Day Nine: A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most



Dogs have an uncanny ability to sense emotions, don't you think?

Maggie Mae has been by my side through everything.  There is little that warms my heart more than feeling her curl up in a ball against me when I'm upset.  Her love is unconditional and unwavering.

My stinky giffon makes my day--everyday--rain or shine, with or without makeup, jovial or grumpy, fat days or skinny days, top of the world or valley of shadows.  She's definitely woMAN's BEST FRIEND.

Day Eight: A picture that makes you laugh

Who knew that at 6 months he hadn't yet developed a taste for fried chicken?!?

Carnival

The Bloom is here!

So the carnival has come to town!

Jackson thought the ferris wheel was mesmerizing.

But clearly not as much as the cotton candy.

We didn't ride anything this year (the safety of carnival rides scares me anyways), but we certainly had a fun time as a family . . . just taking in the sights and sounds . . . and some pretty incredible people watching (if you know what I mean).

No matter how you spin it, the carnival is a wonderful place to spend such a warm, Spring evening!

Samson

Remember the Bible story of Samson?  He was the man who thought his incredible strength came from his long hair but later discovered it came from God.  Well, we have a Samson living in our house too apparently.

Jackson got his second haircut on Monday . . .

And he has since discovered that he has invincible, Hulk-like strength.

Or maybe . . .

he has a new need for increased discipline?

This morning, we found his infant mobile like this:

And this afternoon, he showed us how he did it:

(do not be fooled by the puppy dog eyes)

He destroyed his mobile right after shattering a lamp that was standing outside his pack-and-play:

(Sorry, no photographs of the broken glass all over the bedroom carpet)

We are, however, thankful that no one was hurt!

So . . . our little Samson's strength was clearly not affected by his haircut.

In fact, I think it may have been enhanced.

Day Seven: A picture of your most treasured item

The previously mentioned security blanket.

Assumed at age 12 after briefly "giving up" my original.

There's just no use.

And no shame.

Day Six: A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day



Yep.

Emma Watson

I want an entire day to hang out with Rupert Grint--talk to him--see what actually makes him tick--and practice our upcoming kissing scene--over, and over, and over, and over again.

Take 476--

Action!

Day Five: A picture of your favorite memory



You expected this one to be sentimental based on the title, didn't you?  Well it might not look like it but, honestly, it is.  My "favorite memory" is more of a conglomeration of treasured memories from two very specific years of my life . . . my 3rd and 4th years of college.  There wasn't anything unique about those years academically.  Instead, it was the people (Megan, Lindsey, and Ashley) who I spent them with.

Here's to the night we felt alive . . .

Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry . . .

Here's to goodbye . . .

Tomorrow's gonna come too soon

Day Four: A picture from your favorite night



I am totally allowed to look terrible in this picture!  I had been crying because Justin had just proposed (notice the bling) on 4/4/07 after the fireworks display at the Pentagon.  We had spent that day at the DC Zoo, having drinks with friends, then watching the fireworks from the Pentagon helipad.  Sure, he proposed in his basement apartment in Arlington . . . but it was an unforgetable night!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!

"And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, SPRING"

Today we are thankful for the resurrection of our Lord . . . for the promise of all things new . . . and for one another!

(Jackson's thankful for the Easter Bunny, too)

May your Easter be filled with beauty and blessings!

Day Three: A picture of the cast from your favorite show



For further explanation, please read this post.

Thank . You . Very . Much

I'm Finally an Auntie

Meet my beautiful niece,

Emma Michele Boykin

Born

04/22/2011

at 7:30pm

9 pounds 6 ounces

&

20 inches

Congratulations to her elated parents, Serena and Michael!

It's official . . . the world's most beautiful little girl has arrived.

The Happenings

These are the happenings around our house lately . . . so freakin' cute . . . I just had to share.

Sorry that I cannot figure out how to rotate this video taken from my phone--unfortunately, you'll have to rotate your head.

Enjoy!

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot the Post Script:

Day Two: A picture of the person you have been closest to the longest

This photograph is exactly why my mom is the "person I've been the closest to the longest."  She is my best friend.  We have been through so many seasons of life together . . . some cold and dark (not because of each other), others warm and beautiful . . . but she is never-changing.  I know that mom is always on my side whether I'm right or I'm wrong.  She is my greatest asset, ally, and accompanist.

Oh yeah . . . and she's hilarious, too!

