Happy 30th Ryan

Wow...3 decades old! :) Just kidding Ryan! We had such a great time this weekend celebrating with my sisters, the boys, and the Campbells for Ryan's Birthday! We drove out to Eischens, which has the most amazing fried chicken ever! It's about a 45 minute drive, but well worth it. We ordered some smothered chili cheese nachos, lots of okra, and even more chicken! We ate until no one could breathe, and then we took the rest for leftovers.

The spread

Amazing nachos

Next stop: Louies for a drink before the comedy club

At the Looney Bin

The comics were great, and we all had so much fun! After the comedy club, we went back to "The Creek" and spent the rest of the evening on the back porch! Hope you had a great birthday Ryan!

Beautiful New Landscaping!

Ahhhh Spring....all of you lucky readers get to read post after post after post about ourgardening woes and aspirations. But today I am starting to really feel good about our front and backyard and the landscaping adventures...

Here's a little BEFORE and AFTER of our front and backyard!

In the backyard we added 3 trees and 3 bushes, we switched out the ugly trees in front of the window for some swirly spruces, and added some color to the other small garden in front! I couldn't be happier with the outcome and I can't wait for each plant to take off. The best news...we can't kill it! As much as we love all of our plants, we might be loving them all to DEATH! But this year these babies are insured and we are following the strict rules set in place by our amazing nursery, Fosters.

Below are just a few pics of my growing Arugula, and a small documentation of the success Im having with my pots thus far. Everyone cross your fingers that once the sun gets here to stay, that my plants can "take the heat"...LITERALLY!

HALF a year...are you sure?

Are you sure this little miracle boy has been around for half a year? Are you sure it was already a half a year ago that I woke up and knew that today was the day he would be here? Are you sure that it was a half a year ago that I fell in love with someone about 100 times more than I ever thought possible? Wow! Half of a year feels like yesterday, and also feels like so long ago. I can't explain how time is moving for me since Gavin arrived. Obviously I want time to move backwards because he is already growing up too fast. But at the same time, I have "labor amnesia" and have almost completely forgotten all the pain and discomfort that comes from delivering a baby. I can't remember the exhaustion that I felt during that first month when I got no more than 2-3 hours sleep in a row at night. And I definitely can't remember what our lives were like when we didn't have Gavin to fill up our mornings, afternoons and nights with his smile, his laughter, his crying (which we think is so adorable), and his mastering of something new each day. Half a year...

Half a year...

It's hard to put into words what I feel for this sweet little man. I would have to say that I am OBSESSED with him in every way. All I want in life is for him to be healthy and happy. All I think about is how each decision we make will impact his future. My morning routine now consists of timing my showers around Gavin making noises to let me know he's waking up. Our plans for the day are made around his eating schedule, his nap schedule, his mood... Our dinners are no longer peaceful drawn out relaxation time, but I wouldn't have it any other way. We are blessed, and not a day goes by that I don't realize what we have. And what we have is this sweet little munchkin who loves nothing more than to be in our arms or play on the floor with us for countless hours each day. :)

As a 6 month old boy, Gavin is learning and doing new things every day:

- Sleeping a solid 12 hours a night, sometimes more. But what we're also very proud about is that he goes to bed completely awake and puts himself to sleep.

- He sleeps with a "lovie" every nap and night, and snuggles it up to his face which I think is so cute. (But once he falls asleep I take it out of his bed because I worry too much)

- He eats 2 to 3 solid meals a day...loves peas, green beans, squash, carrots (not homemade), sweet potatoes (his fave), and all fruits! I make most of the veggies he eats

- I haven't let him try juice yet. I honestly just haven't thought he is missing it.

- Gavin is sitting up really great, scooting all over the floor and rolling doing 180s trying to get to what he wants!

- He loves Lexi so much and follows her every move. They are definitely buddies.

- He wears 9 month clothes now, and size 2 shoes.

- Gavin loves bathtime each night, and has recently been sitting up on his own in the bath too!

Dr Stats:

Weight: 17lbs 14oz (55%)

Height: 27 3/4" (87%)

Below are a few pics that Amy took of Gavin for his 6 month milestone! She's such a great photographer, and somehow got some good ones even though Gavin didn't really want to cooperate at the end!

Love you my Lil Yankee!

A Perfect Mother's Day Weekend!

This year was my first Mother's Day, and I don't think the weekend could've been more perfect!


But before I go off about my OWN Mother's Day, I think it's important that I give a little love to the best Mom in the world! She has taught me everything I know about being a great mother to my own kids, and now is an amazing Grandma to Gavin. I can't tell you how many times I have called and needed something at the drop of a hat; a babysitter, a ride somewhere, a shopping buddy...and she is always right there! Below is one of my favorite pics of me and Mom, from when I was probably about 3 or 4. I texted my Mom and said "Hey I need you to find my favorite pic of us...its me and you and me wearing a bikini hugging you." And she knew exactly which one it was!

