a [birthday] letter to my mikey

Happiest [29th] birthday to you, my biggest boy! I sure do love you & love doing this life with you. You, my Mikey, are home to me. We've had a cra-zy year of moving, traveling, are soon to be adding another arrow to our quiver and are in the process of renovating a 100 year old house...know that there ain't nobody else I'd rather be doing this with. I've loved watching you be quite the adventurer over the past year...from relay races to a crazy 50k for this years birthday...you amaze me mister. I've also loved watching your eyes light up when you talk about the white house and our growing family. Mikey, you love us well. It makes my heart so happy to hear you wrestling the boys before bed, to know you've snuck out of bed an hour early in the mornings for time in the Word or to chisel away at work that needs to be done across the street, for you to be able to come home for lunch on almost any given work day (again), to watch the boys watching out the window for you at the end of the day, to sneak away for long weekends with you when we can (just the two of us), to plan and dream about the future (near and far) with you. I hope that you've felt special as we've celebrated your birthday slowly over the past week and that you wake up feeling extra special tomorrow (like "king of the world" status). My hope for this year is the same as last year -- that you are challenged and stretched, that you grow, that you are content and happy, that you are blessed beyond measure and that you know how treasured you are (and not just by us, but especially by us).

Moose, Solly (& BM3) & I can't wait to celebrate you all day!

celebrate | showering baby Johnsen

This past weekend we celebrated much. Saturday was spent showering Meredith & "baby L" as (s)he is lovingly being referred to since (s)he is due on Star Wars Day...may the forth be with you. (Laughing to myself...I may or may not find a unisex Star Wars coming home outfit...) We celebrated with lots of friends & family, a delicious spread of food & sweet, sweet baby gifts. 

I cannot wait until this sweet peanut is here! Mere & DP, you're going to be ah-mazing parents. I can't wait to do motherhood with you and to watch you fall seamlessly into this roll. Baby L, you are already so, so loved! 

[required friday listening]

in honor of mikey's upcoming |29th| birthday

mikey, you are home to me. i love getting older with you--day after day, year after year. punk, you're good for me in ways that i can't explain and don't even know. our lives are full...so full. 

PS--when we're old, wrinkly and gray haired i hope we can sit hand in hand (on a tropical beach somewhere) and know that getting old wasn't so bad after all. it's a good life we've had Mikey and good (if not the best) days are still ahead! 

looking forward to celebrating my boy starting tonight & stretching it out 'til his actual birthday (next week)! i actually let him open his main birthday gift last week before our charleston weekend - but the boys & i have a few surprises up our sleeves yet (: 

all my love, always, birthday boy. 

Travel | weekending in Charleston

Things I want to remember from this weekend: the way the light spilled into our room through the white curtains every morning as we woke up slowly // my arm looped through his as we strolled the Battery & zig-zagged through the neighborhoods // napping by his side mid-afternoon // dreaming & planning for our future // a food tour that any foodie would die over // soaking in a few minutes with our toes in the sand, hair blowing in the (chilly) wind, and dear friends by our sides // an unplanned lunch date with DP, Mere & Baby Johnsen

ePantry

Y'all! I got turned on to ePantry back in October when I took advantage of a great Mrs. Meyers deal they were offering (thanks to Natalie)! I signed up & got about $50 worth of my favorite products for only $20 (and it came with free shipping)! I'll be honest...I was a bit skeptical at first - I mean, couldn't I just buy these same cleaning products at our local grocery store? But, I've checked prices and double checked prices (at Bi-Lo and Publix) for these same products and nothing compares. Ummmmm with two littles and another almost here, it's also super convenient to have my favorite cleaning products delivered to.my.door.

One note: It is a subscription service that lets you hand pick cleaning supplies, so once you've put things in your "pantry" they stay there and are shipped to you on a monthly basis -- HOWEVER, you can change how often you receive a shipment. (*I don't get a shipment every month...at most every other month, but usually every 3 months.) You can also deactivate / reactivate your account as you like with no penalties or fees.

If you sign up using this link (ePantry) you get a $10 credit AND free shipping on your first order! Go ahead, you can thank me later. (:

PS -- This is not a sponsored post. I just love sharing good deals and ways to make your life easier!