Cabin Weekend | July 4th

This past weekend we truly lived life off the grid. No internet, no cell service, no working bathroom. Okay, that last one might be a slight exaggeration, but we definitely unplugged, made memories with our sweet girl, and spent time with a few of our closest friends.

One thing I've been bad about since having Crosbi is recording video. I'm trying to fix that so she'll have lots of home movies to watch as she grows up.

I'm sure we'll watch this one together for years to come.

Hope you all had a happy 4th! So thankful to live in this great country and enjoy such freedom.

xoxo

view post

Easter Weekend

We are in full fledged potty-training mode in our home. To be honest, Crosbi should be completely trained at this point, but I've been lazy. It's partly that I don't want my baby to no longer be a baby, but it's also that cleaning pee out of the carpet isn't a favorite past-time of mine. Regardless, we're jumping in head first and once again I'm reminded that my little girl won't always be little.

To take my mind off of that thought, how about some photos from this past weekend? We made the trip to Missouri to visit family for Easter. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was beautiful. We spent nearly every waking hour outside. She might have been born in Tennessee, but my Crosbi has the Ozarks in her. She was barefoot most of the weekend, threw rocks in the creek, rode four wheelers, skinned her knees. Typical farm living. It's so much fun seeing her enjoy the places where Todd and I grew up as much as we did. In some ways it's like reliving our childhoods all over again.

Happy Easter! 

xoxo

view post

Real Life :: Valentines Edition

While Crosbi sat at the table coloring, I pulled out the supplies to make Valentines for her preschool classmates. She looked up, saw right away I was using stickers and asked, "I help you?" 

That also happens to be the exact phrase she uses when she wants me to help her. She's the cutest. 

My immediate thought was to tell her to keep coloring and that I would quickly finish her Valentines. Having her help meant they wouldn't look the way I wanted them to, and the process would take much longer. The perfectionist in me was hesitant, but the mom in me gladly accepted her help. I'm learning each day that while it might be easier for me to do things on my own, having Crosbi try new things is so much fun for both of us. I love how she's shaking things up around here, breaking us of the habits that need breaking.

The house is a mess, she's wearing the blackberries she had for breakfast on her face, and her nose is runny. But this is my real life. 

I wouldn't trade it for anything. 

view post

My Baby Is Two

The days are long, but the years are short. Oh, how true that is. On November 23rd we celebrated Crosbi's second birthday with family in Missouri. I have such vivid memories of bringing her home from the hospital that I just can't believe it has been two years since she came into our lives. In some ways it feels like we just met her, but it also feels like she has been a part of us forever. Either way, I can't imagine life without her.

At two, Crosbi is really becoming her own little person. She's extremely independent, but has the sweetest spirit. She's quick to tell us she can do something by herself - "Cobby do it." But she's just as quick to ask for a "goop" (group) hug. Melt my heart. She throws one heck of a tantrum, but she often says I love you and I'm sorry unprompted, making the meltdowns a bit more bearable. 

Crosbi is talking up a storm. Todd and I have conversations with her about her day, her family, and her favorite toys and books. The girl loves to sing. She has quite the catalog of songs these days. I can't think of anything sweeter than hearing her sing Jesus Loves Me, Deep and Wide, and Twinkle Twinkle. 

At two she can name all of her ABCs and numbers 0-9 and counts to fourteen (which she sometimes refers to as one-teen). She is loving preschool. She tells me all about her friends (especially Adomas and Jacob - really hoping she makes friends with other little girls soon!) and her teacher jokingly told me that Crosbi could teach the class. It's already looking like she'll have a passion for school and learning like I did. 

Not every day is a good day. The terrible terrific twos are in full swing, but we're finding our rhythm. I couldn't be more thankful for such a funny, loving, vibrant little girl who I am so blessed to call mine.

Happy birthday my sweet Crosbi!

view post

Here & There

In the three months since my last post, we've been just a tiny bit busy. In fact, this is the first weekend in months that we have had a completely free weekend at home. We are soaking it in. Today has been filled with breakfast as a family (even tried a new recipe), a walk to the park, and lots of reading - we pulled out the Christmas books from the attic. I wish this was the start of a slower paced season, but we're ramping up for more travel and busyness. Thankfully it's the good kind.

In August we ended the month with trips to the local pool, splash pad, and zoo. Todd and I saw Matt Nathanson in concert, and we all traveled to North Carolina to spend Labor Day weekend with my mom.

In September Crosbi started preschool. She goes two days a week to a local church and as anxious as I was to enroll her, it has been the best thing for our family. I get time to focus on work and she gets to play with her new friends. Hearing her sing songs she has learned during the week is icing on the cake. Is there anything cuter than hearing a toddler sing Jesus Loves Me? Nope.

We celebrated Todd's 30th birthday and took a much needed family vacation to Captiva, Florida.

In October I turned 31 - meaning I can officially say I'm in my thirties. Ouch. Crosbi and I traveled to Colorado to see my bestie Jenn and her boys. My family visited for the annual Leiper's Fork Chili Cookoff. We wrapped up our first CSA season at the farm, and Crosbi was the cutest Titans Cheerleader you've ever seen for Halloween.

If you follow me on Instagram, I apologize for the repeat information, but I know many of my family members don't (hi Aunt Terry!) so I wanted to be sure to document our adventures here as well.

I'll be back soon with a birthday post. Crosbi turns two in less than two weeks! Excuse me while I go pretend this is not happening.

xoxo

view post