To the men in my life who are Daddy's ;)

So, Father's Day was last weekend, and I am just now getting around to writing an entry for this very special day. Life has been crazy this week... as usual. ;)
I feel very blessed to have men in Gracie's and my life that are so very special. My dad of course has been there for me my entire life. Starting when I was a newborn baby, and my mom was too sick to take care of me, he stepped up and despite not knowing the first thing about a newborn, took me home alone from the hospital because my mother had to stay longer then expected because she was so sick. My dad continued to take care of me while my mom had several years of illness without a second thought, and he did it well. That time I had with my father is probably what allowed me to have such a close relationship with him all my life. I am grateful that he didn't get scared and walk away when things got too tough. It shows me how much he loved me then and now. Dad, you continue to be there for me every moment I need you. I love that no matter what happens, I know that I can come to you and you will be there for me to offer a shoulder, an ear, and a different point of view if asked. Our relationship has evolved over the years, but has continued to get stronger. I am so grateful for that.
I also feel so unbelieveably blessed to have chosen Teddy to be the father of Ms. Gracie and hopefully another little one someday. ;) Although Gracie was a complete miracle and surprise, I truly believe it was God's plan that she be our daughter and we be her mommy and daddy. Teddy didn't think he was ready to be a dad before Ms. Gracie was born, but now it is obvious that he is an amazing daddy, and Gracie is so very lucky to be able to call him "her daddy". It brings me such joy to see the two of them together, and I see the love in his eyes when he spends time with her, or simply utters the words, "Gracie", "Little Bit", "Little Miss", or even "Stinker Baby" lol. There is absolutely no one else I would ever want to be the father of my babies then you Teddy. You are an amazing father, and I look forward to watching you with our children for the rest of my life. ;) You are now and always my beloved.
As you all know, recently Teddy asked me to marry him. With marriage comes acquiring a whole second family, although I feel as though his family has been my family for years at this point, they don't officially become my "in-laws" until our wedding day. ;) I am thankful to be able to call Teddy's father "dad" also. He has looked out for me and supported me since shortly after Teddy and I started dating three and a half years ago. I feel blessed that we have always gotten along so well, and I am thankful that he cares for me as his own daughter as well. I am so grateful for his love and support along the journey that Teddy and I have been on. ;)
I am so thankful for all of the men in my life who are father's, as I know Gracie is so thankful and blessed to have the most amazing daddy, Peepaw, and Grandpa a little girl could ever ask for. I will always make sure she knows just how blessed she is to have these three special men in her life who love her more then life itself, and will do everything I can to make her relationship with all three as special as my relationship is with all of them as well. We love you all so very much, thank you for your unconditional love and support ;)

Thank God for Second Chances .....

