Happy Anniversary, Adam!

To my Mister,

It's been 4 years since we married.
That's 1460 days.
That's {almost} 30 dog years.

Sometimes it feels like 30 years together, and sometimes it feels like I'm still learning so much about you. We've had two little people together. My two favorite little people. Thank you for that! I've had the privilege of watching you become daddy. I've had the privilege of watching you start up and build {WAY} up a great business in just one year. I promise to keep encouraging you. And even if it's hard {like when we both feel like angry zombies, because our girls don't sleep. ever.}, I promise to keep loving you!

Like Nick & Jess love.

                                                                                                                                                                   You're my sweetheart.

xoxo,
Cadence

Traditions

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is hearing about, and living out traditions. We've had so many traditions new and old throughout my life, and I've loved all of them. I am so sad that some of them have ended, like Christmas Eve morning breakfast with some of our favorite family friends that we left behind in GA. We will always think of them and wish we could hug their necks every Christmas Eve morning. We also did a Christmas with my "Aunt" Wanda's family for many years and made memories I will never forget. And then the memories of Christmas caroling with family and friends - so. much. fun.

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!"- Buddy the Elf

Another favorite memory of tradition was one of my mother in laws. After Thanksgiving every year she would light huge beautiful wreaths that hung on her house. The "wreath lighting" was a time when all of the people that meant the most to her came over for food, drinks and holiday cheer. She once told me she loved it more than Christmas itself. Unfortunately, I only made it to two of these special lightings, but if we have a big enough house one day I would love to carry on her tradition!

Now that we have kids we are wanting to start our own traditions. It is hard, because we have to give up old traditions to do so. Last year was the first year we did not spend the night with my Memommy on Christmas Eve and wake up there to find Santa's gifts. As sad I was to miss that, we had a wonderful Christmas morning waking up at home. I suspect over the next few years we will take on more traditions as the girls start understanding things better. My friend, Katie, told me about a fun tradition her mom started with her on St. Nick Day! I believe it is a German Holiday, but I could be wrong. Kids hang their stocking or put a boot outside their door, and if they've been good St. Nick fills it with candy and goodies. It's just a fun way to get your kids in the spirit, and remind them that they better be good, for goodness sake!

We've started the Elf on the Shelf tradition with our two elves, Elfis & Rudy, and it has been so much fun this year! My sister and I have talked about making cookies for Santa, and a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve this year! No matter what we do I know it will be special because we will all be together (we are so excited Gi got out of her trip)!!

I have been reading about traditions on blogs this year and searching Pinterest for fun traditions! I love to hear about traditions that are dear to people's hearts!

Can it be Christmas already?!?!

xoxo,
Cadence

Birthday post/Letter to Stella

One year ago from this very hour, I was sitting in our hospital room in awe of the sweetness of our new baby girl. We were facing a lot of hard decisions and sadness with Adam's mom being very sick. It was hard to celebrate such a happy time with what we knew was coming in the next few days. Adam was there for both Stella and I in what had to be one of the hardest times of his life. He spent those 3 days in the hospital with us, and the morning after we returned home, he left to be with his mom. Stella's first few weeks here were very sad/hard, but she brought us light that only an innocent little baby can bring. I like to think of her as our little angel that helped us through a tough time. A year later, she is still that same light and that same joy.

Dear Stella,

Happy birthday, sweet girl! These past 365 days have truly been my favorite. You have completed our family, and I am overjoyed that I get to watch you and Amelia begin an everlasting friendship. I want to list a few of my favorite things about you, and I am only limiting myself to naming a few because I could go on and on.

Your determination.
The way you lay your head on my shoulder when you are being shy.
The way you follow Amelia and Poppy around the house squealing with excitement to fit in with the big girls.
When you get your passy and blankie and fall into my arms like its the only place you can find comfort.
Your teeth that are growing in at hilariously different times.
Your sassy little attitude. {Amelia will say "well hello there, Miss Priss."}
The way you jump up and run towards the door when you know it's your dad's keys unlocking the door.

