happy birthday evaleigh joy

Today, Evaleigh is one.

It has been such an honor to be her parents for a whole year.  It has been the happiest and most full year of our lives.  Watching her grow and make us laugh while we take in every minute of her has been simply the best.

I just don't even know how to take in the fact that we have had her for a whole year.  I remember a year ago today so perfectly. This time last year I had just woken up and we were getting ready to go to the hospital for the c-section.  That was the best day of my life.

Today Evaleigh is bringing me stuffed animals and giving them huge hugs.  Everytime we go down the stairs I'll sit down at the top steps and wait til I feel two little arms hug around my neck and then I give EJ a piggy back ride all the way down, she loves it.

This morning she woke up at 7am and John and I went in to her room together to get her while singing Happy Birthday.  She probably thought it was pretty weird.  She gave us an uneasy look, we are already embarrassing her.  

I can't wait to celebrate her life all day.

11

Darling girl,

I can't believe that this is the last video before you turn one.  This first year of your life has been the absolute biggest joy of mine and your Daddy's life.  Right now you are standing in our living room watching all of your monthly videos on the big screen.  

You love to stick your fingers in our mouths all of the time and you giggle when we nibble on them.  You love to dance.  You still love to nurse more than anything and I'm just fine with that, you have the rest of your life for big girl food.  You took your first steps a few weeks ago but this past week you have really started walking.  I'm so proud of you.  Your favorite activities are 'reading books' upside down and climbing the stairs like its your job.  You still love sitting still and pounding your feet on the ground.  YOU HAVE 10 TEETH, with  more on the way!!  You can say 'mama' 'dada' 'jesus' 'puppy' 'bye'.  You can clap, wave, and blow kisses.  You love to wrap your sweet little arms around mama and daddy's neck and giving us really wet open mouth kisses.

We love you.

evaleighjoymonth11final2 from John and Rachel Murphy on Vimeo.

month 10

month 9

month 8

month 7

month 6

month 5

month 4

month 3

month 2

month 1

2 0 1 2

Two thousand twelve was the absolute best.

I remember crying the first New Year's Eve that John and I were newlyweds.  I was sad that I couldn't say that we were in the year that we had been married in anymore.  If I had only known then how much better each year after that would get I would have never been so silly.

I started off 2012 as a very VERY pregnant woman. I loved every minute of being pregnant and can't wait to do it again when it happens.
On January 17th our perfect Evaleigh Joy Murphy was born in to this world and changed us forever.  That was by far our greatest accomplishment of 2012.
We enjoyed our first moments of being a family to the fullest by making forts and eating yummy things.

I soaked in every moment with my sweet little newborn.
John and I participated in an art project for a friend.
I started Tunes & Spoons Design.  I am so grateful for all of my wonderful clients and the super successful first year of designing that I had!  Can't wait to continue designing and making beautiful little spots on the internet.

Evaleigh had her very special blessing day at church and all of our family came.
Spearmint Baby featured EJ's nursery.
We cloth diapered Evie for several months

I had my gallbladder removed.  It was the most painful thing ever, by far worse than the c-section.  But I got to spend time relaxing and recovering with my sweet little family.
I threw my sister a baby shower for Parker.
Evie took her first swim at Nanny's house.

May was a very eventful month.  Cousin Parker was born!!
I had my very first Mother's Day.
Mr. Murphy and I celebrated two awesome years of marriage in Savannah.  We ordered lots of delicious food up to our river front hotel.  Evaleigh tagged along and we felt like real grownups.
EJ took her first trip to the beach.

My little girl grew and grew.
We took a trip down to the Glenn Murphy Ranch and got to be with our nieces.  Mom came down and EJ got her first teeth.
I tried to see the good in our situation of still living with my mother.

Evie tourtured me by refusing to say 'mama'
I tried super hard to make my great gandmother's famous...literally famous Caramel Cake.
Evaleigh turned 6 months and I marveled at how fast she was growing.

I got to make music with Mr. Murphy and we performed for an unplugged event.
I got to help throw a really cool Bridal Shower for a dear friend with a pretty cool lady.
I started Evaleigh's Instagram Alphabet Book.

