a flower for you

Sending Some Love Your Way

2012-02-14T16:30:00.000-05:00

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Ohmagoodness!

2012-02-09T13:30:00.003-05:00

Pinterest.
Have I shared with you all just how much I love Pinterest? (You can follow my boards here).
Well, I do. I love it. It has honestly boosted my desire to be more creative and try more things than anything else in the social media world.

And...I just discovered something even more amazing about it...

The oh so amazing, Design*Sponge, is on Pinterest. (Read her announcement post here). If you were ever looking for the best boards to follow on Pinterest, Design*Sponge would be the one to follow. For those of you who are not familiar with Design*Sponge you must check it out. It's fabulous. That's the only word for it. And now that she's on Pinterest - oh my goodness - look out creative inspiration world!

February Photo a Day

2012-02-07T21:49:00.003-05:00

This month I've decided to participate in the February Photo a Day Challenge on Instagram. I've always wanted to do it, so why not start this month. Now I didn't get started until February 3rd, but it's been fun nonetheless. Here's what I've captured so far.

P.S. You can participate, too. Just visit Fat Mum Slim to follow along with this month's list.

Day 3: Hands (from the summer time)

Day 6: Dinner (with a side of yellow and orange)

Day 7: Button (in my studio)

{this moment}

2012-02-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

Getting Back Into It...

2012-01-29T22:03:00.003-05:00

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who has a tendency to struggle with blog posting...You know, really wondering why it is that I blog. I've actually considered closing this chapter of my blogging life...starting afresh...anew...a...something.

I always enjoy starting a new journal or sketchbook. Opening that cover, skipping over the first page (because some pages should be left blank), creasing down the crisp, white gutter of a new page and then beginning with whatever new thoughts come to mind...

Journals represent seasons of life. I occasionally pull out my collection of journals from high school and college and am overwhelmed by what's inside...the silliness, the raw emotion, the doodles, the relationships. I find myself getting caught up in memories (good and bad) of those past days that are so far away, but seem so near when I read each page.

That's how I feel when I browse through this "journal." I look through old posts. Browse my blogroll to see what all of you lovely people have been up to while I've been absent...

Bear with me as I get a bit transparent...
I've found myself wanting to quit doing the things I most enjoy these past few months. Starting new projects kind of makes my stomach turn because there's the always looming thought of "will I actually finish it?" Now, I do understand that life is different with our Little One in the house and priorities have definitely shifted. I enjoy soaking up the special moments of each day as I watch our Little Man grow and I do not regret pausing and embracing each of these moments. But does that mean I shouldn't go after the other things in life that bring me joy? I know God has placed the desire to craft and create in my heart. I feel it every time I look at bolt of fabric, a beautifully crafted font, a photograph that warms my heart. I feel it every time I look at what He's created...my son, my husband, the world around us. The ultimate Creator has put that desire of "creativity" in each one of us because we were made in His image.

-------------
Let us make human beings in our image... [Genesis 1:26]
-------------

But I've turned it into more a chore. Taking a picture with my camera (not my phone) means I have to open it on my computer, edit it if necessary and then post it. By the time I've done all that, I don't even want to follow through with the original task I set out to do...document a special moment in life...But my heart is changing...

And so, with God's help, I will climb out of this valley up to the mountain top. I will let Him burn that passion back in my life. Because we all need Him to help us follow the plans He has for us. And I need it more than ever right now.

My posts may still be sporadic, but I hope you will still follow me as I take this new path - not for my glory - but for the Glory of the One who truly is worthy of all Glory and Honor.

On Playtime and Other Wonderful Toddler Moments

2011-11-15T12:49:00.004-05:00

Our boy sure does love to play. I absolutely adore this new season of parenthood we're experiencing. Watching our Little Man learn while playing is truly the best blessing any Momma could ask for. A few months back(when all of a sudden he transitioned from being happy and content on a play blanket to wanting to explore the world and actually pick out his own toys in his toy basket) I decided he needed his very own play corner in our living room. Why should Mommy and Daddy have all the space?

So he now has his own space and it is fabulous. He also received his own "little kitchen" from his Grandiddy so that he can have a place to play in the "big kitchen" instead of getting into the "big" drawers and cabinets (because let's face it, baby locks still leave room for smashed fingers).

I think my favorite part about watching our Little Man play are the moments when he doesn't realize he has his Momma's or Daddy's eyes on him and he's having the most animated "conversation" whilst playing. Such pure bliss.

{this moment}

2011-11-11T13:00:00.002-05:00

An Autumn Afternoon

2011-11-04T20:52:00.003-04:00

Saturday afternoons truly are wonderful...especially for a Little Man who is loving the new discoveries of the outdoors. So last weekend we got cozied up in warm vests and enjoyed the new fallen leaves in the front yard. Oh Fall...I truly do fall for you over and over again each year you visit.

Carving

2011-10-31T07:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween!

Festive & Fall

2011-10-22T10:45:00.001-04:00

{this moment}

2011-10-21T20:15:00.001-04:00

365 Days Ago...

2011-10-17T21:10:00.004-04:00

...a little red head entered my life and things haven't been the same since. Tonight as I write this, I'm reminded of how a year ago on October 17th, we were checking our lists to make sure we had everything packed for the hospital so that we were ready to go the next morning in order to make it to the hospital in time to begin the labor process. Now, on this October 17th, I just looked at all of my lists making sure everything was packed and ready to go for our one year old (wow, that's hard to say) to begin his first day of preschool/childcare tomorrow.

