A little garden snail.

It already feels like summer some days.  We've been setting up our homemade water table and a big bucket for cooling off when the days get warm until mama gets up the courage to take both littles to the pool.  I see summer swim lessons for Chloe in our future.  She was so smitten with our garden snail whom she adored all afternoon and named Wiggly.

At home.

I wish I was getting better at this.  At making time for myself.  At choosing to skip laundry and sit down and actually write and document little family moments that we are sharing.  So, I'm just gonna skip the guilt and write when I can.  Because the laundry is done, both babies are asleep and I'm gonna take a quick breather and a glass of wine and write...even for a minute.

I recently read this quote and can't stop pondering it's loveliness.

One day
I heard god's voice.
It sounded like
the kindest,
most generously loving
version
of myself. 
-Annie Flavin

Life here at home is so good.  Each day filled with new milestones lately, Remy began sitting last month and with each new day she is crawling more and trying to pull up to standing on nearly everything in sight.  I have a feeling walking is right around the corner.  I'm so not ready.  So I ordered a baby gate for the stairs and rearranged a little furniture just until she gets a little more coordinated.  In the meantime the spills are keeping me on my toes.  Oh how to give them freedom and protection at the same time...every mama's challenge.

Chloe is enjoying Preschool and is learning so many new things.  Our first parent/teacher conference is tomorrow and as cheesy as it sounds, I'm so excited.  I'm so curious to hear how our little one is in class time away from her parents and baby sister.  It's a set into a whole new world for me as a mama.  Her little school has been such a blessing to our family and a great place for our vibrant little to be herself and grow.  She loves the independence.

Kevin is busy at work, learning the trade and all that is involved in the family business.  He is excited about the new venture and making connections with clients.  It's a refreshing new start.  He is a great daddy and thoughtful husband.  I'm so happy we have each other.

I'm still trying to get my feet on the ground after welcoming our littlest into the world.  We've had so many big changes this year and I'm trying to learn to take it more slowly.  We keep very little plans during the week so we can just keep everyone fed and rested.  We aren't sleeping much throughout the night, so I'm functioning on low these days.  It's so worth it, but WOW I forgot how tired one can be.  I day dream about naptime for most of the morning.  Ha!  Thank heavens for darling baby faces and sweet snuggles, they are the best reminders of what is really important.

It's the simple life around here lately.  But, I kind of love it.  Let's just say busy is overrated.

With my Chloe.

Snuggled in to bed with my little one and her little pig "Ohlala" (aka Olivia), such silly sweet moments.  I think we were both asleep in minutes that night.  I'm always up for a good snuggle and lets be honest, sleep.

Lately.

Life lately is mixed with the relief of cooling fall weather and the longing for days past.  Days when my mama was a phone call away and her comfort was something I innately knew.  The funny thing about the year anniversary of her passing, right around the corner is that, some days it feels like yesterday.  Other days I feel like I'm forgetting bits and pieces of her that I don't want to leave my mind and heart ever.  I'm praying and trusting that I'll remember what is important and that I'll also be reminded of lovely times I had forgotten.  I'll be honest there is a lot about her time ill that I'd be glad to forget.  The pain of it all is too much sometimes.     Though it never makes me miss her less, knowing she no longer suffers gives my heart ease.

I've made few plans for the next week because I'd like to have some space to give my feelings the time they need to work through this week ahead.  Finding my way through the past and looking forward to a new future.  That I know is bright.  I am cherishing the days at home with my little bloom, playing, crafting, looking for adventures.  One thing I know so well now, is how much I was loved by my mama.  I feel it when my heart aches like it will burst with love for my sweet daughter.  That's the thing about becoming a parent, you learn so much about the love (and frustration) of your own parents.  What a revelation it is.

So, here we are.  Soaking up the fresh fall air, looking for ways to have fun and spending time just being together, us three.  And I'm so happy to have my little bloom and her Dada beside me.

Lately.

In no particular order.  We've been roadtripping, crafting, eating popcorn non-stop, enjoying anything on ice, cozying up for movies, grocery shopping and errand running.  We had a hotel night stay during a yucky construction pipe leak-there we jumped on the bed, ate some tasty "zoup" and went to bed at 8pm.  We've rearranged furniture, added a new plant to our home and one new office chair found on at Anthro (on super duper sale). 

We've still got a few months left of really hot summer.  We are hanging in there.  Some days staying indoors all day gets us down.  For those of you who live in cold climates, I don't know how you do it.  I get stir crazy so quickly.  But then I think of how lucky we are.  Air conditioning, cold showers, swimming pools, ice, we have all the modern conveniences that make summer in the desert comfortable.  So I'm trying to hush my distaste for 115 degrees.  (wink) 

Any fellow desert dwellers have tips for making it through summer with ease?