Perfect Summer Picnic

There are 12 more days until Stephen gets home. Don't worry I'm not counting down hours and minutes... yet. But I am planning {many, many} dates for his return. One that I am super excited about is a picnic. I just bought our family a membership to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens, and while the baby girl and I are making super use of the children's splash pad during the day, I cannot wait to have a super romantic evening there with the hubs. I have it all planned out, down to my outfit. Though I had to get creative with the menu because S doesnt eat sandwiches. 

summer date by tinymrsh featuring kate spade bags

What do y'all pack for picnics?

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Love is love

Dear Baby-

This summer has been just magical so far. You have grown and blossomed, your personality has just exploded. One trait that I have noticed that you most definitely got from me is the way that you love. You love fiercely and with abandon, you love with your whole tiny soul and you do not hold back. Kisses come freely and your hugs are so tight and sweet, you dole them out to anyone and everyone whether it is mommy and daddy or a random child at the park. It makes me so proud to see how sweet of a girl you are. But I also worry, because I know that with that much love to give comes so many extra chances at heart break. I pray that you never, ever have your tender heart broken. I will do anything in my power to keep your heart as safe as possible, but I know that you also have to live and take your own chances.

Since I cannot promise you that you will never experience heartbreak, I can promise you this Brooklyn Grace. I promise that you are free to love and cherish whomever you please. You may love a man or a woman. You may love someone who is black, white, purple, or any other color of the rainbow. I don't care if they are from ten or ten thousand miles away. I don't care if they are a lawyer, a teacher, or the trash man. Every one on this Earth is deservant of love, and whoever is so blessed to win your heart will most definitely win ours. Love in our family has absolutely no limits or boundaries, so please never fear bringing someone you love home to your mama and daddy. I promise that they will be welcome with open arms. {Though daddy doesn't plan on you dating until you are 28 he will be receptive none the less}. We don't expect them to be perfect, or for y'all to never fight. Sometimes relationships are not easy, every one experiences growing pains. All that we ask of them is that they love you as fiercely and passionately as you deserve. That they respect you, that they are two hundred percent devoted to you, that they make you laugh, that they want to go on adventures with you, and most of all that they make you happy. Because that is what every parent wants for their child above all, their happiness.

I love you so much Brooklyn Grace. Thank you for letting me be your mama.


Also - *Single parenting* is freaking hard. Serious props to all those single parents out there. Whether it's military spouses holding down the home front or just a solo parent situation, you rock! Brooklyn is seriously keeping me on my toes with Stephen gone, throw in some molars coming in and welcome to my shit show, and by the time that she lays down all I want to do is grab the bottle of wine and lose brain cells to trashy tv. So my whole return to blogging thing did not go as well as I would've hoped last week, but I'm trying and thats what counts right?!




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Long Distance Love

This week we found out that the husband is going to be traveling quite a bit for work the next few months, he's gone for twelve days in May and almost all of June. Now we live in a very military heavy area, many of my closest girl friends are navy wives and some of my very best Biffles {Samantha & Kaitlyn} are army wives, so I do not take my time with S for granted. I'm trying to go into it really positive, because being a Negative Nancy doesnt get you any where and I know that S is a little anxious about leaving us as well. We're going to try and have a few date nights before he leaves and a few more when he is back for the two weeks before leaving again. I'm also going to try and tackle a bunch of Pinterest ideas that I've saved. And more than likely this blog is going to get LOTS of love, not to mention BK is going to be smothered in affection. I'll be doing anything to keep busy, which shouldnt be too terribly hard with a toddler running around.

What would you do with your free time? I'd love some suggestions, anything from Pinterest ideas to recipes to mommy daughter dates. Or any ideas to keep the spark up long distance with S.

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I also wanted to introduce two of my fabulous sponsors Nicole and Alexa as they talk about what they are looking forward to most this Spring. Arent they the cutest?

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Two Years

Yesterday was my two year wedding anniversary. It marked two years since we had said "I Do". Two years since we were in paradise surrounded by wonderful fantastic people. Two years that sparked the beginning of the rest of my beautiful, very blessed life.

In all honesty I dont feel that whole lot changed when we got married. We lived together before, so that wasnt new. But our feelings, our relationship, most definitely intensified. My love grew a little deeper, my desire for S a little stronger, and my appreciation exploded ten fold. A lot has changed in the past two years though, it has been quite the ride. And I have had the time of my life experiencing this journey with my incredible man.

