month seven

month seven

Amos Michael, I have loved being your mama for the past 7 months. You bring your daddy and me so much joy! You're such a content little dude! What a treat it is to be your parents. 

You've become quite the good eater. By now, you've tried all sorts of foods (even some table food...especially thanks to your grandparents & great-grandparents!) and you eat it all. (Right before you turned 7 months, we went back to the doctor for a possible ear infection and found that you weighed 18#9oz! Praise the Lord for no ear infection!) 

You've been in the swimming pool and lake (even when the water was chilly) and you just splashed around and smiled like it was the best thing in the world. You're the cutest little water-bug around! 

I have so very much loved watching you discover new things each month. This month (we noticed on June 2) you found that you control your hands while lying on the bed with Daddy-O. You  watched yourself open and close those precious hands what seemed like a hundred times in just a few hours. 

We also had our biggest "parent fail" yet this month. One night after bath time we had you on the changing table and "let" you roll right off! How, with both of your parents right there it was possible, I don't know! But, praise the Lord your little spongy self just bounced when you hit the floor. You cried for a bit, but nothing was hurt - you were just scared, as were we! Don't worry, we learned our lesson and you won't be rolling off anything high on our watch again. (: 

[first tooth]

my very first tooth! 

loving lately

ice cream cake from Bruster's (thanks mom) 

details

this corner of our bedroom 

a gift from a neighbor 

birthday love

happy birthday to my first "little" buddy (: 

a day at the lake, pizza for dinner, swimming with your buddies, homemade cheesecake and homemade ice cream, and getting to watch Nik Wallenda walk across the Grand Canyon make for one special birthday celebration (: 

i hope you felt awfully special on your birthday, Carson! love you always! can't wait to drag this celebration out a little longer with a Braves game next weekend! 

homemade cheesecake

Per Carson's request for his 19th birthday cake:

homemade cheesecake

crust: 

2 cups crushed pretzels

2/3 cup butter (melted)

2 T brown sugar

Directions:
Place crushed pretzels in medium mixing bowl. Add brown sugar and pour in melted butter. Mix together. Once fully incorporated, press into the bottom of the spring form pan. 

*I mashed the pretzels the best I could, then put what I hand mashed (above) in a plastic bag and rolled with a rolling pin

Filling:

24 oz weight cream cheese, softened to room temp

3/4 cup sugar

3 T all purpose flour

3 whole eggs

1 T vanilla 

1 cup sour cream

Directions:

Place cream cheese in large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy.

Combine sugar and flour in a small bowl then add it to the cream cheese mixture and continue to beat until combined. With mixer running, add eggs one at a time, beating until incorporated.

Add vanilla and sour cream, beat 2 minutes, scraping down sides and bottom of the bowl if necessary.

Pour the filling over the prepared crust. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until center is set. Remove from oven to a wire rack to cool for 1 hour. Run a knife around edge of cheesecake pan and remove. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. 

[wednesday night]

scenes from our weekly dinner at OD & Cathy's: 

daddy-o showing off Amos' very first tooth

my whole heart, right there

OD & the boy

Cat & the boy 

this weekly dinner date has been such a blessing over the years. OD & Cathy have opened up their home to the whole gang and have selflessly provided a haven that has fostered growth in our dearest friendships (and our bellies). thanks from the bottom of all of our hearts you two! 

loving lately

hydrangeas 

and again

hand written letters from these two 

 newly put up curtain tie backs

a "downtown treat" from our new Anthro *thanks Mikey!

nutella cookies

Nutella Cookies 

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup nutella

1 egg

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350F. Mix all ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Roll into cookie dough shaped roll. 

Cut into 1/2" sized pieces. Place on ungreased baking sheet.

Mash cookies flat (recipe suggests using a glass for this -- I just smashed them with my hands and they turned out fine). 

Bake for 7-10 minutes.

Enjoy with a large glass of milk. 

12 Tyler Street Summer Punch List

12 Tyler Street Summer Punch List:

 (Always something goin' on 'round here!)

First up: Build a fence

[via]

Next up: Get [or build] a chicken coop

[via]

Then: Make rain barrels 

[via]

Then: Build raised garden beds 

[via]

And: Work on our patio / add lights to the deck

[my heart]

these two 

s u n s h i n e

"and so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees…

i had that familiar conviction that life was beginning again with the summer."

-f. scott fitzgerald

  

national donut day

in honor of national donut day


free donuts @ our local Krispy Kreme

and a few snapshots from the little brother's graduation last night

[g r a d u a t i o n]

  

Happy graduation day, buddy. I cannot even believe that you're old enough to be graduating! I am so proud of the man you've become. You are smart, handsome, a blast to be around, courageous, adventurous, a man of the Lord, and the list goes on. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for you over the next 4 years. The world is at your finger tips -- take advantage of the opportunities before you. Stay up late, do crazy things, invest in friendships, study abroad, road trip, get outside on the weekends, keep loving life and living it to the fullest. I love you to the moon and back a million times, buddy! 

1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, C-L-E-M-S-O-N T-I-G-E-R-S! Fight Tigers! Fight Tigers! Fight! Fight! Fight!!!! 

insta may

insta may