2015 Hopes + Dreams

Firstly, let me just say that I have NEVER been a goal setting type of person. I have literally had countless conversations with people where I've actually bashed making resolutions and goals. HA-HA.

Well, I'm still weirdly afraid of January 1st fever and the ridiculous need to make resolutions that you know..you KNOW.. are going to be out the door come March. Even when we have the best of intentions and desire to do the best of things with our year, month, day...life just gets busy and we either forget, move that thing down the priority list, or struggle in it and therefore give up altogether because we feel so bad that we "failed." 

That's not how I want to spend the first weeks of my year and certainly not what I want to be feeling on December 31st of 2015.

Each year brings such an opportunity for new life. New wisdom and new opportunities. So does every other day of the year, but something about starting a new year just feels like a clean and fresh slate. 

2014 threw me for a loop. I left campus ministry in a flash, had a brand new baby, and was staying home daily all alone (a very new thing for me). It started off pretty depressing to be honest. I had a lot of transitioning into this new lifestyle as a mom. But you know what happened? I was met by God in the most amazing way. In some of my biggest times of need, in the middle of the night feeding Reaghan or at the end of my rope or lonely as all get out, HE was there for me. He guided me towards some creative passions I haven't been able to explore for quite some time because I haven't had time. And He did something beautiful in that.

Now I'm on the cusp of what feels really exciting and scary. I'm stepping out into the brand new (to me) world of creative entrepreneurship and it's really kind of crazy. I daily feel like I have no clue what the heck is going on while simultaneously feeling a kick of adrenaline in my gut.  

Although goal setting still freaks me out (I may have been incredibly nauseous setting the below goals this past week) I truly deeply believe in the power of intentional living. The reality that we can live on purpose and not by accident (a Lara-ism I've come to really enjoy) and that if we sit down to think, pray and dream about making the things that matter most to us happen, that they actually CAN happen if the Lord allows. 

So, here are 10 things I'm hoping for and dreaming about in 2015. Just a little snapshot of what I hope this year will hold for me + my family. 

PS: I've used Lara Casey's PowerSheets to help me get to this list...I highly recommend them. 

Alright, this is getting long and I like short posts...so I'll come back another day and share a little deeper into each goal and what they mean to me. 

Have some goals of your own? Share a link to your blog/instagram/whatever below and I'd love to cheer you on! 

Does God Even Care?

I mentioned a couple posts back that I am building a new brand focusing on my passion for helping people get into their kitchens and use it as a place to bless others. My heart and mind can't stop dreaming of all the small and big ways I can work to make this happen for people. 

I have been working with Brigette Turner on my branding and can I just say, I have been moved to tears, squeals, and nerve-induced stomach aches because of her ability to just GET ME and the heart of my brand. I cannot wait to show you some sneak peaks soon...so be sure to follow me over on Instagram for all the details. 

It has been so incredibly important that I know for sure that God cares about the stuff that my brand and business is about. I have all these dreamy thoughts that set my heart on fire, but I had a moment of uncertainty recently where I really wondered -- does God even care? Does He care about getting food on people's tables in a meaningful and joyful way? Does He concern Himself with the mom who is struggling for inspiration in the kitchen? Does He care about a simpler and more relationship-filled life? What I found in the Bible has been sooo encouraging and affirming. Here's a small snapshot:


* God is a creator, and has given me creativity as He designed me in His image (this was really important for me to understand, and root in my heart. Watch Tim Keller for more)
* He cares about inviting strangers into our homes:
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in" (Matthew 25:35)
* He cares about encouraging others (2 Cor. 7:13)
* He cares about refreshing company (Romans 15:32, 1 Cor. 16:18)
* Investing in relationships is more significant to Jesus than the preparations that go into hospitality (Luke 10:38-42)
* God intended food to be enjoyed freely, but because of the brokenness of this world, we must work hard for it. 
* Food is a provision from the Lord that brings joy (Acts 14:17)
* Food does not bring us near to God (1 Cor. 8:8)
* All of this Romans 12:9-13
* Jesus eats with the lowly and outcast (Matthew 9:9-13)
* Jesus is radically welcoming -- He cared most about the hurting, weak, children, and the sick. 
* In the end there will be a marriage supper, a feast with all God's people rejoicing around the table. 
* "On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines." (Isaiah 25:6 )

Christmas Magic and other thoughts...

