Pieces of my heart...

"Take another little piece of my heart now, baby."

"Pieces of my Heart"
(Thing #2 and Grand #1)
Cincinnati, Ohio

Fun weekend in Cincy with these two pieces of my heart.  Yes I adore every moment with Grand #1 (Miss Avie).  But I also soooo love witnessing Thing #2 morphing into such a beautiful, patient and loving mother.  It's a relief to see proof that maybe I didn't screw up my kids as much as I thought I did at times.  Feels good to exhale.  So proud of my girl.  But every time I have to leave these two, well...it breaks another little piece of my heart now, baby.  

Here's where I "link up" today 

Introducing...

Grand #2.  Yes, #2 chronologically.  But she shares equal residence in my heart with Grand #1.  I mean after all, can't we ALL get along?  On Saturday, while millions of women were marching in protest throughout the country...I was only focussed on the women in MY life.  Those that started the day with us. And that one little gal who decided to join the party and end the day with us.  Despite what the media tells me these days....life is good.

"Ellie Rose"

(Thing #1 with his little girl)

It took awhile for Miss Ellie Rose's parents to settle on her name.  But the wait was worth it.  She carries the moniker of all her great grandmothers combined.

"And Baby Makes Three"

There is just something special about seeing your son holding his little girl.  Boom.  The sound of my heart exploding.

We are in love.

Here's where I "link up" today 

Master of the details, but oblivious to the obvious...

That's what happens when you leave it up to me to take photos of my daughter-in-law's baby shower. Always an eye for details, often at the detriment of the big picture.  And by BIG picture, that is in NO WAY commentary on my soon-to-pop Thing #1.2's cute belly.  What it IS a statement of is the fact that I never got a photo of the Mama herself.  Alone.  Hello...guest of honor?!?

Got her with HER beautiful mother.  Got her with friends.  Got her with family.  But didn't get her with just her cute bump!  Sigh.  Hard to believe Grand#2 will be here shortly.  Just seems like yesterday that they shared their good news with us and I had TWO Grands baking in the oven.  Flash forward a few months and Grand#1 was in attendance at her little cousin's baby shower.  Love how my family is growing like that!

"Then and Now"
Thing #2 and #1.2

And so we all gathered Thanksgiving weekend to celebrate, and fall in love, with Grand#2.

"Falling in Love with Baby Blackburn"

Loved the decor.  Simple and cute.  Vintage baby shoes with sweet babies breath.

"Babies Breath"

Thing #1.2's baptism outfit, and a collection of cute baby girl dresses on display.

"Momma-to-be's Baptism Gown"

"Pretty in Pink"

And lots of candles, photos, beautiful lighting, and baby memorabilia from both Things #1 and #1.2

Tables set in tones of gold, pink and cream.

Just add cake...

"Oh Baby"

...and an abundance of family and friends (including a surprise appearance by a very special BFF all the way from Kansas).

"Surprise"

And of course presents.  Lots and lots of presents.

"Because every little girl needs cowboy boots"

"Mom Mom's Quilt"

All the beautiful little details added up to a gorgeous celebration of love for the Mama-to-be and her bump.  But, still kicking myself for being oblivious to the obvious.  Oh well...even more reason to look forward to Grand#3 whenever he/she decides to be a reality.

P.S.  Whew!  Mission accomplished....got the post delivered BEFORE Grand #2!

Here's where I "link up" today 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

Yes, I've been AWOL for quite some time now.  Closing in on two months.  I meant to step away for only a couple of weeks.  And like so many other things in my life, before I realized it I got swept up in a black hole of time flying by.  It was the best of times.  It was also the worst of times.  Luckily, the good FAR outweighed the bad.

The best of times...

"Falling in Love with Baby Blackburn"

"My Girls"

Thanksgiving weekend we celebrated the upcoming arrival of Grand#2.  More photos coming THIS WEEK of the baby shower extraordinaire!  Can't wait to show you some of the cute decor.  Check back soon. (my goal is to get this Baby Shower post in BEFORE the actual baby makes it's appearance...which is any day now!)

"Who's Got the Cookie"

Quickly following on the heals of the baby shower we went full throttle into Christmas celebrations. I hosted not one, but TWO holiday cookie exchanges at the house this year again.  Both were bigger and better than last years events.  I had cookies coming out of the wazoo for WEEKS! Who am I kidding...they were gone before I could taste each type AND they have now taken up residence ON my wazoo!

"Look who's here again!"
(on our way to see Santa)

As soon as the last cookie party ended (and I mean THAT NIGHT!) Thing #3 was home from Penn State for the holidays...and Grand#1 and her family (aka Things #2 and #2.1) were back from Cincinnati for a nice visit.  Which included our family Christmas party.  The FIRST time we've been able to get a full family photograph in quite a few years. In the meantime, the family has grown considerably.  I swear I heard the staircase moan. Keep in mind...we had eaten a FEW cookies! What you can't "hear" in this photo is a rousing rendition of "Doe a Deer" to keep the babies from crying. As you can see, epic fail.  Might have to blame our voices for that.

