childhood buds having babies

yesterday was a great day...not only did i get to cuddle with the most amazing lil boy ever, but he got to meet one my childhood besties and her lil one.  what a great and memorable experience!

after all these years of catching up every once and awhile, we finally set up a day to have lunch and a playdate (well, not much a of playdate with a 3 month and 3 week old...mostly sleeping and crying-but hey, it was fun for us).
it was just like old times...the conversation just was so natural and flowed like we had never been apart. 
growing up, we were inseperable and spent as much time together as possible. but, after a move, new schools, different groups of friends, college, the "real world", getting married and now having babies...life kind of took us in different directions.
but you would have never known that because from the minute the front door opened, there was never that awkward silence that can happen when you havent spent much time with someone in awhile...nope, not at all-just lots of laughs, baby talk, sharing ridiculous stories and meaningful discussions.
not only was the convo great, but the food was just as perfect...everything you can imagine, we had it and ate it. cravings even happen after baby is born (gotta love some chocolate, sweet tea and chicken salad!!!)

i wouldnt trade yesterday for anything, and im so looking forward to more days like it...and our two lil ones experiencing the friendship and memories that we have shared over the years (its one of those friendships and memories that last a lifetime no matter what direction life takes you...you will always have that connection!!!)

and so...

after 17 days...they finally meet!

if i have to stay so myself, i think it was love at first site:)
i am not sure if poppy took his eyes off of him the whole day.  every noise he made, move he made...poppy was there to make sure everything was ok.

friday was probably one of the most precious days yet.
no tears...just tons of smiles and so much joy that the room could have exploded.
my dad was so smitten with my lil guy...i know i am biased, but honestly who couldnt be with him...he is just perfect!  he barely walked in the door before he grabbed him out of my arms and started lovin on him. it was amazing to see the instant bond they had.

it made my day to see my dad so happy...i know that they are going to be the best of buddies!!!;)

the little things

lately i have noticed that its the little things that have really made my heart smile.

here are just a few:
extra sharp cheese and reduced fat triscuits...getting more than 3 hours of uninterupted sleep...walks with my mom...tummy time with daddy...a smiling sleeping baby...mustard poop on the carpet...burning yankee candle...windows open...bird chirping at 6:00am...lunch dates with my hubby...thin mints...shower...feta cheese...a text/phone call from a friend...holding his own bottle..the hiccups...dreft detergent...pushing a stroller...organizing onesie...johnson & johnson baby lotion

its funny how some of these little things happen each and everyday, but sometimes we are just so busy- we dont even notice them.  i guess since i have been home with my lil man, i have been able to take everything in...maybe it is because i have nothing else to do but take care of him and enjoy my time off...but it has helped me realize how important it is to not get so caught up on the things that stress me out-but to remember how the little things made me feel.

so the annoyances that i have when my hubby slurpes his cereal each morning or snores so loud i cant fall asleep, are the things and thoughts i need to look past and realize that the list above is what really matters.
ok, well lets be honest, those annoyances are going to always be annoying...i guess on those days i just need to try hard to think of something that made my heart smile rather than cringe!!!;)

the new man in my life

the lil guy has completly taken over our lives...and we would not have it any other way!

every move, noise or face he makes, we are in his face saying "did you see/hear that?!?"
proud parents...maybe just a little.

along with watching him like a hawk, we have also taken at least 20 pictures a day.  maybe we are afraid we are going to miss something and so we feel the need to document everything that happens in his little life. nothing wrong with that. but lets be honest- do we need to take 5 pictures of him just laying there?!?! no probably not...the way i look at it though, you never know which one is going to be the best shot. so why not keep taking them.  shoot-he cant talk yet to say "mom, stop! no more pictures", so until then, the pictures will keep rollin.

so, as a tribute for my lil man and his first week of life, here are just a few of my favorite moments thus far:)

our father, for this day, for our friends...rest and relaxations...hand knit red hat with white snoball...tummytime with daddy

straight up pimpin'...morning naps (precious)...a wide awake "good morning"...photo shoot and ridiculous outfits

my world

tuesday, march 8th at 11:36pm we welcomed the most precious gift from god, and life as we knew it changed within a matter of minutes.

when sutton arrived (yes, we chose a name), we immediatley fell in love and could not understand how or what we did to be blessed with this little creature.  he is just perfect...even after 28 hours of waiting...it was well worth the wait!.  he has the longest fingers and feet- takes after his daddy.  his face is perfectly round and as smooth as silk.  he has such a cute botton nose and some of the funnest faces i have seen. he was smiling from the get go and takes everything in. after we looked at every little nook and craney and memorized everyone of his features, the shock of becoming a parent started to set in.
especially when the nurse brought him to us after all of his "inspections".
she came into our room and rambled off all of these things we needed to know (where we can walk with him, how to plunge his nose, how to treat his belly button...def a topic for a another day, what each name band means, what to do when he crys, etc) the info just kept coming and all i kept hearing was charlie brown's teacher talking!  didnt get one bit of the info she delivered except "here is your son and congrats!!!"  my first thought...WHAT-wait-where are you going-what do i do now!?!?
then the shock quickly turned into a little bit of fear.  am i going to do the right thing? what was that noise he made? is he going to sleep or cry all night long? am i going to be a good parent? the list just kept growing and growing...
but, as the week went on in the hospital, things started to fall together and we became a team.  we looked at each other and said we can do this. so the hospital decided friday was the day to let us go and fly on our own...and so we did and now here we are on monday, just about his week birthday.  wow-what a week it has been.

