finding beauty in the ordinary

Permission to Rant: On Staying Too Comfortable

2013-05-23T09:17:00.000-07:00

Day 22 in the May blog a day challenge: Rant About Something
So I'm a day behind. Yesterday was a little off. Although we had a wonderful morning-- breakfast at home with some sweet friends (blueberry waffles topped with fresh blueberries, bacon and OJ, oh my!) my sweet girl was having a difficult day as she was cutting a top tooth :( It finally broke through last night but she did not take either naps yesterday and was pretty much a hot mess all day. I got a glimpse of what life is like with a child that does not sleep (whining much?!), and boy, let's just say I really enjoyed a glass of wine at the day yesterday! Here's to hoping all of our children are good sleepers like E usually is (a girl can hope, right!?)...

I usually like this blog space of mine to be a positive place for me to document life and what it throws our way, but today sweet Jenni is pretty much giving us permission to get a little fiesty so why not?! I actually contemplated not doing this but after much thought, I had to just get it done. And yesterday was a perfect fuel for me to just get it out of my system. For yesterday, as exhausting as it was, showed me just how important it is to do this.

So what's my rant? My rant is this: people that never go anywhere because everything is "too far." This was a frustration of mine back home in San Diego, and it is even more of a frustration to me here. I'm not dissing anyone inparticular-- it is just the attitude as a whole. I understand that life gets busy, and that often it is really hard to get out of the house with more than one child or whatnot. But I'm talking about the people who just stay home all the time, watching TV, going to the same 'ol same 'ol restaurants and who live the same predictable lives because they are, dare I say it, afraid to try something new (is that what it is? Or is it too comfortable, lazy, boring, I don't know!)??

We technically live in a "small town" now. Before, we lived in a suburb of San Diego, but there were a ton of nearby "cities" that encompassed us. Now, we live in yet another suburb but the other nearby cities are about 20+ miles away. We can get to downtown in about 15 minutes (urban dining, nightlife, concerts, the whole enchilada!). We can get to incredible shopping areas in about 35 minutes. We can go down south and experience beautiful culture and that's only about 20 minutes away. However, I've found that most people here just like to complain about the lack of dining, lack of things to do, and instead opt for a boring, mundane life because they are not willing to drive 30 MINUTES for a change in scenery. It drives me absolutely BONKERS.

A few weeks ago, we had dinner with some of Joshua's extended family members that actually live here in town (how crazy is that!?). We've only seen them a few times since we moved, but Joshua's cousin asked us, "So have you guys gone out and explored since you've moved here?" Our answer was "YES!" I was so proud that we were able to say that. Life is too darn short to stay too comfortable. Try new restaurants. Go take a drive and go down a road you've never been before. Most likely, you will discover something that you love-- whether that's a great new place for tacos or the most awesome hiking path ever.

What fueled this post is that yesterday, when my sweet girl wouldn't sleep, I put her in the car and we drove about 25 minutes south to a sleepy, quaint little artists' town. Most of the shops were closed for the summer, and the summer heat started to beat down on us in the middle of the afternoon, but we had the best time exploring some of the shops that were open, playing in the grass, and just getting out of the house. We grabbed some soft-serve ice cream (Eden had a few bites, yummy!) and just sat there in the grass enjoying one another. It turned around my exhausting afternoon, energized me for more play before bedtime, and my sweet girl took a little catnap on the way home (winning).

Life is so beautiful. Get out and enjoy it-- be adventurous.
Don't let "having kids" make you into a boring person or let them be your excuse to not live life to it's fullest.
Shouldn't we striving to be an example to our children anyway? That means putting on clothes, getting out of the house and showing them that life is beautiful and we need to see the beauty in it.

In closing, have you seen this video? It will be the best 20 minutes you've spent all week. What a way to live life to it's fullest. Now go live. Rant over :)

Digging Into The Archives

2013-05-21T19:49:00.000-07:00

First of all, my heart and prayers go out to all of those affected by the horrific events that have happened over the last couple of days in Oklahoma. What a tragedy :( Did you see the video of that woman who found her dog in the rubble? I cried like a baby.
What a beautiful story in the middle of such sadness.

//

Today's challenge in the blog once a day in the month of May challenge is to dig deep into your archives and share some of your favorite posts.
Below are some of my favorites on various topics. I have some new readers, especially since Eden has been born, so I hope you enjoy going
back in time :)

From my heart //

Inside My Head Tonight
Dear Lady In Waiting
Let Me Be Honest
Our Testimony

Big Life Events //

A Little Announcement
The Day That Forever Changed My Life
The Day I Told Him He Was Going to Be A Daddy

On Motherhood //

5 Tips for Surviving New Motherhood, From the Newbie Herself
Baby #2
What I Want You to Know Before You Hold That Baby
My 1st Mommy Lesson

For Mamas-To-Be //

Some Thoughts on Becoming A Mother
Favorite Items for Baby So Far
Top 5 Hospital Bag Essentials for Labor & Delivery

Our Eden //

It's A...
What's In A Name?
Eden's Nursery Tour
Ecstatic To Announce The Arrival of Our Daughter
Eden's Birth Story Part I / Part II
Eden's Newborn Photos

//

Oh and I'm over at A Bundle of Contradictions today talking about mommyhood! :) Thanks for having me, Wendi!
Check it out here!

9 Months

2013-05-20T09:28:00.000-07:00

Outfit: Gymboree

Well I've slacked the last couple of days on the May blogger challenge. I usually like to "unplug" for the weekends as much as possible, so it's really not going to happen that I blog on the weekends unless I am feeling super creative, in the mood to write, or just plain bored ;) I did like the challenges, however (in fact I think they were two of my favorites), so perhaps I'll use those instead of some of the other challenges this week.
Today I'm taking a break of sorts to show you our little lady at 9 months old!