Last night I laid in my bed almost in tears over the fact that my last baby was turning ONE in less than 12 hours! It was a hard pill to swallow. Luckily, you've reminded me that this is my favorite age, and I am going to soak up every minute of it. I am excited to watch you grow in this second year of life. I am excited to teach you and be your safe place as you explore a little more in this big world. 

Jack Johnson said it best in his song "My Little Girl" -

"You've gone and stole my heart and made it your own
You stole my heart and made it your own"

I love you more than I could ever put into words.

Love,
Your Momma

Letters to Amelia and Stella

Amelia,

10 things I love about you right now are:

1} Your big sweet smile.
2} Hearing about things you learn in school. Like spelling your name and knowing your left and right hand.
3} Seeing your imagination grow in your playtime.
4} Your independence.
5} Your big personality - though it does get you in trouble at times.
6} The way you love your friends at school.
7} The way you aggravate your dad with your "Roll Tide" cheers.
8} The way you say "hilarious".
9} Your big heart for animals.
10} The way you kiss my nose every night.

Stay awesome, kiddo!!

Love,
Your Momma


Stella,

10 things I love about you right now are:

1} Your big goofy grin.
2} Your love for food.
3} The way you want to be right up under your sister at all times.
4} The way you walk like a drunk.
5} Your big giggles when I chase you on the floor.
6} Your love for your dad.
7} Your scrunch face
8} The way you snuggle up with your pacifier and blanket, just like Amelia used to.
9} The way you look over your shoulder and smile when you know you are doing wrong.
10} The sweet curls on the back of your head!

I have been super emotional about your first birthday coming up. I get all teary thinking about what you will be like at Amelia's age, and then what Amelia will be like when you are her age! It's true what they say, you guys are growing in the blink of an eye.

Love,
Your Momma

OOPS!

It seems I have failed my New Year's resolution miserably. I have not logged into blogger in months, and I've written one set of letters since my New Year's post. It seems I owe my girlies some letters in the near future!

Stella is so close to being ONE that its making me a bit of an emotional lady. Packing up my maternity clothes to pass on to my sister for good {no, she is not pregnant right now} was very bittersweet. The two things I like about pregnancy is feeling your little one move around inside you, and knowing they are much more safe inside than out. Oh wait, and the stretchy pants. Everything else, NO THANKS. I just forgot how much I love my babies until Stella came along. There's just nothing like baby hands, toes, gummy grins and little coos. She is already outgrowing the cooing and moving onto the "dada" "mama" stage. Ok, well she isn't saying "mama", but it's coming. Right?

Newborn Pictures - Plumb Photography

As I wash bottles these last few months, I am going to feel a twinge of sadness served up alongside a big sigh of relief. I have tried to document as much of this past year as possible via instagram. I don't know what I will do if something happens to instagram. I have about 10,000 pictures of my babies saved there.

6month pictures - Plumb Photography

Also, Amelia starts (pre) Pre-K this year. She will be gone 5 days a week! I have very mixed emotions about this. Where does the time go? She grows out of her clothes overnight it seems. Lots of times I wish that they were older and easier, but lots of times I wish I could freeze time.

Amelia - 3 years old

Maybe with Amelia being away for a few hours every day I will find more time to blog. And read blogs. And catch up on my TV shows, go to the grocery store without buying those DREADED balloons, fold laundry and put it away before it gets strewn all over the house. Maybe my emotions on her going to school 5 days a week aren't so mixed? ;-)

xoxo,
Cadence

Letters to Amelia...and Stella

Amelia,

You're three years old in less than two months. For 30 months I  so looked forward to seeing your sweet face first thing in the morning. The past 4 months I have so looked forward to seeing your and your sister's sweet face first thing in the morning. I didn't realize how quickly time was sneaking past me until Stella showed up, and you seemed to have grown 4 years older and 5 inches taller. Your sweet chubby hands are now slim big kid hands that help me bake cookies and follow along words as you "read" me stories. You no longer smell like Johnson & Johnson nighttime bath soap. When you don't smell like a kid that's been playing outside all day you smell like that too-grown-up big kid shampoo. I do enjoy the inquisitive little girl you've become, but I miss little baby Amelia a lot lately. I find myself searching for old pictures of teeny, chubby you. I secretly don't want to rush potty training and ditching the pacifier, because that means you're too big. Stop growing so fast, OK?