Age seems to bring the realities of life with burdens and stresses that still continue on throughout the holiday season. This year in particular has felt like a straight up fight to keep the focus on Christ during this season. December has probably been the busiest month of the year for me so far, and I have a hunch it's really not supposed to be like that. This makes me want to structure my year around making next December a month of rest and reflection. Running a million miles an hour while simultaneously trying to rest and reflect? For the record, that doesn't really work very well. 

However, how sweet God is in the midst of chaos and crazy. 

The magic of Christmas truly is in the miracle of Christ's birth. There really is no amount of gifts, cups of hot chocolate, fires lit and snuggles in thick wooly quilts that can compare to the beauty and magnitude of Christ coming to the world as a baby. As I sit and show Reaghan the nativity scene in our living room, I love telling her "look, Jesus was like you!" It helps my heart relate to him so much deeper to know that he came in such a humble form to meet us right where we are. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:17

I'm a huge fan of traditions. I want Saturday morning traditions, and dinner time traditions and bed time traditions and holiday traditions. I'm obsessed. But this year, Reaghan is only one so it's been hard to think of traditions that we could start that would make sense for her age. Some things on the list are: reading the Christmas story from the The Jesus Storybook Bible, taking pictures with Santa, and going to look at lights. 

I love when she comes into the living room and points to the "TEE!!" (tree) with excitement! Decorating the Christmas tree has always been my absolute favorite Christmas tradition. We used to do it on my birthday every year growing up. We are definitely the family with sentimental mix matchy ornaments, so hanging them on the tree is like a fun trip down memory lane. 

For traditions that will last through the years, I have my eye on this Christmas Memories Book (which I saw on my friend Hayley's coffee table the other night). I hope to get it soon and start recording memories for this year. 

I also have my eye on this Advent Calendar for next year!

I've been following the hashtag (#mddadvent) on the Advent Calendar and getting super excited to do fun and meaningful things with Reaghan next year surrounded around Christ. 

What traditions do you plan for your family and kiddos? Have you felt the slump of Christmas as an adult and wished you could get back to the magic? 

Also! I'm linking up with some wonderful bloggers....have a blog? Join in on sharing what Christmas looks like for you. 

affiliate links used....all compensation I receive goes straight back into this blog!

My Cooking Spot // Sweet + Savory Salmon

During the winter my husband and I love to eat our fill of stews and soups. Made with homemade bone broth to keep us healthy and because a warm bowl of stew is just so comforting to eat alongside a fire on a chilly winter night. We like to mix in some lighter meals to balance it out and this week I was craving the lightness of a salad. We baked this salmon, flaked it with a fork and mixed it in with some greens, cherry tomatoes, blueberries and homemade vinaigrette. A super simple dinner that we absolutely savored.

I love that this can be prepared all in the morning (perhaps before you leave for work) and the only work required in the evening will be to pop it in the oven!

You can find the salmon portions in the seafood section at your grocery store. We have been using plain goat yogurt and loving it's tangy mild flavor, but feel free to use any kind of plain yogurt here -- Greek, full fat milk, or any other. We use coconut aminos instead of the regular soy sauce to avoid soy as much as possible and choose a healthier option. And it tastes exactly the same! I've seen it in the natural/organic section of our grocery store, or you can pick it up online. I also keep my salmon in the freezer until I'm ready to make this dish, so it doesn't go bad sitting in the refrigerator for a few days!

This recipe serves two people, but if you'd like to add more, just add one salmon fillet per person and a 1/2 cup of warm water to the marinade.

See the full recipe at My Cooking Spot today!

Living On Purpose: Doing What Matters

Hi! I promise I haven't been neglecting this little blog or you as a reader intentionally these past few weeks. If you follow Lara Casey or Emily Ley at all, you have heard the above statements in some form or fashion. These two ladies host an intensive called Making Things Happen twice a year, and dedicate their lives and businesses to spreading the message that to live on purpose means not chasing the world's definition of perfect. After years of chasing the world's version of perfect by saying "yes" to nearly every good opportunity, I am soooo down with this message, completely soaking it in and reminding myself often to slow down and focus my energy toward what matters most to me. 

Since starting this journey in June, I have met some of the most amazing women and bloggers. I attended the Influence Conference which was nothing short of life changing. I have grown so much in just 6 short months. At the same time, typing that seems CRAZY to me, I cannot believe I've been blogging for six.whole.months. And from the person that thought it was so weird to blog. I started this to share recipes with women and hopefully bless some people. I think that's happened and I couldn't be more thankful. 

Since the Influence Conference I've really been praying and asking myself where this blog should go. I haven't been sure how God wanted to use my online influence. Recently I've gained so much clarity and am getting more and more excited about it every day. 

