[ more moments worth cherishing ]

First hair cut by Momma.
(We did a big NO NO... so sorry, Aunt Holly! When Aunt Holly was recently up, for some reason we decided his hair wasn't that bad and didn't need to be cut. But lately... it was just looking so needy of some attention. One night, BrettRyan just looked at me and said, would you ever cut his hair? Curiosity took over and it just happened. I trimmed his bangs and the back just a tad and added in a few layers in the back to give it a little more shape. Now, I'm sure it's nothing like what Aunt Holly could rock out on a baby's fine locks, but I always take careful mental notes when I watch her do her thing, and I don't think it turned out too bad.)

Before

After

After

After

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Rainy days at the gardens.

Probably the best rainy day I've ever had. We've tried a few times to go to our local garden and sculpture park and it just didn't work out for some reason. And then we've waited for the right sunny day, but when those sunny days finally come around we're either busy or down and out with the nasty stomach bug. So Thursday, Grammy called and said I know we both have a to-do list to get done today, and it's overcast and misting out, but let's drop everything and just go! And that we did. I love any opportunity to be spontaneous! So, Grammy picked us up and treated us to the butterfly gardens, a tour of the coolest gift shop around, and lunch in the beautiful Taste of the Gardens Cafe.  Think - The Bistro... Black Forest ham and Brie on a french baguette with peach jam, or Potato, bacon, leek soup. Yum. It. was. delightful. We had a wonderful time together and Breck actually really got into watching the butterflies! If a butterfly was circling a fellow observer's leg, and then the butterfly flew away... he didn't realize it flew away, but he would look that person's legs and feet up and down. And the look on his sweet face said, well what'd you do with that pretty butterfly!?Where did you put it?

Grapefruit Citrus Zing... just the right remedy for a pregnant Momma's uneasy tummy. Yum.

Beautiful centerpieces in each cafe booth.

Breck and Grammy were checking out these beauties on the ceiling...

These blown-glass ceiling sculptures in the cafe were made by the glass artist Dale Chihuly. 

 The entire spectrum of the rainbow is displayed throughout the cafe with these glass pieces.

I can't resist including this picture. It absolutely cracks me up! We were trying to get him to perch his cute little body up on this bench for a picture. [ #1 It makes me laugh because square inch of his body says Pleeease, I don't want to do this!  #2 It makes me laugh because it looks like he's being scolded by Grammy, but he wasn't... she was just trying to sweet talk him into doing it, while also preventing him from falling off the bench in his fit of pleas. ]

See... I just wanted to walk around, Momma!

The tropical temperatures made for some interesting hair. 

Breck got curls and Momma got frizz. Uck. 

Thank you, Grammy, for a wonderful rainy day!

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Morning light.

I love the way the morning light spills into his room each morning. Spring and summer mornings are the best. The light is so warm and cheerful. His room is probably my favorite room in the house to catch come good morning golden light... the kind that no matter the bed head hair... every moment seems photo worthy.

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Catching up with friends. 

Both family are in mutual agreement it was way, way too long between visits. I think we'd figured it had been two months since we'd seen each other, and I think possibly more than that since all six of us had a night together. Busy, busy schedules, and sickness have stood in the way of our fun times with our besties, and it just can't happen again. :) But it's ok, because when things do get crazy, we always just pick up where we left off like no time passed at all. We celebrated Aunt Krystal's birthday with her famous tiramisu and a late night spontaneous Yesterdog feast to go. Oh, it's not a night with Dave and Krystal without Yesterdog! They were the ones who first introduced me to the heart-attacks and they are to die for. Aunt Krystal pulled up an old video of these boys playing together when they were about five months old. Back when they were stationary and pillows were being used to soften the fall of little topples. Crazy how much they've changed and that our little babies have turned into little boys! Where has the time gone!? It is so fascinating to watch these two interact. Breck interacts with Jaden in a completely different way than any other baby, even his own cousins. He usually doesn't even acknowledge the presence of his cousins, but these two talk, and jabber, and hug, and kiss each other. It's too cute. 

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Best birthday parties around.

