Mom Cave

I think that we as a nations should move away from the "Man Cave" that Realtors are so excited to point out in showing homes. I think we should replace with a "Mom Cave."  No laundry allowed. No dirty dishes allowed. No diapers and no to do lists. I would have books, fresh flowers, and a comfy lounge chair with a super soft throw.

* photo courtesy of Home Goods website

New Driving Law

This morning on the way to work I witnessed a woman plucking hairs out of her chin. I came up with these conclusions.

1. She must be really busy if she has to do that in her car
2. She has no care to what other drivers on the road think of her
3. Maybe we need a new law about personal grooming while driving our vehicles. Just last year I saw a man trimming his nose hairs while driving (not stopped at a light or in traffic, but on the interstate going about 75 miles an hour)

Anyway, it provided some entertainment on my 45 minute drive to work!

More of this :

More of: sitting around reading a book with my hair in rollers, my mom and sister close by, La La  making Molly laugh, cool mountain air, not a schedule to follow, dinners prepared by my mom, lazy mornings, my dad in the background with his one "liners", my husband off from work...ahh a girl can dream cant' she?

P.s. I love that in this picture every one's focus is on Molly. My sister is cradling her in her arms, my mom is talking to her from above and I am watching her smile and laugh.

A poem while my daughter sleeps

There once was a family of three

They lived in a small house you see,

One day the mom thought to herself my house is a mess

and I'm full of stress when will it ever

get clean?

The baby cried for a nap

and so together they sat on the couch

at a quarter to three.

As the baby closed her eyes and let out a sigh

the mom realized

how she loved her family of three.

She couldn't care less that her house

was a mess

or all of the stress

for she was as happy as can

be!

Let's decorate Molly

To celebrate Easter

And...to celebrate Spring!

Losing myself

I have always always loved to read. I can remember being in elementary school and reading books that for middle school students. I can remember sitting at the dinner table and reading instead of having a conversation with my family. I can remember books being my playground and sometimes even my friends.

Somewhere along the way I forgot that I loved to read. I forgot how I enjoyed curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee and losing myself in the story. The last time I really remember doing that was my junior year in college. I can remember the book, "The Shofar Blew" and how when I read that book my mind was challenged, my thoughts wandered and my heart was moved.

This month I have re-discovered this great love. I have read 8 books this past month. Some easy reads some harder. Some took a couple of days some took a day. I have read about a young black boy growing up in a time that was filled with hate because of his skin color, I have read about a young girls struggle with war in Iraq and what it was like to fall asleep to missiles in the air. I read about a girls life in Cuba before Castro invaded and I read about a man who loved the Lord and came up with the best chicken sand which this side of the USA. I read about women who fought and fight daily for freedom in Afghanistan and endure enormous amounts of pain through unnecessary beatings and torture. I read about a dead girl who watched her family fall apart from heaven and about a young boy who was weak in courage and let a friend succumb to the evil nature of bullying.

It has been SO addicting. I have learned so so so much about different countries and cultures and my mind just is hungry for more. I am so thankful that I was taught how to read, that my life was valued enough in this country so that sending me to school wasn't even a question. I am so thankful for teachers who cared and encouraged this gift in me.

Itty Bitty's

So on Good Friday I got the call that my position at my current school was available for the next year. I was surprised how "ok"  I was with this information.

I think I was "ok" because I still had a job just not at my current location. I was supposed to find out Monday where my new school would be.

Monday came and I drove to school with the anxiousness of Christmas morning as a child. I was so curious to see what I got but at the same time worried I would not be happy with this change. Monday the hours ticked by with no news. I left work, stopped by the local Publix to pick up ingredients for a healthy dinner and went home.

Later that night I checked my email certain it would be empty. It was not. I looked at Allen and told him I was nervous, that I didn't want to be placed far away or in a subject that I was not familair with. He encouraged me and I clicked "open."

" You have been reassigned for the 2011-2012 school year at ---------- Primary School"

I burst with happiness! Teeny tiny learners. Little hands and little feet and little desks. I am so very hopeful, happy and excited.

Thanks to everyone who prayed on my behalf for a closer school because it is indeed closer. Thank you for your other prayers as well.

Excited about educating the "itty -bitty's"

New Job

So I found out...and I am excited. More news to come.

