A LITTLE LADY

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

We are in such a fun, spirited stage right now. Lillie Sol is almost 17 months and she’s a fire cracker. She attempts to repeat everything we say (she’s actually quite good!), she runs and holds her own with her brother, and we can see her personality blossoming with each passing day. She’s started randomly singing “happy birthday” and it’s prettyyyyyy cute.

Motherhood is a funny thing. Even though I am absolutely loving this stage, I find myself trying to remember her little newborn feet and that fresh out the oven smell. I feel like her newborn stage passed so much quicker than with Lucas and I’m sometimes left with a deep pang in my chest as if I somehow missed out on certain moments due to the craziness of adjusting to life with two. She was born a month before Lucas started pre-k and I didn’t have the same luxury of staying in bed all day and tending to one little persons needs. We were quickly thrown into a routine that consisted of interrupted naps, school pick up and functions, play dates, and birthday parties. I truly believe that the craziness of our first year didn’t effect Lillie at all but that “mom guilt” seems to always pop up from time to time.

So I’m rambling a bit here but I’m so thankful for our little lady and the spirit she has brought into our home. I’m so excited to do life with you my sweet baby girl. Thank you for your grace, your smile, and those slobbery kisses that make me feel like I’m doing something right.

PETITE SOUL

psaw16_02 psaw16_09 psaw16_23 psaw16_25 psaw16_05 psaw16_30 psaw16_11 psaw16_33 psaw16_35 psaw16_43 psaw16_48 psaw16_50

My dear friend Mary is the co-founder of Petite Soul. If you haven’t put your baby in a bonnet you don’t know what you’re missing. Cuteness overload! Lillie Sol has been wearing and modeling for Petite Soul since she was born and their newest collection is amazinggg. They have also teamed up with Winter Water Factory for a few exclusive designs (my favorite is the wildflower!). Congrats PS on an amazing winter launch!

Photos by Mary Grace

TRIBE

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset
Lillie is thrilled 😉

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with lv02 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with lv02 preset

Processed with VSCO with lv02 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

“The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” – John Kabat-Zinn

I love my tribe. I love that man. I love those babies. Sometimes I find myself fully immersed in a “pinch me” moment – my mind will wander and I just think to myself how damn lucky I am. We are still in the thick of a four day weekend home together and it’s been nothing short of lazy, family filled, and incredible.

On Lillie: hat and coat from anais & i, dress from baby gap, tights from june & january | on Lucas: coat and trousers from appaman, boots from cotton on kids 

OUR TRIP TO CLEVELAND

Processed with VSCO with a4 preset

Processed with VSCO with a4 preset

unnamed-14

Processed with VSCO with a4 preset

Processed with VSCO with a4 preset

Processed with VSCO with a4 preset

Processed with VSCO with a4 preset

Processed with VSCO with lv02 preset

Processed with VSCO with a4 preset

Processed with VSCO with a4 preset

Processed with VSCO with a4 preset

A few of my favorite shots from our weekend in Cleveland with my best girl Lauren and her kiddos. We flew in on a Wednesday so I left Lucas home with daddy and made it a girls trip with Sol. The purpose of the trip was to attend Lauren’s very first art show in collaboration with her son Keegan. The show was pure magic and I am so happy we were able to attend. I’m so insanely proud of my best friend.

We spent the rest of the time together exploring Cleveland, thrifting, and just hanging out. And drinking wine. Lots of wine ;). I can’t wait for our next trip together – we are waiting for you in NYC!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY LUCAS LEÓN!

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with lv02 preset

Happy birthday to my sweet Lucas León! I can’t believe you are FIVE! I say this every year..but I’m in awe of the wonderful young man you are becoming. You are kind, so very funny, witty, spunky, and full of life. In just two months since you have started kindergarten, I am so impressed with how much you have learned and the curiosity and questions you come up with on a daily basis. You still sleep with your favorite teddy bear and I am holding on tightly to these last little bits of “babyhood”. I tuck you in each night and kiss your cheeks and thank God for blessing me with the gift of being your mami. The other night we were having a conversation about our loved ones who are now in heaven and you asked me if we could take a plane to see them. When I told you we couldn’t you responded with “please mom! I just want to check in on them and make sure they’re okay”. Even on the hardest days, you always find a way to melt my heart with your sincerity and love.

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with lv02 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with lv02 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with lv02 preset

Processed with VSCO with lv02 preset

This year you insisted on a Pokemon party – you still love your Ninja Turtles but you are currently in a major Pikachu phase. We had a Pokemon hunt, pokeball cakes, balloons galore, and you loved your themed t-shirt which you picked out yourself on a recent Target run (your favorite store EVER). We love you our fierce Lion. I can’t wait to see all of the amazing things you accomplish this year as a five year old!

A huge thank you to Lucas and Lillie’s auntie Chloe who created the delicious and amazing cupcakes! You can check out more of her work over on Technique (and Lillie’s first bday cake here!).  

FISHING AND MY WOODLAND BABY!

