Valentines Day + Our Weekend
2/17/2015
Hi loves!
I hope you all had fabulous weekends and enjoyed a romantic valentines day, or a relaxing one (which is better than romance in my book).
Austin had a four day weekend which was so wonderful. We spent Friday playing tea party and little people on the floor with Lilly for a good chunk of the day. Then Austin took Lilly out to go visit friends while I stayed home for some "mommy time". Sadly it mostly consisted of cleaning. I did try to relax my tired pregnant body, but I couldnt miss the oportunity to get uninterupted chores done so I cleaned.
For Valentines we started our day off exchanging valentines gifts and eating a strawberry pancake breakfast, a family favorite. After that Austin and I debated leaving Lilly with her Nana and Poppy so we could go on a date but ended up deciding that we would rather spend the day avoiding crowds and being lazy. So I spent valentines just how I love, in sweat pants watching movies and eating pizza.
Sunday we decided to go out and get a little shopping done, and grab a nice (late) valentines dinner. It was a nice day out, but also very exhausting. This mama stuffed her face and came home to curl up on the couch and watch the bachelor.
Typically on Mondays I get cleaning done but Austin got up in the morning with Lilly and let me get some extra sleep. I didn't get up until around eleven and let me tell you, it was so nice. Growing a human is no joke, I am so tired these days.Once I was up I got the laundry started and got some cleaning done so we could take a family beach trip. Lilly loved collecting shells and walking up and down the beach. She insisted on holding BOTH of our hands, and it basically melted me into a pile of mush.
We are still waiting to close on our house, but it looks like we should be able to soon. I am trying not to get my hopes up but they are even saying this week. As of today I am 31 weeks pregnant and man am I feeling it. But I am in no rush for P to arrive because we have so much to do before she comes and I sure am feeling the pressure.
Is this really happening?
2/12/2015
I am just a couple months away from bringing home Baby P and my emotions are all over the place.
The day Lilly was born was the best day of my life, and I have never experienced something so magical. I have told Austin many times that the feeling of seeing your child for the first time is an addicting feeling. There is no greater high. But here I am so close to that magical feeling, scared out of my mind, yet so anxious to hold her.
This entire pregnancy we have been so focused on moving and finding a house that we haven't had time to just sit and focus on the life growing inside me. I am sure that has a lot to do with my emotions, and the hormones cant possibly be helping. But the truth is, I am feeling very anxious about how close we are to Baby P arriving.
I constantly worry how this will all effect Lilly. If the house is going to be ready in time. Or how I can nurse a baby all night, but still have energy for a toddler during the day. I want to be supermom, and I doubt my ability with two kids.
I know a lot of this is normal, and I know other woman do it. But for real, how do they do it?
Mostly, I just want to find a way to chill out, stop feeling so crazy, and enjoy these last ten weeks.
The day Lilly was born was the best day of my life, and I have never experienced something so magical. I have told Austin many times that the feeling of seeing your child for the first time is an addicting feeling. There is no greater high. But here I am so close to that magical feeling, scared out of my mind, yet so anxious to hold her.
This entire pregnancy we have been so focused on moving and finding a house that we haven't had time to just sit and focus on the life growing inside me. I am sure that has a lot to do with my emotions, and the hormones cant possibly be helping. But the truth is, I am feeling very anxious about how close we are to Baby P arriving.
I constantly worry how this will all effect Lilly. If the house is going to be ready in time. Or how I can nurse a baby all night, but still have energy for a toddler during the day. I want to be supermom, and I doubt my ability with two kids.
I know a lot of this is normal, and I know other woman do it. But for real, how do they do it?
Mostly, I just want to find a way to chill out, stop feeling so crazy, and enjoy these last ten weeks.
must have list for pregnancy no. 2
2/11/2015
When I was pregnant with
Lilly I felt like there was so much I needed. I seriously had a giant list that seemed to be never ending. With this baby there is no
massive list, just things I have grabbed as I needed them. Here are the few things I have found the most helpful during this pregnancy.
1. During Victoria's Secret semi-anual sale I grabbed a pair of sweatpants similar to these
and I basically live in them. They are so comfortable, don't bother my
tummy, and will for sure be in the hospital bag.