I bought an amazing chartreuse chair.
I had a fun adventure of designing sets for Holly Robbins for a couple of her photo shoots.  I enjoyed working for her and creating beautiful things.
We spent lots of family time together and hung outside of the temple.

I turned 25 and chose to stay young and play on the playground with my husband that night.
We did fall things with Evie.
WE MADE THE BIG MOVE TO THE CITY!!  We got a townhouse and settled in for the Holidays.  Having our own place feels like being newlyweds again, we forgot how fun it was!

We got a teensy bit of a rough start in our new place.  But it didn't phase us because we were too excited to be there.
We bought our Christmas tree from some interesting Boy Scouts.  Evaleigh was also mistaken for a boy.
We got to dress our place up for Evaleigh's first Christmas.

I had a life changing experience at the Symphony with my father.
We soaked in every bit of Christmas that we could.
EJ had her very first Christmas.

Oh...and we had a puppy for about 24 hours.
But thats another story for another day.

2012,

Thanks for being so great.  Can't wait to see what 2013 has in store.  
Another Baby?  
John rocking it starting back to college? 
New friends?  
Married parents?

So excited.

(See last year's review here.  And the year before that here.)

christmas card

Here are a few shots from some pictures I took of Evaleigh for our Christmas card. I'm lucky I got 4 usable ones out of her, she was SO distracted by our drippy rug drying on the banister of our deck. I had fun taking these of her though, I used the chalkboard wall I made last week.

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and that you got to spend it with the people you love!

We are still stuck in our Christmas bubble here with watching movies in front of the fire and letting the babies roll around on the floor and play with their gifts. We are holding on to the last bit of the season by drinking the last of our wassail and eating Christmas candy til we are sick! I don't want this to end.

EJ's first Christmas

This Christmas was positively the best Christmas around. Besides the fact that Mr. Murphy showered me with way too many great things, it would have been perfect anyway. Watching my sweet girl this whole season has been such a joy. I've loved watching her point at every shining thing and crawl all over the a presents and rip the paper to shreds. Christmas Eve Nanny and I made dozens of paper snowflakes and taped them to the French doors in the living room. Christmas morning she was ripping them down and having a blast crumpling the paper. She had 3 outfit changes throughout the day; there were Christmas pjs from Grandmommee, a Santa dress from Aunt Susan, and an Elf dress from her daddy. She had so much fun walking all over the paper and playing in boxes and looking at her new books.

Christmas with her was divine. Can't wait to see what next year holds for our little family.

chalkboard fireplace

Last week my good friend Katie brought me an old bookcase she was getting rid of. I immediately saw the potential in it and couldn't wait to get it in to my house. I've had a can of chalkboard spray paint in my craft closet that has been burning a hole in my pocket for quite some time. I knew exactly what I was going to use it for. I took the back of the book shelve off and removed all of the staples and nails. Then I sprayed two coats of chalkboard paint on it and let it dry for 48 hours.

I have really been wanting a chalkboard wall but because we are renting and will loose our security deposit if I paint it has simply been out of the question. This is the perfect idea for renters! Ive already used it as the backdrop for our family Christmas photo and I can't wait to use it for all sorts of things!

I used a chalkboard pen which makes makes much clearer lines and you don't have the chalky dust mess to clean up. It comes off with water just like regular chalk. Finding out about those pens changed my life. For real.

Right now I am using it in front of the fireplace to block Evaleigh from playing in the ashes. Looks cute and saves EJ from making a mess.
I love it.

oh bill

There is something pretty important that Evaleigh doesn't know yet.

We are getting new member of the family, and he's coming on Saturday.

Let me explain.

Yesterday while doing some Christmas shopping I got a phone call from my Pawpaw.  He is the cutest and sweetest Pawpaw there ever was.  Here is how the phone call sounded.

"Hello?"

*just a imagine a really southern old man's voice* "Hey Rachel!  How are you?"

"I'm great Pawpaw, just out doing some Christmas shopping, you?"

"I'm doing just great, is Evaleigh around?"

"She sure is, I have her right here on my hip."

"Well I want to make sure she can't hear me.  I want to tell you what I got her for Christmas."

