Our Beach Babe

Nolan laid eyes on the big blue for the first time this past Saturday. He loved it all. The sand, the water (way too cold to touch this time), and the seagulls were mesmerizing to him. Just as we hoped they would be. 

My BFF, Alanna, and her sweet, SWEET family invited us to spend the day with them on Hilton Head Island. Several friends were also playing in a volleyball tournament a few miles down the beach, and we got to bump into them as well and watch them dish it out in the championship game. Then we met back up with the Smallwood and Konieczny families for one last beach hoorah and a BBQ supper before heading back home.

The day started off cool and cloudy, but bundling up was the best. Then the skies opened up and the sunshine came. The weather couldn't have been more cooperative and neither could have our child. And after going through the sickest, crummiest three days prior to this, a well baby was totally worth celebrating and road tripping for.

It was THE most wonderful mini trip.

And we documented.

We documented a bunch.

 Two of the best dads around.

 My world.

 Feeding the seagulls.

Mama's boy

 Championship match.

 V, Ernie, Michael, Will, Paige, & Nate

 These two.

 There is a special place in my heart for this family...always.

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Side note:

Happy St. Patrick's Day today, y'all!

Nolan: Half of a Year

ExCUSE me?

You're HOW old? 

No way.

There's no freaking way.

Just a little conversation I've had with myself time and time again throughout this journey with you, N. But this time...this month...it hit me hard. You are growing SO fast. My heart (and your wardrobe) can't keep up.

I realize that you probably won't ever remember the first six months of your life and probably not many months after that. But your dad and I have made memories we couldn't forget even if we wanted to. But trust me, we most definitely don't want to.

Like that time we got you a cake...

Some six-month highlights you won't recall, but, gosh, we sure will:

We're considering having your name legally changed to Nolan Busy Dickerson. I kid, of course, because we love Dorsey way too much, but you fit that description always. You are always trying to find things to grab, touch, taste, and slobber on. You are one busy little boy. And you're not even MOBILE yet!

You got your first real boo-boo this month. On MY watch :(. A metal airplane may have fallen on your face, a couple of profanities may have slipped out of this momma's mouth, and Nana was there to witness it all. She was the calm one who checked everything on you and assured me you were okay. A scratch and bruise on your forehead taunted me for several days after that. The good Lord knew what he was doing when he orchestrated your being there with me, Mom. XOXO

You're ticklish! Mostly on your feet, armpits, and back. You're still working on that laugh though.

You tasted solid food for the first time and have loved everything you've tried:

rice cereal, avocado, banana, carrots, and apple sauce (in that order). I'm enjoying making them for you.

Your expression when Daddy comes home from work is the highlight of my day. You are your daddy's boy.

You sleep on your belly now.

We've embraced the "What's a Nap Schedule?" schedule. And I promise that's okay :).

Sometimes men (besides Daddy, of course) and loud noises scare you to tears. Put those two things together and you're beside yourself.

We both love it when you swing at the park.

You nap like this

on the regular.

Gamma and Papa Dave visited for a day! And it just so happens to be your half birthday.

We're attending a going-away party tonight for one of your favorite people. He's deploying next month but will be back in the fall. We'll miss you, Uncle Nate! N promises to take good care of Auntie Paige :).

We love you, sweetest boy.

Happy half birthday!

Our Day of Valentine's

Yesterday was V-Day.
Kev and I have never been ginormous celebrators of Valentine's Day. I don't need the cards, candy, or carnations. Things along those lines are way more special and mushy gushy on any of the other days of the year. Valentine's Day IS, however, a great excuse to splurge a little and this year was no different. This year's splurge was in the form of primarily...FOOD.

Ah. A man after my own heart.

What made this Valentine's Day even more special is that I got to spend it with not one but TWO heart throbs. I needed a day date with BOTH of them.

We managed to crunch our pennies and ate breakfast at Chick-fil-a using our CFA calendar freebie for the month AND they're giving away free coffee for the entire month of February! Score! So for a few bucks I chowed down at one of our favorites with my two favorites.

