2 years

2 years..

2 years ago, I held a crying newborn for the very first time.

{I can't believe I'm sharing this photo, and having it as the first picture of a post, for that matter. This is what you look like after 20 hours of labor & a c-section!}

2 years ago, we changed our first poopy diapers

2 years ago, we welcomed the newest addition to our family into our home

2 years ago, this little ray of sunshine changed my life in more ways than I could ever imagine

2 years ago, I had no idea what the next 2 years would bring. Joy when she was happy, heartache when she was crying and nothing I did would make her feel better, unconditional love whenever I see her face.

I'm so proud of the little girl my baby is turning out to be. I couldn't have asked for a better child and I thank God every day for her. She's such a blessing and really turned my life around.

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, perfect, sweet, wonderful little lady. I wouldn't trade these last 2 years for anything.

Happy Birthday, Sweetpea!

Goodbye, Hello

Inspired by Little Miss Momma's Hello Summer post.

Goodbye, Spring.

Goodbye, jackets on the train

Goodbye, pool cover.

Goodbye, rain (although, we're still holding onto our rain boots and wearing them every day, just because)

{I am so embarrassed at the lack of Spring pictures I have. I had lost my camera so therefore couldn't take pictures. Oops}

Hello, Summer!

Hello, first ice cream cone!

Hello, reading books with the AC on blast (this is our favorite book - My Little Girl by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill)

Hello, summer love!


Hello, relaxation in the sand

Hello, bumble bee!

Hello, secret hideout at the park!

Hello, pool!


Hello, water baby!

Our Summer To-Do List:
1. Take a family trip to the New England Aquarium
2. Go to a baseball game
3. Make homemade ice cream
4. Compile a list of recipes to make before summer is over
5. Go to the farmer's market
6. Make s'mores
7. Build sandcastles and play on the beach until sunset
8. Go bug catching
9. Go to a fair or festival.
10. Have a picnic with a friend.
11. Host a small family get together
12. Go for a walk on the boulevard after the sun goes down
13. Play with sidewalk chalk
14. Make water balloons
15. Go to a museum

Father's Day

Today is a day where we take some time to appreciate the Fathers in our lives.

Ever since I was 13, this holiday has been kinda tough for me. The first year, it was unbearable.
I cried. A lot.
"It's not fair" "I wasn't ready to say goodbye" "Why did he have to die?"

I was sad. I was angry. These feelings stayed for a long time.

11 years later, the pain is still there. The wound isn't as fresh, but it still hurts.
I feel like my father is missing out on so much. Every milestone Aubrey reaches, I feel a little sting because he isn't here to witness it. I know he'd be so proud.

He'd spoil her. Love her. Pull her out of school on random days to go play video games. Say yes when we say no. All the things he used to do to me to make me feel extra special.


I feel sorry for Aubrey. Sorry that she never got the chance to meet him.

But at the same time, her daddy reminds me so much of my dad that I feel like, sometimes, he's still here with us.

So even though he drives me crazy
can never be serious
turns everything into a joke
chews too loud

steals the blankets
watches boring movies
doesn't like coffee
and is the pickiest eater I know..

..I realize how blessed Aubrey & I are to have him in our lives and I wouldn't change anything.

Happy Fathers Day, babycakes.
So happy that you're ours :)

She said "Baby, it's 3am.. I must be lonely"

What a weekend.

I won't go into a ton of crazy detail but I spent a good part of yesterday afternoon at the hospital because I had this constant chest pain. I finally got released at around 5:30 after the doctor chalked it up to a bad chest sprain (what!? leave it to me to sprain my chest). I had Keith drop me off/pick me up because I was in too much pain to drive, so when he & Aubrey got to the hospital we went to Target to get a prescription filled but of course the pharmacy was closed already. Sigh.

We decided to have a relaxing night in since I'm out of work til Monday and I never have the weekend off (of course, when we drove by my work on the way to Target it was packed so I probably would have made some pretty decent money. Double sigh). We threw a pizza in the oven and watched Extreme Couponing. I got Keith hooked on this show and now when it's on he tells Aubrey "watch this, Aubrey.. this is what mama is going to do".. if you say so! I would so love to get into doing this but I wouldn't be able to go as um, extreme as these ladies.. but we did save $10 on a $40 purchase when we went to the store yesterday morning and I barely even tried so it's definitely something I want to get into!


