Barefoot on the beach...

Just enjoying life and all the new thrills through the eyes of a two year old.

~S

Making me smile...

My baby sister is now a newlywed. My house was the backdrop for this beautiful couple to say I do...

my nephew was the "best little dude" and played dual roles for my sister and new brother in law.

My dad and my sister rocked out!

My older sister and I at the rehearsal...

And last but certainly not least, my Avery Grace with her "long hair", she left this towel on for a good hour...

life is good...with long hair~

~S

Beach babe

The beach. We bought a place at the beach. I am nervous and excited and ready for summer. I cannot wait to make memories that Avery Grace will remember forever. That will seer her soul and allow her to pass the fun to her children and theirs, the "remember when's" that only the beach can allow. I think back on all of our family treks to Florida to soak up the salt and the sun, and think of long car rides and learning to swim in the condo pool, fishing on the levy with my dad, smelling the salty air our night walks on the beach.

I am ready for a sandy summer. I am ready to start making memories, the ones that last, the ones that love.

~S

Order.

I am feeling a bit discombobulated. The walls around me are closing in, I can't find socks that match, the key to the car...a reason to write on this here blog, with the exception of a reason

not to post as a post to post.?.

Anyway I am searching, probably more wandering than searching, looking for structure, organization, order. Hopefully the presence of mind to get my sugar together, or at the very least, give my sock drawer a much needed makeover.

I took these pictures in Florence this past summer, the seem to have their sugar all together.

**sigh**

Different

Have I mentioned before that my girl has 2 different colored eyes? She does. One is blue and one is a caramel brown. Upon our pediatrician's request I took her at a young age to see an eye doctor. She is fine, perfect indeed, just a pigmentation abnormality. So I know that vision has nothing to do with color, but a part of me hopes that the different hues allow her to have different views. Maybe. But for now she will be my little 18 month old blue eye brown eye beauty.

Rockin' Out.

We have been crazy. Rockin' out to our own music, singing, travelling, trying to stay upright. My girl is 18 months old. She is a pistol. Her very own person. When we are snuggling up and she is almost asleep I think back about the tiny person I brought home and how much I wondered about who she would become, who I would become. And although her temper can rival an irish man not minding his pints, she is an entire life I have been waiting for, and as each day passes I am thankful for every single moment.

Peek...

I have been busy. Not in a rushed I have so much going on sort of way, but I have been busy. Nibbling on theses toes and holding these hands as these chubby legs try to hold up an almost one year old girl.

I can hardly believe that my sweet baby will be one in two weeks. My God time does fly, life does pass quickly, I have been holding on tightly to each day. She is the smile in my mind when I need to remember why I am doing everything I am doing to make our life great. So while busy is relative, it is my life right now. Big things are coming and I cannot wait to share, but right now, little legs are ramming a Jeep walker into my shin, off to play and get some slobbery kisses!

~S

Lined with Silver

I guess I found it...the glimmer of beauty after being stuck inside with a sick babe, who has resorted to some sort of growling, I don't know, it is a tad alarming, I digress...silver lining, glimmer, something good...whatever you call it, this sunset did it for me.

happy weekend ~S

Snowed in...

Today, as was yesterday and come to think of it everyday for the past 6 days has been a day of digging out. Sick of the snow and the constant news reports and daily updates of how much and whose dealing with it how and going a little stir crazy. I have knocked all the icicles from my gutters as my dad has instructed, so they don't "rip those babies right off", and I did walk down to get the mail, a big shout out to the USPS! Bit I would love to go somewhere, like Bermuda, a grassy hill in the park, anywhere but inside natures walls of white. But alas, I sit indoors, on my arse in front of the computer while my Avery Grace naps. The sun is shining the ice is dripping and I am out of words to type...

~S

i think i want...

My girlfriend has a little purple store in our little historic town, lilac bijoux is its name, and inside this lilac wonderland is a necklace that I think I want...or maybe need. I am not a big wearer of flashy jewels, but I keep looking at this little number...the best part is that her mom made it...lovely.

~S

We've been bit.

My poor girl has been bit by the stomach bug that is going around. Her poor little face when she throws up makes me feel so helpless. This is definitely one first I wish I could take back.

Ahhhh thank God for a nap.

~S

the maintenance of memories...

One of my favorite things is when Avery Grace falls asleep laying on my lap...the sweaty ringlets that matte her hair and leave little dabs of moisture on my arm. I try to remind myself to make the mental note "don't forget the way this feels, don't forget the way her tiny breathe smells sweet and cool as you carry her to her crib" I know that time is short with a growing babe, everyday is a milestone, every moment is one to remember, how can we keep it all together?