I can't believe our little Eden Grace is 9 months old. She has now been out in this world almost as long as she was tucked away, growing inside me... what a great 9 months it has been! I've said it before and I'll say it again-- everyone says how fast it goes, and that is true! But I really do feel like I've been able to enjoy every single moment of it and have been there for each and every milestone. I have no regrets! One of the best things I ever decided to do before she came into this world was decide to take a picture of her every day using the iPhone Project 365 app. Every single photo triggers a memory. I spent some time looking through them all last night. What great memories! I can't wait to see all of the photos compiled after her first year!

At 9 months, Eden is doing most of the same things she did at 8 months, although she does have some new milestones/updates:

- plays peek-a-boo on demand with her blanket (cutest thing ever!)
- got 1 new tooth on the bottom for a total of 4 on the bottom and 3 on the top, with the fourth top one poking through any day now

- separation anxiety has definitely kicked in at this age! She's more aware of my presence and when I enter/leave a room
- is pretty much in love with storytime at the library!
- still won't let us put a hat on her at the pool and takes headbands/clips out of her hair if she notices us putting them on
- got a new baby pool for the backyard and she loves playing in it on hot days! However, she did discover that rocks and dirt were located right next to the pool and had quite some fun putting her little hands in the dirt and putting it in her mouth :)
- has been taking some spills lately now that she's more mobile. She got her first goose-egg on her forehead after falling off the couch! :( No more sitting on the couch unassisted now... too much on the move!
- Still is crawling backwards and forwards but doesn't move very far (and that's fine with me!)
- is obsessed with books and will sit and read them on her own for extended periods of time
- is still a great sleeper and eater... I'm so blessed!

- had her 9 month checkup last week and is 19 lbs (60%) and 28" (88%)
- still is exclusively breast fed although she is showing less and less interest in it over the past couple of weeks
- definitely realizes that her daddy is gone right now and loves FaceTiming him at night!

Happy 9 months, baby girl, we love you SO much! xo

My Favorite Photo of Myself & Why

2013-05-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

Day 17 of the challenge to blog once a day in the month of May: A Favorite Photo of Yourself And Why

Did I do yesterday's prompt? I don't think so... gosh, I can't even remember. Where's my coffee?! We ran around town all day after E's 9 month check-up and then came home to a dog that had made a mess all over the floor... so there's a glimpse of my day! Haha! For the first time in months, however, I did get a solid 9 hours of sleep with no interruptions (no baby cries, dog barking, weird noises in the house) so praise God for that and His mercies that are new every morning, amen!

//

I thought a lot about this prompt and, although I have several photos of myself (gosh, that sounds vain to say), this was my final decision as my favorite photo of myself. It's not edited, it's not staged, it's just a completely organic moment that my husband took on our honeymoon back in November 2006 on Cozumel Island, Mexico. What I would do to get back to that beautiful place with just him! In this moment, I remember finally getting a second to take everything in while I laid in that hammock off our balcony... I was MARRIED!?!!! Joshua and I would never have to spend another night apart from one another and I was finally done with the maddness that comes with wedding planning (praise God we only had a 3 month long engagement otherwise I probably would have pulled my hair out). It was a peaceful moment and I love that it was captured through the lens of my favorite man in the universe :)

A Glimpse of How Our Days Roll

2013-05-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

Day 15 in the May Blogger Challenge was to show a "day in the life" with pictures. However, I am on week 1 of being a single mom with my man out-of-town and I am just plain exhausted. I have such an easy baby and yet today I found myself ready for a nap about an hour after I woke up and chugged 3 cups of coffee. On a positive note, time is going by pretty fast and I am really enjoying eating blueberry pancakes for dinner (sorry Joshua!) ;)

So back to the "day in the life" photos. They don't exist. I've always wanted to do one of those types of posts. I love getting a peek into other peoples' lives. Perhaps that's the Nancy Drew in me, ha!

So because the said photos do not exist, I thought it would be cool to give you a glimpse of what our day usually looks like. I say "usually" because we all know that life throws us curveballs and our days don't always look the same. And some days I really do just throw it all out the window and fly by the seat of my pants. There's the occasional doctor appointment or whatever and we do naps in the car and run around town. Usually on Joshua's days off, we like to be really active and so that's usually how our days go. But for us, personally, those days end up being the harder days. Way harder. The days I am literally looking at the clock and wondering when it's bedtime! For our family, things go way better and way easier with a flexible, daily routine. I don't like the word "schedule" because it sounds very boxed in, but I guess you could say we do a flexible one-- I don't live by the clock but I do find that the same pattern happens in my child day after day after day. She is a happier, easier baby when this happens. And also, a routine works better for us because my husband has a very weird, up and down schedule (shift work). This helps us plan our days and know what to expect (and I know that Eden rests secure because she knows what to expect, too). If my husband worked at home or had a more flexible work schedule, things would probably look different for us. That being said, this is what our usual days looks like:

6:30-7 AM: Usually Eden wakes up around this time. I pull her out of the crib and it's honestly my favorite part of the day. She's so giggly and happy. I give her some kisses, bounce her on my hip and we head into my bedroom where I nurse her and sing to her.

7-9 AM ish: I make a pot of coffee, Eden plays on the floor with Hartley. They will usually sit and read books and play with toys together, I kid you not. Those two are two peas in a pod. Hartley is actually helping Eden learn to crawl! He'll snatch her little plastic ball from her and go and hide it and then she starts scooting around looking for it! Yikes, I'm in for it! While the coffee is brewing, I usually will take Eden and put her in the high chair and she'll have some solid foods (yogurt, bits of bagel, pureed veggies/fruits, etc). Usually there's a diaper change and then there's more play time together, or some independent playtime while I throw a load of laundry in or whatever. I also enjoy going on a walk in the morning while it's still cool out. We live about 1/4 mile from a great park with swings and so I try to get over there at least a few times a week. Usually around 9ish, Eden will start getting red-rimmed eyes (my sign that she's tired) and I'll grab her pacifier and her blanket and she'll put her head on my shoulder. I'll head upstairs, lay her down in the crib and turn on the sound machine.

