What's Cookin' Good Lookin'?

I have nothing to blog about so I thought I would blog about...

FOOD!

Here are two fantastic recipes.  For reals.

The first one is a little different...but not too different.  Good different.  And Jason wigged and said, "Wow, this is so unique and yummy.  It's like restaurant good."  He did his "happy yummy food dance" as he was eating it.  Yeah.  He has one of those.  :)  And I agree.  And seriously it is EASY and FAST.  Two things I love in cooking.

It's a twist on the boring old quesadilla.  A recipe by the brilliant Heidi from 101cookbooks.com.

SOURCE

It involves an egg, minimal cheese, corn tortillas, fried capers...and happy taste buds. 
Find the recipe here: 101cookbooks Quesadilla Recipe

I made it just as she said but sprinkled a tiny bit of mozzarella along with the parmesan.  I opted to use diced chives and I did sour cream with out the lemon since I'm not a huge lemon fan.  Give it a try!   :)

And for dessert?
Because someone chose to wear some sort of yummy coconut smelling lotion in church I had a craving for coconut cake.  I LOVE Ina Garten's coconut cupcakes.  Yummy yum yum.  Jason's aunt made them once and I've been hooked since then.  These have a yummy cream cheese frosting that just makes it oh so good.  I made a whole batch this last weekend and sent more than half with Jason to school for his fellow teachers.  :)  They were a hit!

Find the recipe here: Ina's Coconut Cupcakes

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24 Weeks

Happy 24 weeks to me...or is it 25?  According to my original due date...it's 24 weeks.  According to the fancy pants ultra sound appt I had I'm 25 weeks.  That just seems like cheating though...to skip a whole week like that.  So, I'm sticking with the first date.  It's just easier.  Any how.  I'm in month 6 and I feel kinda cool saying that.  :)

Well, I can't believe that it's been a whole month since my last pregnancy update/picture.  Crazy pants.  Where is the time going?

So, being pregnant means that you have a lot of weird conversations with people you don't know.  I've never found myself to be a good "small talk with strangers" person...unless they're over 80 and really cute.  Kinda have a thing for old people.  Anyways, "the bump" attracts attention...and I get it.  But some of the things people say are just....funny.  So are you ready?  Here we go!

--"Are you expecting or did you just gain weight?"  Yeah, for real.  He said that.  I was 13 weeks.  I was sorta in awe.  Especially since my bump was quite small at that point and the last time I saw this patient was A.YEAR.AGO.  Hello?  Bold I tell you.  Real bold.

--"My wife's water broke both times when she was sitting on the toilet."    Wow, thank you.  Thank you complete stranger for that lovely picture. 

--"My wife was in labor for three days and she ripped."  Oh.my.gosh.I.don't.care.GROSS! Shudder.

--"Congratulations on the pregnancy.  My husband and I are going to start trying this year..."   Insert awkward silence and me looking at her with the, "oh yes you did just say that outloud" expression.  To which she pauses silently, looking horrified that she just told a complete stranger that she basically plans to have lots of sex this coming year.  And then she fumbles over her words and mutters "Have a nice day," leaving me standing there in Beverly's with a handful of felted wool and a rather blank expression on my face.  Nice.  I wish her the best though!  ;)

Awesome right?!?  hahaha.  It makes for very entertaining errands that's for sure!  :) 

So some stats and happs as of late:
-Weight gain: 14 lbs.
-Baby weight: 1 1/2 lbs. (apparently I can't blame the baby's weight on MY weight gain. Hmph)
-Baby Length: almost a foot long.
-Everything...well, just about everything gives me wicked heart burn/acid reflux.  I know...I'm not even to the "huge as a whale" stage where you'd expect it.  I'm not a medicine taker at all but Tums and I are BFF's currently (and those are SO not classified as meds...more like yummy candy miracle heartburn destroyer pills)
-I'm tired.  I mean, I'm good until about 7pm and then I'm done.  I just want to lay on the couch and do nothing.  So yes, the energy is back and the 2nd trimester is worlds better then the 1st buuuuuut...I wouldn't go as far as saying I'm like my old pre-preggo self.

