memorial day weekend!

Saturday started super hot at the Strawberry Festival in Starlight, IN. It was full of people and lines. Now it is on my list of things I will never do again. Zara had a couple of fun moments playing games and sliding before she went into a meltdown. Luckily, lunch at Five Guys saved us and we made it::

After church on Sunday I packed up my baby girl and we met my sister at Red River Gorge for some camping. Camping is always an adventure. Especially when 0% chance of rain turns into a very long thunderstorm that floods your camp while you are on a hike. I still had fun and I have no regrets!

I really liked where we stayed- Lago Linda campsite. It is a bit further away from the gorge but it is clean, has a restroom in walking distance from the campsite and a cold vending machine.

This photo of Zara in a trance is my favorite::

We tried to hike to Natural Bridge but the thunderstorm had us turning back::

My sister brought all of our meals, she's the best! ::

Zara loves her cousins SO much::

Our ruined campsite. Almost all of the bedding was soaked! I was able to sleep in the tent with Zara and everyone else took the car. Rain or not, I do not sleep well while I camp. I am always terrified of murderers or bears. I know it is incredibly unlikely but I cannot stop being scared when I camp::

The pretty rainbow after the storm::

Monday we hiked about 3 miles, which turns out to be plenty when you are exhausted, wet and  have a toddler in tow. We went to Natural Bridge and hiked back on Battleship Rock trail::

Zara likes to find a good home for the bugs she finds::

Natural Bridge is always amazing::

hello. I am pregnant and swollen and letting my child rub mud on my arm, hahahah::

Sweet Zara kept finding places that look like Pride Rock from the Lion King so she had to stop and act like a lion a lot::

Z likes to hike without shoes. So far her feet have made it without injury. & she was exhausted afterward and fell asleep after a few bites of a peanut butter sandwich::

Tuesday I took Zara to the splash pad for the first time this season. We had a lot of fun going down the slide together::

I am currently staining our fence and doing some serious nesting. I am also doing some serious eating. I just want all the carbs. These tomato sandwiches and Brazilian lemonade were the perfect end to a long weekend::

Happy Name Day to Jonas!

Jonas took the day off from work to spend his birthday with us (I was already off, hooray!) Zara put 33 candles on his cake and we sang to him in the morning and opened gifts. Zara has been waiting weeks to do this, she adores birthdays. If we are out somewhere and there is even a note of the happy birthday song, she joins in. & this year Zara was able to be more involved in his birthday, she picked out a tie, made him a watercolor card and told me what to write in it and she picked out photos for a keepsake box we ordered. It was a good day!

A funny card I found on Etsy::

Jonas chose to go to the zoo because he knew Zara would love it. I was just thinking that one reason we work well as a couple is that we are always thinking of Zara first. It's probably not always a good thing but I am glad we are on the same page.

The butterfly exhibit is open! ::

Acting like the tortoise we love to spot in the addax enclosure::

RAWR!! ::

Z was laughing at the polar bear walking back and forth (& she was excited to have her Dad there) ::

I can't lift or help Zara as much as I usually do, Jonas did it all today::

50 years of the zoo! We were thinking that Zara will probably be around to see 100 years. Maybe us, maybe not::

We had dinner at one of our favorites- Das Gasthaus. They always have the best specialty salads::

Z loved the bread, butter and her tiny glass. They put a children's mat down for her every time we go and she always spills next to it, ha (also- we are sorry!)::

Happy Birthday to Jonas. Zara is sad it's over, as she keeps reminding us "It's not Daddy's birthday anymore."

27 weeks!

I am recovering from some pretty terrible illness that hijacked my life for an entire week. That's a long time when you have things to freaking do. My coughing was so violent that Zara asked me if I was going to die and if she would stay with her Dad if that happened. Oh my. I am ready to feel better. I am ready for 3am coughing fits to stop.
Besides that, this pregnancy is going well. My glucose test is already next week! I feel baby girl kick all the time. She is probably 2 pounds now. Pretty much everyone can tell this is a pregnancy belly & it's time to break out the good shea butter!

mother's day.

