America the Beautiful

I was hoping Lily and I would be able to spend our holiday in Pennsylvania with family this year but unfortunately it didn't happen. I started off determined to make it work but after thinking about it, flying solo with a mobile 7 month old on three flights spanning 6+ hours just wouldn't work very well. The up side is we were able to be with Pat. He had to work so we traveled back to Georgia and spent most of the week together!

I love country towns, small town America as Pat says! The shops and restaurants always look  inviting when we pass through. I decided while Pat was working I was going to see what Clarkesville had to offer. We visited an antique mall, strolled the streets, ate some lunch and stopped in a few shops. As usual, the people were all very friendly, waving and smiling as we passed.

Testing out the merchandise!

My lunch date!

(Honestly, the only reason I included this picture is because her dress is so cute!)

Pat always wants to squeeze in as much fun as he possible can so when he was done working we bathed Lily and made it to the highest point in Georgia just in time for sunset.

Pat always has his nose in a brochure or map; when I walked in and saw this I couldn't help but laugh. I was hoping she would be a mommy's girl but she seems to be leaning more towards her daddy every week!

Once they had everything mapped out, our days were planned for adventure. We went to Secret Falls in Highlands, NC first. We prefer the hikes that lead to the base of the waterfall so we can cool off in the water. This one was perfect! There was a sandy beach where Lily and I sat to dip our toes and a large swimming area for Pat.

There's nothing like a good refreshment after a hike!

We spent our Independence Day enjoying our freedom and some of the beauty that America has to offer. We stopped by Goats on the Roof again to check on the babies, I can't believe they are a month old already! And so big!!

Pat chose Hemlock Falls because he read that the trail is lined with water and there are a number of swimming holes for the "adventurous swimmer". 

This waterfall didn't compare to Secret Falls but I liked the trail better because it was level (aka easy) and listening/seeing the water the entire way is very tranquil. This one got the best of our little sleep fighter and for the first time on a hike, Lily fell asleep!

That night we went into Helen, GA to watch the fireworks. Needless to say we put all nap and bedtimes aside for this trip. Lily got a little shut eye before the fireworks but was awake to experience her first real fireworks display!

I cannot believe the 4th of July has come and gone! Time has kicked into high gear since Lily arrived. When I put her in her crib and catch a glimpse of us in the mirror I cannot believe how big she is! Did I mention that she is crawling now? How can that be?! Every new milestone she reaches brings excitement but at the same time I am sad to think that time is slipping away. Thank goodness she is a little (but healthy and strong) lady, I don't think I could handle her being any bigger! 

With the sadness of losing my baby comes the thought of what kind of little girl she going to turn into. Pat and I are excited for the days of reliving the wonders of the world through her. She is so much fun and I have a feeling it's just beginning!

Back to Us

A few weeks ago Lily and I went to see Pat for the weekend. He is staying in a quaint little cabin while working on his current series of jobs in Georgia so it made sense for us to make the trip and better yet, it is in the middle of the mountains! We started our weekend off in Helen, GA. After a stroll around town and some playing in the Chattahoochee River we enjoyed a fabulous authentic German meal.

The next day we set off for our first hike in, gosh I don't know, a year and a half?! It felt so good to get in the car and ride through the mountains.  I used to love being trapped (so to speak) in a car together. It was our one-on-one time, with no distractions. We have missed that!

On this trip, after lunch at a small roadside restaurant we visited "Goats on the Roof". The first thing I saw when we walked in were....babies! 2 days old!!! Thank goodness they weren't in need of a home or our family of 5 would have become a family of 6. 

We bought our food..... 

 Put it in the bucket.....

 And sent it to the goats!....

Next we ventured to Tugaloo State Park. Pat loves visitors centers of any kind especially when there is a boring video involved. Oh did I say boring?! Yes I did! I like seeing the sites but, as sad as I am to admit, I don't care about the information. Every so often I agree to sit through one, that's where my sidekick comes in. Lily made it about half way through before she decided she was bored too (thanks Lil :))! Then we were off.....

A few years ago I wouldn't have considered this a "hike" but after a broken foot and bed rest it was totally a hike. Most of the trail was lead by very nice man-made, metal stairs. No big deal right? There were 562 of them.....one way!

 

Day two we were up bright and early. I wasn't sure what to expect from my legs so we chose another easy, paved path to Anna Ruby Falls.

We took a short trip up one of the trails for Maggie

Lily even pulled her own weight on the way down by walking Maggie!

Everyday Lily grows and changes and with that so do our lives. I am looking forward to growing as a family and making more time for the things we love. It takes some time and thought to pull them off these days but it is important to us that we remember who we are. And it works out perfectly that Lily loves taking in all of our adventures on the chest of her main man!

The last and a lot of first's

Wow I am behind....again! We have had a big month! On May 23, Pat's youngest brother Jody got married in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. He is the last of the six Stier siblings to tie the knot. It's kind of sad to think we won't have anymore family weddings!

We had an awesome time! Lily did great on the first flight which was a huge relief for me. Every morning Pat would get up with her and take her to breakfast so I could rest and take my time getting ready. They would follow that up with a swim in the pool.

 

When I say Lily loves the water, I mean she loves the water! She began most of her morning naps in the pool and finished them in the cabana.

The wedding was original and exactly what I would expect of Jody and Amy. She looked beautiful and the ceremony was very sweet.

 

I ended up with way more pictures like this then the previous one. Haha!

The reception was on the beach, laid back and full of dancing. When the music started Lily began bouncing and swinging her arms and legs (she gets her moves from Pat)!

Two peas in a pod!

The groomsmen busting a move!

We spent our last day on the beach. I am glad that Lily's first experience was in such a beautiful place. I am disappointed I didn't make a point to take her there more because she loved it. Pat took her out in the water and she laughed when the waves splashed her face. I imagined taking adorable pictures of her on the beach but she was too into the sand to take her eyes off of it for one second. She wiggled her feet, dug with her hands and managed to get a few handfuls in her mouth while I was busy trying to get the perfect pic.

Please excuse Pat's bathing suit, he was trying to fit in!

 It was the first time in months we had the opportunity to spend days on end together as a family and we didn't waste one minute of it. We had a blast catching up with family while celebrating the happy couple!