Wordless{ish} Wednesday: Giggle Monster

Playtime with Daddy from Courtney Baxtron on Vimeo.

Let's Connect! XO, Courtney

       

{17} Months

I don't want to start with the usual…"OMG where has the time gone?"…line.  Nope, not going to reflect right now on how fast the last 17 months have zipped by.  I don't want to think about how in just a month you will be 1 & 1/2 or how just 6 months ago you devoured your first cupcake as family and friends celebrated your very first birthday, nope, not going to think on those things.  Instead, I just want to thank you, Zion, for teaching me how to live each moment in the present.

Here you are, my precious, beautiful, funny little girl, making each day more bright, more joyous and more adventurous than I could have ever imagined possible.  There are so many things that you have both Mama & Dada in awe about you: your ever increasing vocabulary, your depth, your spirited nature, your infectious giggle, your determination and will…I can go on and on, and I do.  You are just simply a wonder of creation, in our eyes and in your heavenly Father's eyes as well. 

We are blessed to have been chosen by God to be stewards over your young life, you are our little cupcake treasure.  

Love,

Mama

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Photo Challenge: Color {the paper mama}

Our sidewalk chalk art fun today.  :)

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Fall Firsts - Part II: Pumpkin Patch + Corn Maze

This is my Wordless{ish} Wednesday.  :) Enjoy!

Silly Pumpkin Faces

We have a winner!

We actually got lost in the corn maze, 6 adults and 1 toddler, we left via the entrance, lol.

We finished the day at Coogan's Restaurant in Washington Heights…that burger was massive!

Let's Connect! XO, Courtney

       

Fall Firsts - Part I: Apple Picking!

This year, we've decided to nix our usual holiday travel plans:  Thanksgiving in Ohio, Christmas in Seattle.  We've been all over the place the last couple of years and its time for us to take a break.  In order to make the most of this decision we've made plans to do things around NYC that we have never done before.  Instead of focusing on how we'll be missing out on our family traditions, we've broadened our horizons to participate in local traditions, and we'll be creating some of our own traditions as well.

I am so happy that my in-laws came out for a visit this past weekend, together we were able to do a lot of things we'd never done before.  So without  any further delay, I present to you a short series of posts which I will call "Fall Firsts."

We left bright and early from our place in Washington Heights, with a bounty of fancy coffee drinks, fresh baked cinnamon rolls and banana muffins, and headed over to the GW Bridge into New Jersey.  The drive was stunning, even in Jersey you can find beautiful red, orange and gold leaved trees lining the highway.  About an hour and some change later, we arrived at Stonyhill Farm & Gardens in Chester, NJ.

Apple picking was a blast, not only did we experience this very traditional NYC annual pilgrimage, we were able to bring our best friends and my lovely in-laws.  The weather was gorgeous, maybe slightly too warm, but not worth a complaint.  Zion had a great time, and I think we must of all heard, "Ahhh-pull" or "Aaahpuh-pie" a million times, plus as an added bonus she got to ride in a little red wagon for the first time.  :)

Stonyhill also had a wonderful farmers market with apple cider donuts, hot and cold apple cider and other delightful items.  After buying 10lbs of apples, I couldn't wait to get home and make my first apple pie using this fantastic recipe I found.  And it turned out DELICIOUS!!

Are you staying home this holiday season?  What local traditions do you enjoy?

XO,

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Faith Filled Marriage: Never Stop Dating Your Spouse

Inertia:  {A tendency to do nothing or remain unchanged.  Idleness.  A rut.}  This is where the hubs and I found ourselves after several dateless months.  We got used to not having time together as a couple, and struggled to break out of it, it became the norm.

Sure, we could make excuses to justify letting our relationship slip low on the priority list, and we certainly have.  Dates = costly, especially when you have to pay $15/hr for someone to sit on your couch while your little one sleeps.  And being away from family who'd gladly hang at your place for free…thats another big bummer.



But I don't want to focus on our excuses, I want to focus on what can be learned from our mistake of giving up on date-nights.  On September 30th, we went on our first date in probably over six months.  Our besties here in NYC offered to chill at our place and told us to "stay out late!"

Hubs planned a surprise dinner date at HK:Hell's Kitchen, near Times Square.  We arrived early to the area, so we enjoyed sipping some coffees and lollygagging to the restaurant.  Once there, we chose an outside table so we could people watch.  I enjoyed a virgin mojito and some of the best calamari I've ever had, before we were forced to move inside due to unexpected rain.

Our dinner was good, but the best thing about the evening was really enjoying the company of my husband.  For once I was not just Jerry's wife or Zion's mama, I was Courtney, again.  I was the woman Jerry fell in love with.  And I was able to appreciate Jerry as the one I gave my heart to, not just as the provider, or the father of my child.

We broke out of our inertia, forcing ourselves to stop making excuses and do the dang thing!  And I learned a valuable lesson…you should never ever ever, for any reason, stop dating your spouse.  That time spent, out of the house, with the focus of delighting in each other's company, can not be recreated through any other activity.

When you can't get out, I'm definitely a fan of throwing "Date-Night-in" where we make a romantic dinner, put on some smooth jazz, and detach from cell phones, hulu and other distractions - but I think getting out at least once a month is so very necessary.

I can hardly wait for our next date-night this Friday evening.  When was the last time you and your spouse got out of the house for a date night?  What is your favorite date night activity?

I'd love some ideas!!

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Weekly Wrap Up

It was an excellent week.  Highlights: 1.  First DATE NIGHT with the hubs in like 6 months, seriously that is way too long!  2.  PEANUT BUTTER creme filled oreo cookies.  OMG.  Heaven in your mouth.  3.  I finally figured out how to take quality pictures using the iPHONE, lol, and I'm now having a blast with it.  And 4.  It is already UGG weather in NYC.  I'm not a fan of the cold, so the only thing that is making it better is: pumpkin bread, cinnamon sugar cookie lattes and snuggles with Jerry and Zion.

I'm jazzed for this weekend...Jerry's parents get here this afternoon for a weekend of fun, food, and our highly anticipated APPLE/PUMPKIN picking trip!

How did you week finish off?  Exciting weekend plans?

Much love,

Let's Connect!