Birdie

On Saturday we added another blip to the crazy stream that is our lives: we got a dog!

We rescued this little girl, Birdie, from a local shelter + it was love at first sight. She's around 1.5 years old + they believe she's a Blue Heeler/Australian Shepherd mix. She really is the sweetest little pup you could ever hope to meet!

I still can't believe we somehow talked Justin into owning a dog again (we had to rehome our last two dogs a few years back after they attacked our neighbor's dog) -- so even though we've brought Birdie home and plan on having her for years to come, I'm still holding my breath a little + I get worried she'll run off or get picked up or something drastic like that.

But so far, she's a dream + she doesn't bark, doesn't jump or do anything excessively annoying like that with either us or the kids. She hasn't tried to wander off and hasn't been down near the road by our house.

The only negative? She is determined to escape every kennel we put her in. She managed to escape two different kennels three different times! Each time though, she just comes right back to our front porch, to her little spot in the corner.

 

I am so glad we got a family dog, and I'm so glad we found her when we did. She is perfect --in my eyes-- and even though it's another level of crazy added to our days, I wouldn't have it any other way!

 

She's just one more baby to love :)

SWVA Perfection

This little corner of SWVA sure is a pretty one -- and on days like this one pictured, it's hard to imagine a more beautiful place to live. We have it all, all year long - sunny days, crisp evenings, cold nights. Sunny summers, snow-filled winters. We have thunderstorms in the spring and crunchy leaves in the fall. It's just picture-perfect all year long!

 

I've traveled quite a bit in my young life and seen all sorts of beautiful things, but I swear, that mountain covered view is my favorite thing in this whole world.

(Also, momma needs a haircut. And a selfie stick!)

Finally, Toby

Toby is my last great gift, the final piece of my puzzle, a perfect end note to my opus. 

He is joy and ease and tranquility. He never fails to amaze me with his sweetness, his divine innocence. He gets the best of me, or maybe it's the worst of me. I am utterly at peace with myself as a mother with him. He's the fourth. I know what I'm doing, and I don't know any other way to do it. But it feels like I'm always too busy with the other three... 

And so he just sits back and waits for me. He waits for my undivided attention, waits with gummy grins and a warm little body to snuggle. He is just perfection, and I hope I always remember (and appreciate) him for the cool little dude he is. Such a sweet little soul. 

Maybe the best really is saved for last...

4

Four peas in a pod.

Four unique beings tied by the strings of my heart. I created these little humans (with a little help from my husband, if I must give credit where credit is due!) - I grew them within me. I felt them move for the first time, felt their hiccups. I labored with them, delivered them safely into this great big world with all the wishes and hopes and dreams a momma can have for her babies. 

Four times over I was lucky enough to create life, to deliver life, to nourish a dream into reality. 

My four. The final four. 

The Only Boy for Me

 I don't know what I'd do without this little ham-bone! He's literally the brightest light and sweetest thing -- and he loves me! And I love him for loving me! Even though he saves some of his biggest grins for his daddy + sisters, I know where his true heart lies. He's a momma's boy, through and through, and I'm so grateful to get to experience what it's like having a son. My one and only sweet-as-sugar son!

Two Girls, One Heart

For sisters that don't really look anything alike, these two have turned out to be the best of friends ... watching their relationship blossom has been one of the biggest rewards of parenting for me. 

I've watched them transition from a nervous, but gentle, big sister watching lovingly over her newborn sister -- to a roaming baby who insisted on following her big sister everywhere, crawling while she tucked that one leg up underneath her, just like her big sister used to do -- to a nosy toddler who wants all the toys her big sister has in her hands at the exact moment she picks them up -- to two little girls who are learning to play together and really look out for one another. 

It's been just amazing. Of course, they have their moments. There is yelling and crying and hair-pulling. But in all honesty, they are few and far between. 

If Rhealen gets hurt or gets in trouble, she will crawl into Sidney's arms, Sidney will hold her chest-to-chest, and rub her back. She whispers to her and doesn't move until Rhealen is ready to get back up. It's the most achingly tender thing I've ever witnessed. 

They really do love each other -- I don't know why I find that so surprising -- and it just makes me so happy for them. This sisterly bond is such a blessing to watch unfold, I feel like the luckiest momma in the world. 

Two very different looks. Two distinct personalities. Two little girls. 

One heart between the two of them. 

