How do you do it?

Sometimes there are special little moments in the day that stop me right in my tracks and make me think THIS is why I do what I do. I had one of these moments yesterday at our music class with both kiddos sitting on my lap, another one today while having a lunch picnic in our sunny backyard, and another one teaching Lucca to skateboard while holding Jackson on my hip. Stay-at-home mommyhood was quite an adjustment from my career world, and now with 2 kids there are days that I'm honestly WISHING I was sitting in my old office drinking a hot Starbucks latte in PEACE & QUIET. Wishing I was wearing fancy heels and attending important meetings, wishing I was on a business trip to NYC dining at the latest hot spot...

And then, there are days like yesterday and today that have me thinking I couldn't quite possibly be missing out on these precious moments of my babies lives. I recently read "Motherhood is a short season of selflessness" and that quote has stuck with me. Couldn't be more true, right? Early motherhood is just a season, and a season I'm sure I'll long for once it's gone. It's HARD, it's rewarding, it's exhausting, it's fun and most importantly, it's a blessing.

Working mom friends always ask me HOW DO YOU DO IT? But days like today have me thinking HOW DO YOU NOT?

I guess it doesn't help that I have the most freaking adorable babes on the planet..

Oh October

Now that I'm a mom, October is quickly becoming my favorite month of the year. Which is funny since it used to be my least favorite. Kind of like when I used to not understand why the state of Oregon even existed, then I spent a year in Portland and love the place tremendously. Ah, life.

But, October! Fall is here. Which means holidays are around the corner. Halloween costume planning is in full effect. A trip to the pumpkin patch is in order. Our daily chatter is about harvest festivals, hay rides, scarecrows, apple pickin, trick or treating and leaf hunts. And don't forget about pumpkin pancakes and baked apples. And hot cider! Which reminds me of Apple Hill and pony rides. So many fun kid things to do at this time of year. Meaning fun for mom (and dad) too.

I've always loved the holidays, but everything is becoming much more fun as Lucca gets older.

October, you aren't so bad after all.

Goodbye July

What a month! I can't believe I ever thought I was tired or busy when I just had one child. How easy that seems now! HA. No offense mothers of one baby -- your job is still tough, but just WAIT til you have another one ;) muhahahaha...

We stuck close to home in July and started to find our groove with Lucca & Jackson's schedules. Everyone always tells me to just get through the first year of life with two babes and the rest is golden. But as crazy as it is having two, we realize these are sweet, sweet days, and my mindset is anything but "just getting through this year" and more like trying to soak up each moment of this year. A few favorite moments...

Our beloved park bench. We eat lunch here almost every day. We also read books here.

Jackson listens to the stories too.

Lucca is becoming quite the little artist, which I'm so happy about. We've been doing lots and lots of painting...watercolor, acrylic on canvas, finger painting, you name it. I love watching her be creative. She names every painting, a few of the most recent are "Cowboy" "Boo Boo" "Buddy" "Peedie" and my personal fave... "Crazy Jumping Pirate Bugs"

Unfortunately, I now have a big stack of Lucca's art that I can't seem to part with yet. You may be getting some in the mail soon if you're lucky :)

The bath time ritual is something we so greatly look forward to every day. 7:00 on the dot -- this girl gets in the tub, sometimes with balloons (string of balloon pictured below..ha)

Lucca the Ballerina!

Lucca went to her first ballet class a few weeks ago and I'm not sure she's taken her tutu off since. Which is funny, because we've had 5 tutu's here for the past year but they all the sudden are the coolest thing in the house. Now that she actually realizes they are for dancing she likes them. Just bend be thankful that I did not post a photo of ME wearing one of her tutu's, because yes, that happened.

Lucca LOVES her brother. I have become more than Jackson's mother, I am his bodyguard - from Lucca. The love she has for him is shown in many ways, including squeezing, squishing, squealing, holding, poking, shouting and jumping all over him.

But who is Lucca's #1 fan? Jackson.