Good Stuff

So... There's been a whole lot of nothing going on around here. By nothing I mean house hunting, teething baby, take your child to work day (from which I do NOT have pictures from and this makes me super upset) bonfires and silly games, and some early season beach goin'. Okay I guess there's never nothing going on.

We've been on the house hunt. We would like to buy, and I would really like a place that is just our own. But more about that later.

Emma went to 'Take your child to work day' with Billy on Thursday. This is pretty much the first time ever I didn't wake up and make her a bottle in the morning. I didn't say have to because I now know this is something I enjoy very much. I may not be saying that at the crack of dawn when shes standing in her pack-n-play yelling towards our bed letting me know, shes bored now, seriously come get her so she can climb all over you and give you morning kisses, but I know one day these moments will slowly fade, so I drink them up, no matter how tired I am. So back to their day. Daddy said Emma was a little angel the entire time. Taking a military work day as it comes. She made new friends and let some people hold her. Shes a bit particular. Seeing as everyone was dressed like daddy, probably made the whole thing a lot easier. Like I said I don't have pictures. Billy forgot his camera, and his phone is in 'full' status. I don't want to talk about it. To sum up - they had a great day and I was happy to see them both when they got home. 

Friday was a bea-utiful day. So, during the golden hour before sunset, we set out to have some fun. Such good, yummy faces from her. I could eat her up.

 She was not too sure about the grass... so she kept her hands in this funny position. cutest thing ever.

 If this isn't love, I don't know what is.

 Mommy & Emma photos courtesy of daddy.

I think this is my favorite. And daddy loves it, of course.

We have been itching to go to the beach since abouuuuuut February. Actually - Heather, Emma and I did go and visit Onslow Beach to gather sea shells in the beginning of March, but it was a little frigid. Emma wore a scarf :) So yesterday, we visited Emerald Isle for some much needed sun and sand. It's still early season so along with uncombed beach and double tides, you are allowed to drive on the beach this time of year! (We did not, Billy was upset about it.) Anyway, Emma has been to the beach before but hasn't really experienced it. Today she got to dip in the ocean water, feel the sand between her toes, and watch the doggies on their afternoon walks. She fully enjoyed it. She got some experience for what is to come in the summer months. It was some good stuff.

I must say, Eastern North Carolina is just simply beautiful. The beaches, the people, the water. Its mesmerizing. When we moved to this little corner of the world almost three years ago, I honestly thought all it held was a few marine bases and some abandoned shops on the side of the road which, if you don't look closely will fool you into thinking they are still open... (this embarrassingly happened to me when I first moved down. I pulled into a Subway, made it all the way around the drive through just to find that it was indeed, shut down.) But, it is so much more...

I've been to beaches like this, dunes untouched, no dug up paths, shackled beach houses, or litter surrounding the wooden bridge that divides the road from the water. I've been to Cape Lookout, which, if you didn't know existed... you wouldn't miss it. But now that I do, I dream of it a lot. Camping on the beach, not a soul in sight. (no electricity either, but that is a whole other story.) And I've been to the heart of downtown New Bern. The magic in that place - timeless. The old churches surrounded by low hanging branches and Spanish moss, trinket shops, locals having their afternoon walks by the water, enjoying another day at home. I've gotten off topic here, it's just that there are SO many little spots in this place that have made me fall in love, made me call it home.

Beach

And apparently I'm not able to upload the rest of them... but that's okay, you get the jist. It was a great day. Seeing her excited smile when the wind blew, and hearing her laugh when the water tickled her toes just made me fall in love with her all over again. Yeah man, that's the good stuff. great stuff.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend like us.

-T

I've got the money, honey.

I swear, one day with this girl and your whole outlook on life will change. It is amazing to watch the innocence in her eyes as she begins to discover the world around her. 

This morning, this mama was exceptionally tired. You know those mornings where your eyes will just not open up? And if they do, your head starts pounding and your brain starts saying "close them! ten more minutes!" When little woke me up this morning, I was just not ready to start the day. So she got up in bed with me, and after taking the batteries out of the remote, I handed it to her to play with and shut my eyes for a little bit longer. My sweet angel laid next to me and calmly dissected the buttons on the remote while making mindless chatter with herself. She let me rest. Eventually she found that trying to stick her fingers up my nose was much more interesting... and I got the message. Time to get up.

