LET FREEDOM RING!

I think it is safe to say that the 4th of July is one of the best holidays we have. I love it for so many reasons. My family had so many traditions on the 4th, and I really want my own little family to have some as well. When I was young I could always count on our cul-de-sac BBQ (which was always held in my yard), some sort of water fight, and going to my grandparents to watch the fireworks on their front lawn.

This year was a blast. We spent the entire day with friends. Being away from family, we really feel like we rely more on the great friends we have in the area.

We got up early and went to our ward breakfast which turned out to be a lot of fun. We went to a BBQ in the evening and stuffed ourselves with delicious food. We ended the evening by walking down to the Iwo Jima Memorial and watching the fireworks over the Potomac. There is something magical about fireworks! Little Sterling Henry enjoyed the show but sort of freaked out during the grand finale when everyone started clapping.

During the day we hung out and watched Sterling Henry pull himself up on things (with a little help). He is getting so big and strong!

The Iwo Jima Memorial was PACKED! We got there just minutes before the fireworks started and had great seats!!!

Sterling Henry loved watching the show with his dad.

Still loving it...


I am obsessed with this picture! I LOVE pictures with fireworks in the background and this is the first of many for our family! (plus, check out Little Man's face... ADORABLE!!)


I hope the 4th will be as memorable to my kids as it is to me!

THE CRAWLER

Sterling Henry has figured out how to "crawl." He gets around all over the place and is starting to get into EVERYTHING! I honestly have to say that I actually like him getting into things. I know there might hit a point where I don't but for now... I LOVE IT!

Here he is in action...

PRETTY MUCH GROWN UP

Sterling Henry is getting so big it is breaking my heart (and my back). He looks so old in these pictures, I can barely even handle it!

He is starting to do some crawling/moving/sliding. I need to get it on video so I will post it soon.

He also is starting to pull himself up on things and can stand while holding onto something. It is amazing how he really changes everyday. I love being home with him and being able to see those changes.




This is right after he was pulling himself up to this table but once I got out the camera he wouldn't perform.

We sure love our little cub!

TO ALL THE DADS IN MY LIFE!

Father's Day is the best! I am pretty sure I feel this way because I have the best dad ever. He is the most patient, kind, loyal, humble, man in the world. I am who I am today because of my dad!


Four years ago, I inherited a new dad who I love dearly! Dad Fillmore is an amazing man. He has loved me like a daughter from day one. I am SOOO glad that he is Sterling Henry's grandpa because he is truly an amazing person.


Eight months ago, I saw the love of my life become a dad and I have loved watching every minute of it.


Sterling Henry is a serious daddy's boy and I LOVE it! This kid comes from a long line of good dads and has so many amazing men in his life to look up too!

This picture makes my heart melt!

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD!

I am one of those people who is OBSESSED with getting to know my neighbors. It has been a bit of a struggle out here living in an appartment, but I have done it. I know everyone's names and we greet each other and chat pretty often. I have even borrowed an egg or two when I have been in a pinch!

Why am I so obsessed? For many reasons. First, it makes me feel safe. Second, I feel like it is the neighborly thing to do. Third, since none of them are members of the church, it is a good way to fellowship. And last but not least, I am a tad bit nosey. I love figuring things out and by talking with them, you find out a lot. I have neighbors from, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bolivia. It has been a lot of fun getting to know them and their traditions. Plus most of them have kids, and they LOVE Sterling Henry!

A new guy moved in a month ago. I saw him and tried to introduce myself. I didn't get much from the conversation. As the weeks went by, I never saw him, and I pay very close attention to who comes and goes in our complex. Last week we saw him and introduced ourselves. Older single guy, works long hours, makes complete sense why we never see him. On Tuesday I saw him again. We said hi, and he asked if I like Georgetown Cupcake... um yes, doesn't everybody??? (In case you haven't heard of them, it is only the best cupcake place around. The yummiest cupcakes with the best frosting) He proceeded to tell me that he would drop some by... Ok!

The next day I woke up and look what was wrapped up outside my door. 16 CUPCAKES!!!
It pays to know your neighbor!!!

SUMMER LOVE

I love summer for lots of reasons but mostly because of popsicles. (I also really love shaved ice but haven't really found a good stand here.)

Yesterday I bought a new box. As I took one out of the wrapper, Sterling Henry could not take his eyes off it, he was dying to try it, so I let him. HE LOVED IT! Even though it was cold, he couldn't get enough!

Here he is...

8 MONTHS

Sterling Henry turned eight months this week. He is the sweetest little cub!

He is the BEST sleeper.
He loves his mom and dad.
He claps.
He gives five or ten with all the excitement you can imagine.
He eats anything and everything.
He just recently started saying "mamamama" which is nice to hear after months of "dadadada."
He loves music.
He loves books.
He scoots around all over the place.
He is a sitting champ.
He is such a smiley baby.

He is the best thing ever! We love our little man and have LOVED the last eight months.

HAPPINESS

Happiness can be achieved by a lot of different things. Here are some of the things that have added to our happiness as of late.

Sterling went on a LONG awaited fishing trip out to Ocean City, Md with some friends. (He actually called me when he caught his first fish... at 1:30am, I LOVED it!) Sterling has been working so hard and needed a good break!

I have been perfecting yummy whole wheat artisan bread made on the fabulous bread stone I got for Mother's Day.


A batch of delicious strawberry jam made from the delicious strawberries we picked last week.




And one ADORABLE clapping baby. It is his new trick and we can't get enough of it!

STRAWBERRY PICKING!!!

There is this fabulous farm about an hour from our house that we love to go to in the summer. For the last two years we have gone out there in August and picked peaches and blackberries. This year we went for strawberries!
We are pretty serious about how many strawberries we need! We still weren't sure if we got enough.