**Insert heavy sigh here**

So I felt the best way to celebrate the beauty of what has been our life this past year, would be to show you the growth that we've been so blessed to be able to witness...

Happy Birthday my sweet Little Man. No words can express how much you mean to us.

{this moment}

2011-10-14T07:15:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Leave a comment below with your moment and join in on the fun.

This moment could possibly be more than just a "This Moment" of the week. It could very well be my "This Moment" of the Year. It's crazy to think that this time last year, our cute Little Pumpkin was still ripening on the vine...now he's walking through the patch looking for his own pumpkin.

{this moment}

2011-09-30T08:25:00.000-04:00

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

---

I know this is supposed to be just one photo, but I couldn't resist sharing all of these photos. It's the best way to display the joy that our boy has when reading books with us.

What's for Dinner?

2011-09-29T12:53:00.002-04:00

There are so many "firsts" to celebrate with a little one. But I think my all-time favorite "firsts" to observe and document involve food. The other night we had spaghetti for dinner and well, it was definitely worth documenting. Once Little Man got over the fact that the noodles were for eating and now swinging around in the air, he "pulled up his sleeves" and dug right in. Actually it was more like we pulled off his clothes and got him down to his diaper and socks...

Today

2011-09-25T21:06:00.002-04:00

{this moment}

2011-09-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

{this moment}

2011-09-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

An Elephant Never Forgets

2011-09-14T09:00:00.001-04:00

Little Man is getting bigger and bigger with each day. I can't believe he's going to be a year old in just one month. Ba! How the time flies. Since he's growing so quickly, I find myself rushing to have him wear clothes or shoes that are super cute that he might not fit in soon.

Last winter, my mom bought these wonderful shoes for him from Magpie Lovely and he can now finally wear them. And surprisingly, he wears them without thinking twice about it.

My Name is Stegosaurus...

2011-09-13T12:36:00.003-04:00

...I'm a funny looking dinosaur.
On my back are funny little plates,
And on my tail there's more.

My front two legs are very short.
My back two legs are long.

My body's big,
My head is very small,
I'm put together wrong.

I learned this song when I was in kindergarten and I've always loved it. And now, I can teach it to our Little Man, especially when he gets his very own Steggy for his birthday. The Hubby and I worked together on this, each using our own craft to accomplish it. The pattern was super easy and can be found in this book.

I can't wait for our Little Man to see this. He's really become interested in toys that roll and that he can drag around.

Remember

2011-09-11T08:45:00.001-04:00

I was sitting in my 11th grade US History class when my friend Erin came in the classroom and said a plane had crashed into the World Trade Centers. At that time in my life I didn't know the WTC and the Twin Towers were one and the same so I didn't think much of it. My teacher turned on the TV and we began to watch everything unfold. Then class was over and the main topic of conversation was if we would get out of school early because the Pentagon had also been hit and that was 3 hours north of us, so of course every selfish teenager's thought was what kind of deal can we get out of this. The magnitude of this event just hadn't hit us yet.

The school day was over. I was supposed to get a haircut that night, but Mom said we weren't going anywhere that night because of everything going on. I remember being mad and throwing a fit about it. School pictures were coming up and I needed a haircut. Again, I didn't realize what our country was going through.

And then it started. The constant images of the planes, the ball of fire, the ash-covered city. (I don't think we turned off the news for 2 weeks straight.) That night, as we sat down to dinner, I asked if I could say the blessing over our meal. I don't think I ever did actually thank God for the food. Instead I cried. I cried and prayed for the families, the country, the President. It was too much for my 16 year old mind and heart to grasp and handle.

Now, ten years later, as my husband and I are raising a child in a "post 9/11" world, it still seems so surreal. I still tear up at every story. That sick feeling comes back into my throat when I see the images. And I'm reminded that we are a resilient country and that even through the hardest time known to any American, God has had His hand on us. Guiding us, comforting us, loving us. He is in control even when control can't be seen in the chaos. He is our strong tower. Our refuge.

So today, I pray. I pray that each person in our country would taste and see that the Lord is good and know that His love heals all wounds and strengthens every defeated heart. That when hard times come, God hasn't left us. If anything, He's holding us tighter as we walk through this crazy thing called life.

{this moment}

2011-09-09T11:06:00.001-04:00

While It Was Still Summer...

2011-09-07T12:24:00.002-04:00

...We took our first family vacation together.

Desitination: the Outer Banks of North Carolina (2 weeks before Irene gracefully made her entrance).

For the past week I've been sorting through the hundreds of photos that we took whilst enjoying the shore and since I'm not completely finished with sorting and editing, I thought I would share a few snippets taken via Instagram. Boy, do I love that app.

So while we're all beginning to enjoy some lovely fall-like weather, here a few photos that still have the sweet sent of summer time and salt water.

My Little Bookworm

2011-09-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

And look what we found at the local antique store this weekend. I highly recommend New at the Zoo. It got me and the Hubby laughing during bedtime story time.

Today We...

