[ 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!

[ bless the Lord ]

This song makes me want to fall on my knees in worship or stand up with my hands towards Heaven in surrender to my Creator. It so moves me.  It moves me because, YES! Bless the Lord he knows me, he made me, and understands what is best for me, even though I don't. His way is perfect.


As a family we've been wrestling with what God's will would look like in a specific area of our lives. This area is one that requires peace. A peace that was once there, and has recently been taken away. This morning God brought the following verse to my mind “...the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away...” (Job 1:21) and not five seconds after that, this song began playing on the radio. I've always read that verse and thought of material things, or loved ones, or health. But today when I thought of that verse and heard this song I realized peace can certainly be what's being granted and taken away.
And when He does, he does it for a reason. I don't understand the reason, but I'll trust the He is the one that is all-knowing and all-powerful, so if he decides - we can rest in the fact that it is for our good. Thankful for the handful of family members and friends in our life that are supportive and reassuring to us whether the peace is there or not. Like Laura's song says... You give and take away for my good.


Listen Here.


Bless The Lord by Laura Story


You give and take away for my good
For who am I to say what I need?
For You alone see the hidden parts of me
that need to be stripped away.

And as You begin to refine
I’m learning to let go and rely
on One who walks with me
As hard as it may be,
You’re teaching me all the while to say:

Bless the Lord, O my soul
All that’s in me bless Your name
Forget not Your power un- told
not Your glory or Your fame
For You came to heal the broken
to redeem and make me whole
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

[ we'll take eighty-one ]

Today the mercury crept up to eighty-one degrees. We've been begging for Spring, and when Summer gave us a preview today we played along and didn't complain. Busted out the toddler rompers, bare feet, and sidewalk chalk. After being cooped up in the house with the nasty flu this weekend, some fresh outside air was just what I needed. And I'm sure BR was glad to breath in some germ-free air. 

Breck was happy as ever with his cup-full-o-ice and spoon. 

I just can't get enough of his little feet and how his middle toe sits up just above the other piggies. 

Makes me want to nibble them. 

While Breck was napping, BrettRyan and I soaked up some sun, I read a little of my book, while he would get my opinion on baby names that were worthy of discussion as he came upon them in his book. When we were if-y on a spelling, we would write it on side walk chalk on the deck to see how it looked and what it felt like to write it. Cuz sometimes you just need to see it in your own handwriting before you oust a name possibility for your future child. 

Can't wait for Spring or Summer... whichever choses to show up first. 

-A

[ date night with little man ]

Daddy had to work late tonight. So, little man and I ditched scrounging the refrigerator for leftovers and what could suffice for baby food, and headed to Panera to share some dinner and drinks together. We had such a fun time and Breck was a doll the entire dinner. The only time I had to Shhh him was when he was belly laughing so loud the entire restaurant could have heard his little chuckle. He was looking to his left and laughing it up constantly in between bites. I finally peeked my head outside and around the booth to see what he was giggling at... to find he was flirting with a cute little old lady who was waving and making faces at him. He was smitten. Everyone in earshot was catching Breck's contagious laugh except the smug businessman in the corner who was obviously pretending with all his might to be all business like and ignore the cute baby laugh. Who can ignore a baby that is laughing? Really, dude? Go on. Just keep starring at that computer screen, while I document a moment worth cherishing. I don't mind if I do. Ha! Here are a few pictures I got of Breck on my phone tonight. 

After dinner we went to Target to do a little shopping for several parties and showers we've rsvp'd for in the upcoming month. About half-way through the shopping, Breck demanded that I free him from the cart and either hold him or let him push the cart. I finally just figured we aren't in a hurry, so why not let him push the cart while I (unbeknownst to him) steer. He felt independent and I didn't have to juggle a squirming baby. It was a win win. Several shoppers chuckled as they passed and saw what he was doing. This was my view:

Breck meltdowned it when I buckled him in the car-seat. I promised him we were going to go home. When we pulled in the drive, I looked back to find him just glaring at me. I asked him if he was mad at me? He got a sparkle in his eye, and a grin on his face and shook his head "No-no" several times. Made me laugh and put my heart at ease. :) 

Gotta love date nights with my little man. 

