The Asparagus Bracelet

We eat a lot of asparagus around here. A lot. Like at least twice a week so I almost always have some in the fridge. 

One night several months ago, I was cooking some for supper and had taken the rubber bands off of the bundle and left them lying on the counter. Livy walked in, picked one up, and asked what it was. 

Drew, seizing the opportunity to earn some cool dad points, said, "It's a special bracelet, Liv, and I bought it just for you!"

Her eyes grew huge and from the look on her face you would've thought he told her it was diamond encrusted and made by a thousand tiny fairies. She instantly fell in love with it. She said something to the effect of I love it, Daddy! I'll never take it off! 

That Daddy. He can do no wrong. 

And she's tried her best to keep that promise. She wore it in her ballet recital, in a photoshoot we did with a friend, to the lake, the beach, VBS... The only time she doesn't wear it is when it breaks and we have to buy more asparagus to replace it. She lost it once at Pappy and Annie's house and I heard there were lots of tears involved until she found it again. 

So this morning for the first day of kindergarten I rhetorically asked if she was going to wear her bracelet to school. She told me that she had to wear it so she could look down at it and think of Dad. 

That girl is something else! And it definitely makes her daddy feel pretty special. 

My Memaw's Ring

This is a very sweet story that I had to write before I forgot one detail of it. And in order for this to make sense I have to tell 2 back stories to lead up to what happened today.

Let's take the beginning of this story back about 20 years to when I was a little girl...

Whenever we'd go visit my Memaw (my dad's mom) in White Hall, I'd sneak into her guest room where she kept all of her jewelry and sit at her vanity and play dress up. She'd let me put on every piece of jewelry she owned and although I loved them all, there was this one ring that was always so special to me. I just loved the way it looked. 

I had no idea at the time, but this ring was actually my Memaw's engagement ring. It was antique, simple, and so beautiful. She'd always tell me that one day when I grew up, she would give it to me. 

Time went on and I eventually out grew playing in her jewelry and had almost forgotten about her promise to me. My senior year of high school, we were at her house, and I can't remember if it was for Christmas or graduation, but she handed me a small gift box and inside was the ring! I immediately had a flood of memories rush through my head and I was so touched that she remembered her promise to me even though I had forgotten. 

I've worn it on my right ring finger ever since. My sweet Memaw passed away about 6 months before Drew and I got married and I love getting to carry around a piece of her every day. Every time I look down at that ring it makes me think of her and I smile. 

Now for the next part of the story... It's going to seem like these two stories have nothing to do with each other but bare with me! I promise it will all come together. 

So let's fast forward to year 2006 to hear about our engagement story...

It was 2 days before my 19th birthday and we were at the beach. I thought we were there to babysit for some family friends but really Drew had arranged the whole thing. 

He took me out to eat on August 11th at a restaurant called Gulf Island Grill. After dinner we came back to the hotel and took a moonlit walk on the beach. We were holding hands walking along the water when we saw a shooting star. I asked if he made a wish and he said "I'm about to make my wish come true." Then he got down on one knee, pulled out a ring, and asked me to marry him. It was so incredibly sweet in spite of my "are you serious?!?" response. 

That proposal has always been so precious to us. I mean, who proposes via shooting star on a moonlit beach?? He may not be the most romantic guy but he comes through when it counts. 

This brings us to this week... 

We are on vacation with my family at Fort Morgan beach, just a quick drive down the road from where we got engaged. It's been 10 years this month since Drew {finally} asked me to marry him so we've had fun reminiscing about all the details of that trip. 

We were getting ready to head down to the beach for the day and Drew asked if I was going to wear my rings down there. (They've gotten really loose since I've lost some weight). I said I would thinking I probably wouldn't even get to swim since I'd be taking care of Sadie. 

I was able to get her down for a nap and left her in the house with some family while Drew and I headed down to the beach to play with Olivia and Charlotte. We played in the sand for a long time and then I went out in the water and tossed the football around with Drew and my brother in law. 

I was about knee deep in the water when I caught the ball and as soon as it hit my hand I saw my Memaw's ring fly off and land in the water right in front of me. I immediately hollered at Drew and dropped to my knees to find it. My heart sank. The waves kept coming one after another and I could not find it. My whole family was in the water searching for it. Even the people next to us came over to help and lent us their goggles. 

I prayed the whole time. "God, I know this may seem silly but please help me find my ring. It's so special to me! You've helped me find it once before when I lost it, please help me again." We searched for probably 45 minutes with no luck. Sadie woke up and I had to go inside. I was crushed. I cried. It was irreplaceable and I had lost it. 

Everyone kept looking but it was no use. It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but much worse. I thanked everyone for their help but I didn't want to waste their time. It was gone. I cried and prayed again, "God, thanks for letting me look. It just wasn't meant for me to find it. I don't know why but there must be a reason."

Drew knew how bad I felt and was trying his best to help. He kept searching for it. He even Googled metal detector searchers he could hire. 

He came inside and asked if he could take me out to dinner to help me feel better. I said, "I would LOVE to." We left the kids with my family and had our first date night since Sadie was born. He took me to one of our favorite places to eat, The Oyster House. We walked around and did some shopping while we waited for our table, ate way too much at supper, then got some ice cream before heading back to the beach house. 