2011-09-05T21:34:00.002-04:00

...stayed in our PJs all day.
...crafted in our own creative spaces.
...opened the windows to enjoy the fresh, fall-like air.
...went for a walk.
...ate smores like little kids (the grown-ups did).
...and enjoyed having time together...just the three of us.

Can we have more three-day weekends, please?

A Boy On the Move

2011-08-02T16:58:00.003-04:00

We wondered if it would ever happen. Was he going to skip this important milestone and move on to the next? And then it happened...

Our Little Man is on the move. Of course, his movement resembles more of an army crawl than it does a traditional four legged crawl. But it's still adorable...and reminds me that the cat food dish can't reside on the floor anymore when two little hands are out to explore everything that is at a bug's eye level.

P.S. These adorable pants were made by his Grandmama from Lotta Jansdotter's pattern in this wonderful book. The fabric is absolutely heavenly and I'm considering making a pair for me and my Hubby.

Have I Mentioned That I Love Stripes...

2011-07-26T08:30:00.000-04:00

Summer Reading

2011-07-24T11:45:00.001-04:00

I grew up absolutely adoring books (and I still do). Many of my favorites were Polar Bear Polar Bear, Go Dog Go, Put Me in the Zoo, and anything by the fabulous Dr. Seuss. Now that we have a Little One, we're enjoying buying books for him and adding them to his collection. Every night Daddy reads him a story, while mommy gets him cozy for bed. It's really exciting to see him really beginning to pay attention to the pictures on the page and recognizing the different textures and other interactive elements of books. He really loves the bright colors used in any childrens book by Dwell Studio (and being the lover of design and all things creative, I absolutely love them as well).

I'd love to hear what wonderful books your little ones are enjoying. Anything you'd like to recommend?

Saturdays Were Made For...

2011-07-23T14:17:00.002-04:00

...cuddling in bed with mommy and daddy.
...playing in the covers.
...calling to say hello.
...eating yummy goodies.

{this moment}

2011-07-22T20:39:00.003-04:00

New Discoveries

2011-07-11T21:00:00.003-04:00

Our new favorite place to play these days in the middle of the kitchen floor. While this Momma prepares meals, washes dishes or takes care of other little odds and ends in the kitchen, Little Man enjoys scooting around on the kitchen floor. While he's not crawling quite yet, he is learning to be mobile in other ways. If I had it my way, I think I'd prefer to scoot around on my bottom on the hardwood floor, too...especially on these hot summer days.

Stars and Stripes in the Summer Time

2011-07-04T21:16:00.002-04:00

Happy Independence Day all! We've enjoyed our day relaxing at home and having some fabulous family time together. There was coffee and donuts, splashing in the pool, strolls around the neighborhood and of course we were decked out in our red, white and blue. There will be no fireworks this year as Little Man's bedtime is before the sun even sets, but all is well. I'm sure there will be plenty of fireworks shot off through the neighborhood tonight. And we did enjoy some fun time with friends last night where many a "Oooh" and "Aaah" was said as we watched fireworks throughout other neighborhoods. I hope everyone's day was fabulous. Remember to be thankful for the amazing freedoms that we have in this great US of A.

{this moment}

2011-07-01T10:01:00.002-04:00

Celebrating Fathers

2011-06-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day to an amazing husband and father.

Oh Life...

2011-06-02T17:20:00.004-04:00

Why do you get away from me so...
This blog used to be a place I frequented daily, but now I feel as if I'm constantly writing these types of posts...the "I know I haven't been around in a while, but I promise we're all doing fine and there's so much going on and I've taken lots of photos to prove it, but I can't seem to find the time to actually sit down and make it happen" posts.

[Insert long, heavy sigh here]

So friends, once again, here is my attempt to reconnect. Every time I stop by I feel as if I have a thousand different things to say, to share, to show. Our Little Man is growing faster than I can capture with my camera, the seasons are changing so quickly that I can barely believe it's June and coming up this week, my Hubby and I will be celebrating 5 wonderful years of marriage.

So to celebrate my efforts of getting back into this fabulous world of blogging (that I love so much) I'll share a moment that I captured today of our Little Man. Today he is 8 months old. This time last year we had just found out that the little person inside of me was a little man and we were also moving into our first house. Goodness how time flies...And now we're enjoying celebrating the little "first" moments that we get to witness everyday. Just this week we hit two milestones: he has graduated from having meals in his Bebe Pod seat and now enjoys his green beans and apple sauce in his high chair AND he is cutting his first tooth. So my friends, I leave you with these precious happy moments that I witnessed today of our sweet Little Man.

Taking in the Moments

2011-04-15T17:09:00.004-04:00

Colorful Playtime

2011-03-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

A Visit From Grandmama & Grandiddy

2011-03-23T08:30:00.001-04:00

Peas: Are They Eaten or Worn?

2011-03-22T08:00:00.002-04:00

Our Little Man is now 5 months old. It's so crazy that a year ago around this time we were announcing to the world that we were pregnant and now we have the most amazing Little Man in our lives and he's already 5 months old. Recently we've introduced solids to his diet, which has been so much fun. He's loving sweet potatoes, pears and he's learning to love peas. As with everything involving parenthood, we're learning something new everyday. As we learned the other night, Little Man loves to wear his peas more than he loves to eat them.

