Happy Half Birthday! {6 months}

Our baby girl is 6 months..half a year!

I'll be back with her 6 month update in a few days, but for now, just had to share how blessed I've been to be the mother of this sweet girl for the past 6 months. Every day with her is an absolute joy!

Happy Mother's Day {..and it's my first!}

Happy, Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful mothers out there! While J and I would absolutely love to be spending the day with ALL the mothers in our families in one fabulous place, I will joyously celebrate this special day with my momma, husband, brother, and baby girl for my first Mother's Day {where I can actually hold my baby girl in my arms!}





It was last Mother's Day when I announced my pregnancy. Becoming a mother certainly makes this day feel just a bit different. I'm learning every day just all that it takes to be a mother and more importantly, the incredibly special way it feels to be one. The day she came into our lives, it completely changed. There is ALWAYS someone to count on you, want you, need you, and love you unconditionally, and the thought of that doesn't ever leave your mind. And I know it won't for the rest of my life, even when my baby(s) are grown and taking on their own adventures. It's a great thing. An amazing thing at that!



I wouldn't be learning how to be the mother I'd love to be without the help and guidance from the mothers in my life. So a huge thank you to all of you! You all deserve the very best and we hope you know how much you are appreciated and how amazing it is to have you as a big part of our lives.



And, well, I couldn't go without saying a very special Happy Mother's Day to Aunt Kathy in heaven. I came across a "Like-a-Mom" card that I buy her every year and at the same time is when J pointed out 'Oh, wow, first Mother's Day without Aunt Kathy' as if it had just hit both of us at that very moment. It was also last year's Mother's Day when I sent her a card and keepsake necklace letting her know that I would be naming Baby E's middle name after her, not knowing that it would be her last Mother's Day. Ugh, heart breaking. Her smile, laugh, and fun & cheery ways of speaking are what I'm thinking about most today. I'm so thankful for all she's done for me and our whole family throughout the years. To leave a special message on her memorial page, visit here.

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I woke up this morning to my husband bringing Baby E in bed to lay with us. Cuddle time with her and hubby is the BEST. So thankful for our moments as a family! He's back to campus this week as he's on a rotation there for the month, so I'm enjoying the weekend with him and the family.

Last Mother's Day while pregnant ---> this Mother's Day with our girl!

Following that, a funfetti pancake, bacon, and eggs breakfast made by the husband and bro. Yumyum, thank you!! It's been great spending time with family -- and wonderful having my momma here to help in so many ways while J isn't around.











hey look, my momma with my babies!




It feels glorious outside and I'm loving the breeze in the house with open doors, flowers in bloom swaying outside the windows, as well as the fresh flowers that have filled our house in honor of Mother's Day. The feeling of being content in the moment is more than I could ask for.





some yummies that the sister sent my mom and I :) thanks, sista!


And well, being a momma has been one of the greatest gifts I could ask for in life. That, and being a wife to my wonderful husband. I'm blessed!



Daddy dressed our girl in a onesie today that reads, "I make Mommy smile!" You sure do, baby, you sure do! Thank you for my first Mother's Day card, sweet girl!

"Being a Mom

is being introduced to a

whole new world...

It's not for the faint of heart

or the fond of quiet,

but it will wake you up,

and make you see

how much joy

is in the littlest,

silliest moments...

...and how much LOVE

your happy heart

can hold."

Florida, Here We Come {on the move again...}

You heard that right. It's that time to move again. Didn't we just do this? As you can imagine, I've been insanely busy, especially being that the husband is out of town this month. All for a good reason!

Bring on the movers. Reserve the U-Haul. Pack them boxes like it's our job. Pay one million dollars for all that. Repeat in 11 months. {BARF}

It doesn't seem like all that long ago when I posted about making this place our home. Oh, that's right, because that was just this past August ;)


Oh, hey...the house actually WAS clean before baby!

But now, we are movin' on down to Florida! To be around family! Say whaaaaat! It's been 8 years since we graduated high school and moved away for college. And now, we are returning {for just the next year, that is..til we're on the move again...}

Bring on the family BBQ's, sunshine, ocean air, views like this {below} from the condo, my baby and sister's babies being BFF's, and Wings Plus! Hell to the yeah.



And here's where I'll pause my celebratory 'Florida, here we come!' jazz.





We are excited to be back down there for said reasons, however, I know there will be sporadic moments where we'll miss our calm, routine little lifestyle we've built for ourselves on our own. We complain, yes. We didn't want to move here in the first place, true. And well, there's just not a whole lot to do where we currently live in the middle of Georgia.





