beachy..

we finally ventured out to the indiana dunes on d's day off this week.. and going kind of made me want to kick myself that we didn't discover it long ago and spend a lot more of our summer there. it's so neat to be beside a body of water that's so huge it looks like an ocean, but actually isn't one. although i liked referring to it as "the ocean" while we were there because it annoyed d so much.. oh, marriage. :)

i recently started keeping one of our friend's daughters a few days a week since she has gone back to work part-time. charlotte's a sweet little one, and it's fun for ruby to have a playmate. i would be lying if i said that having another tiny person around doesn't sometimes add a level of stress to our days, but it's not overwhelming and a lot of it comes from having to teach and correct ruby when it comes to how she treats charlotte. i'm actually really thankful for the timing because i think she's learning a lot and getting a feel for having it not be "just her" around the house with me all the time. i know it's going to be completely different once sadie is here since she won't be a playmate for ruby like charlotte can be, but i'm still positive that it's benefiting her to have charlotte around. charlotte's mom and dad have both commented on already seeing a change in her personality since she's been spending time with us. i'm thankful that they appreciate ruby's spunk and that her outgoing ways are rubbing off on charlotte in a good way.

c cracked me up with her fearlessness in the water. i was thankful that it wasn't actually an ocean because she would have been pummeled by waves more times than i'd like to count just darting out there like she did.

this was the best beach trip we've ever had with ruby. she loved playing in the sand and kept herself entertained for three straight hours. she was super giddy even from the moment we got out of the car because we parked on a little patch of sand. "there's sand right here, mom!" then she trotted down to the shore raving about how good it was to be at the beach. i love that enthusiastic and thankful girl.

my main man. he stood watch like this the entire time we were there.

he actually did this.

there were a couple of older girls who played with ruby and charlotte too.. it was cute because they kept calling her "sweetie" and then telling her to do things. "sweetie, can you do me a favor and fill this water bottle up and bring it back here?" "sweetie, we're trying to take the sand out of the hole, not put it in." little mamas.

i promise ruby isn't torturing charlotte.. it was just impossible to get a picture with both of them looking/open-eyed.

i told stacey, charlotte's mom, that she was like a seagull at the beach. once i fed her some food she wouldn't go away and do anything else. cutie.

beauty beauty.

handsome, bearded man. i'm glad charlotte likes him too.

daintily eating the graham cracker she bummed off of a nearby family.. ok, they offered, but i think it had a lot to do with her pleading eyes.

sadie, you were there too. 

and, yes, i'm one of those bikini wearing pregnant women.. say what you will, but i've yet to find a "mama suit" that covers up the belly anyway.

daddy joining in on the hole filling.

beach baby.

we finally got in the water and the lifeguards announced that the beach was closing about ten minutes later. bumma. but we'll be back, dunes, don't you worry.

k & v..

as my sister so lovingly reminded me tonight (wait, it wasn't loving. is went something like, "when are you gonna post about the rest of your time in nc? you do such a good job writing about yourself, but what about the rest of us?" ha what is sisterhood without sassy banter?) i have yet to share about the other fun shower we had while i was in north carolina like i said i would in this post.

i'm not sure that i've mentioned it yet, but my sister and her fiance are being rude and getting married when i'll be a very rotund thirty-six weeks pregnant. i mean, how dare they plan a wedding before i even got pregnant and make it so close to my future due date? psht. anywho, i love them so i'm still acting excited and rolling with the punches. seriously though, i can't wait for this day, and have made sure to remind myself of it daily by putting their sweet a invitation on my fridge.

the party was so fun and sweet. vally and kyle's friends kristen and quinten offered to host at their house, and i was in town to be able to help out with some of the details which made me really thankful. being hours away during fun seasons like this is not the funnest thing, but i'm so glad that i can be a part of days like this for them.

the soon to be b and g.. i read somewhere that you should take pictures from behind because that's where all the love is. i agree.

