I'm Dreaming of White Sand Beaches

Exactly one month from this morning we'll wake up here...

We have planned our first official family vacation as a family of 3 and we'll be spending a week on the white sand beaches of Destin, Florida.  When I was 16 months old my parents took me to the beach for the first time and I've never looked back...I'm a beach girl for life.  I truly hope that Elyse loves the sand & sun as much as I do. 

I know we'll make lots of memories and I can't wait to get away for awhile with my precious family.  This momma is ready for a little break & I think the white sands, warm water, & yummy seafood are just what I need! 

R.I.P. Twisty Baby

We had a casualty at our house last night.  A much needed rainfall came by way of a pretty severe thunderstorm.  And while I was wanting to run outside and play in the rain like a little girl, I was not nearly as ecstatic when I looked out out back window and saw this...

 yeah, that's not a funny looking shrub.  That's one of the trees in our backyard.  A decorative twisty baby locust tree that Nick & I absolutely loved. 

 It seems that the high winds were just more than this little tree could take...and it snapped off about 2 feet from the ground. 

And honestly, it's kind of depressing.  Sure there are lots of worse  things than losing a tree in your backyard...I mean my parents just watched everything to the North of their house go up in flames, and they've also experienced two severe tornadoes in the past 10 years.  So obviously there are worse things when it comes to storm damage. 

But there's just something about it that makes me so sad.  We work so hard to keep our house looking nice & creating a space that we can truly call our home...and then in one quick wind gust, part of our "home" is gone.   

The tree can obviously be replaced and trust me...it will. But maybe this time with a strong maple tree that can withstand the strong, gusty winds without any shelter nearby. 

Weekend Rewind~a little heat relief!

What started out as a ridiculously hot weekend, ended up with a drastic reduction in temperatures all the way into the low 90s!  ha!  But hey, when you're talking about temps over 105, the low 90s certainly seems cool! 

Friday evening we invited Hubby's parents over for dinner at our house.  They picked up steaks, twice-baked potatoes, asparagus, and some french bread and Hubby fired up the grill.  We had a delicious meal and they were able to spend some quality time with Elyse.  My MIL also made a yummy strawberry dessert that was so ridiculously simple, but I cannot for the life of me remember the recipe...trust me, it was delicious! 

After dinner, my MIL aka Mamaw gave Elyse a bath and did a little Chinese water torture.  Ok, not really...but our baby girl LOVES the water and doesn't mind having it in her face.  We also try to encourage this so she's not scared of water in her face in the future...this all sometimes results in a little squirt to the face just for fun! 

Beware of the rubber ducky!

I promise she actually loved this! 

Saturday morning I came to work so Hubby could spend some quality time with Elyse.  He had a golf tournament on Saturday & Sunday afternoon which meant he didn't get to see much of our baby girl all weekend.  After work Elyse & I headed out to a gender reveal party for one of our very good friends.  Shauna & Ryan went all out with a complete March Madness-style bracket to reveal the name & gender of their baby.  The result:  A baby boy...Asher James, due in December! 

I completely failed at taking any pictures because let's be honest...rangling an 8 month old who wants nothing more than to be down on the ground can be quite the challenge.

It was ridiculously hot on Saturday so after the party we came home and while Elyse napped so did momma...and then after her 3:00 feeding, Elyse napped some more.  Poor baby girl is getting all 4 top teeth in at once!  yikes!  All I can say is at least we're getting it all over at once!

We definitely consider it crawling...she has an adorable little scoot & pull!

Sunday we were able to go to church and lunch as a family and then Hubby headed to the golf course while Elyse & I headed to my parents house for some pool time & dinner.  Elyse loved the water as usual & I was able to actually enjoy  being outside without feeling like I was going to die of heat stroke!  It's amazing what 10-15 degrees will do!  

She loves those little rubber turtles! 

My parents are dog-sitting for my brother & his wife...so even Josie & Romo got to get in on some pool action!

We stayed for a fabulous dinner and got home just in time for Hubby to tell Elyse good night.  It was a good weekend, but also one when I was again reminded how thankful I am for a husband who is such a hands on dad!  The teething process can be exhausting when it's just me & one fussy little girl!

Gigi & Elyse

her tiny little hands

As Elyse continues to grow & learn about this crazy world, it's literally like watching her brain develop before my eyes.  As she observes all the new sights & sounds & smells around her, she just can't seem to get enough. 

