Summer Weekends

Our weekends are different now that Magnolia is here, and they are different in the most wonderful of ways. It feels like every thing we do is new and being done for the very first time because we get to see life through her brand new eyes. Moments as simple as walking outside are now full of joy because we show her the green grass, the blue skies, and the sound of birdies singing.


This weekend my sisters and I had lunch on the Country Club Plaza with our babies. Then we met up with our cousin that is in town from California. Side note - if our family was giving out a cool award it'd go to him. He styles all the famous people in Hollywood, like Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj. Magnolia was fascinated by the fountains and the sound of the water.







We are taking her to Salt Lake City in a few weeks and I needed to pickup a few things before our trip. When we were out shopping I found the cutest sunglasses and they actually fit her. Magnolia is just like her great-grandma (and me) in that she hates for the sun to be in her eyes. She knows just how cute she looks in her new shades. Everyone stopped to say "hello" to her and she would light up with the biggest sweetest gummy smile.




During the week we spend most of our time at home. I usually work on laundry and chores around the house in between nursing, diaper changes, and napping attempts. She is in my arms most of the time, and that is exactly how I dreamed motherhood to be. On Sunday I shared a photo over on Instagram, that Ryan snapped, of Magnolia and me in the kitchen. She's always been a cuddly little girl, but lately she's been even more so. When I pick her up she'll wrap her arms around mine, and she'll lay her head right on my collarbone, then her whole body is glued to mine. All of this love that she brings to our lives completely justifies the aching and longing I felt in my heart to be a mother before she was here.


If life gave us an opportunity to take moments and wrap them up to be opened again at a later time, moments like this would be wrapped in the finest of paper. I spend most of my days just like this. Time passing scares me. I love waking up to new days and having coffee in the mornings with my happy daughter, doing new things with her and watching her blossom, on the contrary though I know this time is fleeting. I already look back at five months ago when she was itty bitty. Time has changed since becoming her mother. Time is delicate, not to be taken for granted. I've never felt more grounded and I've never lived in the moment as often as I do now. She's given me new eyes for life.




On July third we woke up to a five month old baby girl! To no surprise to us she loves to have her photo taken. I always make her monthly birth date a big deal, because well, she is a big deal. I want to celebrate her life every single day, but on the third of each month I take it up a notch. This month we had fresh flowers from the City Market.


This was my Instagram caption for her five month photos.

Hello world! I'm five months old today! My mommy and daddy are always hugging & kissing me. I think I'm their most favorite person in the world. I've been rolling over for about a month and I'm pretty much a pro at it now. If I'm not trying to talk then I'm trying to chew on whatever I can get my hands on. I don't like to take naps because I'm afraid I'll miss out on something, however if you put me in the car I cannot keep my eyes open. I sleep great at night with my sound machine and Dockatot. I love to go shopping with my mommy! Daddy took me on a walk this weekend and I was attached to his chest. It was an interesting view. I have three favorite toys, my bunny wubbanub, my teddy bear rattle (Daddy named him Teddy Rumble Butt), and the Jelly Cat Bunny the Easter Bunny brought me. I love visiting new places because everything is an adventure, but I do not like when people get in my face. My parents say I have a healthy case of Stranger Danger. My doggy is soooo cute I just want to squeeze her tight. I hope she knows how much I love her. I try to pull her ears and legs and sometimes I get a bunch of her hair in my hand. Actually I really like to pull my mommy's hair too, it tastes like hairspray. I'm trying to figure out what to pack for my first airplane ride in a few weeks. I get to see the mountains this month and the ocean in September. My mommy is still nursing me whenever I want and she said I can do that as long as I wish! She said I get to taste food in a few months and I'm looking forward to eating avocados and strawberries! Daddy sings to me all the time and I pull on his beard to show him how much he means to me. Five months on this beautiful earth has been pretty cool so far and I know there is a lifetime of joy ahead of me. Love, Magnolia Caroline 7/3/17

Over the fourth of July weekend we took her to the City Market. I picked up a big bouquet of fresh flowers and some veggies and sweet corn on the cob to enjoy with our 4th of July BBQ. She was very interested in the flowers and really wanted to get a hold of them. I can't blame her for that.





Magnolia is now pulling my hair all the time and trying to chew on it. She doesn't seem to mind the taste of hairspray 😉!


Her first 4th of July was quite boring actually. We had her in bed before she could even see any of the fireworks. She goes to bed early and starts to get pretty cranky once bedtime rolls around. We figured she's a little too young to stay up late, plus they are so dang loud I wanted to protect her delicate ears from the noise. How on earth she slept through our subdivision's fireworks I have no idea. It was loud, like war zone loud, and it went on for days leading up to the fourth. Ryan grilled a delicious dinner for us, and after Magnolia went to bed we sat on our front porch for a little while and watched our neighbors fireworks. I think next year will be a little more exciting when she can see her cousins do sparklers and stay up a little later.


She is going to be a talkative and outgoing young lady. She tries so hard to talk already and we absolutely adore it. I can only imagine the things she's going to say!





She's teething and trying to chew on every-single-thing! Bless her little heart, she knows something strange is going on in there and she's not happy about it.


When we went out shopping this weekend I almost bought this swimsuit that is on sale for less than $12. I might have to go back for next year's size.

Once we get back from our trip I'm going to do this with Magnolia.

This song is absolutely beautiful. We listen to it in the mornings while I'm drinking my coffee.

If you haven't read this heartbreaking story, you should. It's not an easy read, but I do believe the mom's message is one that we all need to hear. I've literally been sick about it for the past week.

I baked some vegan chocolate chip cookies over the weekend and they were quite delicious. I was pleasantly surprised about how good they tasted without butter and egg. I do intend to share the recipe here soon.

Have a great Monday!
XO