A Party for Sidney

Another year, another birthday party for Sidney that involved a bouncy house, getting wet, friends and an accidental power outage!

Low-key birthday parties are where it's at, and I think we nailed this one! Justin, the girls, and I made her birthday cake -- I stitched up her little "7" shirt, we had pizza and chips, and since it was so dadgum hot, we rigged up a water hose to spray on the bouncy house slide, AND THE KIDS LOVED IT!

Except for the part where Sidney blew up the transformer on the power pole with her escaped balloons, things went super -- I'm so grateful to have an awesome family that chip in to celebrate our girl. We're very blessed with an awesome circle of friends, and I couldn't have imagined a better day. Even the rain held off 'til the very end! Success!!

Evening Walks with Birdie

Getting this dog was the best thing we've done in awhile. For me, she's the perfect fit to our family + she is everything you could want in a family dog or any dog for that matter. I am comforted by her presence, it just feels right having her around.

 

In the evenings, when the boys are finally asleep, the girls and I sneak off for a few minutes of time alone. We walk the gravel road towards the cabin. We pick wild berries. We jump over fresh piles of cow manure. We throw rocks in the creek. It's all the stereotypes of "country living" that, in my mind, comprise the perfect ending to any day.

 

I look forward to those stolen minutes, before the girls go to bed and the rest of the evening chores (or the couch) call my name. The sun has set, but the world is still lit in this beautiful warm haze. Stars are just beginning to fade through the sky. Rhealen always looks for the moon. I've taught Sidney how to cover it up by using her thumb and closing one eye. Like clockwork, they do their routines.

 

Birdie follows along beside us, through our legs and against our bodies before darting up the hill. I think she enjoys these evening walks, too. She runs and stretches and sniffs the entire time we walk. I have to keep reminding the girls to let her be, she'll come back when she's done. They call to her constantly, and she always obliges, tiring her little body out in double the time.

Of course having a dog is more work, another being to care for -- but Birdie makes it easy. She is never demanding, always gentle and so easy going. She was made for us.

 

I wanted a dog so badly for so long, and just like that, I found the perfect one. She fits into our family as perfectly as those evening walks we share.

Catch Up, Catch All

My kids are finally in bed, it's dark out and raining, and I'm sitting here in the "old" house hammering out what is going to be a long, heavy-worded, catch-up catch-all post. Hectic isn't even the right word for how life's been going lately. Batshit crazy insanely beyond hectic might begin to cover it, but I doubt it ... so here goes, the past few weeks caught up as much as I can. 

And maybe if we ever get our internet installed at the "new" house I can begin to blog again with some normalcy. 'Cause momma sure does miss it...

On the 6th, our sweet little nugget Rhealen Jo turned the terrible TWO -- she's officially a toddler and a officially a terrible one at that. But we love her so! At her two-year check-up, they said she's a skinny mini, just averaging in the 10th percentile, but overall a healthy gal. She's still in love with farm animals --cows in particular-- adores her big sister and is on the hugest Shrek craze you ever did see. I think we've watched all four movies with her at least 1,000 times...each. 

Jaxon is now five months old -- I call him fat and sassy! He's nearing 18 lbs and has the best belly and leg rolls ever. He's a total momma's boy --and even though Justin likes to tease me about him getting over it someday-- I hope he never changes. I believe he thinks Sidney is the funniest person ever, and he's rolling around the floor like a madman these days -- though he still hates tummy time! I love this fella, he's just the mostest. 

For Sidney's Kindergarten field trip, we went to the Knoxville Zoo (Jaxon didn't join us, it would've just been too much!) Poor RJ was sick as could be on our trip, but she made the most of it and we all had a really good time. The last time I was at the Knoxville zoo was when I was pregnant with Sidney on the Kindergarten field trip during my AmeriCorps years, so it was hard to believe time had passed by so quickly and now it was her turn! It's just unreal, ya'll...

Last weekend, Sidney and I got to participate in our dear sweet Dobby's wedding! The little ones stayed home with their Poppa (and Mamaw Shirley) while we girlied it up and did the bridesmaid/flower girl thing. At the reception there was amazing food, awesome dancing, and a pretty sweet photobooth! I think SidMo drug every single person she could talk into that thing for photos; there's a ton of her! It was such a joy to see Stephanie & Michael exchange their vows, and I'm so glad they let me and my sweet girl be a part of it all. 

