Hobbies.

I have to admit that I never thought I would ever have "hobbies". I have always been so busy in sports & school growing up I never got the chance to really seek any anyway. Well, things have really changed... for the good.

I have hobbies.

Here are a few of the things I have come to enjoy:

Blogging. (obviously)

Taking photos of Jace & our family.

Running.

Reading. (never thought this one would happen)

Mentoring others. 

Health food stores. (when I have the time)

Starbucks (does that count as a hobby?)

Baking at Christmas time. (like my mother)

These are just a few that I have really taken on in the last year or so & I am happy to say they are apart of who I am. My sister-in-law has taken up sewing. Go see her crafts here. I have one of her aprons to wear while I bake & I love it! 

Things I wish I enjoyed or was talented at:

Cooking gourmet meals, sewing, cleaning, play the guitar, sing, & scrapbooking. Maybe someday.

What are your hobbies? 

Pictures taken last night of Jace:

I hope to get a nice camera someday! 

Stepping up to the plate: at home.

"

This Momma is stepping up to the plate: at home.

Any wife & mother to a husband who travels a lot can relate to my blog today. When your husband is gone on the road sometimes you just have to step up to the plate & take care of business. Well, not necessarily business at that kind of plate but business at home. When your husband is gone you must be able to "pinch hit" for him until he returns home. I'm not comparable to Lenny Harris (holds record for most pinch hits) but I'd like to think I am pretty good at coming in to bat for Jeremy at home while he is gone.

I play catch, wrestle, watch basketball, pray, unload strollers, lock doors, take out the trash, wash dishes (yes, my husband does our dishes...spoiled I know), & even kill bugs.... I hate bugs. Last night I killed not one but 2 bugs. Yuck. I think I told Jeremy a million times how disgusted I was that I had to do that & how I wish he was here to do it for me.

Stepping up to the plate while daddy is gone is a big job. When you are a pinch hitter you are expected to get a hit coming cold & confident off the bench... you have to be that good. Well, this momma is doing her best to step up to the plate while daddy is gone & when he comes home she will be glad to hand over the job until she gets the call up again on the next road trip. 

I take on the challenge willingly... sometimes.

Television.

(I hope I have 3 boys someday)

Today Jace & I have spent the whole day at home. We have gone on a run, done laundry, dishes, baths, bible study on skype, lunch, & he has even taken a morning nap. As I was finally sitting down after laying him down for his afternoon nap I had the urge to grab my blanket & plop in my recliner to relax. I grabbed the remote & flipped on the T.V. Jeremy & I have both said we don't want our family to be consumed with the television & really we don't watch much unless it's: Veggie Tales, Sportscenter, or TVland..... I have come to enjoy The Voice too. Today as I was "relaxing" I was trying to remember the last time I just sat down, curled up, & truly relaxed without trying to multi-task. Let me tell you,... it felt gooood. 

We hope to continue to be an active family & teach our kids to play, read, or go outside over watching tv... (unless it's nap time of course), however, today I have to admit that I enjoyed my T.V. time in the recliner. It was a nice escape from the mess I probably should have been cleaning up in the other room. I don't plan on getting up until Jace wakes up.... don't judge ;)

When was the last time you just stopped & relaxed? 

"Sometimes it's ok to just "relax".  Enjoy it!"

-quote by my husband to me after a long day.

Chasing Dreams.

Everyone always asks me how I deal with letting Jeremy follow his dream & how they admire me for allowing him to go for it. I appreciate the compliment with all sincerity, however, sometimes I think people just misunderstand. 

We both have dreams & we both are chasing our dreams... together. 

Jeremy cheers me on everyday. He encourages me to follow my dreams as a mother/runner/trainer. He compliments me on the things God is doing in my life. He makes sacrifices behind the scenes... like letting me go do my thing in the off season months. Keeping Jace while I go for my long runs. Standing out in the freezing cold to watch me run. Holding me accountable for my goals. Just as much as I sit in the stands & cheer for him he is doing the same for me. My dreams might not be as noticeable or obvious but trust me they are there. I think as a baseball player's wife we can let our own dreams get put on the back burner & by no means does anyone mean for that to happen... it just does. I am so thankful for a husband who encourages me to chase after my dreams. Together we are working to put our dreams together as a family & chase after them, even if that means we make sacrifices for one another.

*I pray that we are examples to Jace & that the passion God lays on his heart is one he will chase after... we will be cheering for him!

I pray I am the encourager & cheerleader Jeremy needs me to be everyday... not just in baseball, but in all the dreams we have for our family even if someday those dreams change. 

Who is your cheerleader in your life? Who are you encouraging?

