Abundance of Blessings

As I look through the photos of our summertime fun so far, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for our lives. Every day seems to bring new joy, adventure and laughter. Family and friends surround us and provide us with love. Each photo captures the genuine smiles on our faces and the happiness in our hearts. And I...am abundantly blessed and thankful!

So far this summer, we have been blessed with a future vacation to look forward to...

A picnic day at the park with Nana...

the opportunity to celebrate accomplishments in our family....

the opportunity to spend time at a local farmer's market, eat yummy food and spend time with family...

In addition, we have been blessed with chasing lightening bugs and free fireworks displays with family...

the opportunity to pose with some very expensive, very cool machinery in Elliana's future school yard.....

the opportunity to watch matching two-year-old friends make a mess of themselves trying to eat popsicles in 90 degree weather...while the moms just laughed....

the joy of riding a trolley at Totter Otterville with friends...

These photos capture not even a fraction of the ways we have been blessed by the Lord. I am abundantly grateful, humbled and in awe of how the Lord continues to provide for our family, and bless us time and time again.

The Why Question

My two-year-old is officially in the "why" phrase of life. Every conversation, story, heck, even every sentence is followed with the simple question of "why." Answering the same question multiple times a day somehow got me thinking of a few "why" questions myself.

For example, why does my two-year old have 34 pairs of shoes?! I'm not kidding. I counted. Twice, just to be sure. And, for once I was actually able to count all of the shoes without being interrupted and starting again.

I think it is a couple of reasons. Hand-me-downs, garage sales, clearance racks, only child and 3 sets of doting grandparents just to name a few.

Why does my daughter have a closet stuffed full of adorable clothing, yet insists on wearing the same few dresses day after day?

I think it is a couple of reasons. Hand-me-downs, garage sales, clearance racks, only child and 3 sets of doting grandparents just to name a few.

Why am I the happy Mommy and wife that I am? That one is easy....because I have been blessed with a wonderful, amazing family. An incredible husband who works hard and encourages me to be a better woman and loves me even when I am not. An amazing daughter, whose intelligence and charm knocks me off my feet. This little miracle constantly growing and learning, praying and caring. Why would I not be a happy Mommy and wife?!

A Hiking We Do Go

Last summer, Elliana and I began hiking with T.J. to help him prepare for his 40-mile adventure on the Appalachian Trail later that year. What began as a conditioning program for T.J., has morphed into a fun, adventurous hobby we can all enjoy as a family.

We began incorporating hiking on vacations, during the weekdays, and almost any time that we could find. And when we couldn't find the time, we began making time for our hikes.

Notice the baby on my back, high above the mountain, amidst the clouds

Daddy and Elliana - Gatlinburg 2010

We have all grown over the past year. Elliana, more physically than T.J. & I, but we have grown as well.

How a princess hikes: in a dress, headband and parent required pants and boots.

Our family

We have learned to embrace the sunny days, hit the trail and grow together as a family. We have learned to take time to skip rocks, inspect roly-poly bugs and pick wildflowers. We have learned to be a bit more laid back, learned to be okay with getting dirty and have even managed to teach our girly girl to jump in puddles.

Photo taken my Elliana. Steadied by Daddy.

A Beary Good Time

Our baby did it! Dry underwear for 14 days and still counting. And, as promised we took our big girl out for a big girl reward. And that reward was the famous Build-A-Bear.

We had been in the store a few times before, to hype it up and make the actual experience that much more exciting. But, once the day came to actually build the bear...the choices were overwhelming.

Elliana chose a white bear and quickly held it close to her heart. I actually wondered if she would be willing to let it get stuffed she held it so tightly.

Our baby eagerly watched in anticipation as she helped the employee stuff her bear with the foot pedal.

And she helped Daddy wash her in the bathtub and comb her hair.

I am so proud of my little girl and the big accomplishments she continues to make. I can't wait to see what she will accomplish next!

Hip Hip Hooray!

We began the potty training adventure in April. Elliana took to it quickly and had an enthusiasm I was not prepared for. She quickly filled an entire potty chart with stickers and eventually devoured a jumbo size bag of M&M's, one at a time after each successful trip.

Sure, there were days when she just wasn't into it, or just flat out refused to stop playing to make a potty trip...but overall, I am blown away with her progress and achievement.

Our friends had recommended the final reward of Build A Bear after several weeks of dry diapers and/or underwear. And so, we began a new, official potty chart to track the progress and countdown to Build A Bear.

Today, marks day # 7 of consecutive dryness (well, as of the new official chart). And, to celebrate the half way point to Build A Bear, tonight we are going out to celebrate. To enjoy the not so little things in life and to cherish this big milestone of our baby's life.

Big girl, little toilet...big accomplishment.