A Running Family.

While I was pregnant with Hadley, my mom and I walked a 5K race.  I had several friends that were running in it and I had told my mom that I wished I could do it too.  She told me that if I wanted to walk it then she would walk with me.  I was not exercising at all at the time and even though I had no trouble at all walking the 3.1 miles...I knew I was capable and wanted to do more.  I wanted to be one of the runners.  I had not given it my all.  My friends that had run it had inspired me more than they could ever know.  I set it as my goal to run the whole race the next year.

The next spring, Hadley was born and a few weeks later I started my running journey.  It was ugly.  I gain a lot of weight while pregnant so I had a lot of weight to lose.  I did not do any special programs like C25K, I would just go outside and run down the road I live on every day that I could and as far as I could.  After a couple of months I could run the 3 miles that I needed to for the 5K.

My parents and my sister-in-law, Ashley, also participated in the 5K.  Ashley had no trouble running as she has always worked out regularly and she had ran it the year before when I walked.  She is a fast runner.  I should label myself as more of a jogger :)  My dad ran a little but mostly walked.  However, his little bit of running made him beat my mom.  She can be competitive so she wasn't having that.  She wanted to start running too.  So then their running journey began.  You feel so accomplished after running and pushing yourself.  No matter how many times or how often I run...it is ALWAYS a challenge to me.

So now the four of us have kind of made running races a hobby.  They win a lot of medals.  My parents and Ashley usually place in their age division in the local races.  I am so proud of my parents and love the fact that they have always set such great examples of how to live a healthy and active lifestyle.  Yet they were never pushy about it or have made me feel like I NEED to.  They have a way of making me feel like I WANT to.  I hope I can set that same example for my daughters as they get older.

Ashley, me, Dad and Mom last Saturday at Kinston's Run for the River

Cooking a Little Hadley

Mallory is pretty good about making up catchy little songs.  The girls were playing in the kitchen last week while I was cooking dinner.  Mallory grabs the whisk and starts "stirring" Hadley's hair and singing this little tune.  I don't know where she came up with it at but it has been stuck in my head ever since, haha!

Birthdays and Allergies

Almost every single close friend I have has their birthday in March.  I am blessed to have quite a few close friends that I love and cherish deeply so I am certainly not complaining about this!  

We went to The Chelsea in New Bern on Saturday for Nikki's birthday lunch.  They are known for their Shrimp & Grits which is what I ordered.  YUM.  I cleaned my plate and shared a chocolate ganache cheesecake with Megan for dessert.  I felt so guilty for eating all that but man was it good.  It doesn't help that I went in starving.  Always a bad idea.

Nikki's boys were there too and they behaved so well.  My kids hate restaurants.

We also celebrated my Granddaddy's 94th birthday with a party for him on Saturday night.  The party was his request.  My family cooked a pig which was also his request.  Other things he asked for were homemade apple jacks made by my Grandma, a pineapple cake and bacon wrapped gizzards.  Yep, when you turn 94, you get whatever you want.  He did not want his picture made...so no pictures.  Everything turned out great though and I am so thankful that he was able to enjoy his birthday.

Then last night we celebrated Ashley's birthday.  My parents cooked a steak dinner.  It was delicious as always.  Mallory loves to help blow out the candles.

Ashley's mom, Ms. Leslie, made this amazing homemade cake from Southern Living.  We were all so impressed and yes, it tasted just as good as it looks.

The beautiful weather was nice this past weekend, but it also made for a very sick Hadley.  My kids have the WORST allergies.  They already take Claritin everyday and we run a Rainbow vacuum cleaner 24/7 which is supposed to help with allergies and they still have big flare ups.  Hadley especially.  Her little nose runs and runs and runs.  It is bad but I do not know what else to do.  She was getting a breathing treatment below (which is always fun) and decided to give it to the baby on the box instead.  I hope and pray that these allergies are something that she will grow out of.

And one last picture of the girls before church on Sunday!  We enjoyed the warmness while it lasted but it is back to cold and rainy again today.

Spring is here.

North Carolina has had about the roughest winter that I can ever remember.  Usually our winters are nothing to really complain about but we have had a record number of snow days this year it seems.  The girls and I are so ready for warm weather!  We are busy planning our summer vacations and dreaming about beach and pool days to come.

