{ A little list of Cheerfuls }

Just a tallying up some stuff I am loving this week.

• getting to wear my red polka-dot wellies, hauling girlykins around in the the wheel barrow, listening to the birds sing away, spotting pussy willows and miniature daffodils in bloom. Planting a couple packages of seeds. Having a eager to help little girl as my shadow. Mommy is so pleased that she now knows what daffodils are.

• when she asks to me to play with her, " ring-a-rosy."

• loving the once every 10 seconds, all day long question, " what's Mama doing?" or " what's Daddy doing? " as she inquires about and soaks in absolutely every passing minute.

• running across this lovely line of paper.
  

• hearing her call to me from her crib " Mommy, knock, knock! " When she wakes up from her nap.

• loving this song and this song...and this song.

• not having to cook dinner last night because David wanted to take us out, just because.

• hearing David roar with laughter and then joining in myself after it sunk in what I had randomly blurted out, on the way home from said lovely dinner... something like " I need more nipples. " Of course I meant, for her bottles, because she chews the tops off of them. But it did sound shocking and hilarious having it come out like that.
  

• finding this fabric and dreaming up all sorts of ways to use it in my dress for Anna's wedding.

• and then of course the hunt for the perfect pattern. I like D, E or F of this one. And the short version of this one, and this one, which I totally adore, except I am not so sure about the fullness of the skirt.

• we are oh so gradually starting to dabble in the fine art of pottie training...so we've been doing a lot of " nakie" time, which she loves and I love because she is so unbelievably cute in her birthday suit...especially when she wears her lady bug boots with it. ;)

• the fact that we get to spend the evening with David's Mom and little sister, and then tomorrow evening with our best friends, and then all of us having breakfast together on Sunday morning at Grannies. Can't wait.

• oh and one last thing, this picture of Anniebelle playing dress up, her most beloved new found hobby.

Off the top of my head.

Playing a game of tag with the ever so lovely Ashely . So you must put up with hearing 7 very random, nonsensical things about me.

1. I adore polka dots. In any way shape or form. I even went as far as to have my wedding dress covered in them.


2. I am currently working on shedding about (gulp) 15 pounds, so on days like today, when I am feeling guilty for having consumed things like chocolate chip cookie dough, & slices of cheese, I " punish " myself by eating just steamed broccoli for the following meal.
   


3. I don't mind the smell of skunk. As I once admitted to my girlfriends on a road trip, " it's my favorite stink."
   


4. When I make cookies, I always burn at least one batch. At least.
   


5. This next one isn't exactly about me. But close enough... it really shouldn't be that hard to come up with seven things about yourself, but uff-da, this little post has been far from easy. So here we go, David and James are the names of my husbands two best friends. And my husbands name is David James.
   


6. I have never had either a manicure or pedicure. The reason being, I broke my big toe when I was learning to walk as a baby and it is really obviously crooked...and I am sort of embarrassed at the thought of someone having to have to look at it up close like that.
   


7. The only pictures I have of myself are self portraits.

See, I told you.

So Fairlight, Leslie, Andimae and Jessica, if you feel so inclined, consider yourselves " it."

Life is Sweet

Some of the highlights of our weekend included:

Friday evening David called on his way home from work to say he was going to be making dinner. My response was " Oh good! We are having shrimp and I don't have a clue how to cook it. " Turns out it's super easy, the stuff cooks in like 4 min. We tried Andrea's recipe, which is sort of the rage right now and it turned out beautifully, just like the picture. And it was so delicious . Don't laugh at me, but I didn't know that raw shrimp starts out gray and transforms into that pretty shade of pink while you cook it. Such a great way to kick off the weekend, all thanks to that thoughtful man of mine.

Enjoyed this most heavenly of desserts, cuddled up in the window box, in our pj's, listening to the crackling of the fire, laughing, and dreaming about the future, talking about each other how blessed we are, about how glad we are to have each other, to have our funny, splendid little girl.

