.I love this day.

This holiday gets sweeter and sweeter as it serves as a time for me to reflect on my girls and their loving father.  This is the kid that I've known since we were 17, and although there are things that have never changed about him, there are times when I look at him and can't believe this is the same high school boy who used to pick me up for dates.  Fatherhood looks great on you G.

And happy Father's Day to my own dad, who still has the capability to make me feel encouraged and supported, and yet also embarrass me terribly when he gets the chance.

P.S. Father's Day last year & the year before.

.Vintage Wears.

It makes me so happy that G's parents kept alot of items from when he and his brother were young, because I find nothing cuter than being able to have Dylan wear some of her father's vintage goodies.  It also helps me imagine what G was like as a small child; what other traits has Dylan inherited from him aside from his looks?

 I've heard the stories and seen the family videos and all, but there's something else to be said about old garments... and the countless tales that are carried with them.

.Dear Dylan (3).

Dear Dylan,

You're growing so fast right in front of our eyes.  Our days are filling with the stories you babble, your hair that stays messy no matter how many times I brush it, your ability to make anyone melt with your smile, watching you try to put everything and anything in your mouth, your baby singing in the car, your laugh when we tickle you and every time we sing to you, your heartwarmingly huge smile every morning when I grab you from your bed, watching you roll over, seeing you learn and find how things work, cracking up as you try to figure out what the dogs exactly are, smiling as you make friends at church and try to talk back to the pastor, and holding you tight as you fall asleep on our chests and snuggle in the nook of our necks.  We don't care if you're supposed to learn how to sleep independently, because there will be a day when you no longer want us to rock you to sleep.  I think I take at least one picture of you every single day because I'm so afraid that I'll miss something or you'll change too fast.  You only know how to give open-mouth kisses, which are extra slobbery but just as beautiful.  You love to read your little books, but you do try to eat them too.  You want to see everything, and still love being in your front carrier... I think you've been in your stroller maybe five times ever.  Your eyes have changed from dark blue to a more hazelish gray.  Any time your dad enters the room, you twist and turn anyway you can to see him and smile.  You and your dad are my favorite things ever.  I thank God for you both daily and I can't wait to celebrate our first holiday season as a lovely little family.

Love you always,

Your Mama

* Letters one and two

.This Past Week.

The past week has been wonderfully filled with well wishes {thanks so much friends}, an intense urge to start organizing everything in our home {early nesting perhaps?}, time with friends, celebrating birthdays of my father-in-law and Nik, preparing for the start of another semester of school, and planning for baby!  Now that everyone knows our little secret, it feels more real and like it's okay to start making plans.  Included was our very adult move of purchasing a legit "family" SUV this weekend that I named Adler.  Yes, I name our cars.  Why so?  Because I spend so much time in them commuting from responsibility to responsibility and traveling that they become a sort of a safe haven... something that goes with me wherever my adventures lead... a loyal companion. 

Anyway, I guess there's not one point that makes you an adult.  You just wake up one day, look around and realize, "Huh... I guess this is what I've been preparing and working for all along."  Then maybe feel nostalgic for a minute of the past, and move on with life.  At least that's how it's been for me so far.  I will miss Duke though, my loyal and speedy two-door car; we've had some great memories since sophomore year of college... when life was a lot more simple but just as fun.

.2010 Adieu, 2011 Hello How Do You Do?

In 2010...

I quit my job as a receptionist to move forward in my career as a full-time intern.  We got my father-in-law one of the coolest cakes ever.  I discovered Sips N Strokes and fell in love.  We visited Birmingham for the first time ever visiting our friends Blair and Lee where we experienced the culture. 

We celebrated several birthdays and game nights with wonderful friends.  I freaked out about getting to go to a Post Secret event.  It snowed.  I stressed about finishing my masters.  I marked something off my bucket list as we spent an evening in Atlanta for Valentine's Day and I got to experience Cirque du Soleil.  We celebrated six years together.  My mom came to visit the little old South. 

We spent lazy afternoons in the park with the pups.  Our god daughter turned 2. G and I made our first homemade pizzas and were hooked.  We went to Daytona to visit G's brother and celebrate G's 24th birthday.  We acquired ANOTHER dog. My dad came to visit on official business and we went to the National Infantry Museum.

My brother turned 18 and we had a blast in Atlanta. We discovered Joshua James and my love for him.  Virginia and I graduated and we made the insane decision to continue on to doctoral school, because we apparently love school THAT much.  I got a big girl job as a therapist. 

G built a deck. We spent the summer at the river.  We had grill outs and girl nights.  I turned 24. 
My brother graduated.  My little sister grew up before my eyes. 

We went to Vermont.  I reunited with my best friends in Seattle.  We went to five weddings this season (here, here, here, here, and here). I tried a ton of recipes (here, here, here, here, and here).  We went to outdoor markets.  We celebrated our two year wedding anniversary. I started my doctoral program. I went to bachelorette nights, baby and wedding showers.  I met one of my heroes. We watched Auburn have a winning football season.  I shared my tentative bucket list. 

Adorable Lily was born.  We went on pizza dates. We made a gingerbread house and G hated it the whole time.  Nikki moved away.  I ranted. We had fun in Florida.  We had Thanksgiving with G's parents.  I got burned out by school. We had early Christmas with my mom.  I got to fulfill a fantasy.  We made Christmas cookies.  Kate turned two.  We went to DC for Christmas with my family.  We toured DC. We missed our puppies.

Here's to a year of laughter, love, and lessons learned that overshadowed the tears and heartache.  Two thousand and eleven, you are warmly welcomed because you already have amazing things in the works.

.You're My Best Friend.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

“Life is an awful, ugly place to not have a best friend.”

.back to august.

.Thanksgiving Feasting.

When the Halloween pumpkins are gone,

And the leaves have all fallen to ground,

When the air has turned windy and cold,

Then Thanksgiving will soon be around.

Thoughts of loved ones all feasting together,

Pleasant pictures from past times appear

To dwell in each heart and each mind--

Then Thanksgiving is finally here!

The kitchen has scrumptious aromas,

The dining room looks oh, so fine,

Decorations with pilgrims and turkeys,

And now we are ready to dine!

First the napkins are placed on our laps;

Now the prayer for the meal to be blessed,

Then we stuff the good food in our tummies,

And we hope for it all to digest!

.Joanna Fuchs.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're spending the holiday weekend here with G's family doing nothing but enjoying time together, watching the parade, eating, antique shopping, watching the Iron Bowl, and school work napping. I hope all of your Thanksgivings are spent well with wonderful people.  Here are a few pictures from last Thanksgiving weekend; funny how much has happened in just a year.