Misc. Monday

Another 2 weeks have come and gone and I'm back at it with a bullet point post. 

I am on a roll.

Go me. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

This weekend we finally cashed in some gift cards we had and went out for dinner at Longhorns.

It's been a while since we've been out to a real restaurant! 

It was delish, as always. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - 

Yesterday was my little brother's first ever football game.

I was so nervous for him- worried her would get hurt {Friday Night Lights anyone??}, worried he didn't really know what he was doing, worried that he was doing it more for my other brother and my dad- but he was totally amazing. 

I hate to say we were all shocked...but we were all shocked. 

He scored three touchdowns and two 2 point conversions.

My little brother, the video gamer couch potato, did that.

I was beyond proud of him!!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

If your husband asks for these cupcakes

just.say.no.

Ain't nobody got time for 50 step cupcakes.

Next time I see "premium" I will know that it's not for me. I'm perfectly content baking "average" cupcakes.

Maybe, maybe, in my housewife, newly wedded bliss life I would have been more enthusiastic about such things.

Four years in and with a toddler, the last thing I want to do is line the pan, melt the butter, mix the graham cracker, cover the bottoms, mix the cake mix, put a little in each one- not too much not too little, carefully drop in marshmallow mix-avoiding the sides of the liner, cover the marshmallow mix, bake, frost, sprinkle graham cracker crumbs. 

I'm good, thanks. 

And the end result?

Something you'd love to hear after wasting an hour of your life....they taste like s'more poptarts.

Awesome.

Never making cupcakes again. 

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

In other news, this dinner was so yummy!!

I had planned on making pineapple fried rice and while I was at the store I found this sauce for the chicken. 

Can't wait to have it again, it's just what I wanted!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tomorrow starts a new link of with some of my favorite blog friends!

I'm looking forward to it! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We've been having cool fall weather and it's been wonderful!

Also excited for the fall shows to kick off- Ellen starts today! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Adalyn fell at a friend's house and hit the side of head/ear on a coffee table.

Through this we discovered that ears can bruise. 

Probably something we should've known and that is most likely common sense and something we really did know deep down, but initial reaction was a bit surprising. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I'm trying to grow my hair out again. I've made it through the dreaded flip-out phase {praise the Lord}, but now I'm in the always-in-a-pony-tail-phase-so-might-as-well-have-it-short-and-cute phase.

But at least her hair is growing fast and I can make one of us look good

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Two weekends ago we finally finished unpacking/cleaning out basement. 

It's not what I envision the end result to look like, but at least for now it's presentable and no longer embarrassing. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - 

We are getting the siding done on our house and new windows put in. 

I feel like it's taking for.ever.

In the meantime, I feel "trapped" at home even though we would be home anyways and I'm unusually exhausted because I know I can't nap. It's a bit ridiculous how the mind works.

It will look so good when it's finished and I'm looking forward to putting up the fall decor!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

My first official overnight trip away from Adalyn is booked.

I'm freaking out about on the inside.

And a little on the outside.

I have 2 months to process/prepare.

She's almost 2, I realize this is also filed away in the "Ridiculous" category. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I'll finish this off with another Timehop memory- a year ago today Adalyn took her first steps!!

So incredibly crazy how fast time goes by!

Something I think I'll always be in disbelief of. 

join in on the random shananigans:

Misc. Monday

Apparently the only way I can blog these days is in bullet point form.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Not gonna lie, I've been struggling with what else to write. I've been distracted multiple times and I can't think of what to say.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Tonight at dinner Mr. B asked me what my plans are for tomorrow and I said "I need to buy some laundry detergent".
How's that for a busy day?!
Try not to be too jealous.

 - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Speaking of, what detergent do you use?
Here's the thing...once you go pod there's no turning back.
Am I right, or am I right?
All it takes is one time using a pod and suddenly pouring detergent into a hole seems like way too much work.
And this is what we call a first world problem.
Like, to the max.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

My laundry is finally put away just in time for more laundry to be folded and put away.
Circle of life. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

We had our annual little family weekend away at the beach a couple weekends ago.

It was perfect. 

I'm still catching up on pictures, but I got some keepers. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I'm still not pregnant. Bring on month 4...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - 

I'm thinking about starting a fertility facebook group again if anyone is interested! I've received a few emails {sorry for not responding yet!} from other ladies who have been struggling.
Knowing you're not alone on this stupid roller coaster is so helpful! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - 

We took the siding off the house this weekend.
And by "we" I mean Mr. B, our dads, my brother and a friend. 

And the new siding isn't being put on for 3 weeks so...that's attractive. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Everyone loves to be the classy house in the neighborhood that's wrapped in paper.
Especially one where the paper is upside down on half your house.
I think we get bonus points for that?

