Dear Jonathan (v. XI)

Posted on by Lauren Lane

I’m writing to you while rocking you to sleep for your nap. I peer down at your calm little face. Lovie being sucked on instead of a paci.  Eleven months staring at that sweet face. It’s a bit chunkier. Rounder. But I still see that little newborn face in it that we met eleven months ago. The one that was calm but skeptical of who we were.  

And now I see peace and security in your little face.  Knowing that you’re always safe in your mama’s arms.

You’re busier nowadays.  Exploring everything in the world.  Eager to knock over Harrison’s Lego tower or destroy his neatly placed line of cars.  You squeal in excitement to see the ones you love.  You find Harrison’s insistence on lovingly calling you “stinky John John” hilarious.  It’s like your little personality was unlocked this month.  Your big, dramatic, loving personality.  And it’s so much fun getting to know our little Jonathan Brooksie.

Only one more monthly letter, little boy.  A letter to celebrate your first birthday.  It all has gone just too fast.  And I’d give anything to be able to do it all again.

I love you so big, little one.

Love,

Mommy

Dear Jonathan v. X

Dear Jonathan v. IX

Dear Jonathan v. VIII

Dear Jonathan v. VII

Dear Jonathan v. VI

Dear Jonathan v. V

Dear Jonathan v. IV

Dear Jonathan v. III

What’s Up Wednesday {06.30.21}

Posted on by Lauren Lane

The last Wednesday of every month, I love joining this little link up to share a little bit of what’s going on in our house this month. It’s a little bit of food, a bit of clothes, a bit of memories and exciting things coming up, all in one blog post. Head over to Shay and Sheaffer’s blogs to read through the rest of the links, too!

1: WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK:

I’ve got ingredients this week to make a shrimp and Parmesan pasta, tacos, and a chopped salad with shredded chicken. In what order those get made, I don’t know! We’ll just wing it!

2: WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Read more

Friday Favorites {06.25.21}

Posted on by Lauren Lane

This summer seems to be flying by. Can you believe that next week is already Fourth of July weekend? Where has the time gone?

We had so much fun last weekend celebrating Father’s Day with our favorite dad around! While I barely survived making breakfast with both of the boys for Nathan (i.e. there were absolutely no pictures taken! Only repeated “don’t touch that’s!” and answering endless requests to “taste test.”) We went on a family walk to the park, where Harrison showed off his ever improving climbing skills, and went out as a family for a barbecue dinner! We love our Dada!

Read more

My Summer Beauty Staples

Posted on by Lauren Lane

I don’t talk “beauty” very often on here. I’ve shared a little bit about my curly hair, and what products I use for curls. But beauty…well, I don’t like change often. I’m not keen to try out new products every time I run out of one. I tend to stick to the same products over and over and over again. Most of these are tried and true. A few are new this year. And when I go to look for a new product or to try something different, having a friend recommend something is my favorite way to find something new I’ll love!

Our summers in KC are hot and humid. They are strings of days of chasing around little boys outside at the pool or through the backyard, so most summer days, I keep make-up light and quick, knowing that I’ll look downright glowy thanks to the sweat by mid-day.

Read more

7 Quick Harrison Takes (v. VIII)

Posted on by Lauren Lane

I’ve been accumulating some really good Harrison takes over the past few weeks. Ya’ll, he’s a mood lately. And I love it.

If you’re new around here, every once in awhile I like to round up seven quick things that are making me laugh or melting my heart about Harrison.

I love going back to read these because it’s an easy way that I can memorialize these small little bits of his personality as he grows. He’s learning so much every day. He’s into something new every few weeks it seems. This is such a fun age and stage of life with him.

-1- The names he comes up with for his brother. Terms of endearment from a three-year-old. “STINKY BUTT!” “Jonathan Brooksie” (the family has adopted this one.) and out of nowhere last week, “STINKY JOHN JOHN!” All said with love and admiration of his little brother.

-2- I’ve got to wear my soccer shirt! (It’s his favorite thing to wear. I wash it, and it’s immediately put on.)

-3- When he’s mad at us for not letting him do something he wants, he declares, “You’re not my best friend!” Thankfully, about a minute later he’ll let us back into best friend status.

-4- He’s gotten into the habit when someone asks him to do something, responding with, “Ok, ok, ok, ok.”

-5- He asks us, “What’s for dinner tonight?” And when the response is not Mac-and-cheese, he responds, “I don’t like <Blank>. I want Mac-and-cheese for my dinner!” We know, buddy. You’d take Mac-and-cheese for every meal, every day.

