Its Friday-friidaaay and Thankful Thursday (Rolled into one)

There are days and moments that being a parent is not easy. Like the day a couple of weeks ago I told a friend I was going to go INSANE if I didn't get some real sleep.

(Her crinkle-nose-smile this morning when we were playing)
Luckily, with the ebb and flow of things, sleep has returned. I know it will be gone another time again-but for now things are good. Even with difficult times, Isabella has brought so much joy to my life. I was missing her the other night after she went to bed. When she woke up crying in the morning for someone to get her out of bed, I went in, she stopped crying, and as clear as day she said "hi!" with a big smile on her face. So our new word is hi, and I've heard it a lot lately.

Lately I've been thankful for:
*Open windows and cool breezes in our home
*More time outside
*Watching the wonder on Isabella's face as she takes in the world at the park, grocery store, watching out our front windows...
*Running
*Family that's willing to keep Isabella
*New words
*Friends

Isabella and I enjoyed a bagel, latte, and yogurt at panera this morning. She was the star of a table with some old men having coffee, smiling and babbling to them. Then we were off to go by the office, the bank, and later to SAM's, party galaxy, and target. She was a trooper for *most* of the errands. After a while she gets tired of being in the stroller and will attempt to stand up in it. At that point, I switched her to a sling and she was content to just be close to me. We've been preparing for Michael's 30th birthday bash tomorrow night and are looking forward to celebrating with friends.


Isabella got a birthday present in the mail today from my best friend in New Jersey. It is a super cute grocery set with milk, veggies, and fruit. She loved it! My favorite one is a banana with velcro you can peel and repeel.

I've been feeling nostalgic thinking about this time last year how I was in my final weeks of pregnancy and also in preparing for her upcoming first birthday. Every time I think how I can't believe my baby is almost one, I am reminded of how quickly time passes and the importance of being present in each moment with her and soaking it all in.

After Daddy got home tonight we loaded up and ran by the Patty Wagon to grab a burger and fries to share and headed to the lake. (Their burgers and fries are delicious, so check them out!)
It was wonderful to be together outside.






Have a great weekend!

Wednesday Highchair Talk

Please understand if during conversation I bust out phrases such as "MaMAA", "Dada", "Noooooo", or "baababa". Here is a glimpse into my Wednesday post lunch time:

Favorites from this week

Here are some of our adventures this week:

More box fun.
Monday she played in the box while I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher.


Then we enjoyed a picnic outside and amazing weather!


After our picnic we went to barnes and noble to read books. It was time for a new bedtime book. We got the Going to bed book. Which ends with "the moon is high, the sea is deep, they rock and rock and rock to sleep." So sweet! My new favorite.


Mimi brought by a cute costume for our sweet little lady.


I'm loving babies in jeans.


Wednesdays we keep Ava.
Notice their faces...who took a toy from who in this picture?


We played at the park today. I felt brave for venturing to the park with two little kiddos.


My favorite picture of the week so far!
Both girls had a good time at the park and no one was injured, so I feel it was a success!

Happy Wednesday!

For many years my family has gone to the arts festival at OCCC labor day weekend. One evening the OKC philharmonic plays followed by fireworks. Typically it was on Saturday night, so after marrying Michael we missed some years depending on what time the OU game was. But the last two years it was moved to Sunday night. Last year I went with my mom and sister, when I was very pregnant.

We decided to go this year to cap off Michael's birthday night.

It was a little chilly in the shade, so Iz spent some time in Daddy's sweatshirt while we waited on our curly fries and shrimp basket.


Waiting for the music and playing with Mimi's phone.


I love her nose-crinkle-smiles.




Isabella had a wardrobe change into her jammies.


We didn't stay for the whole thing and missed the fireworks, but I'm glad we ending up going. I loved having Isabella there with us and getting to share that time with her. The philharmonic was great and they had a guest singer who had sang on Broadway in Phantom, as the phantom. I love that musical and he was excellent!

