Thursday, April 26, 2012

cloudy

...
Today has felt nothing short of an obstinate, sticky, cranky-faced day. Night's almost over and still, I'm just not feeling it. My world is far too wrapped up in limbo land right now and in case you didn't know this about me... I don't dig limbo. Coupled with a passed-down-from-family-o-kids cold, I'm in no place to leave you with any sort of substance of a post.

So, I'm not even going to attempt it.

Instead, I'll just leave you with a few pictures from the other day because they are fresh and full of sunshine and remind me of better days to come.





































I have a hot bath and a looooong night's sleep in my future. It will come in handy as I fully intend to kick tomorrow's ass into the happier side of living. Stay tuned.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Rested

...
So, I went all AWOL on this whole blogging thing this week. You see, there has been a lot of life living outside our open windows and man, we've been digging it.

First of all, I have been completely all swooped up by this new baby love. No, no... not MY new baby love. BREATHE. Not you... I'm talking to myself. 

Where was I? Oh yes, new baby love. Guys. It is pretty stinking wonderful. This amazing circle of women that I have treasured in my life for up to 25 amazing years of friendship are now welcoming their special little ladies in their lives too. 5 new little girls in just 2 months. And pretty soon, 2 more boys. Annnnnd... majority of these are first born babes. You know how I feel about those. My heart might explode. In fact, it makes me so happy that I really want to just bust out dancing in the middle of the street when I think about it. The only thing stopping me is that I will most likely fall. Yep, I'm holding out not because it's strange... more just because boot camp kicked my booty so hard this week that I can't.move.a.muscle.

Man, am I off topic or what tonight? No more blogging past 2am.

Babies.

There we are... right back on track. Perfect, beautiful babies. Like Caroline.
















I so enjoyed meeting her this past visit to Dallas. She is so quiet and crinkly and not at all the size of any of my babies now. And strangely, that feels really okay. I get to love on their tinys... and then go home to these crazy kids.























































I have decided this week, JUST THIS WEEK, that our family is a really nice fit for now. Aside from when hostesses try to squuuueeeze us all on a 4 top with a highchair, we fit quite wonderfully in this world together. Things feel balanced... in fact, I feel more balanced. Turns out, that you need adequate sleep to feel less anxious. Who knew, right? With the hubs out of work for a couple months (did I mention that here?), I had a great little partner in crime to help me through the day to day. I took naps... like every day. For the first time in perhaps 6 years, my little sleep tank is at a functional level again. Dancing in streets is actually possible minus that whole boot camp death thing. Who knew it would take a bout of unemployment to feel less anxious in my space? Life's funny.

Now that he has a new job (insert happy face), I have a RUDE awakening coming my way. I'm okay with it though and incredibly thankful for this precious time with the man I love. Oh, and quite thankful for predictable income. That'll be nice too.

So I'm here in this place where the days are longer and the breathing is a bit easier. While I am fully aware that can change in instant in this ever-evolving world, I am soaking every minute up.
































How bout' you?

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Birthday Magic

...
There many things in this world of child rearing that we approach with the whole, "We'll do this better next time" way of thinking. No shame to it. Some things are just more or less a big ole' heap of trial and error. In the case of these two parenting Mays, we often tend to lean on the side of error, with the exception of one thing...

We Mays know how to celebrate a birthday.

You can keep your expensive invitations and elaborate party plans. We'll just stick to our favorite combination of sunshine and a whole lot of laughter.

Ya know? In this case, less really can be more.


And really? Why just leave all that celebrating up to one day? Sometimes, a practice round is just what you need to warm up to fun.





"Uh, why are you all staring at me and singing?"

Birthdays are full of magical moments. 

Like when your never-wears-a-watch Uncle Jake is actually the first one to the party. In fact, he even beat the birthday babe. Definitely, magic in the making and fully documented.


























And those bunny cupcakes that didn't get squished in the car EVEN though a lawn chair landed on them. Magic.

It's all that birthday sunshine


Space to move


































and treasures to find.


































Add all that to the mix of fantastic company



















and you'll find yourself just wrapped up in a sweet moment of love


 and a good deal of laughter.


































It just don't get much better than that.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Our Lucy Day




































It seems silly to me that you were the pregnancy that kept me up at night with worry.

Of all three, YOU were the one that we made a plan for and eagerly counted down to confirmation that you were going to be ours. Heck, you had your very own name already before you were even placed in my arms. Only you.

 Perhaps it was that we were old enough to know the risks this time and yet still new enough that we forgot to hold hope close. How could we ever maintain a balance with three? Surely you would tip the scale someway ... and you did. But, instead of dividing a balance between siblings, you just dipped us further into the loving side. Who knew? Only you.

It's funny now. In a my-heart-my-burst-if-I-think-about-it-too-much kind of way. To think that I had worried if I could love you enough or if you would fit our loud and quirky lifestyle. Sweetheart, you just might the strangest of the bunch. You are the keeper of both the loudest laugh and the smallest body. You do more than tag along to our family... you connect us all.

So today we mark a year of greatness. Remembering all those late nights, early mornings, fatigue, laughter, milestones, balancing, adventure-seeking...our Lulu keeping. Today we celebrate the beautiful light to this world that is our one and only you.

Happy Birthday, Lucy Ellen. What a year of fun.

One Year Birthday Stats:


Height: 27.5 in (10%)
Weight: 17 lb (3%)
Head: 45% (forgot to write down exact size).

* Don't forget to pause the music on the right side.



Untitled from Julie May on Vimeo.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Day trippers

 ...
My yesterday started with falling asleep in the shower (night shifts can be hard!) and ended with throwing up bunches of catfish and strawberries (migranes are hard too).

I know. It looked like I had been murdered in the bathroom.

Sometimes, you just have to step back and take stock of the entirety of the day... and when you do that... there are a lot more good memories that came from those strawberries during the in-between parts of my day. And remember?

I like the in-between parts the best anyhow.

Sweet Berry Farms delivered.













 As for that country scenery? Yeah, that was pretty wonderful too.