harpeth river baptism

This morning as I was scrolling through some pictures, choosing which ones to print off, I stopped at the folder from May. Our family celebrated a big event in the most beautiful way. Oakes was baptised in the Harpeth River surrounding my family's farm.


Life sure has a way of coming around full circle. The place Rev. Becca Stevens guided us through our vows 6 years ago and here she was blessing our baby in the same spot. Love and community and nature were floating through the air and circling around each child. As musicians played the huge crowd took turns walking down to the river to watch each child be blessed in the holy water. We circled around Oakes in the water and prayed for him as he was dunked, raised, and blessed in the cold Harpeth river water. Our dear friends Currier & Patrick are Oakes Godparents and we were so honored to have their presence and love for our boy.
 
The prayer we said for Oakes: Let your eyes shine with the brightness of God's love and may it light your path with grace and wonder. We rejoice and give praise for every creation made beautiful by the hand of God. Blessing all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Becca said it the best:  I have always understood baptisms are really a blessing by the babies to the communities  that gets to embrace and welcome them, but to see such abundance and beauty on the farm named abundance on the most beautiful day of the year was breathtaking. Each family came with its own story of joys and sorrows, fears and hopes.  But down by the riverside it got laid aside for the sake of love for a minute.  We just got to feel how blessed we all are by being in each other's lives and holding one another as we try and embrace an eternal love in our temporal bodies.  It makes sense to me now to do that in the river water.  It is an endless flow that moves by us quickly.

oakes - six months and growing

Oh, the poor neglected 2nd child. I have been terrible about taking photos, don't have a baby book, haven't decorated a proper nursery, haven't made my own baby food this time, and on and on. So without further ado I dedicate this post to my dear baby Oakes. The most easy-going, happy-go-lucky, sweet child of mine. Big as pie eyes, lips like his daddy, and rolls for days. No tellin' the number of kisses those cheeks get daily.

His big eyes wander the room, following the chaos and music in the air as I cook. We're at the 7 month mark now and he sees everything. He loves to sleep on his tummy and he's even started sitting up. Big boy loves the ladies and cries when men speak too loudly or even when they don't. He's a sensitive fella. Loves to suck his thumb. Reaching, grabbing, and everything in his drooly mouth. Too big for his infant seat, but we still haul him around in it just because. Just beginning to sit up on his own with pillows surrounding when he topples over. We started food a few weeks ago and bubs can take it down. I forgot how hilarious that process is. His mouth pops open wide like a baby bird, waiting for the spoon to land softly in the right spot. Sometimes I miss. We're in this glowy, happy stage of life and I want to remember it all.


One task I did finally mark off my list was designing O's announcements. I was out photographing them recently for the Tenn Hens blog when I spotted a lone deer in the field. It was a happy sign of approval since there's a tiny fawn in the design.

So my dear little Oakes, you may be second by birth, but there is enough love for all and we certainly do love you beyond measure.

baby Oakes

He's here and came right on time! Preston Oakes Cross arrived November 1st at 2:35.
{Preston is Trevor's momma's maiden name & Oakes is simply a name we loved}

My momma arrived right on time the day before on Halloween. We went trick or treating with Miriam that evening and did a ton of walking which I think got things going. I felt a little funny before bed, but had a full night sleep until I woke up with some pains around 6 am. At first I wasn't really sure it was it since I hadn't experienced going into labor on my own the first time, but after an hour or so I was pretty sure this was the real deal. By the time I got to the hospital and checked in I was 6-7 centimeters so it all happened pretty fast. All I can say is it was completely surreal. I was calm and nervous and just emotional all over, but he was perfect. 10 fingers, 10 toes and big like an oak tree at 9.1 pounds. I got to hold him immediately and Trevor, my mom, and I just stared in awe at this new baby boy. Miriam came the next morning with my mom and was beyond thrilled with her new role as big sister. She kept saying, "awe, he's so cute" over and over. She truly is the sweetest girl!
The last few weeks have been a blur, but we have slipped easily into our new life with this tiny muffin. Building fires with him snuggled up close by in the bassinet. Winter temps swept in and dumped leaves on every spec of our yard this weekend. Cool temps have kept us mostly inside, but I ventured out a few times and had to pinch myself to see two car seats in the back seat. A mommy indeed. The late nights and short stretches of sleep are definitely taking a toll on my eyes, but it really is happy exhaustion this go round. It helps to have a warm snuggly baby in those wee hours. Oakes, we are sure glad you're here and already feel blessed beyond measure.

balloons and beer garden

I was up and at 'em this morning bright and early. Lots of work to do and I felt my mind racing already. Two little toddlers kept running into my office and fighting over the leftover birthday balloons so I made my escape to a nearby coffee shop. My friend Whitney and I hired a new nanny to start sharing and this week the girls are at my house. So far so good, but it meant last week I had to fire the previous girl. Very awkward and I completely rambled on, but it's really for the best and that's all that matters. Childcare has been such a source of frustration and worry, but that's for a whole nother post.

