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How to Build a Montessori Dresser for $50

James is 8 months! He has 0 bad days, maybe 1 bad

James is 8 months! He has 0 bad days, maybe 1 bad hour when his first tooth poked through. He is ALL smiles and giggles and this happy light bursting out of his precious blues. He loves all things food and can make watermelon disappear in seconds. He eats a 4oz container of baby food, then a full meal of solid food shared with Hazel (maybe even eat her leftovers), and then finishes with an 8oz bottle...times by 3 per day 😳. No wonder his arms are already sporting a good arm roll tan! He loves clicking his tongue and wiggles in excitement when you make eye contact. My new obsession is his little tuft of hair on top. It’s pretty clear we love this guy. ❤️❤️ #jamesryangrew

Happy Father’s Day to the most fun-loving and pa

Happy Father’s Day to the most fun-loving and patient Dad there is! He makes up for what I lack and then some. ❤️ We are eternally grateful for you @ryanrucker37! Also a happy Father’s Day to the amazing fathers who raised us. They are the best grandpas to Hazel and James!

I had the absolute best birthday yesterday with my

I had the absolute best birthday yesterday with my sweet little family. Beautiful Botanical Garden morning, arms full of my cute babies, and a husband who spent the entire day making it as fantastic as possible. I feel incredibly blessed and cheers to my last year in my 20’s!

I made a cake for my birthday and gosh @cakebycour

I made a cake for my birthday and gosh @cakebycourtney you make it look easy! I’ve got a lot of practicing to do. 😆 Had to do a cherry cake in honor of my dad and hometown. Cherries just feel like home to me. (I did a variation of a cake that will be in Courtney’s cookbook I’m designing. I just switched out strawberries for cherries and it tastes delicious!) I also made a dragon cake for a 1st birthday party and let’s just say I think my area of expertise will be in oddly cute kitschy cakes. 😉

I hate the cliche “Hey guys, it’s been a while

I hate the cliche “Hey guys, it’s been a while since I’ve introduced myself...” but I’m trying to figure out what it is I want to post on here and so here is a little explanation of me and my plan for this weird Instagram world: 1. I love to gather and curate ideas, so I am wanting to share more of those here (and tons more on my newsletter). 2. I am finding my place and balance between the child-centered Montessori thinking, calm positive parenting movement, and laid-back French parenting approach — all three that I love bits and pieces of. I would love to share more of the things I want to do and be as a parent since that is such a huge part of my life currently. 3. Another big part of my life is being a Christian. I am not the most eloquent person but I would love to share my thoughts and takeaways from my scripture study more often here. Ever since my study abroad in Israel almost 10 years ago, I firmly believe that all religions have Truth in them, and that we can all learn things from each other. So I hope even if we do not share the same religion, you can learn something from me, and I would love to learn from you. 4. Since I am no longer taking web clients, I have more time to work on my own personal projects, whether they be online or hands-on. I will share more of those, and I am giving myself the freedom to have no plan on trying to make them picture perfect. Sure, a pretty Instagram grid may give me more followers, but I don’t care about that crap. And you can bet I won’t ever use those Instagram story filters — not sure if it’s more because I’m passionate about being real or I’m just stubborn. My husband would probably agree that I’m passionately stubborn. 😉 5. When first meeting me, I may seem quiet, cold, or stand-offish but once you get to know me, and I feel comfortable around you, I won’t stop talking. What does this have to do with Instagram? I dunno, but it’s something I try to change about myself and I’m closer to accepting the fact that people will misunderstand me and there’s nothing I can do to change their mind. That’s freeing, right? Well, 5 is good for now and if you made it this far then you’re a trooper 😘. #latenightramble

Trying to work on my computer with a toddler looks

Trying to work on my computer with a toddler looks like this (sometimes it looks like whining, but those moments aren’t recorded for obvious reasons 😅). I have just a few projects I’m wrapping up but I am grateful for a job that lets me make my own hours and be a stay-at-home mom too. If you can’t tell, I’m having an identity crisis with this “business” account of mine but hopefully I’ll have some fun content to share soon enough! For now, I’m just over here being a jungle gym for my daughter while she says gibberish to me 😉🥰

James is 7 months! You literally can’t make a ba

James is 7 months! You literally can’t make a baby more perfect and easy-going than this sweet guy. He rarely ever cries and will laugh himself to sleep. He is sitting up like a champ and his favorite places are in his high chair eating mounds and mounds of food or sitting outside watching Hazel play (and tolerating the bubbles and dirt combo she slathered all over him a few days ago...I had to swipe him away to get it out of his eyes before I could snap a cute photo). He smiles at you constantly and all you have to do is give him eye contact to giggle. His rolls are so squeezeilicious. He will wake up and play with his doggie in his crib and then fall back asleep before momma even gets out of bed. You guys, I could go on. We’re pretty obsessed. 🥰 #jamesryangrew