If I haven't mentioned it on the blog, Shawn has spent the summer working hard on the recording of his first album. It's called Justified and will debut at the end of September. (I'm so proud of him and can't wait for you to hear it!) Most of the recording has been done in Nashville - the vocals, the band, the strings, and now the mixing - so he's taken several trips over the course of the summer. For one of the weeks, the kids and I got to join him.

We've lived in Raleigh for three years now, but I have to be honest: Tennessee still feels like home to us in a lot of ways. When we arrive in the Nashville area, we take a deep sigh of relief. The lush landscape and gorgeous trees! The smooth roads! The friendly people! It's not like we live in terrible conditions in Raleigh (at all), it's just different. It's warm, familiar, home. 

As it always goes, we didn't get to see all of our friends we hoped to see. But we did soak in the time with family, enjoy a handful of beautiful sunsets, and let the kids run barefoot in the grass.

Thankful today...

One warm afternoon last week, Liam woke up from his nap, heard our neighbors' kids' happy cries outside, and rushed over to the door, begging to join them. It happens most afternoons, but this time, Shawn was home to join us and I savored it from behind my camera lens.

Our neighborhood has caught us by complete surprise. Moving to a new city and becoming first-time home buyers at once, I'd say we rushed the process. We knew the general area where we wanted to land, understood our basic price range, and were otherwise pretty desperate to feel more settled than the basement apartment where we were staying. After walking through a handful of houses, we landed on one we loved, drew up an offer, accepted the counter, and waited rather impatiently to close. We loved the size and character of our little yellow house, but the charm of a dead-end street whose neighborhood kids basically live outside? We had no idea. Living just minutes from the Greenway and downtown Raleigh where we take family bike trips every weekend? No clue about that either.

As I watched Liam play, I took a grateful inventory:
... For kind neighbors with little kids who are close enough that we can yell from our front porch, "Do you have any extra infant Tylenol?" They do, we meet at the curb to get it, and our teething babe (and his parents) sleep so much better because of it. Heroes.
... For new neighbors who closed on their house on the day of this photograph, and invited about 10 of us inside to take a tour. "Welcome to the street! We're very neighborly," we attested, as if they couldn't tell while our six kids made themselves at home.
... For diversity. Our neighborhood is both economically and racially diverse (something we really desired), and Liam is often the only child of his color on the playground. I'm thankful to see him interacting with so many different kinds of people from the start. Healthy and wonderful.
... To live in a warm enough climate that our garden is exploding and our boy spends his days outdoors for months on end.
... To live 6 minutes from Trader Joe's (it must be mentioned).

We truly feel like the Lord has handed us gift after gift to slowly unwrap as we discover this beautiful neighborhood surrounding our little yellow house.

A dream come true.

Dear Liam,

On your fourth day of life, your dad and I took you somewhere we'd dreamt of going since we knew about you: Radnor Lake. While I was pregnant with you, Radnor became like our second home. It's probably one of the reasons you came early and so fast! We'd meet there after your dad would get off of work on most days during the last few months of pregnancy and talk about you for miles. What would you look like? When would you be here? Would the leaves still be beautiful when you came? 

The moment we stepped out of the car and smelled the crisp air of Radnor, the tears came. I couldn't hold it in. I'm sure it was, in part, because of crazy hormones and not much sleep. But I know it was also because the last time we were here, you were kicking around inside and I was having strong contractions about 3 minutes apart. And now you're here - healthy, strong, beautiful. An answered prayer. Our little miracle.

So to be here - with you - was a dream come true. You, my little prince, are a dream come true. We love you more than you can imagine, and we can't wait to spend so many more days at Radnor with you. You make our favorite spot so much better.

Love,

Your mom

Radnor.

There's a short list in my mind of the things I think Baby L will know when he gets here:
... His mommy's heart beat
... His daddy's singing
... Tim Keller's voice
... Radnor Lake

It's here at Radnor Lake that Shawn and I spend at least a couple of afternoons every week. I bring comfy clothes for Shawn to change into straight from work, and we walk at a pace to beat the sunset.

It's gorgeous here. Lush. Quiet. Crisp.
It's an easy jaunt for Shawn, and an actual workout for 36-week-pregnant me.
Shawn skips along without breaking a sweat, while I brace my belly with my hands on the steep parts and endure Braxton Hicks contraction after contraction. I have this gut feeling that one of these days, it'll be here at Radnor that I go into labor. I would love that. I'm not so sure Shawn would. :)

But the best part is our talks. Our long and busy days are winding to a close, and there's a sense of life and peace and contentment among us. Because we're together. Together at Radnor.

