Forever Young

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Fall 2013

So, it has been a while since I wrote...over a year. Where do I start?

I'll start where I left off I suppose.

At the beginning of September, Shane and I went on a 5 night cruise and left Elsa with his parents. It was tough to leave her, but so so good to get away with Shane. We had a great time. ALMOST forgot we were parents. Just kidding. :) We left out of Jacksonville, FL and stopped in Nassau, Bahamas, and Little Stir-up Cay (which is a private island owned my Royal Caribbean I believe). We snorkeled in Nassau, which was my first time. We also went down to a local restaurant that was recommended to up and got fried conk. It was delicious! We tried to workout most mornings in the gym, enjoy the steam room, and also tried to stay up late and enjoy the shows. We chose sit down meals for breakfast and dinner. It was so nice! We met a sweet couple who we were seated with at dinner one night and hung out with them the next few nights. They don't live too far from us, so we are hoping to meet up sometime in the future.

At the end of September, we went to VA Beach with my family...well, most of them. My oldest brother and his family were not able to make it because his son was in school. We were there for 5 days. Elsa had a lot of fun with her 2 cousins. They played on the beach every day.

There was an amphitheater down the beach with a big field and a couple play grounds, so we went down there a couple evenings after dinner.

There was a nature park up the road, so we went walking around there the last full day we were all there.

In October we started potty training Elsa. I guess Shane took advantage of her being still and painted her nails...

Also in October, I started watching a friend's daughter a few days a week. Her little girl is Elsa's best friend, so it was so fun to watch the two of them together. Some days they acted more like sisters than friends, which brings its challenges, but overall it was a huge blessing for all of us!

Elsa discovered her love for Krispy Kreme unfortunately...

At the end of October, I got to go down to Charleston, SC with a group of girl friends from college for a bachelorette weekend. We walked downtown, ate at a really good sandwich restaurant, and went salsa dancing.

Elsa experienced her first funnel cake at the state fair. We went with my mom for a long morning. She rode all the rides she was big enough for and fell asleep the second we got in the car to go home.

We went to a fall festival on my sister in law's dad's farm. Elsa rode a horse, played on a tractor and went on a hay ride that ended at a HUGE bonfire with hotdogs and hamburgers. It was awesome.

Elsa wasn't a huge fan of halloween, so we went to a few of our neighbors houses for candy and then headed home to hand candy out.

In November, Shane and I were able to attend a fundraiser banquet for Hand of Hope. It is a resource center for pregnant women. It was awesome to hear the mission of the organization, hear from the director, and also from the doctor that volunteers for them. We went with two couples that are in our small group at church. It was a very touching evening and we hope to go again this year.

Random dangerous picture of Elsa at BJ's.

My friend, Lauren, got married in Wilmington in November. It was Elsa's first wedding and she just followed the bride around as much as she could. She just wanted to touch her dress and stare at her. It was so cute!

In December, my mom and I flew down to Houston to be with my Uncle, who had stage 4 liver/lung cancer. I made a couple CDs with beautiful songs about heaven and we listened to them, prayed over him and sang to him most of the time we were there. It was an emotional trip, so I am so thankful for the time I had with him, my aunt and my cousin. My cousin, Kristy, actually died a few months later of cancer, so my time with her was very precious. I left to go back home before my mom, and she stayed until after he died and was able to attend his funeral. He was well known and loved by so many at his church.

We spent Christmas in Charlotte this year with Shane's family. A lot of his out of town relatives came in, so it was a packed house. It was great to see everyone! Shane's dad had a heart attack the day before we were heading into town, so we headed in early to be with him. Thankfully he was ok and was able to come home from the hospital Christmas morning.

Elsa and Noah waiting for Pop to come home from the hospital...so sweet.

And ever since my friend's wedding, Elsa has asked for a wedding dress, so her Gigi made her one for Christmas.

Whew! It feels good to be catching up!

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Summer 2013

Well, I'm not as behind as I thought I was. I didn't think I had written since Elsa turned 18 months! Yeesh.

