off to new york...

with these two heartbreakers.

(check out that sweet belly...)

be back next week with some fresh new stuff.

have a great week. xo.

friday links.

am loving these simple animal prints for a baby room.

these pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon syrup look delicious.

a fabulous kitchen shortcut: how to toast nuts in the microwave.

an organized life...so many good ideas.

how to peel a head of garlic in less than 10 seconds. fantastic.

halloween party ideas that really pop.

these zombie pumpkins would look so cute on the porch.

i can see myself popping these mini pumpkin donut muffins in two at a time. (can you tell i like pumpkin?)

all sweaters are cuter with elbow patches.

a homemade "miracle" cleaner - all my pans are in desperate need of this.



have a great weekend. xo.

lately, i've come to realize...

noah, discovering the joys of almond butter, straight from the spoon.

it doesn't matter how much baby noah does or doesn't wake up at night. the next day, i will still be tired.

most of the food that i eat is usually just a vehicle for almond/peanut butter.

it seems that i'm passing that trait onto my baby boy. 

it's really hard to come up with new ideas for healthy dinners every night. i'm stockpiled with ideas for recipes with loads of butter, cheese and the works. but there is really only so much i can do with fish/chicken and vegetables. 

and it doesn't matter how hard i try to eat healthy all week. by friday, i always cave and bake something.  usually involving chocolate chips.

there are no boundaries between a mother and child. we literally share everything. food, sleep, my body...you name it.

i've never really known how to style my own hair. 

and i'll probably never really know how to iron well.

it doesn't matter how many times i clean the kitchen floor. it still never looks clean.

but i'll still eat something that's fallen on it - even past the ten second rule. 

the majority of my time is going to be spent at parks and playgrounds in the next coming years. but i'm perfectly okay with that. 

i'm probably never going to like running. 

but i love walking. so i try to do lots.

that's all. xo.

a picture story about a boy and a ball.

"wait...is that what i think it is? i better get a closer look."

"it is. i know it. i've just got to get over this fence."

"getting closer..." 

"can i play?"

happy tuesday. xo.

over the weekend, according to my iphone.

it was a happy 30th to my favorite cowboy....

xo.

13 months.

dear little one,

at thirteen months, i hope to never forget...

how you climb. you love to show off how you can climb, by yourself, into your stroller. it's the only way you like to ride in it. standing up, holding onto the handles. like you are driving it yourself. 

how you had your first temper tantrum in the pharmacy of a cvs. it was over a candy bar. i think it was a snickers. it was such a cliche. 

how much you love helping in the kitchen. you love to "cook," with your spatula in one hand, and a pot in the other. i think there are as many kitchen utensils in your toy box as there are toys. 

or how you still insist on being nursed to sleep. nothing calms you more, and it's kind of adorable how excited you get for it. 

how your eyes light up when your dad comes home from work. you greet him with a smile and a snuggle, and don't want to leave his side all night. 

how you blow bubbles in the bath. you love to make us laugh. 

how i still can't stand to hear you cry. for even one second. 

or how much you love the park. and sliding down the slide all by yourself. and swinging on the swings. it's all your favorite. as long as you are outside, you are happy. 

how happy you are first thing in the morning. you are practically giddy to be awake, and are such a great example of how a day should be started. 

nothing is as good as waking up to your smile. 

happy 13 months baby bear. xo.

12 months.

picture taken by the talented julie burton

today you are one.

today you are a toddler, as much as we hate to admit it.

you walk, and climb and run and are the busiest of boys.

today you love to meet new people, but are still shy of strangers.

you babble and talk in circles, in a way that seems to make perfect sense.

today you love being outside and in the sunshine.

and you love playing with a ball more than anything else.

today you still don't sleep very well,

but you are an excellent snuggler, so it's ok.

today you point at everything, and get excited to show us new things.

today you are loud. you bang, and throw things, and scream and babble.

today you love to imitate everything we do.

you are also a just a little bit stubborn.

but you have us wrapped around your little finger, so it doesn't matter.

today, we love you even more than we loved you yesterday.

and today you turned one year old.

one year ago, you changed our lives forever. you brought new purpose to our lives. you became our purpose. and you've made our lives so much better. we love you so much. thank you for letting us be your parents.

happy birthday (our forever) baby noah.

xo.