[Take Care]

The moments I really feel something hit me hard in the face and heart and knock me over with such force, there's no possible way to ignore them. 

I have general feelings constantly. I generally feel happy. I generally feel loved. I generally feel anxious. But to truly feel an emotion, in the heat of a moment without warning or delay, is blinding. 

I love my kids, love them all day, every day and will continue to love them 'til the day I die. But there are moments when I look at them and love them so hard, it psychically pains me. In those moments, I'm reminded of a million reasons why I love being a mother, why being a mother has made me a better human, and why I'd shrivel up and fade away without these three in my life. 

Sure, I could have taken a different path in life -- a path that led me to never being a mother. That life sometimes beckons to me -- a carefree, reckless spirit that taunts me, tries to tell me I've missed out on so much living by being a young mother. I get jealous of the part of the me that never even existed, and I begin to resent my surroundings. I daydream of a life without all these responsibilities and demands, without sleepless nights and screaming babies. I dream of, for lack of a better word, freedom. 

And then I see my children, these three innocent beings that took the best parts of me and my husband, and magically came to in a world of hope and love. I see them laugh and smile and play and hold each other. I see them whispering and touching noses, sharing inside jokes and creating a world around them made only for three. They love each other, so fiercely, and take care of each other, a sentiment I've been preaching to them lately. 

Some day, your daddy and I won't be here -- you have to take care of each other, always. 

I see my children and I love them, and it hits me like a wave, these emotions come over me -- I feel guilty for ever feeling anything but contentment and joy. I resent myself for resenting myself. I stop and thank every star in the sky, because I am so lucky -- there are so many mothers out there with empty arms, and here my home and heart are full three times over.

I take joy in falling in love with my children, over and over again. In between the routine and the pitfalls and the everyday grind, I am blessed to feel deeply for them at the most spontaneous and unexpected moments. I know there will come a day when I take them for granted again, when I pine for a life that I wasn't meant to live. But deep down, I know -- I will always love my life. I will always love my children. And I will always love the feeling that comes over me when I fall in love with them again. And again and again and again...

One Week!!

Last night we celebrated our first week of officially living in the new digs!! 

Having the extra room we have now is incredible  it feels so different having a bedroom for everyone and two bathrooms to share. We have space and room and extra nooks and crannies all around us. We can invite people down for dinner or just to hang out. And it's amazing!!

Sometimes I feel a little insecure, almost embarrassed  to tell people we moved from one single-wide into another. But then I remind myself, quit that shit. We bought a four-bedroom house that we are paying for with money earned at our own jobs to give our children a home to grow up in. It doesn't matter what it looks like or where it came from or how it compares to other houses. We did (and are doing) what is best for our family right now, and we will continue to do only that. Sure, we could've gotten something bigger and "better", but we would've been sacrificing our quality of life. And we want to be able to still go out to nice dinners and buy the kids toys just because and take family vacations every year. We bought something with a mortgage that will give us all the house we need and still let us breathe every month. 

And why am I justifying myself? I don't know. But there it is. My justification that is completely unnecessary. 

I love our place, so much already. I can't wait to finish decorating and filling it full of memories with my sweet, little family. And I just need to let go of that voice inside my head that tells me things aren't good enough the way they are. 

Because they're fan-freaking-tastic just the way they are. Right now. 

And I never wanted nothing more. 

My Sweet Middle Child

Oh, this girl. My sweet Rhealen Jo.

It has been such an unexpected treat watching her develop into this "big sister" role. I spent so much time during my pregnancy with Jaxon worrying that my sweet little RJ wouldn't adjust well to a new baby in the house. I was riddled with anxiety that she'd resent me, end up hating me or her new brother or both of us - I just knew there was no way that she'd accept Jaxon and be tender, loving or sweet.

Boy, was I proved wrong. And fast!

Rhealen is the sweetest little thing with Jaxon, so sweet and so attentive to him, in her own special way. Unlike Sidney, Rhealen is not one to be overly affectionate or prone to cuddle and kiss. She's a bit standoffish and usually prefers to do her own thing in her own time. With Jaxon, Rhealen will always kiss him when I offer him to her. She will stroke his head and say, "easy" - and has dubbed him "Jaxie", which sounds a hundred times sweeter in her little voice than anything else possibly could. When she wakes up, he's usually the first person she asks about. If he cries, she is quick to make sure somebody hears him and attends to him promptly. She will offer him a bottle, even if it's empty or he's sound asleep. She's just the biggest little delight!

