I so needed to read this

I am convicted reading Ashley's post tonight. I, too, want to refocus my priorities and make my friends nearer to the top of the list. As stay-at-home-moms, we often get sucked into the daily grind and have a hard time seeing the light, much less coming up for air on a regular basis. I feel like I'm taking one step forward, about 4 back, and can't catch up or do anything well.

So here's to refocusing this week. Enjoy the post.

http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2012/09/21/the-kind-of-friend-that-makes-the-extra-stop/

Emerson's 5th Birthday... with a guest post thrown in

About a month ago, I gathered some birthday party theme ideas on Pinterest and showed them to Emerson. She was immediately excited when she saw a "Pink Lemonade" theme. So I went with a pink and yellow color palette and did a simple little food table, threw some tissue poms together, and created a scrapbook paper pennant flag. Easy peasy! Her party was a postponed by a day because she had a 36-hour bug all weekend long and couldn't shake her fever.

We decided we're going to have our kids alternate between family and friend birthday parties each year. The thought of having 3 big birthday parties with lots of kids each year makes me a little batty. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed our laid-back little family shindig, and I think the birthday girl did, too!

A Birthday Message From Daddy:

On Wednesday my beautiful firstborn girl turned five. It's hard to believe that five years ago, you came out of Mommy's "tummy" (as we like to tell you) and made me a Daddy. My princess is so precious to me, and I can honestly say that I love you more and more every single day. It's so funny that my firstborn girl is so much like her Daddy. We think alike, we look alike, walk alike, and we even get sores in our mouth alike, too. You like to be in control of everything, down to the most minute detail, and everything fits just right within your plans. I look forward to planning great structured adventures together someday where we can tell Bubba and Hot Sauce and Mommy exactly what to do and when to do it. 'Cause that's how we roll...

You are beautiful and brilliant, and you have the most amazing heart. I love you, sweet girl - forever - and I will do the best I can to be your best King Daddy.

Ballard is coming...

Two purchases from Ballard Designs are on their way to me as I type...

These prints to go above the TV console, flanking the TV.



And these curtains for the dining room. I love the fringe!



I love me some Ballard!

Next up to purchase is a shelf to go between the prints, since they are really tall (thank you, Leslie, for the suggestion). I'm thinking either one of these...





Also a small table to go between my zebra-print brown chairs. Probably gonna get this one from West Elm. I saw it in the Houston West Elm with Lisa, and it was even more gorgeous in person.



I'm (we're) ready to get the living room finished... it's been such a long drawn-out process, and it's TIME. I hope to be posting pictures of the finished project within a month or so.

Things I'm Currently Loving...

1) When I send Emerson and Jax upstairs to get dressed, they come down completely dressed. I never thought the day would come when I had two self-dressers! Sometimes their clothing choices are a little wild, mind you, but I could care less most days.

2) Going back to my favorite barbell strength class at the gym. I took a month off from weight-bearing classes to focus on running and cycling, and I really missed it. So I hopped back in there this morning and instantly remembered why I love it. It feels so good to hurt!

3) Emerson's dance class started today (we headed across the street after Jax's sports/gymnastics class at Little Gym). I love the joy she exudes when she comes running out of class, a big smile on her face, sucker in her hand, breathless with excitement. We are thrilled that Anna will be in class with her again, too!

4) The election season. Regardless of what side of the aisle you're on, a presidential election is such a big thing! Oh how I love sneaking in ten minutes of Fox News coverage in the morning. And you want to know another thing I love? The Obamas' relationship. Personally, I think he stinks as a president, but the man clearly knows how to love his wife. Did you see their embrace at the DNC? So intimate, so tender, and I love that they're not afraid to kiss.  

5) Hayden starts asking for a bedtime "boot" (book) almost immediately after getting out of the bath. All through her lotion routine, getting her teeth and hair brushed, and putting on her jammies, she's adamant about her "boot." Daddy and I take turns most evenings, but I really love when it's my turn. After reading to her, I rock her for a few minutes with the lights out, and it's the quietest, sweetest moment of the day. Most nights I get a lump in my throat and don't want to put her down. You see, putting her down means another end to another day and closer to the end of the nursery, the crib, and all things baby around our house. *sigh*

6) Sugar snap peas. Amen and hallelujah.

August picture post

Em and Jax completed their first round of swim lessons in early August. Neither of them has any fear of the water, which is good until you show up on the first night of class and your 3-yr-old decides to just jump into the water. And he can't swim. I started to panic, but the instructor was right there, reminding him he has to learn how before he just jumps in.  

Stowaways... trying to hide in Daddy's suitcase before he went out of town.

It's too bad these two have zero interest in having their picture taken.

Hot Sauce loves using her utensils.

Now if we could just get her in front of the goal...

Just like an old married couple.

This is the face of Hot Sauce. Heavens, I love this child.

At my friend Heather's bridal shower. Don't you love her dress? I'm trying to be all 'hip' and 'cool' like Heather and all of the Hollywood starlets by putting my hand on my hip. We never did this when I was growing up, but it definitely does slim your arm in a picture. Thank you, Hollywood starlets! *Heather, thank you for going to sushi with me tonight! Way fun... 31 days and counting until you're a Mrs.!*

Lots of fun in the back yard!

Not really sure what Emerson is doing here exactly... but she's got a handful.

A Staple in the Noggin

Our holiday weekend started with a trip to urgent care with Jax last night.  He was climbing in the Japanese maple in the front flower bed before dinner, lost his balance, and fell backwards into a half-dead azalea bush.  I was sitting on the front step watching him climb, and when he fell, my first thought was that he was impaled on one of the azalea branches.  Talk about panic.  I realized he was bleeding from the back of his head, we rushed inside (his sisters following), and I rinsed him off in the tub.  The gash in his head was small, but it was pretty deep. As soon as Jason got home, we ate some quick dinner, and I took my boy to urgent care.

The doctor said the gash was just big enough that she wanted to go ahead and put a staple in.  Luckily nowadays kids can get numbing medicine applied directly to the site rather than a mean 'ole shot to numb the area.  He got to wear a head wrap while the medicine was taking effect, and he said he looked like a ninja.  

When the staple went in, his lip quivered and his eyes filled up, but he never cried.  He bravely said, "Owww... that kind of hurt."  

It was nothing a little Dum-Dum couldn't soothe.  Two Spider-Man and monster truck stickers later, we were out the door, and he's feeling great today.