A camping we will go...

Silver Streak Travel Trailer
Originally uploaded by Vintage Roadside

bags packed...check
iPod charged...check
cameras charged and empty...check
food...check
tent...check
diapers...check

I think we're ready!
We are on our way to the
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
for a camping adventure.
We will be home on Wednesday.
I'm sure I will have tons of pictures
and some funny stories to tell.
Have a restful, relaxing Memorial Day weekend!
And I will see you all soon!

I'm sad...

Wednesday was Sadie~Rose's 6 month birthday.
{Sigh}
She's such a big plump smiley happy baby girl
and we love her so much.
Tuesday was the last day that Olivia
could confound the smartest of people
with her joyful statement of
"I'm five and she's five."
(Olivia and Sadie~Rose spent two whole months
being the "same" age. 4 months and 4 years
and 5 months and 5 years. Olivia was in heaven.)

I remember with Olivia that I was excitedly always
looking for the next milestone.
I ticked them off on our calender almost daily.

But now, I almost mourn the milestones
because I know that she is one more day older
one more day bigger and
closer to being a "big girl" like her sister.
One more day closer to not wanting to nurse,
and snuggle,
cuddle,
reach pudgy little hands out to touch my face
or have me pick her up.
All too soon her little grunts,
raspberries, and looks
will be replaced with words,
endearing words
(and some not so endearing words)
but words nonetheless.
And walking
(I shudder)
and then running.

I know I should rejoice
that she is healthy and growing.
But 5 years have gone by
since I brought my 1st little baby
into this world
and I know how quickly it slips by.

So for today, we are doing lots of smooching
on fat chubby cheeks
and in return we get
a slobbery kiss,
giggles and pats on the head.
We are cradling and holding
singing and swaying
and just trying to capture and remember
every dear little thing about our Rose.

Cute as a...well, you know!

Yesterday was the baby shower that I've been
working on for a few weeks now.
It was lots of fun and a large success,
but I'm glad it's behind me and
we're moving on to other things now.
But, more about that later.
Below are some of the details of the shower.

We started out with some super cute invites.

And decided that it would be, not just another baby shower,
but about the Mommy-to-be too.

We added some cute decor,
via banners. :)

{I am officially in love with mini clothes pins!}

I bought this wreath, added some tulle, and
the "baby" banner. Viola!
Instant baby shower ready super sweet
front door decoration.

We had cheese and crackers, veggies,
fruit,cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches,
and chicken salad sandwiches.
It was delicious.

The cakes turned out amazing.
Chocolate almond cake with espresso icing,
garnished with chocolate covered espresso beans
and Vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream,
garnished with fresh strawberries.
You can find the recipes in this book.

There was spinach and strawberry salad in individual teacups
for everyone.

And our drinks table never stayed replenished for long.
There was way too much giggling and chatting going on
and we needed lots to drink.

Our lovely guest-of-honor, Celinda.
She's due in 4 weeks.
She's been holding down the fort here in SC while
her husband has been deployed to VA and the Mediterranean
for the past year and a half.
She has two children and a children's resale store.
She's amazing and we really just wanted to bless her
and let her know how much we love her.

We finished off with these little button magnets,
but, we forgot to pass the tray around and have everyone
pick one out.
Oops.

Thank you to Jessica for all the inspiration!

It was a lovely afternoon and I think everyone
had a great time.
Some people hung out until 6:30, so I think that
was a pretty good sign of a good party.

Now all we have to do is wait patiently for baby Gabriel
to make his arrival on the 14th of June.
Easier said than done, right?

thoughts

I like being a mom.
I really do.
My dream job growing up
was to be a mom.
The 1st thing (well, almost 1st thing) I did when I got married,
was get pregnant.
We welcomed Olivia into our lives
exactly 6 weeks before our 1st anniversary.
I haven't looked back since.
Being a mom takes work.
Lots of work.
Lots of sleepless nights.
Lots of feeding.
Lots and lots of diaper changes and laundry.
But, isn't it so worth it?
I can't imagine spending my days at home alone
or having to go to "work" every day.
Never getting small hugs, slobbery kisses,
delighted giggles, and requests for "one more story"
I miss my girls while we're at church.
"Mom's night out" is a foreign concept to me.
Sure I would love to make it through a day (let alone a week)
when I wasn't wiping spit up of a baby's face with my shirt
but that would mean my baby wasn't a baby anymore.
How sad would that make me?
Sadie~Rose is going to be 6 months old in 2 weeks.
Where did the time go?
Olivia was asking me in the car today
how many days until her 6th birthday.
"And then, mommy, I will be six, and then I will be seven, and then I will be eight, and then mommy, mommy, mommy? I'll be nine, and then ten, and then..."
Where have the years gone?
And how can I slow the days down so that I can sit down and play ponies, and paint toenails, and help her learn to tie her shoes?
Unfortunately, time doesn't slow for any one, and especially not for moms.
There are always dishes to be washed, clothes to be folded, e-mails to be replied to, bills to be paid, books to return to the library, appointments to be made and then kept,
and one by one,
days slip away from us
and we see our sweet plump edible baby learning to read, driving the car, walking across the stage in a cap and gown, walking down the aisle in a white dress,
welcoming babies of their own.

Thank you Mom, Grammie, Angi~ You've helped be become the woman and mom that I am today. I love each of you and look forward to seeing each of you so very soon.

Thank you Candy~You did so much to raise a great son, who's now a great dad.
Thank you for welcoming me into the family and treating me like a daughter. You've always been an encouragement and a support in all I have done. You are a great mom and Meme.

Thank you to all my friends, in the blogging world and in real life. I couldn't make it without you.
You keep me sane, you've shared my joys and my tears. You've inspired me, taught me, encouraged me, and helped me, and always listened to me. Thanks.
We're women, we're wives, we're moms.
Let's celebrate the special day that's set aside just for us.

Happy Mother's Day.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I have bumped heads to kiss,
a baby to rock, stories to read, and delightful weather
just begging for us to come outside and swing.

Hugs,
Fairlight

I am Elizabeth Bennet

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