So so proud!

To cap off an amazing visit with Rebecca, we spent the first part of today cheering on my sweet husband through 26.2 miles.

Look at that cool jacket he snagged post-race!

Despite being sick he rocked this marathon and our daughter and I {& a bunch of other people} are immensely proud of this tough man; we love you sweetie/daddy!
xoxo, natty ♥

Yippee for friends!

Rebecca is here Rebecca is here!!!

Here's to a great weekend ❤️❤️!!

xoxo, natty

Plein air.

We weren't painting but we did enjoy the outdoors sitting in front of a market and snacking a bit.

Baby took a nap after her snack while the adults only wished they could do the same. Now, if only we had a TV we could stay up to watch SNL...PSYCHE! We'd DVR it and go to bed by ten. #wereold
xoxo, natty ♥

Welcome!!!

A really good friend is on her way here tonight and we're so excited for a visit!!! Hurry up and get here!!
xoxo, natty ♥

To be so lucky.

It is SUCH a good feeling to lay around with no work the next day! 

We're home, safe and happy, watching a storm do its thing outside our windows. The baby got tired out after a morning at the pool with our friends earlier, then we drove the two point five hours home.

Wouldn't it be great to have someone cart you around like this? And hold you all the time? And make all your food for you?!

Yippee skippee for one extra weekend day!
xoxo, natty ♥

I needed that.

Today we had a great time with out friends and then we got home and I passed off our baby and promptly took a long nap. After two weeks of back-to-work I was one tired teacher...and one lucky mama to have hands to hold that baby!!!

Is the weekend going this quickly? We drive back tomorrow to enjoy a night at home without an early wake-up looming over our heads and to get ready for the week.
xoxo, natty ♥

The Sweetest Place on Earth.

Tonight, after not-too-bad traffic, we rolled into Hershey, PA, for a weekend with friends...and a sayonara to summer. We're so happy to be here and ready for a fun few days!
xoxo, natty ♥

Boogy down.

Today was great. It's beautiful weather here and Hanna Lu and I got to spend the day with some wonderful women folk, including my personal fountain of love Ellie Fence. I'm so honored to introduce my daughter to this other piece of my heart.

After a good breakfast we walked down to the lake and into the art museum, though we didn't check out the exhibits - is it bad that after being spoiled by DC {aka "free"} museums I feel disinclined to want to pay to see anything?

Onto the wedding tonight!
xoxo, natty ♥

More friends and more lunch.

Today was a wonderful day...I took our daughter for a walk at Rancho San Antonio, a place where I've run and walked many happy miles. We saw turkeys and a deer.

Thanks to my dad for this glorious picture.

Then I met friends for another lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon trying to get our baby to nap.

Now I'm trying to get her to sleep. Fun times.

Happy weekend y'all!
xoxo, natty ♥

Friends and lunch.

Oh how I miss my friends! Today we had lunch with each other and our babies...what fun and what a way we've come since we first met eight {eight?!} years ago, right before we started teaching.

And our own little, apart from enjoying these ladies and one little man, is loving on her feet.

And who can blame her, they're so darn cute!
xoxo, natty ♥

Awake!

There's an alert baby here as we barrel towards midnight tonight...and a psir of tired parents.

In other news we had a great night of semi-homemade pizza with friends and are looking forward to family coming to town starting tomorrow for Mike's graduation {woo hoo and bravo!!}.

Enjoy your weekend folks!!

xoxo, natty

Subs.

Thanks to a gift from a dear friend, we had a delicious dinner tonight.

If only the DC Jimmy John's delivered like they do in Minnesota!!!

Thank you so much dear Becs for how thoughtful you've been to our little family these weeks; we send our love over your way!

Urban herding.

It's a rainy Monday here that will hopefully be turning into a sunny Tuesday that will also hopefully segue into some cherry blossoms later this week so that is a Good Thing...and some more:

1. I don't do F@cebook but I will browse it every once in a while. 

This morning I came across this ad; please note "urban herding"

 

This makes me so happy on so many dog-loving levels but, really, seriously, what is urban herding? 

Any enlightenment from the universe would be appreciated.

2. My step-mom is coming back to DC to help us tomorrow; sweet mercy thank you so much step-mom!

3. An extremely sweet and thoughtful friend brought us lunch, dinner, flowers, and a gift for baby girl today; we are so loved and we appreciate it all more than we can communicate.

4. Speaking of that child of ours, who's currently on nap # bajillion of the day so hopefully she sleeps some tonight, she received her very own social security card today. Now she has an official identity. And can retire.

5. We also received a summary of what the hospital is charging for our stays there; we are BEYOND grateful for our health insurance.

What's nice about your day today reader? At least something small I hope.

xoxo, natty

Big weekend.

We did quite a lot this weekend...for our new normal.

