welcome december

hi december!

i am surprisingly glad you are here- so much to look forward to this month

we have been getting ready for christmas here at our house! wrapped presents in front of the fireplace yesterday, have the tree up, and the lights are on the house

there is something so magical about the feeling of christmas

N is about to turn 7 months old!! what?! where does the time go- he is still my baby even if people think he looks more like a toddler because he is such a big boy

i am so happy he loves to be held by his mama, my biceps have been thanking me as well- i don't think i have ever been this strong in my entire life.

still don't have much snow in our part of the world, which i don't mind- however i am keeping my fingers crossed we get a little bit by christmas. . . but not enough to make the roads bad at all. i can hardly stand driving when the roads are bad, my stress level goes through the roof.

for those of you wondering my striped shirt is from jcrew

photoshoot at the galleria

thanks to kadi tiede for such an amazing photoshoot

it is amazing how fast these little ones grow up, it is so important to me to capture each stage so that i never forget the details and feelings of this stage in my life. chubby fingers, toothless smiles, happiness, and overflowing love.

shopping day

we can't help ourselves from the good deals

i refuse to shop on thanksgiving.. holidays are to be spent with family

the crowds can be a little chaotic, but if you go into it with a good attitude and a lot of patience, you'll have a great time!

^^ the perfect excuse to find a quiet place away from the crowds and let N eat lunch

10 year tradition

every year we write our predictions for the upcoming year and read the letters we wrote for the current year... i did pretty good last year! we had to do them a little early this year since the holidays just keep getting busier as our families expand


we always take a picture together... except for the first time in 10 years, we botched it and didn't get one (i think we were all so distracted that a baby was present at the ceremonial prediction writing this year)

who would have thought back when we were 15, that 10 years later we would be sitting where we are.

since 2015 is the year of the selfie, we thought it appropriate to take a selfie that day to at least capture a remembrance of the day

thanksgiving is just around the corner, i hope you all have a wonderful day with your loved ones!

sitting

its official we have a sitter

and just in time for thanksgiving!

 ^we got him a tree for his nursery, he loves to sit and look at the lights- i am kind of obsessed with it too Nash, despite it only having 3 ornaments...

^^ the amusement these two can get out of a hanger is impressive!! [and ignore the laundry ;)]

shopping buddy

i have the best shopping buddy

he never lets me linger in one section too long, which helps me stay focused on what i am actually shopping for

my cart is always clean and tidy because of him; sorry target for using half a tub of antibacterial cart wipes every time we visit.... and thanks nash for your grabby hands and making me keep my cart so organized so you can't get into anything

one of "those" days

i love my job so much

i love my schedule

i don't mind working weekends, this way i can be home during the week with nash and then he can have some quality time with his papa on weekends.

today was one of those days at home though that by 2pm i was like... is it bath time and time to get ready for bed yet?!

nash had had enough of his toys, his playmat, his jumparoo, swing, books, stroller etc.

so we sat on the floor in his nursery for a good hour just talking and playing around. from him gabbing at himself in the mirror, to practicing rolling over, to me trying 100 different ways to make him laugh.

i would not trade my days at home with my baby for anything. even if it was one of "those" days. the days where i didn't brush my teeth until noon, never got my contacts in, or hair brushed. but i know that someday i will look back and wish i could re live it. these are truly the best days, regardless of the tiredness and frustration that sometimes creeps in.

ps- i can't believe its already october!

summer is no more

everyone seems to think i pulled out my mittens a little to soon this year.

but i tell you what, 45 degrees is cold! especially when there is a cold breeze.

i feel that if i need to bundle up in the evening to stay warm, baby needs to be bundled up too.

this car seat cover is awesome! it keeps nash warm without having to dress him in 5 layers.

me and nash will stay nice and toasty this fall in our jackets and mittens, while the rest of the city tries to ignore the fact that summer is over and freeze their arms off in t-shirts!