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Had enough of our trip to Cold Spring yet?! These are my favorite photos  from our weekend away. Lucas on his very first fishing trip which he said was “awesome!!” – his face lights up every time he talks about it. While the guys fished, the girls stayed back and played in the leaves (and took photos of course). No actual fish were caught but Lucas was stoked nonetheless. We also got caught in a downpour minutes before we left. It just added to the adventure in my opinion. I’m so thankful for these experiences and the memories we are creating together with friends and as a family. The coolest part is that we didn’t have to go far from home to feel like we had been on vacation.

On Lillie: bonnet from petite soul, cardi from gap kids (last year), tank from arq, leggings from sapling child, socks from minou kids, moccs from freshly picked 

A WEEKEND IN COLD SPRING

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

We spent the weekend away in beautiful Cold Spring – just one hour our of NYC. It was just what we didn’t know we needed. Our friends recently moved from the city and have made this amazing town their home (and now I kind of have house and town envy..). We left Friday night and on Saturday morning we woke up, had breakfast, and headed out for a hike.

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for a day spent outdoors. At one point we even stripped out of our jackets. The foliage was INCREDIBLE and the views were out of this world. Lucas had the best time (except for a few complaints that his legs hurt from all the hiking..city boy for life ya’ll) and Lillie was happy just to be strapped to the guys and take in all the loving. I swear even Humphrey (our dog) was smiling the entire time. The kids slept reallllll good that evening. The following day we took Lucas fishing and that was by far his highlight of the weekend – post coming soon ;).

I had been itching for a getaway out of Manhattan and this weekend fed my soul. To our dear friends Jackie and Jack, I can’t thank you enough for inviting us into your home and showing us all of this beauty. We can’t wait to be back this winter for the snow!

On Me: coat from bohème goods | On Lucas: coat from bohème goods, socks from cabbages and kings, shirt from arq | On Lillie: coat and leggings from zara, moccs from freshly picked, carrier from tula 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset
Happy halloween from our sweet little cupcake and our awesome Spider Man! I’m not the craftiest of mamas but I think both kiddos were both perfectly content with their store bought costumes. Lucas was stoked to be Spider Man and Lillie was thrilled with all the “oohs and ahhsss” so wins all around.

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset
We celebrated a little early with a weekend away in Cold Spring and it was perfect. We stayed with our dear friends who recently moved from the city and Lucas couldn’t have loved it more. We walked in the town costume parade and afterwards headed down to the most beautiful river to watch the sunset. Halloween done right if you ask me! Hope you all had a spooky, wonderful weekend!

GERBER BABIES

unnamed-5

Last week I had the opportunity to meet with the Gerber team and learn all about their Gerber Babies campaign and how they bring their food from farm to high chair. I was absolutely blown away. As parents it is our responsibility to learn and research what we our putting into our little ones bodies and make sure that they are eating the very best (with some exceptions of course – my Lillie Sol loves herself a yummy donut every now and then ;).

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

Processed with VSCO with s2 preset

The experience was interactive and they walked us through every step of their baby food process. I think by far my very favorite part was being able to meet and talk with actual Gerber growers from Michigan. We learned about their orchards and even got to “pick” apples straight from their farm. What struck me the most was hearing how they have been growing Golden Delicious apples for generations for Gerber. Their kids and now their grandkids grew up on this well-known baby food brand and their sincerity and trust touched me as a mother. The relationship between Gerber and these farmers is truly remarkable.

We also got to taste a variety of their new flavors in their taste kitchen – and they were delicious! Seriously! An interesting fact is that they use a unique to them process called the Flash Cooked step that takes just minutes. They begin by blending their fruits and veggies and finish by cooking the purees with indirect steam heat – just one of the ways that helps ensure that Gerber fruits and veggies are as healthy as fresh.

At the end, we got to see a real Gerber tiny taste tester trying out some Gerber purees. While she was tasting, we learned Gerber foods aren’t just safe, nutritious and tasty – they are also specially designed to help make the transition to table foods more enjoyable and successful for your little one.

I’m a busy mama of two and knowing that I can trust in Gerber to provide a nutritional meal for my little one, especially when we are on the go, is invaluable. A big thank you to Gerber for inviting me to learn more and share with all of you!

A DAY AT THE ORCHARD

Processed with VSCO with m5 preset

Processed with VSCO with m5 preset

Processed with VSCO with b3 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with m5 preset

Processed with VSCO with b3 preset

Processed with VSCO with b3 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with b3 preset

Processed with VSCO with b3 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with b3 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

Processed with VSCO with m5 preset

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

We visited this very orchard exactly 2 years ago with Lucas – one month before I became pregnant with Lillie. We decided to skip out last year because Lillie was only a few weeks old and we thought it might be a bit much driving 2 hours upstate with a newborn and a toddler in tow. Lucas had off from school last Monday and my mom and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take the drive and go apple picking with kids.

It was honestly such a surreal and magical day. Seeing both my kids playing and walking and running through the orchard when just two years ago we were a family of three and about to embark on our journey as a family of four. I’ve said it before but time is such a crazy thing. Next on our Fall to do list: pumpkin picking!

On Lucas: top by nununu | zara pants | converse
On Lillie: v-neck slip by flora and henri | shorts by grain de chic | dr martens 

1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 51