a happy life

True Love Is...

2012-01-30T07:11:00.002-05:00

Not getting grossed out when your child wants to kiss you on the lips...

right after he vomited.

He's not sick, he just ate too much.

We thought maybe he was going through a growth spurt,

because he wanted to eat everything in sight last night.

Not the case!

This guy just likes to eat!

I remember my brother doing the same thing and then losing his dinner all over a restaurant table.

So, now that you've got a nice mental picture, I'll send you on your way to have a happy Monday!!

January 2012 in Our House

2012-01-27T08:14:00.001-05:00

It's been a whirlwind month.

My baby started walking like crazy.

And talking like we're having a conversation.

We bought a house.

A house we love and are excited to make it our home.

Our 2nd child is growing so fast.

Today marks the 25th week of my pregnancy.

Wow. That happened rather quickly!

I turned 28.

Officially in my late twenties.

And call me crazy, but I'm excited about approaching 30.

January.

Busy.

Fast.

Full of life-changing events.

Full of blessings!

Just a Note

2012-01-26T07:00:00.017-05:00

My sweet Ben,

Thank you so much for all your recent efforts at our new house.

You work all day long,

then spend your evenings working hard, too.

And all with a great attitude.

I love doing life with you.

And I'm so thankful for the man you are.

You make me smile.

Everyday.

I love you,

Rach

So, My Kid Likes Chocolate

2012-01-25T07:44:00.001-05:00

{Notice the evidence around the mouth}

Recently we made "chocolate mousse," as we call it...you can find the recipe here

{except we used dates instead of prunes this time}.

Liam loved it.

And I was happy,

because he had no idea

he was just eating

disguised avocado & dates!

It's a Process

2012-01-24T07:26:00.020-05:00

Right now our new house is full of bare floors and bare walls,

except for one bedroom and two hallways that I just finished painting yesterday afternoon.

We're super excited about our envisioned outcome.

It's just going to take a lot of time and energy to get it there!

But I'm finding there's something very rewarding about the process of

turning a house into a home.

Lentil Tacos

2012-01-23T07:16:00.014-05:00

So, I thought I'd blogged this recipe long ago, but I couldn't find it, so apparently not.

It is one of our all-time favorites and we have it often!

Lentil Tacos

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 onion, diced

3 celery stalks, sliced

1 cup lentils, rinsed

2.5 cups water

3 Tbsp raisins

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp oregano

1 Tbsp chili powder

Saute onion and celery with garlic in oil.

Add lentils and spices. Mix together.

Add water and raisins.

Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes

or until water is absorbed and lentils are tender.

Serve with tortillas and your favorite taco toppings!

We're on the Move!

2012-01-20T07:16:00.011-05:00

My mother-in-law is in town and we are pumped up for a super productive weekend!

Packing boxes, ripping up floors {among several rooms, the pink carpet in the master has got to GOOOO!}, loads of painting...you get the idea.

We have a few weeks before we officially move and we're having the new floors put in professionally, but a lot of work will be done my sweet hubby, which he {thankfully!} is very excited about.

Happy weekend, all!

This Calls for a Celebration!

2012-01-19T07:07:00.000-05:00

This afternoon, we're signing papers on a {new-to-us} house!!
It's going to be a busy few weeks
as we paint, etc. and prepare for the move
{even though it's just ten minutes away}.

My favorite things about the house...
...the screened-in porch,
...the red front door,
...the fenced-in-backyard,
...the new floors we're putting in,
...the paint colors we've picked out,
...the neighborhood {lots of kids!}.

Pictures {lots of before & after} to come!!

Twenty Eight

2012-01-18T06:34:00.002-05:00

Today is my birthday.

And I'm excited about this new year.

There's a great many things I'm looking forward to...

having baby #2 in my arms,

making our new house a home,

starting a garden,

getting in shape for my high school reunion,

learning,

growing,

loving,

and

thanking God for His blessings.

Here's to twenty-eight!

The Wild Turkey...

2012-01-17T07:13:00.014-05:00

Who I'm proud to call my son.

Now that Liam is walking all over the house, he's found a new passion for climbing, too.

Oh, how he tires out his parents, but it is such fun to watch him discover the world.

Call me crazy, but I love the wild moments.

You Can't Eat Just One: PB & Chocolate Snack Bites

2012-01-16T07:34:00.004-05:00

Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Snack Bites

1 cup oats

1/2 cup peanut butter (any nut butter would be awesome)

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup coconut

1/2 cup chia seeds

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything together.

Add more nut butter, if necessary.

Chill in the refrigerator for about half an hour.

Roll into balls and enjoy!

{No baking needed}

This is a variation of something a friend brought to playgroup recently.

I think I could make a batch everyday

and Ben and I could finish it all...easily.

So yummy!

And a bit on the healthy side.

What Every Mom Needs Occasionally...

2012-01-13T08:07:00.023-05:00

A ladies night out of the house!

Dinner at one of my favorite places on the water.

And a husband who encourages this kind of behavior.

Yes, please, and thank you!

To a Big Brother

2012-01-12T07:51:00.029-05:00

Dearest Liam,

What a wonderful big brother you will be.

I am so excited for you to experience the joy of having a constant playmate.

You are such a loving and active little boy and I know you will have so much fun once your younger sibling begins to discover the world.

You will have much to teach your little brother or sister and I'm sure there will be mischief, but with so much joy.

I'm looking forward to an even louder house full of squeals and laughter, running and climbing...full of life and living!

I am blessed to be your mom and for you to be our big brother in this family. It's a very important job. You'll be looked up to and admired.

And it's in this moment that I realize just how incredibly perfect your name is for your role in the family...Liam David...beloved, determined protector.

I love you, sweet boy.

I am forever thankful for you.

Mama

Chickpeas, please.

2012-01-11T07:41:00.031-05:00

I recently bought a bag of dry chickpeas {some prefer to call them garbanzo beans...same thing}.

So I made a chickpea curry over quinoa and then roasted the rest using a recipe my sister-in-law sent me {thanks, Brady!}.

Chickpea Curry

4 cups of chickpeas {soaked overnight & boiled until tender}
4 cups diced fresh tomatoes
1 onion, diced
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2/ tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp curry blend
lemon juice...just a squirt
a dash of ground red pepper {for spice!}

Saute the onion in grape seed oil until tender.

Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, and spices.

Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 20 minutes.

Serve over rice or quinoa.

Roasted Spicy Chickpeas

chickpeas, patted dry
cumin to taste
ground red pepper to taste
salt to taste

Combine and spread onto an oiled baking sheet

and cook at 450 for at least 15 minutes or until desired crispiness.

One Cool Dude on One Cool Afternoon

2012-01-10T07:48:00.023-05:00

And he kept those sunglasses {thanks, Kelley!} on the entire ride.

Saturday Morning Vegan Pancakes

2012-01-09T07:29:00.041-05:00

And all because we didn't have eggs.

But a friend of mine recently told me that you can substitute chia seeds for eggs.

And since our neighbor recently gave us a pound of organic chia seeds, we were in luck!

And the result of our little experiment was so tasty. We are certainly making these again.

Here's what we did...

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar or brown sugar
2 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp chia seeds soaked in 1/2 cup water for about 20 minutes to thicken
2 cups almond milk
3/4 cup frozen organic raspberries {any fruit and even pumpkin would be awesome}
1 tsp cinnamon

Mix it all up and cook it on your griddle just like regular pancakes

and you honestly can't even tell there's no egg!

And isn't my little sous chef just the cutest?

Snapshots from Our Trip

2012-01-04T08:01:00.036-05:00

We spent time with family & friends.

Stayed up late watching movies and chatting.

Ate more than my share of sweets.

Went on walks.

Enjoyed the warmer weather.

Went out to eat more than we're used to {Liam did great!}.

Watched my baby become braver with walking

longer distances over the week.

Worshipped by candlelight on Christmas Eve.

Drove past beautiful spectacles of lights and yard decorations.