And I'm so glad/grateful I was wrong. She proves me wrong daily by being such a sweetheart to him - and to me. Her heart expanded and made room for Jaxon without shutting me out one bit. She loves me just as much as before, and I have to say, I love her a thousand times more than before her little brother was born. My heart is so full, so open to these little people, I am just humbled and beyond blessed.

My sweet middle child helps to remind me daily that people will always suprise you in the most amazing ways. Thank you, RJ, I hope this isn't the last time you prove your momma so very, very wrong.

When It Hits You, Then It Hits You

I could complain about how he drives me crazy, how his nagging and nit-picking push me to the brink of sanity. I could whine that he's unfair sometimes, inflexible. He doesn't know how to roll with the changes or fall into a new routine easily. He's so different from me sometimes, we're like two opposite puzzle pieces trying to make it work together.

I could say he's grumpy and moody. He has a way of crawling under my skin like no one else. He can push every button I've got and make me cry in two minutes. He can annoy me. Hurt my feelings. Make me want to tear my hair out.

But I love him. And he's here with me.

It shouldn't take someone else's loss to remind me that what I have is precious. And fleeting. And it can all disappear at any given second.

A girl I went to school with lost her husband yesterday. She is pregnant with their first child, a daughter.

My heart breaks for those deeply affected by this loss. I am but a distant member of this community, and it has rocked me to my core.

Today, and hopefully every day hereafter, I promise to love him a little more. My wonderful husband, who for all his faults, is a good man. My best friend and the absolute love of my life. Today, I'm going to squeeze all of my loved ones a little tighter. 

{8 Months}

Our little Nugget hit the 8-month mark yesterday. She's 2/3 of the way to her first birthday (which I must tell you, Sidney is already planning for her with great delight)!

This past week has been a bit of a doozy for her; she's been quite the sick little ladybug and wants to be held and loved constantly. We took her to the Dr yesterday and she has a case of RSV and an ear infection, so it's antibiotics and lots of humidified air for this girl. If I leave her sight, it's instant meltdown. Even her big sister isn't enough of a comfort to her - although Sidney recently discovered her snake-charming side. She found a way to kiss Rhealen's cheek that puts her in a total trance. It's the cutest!

Rhealen has mastered the art of sitting up, but no crawling yet. If she's on a slick enough surface, she can scoot clear across the room! She will put her hands down in front of her and try to rock back and forth, so crawling is only a matter of time.

She still has the best appetite of any baby I've ever seen. There's nothing this kid won't eat! She loves fruits, veggies, meats, breads - all of it. Some her favorites include pears, bananas, asparagus, mozerella cheese, pizza, sour cream & chive cheese crackers and waffles. Of course, she also has a penchant for iced tea and ice cream, but I'm not supposed to admit she eats that stuff! Or eggs and peanut butter. Or double-stuff Oreos.

As of right now, she sleeps almost 11 hours every night - most of the time through the night, but sometimes she wakes up rooting for her paci. If you pop it back in quick enough, she goes right back to sleep. We recently moved her pack-n-play out of the living room and into the girls' room and the transition has made a world of difference. She sleeps better, longer, more soundly. She's also a huge fan of white noise, so I think we're going to invest in a sound machine sometime in the near future.

She can clearly say "da-da" (her favorite word), "mom-mom" and "num-num". We're working on more, lord knows Sidney is dying to hear her say her name. I don't have the heart to tell her it'll be awhile before she spits that one out!

I honestly don't think I could ask for a better baby - she's sweet as can be, loves her family and has a great adaptability to roll with the punches (most of the time). She loves to be on the go in the car, and yet you can almost hear her breathe a sigh of relief when we walk through the front door at home. She plays well by herself and is in love with taking showers with me. She has a lot of little quirks and habits that remind me of Sidney (like sticking her left leg up on the table while she eats in her high chair) but she's so totally opposite Sidney sometimes, it's amazing they're even related.

I look at her sometimes and think to myself, I made you. I carried you. I felt your first movements, your first kicks. I was the one you heard first, and I'm the one you knew first. How blessed am I to have known her first, to be the one who shared a body with her and helped her grow into this being of light and love. She's been outside of my body almost as long as she was inside.

