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.

may flowers

It's hard to imagine cold and dreary days anymore and that is just fine by me. Everything is warm and blooming. Tonight Miriam and I stayed outside in the driveway drawing with chalk until bedtime. She tell me what to draw, princesses, animals, etc., then she colors them in. Daddy is traveling a couple days a week so there's lots of girl talk and tea parties with a baby bouncing in the doorway. Oakes is obsessed with his jumper and those little chubby legs are getting mighty strong from all those squats. We're finally in a groove around here and I even manage to get a real dinner on the table from time to time.

I had a very short, but very fabulous get away with some girls in the mountains. We laughed so much my stomach hurt and I don't think there was a silent moment the entire 24 hours. there was so much to catch up on! Little dance party before supper and a serious good meal in between the chatting too.

Then came Christmas, I mean Steeplechase. My favorite day of the year in Nashville. Our Greenville friends, Mary Frances & Austin, came in town + my brother had his college buddies in and we all had the very best time. The horses, the people, the pims cups… my perfect day. After an incredibly long day we woke up early Sunday and spent Mothers Day out at my parents house with all the out-of-towners. Little fried chicken, mashed potatoes and okra to soak up all the good times.

hit with a frying pan

I know. I'm totally not a blogger anymore. It's hard to believe 3 months have already gone by since we left Dallas, but what can I say except time flies. It has not been without its hiccups, but I thank my lucky stars we're home.

I'm coming out of that newborn baby haze and starting to acclimate back into the real world. I'm a workin' gal again and we found a nanny I absolutely adore, which has made the transition mighty smooth. Mimers is in school a few days a week at a sweet program nearby and the gal has quickly made a whole new set of girly pals. She is my social butterfly! Oakes is 4 months now which is cray-crazy! It's totally different this go round and he's the most laid back big bopper. His big ole smile is so sweet I can't tell you and he makes all sorts of funny baby noises. He touches his toes and is starting to roll around a bit. Loves to be naked, watch big sista, drool a lot, grab dangly toys, have his hair brushed, and this muchacho-man is a sleeper. Been sleepin' through the night since 12 weeks… pinch  me. I paid my dues with Miss Mimers so I totally deserve this! I squeeze those jelly-roll legs and kiss that tummy constantly, wishing he could stay a baby forever. He is so precious and I keep reminding myself to take all this baby time in, because this is probably our last one. This big ole boy sure has my heart in a big way. I didn't think I could love anyone the way I love my girl, but I've learned your heart & soul grow when you have a child. That love grows and grows and surrounds you and surprises you with its strength.

A little wrinkle in the sheets was a nasty virus that rolled through the Cross household last week. Both babies got sick in a HORRENDOUS kinda way. Runny noses, hacking coughs, ear infections, sick husband, spit-up, no sleep, and 3 trips to the pediatrician in 1 week. Lordy help me!! Just when I thought we were in a pretty easy routine and all was good, it went downhill fast. Whoever said having a second child was easy?! My cousin Lauren's husband said "having a second child is like a frying pan to the face'. Lordy, will I ever not be tired? And can I just say that 3-1/2 is a really hard age? I find myself negotiating with a 3 year old… a lot. Oh and bribing. I bribe a lot.

Our rental house is doing just fine for now, but I'm scouring real estate listings every week in hopes of finding our perfect home soon. I am beyond anxious to really settle into a home, get everything out of storage, and start having friends over again. Some day. At least for now, I am thankful to have folks dropping by, kids running around our tiny space, and trips out to my parents farm when we're in need of some fresh air. Trevor and I took a trip down memory lane recently and went to 2 Widespread shows in 1 week. Yes, we're teenagers sometimes. We drove with some friends out to Mcminville to hear them play underground in the caves, then went downtown to the Ryman over the weekend. Just like old times, except that now I'm old and have kids that wake up extra early in the morning. It was fun, but I can barely hang anymore!
 
Miriam loves to whisper silly secrets in my ear lately and tonight she said in a really soft voice… "mommy I love you very very much and you're my best friend". There is no doubt it is all hard. Good days and bad days. Feeling like I'm in my groove one minute and then loosing it the next. But even on the hardest days I'm feeling like life is pretty darn good. There's more to say and more to catch up, but if I don't hit publish now I probably won't blog for another three months. So here's to hoping for more sun shiny spring days ahead and fewer frying pans to the face!

see ya big D

Well… here we go again… boxes are stacked, china is packed, clothes are being stacked, and our house is complete chaos. And this is all the week after an ice storm that took out our power for 3 days!! Lord help us we have lost our minds and are moving back to Nashville the week before Christmas with a 3 year old + 6 week old baby. Umm, mommy needs a drink. And a REAL nights sleep, but I don't think that's happenin' soon so we'll stick with the cocktail. Trevor's job is taking us back home (hallelujah!!!!!) and it has happened so fast I can barely stop spinning. Tomorrow is the day. It's all happy stress though because I'm going H-O-M-E. And so much sooner than I ever could have hoped. Just when we were settling into life here Dallas & making some friends, but I'd be lying if I said we weren't over the moon. It's been real fun, but now let's high tail it out of here for the holidays. One more year without a proper tree in our own home, but I've had the holiday tunes cranked so we're totally in the spirit. Plus Miriam doesn't really notice that we're the only scrooges on the block without decorations.

Two years of growth and countless memories have been made here in the big D.

Moved into a tiny apartment.

New job for T.

Had our home featured in the Dallas Morning News.

Watched our Miriam turned 2… then 3.

Adopted a dog.

We lost someone really special and we're still mourning.

I got pregnant.

Discovered real mexican food and Miriam became a queso obsessed Texan.

Found a wonderful little school for Mimers that she adored.

Made some new friends and became even closer with some old.

Baby Oakes was born.


We have been through a lot, but we're surviving & thriving and we're stronger because of it. We learned how to be with only our little family of 3… and now 4… comppletly on our own. I've opened my eyes to a bigger world, and found my way in a brand new town. It's been quite a trip… until we meet again Big D!