Fun things about the weekend...love the moment

Sitting on the couch yesterday morning, we were getting ready to pack up & head west, Seth was holding Ella. Both of us savoring our final moments, Seth pointed me to the lil' inscription inside his coffee cup, "love the moment" - we both smiled, we didn't need any reminders to do that this weekend...

Our trip to Kure Beach to Aunt Apes & Uncle Adam's has been on the calendar for months. A bright spot on the horizon...it didn't disappoint. The fun things shaped up a lil' like this...

(in no particular order)

A most warm welcome :)



Checkin' out the view from the "upper deck" ~ anxious for some sand between our toes



Drinks on the beach :)



Grilled burgers & dogs for lunch ~ all kinds of yummy (much needed after the Black Magic Sangrias)



Margaret ~ "our kinda people" :)



perpetually amused & entertained ~ we have that affect on each other (sigh)



enjoyin' lots of GOOD eating



Big Pleasure ~ aka, Mr "I'm 42 years old" :)



Enjoyin' the refreshing water (sand crotch, not so fun)



A lil' chillaxin' on the beach



Lots of lovin' from Big Pleasure



Pool fun :)



Beach "treasures"



New friends ~ Bennett



Speaking of friends...old friends =



best friends (sigh)



sayin' farewell...

knowing we'll be close in heart till the next time we're together. As always, there can never be enough pictures taken to capture the essence of all the joys & blessings felt. They can't capture the sounds of laughter nor the warmth of smiles from just being together.

We had a blessed & joyful time this weekend. Good to be together & good to be reminded that time & distance mean so little sometimes when souls are so kindred. Thanks especially to Apes ~ my lifetime friend. Sharing your time, your home, all your towels to clean up the many spills & overflows - ha. Sitting on the beach with you Saturday afternoon, letting the day fade around us, sharing in the same ways we always have - I treasure your friendship more than I can say.

Thanks again ~ hope the time is short till we're together laughing again :)

Fun things about the weekend...

In no particular order...


Sugars :)



Hugs :)



Arts & Crafts w.my babies (sigh)



Fruits of fun labor ~ a joyful time w.Nana



Playin' outside when fever wasn't spiking



New car decor ~ obligatory fun thing per Seth :)



Cold beer :)



Lil' Miss "I can pull up all by myself now!"



Long awaited Slinky Dog ~ thanks Nana



Summertime goodness ~ thanks Pappaw



Being their daughter (sigh)



Our burgeoning lil' ham :)



Happy Meals for the patient



More arts & crafts



and following from sentiments of late
"Master the art of living..."



Working on that one day at a time :)

Stream of consciousness Friday...

(deep sigh)

"Oh, What a beautiful mornin’, Oh, What a beautiful day. I got a beautiful feelin’ Everything’s goin’ my way."

That was me, singing a lil' Peggy Lee after waving bye to Seth & the babies this morning...there was a lil' hitch in all our giddy ups today :)

We've been pseudo-celebrating the coming of WACDD for 2 days now :) From some of my "going rogue" (tongue-n-cheek) cocktail concoctions to Clarence Carter's "Doin' Our Thang" on Wed. to cold beer/red wine drinking last night with the Avett Brothers on the back deck...we've been living an off script existence this week. A collective deep sigh for the whole family :)

Yesterday was such a long day. Started overnight Wed. w.some rough sleep for Ella Bella. They'd already said she was a lil' fussy the day before at daycare & she wasn't eating as much as usual. She was plum pitiful yesterday morning, so we decided to keep her home. Salem had a vet appt & I had to be at work. That calendar - still wasn't finished :( So, I was in a slight tizzy yesterday morning - Ella staying home sick w/o me - is that possible?! The rare circumstance of having to choose "work or family". Seth making the best choice for us all - he stayed home w.Ella & she went w.him to the vet. That meant me doing the drop off w.John & by the time I was back in the car after having him pulled off my leg so I could leave - the ensuing emotional trainwreck already had the tracks laid for the day.

I got to work, got my calendar completed & sent to the printer by 10am. If I could have gone to the bar then I would have :) The "mountain" successfully moved. With that pressure gone, I still had the ache of not being home w.Ella to comfort her and combined that ache w.another from her fastly losing interest in nursing recently. By the end of the day yesterday - the lump was firm in my throat (chugga chugga)...