doing my matron of honor-y duties and writing down names at the gifts table. they picked out cute stuff, and i was covetous of those burlap "mr." and "mrs." pillows on the right.

some panorama action during gift opening.

just look at 'em. toats adorbs.

rubes got dirty and sweaty, and kept showing everyone her underwares. i loved being able to just let her run around in the backyard and enjoy all the kids at the shower. and we all know that sparklers make the world go round, and every parent's blood pressure go up, so that was fun too.

sisterly love. and sadie girl, stay in there until at least after october 13th, capeesh?

we three. it's blowing my mind that in just two short months we'll be three married old ladies. it makes me very thankful for the years that we just had each other, and even more thankful for where we've ended up.

the men folk. this is going to be a beardtastic wedding once d gets in town to round out the threesome.

uncle getting in a superb photobomb.

they're cute. kind of crazy to think that just a few hours after this a tree fell on the house.

look, i don't like to use my flash. just pretend like this is in focus. also, i can't wait for the wedding weekend so we can take pictures that include daniel. that's gonna be frame-worthy for sure.

what a fun time celebrating. two more families becoming one. God's really good, and we are all incredibly good looking.

showered..

an extra special part of our recent time in north carolina was being able to have two showers for equally exciting things. the first was a laid back little shindig at my favorite mexican restaurant to celebrate sweet sadie coming. janelle, mandy, and vally pulled it all together, and i was so so thankful for that time. i felt super loved, the fact that we're having another sweet girl before long started to sink in just a bit more, and i even exposed people to the laughing/weeping craziness that happens to me from time to time. sad you had to miss that part.. it made quite a few people feel uncomfortable. but hey, at least i didn't pee my pants.

riding to the festivities with my girl. she was all decked out in her "big sister" shirt, and i'm a little miffed at myself for not getting a better picture of that cuteness.

mi madre. thankful that she makes the trek to raleigh whenever i'm in town to save me from making long car rides.

rubes being sure to document her shoe choice for the evening. p.s. she has her father's feet.. do not even think that those crazy looking things got passed on from me. third toe that's longer than the second.. what the what?

getting all artsy with her foot placement.

cute tine the co-pilot.

ruby made sure to get a shot of me making my most asian looking smiling face.

move over brangelina.. there's a new power couple in town. knox and ruby being as sweet as ever.

friends whom i love. knox, have some class and put that gut away.

 my cute cousin faye was very diligent about getting some shots of me opening gifts.

blurry gift goodnes. we don't need a lot since it's another girl, but sadie is a winter baby and ruby was a summer girl, so getting some sweet little hats, long-sleeve onesies, and super warm swaddle blankets was great. we also now have an amazing stash of target gift cards; which we all know will go to diaper and wipes, and probably a snickers or two for mama.

aunt susie sent a gift with mom.. so thoughtful and loving.

see that little sister onesie? i am so in love with those things. little sister. big sister. melt my heart.

see? warms hats and baby wrappers. so good.

a crazily tiny and cute outfit from grams and tine.. most likely what sadie girl will wear home from the hospital. remind me again how it is that she's going to be so. small.

me and the two best moms i could have asked for.

the greatest journey group that ever happened. i moved away from nc almost a year ago, but i'm still claiming that title for us.. don't hate.

who even knows what's happening here? all i know for sure is that jill is checking out a booty, and janelle and i can't keep our eyes open from sheer happiness.

"better", i guess, but not nearly as much fun.

i guess i'll share about the other shower experience in a separate post because this one is already crazy long. i didn't get pictures with everyone who was there, but i hope i did a good job of getting out just how special and loved i felt that they were all present to love on me and sadie. i know it's the cynical part of myself, but it's easy to think that you'll slowly slip out of people's hearts when you make a big move and don't do day to day (or even month to month) life with them anymore. times like this are a reminder that i'm so thankful for of how much we are loved and missed.. and the feeling is uber mutual!

p.s. sadie, you are already one cherished little lady. hurry up and get here. (but seriously though, you can wait.)