i can hardly believe it has already been almost two weeks since i have wrote. my best blog posts always come to mind either driving, usually as i near home, or in the shower. super convenient, right? and then i sit down to write, and nothing. or it's just not the same. i am much more eloquent in my mind.  all to say, in my mind i have written much, here…not so much.

it's been slow around here. and i like it. this season of our life has been a major shift. with my husband gone much of the time and with our car, it has limited holland and i on what we are to do. not to mention, winter weather (which we finally seem to be getting) and the occasional winter blues. but this time has allowed me to realize, up until now, so much of my time, focus, and energy has been on going, going, going. rushing here or there. be it to the next place or my son's next stage. taking him to museums, or children's discovery places, new park after new park, the zoo, city dates, play date after play date,  going, going, going. and right now that just isn't reality (not that he even will remember those things). during the last nineteen months i got completely caught up in the new-parent-i-have-to-show-and-share-everything-with-my-son thing. but really, most of those things are for us parents. our babies have no interest of the zoo when they are, i don't know, four months old, but we do. i think it is natural to want to share things with our children. the activities we found and still find joy in and i am not saying this is wrong at all, but when busyness overtakes all, it is something to ponder. when it is constant and tiresome and time is slipping away, but you keep doing it anyway. i thank the lord for the season we have entered as different as it may be.

we have spent many of our days at home lately. our days are now filled with more casual mornings, coloring or painting, stories, a little too much handy manny (in all honesty), cooking together, bird watching, dancing, house chores, long walks, coffee dates, occasional trips to the park, many, many afternoons sprawled on the floor of my son's room stacking blocks only to smash them down again and again, moments finding pure joy from something as simple as a jack-in-the-box, and laughing to our whits end at just about nothing, and you know what? i love it. though sometimes i long for those day trips, and some of our days at home seem unreasonably long, i know a time where we are busy again will be back once more, but this slow, simple pace is nice. i always told myself i wanted a simple life. at times even pleaded for one, and in the end, i was the one to blame for making it not so. and the time in which i was so focused on keeping us busy and entertained day in and out, was utterly fleeting. in some ways, i feel as i missed out on a pretty huge chunk of holland's baby months because i was so high strung if we are to be honest. i didn't soak in those sweet newborn snuggles the way i thought i would, i didn't savor quiet afternoons alone with him, all the while thinking we had plenty of time for that later. and my baby became a toddler before my eyes, those sweet newborn snuggles faded, the days of rocking him to sleep in my arms faded and traded for the exploration of independence. but i am cherishing my son now, cherishing him in the way i thought i always was, cherishing him in a more real, intimate kind of way. and it is my absolute hope to continue this as our clark arrives late this summer. to spend quite moments together, to bask in each other, to let our boys just be and be together. to let them be happy and satisfied in themselves, in each other, in family, in the mundane, because it is often the mundane that is the most beautiful. if you let it be.

BOY!

profile.

snug or what? ^^

melt my heart.

we can't wait until our next peek at you. you have us smitten already.

um…bump alert?! and guilty selfies. ^^  it's been a bit of a long haul but also an exciting week thus far. i feel like my belly is really popping out there these days, and last night i began to feel those precious little thumps and bumps i've been so eagerly waiting for. praise the lord! and also my favorite part of pregnancy (aside from the fact that i'm actually growing a person in there). with my son, i distinctly remember feeling him move by 13 weeks, so needless to say i've been a little totally paranoid up until now that i wasn't feeling anything remotely baby move in there, especially being second pregnancy and all. but i feel it now and that's what matters. i am happy to be out of the woods of first trimester whatnot these days. my energy is pretty good and nausea long gone. aside from about 3 weeks, i had it pretty easy on that front. but headaches, let's talk about those. i have had one for at least two, maybe three weeks…solid. actually that's a lie, i had a single day break a few days back. talk about tolling. if i wasn't growing a human, i would be a bitter, bitter person by now. i am just about at my wits end about this. but...tomorrow is a big day and i am excited, headache free or not. tomorrow, we find out if this little babe is a lady or a gent, assuming he/she cooperates. so, if you have a guess, here's your chance to cast it. and stay tuned for gender news.  :)

happy valentine's. it was a simple one for us. we enjoyed a little family time this morning, cooked up a storm and sent hubby off to work with his favorite korean chicken (recipe here), while my holland played ever-so-good by himself much of the morning (a rare occasion) and i picked up around the house. music was playing, giggles happened, cards were made and our house was full of love. what more could i ask for? i have my forever valentine by my side, a bun in the oven, and the most precious of sons. my heart is full. i hope that on this day yours is too.

happy love day friends.

We got a little bit crafty this week and made ourselves this super quirky, totally overly full heart garland to get ourselves in the Valentine's spirit. And because we've actually had rain...finally. And there's only so much you can do with a toddler stuck in the house until you have to get crafty.

It was the perfect late morning activity. I cut the hearts, Holland was in charge of gathering them all, and when it came time, handing me every single one so I could string them with needle and thread. He did so diligently. He also learned to say the word heart, which has been not only super cute, but really neat to talk with him about. Attempting to explain it is a shape, an organ, and yet something people talk about as a feeling (of sorts). I don't expect him to get it, but it's been fun. And he understands more than I give him credit for.

You will need:
fabric scrap or scraps
scissors
needle and thread (big kids/adults only)



Simply cut your hearts to your desired size. We chose to in no way make ours match. Gather your needle and thread and do 1 simple stitch, weaving in, then out of your fabric near the top center of your heart (that little divot at the top, that well makes your heart, a heart and not a diamond ;) )

Tie off at the ends leaving a little extra thread for hanging and admire.

And if you're anything like me, move it ten times to find the perfect home for your new, quirky garland.
We finally settled on a little nook just above my toddler's play kitchen so he can enjoy it.



Happy crafting to you.