3 months

Okay, so I realized lately that I have this thought everyday: I have the best husband and the best daughter, so I am living the best life possible. These are just words to express a thought, but the feeling is deep and I really believe it. It could be border line prideful perhaps because that means I think everyone else is not experiencing the best ever, but I bet other people feel this way too. But maybe don't tell me that-I would like to think I really am just living the good life. Cause I am.
Some favorites from the past month:
Shiloh has found her hands and she loves them! She brings them together in front of her and just stares. She gets extra cute points for doing this while breastfeeding. It's so funny to me how taken she is by her beautiful hands.
And you know what else? This little girl rolled over for the first time like 3 weeks ago! She has done it a couple times since then, but mainly just likes to get up on her side.
Doesn't sound like very impressive feats, right? WRONG! It was the most honorable, amazing talent I have ever seen when Shiloh rolled over. And I mean it! So funny how a seemingly little thing causes me to feel so proud.
Ever heard a gibbon? If you live in Waco and have gone to the Cameron Park Zoo, they are the monkey-like creatures at the front of the zoo. And they make all those crazy sounds and you think "how do they do that?" That is how I feel about Shiloh's talking. She just makes so many different sounds-my favorite being her high-pitched squeal. She rarely wakes us up with crying anymore, but rather cooing and half-laughs. It's the best.
Forgive me if I talk in extremities too much. It's the only way I can express the feelings that I think might explode out of me sometimes.
Have you ever felt like a rush of endorphins or something like that to your brain? I feel that sometimes before I pick up Shiloh. It's a rush, truly. I think it is so awesome that God has made my body to react that way to something I love so much. I just want to squeeze her, but I don't do that anymore because she spits up on me:)
Here are some pictures from this past month for your viewing pleasure:

 I walked into the living room one day and found Shiloh sleeping on her side-look at that little bundle!

 And again the next day:)

 Shiloh got dressed up to visit her friends at the zoo

 I know it's blurry, but too cute not to post. She loves Peek and Squeak! (the elephant)

 JJ came all the way from Longview to visit us and come to Zumba!

 We think it is funny (and kind of scary at the same time) when she makes her "big eyes"

 3 months old!

 Playing with her mermaid and fascinated by her hands at the same time

 

 This video makes us chuckle, what about y'all?

2 months and more

I learned a good saying at Nest last week. The days are long, but the years are short. How true that feels sometimes! Even though "long days" are becoming fewer and fewer, I am amazed at how the time is flying by with Shiloh. I love this time though! I am so lucky to spend every day with her.
Highlights of this blog include celebrating our 1st anniversary and Binkley family vacation to the Frio in Leaky, TX. (I never heard of Leaky before either).
Sam and I got to travel to the outskirts of Waco to celebrate our anniversary at the White Rock Creek B&B. And it is now HIGHLY RECOMMENDED in our book. It could have been the fact that it was just the two of us, but the B&B was nice and they have mastered making an exceptional quiche. During this time I decided that I like anniversaries even more than birthdays (which is saying a lot because I LOVE birthdays). But it is like sharing OUR birthday together or something. This must be how twins feel every year:)
Vacation was also fun. We are so thankful to Grandma and Grandpa Binkley for organizing our trip because it provides great opportunities for us to build memories together-thank you Steve and Cathy! It was very fun and the river was beautiful but mighty cold. Mighty, mighty cold. I couldn't brave it for too long, but I sure did want to. Shiloh learned to swim. She is a natural. Mommy and Daddy just shivered on the side while she snorkeled with the perch.
Pictures below to go with my above narrations. Enjoy!

Shiloh ADORES Abigail Mayfield. I mean, how could she not? We got to visit with Abigail in Austin before a wedding we went to. This girl is so fun and she introduced us to two new yummies: oatmeal creme pies(not miss debbie's) and popcorn tofu. Thank you Wheatsville and Abigail!

Shiloh got to attend yet another wedding! 3 weddings in only 2 months of life. Our little social butterfly. She loved getting to meet my dear friends from high school. Reception was at the Oasis and if you couldn't tell from our shiny faces, it was rather steamy in there.

Just because she is so darn cute.

We celebrated our FIRST ANNIVERSARY!

Anniversary Bouquet-Sam brought these to me after work on Friday with a card that said "363 days later..." and it was a lovely letter indeed. Tears.

Sam got me some Polish pottery for our anniversary-a small obsession since younghood. Just now getting to indulge since I have a home to put it in.

Anniversary dinner at Cracker Barrel-Sam was really craving biscuits. So biscuits we had:)

Our roadtrips tend to take a little longer nowadays with feeding and changing Shiloh. This is her being changed in the trunk. Too funny to not include. I especially like the one sock look-she is trying to start a trend among other babies.

