Year One

First year down and we are still kickin it. 

Aaron and I are still married, 

and Ruby is alive.  

How did we get from this...   

  

to this

in just one short year!?  

We grew a lot, we learned a lot and we loved each other...a whole lot.

 We are a family of three. 

Actually, make that four...

we couldn't have done it with out you too Lily!

Somehow, 

we managed to pull off a very fun 

First Birthday/St. Patty's day party 

for littlemiss Ruby James

Here's how we did it...

I am now a strong believer, that no kids party should occur without a bounce house.  

A bounce house is cheap 

it keeps kids entertained for hours, 

it also allows the "big kids" to enjoy the party too. 

That's a keg of Stella Artois below (thank you Bill)

we floated it in less than 2 hours.

I was so proud. 

Reminds me of this one time, in college...

Oh wait, sorry, back to the details...

I had a St. Patty's Day Hat Pinata custom made and stuffed it full of candy

(oh, and please excuse Aaron's target practice in the background, that definitely was NOT part of the party!)

As for food, 

we had a lot. 

This bad mama-jamma was gone fast

Pistachio covered cheese log 

                    

I also made tons of corned beef, cabbage, carrots and baby potatoes, 

it was a big hit 

and a great way to feed a crowd 

we had 80+ adults and kids...

did I mention it helps to have a parking lot across the street from your house?

Also, who throws a party in 2012 

without stealing a few ideas from Pinterest?  

Enter, rainbow cupcakes (thank you momma!) 

and fruit skewers.

Decorations were mostly

shamrocks 

and 

rainbows

(I have to credit my BF Marissa for creating this amazing chain-link rainbow centerpiece!)

 lots of cute banners on clearance at Target 

It really was a 

perfect day

Oh, and did I mention that one of my dearest friends is a professional photographer?  

This day would have been a serious blurrrrrr 

if it weren't for Krista Sparkman Photography

Needless to say, 

we couldn't have celebrated in such an awesome way, 

if we didn't have so many 

lovely, 

talented, 

loving 

friends and family.

Oh, 

and for the record

Ruby was definitely 

not 

spoiled 

on her birthday...

The Best Year Ever

This year, really was the best year of my life

I tried to balance as a working mom and Aaron's wife

Still getting settled, its one of those things, day by day, night by night

We cozied on in to our sweet old house in the Heights

Our first born arrived, Ruby James, she was 10 days late

but thats ok, sometimes its good to wait

I realized how much closer you can be with your momma and pops

in-laws too, they also rock

Auntie Sarah spoiled Ru, and so did Unky Ry

She is a lucky little girl, she's the sunshine in our sky

Surprise! I turned the big three oh oh oh...

oh my how time speeds away, it really does go go go

Ruby took her first plane ride to MO

and met her Great Grandma Dot

I realized life is fleeting and appreciate it all so much more, alot

Babies were born, weddings were had,

I realized how fun it is to be married to the world's cutest dad

We went to a farm, to the beach, to the pool and the park 

lots of celebrations, too many to list 

lots of time with loved ones, pure joy does exist

My sweet baby Ru melted my heart, every day

Sta snapped the pics, and documented every step of the way

Oh twenty eleven, the memories are sweet

Everything was a first, life seems brand new

2012, whatcha got for us Lews?

Did I hear a niner in there?

My sweet baby
who this time last year was in my belly
is now 9 months old and counting

Time is speeding up
life is moving faster than ever...

legit crawling
cruising
clapping
sippy cups and real food

it'sall so. cute.

I am constantly in a state of surprise though
like I didn't get the memo
like I don't get a "your baby will be doing this" email
every day from babycenter.com

boom
change
daily.

Also,
I am turning into a nerd
I actually found myself saying to Aaron tonight
"it really is amazing, you know,
the miracle of life"

what has happened to me?

It's real people,
being a parent is one big emotional ship
and that ship has set sail in our house.
Aaron is on board too though, so I'm not that crazy

Oh, and I just realized that we were in serious
denial about the amount of toys that would eventually
consume
our living room house.

I like order, neatness
and swore that I would not succumb to the toy craze

but we are
knee deep
literally.
I almost killed myself the other night when I stepped on a
small plastic block
cliche?
yes,
and I know everyone can relate.

Anyways, it really is funny how being a parent changes you.
for the better.
kids are awesome.
(so are really cute dads)

So, here's to nine months of sweetness.