9-10:30/11ish: Eden naps. I'll read my Bible, do my devotional, and do my daily floor sweep/vacuum (this has to be done almost daily thanks to having a dog that sheds), perhaps do an exercise DVD (although I've been pretty bad lately), sip some more coffee and do a project of some sort (pay bills, send letters, return emails, blah blah blah).

11ish: Eden wakes and I feed her again upstairs and then return downstairs for some more finger foods. Then we'll head out of the house-- whether that's to run errands at Wal-Mart/Target, go to Costo, go to storytime at the library or you name it. We usually go to storytime twice a week, and I try to go to the farmer's market at least once. On Sundays, we have church during this time. I'll usually head back around 12:30 ish on the days that I do head out of the house in order to get home in time for me to make lunch, etc. Usually Eden is starting to get tired again and she's usually back in her room for her last nap of the day around 1/1:30 PM.

1-3 PM: Nap #2 Usually I try to re-charge during this time. Either I'll try to take a nap myself (pretty much impossible), watch mindless tv, look at blogs, read books/magazines, or organize (read my post yesterday-- I love to organize). I try to avoid doing anything like deep cleaning or being overly-productive during this time. I've found that I'm a much better mama when I'm a well-rested mama.

3 PMish: Feed again upstairs and head back downstairs for solids. Now that she's up for the rest of the day, I'll usually head into the city if I need to run errands, head to a girlfriend's house for the afternoon or do something else that involves me getting out of the house. I do have days where I stay home all day, but I really try to get out for at least a walk with Eden on the days that I do that. I find myself even more productive at home if I've at least gotten out of the house for a little bit. Otherwise, I feel even more lazy and tired, weird huh?!

If we're at home, Eden loves to play in her Johnny-Jump-Up, jump in the Baby Einstein jumper, swing outside in her swing, or move around on the floor playing with books, light up toys, etc. Sometimes she'll sit on the floor while I put away laundry or sit outside in the jumper while I pick up the garage or car. These are just some examples, of course every day is different. Usually around 6:30 PM we're starting the bedtime routine for the night... I only do baths once or twice a week (call me lazy, but Eden's skin gets too dry & she's not mobile enough yet to warrant really being dirty). We put on PJ's, read a few books, turn on the sound machine, turn the lights off and do a last nursing session. Usually she falls asleep (this is the feeding she nurses at the longest) and I unlatch her, put the pacifier in her mouth and place her in the crib. I love to say "Dream big" as I kiss her goodnight. Usually I'll stare at her for a minute or two... okay, maybe sometimes 15 ;) And many, many times... she'll stay in my arms and I'll just rock and sing to her.

The next day comes and we'll do it all over again... phewwww!

10 Things That Make Me Happy

2013-05-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Day 14 of the Blog Everyday in May challenge: 10 Things That Make You Happy
Just a little list of some current and past favorites!

source

Being with my family // This one is a no-brainer. There is nothing more special to me than the moments I find myself giggling with my handsome husband and sweet baby girl on the floor in our home while we're playing with toys or just having fun somewhere together. As long as we're together, we're happy. It's only taken me a few days while Joshua is away on this trip for me to realize just how much I really LOVE being with him! This is why time apart is so crucial for marriages! ;) It really does make you appreciate one another. Miss you, Joshua!

When Eden naps longer than normal // Because let's face it, motherhood is exhausting and beautifully rewarding all wrapped up in one lovely package but rest is much needed for us mamas! I've been blessed with a wonderful sleeper from the start, but there's nothing better than when she takes a little longer on that nap ;)

Red wine, especially any kind of Syrah // I really enjoy unwinding at the end of the day with an occasional glass of wine. I don't do it often, but sometimes it just really hits the spot! I love red wine and now that summer is almost here, I look forward to some summer nights with a good book and a glass of it out on our porch!

Strawberries with Bisquick biscuits // I had never had Bisquick biscuits until I met my husband, but man they are so good (and probably horrible for me, I refuse to look at the fat content, ha!). I'm on such a strawberry kick right now and I am really enjoying these two fused together. Yum!

Open, blue sky with lots of space // Moving out to Arizona was so good for my soul on many levels, one of them being the need for space. I absolutely love how much room to breathe there is here. I rarely feel like I am in a concrete jungle, and I love that. I appreciate that I can drive only a few miles outside of our neighborhood and there is nothing but space for us to roam. The sky here is amazing and the clouds are gorgeous almost daily.
And nothing is more beautiful than an Arizona sunset!

Organizing // I love organizing and always have. It's a huge stress reliever for me, and oddly enough, I find myself frequently doing some project around the house that involves organizing or beautifying an area of my home, whether that's cleaning out our closest or organizing paperwork in the office. I love knowing where things are and that they'll be there when I need it. Moving into a new home and having a baby only a few months later was really a stretch for me because a little one came into our lives before I felt really "settled" here but it's been good for me! Now that the dust has settled, I'm enjoying getting settled here and making each room organized.

Being outdoors // My parents are instrumental in shaping this aspect of my personality but I have to be outdoors at least sometime during the day or else I go crazy! I have a lot of respect for moms who do it in cold climates where making that happen doesn't always work out. I love hiking, sailing, being on water, and just being outside in general-- even if that means walking around an outdoor mall. It's so good for the soul!

