Choose Your Own Adventure

A few weeks ago I was sitting in a new house, in a new city with a new(ish)born. The three year old was running in circles pulling a stuffed dog toy around by a leash shouting out random lines from the Octonauts. Griffin (the real dog) was growling in his usual grouchy way and there were cardboard boxes all around us.

Grace's look for unpacking- swim suits and snow hats

These two are the sweetest siblings. Grace loves making her little brother smile.

It's CRA-ZY to think that this time last year-like this exact time- we were moving into the townhouse in Murfreesboro. Fast forward one year ahead and we are now a family of four. Cole survived one year on the night shift, which let me just tell you, takes its toll on you physically and mentally and on the family as a whole. We decided to take the leap and accepted a great job offer in Charlotte in order to be closer to family and other opportunities. All of this meant another dreaded move- probably like the 12th one as a married couple!

Not only are we still recovering from the chaos of moving, we're also recovering from the stress of selling our house (which was burglarized). Even with an offer at our very first showing, the whole real estate process has left me with a lot to be desired. I've also lost a little faith in humanity and can't shake the feeling of being violated. Stealing is wrong, peopleI'm trying my best to find the silver lining in the situation, and at least, at the end of the day we found a buyer fast, we are moved into a house that has a little more space (a playroom!) (a yard!), and we had insurance to cover the theft and damage. 

We are missing some wonderful friends that we left behind in Tennessee, but we plan to visit soon when Auntie Jen has a place for us to stay. Until then, we are looking forward to getting settled and doing some exploring in Charlotte. Grace is already inviting kids in the Chick-Fil-A play place over to play, so I think she'll have no problem making new friends. We're also excited to be nearby some family here in Charlotte.

Great grandparents visiting NC and meeting Brax

We've even already had our first visitor! Grandma came to visit for her Spring Break, and we hung pictures, went to see Cinderella at the movie theaters and took a day trip to IKEA. How lucky am I to have such a wonderful mom?

Braxton loves selfies (ha!)

#mymomismyfairygodmothertoo

This Year I Choose Joy

(Source)

"We have to choose joy and keep choosing it."

-Henri J.M. Nouwen

Happy new year! 2015 is officially here. So far, I'm a fan! It still feels fresh and new and full of possibilities. We've had family visitors and even some sunny (winter) days.

2014 was a year of transition and change. 

We left life in the Army for life in Tennessee. 

We said goodbye to our first house, became landlords and simplified life with the purchase of a townhouse.

We made time for family and celebrated our love and each other. 

We cheered for my dad's medical victories from afar. 

We found out we were adding to the nest... A boy! 

Our little girl turned three and prepared to become a big sister. She danced and played, made friends and went to school. She blew our minds with how smart, sweet and funny she was. 

We bought a big girl bed for our big girl and set up a nursery for out little guy. 

Photo by Christina Clark Photography

We wondered what we'd name him....and then we welcomed Braxton Edwin Anderson one month early on December 18th, 2014 at 9:52 pm. 

We celebrated Christmas as a family of four and look to the new year for the adventures that await.

Last year I wanted to FOCUS. 

This year my resolution is to choose joy. Truly enjoy life's moments and live deliberately. That is my goal.

(Source)

Happy 2015! Let's make it good. 

Math In My Head Lives On + (18 Weeks)

I started this blog about 4 years ago when I found out we were expecting our first baby. We were also PCSing to North Carolina to begin Life In The Army: Round Two. Since then, my blog has highlighted our daughter's birth, a new house, surviving a deployment and getting my AFAA Group Fitness Certification to teach Stroller Strides. It's been a place where I post birthday wishes, recipes, crafts, DIY home projects and writer's workshops. My loyal readers include my parents, my sister and some of my closest Facebook buddies. Despite my low subscriber numbers, I've surprisingly passed 25,000 page views, mostly from Pinterest traffic! 

Recently, I've been struggling to find time to update the blog with purposeful posts. For a while I was toying around with the idea of changing the name of the blog from "Math in My Head" to "Lilacs and Lemons." I liked the sound of it better and I was hoping it would make a better title and more focused blog. BUT... after playing around with logo designs (fun) and looking into changing the blog address, I decided to leave the blog as Math in My Head. It works for what I use it for- family updates, ramblings, and creative projects- and I like that there are people of the "interwebs" who find my posts interesting or useful. What do you think of my new header logo design?

I'm sure the next year will bring many more changes, challenges and adventures both personally and for my family. Meanwhile, I enjoy having the outlet to write down memories and share stories and ideas. My goal is to continue posting announcements and milestones, but I also want to have some weekly and monthly features:

• Lilacs and Lemons will be a wrap-up off the week highlighting the good and not-so-good. 
• My Dinner Menu will be, well, my weekly dinner menus for the month. Revolutionary, I know! I've been trying to do a better job of meal planning, so this seems like a great way to keep track of what works and get some more ideas. 