Right now you love:
*dinosaur eggs oatmeal
*Rugrats {thanks a lot Netflix}
*asking lots of questions
*chocolate milk
*reading me stories
*loving on your babies
*changing out pajamas 50 times a day

In fact, right this second you are in your second pair of PJ'S, watching RUGRATS, drinking CHOCOLATE MILK, ASKING for DINO EGGS because you and your BABIES are hungry. All we are missing right this second is story time. It's coming though. I give it 10 minutes.


Stella,

 I've been waiting a long time to add another name to these letters, and I'm so glad its you. You are the perfect addition to our family. You've reminded me that I want to spend as much time as possible with you and Amelia while you two are little little. I have talked about going back to work to get out of the house to have some adult conversation {my social skills are seriously slacking}, but lately I've had a change of heart. A lot of moms would bend over backwards to be able to spend this time with their babies. I have the rest of my life to work, but time to love on my babies is slipping through my fingers. I guess it's because we have decided that you will be our last baby that I find myself soaking you in a little more than I ever thought I would. I smother you in hugs and kisses from sun up to sun down. Sorry about that.

Our routines {sleeping, eating, pushing for milestones} with you have been a lot more relaxed than they were with Amelia. You're welcome. I love the way you love watching Amelia play. And you get so excited when you see your daddy walk past you. I love getting you out of your bed in the mornings, because your whole face lights up when you see me. You are a smiley little baby, and I love to make you laugh. I know the saying is there is nothing like a daddy and his little girl and that's fine, but you've also joined me in Amelia in what I think is a pretty great bond. My two little best friends. My two favorite reasons to get out of bed and start my day.

Love,
Your Momma

new year. new school. new issues.

We had been waiting waiting waiting for a spot at the First Methodist Church Preschool close to our house for months {close to a year}. We were driving 20-30 minutes {depending on traffic} each way for drop off and pick up 3 days a week at her old school. We finally got a call early December saying they had a spot available for us at the start of the new year. I did my happy dance and I just knew Amelia would be just fine making the switch, because she loves school. But...no. She has been 3 days so far at her new school, and it takes me about 20 minutes to sneak out of that room. It's really hard and sad to leave your two year old who is crying saying how much she is going to miss you. She will hide behind me holding on to my shirt, and as soon as I get the one hand peeled off of me she starts grabbing with the other. I bend down to calm her and tell her I will be back shortly and she holds onto the collar of my shirt like her life depends on it. Exposing my chest to all the little kids and two teachers watching me work out my escape plan... so. much. fun.

I guess it's the new faces and unfamiliar places thing that is causing such a hard transition. She was all for going back to school before she realized it was not her old school. Monday morning while I got her ready for school, she pitched a huge fit about going to school and changing out of her pjs. She finally calmed down and asked me to let her play in her room by herself for a little bit. I came back 5 minutes later to put her in the car, and she had stripped off all of her school clothes. I should have known better. Sucker.

This was her first day of new school picture. If only school mornings were still this joyous...

Hoping this transition gets easier very soon! I'm looking for any advice to leaving your screaming two year old behind.


xoxo,
Cadence

hi 2013

Since I last wrote I...


celebrated my birthday
had a baby
took said baby on a 6 hr car ride {2x}
experienced sleep deprivation {tried to order an eggplant latte from Starbucks}
lost a sweet family member
spent my first thanksgiving away from my family
missed my first Christmas Eve at my memommy's
started my own Christmas traditions with my family
watched my husband start up his dream of owning a charter boat business {One Shot Fishing Charters, y'all!}
celebrated engagements of friends back home {via text but celebrations nonetheless}
had Amelia's hair chopped off

I am pretty happy to welcome the new year! I am hoping to challenge myself to follow through with a few things this year, but I don't want to write them down or say them out loud. That way if I fail, I only fail myself, and not those who are counting on me. Hey! I'm a busy girl. Seriously...I'm typing this whole post with one hand.

I will say that I'm challenging myself to come here more. And maybe write some Letters to Stella {along with more to Amelia}? Stay tuned.

Some of my favorite pics of 2013 so far...

Be back soon!

xoxo,
Cadence