Sally's Four Year Old Pictures

I am in love with the pictures we had taken of Sally a few months ago. They were done by Livy B Photography and I highly recommend her if you are in the Memphis area. She is super talented and her prices are very reasonable. Check her out on Facebook here.

Dear Us, 10 Years Ago

Joe and I celebrate our tenth anniversary today. We were both established in our jobs but still pretty clueless about a lot of things in life. I often think about those two crazy kids, in love and determined to make the best life for themselves. Sometimes, I wish I could go back and tell them a few things, but then again, its much more fun to figure them out on your own.

Dear us, ten years ago,

Today you will say I do. You will probably never feel more beautiful then you do today. Cherish the moments with your family. Dance on that table at the reception! You wont remember much of the day....its just too exciting. I remember when you said you didn't want a videographer because you wanted to remember it a certain way in your head and who watches those silly wedding videos anyway? Get someone to videotape! Look around at all the people who are there to love and support you. Some of them won't be around 10 years from now...whether due to death or friendships lost or a falling out between family members. Enjoy every minute!

All those people standing beside you? You'll grow closer to some of them. The opposite will have with a few too. That's ok. Everyones on their own journey living their own life and you will see that the most important people will still be in your lives 10 years from now.

You are going to have so much fun making a home together and trying to figure out all the stuff: how to decorate the christmas tree, having opposite work schedules, who is in charge of the bills, who does that yard work. This is part of creating a family unit. It will be hard some days. Just because it is "how we did it at my house" doesn't mean that is how it needs to be now. Compromise and make your own traditions. Remember when you were asking your mom about how to obtain accessories for the house? Ha! She told you would collect them over time and boy was she right. Be happy that you both have the same taste when it comes to home decor.

Embrace the simple days. Life gets crazier down the road. Death, friends getting divorced, job changes...its all going to happen. Prepare! One day you will be so busy with life and babies and you will long for the days when the biggest decision you had to make was Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware.

Enjoy your first house together. It will be the place where you have parties, create memories and bring your sweet baby home from the hospital too.

Enjoy moving to a bigger house. I know you are sad to be leaving your first home, but think of all the memories you will make in the new house.

Travel, travel, travel.....as much as you can. Go on adventures and don't think twice about spending money when it comes to this. It's so very important!!

There will be days where you are angry and hurt at each other. You’ll make a promise together to never go to bed angry, and you’ll keep that promise even on nights when you’d rather face the wall silently crying. Make sure to keep the lines of communication open. You’ll learn that you’re much stronger together, on the same page. You both have strong wills, let them work for you, or you’ll let them work against you.

 You'll teach each other many things over the years. You will grow up together, you will have babies and become parents together, you will love each other fiercely. Make sure you don't forget to put each other first. Make God the center of your marriage. 

It won’t always be perfect, but I can say with confidence, you’ll love to learn from and embrace those times.

You’ll write this letter to yourself, with a smile on your face as you think about those past ten years and look forward to the next ten years.

Be careful with each other. Let go of things quickly. Apologize when you mess things up. Support and encourage each other. Above all, love each other well.

Love,

us, ten years later

P.S- Take a look, it’s a beautiful life…

School's Out For Summer!

Knowing I was going to have Baby Henry any day, I tried to be prepared and get things ready for the last week of school. 

I always love seeing the difference between the first and last day of school. Sally learned so much this year...everything from the pledge of allegiance to letters, numbers and all kinds of social skills. 

Free printable found here

We made the cutest bubbles for her class. The idea and free printables came from Dixie Delights blog here.  The bubbles are from The Dollar Tree. 

The free printable to put with the book found here. 

Sally and her sweet teachers. We had such a great year and will miss our Hope Preschool family next year since Sally is going to big girl preschool. 

On the last day of school I presented Sally with a Summer Fun bucket full of lots of treats: bubbles, sidewalk chalk, a new beach towel, art kit, coloring books, stickers, etc. She loved it!!

Baby Henry is Here!

Baby Henry is here.  He was born on May 25, 2016 at 12:25pm. He weighed 5 pounds 7 ounces and was 19 inches long. He is a little peanut and just perfect! We are all smitten!! Birth story coming soon!

Baby Henry's Nursery

I'm so excited to share Baby Henry's nursery with y'all today. Its always so rewarding to have a "vision" and see it come alive. 

Here is the board I originally made of how I wanted the room to look. 

Here is the view when you walk in the door. I knew I wanted a white changing table with some drawers so this sideboard from Ikea was perfect. We had Joe's parents get it from Ikea and bring it down for us. I added a vintage globe a little glass container to hold pact's, the changing pad, wipes, and a vintage locker basket to hold the diapers. Inside the doors, there are two shelves and I ordered some cute chrome baskets to hold bibs, burp cloths, blankets, etc. 

Here is a close up picture. I covered the wipes container using fabric from Hobby Lobby and some Modge Podge. 