  My dad and brother aren't attentive to details and Mr. B and his dad are.
I'll let you guess who did the top half and who did the bottom.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Projects like these always make you realize how awesome family and friends really are though! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tonight I made a delicious and super easy dinner- courtesy of Pinterest, of course!

I used red potatoes, green beans, carrots and 3 chicken breasts. Put it all in a pan, I used half a packet of italian dressing, 1/2 stick of butter and drizzled some olive oil. Covered with foil, baked at 375 for 45 minutes. I added some feta and voila! We all loved it! Next time I'd add more veggies though, it seemed like a lot at the time, but the after it cooked it didn't seem like that many and we definitely could've eaten more. 

- - - - - - - - - - - 

I finally conquered the craft area of our basement today.
It only took me 9 months.
 Because who wants to waste their time cleaning the basement during nap time??
Not me.
But it had to be done.

It's all mismatched and not the prettiest, but at least it's clean! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - 

Mr. B is getting a new car and I'm jealous. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

I've been loving my time off from Captured. It was definitely the right decision! 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

These back to school things keep getting me all emotional.

Thank the Lord I still have time!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I'm obsessed with Timehop. If you don't have that app., get it.
It's so bittersweet, but I love it.
Love it. 
Especially for someone who has a terrible memory and who is beyond behind on the good ol' baby books.
A year ago yesterday Adalyn had her first little piggies!

That's insane.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

What's more insane is she just turned 21 months.

3 months until the big T-W-O.
Ridiculous. 

Keeping it real...

These vibrant flowers are spicing up our dining room. 

excuse: too cheap to buy the good ones. too preoccupied to throw them out. 

These are "hiding" on the side of my couch. 

excuse: I'm going to sell them... {almost 2 months and going strong...} 

{PS. Be careful when you sign up for a free trial with the honest company!}

Almost 9 months in our new house and we still have no curtains up. 

in our bedroom. Living room. Bathroom. Dining room. Kitchen. 

excuse: curtain rods and curtains are expensive. next month...

This has been sitting on our floor for a week. 

excuse: pure laziness.

Our main bathroom/ex-laundry room looks like this. 

No blind since we moved in, let alone curtain! 

excuse: I'm going to get wooden blinds....

 and something special to put in that space... {1 month and going strong..}

Our microwave has no glass plate.

excuse: who shops in the microwave glass plate section and do they even sell these in stores?

But bonus points that it's semi-clean...

Like mother, like daughter....because of mother.

Sitting in her room since Saturday. 

excuse: laziness and going on vacation soon so it's easier to find things this way...

Awesome pinterest worthy bow holder. 

excuse: i need to fix her bow holder. easy nap time fix...{9 months and going strong...}

Beautiful welcoming wreath.

excuse: going to make an easter wreath. going to make a spring wreath. going to make a summer wreath. going to make a 4th of july wreath. going to make a fall wreath. Seriously, I am...

Since Saturday...

.....

excuse: laundry room is in basement mixed with mommy brain. 

Roxie's nails are like eagle talons. 

excuse: i'm lucky if I can keep up with Adalyn's talons. 

I've eaten more of this dough than I'd like to admit. 

And that's as real as that statement is getting. 

excuse: fatty mcstuffins mixed with boredom, mixed with perfectly tempting bite sized pieces, mixed with no self-control.

Haven't posted in 2 weeks and figured why not go through my house and take pictures with my phone of a few of the many examples of "it is what it is"/borderline lazy/mom of a toddler life. 

It was certainly an easy post and enough of a filler until I can think of something else that is hardly deemed worthy of posting. 

Success.

In October I started posting a few pictures I had taken for friends and before I knew it I had people I had never met asking me to take their pictures. 

It all happened so quickly.

It felt like I was now running my own photography business overnight. 

It most likely felt like that because...that's how it was!

Funny how that works, huh?

During those fall months I was enjoying what I was doing, but I was struggling with the balance of being a working mom. 

Thankfully we were in a position where I didn't need to have a job.

And, I didn't want to have a job or my own company; it all just happened. 

It was hard for me when I was just a couple sessions in and I could see Adalyn's pictures getting pushed to the side because I needed to work on my "clients". 

I took the winter months off and prayed about what to do.

I ended up taking some newborn pictures {which I loved!} for a few friends and that only increased the demand.

As spring was approaching, I knew a decision had to be made.

I was told over and over that I had a gift.

That this was a talent. 

So I was feeling compelled not to waste it if it was a truly a gift.

I prayed about it some more.

Talked a lot about it with Mr. B and those close to me.

I decided to become more official- to have a website, raise my prices, have new packages and only shoot a few days a week with hopes that I'd be able to have more of a balance for the spring/summer season.

With just two months in {now}, I became overwhelmed.

I don't know how working moms do it. 

