Happy Birthday, My Love!

OK, I'll admit, I missed writing a birthday post for my daughter and the namesake of this blog on October 13th. So I am making sure I don't miss the other big birthday of the year - my hubby. Happy Birthday, sweetheart!!!

Since it has only been his birthday officially now for a little more than an hour and he is fast asleep, I don't have any pictures yet to go along with his birthday celebration. But I never shared Georgia's fun party - and first "real" kids' party - so you're about to get bombarded now!

We actually started her celebrations on Friday, the day before her birthday, with a little party at school - her first!

Then on Saturday, the 13th, came the BIG DAY! From the start, Georgia wanted a Spiderman birthday cake - so I built the party around that. We did more superheroes, since finding everything Spiderman left me a little more limited. And did we ever have fun. Six little girls came over - add Georgia to make seven - and by the time the party was over, I would have sworn we had 30 kids in our home. But they had so much fun, and so did we.



But once the party was over, we still had lots of birthday left - so thank goodness the county fair was going on! Georgia's first Ferris Wheel ride to start things off, then it was a train, the tea cups, the pony ride and some fair food...



And how do you top all that? Well, I don't know if you do with two exhausted parents at this point, but Georgia did get to pick where we had her birthday dinner - Chick-fil-a.



All in all - a fabulous day. Now let's hope my hubby has just as great a birthday - although I can't promise any superhero-themed party. That one did me in for a year.

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March 26, 2012 - You Want More? I'll Give You More!

We have lots and lots around here these days. Ponytails, that is, I'm talking about ponytails.

Oh, and bubbles, we have a lot of those too. And today, some well-aged bubbles that are of just the right vintage I think.

These same bubbles graced the exit of the hubby and I as we left our wedding reception in 2008. My, that seems so much longer than 3 1/2 years ago! But nonetheless, the bubbles still work just fine.

Ponytails and bubbles, can we get more "Americana" than this in my backyard right now? Love!

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Beginning of the Path to Georgia...

First comes love... then comes marriage... then comes Georgia in the baby carriage.

Well today is the celebration of that middle one. It's my hubby's and my three year wedding anniversary. Our marriage started us on the path to Georgia because I'm one of those traditionalists. I wanted to be married before there was a baby. And thankfully, I was able to convince my hubby of the same. And it has been three wonderful years.

Here we are on that glorious day in 2008:

Thanks to W Scott Chester Photography - you guys rock!

Our wedding was perfect, the day was perfect, the pictures were perfect, my dress was... OK, you get the picture. And the best part is, although it has its blemishes and bumps here and there like everything in life, my marriage is pretty darn perfect.

I could not ask for a better friend, a better husband and a better father for our daughter - and honey, I mean that! (yeah, he reads my posts) Thank you Ben for all you give to Georgia and me. With you, we always see "la vie en rose."

When he takes me in his arms
And speaks softly to me,
I see life in rosy hues.
He tells me words of love,
Words of every day,
And in them I become something.
He has entered my heart,
A part of happiness
Whereof I understand the reason.
It’s he for me and I for him, throughout life,
He has told me, he has sworn to me, for life.
And from the things that I sense,
Now I can feel within me
My heart that beats.

-The chorus from "La Vie En Rose." It was our first dance.

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15 Months and Counting....

15 months + no dates = not so good.

This is what I have learned. My daughter was born 15 months ago, and it has been 15 months since my husband and I have had an evening out alone. To say (or type) that out loud is a little shocking actually. In 15 months there have been no romantic dinners in a dimly-lit restaurant, no nights at the theater, no dessert and coffee while talking for hours about things that fascinate or puzzle us, nada.

We did have one lunch with just the two of us on our two year anniversary. But we had to do that over Ben's lunch break, so it was quite rushed. Then there was a Monday afternoon where we dropped Georgia off to go see a movie. But there wasn't really time for a meal and to be honest, it was kind of an awkward afternoon. So I'm not counting either of those.

There have been plenty of rushed meals out to make it home before Georgia's nap time or my leaving for work, several movies on the couch with the volume down low so as not to wake the baby and pausing it every time she does stir, trips to the zoo, walks in the park, meals out that include me scrapping up half-chewed food and syrup-covered crayons off the floor before we leave - and all of these have included Georgia.

Not that Georgia-in-tow is a bad thing - we love her company - but we are WAY overdue for some Jaime and Ben time. So what's stopping us?

Hmmm... pretty much that I haven't wanted to leave her with anyone who isn't family, and our nearest family member is a 12 hour drive away. And even if we did live near family, I can only think of three family members I'd leave Georgia with alone anyway. (I'll withhold those names to keep everyone guessing). Bottom line is, I'm picky when it comes to my baby, perhaps too picky, and that pickiness is not making things more romantic around this house. There's a reason why you should not move too far from home, and that reason is all too obvious to me right now. When they say it takes a village, it sure the hell does!

Now if I can just find my village... and a couple of candles.

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December 24, 2010 - Santa Stayed Up Late Tonight

Thankfully, we are not to the days yet where my husband and I have to stay up well past midnight to play Santa Claus. Georgia is in bed no later than eight p.m. So when I got home at 11 p.m. tonight, the hubs and I were able to don our elves hats and get right to work.

I already had the presents wrapped and hidden in a closet, so we just had to get them to all fit under or near the tree. I think we did pretty good for our first time.

At first glance, I thought, "too many gifts for one girl?" Then I thought, "nah, she's too wonderful to ever have too many gifts."

Our family ornament for 2010:

And Georgia's ornament to mommy and daddy from day care. My husband says it's just his favorite thing. I can see why. :)

Merry Christmas Eve!

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