My beautiful little lovebug getting her first pedicure! I sat with great friends marveling at the fact that we're actually here, at the point where Sophia can get a pedicure and I can think back to the day that made me a Mama where I only dreamed of this. Do you know that I've waited for this day? I've dreamt of all the little things I will do with my girl and this was one of them! Oh, the joy.

One might say that this isn't the greatest picture of my little sweetheart but my oh my does this sum up one side of Sophia's personality...little Miss Attitude! I've been pleasantly surprised at how we have so seamlessly avoided any bouts with the 'terrible two's' until only recently. And it isn't so much anything terrible, it is more of what I'll call a refinement of her stubbornness, seeing more and more what she can get away with. She's very smart, so smart that she keeps Mama on her toes and Dad chuckling. Of course Chris and I do our best to keep up and not let her get away with things but to hear her so politely tell someone 'please' and 'thank-you', I suppose the 'terrible-two's' could be worse.

And then there's my goofball who loves to laugh and be silly. Who finds the splendor in all the little things of life and makes sure to always tell Mama and Dad how much she loves us. So with the stubbornness comes the joy and to appreciate one you must have the other. I can't complain. It is so lovely being Sophia's mama...oh-so-lovely.

An update for my Mama! :)

Only ten days into July and already so much to share! :) Chris' 'man room' is just about 95% complete after his new 'futon' addition and it's a pretty cool futon, if I do say so myself. It extends into a full size bed and the chaise lifts up for a whole tub of storage (you know how I LOVE my hidden storage spaces!). Sophia's had her fun in the super-duper on sale sprinkler I found her at Marshall's and I've enjoyed seeing things come together for my loves! Only something like 140 days left being pregnant! I say only because take into consideration life with a toddler, being married to the Marine Corps and an OCD Mama who wants everything to be perfect...well, I see the time just flying by! Ah, the joys of motherhood! Happy weekend everyone!

Bear with me and my motherly reflections.

I've never really allowed myself to regret anything in life. To me, regret is a huge waste of time...a waste of precious energy that I just don't have extra to give away. These past few months in my times of reflection, I find myself looking back though, over the things in my life that have impacted me greatly and the things that have taught me some of life's greatest lessons, more often than not the hard way. I play a tug-of-war in my head, sometimes believing one hundred and ten percent that everything that happened in my past, has led me to this point, to this wonderful life with my amazing husband and beautiful daughter(s). And then there are some times, where I'm slightly more pensive where I think about my daughters as I take a look back over my life before them. It is in these times that I wish on a million shooting stars that they travel on a path that is a little less treacherous than mine still arriving at the same comforting place. Isn't that a wish that all mother's have? Don't we all wish we could stand beside our children on their paths through life sifting through the experiences that may cause too much pain and guiding them to the ones that will bring joy and happiness? But I can't can I? And no matter how hard I try, my little girls will grow up to want to sow their own paths probably even more independently than I. They need that. They need to feel some heartache to appreciate real love. They need to make a few mistakes that will test their resilience and to learn how to scrape off their pretty little knees and try again. So I think and I think and I think...I think of what it was that grounded me during my most rebellious times, what made me stop and think and I come to one end....love. Now that is something that I can give my little girls. That is something that I can show them every single moment of every single day through things so little to those much more grand. Through holiday traditions at home with our family, through home-cooked meals, bedtime stories, notes in their lunchboxes, through warm chocolate chip cookies, and through an ear always there to listen. Through stressing the importance of family and showing them what can be accomplished through faith in the Big Man Upstairs. Through showing them that no matter what they do, I will always love them and that I understand they need to spread their wings without their mama's constant guidance. I can show them the many facets of love whether that be the selfless love in my relationship with their father or through the oftentimes difficult, tough love when I see them falling into a place that might scar their naive hearts. I can show them that love holds no bounds and that when their Dad is far far away, we will always be connected even when we're missing such a huge part of our whole. I can't stop their heartaches but I can pray to the good Lord that they find meaning in this life through Him and hope with all my might that I see them one day as happy and as content as I feel now. It's my job, my one true job in this life to show them the way and I'll be damned if I let anything stand in front of me.

