Kayleigh's First Trip to the Zoo

On Saturday morning, after our wonderful day alone on our anniversary, we picked up our sweet girl from my parents' house (where she had way too much fun, didn't cry at all, and seemed so happy being entertained by her aunties and uncle that she probably didn't even miss us at all!).  We lathered her up with some sunscreen and headed back to Santa Barbara to spend the day at the zoo.

Jesse and I both grew up going to the Santa Barbara Zoo, so we were excited to share it with Kayleigh. The way that she loves animals and giggles every time she sees one told us it was time to take our 8 month old.  It was so much fun to get to share some of God's amazing creation with her!

One of the things I was looking most forward to about this zoo trip was getting a picture of Kayleigh sitting on one of these beautiful old giraffes.  There are tons of photos of my siblings and me climbing all over them in the 90s.  I was confused when I couldn't find them at the zoo, and then saddened when I realized that they weren't on the path anymore; they had been relocated to a gated off area on a quiet lawn overlooking the ocean.  I understand why--how many lawsuits had they been subject to over the past 20 years for having "dangerous" structures like this for kids to fall and hurt themselves on?  But still, seeing that they were no longer within touching distance--that I had participated in something that was no longer allowed-- made me feel old.  And sad.  But I'm glad that I still got to show the giraffes to Kayleigh and get a few pictures with her.  They are dear to my heart.

After a while, it was time to let our little wild thing free for some floor time

Look at that face!  Her daddy can always make her squeal with delight :)

We clap for Kayleigh every time she stands up by herself, so now she claps for herself, too.  It's my new favorite thing :)

Can you tell that the ocean is behind us?  Seriously, how beautiful is this zoo?!?

All tangled up :)

Hehe, couldn't resist taking this one near the gorilla exhibit :)

We had such a wonderful day!  So glad we got to take Kayleigh to the zoo :)

Our Anniversary Weekend

Handsome Man and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary on June 8th. In the past, we've done big trips to celebrate (like this one and this one) and then came Kayleigh :) Last year, we went to a special restaurant, and this year, we left our baby girl overnight for the first time and spent our anniversary in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara has always held a special place in my heart.  It was only about 40 minutes from where I grew up, so it was our family's favorite place to go on special days.  Jesse and I have spent a lot of our romantic dates in Santa Barbara, so it was fun to go back to some of our favorite spots, and try some new ones, too!

Jesse handled all of the planning, which I loved.  It was fun to give him the reins and let him choose what we were going to do for the day.  I couldn't have done better myself!

First on the list (after a rather tearful goodbye when leaving Kayleigh with my parents) was a wine bistro.  Different from wine tasting at a winery, the State Street Wine Bistro gave us the opportunity to sit at a quiet table on a nice little patio and enjoy sampling glass after glass while the Sommelier (am I fancy or what now?!?) brought out food pairings to go with each wine.  We were able to spend as much time as we wanted to enjoying what we were given.  It was perfect!  No rushing around, bustling between other tourists...it was just for us.

We had a lovely time.

When we were finished, we walked past shops, street performers, and gorgeous little alcoves until we reached the water.

It's been a long time since we've spent time as just two of us.  Even though I missed Kayleigh, I loved my time with my Handsome Man.  Being back to one of our first date spots, spending the day alone and enjoying each other was the best way to celebrate our 4th anniversary.  Looking forward to many more to come!

Happy First Father's Day, Handsome Man!

Dear Jesse,

It's been a year since I gave you this tiny pink outfit two days after we found out we were having a girl.
(It's been hanging in her closet awaiting this very day!)

What a beautiful year it has been!

To watch you go from a young guy with no baby experience to becoming a dad who is so natural that no one believes you had never changed a diaper before our sweet girl came along.

The first time you held her, it was love at first sight.  And watching that love grow has been one of my greatest blessings this year.

She is Daddy's Girl, no doubt about it.  My heart swells with joy to see how much she loves you.

I pray that she always wants to be like her daddy.  I can't imagine a more loving, selfless model for her.

Happy 1st Father's Day, Handsome Man.  I can't wait to celebrate many more with you!

♥ B

Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake

Last year for our anniversary, I made Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake.  This year, Handsome Man and I celebrated a night early at home with this beauty.

(if you're noticing a chocolate/berry trend, there definitely is one!)

Recipe for Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake

♥1 pound fresh strawberries
♥ 2 tbsp white sugar
♥ 2  1/2 cups flour
♥ 1/2 cup cocoa powder
♥ 1 tsp baking soda
♥ 1 tsp baking powder
♥ 1/2 tsp salt
♥ 2 cups white sugar
♥ 1 cup butter, softened
♥ 1/3 cup vegetable oil
♥ 2 eggs
♥ 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
♥ 1  1/2 cups milk
♥ 3/4 cup brewed coffee
♥ 1 qt heavy whipping cream
♥ 1/4 cup powdered sugar
♥ 2 tbsp white sugar

Preheat the oven to 350* and lightly grease two 9 inch round baking pans.  Hull and slice your strawberries, put them in a bowl and sprinkle 2 tbsp white sugar on them.  Stir them gently and place in the refrigerator.