Most recently I've been watching her more closely as she uses her hands to learn about everything around her.  Those tiny little hands that just a few months ago were still curled in a tight little ball and it was a struggle to get her to relax them.  Those tiny little hands that several few weeks ago were nothing more than a glorified pacifier.  Those tiny little hands that would grab for something but the only thing she knew to do was to put something in her mouth. 

As I watch those little hands I start to imagine how someday she'll use use those precious hands to do something she's passionate about, to work hard to achieve success, and to sacrifice her time to help others.  Maybe she'll play the piano like her momma, or play golf like her daddy.  Maybe she'll be a dancer who uses her hands to make graceful movements, or be a writer who needs her hands to put eloquent words on paper.  Or maybe she'll use those hands to show others that Jesus loves them, or to console & encourage others with a simple hug or handshake. 

I've been dreaming a lot about what our little girl will become.  About where her little hands will take her and all that she'll achieve.  And then I remember that right now I need to just enjoy those little hands.  I need to enjoy the moments when she sits in my lap just playing with her momma's hands, exploring the nooks & crannies of my own fingers & the jewelry that normally adorns my hands.  I need to remember these simple moments when she takes her hand and grabs for my hair to bring me closer or when she slaps her hands on her legs with utter joy filling her face.  And I need to remember those moments when she's so sound asleep that her arms & hands go completely limp and flop down next to her fully relaxed body. 

There's no question that eventually those hands will experience hurt and disappointment and fear.  But for now, I'll just focus on the innocence of those precious hands.  I'll focus on treasuring the moments as her eyes light up when she presses a button and music plays or as she learns to lift her hands when she wants to be cuddled.  I need to focus on always being there to hold her hand, even as it continues to grow and eventually will become similar in size to my own.  I won't always be able to do everything for her, but I will always be able to hold her tiny litlte hands. 

Weekend Rewind~yeah, it's still hot!

It was another weekend where the only acceptable form of entertainment was either inside with the air-conditioning running full blast or one where you could be completely submerged in the water for hours on end.  We opted for the a/c this weekend and spent LOTS of time indoors. 

Friday evening we stayed in, I cooked dinner, and we watched the Opening Ceremony for the London Olympics.  I have to admit, after the whole Industrial Revolution I kind of lost interest...I fell asleep on the couch and Hubby woke me up as the parade of nations began.  We headed to bed basically right after the US entered the arena...just wasn't all that impressed with the production. 

Saturday Hubby & I both had the day off and I was desperately needing a Momma Morning.  I headed out leaving Hubby at home with Elyse & went shopping all by myself.  I bought Elyse a few new board books at Barnes & Noble, went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a few things for a quick Pinterest craft, and went to Banana Republic to window shop.  I got home around lunchtime and honestly felt so refreshed.  It was amazing what a couple of hours did for me when I didn't have to worry about Elyse's nap time, or when she needed to eat, or what I was going to do to entertain her. 

I'm so stinkin' grateful for my amazing hubby! 

Mom...I'm really not into picture-taking tonight...please stop!  ha! 

Saturday afternoon Hubby & I both just lounged around watching the Olympics and doing a few things around the house.  And then it was time for Date Night! 

One of the glorious things about Hubby's parents being so close now is that we have a second set of "free" babysitters!  We dropped her off about 4:30 and headed off to run a few errands before catching a movie.  We watched the Dark Knight Rises and both really enjoyed it.  It wasn't your typical movie-going experience either...we watched it from comfortable recliners were waitresses brought our dinner and waited on us hand & foot!  One of the new local theaters has 2 suite-style theaters that are reserved for 21+, have about 50 seats per theater, and include in-theater dining.  It was such a fun experience and we'll definitely be going back! 

Mamaw, Elyse (complete with a lipstick kiss on her forehead), & Pappy

We headed back to pick up Elyse from my in-laws...she had been put to bed several hours earlier and made the transition really well. 

Sunday was reserved for church & relaxation at home.  After church we headed to Target for a few Elyse-related items, and then grabbed lunch at Houlihan's.  That is seriously one of our favorite local chain-restaurants.  They have so much yummy stuff to eat! 

All dressed up ready for church!

