meme and he

maggie and dan come to town

2015-03-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

My baby sister Maggie and her boyfriend Dan have spent the last week with us, and it has been so much fun exploring our part of Pennsylvania with them. Maggie lived with us a few years back, so it was fun for her to show Dan her old stomping grounds. They spent a day hiking, a day in Gettysburg, eating crepes and thrifting in a nearby town, and hitting up a few favorite restaurants. Kenzie grew to love having them around and called them "Dam" and "Mana", and she cried when they said goodbye. Thankful for the time spent together and the new memories made!

Gettysburg was windy. So.

Abe couldn't find the camera. Hardy Har.

come back soon, little lovebirds!

11/52

2015-03-19T10:44:00.000-04:00

mckenzie // exploring Gettysburg on foot, always insisting she walks everywhere

family session

2015-03-18T13:50:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago we had family photos done by Marti Aiken, and we just got the pictures back and love them! She did a great job capturing our little family, especially in the freezing cold and with a child that doesn't warm up to new people quickly. I know these photos only capture a small moment in our life, but that makes them all the more special and I will treasure them forever. Here are just a few of my favorites.

private

2015-03-16T14:44:00.000-04:00

I have decided to make my blog private. This is something I have been thinking about for a while, and it finally feels like the right time and the right decision.

The internet is a funny thing...it can feel both personal and enormous all at once. But as I get older and grow a family and share about the details of our life, I would like to have a bit more awareness of who I am posting these photos and words for, and who is following along. This certainly isn't coming from a egotistical place, thinking too many people want to know the exciting details of my life! Can't control the masses! Ha, no. Just another step in my relationship with social media and being more intentional about the way I use it.

I do love this space and the avenue it provides for creativity and documentation of life, and I will continue to post here. I love documenting both the mundane and the exciting bits and pieces of life, and I don't want that to stop. Blogging has never been about the publicity for me, and I actually look forward to sharing life in a more personal setting.

If you are interested in continuing to follow along, please leave a comment with your email or email me at emilyrosedowney@gmail.com and I am happy to share the password with you. There are many people I don't know personally but have met through this crazy blog world, and I would love to continue keeping in touch. I'll be making it private in the next few weeks.

image via

sneaking veggies

2015-03-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

My daughter has this highly unusual habit where she sometimes doesn't like to eat vegetables. Wait, you too? Gone are the simpler days of just throwing the child on the boob and knowing she will always be getting tons of nutrients and will always be eager to eat. We lived that glorious life for about eleven months before she started showing any interest in solid food, and even then I kept up the nursing because it made me feel more justified when I would share my chocolate chip muffin with her in the morning.

Well anyways, we have entered the lifelong battle of the vegetables, and truth be told, Kenzie is a pretty good eater. But I try to sneak in the extra veggies where I can, and I thought I would share a few of my go-to (as in daily) recipes. If you have any tips or suggestions, please share!

And on a related note, if you have any tips on getting your kid to drink milk, please share! Every morning Kenzie asks, "milk? milk?" but when I give it to her she doesn't drink it. She just likes the thrill of getting something she asked for. Anyways. This is unrelated. Onto the recipes.

Approximately 56% of Kenzie's diet is spinach pancakes. She inhales these things at alarming rates. I can't make them fast enough.

1 banana

2 eggs

1 cup spinach leaves

1 tbs ground flax seed

1 tsp vanilla

blend together and prepare just like normal pancakes

Honestly, these can be hit or miss. But they are worth having on hand in case Kenzie decides today is a broccoli day.

1 bag frozen broccoli, steamed and chopped

1/3 cup italian seasoned bread crumbs

2/3 cup shredded cheddar

2 eggs

mix all together and form into balls (the size of cookies) on a foil lined cookie sheet. Cook at 375 for 20-25 minutes, flipping and flattening a bit at 15 minutes. Freeze in a ziplock bag to have on hand.

I always make these for myself, but then Kenzie selfishly hijacks most of them. These are the unseen sacrifices of parents. It's a painful journey.

sweet potato

olive oil

salt and pepper

paprika

Peel and slice sweet potato into thin strips. Toss strips with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Spread onto a foil lined cookie sheet and season with salt, pepper, paprika. Cook at 400 for 15 minutes, toss strips around, and cook another 10-15 minutes.