Getting to sleep until we woke up, then tickles and giggles and reading books in bed . Whipping up Orange French Toast for a late breakfast, and spending the happy remainder of the day out in the sunshine. I worked on yard clean up and planted sweet peas. And David worked on a toy box he is making for Annabelle, who ran back and forth all day between the garage and front yard, went for rides in the wheelbarrow, rode her little pink daisy car down our drive way, greeted and waved at everyone in the neighborhood, including dogs and cats, repeatedly, and exclaimed over the toy box, which is really going to be beautiful.

Sunday included church, meeting up with friends at the park that we haven't seen in ages, and another one of our dear weekly visits with Auntie and Granniebelles.

Just a simple weekend full of little delights & sweet togetherness. So sweet.

Anyone's Guess

We have been talking about it for a long time.

Shopping around. A little anyway.

So what if our current one was dingy and falling apart. Which happens to be a rather gracious description.

The other day on his way home from work, David spotted a sign in a window that might mean a good deal was to be had.

So we met after he got off work to check it out. In a matter of literally ten minutes we bought the very first one we saw upon walking in the door, and had it loaded it in the back of our truck to take home.

Annabelle had fallen asleep in Daddy's arms and slept the entire time we were making our purchase.

After she woke up and looked around questioningly, I gave her a little squeeze and blurted out, much the the amusment of the sales lady standing there," hi sweets, bet you didn't think you were going to get one of these for your Happy Birthday."

I was in shock all the way home, and finally admitted I was feeling pangs of buyers remorse.

David assured me he wasn't. Then I felt better.

Are you curious yet?

Okay then...

suppose I'll introduce...

as of 02.12.08

The first major...

...furniture purchase of our lives.

Today on his way home from work, David is stopping to pick up a antique rocking chair I found on Craigs List.

Somebody stop me.

Now, I am just trying to figure out what do for pillows? Any suggestions ladys ?

{ turning two }

As reluctant as I have been to face up to the reality of you know who, turning two...and as long as I put off commiting to having a birthday party for her... and after dragging my feet about it once I did. Her excitement over " Annabelle Lucy's Happy Birthday" has taken a truly infectious hold on me. Every little detail has brought her so much delight. She was totally enthralled with the cupcakes. Adored the little party favor thing-a-ma-bobs you blow on. Ooohhh-ed and awwed over absolutely everything. We watched the delighted expressions on her face as she opened her presents. She literally couldn't stop smiling. And neither could I. Hearing her say ever so politely and with such enthusiasim... " thank you Granniebelle's or thank you Aunt Lynne, or thank you Jesse/Mari... " And she was so dear about sharing the job of unwrapping and playing with the new toys with her cousins.

As I held her in my lap last night and wispered into her ear all about how Jesus gave her to Daddy and I and that she is our very nicest most favorite present in all the world from Him, and all about how she grew inside mommy's tummy, and was born, on the brightest, sunniest day in Feburary you have ever seen, two whole years ago and came as the sweetest little girl suprise, to us. She looked up at me with those twinkley blue eyes and kept pulling out her bottle to chuckle, soaking in the telling of her own little story...

Then we tucked her into bed for the night and sang Happy Birthday at her request, one last time. Tip-toeing out of her room, awed by the sweetness that is her.

All of it has won me over. Not that there won't be the occasional knock-down, drag-out tantrum, melt-down or grumpy day, but I am so excited about her being two. And instead of wishing her to be a baby again. I am going to embrace her two-ness, and look on with wonder as every day brings new discoveries, and new enchantment, as she learns and grows and explores absolutely every corner of this great big world.

{ Our Birthday Girl }

Officially cute.

Officially more in love with her than ever.

Officially 2.

