f/7 1/160 Erica and I have been busy launching our podcast(!) but are excited to get back to our monthly Photo Challenge posts. I took this photo during a day time weekend bath. I love that it captures an every day activity but also the sweetness and attentiveness that Chris has with Dashiell. The Photo Challenge Next Door is a collaboration with my next door neighbor Erica from Laddventure. We're both switching our cameras to manual mode and sharing one photo per month. Click the sidebar button to see all my Photo Challenge photos. You can see Erica's photos right... Read more →

Last night we had an impromptu dinner on the front porch. It's my favorite. The weather was perfect, Dash pointed out birds and airplanes to us, a neighbor stopped by for a chat and we watched the sun set. Bonus: we can brush all of Dash's crumbs right on to the ground! Lately, I'm making a conscious effort of being outside as much as possible. I absolutely love being outside with Dashiell and showing him plants and birds and lizards. I spent so much time playing outside during my childhood and I want him to have a strong connection to... Read more →

I owe you guys a post on Dashiell's sleep. For the past two months he has been sleeping so so much better. It has changed our life; it is as significant as that. I wish I could tell you that it just magically happened, like a switch being flipped. Some people told me that this happened with their babies. But that has not been our experience. After trying everything we could the only thing that has made a difference in Dashiell's sleep is a modified cry it out approach. By "modified" I mean that there has been crying but about... Read more →

Last weekend Chris started reading the Mr. Money Mustache blog after I casually mentioned it and now he is OBSESSED with taking our debt reduction further. The writer of the blog retired at age 30 after paying off all debt (including a mortgage) and now he and his family are able to live (frugally) off of their investments. Reading about another couple that became debt-free and who have similar life values to us is so inspiring! We did three things last weekend that took very little time but have big impact: + Made another $5,000 payment on my student loans.... Read more →

I've been sitting here, trying to think of what to say about being a working mom, which I have been now for over seven months. It's something I'd like to talk about more in this space; I think it's as an important topic as finances to talk honestly about. At the same time I've been doing this for such a short amount of time and I'm always finding new dimensions, both the challenging and the rewarding. I will say this: It's hard to face the demands of work and the expectations of others when being a mama and everything in... Read more →

These days... stretching with 30 Day Yoga Challenge in the early morning while Dash sleeps. celebrating that Dashiell slept his first FULL night of sleep: 7:30 PM to 6:45 AM. WHAT. This also reminds me that I owe you a post on Dashiell's sleep and how we've arrived at such a good place after many months of waking many, many times a night. devouring Wild and making my way through Breakfast: A History. excited to thumb through Keepers this weekend. sticking to my (unblogged) goal of not buying any books this year. I heart the public library. enjoying a glorious... Read more →

Guys, are gallery walls still a thing? We're not over them yet are we? Because I finally have one! You might even recognize a few of my art-a-month prints if you've been following for a while. I've had several framed pieces on top of the sideboard in our great room just leaning against the wall for, I'm pretty sure, FOUR years. Basically since we moved in. Arg. And lately the sideboard has taken to accumulating other random things that don't have a home, which gives me mild anxiety and makes me want to take everything to Goodwill. My mom was... Read more →

This Sunday Dashiell turned 10 months old. He's been in the outside world now for a little bit longer than I carried him. Chris was out of town for the weekend but within an hour of his return Dashiell took his first tentative steps (!!). All he wants to do is walk; pushing his walker wagon, cruising on the sofa, holding your hands and leaning much too far forward while stepping as fast as his short legs will go. I think walking is what his little heart has been dreaming of since he was born. He's never liked to be... Read more →

Chris and I both had a holiday on MLK day and so we seized the day and when on a day date, just the two of us! We left Dash with our wonderful baby sitter and went on an adventure in Phoenix. We went to Federal Pizza (sweet potato, ricotta, and fried sage pizza OMG), Churn, and The Musical Instrument Museum, which was AMAZING. Chris and I have been wanting to go since it opened in 2010 and I'm so glad we finally made it allll the way up there. The museum has instruments and videos of music being played... Read more →

January is all about dreaming and planning for the year. In February it's time to get serious and make those dreams happen. This month I'm looking forward to spending lots of time outside and enjoying candlelight in darker evenings while they last. And if we could have just one or two rainy days I would be so thrilled. I'm trying to be very present and appreciative of my favorite time of year in order to stay positive through the hot, hot summer (I'm already feeling a little anxious about it!). + Go for a family bike ride at least three... Read more →