A few years ago David and I started drinking smoothies every day with our breakfast (with our breakfast, you people who can just drink a smoothie for breakfast and feel full are cray) and now Kenzie is in the same habit! We don't have exact measurements or even stick with the same ingredients all the time, but this particular smoothie is:

1 banana

handful of kale (or spinach)

4-5 peach slices

2 heaping spoonfuls of plain greek yogurt

pinch of flaxseed

4 tbs water

blend until smooth.

Hope this helps! I know some parents love the adventure of figuring out what their child likes to eat and thinking of creative ways to present it. Truly, I would opt for the IV if I had that option, but I don't, so I will slowly navigate this eating thing each day. Thank God for pinterest, is all I'm sayin.

10/52

2015-03-10T13:56:00.000-04:00

kenz // playing peek-a-boo in the clean sheets while she "helps" me make up the guest bed for some exciting visitors this upcoming weekend

homemade edible playdough

2015-03-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

The other day I was searching for some new activities to do with the girls. Winter is long, and things are getting crazy in this small apartment. I wanted to have the girls help me make some playdough, but I knew Kenzie would immediately put it in her mouth. So I came up with this recipe that is safe to eat, salt-free, and actually a bit moisturizing for your hands while you play!

2 cups flour

3 tbs olive oil

1/2 cup water

food coloring of your choice

Mix it all together with your hands! The girls were fascinated by the texture and the different colors. We formed our playdough into snowballs, noodles, pancakes, and lots of other shapes. When you are finished, place each color into an airtight baggie and it will save for a few more days of play.

9/52

2015-03-04T13:28:00.002-05:00

kenzie // wearing the tiniest little ponytails now, which make my heart want to explode

8/52

2015-02-24T08:46:00.000-05:00

kenz // getting so big in my arms but still prefers to be carried everywhere.

an evening outside

2015-02-23T14:24:00.001-05:00

We got more snow this weekend and then Sunday was straight up beach weather. It hit forty degrees! Where's my sunscreen! So we all bundled up and walked Amber to the dog park and played in the snow.

Here we are, at the end of February, and we have finally collected an entire outfit for Kenzie to wear in the snow. We are late to the party, but we are making up for lost time. Our friends just let her borrow these boots, so she can finally stomp around in the snow and not get soaked.

Poor Kenz thought she finally had this walking thing down and then we are like here! walk in this totally uneven unpredictable wet stuff! She quickly decided she preferred sitting down, thank you very much.

Amber being the absolute snow psycho she is. We probably get asked once a week if she is a puppy because she absolutely bounces and prances around in this weather. Nope. She's, like, six. But if you are volunteering to help rid her of some of this energy, then yes please.

obligatory mama-daughter photos, kenzie is looking thrilled about it as always

Kenzie has started to say "Amber come!" which she obviously picked up from us always yelling at our dog to come. Awesome. But it is also the cutest.

And we couldn't leave without a snack of snow! In the dog park! Don't think about it too much!

lately

2015-02-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's still winter. didja know?

and this is how we feel about it.

now that I'm done breastfeeding I can drink ALL THE CAFFEINE. It's another slice of silver lining I've found, and I'm taking it way too far.

lately I've been taking the girls to the library whenever I get the chance because two toddlers stuck inside an apartment all day is no bueno for everyone's sanity. And guys! The library is kind of a cool oasis of stay-at-home moms and dads and their cabin-fevered children! We all sort of sit around and give each other encouraging smiles and hello's while our offspring run wild and free! And yes, that is my daughter chewing on a puppet show stand. I choose my battles and that wasn't one of them.

Kenz is now walking a lot and loves holding my hand. Can I tell you something? This was the baby milestone I was most looking forward to. The hand-holding-and-walking-around milestone. We are there, and it was worth the wait.

And we take lots of baths these days, for which the reason is twofold: one, it is winter and we need more hobbies. two, kenzie has the unfortunate habit of putting all of her food in her hair.

