Day Fourteen Hundred and Ninety-Five

The...Richmond, Kentucky

Sorry for the brief posts the past few days.

We're busy here in Kentucky. Sorta. 

Mostly, I just don't have the energy to write a lot presently. 

This. Mom. Is. Tired.

So, we went to Grandpa Larry and Grandma Tracy's house in Richmond for the very first time. Amelia sat in their grass. She was very confused.

Then, the puppy licked her face.

And she was double confused.

Not sure she likes the grass. 

And definitely not sure how she's feeling about puppies.

But she's adorable. And the three - well, five - of them together was worth her possible discomfort. I just love this!

Then, off to dinner!

Amelia is about the most curious 7-month-old alive.

And she has to have everything YOU have. 

Yesterday's must-have: Mommy's rolled up silverware.

Hmmm...tastes sorta...

...papery. Oh! I like paper! Nom nom nom!!!

You know what else tastes good? Straws! Oh yeah, her favorite. Well, behind spoons, that is. 

Cracker Barrel enthusiasts, unite!

<3

Love you guys.
Even you, behind the camera, Auntie Kim!

Day Fourteen Hundred and Sixty-Nine

The Baseball Baby Necessities

With only a few days to spend with my grandparents, I had to show them everything I know about being a Baseball Baby. 

First, you need the right clothes. Anything at all will do. Even if it's just a diaper. Us kids can make anything look adorable. Including poop. Yeah, poop. Yesterday, I wore the most adorable teal romper (to compliment my eyes, Mama said), but I couldn't hold it any longer and pooped all over my newest Posh Peanut addition.

And so second, you need a sink. Any sink will work. And maybe some soap. That way, when you poop all over your clothes, your mom can run to the bathroom and wash it off. Then you can put it back on, of course. 

Next, you need toys. Actually anything will do. A water bottle. A spoon. A straw. A toothbrush. Especially the banana shaped kind. A necklace. A dirty diaper? Oh, earrings attached to Mom's ears are the best!

You'll need some patience too. Kids love to squirm. Duh. 

You definitely need a bow or five. It's the worst when they ask "how old is he?" 

You need some on-the-field action. 

The Nationals President's Race is the prime example. 

And a *few* photo opps too!

Mom does a great job of this. She makes sure to get me in all the best ones! (Hiiiiiii Presidents! What big heads you have! My daddy thinks you're really funny. I like when he laughs.)

You'll most definitely need to bring your snuggles. Baseball Babies LOVE game-time cuddles and lovin. 

But most of all, you need someone to watch! The kind of someone who lights up your day and makes fart noises on your cheeks. 

The kind of someone who makes baseball his career and not his life. 

The kind of someone who loves unconditionally and makes you laugh without abandon.

I call that someone Dada. 

And watching him while he works makes every single baseball game worth it. 

He's just...the best. 

Well, there ya go, guys!

What do you think of my Baseball Baby Necessities?

Smile if you agree!!

Agreed! 

Love you, Grandma and Grandpa!

Thanks for raising such a good Daddy for me, Grandpa. He's everything I could ever ask for in a Dad. 

Two last things:

One: sometimes, Baseball Babies need some post-game worship on Faith Day. To put in all into perspective. Because simply: this is why I'm a Baseball Baby anyways! To point people to Jesus.

And second: this is what Baseball Babies don't need. To semi-witness a three-vehicle accident right outside the field. Last night, Dad had to call 911 as we waited for our Uber and heard a loud crash. We turned around to see a pair of legs fly into the air. Thankfully, everyone was ok, but definitely, we can do without crashes!

Day Thirteen Hundred and Seventy

The Miami Family

Got sent down.

Got some sleep.

Not sure if the sleep was worth it, but for now, we'll take it. Especially when the sleep is this cute.

How, oh how, did this beautiful picture become my life?!

(And yes, you read that clock right. This duo slept past 12:30 in the afternoon.)

We spent yesterday hanging out with family.

The family that traveled thousands of miles to...not see their son throw. Ah fart. Oh well. At least they got to hang with MillieGirl!! Grandma Tracy had yet to meet her, so...all wasn't lost!

Gosh our kid is SO STINKIN CUTE.

And I'm not biased.

Cuz Grandpa thinks so too.

I LOVE TO CHEW MY HANDS!

