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{Mama Diaries: You Made Me a Mama}


I've kept a notebook with thoughts and letters to Zoe since she was itty bitty. I look back at my early (exhausted) scribbles and no matter what kind of day I've had I am filled with such overwhelming love. And it is always a good reset button for me. Because this role of mama is HARD, exhausting, challenging but truly a blessing. Truly a role I was meant to have. Here are a few lines from my letter to Zoe on my first Mother's Day:





"I dreamt of you my entire life. I dreamt of this bond, of your small hand holding mine, of my body nourishing yours, and of my heart beat calming you right to sleep. Yes I dreamt of these exact moments and now I have to pinch myself to remind myself that it is real. I can remember the moment I finally got to hold you like it was yesterday and how you gripped onto me and I realized how much everything had changed. How much this new chapter shifted everything and that YOU were all that mattered. This day celebrates all mothers but really we should be celebrating these tiny humans that gripped onto us and changed us.

Thank you for making me the best version of myself. For showing me what unconditionally selfless love truly is. For filling my heart with so much joy it sometimes feels like it could burst.Thank you for making me a mama, I will forever be grateful."

Is it silly to say that I feel the same exact way about this last year? Well I do! Getting to live life with her makes me feel utterly blessed every day!



She has shown me so much about me, about life and about love. Every night while O chases her around before bed, I sit in her glider and am filled with that same overwhelming love, because how did I get so lucky to have these two and all of this love?



And to my mama, you have always said that everything you did, eveyrthing you gladly gave up and worked for was so that we (your children) would have a better opportunity for our families. I didn't get it until I became a mom. I get it all. Thank you for the endless support, selfless love, the words of encouragement and most of all for always having your hand on my back. Knowing you are proud of the mother I have become means the world to me. And watching Zoe's love for you fills my heart to the brim.

Sending so much love to mamas-to-be, new mamas. fur-mamas, hopeful want-to-be mamas, god-mamas and grandmamas, I celebrate all of you.

Hope you all had a wonderful Mothers Day!

xo

Natalie

{Dishes: Mamas Tasty Guacamole}


Hey lovelies,

Things have been a little insane around these parts. And for those of you that have bought and sold multiple homes, I tip my hats off to you because I never ever want to do this again. Well maybe... It helped to have a major rockstar of a realtor, so much more on that later. Promise.

In the meantime I will throw a recipe I make weekly at ya.

Yup, you heard that right. I make guac WEEKLY. Taco night is huge in La Casa de Rowe, especially with the little miss. Making a small portion here but feel free to double or even triple the recipe.

But first I must tell you something, O didn't like guac when I first met him. How is that possible??? Tell me I am not crazy, doesn't everyone like guac? My mission to win him over was easy peasy with this fool proof flavorfull recipe. I thought it was a perfect time to share with Cinco de Mayo coming up next week! Now who is making the margaritas?! Girlfriend over here needs some margaritas!











Ingredients

1 Haas Avocado

1 chopped tomato

juice of 1 lime

drizzle of olive oil (about 1/2 tsp)

pinch of coarse salt (we go way light on the salt at our house but it helps bring out the flavor in the tomatoes)

small pinch of black pepper

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp cumin powder

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp cilantro

pinch of hot red pepper flakes (more or less depending on how hot you like it, I skip this when it's for Z!)

Recipe

Start with chopped tomatoes, add salt directly to tomatoes (especially when they are in season!) and drizzle olive oil.

Add rest of ingredients (minus the lime juice).

Mix well and set aside.

Cut avocado in half and score and then squeeze into a seperate bowl.

Add lime juice.

Add seasoned tomatoes and enjoy with chips, on a piece of yummy bread or solo topped with black beans (as Zoe does on a regular!)

Now you know my not so secret easy peasy guac recipe that is sure to please even a non-guac person! I hope you all have some yummy margaritas planned for this weekend or better yet all weekend until Tuesday!

xo

Natalie

{Scenes from our Weekend}


Darlings, although O has the flu and has been in bed quarantined since Saturday night, our to do list has had a ton crossed off to get the house on the market! Only negative is that we haven't seen anything we love, which scares the crap out of me!!! But the light is at the end of the tunnel!!! House goes on the market TOMORROW.

Hoping to share some tips from our realtor for those of you selling/buying in the next week or so but for now sharing a few pics from our weekend. All are from my actual camera since my replacement phone arrives tomorrow...


She get's so excited to push the button on the Nespresso in the AM and I sure do love hearing her say, button! (PS the pod organizer is a game changer!)


Scored this mirror at TJMAXX for above the barcart, $25! (love this and this one)


Lot's of outside time with my favorite girl while dadda worked on the house! Love a babe in a knitted sweater. This one is a Anais & I on sale and how about the pouty mouth because I couldn't get the bubble machine on quick enough?!


We exchanged the dining room light fixture with this Overstock light fixture in our dining room, such a steal for under $70 and neutral enough for anyone to like!


This little corner makes me so happy! These are the chairs my mom got Zoe and her temporary table (a lucite end table I bought years ago), can't wait to have a playroom/playarea in our next house!


Zoe has quite the collection of books but I definitely find myself reading some of the same ones over and over, these are some of her current favs.


I either roast or crock pot chicken breasts every week, this week's was roasted with lemon juice/lemons, herbs, salt and coarse black pepper with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I used half to make a big batch of soup and the rest to shred for tacos.


Bubble machine makes this girl so happy! Best before dinner activity ever! Especially when I have emails to answer!



Most unflattering angle ever but this right here is called perfection. We sure missed hanging with dadda but we have the best time together!


I have our "park bag" ready to go in our faux mud room (I keep food pouches, a blanket, other snacks, bubble machine, extra bubbles, sunscreen and will throw in cold water bottles and it makes heading to the park or outside easy peasy... aka less tantrums!)


This veggie filled chucken soup is perfect for this in-between weather we have been having and the one I made again tonight (will hopefully share the recipe soon!)

Although this month is a hard one (always will be) I have realized what a strong family I have. And an incredible partner and the light and joy that Zoe continues to bring us is pretty amazing. So my heart may continue to ache for our losses but it is pretty full everytime I take the time to look around at how lucky I am.

I hope you all had a great weekend.

xo

Natalie

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