3 Wonderful Years!

   This day, three years ago, I married the man of my dreams. I can't believe I have been married to Mark for already three years! Sometimes it feels like its been forever (in a good way) and sometimes our wedding feels like it was just yesterday. I am blessed every day through and by him and I look forward to many, many more years together. I can honestly say that I married my best friend and that I love him more and more each day. His calm nature and big smile always help me get through the tough times and he challenges me to see the best in the world around me. Most importantly he encourages me in my walk with Christ and his faith is an incredible witness to myself. Feeling so blessed today as I reflect on the past three years! We've traveled coast to coast (Nova Scotia to BC), we been to the DR and Florida, we've lived in three apartments, Mark's completed college and started his full-time "real-life" job, we were blessed with PJ, and together we've grown in faith! Wow! These past three years have been great but: Let's make this fourth year of marriage the best one yet babe ;)! 

Our wedding three years ago!

The beautiful flowers my wonderful hubby surprised me with today!

I SEW Did That!

   For the last couple of months I have been spending random afternoons with my Mom sewing. As a child I remember my Mom sewing very often and we (my sisters and I) were often clothed in her creations. I decided that it would be pretty special if I could sew something for PJ to wear so I took a pattern and some fabric and my $14 "garage sale find" sewing machine to my Mom's house and we got busy! She is a lot faster than I and finished two dresses and a boy's baseball hat in the time that I finished one little dress for PJ....but she is a good teacher and I am starting to feel slightly more confident sewing. Here are some pictures of my first project!!

The finished product! 

Here are some pictures of the dress on my very cute model:

   I think she looks pretty cute! Not bad for my first time attempt at sewing!!! I am excited to sew more things...and am already looking for new ideas! 

This was her expression when I told her that I had sewn this. Complete awe! :)

Gardening

   A while back I blogged about enjoying the summer with PJ while gardening. Well, as promised, here are the BEFORE and AFTER pictures of our outdoor living space! 

BEFORE:

   

AFTER:

My beautiful pots. Thanks to my older sister for helping me pick out flowers:)!

PJ enjoying the backyard. 

   Mark and I have never really had a "yard" space before. We did have balconies in our previous two apartments...unfortunately the first balcony was a safety hazard and our second balcony was quite small. At least we did have some nice pots during the Summer on our second balcony but we have never been able to garden like this before! Mark used to work in landscape and really seemed in his element cutting out the garden and planting plants. It was really a nice experience gardening with him. I look forward to many more years and backyards worth of gardening together :). 

   Anyways, we have really enjoyed sitting on our patio enjoying the sunshine, warmer weather and beautiful garden and pots. I also particularly enjoy sitting there in the afternoon (while PJ naps) watching Danielle chase after two of her very cute (but sometimes mischievous) children! 

On the move!

   

LOOK

WHO'S

COMING

TO

GET

YOU!

   Yup! PJ is crawling! Such a fun and exciting time! She is getting into everything! All of a sudden I need to have the floors continually swept and vacuumed because if there is some dirt...she will find it to eat it! She's very observant and curious. It's really cute watching her discover everything new: drawer handles, the fireplace mantle, the computer cord, etc. Yup! She keeps us hopping! 

   She also is becoming a little bit of a ham...here is her posing for me while I was taking these pictures:

Splish Splash!

   This is what happens in our home if you get more food ON you instead of INSIDE of you!! You get cleaned with the dishes! :) She loved it!! 

 

8 Months!

   Once again this post is quite a bit overdue...but our little PJ is 8 months old!!! I can't believe how fast this year is going! I want it to ssslllooooowwww right down. I am not ready for people to be saying "Oh! That means she is almost 1!" like the lady did at the restaurant last night. Yikes!!!! 

   She is such a happy baby!! She is almost always smiling and its so easy to get a giggle or a full belly laugh out of her! I foresee lots of JOY in this household in the coming years! She is definitely living up to her middle name! As you can see in the picture she is sitting on her own! She is also thinking of crawling...I think she'll be on the move before we know it! She is eating more solid foods - such as little pieces of bread, baby puffs, and cheerios. She is independent and loves feeding herself. She plays so nicely on her own and spends a good bit of time in the playpen which we have set up in the kitchen. She plays in there while I do dishes or make supper. She and I "talk" almost all day. She babbles and grunts and "spits" at me while I tell her what I am doing. Or we copy each other, which is a lot of fun! 
   We love having PJ around our house!!! What a fun 8 months these have been! 

Sunshine!

   I am not one to complain...but seriously?! This "Spring/Summer" weather hasn't been all that great! We have had some very hot days, a few warm sunny Spring days, but a TON of rainy days! Last week PJ and I took advantage of a rare sunny Monday and spent most of the day outside gardening! My older sister helped me pick out plants for my flower pots on Saturday and I went to work on Monday. I have never planted anything before...but I tried my best and I think they turned out great :). In the evening Mark came home and we put in a new garden along the edge of our patio! We have never gardened together before and I really enjoyed it. Mark used to be a landscaper so he knew just what to do! I think the finished product looks lovely! A beautiful place for us to sit and enjoy a sunny day or an evening cup of tea! Of course if this weather ever clears up I'll actually be able to take a picture of the finished product and share it! 
Until then....here are some pictures of PJ enjoying the beautiful sun while this Average Momma tried my hand at gardening!!

Investigating the grass! I tried to stop her but I think she snuck a taste or two :S

"Its too bright Mom!!"

Beautiful!