The babe is kicking plenty.  Sometimes I'll go a decently long stretch without feeling much and then for like an hour straight I'm a human punching bag.  I love it though.  I could sit and feel those kicks, punches, and rolls all day.  I try to take a half hour or so each day to do something quiet and focus on this little one moving in me.  I kinda feel like it's our "bonding time".  :)

I'm quickly approaching the 3rd trimester where I apparently go to the doctor every 2 WEEKS!  What?  Crazy.  So much for work!  hehe.  Oh well.  Hearing the baby's heartbeat is waaaaay more fun then being at work.  :)

And that's it.   24 weeks of baby bliss.

We haven't done a THING as far as baby preparation...except buy the crib...oh and we opened a baby registry and put like 5 things in it.  Is that ok?  haha.  I told Jason that at 30 weeks we have to get our butt into gear.  No more procrastinating.  :)  I also have a blog post in the works where I ask you seasoned moms about your fave products and what not.  I've never done this before...I need ya'lls wisdom! 

Welp, that's all!  Have a great week!

Week in Review

This week...

• Was a short week of work.  It was glorious and once again the week flew by.  Yay.
• I actually DID something baby related/productive this week.  We started a registry at Target.  Um yeah.  There are a whole lotta things for babies.  We are no where near done.  The registry pretty much just has some swaddling blankets, some cloth diapers, and the stroller I want so far.  It's a start though.  Eventually we'll probably have to go IN to the store huh?  Hmmm.  Target and I used to be BFF's and then since moving to San Francisco...not so much.  Too crazy and I get tired of being rammed with a cart 3-5 times a Target trip.  :)
• It's Friiiiiiiiiiiday.  Just had to get that out of my system.
• Next week is my last week at my gym.  Boo-hoo-hoo.  I've been doing the spin bike/weights for the last couple of months.  Even the spin bike is starting to get uncomfortable now.  Leaning that far forward makes it hard to breath but sitting straight up puts too much pressure on my butt.  I've transitioned to the recumbent bike but...meh.  It's just not a very good workout for some reason.  So, the pool it is.  Oye.  Jason's all excited because he LOVES to swim.  Me, not so much.  I used to sink like a rock but with this extra junk in my trunk I might not have that problem any more.  :)
• So a couple of months back I tried 2 x's to call my internet company and lower our basic internet rate. TWICE.  Both times they rejected me...I even threatened to switch to a different company.  We were paying $70/mth for internet only.  Then I posted a blog post...where in I mentioned ways to cut back on bills blah blah blah.  I declared my annoyance for said company.  Then I got a comment.  FROM THE COMPANY telling me to call them for a lower rate.  Creepy factor x 10.  Then I quickly took the post off because I was weirded out.  THEN Jason said, "That's awesome.  Blogs are powerful things.  You should call them, maybe they'll actually lower it this time."  So, it took me a couple of weeks but I finally made that call.  I told the guy on the phone that the company commented on my blog and he laughed.  Long story short.  The rate is lower.  We were paying $70/mth and I just made a payment for $20 this month.  Yeah.  Amazing.  Soooooo....hello soap box blog.  Apparently you are useful for more then just life updates.  :)

 Have a great weekend everyone!!!  <3

Baby Update and...the Crockpot?

So, thanks for the prayers peeps.

All is well in baby land.

I talked to my doctor yesterday on the phone and she said she wasn't too worried and felt like I will be just fine.  My body seems to be back to normal and all is hunky dory.  :)

Praise the Lord.

Baby is doing well...kicking up a storm.  Love.

So yeah.

Just thought I'd give an update on THAT.  :)

On a completely different topic.  I mean...for real different.

A question.

So, first off, I cannot make myself love the crockpot.  I've tried.  Like really tried.  It's a great concept.  Throw it all together, turn it on, walk away.  BOOM!  Food!  I feel like no matter what I cook it all tastes the same.

Alright, the actual question...

I've made chili in it like 10 times probably.  I decided to venture out and try these baby back ribs in the crock pot for V-Day.  And I kid you not...it tasted slightly like the chili.  For real.  I don't know if it's my imagination and I'm already prejudice, conjuring up preconceived ideas about what it's going to taste like or if it's in FACT possible that the chili taste has soaked into my crockpot.  Jason even noticed it.

So.  Has this happened to you?  I mean, we wash the thing all the time...obviously.  I'm just curious.  Because I WANT to like the crockpot.  But right now...I'm thinking about donating it to the thrift store.  Seriously.  Or just never making anything but chili in it, haha. 