sunshine + dogs

with the cooler weather upon us, we have been making it an evening routine to bring mac to the dog park.

he lives for the cooler weather, playing with other dogs, and having the freedom of a few acres to run and sniff around.

mac isn't the only one who is adoring this weather...

the warm sun on my face, a crisp fall breeze, my snuggly baby in my arms, and my husband smiling from ear to ear because he feels the same immense happiness in this moment that i do. my heart is so full.

tonight was one of those nights where my heart felt still in the moment. i had this inner peace that i am exactly where i am suppose to be in life. gratitude to our Lord for blessing me with my family and  health.

i am trying hard every morning to wake up with an optimistic attitude, be present in the day, and enjoy the small things. i encourage you all to do the same. we can't choose our situation, but we can choose our attitude. (someone remind me of this during difficult times) it can be so easy to get wrapped up in the unimportant things in life.

i have found the happier i am, the more i am able to make others happy. its a wonderful vicious cycle to be in.

if only every evening could be filled with sunshine and dogs..

growing love

i swore when i married nick that there was no way i could ever love him more then i did in that moment.

i have been proven wrong.

my love for nick has grown every day since we have been married. his patience, forgiveness, and love for our family is absolutely amazing.

and now... seeing him be such an amazing father, has only deepened this love

when they placed nash on my chest for the first time, my whole life changed in a moment. it was like my heart opened and it can never be closed again. 

in the first few seconds of his life, i swore there was no way possible for my heart to grow any larger or sustain any more happiness; i was bursting at the seams in love.

every day my love for him multiplies, my mind can't comprehend this kind of love. the kind that just thinking about it brings tears of joy to your eyes. i am so proud and honored to be this boys mama. i thank god every day for entrusting such a sweet boy for me to call my son.

nash alan there are no words to describe how much i love you. 

monday iPhone selfies

hi there!

happy monday from me and this cute boy in the corduroy overalls!

this week will hopefully be filled with good weather, allowing for lots of walks and playing outside.

a wisconsin wedding!

this past weekend we took a mini road trip to wisconsin to celebrate our good friends wedding.

the 5+ hour car ride was a bit stressful for nash at times, but overall he did great!

there is something so beautiful about seeing all our friends meet nash for the first time. he was such a good sport through the entire ceremony. we were thankful the reception was back at the hotel so i could sneak away and change diapers, feed him, and get away from all the chaos.

we also got to do our first photo booth as a family of 3!

i am obsessed with these boys! ^^

nothing is better than getting reunited with all your friends and getting to basque in pure happiness with your family. agh, do i sound like a broken record?! i can't help it, my heart just feels like it is going to burst.

have a great week everyone!

bumbo seat fail

i was gifted a lime green bumbo chair at my baby shower... and i have been so excited for nash to be able to sit in it. i've had it sitting out in his nursery since i was pregnant just waiting for him to be able to hold his head up so i could have him sit and play in it!

however due to some chunky legs this baby boy of mine has, it hasn't gone as smooth as i would have hoped.

i have tried multiple times to squeeze him into it, but he hates it because his legs get pinched. (i don't blame him)

nick and i tried one more time last night... and he tolerated it for about 2 minutes [enough time for me to snap this picture]

oh nash how i love your pudgy cheeks and leg rolls. i will squeeze em' all day long- even if it means my dreams of you loving your bumbo seat is shattered.

a 50th birthday celebration

my dad's 50th birthday was this past week!

what better way to celebrate than with family.... and make it a surprise!

it was so great to see the confused look on his face when he walked into the restaurant and saw my family standing there :)

happy birthday to the best dad ever. thanks for celebrating with us!

the great minnesota get together

hello! as i type this i am still recovering from all the junky food i ate at the fair... fudge puppy//cheese curds// cookies//freezie pop//endless milk.

my stomach hurts just thinking about how much i ate! but totally worth it ;)


here are some photos from our day!

it was so great having nash enjoy the day with us. his first state fair at only 4 months old... he was drooling over all the food we consumed..... you are definitely part of this family baby boy.. (or maybe its because he is starting to teeth....) either way!  this boy loves the outdoors and fresh air, me too nash, me too.

