Good-Bye 2008 - We Love You!!

Before 2008 is over, I found these priceless pictures I thought I posted, but just found them in my drafts.

These are from Alan's amazing first year birthday party! It was a sports themed party and oh so fun! So many touches that you could feel the love dripping in every one. Still can't believe Alan is one! Check out this adorable "toddler".

I absolutely love this picture with David and Lily! D loves football; especially the Bucs! Lily framed this picture for him and put it under the Christmas tree.




Ok, so we're not in matching outfits, but had to support the Gators who are SO much fun to watch! Especially TT!!



I guess since it's the new year, I'm cleaning house in blog land.
Found these in my drafts too!! This will go in her first year book that is coming together slowly but surely. I'm going to be so scared to hit "publish" when I finally order it because it's going to be filled to the gills.

This is one of my favorite spreads from her baptism...




And found these picture gems of Lily and Lainey. Feel like I went into a time machine for these! Lily is probably 2-3 months in these. Lainey just turned one. They have a neat friendship. They get so excited when they see each other and are always looking out for each other like sisters. If Lily starts crying, Lainey will run over with a toy, bring Lily her special green taggie blanket, get her bottle or try to distract her by making noises. They even sympathy cry for each other. If one starts crying, the other must be trying to validate their feelings because the other will join in. What girls. lol. Feel bad for Kelle in those moments, but she handles it with such ease. I love their relationship and how Kelle fosters it everyday!




So as I clean up in blog world and close the year with a giant bow, I have nothing but love for 2008 and want to give a giant smooch! We were blessed in so many ways and I am humbled by all of them. Lily has changed so much in 8.75 months, but she is still so much the same because her heart is full of life, energy and happiness. She is like a beacon of light in our house and a giant band-aid over our formerly hurting hearts. I never thought life could ever be this perfect even though not everything is perfect. On April 4th, Lily came into this world and handed us these giant goggles to wear, allowing us to peek at this life through her eyes where everything is brighter, shinier, prettier, happier, funnier, kinder, and lighter. Lily is so little and too young to understand everything in her beautiful life; she looks at us and we know we are her entire world. If only she knew it was just the opposite.

She is our world.

She is our heart.

She is our everything.

Being a mom has changed me in the most dramatic ways. I feel like I belong to the most beautiful circle of parenting where I was on a really long waiting list, yearning to join, peeking through the windows, crying to the bouncer at the door, beating down the door, scaling fences trying to break in, trying to figure out the code to the padlocks, people begging me to join, looking for secret entrances and finally I was able to walk through the most beautiful & welcoming doors and feel more love than I've ever felt in my life. Not only for Lily, but for other parents, my parents, other babies, other kids, other teenagers, other people in general, even strangers, and just have my heart swell with happiness because I am a mom.

Finally.

And I feel like I prepared my whole life for this role. God just made us wait so he could hand pick this beautiful soul for us who was worth the wait. I forget about all the waiting and pain so often and have to literally remind myself because it seems like a different couple that went through all that junk. Another life. Another world. Thank you Lily for making 2008 one of those years we'll never ever forget and being the sunshine and the rainbow in our life. You make us better people and feel lucky enough to just hold your hand and know you. You will have a beautiful life and can't believe we are lucky enough to spend each day with you as you explore and become the person you're meant to be.

We are a family because of you.

Mother's Day 2008

Life is Good!!