A new toy...

We finally did it.  We broke down and bought a REAL camera.  After getting such awful pictures of Emma's first birthday, I pitched a fit and marched all three of us down to Best Buy.  After spending 2 hours chasing Emma around (me = chasing in wedges, non-stop, without a tasty cold beverage to satisfy my pain), Brent finally had enough info to seal the deal.  Of course I had no idea what we were buying and at that point, didn't really care.  All I asked was whether the cute bright green camera bag would fit the camera...so that I at least made some contribution.  Below are a few snapshots from this new toy.....which may take me years to figure out how to use!

Emma was a good sport about posing...especially since she wasn't feeling good all day (can't you tell from the first picture?!?!)  I am so excited to start getting some good shots to print out!

Loving....

Every now and then, I have to throw in a post about my current faves...so here ya go!

I'm not really an "organic" gal, but I love these squeezies for Emma.  They come in great flavors...more than just fruits and veggies, so I know she won't be hungry in 15 minutes.

So in love with this fragrance!  I bought the $24 rollerball from Nordstrom after I fell in love with the free samples they were giving out when it first debuted.  I like to think of it as a cross between Bobbi Brown Beach and gardenia flowers.  If you see me smelling myself, it's because I just can't get enough of this when I'm wearing it!

Healthtex shoes from Walmart for Emma.  She has these and the white sandals...they're comfy, functional, stylish, and only $10.97.

My Kate Spade Stevie diaper bag.  Truth be told, I use this everyday as my purse.  I bought it on ebay (no shame!) because I couldn't find it anywhere online.  I think this style and color is only sold in the Kate Spade outlets, and the ebay seller I bought from had quite a bit of NWT goods from an area in FL where I know there are several outlet malls.  The bag has pockets everywhere....I mean EVERYWHERE!  There are 6 pockets inside, and 2 outside on the sides.  It is perfect for me!  I highly recommend it.

I love my Jack Rogers and Tory Burch Miller sandals, but these are my go-to for comfort.  I have this pair and the dark brown braided ones...the padded footbed is glorious.  I  haven't seen them in any stores, but I know Monkees sometimes has the Bernardo brand.  I always order them from Zappos...another favorite!  

Kenneth Jay Lane gold hoops - brushed gold and bamboo style. I wear one of these almost every single day.  I hear Sheila Fajl makes beautiful pieces too, but KJL is a classic and a bit less expensive.

My friend, Cortney, wore this the whole time at the beach and I kept envying her smell:)  If you like coconuts,  but don't want to smell like a cupcake, this is for you!

Kellyinthecity blog.....I am so envious of these girls who blog for a livin...check her out!

In other news...how awesome was the weather today??????  Loving. it.

Emma and Brent

Click here to view this photo book larger

I did this book for Brent for Father's Day and had a blast doing it!  He loved it...said it was the best present ever.  Success!

Weekend recap

We had Emma's party on Saturday, and boy...we were scrambling.  Brent had taken the day off on Friday to get things done, but in true amateur parent fashion, we still had a lot left on Saturday.  We had no cupcakes, balloons, and the house was still a disaster.  My sweet parents saved us and ran errands, made sure Emma napped, helped clean, etc...  I couldn't have done it without them.  We decided to just do easy and low key with hamburgers and hot dogs, and cupcakes.  I didn't do party favors either (gasp) but hopefully no one cared.  Guess the Pinterest police will come after me afterall:)

Brent and I also get the super-stupid award for the day.  We thought our party started at 1pm....so at 1:45 with no one there yet, I decided to actually check the invitation that I sent out.  Low and behold, it started at 2pm. Geniuses.

I got absolutely NO good pictures of anything that day.  I knew that would happen.  I seriously need to invest in a REAL camera.  The iPhone does ok....and sometimes I am surprised by how awesome the pics are, but normally I am just plain disappointed.  PLEASE, if you have any recommendations for affordable cameras, send them to me!!

Here's a snapshot of our weekend.....

