james' favorites::six months

not including a little yellow duckie scoop and a half filled water bottle (no really), these are James' favorite things at six months. <3

((we are practically LIVING in these tshirt onesies, it is so dang hot!))

celebrating motherhood.

yesterday was beyond joyful, spending it with this little baby of  mine. he makes each day bright and purposeful, each moment one i want to wrap up and cherish for lifetimes. we spent the entire day together as a family, honoring and celebrating our own mothers. that's the point right? just holding this little one all day was enough and we put off our trip to the art museum just so we could spend more time with our families. it doesn't need to be mother's day for a trip to the art museum and man it was chilly anyhow.:)

we hugged each of our mommas extra tight and i gave thanks for each and every mother in my life that i turn to and look up to. this role is challenging and important and hard and beautiful, no matter how you do it. and they've each and every one influenced my perspectives on raising a child.

so here's to my momma. and my mother in law. and my mama friends and family members. and all the mommy to bes. and the mommies who are not yet mommies but so desperately and patiently (or not so) waiting. this day of celebrating motherhood is for you too.

oh life.

spring is here and its been busy with a little michael bublé as our everyday soundtrack. the best right?!
im in love with the blossoms blooming all over this town of mine, in my yard and their ability to transform our bedrooms upstairs with this magical smell of loveliness. its fun to take our walks during the day and watch the progression of these blooms as they bud, grow and then sadly tumble to the ground. but such is their way i suppose! and summer on its way, it is inevitable.

after a few busy weekends of baptisms and birthdays (always birthdays around here, but we're graced with a big and wonderful family, so i suppose its okay), i am looking forward to this mother's day weekend. last year, we had just started sharing our expecting baby news and this year! this year i get to spend the day smooshing my baby's face and tickling his little feet. i cant wait, because even though i do those things every day, doing them on mother's day is going to just be so wonderful. i think we are going to take our little family of three to the art museum for a walk, in between visiting our own mothers. such a joyous day! so many past mother's days were spent a bit (a lot) sad about my own lack of motherhood so i am just over the moon thankful to be where we are this mother's day.

this kid of mine is upstairs playing in his crib as i type and enjoying the warm breezes blowing through his room (im assuming, i know i certainly would). we'll probably spend this sunny day taking a walk or two and maybe running an errand or two and then taking a nap or two. you know....some might look at my days and think "eek, no thank you" but every day is just such a blessing. and when i can squeeze in baking a cake for dessert, i just want to sing from the rooftops, i do! :)

happy thursday to you!

that one time there were chandeliers hanging from the trees and i kind of fell in love.

no really, i did. 

and who ever thought of hanging lanterns and chandeliers from the trees is most definitely the smartest person ever and i would love to meet them. because really. thats just brilliant. i am already envisioning a gathering in my backyard lit by various types of lighting hanging from the branches in the most magical of ways. all fairytale like and dreamy. in love. swooning. sigh. 

we also ate dinner with my family, after walking past those lights at the best gosh darn pierogie place ive ever been to (and the only, but that doesn't really matter). and then ate ice cream at the best gosh darn ice cream place on the way back. i swear! for example, my ice cream was one scoop of spicy chocolate and one scoop of brown butter and lavender. see? i told you. 

props to my first youngest brother for living close enough to walk to both, it was his birthday and he gets thumbs up for both choices. 

((and my kid in SUSPENDERS. i mean i know, right? it just slays me, the cuteness.))

hostas and their almost certain death

because I really just can't grow a thing, we'll see if transplanting these alongside the driveway will end in withering leaves and the like. sigh.

summer is upon us and my seeds never sprouted, then my dogs ate them (!!!!) and now its to the greenhouse i go for peppers, tomatoes, herbs and more. my dogs are stinkers, truly! im really hoping the plants i buy to plant in my pots stick around all summer and we have fresh veggies and herbs for our meals. and maybe a few berries too? we'll see...

happy weekend!

from my journal of quotes and such...