So here's to having daughters and the great love that comes with seeing them grow into little ladies. Thanks Mama and Pops for showing me how to teach my girls the love of a family and never giving up on me. I may have given you a run for your money but I turned out alright I think? ;)

I love the south, I really do. I love the people, I love the big, beautiful natural trees, I love the small-town feel of this Rocket City yet big name shopping and beautiful parks that the town boasts. I am so happy that Sophia has been able to experience a different part of the country and will develop memories (and maybe even an accent) of one of the many sides of American culture. But she is my California girl through and through. She talks about the beach at least once a day and is convinced that all the 'rockets' she 'sees' around town are flying to the coast, to the comfort of where she called home her whole little life. She takes one step outside and says, "Mama, it's hot' but never lets that keep her from running in her big, beautiful backyard or playing at her favorite new park next to Daddy's work. I must admit that as hard as this military life is at times with the constant moving and uncertainty, I feel very lucky to be able to call new places around the country home. There are days where I miss the beach and the palm trees but it is comforting to know that they are still there, just the way I remember them and I will have them close again one day with an added appreciation for what I too often took for granted.

This past June has been wonderful and it's hard to believe that we've been here almost two months. Amidst the crazyness of moving into a new house, we've found time to brave the heat and take walks, to sit on our front porch and watch thunderstorms as they brew, sunbathe on our back deck until one of us complains we can't take the heat anymore, barbecue on our new 'manly' bbq, and celebrate birthdays, holidays and little milestones in our daughters lives! I'm really settling into life here and feeling confident that Sophia and I will be able to take wonderful care of her baby sister while Chris is gone. I very rarely get lost around town anymore and I can find all the things we need with ease, finally settling into a routine that I so desperately needed to keep me sane. I'm growing, growing and GROWING but to say 'like a weed' doesn't sound very pretty (ha) and as I hit the halfway point in my pregnancy, my daydreams of this baby have become more detailed as I so anxiously anticipate her arrival. Chris has been working long hours but has had the past two weekends off and we've soaked up every second of his 'free' time. As always, he's wrapped around Miss Sophia's finger and I don't see that ever changing. I overheard him saying to Sophia yesterday while I was cooking dinner...'Little one, what are you going to do when your little sister wants to cuddle with Dad?' to which she responded in her semi-audible Sophia-language, 'she sit with mama'. Ha! I laughed. I can see him relaxing very comfortably with his two little girls in the not so distant future and my goodness, if you know Chris, well the thought of him surrounded by beautiful baby girls makes anyone smile! We celebrated his birthday this past week starting with a candle in his must-have fried egg and hash brown breakfast (with tortillas of course, I will refrain from a joke here) and ended with some presents which Sophia picked out all by herself! :) Chris is a man of few wants and very rarely asks for anything come birthday and Christmas time but come on, who can resist some blow pops and a screwdriver from an overjoyed Sophia! I think he's working on a couple purchases to complete the house so we'll keep his birthday going throughout the summer. It is such a treat to have him home, something we never take for granted.

Have I mentioned that I love holidays? I'm the girl that counts down to Christmas on December 26th and as I get older and watch Sophia grow, I appreciate and look forward to Holidays so much more. This Fourth of July was wonderful, spending time with t
he type of friends that are more like family. A lovely day!

We're all settling into the summer nicely and I am trying to soak up every second of being pregnant. The months are flying by and I have so much that I want to do with my Sophia before the summer is over and fall sets in. I see water park visits, rain walks with our new 'wellies', park visits with Dad, cuddles with Nani and Papa and some serious Auntie time in the near future with lots and lots of pictures taken capturing all these wonderful memories. Happy Fourth of July to you all and a heartfelt 'We miss you' to all our friends and family around the country...scratch that, around the world! :)

Finally, Sophia's new room is finished and it looks fantastic! Sophia's 'big girl bed' is exactly what I imagined and the storage capabilities make me squeal every time I set foot in her adorable little room. I think I might update a few of the pictures in the frames and see if I can find some more knick-nacks for her dressers but I think it looks so sweet and is perfect for a growing girl! :)

