Singing in the Rain

Moving in can be pretty all consuming. I don't think it's any secret that I kinda' love decorating and making things cozy. Thanks to a visit from my sweet Momma this week we got a lot accomplished (tour of our new digs soon). But while we were busy working away we had a sudden little shower. My sweet little munchkin' was begging to play in the rain. Truth be told it was the last thing I wanted to make time for, but I'm beginning to learn the moments I resist are sometimes the sweetest.


I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain...



What a glorious feelin' I'm happy again...



I've a smile on my face...



I walk down the lane...


Just singin' in the rain...

DITY~It's a four letter word.

DITY aka "Do it YOURSELF" is a fairly common term in the military (and maybe other places too for all I know).

It's tossed around anytime anyone makes a move because you usually have two options:

1. Let the military do everything for you (as in pack your boxes, load your stuff, and haul it wherever you're going).

2. DITY (you do all of the above yourself). We are very much of an option 1 kind of family and haven't done much of the "moving" in quite some time.

Well, this past weekend all that changed. After spending some time regretting our original choice of home we decided to do something about it and made a move across town. We knew it might be difficult, stressful, and a lot of work...but we also knew we'd be happier on the flip side. As we dove in Nate and I made a pact, we'd do our best to stay positive and take things one step at a time.

I can honestly say the whole thing has gone better than I might have hoped and we are already feeling pretty in love with our new digs (pics to come). But for now I leave you with our DITY selves...Nate with the Uhaul which ironically had Augusta on it (one of his life goals is to attend The Masters)...

And me and my little moving buddy...

Carter was missed during the move but arrived home yesterdayday to a newly decorated room and lots of love from all of us. Thanks again Roxi and Pops for making her week so special. More to come from our new Home Sweet Home.

This...

Since we moved in there has been this...

And who could forget this...

And almost every night there is also a whole bunch of this...

Which means we are awake when the clock says this...

Which is really not great when you have this...

So........this weekend..........we are doing this..........

Well, Nate, Emme and I are, Carter is spending some time doing this (thanks mom you really are the best)...


Which leaves me feeling exactly like this...

We Call Her Flipper

I posted a few weeks ago about the swimming journey we started with Carter this Summer. Our hope was that by the end of her ISR lessons she would be confident, enjoy the water, and be able to assist herself in case of any sort of unexpected fall into the water. I'm happy to report that after four weeks of intense days of swimming she passed with flying colors. Here she is getting ready to hit the pool...

Heading for the wall...

Swim, swim, swim...



Then flip to your back and float for a little air and a rest...



Finally reach the goal of the wall...




All thanks to a wonderful teacher...




Showing off her trophy to her little cheerleader...




A kiss to say thank you for all the encouragement (aka smiles)...




Such an accomplishment Carter...




We are so proud of you!!

6 Months of Emme Love

I could start off by typing something like, "Wow, I can't believe how fast the first six months have gone!" But that would be a lie. One thing I knew going into this a second time is that the first year of life is nothing short of amazing. Amazing in that you start with a tiny bundle and end with a vivacious baby. We are half way there sweet Emme. And although I knew you would change and grow quickly, it is still a little eye opening to know you have gone from this...

to this in your first six months of life...

You are a beautiful soul...

You have added what we never knew we were missing...

Each of us love you deeply and fully...

We are crazy about you little Emme...

Speaking of loving you there is an amazing thing going on between you and Carter. It is sweet and not so rare...it is the love that passes between two sisters...

And, while I must admit, I had a few reservations about what life with a new baby would be like I must say you have laid them all to rest. Wherever we go you are simply "with us". Content to just be right there in the moment. Rarely do you fuss (except when you are hungry, we all know you love to eat!)...

Lately you have found your voice. I can't help but call you squeaker (although it's more like squawker) all day long you are exercising those lungs, girlfriend you've got some pipes...

Sweet little girl, six months ago love arrived in this house in full force. We have each been overcome by you and are crazy about you in our own ways. We are more of a family because of you and cannot wait to watch you journey through the rest of your first year of life...

We're just a little in love.

I almost forgot...The Fourth of July!!

Posting about our Fourth of July celebrations just slipped right through my fingers, in fact it was almost forgotten. We can't have that now can we??

We had company for the Fourth of July. It was actually a bit of an extension on our Gulf Coast vacation. Perfect because even though the vacation was technically over it didn't really feel over. Clint and Jenny joined us for the weekend and that was the icing on the cake (or maybe meringue on the pie is more appropriate since Jenny made one tasty Lemon Meringue Pie!)

We squeezed in a few activities like cookie baking...

red, white and blue sprinkles for the occasion...

card playing...

and cowboy boot wearing...

We grilled, we chilled, Emme practiced sitting up (she's becoming quite the little pro)...

while Carter pretended to be a kitten...

photo courtesy of Aunt Jenny

and also enjoyed a bike ride with her Uncle...

they were fulfilling a need for speed...

Uncle's are good for things like that...

it was a great weekend, one of my favorite kinds, spent with family and friends. They don't get much better.

Bedbugs

You know it's going to be a great day when the first thing you see in the morning is this...

It has become a bit of a race between Carter and I to see who can get to Emme first in the morning...

today she won...

and they shared some books to start the day...

What a wonderful thing to have a big sister...

My sweet little bedbugs...

both had a case of bedhead...

Some more major than others...

Here's wishing you a sunshine day...