safehouse fire

A building in my hometown caught on fire last night. It was a local hangout called Safehouse Coffee and Tea, and while I didn't personally have any ties to it I had a lot of friends who did. I haven't lived in Griffin for a little over 3 years, so I never spent much time there. I know that the owners, volunteers and friends that hung out there were like a family. Safehouse was home for many of them. Home is where the heart is. I can't imagine losing my home - all of my belongings and the walls of my emotional memories to a fire. While my heart and home is now in Florida, the house I grew up in on Maddox Road will always be home to me. I have more memories and emotional ties to that house than anywhere I've ever been. I haven't lived there in 5 years, and if that little pink house were to burn down I would be so sad. My heart aches for my friends who have lost their second home. They all seem to be very positive about the future, and I am thankful they have found some peace. For anyone reading this that is not from Griffin and already aware of the donation site for the rebuilding of Safehouse, here is the link:

Support for Safehouse

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.
Maya Angelou 

Any donation will help!

xoxo,
Cadence

yard sale finds

The time has arrived!! The time of good yard sales that is. Yard saling is not quite the same when my mom is not here, but I drug Adam and Amelia along for company this past weekend. I was praying for a good day of sales, and boy did they deliver!

Momma won't be missing another weekend of sales, will you??

My finds:

 $5

 $1 for set - 6 dinner plates/6 salad plates/2 bowls

 $11

 $3

$4

{not pictured: mermaid pj's, dvd's and blender for Michel & Jake}

My new beach hat makes me really ready for summer. My bathing suit, however, does not.

Going over to Michel's for Poppy's newborn pictures today! HAPPY MONDAY!

xoxo,
Cadence

jonesin' fridays

I am speaking the truth when I say Adam and I have an actual, written out list of things we want/need. In fact, I am looking at it right now across the room. It's hanging on the fridge just waiting to get things crossed off of it. I ask Adam almost every night, do you think we will wake up rich tomorrow? And we don't {apparently that doesn't happen overnight}. And that's okay...we have all that we need sleeping in the next room. Soon I will refer back to these Friday posts and buy myself a treat..after crossing off items on said list, and buying a second car of course!!!

Jonesin' for this week:

this purse

this dirty clothes hamper!! {I am going to need the biggest trash can they make.}

ohhhh my goodness

ohhhh my goodness #2

Ahhh. Good stuff.

Gonna spend time with sweet Poppy James today! :)

xoxo,
Cadence

spring cleaning

It's basically spring here so I'm trying to get a head start on my spring cleaning.

Poor Adam.

Our house is almost always a disaster. I hope I make up for my messiness in other parts of our marriage, because I really fail him in the dishes/toys in the living room/keeping the bedroom clean department. {I write this as I turn my head to Amelia throwing LEGO's all over the room} And the laundry? Oh, the laundry. I can't ever get caught up. By the time I finish 3 loads, I have a full hamper staring me in the face. I can't wait until Adam starts wearing flip flops every day. SO MANY SOCKS. I'm really working on it though - keeping this house clean. Cleaning out and organizing are on the top of my list. Martha Stewart magazines and the world wide web are helping me get my head right.
These articles are some of my favorite I've found so far, if you're interested in reading them:


get organized
spring cleaning with Martha
for the bedroom & the bathroom

When I get done our bedroom will look clean, decluttered and all Jonathan Adler-ish.

It would be so helpful if Amelia would jump on board with this keep our house clean thing. A girl can dream, right? 

Happy almost Friday!

xoxo,

Cadence

Letters to Amelia

Amelia,

I spent a lot of time away from you this weekend so that I could be at the hospital with your Auntie, Uncle Jake & Poppy. I missed you so much! I just don't know how I am going to love another baby like I love you, but I am reallllly ready to give it a shot! You had me laughing so hard yesterday I had tears in my eyes. You were watching Ice Age and the squirrel in the beginning is going through some tough times, and you truly hurt for him. Every time he would get hurt or squished you would cry out "Oh nooo!" with tears in your eyes! And when he would pop back up on the screen and start running you started giggling with tears running down your face. Your Gi said it was mean of me to laugh when you were feeling sad, but your reaction was priceless and completely unexpected. You pick up on things so quickly! What a big heart you have. <3

Your second birthday is coming up in a few months, and I can't think of a better two years in my life. Can't wait to start planning the celebration of your precious little self! Your birthday will be much different this year! You get to have two parties. Smaller family/close friend parties, but parties nonetheless. Pops is so busy with weddings this summer so I won't drag the whole family back to Georgia just for your party {you're welcome, guys}. Also, your gifts from momma won't be much this year. I'll be spending plenty of money on you in Disney World in March. That's right. DISNEY! Your second trip to Disney and you aren't even two. I know, Best Momma Ever.

You are miraculous.

