Happy 3rd Birthday, Wren!

I can hardly believe that we celebrated our sweet and spunky THREE YEAR OLD this past weekend. Wren Mikaela, you are such a delight! You are an extrovert to the max, inclusive to everyone, full of energy and imagination, a little wild, more than a little particular (like your mama) and such a special big sister and often a "little mama" to Otis and anyone else who will let you boss them around. You sure do keep us laughing and the best kind of tired at the end of each day. 

Often our favorite part of the day is listening to your response when we ask you your favorite part of the day at bedtime each night. Sometimes it is relevant to our actual happenings, sometimes it is pretend kitties, but it is always a chance to get to just enjoy who you are becoming. 

2017 has been a big year so far and you have just increased your stride to take it all in. We love your adaptability and how it helps us be more bold, adventurous and non-stop as a family. We are so blessed that you are ours and we love you much! Always play purty, little bird.

Wren [9 months]

Clearly monthly pictures are not high on your list of priorities right after you wake up from your nap. But a little milk with Mama, lunch, time in the pool and catching up with your Oowa and we tried again. Much better!

Wren, these days you're such a delight - we'd bottle up this age as one of our favorites for sure! You're so much fun, high energy (when you're in your element), silly, snuggly, adventurous, a little fearless, smart and oh so happy most often. We couldn't be prouder parents so thank you for making us part of the gushing parents club in no time. We love you!

Happy list v25

501. Taking this little bird to new places even if just for the day (IOP)

502. Quality time in the sunshine with my first [fur] babe while Wren naps

503. Our new Ameraucana hens

504. Hammock time, which is her favorite 

505. Time with B, especially before she leaves for Charleston

506. Tight lines catching brownies with Michael

507. Milestone bows

508. Munching on fresh veggies together

509. When playtime suddenly turns into a nap

510. Kicking off summer with bath time on the porch

Blessed far beyond what I deserve.

What keeps you smiling, sweet friends?

Wren [7 months]

That'll teach me to try to take your monthly pictures right before your nap when you've been a little under the weather. But our 7th month has really been such a fun one - lots of firsts and new developments for you! Now you dream yourself some sweet little dreams. Feel better. I'll always, always be here when you wake. We love you, Wren!

That [one] toothy grin

 

Extra dose of my favorite smiles this morning (:

Happy list v24

480. Of course my cup overflows with love and happiness over our new daughter, Wren.
481. Little bird, 481 will always be my favorite for it's the happiest of them all!
482. That Wren shares a birthday with Sully Bink
483. Sweet cuddles that last for hours. Time has never seemed so fleeting.
484. Our special bow beanie from our favorite nurse 

485. When Wren puts Daddy to sleep

486. Stroller walks with two of my favs

487. Nutella once a day...for the milk (:

488. Mike using the baby monitor like a CB radio - little bird come in, over.

489. Wren's poop face. Her teenage self may very well hate my commitment to thorough documentation.

 490. Our first hike in Hendersonville with sweet friends

491. Seeing our families and friends love on Wren - it is so very special and we are grateful that her heart is already so dear to so many

492. Oowa singing the funny face song on repeat

493. The most special letters and their perfect timing

494. Baby wearing - the gifted freedom of using two hands

495. Mike's hit single and when it gets stuck in my head during the day

496. Chatting with my dad about becoming a parent - so neat to finally share some perspective

497. The way Aunt Shellee beams at Wren

498. Sweet baby toes

499. Moonlight communication with other new moms - camaraderie is key.

500. A mid-afternoon decaf coffee as big as my head to make me feel like a real person

Blessed far beyond what I deserve.

What keeps you smiling, sweet friends?

Happy list v23

463. Mike helping me make mobiles for the nursery. Seriously swoon-worthy!
464. Sweet drop by visits from friends with babes and gifted hydrangeas
465. Going back to visit houses that I did a lot of growing up in
466. Impromptu all-day hangouts with friends
467. Our literally multiplying community group (:
468. Hearing Mike tell "our story"
469. Snail mail from my mom and the sweet and simple baby gifts she's included lately
470. Having a dad that keeps up with my OB appointments and hunts for old antiques for me
471. Jumbo cups of QT crushed ice and gifted "preggo" ice from JB
472. Doodling names in my journal, not knowing what our Baby Bink will be yet
473. Friends that give up weekend after weekend to help Mike build our back deck
474. Special trinkets with sentimental value
475. Our PERFECT homemade cake from my aunt and cousins for Baby Bink's final shower with family - so very special, not to mention, delish!

476. Line dried laundry warm from the sunshine
477. Making Mike's favorite meals
478. A happy Sully when he gets to do his favorite things
479. Fried plantains for dinner
480. Doubling up on Chocolate Silk Pie from Adam's with Katie for our last pre-baby hoorah. Halvsies just won't do. 

Blessed far beyond what I deserve.

What keeps you smiling, sweet friends?

Happy list v22

459. Playing hide-n-seek with Sully and Mike in the backyard
450. Pool days at Honey's with the gang
451. Sully helping us round up the hens back into their coop at night - such a farm dog at heart
452. Katie rushing over to my aid with meat tenderizer when I got stung on.the.butt by yellow jackets while cutting grass
453. The most relaxing babymoon down in Beaufort with Mike and Sully - our last hoorah as a family of 3

454. The occasional Peanut Butter Fudge Milkshake (for the baby, of course)
455. Coffee dates with Andrea, chatting about all things motherhood
456. FINALLY creating a wedding album and having it printed.......just 5 years out
457. Our very first egg from our backyard girls

458. No judgement portions of cheesecake with Megan paired with sweet cuddle time with Myers
459. Playing in the fountain downtown with Mc and Amos
460. Neighborly walk/bike over visits with Ben and Em
461. Watching Mount Everest documentaries with Mike when I can't sleep
462. Our couple's baby shower thrown by all of our very bests. Our growing family is immensely blessed by life lived alongside such a special bunch of friends!

Poor Mike had to eat baby food all mixed up for his last place finish

Makes me melt, thinkin' of my sweet one becoming a dad to our little love! 

Pretty darn special growing babes with my best friend 

Blessed far beyond what I deserve.

What keeps you smiling, sweet friends?

Happy list v21

444. Homemade ice cream with the help of Dad's 1923 hit and miss engine
445. My new "mom" set of wheels - had to happen.

446. Shooting more with my 50mm fixed lens
447. Looking through old pictures
448. Sitting in the nursery daydreaming. It's coming along...
449. Game of Thrones shockers
450. National Park instas, because every day is made better with a pretty view!
451. Father's Day flyfishing with Mike and Roid

 452. Stuffing my baby bump into my waders

453. Sittin' on the porch when the talk turns to birds
454. Building cozy pallets with Mike. Throwback to sweet childhood.
455. Homemade chicken salad
456. Runtastic
457. Teaching Sully to help herd the chickens back into their coop
458. Baby Bink's very first shower thrown by two of my very bests! Just perfect and so very special to me. Grateful for such wonderful friends who will love our babe, too.

Blessed far beyond what I deserve.

What keeps you smiling, sweet friends?