This Mother's Day was my last with only one baby girl. I am thinking a lot about losing my one on one time with Zara. I know we are gaining so much, but it really does feel like a loss. Change can definitely feel like that. Zara is with me all the time (except while I am at work and she is at school across the street from work). She is my sidekick. I think it will be hard on both of us to add another person to our team. There are happy and hard days to come, that is for certain. For now, I will cherish our last few months alone::

I really wasn't prepared for how loving and affectionate Zara would be. She's my girl! ::

I am now in my 25th week! ::

It was a cold weekend and it was such a bummer! We still made the most of it with the How To Festival at the library. We ended up doing all the kid stuff even though I could have spent all day in the classes they offer. We had doner from the German food truck. I got my hair done. We went out to eat at Naïve- it was nice to get out and try a new place. We used to do that all the time.

On Mother's Day, Jonas made me breakfast, I got cards, flowers and time with my family. I also got a huge chore done- sorting through Zara's clothes for the new baby. Most of my life is all around motherhood right now and I am okay with that :)
& Happy Mother's Day to anyone who identifies as a mother. There are a million ways to be one!

24 weeks!

Even though I am a lot more uncomfortable than my pregnancy with Zara, this one is flying by! I cannot believe I am 24 weeks and after a few hot summer months we will meet our new baby girl!

from winter to spring.

The transition from winter to spring always feels so long & confusing. One day you are in shorts playing outside and the next day you are freezing, wishing you had tights & running from the house to the car as fast as possible. Here are some pieces of our lives over the past couple months::


Zara takes her Paw Patrol crew everywhere. Z & Jonas share a lot of cereal and sausages from Germany. Playing inside with lots of toys, forts and zoos built by Zara (she is really great with placing her animals in categories). The terrarium my sister made is the only thing I have been able to keep alive. ::

Paw Patrol again. Pizza dates. Unexpected snow.::

Our cat is still alive. Zara acting out the Lion King. Z's first haircut! & she is my Tuesday brunch companion::

Pot pie. Z now using the stump from the 3 holly trees we had removed as tables. Donuts with Dad at Zara's school, he is the best.! ::

Ice cream after feeling guilty for a long work week, it is hard on her too. 19 weeks! Picnics outside are happening! Smoothies are one of my cravings right now::

Z started a 6 week soccer clinic. (It has been interesting to watch her improve from hand holding, acting like a lion and eating grass to scoring a goal during a little game.) My neighbors have a little tree that I love to watch change with the seasons. Ikea trip with cousins. Zara and her beloved muesli.::

Blooms at the zoo (we still go to the zoo a lot). First Dairy Kastle visit of the season with Bella. Unboxing Easter treats from Omi & Opi in Germany::

Ultrasound to see baby sister (all is well). Zara and her mushroom pizza. The rainy season is upon us. Z at soccer!::

Fruit plates for the family. Z at the zoo. Z eating next to the window to watch the baby bunny who hangs out in our yard. Feast BBQ dinner with Mama::

Color ! Nature in the spring and spring crafts. Muffins with Mom at Zara's school.::

I have been ordering dinner from Blue Apron again- (the start of my pregnancy I only could eat very bland food and could not stand the smell of cooking.) Z at soccer and a visit to the doner food truck::

Saturday family time at the aquarium & my once a year or two donut purchase that I always regret::

Monday evening at the zoo. Catching all the caterpillars (and releasing). Tiny cones.::

We spent at afternoon with my mom in Danville and had lunch at Shaker Village (I forever love the warm corn bread and cole slaw). Z loved hanging out with my mom- she went swinging in her hammock and my mom bought her the sweetest stuffed cat that she keeps carrying now.) On that visit we also went to the cemetery to visit some family ::

We went to our first Lou City soccer game of the season! Z had her last soccer practice::

We celebrated Derby with a minty drink, derby pie, a few decorations, racing around the house and watching an epic race. I still can't believe it!::

Next is the season of trips, birthdays and hot summer days!