Over the last month my mind has been a spitfire of idea after idea, all surrounding around the burden to help women get into their kitchens with less fuss and more joy, blessing others and deepening relationships in the process. 

So, I'm trading in a constant schedule of blogging for a a few incredible things that will allow the above statement to happen. As I have thought long and hard about these things, prayed, processed and sat in the silence, God has placed an incredible burden and excitement on my heart for a small business. It's what I'm focusing a lot of my daughter's nap-hours on these days, which means this blog is getting a little less attention. 

I want to build something very intentional with this online space and use it to crazy bless lots and lots of women. I'm trading in something good for something so much greater, and it feels really good. 

If I have time and feel passionate about sharing something, I will definitely be here sharing it. But for now, many of my recipes are going into a product I feel will bless and serve many women. In addition, I'm learning my way around the crazy world of starting a small business, so ANY insight out there would be much appreciated :) 

Is there something in your life that you know you need to be more intentional with? Share with me and let's keep each other accountable to making the things that matter happen. xx

You Are My Greatest Adventure // The Olive Plum Shop!

I'm so excited to introduce you to the amazing Alfa of The Olive Plum shop! 

Alfa is the mommy to her sweet girl Aria who also just turned one this month!! She's a Texas gal living in Austin with her husband and baby. She creates gorgeous prints, stationary and artwork and has such a heart for adorning the walls of nurseries and homes alike with beautiful artwork. She also blogs about her precious life as a mommy over at Lightly Sprinkled. 

I met Alfa through a blogging community called The Peony Project. If you're a blogger, check it out! The button is on my sidebar :) When she reached out to some bloggers about creating a piece of art for us, I jumped at the chance for her to create a custom piece for Reaghan's first birthday! 

I gave her the quote "you are my greatest adventure" inspired by a scene in The Incredibles where the dad realizes the immense value in his children. I just love the meaning behind this quote, that out of all the fun adventures we could ever (or have ever) gone on, Reaghan is the greatest one Jordan and I have ever ventured into the past year. 

My vision completely came to life in such an amazing way! Alfa knew exactly what I wanted from my description and created a gorgeous one of a kind piece that can grow with Reaghan in her room for years to come. 

How beautiful is this print? All hand painted, with peach botanical flowers and gold lettering to match her party and her room. I love that this canvas is so feminine and light. It perfectly describes Reaghan -- dainty, feminine and sweet! 

It fits perfectly in her newly redone gallery wall above her changing table. I loveee staring at this wall in the early morning or when I'm playing with her in her room. 

The Olive Plum isn't just for nurseries and kid's rooms! She has over 40 pieces of custom artwork ranging from stationary, postcards, canvas art, and more in her shop. She also just listed some gorgeous pieces for Christmas like this pretty canvas!

HOORAY! This weekend The Olive Plum is offering 15% off for YOU with the coupon code NATYRED. So run over to her shop and snag yourself a little happy or stock up on handmade gifts for Christmas this year! Discount code runs until this Sunday night, November 23rd, so hurry! 

More #raeraeturnsone party details coming soon! ;) 

Top Three Trader Joe's Picks

When we lived in New Jersey, we lived in a town nestled close to several other small towns, one of which was the little town of Westfield. Between the quaint movie theatre, eclectic shops and local diners, this was a gem of a town with a happy little downtown square. Right at the entrance of the square is a gorgeous big cathedral that all my girlfriends and I dreamed of getting married in one day. And at the exit? A Trader Joe's, tucked into the corner of a parking lot across the street from a building where I often found myself singing and performing growing up. 

The closest Trader Joe's to me now is at least 30 minutes away if not farther. With a baby who only stays awake for 2 hours at a time, it's just not possible to make the trip out there just for groceries. Especially when two perfectly good grocery stores are within 5 minutes of me (including Natural Grocers!)

BUT on Monday morning Reaghan and I braved the cold temps to meet a friend for a play date, and I found myself in close proximity to a Trader Joe's! Let me be honest, I totally planned this ahead, as I've been obsessing over TJ's for quite some time now and praying that they would open one up in Denton! It's been over 10 years since I last stepped foot in one, and I was wanting the experience all over again. 

Here are my top three favorite items from my grocery haul on Monday:

Sprouted bread // I've heard people talk about this but have yet to find it in our natural food store here in Denton (maybe I'm looking in the wrong place?!) When I glanced at the bread section at TJ's....there it was! Sprouted bread is probably the best kind of bread, if you are going to eat it. The grains have been soaked for optimal nutrition and better digestion. And the rest of the ingredients were pretty clean too. Yay for healthy bread! 