Lots of time is spent inside pretending to be puppies.  I don't know what it is with my kids being infatuated with puppies.

We have been lucky that the weekends are usually nice and warmer than the weekdays!

Right before a trip to Tractor Supply Store to see all of their baby chicks and ducks.

The girls playhouse they got for Christmas.  Really looking forward to lots of backyard time now!

In six months.

The girls grow and change so quick but with seeing them every day, it is not always easy to see just how much they change.  Here is a picture that I just took Tuesday, May 14 -

That little girl...you see how Mallory is having to hold her to be still.  She is busy and is never still unless she is sleeping (which she does great, praise the Lord).  But she makes up for it when she is awake.  Mallory has never been that active!  And she is eating on a hushpuppy that I had given her to try to get her to be still. 

Here are the girls less than six months ago.  The picture on the left was taken on Dec 1.  It blows my mind! 

Not that I am rushing things, but I can't wait to see what they look like in another six months.  

Manning-Andrews Wedding

About three weeks ago, we kicked off the Manning-Andrews wedding weekend.  It seemed like planning had gone on forever and the time to celebrate was finally here.  All the planning paid off...there was not a detail missed and the whole celebration was flawless. 

Friday started off with a bridal luncheon at The Country Squire.  It was delicious!



Bride and bridesmaids

Mom, me, Mallory and Ashley at the luncheon

My family (minus Hadley) at the rehearsal dinner at the Duplin Winery.

Getting ready on Saturday morning.

Three Ashley's

Me, Mom and Mallory heading to get on the bus to go to the church.

Right before the big event with the gorgeous bride.

This was right after the wedding...Hadley and I were reunited :)

She had stayed with Patrick's parents the night before and they brought her with them to the ceremony.  I was so glad to see her!

The Mr. and Mrs. right after saying I do!

We were all on a bus that shuttled us to the reception at River Landing.  Mallory loved this party bus!

Patrick and I at the reception.



And some beautiful pictures from the wedding photographer, Tara Parker.

Very special weekend for our family with precious memories made.  Welcome to the Andrews Family, Ashley!  We love you!!!

Hadley turns 1

Well there are no more babies in the Heath home...I know, so sad!!  Our littlest is now walking and talking more and more each day.  It is so exciting and yet so sad (because they don't stay little long).  Here's a little recap from Hadley's first birthday.

This was the morning of her party.  We had her birthday party on a Sunday afternoon and Patrick's parents came and picked the girls up and took them to church and lunch so we could prepare for the party.  I think she was excited about her party!

The party was a bug and garden theme...perfect for a spring birthday.

I usually am pretty lazy about doing my own decorations...I would rather just buy the stuff already made because I am not crafty or creative at all, but I waited too late to buy decorations for Hadley's party so I did end up doing the banners myself.  It was much easier than I thought and although it was nothing fancy, I thought they turned out pretty cute.  Who knew that Michael's had so much neat stuff?!  I had another banner too on the food table, but the pic is on my real camera.

Favor bags...made by me =)

I did order these from Etsy...and there was one soap inside each of the favor bags.

Poor baby was not a fan of her birthday hat!!

Now that the hat is off and there is cake in front of her..she is a happy girl again.  Hadley devoured her smash cake.  Yea...she likes cake as much as her mama.

Distracted by cake, daddy snuck the hat back on...

My mom made Hadley's outfit and did such a good job with it.  It turned out so cute and I loved it!!

After all that cake, she was such a little ham and the life of the party while opening her presents.  And she will be rockin' this animal print bikini this summer!

Grandaddy Oneal is so funny!

Grandaddy Franklin and Grandmother

Still playing after the party.

The next morning...on Hadley's official birthday as she woke up.  Have you ever seen a cuter face first thing in the morning?!?!

Then on that night, we celebrated again with Uncle Joey since he and Hadley share the same birthday.

On the 23rd, Hadley had her one year checkup.  All went well until it was time for shots.  I had both girls with me because they also had pictures done before the appointment.  Mallory knew what was coming and was TORE UP about knowing her little sister was about to get shots.  It was the sweetest thing for her to be so concerned about Hadley.  I do hope they will always stay close and look out for each other.  That is the best part about having a sibling!



I'm off to Mallory's dance rehearsal...blogging about that to come soon!!