[ you know what you get ]

You know what you get when you have company? 
A guest room. I love a good set-in-stone-deadline that forces you to get your rear in gear and get things organized, thrown away, and put any leftover crap in it's place before the company arrives.

Here's a little glimpse of ours... 

You know what you get when you have a sister? Or at least a sister like mine? A bestest friend. 

Someone you can laugh with in a way you could never laugh with anyone else in the world. Someone who just gets it without an explanation. Someone who loves your babies as much as they love their own. Someone who loves you no matter how opposite you are. Someone who loves you no matter what ever happens in life. Someone who inspires you. Someone you seek out for advice. Someone you play in makeup with and someone you go shopping with. Someone you still share clothes with. Someone you look up to - even though, she's younger.  My sister is a forever friend. And I can't seem to say goodbye to her (or write this post) without tearing up. 

There can be no situation in life in which the conversation of my dear sister will not administer some comfort to me. - Mary Montague

(Boy, have these pregnancy hormones been on crying overload lately! Whew!) 

Might I also add, that you get a 'brother' when you get a sister. Because my brother-in-law is pretty much the best older brother I always wanted, and the fact that he takes pretty good care of my little sis and my precious nephews is a huge perk too.

We had a great time this weekend with Aaron, Holly, and the boys. It was great to watch the babies play and Dylan entertain them. The babies didn't really "play" together, but they would play beside each other, and be completely oblivious to each other. We enjoyed hearing Brody show off his cute little vocabulary of peez (please), ank-oo (thank you), goggie (doggie), mama, and dada. And Breck incessantly showed them that he can say go, hot, and gog. Brody is a super smiley baby and has no fear.  We learned that Breck doesn't really understand the idea of sharing yet, and he needs to toughen up when it comes to other babies touching or patting him. He nearly freaked out every time Brody would touch him. Ha!

The only bummer to the weekend was that Dylan suffered a bout of a twenty-four hour stomach bug and the weather was dreary and horrible.  Both situations gave us a good excuse to bum around in our jammies all day Saturday and relax together and pamper Dyl. Even though the rain came Sunday, we all got showered and dressed up to go out to the mall and hit up Red Robin for some delicious lunch. Now that's a day out with kids. :)

Brody-bro has gotten SO BIG since we saw him at Christmas. 

He's such a little darling and always smiling! 

Bathtime with cousin. 

While babies are napping, mommies will shop and play. Shop at Nordstrom Rack and play in makeup. My sister has the goods when it comes to makeup. She's the makeup color guru. I always love having her tell me about her latest and greatest MAC colors! Amber Lights, Knight Divine, Sumptuous Olive, and Star Violet, I want you all - in all of your highly pigmented glory. 

The boys really enjoyed themselves some giant rubberized-breakfast-food-play-equipment. 

 

 

And a yummy lunch at Red Robin's. Um, by the way. Never been to Red Robin's before this weekend, but it ranks right up there with some of my other hand-full-o-favorite-restaurants. 

Poor boy earned his root beer float after spending half the weekend with the stomach bug.

The Indiana Easter bunny came early and hopped out the back of Uncle Aaron and Aunt Holly's car. 

That bunny sure has good taste!

Ps. Obviously this little "ps." could be a post all it's own, but in keeping with the You know what you get... 

You know what you get when you get a mother-in-law? Or at least a mother-in-law like mine?

The best mom-in-law in the world. Someone who deserves to be called a mom-in-law and not mother-in-law. She doesn't deserve the stereotypical mother-in-law jokes. 

This woman is the hardest worker. The very first picture in this post? Our guest room? Well, it was only possible because she was over here working her heart out to help me get ready for company and get our guest room finished. 

And last night. Know what she did? She instantly invited us over for dinner as soon as she heard my stuffy nose on the other end of the phone. Cuz she's a Momma too and has been there and knows that a sick Momma plus a clingy baby, plus a five-load-of laundry-day doesn't leave much time or energy to fix a dinner. She expects me to do nothing, but show up at 6:00pm to her T-bone steak, baked potatoes, mushroom and onion, salad, and cherry blossoms dinner. Honest.