"Ok, I'm pretty sure she can't hear you, what is it?"

*in the most excited voice possible* "I got her a puppy!"

.......

....

...

"You aren't serious.............WAIT, are you?"

"I am sure am!  I want to give her a puppy!"

***TIMEOUT***

First off let me say that I think its absolutely precious that he wants to give her a puppy.

Secondly I am a lady that literally NEVER thought I would own an animal.  Sure maybe when the kids were old enough to help out and share the responsibility and if they begged hard enough we would maybe think about it....maybe.

  I am allergic to pet fur.  

Their hair laying around grosses me out.  

And I can't stand the eye boogers and slobber.

And third I just have no idea where he even got the idea to get us a puppy with out any prior conversation about it but he was just so happy and excited all I could do was shake my head and laugh.

***TIME IN***

"Well, do you want to call John and talk to him about it?"

"You bet I do!  I'll call you right back."

Talking to John was just about as easy as could be.  He said it was ok!

So Saturday we are meeting the new 10 week old member of our family and Evaleigh is going to flip.  She is obsessed with dogs, I mean look at her face at 00:32 in this video.  I can't wait to watch them wrestle on the floor and take baths together every night.

As soon as we decided to do it I was equally excited and terrified.

We are going to name him Bill.  

After Pawpaw.

Oh Bill.

hold her tight

As I sit here with my baby napping in the next room all I can think of is how grateful I am that she is my daughter.  

I just can't imagine posting anything about anything else other than a few feelings about what happened in Connecticut this weekend.

It has haunted my thoughts ever since I heard about it.  I cried as I thought of the unspeakable evil that took place Friday.  I am terrified for the world that we have to raise our children in.  My heart is torn for those families who have lost their babies. And you better believe I kissed and held my baby just as tight as I always do this weekend, but this time it meant something different to me.  I held her tight because some parents wouldn't ever be able to do that with their babies again.  
I held her tight for them.

I have been wondering what my small part is in all of this and I have decided that it is to be kind.

It seems like such a simple idea but sometimes it is the hardest thing to do to just reach outside of your comfort zone and talk to a stranger.  Pull yourself out of your cellphone screen and engage with the person standing in front of you.

It is a small and simple idea, nothing profound.  But perhaps it will help us all little by little.

Praying for all of those effected at Sandy Hook.

a night that reminded me

This past weekend was a great chapter in my story.

I went to the Atlanta Symphony with my Father.  

It was a night I will never forget.  

The past few months I have been increasingly aware of how much my soul is hungering for music.  I knew there was a hole inside of my heart that wasn't being filled and it was causing an ever so slight pain that would rip through me every once in a while.

Friday night my heart was renewed.

We got to the Arts Center and on the stage I saw my former vocal coach from college who is the pianist for the ASO.  My mind instantly flooded with warm and tender moments of music that we made together.  Some of my most sacred musical moments happened in his small 8th floor office overlooking the streets of Atlanta.  He is a tough and brilliant man.  A man that I was once intimidated by but because of him I am a better person.  A man who was hard on me because he believed in me.  There is nothing but admiration and love in my being for him and I honor him.  I walked to the edge of the stage and the moment our eyes met I saw his face soften and he said my name.  He stooped down and we clasped hands and exchanged in conversation.  I was holding some of the most talented hands I know and I was grateful to see him again.

I went back to my seat and sat next to my father in anticipation of the beginning of the concert. The stage was an ocean of performers.  The lights dimmed and the orchestra began to play.  

The strings pierced my heart and instantly I felt something. 

I closed my eyes and the choir joined in.  Tears welled up concealed behind my eyelids, my breathing deepened.  

It was like I was hearing music for the first time and I couldn't keep the dam from bursting.  Trails of tears blazed my cheeks one after another.  

I longed to be on that stage.  A twinge of regret coursed through my body and I was painfully reminded of my talent.  I missed being a part of something bigger than my self.  I missed my life as a performer and a singer.  I thought of my voice.  

I listened and I was lifted to a higher place.  It was a place that you can only go to through music.  I took in every moment of that evening and every one of my pores soaked in the music traveling through the air.  I experienced one of the moments that you live your whole life for.  I was taken away and my soul left my body and went on stage, or maybe to heaven...I'm not sure.