So, I go to pick up John, get to the door of the gym & one of the teachers is in the doorway holding Eli w.a bag of ice & a cartoon-like lump on his forehead. As they're talking to me, I look past them trying to spot John in there playing. Then Justin holds the "incident report" for me to see as he explains that John & Eli literally ran into each other & John was getting his ice (hence, why I didn't see him). I then see John coming towards me being cradled like a baby - totally expecting to see equal damage to what's on Eli's head (he's having to be carried?! - what am I in for?!). Stinker didn't even have a mark to show for it (hard head evidence) and was smiling :) All he cared about was when could he eat his ice. "When we get home buddy..." (deep breath)

So we get to the parking lot, I open the door and BAM - hit him right in the head :( If his head didn't hurt, it sure did then. He fell apart, I tried not to fall apart - "I'm so sorry buddy - mommy didn't mean to. It's ok - I'm so so sorry baby" (thinking to myself "don't cry - don't cry"). Finally got him strapped in & had him hold the ice on the other side of his head (I feel that train coming). So we get about halfway home - he's settled down - we're talking. He pauses and then comes back with, "Thank you Mommy for saying your sorry." And boo-hoo I went...ensue train wreck. When I got home, saw my sweet Ella Bella smiling there with her deddy - more tears. Sometimes you can't grasp the "weight" you're carrying till it all starts spilling out. In those moments, once the waterjug's been tipped - I think it's best to just let it all spill out...

Had a couple of "band aid beers" there on the front porch with Seth & my babies...John eating his ice, Ella playing w.some melting there on the concrete, Seth being the wonderful friend and letting me continue to "spill". Feeling relief to be there, surrounded by my blessings - the loving reminders of what makes me tick :)

After Ella & John's baths, I didn't even attempt to nurse Ella. Her playful rolling over, sitting up and clapping while she should be nursing were just beyond my threshold yesterday. So, I sat in the rocking chair & fed her a bottle there in her room. It must be noted, rocking w.Ella is a treat - a rare treat. Because, she's hardly been sick, is a rock star sleeper at night - there's been little opportunity to rock her the way we rocked John. A bittersweet blessing...

I digress... So, we're there rocking, her drinking her bottle, me humming "you are my sunshine." Feeling a wave of peace being able to be still like that w.her - the familiarity & loveliness of holding a baby there in that rocker (heart be still). After I'd put her down, went to John's room. He was there rocking with Seth & Buzz :). After some convincing, he let me rock him for a lil' bit and sing "you are my sunshine", Seth sitting there on the floor beside us. It took fierce willpower to actually sing the lyrics w/o choking up. Because it's been a long time since I've been able to rock with John, I fought back the tears as much as possible - didn't want to "drench" the moment. I hugged John tightly when he finally made me relent him back to his deddy - "buddy, you have made mommy's day" and to Seth, "Ok, I'm gonna go cry some more..."

I let few things (people included) distract me from what matters most to me - those three wonderful souls who live there in my house. The joy they put in my heart every day cannot be matched. It's like a burst of sunshine that both compels and completes me. My heaven here on earth only makes my faith deeper - God indeed loves me so much.

Following from the intentional living sentiment adopted recently, I remarked to Seth the other night that I hope when I end each day I can honestly say to myself, "If today were my last, I will die happy." The older I get, the more I believe each day is really that important. As if reading my mind (ha, as if) a line in the Avett Brothers new song certainly speaks to that, "If I live the life I'm given I won't be scared to die..." As I said previously, this life's a gift. I have a quote that sits on the mirror in our bedroom. "The dedicated life is the life worth living. You must give with your whole heart." Kind of goes with something I say a lot, mostly to be funny - "go big or go home" - a lot of merit in that statement, though. I think being mindful of all the above - inviting each day in, treating it like the gift it is, counting my blessings, leaning to God for understanding and guidance...if I can focus on those things, I can rest soundly when my head hits the pillow each night.

Speaking of Avett Brothers (it's Stream of Consciousness...tangents are allowed), our tickets are on their way for the Oct. 8th show. The excitement having that on the calendar brings to us - no words for it. The thought of sitting there under an October sky, hearing what have become some life reckoning lyrics for us, knowing a year ago exactly, I was under a starry October sky here in Raleigh, 5 days from meeting sweet Ella Bella (deep sigh)...divine.