^^can't believe how well he napped in his stroller with all the noise

i think it is so important when doing activities like this with young kids to keep an open agenda and be flexible! nick and i weren't sure how the day would go, but we decided to go into it without a plan and an open mind... and it was a success!

now time to begin my 5 day juice cleanse to detoxify. (just kidding)

a weekend in san francisco!

woodfire pizza + music

every wednesday night during the summer we have the opportunity to go get a homemade woodfire pizza and enjoy a music concert.

so why not?!

 ^^ my handsome dates. everyone can bring their own chairs and blankets and beverages, side dishes, yard games etc. its like one big community picnic!

yardwork + downtown dining

since nash has been born our poor yard has not gotten any attention

we asked our in-laws if they would be able to come help us.

my mother in law spent they day inside with N and my brother in law helped outside

i was between both. . . it felt so good to get outside, get on my gardening gloves and work up a sweat under the hot summer sun. but when nash would get hungry, i was usually always ready for a break from the heat and to kick my feet up for 20 minutes... the perks of being a mama!

we went out to dinner downtown at a new restaurant.

i order bruschetta all the time; this one takes the cake for being the best i've ever had!

nick and i love eating outside on the patio's; nash snoozed right through dinner. if you look close enough you can see nick caught a group picture in the reflection behind me and N.

we are so blessed to have such a helpful family. i think our yard (and our neighbors) really appreciate it too ;)

the dog park

"finally my humans took me to my favorite place! the dog park!

all my friends had been missing me, but i told them i have a new brother to look after at home so it is hard to get out as much.

 ^^ i yelled at mom to get an action shot of me, but she didn't get my best angle

 ^ my humans

^ i had to have her take a photo of me in this luscious green "grass", i thought it really made my eyes stand out

i would have taken a selfie but my paws don't bend that way... and mom&dad refuse to get me a selfie stick :(

i see while typing this that mom still hasn't figured out the image quality issue. . .  blurry pictures don't do me justice!! i'll post again soon so you can really see how handsome i have been looking this summer.

well got to go, i hear my pool getting filled up in the backyard, time to play"

-mac

baby friend

N has a new baby friend!

neil!

congratulations to my good friend cindy on such a handsome baby boy. We swapped baby's for the photo. . . i can hardly remember Nash being that small.

i'm not sure if the light in the hospital room was too bright, but poor N wouldn't open his eyes very far haha

we are so excited to have some play dates :)

Celebrating the 4th!

happy fourth of july! we had a great day celebrating with family.  we went up to spend the day with nick's grandma as it is her birthday. we grilled brauts and snacked on yummy side dishes and desserts during the afternoon.

^^ how cute are my boys :)

we always have to dress mac for the occasion of course, you can barely see his american flag bow tie peaking out from his collar.

something about a sunflower just makes ya happy! and trips to see family these days have become quite the task with all we pack. a diaper bag (and making sure its stocked), a bag for mac (toys, food, water dish, leash, meds) and a bag for me! and we usually get sent back home with leftovers. . . i'm not complaining about those ;)

trying to get out the door on time has become quite the game, and we aren't winning. we usually start preparing 2 hours ahead of time so we can time it right with feeding N as to limit the amount of stops we have to make on the drive.

once we got home we had a picnic in our backyard, the weather was so perfect, as was the company.

i can not figure out why the picture quality on these photos is so terrible, hopefully i can figure it out soon!

and for fireworks we went to our secret parking spot and watched them in our pajama's.

and we ended the night with cuddling. it was a wonderful fourth of july!

thank you to all the brave men and women who sacrifice so much to allow us to have such freedom. i am truly blessed to live in such a wonderful country. here are the posts from our previous fourth of july's in case you want to take a trip down memory lane 2011 . 2012 . 2013 . 2014