Sterling Henry LOVED it! I think he enjoys getting out just as much as we do.

They had the best strawberry shakes. Sterling Henry LOVES drinking out of a straw so he enjoyed a little of the shake too.
And keeping tradition, the boys swam in the Shannondoah on the way back. Sorry that this is the worst picture ever but I was getting eaten alive by mosquitoes!

ANSWERS

Many of you have asked what our plans are now that Sterling has graduated. Well, we are staying here. Sterling accepted a job at the Patent firm he has been working at through school and will start there as an associate in September. We are thrilled! The firm is great and close to our house.

This summer we are sticking around here and Sterling will be studying for the bar while me and the little man will be enjoying the hot humid summer. August will be full of LOTS of travel!

Oh... we are also accepting visitors at anytime :)

FIRST THINGS FIRST

This was our weekend full of FIRSTS.

We took Sterling Henry swimming for the FIRST time and he loved it!



FIRST real cold for the little man. FIRST time to the Urgent Care. (Everything turned out ok... just some over-reactive FIRST time parents!)

These two pictures are supposed to show how miserable he looked for the FIRST time. But every time I turned on the camera, he started smiling... luckily that is not a FIRST!



FIRST Memorial Day BBQ with friends. FIRST time watching dad play softball.


FIRST time in a swing.

We love our little man and couldn't be any happier that he is our FIRST.

He felt a lot better yesterday and we really had an enjoyable Memorial Day!

AT LAST

So we have been on the hunt for the perfect hat for Sterling Henry this summer (I know first kid, every thing has to be perfect right?!?) Anyway, we now have two and this is the one his dad picked out. Camo? Bass Pro Shop? His dad couldn't be prouder!



The one I picked out is a navy blue fisherman style but I do have to say that this one is my favorite! He looks so much like his dad... I LOVE IT!!!

VISITORS ARE THE BEST!!!!

Sterling's parents were here for graduation and we had such a great time. There are so many fun places to go around here so we went to check out some new ones.

Our first stop was Oatlands Plantation. This was a beautiful mansion home in Leesburg, built in 1804. It only had a few owners and then was turned over to the National Trust Society and was kept in great condition. The house itself was amazing, it is hard to imagine anyone today living in a house of that size much less 200 years ago!



The ladies!

The gardens were in full bloom. They were getting ready for a big wedding, it was pretty amazing.


We stopped at the Ben Lomond Plantation, which was used as a hospital by the Confederates after the First Battle of Manassas. It was not open but the house was beautiful anyway.

On Friday we went to Woodlawn. This mansion was built for George Washington's nephew and his grand-daughter (through marriage), and just three miles from Mount Vernon. This place was UNBELIEVABLE!

The grounds were beautiful. We have been getting so much rain so everything is green as can be.


We then went down to Gunston Hall (George Mason's Home). Little Sterling spent all week in the Bjorn with his dad and had the time of his life! I am not sure who liked it more?!?

Of course we had to take Sterling's parents to Ray's Hell Burgers. Sterling LOVES this place and there is no question why... check out that burger! Our friends changed our lives by introducing us to this place!

Loving it.

David and Emma Jean both LOVED it!

We had the best time with Sterling's parents. Thank you so much for coming out. Little Sterling misses you also. I can tell he looks around wondering, " where did my fun grandparents go?"

Thank you for an amazing visit!

GRADUATION!!!

After three LONG years, my husband graduated for Law School... Yipee!

The graduation was very enjoyable and I could not have been prouder. Little Sterling Henry had a great time watching his dad.

The graduate.


Little Sterling Henry could not get enough of his dad's tassel. (I am pretty sure that whoever invented the tassel had kids!)


One proud momma!


We are so glad that Stering's parents were able to be here for the graduation. We love them so much and love having them here.


Little Sterling Henry was a little ham all day. He managed to charm everyone around us. It's almost like he understood what a big day this was for his dad.


Proof!

I am so proud of Sterling. He has worked so hard for the last three years. Along with all his school work he managed to work at a firm part-time, he passed the Patent Bar, and still was a wonderful husband and fantastic father.

Way to go babe!!!

WHAT COULD BE BETTER?

Few things could be better than having your grandparents in town feeding you lots of yummy things like ice cream sandwiches!

Needless to say we are having the time of our lives with Sterling's parents. More pics to come...

OUR LITTLE MUNCHER

There is not doubt about it, this kid LOVES to eat! ( I wonder who he got that from??)

WORTH THE WAIT!

These two boys ran an "errand" yesterday that wore them both out. (ok so maybe it just wore dad out!)


My boys got me a Artisan Bread baking stone and a peel. Thanks boys! Now I can make all these yummy things!!!
I have been blessed with so many amazing women in my life including my own mother, mother-in-law, sisters, sister-in-laws, grandmas, aunts, cousins, friends, neighbors, leaders, and many others. I always loved Mother's Day and couldn't wait to be a mother myself.

It was a bit of a long road but SO completely worth the wait!!!

LOOK AT ME!

Sterling Henry is a big boy. We love this about him. Because of his size, sitting up has been a bit tough for him to figure out. (that, and probably because we are always holding him!!) He has pretty much mastered sitting up and now tries to and wants to all the time.

Here he is showing off his skills!

This little face kills me! I want to kiss it all day... and I DO!
Our little cub looks EXACTLY like his dad. Some people say he looks like me but I think he is a spitting image of his father. Ether way, he is adorable!

Sterling Henry will be 7 months on Friday and we can't even believe. He is such a joy to have around the house. Every morning we are greeted with a huge smile and it seems to be on his face for the rest of the day. We love our little man and could take about 8 more just like him!!!