We've also had a ton of other "happenings" happening, like Rhealen's birthday party (which I've yet to upload the pictures off the camera, yet), Sidney's summer school program, lots of time spent outdoors when the heat/humidity isn't unbearable, and movie-watching galore late at night -- no school nights for Sidney are the best! 

There's also a lot more fun things lined up like Sidney's trip to Michigan with Mom & Peanut, my grand-parents coming in from Columbia to see us (hopefully next weekend!), Poppa's Day, hanging out at the lake, 4th of July, and all the other joys of sweet summertime bliss. 

Here's to enjoying every second of it, however crazy wild it may most definitely will be! 

Last Vacation of Summer '12

Pardon the silence, but the girls and I have been off vacationing, and we're just today getting back into the "routine".

We braved the 7+ hour drive to Williamsburg to see the grand-parents (my dad and step-mom) Wed.-Sun. and had the best little time. I am still pleasantly shocked at how well the girls traveled and toured the sights. A little whining and some minor meltdowns but nothing compared to the nightmare I had been dreading in my head leading up to this trip.

Especially our little RJ! Champion car-rider, awesome sleeper and no problems with the crazy non-schedule we kept; I am so proud of her and feel like I could travel cross-country with both of them any time!

We had three solid days of sight-seeing and we made the most out of all of them: the aquarium at Virginia Beach, the Jamestown settlement, a quick ferry ride (back and forth and made it on the boat both times without waiting!), late-night pier fishing, my dad's random movie choices, home-cooked meals and messy breakfasts, and a Busch Gardens Saturday marathon that had me, Dad and Sidney crashing out late with our "dogs barking".

All in all, it was a wonderful trip - one I'm excited to make again next year with THREE kiddos in tow!

it's been a good Saturday

Me and the girls and a little "team spirit" -- they spent most of the day with their Papa, so I worked extra hard to get in the cuddles with them this evening!!

9.10.11

My oldest cousin got married Saturday (on the coolest and easiest wedding date to remember, ever!) so everyone in our family was busy as bees this weekend. No time to think, much less blog! I hate I didn't write an eloquent or heartfelt 9/11 post, but I think those fallen know my heart and I said a special little prayer for all those still serving (especially the favorite "boyfriend" in my family, Matt) and those who were lost. I meant well.

But back to the wedding! It was perfect: great weather, amazing food, lots of good family and friends, cupcakes, the Cupid Shuffle, all the wonderful cheesy things that make a wedding feel so blissfully perfect (without the horrible price tag, may I point out).

Here are some of my favorite shots from Saturday. Congrats Tab & Victor!

Tab wore her mom's wedding gown...super sweet!

Mr. & Mrs. Byrd

To be so goofy, they really can be sweet somtimes...

...but most of the time they're just goofy!

Who doesn't love a cupcake bar?

Dobby & Rhealen Jo - two of my favorite girls :)

SidMo & Coco (and baby Quincy!)

Highlight of the night: Tab & Victor's "Dirty Dancing" scene, minus the lift. Tab just couldn't hold Victor up :)

the earthquake heard barely anywhere in the world

Yeah, I didn't feel a thing yesterday.

Source: None via Mary on Pinterest

People in California have to be laughing their asses off at us.

{today}

Today has just been on of those days. When you walk outside and the sun hits you and you smell the best of life in the air. Your close your eyes, breathe in deep, and it just feels right. Life feels right. If only for a moment, if only until you open your eyes again. It's days like today that get you through the cold winter. It's days like today that remind you the sun will always shine again, even in the darkest moments.

I look around me and see my family, happy and healthy and here beside me. What more on this earth could I possibly need?