A Dad and His Boy

2011-03-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

A Little Gnome

2011-03-16T20:20:00.004-04:00

Back in February, our Little Man was in need of a warmer winter hat. And wanting something that not every child would have, I consulted Simple Sewing for Baby and found the most amazing little gnome hat. So grabbing some super cuddly gray fleece from my stash and some re-purposed ribbon, I put together the most adorable hat.

Sweet Little Mushrooms

2011-03-12T15:26:00.003-05:00

With the help of my mom, I made these adorable pants for our Little Man. I love how they are reversible! I combined two patterns to make them. I used the pattern from Lotta Jansdotter's "Simple Pants" pattern from her book Simple Sewing for Babies, but I chose the style from Anna Maria Horner's "Quick Change Trousers" from her book Handmade Beginnings. I've never sewn clothes before so it was easier to use Lotta's pattern versus Anna's.

So Kissable

2011-01-29T09:17:00.000-05:00

I love this cheeks. Don't they just scream, "Give me kisses!"

My Dears...

2011-01-28T16:14:00.003-05:00

Oh Dear Blog Friends...
I really do love you, but as of late, these two have been my number one priority. I promise I will get back into the regular habit of sharing life with you.

P.S. I actually did some quilting last weekend. Unfortunately it was a quilt made in such haste that I didn't have time to take any photos of it. But it was great to be back behind the sewing machine working again.

{this moment}

2011-01-21T08:15:00.000-05:00

{this moment}

2011-01-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Oh What a Year

2011-01-01T21:39:00.004-05:00

Gracious. What does it take for me to actually get a blog post posted when I would really like it posted. I started writing this 3 days ago and had every intention of posting it yesterday, but alas here I am, finishing it up tonight...

---

Oh dear friends, what a year 2010 has been. I feel as if I've grown up over and over again this year. The Hubby and I have encountered so many new challenges and blessings this year that really have given us a good "it's time to grow up now" kick in the tush. And you know what's crazy? It literally started last January.

January: We decided we were ready to buy a house. Ok. So we started looking. And to our surprise we found the perfect house for our little family of two adults, two dogs and a cat. (Little did we know that our household number would be changing soon).

February: I started having heartburn and was tired all the time. Hmm...

March: On the first day of the month to be exact, all signs (and pregnancy tests) pointed to a baby on the way!

April: We made an offer on our house and after a few back-and-forths between us and the sellers, it was ours for the takin' (well, I should say purchasing). I also turned 25 years old - a quarter of a century!

May: The craziness of packing up our stuff and moving out of the our apartment began and we shared our Little One's heartbeat with the world.

June: We signed the papers on our house and were given the keys. Let the moving begin! On June 11th, we found out we were going to welcome a Little Man into our lives.

July: My wonderful brother visited for about a week and half, making for some really great bro & sis time.

August: We finally traded in the Mazda after putting 150,000+ miles on the thing. Now we are the proud owners of a Saturn Vue. The perfect vehicle for new parents.

September: At 32 weeks along in the pregnancy, we were able to see amazing images of our Little Man with a 3D/4D ultrasound. It was there that we discovered that he had Mommy's nose and dimples and Daddy's cheeks.

October: After 11 hours of labor, our Little Man Ethan Glenwood, entered the world on October 18th at 6:04pm. Our lives were never going to be the same again.

November: We're hittin' the road. With Little Man in tow, we made our first voyage home to Virginia for Thanksgiving for the first time since we've been together - that's 5 years people!

December: We enjoyed our first Christmas as a family of three and for the first time actually had Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in our own home. It was lovely being able to have our parents from both sides come up and visit our home for the Holidays.

---

After finishing up this post and looking back at everything that has happened, I am deeply moved and challenged by the goodness of God. In every moment of every day, He has been there, even during the trying times. He has blessed us with more blessings than we could ever imagine. But the biggest blessing He has given us is Himself. He has poured His life out onto us so that we may pour His love onto others. God you are the reason all of these amazing (and sometimes not so amazing) things have happened and for that I am thankful.

So I raise my glass to you 2010 and say, it's been a great year and I'm even more excited to see what 2011 holds for us. Happy New Year!

{this moment}

2010-12-31T09:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas To All!

2010-12-25T09:00:00.002-05:00

{this moment}

2010-12-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Santa Baby

2010-12-21T12:15:00.002-05:00

{this moment}

2010-12-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

Soft Winter's Light

2010-12-15T09:35:00.001-05:00

The Warmth of Snow: A Winter Time Poem

2010-12-13T15:19:00.007-05:00

It's cold outside. It's true.
The wind makes it feel only about two.

There are drifts up to the door,
And snow boots on the floor.

More than a dusting we've received,
Just as the forecasters believed.
But while there's a chill outside.
In the warmth is where we'll hide.

Because you see,
When you're as little as he,
Inside is where you'd want to be.

Where naps are many and cuddles aren't few,
On wintery days,
This is what we like to do.

Around the House Saturdays: Christmas Trimmings 2010

2010-12-11T09:00:00.001-05:00

Wow! It's been a while since I've written one of these posts. Please forgive me as I've been pretty busy tending to our new Little Man.

Well, it is December, which means lots of Christmas decor to add that bit of festive cheer to your home. The Hubby and I were so excited to decorate our home for Christmas this year, especially since it's our first Christmas in our new home and our first Christmas with Little Man.