And savored sweet family time.

A First Haircut

2012-01-03T07:42:00.005-05:00

At first there were some tears.

But after he got to sit in his mama's lap and play with some of the salon "toys,"

he was a happy camper!

Now I think he looks like such a big boy.

And maybe the old ladies at the grocery store won't keep saying,

"she's so beautiful."

Resolutions

2012-01-02T07:24:00.001-05:00

It's a NEW year!

I love this time of year. The fresh start. Making resolutions. The excitement and anticipation of what 2012 will hold.

Ben and I have been working on our goals & resolutions in categories like Family, Financial, Spirituality, Personal/Hobbies, Health, etc. The specific goals are many and assorted...from starting a composting bin and garden to recording more videos of our children.

One of my more general goals is to be more intentional and present in my relationships. The first year of Liam's life went so quickly and I know his growing-up years are fleeting, so I'm resolving to focus daily on how I am connecting with and teaching him {and soon his younger sibling}.

I just started reading a book I got for Christmas {thanks, Bree!} called "Loving Our Kids on Purpose" and so far it's awesome and is really helping us as we talk about how we'll parent our children. I'm experiencing a paradigm shift on how I see my role of raising children according to how God designed and desires. Instead of seeing my role as one of teaching obedience and compliance I'm learning that my focus should be on love and building a solid relationship instead.

And I think, "Of course! That's exactly how it should be." Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is LOVE {God and others and self} and then the rest will fall into place.

Even my health goals are a tangible way that I can love myself by taking care of this body and baby with which God has blessed me.

So, pretty much that's the theme of my resolutions...love.

Here's to a blessed and prosperous new year to you!

Our Family in 2011

2011-12-30T07:54:00.003-05:00

Liam: January Through December

2011-12-29T08:54:00.006-05:00

Liam is Celebrated

2011-12-27T07:32:00.001-05:00

Menu:

Crabbies Appetizers

Olive Tapenade w/ Crustinis

Spinach Dip w/ Crudites

Fried-Turkey Chili

Mashed Potato Bar

w/ Assorted Toppings

Mixed Greens Salad

Homemade Skillet Cornbread

Carrot Cake

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Celebrating our sweet boy.

Bliss.

What Christmas Happiness Looks Like...

2011-12-26T14:56:00.000-05:00

P.S. One of my favorite Christmas morning traditions?

Fresh-Squeezed Orange Juice

We Hope You Have A...

2011-12-25T09:33:00.002-05:00

With Love,

From Our Family to Yours!

Over the river...

2011-12-22T08:19:00.004-05:00

{waiting in line for the hayride through the live Nativity}

We're heading to Grandma's house today.

Both grandmas!

All our siblings are gathering from across the country.

We can't wait to see our loved ones!!

Safe travels everybody!

What My Child Eats

2011-12-21T07:05:00.001-05:00

I went through a phase where I stressed about what my child ate.

I wanted to ensure he was eating exactly perfect proportions of every food group. And "eating a rainbow of colors" as the experts say.

Then I realized I needed to chill.

Of course, I still make sure he eats servings of vegetables, protein, whole grains, and fruit every day, but other than that I don't stress about it anymore.

And that feels good. It feels right.

One Year Old

2011-12-20T13:54:00.000-05:00

Understanding some words and we're understanding him.

Taken a few steps on his own, but still likes to have a finger to hold onto when walking.

Climbing {on furniture mainly}.

Eating pretty much what we eat...like such a big boy.

22 lbs 3 oz and 30 inches; 56th and 83rd percentiles, respectively.

Lots of things are da-da and ba-ba.

Likes to point and say "da" like "I want that."

10th tooth is coming in.

Sleeping well and usually up once per night.

Started putting his finger in his nose.

Babbles all day long.

Loves music and singing.

Has the sweetest laugh.

Curious about everything.

Loves to open any doors or drawers that aren't baby-proofed.

My one-year-old!

A Birthday Weekend

2011-12-19T18:54:00.000-05:00

Since we're having Liam's little party with family this coming Friday when we're home for Christmas, the actual birthday weekend was an intimate family affair.

Liam and I started the day playing at a local gym with some play group friends. He loved the slide and the trampoline, but the foam block pit was a little overwhelming for him.

That afternoon he took a royal birthday boy long nap!

He tasted his first real sweets when we sang to him {Daddy blew out the candle} and he ate his birthday cake: homemade applesauce cake with buttercream icing. He liked it, but didn't go crazy over the sweetness of the frosting {thankfully}.

But Ben and I have almost finished the whole cake!! It is soooooo yummy.

And Saturday Liam had his first Japanese hibachi experience and he was captivated. The steam! The fire! The good food! The action right in front of his seat! He really liked it.

So, it was a pretty chill weekend.

Just two parents doting on their sweet boy.

Their sweet ONE-YEAR-OLD boy.

P.S. I'm still a little bit in shock that my baby is becoming a big boy so fast.

P.P.S. There's still {at least} one more birthday post to come.

The Bib Says It All

2011-12-18T21:54:00.000-05:00

This weekend we celebrated the big ONE year!

Our baby is a big boy.

I can hardly believe it!

{More photos and details to share soon!}

On the Eve of a First Birthday

2011-12-15T07:22:00.002-05:00

This time a year ago I was laboring and had been for the past couple of days.

Working hard to bring my precious son into this world.

And not knowing how exactly he would change our world once he arrived.

The past year has been beautiful. A time of falling in love with my precious child. Of learning and growing into motherhood.

I am immensely blessed by my role as Liam's mother. And am so incredibly thankful to the Lord for all this past year has brought.

This Morning We Saw Our Baby

2011-12-14T12:45:00.000-05:00

And woah was this little booger active.

Kicking, waving, flipping. Just precious.

And healthy. Most importantly our little one is as healthy as they come.

So, we're doing our happy dance, praising God for this beautiful blessing in our life.

And most people think we're crazy, but we weren't even the least tiniest bit tempted to find out the sex of our second-born child who is due two days before Mother's Day. What a wonderful surprise for me in honor of my second Mother's Day.

Right now I'm feeling so thankful. And very, very excited to meet this precious wee one who now only weighs 10 ounces, but who will begin to really start packing on the pounds {as will I} pretty soon.

I've really been feeling movement lately and I love the feeling. The knowing that there is precious life growing right within me. I'm really just the bystander, observing this miracle that's taking place before my eyes.

Tonight we're going to a live Nativity and since I've been pregnant for two Decembers in a row now {although I'm not planning to make it an annual tradition. Haha!} I've realized that it really is magical to be pregnant at Christmastime when you think about the beauty that is the Christmas story.

Due Date

2011-12-13T14:59:00.000-05:00

On this day in 2010 I was excitedly awaiting the arrival of my little Christmas bundle.

I remember working from home that day and getting occasional contractions and with each twinge in my uterus I thought, "This could be it!"

A year ago today Liam was comfy and cozy in his womb and gearing up to make his entrance a few days later, but today he is as active and energetic as ever and developing quite the little personality. And poor guy is getting in teeth #9 & #10, which has been no fun and is particularly rough today.

What a difference a year makes!

Santa's Little Elf

2011-12-12T08:38:00.001-05:00

And...

Mommy's little helper.

Liam wants to be where the action is.

Wrapping presents.

Washing dishes.

Cooking dinner.

Decorating the tree.

Whatever it is he wants to be helpful.

And I love that he's so curious.

About everything.

Oh, and he's a climber!

He needs no assistance getting into the dishwasher {fully supervised, of course} and he's figured out what he needs to stand on to get onto the sofas, which he now loves to do and just laughs and laughs at his proud accomplishments.

And I'm getting more and more excited about experiencing the joy of Christmas through his eyes. The other night we were out to dinner and who should come into our very restaurant, but Santa himself! Liam just starred at him with a curious face, but then Santa gave him a bag of reindeer food to sprinkle on the lawn on Christmas Eve. What fun!