But anyway, I realized that I never made a post about our trip to a local theme park. It was Aubrey's first time going and of course, I couldn't find my camera so I actually made Keith go to Walmart before we made the drive and I got a couple disposable cameras (yeah, I went there). Once I get them developed I'll have to scan them in. I did manage to get a couple on my phone..

Keith absolutely despises the headbands that I put on her but I just can't resist!


We road on the Canobie Express, a train that takes you on a ride through the whole park.

Aubrey had a ton of fun going on all of the kiddie rides and we can't wait to take her back this summer!


I'll leave you with a picture of my adorable little cheerleader:

"Goooo Red Sox!"

As the years go by, our friendship will never die ♥

This past weekend I attended a baby shower.. but not just any old baby shower.. but one to honor my best friend of 22 years!

When we were kids, Laura & I always talked about how cool it would be to grow up and have babies together so they could be best friends just like us. Our kids would grow up to be inseparable and play truth or dare. Maybe Aubrey will dare Callie to run outside in a blizzard with no shoes and a sports bra, or maybe Callie will break the arm off of one of Aubrey's expensive dolls.
Perhaps they'll
stay up all night eating nothing but party mix and popsicles.
get the cops called on them multiple times for loud music.
fall asleep in class
eat Chinese food for free every weekend
walk 2 hours to the nearest Wendys for green ketchup
make Tuna Helper because they heard it was their crush's favorite food
(not that we did any of those things!)

Even though Aubrey will be 2 years old when Laura's little girl is born, I know they're going to be best friends just like us.. before I know it we'll be taking turns hosting sleepovers and going to the park and eventually they'll be old enough to tie up the phone lines for hours at a time talking about the boys they like and planning their next big adventures.. just like their mommas did when they were kids.

I'm so thrilled for Laura and I can't wait to meet Baby Callie!

Blast from the past..

New home

I've been MIA for a while, but for good reason. To make a long story short, we found out that our old place was infested with mold.. starting in the bathroom and spreading all the way into Aubrey's room which could explain why she was getting so sick all winter. I immediately called and spoke to our building manager and after a couple weeks of being tossed around and ignored, Mama Bear showed her claws. I wanted no part of living there and demanded they either put us in a hotel while they fixed the problem or they move us.

Last weekend, we moved into our new home and we couldn't be happier. I still have unpacking and decorating to do, and I also have to find my camera cord.. but I promise to share pictures as soon as I can :)


In other news, Aubrey has been a little chatty Kathy lately, saying words such as "sneaky", "baby", "Aubrey" and even "dinosaur" (?!?!). She has also started going to a toddler group once a week and she loves it. I can't believe she's going to be 1.5 months. We decided on a date for her party and we even have a super special day planned out for her actual birthday. :)

I need to go catch up on everyone's lives :)

Easter

Growing up, Easter was always kind of like a second Christmas for me. The Easter bunny loaded up my basket with CDs, movies, toys... and when I was 13 I got the best surprise ever at the bottom of my basket: tickets to see the Backstreet Boys in Boston.

While Aubrey definitely did not get tickets to see the Backstreet Boys (which, at this point in time would really be "NKOTBSB"), the Easter bunny was pretty good to her!

Easter pedicure!

Striking a pose in her dress

She has been taking her baby with her EVERYWHERE lately. Her big gift for her birthday this year will be a huge hit (but that's for another day)

Opening her eggs!

We ran out of wine glasses, so Keith embraced his inner white trash and drank his wine out of a Solo cup ♥

We had a wonderful Easter dinner with my side of the family.. complete with a delicious ham with my mom's famous ham sauce (Easter isn't complete without it!), brocolli & cheese, veggies, mashed potatoes, and of course.. the biscuits.

Getting her sillies out with her Auntie:

We ended the day at my father-in-law's

We had a second dinner while we were there and by the time dessert came around we were all stuffed! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter (or if you don't celebrate, I hope it was just a wonderful weekend in general!)