Welcome to {This Heart}

Alright, alright, alright, look.

There are lots of blogs out there. So why read mine?

I honestly couldn’t tell you. 

I began a blog for the same reason that many moms do – I wanted to savor those fleeting, perfect moments with my children. Like those days where they spontaneously hold one another’s hands without you asking? Or the days where they kiss you and tell you that you’re the greatest mommy in the whole world and you’re so skinny?

And at the same time, I wanted to have a release on the days when things get hairy.  You know, the days where your kid stuck a toy train in the oven and it melted when preheated it to cook dinner? The days where you spend thirty minutes scrubbing the bathtub only to have your youngest child immediately poop in it?

If you stick around, you’re going to read about hard parenting days complete with nights without sleep, kids who argue about ridiculous things and saggy baby belly.

You’re also going to read about some mushy stuff. Like my faith in a loving, almighty God. My attempts to be lady-like in the company of strangers. My attempts to find humor in kids waking me up at all hours of the night.

I’ve been featured on Scary Mommy, For Every Mom and The Huffington Post.

What’s her face?: Ashley aka Big Patty

Status: Married to an awesome guy. Mother to three. Currently living the small town life on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Size 9 and a half feet. Lover of sushi, books and “Love Shack” by the B-52’s. Drinks coffee like water on occasion…okay, so every day.

Nemeses: Being on time, waking up early, not losing things, spiders, Lena Dunham, baked beans, self-righteous parents, bears, trying to blog with a baby on my lap and diet soda.

Vice’s: celebrity gossip, the occasional swear word, Dr. Pepper, leggings, dancing in the car to the radio and buying the same shirt in three different colors. 

I dabble in photography. I live dangerously by staying awake past 11, watching reruns on Netflix. I’m a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl and a recently self-professed lover of Maryland.

I’m married to quite a guy, who never ceases in loving me despite my greatest faults and the fact that I snore and steal his shirts to wear when he isn’t looking.

We attend a local church that has become like a second family to us. We seek to raise God-centered children. We are thankful for a God who loves mercifully, even when it is not deserved.  We preach grace around here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Start Here:

Jesus is the Giving Tree

So It Ain’t So

The Truth About Motherhood

Why Moms Might Need a Blog

Dear My Children: I don’t want you to always have it easy

Dear first time parents: Just you wait

When Motherhood Feels Big

My Children Ruined Me

“So what if your life’s going to be messy.

Perfect isn’t the plan. Purpose is.” 

-Ann Voskamp