So, we've been forced to make our own fun. Our own little family fun, even if it's just setting up a picnic in the backyard while being jealous of my sister attending every festival, beach, and park possible with her kiddies in Florida. All that aside, I KNOW there will be moments looked back on where we just may miss our boring little calm life here.

But, let's be honest, being around family will be wonderful for the year and we are ready for it. Ready for family. Ready for fun. Ready for summer! {Especially because we just booked tickets to Ocean City in a few weeks with family - woohoo!}



You heard that right, we are officially ready for summer! (Til I'm hot as #$@* over the summer and ready for Fall, that is!)

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Happy Mother's Day weekend to you, and you, and you! I'll be back soon with a lil Mother's Day post. For now, I've got my momma here visiting, my hubby home for the weekend, my baby girl and puppy sleeping, and I am off to bed.

P.S. - Today was one month since I launched the new items in the Etsy shop {The BARRTIQUE}, and I'm thrilled to say we've reached 110+ sales. {a big thank you!}
.........Think I smell a giveaway soon!

the lyrics that move us...

I'm known to sit in silence at times. When I'm blogging, editing, Etsy-ing (new made-up word, yes), or anything of the like, it sometimes doesn't even cross my mind to turn on the TV or jam out to Pandora -- until my husband walks in and asks why I am sitting in silence. Why, that's a very good question! I really don't mean to. I just don't think about it I guess. But my gosh, the times I do think to turn on Pandora and light one of my favorite candles, I get in-freakin-spired like no other and wonder why I don't do it more.

(Might I add right now -- the husband just called as I finished typing that paragraph..
J: "What's that noise in the background?"
Me: "Pandora"
J: "Wow! Look at you....impressive"

I was once asked by someone, randomly, whether I like music because of the lyrics or melody. My answer: lyrics. Their answer: melody. Sometimes I hear a song, and instantly fall in love. I fall in love because I hear one or two lines that just draw me in and keep me hooked.



When I first found out I was pregnant with my sweet baby and worried day and night, I remember sitting in my car on my way home from work and hearing the song "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz. Oh, those words hit me hard in that moment..

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up, still looking up.

Well, I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)

It was one of the first times I rubbed my belly with my hand, and I then promised my little baby in there that I wouldn't give up and I'd try my hardest to make everything okay with us. I prayed so hard in that moment to let everything be great for our little family.

So the other day, when my sweet girl was sitting on my lap falling asleep while I sat on the computer editing photos and the song "I Won't Give Up" came on, I immediately flashed back to that moment in my car and gave my baby a gentle hug and whispered "Thank you" out loud.

It's funny how something as simple as lyrics can make you feel so emotional. I proceeded to whisper to her how thankful I am to have her sitting on my lap in that very moment while listening to that song. I felt so fulfilled, so blessed, and simply happy.

And shortly after that, the song "Lucky" by Jason Mraz came on. Apparently I have a little obsession with Jason Mraz. Apparently I should have titled this post 'The Jason Mraz lyrics that move us..' but anyway, I heard that song and again, it just felt good to listen to it.

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend

Lucky to have been where I have been

Lucky to be coming home again

Lucky we're in love in every way

Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed

(Of course that song JUST came on Pandora as I was looking up the lyrics -- I just knew something weird like that would happen!)



I really am lucky. And I thank my lucky stars every day for bringing me my best friend to love. Those of you others who are lucky enough to be in love with your best friend -- forget about the times you piss each other off over the little things, forget about the times he leaves a pile of clothes wherever he feels like it, or whatever it is that drives you crazy sometimes -- and remember just how lucky you are. It is true that it takes hard work together, that you do have to put forth effort, and there is another side to love than luck, however, not a day goes by that I don't feel 'lucky to have been where I have been' and 'lucky we're in love in every way.' It's a wonderful thing.



Perhaps my favorite line from the song...

You make it easier when life gets hard.

It's one of the main qualities in our marriage that I am thankful for. And I know it's a reciprocal thing for us. We have many outside stresses  med school, little time together, moving 24/7, life changing decisions to be made, not knowing our next move, etc. that have the potential to drive us crazy, but somehow we just know how to make things easy on each other (well, we try to), and oh lawdy, that is one glorious quality of marriage that I welcome with open arms into ours! We know how to keep each other grounded when the rest of our life is up in the air.



I'm so lucky to have married my best friend. Lucky in every way.



And when it comes to our family....well.....



Some lyrics just realllly move me! :)

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I normally wouldn't post my husband's texts on here, but no joke, just checked my phone to find a text from the hubby whose out of town..
"I love having you all as my little family, I'm so lucky"

*Heart. Is. Melting..*

Try not to puke from all the coincidental lucky in love overload from this post, please...