We Have Officially Been Showered...

You know those people in your life who just 'get' you... 

Love those people -- I'm lucky to have a few people in my world that I can say that about.

But tonight, I'm thankful specifically for my friend Jamie.

She gets me in a super weird - awesome bff kind of way... 

And tonight she threw me the most beautiful shower.

(this is J and I... an oldie now... but you can at least see how cute she is)

The details were gorgeous - and the food was suuuuuuuuper yummy.

(um, everything including the salad dressings were homemade) 

Did I mention that Jamie is ridiculous -- in that 'how amazing is she' kind of way <3

I'm ridiculously grateful for all those who came out tonight to help celebrate little Miss E.

You have blessed me more than you know...

And a peek at so so many wonderful gifts....

Fancy Hearts...

Ailey draws the most beautiful hearts...

not that I'm biased mind you...

I cannot wait to share with you what she's doing in this picture -- 

but you'll have to wait... 

Just like I'm waiting - not so patiently - for Miss E to arrive.

It's so cute it's worth the wait though...promise.

Our Rat Poodle...

There's a rat-poodle living at our house... 

no really... there is.

You might not guess from looking at his shaggy little self here 

that lying underneath all that fur really is..........

a rat-poodle!

Ailey has been calling Jack a 'rat-poodle' since he returned from his 

SUPER overdue trip to the groomer yesterday.

Really, I feel kind of bad for him... he just seems embarrassed by his new haircut - 

he's been hiding around the house all day.  

And truthfully, I kind of prefer his shaggy little self ...  

MMmm.... or maybe an in-between look... 

Either way, new look and all - 

it hasn't stopped miss dancing queen from hanging out with her favorite dance partner!

And these are her favorite dancing shoes....

classy don't you think!

I'm just glad it's too cold for her to want to wear them outside - 

because I'm pretty sure that battle is coming....

Maaaaaaaaaaarket...

On the market.... In the market...   This little piggy went to the market... 

Pretty much describes my life right now...  

Let me explain.

On the Market -

Yep, our house...  

Talk about overwhelming.... 

Trying to keep this sucker clean while 8.5mos preggo is proving a little more than tricky.

Can I just say it's weird to see your house boiled down to just a few pictures that you hope scream

"PICK ME!!!! I'm super cute -- LIKE ME!!!"

It's true.  Unfortunate, but true....

one of my favorite rooms in the house...  

If it wasn't inhabited by a really happy 4year old I might on some days be tempted to move in there... 

In the Market -

Somewhere in here lies our new place... 

I will not be overwhelmed... I will not be overwhelmed... I will not be... 

To slow down, and give you the rest of the information 
you might need to understand both 

'On the Market' and 'In the Market'

Andrew and I 

(along with our girls... still weird and amazing to get to write that!) 

will be making a rather large transition this summer. 

To give you a little more detail, 
Andrew has accepted a position at a church in Florida 

and we will be moving there sometime over the summer. 
He will also have the ability to go to school - 

which is something he's wanted to do for a very very long time... 

As for the business, I will be transitioning it slowly.

 I still have weddings here during the summer and early fall, 
so I will be best friends with the airlines during that time... 
(and really, it gives me the perfect excuse to come back and visit family)

This time is scary, but also incredibly exciting 
and we appreciate any and all prayers/support. 

This Little Piggy Went to Market -

I'm super lucky --

I have a wonderful husband who after having mentioned 

that I was really wanting Strawberry Shortcake went and got some for me...

even though it was late...

yep, really late.

11pm to be clear...

And he had to go to two grocery stores to make it happen.

Seriously ladies, how lucky am I!?!  

um... lucky.

You are the Best Thing....

I have lots and lots of reasons in my life to bust out 

Ray LaMontagne's  'You are the Best Thing'

but one of the sure things the song comes to mind over would be these ladies......

photo credit - Jackie Wagler

Today - I met the girls in A2 for an informal baby shower --

(Ann Arbor for those of you who aren't sure what that means)

Which really boils down to good food...  I mean - goooooooood food.

Pregnancy has totally turned me into a foodie... 

I mean I know it looks like a mess - but trust me when I say it was amazing.

and if that's not your style, than really, who can turn down these....

And some window shopping... 

And the girls brought lots of gifts for Baby E.

just a few which you'll see below...

 And a gift too for Big Sis who has already found the (in her words) 

'perfect place' for this frame on her desk.  

She CANNOT wait to put a picture in it after MIss E arrives.

I have to be honest... 

I totally under-valued how much it would mean to Miss A to get to be a 'sister'

I've been reminded in the last few months just how special that relationship is in both my life -

and how special it will be in hers... 

Next time you hear 'you are the best thing' while driving in your car - 

just try not to smile as you think about your crazy family and how much you crazy love them.

Girls, 

Thanks for celebrating baby, big sister and me...

love you all.

Little's New Space...

Definitely still a work in progress, but I thought I'd share a few pics from Etta's nursery... 

I'm in love with the soft yellow and tiny bits of aqua...  

a little soft, a little sweet, and a whole lotta' calm.

(qualities I'm hoping the little one who will be inhabiting this space will exhibit as well) 

Enjoy the preview... 

I warn you though, I'm one for change so pieces may be moving before her arrival.

Also, thanks to my sister and sister-in-law I will be sporting one of the cutest diaper bags EVER.

(no really, once you look at it you might agree...)

This might be strange but with Ailey I never actually carried a 'real' diaper bag, 

I just carried a large purse - 

I'm actually honestly geeked to have a bag made for organizing things for baby!

Thanks sisters for helping me snag the bag!

What's in a Name...

A lot actually.... 

a lot of time - effort - debate - mockery - bargaining...  

But alas... it's official - we have a name for little!!!!!!  

I am so so excited to share it with you -

Joining us soon will be------

And drumroll please......

wait for it.....

we love it...  and her.

Snuggles and Puppy Kisses...

More like puppy licks... but who really cares when it's this cute.

I love these of Ailey snuggled up with Jack right after waking up from a nap.

More and more I find this pair snuggled up tight under a blanket or on the couch...

I think even Jack might be feeling our impending transitions - 

and with less attention from mama he has turned on me for a new favorite person. 

(well, we'll let Ailey think that for now)

And we begin in the middle...

It seems weird to begin at the start, 

and so somehow it seems appropriate to begin in the middle.

The middle of our crazy life as it unfolds on an every day basis... 

Really, I just want a place for my thoughts to land...

For my girls and our family(s) to be able to read about our crazy adventures.

And for myself,
because selfishly although I don't want you to know this-- this is really all about me...

I want to be reminded of everyday beauty - 

of every day life - and the mystery and wonder and mess of it all.

So welcome to the middle.  We start here together.