So there it is, all the exciting times we have been having waiting out this overrated winter thing and counting down the days until spring. I promise I'll stop pouting about the weather now.

more snowwww

2015-02-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

I mean, I'm not talking Boston amounts of snow, settle down people. But we have been getting more snow than most winters and it is sticking around for a while! I do love the snow. It makes this whole winter thing a bit more bearable. Most winters, I am that obnoxiously positive person who actually loves winter, but this year...I don't know, you guys, I am ready to sit poolside. I am at least ready to stop putting twelve layers on my child just to run to the car. Oh The Layers. The other morning we were getting a bit crazy in the house and it just looked so beautiful outside...so we bundled up and ventured out. For a few minutes. Let's not get too adventurous, folks. We practiced walking through the snow and touching the snow and eating the snow. It was sort of bright with the sun reflecting off of the snow, as shown on kenzie's face in photo number one. hashtag worth it. I had the high hopes of a miniature snowman being built by Kenz after allll the Olaf books we read. But, nope. Maybe next year. Anyways, snow, you really are beautiful and thanks for coming but you are this close to overstaying your welcome so buh-bye now.

7/52

2015-02-17T11:35:00.000-05:00

mckenzie // loves reading books and will sit in her little chair for a surprising amount of time turning the pages of her picture books

my valentine

2015-02-16T09:32:00.001-05:00

We aren't big into Valentine's Day over here...I guess we've always been a bit cheesed out by the holiday. We went out for breakfast as a family and did a few fun things around home. On Sunday, I snuck out for a few hours to my favorite coffee shop to read and journal (and eat their amazing chocolate chip cookies). My phone dinged and I looked down to see the photo above sent from david. Kenzie has been welcoming a new molar into her poor little mouth and it has been a doozy of a tooth. Her two hour afternoon nap was spent sleeping in david's arms, which I'm sure he didn't mind, but still. It sort of struck me in that moment that I've got quite the guy. The realization came a day after Valentine's Day-the day where I was suppose to realize all that stuff...but all the same, I am grateful for a man who is happy to spend two hours holding a temperamental teething toddler while I go relax by myself at a coffee shop. There are a lot of other reasons I love that man, but that's a big one. He is my valentine. Not just this weekend, but every day of the year.

happy weekending

2015-02-13T14:34:00.000-05:00

...a few photos from our Friday morning around home. It was sunny, the girls were playing so nicely together, so it had to be documented :)

I have never been big into valentines day, but I wanted to do a little craft with the girls and show some holiday spirit, so we made a little garland together.

Weekend plans include knocking off several movies on our must-watch list, a breakfast date, and working our way through some double chocolate chip cookies I accidentally made the other day.

Enjoy yours! xo

6/52

2015-02-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

kenzie // post bath giggles and snuggles. A few weeks ago she went through a big anti-bath phase where she would scream and stand up and reach out to be taken out. We finally figured out that she would do alright if one of us was in the bath with her. What a site to behold, I tell ya. Thankful she seems to be back to her bath-loving self.

this weekend

2015-02-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

This weekend was a good and slow one. It started out with a very sick husband. He hardly ever gets sick so I don't quite know how to handle a sick husband. He took the day off of work on Friday, which I got super excited about because it will feel like the weekend! I said! But it didn't at all. It felt like a regular day except this very sick man was sleeping and puking everywhere. I followed him around all day cleaning up every area he happened to touch/breath on because WE WERE NOT PASSING THIS AROUND THE FAMILY.

He felt better the next day, we think it was food poisoning? Is this all very interesting to you? The weather was milder this weekend so we went outside without coats like crazy people desperate for Spring! It was still, like, in the 30's, but it felt straight up balmy.

So we've covered puking and the weather...obviously a lot of interesting things to discuss...

let's see let's see...I went back to Target after I decided I was breaking up with that money-sucking store. I swear, it is impossible to walk out of there without seven items you did not intend to buy. I had had it! I was done! But the valentine's day dollar section lured me back with their stupid amazing deals and, I just cannot be trusted in that store.

Alright let's end this thing before it goes downhill. A new week. A fresh start. Get out there and make me proud. or something.

saying goodbye to breastfeeding

2015-02-04T08:20:00.000-05:00

I recognize that people have all kinds of opinions on sharing photos of breastfeeding. Well, this post kind of sums up where I fall on that whole spectrum, so. fair warning and stuff! breastfeeding photos galore heading your way in 3-2-1!

Breastfeeding mckenzie is one of the best things I have ever done in my life. Not the most impressive, not the most unique, not the most exciting, but one of the very best.

We had rough beginnings: kenzie being in the NICU and me pumping every three hours and bringing in my milk to see if she would take it from a bottle. And when she was ready to come home, I spent lots of time with the hospital's lactation specialist trying to get a week old baby to transition from bottle to breast. And then the pain. oh, the pain. I dreaded each feeding and cried through the pain of her latching. But when I started to whine about it to david he said, "this isn't something you have to do. There are other ways to feed our baby that are perfectly fine. " And right then and there I made the choice: this is what I want to do.

