months ago would I have thought that. But here we are. And I couldn't be happier. It's such a peaceful feeling knowing that you're where you're supposed to be.

The main thing I keep thinking about though is how grateful I am for my kids. Man are they wild... (I'm reflecting back on bedtime tonight - AGH!) but I would be lost without them. Seriously lost. There's no way I would have had the motivation nor the determination to get through some stuff if it weren't for them. They are my buddies. My best friends. They mean so much to me, just thinking about it makes me wanna cry. I love them with all my heart and just hope that I can raise them right. That I can be more patient. Be understanding and loving... enjoy these crazy years instead of wish they were over. Just be at this place in life and live it to the fullest. Enjoy the great times and survive the hard times...

This all seems like a jumbled mess, but such are my thoughts.

Life is good people. I'm grateful. I'm blessed. The end.

Soccer

Well with the new move, we've been trying new things. Mariah's been playing soccer this year and things are progressively getting better. Mariah's running on the field more often and Robbie is running on the field less. Things are looking up! For the first little while there I was wondering why I even went, but she's starting to get the hang of things and Robbie seems to be as well. Yay!

I finally remembered to bring my camera with me tonight and was miraculously able to snap a few pictures during Mariah's game in between chasing my crazy Robbie around.

ready for action!

water break!

worn out!

my sweet girl...

maddie

some of the gang...

The only times Mariah kicks the ball is when it goes out of bounds and they need someone to kick it in. Otherwise, when the ball comes, Mariah just moves out of the way! But she gets out on the field and runs around and has a good time. And most importantly, she loves the snacks at the end of the game!!

i don't believe it

can this be true?? a picture with ALL FOUR of us IN it? together? SMILING???? yes folks, it is a rarity... but here we are - the davidson fam:

i have so many more pictures to go through, but here's one i love of mariah and tina from our trip to the zoo a couple weeks ago...

the prayer of a child

So you were probably thinking this was going to be some sweet, spiritual post didn't you? Well don't get your hopes up. I had to share this story because I thought it was so funny and didn't want to forget it. I even went to the extent of writing it down right after it happened.

So today at lunch I was giving the kiddos their food when Mariah said, "Don't forget prayer Mom!" So she said the sweetest prayer for us. She thanked Jesus for all the things he created in the world, for the food he created, for always telling us what to do, for all the toys Santa brings, etc. I mean, really precious prayer. My eyes were a bit watery afterwards...

Then after about 1 minute she says, "I want to say my own prayer. That was a prayer I said for all of us and now I'm going to say one for me." Then she proceeded to pray:

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for creating Mariah Carey.
Thank you for making our whole world.
Thank you for creating our bones.
Thank you for all the police officers.
And thank you for everything else.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Oh! And thank you for the birds. Amen."

something's better than nothing

well it's been a while since i've posted anything so i thought i'd just do a short update. a boring update that is because i have no pictures... but oh well. i have so many pictures i need to go through and get on here. i'll get it done one of these days. just not today.

1. mariah is playing soccer!! it's going okay... i'm not sure if it's the best sport for my sweet & sensitive girl, but i think it's going to be a good experience for her (at least i hope it will be!). she had her first real game yesterday and it had some highs and some lows. she fell over a girl that tripped and that was pretty traumatic for her. but she kicked the ball all the way down the field another. most importantly: she made it through the game - and got her after-game snacks! she'll be turning FIVE next month!! we're going to have her party when my family comes out here - which i am SOOOOOOO excited for! she already knows what she wants - a cowgirl party.

2. robbie will most definitely be playing soccer next year - he enjoys it more than mariah does! i have to keep him off the field and drag mariah on! robbie update: i'm not going to sell him -he's doing MUCH better than he was a few weeks ago. he's still my wild and crazy robbie, but things are most definitely better. less crying everyday and more smiles. yay. speaking of crazy, his vocabulary has been growing like crazy! he's talking so well, which makes communicating with him much easier (and less frustrating - for both of us!).

3. i'm still working at getting some photography clients, and haven't had too much success, but also haven't been trying that hard... i had some flyers made up to bring into ob doctor's offices for maternity and newborn sessions, so we'll see when i have time to do that. i'm feeling more and more at home here - meeting new people and making friends which is really nice. i hate the period when you move somewhere new and you just don't have any real friends for a while because it takes time to make them... i remember feeling that way when i went to college. like i had so many 'friends' and was having so much fun, but still managed to have that 'all alone' feeling. there are lots of great people here, so i'm looking forward to getting to know them better. i really do love it here. i know it's where we're supposed to be.