Finding a good deal // I thrive on a good deal and I swear it actually energizes me, ha! There's nothing better than the end aisles at Target with the little red "Clearance" tags, can I get an amen?! ;) Joshua and I are really different in this area-- he'd rather save for a more expensive, high quality item and I'd rather just get what works, pay less & have money left over for something more! I see pros and cons to both sides for sure.

Being a homemaker // I've always wanted to be a wife and mom and there's nothing more that I enjoy than running my household and taking care of my family. While I do believe that women can "do it all," I believe that I am a better wife and mom by not working. This is such a personal thing, but this is my "job" and I feel like I can do it well because I have the time to do so. I take great pride in watching my home thrive and watching my husband eat good meals that I've taken the time to plan and prepare. It just works better for us on many levels. I have tremendous respect for women who can do both.

Setting goals and reaching them // I love "to-do lists" and making goals and achieving them. It's such a gratifying feeling for me to see them checked off and accomplished! I would love to learn to run and although it's so intimidating to me, I'd love to have that become a part of my daily lifestyle. Some goals that I've set this year included starting to juice fresh vegetables and I have really enjoyed that so far! Another goal is to continue exclusively breast feeding for at least a year, and as of today we are 9 months going, so we're almost there! Wish us luck ;)

What are some things that make you happy?

What I Miss [A Day Late]

2013-05-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

source

Dressing up every day for work! I never thought I'd say that but I really miss looking cute and wearing heels and using purses (not diaper bags, ha!) for work! I find that dressing up here in AZ is a rarity-- no one does it and when you see a girl at Target in heels it looks oddly out-of-place. The dress code here is shorts, tees, and sundresses with cute sandals. I want to get more intentional about going on dates with Joshua that require dressing up a bit-- we both really enjoy it when we do! I will say that I do try my best to get out of my PJ's and into something cute for the day-- it really helps motivate me and shape my day. But heels! Oh I miss you!

I really miss being pregnant. I wouldn't trade having Eden in my arms right now for anything, but there is something completely surreal about having a little one grow and develop in your belly. Towards the end of labor, Eden's heartbeat dropped really low and it got scary there for a second. I realized how much I loved having her in me. Before long, she would be in the world and never again just safe inside of me for only me to carry. I honestly cried at the thought of not being pregnant anymore. The nurse told me she had never heard a woman in labor cry about that before, haha!

The beach. I miss living within a 20 minute drive to sand, crashing waves and sunsets over the Pacific. I have absolutely no desire to move but I do miss having that place where I can go that soothes my soul like the ocean does. I have yet to have a "place" here where I can go and reflect like I did back home at some secret places I knew about. I need to find somewhere here!

My husband! This one is a no-brainer. It's only been a few days and my heart already aches for him! He helped make my first Mother's Day so special, including a card with Eden's handprints painted on the inside. Little thoughtful things like that make me feel like the most blessed woman alive!

Crazy Bowls & Wraps-- a restaurant in San Diego (I'm sure they have places all over, but they don't have them here) that offers sit down/to-go healthy meals like wraps with quinoa and hummus and all these tasty goodness wrapped up in a wrap or bowl, oh my! Finding healthy options here is like finding a needle in a haystack, oy!

Mother's Day

2013-05-12T02:30:00.000-07:00

^^ my momma :)

Happy Mother's Day to all of you beautiful mamas out there!
Today we celebrate you! Any woman that can get through labor deserves a day of sleeping in, endless chocolate devouring and perhaps a glass of wine or two so hopefully you get spoiled rotten today ;)

We celebrated Mother's Day yesterday. Joshua took me to lunch with Eden and we enjoyed our morning together-- a little bittersweet since it was his last day with us before he left for 7 weeks (we'll see him in 4) but we savored every minute of being together. My mom and I were able to go to dinner with Eden and that was so wonderful! I miss spending time with my mom so much. What a treat to have her here for Mother's Day!

My parents left this morning for their trip back home and Joshua is gone... so today I will be alone on Mother's Day with just my little sweet pea! I think we will go on a picnic after church or perhaps we'll go get some gelato and spoil ourselves! :) I am so thrilled that I get to spend each second with her, just savoring her and taking her in-- the precious one that made me a momma :)
What a privilege and joy it is to be a mother!

Happy Mother's Day to you all, and a very happy Mother's Day to my incredible mom-- thank you for being my biggest cheerleader and for always believing in me and loving me! You are an incredible mother and I hope I can be half the mom you are! Love you! xo

Ten

2013-05-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

Today's challenge is to sell yourself in "10 Words or Less." I guess these words accurately describe me.
I'm sure other people would describe me differently, however this is how I see myself currently :)

Communicative
Passionate
Harmonizer
Musical
Focused
Organized
Planner
Realist
Bubbly
People-lover

How would you describe yourself in ten words or less?

A Moment in My Day

2013-05-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

Day 8 in the May Blog A Day challenge: A Moment in Your Day

There are so many beautiful moments in my day, but there are a few I wanted to specifically document today.

Yesterday, we went up into the city and grabbed a tasty late lunch and a bite of gelato. There was this awesome moment where we all gathered in the store's mirror and captured a few photos of us all together. Having my parents here has just been wonderful- I love them so!

And speaking of food, we ate dinner out on our patio two nights ago and it was the perfect Spring, soon-to-be-summer evening. We made burritos and quinoa salad and enjoyed some beers outside. Can't get better than that.

Joshua recently put up a swing in our backyard for Eden. She absolutely loves it. I love watching her kick her legs in delight and scrunch up her nose and share her little grin for us when she realizes she's moving back and forth in the wind.