Little Mr. J had his first birthday party on Saturday - carnival style. Seriously, my friend, B knows how to throw a party. Every single nook and cranny of her house carried out the birthday theme. Not a thing was left out. I couldn't stop taking pictures! Sorry, B! I was kind of paparazzi-ish.

The big birthday boy!

Birthday boy and his party-planning-rockstar-of-a-Momma.

Like I said, not a shelf nor a heat radiator was left out on the birthday celebration!

Breck LOVED the free pony rides!

He went crazy over fishing for ducks in the water table too! 

(Breck's shirt from Mamaw and super cool hat from Aunt Holly went perfectly together!)

Circus peanuts, old fashioned taffy, rock candy, button candy, 

animal crackers, and cotton candy all helped carry out the theme. So creative. 

B's Mom made these AMAZING chocolate mustache suckers! HOW COOL!

And everyone left the party with a bag of circus peanuts and a cute mini elephant cookie cutter! 

So fun!

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Whew that's a lot of memories from last week I've been meaning to post! I think I covered everything though! Now to get 19 week baby bump pictures up this week! Coming soon!

Ps. Woke up to two inches of snow on the deck this morning. Every single thing outside is covered in white and it is still coming down! I'm in a deep state of denial and wondering how this can happen mid April. (I was JUST joking with BrettRyan this weekend that it's depressing that my birthday month is filled with rain and gloom, and now I can include SNOW in that!) Thankful for the April showers though since they do indeed bring May flowers. Just talked to my Mom and it's 60 degrees and sunny down there. Makes me want to pack up and go down there until this snow is gone and Spring comes back to STAY!

[ we've got mail (and friends) ]

What is it about that heart swelling feeling when you see a plush white oversized envelope protruding out of your mailbox that's signed with a Mother's handwriting?! It's the same feeling I got when I saw a package slip in my mailbox during my college days. It was priority to immediately pick up that package at the mail office because that meant something comforting from home was waiting for me. I remember saving the packages to open once I was in the privacy of my own room to savor and cherish by myself. I mean, hey, sometimes tears would flow when I opened that package and smelled my momma's perfume. Well, I got that same feeling the other day when I found a little package in the mailbox, except it wasn't for me. It was for the grandboy. :) So we waited until the boy was up from his nap to open it together! And he LOVES his new sleeper from Mamaw and Papaw! I think an installation of a cute little mini mailbox outside our boy's door is in the future. It's a must. Who doesn't love getting a package or a card? And especially from Grandma and Grandpa! Baby boy needs a mail box right outside his door. I was going to include a picture of the cute package from Mamaw and Papaw addressed to "Mr. Breck ...." But then I realized it might not be such a comforting idea to post our address all over the internet for any wanderer to see! So use your imagination: To: Mr. Breck B...

Mamaw knew he'd look so cute with that green against his red hair!

Under the raccoon it says "Mommy's Rascal!"

I think this might be the closest to curly we'll ever get... after-bath-time-curls. 

Sorry, punkin, you've got hair like your Momma. :o(

Thanks for the new jam-jams, Mamaw and Papaw! They are so comfy-cozy! I love you! <3 Breckeroni

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Daddy has been on vacation this week, and with the help of Poppa we've gotten some huge construction to-dos checked off the ugly list. And in the midst of being productive this week we were able to socialize a bit with our friends Thursday night! We had a great time... there were lots of laughs from the Mommies and Daddies and "Sssshhing" to the screaming babies at each end of the table. 

Friends who also appreciate a good pair of cute BabyLegs!

Friends who also appreciate the fact that I was able to find another use for my obsessive glass jar collection.  I mean really, who can resist pouring oyster crackers from a clear glass jar. 

It just does something for me, I can't help it! :)

Baby Boy is good at showing some love. (Yes, he is wearing suspenders AND babylegs!)

Baby J took his very first big boys steps while they were here! He took four steps all by himself!

Breck is napping and I'm feeling productive. Down to the basement I'll go to crank out some more bags for goodwill and get some more organization going down there. I'm a pack rat, but I'll admit it feels so good to purge and make some room!

-A