Almond Butter // Just yummy, and only $6.99 for this big jar! That's pretty amazing to me and sort of on the low end of cost for almond butter, from what I've seen at the store. We go through this stuff quick in our house and rely on it for snacks :) 

Organic Bananas // ....for .29 each!!! Really?! Organic banana's are usually about .60 anywhere else. We (and by we, I mean Reaghan) eat a lot of bananas, so I stocked up on 3 bunches. And yes, we'll probably eat them all before they get too ripe. If not I'm slicing them up and freezing them for smoothies! Yay! 

I'm already planning the next time I'll "be in the neighborhood" and can stop by. Have you ever shopped at Trader Joe's? If so, what's your favorite item they carry?

The Truth About the First Year

Reaghan had so much fun at her birthday party! We're so thankful for those who were able to help us celebrate her little life. 

If you're looking for a healthy, grain free, nut free, dairy free, refined sugar and honey free cake, I used this one. Topped with my coconut whipped cream (sweetened with pure maple syrup instead of powdered sugar) and cooked mashed peaches. 

I can't believe my baby girl is one. It seems like yesterday that we were settling into a new house and welcoming Reaghan into our family. I want to share just a glimpse into this past year for me, as I have been reflecting on it quite a bit lately. 

Nursing. Did I mention nursing was a major struggle for me? I kind of cringe when I say that too because I have heard many more horrific stories than mine in this department. But it's not about comparing, amen? What was hard for me still was hard. You can read more about that here. 

She was super sleepy. Well dang, don't I sound like a big complainer?! But guys, this was hard for me because I really wanted that interaction, and it's just not there during the newborn stage. Not only this, but it was near impossible to feed her because she was too ASLEEP! Even rubbing ice all over her naked body wouldn't wake the kid up to eat. This put a pile of stress on my shoulders as a brand new mom, not knowing if she was getting enough milk. It also made 10 minute nursing sessions last an hour or more. 

I was lonely. I went from a busy life filled with lots of meaningful conversations to alone in a house with a screaming infant. In one day flat. Literally, I went to a Thanksgiving potluck with a bunch of international students the night I went into labor (no clue I was about to go into labor, by the way) then BAM, the next morning she was here. That was very shocking for me and I watched as my friends participated in fun activities that I had planned to go to but wasn't able to anymore. I felt like I was the kid at home without a date during the school dance all over again. Like time stopped within the walls of our little home while the rest of the world just kept living their wonderful easy lives. To add insult to injury, it was brutally cold and iced over a couple of times, making an already stir crazy mom even more crazy.

Also? People think you get really busy when you have a baby and don't tend to call. Non-mom people: call your new mom friends. They are overwhelmed and lonely and would probably LOVE to have you sit on the coach or vacuum their carpet while they struggled in said hour long nursing session. Of course there were days where visitors would have sent my stress levels over the moon, but sometimes it just makes it better to not be alone. 

I felt sort of trapped for many of these days. During those first 3 months especially, we were really trying to train her to sleep and give her a consistent schedule to get used to. That kept us home or out of several activities that I would have loved to have been a part of. 

Along with this came lots of guessing. It's incredibly humbling to say the least when you're constantly guessing and never knowing if the decision you're making is "right." Of course, everything during this first year was a guess. In sleeping, eating, facial expressions, noises, developments, etc etc. It just feels like you got thrown in the pool after only listening to lectures about swimming, but never actually trying it for yourself. 

I feel like my head somewhat lifted out of the fog about a month ago. I started waking up at normal times again and living an overall more balanced and healthy life. Breastfeeding got better, then my supply tanked during months 7-8, but with perseverance and a lot of prayer, it went back up again and seemed to turn a corner into easy-ville, finally. 

Our daughter interacts with us more and more each day! What a huge blessing and joy to be able to make her laugh on a whim, see her smile when we come in to get her after a nap, or when she sees something new for the first time. Her joyful spirit just invades any darkness I'm experiencing throughout my day, and I love that so much about our relationship. 

She's constantly on the go, crawling and moving around everywhere. She's not super into harmful things, so our house has been left mostly un-baby-proofed (real confessions) and she has done great. We've been able to use these new skills to start to teach her obedience and safety as well, which gets to the heart of parenting to me. It foreshadows days to come of shaping her conscience and guiding her heart towards the gospel.  

