Two

Birthdays are good for lots of things.  Joy, Happiness, Celebration and (maybe one of my favorites as a mom) reflection.  It's so easy as I move from day to day, week to week, month to month, etc. to miss the subtle changes that eventually result in tiny babies...

Who are not so tiny anymore...

My dear sweet Emerson is two today.  Seven hundred and thirty beautiful days old.  On this particular day I'm taking a moment to think back to the very first one.  She was such a little bundle...

Just perfect for holding...

New found roles of "big" and "little" sister came naturally to my girls.  Carter had been waiting quite a while for this moment...

So had I...

I was so grateful for you sweet girl.  For the opportunity to get to be your Mama.  Your smile could have melted my heart...

No matter how hard I try to catch you growing the days seem to fly by...

And suddenly here we are another year gone by...

Ready to take on being two...

With a personality that is as bright as the sunshine...

You add so much to our home...

To our family...

Today we celebrate you...

Who you are...

and who you will become...

I know the future will hold years of growing and changing...

But before you get even another day older I want to share a few of my favorite things about you right this minute...

The way you run. The way you smile. The way you say, "sissy". The way you look when you wake up. The way you put your hand on my cheek and pat it. The way you love to play outside. The way you talk about yourself in the third person. The way you love your daddy. The way you say, "it's not working!" The way you can't get enough fruit snacks. The way you console your baby doll. The way you shake your bootie. The way you say, "hold you." The way you sing along to Jesus Loves Me and The Itsy Bitsy Spider. The way you fold your hands to pray at dinner. The way you wave to everyone we pass at the grocery store. The way you say,            "brush-a teeth". The way you love hats. The way you run and give Carter a hug when she gets up in the morning. The way you giggle. They way you blow kisses. The way you say, "door open."  Okay, so I just love the way you talk, period. The way your cheeks are 

the most kissable thing I've ever seen. 

The way you have made our family fall 

head over heels in love with you.

Happy Birthday precious Emerson!
If you would like to see the book I created for Emerson's second year feel free to click on the cover...

Drumroll please....

Finally.  F-I-N-A-L-L-Y!!  Have you ever had a secret?  Like a good one.  Like one you really can't tell?  I have.


I know I left y'all hanging after my last post.  Let me start by clarifying a few things.  First of all my BIG news has nothing to do with one of these...

(Although they're pretty darn cute)...

We're also not getting one of these...

Or putting one of these in our yard...

It's nothing you'd guess (not in a million years).












So here goes.












I'm sure most of you have heard of the show Survivor (I mean unless you live under a rock or something).  Well, I've been a fan for as long as I can remember.  I've never missed a season  (except for the very first one which thankfully means I don't have visions of Richard Hatch in all his glory seared into my brain).  I got hooked after Season 2 and can remember thinking I would love to be just like Elisabeth Filarski.  I've had quite a few favorite castaways over the years...Stephanie, Boston Rob, and JD just to name a few.  But I'm pretty sure I may have a new all time favorite after this next season airs.  As a matter of fact I can guarantee it (look closely I'm pretty sure one of the cast looks vaguely familiar)...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!  Can you believe it!  I'm not sure when I've been this excited about something!

In just 4 short weeks the world will have a chance to get to know my beautiful sister a little better.  I have no doubt they will see her for the warm, competitive, gorgeous, funny, bad ass that she is (click on this photo to watch her video)...

I'm so proud of her!  I'm also sure I'm driving her crazy by taking her picture (but I keep telling her when we're old and gray she'll be glad I documented things so well).  Kim watching Kim...

And finally getting to tell people where she really disappeared to (on the phone in this pic with Mimi and Papa which was one hilarious conversation)...

Gotta' say that for this stay at home Mama excitement like this doesn't come along very often.  Thanks Kimmi for letting us all be a little part of your adventure.  This is going to be awesome!  

Set your DVR's people (don't worry I'm sure I'll remind you again).  February 15th is going to be added to the "Best Day Ever" list.  Go Salani!!  (Click here to go directly to the Survivor: One World homepage and have fun checking out the cast, photos, videos, etc.)