SLOBBER EVERYWHERE!

After being sent to AAA, Adam was given three days to report back to NOLA.

So, we decided to stay in Miami yesterday and enjoy some time with Amelia's grandparents.

And it was totally worth it.

During season, we've never gotten to hang out with Adam's parents all together, so though we were bummed about not seeing him throw, we made other memories instead. And that's how baseball goes. If you're not flexible, this lifestyle will chew you up and spit you out. I prefer not to be gnawed on. Good thing I was a gymnast - been flexible since 3 years old! ;)

Daddy, Mommy, Grandma Katy, Baby, Grandma Tracy, and Grandpa Larry.

Thanks for dropping everything and coming to see us! Hopefully next time (if/when there is one), things will go a little differently! Love you!

Day Seven Hundred and Forty-Seven

The Conley Crew

Adam and I have been on a Washington whirlwind for the past 16 days. It’s been such a rewarding trip, but we’re a lot - A LOT - tired. Last night though, we were able to take a little break from our crazy schedule and sat down for a nice Olive Garden dinner with Dad, Tracy, and Alex. And yes, dessert too. I ate half a pumpkin cheesecake slice and it was every calorie worth it! Mmmmmm.

Love my Conley men!

Looky this! Larry opened up the Jacksonville Suns’ website last night to show me a little surprise. See that big lefty on the right?! That’s Adam on the Suns’ homepage! How awesome!

And then...there was a groomsmen pyramid in the living room...

And then a wrestling match...

Put half of Adam’s best friends in one room and there’s bound to be silly shenanigans! My boy has missed his boys, and since being back, he’s been able to spend some good, quality moments with them. And we’re so thankful for that! 

Day Seven Hundred and Forty-Six

The Old Familiar Faces

Adam here, this is my family. not all of them, but some of them. Since moving to the west side of Washington in 5th grade I have had an amazing journey meeting new friends, and building family-like relationships with so many people. Olympia was an awesome atmosphere to live in, and I learned a lot. In high school, I was blessed with a great group of friends and teammates, and over the years, they became like brothers, and their family like family. Mark and Debbie Maxwell (pictured on the left) hosted a "reunion" dinner for those who could make it at their Olympia home. Dwayne and Alice Harkness (pictured on the right) hosted our wedding in their back yard two years ago. And of course to the right of me in the photo is Pard, and my step-mom Tracy. These are just a few friends of the many that could make it to dinner last night, and we had a blast catching up, having a few laughs, and telling old stories. We've made a lot of memories over the years and this seems to be one more in the making, I love my family!

Day Three Hundred and Ninety-Six

The Hectic Day of Peace

I really want to write. About so many things. But because of our schedule, it’s now 1:00 AM and we’re leaving for Spokane in less than 8 hours. Of all the days in Olympia, today was the busiest. Physically, emotionally, and especially spiritually. Adam and I grew a lot in the past 14 hours. It’s late and we have a lot to do, a long way to travel, but I feel that it’s important to express the lessons we learned in an appropriate and thorough way. I’m mentally drained and cannot focus well enough to fully elaborate on how we’re feeling right now. I think I’ll write a separate blog to explain myself in a couple of days. For now, I just can’t cover all of it tonight. Not nearly.  So instead, a slideshow will have to suffice.

If you live in Olympia and haven’t been to Cutter’s Point Coffee, do yourself a favor and go. Mmmmm. That’s some gooood coffee. They have superb management too…

Ryhan Smith, everybody! I could never, ever, say enough about how thankful Adam and I are for this man. He’s impacted our lives in a way that I am so grateful for, and the reason for why I’m feeling like I’m feeling today. The story and lesson I want to tell comes from our meeting with him this afternoon…it’s so good, but too much for right now. We love you, Rhyan. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Bonsai Teriyaki is the real reason we love coming to Olympia. But shhhh, you didn’t hear that from me! BEST food ever!!! (Besides Chipotle…then again, maybe they can tie).  We are crazy about Bonsai. Can’t get enough.

John Kiley, everybody! Just like Rhyan, this man changed the course of our life forever. We met John through Ryhan…totally and completely a God-Thing…and have since become very close friends. John and his business partner Marty are a couple of the most charismatic Christian men I’ve ever met. They’re wonderful. Just outstanding people. And without their guidance, I don’t know how Adam and I would’ve been married 13 months – to the day – ago. Another lesson and work of the Lord that I couldn’t even begin to explain right now. We love you, John. Thank you (and Marty) from the bottom of our hearts. 