We pass a lot of babies in carriers and strollers and I still can't believe we're about to join them in a few short weeks. It won't be long until we need to hike in a more public place - you know, just in case I go into real labor when we're miles out - but for now, I really love this little tradition we have.

A night at the county fair.

It was just as lovely as it looked.

Joe Naturals.

Shawn and I have a very favorite restaurant that if you visit us in Nashville, we'll definitely take you there (incentive?). :) It's actually in a little town called Leiper's Fork just south of us that is beyond precious. It looks like a movie set, it's so quaint and Southern, but it's real. It feels like time slows down a little when you're there, and it's just what Saturday calls for on lots of weekends.

The front porch, complete with rocking chairs that are usually occupied.

Joe Naturals is our kind of restaurant. Locally grown, organic food - even gluten-free options! - that you just feel good about eating. And everyone I've talked to say that their burgers are the best in town. They make you feel like family, too, just like a good Southern restaurant should. :)

The view out back.

The veggie bowl: full of locally grown veggies, topped with homemade hummus and balsamic vinegar.

Shawn's favorite burger.

The lovely Kirra Sue.

"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend." 

- Robert Louis Stevenson

This weekend was a delight.
Miss Kirra Sue flew in Friday morning to visit our little hometown and stay a couple days.
It was a packed weekend to say the least, but we had a blast.

Some highlights:

- Yummy burgers and raw organic food at Joe's Naturals in Leiper's Fork
- Antique shops galore in Leiper's Fork and downtown Franklin
- The Farmer's Market at the Factory on Saturday morning
- Sushi at Wild Ginger
- An estate sale in a $7 million house
- Hobby Lobby. Enough said.
- Finding an amaaaazing deal on this vintage mixer that works. Leave it to Kirra to find such a gem in mounds of antiques.

- She could not believe all the animals here. I remember feeling the same way when I'd been in the city for several months, then returned home. Horses, cows, deer, birds, goats. On our way home from the airport, she kept pointing out every single animal and around one corner, we saw several brown cows and she said, "Whitney! What are those?!?" Maybe you had to be there, but it made me laugh. This girl's been in the city a little too long. :) I love it.

- Taking a painting class where I teach. She's a brave girl for trying something very new and out of the ordinary and I hope she posts pics of her painting - she did an awesome job!

- Taking in all the gorgeous Fall colors (and incredible 70-degree weather!) that are sticking around.


Overall, though, it was just a joy being together. I love that I can laugh [hard!] with her, craft with her, talk about the Lord openly with her, be challenged by her, or even just sit and not say anything at all (although that's rare). What a treat.



Thank you so, so much for spending your weekend with us (and thanks to Taylor, too, for sharing you for a couple days!). We are so blessed to have the Suttons in our lives!

Slowing down.

This weekend brought long, uninterrupted hours with my sweet husband. I needed it. We needed it. We were long past due to turn off our cell phones, take a leisurely drive, linger over a meal, and just be together.


We headed to Nashville on the hunt for a brunch spot with at least one gluten-free option (not as easy as it may sound). We tried Pancake Pantry, a personal favorite (and they have gluten-free pancakes!), but with about 50 people standing outside in line, it quickly became less appealing.


{Downtown Nashville}

{Warm, windows-down kind of drive.}

So we landed on this place, a new find for us.

{Gluten-free muffin. Score!}

On our way home, we stopped by the year-round Farmer's Market near downtown.
Are you getting tired of farmer's market pics? I feel like they're always on my blog... but hey. The love I have for them is deep in my heart.

But even fresher than a farmer's market, if I may say so myself, were these lovely veggies I picked from our own garden today.
This little garden of ours has exploded so much more than we expected!

Two kinds of tomatoes, a cucumber, squash, okra, jalapeños.
All in a day!
I'm trying to be patient enough to wait until our watermelons get full-size before picking them... I am way too excited about those.

Another fun find this weekend (from DrinkHaus) was this.
I've been on the hunt for a to-go mug for so long - one that's not plastic, that's cute, and can go in the dishwasher.
Could it get any cuter than this?
It's a porcelain cup with a silicone top and sleeve and a little removable tea kettle button to tie your tea bag string around.

I've also been doing some crafting this weekend to celebrate the re-opening of BrighterDay!
These little headbands and accessories will be in the shop in no time.

Hope you've enjoyed the hodgepodge of wonderful that was our weekend and enjoyed a hodgepodge of wonderful yourself.