Gone Country

My parents were in town for a few days this past weekend.  They have a new hobby, thanks to their good buddies Laynce and Leslie, they've taken up two stepping.  It's pretty cute if you ask me.  So since they just so happened to be celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary we all put on our boots and headed to the famous Floore's Country Store...

35 years is definitely a reason to celebrate...

We were all happy to share the occasion with them...

I love my parents and am so thankful for the love that they have poured into my life.  I've never appreciated them more.  I also have to give a little "Happy Birthday" shout out to my lil' brother who was born on their anniversary 27 years ago...

This week I'm enjoying the everyday things that I sometimes overlook like sweet sleeping babies...

And cheerios for breakfast...

Oh and just because I'm about to pop the next time I post I predict I will have some very big news.  BIG, HUGE, I mean REALLY HUGE!!  (Are you curious yet??)  Stay tuned...

A Week of Saturdays

Ahhhhh the dreaded "get back in the routine after the holidays week" is here!  This is a little hard to swallow because we spent the entire week after Christmas treating everyday like it was a Saturday.  There was a lot of playing with new gifts going on (the girls mastering the new wii)...

And plenty of make believe (these little animals were "babies" for the day complete with pacifiers and bottles)...

I love the little glimpses of two girls playing happily together with no fighting or hitting...

Sometimes it really is the little things in life that matter most...

We spent sunny days outside (the weather here has been AMAZING) which meant an unplanned trip to The Kiddie Park was just what the doctor ordered...

Emerson is finally old enough to hop on all the rides.  She is a big fan of the carousel (I couldn't pick a favorite)...

We also took the opportunity to meet Grandad at the park as he was passing through town...

Grandad's are the best swing pushers...

That is until you learn to "swing" yourself...

After weeks like this one where things like routines, laundry, blogs and taking down the Christmas decor are gladly exchanged for happy little girls...

I'm reminded that sometimes we need a little "overdose" in the family fun department...

It does a body good! 

Twenty Twelve

We had visions of spending our New Year's Eve out on the town (what is it about New Year's that brings out the inner party animal in people?).  No big plans developed and so we had elected to save our baby sitting money and spend the evening at home.  


Nate (whose New Year's resolutions include running a half marathon) came in from a jog yesterday afternoon and announced that the girls (that would be Carter, Emme and I) should get ready we were all going to dinner.  Apparently he had decided we should start a new tradition with them of a special New Year's Eve dinner where we would discuss the year ahead and encourage Carter to maybe make a resolution or two...

Can I just say I love him for spur of the moment decisions like this.  The obvious reason is I don't have to cook or come up with dinner.  The more hidden one is I think it reminds me of my childhood.  My dad was really good at making vacations and occasions feel special and I think that my heart remembers those moments well. 


So the girls in our family got just a little more fancy (for the little girls that meant dresses for me it meant simply grabbing a shower because I'd been cleaning house all day).  Then the fab four headed out to dinner...

One thing is for sure the year twenty twelve will be a cuter place with these two munchkins in it...

Nate kept Carter in the dark about his restaurant of choice but as we pulled into the Cheesecake Factory she said, "I KNEW IT!!"  I think she has begun to associate that place with "special occasions" and I love that.  A round of drinks later we were all ready to toast the year ahead...

We had a wonderful dinner.  Just being honest we don't take the girls to "sit down" restaurants too often.  The thought of a long wait for food can be a little intimidating.  We were pleasantly surprised at how well they did and my heart smiled as Emme said thank you every time someone came by our table (whether they were dropping off water, bread or just a little plate of butter) I love that kid.


Life can be full of routine and has plenty of everyday so why not take every opportunity to celebrate...

It was one of the best kick offs to the New Year I've had in quite some time.  Topped off perfectly with a good laugh and a little time spent with two of our favorite people Kim and Bryan.  I think the year ahead will be an unforgettable one.  Welcome 2012!