Happy, wonderful 8 months, my sweet Rhealen Jo. 

for my firstborn

My favorite picture ever of Sidney sleeping, whens she was a little over 1 1/2 years old. 

I feel so sorry for my big girl sometimes - there are days when she gets the short end of the stick from me, and it's not fair to her. I have too much on my plate, too many demands that have to be met first, before I can play with her or cuddle with her or read to her. I try to squeeze in those precious little moments with her as much as possible, but I have to be honest and admit that sometimes these moments just slip by.

The other night, after I put her down for bed, she called out to me and wanted me to come cuddle with her. I was just trying to get Rhealen down to sleep and by the time I got the little girl in bed, the big one had already fallen asleep. I felt so bad for her - all she wanted from me was a little cuddle and I couldn't get done with my "have to" list in order to make her "want to" list a reality.

I climbed in bed beside her and immediately began to cry.

Normally these kind of things don't get to me; I'm realistic and I know that things like this happen. I can't be everywhere all the time. And I make it a priority to have plenty of one-on-one time with her; it's just that usually I have more one-on-one time with Rhealen by default. And it isn't fair to Sidney, even if those are the circumstances that are, to an extent, out of my hand right now.

I put my arm around her, felt her chest rise and fall, and just stared at that perfect little round face - the same face I first looked at over four years ago. And I felt so guilty - guilty that she's here with me and I'm here with her. And that night, and every other night, there are children going to sleep without an arm around them. And there are women and men falling to sleep without babies to fill their own arms.

And I've never done anything in my life to deserve these girls.

Yet here they are, and they're mine. And I love them more than words can ever describe. I get so caught up in the everyday grind, the day in/day out of our lives that I miss so many little moments. I miss my own love for them, so much sometimes that it hits me all at once and I can't help but feel everything for them all at once. My heart is so full, it hurts. Literally, hurts.

I am so blessed, so lucky, so grateful, so in love. I hope they both feel that love when I can't give them more of me, most of me, all of me.

music memory lane: 1994-99

Talking about music before got me to thinking: there are times when I'm kind of ashamed to admit I grew up in the NSYNC/Britney Spears era. That was the rage in middle school, I remember being in love with it all - the cheese, the boy bands, the bubblegum pop.

But I also developed my love for other music outside of just pop music. I've always been an eclectic music lover. I have my awesome parents to thank for that; they introduced me to AC/DC, Meatloaf, The Eagles, KC and the Sunshine Band, Elton John, The Bangles, and an entire slew more of music legends. We listened to it all: rock, country, pop, you name it. They took me to concerts and gave me the freedom to explore music on my own. So, thanks Mom and Dad, for that. You rock.

While in the midst of my "growing up" back in the 90s and early 00s, I got the chance to listen to some amazing music, and I don't want you to think I'm a carbon copy 90s kid who never got to experience "real" music. Though if you ask me, it's all real. I love Van Morrison just as much as I love S Club 7. I love BBMak the same way I love the Beatles. I'm an equal opportunity music lover. But here, I'm listing some of favorite music (and music videos) from my childhood.

God bless VH1 - and please bring back the original Pop-Up videos!

1993 (I was five, by the way)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Last Dance with Mary Jane


Ace of Base - All That She Wants, The Cranberries - Linger, Aerosmith - Crazy, Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do, Mariah Carey - Dreamlover, Meat Loaf - I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't do That), Melissa Ethridge - Come to My Window, Salt N Pepa - Whatta Man

1994
Green Day - When I Come Around, Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun, Live - All Over You, Hootie & the Blowfish - Hold My Hand, Boyz II Men - I'll Make Love to You, The Eagles - Hotel California


1995
Shania Twain - Any Man of Mine, Jewel - You Were Meant for Me, Collective Soul - The World I Know, Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It, Selena - Dreaming of You, Faith Hill - Someone Else's Dream, Lisa Loeb - Stay (I Missed You)


1996
Celine Dion - It's All Coming Back to Me Now


Hanson - MMMBop, The Verve Pipe - The Freshman, Backstreet Boys - I'll Never Break Your Heart, The Wallflowers - Headlight, Toni Braxton - Unbreak My Heart, LeAnn Rimes - One Way Ticket, Marilyn Manson - The Beautiful People

1997
Spice Girls - Wannabe, Marcy Playground - Sex and Candy, Savage Garden - Truly, Madly, Deeply, Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life, Meredith Brooks - Bitch, Puff Daddy - I'll Be Missing You, Sugar Ray - Fly


