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

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

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}

{Easter photos}

{Baby announcement}

Be back soon!!

xoxo,

Cadence

jonesin' fridays

A few things I am jonesin' for this week....

I am so glad they make cute one piece suits now!

I love this color and style too. Is there an Anthropologie outlet? ;-)

I'm itching to read this baby book! I need to get it on my Kindle ASAP.

 

I originally pinned this bracelet thinking one day I would buy it for my mom, but I kind of really want it. {Sorry, momma}

What's on your wishlist? 

You can comment on this post and any other's in the comment form below. :)

xoxo,

Cadence

mid 20's crisis

Yesterday I was in the middle of a mid-20's crisis...or so I thought. Dramatic? Maybe - but that is honestly how it felt at the time. I just sat at the computer rocking Poppy's bouncer with my foot and tried to distract myself with blogs, Pinterest, Facebook, etc. I heard Amelia around the corner start singing the words to The Wiggles songs, and instantly felt 95% better. So I relocated Poppy and myself to the couch to watch the show, because that's where I needed to be.

After this first week of keeping Poppy, Amelia has made it very clear that she is not getting enough attention. By the end of the day yesterday she was ready to send Poppy packing {only to ask where she was 2 hours later}. I'm going to really have to work at still doing the things Amelia and I normally do when Poppy isn't here. I think I've made up for it this morning. It's only 8:30 {8:39} {8:48} {8:55} and it has already taken me 45 minutes to write this little bit. And I've reheated my coffee twice..Her favorite game this morning is hiding under my covers from monsters. Confession: sometimes I don't even tell her they aren't there and they aren't real, because I love that she wants me hiding under the covers with her keeping her safe from the "monstuhs".

Our Disney trip was almost cancelled due to some unfortunate events, but Michel and my mom are doing everything they can to make it happen. Can't wait for Monday week. I need some magical moments in my life!

Vintage Disney

Happy Friday!
{look for a jonesin' fridays post this afternoon}


xoxo,
Cadence

photo blog

I'm feeling very tired and overwhelmed right now, but I don't want to neglect the blog! Someone, pamper me? And bring me a birthday cake martini? Here is a short photo blog.. And I will be back Friday {and/or maybe tomorrow} with an actual post.

 Dr. Seuss' Birthday Bash!

Gotta get back to my sweet niece and rowdy kiddo! ;-)

xoxo,
Cadence

foggy afternoons

Yesterday, I sent my mom a text after a long whiny morning that read "You will be my best friend if you take Amelia for a few hours". Thankfully, my mom really wants to be my best friend and took her off our hands for the afternoon! Some days I feel like it's all I can do to just survive some moments. Yesterday morning my whole day felt like it was off to a rough start thanks to a very sad dream I had. Amelia was showing off her best "terrible 2's" tantrums and my patience was running thin. I hate feeling like that. Like I am just "surviving" motherhood and not enjoying motherhood. That's why I knew it was important to get a few hours to myself.

The day ended well. Adam & I decided to take the boat out for our first boat ride of the year, and it was foggy and fabulous. When we left the house it was sunny & warm, and as soon as we hit Navarre we were surrounded by a thick fog. We took the boat out anyways and dropped the anchor. We sat on the floor in the boat and we washed down Chex Mix with Coors. We sat and talked, and we also sat & enjoyed moments of silence. It was awesome. I am so glad March is here, and I am looking forward to many more boat rides with Adam & Amelia {and friends & family}.

xoxo,
Cadence

jonesin' fridays

This week I am jonesin' for all things Amelia...

Seriously cute swimwear for babies.

These precious summer dresses.

Baby Hunter boots. It doesn't get much cuter. 

& maybe one thing for me.........

This special edition mixer would be so cute on my counters. {I'll find space, Adam.}

{I've only wanted a KitchenAid mixer for 4 years now.}

I really hope one of these days these wishlists turn into shopping lists! :-)

Have a great weekend!!

xoxo,

Cadence

leap year 2012

I wish I was having a baby today.
I wish that I could have a leap year baby! Today was my last chance. If I haven't had a 2nd child in 4 more years, I'll be over having a 2nd child period. It would just be such a cool birthday! Something to really celebrate when it came around! 4 years is a long time to wait for a birthday party. I kid.. I wouldn't make my baby wait every 4 years for a party. I like cake & ice cream too much for that.

