30 for my thirtieth

on saturday i celebrated my thirtieth birthday with my family and a few close friends (even though my birthday is technically wednesday). my parents put together a gift of 30 things for my thirtieth. this gift touched me so i had to share it here. my mother knows me so well and i could see all the thought and planning she put into this very heartfelt gift. the picture doesn't do its justice so i've decided to give you a lil descriptive meaning of each item.

1-4. a picture of my grandmother casey & 3 of her pins. the first gift i opened brought me to tears.  a little pouch with 3 pins that i recognized as my grandmothers. and inside was a framed picture of her. i remember this picture growing up was one of my favorites. in the picture she sits happily with her pup on her lap. (she had a soft spot in her heart for her dogs) its exactly how i remember her.

5. a wooden box. i laughed when i saw it because it belonged on my moms dresser. she knew i admired it so.

6-8. healing stones. i've always been a collector of rocks and stones. there was a purple amethyst (one of my favorites), rose quartz and a clear stone with a dove. all which will bring me peace.

9-11. tasty treats. i have a love for candy and chocolate. mike & ikes, junior mints and dove chocolate (which is the BEST chocolate).

12-13. beverages. i live on caffeine and my favorites are rockstar and coffee. so she found a coffee rockstar and a new flavor i have yet to try.

14-17. jewelry. my mother has a fantastic and rather large collection of jewelry. i had told her once i admired this ring of hers that is a sparkly lizard. and as i noted above my love for stones, there was a necklace with earth tone stones on it. and a silver bracelet that was my grandmother casey's. also, a simple charm stating love. (i love to wear words)

18-22. favorite artists. 2 of my favorites are kelly rae roberts and christine mason miller. their work speaks to my soul and i can't get enough of their inspiration. i received 2 plaques, a bookmark, and a magnet from kelly's collection. and a bookmark from christine's collection.

23-24. quotable. i love quotes that speak to my heart and soul. especially ones i can apply to my everyday life. she found a quotable magnet and a quote from the velveteen rabbit (a childhood favorite).

25. young creator. a scroll of a self portrait and story i had written in the fifth grade. funny the things you save as a mother. i had a passion back then even for art and writing.

26. moody. a ha ha sign stating caution PMS zone. that is pretty funny, maybe i can place it on my husbands pillow in the future ☺

27. sparkle box. i love all things that sparkle and also have a love for boxes and containers. this is a perfect addition to my collection.

28. lil character keyring. i love random cartoons and characters, those that make me smile and laugh. this lil girl keyring she found is perfect.

29. shirt. i'm not one to spend my money on clothes so its fitting that she'd find a way to get an article of clothing in there. 

30. birthday girl. those of you who know me know i heart birthdays and especially love to celebrate my own ☺. i believe we all should, its the day we were blessed into this world and a day of starting a new year ( i'm not real into new years day) this is my marking of a new year. how perfect that she found me a party hat with bright feather and jewels to wear on my night of celebration. i may just wear it all week!

thank you momma & dad for this very unique gift. thank you All for your gifts, even though i didn't list it above your gifts also mean alot to me, you All know me very well. thank you all for coming to my soirée, i'm very blessed! 

my boys

i live in a household of 4 boys. my husband + baby + jaxson + johnny cash. it can be a tad overwhelming with all of the testosterone but i am also very, very blessed to be amongst it. they make me laugh and fill up my heart with joy and love. in this picture i was trying to capture daddy + baby quality time before bed. they like to lay under the covers and watch a little of the goodnight show. sometimes jax + johnny like to join them and i guess this was one of those nights. but johnny is Not a fan of the camera. and lately jax has been anti camera phone as well. so i don't think their intent was to be in the photo but more trying to get dad to stop my paparazzi moment. i love how dad is trying to talk reason with them and baby just looks a lil upset that i am interrupting his show and time with dad ☺

i love you boys. i wouldn't want it any other way then the way things are. xoxo, momma

heart stealer

“if you live to be 100, i hope i live to be 100 minus 1 day,

so i never have to live without you.”

you are my everything. i never knew being your momma would be so fulfilling.

when you say mum, my heart weeps. when you roll over and smile so proudly i

light up inside. i wish i could bottle your giggles and your sweet baby smell.

i hope you hold on to your wonder and sense of self always.