1998
Dixie Chicks - You Were Mine, Train - Meet Virginia, Madonna - Ray of Light, NSYNC - I Want You Back, Terri Clark - You're Easy on the Eyes, Ace of Base - Cruel Summer, Kid Rock - Cowboy, Goo Goo Dolls - Black Balloon, Brandy - The Boy is Mine


1999
Britney Spears - Baby One More Time, TLC - Unpretty, Blackstreet - Take Me There, Ricky Martin - Livin La Vida Loca, Blink-182 - What's My Age Again?, Jennifer Lopez - If You Had My Love, Smashmouth - All Star, Edwin McCain - I Could Not Ask for More, Santana - Smooth


I love taking a look back through the years at music; there's a lot of memories up there for me. Love, loss, heartbreak, friends, summers, life being lived. I'm a huge music junkie, we could talk about music all day and I'd be happy!

Come back next time and we can reminisce about the 00s!

{7 months}

On Friday our little lady hit her 7-month mark! How time flies when you're having fun!

At seven months, Rhealen is eating like a lumberjack (even though she just recently got two little teeth) and has a passion for crackers and biscuits. She sleeps from around 9-8 every night and takes two or three naps during the day. She is absolutely in love with her big sister and will bend over backwards to watch her every move - any time Sidney leaves the room, Rhealen will crawl out of your arms to try and see where she went!

She was only 14.5 lbs at her 6-month checkup, but I'd guess she's put on another two pounds since then. She's finally starting to get a little baby fat on her, which I adore. The chubbier the baby, the more there is to love! 

Rhealen loves Beau to pieces, and the feeling is definitely mutual. She'll grab two fists full of his hair and try to eat him whole, but he just lays there licking her face. They share chew toys (gross!) and food and even take naps together - of course, I have to pry Beau off of sleeping right on top of her (not that she ever seems to notice or mind).

She's doing a lot of jibbering and jabbering, but no real words yet. She says something that sort of resembles "da-da" but hasn't quite got it down pat yet. She can giggle and laugh like no one's business, though! And she finds almost everything in life funny, which is the sweetest.

Rhealen has definitely made our lives 2000x times richer than it ever was before; there are moments when I see Rhealen and Sidney together and my heart just melts from my body. It's such a sweet little moment in time right now - both girls adore each other and love to be around one another. I know it's only a matter of time before the sister bickering begins, but I hope to hold onto these warm memories as long as I can. 

I'm the luckiest momma in all the world! 

today

Today is a good day.

Despite the rainy, cold weather. Despite this cold that's kicking my butt. Despite the hot flashes and the long miles I drove today. Despite the lack of sleep I got. Despite the pounding in my head and the ringing in my ear. Despite the lack of money in the bank. Despite the feeling of falling behind and worrying too much. Despite the clock ticking by so slowly. Despite the pain I feel not being there physically for my family. Despite the dishes in the sink and the laundry piled up by the door. Despite the many more hours it'll be 'til I can sleep again. Despite the homework to be finished. Despite the craziness of it all.

Despite everything, today is a good day. I refuse to see today in any other light than good. I have been reminded what matters, reminded who matters the most to me. I am here, alive and well, if only for today.

Today is a good day. 

fall.

I'm loving this weather right now...it's amazing to be so close to November and still have days that reach 70+ degrees. The leaves are amazing right now, it's crystal clear to me why I love this time of year so much.

It's also slightly depressing because I know in just a few more weeks there's a chance I'll be looking at something like this:

I've already had an anxiety attack (or three) about winter and the lack of sunshine. Every year I get a little more and more nervous as winter approaches. I've been doing my best to soak up every second of these warm, sunny days - but I know that familiar creeping feeling headed my way. There will be times when I leave the house when it's still dark and come home after the sun's already gone back down. There will be days when I feel the sun only for minutes instead of hours. This I know.

But for now, I'm loving the warmer temperatures and the sunshine and this gorgeous time of year. I'm so thankful to live in a climate that experiences four distinct seasons - it's comforting to know that after the cruel winter there'll be a wet spring and a hot summer. And my favorite time of year, a breezy fall.