I have no idea what I was doing on the other 7 leap years I've been around for. In fact, I've never really thought anything different about February 29th, except that it is Mrs. Mostiller's {elementary music teacher} birthday. Happy 16th{?} Birthday, Mrs. Mostiller. Today is a pretty good Leap Year day. Going to dinner tonight with a new friend {and Michel} to celebrate this extra day in February with sangria and chips & dip.

For anyone stuck at home tonight you can celebrate too:

Leap Year Cocktail
- 1 oz gin
- 1/2 oz Grand Marnier
- 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
- squeeze of lemon
- Shake over crushed ice, pour into chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with a slice of lemon or orange.


Happy February 29th!

xoxo,
Cadence

Letters to Amelia

Amelia, 

Last night when we put you down for bed you sang your version of "Pat-a cake" for about an hour. Your version goes like this..

"Pat a cake pat a cake bakers man ROLL it, put it in the pan!" Short and sweet. :)

I sat there and watched you sing for at least 5 minutes and when I called your daddy in you really hammed up for him. Giggling between every word. Your facial expressions when you got to the "roll it" part was my favorite.

We went to Free Pancake Day at IHOP this morning before school, and for the first time in a long time you behaved and sat in your seat {for the most part}!! Woohoo!! Maybe Daddy will start taking us out to eat again.

Things I love about you right now:

The way you said "hey friends" to some kids in Target.
The way you say "mommy" 500 times a day.
You said "bye Michel" to your Auntie when leaving Gi's house!
The way you trust me to not let go of your hands when you grab mine and lean backwards off the couch.
The look on your face when we took you in the pet store before getting frozen yogurt yesterday. 
When I catch you with your baby dolls up on your shoulder while you bounce up and down saying "shh shh shh".

iPhone pictures collage

I REALLY love that in 20 days I will get to experience the most magical place on Earth with you! Look out Disney, Hurricane Amelia coming through.

Love,
Your Momma


* For anyone who missed my first Letter to Amelia, this is my way of documenting her growing up. I failed at the baby book, and will someday have these letters made into a book for her. If you want to read more Letters at the bottom of these posts they are labeled Letters to Amelia - you can click there to pull up all the letters I've written to her.

jonesin' fridays

I would love to redo Amelia's bathroom with this canvas collection.

LOVE these heels!

These eggs would be so cute in Amelia's Easter basket, and we could easily reuse them for years!

 

I want these ridiculously cute/over-priced shorts so very badly. Maybe I'll catch them on the sale rack in a few months!

Have a great weekend!!

xoxo,

Cadence

finding your happy place

I learned sad news this weekend about four brave airmen who lost their lives in Africa. I know it happens all the time, but it was more real to me this time after meeting one of their wives in my Junior League Provisional class. My heart broke for her. With me being the overly emotional person that I am, I can't handle news like this very well. So I tried very hard to surround myself with happy things, and then I feel guilty for enjoying happy things while the families of the soldiers are hurting so badly. It's a vicious cycle in my heart. The worst part to me is that soon I will forget to think about them and their families every day, and the recovery for the families is so much harder. So much longer. Military wives deserve the utmost respect.

My happy places I go to in times like these are blogs, magazines, Everybody Loves Raymond {seriously increases my mood by 99%} and spending time with Amelia & Adam. I wonder what other people do to distract their minds from worry, fears, anxiety?

My favorite happy place:

I made these chocolate chip cookie-oreo-brownies yesterday. You know, since it was Fat Tuesday. No, I'm not giving up chocolate, cookies, sugar, sweets, etc. for Lent. I would just be setting myself up for failure. I'm actually going to be giving up any kind of automatic settings on my camera. Straight manual shooting. No Av, no Tv. Forcing myself to learn all that I can about my camera. I can do this{?}.

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo,

Cadence