A few times while we were on trip other guests at the resort would make comments about us getting married, things like "dont do it" and "it's not too late". At first I thought those people were so, so rude. Then my heart ached for them. How horrible to not believe in everlasting love, I pray that they find it. How terrible to never find the other match for your heart. The one youre meant to walk through life with, to grow old next to. Love is such a wonderful, and specatular, life changing occurence. I can't imagine my life without it.

I found the one whom my soul seeks. I found my true better half. The man that balances me out. The man that can always put a smile on my face. The man that I laugh harder and deeper with than I ever have before. The man that is the hardest working, most intelligent man that I have ever met. The man that can make me weak in the knees with a single look, the one still gives me butterflies with every touch and every kiss. The man that gave me the greatest gift ever, our daughter. And my goodness is he an amazing father. He is polite, talented, funny, strong, incredibly smart, and he is so kind to every single person he meets. He might have stinky shoes and corny jokes, but he is all mine and I wouldnt have it any other way.

I am in love. Deep, passionate, wild love. And I am thankful for every day that I get to experience it.

All pictures are by the super fabulous Andi Grant

 

 

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Lightning Strikes Twice

{Written- Tuesday April 2, 2013}
Tonight was just a typical Tuesday night. We made dinner, my husband went to the gym, we read a story before bed. Everything was within our normal routines. Tonight was just a typical Tuesday night, except that it wasn't.
S got off early, so we had an extra three hours together as a family. One third of that was spent visiting the puppy store at the mall where BK screamed "dawg" every time she saw a new puppy behind the glass and then laughed hysterically. One third was spent pushing BK in her pink whip to the park. The park is our haven. She swings and is in her own personal heaven. S plays like a little kid on all of the equipment. And I, I soak in the both of them. Their smiles, their pure joy. The last *extra* hour was spent in the kitchen while I cooked dinner. BK carried around pieces of Daisy's food and giggled uncontrollably while Daisymae chased her. S sat in the kitchen while we caught up on our day and snuck kisses.
From an outsiders perspective it was nothing special. Just your typical family of three going about their evening routine. But to me, to me it was heaven. I had a permanent smile on my face. My happiness just radiated from every pore.
It got me to thinking though, as happy as I am {truly 1000% satisfied with my life, not lacking a thing}, does it get any better than this? Can lightning strike twice? Will we be so lucky to be blessed to one day expand our family and have another baby so perfect and delightful as BK? It just seems impossible. I know it isn't, I know that God's grace is SO good. I'm not saying it will happen, I'm simply saying that it could happen.
Life just doesnt seem like it could possibly get any better than it is. I am so blessed. Blessed with my true soul mate, the man that God picked specifically for me. Blessed with a beautiful, crazy intelligent, sweet, funny, perfect daughter. My family is kind and supportive. I have good friends that the Lord brought into my life for a reason. I have wonderful worldly possessions.  I am blessed.
My life was not always this way. It was not always everything I dreamt it to be. But now I wake up and I think to myself...

You have everything you ever wanted. Welcome to your happily ever after. 

Refreshed

This weekend was heaven. I got three full days of family time. A full DC recap will come up tomorrow, today I am still basking in the weekend after glow. It's funny how something so simple as a scenery change can bring such happiness. I was surrounded by the same people I usually am, we even brought Daisymae. And to be perfectly honest we didn't do anything *extraordinary* this weekend, but none the less it was bliss. There was laughter, hugs, giggles, extra long baths, lots of chocolate eating, and tons of love. We all came home feeling delightfully refreshed. And to make our weekend even better we were greeted with temperatures in the 70's today, so the baby and I had our first beach day of the year. It was the perfect way to end a long weekend.

Here's a little peek into our getaway. Be sure to check out my fabulous friend Brea who took this gorgeous photo.

puppy love

I have a broken heart y'all. My sweet puppy, Daisymae, is missing since last night. To be completely honest I'm not sure exactly what happened. I took her with me to 7-11 to grab some sprite for my mother in law who wasnt feeling well and then I lost her. I can say I just wasnt paying attention and thought she came in the house before me, or I can say that I was distracted by getting back to the baby and my family, but either way it boils down to it being my fault. The guilt that I feel is unbearable.

