Sweet dreams.

She really is as sweet as she looks.

Evolution of a valentine.

10 years ago, Nate and I celebrated our first Valentine's Day. It was kind of fancy.

I mean, he hung flowers from the dining room ceiling. Really, he did. It was like walking into an enchanted...well, an enchanted apartment dining room.

And I bought a new outfit. To wear over to his house.

(Oh, 22-year-old Abby. I wish I could slap you sometimes.)

He made me a fancy dinner, and I'm sure got me a fancy gift — to be honest, I don't remember. More than likely I made him something crafty, because I was poor from all the new outfit buying.

It was all very sweet and romantic, and I love the memory of that first Valentine's Day.

And this year?

Well, this year we got up and sat around our embarrassingly messy house in a comatose state after yet another sleepless night. I spent most of the day in yoga pants, which I eventually traded in for jeans and a slightly nicer than average sweatshirt. We had a pizza lunch date. With our baby. Dinner consisted of porkchops and broccoli and boxed mashed potatoes with our two year old. Our daughter stayed up until 11:30pm, and when I finally made it to bed Nate was passed out with the light on. I passed out next to him about 3.5 seconds later.

But I still got flowers (in a vase). And lots of kisses (some of them stickier than others). And sweet snuggles (from my babies and my husband).

The grand gestures, the elaborate meals, the big gifts of our early relationship were lovely and so much fun. But I much prefer the easy, comfortable love — and life — we have now. Buy one get one free Caribou coffee, a kiss from my husband in the middle of our kitchen full of dirty dishes, a fridge covered in heart shaped preschool crafts, a sippy cup full of pink milk on the dinner table, and a baby dressed in pink and red polka dots — these are the things that make my heart skip a beat, the valentines I cherish most.

Though it's never a bad thing when the guy you're dating takes time to hang flowers from the ceiling.

In fact, I'd say it's a sign of even better things to come.

31 days.

Our little Audra is one month old.

What? How? When?

And have we really not slept in a month?

(No, no we have not.)

This month has flown by. In some ways. And in other ways...well, it seems like she's been with us forever.

In a mere 31 days, I've gone from having never met her to an inability to imagine life without her. Without her sweet smell, which I breathe in during those late night snuggles. Her soft dark hair, which curls like crazy after a bath. Her wide, dark eyes, which stare intently at me through every feeding. Her tiny hands, which constantly search for a part of me to grasp.

My sweet baby girl. I couldn't love her more.

Sleep, eat, repeat.

I'd love to write something interesting and/or entertaining, but we aren't doing anything but sitting around the house looking at each other right now.

Good thing the view is pretty cute.

Dusting.

Santa brought Calvin a sled for Christmas. He undoubtedly assumed that Minnesota would provide the snow.

Because, you know. It's Minnesota. In the dead of winter. We haven't had a brown Christmas in years.

Nope.

Super brown. The brownest, really. Way to go, Minnesota winter.

Luckily the state (kind of) redeemed itself by providing .0001 inches of snow about a week and a half later.

Not nearly enough for an experienced sledder, of course, but even a dusting of snow is still snow to a two-year-old. So off they went with the sled: Dad, G-Pop, and my tiny bundled man.

Turns out, .0001 inches is plenty.

People we love...

...who love our kids!











So thankful for the friends and family (many not pictured) who've helped fill our home, stomachs, and daughter's closet these last few weeks! We love you!

Gifted.

Is there anything better than the look of wonder filling your child's face on Christmas morning?

I think not.

Except maybe finding out your husband unexpectedly has the day off, and your last Christmas as a family of three can actually take place on Christmas day.

Truly the greatest gift I could have received this year.

Although the joy on Calvin's face all day long...

Well, that was pretty wonderful, too.

Reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas with Dad.


And the Bible story of Jesus' birth with Mom.


Christmas morning at home.










Christmas day at Grandma and Grandpa's.