As always, we got our yearly Christmas ornaments...and even Little Man got his very own.
From left to right: Dustin's (Crate & Barrel); Mine (Anthropologie); Ethan's (Target)

A grand view of the entire tree. I think it gets prettier and prettier every year (but I'm a little biased).

Making their 2010 Christmas Season debut, the Santa Band Trio.

Even everyday kitchen utensils get to be festive.

The three wise men are beginning their star following journey.

How about a little bit of sweet peppermint to stir in your hot chocolate?

And every cake stand must come equipped with colorful Christmas ornaments.

And of course, my collection of vintage decor is scattered throughout, bringing smiles all around.

What are some of your favorite Christmas decorations?

{this moment}

2010-12-10T08:05:00.000-05:00

Such a Cool Kid

2010-12-08T08:30:00.000-05:00

I know a lot of my posts as of late have not had a lot of words, but I mean, when you're showing off such a cutie, who needs words? I think the pictures say it all. Can you tell we're enjoying every second with our Little Man?

Little Tin Horns & Little Toy Drums

2010-12-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

Well...Because He's Just So Cute

2010-12-06T09:45:00.001-05:00

So Very Thankful

2010-12-05T15:43:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving was so very special for us this year. It was the first Thanksgiving we've been home to Virginia in 5 years...basically the first time we've been home with family for this special holiday as a couple. And if that wasn't special enough, we had Little Man with us to enjoy the festivities, which meant meeting lots and lots of family.

The morning of Thanksgiving started with Monkey Bread and coffee...

Parade watching with Daddy...

And of course a morning nap because even the cutest turkeys get tired.

There was a lot of time spent in the kitchen prepping all of the yummy food.

Looks like Daddy got confused of who the real turkey was. He is, after all, cute enough to eat!

And lots and lots of time for cuddles and lovin'.

But then, who could resist cuddling and kissing this sweet face?

After stuffing ourselves with the yummy-ness that is Thanksgiving dinner, there was the "great meeting" or as Dustin's dad said, a time for Little Man to be passed around more than the mashed potatoes around the table. So for 4 days, Little Man got to meet many of our family members (and this isn't even all of them!)

Meeting Pop-Pop (Dustin's Dad)

There were aunts to meet...Great Aunt Sally (or Sasa as we call her).

Great Aunt Betty Sue.

Uncles to meet...Great Uncle Jeff

...and Great Uncle Wayne.

Cousin's to meet...Ashley...

...And Chloe.
And of course, his one great-grandparent...Nanny.

Even Amos (my parents' dog) wanted to meet him.

We're beyond thankful for the amazing time that it was and our hearts are so full with the love that was poured out on our Little Man. Can't wait to til his first Christmas when he gets to spend it with Grandmama & Grandiddy, Uncle Nick, and Ga-maw & Pop-Pop.

{this moment}

2010-12-03T12:05:00.001-05:00

Fuzzy Wuzzy Was A Bear

2010-11-23T08:20:00.000-05:00

Don't you just want to eat those sweet little cheeks?

Did I Mention I Love Fall?

2010-11-22T09:06:00.003-05:00

I just can't get enough of the beautiful fall leaves that are still fluttering to the ground. I also can't believe that it's already Thanksgiving week and our Little Man is already a month old. Time is flying by so quickly that it's hard to hold onto everything.

If it seems that I've been somewhat absent from this space, it's because I'm soaking up every moment with our Little Man. Don't fret, though. I'm not vacating the premises or anything. Just devoting more time to watching our boy grow. And of course, you all will be able to see that process through the many photos that I'll share. The posts will just be a bit more sporadic.

It's such a beautiful time of year to remember to say thanks. After all, we have much to be thankful for. During these major changes in my life, it's hard not to be overwhelmed. And yet, I find the Lord constantly strengthening me with each moment...even during those 2 AM feedings. I'm so thankful for His guidance and reassurance that He has called me to this beautiful role of motherhood and that He will guide and direct me and Dustin to raise this child in such a way that brings Him glory. I'm also thankful for the amazing husband that I have who is right by my side being the daddy and husband God is calling him to be. Each moment we're experiencing is beautiful and totally worth it.

So now I ask you, what are you thankful for? What beautiful things are happening in your life?

Rainy Day

2010-11-16T15:49:00.002-05:00

Everyone needs a rainy day every now and then...especially a brisk, autumn one.

Snuggle

2010-11-09T10:32:00.003-05:00

Sweet Lil Monkey

2010-11-07T15:05:00.003-05:00

Meeting the Family

2010-11-06T15:38:00.002-04:00

For the past 3 weeks we've been so blessed to have our beautiful family members here to help out after our Little Man's birth. My parents, little brother, and Dustin's mom were all so excited to spend time with us and give Little Man lots of lovin'.

Ethan & his Grandmama (my Mom).

Ethan and his Grandiddy (my Dad).

Ethan and his Uncle Nick (my Lil' Bro).

Ethan and his GaMa (Dustin's Mom).

We can't wait for our other family members to meet him during Thanksgiving. There are so many wonderful people out there who want to show tons of lovin' and give lots of hugs and kisses to our sweet Little Man.

A Proud Daddy

2010-11-01T09:30:00.003-04:00

Each moment is so beautiful.