These have been some great recent moments. I think I'm subconsciously savoring them all before both my husband and parents leave for their trips. Soon enough I know it will be very, very quiet around here with the exception of a little one who has really found her voice (shrieks, screams and everything) and who is wanting to move everywhere. Someone hold me ;)

Speak Now

2013-05-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

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What I'm Most Afraid Of

2013-05-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving 2012

Before I became a mom, I was never afraid of death. It wasn't something I thought about, and it's something that I never worried about. Joshua and I would have long talks about it and we always said we would want the other person to move on, find love again, and live a happy life.

But then I became a mom, and death now speaks a whole new name. It means I would leave my child motherless,
and my husband to raise our daughter alone.

Death of my husband also takes on a whole new meaning. It would leave me alone in this big world to raise our daughter. It would mean I would most likely eventually have to learn to find love again, and my heart doesn't even think I could do that. I would, most definitely, compare every single person to him, I'm afraid.

I know death is inevitable and I know where I would go and where Joshua would go if it happened. But it freaks me out and it freaks me out way more now. I'm so thankful that I can put my trust in a God who knows how many days I'll have to live and who knows how many hairs are on my head.

Sorry for such a morbid post, but this is the honest answer to this question :)

What are you most afraid of?

A Job Called Momma

2013-05-07T15:48:00.000-07:00

I didn't get around to blogging yesterday because my parents came in for the week and the day slipped away from me! I'm still going to do my best to blog every day this week, but we'll see how it goes :) Yesterday's post was to write about what you "do." This is such a loaded question because I still feel like I'm figuring it all out as a new mom. I've talked about identity before on this blog and it's still something that I struggle with. There is so much I'd love to do, but I know it's just not the season right now. My calling right now is to be home with my little love and that's pretty much the best thing I could have ever asked for anyway. Not a day goes by that I do not feel overwhelmed with thankfulness that I get to enjoy and savor her every single day. I feel like I have been there for it all; I haven't missed a beat. I know this is time that I can't get back and I cherish every single waking minute of it (even though it can be very exhausting!). There really is no better calling than to be a momma. Add "heart-protector," "boo-boo kisser," and "milk giver" to my resume`. It's the best job ever.

A Girl By the Name of Ruthie Hart

2013-05-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

Today's challenge is to write about a blogger you adore. This was overwhelming at first, because there are truly so many incredible women that I have met since I started blogging almost two years ago. I wanted to write about each specific person, but there is only one person I can talk about today-- one incredible woman that immediately popped to my mind when I saw this prompt. We might not talk all the time, and there are seasons in our communication that lapse where we don't talk as much or we talk a lot, but I have a special connection-- one might call it a kindred spirit friendship-- with a sweet, Texan girl name Ruthie Hart.

Ruthie's blog was one of the first that I discovered when I ventured into "Christian" blogs. Before that, I read strictly home decor, photography and graphic design blogs. I didn't really even know that Christian blogs or mommy blogs existed until one click turned into another and I found myself in this glorious community of other women that loved Jesus. I remember being somewhat intimidated by Ruthie: she was GORGEOUS, she had the cutest little newlywed marriage (her and Jon had only been married 5 months at the time), she had a ton of friends, a family that got to spend a lot of time together and all of them lived close by, she seemed to know everyone in the blog community, and she was passionate about God and loving people well. Oh, and she lived in Austin and I'm super jealous of anyone that lives there because it looks downright amazing! :)

On December 1st, 2011, Ruthie wrote a blog post on the topic of fear. It spoke to me so much, because at that time I was really struggling with a fear of not being able to get pregnant. You know when you want something so bad your mind just starts going to unhealthy places? Well, that was that season of my life. I was back home in San Diego that day, sitting in my car waiting to meet a girlfriend for lunch. I was a little early, so I thought I'd catch up on some blog reading. I read that post and it left me with so much peace. I commented on Ruthie's blog post at 12:38 PM, met my friend for lunch at 12:45 and around 2 PM that day I found out I was preg nant (crazy!).

Ruthie and her husband, Jon, were so faithful in praying for my pregnancy. She would send me thoughtful texts or emails during the first trimester, when you're filled with worry about miscarrying, just letting me know they were praying for us. She handmade the most adorable headbands and hair clips for Eden, and sent out an adorable onesie for her. Ruthie just has a huge heart.

On Monday morning, August 13th, when I was headed to the hospital to give birth, I got a text from Ruthie just telling me it was all going to be okay and that soon I would be meeting my baby girl. She sent prayers and encouragement. She's just that kind of person. I remember her text like it was yesterday.

This past Christmas, I got a text from Ruthie with a sonogram picture that said "Merry Christmas!" It was one of those days that I left my phone upstairs and forgot about it and I couldn't believe something that exciting was waiting upstairs for me to discover! It made my whole Christmas, which was Eden's 1st and already so special. Ruthie and Jon were having a baby! The due date? August 5th, 2013. I had the same due date with Eden! Ruthie and I will always share a special date in August 5th, knowing that both our babies were being knit by God in our wombs, exactly one year apart.

Next March, Ruthie and I will finally get to meet at the HopeSpoken conference in Dallas! I can't wait to hug her and stay up late at night in our hotel room eating junk food and chatting to our hearts' content! Love you, Ruthie, and I thank God for you. I can not wait to watch you become a mama! xo

All photos via Ruthie's blog "The Chronicles of Ruthie Hart"

The Harmony Debate

2013-05-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

I'm writing a blog post every single day in the month of May! If you are interested, you can find more about it here. I'm a little behind, but in an attempt to get caught up, I thought I'd merge day #2 (something I am good at) and #3 (something that makes me uncomfortable) together since they oddly go together for me. I jumped to the fourth prompt before publishing this post but anyhoo, I should be caught up now! Thanks for bearing with me! :)

photo credit

I love personality tests. There are some things in life that get me SUPER excited, and oddly enough, getting surveyed about my passions and weakness only to discover more about myself is just incredibly fascinating to me! Back in our early dating days, Joshua and I went to an incredible church in San Diego called "Fl ood." It was a non-denominational church that had a strong emphasis on creativity-- developing our unique characteristics for God's glory and using them to our full potential to strengthen the church body and share the love of Christ. I loved Sunday night worship, where they would bring an artist on stage to paint while the music played. Or the nights where they would have several "stations" around the building where you could go to during worship to write out your thoughts on paper and just sit in a quiet room with candles or paint or sketch or just pray by yourself. There were so many creative people in our church and it never ceased to amaze me to see all of the talents God had given to each person in our church family.

