The bride to be

I knew when my brother would find "the one" she would have to be someone just perfect. He wears his heart on his sleeve and marriage is special to time. When I first met Shelby, I knew she was "the one", as in my "the one", to be my sister-in-law. 

Shelby fits just right into our wildly loud family. She has the witty jokes to spit back out at my dad and brings wine to functions to share with my mom. She loves Rylee and Jake to the moon and back and never misses sending Rylee a card for each passing holiday. I can easily talk to her, laugh with her, and when I am in panic mode trying to put together the last little things for Rylee's birthday party she swoops right in makes sure everything is in place.

I am so proud of my brother. He found a beautiful woman to start a new chapter in life together. I am excited to see where their adventure leads them and how much love will fill their home. 

All the ladies celebrated their upcoming wedding this past weekend. The shower was just beautiful. Lots of laughter, yummy food, and sweet decorations. 

Shelby, thank you for agreeing to join our family. We promise to make you laugh, embarrass you at some point, give you the best family sunday dinners, and of course you'll have the cutest niece and nephew! I love you and counting down till October 2! I feel so blessed to stand next to you and my brother as you become a wife and my brother becomes your husband.

 I was unaware of how emotional I would become at your shower and how the idea of my brother becoming your HUSBAND turns me into a blubbery mess. I still see my brother as the kid who I teased as a kid, the boy with the toy store tent bed, and busting into my playhouse pretending to be a ninja turtle and ruining my tea party. I still see the kid who would trip me while jumping on the trampoline, yell to everyone in the house that a boy called the house phone to talk to me, and use his mouth vs the cup to get water from the faucet when brushing our teeth. 

But now I see the man my brother has grown to be. How he opens door, carries the kids or my stuff when going to the car, how carefully he buckles Jake into his car seat. I see how he never hesitates when I ask him for help (he has babysat Jake on a whim multiple times). He has helped me move, grab ice for parties, bring food and beer to sunday dinners, and text me to ask how I am doing. I see how he loves Shelby, how he just truly adores. I see how much my brother has grown and how ready he is to become her husband.

  

 

Ten Months Old

Sweet Jake is ten months old!!

This past weekend was super busy with two birthday parties and a beautiful bridal shower but I didnt forget to snap photos of jake!

The life of a ten month old:
♥ Enjoys destroying his sisters toys and laughing about it.
♥ Earing toilet paper
♥ Eating any food we throw on his plate
♥ He has officially weaned from nursing (after many tears from me!)
♥ He crawls like a maniac, walks with his push toy, but hasnt shown much interest in taking those first steps

Our girl is three

Tomorrow we will celebrate our sweet girl turning three!

Today we celebrated with family and close friends! Ryan and I are grateful for all the love our daughter is given from the ones we love. Rylee truly enjoyed herself and spending time in the bounce house. 

Personally,  I love birthday. A birthday not only celebrates another year of life but also celebrates the future. We weren't ever sure of the adventure we would be on when our strong willed daughter entered our life. Ryan and I are forever changed. We enjoy celebrating her special day and still can't believe our girl is three!

Nine Months

Jacob turns nine months old!

He is crawling all over the place. He enjoys flipping over the dog's water bowl and unrolling/ripping/eating toilet paper. Jake loves being in his big sisters room, banging on pots in her kitchen, and trying to crawl away with her bunny. The tupperware cabinet is back into being a play area and water bottles have become a go to music toy Jake hums into them.  The little red fire truck, aden and anais blankets, and mickey are his favorite loves.

On Tuesday, Jake received his first hair cut at Disney. Just a little trim. Just a few tears (from my eyes).  He barely moved and did great!

 

Jake is cruising along the couch, their table, around the toy storage in their rooms. He is on the verge of taking his steps!

 Jake you bring our family much joy. Your smile makes everyone smile. You melt hearts when shopping and you have the ladies at the publix bakery throwing cookies at you. 

The name in her backpack

I've packed Rylee a backpack plenty of times. A bag for sleep overs at Nana's, a bag for Disney, a bag for the beach, a bag to go shopping with daddy.

But I've never written her name in her backpack. She was always with us. I know of every item in her backpack, the true love of her bunny packed safely inside, and which snacks she would eat first. I know which bag she prefers for different trips.

I wasn't prepared for this morning when I wrote her name into her backpack for she'll be backstage for her big dance recital tonight.

"Rylee's"

It was strange. And I just stared at her name. Because I blinked, time is racing by and she really is growing up. No matter how much I plea for this time to stand still and let me soak it all in, she is growing.

Seeing her name on the inside of her made me think of the life she'll oh too soon have that won't always include me. From starting school to growing up and becoming a bride.

As I collect myself, wipe tears away, and put snacks into her bag, I think of the little girl she is becoming.

I pray her sassy attitude will ward off any bullies and her kind heart will hug those in need.

I pray her strong willed personality guides her into doing grand things and her sense of humor keeps her grounded.

I pray her love is felt and cherished by others and never taken for granted.

I pray she stands strong in this big world and offers a hand to those having a hard day.

Her sweet name, written in black sharpie, startled me and pulled me back to look at the big picture here. While some days I am wishing away her time as a wild toddler, I have to remember this time is so short.

One day she'll be writing her own name. Not me. And when that day comes, you'll find me in a corner a blubbery mess.