Day 4,329

The Separate Dates

Girls to the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary!

Bub and Mom to Costco!

And Daddy with Jaeden at work.



Then a little peg doll painting to cap off another busy day.

Day 2,972

The Second Year With Our Bubba

Two years ago, the most personable, talkative, adorable, freckle-faced redhead took our last name and changed our lives forever. Oh Bearett, what a treasure you are to us. To be apart of a story so much bigger than ourselves, to have been honored with the privilege to raise you in love as we shepherd your heart toward the King, we couldn’t have asked for a more rewarding pursuit. This year, as we celebrated our second Adoption Day, I had to take a step back as I considered your costume, recognizing the weight behind my role as your mommy. I pray that we would continue learning quickly, with more clarity, and in abundance, the love of the one Good Shepherd in order to better faithfully lead, deeply nourish, relentlessly protect, fully cherish, continually redirect, and love unconditionally the soul we’ve been charged to shepherd. How fitting then, your costume! What began as a sweet idea for you to enjoy with your sisters, turned into another dear reminder to tend my little Bearett sheep with the image of Christ before me always. Son, I love you more than you’ll ever know. Thank you for constantly pointing me to my own reality as an adopted child of the King. We say it often, “How blessed you are that you have the opportunity to be adopted not once, but TWICE!” We pray daily that that’s the great joy and reality of your life. I love you Bearett John (Bubba, Bubbie, Bub, Bear, Brother) Conley!

The shepherd with his sheep. 

So much more than just a costume. 

I love you, Conleys. 

Ah, what an honor it is to be their Mama!

Thumbs up for sure, girls!

We donned our much anticipated costumes and with great smiles and many giggles, headed to our most fun EVER Harvest Festival at church!

But not before first stopping by Mrs. Angela’s and thanking her with love and kisses for making ALL our costumes!!! We love you, Mrs. Angela! You did such a perfect job and everyone was quick to admire your work!!

And in true Bearett fashion, we walked through the gate and not five seconds later, he had cotton candy all up in his face. 

We kindly removed said candy from his face, reminded him that we hadn’t even eaten supper yet, stole him away for a family picture, and then sent him on his way to the hotdogs FIRST, and then finally, he got ALLLLLLLLLL the candy his big huge eyes desired. Sometimes, we’re still in Shepherding 101 ;)

She followed suit, just like any good sheep would!

The best night ever! They all had such a fun time and we are so thankful for a church that does this day well. We love you, CBC!

And finally: sorting time! 

You all know, you mustn’t keep chocolate in the same bag as fruity stuff, right? Rookie stuff. Teaching ‘em young...and stealing the best candy while it happens. 

She doesn’t even know what chocolate is - she’s munching on a wrapped up Milky Way - and yet somehow, she knows EXACTLY how big a smile it puts on your face! Oh, happy day!

Day 2,858

The All-Star Break-“INS”

A little floatin.’

A little fightin.’



A lotta smilin.’

Cuz it’s Allllllll-Star break and we have Daddy for four days!!!!!!

Day 2,375

The New Year’s Eve Mayhem

First of all, I’m laying here in bed at 11pm, dreading staying up another moment because, well, this Mama is tired. And sometimes I can’t believe I’m somehow still completing these posts day in and day out for the last 7+ years. In any case, I am and I don’t see a foreseeable stopping point any time soon. That being said, on the last day of 2018, Adam and I took on a huge project and decided to paint our entire bedroom while three gremlins tore up the rest of the house without us. A ten hour day on this 8-month pregnant lady’s feet and I’m spent. 

(But I will say, the almost-finished product was TOTALLY worth it.)

Better believe it. Good riddance blue walls.

Helloooooo Benjamin Moore’s “Kendall Charcoal.” 

We finally Conley cheersed(?) to the new year, scarfed our burrito bowls, reminisced over the very eventful last 365 days, and went back to work on the room. We finished at 9pm, after starting at 10:30 yesterday morning. I also managed to literally throw my phone into the trash around breakfast time yesterday, not finding it until 10:30 last night...in the OUTSIDE trash can. 

Ok, so now that you might feel a slight sense of sympathy for this aging, super pregnant, forgetful, busy Mama (or not), you’ll hopefully find the compassion within you to grant me one extra day of reviewing the entire 2018 year so that I can actually get some sleep tonight. Ok thanks. Bye. 

Day 2,266

The Final Flight

I had roughly ten total minutes of complete airplane peace before Bearett decided he wasn’t going to sleep. But 10 is better than 0 and the tv on the back of the seat in front of him kept him peaceful and occupied for the rest of nap time. So, I’ll take it. I’m not one to bribe with shows, but there’s s time and place for everything and this was one of those times. 

Meanwhile, Dad was running into the game while the other babes slept 30,000 feet in the air. I managed to get free JetBlue WiFi just in time to witness his 1.1 innings and I still don’t know how I managed it. 

But hey! Thanks for that, JetBlue! It’s not every day you get to watch your husband work while napping your tiniest babe on an airplane! And look, I’m still Southwest Airlines loyal, but if you ever decide to move into the business of taking care of baseball wives by removing your cancellation or change flight fees and charging nothing for the first TWO checked bags, you might make a complete believer out of me. 

It was fun while it lasted! The Conley Circus is back in town and not planning on leaving Florida for a long time. We had fun but we’re spent and are desperate for some home cooking and couch lounging. Shoutout to Bearett who helped his pregnant, toddler carrying, stroller pushing, suitcase dragging mother by pushing another suitcase heavier than himself over half a mile from our arrival gate at Terminal 3 to our car at Terminal 1. 