Dad knows just how much Adam loves the Olive Garden, so he and Tracy treated us to dinner! We’ve been so incredibly busy - as have they - that we hadn’t really gotten to spend a good amount of time with them before tonight. With Alex now in Driver’s Ed, school in full swing, and Dad working a bunch of overtime, it’s been a bit of a struggle to find a time for us all to get together. BUT, we really had a wonderful evening with them over an especially delicious dinner. Adam misses his Pard immensely so it was a nice way to end our short visit here.

But before saying goodbye to Olympia, we made one last stop to the Harkness residence…where we got married! Alice and Dwayne are the model of what Adam and I would eventually like to see become of our marriage. They’re good, honest, hardworking, faithful and loving people who have raised an incredible family by putting the Lord at the center of their lives. It’s always a joy to see them, always a pleasure to pick apart their brains, and always a conversation that takes at least three hours to complete…we’re tired! Time for bed!

Day One Hundred and Forty-One

The Belated Hard Rock Christmas Surprise

So, my family has a slight tendency of lacking punctuality. Most of the time, it's bothersome. And it's in those moments that we have to explain that getting FIVE women ready to go anywhere, and to be on time, is like having your cake and eating it too. They're just innately incompatible. As a result, this trend of tardiness has seeped into each of our lives, and it's something that we all battle with on a daily basis. But we're getting better. This year, our Christmas present to Dad arrived only three weeks late. At least I can say, however, that I can't claim this year's latest gift arrival. One month and three days after Christmas, a package from my Daddy arrived in the mail. At first, I thought he had sent me a telephone, but after noting the "NOT A PHONE" description in his all-captialized handwriting, I knew it was our Christmas gift. And the wait was well worth it. If you know my dad, there are a few things that come quickly to mind: baseball, baseball, baseball, Dave Matthews Band, and The Hard Rock Cafe. He's also in the midst of defeating a second bout of brain cancer (he started his sixth round of chemo this last week!!). Maybe that has something to do with the late arrival. Sheesh, Dad, it's not like brain cancer is that big of a deal, right?! ;) Well, I'm happy to say that even through the struggle of tending to grandma's needs and his own health, he managed to put together an incredibly thoughtful gift that I'll forever cherish. In the "Not a Phone" box was a card and a picture framed collection of four Hard Rock Cafe pins, each bearing my birthstone somewhere on the pin. Ever since I was little, I remember my dad collecting these pins. His room is decorated with the memorabilia. He attends meetings and promotions with HRC. He eats there often. He loves Hard Rock. And for him to gift me something so near to his heart, I felt our bond strengthen. It has a permanent spot on our bookshelf and I'm so proud to show it off. Thank you Dad. The pins are beautiful and so is your heart. I love you! (Adam does too!)

Oh, and if you'll notice our other Christmas gift from Larry and Tracy hanging above the pins...well said? I think so!

Day Eighty-Eight

The Real McCoy

I need to stop cheating. And no, I'm not talking about the integrity of my game play. Originally, I said I'd post one picture a day for the entire first year of our marriage. But then there's nights like tonight when my indecisive nature gets the best of me and I end up with three different images! I should have suspected as much out of myself. Sometimes one just isn't enough. Except in the context of marriage. (Just needed to make that clear. Haha).  So, this trifecta is what I decided upon. And I'm happy with my choice. Adam and I enjoyed a long day with some of our most loyal and supportive friends, with conversations that always seem to revive pieces of our spirits. We're so grateful for true, honest, bold relationships in the name of the Lord. For dinner, we grubbed on pork and potatoes at Larry and Tracy's, and made sure to beat Alex in the real game of Scrabble. The words pard and wife graced the board, so you know that the battle was a good one. But as always, in the end, I came out the victor, beating my measly opponents by an embarrassing margin. Would you have expected any different? ;) 

We'll be headed to Spokane early Friday morning, making tonight the last time the five of us will be able to hang out...for a long time. A family picture was therefore in order, just so we'd have proof over the years that Busy-Adam wasn't always MIA. Love you guys!