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Beatrice sandwich! And some of the very best pizza we have ever eaten behind us 🍕@pizzeriabianco
These two are obsessed with “Fancy Like” and mostly obsessed with watching @walkerhayes dance to Fancy Like with his family 😎😎 It’s currently their top pick for the bedtime song🎶 and here’s a snippet of what went down last night! #fancylike
“Mama— take a picture of this face…” he says. And I’m grabbing my camera and trying to contain my laughter as I think to myself, “I’m just the absolute luckiest to know this kid.” 💛 Everyone needs a mister Conrad in their life.
When you convince (bribe?) the entire family to take a family photo with the real camera 📸 ps- spot the camera remote😂
Sometimes I raise my voice. Sometimes I beg. Sometimes I make ultimatums. Sometimes I hate bedtime to the freaking goodnight moon and back.
But then they’ll grab my chin and cheeks and lean in close to tell me they love me. And they’ll thank Heavenly Father for “no witches and no robbers” during their bedtime prayers. And insist on giving each other 17 silly hugs before the lights go out because “I’m gonna miss her so much when I sleep.”
I’ll take the 48 minutes of squatting between their beds for back scratches and the unexpected trip to the potty 12 minutes after the last potty trip if it means they keep this bond forever. Witnessing their complete love and sisterhood changes me. Even when I say I hate bedtime with my three-year-olds, I’m such a sucker for this stage of life with them.
A few photos from life lately over here - enjoying family time and life in Arizona. Thanks for being here while I’ve kind of been away for a little while… haven’t been doing well physically (some health issues) but that doesn’t mean I haven’t stopped taking one too many photos☺️
The game of “Who Can Stand on Mama’s Back and Wiggle Their Feet Around Without Falling Off!” …which is really just code for “mama would like a back massage” but they think it’s crazy fun and my back knots are screaming happy so everyone wins. #momhacks
One wall and pipe at a time, the home renovation is coming together. 💛 #renovation #homedecor #wallpaper (wallpaper is @riflepaperco🌸)
Just over here holding all my (not-so-little) babies close and stepping away from pretty much everything else. Trying to cuss less and write more. Often feel on the cusp of big breakthroughs I want from my life (yay!) while simultaneously giving too much power to my anxiety (ugh). Clinging to my evening prayers and favorite yoga class and busting out the Christmas music a season early. My footing might be terribly wobbly at the moment and who wants to hear the girl on the verge of nervous tears dish out any kind of life advice, but for anyone else in a similar rut (I’m so sorry) – might I suggest the biggest serving of strawberry shortcake as a remedy. Plus standing outside during a warm rain (Arizona, you healer with a perfectly timed monsoon season, how’d you know?)… and maybe put the phone down more. Or whatever version of these three things might float your boat. I’m sure chocolate soufflé with a dose of sunshine instead of shortcake and rain could also do the trick. The phone one I’m sticking by though. Sending you lots of love.
Bringing our summer along with us forever by way of new freckles scattered across most of our faces! ✨ …you can see B’s first sprinkle of itty bitty dots across her little nose and cheeks in the 2nd pic and even with all the lathering of sunscreen and my blessed daily nagging about sun hats, I’m nothing but proud in this moment!🥳 #summer #motherhood #magic
We are slowly making our way back to Arizona this week (my kids school year begins August 2nd😱) and we’ve never been more out of routine (definitely missing black out curtains right about now) BUT we’ve clocked in so many striking sunsets and got to hold and hug so many loved ones, it’s been everything.
I meant to share earlier this week that Amazon is running a promo on my book right now through the end of the month (until 7/31)— use the code 3YELLOW for $3 off your book purchase!
If you’ve been considering purchasing, it’d mean so much to have you do so! Thank you for supporting me and my book and I hope you find it worth your while and time.
For those of you who have already purchased and read— if there was a takeaway or something that resonated with you as you read, would you consider sharing in the comments below for new potential readers to see?
Thank you again for your support! This has been such a vulnerable and thrilling and challenging and exciting and scary endeavor and I’ve really appreciated the support. 💛
Just trying to keep up with these three on the mountain and ignore how sore my butt is from my saddle😅
On a boat! With a lot of laughs! And a few tears. Plus a whole lotta sunscreen and a couple of epic tube flips 🚤
Our summer adventures are getting a little jumbled when it comes to me sharing anything in chronological order (a part of my brain is freaking out right now but another part of my brain is feeling a little bit more free.) Sparklers are our family’s happy place so we continued our 4th of July celebrating tonight with a few on the deck. Of all the summer activities so far, a box of sparklers a few days post holiday was Samson’s favorite. He hugged me so tightly at bedtime as he told me for maybe the 18th time how much fun he had tonight. Somehow I forget anything else I loved this summer… his enthusiasm for an evening of sparklers brought sparklers to the top of my favorite summer activities list, too. 🧨
The BEST time learning all about bees 🐝 with the bee expert herself @mckayjo in Salt Lake City. We haven’t stopped talking about all the impressive things those hard working bees do each day and somehow honey has made its way into more of our meals this week 😋 Thank you for having us, @mckayjo!
Oh how cute is she! Love that picture! She's getting so big!
http://www.afoolforfashion.com/
So cute! You idea of a book themed baby shower is a great idea!
