Mmmm Mango!

.... and a fun new gadget.

Delia

Today is a very special day.

Today is Delia's 8th birthday. I know, I can't believe it either. I wish I could just stop her aging process. Already, slowly but surely, her age is starting to become a little apparent. And, it makes me beyond sad. So, we won't speak of it.

Today is a happy day!

Delia has been an indescribable blessing in my life for the past (almost) five years. She was a Christmas gift from my parents just a few months after we got married and moved to Georgia. And, thank God for her. Seriously. When we moved here I knew no one, literally. And, Daniel works more than the average person as we all know. So, I needed a companion. And, what I got was so much more than that.

I could go on and on about the role she has played in my life these last five years, and the place in my heart that will now always be hers. She holds a piece of my very soul, I'm sure of it. I just needed her so much those first few years. I still do, don't get me wrong. But, she has always been so much more than just a dog to me. Having Carver has shown me the difference in the love I feel for her and the love I feel for my son, as I knew it would. BUT, I don't love her any less-- just differently.

There are a thousand tiny things I could relay that I love about Delia but I will spare you all. I'll end with just one thing about Delia that I love--- it might be the thing that I love most about her. And, it's simple really. She needs me and I am hands-down her favorite person. She always chooses me and she is unwaveringly loyal. You can't really describe what that feels like.

So, though I am holding onto the fact that she will live forever, I will cherish her for whatever amount of time I have with her. Because she is my favorite too.

Things I miss...

Recently I have been trying to make a real effort to stop sort of dwelling on the past. I tend to look backwards a lot, either thinking about things I regret, or wishing I could go back and experience certain things again, etc. It's a hard way to live. It makes it more difficult to see all of the good in the present.

But, there are things that I really miss from different stages in my life. They are things that made me happy at the time, and now it makes me happy to think of them. And, I think that is ok. It was just a matter of getting to the place where thinking of these things didn't make me sad because they were over, rather they made me happy because I have the memories to hold onto.

Here are a few of the things I miss, in no particular order.

1) The Spyglass Apartments in Gainesville, FL. First I lived there with Lyle, then with Brooke and Jenny. I loved decorating our oh so cute apartment, especially for Christmas. I loved having Michael living right below us. I loved sitting on the couch eating grilled cheese and Doritos. I loved just about all of it.

2) I miss the days when it was just me and Delia-- together all day every day. She was my side kick and probably my favorite thing on earth. I love her more than I ever thought it would be possible to love a dog. Watching her grow older is difficult. She's my soul mate.


3) I miss being this thin...

4) I miss summers at Crestridge.

5) London trip! One of my very favorite memories. Courtney, Lyle, Holly, me and Daniel all in London for a week...what I wouldn't do to be able to go back.


6) Traveling with Courtney to Hawaii and Vegas. She's probably my favorite travel partner.

7) Traveling with Jenny to Seattle (twice). She's a fabulous travel partner too.

8) Living with Court and Jules and decorating my bedroom door with 5-year old Julia's artwork.

9) Having (almost) all of my classes with Courtney (friend not sister) my senior year in college. We even drove to class together most days.

10) Asheville. Especially Baird St, living with Ellen and Emily, and snow days. Oh, and finally living in the same city as Daniel was nice too :)



11) Our honeymoon in St. Lucia. It was perfect.


12) High School days when Lyle and I were almost never apart.

13) Daily phone calls to Megan when she had a non-office job and we could talk at anytime of the day!

14) Family vacations as a child: Seattle, Fort Wilderness, the beach, etc.

15) My grandmother.

16) Living near my family.

17) My sorority.

Seven Months

Well, seven months and one week. I'm running a little behind. Which is actually a good thing because this week has been a big one for Carver...

Here is what month seven has brought:

1) Sitting up! Finally. I was sort of thinking he was delayed. Well, not really, but he has met most other milestones a little earlier than the norm, so I thought he would sit up right at 6 months. Not so. This just happened this week.

I tried, for the first time a couple of weeks ago, letting him sit in the cart at the grocery store (as in, in the seat rather than in his carrier). It did not go well. He pretty much laid on his side the entire time while I kept awkwardly trying to pull him back up into a sitting position.

But, now he sits up, on his own, all the time! We can finally do high chairs, shopping carts, etc. Yay! It's the little things.

2) Crawling-- like crawling properly on hands and knees. He still moves around on his tummy a lot but less than before.

3) Pulling onto his knees. The dogs are no longer safe on the couch. Poor girls.

(Lea looks completely possessed in this picture. I wasn't able to fix her eyes, not sure why unless it is something about dog eyes...)

4) Eating a TON of solids: carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, bananas, apples, prunes, avocado, cereal, pears, squash. He finally really likes to eat solids.

5) He can entertain himself for longer periods of time. Which is fun for me, but he still has to be watched very closely. For example, the other day I found him in the guest bathroom where he had pulled up onto his knees and was gripping the toilet seat. I wouldn't be surprised if he had been sucking on the seat before I walked in. But, I'm just going to pretend he wasn't...


6) Working on the sippy cup...not going well so far. And yes, I know there are many schools of thought on the sippy cup but I am ok with using it.


7) New vocalizations. Carver is starting to make more sounds that are distinguishable (as in particular consonant sounds).

8) A STRONG aversion to getting his diaper changed, getting dressed, or being on his changing table in general. This is really annoying.

9) Lots of laughter. He laughs about just about everything. He really thinks the dogs are particularly amusing. Even when they are just sleeping...or sitting... or walking.

10) He is incredibly curious. He loves new places, new people, new situations, new toys, etc.


The months really do just get better and better. I can't put into words how much I love Carver now, but I know that tomorrow I will love him even more. It barely seems possible. I feel like my heart shouldn't be able to hold this much love without just bursting. If he would only sleep he would be a perfect child :) Well, if he would stop spitting-up too it would be fabulous. But, even when he drives me crazy (and yes, it happens) I still wouldn't change a thing. I hope he knows how much I love him, how much his daddy loves him... Does he realize how much we adore him? Could he possibly know how special he is to us? I hope so. I know there will be times, probably often, when we can't give him every material possession he might want. But, the child will never be lacking in how much he is loved and cherished. I'm lucky to have him, and blessed beyond all measure to be his mom. Can't wait to see what the next months hold.

Sitting

So, apparently he can sit up by himself...

I found him playing like this in his room.

(He is actually holding one of the shoes from his Aunt Courtney that he seriously loves)

Swimming!

Daniel: "Why is he wearing a different bathing suit?"

Me: "So I can take new swimming pictures of him."

Daniel: "Of course"

Crawling + Spitting Up

Ever wonder what happens when you spit up on hardwood floors and then slide through it?

Well, here you go.