Snapshots of Life with Toddlers

Happy, happy Tuesday!!! Oh, I hope everyone had a great weekend! We are loving this sweet fall month over here. Today, I thought I'd share some snapshots of life with toddlers. We have a 3 1/2 year old, who loves any and all things creative and artistic and imaginative, and an almost 16 month old, who is the sweetest and quietest little *busy* adventurer and explorer... (And a mom who loves a peaceful and simple home but is embracing the chaos and season of life we are living in 😉). 

These are just a few snapshots that as I scroll through my photos make me smile. Life with these two is far from "picturesque," but goodness have I learned that leaning into the hard, enjoying the little things, and fully embracing the season we are in with gratitude and thankfulness has and continues to truly shift my perspective to genuinely enjoy these days and all that they hold... Markers on the couch, rice on the floor, and a lot of sweet and fun chaos in-between ☺️ They are long, but they are good! Here are just a few snapshots for your Tuesday! 

We love our little arts and crafts girl... 

Even and especially when it means our porch turns into an art studio... 

Clipping (expired) coupons has taken on a whole new meaning around here...

We try to keep tissues around in our living room cabinet especially for small group and and prayer requests that can feel heavy, but I have officially deemed this box as "Andy's" and have now hidden the rest hahaha 

I will just leave this one here... hahahha 

And this one... 

And this one haha I have been so proud of his little pencil grip that he's learning, but not so excited when his canvas is actually canvas haha 

This was a "controlled" mess and a FUN one, but a mess and cleanup nevertheless haha 

We have been trying to keep our phones in the "no phone zone" before/during/after dinner, and this one particular dinner was truly just a favorite. We all sat down for some red snapper, veggies and rice and Andy took over Jane's booster, so he sat in a "big chair," Jane sat at the kitchen table like a big kid, and Pierce and I sat next to each other, which seemingly never happens. Everyone ate, we talked and laughed and I had the thought of even with tiny littles, it just felt somehow refreshing to all be together at the end of a long day. When Pierce took the kids up for bath, I walked in the kitchen and had to snag my phone for a picture. This. The real moments, the dinner together, the rice on the floor (and table and chair and booster hahaha), the empty table and glasses, the kitchen a mess from cooking. The moments that make this season real and sweet and exhausting and beautiful all at the same time. These are the snapshots that sometimes just make me smile the most around here... And definitely the ones I want to remember too. 

Because there are plenty of hard ones and plenty of messes... 

And plenty of exhausting nights... 

And days... 

And extremely early mornings... 

But there's a lot of good too... 

And pressing into those feels just as sweet... 

Lots of playing... 

And imagination... 

And getting creative with those moments before dinner... 

...oftentimes with small loads of sink water seemingly flooding our kitchen hahaha 

Lots of slow mornings and crazy hair... 

And diaper changes... 

And life documented too by our new little photographer who is always trying to "make Andy laugh." 

These moments are the best kind of moments. The ones I want to bottle up, the ones that make me pray a whole lot more, and the ones that make us know we are doing something either really wrong or really right when our eyes close as soon as our heads hit the pillow hahaha 

The moments and the days and the season that has made me more than ever thankful to the Lord for his many blessings. 

And the little people that are in my laps... 

And slowing down long enough to try to soak. it. in. instead of rushing and hurrying and missing so much of the good that is simply in the ordinary... 

I am grateful for the little things and the little moments and the joy of the Lord that remains my strength when the long days come and stay... Sometimes I know perspective changes a whole lot of things, and for me, it has really shaped these first three and a half years of being a mom, and I'm really grateful. 

So, there are just a few snapshots of life with toddlers. There are constant messes and instant chaos and a constant stream of paper and markers and crafts (and tissues and ziploc bags and sink water), but a lot of laughter, a lot of prayers and a whole lot of thankfulness as well. Thank YOU for following along and for all that I've learned and gleaned from so many comments, emails, texts and messages as well. I am grateful. 

I pray you are able to find those little simple joys and perspective shifts in your season as well! Here's to enjoying the little things, celebrating the big things, and soaking in all the moments in-between! 

Sending lots of love!
XO
Tab