happy anniversary to us
Seven years ago me and some of my favorite girls woke up, went to the hair salon, got some coffee and muffins and headed off to the Manor House very early in the morning. We got dressed, did makeup and took pictures, all to prepare to walk down the aisle by 11:30 in the morning. I met Jay down a tangled little path through a garden and we a had a very short, simple ceremony. We got to enjoy lunch with friends and family and then started off on our honeymoon and a lifetime of adventures!
Over the past seven years we have moved over ten hours away from everyone we knew, bought and remodeled a house, met friends that we will have for a lifetime, served in a church, had two dogs and one baby, and enjoyed every bump of the ride!
Seven years of marriage, seven years of dating before that and best friends for half of our lives. Looking forward to a lifetime of bumps, curves and maybe a loopty-loop or two!
-melissa
beach baby, beach baby, out on the sand...
Aren’t you glad that all of the Hess family beach trips are over for this year so you do not have to read anymore corny Beach Boy references! Well, our week is up and we had a great time! We were hoping that Charlotte liked the beach as much as we did, and she bummed it out on the beach like a seasoned beach baby!
We did all of our normal beach activities, but this year with just a little beach baby twist.
-melissa
four months
Dear Charlotte,
Today you are 4 months old!!! Each week that passes by you grow, not only in length and weight, but in knowledge and experiences. It’s been amazing to watch you grow up before our eyes. Our worries and concerns as new parents are constantly replaced with new worries and concerns as you grow and change. It’s funny how we’ll joke around and say things like, “remember what it was like when...” referring to what you use to do or not do. Just last night mommy and daddy were talking about how crazy it was when we had to get up every 2-3 hours in the night to feed you. And it’s funny how without keeping record I can tell anyone who asks how many nights you’ve slept 8 hours straight and numerous other little statistics about you. You are a beautiful little girl and your smiles have a way of making life even better than it already is. We love you so much and can’t wait to see what happens between today and your 5 month checkup. The Hess family will never be the same because of you...
-jay
let’s go surfin’ now, everybody’s learnin’ how....
Our family vacation is coming up in just a matter of days and I am ready. This year we are going back to an old classic for our family, Ocracoke. Both Jay and I love it there, we love to drive our trusty subaru to our choice spot everyday, we love that there is no dinosaur or pirate themed put-put, we love that everything is closed after 10, we love that there is no chain restaurants or stores, it is just a perfect little get away from everything. We have had some great trips here in the past and we are looking forward to one again.
Last year we ventured out of our vacationing norm and took a east coast tour of some cities and states that we have always wanted to visit. It was a great vacation, but it wore me out. I am not sure if it was because I was in the throws of my first trimester of pregnancy or because we essentially walked the whole east coast up one side and down the other, but I am glad that this year I can plant it in one town, in one house, for one week. We have seen all the sites, eaten at all of the restaurants, shopped and paroozed all of the stores and galleries, but I think some nice familiarity might be fitting for this years vacation. With an almost four month baby nothing has been too familiar in the past four months.
So needless to say we are ready! We have all of the essentials......
sunscreen, bug spray and a new fun color of nail polish
and of course a finished beach quilt that is just begging to be relaxed on in the sun!
Ocracoke here we come! Keep your fingers crossed that little C is a beach bum like her mom and dad!
-melissa