After lunch it was time for Elyse's nap so we headed home to put her to bed...turns out it was naptime for Mommy & Daddy as well.  We both slept until she woke up at 3!  Gotta love family afternoon naps! Otherwise it was a really laid-back Sunday.  I did make a trip to the grocery store and we watched plenty of Olympics while doing several loads of laundry.  Pretty much a fabulously relaxing way to end an incredibly HOT weekend! 

Grass Fire 2012

I finally have a few moments to write out the events from last Friday's big grass fire, and while it may not seem as dramatic while I explain it...it was dramatic...in a BIG way.

Last Friday my parents were out of town for a business meeting with plans to return sometime during the afternoon.  Nick & I were working together at the office along with our other long-term employee Delma, who is practically another member of our family.  My grandparents called sometime mid-morning and invited all of us to lunch at a local tea-house/cafe just down the block from our office.  We met up just a few minutes after noon and just a few minutes before we walked in the door of the cafe', one of the rural firefighters got a call that there was a "small fire North of Randy's."  Randy being my dad. 

I asked my grandpa if he thought it was anything we should worry about (as my parent's originally built on 3 acres of his land so if a fire is burning North of Randy's, then it's also burning directly West of my grandparents' home).  He said we should go ahead and order, but before we could all even decide what to eat we see & hear water tankers, brush trucks, and sirens being dispatched.  My grandpa decides to go check things out & I encourage Nick to go along.  The rest of our group continues lunch, assuming that grandpa & Nick will be back very soon to join us.  Yeah, not so much. 

The first call from Nick was "we're going to be here awhile" which I think prompted my first call to my aunt & uncle who have a farm and a small amount of equipment which would be helpful in fighting a grass fire.  The second call from Nick was "we need more help"...which prompted a phone call to City Hall so they could call 911 once again and request aid from other departments. 



The third call prompted my panic. It wasn't from Nick, but it was from city hall and they were relaying a message from the rural firefighter who had left the cafe' a few minutes before.  The message was this:  Tell Lauren to get the dogs & anything she wants away from that house.  Cue tears, sobbing, and utter panic. 

Myself, Delma (our employee & dear friend) and her son raced to the nearest vehicle and headed out.  We could already see the smoke as we headed out of town and I just had a feeling it was going to be bad.  And it was.  The flames had already moved practically all the way across the field and were threatening the fence line & wooded area that was directly North of my parents' home.  It was seriously one of the scariest things I've ever seen. 

Delma pulled her vehicle around to the back of the house and I realized Nick & my grandpa were headed around the wooded area going back to my grandparents' house and most importantly out of the smoke-filled air.  I was seriously in all-out hysteria at this point, screaming at my husband telling him he had to let me go in the house & get pictures & the computer & whatever I could save.  But most importantly I had to save the dogs. 

Decisions were quickly made and while I jumped in the car with my grandpa to head to safety, Delma, her son Derek, & my husband loaded up my parents 3 dogs in the back of her car and brought them to our office.  Nick was left at my parents' house with the firefighters to monitor the situation & Delma took our dogs back to our office, shut them in the back room and headed out again. 

Meanwhile I was with my grandpa across the field at his house, where I could see the flames moving closer to his house & also moving into the wooded area that is near both of the homes.  I was terrified, freaking out, and not handling the situation well at all.  I headed back into town to check on my grandma (who we had left at the cafe' on purpose) and she told me that she wanted to stay there.  Where it was safe.  Where one would have to worry about her.  Where no one would have to come back for her if the fire shifted toward their house. 

And off I went again.  But this time they wouldn't let me back down the road to my parents' house. The electricity had been shut off and emergency vehicles were blocking my way.  I met up with Delma on the road & we headed around the back way to my grandparents' house to check on my grandpa.  He was hosing down the yard on the back side of the house preparing for the worst and hoping a good soaked yard would at least slow down the fire if it got any closer. 

And then we waited.  And I made phone calls to Nick.  And he continued to reassure me that he was standing with 2 tankers full of water that promised the would NOT let fire touch the house.  And we waited some more.  And we waited.  And finally it seemed like the stress of the situation seemed to calm down enough that I was able to breath a small smoke-filled sigh of relief.  The houses were safe.  The fire was still burning & it would burn all the way through that wooded area which separates the houses, but the houses and all living things were safe. 

