My sweet sweet girl,

You are three years old today. I’m not going to say it’s bittersweet. It’s not really. I love you more and more every day so to see you turn three is just a celebration of how much my love has grown for you.

one day old

 As I nurse and snuggle Asa, it’s hard to imagine that my big grown up girl was ever as tiny. Yet, I occasionally get waves of memories about my baby Lydia. I’ll remember how your feet touched the rocking chair as I nursed you. I remember you stretching like a little rubberband when you woke up. I remember your hair, your ears and your little bitty mouth. And although I’d love to rewind time and hold my baby Lydia again, I could NEVER EVER be more excited about who you are today.

one year old

I adore every new word that comes out of your mouth. I cherish every minute we spend together. I’m excited about exploring each new day with you. I can’t wait to see how you develop and learn and grow at every stage. My heart is full as I see you learn to be a helper, a giver and a thoughtful girl.

two years old

I know you won’t remember your 3rd birthday. But I will. And I pray that the love your Daddy and I have for you will be a foundation to support and encourage you your entire life.

newly three

Happy Birthday to my sweet sweet baby girl. My new three year old.

I love you,
Mommy

Three. is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Happy Panda is hosting a giant Baby Shower for Janice and Susan at 5m4m. They are twin sisters who are were pregnant at the same time. Little Olivia was born this week and Sophia is due very soon! So, to join in the fun (and gifts!) of the shower, I’m going to share a little of my baby story! They’re asking everyone to share a picture of their baby bump, their birth story and even a l&d picture. (I don’t have one of those…)

I loved being pregnant. I felt beautiful even while my body expanded! It’s fun because everyone else is so excited. I didn’t even mind people rubbing my belly. I wanted them to love my baby! And I felt so loved at my baby showers. My sisterchicks threw me the most fun one–a pink & green shower. Everything from the decor to the food was pink and green to match Lydia’s bedding. The guests were instructed to wear pink to the shower! They even made a scrapbook–from everyone at the shower to Lydia. Each person signed it and wrote a note to Lydia about me. What a precious gift.

Then my psudeo-mom in Birmingham threw me a shower (they call it a Tea in Birmingham, y’all!) and it was just precious. It was decorated to rival anything of Martha’s. I felt so special.

I remember looking in Lydia’s room after the shower–there was no furniture, just mounds of presents, gobs of giftbags! It was like Babies R Us had exploded in there. I loved looking at all the precious gifts. They were little pieces of love to me.

My birthstory was pretty normal. I had an check-up on Wednesday, they kept me because the amniotic fluid was low, my water broke Wednesday night. I started having contractions about midnight. And she was born at 9:31am. And I was in love. Here’s a picture of when we first got to hold her for a long period of time. You can see her little hands are still blue. The blood had not even made it there yet! She was brand new!

My first ultrasound story is more exciting than the birth story. And here‘s how we broke the news to our fam.

Anyway, that’s a little of my baby story. If you click over to 5m4m you can join in the baby shower by reading more baby stoires, sharing your story and hopefully win some fun prizes. (Uh, like a million fun prizes. Including a few of my favorite things I’ve ever owned. And a ton of stuff I wished I had.)

A Baby Shower for a Toddler is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Tye dyed pajamas.

Slippers with boa feathers.

Ballerina tutu.

Baseball cap.

And my husband has my camera. *sigh*

Lydia’s Outfit O’the Day is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

4: the amount of times I was puked on by Lydia

9: PBS and Disney shows I watched today

3: outfits Lydia has worn today

4: outfits I have worn today

1: load of puked-on laundry

2: phone calls to my mom

3: the number of hours Lydia’s nap lasted

1: casserole I made during this time because apparently I needed comfort, too

750,387: kisses I put on Lydia’s sick little face

(damselfly, i feel your pain)

Today’s Numbers Are… is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

We went to the zoo yesterday! Les has been gone so much lately that with this 3 day weekend, we decided to do something fun. Lydia is so into animals right now, we’d knew she’d love the zoo. Plus, Mei Lan, the baby panda turns 1 this week! And since pandas are my special animal, we had to go! (Amanda Panda, get it?)

