I feel so blessed

When I get the chance to have a minute to myself I sit and just think how did I get so lucky? I can't believe how much life has changed in the last 7 years. I have been on the roller coaster they call life. I would have never thought at 28 I would have been married twice and have two of the most amazing little girls on the planet. I really didn't think I would have had kids before 25. I always wanted to go to college, travel the world, and then settle down get married and have kids. Like I said the roller coaster of life took me somewhere different. The tough lessons happened during my first marriage, being 21 and having a baby was tough, sometimes when I see the show 16 and pregnant I can't imagine having a baby while still being in high school. Olivia changed my entire life, I never knew someone could love another person so much, that just one smile one laugh could change your mood. She taught me patience, kindness, sacrifice, and how to see life in a whole new way!

Being a single mom during my divorce was tough, I felt like I had failed and I had never failed at anything ever, well I had but this was the biggest failure I had ever faced. I had never lived on my own yes I know 22 and never lived on my own, I liked being at home!! But here I was living in a 2 bedroom apartment with my 2 year old daughter, I had nothing but I had everything as long as we had each other. The first year was the toughest but I learned how to live and remembered the Shantel people really liked. I started dancing again, I started laughing again, I started LIVING again! Everything fell into place and then LOVE happened.

Matt was the first man I ever introduced to Olivia. I was really true to my heart about not bringing a bunch of strangers in and out of her life. I wanted her to know that any man worth meeting was a man that would be in both of our lives forever. I was worried about how she would feel about Matt and having someone else taking away her attention, I mean it had been only her and I for the last 3 years and so who wouldn't be jealous. She started to really like Matt and well one thing led to another and we made it official we were to become a family! Yes it all happened so fast but I wouldn't change one thing. Then we gave Olivia some more BIG NEWS, she was finally going to be the big sister I knew she would always be!!

Emily's growth brought up all kinds of questions, I wish I would have blogged more about my pregnancy but honestly I was too busy working and watching my daughter GROW into a kid rather than a little girl. I can remember she asked me one night, When your belly gets bigger mom will you take it with you to work?? I couldn't help but laugh, oh the things out of the mouths of babes!! She was curious and helpful and she hasn't stopped since Emily got here!!

Matt has been such an amazing guy! He's really taken on the role of Dad and Step Dad. He's always my backup whenever I need him. He communicates with me and that is huge in a relationship. He's also one of the funniest people I know. He knows how to turn my frown upside down. We may not always think alike and we have our off days but I always know he's in my corner and I'm in his. I love his so so so so so much!

I would never have imagined at 28 years old I would have such an amazing husband whose supportive and loving, and works very hard, a beautiful and kind daughter who everyday teaches me new things, and an infant daughter whose smile could light up a room and whom  I love to watch grow everyday! I have three of the most amazing people under my roof. I feel so lucky and so blessed! I can't wait to write our next chapter.... OUR NEW HOME!!!