Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day weekend at home, just enjoying being together and taking care of some things around the house. G was off Friday and Monday, and he cooked breakfast and grilled twice over the weekend. I loved tasting his good cooking and having a break from the kitchen! Here are a few pictures from yesterday.

Look at our tall boy!


He loves pushing this "turbo" car all around the house.


Here's my laundry helper after we finished putting diapers in the dryer.


We had a cookout with a few friends and their children last night. The kids enjoyed running around the house together and eating their burgers and pound cake while the parents sat back and took it all in - I never knew what a joy it would be to watch our children play!

In his springtime green

G came home early this afternoon so we got to play outside together, eat an early dinner, and then go out for ice cream. N loved sharing my tuxedo strawberry waffle cone!

Loving on Daddy...


The biggest leaf in the yard!


Our very own water spout


On the front steps with Mama

Dinnertime Giggles

Yesterday was N's 18 month check up at the doctor. He weighed in at 26 pounds, and he is 32 1/4 inches long! Although he didn't like getting those vaccine shots, he recovered quickly and took a nice long nap when we got home. Here are some pictures we took after dinner last night.


I was tickling his legs and saying "avocado" to get him to laugh like this!

He is learning to use a fork and spoon at meal times, although it's a big learning curve for someone who loves to eat and wants to get the food in as quickly as possible - fingers just seem to be the most efficient method at this point.

Some of our favorite words he's saying these days are:
Shoes ("elmos" because his sneakers have Sesame Street's Elmo on them)
All Right! ("ah-ight")
Oh Boy!
Oatmeal
Bath (baf)
Flower ("dah-dil" because the first flower he saw was a daffodil)

These are sweet and special days. Right now he's reading his books and listening to music. In a few minutes we'll work on laundry, and then we're off to meet some of my former co-workers for lunch.

The Most Wonderful Mother's Day "Babymoon"

I am feeling relaxed and rejuvenated after spending the weekend away with G. We headed to Asheville, NC on Friday afternoon. My parents came up to babysit ~ we are incredibly blessed by their willingness to do this for us!

It felt great to be "on our own" for a few days, eating when we were hungry, taking naps when we wanted to rest, and just enjoying the outdoors together.

We stayed at a great Bed and Breakfast called The Inn on Main Street in Weaverville, NC, just a few miles north of Asheville. We loved our room, and the food was awesome.


On Saturday morning we drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiked at Graveyard Fields. It was just our speed for this trip - pretty scenery and a comfortable hike.



We spent the afternoon shopping in downtown Asheville, and then split a pizza at the Mellow Mushroom. Since G and I met while working in the Asheville area during college, it's always a special treat to return to "our mountains." It feels like coming home for us.



When we got back to Matthews on Sunday, N was really excited to see us and kept showering me with hugs. What a precious gift! Here is a quote from an angel ornament my parents gave me as part of my Mother's Day gift: "A mother holds her children's hands for a while, their hearts forever." I couldn't have asked for a more perfect Mother's Day weekend.

Auntie K's Bridal Showers

My dad just sent these pictures from my sister K's bridal showers. I went to her brunch on Saturday morning and then the lingerie shower in the evening. It was great to be with K and her twin sister M, as well as their childhood friends for these fun events.

Here we are at the bridal brunch (K in the middle) - the food was delicious and we had a great time sharing our favorite memories of K.


The lingerie shower chocolate desserts were decadent! Everyone splurged and had some of everything. Don't you wish you could have had some?



The tables were decorated in purple (K's color) and brown (for chocolate, of course!)


Here's the group after we indulged and K opened all of her nightwear...


On Sunday, I had the special pleasure of assisting K as she prepared for her bridal portrait. I wish I could post the photos but that would spoil the surprise - she is going to be a stunningly beautiful bride!

Giggles and Night-Night

There are times when I think I'll always be going to or from the pediatrician or CVS (N has an ear infection and started a round of antibiotics yesterday), or I'll never run errands in peace again (we hit two stores plus the post office this morning, and N was on the verge of a "meltdown" at the end).

On the other hand, I want to hold onto this season in my eighteen-month-old's life - I think about that song about keeping time in a bottle and I wish I could do just that. His laughter is contagious. He thought it was hilarious when I said "bloop" as he put his plastic rings in the box. I guess I will have to settle for these giggly photos since I haven't found a time-capturing container just yet!


He'll also lie down when we say "go night-night." Of course, he quickly says "up" and is off to play again, but it's cute when he pretends to be asleep!

Baby On The Way

I am now fourteen weeks along in this pregnancy. I haven't really "popped" yet, but am just starting to show. I borrowed a bunch of maternity clothes from a friend this week. It's hard to believe I'll be in that wardrobe again in a month or so!

I have been "pregnancy symptom free" other than wanting that afternoon nap - no morning sickness, no aches and pains just yet, and no food aversions. Thank the Lord for a low-maintenance pregnancy to date.

G, N and I went to the doctor for my monthly appointment this morning. We heard the baby's heartbeat - I could listen to that wonderful sound all day long. We also set a date for the ultrasound. It will be on afternoon of Thursday, June 5. That's just around the corner! We hope to find out if we're having a boy or a girl. Thanks for praying for our family as we eagerly await the arrival of this new addition.