Breakfast

We just finished breakfast - not normally a photo taking time, but for some reason the smiles made me reach for the camera. My boy, you see -he eats man-sized bowls of oatmeal. With his fists. And I love it! He is always covered in slimey oatmeal & it makes me laugh - a little grossed out because I don't really like to have half eaten oatmeal on me, but there's something cute about it on him.

Picture of the Week

I could eat him up.

This Weekend

We went up to the mountains with some friends & had the BEST time. I am learning that it's not really vacation when you have kids with you - which is why I'm exhausted, but the experiences are so worth it.

Favorite quotes from the little girl this weekend.

"I woke up and I was not happy. I was sad. So I went into the bathroom & I said, 'I AM NOT HAPPY!'"

"I am awake. I have been playing. And it is time to leave this room."

"Can I have some water please - with one ice & not so many kisses?"

The Gardens

We went to the Botanical Gardens - one of our very favorite places in Atlanta. It is surreal to be in Midtown Atlanta & to feel like you're miles away from the city....just little hints of the tops of the buildings are reminders that you are in fact still right in the middle of it. They have a new exhibit that is so cool - these huge sculptures moving with the wind. There is even one that moves as you clap your hands or sing out loud. We were able to go with some of our very best friends, which just made it extra special.
There is a Children's Garden with a Water Garden, as well. These are some pictures from that. You may have seen me post pictures of this place from the past & you certanily will in the future.

Picture of the Week

She will kill me one day for this......

My girl

I have some really fun pictures from a great weekend that I would love to share with you - but this one just stands all by itself. She is something else. I took that picture. I was there when she busted that move. And yet when I went back & looked at the pictures, it was like I didn't really see her. I turned my head sideways & thought, "When did that happen?" And then I wonder how many moments go through the day, when I don't have a camera to remind me, that I just miss. She blows my mind. She is one of the most fun people I have ever known & I get to be her mom. How can I let moments go by like this? It is usually in the quiet of the evenings that I want to relish in all that she is. I'll go pick her up in a second & take her to the potty like we do every night - it's one of our favorite times with her. She can say some pretty funny things around 11 or 12 at night.
I'm grateful for this moment captured....it's a reminder to take her in, because she's growing way too fast.

Dedication

We had the boy dedicated at the church a couple of weeks ago. These dedications have come to mean so much to me & our family - this one in particular was really special. Our church took some time to rethink the way dedication was happening....trying to be more intentional rather than doing something for the sake of doing it - recognizing that this or a christening is simply a family publicly deciding to raise a child in the ways of the Lord. They seemed to figure out the "why" & then came back with a bang. The process was so good for us. We go to a pretty big church, so the fact that they went the extra mile to make this be intimate for each of us was special.

Here are some pictures from the big day. And Nancy (cousin) you can tell my dad he's on the blog & then explain to him what that means....and then tell him he looks best when he smiles at the camera rather than his normal look-at-the-person-next-to-him pose.

Yummy greasy Goodness

I have heard people say that you should pay attention to your cravings especially when you're pregnant because your body is more than likely telling you what it "needs." I think there is a baby growing inside of me that has more "wants" than "needs" - which is comforting, I guess, to know that I am growing a human in my belly. But the cravings I am having are things that we should all avoid - health wise. And i'm blaming it all on the baby because it makes me feel better. So, the baby is craving things like Ribs from One Star Ranch, ice cream (calcium, obviously), buffalo wings, onion rings from OK Cafe (maybe i can justify this one for the onion), and The Varsity. I don't see the nutritional value in many of these foods. And I think the baby has a mind of her own. Yesterday I decided that I wanted Chinese Food - I had not eaten all day - it was 230, the kids are asleep so I needed them to deliver it. I called & thought as I dialed & the whole time on the phone "I'm going to get the steamed chicken and vegetables. Yes, that sounds lovely." Up until they actually asked for my order. "General Tso's Chicken please"

"With wings or soup?"

"Um, wings please and a couple of spring rolls"

"WHAT!? Who said that? "

But the baby has great taste. And I must tell you it was fabulous.

Anyway, here are some pictures from our latest trip to the V.

Not the best quality, so would someone give me some picture taking tips!?!??!

Rebuilding

We roadtripped this past weekend. Loaded up the car & headed to the Miss Gulf Coast. People always groan when the words "roadtrip"& "children" are in the same sentence. But we were looking forward to some time together. We Mitchells have been running too hard lately & when you're trapped in a car, well, the kids have your undivided attention & it was fun.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend. This boy...Man o man, I could eat him right up. I am loving this stage right now.

We visited Pass Christian after Katrina but the bridge had been taken out with the storm, so we didn't make it to Bay St. Louis to see the damage. I had seen pictures & video so I knew sort of what to expect. There is so much life around that place these days! Really encouraging. A GREAT coffee shop called the Mockingbird Cafe! And my to die for roast beef poboy place was wiped out by Katrina, but they have set up camp in a trailer & I have been salivating for one since I've been pregnant so when we found out we were headed down there, I literally planned our entire trip around a sandwich that you buy on the side of the road from a trailer. And it was worth it. It seems evident that the people who stuck around after the storm are committed to rebuilding a community. It's funny, we would never wish that to happen to us, but wouldn't it be neat to be a part of that rebuilding. Seems true with much of the tragedy we go through in life - we certainly wouldn't choose it or even choose to relive it, but after some time passes we realize that maybe we have been changed & aren't we glad for the change.

energy

My girl came with an incredible amount of energy. I have never seen anything like it, really. It's been an endearing quality until recently & now there are times when it gets a bit out of control in public settings & I find myself dizzy trying to corral it. This energy she has seems to have a mind of its own - it kind of takes over & even she can barely keep up with it.

We were at my cousins' wedding this weekend & at breakfast on Sunday her energy made an appearance. I actually caught it on film.

I would get so much more done if I had only a fraction of what's going on in that picture.