Vacation!

Just saying goodbye for the next little while. Tomorrow morning I'm leaving on a jet plane! Destination, Florida.  I've been checking the weather like crazy and although it isn't quite as hot as I'd like it to be, I'll take this:

Over this:

ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.  

No offense Hamilton, I really do love you.  I'll be spending 7 whole days with my lovely cousin and her mother (my aunt on my dad's side of the family). I'd love it if all the women (mom/grandma/cousin-in-law) in my family could have come, but with work, operations and babies it just couldn't be done.  Maybe one day!

I'm looking forward to just relaxing on the beach, after such a hard few months.  

The place we are going to be spending our time is the resort my family went to every year when I was younger, so it holds some sentimental value for me as well as being a fun vacation.  I spent some great times with my little bro here, playing on the beach and visiting the pier.  And with my grandpa who passed away a few years ago.  And my Aunt is a pro-shopper so I can't wait to hit the stores with her.  

And it's Halloween while we are there, and I finally decided on a costume! I'm going to be Minnie Mouse.  How fitting, right?  I'll definitely post a few pictures of my costume here when I get back, maybe even a "how to" (I pride myself in my ability to put together a really fun costume, no pre-made costumes for this gal!).

Anyways folks, keep warm and I'll be back next week!  MWAH. 

Welcome Conner!

Yesterday, Friday May 25th was a very special day. It was the day that Conner James McIntyre Horsman joined my family.

My cousin Craig, and his (lovely, lovely) lovely wife Caley had their first baby.  It's actually the first baby in our family since myself, my brother and my cousin Craig and his sister Andrea were babies. So it's a pretty big deal.
I was over the moon when I found out they were going to have a baby, and I've been impatiently waiting for this little guy to come into our world. After many, many hours of thinking "this is it", and having it, in fact, NOT be it, Conner finally decided to join us at 4:30am on Friday.

I went to visit the happy Mom and Pop today, and meet my new little cousin. Although, I'm dubbing myself an unofficial "auntie" because "second cousin" is really no fun.  Although this little guy already has some pretty amazing real aunties lined up, I still want to be a part of the auntie action.

If you can believe it, I can't think of a time when I've ever held a newborn. Well, I know I held my brother when he was born, but I was like 4 years old so I don't think that counts. Holding this new little person in my arms immediately made me cry (I knew I would).  I've always thought using the term "miracle" in reference to pregnancy and childbirth was a little hokey, but when I met Conner today I ate my dirty, dirty words. His perfect little hands and feet, and his little ears and his squishy yawning face....oh my. This perfect little man, brought into the world by some pretty awesome people, is a total miracle. Excuse me while I cry again. They made a person. A teeny tiny, perfect person.

I love him so much already, I can't even imagine how Craig and Caley feel about him. Watching my big cuz hold his little guy in his arms and just stare into his tiny face like it was the most important thing he's ever seen was just a lovely moment.

Ok, gush gush gush. He's AWESOME, people.  And he smells good. I cannot wait until he's a little bigger and does and says hilarious things. But no rush on that, for right now, I just hope he sleeps through the night.

Congratulations time a million, Craig and Caley. You are going to be amazing parents.