Many of you know the story of Teddy and I, although, there are probably many of you who don't. Our story is one of those stories that if you would have told me it would happen two years ago, I may have not believed you.... although many of you who knew Teddy and I well, or had spent any time with us together over the two plus years we were just friends, you would have said it was a guarantee ;)
Three + years ago, I met a man on-line.... the site was "Woo-me" which I thought was adorable. We talked for weeks via text and just on the phone, and finally had our first date at Checkered Cafe during our lunch hours. (We actually were supposed to meet the day before, but I got sick. (He thought I was just blowing him off, which of course I wasn't... although nervous to meet him ;).
We had a great lunch, the conversation was flowing (no uncomfortable silences, or awkward moments). It was just as I hoped it would be. He also was easy on the eyes ;) We decided at the end of that date that we would try to have a second date the next night, and things just kept going from there. I knew very quickly that there was something really special about him. Well, as many of you already know, our relationship took a turn when I found out I was pregnant. That was a shock to even myself, who was told years before, the possibility of having children on my own would be near impossible. So, imagine my surprise when I had five home pregnancy tests in front of me saying otherwise, and imagine Teddy's surprise as well. He was scared, shocked, and pretty much a mess, which I can't say I blame him. We ended up splitting up, which was the hardest part of this three + year time frame. I will say though, I think it was the absolute best thing that could have ever happened. With having Grace, our daughter, it was never a question to me that Teddy and I would have to put our differences aside, and be friends for her. I didn't want her to suffer because we were not together. I was determined to make her life as normal as possible despite having parents in two separate houses. So, when Grace was born, Teddy and I both forgave each other for all of the things that had happened before (this was with a lot of prayer, and understanding). We put all of our differences aside, and spent time together with Gracie with the plan to show her, that even though her parents were not together, they loved her, and could be good friends.
As Teddy and I spent the next year and a half together, our friendship grew. We talked to each other about everything. He was my best friend, and I was his. I knew there was absolutely nothing I could not say to him, and I think he felt the same way. He dated other people, I dated other people, and we would talk about our dating experiences with each other lol. He was my sounding board, and I his. I know, weird, but I think that this friendship is what led to us falling back in love with one another. We did things a bit backwards the first time around lol. We were a couple, before we were friends, and that was a huge piece of the missing puzzle. We also have grown up quite a bit over the past three years, and both look at life in a much more unselfish way, we value each other more as well. I do think we had to go thru all of that to get to where we finally are today, which is very much in love. We aren't just in love though, we love each other completely. We know each other's weaknesses and flaws, and still love one another. We have been thru storms that many people don't go thru in years of marriage, and we have come out stronger then before we went thru them (even though going thru them felt near impossible lol). I am so thankful for second chances and learning how to forgive.
So, yesterday on June 11, I was having a pretty rotten morning. My mom had been sick in the hospital, Gracie had woken up on the wrong side of the crib, I was tired, and it just seemed as though everything that I had had planned for the day was going awry.... lol. It was just one of those mornings. Teddy came downstairs and pretty much got an ear full, and then a girlfriend crying. He listened as he always does, validated my feelings, and then said, "hold on". He went upstairs, and as quickly as he went upstairs, he was back down. He asked me to come into the living room to where he was at, and right then, he got down on one knee, and asked, "Wendy, will you marry me?" thru some tears (which was really touching to me) as Gracie is running around like a crazy girl (as usual) lol. People have asked how he did it... and if it was perfect? I will say, it was absolutely perfect. It was real, and in the midst of our life as it is sometimes, hectic and busy, there was more honesty in that moment then in a proposal that was planned out and made to be perfect so to speak. It made me realize more then anything else that he was going to be there always,thru craziness, unexpected moments, good times, and bad, he was ready, and I was ready also. You see, our life isn't the fairytale romance, it is the real life kind. With all we have been through, we have grown as a couple, and as individuals, which only makes us a couple even stronger then ever. There is absolutely no one else I would want to walk thru this road called "life" with other then you Teddy. I love you so very much, and cannot imagine spending my life without you. Thank you for being the man I can lean on, laugh with, look towards, and work with to be the best me I can be for myself and for our family. You are the love of my life, and I know for certain, I finally got it right. ;)

As I said in the introduction to my blog, I am the exception, not the rule, as a smart man once said. I fell in love to the father of my beautiful daughter, we split up, and then two years later fell back in love. We spent two years being their for Gracie and each other on a purely friend level, and that friendship has evolved into love. With forgiveness comes understanding, and love like nothing I have ever experienced before. Our journey is about Second chances and realizing what is most important in life and that is God, Love, and Family.

More photos of Wine Fest ;)

Just a few more pictures of Wine Fest ;)

Vintage Indiana Wine Fest 2011

On Saturday of this last weekend, Teddy, Grace and I headed to Vintage Wine Fest in downtown Indy, and had a wonderful day. We met my sister and her boyfriend, her friend Maggie, my mom, and her friend Lyn down there for some wine tasting, and good times with family and friends. Teddy and I had a really nice day together, it was so nice to have him off for the whole day, and not having to go into work in the afternoon. I adore him so very much, and cherish the time with him more and more everyday. We tried a lot of great wine, and shared some very special moments also. Gracie had a blast as well. She loved the music, and especially loved being chased by everyone. Her favorite pasttime these days is running ;) and she is very good at it lol. We finally ended the day with a dinner at Weber Grill with my family and Teddy's family. It was really nice to have all of our famalies together, and I am so thankful that everyone gets along so well. ;) That is such an awesome thing. So many people don't get along with their in-laws, and even though Teddy's parents are technically not my in-laws, I have always felt as though they were my family, especially Teddy's mom. She has been there for me since I have met her, and I am grateful for that as well. I admire her a great deal, and am so glad that God made our paths connect with each other.
The wine fest was wonderful, dinner was absolutly delicious, and the time with my family was irreplaceable. ;) A good time was had by all..... even little Ms. Gracie. Storms hit the northside of town once we got home, and our electricity was out for a few hours off and on, so we ended the day early by heading to bed to get a few extra hours of beauty sleep ;) When you combine wine, sun, heat, and a good meal all together, you end up with a family of very sleepy people, but a very happy family nontheless. ;)

