How was your week? Ours began on a good note but the past few days have been a little stressful. On Wednesday, we were up in the night a bunch with Ryder and by Thursday morning he had a high fever. I ended up taking him into the doctor who sent us onto the hospital for some blood work. It was a honestly a rather scary day filled with a lot of praying but thankfully everything seems okay with our sweet little boy.
Ryder is such a huge source of joy and light in my life and I don’t quite know the words to use to convey what a source of calming sweetness he is to me. Somehow he even managed to stop crying during his blood draw and give the two nurses the cutest little flirty smirk. Such a trooper.
Without a doubt the thing I’m loving most this week is my family and our health. It’s something I thank God for every day and this week served as yet another reminder to count our blessings a million times over.
Earlier in the week, I managed to get crackin’ on today’s TILF post so I guess now is a good time to segue right into my weekly roundup of a few simple things that are making me smile. As always, I’d absolutely love to hear about a simple — or HUGE — thing in your life that made you smile this week as well.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
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Baby Watch!!!
Can you believe my sister is just DAYS away from having a baby!? Leslie and Ross’ due date is this Tuesday and we’ve been on high alert for the past week! Knowing my sister and brother-in-law are about to meet their little one makes me so incredibly excited for them and I absolutely cannot wait to snuggle with my new niece or nephew so soon. That’s one loved little baby already, that’s for sure! Chase says they’ll be having a girl and he’s currently one for one on the baby predictor game, so we will see!
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Banza Pasta
A couple of weeks ago, I cooked up a batch of Banza chickpea pasta for our family to try for the first time. I was shocked by just how good it tasted and we’ve since made many dinners with a variety of different Banza pastas as a base. (The rotini is my favorite. I love the texture and the way sauce clings to the spirals.) The chickpea pasta is higher in protein and fiber than traditional pasta and we’ve loved it topped with everything from traditional marinara sauce to a creamy cheese sauce and, most recently, a garlic butter sauce served with sauteed kale and shrimp. So tasty!
I had a return to make at Old Navy earlier this week from a little Labor Day weekend sale shopping and I ended up leaving with a bunch of fall pants for Chase. I’ve loved Old Navy pants for him ever since I discovered their slim-fit and stocked up on slim-fit chinos and a couple more pairs of the pull-on skinny jeans I love for him. (Yes, they’re girl’s jeans but they’re the best and I think they’re more unisex than anything.) We struggle a lot with finding pants and shorts that fit Chase’s slim frame and Old Navy is one of my go-tos!
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Banner Elk Vacation Planning
Last weekend, Ryan booked a house for our family, my parents and my sister’s family to escape for a week in the mountains in October and I CANNOT wait. Our time in Banner Elk after Chase was born was so, so special to me and I’m thrilled we’ll be heading back to the same area for a family mountain trip again this fall. The countdown is on! Also, if any of you happen to know a professional photographer in the Banner Elk area, my family is hoping to have someone come take some pics of our crew since we’ll all be together and I’d love some recommendations on who to reach out to before we go. I’m already imagining the cuteness of cousin pictures and cannot wait to see Chase and Ryder with their first baby cousin!
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Friday Flashbacks
5 Recipes We Loved (I’ve been meaning to do a second installment of this post because we’ve made some delicious new-to-us recipes recently. Check this throwback post out if you need some meal plan inspiration heading into next week!)
21-15-9 Decreasing Reps Bodyweight Workout (The decreasing repetitions format in this workout is my favorite for keeping boredom at bay and motivation high!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing you are loving this week?
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Hi Julie!! I’m happy Ryder is OK!!! So scary!!
We LOVE Banner Elk!! Happy to hear you love it, too!! Do you guys ever stay at The Lodges at Eagles Nest?! It’s gorgeous up there — some of the homes are little high up the mountain which is scary for my height-fearing self but overall the property is absolutely stunning. Unfortunately I do not know a photographer up there but we love the Mexican food restaurant Puerto Nuevo!
Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!! 🙂
-Sarah
Hi Sarah!! I’m 99% sure that’s actually where we’re staying this time!! Ryan booked the house and I just looked it over on the iPad after he found it but that sounds really familiar. The homes and views look beautiful!!
Oh and thanks for the restaurant rec!!!
Love the pic of Ryder and Sadie!
Things I’m loving….telling all my friends about the great book I just read- “It’s Okay To Laugh (Crying is Cool Too)” by Nora McIerny Purmot. I think it’s one of the Best. Books. Ever.
