A special day....

Today is July 31st.  To some it's just the last day of the month, creeping towards August.  To me, it is a special day.

8 years ago today at 11:18am, weighing in at 9lbs 2oz I welcomed a precious and beautiful baby boy into this world.  From the first second I looked into those blue eyes my life was changed forever and he owned my heart.

Now here we are 8 years later, suddenly I'm the momma of a 3rd grader....WHAT?!?!  He is smart  (sometimes too smart for his own good) and sassy.  I swear some of the things that come out of his mouth he sounds like a teenager.  He's pretty witty sometimes, too.  Let me tell you, Little Boy has jokes. 

He knows how to challenge me.  Sometimes I wonder if he is teaching me how to be a parent more than I am trying to parent him.  It can really become quite the conflict.  The funny thing is, the older he gets the more I realize he is just like me.  It can be a sobering thought sometimes, depending on the situation.  He might look just like his dad but his attitude and personality is definitely mine.  Mostly.  ;)

He has a big heart for a little boy.  Every fundraiser at school that is donated to a charity he wants to participate in.  I remember a few years ago he saw a commercial on TV from Tide, how they were accepting donations of new clothes and bedding for the victims of  Hurricane Katrina.  He immediately came to me wanting to donate something.  And given my own love for charity work he makes this momma proud with that big heart of his.

He makes a wonderful big brother.  Sure, they pick at each other and drive each other crazy but when it comes down to it he loves and adores his little brother, and Camden loves and adores his big brother.  He will do whatever goofy antic he can just to make him laugh.  Yesterday when I picked Parker up from his dad's he ran ahead to get in his seat and as soon as he opened the car door I hear "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" (high pitched yelling) from Camden, Parker quickly joining.  As I got into the car they were both giggling.  My mommy heart melted.

So today, yes, it is a special day.  Happy Birthday to my Parker Thomas...I love you to the moon and back!

Almost 15 mos old....Look at those curls!

My little man, growing up too fast.

A day with Bubbie

Yesterday Mark and I took Parker and my nephew Gabe to the Tiger's game.  This was something we have had planned for at least 2 months so we were all really looking forward to it, though I think I was looking forward to it the most.  See Gabe in the picture, wearing the blue hat?  He was my first baby boy. 

I met him, my brother and sister in law when Gabe was only 2-3 months old.  The first time I saw him and held him I immediately fell in love.  From that point on I would take Gabe for the weekends, drive up to Saginaw constantly just to see my new found family.  I cannot tell you how many pictures I have of my holding Gabe, rocking him, feeding him, playing with him, napping and snuggling with him.  We formed a bond.  I was his Aunt Manna, he was my Bubbie.

Fast forward a few years and some changes in life later and I feel like I lost my relationship with them all on account of these changes significantly altering my brother.  It saddened me...I lost my brother whom I always wanted a relationship with, my sister in law Amanda whom I had grown close to, my Bubbie and my beautiful niece Kadie who was still just a baby.

A couple of years after that Amanda reached out to me, AND despite everything she wanted to make sure I had a relationship with the kids.  Our own relationship has begun to strengthen again as well. I'll never be able to thank her enough for this.

My Bubbie is now 11 years old and only 2-3 inches shorter than I am.  He also proudly informed me he weighs 116lbs.  He's so smart and loving, and seemed very at ease being with us without his mom close by. 

So needless to say, to be given a day to hang with my Bubbie...I was thrilled beyond ecstatic.  I think they had a pretty good time too, despite the heat. 

As Amanda and I set a day where I can take Kadie to do something fun just her and I and the date was pushed into September due to busy schedules Gabe quickly said "I have to wait that long to see them again?!?"  No worries Bubbie, we'll work something out.  :)

Getting ready to leave Gabe gave me several hugs.  Not just a quick little hug but a real squeeze, where he held on for a few seconds each time.  Maybe he missed me as much as I missed him.  Our bond might have been interrupted temporarily but it wasn't severed.  I love that boy so.

Oh, and the game??  We won!!  It was a sold out game as we swept the Chicago White Sox putting us up by 1.5 games in the American League Central.  AND Miguel Cabrera hit his 300th homerun.  We all high-fived each other with each run made.  A successful day all the way around.

I'm an auntie (again)!!!!

July couldn't have possibly started off any better..... I became an auntie again!!

July 1st, 2012 at 4:36am my sister in law Billie and her husband Dave brought a beautiful baby girl into this world, Roxana Nicolette Howie. 

We were able to hold her just a few hours old.  It is always so amazing to me how something so small can hold so much power.  She is so precious and just completely took us all by storm.



Melting Uncle Mark's heart already



Daddy and his girls

    

I am smitten <3



 

7/3/12

 

This picture was taken 7/11/12.  Look how much she has changed already!





Parker just loves babies.  After holding her he told me he wants a baby sister

I am one proud and blessed auntie!

A day full of love and promise

Wedding season is officially in full swing!  Alicia and I have been working together quite a bit, we are currently in the middle of a wedding every Saturday, 4 Saturdays in a row.  It doesn't even feel like work, we have so much fun doing it and I find myself looking forward to each one.