During one special weekend, our church hosted a conference based on the book "Now Di scover Your Streng ths." Now if you've never heard of this book, you need to read it pronto. All of us were quizzed (also quizzed on the Myer-Briggs perso nality traits) and put into groups based on our unique personality traits. We spent the weekend diving into how we could eventually use our unique giftings-- for both work and serving in church-- for God's glory. I learned SO much about myself that weekend. I remember thinking, "Oh my gosh! This is what makes me tick! This is what makes me energized! This is what makes me happy!" There I was on paper. It was like I had finally figured out who I was-- all the pieces of me that make me unique and all my own.

And that weekend I learned that I love harmony. I love order, structure, peace and lack of conflict in my life. Out of all of the "themes ," a theme of "harmony" was my most strong. Next in order were the following (I wrote about this in late 2011 here):

My strengths, in order:

Harmony: People strong in the Harmony theme look for consensus. They don't enjoy conflict; rather, they seek areas of agreement.
Consistency: People strong in the Consistency theme are keenly aware of the need to treat people the same. They try to treat everyone in the world fairly by setting up clear rules and adhering to them.
Achiever: People strong in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.
Focus: People strong in the Focus theme can take a direction, follow through, and make the corrections necessary to stay on track. They prioritize, then act.
Futuristic: People strong in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.

And my Myer Briggs personality traits:

ESFJ

E= Extroverted

S= Sensing
F= Feeling

J= Judgment

ESFJ Personality

Warmhearted, conscientious, and cooperative. Want harmony in their environment, work with determination to establish it. Like to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time. Loyal, follow through even in small matters. Notice what others need in their day-by-day lives and try to provide it. Want to be appreciated for who they are and for what they contribute.

All of this, this is so "me." It was like opening a door into my heart when I discovered this all. That being said, something I am really good at and could identity within myself and yet didn't know just "what" it was, is keeping the peace. Sometimes I struggle with wondering if it comes across occasionally as "fake," as that is the very last thing I would ever want to be perceived as. In a room full of people, I have a way of knowing who is comfortable, and who is not, and can make that uncomfortable person feel welcomed. I've always heard it over the years, "You made me feel comfortable." I believe it is one of my spiritual gifts-- the gift of hospitality, of warmth, of the ability to see and read this in others. I can always tell when a conversation is steering down an uncomfortable road and have a knack of turning it around so we don't go into "that" territory. The other part of all this... is what is it that makes me uncomfortable? There is nothing more that makes me squirm than when people start debating with one another. Especially amongst people I love. I can not watch debates on the news and I can not sit in a book club and argue back and forth about various topics. I respect people that can. It is just not my gifting. I have, however, become more vocal over the last couple of years about standing up for what I believe in so I am not passive all together. I just have a hard time watching people start to get mean spirited about things that don't seem to build and encourage one another up. It makes me clam up. I love learning to focus on our strengths rather than our weaknesses! Not only is it so positive, but it helps us learn where to put our time and efforts (in my case, working with babies in nursery, being a greeter at church, organizing events, etc).

What is something you're good at?
What is something that makes you uncomfortable?

Attitude is Everything

2013-05-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

If you've read this blog here for more than a hot minute, you know that this blog originally started as a way for me to document our journey from leaving our hometown of San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ, in April 2011-- a place where we knew very little people, where we had no idea what to expect, etc. I went from big city, to small. From a city with a ton to do, to one that is more limited. I went from green, lush scenery and gorgeous beaches to open sky, a dry climate, incredible sunsets and lots of brown dirt. Both are drastically different but both contain lots of beauty that is unique to it. I've learned over the last 2 years to stop comparing the two and just embrace them as such: they are different. I've also learned that you can complain every single day about what you see that you do not like, or you can make the best of any situation in life and see the beauty in it. Do you see that blog title? Um, yeah. This is one of my most favorite quotes (I have a lot of them). It sums up everything so perfectly! Almost all of life can be summed up with a mental choice: make it good or make it bad. It's up to us!

“The longer I love, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church....a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes." - Charles Swindoll

The Story of My Life (In One Paragraph)

2013-05-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

(My girlfriend Jen posted on Facebook a few days ago that she was embarking upon a challenge to blog every single day in the month of May. I literally laughed out loud when I read it, not because of Jen's desire to attempt to do so, but because I thought how unattainable that seemed to me-- a busy mom, wife, and soon-to-be-alone-for-7-weeks-straight-managing-house-and-home-and-baby-by-myself-girl. I immediately dismissed it, and then I thought a lot about it. I'm going to do it. I'm a little behind, so I'll be playing catch up just a bit until I get caught up. If you don't want to hear from me every day, you'll just have to deal ;) I'm hoping that writing prompts will help refuel my passion for writing and blogging. Sometimes we just need to get started... here we go!)

