Random

Hello Friends!  I just wanted to say thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post about my photography.  I am seriously going to make a go of this and am now trying to think of a name.  I like Over the Moon Photography, Just Breathe Photography,  Bliss Photography and Coral Sky Photography.  What do you vote or do you have a clever or crafty name?  I thought about my name, but it isn't very catchy so I am going the other route.  I think....

I am thinking of three thousand things right now.  I am really struggling with this whole "my baby is growing up" thing.

• The dentist said she would be losing her two bottom teeth soon.  I had to go to the bathroom and get myself together.  
• She is going to be in Kindergarten.  How the heck did that happen???? 
• She sat down and read a book to me yesterday.  She READ it.  I helped some, but she read it.  I was so proud!  I started crying!  
• We took cookies to the Kindergarten graduation today and  I watched the class march into the church in their white clothes and teared up thinking that would be us next year!  
• She informed me of an incident the other day at school where her best buddy wasn't really letting her play with another girl so Jemma told me that she really tried to help the girls communicate.  She said communicate.   The soccer coach was laughing hysterically on the side lines two weeks ago and after the game she told us that he head coach said to think of the soccer ball as candy and to go for it.  Jemma said, "I am not really a (insert quote fingers here...) "candy person" per se."                    Where does she get this?!? 
• She is inquisitve, funny, sweet and sassy!  I just want to hang on to every single moment with her!

She has been talking quite a bit about wishing she had a baby brother or sister.  I have had to tell her that we can't have more babies that God gave us her because she was so special.  I don't know if I have ever shared the fact that we found out we can't have more babies.  I have too few eggs and it appears my eggs are old.  How weird is that?  I am 39, but my eggs are those of a 42 to 43 year old.  They are abnormal and that could be a factor in the miscarriages that I have had.  The doctor basically told me that I have a very low chance of getting pregnant and a higher chance of genetic disorders.  We cried and prayed and talked and worried over what to do.  The BHW wasn't completely comfortable with the whole in vitro process but would do what I wanted.  I then read Kim's (love her and her blog!) post on her blog Domestic Bliss about her pregnancy with her new baby boy.  She basically talked about how she got pregnant against all odds because God wasn't done with their family and God wanted her to have this baby.  That gave me so much clarity and we were able to make a decision to not pursue fertility treatments without regret.  I still have a hard time every now and then, but I know that God has a plan for me and he gave me Jemma and for that I am forever blessed and grateful.  With all that said, we talked about not having babies and how she would not be able to play with them as they would be too little to play with and she looked right at us and said, "You could adopt a 5 year old!"  This child... what would I do without her to keep me on my toes!

We visited Tennessee again to attend my nieces 8th grade graduation.  I remember them coming home from the hospital as a whopping 4 pounder and 5 pounder.  How quickly they have grown into beautiful young ladies that I am so proud of!  

Meet Carlos!  He was a baby bird that my BIL found after the storms in Tennessee.  They have been feeding him and I got in on the gig!  Let me say that I fell in love with Carlos, and I think he loved me too.  Every time I came into the room, he would start chirping.  He may have been just hungry, but I think it was because he loved me.  

We leave for Ireland in 2 1/2 weeks.  I didn't lose the weight I wanted.  Oh well, I won't feel guilty when I drink my Harp or Smithick's now!!!  

RANDOM PICTURES...

This is me and my girl on Mother's Day going out to dinner.  She loves this hat and wore it the whole evening!

First trophy = So Proud of Herself!!!!

Gorgeous sunset on the Isle of Palms at The Boathouse Restaurant.  Excellent food and beautiful views!

I told you this was a totally random post!  If you are still with me... thank you.  Thank you for always reading and commenting and just being out there!  

I have been taking pictures!

Here is what I have been up to!  I have photographed one family and a one year old!  I have had so much fun with both!  Trying to get a 5 month old and a three year old looking in the same direction was next to impossible, but we got some great shots and the one year old, well, what can I say... she is a natural!  I would seriously love any thoughts.  I have had a ball playing with my new editing program and so proud of myself for doing it!  I hope you all have a great weekend!

I think I am about to take this show on the road and start actually charging and doing this as a real life job!  Would you pay for pictures like this?  I need honest feedback!

