First of all Mallory is growing like a weed! I can not believe how quickly time flies when you have a kid. I have such a love/hate relationship with Timehop. It's great to reminiscence and see old photos yet sometimes it makes me sad knowing how fast time goes, how quickly Mallory is growing up and remembering when she was a baby....how I felt cuddling her in my arms, singing to her, snuggling her, feeding her bottles...now she is climbing up getting her own drinks, snuggles are on her terms and she talks to me like a teen-ager...which is also good and bad. :) She has a love for Barbies and princesses still and she still has daddy wrapped around her little finger. Her useless knowledge still amazes me. She once told me how seahorses had babies. I had no idea and I didn't believe her so I googled it and sure enough she told me in detail the birthing process of seahorses like she was reading it off google itself. I was shocked. I asked her how she knew that and she said she saw it on a cartoon one time and remembered. CRAZY! She also has my memory skills. She will remember the strangest and littlest things. I expect her to remember things that I discuss with her or make a big deal about it but she remembers things that I didn't even realize she was paying attention to. She remembers where we got pancakes for the Kiwansis Pancake & Sausage Day. She remembers where her and her grandma ate, one time...probably a year ago! It always makes us laugh when she shares those things with us. I love it because I am the same way...I can remember what you were wearing, what song was playing, what we discussed, the smells, etc. from 20 years ago but can't remember what's on my grocery list.
On this year's list of awesomeness: one of my best friends officially entered parenthood this past spring and welcomed sweet baby Rex Truebe to the world. We had a nice visit with her awhile back. So sweet....several things have happened with friendships. It's like the older I get, the more I truly truly appreciate and treasure the people in my life. These girls have been through all of life's major milestones with me. One of them was my very first friend, EVER! We went through grade schools, a move to a new school, the awkward junior high years, we've gone through boyfriends, break-ups, fights, make-ups, sporting events, senior trip, graduations from both high school and colleges, spent more birthdays with these gals than anyone other than my parents, weddings, moves to other towns and even states, more heartbreaks and the loss of babies, grandparents, friends...and now we are having our own babies to raise and mold. We may not see each other for months but when we do, there is no awkwardness, no trying to think of things to say, we just pick right back up. We are honest with each other and our feelings and feel like nothing gets held back. I realize now how lucky I really am that I have this group of girls that have stayed with me through all of life's messy times and there to celebrate during the good ones. It is truly humbling to think about how long we all have stayed close. So when one of the gang has a baby....it sure does back you reflect. Truly truly happy for her to experience motherhood and enjoying it so. And of course...who doesn't like getting to love on new babies. ;)
With all the happiness new babies bring, there has also been some sadness lately. Mick's parents had some health issues and a close friend was diagnosed with cancer. It's moments like these that make my stomach churn and ache you from the inside out. But with all of the struggles that came with both of these....we are lucky! We are lucky to have amazing parents (in-laws) and friends...that even thinking about losing any of them makes you fall to your knees. We are lucky that they have touched our lives in such a way that we feel their pain with them. We are lucky because other people don't get to talk about the good prognosis and how well recovery is going. Yes, it's hard and there are struggles for these people....A LOT!!! But they are all beating their illnesses and fighting like crazy and are doing well. Which I'm sure is easy for me to say since I'm not the one fighting these battles but from my perspective....we are just lucky.
I am still doing real estate and was promoted to advertising director at the Journal Courier. Both of which take up a lot of time but very happy with how things are transitioning. I have a great staff at the paper office and things are finally starting to fall into a rhythm and going well. I am very grateful for the opportunities that have been presented to me both at the Journal-Courier and real estate. I will say... a ton of hard work is put into both of these jobs and it is paying off.
And now here come the pictures....
Mallory's First Dance Recital...and yes she is holding a fake turtle and was super excited about it!
The serious turtle hold....
She is so silly....
She takes after her dad....;)
In serious conversation with her friend Rylan.
She spotted me....
Shakin' it!
Having a great time! I was not sure if Mallory would enjoy being on a stage since she gets pretty shy sometimes but she had no fear....
Just doin' her thang....
Was so happy to see her having a good time...
Rockin' her robin...
Ta da!!!
Mallory and Marley enjoying the show after their performance!
Don't mind the choke hold Mallory has on her friends...lol!
Oh these girls.....
Just throwing in some St. Patrick's Day....
Easter time...holding baby chicks at the farm store.
Mallory riding at daycare
Just posing with my boy Elliott
Happy Easter!
a
Fake Smile!
Easter picture with her cousins
At Grandma Barry's and I told her to smile at me and this was her reaction....
Talkin on her phone....playing dress up
Another first.....her own hair cut.
She didn't do a bad job...just hope she doesn't ever do it again.
Judy Hops to save the day!
Cute as a bunny!
Enjoying time on our back patio....
A first for me....root canal! Not a fan!
Wearing booty shorts on her head! Oh Lord, help us!
Off to see our bff and her new baby! ROAD TRIP!
Snuggles with baby Rex~
Making little Rex smile....I think he's thinking I had indulged too much coffee that day and wanted me out of his face. lol!
Meanwhile...Mallory got to see her cousin Michaela off to prom. Mallory of course had to wear her "fancy dress" too.
Snuggles and selfies with cousins.
Mick and I had doctors appointments in Springfield so why not stop off at the brewery before heading home....
Calming a fussy baby....loved every second!
Mick and I got tickets to St. Louis Blues playoffs! FUN! My first time going and actually being close to the ice! It was awesome! Especially during playoffs!
It was a late night but worth it!
LGB!!!
GOAL!
BLUES WIN!
Back to recital...Mallory was lucky enough to have some of her family come see her dance!
Cousin twins!
Collin was nice enough to come watch his girl dance....now that is being a good cousin! Although...I secretly think he enjoyed watching all the girls! He stole this one's heart....
Cutest girls at SD!
And quite possibly the silliest!
I did not tell her to pose like this....ALL SASS!
And silliness!
These two! I had the previlage of taking sweet Rylan every other week to dance this year and I LOVED IT! She is so sweet and so glad that her and Mallory are buddies!
With one of their dance teachers!
CUTENESS!!
Love their personalities!
We got lots of love for this girl!
Calla found Mallory and wanted a picture!
Then Aunt Dana came!!!! There were lots of pictures of kisses and hugs....and even some surprise gifts!
Mallory also went roller skating for the first time!
She rolled right on out there and did a great job!
She loved all the music and lights
Thanks for inviting us Myah!
These two cuties are at it again!
Love this picture!!
(moments before Mallory fell on her tail bone and said she was done...lol)
Meanwhile...I started my first team for relay for life in honor of my friend Cathy. She had to point out that she is indeed still married.....sometimes old habits never change. lol!
Another birthday party for Elliott!
Then a quick trip to Missouri for some fireworks!
Mallory loved this gorilla!
Thumbs up for a purple gorilla in a rubber ducky...weird but funny! And thumbs up that I finished the blog!
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