Gone baby, gone.

So it's been awhile, a long while. On top of the crazy, busy times we've had the longer I went without posting the harder it was to sit down and figure out where to start. So instead of babbling about what has been happening in my life for the last several months i'll just share some photos and hope that I can get back into the swing of things.

But we've had lots of home organizing

and home shopping

and Easter somewhere in the middle of that

and our first "party" at our house

                                                   and spending some yummy time with this sweet thing

trying a project here and there

housewarming gifts!

and some more :)

flowers from the hubby

more home shopping

and of course play time outside

an awesome trip to Puerto Rico

and fun in the yard!

We've been busy and enjoying our new house! Hope your summer's been great too.

a flask of olive oil.

2 Kings 4:1-7

So many times we focus on what we don't have. But the truth is that we always have something to give, offer, bring. This story is about this widow who had creditors after her, threatnening to take her sons as slaves. All she had was a flask of olive oil- but even this was something, even this was more than enough. Because when divided into jars she had enough of them to sell and pay off her debt.
May I always be resourceful with what I have. May I focus on what I do have, what I can offer and see how that multiplies and is more than enough. And isn't this what God is all about? Our relationship with him. We don't have anything to offer this great God, nothing but ourselves. But that is all He wants, just me, just you.

House.

So I finally had a minute to sit down and upload the pics that have been sitting on my camera. We have been very busy trying to settle in and unpack. I had no idea that we had so much stuff! We are loving life here in our new home and the boys are adjusting well. Thankfully sleep schedules have remained pretty intact and we haven't had any major adjustment "issues" (other than some attitude here and there, fun).

Instead of waiting until the house is completely unpacked and looks exactly  how I am envisioning :) here are a couple of before and after pics that I had already taken. Before we moved in we painted the entire house (with the exception of outside which will be happening soon), had the floors re-finished, and changed some light fixtures. We have a couple of other projects in the works right now and some lined up. So exciting to see how things are coming together!

Front- Outside

Living room before & after

Kitchen before & after- new paint and lighting

Eat in area- paint, new lighting, and added pendants (excuse the random items that still need to find a home)

Boys bedroom

Playroom

Master

More pictures coming soon!

Whelp.

It's been awhile. I am in the midst of packing and moving, SO can't wait to be done with this part! But I thought i'd pop in to mention that I just signed up for my 2nd ever 5k in June, ahhh!! The countdown begins!

Carter turns 2!

I'm a little behind here (we can just blame it on packing, closing on our house, and everything else that happens on the regular). But last week my baby boy turned 2. I can hardly believe that two years have already flown by! He is such a cute little bugger, sweet & smart, who totally adores his big brother. He is starting to lean out and lose a bit of the baby features. In the last month or so has really grown in his vocabulary and the words that he is able to say and how he can express himself. It's the cutest and sometimes funniest thing but also quite sad. I love this boy so much! Being a mom the second time around is different, i'm much more relaxed and confident in my parenting (whatever that means, haha), I am really trying to enjoy and embrace my time with him [and Braden of course] because I realize that the moments pass too quickly. I worried when I was pregnant with him, that I wouldn't be able to love him the way I loved his brother but my heart is just so full for these two boys. I could have never imagined loving two people the way I love them.

Some of my recent favorite things that Carter is saying or doing:

"Otay (ok) mommy"
"I sowwy"
"me too!"
He calls Braden by his name vs Bray Bray
He gives a thumbs up but leaves his pointer out too so it looks like he's shooting you instead
He can jump and actually get off the ground
Everything to him is "yewo" (yellow)
"I do mommy, i do it"

this weekend.

Went to NYC this weekend. Had a great time with my family. The best part was getting to see my grandpa again. So thankful for that opportunity.

love:hate

We have a love hate relationship. Love the way [usually] I feel after making it to the gym: working out, relieving stress, and taking care of myself. Love when I do better than the last time. Love when I surprise myself. Hate that it's mostly hard to motivate myself to go. Hate when i'm not consistent. Hate when i'm just so tired that I'm not sure it would benefit me to go. Hate when I don't push myself and just do the minimal. Perhaps at some point this relationship will even out? I sure hope so.