-6- He’s got an insane memory. He’s in a big car phase still, and he knows what color of car is in what location of the house or which parents’ car, and when one is missing. 😳

-7- He refers to Band-AIDS as, “Boo-boos.” He’s constantly telling us he needs a boo-boo.

Harrison is such joy. He easily bounces back from obstacles, quick to smile and play with eagerness and energy. And he holds his mama’s heart. Love watching him grow.

Friday Favorites {06.18.21}

Posted on by Lauren Lane

Thankfully, work was a little slower this week. Which was helpful given that I ended up at the doctor with a double ear infection and sinus infection. 🙄 I thought adults didn’t get ear infections anymore. But somehow, I was able to achieve it. Two times over. Here’s to antibiotics and the weekend ahead celebrating our favorite Dada! Hope you all have a wonderful one!

This is the face of the bravest little boy I know, who is super excited to have started swim lessons! He went head first into jumping off the side and the biggest splashes of his whole class. (The girls in his class were less than impressed with being splashed. I can relate, because I was totally that girl growing up. Boys, amiright?). I am so proud of him, and I love watching him learn to swim! I have yet to brave the pool with both little boys by myself, though. Not sure I’m ready for that.

Read more

Summer Bucket List 2021

Posted on by Lauren Lane

Last year, I shared our summer bucket list before becoming a family of four. And this year, I’m so excited for Jonathan to get to enjoy all the summer things that we love so much! There’s still a lot of firsts yet to go for our little guy, and some of these I can’t wait to do with him! And Harrison, of course.

  • Swim Lessons! For Harrison
  • Go to the zoo
  • Head to the Farmstead
  • Blueberry picking
  • Splashin’ and Smokin’ with the cousins
  • Homemade popsicles
  • Go to our local ice cream shop
  • Lots of walks – in our truck, scooter, and bike
  • Take a vacation as a family
  • Celebrate Jonathan’s first birthday!
  • Play dates with our friends
  • Re-catch up with friends that we’ve missed during COVID – lunches and happy hours!
  • Get to know our neighbors better
  • Do a cousin sleepover

Garden Tour – June 2021

Posted on by Lauren Lane

Oh my goodness. It’s been a week. Well a week and a half! We had so much fun as a family a couple of weekends ago, and I was just feeling uninspired to write blog posts, that I inadvertently took last week off. Then the whole family, except for Nathan, passed around a miserable head cold last week. It was terrible. Baby J and I got it the worst, but I spent the better part of last week trying to learn a new job, while simultaneously dealing with a head cold that at all hours of the day made my head, sinuses, throat, and all the things feel bloated and painful. I think we’re turning a corner, though. On the mend, *fingers crossed.*

Today, I wanted to share a June garden tour! I filmed this a little more than a week ago. Gardening is a hobby in the summer months. I can’t keep a house plant alive for the life of me. 😳. But about once a month during the summer, I love to share a little walkthrough of the gardens.

I always feel inspired getting to virtually walkthrough other people’s gardens. It gives me ideas of ways to combine plants that I hadn’t thought of before, or plants that I want to try the next season. I actually keep a running list on my phone of plants that I’d like to incorporate the next year. You all are the best inspiration and such a wealth of knowledge, and that’s what I love most about this space and Instagram. It gives me access to virtual friends that I learn so much from.

Anyways, enough blabbering, and on to the tour. I hope you enjoy!

Read more

Friday Favorites {06.04.21}

Posted on by Lauren Lane

First official week of summer is in the books! First week of my new job. We’re looking forward to this weekend of more soccer starting up for Harrison, and a trip to the zoo with friends!

I got to pick out my Mother’s Day gift a couple weekends ago. New sunglasses! Nathan came home a few weeks back with new sunglasses from Warby Parker. And they looked so good and high quality for a fraction of the price of designer sunglasses. So that’s what they got me for Mother’s Day! A fresh pair of sunglasses for the summer.

These are the Rhea style. We have a Warby Parker store in Kansas City, but I used their app to try them on beforehand. Love them! And for $95, such a good deal! I think both of my designer pairs were significantly more than that.

Read more

Our Nighttime Routine

Posted on by Lauren Lane

I’m so routine based. I love routine. I find it so comforting. How type A does that make me?!?! Yes, I can laugh at my delight in routines. But I was particularly excited to learn that children also like routine. It helps when they know what’s coming next, and that it happens in the same way every time. So I thought it might be fun to share some of our routines here. First, I thought I’d share our nighttime routine!

Nighttime routine always starts with the kids’ bath…

This is Nathan’s part of the evening. He’s in charge of bathing the boys, greasing them up with lotion, and getting them in their jammies. I’ve had a lot of friends ask me if we really bathe the boys every night.

And the answer is, “Yes!”

Read more