beach bound....

have a good weekend, friends. 

Recently...

We've had a whole lot going on lately. Here we are, via pictures...

life is good. xo

Happy One Year!

Happy One Year to my blog! Cheers!

keep calm and...

A mother's love

I love to read Real Simple magazine, in fact, it's one of the mags I get monthly. I also love to read Kelle Hampton's blog (which I do almost daily). Today on her blog, she quoted a quote that is in Real Simple mag, page 6...

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path." 

-Agatha Christie

Then Kelle wrote.... 
"I love the last part--"crushes remorselessly." So badass, so fierce and yet an emotion present the moment we flip that stick over to find two pink lines. I love that this love and passion is not earned. We don't have to do anything to get it. It's just there the minute we know there is another life to love... instincts. I rely on instincts a lot--maybe more than I should. But I've found the most valuable truths I've used in guiding my parenting choices are not snippets I've highlighted in books or pieces of advice passed along from more seasoned mamas. It's the nuggets of truth that dwell within--things I didn't even know I knew. I know how to love my kids. I know what they need, and for every chapter I've read about the five S's of calming a baby? They've got nothing on the natural rhythm of my body that instinctively rocks and sways and soothes my girls into a sleepy trance.There is a certain confidence you acquire when you discover your instincts are worth trusting."


My eyes filled with tears when I read the quote, then her words, and I let out an "amen, sister" under my breath. I sat and thought about that quote and about instincts. How we are given the gift to love our child, and we do, with reckless abandon. A love that cannot be put into words, for there are none to describe the way a heart swells when  their baby is placed in their arms for the first time. Or the way a heart swells as you watch your baby sleep on your chest. Or lay sweetly in your arms. Or smile at you for the very first time. There are just no words. 


A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. Nothing.

6 months!

Happy 6 months, sweet Saylor! 

I can't believe you are half way to a year! I am taking time each day to soak it all in... to not forget you are only this tiny once. To have an extra few minutes of snuggles and hold you a few extra minutes (or all day, ha!).

With each new day, I love you more than the last. Your smile melts my heart. Your giggle is like music to my soul. Your snuggles are the sweetest thing in the world. You love to blow bubbles and jibber jabber!

You have grown so much this month! We went to the doctor this morning, and you are weighing in at 16 lbs! You are in size 2 diapers and 3-6 month or 6 month clothes.

You are trying to sit up on your own (we have some wobbling going on, ha!) and have almost mastered it...

You grab for things constantly and put everything in your mouth. You love toys and love to interact. 

You and kitty are facing off for the toy!

You love your play mat and jumping in your exercauser!

We visited your ShuShu and Gbake this month and we visited a park nearby. You had your first ride on a swing and loved it!

You are still breastfed and we have started to introduce fruits and vegetables to you. You weren't so crazy about the idea at first but definitely are liking them more and more. You have tried sweet potatoes, bananas, apples, peas and squash. You sat in your highchair for the first time yesterday and looked like such a big girl!

After you eat, we have sink baths to rinse off and you just love it...

You are still a wonderful sleeper and I thank our sweet Lord each night that you are such an easy baby. You go to bed between 7:30 and 8pm and usually sleep till 7 or 7:30am. Occasionally you wake at 5:30 to eat then go back to sleep till 8:30 or so. You take 2 big naps during the day... around 10am and around 2pm and usually sleep atleast 2 hours. 

You still sleep in your moses basket, although you are just about to outgrow it and will be moving to your crib. You still love your swaddle and your paci! We laugh that you are going to go to kindergarten still sleeping in a swaddle, ha!

You love to stand and have no interest yet in crawling. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that your mommy carries you everywhere? ;)

You still don't love to be on your tummy and roll to your back almost every time I put you down on your tummy...

You had your first beach trip this month during Easter and you were such a great little beach bum! I am looking forward to spending many days on the beach with you this summer. 

Sweet Saylor, you are my gift from our Lord and I am eternally grateful. I lay my head down each night and thank Him for the gift of you. I love you more than words. Thank you for being mine. Happy 6 months, darling girl.

Before I was a Mom...

Before I was a Mom, 
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, 
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. 

 Before I was a Mom, 
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.
  Before I was a Mom, 
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

My first Mother's Day

 Dearest Saylor, you made me a mommy. 

What a joy it is. You look at me and I know you know just who I am. When you smile at me, your eyes light up. I can't wait to hear 'mama' come out of your mouth. Those sweet little words, as you confirm, I am indeed your 'mama.' I can't wait to watch you grow. I can't wait to teach you. I can't wait to share in your joys. 

Becoming your mommy has been the greatest gift of my life. The day you were born, a mother was born. That was a day I will never forget. You were mine. I was your mommy. They placed you in my arms and I knew my heart would just explode. 

Having a daughter is like having a glimpse of heaven. A little girl, made in the image of God, given to a mother to provide for, to love, to cherish. What a blessing you are.

You are beautiful. You are loved. 

Thank you for making me a mommy. 

I will love you forever, my sweet girl.

On the road again...

...I just can't wait to get on the road again.

Story of our life lately. We have been on the road the past 5 weekends, and will be on the road again this weekend. 

We are home next weekend, Praise the Lord. 

After that, we are on the road the next 6 weekends. 

On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again stay home again.

This one says it all.

Photo: Michael Appleton for the NYT, taken in Times Square

(side note... love the fireman in the middle with his arms raised)
United We Stand