The beauty of nature

Our yard is bursting with color.  Which is amazing considering how long it's been since it's received any love and nurture from a homeowner.  After taking 6 months for us to close on our foreclosure, I can assure you that the bank did not weed or feed or even cut the grass once.  So while we have a lot, and I mean A LOT of gardening work ahead of us, I am stopping to smell the roses so to speak, and appreciate the beauty of God's creation.

 Our front yard is bursting with red knockout roses.

Yellow ones, too.

And I planted some pink hydrangeas where we chopped down a dead pine tree.

 Our back fence and gate is covered with sweet scented jasmine.

My how that jasmine smells wonderful!  Every breeze carries it across the yard.  It's heavenly.

And we have these bursting with color.

 I recently discovered they are crinum lillies and they are stunning.

 I'm not sure what this little guy is.

 Or this either.

 But I do know that this is a canna lily.

And they are proliferating around one side of our pool.  I'm going to transplant some to the other side and keep my fingers crossed that they'll take...

 

Even though our yard has been neglected for quite some time, I am eager to show it some love.  I can hardly wait to see how well she does next year after receiving some much needed tender loving care...

All the small things

It's the little things you forget as you get older.

Like his ten little fingers.

And ten tiny toes. 

His itty bitty bellybutton.

And cute little ear holes.

My how fast he grows...

Faith's first haircut

Faith is such a darling little girl.

 And her hair is definitely growing.

 But it's looking a pretty stringy in the back.

 So I got my scissors out and whacked a good bit off.

 Now she has a cute little bob.

 She did a great job sitting still while I cut her hair.  Probably because I let her play with "yipstix" (lipstick).

And I'll admit that I think her hair looks much fuller and healthier now, but I almost cried after I cut it.  She's my first baby to get a real haircut...  and she's growing up so fast.  Faith is looking less and less like a toddler and more and more like a little girl...  Time goes by much too quickly for my liking.

Benjamin 2 week checkup

Benjamin is now two weeks old.  Where is the time going? 

He's a growing boy!

He's in the 75th percentile for his height and 45th for his weight.

And Grace and Faith were tickled to see him doing so well...

Pretty boy in blue

Who said boys can't play dress up?

Already my little boy looks so handsome.  Just like his Daddy.

And trendy, too.  All the cool kids are wearing bow ties now.

But for now I'll cherish him and the present.

Naked little baby boy

There's just something about naked little babies that steals my heart. 

They are so sweet and innocent.

I just want to squeeze them and keep them tiny for as long as I can.

All too soon they grow up.  So I'll capture these moments and treasure them forever.

We've moved

Actually we moved a few weeks ago but this is our first updated family picture including our newest addition, Benjamin, in front of our new house.  Lots of new and wonderful beginnings this year.