Easter in the Mountains

Our trip to the mountains was a success. No tears for tiny ears that wouldn't pop. Molly was true to herself and a dreamboat the entire time. Cute when she was awake and Cute when she was asleep. I loved every second I spent with my husband and my family.

Pictures to come soon, I hope your Easter holiday was spent with the ones you love and love you back!!

He has RISEN!

Happy Easter

I hope this holiday is more than chocolate bunnies and pastel colored clothes. For you, for me and for my family.

XOXO
whitney

A good read

I just read the most amazing book. "The Kite Runner" written by Khaled Hosseini is one of the best books I have ever read. Ever. I accidently stummbled across it and thought it might kill sometime at the lunch table and ended up finishing it in two days because I couldn't put it down.

Here is some more info on Khaled Hosseini he is super interesting and I am so thankful that I can hear his story and learn so very much about the other side of the world.

In other news, this time tomorrow I will be (along with Allen) introducing Molly to my favorite place this side of the world...Highlands, North Carolina!

Advice for future parents:

Do not ever go to the ER unless it is absolutly necessary. If an on call nurse tells you that you need to then ask better questions.

Sarah Grace

Sarah Grace is a good friend of mine. The Lord introduced us to one another in college when we were roommates across the hall. I will never forget the life I had in Keller Dorm. God blessed me abundantly in so many ways but mostly in the friendships that I made that year.

Sarah Grace lived across the hall and was always laughing. Some of my first impressions of her were that she was happy, friendly and athletic. I remember hanging out with her some after classes and one day she made me a mixed cd. On the cd she wrote "To Whit from Say" and I thought that because she wrote her name as "Say" that she wanted to be my friend. Ha Ha. Since then we have continued to stay involved in each others life and I am so so grateful. She gives the best hugs and has the best laugh.

Here are a few things that make Sarah Grace happy:
1. climbing in bed at night

2. Mac's laugh
3. hugs from Patrick
4. visiting my parents
5. chocolate
6. seeing God work in people
7. the smell of a freshly bathed baby
8. watching movies
9. good music
10. the ocean
11. giving gifts
12. laughing with friends

Beach Trip Part II

The rest of our time at the beach was so blessed.  Some of my mom's friends threw Molly her first party and she was awesome. It was at the peak of her nap time and feeding time and yet she still smiled and laughed at all that came to see her.  I also got to see some of my mom's friends who have become woman that I love dearly and I was so happy in my heart to share Molly with them. We ate tiny sandwiches and strawberries, mini pecan pies and brie with brown sugar and pecans. Lovey ( my mom, molly's grandmother) bought Molly her first party dress, a soft pink smocked dress with dancing lambs across the collar. I got to talk to a good friend who has a baby girl 2 months younger than Molly and that did this mommy's heart some good. Many friends blessed us + Molly with some beautiful things for her. Books that will teach her how to read and toys that will keep her entertained. Night lights to guide our way around her room in the dark and beautiful frames to capture memories.

Later that evening we drove over to Sea Island and showed Molly one of God's greatest creations, the beach! It was sunset and beautiful. We returned another day to put her feet in the warm sand and the cool ocean water. A and I had so much fun watching her face as she experienced the breeze and the sand between her toes. I got some amazing photos and I can't wait to tell Molly of this experience when she is old enough to remember.

Our last night was the best night of all. We were given a beautiful home to stay in right on the beach for free. We sat out on the patio and watched the sunset. We ate leftovers from the party and drank some wine. As it grew dark we gathered inside we ordered pizza and watched an old movie. We laughed and talked and fell asleep in a huge king size bed. It was a gift to us to end our vacation this way.

We take another trip down in June and are staying at a beach house with my family. Its funny that we will be staying at a house that is not our own but I cannot wait. We will wake up with the sun and go to bed with the sun. I can't wait to enjoy Molly more down at the beach!

Beeeee Happy!!

Here are 12 things that make me HAPPY:

1. new lip gloss
2. leg warmers on my baby girl
3. discovering new creative blogs
4. north carolina
5. cupcakes
6. postcards
7. candelight
8. peonys, preferably pink
8. the smell of Mr. Bubble bubble bath
9. glitter
10. molly's bathtime
11. the feeling after you wash your face
12. the weekends

Beach Trip Part I

If I had to describe our first family vacation in three words I think I would use: unorganized, amazing, successful!

