car keys.

Today, as I swung Hunter into his car seat to runs some errands, he reached out and grasped the car keys looped around my pinkie. "Babe, Mommy needs those", I explained as I gently reached for them back. I quickly rummaged through my bag and produced a similar set, made just for him, with a bright plastic ring and different colored plastic keys. His eyes lit up. We made the exchange and stood there for a moment, each jingling our keys and smiling at one another.
And the thought hit me. These little people of ours are downright magical. They watch our every move, and mimic our behavior until it becomes their own. They learn from observation, and if you look closely enough, you can actually see their little wheels turning as they process information and form ideas about things. They delight in the simplest of pleasures.
We all learned in gradeschool about the laws of physics, and science...how our world moves from order to chaos, how things deteriorate with time. But children defy those laws. Their minds are shaped, molded, and formed with each new day. They gain insight and understanding and confusion turns to clarity in their little minds. It is as if God has given us a little slice of heaven, supernatural little beings to hold and cuddle and learn from. When I look at Hunter, I see the fingerprints of his Creator all over him. It sends goosebumps up my arms to know that these little ones entrusted to us are reflections of the Almighty in the most uncorrupted form we will see on this side of eternity. And when I look into my boy's big blue eyes, it is unmistakable...there is a God, and He is so good.

Sharing with: Bits of Splendor

Beach Day Superlatives.

 

Breakfast with friends. first sight of sand. first taste of sand. sand everywhere. skinny dipping in the ocean to remove sand. Attempted nap. too excited to sleep. walk along ocean with mom & dad. conked out in mom's arms. slept like a champ. Back up and at 'um. Quinoa for lunch. mmm, I love that stuff. played in the ocean. ended up skinny dipping again. went under water for the first time ever. came up smiling. lips turned blue. mom gave me bath. warmed me up. slept. Asked to go to Mack 'n Manco's for pizza. They said yes. Boardwalk. aloe vera mohawk (I rock.) Banana flavored ice cream (mom rocks.) So sleepy. To happy to sleep. practiced saying "dada" all the way across the bridge. fell asleep. Best day ever.

shiny little pendants, close to my heart.

Last week, my husband was over 5,000 miles away from me on a hunting trip in Argentina. On the day he left I sat in the living room, staring at the mailbox, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the mailman. Thanks to the high-tec USPS emails which now tell you where your packages are, I knew mine was arriving that afternoon.

It did not disappoint. Just in time for my hubby-less week, a little reminder of him came right to my doorstep.

I ordered two sweet pendants from Beadin' by the Sea to add to the chain I often have around my neck. A big "M" for Mike and a little "h" for hunter. They are the perfect additions to my scroll-y "A" pendant I already had, and I love having a constant memento of my boys with me all the time.

What about you? do you wear any jewelry to represent the people you love?

Be sure to check out Beadin' by the Sea, she has so many beautiful, handmade lovelies that you just might fall in love with;)

If you want to make a sentimental necklace, check out this bird's nest necklace I made last year! You could easily adapt the "egg-count" to represent your kiddos, hubby, etc., and they are so simple to make!

And now for one more picture I had to include:

Everyone say "hi" to my momma, making a sandwich in the backround...hehe. love you mom!

Sharing with: What I'm loving Wednesday

four Julys ago.

Four years ago this month, I met my husband. We akwardly shook hands for the first time, knowing that our friends ( who had just introduced us) were grinning at us both, eager to see our initial glances at one another...hopeful we would hit it off. We did hit it off, and by the end of the night, our one friend grabbed one of our cell phones and said, "Hey kids, get around Mike and A for a picture!".  I had their baby in my arms, and their three other kiddos pressed in around us. Jody snapped the picture and excitedly turned the phone around to show us the shot...he said, "You guys look perfect together, I can just see it now...give it a few years and you will be a family, and the kids around you will be yours." We smiled shyly at each other, both silently hoping he was right.

The following July we were the epitome of "young and in love". The one after that we were sharing our first dance under a big white tent containing all our friends and family. The one after that, we were doting over our little puppy, Sadie, gently rubbing my growing belly and dreaming about our sweet baby growing inside.

This July, we coax giggles out of our little boy, and cheer for him as he crawls across the living room, and hold him high over our heads to make him smile. We grin at each other from across the room when our eyes meet, and I know our thoughts are the same...we love this life we share together, built together. What were once two individuals, became one, and resulted in three.

Happy Anniversary, My Love....God has blessed me immensely by giving me you.

(the pictures above were from the day after we got engaged, in October 2009...they are some of my all time favorites...Mike used carved pumpkins as part of his proposal...=)


(To read more about our love story, click here, here, here, and here)

Sharing with: Bits of Splendor

bunny tales and little lace booties

After a whirlwind of a week, I am back to share some pictures of my sister's baby girl nursery! My mom and I drove down to Virginia earlier this week with our pick-up truck loaded down with nursery furniture, accessories, and a giant rocking chair strapped to the top. We painted the room, scrubbed and placed the furniture, assembled the crib, accessorized, and washed, folded, and put away all the baby clothes and necessities, and drove back to Pennsylvania all in 3 days time! Now she is all set for whenever her little one decides to make her debut!

Let's begin with a few before and afters, shall we?

 

So much better, right?? There are still some things that need finishing touches, like the wall above the crib in the photo above. Nicole is thinking about having a verse or whimsical tree painted there to complete the charm. She also has a precious little bookshelf that goes in one corner, to house baby's extensive library...but it needs a good coat of paint first! I am sure that the room will continue to come together in the weeks following...but if baby comes first...she has the essentials ready!

Here are some of the details of this sweet space...

 

 

 

 

 

 

These pictures were snapped just minutes before hopping in our truck and heading back home, so I didn't have much time to adjust the lighting or find the perfect angles...but let me tell you, this little room absolutely glows when you walk into it! It is the perfect mix of pretty sophistication and bright-colored cuteness!

My absolute favorite thing in this space is the shelf in a few of the pictures above...it holds my sister's favorite children's book, a few handmade treasures, the piggy bank from her carnival themed shower, and a small stack of "mommy" advice from friends and family members.

What about you? What's your favorite thing in this sweet room? Do you have any ideas for the wall above the crib? What would you do if it was your space?

If your interested in more nursery ideas, click here for our inspiration pictures, and here to see Hunter's nursery!

Dear Nicole, Thank you so much for letting mom and I buzz around you like honey bees this past week...I know we made your head spin! It meant the world to us to be able to be a part of the preparations and I cannot wait to meet you little sweetheart and tell her just how amazing her momma is! Love you;)

Sharing with Funky Junk Interiors and Serenity Now