[ circle of life ]

Baby there ain't nothing not affected
When two hearts get connected
All that is will be or ever was
I'm glad your dad could not resist
And mammas charm to you exist
All because two people fell in love
-Brad Paisley




Twenty-six years ago today, this happened. If it weren't for these two people, and this picture...

This moment and this picture wouldn't have happened. 

It amazes me to think of how many people in both of our family histories that it took for us to have our little family that we have today. God is so good. He creates life at just the right times... to give us who we need. 

Thank you Mom and Dad for giving me life. And Mom, thank you for the 20+ hours of labor you worked through get me into this world! 

[ easter plus ]

Found this quote by author, Elizabeth Berg, yesterday and it completely describes the way I feel during these months that are technically Spring, but feel more like Winter...


It’s that time of year again, near-spring, when I’m one step short of going out and tugging on whatever shoots of green I can find. I am heartened by the sight of robins everywhere, even if the buds on the trees remain tightly closed. Spring is an exercise in having faith and learning patience: It will come, when it’s ready; and then I can engage in my favorite practice of sitting on the front porch and watching dogs walk by with their people. 
- Elizabeth Berg


"Spring is an exercise in having faith and learning patience: It will come, when it’s ready"... Oh yes, it is an exercise in having faith and learning patience... at least up here in Michigan it is!




Lately cherishing... 




Our first fire in the grill.


We had my Mom's delicious flank steak marinade recipe, squash, zucchini, potatoes & onions on the grill, salad, and homemade bread & herbed butter. We had Uncle Dave, Aunt Krystal, and Jaden to share dinner with, which made our first grill out even better!

What-nots in unexpected places.

It's Breck's signature. At any given time, in any given drawer or cabinet, I am almost certain to find any given item strategically placed there by my little Breck's hands. It takes me by surprise and makes me smile every time. His latest obsession is the travel mug/water bottle drawer, and the mixing bowl cabinet. One day I couldn't find my phone anywhere, but could hear muffled text message notifications sounding off in the distance. After a little if-I-were-Breck-where-would-I-have-put-my-mommy's-phone train of thought, I finally found it in the tupperware cabinet, exactly where B left it.

Packages.

With Easter, and my birthday being so close together, we've gotten four things in the mail within the last week, and it is sheer bliss seeing the mailbox overflowing with plush packaging. Actually, the fourth package had nothing to do with Easter or my birthday, but has everything to do with the fact that we find out on May 4th if BabyB#2 is a boy or girl! May 4th... which is also my Aunt Donna's birthday! With there already being three grandboys in the family, she is hoping so hard for a girl! She is just ecstatic that when I call her to wish her a happy birthday on the 4th, she know's I'm also gonna have some BIG NEWS to share too! Uncle Greg and Aunt Donna are seriously the coolest Aunt and Uncle EVER. They've been the faithful ones always there for our family through the years and have literally felt like a second set of parents to Holly and I. They are that kind of aunt and uncle. And when I think about it the family vacations that included them were the best ones that have the most Normal Rockwell memories in my mind. Love them! 

Look at what they sent us in the mail... 

I just can't get enough of the sheer ruffle around the ankle!

Bubbles.

Easter basket, birthday gift skype.


One of the packages in the mailbox was Breck's Easter "basket" from Mamaw and Papaw. So we saved it for Saturday when they could watch Breck open his package over skype. Breck got two super cool new summer shirts, a sparkly Spring board book, some sugary sweetness chicks, a sweet grandson at Easter card, and some Easter moolah! Just so happens that my birthday gift from Mom and Dad came in the mail the same day too. So, I got to open my gorgeous blown glass hummingbird feeder and a card with birthday moolah in front of them too! Mom is a your-wish-is-my-command-type-birthday-giver. :) Which is kinda fun because two days before she asked me what my birthday wish was... I discovered my new found love for blown glass hummingbird feeders! And wha-lah... there it was in my mailbox a few days later! 

Mamaw, Papaw, and Breck playing peek-a-boo...

Bitin' off the chick's head...

Matching Easter pastels.

