2.12.2013

the long overdue truth about bill

I suppose I owe it to the Internet world to come out with the truth about Bill.

Remember right before Christmas when my Pawpaw got EJ a dog? Sweet right... I've been hesitant to come out with the truth but here is the story of how we were dog owners for less than 24 hours.

Four days before Christmas we get to my dads anticipating the union of our little family and Bill, the puppy. We were very optimistic and excited about him joining our family and couldn't wait to see how happy EJ would be around him. I mean why shouldn't we get a dog? We can do anything!

My Pawpaw got there with Bill and there was no doubt he was a cute puppy. He was teeny and the way he sort of fumbled around as he walked had a way of tugging at your heart strings.

But then as soon as I held him my skin started to itch and turn red and my eyes would water. Then they shriveled up like cartoon eyeballs and fell on the floor. He started looking less cute. I knew I had allergies to dogs but with some it's not so bad so I tried to be positive about it and we went about our day. Evaleigh could have cared less he was even around but that could have had to do with her obsession with Christmas presents and food everywhere. We took family Christmas pictures and Bill was in every single one.


He took a couple of naps in my arms and as cute as it was my skin wouldn't stop crawling. I kept looking over at John and saying, "This is fun right? Yay, we have a dog.". I think with every sentence like that I was trying to convince myself that I wasn't about to have a nervous breakdown. In my heart I already knew we had made a terrible decision.

We finally got to my Aunts house for Christmas dinner and he took a walk outside. The little sucker had a nice poop and we took him inside to introduce him to the family. I think everyone in there knew the poor guy didn't stand a chance but me. My family later told me the look on my face was sheer terror. Bill started humping EJ's leg and would NOT get off of her diaper. Bless his little canine heart, he didn't know better but he kept jumping up on EJ's face and she did NOT like him. My cousin Brittney bet me it wouldn't last a month. I tried to put on a brave face a acted a little mad. "No...psh...Bill is a part of our family now. How dare you say that. We can do this". (I think)


I started thinking, "What did I get myself in to? A puppy and an almost one year old? I am insane." Horror music was playing inside of my head, you know like the shower scene in that Alfred Hitchcock movie. All i could see was a future of EJ eating soggy dog food with Bill and them laughing and pointing at me together while I cleaned up their messes. Bill was looking less cute.

It was time to go home and Bill and EJ cried for the first 30 minutes of the trip home. I finally blurted out to my mom, "I CAN'T DO THIS!!!!!!!!!". I called John and we decided right then and there we were in over our heads.

Babies I can do. Animals I cannot. I don't know why I thought getting a dog would magically turn me in to an animal person. But it didn't, It's just not me. If anything it proved to me that I never EVER want an animal. I guess you just have to know your place. Me...well I'm just not an animal person. Sorry Pawpaw.

Now I'm not knocking anybody who has a furbaby. I just prefer my hypoallergenic human baby.

That night John slept downstairs with Bill, he went to the bathroom 8 times and bit johns ear all though the night. When I woke up I found a nice brown stinky present from Bill under the tree on top of one of John's presents. It read "To: John From: One of Santas little helpers". At least we knew how Bill felt about us too.

That day we sold Bill to a family with four children. The little girl who got him said with tears streaming down her face, "This is the bestest Christmas ever!!" I shed a tear or two when they took him.

But mostly because we were free again. Wherever you are Bill, thanks for teaching us an important lesson. We can not do everything.

2.11.2013

little yoda

Well its been quite a while.  I've been so incredibly busy with my mothers wedding, traveling, keeping up with a very busy one year old, sneaking in some much needed snuggling time with my hard working husband, and designing 8 blogs. (Which is a huge blessing!)  

Oh yeah, my mom got married...

I knew that day would eventually come.  It was an interesting emotional roller-coaster experiencing one of my parents getting married.  My sister and I had countless conversations about it and I feel so lucky to have had her through it all.  Knowing that she is the perfect one to understand just how I felt in the situation gave me so much strength.  The day was filled with the perfect amounts of happiness and 'wow...this is a little weird.' I never thought I would be a kid with divorced parents but seeing them both so happy with their new companions makes me feel at ease.  I love knowing that they are living fulfilling lives.  It took a while to get to that state of mind but I am there and I know that with time it will keep getting better.

(These pictures have nothing to do with this post.  They are just adorable and I love Evie's yoda ears.  Sometimes I think they are just going to fly right off of her face.  I think she was 6 months old here.  Gosh I love her.)




1.23.2013

DIY Instagram Board Book


Last year I worked for about 4 months collecting images all around our home to make EJ her very own Alphabet Board Book.  It all started around the end of summer when I was house sitting with Lisa at a beautiful little bungalow near the city.  I have fond memories of watching An Affair to Remember all snuggled up with some Ben & Jerry's and shooing away two doggies.  RIP little bungalow, I sure enjoyed pretending you were my house.  Hey Lis, I wish we could go back.

Here are the images in 3 volumes. (1,2,3)

I found a company that does custom board books and sent the book off to print for a Christmas present for Evaleigh.  I used My Custom Story.  I highly recommend them.  The quality of the book has withstood the test of my little book biter and they shipped it a couple of weeks sooner than expected!  I am so in love with how it turned out and I love seeing EJ enjoy it.  (P.S. I spy one hand of painted fingernails and a curl popping out of her head at the end!)









1.22.2013

Vintage First Birthday Tea Party for Evaleigh

This past weekend we celebrated one whole year of Evaleigh Joy's life.  We had a Vintage Tea Party for her at our little townhouse in Atlanta.  So many people helped to make this day special.  (A special thanks to Karen and CJ for helping me learn how to frost a ruffle cake!)  EJ was a perfect birthday girl.  She walked around so proud of her new dress and smiled and was happy the whole time (except when she almost inhaled all of the frosting off of the top of her cupcake).  We loved watching her with all of her family and friends who came.  It was a tight squeeze in our little space but thankfully the weather was kind and we made it work.  We had all of EJ's monthly videos playing in the living room for everyone to watch.  Thank you to everyone who made her First Birthday so special!






















Happy Birthday darling girl, we can't wait to see what this next year is like with you!

Tea cups and mugs: Anthropologie-similar
Striped Paper Straws : Target
Big Round Balloons: Balloonsfast.com
Felt Balls: Tadaa Studio Felt

1.21.2013

a little one year old


This past weekend we had Evaleigh's first birthday tea party.
It was surreal to be the mom at my child's birthday party.
Can't wait to share the details of the decorations tomorrow.
Til then enjoy these pictures by my dear friend Katie from Life Framed Photography (Thanks Katie!).  And a video of EJ smashing her cupcake (Thanks Jen!).




1.17.2013

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.

1.03.2013

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.


1.01.2013

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 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.)
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