And it is a sacrifice! Those of you that have nursed know this all too well, but it is endless hours of sitting. And sure, the snuggles and quiet moments are priceless, but it is so time consuming. Especially when it became clear that mckenzie wouldn't take a bottle, that meant it was up to me. And me alone. Every night, it was me that needed to nurse her to sleep. Every morning, it was me that needed to crawl out of bed and nurse her. Even in the middle of the night, though david would try his best (bless that man), it was ultimately me who needed to get up and nurse her back to sleep.

But, goodness, the sweet bond that grew from those hours and hours of cuddling and nursing together. I am eternally grateful I got to experience that for sixteen months. Of course, I was always set on breastfeeding forever. I'll wean her when she leaves for kindergarten! I'd say. If it was working for me and working for her, then why stop? And the end really didn't seem to be in sight. We had settled into our little routine and were both doing fine.

I loved that she was old enough to ask to nurse. There is nothing sweeter than my little daughter crawling over and signing that she would like to snuggle and nurse. And such an easy and natural way to comfort her when she was afraid or hurt. After she would get shots I would immediately nurse her and it helped her so much. If she took a particularly bad tumble I would quickly nurse her. It was such a practical way for me to calm her down and remind her that I am always here. I loved how she would fall asleep nursing. Almost every day before her afternoon nap she would slowly drift off into that hard kind of baby sleep and I would carry her to her crib asleep in my arms.

But she was ready. And I am thankful that she got to make that decision on her own, that it wasn't something I had to choose for her. It was abrupt, which I never would have expected. Literally, from one feeding to the next, her decision was made. I kept offering, I kept pumping, but she knew she was ready to stop and told me no. And after quite some time spent in denial, I let it be what it was. As much as I didn't want to be done, I have always said I want what is best for her. And this was best.

It was really emotional for me. I am sad I didn't know that our last feeding was truly our last feeding. I am sad I don't get to keep nursing her as she continues to grow and become more independent. Although it seems crazy, I am sad I am no longer tied to those nursing times: those were our times. I am sad that the moments I'll get to hold our sleeping baby are probably close to over. I am sad she doesn't need me in that way.

But I am super thankful, too. I am thankful I was able to nurse, and nurse as long as I did. I am thankful Kenzie made nursing relaxing and easy for both of us. And after I get passed some of the sadness and emotion, I am excited for some of the freedom that comes with being done. I feel, in a way, that I have earned that freedom after months and months of sacrifice. Of course, I am not trying to make myself out to be a martyr or anything that dramatic, but there is an overwhelming sense of accomplishment that comes with this end. And rather than looking at it as an ending, I will choose to look at this as the beginning of a new chapter.

And there is always silver lining in everything: David has been putting her to bed each night since she has been done, and he loves it. And she loves it. And I listen to him singing next to her crib and peek on him tucking her in under her blanket. And that is enough for me. This new normal will be okay.

5/52

2015-02-03T08:59:00.000-05:00

kenz // eating her favorite snack of apples with her SEVEN teeth.

4/52

2015-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

mckenzie rose // a true daddy's girl at heart, but even more than that, a daddy that absolutely loves his little girl

outside, right now.

2015-01-26T14:32:00.002-05:00

Today feels heavy like a Monday, amiright? This weekend was a good one, which just makes today feel more monday-ish. I think I am coming down with a case of the winter blues. I love winter and I love staying cozy indoors, but I am starting to get a bit stir crazy. And I can see the pool from our study window as I type this and gosh what I would give to be laying in the sun right now.

Kenzie has been in sort of a funk over the past few days and has been on a nursing strike. It is so unlike her as she has always been President of the I Heart Boobies Club and it has totally thrown me for a loop. Is this the end? I really really really hope not. But all of a sudden it was, "kenz would you like some milk?" and she thought about it for a second and then adamantly shook her head no. And her answer hasn't changed in two days. And the thing is, she has been fine. She has moved on to the activities of her day as if nothing has happened. While I on the other hand, I am a weepy mess. Last night she went to bed without nursing. I sat on the couch and, while pumping, cried like a stupid baby because what about needing me? and cuddling with me all throughout the day? and this thing I can do to sustain you and nurture you? And David held me and told me all the things I needed to hear: "this is probably just a phase, she still needs you in other ways, you have sacrificed so much for her already, think of the freedom that will come if/when she is finished..."
I know its unusual for babies to quit cold turkey and I know this probably is just a short phase...teething or something (isn't it always). But its just emotional and honestly this whole thing is probably colliding with some hard PMS and, well, you know how it is.