XOXOXO

Things around here are busy, busy, busy. David and I have a date tonight. Once Annabelle goes to bed, I am going to put on a pretty dress and high heels and we are going to pull out the wine glasses, and thanks to project playlist, dance around the living room in the candle light, and just snuggle and cuddle and be romantic. I've already got goosebumps. :) Now I must run and put the finishing touches on his valentine and bake a coconut cream pie. Tommorow Deb and the twins will be here. Friday my parents are arriving. Saturday we are having a impromptu birthday party for our Anniebelle Lucy. I am so in denial about the fact that one week from yesterday, she will be two whole years old. How is that possible?

Happy wishes to each of you for a truly splendid day as you sprinkle extra dollops of love on those dear to your heart. And here's to walking around with absolute *s*t*a*r*s* our eyes!

1. Happy Fathers Day, 2. Valentine Lollis, 3. Nick and Amy sitting in a tree..., 4. Untitled, 5. [Day 27/366], 6. party dress, 7. P6060079, 8. teacup, 9. ., 10. vintage wool dress, 11. Untitled, 12. Lace Hearts, 13. HOME PICS 120, 14. PROOF THAT THESE ARE MY CUPCAKES, 15. valentine ~, 16. This is The End Pin Badge Created with fd's Flickr Toys." hash_id="2253581304">1. Happy Fathers Day, 2. Valentine Lollis, 3. Nick and Amy sitting in a tree..., 4. Untitled, 5. [Day 27/366], 6. party dress, 7. P6060079, 8. teacup, 9. ., 10. vintage wool dress, 11. Untitled, 12. Lace Hearts, 13. HOME PICS 120, 14. PROOF THAT THESE ARE MY CUPCAKES, 15. valentine ~, 16. This is The End Pin BadgeCreated with fd's Flickr

And the winner of the contents of that red polka dot bag is...

This precious lady. She has been a enormous source of wisdom and encouragment to me and one of the very first friends I made in this wide world of blogging. On top of that, she takes the most incredible pictures. Aunt Tea, you have David to thank for pulling out the slip of paper that had your name on it. And now, all I need is your mailing address. My goal is to somehow get this to you by Valentines day.

Red Encore.

The postman came to our door and surprised us with an unexpected box yesterday. I hurried up to open it and see not only what it was but who it was from. Out peeked this bundle, wrapped in bright blue tissue paper with a miniature and very cute pink hippo tied on with a cheerful orange ribbon ...the sight of which brought the just up from her nap Annabelle, racing across the room to further investigate .

By that time I had read the note and found out who this surprise was from. Turns out it was sent to us from the lovely LKH. A absolute doll of a woman, who hails from Texas and also happens to be my biggest Etsy customer. Lauren is a giver. That's obvious. She also really good at making peoples days. Out of the blue, she had worlds cutest little red poncho sent to us. Seriously, she is that sweet. Lauren, you shouldn't have but you did, and it blessed me so much. I wish you could have heard the delighted squeal that I let out as we pulled the precious poncho out of the tissue paper. And then I wish you could have seen the biggest smile on David's face as she modeled it for him when he got home last night...and heard how he chuckled and called her "little red riding hood." You didn't have to. But then you can't help being the precious big-hearted, thoughtful, dear woman that you are, can you?

Thank you.
Now for the pictures.

It's so cozy and soft, like a blanket you can wear. And if you want one of your own, thanks to another, literally Lovely lady and her amazing little shop, you could have your very own. And you should hear the story of how we all randomly met. I would say, it's all rather remarkable.

Oh and if you haven't already, don't forget to leave a comment on this post to enter my current give-away. A winner will be drawn on Friday.

{ Red }

The fact is that I almost always adore anything if it's red and in honor of that fact I have decided to finish up this fantastic week of color hunting with my very first give-away. See the end of this post for details.

... and finally about that red ispired give-away...it a little random bag of goodies that I would just love to sendoff to well, maybe you...just leave me a comment here. Winner to be randomly picked and announced on Friday. How come I have a feeling that this is going to be the most fun for me? :)

{ Green then Orange }

Uff-da. These colors have been the most challenging so far for me.

I did mangage to find a few things to snap pictures at. But I had to hunt long and hard for them.

Thursday - Orange

Wednesday- Green