Happy Afternoon

It's funny how just a few hours can brighten your week!

This week the kids and I were able to drive down to Bowling Green to meet up with one of my besties who lives in South Carolina now. They were in visiting family so of course I dropped whatever to meet them.

We met for dinner and then headed to the local orchard.

It was the most gorgeous day and we just relaxed together as our kiddos ran around.

Here we are.

She is pregnant with her second and I'm holding my newborn.

I love to think about how many pictures we have together.

Ones from our crazy fun college days, our weddings, care-free couples get togethers and finally some with our babies.  I was telling Scott it's neat that God has let us see each other for each of our pregnancies (if only in the beginning months). It's amazing all God has brought us through together. I'm so thankful to have such a faithful friend to share this journey with.

We got to eat berries and it was such a blessing to let our kiddos play together.

 I love this sweet little family more than they know!!!

 

 And I have to put in a plug for Jackson's Orchard....ahhhmazing produce.

We enjoyed strawberries and sweet cherries.

 I cannot believe how BIG this little cutie has gotten.

Because she knows and loves me, Mer endured taking a few shots of my brood.

I'm pretty much in love with this sequence of pictures.

 looking up at baby

posing with mama

 

sweet baby

mama's little monkeys 

Thanks, Mer for the pictures, for the visit and most of all for your oh so encouraging friendship!

I love you!

I'm linking up with Emily for Embrace the Camera
!

I just don't like chocolate.

Seriously!

At least not in the traditional form.

Like the candy.

Yeah, I enjoy a chocolate shake or piece of cake now and then. 

White chocolate, now that is a different story.

But in general my favorite dessert has to have some type of fruit inside.

 So give me a pie pan and some strawberries any day!!!!

By the way, don't you just love that galvanized pie pan that belonged to my Nanny?

It is so adorable.

 To me there is no candy bar as sweet as fresh strawberries. 

Crazy?  I've been told. 

 But this strawberry bavarian cream pie is one piece of yumminess!

 I'm always looking for non-chocolate desserts like this one.

Do you have any to share with me?

As of late, my other favorites are

Blondie Brownies with White Choc. morsels

and

Lindt White Choc. Truffles...oh my!

2 months *a little late

I took these pictures on time, but just haven't posted them yet.  

I cannot believe over two months has gone by since we welcomed our sweet Livingston Ann.

She is such a treasure.

Here she is in all her little cuteness.

At her two month appointment besides getting those awful shots, we found out what we suspected...she's grown a lot!

10 lbs. = 25% - I thought she'd be higher on the charts, but as Scott put it...some people have ten pound babies to start with.

22.5in. = 50% -She actually still seems short to me...like all compact. But I think it is because my sister's babies are always long. Miss Iylee seems so much more taller when I hold her.

 It's amazing to me how much she's changed looks wise and how everyday she looks a little different.

These pictures cracked me up because I felt like I was photographing Scott.

There are moments where I see me more and more, but she definitely is her Daddy's girl.

 She has really learned to play more.

When we sit her in her bouncy seat, she now actually makes it bounce.

She'll kick her feet, swat her hands and even try to stand up when you hold her standing on your lap.

It's so cute when they finally find their hands....they are like "Well, hello there friend!"

 We've definitely left that sleepy newborn stage. She's more awake and we are starting to see more emotion from her. Ha...like the picture above.  That is the beginning of her "sad" face. She has the big bottom lip and all.  I didn't capture one on this specific time, but she is very smiley too!  Always happy and wanting to talk/coo to you.  Nothing really comes out but squeaks when she gets mega excited.

There isn't much better than seeing those smiles...makes life that much sweeter.

Everyone just adores you. Daddy loves to come home and hold you as he sings his special song... "It's your Daddy...It's your Daddy." I know, you wanna hear it....single to be released later this year. :)  It is so cute. And your sister and brother are over the moon about you. They love to talk and play with you. You even have smiled for them! Grandparents and Aunts come over just to hold you. And you are the highlight of family gatherings (with the other grandchildren too).

You still get up once early in the morning...usually about four.  But you go six hours now so Mommy feels much more rested these days. You aren't a huge eater, but obviously are getting plenty! : ) Liv, I'm so blessed to have such a good, easy going baby. You are beautiful, delightful and I'm so proud to call you mine.

Happy 2 months!

oh here is a comparison shot from one to two months....

wow...crazy difference.

makes me a little misty....

I've been busy

I can tell it is almost summer because we've been soo busy!

Here is a little of what we've been up to:

planting, watering and admiring all our flowers/plants

 Just attended the MentorKids Kentucky banquet (where I used to work) It was weird to have NO kids with us.  Check out the ministry that God is using in Owensboro at MKK.

We got to go visit our sweet friend and her twins. 

Yes, she has two of these precious noggins to kiss!

 

My friend Rachel has been baking entirely to much at my house lately, resulting in gaining 5 lbs to my already post-baby hips.  thanks Rach and Liv : )

but seriously, this stuff is awesome!

