brissy ridge | round three.

In July, we took to the trails close to home at Paris Mountain State Park, and ventured through Brissy Ridge one morning. It really is the best thing in the world to have a new little explorer with us, and it's quite thrilling to watch his eyes light up with every tree we pass. Braxton enjoys taking naps while being toted around on daddy's back (can't say I blame him), and mama loves to see those cheeks pressed up against the backpack once his little head finally gets too heavy for him to hold up. He, also, recently started to hum while bouncing along on the path, and I am secretly (okay, it's totally not a secret) hoping that he will grow up loving to sing just like I did. Hearing that sweet hum while being in my happy place sets fireworks off inside of my soul, and I pray that he will continue loving the great outdoors long after we're the ones taking him out in it.

Where have you adventured lately?

braxton michael | seven months.

You've been with us for seven months today, big boy! So much has happened since your half birthday, and I'm excited to tell you about it all. Before I get started, I need to correct a statement (a very exciting statement) that I made in my last letter to you. We went to the doctor ten days after your half birthday for a wellness check, and seconds after I exclaimed "He has his first tooth coming in!" the doctor looked in your mouth, hesitated for a split second (probably because she knew that hearts would sink as soon as she spoke), and told us that you didn't have a tooth yet - it was some sort of "gum abrasion" that had formed instead. She said that these things usually mean that a tooth is getting ready to come in, but that it could still be months before it actually happens. Darn! Now that just means that we will be that much more excited when those pearly whites finally do start to show themselves. Speaking of teeth, you've been extra fussy for the past few weeks + have been putting everything you can get your hands on in your mouth + are still drooling like a water fountain , so I think it's safe to say that you are a professional teether at this point. You are a solid-eating machine, too, kiddo! You eat a fruit in the morning, a vegetable in the late afternoon, and the only thing that you've tried so far that you haven't particularly cared for so far has been avocado. The doctors kept telling us that once you started sitting up and eating solids that you would stop spitting up so much, and I am so proud (and, let's be honest, really thankful) that they were right. You have always been a "happy spitter" (as they call it), but it's nice to not have to clean you up every five minutes now (insert "HALLELUJAH!" here). The only word you say is "Ma Ma," and you've started making lots of new clicking noises with your mouth recently. When you eat your solids, you say "Mmmm" after most bites, and you are also trying out this new thing that sounds like you're grunting. I'm not really sure where that came from, but you especially like to do it when you're excited about something. Speaking of a different kind of grunting, you've really started going through diapers since you began eating solids twice a day. Sheesh! Your first diaper rash has, also, happened, and daddy + I are thankful you are no longer screaming out in pain when we change you - we cried when you cried, little one. I think the rash was a result of two things: 1) your new bathroom habits, and 2) the swim diapers that you wore every day for a week while we were at the lake. That's right, bud - you were a lake bum all last week! You, me, Daddy, Pops, Mimi, Nik Nik, Cannie Ree, Trent, Ozzie, and Harley went to Lake Greenwood for one last hoorah of the summer, and you got lots of lovin' from everyone. You slept in your pack n' play in our room, and we learned that you are quite chatty in your sleep (you can thank your daddy for that one). You are still a smiley one, but I've noticed that the more curious + aware you become about everything around you, the more you wear your serious face. When I can't get you to smile at me, I cheat a little and tickle you until you're belly laughing. Hehe! And, last but certainly not least, a really, really, REALLY big (and mind-blowing) milestone happened in the last week. Are you ready for this? Little B, you CRAWLED for the first time! I've been shrieking with both excitement AND terror since then. You aren't "into everything" just yet, you only move when you really want something in front of you, and your biggest motivator is keys. You love to be up on your knees so you can rock back and forth, and you especially love to do that when you're in your crib. Maybe you're rocking yourself to sleep? Who knows. Nevertheless, because of this, daddy dropped your crib down closer to the floor just in case.

Here's to all the adventures we've had this month, and to all the ones we're going to have over the course of this next one. You are loved an enormous amount by so many, but no one on this earth loves you quite as much as daddy + I do. Giving you smooches + hugs is our favorite - especially when we squeeze you between us and kiss both of your little cheeks at the same time. You make us crazy (both good crazy AND not-so good crazy), and we wouldn't trade it for anything! May God continue to teach us how to raise you up in a way that prepares you for His perfect plan for your life, and may we never cease to thank Him for choosing us to be your parents.

giggles.