Have a great weekend! Yay-Friday!
Oh! I’ll look into that book. I just finished the book I was reading yesterday! Thanks for sharing, Heather!
Glad Ryder is okay! It’s so awful when a tiny baby is sick. No fevers yet but my little one has had a runny nose. (That my older one brought home from school.)
Loving: stroller walks with a friend who is also on maternity leave right now and spending our rare sunny days outside! (So much rain in the northeast!!)
Baby watch over here too! Next Friday is our official due date. We are both excited and anxious to meet this little girl. (This is our second child…third pregnancy 😟…and for some reason my brain just can’t seem to comprehend that there will be another little miracle joining our family soon.)
Hi, Julie!
Such exciting times ahead with a new niece or nephew! My husband and I got married at the Banner Elk Winery and have such wonderful memories there – seeing the town made me smile 🙂 We’re loving the fall weather that finally arrived this morning. Hope your weekend is great
banza is my FAVE. i’ve tried a bunch of different brands of gluten free pastas, but theirs is by far the best in my opinion!! need to try it with shrimp – that sounds amazing! have a great weekend 🙂
That’s so exciting for your sister!
So thankful R is ok!! And your sister is adorable! Congrats soon to be Auntie Julie!
Try Uniqlo’s jeggins and leggings for Chase, my skinny mini 3 year old boy loves them. They are pretty durable also. We love Old Navy for slim fitting boys clothes as well. Jcrew crewcuts is great for chinos (but definitely more expensive, I justify it by the fact that my little guy doesn’t grow out of things very fast). Ryder is so cute, love seeing your two boys develop a bond!
Try Jessica with Little Wagon Photo. She is about 30-40 minutes from Banner Elk, and takes amazing pictures. She also knows the area well, so she may be able to take you to spots you haven’t seen before.
I’m glad to hear Ryder’s okay! I’m nowhere near having children, but I’m already preemptively worried about them being sick. Having loved ones that are adults (and obviously not people I gave birth to, haha) get sick already scares me half to death – I can only imagine how much more that’s amplified when it’s your child! I hope Ryder’s well on the way to a full recovery at this point (or even better, that is already is fully recovered)!
Ah, darn, I was hoping for a week-early baby for Leslie and Ross so their firstborn and I could be birthday twins! 😛 So exciting that you’re about to become an aunt!
I live in Banner Elk and love that you’re coming back again. It’s definitely an amazing place.
My friend and local photographer Michelle Lyerly does beautiful work: http://michellelyerly.com/
I’ve followed you for a long time but have never commented. Ryder and my son are just weeks apart and I’ve enjoyed following your journey with him (as well as your pregnancy with Chase and his first years).
Enjoy your time up here next month! I hope you’ll be around for the Woolly Worm Festival 🙂
Burton Photography! Jonathan and Bonnie shot our wedding and they’re wonderful. They’re based in Boone.
https://www.ncphotographer.com
Yes this! They are family of mine and they do incredible portraits!
Thanks, Claudia, for the shout out. October is definitely a beautiful month for family portraits in the High Country!!!!!!
I’m glad Ryder is ok! Random question but my almost 3 year old is super skinny like Chase (I have to tighten the waist in 12 month regular jeans she’s so skinny) What size in the pants do you order him?
He’s in 2T in those jeans now!
Hey Julie! Where do you get that pasta from?! Would love to try it!
I believe Target has it!
So exciting for Leslie!!! And how wonderful to have a family gathering with all of the new babies! I hope that Leslie has a smooth recovery and the trip is not too difficult for her, so soon after giving birth!
That’s so exciting that your family is taking another fall trip! Especially with all the little cousins now. I bet your parents are thrilled 🙂 Keeping my eye out for Leslie & Ross baby news.
Oh no! Sorry to hear you had such a scare with Ryder. I’m glad to hear it all worked out well. Prayers that he continues to improve.
I loved hearing all about your fall trip in the past, so I’m looking forward to living vicariously through your future vacation! It’ll be exciting to have your sister and her new baby there! I’ll be fascinated to know if Chase was guessing correctly again! So excited for you and your sister to be sisters and aunties together – you’ll love it! The bond you get when you and your siblings start becoming parents is next-level. Cheers to the future! (And that pic of Leslie and Ross is perfect. Love it.)
Thanks for another great recap as always.
It just cracks me up that Chase has informed everyone that Aunt Leslie and Uncle Ross will be having a girl. 😆 Kids are the best.