8 Amazing Years

Every year I grow more and more grateful for the life I have with my beloved. He is an amazing husband and I am blessed beyond all measure. In our 7th year of marriage we became parents to our beautiful Gracie girl. Seeing David as a Dad has been remarkable. He is so good and sweet with her and she adores him completely. I also realized that I can love my husband more. I didn't think it was possible, but when he handed me our baby girl for the first time with tears streaming, I fell in love all over again. My heart has grown in it's capacity to love my family more in the last year than I ever thought possible.

All that said, I thought it was a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary when David left these flowers for me on our mantle.
Including Grace (and any other children) in our anniversary celebration will be something we do for years to come. So with that said, Happy Anniversary David, I love you more than words.

Our little Valentine

We had a very low key Valentines Day this year. David had bought me a beautiful bouquet of Roses and had them waiting on the mantle for me when I got home from WV. We also went out to lunch to celebrate with Grace after church on Sunday. It was a relaxing day with the 2 loves of my life. :) Here are a few pictures of Grace in her valentines dress.


Since she was making her first photographic debut as a Grasp Baby, we took lots more pictures in her first portrait session. There are lots that I haven't even started to process, but for now here are a few more that I just love.

More to come...

100th Post - Surprise & A Baby Shower

I wanted to wait until this week to post since I was at my 100th post and I wanted it to be special with lots of pictures.

Saturday was our last baby shower and it was hosted by a few of my closest girlfriends. I knew it was going to be special, but how special I had no idea until the big day arrived. My side of the family hosted a shower for us back in July that was wonderful and my mom and step mom got to come and celebrate their grand baby, so this time I had David's mom's with me.On Friday, my friend Vivek from college flew in from DC to spend the weekend and be with me for the shower. I hadn't seen her in 5+ years! I was so thrilled she was able to come and that we got to visit Friday while things were still quiet. Saturday morning my BFF Lacey came into town with her newest baby Jane Dare (she's 5 weeks and just precious!!) and arrived just as David's parents did and was able to join us for lunch.

We all met up at Taco Mac, one of David's favorite wing places, and I was loving on my Jane Dare while we waited for a table. After a bit David wanted some snuggles and took her from me. A few moments later I looked up and saw a little girl who looked remarkably like my niece Erin. You know how it goes, you process very quickly: "that looks like Erin, but it can't be Erin, because she's in Colorado". But then I see Deborah holding her and Carol (who was supposed to be on a women's retreat!) coming in behind her with my nephew Grady in her arms and I realize that they are really here! I just lost it and started to cry. I was so surprised and I still tear up every time I think about it. My awesome yet sneaky husband had helped orchestrate all of this and it was probably the most surprised I've ever been, second only to his proposal, of course. There are pictures of their arrival and my reaction on David's mom's camera, but I don't have them yet. I'll post when I get them.

Before I knew it we had finished lunch and it was time to head to Karen's for the shower. When I got there, I walk in the kitchen and see my friend Marleah who drove in from Alabama. I almost cried all over again!
I had no idea that so many people would come from so far away to be here with me and celebrate our little one. We had some great food and times of fellowship with my friends and family from near and far. We were spoiled beyond belief with wonderful gifts for this baby, who is already so loved, and there were a few more surprises here. A few friends who couldn't be with us sent gifts and my mom even made the baby 2 more blankets and sent them so I could open them at the shower. The funniest part was my mom used a post-it as the gift tag and we all got a kick out of it!

The post-it gift tag!The beautiful cat quilt handmade by my mom
Aunt Carol made a beautiful blanket for the baby too - it's so soft!Lacey getting in some snuggles with Jane Dare while I opened giftsWe love Sleep Sacks!Spoiled already - look at all these beautiful things!The sweet cupcakes were made by Leigh-Ann and they were yummy!Vivek, Carol, Deborah & I chattingGrady having fun at the showerMy lovely hostesses: Lacey, Karen, Leigh-Ann & Bethany

After we enjoyed some more girl time, we headed back to my house. David's mom and Carol headed back to Carol's house and Deborah, Erin, Grady, Vivek, Lacey & Jane Dare were going to stay with us. Paul & Bethany also joined us for dinner and we just had a great night hanging out together. It was one of the sweetest times I've had in this house and I certainly won't forget it anytime soon.