Around the house things are FINALLY wrapping up in the bathroom re-do. Yahoo! We have a tile floor, water and a working shower and a toilet… wait, half a toilet. Yes, the workers somehow "lost" the top to the toilet during renovation. Now come on… tell me, just how do you lose a toilet top?? I'm sure what really happened is someone broke it and decided not to mention it. Lordy pete. I promise to take some good pics very soon.

The guys were still working last Saturday around 5, so we decided to get out of the house and try Goodfriend Beer Garden. It was cute and even the 100 degree heat couldn't keep us off the patio. We're from Tennessee where the humidity is thick so we 'aint scared. Well kinda. My car read 109 yesterday at lunch. It's going to be one long, Texas summer!

t w o

Every morning I hear peeps and talking and funny noises coming from upstairs. Ever morning I open the door and greet Miriam with a big "good morning baby". This morning was different. Today, I got to say "happy birthday babycakes", to which she repeated right back to me. My little mynah bird. Two years ago we were in the hospital steadying ourselves and awaiting the big arrival. She was perfect and new. Tiny and pink. My baby girl. Now, here we are at two with scraped knees and little hands that can reach up to the kitchen counter.

I remember thinking how much I loved the six month mark, and then eighteen months was so blissful and now at two I think this is my favorite. I think you love it all when you're a mom. The good and the bad and the hard all roll into a love you can barely express, but it's there and it fills you.

T W O… Loves music in the car. Went potty for the first time (but not since). Awesome eater, but loves to ask for yogurt and then not eat it. Says "ok" instead of "yes". Likes to put hats on and play cowgirl. Very opinionated about what pajamas she wears. Still obsessed with lovey. Great sleeper. Still not sure about sharing…bit of a mine-o-saur. Helps mommy put away groceries, but insists on putting everything in the bottom bin. Favorite thing to "draw" is moons.


Says hi to everyone at the grocery. Puts herself in time-out when she's had enough. Goes swimming in the bathtub and eats bubbles. Requests a band-aid almost daily. Asks for one wipe during diaper changes so she can then go wipe down her toys. Feeds elmo chair milk. Insists on a bib at meal time.

current Miriam phrases…i not like mommy music / i wear dancing bears shirt / my daddy go work / sipsie girl love bananas / cows love grass / i go belle's house / i'm making cookies, i'm making milk / garage door not open, oh no / i want sing dance / i need change diaper / i want dance on mommy bed/ i not want take bath / mommy need potholder … obvi I could go on!


You make everything better and everything more beautiful. I'm sure glad I get to be your momma. Happy birthday baby!

brining up bebe

I got a small package from home the other week (my momma is sweet like that) and inside was an article from the WSJ about a new French parenting book called Bringing Up Bebe. I hadn't heard anything about it, but after a quick read I signed on to good ole amazon and ordered myself a copy. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. I found myself completely obsessed, reading lines out loud to hubs (which he loves of course) and even marking pages to come back to. Maybe it's the new parent in me, looking for all the help I can get! Or maybe it just really hit home with how I want to be. Anyway, I dug it. I loved hearing the author describe a different cultures views on parenting. I think it's fascinating. I went online to see if other people were talking about it and boy howdy, were they ever - kinda negative stuff. Hot topic for sure. So, I'm jumping on the bandwagon and sharing my thoughts.

I didn't take the whole French thing soooo seriously. It's one persons observations and most of the tips are common sense and good, plain parenting. Still, I thought it was a great read and I think we can always learn from other people. My favorite chapter was "the perfect mother doesn't exist" which is all about how the deal with mommy guilt (going back to work, daycare) and balancing work, parenting, being a wife, etc. Totally different over there! "The French also talk about the equilibrium. But they mean it differently. For them, it's about not letting any one part of life - including parenting - overwhelm the rest."

Anyway, here's some more stuff that I underlined, but what I really want to know is… have you read it & what do you think? To all my momma friends out there, please read and then call and let's discuss. And then we could plan a trip to Paris while we're at it. Macaroons, champagne, galleries - we could call it research for a future post. I'd love to know what you're thinking for real.

"genuinely listening to your child, but not feeling that you must bend to their wills".

"excessive praise distorts children's motivations; they begin doing things merely to hear the praise, losing sight of the intrinsic enjoyment"

"I think you need to leave kids a bit of liberty, let their personalities show"

"French parents treat their vegetables with a whole different level of intention and commitment. They describe the taste of each vegetable and talk about their child's first encounter with celery or leeks as the start of a lifelong friendship."