Happy Halloween from the Cutest Lil Pumpkin in Town

2010-10-31T15:03:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the World

2010-10-30T17:01:00.004-04:00

On October 18th at 6:04PM, our Little Man entered the world. We are beyond in love with him and eating up every moment with him. Here are a few photos of his first days here with us. His Daddy did such a great job at capturing these beautiful moments. Many more to come...

Oh October, How I Love Thee

2010-10-16T10:37:00.002-04:00

Last weekend we made our way to the pumpkin patch. It was a delightful morning romp around the patch before the unusually warm weather crept into Indiana. The bit of Fall fresh air was just what we needed and it was quite fun to pick our yearly pumpkin and pick a pumpkin for our Little Man (who will be here oh so soon, I might add).

Picking a pumpkin for our Little Man.

{this moment}

2010-10-15T09:40:00.002-04:00

A Baby Blue Bird Shower

2010-10-12T08:51:00.003-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, a group of dear friends from church threw us a baby shower. It was beyond anything I could imagine a sweet shower could be for a little boy on the way. It had a baby blue bird theme and as you can see here, the details were so "tweet."

Every August Wedding Must Involve a Stop at the Local Ice Cream Stand

2010-10-01T08:30:00.002-04:00

Back in August, I was able to shoot this lovely couple's wedding. After filtering through the thousands (I'm not kidding) of photos, I decided to share my favorite shots from a local ice cream stand that we stopped at before the reception. Mrs. Curl Ice Cream is absolutely stupendous and the perfect location for such a sweet photo shoot.

A Community of Art

2010-09-30T12:08:00.000-04:00

For those of you in the Indianapolis area, you won't want to miss this event. Friendship For The Arts is a grass roots event birthed out of a belief that art is worth appreciating and a valuable expression for our community. This event will feature artists from all over the south side of Indianapolis in the area of visual, performing, and culinary arts. Click Here for more info.

Baby Bump Update - 36 Weeks

2010-09-29T12:16:00.002-04:00

It's time for a Baby Bump Update.
36 weeks along...only 4 more weeks til our due date.

Today

2010-09-28T12:40:00.003-04:00

Today we are 36 weeks along in our pregnancy.
Today we attend our last child-birthing course.
Today we begin the very real countdown (only 28 days til the due date) of the birth of our son.
Today I'm anticipating the excitement of motherhood.
Today I'm thankful for the blessing of this Little Man that we call Ethan.
Today...is a good day.

Tomorrow I will have a Baby Bump photo update for you all. This basketball has definitely changed into a watermelon that seems to be pointing down a bit more. Perhaps that's a sign that our Little Man will be here before the due date!

Sure Doesn't Feel Like Fall

2010-09-22T15:51:00.004-04:00

But that doesn't mean I can't make our home look like it. One of the things I've been really excited about (other than the 5,000 other wonderful things going on in our lives) is decorating our new home for all of the fabulous seasons and holidays that are on their way. This weekend I pulled out our big tub of Fall decor and various Fall wreathes and got to work making our home feel and smell like Fall. Here is just a glimpse of the Autumnal goodness.

Happy Fall All! What kinds of things are you doing to liven up your home for this festive and changing season?

Around the House Saturdays: Kate's Country Home Edition

2010-09-18T08:55:00.002-04:00

You know how there are some people in your life that you are just amazed at how similar they are to you (or you are to them) and it's as if you've known one another forever? Well, I have a dear, dear friend who dropped into my life about two years ago and her name is Kate. And although we don't live as close to one another as we used to, it's always such a treat to visit her and her hubby in their fabulous country home and pick up where we last started.

Which is why I decided to share some of the sweet little details of her home with you on this fabulous (almost) Fall Saturday morning. The fun thing about all of these shots is that they were taken with the Hipstamatic App on my iPhone. I'm thankful that when I forget to carry my camera along with me on a trip, I can always count on my phone to do the work for me.

{this moment}

2010-09-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

A Notion or Two: August Block

2010-09-14T13:49:00.002-04:00

August was my month for the fabulous A Notion or Two Quilting Bee. Each member had to create two (2) Quarter Log Cabin blocks. I'm super excited about all of the soft blues and natural tans that are in the fabrics of these blocks. The fabrics used are Timber by Jessica Levitt and Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey. I typically do quilts that are bright and vibrant, but I'm loving how calming and subdued these fabrics are. Once it's finished, this quilt will be draped over the futon in our Little Man's room.

Print Is Not Dead

2010-09-13T09:26:00.001-04:00

Must get my hands on this magazine soon. Thanks for sharing it with us, design*sponge.

A Hint of Fall

2010-09-07T11:53:00.002-04:00

We've done it. We've made one of two annual adventures to the fabulous Apple Works. You may remember how wonderful this place is from here, here, here or even here. Last weekend, they were having a local artists' fair and with the cooler weather and the fact that Honey Crisp Apples are currently in season, we couldn't pass it up.

Walking around and visiting the local vendors was quite a thrill and filled with many "ooohs" and "aaahs."

We met a kind, older gentlemen who was a carpenter and just couldn't pass up buying our Little Man a wooden race car.

Right next to his booth was another carpenter who created some of the most amazing puzzles and wood carvings.
If you look to the right of this giraffe family, you can see part of the puzzle we got for Little Man. It's a Mama Elephant with her baby.

And of course, we had to make it into the general store to peruse their display of tasty treats.