I absolutely love being surprised and Saturday was full of them. And Deborah and the kids got to stay through Tuesday which was wonderful since they live so far away. I certainly feel blessed to have so many people in this life who love and support us and who will love our baby.

As we were getting ready for bed David asked "so was it a good day" and I said "best day ever!"

7 Timeless Years

Today David & I are celebrating our 7th anniversary. In some ways I can't believe it's been 7 years already and in other ways, I can't remember what my life was like before David was in it. I am so grateful to have a husband who loves me so completely and with whom I can share my life. God is good and I am reminded of His grace and His perfect plan for our lives every time I look at my beloved.

This anniversary has a certain special feel to it because of the baby. We have absolutely relished in the years we have had "just us" and are so excited to go from a couple to a family.

To celebrate, I am meeting David at his office and making us a picnic lunch. It's going to be blazing hot, but we'll make it work even if we end up in the mall food court - lol! Tonight we're going to go out to dinner, and we're thinking about being adventurous and trying something new...we'll see where we end up. It's going to be a great day! ;)

Here's a few pictures from our big day...

Ewan reading the scripture during the Ceremony - we loved the architecture of the church Right after we excited the sanctuary - one of my favorite moments of the dayOn the front porch of the Women's Club On the Stairs at the Women's ClubLeaving on the Harley!

Little Kicks

Last night we were reading in bed and I was on my side cuddling on my glorious Boppy pregnancy pillow that my cousin Jenn recommended (and I LOVE!!) when I started to feel the flutters that I've been feeling for weeks. All the sudden, I was kicked (or elbowed, punched, something!) and it was definitely the baby. I was so excited I started to cry. Of course, yesterday was a hormone charged day and I shed tears for far less important and monumental things, but I was so overjoyed. I grabbed David's hand to try to get him to feel it as our little bean did it several times, but alas it's too early for him to share in this with me. It was so very exciting though!!

When we were trying to get pregnant this was one of the 2 things I really wanted to experience that I would miss out in any other type of child rearing - the other is nursing. I have such fond and vivid memories of feeling my nieces and nephews and dear friends babies moving around inside and I absolutely love it! Most recently I got to feel my little Jane Dare who is due just 10 weeks before our bean moving around in Lacey's tummy and it was so awesome. Since I don't believe that pregnant bellies are public domain, I always have loved sharing this with the women in my life and the children I came to love long before I knew them and now I am experiencing it myself. God is good! Of course, in typical Red fashion, I prayed that I would never begrudge feeling the baby kick me and that I would retain this joy...even in my last month at 3am when I'm exhausted and can't get comfortable enough to sleep. :)

Our 6th Anniversary

On August 10th we celebrated our 6th anniversary. I can't believe we've been married for 6 years already! Of course I say that and on the other hand, I can't remember my life before David was in it. Here's a few images from our wedding and our first 5 years together...

Christmas 2002

August 2003

Christmas 2004

Ireland 2006

October 2007

To celebrate our 6th, we headed up to North Georgia to Tallulah Falls on August 9th. We hiked to the bottom of the falls (and back up of course) for a total of 1062 steps! It was a beautiful day and unseasonably cool, which we were grateful for. The fall at the bottom of the gorge was beautiful, but we were disappointed to find out we had to have a permit to get down into the water. Thank goodness we had our camel backs!

The sign at the first overlook before you get to the stairs.

Believe it or not, this was the sign that made me WANT to do this hike - what was I thinking?!?

At the top of the steps...it's gonna be a long way down!

David on the suspension bridge that takes you across the gorge.

We made it to the bottom, the view was gorgeous.

Hurricane Falls

What goes down must come up...man that's alot of stairs!

That night we stayed in the Sugar Shack at the Happy Valley Cabins in Clarkesville. It was really quaint and cute and comfy enough for us to enjoy a quiet evening with our books and a hot tub. Sunday we took off to Helen and tubed the Chattahoochee. It should have been restful and enjoyable, but note to self for future reference...don't tube a river when the state is in a drought! The water couldn't have been more than a few inches in most places. We got pictures, but they are on a waterproof film camera which of course hasn't been developed yet. Here we are at the Sugar Shack on our actual anniversary.

On the way home we stopped at the farmers market and loaded up on Georgia Peaches - yum and then shopped the outlets in Dawsonville. It was a great little getaway and we had a very enjoyable time together. It's been wonderful to be married to your best friend, we are very blessed. Praise God for bringing us together and allowing us to go through this life together.