When Time Slips Away (and a Giveaway)

I wanted to share with you guys something that has been weighing on my mind a lot lately.Time.It's November, you guys, and my babies are about to turn 11 months, which makes my stomach hurt because that means they're almost one. ONE! I can't even wrap my brain around that because it feels like they've been here forever. What, even, was my life without them? I slept HOW much before having kids? Time was all my own up until about a year ago. Sure, being pregnant was hard. I was tired. Blah blah blah... But I had no idea. I don't even remember all that stuff. Because it feels like these babies have been here all my life, somehow. Maybe, as cliche as it may be and sound, life really began for me when their lives began. Oh my gosh, I just cried when I typed that. What a loser bag I am. But seriously. Ugh. At the same time, they're still brand new to the world. This is their first year here. There's still so much they haven't done and seen and they're just babies in all senses of the word, except in size - because I have massive children, in case you didn't know.The last life-changing year and a bit of my life could not have happened without the one guy who massaged my swollen feet, who gets up with babies in the middle of the night to change diapers and feed them, who stayed home with me for months to care for them and saved me years of therapy I surely would have needed if I had been on my own. I've never felt alone in this journey because of him. I've never doubted that I have someone to lean on because of him. He's never faltered, and somehow functions on less sleep than me a lot of nights.Our kids light up when they see him, and it makes me wonder, was there ever a time I loved him THIS much? Oh crap. I'm crying again. But the answer is no. I thought I loved him the most when we got married, and then we survived our first year (a toughie) and I loved him more. I thought that was the most, and then we decided to try getting pregnant and it didn't work for a whole year and THAT year was a toughie and he hugged me lots and let me cry lots and I thought I loved him most then. But then I DID get pregnant, and we found out there were two babies and he went with me to every.single.appointment and wanted to know all the things and probably saw stuff that scarred him for life during my 22-hour labour and I thought I loved him most then! But then....I saw him hold our boys. (Annnnnnd I'm crying again.) Because you guys, my heart swelled up and did cartwheels of joy, and it still does every time I see him with them. He is the BEST dad to these boys and I just know that no one else could do this job of parenting Jude and Luca like he can.I have a feeling that even though I think I love him the most RIGHT NOW, that's going to change. Because he never ceases to amaze and surprise me.When you really think about it, have different times in your life ever surprised you like this? I feel truly overwhelmed by it sometimes - especially after having kids! Everything changes, and reflecting on those changes is so good for my soul.So with all this talk of time, I want to give you the chance to give someone special (even if that's yourself) a gift to remind them of the goodness of time, rather than the negative connotations we seem to put on it passing by too quickly, or too slowly, etc. Think of time as a gift, and then give it. Literally.Did you like my little segue there?Well now that Halloween is over, everyone will undoubtedly start to think about Christmas gifts, and if you want to get a head start, I'm here for you. I recently got this gorgeous men's watch for Alex, and I kind of want it for myself (I even tried it on, but of course, it's too big for me. duh!). It's the Dark Sandalwood & Blue Carbon by JORD Wood Watches and it sure is a beauty! And I can totally pull it off, right?Anyway, I may just end up choosing one for myself from their women's collection, because there are some seriously gorgeous options!Now let's get to the giveaway! Everyone is a winner - yes, seriously - because you get $20 off of your purchase just for entering, and the winner will receive a $75 voucher towards any watch they choose!

To enter, just click this link RIGHT HERE!

And that's it. The contest closes November 13 at 11:59 pm and your $20 code is good until February 28, 2017, so if you miss getting one for Christmas, you technically have until Valentine's Day. Just looking ahead for you, here!So good luck, and if you end up getting one of these beauties, let me know!In the spirit of keeping it real, you should know that this post was sponsored by JORD Wood Watches, but all of the thoughts on the watch, time and how much I love my babies and my husband are very much real. I know. Shocking, right?Wooden Wristwatch