Friday, May 27, 2016

Ellie - 6 Months

Dear Baby Girl, 
I don't really know how it's possible, but our love for you grows more and more every month!  Each new smile, each new coo or giggle.  A milestone reached, or a new skill achieved.  The more you interact with us, the more we fall in love with every teeny bit of you!  Your personality is shining and blossoming, and I can't wait to wake up each morning
(preferably after the sun comes up) to see what new ways you will wrap us around your tiny fingers.  You are truly a delight and joy, and have been the sweetest and most wonderful baby!  






This month, you celebrated Mother's day with me!  It was the most special day!  What an honor and privilege it is to be your mother.  I can't wait for the bond between us to grow and grow as you get older.  The relationship between your "Mimi" and I is one that I've always cherished and one that I hold so close to my heart. 
 I dream of the memories and experiences you and I will have together :)

You also visited the Zoo with friends and family, took a lot of walks in this gorgeous spring weather, were carried all over the city in the search of our new house, tried new foods (sweet potatoes, pears, peaches, and green beans), and got your first exersaucer, which you love! 

At six months, you are reaching for everything, pulling Mama's hair, putting anything and everything into your mouth, and you have begun to scoot!  You do a one-arm body drag, which is quite hilarious to watch.  You'll be crawling in no time!  







Things you love: 
"Scooting" across the floor  
Your Rock N' Play (still!)
Tummy and neck tickles, especially from Daddy
Mirrors and other babies! 
Bathtime and getting your hair washed

Things you don't love: 
Bottles
Pacifiers
The pack and play 
Sleeping through the night (you stopped this month!) 






Stats: 
15lbs 10oz 
26 inches long 
Sleep: 3 naps a day.  12 hours (and 1 feed) in the night. 

We love you so much sweet girl!
(And so does your big brother, who insisted on being a part of this photo shoot!) 

Happy 6 months!






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Monday, May 9, 2016

A Weekend of Celebrations!

What a weekend!  I really hope y'all had a wonderful time celebrating the special Mamas in your life.  Our busy weekend started off on Thursday with a joint birthday party for my littlest nephew, Isaiah, (who turned 1!)...and yours truly!  It was the most beautiful night and everyone had a blast playing in the backyard, opening presents, and enjoying every bite of my favorite cake in the world (thank you hubby!) 


It was so special to be with family!  Living so far from family and friends for the past 5 years was so difficult in times like these.  Birthday parties and family get togethers were something I missed more than anything - just to be able to celebrate these milestones with loved ones is a priceless gift.  

Friday, we had a play date at the park with my sweet mama friends and their kiddos - how cute are these baby girls all just 3 weeks apart?!




I did a little shopping (and napping!), and then later that night we celebrated my bday again with a group of amazing couples!  And believe it or not - we had way too much fun, and forgot to take pics! 

Saturday comprised of a morning Pure Barre class, followed by lunch with old friends, and house hunting in the afternoon!  Grilling out for dinner - and then a 9pm bedtime for this mama capped off a busy but fun day!  


Sunday was such a special day!  
We spent the morning dedicating precious Isaiah (nephew) to the Lord!  It was a beautiful and memorable moment to have John's dad (and Isaiah's grandpa) do the baptism.

After church, I managed to get a family pic (which are rare these days!) And we are all smiling!
   So incredibly thankful and blessed to do life with this bunch.  They fill my heart with such joy. 



The afternoon was spent with the fam again!  The kids had a blast as always, and the dear husbands provided the most wonderful meal for all the mamas!  It was an amazing day. 



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And just a quick little note before this post ends...
I want to look back and remember how this Mother's Day felt as a mom of {now} 2 precious children.  
I feel honored.  I feel humbled.  I feel blessed.  My heart has never been so full. 
I also feel exhausted. 
There are moments when I think I could just pack a bag and fly to Fiji, {alone} and never look back.  The days when my keys end up in the toilet, there are a hundred blueberries strewn down the staircase, there is peanut butter (or wait... is that poop?) in my hair, and I can't find a shirt to wear that doesn't have a spit up stain on it.  I find myself cleaning some form of surface (carpet, counter, table, high chair, noses, faces, hair, clothes), about 75% of the day.  There are tears, sometimes mine, shed on the daily, and the time out corner is occupied more than I'd like to admit. 

But only by the grace of God, (and coffee....and cake) we make it through those days.  A new day starts, and I find myself truly in awe of the love I feel for them.  In awe of God's sovereign hand, and faithfulness.  
Of His love for me, and for them. 
I see their sweet faces, and I feel my heart beating for them.  Their smiles light up my life, and their tiny hands melt me into a puddle of mush.  Hearing the word "Mama" is something I'll always be grateful for - for it is something I have prayed for since I was a little girl myself.  I am so thankful that God has entrusted me to carry, raise, teach, and love these tiny blessings.   My whole life changed on the days that they were born.  And I'll gladly and proudly don that
spit-up stained shirt and sticky hair, because they're mine.  And I'm theirs.





