Goodbye friend.

This week is going to be hard. 

Well, more like the beginning of next week. 

Why you ask?

Nick leaves for the Navy on Monday. 

He's like my brother-in-law. 

When I first met him, I had no idea how close he would become to me. How much he would feel like family. 

Because we are family. 

And what's even harder than that...is that my big sister and niece will leave later this year, and right now, we don't even know where. 

My heart is hurting, friends. Those three are family. They mean so much to me. 

I'm so proud to call them family. Because what they're doing is incredible. They're following what God is calling them to do even if they have no idea where it will take them (literally). It's a brave thing what they're doing. 

And I'm going to miss them. So, so, so very much. 

Friends- don't pray for me. I've made it through the last(almost eight months), I can make it through this. Pray for Nick, Amanda and sweet miss Harper(good gracious- isn't she the CUTEST thing?!). Pray they would feel the Lord's comforting arms around them. Pray for Amanda during these next few months while Nick is away. 

Thank you for what you're doing, Nick. Thank you for taking care of my sister. And on another note- thank you for trusting me with your baby. That means more than you can imagine.

I can't wait to see what God is going to do through your family. 

But most of all, I'm going to miss you guys a whole, whole lot.

Love, Bailey Elizabeth

The BEST Thanksgiving gift :)

10 years ago a thirteen year old girl walked in our front door. Little did we know what a big part of our life she would play.

Over the years she kept coming back to babysit, she kept coming to church...and she kept meaning more and more to each and every one of us.

I remember the time, when I was about 5, we painted ourselves with finger paint- like our whole bodies. And the house was spotless when mom and dad got home. 

I remember the time she came with us to the beach, William slept in her room every night and she got horribly sunburnt on the beach because she wouldn't wear sunscreen. 

I remember when Sonia came home, she came over to see her, I remember the look on her face when she saw Sonia for the first time. 

I remember the day she brought her boyfriend over the first time, we went swimming. I remember the day she asked me to be her bridesmaid and wear that beautiful green dress. I remember when my dad walked her down the isle, tears filled my eyes. I remember the day we stood in the driveway and she handed me a bag of baby stickers and asked me to make their baby book, "You're going to be an aunt!" She said. 

I remember how over all these years, we've grown closer and closer...and now, we're just family. My parents consider her their daughter, she's part of our family. She's my sister.

I remember sitting in the hospital lobby yesterday waiting...and waiting...and waiting...

And then around 5:10 we got a text, "She's here!"

I remember the first time I saw her, my heart filled with joy- I'm an aunt! I couldn't stop smiling, she was so beautiful.

So...I am SO SO SO VERY proud to introduce to you my little niece, 

Harper Elizabeth Land 

I think she's just about the prettiest, most precious thing EVER. Being an aunt so far is pretty much the best thing. 

Proud daddy, with his beautiful baby girl.

My favorite family of three. 

I just love her so much already, she's already brought so much joy to my life. I can't wait to hold her little self today.

So, over these years, our love for Amanda has grown and today...we're all so proud of the newest little Land...the newest little girl in the family. And we can't wait to have a baby at Christmas this year.

Amanda, Nick and Harper- I love you guys!!! Can't wait to watch miss Harper grow and see what the Lord will continue to do through your precious family. Thanks for giving me the best thanksgiving gift and letting me play a part in your lives.

Love, Aunt Bailey :)

I just love them...

So... in less than a month...

Sweet baby girl will be here...

And oh my word, aren't they just the cutest?

Love them so much. And can't stinkin' wait to meet sweet Harper!

This joy the Father is gifting me with through them is just priceless. So, so, thankful.

~Bailey

P.S. Jessica over at The Making of M.O.M. took these pics...how lovely :)

Tutus and Hairbows....

Source: lemontreecreations.blogspot.com via Julie on Pinterest

Hairbows...

Source: weheartit.com via Bailey on Pinterest

Tutus...

Source: via Bailey on Pinterest

And baby girl goodies...

Because baby Land is a........GIRL!!!!! A very tiny, but very healthy baby girl :):):):)

This little girl is going to be so spoiled...my little niece...that's so fun to say :)

I could not be more excited!

Have a great Saturday!

~Bailey

It's Summer!!!

Even though it's technically been summer for quite some time, it's just now feeling like it.

And sadly the business of summer has hit, and though it is wonderful- it is sometimes a bit crazy.

We've had VBS this week, and I've been with three year olds, and wow. I am so tired. They are CRAZY. But I love them and I constantly have a cloud of little children surrounding me and about four children asking to hold my hands. Apparently they don't understand that when I have one kid on each hand it means I don't have any more hands to go around...so they just grab my arm instead. But I'm totally okay with it...mostly because I just love them :)

This weekend is going to be packed and I'm so excited about it!

I have a 16th birthday party for one of my best friends at the lake on Friday, Amanda and Nick find out that same day if lil' Land is a boy or girl(what do you think??? Tell me please!). I think that the baby (who is already moving inside it's mama!) is a boy! I plan to go scrapbook shopping Saturday for more scrapbook stuff for this lil' peanut...We of course have church on Sunday and who knows what else it will bring!