Memorial Day Weekend Part 1

Memorial Day weekend was a wonderful weekend spent with family and friends celebrating Gracie's two year birthday, remembering those men and women who have served and fallen in the Armed Forces, cherishing the freedom we have because of them, as well as being thankful for the family and friends that I are surrounded by. I feel very blessed these days to have such an amazing family surrounding me. As many of you know, I recently was lucky enough to become a +2 (and child) instead of a + 1 (and child), and that is truly a gift to me. I feel so lucky to have Teddy walking by my side now not just as a co-parent, but as my partner, best friend, lover, and my "strong and steady". He has always been there for Grace and I, but now, I know for certain that he will be there for all of those things with love for me as well ;) My mom, sister, and dad are truly a blessing to me as well. Even as our family has gone through changes in the past several years, one thing remains the same, we still lean on each other, laugh with each other, and are always there for one another in both good times and bad. Kyla, thank you for being my "rock" of a sister that is level-headed, and also very humorous when need be. God knew what he was doing when he put you and I together for life on this road of sisterhood. I just hope you know how much I love and adore you (and always will). Mom.... what do I say about you? Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for always being the one I can come to with absolutely anything. A lot of girls probably cannot say that about their moms, and I just pray that I do as good of job with Ms. Gracie as you have done with me. You are one of my best friends, and I cherish you so very much. Dad... I love you, I always will be "daddy's little girl", and as you go through your new change in life of getting married and starting a new chapter, just know I love you and support you. You always tell me, "I just want you to be happy", so I will say the same to you. I know you are happy, and that is what it is all about. Gracie, what can I say about you? You make your mommy so very happy every single minute of every single day. You cute little phrases, of "Oh Yer it is", "copy cake", "I love you Mommy", "So, what are we going to do?" and the latest, "So, you think you can dance?" are just a few of the phrases that bring a gentle tug at my heart. I look at you and am amazed at how I got so lucky to be a mommy to you. I think God knew what he was doing there also, for sure. ;) Mommy loves you as many fish in the sea and stars in the sky.... (and that number kees growing) :) Family.... you all mean everything to me, and I love you all so very much.
Memorial Day weekend was a gentle reminder to me of all I have and am blessed to have. I know it wasn't meant for that purpose, but having all of my family surround me throughout the weekend made me remember that. I hope these pictures truly give you all a sense of just how blessed I am, and remind others to take a moment and count your blessings as well. ;)

The Love of my Life

So I posted these pictures several days ago with every intent on getting a post added to them soon after, but I have been so very sick with an upper respIratory tract infection and strept throat that I have been unable to do very much of anything. That makes this post even more special to me then before I got sick. Teddy has been unbeliueveable while I have been under the weather. I make no excuses for myself, when ii am sick, I am the biggest baby you will ever meet... And he was absolute biggest support for this big baby. I take great comfort in knowing that the man I want to spend the rest of my life with is a man who will step up when the going gets tough, and take care of everything... Not just himself, but me, our sweet baby, and our home. Teddy, I love you... I have said it before, but ill say it again, after all these years... I know, I finally got it right. You are the LOVE of my life. I look forward to the adventures we will share, and take comfort in knowing any trials we face, I have the biggest shoulder and support walking right beside me thru our life together. In the words of Blake Shelton, If u will be my strong and steady, I will be your soft and sweet; ill be your glass of wine if you will be my shot of whiskey, ill be your sunny day if you will be my shaddy tree, and you can be my honey suckle and I will always be your honey bee... For as long as we both shall live. You are my beloved. Thank you for all you do and all you are. Love, your Short Stuff

Mothers Day (part 2)

So I am just now getting a chance to write about the second half of Mother's Day.... It has been a busy few weeks, and only after getting strept throat on Monday night, have I actually had a chance to write this entry. I am still very under the weather, but wanted to take a few moments and get this posted.
After we spent the morning and early part of the afternoon with Teddy, Gracie and I were able to head downtown to celebrate my mom for Mother's Day. Kyla and I decided to take mom to the Creation Cafe on the canal. It was a beautiful day out, the sun was shining, and it was the perfect temperature. It was so nice in fact that we were able to sit outside on the patio (something my mom absolutely loves to do). ;) We had a wonderful dinner, and of course great conversation as usual. AFter dinner, I was able to get my daddy to watch Gracie so that Kyla and I could take mom to a movie. It had been December since we had all been able to go to a movie together. That is something we have always enjoyed doing, but with a little one, next to impossible to make it thru unless we leave her with a sitter to go. It was a wonderful way to spend the day celebrating our mom. Mom, I do not know what I would do without you. You have been there with me walking alongside of me now for 33 years. I hope that you know just how much I love you, value your opinion, appreciate your support, and am in awe at your strength. You are an amazing woman, and I pray everyday I grow up to be just like you. Kyla and I are both so very lucky to have you as our mom, and Gracie is so lucky to have a Monga like you! (That is what Gracie calls her Grandma for some reason ;)