just for now.

Some adorableNESS from yesterday and today.
Pictures 1-4: Kiddos at local farm with the most ahhhmazing yogurt. We’ve already eaten 1.5 quarts in a day and a half.
Picture 5: bathtime. Which Zoe has been requesting 3x a day by making a splashing motion with her hands.
Picture 6: My husband sent me flowers today out of the blue!! Sooooo happy. I love these colors right now.
Picture 7: Zoe with her dollies in their stroller. She absolutely LOVES posing for pictures now and looking at herself in them.
Picture 8: The ever-expanding stomach. I’m measuring around 34/35 weeks. It’s so fun right now getting ready and nesting/cleaning all the time.

As I’m sure many of you are aware of due to my making a BIG DEAL out of it– I was left all alone for a weekend when my husband took our toddlers to Grandma & Grandpas for a visit.

I thought it would make me feel extra productive if I listed everything I got done and enjoyed during my extended alone time.

Here’s what I can remember:

Farmers Market — flowers (herbal bouquet) in picture above, and a house plant (Black Swedish Ivy– only need indirect light and light watering. So far so good!)

Coffee with friend who just had her third baby.

Scrubbed bathroom walls/ceiling. Cleaned bathroom.

Organized mine and Levi’s clothes/put away winter/fall things.

Organized our closet (!!!) so we can find everything.

Made a donate-to-Goodwill bag.

Made a bag of maternity clothes for my sister…things I was wearing and were taking up space I don’t have!

Moved nearly all the living room furniture and sprinkled deodorizer on the carpet…vacuumed.

Cleaned the kitchen/fridge. (Threw out old leftovers!)

Organized the kids room just a little.

Changed out old lightbulbs for energy efficient ones. Cleaned out the light fixtures (bugs. ew.)

Napped at random times.

Went to bed super late one night…thinking “I can sleep in!” That was optimistic. I still woke up like I normally would.

…and more!

So it was amazing. And refreshing. And productive.

Another huge bonus: I very realized how much I love and adore being a mother to my babies. And I realized that it’s because of them I am a much more mature, motivated, fulfilled and joyful person. It’s so incredible to me how one little life can totally and transform you and make you willing– even deeply desiring– to change in ways you never even knew you wanted or needed to. Mama love is one of the best gifts ever.

A little taste of my sister, Melody’s, wedding day.

It was super emotional for me, and then I realized, this is my first sibling to get married! All my other siblings experienced all of this with me, but this is my first time… So it was incredibly good, and lovely, and just full of depth for me. To have known Melody her whole entire life, see her ups and downs, her questions, her victories– to know her heart. To watch her love towards Michael grow, to watch her grow into his love for her… And then stand up with them both as they make their forever vows. It’s a lot, you know?

You bet I cried. Shamelessly.

-me-

-Melody Grace-

-the “I will” before the “I do”-

-down the aisle-

-parents blessing-

-kissed!-

-mr. and mrs.-

After this we took some family pictures in another building while the sanctuary was converted into the reception hall. The lovely and talented Kelsey made all this happen! And then on to the dancing…

-Melody has the most peaceful ‘in love’ face, ever-

-isn’t this awesome?-

-cake face-

-we did a bridesmaids+bride dance-

-I think the only reason everyone wasn’t on the floor was because it was always full!-

-the toss-

-leaving-

-off to bliss!-