farewell, summer.

it's a chilly day mid-september and i'm snuggled cozy on my couch under a pile of blankets.  the girls are sleeping, and i've just turned on the heat in my house for the first time.

summer is officially over.

i know, i know.  it's been over for a while now.  temperatures have dropped, short sleeves have been packed away, pumpkins are appearing on doorsteps and it's all-things-apple.  we've been back in the swing of school for a few weeks now, but i was pretty stubborn letting our beautiful little summer slip through my fingers.  it was just so lovely.  this year was the first time in all the years nick has been a teacher that he actually took his summer off... or most of it, anyway.  after a couple weeks of teaching summer school and some occasional work with a landscape company he's worked with before, it was such a gift to have this summer free from work, commitments, stressors or crazy schedules pulling us here, there and in every direction.  we packed a ton in and just enjoyed each other.  it was really, really great for our little family of four.

here are a few (okay, a million) of photos documenting some of my favorite moments:

very first day of summer vacation with my babes

liver life walk in portland in memory of my dad

blessed with the support and love of so many dear friends and family

seeing this sign still took my breath away... miss him every day

outdoor fun

backyard sprinkler

in a field of peas at treworgy's orchards

a pond & wildflowers

playing in the rain: one of our favorite things to do

strawberry picking

the girls first trip!

family fun

they ate more than they picked...

days at the lake...

the fourth of july weekend on portage lake

s'mores!

parks pond with meme's home church

cute cousins

portage lake with the rollins

sisters at dusk

moosehead lake late august

off to see our georgia family!

lots of outdoor work on our house...

windowboxes

hanging baskets

lots of flowers planted

two fruit trees in the backyard: one peach, one apple

a trip to york beach

beach day

fearless girl

us

best ice cream on earth

bella's first swim lessons

 cousin time!

emmy and baby cana: waaaaay better than a doll! ;)

what a crew!

our new hampshire adventure

emmy's first trip to the emergency room after a fall at the hotel pool...

santa's village!

family sleigh ride

sisters

feeding santa's reindeer

storyland!

pumpkin coach

teatime with cinderella

my favorites

disney junior live!

family visits!

singing with aunt jayne

breakfast with papa

playing with nonnie

taking the texas fam to one of our favorites

bathroom remodel

papa to the rescue!!  he came up from texas to help nick give our bathroom a major overhaul

first bath in their new tub

finished!

 vacation bible school

local fun

at the folk festival

rolling in the grass at the festival...

atop cadillac mountain

ice cream cones at giffords

i apologize for the picture overload, but this summer was filled with so many precious moments that i want etched in my mind forever.  as the beauty of summer fades into the crispness of fall, i am so thankful for all of these blessings.  memories i will cherish for years to come.  photos that will make up the girls childhoods.  people that are so dear to us.  snapshots stitched and woven together that make up a beautiful life.  and i'm so grateful that it is mine.

thank you, jesus.  until next summer... there are more memories to make and moments to hold dear in all of the months in between.

dear emmy.

dear emmy,

you are so cute i can't even take it.  some days i want to just freeze time and keep you just the way you are, right now, forever.  your chubby cheeks and rolly elastic-squeezed wrists.  your brown ringlet curls and how they bounce when you walk.  your deep brown eyes.  how your two front teeth stick out a bit from you sucking your thumb.  the sound of your sweet little voice...

you have a way of bringing light and laughter with you everywhere you go, and that is such a gift.  you LOVE babies.  totally obsessed with them, actually.  you're always bending over to kiss the tops of their heads, and ooohhing and ahhhing over them.  "he's so cuuuuuute" you'll say.  you're always carrying around a baby doll or two, and tucking them in all over the house.  such a little mama.  you'll even scooch down with your little hands on your knees and "baby talk" to kids who are older than you are.  it's pretty funny and just adorable.

you are also a huge boss.  you love telling people what to do, especially your big sister.  the other morning i was at the table with my coffee and you and bella were on the couch.  i just sat, watching you.  you put a baby doll on either side of you, and then tucked all of you--you, bella and both babies--in with a blanket.  bella had a doll in her mouth and was chewing on it (one of her habits) and i watched as you just stared for a couple of minutes.  i knew exactly what was going to happen next.  you narrowed your eyes and got right in her face and said "bewwa, don't put that in your mouth okayyyyyyy?"  "no chew on it, you get a consequence".  i have to constantly remind you that you are NOT the mama.

hearing you count is one of my favorite things.  for some reason, you think the word "flower" is a number.  you'll count "7, 8, 9, 10, flower, 9, TEN!!!!" and get so proud of yourself.  it is so awesome.

