One Year - The Best is Yet to Be

Hey Hive, long time!

I meant to come back after my recaps and do some series posts and a budget breakdown, but the day after my final post went up, I got a phone call that I was being induced 2 weeks early. Baby Lyre arrived 9 days before he was due, and this is the first time I've blogged since!

A year ago today, on an unseasonably warm winter day, Mr. Ly and I stood in front of our family and friends, committed to spend our lives together, then threw the most incredible party to celebrate our love. Our first anniversary marks just the beginning of our journey together, and it passed in a blink of eye.

Some of my favorite memories from the day:

All wedding photos by Mike Landis Photographer.

The teaser - first picture we got from our photographer - still one of my favorites

The laughs we had while taking our portraits

An empty Broad Street made the perfect backdrop for our quintessential Philadelphia photos

Spending some girl time with my lovely ladies at the Art Museum 

Poor shoe choices led to painful, yet lovely, pictures 

Our traditional Jewish ceremony

First married kiss

Our first dance

Toasting our marriage

Lovely night photos as our reception wound down

But as lovely as our night was, none of this can really compare to what was to come 6 months after our wedding, when we were blessed with the birth of our baby boy.

Baby Lyre - 3 days old / Erica Haller Photography 

Superhero Baby Lyre / personal photos

I wish that I could tell you I had some great insight on marriage, or parenting, but really we are still figuring it all out ourselves. We laugh, we cry (sometimes for good, sometimes for sad), and we know that we'll make it through whatever life hands us as long as we're together. 

So our family of two became three, and my life has been filled with this goofy, sweet, smiley baby boy ever since. Mr. Ly is an amazing dad, and seeing him with our son only reinforces my love for him everyday.  However, motherhood has been both the most rewarding and trying role I've ever had in my life and I wouldn't have made it these 6 months without the July mamas from the Weddingbee boards.  Like the friends I've made through blogging, the July mamas have been my support system during long sleepless nights, through milestones and worries, and there is no question or comment I couldn't bring to this small but supportive community. We have formed true friendships, though we may never meet in person, and Weddingbee continues to contribute to my life in ways I never anticipated when I first set out to blog here. I am so grateful for the friendships I've made, for the community I've been welcomed into.  Thank you for letting me share my wedding with you, and my life's greatest moments along the way. 

The Lyres -  Kel Murphy Photography 

One year down, and a lifetime to go.