Mom's Night Out

my best friend, jeni davis, is having a little boy, hezekiah, in december. and on the 19th of november, i hosted a little baby shower for her in my home! she gave her input on what she wanted and didn't want. she came up with this FAB idea to call it a "mom's night out", where there was a no-kiddies-allowed policy. she didn't necessarily want to be in the spotlight by opening present after present in front of everyone and do the usual "baby shower games." she just wanted to hang out with her close girlfriends. i thought it was such a great plan! it was something that all of us could totally look forward to! it started at 6pm with a yummo dinner provided by her amazing mama, vicki. there were plenty of snacks and a cupcake bar. i was only able to snap a few pics on my iphone, but wanted to share... when i have the next babe, i may have to steal this idea. everyone who came had so much fun! 

apple cups for the apple cider! so delish!

party favors: baby food jars filled with crushed graham crackers, chocolate chips and mini mallows that you can place in the microwave for instant s'mores! or you can pop a whole bunch of them in the oven at 350 degrees and bake til mallows are gold.

had a cupcake bar! those were divine. we had frosting, whip cream, hot chocolate fudge, caramel sauce, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and sprinkles! i want to do it again, but next time have more toppings! it was a hit!

the intimate group of beauties that made this night so much fun!

now we can't wait to meet hezekiah! c'mooooooonnnnn, kiah!

gobble gobble

i love winter.

and this really is my back yard.

love it.

every morning:

baby wakes up, we wake up. 

it's just how it goes in the life of a parent. woot.

jay gets up and starts the hot water for our coffee.

of course, he has to wash the french press because, 

even though i had all day, 

i didn't wash it the day before.

oh.

somewhere in the beginning we pee.

so, then we pee... then the whole coffee thing. 

give the babe his bottle in a zombie like manner

(us, not the kid)

and continue to stumble around

mumbling stuff

until we coffee ourselves to life.

in the meantime, we cuddle with abe

who starts chatting away, climbing all over us

as if we think it's the best thing in the world

i mean.

it IS the best thing in the world. 

wait. 

(sips coffee).

ok, now it's the best thing in the world.

every morning starts the same, but every single day is so absolutely different. every day has its surprises, feelings, discoveries, breakthroughs, pain, joys...

i feel so blessed to live this life.

to have the devotion of a beautiful man. 

to be the mommy of a wild and crazy boy.

to know the unrelenting love of God.

and a way to give my love back.

thanksgiving is not a holiday. 

it's a state of being!

today, stir your faith

let hope arise

awaken love