Without kids

What sweet grace to be able to spend quality time with Alex this past weekend, without the kids. The last time we went on a date was seven months ago when we had sushi on Valentine's Day. Before that, we hadn't been on a date in over a year. Going out just the two of us after having kids has been rare. Being able to do so on Saturday was so nice and so refreshing. We watched one of our favorite musicals, The Sound of Music, downtown. A few months ago, we heard the tour was coming to Los Angeles. We planned to attempt to score discounted tickets three weeks before the show opened. Alex was on the phone for an hour one morning trying to nab tickets for us. Thankfully, he got them and we'd been looking forward to this day ever since. We're big fans of musical theater and used to watch shows more often before the kids were born. The production was a beautifully high-spirited rendition of the classic. So grateful we got to foster new memories together, and just have time to focus on strengthening our marriage. Life has felt like a hullabaloo lately that times like these are so necessary and appreciated.

Four at the fair

Here's to another year at the fair. I'm growing fonder of it as each year goes by. We seem to have established what we like to accomplish when we go, as if we're on a mission to conquer our fair favorites. The first item on our agenda when we went last week was to take photo booth pictures because Valor was readying himself for a nap. We managed to get the pictures in before he knocked out for the rest of the time we were at the fair. Then we visited the farm; Serene loves animals and spent the last year of her life learning the names of animals and the noises they make. She was fascinated, albeit a tad nervous, to see them up close and personal at first. She warmed up and left the petting zoo waving to the sheep and saying, "Bye sheep! Baa." She also had a ball picking fruit and running around the farm-to-store simulation for kids. We ended the night by partaking in fair food. I still think it's overpriced and unhealthy, but worth the splurge once a year. We enjoyed a bloomin' onion, farmhouse burgers (a bacon-spam-teriyaki-beef burger for Alex and a turkey-smoked gouda burger for me), and funnel cake. They were all so tasty!

Most special of all, we ambled about as a family of four this year, with an almost two-year-old Serene and an almost five-month-old Valor. Since the fair has become an annual tradition, I get to reflect on how God has graciously grown our family every year at this time. At this time last year, Serene was almost a year old and we had just found out we were five weeks pregnant with Valor. I was observing all the families with two young children (and their double strollers!) and imagining how we'd be at the fair the following year with another sweet babe in tow. At this time two years ago, I was 36 weeks pregnant with Serene. I didn't post the pictures we snapped of my belly that day because I was sweaty and feeling gross. At this time three years ago, we were celebrating our first year as married folks. At this time four years ago, we were engaged. At this time five years ago, we were on a group date. So much has changed in just five years. God is so good to us though we are undeserving. How fun it shall be to see where we will be in future years at the fair!

Capellini with chicken and summer vegetables

Today is the first day of fall, but the summer heat lingers around here. Which means we're still eating foods featuring fresh, summery produce. Like capellini with chicken and summer vegetables. It is my most preferred pasta to make when the weather is warm. Better yet, it's one of my all-time favorite meals, period. I love a light oil sauce on pasta paired with tons of fresh vegetables. If you do too, you must try this! It's basically a decked out capellini with tomatoes and basil. This version is more robust in flavor, precisely because of the added protein and freshly sauteed veggies. Technically, only the tomatoes and basil are summer vegetables, as broccoli and mushrooms are not, but they're all so tasty together in a light, summery smorgasbord kind of way. It's great with spinach too, and I'm sure a ton of other veggies you may have on hand. It's easy to throw together on a busy weeknight and simple to make for groups, especially when using grilled chicken or leftover rotisserie chicken that's already ready to serve. I'll be keeping this in our meal rotation until the stores are no longer stocking fresh basil.
Capellini with Chicken and Summer Vegetables (adapted from here)
Ingredients:
1 lb angel hair or capellini pasta
3/4 cup good extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp garlic, minced
2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 lb mini pearl grape tomatoes, halved
2 oz fresh basil leaves, julienned
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1 head of broccoli, cut into small florets
1 pkg (8 oz) white mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 cups grilled chicken breast, diced
2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Extra julienned basil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Directions:
1. Boil a large pot of water. Add angel hair or capellini and cook for 2 minutes, or until al dente so that it is firm to the bite. Watch your pasta carefully as it cooks so it doesn't get soggy. Drain the pasta, and shock with cold water. Reserve some of the pasta water.
2. While pasta cooks, saute broccoli florets in extra virgin olive oil until bright green and tender. Set aside in a bowl. In the same pan, saute mushrooms in extra virgin olive oil until browned and tender. Set aside in the bowl with the broccoli.
2. In a large saute pan, heat extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until slightly browned. Add tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 5 minutes, tossing occasionally until tomatoes are softened and slightly wrinkled.
3. Place pasta in a large serving bowl. Add sauce and Parmesan. Toss well. Add some reserved pasta water if pasta seems too dry. Fold in grilled chicken, broccoli, and mushrooms. Top with fresh basil and Parmesan. Serve immediately.