Gosh, she is insanely cute.
Oh Eleanor…stealing my heart! That is one precious photo. xoxo
Your baby shower is my favorite thing ever! I'm not even married yet but I've told all my friends for MONTHS that I want a baby book shower! (someday)
Such a precious picture!!
That is sooo sweet. I love it. We need more kids books!
Kacie
http://www.acollectionofpassions.blogspot.com/
What a great habit to start! Precious. I see she has one of my favorites…"Love you Forever"
Hello! I have been enjoying reading about your families adventures. I have great memories of my parents reading to me and I loved my books. Looks like Eleanor loves her books too. This is such a cute photo!
i love that photo! xx
ahhhhhh so cutee
Cutest photo. I love it. :)
that is the most adorable thing ever. I can't wait for my son to learn how to flip through the pages!! haha. So far I've only given him cardboard books though….:)
Notes She Wrote
She's too cute!! Have a nice weekend, dear!
book baby showers are such a good idea. the babes need more than just diapers and toys, and books can get expensive, so perfect idea :)
Too cute!
your baby is so cute :)
may i ask you a personal question? did you work something before eleanor came and if yes, what did you do?i read that you dance, was (is)this your job? did you make some free projects or did you work something else?sorry for curiosity :) greetings from germany
so glad to see she has "Love You Forever"… my mom read that to me and my siblings when we were little, and now i have it to read to my little girl. it is a precious, precious book.
http://blessed-wife-and-mommy.blogspot.com
that is what i want in a baby, a VERY early reader! what a cutie.
http://www.ithinkijustbloggedmyself.co.uk
o goodness – so precious
-grace
http://herumbrella.com
Love you Forever was the first book I bought when I learned I was expecting my daughter! I have loved it for so long, and still can't get through reading it without shedding a few tears!
what a beautiful photo!:) love it.
Love You Forever is my absolute favorite children's book. My mom would read it to me every night when I was younger. So many good memories. :)
Already reading-what a smart girl!
~Angela
grahamandangela.blogspot.com
That is the sweetest photo! Love it. My little one is turning pages and babbling. I can't even read the words because he's talking over me. I love it. so precious
Naomi!!!! quiero saber cómo puedo participar de tus sorteos, vivo en zul, un pequeño pero hermoso pueblo de Argentina.
Me gusta tu blog!!!
Un beso muy grande.
Josefina.
She is such a cutie pie.
http://mybeatboutique.blogspot.com/
Aww! Those pictures are adorable :D
someday… i will have a book baby shower!
http://breatheandhush.blogspot.com/
She is adorable. My Mom always had a huge library for me as a child and read so much to me…I know that is why I love reading!
Your baby girl is gorgeous! I lover the way that she sit with those books :D
"Love You Forever" is my favourite book of all time. MY mumma (grandmother) used to read it to me (and sing the lullaby to me), so of course I got it for my friend's baby.
And I love the idea of a book themed shower. Reading is such an integral part of a child's development.
Great blog!
the way they explore books is so cute to watch!
love, little.
I've always adored the idea of giving books at a baby shower- too darling. Also, congrats to the winner. Her comment was really touching, what a sweet soul!
xo
Annalee
http://www.ramblingsofagypsynomad.com
Awww that;s adorable! She actually looks so engaged in the book too! :o) Cute!
I spot some awesome books in there! That's such a nice baby shower theme, i like that!
hope you 4 are having an incredible weekend! :o)
Such a great photo, she is so cute.
Fashionable Collections
First time for commenting on your posts, which i've been reading for several months now and am just loving this blog!
My littlest is doing the same with books now. There is the occasional need for tape, but I think it adds character to the pages! such a joy! Keep us posted on the ones you like most! I'm going to feature the ones with our favorite illustrations (and names) soon!
I think there should be a combined spot for all mother/bloggers to catalog the books we like and share them all in one place! Now who wants to head this up? hehe
xo
Kristen
Eleanor, you are too adorable :)
So adorable!
I'm currently a Nanny for a one yr.old boy, and I wish he was like that with books! Currently he's in the stage where he wants to touch anything and put them in his mouth. You may have experienced that as well!
Hey there – thought I saw a post with your favorite children's books but can't seem to find it now. Our babies were born about the same time and both seem to love reading! I have a list too – http://lifewiththedickersons.blogspot.com/2009/05/for-love-of-literacy.html
Cheers to babies and their books!
loväly!
I just love your blog! Faith, Family, Love, photography, Fun
What a wonderful blog!!! Great!!! I love it! I would be very happy if you have a look on my (2 month old) blog. Greetings from Germany,
Julia & Mia
http://kleinetestwelt.blogspot.com/
Book recommendation for Eleanor:
http://suzybecker.com/index.php?page=about&family;=books&display;=113
My sister's Mother in law wrote it, very cute :)
This is so sweet. She really does seem to be interested.
*Erin
i know a wonderful tiny book, made by wonderful -not so tiny- people.
here: http://www.hitrecord.org/store/tiny_book.html
:-)
What a great picture! My son, Max, loves to read! Influencing them at a young thing the best we, as parents can do for them. They can NEVER have too many books!
I love how she is sitting there looking at the book! What a big girl :)