How does one sum up the story of their life in one small, miniscule paragraph? This one simple task just might be the most daunting one of them all. I am a 28 year old girl who grew up in sunny, beautiful San Diego. I was born on a windy Tuesday, and according to my dad, the surf was great and the weather was moody. Phil Collins was playing on the radio when I entered the world. To this day, his music is one of the most nostalgic things I can hear. Speaking of music, it's a huge part of my life and always will be. I've played the piano since I was a little girl. I touched a friend's keyboard on a camping trip and I couldn't get the passion for it out of my soul. I also learned the cello, but I never had the same passion for it that I did for piano. I asked Jesus into my heart when I was 4 years old, at my Christian pre-school. Both my parents were unbelievers but it didn't take long after me coming home singing songs about Jesus and telling my stories of His love that they started asking their own questions and came believers, too. I fell in love with the little boy across the street and we were childhood sweethearts until I was 18 years old. He broke my heart when he told me he wanted to pursue a career in politics and claimed I wasn't quite "smart or good enough" to join him along in his journey. He dumped me over Spring Break of 2004 and just one week later I met my incredible, future husband sitting next to me in the movie theater at the movie "The Passion of the Christ." We were friends over the summer and started dating that fall, and enjoyed two wonderful years of dating before we got engaged on the top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla, CA, on our 2 anniversary. Exactly 3 months later, we got married in beautiful Coronado, CA, and spent our first 4 years of marriage in San Diego before we relocated to Tucson, AZ. I found out I was pregnant in December 2011 and we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Eden Grace, into the world on August 14, 2012. She's changed our world in more ways than we could have ever imagined. There are a lot of other little facts I could say here, of accomplishments and education and passions and whatnot, but my life is pretty simple and there is nothing more that I love than my family and people. Nothing matters more than investing in them and there is nothing I feel like I was made to do more than be a wife and mom. Everything else just drastically fades in comparison.
I love life and it is so, so beautifully good.

8 Months!

2013-04-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

Our little sweet pea is 8 months old! Where is the time going!? I know that sounds so cliche` but it's so true how fast time goes when you become a mommy. I truly feel like I've been able to relish every single day, though, and for that I'm so thankful. I feel so blessed to have the privilege of being home with this munchkin every day. I do laugh sometimes at the title "stay-at-home-mom," though! We are rarely, except for nap times, at home. We're on the go so much lately! I love getting to experience life through my little one's eyes whether that be during worship at church on Sunday, at the Wednesday farmer's market, or on evening walks with Joshua.

At 8 months, Eden is:

- Crawling backwards :)

- Clapping her hands on demand
- Giving high-fives!
- Super smiley
- Has 6 teeth with one more coming in
- Sleeping 12 hours a night and is taking 2, 2/2.5 hour naps a day
- Loves story/music time at the library
- Is an attention grabber at Target
- Loves sitting on the floor and playing with her toys with Hartley
- Loves anything that lights up and makes sound
- Currently takes headbands and clips out of her hair (boo!)

- Is starting to experience separation anxiety
- Has been babysat by her first non-family member, Ashley, and did great while we enjoyed a date night
- Says "mama" and "dadda"
- Is obsessed with tags, zippers, my iPhone, and anything interesting looking
- Loves to be outside watching birds, dogs and trees
- Loves going on walks and swinging in the swings
- Is an incredibly easy baby (except when cutting a tooth, ha)

Happy 8 months, sweet baby girl! You are crazy loved! xo

Life Lately, via my iPhone

2013-04-23T02:30:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a couple of weeks. I feel like my phone has been going off constantly with CNN alerts with major things going on in our world. From the Boston bombings to the blast in Texas to the snowboarders getting killed in the Colorado avalanche, it's been just plain wild. It's in times like these that I long for heaven and my heart gets overwhelmed about raising a child in this world. But it's then that I have to trust that God is a big God and He has all things in control. It's such a comforting thing to be a believer and to know that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28).

But in addition to all of the craziness this week, we got some really awesome news that will change our life quite a bit (not a baby, calm down). Joshua has been applying for a specific position at work for quite awhile now and this time he was asked for a second interview and then he was notified last Thursday that he got the position! This will mean that he has to leave us for 7 weeks during mid-May through the end of June for training. But the good thing is that, although it's out-of-state, it's only a 4 hour drive and he will be put up in a hotel so I can visit a few times. It's going to be quite an interesting year to say the least as we transition with this new position, but we don't have to move and it's a huge answer to prayer so we are ecstatic! And Joshua is just over the moon. This is what he has specifically wanted to do in his career so what more can you ask for?! :) Now wish me luck as I hold down this fort by myself for 7 weeks! I'm starting to get a little overwhelmed already.

// some new books
// eden wearing my romper from 1985 :)

// me and my girl
// beautiful flowers we found while out on a walk
// eden's dedication at church-- what an emotional day!
// what girl doesn't love target?!
// storytime at the library with eden's friend eli
// my two loves
// me and my girl at the park
// on a sunday morning walk before church
// giggles in the mirror
// outfit for the zoo

Super Easy Garlic Chicken Recipe

2013-04-22T03:30:00.000-07:00

+ 4, skinless boneless chicken breast halves (sorry but raw chicken is too gross to photograph and I refuse to do it)

Directions

// Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

// Warm the garlic + olive oil. In a separate dish, combine the bread crumbs + Parmesan cheese.
Dip the chicken breasts in the olive oil + garlic mixture, then into the bread crumb mixture. Place in a shallow baking dish.

// Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

So easy and tasty! My hubby keeps asking for this one for dinner :) Enjoy! xo

Find more of my pinned recipes here!

eden goes to the zoo!

