Life Lately...

So I have been kind of absent from the blog lately. One: we have actually been pretty damn busy with pool dates and friends; two: the first trimester lethargy is a real thing. Thank goodness it's on it's way out. After playing all day with little miss, I am literally whipped when she goes to bed. Her personality has really been making my days. She is such a goofball, and full of energy. We have been on a homemade popsicle craze lately also. I think it is safe to say that peaches and cream is one of her favorites. Vanilla yogurt, a bit of almond milk, pureed peaches and a few diced peaches...yummy! Pictures are getting harder and harder to capture of Stella. She is constantly moving, and will not look at the camera. And she is not old enough to bribe yet...damn.

here is a collection of pictures lately....

poolside...

Stella likes to enjoy her morning milk fix, in Daddy's spot of the bed...

enjoying big girl crackers (saltines) with Daddy in bed....i absolutely had to vacuum the bed before getting in it for the night..

peaches and cream popsicles...

playing peekaboo with her shirt...

she did it! she pulled herself up!

We have a pretty open upcoming week which is always nice. I am sure we will find some fun things to fill it with. 

One thing that I regret looking back on my pregnancy with Stella was not taking enough pictures of 'the' bump. I never knew how much I would miss it once it really was gone. I look back at few pictures from the end of my pregnancy and I forget how big my belly really was. So this time, I have made a promise to myself to take more pictures of the growing belly. Starting this week I am going to be posting one post a week documenting the journey of this pregnancy and little bean growing inside along with the growing belly!

finger, I mean body painting,

After a quick run to Target yesterday for a few household goods, and a stop at the dollar spot we came home to an open afternoon that needed to be filled with some sort of activity. The humidity has made us housebound, not wanting to do anything outside (we squeezed out one walk this week in town and to the bank- it was flat out gross,) We all know Momma goes bat-shit crazy after a few days in the house. We scored a few finds at the dollar spot. Two of course that Stella took a liking to immediately- hmm.. I wonder why?

The other two, I like. The tins have a small chalkboard on them to label them. I thought these would be a cute touch to her nonexistent at the moment art table for two that is going to go into her playroom. The other is a set of three blank art books. I thought these would be perfect to start a collection of her finger paints and date them as we go.

When we got home she went down for a nap. This gave me time to fill up her pool and set up her paints, paper and such. I decided to leave off her clothes this time when painting and we would paint outside- that way I could stick her right into the pool for a wash down. I wasn't sure really how much paint was going to get on her, but the pool was there if needed. Apparently, her body looked more appealing to paint then her art paper.

The rest is history...

Thank goodness for the pool. 

Stella.

  Little do you know your art work is loved by many. One of your very first cavnas is displayed front and center in Grandma's kitchen. Each piece that you make is a one of a kind and they are all filled with love. Your little hands created them, and they are beautiful. Keep painting little darling. 

Love, Momma

the little things...ten of them.

I am loving everyday with little miss Stella. I am truly blessed to get to experience all that I do with her. It doesn't take much to please me lately. I really have learned that it's all about the little things... I put together a list of ten things. Ten things that are currently pleasers to me...

1. The smiles I get from a quick ride in the laundry basket are priceless. 

2. Whether it be waking up in the morning, waking from a nap, or waking up during the night to be changed, she can't lay a smooch on me fast enough as I am picking her up out of her crib. Talk about a heart melter. 

3. Without a doubt I have a sweet tooth. I would give up a hot dinner night after night, to indulge in a hot dessert. The past two nights, when Stella is sound asleep for the night I have made Rick and I a hot dessert. I bet you can guess the main ingredient? Yes, peaches! Monday, I made us (was going to be grilled, but mother nature said otherwise) roasted peaches topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and granola. Yesterday, I made a peach crostata, topped with vanilla ice cream. Baby fast asleep + hot yummy dessert = pure heaven!

4. I really do wait all year for cherries to be in season. I can't buy them fast enough this time of year. I also can't open the fridge without having one :) They are not the easiest of fruit to share though...that damn pit!

5. Stella's funny faces have me at snort. 

6. These kinds of moments.

7. I always find it challenging to find the perfect time to polish my nails. Toes are easy because I don't need them like I need my fingers. I try to either paint them as soon as she falls asleep for her morning nap, or wait until the weekends when Rick is home. I always feel when I finish painting them, and they are still wet, she is going to wake up. I sit there like a mad woman, blowing on them to make them dry faster. Love me some fresh polished nails. 

8. Nana loaded Stella up with bubble equipment. I never knew how much light headedness a bubble machine would save me. :) 

9. This hair. 

10. Don't get me wrong, waking up to Rick's smiles in the morning are great..but these smiles, simply perfect. I am sure Rick would second me on this one....:) "good morning sunshine."

Peach Picking

Okay so we broke the rules. But who doesn't give one ten juicy peaches a try while picking? On Saturday we took Stella peach picking back at Melick's Farm. It was hot and buggy, but all worth it. We set out to the peach trees with a wagon and a couple of baskets for the peaches. 

Nothing better than biting into a soft, ripe peach and the sticky juices running down your arm. Stella wanted to take a bite out of every peach that we picked. 

We like to work for our fruit..

15 lbs of peaches later....

Stella and I have some baking and cooking planned for this week! We made a little checklist and on it reads: peach crisp baked in mason jars, peach cobbler, peach frozen yogurt, peach iced tea, and peach pecan muffins. We are going to turn healthy fruit into naughty treats!

Another fun adventure crossed off the Summer bucket list. :)