the skinny.

i exercised for the first time tonight since having mykenzie...

it

was

glorious.

there's something so empowering about using your muscles.

there's something about sweat that makes me feel a little pretty.

there's something about pain

that makes me feel accomplished.

there's something about flushed skin

that makes me look forward to doing it all again.

unfortunately,

there's something about the medicine ball

that pulled a musle in my armpit.

maybe i should take it a bit slower since i'm completely and utterly out of shape.

right now,

i'm pumped.

it might not be true of me tomorrow...

and that's ok...

because today,

i fought the urge to sit on the couch eating

Edy's Slow Churned Mint Chocolate Chip

and

started....

that's all i did,

i started.

and in this minute

that's all i need.

and tomorrow,

i just need to continue...

which i don't think is the hard part

because now i remember how good i feel.

dear pesky last five pounds,

i've been feeding our relationship for too long.

you're about to burn...

and yeah, you'll probably return after my next kids...

and that's ok...

cuz it's totally worth it...

but don't think you're gonna stick around.

i'm stronger than that.



a wonderful visit.

my family loves to be together...even though being together invites a certain sense of chaos and noise...with seven adults and three kids, it's almost impossible for it not to be a little chaotic...my brother came and visited for a little over a week...we have been anticipating this visit for a month or so and couldn't be happier about getting to spend time with him! he hadn't met mykenzie or soleil and jayden needed some new memories with his uncle jared...it was a great week!! it's always sad when he has to leave again...especially because we never know when we'll see each other next, but i know we're all so thankful for this week to reconnect and be together...

there will be more to share from this week...

i got some cute pictures of the kids and also,

Soleil had her first birthday complete with a cute party!

counting down.

we finally got a gorgeous day to take pictures of lucas!



i'm looking forward to taking pictures of lucas' face!

 i wonder what he's gonna look like!

no doubt, adorable!

already...

can't believe she's already 8 months!

where is this time going??

i've taken every advice from every elderly lady in line at tjmax, to treasure every moment...and it's inexplainably still vanishing. i pray my horrible memory allows me to remember the way her nose scrunches up...or her fake laugh...or the way she thumps her heels onto the floor...or her "i really need to sleep right now" cry.

i hope my memory spares no details.

 (proof she cries every once in a while)

 (check out those teeth!!!)

his first par-taaay!

last weekend, we celebrated lucas and his soon arrival

(but not too soon since you still have some more baking time left...and i'm sure mommy could use that time on fun crafty things she has planned for you.)

here are a few pictures of the special day!