2013-04-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

joshua had the day off on monday and so we decided to take a trip to the zoo!

it was our first time to our new city's zoo and although nothing will quite top the san diego zoo back home, we did have a wonderful time. the ticket prices were about 80% cheaper so we'll take that and run with it :) eden had a great time seeing all the different animals. i know she's still so young but i really do believe babies are like sponges and being introduced to all of this stuff just excites her senses and gets her all bright-eyed! i love seeing life through my baby girl's eyes. and holding hands throughout the zoo with her super cute daddy ain't so bad, either ;)

the house that built me

2013-04-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

San Diego, CA

a few days ago, someone asked me where my parents lived.

i choked back tears when i told them. when i told them that they live far, far away and no longer somewhere quickly accessible for me to get to.

this is a huge part of my life that i've pushed away into a dark, back burner of my mind and have been unwilling to accept: my parents sold, and therefore no longer live, in my childhood home.

in december, they put it on the market at 8 PM on a friday night and by 8 the next morning, it was in escrow. 12 short hours. 12 short hours that i can still barely wrap my mind around. 12 short hours that literally changed everything.

so my dad retired and they sold the house and they moved down to puerto vallarta, mexico. this quaint little city has always been a cherished one for our family over the years, and it makes my heart happy to see my parents so happy down there, enjoying sunshine, the beach and new friends.

so don't get me wrong. i'm ectatic for my parents. it's time for them to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

but i just miss them.

i miss our family.

i miss the memories.

i miss the familiarity that exists when you're with your family.

i miss going back to san diego and finding my way back to their doorstep.

i know so much has changed over the years anyway, that we lived a state apart and that we had come to terms with seeing one another every couple of months or so. but i miss them close, and it makes me so sad that they don't get to see our baby girl grow up. i miss being able to get in the car and see them in 5 hours if i wanted to.

i guess i didn't realize how much i hadn't grieved this huge part of change in my life until i was asked those words the other day, "where does your family live?" it pierced like daggers to my heart. we're all spread out now. and it's okay.

sorry for the total downer here, but tonight i've come to terms with it, almost 4 months later. and this simple act of writing and letting it go is almost like setting fire to chinese paper lanterns that are floating out in the night sky. goodnight.

//

"I thought if I could touch this place or feel it... This brokenness inside me might start healing... Out here, it's like I'm someone else-- I thought that maybe I could find myself. If I could just come in, I swear I'll leave... Won't take nothing but a memory, from the house that built me." Miranda Lambert

Scenes from Easter, Almost 2 Weeks Later

2013-04-11T03:30:00.000-07:00

Well, better late than never, right? I've been bad about blogging consistently but that's just life. My little Eden and Joshua will always come first and sometimes finding time to blog at the end of the day just goes plain straight out the window! I'm okay with that. Or I should say-- I'm growing to be okay with that. I miss blogging so much. It is such an outlet for me! Hopefully I will be able to find a balance soon. Haven't I been saying that for almost 8 months now? ;)

Anyways, here are some pictures from our very first Easter with our little muchkin! What joy she brings to our life! Holidays are SO much better with a little one! Seeing things through their eyes is just plain magical. I was having too much fun to take good pictures and I promise that Joshua was there with us. I'm so bummed we didn't get a family photo :(

This was the first holiday here in Arizona since we moved (almost 2 years ago) that I thoroughly enjoyed. I feel like we have finally found community here. We spent the morning at church and headed out to our friends' parents' house in the afternoon for a BBQ and Easter egg hunt for the kiddos. We had such a lovely time! If only we could have had our own families there, it would have been perfect. Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

My in-laws just took off after a short 4-day visit here so once things settle down a bit I hope to return to blogging more consistently... knock on wood!

(Eden's new toy that was part of her Easter basket)

5 Current Loves

2013-04-10T10:24:00.000-07:00

This adorable tutorial for making your very own beanie for your little one using nothing but an old recycled t-shirt!

I love Naomi's transparency in this post. Motherhood is a beautiful thing but it's also the hardest job in the world. Usually we just get a "pretty" side of it when we glimpse into others' blogs, but this post just made me feel a little bit more normal. It's okay to "off" days.

I still can't believe one of my blog bestie's is having a BABY! This post has had me smiling for a few weeks now!

I also loved this beautifully refreshing post from Kelle Hampton about a funny incident that happened to her over the weekend with her kids. Kelle's blog is so beautiful! I especially love the hand-drawn picture in the post ;)

I'm pretty much obsessed with these sandals. They were on sale a few weeks ago and I bought a few in different colors. They were comfortable off the bat and they are a cuter take on the traditional flip flop. A girl can never have enough sandals in her wardrobe! I am loving this beautiful Arizona weather we are having lately!

Omega Juicer Giveaway! Say What!?!

2013-04-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to give to start the week off with a fun giveaway for you all! I've collaborated with a group of fabulous bloggers to bless you all with an Omega J8004 Nutrition Center!

Not into juicing you say? What about making fresh salsa, homemade pasta or your own peanut butter? The possibilities are endless with this little gem and can't imagine a more perfect prize as we are entering the season of fresh produce and veggies!

I actually saved up some giftcards from my birthday and FINALLY bought my juicer and I am loving it so far! My parents have always been super into juicing and I've seen it change their lives and figured it was about time I did the same! It's amazing how a glass of it in the morning can keep me full for a long time! So now I'm super passionate about this giveaway because now one of you can enjoy the full benefits of juicing as well! And look at all that this thing can do (homemade pasta, what!?!)!!

mandatory entry: leave a comment below letting us know a meal or dish you prepared that didn't turned out as planned.
(basically a recipe you butchered or one that left you disappointed)

for EASY additional entries: use the rafflecopter below!
(additional entries are a great way to increase your chances of winning this awesome prize)

take the cannoli // the vanilla tulip // bits of splendor

take heart // a little artsy // from the natos

living in yellow // wild and precious // coconut robot

the style hatch // the honey pot // finding beauty in the ordinary

my little mustache // life chasers // cupcakeMag

a Rafflecopter giveaway