Gosh, I thought all of the changing would slow down, but Elsa learns new things and does new things every day. I wish I was better at documenting it all. I do have a little journal that I write letters to her at least once a month, but even then it is hard to remember all of the funny things she has done and the sweet things she has said. Her most recently accomplishments/my most recent head aches are (not really, they make me laugh, I just can't "pee in peace" anymore):

- turning on her light in her room
- unlocking the dead bolts on the doors
- opening the microwave
- unlatching the cabinet locks
- bringing her chair into our bathroom, climbing on it, and grabbing the toothpaste and sucking it out of the tube

and the good ones:

- throwing away her dirty diapers in the trash can
- taking recycling out to the garage
- sweeping the kitchen floor
- continues to clean up her toys and books before nap time and bed time
- collecting sticks in the backyard to help daddy start the grill
- getting the news paper at the end of the driveway and bringing it inside
- pedaling on her tricycle

We are loving our new home. We've met just about every body on our street, and a few other families throughout the neighborhood. We've had quite a few of them over for dinner, which has been nice to get to know them all individually. I'm getting more comfortable entertaining people, but it still isn't a comfortable thing for me. I always thought hosting would come naturally considering there are few times I remember it being just my family in our house growing up, but I guess I didn't inherit that chip. My mom is the queen of hosting and making everyone feel comfortable stopping by, grabbing a meal, or living in a bedroom for an indefinite amount of time. I hope one day to be as selfless with my space as she has been.

Reading with Daddy

Enjoying the pool in the back yard

We also switches churches in February, which has been amazing for us. We loved our old church, and still miss it, but the community we have at our new church has been a blessing. And it is nice not having to drive 30 minutes to church on Sunday, though the drive was well worth it while it lasted. There are 3 other families in our neighborhood that go to our church, whom also happen to be good friends of ours. We also joined a small group a couple months ago for the first time since we've been married and instantly felt connected to the people in it. One of the other women in the group goes to the same gym I attend, so we see each other most mornings of the week. Our girls are the same age, so they get to play together in the childcare at the gym, and in Sunday School at church.

Marbles Museum with our new small group friends

Elsa, Elsa Elsa....My doctor couldn't even help me out. Whenever she thinks she is being laughed at, she cries...hysterically. It doesn't catch me completely by surprise seeing how her daddy and I are two of the most sensitive people we know, BUT, we laugh because she's so darn cute! Yet her crying takes the cuteness, almost, right out of it. It is so sad! She also seems to be getting more timid around other people. She does not like the attention being on her. At home, with mom and dad, she is her fun, goofy, sweet, silly self. But anywhere else, give her an hour before you get to see her glowing personality. It's a shame, because she is stripping people of the joy she is capable of bringing. She really is the sweetest little thing, I just wish everyone else could see that...this too shall pass. Hopefully quickly!

Look at that cuteness

We have loved this phase so much, that we booked a vacation! Ok, i'm kidding. I really am going to miss her terribly. We are leaving Elsa with Gigi and Pop for 6 days while we go enjoy the Bahamas. Every marriage needs this. Can't wait! We leave in just a few weeks!

Elsa has turned into quite the fish. She runs and jumps into the pool, preferably when Shane and I are out of reach (don't worry, she's safe), goes to the bottom, and pushes off with her legs and bounces herself back to the steps of the pool. No floaty attached might I add. Quite impressive for the shy, sensitive,timid one. Just don't let strangers, or friends of mom and dad, look at her, or it strips her of her momentum. Ok, I might be exaggerating.

Elsa has really gotten into the movies, The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. We let her watch The Sound of Music at our house, but Mary Poppins is a treat at Grandma's; Shane and I are not big Mary Poppins fans. She also loves Veggie Tales and sings the theme song in between singing the whole Sound of Music soundtrack.

Most likely watching The Sound of Music

She had memorized a couple bible verses and repeats them before bed at night, sings Jesus Loves Me, Amazing Grace, and Silent Night. It warms my heart. She also prays. The last prayer was thanking God for blinds, fans, and pillows...Dark, cool, and comfy. That's my girl.

The mom of the little girl I nannied last year has off June and July, so it has been Elsa and me all summer. At first I felt lost not having an obligation each day of the week, but I adjusted quickly. :) I adjusted so well that I told them I was not going to nanny this coming school year. We will miss her though. Her and Elsa really enjoyed each other.

At Elsa's birthday party

Shane started a new job in April or May, which he has been enjoying. It's within the same company, but in a department he is more passionate about. He loves what he is learning and enjoys who he is working with. I'm very proud of him.

Elsa had her first dentist appointment and was a champ. Though, I don't see how you can't be good with a personal flat screen TV above your reclined chair. The hygienist and dentist were so kind and encouraging. No cavities! I just have a nugget of information. Gummy vitamins are one of the #1 causes of cavities these days in kids! Crazy, huh? So stay away from chewy yucky vitamins, fruit snacks, raisins, etc.