So, I'll admit I'm a complete crafting geek, but I was on an crafting high once I stumbled upon a handmade toddler tie pattern which inspired me to embark on a hunt for some cheery pastel tie fabric. I found this lovely, in the quilting section of all places, at Joann Fabrics. It was just what I was looking for and I was in-love. ($3.00 to make the tie and $4.99 for his dress shirt to match!= $7.99 for an Easter outfit!) I made Breck's tie first, which then inspired me to make us each an accessory out of this fabric. I don't know what it is about the gratification that comes with making something by hand, but it does something for me and I can't hold back. And there you have it; our Easter Sunday accessories. A bit overkill? Maybe. Worth it? Totally. :) 

Egg traditions.

I don't know what it is about having kids and holidays, but they mesh in a way that makes every childhood memory come alive and a little more vivid than before. The privilege and creative liberties we have as parents to carry on family traditions and begin our own new ones... is inspiring. Finding creative ways to teach my children about Christ's birth, death, and resurrection, wrapping Christmas gifts and placing them under the soft glow of a Christmas tree, and stuffing plastic eggs with little surprises really has a way of making it feel official that you are the parent now. The parent who is creating traditions and making memories that will stick with the kids once they are the grown parents making their own traditions! 

Speaking of traditions, one specifically that I was so excited to carry on for my children is the tradition of finding the Silver Egg. My Grandma and Grandpa Lasley started this tradition long before I was born, but boy, do I have fond memories of the sense of urgency and competition between family members to be the first to find it! Adults and children both were involved in the silver egg hunt. It. was. a. big. deal. The silver egg was quite a bit larger than any of the other eggs, and was silver, obviously. The original silver egg that my Grandma used was actually an old silver Leggs panty hose container she saved and used for the tradition. 

This is pretty much what their egg looked like! (Picture from Google)

I was ecstatic when I found a large silver egg at Hobby Lobby that looks very similar to theirs!  The goodies housed inside the silver egg were slightly better than any of the other eggs'. Instead of quarters or a one dollar bill, there was a five dollar bill and candy that was a little bit more gourmet than the rest. Grandma used to keep a record in a little notebook of the year, who found the egg, and where they hid it. So, needless to say they never duplicated a hiding spot. Ever. Somehow the topic of conversation at every Easter dinner always seemed to be Who found it last year, where they found it, and who found it the year before, and the year before, and the year before. I have lovely visions in my Normal Rockwell mind of our own kids getting wrapped up into the hype, huddled together in their bedroom while Mom and Dad hide the silver egg. Their burning desire to be the one to find it first will create this nervous energy that's just bursting to be let loose and to find that ovaloid piece of silver. And the ultimate prize? Getting their name written down in Silver Egg history!

For Breck's first egg hunt, we didn't exactly hide the eggs, but rather strategically laid them out in the open, where the bright colors would actually capture his attention. He's only fifteen months, but he totally got it. He even carried the bucket with him as he approached each new egg... it was precious. He of course loves to put anything in anything, so dropping the eggs in the bucket? No problem. After he picked up all of the eggs, he then began picking up rocks and sticks and making extra deposits into his easter bucket! Like I said, he totally got it.

Little video of the egg in the bucket action...

See how the silver egg is just bigger and better?!?

Breck's silver egg consisted of two "gourmet candy" lifesavers, gummy fruit, and a gold dollar. Maybe in a few years we'll incorporate a five dollar bill and some Lindt Lindor truffles. (We would have used a one or five dollar bill if we had one, but we scoured the house and couldn't find a bill of cash anywhere. Momma wasn't prepared!) 

Easter Sunday.

Coordinated we were off to church. And early! That never happens! I think it had something to do with the fact that we had our clothes planned out days in advance! We should try that more often for Sunday mornings. We enjoyed a great Easter service at church with several testimonies that Christ really is alive and working among us. What an undeserving gift that he died for us, and what a miracle that he raised himself from the dead. I'm thinking that Easter might be my new favorite holiday... what it really means, and the colors, and the season, all say hope. That is irresistible. 

My lil baby sitting in the church pew. Ah.

After church we gathered at Mom and Dad Buckingham's house for a delectable Easter dinner and birthday dessert. I have the best brother-in-law ever because he lets me share the birthday gatherings with him now that I've married into the family. He is about one year and one week older than I am. We were honored together by Mom's famous made-from-scratch-cherry-almond-cheesecake! Yummm.

My in-laws are always too good to me. They got me the most amazing book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, a book that "dares you to live fully, right where you are." Mom B has read it and is in love with it.  They also gave me an anti-gravity reclining chair so that I can recline back on the deck  and have a comfy place to read when I'm full-term and pregnant this summer! I think I'm most excited about the fact that I have my very own chair! I might just have to drag that thing to the pool this summer and skip laying on the hot strips of plastic that stick to the back of sunburnt thighs.

