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friday night wind-down.

3 Feb

Very ready for a less than stressful weekend, we’re admiring outlandishly expensive kitchens and bathrooms from all over the world on HGTV. Nothing like transporting yourself to someone else’s over the top home halfway around the globe. These spaces are amazing! And ridiculous! I’d be lying if I didn’t say it all causes the wanderlust in me to get a little itchy. I don’t need a fancy kitchen, but I’d love to visit some of the locales where they exist. Vacation, anyone?

Jason just hand delivered dessert to the living room and I’m in full blown relaxation mode. Feels so good to just settle in…sleeping baby, sleeping dog, clean house, weekend awaiting. I am one thankful girl.

As a side note, HGTV makes up for the lack of good options on television–at any hour of the day. We don’t watch t.v. much at all anymore, but when we do, we can always count on a good episode of House Hunters, Million Dollar Rooms, and the like to entertain.

admiring a property in positano, italy, and dreaming,

mm

photo love at the end of a long day.

23 Jan

Technically, they might not be the most amazing photos ever, but I do love grabbing pictures of the bug on my phone these days. It’s just so stinkin’ convenient…and he’s just so stinkin’ lovable. (I say this after a relatively rough afternoon/evening with the little man who, to my chagrin, is avoiding sleep (naps!) at all costs lately.) These snapshots remind me why it’s so important to roll with the punches of parenting, to walk away for a few minutes when I need a deep breath, and to step right back into loving this incredible little person the way he deserves. At almost-nine months old, I know he doesn’t really do things to spite me. He’s just gaining a little more independence and testing the waters (and ripping the bumpers off his crib while he should be sleeping, and…). You know, the stuff that makes you want to tear your hair out a little. But just a little.

So, no more bumpers for the kiddo after today, and unfortunately, a few more bumps on the head in exchange. I don’t think it will take long for him to realize that the bars can hurt a little, and it’s better than the alternative of ribbons ripped off the crib and in his hands while he’s alone. Cheeky little monkey, this one. The ribbons were tied on the outsides, and he still got ‘em off. Ah, well. I’ve ever so quietly removed my mama cap for the evening and am heading to bed to start fresh in the morning. In the meantime, the munchkin. Playin’ and drumin’ and being “SO big!” (with one arm, of course. Two would be asking a lot:)

sleep, here i come!

mm

so far, so good.

21 Jan

At this stage of the game, I can check a few things off the list. Good thing there’s still half a weekend left :)

Last night we watched The Ides of March. I liked it well enough, but wished the ending didn’t feel so abrupt. No matter. We sweetened the deal with a little dessert mid-movie. I thought it fitting that our dishes ended up looking so patriotic. Unintentional, of course, but still fun. And with a little chocolate sauce drizzled on top, oh did it hit the spot!

Then over breakfast this morning we plotted out our grocery list, including items to cook up a few new (to our menu) dishes this week. First on the docket? A recipe for Faux Pho from Epicurious. In essence, it’s a close-to-authentic twist on the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. Jason treated me tonight and cooked up a small storm in the kitchen. We love Pho, so this was fun to try. Will we make it again? Definitely. The only note I’d make is that the recipe says to simmer broth for 78 minutes. Given that the entire dish calls for 30 minutes of prep and cook time, total, we decided that 7 to 8 minutes would do. Sure enough. One little dash makes a big difference:) Oh, and we added fresh lime since that’s how we’re used to enjoying it, plus a little Rooster (Sriracha) sauce because we love a good kick. The serrano peppers will do it, but Sriracha adds an extra punch. All in all, a delightful meal!

If you decide to try it out, you’ll have to let us know how you like it. The whole house smelled wonderfully of fresh ginger, basil, garlic, chiles and lime. Yum!

The little one is fast asleep and we’re watching Storage Wars reruns before bed. I do love the weekend!

relaxed (and full:),

mm

weekend list.

20 Jan

Since I just ordered my 2012 planner yesterday (realized I can’t live without one after all, even with a smartphone lingering), I’m forgetting more than normal and feeling like I’ve maxed out storage capacity in the organizational compartments of my brain. As there’s a whole host of things I’d like to fit into the weekend, I thought I’d just plod through them here tonight. Then, I’m less likely to forget them, and besides, it’ll gear me up for a fun/busy/productive (maybe)/restful weekend. How can it be all of those things at once? Well, as things get checked off the list, there’s more room for rest. And as I prioritize resting (or relaxing here and there), I’ll be better fueled to find energy for the other things :)

It’s a grand plan. We have a (n almost) 9 month old. We’ll see how this goes:

1) Continue going to bed before midnight. If my fingers fly fast enough, I can make it!

