Wild In the Streets

We live on the best street, there are 13 kids under the age of 14 within 10 houses of each other and the majority of them are under the age of 6. We set out in our wagon most late afternoons and catch up with all of the kiddos. Our little BG isn't big enough to sit in the actual seats, so she sits in the well of the wagon and has an absolute blast!

Mommy, I am ready to go!

All of my friends want to get in the wagon with me :)

Saying her favorite word "ba-ba"...it means bye-bye and bottle, two very important things!

Still working on "ma-ma"...everyday

So happy being outside and catching up with all of her buds!

Happy 5th my love!

This blog is written by me about our little bug, so you rarely get to hear from Mac but today is our 5th wedding anniversary and I just had to share what a lucky girl I am to have such an AMAZING husband!!! I love being a mama but I am a wife first and the love I have for my husband is indescribable! Here's what I found in my email this morning:

Dearest Libby,

Isn’t it amazing how time flies when you are having the time of your life?? I can remember like it was yesterday, standing there at the front of the church with Christopher, Steve, Dad and our closest friends and wondering what have I done to deserve the most beautiful being that God has ever created? There was a brief moment of silence and then the doors at the back of the sanctuary opened and there you were; the angel of my existence! You looked amazing, my heart skipped a beat and then my eyes flowed with tears of joy and excitement. I then thought to myself, why is John walking so slow, hurry up…this is not about you; I am ready to be married! Once he handed you over those next 20 minutes were magical. I love thinking back on when we read each other our vows and knowing that I have the privilege and honor of living up to them day in and day out (at least I think I do). Then the deal was done and we were introduced as husband and wife…and then off to the club for an evening of celebration….its funny, today marks the 5 year anniversary of the longest celebration of my life and I love the fact that it will last into perpetuity.

Fast forward to May 21, 2010, Libby and Mac Barksdale, proud parents of Elizabeth Grace Barksdale!!! How cool is it to say that! After patience and prayer, the Lord our God blessed our already blessed lives with the birth of our first child. WOW!! When I thought I had it all, the Lord kept on giving! She is the luckiest girl in the world to have such a wonderful and loving mother!!

Libby, you never cease to amaze me! Your eagerness to expand your relationship with Christ is inspiring! Your ability to raise and care for our daughter is tender and admirable. Your willingness to put others ahead of yourself is unbelievable. The ease at which you make me feel like the luckiest man alive…well…that just you being you, my angel!

I look forward to growing old with you, I only wish I got better looking inside and out with age like you. If only every day could last an eternity! Cheers to the last five years and I can’t wait for the next…..

I love you more today than I did yesterday and I’ll love you more tomorrow than I do today!

With everlasting love,

Mac

See what I mean, I am so blessed! His words take my breath away. Each day our love grows stronger and our faith gets deeper. We have learned to communicate without words, although we know how to use them, which is important too! Mac is my love and my best friend, he is mine and I am his....I couldn't ask for more! He is an incredibly godly man, a faithful husband and a tireless father. He provides for Betsy Grace and I emotionally, spiritually and physically. He makes me laugh so hard that I pee in my pants, literally :) He hugs me just at the right time and holds me until it's all better. He is my soul mate, he makes me complete and I am giddy thinking about all that the future holds! I love you Mac, my cup runneth over!

To the beach!

Our friends Jay and Rebecca got married this past weekend in Kiawah and we decided to take BG with us to enjoy the beach. We had the best time, the weather was beautiful and it was so much fun seeing friends. Rebecca was a stunning bride, Jay was a handsome groom, they really are the cutest couple! The wedding was laid back and elegant at the same time...just perfect!! We had great days on the beach and at night while we were at the wedding festivities, Betsy Grace stayed with her sweet babysitter Lilly. Betsy Grace is a traveling girl these days!

BG and her buddy Van playing on the beach.

Daddies and babies, about to go in the water.

Betsy Grace loved the ocean, it was unseasonably warm!

Family pic

New love, eating sand...yummy!

Betsy Grace's First College Visit

Mac and I went to Chapel Hill but BG's Aunt Frances and Cousin Lauren live in Charlottesville, so her first college visit was to UVA. The whole Barksdale clan went up and had so much fun being together! We took a nice run up and through the campus, visited Monticello, ate mexican for Cinco de Mayo, explored historic dowtown...we were busy! Betsy Grace is a traveling girl, for sure! She bumped right along, happy as a clam, despite the naps she missed!

Here she has found a new chew victim, Brun's watch :)

Reading with Lauren, big girls are so cool!

Our little fam at Monticello in TJ's fabulous garden.

Brun, Mom and BG

Relaxing in the shade with Ellie and Brun while we tour the house.

I love my Brun!

Being a mom

I have thought about being a mom my whole life. When I was little and played house, when I was a teenager and babysat and then when my friends started to have babies. I longed for it as we were trying to get pregnant and I obsessed about it when I was pregnant. But no matter how much I thought about it before, I was completely overcome and shocked by the intense and wonderful love that I felt for my child when she came into this world. I have said it many times before but I have never known a love like this. Betsy Grace brightens my day with her smile and lights up my world with her giggles. She is curious, full of life and already has a heart filled with the love of Jesus. I miss her when she is asleep and I can't get enough of her when she is awake.

Mac and BG were precious on Mother's Day, they indulged me with thoughtful cards and gifts but I didn't need anything. My gift arrived last July 23rd at 3:03 in the afternoon.

I love you Betsy Grace, because of you, I know the purity and beauty of motherhood!