Sleep

Sleep has been evading us these days. Both babies are simultaneously teething and participating in sleep regressions. Much crankiness and overtiredness have ensued on all fronts. Both babies are particularly attached too; I'm sporting them both around my hips like fanny packs. I'm praying and pleading for extra grace. Grace to love them well and die to myself. In these moments, I often fail to grant grace to my little family. I am the opposite of patient, kind, and sacrificial. Praise God for the gospel that reminds me this is precisely why Jesus came to die for us - because we can't accomplish any of this without His grace. We all need bushels of it in the daily rhythms of life. Thankful for the gospel that reveals to me not only my desperate need for grace, but also that I am a recipient of abundant grace, all so that I can in turn give grace. Praising God that with each ebb and flow of this season of life, my failures magnify His faithfulness and goodness.

Las Vegas, family-style

Just a few snaps from our trip to Vegas two weeks ago. I took half the amount of pictures as our Palm Springs trip even though we were in Vegas twice as long. A generous church family member offered us their timeshare there; we were exceedingly blessed to enjoy two getaways this summer when we weren't planning on venturing anywhere. God's abundant mercies overflow! Besides splashing in the pools at the resort, we partook of a buffet, window shopped (at a thrift store per my preference and at the outlets per Alex's request), and generally tried to stay cool and relaxed in the scorching heat. The highlight of our trip was spending time with Alex's extended family who live in Vegas. They are so sweet and hospitable, helping to make traveling with our babies easier. We can now say extended trips with kids is feasible, although I am thankful to be back to our normal routine. So funny that going out-of-town usually prompts me to more deeply appreciate home.

Letters to Valor: 4 months

My dear Valor Zeal,

Your daddy and I remark that you get cuter every day. It's true! This is your most joyful month to date. You break out into the silliest, gummiest grin and coo at anyone who pays attention to you (which is a stark contrast from your deep-in-thought resting face). You have surprisingly strong legs and prefer standing while being held. You gaze at your surroundings with wide-eyed curiosity. Human faces are your favorite to observe, especially your mama's, daddy's, and big sister's.

You're gaining dexterity. You bat at dangling toys on your baby gym. You hands reach instinctively for whatever is around you, whether it's a blanket or our hands. You suck on your fist to self-soothe before falling asleep. Speaking of sleep, you have reached a turning point. You no longer depend solely on being held or worn to nap. You have no idea how much I am praising God for this breakthrough. For the past month, I place you in the pack n' play while you're drowsy and you'll whimper or cry a bit, suck on your fist, turn your head from side to side, and doze off with your arms above your head. Sometimes in a normal day's hullabaloo, you don't make it to the pack n' play before napping underneath your baby gym in the living room. In terms of nighttime sleep, you sleep swaddled (with your arms free) your longest stretch after your bedtime feeding from around 8-9pm for 5-8 hours, averaging around 6 hours. Then you'll partake in a quick feed and sleep for another 3-4 hour stretch before waking up for the day. You nurse every 3-4 hours during the day. Except for when you went through a 16 week growth spurt. You were up every couple of hours again like a newborn and ate like one too. Overall, you are such a calm and content baby these days, crying only when you're hungry or tired. Which are all good indicators that you're growing healthily.

You're getting longer; I already feel as if you're not as squishy. You weigh 15 lbs and are 25 inches long. You wear size 2 diapers, a few 3 month clothes, but mostly 3-6 month clothes. You're still happiest in our arms. I wear you often, which you love. When you see me pull out the sling or wrap, you get really excited and kick happily because you know you'll be close to your mama. I love holding you close, my sweet baby boy. My heart expands every day when I think about how undeserving your daddy and I are to be stewards of sweet, loving babes as you and your big sister.

Your instinctual devotion to your daddy and me is but a shadow of how we ought to depend on the Savior wholeheartedly. The way you communicate your simple needs reminds me of how we are to cry out to the Lord, trusting that He will provide our needs more abundantly than we can imagine because He loves us so. The way you delight in our presence teaches me how much joy there is in intimacy with the Father. My sweet son, you teach me about our precious God and His goodness more than you can ever know.


Love you so,
Mama

P.S. Valor Zeal at 0, 1, 2, and 3 months. Plus, his birth story.