Turks and Caicos

Two weeks ago we went to Turks and Caicos for a much needed family vacation. We stayed for 8 days at Beaches Resort. The resort had a water park, four beautiful pools, 16 restaurants, nightly shows on the main stage, and tons of other fun activities that we enjoyed throughout the week. It was so much fun watching Reese explore all that the resort had to offer. We spent the perfect amount of time on the island, so when it was time to pack up our bags and head to the airport, we all felt ready. It felt great to be home, but boy was it an adjustment for me to have to worry about all of those not so fun household duties again. I am just thankful I had an entire week where the 3 of us could just relax and have fun together...with NO distractions!

Here are some pictures of our vacation

Cheeses Loves Me?

Today at lunch I was singing the song "Jesus Loves Me" to Reese as she was eating a grilled cheese sandwich. She stopped eating, opened her sandwich and said "cheeses loves me?"

Just wanted to share.

The dust will always be there....

Anyone else out there have a hard time keeping up with dust bunnies? Man am I streeeessing myself out about stuff that is not important (I am told). The perfection I strive for just doesn't exist. No matter how many times I get it just right....da da daaaaaaa....the dust returns, the grass grows, the laundry reappears, the clothes wrinkle, the nail polish chips, the windows spot, the flowers wilt, the dog sheds, and the dishes get used. The amazing feeling of accomplishment goes right out the window shorty after I have begun to feel accomplished. Don't worry, I'm confused too...
SO, Instead of finding pride in making unimportant things perfect, I vow to take more time to appreciate the other "stuff" going on in my everyday life. Here are some recent pictures of the "stuff" we have been up lately. And yes, this blog does seem to be turning into a self-help, self-awareness, self-loathing blog...but a self-improved Melissa = a better mom, wife, sister, daughter and friend. So hold on to your bootstraps and enjoy the ride. :-0

The Important Things in Life

Important thing #1: Finding humor in the "stuff" you do

Important Thing #2: new experiences

Important Thing #3: Dressing up

Important Thing #4: making faces in the mirror

Important Thing #5: Big smooshy kisses from your toddler

Important Thing #6: Taking time to relax with your baby

Important Thing #7: Making new friends...even if they are furry

Important Thing #8: Big huggies that sooth any dust bunny kind of a day

P.S...
Now can someone just come to my house and tell it to stay clean so I don't have to work on ignoring imperfection? Oh, and help me to ignore the fact that the basement needs to be painted, the garage is a mess, and the attic is a disaster. Thx

My Little Girl Is Growing Fast!

Reese is almost 21 months now and I honestly do not know where the time has gone. She has developed into such a social, loving, funny toddler...and it happened in the blink of an eye. Now that Reese is a toddler, I am getting lots of questions about when our second bundle of joy will come along. I honestly believe that when the timing is right for our family, we will be blessed with our next child. God won't give me more than I can handle, and right now my active little Reese is keeping me quite busy. Because of all the questions and encouragement to have another baby, I have been thinking a lot about my pregnancy with Reese, as well as the first few months after she was born. What an amazing ride we have been on together. I thank God everyday for Reese, and I pray for peace in our minds and hearts as we wait for our next little addition to the family.

A grand adventure is about to begin.
-- Winnie the Pooh

Our "Babymoon" trip to Aruba at about 7 months

40 weeks and counting

First moments after birthFirst pictures in Hospital
First few days at home
Right around one month
First Birthday party
First 4th of July Reese could really enjoy

A Yard is a Yard...

A yard is a yard....unless it's our yard you are talking about. Our yard is special because it is the smallest yard in the state of Massachusetts...I don't actually know that for a fact....but it sure feels like the smallest. When we purchased our home, we were very concerned about the lack of yard, but we loved the house, so we decided to make the best of having a small yard. You have to make sacrifices sometimes, owning a home that needed few major repairs was more important to us than owning a yard I guess.

The week that we purchased our home we had a new fence put up, a small deck put on the back of the house, and we planted a small garden. Over the next few months our tiny little yard began to feel cute and cozy. We have had this tiny little yard now for years, and although it has grown on me in many way, I still sometimes long for more.

I am a nature girl...and I live in a city. Sometimes it is still hard for me to accept that I don't have more space to garden. I have dreams of having a vegetable garden like the one I grew up with, beautiful trees for Reese to climb on, and enough space to play games on nice sunny days. I don't have that dreamy lot of land right now, so I am making peace with what we do have. Here are some pictures of our home, the smallest yard in Massachusetts, and our family enjoying our space.

Welcome to My Wolrd...as I know it.

My name is Melissa, mom to four. I have one adorable 20 month old, two adorable dogs, and one adorable husband. When I say I am mom of four, I mean it. I am a stay at home mom...and that means I am a Wonder Woman of sorts and Mom to everyone who lives under the Donnelly household roof. I don't care if you cry, bark, or speak adult, I am your mom, and don't forget it. I don't do a great job at everything I do, but I do a great job at trying to do everything that needs to be done. I clean the house pretty well, vacuum up 20 pounds of dog hair a week, change way too many diapers to keep count, cook meals that I sometimes call "dinner" and sometimes call "JUST EAT IT", I do way too many loads of laundry a day, mow the lawn once a week(by choice), garden, volunteer when I can at church, and try to remember to shower each day. When it is all said and done at the end of a busy day, I am just happy to know that everyone has pretty much had their needs met.

Being Mom to FOUR means I can easily fall into complaining mode. There is never enough time for this or there is never enough time for that, but the truth is, I am very fortunate and happy to be where I am today. I have never felt so much love and fulfillment in my life....and even though I don't seem to have my own life anymore...mommyhood has been the biggest blessing I could ever imagine. So when I am lost and trying to find me, I have to remember that I am right here where I have always wanted to be. Thank You God.

P.S...my plans for tomorrow include my normal mommy duties as well as trying to save the world by recycling anything and everything that will fit into that blue box on my sidewalk. Ahhhh, my work is never done.