I just can't wait to go back to make a visit to the pumpkin patch. Of course, by then, I'll have a tummy the size of the Great Pumpkin, but it will make the trip that much better.

{this moment}

2010-09-03T13:12:00.002-04:00

Baby Bump Update - 32 Weeks

2010-09-01T17:03:00.003-04:00

Just a little update on the growth of our Little Man.
It's hard to believe that we only have 8 weeks left!

A Hankerin'

2010-08-27T15:43:00.000-04:00

The other day I really wanted fried zucchini fritters. Call it what you want...a pregnancy craving...a desire to eat good ol' home-cookin'...you can even call it crazy.

So what did I do? I went to the grocery, picked up two very yummy Indiana home-grown zucchinis, a head of lettuce for a salad for my Hubby and a gallon of milk.

I absolutely giddy when I arrived home. I changed out of my work clothes into my comfy clothes (which for 31 week prego chick is a loose pair of PJ pants and one of my Hubby's T-shirts) and pulled out this fabulous cookbook. As I skimmed the ingredients, I realized I didn't have one important part...the Parmesan cheese. For half a second I thought, I can make them without it. Who needs Parmesan cheese anyway? Until I read how much cheese it called for. Half a cup? Yum...yeah, gonna need to go back to the grocery. That's right friends. I could have just called it quits. Fixed the zucchini another way...flour battered and fried...sauteed in olive oil. But no. This woman wanted some zucchini fritters. So, I hopped in the car and went and bought me some good ol' Parmesan cheese. I don't think I've ever walked into the grocery with such determination/frustration in my life. Thankfully, the self-checkout didn't give me any flack and I was in and out of there within 2 minutes.

When I returned home, the madness began. The zucchini was shredded. The ingredients were all mixed together. And the olive oil was nice and hot. I also fixed some yummy panko-crusted rosemary chicken to go with the fritters. AND because I know my Hubby so well, I fixed him a baked potato and salad because, well, let's be honest, the man hates zucchini...which I'm fine with because it means more for me.

Now, dear friend, if you're still reading this (because I really am blabbering a bit) it may not seem like a huge deal to fix a yummy home-cooked dinner for me and my Hubby. But you see, this was a Monday night. And Monday nights are what we called OYO (on your own) nights in the Pead home. Why you ask? Because my Hubby has worship team practice on Monday nights and doesn't get home until about 8pm. Thus, the whole eat whatever you want for dinner that night because we're going to get home at different times and one of us can't wait that long to eat dinner (I'm referencing myself here).

Thankfully, I had plenty of fruit to munch on, not to mention the biggest burst of energy I've had in quite some time after a long Monday at the office, while making this amazing dinner.

Oh friends, it was such a happy feeling when my Hubby got home to a house that smelled of delicious food and a table set for two. To me, there's nothing better. And boy was dinner amazing. I even made these fabulous cookies afterwards for us to enjoy as dessert.

Sadly, I don't have any photos of the food before it was devoured. But do know, friend, that it was tasty and it was a very relaxing Monday evening.

Patrick & Tori Married

2010-08-26T14:59:00.003-04:00

Here's a little sneak peek of this sweet summer wedding of this darling couple. Can't wait to share more!

Just When I Think...

2010-08-24T14:39:00.002-04:00

...Anthropologie couldn't get anymore creative...
...they do something amazing like this.
*Swoon*

Rest

2010-08-23T12:22:00.002-04:00

Goodness, has August flown by. I can't believe this is the beginning of the last full week of this month. In all the craziness that has been this month, I could really use some rest. Seems like this guy has the right idea.

Around the House Saturdays: Beach Decor Edition

2010-08-21T12:45:00.002-04:00

It's August, which means the summer is drawing to a close. When I was growing up, my family and I would take at least one week and head to the beach for some good ol' sand and swimming. Unfortunately, this year the Hubby and I were unable to make it to the shore. But one of the ways I've found to cope with missing the ocean is to have beach/coastal items around the house.

Recently, I read a post from the fabulous Lisa Leonard of Lisa Leonard Designs where she was highlighting some of the beach accessories in her new home and I thought I would share them with you (with her permission, of course).

Photo Courtesy of Lisa Leonard.

When it comes to beach decor, I think the more subtle and natural, the better.

For other inspiring beach/coastal home decor items, check out these sites:
Cottage & Bungalow
Outer Banks Trading Group
Pottery Barn
Seaside Inspired

Have a great weekend! And if you happen to live near the ocean, please dip your toes in the water for me.

{this moment}

2010-08-20T08:47:00.001-04:00

Photo Archives

2010-08-17T14:50:00.001-04:00

I was archiving some photos the other day, when I stumbled upon this one of my Lil' Bro. He's gotta be the coolest guy I know (other than my Hubby of course). I can't wait for our Little Man to call him Uncle Nick. Love ya Lil' Bro!

For My Mumma

2010-08-16T08:00:00.002-04:00

Little Birds Sing Such Sweet Tunes

2010-08-15T12:10:00.003-04:00

I have a very delightful friend, who in just a few short weeks, will be blessed with her 5th child. This friend of mine absolutely loves home-made, hand-made gifts and she's a sucker for Anna Maria Horner and Heather Bailey fabrics.