2) Wake up, take care of Henry, enjoy breakfast, drink coffee, work out. (No expectations on the exact order in which all of this takes place.)

3) Vacuum and wash the floors. Snowy boots+driveway salt+Kruger+day-to-day routine=necessary. Plus, it’s too big a job during the week with the peanut in tow.

4) Start (um…) and finish thank you notes from Christmas. We’re not perfect around here. Nope. But we are thankful. Now just to let people know about that…

5) Read a few chapters in my book club book. I keep telling myself I’ll do this while nursing. Then, of course, the book would have to be on the right floor of the house when I decide such things. If I’m up, it’s downstairs, and vice versa. Two copies? The ability to remember everything when going up and down the stairs?

6) Relaxed time with the boys on Saturday night. We can make this happen. Already on the calendar :) Ok, well…on the agenda. The calendar, as I mentioned, is still in need of an update. It’ll happen.

7) On the subject of calendars, write down Henry’s milestone-ish moments in his calendar. Because there’s a whole lot that changes quickly at his age, and because I’m starting to forget what was when. I really don’t want to make it up. In fact, I refuse ;)

8) Something delicious (and perhaps new?) for dinner one of two nights. One of us has to make a grocery store run anyway–may as well pick up something interesting.

9) Church on Sunday morning. Love it. Need it. Gotta have it. Done.

10) Sunday afternoon family nap. We did this last weekend, and besides the whole gang waking up close to dinnertime, it was wonderfully uplifting. Problem solver: set an alarm.

11) Laundry. Perhaps. You know, as other things are taking place. Like playtime with H in his room or a half hour spent galavanting in the snow. Something delightful to get my mind off the laundry.

12) I dunno. Throw in a random something else that I’ve forgotten here, and that will inevitably come up. Mostly because I’m an even numbered person, and an 11 point list would leave me wide-eyed awake in bed tonight. 12 it is.

And that is all. Seem like a lot? Not enough? Just right? Only the weekend can tell. But if I don’t plan (or at least hope), the odds of any number of listed items making their way into the next two days become drastically reduced. Who knows. Maybe tomorrow we’ll scratch the whole thing and make snow forts all weekend. Maybe we’ll take a random adventure somewhere and ask the dog to handle the laundry. Regardless, I like having a list.

a little less cluttered for the exercise,

mm

my 9 to 5.

5 Jan

On occasion, a camera finds its way into our day. I arguably have the best job in the world.

"what do you think of my boots, mom?"

hammin' it up.

taking a break.

pic of the day.

How do you spell Thursday afternoon?

b-l-e-s-s-e-d.

mm

laundry.

10 Sep

Sometimes, while doing the laundry, I could just cry at how perfectly small Henry’s clothes are. Folding onesies and baby socks and tiny little pants and shirts, I’m genuinely overwhelmed by what a great blessing it is to have the responsibility. Tonight, as I took H’s sweet little swim shirt out of the washer, I thought about mommies at heart who have never had the privilege of putting away clothes for a baby of their own. And I said a little prayer of thanksgiving for the honor of being a mom–for the joy of doing laundry late on a Saturday night and for all of the reasons our washer and dryer get so much use these days. I’m not sure I would have been so taken by plain old laundry at any other point in my life until now, but somehow I’m soaking up the chance to wash items that have become favorites…drying things gingerly in hopes that Henry might wear them “just one more time” before I have to put them away for (hopefully!) future babes.

I love the smallness of Henry’s clothes. I’m taken by the perfection of the arms and legs and hands and feet that fit inside them. As our bug grows, I’ll miss this sweet time of tiny little everything–will likely trade my joy over Hank’s baby items for new delights found in grass-stained knees, ground in dirt and the wonder that is a growing, curious, adventurous little boy.

Coming from a girl who thought she could never really get into baby boy clothes, I’m amazed at how much they mean to me now. Turns out, I just needed the right little man to wear them ;)

in the midst of trying to serve, i marvel at the way God is serving my heart!

mm

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