In a small bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, set aside.  Using your mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar together.  Slowly add vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract.  Mix in dry ingredients until just combined (overmixing will produce a very dense cake).  Turn off the mixer and stir in milk and coffee until the batter is well blended.  Gently pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the cake.  Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, and then remove the pans and allow to cool completely on cooling racks.

Beat whipping cream until foamy in a large bowl.  Gradually add 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and beat until stiff peaks form.  Once the cakes are completely cooled, spread half of the whipped cream over the top of one.  Use a slotted spoon to scoop the strawberries out of the bowl so that they don't drip pink juice on your beautifully white whipped cream, and layer half of the strawberries onto the cake.  Carefully set the second cake on top, and spread the rest of the whipped cream on it.  Add the rest of the strawberries, and voila!  A beautiful, unique dessert.

Perfect for celebrating an anniversary!

Happy 4th anniversary to the beautiful heart that has loved me, the strong arms that have held me, the man who daily lives out my happily ever after.

I love you, Jesse!

Kayleigh's First Trip to the Beach

***Looking for the Dayspring Giveaway?  Don't miss it!***

The beach has always been a special place to me.  When I began dating Jesse, I shared my love for the ocean with him, and it became our special place.

Now that Kayleigh is part of our life, too, I've been dying to take her to the beach.  We finally got to go last week.  It was such a wonderful day!

Wordless Wednesday: Daddy's Girl

What a Guy!

Yesterday morning, after I fed Kayleigh and changed her diaper, I plopped her into her baby swing and hopped into the shower.  When I got out of the shower, Kayleigh smiled up and me and cooed.  I talked with her while I brushed out my hair, and she never stopped smiling.  Once I was dressed and ready to take her downstairs, I picked her out of the swing and gasped in shock.  Soupy baby poop had gone up her back all the way to her underarms.  Gah!

I rushed her to the changing table, but couldn't resist taking a picture and sending it to Jesse.

"Envious, much? Lol, I guess I'm not allowed to take showers any more!"  


If you're wondering, "What weirdo sends poopy pictures to her husband?"

I'll proudly raise my hand.  Don't you think it helps them appreciate what we do on the front line?

Anyway, I nearly fell down the stairs yesterday when I heard Jesse come home.  He greeted me at the steps with a beautiful bouquet.

"What's this for?!?"

"For being an amazing mom," He said.  "Thanks for all you do."

*swoon*

I love my guy!

With a Thankful Heart

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

  For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

  Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
   for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.

Psalm 95:1-7

Dear Heavenly Father,

What a year it has been!  So many changes, and all of them wonderful.  I praise You for leading us through and providing for us all the way.  I've been thinking all day about the theme of thankfulness, and while there are many things I'm thankful for, these are the ones on my heart.

Thank You, God, for bringing Kayleigh into our life.  She's only two months old, but her smiles and interactions with us melt my heart.  Thank you for the joy that she is to us, for her safe delivery, and that she is growing healthy and strong.  Part of me wishes I could freeze her this way and keep her tiny always, but the other part of me is excited to see the girl you created her to be.  Please guard her and keep her safe always, Lord.  It may be only a short time that she's been with us, but I can't imagine life without her.  Thank you for entrusting her precious heart to us!

Thank You, Lord, for my Handsome Man.  Our love for each other deepened this year as we prepared for the birth of our little one.  The way that he cared for me while I carried Kayleigh made me feel so loved, and the way he coached me and cheered me on during Kayleigh's birth made me realize even more that You chose the perfect teammate for me.  Seeing him with Kayleigh fills my heart with love to the bursting point.  He is such a wonderful dad!  What a blessing he is to me.  Thank You for the 5 years that we have loved each other, and for the 3.5 that I have been his wife.  It's a wonderful life!

God, I'm so thankful for family.  Thank You for the family that I grew up in, for the family I married into, and for the additions to our family this year.  I love seeing Kayleigh with her grandparents, uncle and aunts.  They adore her so much, and it makes me so thankful that she is surrounded by so much love!  Thank You also for the addition of Megan, my brother's beautiful bride of three weeks.  We have all loved her ever since the first time Jon brought her home to meet us, and we praise You for finding the perfect helpmeet for him!  Thank You for my newest sister.  She is a blessing to us!

Thank you, God, for our new home, and the friends that it brings us closer to.  It was really hard to leave the beautiful yellow house that Jesse and I lived in for the past three years, and even though it's been a challenge to go from such a big house of blessings to an apartment that is half the size and twice the price, we know You've worked wonderful things through that change.  Thank You for the blessing that house was for our first three years of marriage.  Thank You for the friends who provided it for us, and for all of the memories Jesse and I cherish from our days of living there.  But thank You, also, for giving us the ability to move closer to our church, and for the fact that Jesse can ride his bike to work and come home for lunch sometimes.  We are so happy to be so close, and have been so blessed to be closer to our friends!  Thank You SO much for having Tyler and Stacey, and Jon and Kayse within walking distance of our home, and for having Chris and Jenny, Emanuel and Cassandra, and Matt and Emily all within a five minute drive.  It's so wonderful to be able to call them up and have them over any night of the week instead of having to factor in the 30 minute commute to our old house.

You are always so good to us, God, even when we don't deserve it.  Thank You for providing for us, for keeping us safe, and for surrounding us with so much love.  We praise You for it!

Your child,

Bethany