lakeside trail with two | hike it baby.

We had joined our Hike It Baby friends for a few strolls before this, but we ventured out for our very first trail hike with them last week since Bethany was born. The good news: no one died. The not so good news: Bethany cried for a lot of it. Whew! It was so good to be in the presence of mamas who "get it" and who didn't roll their eyes at me when she was screaming her head off. That's one of my favorite reasons why we love this little community so much -- we are here for each other, whether we've known each other for a year or a day. There is something so special about that -- and I certainly don't take it for granted.

A little over halfway through, though, she finally gave in and took a nap on my chest and that made for a peaceful rest of our trek. Her big brother hiked all two miles on his own two feet, and didn't ask to be held until we were about five minutes from our destination: the playground. Wahoo! That's one of the reasons this trail is at the top of my list -- the playground is such a great reward for our strong little hikers who just bravely wandered in the woods.

We have broken out of the house now that it's officially spring (disclaimer: I prefer to hibernate in winter). I'm hoping that the weather will start realizing that a new season is upon us soon, because I'm ready to feel the warmth of the sunshine all day long. Braxton was only eight months old when we went on our first hike with this special crew, and I got a little teary-eyed this trail thinking about how big he is now AND how we've got another little one adventuring along with us. Now more than ever, I'm so grateful to live in a place with so many beautiful sights right at our fingertips, and I hope our kiddos learn to appreciate it the way I have.

With every new hike in the coming weeks, a little more green will pop out around us. I can hardly wait to see the world come to life again!

midweek bonfire.

Because sometimes the best way to love your crew is to have a spontaneous, midweek bonfire after Daddy gets home from work.

And because s'mores just have a way of making everyone happy.

my twenty-ninth | a gift to remember.

Yesterday was my twenty-ninth birthday. Twenty-nine!

That means I've been going to Wilmington for nine years now. Each trip always adds new memories to my ever growing list, and the last trip I went on, just a week ago, was one I'll certainly never forget. In honor of my final birthday in my twenties, I asked Teesh for a special kind of gift that would be a symbol of "completion," of sorts.

My best girls and I used to drive for hours to sit for hours while we were in college, hoping to get a glimpse of or have a short conversation with our favorite on-screen characters. There were two, however, that we never thought we'd have the opportunity to meet because we didn't start making these trips until after they were already off the show. Then one day, we had a miraculous run-in with Hilarie Burton (AKA Peyton Sawyer) while meandering downtown. Chad Michael Murray (AKA Lucas Scott), however, was someone we never thought we'd have the opportunity to share a frame with.

Then, this past weekend happened. And I got to stand between him AND James Lafferty (AKA Nathan Scott) for a few brief seconds. I got hugs from both of them (true story!) AND even got to take two photos with them because of an exposure issue with the first one (again, true story!). A friend we made while there called this a double portion from the Lord, and I am in complete agreement with her statement. Y'ALL! If only this picture could hold in the way they smelled.

Mmmmm, that was nice.

And yes, my husband knows all about my infatuation.

In fact, if James were to ask me to run away with him, Teesh would be the first person I'd call. Yep, it's that serious!

Anyway (now that some of you are judging me, LOL), standing between the beloved Scott brothers, specifically since I never dreamed I'd ever actually meet the one, was what I meant my completion.

After fifteen years of love for One Tree Hill and nine years of field trips to experience the magic firsthand, I've finally checked off my favorite names from my list. This little adventure has been so thrilling in unexplainable ways, and I'm not ashamed to be so proud of all I (and my best girls) have accomplished. Maybe I should be, but I'm not. HA! Feeling your heart beat out of your chest is just that -- THRILLING! And I'm a happy, content girl because of so many of my teenage dreams coming to life.

This photo collage is worth more than gold to me.

Amen, fellow OTH lovers?

I'll keep going to Wilmington for the rest of my life, mainly because of how happy it makes me -- it's something special to relive such wonderful memories every time I go. I think Wilmington will always remind me of my youth, maybe more than anything else.

So, to stay forever young, I'll go back to Tree Hill for as long as I'm able.

I mean, there's only One Tree Hill. And in my heart, it's home to me for so many reasons.

"It's the oldest story in the world. One day you're seventeen and planning for someday, and then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today, and that someday is yesterday and this is your life."

-Nathan Scott

girls weekend | wilmington.

We'd been planning this weekend for about two months, and we couldn't wait to hit the road. This was their first time in Wilmington, so I got to play tour guide for a couple of days -- so much fun! I've considered myself an "honorary Marlar" for a while now, and this was such a fun treat for me to introduce Katee and Lindsay to so many beloved spots.

Our main motivation for this trip was a One Tree Hill convention that was going on this particular weekend, and our dreams came true when we got to stand between the Scott brothers for a few seconds (more on this later). Swoon! Moreover, this city is overflowing with sights and scenes from our beloved show, and it never gets old revisiting the sweetest spots over and over again -- especially when you get to experience the magic of someone's first time. We spent most of our time walking along Front Street more times than we could count, popping in for coffee at Port City Java whenever we felt like it, strolling along the Riverwalk admiring the beautiful views, and driving around to numerous filming locations to take it all in. We even met a new friend who drove in from Charlotte, and we got to act like a bunch of giddy school girls together -- both before and after our photo op.