each day that we have been home with him, we have learned so much about him, each other and how this parenting thing really works.
we have learned that he loves to roll on to his side when he lays in his crib/floor or really just anywhere.
we have learned that you must cover the boy parts when changing (fire hydrant).
we have learned that he gets the hiccups alot after each feeding.

we have learned that sometimes it really just takes two people to change him (crazy wiggly legs).

we have learned that he can almost put his own paci in his mouth.

we have learned that pampers diapers (right now) are amazing.

we have learned that sleep saks are the best thing invented.

we have learned that his eyes are sometimes crossed, but its normal and only happens when he concentrates hard.

we have learned he hates to be naked (poor guy shakes and shivers).

we have learned that we love him more than we ever thought we could.

we have learned to take pictures of everything possible.

so, as i look back at the past 6 days and all they have entailed, i am so in love with my life right now and can not imagine it being any other way.

a letter to "sj"

hi you:)
so, tomorrow is your big day (well, the docs say tomorrow into tuesday morning...but your dad and i would like to think and hope that tomorrow is when you will be welcomed to the world). 
we have been waiting for this moment for so long and now it is finally here.
words cant describe how excited we and everyone else (that you will inherit as family-like it or not) are to finally meet you.
to be honest, we thought that you would have been here by now...but no worries-we are still ready and excited for you to arrive. we are probably more ready since we have had extra time preparing. so, thanks for staying in there longer...you really have helped yourself by giving us more time to "mentally" and "physically" prepare.  and of course, gave yourself more time to get bigger than you already are:)

as your parents, we would like you to know a few things before you come into this world...
* we still are unsure of your what name is (we have been working on this for months and months and its a lot of pressure to pick a name that you will be stuck with for the rest of your life)... but we do promise to name you before we leave the hospital
* you have a lot of pjs to wear...please do not grow too fast
* your dad thinks you will be able to walk and swim on your own in september...we will work with you as best we can, but dont worry it will be ok if you cant
* i like things to be clean all the time...so i am going to appologize now for always cleaning and making you change your clothes when you get them dirty or take a bath after any kind of nastyness that happens
* you have two sets of amazing grandparents...they are going to spoil you (i promise;))
* your aunt and uncle are even more amazing...so much fun and have already promised to babysit (we will try not to pass you off to others too much, but mommy and daddy need some time too!)
* you already had a "valentine"...le'ts just say you are going to have a lot of girls around you in your life...not a bad thing for a guy, but between you and me...your dad is going to teach you alot, but being a "player" is probably not one of them!
* we are always on the go...hope your ready to be lugged around everywhere (if you are really good, we will get you a prize)
* you can be anything you want to be when you grow up...anything...well, as long as you play sports (that would be your dad's request)
* lastly...we love you soooooooo much. 

so, to you son...we can not wait to see your face, touch your little fingers and toes and bring you home so we can finally be a family of 3.

love-
us

fresh market

im not sure what it is about this store, but it makes me want to hang out there all day.

maybe its the classical music they have playing or the really cool basket carts or the fact that they always have samples up at the register.  i am not 100% sure...but without a doubt, i never walk out of there without spending at least $15.

they have the best looking flowers, freshest fruit, huge salads (asian chicken ... so yummy!!!), great muffins (i love the chocolate chip) and cookies (brownie pillow is my fave) and there" by the pound food" is AHmazing (tortellini and cucumber salads are delicious).

oh... lets not forget all the candy they have.  you name it they have it. all the candy are in those really cool glass jars that have heavy tops with circle knobs.  i love those!
just a few examples of what they have: any kind of jelly belly beans, chocolate covered everything, all the season/holiday candy that is you could think of (did you know that they make sugar free peeps?!?!  oh yes and they sell them there!!!), huge gumballs...the list keeps going and going.
some of my faves: red licorice wheels, sour gummy worms and yogurt covered pretzels.  i have to admit that i always look for the cheapest one in the stack, but can never walk by them without getting a pack.

as of late, i have been going in there once every other week to pick up a "prize" for the hubby to eat for dinner. i hate seafood, but he enjoys it and they have some great sushi (well, so i have heard!).  i would have to say they have a ton to choose from and its pretty reasonable. i couldnt even begin to tell you what kind they have because it all looks the same to me...rice and raw fish! yuck-

tonights pick up, shrimp and grits cakes.  the best part about them, is they come already ready made and have directions on how to cook them.  i think it was a hit.
actually, i know it was...when he came home, he asked what is my "prize" for dinner. 
rather than having it ready and on the table, i pulled the tray out of the oven, to keep him in suspense, and said shrimp and grits.
he was like really...you made these!?!?
i so wanted to say yes, but i didnt think it was fair for me to take the credit away from one of my new fave places. so i was honest and said no but fresh market did:)
the impressed level shrunk but the excitement level was still high. so mission accomlished!

overall...a great choice and it def made the list to buy again.