I just can't settle...

There is something about me that has truly always been a part of me, even before I was a Christian, but even more now that I am...and that is that I just can't settle. I just can't settle for mediocrity, especially and specifically in my marriage. A marriage is one hardest but amazing things that we experience in life. With that said, it can be SO EASY to just get content in your marriage(not in a good way). It's like when we get married we just think that we don't really have to try anymore because no matter what we are going to be together. When you were dating each other you tried so hard to impress each other, you always made sure to be caring, and went on dates all the time because you knew that there was no permanent attachment and you wanted to do everything you could to stay with that person. When you get married its like you realize that you are together for good and no matter whether you try hard in the relationship or just allow life to pass you by, you will still be together.
I really feel like God definitely never intended for marriage to get that way. I heard Jerry Falwell once say "if its Christian it ought to be the best". Now, I know that sounds extremely cheesy and probably a little "churchy", but it really does ring true. God commands us in his word to become more and more like Christ, who was completely perfect while on this earth. If that is the case, then in our marriage and in the rest of our life we should never settle for mediocrity but always try to strive for the best we can, continually trying to get better.
Robbie and I have really tried to live this out in our marriage, especially in the last few weeks. We had really just gotten stuck into this rut, our marriage wasn't bad or great, it was just kind of lingering somewhere in the middle. We were never meant to just "be along for the ride" in our marriage. In saying this, I am really enjoying being able to fall in love with my husband all over again. It's like we are dating again, we are actually trying to put each others needs and wants before our own and its awesome. I am so excited to be on this journey with Robbie, he is such an amazing man, and I am so glad he, along with myself, doesn't want to settle for mediocrity.

Life is just passing by...

Do you ever have those moments in your life as a Christian where you just suddenly stop one day and realize that life has just been passing you by...what I mean by that is there are times in my life unfortunately where I find myself just letting life pass me by without stopping to invest in the most important relationship there is...my relationship with God. I feel like sometimes life just gets so crazy, things are happening so fast, that I find myself letting day after day pass without quality time with the one that makes all things possible. I am so thankful to serve a God that allows me to come back to him time after time after I have so foolishly let our relationship slip away, and just welcomes me with open arms. How incredible is it to know that NO MATTER WHAT I do, I can always return to the one who loves me more than ANYONE! Incredible...

Celebrating 2 years and new life!

On December 28th we celebrated Caleb's 2nd birthday. I can't believe how incredibly fast my little man is growing up. It was a Monday night and we had some of Caleb's friends over for a party while I was VERY pregnant with Carson. He had a lot of fun with his friends and started crying when we sang "Happy Birthday", lol. He did a great job this year with opening presents and was actually interested and got excited about his presents. I am so proud of my 2 year old little man that is growing up so quickly and learning new things everyday. He is truly a blessing and brings great entertainment everyday! He is starting to talk in sentences and gets really frustrated when you can't understand what he is trying to tell you.

After everyone had left our house from Caleb's birthday party and we got Caleb in bed and were cleaning up, my water suddenly broke! I was only 37 weeks but ECSTATIC to not have to be pregnant anymore and to get to meet my new little man! My brother and his wife who were in town for the holidays came over and stayed at our house with Caleb so we could go to the hospital. We wound up having Carson Graham McLaughlin at 9:51 am the next morning.

I remember contemplating many times while I was pregnant how I would possibly able to love another son as much as I love Caleb, but as soon as they laid Carson on me and tears were streaming beyond my control, all those thoughts were completely gone. I loved him more than I could have possibly imagined! I am so blessed to be the mommy of two amazing little boys and can't wait to watch them grow up together!

My Almost 2 year old!!

I have recently started to study/practice hard with photograpy and this picture of Caleb is from a recent practice shoot I did with him. I have the best subject to practice on! While looking at and editing these pictures I couldn't even believe how incredibly big my little man is getting. He does something new everyday and continues to look more and more like his daddy! I am so thankful for such a precious gift in my life. I always say that everyday I have the best entertainment I could ask for, haha. I don't think I will ever get over what a blessing it is to be the Mommy of Caleb, and soon to Carson. WOW, what an incredible life!

Baby Boy!

Well, here is the big news, we are having a BOY! Yes, another one. We went
yesterday morning at 9:15 to have my ultrasound done. I was really excited because originally my ultrasound wasn't supposed to be until Friday, and my Docotor called me on Monday and asked to reschedule for Tuesday, and of course sooner=better for me! ;) So we went yesterday morning and I think EVERYONE except for Robbie was expecting them to tell me that I was having a girl, but we started the ultrasound and after a little shaking him around so we could see in between his little legs, there was no denying that we were having a BOY! I was a little disappointed at first, and felt a little tear well up in my eye, but then I realized that Caleb was going to have a little brother, VERY COOL!

