My Darling Days

#gardenlife, round 4

If you've been around for a while, you've read posts about our gardening adventures. Our first garden, back in 2015 (and an update post) turned out better than I anticipated considering we basically had no idea what we were doing. In 2016, we learned some things, and made a few tweaks to the garden (mainly, trying to get Grace to stop eating it all). In 2017, we had a brand new baby and managed to still plant a garden, but I didn't get a single post up about it, because #NewMom and #NoTime.

Well it's 2018 & we're back at it! This year we are putting Ellis to work, because that's why you have kids, right? Haha, I joke (sort of).

Gardening with a toddler; #gardenlife | My Darling Days

Truth be told, Ellis LOVES the garden.

He really is such a good helper.

And, a few other pics I thought were cute, that actaully have nothing to do with our garden.

Always checking the apple trees with dad.

I hope you all have a bee-autiful weekend!

Ellis, the flower farmer.

I unpacked these bib overalls from the hand-me-down bin from my sister's kids the other day, and I immediately put them on Ellis. They are still way too big for him at this point, but I don't even care. Vintage OshKosh B'gosh Denim Overalls... enough said.

When I threw these beauts on Ellis, he immediately transformed to Old McEllis, who takes his flower farmin' quite serious, might I add. Anything that blooms, he considers a gem. Dandelion, Queen Anne's lace, clover -- they are all keepers in Ellis's book. He waters them, he talks to them, he feels them... heck, he even eats them.

See a typical day-in-the-life of Ellis, the flower farmer.

When's the last time an outfit transformed you... or made you this happy?

Just sayin'... maybe we all need to step up our game.

Saturday Night Park Date

When I was little, I remember that getting to go to the park as real treat. As kid who lived in the country, the closest park to us was about 7 miles away, so it wasn't like we could just walk there or take our bikes.

I remember being envious of my friends who lived "in town" and could ride their bikes to the park. Although we had a pretty nice swing-set with monkey bars in our the back yard (that we spent hours on), getting to go to the park was still fun.
*Side note -- I tried to do the monkey bars last weekend, and IT'S SO HARD now! Monkey barring in your thirties is definitely harder than monkey barring in your tweens.
**New goal this summer -- be able to do the monkeys bars with poise.

Anyways, I digress.

Ellis is now fortunate to live near a handful of parks that are within walking distance or just a few miles from our house, and I'm looking forward to being able to reward him with "park days" this summer.

I also have lofty visions of meeting other local moms/my friends at the park and sipping coffee while we let our kiddo burn off some steam. Any takers? ;)

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Last Saturday night, Zac & I took Ellis on a dinner & park date. Just as we got to the park, the sun started to hide behind the clouds and the wind started whipping. It got rather cold in a hurry, but we still had a nice evening with Bubs -- I'm not sure that his smile left his face the entire night.

After the park, we walked down to the beach & let Ellis explore a bit. Hi filled his shoes with sand, found two seashells & was happy as a clam.

Safe to say, I think he's gonna like the park -- maybe as much as his momma!

Things that have changed since I became a mother...

I smell butts through clothes to see if diapers need to be changed.
Add to that; I constantly wonder about poop: Is he pooping too much? Why isn't he pooping more? Why is his poop so hard? Why does he have the shits again? OMG did he poop today?

I always feed baby before I feed myself.

I hide veggies in everything.

I cut the amount of time that I used to need to get ready in half.

I can carry a car seat, purse, diaper bag, grocery bags, and coffee at the same time.

I get my hair pulled on the daily.

I am a human tissue.
Add to that; I routinely find something crusty on my outfit. I have gone through more bottles of "Shout" in the last year than I have in my entire lifetime.

I gave up on having a perfectly spotless home.
Add to that; my carpet has been peed on & puked on. I don't deep clean nearly as often as I should. My stainless steel appliances are always covered in hand & tongue prints.

I say "NO" way more often than I should.

I've learned that having a child means there's no such thing as personal space.
Add to that; I now share my food, drink, seat, pillow, toothbrush, read: everything... with my child.

I have perpetually dry hands from washing them a 1,000 times a day.

I rarely stay up past 10:00 pm.

I naturally wake at least twice in the night to make sure that my baby is breathing.

I am tired all of the time.

I am always searching for more time in the day.

I have the ability to experience a roller coaster of emotions in just the matter of a few minutes.

I am not as good of a friend as I was once.

I don't spend enough one-on-one time with my husband.

I would rather shop for my child than for myself.

I don't get to travel nearly as often as I had hoped.

I am consistently in awe of how fast children learn new things.

I gave up a "pre baby body" for a "mom bod".
Add to that; I now prefer at least mid-rise jeans, comfy shoes, loose T shirts, and minimal jewerly.

I worry about everything.

I am honored yet slightly terrified that I get to shape someone's future.

I constantly wonder if I am doing enough.

I have a completely different perspective on life.

I am a new person.

I am a life giver, a life lover, a first love, a teacher, a provider, a friend, a healer.

I am someone's whole entire world...

I have a new purpose: Mom.

And I am blessed beyond measure!

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Wishing a very Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mommies out there, and especially all of the mommies with babies in heaven & all of the mommies still waiting to be mommies -- you are the real rock-stars.

Wildlife Sanctuary | Spring 2018

On the first warm weekend in April, we took our first trip of the year to the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. It was a long time comin', since winter lasted for FAR too long this year.

It was the weekend after Blizzard Evelyn so it was a bit wet yet, but when the sun shines & the temp reaches 60 degrees, you GET OUTSIDE no matter what!