Isla Jane is ONE! a Gift Guide!

Sweet Isla is having the smallest of birthday gatherings, just family in the park. She needs next to nothing, but I always love putting together these sweet little gift guides + maybe inspire your gift giving for fellow one year olds in your life!

1.\\ Jammies Forever. I love sweet jammies + these fruity ones from here are so precious.

2. \\ Blocks! These wooden ones with the different shapes aren't like any of the ones we have at home. I like that the big kids can get creative with them as well. Maybe they'll build me New York City again :)

3. \\ A Sweet Dolly. Lucy has the pink version, so you know... sisters, and matching, and dollies and what not. 

4. \\ A Pull Behind Toy! Each of our kids have enjoyed a pull behind toy at one point or another + this little guy makes me smile when I look at it. (Has already been purchased)

5. \\ Boooooks, and more books. Can't get enough books. These are all on Amazon.

6. \\ Clementine Kids Quilt. We love our muslin quilts, they are the perfect size + weight for littles, and pretty to look at too.

Happy Gift Giving!

When Isla Jane got cuter...

Between the headband + the shoes, I seriously can't stand it. She's so dang cute, and so big! 

I feel like I've already seen so much growth in just a week of her being one... a few things to note before she goes + changes some more.

 She has transitioned to hard soled shoes. If you take them off of her, she will bring them back to you to put back on, every time.

My sweet little old lady baby- she has the best walk.

She's officially just as much of a hambone as her sister.

Now since she's all grown up, she wants to hold babies who aren't one... like her cousin Mila who is only three weeks younger. It was the most precious thing ever, she'd wrap her arms around her + then lean away to look at her face + give her a kiss + a hug, and repeat.

If you tell her you love her, she will pucker and smack her lips repeatedly, like she loves you too + is showing you with kisses. 

I hope I never forget her exactly as she is today.

Isla Jane, my prize, i love you!

4th of July Parade, 2017!

Happy fifth of July! I hope you had a loooong weekend + a wonderful 4th of July full of celebration + fireworks + traditions + thankfulness because we get to freely call this beautiful country home! We started our morning at the Old Town parade (guh-prayed as Abel used to say). The kids were most excited to collect candy as it was thrown, the cuuutest little face painter girl painted their faces + Chris, the cutest dad, toted the three of them around in our happy red wagon. It was a good morning. It makes me happy when we make the effort to get out + go, to experience different things no matter the possible chaos that may be involved, especially when it would be easier to skip it. It's so worth it to me. Thankful for the life we are building for our kids. My biggest wish is for it to be a life they love to be a part of, and a life that they will hopefully remember when they are adults + will want to share + pass on to their own children!

isla jane, one year.

Isla jane, my sweet third child of dreams is one. 

What the actual hey?! 

Abel cried real tears going to bed tonight, saying how he didn't want her to turn one, he wanted her to be his baby forever +  that she's cuter when she's tiny... as if tomorrow she will wake + be an entirely different baby. She was hugging him, consoling him while his sweet tears fell. It was the most heartbreakingly sweet moment, and I hope I never forget it. These are the moments I couldn't have dreamed up if I'd tried. I saw Chris + I... probably some kids when we were "like 30"  ...I had no idea how full my future life was... the love my heart would hold, the feeling of my own newborn's smallness in my arms, the grubby toddler hands on my face, the snuggles + giggles + early morning smiles, the love they have for Chris or the way they care for each other... moments like these. I'm so thankful that God is bigger than what I can see. 

Thank you Jesus for Isla, and for the two before her.

I've never known a better third baby than her. She's happy + silly + independent + willful. She has always had her own voice, has the sweetest spirit, loves her family, + is breezing by all the milestones early like the rest of 'em. She nods, and waves her hands to say no, stands on the coffee table like it ain't no thang + knowwwws she shouldn't. We swear she is saying iiiiislaaaa, + mimics me calling aaaabel too. Her favorite thing to do currently, is pick up the dogs. Harlow is her favorite because she is more her size, but she will give Charlie a try too. She also kisses them + shares her food... and theirs.

Isla Jane, Bitty J, Janebug + Chris's favorite (to which I always give a HUGE eye roll) Ijjy Azalea...

Forever the third child of my dreams, Isla. I love you more than you know. Thank you for your spirit + all that you are. You're my angel. I love you, Happy Birthday!

Photos from the hospital, when she was born HERE, and some of my favorite photos from the year below! 

On Tuesday.

 Some Tuesdays we stay home, others we visit fire stations with the best pink walls in the history of fire stations with pink walls. We may be inclined to head to the park afterward + enjoy watermelon smoothies, or even fill our bellies at the Food Truck Rally to end the day. 

We have been knee deep in a kitchen renovation + not taken much time for anything other than that, so while laying in bed last night, Chris and I decided that on Tuesday we would get out and live some life. We are so glad we did. 

I hope you had a happy Tuesday however it was spent :) Here are a few iphone photos from the day!