celebrating baby natalie

last weekend we three tingles packed up in the new go-cart and headed to the atl. we arrived saturday late afternoon and were quite pooped from the busy morning and the drive over, but it was so worth it!

kel looked oh-so-cute pregnant, but seriously folks, did we ever doubt it?!?! heck no! we played in natalie's room and got excited looking at all her cute stuff. now we just need her here to wear it! addison did great sleeping away from home, but then again, i didn't doubt that either. addison certainly loved playing with her aunt kel...and with daddy hanging on the couch.

sunday afternoon the big event finally arrived...it was time to get dressed for a party! addison was a champ while being passed around the room. i don't think she will ever realize how special these ladies will be in here life. they will each teach her something i never could...i now this is true because they each have helped make me who i am. i can only guess what shannon will teach her, but i can just imagine me in 16 years in another room trying to eavesdrop as i hear shan and addison giggling about god knows what...and for the record, i will never want to know what you two will be giggling about!

then there is haley...oh haley will teach her to dance. and about boy bands. and how silly pooting can be. and how to save a dime. i wouldn't be surpirsed if addison's first piggy bank comes from haley! but make sure it is filled with money, hayes! addison loved resting in haley's arms. she was so content and so protected...so much the way haley makes me feel, too!

the biggest and best surprise of the weekend was getting to see sarah! oh how i have missed that girl! i haven't seen sarah since her wedding day, and what a beautiful wedding day it was! it was one of the few times in my life when i have known without a shadow of a doubt that a friend, a very special friend, was at peace in her world. she was made for that day. and when i saw her sunday, it was even more apparent how much she has grown into an amazing woman. sarah taught me alot in school that she never even knew. she taught me to love every person in my life without judgement and without fear...for you never know when it this world will no longer be their home. sarah makes me strive to be an amazing mom. to never cease in teaching addison new things. to never cease in loving her, hugging her, telling her i love her. i love you, sarah, and please don't stay away so long next time!!!

now i am crying and worn out...i will continue with more later. all in all, it was an inredible weekend and so fun to see everyone. it never fails that my heart is full when i leave all these girls. kel gave us each little decorative plaques with sayings on them as we were leaving. i like to think that mine was made for me...for yes, all you ladies, "you make my heart smile"!