Happy 1st Birthday Ethan!

My most favorite nephew in the world is 1 today! Happy First Birthday sweet boy! We love you!

Congrats WO-1 Gentry!

There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream.

~Author Unknown

After a grueling 2 1/2 weeks, Bobby is back at home and we couldn't be happier or more proud. He graduated with honors on the commandants list... which he wouldn't tell you... but I DO enjoy bragging about him. It is such an awesome feeling to know how long this has been a dream of his and to realize it is finally a reality!

Do they look excited or what??

My lovely chalk masterpiece...

Daddy's biggest fan club

Little Leilah is 3 months old!

Our sweet little one is 3 months old today. I thought that time flew by with Brody, but I cannot even begin to fathom that Leilah has been blessing our lives for 3 months already. I also cannot imagine our lives anymore without the beauty she has brought to it. She is blossoming more and more everyday into the little lady that I am sure she is destined to become. She is as mighty as she is small (just now starting to wear 0-3 month clothes) and started rolling over from her back to her front. She loves to lay on her belly and hold her head up... especially if she is watching mommy walk around the room. I love it when she lays in my lap and looks up at me with her magical blue eyes and coos... those are the moments that I want to imprint in my mind forever. Bath time still seems to be her favorite and she will just sit in her little tub and watch her feet and hands as the water ricochets around them. The flower on her gym as become one of her closest companions; she loves to smile and coo at it as it grins down at her. Miraculously, she sleeps for 9 hour stretches at night! Amazing, right? The smiles that filled our days are now accompanied by the tiniest twinkle of a giggle. Oh, how she melts my heart!

I hope you enjoy our 3 month photo shoot as much as we enjoyed doing it!

Make a Smilebox postcard

Our lil' Picasso...

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. ~Pablo Picasso




Brody created this brilliant masterpiece... and being the proud mommy I am, I just had to share~ :)

Summer lovin', had me a blast!

When I walked outside this afternoon I was struck by the sudden realization that Summer is over and Fall is upon us! The wind was crisp and the smell of a fireplace burning left me wishing that I had my handsome hunk of a husband to lounge around with in our old sweatshirts. Ahh... I have already been researching Halloween costumes; Bobby wants Brody to be a pirate and I am thrilled to find the perfect dainty girl costume for Leilah's first Halloween. I am contemplating getting out my fall decorations! Premature??? Perhaps... but there is just something about the coziness of fall that is undeniable. However, with the onset of fall comes yet another reminder that our move is just around the corner.

Since I have not been the A+ author of the blogging world recently... I will try to fill you in. The past month has been spent soaking up the sun and memories. We are considering becoming homeless and setting up a tent at the park... seeing as how we have become almost as permanent the slide. Whether it is for play dates, picnics, geo-caching excursion (thanks mom), or just a release from the day... watching Brody play at the park is a constant reminder that our "baby" is in fact a little boy. Sniff sniff. Bobby is gone for 2 1/2 weeks to complete his Warrant Officer Course in Alabama. Last night was the first time that he could call me, and they now are allowed a "7 minute" phone call everyday. Interestingly enough, waiting up for that 7 minute call is how I found time to write this blog! What a win-win situation, right?! The pride I feel for him is indescribable as I watch him literally conquer each step to fulfill his dream of becoming a pilot. Leilah is still my joy; I simply cannot get enough of her. She has the most contagious smile that starts as a sparkle in her eye and lights up her whole face.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Our hearts have grown...

"A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer."
~Author Unknown

Leilah is 2 months old now and everyday is better than the last with her in our lives. She is such a beautiful little thing on the inside and out, and it radiates throughout our home and hearts. At two months she weighs in at a whopping 11.3 pounds (25-50 percentile) and is 21.5 inches long (5-10 percentile)... no worries ... what she lacks in size is made up for by her personality. Her smile has been getting a lot of practice over the past month and is truly my morning sunshine and fills my nighttime dreams. She sleeps for 6 hour stretches at night and is in no way ready to wake up when we hear Brody crack the door and say, "morning." She is a conversationalist now with her sweet little coos (when she can get a word in). Needless to say, we have quite the talkative household now. Brody still thinks that Leilah is the best thing that ever happened to him and truly believes that every facial expression, sound or movement she makes is for his benefit alone. He loves to lie IN her play gym with her and just giggle every time that she bats at the toys. These are the moments that overwhelm my heart in a way that I didn't know was possible. These are truly the days...

Home Sweet Home

As most of you know, we are moving to Fort Rucker, Alabama for Bobby's flight school on November 12th. We are thrilled to experience a new adventure (and a lot of sweet tea)... but sad to leave our friends, family and our house behind. Having our house on the market is a very interesting experience to say the least; random drop ins, lots of cleaning and an array of emotions, ranging from hopeful and anxious to sentimental over a place that was once just a prospective house made into a home... our home. A man that is looking to buy our house wanted us to take pictures to send to his wife in South Carolina, so I made a slide show and thought I would share it with those of you who want to see the place we call home.