Clap! Clap! Clap!

On Sunday, September 2nd while helping a friend move Madelyn starting clapping for the first time. And she hasn't been able to stop since. Whatever she's doing, she always take a moment to stop and clap for herself. We love it and we love her growing animation!

Perfect to Me

While playing or cleaning I like to expose MMM to music (since neither one of us can sing). I feel it's never too early to expose babies to great music. The other day I had Pandora on and I heard the song Perfect by the Glee cast. Not sure the original artist. I can't get the lyrics out of my head because it's exactly how I feel about our Madelyn but most importantly how I want her to feel about herself. Yes, I have many hopes and dreams for her but soon she'll have her own dreams and if she doesn't see herself as Heavenly Fathers sees her - those hopes and dreams will be hard to come by. Something I unfortunately had to learn the hard way.

Perfect 

Pretty, pretty please! 

Don't you ever ever feel 

Like you're less than...

Less than perfect.

Pretty, pretty please! 

If you ever ever feel

Like you're nothing..

You are perfect, to me.

 

I feel so blessed I was able to capture this precious moment of her sleeping. I wish I knew how to seer every moment of her life into my memory.

Lovin' Maine- Part 2

When the lovely owner of the Metcalf Home jumped into our car for a ride- she guided us through town by way of the lake. We saw where the road once began from a train track that followed next to the lake. I wish I had words to describe the beauty. 

On our way to dinner, Cony surprised me by taking me through Augusta. I didn't know where we were going but he really wanted me to see something. Little did I know it was the building I was already vocally swooning over.

This is where his grandfather graduated high school. If you haven't figured it out he has the same name as his dad and grandfather. 

Then we made our way to New Harbor for dinner. I fell in love with this place before I learned it was pretty famous for it's lobster. Cony picked his own and I enjoyed a fresh salmon meal. But what I loved more was the scenery and atmosphere (and the people!). 

 

If it weren't every ones dream to retire in Maine and have a Bed and Breakfast, we'd be jump starting our plans now! 

Metcalf Home

We've had a splendid weekend! We headed to Maine on Saturday and so many great things happened that I'll do two postings since I have so many photos I need to share. Need being the key word. 

Most of Cony's ancestors are from Maine and I've heard about the Metcalf Home for years. I knew living this close we had to go visit and ...it was worth every mile. The old couple that live there (has for 50 years!) were delighted to show us around and even gave us a tour... and not just of the home. She hopped right into our car and guided us around town. Winthrop is a small town about 10 miles out of Augusta. Anything you might know about Maine or seen about Maine... is true. The bright blue sky, amazing weather, landscape that you don't mind driving through for hours and the food- all are out of this world. It wasn't until this past trip that I remembered I had a slight infatuation with Maine a number of years ago. Mostly because of the book/movie 'Sarah, Plain and Tall'. I couldn't believe I forgot but than I remembered that Maine was the only state I ever wanted to visit during my "previous life". No wonder I forgot.. most of that life is blocked out of my memory.  Who knew I'd marry someone with deep roots to Maine. 

I have a deep appreciation for the couple that live there now. They have kept everything they can, original or decorated to the time period. We spent a solid three hours at the house and I can't say enough great things about our time spent there. 

Original stone wall (s)... 

This was the mud room with a wall of firewood. Behind the firewood- an outhouse. 

A picture of the house in its original state...

dining room...

they painted a mural all around of the town as it was back in the day...

every window in the front has a latter back chair (if you go back to the picture of the house from outside- you'll notice them)

Fireplace is original and the room straight ahead is a tiny room they call the "birthing room". Need I explain?

A table chair. Original to the home and I had never seen one until Saturday. One of my favorites!

Pond the homeowners expanded a few years ago. When we own this home we have big plans of teaching children how to ice skate on this very pond.