You snore loudly.  You crop dust me with your farts.  You cover my Sunday best with dog fur.  But I still love you.



This is what our life looks like these days.

A little man motoring around with toys (or my eye shadow!) in his mouth!

This photo is totally blurry, but it captures his fast get-away-from-mom crawl so well, I just love it!

 My favorite photo.



Welcome to a new series called Kisses & Kicks, inspired by Jasmine Star.

It was a toss up between Kisses & Kicks and Beefs & Bouquets.

But I like kissing, so that won out. :)

My very first KISSES to:

1. My husband.  Who can somehow clean my house in one hour flat.  I have no idea how but I secretly suspect he has a cleaning fairy hidden somewhere in our house.

2. Modcloth.com.  Because I just bought the sweetest dress for only $15.99!

My first KICK goes to:

1. Crystal Light.  Because they attempt to make people (read: my mother) believe Crystal Light is 'real' juice, not a combination of aspartame and chemicals and other things that you can't pronounce.  Because then said people give Crystal Light to small children (read: my child).  Not cool.



:: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday ::

This week was so so full.  Monday, I watched a new life enter this world.  I was inspired and in awe and amazed.  She took my breath away with her strength and her new son with his plump cheeks and sweet double chin.  So much excitement.  Tuesday was Strong Start, running into other mommas with their lovies.  Wedding discussions and stagette planning.  Watching my boy splash and climb and play and clap to songs, becoming a big boy.  A lunch date - just the two of us, sharing.  Tender moments, quiet and alone.  Wednesday was a day at home, watching the ocean roll from our couch, white caps making their way to the sandy shores.  Wandering to the pool, warm and quiet, only one other momma and her boys.  A brave baby, under the water, frolicking and playing.  Comments about his necklace and sweet face, my little fish.  Snuggles in the hot tub, warm water poured over his back.  Wandering the mall, finding friends.  A compassionate woman, understanding my apprehension about work, her sympathy making me well up.  Homemade bread and broccoli asiago soup, because broccoli is his favorite.  Thursday and Friday, early mornings to head to the ferry, professional again.  A baby left alone, time to bond with Nona.  A unfortunate rain storm.  Lectures on periodontal disease and lasers and smoking cessation and botox.  Catching up with school mates.  Dinner made, my momma's homemade cooking; I have eaten more homemade cooking from her since having Judah than in my entire childhood.  These moments are my life.

Oooohmy, I'm so so behind on Project 31.  I love doing it, taking the time to be introspective and think about my life, what I am learning, what is important to me.

I just always forget I'm supposed to be doing these posts until around 11:30, right as my head hits the pillow.

Today may be multiple postings.

9. What virtues do you value in yourself?

Virtue: A good or admirable property; a particular moral excellence.

In myself, I most value the role and weight I feel in my role as a wife and a mother.  I believe that God gave me to Jody as his wife.  I don't know if I necessary believe in soul mates and that there is only ONE person.  But, on our wedding day, I promised myself - my life and my future - to Jody as his wife.  And, from that moment on, I have taken that vow very seriously.  And, I believe that when He entrusted me with Judah, it was because I was meant to be his mother.  I believe that God will give me the strength, the wisdom and the ability to do both as best as I can.  It is my desire to love these people with all my heart.  Every day.  More than any other role in my life, I desire to be the best wife and mother possible.  I want my husband and my baby (and future babies) to feel blessed because I am part of there lives.  I want them to know I am their biggest fan & cheerleader.

Day 10.  What is Jesus teaching you as a wife, mom, or friend? (Or just woman in general?)

Whew.  What a loaded question.  Jesus has been teaching me so, so much over these last few weeks.  As part of my goal of reading an inspirational book monthly, I have been reading an incredible book called "Extraordinary" by John Bevere.  Extraordinary is synonyms include remarkable, amazing, marvelous and unimaginable; its antonyms common, normal and usual.  This is an excerpt from the book that I love: "There's One Person above all others who desires an extraordinary life for you.  He is a Father who delights, like any good father, in the achievements and happiness of His children.  His name is God! And nothing will please Him more than seeing you reach your highest potential.  God's extraordinary plan is revealed when we live extraordinary."  How incredible is that?!  Its a refreshing message - that God's isn't a judgemental old man upstairs watching us with all condemnation, but that he wants to restore things, making heaven on earth, and for our lives to be extraordinary and wonderful!  Awesomeness. 

Day 11.  Post a recipe. 

I like to cook.  

However, it doesn't always turn out as planned.  

And, yes, I follow the recipe.  

Usually.  

But, one of my go-to recipes over these last few years has been a delish banana & chocolate chip muffin recipe that I found in a running magazine.  

And, yes, I read those... 

And, yes, I somehow found a recipe that includes chocolate in the running magazine.  

