We love the park

We might as well just pack up and move to the park, we have been spending so much time there lately. I am trying to enjoy these days as much as I can knowing I will be working full time soon. The weather has been so perfect here lately and when the sun is out, so are we.

 Riley is getting so big! Look at that belly and look at how good she is at sitting up on her own!

We just laid on our blanket and watched the planes go by. It was bliss.

I love days like these.

Sunset at the park

 A few weeks back Josh and I took the baby and our first baby to Centennial park for a stroll to get a glimpse of the beautiful cherry blossoms. You can see pictures of last year's blooms here.

 After the sun went down it was impossible to get a clear picture, but here is the Parthenon with downtown Nashville in the background.

 And here is Josh pushing the stroller and walking Lola around the front side of the Parthenon.

Like most people, I sometimes let the everyday stresses get in the way of enjoying life. This particular day I was home with Riley by myself and had been waiting for Josh to get home so I could get some stuff done and go grocery shopping. Josh came home and immediately suggested we take Riley to the park since it was so nice out. I fought off my instinct to ramble off every other thing that needed to be done. Instead, I let the laundry wait until the next day and had Josh run to the store later that night. After all it is nights like these that we will remember forever.

Spring in Nashville

 Down town Nashville from the pedestrian bridge. Isn't it pretty on the water? I think one of the reasons so many people love Nashville is because it is so inviting, and the city is not at all intimidating. I am one to get stressed out and anxious over traffic, one way streets and parallel parking, but something about Nashville just makes everything seem easier. The people hear move at a slower pace and as we noticed when we went home to Phoenix, the people down hear really are nicer.

It was in the 60's today, can you believe it? After a week of winter weather (highs in the 40's) the sun decided to come back out and let us enjoy the outdoors again. We had a little teaser a couple of weeks back and all of the trees bloomed, but then someone decided to roll in the clouds, rain and cold air and it was not very nice.

I love spring, and I love the seasons! You know the way you feel in Arizona in November when the weather finally starts to feel perfect outside? Well when you live in a state with seasons that is what you feel like in the spring when you have been stuck inside all winter. It's amazing and it is something I will miss if we move.

Thoughts on a Sunday Afternoon

Lola: "Why is she always pointing that thing at me?"

Lola: "I wish I was downstairs on the grass chasing birds and sniffing other dog's poo." Is this too much direct sunlight, or not enough? How often do I water them? They will probably be dead in a week, the pot sure is cute though.

Five pounds of strawberries is a little nuts. But $4.99 for 5 lbs is too good to pass up. Strawberries for dinner tonight?

I love the mailman/mailwoman. Well, maybe just on the days I get magazines and packages, he can keep those bills to himself.

(And why is spellcheck telling me that mailwoman is not a word, but madwoman is? Seems a little sexist.)

Another Holiday Spent Alone

Lola keeps watch.

Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Valentine's Day, and now Easter. Besides Christmas day, I have spent the majority of the day on all of these holidays alone, well alone with Lola. Josh went out of town on Thanksgiving, worked until 8:30 on Christmas Eve, worked V Day and is working from open to close today. It really stinks, and makes me wish we lived closer to family.

But, all is not bad. I got a lot of cleaning done today, successfully hard boiled my first egg and have been enjoying the sunlight.

Picnic Breakfast at Centennial Park

Hello sunshine, I love you.

Lola learns to play fetch. Well, besides the whole bring it back part. She just wants to eat the stick after she gets it.

And, she's tired! Been curled up on my lap napping while we enjoy the patio, magazines, and fresh pineapple.

Since spring has arrived, my feelings for Nashville have done a complete 180. I actually remember why we moved here (besides grad school of course). It is so pretty here! I had no idea all of these dead looking trees would be blossoming with white and pink petals.

Josh has this Friday off. Let me state that again...JOSH HAS FRIDAY OFF! This has not happened in MONTHS, probably not even since we moved here. We are so excited we might make a day trip out of it. Memphis? Lexington? Chattanooga? Atlanta? All within about a 3 hour drive. I can't wait to spend an entire day together!

I love spring!

Weekend Bliss

Mom came to town this weekend and we had so much fun relaxing, eating, exploring, shopping and enjoying the gorgeous weather. After our first appointment with our Midwife on Friday we headed to breakfast and then picked up the cities BEST cupcakes at Cupcake Collection for celebration. My mom took a couple of pictures of us outside and in both of them I have this weird white fuzzy light over my head...pregnancy glow? ghost? halo? guardian angel? It has been giving me the willies ever since. Mind you this picture has been edited to lessen the effect of the creepy blur.

On Friday my mom and I did more of said eating, shopping, exploring and headed to downtown Franklin to walk around the quaint brick streets, browse independent shops, and of course eat more yummy food. Saturday brought us more of the above and since the weather was so wonderful I was on a mission to find patio furniture. I literally had not stepped foot on our patio in months, but with forecasters predicting the 70's all week I was on the hunt. I ended up going with these chairs from Target, they are so comfortable! Now, if I could just get over the fear of Lola falling through the railing!

So that sums up the weekend pretty much. I took mom to the airport this morning before the sun came up. The house is a little lonelier today, so I made brownies to keep myself occupied. *See Grandma Irene, I even used the brownie pan you sent me!* And you can bet that I will smother these lovelies in Nutella!