Oh Pregnancy.

Well, today is a much anticipated third day off to the weekend.  President's Day.  I woke up, took Jason to school, and then with out going into too much TMI basically had something happen that caused me to call my doctor's office...which of course is closed because it's...President's Day.  Riiiight.  Figures.  So I spoke to the triage emergency lady who was a doll.  She calmed my nerves, said everything is probably fine, asked me questions like...Do you have cramping? "No."  Is the baby moving? "Yes."  blah blah blah.  She said if it gets worse then I'll have to come into the emergency room.  I felt okay, hung up the phone, and then burst into tears because what.if.it's.NOT.okay??? Apparently SFSU doesn't have today off and so Jason had classes to teach, leaving me home alone to deal with my emotions...not a very good thing sometimes.  I sent a text to him filling him in and then just sat and stared at the wall.

"Surrender."

"God is gracious."

Two things that I have been repeating to myself (and God has been teaching me) through out this whole pregnancy.  Really, things have been pretty easy.  But there's fear.  Lots of fear and I don't know why I can't seem to shake it.  I don't know if I'd be feeling this way no matter what or if it's because my first pregnancy was a miscarriage.  Not sure.  But it's there and it drives me bonkers.

So, I'm on "pelvic rest" for a week which doesn't mean much except no exercising, lifting anything, and etc.  Basically just take it extra easy and report to my doctor by the end of the week.

We definitely would love prayer...that my little episode was a one time thing, that the babes is okay, and that I would above all surrender...and know that God is gracious.  Oh, and that I would actually REST.  It's been about 4 hours and I already feel like scrubbing the house and doing the dishes. 

Anyways, so that's that.

On a happier note.  I actually did a project that I finished from beginning to end in less than 24 hours.  Yay me.  It's a baby mobile.  And I'm kinda obsessed.

 My photo quality/ability is terrible but you get the idea.  So darn cute.  awe.  It's made out of felted wool.

Anyways, happy President's Day friends.  Hope you're enjoying a day off :)

Week in Review

This week in bullets...

• The week has fuh-lown by.  Not sure why.  I'm not complaining.  I hate the weeks where you're at work and all, "Phew this week is going by so slow. I can't believe it's only Wednesday."  Then your co-worker goes, "Dude, it's Monday."  Crap.
• I have my monthly baby appt today.  I don't like them.  Have I told you this before?  Yeah, I get nervous before each one.  I'm always afraid they're going to find something going wrong.  That's where my mind goes.  That being said, I can feel our little man kicking up a storm.  I think he likes my hot cocoa I drink each morning.  :)  
• Speaking of appt I think I'm doing the glucose test today.  Everyone wigs about how nasty it is.  I'm super curious to give it a whirl.  Knowing me I'll totally like it.  I sorta dig that sicky-sweet thing. 
• And, speaking of hot cocoa (the bullet before the last one...in case you got lost hehe)  Trader Joe's finally got their act together :) and started selling individual hot cocoa packs.  Or, "normal" hot cocoa (don't really care if it's individual or not).  They've had all kinds of thick, rich stuff but I've just been wanting the normal stuff.  It's GOOD to!  Let.me.tell.you.
• Jason and I are very much drawn to the "natural world".  I.e. medicine, food, and etc.  Now don't get me wrong.  If I have an infection (i.e. bladder) I try the natural route and if it doesn't work...I take an antibiotic.  But honestly the natural route often DOES work sooooo, yeah.  Anyways, we're going to give a few natural soap products out from Etsy a try.  Jason will be using a bamboo charcoal soap for his face, me a toner for my wacky combination skin (both from Herbivore Botanicals), and also a lip gloss (from Fig and Yarrow).  On the lip gloss...I've been thinking.  You practically eat the stuff if you think about it.  Maybe I should spend a little more time looking into the ingredients that I'm chowing down on?  :)  I'll let you know what we think.
• Almost every patient (clarify that, FEMALE patient) who came in to pick up their glasses and contacts yesterday commented on how much bigger my belly was in just the one week since they'd seen me.  I was thinking the exact same thing to be honest.  I feel like in the last 4 days it's popped straight out very quickly.  Please don't leave stretch marks, please don't leave stretch marks.  :)

Welp, that's all.  Happy weekend everyone!!!  <3

20 Things: To my Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day to all.

Especially to the incredibly, fantastic man I call my husband.