I haven’t been to Zoo Atlanta in forever. It’s actually a very nice zoo. The animals aren’t just in cages, there’s lots of foliage and a natural habitat look. When we first got there we went straight to the panda area. As we turned the corner and I saw the daddy panda, Yang Yang, I think I got tears in my eyes. Is that ridiculous? He was walking around and just amazing. He’s so big! The mama panda, Lun Lun and Mei Lan don’t live with the dad. They were both napping and I didn’t get any pictures of them. I just think they are beautiful. Lydia was really into it. She actually kept signing “bear” and “mouse”. I don’t know why! (If you’re really interested, you can see the live panda cam here. I wish you could see Mei Lan right now, she’s playing on a branch!)

As we were walking around we saw one of the zookeepers with an owl. It was beautiful. Yes, I just said an owl was beautiful. But really, it was. He had feathers all over his legs, and eyelashes and even different color eyelids. Lydia was fascinated by him. Then we went and saw him in the bird show. Lydia signed “bird” the whole time!

The gorillas were also amazing. They have a huge area to live so you can view them from several different locations. One is a building with a huge glass window. We could see the whole family playing. Lots of grown-up gorillas carrying their little babies around. Then the little babies playing with each other, even clapping! It was awe inspiring. Of course, every one else was so intrigued they wouldn’t move. So, I didn’t get a very good picture.

I am just continually amazed at God’s creation. Watching these animals and seeing their beauty is overwhelming. I told Les I can see why people become scientists. Imagine getting to learn and understand how these animals behave! Well, I wouldn’t want to live with gorillas, but I can see why people are fascinated by them!

There is nothing better than being surround by God’s awesome creation and hanging out with your family. I know Lydia had a fun time!

(Lydia stood here and said “cheese”. We did not have our camera out. She just decided this would be a good photo op. This is her…uhm…cheesey smile.)

(I’m sorry these pictures are so jacked up…just a little user error until I figure out how to use this template…)

Pandas & Owls & Gorillas, Oh my! is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Playdates. Before I was a mama, I thought this was the most ridiculous made up term in the world. It sounded like something on the front of a chick-lit book. Playdate. What is that about? Your kids have dates to play? What are they celebrities with an agent?

But now I understand. Playdates. It’s a DATE with other mommies so your kids can PLAY without you! *cue Hallelujah chorus*

I’ve had two fun playdates this week. I met with my messageboard mamas at a town square. We let the kids run around, throw stuff into the fountain and then went to the library for story time. Oh, but we were a week early because apparently story time starts in September.

Today I met my old and new friend, Stephanie at a park. It was so stinkin’ hot out there we drove .5 miles to her mil’s house and the air conditioning! The kids played and played while we chatted. Her mil even played with the kids the whole time–how sweet! It was fun to catch up with Stephanie. She’s just the same. We were middle school girls but now we’re mamas. But we’re still the same. Does that make sense? (uh, btw, I forgot to get even ONE picture today!)

There’s just something about being with people who are in exactly the same place as you. You know when you meet someone that is exactly the same age as you? Born the same month? You just have the exact same memories. (could I use exact and same a few more times?)

Since I’ve met (and had playdates with) these sahms, I find myself encouraged just being around them. They are just like me. Mamas struggling with balancing parenting and marriage. Women willing to lay down their desires for the fulfillment of their kids. Mommies trying to figure out how to discipline without dictating.

I think this is a shadow of what it must have been like ages ago when everyone lived in a little village. When women had their aunts, cousins, moms, grandmothers and sisters to help them navigate the newness of children and family. They made quilts and pies. We drive 30 minutes to see each other and let our kids eat lunchables.

But the idea is the same, forming relationships and support. And the goal is the same; growing our kids into the best people they can be.

(Without going crazy yourself!)

SAHM Subculture is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.