Memorial Day Weekend

Watching Fireworks after the game.

First of all, I want to say Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all the men & women who have, currently do, & who will serve willing for our country. You are appreciated greatly!

Our Memorial Day weekend consisted of, well you guessed it, baseball :) Friday night Jace & I got to enjoy our first (that could actually watch) fireworks show after the game. Jace wasn't sure if he liked them or not. He wasn't frightened or thrilled, just completely focused. It was fun!

Saturday we enjoyed a normal baseball routine day! Jace met a new little friend, sweet 9 month old Brooklynn at the field. Her parents are the Munters & we hope to spend some time with her & her mommy this year! It's always great to meet another family!!

Sunday was a day I can look back on have a good laugh. Jeremy pitched on Sunday. Our usual gameday consists of us dropping Jeremy off at the field, going to Target, & grabbing Chick-fil-A before the game. Well, we did just that... somewhat :) We dropped Jeremy off at the field, went to Target for some much needed diapers, then attempted to go to Chick-fil-A & realized it was Sunday...ugh, Chick-fil-A such a dirty little trick to play (Tim Hawkins line- I like how they are closed for Sundays but love that place!)! So, we found us somewhere to drive through for Jacer & headed to the park. The wind was CrAzY & if anyone would have seen me trying to open doors & get our things together they would have thought I was nuts. Once I had everything loaded to go inside & about to pick Jace up I realized he only had one shoe on.... He had taken it off in the cart at Target & this mother forgot to grab it! Awesome. Windy, Jeremy's pitching, & my poor son doesn't have shoes. I decided it was too late to go back bc we would miss Jeremy's outing. We attempted to walk inside & then there it went... Jace's hat... We chased it all the way down to the clubhouse. Now someone really would be laughing. Got the hat & inside we went! The nice Eegee man (amazing slushy stand) brought me my favorite Pina calada eegee w/2 spoons for Jace & I. At this point I was praying Jace would fall asleep on my lap... who am I kidding? This is his highlight of the day: baseball & not to mention it was bark in the park night so he was thrilled to see all the dogs. No way was I going to keep this boy on my lap for 9 innings. We spilt the slushy on my shorts & decided that this just wasn't going to work... I think the lady sitting behind us a few rows felt sorry for me... she doesn't know this isn't near as bad as other days... it was just funny I'm sure. I finally decided to go search for Chrissy & see if she had a blanket in the office we could borrow & about that time Teresa showed up with a big blanket. It was perfect. Jace loved being barefoot on the blanket. He stood there all night, no problems. He also spent about 3 innings just laying on my lap. I was so thankful for Teresa, that blanket, & for an awesome little boy who behaves so well so that I could watch Jeremy pitch. 

With all of that said, Jeremy pitched great! He went 6.1 innings & got his first win! So proud of my husband! Loved being apart of it.... even with all the chaos! :) 

Here are some more photos!

Momma & Jace

Jace with his serious face.

He likes looking at himself on the Iphone camera.

Can't get over how much this looks like Jeremy.

Family Lunch.

Jace loves him some spaghetti!

Family Lunch: 

Instead of having a family dinner we have what you would call a family lunch. This is the one time of the day we have together as a family, sit around the table, & enjoy quality time. Whether we have sandwiches, spaghetti, or decide to go out to eat we take full advantage of this time together. Breakfast is usually whatever each of us grab (Jace likes eggs & fruit) & dinner is split up between here & the ballpark depending on the day. I enjoy our family time & hope to broaden our menu for lunch! 

Take advantage of your family time! It's precious & priceless.

Baby fever?

(Photo taken by Aunt Megan)

So, I have to admit... I think I am coming down with something. What is it you ask? Baby fever. Yes, it's a little early for us to be thinking about baby #2 or is it? 

The other day it seemed like everywhere Jace & I went we saw little newborn babies. I never knew how bad I would want multiple kids. Seriously, I always thought I would only want a few but the more I get older the more babies I want. (don't worry Jeremy knows this, lol) I know having one is nothing like having 2 or 3 but oh I sure hope God blesses us with the opportunity to find out! We don't plan on having another baby quite yet... However, I hope at this time next year I am big & pregnant... well, maybe not the big part? ;) I can't wait to see Jace as a big brother! He definitely already has the personality of a big brother & I hope that sticks. 

The cure to my baby fever is to run this marathon in December & really put my heart into it for the next 7 months then we can start talking babies again... until then I will hold my baby niece tightly every chance I get, along with any other babies we are around & enjoy my quality time with Jace before the Hefner's become a family of 4. 

Thank you Lord for the blessings of children!