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A Few Favorites from May
Baby Photographer Raleigh
Harrison’s first swim – throwback to 2014. He is absolutely thrilled.
So excited that it is now summer! Having both of my boys around makes me so so happy. And they are happy and content to entertain each other and play together which is an added bonus. Harrison is still not a big fan of water. At the beach Memorial Day weekend, he thought it was hilarious if me + him ran to the water, put our toes in, and nothing else. Anything more than that we would reach panic level. The first step of the pool with his puddle jumper + his boat is his happy place. I was totally this kid (can fear of water be genetic?) so I can relate to his feelings when it comes to water. My earliest memories of the beach jumping in the waves with my Grandma Dot (yes, her name was Dorothy, nickname Dot. love her name) and my great aunt Peggy, I was just terrified but I managed to do it. I remember both of them wearing t shirts so I could wipe the salt water out of my eyes when the waves hit me. I’m sure my mom can verify that I spent a lot of my younger years screaming when it came to water. (We flew to Florida one year and I screamed when the plane went over water. My mom said I also went into full panic screaming on It’s a Small World) Most kids probably have memories of swim lessons right. I have so many memories of swim lessons because I probably had them every year until I was 12 or 13. Ok, maybe not that old, but it took me a long time to swim..and I grew up with a pool in the backyard. All this to say, I can relate to little H man and his fear of the water, and I know one day eventually he will learn to swim. I have thought about trying this place for him, because wow, their facebook feed is just amazing of all these little ones swimming but we would have to get him in the water first!
A few of my favorites lately:
Scrub Daddy 
Sassool I am their number one fan. I am sure when they see me, they are like again? I didn’t feel so bad after I read some yelp reviews that said they eat there every single day. ha! The best part is you can buy extra in plastic containers and eat the next day. I might do this. alot. My favorites right now are the roasted veggies, the mediterranean chicken salad (SO YUM) and the sweet potato salad. (I am not a raisin fan so I just move those to the side) The hummus is also so yum. You can also order using the EAT24 Yelp app to order ahead which I do a lot because if I’m going to be there right in the middle of lunch/dinner time, it’s better than waiting in line since all of Raleigh is also there.They also have a discount plan – with every 100.00 I think, you get 10.00 off. They also open at 10 AM, FYI. yes I HAVE BEEN THERE that early.hahahahahahahahahaha.
My other favorite meals lately.
- City Barbeque. This place is awesome + so allergy friendly. It also helps that is is super close to our house. (In the Sprouts shopping center that does not have enough parking. Another place that even if you are eating in, just order on the app during busy time. You will get your food faster than waiting in line -ha!)
- Smashburger. Have you tried the veggie frites? Seriously so yum. I like to get a lettuce wrapped burger with avocado + mustard.
Summer Rules. I found some fun summer rules + changed them a little bit, but Owen has actually loved them. (He finished school last week) A list of ideas of things for him to do before he can have any technology time. (Read a book to his brother, play make believe, thank Jesus for something) There are lots of fun lists on Pinterest.Which reminds me, we need to head to the library today (another fave) to stock up on books for him. With more free time, he is reading, reading, reading. His current faves are Magic Bone
, Captain Underpants, (seeing the movie tomorrow- anyone seen it? What did you think) The Unofficial Minecrafters Academy Series , and he just read all of the Big Nate books and loved those. I feel like finding books boys are interested in can be a little bit trickier…and of course they have to be about silly things like underpants – ha!
Sunscreen. Ok this is such a tricky one. With my boys’ eczema (Owen’s is worse than Harrison’s) sunscreen is the number one trigger for them so I am always a little apprehensive trying new sunscreen… this worked awesome for them at the beach last week. If anyone else’s little ones has this problem with sunscreen and has tried anything else, please let me know. I also, love, love, love, this sunscreen stick– so much easier and quick for the face, especially with baseball season. (How have I missed these for so long!!)
I just finished reading A Long Way Home, and I sobbed so much. Loved this story + then I had to watch the movie (you can watch on Amazon Prime) afterwards. movie is great, but the book added so much. Best part of the movie is seeing the mothers meet in the end. More tears and more tears.
Sally Clarkson podcast. I have a little speaker I carry around the house – ha, and turn on when I’m folding laundry or doing the dishes. I looooove listening to Sally Clarkson – so encouraging for Mamas + her books are great, too.
Teach Me Store. They have so many fun educational summer activities for kids.
Still one of my absolute favorites is my Kindle . I thought it officially died on me the other day and I was so bummed. I love being able to download and read whatever whenever. I have the cheaper one “with offers” which basically means they put an ad on the home screen – doesn’t bother me at all.
Baseball. It has been baseball season around here, and we were lucky to find a league where the boys could play one right after the other. This was Harrison’s first sport, and he was the one that asked to play. Both of them really loved it, and they were the cutest little baseball players EVA. Sunset slush + 90 degrees every week! Having a chair like this onewas a must!
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Strawberry Margarita Nail Polish. I have been loving this color for weeks. I totally google nail trends when I’m picking out nail polish and I really couldn’t go with the pale colors.
Harrison’s favorites right now can pretty much be summed up by Lightning McQueen (he carries this duplo version everywhere…I have to remember to have him leave it in the car when we go places so he doesn’t lose it.) and his first love of Thomas. His current favorite books are If You Give a Dog a Donut+ Goodnight Baseball. (both baseball books)
It’s a rainy day around here – time for some editing + getting work done! It’s about to get real busy around here with Owen’s birthday around the corner + this year we are celebrating Harrison’s 1/2 birthday. (finally a party for our Christmas birthday! And Cars3 movie for a win!)
Some of my recommendations are amazon affiliate links + also make it super easy for you to find them.
Just for fun..
A session around this time last year – Oh my, that dreamy nursery + her sweet puppies.
A session two years ago – the cuteness of these sweet sisters at the Rose Garden!
Photo below from our Mommy + Me Minis this month styled by Little Apple Styles. I have just started blogging them but you can see more here.
As Seen in People Magazine + The Bump
Rebecca Keller is a Raleigh Newborn Photographer featured on several blogs including The Bump and Let the Kids Dress Themselves. Because we chat a lot about our personal lives on the blog, we may receive commissions on affiliate links in articles.