Sarah's Wedding

My cousin, Sarah, got married last weekend. It was the most beautiful wedding, which wasn't any surprise at all. The bride was perfect, gracious and gorgeous, and truly in love with her handsome groom. Willa was the flower girl, which caused quite a bit of anxiety for me, unable to predict how she would do. But I was so flattered and proud, and it was all worth it when she braved the aisle with her cousin Blake, the ring bearer. From the back of the church, I had to fight back tears while I watched my little girl carefully make her way to the front. The realization, while a sweet one, still hit me hard: Someday Willa will be making that walk again, only as the bride in her own wedding. And that time will no doubt come all too soon. The reception was held at my uncle Jimmy's ranch, Yensid, and signified the end of a long project for my brother, Chris, who designed and built it all, from pond-side gazebo to modest (hardly) guesthouse, to guesthouse addition, and finally a recreation house. All the family was together, which hasn't happened in a while. We all mingled and took in the amazing surroundings and pleasant evening. I kept looking down to find Willa, in her magnificent silk dupoini, splayed out in the grass. I love that she's just that kind of girl. And the party went on late into the night. Willa rocked the dance floor with her signature dance moves and brought more tears to my eyes as she asked Sean, "Daddy, will you dance with me?" (So sorry, I must have lost my camera by this point in the evening.) I managed to dance half of a George Straight song with my own handsome groom before I lost my breath, but mostly sat watching it all, very pregnantly from the cushy sofa. We tried our best to keep Willa up for the firework display, which was spectacular! But the poor thing crashed on her daddy's shoulder just before it started. It was such a special and fun night. And I'm so glad Sarah and Mo let us be a part of it.

My Last Hurrah!

At my 27 week prenatal appointment, my doctor grounded me from travel. So I pleaded and managed to squeeze in one final getaway, for Sean and Willa's sake, mostly. Dad, Paula, Margaret, Chris, Sean, Willa, Birdie, and I met up in Port Aransas for a short weekend at a friend's beachfront condo. (Thanks to Paula.) As soon as we got there, I began to understand my doctor's concerns. I am not only pregnant, afterall, but very pregnant, and I was feeling that way for the first time. The heat index was 105 degrees, and here I was, toting my barefoot toddler through the hot sand, covered in saltwater, sand, and sweat. The seaweed was everywhere, which made it tough to cool off in the water. But on the upside, there was plenty of cool air pumping through the free condo and extra, happy hands to help with Willa. And my dad cooked 3 delicious meals each day, including all of his specialties. It was a good time spent with family, and more than anything, I'm glad we took that one last trip before our own little trio becomes a quintet.

Too Pretty Not to Post

Rebekah used Willa for an impromptu photo shoot at Beulah's the other afternoon. The pictures were used on the shop's blog and Facebook page. But I just had to post them here, too. Between the sweet Mexican frock, the natural light, and Willa's untrained, yet perfect lack of expression and rare willingness to pose, these turned out to be some of my favorite photos of her. Hey, thanks, Rebekah!

Letters to the Twins, Part Four

My dear duo in utero,

You've come a long way. babies! In fact, I'd say you've just reached the biggest milestone of your short existence - the point of viability! If you absolutely had to be born today, you would have a great chance of survival, with medical intervention, of course. There have been so many people rooting and praying for you, I bet you can almost hear their mass sigh of relief that we've made it to this point. I'm confident and determined to take you all the way, but that's still a good bit of reassurance. In the recent weeks, you have doubled in size, at 15 inches long, and weigh a hefty 3 pounds each. Your features are growing more distinct, though only time will tell whether they will favor your daddy or me. And you can blink! (I'm out here winking at you right now.) They say that your sleep cycles are developing as well...and it seems as though your days and nights are mixed up. Just about the time I turn in for the night, the two of you start winding up. As busy as you've been inside your cozy womb, things have been equally busy out here. I have been making room for you at home. Nesting has commenced, and with a bang! Bags upon boxes of Willa's outgrown clothing and toys have been sorted and either lovingly reassigned to you or donated. Your daddy and I have begun your sister's transition out of the nursery and into her new big-girl room. Spackling, painting, drilling, check, check, check. Once that is complete, we'll be able to start on the challenging task of designing your shared space. I'm feeling the pressure to hurry and get it done because we're growing so fast, these energetic and productive days are bound to be numbered. My mother's intuition seems to be working; I feel like I'm starting to know who you'll be. Your daddy and I have names picked out for each of you, but we're keeping them to ourselves until we meet and make them official. At 26 weeks, I have gained as much weight as I had at the end of my last pregnancy and I'm considerably rounder. From what the doctor can tell, you are still in the ideal vertex/vertex position and I can feel your tiny movements all over the place, from way down low in my pelvis to up high behind my ribs. Sometimes I catch you stretching out, distorting the basketball that my belly has become, and it's fun to guess which body part it is that's doing the poking and to which one of you it belongs. Time is passing so quickly, before we know it, you'll be nestled in my arms, making those same familiar movements and our little mystery will be solved.

Crawfish Fest 2010

Could this be a new tradition for the Heep family? I think so! Every year, over Memorial Day Weekend, the local Jaycees host a crawfish-themed festival with Zydeco music, Cajun food, (and of course a little German,) and a small but super carnival for the kids. After Willa and Camden did my hair, we hit the road with the Parson clan. The 8 of us strolled the 3 blocks from our house which is always something that makes us locals appreciate being local. The best part though, was the huge, inflatable slide which looked to be way too big and dangerous for little, lanky Willa. But to my surprise, she didn't even hesitate to climb the unstable, aired-up staircase and careen down alongside her friends, Brooklyn and Camden.