When we pulled up, Drew asked if I'd help him take the canopy down that was out by the water. We got it fixed for the night and then he said, "Let's walk out here for just a minute before going back in to the girls."

We held hands and walked for just a little ways when he stopped me and said he needed to reenact something. I thought he was just being silly and talking about our engagement night again. 

Then he got down on one knee and said, "Give me your right hand." 

I said, "What? Why?"

He said, "Just do it. Give me your hand."

I held my hand out and he slipped something on my ring finger. I said, "What is that?" Then he shined a light on my hand.

IT WAS MY RING. My Memaw's ring!!!

Tears instantly started rolling. I asked How? When?? Where??? He just smiled and hugged me while I sobbed. Like ugly crying sobbing. 

He said once we all called it quits on the search party, he decided to look one more time and there it was. Glistening in the bottom of the sandy ocean floor. Instead of giving it to me right then he wanted to make it special because he knew how much it meant to me. He combined the meaningfulness of that ring with the night he proposed and made it a night I'll never forget. 

God didn't want me to find it. He wanted my husband to find it so he could do something much more special with it. I'm going to bed with a thankful heart. My ring is back on my finger and I have a husband who would do anything just to make me smile. It has been one emotional day and I'm so incredibly thankful!

Mom Life

On Monday afternoons Charlotte, Sadie, and I usually go do the grocery shopping while Olivia is in gymnastics. Last week she finally nailed her standing backbend all by herself! I was so proud of her and she was pumped, to say the least. She came home from last week's practice and kept on practicing over and over until her arms slipped out from under her and she smacked her head on the floor. 

I knew she'd try to weasel herself out of having to practice those today so I wanted to stay for her practice and watch. That way I could force her to practice them again. I decided to do the grocery shopping early today so it'd be done before gymnastics. 

The whole time I tried to make my grocery list and get dressed, Sadie cried. Unless I held her. It was a difficult morning. I knew she was extremely tired but she would not give in to a nap so I was counting on the car ride to Walmart to do the trick. I switched out one more load of laundry while I herded the kids out the door, then I heard extra loud clopping coming from Charlotte's direction and realized she had on Rapunzel dress-up heels. I was {this} close to taking her to her room to change her shoes, but I thought Ehh, whatever. She's happy. And off to Walmart we went. 

We always get the new buggy with the infant seat for Sadie at the top but none of those were outside. So to keep from it taking 10 years for us all to walk across the parking lot, I grabbed a regular buggy to put them in until we got inside. That was not the one she wanted, so Charlotte immediately started crying, waking Sadie up who had just fallen asleep. 

When we got inside, Charlotte insisted on taking her princess heels off and riding on the end of the buggy. I actually like her riding on the end because it gives me more room for groceries. I didn't like her being barefoot but I thought as long as she stays on the buggy and doesn't get down, it's not that big of a deal. I'm trying to pick my battles here!

Our first stop was shampoo and immediately Charlotte got down and wanted to walk around. I told her she had two options:

1. Put your shoes back on and walk. 

Or

2. Get back on the buggy and ride. 

Looking back, I assume she was waiting on a third option because she didn't seem too enthralled about either. After repeating the options several times, she refused to do either so I picked her up and put her IN the buggy.

The horror. 

Blood curdling screams soon followed and suddenly we were that family. Charlotte was that kid. And I was that Mom. 

People were staring but I refused to back down. Never mind the fact that I was the one who allowed her to wear those dang princess shoes that don't even fit her... I was not giving in. And neither was she. And then I remembered what shirt I was wearing...

Yep. 

I suddenly felt the urge to buy a hoodie from the ladies section and pull it over my shirt. And my head. Charlotte was still screaming and I felt like there were beams of light shining off my shirt. Radiating to the world that Mom life. Is the. Best life. Don't get me wrong, I really do think it is, and I wouldn't trade it for the world, but at that particular moment?? Oh, the irony! And I'm not sporting just a regular ol statement here... It's got three periods in it! THREE! Talk about emphasis! I really should've put more thought into buying this shirt! 

Thankfully her fit didn't last much longer and I felt the light beams beginning to fade. We made it through the rest of our trip without any meltdowns and all was well. By the time we checked out, loaded all the kids in the car, unloaded all the groceries, and the kids were back at home playing happily in the living room, I propped my feet up and breathed a sigh of relief. Ahh... Mom life. Is the. Best life. 

Dear Mama

Recently I went to a wedding shower and instead of signing a guest book at the door, the hostesses had each guest write a piece of marriage advice on a slip of paper. Not knowing the bride very well, I kept it simple, but real, and scribbled down, "Seek God first in everything you do... No matter how small it may seem." I folded it up and added it to the basket.

As I sat in my chair waiting for the shower to begin, I started thinking of all the things I could've written. Drew and I have a wonderful marriage and I like to think I'm full of marital wisdom. Ha! But in all actuality, I'm not qualified to give marriage advice. I just know what works for us, and it's nothing fancy. Just love. Love with your whole heart and prove it by serving each other. Wake up every day thinking of something special you can do for your spouse. 

