Mother Love

It seems that Ayla grows up a little more every day. And it’s really the funnest! She’s becoming more interactive and her personality is starting to show more and more. Sometimes when I get her up from her naps, I’ll look at her and think she had to have grown an inch while she was sleeping. I’m like, when did your fingers get so chubby and when did you get so tall and when did your eyes get even more expressive than they had been?!? And while a part of me wants to make her slow down, it is so rewarding and exciting to watch her grow and develop. She has changed my life, changed our life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

My favorite things that she does these days is::

…the way she gets such big, excited eyes and opens her mouth in surprise when she sees something she likes, like her hanging toy or a person’s face or something on the wall. Even though she’s seen it a hundred times before, her eyes seem to be seeing it for the first time all over again.

…the way she clicks her tongue, and especially when she tries to copy you doing the same thing.

…the way she lays on the floor and squeals at her hanging toy and kicks her legs and waves her arms so excitedly.

…the way she gets the biggest smile on her face and wiggles all over when you sing to her.

What about you: what are some of your current favorites things about your child/children?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

This weekend was all about quality time together.

Ben was away most of last week at a work conference and we missed him terribly while he was gone! My sister is staying with us right now so that was a huge help, and at least I had one person to look forward seeing come home from work each day and eat dinner with and help with Ayla in the evenings. But let’s be honest…a sister isn’t a husband, hehe (but i still love you sis!). The week really did go well though, and I kept myself pretty busy with a trip into town, women’s Bible study, and hosting a breakfast with some friends. And before I knew it, it was Friday and for real this one felt like a Fri-YAY.

Ben’s flight came in at midnight on Friday night, so we didn’t get home until the wee hours of the morning. Ayla woke up at five to nurse and then slept until eight o’clock the next morning (thank you sweetie!), and we snuggled in bed with her for a while once she woke up. Those mornings stretches, smiles, and faces are the best! We had a leisure breakfast together and then basically just had a leisure rest of the day. It was the best kind of day! We decided to finally go check out The Olney Place on Keuka Lake for lunch, since we’ve been hearing rave reviews from some friends for a while now. It was the cutest place with a gourmet grocery section plus a deli with some really great sandwiches. Gourmet groceries are my weakness (because #foodie) but I managed to escape with only buying on a jar of harrisa (which i’ve been trying to find for forever!), chipotle aoili (because we are suckers for anything chipotle), and some seed crackers that are insanely delicious. We did a few errands in town and stopped to see my sister at the peach stand and finished out the Saturday at home with taco salads, hanging out on the deck, and an early bed time (because #we’reold).

We spent the day at home on Sunday…grilling steaks for lunch, making a bunch of peach crisps for our church snack that evening, and napping. We had church in the evening, and then hung out in my sister-in-laws gorgeous backyard afterwards for a big bon fire and snack together with our church family. Such a nice day! Although we did finish it out with another one of Ayla’s famous Sunday evening melt downs…I really just don’t know what is up with her Sunday evenings?!?

Here are five things I love:

– this article
– this clever hack
– this cute diy
– this gorgeous crepe cake
– this cool tip

Have the best week!

What about you: what was the best moment of your weekend?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!