Sweet Change O'mine

So, a long time ago
I decided that, since I do the laundry
every bit of it
every 9 loads every Sunday, bit of it
that I would...brace yourselves do-gooders
keep any spare change I find in Aaron's pockets

Now, whether this is right or wrong
whether you like, or dislike
I. don't. care.
it is my small thing that I do,
it makes me feel good about life
makes laundry more fun
and I feel I am owed it
period.
think of it like a tax

usually I rake in a dollar here and there
if I get lucky, there will be a 10 spot snugly awaiting me
even a crisp Jackson every blue moon
but today
today
I hit the mother load
$128 to be exact.
bingo.


And before you go getting all weird-ed out
and start whispering amongst yourselves
"would she ever steal from me?"
the answer is no
I only enjoy taking Aaron's money
mostly because it is probably mine anyways

and for those of you who are truly disgusted, don't worry
not even I can steal that much
so yes, I will give him back his dough
this time.
He will probably notice anyways
and that just isn't as much fun

BUT
before I cough it up,
I might skim a few bucks off the top...just to teach him a lesson
or, I might wait to give it back to him after I see what kind of gift I get under the tree this year...

Thankfulness

This year, for Thanksgiving, we packed up the family and headed north
to chilly Missouri.


Why the "show me" state you might ask?
               My entire extended family is there
                      and they needed to meet Ru,
                                    and my cousin got hitched
                                                

Highlights include...

Ruby's first time on a plane

Aaron taking the window seat and stealing my neck pillow...both there and back

Introducing my daughter to her Great Grandma Dot. 

And getting a 4 generation pic

The fact that I am 30 years old and still go on vacations with my Mom & Dad.

Eating cake, and or, pie for breakfast most days...tis the season people!

My sweet cousin Shannon marrying her very own Mr. Wright

Aaron being the best wing man a girl could ask for 

My sister "checking her email" while driving her entire family in a Nissan Armada

Ruby's first big boo boo..her poor little forehead...

And the Best part ofitall, being with my family during the holidays!

Dear Ruby,

Sweetness.
You are sweetness.

You are eight months old.
Everything you do is cute.

You have an extended family that is obsessed with you.
They travel from far and wide to see you.
you are the most popular person in the family.
No one even says hi to me anymore,
they just want to be with you
But I get it. I'm a pretty big fan myself.

Every morning...
        Your dad insists on getting you out of your crib
              You have the biggest paci-face smile
                   You are soft and your hair is fluffy,  
                             You  smell like a big peep (slang for a huge pee-filled diaper)

That is how we talk now,
     peeps
nappy
               binky
yummies
...you have made us nerds.

You are very busy.
have started to "cruise"
you kinda crawl, but nothing official yet.
You are fast.
You love to sit up on your knees and climb up everything.
Even Lily.  She tolerates it.
Oh, you and Lily are basically best friends.
Or at least you think so
You squeal when you see her.

When you are on your changing table you slap your belly and laugh.
It is pretty hilarious.


I call you Noo Noo 
dad calls you Munkin-Butt
Both ridiculous names
again, nerds
Sorry, it will probably only get worse as you get older.


Everyone comments on your blue eyes.
and your brown hair is growing in blonde.
You are laid back
and smile alot.

You love being held upside down.
You are a sleeper.
Sometimes you will sleep til 9am.
Sweet, I'm a sleeper too.

Well,
I could go on and on.
But think I already have.
Life is good, sweets.
real good.

hugs and kissies,
mom

Sister Wives on the Beach

I spent this past weekend in Cocoa Beach with Ruby, and my two girlfriends and their kids.


We scheduled and rescheduled this trip already, so the anticipation was high. 
We all arrived to Marissa's family condo by 9pm on Friday night. 
We did it. 
Somehow we even managed to stay up til 2am that night.   


Saturday
The weather was overcast, but warm and the waves were strong.  


Jameson ran around like a dare devil, while Veronica (who by the way threw her back out right when we pulled into the Condo parking lot) ran around trying to catch him.

Marissa and I kept and eye on the other 4...


Sweet Stella slept 
Ruby ate sand 
Colton ate sand too, but in a more sophisticated, "I'm almost 2 and have mastered this" way by using a sea shell as a spoon 
and 
Chloe danced around phasing in and out of joy and despair. 

Sunday
It took us the entire day to repack what we brought and get out of the condo.  
We all arrived safely back in Tampa at 3pm. 
We did it.


Sister wives is the only fitting way to describe our weekend. Because we all pitched in.  It was intense, 
but so much fun. 


BUT, next time either our men are coming with us, or no kids...although, they were pretty irresistible...