Above all, be the heroine of your own life, not the victim. - Nora Ephron

a few photos from today's walk...

sometimes i cannot believe how beautiful this town can be, if you really take the time to look.
spring, you rock.

big thanks to the nice lady who let us admire her tulips. she was the sweetest.

and of course, my little walking buddy. he's pretty great too.

a letter to my five month old

dear baby,
last week you turned five months. FIVE! one little month away from that big six month mark and all the closer to losing your babyness. you love to practice sitting up, either propped up on the couch next to me or daddy or in your special green seat on the floor. it is so cool to see you sitting on our couch like the little person you are and realize how much youve grown since november. so much!

you love holding things in your hand, transferring them back and forth and watching your fingers manipulate them. right now your favorite toy is a soft book grammie and grampa got you for easter. lots of thick soft fabric pages with doggie ears and crinkly beach balls.

we've been taking so many walks now, together, in this town of ours. the weather has warmed up and on one particular eighty degree day last week you sat in the grass with mama and daddy and explored that new feeling. you also love sitting with me on the front porch during the afternoon and evening busy times, watching the cars go by as i call them by name. there is this whole big world you can explore and its only just beginning!

thank you so much for gracing us with your many smiles day in and day out, for always loving your tablespoon or two of sweet potato, carrot and applesauce ((making you food is something i just truly enjoy)) and for being such a sweet napping buddy. we take the best naps, you and i.

i can't tell you how many people compliment your beautiful blue eyes...every day! and i cant tell you how many minutes ive spent just staring and talking with you on my lap. maybe we dont have clean clothes quite as often, but you and i, we have the best times together.

love,
mama

that darn blue skirt.

today has been glorious. currently the baby is napping and im giving myself a luxurious fifteen minutes of non chore doing, enjoying my second chocolate milk and reuniting myself with my computer. hello computer! how big you are compared to my tiny little phone screen. i swear my phone is going to ruin my eyesight in no time.

today was a lovely something warm degrees ((im not sure how many because i didnt think to look)). but its been warm! we have every door and window in our house open ((that isnt currently paint stuck...add that to my list why dontcha)) and the dogs have been outside playing ALL. DAY.

usually when i know i have a free bit of time while j naps, i kind of stress out about it for the first ten minutes. what should i do? what do i have to do? what do i REALLY want to do? ((usually a. sleep and then b. eat)). oy. it probably shouldnt be so difficult. but there you are. i like to worry about silly things.

ive been reading this really good book too, when not sitting staring at the wall wondering what to do, called Wave. its about the authors struggle accepting the fact that her husband and two small boys perished right next to her as they were swept out of their jeep during the 2004 tsunami. its heartbreaking, but truly a good read. if you like those kind of books. also on my nightstand is Reached, the third in the Matched series for teens who love love triangles and the end of civilization as we know it. so there ya go. ill clearly read anything. :)

also important to note so far on this tuesday. ive maybe worn my blue maxi skirt one too many times. like two and a half days in a row. its sorta the comfiest thing ever and im pretty sure im just going to wear similar skirts all summer. makes room for all that summertime ice cream am i right? and seriously. that mirror is duuuuusty. sorry.

i cleaned off my desk ((productivity say what?!)) and am reorganizing my wall of photographs above our couch to include a few of this new little person of ours. i mean, he's here to stay so he should probably make the wall of family photos at some point. why oh why is it so hard to figure out how to hang picture frames? and i have to hurry and do it before tyler gets home from work, lest he lecture me on the number of holes already gracing our living room wall. oops.

also. the mail came today. brought with it teeny tiny striped shorts and a tshirt. oh boy oh boy.

xoxo.

seedlings

some people have a green thumb. i have a green thumb, but more of a "green with envy" kinda green thumb. every spring i have the best intentions with my little box garden in the backyard. the best of the best! and i get my little plants all together and envision jars of tomato sauces and fresh peppers in my salad. then august hits and im usually super busy and things like watering my garden are forgotten. i am not of the green thumb variety that ends up with a bountiful harvest of vegetables and fruit at the end of the season. usually just a lot of weeds. womp womp.

this year! this year this year, i have even better intentions! because i plan on being home a lot more with james (his first summer! joy!) and because i have someone keeping me accountable in the whole get up early and get things done department. ill be up, so theres no reason to not water my garden in the morning right? right!?!!

i read this article on Apartment Therapy a while ago and knew I had to try it. ive tried planting my seedlings in those little plastic boxes they sell usually to no avail. but what better way to plant them than in eggshells!? brilliant! when they are ready, straight into the ground they go. i mean really mother nature, this is just so smart. A+!!

so we ate lots of scrambled eggs last week and I have a few saved in the fridge for a cake (!) and then I i got all of my little herb seedlings ready and wham bam ten minutes later we were done and my pretty little soon to be herbs were on my windowsill waiting. so far so good.

i chose basil, cilantro (for some homemade salsa!), mint (summer drinks anyone?!), oregano and rosemary to start. i have another carton of eggs earmarked for a few flowers since ya never know. maybe ill get lucky this year and something will actually blossom! :)


hooray for spring! we've waited so long for you!