Love,
Your Momma

jonesin' fridays

If there is any day of the week I find myself "wanting" it is usually on Fridays. I don't know if it's because yard sales are only 24 hours away or just the arrival of the weekend makes me happy, which makes me want to shop/do/eat. So in an attempt to make sure I'm blogging most days of the week, I am going to designate Friday as the day I will share what I am jonesin' for each week! If Adam feels so inclined to buy me an "I Love You" present, he can come here to find something {since I doubt he will be looking on Pinterest at my wishlist.}

nail polish shelf

vespa

locket

studs

Have a great weekend!

xoxo,
Cadence

thanks a million {or 10,000}

My blog hit 10,000 views 2 days ago. YAY! Thanks to everyone who stops by here to read about what's going on with my family. I am so glad that my friends and family {far and near}, get to watch Amelia grow up thanks to the wonderful world of technology.

Michel and I have our first Junior League meeting tonight! Assuming Poppy doesn't make an early arrival. Which would just not be fair....Amelia didn't give me that luxury of coming two days early. We are ready for her no matter when she decides to come though!! This weekend I get to become the fun Auntie! I can't wait to hold her, smell her sweet baby smell and give her back to her momma when I'm done. That's the best part about being the aunt, right? I can't wait to see what she looks like!! We hear she has lots of hair. Good thing we have lots of bows to share with her! Not to wish the next year away, but I can't wait for her to grow up, and Amelia to have a playmate. She's one lonely chick.

Last night I found one tiny box of Amelia's clothes for this spring/summer and I just knew there had to be more. So I nagged convinced Adam to pull down two big containers of clothes from the attic to find they were clothes that she could have worn last year. :( CUTE CLOTHES!!! Looks like I'm going to have to climb up there to pull down her clothes from now on. Some of them she will just barely fit in now, and thank goodness we have a warm weekend coming up so we can get some use out of them. We are going to have an outfit change twice a day to make sure we wear the cutest stuff! Saving the cutest outfit for when she goes to the hospital to meet her cousin this weekend. <3 LOTS of pictures of that and Poppy James Lough's arrival to come on Monday! Have a great day!!

Pictures from our "fort" yesterday. I've got to get better at my fort building.

 {Amelia likes to take pictures too!}

xoxo,
Cadence

milestones

I have been going through all of my old magazines that are piled up like little mountains beside my bed. I hate to throw them away, so I decided to re-read them and throw away what I don't need. Like if I kept it for a recipe, tear it out and put it with my recipes. If I kept it for a craft, tear it out and make a "craft" folder, baby articles in a "parenting" folder, etc. I am starting with the Parents magazines, and read a sweet article a grandmother sent in. She was trying to explain herself {and all you other grandparents out there} when she says that she loves her grandbabies more than her own children. She says of course that is not completely true, it's a different kind of love. Her mind isn't concerned with missing milestones, and the growth and development that you worry so much with your own children. She says this helps to be able to love them freely. She can love them with all that she has. It's true, milestones can be a little thought consuming. I guess that's part of the parenting experience though. We've had some major milestones around here lately. I feel like the older Amelia gets the more "milestones" we are going to hurdle? This week Amelia had her first haircut!! She was a little scared starting out, but nothing that a sucker and sitting in momma's lap couldn't fix. Auntie M came with us and took some pictures!! I may not be great at keeping up with Amelia's baby book, but I hope to have all of my blog posts about Amelia made into a book for her one day. Blogging is definitely more my thing.

I wrote this post about a week ago. I've been waiting on the pictures to add to the post, and since then we
have reached another milestone. POTTY time! Of course we have a good ways to go, but we are off to a good start! I know its not going to happen over night, and I am willing to be as patient as possible. That's the plan anyway. Any potty training tips for this newbie? We were doing m&m's every time she used her potty, but the m&m's disappeared quickly {& not because Amelia was rewarded so many times..}. Switched her prize to DumDum's...those have a better chance of survival.



xoxo,
Cadence

Letters to Amelia

Dear Amelia,

Last night you snuggled with me on the couch right before bed, and I reminded myself to never take those nights for granted. One day too soon they will be gone. You were laying on me drinking chocolate milk and letting it leak out of your mouth, and when I felt it hit my skin the first time I shrieked. You thought it was hilarious, so we kept on with our little game. We wasted chocolate milk and stained up my white shirt, but I can't make you stop doing things that make you smile that way. I love your gap in your teeth! It makes your smile 1000x cuter.

You got up pretty early this morning, but when I brought you to my bed you went back to sleep for about an hour. Thank you for holding my hand while you slept in my bed. I didn't get to fall back asleep, but holding your little hand was worth it. You may not be the best sleeper, but I wouldn't trade you for one that is.

You went kayaking for the first time with your dad this weekend. In JANUARY! I hope you love growing up as a beach baby. You are going to have so much fun this Spring & Summer riding on the boat, learning to swim and playing on the beach. You're such a smarty, you'll be swimming circles around us in no time. Not only do you get to be a beach bum, but your Honey has a lake house in Georgia you'll get to enjoy as well. Lucky kiddo.

