Skipping a day of Blog Every Day in May...

 Sorry readers...

bear with me for a moment.

I don't know if you have been following the story of Zach Sobiech. He's been in the news a couple of times here and there. I actually first heard about him while my husband was watching SportsCenter... There was a story about a baseball pitcher who was having a bad game but his coach had asked him to go over to the stands and speak to a teenager who was dying of cancer. He literally had 90 days to live.

Wait.

What?

90 days?

I immediately looked this up.

It was true. 

Zach Sobiech was dying.

He was 17 years old.

He was terminal.

He had chosen not to have his leg and hip removed...

and instead he was given just months of life.

Wow.

Here's Zach and his video "My Last Days"

Why am I sharing this?

Zach passed away yesterday.

May 20th.

This is his story, his vision, his goodbyes, and everything he leaves behind.

Such an amazing person... and he was given such a short time here on earth.

It puts so many things into perspective.

Hug your loved ones a little tighter today, friends.

xoxo

Blog Every Day In May Challenge Day 17: A Favorite Photo of Yourself

Womp womp womp... fail.

I've missed 2 more days.

Because I suck... obviously!

Hahaha jk. Things have just been busy busy busy over here.

I've had school and the baby...

and we're going on vacation next week!

Woo! I can't wait to share all the pics and fun with you when we return.

We're going to Tropea for the long weekend and I am so excited!

If you've never heard of Tropea, it looks like this...

Google Images

See why I'm so excited?! Ahhh!

Anyways... back to our regularly scheduled program.

I'm linking up with Jenni again for Blog Every Day in May

Day 17: A favorite photo of yourself and why.

I have three.

Each of these photos were taken during very pivotal moments in my life. Each moment was life changing and very emotional for me. I can remember each moment very clearly and perfectly, but to be able to see myself in the moment means so much. In the first, I had just married the love of my life and my best friend. In the second, I was celebrating the growing life inside of me. And in the last, I was holding my baby for the very first time... meeting my sweet Shelby Rae... and I was, for the very first time, a mommy. Wow. So many tears, smiles, and memories surround these pictures :)

xoxo

Blog Every Day in May Day 14: Ten Things That Make Me Really Happy

Day 14: Ten things that make you really happy.

1. My husband.

2. Snuggling with my daughter.

3. Family time.

4. A hot cup of coffee.

5. Driving with the windows down and the music up on a pretty day.

6. Watching my husband play with my daughter.

7. Laughing with my husband.

8. My daughter's smiles and laughter.

9. Cooking... and especially my husband thoroughly enjoying it.

10. Freshly painted nails or a new pair of shoes :)

Just for fun...
I'll share a couple of pictures!

Shelby Rae and Mom ready for our first pool day!

Shelby Rae's first pool day!
Gram and Pap sent SR a Hello Kitty pool surprise :)

Daddy joined SR in the ittybitty pool ;)

On Mother's Day SR had her first taste of Cannoli :)
Which she loved, of course! 

She also loves her walker... and Taylor Swift!
In this pic she's "dancing" to T. Swift :)

She also loves her "Uncle Mario"! He's her favorite Italian :)
He said, "She likes me because I'm black!" lol
He meant "tan" :)

xoxo

Blog Every Day In May Day 13: Issue A Public Apology

I skipped THREE DAYS. Fail.

Epic fail. Ugh.

So, today's prompt couldn't have come at a better time.

Day 13: Issue a public apology.

To all 185 readers (woo!) of Sweet Tea in Sicily,

and every single citizen of blogland,

I'm sorry.

I publicly apologize for letting you down.

I know you were sitting on the edge of your seats,

biting your nails even,

and waiting for my posts for the BEDIM challenge.

I am sorry.

I failed.

I am a failure.

I let living my life get in the way of blogging (gasp!).

But I will make it up to you!

I will continue with this challenge.

I will continue posting every day for as long as I can.

And if I slip up again... will you forgive me?

As I hope you will now?

Sorry, dear readers.

I'll try to do better.

;)

xoxo

Blog Every Day in May Day 9: A Moment in Your Day

I'm linking up with Jenni at Story of My Life for the NINTH day in a row?!

Say what?! I know... I'm just as shocked as you are :)

Today is an easy one. Seriously. Check out this prompt.

Day 9: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words).

Sweeeeeet.

And since I always overload this here blog with my beautiful daughter

(can you blame me?)

I'm going to go in a different direction and share one of my other loves today :)

This is one of my favorite moments of the day...

Italian lemon-garlic chicken and tilapia

Seasoned and soon-to-be roasted veggies
my fave!

I don't know what it is, but something about cooking just soothes my soul.

Don't get me wrong, some days I can't stand the idea of making a mess of the kitchen or dirtying up a single dish that I know I'll later have to wash... but most days I can't wait till SR's afternoon nap when I can get in there to slice, chop, dice, season, sprinkle, mix, mash, bake, or whatever it is my heart so desires.

It's a break from my day as mommy.

And of course I get to wear my adorable Vera Bradley apron. Duh.

Old picture, old house, old hair, old glasses...
but I still love that apron! :)

xoxo

Blog Every Day In May Day 8: A Piece Of Advice You Have For Others

Day 8: A Piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

I'm not going to lie. I have a migraine... I have all day. I don't feel well. So... this is going to be short and maybe not very coherently written. Honestly, let's just get this over with. (Sorry.)

My advice to you... Open your eyes and live in the moment. I say this as a first time mom who has cried more happy tears in the last five and a half months than I have in my whole entire life. I've always always always been one to make lists and mark my calendar and plan ahead (like days, weeks, and years ahead)... but I'm learning to just stop and watch my daughter. 

Then
5 days old

Stop thinking about how much easier it will be to spend time with her when I'm out of school and instead wait until she's in bed to do my homework... even if it means less sleep for me. 

Stop wondering when this "teething phase" will be over and instead enjoy how cute she is when she drools or chews on Sophie.

Stop saying "it will be so much easier when she can hold her own bottle" (or sit up, or feed herself, or anything else!) because one day I am so going to miss doing all of it.

Now
5 months old

You get my point.

Just stop living for the future. Live for the now.

I so need to take my own advice.

:)

xoxo

Blog Every Day In May Day 7: The Things You're Most Afraid Of

Day 7: The Thing(s) You're Most Afraid Of

Ultimately, the thing I am most afraid of is failing as a wife and mother. I don't want to become my parents... I'm not saying they "failed" but they did have a failed marriage and at times had some pretty piss poor parenting skills. I don't want that for myself, my marriage, or my child. I want a happy marriage, I want a happy child, and I want to be happy myself.

I am afraid of not succeeding in marriage. Perhaps that sounds absurd because I love my husband and he loves me... but marriages are work. I heard this quote recently and I think it sums it up nicely...

"Most people get married believing a myth; that marriage is a beautiful box full of all the things they have longed for: companionship, romance, sexual fulfillment, intimacy, friendship, laughter, financial security. The truth is that marriage, at the start, is an empty box. You must put some things into it before you can take anything out of it."

I am also afraid of being a bad mother... but who isn't? Being a first time mom is scary. Am I making all the right decisions? Am I doing things right? Am I teaching my daughter the skills she needs to be a good person and to reach her milestones? I worry about this every single day. I worry that I'm not exposing her to new experiences often enough or that I'm exposing her to too many germs. I worry that being a military child will be hard on her... and a million other things. But I just do my best, do my research, and rely on good advice from good sources.

Source: beyondblessedblog.com via Ashley on Pinterest

xoxo