life lately. fall edition.

this fall had some glorious colors & seemed way too brief!

I haven't exercised during the whole season. my waistline and my sanity need some help, haha.

my sister and I saw regina spektor again this year! it was so fun.

oh my goodness, I think I was sick for an entire month (so were jonas & zara for a little while.)
it. sucked.

the fall veggies are in. so is all the comfort food I could ever want. the lack of light just makes me want to eat and sleep! there has also been way too much banana bread, but I think I have that out of my system now.

 we have spent some time with family & that means Zara gets to torment their cats.

I have been working on preparing christmas, Zara's birthday and a new play area for her.

my favorite book this month- wonder woman! It was a very interesting read, lots of good stuff about feminism and- long discussion short- really helped me realize how limited women were in society- and in tons of other ways- for a very, very long time. it bothers me more than ever. I am so thankful to be a woman now.


we have played outside when we can (i love playing with z at the park so much!). we have also gone to the play area at the mall and the trampoline park ( my heaven!) we also had a craft night with our neighbor bella, plastic sprinkles were everywhere. but little kid laughter= priceless.

one night I really needed to get out so we packed up our little family to go to the indoor flea off market & Bardstown rd. aglow. oh, and dinner in the car because nights out are already hard enough on a little one.

my dad has been so generous and helped us take down a tree, fix a car and he helped with a door for our garage. that means lots of visits with his dog, roxie. zara is obsessed with her!

of course we had lots of mundane days, family dinners & we are trying to keep up with all of the leaves we need to rake!

2017 thanksgiving.

our thanksgiving started with the hungry turkey 5k! it was so cold! we were in the back of the line to start and it took so long to get through that some people were finishing the 5k, haha. but we loved sharing this special time with zara & the cinnamon rolls at the end!

the rest of the day was spend with family and friends and it was so good. zara is interested in running around and playing with other kids, it makes me so happy. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

family photos fall 2017.

Zara: 22 & 23 Months!

Zara is starting such a fun age! She usually knows what I am saying & answers back. She is interested in much more engaging play with me. It makes it so much more fun. She especially loves to act like different animals, hide and jump out and scare people (we do this to Papa when he comes home) and to knock down or tear apart things we make together. She has moved out of her high chair and into her very own elevated chair at the table! I feel like our relationship is moving into a whole new realm & I love it!

Other things at months 22 & 23:

She says something like "an nam" at the end of prayers.

When I pick her up from daycare, her face lights up. I love when they let her run to me. It is the happiest moment when we embrace after a long day.

Another favorite time of mine is bath time. I take baths with her most of the time and it is just so special.

She loves "auto woo woo" which is watching a movie in the car. She always asks for this around nap time. She still loves nap in the car.

She pulls on her eyelashes when she is super tired.

She tells me "Go Mama" when she thinks I should move or go get something for her. Or she just takes my hand and shows me.

Z definitely loves the word "mine" but I crack up because she speaks some long gibberish sentences and ends with "mine".

I love when Zara takes care of me by brushing my hair or bringing me water. She is really good at making messes, but also feels good when she helps clean up.

This is not new, but she continues to find so much comfort in carrying around her "night night" blankets.

We have our hard days, usually when Z has kept me up half the night. But overall, things have been easier because we have more communication. I am learning what works for Z and how to handle tantrums. I am forever thankful to live in a time with the internet and the ability to research all of my parenting questions!

She is becoming more independent by the day. She is my favorite. & I cannot believe she is almost 2!

Ah, this smile::

Zara is the queen of play, dog movies and candy (I did not realize how frustrating the constant Halloween candy would be!) these days.

When you take over your friend's car seat and his hat::

The poor cat, Z loves to lay on her with her full body weight. Thankfully Katze has mostly stopped scratching Z::

Watching the Ironman::

She likes to get in the sink & turn the water on herself::

She loves to choose movies. Sometimes we never even get to the movie, she just loves to lay them out and talk about them::

..

"There isn't time -- so brief is life -- for bickerings, apologies, heartburnings, callings to account. there is only time for loving -- & but an instant, so to speak, for that." - Mark Twain