The camera loves you, Baby!

Maybe she's going to love photography as much as I do, or maybe she's just getting me back for always having a camera pointed in her direction...Either way, the highlight of my morning was getting this picture of her taking a picture of me. She's picking up on Elmo's phrases and getting pretty good at giving her own instructions. I just may have an assistant in the making...

"Smile for the camera!" "Hold still!" "The camera loves you, Baby!"

4 years ago...

Today is a Happy Day. In fact, it was the instrumental version of my favorite, clap-along, gospel song, O' Happy Day, that lead my husband and I back down that aisle, officially husband and wife, exactly 4 years ago today.

It was a happy day filled with anticipation, excitement, laughter, a few tears, and a whole lot of love.

I spoke my vows that July afternoon with an overflowing heart and have since found that time has brought a new understanding to exactly what it is I said, and meant. I was giddy, giggling and crying through the words that pronounced two as one.

I love what being a wife has done to me. I love that it has made me a stronger, better person. I love that it brought me to motherhood.

It's been 4 years of learning and loving, compromise, and finding out just what it means to be half of this beautiful whole we have become.

I will always remember this day as one of the happiest of my life. 

I am so thankful for where we've been, for where we are now, and for the places we will go. I didn't know I could love you more, but I do. Happy Anniversary.

Wordless Wednesday

(For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.)

Day 336...Independence Day

Ah, the Fourth. We had been looking forward to dressing in patriotic colors, getting together with family and friends, eating great food grilled perfectly so by my husband...and as I suspected, we were not disappointed.

We spent the hours in between dinner and fireworks on blankets in the grass at a local elementary school. We stayed entertained by live music, people watching, and Miss 4th of July herself...

She danced, she ran circles around us, she gave all she had into singing along with the band. There was even a moment when that happy girl closed her eyes, threw back that little head, and swayed to the music. It was great. This was her kind of thing. She's all about bare feet, music, and being outdoors.

(I love this picture. It makes me smile to think that even my two year old stopped long enough to soak in the beauty of this July evening. We were blessed with perfect weather and the company of a few amazing people.)

When the fireworks did begin, she plopped happily into her daddy's lap and held his hands over her ears. I listened as she named the colors that came to life in the night sky, "Green...Red...Purple...", and soon she forgot there was any reason to cover her ears. I think all of us enjoyed those fireworks a little more just because they made my baby girl, dressed in her red, white, and blue, so happy.

I hope it was a happy, fun-filled 4th of July for all!

I'm blessed...

...to live in this country, to be an American, to have the opportunity to celebrate our freedom!

(waiting for the parade to begin yesterday...)

Enjoy this day of cookouts, fireworks, juicy watermelon, family, and friends!

Happy 4th!

(it's great to live, love, and share ice cream in this great country!)

Day 334...Friday!

I love spending time outside each morning. The shade in our front yard is perfect for throwing out blankets and doing activities while our bare feet are tickled by the dying grass...This morning, we pulled out the bucket of sidewalk chalk.

Gracie watched as her name appeared in our driveway, then laughed at the kitty I drew with the hot pink whiskers.

 She quickly lost interest, however, and abandoned me, and the chalk, for a little exploration.

And let me share what else my very precious girl did today: She woke up in what seemed to be a great mood, went potty in the "big girl" potty twice before our adventures outside (which thus guaranteed her two "potty treats", which in our house come in the form of anything from a marshmallow to a piece of a Twizzler), and ate a decent breakfast. When we came back in, she went to the potty for a third time, received a third "potty treat", then sat defiantly on her potty for almost 45 minutes demanding more...I tried to explain, as always, that she receives a "potty treat" after going potty, but she wouldn't hear of such nonsense and threw an absolute fit over it that somehow ended with me in her bathroom with the door shut and her in the living room taking a much needed moment...Ah, my little toddler girl...

Do you (or did you) use some kind of prize or treat system with potty training? Has it been successful or did/does your toddler try to take complete advantage of the whole idea? Any tips are appreciated! :) Happy Friday!

Thursday Five :)

I'm joining Keely again today, sharing 5 things about my week that have left me feeling...

Happy

Giddy

Joyful

Excited

Appreciative

 

  1. My step-sister, who was visiting from Idaho, flew back home early this morning. This does not make me happy, but I am very thankful for the time we spent with her! Gracie loves her so much and would literally run to her each time we saw her. We're looking forward to seeing her again for Christmas!

 

2. Gracie and I have had a really great week! We've done lots of fun things and the tantrums have been almost nonexistent! She's gotten great naps every day, which makes for a very happy and rested Baby and Mommy!
 

3. I am looking forward to the 4th of July weekend! We're taking Gracie to a parade on Saturday and having a cookout Sunday, followed by a concert and fireworks! I think Gracie will love all of the celebrating!

 

4. My husband is off on Monday! Enough said!

5. We are just so thankful for our health, our family, our friends...there is so much around us to appreciate every day, which is why I enjoy this blog hop so much! I love reading about all of the good that's going on for people each week!

Happy Thursday!