And so it begins...

It was only a matter of time.

Multiple Choice...

Time for a quiz. Take a look at the picture.

Today, will I ...

A. Walk in Brynn's room and quickly walk back out.

B. Walk in Brynn's room, shut the door and scream.

C. Walk in Brynn's room, walk back out, march into my own room, crawl in bed, and pretend THAT doesn't exist.

D. Walk in Brynn's room, shut the door, and get to work.

Want to know what all that is? It is box after box of clothes. Some are clothes she has outgrown that need to be boxed up and put in the garage. Some are the next size in clothes she needs. Some are the clothes she is wearing right now. I am so grateful that I have 2-girls worth of hand-me-downs but there are some times when I want to just strike a match...

That's what she said...

When Caroline was younger and we would make her laugh she would say, "Mommy, you knock me down" instead of "you crack me up". We loved it so much it has become a staple in our family.

Here are some of the things she said lately that have "knocked us down."

*Caroline had been having a rough time going to school in the morning. She would cry when we dropped her off. We tried everything to help her not be nervous. One day on the way to school she piped up from the back seat, "Mom, I wish I was a mom like you. Then I wouldn't have to go to school."

*I told Caroline that on the first day of school I was going to take her picture on our front porch and at school and with her new teacher. She rolls her eyes and tells me, "Mom, you can't take too many pictures. It will give me a picture ache."
Only my children have to worry about that :)

Stink Face

I LOVE this picture.

Her majesty!

"And summer's lease hath all too short a date..."

Closer...

Gotcha!

The infamous Too-Too

I love this view

It has been in the 80s this week and on Saturday the high will be 64! So we enjoyed the last seconds of summer by going outside...

in our backyard.

I love saying that.

Mother Knows Best

Have you seen Tangled?

I have, like, a million times. That is what happens when you have a girly girl.

And since I have seen it a million times I have had time to ponder the underlying meanings and overwhelming symbolism and the thematic nature of it all. And I have to say...

Mother Gothel gets a bad wrap.

I mean, sure, I guess it is bad form to steal a baby just because the baby's magic hair will keep you young forever,

but, you have to give her credit. She keeps Rapunzel locked up in the tower for 18 years to keep her out of harms way. She is right. The world is a dangerous place. People will take advantage of you and there is that pesky Plague. What about the poison ivy? The quick sand? It IS better to keep them locked away.

She had a point, right? Right?!?

I have had time to ponder all this because, you see, my dear sweet Caroline made a very big step into the world today.

She started Kindergarten.

Oh how I wish I could just lock her in a tower and teach her all the things she needs to know and protect her from every bad thing that COULD happen to her. How I wish I could guarantee that she would never be hurt, or sad, or disappointed.

But I can't.

What I can do is create a safe haven for her. A place that she can return to over and over for reassurance, guidance and love when the world is too much for her. A place that will always be warm and inviting and constant when the world is not. I can create that place right here in my home. A home base where she can recharge, get back out there and thrive.

And if that home is way up high and really hard for any boys to find, let alone reach it, that would be ok too.

12 for 12

Tomorrow is our 12 year anniversary! In honor of 12 years I thought I would share 12 facts about me and Kevin. Brace yourselves.

12. Kevin and I were married on a Thursday. We were married in Washington DC. If we would have waited 4 more months we could have been married in Raleigh which is closer to home but we didn't want to wait.

11. We got married during a hurricane. Hurricane Dennis hit near Wilmington 2 days before we got married, went out to sea long enough for us to drive to DC and get married, and then hit again the night of our first reception. We had so many left overs from the reception because only half the people we planned for came.

10. The morning we got married I was a nervous wreck. I could barely eat, could barely sleep and what was Kevin doing? He was watching Sports Center. This will become a common theme throughout our marriage

9. Kevin and I didn't like each other the first time we met. He came over to a FHE that I helped plan and made fun of the activities. I told him he could leave and he did. A few weeks later we were friends and hanging out. Kevin, our friend Shannon and I were all best friends for about a year before Kevin and I started dating.

8. Our first date was dinner and a play at Thalian Hall in Downtown Wilmington. We saw "Of Mice and Men" and I sat with my arms folded the ENTIRE time. I was so nervous I barley spoke to him or even looked at him during the play. Our second date was another play, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". He knew that was one of my favorite movies and it was great. I was more relaxed that time.

7. Kevin proposed to me at the Fragrance Garden. He came over to my apartment and asked if I wanted to go for a walk and I just knew.

6. Our song is..."Sweet Child of Mine" by Guns and Roses.

5. I made Kevin drive to my mom's house to ask for her permission to marry me. We were both scared for the hour and a half drive. And for good reason: my mom pulled a knife on him when he talked to her. She was trying to be funny but I am not sure...

4. We almost moved to Philadelphia. Kevin was accepted to a PA school there and was even offered a scholarship but we really wanted to go to Emory. The only problem was we had to answer the Philly school before we heard from Emory. We prayed about it and felt Philly was not for us. Two weeks later we found out Kevin was wait listed for Emory. One month later Kevin was accepted to Emory.

3. Kevin missed the first 2 weeks of Caroline's life. She was born on Friday, Kevin moved to Atlanta on Monday and then came back to get us 2 weeks later. I was staying with his parents.

2. The night I went into labor with Brynn, Kevin had just walked in the door from working the night shift at work. When she was born at 8:52 am he had been awake for 25 hours. Later that afternoon when I caught him nodding off I sent him home while my mom stayed with me at the hospital.

1. I married my best friend. When we were dating we would talk for hours and we haven't really stopped. I am myself when I am around him. I am in awe of his kindness. I love what a great father he is. I am so lucky he picked me.

I love you, babe!

You missed me...

Some days Brynn looks like this...


And some days she looks like this (Droll and all)


And some days she looks like this.

But most days she looks like this.I can't believe my baby girl is 6 months old. We love you tons, Brynn Bug!