Andrea Dozier Dayton Wedding & Lifestyle Photography

My mind is telling me to give in to the rain & cry that today was a horrible day.
My heart is certain I should accept whatever wakes me up from the lull of living in a trance of distraction from what is truly valuable.

The winter blues have been stubborn.
Oh I know they always are and we really are a fortunate family.
Sometimes what makes a thing so hard is trying so fiercely to fight it.
To surrender would require little sweat.

Today was going to be a mid-week getaway thanks to a school staff service day and me switching my work & Damian’s daycare schedule. The three of us were going to the aquarium in Cincinnati. I didn’t want to drive in heavy traffic, so we left a little later in the morning to avoid it. We had snacks, drinks, cameras, pillow pets, umbrellas, changes of clothes… you would have thought we were going for a week.

We didn’t make it far because we heard the horrid sound of metal on metal {that anyone who’s been in a crash knows}, and felt the confusing impact of being hit from behind. The moment of terror that happens when you don’t know if the kids, {the ones closer to the collision}, are hurt is something I hope I will never relive.

They are just fine & there was only minimal damage to the back of my car.

We really are a fortunate family.

After settling everything and making sure that mommy’s nerves were calm enough to drive again,
we opted for a much closer museum to release some energy.

These boys realized tonight that mommy didn’t mind reading ten books if it’s what they wanted.
I was so deliriously happy to be in their cozy little room.
Reading Pajama Time! & Darth Maul’s Mission to two perfectly healthy boys has never been a greater honor.

We really are a fortunate family.

From today.

iPhone 4 | Afterglow App

We could have really used a carefree red letter day, like the one I had planned.
My stomach is still uneasy & reminding me that I’m not made of stone.
If I could ask for something, it would be your prayers of encouragement and of thanks with me. ♥

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@AndreaDozier

We’ve been adjusting to Damian sleeping in a bed now that he’s realized that his climbing capabilities can get him out of a crib.
The child who once went to sleep without a fight for two years is now the insomniac of every mother’s nightmare.
Last night he was downright cruel and hardly slept.
Tonight went much better, {clearly because I am writing after all!}.

As I was waiting for him to fall asleep, I found myself browsing pictures from today on my phone. I began to remember what an encouragement his older brother is to me. Kevin watches the meltdowns and tantrums. We make eye contact and silently communicate that his behavior can be completely absurd. Knowing that someone else can see what a little monster I’m dealing with makes me feel like I can retain some of my own sanity. He also knows just how to distract Damian from being naughty. I can’t even calculate how many times I breathe a prayer of thanks for his help just buckling Damian in the car!

Five minutes of pictures by a rain soaked window.
And in the quiet I’m flooded with love for my little rock.
I just want to go pick up this little man-boy and hold him in his sleep.
I want him to know how I treasure him.
He emits a light that I don’t ever want to see dim.
I hope he knows how grateful I am to be given the chance to be close to him.

Images Captured with iPhone 4 | Edited with Afterglow App

And today, I wish I’d had more than my phone ready to take these. ♥

I’ll also admit, very openly and honestly, that even though he is very helpful, he is only six. He also has all the flaws of a six year old.
Because sometimes it’s just too tempting to flip your little brother’s “baby Elmo” into the fake cereal that he is feeding it
and completely disrupt a peaceful breakfast.

 Find me on Instagram // Pinterest // Facebook // Twitter // Vine
@AndreaDozier