Paw Patrol!

This past week we enjoyed the company of my sister Briana and brother-in-law Nick who flew in last minute to spend Thanksgiving with us! Gosh, those two are just the best. It isn't until one of my sisters comes into town that I remember how much I love my family and late night burger runs and pie and working out to AC/DC and not shaving my legs or bothering with makeup and constantly talking in terrible accents and pretending as if no time has passed at all while planning the layout of our shared home in the middle of nowhere. 

They left yesterday and as balm to the wound they've left on my heart since their departure, this video of Scout's reaction to the Paw Patrol dvd Adam purchased for the kids while Black Friday shopping has been on repeat. Catching this moment has been my greatest achievement this month. Besides still being able to nurse Piper. The fact that "the girls" still know what to do this late in the game is just so freaking awesome. 
Good job, ladies. 

Our Easter '15

Yesterday was the first time our little family has celebrated a holiday as just us and we had such a sweet, low-key day together creating our own memories and traditions. It was even more special since our church's general conference was broadcasted all weekend, and we decided to document our day by video. Although I'm nothing short of clueless when it comes to video-journaling, capturing these moments I take for granted every day and watching them played side-by-side made me realize just how incredible and pure my little ones are. 
How did we get so lucky? 

Easter 2015 from Britney Stevens on Vimeo.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter, celebrating and pondering on the sacrifice and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know this week has reminded me how much He loves us and wants to be in our lives, and being a wife and mom has taught me that more than anything. 

Here's to spring and bunnies and beautiful weather before the heat! 

Friendship Love Letters

As per usual this time of year, my mind can't help but be turned to thoughts and memories of things that I am most grateful for. It's sort of a sappy ritual, especially when it includes a gathering of people at a dinner table piled-high with high-calorie food, taking turns pulling out from underneath a year's worth of nonsense the most important things that truly make them grateful. And in my case, to keep the cheesy tradition alive, I'm so grateful for my family.
Of course.
But I mean it. And to dig a little deeper, I'm grateful for one specific time when it was just Jude and us. Don't get me wrong, we are all over-the-moon to have Scout in our lives, like, ridiculously so. But that summer that Jude was one-and-a-half and both Adam and I had the most uncomplicated jobs ever and we were the non-busiest I think we've ever been, not-to-mention having had an adorably chubby son in tote, and a beautiful city that really felt like our own at our finger-tips, I hold some of my fondest memories. The kind of memories that actually take you out of your body for a second and you're not sure how much time has lapsed when you finally snap back into reality. 
And I'm so gratitude that at that time in our lives our best friend Phil shot a video of us and all our favorite places, and went above-and-beyond to capture the love and warmth and joy we were experiencing at that time of being first-time parents gushing over our beautiful, little family. 
Phil and his wife, Jessica, are some of our greatest friends and not only did we have a blast shooting the video, but they always gave us their time and love as really honest friends. No matter what we were doing--dessert date night, going to the Saturday market, bbqing, fruit-picking, YouTube video watching, binge-eating--we always had the best time. And right before they moved away from us, looking back now, I see now how they really, inadvertently, sent us off with a video that culminated our mutual love of family, Portland and the many things we used to do together as friends. 
And I know I've posted this video before, but it means so much more to me even now than it did then, looking back on all we've all been through and done these last two years.
We love you Phil and Jessica! Thanks again! (and the offer to move in with us still stands. SLEEPOVER!)

Also, it's way better to view if you click the link below the video. Which also takes you to Phil's Vimeo site where you can view all of his stellar videos. 


Instagram In Love from Phillip Goodwin on Vimeo.

Jude and Meema

All last week we were up in upstate New York enjoying the beautiful Adirondacks at Lake George! This year was extra-special because our near-90-year-old Grandma Handley came all the way from Missouri to spend the week with us, along with one of my aunts and cousins. It was a total blast and well-deserved, especially for our poor, neglected Jude who is constantly trying to peel this mama off of the couch. Hey, I made you lunch, didn't I? 

While I sort through photos, here's my favorite video of the trip:
Jude and Great Grandma (Meema) really bonded over the week and he gets so excited to see her now and give her kisses :).


Meema and Jude from Britney Stevens on Vimeo.

Tears, people. Tears. 

