Naming a little one seems like such a huge responsibility. Nathan and I went back and forth for weeks on names. And then didn’t really totally agree, but for some reason stopped talking about it completely until it was like THE month that Harrison Thomas would join us in this world. We didn’t struggle at all agreeing on a girl’s name. But oh my goodness. I had no idea that I had so many “rules” when naming boys. I’m sharing a bit about why Harrison Thomas today…
I love that Friday Favorites is a little recap at the end of the week. It’s almost a practice in gratitude and finding happiness and joy in the things that bring a smile to your week. Some weeks, I have more favorites than I could ever possibly share, and other weeks, I really have to think long and hard about what made this life wonderful. But that’s what it’s all about, right? Ebbs and flows. But finding gratitude always.
I could sing the praises of October from here until Sunday. I always forget leading up to it how much I love October. The cooler weather it brings beckons our family outside. We live our best lives when we’re outside. We went to the pumpkin patch this past weekend. We didn’t just skimp and only hit up one pumpkin patch, but TWO in one weekend. Because, why not? Seeing Harrison have so much fun running around on Kansas (or Missouri) farmland, Loving all the rocks, sticks, and corn, and finding a pumpkin that’s bigger than he is and trying to pick it up. Well, it just fills my whole heart with joy. As simple as that.
Fall can be such a romantic couple of months. With the leaves changing and the chill in the air, I love getting outside and getting to enjoy the cooler days after a hot summer.
One of the things that Nathan and I try to do on a regular basis is having at least a monthly date night. We take turns planning the date. Sometimes we like to surprise the other with the activity, and other times it’s planned well in advance. I look forward to these date nights like I look forward to sleep in the evening. It’s a few hours where we focus on each other and us; having fun together, talking, and remembering why we fell in love in the first place. Here are some of our favorite fall dates:
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I’ve written a few installments in my ‘All About’ series.
And today, I’m going to write about what I’ve found since joining the ‘mommy-hood.’
If there’s anything that I’ve learned in the 18 months since becoming a mommy, it’s that no mom’s experience having children, keeping said children alive, and raising them to good little humans, is the same. We struggle with different things. We have different triumphs. But there was one thing that I was really scared about before becoming mom, but I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by.
Joining the mommy-hood has been like joining a sisterhood of women. Women with a shared experience that see you where you’re at, do not judge you, and support you. The women that saw me struggling to juggle a diaper bag, baby carrier, and grocery bags that stopped and asked if they could help bring my cart back to the store. Numerous. The women that checked in on me ceaselessly through the first hard, hard, haaaaaard…did I mention they were hard? weeks of having a newborn and just having no freaking clue which way was up. They were my angels. The women at my work-out classes that I had never talked to before, all of sudden came in like triumphant cheerleaders – willing to offer a suggestion of what diaper cream worked best for them, and encourage me for taking time to do something to better myself.
Read moreToday is our fifth anniversary!
I wrote a little post reflecting on what I’ve learned in our first five years of marriage yesterday here. We’re going out tonight to celebrate, but our real celebration is a trip away just the two of us in about a month. It’s going to be so much fun, while also missing my little man like crazy. But I think it’s so important to have one on one time with your partner, so I’m really looking forward to a few days away with my guy. Having no agenda, eating amazing food, and just soaking up good conversations and dreaming with him.
But, today is a FRIDAY FAVORITES post! A couple of weeks ago, Harrison helped me plant up my fall plants. So I wanted to give you a little tour of our outdoors right now, decked out in some fall decor! I love some fresh plants and pumpkins to give our house a refresh come September and October. I don’t go as overboard in the fall as I do for the summer with plants. I just do a few things here and there, so it’s totally manageable and easy to do.
On October 18, 2014, Nathan and I vowed to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders, to stick it out through days/weeks/months of hardship. To choose each other day after day. To celebrate each other’s successes, and support each other through failures. That day, our wedding day, was magical from beginning to end. It was a beautiful fall day with leaves changing colors and sun breaking through the reds, yellows, and greens. The morning started chilly, and by the time we were riding around in the trolley taking pictures with our closest friends and their spouses, it was a beautiful 72 degrees. Our favorite kind of day.
We danced the night away, snuck away for pictures just the two of us, and ended the evening in a vintage car ride around the Plaza and a burger at a local diner to wash it all down. It was perfect. And quickly followed by another seven days of perfection in St. Lucia on the beach: basking in our love for each other, the sun, and so much food.
Read moreIt was a Sunday afternoon, and Nathan had already left for the airport for work travel the coming week. It rained the better part of the weekend, but the afternoon finally opened up to give way to heat and humidity, and Harrison and I needed to get out of the house. We headed way out south to Louisburg Cider Mill for some outside exploring and apple cider.
Nathan and I would come here on day dates in the fall many years ago. Getting to watch the apples being peeled and pressed into apple cider, sitting on the lawn listening to a bluegrass band playing on the stage. It’s a simpler life out in the country, and one that I yearn for when fall comes around. Read more
Sweet little boy. A year and a half since you came into our lives. This time last year we were going through so many new changes. You were going to daycare for the first time, and I was navigating the waters of going back to work full time. We’ve certainly found our routine, and our special times together.
I laid down in bed last night after a very long work day, and realized that I never finished today’s post. So here I am bright and early, working on finishing up the last of my Friday Favorites. Per usual, I’m linking up with Erika, Narci and Andrea to share a heap of random Friday Favorites!
You guys. THEY’RE HERE!! And I LOVE THEM!!