The baby experienced her first soccer game yesterday; we walked two laps around the track while dad played before we went home ahead of him. Our second half absence must've distressed him quite a bit because the poor guy did something unfortunate to his hamstring and thus couldn't run the Cherry Blossom ten-miler this morning. Not could I, for other less-athletic reasons.

Last night we had a few friends over for pizza and then some more friends over for bagels this morning.

It was definitely the most I'd done {& most normal experiences I'd had} in a long time. And suffice it to say, our child had the busiest weekend of her life.

Now we're all pooped and ready for a good solid two to four hours of sleep.

May you enjoy your own glorious six to eight and have a great week ahead!

xoxo, natty

Good girls.

I had been thinking about how wonderful my pals are and after some impromptu chatting this afternoon; my suspicions were confirmed.

This freshly bathed kiddo of ours is lucky to have such a wonderful village of love, friends, and family all around her.

xoxo, natty

A beautiful bride.

And a beautiful person.

I'm talking about my dear friend Becs. In the year of our 10-year friendiversary I'm more thankful, appreciative, and in awe of this wonderful young woman and our friendship.

She was helping me practice swaddling way before I even got pregnant.

Here's to a great day {I hope you had one, that is, considering the hour right now} and many, many more wonderful years sweet girl!

She's a top-notch bridesmaid.

Happy birthday and know that we love you so much from here in DC.
xoxo, natty ♥

Maybe this was our last Saturday?

We are still parents-to-be and doing very well at it. I'm feeling antsy but physically doing extremely well and enjoying time with just my husband. 

Today we actually celebrated parenthood with some sweet friends and their five-month-old whom we met for the first time. They are in town for the weekend and it just worked out perfectly to have a nice lunch/catch-up time with them and then a walk around our neighborhood. The walk, though super pleasant because it was beautiful outside today, wasn't very relaxing because we veered off into a busy area when we could've stayed on some quieter streets. But oh well, we had great company and, again, the weather was delightful.

Tomorrow brings some more friends and maybe a bit more nesting {although at this point it's more like re-nesting}...and a drastic cool-down from today {womp} {but then it warms up again on Monday?} but it's lion/lamb weather so it's OK.

OH! And I just remembered, that car seat finally got installed and I even took it to the police department to have it inspected - we got a certificate! #winningatparenthood
xoxo, natty ♥

So many thoughts.

Hello from Monday nightsville!

Rebecca took this shot yesterday morning; it will have to suffice as our sole maternity photo shoot.

In these final weeks of pregnancy I have a ton going through my head but I used today's holiday to actually not dwell on them or rush to accomplish too many things.

But I did...

1. Revel in how wonderful our weekend was for two reasons:

1a. My two pals from college made it out here and like I said yesterday it buoyed my heart and spirit to be with these ladies. We missed you Emily and I love you three dearly.

1b. Some other and just as nifty friends threw us an amazing baby shower; it was a blast! And an extremely deep and heartfelt thanks goes out to those two friends {& their little doggie whom we missed}.

4. Make chicken tortilla soup; yum!!

3. Watch a good Law & Order SVU with my hubby.

4. Do a wee bit of laundry.

5. Even sneak in a nap; I figure they are limited in their remaining number so I might as well take em if I can.

Oh I'm a happy girl tonight even though it's back to the real world {a.k.a alarm clock wake-ups} tomorrow {after a five-day weekend thanks to snow days} and I hope that there's a bit of proverbial {or real!!} sunshine in your life today/tonight/this week Reader.

xoxo, natty

Girls!!!

I had SUCH an amazing weekend with Becs and Ellie - thank you two so very much for giving up Valentine's Day with your hubbies and spending it with me and mine; it means so much to us that you joined us here in DC for a sugar fueled weekend celebrating being friends as well as our on-her-way little girl.

This morning included a White House tour {thank you to our intrepid tour guide}, a bagel brunch, some talking about how we were still coming off of our sugar rushes thanks to yesterday's candy-filled baby shower, and just enjoying each other's company.

These dear friends are so valuable to my heart and soul; it was refreshing and heartening to be with them and our daughter is one lucky fetus to be able to count them as her honorary aunties.

Have a great work week y'all.
xoxo, natty ♥

Reverting back to seventh grade.

After an amazing baby shower this afternoon {think: and 80s/90s soundtrack, Mario Kart, cookies, cupcakes, Connect Four, grilled cheese galore, and sweet tart shots [not for me]}, my pals, Mikey, and I got home and sugar crashed.

Then we {minus my husband - NBA All-Stars activities are somehow more of a draw to him than these activities} decided to continue the theme. After perusing an US Weekly and People magazine together, we're making friendship bracelets before bed; what a wild life we're living. I couldn't resist two large and brightly colored packages of embroidery floss so we're putting them to use in a crazy way tonight. 

Happy of happiest days to you all; I am so full and grateful for these wonderful women and the fun we had today.
xoxo, natty ♥