Though the sleep training was difficult, the pay off has been better than imagined. Reaghan does sleep well, and who knows if that is her personality or our efforts, or a mixture of both, but whatever the reason -- I'm thankful. She's able to skip a nap on occasion without completely falling apart. She eats on a routine which is a huge relief to me because I don't find myself guessing if she's hungry. There is a rhythm to our days which I deeply thrive on. This in contrast to the first 6 months when her wake time and sleep time seemed to constantly be changing based on her growing needs. 

She eats food! I realized when I became a mom that bringing a spoon to my baby's mouth while she opened up wide was something I always imagined doing. It brought me so much joy to watch her chomp down and make memorable faces with each new taste. Around 10 months she ditched the purèes and started wanting to feed herself. What a strange and fun new adventure. 

She's growing so much every day. Showing that she understands us, points to things and tries to say the word, waves at strangers. I feel like she just brings people joy everywhere she goes. That is more than my mama heart could ask for. 

Mexican Chicken Enchiladas

What does family dinner mean to you? Comfort, nourishment, respite from the trials of the day? Or does family dinner appear in your mind as a drive thru window, digging in the back of the freezer for the last TV dinner, alone on the couch?

There is so much hurt and pain in this world. From strained relationships, to sickness, aging, and emotional damage. 

The more I think about meals, dinner in particular, and my current reality, the more I see with clarity the reality of those around me, whether personally or in the larger world who do not have the things I so long for and desire for them. I can talk as much as I want about gathering our closest friends and family around a table, enjoying a meal and sharing life and stories and hurts and joys. But what if that's not your reality? What if you have never experienced that and don't know what it would look like if you saw it? 

True family, true community, and true love is found only in one place, through a relationship with Jesus. His name may not make an appearance on this blog in every post, but the heart of everything about this blog all boils down to Him. If you're reading I want you to know how loved and adored by God you are, and how desperately He longs to sit at a table and be with you. To share a meal together, breaking bread, listening to the words leave your lips and comforting you in your loneliness. That is true family dinner. One that doesn't have an end, but will actually live on into eternity. That's the kind of family that I cling to, knowing it will never fade. 

Serves: 4

Ingredients: 

2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil, for cooking

1 medium onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can corn, drained

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon cumin
1-2 chicken breasts

1 (16 ounce) bottle medium heat enchilada sauce

2 cups spinach or kale

juice of 1 lime

a handful of chopped cilantro

20 count bag of flour tortillas
1 cup crushed tomatoes

1-2 tablespoon taco seasoning

1 (10 ounce) block Monterey Jack vegan cheese, shredded (or any kind of cheese you prefer!)

Feel free to leave out the chicken and make this totally vegetarian! We're adding chicken and cheese in our family because my husband can't stand the thought of enchiladas without chicken and cheese. I tried to win him over on the vegetarian route, but sometimes there's just some marital battles you have to lose! ;) 

Preheat oven to 350 f

Heat a tablespoon of coconut oil over medium heat in a 3 qt. sauté pan (or pot). Sauté onions until translucent. Turn down the heat and add garlic, corn and black beans, continuing to sauté for 1 minute. Add salt and cumin and stir to combine. Allow everything to sizzle over medium heat for about 5 minutes. 

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Push bean mixture to one side of the pan, adding more coconut oil to the empty space, then add chicken breast. Allow to brown, about 5 minutes on each side. 

Pour just enough enchilada sauce to cover the bottom of two 9x13 baking dishes (or one 9x13 and one 9x9 dish). Mix beans and chicken together and pour in the remaining enchilada sauce. Cover and allow everything to simmer for 15-20 minutes. Using two forks, shred the chicken. You may need to transfer to a cutting board to shred, or give a fine chop with a chef knife (if you're lazy like me), then add back into the sauce. Throw in your greens (kale or spinach) and cover the pot again to allow the steam to help it wilt.

Stir in lime juice and cilantro. Fill each tortilla with stuffing and roll up, placing in your baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine crushed tomatoes and taco seasoning, mix together well then pour over top of the tortillas. 

Shred cheese over top and bake for 20 minutes.

Co-hosting with the Bread and Wine Project today! Join us by linking up your recipe below! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Creamy Pumpkin Apple Pasta

Ever wonder what the heck you're going to make for Thanksgiving?! Maybe you're not hosting the whole shibang, but you've been asked to bring a side dish. 