So when I was invited to a baby shower for her, I knew exactly what to make for her and sweet little girl on the way.

I found this adorable mobile in Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings and knew it would be perfect. I modified it a bit by not using the lampshade as the primary hanging piece, but I think the simplicity of it is absolutely perfect for Kellie and her little one.
Each little bird is so delicate and adorable. It was so fun to go through my basket of scraps and find the perfect fabric swatches for this. And I just knew that Kellie would love it the moment she opened it.

I love it so much that I'm thinking about making a little boy version for our Little Man. Anyone have any ideas of what I could use instead of birds? Or would birds work if I used blues, greens and yellows? I'd love to hear your feedback.

{this moment}

2010-08-13T09:02:00.002-04:00

Some Nicey Jane for a Nicey Girl

2010-08-09T13:00:00.003-04:00

This beautiful Momma-To-Be had the most terrific baby shower this weekend and I'm so excited to finally share what I made for her beautiful little girl who will be here at the beginning of October. The theme of her shower centered around Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane fabric, cupcakes, rock candy and salt water taffy. It was absolutely fabulous. And since I knew how much Stacy loves Nicey Jane (even so much as to use it at a central design pattern in the baby's nursery) I thought that a quilt using that fabric would be perfect for her.

I was so thrilled that I had a nice amount of this floral-filled fabric in my stash, as well as yards upon yards of this beautiful eyelet fabric to pair it with.

Around the House Saturdays: Kitchen Edition

2010-08-07T09:12:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite rooms in our new house has to be the kitchen. Main reason why? It has a window! For the past 4 years, every place the Hubby and I have lived has not had a window in the kitchen and I always felt like I was missing out on something...especially since I grew up in a home that had a window over the kitchen sink, as well as French doors that led out into a window-filled sunroom. Well now we have a window, and boy is it wonderful! The natural light that floods in just brings a smile to my face. I also love our new counter space and shelving. Here are a few photos of the fun and bright details of our lovely kitchen.

This bright red vintage table is truly an original. It was given to us by my parents and used to be in one of the rental properties that my Grandfather owned. It serves as the focal point of the room and is the main piece from which the color scheme stems.

This corner right by the kitchen table is the perfect spot for our "sassy duck" high chair. I can't wait 'til all three of us sit around this table and enjoy a meal together.

The sunshine through the window just makes these pitchers glow. Believe it or not, the green one was once a flower vase and the blue was was found at a flea market for $2.

These matryoshka dolls are authentic dolls from Russia. Our good friend David, who is a missionary over there, gave them to us as a housewarming gift. Apparently, they have a really unique design that he had never seen before and he knew that we would love them. Umm...yeah!

From the moment I saw these colorful tins in IKEA, I knew we just had to have them in the kitchen. They are absolutely perfect up against the brightly painted walls. By the way, the kitchen was this color when we moved in. Other than the living room, it's the only room that we kept as its original color. I mean, who couldn't resist such vibrant colored walls to accompany vibrant colored accessories and knick-knacks?

Every kitchen must have a collection of aprons. I love all of these because they consist of aprons from antique stores, Anthropologie, Paper Source, and ones made by me and my Mom. I try to rotate which one I wear so each gets equal loving.

I love the placement of our sink. It has plenty of counter space around all sides, making it easy to wash, prep, and serve food. The tiled countertops and backsplash are really nice as well because it's so easy to clean and you can set hot pots and pans right on the tiles without worrying about damaging the surface.

And of course, every kitchen must come complete with Anthropologie oven mits and hot pads. The bright florals and fun applique designs make pulling goodies from the oven that much more fun. Just remember, it's ok to get them dirty. That's part of having a cute, yet functional, kitchen.

I learned long ago that utensils of all sorts should be stored in non-traditional containers (thanks Mom). This just happens to be a large metal pitcher that holds things quite nicely. I've also been told that if I ever wanted to serve beverages from this container, that it would stay chilled much longer than a ceremic or glass pitcher. Whodathunk?

More non-tradtional containers for holding kitchen linens. How else would I show off these great vessels? They can't just hide away in a cupboard somewhere.

This is a not-so-sexy shot of the stove and counters. If you look closely at the bottom of the photo, you can see the hardwood floors that extend into the kitchen from the living room. I absolutely love it! It's like living in an old farmhouse (kinda like this one).

This was a fabulous find from one of our favorite antique stores that sadly is not open anymore. It's actually screenprinted on a sturdy piece of linen and I think it really completes this corner of the room.

This is another print that has always hung my kitchen since I moved outta my parents house (that's going on 7 years now). My Mom found it in my Grandpa's attic, and knowing how much I love Toulouse-Lautrec prints, sent it to me when I lived in Texas. I love how we've been able to make it work in every kitchen that we've had.

And of course, a tour of our kitchen would not be complete without showing off one of our fun cake stands. I think my favorite part about this piece is that it actually gets used and doesn't just sit on the table to look pretty.

{this moment}

2010-08-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

Baby Bump Update - 28 Weeks

2010-08-05T13:40:00.004-04:00

Here's a little Baby Bump update for y'all. I can't believe we're at 28 weeks already! Can't wait to meet our Little Man in just 12 weeks.

Because Sometimes That's Just How You Feel

2010-08-03T12:50:00.003-04:00

Need I say more? I think this photo pretty much sums it up.