This morning I went to wake up the birthday girl and it was like overnight magic. Her face had changed. Any hint of the
baby that she was just last night, seemed gone. Even the way she said "good morning, daddy." sounded different. It's
harder than I thought to close certain chapters of life. The fact that our youngest is not a baby anymore is a heart breaker.
No more bottles. No more diapers. No more lugging around baby carriers. Ordinarily I would follow up those
sentences with a "Yippee", but today it just seems so sad. Not to put to big of a damper on our party though, Mimi V
came down from Michigan. Mimi C and Poppy came over and Uncle Cory and Aunt Mandy dropped by with Amarige's
little friend Eisley. The precious little tutu you see the birthday girl wearing in her pictures on the photo page, is a gift
made by Aunt Mandy. Isn't it adorable. Amarige refused to take it off and begged to sleep in it. She's the baby, so she
gets what she wants. Today anyway.
baby that she was just last night, seemed gone. Even the way she said "good morning, daddy." sounded different. It's
harder than I thought to close certain chapters of life. The fact that our youngest is not a baby anymore is a heart breaker.
No more bottles. No more diapers. No more lugging around baby carriers. Ordinarily I would follow up those
sentences with a "Yippee", but today it just seems so sad. Not to put to big of a damper on our party though, Mimi V
came down from Michigan. Mimi C and Poppy came over and Uncle Cory and Aunt Mandy dropped by with Amarige's
little friend Eisley. The precious little tutu you see the birthday girl wearing in her pictures on the photo page, is a gift
made by Aunt Mandy. Isn't it adorable. Amarige refused to take it off and begged to sleep in it. She's the baby, so she
gets what she wants. Today anyway.
We took a road trip up to Cleveland, Tennessee to go to my cousin Monica's wedding. On the way up though we made a
little stop in Cleveland, Georgia at the Babyland General Hospital. We visited Babyland twice before when both Aviles
and Alaila were around 2. This was Amarige's first time. This is where Cabbage Patch Babies are born and the adopted
out to families to care for them. The girls actually got to see a live Cabbage Patch Baby birth and Alaila got to hold it.
From there we continued on to Tennessee the back way up through the Smokey Mountains and skirting along side the
Ocoee River. It was just beautiful. It was a bright and sunny summer day and all of the white water rafters were out.
Melanie was getting a bit car sick though curving around and around and up and down on those mountain roads.
little stop in Cleveland, Georgia at the Babyland General Hospital. We visited Babyland twice before when both Aviles
and Alaila were around 2. This was Amarige's first time. This is where Cabbage Patch Babies are born and the adopted
out to families to care for them. The girls actually got to see a live Cabbage Patch Baby birth and Alaila got to hold it.
From there we continued on to Tennessee the back way up through the Smokey Mountains and skirting along side the
Ocoee River. It was just beautiful. It was a bright and sunny summer day and all of the white water rafters were out.
Melanie was getting a bit car sick though curving around and around and up and down on those mountain roads.
We got into Cleveland, Tennessee the day of the wedding and checked into the hotel, got ready quickly and headed off to
the old yarn factory behind Lee College. It was an outdoor wedding and the weather was beautiful. The ceremony was
great. Afterward we headed inside for the reception. My Uncle Ron and my Uncle Ben were there with their horns and I
borrowed some drums. Along with my mother, we provided the music for the reception. My Uncles are amazing Jazz
musicians and it was so fun to hear them play. I remember my dad taking me around to different clubs that they played
at in South Florida when I was around 10. I think a big part of my love for music came from listening to my Uncles on
those trip down South. After the bride and groom left, we packed it up and headed back to the hotel. The girls absolutely
love staying in hotels. It's the only time that I'll let them jump on the bed.
the old yarn factory behind Lee College. It was an outdoor wedding and the weather was beautiful. The ceremony was
great. Afterward we headed inside for the reception. My Uncle Ron and my Uncle Ben were there with their horns and I
borrowed some drums. Along with my mother, we provided the music for the reception. My Uncles are amazing Jazz
musicians and it was so fun to hear them play. I remember my dad taking me around to different clubs that they played
at in South Florida when I was around 10. I think a big part of my love for music came from listening to my Uncles on
those trip down South. After the bride and groom left, we packed it up and headed back to the hotel. The girls absolutely
love staying in hotels. It's the only time that I'll let them jump on the bed.
We woke up this morning with a sense of adventure in our hearts. Melanie and I pulled out the map and looked at our
route home. We could have taken the most direct Interstate route and just gotten home as quickly as possible, but we
had an opportunity to see a bit of the south. So we plotted an alternate route that would take us down through western
Georgia and ultimately over to Savannah and then back home to Florida on I-95. On our way down we noticed a
historical marker at the Cabin where Uncle Remus told his stories about Brer Rabbit to children. Growing up with all of
those stories, it was neat to see. When the happened upon the beautiful little town of Madison. We have to come back
and visit the place more. It is the quintessential small American village. Apparently, during the Civil War, General
Sherman spared Madison's destruction because it was the home of pro-Union Senator Joshua Hill. We continued on to
Savannah for dinner and then back home to Orlando. It was a great get away weekend.
route home. We could have taken the most direct Interstate route and just gotten home as quickly as possible, but we
had an opportunity to see a bit of the south. So we plotted an alternate route that would take us down through western
Georgia and ultimately over to Savannah and then back home to Florida on I-95. On our way down we noticed a
historical marker at the Cabin where Uncle Remus told his stories about Brer Rabbit to children. Growing up with all of
those stories, it was neat to see. When the happened upon the beautiful little town of Madison. We have to come back
and visit the place more. It is the quintessential small American village. Apparently, during the Civil War, General
Sherman spared Madison's destruction because it was the home of pro-Union Senator Joshua Hill. We continued on to
Savannah for dinner and then back home to Orlando. It was a great get away weekend.
Quote OTM: There is
frequently more to be learned
from the unexpected
questions of a child than the
discourses of men. - John
Locke
Movie OTM: Simon Birch
Song OTM: Sukaz Are Born
Every Minute - L.E.O. /
Alpacas Orgling
frequently more to be learned
from the unexpected
questions of a child than the
discourses of men. - John
Locke
Movie OTM: Simon Birch
Song OTM: Sukaz Are Born
Every Minute - L.E.O. /
Alpacas Orgling