P.S. For those of you who have little ones in your life...Reindeer Food is just dry oatmeal and glitter shaken together in a little bag. Magical stuff {wink}.

Peanut Butter Cookies

2011-12-08T07:28:00.000-05:00

The Christmas baking season is well underway at our house!

You know I tend to favor healthy recipes, but these are certainly an exception! Full of delicious butter and plenty of sugar! But I'm pregnant and it's Christmas...so that's my excuse.

After they filled our kitchen with a yummy aroma last night, Ben and I just had to stay up and sample a few!

Liam Meets St. Nick

2011-12-07T09:56:00.000-05:00

Liam's first visit with Santa!

We didn't take him last year.

I was creeped out by the thought of my newborn sitting in a stranger's lap where kids wiped germy hands all over his suit and beard.

But now I figure Liam's immune system can handle it!

I wasn't sure how he'd react, but it was a non-event really.

I sat him in Santa's lap. He gave him a quick glance.

Then smiled at the photographer.

And that was that.

No screaming involved.

***************************************

It's starting to feel more and more like Christmas around here, except for the fact that we've had crazy warm weather. A high of 71 today. What?! But tomorrow will start to bring more December-like temps with a high of 56. That's more like it! And hopefully we'll get our tree up soon!!

All I Want for Christmas

2011-12-06T08:43:00.000-05:00

Is a big box!

Seriously.

I think if Liam could tell me that's exactly what he'd say. This week we've had a big box on the floor in his play area {from our Black Friday TV that we just set up} and he has spent hours playing with it.

Hours I tell you.

Crawling on it, standing on it, sliding all over it. Like it's the coolest toy.

So all of this has got me thinking. Is it really our own parental desires and expectations about what Christmas morning should be like for our children that has most Americans buying all sorts of shiny toys and gadgets for our youngsters?

When all they really want is the box it came in.

***********************************

But for the record, Liam will be receiving some toys this year.

I'm just trying to be mindful in my purchases.

Merry Christmas...

2011-12-05T08:19:00.028-05:00

...from our house to yours!

P.S. Saturday night we had a rare treat...a babysitter for Liam and a hot date for his parents! We went to Ben's work Christmas party and it was held in a historic mansion downtown...it was pretty dreamy and we even got to dance to our "first dance" song from our wedding.

"At last...my love has come along..."

These Are My Two Kids...

2011-12-02T13:55:00.000-05:00

One is much smaller, less talkative, and easier to keep track of than the other.

*************************

Today marks 17 weeks.

I've gained 4 lbs {at this point with Liam I'd gained over 10}.

A few times I've felt my orange-sized baby move.

Love that feeling.

Lately I've had more energy, less nausea.

Life is good.

Welcome, December, Welcome

2011-12-01T06:27:00.001-05:00

I am ready for the goodness that this month brings.

Possibility of snow and a white Christmas {it happened last year!}

Celebration of the birth of my Savior

First birthday of my firstborn child

Christmas cheer

Lights and Greenery

Yummy treats

Parties

Nostalgic music on the radio

Time with far away family

Favorite heartwarming movies

Happiness that comes with giving

and lots more!

A Moment in the Kitchen

2011-11-30T07:09:00.012-05:00

Last night while I was in the laundry room I could overhear Ben and Liam playing in the kitchen.

"Da-Da."

Liam would say and Ben would respond, "That's right I'm your Da-Da." I could hear Ben's smile in his voice.

And Liam would respond again.

"Da-Da. Da-Da."

And right there, washing cloth diapers, my heart melted, knowing my two guys were sharing a precious moment.

Simple Surpise

2011-11-29T08:50:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love a good old-fashioned surprise?

Well, Sunday night when I went to take a shower I was startled to see a new, bright and shiny huge silver shower head staring back at me.

My first thought: "oh, no, someone's been in our house!" But then I realized that was irrational and it was much more likely my sweetie had surprised me.

I walked out of the bathroom and around the corner to see Ben in bed reading with a big grin on his face, "I was wondering when you were going to notice" he said.

That little stinker.

It turns out he won it at work in a raffle and installed it while I was in Georgia and he was still here working for a few days last week. He knew I'd be excited about it and chose to surpise me. What a guy.

No more bad water pressure, drippy showers for us!

It's the little things in life I tell you. And it pretty much always is.

Home Safe & Sound

2011-11-28T08:06:00.000-05:00

We pulled into the driveway last night after dark and after a longer drive than usual.

I guess it's true what they say...Thanksgiving really is the busiest travel time of the year.

I'm pooped.

But so happy to be home and get back into a routine.

Liam was a champ {as usual} during the drive and took two great, long naps!

{my sleeping prince}

We had a fabulous time with family and friends and are already looking forward to Christmas with them.

Ben and I are both grateful for all the chasing around that the grandparents did for Mr. Liam.

Giving us a break!

But I have to say I missed all the one-on-one time with my little buddy that I'm used to.

I'm so happy I get to spend my days with him.

The next several weeks are going to be super busy...

Liam's birthday {eeeek! my baby is going to be one!!}

Christmas shopping

Decorating

Christmas parties

and

Preparing for our next road trip

Happy Monday, friends!

Scenes from Thanksgiving Day 2011

2011-11-25T15:25:00.000-05:00

We had a festive day of eating, talking, and enjoying family and friends yesterday.

And last night Ben and I waited in line for two-and-a-half hours to get a sweet deal on a TV at midnight.

I'm not sure we'll be doing that again though.

People are crazy!

So, today I'm feeling tired, lazy, and in a football-watching mood.

Here are some snapshots from yesterday...

Have a great weekend!

A Thankful Day

2011-11-24T07:20:00.004-05:00

This year I'm thankful for...

A new baby growing inside my womb and all our hearts.

A healthy and active growing son.

A joyful marriage with my soul mate.

Loving and supportive family and friends.

My health.

My home.

The peace and joy that I have in my heart.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Reflections from a Thankful Wife & Mother

2011-11-22T07:14:00.037-05:00

{Liam in my childhood bedroom}

I love being at home.

And by home I mean the house where I grew up. It's comforting, relaxing, and familiar.

When I think back to what I dreamed of when I was young, it is this life I am blessed to be living. Being a wife and a mother. Of course, I had other peripheral dreams, but these were my two greatest aspirations.

Of all the teenage crushes I had, I could have never dreamed up what it's like to be married to my soul mate. The one God had planned for me all along.

In this season of Thanksgiving, my heart is full. It is full of gratitude and love. For all my loved ones, both family and friends, but especially for my sweet Ben and Liam.

A Wedding Weekend

2011-11-21T07:18:00.001-05:00

The weekend started with a lovely bridesmaids luncheon on Thursday afternoon. Then, a "Georgia on My Mind" themed rehearsal dinner overlooking the beautiful lights of downtown. A day of friends and food...what's not to love?

Wedding day started early with an early breakfast {eggs Benedict for me!}, then we were off to get beautified at the salon. If I win the lottery {if I ever played the lottery}, I'd totally get my hair done every day. It was so relaxing and fun.

Liam stopped by the hotel for a visit {I still got to see him every day, even though he was with my parents for two nights}. He'd never seen a bride on her wedding day before.

The wedding and reception were absolutely beautiful! Seeing two people in love being united in marriage always warms my heart and Rach and Brad are such a wonderful couple. After almost a decade of friendship, it was such an honor to be a part of their wedding day. And seeing so many of my dear friends made me realize even more how much we need to make an effort to see each other more often!

I didn't take near enough pictures. I was enjoying rather than capturing!

Tomorrow She Says "I Do!"

2011-11-17T07:13:00.054-05:00

Today I am in Atlanta to begin the wedding festivities for my dear friend, Rachel, who will tomorrow marry her beau, Brad!!

And I am SO SO excited! Rach is one of the kindest people I know and I am so happy that she is so happy and that she found a great guy.

Today and tomorrow are going to be such fun and I'm giddy thinking about being with my girlfriends who I don't get to see often enough. You know, in college when we all saw each other daily we took that completely for granted and now that we're all spread across numerous states, it makes the time together that that much more fun.

