the secret's out!

We are moving back South!

Though we had planned to stay longer, Bryan has accomplished what he came here to do (learn a specific technology) quicker than expected. Way to go babe!

Though I'm a little overwhelmed about getting us packed in the next 4 weeks (yikes....I only now did the math...), I can't wait to be closer to friends and babysitters. excuse me, grandparents.

It's been no secret that it's been a difficult and 'stretching' year, but hopefully no secret that it's been fun and exciting (among a few other nice adjectives that I don't have the time to think of right now) as well.

Want to come pack a box or two?

mr. bright eyes

I've always been a pretty

plain jane kinda girl.

But I've been having an identity crisis lately.

I've been inspired by mr. bright eyes.

He's a pretty colorful kinda guy.

I sat down to write about all the happenings around here, but I got overwhelmed with all there is and didn't know where to start! So, I decided to throw a little color up and hope it inspires me. tomorrow.

see Sam sit

sleepy Sam sitting~

silly Sam (not) sitting~

"da-da"

I fell really fast for Bryan when we were dating, so there wasn't much time to think about what kind of father he would be.

though I had a pretty good idea that he would be an amazing one.

turns out I was right. really right.

Dad

My dad has always written me notes. Sometimes they are long and wordy, sometimes short and sweet. I still have all of them in a box. They pushed out all the old boyfriend memorabilia, thankfully.

I don't think it was very fun parenting me around ages, oh...12 to 15. I was an emotional know-it-all with a 'smart' mouth. I would stomp away to my room in disagreement with my parents often. But before I even had time to pop in a mixed tape I would see my dad's cursive on my bed. The words usually said something like "you know, I've never done this parenting thing before.......so sometimes maybe I'm not even making the best decision........but I'm your father and I love you.......so this is why......and I pray the Lord works through it.....and he will because He says.....".

It would pierce my heart every time.

Thanks for writing, Dad.

You make me want to write too.

much given, much to share

My birthday this year was one for the history books. at least my history book....

Bryan had told me the day before that he was going to give me a day off. I nearly fainted. or cried. or maybe I did cry?

My first thought about what I would do with myself was a NYC photo excursion. fun! But the logistics of that - lactating and all, were a little overwhelming. So I tried to think locally and of my favorite things to do - outdoors, walking, reading, writing, coffee.... and why couldn't it be a photo excursion too?

Morning came, and though logic tried to tell me to sleep in (due to being up with the littlest much of the night), adrenaline won out. out the door before nine. no diaper bag. I enjoyed nearly 3 hours at the harbour with all my favorite things before duty called.

When I came home Charlie instantly greeted me singing "happy birthday". I melted, even though I figured Bryan must have told him to do it. We then heard paper ripping down the hall. Bryan, laughing, told me that an hour before Charlie saw him hide a gift and wanted to open it. Bryan had told him that it's was "Mom's birthday" and that he could open it when I got home. He wasted no time. funny kid.

What was in that package was so incredibly cool. Bryan's family picked out a picture frame from Second Line Frames. Can you find similar frames for cheaper? yes. But do they have a story and a cause like this? I love things with a story. It will be a history lesson and even an heirloom for my children. I love it so much!

Can't wait to put a picture of our family inside the frame....

For dinner, Thai, of course....

And the clincher of the day? a cake. made by my husband!

He told me the day before he was going to make one and asked what kind I wanted. My jaw dropped. I didn't even care if the cake got made - I'm not even a cake person - but the thought?! hmmmm, I'd like to make my wife a cake?! I'm trying to hold back the urge to overly gush, but good grief I love that guy.

I made it easy for him - boxed yellow cake, no icing, strawberries and whipped cream. The man made real whipped cream. real. whipped. cream.

He did have a stand mixer though.

Should I mention the part about the oven accidentally being left on for 20 hours? It it wouldn't be blaming, because I was there too........

I shudder to think of our next gas/electric bill.

As Bryan sang "happy birthday" we both felt really strange, almost guilty for putting Charlie to bed early and not letting him join the festivities. So what else was there to do but wake the sleeping baby?

To whom much is given, much should be shared!

i heart surprises

I love surprises. I really do. But it is hard to surprise me. I was always the child who found her presents before Christmas, even peeling the tape oh-so-carefully as to not rip the paper so that it could be put back. even making my brother open a present too so that he couldn't tell on me.

But I've come a long way. When Bryan told me not to open any packages that came to the door before my birthday next week I agreed.

and I've stuck to it.

haven't opened any packages.

nope, not a one.

not even this big fat one that came today...

I have a feeling though that he did really good.

stats

Simultaneous 6 month and 2 year doctor appointments (in a thunderstorm mind you), and I survived. whew.

It actually went much better than expected. Charlie cried through all of the weighing and measuring, but stopped when he got his finger pricked! He was fascinated by the red drops coming from his finger. He furrowed his brow, put it right up against his finger, and in amazement kept saying "red? red?". The nurse and I couldn't stop laughing.

height: 34 ish, weight: 27 something (he wasn't very cooperative, so everything was pretty much a guessing game), putting 2 and 3 words together...

And sweet Sam. He was just happy to be there -as long as I was holding him.

length: I have no idea......I think I was consoling Charlie? weight: 14 lbs, 10ish oz

He just started sitting up, and desperately trying to scoot - with no results yet.

I'm sure he looks larger than 14 pounds in pictures (like the one here, chubs sporting the bandaids, eh?), but truth is, he really is a little guy. Just as the spit-ups calmed a bit (took him off meds at 5 months), he became completely uninterested in eating. He would rather be doing anything but sitting still! Thankfully the doc says he's growing fine (and actually is the same size his brother was at 6 months).

I'm glad to know my boys are thriving, but I'd be lying if I said that part of me didn't wish I could put a brick on their heads and slow things down a bit. 6 months? 2 years? really??

a pile of baby

I thought a pile of baby would be cute in a pile of laundry.

or......

maybe I just needed a place to but baby down while I scrubbed watermelon stains out of his older brother's shirt?

and was then struck by the vivid cuteness of it all?

is that bad?

or maybe the clothes were really clean and I staged it all.

because surely I wouldn't put a baby in a pile of dirty laundry.

no, surely not.