The Perfect Day

Do you ever have those days when everything just feels right?

Our Saturday started out with Judd taking Charlotte for a trip to the "donut store" where she got to pick out a donut with her Daddy. Later in the morning we packed up and went to the pool for a couple of hours. (We recently joined one of the community pools around our house so Charlotte and I would have a place to swim this summer.) Charlotte took a three hour nap that afternoon - swimming wears you out! Judd's parents stopped by for a visit. In the evening, we had dinner outside at a "rescronk" where Charlotte ate an entire bowl of spaghetti. We drove to the square in Decatur, got our ice cream, and listened to the band playing in the gazebo.

It doesn't sound like anything out of the ordinary. In fact, to some of my peers it sounds downright boring. But, to me, it is living a small dream.

About 8 years ago, when Judd and I went to the square in Decatur on a Spring evening for the first time - we witnessed a band playing in the gazebo, and families eating picnic dinners on the lawn. Kids were running everywhere with dirty feet and dirty faces, but huge smiles. I'll never forget that night - I knew then I wanted to live here and bring my own kids down to the square on nights like that. You know those magical late spring/summer nights?

I felt so lucky to hold Charlotte's and Judd's hand last night as we walked around the square. 8 years ago I had a glimse of what my life could be, and now I am living it. I have a great house in the part of town I love and a family that I love more than anything. It all just feels right.

A quiet cup of coffee

She said, "I wanna watch Yo Gabba Gabbba on your phone." Rather than deny the request like I have the last 20 mornings she's asked me, I said, "Sure, go get your headphones."

She looked at me amazed - I could just see her thinking, "Ha! my incessant asking finally paid off." She turned and ran upstairs to get her headphones before I changed my mind

I plugged them into my phone, settled them on her ears, checked the volume to make sure it wasn't too loud, and turned on Yo Gabba Gabba.

I sat back, turned on the Today show, and drank a cup of coffee in peace.

Yes, I feel guilty for doing this. No, I won't make a habit of it. But I sure did enjoy the 15 minutes it lasted.

Sweet Baby Jacob

I spent the last day and a half getting to know my nephew. How did I forget just how sweet newborns are? How good they smell?

Jacob is about as sweet as they come. Loves to cuddle. Loves to sleep. Loves to poop on Aunt Carrie.

I stole him for a few minutes to take some pictures while Sally napped yesterday.









Sally and Andrew seem to be settling into parenthood quite nicely. Sally surprised me with just how calm she is. I remember being a nervous wreck my first week home with Charlotte - but Sally just seems to roll with the punches. I hope the next few weeks go smoothly for them as they all adjust to being a family of 3.

Happy Mother's Day

I enjoyed a nice dinner out with the hubby last night, was given a gift certificate for a pedicure, and some special people made me cinnamin buns and coffee this morning. So far, a great Mother's Day. Judd is going to Rome this afternoon and I'm flying to Baltimore to visit my mom and of course, "Baby Birm Jacob" (as Charlotte says). Char is headed to her Grandmother's for a couple of days of spoiling.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms out there - hope you have a great day. A very special Happy Mother's Day to my mom, mother-in-law, and the newest mother in our family - Sally.

Can You Buy Fun?

Yep, you can. It comes in the form of a blue inflatable pool and costs about $7.99 at Toys R Us.









This one just cracks me up - love how she's holding the hose.



Remember last October when we had our backyard completely sodded? Well, rather than trying to maintain the yard ourselves, we decided to just hire the guys that did it to do our regular lawn maintenance. The backyard is awesome. Yesterday while she was playing in the pool, I just sat in one of the patio chairs and stalked her with my camera. It is almost fully shaded in the afternoon whih is perfect! It is like having another room in the house. Last year, we had to have the pool in the sunny, hot front yard where everyone that drove by could see us.

The backyard cost quite a bit more than the pool, but it was definately worth all of the fun we will have out there.

Baby Birm

Jacob Andrew Birmingham came into the world last night at 10:33pm after a whirlwind 7 hour labor from the time of Sally's water breaking until he was out.

He is big boy weighing 8lbs 6oz and a length of 22".

I spoke to Sally this morning and she sounded tired but very happy!

Congratulations Andrew and Sally!

Because I Don't Want to Forget

1. The way you say "Polka Dot". You say, "Pok a lop". You pretend to take them off of your pants, or books, or wherever polka dots may be and ask us if we want to eat them. You expect us to "eat" them and then have disgusted looks on our faces and say they "Taste like poopies". It cracks you up every.single.time.

2. "Restaurant" is "Rescronk".

3. When I ask you to "scoot" over, you usually reply with, "You want me to scoop over". You get your "t's" and "p's" mixed up sometimes.

4. Today when I was wiping the crumbs off of the table after your lunch, you said with a sigh in the tone of your voice, "Here Mommy, I help you, it is a wittle hard".

5. You know what the "chinin nunuks" store is (Chick-fil-A) and when we drive by you get a light in your eye and say, "We going to chinin nunuks store?" Last night your Daddy corrected your pronunciation of "chicken nuggets". You began to say it correctly. I was surprised to feel a pang in my throat. Thankfully today you went back to saying "chinin nunuks". It is the little things that remind me you are still my baby.

6. You love to eat steak, but your pronounce it "snake".

7. I love it that when you get to the verse in "You are my sunshine" you say "You make me happy when skies are great" rather than "when skies are grey". I don't correct you - I think it sounds better that way.

8. You think potty humor is hilarious. I expected this knowing your father. You think it is so funny when someone "poots", especially when it is you.