{Feb. 2011...Liam looks so tiny}

{College roomies...War Eagle!!}

{Rach & me on my wedding day, June 2008}

And their wedding band...same band we had {awesome!!}, so I already know I'll be dancing my prego feet off. And staying up probably later than I have in years. Just because I'm a mom...and a pregnant one at that...doesn't mean I still don't know how to have fun {in a sober kind of way, of course}.

Happy early weekend, all!!

Eleven Months

2011-11-16T06:35:00.038-05:00

I can not believe my baby is already eleven months old!!!

And he's definitely no longer a baby, but becoming more of a big boy every day.

He's...

Clapping,

Walking while holding on the anything,

Eating more of what we eat,

Sleeping long stretches at night,

Loving books,

Talking our ears off,

Dancing to music,

Smiling all the time,

Giving us a workout during diaper changes,

Loving snack time,

Laughing,

Curious about every object in the house,

and

so, so cuddly and loving!

My heart melts when I put my hand on my chest and say, "Mama loves" then put my hand on his chest and say, "Liam" and he smiles from ear to ear.

And he will always be my sweet baby boy...no matter how old he gets.

I must be productive today!

2011-11-15T07:36:00.005-05:00

Today I am packing. Tomorrow we hit the road.

For our big trip!

Look for upcoming posts on:

my 11-month old,

a big wedding,

time with friends,

time with family,

and, of course,

Thanksgiving...oh, I can taste the cornbread dressing already!

Since Ben will have to do some back & forth over the next week and a half, my dear mother is flying here tomorrow just so she can drive with me and Liam and then Ben will join us Thursday evening. Making an 8-hour drive with an eleven-month-old is definitely a two-person job. Liam does great in the car, but he's a normal kid and after a while he needs to be entertained...we bring a huge basket of books and toys in the car just to keep him smiling.

Praying he's a happy passenger!

So, I'm off to be a productive mama, packing up a storm and hoping for a couple quality naps from my little helper. {I use the word helper generously...he likes to pull things out of suitcases and bags.}

And for your viewing pleasure, here's a few snapshot of what post-bath/evenings look like in our house...

Clean and working out all that energy before bedtime!
Boy, I think we wear out way before he does!!

Like an Addict

2011-11-14T07:53:00.002-05:00

Now that the first trimester is over, I can share some of my {not so} glorious moments...in the food craving department...

I recently told Ben I could actually identify with drug addicts who will go to great lengths to get a fix when one afternoon all I could think about was getting the exact same sub sandwich I used to get often from a local place in my college town years ago. Too bad there's no way of getting one here in my current town. Fed-exing a sandwich is a bit extreme...even for a prego.

Eventually the craving subsided, but not before a solid amount of time was spent searching online for an adequate substitute.

I had a similar experience with food and cravings with Liam that I blogged about here. And, again, during the first trimester especially I've had several moments when I didn't recognize myself...

- I had my first McDonald's hamburger since I was pregnant with Liam...oh, I can't lie to you...I had two!...in one sitting. {wow, kinda embarrassing to admit...}
- Mac & Cheese at 10:45am.
- Frozen pizza at 3pm.
- Chips and salsa at 9:30am.
- Cheese and crackers at 10pm.
- Spicy or salty anything! Anytime!

And thank you to everyone for the warm wishes!!

I feel so loved.

Don't Read Unless You Like Big Announcements

2011-11-11T07:17:00.022-05:00

Yes, it's true.

And we are thrilled!!

I am 14 weeks along today, marking the beginning of the 2nd trimester.

I know you're quickly doing the math in your head, so I'll save you some time. Liam will be 17 months old when the little one is scheduled to arrive in the Spring. We wanted our kiddos close in age and indeed that is what they will be. It's the same age difference between Ben and his oldest sister, Brady, and we are really excited for our two to grow up as best buddies.

Yes, I realize that some may call me crazy {with two under two and all}, but I call it blessed, with just maybe a dash of crazy!

And for the curious...
...we won't be finding out the sex this time either.
...we don't have a preference and don't have an inkling one way or the other yet.
...the due date is May 11, 2012.
...I've been feeling pretty good with just the occasional nausea.
...so far I feel similar to how I did with Liam, except with him I was already gaining weight rapidly at this point and I have yet to gain any weight, even though my clothes are tight and I'm showing a little. I think it has something to do with the fact that I spend my days chasing a very active little boy, rather than sitting at a desk like I did when pregnant with the very active little boy.
...we'll be keeping the names a surprise, just like with Liam, but we think we already have it narrowed down to one boy's name and two girl's names {the same ones we had when expecting Liam}.
...and, yes, I'm hoping for a natural, pain medication-free birth again and am actually looking forward to experiencing the beautiful adventure that is birth again in the Spring!

So, that's the big news around here! Have a wonderful weekend!!!

A Benevolent Boss

2011-11-09T15:08:00.004-05:00

While I used to be paid by direct deposit every two weeks,

I am now paid in a not as predictable, but oh-so-fulfilling manner:

:: laughs ::

:: high-fives ::

:: smiles ::

:: babbling conversations ::

:: hair grabs ::

:: back slaps ::

:: lap sits ::

:: quality naps ::

:: eye connections ::

:: leg hugs ::

:: music bouncings ::

:: funny faces ::

And I have to say this new gig is working out pretty well {wink}.

Because Who Doesn't Love...

2011-11-08T07:00:00.004-05:00

A laughing baby.

Who knew tearing up pieces of a magazine page could be so hilarious?

Enjoy.

Cherish

2011-11-07T07:18:00.041-05:00

November 7th is a day that always brings me reflection.

My younger brother would be twenty-six years old today. But he left this earth at just nine, after a long battle with leukemia.

On this day I like to reflect on his beautiful, yet far too short, life, have a healing cry, and be thankful for the health and life of those around me, because it is a gift, a precious and fragile gift.

I am thankful for what my brother David's life and death have taught me. I know for certain that I would not be the wife, mother, daughter, or friend I am without the lessons of gratitude, joy, peace, and love that David taught us all.

For me, today is a day to remember to

hug longer,

laugh heartier,

smile bigger,

be kinder,

forgive easier,

love deeper,

and to cherish.

Cherish my life, my loved ones, my health, my blessings.

Been Thinking

2011-11-04T07:47:00.038-04:00

First, I don't remember the last time I issued a heart-felt "Thank You!!!" to my readers, so "Thank You!!!". It wouldn't be as fun to write, if I knew nobody was reading.

And, wow, how far we've come. Back in early 2009, when I was just getting my blogging feet wet, I'd get excited when I had more than ten visitors in a day. And now I'm so thankful that the group has grown to include family and friends, both real-world & virtual.

I'm a reader of plenty of blogs, too, but I'm very rarely a commenter and it seems that I've attracted a like-minded bunch. I can see how many people are stopping by for a visit in a given day and since there's not much of need for a space for comments, I've decided to turn off the comments. At least for now.

However, I don't want to cut off communication, so I would love to hear from you via email! There's a new addition on the sidebar ----------------> with my information. It's ragan.rachel@gmail.com.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Eat & Drink with a Joyful Heart

2011-11-03T07:16:00.001-04:00

Recently I had a revelation.

There is great value and potential in mealtime. Sometimes in the busyness of my day I can forget that and think of meals something to check off of a to-do list, especially in the mornings when we're trying to get out the door for something.

Liam and I have developed a little breakfast routine of sorts that I hadn't particularly noticed and didn't always do, until recently and have since decided that it needs to be a priority.

I turn his chair so he can see out the window and while I feed him {usually old-fashioned oatmeal & fruit} we talk, sing {we have a medley of "good morning" type of songs}, recite a poem, look at a big picture book, notice what we see out our window.

And when I compare these mornings to those when I've tried to feed him while catching up with one of the morning news shows, there's such a difference.

