Celebrating Life!

Well, there are some things about motherhood that I was definitely not prepared for. For starters, how do you keep your car from looking like 1,000 preschoolers threw a SLAMMING party in it every single day of your life? My car is N.A.S.T.Y. No one told me that came with kids. Maybe they did, but they didn't go into the gory details of it, so you future moms out there, prepare your car. It's about to get real.... real bad.

Secondly, will I ever make it through a birthday without crying my eyes out? Surely not. 730 days of life with this perfectly knitted together little girl! Waking her up the other morning flooded me with emotions from the day she was born. The excitement, the total re-definition of love, the fear as we were told she needed to spend some time in the NICU. And today, here she is! Full of energy, ever so sweet, and as darling and anything I've ever seen! She is my heartbeat and I love every square inch of her!

We spent a God ordained Saturday celebrating her! It was supposed to rain all day, and that morning the forecast was looking mighty iffy. We decided to go for it and it ended up being great! The rain rolled in just as everyone was packing up to leave! I love days like Saturday! No fuss. Family. Oh, the dear, wonderful family. Four generations of family. What a miracle.  Precious friends, cheap pizza and cute cupcakes. What could be better?!

How about 1,000 pictures to document our day? Yes? Ok! Here you go!!

 Our very best friend from school, Knox. Before you get all huffed up, yes, both of London's betrothed's are at this party. Colin and Knox. They are both adorable, so I feel like she should enjoy BOTH of their company for as long as she can!! Added bonus, I adore both of their mothers! 

 Is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen? 

 Knox's sweet momma Jill, Daddy Kurt, and baby brother Lucas. We love them!

 Yes, future moms. This will be you one day too. Geek. 

 Darling Colin. Oh my, those eyes. 

 I will say it. My Dad ROCKED this look. 

 Cutest picture in the whole world.... Oh he is so precious!

 Opening our new princess outfit.... 

 And immediately undressing...

 Then rocking the runway.. {video}

 I love it!!

 One of my new all time favorite photos!

 Knox's birthday card!! :)

 Look at Momma Lizzy in the back ground!! Hahaha! She's so funny! No telling what she's instructing her on here!!

Whew!! There it all is! It was a MARVELOUS day! Don't you agree? Thank you to everyone who was a part of this amazing day! And thank you more for pouring your sweet selves into my child. She is so rich because of it! 

Tooter Rooter {Video}

London has a nickname when she lets a frog croak in her britches... Tooter Rooter. One unusually noisy night, we got on a kick saying it over and over. Here she is! Darling child!

What's been happening

Today was London's 2nd birthday party. I just filed all of the pictures we have from our camera and it's an OUTRAGEOUS amount of photos! Mom still has to send me hers, so get prepared! Pictures galore on the way! In the meantime, here are a bunch of photos from our day to day operations here!

Darling on her way home from church last Sunday. Rocking this look, if I may say so myself!!

 Rollin' with Papa!

 Our Valentine's delicious dinner!! Ummmmm mmmmmm!

 This is my 'makes my heart happy' photo of the moment! So cute, right?!?

I tried to rotate this, but it's not working! Sweetest card and chocolates from my wonderful husband to his girls! We are so lucky to have such a sweet man!! 

 London's class put on a daycare picnic. She was having a really hard day. The hardest we've ever had. This was her sentiment the entire party. It was so pitiful. Needless to say, I brought her right home to take a good long nap. :( 

 London's precious best friend, Knox! He is the sweetest! His family is adorable and we have loved getting to know them! The teachers always laugh that London and Knox are INSEPARABLE every day at school! He is the happiest child and is always thrilled to see Lu lu! He's a perfect boyfriend in the making!

 My sweet girls having a blast at Booper and Andaddy's house!

 Playing so hard!

 Powers got switched to a new work shift last week which has him working evenings. London is already asleep when he gets home so she doesn't get to see him as much during the weeks. He is off on the weekends and this little nugget was stuck like glue to her daddy all weekend! It was the sweetest thing!

 No idea why these aren't rotating!! Here is Renny's picture in the Jackson paper for winning her schools spelling bee!! How exciting!! :)

current favs

2 of my current favorite things:

most every night we walk outside to say good night to the moon and stars. London knows the routine but I love how she does it:
L: "Good night, moon. Good night, stars. Good nite, udder stars."

Whenever she is playing and is 'leaving you' (meaning walking out of sight), she'll say 'Bye Bye. See ya later. Have fun!!"

Cute thing!

Another Rhea on the Road

I sit here looking at this white screen and I'm speechless. Am I excited? Yes!! I am so proud and excited for her! Am I scared? Even more so! Birmingham isn't like learning to drive in Columbus. It's busy..... really busy. The roads run 4 lanes wide. No one uses their blinker. Do I feel called to just pray constantly over her. You bet. Lord Jesus, please keep her safe. Please keep her eyes on the road. Please let her be mindful of what is happening around her. Please let her drive the exact opposite of me. Please please please protect her.

My sweet baby girl niece got her driver's permit today. She is thrilled. I have mixed emotions. Isn't she still just a baby? How did she grow up so fast? Where is my little toddler that couldn't say her 'R's'? Oh, the bittersweet feeling of watching these little one's grow up....

Instead of worrying over her, I will be thankful that she is a well rounded, sweet heart of a child that has showered us with blessings these past 15 years. She is my heart and good Lord, I am thankful for her!

I've posted on here before that my mom gave me a daily flip calendar. Today's entry: 

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile."

                                                    Mother Teresa

Thinking on that today. Thinking of printing it and framing it in my baby girls room. Thank you, Momma, for these beautiful reminders to be a loving person. 

Love you all!

The Greatest Show on Earth!

I keep thinking back on the circus. Keep thinking, "i'll never forget that night.' I watched flesh of my flesh filled with wonder and excitement. I observed her experience something entirely new. An unknown world made known. I would have been fine if I never saw a second of the actual circus. My life was made full by watching her sweet face... the aww... the excitement... the squeals... the dancing. And boy was there ever dancing. For 2.5 hours straight, my baby girl danced. And not too and fro dancing but full body, with everything she had dancing! A million thank you's couldn't adequately thank our precious neighbors. They made a life long memory for us. As I think back, I can't help to thank God for his goodness. He continues to shower us with relationships that are life giving and selfless. The people we've met here have blown us away. This city is full of good folk.

Now back to the circus...

There was curiosity...

and lots of a baby girl that's all grown up :(

even more dancing...

anticipation.... 

wonder...

and astonishment!

There was love as we watching this amazing being that we created...

there was PRODUCTION!!! 

And ladies who have clearly lost their minds...

and ANIMALS!!! oh the amazing animals!

Our favorite parts were the elephants and lions. I think elephants scored #1 though, because she's still talking about them! I am so thankful for this night! What fun! What memories! It was wonderful!

Sloths

Okay, okay, pictures from the Circus are coming... I PROMISE!! I'm actually downloading pictures now. In the meantime, you have to watch this video...

This is an actress, Kristen Bell, who is darling. She has such a cute sense of humor and seems so down to earth! I love all her movies! She is engaged to Dax Shepherd, an actor who is HILARIOUS!! Background, she loves sloths.. the animal... as in an unnatural adoration for them. Here's her interview with Ellen last week. I was crying laughing through this!!



Isn't she adorable? You love her too now, right? I KNOW!!!