Finding the balance of being present, cleaning, cooking, enjoying, relaxing, playdates, family, friends, wife, mom and sleep is... hard. 

The fact of the matter is you really can't give both your work and your homelife 100%.

You can't.

It was always my dream to be a mom.

I honestly never dreamt of being a photographer.

It's still weird to say that I am one.

The more I edited and posted, the more people would contact me for their sessions and I would get overwhelmed.

Some people have joked around with me saying

 that's a business,

 that's success, 

that's how it works.

But as "successful" as my short-lived photography company was, it wasn't where I wanted to put my success.

It wasn't where I wanted to give my time and attention.

I was behind on the pictures that mattered most to me. 

The ones that I take of my moments to capture and freeze because they are going too quickly. 

The moments where I try not to blink because they're gone.

So fast.

As much as I love to bless others, and I will continue to do so for family and friends, the business aspect is not where my heart is. 

It's not where I want my time and energy to go. 

In this season of my life I'm called to invest in our daughter and Lord-willing, future children.

I'm not interested in making investments.

Although the extra money was nice, it's not worth it.

I'm happy with my decision. 

I feel relieved.

I feel a weight lifted.

I feel like I'm back in the game.

I love that right now it's 12:30am and I am documenting our life and not editing someone else's.

I have truly been blessed by blessing others.

I love how many clients have become new friends and I am thankful for the support that I know I will receive from those around me. 

I know the Lord has given me this gift and will continue to use me in other ways until I am in a new season of life where I could possibly pursue photography as a career.

Until then, I will continue to capture these precious moments,

because this is where my heart is.

This is my gift.

Strong Like Baby

The strength of a baby is something I don't think I will ever understand.

You don't realize until you are in certain situations....

such as cutting their nails.

How is she stronger than me in this moment?

How can she pull her hand out of my mama lobster claw grip?

Shouldn't I be able to hold her still??

You would think.

You Never Know Until You Are

You know the saying "You never know until you try"?

Well, it's true.

Although, sometimes I'd rather not know, never know or just think I am right and therefore there is no need to try. 

Especially when it comes to certain foods!

I feel like being a mom, understanding other moms and valuing and appreciating your mom is something you don't fully understand until you "try"...until you are one. 

This is technically my first Mother's Day. We celebrated a little last year when I was pregnant, but this year being a mom is different. My love for Adalyn now far exceeds the love I had for her in my womb. 

Which was a lot, by the way. 

Through these short, and extremely fast, 5 months that I have been a mom, my own love and appreciation for my mom, my mother in law and my grandmothers has increased. You see them in a different light- a new perspective.

 I am so thankful I am able to experience that. 

All in addition to a new spiritual perspective. A greater understanding of the love that God has for his children. I greater appreciation for the obedience and faith that Abraham had when he was going to sacrifice his son.

 Could I do that?!?! 

A couple days I was going through my baby calendar that my mom had for me. I am so so thankful that she took the time to write each milestone down my first year- at just the young age of 17. I am so thankful that she cared, that she valued those milestones- even the silly ones. 

I am forever grateful that she chose life. 

My life. 

I am thankful for the sacrifices that she made, and I am so thankful for that fact that she also chose joy. She didn't wallow in her new life, she embraced it. 

She noticed the details. 

This time of year I am always reminded and thankful for my Mother-in-law. For her and her husband who did a fantastic job of raising Mr. B. A man who is a hard worker, who values his family, who values the importance of letting me stay home with our child, who is a man after God's heart, who treated me with respect from day one. A man who loves his daughter and prays for her and her heart daily, who always strives to be the best.

 A lot of who he is is because of her. 

Taking the time to love, pray and demonstrate how a godly man should live. 

I am also thankful for the 4 great grandma's that Adalyn has. 

Some near, some far. She is surrounded by so much love. 

{She will be meeting Mr. B's Grandma this summer!}

The sacrifice.

The responsibility.

The balance.

The frustration.

The joy.

The overwhelming unconditional love.

The dependence on the Lord- knowing you can only do so much. 

I am thankful for their validation that I am doing a good job, the encouraging words that I am making them proud, the unexpected gifts "just because", the support, prayers and advice that come when needed. 

I now get the frustration of staying home all day, cleaning, cooking, laundry and child-rearing... only to have it messy again. I understand the need for feedback- for appreciation. To be told "thank you". To be told "You're beautiful", even when you haven't showered and are still wearing your PJs. 

I understand the deep love and the desire for only the best.

 The protection.

 I get it. 

I know as Adalyn grows I will learn more, my love will continue to grow and my understanding and my appreciation will continue to increase with each passing year.

 I am thankful for the opportunity to be a mom and to learn so many things in so many different areas of my life through this one very special "job".

And I am so blessed and so thankful that I never stop learning from the amazing moms in my life.