friends bring laughter

Yesterday was a ‘Sunday Funday’ for sure.  I hung out with the world’s greatest friends at Cassandra and Mike’s 24^th Birthday gathering… they’re my fraternal twin friends.  It was a GORGEOUS day in Orlando so we had a great time hanging out in Baldwin Park.

Susan and I

Ashley, Jillian, Cassandra, Baily, Beth, Posi, Susan

Baily, Posi, Beth

Baily & Cassandra (the birthday girl!)

Ashley, Baily, Jillian

      

It was such a fun day... I had a really good time.  I was in a giggly mood, for sure.  It's hard not to be around some of my friends.  This friend right here is just plain hilarious (always has been, always will be...)  I mean, look at her Harry Potter 'Snuggie' and suitcase(??)... Only Beth...

After we hung out at the pool and at Cass/Posi/Beth's place in Baldwin Park, Beth and I went and hung out with some of our favorite guy friends.  Here's a pic of me and one of my best guy buddies, David...

I missed these friends so much when I was in Alabama - it feels SO GOOD to be home with them.  I know that I am cared about and supported here, and it was the best decision of my life to come home and get my bearings again in the place that will always call me one of their own.  I realized yesterday how truly blessed I am to have these friends!

My cheeks and abs seriously hurt from laughing so much yesterday... and for that, I'm not complaining!!! It was an excellent start to my new week and ending to my weekend.  Thanks, friends!!! And Happy Birthday, Cassandra & Mike - much love!!!

Speaking of BIRTHDAYS! Guess who was born yesterday???

PIPER NOELLE NEUMANN

7 lbs 7 oz

Oh my goodness... she is so beautiful.
Elena said she's healthy, happy, and gorgeous! I can't wait to get back up to Birmingham to hold little Piper.  I am looking at flights and making an itinerary ASAP!

peace and love
BAILY

...I live to love and laugh a lot, and that's all I need.
-kenny chesney

Baby Shower Pics!

Elena's Baby Shower

Hoover, Alabama

1/10/11

....after this, we are definitely ready to meet Baby Piper!

 Advice cards for the newlywedded parents-to-be!

 Lots of pink!

 The best tastinng PUNCH ever!!! It was like a slush - yum!

 E & Taylor & Piper were showered with so many precious gifts!

 Elena & Taylor's nephew, PORTER.  He was so sweet, cute and Southern, & well-behaved!

That's how I like 'em!  

 He generously helped E open her gifts.  She was so good with him;

she's going to be a GREAT Mommy - I have NO DOUBT about that!

 Speaking of a GREAT MOMMY - there's mine with her baby girls!

 We were the ones who were "there" when life changed in April. 

They'll always be special to me for that.

 So glad I got to see Jackie. She's been up North freezing her butt off.

My butt is already acclimated back to being a Florida girl,

so that snowy weather was NOT to my liking! 

Chicken Legs.

Some of the ladies... can you  find me?? haha ;)

 The Neumann's.

 Plus me!

These friends have a super special place in my heart.

Aunt Baily, Mommy, and Aunt Jackie! 

SUCH A SPECIAL DAY!

peace and love

BAILY

Another Vagabond Weekend...

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Mine was well spent.  It included a nostalgic walk down memory lane, experiencing something new & exciting, and seeing some very special long-distance friends.  Now Momma Dukes and I are settling down for the night at the Fairfield Inn (go figure, right?) in Tallahassee. 

But back to my super groovy weekend in Birmingham, AL... 
Well, I usually stay at my Sissy’s house when I am in B-ham, but I opted to stay with the newlyweds/future parents since they were the reason I was in town and all.  It was a nice sort of comfort to stay there – it reminded me of the two treacherous years of up and down self-discovery that I spent living with Elena.  As I spent that quality time with these two quality people, I realized that I would not be “me” if I had never known them.

Every time I walked into their apartment something would strike my emotional nerves and send nostalgia running down my spine. The coffee table that I used to sprawl outlines across during my infamous “all-nighters” in college.  The wine glass with a “B” etched in it that I got from one of my best friends on my 21^st birthday was on the shelf – and I thought that must have been in the dishwasher that night in April.  The rest of the set was shattered from heat and painted black with smoke and soot. The pictures of a less chaotic time brought smiles to my face and warmed my soul up. The very presence of Taylor and Elena – it was comforting; it was the life that I knew before all hell broke loose.

