InstaLife

INSTALIFE POSTS ARE LIFE-BASED + PHOTOS ARE DIRECTLY FROM MY INSTAGRAM FEED.

Y’all, that picture in the very first spot makes my heart so happy. My two dudes together – life really doesn’t get much better than that! Wes is in this really cute phase where anytime he sees a picture of Nate around the house (while Nate’s at work) he points to it and says, “DADA!” I mean really, I can’t even handle it. I think my ovaries may burst from that alone. (Also, the app that I use to put text on my pictures is Obaby and they’re having a really great sale that ends today! They’ve reduced the price for Obaby from $4.99 to $0.99 (80% off), and Obaby+ from $14.99 to $9.99. A really great tutorial for it can be found here on my friend Mary Beth’s blog).

Also making headlines around here are the buttons and knobs and dials and ALL THE LIGHTS in the front seat of our cars. No, I never have Wes up there while I’m driving. Yes, I totally let him climb in the front seat after we park. That smile is happening all the time when he’s up there, but also new is the fact that he’ll climb into my lap and snuggle for a while too. Color me SOLD.

Lately I’ve been planning my little tail off, working through my PowerSheets, getting home inspiration from Pottery Barn and reading as much as possible. Honestly I’m a little overwhelmed at times about all the time it may take to really dig deep and accomplish all of the goals I have for this year, but the reality is that there’s no reason to NOT get busy on it. It all goes back to not having a spirit of fear, which I totally have, but power love and self-discipline. No one’s going to do it for me, and it’s not like I’m really get that much sleep lately anyway so… 🙂

 

Sweet tea. I always love it (I actually make it with stevia or erythritol), but right now I’m in a heavy-duty LOVE phase with the stuff. Coffee will always be a top contender, but right now I’m pining for summer and spring and all of the iced tea that comes with. The weekends here have been GORGEOUS so it’s the perfect time to get out and run, then celebrate with a sweet tea afterwards (well, and a huge glass of water).

Besides coffee, tea and water I have had 3 other major vices lately: yellow roses (my favorite), candles and these ridiculous sweet potato chips. I get a container of babaganouj at the store olive bar and go to town for the best snack ever. With a jar of sweet tea, obviously. Also, have I mentioned that we have an insane number of beautiful clear glasses, and the only thing I ever drink water or tea out of is jars? I think it drives Nate crazy, but I just can’t help it. Once you drink from a jar you just can’t go back!

 

This is a teaser: I made a flourless coconut chocolate cake for a freelance piece and basically ate the entire thing myself in a matter of days. And I’m not even sorry. Be looking for this one to hit your reader soon!

Some more of my boys. I remember when Wes was just a few days and weeks old I was worried that Nate wouldn’t be able to bond with him the way that I was. I was scared that they would have this distant relationship that would have to be forced or learned. Well, I’m here to tell you that was just the hormones talking; these two together are trouble in the best way. I would be so happy to have a daughter someday, but if all God decides we should have are boys I’d be totally fine with that too.

 

Also, doesn’t Wes have the most gorgeous eyes and the cutest chin? I munch those cheeks and that chin pretty much anytime he’s awake. I’m so THAT mom.

More planning and inspiration (AND TEA!!!!)! My mom bought me that Williams-Sonoma book a while back and I’ve loved thumbing through the pages to get fresh, seasonal inspiration. It’s also kind of amazing for getting photography ideas too. And who wouldn’t want to bury their face in that plate of pasta and/or tomatoes up there? GIMME.

 

Bunker’s tail. Oh man, talk about a saga here. Basically what happened is he wagged it so hard that it got a cut, then he licked it so much it got infected. We gave him antibiotics so the infection went away, and we kept it clean the entire time too. Then he kept licking the scab off (dogs are kind of gross – sorry for the details!), so we got him a cone of shame to wear. Then he figured out how to get around the cone, and now his tail is just this sad little thing – not infected anymore, but hairless at the end. Any ideas on what to do? We love our vet but don’t have a TON of extra income to spend on a tail cast or something to keep him from going after it…

Last but not least. So I know I talk all the time about how I love motherhood and how it’s incredible – because it is. But there are times, like this entire last week, where I can’t seem to figure out how to get through to a very stubborn toddler I know. Where there are grocery store fits and screaming and crying and stiff-arming me in the car seat and all of it. And when these times come it makes me feel just so completely inadequate and unqualified to be a mother. I read the books and pray the prayers and expect immediate change, but the reality is that’s not how it works. And the reality is that we’re all sinners – I’m a sinner married to a sinner and trying to raise a sinner together. That makes for hard times, but I’m slowly learning to give it to God and let Him bridge the gap. Trust me, it’s a might big gap, but when I let it go and just run to Jesus it all seems to work out. And then I end up loving my boys even more than I did before.

 

Oh yeah, so I haven’t posted about this yet but…we’re moving! Same city, different house, and we could not be more excited. I’m really amped to show you guys the new place, but we’re going to have to close on it and that jazz beforehand. I almost didn’t want to tell you in case it jinxed it, but whatever will be will be and I’m trying not to live in fear. My prayer the entire time has been that God use this house for his glory, and I’m so excited to really jump in and tell you guys how that all goes down. Regardless, we’re so happy to have a found a place that we really love and that we can grow into as our family expands (no, I’m not pregnant but YES we want more babies!).  I’ve just been working on slowly getting the house organized and packed up so I don’t panic at the last minute – but let’s face it, I’ll panic. Such is life!

 

Happy weekend y’all!

ha