When he's captivated in his seat, it's the perfect time for me to have his full attention and to really connect with him.

So, it's a sort of goal I've set: to be more intentional, purposeful, and joyful when it comes to these everyday activities, like breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks!

Meal time is a time to enjoy others and be thankful for our blessings.

"Eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart"

- Ecclesiastes 9: 7

What Makes Us

2011-11-02T07:08:00.002-04:00

Variety is the spice of life, right?

And I like that the fact that people and families are all so different. Even those that seem similar are, in fact, pretty unique from each other.

Here are some things that make us...us.

We don't use or own a microwave.
We don't have cable and don't watch much TV.
We hope to have at least 4 kids...and close together.
I have a cleaning schedule {daily, weekly, monthly} posted on my fridge...this is new and makes me feel so much better about the tidiness of my house.
One of our favorite family treats: Saturday morning breakfast out.
We don't have credit cards and aim to live a debt-free/pay cash for everything lifestyle.
We pray together, as a family and as a couple, daily.
I used to be a germ-a-phob, but we now let Liam eat off the floor, the couch, whatever.
In our house we like to be loud and sing and squeal and laugh and roughhouse on the floor {mainly the boys}...but we tone it down when we have company.
We love watching documentaries.
When we watch documentaries, we often get fired up about the topic {for example, we've decided to now buy fair trade coffee}.
We think nerdiness is fun.
We dream of having our own garden and hopefully soon.
Our favorite snack...chips and salsa...good salsa.
In our quest to have a more green household, we're trying to reduce all disposable items {for example, cleaning with washable/re-usable rags instead of paper towels}.

And you can call me crunchy {as in hippie, granola}.

It's okay, I don't mind.

Scenes from Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T21:03:00.000-04:00

Since we'd already had our dressing-up Halloween fun with Trunk or Treat at church and the costume parade, tonight we stayed in and baked coconut brownies and handed out candy. We had tons of trick-or-treaters...way more than I expected, but we didn't run out of candy!

And what are we doing with the leftover candy? Ben is taking every last piece {except maybe one!} to work with him tomorrow!!

Hope you had a fun night!! :)

My Maternal Heart Beats

2011-10-28T14:33:00.000-04:00

Liam has started singing.

And I love it.

Just randomly he'll start with an "ahhh-ahh--ah."

I'm so excited for the day we start having actual conversations. You know when you love someone so much and you just love being with that person and want to get to know him/her better and you can sit for hours and just talk. All the while feeling your hearts knitting together.

Yeah, like that.

I long to get to know that precious soul that resides within my adorable little man, but for now all the smiles and cuddles will suit me just fine!

P.S. We've already had a couple Halloween festivities. We paraded through downtown this morning with hundreds of other little ones {and parents}, adorable in their costumes. So, of course, photos to come!!

Happy Weekend!! And stay warm {I'm loving the chill though!}.

Guess Who Stopped By for a Visit

2011-10-25T21:33:00.000-04:00

The green smoothie monster :)

He kept grabbing the spoon, because we weren't feeding it to him fast enough.

I'm pretty pumped that my 10-month-old digs kale so much...yeah, it was disguised with fruit, but hey!

Spiderman surprised my little man to help him celebrate his first Halloween! And Liam loved him.

Spiderman dug out this circa 2006 costume, but now refuses to wear it in public...bummer!

Because I think he looks pretty smokin' hot.

One Year I Was a Clock

2011-10-24T07:15:00.001-04:00

And one year Ben was Dorothy :)

It's that time of year...the cool weather has arrived!! And we're planning our Halloween costumes :)

Ragan Family Costume Guidelines:

1) Homemade or re-purposed from something we (or a family member) already had

2) Not scary

We're not planning anything too elaborate this year: Liam is going to be a pumpkin...awwww, how cute!...I'm going to be a 50's girl...complete with poodle skirt & saddle oxford shoes that were my Grandma's...And Ben?...it's yet to be determined...ideas?

We're not taking Liam trick-or-treating, because, let's be real, what that really says is "Hey, of course we're not giving our 10-month-old candy...Mommy & Daddy just want some free candy!"

So, to celebrate the holiday we'll be attending a preschool parade where all the kids where their costumes and parade through historic downtown, and a Fall festival at church, as well as handing out candy from our front door.

Cute as a Button

2011-10-20T08:04:00.012-04:00

Aside from the environmental and budget perks,

a cloth diapered toosh is just so stinkin' cute!

And I feel really good about putting something

so comfortable and natural on my baby :)

Big Mistake

2011-10-19T08:21:00.000-04:00

Huge.

I bought Halloween candy with still two weeks to go before the trick-or-treaters arrive.

That means Ben and I can't eat it all. Truth be told, we have been eating at least a couple pieces every day, but hopefully there will be something left for the kiddos who ring our door bell on the 31st :)

In other news...

Last night, Liam slept a 9-hour stretch {and a total of 12 hours}, which is rare in our house!! So, we're all doing a little happy dance this morning. However, I wish I'd slept as well as he did...I didn't go to sleep until 11 and still woke up at 2am and then 5am with Ben, before getting up for the day with my smiling boy at 7am. But things are looking up on the sleep front in the Ragan house!! For sure.

Chili That Changes a Little Every Time

2011-10-18T07:00:00.001-04:00

So, we're big chili fans in our house. And every time it's just a bit different, based on our mood and the ingredients we have on hand.

This is pretty much what it's looked like lately. And it sure is goooood!

- 12 oz bag dried beans, soaked overnight {we like a mixture of black, kidney, & pinto, but any will do}
- 3 tomatoes, pureed
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 3 carrots, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 32 oz veg. broth
- 3 Tbsp. raisins {adds a slight sweetness!}
- 16 oz. frozen organic corn {we go for organic with all our ingredients, but corn is something that, in my opinion, is super important since it's one of the main genetically modified crops}
- Spices {to your taste}...we like cumin, turmeric, salt, pepper, and ground red pepper (we like it spicy(!) and like I've said before we rarely ever measure our spices...just add until it tastes good to you!}

1) Saute the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and spices in a little oil

2) Drain soaked beans and combine with onion mixture

3) Add broth, tomatoes, raisins, & corn and bring to boil

4) Reduce heat and simmer {stirring occasionally} until beans are tender {about 1.5 hours}

5) To give a little crunch we like to top our bowl with crushed tortilla chips or cashews {unexpected, but really tasty!}

It makes a ton, so if you're not feeding a crowd, it's something great to freeze for a rainy day.

A great, frugal dinner staple :)

Good Deals & Snow Cones

2011-10-17T08:47:00.049-04:00

This weekend held for us...

Good Deals.

I shopped a local fundraising consignment sale and got not only tons of clothes for my little man, but also three pairs of like-new shoes and a sweet new ride, which he loves. And I realized this is sooo the way to shop, especially when it comes to kids' stuff!

The Company Picnic.

It was way more than a family picnic let me tell you. It was more like a carnival where everything is free, complete with an obstacle course, inflatable slides {Liam was bummed he was too young}, funnel cakes, laser tag, games with prizes, BBQ lunch, a DJ, snow cones, and a photo booth. We got a key chain with our family pic on it...oh, yeah, I'm such a mom now :)

Brunch at Church after the Service.

We could smell the French toast cooking when we walked in the door to take Liam to the nursery.

Ah-Mazing.

I think it should be a regular thing every week...just an idea ;)

Loving Autumn.

We let the smell and feel of the season fill our house through the screen door and open windows. We finally have our mum and pumpkins greeting the neighborhood from our front porch. I love this time of year.

And here's to fresh new week!!

Ten Months

2011-10-16T16:47:00.000-04:00

This was our tenth time doing our monthly photo shoot and let's just say this one was by far the most challenging. In a good way though, because who can complain when their child just wants to be active and do what they should developmentally want to be doing at that age? :)

Mr. Wild Man was all over the place and he certainly did not want to sit calmly in his chair next to his birthday number, hugging his sock monkey like he did at three or five months.

