of recent.

some favorites of recent.

gap body fit sweatpants. you can cut them to what length you want. brill.


(these aren't actually the ones i have. they must not sell them online)

winter berry candle from target.



nivea milk and honey chapstick.



my yarn & felt (i love felt) wreath i am making right now.



finished product to be posted on completion.

thankfulness.

chloe's first snow on her first thanksgiving.

a few years ago, i started this 'thankfulness' book. every person we spend time with on thanksgiving has to write in it. it's a rule. it's so fun looking back over the few years to see what we've all written. dad is always thankful for peanut butter...at least a few times. and rick's is probably my favorite every year. it's also fun to see how our families have grown. from traci being pregnant, to lucy and madelyn last year, and chlo and baby healey this year. and hopefully many more to come. last year at this time, we were praying and hoping for a chloe and a few weeks before christmas, we found out she was in my belly...God's timing is always perfect. so for us, this year's thanksgiving has been all the sweeter with her here. you know how some things are just happier at christmas?...starbucks, snow, ella fitzgerald, mashed potatoes (or maybe mashed potatoes are always happy)... well, some holiday things are just happier with a kid. besides my new daughter, a few other top things i'm thankful for...

-jesus' unending love.
-my matty. i am his #1 fan.
-being a mom and wife.
-nieces.
-our cg's.
-bacon.

although thanksgiving is a good time to reflect back on those things i'm thankful for, i pray that this year i'm ever more aware of God's goodness to me. because i have much to be thankful for every day.

i will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
i will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
i will be glad and exult in You;
i will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
psalm 9:1-2

it's that time of year...

to start thinking about holiday cards. last year i did not send any, but i'm hoping to this year if i can get my act together. i was hoping to do some family photos, but not sure that'll happen...everyone would probably rather just see a photo of chlo anyway. shutterfly has some very fun cards this year. i've never ordered from them before, but hear good things. here are some of my favorites. i didn't even get through all the pages cause they have so many options!

classy and simple.


i really like the man’s bow tie in this one. maybe i should get matt to wear a bow tie.


bright and fun.


i love these colors together.


maybe if you’re lucky, one of these cards will be coming to a mailbox near you (or in your front yard).



*for all you bloggers, shutterfly is offering 50 free cards if you write a blog post promoting them. i say that is a steal...and it really is. thank you shutterfly!

a keeper.

fact: i do not like to cook (baking is a different story)
fact: matt is a picky eater (but i still love him)

when i find a recipe that matt and i BOTH like and that i don't really mind cooking, it definitely is a keeper and goes on my 'go to meals' list.

thai honey peanut chicken

one note...i didn't realize that it was supposed to marinade for a few hours, so i marinaded it while the rice was cooking and it still turned out delicious. i'm sure it would be even better if you did marinade it beforehand.

the ingredients are simple and usually things you always have on hand.

speaking of keepers, she is another one.

the scweam'a

chloe got a new nickname while on vacation...i think thanks to aunt traci. the screamer (pronounced scweam'a). we decided that's what aunt joni would call her. she usually screams when-
she's pooping. child still does not like to poop.
or when i'm changing her clothes. which i don't get. she's got a great wardrobe.

it is awful. sometimes my ears ring.

i did not think the scream could get any more high pitched. but, today it did. she had her two month checkup and had to get those awful shots. and the scweam'a was out in full force. and tears came with it. i'm pretty sure chloe would say it's the worst day of her life. and oh my, this afternoon when she had to poop combined with the pain from her shots...get out the ear plugs. poor thing. i tried reverse psychology this morning and put on her 'tough chick' shirt in preparation for her shots. i'm not sure it worked. today aside, she is usually a delightful little lady. this is the sweet face i usually see.



she smiles like crazy, coos at me after she eats, and "talks" to herself up in her crib at naptime. although part of me wishes she'd always stay my baby, i love seeing her grow and change. her two month stats-
weight-11 lb. 4 oz. 50-75 percentile.
height-22 in. 25-50 percentile. i love that gray is already taller than her.
head-38 cm. 25-50 percentile.

she's in the same percentile's as she was at her one month appointment. i think petite is a good word to describe her.

we also decided that lucy, madelyn and chloe are in a punk rock band called 'the scweama's' just like their mothers. i think chlo has a shot at lead vocalist.

we are getting excited for halloween...just a little trick or treating at the grandparents. i am attempting to make part of chloe's costume :/ we'll see how that goes...

fall.

fall is going too fast. i've yet to do many of the fallish things i love to. well, except for the semi apple picking trip with sharpie and traci :) but, i would really like to paint some pumpkins this week before it's too late. i'm really liking the black and white ideas from apartment therapy.



maybe i will get the chance this week. i am thinking polka dots.

j&h+g

it's not a secret that i have some ridiculously gorgeous friends and heidi is one of them. she is due any day now...well the 21st to be exact. it just better not be while we're away on vacation! joe, heidi and i walked around the borough saturday morning for some maternity shots. first time doing those, but i quite enjoyed it. since i don't have a photography blog anymore (cause let's be serious, nothing was happening there) i will share some favorites here. and because they are my friends. and their son is going to be my future son in law.

i would just like to point out two things. heidi's hair was looking pretty fine that day. and her flats are super cute, frye, and a steal.

the real joe and heidi.

see, ridiculously gorgeous?

it was very fun to get out there and shoot post chloe. i've missed it. now, come on out gray (or whatever your name ends up being :) we all want to meet you.