Just give me a minute

I have a new excuse for not being a consistent blogger--and it's only one word this time: Pathophysiology. 
Basically, I'm graduating this December with my bachelors of science in nursing and I saved this dreadful class until my last academic, dying breath. 
So anyway, until I get the hang of 120+ pages of notes per exam and can stop staring at that picture of that guy with neurofibromatosis, I'm going to be a little absent. Follow me on Instagram if you miss my bad habit of posting too many pictures of my child--I'll never kick it. 
I also included a video of us at the park a few days ago. Jude's main thrill in life is a slide, as you can very well see. 
Warning: click on that link if you're curious. but you might die. 

This is a big deal: "Instagram In Love"

I am beyond excited to finally share with you all a project that we've been working on!
Right before we left for vacation, one of our best friends Phillip Goodwin shot a video of our little family enjoying all the things we love about our home in Portland. 
We have been so blessed and grateful to have such a talented friend in our life. 
We shot the whole video over the course of about three days and although exhausting, it was a total blast. Phil made the whole experience one that we will look back on with great fondness. We honestly felt as though we were just a bunch of neighborhood kids--like the ones from Super Eight--filming each other and our story. 

Thanks so much, Phil! Cheers to you and all of your awesomeness!! 
Here's a link to Phillip Goodwin's website to check out some of his other videos: pgoodwin.com


Instagram In Love from Phillip Goodwin on Vimeo.

It Happened

Well. It happened.
Jude said it. 
And he's said it a bajillion times over and over again since. 
"Dada." 
It melts my, and especially Dada's, heart!!
Jude: you. are. too. cute. 
Maybe one day soon you'll realize what you're actually saying. But for now, you're hilarious. And you won't shut up. Once you realized you could say something, you haven't stopped saying anything! And we love it :) 



Oh, hunny bunny. All you have to do now is shut those little lips and say "mmmmmmama." 

My first Tim Tam Slam

I want to thank my wonderful, beautiful friend Haley for sending me the most deliciously naughty treat I've ever come across. This treat is the kind where you can feel the cellulite packing into the back of your thighs, but you just. don't. care. 
"OMG" is an understatement. 
Thank you, Haley, for introducing me to my newest favorite dessert/treat/morning-afternoon snack/stash-in-the-diaper-bag. 
I couldn't have asked for a better gift--or a better friend! 


Video by Adam Stevens. 

Best friends

My boys are best friends.
And as best friends, Adam looks for ways to make Jude laugh. 
And Jude humors him. 
Here's their newest game. And evidence as to the origin of Jude's dufus laugh. 

Another Video...

Last night, we decided to capture on video the pure love that our son has for computers. This love transcends any time, toy, height, comfort, or "no-no Jude." And it happens literally every time a computer is opened within reach. 
It's absolutely maddening. 
Especially since literally almost every time he smacks his sticky little hands on the keyboard he exits the page you're on or shuts down the computer.

I know everyone wants a Mac, for heaven's sake, but save up your baby-food jars and baby Gerber puffs and get your own. 

When Daddy Comes Home...

...it's freak-out time and non-stop playtime till bedtime. :) 

I'll admit it. Daddy's his favorite. But Mommy's got food. So there's no comparison--you haven't seen how much oatmeal my kid can put down. 
Nevertheless, this is just one of the things that warms my heart everyday at 5-5:15pm. 

Hello, Is It Me You're Looking For?

For the past couple of weeks we've noticed that when we would say hi to Jude or call his name he would utter the same, "ehh". and we're realizing that this is his way of saying, "hi." I caught a little of it on video, but the best is when he pops up from the coffee table and says "Hee!" I swear that's him saying, "Hey." 
Most talented kid in the world?
You know it.
Most talented kid in the world that is also 7 months today?
I might cry while watching all of Jude's home videos and eating a whole sleeve of Oreos. 


Also, last night our wonderful friends/neighbors/common church-goers showed up at our door with a freshly baked pumpkin pie and ice cream to share with us.
Do they win the best neighbors EVER award?
Well let's think about it:
Pumpkin pie = fall magic and always on my cravings list
Ice cream = always. forever. 
Coming over unannounced at 9PM, which is my normal post-bedtime snack time = messengers from the holy land of sweet, sweet confections. 
We love them. And their pie.