Not only do I have ONE amazing Mother, but thanks to Eric, I have TWO! Debbie never had girls, so ever since Jess and I came along, she has had more than her share of all the girly things in life! She's so caring and has given up countless hours of her time watching Gavin every day for the past 4 months! Happy Mothers Day to you too Nana!

Now back to the weekend...

Friday afternoon Daddy went golfing with Ryan, so I took Gavin over to Aunt Mimi's to swim a little with his cousins. He has never been in a pool before, and although this was more like a bathtub, he got the idea!

Then when the kids got tired of the pool, we went inside and played and cooked dinner.

The rest of the evening, we just hung out on the patio and enjoyed the beautiful weather! We got to see Dana too, before she leaves to move back to Alabama. :(

Saturday we headed to Grandpa's house for another day outside. Gavin got to swim in the pool, and float in his bee floater. He loved the water and smiled the whole time!






Halfway through swimming, we needed a little naptime...

Then straight back to the pool!
Grandpa and Gavin
Taking a break from the sun
Swimming wore him out!

Sunday I woke up to Gavin and Daddy waiting with coffee and cards and a present for me for Mother's Day! They got me a spa day at Bella Strada spa which Eric said looks like Tuscany or something when you walk in. He said I will LOVE IT!

We got ready, let Gavin nap, and then headed to Cool Greens where they have the BEST food! I was craving their fresh salads, and it didn't disappoint.

After lunch, we ran some errands, and ended up at the mall where Eric told me that Gavin's other Mother's Day present for me was ANY purse I wanted in Dillards! Now, if I could explain to you my obsession with bags, we could be here all night because I literally LIVE for bags! So you can imagine my excitement when I got this news! I walked around the whole purse department for about 30 minutes before I narrowed it down to my beautiful MK bag and wallet. Do I have the best husband and son or WHAT???

On our way home, we stopped to buy some flowers for the front garden. I think it's important to note that my pots are doing FABULOUS! I dont know if it was the pep talk I gave them after the freeze or the lack of watering when I forget for a few days, but they sure do like me this year!

Overall, it was a perfect weekend, and I couldn't be more blessed to have two wonderful boys in my life! They love me and take care of me and I get so much joy out of taking care of them too!

What a wonderful first Mother's Day!

Congrats to the Bakers!!

My friend Kandice is less than a few months away from having TWINS!! She is doing so great and so ready to meet her boys! Sunday afternoon last week was her shower and she got a ton of great stuff to get her and her husband ready for babies! I had to take a picture with her bc she just looks so cute and happy! Can't wait to meet those boys!

Happy Boy!

Gardening 201

I can't really say this is gardening 101, because as much as I hate to say it, this isn't my first rodeo. Ive been planting flowers in my gardens for 4 years now, which would mean Ive planted them about 8 times. I know what you're thinking..."8 times????" But yes, sadly I usually have to replant the gardens once Ive killed everything. Usually happens about 4-5 weeks after the first round. Then when they die the second time about mid July, it's so freakin hot outside I just say "Screw it" and let it go.

But I feel like I should try and start positive this year with my flower endeavors. I planted them last week, and besides the fact that the temps got down in the 30s last night, they might be doing okay. I mean, Im still doing my due diligence to try and put them out of their misery. For example, I got a text last night from my father-in-law telling me to bring in my plants bc it was going to get too cold. But did I bring them in.....? NOOOOOO! I said, well I can't save them all, so I can't play favorites and only bring in a few. So I"ll just let them all stick it out together. And stick it out together they did! When I went outside this morning they were all still smiling and acting as if nothing had happened. But who knows...those smiles could be frozen on their faces at the moment. When they thaw, it could be a different story.

Lantana planted in the island garden. According to my mother, they should spread out a bit and have lots of yellow flowers!

Million belles and Astica (sp?) lillies in the new front porch pot


Day Lillies and some red something or anothers in the mailbox...who knows!

I do have some exciting news to report...2, count them 2 begonias came back this year in my front garden!! Can you believe it? Usually I can't keep the annuals alive for their allotted blooming season. But these beauties came back for a second beating!!! Can you believe it? Sadly, our pet bunny, Peter (named by Eric) is already eating the leaves off of them, so they won't last long. Let me also add that Peter is not really our pet, but likes to hang out in our garden bc I give him lots of foliage to munch on. And he knows i won't really notice that he's eating them bc I just blame myself for their deterioration.

I'll update everyone in a few weeks as I plant and kill more flowers!