My sister is an amazing memory recorder, her families historian if you will. Scrapbooks and yearly albums for all THREE of her babies! My girls baby book is full...of every first and receipt and card and sealed letter I have written, not in a set place, just stuffed in the pages for a rainy day of "getting organized"...if I have my sister reading right now she just choked out a laugh, as I have placed organized and I in the same sentence. However I just returned from a visit with my family, I went through photos that my grandmothers had in treasure boxes and flowery albums, flagging those for copies that were important or that caught my eye. After looking at so many and my mother straining to remember who and what and how...I realized the importance of creating a system to help my future generations remember. SO I am preparing to be a better recorder, both with this blog as with my memories and my families memories. My girl will grow to know her past through stories and pictures and my voice, and hopefully in an organized fashion that will not leave her guessing "who the hell is this!" Wish me luck...

~S

Gosh Darn this is cold!

I am freezing. To my core. Thankfully it is Friday and this weekend only involves a little pampering, ala mani-pedi, and some precious down time with my girl.

If you need me, I will be on this sofa, in front of this fire. Of course that will be AFTER I take down that tree.

~S

Good New Year

2010. Hello. It is surreal that the year has passed so quickly and that my life has changed so very much. I have become a completely different person, thanks to the angel who entered my world 9 months ago exactly to the date of this new year. My house evolved into a home. My marriage into a true or truer partnership. My heart into an abyss of every emotion I can't explain, only feel. This passed year I became a mother. I pray for the ability to make 2010 the best. I was going to post my list of this years what to do's, but I think I will leave that list for next December 31st, and list my what did's, it will make a much better list! Hope the New Year was grand for you all!!!!

AG on her rockin' jet ski Papa made for her!!!!

~S

Baby its cold outside...

It is freezing. My girl cannot stand to be cold, but has an equal disdain for covers and coats. So big sweaters and hats are mandatory. She is going to be a handful, and quite honestly, I cannot wait!

Nothing would warm me up more than being a winner! The t.ruffle girls are throwing themselves a little "goin' away for the holiday break" giveaway, if you're feelin' lucky visit Karey for the details. I hope I get picked, I would love to get this little pretty

and give this one to someone, who sometimes forgets.

So if you want a chance at some beeeeautiful eye candy with words that make your mind swirl and your heart dance, head over for a chance to win!

If you are on the east coast like me, stay warm, a cold couple of days are in store!

~S

Pictures via the T.ruffle shoppe

My girl and her many faces.

My girl is SO expressive, I fear the many faces of my Avery Grace will lend a hand to an early age of eye rolling and looks to her daddy that will lead to getting whatever. she. wants.

Sometimes I feel that my heart is literally braking...yes...braking, stopping the flow so I can absorb the moments to remember. She is my favorite smell, my favorite color, my favorite place to be. Matt always says, "she is going to break my heart", and having already been a teenage girl, I know this is true, sass is a gift from her mother and she will indeed leave him there in a crumpled heap should her way not be gotten.

The holidays are upon us and if Avery Grace could get her hands on those ornaments and sparkly lights it would be all over. I love getting in the mood for Christmas and the excitement of a growing babe only makes the holidays that much more fun from here on out!

~S

Girlfriends...

I have many, I do not see them everyday, I do not talk to them weekly, and for that I feel a finger tapping out a shame. shame. shame.  But I know them.  I know that time changes our appearance and that distance makes weekly dinner and drinks not just difficult but downright impossible.  I know that when I find that they are sad, when life hands them a fistful of icantbelievethisishappeningtome, I want to be at their front door with a cure, even though we both know that one does not exist.  I know that phone calls and e-mails help, that reading words from someone who cares make you feel less alone.  

I hope they know that this is true. I know I love them as if they were my sisters (a couple are), even if it has been too long since we stayed up too late laughing until we cried.  Even if time has given us creases.  Even if distance has given us a delay.  I hope they know, I know.

Old times, some of the best times...

~S

Friendly neighbor...

After a night of listening to the rain fall I woke to a sunny morning, and thank you daylight savings, it was an early sunny morning.

My neighbor was up early as well, he or she I can never tell, had just caught breakfast and decided to not share with the nest.

Happy Friday, may a weekend of goodies await.

~S

Boot love...

I found a boot, I saved the picture, probably until I had saved enough cash to make it mine, now I have NO idea how to find my crush.

Anyone know whose lovely eye designed this baby?Maybe someday...

~S

Day Late or so...

Happy Halloween! A few short hours of sun and breezy calm allowed for some fun on Halloween night. We enjoyed a quiet evening. My little lamb was sleepy and not very happy about being dressed up, so a quick photo shoot and then off to bed.

Dressing up an unwilling child had me thinking about future Halloweens when she makes costume choices that baffle my mind and are too mature for her little soul, I will look back to the sweet innocent little lamb and laugh at how times change.

~S