For Easter, Mom and Dad B got each of the grandboys a Ty Beanie Baby chick, some fun buckets, shovels, and molds to make a hard core sand castle this summer at the beach! Can't wait to build our first sand castle together! 

One more picture, just for kicks...

I know I already posted this picture, but I can't get enough of it.

[ hide the afrin ]

This post has nothing to do with anything, other than I want to make a facebook status that says, Somebody better'd hide the Afrin! But, since I don't have the luxury of making stream-of-consciousness-facebook-statuses I need to blog about it.

 I guess I'm going through withdraws? I dunno. I'm assuming that's what you call it when all you can think about is a little bottle of nasal spray and long for the glorious mist that relieves my nasty nasal swelling in literally a few minutes. All I know is that I am miserable and I want my AFRIN! Literally, I just looked at BrettRyan and said, You'd better'd hide the Afrin! 

A month ago I had some serious congestion come over me all at once and our family doctor had previously recommended to try a little Afrin for nasal congestion because it is safe during pregnancy. At my eighteen week check up a few weeks ago with my midwife, I mentioned I was taking it for some congestion. She instantly perked up and said, Be careful! That stuff is addictive! I had NO idea it was addictive. The past week or so I've been wondering if I'd be classified as an addict, because I was finding myself using that little puffer every 10-12 hours around the clock, and if I was thirty minutes over due I would begin to get stuffy.

So, today Breck had a 15 month wellness check with our doctor, and I mentioned that he recommended it and I've been taking it for about a month or so, and if I don't take it... I'm miserable. He looked shocked and said, Oh yeah that Afrin is only to be used for a few days. He instantly looked a little concerned and said, I'll get you a nasal steroid to get you off of the Afrin and was immediately out the door in search of finding me a sample to get me through the next few weeks. He really is the greatest doctor ever! I just shouldn't have assumed, and addicted is what I get for assuming. Ooops. WHO knew that a little bottle of NOSE SPRAY could be addicting?!?! Sure enough, BR just googled it and the search results said, We've heard from thousands of people whose Afrin addiction has lasted more than thirty years! Who knew!?!?! I am here to tell you, it is powerful stuff!

My name is Amber. I am addicted to Afrin and have gone twelve hours without and am miserable.

So, now I blog and stare through watery eyes, finally finished editing Easter pictures, but too tired to blog about Easter.  I'm so tired, but too miserable with congestion and heavy mouth breathing that I dread trying to sleep in this condition. Ooooh! If only I could have my Afrin. Ah!

Goodnight! Easter pictures coming soon!
-A

[ nineteen weeks pregnant ]

Besides the usual catch in my back that only appears during my pregnancies, a bad case of cotton mouth, nearly constant headaches, and constant congestion (Affrin has been my best friend), I'm feeling great! I love that all of these side effects are a result of a little miracle growing inside of my body. The little peanut is moving like crazy lately! I just love feeling it move. It's funny to me how tiny and small these movements are right now. I guess it's because I know what to expect this time around and I realize these little flutters are nothing compared to how big some of the summersaults and karate chops can get in there towards the end! Can't wait to watch again as my entire belly shifts with each movement.  Once again... can I just say, miracle.

I began feeling the baby internally around fifteen or sixteen weeks, but at the beginning of this week (19 weeks) I felt it internally and externally with my hand resting on my stomach. Also, Daddy felt the baby move for the first time this week too, which was very exciting! Two more weeks until we can start calling him or her by name! Can't wait!

Not a big fan of the angle, or the light, or the focal point from the picture today, but I did the best I could with a tripod and the self-timer setting. As you can see in the reflection in the mirror next to me, my man was missing tonight. He had to work late, and baby turns 20 weeks tomorrow, so I was desperate. I had the tripod as high as it would go, but I think I look a tad thinner from a picture taken from 6'3" off the ground. Yeah, I do. Sick. Last time I photograph myself!

And here's a little comparison between Breck and Baby #2 (And apparently the many hair styles of Amber). First two photos were me carrying Breck at nineteen weeks also. 

[ 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!

................................................................................................

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.

..........................................................................................

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. 

.........................................................................................

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!

................................................................................................

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!