And today. Know what else she did? When I got home from my doctors appointment I found another surprise. She managed to put away all of the clean dishes in my dishwasher, and load all of the dirty ones into the dishwasher, while she watched Breck for me. None of these things she has to do, or no one makes her feel like she should do them, but she simply just has the biggest servants heart I've ever seen. And when I thanked her, she said, I just know how relieved I am to come home to a dish-free sink, and I also understand not having time to get them done. She doesn't judge. :)

I am always turning around to find myself being a little more relieved by something because of her help and her initiative. 

Pss. Between the neighbors dog incessantly barking, the jeep car alarm randomly sounding in the parking lot, and the ambulance sirens blaring while I write this post... I have no idea how Breck is still sleeping. And if either one of them wake up the boy, I may have to go shut them up myself!

[ unrelated birthdays & surprises ]

This past Sunday we had a great time together as a family celebrating Dad Buckingham's birthday. (Or as he would say, birfday. He swears  he pronounces it correctly, but every time he says the word we all giggle because we swear it comes out as bir-f-day. He's so cute! :)

We were trying to get a photo of all the Buckingham men and I love the progression of these three photos. They make me laugh every time. (By the way, I can only imagine how Mom Buckingham's heart must SWELL with love and pride when she looks at these pictures of her boys, and knowing that they are all her boys! I mean, my heart swells and I get goosebumps when I look at it, and only two of them are mine!)

Anyways... back to the progression of these photos.

Picture #1: Great picture, right? Then there's Justin. (On the left.)
He. is. hilarious!
When we were taking these pictures I told him to put the pillow down.
He then responded with, What?! I have to hold my son too!




Picture #2: Everyone's reaction when they realize what Justin is doing. Everything about this picture makes me laugh... from the adult's expressions to the babies oblivious faces. Ha!

Picture #3: Ok. Seriously, for reals this time, dudes. :) Got it! 

We just ran out of  number "3" candles to make "32" so we improvised and used a "5" instead. :)

*** Insert surprise here! ***

We were all lounging around enjoying Dad B's birthday, when I looked up from, I dunno - moving a breakable mug out of the babies reach or something, and saw MY MOM AND DAD standing in my entry way! I immediately stood up and starting screeching something to the tune of What!?! What? What! No! Are YOU SERIOUS!? as I jumped up off the couch into what seemed like a five foot jump off the ground and hit the ground running to my Mom and Dad! I'll just say it made a big enough of a scene that Breck thought some emergency was happening and that I was hurt and began to respond in uncontrollable scared sobbing. Not exactly the greeting we would have chose had we known Mamaw and Papaw were gonna see baby boy, but hey  - they were glad to see him any way he'd choose to greet them. Tears, or no tears... they were here to see their Breckeroni! It took a few hours for it sink in that my Mom and Dad were just chilling in my living room on a Sunday afternoon! They stayed for a few days and we had a great time making memories. Daddy had to work nearly the entire time they were here, so we missed having him around, but it was great that my parents were here to keep Breck and I company because I hate, hate, hate it with a passion being home alone with a baby in the evening. 

Here are some of the pictures from our weekend with my parents...

They treated us to a heavenly lunch at Marie Catribs! 

Hello, Spring.

Goodness sakes, I can see the resemblance between these two here!.

Reading books with Mamaw...

Mom's reaction when I caught her getting into the Roaaaaring of the dinos in the book...

Ice chips are the snack of choice for this little sweetie. :)

Helping Momma mop the kitchen...

Cute little outfit from Mamaw and Papaw. 

It was indeed a little too chilly for shorts that day, but we stayed inside.

The cutest baby boat shoes I've ever seen. Ever.

We despise goodbyes around here. The harshness of the quite house after company leaves is unbearable sometimes. So after the tears of Mamaw and Papaw being on the road again, we searched for something happy. So we sidewalk chalked the deck. Well, Momma did, and Breck threw the chalk as hard as he could, but he enjoyed himself, nonetheless. :)

And now, as I type, Uncle Aaron, Aunt Holly, Dylan and Brody are driving North. Destination: OUR HOUSE! We get visiting family for the weekend too! Like I said, our cup runneth over with family this week and weekend, and it is sheer bliss. :) Can't wait to have the kids together, and for some sister-sister grown up time after babies are nicely tucked into the Land of Nod. Thank you Lord for family! Amen! :)

-A