We stayed the weekend with one of my college roomies and her husband, and they were SO hospitable towards us. It was icing on the cake to have time with them, talking until the wee hours of the morning both nights. We might have reminisced about our glory days and how old we’re getting, but that’s okay.  

This city will always call to me, even when I'm old and gray (which won't be long now). Some of the best highlights of my life have taken place here, and it really feels like I'm going home every time I cross over the bridge and see the Riverwalk off in the distance to my left. I think it will always feel this way.

bethany victoria | four months.

Baby girl, I can't believe you are four months old. Those first few weeks after we brought you home I stayed in a fog, a seemingly endless fog. Now that the fog has lifted, however, I feel like I look back on those long days and extra long nights in disbelief that so many days have already come and gone. I know the days will continue to go by faster as you reach more milestones, and I am hanging on to every single moment with you, making notes about all the memories we're making together. Spring weather is upon us, so we'll be making most of those memories outside for the next seven months, or until the cold runs us back inside again.

-----

You are still rolling over regularly, but you aren't fighting tummy time anymore quite like you used to. You like tummy time a whole lot more than your big brother ever did (praise hands), but you've just been more exhilarated by rolling over than laying on your belly up until now. You kick your little legs constantly these days, too, no matter if you are on your back or your belly, and you love to clam them into the ground every few minutes. I remember your brother doing this, too, and it always made my jump -- it still makes me jump! You're still stingy with your smiles, but you give loooooots more than you used to. We do some crazy things to get you to crack, and the embarrassment is worth it when you flash us a big ol' grin. We're still waiting for you to start giggling, but I'm hoping that this will be the month. Please, oh, please! You're still sleeping so good for naps and at night (hence the departure from the fog I mentioned earlier), and we just switched up your schedule a few days ago so that you're eating every four hours now instead of three. Hopefully within another month or so, we'll have dropped your dream feed, too. For now, though, I'll take all the sleepy snuggles I can get.

-----

You went on your first hike last month, and you stayed snuggled close to my chest the whole time. We went back to the same trail that we took Braxton to first, and it was a continuation of a really special tradition. I can't wait to start getting back out on the trails soon, now with two little ones in tow, and I think we will join the flowers and bloom this spring. We've been to a few little play dates and strolls/hikes with our Hike It Baby crew, and it has been so lovely to be reunited with them. You and your brother are blessed with a booming support system on all sides, and that makes my mama heart so grateful.

-----

We had a special visit with your first mama last month, and your oldest brother came, too! He and Braxton (who call themselves brothers, by the way) entertained each other while your first mama snuggled you and had good conversation with your daddy and me. We genuinely love them, like really, really love them. And we are eternally thankful for how our open adoption has already shaped and changed everyone involved for the better. We have gained so much. And you are so unbelievably loved, sweet girl. I fervently pray for your heart every day as we walk toward the day when you start asking questions. If I'm being honest, I pray for your daddy's heart and my own heart, too, because we want to always communicate things to you the best way we can -- with wisdom, grace, and compassion.

-----

The most exciting thing that happened this past month is that you officially became our daughter! Hip hip hooray! We had a big crew with us at the courthouse, and everyone was wearing the biggest smiles. Our wonderful attorney (and even better friend), Betsy, was so great during the whole waiting process, and we were beyond honored to have her represent us before the judge. Your guardian ad litem was, also, incredible, and I have hidden her testimony of us in my heart to never be forgotten. She even gifted you a little book that I've already read to you about ten times. And our judge was a sibling of someone we go to church with -- and she was so kind to us. All in all, it was the perfect day. The sun even came out of hiding after days of rain, just for you! Yep, you're that special. The most special little girl I've ever known.

-----

Just over a year ago, we had just publicly announced that we were beginning our journey to you...before we even knew you. But God knew. He knew that we would meet your first mama just two months later, that we would meet you six months after that, and that you'd steal our hearts at first glance. I did the math a few days ago (yes, MATH!), and at almost the exact day we announced our plans to adopt, you were conceived. How incredible is that!? I got chills all over my body and sobbed like a baby when I realized the timeline. God was so good to perfectly align everything that led up to bringing you home, and I can't help but erupt with endless praises for how He was working for our good, your good, and your first mama's good simultaneously. He saw all of us, and brought us together at the perfect time. AMAZING! I will always tell you about God's great love for you, because I have seen it firsthand. You are our victory banner -- and we will shout your story -- God's story -- to anyone who will hear.

-----

I'll love you forever, my precious daughter. You will always be a reminder that God can bring hope into hopelessness, and that He can restore brokenness and turn it into something beautiful. I still can't believe you're mine!

Braxton - Four Months Old

sweetness.

There is nothing sweeter than watching the two little ones I love most learn to love each other. No, there's nothing sweeter in the whole, wide world. Their love for one another is as natural as breathing. 

And I'm the one who God picked to be their mama.

Amazing.

"Delightfully loved ones, if He loved us with such tremendous love, then loving one another should be our way of life!"

-1 John 4:11 (TPT)