I'm wishing for an extra Saturday as this weekend is coming to a close. I'd love another day to be quiet, in pajamas, and home with my little family. We went out Friday night for a family dinner and Isabella was a complete hooligan the entire time. We were that family that people in the restaurant are looking at and thinking "why do they come out in public?!" OK- so maybe that's a bit extreme, but you know what I mean. Our little girl is spunky, full of energy, cutting two teeth, and did not feel well off and on this weekend- which comes to a grand culmination of fussiness and crying.

She does love a good splash in the bath.

 I am feeling worn out this weekend...but happy seeing her smiling face in this picture. 

 I did slip away Saturday during morning nap for some starbucks, an awesome pedicure, and some good mom/friend/life talk. It was so good for me, and I'm loving my aphrodite's pink nightie colored toes. (I'd love to meet someone that comes up with the names for nail and paint colors...what fun creative people they must be!)

I've been feeling a bit discouraged about some things this weekend-  by some things that are in my control and other things impacting the lives of people I care about. Tonight, I went out for a run and did some soul searching. I had a talk with Michael...and renewed my outlook. My mantra for the week is going to be I have enough time to do the things I need and want do to, it just depends on how I prioritize my time. (Unless, of course, my child is sick or extra clingy, and I'm too exhausted to get things done when I do have the chance, and then I need to be flexible and gracious with myself). I'm ready to hit the ground running this week, be more patient, and move forward to things I want to accomplish.

The last of our trip

 The wind is howling outside and the rain keeps coming down. It has been the perfect morning for snuggling with my girl, a hot drink, candles, and now nap time for Isabella. We are waiting on Michael to get home from his overnight business trip and I'm hoping the weather doesn't give him any delays.  I've been organizing pictures and here is the last of our trip to New Jersey.

 There were several parks close to Emily's house so a couple days we walked to the park to play.

 Well, we walked and the kids all rode on something. Iz loved riding in this car, complete with a steering wheel and a horn that honks...she may "need" one of her own.

 Our last day we hung out in the morning then headed to the coast to ride a ferry to see the statue of liberty. 

(Lately I have been explaining lots of new things to Isabella. Such as: "we are going on an airplane", "we are going to ride on a big boat", "that's a helicopter", and today- "that's just thunder, its OK". Some of these things I show her pictures of, and it seems to make sense to her, she nods and repeats the word, but telling a 17 month old about thunder and lightening is kind of tricky. But her version of the word helicopter is super cute.)

 We were so close to Manhattan I could feel the energy of the city. I was a little sad then that we had decided not to go into the city, even though the reality of doing that on a winter day with three kids would not be easy. We will be back some other time.

 Lady Liberty

The sunset was great on our way home, and Isabella went to sleep about 30 minutes into the flight. Coming home went great for us, but Michelle started throwing up towards the end of the flight. And then once we were home I started in the night. So it was a trip that began with Isabella being sick and then me once we were home, but the parts in the middle were all great. :) The time with friends was great for me and I got some spiritual, cooking, and mothering inspiration. Isn't that the great thing about good friends? Learning, sharing, and inspiring each other to be our best selves. 

I'm looking forward some puddle splashing later today. Happy rainy Thursday!

A random Tuesday catch up via pics from my phone

 Friday, we kicked off the weekend fun with a trip to cuppies and joe for a cupcake/cookies and milk date. It was a little surreal, being there with my daughter and her sitting up at a big table by herself. I'm still taken back sometime by this journey I am on of being a mama to a little girl. I'm excited about the adventures we will have.

 Saturday night sunset

 Playing at the Lake on Sunday night

 Isabella and Michael 

 Monday, Michelle and I had our "goals accountability meeting" over cupcakes. We have been meeting once a month to review how we did the previous month with things we want to accomplish and discuss what we want to accomplish in the coming month. If we don't finish in time we have to cancel on the other one. I didn't think this would really work for me, but last month I had to stay up late and work all through Isabella's naps the weekend before our meeting to get everything done, and it actually motivated me.

 Tuesday: For the parts of motherhood that are hard and stressful, equally, and even more so, there are times that I feel so overwhelmed with love and joy by the blessing that is my baby girl. And not to sugar coat things because it is NOT always easy, but overall, I feel happier these days than I have ever been. I can't say how much of that is the joy I've found in motherhood, or becoming more content with life as it is now, but either way...I'll take it.

 Dinner was: baked tilapia, sweet potatoes, and kale chips.

 Isabella was a fan of the kale chips.

