Instafriday: Final days of January

It's Friday and I just remembered that I can link up with Jeanett from Life Rearranged for my first official Insta-Friday! Wahoo :)

| taking a walk with my little man |

| this is what my evenings look like |

| 2nd birthday extravaganza |

| new construction outfit, he's ready to work |

| GO HAWKS! It's his favorite thing to yell |

| "Come on digger" he said as he dragged his new toy around the house |

| Chinese New Year treats from a student |

| tiny red lanterns for good luck |

| Chinese food for dinner; funny fortune "...in bed" ;) |

The Greatest Gift

I've been reading the new Gospel plan on She Reads Truth. And I'm studying the book of James with my church community group and women's Bible study. 

Realizing that grace is the BEST GIFT I have ever received. Jesus is my greatest blessing and God is the giver of all good and perfect gifts. 

So thankful this morning!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

I found my first gray hair on Sunday :-/ today I spotted an other one. 

My son loves Toy Story. Best quote from last night was: "Mama I need woody buzz tb yeah?"  That's also the longest sentence he's strung together to date. 

Birthday morning selfie with mom. That grin just kills me!

Harry's Birthday Dinner at our favorite sushi restaurant. 

He's too young to choose. 

We figure by age three he will have more opinions. Parents of the year ;)

Letter: 2 years (part 1)

Dear Harrison,

This weekend we celebrated the fact that you are now 2 years old! As always, I cannot believe you're already this old, and yet I can't quite remember what life was like before you were in it.

I've been sitting here for a while trying to figure out what exactly to say, but I just don't have the words. I want to summarize the last six months or so. Capture you in this moment at two years old. Write down every little thing you say, and the way you say it.

And I just can't seem to do it. I think I am still on a high from the weekend, and yet I'm feeling a little emotional about the fact that you're two today. So I'm just going to share some photos from your party for now, and sit down this week to think more about what I want to write down in this letter. It seems so monumental. Two. There is almost too much that I want to say, and for now I hope that the pictures we took this weekend will be enough.

I love you my sweet two-year-old boy!

Happy 2nd Birthday Harry!

Love always,

Mama

A Smattering of Thoughts & Photos

I'm not sure that "smattering" is really a word, but that's how this post feels in my head, so here goes!

Harry is as good as two. 

T-W-O! 

Only one sleep until his party and three days until his actual birthday. 

I cannot believe it. But I'm so excited! 

His birthday is way more fun than my own now that I'm his mama. 

He got a clean bill of health at his 2-year-checkup yesterday. Ears are healed which means no tubes (unless he gets another ear infection in the near future). Praying that's not the case, but we'll face that bridge if and when it comes. 

This news was seriously an answer to prayer! Praise Jesus!!!

I love taking pictures of Harry at his doctor's appointments. It's funny to look back at how much he's changed!

Here he is at his first doctor's appointment at less than a week old:

Doesn't even look like the same kid!

.    .    .

Here are a few peeks at things I've made to decorate his party. It's a Little Blue Truck theme :) One of our favorite books...and so fun to use as inspiration!

"Harry is 2!" banner

...and some table top decor. 

The rest will have to wait for a post on Monday after the celebrating has taken place and I have (way too many) photos to share!

.    .    .

This weekend I've been reading in Lamentations and 2 Timothy, two books of the Bible full of wisdom and encouragement. 

I love little Harry in the background playing with his trains and watching Thomas while I got to spend some quality time in God's Word yesterday. It was such a relaxing time and good for him to see me making time to spend with Jesus (rather than always doing it when he's asleep).

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail!

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; 

therefore I will wait for him."

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him,

to the one who seeks him ;

It is good to wait quietly for

the salvation of the Lord!"

>>  Lamentations 3:22-26  <<

Mid-Week Inspiration :: My Craft Room

The lighting was really good on Monday afternoon and Harry finally managed to take a nap in his crib
(aka: not on my person, for the first time in several day). 

Hooray!

So to "celebrate" the sunlight and my momentary freedom, I took some photos, uploaded them to my computer,
and thought I'd share them with you today.

| the view from my desk |

| my washi tape collection is growing. love! |

| Harry has several piggy banks, but this is my favorite one :) |

| organization and chalkboards, two of my favorite things |

| favorite tray and printable iphone cover inserts |

| coffee in my favorite Christmas mug & my green journal, remnants of holiday cheer |

| a blessing in a cup, compliments of my hubby on a rough afternoon earlier this weekend |

| a few of my favorite cards, photos, and prints |

You can order the large aqua print (available in other colors as well) from my favorite Etsy shop :) or can start by just reading Katy's blog here...because she's awesome!