10 years

Where has the time gone?  2002 was already 10 years ago.  Back at a time when Letterman's jackets and class rings were cool and everyone cried in their cap and gown as Vitamin C's Friends Forever graduation song played in the background.

Times have changed, people have changed, friendships have changed, but it is fun to reminisce about what it was like during those simpler times of high school.

Last Friday was Phil's South Adams High School Reunion, Class of 2002.  And although I didn't go to high school with him, it was fun for me to catch a glimpse of his high school days!

Farmer's Market

I'm not super crunchy, but I LOVE the farmer's market.  Not only does it give us something fun to do on Saturday mornings {Emrie wakes up at 6:00 am, so we need some way to kill time}, but it's also fun to see what little treasures we can find and support local businesses as well.

Recently, our favorite little treats have been the flavored honey sticks and fresh peaches.  These flowers made our day too!!!

Bite the Bullet

Remember when you were in Jr. High and on your walk home from school you would stop in CVS and buy a candy bar, a soda and a .99 cent Wet 'n Wild nail polish {okay maybe you didn't do that, but I did}!

Well, back then Wet 'n Wild nail polish chipped off in about 5 hours after application.  So naturally I stopped buying it and {much to my husband's dismay} began buying slightly nicer nail polish like OPI or essie.  Unfortunately, like most things, the nicer it is, the more expensive it is.

So the other day I was at CVS and decided to give Wet 'n Wild a shot again...and you know what...I LOVE IT!!!

Okay, it doesn't have the same topcoat shine quality as a more expensive nail polish, but for $2.99 this stuff is great AND it held up to the test of time.  I have been wearing it for 7 days now, and NO CHIPS...even my 'expensive' nail polish chips after 7 days usually.

To prove my point here is a picture of my nails seven days after application.  Maybe I was on to something back in Jr. High!

The color is aptly named Bite the Bullet!

Spoiled

We have been spoiled by friends in the past three weeks.  So many people have brought us wonderful dinners to the point that I haven't had to make a single meal, not lunch or dinner, since we brought Aven home {and for those of you who know me, you know I HATE cooking, especially lunch, so this is WONDERFUL}.

I can't begin to describe how blessed and loved I have felt every time someone brings a meal. To know the time spent shopping for and making the food, then delivering it to my house is a huge commitment and one I deeply appreciate.  And a huge thank you to my girlfriend Kasie for setting up the meal schedule.  I look forward to being able to return the favor one day.

One of my favorite meals was brought by a sweet friend and combined my love for Italian and Mexican food in one meal.  She got it off Pinterest, I snagged it from her, and now my family will be having it when they come to visit!

The recipe is called Chicken Enchilada Pasta  and you can get it from Pearls, Handcuffs and Happy Hour.

ENJOY!!!

I get to be THE ONE!

Well hello,

Little baby.

Your eyes have never seen the sun

You should know

Little baby

That I am the lucky one

I get to be the one to hold your hand

I get to be the one.

Through birthdays and broken bones

I'll be there to watch you grow

I get to be the one.

Don't feel alone now,

Little baby.

Do you hear me singing you a song

I can't wait to show you

Little baby

How to crawl

How to walk

And how to run

How does someone so small

Hold my heart so tightly

I don't even know you

I love you completely

I get to be the one to hold your hand

I get to be the one.

Through birthdays and broken bones

I'll be there to watch you grow

I get to be the one to hold your hand

I get to be the one.

Through birthdays and broken bones

I'll be there to watch you grow

I get to be the one.

-JJ Heller

Huge thank you to my friend Tarah for photoshoping these beautiful pictures for me!!! Check her out here!

Nine Months in Review

When I was 38 weeks pregnant, I would have BEGGED for the next two weeks to fly by.  I wished I would fall asleep and wake up two weeks later with a baby in my arms. 

Today, Aven is 2 WEEKS OLD and I wonder where the past 14 days went.  I want time to slow down, or rather STOP...literally freeze in this moment.  Aven sleeping in my arms while Emrie is down for a nap.  My life feels full and complete and I could stay here forever.

But alas, time keeps ticking forward, just as it always has and when I look back at the last nine months and the changes that took place, I am reminded of how fast it all goes and I want to savor every moment here and now!

A little photo journey through the last 9 months!

Aven's Aviary {Nursery}

Here is Aven's Nursery. Green, brown, pink birds...An Aviary Haven for our Aven!

Here are some of the personal touches.  I made these canvases for Emrie and just outlined them with pink for Aven.  You can see the tutorial here.

 A canvas I had made from our maternity pictures.

 Puffs with the mobile I had made for Emrie

 Cutest picture frame from Aunt Sus Sus...It has owls and says, "who loves you...I who"

Aven's nursery is pretty much Emrie's old one with some pink additions. Here is a comparison.

When Emrie Meet Aven

The next best thing to seeing my husband with our new daughter, was seeing our first daughter with her new sister!

I was very curious to see how Emrie would react to her new sister.  For a couple of months she had been pointing to my tummy and saying baby or sister {seeester}, but I am not sure she really knew what that meant.

An hour and a half after Aven was born, Nana and Papa brought the proud big sister in to meet her little sister for the first time.  I am not sure if it was seeing me in a hospital bed or if she had just woken up from a nap, but she seemed pretty reserved.  Phil held Aven and sat down in a chair.  He called Emrie over and she slowly and tentatively walked over to him.  She didn't say anything and she was looking back and forth between him and the baby.

Slowly she broke out in a huge grin and said, "HI BABY!"

That was all it took.  She was awestruck from there.  She wanted to kiss the baby and hold her and she was so gentle with her.

When they came back later that night to visit again, the nurse wheeled Aven in from the nursery and Emrie said, "My Baby?" and wanted to hold her.

Our first morning at home as a new family of four I walked into Aven's room to find this!

I could not be happier than when I see my girls together!!!