From 5k to Marathon

It’s hard to believe that my baby girl is nine months old! We decided to celebrate with lunch downtown at our favorite restaurant, Casa Maya, which moved to a beautiful building across the street from its old location.

The owners greeted us with warm smiles as we’ve been going there for years but hadn’t been since early in in my pregnancy. Harper was a champ and loved their guac (the best!) and had a few bites of my Ropa Vieja and plantains. The staff there lived how inquisitive she was and said hi to her each time they passed.

After lunch we headed over to the fort and enjoyed the warm, sunny day.

Happy nine month birthday, baby girl!

Today we started Harper on solids. We’ve been anxiously awaiting this day for a few weeks, reading up on which food should be her first, how it should be prepared, if we should make it ourselves or if we should buy it.

So last night while we were at Publix, such exciting plans for a Friday night!, we decided to get a few jars of organic baby food. After we got home we decided that carrots would be the magical food to start Harper on.

We got her all suited up, got the carrots ready, and in when the first spoonful.

I think it’s safe to say that after her first few bites, baby girl doesn’t like carrots!

aka Yoda ears

Hoppy Easter, friends! Enjoy today with your friends and loved ones.

It’s so easy to get caught up in everyday life that sometimes I forget how special the little blessings can be. Things are certainly not all roses over here. In fact, the last three months have been some of the most difficult that I’ve experienced in my short time on this Earth and they certainly won’t be my last. But life always has ups and downs and not everything makes sense or turns out the way that I want it to. It’s not my plan, so why should it? Perhaps that is the most difficult thing to accept.

One thing that has really helped is to cherish the small blessings that life has given me instead of focusing on what it hasn’t.

Enjoy each and every little moment. Celebrate them. Live for them.

Life is too short to be waiting for the BIG things to happen when the small things happen every day.

What small blessing are you celebrating today?

Carl and I don’t usually do anything big and exciting for St. Patty’s Day but this year is a little different. While we still won’t be drinking green beer or eating corned beef and cabbage we are spending it with our family since we made the quick trip home to see Carl’s uncles who are in town with their families. It’s been a few years since we’ve seen then so I’m thankful that we are able to be here.

There is laughter and love all around, despite some of the difficult and sad conversations that are also going on.

One thing is for sure, this little one brightens up everyone’s day! Have a great one and hug the ones you love.

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