One More In 2014

Fascinating! The 100 Greatest Inventions Of The Year

Which Star Dominated Social Media This Year? Do you care?

People's 25 Most Intriguing People of 2014

The Best Children's Books of 2014. I don't have any of these. Must update.

The Most Pirated Show of 2014. I totally get it.

And one last thought.

Thanks for listening guys.

Christmas in a Nutshell.

A doozy of a Christmas. Our favorite one yet - and that's saying something considering I alone have 33 others under my belt. Lots of family. Lots of delicious food. Lots of sitting around. Lots of memories and laughter.

She has made this Christmas new and alive for us. 

One of the Christmas cards we received had this message. 

"Christmas is a reason to be joyful, to believe. A reason to be grateful for the blessings we receive. A reason to have faith and trust in our gracious Lord above...Christmas is a reason to be filled with hope and love."

Onward to 2015.

From Our Home To Yours, Merry Christmas

Card from Zazzle, bought from Groupon, picture by Luke. 

We went low budget this year and I was surprisingly ok with the turnout. Mostly because Luke was able to capture Sweet's joy. One thing led to another and I still have a few I need to send out. Sorry folks. Coming soon. But heck, Christmas is in two days! Hope your days are merry and bright. 

xoxo, J

"Be Yourself J"

I've been wrestling a lot lately with whether or not I've been living an authentic life. By authentic I mean well, being me, and not trying to fit into what I think a perfect wife, perfect mother, perfect daughter-in-law, perfect friend, perfect daughter, perfect _________ is.

Truth is, I didn't realize I wasn't being me until a few weeks ago when someone said something to me, that clicked with something someone else mentioned a few months back, which coincided with something I heard a few months before that. God is funny how he builds the story until He decides it is time to reveal it to you. 

But I am convinced the only way to follow God is by being who he created me to be. Flaws and all. I was sharing this with Josh the other week and after listening to my whole diatribe he simply said, "Be yourself J." I then reminded him that myself is clumsy - I say things I shouldn't, respond inappropriately, make mistakes. He said it again, "Be yourself J". This man, he gives me wings so I can fly. 

Not going to lie, I'm afraid of what that means or where God will take me. But, isn't being our authentic selves just saying that we trust that God knew what He was doing when He created us? I know that I will not be as effective (or fulfilled even) for Him if I am not fully being who he made me to be. 

And that is my life revelation for 2014.

What is God teaching you?

It's Official

You guys. The babes is down, the dishwasher is pumping, the washing machine is churning, Chinese take out is headed our way, and my husband is officially on vacation!!!!

I am so pumped I am shamelessly eating the chocolates Josh's boss gave to him for Christmas and not caring one bit that there's laundry to fold and a living room to clean.

And before I let you go and I head off to my sizzling rice soup, I leave you with our impromptu playdate today. 

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas Sunday!

A Kind People Day

Our tree skirt is filling up with our presents for other people. I love that. =) It's pretty, it's for someone else, AND it's like a visual check off list. Wonderous.

My little companion and I had so many kind people moments today. The pharmacist at CVS, the floor manager at Ralphs, and the most unlikely of candidates, a lady who hit my parked car at Marshalls. She kindly came into the store and had them make an announcement, and when I didn't come to the registers, she came and found me. I hugged her for her honesty. ALSO, as if it couldn't have been a better kind people day, the insurance guy on the phone was the nicest of people. Curtis. 

And a random finish for you, my thwarted sabotaged attempt at some sit ups. 

A distraction of the best kind.

Hope Photography by Nozomu took some really great pictures of our family. This being the quintessential one that will be framed and in our house the rest of our lives.

There's more on Facebook should you want to see. But for you, my friends, something a little more personal. I just about died when I saw this sequence that Nozomu captured of Noe and Emerson. What you don't see is my brother in law waving a squeaky toy to try to elicit smiles. And whereas you'll see Noe all happy go lucky and cutie about it, watch my daughter.

And then this.

Lord help me.

9 Months

Emerson is 9 months old today. Jeepers. Time flies.

She doesn't know it but we are celebrating tomorrow with vaccinations and a funeral. Easy peasy.

Come On In: A Peak Into Our Home

My mom is Mrs. Christmas and in addition to decorating a real tree she also has a plethora of tiny trees. She let me borrow one this year and helped me put together an advent tree for the baby. 