Our evening playtime....the driveway has become a new favorite spot.  I had just received a shipment of hair bows from The Hair Bow Company and had to try out the American flag one while Em had on these purple camo shorts....how festive, right?  Funny aside...when Brent saw the credit card charge at The Hair Bow company, he seriously called and asked me what I had ordered...um...hair bows?! Duh.

Chilling at the party...Emma and Eli get along so well (they are both super laid back), and I chuckle thinking this could be the start of a future romance?!!? 

"Mom, go away.  I'm trying to get my chill on!"

Emma and her favorite sitters....I'm so proud of these 2 girls!

Emma likes cupcakes....but she't really not too fond of people staring at her.  Can't blame her...I'm not either.  Please note my party decor.  Banner and paper balls (is that a real decor term?) from Target.  Brent whipped up the side table the morning of....I'll have to post about it later! 

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Hmmm...not too bad....yummmmm"

Emma and her great grandmother Talley!

Emma really doesn't like crowds.  She doesn't cry, but would rather be with just a few people.  After everyone left, she had a blast playing at the edge of the driveway with mom and dad.  This is her party dress from Haley and the Hound....I tried to match with these sailboat shorts....at least we had a (sort of) theme going on for the day!

Emma is OBSESSED with balls.  She says "ball" constantly...although when she says it, it's more like "baowwllll"...because she has this super cute southern drawl. Love.

Sunday was Father's Day...and I really had some making up to do since last year was such a bust.  Emma was exactly one week old and I was totally a mess during that time, so no one got any gifts or cards or smiles out of me on that day.  Eli's mom and I had gone to Wine and Design Thursday (during the hurricane...with all the traffic lights out).  I am so glad I went, because I almost gave up with everything I went through to get there!  It was harder than it looks, but I am addicted!

"Big Rock"

Not bad for my first time EVER! Brent loved it...thankfully!

 I also made a book for Brent on Shutterfly...I had a hard time uploading it, so it's actually on the next post.  I had a lot of fun doing it, and he LOVED it.  Shutterfly sends out coupons all the time, and I highly recommend their stuff.

I love that Emma is picking her nose..classic.

My favorite guys....and Emma's too:)

Grandpa ALWAYS sits on the ground to play with Emma.....she loves it.

Emma and I can't be more happy to have these two wonderful men in our lives:)

Happy Birthday, Em!

Today was a great day.  I am one blessed woman to have this little girl in my life.  I took the day off to hang out with Emma, and I am so thankful I did.  She slept in until 7:30, woke up smiling, and hasn't stopped since.  We played this morning at home, and then went to the tailors at the mall to drop off her party dress to get shortened.  This girl had a blast dancing in jcpenney - she literally twirled all the way through the store.  It did make getting in and out a challenge, but she was so happy.

We then headed over to Raleigh to have lunch with dad.  She fell asleep within seconds of being in the car, so I took the long way and drove like my grandpa.  After picking up dad and visiting at the pharmacy, we went to Chickfila.  Emma loves some chicken nuggets!

She had another nap on the way home, where grandma was waiting to play!  Brent left work early, and my dad came over.  We had bought some extra BBQ from the weekend (post to come later this week) to eat for this special night.  We ended the night with our first cupcake and very first tricycle!!!    

It was truly a great day, the kind you don't want to end.  Emma was happy and smiling the whole day, but truthfully, she's like that everyday...and for that and her happiness I am so grateful.

Four...

....days to go until Emma is one.  Some moms get super sad around this time and start to miss the "newborn" stages.  I, however, do not.  I have thought A LOT about what I wanted to post in the last few days, and honestly, I think what keeps coming to mind over and over again is how much I have grown in the last year.  Some may prefer to call it "change" but that sounds so negative, right?  Being a parent is easy, it's the selfless part of being a parent that is the hardest part.  I remember in the first few weeks I would sit and cry most afternoons because I was A: lonely; B: sleep deprived; and C: hormonal as all get out.  I kept thinking about all my friends out there having fun and doing things (i.e. not sitting in the house ALL. DAY. LONG.)