Rookie mistake for this veteran mom:

The trek is steep (especially pregnant with three kids under five) at FLL if you choose park at Terminal 1 and depart on a Southwest flight but arrive a week later on a JetBlue flight at Terminal 3. The money you save on airfare might not be worth the sweat and frustration  you’ll endure with all your kids and luggage on the way back. However, if you’re paying for THREE tickets, then girl, you save that money and you walk your circus butt that half mile back without complaining!

And then when you get home, you hose yourself and those kids off with a smile and call it a night. That is, unless you don’t first have to science-experiment with your girls’ chlorine-pool-green hair before doing so! Rumor has it that 10 minutes with KETCHUP lathered into their golden locks does the trick. I’ll defend that rumor. No more green hair!

Day Fifteen Hundred and Seventeen

The 3-Sport-Future-Athlete

Before we got to work yesterday...we got some more Vitamin D.

Because, why not, right?! The stuff's super good for you!

So this was my our work yesterday.

Ours because Little Miss Amelia wouldn't give me more than half hour time chunks to do anything. Poor teething baby! 

Though it took us all day (and night) to finish this masterpiece...

...we're happy it's done, happy it's cute, and happy that we can celebrate Baby Landon with it at his mommy's sports-themed baby shower!!!

Day Fourteen Hundred and Nineteen

The Day Before Uncle's Wedding!

Kicking her legs in the pool kept this lady occupied while the Mays (my maiden name) clan busted our buns to create the sweetest setting we could for our brother to get married in! We spent much of the day organizing, creating, cleaning, crafting, decorating, tutu-ing, and most importantly... 

Cake eating making!

Our surprise to Jacob and Tiffany! 

Ellie and I spent two days on this puppy and uhm...I'm obsessed with it! (So was the bride, thank goodness)! It took a lot of trial, definite drama, a few crumbs, a huge mess, some serious tears, and two 32 oz bags of powdered sugar to pull it off...but though it was rough on me, Tiffany's reaction to her whimsical cake made the challenge completely worth it! Success!! Thanks for helping me, Ellie! And thanks for putting up with an explosion of a kitchen, Richard! I promise I'll clean it up...tomorrow ;)

_______________________

Also, Adam was called into the office once again yesterday (Friday afternoon) - in NOLA - and given the news that he'd be joining the team in Miami! His flight left (today) Saturday morning, arriving in Miami at 1:30PM, after a night of packing up and cleaning up the apartment. Thanks Daddy! We're not sure what this call up looks like (as far as how long we'll be up), so we're just going with the flow and making the best of it! Amelia and I are planning on joining Adam in Atlanta on the 5th or the 6th (if he's still with the team)...but that's about all we know for now! Until then, we'll be in Spokane...and mostly free to hang out!

Day Fourteen Hundred and Thirteen

The Wedding Planners

Spoooooons!

The best toys ever!

Between these, her blankets, her toes, and her diaper wipes bag, I'm never going to have to buy this sweetie actual toys! Thanks MillieGirl. Saving Mama money...one cardboard box at a time!

That is, until she's this age, when toys and Spiderman jackets are totally necessary!

Hunter and Bearett, you sure know how to make this auntie of yours smile!!

And laugh!

BearBear spent his timeout in the frozen section of Costco yesterday. Consistency is key, and he knows that when he's naughty, he gets the corner. So, we found a corner and there he stood for 10 seconds...thinking about why kicking auntie Ellie in the tummy isn't nice. Ha! He's so sweet, but our little BuddyBear is really doing his part in making the "Terrible Twos" a factual thing.

Four sissys, three babies.

I always miss these girls so much, but it sure does make our reunions that much sweeter. Last night, we ate pizza together, laughed together, held kiddies together, 

and decorated together. 

Our brother is getting married on Saturday, so the A-Mays-ing Girls Party Planning Committee is once again in action! Last night, wedding shower preparations were our task. And holy smokes, am I completely satisfied and proud of what we pulled off today! Love love love all the time we're getting with our ladies!

Day One Thousand and Sixty-Three

The Bride to Be

Happy Bridal Brunch, to my little sissy Ellie!

While sipping mimosas,

We enjoyed cake, 

Some good laughs,

Even more adorable gifts, 

(This is the Rainy Day Fund Adam and I gave her! Turns out, money may not grow on trees, but this is proof that it can fall from the sky!)

And one absolutely stunning bride.

We love you, Ellie, and we're so honored to celebrate you and your upcoming vows to Richard. Marriage has been the sweetest blessing to me, and my prayer for you is that you're able to experience the kind of love, grace, truth, and freedom that Christ intended for in this covenant. It's not always easy. It's not always fun. And it'll expose your sins and shortcomings like never before. But the safety and grace you'll find in that vulnerability is a beautiful, beautiful thing. I hope you'll grow in ways you've never experienced before, and that you'll too see the fruits of what marriage can bring. I can't wait to watch this new chapter of your life unfold as not only an incredible mother, but as a lovely, worthy bride and wife too. 

Day One Thousand and Sixty-One

The Runaround Stud

Best baby. 

And biggest champ.

He endured 7 hours of errands, car seat changes, on-the-go-babas, and a few stroller trips…all (well, mostly all) with this same smile on his face. The same one that he wakes up with every morning. He's the sweetest, easiest, most happiest baby I've ever seen and I quite lucked out in being able to call him nephew! And yes, we like Santa. Even in August. 

Planning this bridal shower's no joke. We're going all out for our sissy and here's just a glimpse of one of the many projects we've begun to create! Can't wait to share the final product! Thanks for all your help, Shelby!