Remember When

So Orange Is the New Black has come out with a new season on Netflix and I immediately think "great! Binge watching time!!!" Then it hits me... When will I have time to do that? During naps? After Madison goes to bed? 

It is crazy how different things are now! I remember when my summers used to consist of laying on the couch watching shows, working out whenever I want, baking, crafting, and taking naps. Now, I can barely keep my house in order!

It seems like a life time ago, but really it was only less than a year! Sometimes I think back on those times yearning to be able to just do those things again. But then I think about how those things are really still there, I just incorporate them differently!

I do take naps whenever Madison naps. Sometimes the best naps are with her snuggled on my chest or shoulder and rocking in the recliner! I bake, but now I bake for my sweet girl and love when she eats what I make her! My work outs consist of taking 4 mile walks on the Greenway enjoying the sights and sounds with Madison cooing and talking up a storm!  When I craft, I'm usually making something to decorate Madison's room or making her cute clothes! And the good Lord knows I binge watch... The Chica Show, Lily's Driftwood Bay, Super Why, Doc McStuffins, and we cannot forget Micky Mouse Clubhouse!

So really, when I think more about it, I still get to do those things, but with more purpose! I have a beautiful and amazing reason to do the things that I love now! All these activities have meaning and I am loving it! 

Side note... Cohen and I cuddled and napped a ton! He's such a Momma's boy!

Trouble Trouble!

This little lady has been into everything lately! I'm not even mad. She is so stinking cute!

After a poopy diaper one day, I went to throw it away and came back to find this...

This lady had figured out how to open the wipe box and went to town! She just kept pulling them and pulling them! I picked her up and picked up the wipes. I then took her to her room to play with some toys there! Well... We played with something else!

Her new favorite thing is to open her drawers and pull out clothes! It's so much fun for her, I hate to stop her!  I know I probably shouldn't encourage this, but it makes her so happy! What is a momma to do?!

Maybe if I teach her to put them back it wouldn't be so bad haha!

Date night!

Aaron and I haven't been on a date since our anniversary in October! Of course we enjoy an evening at the house, grilling and eating on the back porch together, but we haven't been alone out in the world together for a long long time! 

We had been trying to plan a date night for some weeks now, but just couldn't pin down a date! We finally got our act together and picked out a date, June 4th, which happened to be my momma's birthday! Shout out! Our wonderful blessing of a babysitter came over that evening and we were off!

We definitely planned on doing a wine tasting and were not sure where to eat for dinner. Aaron and I hate seafood and in eastern NC, most fine restaurants cater to seafood and then there is the always safe choice of steak... Well... We just ate steak the night before, so we were kind of at a loss! To be very honest, Aaron said he knew where we were going to dinner, but I didn't know what he had decided!

We said goodbye to our sweet sugar plum and made our way to Jeffersons downtown! 

The wine tasting was fun. We giggled as the first wine was administered by a "fill in" who was reading the description off of a notecard.  Aaron and I are not sommeliers by any means, but we have had a plethora of wines and are getting better with tastings and being able to describe our palates as we taste.  After the tasting I picked out my go-to for wine, a Cab. I love a Cabernet. Aaron had a blend of Cabernet and Malbec, which I was surprised that I didn't like as much! I also like Malbec! 

We enjoyed a glass at the wine bar upstairs.

Silliness ensued...

After about 15 minutes Aaron looks down at his watch and says "oh man."  Apparently we are cutting it close to reservation time! Where will it be?! I still have half a glass of wine and down it so we can leave! I'm not going to lie, at this point I'm a little chatterbox and am talking so much I don't even realize we are going in the very opposite direction of every restaurant that was an option for fine dining in Greenville. I look and we are headed in the direction of Tarboro. OH NO... He did NOT! Oh my goodness, I am getting very very excited!! 

About a month ago, I had a conversation with a very sweet old man who was sharing with me the things he enjoys. One of which is a fine meal! Being the food lover that I am, I whole heartedly agreed. He then asks me if I had been to The Chef and The Farmer in Kinston. I told him no, but would love to one day. He then asks me if I had been to On The Square in Tarboro, his native town, yet. I again tell him that I had heard this was a delicious place to eat, but unfortunately had never been. He then says "where have you been?! Under a rock?!" I told Aaron that morning we had to go soon.

Well..... Guess where a sweet man made a reservation?!

I was so excited! I could not believe I was about to enjoy some really tasty food! I kind of felt slightly mentally unprepared! Haha! 

We go in and immediately are greeted by someone! Our table was a few minutes from being ready so we looked through their tiny wine shop! We are finally seated and look through the menu. What to choose?! I had already decided that I would be open to trying something new of needed. I ended up ordering the chicken ballontine with potatoes and green beans and lemon sauce. It was divine! The service was also fantastic! 

It was everything I hoped for and more! I cannot wait to go back! Furthermore, Aaron proved that he could still pull a surprise over on me! That is one good man I have! Date night was a supreme success!

Baby Hairs!

I took this snapchat at my nephew's baseball game last week and after I looked at it, I about died! Can we just take a moment to value those baby hairs growing out of my head?! I'm thankfu for hair growth at all, but man, it sure does make one look goofy!

Swimming!

Summer weather is here! We are getting Madison ready and exposing her to water for our beach trips this summer! We purchased a $5 inflatable pool from Walmart and had a chance to fill her up this past week. 

Madison has been loving it! She loves playing with her toys and mommy swirling her around in the water!

She is figuring out how to lose the hat now a days. Not sure how to solve that problem haha. 

She could have been in this pool for hours splashing and chasing fish!

I was able to get a snapchat picture of her beautiful blonde tresses blowing in the wind! 

What fun!

Growing baby...

I have a growing baby everybody! Madison has started to break in those top teeth. You know the ones we have been thinking we're coming in for like 2 months now? Yeah, those ones! Finally!!!!

But can I tell you, those little suckers cause this little one so much pain sometimes! It's so sad... We've been able to manage it, but I feel for her when she has her whole hand in her mouth and whining! Poor poor baby girl!

We now have two officially in, one more about to break through any second now and a fourth one starting to bulge! 

You can kinda see the two in this picture!

Barely... 

What comes along with teething? Chewing up the crib! Lol! We woke up to this one morning! I told Aaron that it adds character to the crib!

She is now eating most things we give her! She tore up some pasta with marinara sauce the other night! Translation for northerners: she ate lots of it.  I'm so proud of her! Her favorite snacks so far are ranch veggie straws and goldfish. We haven't mastered the sippy cup yet, but it's a work in progress!

We have also seen her master some problem solving skills! That girl has figured out that if she pushes boxes or baskets or her elephant toy towards things, she can climb them and get to things on the tables! She has not however figured out how to get out from under tables when she crawls under them and cannot figure out that some spaces she just cannot fit! She gets sooo mad!

Along with climbing boxes, she climbs stairs too! Lord, help us! It's so cute to watch her boogie up those steps! Alas we have baby gated everything! I know she thinks we are the most non fun parents ever! 

So much has happened the last few weeks! It is so exciting to see her grow and learn! Exploring new things! Gosh, I am so thankful to be able to be home with her!