4. josh started school and is doing well and is extremely busy. yesterday he went to school from 8 in the morning until 3:30 and had to be at work at 4:00 until 11:00 pm. so he's doing some long days. we're just looking forward to being together as a family again!!! it will be soooooo nice! and of course all the sacrifices will pay off and make us stronger as a couple and as a family... i just have to keep reminding myself that.

mr. robbie

The Ballerina and the Photographer

I got my new backdrop system (so excited!) and so I thought Mariah and I would try it out while Robbie was napping. She got all dressed up in her ballerina outfit and we had some fun. She wanted to take some pictures of me too and she actually did a pretty good job...

Mariah's Room!

I finished Mariah's room! I realized that this is the first room that I've actually really decorated completely before... it was so much fun (and lots of work), but I think it turned out pretty good and she loves it. She helped me do lots of it too - it was our little project. I just love all the bright colors!

Is it cute or what? Now on to the rest of the house...

I miss...

... my family.

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. " ~Desmond Tutu

My Riah

perfect timing

So we went to visit Josh this weekend... and there will be more pictures etc. from that. We went out on our second camping adventure ever since Robbie was born. The first was a complete and total disaster, so it's taken us over a year to recoop and try again. This time was a success, but more about that later.

The drive is a little over three hours from Cleveland to our house. First of all, Robbie was just about all the way better (he had been sick for over two weeks prior) and while we were camping got totally sick all over again. Total bummer. And you want to know the worst of it? (Confession coming...) I was more concerned about myself (mostly my mental well-being) than him! Anyways, so he's super sick and we're driving for what felt like all day long...

We finally FINALLY pull up to our house! I'm tired, trying to talk on the phone, carry in a ton of crap, get the kids inside and say hi to the neighbors all at the same time. Robbie takes off down the street and I have to throw down the groceries etc. to go get him. The story goes on... finally we get in the house.

Problem #1: It smells like crap. Problem/Explanation #2: Mariah tells me that there is in fact crap sitting in the toilet. (keep in mind, we've been gone six days) Problem #3 and #4: I didn't finish doing the dishes or take out the trash before we left... so the house smelt horrible and now I had all this stuff to do on top of bringing everything in from the car and unpacking it... to say the least, I wasn't in the best mood.

Mariah comes upstairs to 'check' on me (I think I had been yelling at the plunger which kept flipping inside out and getting NASTY POOP WATER ON ME!!!). "What's wrong mom?" I told her I was just tired and grumpy and sad that our house stunk. She gave me the best hug ever and told me I could hold the soft pillow she was had in her hands and her 'mana' (her special blanket she sleeps with). Then she wanted to open a package we had gotten from my mom.

She pulls out some fun goodies for her and Robbie and then something for me... magnets for the fridge! (I love magnets!) She pulls them out one at a time as I read them out loud - 'Hope' 'Peace' and 'Dream'.

I smiled and realized that everything will be okay. Talk about perfect timing... thanks Mom.

Knoxville Zoo

The kids and I came down to visit Josh for the weekend because he wasn't going to be able to come see us this week with his work schedule. We met in Knoxville (half way between the two) at the zoo to break up the trip.
The kids had a great time. The zoo was so huge that we didn't even see the whole thing! They also had a play area, similar to the museum in Johnson City that the kids spent most of the time in. It was fine with me too because there was air conditioning! It was so hot that day!!
Josh had to leave to go to work, so he left Mariah's carseat under my car for when we got out to the parking lot. I was pushing both kids in our huge stroller up this GINORMOUS hill (okay I'm exaggerating...) and was soooooo hot. I finally made it out to the car and some jerk had stolen our carseat!! It all worked out fine though because we got her a new one and she loves it... but it was just one of those moments.
Here are some pictures from the day...

My little future doctor/vet...

Crib Craziness + A Million Pictures

So I was talking on the phone to Monica, then my cousin Daniel, and then Rashauna (they were all together at the time) and I was in my room. The whole time I was talking I could hear Mariah and Robbie laughing and I could see Mariah running back and forth between her room and his carrying stuff, but didn't think much of it. Robbie was still in his crib from his 'nap' - ya know one those ones where they never actually go to sleep... anyways, so since no one was crying I thought I'd enjoy the time talking to my sisters and cousin.
But then I started hearing other noises. Mariah ran into my room and grabbed my bra and some other clothes... So at that point I decided I should get off my lazy butt and actually go check on them. And this is what I found: (see below) I call it crib craziness. I was laughing so hard and telling Rashuana about it - she said I should take some pictures and I'm so glad that I did because it somehow turned into a total photo shoot... and yes, that is a bra hanging out of the crib.

I was looking at all these pictures thining Robbie was being so good at letting me take his picture... but then I realized it's because he had his pacifier - or 'hAP HI er' as he calls it.