But today is a new day and it is snowing outside and it is just beautiful. And gosh darn it if I don't count up my blessings and breath some fresh air and work my way through a batch of brownie batter. Things are looking better already.

3/52

2015-01-21T15:02:00.002-05:00

mckenzie // cautious yet curious about this snow business

a word on marriage

2015-01-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

this photo is from the day we moved into our first apartment. Look at those babies. And I really wish you could look at that apartment, too. $275 a month, so use your imagination. But this really doesn't have anything to do with this post, so let's move on.

Part of me feels silly writing this post, because Lord knows there are enough articles and books and blogs out there about marriage! and how to make it work! and so on and so on. And honestly, David and I both think that marriage is too highly valued in the Christian community. No, not the success of marriage or having a Godly marriage. Please don't get me wrong. But that getting married is this necessary or best decision a person could make. We can get sort of fired up about that, but I am getting off track so I digress. But this topic of marriage has been weighing heavily on my mind lately and I thought I would get a few things down on this blog.

So. Marriage.

David and I have been married for five and a half years, so not exactly veterans by any means, but long enough to be doing something right, I suppose? I mean, here we are, married and stuff, so surely I have something to offer? I thought I would share a few of the most important lessons we have learned since being married. The game-changers. Those things we need.

I guess at this point I will regress to bullet point form because apparently I don't know how to write any other way. College degree right here!

+ Live your marriage in community.
This is #1 in our books. Have friends together. Do things with those friends together. Talk to others about your marriage. Talk to others about your finances, your conflicts, your sex life (gasp!), your hopes and dreams. A few years back we did this really insane thing in one of our small groups. We all shared our finances. And not just the general stuff, but specifics. How much do we make? How much do we give? How much debt do we owe? It was humbling, but one of the best experiences because with that sharing comes accountability. And accountability is everything. Of course, my husband provides great accountability in my life, but that can't be it. I need accountability from other people, david needs accountability from other people, and our marriage needs accountability from other people. You get the point. Marriage isn't meant to be lived between two people alone.

+Find ways to serve together.
Very early on david and I discovered that we connect with God in different ways. It was challenging, because we thought we were suppose to wake up each morning and read the bible together snuggling on the couch. I'm kidding, but we did have a hard time figuring out how to connect with each other spiritually. We sort of had our own things going and that was working for us, but how do we also combine those things? Anyways, serving has been huge for us. We both feel a deep conviction and compassion for the poor in our community, and so right now we have been helping lead an organization at our church that provides shelter/food/transportation for homeless in our area. But even beyond the connection serving provides spiritually, it gets you to think beyond yourselves. Beyond your problems and your drama...it forces you to live in a much bigger world with much bigger problems that maybe you can take part in solving.

+Establish a date night.
This was something we started right away after hearing some advice from an older couple. Wednesday nights are our nights. We always reserve Wednesday nights for us. We rotate who is in charge of planning date night (I hate planning, ohh the pressure). Now that we have a kid, it has changed how date night looks a bit, but we still keep Wednesday nights free as our time. We do lots of simple fun things together: cook dinner, bake cookies, watch a movie (we watch lots of movies), go on a walk...occasionally we will do more elaborate things, but really, date night is established to make sure we are really connecting at least that one time during the week. Most of it is just being together, but we try to touch base on where we are at spiritually, emotionally, etc. as well.

+Play together.
Another thing david and I quickly discovered after getting married was that we like to spend our down time differently. Wait what? David doesn't like to pull out the acrylic paints and spend two hours painting flowers? Or spend three hours working on a 1,000 piece puzzle? (I'm fun, guys, I promise) Or thrifting? No he does not. He likes to run (I KNOW. I still don't get it), and play basketball and tennis, and research music on itunes...and you get the idea. We are different human beings. And that is really really good and the last thing a marriage should do is force each person to abandon the things they liked to do before for the sake of "togetherness" or something. BUT. Find a few things you do like to do together and make sure to do them. For us, we have discovered our common love for hiking and being outdoors. We love nothing more than a trip to Shenandoah National Park to hike our little hearts out and breath all that fresh air. We also love seeing movies, and eating out (duh), and playing with our dog, and making babies (just kidding, but we did do a fine job on that one kid of ours)...again, you get the idea. Do stuff together that is just fun.

