six years.

his first selfie.

The thirteenth marked six years since Cormac was born, and I became a mama.

As I reflect on his birth and motherhood, I realize how much both of these things changed me so much as a person...and I thank God for that.  I often refer to Cormac as my "lifesaver baby" as, while I won't go into specific reasons, his arrival in the womb has always represented grace for me.  Grace that God gave me to forgive myself and to move forward and make changes in my life.  I don't believe having a baby is a "fix all" for anything, but having this baby certainly changed me for the better.

golden hour.

Cormac is smart (sometimes smarter than me), logical, joyful, analytical, highly sensitive to stimulus, thoughtful, and perceptive.

Lately he is obsessed with math and Legos and Power Rangers.

He is learning chess from Daddy and seems to love the strategy of it all. {insert blank-face emoji from me}

He likes time to himself more now, or time one-on-one with me or Hubby.  While he loves time with friends (it has been so fun to see actual friendships blossom in the last year!) he seems to take after me in that large groups and over-stimulating atmospheres are not his jam and can stress him out. Totally get it, dude.

He is literally my biggest fan when it comes to essential oils and being supportive of my business venture in that.  He asks me questions daily, always want to help me practice teaching, smells the oils and has me guess which one it is, and -- the best part -- tells me how he prays for my business. What?!?!?  Yes, he seriously tells me that.  Since I know how God values the prayers of little children, I feel like this is the most precious thing my son could do for me.

The past year has contained some awesome milestones for little Mac...

• He learned the fine art of sarcasm.
• Overcame extreme fear of water and getting water in his eyes.  Now swims like a fish!
• Figured out how to tell a (funny) joke.  Like, actually having a punchline.  "Was that funny, Mom?  I made it up."  
• Proficient at 3rd grade level math. Okay, well, at least he can do reasoning and computation that I didn't remember doing until 3rd grade.  (Learned mostly from dad.) 
• Can read and sound out words. (Does not initiate reading books by himself, though.)
• Can articulate that he is overstimulated and needs personal space.  (Learned mostly from mom.)

I'll close this birthday post with a slideshow.  (I know these are out-of-fashion but my kids LOVE them.)  I put some of our favorite pics from past year to Cormac's favorite song of the moment.

I'm glad you are so happy, Mac!  You make me happy to be a mama.  

roomie reunion : savannah, ga!

I am very fortunate that nearly every year for the past six years I have been able to spend a long weekend with two of my best friends from my college years.  

No, we weren't sorority sisters.

(None of us were the sorority type.)

We didn't even ever attend the same college.

We were randomly placed together 

God-appointed into each others lives

for so many reasons, I believe!

Anyway, our friendships have survived over the years, I have shared our adventures here on this blog. Here is yet another...

Savannah, Georgia!

With me in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy, this was one of our tamest girlfriend trips yet...

and I think we were all kind of fine with that.

No "crazy first night" this time, I didn't harass any celebrities, and no one got kicked out of any pools.  The only tears were only briefly shed mid-day by the least expected one of us all.

I'm proud of us, ladies!  (No promises next year, though.) 

I found Savannah to be dreamy, low-key, laid-back.  So, so Southern and charming.

We rented the CUTEST cottage on Tybee Island, only a tiny walk from the beach.   We made some homemade meals, sipped some handmade cocktails and mocktails, relaxed on the beach for a day,  spent another day exploring the city by on-and-off trolley, and even did a pizza + movie night.

my sweet friends shared this adorable room...so the preggo lady could have the big bed.  LOVE YOU GUYS!

homemade guacamole and fish tacos.

spanish moss covered the trees of Savannah.

I'm sorry.  I could not keep a straight face pretending to be Forrest, Forrest Gump.  (The bench scene was filmed at one of the parks.)

Someone had the bright idea to put a pregnant lady in a tree. 😳 It took both my sweet friends to hoist me up here.

Due to my recent read of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, I was a COMPLETE geek over the Mercer Williams house.  We took the tour and I loooooved it! 

I couldn't partake in the wine-drinking this year, but Beth bought this bottle for the appropriate label. 

our little rental.  

I adored that our address was Cedarwood - one of my favorite oils!!!!!!!

this made me want to paint every wall in my house white.  

My bedroom. So perfect.  I want to come back to this sweet, artsy cottage with my little fam!

Could she be any prettier?

views on Tybee.

My virgin pina colada. 

Me and my beach bump.

more shots of our rental...just 'cause I thought it was so adorable.

If I love you I make you guacamole.

Whose is real?  

Yummy watermelon 'cocktails + mocktails' on our sun porch.  Hmmm...bar franchise idea?

some adorable succulents at our brunch stop.

There were literally posted warnings about the dangers of these historic steps.  #yolo 

Forsyth Park!

open-air trolley we rode around all day, hopping on and off.

In the beautiful Bonaventure Cemetery on our last day.

a farewell airport selfie. 

I loved that we got a little beach/totally chill relaxing time, 

as well as some city sight-seeing.

Perfect combo and, as always, great company.

Who knows where this next year will take us all, but I love that we continue to take these trips and make memories all over the country.

(Next up, the world?) 

Our 40th birthdays are happening in just a few year...

Let's do it right, ladies!!!! 😉 

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Reader, I hope you never stop adventuring with your best friends.