When this kiddo starts laughing, I have to tell myself to keep breathing. His laughter comes straight from his belly, his little cheeks turn pink, the angel kiss on his forehead darkens, and his blue eyes glisten like diamonds. One hand goes to ears when he's being tickled, too, as if that somehow makes it tickle less. Of all the memories I have made so far with my little boy, the ones where I hold him close to me are the ones I treasure the most. Hearing his laughter is one thing, seeing his silly smiles from that laughter is even better, but being able to somehow feel his happiness erupt within him while he is snuggled up on me is the best. The. Best.

I may not be able to adequately describe to you just what it feels like to have my heart stolen by such a small person each day, but I am certain that the effects of his love for me (and mine for him, too) are written all over my face. Time passes quickly, and I already know that well; the memories, however, will last for as long as I'm alive. These five minutes that we spent laughing together while we waited for daddy to take us for a tour around the campground will always be a source of my joy - I'll hold onto the sounds, the looks, and the feelings forever and ever.

garden city pier.

We enjoyed some good ol' footlong hotdogs at Sam's Corner in Garden City one night for dinner, and it was only fitting that we take Braxton on his first tour of a pier. We walked along the planks of wood until we spotted several cannonball jellyfish swimming below. We watched them for a little while, started talking about all the other things that were probably swimming down there with them, and quickly started walking again + changed to subject to something less terrifying. B was mesmerized by the sights that his little eyes beheld, and we kept looking at him then looking at each other with silly grins over how exciting it was to be the ones showing him the world. After we gazed until our hearts were content, we made one last pit stop at The Yum Yum Shop for ice cream before returning to our home away from home. Since this was no ordinary Sunday given that our B was officially half a year old, we gave him his first little taste of ice cream to celebrate! Goodness, I love these boys + making memories with them so much. Counting my blessings is one of my most favorite past times, and this vacation added a whole lot more to my already overflowing list.

day trips.

We weren't the only people on vacation this particular week, and we got to spend some time with some people that we love more than most. Our first outing was to visit part of our family that was staying at Surfside Beach. We, also, went to dinner with them the following night, and I ate the best crab cakes that I've ever had (Hot Fish Club in Murrell's Inlet, we haven't seen the last of you!). B enjoyed getting extra cuddles from Granny Pat, and I enjoyed having some girl talk with my cousin, Heather. We, also, splashed into the waves with Jaden while keeping a close eye out for any sneaky sharks. All in all, it was a fun day!

Then, a few days later, we drove down to Garden City Beach to hang out with our beloved Martins for a few hours. We didn't know that we'd all be at the beach at the same time until days before we got there, and I screamed out of joy when I learned such exciting news. Mary-Michal and I went on family vacations with each other for several years during college, and it was so much fun to be reunited in our happy place. Braxton and Lola, also, met each other for the first time, and we all swooned over this introduction (especially when they grabbed each other's hands - everyone say, "awww!"). There aren't many people who hold such a near + dear place in my heart like this family does, and every second spent with them is a treasured one.

cruisin' together.

TJ and I used to drive the golf cart around Ocean Lakes when we were just little high school lovebirds, and it was quite entertaining to ride on the same streets we did ten tears ago with a mini-Teejanna in tow (yes, I know everyone says that B is a "mini TJ," but I'm the mama and I say he's mine, too). We giggled a good bit as we passed young boys + girls who looked like they were more like twelve than sixteen, and we look at each other with wide eyes as if to say, "Yep, we thought we were cool back then, too." A part of me missed those days as we drove around - dreaming of growing old together as I leaned in to the tall, good-looking blonde boy who had his arm around me - but then I was reminded of reality: we are still dreaming that same dream today. It's kind of wacky to think that my life looks a lot like I used to pray that it would all those years ago, and I am so thankful that we are still cruising around together. I still think that the boy who puts his arm around me was the cutest boy in the whole campground, and now we have a boy of our own who has already started getting googly eyes from the ladies (listen up girls: he's taken by his MAMA!). So much has changed since that first golf cart ride we took together ten years ago, and yet not much has changed at all. He's still mine, I'm still his, and that's good enough for me.

trent turns eight.

Eight years ago today, this wild little man was born! This past Sunday, we had a fun celebration for him that included lunch at McDonald's followed by lacing up our roller skates + showing off our mad speed on wheels (or something like that). It's hard to believe that this once-baby-now-boy is already celebrating another birthday, and I love watching him grow. He is the sweetest goofball there is, and I'm proud to be his Aunt!

Happy birthday to my cheesy-face-making, asker-of-lots-of-questions, handsome-as-can-be nephew, Trent. We love you, crazy kiddo!