Emerson is obsessed. She'll whip her head around to see it and if the lights are on when I put her in her crib she'll cry her eyes out because she wants it so bad. Have I mentioned lately that this is the best Christmas ever?

Her joy is our joy.

// tree skirt, felt garland - Nordstrom home. Star, Target. Advent, somewhere in Mississippi //

Come On In: A Peak Into Our Home

Christmas came early at our place.

Mom showed up this morning with a car full of household items and dogoneit she pulled my house together. New throw pillows, new rug, and a poof. Merry Christmas from her and dad she said.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Birthday, and Happy Anniversary to us!

I have not been able to pull the trigger on the finishing touches for our living room since Josh and I have had our own living room. ha. My mom gave me a gift that is more than just some pillows and a rug - she styled it for me.

Good thing it's supposed to rain tomorrow. Now I can spend all day comfy cozy in our new living room. Come on over if you need to snuggle down. I'll put on some Christmas music and pour you some hot choco.

P.S. Everything from Target, except the Cheer pillow (PB).

Emerson, meet Sam. Sam, Emerson.

Josh's advent from his bible app is hitting me hard guys. This little gem.. 'As Ray Stedman said, "The chief mark of the Christian ought to be the absence of fear and the presence of joy."'

We welcomed Sam into our family this past weekend. He might be my favorite one yet. And there's no denying Emerson is captivated. Fast friends already.

I may be behind on buying presents, sending out Christmas cards, and finding the right outfits, but by golly this is turning out to be the best Christmas ever.

New Mom Gift Guide: You're Like, Really Pretty.

Josh and I were talking yesterday about how exciting this Christmas is since we have the little at this age. Not only going through the season with her but also we are at a point where we can truly enjoy it. She's sleeping through the night, taking naps during the day, and her eating has settled into a predictable pattern. 

My heart went out to all the new moms out there with tiny babies. I know Christmas will still be super special but when you're dealing with feedings every three hours there's still that tiny matter of exhaustion at hand. 

Then I saw this gift guide for new moms and I thought, would new moms out there truly want a cheesy doormat? 

Here's what I'd buy:

Two head massages. One for her and one for a friend. Or a hair cut + color combo. Ayai!

A gift card to her favorite clothing store and a few hours with the baby so she can actually shop solo.

A subscription to Blue Apron. Incredible recipes with fresh ingredients delivered to your door? Yes, please. Anything to take out the guess work and the leg work.

A maid. Housework always ends up on the bottom of the priority list and when you finally have time to do it, you are too exhausted. 

And the most amazing gift you could possibly give a new mom, sleep. During our first six weeks, my mother in law would come over at night and stay up with the baby while I slept. The best gift I have ever been given.

Oh! and one for the mom's with older kids. Just because this is too awesome to leave out. :) Personalized gold necklaces, drawn by your very own little.

What would be on your list?

Gifts for the Little

For the first time in my entire life I am loving Christmas shopping. It's amazing how much you change when a baby comes into the mix. :p Here's what I'm currently loving for E this Christmas.

Please. I know feminism is hot right now (thanks Bey) but this is adorable.

Every morning Josh and the baby read together. She loves it. He loves it. I love it...for the most part. It's just that they get so tedious after a while. Am I a terrible person for saying that? Time for a new rotation.

PJ's. Specifically Hanna Andersson's because they are soft, clingy, and Josh used to wear them when he was little. Adorbs.

I know she's a little young for this but I'm afraid this is a one season seller and I'll forever regret not buying it. Definitely keeping my eye on this for the after Christmas sale.

Melissa and Doug blocks. Not dyed. Not swallowable. Endless fun.

A paper roller? Toddler height? Comes with legs to grow with child? The world's most perfect table. Sign me up.

And coming soon, a gift guide for brand new mommies.

Friday Favorites

You know it's tough when this was the best you could get. 

// Web Finds //

This caught my eye on twitter.

Why hasn't this been done yet?

And this made me laugh. I wonder if I'd do any better? :p

Chair Incident Update

And yet she still smiles. 

#2

My little mover pulled the dining chair down on herself again. Wailing. Big nose bleed. Off to the doctors we went. Nose not broken. Potential concussion. Lots of swelling.

Two times in one month you say? Tell me about it. :/

Josh tried to have a talk with her about being careful.

She wasn't that interested. :p

This child may be the death of me. My mom's wishes for me to get a child just like me may be coming true.