the great outdoors...

we love outside. 

lately we've been spending a lot of time there too, thanks to the cooler weather.

abel currently adores this, his tippy cup, climbing up on everything in sight, a kitchen spoon & wants nothing to do with his toys. his favorite sound this week is ma ma ma ma, it's mine too. over night he went from eating nothing to eating everything & often... spaghetti squash still being at the top of his list & sweet potatoes no where on it. he's a big boy now & we better notice.

time FLYS with a baby around. pictures from a few months ago seem like a few YEARS ago. he looks so different. i'm not sure i could love this child more. he is truly the best. just a simple little guy. doesn't take much to entertain him, but boy is he keeping me on my toes... 

i wouldn't have it any other way.

joy beyond measure.

this kid! i couldn't tell you how many times a day chris & i look at each other teary eyed, filled with pure delight. he is the purest light. the perfect example of God's greatness. i am so blessed to be his mama, we are so blessed to be parents... his parents. i want a million kiddos to be running around these parts one day, but it's not uncommon for me to feel like this is it. abel is it. my heart is full to the brim & pouring over with love for him & there's no room for more! people tell me that there is... i believe them, but right now it's hard to imagine. he makes every single day worth it. i love being a mama. it's my favorite job in the whole wide world & more fulfilling that any role i've played, other than being a wife. thank you Lord for filling my life with the two sweetest boys on the planet.

girls night out, no boys allowed.

last week i had my first "girls night out".  i don't even like that term... "girls night out" it just sounds so silly, but nonetheless, i went out with my older sister & our friend shannon for the first time since abel was born. not like, me & the girls AND abel... i mean without abel. for the most part, he & i are connected at the hip (no really, at the hip) 24/7. so, this was a big deal. it was also a boys night in for he & chris... and that was a big deal too! both parties had a blast! chris sent me pictures all night without me even asking him to or texting him every 3 minutes! i'm so happy i went, & i was SO happy chris had a great night with his boy.

the place we went is in old town, called Pinot's Palette. SO MUCH stinkin' fun! i had been wanting to go since the first time i walked past it, oh you know... a year ago! it was such a great atmosphere, & the people running the place were a whole lot of smiles. blank canvas, glass of wine, cute apron... & someone willing to walk you through how to a paint a masterpiece step by step (and tell you that it looks good too)... well that's my kind of thursday night! it was seriously so awesome to look around & see everyone's paintings, and how they were all the same, yet so different from one another at the same time! canvas & cocktails officially has my recommendation. i hope you're having a wonderful week!

i'm so glad i live in a world where there are octobers...

hello october! i'm SO thrilled at your arrival. you are made up of many things that i adore... 

all things pumpkin

crunchy leaves 

50 shades of orange 

s'mores 

family

birthdays

halloween 

crisp air

warm drinks

delicious treats 

hocus pocus 

layering

BECOMING AN AUNTIE... to name a few. 

thank you for continually showing up after september each year & for officially marking the first day of the best days of the year. you're great.

in celebration of the first day of october, it seemed fitting to share with you our time at osborn farm! if you remember, we went last year, but my parents weren't in town to enjoy it with us! not the case this year. this year, they were present for this cute little farmer's market setting, complete with kettle corn, a gorgeous view of the mountains, hand holding & plenty of pumpkin to go around. it's a fun little place & it was a happy september day. i'm so thankful for this life... God really broke the mold when he made  my family, they just make life better. 

happy october! 

taking stock...

hump day! (you know... like the camels) hello september 25, where did this month go? today i officially have an 8 month old & i'm just not sure how that happened. within a week of learning to crawl he has made the switch from gimpy to super speed, and he's really not even interested in the crawling part, but more the getting to whatever is around & immediately pulling up on it & then walking from side to side... i'm pretty sure crawling isn't going to last very long. the past week or so he has certainly been rocking my world. no more sitting around doing this or that or leaving the room for one second, i'm on my toes for good now. all this exploring is exciting for him however, after the excitement wears off he really only wants to be held, and by me... his top four teeth are coming in (front two are almost there) and if you saw the size of those things, you'd want your mom too! seriously, kid's got his mama's teeth... we're just praying they finish the job & soon! he's adopted a new shriek, he loves it. he does it all the time, happy or sad... depending on what follows it, and you'll know. we're teaching him high fives, patty cake & blowing kisses. he is the greatest blessing we've ever known. the sweetest slice of pie. i love him to the moon, back & around the block a couple (million) times. happy 8 months abel maddox, thanks for changing my name & forever changing my heart!

on a different note, i saw this over on the daybook, originally from here... & enjoyed reading it too much not to join in! i hope you're all having a wonderful week so far! our bed is currently dressed in the cozy cream & white that i often use for photo shoots, & it's just so pretty & all too tempting not to snuggle up with abel & not leave it until the weekend!

a happy little list...
Making : the switch from summer to fall in our closets, home & hearts

Cooking : cookies... surprised?

Drinking : too much iced vanilla chai, could be time again to give it up for a while (not)

Reading: boundaries by henry cloud & john townsend, SUCH a great read so far & so helpful in learning how to set boundaries for your self & for your family, why we should & why it's 100% okay to do so.

Wanting: chris to come home

Looking: forward to the holidays

Playing: patty cake, buckin' bronco, & ride a horsey with abel.

Wasting: time on pinterest... it's just the best this time of year, & the babies? i want a million & 3

Sewing: ha.

Wishing: for time to slow down so that abel could be little forever

Enjoying: cooler weather & a change in wardrobe, i was born for boots, hats + layering

Waiting: to become an auntie! hurry up arrow, we want to meet you!

Liking: when i wake up early enough that chris's cologne is still lingering in the house, i love him

Wondering: what abel's next milestone will be & when it will happen, probably tomorrow at the rate he's currently going

Loving: my family + the look exchanged between chris & i when we watch abel sleep, play, or generally do anything

Hoping: for a miracle

Marvelling: at God's beauty in every thing around us. sunsets over our lake, mornings with abel, walks, love...

Needing: to rid our life of drama, negativity & unloving thoughts & actions, even if it's at the expense of my own pride. "life becomes easier when you learn to accept the apology you never got" ... you can't change people, but you shouldn't let the bad behavior of others change who YOU truly are.

Smelling: warm, peanut butter + chocolate chip cookies

Wearing: leggings & a sweatshirt, you know... since it's chillier these past few days & we are officially AC window unit free!

Following: everyone i know, doesn't matter how long i live in a place... i still rely on the tail end of a friends car

Noticing: that it's time to deep clean the bathroom again... ugh

Knowing: that i am loved

Thinking: about throwing a halloween shindig, you all know how i love those

Bookmarking: every single moment spent with my family

Opening: a kit kat wrapper, the last one in the house... muahaha

Giggling: as much as humanly possible

Feeling: hungry