{Dear Sidney}

Dear Sidney,

You were so excited the day you became a big sister. In actuality, you became excited the moment you found out you were going to be a big sister. On the very day we told you, you came home with an "It's a Boy!" balloon from the store, before you ever even knew what was going on. You weren't right about having a little brother, but I think you're more than okay with that. You adore your little sister, beyond words. I could never begin to sum up the way your eyes shine when she smiles at you. The very sight of the two of you together melts me completely.

About one week after we came home from the hospital, I sat in the recliner looking at my girls - you asleep on the couch and your sister asleep in her bouncy chair. Van Morrison's "These Are the Days" was playing through the laptop and your Daddy was getting the house ready for bed. I looked over at you both and felt this explosion of love. Nine months of uneasy emotions and nervous thoughts flew from my soul, and there we all were - home, happy and healthy, together. That memory is so soft in my mind, yet it holds such strong feelings. I'm so lucky to be here among you girls, so blessed to witness your love for one another. I never had a sister, so I'm only guessing at the feelings you share. From where I sit, the view is beautiful and the love palpable.

I was worried about you before, nervous as to how you'd do adjusting to sharing the limelight. You were the only grandchild for so long, I didn't know how you'd feel about giving that title up. Now, I see all my worry was for nothing. You've embraced sisterhood with glory and grace. There's not a day that goes by that I don't look at you and think, "you're amazing" my child. You are amazing.

I want to thank you for being such a wonderful sister. Thank you for loving me and loving Rhealen and keeping this family intact and wholesome. You are pure joy, bottled up with blue eyes and curly brown hair. You were a surprise to us, just like Rhealen was, but we couldn't have asked for better girls. As you get older, you and your sister may fight. You may forget about the bonds you have and the simple, sweet love you share right now. There may come a time when you tell each other, "I hate you."

But please don't forget this moment in your life. Don't forget what it was like to do everything in your power to make your sister smile. Don't forget all the cuddles you shared in the mornings before school. Don't forget that moment when you first saw her, and your smile was so wide it barely fit in the room. Promise me, you won't forget.

And know I'll never forget a second of the day you became a big sister, and I became the luckiest lady in the whole world.

I love you, my dear Sidney Morgan.

Momma

Sidney Morgan 4.1

Sidney is amazing, amazing beyond words. But I'll try.
She is my light, my eldest, my beautiful girl. Sometimes her imagination blows my mind away, and it's hard to keep up with her. She's soaking up the world around her at lightning speed. She loves books, and even though she can't technically read, she's memorized every word of her favorite books. And then sometimes, she just makes up the words as she goes.

{4 months}

Rhealen could not be a sweeter girl. She wakes up smiling from ear to ear, she's always cooing and smiling and just this Saturday I heard her full-on giggle for the first time. We were sitting outside, just enjoying the sunshine and she broke into a little fit of giggles. It was THE sweetest sound.

It's hard to believe she's already four months old. Justin and I talk about the possibility of more kids, and right now especially, we're still kind of up in the air about the whole idea. When Rhealen hits these amazing little milestones, I always hear a little voice in the back of my head asking, "is this the last first time....?" I'm not sure yet, but watching her change over the last four months has been so amazing, I can only hope to do this at least one more time.

She's perfect. We couldn't have dreamed up a better baby and a better addition to our little family.

one day old

four months old

{happy anniversary}

I was looking through old photos of me and Justin trying to find one I liked enough to include in this post. At first I kept looking through the sweet ones and the "kissing" ones -- but I quickly realized that's not the everyday reality of us. We're goofy, odd -- people openly tell us how we're not a normal couple (whatever normal is). It would feel weird to include a picture-perfect, lovey-dovey picture in this post. Because 98% of the time, that's just not us.

We're more like this:

{2008}

 

And this:

{2008}

 

I think those that know us would say this is an accurate description of us:

{2008}

 

 

 

 

Apparently he has a closed-eye problem:

{2009}

 

I'm fairly certain we couldn't take a good picture if our lives depended upon it:

{2009}

 

There's a million and one more pictures I could show you. It's amazing how much we've changed since 2003. We were just sophomores when we started dating on Sept. 19th, 2003 -- then six years later we tied the knot, Sept. 19th, 2009. And now here we are, two years married and eight years together, Sept. 19th, 2011. Sometimes I can't believe we've made it this far; g-d knows there were plenty of ups and downs along the way. But here we are.

Two years. Two beautiful daughters. Two crazy kids still in love.

{2011}

 

And sometimes we even get the "sweet" parts right.