Things I’m Loving Friday #381

I feel like a bit of a broken record over here by focusing on the fact that this is the “last weekend of summer” before school starts (for Chase) in our house but something about the kickoff of the school year really does make things in the air feel a little different. They feel more scheduled, a little less carefree… not better or worse… just different. I LOVE summer and I’ve especially come to love summer with our boys because we’ve made the most of it and filled our days with a lot of nature walks, pool playdates, watermelon, creature catching, swimming in the lake, ice cream, water slides and more. I’ll miss summer but I’m looking forward to the start of the school year for the boys because they love their teachers and friends and I appreciate a little more time to dedicate to this space and my work.

As for the weekend ahead, we have plans to fill the next few days with more boating, swimming and summer fun and are just crossing our fingers that the weather cooperates. I hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy today’s roundup of Friday favs, Things I’m Loving Friday style!

Things I’m Loving Friday

• From the First to the Eighth Percentile

I took Chase to the pediatrician this week for his annual checkup and his weight jumped up another few percentiles which is always something that feels like a bit of a relief to me. When he was younger, as some of you may remember, I was often really stressed by his lack of interest in food and his tiny size. He was in the first percentile for weight for years and I did just about everything I could to encourage him to eat but play always, always reigned supreme over food for him. (And, actually, it still does.) I did my best to drown out the noise and put my trust in our pediatrician (he’s amazing and was always so encouraging), my mama gut, God and my child and I’m happy to report that Chase is now in the eighth percentile for weight.

I am sharing this here because when I mentioned this on Instagram, I’m not lying when I say my DMs were flooded with messages from mothers who are currently worrying about their smaller children. It can be hard when every meal feels like a challenge and people constantly comment on your child’s small size. At the time, I felt like I was surrounded by babies and toddlers who were “good little eaters” and it often left me feeling defeated and stressed out. (On another level, I think I was also more stressed because I was exclusively nursing Chase and it was hard not to feel like maybe my breastmilk was the reason he was so small. In my gut I knew this wasn’t true — my pediatrician also reassured me! — but it was hard not ignore those thoughts at times.) Throughout the years, I’ve learned to trust Chase’s body and try hard to keep mealtimes as stress-free as possible. He eats well-rounded meals and Ryan and I have noticed his overall appetite increasing with every year that passes which is a relief as well. I just wanted to share this here in case any of you out there happen to be in similar boat with a baby or toddler who seems like they could not care less about food. Things are getting better in our house and I hope this offers you some kind of encouragement if you find yourself in a similar situation with a slim little one!

• Salted Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies

I was in the baking mood earlier this week and simultaneously found myself eating handfuls of chocolate chips out of the bag all day long so I combined the two urges and made a batch of chocolate chip cookies! I’ve been meaning to try my hand at tahini chocolate chip cookies for a while now and, after seeing all the positive review on this recipe from the New York Times’ cooking section, I was sold.  The tahini added a salty nuttiness to the cookies in a way I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a much more subtle flavor than peanut butter and a delicious alternative to traditional chocolate chip cookies that still felt true to the original. Chase, Ryder and Ryan gave the cookies two thumbs up as well!

• Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

My friend Kaitlyn is someone I go to repeatedly when I’m on the lookout for a new book. She shared my thoughts about The Midnight Library a while back (LOVED the premise but thought it fell flat) and recommended I try Oona Out of Order. On New Year’s Eve in 1982, 19-year-old Oona is at a party with her boyfriend Dale. She’s happy and in love if not a little confused about some big decisions– Will she go to school in London or hit the road with her band and her boyfriend? — but at the stroke of midnight, her confusion multiples tenfold. Oona passes out and when she awakes, she’s 32 years in the future. Oona is 51 years old, living in a gorgeous house and wealthy beyond belief with no memory of her life after New Year’s Eve in 1982. A friendly stranger living in her house explains that every New Year’s Eve will be like this — Oona will leap into a different year in her life, never knowing which year she’ll enter until she’s in it.

The premise of this book, like the traveling through lives aspect of The Midnight Library, fascinated me. I loved seeing what phase of Oona’s life she’d live out next and how she’d approach life through so many challenges and changing relationships. I was shocked more than once by this book (there was a twist that I truly never saw coming about 3/4 of the way through the book) and while I didn’t fall in love with Oona, I found her intriguing and her life fascinating to read about… especially out of order.

• Friday Flashbacks 

Turkey Vegetable Meatloaf (I made this one for our family again on Monday and it’s just the best! Even Rhett loves it!)

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Overnight Oats (One of my most-loved blog recipes of all time and for good reason!)

Question of the Day

What is one thing making you smile today? 

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