We left in the later afternoon on Tuesday and arrived around midnight. We stopped and had a nice country dinner at Cracker Barrel and also stopped to have Allen's tires checked. Those two stops really held us up and made our 5 hour trip much much longer. Molly did great! She took a bottle at dinner and then again when we made it to St. Simon's. Mom and Dad were happily awaiting us and it was so wonderful to see smiling faces after a long drive.

The next few days included Allen sleeping in, Mom making breakfast, everyone playing with Molly in the morning and enjoying many cups of coffee. We met family members for lunch at some of our favorite places and talked with friends over coffee. We went down to the village and walked Molly around the pier in the afternoon and hung out at home.

I think the main reason that I chose the word "unorganized" to describe our vacation was because Allen and I had very different expectations of what this time would look like. Next time we make a big trip we will definitely try to talk about that before hand so everyone feels like they got to do what they wanted and no one feels as if time was wasted.

Thursday night Allen went on our first "real" date since having Molly, meaning Molly was not with us. It felt kinda like we were back in high school though because my mom dropped us off and picked us back up. We enjoyed a fun dinner at a local sushi spot and then walked over to Allen's favorite coffee shop. We were able to make it back home in time for Molly's bathtime routine. It was a great night with my husband and my daughter!

Before the beach

The day we left for our first ever beach trip with Miss Molly was a day mixed with sadness and fear.

The night before we left a big strom blew through the southeast.  We heard the wind and the rain all night long and could see the lightening outside our bedroom window. The next morning was my offical first day of spring break so I happily stayed in my pj's whle Allen got ready for work and I fed Molly.  He left earlier than usual to take his car in to the shop before we left for our big trip.  I was at home doing things around the house when our power flickerd on and off. I thought that was unusual but chalked it up to the storm and didn't think much about it when it came back on. I heard sirens from outside but they sounded pretty far away so I thought about it for a mintue and then went back to playing with Molly.

About an hour later Allen called asking if I was okay because he had heard that a tree fell down in our neighborhood and he didn't know where.  I was fine and told him I hadn't heard anything.  Molly and I went on about our day playing and laughing and taking pictures together. 

I had to pick up Allen from work to go get his car and that's when he told me that someone had been killed by the tree that fell. Apparently a young man was driving out of the neighborhood when it happened and the tree fell on top of his car. For whatever reason that moment that Allen told me I was just deeply saddened. It really bothered me the rest of our visit and on the way home I drove around looking for the fallen tree.

It wasn't very hard to find since it was at the entrance of our street and what I saw took my breath away.  The tree must have been about 100 years old because of its massive size. As I drove by the ambulance drove away and it broke my heart that someones life had been taken. Later on Molly and I walked down the street and watched in dismay as a family member stood there crying.

I realized in that moment how our life really isn't our own. The tradegy that struck that family could have been my family. It could have been Allen on his way to the body shop. It could have been me if I wasn't on spring break. Every morning at 8am I leave our neighborhood on that exact same street. It could have been the bus that picks up the children in the neighborhood every morning, but it was srping break. Thankfully for me it wasn't my husband or my child or even my own life that was lost that day. Its really scary to think about and as another storm blew through last night it is all I could think about as I tried to fall asleep.

I hope that I can live in the moments today and not take it for granted. Even when I feel frustration with myself or others, or when I am too tired to give my family my love and attention at night. I have never been promised more than this minute and I know that I don't live like that. I waste so much time focusing my energy and love on things that don't matter. I don't want to be like that anymore.

Sneak Peak

I replaced the our regular photo at the top of the blog with a sneak peak of our spring break vacation with Molly. I cannot wait to share more!

Does anyone know how to shrink the photos?

only a few more days

Until we embark on our first family vacation with a baby. WE have 5 days planned for the beach and I cannot wait....

I feel that we might need a u-haul! Already I am planning on packing : bottles, diapers, wipes, diaper bag, bottle sterilizer, stroller, car seat, clothes for molly, burp cloths, baby shampoo, clothes for me and Allen, sunscreen, formula, pacis, water for her bottle  - - plus you know a dog.

So excited though!