seven month (accidental) hiatus

I can't believe I haven't written in 7 whole months! My my how time does fly! Well to bring you up to speed since December- Emma Kate is now 20 months old, I turned 30 years young, and Adam opened the doors to his new store in January.

After two years of living in transition, it feels like we are finally starting to put down roots here in Austin and it feels good and slow and stressful, but good.  I have picked up a little freelance writing work which has been fun to dive back into, and with the store having a few months under it's belt, Adam is finally able to take some quality time off! The time to rest as a family is a huge blessing and we have been filling our days with walks around our neighborhood and trips to the pool. It's supposed to hit 100 this week and I'm already dreading it. I haven't spent a summer in Texas since 2005 and I think we are all in for a shocker!


Emma Kate is becoming a little independent toddler before my very eyes.  When did this happen?!!!! She talks in sentences, sings songs, plays dress up, and loves checking out the tomato plants on our cul-de-sac. I had high hopes of being one of those moms that runs and gardens. But I am neither, so we enjoy our neighbors tomato plants instead :)

She is learning to share and be brave and talk with other kiddos and it is so sweet to watch.  She has what we call "Lady Liberty" moments where she doesn't want any help and insists on figuring things out for herself-which can sometime end in a pile of tears, if the legos aren't stacking up right. Sometimes as a mom, it's hard to not just jump in and help her avoid the frustration but I know it's good for her to discover things on her own and its giving her confidence in who she is. And who she is is pretty great! 

Emma Kate made a big switch a few weeks ago where Mommy became old news and Daddy was all the rage! She cant' get enough of her sweet Daddy and Mommy is trying to take it in stride. Her new thing this week is saying "Mommy go away" and I tell her that it's not kind to say that, and then she says "Please?!" Oh well, baby steps right? She was a mommy's girl for a long time so I guess I can learn to share :) 

We are slowly doing projects around our house (which I will have to post about later), and making it our own little home. Even though we have been here 7 months now we still feel a little like lone rangers- which is never ideal for this little extrovert :) . Emma Kate and I are able to get out and go on play dates and go to a mom's group while Adam is working (which has been so life-giving!)  but it's been more of a challenge to get to know people as a family of 3 when we have to balance nap schedules and busy work schedules.  Now that Adam has more time off, we can say yes to more opportunities to get to know people and try out churches and get involved in things but the process is slow going.  I always forget how long it takes to forge friendships but I know it's definitely worth the effort.  Hopefully summertime will be a great season for our family to build some deeper friendships here in Austin!  

arrival

Well hello there blog.  Long time no see!  Let's see, where to start. In the past two months we uprooted from Denver, moved to Austin, bought a house, Adam started construction on his store, Emma Kate started walking, I stopped eating gluten...again, and we have taped and painted our way to making our house feel like home. 

I was reading One Thousand Gifts and there was a quote in there about how "hurrying is a clear sign of an amateur".... And that I surely am. I have sweat so much in the past few weeks- not from working out.  Just form hurrying! Lame.  Oh well, just a little reminder that I, Amy Callaway, am a work in progress :)  

I have never been a big advent celebrator. Actually, I never really understood what it was until a few years ago. I just remember watching the candles flicker in church during the sermon.  This year though, for the first time, Advent feels really super important to me. Like that feeling you get when your birthday is coming up and you're hoping everyone remembers.

advent |ˈadˌvent|

I actually looked up what the word "advent" even means and the grand old dictionary informed me it means "the arrival of a notable person."  I guess in the midst of a lot of change and unknown, I am deeply anticipating and celebrating the arrival of Christ in a way I haven't before, both with a rooted peace and rest that He came, redeemed and His presence is with us now; and with a knot-in-my-throat hope and anticipation that He is coming and He will redeem and we will know Him more fully.