Sure there are things I want, but there's nothing more I need. This natural high, this state of euphoria is beyond reach sometimes for me - but not today. Today is a good day. The best of days.

source

{How's your Thursday?}

iSpy

One of Sidney's favorite games to play nowadays is "I Spy" - which is easy and quick and you can play it practially anywhere! Good choice, on my little gal's part! We usually play in the car and our conversations go something like this:

I said I wasn't going to cry

So far, Pinterest has been a lot of fun! I've pinned a bajillion recipes and craft ideas (although, I can't really cook and I really can't craft) - it's definitely a huge time killer, but sometimes it's nice to zone out for awhile and just be a Pinterest-zombie.

It's been all fun and games 'til I saw this:

Source: thewillcuttgirls.blogspot.com via Olivia on Pinterest

Now Pinterest is making me cry. I can't believe my big girl starts school Monday. I was totally prepared not to face this fact until Monday. Damn you, Pinterest!

because an excited kid is the cutest thing in the world...

Sidney's playground arrived yesterday at Mom's house. Needless to say, it was the highlight of Sidney's day (and ours, too)!!!

just checking in.

I didn't realize having Rhealen would suck the blogging brain right out of me, but boy! I was so wrong! I haven't had the first inkling to blog or do much of anything (although I have been faithful about keeping up with reading your blogs, even if I'm not commenting as much as normal)...

RJ is pretty perfect - eating good and sleeping good. I can't believe I lucked up and had two sweet, mild-tempered babes! The entire time I was pregnant with Rhealen, Justin and I kept telling each other "there's no way this time will be as easy or good as it was with Sidney" but so far, RJ has proven us so wrong. She's a doll, and I'm smitten with her already.

I mean how could you not love this kid, right?

Sidney is loving being the big sister, she thinks she can do everything I can do (sometimes she thinks she can do it better than I can!) and I've caught her trying to pick up her little "sissy" a few times! It's the most precious thing in the world to watch Sidney with Rhealen, she's so doting and sweet. I can't count how many times I use the words "be easy" during a day, but other than that, it's nothing but love between the two of them. She makes me so proud, that big girl of mine.

Hopefully soon enough I'll get back in the swing of things and keep on blogging at my regular pace. But for now, I'm soaking up my girls and enjoying my time at home with them. Summer kicks off next week, and I can't wait to spend every single day of it with these beauties of mine!

wait for it.....

The bees are buzzing and the birds are singing. Life is getting hectic and spring is getting closer to summer with every step. I keep counting down the days. Rhealen is due the day before summer officially begins - she's my summer of love baby. And I can't wait to meet her!

I plan to spend as much quality time as I can this weekend with SidMo; I had two weekends off from school back-to-back and it totally spoiled me. Now, I feel like I don't get to spend any weekend time with her after sitting in class all Friday evening and most of Saturday :( Plus, my poor husband is working all weekend (after being told he had the weekend off) so it feels like we're not putting in that much-needed time before this babe gets here.

I want so badly to bottle up this feeling of being a little "family of three". It's been just us for almost four years, and now we're totally messing up the beat by adding another little lady to the mix! Hopefully, most things will just fall into place for us. I'm sure they will and after she's here, I'll look back and think "why was I ever worried?" But it is a real worry of mine, one that I'm sure a lot of people have felt (even if they haven't admitted it out loud). We've got a good thing going - I'd hate to think we're completely screwing things up.

It won't be long 'til we get to find out. I hit the 36-week mark on Monday. I had said from the get-go that I wanted to go into labor myself this time, without having to be induced. But the closer I get to that 40-week mark, the more induction looks like a huge relief. There's some comfort in being able to circle the date on the calendar and count down the days a little easier. I'm trying to hold out and assure myself that I can do this, I can wait for her on her time and I can handle all this anxiety that comes from playing the waiting game.

I'm the little pregnant engine that could at this point.

Okay, well maybe not so little...

maternity [sneak peek]

I had my maternity session on Saturday and my amazing photographer Jessica put up some previews early Sunday morning - it was a great way to start Mother's Day!

{via Jessica Leigh Hood Photography}

And now I can finally reveal little Nugget's name - we worked the big reveal into my session and I can't wait to share all the photos with you in due time! Our sweet little girl is named Rhealen Jo...