And speaking of divine, took advantage of the break in awful heat and ate outdoors last night. As the chirping of night time critters seemed to keep time with the Avett Brothers wafting through the air, the candlelight flickering in the breeze, the peace of being together, our lil' angels sleeping soundly upstairs...a "best life" moment indeed.
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Post paused by a call from Seth after a call from daycare...John has a fever of 101.2. We're now home - he's tucked in for a nap. Other than being told he has a fever, I can gladly report, he seems fine :)

Just saw this on my dashboard...now I'm crying again ~ I'll need a Pinky-swear

If that's not the summation of a mother's unwavering love and the reason to live out your blessings, not taking a moment with your children for granted.

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With that, I've thoroughly wrung out for the week...

It's WACDD & while John rests, I'm gonna find a breezy spot to take the view and wait for the arrival of #4 & #5 of my favorite people ~ Nana & Pappaw. Right behind being John & Ella's mama & Seth's wife - being their daughter is one of my sweetest blessings. I may even have an adult bev whilest I wait ~ happy weekend :)

Copacetic...

just fine :)

Read something in another blogger's "about" yesterday that reminded me why I ever started this. From journaling about pregnancy & impending life changes in Lil' Fish's Babysite, to Tumblr'ing after John was born as an outlet for all the nuances of being a new parent - learning to redefine the norm and now this "family blog" where I try & stow lil' thoughts & memories - creating virtual momentos to look back on & savor...the motivation was purely intrinsic :)

The blog I came across was This Good Life and she used the term "intentional living" - I was intrigued, then compelled by what I read next..."finding meaning and beauty in the experience of daily life" (check) and "sharing my thoughts on the significance of love, spirituality, the home, simple living" (double check).

Intentional Living - I like that, I believe in that, I try to live like that. Life is not something that happens to us. It's a gift - beautiful, wonderful and sometimes painful. We all have the choice of how we "accept" our gift, how we spend it, how we nurture it, how we share it with others. The choice is what marks the intention and I believe in consciously trying to seek inspiration and beauty in the every day. I believe if you set it in your heart to seek what is good - you will find it. Not that there won't be sadness, but that won't be what defines you.

A beautiful verse that speaks so eloquently and boldly to this is Phillipians 4:8...

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

With so much going on in the world - be it the world as a whole or the every day world of "stuff" to deal with...it would be easy to be distracted from the above, from enjoying life's most precious gifts.

So, the sum of that - thankful for the new term, "intentional living" - glad to get a nudge/reminder of what it's all about. A lil' inspiration to finish the week off :)

There was really no great reason to write today, just compelled to do so. The "fun things" barely scratch the surface and it's nice to sometimes truly open the door to the day-to-day goings on.

This was a short week because of the holiday. As usual, short weeks always feel long. Tuesday morning, chatting about the daycare drop off after we were both at work - realized John had his 3 yr well-check that morning at 9:30 - oops! So, Seth went to get him (since he's downtown & oh-so-much closer now) and I met them there. I could hear John as soon as I walked in. Big boy was using his out-on-the-football-field voice to tell everyone in earshot about the fish in the big tank. There's a Nemo & a Dory - exciting stuff :) Because we paid the light bill the 1st year of John's life at the dr's office - there's a lot of recollection of time spent there w.John. So being there with him as a big 3 year old - just neat. He got to do some cool stuff on this well check...got an eye exam, blood pressure check and there were lots of questions for us & him. To hear him make his own spin on the items on the eye chart to just marveling at how much he's grown physically and socially...we were just beaming :) John saw Dr. Bo and as always, it was a delight to see him. He's always been stellar w.John and he was the 1st dr. to come see Ella at the hospital. We like him a lot :) He couldn't say enough good about John and the job we're doing with him - those "pats on the back" feel pretty good!

