10 things…

It’s been quite awhile since I posted a 10 things that I’m loving right now post, because there has been so much lovin’ going on around here I didn’t think I could choose only ten things at a time.  And then all of these little things we’re enjoying right now began to pile up, the pressure building and building so much so that I need to just let a little steam out of the top of this big kettle of love we’ve been living in before something exploded.  Though today I’m going without the numbers, because life isn’t always perfectly numbered or formed of straight lines.  Sometimes life gets messy, but with all that mess comes a concoction so sweet, it feeds my soul.  So without any further ado, here are 10 things that I’m loving right now, in no particular order.

Brayden’s new rockstar moves.

He rolls and he loves it. He props himself up with those chubby little arms and drinks in all of our anticipating eyes, our breaths held tight in wait until we let out our excited coos… and then he does it.  He pushes himself over like it was nothin’ and stretches out those curled up baby legs, and then it comes, this big grin and sometimes, if you’re lucky, a proud ghaaaaaa.

His one-upping.

And just when we thought his moves couldn’t get any better, or any cuter, he goes and ups the ante by balancing on those chubby rolls we like to call baby legs.  He holds firm as we count off, one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand which quickly makes it way up to seven-one-thousand, eight-one-thousand, and his smile gets electric as he excites himself all off balance.  And we catch him and clap with our “Yay, you did it!” echoing through the house.  And then he pops back up with this wide-eyed smile that turns me to complete mush.

My new favorite cleaning routine.  

I love to slip into a cheery sun dress, sling a cuddled up baby close to my chest so that I can inhale those tiny breaths, glide on one of my fancy new glossies from our recent Mommy and Daughter Day and start cleaning house to the tunes of good ole’ Frank Sinatra, or something like that.

The days of dress up.

For the last few days Aliyah get’s this shy little smile and asks, “Mama, can I dress up?” And then, before my head finishes nodding YES, she’s off and spreading fairy wings and princess tiaras across her bedroom floor.

My oldest babe.

Upon realizing how few current photos I have floating around in my hard-drive space with my little willow and I together, I set out to remedy that situation, STAT.  So with the camera in one hand and her sprightly body held close to me with the other, I snapped away.  And one thing she does well is make me laugh, this girl can get me going.  Every day she teaches me to enjoy the small moments, and so much more than that, and to her I’m ever grateful.

Living fully in the moment and yet simultaneously looking forward to something.

I’m guilty, and shamelessly so, of taking my mind on an adventure of happy little days in the next season, the next family trip, the next holiday and smiling while visions of my little’s birthday parties, a trek to the apple orchard and Christmasy baking preview in my thoughts.  All the while fully content to splash around in our pool for as long as our weather allows, and even stretching that as long as we can with something called a water heater.

Nail salons.

With friends.  And babies.  And Starbucks.  And iPhones.

Baby toes.

I don’t think I’ll ever tire of watching cute little baby toes and how the curl just so, and then, when you ever so carefully give the softest caress that curl becomes even more apparent. And how delectable are tiny little baby toes peaking out of encroaching pint sized leg warmers?

I seriously can’t get enough of this bright eyed smile that’s attached to the other end of those toes.

Morning light.


And a cup of something good.  I sit and enjoy the still, hearing the promise of a good day, the breaking light dancing as I swirl my mug.

Sunsets.

Yes, I’ve shared this photo before, but I think that something so beautiful as a magnificent sunset can be shared twice over, right?  And more importantly, I’m contemplating where to hang this beautiful art in my home.  Any ideas?

And you… what things are you loving right now?  Do tell.