She’s a close reader.
She will read piles of books after piles of books.
She will pretend she knows how to read and make up words through each page.
She has been working on growing pigtails since she was born.
She has 7 different smiles for several occasions and knows when to deliver each at just the right time. The smile she gives when she knows she is eating something she shouldn’t be is my favorite.

And something I should probably dedicate to another post, but I am not patient enough…

I went into a health depot over the weekend to pick up vitamins for the kids, and I was lured into taste testing the Omega Swirl. I have read the endless positive effects of fermented cod liver oil but my husband will not go near it, and neither will the kids. Well, after I tasted the Mango Peach Omega Swirl my life changed for the better. I cannot EVEN tell you how delicious this stuff tastes. I was taking swigs last night because its as addicting as a good margarita…I got to get myself together. ANYWAYS, I promptly bought the largest bottle they offered and I am proud to report that it is both husband and children approved. Veronica is actually licking the teaspoon I fed her with it now in hopes of chasing the delicious memory of her new favorite “biamin.” It may not be fermented, but its the closest my kids will come! Couldn’t keep this discovery to myself. Check out all the other flavors on Amazon or Walgreens online.

It is tough finding children’s vitamins without sugar in them but I love most of the products Animal Parade offers. Both their Immune Booster and Multi-Vitamin have been excellent for Gabriel and Veronica. We are hoping to ward off the rest of the winter sicknesses going around. And then after I load them up with vitamins I load them up on not so healthy things like this…

Oh well. Recipe from Smitten Kitchen.

Max is now tasting table foods. Avocados, Bananas, and Sweet potatoes turn this gentle giant into a bear cup at the site of them. I loaded up on some cuter than cute items from Lauren who is fundraising to adopt their first baby. If you want high quality hand made bips, paci clips, etc. (SO affordable) do yourself a flava fave and head over and support this family!

And that is the Sunday news for you! We are doing a lot of this…

…and then a copious amount of eating with friends for the Super Bowl;)

The rest of The Portrait Project series here.

The post Sunday Sessions first appeared on In Honor Of Design.

The post Sunday Sessions appeared first on In Honor Of Design.

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“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”  C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Marriage and motherhood is not for the faint of heart.
It pulls, it stretches, it bends, and sometimes you feel it can break you.
It requires love and lots of it. Not the touch-y feel-y kind. The selfless unconditional kind.
I experience so many moments of joy in my week, but it comes with equal parts of trial.

There is still so much for me to learn in this life, but here is what I know to be true…
I have felt the aching pain of heartbreak….but it lead me to a deeper and stronger marriage.
I know the confusing pain of feeling betrayed by someone I admired…..but it taught me that we are all human with human flaws.
I have experienced the sting of putting time and energy into a friendship that does not reciprocate….but in the process I found the truest friends.
At times I feel completely inept, alone, and exhausted in motherhood, yet never have I felt more alive.
My heart is full.

I nod my hat to you Lewis. Your words ring true.
The commercials tell us to take more time for ourselves. The movies speak messages of self preservation. If you aren’t happy, than leave. If you don’t get something out of this, than why are you there? Don’t give if there is no promise of benefit in return.
But you Lewis have it right. Anyone who has loved wholeheartedly would agree.

As much as my heart has been squeezed, tried, broken, and patched in motherhood, friendships, and relationships, I would still choose vulnerability. Always. The true, squeeze your heart, unshakeable love is only experienced when you have given your heart away.
The closest I can relate to this is after I have had each of my children. Your body is pushed to the point of breaking, and you are physically and emotionally drained out, but as soon as you see the face of your child your heart is gone. You love them to the point where you would give your life over if the doctor said it would sustain theirs. Your heart is actually replaced with a larger bleeding one that will bleed out of love for your child till the day they die and forever after.

I am so grateful to have experienced this kind of love in my lifetime, both in marriage and in motherhood.
Our life is too short for cautious love. There are few chances at deep rooted happiness and too few days in our life for self preservation.
So thank you Lewis, for reminding me what it means to truly live. I will hold your quote dear when my naturally selfish heart wants to stray from the clear and narrow path to happiness:)

*This post is part of The Portrait Project and 52 Week Project. 
My coat c/o Sheinside, Scarf: F21, Max’s coat Thred Up, Gabriel’s sweater c/o Gap, Veronica’s Jacket and Hat: Old Navy

The post To love at all is to be vulnerable. first appeared on In Honor Of Design.

The post To love at all is to be vulnerable. appeared first on In Honor Of Design.

As I mentioned previously, this year will be about blogging more about what I am passionate about.
I am passionate about these three.
They push me to my limits and fill my heart to the brim.
They can cause an emotional pendulum swing in my heart on a daily basis.
They put into question my purpose on this earth and what is most important in our time here.
I sometimes am overwhelmed with gratitude to the point of tears for their little souls that are entrusted to me.

Max’s eyes are changing from blue to brown. They are crazy wild and I get sucked in so easily. We have stare downs whenever I feed him. Gabriel and Veronica fight over being near him. Watching their relationships grow has been one of my favorite parts of motherhood for me.

These three children of mine are my motivation to start a new series this year: The Portrait Project (also will be doing the 52 week project!) It will stretch my view behind the lens and allow me to document the people I love. Gabe will also be getting behind and in front of the lens as well as some additional special guests:)
I will be doing additional photos on instagram throughout the year as well. #PortraitProject

Feel free to join in if you like! It would be an honor to have you join me!
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend ahead.
x, Anna

The post The Portrait Project first appeared on In Honor Of Design.

The post The Portrait Project appeared first on In Honor Of Design.