2. This pregnancy I also went ahead and stocked up in some boyshort undies a size up, and it was a brilliant idea. I didn't do this last pregnancy, and I wish I would have because I am so much more comfortable. I know these will also come in handy post partum.
2. This pregnancy I also went ahead and stocked up in some boyshort undies a size up, and it was a brilliant idea. I didn't do this last pregnancy, and I wish I would have because I am so much more comfortable. I know these will also come in handy post partum.
3. My biggest splurge for this pregnancy was the bumpnest.
I was nervous to buy it because I had purchased the boppy pregnancy
pillow for my last pregnancy and was not impressed. The bumpnest gives my back and belly support at the same time,
and is so comfortable. Although the pillow does loose stiffness over time but
it can be fluffed back up, and still provides support, and comfort. Another feature
about the bumpnest I love is the removable pillow case for easy washing.
I purchased my pillow on sale, which the website seems to have pretty
often, and I have to say it was worth every cent and more.
4. Water. Water. Water. I am the WORST at making sure I drink lots of water, which is unfortunate since it is so important when you are growing a baby. I have found the best way to make sure I am getting enough water is to carry a water bottle around with me and track how much I am drinking. There are even apps you can use if you need the extra motivation or reminder.
5. Shea Butter has been my go to for strech mark prevention for both pregnancies and I must say it has worked very well. I was told it is very important that it is 100% shea butter and I tried a few different brands during my first pregnancy. But I always came back to the Bath & Body Works body balm. Their shea butter seemed to be much smoother, easier to apply, once it was warmed up in my hands. It also seems to last a lot longer than other brands.
I will also say a large supply of nachos are great to have around, although not required.
4. Water. Water. Water. I am the WORST at making sure I drink lots of water, which is unfortunate since it is so important when you are growing a baby. I have found the best way to make sure I am getting enough water is to carry a water bottle around with me and track how much I am drinking. There are even apps you can use if you need the extra motivation or reminder.
5. Shea Butter has been my go to for strech mark prevention for both pregnancies and I must say it has worked very well. I was told it is very important that it is 100% shea butter and I tried a few different brands during my first pregnancy. But I always came back to the Bath & Body Works body balm. Their shea butter seemed to be much smoother, easier to apply, once it was warmed up in my hands. It also seems to last a lot longer than other brands.
I will also say a large supply of nachos are great to have around, although not required.
our weekend
2/10/2015
A few weeks ago Austin started at his new command here and he typically has every Friday off, this is a huge blessing and gives us some quality family time. So on Friday we started our three day weekend off
with a check up for Baby P, which Austin and Lilly joined me for. Lilly
is all about bellies and belly buttons right now, so she was super
interested in why someone is lifting up my shirt and looking at mommy's
belly. After my check-up we went and grabbed me some lunch because I was starving - am I the only one obsessed with Subway deli sandwiches by the way? Then we took a little drive to the next town over to look for a homemade soap store that Austin had heard about. He is into shaving supplies right now and we were hoping to find somewhere local to get his goodies. We never ended up finding the store but Lilly got to take a nap in the car before we ran our errands and Austin and I got to enjoy how gorgeous life is here on the island.
In general I have been feeling pretty good but this weekend I started having LOTS of braxton hicks and I am hitting that very uncomfortable stage of pregnancy. I also started having major pain in my lower back this weekend - probably because my crazy dog jumped on me. So I spent a majority of Saturday and Sunday laying in bed or on the couch with a heating pad. With ten weeks to go I am trying to just find ways to make myself as comfortable as possible, and hoping we get into our house soon so I can have my big comfy bed back.
On Saturday Austin sent me out to get a pedicure and try to relax. I ended up getting some fake nails put on as well, so I was gone for quite awhile. I shouldn't be allowed to make decisions while pregnant because I am pretty sure I will end up regretting the fake nails, but it was nice to get out of the house for a few hours and have some mama time.