I'm also still on the lookout for the perfect duvet cover which I'm thinking would look darling in a shade of light yellow but being the bargain hunter that I am...patience is a virtue! It's such a treat seeing Sophia enjoying her new room but what put an even bigger smile
on my face was hearing Chris tell me how much he loves it! Now I've got to start working on color schemes for our new little love's room. We've already got her crib, a dresser (which I think I'll change out the knobs for something very classicly girly), and a bookcase but I'm frantically brainstorming a color scheme. I'm not big on themes in a girl's
room but am a firm believer in buying 'baby' decor that can grow with her. Am I nesting already? As my mama said last night while we were chit-chatting away, now is the stage in my pregnancy where I'm glowing and growing so I'm going to take advantage of all the blessings that come with the second trimester, and get some work done! :) I look forward to
including Sophia in decorating her baby sister's room and am anxiously anticipating the moment where they meet and she truly becomes a big sister. Yesterday afternoon Sophia kissed my especially round belly and said 'I love you baby sister'. Does life get any sweeter? Now off to sit with Sophia in her new room and daydream about my two daughters!

In my ideal world, I always have the kitchen clean...Sophia is always in clothes without any stains... and I am so up to date on my blog that it is overflowing with every crazy little detail of life here in Huntsville. I think back over these last few months and 'sigh' thinking how far life has been from 'ideal'. What is amazing is how incredibly happy I've been living in this 'not so ideal' world...this world where more often than not things don't go as planned. Making it a priority to blog each week is something that I find cathartic, what I call mommy time where I can finally clear my head and put down in words the moments that spoke to me this week. What started off as a simple hobby, an almost lazy way of 'keeping in touch' with friends and family scattered over the country has now turned into something so dear to me, a book of memories that I will look back on one day with pride. It is for those days in the future when I crave the moments in life where Sophia is oh-so little...when things were never ever ideal and when Sophia's clothes were always so perfectly dirty, just like my busy kitchen! :)

What a fantastic weekend last weekend was. One for the record books in my opinion for no apparent reason other than Sophia and I spent some quality time supporting our Marine. Chris officially took 'command' of Kilo Battery on Saturday morning with an official 'Change of Command' ceremony.
It was a very nice ceremony, short and sweet because of the sweltering temperatures but very nice to watch. There is something so spectacular to me about every little career milestone that man of mine accomplishes. I stand at his side so proud for each and every one of these Marine moments and every single time I am brought to tears. Now I am aware that anything from a Folgers commercial to a road sign can make me cry but I've got a very, very soft spot in my heart for what my hubby goes through on a day to day basis and how he always comes out on top. It is in watching these special moments that my mind flashes to so many moments in the past...moments like meeting my Marine, to the day I married my Marine, to sending him off for his first deployment a mere week away from delivering our precious angel and seeing his face the very first time he ever saw his beauty. I see all that he has accomplished since we truly became a family and the father that he has so effortlessly morphed into despite not ever having enough time to spend with his little girl. All this because of his determination to follow a dream he had back in high school to be the best Marine he could be. That is why I swell with pride watching him on days like Saturday and it is in these moments where I am so very honored to call him mine. It is only fitting to have a weekend like this when Father's Day is the grand finale. So many important days have been spent so far away from home, so we take holidays very seriously around here when we can actually give real kisses and feel real hugs. What did Chris want to do this Father's Day? Absolutely nothing but sit around and spend time together so
after a big breakfast shared on the coffee table we did just that...absolutely nothing and I loved every second of it. A homemade blueberry cheesecake finished off our day and as I lay in bed thinking over the day, my newest miracle shared in my excitement showing her Mama how connected we are, kicking and squirming up a storm. This was the first time I had felt her and my what timing! Between finding out earlier in the week that we are expecting another little girl and ending with a perfectly relaxing weekend with Dad...now you understand why my weekend was so fantastic. And my youngest little girl definitely agreed! :)

Our seeds have grown! :) It was just as I expected, Sophia is thrilled! Now let's see if we can keep them alive. I'm thinking soon it'll be time to move them into the ground so Sophia and I will have to find a good spot in our glorious backyard for them!

I found some beautiful cherry tomato plants and Fresh Market yesterday afternoon and I'm thinking that'll be our next project. You know you're growing up when you are no longer talking about plans for the upcoming weekend or the new mixed drink you just discovered and you're rambling on about gardening and tomato plants! I wouldn't have it any other way!