Monday, May 31, 2010

From Where I Sit...

From where I sit right now, this is what I see.

I can hear the sound of Barron giving his mama a hard time as she tries to bathe him...another day of missed naps...and Cy and Colby wrestling in the floor behind me...

I can smell Tiff and Mom's spaghetti dinner- which is bound to be delicious- cooking up to feed this brood of 17!!!

I am enjoying the taste of a sweet red wine that is usually enjoyed around this family on vacation...

And I can feel my rosy cheeks after another sun-filled (and fun filled!) day by the pool...and I feel my heart full of gratitude--as big as the mountains before me----to my God, for blessing me with this amazing family.

These are some of the things that I look forward to all year long.

This is our family vacation. Probably the last for the entire group for a while since Joe and Court and their kiddos will be leaving us for a little while soon...so we are making extra special efforts this year to soak up every single moment together.

More memories to come...and post! :)

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

1 year later...

One year ago...

Tonight I sit here wondering where a year has gone? As I rocked her, tonight, her long legs draped across my lap and over the arm rest...and I, bittersweetly, remembered how just 365 days ago she was so tiny, and I was so afraid I might break her! Where did 12 whole months go? All I know, 1 year later, is that time speeds up when you become a mother. Certainly, my life is no longer measured by mySELF. My entire universe has revolved around a little brown eyed "Jadybug" for a year now...and my life is now measured by hers. My days are counted by her days. And so, as she blew out her first candle, I felt as if I, myself, were experiencing my own sort of milestone. It felt surreal that I was having my first child's first birthday party...already. The only way to explain, perhaps, this time warp I am in is "Time FLIES when you're having fun"...because I have had the time of my life since this perfect little lady entered my world. She has been nothing but joy each and every day, and I find myself wondering what I ever did before she was born! I am so thankful to God, every day, for this precious gift named Shaelyn Jade.

And to celebrate her sweet little life, we got our closest friends and family together Saturday afternoon at our treehouse in "Jadybug Hollow" for her first birthday party...and made sweet memories!
A few of our favorites...




The birthday girl...

...Rich worked so hard on this fabulous treehouse for his Jadybug- and we are so excited about all the memories our family will make here together!

...still crazy how much these two look alike!


...my first, of many, homeade birthday cakes...

...and cupcakes!


...and she LOVED it!!!

...Rich had fun making big bubbles with the kiddos...

...and Shaelyn Jade loved her birthday gift from Mommy and Daddy...a swing for her treehouse!

...And some of our favorite Lady-bugs from our party...

Her cousin, Briley, who insists she call her "Aunt Bri Bri" :)

Her sweet friend, little Miss Cate!

...and of course, our dear Livi B...

Shaelyn Jade loves her "Aunt Trish"...one of my oldest and dearest friends from middle school (who is marrying a FABULOUS guy in September and we are sooo excited!!!)...and Chrisie, another friend from high school that I have been so blessed to reconnect with since we had Jade and her youngest, Abby, 3 weeks apart!

Rich's mom came in for the occassion and helped me so much. I always cherish our time with her...and Shaelyn Jade really got to know her "Nanma" this time! We miss you already Nanma!!!

...And last, but certainly not least, Aunt Tiff helping Jadybug with her first hotdog! :)

...Memories that will last this Mommy a lifetime! :) Happy 1st Birthday, baby girl! I love you more than you'll ever know!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

3 Generations




Took this picture on my first Mother's Day last Sunday. It was the first year that this day meant something for me...and I loved it. This year I understand better than ever how much my own mother loves me as I finally love my own child this way. If, in 28 years, I have been the kind of mother to Shaelyn Jade that my mother has been to me, I will be so happy.

I love these two girls with all my heart!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Where Have We Been?

FLORIDA!!! While Rich and the boys packed their bags for Nicaragua, we girls weren't gonna be left in the dust, so we packed our bags for the beach house!!! It was such a fun week, with some of my most favorite people! We love Destin, Florida- kind of feels like a second home, so when we are there, we just relax and do nothing...a LOT of nothing! These are a few of my favorite memories from this past week...but I kept forgetting my camera so I didn't capture too many...so more to come later!


Emily, Amanda, and Mrs. Marlin (and their kiddos!) were also in Seagrove, so we caught up with them one night for a very fun dinner at The Red Bar! One of our fave dinner spots that we always make sure to hit while we're in town...



Livi B and Cy-man were soaking up the rays at the water's edge on the very first day...of course, our luck, it was a Red Flag for the first few...so not much swimming, but enough splashing to keep us cool!



Shaelyn Jade has been to the beach 3 times already in her short little life, but this was really the first time she could take in the beach, the waves, the birds...and the sand! She LOVED getting handfuls of sand and it was all I could do to keep her from eating it! She and her "Non" spent lots of time laughing at the waves...



Nonni and two of her favorite boys...they loved on her lots this week! This morning we just all piled into one car and went to our fave breakfast dive, The Donut Hole. Yum...makes my belly growl just thinking about it!



...the rest of the Donut Hole crowd! We were so happy that Tiff's mom came (aka "Grand-Mo" to Cy and Colby) this time...and my Mom brought my Aunt Jeana who I love so much! It was a G-R-E-A-T week with lots of laughs, and with all these sweet friends the time without my Rich just flew by!