Chex cereal, white almond bark, powder sugar, yellow cake mix & pink sprinkles for good measure : )

 enjoying family dinners

ahh...eating lots of this...soo yummy!  Nina made this for my birthday, white choc. strawberry cake roll!

 

I finally started back to my first photo shoots since having Liv.

And no, I haven't removed my Jototes tag yet...I can't. 

It's just as cute as the bag! : )

 Speaking of Livingston, here she is playing with her Nana.

She really is a cutie pie!

We've also been playing lots....teaching these kids what it's like to grow up in the country!

Aren't they the cutest little farmers?!?!? 

Trying to fight the most horrible of enemies...THRUSH.

Seriously, it's the bane of my existence and I pray we are almost through with it forever. 

I'm tired of this medicine, abnormal feedings for Liv, washing bras/sleep nursing tanks everyday and boiling pacifiers. BOO for thrush!

 We are trying to cram as many play dates with our good friends before they move this summer.

It's going to be hard, but we've survived living in separate towns before! 

 Feeling loved and blessed by all my special gifts/celebrations for my 31st year.

This was a tea cup picked out by my the Man and the kids (well two of the kids).

I think God knew new mothers needed rest. No matter how quick I'd like to be moving all day long...there are rest breaks built in every three hours (at least...sometimes sooner) nursing this sweet baby. It's so good to have to sit down and enjoy all her fresh newborness that is quickly waring away.

 

Again, I just enjoy being with my family and being outdoors.

We've done that as much as we possibly can in the last several weeks.

 Living up flip flop weather. But sadly, these little ladies need to be reduced to around the yard flip flops. They've been muddy from planting, semi-spray painted green when I painted our old patio furniture and stretched out from too much use. 

Good bye old friends.

Hmm...now which black flip flops will accompany me for the next summer or two?

Thankfully, due to having God's Word on my phone and the Lord helping me find spare minutes here and there...I've also been spending much needed time with Him.

And I needed it for sure.

I hate to complain but I've noticed being this busy has kicked my booty the last few days.

I'm falling asleep doing things....reading, blogging or working on a project. 

Hopefully, I'll catch up to this new pace and bounce back quickly.

I have some new projects I've been working on. 

Being a girl

Ok..most people that know me would say that I love being a girl! : ) 

I do very much.

However, I over the past few years have little time or funds to really appreciate all my girliness!

I struggle to find that urge that used to keep me in the bathroom for a good hour getting ready for anything or to change outfits before finding the perfect one. 

These days I'm lucky if I'm clean, my clothes are clean and we actually make it wherever it is we are going.

Well, I've decided to change this part of me.  I'm going to spend a little more time on me...mainly because I know it will more positively effect everything else. If I feel better about myself then my relationship with my husband and kids will be better.

So for my birthday, I used my gift money to buy a few shirts, earrings and shoes to help me get excited about making sure I take a little more care of me. After the baby came I also chopped my hair off...because I like it short and I was hoping it would prevent me from putting it into a pony tail everyday. : ) It's helped a little, but I'm just not great at styling it. 

I need to get some nude fingernail polish to paint up these glorious healthy nails I've been rocking (for me at least). I know they may not last forever...and it's something I've wanted most of my life.  Never have I had nice looking nails.  They've always been thin and peel very easily.  Even in pregnancy, I just knew that prenatal vitamin would help a girl out.  But to my dismay, Miss Liv must have been stealing all the goods because I kept my horrible nails, but hers however came out looking gorgeous.  Thankfully, ever since I had her they've become quiet lovely if I do say so myself.

Now I just need a pedi, my lip gloss I'm out of, some black board shorts, personal trainer, weekly massage and stylist.  Well, I think a few of those last things were just me dreaming! : )

I do find beauty and "mommy time" inspiration from my monthly Birchbox!

Remember, my friend's awesome Christmas gift to me.

This month it was all "green" products.

So far I've only tried the lip balm and facial scrub...

Love them!!!

Over the past 4 months, I've found some fav products.

Scott even bought me perfume for V-day because I loved one of the samples so much.

Birchbox your marketing schemes are working on this old girl!!!

Here are a few pics of the loveliness that is Birchbox.

 I get so happy seeing that pink packaging knowing this awaits me.

 They always put this in here to describe the products. 

Makes it super easy if you like one and want to look it up online for purchasing.

I'm a sucker for packaging and they always do such a great job.

I'm so silly, but I like saving some of them just because it's fun to have new products to have...that way I can spread them out. Enjoy the fun for several weeks until my next box arrives.

What are ways that you pamper your inner girl?

My arms are soo full...

so many years I prayed for a child.

now I have

 not one

 not two

 but three

(oops, didn't mean to post it the other way.  thanks for all your sweet comments and help. this mama needs a vacation to get her brain working correctly again.)

three blessings

my cup runneth over

I'm linking up to Embrace the Camera