This is the dog that drove 1600 miles with me from Texas to Virginia, while riding in a laundry basket. The puppy I bought on a whim in college before heading to a basketball game. She's flown with me to Texas more times than I count, and always accompanies us on vacation. She's been dressed up for every holiday her whole life, and sometimes just because. It never fails that she sneaks chocolate out of our Easter baskets. She usually unwraps at least one present at Christmas. She's been with me through heart ache, joy, moves, a marriage, the birth of our first baby. Brooklyn Grace wakes up every morning up every.single.morning and the first words out of her mouth are "Daizzy kiss, daizzy kiss". She snuggles S after long days at work and keeps him company when he does work around the house. The dog that has slept by my side for over 6 years. She loves beach days, riding in the front seat with her head out the window, sleeping under the covers, and getting BK's dropped food. She is not a dog. She's family.

My heart is broken. Please say a little prayer that our girl comes home.

A Smattering of Love

Happy Valentine's Day y'all! Sorry I'm joining my link-ups so late. My mini valentine and I have spent the day b.u.s.y.

First up it's Thirty Second Thursday! Sorry that I look a hott mess {again} in the vlog. We had just gotten back from running errands and I really wanted to join.

Next up is Its Ok Thursday! This week I'm saying Its OK:
-that I'm linking up so very late in the day
-that I spent all day running around and turning our house into Casa de Amor that I tired myself out and instead of the grand feast I had planned we're getting take out
-that the dress I'm wearing tonight is from Gap Kids Girls section
-to have bought two bottles of champagne so that I could have a bottle while I set up for our night
-to be super, super excited about Safe Haven & Beautiful Creatures!

Have a fantastic night everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day

Sending a little Valentine's Day love your way!

Xoxox,
BK

Valentine's Day Fashion

Today I thought I'd share a little of my Valentine's Day Fashion with yall. I brought you two outfits, one for a date night out and for a date night in.

 

valentines day out by tinymrsh featuring forever 21

This is almost my exact outfit that I'll be wearing this weekend when the mister and I escape just the two of us. Last year I wore I a red dress, so this year I thought I would take things a bit edgier. You know I'm all about trying to keep that "spice" up.

valentines2 by tinymrsh featuring a lc lauren conrad

This is what I'll be wearing tomorrow night when we celebrate at home as a family. I didnt want to get too casual and greet the hubs in yoga pants {like I usually do}, but I'll still be comfortable in my skinny jeans and a flowy top. The baby has a special Valentine's Day dress too.

What are you wearing for Valentine's Day? Are you celebrating by going out or staying in?

The Spice of Life

In the spirit of Valentine’s Week lets get a little personal today. As a new mom this is definitely a relevant topic to my life, but I feel like it can is actually relevant to ALL relationships at one time or another. Let’s talk about keeping the “spice” in life.

I know with BK we have to get real creative, and we don’t always have time for elaborate romance. Before we could pick up and run away for a weekend, or spend three hours just out to dinner and drinks. Now it's a little more like champagne and sweat pants. I don't ever want to lose the fun thought. One of my favorite aspects of my relationship has always been the fun that we have together, the way we really lived life.

Now dont get me wrong, we can still get a babysitter and plan date nights but I'd love to be able to keep things kickin at home on the regular. We're young and fun, and I dont want to forget it.

Kaitlyn over at Wifessionals recently set up a Club Sexy for her and her husband. What do you do with your significant other?

relationships

Being that it is now February and the month of l.o.v.e I thought that we could talk a little about relationships this week. 

Relationships are hard. They are work. Love that comes easy, it’s everything else that is hard. There are so many outside forces to deal with, to contend against. And it’s like that for all relationships. Friendships, romantic relationships, hell even family.

I grew up before my time, Was forced to mature too early. I have a wonderful mom and a terrific father, but my childhood was not ideal. My parents are divorced but I remember them being together. I saw how fiercely they loved each other, that’s where I learned how deep love should be. I remember my mom once saying that “being with my dad was like fireworks.” Strong imagery right? They were fireworks all the time though. When it was good it was spectacular, and when it was bad it was b.a.d. Needless to say, they didn’t really teach me what it takes to make a marriage work. Honestly, they probably aren’t the best examples of how to make any kind of relationship work. But that’s ok, I did learn a thing or two from them.

Now I am in my own firecracker relationship marriage. I am blessed to have married the love of my life. Four years and a baby later, and I still get butterflies when we kiss. I have to say though our relationship is way different than what I saw in my parents. We know to communicate. S is truly my best friend and we can talk about anything. It doesn’t always come easy, and it isn’t always the first thing we do, and it definitely took a while for us to learn. But we do really great when we finally get down to it. It’s a wonderful thing, and I never fear that we’ll find an obstacle we can’t beat.

What are your keys to good communication in a relationship?