you love to pray.  oftentimes at meals or before bed, you'll just jump right in and pray over daddy or me.  you always pray for whoever is sitting around the table, or our friends and family and then you'll say "jesus, haba gavah AMEN!"  the only thing we can think that you're saying is "jesus, thank you for this time we have together" because daddy and i always say that when we pray.  or you might be speaking in tongues.  ha.  either way, it's adorable.

speaking of jesus, you are slightly obsessed with church, the bible and all things jesus.  i always say you're the perfect little sunday school girl.  if we ask you a question and you don't know the answer you'll say "jesus" or "bible".  even if it's about the weather, or what you had for snack at church.  it's pretty funny.  every sunday morning daddy will say "you ready to go to church?" you get all excited and your eyes get big and wide and you say "GOFISH!!!!!!"  you went to vacation bible school last week at jude and lulu's church.  you LOVED it.  every night when i went to pick you up you were skipping and galloping in circles and singing all the songs.  you never wanted to leave.  the first night, we were in the car on the way home and bella tattled on you.  "moooooom.  emmy left her classroom two times!" when i asked you why you had run away you said "'cause.  i needed to go see jesus."  how could i argue with that?

you are incredibly affectionate and loving.  lately you love coming over to me and kissing me, hugging me and saying "i wuv you, mama!" which is just about the cutest thing i've ever heard.  today you came and sat in my lap, threw your arms around my neck and said "i wike you, mama!"  so sweet.  you're becoming a mama's girl, constantly saying "mama!  i neeeeed you!" i know one day i'm going to be so brokenhearted over the fact that you don't really need me.  so i'm trying to enjoy hearing you say that and savor those words.  every night when i put you to bed you'll say "kiss!" and then "hug!" and pat my back like crazy while you squeeze me.  i love it so much.

you love saying "cause" every time i ask you a question.  you are OBSESSED with three things right now and need them EVERYWHERE you go: your bunny (no surprise there), a baby doll, toy keys.  you freak out if we can't find them, and every time i go to take your picture, you'll hold up your keys so they get in the photo too.

you're also incrediblyyyyyyy nosey.  it's pretty funny.  and also can drive mama crazy!  you went to greenville the other day with bella, mama and meme and literally every two minutes you'd say "what you talking 'bout, guys???"  "mama, what you sayin'??"  holy cow.  you drive me absolutely bananas on road trips.  we just got dvd screens for the car, but they don't hold your attention for too long.  you're constantly asking me to pick things up for you, asking me where we're going or correcting my driving; even when i'm not driving!  "gooooo, mama!" when daddy is stopped at a red light.  it's nonstop.  after a while i throw my hands up and say "from now on, ask daddy all your questions!!"  you're nuts.

you have loved learning people's names in our family.  you have memorized almost everyone's first and middle names, and it's so cute to hear you rattle them all off.  you are obsessed with uncle brian, who's middle name is "albert", so therefore you name everything albert.  today we were at the grocery store and the cashier was talking to you.  you had your baby doll with you in the cart so she asked what your baby's name was.  without missing a beat you said "baby albert".  the cashier looked so confused and all i could do was laugh.  how could i explain why my two year old had named her baby doll "albert"?!

your nonnie and papa were just here from texas and you had a blast with them.  papa surprised you with chocolate milk and took you outside to play with bubbles and built you a beautiful, brand new bathroom!  nonnie came with us to the park and got you ice cream ("pink ice cream": your flavor of choice... not strawberry... PINK!) and helped you feed the goats at treworgy's orchards.  you made them laugh a lot and loved having them here.  you are so blessed to have so many people in your life who love you, sweet girl.  there's nothing in life quite like family.

as your personality develops, i'm starting to see new things about you i haven't seen before.  all of a sudden now i'm realizing how super independent and stubborn you are.  a hundred times more than your big sis.  "NO!  I DO IT MYSELF!" is what i hear from you at least a million times a day.  i'm learning to be patient, bite my lip and step back while i watch you attempt to do something that is way over your head... and wait for you to realize you need my help before i step in.  i'm realizing this will be much harder as you get older, but you are so spirited and independent and i know you will be my child who will have to learn for yourself, and i'll be trying to find that balance of helping you but not pushing you away.  i want you to always feel empowered to do things, but also know when it's okay (and very wise) to ask for help.  should be an interesting challenge, my girl.  we can figure it out together.

i love you with all my heart.  you are sweet, affectionate, fun and wild.  so excited about the plans god has for your life.

love you to the moon and back (and back and back),
mama

dear bella.

dear bella,

why are you getting so big?  i feel as though in the last month you've turned into a completely different girl.  you look so much older to me.  you are just so beautiful and i am so so proud of the girl you are.

about a month ago, daddy and i went on a camping trip with auntie and uncle brian to celebrate our anniversaries.  i found a special little "mommy and me" book that i thought would be so fun for you and i to get to fill out together.  it's full of questions about me, and questions about you.  one of the questions was: "when mama was growing up, she wanted to be a ______" which i filled in with "princess" because that's what i always said i wanted to be when i was your age.  the next question was "when i grow up, i want to be a _______" after a little thought you said "i want to be a doctor first and then a princess."  sounds like you have a plan!