On Sunday we had plans to hop on the ferry and go see a dear friend but because of my back we had to cancel. I may or may not still be upset about this. But I ended up putting together Lillys new Little People Klip Klop stable, which she LOVES. I honestly don't think I have ever seen her so excited about something in a long time and it really made my heart so happy. It makes it hard not to spoil her when she is so over the moon about new things, but I suppose it is something I will just have to work on with time.
After her short nap we headed over to the local pottery painting studio and painted me a new coffee mug and put her little hand prints on it. I cant wait till it is fired in the kiln and I can get it back. It will be a new favorite I am sure. After that we walked over to a new Italian restaurant in town and grabbed some dinner. We didn't love our food, but we had a great family night and ended our weekend on a great note.
I can not believe next weekend is Valentines and considering we are still living at my moms waiting for our house I really have no clue what to do. In my dreams we will magically close this week and we can enjoy a pizza and movie on the ipad while laying in a pile of pillows in front of our fireplace. BUT that isn't going to happen so I am more than open to suggestions y'all, actually I am basically begging for some.
I hope everyone else had great weekends full of time with those they love, and I would love to hear what your plans for valentines are.
In general I have been feeling pretty good but this weekend I started having LOTS of braxton hicks and I am hitting that very uncomfortable stage of pregnancy. I also started having major pain in my lower back this weekend - probably because my crazy dog jumped on me. So I spent a majority of Saturday and Sunday laying in bed or on the couch with a heating pad. With ten weeks to go I am trying to just find ways to make myself as comfortable as possible, and hoping we get into our house soon so I can have my big comfy bed back.
On Saturday Austin sent me out to get a pedicure and try to relax. I ended up getting some fake nails put on as well, so I was gone for quite awhile. I shouldn't be allowed to make decisions while pregnant because I am pretty sure I will end up regretting the fake nails, but it was nice to get out of the house for a few hours and have some mama time.
On Sunday we had plans to hop on the ferry and go see a dear friend but because of my back we had to cancel. I may or may not still be upset about this. But I ended up putting together Lillys new Little People Klip Klop stable, which she LOVES. I honestly don't think I have ever seen her so excited about something in a long time and it really made my heart so happy. It makes it hard not to spoil her when she is so over the moon about new things, but I suppose it is something I will just have to work on with time.
After her short nap we headed over to the local pottery painting studio and painted me a new coffee mug and put her little hand prints on it. I cant wait till it is fired in the kiln and I can get it back. It will be a new favorite I am sure. After that we walked over to a new Italian restaurant in town and grabbed some dinner. We didn't love our food, but we had a great family night and ended our weekend on a great note.
I can not believe next weekend is Valentines and considering we are still living at my moms waiting for our house I really have no clue what to do. In my dreams we will magically close this week and we can enjoy a pizza and movie on the ipad while laying in a pile of pillows in front of our fireplace. BUT that isn't going to happen so I am more than open to suggestions y'all, actually I am basically begging for some.
I hope everyone else had great weekends full of time with those they love, and I would love to hear what your plans for valentines are.
Behind The Blog - Ashlee
2/09/2015
This week for Behind the Blog we have one of my absolute favorite mama's to follow on instagram, Ashlee of Little Lovelies. I have had the pleasure of personally getting to know Ashlee through the blogging world and she is such a kind and wonderful woman. Her daughter Laikyn is so beyond adorable, and very close to Lilly in age. The closeness in age has made it extra fun to watch Laikyn grow through pictures and here we are both pregnant with our second baby.
I am Ashlee, 29-year-old Kindergarten teacher turned stay at home mama to my 19 month old daughter, Laikyn Cree. Before LC (which I call Laikyn often), my husband, Brett, and I dated for 4 years, were engaged for 8 months and tied the knot in an amazing aviation themed wedding in 2011. Read about our wedding {HERE}.
Exactly five days short of 2 years later, LC was born! Laikyn is our first "real baby" as we have our first born "fur baby" who is bigger than all 3 of us. He is a Great Dane named Tucker. Really though, he should be human. Brett runs a family-owned cotton gin and works so hard for our family. We live in a teensy-tiny town called Seminole which is 80 miles from the closest Starbucks or Target. I know you feel very sorry for me at this moment....but really, it's a perfect place to raise a family. For that, I am incredibly blessed. I was raised in the panhandle of Texas in an almost as equally small town called Canyon (ever heard of the Palo Duro Canyon, 2nd biggest Canyon next to Grand Canyon)?
