here's the skinny..

13 November 2013

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

29 September 2013

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

18 August 2013

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

23 March 2013

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

10 January 2013

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

02 January 2013

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

23 August 2012

Letters to Amelia

Dear Amelia,

Since I last wrote you you turned two. Becoming 2x the kid, 2x the trouble, 2x the laughs and 2x the genius. You are two going on twenty one. Your new vocabulary amazes me, and worries me at the same time. I'm not quite sure what you're gonna say when I'm not around. Your imagination is hilarious. A few Amelia quotes that make me laugh (which I realize are probably not funny to those not raising a toddler) right now are:

"Just 5 more minutes."
"I promise, promise."
"Hey, I have an idea!"
"I'm so excited! I'm so excited!"
"I got to tell you somethin'."

You've started school this week, and this year you go three days a week. As much as I love the free time for a few hours three days a week, I miss you a lot. I'm so glad we didn't go with the five days a week plan.

It's getting closer to Stella Mae's arrival, and I'm afraid you are not quite ready. It's ok..me either. We will learn and adjust together! I can't wait for you to meet her for the first time. As much as I wanted to have a boy and a girl, I'm excited for another girl. There is nothing like having a sister. Forced friends forever. You'll always have a friend no matter where you are in life. You'll see. 85 days until we are due to hold your baby sister! Can't wait to watch you grow as a big sister. Until then, I'm going to enjoy my last 85 days of spending time with just you.

Love,
Your Momma

18 April 2012

Letters to Amelia

Amelia,

You will be 2 years old next month. You have made the last two years of life seem so much fuller and happier. I wouldn't trade any days of past for my new life with you. I've learned over these past two years that having kids is like having your heart living outside of you. Much more vulnerable. I wish I could shield you from everything that makes you cry. Really, you cry a lot. When are you going to be done with the whining thing? Your dad and I are close to pulling our hair out daily. Then you do something sweet and big girl like and we forget {for 5 minutes}. Today when you wanted more chicken at lunch you said "more please" and "thank you very much". It makes my heart swell 10x bigger when you are a sweet little thing. So let's keep that going and ditch the whiny baby phase.

Your dad is your favorite person right now, and I really don't know what we would do if something happened to him. When he goes to school you ask me one hundred times where daddy is. You only want daddy to get you out of your bed when you wake up. You want "daddy on the couch" with you all the time. Daddy this. Daddy that. I don't mind though. You do plenty of "mommy, mommy, mommy" as well. I think he's your favorite, because he catches lizards, insects and fish for you to play with. At the beach we fill up the cooler with ocean water so daddy can fill it up with fish from the net. My little tom-boy. I love every inch of your dirt covered self.

Love,
Your Momma

17 April 2012

catching up

This poor blog has been deserted. I had to blow the dust off before writing here again. I hate that it's been over a month since I've posted here. It had become so easy to write here every other day, and then one crazy week threw me a curve ball. I didn't feel like writing that week, because I was stressed to the max. Then I just didn't think about it much, and when I did think about it I didn't feel like anyone would be interested in things I had to say. I am back though and realllly want to get back in the swing of things. Lots has happened since I've been here! Disney, Easter, NEW BABY on the way! Here are some photos for anyone who missed them over on Facebook, and I'll be back tomorrow or Thursday for a Letters to Amelia. Thanks to my friends who nudged me back into the blogging world after missing my blogs! :)

{Disney photos}