It's fall y'all.....finally!

September has been a bit more low key than previous months!  We've taken advantage of the cooler temperatures by playing outside, going to the park and enjoying an evening ice cream outing or two.  We've also enjoyed having Daddy around since he took his last (fingers double crossed!) CPA exam.  Here are a few pictures of Will enjoying a beautiful, Tennessee fall! 

 Here I come!

 Places to go and people to see....

 Are you ready?

 Here I come, Daddy!

 Again! Again!

 Mommy's big boy!

My very first ice cream cone ALL to myself!

Why do I eat like this??

 Bedtime routine includes reading books with Daddy...

 and playing with all of my "animals."

Couldn't resist this one!  Sorry, buddy! :)

Ruth Elizabeth Boshers Downey

On August 12, 2011 my beautiful grandmother left this world to go home to her Father in Heaven.  I've been dreading this post for quite sometime because, honestly, I just don't have the words to eloquently express what a wonderful person she was, how much she was loved and how much she will be missed.  

I am an extremely lucky girl in that my family is very close.  Most of my childhood memories include not only my immediate family, but also my grandparents.  They lived just a few miles away, we shared meals together each week, we went to church together, my grandparents attended my school programs, cheerleading events and birthday parties (in fact, all of my birthday parties were at their house using their swimming pool!) and we took vacations together.  Again, I can't even begin to express what they both mean to me and how much they have influenced my life.  My grandmother was a wonderful, loving Christian woman.  Her life was devoted to her family and to God.  She loved my Granddaddy more than anything in this world and their marriage was one that I will spend every day of my life trying to emulate.  They were happily married for 65 wonderful years.  I know that she was proud of me and I am so proud, thankful and grateful that she was my grandmother.  Her life and her example encourage me to be a better person each and every day.

I have so many memories of her that I have been thinking about over the past several weeks.  Each time I think of something, I share it with Kyle.  I want to begin writing them down so that not only will I not forget, but that I can one day share them with Will.  It breaks my heart to think that he won't have the privilege of knowing her personally, but I will try my hardest to make sure that he knows every memory and story.  

On August 15, 2011 we laid her to rest.  It was the hardest day of my life thus far.  I know that she is now in Paradise, but I continue to miss her each and every day.  

Grandmommie--thank you for your life, for the way you lived, for your Godly example and for your unconditional love.  I will love you and miss you always.

Ruth Elizabeth Boshers Downey

December 28, 1925--August 12, 2011

Quick Beach Trip!

In mid-August, Kyle and I took a long weekend beach vacation with our good friends, The Creamers!  I had been looking forward to this trip for several months!  Kyle and Ashley have a precious 6 month old and we had both decided to leaving our kiddos with the grandparents!  It was, however, going to be my very first time spending a night away from Will, EVER.  As the weekend approached, I felt this dark cloud coming over me as I anticipated leaving him.  As I've mentioned previously, he's been a real momma's boy lately and the thought of him being upset caused me to have anxiety.  BUT, miraculously, we dropped Will off at my sister's house, his cousins whirled him away to play and I ended up being okay!  Thank you so much to Kyle's parents for keeping him and, I'm sure, spoiling him the whole weekend!  That made it so much easier for me to leave him behind.

Honestly, it was so nice to be able to get away for just a few short days!!  I have totally forgotten what it is like to have my own schedule--eat when I want, shower when I want, go to bed when I want, make an unexpected stop here or there to window shop or just completely lay around and do nothing!  Being a parent is hard work and we owe it to ourselves to spend just a small amount of time recharging our batteries!  I will say, though, it wasn't near as hard leaving the beach when I knew that I would soon get to see my little guy's sweet smile.  

Thank you so much Kyle and Ashley for inviting us to the beach!  We can't wait to do it again soon!