Dear Santa...

Tommy Bahama. That is all. Kisses!

Someone's Growing Up....

... and it's not just the baby! Jason and Kayleigh (parental posts are rare so it's a nice break to use our Christian names rather than our usual "Daddy" and "Mommy" - small favors, y'all) are finally gonna be Big Kids! Sure, marriage and children tend to help that process along, but now our journey to Big-Kidhood (not to be confused with "adulthood" - ew) is almost at an end. The parents have announcements to make and we have a whole blog post just for us! Check it out:

Jason will be fulfilling a life-long dream this summer by beginning his training at the local police academy. Seriously, he's wanted to do this since before the day I met him, and now we are finally in a place where this is possible! School starts in July and he will graduate in December. Merry Christmas, you're living your dream! I am SO proud of him and I can't wait to see all of the wonderful work he will do for this city, keeping it safe and sound - and doing so in a dashing uniform, which is almost as important as the work itself. Kidding. Kinda. Congratulations to Jason for beginning this new chapter in life!

I'm going back to school, too! Just in a different way. After what seems like ages, (in reality it was chump change compared to the wait most people are struggling through) I have accepted a job teaching at the local Catholic school. You are reading the words of a newly elected Middle School English teacher - lucky you! What makes this job opportunity even more wonderful is that it is with the school I, myself attended. So fabulous to come full-circle, is it not? Congratulations to me for landing a big-girl job!

Jason and I have always been hard workers. Especially since the arrival of little Lily, we have taken on as much as we could to keep our heads above water. Each juggling multiple part-time jobs, finishing school and trying to keep our sanity, I'd say we've done a pretty good job holding it together. I cannot convey in words the relief we feel at these new opportunities with which we have all been blessed. To have a job I can grow old with and not just another stepping stone. To have the power to catch the bad guy and right a wrong. To know that, because of these opportunities, Lily can climb a tree, break her leg and we can handle it without having to sell one of Mowgli's kidneys (oh yes, did I mention benefits? Love me some health insurance). To know that, for the time being, we can stop crossing our fingers.

Not to say we will stop working hard, or let our Praying Knees get lazy. We got this far, and we'll keep going with our own good work and a lot of faith. We are just so happy to be at a point in our wonderful life where we can worry a little less, breathe a little slower, and smile a little wider. Big Kid jobs. Won't Lily be proud of us?

Two crazy college kids back in 2006. Who'd have thought we'd go so far?

Summer Celebrations!

A few family happenings! Aunt Brenna, sporting peep-toe pumps, graduated with style last weekend at the civic center. She's off to nursing school!

Walking in!

We're all so proud!

Waving to the adoring fans!

Family shot! It took us forever and a day to find her outside in the sea of red caps and gowns, but we eventually got everyone rounded up!

The next day, Jason and I got some much-need "us" time and headed to the wedding of one of Jason's childhood friends. We had been to a wedding the previous weekend and we had brought the Baby Girl along. We learned our lesson! This time, Lily stayed a few hours with Kiki while Mommy and Daddy got to enjoy the ceremony and festivities!

Wine and grits. Among other yummies. There was a grits station with all les accoutrements: Cheese, chives, and - now this is genius, y'all - Bradley's sausage! Genius, I tell you. The rest of the food was amazing, but really, this was all I needed to be happy as a clam.

And the real reason for the whole day... kidding! Kinda.

We did miss our little girl, but I must say it was the best choice to leave her behind for a bit - a diaper bag would most certainly not go with this dress! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Stuyverson!

Be on the lookout for our next post. Our little family has some pretty big changes coming! And no, I am not pregnant. Repeat: not pregnant. More on that later! Have a fabulous weekend, y'all!

Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day, Y'all! We all just got back from a fabulous family trip in Destin. You remember last year's trip, of course! A lot has changed in one year's time! This year we kicked off the holiday with a trip to Osaka. Yum. The night ended with this lovely prediction for Lily's future:

Lily's fortune cookie had this to share!

The next day we got up bright and early to visit Flipper and his pals in the gulf!

Note our nautical theme. Not planned, or anything *wink*

Waving at the dolphins!

Sunday was beach day! Lily didn't care too much for the sand or the sea, but was happy as a clam (ha ha) to hang out under the beach umbrella with snacks, water and a good book. That's my girl!

So excited, Daddy!

Watching the waves

Summer Reading

After the beacah we got in even more fun in the sun and rinsed off at the pool. Lily might not be too keen on the ocean but she'll morph into mermaid mode at the sight of a pool! Kicking and splashing, giggling and blowing bubbles, Lily loves this kind of water. She even got to show off her skills for aunt Lisa, who came to visit! Of course, I forgot to get pictures of this....my bad.

It was a great weekend with Jason's parents, Aunt Heather and cousin puppy Tally. Now we're off to pick up brother puppy Mowgli from the vet, and then it'll be time for dinner and aloe treatment. Luckily, the sun didn't touch Lily, but I got myself some lovely shades of blush and bashful ("one is much deeper than the other").

Happy Memorial Day!

Ballerina Babies!

I teach at a dance studio. Did you know that? This weekend was our spring recital. My students performed beautifully, Aunt Brenna rocked 5 dances including her senior piece and I even got to join the performance this year! Ending the show, all the teachers come out on stage for a final farewell and this year, Lily joined us! Never seen Baby Girl light up so much. She was grinning ear to ear and graciously accepting all of her applause. Looks like Lily has officially gotten the bug!
Great Grampa came to watch!

Kiki Love

The Cast

My home is now a garden with all of the beautiful bouquets received over the weekend. Through it all, however the real star of the weekend is Jason, who acted as a single daddy for the past three crazy days of rehearsals and preparation for the big show. We love you, daddy!

"She's Perfect"

It's true! The doctor told us today at her 14 1/2 month check up that Lily is exactly where she should be. At 22 pounds and 30 inches, Lily is in the 50th percentile for both height and weight. Her head, however, measures into the 75th percentile, but hey - that big and gorgeous brain has to fit somewhere! She took two more boosters today and will go back in September for her final vaccine before she turns 4. We're almost there! Big weekend coming up as it is recital weekend for my students, my little sister, and this year, I'm joining the show, too! I'll be sure to take oodles of pictures. So excited for Lily to see her mama dance.

Loving The View

Just another sign our little girl is growing up. The world is constantly changing for Lily as her point of view is constantly shifting. Big girl changes include towering over the coffee table, walking at an almost-running type pace and riding forward in the car in her new big girl car seat. Such a little lady!