Oh, but yesterday- I finished Little Women. It was tragic. But yet amazing. Very bittersweet. And that's all I can say. I just LOVE that book.

Oh and it's almost been a year since the Taylor Swift concert :) Such WONDERFULLY AMAZING memories :):):)

We've been swimming a whole lot this week- in fact we are going swimming today with some friends!

I can't wait to see what the rest of the summer has to hold- and I can barely wait until Summer With the Arts!

What have you all been up to this summer so far?

Have a great rest of the week!!!

~Bailey

You want to see, don't you???

So...I've been blowing up pinterest lately with things I want to get/make for my little niece or nephew :)

Do you want to see some of them? Yes! Good!

#1

Source: media-cache8.pinterest.com via Bailey on Pinterest

I've got to have some credit :) Isn't it so cute! LOVE it!

#2

Source: childrenwithswag.tumblr.com via Bailey on Pinterest

If it's a boy...how stinkin' cute! He would be the most handsome lil' man EVER!

#3

Source: via Bailey on Pinterest

And if it's a girl :) AHHH!

#4

Source: indulgy.com via Bailey on Pinterest

Because (if it's a girl) she will have PLENTY of hairbows, thanks to her aunt :)

#5

Source: Uploaded by user via Bailey on Pinterest

How funny is that! Love it!

And that is way less than half of it...just thought I would share my excitement with you :)

Have a lovely weekend!

~Bailey

I'm still here...or I am now!

Hello friends, it's been a while(for me at least)! We have been at the beach, actually we just got back Saturday. It was glorious...the weather was amazing! This year we went to Hilton Head Island in SC with my family, my best friend's family and the boys brought a friend! Here are some pictures from our week!

 All of the girls...except for Sonia, she didn't want to pose for the picture :)

 The beautiful view from our back deck...that's the beach in the distance, be jealous :) We had direct beach access from our backyard!

 Emily and I thought it would be cute to take a shadow picture!

 J-man, Bradley(their friend) and William

 Emily and I!

 See, Sonia really was with us, and by the way, she loves her new hair-do!

 I was just checking out the beautiful view.

 Us posing in front of a church that survived the civil war!

 The pool and hot tub from the balcony.

 The boys sand castle from the epic sand castle battle.

 And the girls castle...come on! Give us props, we had a bridge, wall, towers and everything! 

And our beautiful(huge) house! How I miss it so!

Anyway- it was an amazing trip and was so relaxing, just what we all needed. 

Yesterday was Mothers' day, so all of my dad's side of the family came over for dinner, we had the best time! Amanda(and her super cute little tiny baby bump) and Nick came too! It was the perfect ending to a perfect week! Have a wonderful week...I will be back soon- I promise!

~Bailey

And my heart just keeps growing...

All of you know about my adopted big sister Amanda and her husband Nick, both whom I love so dearly.

A few weeks ago(almost a month actually) they told us something that excited us(excited is an understatement), but we couldn't tell anyone- no one.

And before they told us, I thought that my heart was full that I couldn't make room for anything else at that time...but oh was I wrong.

Yesterday, they finally told everyone.

And you see why I am BEYOND EXCITED, little Land is on his or her way!!! I am going to be an aunt :):) We are all so very excited. And my heart is already filled with so much love for lil' Land. 

My Amanda, who I met when I was five, is going to be a mom- I can't even wrap my mind around that thought. It's about all I can think about. And this summer...I will be making a scrapbook for this little person :) and you know how thrilled I am about that! 

And when I saw the ultrasound of that lil' guy yesterday... my heart was in awe of what God is doing. Isn't it amazing how God continually stretches your heart...and for such a little person!  

I love you lil' Land!!! 

With all the love in the world, your Aunt B.

Das not funny friday: Sonia Moments

So- yes, it is Saturday but I have some funny moments from this week to share. Here it goes:
_____________________

Sonia- "I put dis in your pocket."
Mom- "What is it?"
Sonia- "My banana."
Mom- "Okay, I would love to have a banana in my pocket."

5 mins Later:

Sonia: "Mom I'm hundry."
Mom: "Here, have the banana in my back pocket."
______________________

Amanda and Nick were over Sunday night and Sonia and Nick were throwing ball in the house, why? I have no idea. Nick threw the ball at Sonia and she yells, "MICK BOWDERS!"

Yeah Sonia, he is part of the family, but his name is Nick Land. haha
______________________

My dad recently got home from a mission trip to Guinea Bissau, ever since he returned Sonia has been loving on him immensely.
Every five minutes: "Dad I love you." Followed by a kiss.

Today she was talking to dad in the kitchen and she again says, "I love you dad."
"Yes Sonia, I know you love me." Then he said to my mom, "Man, she is like a middle school girl with a boyfriend. They don't know what love really is, but they say it anyway."

Too funny.
_______________________

Anyway- That's all for this week. I hope it made you laugh. Have a good weekend- Bailey