As we head into summer, the daylight lingers in the evenings and flares golden before fading to dusk. I remember this exact light so vividly from last year when I held my tiny baby and felt so full of love to the point of being overwhelmed.

Even after we've put Dash down for bed by 7:15 there is a faint light, almost a glow, and I've been enticed outside just to breathe for a minute and enjoy the cool air. I keep meaning to buy a bottle of white wine because surely this is the weather for a glass of wine on the porch. The days are warming up much, much too fast but I'm trying not to think of it Still, our backyard is still shady and pleasant for now and I'm thankful for that. We're spending so much time there. Tomorrow is supposed to be cooler and maybe even stormy, I'm so excited.

These days I'm also...

setting my alarm a little bit early (and not hitting snooze) and making it to the gym for weights and spin; trying to make it a habit!

reading Goldfinch as fast as I can and hoping the other library patrons on the wait list won't mind that it's a few days late, so many pages! [I've since finished and feel like the book is still sinking in; great read!]

eager to fall back into a groove of devouring books.

dreaming of grilled cheese after listening to this Spilled MIlk episode again.

planning a May day date with Chris after the semester is over, hooray!

submitting my Remedy Quarterly piece for consideration in the 2014 Best Food Writing collection, fingers crossed!

slowing down to Dashiell's pace as we wander in the back yard and inspect rocks, plants and dirt. It's his favorite place to be and so mine, too.

carrying a lighter load, physically and mentally, to work each day now that I'm not pumping.

trying out using the manual focus setting on my DSLR.

listening to podcasts non-stop on my commute. 

itching to make and hoping to do some crafting this summer.

savoring my new-to-me stash of Everyday Food (thank you, Sherrie!).

brewing extra coffee to keep iced coffee stocked for the afternoons.

waiting to find out if Chris will receive tenure at the university; we should know by May 13!

counting down the days until Chris is on summer break.

appreciating working for an employer that takes time to say "thank you" to employees in meaningful ways.

drinking A LOT of water as the weather warms up.

wondering what adventures this summer will bring.