falcor

this is jaxson. he turns 5 August 8th. well, i adopted him 5 years ago on that day. the rescue org guessed he was 1 or 2 at the time. they found him on July 27th on California Street. this was a Yes sign for me to adopt him. (my birthday & favorite state) have you ever seen Never Ending Story? to me he looks like Falcor, the luck dragon. i probably would have named him that if he wasn't already named. he has been my lil gypsy dog since day one. we have lived 4 different places together in 5 years and he adapts right along with me. rescue dogs are the best kind in my opinion. they are so grateful and loyal. he knows when i'm sad and need to cuddle. hates when i cry and will lick my tears away if i let him. loves when i take him for car rides, but only if he gets to sit up front so he can see. he has always been my right hand man.

when i got pregnant he knew something was up. he sat with me when i was praying to the porcelain gods. he ate with me when i snacked in the middle of the night. and he slept on my belly even when sometimes Ayden would kick him :). i was nervous at how he'd react to the baby. was he going to be jealous or feel hurt that someone was going to be closer to me than him? when we brought the baby home everything fell right into place. he wagged his tail and gently licked Ayden's face then looked up at me as if he approved.

he has an old soul and a young heart. i truly believe that dogs who need us find us but also that we choose the ones we truly need.

Could not love you more

You came into my world on May 28th. I held you and you looked into my eyes with such wonder. Words cannot describe how i felt in that moment. I have never done anything better in my life and you inspire me to do more. I am so blessed to be able to call you son. Everyday that passes i fall more and more in love with you.

I've never felt a love like this, you consume all of me. I love the sweet, heavenly smell of your head. The way your bottom lip pulls in and quivers a little. That you always have to have your hands free so they can touch your face. The noises that sound like you are saying yummy while you eat. How content you are in my arms and on my chest. The way you look into your dad's eyes. A brand new little being that has so much to learn and so much to teach me.

You have taught me to slow down and fully appreciate the moments. That the laundry can wait, along with my hunger and to sleep when you are sleeping or i won't get to sleep at all. You have taught me that life is fragile and precious and goes by incredibly fast. And a whole new meaning to gratitude.

baby love

when i met my nephew alex for the first time i understood what the phrase, love at first sight meant. every inch of me was in love with him. he was perfect. his eyes were wide open and full of wonder. he was just looking around, taking it all in. he was brand new and i loved him. and i still love him in the same rich, unconditional way.

in 14 weeks or less, i will have a brand new little being of my own and i anticipate falling in love at first sight all over again but at a whole new level.

everything's changing

i look into the mirror and it's as if someone else is staring back at me.

these aren't my clothes, this isn't my body.

even my hair and skin seem to be different.

my senses are altered too.

i can smell things much more than i ever could before.

i forget my thoughts mid-sentence.

everything i eat gives me heartburn.

i used to multi-task, now i have to write everything down

and do things one at a time.

the last five months have been anything but dull. my emotions intense.

this pregnancy was a surprise. we had only been engaged a month.

i thought i had the flu and was completely exhausted.

it took me about 3 1/2 months to feel good.

it also took this long for my mind to relax about all the changes

and accept that this is what being pregnant is all about.

i'm so grateful for all these blessings that are present in my life.

i married a wonderful man November 20th of 2009.

we have been through so many life lessons together.

he believed in me when i didn't believe in myself.

we have seen each other through the good and the bad,

and he is truly my best friend.

becoming parents came much sooner than either of us could have imagined.

the anticipation, the excitement, the amazement. . .

there is no one i'd rather have by my side during these days that lie ahead.

all new

i felt you move last night. for the first time. it was a little flutter. and it brought tears to my eyes. how could something so little move me so much? like the first ultrasound. you were the size of a bean. but seeing it made it real. and then the first time hearing your heartbeat. soft and quick, made me full of love. now today, at week 19, we went to ultrasound #2. filled with joyful anticipation, are you a boy or a girl. . .

a boy! around June 13th we will have a baby boy. I was so certain that it was a girl ~ i was completely surprised. but we are so blessed, you are healthy and seem to be quite happy in there!

a classic

introducing mr. cash

this is Johnny Cash

we welcomed him into our home, march 4th at 12 weeks old.

we adopted him from a wonderful couple who run Pet Project Rescue.

he is adjusting really well and loves his brother Jaxson.

we are now the proud parents of two lil adopted pups :)

handful of hearts

So in an exploration the other day i found these on Rae Dunn's Blog. She is an amazing talent! And what a fun gift for Valentines. Although, i do believe i would appreciate these way more then he would. 

simple, true, small treasure to hold in the palm of your hand.