It was new and strange at the same, too – not all familiarity.  She had a new last name, a beautiful round pregnant belly, and baby items set in their place to patiently wait for her daughter’s arrival.  It was neat to see a husband and wife that I once knew as two people who had met each other at an Alabama apartment pool and hit it off one random day.  I smiled and I cried but no matter which one I was doing I was always thinking… Dang, 2010 was weird as shit. Pardon my language – but that will ALWAYS be my impression of the year 2010… just plain WEIRD!

But, a good weird… because whether something is weird, bad, unexpected, inconvenient – it can ALWAYS be turned into something GOOD.  That is just the part that is up to us.

Anyway, I really appreciated being around people who have always believed in me, who saw me through some rough times, and who kept me believing that GOOD WILL COME. To see Elena and Taylor make the best of a weird, unexpected, and realistically inconvenient situation only gave me more hope that I can continue to do the same. 

I just love looking at Elena's belly… she's got that pretty Asian skin that doesn't show the stretchmarks, and in general, my gal just GLOWS!

I'll post more photos tomorrow...

I'm sleepy!!!

Peace and Love

BAI

My Best Friends Shower

I’m really excited about this weekend.  I am going to get some much needed “best friend therapy!”  We ALL need that every once in a while, right?!?

I am staying with Elena and Taylor in Birmingham.  Yes, I am back in Birmingham as we speak.  I was just here last week – and knowing me and my family, I’ll probably be back again for something soon!  Last night, Elena and I reminisced, laughed, and cried, and caught up on life – this crazy beautiful life.  Today, she is going to Child Birthing class with her husband, Taylor, and Mom and I are going shopping. I'm sure I'll catch back up with them later tonight before slumber party #2.  Tomorrow is Elena’s BABY SHOWER for the little girl that is on the way… and almost here! 

Baby Piper is due at the beginning of February!  So, I have got a very pregnant best friend that I haven’t seen in quite a while, so it felt so good to step back into what it was like when she and I lived together!  She and Taylor (who is awesome for and who my family has always adored) got married and they are going to make the cutest little family… I am very excited for them!  Taylor, Elena, and Piper.  You have no idea how much I’m going to spoil her!

At the shower, I’ll get to see some other friends that I haven’t seen in a long time.  E and I were roommates at the infamous 1008 Oak Ave house (the one that burned!) and we lived together from 2008-2010.  We saw each other through some rough times, but had one hell of a time living up the best days of our college years.  I miss living with her... but it is exciting to see our lives evolve and it has meant a lot having her in my life.  It’s still fun to tell all those unforgettable stories from “the crazy house that never sleeps” – as people liked to refer to our pre-fire-roasted college shack.  Ha, we told some of those good stories last night – hence the laughter and tears!!  So happy to be here!

Our other best friend, Jackie, is going to be at the shower, too.  Jackie moved to Wisconsin a few months ago and even though I miss the heck out of her – I wouldn’t dare move up to that seriously cold weather!  I will have to convince her to come thaw out in Florida with me!

This truly is a special weekend in the lives of our friends.  The girl we shared that cozy college living space with, our “hot Asian friend” as the guys liked to call her, is having a baby.  She’s becoming a mother.  One of my best friends, who I’ve shared many tears, bottles of wine, and sleepless nights with is going to welcome a precious child of God into the world who will share with her many happy tears, bottles of milk, and sleepless nights.  The ones of us, like Jackie and I, will be able to watch her and her baby girl and learn from them.  I can learn about how to be a good Mommy right alongside Elena when I am able to visit her and Taylor and Piper.  I can teach her the things that I learned in my Child Development and Early Education studies, and I can be a prayer warrior for her beautiful family. I can help, and I am always here to do so - I hope she ALWAYS knows that.
I am so excited about this new venture in my friends’ lives!

I have a feeling Piper is going to be one VERY spoiled little girl.  I will post pictures and maybe a Bloggie video of all the pretty pink things that she gets showered with on Sunday! 

Please keep Elena, Taylor, and Baby Piper in your prayers!

Their ‘little one’ will be here soon and “Aunt Baily” can’t wait!!!

peace and love

baily

Next time we have a wild weekend at the lake...

we'll have precious Piper!

xoxo