Florida Friendcation 2013

In May we drove to Orlando to meet up with our BFFs. It was soooo much fun to meet all the beautiful babies and catch up with each other. I hate that we are spread out across the country, but I am so glad we can occasionally see each other! Get ready for picture overload.

Had to get a baby bump pic outside of the classy Waffle House that we breakfasted at in Pensacola, FL.

Beautiful baby Hazel and momma Paige at our first trip to the pool

Boys playing soccer

Josh blowing out his birthday candles

Evening walk looking for gators and trying to avoid sprinklers

Sunscreened Hazel (hopefully you don't mind me putting up pictures of your baby Paige!)

Upside down Gretta loving her towel

The boys showing off the sand civilization they built at Cocoa Beach

Me and Philip

Group shower at the beach!

Pool Bball

Maverick loves sleeping

Beautiful Miley

Group shot at the pool

Downtown Disney dinner

Love you all! Can't wait for the next one!

Meet Connie

This is another project I made for my friend's nursery. It was fun to make up a pattern for this little animal and customize her. She is striped like a zebra, has the snout of an ant eater...

and has a precious pleated skirt. What kind of animal do you think she is?

Sister Visit

My sister had a baby. They live really far away and I hate that I never get to see them. Why can't we all just live in the same state! I went to visit them the week of easter and we had a great time together.
This is my sweet, beautiful niece Riley Rischel Thomas. I am so glad I got to spend a week with her! Wish I could hold her and kiss those cheeks!

This is her wonderful mother and my lovely sister Laura.
One day we went to NYC. This is us on the subway.

Aunty Ana, Riley, Dustin, and Laura. I love my family.

I love this picture of Laura. I think is shows how gentle and kind her heart is. She has always been this way and it is something I greatly admire about her. 

Nursery Decor

I finished these yesterday

and I wish they were for my nursery!

but they are for someone else 

I especially love the moon and it's funny nose.

South Africa

One year ago I was on the vacation of a lifetime

I never posted about it because there was just too much to say

I still dream about South Africa

and miss it all the time

We hope to return someday

to this magical country

Here is a sampling of photos from the trip

Pesto Recipe

Right now I am full

I just ate a panini with pesto, avo, tomato, and mozz

and it was delicious

Making pesto is easy, but it does require a lot of basil

And this is why every summer I plant a ton of it

This summer I bought 3 little plants and put them in 1 big pot

They are loving the sun they get from our balcony

and they don't seem to mind the summer heat 

which zaps every ounce of energy from me

the growing baby might have something to do with that too...

Without further ado here is my mother-in-law's pesto recipe

Slather it on pizza, a panini, or a pasta salad and I promise it will not disappoint

2 c. tightly packed fresh basil leaves (about 1 large bunch)

½ c. olive oil

1/3 cup pine nuts, roasted

1 large garlic clove

1 t. salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 oz. freshly grated imported Parmesan cheese

1 oz. freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Combine first 6 ingredients in processor or blender and puree, stopping machine as 

necessary to scrape down sides of container.  Pour into bowl.  Stir in cheeses, cover and 

refrigerate.  (Flavor is better if cheeses are grated and added just before using.)

Mom Visit and Motherhood

My mom came to visit last week. We had so much fun!! We sewed, ate delicious food, and looked at baby clothes! At the end of the week we realized we hadn't taken a single picture (I blame this on not having an iPhone (if you see Phil tell him I need one)) so we had Phil take this one the night before she left. I was really sad when she left. I have never cried so hard over her leaving. I think this happened for a couple reasons: 1) I have never lived so far away from her (except for my semester abroad), and 2) next time she comes it will be to help with the baby, which means I have to have a baby first, the thought of which still really scares me (maybe I shouldn't have watched Call the Midwife...).

Lately I have been thinking a lot about becoming a mother (duh). As I have researched stuff to register for and thought about names I feel so unprepared for this. But then Mother's Day happened and the talks and lessons at church were about the importance of righteous women. And the children sang lovely songs that made me cry. And I watched this video (which also made me cry, I have been admitting to crying way too much in this blog post):

http://www.mormonchannel.org/faith-and-family?v=2360101824001#.UYxQwgW6WIA.facebook

And after thinking about all of this, I feel so prepared spiritually for this to happen in my life. This is what I have always wanted. I know I have SO much to learn. But I am so excited to learn it. And I am thankful to have such a genuinely good husband by my side in this adventure of parenthood. 

I love looking in the closet and seeing little baby clothes hanging up. I love hearing his heart beat at my appointments. I love feeling the little kicks all day long. I love my bump and most of all I love the baby inside that makes it stick out a little more every day.