It was great though, because it's totally representative of his personality. He is active from sun up to sun down, except during naps. And he's usually pretty calm in the car. Thank goodness.

He's constantly cruising on the furniture and can stand on his own for several seconds, so we're anticipating he'll take his first unsupported steps before his first birthday. We'll just have to wait and see!

Meal time has become much messier as he loves to feed himself! But he does still love purees and isn't too fond of certain chunky foods. For beverages he only gets breast milk and water in his sippy cup, although he's tried almond milk, but is not a fan--ha. Poor kid with health-conscious parents isn't gonna get to try juice until at least after 1 year, if not 2. But, you know, he eats plenty of actual fruits and most juices are just sugar water, in my not-so-popular opinion, and he doesn't know he's deprived. Okay, off the soapbox now :)

He brings so much joy to our life and Ben and I were just talking today about how this year has flown by and how he's growing up so fast!! Ben said, "He's going to be twelve before we know it!"

Oh, I can't even think about that right now. For now, he's ten months old and I'm going to focus on savouring each precious day.

We love you sweet baby boy!!! Happy 10 months!!!!

And He Looked Into My Eyes And Said...

2011-10-14T07:49:00.014-04:00

"MaMa"

Like he knew.

Of course, he's jibber jabbered "mamamama" all day long, but I didn't really get the feeling that he knew that was me.

Until yesterday while feeding him his lunch.

It was priceless.

And now etched on my heart forever.

I'm a Crunchy Mama

2011-10-12T22:03:00.000-04:00

Well, kinda.

I got our very first cloth diapers in the mail today. And I'm super excited about it :)

I'd considered cloth before Liam was born, but never got around to it. Everyone I've talked to who uses cloth loves it. They're adorable, environmentally-friendly, and, in the long run, cheaper than disposables, especially when they can be used with future kiddos.

I'm slowly building my stash, since the recommended amount to have is around 20 and these puppies aren't exactly cheap...around $15-20 a piece, but like I said...can be used with future babies and are one-size-fits-all, from 8 to 35 lbs!! Pretty cool :)

So, here's to my new adventure in cloth diapering!

Let's just hope Liam and Ben are into them as much as Mama...

Chubby Buddy

2011-10-12T07:01:00.004-04:00

I think

he likes

the new

teething

biscuits!

Won't Miss the Cheese Enchiladas

2011-10-11T08:20:00.004-04:00

Easy.

Healthy.

Budget-friendly.

And very satisfying.

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 shallot, diced {any type of onion variety will work}

3 Roma tomatoes, diced

3 cans pinto beans, rinsed & drained {any type of beans will work}

cumin

turmeric

salt & pepper

a dash of ground red pepper

tortillas {we like brown rice or sprouted grain varieties found in the frozen section}

roasted red pepper & tomato soup {we like the organic Pacific brand in a box}

Saute the garlic and shallot in oil until tender. Then add the tomatoes and beans and spices and cook until well combined and heated through. Fill tortillas with bean mixture, wrap it up and fit into baking dish. Top with soup. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until warmed through.

Side note: I have a quasi-problem of not measuring spices when I cook, which makes it complicated to share recipes! My advice: just taste your food as you cook and add more as necessary :)

Glimpes of Our Weekend

2011-10-10T07:58:00.002-04:00

This weekend we...

...navigated through the crowds at the Mum Festival in historic downtown.

...worked and cleaned in the yard and around the house.

...did grocery shopping.

...went to church & Sunday school, while Liam played with pals in the nursery.

...cooked.

...ate ice cream.

...read books.

...did laundry.

...napped.

...chipped away at the grand to-do list.

All in all it was a fun, relaxing, productive, and enjoyable weekend.

Welcome, Weekend!

2011-10-07T09:14:00.000-04:00

It's been a week!

One of those weeks when I'm so ready to relax into the welcoming arms of the weekend even more than usual. We've been slightly under the weather in our house this week, yet we've been on the go with at least one or two appointments or activities each day.

That doesn't sound like much when I think about what I could cram into a single day pre-motherhood, but with my little man, life in general just requires my energy like I'd never imagined.

In a good way though. :)

{My lil stinker!}

On deck this weekend:

Clean & organize the house!!

Attend a local Mum Festival

Buy a mum and pumpkin for the front porch

Finalize Halloween costumes

Church & Sunday School

Enjoy the beautiful weather

And hopefully a nap for mama!

Guy Time

2011-10-05T20:18:00.000-04:00

Things my two guys like to do together these days:

Liam's bath time.

Silly noises.

Saturday morning waffle making {so Mommy can sleep in}.

Play chase {Liam thinks he's so fast}.

Eat!

Read books {Daddy has several memorized).

Rolling around on the floor.

Laugh at each other.

Kiss & snuggle.

Daddy teaches/Liam learns.

Simply enjoy hanging out with each other.

And I love watching these two together :)

You Speak to My 16-year-old Soul

2011-10-04T10:55:00.001-04:00

Dear Ben,

I know you agreed to go originally only because you like the opening act {Needtobreathe}, but I'm so happy that you were as thoroughly entertained by the headlining act {Taylor Swift} as I was.

It was pretty much like a Broadway show with all the fireworks, flying over the crowd, ballet and acrobatics while suspended in mid air, complete with an unexpected guest duo performance {Usher}.

I had a smile on my face the whole night and the fact that you were with me and enjoying yourself {I'm sure your double gin & club soda didn't hurt ;)} makes you just the absolute sweeeeeetest husband I can imagine.

I know that I'll have a fun evening when I do anything with you, but our first real concert together {in 10 years!} was definitely a highlight.

Regardless of how old I get, you help me keep that kid inside alive and that's part of what makes me so excited to grow old with you.

I love you so much, Ben. {And that is such an understatement.}

Thank you for making me laugh, and smile, and feel so loved.

Every.

Single.

Day.

Dear October

2011-09-30T08:02:00.001-04:00

{a sunset from my parents' front porch}

Dear October,

Upon your arrival tomorrow, I just have one request.

Please bring Autumn weather with you!!!

Summer was beautiful and lovely and very, very warm, but there is time for every season and now you're up!

We are ready to bid farewell to the 80's and welcome in the highs in the 60's.

I want to curl up with my hot tea under a big blanket and dream about all the upcoming holidays.

I want to carve a pumpkin and eat pumpkin cookies/bread/pie.

I want to listen to Christmas music without it feeling illegal.

I want to wear jeans and boots and cozy sweaters.

Anyways, that's what I'm dreaming about at the moment, so I'd greatly appreciate your attention in this matter :)

Thanks bunches,

Rachel

P.S. Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!!

Little Sunshine

2011-09-29T07:15:00.001-04:00

My Dearest Little Liam,

My little sunshine.

You bring such joy to my days.

Your toothy grins make my heart soar with gratitude that you are my sweet baby boy. Mine to love, to teach, to smooch, to feed, to sing to, and to spend my days {and occasional wakeful nights} with.

Your joy is contagious. When you experience something new, I can't help but get just as excited right along with you.

As much as I'm teaching you, you are teaching me too. I love seeing the world through your eyes.

I love you so much sweet boy.

So very, very much.

Mommy

Lately

2011-09-28T08:02:00.006-04:00

Yesterday afternoon the sun unexpectedly smiled upon us and we were able to go on a walk.

Our first in a while.

For the passed several days we've been having our share of rain, which {of course} I'm thankful for, but it sure is nice to have some weather diversity.

On our walk we got so hot, so hot in fact that Chloe decided to lay herself down in a giant, refreshing puddle. And when she stood up, her white fur was covered in black dirt and sediment.

Thankfully she was cooperative and Liam was content long enough for me to give her an impromptu bath :)

About 4:30pm yesterday I thought, "I'd really love a burger for dinner." So, I looked in my pantry, did some googling & recipe tweaking, and came up with a really tasty and pretty healthy spicy lentil burger.