Joe totally redid the closets and I love the way they turned out. The white moose head is from Hobby Lobby. 

Here is an interior closet shot. The gray baskets all came from Target. 

We have a little nook and Joe did a built in toy box. The fox pillow on top is from Target and there is a vintage star chart on the wall that Joe built a frame for using reclaimed wood. 

The chair is a rocking chair that I got from a local shop when I was pregnant with Sally. I ordered the pillow case from Etsy and the fox bin came from Target. The side table used to be in Sally's room and I ordered the lamp from Decor Steals one day. The vintage map came from an estate sale years ago. Joe used some reclaimed wood to build a frame. I LOVE the way it turned out. 

Joe built the shelves out of pipe and reclaimed wood. The did have to mount the shelves into the floor to make sure they were steady. Some of the items on the shelves were collected from our house and others were special for his room. The globe on the top shelf came from Hobby Lobby and the bug box came from Etsy. Joe mounted some vintage fly fishing lures into a box that he made. I bought the train lantern from a local resale site and spray painted it yellow. I have a vintage wire basket at the bottom holding books. 

Here is a shot of the other side of the room. The rug came from Ikea. 

Sources for art above crib

Vintage Flashcard art: Restoration Hardware

Wooden Arrow: Made by hubby

Mountains: Hobby Lobby

Deer: Made by hubby

Vintage Letter H: Ebay

Arrows: Pinterest

Vintage Style Pennant: Etsy

Other Sources

Rug: Ikea

Pillow Cover: Etsy

Lamp: Decor Steals

Crib Bedding and Changing pad Cover: Etsy

Changing Table: Ikea

Vintage Locker Basket: Similar on Amazon

Crib: Amazon 

Insect Box: Etsy

Light Fixture: Barn Light Electric

Art on either side of Changing Table: Etsy here and here

I tried hard to include all the sources for the room, but if there is something I forgot, please feel free to ask. My hope is that Baby Henry will love his room (of course). I sure do!!

Baby Updates

I'll be 39 weeks pregnant on Tuesday and the Dr's are talking about inducing me this week! Henry was measuring small a few weeks ago so they sent me to a specialist to make sure everything looked ok. Everything looks fabulous and the Dr is convinced we just make small babies. That being said, they said it may be better to go ahead and get him out so we can start fattening him up. Right now is is estimated at 5 pounds 12 ounces. Sally was only 5 pounds 3 ounces when she was born, so as of now,  it looks like he is already bigger than her. I just cant wait to see his face :)

I go back to the Dr. on Monday and we should have a final plan of attack. The last few days will be spent packing my bag for the hospital, getting ready for my mother in law to get here and soaking up every last moment I can with Sally before she becomes a big sister. 

I took her to a local French bakery last week and she thought she was so fancy :)

I snapped this picture of her and Daddy napping on the couch....so sweet!

We have even gotten some pool time in!

I was super impressed with the FedEx man showed up this week with a delivery...a FedEx build a bear and congratulations note from the flight department. So sweet!! We love out FedEx family!!

The nursery is finally done so I will be posting a full tour soon!!

Five on Friday

{one}

I decided to treat myself last week and bought some new sunglasses. The last pair I got was 10 years ago. Joe gave me some Chanel ones for Christmas the year we got married and they have been by my side ever since. They have some scratches and I just felt it was time to get some new ones. 

{two}

Teacher appreciation was last week and I gave Sally's teachers a succulent planted in an empty Bath and Body Works candle jar. I wrapped it with burlap ribbon and added a free printable from Pinterest. 

Sally and I also hit up the downtown farmers market and got a bouquet. They have the most beautiful flowers and I love they look in the reclaimed wood boxes that we sell. 

{three}

I hosted a paint party last weekend and we made the cutest firework door hangers...perfect for Memorial Day and the 4th of July.

 There is a local lady that comes to your house and brings everything you need for a fun girls day. 

{four}

My Mother's Day was just perfect!! Joe was flying in the morning but Sally greeted me with kisses and hugs and couldn't wait to give me the cards and present she made me at school. She was so proud!!

We made breakfast and when Joe got home we took a trip to the zoo to check out the new hippo area and some other favorites. 

Being 37 weeks, I think I was a trooper...we walked all over and I was beat when we got home!

When we got home, Joe presented me with the big present from him and Sally. Its a reclaimed door drink station. I saw one on Pinterest and mentioned it to Joe. It turned out perfectly and I cant wait to style it up.

I enjoyed sitting in the chair while Joe and Sally jumped on the trampoline.  We went to a local Thai place for dinner and Sally liked it...yay!

{five}

Sally and I have been having a big time...trips to the library, ice cream shop, candy store...all her favorites!! I have been trying to fit in as many fun things as we can before Henry makes his debut. All that being said, my Dr. told me this week that I need to slow down and take most of the day to just relax and take it easy....so easy to say but hard for me to do.