to my mister {year 2}:

Adam,

Happy two year anniversary to us! Two years seems to have flown by, but at the same time I feel like we've already spent a lifetime together. In a good way, mostly. :) In two years we have moved our family to a new place and created a home. Since we've been married we have added to the mix: a kiddo {hopefully another soon}, a cat, a dog {who wasn't with us for long}, a car, a boat and lots of good memories. I can't wait to keep adding to our life and making more memories together. I am thankful that you chose me to spend the rest of your life with. You are an amazing dad and husband.  Thank you for being my shoulder to cry on, arms to run to and my personal maid. Nobody cleans house better than you. ;-) I can't wait to celebrate with you Wednesday night!

I love you!

The Beatles - When I'm 64
{song that played when we walked down the aisle together after ceremony}


When I get older losing my hair,
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine?

If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oooo
You'll be older too, (ah ah ah ah ah)
And if you say the word,
I could stay with you.

I could be handy mending a fuse
When your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride.

Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too drear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera, Chuck, and Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line,
Stating point of view.
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, Wasting Away.

Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

Whoo!

xoxo,
Cadence

Christmas Spirit

I've found that I am more in the Christmas spirit than ever this year! I am sure that is stemming from my excitement of Amelia understanding Christmas a little bit better this year. Last year we sat her up in front of the Christmas tree, and made funny faces behind a camera to capture the smile we were looking for. This year I don't think that will be my favorite photo. The pictures of her loving on her family members, playing with her new toys and singing along to Christmas songs will be my favorite part this year. Her face on Christmas mornings will stick with me forever, and I can't wait for this to be the start of many more to come. I know it's not all about the presents and Santa Claus. I know that in years to come, I will get to teach her the real meaning of Christmas, but right now her little brain can't exactly wrap around celebrating Jesus' birthday. As she grows up, I hope she learns to love all aspects of Christmas equally. For now, I'll let her enjoy her gifts, her cookies and milk with Santa at school, her magic elf, Elfis and I'll be the one celebrating Jesus' birthday. Celebrating that because of his being born so long ago, she is with me now and she is healthy, smart, funny and she is the perfect kiddo for me.

{Christmas 2010}

In fact, with all this excitement of what I get to give her, it's been more about the giving instead of the "gimme, gimme". Not to falsely lead you into believing that I'm not counting down the days until I too get to tear open that wrapping paper, dig into my stocking and eat too much food in good ol' Enterprise, AL. 12 days.

Adam and I are only doing stockings this year {good stockings - the ones with hopefully gift cards, perfume, a massage and/or pedicure certificate, etc}, and we made little wishlists on Amazon. We didn't think about the packages coming in the mail and having to look inside without ruining presents. We have had two fails and one success so far in the guessing game. Next year we should probably order from separate accounts if we decide to order from Amazon *free shipping*! How do people do big Christmas shopping without acquiring some major debt?

Gotta run and help shoot a wedding for LoughTide Beach Weddings. Tis' not the season for weddings, I know. I wish I could tell these people that they are cutting themselves short on the Anniversary gifts with Christmas right around the corner. I know this from experience. I'll be married 2 years next Monday!

xoxo,

Cadence

Letters To Amelia

Dear Amelia,

I love the way:

your eyes light up when I suggest we brush your teeth
you spit (nothingness} into the sink while brushing your teeth, just because you see momma and daddy do it
you jingled your bells in your school Christmas program
you say your words
you love candy
you chant "ho ho ho" in your crib after seeing the Santa in the hallway before I put you down
you know and love your extended family - I am so glad you get to live near at least one set of your grandparents, aunt and uncles
you can turn your CD player on all by yourself and dance around your room
you call "Pluto" "Pierre"
you've started choosing snuggling in my lap over lounging in your Dora chair at night
you have manners - "Pease" & "Tank you"
you make your dad smile
you make us both so proud
I found you hugging your baby to your side yesterday morning while you played with other things in your room

and the list goes on..

{perfect}

Love,
Your Momma

FWB Christmas Parade

Michel and I took Amelia to the FWB Parade on Monday night. It was one of the most fun nights I've experienced in motherhood. Amelia loved it, and it seemed somewhat magical compared to the parade that comes out of Griffin, GA. There were 90+ floats that rode by, and it was night time and everything was decked out with Christmas lights. We noticed when we got there that people (ok, highschool kids) had Publix bags for all of the candy they planned on collecting. That was a good sign, except that we didn't have a Publix bag. We shamefully cleared out pockets in my camera bag, and filled them to the rim with candy. We didn't steal the candy from the smaller kids. We only took what landed at our feet...and what fell between the kids and us, BUT only after giving them a 30 second head start. At the end of the 2 hour parade, Amelia was decked out in free gear. I think she ended up with 50ish bead necklaces, 2 bracelets, a balloon and a baseball hat. And her mom and Auntie? We made out with too much candy. I poured out the candy on my counter when I got home, and quickly decided I could not keep in my house. I made Michel a ziploc bag full and the rest??? Anyone receiving Christmas presents from me should expect to find candy somewhere in your gift. :)

 {Loud Firetrucks}

 {Candy drunk}

 {Guilty}

I can't wait until Poppy is here to do these things with us! Soon!

xoxo,
Cadence

Photo Blog - Holidays 2011

 

I spent so long editing these photos. And again, when I upload them on blogger they show up unedited. GRR. Photos are all I have today, no time to write. They really work their Holiday Employees at Bath & Body! Hi ho! Hi ho!

xoxo,

Cadence

Letters to Amelia

Dear Amelia,

I can never understand how I came to love someone so much and so differently than I do others. I'm so proud to call you mine. On your ages and stages checklist given to me by your teacher, I happily checked YES to every question asked! You obviously get your brains from me.

You are starting to communicate very well. It is so helpful for you to be able to tell us what you want, instead of crying until we figure it out. Thank you for being such a sweet girl that I love to show off. You are perfect to me. I sometimes wince at the thought of you knowing heartache and emotional pain one day. I won't be able to protect you from this cruel world forever. If I could I would totally wrap you up in a bubble, I would do it and keep you safe forever.

I'm so sad that you don't get to be a big sister yet. I can't wait for the day you get to hold your little sibling. There's not a doubt in my mind you'll be the best at that too. I hope I'm teaching you now how to love your family like I do mine. Be your daddy's favorite girl, mom's best friend {especially this one}and sibling's secret place.

I love you to the moon and back.


Love,
Your Momma