moderation

i've given up on making firm new year's resolutions that i usually forget about or are so far-reaching that i feel guilty when i don't get close to accomplishing them. instead, i choose a theme. for the crazy year of 2013 with all its movement, uncertainty, and surprises, i happened to choose come what may and love it. fitting, right?

this year, i'm choosing moderation in all things. 

once upon a time, nate was going to be traveling for 10 days, so we planned it perfectly that i'd travel with the girls to seattle for 10 days too, then we'd all meet up. i've tried to get on a plane four times this week, and each flight has been cancelled because of the frigid weather. and now, i find myself in the exact situation i was avoiding: alone with my two kids (toss in a fever for sage), still feeling pretty out of control, still healing from major surgery, and it's too cold to go outside. oh, and our suitcases have been sitting, packed, in the living room for a week.

but true to moderation in all things, i'm not going to die over the fact that we've watched too many movies, and i've hardly cooked real meals....and hallelujah to hopefully getting on a plane next week instead! 

moderation is required in so many things i'm trying to do and be...not losing my cool, shedding some baby padding, using my time better (but not feeling guilty about scrolling instagram mindlessly at 3am when i have to be up with N), being healthy, taking advantage of the places and opportunities at our fingertips here, being present in the little moments with my girls, learning new things and stretching my brain past remembering where the keys are, but also avoiding that sunken feeling of not being a good enough ____(fill in the blank).

i've been thinking a lot about this quote from thomas s. monson too.

"your heavenly father loves you—each of you. that love never changes. it is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. it is not changed by your talents and abilities. it is simply there. it is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you deserve love. it is simply always there.”

so here's to you, 2014--the year of moderation in all things.

christmas vacation

the huge perk of being a student again: christmas break!!! 

nate got about a month off school, and we filled that time right up.

the lawler sibs all came out to durham for christmas this year, and my dad joined us for a few days too when he came for nora's blessing. chandler and stephanie were conveniently in cary visiting her fam, so we got to see them a few times. 

we played tons of greed, cities and knights, mafia, bananagrams, wits & wagers, and rook. we took everyone to mapleview farms right as the sun was setting over the fields. it was all pretty perfect as we sat in the rocking chairs eating peppermint ice cream in waffle cones. we ate at the pit (my fave NC barbeque so far) in raleigh, grabbed gourmet burgers at bull city burger, tasted pizza at mellow mushroom, introduced them to the crème brûlée donuts at rise, and brunched at foster's market. we toured duke and the american tobacco district. nora and i stayed behind while everyone went to watch jabari play ball in greensboro (we missed the game at cameron indoor. boo). 

a jumble of memories from my iphone and camera...

and everyone snuggled N. i mean, i'd do this all day if i could.

at the end of christmas break when all our company had left, we took the girls on a little date to see frozen. sage's (well, and nora's) first movie, and that sensitive soul sat on nate's lap the entire time and cried when the snow monster roared. we didn't buy popcorn or candy or anything, so S still has no idea those are part of the "experience". we're just giving her more to look forward to later in life.

our break ended with nate in san francisco meeting with different potential companies. i think we'd both be in heaven to land an internship on the west coast this summer.

blessed

on december 29th, we blessed baby nora jane at church. my dad flew out for the occasion, plus chandler, beau, britton, and josh also participated in the blessing.

nora wore the same dress and shoes my sister, sage, and i wore too.
how do you like those 80's sleeves and eyelet lace?

nora's initials mirror her dad's...NJL

and just because i love this duo.

one month

on christmas day, we'd kept nora alive for a whole month.

she's a happy camper as long as she's fed, clean, and against a warm body

sage calls her "baby noah"

and her frowny face is just the best.

farewell 2013

what a year! we are so very blessed.

11 countries, a move across the world, and a new baby later, we are back to student life these days.
a few of my favorites from 2013...

 

siem reap, cambodia

 

bali, indonesia

manila, philippines

 barcelona, spain

paris, france

 

 dubai, uae

 hong kong

here's to another year of adventuring!
we'll take you somewhere cool someday, nora.