Thankful :: April 2014 Edition

If I could bottle up the weather we've had in April, I would. After what felt like the longest winter ever, the sunshine and 75 degree days are more than making up for it. Honestly I could just stop there for this thankful post.

But then I wouldn't have pictures of my best girl, so I'll keep going. 

This month has brought us many things to be thankful for. We had a wonderful time with family over Easter, but we also enjoyed hanging out around our house too.

Did I mention I'm thankful for this weather? Maybe not the allergies that have come with it, but definitely thankful for being back outside. I'm thankful for days to run in the park and swing upside down.

For best buddies who like to explore and eat ice cream together.

For a little girl that still smiles for the camera when I ask (or bribe). 

For Easter and the fun traditions that come with it.

For zoo dates with new friends. Crosbi has made some great friends at preschool and lucky for me, her friends' moms are pretty cool too.

Today we're planning to spend all day outside. We've got some spring cleaning to do and we might even plant an herb garden and build a fire pit. S'mores, anyone?

Have a great weekend!

xoxo

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Easter Weekend

We are in full fledged potty-training mode in our home. To be honest, Crosbi should be completely trained at this point, but I've been lazy. It's partly that I don't want my baby to no longer be a baby, but it's also that cleaning pee out of the carpet isn't a favorite past-time of mine. Regardless, we're jumping in head first and once again I'm reminded that my little girl won't always be little.

To take my mind off of that thought, how about some photos from this past weekend? We made the trip to Missouri to visit family for Easter. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was beautiful. We spent nearly every waking hour outside. She might have been born in Tennessee, but my Crosbi has the Ozarks in her. She was barefoot most of the weekend, threw rocks in the creek, rode four wheelers, skinned her knees. Typical farm living. It's so much fun seeing her enjoy the places where Todd and I grew up as much as we did. In some ways it's like reliving our childhoods all over again.

Happy Easter! 

xoxo

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Today Was A Gift

Being a mom is hard. Some days are really challenging. Some days you think you're doing everything right, then your child hits you at the park, throws her shoes at you while you're driving, then later throws all her food off the table when you serve something she's not into. Some days you count down the minutes until nap time. You need a break. If even for just a few minutes, a break to compose yourself and ask God for His help to face the rest of the day. Sometimes He doesn't turn that day around and you go to bed exhausted, thanking Him anyway for a healthy, beautiful little girl to call yours, even when you were *this* close to pulling your hair out.

But sometimes being a mom is the most incredible gift imaginable. Sometimes you get up early and pack a sack lunch and take your girl to the zoo and have the very best day. You listen as your girl says "thank you mommy" for taking her to the zoo. You watch her use her best manners and laugh so hard she can barely catch her breath. You sit beside her at an animal show and she gives you hugs and kisses because she's having such a fun time. You try so hard not to cry because you're just so overwhelmed by the beauty of it all. Today was one of those days. Days like today make the hard days completely fade away. Days like today make it all worth it. 

I know when I write this little blog that these words could stay in cyberspace forever. I kinda hope they do.

Crosbi, should you ever read this, I'm being honest when I say the days are sometimes hard. You'll probably feel the same about me in a few years. But even the hardest days are beautiful. They shape me and challenge me and I think it's the coolest thing ever that such a tiny little person could impact my life the way you do. It makes me so excited to see how you will continue to impact the world around you. 

Today was a gift. You, my girl, are a gift. I'm so thankful. 

xoxo

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Double the Fun

Last week one of my best friends had twins. Twins! I can't even wrap my head around that. I still think having one is a full-time job. We decided to make a fun day out of visiting the new babies. We'll take any excuse to be tourists in our own town.

On Saturday we headed straight to the hospital anxious to see our new friends. Crosbi proudly kept telling us we were going to see "two babies!" Even she realized twins are not something you see everyday.

Later we tried a new place for breakfast. Although I wasn't a fan of their iced chai, the Breakfast BLT at Dose is pretty awesome.

It was too nice out to just go home, so we hit the park. Nashville seriously has the best parks.

Such a fun day. Can every Saturday be like this? Although I don't know if it's realistic for our friends to have twins every week. We'll settle for great weather and good food. 

xoxo

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Thankful :: March 2014 Edition

It's definitely a full week into April, but better late than never for a "thankful" post. I find myself looking at these posts often - when I'm putting Crosbi to bed or needing a little cheering up during the day. I really do have so much to be thankful for.

In March I was reminded to be thankful for joy in the little things. Crosbi plays with a jar of decorative rocks in my room and one morning she ran into my bathroom while I was getting ready to show me she found a rock with a "happy face." I love seeing life through the eyes of a toddler.

I'm thankful for jumps on the bed before bedtime.

For scooter rides on sunny days at the park.

For a little girl who humors her mama by smiling for pictures.

For my little chef who adds spice to everything.

For dresses and denim jackets. Dressing a little girl is the best.

For the best shopping buddy a girl could ask for.

For rainy days and fort making.

For creeks and rocks to throw in them.

For a girl growing so healthy and big that she no longer needs a crib. This was one of her last nights before her "big girl" bed.

For my little foodie who will eat just about anything.

For paint that entertains when I need to get a little work done. 

For my girl's wild imagination. She was pretending the top of her old pack n play was a boat. Looks like a boat to me!

For tire swing rides and giggles.

For messy rooms and super heroes. Captain Underpants I presume?

For a family I love to the moon and back.

Another great month in the books. My heart is so full.

xoxo

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