We then relaxed at home for a bit before spending the largest chunk of our day at a place we've been dying to visit since we've lived in Savannah: 

the Bonaventure Cemetery.

It was absolutely beautiful. And who knew reading epitaphs and dates could be so fun? But it was. It's neat to imagine what those souls must have been like, what they've seen, and what they've done. With dates spanning from as early as 1806 to as recent as 2013, the history is timeless. The space is huge, and we had barely scratched the surface by the time we had to call it quits with a fussy baby who doesn't sleep on the go often, but we have every intention of going back. Much sooner than later.

It was a family day for the win column. And so were the sleepy babe and the Japanese take-out at the very end of it.

XOXO

Mom Enough

"...many people will be ministered to by your ministering to them."

Believing this for you and for us, little man.

Nolan: Month Five

What. A. Month!

Nolan has changed a lot in the past 31 days and is doing...much.

You're working so hard to find your laugh. Maybe next month ;).

You are quite the morning person. And who wouldn't be after 12 hours of sleep? 

Insert this mama's "hallelujah, thank you, JESUS" here.

Sitting on the porch while watching cars drive by is one of your favorite things to do when you get fussy.

You're rolling over (often) from your back to your belly.

We're still working on rolling back the way you came.

Mommy was away from you for the longest stretch thus far. A whopping 3.5 days. But HEY. Whether it is for three days or three hundred, I'd miss you just the same: a BUNCH. We reunited, and it was SWEET.

Thumb sucker. That's what you are! You still love the paci though, and we may or may not be trying to break you of this newest habit, but GOSH it's cute.

We introduced you to solid foods the other day. You tasted rice cereal first and...uh...disliked it. But you've taken 4 bites as an all-time high, and we're making progress!

You are most definitely teething. When will we have something to show for it??
Lots of folks say you're starting to look so much like your daddy, and I couldn't agree more!

Oh, and we won our very first online giveaway today! We won this through one of my favorite bloggers and Turbans for Tots. Their stuff is ADORBS. Happy 5-month day to you, little man!

Happy five months, Nolan.

Are you still bearing with us? :)

Year 2014 Recap

Happy New Year!

We spent a quiet, relaxed New Year's Eve at home this year with a couple of friends who recently became our neighbors. They live just a few blocks away, and we are so excited to do more life with them. 

Some big things happened for us in 2014.

Let's recap:

I experienced pregnancy and all of its summer heat glory.

20 weeks

36 weeks

I decided not to renew my teaching contract for the 2014-2015 school year to stay at home with our growing baby boy. Going from two incomes to one had its challenges (and most definitely still does), but God has graciously met every need plus some. 

Yes, I miss teaching. Some days badly. And I hope to do it again some day.

But I'm meant to be home. I long to be home.

Not a day goes by that I don't appreciate a husband who enables me to do just that.

We bought a house in Savannah in June and fulfilled the dream of living on a numbered street.

And it was while living in this home that we went from

THIS

to THIS

This year I learned what it's like for a heart to burst.

With pure, all-consuming JOY.

We've made more lifelong friends and gained new neighbors.

Marriage is still my favorite, and, by God's grace, ours is even stronger. 

Kev, you truly are my best friend.

You're also the most incredible dad, and I still swoon as I watch you do it best. 

And Nolan. 

You came.

Our lives will never be the same. 

It's so hard to say what having a child does to you. To your marriage. To your everything. Besides marriage, parenting is the most trying, giving, and sanctifying thing I've ever experienced. And even then, it's just different. We absolutely LOVE being your mom and dad, Nolan Dorsey.

Lord, our prayer is that You'd draw us nearer to You and teach us more about Your story. I pray that we'll understand the Gospel more and more and more and live in light of it.

Every moment of everyday we need it.

*A special thanks to our good friend, Craig, for our most recent family pictures!*