Lately...

Lately at the Mooney's...

We've been enjoying our precious little boy.  Taking a lot of pictures.  Singing songs.  Hoping to catch a glimpse of his smiles.  Learning more about his sweet personality every day.  We can't get enough!

We went to Isabella's Princess Birthday Party. 



Happy Birthday, Isabella!

Finn loves hanging out with Wills.

Wills loves his Daddy, his kisses, and...

His Guitar!!!  He is mesmerised!

Happy Anniversary!

I realize that lately all of my posts are a bit sappy.  I can't help it.  I'm pretty sentimental as is, but this motherhood experience has increased those emotions dramatically.  Warning: this post, a day after my third anniversary, won't be any different. :)

We all know September 25th is my new favorite day of the year.  But, November 8th is my other favorite day.  On November 8th, 2007, William asked me to marry him, and on November 8th, 2008, we said "I do."  Yesterday, we celebrated these years together.

It was a different type of celebration.  Most things are different these days, but not any less meaningful.  For the past few years, we've taken an anniversary trip.  This year we took a Christmas shopping and Chophouse trip. :)

I had big plans to take a lot of pictures...It's hard to even type, but the camera died just as I snapped the first picture of our seafood stuffed portabella mushrooms.  I was so sad.  William went and put the camera on the charger in the car, so we could get this one photo of the evening.  :(

I guess if I am going to keep up with this blog and record our "moondreams," I need to keep up with charging the camera.  Okay, moving on.

William and I enjoyed great conversation while browsing through a few shops, sipping Cabernet over dinner, and listening to music at French Market West.  We opted out of a movie for this purpose alone: conversation.  And it was so worth it!

Of couse, we talked about our ever changing moondreams.  :)

We also reminisced about the past three years of our marriage.  I asked William, what his Top Three moments were for the two of us. 

Guess what's at the top of the list? 

The day this little boy was born!

I replied and told him that was a no-brainer.  Wills is the best thing that has ever happened to us and not even in the same category as anything else.  What were his next Top Three?

His response (in no particular order) :

Number one.  The Bahamas for his 30th birthday and to make up for our honeymoon sickness.

Number 2.  Land's End. Period.

I made him explain.  He said every moment we've spent together at Land's End, with family, with friends, and by ourselves, is in his Top Three.  I'm so glad he loves it there as much as I do. 

And number three.  Our other two anniversary trips.  We spent one at Chateau Elan and one at Land's End. 

Of course, after he named these three memories, we went on to talk more and more and realized we've had so many "Top" moments in the past three years.  As we continued, we came to the conclusion that the big trips are wonderful get-aways, the concerts are a lot of fun, the once-a-year holidays are something we look forward to, but the little moments, are what make our marriage. 

We love cooking dinner together.  We love dancing in the living room.  I love when William brings home flowers, just because.  We love our morning coffee together.  We love our evening walks through the neighborhood talking about our day.  We love our lazy Sundays after church.  William loves playing music while I try to guess the song and artist.  And now we love hanging out with our baby boy listening to his sweet coos.  It's the simple, silly, daily moments that I'm thankful to share with this man. 

Happy Anniversary, William. 

Now, I think we will snuggle, drink hot chocolate, and watch a Christmas movie.  Another "Top" for me. :)

The Best Keeps Getting Better!

I remember pulling out of the driveway of the beach house in July knowing that the next time we returned to Land's End would be with a BABY and things wouldn't be quite the same.  Although it was different, it was still a relaxing weekend, and so special for us to share for the first time with our little boy. 

Wills' routines continued away from home.  He stayed on his schedule and enjoyed his baths.

I love my husband!

Aunt Sissy and Gammy read to Wills.  My mom has had the beach house ready for children even before Wills arrived.  She has children's books, little chairs, buckets and shovels for the beach, mini fishing poles, and more! 

Although it was windy, we wanted Wills to see the water, so we bundled him up and took him for a walk.

We wanted to get him out of his carseat, but he fell asleep.  It was best to keep him cozy and let him rest. :)

We had a great time Saturday night cheering on the Razorbacks....Pig Sooie!  Yes, we are Georgia Fans in the Lowcountry, and a loss for Spurrier this weekend meant a lot to the Bulldawgs.  We fly our Georgia flag with pride, despite the abundance of Clemson and Carolina fans nearby.

A delicious spread of tailgating food was enjoyed throughout the night.  We had William's wings, crab dip, fried shrimp, pepper poppers, boiled shrimp, and homemade guacamole.

Papa enjoyed some sweet time with Wills in the sun room.

As usual, the pups loved the front porch.  Finn is the one out of line. :)

It's hard to anticipate how life will change with a baby.  The Lord has blessed me with an incredible husband, the best family, great friends, a home away from home, good health, and so much more.  But, I've found that when circumstances, places, traditions, and families, seem like they can't get any better and are perfect as is, just throw in a precious baby boy, and somehow all of it becomes even better!  It's hard to believe, yet it is so true! 

Those bridges, moss covered trees, and salt air get me every time.  They put things in perspective and "make you feel fine, make you feel fine."  Right, Jimmy?

Some call it the magic of the Lowcountry.

Happy Halloween!

William and I took Wills to the Wesley pumpkin patch.  We picked out two pumpkins for the front steps.

We had our annual Halloween get together with the Brighams plus our families.  The evening consisted of chili cooking and eating, cake decorating, trick-or-treating, handing out very little candy due to the small number of trick-or-treaters we had, the Wicked Witch of the West, visiting with friends and family, and showing off our little pumpkin.

Aunt Sissy and Owen decorated the cookie cake.

The night ended with an inventory of the candy.  :)

One of my favorite things about life is holiday traditions.  Whether it's getting to choose "your" cake flavor on your birthday, a family trip to pick out the perfect Christmas tree, reading The Polar Express and The Christmas Story on Christmas Eve wearing your new pj's, watching the parade on Thanksgiving morning, football on New Year's, romantic Anniversary trips, or chili, red wine, and a great fire on Halloween, I get excited!  Traditions make me happy; they make me thankful for family and friends.  Traditions, to me, are memories made each year that bring so much joy, they are continued year after year.  For all that these memories mean to me, I'm grateful.