Love

So I know a lot of people who think Valentine's Day is a "made up halimark holiday". And while I do feel like maybe it is over done a tad, I still can't let go of Valentine's Day completely! 

Eleven years ago, on Valentine's Day, I had my last first date!  My hubby picked me up at my house, shook my Dad's hand and introduced himself, gave me flowers and then took me to a very romantic first date!  The rest as they say is history!  So as much as Valentine's Day is a commercialized holiday to some people, to me it is a day that I have tucked in my "Loved this Day" memory bank. 

And of course, with Carly it is fun to celebrate any holiday, made up or not!  She is really getting into things too, asking me, "What comes next Mama?"  So this year, I am trying to do everything up BIG for her!

We spent our winter storm afternoon making decorations for the house...

My girl loves her some arts & crafts!  And when we were done our house was a red and white hearted haven!

And so now, as our usual morning routine, Carly and I are just hanging out... laying on the couch, having breakfast, watching cartoons.  This morning our shows were cut short, so we entertained ourselves...

Try as she might, Carly can still NOT master the rolling of her tounge.  Why this is so important to her, I do not know, but it is something she is trying so hard.  And the harder she tried the more frustrated she got!

She is a nut!  But she is warming up to the idea of having a baby brother.  Her lastest suggestion for a name was "Brooke Robert the Lizard"... Brooke because if we had a girl, that was going to be her name (Carly is still harboring a deep longing that the ultrasound is wrong and a baby sister will appear on delivery day!)  Robert is my brother who insists that we name our child after him, and the Lizard part...well Carly loves the movie "Ferngully" and the Lizard happens to be one of her favorite parts.  So there you have it.  Our baby's name!

Don't worry we will keep searching the name books...

As to the baby, well only 13 more weeks...and he is going to be a good boy and come just a little early for his mama!  We are all just a little impatient at this point (me especially)!  But while we wait...

Something Quick

I had a request for a funny Carly story... here it is ~

Carly's latest favorite thing is watching her movies and/or cartoons in "Mommy's Bed".  Chris and I have a big king size bed with lots of pillows, and she asks almost every day now if she can watch TV in our room on our bed.  So the other day, after rounds of  "Can I?"s and a few long drawn out "Pleeeeease"s, I agreed to let her have her quiet time in my bed.  I got her snuggled in with Tiggie & Blankie, turned on Beauty & the Beast and told her to lay nicely and have her quiet time.  And after fifteen minutes of absolute silence I thought, "Alright then.  This is working out well!"

Until I peeked my head around the corner of the doorway and saw this...

Clearly quiet time means something different to Carly.

And for the record, all the clean folded clothes that were in the laundry basket that my child is using as her fort, were very unceremoniously dumped on the floor of my bedroom.  And when I asked Carly why she dumped the clothes out of the basket she replied, "Cuz. I would have sat on them and they would have got messed up."  Oh...OK.

And there it is, a Carly story.

What's in a Year?

It's funny how when you say "a year" to someone, that time frame for each person can vary. 

In "a year"...

...you can find the person you were meant to spend the rest of your life with AND be married to them!
...for someone who is sick, it can mean that each day is a blessing, and "a year" can seem a lifetime.
...you could be moving so fast through life, that "a year can go by in a blink"!
...you can add a new member to your family!
...your world can change forever!

Traditionally, January 1st is the mark of a new year so to speak.  For us, 3 years ago on January 22nd marked our new year and the day our world changed forever!  That is the day Carly Ann Berry came into our world!  And with each year that has gone by in her life, I am amazed at how much she changes!

Last year...

  This year...

This years party was Rapunzel themed!  (It is Carly's new favorite movie, and it was her first official movie theatre show I took her to see a few weeks ago.)  And it was everything a 3 year old birthday party should be.  Noisy, crowded, full of friends & family, kids running from one room to another, cake, ice cream, a few melt downs and lots of laughter!  

And the difference "a year" makes is remarkable!

  

And while so many things changes, there are some traditions that just won't be broken...

From fingers to forks in a year!

And after the last party goer went home, Carly continued to have a blast with all her new "favorite" toys!

My favorite is the barbie getting a pedicure while sitting on the toilet!

Daddy was quickly enlisted as the assembler of toys...

Notice how Carly is patiently waiting...for the record that is a COMPLETE RARITY in our house!

It is truly amazing how each day holds such small changes, that in a year makes the most profound difference!  And for me "a year" with my little girl is a blessing, a joy, sometimes a challenge, but mostly it is this huge, unbelievable miracle!