"She doesn't worry too much about how much Lucie eats. But she insists that Lucie has at least one bite of every dish on her plate." "… in France, everyone eats the same dinner. There are no choices or substitutions."

you is kind, you is smart, you is important

I finally watched The Help over the weekend and this one line has stuck in my head. The opening scene shows sweet baby hands stroking Aibileen's face as she repeats these words and I knew I was hooked right then for the next two hours. Baby's love to touch your face. I trace a line around Miriam's cheeks,  then across her eyebrows, and down her nose. Then she does the same thing saying… "mommy's eyes, mommy's mouth, mommy's nose". I think this one line in the movie is so simple, but so powerful and I hope to come up with my own little prayer to affirm to baby girl every day. So, I designed a print… you can buy here.

twenty months

So this is what 20 months looks like. Wispy locks growing wild. More bumps and bruises from "running" around. Talking up a storm and trying to repeat what I say (time for me to lose a couple vocab words). Constant runny nose. The occasional tantrum. Obsessing over the number 5 (we live on the 5th floor). Using a spoon. Feeding the Elmo chair milk and snacks. Down to one nap a day. Still rocking the #4 diapers. Learning our shapes. Pretending to answer the phone. Calling out Bizzy bear every time she sees my ipad. Pointing out letters. Ring Around the Rosie on my bed. Eating crayons. And just generally making life a whole lot more fun.

mommy guilt

Lordy pete, what a few days can do. I was completely down in the dumps and now I am back to myself and feeling good. Time helps so I just know life is going to get better & better here in Texas. One of the hardest adjustments has been taking Miriam to a new school every day. Because of our timing I had to enroll her in two mother's day out programs in a strange city without knowing anyone in either one. It's crazy when you don't know where to look, but when in doubt, find a church. There's usually nice ladies there and if not keep on looking.

The two programs I found are great and I know she is well taken care of, BUT it was very emotional to just drop her off not really knowing the community. I'm pretty sure I cried every morning those first weeks. I was a mess. In my mind I knew she was fine, but I felt wrapped with guilt. How could I leave that sweet Moosh even for a few hours? Especially, when she started getting upset when I would drop her off. She was always so chill and easy when I left her before, but now she was crying "mommy, mommy" as I handed her off. I mean, seriously broke my heart. Plus she was exhausted from being at school all day so when I picked her up she was moody and cranky. I think I underestimated how hard the move would be on her. I simply assumed that since we'd moved before and she was always on the go with me that she'd be fine, but those first weeks were rough. Your whole body just aches when they are upset and this huge sense of responsibility that comes with having a child is something I'm still trying to grasp.

The part of me that loves work feels bad that I'm not with her all the time & the part of me that loves being with her misses the satisfaction and happiness from my work. This whole yin & yang thing… whew, I had no idea the mental balance would be this hard. A friend of mine posted this article on facebook and though I don't really get into the "mommy wars" part I think its such a wonderful reminder that the juggle of motherhood is a balance no matter what you choose. We ladies have to stick together after all. For now though, I'm going to make this work and enjoy it. Just got to balance life the best I can for our family.

And when I do pick up Miriam at the end of the day, big cheeks smiling and little body running towards me, well all I can say is it's real, pure magic.

baby steps

A bit wobbly and a tad unsure, but the Moosh has taken her first steps at the ripe ole age of 15 months. I can't believe it and it's the coolest thing to watch her little "drunk" walk across the room. Cute as pie I tell ya. She's seriously growing every day. Becoming this independent child that plays by herself, sometimes quietly whispering in her own language. And then she'll remember I'm in the room and come bury her head in my lap for a snuggle and kiss and a roll around. This morning I finally had to wake up sleepy head so we could get the day going. She was all curled up with a tight grip on her favorite pink elephant lovey. I patted her back as she opened her eyes and cracked a smile when I picked her up. Her body was limp and head heavy on my shoulder. That baby breath gets me every time. Gonna be hard to leave her when I jet off on a girls trip tonight, but Pawleys Island is calling and I can't wait to slip my toes in the sand and hug on some old friends. Be back soon with some tall tales!

the nursery

I was over at my friend Katie's this weekend checking out her nursery. The sheets were on the crib, the changing table all set up, and rows of teeny-tiny clothing were all washed and hung in the closet. Everything in place just waiting for the arrival of baby Hitt. I got home and started to get Moosh settled in for her afternoon nap. I drew the curtains and turned on the noise machine and we rocked. Same chair and same crib, but not the same nursery. Not the same spot I brought home the nugget to. Not that she knows the difference, but it made me nostalgic over my the sweet little Greenville nursery I'd worked so hard on. I nested and prepped and bought a few special things just for that space. It was nothing designer or fancy, but it was our spot and I  lurved it so. We clocked a lot of hours in that room and I'll never forget it. So, even though this is a bit past due I thought I'd share some images I took before we moved.