Fun Times!

We were finally able to get everyone together for a cookout again now that Andrew is back on a normal work schedule. We really missed having everyone over! We had about 25 people over so it was really fun!Next time we are going to move the grill to the side of the house because Andrew smoked us all out when he was grilling!Julian was so stinking cute! He literally played right here by the pool for about 3 hours! He was happy as can be!Josie makes me laugh. She really isn't too sure about herself with her little friends yet. She'll play with them for a few minutes, but then needs to find me or Andrew for some reassurance.Even though Andrew popped the pool in two different places, the kids had so much fun!UH OH!!! Josie and Everett were more interested in the cooler then they were all the toys. These two are a bit mischievous when they are together! This picture was just funny timing. We promptly took it away and covered up the cooler!Thank God someone donated this extra long picnic table! It's perfect for our get togethers!We were missing our Amy! Tiff is so great. I love spending time with her! She got some awesome 3D Ultrasound pictures of little Ean. SO COOL!On Saturday Josie and I drove down to Lenox to waste some time until my mom's flight got in. She was supposed to be in around noon, but of course there were delays and she didn't end up getting to the hotel until about 4. Josie and I spent the afternoon shopping. She got to have a big thing of Chocolate Milk and I got to go to H&M for over an hour, so we were both happy campers!!Mae Mae was worth the wait!! Josie ran up to her with open arms when she walked into the hotel. I think that made my mom's day! They played with the closet door for a long time!Josie has some weird bumps that are spreading on her legs and a few on her arms. I think it's an allergic reaction from something in the yard. So we had to go to Target to get some cream to put on them. I love Target.Room Service for the Princess of Quite A Lot.This is Josie's new best friend, Mr. Frog. The thing is bigger then she is, but she insists on carrying him by herself! Pretty funny to watch!

She's got the fever..

Josie woke up with a fever yesterday. She spent the day at her Nana's until I could get her in to see the doctor. They don't see any reason for the fever so all we can do is let it run it's course. She's never been sick so we're praying that continues.
Even with a 102.6 temp, she is still laughing and playing like a trooper, so the fever must not bother her too bad!

Anniversary Weekend!

Josie is becoming quite the little mama! She loves her baby dolls. She'll be a great mom someday...If she quits holding the babies upside down!Kisses for baby!This is the perfect picture of Josie's angry face. This is how she looks right before she swats that little hand at us (which promptly lands her in time out). She's cute even when she's being bad! Her new thing it working her eyebrows! They have so much expression!
Saturday was Andrew and my sixth anniversary! We are going on a big trip to celebrate our anniversary and our "Gotcha Day" (the day we brought Josie home) in October, so for our actual anniversary we just had a family day.
We went out for a nice drive and then stopped for ice cream. Josie had her first ice cream cone. I'm not brave enough to actually give her a cone with the ice cream in it, so she got to hold the cone and I held the ice cream in a dish. She was more interested in the tiny spoon then the actual ice cream though!Cutest Family in the World!That night Andrew made an awesome steak dinner with a ton of veggies! It was so nice outside so we ate on the back porch. I love our house!Andrew made good use of our new Pampered Chef Truffle Bowl! He made a banana chocolate nilla waffer wonderland! It was SO good (and really pretty!)!!Andrew had to work on Sunday so Josie and I headed over to Darlene and Curt's house to swim! Amy, Scott, Luke, Tiffany, Everett, Jacie Grace, and Jonah all met us over there too! It was perfect swimming weather and we had the pool to ourselves! When we were done swimming we went by the house to let Luke check out Curt's airplane! He was so cute. We asked if he wanted to be a pilot when he grew up and he said "No. I want to fly airplanes." I love kids!We also went by Tanger to find Josie some flip flops or some kind of summer shoe. It seems that shoe companies make shoes for infants up to 9 months and then start the actual shoe size at 6/7 but Josie needs a 4/5. I guess feet as small as hers aren't supposed to have shoes on them. I've looked EVERYWHERE! So the shoe hunt continues!

Six Years Ago Today...

Six years ago today was the last day I woke up as Nicole Purmort. Six years ago today, I drove myself to the free makeup place to get my makeup done. I put on my $89 dress and put the finishing touches on a homemade confetti cake.

Six years ago today, my mom got bumped from her flight and called me crying saying she would never make it on time. Six years ago today, I prayed that another couple would break up so we could get another time slot. Six years ago today, my mom boarded a plane two hours later then planned only to have one of the engines go out during the flight (don't worry, you only need one).

