it's spelled matie but pronounced mattie.

about a month after cory's parents got matie,

we decided it would be "fun" to take him for the weekend.

i'm not sure what we thought it was going to be like,

but reality quickly set us straight.

watching matie for the weekend meant 

shallow, sleepless nights,

constantly checking to make sure he was breathing,

being too paranoid to take a shower,

and bodily fluids everywhere.

as stressful as it was,

nothing beat spending the entire day holding a baby.

he fit perfectly in my arms and stared at me with those big, blue eyes.

he stopped fussing when he saw the christmas lights

and was calmest when cory held him.

he slept and i watched.

waiting for him to wake up

so i could keep on staring.

mathew is the first baby cory really held and cared for.

i saw him change overnight.

the first day he was hesitant to do anything but sit while holding matie

and the next he had him slung in his arm like a football, walking all over the house.

it was amazing.

it is amazing.

i can't help but get emotional

when i think of how much we love matie.

then my heart stops when i think of how much we're going to love

our little baby.

then i see pictures like this and my heart beats double time.

look at that love in his eyes.

look at that pure, sweet love.

babygurl is going to have more love

than she's going to know what to do with. 

26 days and counting. 

wiiknd: is it kosher sunday?*

hawaii, confirmed.

temple.

overwhelming peace.

nielsen's frozen custard.

saturday ride mix up.

vent session.

 meh sleep in.

product drop- off.

donut fail.

scones for the win.

workaholics.

cuddles.

oblivion.

morgan freeman's voice.

costco.

fish tacos.

perfect gift search.

lesson prep.

cory = root beer float.

brissa = vanilla with sprinkles.

parks and rec.

early to church.

pretty prom dresses.

baby pick up.

late easter dinner.

ham.

birthday present.

fussy matie.

strawberry shortcake.

baby drop off.

showing off a recent purchase.

vent session.

home, finally.

imgur in bed.

sweet, sweet slumber.


*my sister literally asked this
 at the dinner table.
bless her heart.

wiiknd: fake spring is worse than snow.

less than a week.

best buy.

pizza sticks.

munchers.

stolen kisses.

psych.

awkward.awkward.awkward.

massive headache.

no sleep = fml.

sketching + hot chocolate + croissant.

lazy day.

bike ride fail.

sunny skies & cutting cold.

hair cut + errands.

nacho induced stomach aches.

cory = meeting.

brissa = needy.

peach shake for dinner.

argo.

HOLY CRAP BEN.

accidental sleep in.

lazy sunday.

workaholics.

popcorn + twizzlers.

baby giggles.

first tooth excitement.

stroller walk.

grilled turkey.

pay day fail.

worst cooks.

nyquil shots.

the facts are these [and a bunch of pictures that have nothing to do with anything]

the snow up here has been ridiculous.

i don't understand why grown-ups don't get snow days.
after being gypped
my entire schooling career,
you'd think i'd be gifted with a few at work.

i was excited about vine.

i really was. 

i felt fancy because i could "edit" cool videos in a jiff.
and since i can't edit
actual videos to save my life, i was sold.

but not being able to block the creeps,
being notified for every comment left on a video i liked,
and getting porn spam in my feed,
changed my mind.

and the cherry on top?
there is no "deactivate" option.
none.
desperate much?
so deleted videos and an erased app will have to do.
take that sucker.

wiiknd: she looked like a fancy, sassy toddler.

alt summit snap chats with kylee.

damien rice. 

city walking.

cheesecake factory dreams, crushed.

squatter's.

BEST.ONION.RINGS.OF.MY.LIFE.

stomach betrayal.

generic pepto. 

sweet, sweet sleep.

fixed drain.

costco madness.

hot dogs + churros.

butcher paper heaven.

talk prep.

talk freak out.

modern family.

thoughts, organized.

early to rise.

drunk butterflies.

contact freakout.

cold hands.

nervous poops.

constant flow of tears + muffled words.

talk delivered.
blizzard.

vine wagon.
baptism.
baby cuddles.
modern family.
dreams of a canceled monday.

wiiknd: whenever we drive past the strip club, we like to count how many minivans are parked outside.

lunch with the baby.

dinner with friends.

tsunami sushi.