I'm thankful that I can look back and see how God has drawn people to himself and brought healing to this world,  but in the brokeness and overall messed-up-ness of people, systems, creation, etc.. I also long for Him to still come and redeem and restore. During advent I'm reminded that I daily need his presence and redemption in my marriage, my parenting, my friendships, my work, my neighborhood, my city, my world. 

"O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel. "

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel, shall come to thee.....................

  

Honey Bee Birthday

Things have been busy for the Callaways! After moving 900 miles south, we are starting to catch our breath and catch up on life. Oh and by the way, we have a ONE year old!! Emma Kate is talking up a storm and working on her walking skills. Her favorite words are momma. daddy. water. sassy. kitty. meow. cow. moo. walk. night night. car. purple. flower. cheese. honey. ball. dog. pig. oink. bee. buzz. duck. quack. puffs. toes. shoes. shirt. turtle. frog. bath time. book. ouch. done. more. please... and many more!

We decided to celebrate her birthday in Denver before we skipped town. Here are some photos of our little Honey Bee :) 

My hens! i miss these girls a ton! 

9,10 & 11 months

Emma Kate, in three weeks you will be 1 year old! My my how time flies!  With all the busyness of moving, I got a little behind on posting your pictures. Better late than never! In the past 3 months you have perfected your crawl and are on your way to walking any day! You are always on the move these days unless you are looking at a book. My favorite time of day is reading you books before nap time. It's my way of luring you in to being still and cuddling on my lap :)

You are getting to the age where you definitely have more preferences, you pick out the books you want to look at, you pick out shoes you want to put on, and you are starting be tight lipped towards squash and spinach. (We will work on that one! ) 

You love going to the park in the mornings and crawling on the playground and playing with the other babies.  You absolutely love and sometimes demand when mommy and daddy hold your arms up to walk.  

You have always been my chatty girl, but the last few weeks you have definitely added to your vocabulary. You love to mimc animal sounds and names of objects in your books. Whenever we ask " Emma Kate what does the duck say?" You reply "quack quack quack" in a kind of whisper. Melts my heart every time. I know I'm your mom but I think you are just the cutest little spitfire ever! We love you sweet girl and cant believe you will be 1 so soon! 

the octobers....

Dear October, thanks for keeping things interesting!!  With the change of summer to fall, you always bring a life-change for the Callaways :) Let's see what it will be this year! 

OCTOBER 7, 2009

We carved pumpkins and started dating...done and done.

OCTOBER 9, 2010

We said "I do"

OCTOBER 12, 2011

Our little Bean made her debut!! 

OCTOBER 1, 2012

The Callaways are moving from here....

to here!

That's right! We are headed back to my roots :) We are planning on staying with my family in San Antonio for a few weeks while we search for a little nest of our own in Austin. Why the move? Well well well, you would never guess, my raft and backpacking guide of a husband is taking on a new adventure...opening his own business! That's right, we will be opening an Urban Mattress in South Austin and we are so thrilled! I'll share more on the company and our decision to start our own in another post, but in short, we love the company & the impact they have on the community, and are excited to put down roots for our little family.

Quick plug: 2% of every purchase goes to local non-profits and I am currently looking for 3 non-profits that are meeting needs in the Austin community that we can partner with in this way.  Let me know if you have any non-profits you'd like to give a shout-out for! 

the pool

Four swimsuits, two sun hats, and an almost empty bottle of sunscreen later, the pool is closing for the summer on Sunday!   My secret plan to make Emma Kate love the water as much as I do will have to wait until warm weather and long summer days return to us once again.  What started with a fun little family swim class this spring, turned into a standing appointment with the outdoor pool in our neighborhood almost every afternoon this summer.  Sweet sweet pool, you will be very missed!

getting her swim lesson certificate- so proud

swimsuit #3

naps on the way home from the pool are the best!!

making friends

swimsuit #4

waiting out the afternoon storms

finally befriending sunscreen

giving up the sunhat battle in late july :) phew!

two happy swimmers :)