Then, somewhere around 2 months, that feeling went away.  I remember vividly one night early in the morning as I was rocking Emma back to sleep...all I could think was "No one else in the whole wide world gets to do this."  Whether it was good or bad, no one else gets to take care of Emma like I do.  When she's upset, she doesn't just reach out for any stranger, she runs to me and wraps her chubby little legs around my waist.  It is the best feeling in the world.  I have always felt blessed to have Emma, but let's be honest - taking care of another human being is hard, and you can't really mess up.  It's not just Brent and I anymore, we have a third member of the family.  So here are my top 5 lessons learned this year....

1.  There are just days, times, moments, etc.. when you just have to let it go.  I loathe chaos and disorganization.  I am a planner, and I like things neat, and my way.  I have had to let that go sometimes this year.  My house will not always be clean, and I may live with chaos, and I am learning that is ok.  It is very hard to do so, but if it means having Emma happy - then I will do it...but not for anyone else, so don't get any ideas.

2. I can't do it all. I try, but fail every time.  Being a working mom is the hardest thing I have ever done.  I know being a stay at home mom is too...but it's a different "hard."  I have had to deal with the tremendous guilt I have leaving Emma some days.  When I come home from "work," I'm still working.  I don't get a lunch break - that's when I run errands.  I have to trust someone else to raise my child during the day - and you have no idea how hard that is. I have no sick/vacation/time off days...I just go unpaid now when Emma can't go to daycare.  I love my job, and I am thankful for my co-workers and the students I have come to love.  But I know that I can't be everything to everyone.  I'm ok with just being "me"....I don't want a promotion, I just want to be able to breathe some days:)

3. I'm still learning....how to parent!  I can't imagine what I would do without social media and blogs.  I have learned so much and received so much support from friends on here.  It's funny - I hardly ever see some of you in person, but feel like "old pals" on the internet!  My goal is to make an effort to see some of you more - for reals.  The comments on facebook and here have meant so much to me.  I blog for me, mostly, so that I have a sense of producing something I am proud of, and also to document our family life.  But it's nice to be acknowledged by others, to have my feelings validated, and to be able to support others who may read this and feel encouraged.

4. Babies don't come with guarantees...so don't plan like they will!  I try and plan as much as anyone would, but there's no boxing in a child.  Life just has to fly by the seat of the pants sometimes.  Things come up - and you have to go with the flow.  I learn this every 4 months when Emma gets a fever and I have to drop everything at work to stay at home with her.  You never know what an outing will turn into...a chase around the shoe department at Nordstrom, or a tantrum at Walmart because she can't hold the giant beach ball while shopping with mom.  It's just God's way of teaching me to love the unexpected.

5. I am stronger than I think.  I wouldn't say I have confidence issues, but I had always worried about myself and being a good parent.  I was never a "baby person" - you know...the type that loves kids and babies and always wants to babysit and hold them and coo over them....NOT. ME.  So I was a bit worried about this whole parenting thing.  I wouldn't consider myself selfish either, but I had been accustomed to a way of life for quite some time now, and it's all changed.  I always knew Brent would be awesome - he's so even keeled, supportive, caring.  I'm thankful he's not the kind of husband that doesn't know how to do laundry (or refuses to), or spends more time with his friends than with his family (sorry girls if this describes your man!).  So, I'm not surprised that he is a wonderful father.  I knew early on while being pregnant that this was God's lesson for me in learning how to love others and be selfless.  I love Emma more than anything, and there's nothing I want more than to see her happy, healthy, and loved.  I'm just hoping I can continue to learn how to be a better wife and mom...without too many screw ups!

So, here's to motherhood - it's both as easy and as hard as I thought it would be!!!  Thanks everyone for bearing with me these past 12 months (and longer if you count the pregnant months!) and offering support and guidance.  It means more to me than you'll ever know!