Highlights of the week

Sandy helped me take all three to the park this week, and Blythe

and Joy

absolutely ate it up. It seems to run in the family. Abby Jane literally prefers to swing almost the entire time we are at a park. We have just recently started honing our "big kid swing" skills and are learning to pump!

Last night, Jake and Abby Jane mowed the yard and somehow cleaning off the mower turned into this... which ultimately turned into an outdoor bathtime for Abby Jane!

Today we had lunch with Jake at KSU's amazing dining facility. Abby Jane finds it especially amazing as she always gets a treat after lunch there- observe cupcake frosting on her arm (she's saying "no, don't take a picture!").

Summer Italian

Last night we had Kris and Rebecca Hodges, KSU's Campus Crusade staff couple, over for dinner. Jake is Crusade's faculty advisor for KSU, so I have heard about the Hodges but didn't have the pleasure of meeting them until last night. We so enjoyed getting to know that sweet couple better and hear a little of what God's doing at KSU.

I used the opportunity to try Holly's Roasted Summer Squash and Chicken Pasta, which was amazing. It made enough for dinner last night, and at least three more dinners to freeze- very economical! I like it.

(Side note: I was at the farmer's market getting the veggies yesterday and ended up using one HUGE zucchini that was about the size of Blythe... that I got for $1!)

Our Turtle Bend veggie subscription gave me some basil last week, so I made some bruschetta and was amazed by how easy and FAST it was to make... and how addictive those little guys are.

(If you try it, I did add a pinch of sugar as my tomatoes seemed a bit too acidic at first. Also, as a cost-saver, I used shredded mozzarella I already had in the fridge instead of buying slices. It was still delish!)

Rebecca brought a salad with craisins and candied walnuts that was perfect and light with the pasta.

We did this blueberry topping (that Holly, a.k.a. Martha Stewart, told me about) for our vanilla ice cream, and I was a fan. I think it would also be great with angel food cake or pound cake. Didn't take pictures because we had company over and I didn't want to say, "Oh wait, let me photograph your dessert." But it was really pretty and summery looking! They say blueberries should be called brain berries because of how great they are for your brain. I'm sure the butter and sugar only enhance those qualities, right? Right, right...

What I am SO excited about...

Remember the whole episode with Blythe's bumper that ended up awarding me $105 store credit at Pottery Barn Kids? Well, voila! Here is Abby Jane's resulting new quilt!

I'm obsessed! It just came in today and I love it. If cost were no factor, I would want the whole collection. But I think the rest of America did, too, as it's mainly sold out. For today, that quilt just makes me so happy!

***Just realized I should mention that this photo is the one from the PBK website, not Abby Jane's room... in case the monogram threw you off!!

A Great Idea

You may not want to read further if you are not a past, present, or future nursing mama. If you are, though, have you ever heard of a milk bank? What a fabulous and easy way to both address the hypothetical frozen milk hypothetically taking over your freezer AND help other babies!

Girlfriends

My sweet Auburn roommates came in town last weekend for our annual get-together! They were kind to come to ATL so I wouldn't have to worry with logistics with leaving or bringing the twins. We had SUCH a refreshing time of talking, shopping, yummy food, and just enjoying hanging out! Lynds and Mikelyn came over Friday morning to see my kiddos, as Mikelyn had not met the little girls yet. We had dinner that night at Eclipse Di Luna, which was fabulous!!! Here are Lyndsay and I there...

Mikelyn and Steph

All four of us at Cafe Intermezzo (excuse the flash). I had only been there once or twice before and had forgotten HOW AMAZING that place is! Of course it was only beat by the company.

I wasn't the only one enjoying girlfriends this weekend, though. One of Abby Jane's sweet little friends, Maddy, had her 2nd birthday party on Saturday morning. While Jake stayed home with the itty bitties, I took Jane and we both had a lovely time!

Girlfriends are just the greatest, aren't they? Jake's my best friend, but I'm so indescribably thankful for all the ladies who tie for 2nd best! I pray for the same thing for my girls.

Celebrating

Last weekend, we celebrated family...

Ian's birthday...

America's birthday...

and Blythe crawling (video to come)!

And finally, we celebrated the life of my precious sister-in-law Susan's sweet mom as she went to be with the Lord early Monday morning after her 10-month battle with cancer ended. As Susan had to leave us to go be with her mom Saturday and Sunday and while arrangements were being made for the service, etc., we all had the blessing of getting to love on Susan, my brother Greg, and their kiddos and "be family" in that unique way that you only get the privilege of doing a few times in life. The service yesterday was a very sweet celebration of Susan's mom's life- those of us who knew her were all the more blessed for it. Beyond that, the amazing and daily inspiring wife and mother that Susan is speaks the most loudly as to who her mother was. That in itself is a challenge to us moms, that we will leave a similar legacy.

Eight months

Joy kicked off the week of their 8 month bday by producing her first two teeth on Saturday! She laughs at random times and especially when tickled- the kid is soo ticklish, and sometimes she smiles so big you think her face might break. She talks LOUDLY and frequently carries on conversations with Abby Jane and Blythe when Abby Jane says these magic words: "ba ba ba." Our home is going to be SOOO noisy when all three are actually using words. Joy is fantastic at sitting up and is content to do just that- seems to have no desire to crawl or scoot.

Blythe continues to just be a nut. She still smiles at anything that moves and thinks a lot of people are really funny. Jake thinks she said, "Mama" the other day, and I think she sometimes is looking at me when she says, "Maaaa" but it's not official yet. One of her current stunts is pulling down the bumper to look out of the crib, which makes it tricky if you're trying to sneak in to do something for just Joy! She will crawl at any second now. I think she's waiting for a big audience this weekend with my family to officially do it, but she is definitely on all fours, rocking, scooting, spinning on her belly, lunging, trying to pull up... the kid is rarely still.

They play decently well together, though they frequently steal each other's toys. Blythe is better at getting finger foods in her mouth, but Joy is improving. They eat anything I feed them, and in large quantities! They get really excited about the blueberries, cheese and Puffs that come out after all their veggies.

Joy is still our snuggler- at baby storytime yesterday, all the other kids wanted to pat the librarian's stuffed gorilla, but sweet Joy just leaned in for some snuggle love.

Abby Jane got consistent about differentiating between the little girls when they were about six months old, and she is FANTASTIC at helping when they're in the car! She makes them laugh, gives them pacis, tells us who's awake or asleep, and gives them toys. At home, we're working on not grabbing toys out of their hands, but for the most part, she's kind and gentle to the girls (though she did tell me the other day, "I don't want to be kind.") She ALWAYS can't wait to see them when she wakes up and gets so tickled by their funny talking and when they reach out to her.