Day One: A picture of yourself with 10 facts

1.  I was born precisely on my due date:  2/19

2.  In the last 5 years, I have lived in Charlottesville, Arlington, Fairfax, Bristow, and Stephens City, Virginia

3.  Cliche, I know . . . but the day I met Justin, I telephoned my best friend and proclaimed "I just met the man I am going to marry!"  (p.s.- I had a bf at that time, too)

4.  I still sleep with my security blanket at age 25.

5.  I write psychological thrillers in my spare time, and I secretly wish I had majored in English.

6.  My dad "Nick" adopted me at age 4.

7.  I am utterly and totally obsessed with Rupert Grint (Ron from the Harry Potter films).

8.  My favorite physical feature is my teeth.

9.  I love "to do" lists . . . and I sometimes write already-completed tasks on them just for the satisfaction of crossing them off.

10.  I have a strange affinity for drug-rep ink pens.

30 Day Photo Challenge

Hello my faithful readers!

I just wanted to give you a little "heads up" that I'm starting the bloggers' "30 Day Photo Challenge" today at 8:00 a.m.  I will be continuing my regular blogging throughout the next 30 days as well, but (hopefully, if my computer programming works correctly) each morning at 8:00 a.m., I will be completing a "photo challenge" as well.  Mind you--these "challenges" are not very challenging, but they will hopefully be fun to read and enlightening.  They certainly are fun to blog from this side of the screen!

Enjoy!

Just Hanging Out

Mommy & Me

. . . have so much fun . . .

. . . just hanging out . . .

together

<3

Wordless Wednesday





Out of Breath

Oh . . .

Not too much to report here . . .

Other than that Jackson started "cruising" on furniture on April 12th, then yesterday he started walking using his "walking toys," (you know, the kind with wheels).  I seriously think we are getting very close to walking on our own at the Heath household.

And, whew!

I am seriously OUT OF BREATH all the time!

Like . . .

I now break a sweat changing his diaper, or giving him a bath, or putting away groceries as he crawls/pulls up/"walks" everywhere!

Sights like this . . . which I found after making bottles tonight in the kitchen . . . almost bring tears to my eyes . . . he is growing up soooo fast!

And moving even faster!

Wine Fest

Last evening, Justin and I had one of my all-time-favorite "date nights" ever!  Although we were home fairly early . . . about 8 o'clock . . . it was a truly incredible evening.  Justin and I have recently become "wine enthusiasts" (in the loosest sense of the term).  Basically, we've been buying inexpensive wine from the grocery store and sampling them a few nights a week after Jackson is in bed.  So . . . we both enjoyed the Winchester Wine Festival kickoff to the 2011 Apple Blossom Festival!

Now, I was a bit skeptical for starters.  No offense whatsoever to any Winchester natives who love the Apple Blossom Festival . . . but, quite honestly, I've chuckled a lot about how much emphasis the community as a whole puts into this event.  For my Roanoker readers . . . imagine if all of Roanoke closed down for Festival in the Park . . . like businesses, restaurants, doctors, you name it.  Now, imagine if there was a store for FITP . . . and a theme . . . and t-shirts, jewelry, flip-flops, parades, a Queen, etc . . . you get the idea.  I've been a bit bemused over the Apple Blossom extravaganza around me.  However, if this wine festival was a sample of what the rest of the Festival has to offer . . . perhaps I understand the excitement a bit more.  One word:  AMAZING.  We're talking about 15-20 different vineyards--each with 4-10 different tasting wines--unlimited return visits--get the idea?  Let's just say this . . . last evening was reminiscent of my good ole' college days at the University of Virginia.  Wahoowa!  We had a blast to put it mildly.  The wine, coupled with the live music and energetic crowd, made it more of an evening for plumb enjoyment rather than picture taking.  Nevertheless, we managed to get one nice photograph of the two of us soaking up the festivities.

Forgive my purple lips . . . it was not hypothermia setting in . . . rather, by this point in the evening, I (proudly a Moscato girl) was actually enjoying the Merlots.

Cheers!

A First Time for Everything

Yes, it's true.

There's a first time for everything.

Today . . . Jackson used a "big boy" cup.

Mommy used an oven.

Okay, so I'm exaggerating a little about it being my first time using an oven.  But, let me assure you, it's an unfortunate rarity around here.

So . . . here's to new beginnings for the both of us!

Leave it to Jax to utterly dispise sippy cups.  He went straight from the bottle to a cup with a straw intended for ages 2 and up.  A mother in our Mom's Group suggested it.  Hey, whatever works little Taco!

Once he got the hang of it, he was a very serious little sucker.

And . . . because it's a reason to truly celebrate . . . I also photo-journaled my recipe-following this evening.

I present to you:

"Barbeque Chicken Cornbread Casserole, a photographic journey"

Yes, I realize my oven is very clean.

Told you.

Yummy.

Foodnote:  Acutally tasted much better than it looks in above photograph.

And . . . just because I'm into photography . . . I am including a random cool picture of Jackson's snack today.

Hey, we were on the topic of food.