Happy Mother's Day!

It has been a glorious day and it is only 10:00 a.m.!  I had a yummy McDonald's breakfast in my pajamas, a new baby giraffe (thank you so much, Jemma!), wonderfully sweet cards, and a new ipod!!!  I am a lucky woman and God gave me the greatest gift of all when he gave me Jemma and made me a MOM!  Happy Mother's Day to all my dear blogging friends!

We have been busy!

Hi everyone!  For the last few weeks, we have been just busy!  Running here and there, Palm Sunday services with egg hunt, Charleston Riverdogs game where Jemma got to go out onto the field,and another short vacation to visit the in-laws in Florida! We just had new cabinets installed in our laundry room.  I will share that as soon as I finish painting!  What a difference that makes!  The BHW installed crown molding in the guest room.  I will hopefully share that new room soon.  We have had to have the ceiling cut open to repair a squeak in the floor above.  Not so pretty, but should all be coming together soon!  Lots of projects to share very soon!

I hope you are all well!

Since we are gone on Easter Sunday, Jemma shows off her Easter dress!

Dad checking to see if those two teeth are getting wiggly yet.

This guy was so sweet to her!

The BHW became the chef at a cookout for a group my in-laws belongs to at the RV resort!  He is pretty sure he lost some eyebrows!

Reading about manatees

A manatee momma and her baby!  So sweet!

Manatee snout

Nonno playing the autoharp and singing at a local park.  They do this every Saturday while they are in Florida.

Nonna playing the guitar and singing harmony

The Easter Bunny came!
He brought a Cinderella outfit for her American Girl doll, Tiana purse and gloves, a snow globe and lip gloss!

The Easter  Bunny always leaves an egg in Nonno's hat!!!  Silly bunny!

Our daughter is a fish!  She finally got down to get a ring in the 6 foot.  She came up, sat on the noodle, put her hands like saying a prayer and said, "Dear God, this is the best day ever!"  

Who knew?!?  We didn't even need a passport!

I hope everyone has a great week!!!

A Royal Morning!

Good afternoon everyone!!!  Jemma and I just got up from our little naps since we had such an early morning and what a morning it was!  I have been so excited about this wedding for quite some time but have really gotten the fever in the last few days, and I was not disappointed.  It was absolutely breathtaking and what a royal wedding should be!

I woke up at 5:15 and could hear Jemma reading books to herself in her room!  She was just as excited as I was!  We went down and got to see William and Harry arrive at the church.  She is actually in love with Harry!  Of course I had a special crown for her!  I had also created a banner from The Housewife Bootcamp printables to decorate the fireplace and entertainment center!  Jemma was pleased with it all!

As the royals entered, I began to whip up our chocolate chip scones and blueberry muffins.  The  muffins were to honor my mom.  She made them for me when we watched Princess Diana's and Prince Charles' wedding with my Grandma.  I still remember that morning with them and cherish it.  I hope Jemma remembers our special morning too!  The scone recipe came from Beth at Stories from A2Z, and they were absolutely fabulous!!!!  You can go here to see the recipe she got from A Beautiful Nest.

My princess rested her tiara while she watched the wedding and then she curled up with Daddy.  It was so fun to watch this special occasion with my two most favorite people!

WARNING... I DO NOT GET READY FOR ANYTHING AT 5:00.  THE PHOTOS BELOW MAY BE A LITTLE SCARY!!!  I am just keeping it real...  in a very scary way...

One of my best friends lives in London and I spoke with her at 1:30 in the morning here as they were waiting at the Mall to see the procession!  If we weren't going to Ireland next month, I guarantee you, we would have been right there with her!  She is the most thoughtful human being in the world and knows how much I love the royals.  She got me a commemorative stamp set, one of the programs you saw everyone holding and a London newspaper hot off the press!  I adore her and just wanted to say THANK YOU, SUZANNE!  YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!

Here they are at the Mall celebrating with the crowds!

The BHW had to go to work after we saw the Kiss and Jemma and I continued in our royal duties until one tired princess decided to sleep!

What an absolutely magical morning and I wish William and Catherine all the blessings and joy in the world.  It truly was a fairy tale!