The recipe I used was Martha's, but I didn't have walnuts, jalapenos, nor bread crumbs, so I didn't bother with the first two and I made my own bread crumbs by toasting and crumbling a piece of sprouted grain Ezekial bread...worked perfectly and I think I'll just do that from now on {cheaper & healthier, so why not?}.

In fact, we liked them so much that I just made up a batch of mini burgers to take to my moms' group potluck today!

And generally my week has been hanging out with these two curious, smiling little ones:

Oh, it's the simplest things that bring the most joy. It always is, isn't it?

A Family Heirloom

2011-09-27T08:41:00.021-04:00

My brother wore this hand-made outfit in 1990 and twenty-one years later it's Liam's turn.

Mr. Personality was very active while Mommy was attempting to snap his photo. :)

This kid cracks me up! Hourly.

Office Space

2011-09-26T07:40:00.001-04:00

As most of you know {some may not} the reason for no paint on our walls is that we're renting out/hoping to sell our home in Georgia, so we're renting a charming 1950's home in North Carolina.

And even though we've been here six months already, it still feels temporary {since we're planning to move into another rental home when our lease is up here}.

But, of course, I want to bloom where I'm planted and make any house we're living into our home. And I love homes with character, so this charmer has plenty! You think a mint green tiled bathroom sounds fun...you should see the baby pink one!! ;) Yes, I'm serious.

Without further ado, I give you our formal living room/office space, including my new vintage photo project. Enjoy!

I bought those photos about ten years ago {just because I thought they were cool} from an antique store and thought they needed a new purpose, so this is what I cam up with and I think it adds a fun touch :)

Getting Back into a Routine

2011-09-23T13:18:00.000-04:00

As the lazy days of summer winded down and Fall came blowing into our life, I was particularly excited to get back into a routine with three things this week:

1) Mom's group
2) Bible study
3) Meal planning

You know, there are all kinds of moms out there, so finding a group of like-minded mamas...how refreshing! Especially in my small-ish town! I'm so happy to have found a group of natural-minded moms who think like me when it comes to healthy eating, natural birth, raising/teaching our children, and life in general. And I really look forward to learning from these fun ladies, while our kiddos have fun together too :)

Over the summer I really missed my weekly ladies Bible study, so I'm glad to be back at it. This Fall we're reading The Story, which is the Bible written like a story (pretty cool!)...in chronological order. The Bible is one of those books that no matter how many times I read it, I'll always learn something new and different. And I'm SO excited to get into it and get to be with such an awesome group of ladies!

There are many meal planning sites out there, but too many of them are focused on lots of pre-packaged, processed foods, which I'm not fond of. We've only done it a couple weeks, but so far I'm super pleased with The Fresh 20. Each week's shopping list is comprised of 20 fresh ingredients (many from the produce section), in addition to pantry staples. We chose the vegetarian meal plan, since we don't eat a lot of meat and it's easier to add meat than take it out of a dish :) I love how all the recipes taste so fresh...it even calls for you to make your own salad dressings, which have all been delish so far!

And it feels good to be getting back to a sort of structure to our weeks :)

Happy first day of Autumn and Happy Weekend!!!

Farewell to Summer

2011-09-21T14:35:00.000-04:00

Summer 2011 has been full of...

100+ degree days

out-of-town visitors

trips to the beach and Georgia

backyard cucumbers

trying new recipes {remember Tzatziki?}

Liam's 1st plane ride

chasing a crawler

trips to the library

swinging to create our own breeze

kale & berry smoothies

and

stroller rides

Now I'm ready for the cooling relief of Autumn!!!

Visitor

2011-09-20T08:22:00.000-04:00

My parents are going to be out of town, while Chloe's regular hotel will be closed...

So, she's spending TWO weeks with us :)

That means two weeks of her running from the grabbing hands of Liam.

He loooooves her!!

Just looking at her makes him laugh.

But even though she may be slightly annoyed, I think she loves him too.

I keep finding her under his crib :)

Last night we went for a walk and Chloe was greeted by all dogs in the neighborhood.

As we passed by certain yards she attempted to turn around...no matter how secure the fence looked.

I used to think having a dog was like having a baby, but now I realize that totally depends on the age of both.

Because a ten-year-old dog is a breeze compared to the energy required to chase a

curious,

crawling,

chewing,

active,

growing

child.

We love you, Aunt Chloe!!!

Growth Update & a Birthday Wish

2011-09-19T20:39:00.000-04:00

At Liam's 9-month check-up today we learned that he's currently...

20 lbs {45%} & 29 1/4 inches {82%}

Every ounce of cuteness!!

AND

A big birthday wish:

Happy Birthday G!!! We love you!

P.S. I also learned at the pediatrician's office today that parents of 3-year-olds have to be prepared for their kids to say ANYTHING! I laughed until I was crying at the things coming out of this little comedian's mouth today. Good times :)

A Cushion Day

2011-09-18T21:18:00.000-04:00

We rolled into the driveway last night at almost midnight and after we unpacked the car and crawled into bed, we were beyond exhausted.

So, it was decided that a a cushion day was in order...a day in which all we had to do was laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, and preparing for the week ahead.

We usually get home from a trip without allowing any time to rejuvenate before hitting the ground running with a packed week, but it felt so good to be able to just be home, sleep in, and get things done today! I highly recommend it :)

And after our busy on-the-go week last week, I think Liam appreciated our day of relaxation, because he took a THREE HOUR NAP! Wow, that never happens.

Nine Months

2011-09-16T14:56:00.000-04:00

Our precious baby boy is 9 months old today.

Oh, where has the time gone :)

He'll be walking before we know it!!

Friends & Family

2011-09-15T22:20:00.001-04:00

We've been having a super busy and super fun week in Georgia, but little time for blogging.

We've been non-stop on the go...meeting the newest family member and visiting with dear friends.

We've even stumbled across a movie set in my parents' neighborhood and was nearly in a scene with Dennis Quaid, but I'm really hoping to see J Lo or Cameron Diaz who are also in the movie, which is "What to Expect When You're Expecting" coming out in May 2012. You know, movie sets aren't nearly as glamorous as I was expecting, but fun nonetheless :)

And I can NOT believe my baby is going to be NINE months old tomorrow!!!

Sacred

2011-09-13T06:09:00.047-04:00

Nine months ago today my baby was due.

And nine months before that, well you know.

Time is a funny thing.

I know I've been present for practically every moment of my son's life.

Yet.

It seems to have all happened too fast for me to believe.

I'm certain I'll be saying the same thing at every birthday,

"My baby is growing up so fast!"

It's realizations like this that sometimes make me just want to stand over his crib as he sleeps and weep.

But I don't.

As much as I don't want my baby to grow up, I actually do.

I want nothing more than for my precious little baby to grow up to be a

loving, strong, godly, loyal, faithful, kind, generous, humble, wise, and compassionate man.

So even when I may feel sad that my baby is becoming a toddler before my eyes,

I'm actually rejoicing that I'm there by side teaching, encouraging, and helping grow up.

That's my role as his mother.

And what a sacred role it is.

Home

2011-09-12T09:30:00.000-04:00

Probably no matter where I live, Georgia will always be home.

Well, this week, I am home.

Ironically, Ben has a work training all week in our hometown. What are the chances of that! So, surprise vacation for me and Liam :) And Ben's sisters have driven and flown into town to see us!!

Tonight I get to meet the newest family member: my cousin's daughter who was born a couple of weeks ago. I know Liam is going to look like such a big boy next to a newborn!

I'm off to soak up as much home sweet home relaxation as I can before my non-stop playmate wakes up from his nap ;)

Happy Monday!!

Remember When...

2011-09-11T08:23:00.012-04:00

Where were you when you heard about the events of September 11, 2001 for the first time?

I was in 12th grade English.

I'll never forget that day.

Watching the news reports all day.

Crying at the dinner table.

Feeling scared and uncertain.

Thinking about all the people and their families.

Now it's hard to believe it's been 10 years.

I'll always remember.