Six years ago today I drove myself to the courthouse and sat by myself looking like a woman who was left at the alter. Six years ago today I was scared to death.

Six years ago today all of our family pulled into the parking lot, many of them were meeting for the first time. We filled up the entire room.

Six years ago today I had butterflies going crazy in my stomach. Six years ago today, I did something that most people said I was crazy for doing, too young, too naive.

Six years ago today, I became Mrs. Nicole Pope. It was the best decision I've ever made.

I married my best friend. Someone who knew every part of who I was and loved me just the same. Someone who had broken my heart, dried my tears, made me laugh hysterically, made me madder then I'd ever been, and who had stolen all parts of my soul the first time I laid eyes on him.

These past six years have been filled with ups and downs and round and rounds. We've seen some of our biggest mistakes and had some of the biggest blessings. We are a team that is stronger today then we have ever been: side by side, no matter what.

He is my protector, my sunshine, my hero. And I love him with everything that I have and it's so nice to know the feeling is mutual.

So here's to the last 2,191 days as husband and wife. I can't wait to spend the rest with you.

Love. Love. Love.

Happy Father's Day!!

Sunday was Andrew's first Father's Day! When Josie woke up he looked at me and said, "She makes me a father for Father's Day." I thought that was so sweet! Andrew is the greatest Dad ever and Josie loves him a whole bunch!
She couldn't wait to give him the present she made for him! It's a memory box for him to keep all the little things she makes for him in. I made him one when we got married and we keep all our love letters and cards in it. I can't wait to look through this box as she gets older!We just spent a lazy morning at home. Andrew and Josie ate cereal out of the box together and watched a show on all the crazy animals that live in Asia. Josie was really in to it!
After Josie's nap we headed over to Andrew's parents house for a super yummy steak dinner! Josie made a card for Grandpa Curt too! She only let him look at it for a minute before she took it back!We went over to the pool for a little bit too. Josie wore her little bikini and it was so cute! But it was about 2 sizes too big! Maybe next year she can wear it a little more. She was in a really bad mood, so the pool trip didn't last very long.Happy Father's Day Andrew. Thank you for being so amazing with our little girl and teaching her how a man is meant to treat a woman. I love you more then you'll ever know.

16 Months Old

Our little bug is 16 Months Old! My how time flies.

This past month has been a busy one full of learning to go down the stairs, share her toys, put away her toys, eat with a spoon, and all kinds of new sounds.

She had her first trip to the pool and to the ocean!

She is also learning how to turn on the charm to get out of a sticky situation as well as how to play hard to get when Daddy wants a hug!

This also marks the timeline where she has been with us longer then she was with the foster family.

This little girl continues to light up our lives with every little smirk and kiss.

Jeremiah 29:11 (The Message)

"I'll show up and I'll take care of you just as I promised I would. And I'll bring you back home. I know what I'm doing, I have it all planned out. Plans to take care of you and not abandon you. Plans to give you the future you hope for."

Love it.

The Beach!!

We packed up last Thursday and headed down to my Dad's house for some much needed Grandpa and Grandma time. We planned to be on the road nice and early, but we had a little oil trouble at Wal-Mart. Josie didn't mind the wait though, she fell in love with this Barbie Car!Before too long we were on our way. Don't let this next picture fool you, she only slept for about 20 minutes on the way there and about an hour on the way home! She is a great traveler, but she needed a nap both ways so it got a little rough towards the end of the trip.We surprised my Dad at work and then went on to the house. My Dad bought her a sandbox and made her a beach! She loved it! She loved the pool! She wouldn't keep her hat on though. I guess she thought Daddy needed it more then she did. He does look pretty cute!Here she is swimming with Grandma!Saturday night we went to Aly's dance recital. It was really good and she did an amazing job! Josie was so funny, she danced during every song and was really upset when the music would go off during the breaks! I guess we might have a dancer on our hands!I love this picture! Out to dinner with Grandpa and Grandma!On Sunday we headed for the beach! It was absolutely PERFECT weather! 90 with a really nice breeze. We lathered Josie up with sunscreen and sent her on her way. She screeched at new octaves when she saw the ocean! She wasn't scared at all!She did have a death grip on my fingers when the waves would come in! I don't think I've ever seen a sweeter sight then when I see these two playing together. Their love is so pure and deep. I really fall in love with Andrew all over again every time I see the way he loves this little girl.
What a good looking family!
And I finally got my smiley picture with Josie! Too bad I have my sunglasses on and my hair is a hot mess!
We drove back late last night. We're all tired today, but we had such a great vacation. I can't wait for our next one!