A few things I know for sure today

1. A kind look or gentle word from a stranger can make your day. Especially when you're sleep deprived.

2. Everything seems better in the morning. 

3. There is no such thing as too much peanut butter. 

4. When you're new-baby-house-bound, a pop-up thunderstorm and an iced coffee on a steamy day scream summer almost as much as ice cream and a swimming pool.  

5. Self-care can be as simple as making time to talk to a friend on the phone, using the good exfoliator and diffusing your favorite essential oils. 

Two Weeks of McCoy // baby things I'm loving!

McCoy will be two weeks tomorrow and I can hardly believe it. Time has gone so quickly already. I can't believe how much we love him and how much he matters in our lives. How did we not know him only 15 days ago? He is perfection to me! 

I am going to take a two week break from blogging to really sink into these newborn days. Or, as my 4-year-old niece calls them, born born baby days. I will be back with posts in early June and will resume my regular Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule.

In the meantime, though, I wanted to share a few things I'm loving during the first two weeks of his life. 

Solly Baby Wrap: This carrier is amazing. He didn't love it at first, but now it seems to be one of his favorite ways to be held. He sleeps deeply on me in it. It holds him in a similar position to when he was in utero. It doesn't allow you to be totally hands free when they're itty bitty, but allows a little bit of freedom while still being able to hold your babe. He's in it right now as I type! :) 

These nursing bras: Originally, I bought a nicer nursing bra. But, here's the deal: you leak on them. You stretch them out. You just need something functional. These are less than $7 each and have been absolutely perfect. 

These protein balls: Breastfeeding makes you so hungry! Having these on hand in the freezer has been crucial to my 3 p.m. hunger.

aden + anais swaddles: These things are really hyped up and I wasn't sure if they'd be as great as people say they are. Oh, but they are! They're the perfect weight and size. He absolutely loves to be swaddled in them. 

Our Moses basket: If not in my arms, McCoy loves his Moses basket. The striped sides and handles hold his attention when he's awake and it's the perfect way for him to sleep in the living room when I'm getting things done. I highly recommend! 

See y'all in two weeks - when I have a ONE month old! :) 

Introducing McCoy Saxon!

Hi friends, I wanted to share the news that Chris and I welcomed McCoy Howden Saxon to our family last week. He's an angel baby and we absolutely could not love him more! 

I will be sharing more updates, including his birth story, very soon. In the meantime, thank you for all of the love and support so many of you have poured upon us!

xoxo

Stop Looking for What You Had Before

After our honeymoon to Greece, Chris and I were on the same page: we were definitely going back someday or we were never going back at all. 

We were in total agreement that we were entirely unsure. 

It is one of the most magical, incredible places on Earth. We were fortunate enough to have been able to go during a time when we had no children, two incomes and work was generous enough to leave us alone entirely. And! We weren't homeowners. In fact, a tree fell on our rental while we were gone and we didn't have to do anything. Not even place a phone call! Our landlord had it cleaned up by the time we got home. 

On the return flight, we both agreed that, while we loved it so much we were already dreaming of returning, we could never recreate such a magical trip. Attempting to do it again would almost risk detracting from our honeymoon. It might taint the memories, making us wonder if it was really that great, or if we just had those rosy newlywed glasses on. 

I thought of this recently as I sat in church. Chris and I have been - for lack of a better term - church shopping. As you may know, our church in Atlanta is one of the things we miss the most, but we recently found one that could be a fit. As I sat there last Sunday, allowing the good in this new church to wash over me, it hit me: I need to stop trying to recreate our old one. I need to let this church be what it is and not force it into a previously created mold. It's not fair to anyone, ourselves included, if we are constantly looking for what we had in Atlanta in Virginia. 

And then I realized we do this all the time in life.

When we go on dates after a breakup, we compare the new guy to our ex, longing for the rosy memories of the past.
When we start new jobs, we compare our new coworkers to our old ones, dreaming of familiar coffee breaks with them. 
When we move to new cities, we suddenly glorify the old ones, missing the restaurants, coffee shops and friends we had there. 

But it hit me Sunday that it's entirely unfair to compare something new and unfamiliar to something that is already established and familiar. 

image via

And y'all? 

Your ex may have been funnier or taller or smarter. But it didn't work with him for a reason!
Your coworkers might have been the best part of your old job, but you did not quit without cause. 
That city you're dreaming of? I'll bet it was something special. But not so special to keep you from moving. 

If we stop comparing the present moments to the past, perhaps we'll be able to see that we needed something different all along. If we stop looking for what once was and, instead, make room for what is now, maybe we'll be able to grow and move forward more easily. 

A trip to Greece would be different now, that's for sure. We have just one income, a baby and are homeowners. But I'd imagine the trip could still be pretty incredible as a family of three. 

This is, of course, all fictitious for now; we aren't going back to Greece anytime soon. But, today, as life begins to change in a whole new way, I'm remembering to hold on to the past with a grateful heart, while looking forward to the future with joy and open hands. 

Here's to you, tomorrow, in all of your newness, unfamiliarity and adventure.