In just 1 month...

I will officially have a kid. 3 really signifies the end of babyhood. And truly, other than the fact that Max is still in diapers (sad, but true fact) I really do have a kid. It is amazing how quickly the time between infant and kid flew. He really is a wonderful little boy; fun to be around, has a great imagination and a very sweet and kind heart. He is also a challenge to be around; very stubborn, very aggressive, and known for being just a tad dramatic. He's my miracle, my very own Max and I plan to enjoy this last month with my baby and look forward to all the adventures I will have with my kid!

Like sands through the hourglass....

...so are the days of our lives. I swear I really don't watch soap operas. Max is pretty much in charge of our remote during the day, and so far he doesn't seem too interested in dramas. It was just the quote that came to mind when I was thinking about blogging. It is already January 17th. How'd that happen? The month is already more than half over.

I'm on my 3rd week of graduate school and it is going mighty well, thank you very much. Max started back to his school last week and him and mommy both enjoyed his day out of the house. We also went back to Holy Name for our job working daycare a couple of afternoons a week. In short, life is just moving on.

The most exciting thing to happen to us lately was we got to watch Baby Jackson. Max was actually really quite thrilled to have Jackson over to "play". The two boys seemed to be thoroughly entertained by one another. Jackson was a sweet boy the entire time he was here and we look forward to having him over again soon!

I have a rare moment in my life. The house is completely quiet. Max was playing in his room for his "quiet time" and I noticed it was a little too quiet. I was worried what I would find but when I peeked in his room, but he was just curled up in his bed fast asleep. Lane is at a movie with some friends, so I am left with some free time I didn't know I would have.

Being the responsible student, I probably should work on some homework, but I'm thinking it might be more fun to curl up with a book. School work or frivolous reading? Who am I kidding: definitely frivolous reading!

Did I mention...

I started graduate school this week. I still find that all a little surreal. I never really imagined myself going to graduate school. It was something I spoke of in a real abstract sense and didn't really think was where my life would take me.

Having said that, I am so excited to be back in school. I love learning new things about education and so I suspect that the next 18 months will not only be extremely challenging but really interesting. My first class is Ethical and Legal Issues in Education and I've already enjoyed the material for this first week. I don't know if that is because it was really that interesting or if was just interesting in comparison to Dora the Explorer.

We're struggling a little bit with the financial side to graduate school. Luckily the program I am in is pretty reasonable but even coming up with a reasonable amount of money can be challenging. We decided against taking out a student loan and we decided against using generous family to help foot the bill, which would have been the easiest solution. Luckily, I'm allowed to pay my bill monthly (interest free) instead of paying up front each semester, which has given us a little bit of wiggle room. But not a lot of wiggle room. Basically we are just tightening up on the finances and saying a little prayer that it works out in the end. That is often how we manage our finances. Not the most intelligent option, but its all we got at this moment. Being an adult can be really hard, especially when it comes to money. So, friends: we love you but going out to eat or anything frivolous is off the agenda for the moment (except for special occasions, like a certain birthday that arrives at the end of the month). But you are always welcome to stop by and enjoy a homecooked meal with the Nelsons.

A lot of our trying to tighten up the budget will come from me working on trimming the household budget. I'm doing a lot of this by researching how other mom's run a frugal household. There are lots of blogs and I feel a little like sharing those blogs with you. One of my favorite mom blogs is "Simple Mom". Visit. It really has lots of wonderful tips for organizing your household.

Today I let Max play with his Christmas gift from Resa. He loves his clickstart computer and was very sad when I told him his 30 minutes of computer time was up and the computer would come back out tomorrow. Thank goodness I don't have a time limit on the computer. Its good to be the adult. At least sometimes.

Joy

I noticed that my post about 2009 had the word JOY a lot! But, seriously, how can you not have a life filled with joy when you have a son like this (seen here brushing the werewolf's teeth):



And a husband like this (seen here taking another self portrait):



So, I apologize for the overuse of the words joy (and also happy, laugh, and fun) but I just don't see how it is avoidable when you live with the guys I do!

2010.... really?

How can it possibly already be 2010? It seriously just seems like yesterday that Lane and I were celebrating 2004 and the beginning of our life here in Kansas City. Now we have been here for SIX years, have become homeowners, worked several different jobs, and started our family. Time just keeps on slipping through my fingers and with joy, love, and sometimes sadness I am watching our life continually change. When I look back on 2009 there will be several things that I will forever cherish:

~Max really becoming a child. This was the year. The year when I no longer had a baby and all of the sudden had a little boy. A boy with a sense of humor and a zest for life that brings immeasurable joy to each and every day. I know I am completely biased, but I seriously don't know anyone funnier than Maddox.

~I became secure in my role in life as Mom. I struggled giving up my teaching career. I struggled giving up the Mrs. Nelson part of my identity. This was my first FULL year at home with Max. I'm not going to lie and say it was perfect, I've certainly had those frustrating moments. But all in all, I am happy to be nothing more than Mom. I can't imagine missing these days with him and I'm so glad that I've found the joy and happiness in this new chapter of my life.

~Lane and I celebrated our 9th anniversary and during these 9 plus years I have learned the one absolute truth of marriage: that love is a choice. The day that Lane and I chose each other was the luckiest day of my life and every day I am grateful that we continue to make that choice. I can't imagine a better partner to travel through life with.

Brief highlights of 2009: our very first Monster Truck Show, Max turning two with Curious George in Oklahoma, sledding for the first time, turning the nursery into a big boy bedroom, my mom retiring from school and visiting a LOT more :), going bowling for the first time with Max, welcoming Jackson Danger to the world, flying for the first time with Max, attending and participating in cousin Sara's wedding, celebrating 4th of July "Nelson style" with friends and family, going to the "lake" with Laresa, Jonathan, Lane, and Max, letting Max go to OK by himself with the grandparents for a WEEK, Max's first day of parent's day out, rollerskating with Max for the first time, going to the pumpkin patch, trick-or-treating for the first time with Max, making my first Halloween costume for Max (thanks Catie), Max getting his second set of ear tubes and getting his adenoids taken out, welcoming Kalliope Sage Harris to the family, experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a two year old, making our very first snowman and laughing, laughing, laughing more than you can possibly imagine.

2010 is here and it is already slipping quickly away. I hope this New Years blog (that is just a few days late) finds all of you happy, healthy, and joyfully anticipating what 2010 will bring!