Wild Thing, You Make My Heart Sing

2011-09-09T07:41:00.008-04:00

Sometimes my precious, innocent baby reminds me of an wild, wide-open, energetic frat boy, always up for a party until he passes out.

Those are Liam's two speeds on a daily basis:

"Party!" or "Passed Out"

It for sure keeps me on my toes, but he definitely makes my heart sing :)

D.C.

2011-09-08T09:16:00.000-04:00

Any vacation filled with laughs, good food, educational sites, and family {my parents, brother & his girlfriend, and of course Ben and Liam} is bound to be fabulous, in my opinion.

It was definitely a learning experience for me, since it was my first "big-city vacation" with a baby. A whole new level of planning ahead {for meals, nursing, naps, etc.} was required.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...Liam did awesome!! Such a trooper and always happy.

We went to the Holocaust museum. It was tragic, moving, and really made me so very grateful.

We saw a number of protesters and demonstrators. One lady was part of a group that has been protesting at the White House since 1981.

Arlington cemetery was a very peaceful place, but after the changing of the guards ceremony, the new guard had to reprimand the entire group of tourists for talking. How embarrassing!

Georgetown Cupcake line was over an hour {just because of the TV show}, so we opted to try a cupcake place down the street that was {I'm sure} equally as delicious...with a much shorter line.

We ate brunch with my Aunt Vicki, her boyfriend, and one of my cousins. Fried green tomato eggs benedict...yum!!

Liam got to meet one of my high school friends and her precious, 5-week-old daughter. It's funny how our conversations have gone from guys, prom, dance team practice, and clothes to breastfeeding, sleep patterns, and all things post-partum. :)

Liam had many firsts: first metro ride, first time on a city bus, first drink at a bar {yes, I brought my baby into a bar! It was harmless, I assure you}, first fire alarm, first museum, first protest, first time on a college campus, and more...

We had such a good time on our first-ever-family-big city-vacation!! So much fun in fact that I'm already looking forward to the next big city on our list: my beloved Big Apple.

I lived in New York City for two years during grad school and dream about allowing my kids to grow to love the real Manhattan, not just the tourist sites, but the places, people, foods, cultures, and parks that the natives know and love.

And by then we'll have everything that's required to travel with a baby down to a science!! ;)

The Birthday Man

2011-09-07T06:02:00.004-04:00

My Ben,

Twenty-eight.

Wow, that's crazy, honey.

I remember when you turned 18...a whole decade ago.

You amaze me more every single day.

You are a husband and father better than I could have ever dreamed you could be.

I am blessed beyond words to have you.

And Liam he is for certain a blessed child and will-be man to have you to teach him, guide him, train him, and love him.

I love you more with each passing day and it doesn't even have anything to do with the fact that you're also getting studlier with each passing day.

Seriously.

You make me swoon ;)

I love you, honey.

Scratch That!

2011-09-06T08:06:00.000-04:00

Found the diapers and sound machine.

Lesson learned there? Always double check all bags when you think you left something behind.

First Family Big-City Vacation: Check!

2011-09-06T07:25:00.000-04:00

It was wonderfully busy and exciting. Don't worry, I have TONS of photos to share {hundreds, actually}.

Liam, we learned, is an exceptional tourist. Happy & smiling, sleeping easily in the stroller, minding his manners at restaurants, and charming everyone he passed by.

And we only had a few vacation mishaps:

1) Within an hour of being at the hotel, we got a call that the valet guy backed our van into a pipe, shattering the entire back windshield. We remained calm and they had it fixed by the next day and didn't charge us for parking for the entire weekend. Not too bad!

2) We were awakened on Sunday at 1:45am by two loud fire alarms. We later learned that some drunk wedding guests were responsible and had been kicked out of the hotel by police before morning. Ben and I had been thrown into a frenzy, but Liam slept soundly through it all.

3) We arrived back home without a large pack of diapers and a sound machine that we {apparently} left on the night stand in the hotel, but we'll live :) Lesson learned there? Always double check your hotel room.

All in all it was a wonderful vacation!

Stay tuned for lots of pictures!! :)

Happy Long Weekend!

2011-09-05T12:55:00.013-04:00

I hope you are enjoying the long weekend as much as I am.

I'm still running around our nation's capital with my family, trying to make sure Liam sees every single last monument and memorial.

Not really. Can you imagine how long that would take? :)

Can't wait to share about Liam's first "big city" vacation!

Two Weekends in a Row

2011-09-02T07:49:00.023-04:00

Ace & Annie,

Mom and Dad tell me that I get to see you two weekends in a row.

We are going to have so much fun together in D.C. and seeing my Uncle Cheek.

You know, I've been to our nation's capital before. When I was in utero, I saw all the monuments, had an insider's tour of the capital buildings, and even went inside the White House!! But I'm pretty sure I'll like this trip even more now that I'm out of the womb.

Can't wait to see you tonight for the long weekend! Yippee!!

- Your Favorite Grandson

A Year Ago

2011-09-01T08:01:00.005-04:00

{September 2010}

I loved the feeling of my little one growing inside me.

These pictures makes me smile. A lot :)

#1 Fans

2011-08-31T07:16:00.010-04:00

All grandparents {I'm sure} love their grandchildren.

However.

These four take the cake!

They find Liam's every move more adorable than the last and Ben & I love seeing their excitement.

YAY for adoring grandparents!!!

Facts from the Weekend

2011-08-30T07:31:00.027-04:00

Dear Ben,

This weekend we survived our first coastal Carolina hurricane by evacuating to our home state. We thank God that we were kept safe and had an enjoyable weekend with our parents.

It was an adventure, complete with 17 plus hours in the car {total}.

Here are some fun facts to remember always:

Driving down the interstate I ate cucumber-feta quinoa right out of the big bowl in my lap and later, while you drove I fed you crackers dipped in nutella.

Liam was a happy passenger as soon as we started going 70+ mph. Before that he was fuss-Y!

When we stopped for a quick break at the Flying J truck stop, which was oddly crowded for 10:30pm on a Friday night, Liam thought it was a party…laughing, smiling, people-watching, all while standing on the hood of the van.

Speaking of our van, we must have said at least 39 times over the course of the weekend how much we love our van. It's just soooo convenient! And, yes, we've changed quite a bit from our "caring about being cool" 17-year-old selves.

While Liam slept, we talked about our dreams, our future. And I love the idea of putting our goals {long and short-term) for our family down on paper. I love that we want all the same things.

We took your dad out to lunch for his birthday and Liam was wonderful, except when he got sleepy and squealed at the top of his lungs and I had to take him outside, but then when we came back in he loved bouncing in his high chair to the beat of the music. A future musician, perhaps? {Don’t you love it when we project aspirations onto our 8-month old?}

We attended an authentic Indian cuisine dinner party at my parents’ home where we were the impromptu guests, but I don’t think anyone minded. Remember how we kept saying how wonderful all the food was?!

We watched hours of the news to see the reports of the hurricane damage.

We ate Sunday morning breakfast on my parents’ front porch with a cool breeze, hinting at Autumn.

Liam entertained us all with his never-ending exploration at your parents’ house for Sunday lunch.

We returned home, thankful to have only some large limbs down and debris in the yard and for the electricity to be back on.

But then as soon as we’d had the car unpacked {after midnight} the power went out again.

And stayed out. Until after 10 am on Monday.

It was a great weekend, except for the fact that while we were enjoying ourselves in the sunny, warm weather, we knew friends and neighbors were hunkered down for days being beaten down with winds and rain and without power (air!!) for days.

And, really, even though the long drive can be annoying at times, I’m thankful for the opportunity it gives us to talk, uninterrupted while Liam snoozes.

Because, I really like talking to you.

;)

Rach

Safe and Sound

2011-08-29T10:44:00.000-04:00

We are home.

Safe and sound.

We just have some big limbs down and debris in the yard.

And the power came back on this morning.

So we are GOOD!! And so thankful :)

More details from our weekend to come...