Currently.

Excited about: My first day as a work-from-home mom! So far, so good/scary/exciting/weird. I'm hoping to get a ton of work done while Emmett's at school the next couple of mornings so I can spend our afternoons just loving on him. This is all we ever wanted! So happy.

Watching: Beyonce at the halftime show last year. All the fierce. And this commercial. *Tears*

Thankful for: Friends. I have some really good ones. Lifelong friends who lift my heart when they visit, and new ones who challenge me and teach me and call me on to better things. We are blessed with wonderful friends. The kind who make you feel like a better version of yourself. The kind who love your baby and share their homes and their hearts with you. The kind who fill you up after a long week and leave you strong and ready to take on the world.

Last week a friend was having a hard time, and I wanted to bless her. I decided to pick up some flowers and goodies from Trader Joe's and bring them to her. I always hesitate to do things like that. I want to, but I worry that I'm smothering my friends and you know, it's can be a little bit... uncomfortable to love people. To just do something nice for someone, just because they're having a bad day. Do you ever feel that way? This time, I decided to let go of my fear and step out of my comfort zone, and I'm so, so glad I did.

My friend was so grateful, and it felt great to make her happy. I love my friends and the people in my life so much, so why wouldn't I do whatever I can to show them? I made the decision that day to just be love to my friend. Oh, how I hope I can do that more often.

Thinking about: Community, as always. Each time we get together with friends and their children, I'm overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the life we live. For the way I was brought up, in community. For the way my baby boy will grow up, surrounded by friends and family. For like-minded people to share our life with. What more do you need?

Little boy is all about piles of toys and books these days.

Our Weekend: On Friday, Emmett and I were feeling suuuuper stir crazy, so Ray found us a cheap ticket to the Aquarium and off we went. It was so fun! The aquarium has been on my list of things to do with Emmett for a long time, so I was really happy to scratch that off our list and do something spontaneous and fun together. Emmett was timid at first, until he saw a little girl his age get excited about the fish. After that, he was really into it. He ooohed at the jelly fish and ahhhed at the sea horses right along with me, and especially loved the whales (any fish bigger than him is a whale. There are no real whales there.) (Also, sorry Shea!)

It was a really fun morning. I can't wait for more mornings like that - Emmett and I, off on adventures together. This is what I've been waiting for!

Saturday was a rough morning. Emmett slept until almost 8, so we were rested and I should have been content, but I was feeling restless and frustrated and let it show. Ray knew that I needed to get out of the house, so he took me to Chic-Fil-A (best breakfast) and then shopping for a birthday gift. We hit up the sales at Gap, and I'm a little bit embarrassed to admit that a little retail therapy left me feeling so much better. I like pretty things, especially at good prices, so it was the perfect thing to knock me out of my funk. The rest of the day was peaceful and nice. I got the urge to cook and bake, so I made us a yummy potato and leek soup and some corn bread, with Salt River bars for dessert. More on that later.

Sunday morning, I woke up with Emmett at 5:30. Ray got up at 6:30 and took over so that I could go back to bed for a bit. Isn't he amazing? We went to Mass and then spent the day just hanging out at home together before going to Jenna's house for Superbowl. I don't care about the game so much as the commercials and the food, so I hardly saw any actual football. It was so great catching up with friends and watching Emmett play and mimic the older kiddos. He is happiest outside in the grass, just running and playing with friends.

I hope you had a lovely weekend! Linking up with Jenny & of course, the lovely ladies at A Mama Collective!

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30

Today is my 30th birthday. Yikes!

I thought I would have a lot of conflicting emotions today, about getting older and feeling older. Sure, I have a lot more grey hairs today than I did last year or even last month, more wrinkles, and my body is a lot softer than it used to be. But you know what? I don't care about any of that. I mean, I care a little bit, but I know none of that is important. I know this year and this decade will be the best yet, and more than anything else, I'm grateful. For everything I've been through, everything I've been given, and everything that's yet to come.

I love my family, I love my life, and I'm happy. Today, I'm happy.

My best friend from Georgia came to visit this week with his girlfriend, so we all took a hike up A Mountain this morning first thing. It was such an awesome start to my new year!

A Beautiful Morning

Emmett has been waking up before 6 all week. He normally gets up around 6:30, but that extra 45 minutes is so crucial! I hear his little cries well before the sun comes up and I immediately feel defeated. Before the day even starts, my mood is low and I'm dreading the long day ahead of us. I'm weak and selfish and I'm really working on that. Then each morning Ray goes to get Emmett and brings him to me and immediately that frustration and feeling of defeat is gone. He giggles when he sees me and squeals "mama!" as he runs across the bed to me and my heart almost bursts! He's such a good, sweet boy who loves his mama so much. His little smile washes away my selfish struggles. I just love him so much!

Today has been a beautiful day. It rained all night, but the sun burst through the clouds this morning, shining a beautiful, bright light on the world. Emmett and I bundled up and drove Ray to work, taking the long way home to enjoy the beauty. We stayed outside when we got home and took a walk around the neighborhood. We jumped in puddles and pointed out cars and trucks and airplanes as they passed us by. He played in the dirt and I took pictures of everything because the light was just so perfect and I loved the way our neighborhood looked. It was such a fun morning!

I know I'm bombarding y'all with photos lately. I can't help myself! Have a wonderful weekend!

Keepin' It Real: Rainy Days

I'm linking up with Corinna over at Track 8 (a day late!) for Keepin' It Real Mondays!

Over the weekend we FINALLY got some rain! It was so amazing. Emmett loved the rain, and loved the mud even more! I grew up in Georgia, where it rains almost every afternoon in the Summer, so I played in the mud all the time as a kid. I have so many happy memories of making mud pies and running around barefoot in the wet grass. So fun!

I feel so bad for little Emmett being stuck in the house all Summer, living in this desert with hardly any grass to speak of. So when it rained and the temperature finally cooled off, I let him outside to play in the mud to his little heart's content! He was one dirty, happy little boy!

Splashing in the puddles!

Mom, I'm gonna eat this rock. 

Mom, I'm really gonna eat this rock.

No Emmett, no! Don't eat that rock! 

Ahhh I'm just kidding.

The best.