Family Pictures 2015

My sister-in-law, Ricki, always does a great job taking our pictures, but these ones top them all so far! I'm so in love with every single one. I really feel like pictures with a toddler are truly hit or miss. I can't force him to cooperate at this age, but I always pray he will. We practiced and practiced all morning Me: What will you do when Tee Tee takes your picture? Rocco: Cheese! With a huge smile. Practice was clearly a huge success but I was still skeptical of what he would do when we finally did them for real.

 

 

 

He didn't disappoint. And neither did the weather. We couldn't have had more perfect sunshine and fall colors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to print them all and hang them all over my house.

Much Love,

B.

Catching Up: September 5k

Joe's New Year's Resolution continued with another 5k in September. The weather is getting a little more chilly, but we love to tag along and cheer him on! We stopped at his sister's house to drop off Hugo for a play date and then Rocco and I wandered around exploring while Joe ran his race.

We made sure to catch him at the finish line and meet up with him after for doughnuts and cider.

 

 There was a bounce house for the kids and Rocco had a blast even though it was freezing out.

 

 

 

 

We stopped to pick up Hugo afterwards and Rocco was easily entertained with scooping and pouring out their dog food.

 

 I am so proud of my husband for following through on such a great resolution. I know I would never have kept it up as long as he has! We will keep cheering him on as long as he keeps running.

Much Love,

B.

Catching Up: Another zoo day

We love the zoo, and even though we had already been there a few times this year, when friends invited us along to celebrate their twins birthday, we jumped at the chance. The weather was great and we knew it would likely be the last time we would get there this year. I'm already getting nervous about how I will manage outings with a toddler and a newborn next summer, so I tried to pack in as many fun outings as I could for Rocco this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much Love,

B.



Happy Birthday Rocco!

Sweet Rocco...2 years old already. Just like the first year, the second flew by too fast.

All year I've felt like "this is the best age yet". I wish I could just freeze time right here. He is so sweet, curious, funny, and wild. But most of all he's forgiving and loyal and always offers me a chance to do better as a mom tomorrow. He doesn't always get the best of me. In fact he often gets what's left of me after not enough sleep at night and work all day. Yet it's still my voice and touch that comforts and calms him. It's still my name he calls when he wakes up, my face he searches for when he's nervous or overwhelmed, my hand he reaches for to hold. Every day he still runs excitedly to me when I pick him up from school and he often still cries when I drop him off.

Before he was born I had no idea this kind of love existed, and now I can't remember life before it did. I haven't done anything in my life near worthy enough of this love but I'm eternally grateful that God has given it to me anyway. I can't imagine living my life without knowing what it feels like to be "mama". These last two years have taught me so much and I can't wait to see what this next year brings. I love you more than you'll ever know sweet Rocco.

Happy Birthday. 

Pumpkin Picking

I had grand plans this year to get to a pumpkin patch and take a million cute pictures of Rocco picking out pumpkins, going on a hay ride, petting farm animals, participating in kid's activities, etc. Unfortunately, we never made it. I was waiting until closer to Halloween so our pumpkins wouldn't rot and then when the weekend I had planned it for finally arrived it was cold and rainy. It felt like a huge mom fail since I kept seeing what seemed like every other mom post perfect pumpkin patch pictures. In the end, he's not going to remember picking out his pumpkin when he was this age and he really doesn't care where he gets it from. So we ended up stopping at a road side stand to get our pumpkins and he had a blast! There was a wagon for him to ride in and puddles to jump in and that's all he really needed.

 

 

 

 

Seeing his face light up with excitement as he picked out his pumpkins and climbed in and out of the wagon was all I needed for this Halloween memory.

Much Love,

B.



Pumpkin Walk 2015

Every year for the last several years my sister-in-law and I head out to the "Pumpkin Walk" with our kids. It's hosted at a local church and is free. There are hundreds (I think 700 this year) of carved and lit pumpkins lining a trail in the woods. All of the pumpkins are donated and volunteers carve them.

It's so fun to stroll through the dark woods admiring all the animals and characters carved into the pumpkins. The best part is hearing how excited the kids are as they point out their favorites. It seems to draw in a bigger crowd every year so we try to get there a little early so we don't have to wait too long in line. We usually start the trail while there's still a little light, and by the time we are halfway through it's completely dark out. There are always snacks and warm drinks at the end of the trail which makes a fun outing even better!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Past:

 

 

 

 

Much Love,

B.