Dog Mom

I always say Teva puts up with more then her fair share but now she is really earning her keep. While Teva and Addie are, in every sense of the word, littermates, the dog tries to hide away in her kennel when she has enough baby poking. Nina isn't insulted though because the water bowl, chew toys, kennel and dog beds are great sources of entertainment.

 

 

Chef Addie is 7!

My Chopped Junior loving kid knew right away she wanted to have a cooking themed birthday party. She and her friends got to make their own pizzas, decorate cookies and just run around at the Harris YMCA to celebrate her seventh birthday. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GIRL!!! We love you, love you more, love you MOST!

Digital invitation created by: rkDesigns

An Evening of Believing

The Sandbox, a local non-profit whose mission it is basically bring joy to children (and their families) facing life threatening illnesses, hosted a FABULOUS event that we got to be a part of. The unrest and riots in Charlotte couldn't derail the spirit of this event or any detail of the event itself other then the location. In no time the entire thing was moved from NASCAR Hall of Fame to an Embassy Suites in Concord. Team CC was on the red carpet in full force. (Only part of the group is pictured below.)

Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) has taken so much from this family and The Sandbox has helped them make some amazing happy memories with the time they have left with their little girl.

I am so proud of my girl for hanging tough for what was a long night. Addie did not complain once about being tired/hungry/bored nor did I have to fuss for the kids to behave. They really seemed to understand that we were not there for ourselves.

For more information:

The Sandbox | An Evening of Believing | Team CC | Metachromatic Leukodystrophy

Team CC

We wear these bracelets and shirts in honor of a special little girl named Carolina Casey - aka CC. CC was diagnosed with a rare disease called Metachromatic Leukodystrophy January 1, 2016. The Caseys were told they would only have 3-5 years left with their sweet and spunky girl. The horrible disease has taken so much from this family but they have handled things with grace, dignity and an amazing amount of strength. This incredible mama even brought my family dinner after Nina was born. I feel blessed to have gotten to know such a special girl and to call her mommy a dear friend!

You lean on your "village" in times of need, so we do what we do - embrace our loved ones and run together!

Hit The Brixx is a local race that is always a favorite in Charlotte. I admit I am not sure who the beneficiary was in years past but this year the race would benefit Kids Path, a program that focuses on enhancing the quality of life for seriously ill children, who had worked with CC. The 5 of us stayed together for the entire 3.1 miles, and we will be by our friend's side through it all! #TeamCC #CaringForCaroline #FMLD #SweatWithYourSquad

Battle at Bristol

If I am going to leave my baby for the first time, pump in the car and dump that liquid gold, it is going to be for something big, record setting attendance big! 156,990 people to be exact. That is the number of people that entered through the gates at Bristol Motor Speedway in what easily became the largest crowd in the history of college football. As Jim likes to put it, we were part of history!

Any other occasion I would be cheering for the Hokies, except when they play my Vols! This is normally not an issue but lines were drawn early as we drove from Greensboro to Bristol. Not only were we house divided but I was entirely out numbered because we parked, tailgated and sat in the Virginia Tech section.

I took plenty of good jabs throughout the day but in the end the score board said it all and why mine was the only one of these faces as smiley at the end of the game! Go Big Orange!

 

 (Good thing he loves me!)

Magic Sleepsuit

I am normally a bit of a skeptic but sleep deprived parents will try almost anything, even a $40 space suit. Nina is a fantastic sleeper compared to big sister but I think am more tired this time around! I had earned a $50 gift card to Amazon via Ibotta so two days later there was a package on the front step. Enter Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit into our lives and SLEEP! It really did work!

Don't let her bug eyed look fool you! Yes she looks like Randy from A Christmas Story but she loved that cozy thing and this mama loved some uninterrupted hours of zzzzzs even more.

Welcome Home Nina

 

This adorable stork was made with love by a friend and has been passed around yards all over town. So fun to see it in ours when we pulled in the driveway.

 

The star comes off and stays with the recipient. He wasn't created before Addie was born so handyman Jim has already agreed to cut one out for me to paint and add her stats on it as well.

She's here!

Look who decided to join us exactly on her due date! No name yet but we are absolutely smitten with our littlest blessing. Welcome "Baby Girl Marques"!

Our first picture