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And to my beautiful mother. 
You are truly the greatest gift to me.  I am forever grateful for your unconditional love, support, understanding, generosity, thoughtfulness, compassion, and wisdom you have given me over my life.  I never realized how gracefully and beautifully you lived your life, and raised us kids, until I became an adult and mother myself.  You are an inspiration and a role model to me, and I am honored to be your daughter.  Thank you for loving me SO well, and ALWAYS being there for me.  I am so lucky. My hope is that I am half the mom to Andrew and Ellie as you have been to me. 



And to my precious mother-in-law.  I cannot express the gratitude I have for the acceptance and love you have given me.  Since the day I met you, I knew that you had the most gentle and kind heart. You radiate God's love, and I look up to you so much.  You are the epitome of grace and selflessness.  Thank you for your support, and especially for taking us into your lives and home during this season.  I'll always look back and remember this as such a sweet time of growing and learning.  You are such a blessing. 


Happy {belated} Mother's Day :)

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Thursday, May 5, 2016

Happy Cinco de Mayo - and Birthday Wishes!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  On this day many moons ago, my dear mom and dad were celebrating by having tacos, burritos, margaritas (virgin of course), and then.... a few hours later, a baby!
Yep - little Emily was born early in the morning on May 6, and to this day, Mexican food has been my favorite food of all time.  I think I could live off of chips and salsa.  

So we are doing a little bit of our own celebrating around here this week!  We have a family party, dinner with friends, and a shopping trip to Nashville on the books for my big day :)   While birthdays for our kiddos are way more fun to celebrate nowadays, it's still exciting to pick out a few prezzies and devour a cupcake or 2 for myself.   When John asked me what I wanted this year, I honestly couldn't think of a single thing.  I'm so happy with what I have!  

BUT he made me come up with something, so I perused the internet and a few of these lovelies caught my eye :)  I thought they'd be fun to share with y'all!  
{disclaimer: this is JUST a fun list I put together, I'm not asking for it all!  but those shoes!  ahh, i love}
Birthday Wishlist
1 - Quay Sunnies
2- Stella and Dot Crossbody Bag
3- Mara Hoffman Romper
4- Swell Water Bottle 
5- Jeffrey Campbell Wedges
6- Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Bath 
7- BaubleBar Bracelets
8- Kate Spade Scalloped Wallet
9- Voluspa Candle


p.s. andrew is so excited to celebrate - he has been singing "happy birthday" to me all week!  



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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Instagram Roundup

I thought I'd share what we've been up to - Instagram style!  Lots of time with family, spending our days outside as much as possible, new recipes, and celebrating milestones with the kiddos!
Here's a little roundup :)


{a super cute and yummy lunch place with the fam}


{sibling love.  and monograms...always}


{out for mexican and margs!}


{happy 6 month birthday Ellie!}


{gorgeous tulips at the Botanic Gardens}


{Ellie's first trip to the mall!}


{Andrew loves baking and cooking in the kitchen - his first batch of blueberry muffins}


{you do what you gotta do when it comes to grocery shopping with a toddler}


{visitng the newest giraffe at the Memphis Zoo!}


{house hunting - this one was a fave!}



{crock pot apple honey pork!}


{my new diaper bag - obsessed!}



{back porch living}



{yummy weeknight dinner - naan pizzas!}


hope y'all enjoyed this roundup!
follow me on instagram for more!  @emily8463



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Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Spring Whites

If you were to take a peek inside of my closet right now, besides a sleeping baby (yes she sleeps in our closet!), you would find a wardrobe full of bright colored blouses, striped dresses, and printed shorts.  I love color!  BUT surprisingly enough, I love white even more!  There's nothing better than a crisp white shirt, a comfy white tee, or a pair of bright white skinny jeans for spring.  Now - with 2 tiny kiddos, I'm not saying it's easy to wear white, but when I do get the chance - I always love the way it looks!  And you can have so much fun with accessorizing, adding pops of color or statement jewelry to complete your look.  

This Spring, I've replaced my LBD (little black dress), with the LWD.  And this one is just perfect!   You can dress it up or down, and I love the detail with the tiny cut outs, the razor back silhouette, and the exposed zipper.  

Sweet as Babydoll Dress (also comes in black) - c/o Tobi 
  Tassel Necklace - Charming Charlie


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If you're looking for the perfect crisp white blouse for a dressier occasion or for the office, this one has been a favorite as well.  It's so chic and classy.  I love the draping and pleating details.  I paired it with skinny black pants, and wedges, but it would look adorable with a pencil skirt and heels, or even with printed shorts for summer.  Such a versatile, flattering and stylish blouse!  

Loveletter Surplice Blouse (comes in 3 colors!) - c/o Tobi 
Espadrille Wedges - similar 



Hope y'all are having a great week so far!  
We're about to drown with all the rain we've had here....so Andrew and I have been living in our matching Hunter boots!  
Cute shoes make this kind of weather a little more tolerable ;)  


Be sure to check out Tobi and get 50% off your first purchase! 

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