June 30th was the wedding of Tyrone and Yoronda, what a sweet couple!  Yoronda was a stunning bride, Tyrone was the dapper groom in his ivory tux.  As Yoronda made her way down the aisle Tyrone broke down crying.  This couple is just so full of love for each other.

One of my favorite parts of the reception was the Mother/Daughter dance.  No, this isn't a typo.  Because Yoronda's father had passed away she did a Mother/Daughter dance.  You could tell upon first meeting these ladies what a strong bond they have. 

The rest of the evening was packed with fun and a lot of dancing, including a dance by the groom and his fellow fraternity brothers from college - it reminded me of a scene from the movie Drum Line.  I've never been a part of anything like that so it was pretty fun to watch.  :)

Sending many blessings to the happy couple!  I know they will have a long and beautiful life together!

A Celebration

June 23rd, 2012 was a clear blue sunny day, low 80's, about as perfect of a Michigan summer day as they get.  Under a big white tent surrounded by white lights Mark and I celebrated our marriage.  It was small but we were surrounded by those closest to us and therefore, it couldn't have been more perfect.  Here are some pictures from the evening.

I love this man so much

Some of my in-laws.  I love them so much!

Dancin' with my daddy

My sister in law and best friend Nikki

Mark and I with his mom

Mark dancing with his mom. I don't think there was a dry eye in the tent.

Oh how I love this family!  Sister in law and best friend Billie, her hubby Dave and daughter Sadie and Baby Howie due any day now!

Cessli and I...love this girl!

Natalie, Cessli, Bre and Kayti... love these girls!

 More pictures will come, I just have to stop being lazy and get them downloaded onto the computer!

We truly had an amazing time.  We are so thankful and blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful family and friends.

An Ode to our Ms. Jen

I used to work in a daycare center when I was 19 for 2 1/2 years.  After witnessing some "behind the scenes" things I left that job vowing I would never put my kids in daycare.  Granted, it was nothing major but it was things I knew I wanted better for my kids.

Now as a mom of 2 I have been doing the daycare thing for 7 years.  To lessen the trauma of daycare I have always looked within in-home daycare environments.  Smaller groups, more one on one, usually less expensive - better care in my book.

Putting your kids in daycare is tough.  It is finding someone you trust with the most precious thing you have.  To me, it is finding someone with similar parenting styles and values as us because essentially they are co-parents.  It isn't an easy task.  The very first in-home daycare person I used when Parker was an infant was a terrible experience.  But I didn't shy away.  I knew there had to be someone out there that would be a perfect match.

For 3 years now we have been going to Ms. Jen.  And let me tell you...we couldn't be happier.  She is as perfect as a perfect match can possibly get.  She is flexible, affordable, compassionate, patient, thoughtful, kind-hearted AND we attend the same church she has been going to all her life.  BONUS!!

She is always doing things trying to perfect her business, even though she already does a fantastic job.  She maintains a consistent routine but just flexible enough to accommodate the very young ages in her care.  She provides a loving environment, and has the kids engaged and learning, too.  That Ms. Jen, she is one amazing chick.

During school if one of us can't pick Parker up from school we can put him on the bus and her husband will grab him from the bus stop.  When we went to Jamaica, she actually kept Camden for us.  Placing him in her safe, loving and more than capable care, it was so nice to not have to worry for a single second if he was ok. She really just goes above and beyond the call of duty.

So Jen...if you read this, I hope you know how much we truly value and appreciate you and Aaron and everything you have done for us and our boys.  You are more than just our 'daycare lady', you are a part of our family.  We are so lucky and blessed to have you!

The Anniversary Dance

This past Saturday I helped my best friend do photography for a wedding.  I absolutely LOVE working with her.  It is very hard work but it never actually feels like work because we always just have fun with it.

I think my favorite part of this wedding was at the reception.  When the bridal dances were done the bride and groom had pre-requested an Anniversary Dance.  This is where all the married couples go out to the dance floor and the DJ calls various lengths of time.  Whoever has been married that long sits down (or in this case, surrounds the dance floor), always starting with 24 hours or less (for the bride and groom) and working the way up until only one couple is left.

As Alicia and I ran around trying to make sure we got pictures of each couple on the floor I paid closer attention to each couple.  Whether they had been married for 2 years or 20 it was so refreshing to still see the love they had for their spouse in their faces. 

The DJ made it all the way up to 62 years of marriage....WOW!!!  The couple who had been married this long was a sweet little old couple.  One of them walked with a walker but this didn't stop them from getting on that dance floor for this special dance.  They stood with the walker between them, still swaying to the music.  My heart truly melted.

Another couple was actually celebrating their 50th anniversary that very day.  The DJ played the song they danced to for their first dance 50 years ago.  I had to blink hard and fast to keep the tears from spilling over.

I have seen the Anniversary Dance done at receptions before but this time it really struck me.  I think because of my own marriage and how much love Mark and I have for each other. 

In my opinion this was such a beautiful thing to witness.  The ceremony itself was beautiful but this.....this display of marriages with years of love and faith was truly something.  They still held each other close, head to head or her head on his chest or shoulder. 

My heart is truly happy and I look forward to having many Anniversary Dances with my husband.