My current reads: Jesus Calling (a daily devotional. Love, love, love.), Loving the little years (Just finished this one. A quick read, some of it didn't fit for me, but there was also some really great practical advice and reminders about these fleeting early years of mothering little ones.), Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (this month's book club pick, just got and haven't started yet), the Christian Atheist (Our ladies bible class is doing this book at church. I read the first 44 pages today...it is SO good!), and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (still slowly making my way through the HP series).

March 1st

There are some things in life you can count on, God, friends, sunshine, vanilla coke, 5:00....
I know that every work day, as close to 5 as he can, Michael will be trying to head home from work. There are lots of things in life you can't always count on. Traffic, a new recipe, or your child's mood or sleep schedule. And when Isabella is super cranky/cutting teeth/fussy/idon'tknowwhattheproblemis and we have a ways to go until Daddy gets home, I can count on her being happier outside. We've had some cranky days this week where she screams and cries and asks me to wear her in the baby carrier. On a day like that this week when other things I had tried weren't working, it was time to try going outside. We walked across the street to the park.

 Ah...much better. 

(Until I had to carry her home crying because she didn't want to leave. But it was a happy 30 minutes!)

 I can see one canine tooth cutting through, hopefully its out soon!

March first was a gorgeous 78 degrees.

 We had a picnic at the lake, blew bubbles, ran, played at the playground, and got sunburns. *Mother of the year award*

Thanks for the sunburn mom...if feels awesome. 

Happy March!

17 Months

Isabella was 17 months on the 23rd! It has been a busy month of travel and playing with friends. Two new things she started saying this month are 'Bless you' and 'Michael'.  Her hair is growing longer and is often a curly, matted mess. Generally she is happy and sleeps well.

 17 Month Picture

 On her 17 month birthday we had errands to run, but ended with playing at the park at our library.

 

At the zoo last Wednesday with Ava. They held hands in the car and walking around at the zoo.  

 Swimming at a hotel this weekend. 

It has been such a gift watching the world unfold through my little girl's eyes, as she gains more awareness and knowledge about the things around her. I am loving the new words she says, the more she understands of what I say, and reading books, saying prayers, and exploring parks together.

The streets of philadelphia

Friday our friend Michelle was flying in for the rest of the weekend. She was flying in to the Philly airport so we left earlier in the morning to go to Philly. We went to the Reading Market.

 It is an awesome market with fresh flowers, fish, vegetables, honey, food stands, bakeries, and more.

 

We shared a delicious crepe and the kids had pizza.

We shared some ice cream from Bassets "America's oldest ice cream company".  You can see Isabella's chocolate ice cream beard in this picture. Afterward we headed to the airport to pick up Michelle.

Later we headed to check out the rivals in Philly cheesesteaks: Geno's

vs. Pat's King of Steaks

My vote goes to Pat's!

Then we were off to see some history. We visited Independence hall, in which both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were drafted and signed.

Emily wrangled the kids so Michelle and I could hear the tour.

And we stopped by the liberty bell.

Walking the streets of Philadelphia....

 We had a fun day seeing some of the sights of Philadelphia before driving back to NJ. Isabella traveled well and got to add a new state to her list of travels.

February Project: Making sandwich bread

Emily and I usually cook when we are together and she has been making her own sandwich bread for the past few months. I had chosen "make sandwich bread" for my February DIY project for this year, and so it was perfect to do while on my trip.

The dough is first made into to separate parts. The mixture in this bowl is called the biga.
2 C bread flour, 1 C warm water, 1/2 t of instant or rapid rise yeast.

This mixture is called the soaker. 3 C whole wheat flour, 1/2 C wheat germ, 2 C milk. Both of these mixtures rise/sit overnight.

 

The next day you add these ingredients to a bowl with both of the mixtures: 1/4 C honey, 3 t salt, 2 t rapid rise yeast, 8 T butter. 

 

Mix together with the dough hook attachment.

Needing the bread

Flattening and shaping to roll the dough into loaves.

Dough rolled and ready to bake.

Aaaaand Boom. Done. Fresh bread.

 I must say, there is nothing quite like fresh, warm, homemade bread out of the oven topped with nutella! The bread was delicious. The recipe is for whole wheat bread from a Cook's Illustrated magazine. I loved the bread, liked knowing what all was in it, and that it was preservative free. The recipe was a bit involved with starting the night before, and you need about a 5 hour stretch that you will be home the next day to complete the steps. I didn't include all of the steps in this post. But all in all, I thought it was worth it, and hope to try it on my own next week.