I stayed at my grandparents' house for quite awhile longer.  Long enough to call my parents' & finally inform them of the situation.  I'd made the decision that it was better they not know since there really was nothing they could do from 2 1/2 hours away.  Was it the right decision, I don't know.  But it's the decision I made and once we had basically been given the all clear from the firemen stationed at my parents' house...I made the call.  I basically had to.  

See, when I didn't know what else to do I had called my MIL & my best friend & told them to pray. To pray hard. What I didn't expect was for my best friend to post an urgent prayer request on Facebook that mentioned my name. And I certainly couldn't let my parents discover that they had a huge fire near their home from Facebook. So I called my parents & as calmly as I could, explained what had happened but that it seemed like both homes were in the clear & that everything was going to be ok. 

By this time the roads had been reopened for a bit and I was able to catch a ride to my parents' house and see my husband.  I confirmed just he said, the fire in & nearest to the house had been completely extinguished and the firemen were just keeping watch for flare-ups at this point.  But the fire had gotten extremely close...too close.

I decided that at that point I didn't need to stand around in the heat so I went into my parents' house and found the best clothes I could to change into.  I was drenched in sweat and smelled like a brush fire but didn't really have the time or energy to take a full shower.  I headed back to the office and waited until my parents would arrive home an hour or so later. 

I met my parents at home....and with tear-filled eyes we all just stared and tried not to think about what might have been.  What could have happened if the firemen hadn't done such a wonderful job in protecting my parents' home and the home I lived for 25 years of my life. 

The fire would flare up 3 more times in the next 24 hours and 911 would respond each of those times.  But it's been almost a week and while the ground is still very dry and very black and we can see through fence lines where we couldn't before, we are still oh so very thankful for God's protection and watching over us throughout the entire process. 

I'll admit that I didn't handle things well at all, but I'm also at peace with the fact that in a time of major crisis I did all that I knew to do...pray, and pray like my life (or in this case my family's homes) depended on it. 

Lucy & Elyse

Grass Fire 2012 wasn't the only thing that happened on Friday.  Elyse got to spend her first full day @ Mamaw & Pappy's house.  This is one of the things I'm so excited about with my in-laws living 30 minutes away from us...they get to spend tons more time with Elyse & another free babysitter for us!  ha! 

Hubby's mom came and picked Elyse up on Friday morning & they headed out.  I'm not gonna lie, I was a little bit nervous as to how Elyse would act being in a new place for an entire day.  Of course my concerns were completely unfounded & the day went just as it would have gone if she had been with my mom or even with me. 

Well...except for one minor incident.  Apparently my mother-in-law was a little hesitant to even share what happened, but I'm oh so glad she did...because the story is too precious to forget! 

My MIL headed downstairs around 9:30 to put Elyse to bed for her morning nap and she was joined by her puppy Lucy.  Lucy is a rambunctious yellow labradoodle who I can already tell is going to love Elyse to pieces.  My MIL left the room and thought Lucy followed quickly behind, but apparently she decided to wanted to nap with Elyse.  Thinking nothing of it, my MIL went upstairs, turned on the baby monitor and went back to work unpacking. 

After quite awhile, my FIL could still hear Elyse babbling & talking so he decided to just go down and check on her.  What he found still cracks me up as I think about it.  Apparently Lucy decided to take "napping with Elyse" to an entirely new level.  Because laying in the crib with Elyse was Lucy...both of them perfectly content, Elyse almost asleep.  Of course Lucy was promptly removed from the crib & Elyse went right to sleep. 

When I asked my in-laws if they managed to snap a picture, I was quickly informed that picture-taking was not really on their minds as they found their labradoodle sharing a crib with their youngest grand-baby!  ha! 

It never ceases to amaze me how God knows exactly what he's doing & how he knows exactly where we need to be at each moment. 

On Friday, my parents' were out of town for a business meeting which meant that we had to figure out what to do with Elyse for the day.  A few weeks ago, our answer would have been to bring her here to the office and she would have spent the day playing & napping alongside us.  However, with Hubby's parents being in town now...Elyse went to Mamaw & Pappy's for her first full day with them.  She wasn't here at the office.  We didn't have to worry about her as we tried to figure out what was going on with the fire.  She was safe & sound with Mamaw, Pappy, and of course, Lucy.