little love letters.

dear fall, 

please get here soon. it's been raining all week & i'm hoping with my whole heart that you're not teasing us and really ARE right around the corner.

dear abel, 

the cuteness... really?

dear breakfast, 

you truly are my favorite meal of every day. there will never be a day that i won't want you, and if for some reason i am not able to enjoy you in the morning, i will have breakfast for dinner.

dear two of my favorite blondes (brianna & abby), 
i. can. not. stinkin. wait. for you to both visit! obviously, you are coming separately (although, what a blast it would be if you came at the same time)... & i am so thrilled to get a happy little visit both this month & next!

dear starbucks-iced vanilla chai,
you are so dang good. it's been all cozy out & it feels like i should be having a warm drink, but you're just too good... you have my heart. love you... mean it.

dear person reading this, 
i hope you are having a truly wonderful day. if it's raining where you are, i hope you've got something cozy in your presence... if it's sunshiney, i hope you're soaking it in! you're doing great today, whatever it is that you are doing! thank you for reading & loving on our family.

dear stripes,
i adore you, all day-every day.

dear husband,
you're adorable & so much cooler than me. i'm so happy that i get to do life with you & i'm so proud of all that you've accomplished this year! cheers all around (insert clapping hands emoji here).

dear abel, 
the cuteness... really?
(nope this isn't an accidental repeat... i mean, come on!)

dear sisters,
how did i get so (this is the 4th place i've wanted to use the phrase 'so stinkin' & had to choose another one because i already used it...) LUCKY!? two of the very best friends in the world right here in my own family. privileged.

happy friday + happy gramday!

yellow is my favorite color.

...so when i found out the team chris would be playing with for the next few weeks chose yellow as 'their color' i was not mad about it. it was so great to see my studly husband back out on the field. i couldn't tell you how many soccer games i've been to over the past decade, but i can tell you it's been a lot. i'm not a sports fan, but cheering chris on & watching him play the sport that he is SO talented at & so passionate about truly makes my heart feel happy. it was extra fun to have abel there too, & somewhere between chewing on everything in sight (mostly grammy's phone) & crawling in every direction he actually showed interest a couple times... hoorah!

^^^ both, because you know... we couldn't get a picture where we were both looking & smiling at the same time. & below? the cutest grassy toes i've ever seen... he preferred the grass over the blanket, and i loved that.

^^^aren't they just the cutest pair? my mom was definitely NOT enjoying her first grandparents day! and PLEASE tell me that you noticed abel's hair & that it is officially standing up on top *squeal*

we three.

milestones.

Sweet Abel... how is it that in the same week, you've started pulling up on things, crawling (even if it's a hand-hand-lift one knee through, adorably gimpy one), & your top teeth are just barely through? three major events in the SAME WEEK?! give a mom a chance! you're growing oh so fast my little man. You are too stinkin' cute & i think at this point you know it... You are NOT into the solids, although i still try every day. spaghetti squash seems to be the one & only thing you don't purse your lips at... so spaghetti squash for days i say. You're officially huge, okay not really, but you are getting so much bigger every day it feels like. the way you sleep is insanely cute, i can't stand it. you roll all around like a rollie-pollie & often times end up on your belly, rumpus high in the air... MELT MY HEART. you're babbling non stop & da da da da da is one of your favorites... you haven't shortened it to just two yet, so i'm not claiming it as a first word or anything (although your dad might like to think otherwise ;)). you do NOT love when something is taken away from you... meltdown central, & when people cheer too loud for you it scares you & you bury your head in my chest (so sad & also 100% adorable). you do however love the 'abel is the best' song... or any song/music for that matter. we have now transitioned into the, 'i only want my mommy' phase, it is the sweetest thing in the world & isn't hurting my ego at all to be your everything for right now... but we are still socializing as usual & as long as i'm in viewing distance you aren't totally opposed to another set of arms. 

you're the best abel. you really are. you make me want to be a better person all around. a better mama, a better wife, daughter, sister. i want to be better so that i can show you & teach YOU how to be. it can be pretty scary raising a human being (completely and totally awesome too)... it's our job to lead you in the right direction, to teach you to love Jesus, to advocate for you, love you, mold you. i believe we are off to a good start, but from the 25 years of life experience that i do have, i think this age might be the easy part. i'm ready though bud... you & i? we're a great team, and your dad and me?? unstoppable. we as a family will grow & change together, for the better. i love you so much my sweet abel. 7 months & counting... they are probably the favorite months of my life so far. love, your mama

estes park + part two

hello rainy tuesday... i couldn't be more thrilled with the weather right now. abel & i are decked out in our fall attire, we've got pumpkin spice candles burning & are dreaming of baked goods & crock pot meals. mmmm. if the weather stayed like this until november & snow started shortly after i would not object. anyhow, enjoy the second part of our trip to estes! if you missed part one, you can find it here! 

^^^i am hungry now… & below, the illuvial fan! i have SO many pictures here from growing up, it was so cool to get pictures of abel this time around!

^^^ this picture cracks me up. it’s probably one of the worst pictures ever, & the best all at the same time… for obvious self timer // facial expression & on & on… reasons. but it was taken after my little famliy of 3 went on an impromptu BOULDERING trek up the illuvial fan... in our toms & converse. i only had about 3 heart attacks, but we survived :) below, elk! we love seeing HUGE elk, AND it was all rainy & misty on the ride down from the mountain & made me feel like it was all fall like.

walking the town… this is probably my favorite part of estes, or atleast where lots of good candid photo opps happen—oh & eating (& you all know how i feel about that)

one our last night we had dinner at the Dun Raven. so delicous & on the fancier side of estes park. the entrance is SO awesome & covered with thousands & thousands of dollar bills with peoples signatures & cute things like that all over the walls. chris & i have one up there from years ago but we were unable to find it in all those bills! abel now has one right up by the register! look for it if you're ever there :) 

 our last morning we did what i love most... made waffles... WITH BACON IN THEM. yum. i love making big breakfasts for family. it was the perfect way to end a perfect weekend.