And, yes, rather than be inspired to run, I baked.  

And ate.  

But, in all seriousness, its one of my all-time favorite recipes.  And, seeing as it garniered compliments from my Martha-esque friend, Christina, a few days ago, I'm going to post it.  Plus, it gives me a good excuse to go bake. 

And eat chocolate chips.

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup sugar (sometimes I use 1/2 applesauce & 1/2 sugar)

2 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil (can also substitute 1/2 applesauce here too)

3 1/2 bananas, mashed

2 Tbsp low-fat sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

2/3 cup walnuts (*In my humble opinion, this ruins the muffins... substitute chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together first four ingredients. Beat eggs & sugar with a whisk until light and fluffy.  Drizzle in oil. Add bananas, sour cream and vanilla. Fold in flour mixture and nuts/chocolate chips. Pour batter into muffin tins or a buttered loaf pan.  Bake until golden (about 45 minutes for loaf...30 minutes for muffins...)

:: Baby Declan ::

On Monday, I had the incredible honor of watching the arrival of Jessica & Neil's second son, Declan.  Jessica was my maternity nurse when I gave birth to Judah, encouraging me through every minute, & it was a privilege to have a small role to play in her labor.  I don't even have words to fully describe the experience.  Witnessing another woman's courage, determination and raw strength during her labor was overwhelmingly beautiful and powerful.  Between contractions, Jess would smile and laugh, beaming as she kept saying "I get to meet my baby today!  I can't wait to meet my baby!!"  And what a beautiful baby he is!

Neil painted her toes.  What a guy! :)

Jess had a great support team throughout her labor.  

They all took turns encouraging her, getting cold clothes and fresh beverages, and putting pressure on her back to help ease the pain.  She was surrounded by so much love.  

A short moment of rest.

Declan's happy place. <3

Watching Jessica & Neil interact during the labor and in the moments after, the tenderness, the little touches and glances, it was obvious the love these two have for each other and their expanding family.  Thank you, J&N, for allowing me to witness something that I will never forget.  Congratulations on your 'juicy little dude'!  He is beautiful!  I can't wait to see him at Bellies n' Babies and to watch Aiden become a big brother!  xo*m  p.s. - I love his name!!

:: Family Photos :: The Briscoes ::

I had the privilege of taking photos for my dear friend, Andrea, last week.  It was a miserable rainy & cold day, but these four (and a half) were troopers and braved the cold with smiles.  We didn't manage to stay outside long before the weather was too much but we were able to grab some really cute family shots between dodging the rain and hiding from the wind.

They will be adding one more to the family in just a few short months and I cannot wait!  Since having Judah, I have a completely different understand of the miracle of pregnancy, the anticipation of meeting your child, the exhaustion of those first few weeks and the overwhelming love.  I feel like having Judah will make me a better friend to my friends as they welcome their children, now understand that a nice home cooked meal and a delivered Starbucks, possibly even a few diaper changes, are more valuable than a sweet sleeper or new toy. 

Thank you for spending the afternoon with me!  I loved capturing these moments for you.  Andrea, you are a true friend to me in every sense of the word.  Since kindergarten, I have loved living life together.  Thank you for sharing your toys and letting me smuggle Barbies to your house, even if there was only one Ken doll.  Thank you for loving me through my awkwardness in high school and making your friends like me in grade 9.  Thank you for visiting me on the coast, for discussing every topic under the sun, and for your faithfulness in friendship.

One of my favorites!

Obviously, this next baby has it made in the looks department.  They make such cute babies, I'm encouraging a fourth. :)

:: Love ::

#7. Write a blog to encourage another beautiful woman.

I want women, as a sisterhood, to feel encouraged and uplifted by one another.  I think women have an incredible power to release compassion and change the world by nurturing each other.  Rather than competing and comparing, I think we as women should strive to help, stand beside and drive forward other woman by being a friend, a mother, a sister and a daughter to others who need it, biological or not.  NOW is the time to write the story of our lives and thrive in life, being the best version of ourselves and helping others achieve that as well.  I think seeing this mentality and attitude in women I know is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.  And I pray that it is the type of woman I am and am becoming.

#8. Have a beauty secret?  Share, please!

My beauty secret is that I use lotion to remove my makeup when I resemble a raccoon.  I smear a bit on a facecloth and gently rub it over my eyes.  I find it works just as well as eye make-up remover and involves less scrubbing (read: less stretching my delicate eye skin = less botox in the future = more money in the travel fund).  My other secret weapon is this miracle liquid to help tame my unruly, frizzy mess almost known as my hair.  It cost $20 at a local salon, but it has lasted two years and is the only thing that keeps my hair straight through rain & coast mugginess.  It is the only reason I have the occasional good hair day.  Like today.  Happy Hair Day!