In honor of such a day, here are 20 things that I just LoooooOOoooOOve about my husband.  There are more.  But I don't want to bore you with a cheese fest.  So yes, you're welcome.

20. Your glasses.  I love a man in glasses and you work it...let.me.tell.you.
19. I love you but also just plain LIKE you more and more every day.  Imagine us in 50 years.  Sheesh. 
18. Your tan skin.  Okay, I'm vain.  I dig the tan though.
17. Your smile.  It's kinda border line smouldering.  Gets me every time.
16.  Our weird inside jokes that I'm pretty sure everyone else would think is a) not p.c. and b) slightly inappropriate. 
15. Your big muscly shoulders.
14. Your laugh.  It's incredibly contagious.
13.  Your amazing ability to push all my buttons and drive my bonkers...all in a matter of 10 seconds. (Yes, I even love that...usually.  :)  )
12.  The way you take care of me and desire to provide.
11.  Your quirky hobbies.  You're seriously super unique and the opposite of boring.  I love it.
10.  The way you come alive when you're abroad in other cultures.
9.  The fact that you're a teacher and it's totally your thing.  There are other careers that may make more money but I'm proud that you worked hard for your goal and have attained it.
8.  Your perfectionism.  Let's face it.  I ain't got an OUNCE of that.  Our little family needs you, hehe.  :)
7.  Your love for food.  How you totally wig out when I make a yummy dinner or dessert.  It's nice to feel appreciated.
6.  Your verbal skills.  You talk so freely about feelings and life.  There's always something to talk about with you and you are always so free in expressing your feelings for me.
5.  Your love for the outdoors, backpacking, and God's creation.
4.  How I try to talk you out of going to church once a month and you always fight me and say we need to go.  :)  It's true.  We need to.  hehe.
3. You always initiate holding my hand.  Even after 8 years of dating/marriage.
2. Your unbelievable amount of kindness.  Seriously, it puts me to shame. 
1. And the number ONE reason....

Your love for the Lord.  And how it overflows and I receive the benefits of a man rooted on his God. 

Happy Valentine's Day Jason!  You the best.  You and your glasses, muscles, and tan skin.  :)

Our Lenten Season

Happy Ash Wednesday!

Today is the first day of Lent.

Are you abstaining from anything?  Giving anything up?

My answer would usually be ,"Nope!".

Last year Jason and I took part (ahem, I mean attempted to take part in) a fast.  It wasn't even a true fast.  It involved us eating the food that most of the world eats (which is like nothing people) for a week.  In other words living off of $2 a day.  We had a small amount of oatmeal for breakfast, a small bowl of beans and rice for lunch and beans and rice for dinner again.  I FAILED!  I made it through day 4 where I started to have dizziness and so...I threw in the towel.  This year I'm off the hook for participating in something like that since I'm pregnant (wahoo!).

Our church takes the historical church calendar very seriously.  It's funny because I don't think I even realized there was a "church calendar" until I came to City Church.  I love history so...I think it's pretty awesome.  This year Jason and I decided to focus in on the whole Lenten season, rather then do something short like a fast.  It's nothing highly spiritual or revolutionary.  We both will take a moment every morning to read scripture and pray (even if it's just a little).  Jason will be saying "no" to alcohol.  I find this slightly funny because he doesn't really drink much haha.  But he does enjoy his beer when he gets one.  I will be saying "no" to Facebook and Pinterest.  Facebook isn't too big of a deal but I feel like as of late I have been wasting too much time on Pinterest.  That site just sucks you in.  :)

So, here's to a season of intentional reflection, prayer, and renewal.
May we prepare our hearts to understand and believe the great sacrifice of Jesus that is to come.

Being unable to cure death and wretchedness people have decided in order to be happy not to think about such things. 