"Clan McIntyre"

As in most family gatherings where babies are a relatively new phenomenon...they kinda took center stage.  First Christmas where both my sister and I are both a Mimi and an Omi.

"You're new here, let me tell ya a bit about this family we belong to"

Three days after Christmas we were off.  Thing #3 headed west to Pasadena, California to watch Penn State vs. USC in the Rose Bowl.

"Rose Bowl Bound"

And the Better Half and myself headed east to London where we met up with my BFF and her hubs for the New Year.  Planning on posting more photos of our London excursion next week.  Check back mates, you'll be gobsmacked!

"Ringing up Colin Firth...because I love you Uncle Jamie"
London, England

"Masters of the Selfie"
London,  England

And....I FINISHED MY 365 PROJECT!!!!!!!  Woohoo!  Not sure I'll do that again, but glad I did it once!  Note to self:  Do NOT pick a 365 project during a leap year!  My over achieving arse was committed to 366 freakin' photos!  My last photo of 2016 (or maaaaaybe it was my first of 2017????).  New Years Eve Fireworks in London.  Blimey...gonna be hard to top that next New Years!  Challenge accepted.

"New Years Eve"
London, England
366/366

So it's now 2017.  Thing #3 is back at Penn State.  I still don't have all the Christmas thing-a-ma-jigs down and packed away.  Grand#2 is due any day.  I've got lots of photos to edit.  And yet...here I am still stuck in that Black Hole.  Trying to dig my way out.  Which brings me to,

The worst of times...

"Saying Goodbye"
Homer

Returning from London we picked up Dogs #1 and #2 from the kennel.  All seemed fine.  Thing #3 returned to school a few days later.  And then things went rapidly downhill for Dog#1...our Homer. In retrospect, I honestly think once Thing #3 went back to school, and the holidays were over...he gave in to what ailed him. Those who aren't "dog people" might have a hard time understanding the true depth of sorrow that comes with losing a fur baby.  Homer was closing in on 12 years old.  He was DEF a part of the family.  I was alone when the hard decision had to be made, so I was the one to hold Homer and give him his last kisses.  I guess it is only fair that our fur babies give us so much of their hearts during their lifetimes, that they should take a piece of ours with them when they leave us. RIP sweet HomeBoy.  Forever in our hearts and our family.  Sniff.

And THAT is where in the world I have been, in a photographic nutshell.  Please check back later this week for those Baby Shower pics...sure hope they make it here before Grand#2 makes it into our world!

P.S.  Hoping to be back on a more regular blogging schedule.  Black Holes be damned!

Here's where I "link up" today 

"Thanksgiving, centerpieces, and spray paint...

Grand children are toys for their grand parents.  And sometimes...centerpieces.

"Thanksgiving Centerpiece"
Grand#1

Thanksgiving this year revolved around the littlest family member, Grand#1.  I could barely get my hands on her, she was a hot commodity.  And our cutest Thanksgiving turkey so far.   When I wasn't able to hijack Grand#1 and keep her all to myself, I did what any empty handed Omi would do...I cooked, cleaned, and decorated the table for Thanksgiving.

Gotta tell ya.  It was my cheapest tablescape ever!  The centerpiece was free (big thumbs down to Thing#2 who wouldn't let me spray paint Grand#1's seat to coordinate with the tablescape!).

Nonetheless, I DID go on a spray paint frenzy.  First, I dug out the white spray paint and went to town on a bunch of clear vintage-inspired bottles left over from Thing#2's baby shower.  Of course, I waited for the WINDIEST day in November to tackle this project.  I now have white spray painted jeans...I just can't wear them now because it's after Labor Day.  

And THEN I did the most un-neighborly thing possible.  I sent the Better Half out with a pair of scissors, and the guise of nightfall...to cut a few dying hydrangeas from a neighbors bushes.  Yeah, I know.  But honestly, I've always had a thing for "Bad Boys".  And I think the Better Half felt accomplished returning from his "search and rescue" mission with an arm full of hydrangeas.  Okay, MAYBE "bad boy" isn't the right term here, haha.  But in my defense (which I know there really ISN'T any) the bushes lined the street, AND they never even see them from their house. AND...they are moving.  But not because of Moi, I think?

Then I whipped out my gold spray paint and went to town.  Seriously, spray painting can be an addiction! Learning from my windy day challenge, I retreated to the garage this time.  The Better Half hasn't noticed the faint sheen of gold on the outdoor fridge yet.

Having two of my kids married, we now alternate Thanksgiving and Christmas.  This year I was blessed to have the entire clan here for Thanksgiving.  It was a full house.  Which means I was VERY happy.  And Grand#1?  Well, being the perfect grandchild that she is...she fell asleep just in time to allow her parents to enjoy their Thanksgiving meal.

Too much turkey will do that even to the best of us!

Here's where I "link up" today