All of that got me to thinking about what if this had been a baby shower instead of a wedding shower? What advice would I have written down for a first time mom, or even to myself? Lord willing, if we're blessed with another baby, maybe something I could go back and reread? Or perhaps something that would just serve as a reminder when it's been a particularly difficult day? 

It would go a little something like this...
 

Olivia - 2010

  

Charlotte - 2014

 

Sadie - 2015

Don't rush to get out of the hospital. Nobody ever enjoys being in the hospital. The beds are terribly uncomfortable. The towels are entirely too small and scratchy to actually dry you off. The food is eh. You have what feels like 20 wires and doohickeys hooked up to you making it difficult to even roll over in the bed. Not to mention the lack of sleep due to the constant flow of family and friends who are dying to get their hands on your new little one. But try to enjoy it. There's such excitement in the newness of those first hours of your baby's life! Your hormones may be a little crazy, but you feel a joy like no other and everyone wants to talk about how beautiful your new bundle is. Relish in it. Enjoy letting people take care of you because as soon as you get home, it's back to reality. The dishes and laundry are no respecter of exhausted mamas. (And neither are your other children!)

Olivia

 

Hold her too much. Throw those books, documents, and extensive research articles out the window. You know, the ones about frequently laying your baby down so they won't become too attached? I say hold your baby as much as you can. She will never be as young as she is today. Tomorrow she will be a little bigger and most likely doing something new that she's never done before. The amount of time that she's a floppy little newborn is so brief. Hold her tight and take in that sweet baby smell. The one that my husband refers to as "Baby Johnson." Run your fingers across her ears and arms and feel those soft baby hairs that haven't fallen off yet. Curl up in the recliner and catch a cheesy Lifetime movie while she sleeps on your chest, and maybe even doze off to la-la-land with her. Time flies by all too quickly and babies grow entirely too fast. Enjoy every cuddle. Every snuggle. Every whimper. Every coo.

Sadie

 Take way too many pictures. My picture taking drives my husband crazy, and I keep telling him that he'll appreciate it one day. I don't think he does yet, but I'm determined to prove him wrong. It's amazing how fast your baby will change! It doesn't take long for her cheeks to start filling out, her little neck muscles get stronger and she's no longer a little bobble head, and her sleepy unintentional grins turn into big happy smiles. Cherish each stage of her life and don't be afraid to document them all! Pick a couple of your favorites to share on Facebook, and no one has to know that you secretly have hundreds of pictures exactly like them stored on your computer. Mama, if it's special to you, that's all that matters!

  

Olivia

Put the phone down while she nurses. This is one I have to remind myself. Sometimes I do pretty good at it but there are times I think she just uses me as a pacifier and I need some entertainment! Thankfully my body was born to be a milk cow and I've never had to struggle to feed my baby. I've always had an abundance and all three of my babies have been terrific eaters. Don't be afraid to stare at your baby while she eats. Watch her as her little nose wrinkles, lock eyes with her when she gazes up at you, touch her chubby little fingers as they grasp on to your skin. Pay attention to the little things... Those fluttering eyelashes, the way she folds her hands almost as if she's praying, and how she stretches out like a starfish when she's full and had enough. Soak it up. Breathe in those moments, for they will be over all too soon. In the beginning she'll depend on you for every meal, to survive. But before long she'll only need you before naps or bedtime, and then eventually not at all. Enjoy those sweet bonding moments that only the two of you can experience. 

 

Don't stress over your weight. I'm not saying ignore your health, just don't let your weight consume your mind. This is a daily struggle for me. And listen, I am the LAST person on this planet who feels like she has any right to even discuss health! I definitely don't always make the most health conscious decisions, but it's something I'm working on. It's the reason I get up at 4:34 every morning to go run the farm road at 5:00 with my friends. And I know 4:34 is such an odd time but I just can't bring myself to set my alarm for 4:30. I need those 4 extra minutes! I want my girls to know that I exercise and try to make health{ier} food choices, but I also want them to know its okay to indulge in pizza and ice cream sometimes too. There are so many more important things in this world than being a size 2, and your kids know this! Kids couldn't care less about what size jeans their mom can or can't get buttoned, so don't let your extra baby weight get you down. Your husband and kids love YOU, no matter what the scale says! 

Charlotte

 

Don't rush them to grow up. This happens all on its own without us speeding up the process. When I had my first daughter, I was always ready for her to do the next big thing... Sitting, walking, talking, potty training, etc. And she did do some of those things pretty early in life because I wanted her to be "advanced." By the time I had my second (and especially with my third), my thinking had drastically changed. I no longer rush them to accomplish the next feat. I just want them to be little. Be my baby a little while longer! 

We have certainly been blessed with three precious darling girls. And by no means am I a parenting expert, but I have figured out a thing or two along the way. Like which things are important and which things really don't matter at all. I try to enjoy each day with my girls. They aren't all sunshine and rainbows, believe me. But I'd say we have it pretty good around here! I'm so thankful for my family of five and look forward to a day when that number grows a little more!