+Play separately.
I sort of already went into this in that last one, but it is super important to promote alone time for each other. David needs dude time and I really need girl time. We both get together with friends separately, and yes, nowadays that means I need to stay home with Kenz for an evening while he hangs out with friends, but it is really important and really worth it, because he comes home a better father and husband, and he has more energy for those roles. And vise versa. Almost every weekend I slip out to a thrift store because that is one of those ways I still feel like me, and not just a mom and not just a wife...you know? Keep doing those things you love to do even though the other person doesn't get it.

So, phew, five things we have learned. We talk about those five things up there a lot. We talk about how they are going, where we can grow, who we can glean marital wisdom from...marriage takes work, and conversations, and forgiveness, and humility. But marriage is a choice, and I really and truly believe that anyone can make the choices needed to have a great marriage.

2/52

2015-01-14T08:28:00.003-05:00

mckenzie // has been teething HARD lately, which means sleepless nights and needy days...but also means more snuggles and kisses and nursing, and call me crazy, but I have a feeling I might just miss those 2am moments some day.

mckenzie rose at fifteen months and two weeks

2015-01-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

After kenzie turned one I swore I would stop counting her age by months because those people drive me crazy. "How old is your child?" "seventy-two months today!" Just no, crazy parentals. No one cares that much.
But here is kenz, at fifteen months and two weeks. Closer to one and a half than to one. And guys. This stage is so. much. fun. I just needed to jot down exactly what is going on with kenz these days before days turn into weeks turn into months and we have an entirely different child on our hands.

+She is TALKING. well, saying and signing words. but she is understanding and communicating and it is one of the craziest things to watch a tiny human learn a language. She says....hi, bye bye, mama, dada, emy (she hears claire call me "emy" so she has picked up on that. first name basis, nbd), wawa (water), apple, amber, ball, uh oh, baby, nana (banana, but also her grandma's name. confusing, but we are hopeful she will have it sorted out someday or else things will be awkward), please, and all done.

+she isn't walking yet, but crawling and cruising around like a wild woman. I know I will love when she finally walks, but honestly, it has been so nice to have such a delay. It feels like the final step in turning from a baby to a toddler, and I just haven't been ready for that yet. I think she is getting close...she loves pushing her baby stroller around the apartment, holding our hands while she walks, and taking one step to get from daddy to mama.

+she is obsessed with apples and babies, separately. Any child remotely her age or younger is "BABY!" and she loves to kiss and rock her baby doll. She most definitely doesn't think she herself is a baby, and finds it hilarious when I call her my baby and rock her back and forth. Also, apples. But any round editable item is an apple. Pomegranate? apple. orange? apple. Again, we are holding out hope this all gets sorted out before first grade.

+She loves to be chased, and a lot of things will trigger her to crawl away from us at lighting speeds, but nothing quite as much as, "What is in your mouth?"

+She is weirdly organized, which is certainly not a trait that came from me. She likes to take things apart and then put them back together and will get frustrated if she can't figure it out. Last night she was trying to put a sock into her plastic wipes case and the sock kept getting stuck so it wouldn't snap shut. She sat there for a good ten minutes trying to get the thing shut, and finally started whining and signing "please" for help. Firstborns, man.

+She gives kisses, but usually begrudgingly. When we ask for a kiss she usually shakes her head "no", puts her hands up in front of her mouth, whines a little, and then finally gives a quick open-mouthed kiss. We pray every day that this is how she behaves when boys try to kiss her. Minus the open-mouthed part.

+The girl loves music. She loves to turn up the volume on our music player and bounce up and down on her knees to the beat. She looks all around to see who else is being taken over by the rhythm, and pretty quickly all three of us our bouncing up and down and all over the living room to the music.

Having a fifteen month and two week child is a lot of things: exhausting, hilarious, rewarding, emotional, endearing...but every night when I finally crawl into bed, even if I am spent and in need of a break, I always look forward to waking up the next day to her little smiling face and can't wait to see what adventures we will have together.