After that night this is what I was reminded.

I still have songs to sing.

I still have stories to tell.

I still have ears to reach.

I still have hearts to touch.

I still have dreams to live.

Here is a song from that night.

ten

Well I am trying not to fall behind on these! 

Here is month 10.

Little girl has been:

very clingy to her dada, she loves to wave 'bye-bye' to him through the glass door in the mornings

enjoying being spoiled with Christmas Reeses from her Pawpaw

maybe teething again

trying to chew on any cord in reach
ripping up little pieces of paper and trying to eat them

starting to wander in the pews in church on Sunday

sleeping through the night til 6 then going back to bed til 9/9:30

pointing at all of the new decorations that go up in the house and making sure that her Grandmommee sees every single one of them when she comes to visit

giving her mama sweet open mouth kisses

soaking it in

I just can't get enough of this season.  

Even though the weather was nice enough to take my baby outside in nothing but a diaper, it feels like Christmas.

I can't stop staring at our tree, it is my most favorite one ever!  I love how colorful it is and it makes me so happy.  
I thought I would have to defend it from a certain 10 month old but surprisingly EJ has been very sweet to the tree.  She is a pretty obedient listener so we've only had to tell her not to mess with it a few times.  She does like to try and eat the fallen pine needles though, I swear I find the weirdest things in her diaper.

I am slowly checking off the movies that I have to watch each Christmas season.  I've made psychedelic colored Christmas cookies with Lisa.  John and I have sung Christmas carols with the guitar at night.  We have a had a few fires in our living room.  I haven't done a bit of Christmas shopping yet and for some reason this doesn't make me nervous at all.  I am trying my best not to rush a moment of this season.  I want it to go as slow as possible because there is something looming right behind Christmas...

...Evaleigh's first birthday.

I am excited about it, truly.  But there is something so bittersweet about it.  I have been pausing a lot more through out our days to make sure that I am taking in the remaining bits of her babyness.  She is growing so fast right before our eyes. I love watching her discover new things.  Lately it has been the washing machine.  She loves it.  Also she is standing on her own much more often now.  She talks all of the time and sometimes she ends up saying actual words.  The most common two are 'out' and 'whoa'.  Its precious.  She does this awesome 360 degree spin while sitting and kicking her legs, she is hilarious.

I just can't believe I have been her mama for almost a year. Best year of my life.

on a scale of 10

This past Saturday was literally the perfect day.

 It started off with Sarah Doughnuts.  A red velvet doughnut, an eclair, and a chocolate sour cream doughnut. (and then another 9 to take home in a box and snack on through out our journey of a day)  

After our doughnut feast we went to Atlanta Vintage Books.  John found them through Scout Mob last weekend and had been wanting to go.

Back story.  I'm not a reader.  It is mostly because I am too ADD to focus on something without my mind wandering to what my favorite cheese is, what my next craft project will be, or how my wedding could have been so different if Pinterest had only existed 1 year earlier.  Also I think this is the list of everything I have read.  Ever.  

The Burning Questions of Bingo Brown

Enders Game

Hunger Games

The Twilight Series

Goodnight Moon

The Scriptures

But for some reason this book store seemed intriguing.  We carried our sleeping baby inside and were met with happy store clerks and 5 cats.  It was dreamy and made me want to pick a book and cozy up with Frieda here and a Claritin.

  The walls were covered floor to ceiling with shelves of books. I loved the random reading nooks with antique velvet chairs that doubled as scratching posts for Boo, Little Boo, Mickey, Frieda, and Callie.

We left with an antique copy of The Night Before Christmas for Evaleigh and an oval picture of a chrysanthemum. I left with a runny nose and a new resolve to broaden my reading list.

Then we met up with some friends at Ikea.  Being in there was like a time warp.  I'm pretty sure we spent 3.5 hours in there.  Baby girl had herself a nap in daddy's arms and played in the stuffed animal bin.  

Then we came home and had a How I Met Your Mother Marathon and some ice cream.

I give Saturday an 11.