something good

I went home last weekend to Kentucky. We had such a great time with a lot of the McDaris family. Some might call me a homebody, as this move to South Carolina was never an easy thing for me. However, I am glad to call SC my second home. :) And gladly so, as it is a wonderful place full of wonderful people. However, nothing compares to the farm I grew up on, if you ask me. I often tell Brent that I am like the big tree in my parents' front yard: deeply rooted.

So after being there this weekend, the muse descended, and I felt compelled to write a little verse. It's nothing impressive, just how I feel. It is my hope, though, that every person finds a place that gives them such peace and rest.

I went home today

with tears in my eyes.

No sadness.

Tears of a happy reunion

with the place my soul comes from.

Over the fields I hear

the river's voice singing a sweet melody,

the story of so many

who loved this place before me.

These hills were trod
by my grandpa's boots
and his grandpa and his grandpa before him.

The same walls of this house
hear my songs
and the ones my great-grandmother used to sing.
How many secrets does it have?

Argument and embrace,
Summers and winters,
Birth and death.
This place, a silent witness of it all.

And I can't help but realize
when I'm standing there,
overcome,
that God has been good to me.

Like father, like daughter.

I entitled this post, "Like father, like daughter" for the simple fact that Anne-Kelly learned to climb in the last day or two. Brent loves rock-climbing now as an adult, but the stories are many about Brent's climbs up various things as a child. Anne-Kelly's favorite thing to climb is stairs. She figured out how to climb just a few stairs from the sunken den at her Papa Tom's house, but has since graduated to trying to climb our stairs here in our living room. It's time to invest in a baby gate, people.

I'm sort of from the school of thought, however, that I don't want to completely babyproof my house because then she won't learn not to do things. Does that make sense? If you just barricade the stairs, how will she ever learn that she's not supposed to go up them when they are no longer barricaded? There are two ways of thinking about babyproofing, I've heard. Anyway, I think we are definitely getting a baby gate, but we aren't going overboard with all the other gadgets. For example, I only have one cabinet latch, and it is for the cabinet under the sink that has cleaning products in it. The rest of them have stuff in them like pots and pans and tupperware, which is Anne-Kelly's favorite. She drags it all out and has a grand time doing it.

Anyway, looks like this post has gone about as far as it can go. Anne-Kelly is crying and needs her mommy.

A quick update, however. This Thursday we are leaving to go to my parent's farm in Kentucky for the weekend. Joining us will be Brent's mom and brother, his McDaris grandparents (Gary's parents), Aunt Whitney and the kids, and my grandmothers. Possibly my brother too, I'm hoping. We should have a great time, I hope. Or we might drive each other nuts! We'll see. Just kidding about the nuts part, haha. Hope you're having a nice week!

A Few Belated Photographs

Finally uploaded some photos off the camera from this month. One of my resolutions for this year is to take more pictures with my camera and NOT my iPhone. I'm going to try and periodically post them here. Here are a few from the last few weeks, including Anne-Kelly's seven-month birthday and our trip up to Lexington to see Michael and Tyler. Enjoy!

Happy seven month birthday Anne-Kelly! 1.17.10




Mommy's girl. On the ride home from Lexington. She adores putting her hand in my mouth while she eats.

Anne-Kelly's newfound passion. Daddy let her "drive," and she's been wanting to get up in the front seat with him now every time we stop. She giggles, squeals, and occasionally honks the horn. :)


Anne-Kelly even wore Dudley and Toby out!

Brent's new obsession: Wii. Too bad our TV is 27 inches and we have zero funds!

A snapshot Brent took on the way to or front Lexington. My precious girl.

Anne-Kelly and her Aunt Ty. Aunt Ty will probably kill me for posting this one as she had just gotten out of the shower, but I think she's gorgeous sans makeup.

Hanging with Uncle Michael, our favorite medical student.