This boy...the boy who made me a mama. He always knows how to make me smile. Like when he cups my face in his little hands and gives me a kiss, or tells me, "I wuv you sooo much!" He is so excited about being a big brother, and his days as an only child are quickly ticking away. I don't know how he is going to handle having a baby in the house at first. However, I do know that this new little babe is a lucky one. His brother is so full of love. 

Rowan recently turned 2.5 and I thought it would be a good time to do a little update. 

He has the silliest laugh, and he finds the littlest things hilarious...to be a kid again. I think he develops a new facial expression everyday, and they are all very entertaining. I call him my little water bug, because he will do anything to splash and play in water. He loves swimming, baths, and even "helping" me do dishes. He has some funny phrases that he uses regularly..."Of course!" is one of my favorites and he still says, "I want to hold you," when he wants picked up. It is the sweetest! He loves going to the farm and insists on wearing his farm boots anytime we take a trip to see the goats and cows. He has just started requesting to look at pictures of Row Row...he loves to tell me what he is doing in each picture and I love looking back through all those sweet memories.

I know they warn you that time flies by, but I honestly cannot believe how quickly he has grown.

These sweet pictures are all thanks to Angie Jackson Photography! I will be sharing more from our last session as a family of three very soon!

So, I keep telling you that progress is getting made on the house, and that I can't wait to start decorating and pulling the spaces together...but if you are anything like me, you probably want to see some pretty pictures! Well, right now our addition isn't much to look at, but I did pin some inspiration for our laundry room/mudroom that I thought I would share with you.

I want the space to feel light filled and airy. I am a lover of natural light, so I begged for lots of windows through out the addition. I plan on keeping the colors light (probably a white shiplap or light gray) and adding some dark accents, like painting the backdoor black.

We are actually getting a stackable washer and dryer to save room. I have heard great things about them...but I will admit, I was hesitant at first. Does anyone have experience with them? Please share!

The house progress has actually surprised me. I know my poor husband is still stressed out about deadlines and this baby (which is due to arrive in 9 weeks!) Our original plan was to have the addition done before the addition arrived, and I think that Dane would still like to see that happen. I have pretty much decided that I need to relax and let the pieces come together when they do. 

I will be honest, I am a little nervous that I have done almost NOTHING to prepare for the babe's arrival, but I am not going to let it stress me out. I figure that he will be in our room (whichever room that may be) for a few months anyway. So, why worry about a nursery at the moment. 

Okay, here is a rundown of the progress that has taken place. The basement is poured, has stairs, and there are interior walls framed up! I took a peek down there the other day, and it was fun to visualize how we are going to get to use that space. Birthday parties, friend gatherings, so many options...I am excited! The main level which consists of a master suite, laundry/mudroom, and kitchen expansion, is all framed. AND the upper level (office + playroom) is almost all framed up! We still need stairs to the upper level, but they will be done soon! 

I am not stressing about when this project gets done, but the idea of actually living in the space makes my heart so happy! I cannot wait. Dane and Rowan slept in the other morning and I decided to spend some quiet time in the addition. I wrote some of my favorite verses around the space and prayed that these walls would be witness to many blessings. I cannot wait to have the opportunity and space to open up our home for friends and family to gather...and when that day comes, I hope that we are able to share God's love with all who enter. 

Are you on Instagram? Check out #fletchersgrowinghome for more updates about our home renovation!

One of our favorite summer activities is camping and spending time at the lake. Since we have started using essential oils, camping has become even more enjoyable...especially with a little one! So, I decided to put together a little list of all of our favorite essential oil goodies and recipes that have made us happy campers.

Bugs

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of camping...bugs, bugs, and more bugs. I get it, we are out there in the wilderness invading their territory, but I would really rather them not bite me or my family. Lucky for us, Young Living just released an insect repellent that is 30% more efficacious than other top selling natural insect repellents. It is such a relief knowing that we can enjoy the outdoors bug free and without worrying about what we are putting on our skin. 

Soak up the Sun & Have Some Fun

We love soaking up the sunshine at the lake, but it is also important to protect your skin from burns. Young Living has made this easy with the new Mineral Sunscreen Lotion. I love this sunscreen so much! It seems to go on much smoother than other natural sunscreens that we have used, which is helpful when you have a squirmy, impatient toddler.

We have always been lucky enough to camp near water. Perfect for swimming, fishing, and boating! As a kid I remember how much fun it was to go tubing out on the lake. I am sure that some of the grown ups would have enjoyed it even more if they had some Deep Relief handy for afterwards. ;) It has a special spot in our camping bag now.

Keep Clean

Let's be real...camping is not always the cleanest activity. Whether you have a fancy camper with a nice bathroom setup or you have to do your business in an outhouse, it never feels quite as clean as indoor facilities. We don't go camping without Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier. Regardless of how I look (camp hair, don't care) I at least know that I am clean. AND I feel totally safe using that on Rowan...who knows what kind of frogs, bugs, and other unmentionables are touched while exploring.

We also make sure to pack Thieves Spray for quickly cleaning surfaces.

Gather Around the Fire

When the sun goes down, we love to sit around the fire for s'mores and good music...and sometimes a drink or two. Unless you are a super camping expert (Disclaimer: I am NOT a super camping expert!) you may not come prepared with things like orange slices for your favorite fireside beverage. Do not fear...a drop of Orange Vitality will do the trick. 

For the campfire lovers out there. This diffuser combo is one of my favorites! 

2 drops of Vetiver

2 drops of Ylang Ylang

Sweet Dreams

Sleeping in a tent or camper or any bed other than your own is not always ideal. Spritz some Sweet Dreams Spray on your pillows before dozing off. The combo of Lavender and Cedarwood helps promote a restful sleep. We haven't had the chance to take Rowan camping for the night yet, but you better believe that his blankie will get a spritz or two of this when we do. 

Sweet Dreams Spray

In a 2 oz. spray bottle add

10 drops of lavender

10 drops of cedarwood

a splash of witch hazel

and fill up with water

Shake and spray! :)

I am not kidding when I say that we use every single day. Even when we are "roughing it" in the great outdoors. ;)

What are some of your favorite camping activities and tips?