I love being able to experience my daughter grow up. She is getting so much better at telling stories too. She gets all animated and expressive that Andrew and I can't help but laugh. Her personality is really coming through and it's a privilege to watch. Ryan-Kate and I recently took some Mommy  and Me photos for a swim suit line called SwimZip. They have tons of cute options for you and your little. I am already eyeing my next one! The one that RK and I are sporting is their new line that is launching this Friday. It is along sleeve surf suit, but seeing as I have never surfed I love it for those days when maybe the sun is just too intense. I also discovered after I took on this project that SwimZip was recently on ABC's Shark Tank! Check them out!

xx

Luna

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. 

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   

But when I start to tell them, 

They think I’m telling lies. 

I say, 

It’s in the reach of my arms, 

The span of my hips,   

The stride of my step,   

The curl of my lips.   

I’m a woman 

Phenomenally. 

Phenomenal woman,   

That’s me. 

I walk into a room 

Just as cool as you please,   

And to a man, 

The fellows stand or 

Fall down on their knees.   

Then they swarm around me, 

A hive of honey bees.   

I say, 

It’s the fire in my eyes,   

And the flash of my teeth,   

The swing in my waist,   

And the joy in my feet.   

I’m a woman 

Phenomenally. 

Phenomenal woman, 

That’s me. 

Men themselves have wondered   

What they see in me. 

They try so much 

But they can’t touch 

My inner mystery. 

When I try to show them,   

They say they still can’t see.   

I say, 

It’s in the arch of my back,   

The sun of my smile, 

The ride of my breasts, 

The grace of my style. 

I’m a woman 

Phenomenally. 

Phenomenal woman, 

That’s me. 

Now you understand 

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

I don’t shout or jump about 

Or have to talk real loud.   

When you see me passing, 

It ought to make you proud. 

I say, 

It’s in the click of my heels,   

The bend of my hair,   

the palm of my hand,   

The need for my care.   

’Cause I’m a woman 

Phenomenally. 

Phenomenal woman, 

That’s me.

- Maya Angelou

 As I watch Ryan-Kate grow, I am learning more to appreciate the mess that surrounds a growing girl. She was always been happy and full of life and watching her grow has been on of the best experiences in my life. It not easy one hundred percent of the time, but it's still beautiful. When the house is a mess- clothes on the floor, toys sprinkled all over the house, books everywhere but the book case. It all represents something. 

She's learning, playing, and growing. And the mess? That's proof of life. 

The books everywhere means that she she was eager to learn that day. The clothes on the floor means that she got her hands dirty exploring her senses. The toys on the ground means she's playing and interacting with the world around her. 

There is beauty in  the mess, and I am realizing that it is all about my perspective. I am learning more from Ryan-Kate to appreciate the life that is happening around me, and not be so concerned about the mess.

In honor of it being RK's Birthday month, I thought I would share her birth story. She was born December 26th, the day immediately after Christmas. Which means that she will forever be living in the shadow of Christmas.

Thanks a lot Jesus. 

Just kidding.

Several days before Ryan-Kate was born, I had a doctors appointment to see how my final few weeks of pregnancy were going. I was about 38 weeks pregnant with a tired body, swollen feet and hands, and (im)patiently waiting to meet our baby girl. When I went in for my checkup, the doctor checked my blood pressure which seemed higher than average. I was told to make another appointment for a few days after to make sure I wasn't going to have to be induced because of my stress levels. The next couple of days my blood pressure went back to normal.
Close call.
Within those days, I felt normal. I noticed my ribs had more room like she dropped, which doctors confirmed at my appointment. Other than that, I had no idea when she was going to come because I was still 38 weeks pregnant, with two more weeks to go until my due date. We had family in town because I couldn't travel for obvious reasons. We celebrated our Christmas Eve by opening presents and then attending a Christmas Eve service at church. Just very normal stuff.
6am-  a nurse checks me and lets me know that the baby is fully dilated. She told me to hang tight for one more hour to see if the baby drops any more.
7am- Nurses and doctors are in the room and it's time to start pushing. So I push and push, and until..
7:45am- They tell me to stop. I can hear her. She's on my chest, crying. I start to talk to her and she quiets down. She recognizes my voice. I'm overwhelmed and Andrew can't stop crying.
Ryan-Kate Justice Nemeth
5lbs 15oz
Born on December 26, 2015 at 7:45am