Couser Family Retreat 2015

     I had been looking forward to this weekend for a couple of months. It was highly anticipated and planned for and I was determined that nothing could ruin it. I have to say, most of the time, my expectations are so unrealistic that it inevitably leads to disappointment of the worst kind; but for whatever reason this weekend met my expectations and greatly exceeded them. This left me both extremely happy and wishing it could have lasted just a few days longer. . . Maybe next year!
     It all started when Gray and I began pushing for a scheduled family vacation. We wanted something we could plan on, a time that would happen annually apart from the major holidays. Currently I am the only Couser girl not living thirty or so minutes from home and as a result I can feel somewhat forgotten. A lot of life happens and that's especially apparent when you aren't a part of it. Thankfully my parents jumped on the idea and found a resort cabin of sorts in Cumberland, Kentucky. A good halfway point. So on this past Friday, after work, Gray and I loaded up the VW Passat with all our bags and Tobias and headed North. Not a direction most Southerners go (which totally worked to our advantage on the return journey!).
     We spent Friday night, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday morning with my parents, my three sisters and one of my sisters boyfriend. We explored the local scenery, took a hike where we saw Cumberland Falls and Eagle Falls and partook in the local beach scene at Lake Lure. The rest of the time we ate some amazing grub, celebrated birthdays, played lots of games, laughed till our bellies hurt, did morning devotionals, roasted marshmallows, and talked about life. It was so refreshing and truly fed my soul. There is nothing like family. I will forever cherish the memories we made this weekend!

Dan and Victoria were in charge of the pancakes on Saturday morning.

Tobias enjoyed several unconventional toys when he wasn't being snuggled by Mimi or Aunt Francesca.

 Breakfast together followed by our devotional in Colossians might have been my favorite thing!

This kid got a lot of love.

He was supposed to be reading about baby animals, not looking at me :D.

We celebrated five birthdays all told. Dad, Dan and Dominique were the first night and me and Francesca were the second night. 

My cakes were scrumptious. Strawberry with cream cheese frosting. Soooo good!

I love this girl. So wished she lived closer. . . not the most flattering pic, no makeup and all, but the weekend was all about relaxation and comfort we only got dressed up for the family pics!

And now for the family pictures. We used a makeshift tripod using two stools. Got to hand it to my dad, that was pretty inventive and worked perfectly. I need to add tripod to the list of things I bring next year ;).

Not naming any names, Grayson (cough, cough), but someone was a little too excited about the silly picture!

This one is hands down my favorite!!

The original girls! Dominique-18, Victoria-21, Me-24, Francesca-22

 Ty looks pretty unsure here. . .

 But he ended up accepting it, hehe.

Love both my big family and my little family. Is it next year yet?

Sleep is crucial.

     The last two weeks have been hard. Maybe the hardest yet. Two adults and a child who are sleep deprived, up countless times at night, and fussy every waking hour do not a happy family make. I finally reached the end of my fuse. I caved and bought a sleep training book and I talked to my mom and several of my mom friends. I listened to advice, stories of what worked and what failed, assurance that this time would pass; consolidating and stashing snippets here and there of things I would use, encouragement I would call upon in those rough moments and then we did it. We tried a method and stuck too it, even when Gray couldn't handle it I stepped in and vice versa. 

     Since Sunday night, the babe has slept from 7:30ish to 4/4:30 when I feed him and put him back to bed until 7:30 in the morning. Can I just say, sleep is so crucial. For me and my family a happy baby means a happy mum and a happy dad. We definitely have some zzzzzz's to catch up on, but we are on the right track. The texts and conversations I've had from friends checking in, meant the world. There is definitely a light at the end of this tunnel and I have more confidence knowing that I can overcome tough parenting obstacles. These pictures were taken in the midst of getting back on track so he still has that tired stare going on in a couple of them, but I love the purpose they serve. What a great reminder of where we've been and where we never want to return, so help me!

     On a side note, he doesn't seem to be bothered by grass, something that, according to my mom, I hated. He is as curious as ever and everything, I mean EVERYTHING goes in his mouth. I am loving and hating this stage. His adventurous spirit is inspiring. Oh and the giggles and laughs and tired cuddles and those chunky baby feet and fat knees, gosh! I'm totally gushing, I'll stop. Six months on Friday. Man oh man.

Mum and Tobias

     It is so hard to get pictures of Tobias and I when I'm the photographer of the family. I have to be super intentional and almost always they are planned. Hopefully the home videos will show my "personality" because candid photos are a rare treat. Thankfully I am able to convince Gray to take photos every once in awhile, below is the product of one of those times. It is important to me that I am a part of the photos that my kids will look back on someday.

Morning Snuggles

     I think I'm going to be photo dumping for awhile. Just trying to catch up and post a lot of the pictures that I've just been saving to my computer. Looking back on some of these makes me realize just how much he has grown. Tobias at three months vs. Tobias now at five and a half months is drastically different. I fear the old saying "you blink and they are grown" because it's happening before my very eyes. Oh and I just read the book "Love You Forever," and balled my eyes out. Why would you write such a thing? The author must enjoy making mothers cry, that's the only logical conclusion.
     At three months when he found his voice he would wake up talking and babbling and I'd reach over and pull him into bed between Gray and I and snuggle him and watch him enjoy his new found skill. It was fascinating, both his facial expressions and the vocal exercises he would produce. We're onto new skills now, but I never tire listening to his silly sounds. And the morning snuggles? That will me a daily occurrence for as long as he allows. . .

3 Months

Time stop, slow down, still for just a bit,
please ...
     It's a little past the actual day, but these were taken pretty close to the 27th of December so that's a win in my book! Three months, gah! It's going way too fast. He is changing so quickly and yet when you're in the thick of the day to day it doesn't seem like it. I'm trying to cherish every amazing smile. Every flirt. Every squeal. Every time he makes eye contact and recognizes who mum and dad are. Every noise. Every eye rub. Every snuggle. Every diaper change. Every bath. Every body massage. Every time he wraps his hand around my finger. Every thumb suck and yes even every cry. Who knew the biggest scariest weightiest responsibility of life could bring so much joy?! I feel so blessed, so in awe that God entrusted this precious tiny human into our care. I don't want to take the fleeting time I have with him for granted. I want to be purposeful and intentional with every moment. I find myself praying more frequently, even harder and with more urgency that this little life would realize who Jesus is and choose to follow Him. I pray that God would live through Gray and I so that Tobias grows to love the Lord and bring glory to Him. Does it ever get easier? That inward battle that can't wait to see who they become and yet yearns for them to stop growing for just a minute? I never thought I was sentimental ... and then he came along.

Beware: photo overload. I am a new mom and all ...