With lots of fun holiday parties coming up, I've shared a perfect Thanksgiving side (or fall inspired dinner!) on My Cooking Spot this morning! Find the recipe here and make sure to check back in on My Cooking Spot for more Thanksgiving inspired recipes this week! 

Nourishing Baby Food

I've had some requests for recipes of some of the baby food I've made Rae. I can't believe it's taken me this long to share a couple on the blog, but I wanted to do it for any who might need some new ideas! 

We introduced Reaghan to solids at 6 months. Research has found that 6 months is a good age as it allows more time for their gut to seal. Gut sealing is important because it keeps food from getting into the blood stream, causing an allergic reaction. We also decided to start slow and with foods that were high in nutrition. Some of her first foods were: homemade bone broth, soft boiled egg yolk (the white is what causes allergies in babies, the yolk is full of nutrients!), coconut oil mixed with probiotics (CO has a lot of similar nutrients to breast milk). 

After that we followed the guidelines from the Weston A Price Foundation and got some help from the Wholesome Baby Food site as well. Both were super helpful in just listing out recipes as well as ages for each food to be introduced, when to buy organic, etc. 

Reaghan really needed something closer to the texture of milk at first, so we started with purées. At about 10 months she started wanting to pick up her own small chunks of food, so we're doing that now. Here are a couple of "recipes" I came up with that she really enjoyed! 


Blueberry Sage Purée

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen organic blueberries 
1 teaspoon rubbed or fresh sage

Cook about a cup of frozen blueberries in just a few tablespoons of water over medium heat. Allow to bubble and let simmer for 10-15 minutes. If sage is dried, just measure out with a teaspoon and add to the blueberries. If fresh, chop finely and add. Mix together then pour into a blender and blend until smooth. 

We stored all of our purées in ice cube trays then popped them out into plastic baggies when they were frozen. For traveling, we used these handy Infantino pouches. 

I think she liked it.....

Fall Medley Purée 

Ingredients: 

3 sweet potatoes
1 butternut squash
3 apples, any variety
2 tablespoons coconut oil 
pumpkin pie spice
cinnamon
ground ginger
pinch of sea salt*

*refined table salt is terrible for babies, but they can have a small amount of real sea salt. I am not a pediatrician or doctor, just made this judgement call based on my own personal research. I always encourage mama's to do your own research. 

Preheat oven to 425 f

Peel and chop sweet potatoes and butternut squash into small bite-size pieces. Core and slice apples and toss everything into a large bowl with a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil. Sprinkle evenly with spices and a pinch of sea salt and toss around with a wooden spoon to coat everything evenly. Spread out on a large baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes. 

I think for this one I ended up serving some of the veggies with our dinner that night since it made quite a lot! Of course, you could blend it all up and make a big batch of food for your baby. 

Allow to cool for a few minutes then blend in a blender along with a little filtered water. 

What have you fed your little ones? Did they like purées or jump straight to finger foods? What foods do your babies like best? I love learning and trying new things with Reaghan and would love to hear from YOU! 

Family Photos!

We had a fun shoot with my incredibly talented friend Casey. She has the most wonderful photography business and has recently become super passionate about photographing births. Her gorgeous photos make me want to give birth all over again!! They are so beautiful and move my heart so deeply when I see those images. 

She carries that same passion into all her shoots and that totally came through in our family photos! I could not love them more and kind of want to use all of them for our Christmas card. Is that possible? Well, I don't think so....so I'll settle for sharing them on the blog with you! 

For the record, Reaghan was super frustrated and screaming almost the entire time. I'd say it was a tad cold that morning, which she probably didn't appreciate. I was nervous there wouldn't be any pictures showing off her precious smile, but Casey managed to capture some! 

I love how these photos capture the joy in our family since welcoming Reaghan into our lives. The older she gets the more I realize I just love being around her, regardless of what she's going through or if she's cranky, I just want to hold her, make her laugh and enjoy her presence. 

There's really nothing like seeing my husband with my daughter. I love watching him with her on a daily basis, but seeing these moments captured warms my soul in a different way. I will always be able to have these memories captured to look back on when she's older!

Our little thumb-sucker. She doesn't suck her thumb crazy often but gosh, when she does, I completely melt. These next few have to be some of my favorites. 

Time reading as a family is a really sweet time for us. I will admit that I have struggled to read to Reaghan this year. It was just plain hard when she was too teeny to care that I was talking to her at all. Over the past couple of weeks she has really taken to books and will flip through them and babble like she's reading them! Her new-found interest in books has gotten me excited to read to her more and see her interacting with the characters and pictures on the pages.

xo