"i think we need another roll..."

treatyoself.

two weeks.

the dan roll.

a blossoming ginger bromance.

audio tapes.

modern family.

early risers.

marshmallow mateys.

goodbye christmas.

thrifted treasure.

food shopping.
"ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm do you haz snapchat?"

sunday dinner planning.

new girl.

modern family.

 sleeeeeep.

early church = ugghhh.

leggings + baby cuddles by 12 = yay.
bff texts.

dinner in centerville.
poppyseed chicken.
snapchat.snapchat.snapchat.
stupid football.
baby giggles.
family videos.
new beginnings prep.
modern family.

wiiknd: my heart felt every emotion in one day.

work.

news.
heartbroken.

check in with cami.

30 miles north = instant relief.

lunch break = non-stop tears and news watching.

after work = non-stop tears.

i can't even...

"just hold me."

half-day at work.

family time.

christmas shopping fail.

mallrats. everywhere.

work party.

musicals.

cold war jokes.

yw freak out.

unsure/lost/sad/confused.

"just love me."

bi-week.

baby holding.

cheek smushing.

jesus dinner.

it's a wonderful life.

sick ginger.

nyquil shots before bed.

wiiknd: the most dramatic fifteen minutes of my life.

after his first bath,

mat decided to pee on himself,

his towel, his blanket,

and my leggings.

we pick our softest hand towel to dry him

 after round two.

it was a glorious buttercream number 

from bed, bath and beyond.

he made this adorable face then suddenly and effortlessly

pooped the most vibrant green

i have ever seen in my life.

after his third bath,

i was sure his bowels were empty.

there was no way any yellow or green

was getting out of his system now.

wrong.

i was playing with his little feet

when i felt the warm liquid on my wrist.

i called it quits 

and baby wiped that shiz.

homeboy didn't deserve another bath.

and suddenly, poop is cute.

a few weeks before thanksgiving,

cory's family was blessed

with the greatest gift.

mathew.

matie is cory's newborn foster brother.

it's a sad situation

but i'm so glad he's in our lives.

i hope he stays forever.

i love him.

i couldn't keep him a secret any longer.

he's already taken over

my instagram feed, 

and that little mug is just too cute

not to share with the entire universe.

i didn't think it was possible

to love someone so much, so quickly.

but this little boy

has completely stolen my heart.

and seeing how much cory loves him 

 just kills me.

sorry i'm not sorry*

for potentially turning into this into 

a babymamadrama zone.

i just love him.

*this and yolomofo are my favorite phrases lately. 

keeping it classy.

wiiknd: i liked it when we slow danced to christmas music.

pay day.

burrito.

mild salsa = immediate regret.

the ultimate line cut.

the forgotten carols.

quiet tears.

public cuddle/hugs.

baby holding.

zombie tired.

early up.

lesson planning.

breakfast scones.

laundry day.

registering baby sister for college.

gift purchasing.

blog stalking.

chinese dinner.
real talk.
sick ginger.
"sing me a song."

lesson planning.

lesson.
sweat central.
quick change.
baby time.
mat cuddles.
mat smiles.
mat obsessing.
biscuits with honey.
crispy chicken.
elf.
crazy lightning.
flooded window well.
rain hate.

wiiknd: the worst thing about not living at home is not having access to ridiculous amounts of thanksgiving leftovers.

thanksgiving.

cheesecake baking.

ogden dinner.

face stuffing.

baby holding.

centerville dessert.

stuffing battle.

christmas tree searching.

"i miss mathew."

6:07 natural alarm.

cleaning.

furniture returning.

errands.

baby cuddling.

"you are my sunshine."

so.much.love.

christmas vacation.

early to rise.

costco run = sample fail.

fake snow.

classy frames.

baby cuddling.

monster onesie.

little kicks.

pancake breakfast.

morning meeting.

emotionally unstable.

full heart.

miracle whip gag reflex.

baby cuddling

real talk.

trust + hugs + safe + understood.

every day i thank the heavens

i married my best friend.