Father's Day

I wanted to express to Josh how much I appreciate all that he does for Carter and I and no better day than Father's Day! I am the luckiest woman in the world to have such a perfect, wonderful husband and father of my child. He works so hard every day so that I can be a stay-at-home mom and we have everything we could ever want or need. As soon as Josh gets home from work each day, he immediately picks Carter up to play and cuddle! Carter's face lights up the instant he sees his daddy! Everything we have and enjoy is only possible because of Josh's hard work, ambition and love for us. We love him more than anything in the world.

A week or so ago, Carter and I made him a T-shirt with Carter's footprints and handprints on the front and back. A few days ago, I took pictures of Carter in Hawkeye gear and had him hold up the letters to spell DAD. I even put Carter in Josh's Hawkeye jersey and took some adorable pictures to frame!

To start the day, I let Josh sleep while I cooked him a big breakfast and brownies. Carter made him a card! I set it all up on the table for Josh to find when he came to eat! He was absolutely delighted!

The rest of the day, we spent snuggling, napping and playing with Carter! Carter loves his daddy time!

Josh never lets a day go by that he doesn't tell us how much he loves us and does all that he does for us. He is our life, our world, our everything!

The World through My Window

To say our lives are perfect sounds so unreal...but to us, it is. I look out our sliding glass door every day admiring the sunshine, greenery, hibiscus tree and airplanes. I see these things every single day and every day, they appeal to me in the same way. The sunshine to me is comparable to the smile that splashed across Carter's face when he catches me looking at him or I appear when he awakens. The greenery is like the love that Josh and I share, with lots of TLC and encouraging words, we grow as a team. The hibiscus tree is the new life and moments that enlighten us in Florida, new flowers bloom each day...but are different in their own way...sometimes the flowers are big and boisterous and others are small and short lived, but either way...it's a miracle and beautiful. The airplanes are the quick glimce of the memories we are making, they go so fast yet leave their echos behind. These things are perfection to us, they continue to broaden our horizons and give us new reasons to smile each day. All I wish is that I can keep looking out my window and see all these things time and time again.

My amazing daughter

I became a mother despite the absence of child-birth. I remember the first time I met her very clearly, as if it were yesterday. I arrived at Josh's house one evening with nervous anticipation to meet his little girl. As soon as I opened the patio door, she ran out to meet me. We smiled at each other and said "hi"...she then grabbed my hand and led me inside. She said "will you build something for me" pointing to her spilled blocks on the floor. I quickly sat on the floor with her and built her a house. She was so excited!

I remember the first time Kayleigh asked me what she should call me (after Josh and I got married), I told her she could call me anything she wanted. I became "step-mommy". Some people probably think that would be offensive to me, but why? I am her step-mommy and my heart melts every time she says it.

During my pregnancy, Kayleigh called Carter "her baby". We were getting family portraits at JcPenny's one afternoon and she told the photographer that "her baby would be here soon" and the lady looked totally baffled until I explained that "her baby is in my tummy". She still refers to him as "her baby Carter". I love it!

I honestly love Kayleigh as much as if she were my own. I vowed in marriage not only to love and cherish Josh, but his daughter as well. I grew up as a step-child and know it's familiarity all too well.

My step-dad, Bob was the only father I knew growing up. He supported us, loved us and raised us. He taught the fact that blood does not determine the value of family. From the day I met his family, they welcomed me with open arms and I knew his family only as Grandma, Grandpa, aunt, uncle, cousins and sister! Amy IS my sister. I want Kayleigh to always feel loved, welcome and equal.

Josh and I miss her every single day and not a day goes by that we don't talk about her!

Milestones

Two mornings ago, as I was making a cup of coffee and cleaning Carter's bottle, I glanced into the living room to check on him and to my shock, he was on his belly! Not the way I had left him. Normally he hates being on his belly and screams until I flip him over, but instead, he was looking around in wonder trying to figure out how he did such a huge thing! From there, it was on!

Our baby boy is learning and embracing life more and more everyday and we are so proud of him! He rarely stays on his back anymore, he is constantly rolling over, sucking his thumb and "talking".

Last night, we exchanged his bassinet for his pack-n-play. That for me, was the hardest thing I've had to do since he was born. The realization that he is growing so fast, is setting in. Not only is Carter getting so much bigger, but he is our little wiggle worm...he can wiggle himself 160 degrees...so he needs lots of space!

As I am typing this, Carter rolled over to his belly and back to his back...my little turkey!

I am constantly snapping pictures of him So much so, that when a camera appears in front of him, he starts smiling and staring at it. He's my little model! I want to capture every moment, every milestone, every new facial expression and every adventure!