Isabella got to stay up extra late as special treat for Daddy's birthday. She apparently did not realize this was a special treat, was exhausted, and screamed most of the way home. We tried music, playing, singing, to get her to stop crying. The one song that she stopped crying for was 'Happy Birthday'. Too bad it is such a short song. I bet we sang happy birthday 40 times! :) Ah, the cost of making memories!

Weekending it

With the anticipation of the weekend on Friday I usually kick it in to high gear and get our house clean and laundry done during Isabella's naps. But I wasn't feeling it this time. We didn't have any dates with friends or lunches set up. So we spent the day running errands, shopping, and playing at home. I even napped while Isabella napped for a little bit. I'm enjoying our messy home and the time we've spent together.


Isabella got a birthday gift in the mail Friday. The box it came in is pretty fun!




Love this shot!


This is what was actually in the box. Thanks so much Nana and Cappy!

-Saturday we had a family breakfast at Panera. We rolled right out of bed and went.

So don't judge...


Daddy is so happy OU football is back! BOOMER SOONER!

That afternoon we decided to check out a spray ground that turns out was only 2 miles from our house. Too bad the last day of the season is Monday, but now we know for next year.









We had one tired baby on the way home.


*While Michael was away at the OU game I began some 1st birthday decoration fun with my mom and sister.

Today is Michael's 30th birthday! (30, flirty, and thriving! Name that movie? One of my favs!)

*Our bandit out to lunch for Michael's birthday.


Happy Birthday Michael! We love you so much!! There will be more celebrations to come!
(And if your recipe calls for spraying your bundt pan do it...or you will have cake crumbles.)

I love our weekends together! It is great being together whether we are out around together or just at home. The weather has been gorgeous today. It was awesome running weather this morning and I was finally able to push harder and run faster.
We are off for some more fun to the OCCC arts festival!
Happy weekend!

Swing and be happy

There have been some rough times this week, but my favorite part of today was watching my girl on her first swing ride. I loved seeing her smile!

Here is a sneak peek of some pictures my friend took of isabella for her birthday invitation. I love how she captured her joyful spirit!








"I'm having a party! YAY!"

Saturday Snapshots

Headed out for a run


Isabella had her yogurt with Daddy while I was gone


Then it was coffee and donuts for the grown ups in the house


Michael headed out to a meeting. While I was in the bathroom I heard Isabella in the laundry room...I found her like this. Surrounded by cupcake papers and eating one. She looked so cute and busted when I found her, I tried to not laugh too hard.


Afternoon "swim" time!




My MIL called and asked if I wanted to go out for a pedicure. Yes, Please! And Thank you!!


My family met up for dinner in El Reno at our fav onion burger place. Saturday would have been my grandad Hartman's 85th birthday. Hartman's have been eating at Johnnies for 5 generations now.

Our evening ended with the Roberts calling on us with cupcakes from cuppies and joe! (any time they come to visit in the evening they ask if they can come callin' or we call them and say "come callin' on us!").

That wasn't everything we did...just a few snapshots. There were naps, a mini photo shoot for Iz, laundry folded, and so on. It was a good day!

Thankful Thursday

My girl was extra cuddly this morning and wanted to just be held and rocked, rather than play. (This was prior to our hour nap battle). She is not always cuddly for long periods of time these days so I was happy to soak in a 20 minute rocking. She wasn't going to sleep or wild with play, she was just happy to be held by me.

During this I was reminded of the many times I sat in her rocker before she was born. I would go in there during the night when I couldn't sleep, in the wee hours of the morning when my body was too uncomfortable to lay anymore, and when I got home from work...it was a frequent ritual. I would sit in there, my favorite place in the house, and "ponder things in my heart". I would stare at the crib graciously purchased for our baby by Michael's parents. I would stare at the bedding lovingly made by my Mom. I would dream of holding my baby and her sleeping in this room marked with love and gifts by so many people who already loved her before she was born. My heart felt so full and I was thankful for so many things.

A year later, looking around her room, while rocking the gift I prayed for, I still feel that fullness in my heart and even more.