Once Upon A Time...

This post, which is the first of many, I hope, is titled like I fairy tale begins. I chose that because sometimes I feel like our life is a fairy tale. Jason and I met, fell madly in love, married, had a fun few years baby-less, got a dog, moved to Florida, and had a baby. That is the very condensed version of our lives. So, for those who don't know us, or people who are just creepy stalkers (it's ok, we all have a creepy stalker living inside of us), I think a little introduction is appropriate...

This is Jason...

He doesn't really have tiny arms, those belong to this hot little blonde he married. He is a hard working husband and father, a die hard St. Louis Cardinals fan (he was there for game seven of Albert's last season), a man recently named "Big Quiet" by a group of guys, and the best thing that has ever happened to me. Music about baby girls growing up makes him cry a little bit, and he is the most sincere, kind, and honest person I have ever known. He works Monday - Friday, then gets to come home to the job that he loves the most - his family. He is a prince, a knight in shining armor, and a blanket hog. 

This is me - Melissa...

I am a mom, student, wife, friend, and jogger who currently gets to stay at home (though, I am actively looking for work... that should be an entire blog post on its own) while working on my master's degree at FSU. I love my family, learning, swimming, cooking, and serving. I really love much, though I have no real talent for it other than loving it. I usually talk too much and laugh too hard, and have a tendency to care very little about what others think of me (that is a good and bad thing) but that's how I roll. I tear up when I see my baby girl do something I have taught her or when she falls asleep to me singing (which is just a miracle because it sounds much more like screeching than anything else). I lead a normal life, but to me, it is incredibly charmed.

This is Adaline...

So is this...

And this...

Adaline is almost 10 months old. She walks, thinks everything is hilarious (except her car seat), loves to eat, and thinks the dogs toys are better than her own. She loves to hear music and swim. She was born at home on a Tuesday morning, and ever since then, I have loved Tuesdays because I get to remember that experience. She has a cheesy smile with a a lot of teeth for a little baby (we are cutting #9 right now), and she loves to be held. I take full advantage of that because this time next year, she won't want anything to do with me! She is inquisitive beyond belief, and I believe she will be the first female president, thus ending biased politics and bringing world peace to the forefront of everyone's mind. But hey, that is just my opinion...

We also have a dog...

Haddie is her name and being an awful dog is her game. She thinks she is a person, so she doesn't like other dogs. She prefers to sleep in the bed, even though she isn't allowed. She only plays fetch in the house, but won't do it outside for all the dog treats in China. She was the first child for Jason and I, and am I glad we spoiled a dog instead of a child... She is very high maintenance, but fits our family well.

Oh, and we have a Grandma...

Is she naked or isn't she? I will let you decide... My mom (Nadine, Grandma, Mom) came to live with us lat year. It has been absolutely wonderful having her. I know some people might think it is weird, but my mom minds her own business and stays on her side of the apartment like a good Grandma. She only comes out of her room for work and meals... Just kidding... she does the dishes, too. We love having her with us and our family would be incomplete without her.

So there we are. We live in Florida and love each other. It's a pretty sweet life. We have ups. We have downs. But we have figured out that loving the Lord is essential to our everyday happiness and our continual thriving joy. We like to try and emulate Christ (which is really hard, but that is why I said try) in the way we treat each other and people outside of our home. We want people to know that they are loved, whether they feel it or not. We want them to know that, no matter how different from us or how much we don't see eye to eye, we would cloth them, feed them, and comfort them, no questions asked. Because that is exactly what the Savior would do.

This life that we have is something so precious. We can smell the flowers (literally, we were walking last night and every time there was a breeze, I could smell Magnolias in full bloom - GLORIOUS!). We see our baby girl grow. We can feel each others hand holding tight. We aren't rich or lucky or better than anyone else... we are simply happy. We have all of our needs met and most of our wants... what is there to not be happy about?