-Blaise Pascal, Pensees

Good Tidings to You on a Tuesday

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Alright.  Let's start it off right by linking up to a recipe.  I am obsessed with a capital "O" with 101cookbooks.com.  Seriously, that Heidi girl...genius.  She has no clue who I am but I'm pretty sure we should be besties.  She just doesn't know it yet.  She also happens to live in the same grand city as I so...yeah.  Anyways, I've made a TON of her recipes...and I mean a ton.  I think there was only one that I remember not loving...and I can't even remember which recipe it was haha.  Anyways, last night I made Coconut Red Lentil Soup and it was delish.  You know those meals where you just feel "internally clean" after eating???  Pretty much all her dishes are like that.  Anyways, click the "source link" below the picture for some deliciousness.  :) 

Anyways, how ya'll doin'?  Good?  Oh, that's nice.

Guess what?  My body likes to wake up at 3am almost every night now-a-days.  Sometimes I go back to sleep...sometimes I don't.  Lame.  I also have been having back pain at night.  That doesn't help the body waking up thing much.  But, all this lack of sleep thing is kinda worth it if you ask me.  Worth it indeed.  :)

I am ALMOST done with Lord of the Rings aka thelongestbookinthefreakingwholeworld.  Part of my problem is that I fall asleep reading it every night (remember...I wake up at 3am...I get tired) and so I don't get very far.  I'm ready to be done though so that I can move on.  Any book recs?  Whatchya'll reading?

Our spare bedroom aka future home for baby is a DISASTER.  Like...seriously.  I'd take a picture and show you but I'm too embarrassed.  I keep thinking, "Future Anna will take care of that."  Yeah.  I mean I have like 17 weeks right???  That's pleeeeeeeenty of time.  I love "Future Anna".  She's such a go-getter.  I have great faith in her.  So, the room sits...as is.  And will probably stay that way for another 15 weeks.  :)  Oh well.

And that's all I got for this here Tuesday.  Until me meet again.  <3

You Bake Me Happy--WINNER!!!

SOURCE

I was a tad late posting this.

You see...

I had a hot date last night...with my huz of course.  :)

We celebrated 4 years of wedded bliss.  Oh yay.

But, you aren't here to hear about THAT are you?

Nope.

On to the WINNER!!!

This month's YOU BAKE ME HAPPY winner is...

#10.

Which means...

lindseylorelle  February 7, 2013 at 5:05 PM

I'd take sugar cookies with frosting!! 

is my winner!  I'm always excited for EACH winner but this girl is also expecting a little one.  I'm excited that I get to feed her.  You know how it goes with us preggo women and our food!  :)

Anyways, send me your address Linds and I'll pop some cookies into the mail for you.

Happy Sunday!

Catchy Title to Come.

Bullet Post.  Boo yah.  I think this might as well be my new Friday norm...since I do it almost every Friday anyways.  Might as well make it official.  You know, have the D.T.R talk.  Yeah.  We're sorta an item now.  Now we just need to think of a catchy little title.  I suck at that.  I'll get back to you on that one.  :)

• So, let's start with a pregnancy observation.  I feel this kid move some what often through out the day.  The kicks that happen when he's facing outward are obvious and well...cool.  Lately though I've been feeling what I would describe as "concentrated internal earthquakes".  I'm guessing these are the kicks that occur when his back is to the world and he's facing my spine.  Yeah.  Weirdest feeling ever.  The first time I thought it was a huge gas bubble coming to fruition...and then I waited for the fart...but it never came.  By the way, can they kick your spine and make you go paralysed?  Just wondering.  These are the thoughts I have.  Be happy you don't have my brain.
• We got a crib!  For $25.  I saw it on craiglist for $50 and contacted the lady and then changed my mind because I really wanted a FREE crib, haha.  Then she contacted me back and I told her that I had changed my mind and that I was really sorry and then SHE said, "How about I give it to you for $25, our house remodel starts tomorrow and I just want it gone."  It was hard to tell from the pics but it was a white sleigh style crib.  Seemed cute.  So I thought why not.  Jason picked it up and when I came home from work...yeah.  It's even cuter in real life...and it's some Italian brand that when I looked it up online ended up being a $600 crib.  Score.
• We have a deductible to save up for and possibly a car to buy...all in 4 months.  We are in frugal, living on a strict budget to the MAX, mode.  I love it and hate it all at the same time.  I love the feeling of success when you've fulfilled your goal but the road to it isn't always that fun.  :)
• I've been feeling an extra strong desire to look feminine lately.  Like jewelry and make-up is so much more enticing as of late.  Is it because I've got this boy in me?  It makes me wonder because jewelry is usually not.my.thing. 
• I started my quilt and I'm still totally obsessed with the fabric...which makes me ever so happy.  I've cut about half of my squares.  I've got a loooooong way to go. 
• I'm obsessed with greek yogurt.
• Concentrated internal earthquake.  Just had one.  If this is my last bullet he kicked my spine and I'm now paralysed.
• Nope we're good.
• Happy weekend friends!!!

