a day in the life of a price...: April 2012

Thursday, April 26, 2012

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...EIGHT!

8 years.

i've planned birthday parties for this little person for 8 years. i've bathed this little person for 8 years. i've prepared meals for this little person for 8 years. i've held this little person on my lap for 8 years. i've bought clothes for this little person for 8 years. i've dreamed for this little person for 8 years. i've cried sad and happy tears for this little person for 8 years...

but i've loved this little person in my heart for way more than that.

i always, always, always wanted to be a mother...and most people that knew me "back then" would say the same thing.

so i knew above all else...that God willing...i would be a mommy some day...

but i never could have imagined that THIS little person would make that dream come true.

when dr. chandler placed this tiny little peanut on my chest 8 years ago...and she breathed her first
breaths...my purpose in life became clear. she was our ella elise...but she was my first daughter (little did i know i would be blessed two more times!). she was as perfect as perfect can get...

and 8 years later...

she still takes my breath away.

i love this little girl more than life...and i have so many hopes and dreams for her. she's an amazing daughter. she's kind to her friends. she's obedient. she's loving and helpful to her sisters (most of the time!!!). she's a good student. she's funny and has the most contagious laugh. she's confident. she's beautiful. she's artistic.

we just happen to adore her.

when she runs up to hug me...or gives me the unexpected "i love you, mom"...or we have a serious talk about something that i know will matter years from now...or we hold hands without saying a word...or i wipe a tear from her cheek...or we dance together...or we tell silly stories...or we quietly lay together...

i realize that for 8 years...

i have experienced love & life like i never thought possible.

i have had the opportunity to give life and continue to "feed" that life with everything that i do. i have had the opportunity to feel a love that cannot be explained.

8 years.

i've had all that in just 8 years.

i can't imagine what the next 8 years will bring...or how i will feel when my first baby girl is turning sweet 16...but i know that one thing will never change...

i will always pray the best for her. i will always adore her. i will always be her biggest fan...and i will always love her unconditionally.

happy 8th birthday, baby! you are sunshine for the soul...and i love you past heaven!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

what a wonderful wedding weekend we witnessed...

brooke & "benny ben's" wedding was unbelievable. truly probably the most beautiful wedding i've ever been to...

i don't even know where to begin...so i won't for now...

it's gonna be a doozy...

so i'll leave you with a few "teasers"...glimpses of the memories that i'll take with me the rest of my life...

our little seedling...

ava ashley. she's a mess & a breath of fresh air all rolled into one! i really don't know what we would do without her in our family. she is quickly emerging as the family comedian...and shrugs her little shoulders when she gets a good laugh!!!!!

as we all like to say around here...we could eat her with a million spoons!!!!

her personality is a mile wide & she does. not. meet. a. stranger! she is zesty (aka "miss sassafras")...but is actually our most laid back little person! she rolls with the flow...and as long as we have some suckers for distraction...she is usually ready to go!

she is fiercely loyal...but also a bit aggressive...yes m'am...she's been sent to "time out" a time or two...but is definitely not a fan of the "rod"...so she tries her best to avoid those spankings!!!!!

she's the family goat...will eat just about anything you put before her...especially if it is accompanied by some dip!

i can't say enough about this little girl and how much we love her!

she is super independent and is currently sort of potty training herself. i'm not quite ready to let go of the fact that she won't be in diapers anymore...so i'm probably breaking every rule in the book...but most days, she insists on wearing panties and is doing a wonderful job! can you hear my frown?!?!?!

she knows all of her colors & shapes, knows how to count to 15, knows all the words to an adele song (thanks for her aunt carmie), has one of the largest vocabularies of any two year old i've ever been around, loves (and i mean LoVeS) to take a bath, enjoys reading books...a lot, still sleeps in late most mornings, still loves her naps from 2-5, is currently wearing a purple tutu and nothing else ;), has the blondest hair & bluest eyes i've ever seen - never what i would have pictured for a daughter of mine...but breathtakingly beautiful, "lubs" her family with gusto, will tell you that "hobby wobby" is one of her favorite places to go, says "oh-kaaaay" in probably the cutest, most country way possible, loves her sisters more than i ever thought she could...and quite possibly has one of the most adorable "booties" on the planet!

we love our ava in ways that cannot be explained. she's a pistol...but a beautifully and wonderfully made pistol and we wouldn't trade her or her personality for anything in the world! you are precious, baby girl...and if the world were running out of smiles...you could single handedly end the shortage!

you are our #1 "smavey aves"...and i hope you know how much you are adored!!!!!!!!!

for some...being cute is just...easy!!!!