A few things I'm loving about you right now:

- the way your face lights up and you giddily giggle when you see candy
- the way you call for your dad if he isn't in the bed when I bring you to our bed in the morning
- the way you have to hold your lunch box walking into school
- the way you wave and say hey to anyone who will pay attention to you
- your perfectly gapped teeth
- the way you say {scream} Poottttssss {Pops}
- & the list goes on {and on...}

You get your first haircut tomorrow at 20 months!!! I am so nervous since the sight of a hair dryer sends you running..I think the Tootsie Pops I have for you will help.

Love you today even more than yesterday!!

Love,
Your Momma

happy friday

Tonight was like a real Friday night. We went out and celebrated the weekend! Even though right now our weekdays and weekends are really no different. But out we went with Michel & Jake to eat at Fusion Bistro, and for a scoop of ice cream at Baskin Robbins. Sadly, that little scoop of ice cream needs to be my last for a while. Here's to trying to lose 30 lbs before June 1st. Adam says he will run a 5k with me as long as it is 60 days out. We both need to train! You heard me. Train for a 5k...the shape we are in is only good enough to chase Amelia around the house. Not to run 16,400 feet. Ya feel me? Chasing Amelia around is quite enjoyable. We took her to the park by the sound in Navarre so she could swing, feed ducks, run around and slide the twisty "swide". She listens pretty well and stays close by, so we can let her down to do what the wants there.

 {Amelia "text"}

Michel and I went to our first Junior League meeting last night. It was really awesome. It is going to be a fun way to make new friends/connections! It's about dang time. I miss girl's nights, coffee with friends, shopping dates and movies. Not that those things aren't fun with Michel and momma. It's just nice to have your girlfriends one phone call away as well. Speaking of shopping dates with Michel, we have one tomorrow. I gotta get Amelia out of the house so Adam can clean it! He's good like that.

That about sums up our weekend. Our wild and crazy night tonight, yard sales with my dad in the morning and shopping with Auntie M. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!


xoxo,
Cadence

the new year

Adam starts school next week, and I'll have lots more time to blog and play around on Pinterest now that he won't be hogging the computer for his video game. The man got out of the military to play military on the computer. And all day and night at that. I'm just going to stop talking about it right now, before I say ugly ugly things. About the video game, of course. The new year has been good to us so far, but we are waiting for a few things -financially- to fall into place. I won't believe it when it does happen, because we have been waiting on it for what feels like forever. Lots of changes coming up around our house! Adam going back to school, and me and Amelia babysitting Poppy when Michel goes back to work. I must get pregnant again before I bring another baby into this house. Adam won't be able to change his mind once the deed is done. It's funny how when you "try" to have a baby it seems impossible, but when you do not need to get pregnant - BAM! I know, it will happen when it needs to. And for now, these two keep my heart content.

A day with daddy = chocolate stains all down a white shirt.

xoxo,

Cadence

Letters to Amelia

Dear Amelia,

Today you showed me and your dad how strong you are by rearranging all the furniture. Thank you. I've been meaning to put the bar stools in front of the refrigerator for some time now. You go back to school tomorrow after being out for a few weeks. I am You are so excited to go back. Here's to hoping I get your room {which looks like Toys-R-Us threw up in it} back into a kid friendly/safe environment while you are in school tomorrow. There is no telling what is in that room. You've been sneaking kitty food piece by piece into your new tent. Gross. Thank you for making me feel like the best mom ever today when I let you have a sucker. You can't get out those exact words yet, but the way you cut your eyes over to me and smirked in my direction let me know how you felt. It made me want to feed you suckers all night long. But I can't imagine you on a sugar rush, and I'm really sure I'm not ready to pay those consequences. Your dad taught you an inappropriate phrase today that you two thought was pretty funny, and I can't really get mad at him. I am guilty of teaching you to sing the "We Po {poor}" song. Your dad doesn't find that song very amusing. ;-) You've been asleep for 30 minutes now, and I already can't wait to see your smiling face in the morning. I love you to the moon and back!

Love,
Your Momma

promises vs. resolutions

Happy New Year to all of my loved ones! I'm pretty glad to see 2011 go, and excited about the fun we will have in 2012. I'll have a baby niece here in just a few weeks to start off this exciting new year, and I can't wait to hold her!! I'm not going to make a New Year's resolution this year, because all of the things I thought of should be an everyday resolution that wont lose it's importance a few weeks after the new year. Let's be honest, how often do New Year's resolutions really work out for people? I'm much better with keeping promises so I will stick with those.

I promise to be the best mom I know how to be to Amelia, and hopefully another little one before this year is over. 
I promise to be the best wife I know how to be, and the best friend I know how to be.
I promise to not take for granted the wonderful things/people that have been put in my life.
I promise to do my best in letting go of fears, insecurities and anything that may be holding me back from living life the way I should be.

I can't wait to watch Amelia grow over the next year. As much as it breaks my heart for her to become a big girl, I love watching her do new things and say new words. I can't imagine the changes we will see in her over the next 12 months. I hope one of those changes isn't her little hands. I'm not ready to let go of those yet.

The family is coming to our house tonight for the traditional New Year's dinner. I am so glad to spend all of my holidays with my family. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else unless they were coming with me! Family is everything.


Happy New Year!

xoxo,
Cadence