Rhealen (pronounced ray-len, with the emphasis on the "rhea") is a combination of my parent's middle names: Rhea + Allen. Jo is for Justin's maternal grand-mother (and for my Aunt Jodi, or so she claims!). We couldn't be happier with her little moniker. I had Rhealen picked out as a name for Sidney, but Justin vetoed it. He said it just didn't "feel" like that was supposed to be her name. At the time I thought he was crazy, but now I know he's right. She was always meant to be Sidney Morgan. This time around, Rhealen was our front-runner for our girl's name. Jo just kind of came to us one night driving home as we were bouncing around name ideas. I don't remember if he said it or I said it, but once it was said out loud we both knew it was perfect!

We are so excited to meet little Rhealen - it's been a long, cruel winter and an ugly spring. But she's due the day before summer officially begins, and I know she's going to be the sunshine that warms all of our hearts. It's just a waiting game from here on out...

{via Jessica Leigh Hood Photography}

PS: 34 weeks exactly today!

mini-beach vacation

I forgot to mention it earlier last week, but we headed off Friday for a little vacation down in Myrtle Beach, SC over the weekend. It was amazing, to say the least! I did manage to fry myself (my legs in particular) and it was sort of hard to move on Monday (or Tuesday or today...) but it's getting better slowly but surely. Other than that little hitch, everything was pretty awesome. Perfect weather. Not too crowded. A great hotel - what more could anyone ask for?

This may be the only vacation I get to take this year - so I'm probably going to end up staring at these photos longingly for the rest of the year...the rest of the very long beachless year.

damaged film

One of my goals this summer (besides having this baby) is to get outside with my trusty old Canon Rebel 35mm and experiment with film photography. I'm also thinking about investing in some Lomography cameras to play with, but we'll see.

Before I buy the camera that is made to manipulate the film, I thought it'd be fun to learn how to "damage" the film myself to create some really amazing shots. I've been browsing around on flickr (god bless flickr) and some of the photos people have been able to create are simply amazing. I think damaged film is my new favorite obsession!

Here are some of my absolute favorites:








It's pretty amazing what some people can do - I've always wanted to learn how to process and develop my own film. Most people probably dream of having their own in-home theater or six-car garage - I just want a darkroom in the basement!

If you'd like to learn how to do more creative things with your film, read up on this fun article here. Hopefully you'll see some creative shots from me this summer, especially seeing as how I'll have an adorable new little face to practice on!

the Nugget

We saw the Nugget this past Tuesday - she's a beautiful, healthy, very active little girl. All of her parts are in the right spot and she looked perfect, everything was right on schedule.

Little "RJ" is doing good, bumping and grooving her way into the 6th month, and honestly I couldn't feel better. None of my symptoms are overwhelming. Everything feels pretty peaceful and calm. My hormones are staying in balance (for the most part) and my aching body isn't too unbearable at this point.

I'm still not looking forward to that home-stretch of swollen ankles and non-stop peeing. But I'm definitely looking forward to meeting the Nugget face-to-face come June. She's definitely wanted, already loved, eagerly awaited and I just can't wait to have her in my arms. 

lil' queen

SidMo was in a beauty pageant yesterday - the little local one we do every year.

She did *much* better this year than last year - there was very little crying and no 3 o'clock meltdown. I know some people think pageants for little girls are just another way society is trying to dumb down woman and exploit their love of all things beauty-related. And I agree, to a certain extent. I'd never be a "toddlers and tiaras" kind of mom. We do this once a year, and SidMo really enjoys it - she'd enjoy it a lot better if no one clapped or cheered for her, as weird as that sounds. But she enjoys dressing up and being girly, she just doesn't appreciate all the attention she gets on-stage.

She definitely marches to the beat of her own little drum. She's the perfect mix of girly and giddy and rough and tumble. Silly and sweet, cute and crazy. I was very proud of her for conquering her fears (a little better than usual) and I'm hoping its things like these little pageants that help her get over her irrational fears - like the fear of the "happy birthday" song. But that's a post for another day.

Here she is in all her pageant cuteness and kookiness.

*she got 3rd runner up, by the way, and was incredibly proud of herself.*

I loathe the mugginess

Seriously? Seriously.

sidney and the watermelon

she's serious about her watermelon

daddy's awesome finger-painting detail

nom nom nom

one satisfied girl....