July 2017

July 2018

Will someone please send me the science behind HOW it's even possible that so much can change within a year? How did he grow so fast? How did this happen? HOW!! I went from a messy baby who I could easily hold on my hip and who was just learning how to crawl, to this deliberate little tornado who climbs and scales up anything in sight just so he can jump, drive, or roll off. As a mom, I swear I have suffered at least a dozen small heart attacks because of this.

Charlie is 100% boy through and through, and even with all the chaos such a little human can bring, I never could've imagined I would love someone the way I love him.

i shall not pass this way again

• I shall not pass this way again—
• Although it bordered be with flowers,
• Although I rest in fragrant bowers,
• And hear the singing
• Of song-birds winging
• To highest heaven their gladsome flight;
• Though moons are full and stars are bright,
• And winds and waves are softly sighing,
• While leafy trees make low replying;
• Though voices clear in joyous strain
• Repeat a jubilant refrain;
• Though rising suns their radiance throw
• On summer’s green and winter’s snow,
• In such rare splendor that my heart
• Would ache from scenes like these to part;
• Though beauties heighten,
• And life-lights brighten,
• And joys proceed from every pain,—
• I shall not pass this way again.
• Then let me pluck the flowers that blow,
• And let me listen as I go
• To music rare
• That fills the air;
• And let hereafter
• Songs and laughter
• Fill every pause along the way;
• And to my spirit let me say:
• “O soul, be happy; soon ’tis trod,
• The path made thus for thee by God.
• Be happy, thou, and bless His name
• By whom such marvellous beauty came.”
• And let no chance by me be lost
• To kindness show at any cost.
• I shall not pass this way again.
• Then let me now relieve some pain,
• Remove some barrier from the road,
• Or brighten someone’s heavy load;
• A helping hand to this one lend,
• Then turn some other to befriend.
• O God, forgive
• That I now live
• As if I might, sometime, return
• To bless the weary ones that yearn
• For help and comfort every day,—
• For there be such along the way.
• O God, forgive that I have seen
• The beauty only, have not been
• Awake to sorrow such as this;
• That I have drunk the cup of bliss
• Remembering not that those there be
• Who drink the dregs of misery.
• I love the beauty of the scene,
• Would roam again o’er fields so green;
• But since I may not, let me spend
• My strength for others to the end,—
• For those who tread on rock and stone,
• And bear their burdens all alone,
• Who loiter not in leafy bowers,
• Nor hear the birds nor pluck the flowers.
• A larger kindness give to me,
• A deeper love and sympathy;
• Then, O, one day
• May someone say—
• Remembering a lessened pain—
• “Would she could pass this way again.”
• -Eva Rose York

i heart ny

I've delayed writing this post mainly because I have over a hundred pictures to choose from and a million things to say about how much I loved our trip to NY.

Our hotel was directly across the street from Central Park, which is probably why I loved this trip so much more than any other time I've been before. I figured that taking a little one to the city might mean spending more time in a park than out and about, and I'm soo glad we planned plenty of time for that. In my next life I'd like to fall in love on Gapstow Bridge, please and thank you.

The view from Gapstow Bridge. I mean... can you blame me? The night I took this picture will forever be a highlight of my life. It entirely felt straight out of a movie.

Then of course I insisted we stop by to try Momofuku ice cream and I was SORELY disappointed. Overrated is an understatement.  At least Levain and Magnolia made up for it.

Other highlights include: Making a wish on top of the Empire State Building at midnight (Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan where you at), Broadway shows, Shake Shack (naturally), and reading books with Charlie at the midtown NY public library.

Last but certainly not least was the 9/11 Memorial. One of my friends had just gone a few weeks before I did and had told me all about it, but I still wasn't prepared for how moving it would be. I could have spent an entire day there.

I'll stop myself here. I spent our entire drive upstate searching for two bedroom apartments on the Upper West and East (one day??) Side because I was convinced our next move needs to be to the city that never sleeps. I heart New York a million times over. And over.

And over.

happy independence day!

(whenever I drive by this house I stop to take pictures because it's all the house goals I dream of)

Even though John Adams wrote this passage to his wife 200 years ago, I think his foresight and the profound patriotism expressed is always worth posting on Independence Day:

"I am apt to believe that [Independence Day] will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means. And that posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction."

Happy Fourth!