in fact, in true doctor style, the last time i brought emmy to the dr for her check up, you were copying everything her pediatrician did.  emmy was freaking out a bit, and you stood, with your hand on the dr. ann's knee and said "it's okay, ems!  dr ann and i will take good care of you!"  you're so sweet.

a little while later, one evening daddy and i were rocking on the front porch.  we had been out there for quite a while, rocking and talking.  all of a sudden we heard a sneeze from the open living room window.  i went in to find you, laying on the couch.  so, i carried you outside and you rocked with us for a bit.  here is a conversation we had:

me: so bel, what do you want to be when you grow up?  a doctor?
you: no, i want to be a mama.
me: you do?!  how many babies do you want to have?
you: i want to have five babies.  i love the number five!
me: oh wow.  you're going to be one busy mama.
you: i sure will!  i'm going to cook for them and go to the grocery store and all those things.

gah!  you're SO cute!  i love having talks with you and watching the way your little mind works.  you're going to be a fantastic mother someday, sweet girl, if that's in god's plan for you.

you have always had super long hair; even from the minute we first laid eyes on you!  i decided a few months ago that i wanted you to keep growing it so you would have enough to donate to locks for love.  a  few weeks ago we went to the salon... you'd only been once before and it made you a little bit nervous.  this time, you LOVED it!  you were super pumped to get a shampoo, and halfway through your haircut you had kicked your shoes off and swung your little legs over the side of the chair, admiring yourself in the mirror :)  i was a little nervous you'd cry once you saw how much hair was being cut but you just sat staring at your reflection with a huge smile on your face.  we had talked for some time about how you had so much hair and that some little kids didn't have any because they were sick.  you were pretty excited to give yours away to another little girl, and you loved your new do!  i have to say; you look absolutely beautiful, my girl!

you love snuggling.  that's your most popular request; especially in the morning when you first wake up, or at night when you're going to bed.  i never want to forget the sight of you and your messy hair, squinty eyes from sleepiness coming into our room first thing in the morning.  you wake up the minute your feet hit the floor and can't wait to come snuggle in bed with daddy and i.  at night, i always check on you before i go to bed.  you'll be fast asleep but when i kiss you, you'll automatically smile.  it's the sweetest thing in the whole wide world.  i just love you so much my heart hurts!

you absolutely love playing by yourself; you'll play with your dolls, barbies and castle for hours and hours i think if you could.  this is a vast improvement from a couple of years ago, my little miss social butterfly!  i love watching you play so much.  you also just love other kids.  you make friends wherever you go; no matter how old they are, if they're boys or girls... the other day we went to the park and you kept talking to some little girls there, and there was a baby named elizabeth.  i had forgotten all about it, and a few days later you were telling someone all about your new friend named elizabeth that you met at the park!  you amaze me!

you have also made so much improvement in the area of eating... oh my word.  you eat salad now, and asparagus and one night this spring we had fiddleheads and you were eating them by the handfuls!  you are completely obsessed with apples and seriously eat one every single day.  you love going out with mama and daddy to check our garden and see what new vegetables are growing!  and we went strawberry picking last weekend and i think you ate at least three quarts on your own; you just sat in the field and ate, and ate, and ate... your favorite food by far is ice cream; you absolutely love it!  there's a new frozen yogurt place in town that is your favorite and you get cotton candy flavored yogurt every time we go there!  now, everytime you see something light-blue you say it's the color of cotton candy!  you're kind of obsessed :)

i'm kind of having a hard time with you growing up.  i asked you the other day if you could just stay this little forever and ever.  exasperated you said "but MOOOM! then i wouldn't get to go to school!" you're pretty pumped about it, and that makes me very glad.

you're making us laugh a lot.  the other day we were on our way out of town so we stopped at tim horton's to get daddy and i some iced coffees.  there was an employee out back taking out the trash and you kept saying "what is that tim horton doing?!"  it was pretty funny.  you act so old for your age sometimes (okay... ALL the time) it gives us a good chuckle.

we went up to uncle byron's camp for the fourth of july this last weekend and you had so much fun.  you got to play with your cousins, have a giant sleepover and swim to your little heart's content!  you have no fear of the water (mama needs to get you into swimming lessons!!) and you paddled around quite a bit on a little round tube with jude.  you guys are such little buddies its so cute watching you play.

you are such a joy to watch, bella grace.  you're growing and changing all the time and i'm so proud of you.  i feel so blessed to be your mom, and so excited to see what's in store for you!  hugs and kisses, little girl.

i love you to the moon and back (and back and back),
mama