Our other lil' darling is growing too. She skipped right from 1/2 oatmeal, 1/2 1st foods to a whole whopping 2nd foods & sometimes more per feeding seemingly overnight. And the crawling thing - still in awe over that. Remarked how she skipped straight from the less than graceful army crawl to this almost refined lil' perfectly formed crawl. In some ways, she's quite the delicate lil' girl - don't let her, um, burly-ness fool you :) She's also showing some tender tendencies - she lets you know when you frustrate her or hurt those lil' feelings. Most often this is done with face wiping, taking something away or just messing with her when she doesn't want to be messed with (trust me, she'll let you know). Moreover, and a big moreover at that - she's bar none the sweetest baby on earth. That is my completely honest & biased opinion :) But she is. I've never seen a more delightful, joyful, beaming baby than our sweet Ella Bella. She is pure joy and we just bask in her glow thanking God that she's ours.

Um, what else since I'm wringing out today...

Work is going good for Seth & I both. That we have jobs is outset good :) He's moved offices & is closer to home and to State - that's a blessing in many ways. His building is right across from the capitol. This is busy season for me at work. Working on my calendar (that should have been done last week) & lots of new student orientations. Worked my first orientation fair since John was born yesterday - I now think/talk in terms of, "if it were my child" - funny how perspectives change :) Again, just counting blessings in having jobs that afford us a living and allow us both opportunities to grow.

I guess I should make small mention that I currently have a handful of stitches in the middle of my back. Last week the dermatologist took a bottle cap size chunk of tissue out. This was round 2. Hopefully, this was the final round. Moral of the story - the sun is not my friend - it's not your friend either. Being tan, overrated. Glad the vice has been relinquished. Add to life's "hard lessons learned" - just praying this is the extent of the eye opening needed. Point taken.

So, looking forward to another weekend at home together - the collective favorite. Looking forward to "movie nights" w.John. New tradition since The Paci Fairy. On non-school nights John can lay in bed w.me to "watch a movie" after bath. The 1st week it was a Paul Newman movie w.Jennifer Lopez - there was a horse & that's what John remembers. He keeps wondering if we can watch that movie :). Last week "watching a movie" turned into A LOT of chatter. John, "I like brown - I like blue - I like green...(long pause) - I like black - I don't like yellow - Mommy do you like yellow? I don't like 'mercials, do you like mercials?" Don't remember what else we talked about, John's stream of consciousness is pretty elaborate :)

Speaking of, I'd say my stream of consciousness is spent for now :) Happy WACDD!

Advice: If they'd listen to me this world'd be a better place, my grandpa used to say & my grandma always nodded & said, you're right. Someday we're going to kick ourselves for that one & he'd frown & turn off his hearing aid.
~Story People~

Fun things about the weekend...celebrating liberty

Our greatest joy is being together...can't think of a better way to celebrate life & liberty :) Our fun things looked a lil' like this...

Milestones (sigh)



A lil' Candyland (the new boards are quite fancy schmancy)



"what's a girl gotta do for some veggies around here" (aka, miss won't eat any fruits - if it ain't orange/green, she don't want it)



Puppy Love (usually against said Puppy's will)



"Following the Leader, the Leader, the Leader" (for now anyways-ha)



Coloring...lots of coloring (colored approx 27 pictures this weekend)



some time out on the porch, enjoying "out on the porch" (thanks Apes - still enjoyin' this when I can)



flower recovery (post vacation & sweltering heat trauma)



Deddy's loving arms (sigh)



more coloring - I told ya, it was a lot :)



early morning Playdough fun w. Deddy while the girls slept in



wearing my "I'm so proud - couldn't be happier these are my kids" face A LOT this weekend



hugs (sigh)



craft time for mama ~ ages 6 & up :)



bringin' in reinforcements ~ glue gun & riesling (ha, white craft glue my butt)



brushin' by the designated (bought specifically for) yellow cookie plate and bringing it from the lonely recesses of the cabinet to be adorned w.some fresh baked goodness



1st of many "this is not my toy" faces



celebrating 8 months!!! (sigh)



our lil' ham bone :)



welcome to the gun show :)



...and if you really want a glimpse into how we spend our time, here's some lil' peeks from the floor view vantage we're usually at. Watchin' these babies enjoy each other has become the butter to our bread :)





**disclaimer** no babies (esp. sweet ones named Ella) were injured in the making of these films...crying at end was strictly for entertainment purposes :)


follows right to the sentiment we try and be constantly mindful of ~ "relish each day as you live it"...

life's too sweet not too :)

Have a blessed week!