jazz festival

I love these photos so much! this was from this past weekend - at the Denton's Jazz + Art Festival. it's always a favorite around here. tons of great music, beautiful friends + babies, plus all the good festival food - like funnel cake.

celebrating the fourth.

we were in colorado for the 4th of july, so unfortunately due to all the wild fires there were no fire works allowed. we were all a little bummed out, but still had a lot of fun at the downtown parade. and afterwards enjoyed a family bbq, and i made mini homemade strawberry shortcakes. a 4th of july tradition in our family! and we also had red, white, and blue snow cones!

(and yes, chirs insisted on wearing overalls.)

life lately

...in colorado

There are so many things I wish to write. But, writing takes digging. And digging takes time. And I am lacking that very thing. like most people I suppose, wondering how to fit it all in (one day). To be fully present with my rapidly growing daughter and to fill each day with love and joy and adventure. And manage to eat healthy, work out, keep up with laundry, pursue my husband and friends, keep up with my reading for my doula certification, manage my craft, sewing, and photography projects, and not to mention the various ministries and volunteer activities that are important to us.

So when I decide that during nap times (on a good day sparrow takes a morning nap and an afternoon nap) I will exercise during one and write during the other, my mind goes blank. All the things I want to write, like sparrow’s birth story, my breastfeeding experience, the pursuit of my doula certification, our summer plans, and letters to my loved ones. I can’t find the words. All that is looming is my big ol’ to-do list. So I guess I will start with that.

Here we go:

We are leaving for Africa on June 14^th. And we are moving out of our town home on June 13^th (another thing I want to write about – on one hand I am excited that when we come back we will be moving into a new place, but on the other I am quite emotional about it). So I have a lot of packing to do and a lot of purging. Our home is an absolute wreck with boxes everywhere, some already packed and labeled and some half-way there. And then the piles of stuff, piles to keep, piles to throw away, and piles to donate. To be honest, it feels really good to be making our load lighter. I get in really crazy moods and just want to get rid of everything.

Figure out what to pack for Africa. And google traveling tips for flying overseas with a baby.

Start moving are belongings into storage.

Clean out my fridge. And pantry. And spice cabinets. Go through my recipe books and keep only my absolute favorites.

Pack up my winter wardrobe, papa birds, and baby birds. And papa bird has requested that I go through my shoes. Oh boy.

Schedule sparrow’s 9 month doctor appointment.

After our trip to Africa, we are going to Colorado for the month of July. My heart is so excited for our family adventures this summer.  My in-laws are coming the first week of June to see us off to Africa and offered to drive our car back to Colorado, so I need to decide what to pack in our car. Like our tent and sparrow’s baby tent. Hiking boots. Bathing suits. Traveling high chair. I really have no idea beyond that. Deodorant.

Grocery shop and order our co-op basket.

puffed pancake

i always love breakfast. i could eat it for every meal. and it's my favorite meal to share with friends. the other morning i met with a dear friend (papa bird watched little bird) for breakfast, french press, and a heart to heart chat.

ingredients:

2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
dash of salt
dash of cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
1tablespoon butter

heat oven to 425 degrees.
in a bowl, whisk together eggs, flour, milk, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
while the oven is preheating, melt butter in a pie pan (in the oven). pour the batter into the hot buttered pan.
bake 10-12 minutes, until the pancake is puffed around the edges.

serve while still warm. top with lemon juice, powdered sugar, and fresh strawberries. (you could also try other berries or even maple syrup.)

i made a version of this one. (i personally like mine better, it's a lot simpler, and oh so tasty.)

enjoy!

mother's day

on my first official mama's day, my heart was overflowing with love and pride. i was on cloud nine the entire day, as my husband layed on the sweetness extra thick and honored my journey into motherhood in the sweetest way. i awoke to homemade cards, letters, breakfast, and many kisses from both of my loves.

papa bird planned a day of adventure and even a photoshoot for our family of three. we headed to the same spot where we had some of our maternity photos taken, built a similar boho fort, and had a blast adding our little bird to the scene.

this place has become sacred to my heart, a little treasure that i will always bury deep inside my soul. i anticipate as years pass, and more little birds join our nest - we will be returning to this magical place. to capture the essence, joy, love, and connectedness of our growing family.

oh sweet motherhood

how quickly sparrow came into my life, a sweet wild breeze, enveloping my entire being and heart. here i am in the deep end, swimming in joy, love, and utter happiness. there is no turning back and no desire to. oh sweet motherhood, you have made me love louder, more fierce and with beautiful freedom and grace. this journey of motherhood, has humbled me and taught me a kind of bravery i have never known , truly a gift from my creator.

to my beautiful little sparrow. it is an honor to be called your 'ma-ma' everyday. you have brought the most joyful love into our home, a love that keeps growing. .and my darling husband, chirstopher. you are truly the best part of my life. thank you for being a loving and kind man, one i can lean on through the ups and downs of this journey. being a mama has been my greatest, most rewarding adventure and i thank both of you so much for giving me the chance to become one. i am so very lucky to have both of you.

happy mother's day to all you amazing mothers, motherly figures and future mamas out there! and a special thank you to my own beautiful mama and mother-in-law who i love so dearly. i am so thankful for both of you, the mountains of love you pour out into our lives, is truly an inspiration.

love,
meg