Well we went out to Concord Mills last night to do a little "celebrating", woman style, and got to do a little shopping. When I suddenly realized in the Carter's store that I was going to be able to dress Caleb and Baby Boy #2 alike I got REALLY excited, haha. Anyway, the point is, it will be really fun and a huge blessing to be the parents of two little boys. I can't wait to meet our new little one, and see what life brings us. We are truly blessed, thank you God!

I'm an AUNT!

I am so excited to say that I am now an Aunt! My brother and his wife just had a beautiful little boy named Gavin Ray Hooks on July 25th! I had the priveledge of going and staying with them for the first week they were home, to help them in any way I could and of course to get some good quality time in with my new little nephew, Gavin! When they came to pick me up from the airport the day I arrived and I looked down at little Gavin for the first time I couldn't believe how incredible TINY he was! I guess after a year and a half of life with Caleb I had forgotten how small he was when he was born. Caleb weighed a pound less than Gavin at birth, CRAZY!!! It was such a blessing to be able to be there with them to help when I could and just see them as new parents! (they are GREAT by the way) I got there on a Tuesday and stayed there without Robbie and Caleb until Sunday when they came down. We then Stayed until Wednesday as a family. It was really cute to see Caleb's curiosity with Gavin, because we will have our own little bundle of joy come January. Caleb likes trying to put Gavin's paci in his mouth, haha, so cute! I love all of these monumentous moments in life that we can look back on a smile about! Life is an amazing thing!

Here we go again...

So a little over a month ago, on my birthday I might add, I found out we are expecting again. This came as quite a shock because we were not "trying" to get pregnant, and with Caleb we had to go through infertility treatments to get pregnant. So when I just had this feeling and decided to take a pregnancy test, I was VERY surprised to see that little window say "PREGNANT"! But, after the shock has started to wear off we are getting excited. I am scared to death to be the mom of two kids, but can't wait for Caleb to have a playmate. This pregnancy has been VERY different from my first one. I have been way sicker that I was with Caleb. Sometimes just getting up and going to the bathroom can seem hard right now. Crazy, I know, but its true. Things have smells that never did before I was pregnant. Now EVERYTHING has a smell, and not only has a smell, but a smell that makes me gag. I am hoping and praying that after I get through the first trimester the nausea will start to diminish, because if it doesn't this is going to be one heck of a pregnancy.... "Lord please show me some mercy..."

The things he does...

Sometimes, well all of the time, being a mommy to a 15 month old son is an adventure! Tonight, while Robbie was cooking dinner, yes Robbie, not me because I hurt my knee pretty bad today. I somehow got tripped up on Robbie's foot or leg or something and my leg twisted, and my knee popped out of place. I experienced the most excruciating pain I have ever felt! I went to urgent care, waited for a couple hours to be seen, got x-rays done, and finally they told me that they thought it was my MCL that was hurt. They gave me a brace to wear, crutches, and some very powerful pain medications. Sometime in the next few days I am supposed to go see an orthopedic doctor. Anyway, all of that to say...Robbie was cooking dinner while I was sitting on the couch hurting and feeling sorry for myself, while Caleb was looking for an adventure. So all of the sudden from the kitchen I hear Robbie yell "Oh my gosh Samantha, you have to come see this!" Now, picture me with my hurt leg, huge brace on, trying to "jump" up off of the couch scramble to grab my crutches, and hobble over as quick as I could to see what he was talking about, and this is what I found...

All I could do was laugh...I wanted to be that protective mother that jerked him off of the chair because he could slip and fall at any moment and get hurt, but I just couldn't do it. This was just too cute and HILARIOUS! Caleb had, all by himself I might add, pulled the rocking chair over from the corner of the room, climbed up in the chair, stood up, and started playing piano. I think we might have a child prodigy on our hands! ;)

These are the moments...

We got to go to the beach this past weekend for a couple of days and it was so much fun! I just love being able to get away from everything with my two men and just spend time together. It was a gorgeous weekend and the place we stayed was AWESOME! (Dunes Village Resort) The rooms were awesome, but the best part was the indoor water park! I love the water and always have, so it was fun to get to enjoy the pool and water slides even though the water in the ocean was too cold to enjoy.
Those moments, the moments where I could just relax with my family and not worry about anything else, are the moments I live for. I can't wait to go on more random spontaneous trips with my family in the near future!

I love you because...

I am one of those girls that absolutely LOVES the simple SWEET things, and my husband doesn't always remember that( of course, he's a man, lol), but he does every now and then, and when he does its usually something REALLY sweet! So, this Valentine's Day I didn't get diamonds, or roses, or anything like that, I got my man's love. Not only did he just say "I love you", he let me know WHY he loves me, which I especially love to hear because then I know he really does, haha. I woke up Valentine's Day morning to a really cool thing on my mirror. Robbie had taken pink sticky notes and spelled out "I love U". At the top it says " I love you because..." and then on each of the other sticky notes below is a reason why he loves me. PRETTY SWEET!