Spending time with grandpa at the Frio

Shiloh got to hang out with Uncle Nick and Aunt Catherine-she just loves those two!

 

 

 

Shiloh always asks to wear my sunglasses-I let her do it since they look so good on her.

Shiloh and mommy sitting by the river

This poor girl is going to have so many pictures of her sleeping-it's just so cute!

2 months old and happy about it

Shiloh just LOVES her mermaid

The Binkley Fam

Look! I can even eat Amy's ice cream and breastfeed at the same time-I'm like a professional:)

Sam loves his ice cream

7 weeks today

So maybe 7 weeks is not that big of a milestone, but then again isn't everything a milestone with your child? Like everything they do is worth documenting...might be a "first-time mom" thing, right Genny?:)
There have been some note worthy things in the life of Shiloh that you can view below.
The things that stand out in our adult lives: Hunger games, zumba is fun, and Anne of Green Gables is so cute. It turns out I like to read and I feel like a smart person because I do. Thankfully breastfeeding allows time for reading.
Baylor is back in session as of yesterday, so Sam is a busy man at work. But that also means that women's volleyball is starting back up and we like that.

 Finally figured out the Moby wrap-I can cook again! But feel free to still bring us meals.

 Sam in the Moby-if only you could hear this picture-there would be a lot of screaming:)

 First time at the zoo and my first "mom outing" with Kelley and Genny

 I come home from Zumba and this is what I find:)

 JC is back at Baskin Robbins!

 Revamped Zumba onesie for J Sea's Birthday (I did not have another "c")

 Russian Nesting dolls for Shiloh-homemade by Amy Oates

 Visit from G-Nannie

 Meeting Great Grandma Emily

Look at this face! I love her!

Best. Husband. Ever.

There are not enough words to describe all the good gifts I have in Sam Binkley.
This man pours himself into his family without any regard for himself! Shiloh and I are so lucky to have him as our covering. He is responsible, servant-hearted, selfless, a generous and cheerful giver.
I could not do this whole taking care of a baby thing without him! He changes diapers, takes late night feedings, stays up with her and sings her songs. And the best part is that he acts like he likes it!
He makes me feel beautiful and is always affirming me in the things about me that I can't see about myself.
A song comes to mind..."If he make you feel like a million dollar bill, say oh, oh, oh!" Haha-thank you Whitney Houston for putting it into words for me:)

Here's to you Sam Binkley! I love you!

Our little, but growing one month old

Shiloh, you turned one month old this past Friday!
After you hit the four week mark, I decided that I should try to dab a bit in "normal" life with a babe, so I started eating vegetables again and we started you on cloth diapers. Mommy really had to adjust to the look of the cloth diaper-very poofy! At first I thought they made you look like a teletubby and I felt like a bad person for inflicting such embarrassment on you without you even knowing it was happening. (I hope you never have to know what a teletubby is) However, the next day my eyesight adjusted and I am used to them now. It is kind of like when we move our furniture around-I think the adjustment looks horrible, but after 24 hours it looks fantastic. I think I was more concerned about what others would think about the way they looked, which is never a good basis for any decision. Fact of the matter is, you look plain cute in them!
One thing I like about life with you Shiloh is that you make me slow down. I'm still a "busy" person at heart, but it is nice to have you to remind me to slow down. I don't want to miss moments with you because I am "busy", so I don't. We sit together, lay together, nap together, nurse together (well, you nurse and I read:) We don't do too much I suppose, but I know that will be changing quickly in the coming months.
Speaking of changes, there are some things you are doing that I should celebrate, but I must admit I have some sadness attached to these milestones. You are sleeping more at night and you are getting more head control. Why would these make me sad? Only because it means you are creeping your way out of newborn stage. You are growing so fast-I have even wondered if you have an overactive pituitary gland or something:)

 One month old!

 Shiloh with her new friend Uncle Stingray, compliments of John Quang Lam

 Crazy haired girl about to get her first massage

 JC let Shiloh borrow her aviators during our roadtrip to Kansas

I need more sleep to feel normal...

Today was ROUGH! Many tears from both Shiloh and I probably for the same reason too-we are tired! But thankfully I have friends (thank you Kelley Stone) to normalize me.
Here are a few pictures of our little nugget for your enjoyment. I never used to like it when people referred to things as "nuggets", but it's not so bad after all:)

 This is one of my favorite faces she makes-the "O"

 Sleeping in mommy's arms

 Cutest onesie in her wardrobe (compliments of Lauren Allen)

 Napping again with Mr. Stingray aka Sam

 Shiloh got to meet Anna and JC!!! She loves them!

Another favorite face-looking concerned, but still so cute!

So, she just went to sleep and that means I need to be doing the same thing.