We'll see if this is too ambitious, but I will adjust as necessary. 

Now for a little update. We are starting to feel settled in Tennessee, but we definitely wish we lived closer to my parents, so that we could be nearby to help and support my dad as he undergoes radiation treatment for Prostate Cancer. Down goes Cancer!

Cole and Grace are getting ready to start school (MBA for him and Pre-K for her). I'm surprised by the number of supplies required for a 2-almost-3-year-old!

Practicing dressing up. 

I'm feeling extra motivated to get some projects done around the house. I ordered some curtains for the bay window in the living room and got some new throw pillows for the couch. Surprisingly, I chose a gold/mustard yellow color... I hope that it makes the room feel warmer and more homey! I also hung a gallery wall of pictures in our office/den and rearranged the desk and rug. Next up window treatments for the kitchen and shelves to organize the downstairs closet.

Not the greatest picture, but I'll get a better one when the drapes are up. 

Hung using craft paper taped up as a template. Now, to update the photos...

I'm counting down the days until my sister, Jennifer, comes to visit in October! We can't wait to show you middle Tennessee and introduce you to some our new friends!

Baby Anderson # 2 is growing, and I can feel little movements now. We should be able to find out if we're having a boy or a girl in 2 weeks! I'm excited to start planning his/her nursery, and Grace is very curious to find out if she will have a little brother or little sister. She started commenting that my belly is big because it gets in her way when she tries to sit on my lap.

17 weeks

18 weeks with this cheese monkey!

#18weeks

Cravings: Hot lemon and honey, turkey sandwiches 

Feeling: Bigger, but more energetic 

Happy Father's Day!

Oh, hey there little blog. It's been a while. Sorry...we've been busy, though!

We went swimming,

picked strawberries,

played baseball,

 ran around like superheroes,

 

and played in the rain puddles!

Today is a special day, though, because it's Father's Day! A day to stop and say thank you to the men who make the world better just by being rad dads!

Grace is so lucky to have such a wonderful daddy, and I could not be more proud of the wonderful father Cole is. I love that he can play "bad cop" to my "good cop," he makes Grace scream with laughter as the Tickle Monster and plays music for her, "so she'll have good taste." Happy Father's Day, Cole! Thank you for all you do for our family! We love you!

Grace made a card all about her Daddy. (With a little help from her Momma.) 

Grace drawing Daddy, who apparently looks scribbly and orange.

Find your free printable at 30 Days Homemade

I decided Grace couldn't have all the fun, so I made one for my Dad, too!

Cheers to all of the wonderful fathers who love, support, nurture, play with and teach their children the important lessons in life. It is a privilege to be my dad's daughter and to watch my sweet husband be Grace's dad. 

Grace and Daddy "watching" TV together

At the finish line of the Nike Women's Half in S.F. 

UNR Graduation 

Happy 

Father's

Day!

We can't wait to see you, Dad, in just a few days in California! We're due for an ice cream date, our treat! Love you!!!!

Happy Half Birthday to Grace!

Our sweet girl is half way to three and sweet as can be...except, of course, when she's a raging tyrant! Grace is smart and funny and loves to run as fast as she can despite the number of times she trips and falls. She loves pirates, bubbles, trains, accessorizing, princesses, pizza, her puppy and music. She is picky, strong-willed and dramatic. She knows her ABCs, shapes, fruits, veggies, animals, and can count to 20!

Wagon ride with some buds!

We've been busy settling into our new home, going on picnics, play dates, walks and bike rides on the river. Grace is learning baseball and starting swimming lessons. We very much miss being near our friends from NC and our family members, but we are enjoying life with a toddler and all there is to do in middle Tennessee.

Here are just a few of the conversations we've had recently with our hilariously precocious Grace:

Me: Do you need to go potty*?
Grace: No, no thank you, Mama. I ok. 
Me: Are you sure?
Grace: I good. 
*Potty-training is still an ongoing struggle.  

Grace: I like your necklace. Mama, you talk to animals? 
Me: Yes, just like Sofia. 

Daddy: Hi Grace! Can I have a hug? 
Grace: No, no, Daddy! Get me outta here!

Grace: Mama, I so much huuungry. 
Me: Would you like some apples or goldfish?
Grace: I want to eat goldfish in my mouth. 
Me: How do you ask?
Grace: Puuleeeeease.

Me: Are you a baby or a big girl?
Grace: I baby.
Me: Are you sure you're not a robot?
Grace: No. I not robot. I baby. 

Grace: Where's your elbow, Mama?
Me: Right here. Where are your elbows?
Grace: My elbows are right here. Where's Daddy's elbows?
Me: On his arms.
Grace: G's elbows on his arms, too?
Me: No, they're on his legs.
Grace: My elbows are on my legs, too.

Building sand castles with Griffin and Grace!