i felt verrrrryyyy sleeeepppyy at the wilson county fair

This past weekend we took a little mini family vacation out to the Wilson County Fair. We went last year and loved it, so we couldn't wait to go back and take Merit. It was just as great as I had remembered. We enjoyed good ole fair food like roasted corn, homemade peach ice cream, and freshly-squeezed lemonade. We saw fiery high divers, fireworks, caught some of the Fair Princess competition, and saw many interesting fair-going Tennesseans. Merit loved seeing all of the people, the lights, and the prize-winning chickens. 

She even got to see her mama on stage for the first, and maybe last, time in her life. They had a hypnotist taking volunteers and Kevan talked me into it. I thought he was going to pick people, so I had kind of told myself, if he chooses me, I'll do it. Well, he ended up just asking for any willing adults to walk up to the stage. Before I could talk myself out of it, I got out of my chair and walked up the steps of the stage. If you know me at all, you know that this was a big deal! I willingly put myself on a stage in front of all of Wilson County, to be hypnotized no less. I was beyond nervous, but once he started his little routine of getting us to "sleep", I didn't feel nervous at all and didn't care that I was in front of a lot of people. I did, however, have a skirt on, and that was on my mind the whole time--worried what he might have us do. Because of this, I'm not sure I ever went into a "deep sleep" and the hypnotist also thought it best for me to step down about 10 minutes into it---before he made us do anything too crazy. I remember most of it, and I felt like I had just woken up from a nap when I went off the stage. We left before it was over, and when we walked back by, he still had the others on the stage and they were all dancing around playing inflatable instruments. Oh, man. Thank goodness for that skirt. 

It was so fun to go to the fair this year with my little family. And it was indeed memorable. We only traveled a few miles down the highway for our family summer vacation, and we were only gone for half a day. But we created tons of fun and memories...what more could I ask for when spending time with my two most favorite people?

five months

Mer-Mer! 

Oh, my goodness. Five months have passed since you came into this world? It surely can't be! I know I've said it before, and I will most certainly say it again...you just keep getting more and more fun.

You are getting both balder and bigger! Oh, I love, love, love your sweet rolls!

You are rolling all over the place,  you can get up on your hands and knees, and you are getting really good at scooting backwards. 

If you see something you just have to put in that sweet mouth, there is really no stopping you to get it now. And all the more motivation if that thing you are after is paper. It is your new love. You actually throw a little fit if we take it from you.  

You spent some time in the  studio with your daddy for the first time this month. He was so excited to share that with you.

Thanks to your PaPa and Nina flying us out there, you spent half of this month in Texas, and we had such a GREAT time.

Everyone on both sides of our family is so in love with you. And that includes your Daddy and I, baby girl. We are changed people. We see and feel so much more goodness in the world because of you. 

Happy Five Months, Merit Fey!

much love, 

your mama

you say it's your birthday? it's his birthday, too, yeah.

happy birthday to my brother Paul.

my favorite Rangers fanatic

and my example for parenting, friendship, and general life-living.

also...

happy birthday to my Daddio.

my favorite hard-working cowboy

and my true hero.

I love you both very, very much!!

on a sad note

We've been playing music for Merit since she was in my belly. She seems to really enjoy it, and her daddy especially feels like she has great taste in music. Most of the time when you play a song or sing to Merit, she gives you a big, sweet, approving smile. But, as my friends first discovered last month in Arkansas, if your singing is disapproving in any way, Merit will let you know. Sometimes, singing makes Merit sad. Really sad. 

But it's the cutest sad I've ever seen.

Katie loves Merit, and Merit loves Katie, but her singing...not so much.

Katie isn't the only one who has done this to Merit. My dad took these pictures last week when I, her very own mama, was singing to her.

Is it cruel that I kept singing until she reached this point of sadness?

Now Katie and I are both Sing Song champs, so I know our voices are finely tuned, but I guess this baby girl demands perfection. 

 Guess I better go warm up before bedtime songs...

dear daddy kev,

Oh, how we miss you! Thank you so much for being okay with Merit and I heading to Texas for 10 days. We hated to leave you behind, but we really do appreciate all the hard work you are doing while we are gone. We haven't done one thing without me thinking about you and wishing you were here. I have been showing your picture to Merit every chance I get, which always gets a smile from us both. We miss your handsome face! I have a feeling you might be missing our faces, too, so here are some pictures just for you--in case you forgot how pretty we are...

Ha. Haha. He. Ha.

Merit and I love and miss you more than you know. And Merit hasn't changed a bit, I promise.

Much Love,
your girls

hangin' out