letters to Nathan

Dear Nathan, 

This week we officially nicknamed you "bug".  It is short for "bug-a-boo" and "love bug", and I personally think it fits you absolutely perfectly.  Daddy, on the other hand, is still coming around.  But I love nothing more than calling you bug.  

You are the happiest baby in the morning.  Some mornings you wake up quite fussy because you have gas, and you hate having gas.  But as soon as you're on your changing table I start singing "You are my sunshine" and you get the biggest smile on your face.  Your smile is the cutest ever because it takes over your entire face.  Your smile turns into a mouth-wide-open-nose-scrunched face and it sends my heart into another world.  I hope that you always wake up smiling, knowing that each day is new and holds so many possibilities for you. 

You also are starting to laugh, and it comes out as more of a squeal.  The reason why I love it so much is because you squeal when I talk to you and play with you.  You sure know how to melt your mamas heart already.  As much as you are growing bigger faster than I could imagine, I love the stage you're in.  And I love that I put a smile on your face and make you laugh, and pray that you always smile back at me.  

Our days together are more perfect than I could ever imagine.  You love being on your play mat looking up at the mobile, and you love when we do the "Itsy Bitsy Spider".  Our favorite book is We're Going On a Bear Hunt, and I can't wait until you are talking and singing along with me when we read the book.  Last night we finally got through Guess How Much I Love You at nighttime before you were way over it and ready to eat.  At the end I got teary eyed remembering grammy telling me "love you to the moon and back" when I was little.   

Daddy talks to you in silly voices, and has high hopes that you'll start crawling automatically.  He also loves sitting you down on his lap and just telling you what's going on in the world.  I love that you fell asleep on me many times this week, but as soon as I stand up it quickly ends and your eyes snap wide open.  

Our little bug, you have changed our lives more than we could ever have imagined.  I love that you have no idea about the hurt, pain, and devastation this world has.  That you are surrounded by people that love you more than you will ever know, and that you remind us to think about only the good in this life.  I pray that you always see the love and happiness that surrounds you! 

Love,

Mama and Daddy 

love your selfie

There's something you must know about me.

 I absolutely love the Today Show!  When my mom and I went to New York back in 2007 you betcha that we stood out in the rain for the Today Show.  And can I just say that those anchors wear the most amazing shoes.

There's something else you should know…I've always had a hard time with my body image.  I've constantly filled my life with lies that my body was lacking, imperfect, and not good enough.  And I know that I am not alone, in no way at all.  

So on Monday morning when the Today show talked about body image I was glued to the screen.  All of the anchors took off their make-up to show the world what they truly looked like, and shared what they thought about themselves.  I was so excited that a national program was filling the screen with real life, real struggles, and real people.  We need more TV like this!  

via

Anyways, one of my favorite anchors is the one and only Natalie Morales who described her body with the following two words:

strong and healthy

Not imperfect.  Not lacking.  But strong and healthy.  And I thought to myself how quickly I think of the things that need to change when I think about my body.  

What if we looked at what we liked instead of what we lacked?

What if we were so okay with who we were that we stopped comparing ourselves to others?

What if we sincerely complimented other women and spread this wild fire of seeing our beauty?  

What if we went a day without wearing makeup and were okay with that?  Not ashamed?

I think something pretty amazing would happen!

So I thought that I would start looking in the mirror and find at least one thing I love about myself.  Today I'm sharing five things I love about myself with you and encourage you to do the same:

my blue eyes

my thick and full hair

my strong arms

my pointy nose that I got from my grandma

my freckles 

What are five things you love about yourself?

this and that

Happy Monday!!  Wouldn't drinking a homemade almond cafe misto just brighten your day?  I think so.  Today I thought I'd share some posts/videos that I can't get enough of...

This post on motherhood is beyond beautiful, caused a lump in my throat, and is something I have definitely read more than a few times this week.

I followed this tutorial on how to blow-dry your hair like a pro as best as I could and had great results!  Do it!  You will just feel that much better when you look in the mirror :)

These boots keep pulling at my heart strings but I just don't know how to wear them????

Can we all just agree that this is epic???


This video made me tear up (maybe it's the hormones), and not the ugly mom tears.  As I watched it thinking about our sweet Nathan, I was just so overcome with the beauty this life holds for each and every child.  Kid President is pure genius!