Letter to Me.

What a gift.

A trip (alone) with Philip to see Brad Paisley in Nashville. I've said this once but I will say it again... there is something so entirely special (and necessary) about mini-vacations with the one you love. It's not that we don't have our time together after the little one is asleep, but there is something refreshing about thirty-six hours alone (not in pj's, not cuddling on the couch... although I do love that, too). It just awakens you.

Hello, Nashville. And yes, I was the tourist that toted my cowgirl hat along.... because give me a chance to wear that and hell yes, I'm going to take it.



If you have a free weekend, I strongly suggest a trip to Nashville. The food is excellent, the live music and atmosphere is unlike anywhere else, and the big performances? Well, I'd be lying if I told you I didn't develop an even bigger crush on my friend Brad Paisley. And I couldn't help but be more than touched by one of my favorite songs, "Letter to Me."

(Yes, I occasionally let Philip turn the camera on me.)


If I could write a letter to me
And send it back in time to myself at 17....
And you got so much going for you going right
But I know at seventeen it’s hard to see past Friday night....

Eleven years ago, I did think I was living the best years of my life... and how could I not?

We had absolutely no cares in the world.... but ourselves. I was convinced I was going to marry my high school boyfriend....



....I thought my friends and I were the coolest (most invincible) people in the entire world. And if I couldn't see them for a night (one night), I thought the world was coming to an end. I would yell. Slam doors (my parents loved that one). And put up the biggest stinkin' fight. Would I win?

Absolutely not. And I would be devastated. Devastated thinking that I was missing the biggest, most important event of my life.



....And my family? I will say that even in my high school years, I still loved hanging out with my family. Would I choose them on a Friday or Saturday night over a big bash (or even a mini get- together)?

Not if I had the choice.

And that's the thing. You just don't see life that clearly as a seventeen year old.



You’ve got so much up ahead
You’ll make new friends
You should see your kids and wife
And I’d end by saying have no fear
These are nowhere near the best years of your life....

Oh, how little did I know back then...

If I could write a letter to me.....

* I would tell myself that there is no happiness that can compare to seeing your own little one, to watching him grow up and become a talking toddler. (And also think it is the sweetest thing in the world watching him cuddle with a baby doll.)

*....that you will never laugh harder than when you watch your child take his baby doll for a trampoline ride and you wonder whether he will do this with future brother and sisters.









* ... that you will love seeing your children with your own parents. And that you will wonder if you will be calling them for advice in fifteen years when your own child is throwing a fit (maybe slamming doors) about not being able to go out on that friday night.





*.... that those big moments in high school... a first kiss, a spring dance, a rockin' party.... while fun, will never ever compare to the moments you experience when you have a family.





*.... that it's okay to get a B on a test; that you might not marry your true love in high school; that this is just one phase of your life.



Would I have listened back then? Probably not.



I really did get upset if I didn't get A's and I did think my life might end if I couldn't go out for one night. And in the end, after the graduation, the college years, and those first years in the real world, did it all matter?



Not in the big scheme of things. I'm a big believer that we are defined by the moments in our life and yes, those moments certainly do include your high school years. Yet while I received the best education, had the greatest batch of friends, laughed, loved, and shed a handful of tears when things didn't go my way, it was just a moment in time.



And the moments that really matter? Well, my friend, I'm living them....



I wish you wouldn’t worry, let it be
I’d say have a little faith and you’ll see....

In fact, these are the best moments in my life.

(see the song live here.)

Welcome, Spring?

I'd be lying if I told you I want to embrace all these endless days of wintry weather. In reality, we are done with it. We're ready to shove the winter coats in our closets, pack up the hats and mittens, and be done with sweaters and boots. I'm ready to run around in sundresses and flip-flops (although my lack of tending to a recent pedicure may speak differently), take the little one outdoors and play until the very last slimmer of sun is present, and have barbeques on our porch with friends and family. Unfortunately, March and St. Louis aren't quite there yet. So until we welcome spring officially, we're just sticking with what we do....

Like a very big boy two year old check-up.... where we upgraded from laying on the mat to being measured and sitting on the scale to be weighed.

Little man can do it himself now.





And since we can't go outdoors currently, we are awakening his inner artist. Welcome, momma's very own birthday present... a complete stage to pull out some big ol' creativity.





And if this means slapping some paint on his hands to finger paint, well my goodness, we allow that.



You'll notice one very grown up little one has become quite the left-handed kid.... painting, eating, batting, and throwing with his left hand. The only thing he has not mastered is kicking with his left foot as equally as he does with his right (which of course distrurbs his father more than me).



I don't know what it is about watching a kid paint, but it's quite magical.



The colors they choose, the designs they create... I'm just waiting on that perfect one to hang in a big frame in our house.





And finally, when the temperature tips above 50 degrees, you better believe we head outdoors.... flip-flops and all.





We create the images we long to see.... mainly sunshines and rainbows.



And Little Man just soaks it all in.... fighting me when I tell him our toes are getting cold and it's time to head in, begging for just "one more" minute.



And who I am to say no to that?





Yes, we are quite confident that spring is coming. The grass is starting to turn shades of green and blue skies and sunshine are soon to make a comeback.



Things are (so very) good.



Just how good? Well.... you'll have to just wait and see... but some little two-year-old is quite excited about it.



Happy Wednesday to you!

Baby Turns Two.

It was the most perfect day on this nineteenth day of february.

A date that only two years ago, after nineteen hours, we welcomed into the world the most gorgeous child in the world. And I suppose that is the way that most parent's stories start.

As they should.

Because little did we know just how lucky we were to welcome this little one into our lives.

I've always known life to be grand... to be filled with crazy special moments... but I never knew just how spectacular life was going to be with a child.

And on this second birthday celebration, Jacob received his very first pair of soccer shoes from his dad.




The perfect gift for his big day.



His second birthday bash.



The stage had been set for quite a few weeks... the little details, the big theme.

Dream Big. As all children should. And as parents, isn't our role really to allow these children to dream as big as they want and to inspire them to do whatever in the world they want to do?

Thanks to my momma for decorating all the water bottles.... actually, thanks to my momma for helping me for the entire week leading up to the big day... for making me create a list on paper of what still needed to be done (instead of the list that was continually getting longer in my head) and for making sure everything was even more perfect that I had imagined. People wonder where I get it from.... yep, my own momma.



And if there was one thing I was certain about, on this day the little ones were going to be well fed. And we're not talking whole grains and protein.

For the big day, we let the children eat until their very last sweet tooth is satisfied.











(and thanks to my sister for the unbelievably delicious puppy chow)







It was, as every birthday should be, quite the feast.



My crew. That successfully managed to help me set up the room in rock star time.







And probably my favorite shot of the whole day.... when the little one was ready to blow out his candles, just as he had done so at breakfast and lunch that day. And he did so effortlessly.



And as his momma, I can only pray that all his wishes come true.



Yes, it was a grand celebration. With close friends and our amazing family.



...with balloons and everything sweet.



My own birthday dude had one special day. (And for Jacob's adorable personalized birthday dude shirt, check out the Luna B. Tee's at Crossin My Heart Creations.)





Two years ago, our lives were forever changed. Life was no longer defined by just a "me" and a "you", but by a family. And not only did we learn to appreciate the quiet moments of first smiles, first steps, and first words, but we learn to embrace the crazy busy moments of raising baby number one.

I will forever remember this day (along with that day two years ago) as being one of my most favorite.

And that's really all that needs to be said.