Birthday Magic

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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.

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.

Day trippers

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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.

The Rookie

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Hey, Yank. Who's your biggest fan?

Well... I know your littlest.

Can we please pause to discuss how handsome the vintagey man o' my dreams is? He had me at the crinkly eyes.

Growing

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Sometimes, to really see things as they are meant to be seen, you need to step back and change the perspective a bit.

Take the time to really look around and process it all.

.

Yep. That happened.

Somewhere around 23,000 feet in the air, I was struck with the realization that an alone weekend sans kids/hubs hadn't happened for this chick in over seven years... although, I am quite certain it has been longer. Heck, most days a visit to the toilet doesn't even happen alone. How's that slant to my perspective? This break was long overdue. And what do you know, while nestled up against the window, in all that pressurized air, breathing suddenly came a little easier.

I didn't take a million pictures, make to-do lists or even schedule one must do thing. I listened, I internalized, I relaxed within my world, wrapped up in some good company and made way for more growing.

Looking around now, I am able to see things that perhaps I might have overlooked without the little change of scenery. I had lots of time wrapped up in thoughts of growing. It seems that there are all types of growing happening all around me to appreciate. Man, am I am appreciating it.

For example.

Today at a ballet demonstration I was struck with an acute awareness that this...

has now transformed to this...

               
And for all the little girly goofiness that abundantly exists...

 They can listen now.

 And follow directions... using REAL ballet terms...

 They get feet positions...

Heck, they can plank.

 I sit here stunned. Because in truth, it doesn't feel like seven years since I have had lots of alone time.

In fact, this...

feels like it could have been my yesterday.

Realizing that I have a lifetime to spend celebrating this gal

as she becomes the beautiful woman she will one day be, I am swept away and painfully aware of how quickly that day will arrive. Hopefully, only after a decade of beaches reminding me to breathe and live in the now.

Days like today are the best parts of growing to be found.

A good deal of new

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This time tomorrow I will have had my feet in the oceans of my childhood. I will have driven an SUV up the coast and ran gaping smiles into the arms of my best friend. A perfect start to the weekend. Now. IF only it could just get here.

It is a big weekend of new for all of us. This will be my first time to ever leave my little Lu bug. In fact, just the second time I will have ever left the whole gang at length. This is a LONG overdue Mommy break, no?Weaning is officially in process and I am still in shock that we made it a year. What a great year of nursing... it's the nights I miss it the most. Traveling to the southern corner of the country pump free? Completely eases me into the transition.

 Another new happening this weekend is this...

The practice Wednesday night was just about the funniest thing I have ever seen. At one point, the ball was coming to Gabriel but he missed it because it was too busy hugging his friend, Tucker. So excited to hear the updates from Saturday. Go Yankees. Go Florida. Go new.

Lucky

 ...
My family knows a little something about luck.

We start them early.

While they're still all leprechaun like...

And then we just watch them grow.

What started as just one Irish lass

has become generations upon generations of green

(All of the great-grandchildren minus four) 

My big Irish family is better than a whole pot of gold.

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And speaking of luck...

The winner of the adorable bunny hat (your color/size of choice) goes to via Random Number Generator:

MYRIAH BRADY!!! 


Yay! Your birthday boy is going to look adorable in his bunny hat! Myriah, I'll send you an email now with Melody's info and she'll take it from there!

Thanks to everyone that entered! Go and check out the rest of Melody's incredible work at Beautiful Mess Crochet---I dare you resist the cuteness.

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If you're lucky enough to be Irish, then your lucky enough.