We are not from Delaware, but last summer while I was pregnant with Emma, we vacationed in Lewes, DE with my whole family. Billy decided he just HAD to have this mug, I use it all the time - it is tall and wide and fits all of my deliciously warm goodness in the morning time. And of course, reminds me of sitting by the Bay, watching the Cape May ferry come and go from the port next to the condo, rubbing my big baby belly awaiting her big debut. Ah yes, delicious. 

Post Nap today: Play with Guppy's 'purse' that she got as a gift for Christmas.

It is naturally filled with a hairbrush, a pretty pink-heart mirror, her car keys, and of course - an assortment of crunchy, baby money.

 ...that she LOVES.

 I heard my phone ringing in the kitchen, went to get it, and come back to Emma backed into the corner playing. I thought she had run away for a second... it takes no time to go to the kitchen and back, that quick little crawler.

And the sweet bliss of baby toes of course... I will never get enough of them. Or her little crooked toe.

She had her first bites of cheese today... I'm not sure she knew exactly what to do with it...

But we figured it out, cheese is a staple in this house.

As well as big baby blues.

I have cherished my own baby book since the day my mother gave it to me. Going through it, seeing my Mother and Father's handwriting, speaking my past back to me. When I was pregnant I searched the Isle's of the bookstore, seeking out one that Emma would be able to cherish. My own baby book is a Beatrix Potter Design. Billy's Aunt Kathy found this beauty for us and I love writing Emma's milestones and memories beneath its covers. As a remake from an original, copyrighted by The Dodge Company in 1904, there are even places that people our day-and-age cannot fill the pages of. It includes poems by famous authors, hand drawn artwork, and the old time wording is to die for. It even includes a page for 'Letters and Telegrams of congratulations'. And since our sweet girl started crawling last week, I found myself thumbing through its pages today loving it even more than the day we got it. And the little love that it's for, of course. 

And with that, I need to ready Emma's things for Take your Child to work day with daddy tomorrow. And tonight is wine night for Heather and I. Much needed.

Goodnight, Friends! God bless the goodness in life.

I've got the power

Challenge accepted! I have challenged myself to take more pictures during our we-like-to-think-not-so-typical days. I love my camera. I love my daughter. And I LOVE staying home with her everyday. Seems not much like a challenge, huh? One thing I do not want to do is to fall into a pit of laziness that I can not climb out of. Don't get me wrong, we get stuff done. (most of the time) The laundry gets hauled out of the hampers in the morning to make it's way to the machines, emerging fresh and new and warm. Breakfast and coffee are made, then cleaned up. Story time is told and the babe takes her naps on time. But, I sometimes feel the monotone of 'just another day' coming upon me, and I absolutely hate that feeling. I am not the type to stick to all of the promises I make to myself. But I am going to try so very hard to stick to this one.

I am one of those people who completely procrastinates on the things that really need to get done, while in the meantime a bunch of somewhat 'meaningless nothings' DO get done, hung, made, and eaten. The 'more important things' can wait-in my mind.

Okay, I'm a procrastinator. 
I'm working on it.

So, if I have something to show for our day, I'll feel much more accomplished. Even if it is just a few photos of my little guppy. 

Bathtime is my 2nd favorite time of the day. Like most mama's, I love routine. I'm good at routine. Last night, we had fun with it.

 I love this photo - with my two favorite people always backing me up

My 3rd favorite time of the day is after naptime. Her baby blue, rejuvenated eyes are ready to take on the rest of the day. 

 Baby toes... enough said.

 We tried on these cute slippers today seeing as it was cold and windy - an oddity for North Carolina this time of year, but we'll take a few more days of crisp air.

 Turns out, It was more fun to play with them and rub the soft fuzziness on her cheeks.

 ...So we settled for these Carter's cuties we got from Gigi. 

This girl loves her daddy.

Oh happy days... Farewell from our sudsy water buddies. 


By the way, my 1st favorite time of day is rocking my sweet little to sleep everynight. One day, I wont be able to do this anymore and while I can, I soak up all of her innocence and joy.

Make the most of your days, friends.

-T