Every time I tell someone when I’m due (July), they respond, “oh, that’s so soon!” Until just recently, it hasn’t felt that soon to me, but looking ahead to the next few months — which are filled with more activities and adventures than we’ve had in awhile — it is feeling closer and closer! I’m getting both increasingly excited to meet our little lady, and just really enjoying these days as a family of four. There’s so much to look forward to, including everything we have planned for April! On my calendar this month:— Celebrating Holy Week. For Easter, we’re planning to go to an outdoor service hosted by a friend’s church and do an egg hunt in the backyard since we’ll already have given our baskets!— Our annual camping trip with the Rays, at 28 weeks pregnant for me and about 26 for Nancy! Oh boy.— A trip to the WRAL Azalea Gardens when everything’s in bloom— The beginning of June’s second soccer season. We can walk to the field for the once-a-week game – it’s perfectly low-key for a five-year-old! What I’m loving right now:— Most of us are not hurting for delicious pasta recipes, but I’ve got one more to throw onto the pile. Unique flavor and easy to add veggies (our favorite being cherry tomatoes!).— If you’re looking for a dessert to complete your meal, might I recommend a warm Betty Crocker brownie and a scoop of Jeni’s Brambleberry Crisp ice cream, found in the freezer aisle of your grocery store? Gah, it’s SO GOOD. — I have worn these pearl stud earrings pretty much every day since my parents gifted them to me for Christmas, so it’s high time they made an appearance on the blog! They’re simple enough for daily wear but add just

When I sat down to write my March goals, I was two weeks into taking care of June by myself during the day, and feeling a bit discouraged and overwhelmed (hence all the talk about “simplicity” here). The vantage point from four weeks later feels totally different! We move easily through our days, and they are a joy and a delight. That being said, more change is on the horizon. I transition back into work in the middle of the month, and my Mom is coming to stay with us for a few weeks to watch June before she starts daycare (we like to call it “school” :) ) in May. I know some of you are hoping I will write about going back to work, but I haven’t yet decided what, if anything, I’d like to say. For me personally, I know that hearing about the work/childcare arrangements of others, if they are “better” than mine, is one of my biggest jealousy triggers. Which is ridiculous, because I have an understanding workplace with lots of flexibility, the ability to have June home with me during the day, the resources to send her to our first-choice school, and a job I love. With all of my parenting posts (and all of my posts, period!), my aim is to make you feel more equipped and lifted up, not sad or discouraged. Maybe it’s just my perspective or individual neuroses, but I feel like work talk has the potential to do the latter. I will keep thinking on it! But for now, let’s chat about goals… Revisiting my goals for March: Bring a thank you gift to the post-partum nurses’ station at the hospital where I delivered Read “The Practice of the Presence of God” for NR Book Club Work push-ups and

So. Last month I warned (myself) that March would be a really busy month. And indeed it was. But you know what? I killed it!! I just attended Making Things Happen, and one of the first exercises we do is to answer the question, “how are you feeling?” Instead of writing “stressed” or “frazzled,” I wrote “confident” and “empowered.” Basically, the last three weeks were a super-charged version of the life I want to live: spending time with family, spending time with friends, being outside, experiencing new things, doing really great work that I can be proud of, using our home as it was meant to be used, and honoring a wonderful friend. That’s the good stuff, my friends. The only thing that fell a bit to the wayside was blogging, which I’m sad about – but there’s always April! Friends, I am astonished that I accomplished as much as I did from my March goal list… Touch up paint on our front door Add a bench to our foyer Frame and hang more art downstairs Finish planning and host a really wonderful shower Add cafe curtains in the dining room (nope) Goals for April: — Rehabilitate my passed-down luggage rack (I already bought the trim!) — Build flower bed along our back fence — Invite two friends to do things with us — Buy an exercise ball for sitting on (sometimes) at work — Set new daily habits and get back into the daily habit habit :) If you’ve posted your goals somewhere, I’d love to see – or just drop them in the comments!

March was a busy month. Between hosting visitors and being visitors ourselves, we were a bit out of our normal routine – but in good ways. However, I did get a bit behind on my monthly goals, so I’m rolling the leftover items to April! To recap, my March goals: Practice new calligraphy techniques Plant peony in backyard Plan a really happy trip to NC for two dear friends and their gents Set an appointment with an allergist Help launch a new service/community at our church Plant the first round in our vegetable beds See above! We planted sugar snap peas, kale, arugula, three types of tomatoes, and basil. We’ll put in peppers and more tomatoes later in the year! April goals: — Set an appointment with an allergist — Break out calligraphy supplies and do something with them — Pick strawberries — Make final reservations for our California trip — Purchase a spring/fall jacket – something nicer than my fleece, but casual enough for every day wear — Send out invitations for two showers — Fulfill one of our Easter traditions – paying for the car behind us in a drive-through line! I have been striking out left and right on the jacket front – any suggestions on where I should look for outerwear? And, if you’ve posted your monthly goals, I’d love to take a peek! P.S. Tips for growing veggies in a raised bed