By the way!  You Bake Me Happy Wednesday was well...Wednesday!  It ends tomorrow.  Don't forget to comment for a chance at some goodies.  Yay oh yay!

You Bake Me Happy Wednesday--Love Edition

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It's February.  It's the first Wednesday of the month.  Ah!  "You Bake Me Happy" totally snuck up on me this month!  Time is fuh-lying by.  That being said...let's get this par-tay started!

Do you know what "You Bake Me Happy Wednesday" is?
No?
Hmmm.
You've been missing out.  Just sayin'.  :)
Have no fear though. 

"You Bake Me Happy Wednesday" is the first Wednesday of the month where I, yours truly, bake you something sugary and buttery and send it to you in the mail.  Yay you!

Wanna know the reasoning behind this craziness???  Well, how about you read The Full Story behind You Bake Me Happy Wednesday!

The sum of it is...I LOVE to bake.  I LOVE to give people my baked goods.  I mean really, is there anything better than a homemade, from scratch, little morsel of goodness that didn't involve you lifting a finger?  I.think.not.  Thus, I bake for you and mail it to your lovely home.  And then you eat and fill your belly.  yum.  It's a great sequence of events that's for sure.

So, here are the details...

FIRST,
Being we are now in February--the month of LUV! (It's V-day AND my anniversary all in one lovely month) I thought it would be appropriate to do some Valentine themed baking.  What that means?  I have no clue!  haha.  Heart shaped things?  Pink and red frosting?  Something that you would like to receive on Valentine's day?  What ever it is...I will make it V-day themed so have no worries.  So what you must do is leave a comment with your Valentine's Day treat of choice and if I pick your name (very randomly of course) I will mail you said treat (so you better pick wisely).  For example: Say my name is Betty and I left a comment saying that I would love heart shaped sugar cookies with icing to show up on my doorstep.  If I choose Betty, then I will mail her heart shaped sugar cookies with icing.  Get it?!? Got it!?! Oh yay!

The little drawing ends Sat at noon!  So comment before then.  Sat evening I'll let ya know who the lucky winner is!  (and be sure to check back because I can't mail nada if I don't know where you live...and then I have to pick a second winner and then this is drawn out all long where I mail February's in March.  Sad story.)

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So, what delectable Valentine treat would YOU want to materialize on your doorstep???  Ready.Set.Go!

Side Note:  Yes, I will mail treats to people I don't know in real life.  Wait, blogland isn't real life?  Whaaa!?  Also, if you won last month you have to sit this one out.  But don't worry.  You are free to enter there after! 

Baby Boy Style

Wow!  A week since my last post.  Where or where did the time go???  :)

Ok, so if I was a total bajillionaire I would buy ALL of our baby swag from Etsy.  Seriously.  I'm in love.  I love the idea that someone personally MADE our little one's goods.  But...I am just an average middle class American so mass produced it is.  When we can, we buy small biz style but we, like most others, have to succumb to the big, box store goods also.  Oh well. 

Anyways, here are a couple of to-die-for-make-me-drool-all-over-myself-things-that-I-LOVE.   :)  Enjoy!


FOUND HERE!  I mildly freaked out over this one.
We ate so many empanadas in Chile it was ridiculous.  :)

FOUND HERE!  Yeah, I'm totally and completely
obsessed with these...just sayin'.

FOUND HERE!  Cutest little bib evuh!

FOUND HERE! Could you just eat these little booties up?   Gah!

FOUND HERE!  Gotta start him on the bike young right? :)

FOUND HERE!  I have a slight obsession with VW Buses.  Like it would be my mom wagon if I could.  Yeah.  Love.

I don't think I realized how fun it would be to dress a boy!  :)
And I seriously am banning myself from etsy and pinterest this week.  I have wasted WAY too much time skimming and perusing.  Glad I got this out of my system though.  Happy Monday!