A Day In The Life Of The Emberson's

Guilty. I started this blog a year ago as a way to keep my distant family and friends up to date with what’s going on in my life and I have failed. It’s okay, life is super busy for the Emberson’s so I will try and catch you up in this lengthy post. I plan to update monthly…let’s hope that happens!

On January, 27 2012 at 4:53 p.m. Caleb and I welcomed Reese Elaine Emberson into the world. She weighed 8lbs and was 20 inches long. My labor was less than perfect, but I am a strong believer that the Lord will not give you more than you can handle. 2 weeks of contractions between 3-5 mins apart and a 38 hour active labor were not what I had planned when I set out on the baby journey, but I honestly would not change one thing about it. When we were trying for Reese we prayed and prayed for all the experiences that would come with pregnancy and labor.  I prayed specifically for all the emotions and physical feelings that would come along with carrying a child in my body. For this reason, I am grateful I was able to experience such a miracle.

The past 4 months of parenthood have been absolutely amazing. I am sure Reese has no idea we didn’t know what we were doing, or at least I didn’t. I had never even changed a diaper until I changed my princess on the second day in the hospital. You can read books, look at magazines, take advice from good intending people, but until you are actually doing it, you just don’t have any idea of how it will go. I have had experiences emotionally over the past 17 weeks that have made me step back and appreciate the love of my mother and grandmother. I am so thankful that they along with Caleb’s mother, step mother and grandmothers are a part of our lives. It really makes a big difference to have so many people who really love Reese. In the weeks since Reese was born we have had meals, visitors and tons of phone calls and texts and I am so thankful to know that we are loved by so many.

Caleb gets the father of the year award, hands down. I have never met a more unselfish man in my life. We were brought together in such a “God intended” way (see my first blog post) and it really fits how our lives have molded together. Caleb is a great man of faith, but I have seen him in a whole new light since Reese’s birth. He has always treated me as a princess, put me first and now he does the same for Reese. He is a very hands on dad and I knew he would be from the way he is in our relationship. If you know me well, you know that I am a demanding control freak and perfectionist…there I admit it. I love it when people around me do something without even asking, just do it…I believe this really was inherited from my Abuella… since we are on the same page with our parenting skills this is true even more now. Caleb knows that if I am going to get a bottle ready, he is getting a burp cloth, changing a diaper or getting the boppy ready so I can be comfortable or vice versa. It’s like an orchestra, not always perfect, but we sense each others needs.  This man is my best friend, an amazing husband and father.

I was able to enjoy 14 weeks off with Reese before I returned to work. Bonding with her everyday was such an amazing experience, more than I could have ever imaged. Having a baby is hard work, I am not saying it’s all magical, but it’s a different kind of loving work that just comes natural. We were able to visit friends and family, hangout at lunch with Caleb and of course go shopping. We had several meetings with my mom and dad in some part of the state every week. My sister was able to see her every couple of weeks as well! It is so fun to see them so involved with Reese and watching them interact with each other…heart warming!

 I had no question in my heart that I wanted to keep working after I had Reese. I knew it would be hard, I prayed and cried over this decision, but ultimately I know that God has placed me in a great place in my life. I have several friends who are stay at home moms, my mom was a stay at home mom but I just did not feel like that was in the cards for me. Of course whatever decisions you make as a parent are criticized by those around you, have you ever heard the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt “Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you'll be criticized anyway”? I think until you are in a situation for yourself, it’s hard to say what you would do. Reese is at an awesome school with people who show her lots of love during the day. I am so grateful to work for an organization that is flexible with my needs and schedule.  I wish my mom lived closer to us, I know she would have so much fun keeping Reese a few days a week.

I did some work from home beginning at week 4 to keep in the loop so my transition back to the office would not be as difficult and it proved to be smooth. Luckily we haven’t had any disasters and things have been pretty calm since my big project roll out at the end of last year. Of course, with work comes travel and I have a lot of that lined up for the fall. It will be difficult to leave Reese for an extended period of time, but I know that I will get to see that beautiful face thanks to technology! I have been so blessed in the position that I am in, I know that God is doing some amazing things and it’s so exciting to see them unfold...this further affirms for me where I should be. Since November of last year I was elected to serve on the Arkansas InfraGard Executive Board, which is an information sharing partnership between public and private sectors sponsored by the FBI.  In April of this year I was asked to serve on the Advisory Council for my Alum Arkansas Tech University’s Emergency Management Program –what a huge honor! Since I start at DIS almost 5 years ago as an intern, I have been able to guide 17 students through the very internship that changed my life, true blessing to be involved with so many! So many great things are going on in preparedness in Arkansas and we are finally being recognized at the national level. In July, I have been asked to present the success of my program at the National FEMA Continuity Conference. Again, I am so overwhelmed!

As a couple we have made big strides in our goal of becoming debt free through the Dave Ramsey program. We are so close, it’s crazy! Budgeting really works people; you just have to have discipline! This doesn’t mean you can’t do anything, this means you can do ANYTHING, no credit cards required.

Caleb has been doing a lot of extra work around the house as we prepare to sell and move closer to “town”. He is such a handy, fix it all man and I love that! Of course he has slowed down on racing since Reese made her arrival. Our weekends are so precious and we want to spend as much time with our little family as possible. He still plays around with the Cobra and we recently had a fun time in Memphis with some of his buddies at the Midnight drags.

Ratchet is adjusting well to life with a sister; he loves her so much and is so protective of her. His routine when she comes home includes licking her toes to say “hi”.

So this is what has been happening in our little life! Hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day and remembering those who made and continue to make the ultimate sacrifices for our freedom.