Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Oh, How Things Have Changed - A June(s) Review

June already has a good reputation: the weather is nice, people take vacations, sit by the pool, grill out, celebrate Father's Day - and this year we had a VERY special Father's Day -

But in addition to all of that, some of our West Coast family came to town to visit! OG got to meet a whole new branch to her family tree <3
I also gave OG her first haircut EVER.
And we got some crazy news.

...but before we get into that, let's check out a flash-back to June 2017!

**TIME WARP TO LAST YEAR**
WE LOVE BOOKS!!!!
OG's first time at the "Big Library" downtown.  She picked out her outfit :)
We visited the Kenner/Start Wars Exhibit:







OG painted something special for Dada & Grandpa for Father's Day
Being force-fed bacon by a cutie wearing a rad Star Wars dress <3
We visited GG Helen & GG Gil
We went to the Aquarium!

After-the-aquarium party with Declan
 Momma & Dada also took their annual adults-only trip to the Smoky Mountain Crawl (a weekend riding in the mountains) and met Honest Mike!


**WARP BACK TO 2018**

This past June we had a lot going on!

We had  to show off this AWESOME "Toy Division" Tank, gifted from Aunt Tracey 

I had the dentist appointment, yet this little lady is the one that left with prizes?!?!
Princess OG wins. :)
Then, OG got to meet her extended family! Some of Dada's West Coast Family came to visit and it was incredible being able to spend time with them.  I wish we lived closer, but at least they had a chance to bond with OG in her natural habitat. :)

I made sure to introduce cousin Patty to CrossfFit while she was in town.  She ROCKED IT.
Ada & Patty joined us for breakfast before our big zoo outing. 
Many a duckies were "rescued" that morning from the rubber duck bins!

Feeding the giraffes


Posing with the flamingos

She definitely has inherited my sweat glads - sorry, OG.  





One of my new favorite places in the zoo <3

Dinner with the whole clan!

OG bringing her best Black Panther to the aisles of Target 
Random night in <3
And then...FIRST HAIRCUT! Yes, yes, we waited a long time before cutting it, but her hair was beautiful and healthy so there was no need.  Untiiiillll...it was so long it was causing issues when she sat on the potty (hehe).  We decided the best place for her first cut was GG Gil's Barbershop. It was an honor to work in his shop again and continue a family tradition <3




Fun tidbit/side-note/life-change: 
While our Cali Fam was in town, we took them to eat at the same restaurant we had invited our families to in 2014 when we revealed that we were having a little baby lady.  Aunt Tracey took a similarly-posed photo of us...this time with OG on the outside of momma's belly. ;)
And we didn't tell anyone at that time, but we also had a little secret...that another tiny nugget was brewing in momma's tummy this time around, too!  YEP! OG IS GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER! Looks like we'll have to go back in another 4 years (2022?! EAK!) for a full family picture!


Another fun side-note was how/when I discovered I was pregnant, and how I ended up telling my Loving Husband:
I failed miserably at Father's Day Gifting this year, I admit it. We have been on back-to-back trips, had out-of-town visits, and it snuck up on me. So, I womaned up and admitted that I hadn't had time to help OG make anything for her amazing Dada. His response, because he is the best ever, was "I just want to spend time with you ladies"...then cheekily followed up with "...or you could make me a dad again (harhar)".  I laughed it off, but then began to do the math and realized that I maaaaaay be a bit "behind schedule" as it were, so I made an excuse to run out and buy some cards (...and secretly, a pregnancy test).
After a long day of celebrating with family, and after we put OG down for bed, I delicately wrapped rolled the positive test in wrapping paper a paper towel, handed it to my loving husband and said: "Don't say I didn't make you anything for Father's Day."
I'm a classy lady :)

Needless to say, we spent the remainder of the night excited, in disbelief and a bit shocked. <3
We'll be meeting our new little human sometime in February!

Oh, and we again took our annual trip to the Great Smokies to get our ride on
(this was before I knew I was knocked-up):





Tuesday, August 21, 2018

MAY you always be filled with LOVE

Settle in devoted reader(s)...this is going to be a long one, but full of love and lots of excellent memories.

This past May was incredible.  Ups and downs for sure, but my favorite cousin married the fella of her dreams in SC, and we were lucky enough to be invited to the event.

But first, I suppose we need to flip it on back to LAST May, 2017:

*consults Google Photos to jog memory*

But I mean...CAN I EAT THIS CHILD ALREADY?!?  Look at that little face! NOMNOMNOM

OG found/saw/touched her first fallen robin's egg while wearing KITTY PANTS
-hmmm, seems suspicious

Spiffy OG & Dapper GGGil at Cousin Campbell's birthday party/ Derby Party

Made of nothing more than energy and muscle - she can do more pull-ups than her momma <3

Playin' at the park with EllieShelby

A bunch of cuties, they are

Sublime shirt + deliciousness on a spoon = good times

Going...going...

...gone?

My little tadpole floating on a slice of pizza - extra olives! :)

TIME WARP to THE FUTURE 3 MONTHS AGO:

OG + Family had MANY adventures:
-Celebrating May the 4th
-Visiting the Allen's new house
-Mother's day!
-First trip to the hospital
-First time flying a kite
-First trip to the beach
-First time "fishing"
-Dance parties
-First (real) jewelry purchased - thanks to Dada


OG and her pal, ShanBanan checking out the Allen's new back yard
**OOPS - GRATUITOUS PARENTAL OUTING PICS AHEAD**
Although OG would have LOVED it, our May the 4th "Art after dark" event was for grown-ups only...granted, grown-ups who act like kids, but I digress.


SABER FIGHT!

We were stoked to show OG that we met R2...the lady behind us - less so.

They also had DINOSAURS! This would have been OG wildest dream!
**END OG-less PHOTO BLOCK**

*Resuming Adorableness*

Random early morning diva moment <3

Flying lessions at the park

Getting ready for the zoo - wearing her new DINO DRESS!

I'l take one of these in an adult XL please...

Zoo date with pals <3

Meercat!


I promise, she actually does love slides LOL

The ol' "hug'n'walk" <3
When you ask OG "May I take a picture of you in your new shirt?" - this happens:
Trying to pick the best pose to display her "Grandpa's Helper" shirt
Mother's Day Brunch (was supposed to be breakfast, but apparently the restaurant ran out of EVERYTHING - so we ate 2.5 hours after being sat):


My beautiful Mother's Day Gift - thanks to my little lovemuffin!

What an impressive signature :)

Preschool check-up!

She has the nurses wrapped around her little finger - 3 stickers and 2 lollipops later...

At the hospital due to a little scare, but ended up being nothing (WHEW!). Dada snuggles always make it better <3

Then...our glorious trip to South Carolina for Fannie's wedding - OG's first time at the beach!






Early morning vacation shenanigans 

First time flying a kite!


Parents' night out

Fannie and her soon-to-be

Rough morning ;)

Yeah, so...when the cousins babysit, weird things happen. OG: remember to ask Awee & Ells about this one. 

DESTROYER OF WORLDS

<3

Almost wedding time!


OG owned the dance floor - and the entire room, really (she ran laps allllll night)

Until....she crashed.

Late night "fishing"

OG asked for a ring, and Dada complied <3
Best. Trip. Ever.