Brett and I met in college where we went to West Texas A&M in my hometown and dated for 4 years. He popped the question flying over West Texas as the sunset (he is a pilot as well). You can read our engagement story {HERE}. It was super dreamy. I graduated in 2008 from WTAMU with a Bachelor's degree and certification to teach early childhood through 4th grade and began teaching Kindergarten for 2 years before Brett graduated with a Bachelor's in Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences. Then we got married and moved here to Seminole. After moving, I taught for 2 years here and then made the hardest yet most rewarding decision ever to stay home with our newborn. 19 months later, I'm still going strong and loving it, as well as finishing my Masters degree (9 more hours to go)!! We recently found out that we will be adding another sweet little angel girl to our family in June 2015! LC will be such a great big sister, and I can't wait to see sweet sisters play together! I am 21 weeks pregnant now, due June 17th with baby 2.0. You can read about my weekly journey of pregnancy and motherhood at my blog {HERE}.
Blogging became my outlet once I moved away from all of my friends and family. I started it just to keep everyone in the loop and post pictures (before Instagram was so easy) and it slowly turned into a fashion blog which then turned into a pregnancy blog....now here I am, a fashion/beauty/pregnancy/mommy/lifestyle blogger. Basically, you can find anything under the moon on my blog.
I enjoy reading and baking (although I don't get much of that done with a toddler) as well as shopping and taking pictures of my little model for some super adorable Instagram/Mama shops! {HERE} is my Instagram. I love spending time with my family and traveling! Lately, I've just been enjoying pregnancy and helping my little family transition into a family of FOUR!
I am Ashlee, 29-year-old Kindergarten teacher turned stay at home mama to my 19 month old daughter, Laikyn Cree. Before LC (which I call Laikyn often), my husband, Brett, and I dated for 4 years, were engaged for 8 months and tied the knot in an amazing aviation themed wedding in 2011. Read about our wedding {HERE}.
Exactly five days short of 2 years later, LC was born! Laikyn is our first "real baby" as we have our first born "fur baby" who is bigger than all 3 of us. He is a Great Dane named Tucker. Really though, he should be human. Brett runs a family-owned cotton gin and works so hard for our family. We live in a teensy-tiny town called Seminole which is 80 miles from the closest Starbucks or Target. I know you feel very sorry for me at this moment....but really, it's a perfect place to raise a family. For that, I am incredibly blessed. I was raised in the panhandle of Texas in an almost as equally small town called Canyon (ever heard of the Palo Duro Canyon, 2nd biggest Canyon next to Grand Canyon)?
Brett and I met in college where we went to West Texas A&M in my hometown and dated for 4 years. He popped the question flying over West Texas as the sunset (he is a pilot as well). You can read our engagement story {HERE}. It was super dreamy. I graduated in 2008 from WTAMU with a Bachelor's degree and certification to teach early childhood through 4th grade and began teaching Kindergarten for 2 years before Brett graduated with a Bachelor's in Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences. Then we got married and moved here to Seminole. After moving, I taught for 2 years here and then made the hardest yet most rewarding decision ever to stay home with our newborn. 19 months later, I'm still going strong and loving it, as well as finishing my Masters degree (9 more hours to go)!! We recently found out that we will be adding another sweet little angel girl to our family in June 2015! LC will be such a great big sister, and I can't wait to see sweet sisters play together! I am 21 weeks pregnant now, due June 17th with baby 2.0. You can read about my weekly journey of pregnancy and motherhood at my blog {HERE}.
Blogging became my outlet once I moved away from all of my friends and family. I started it just to keep everyone in the loop and post pictures (before Instagram was so easy) and it slowly turned into a fashion blog which then turned into a pregnancy blog....now here I am, a fashion/beauty/pregnancy/mommy/lifestyle blogger. Basically, you can find anything under the moon on my blog.
I enjoy reading and baking (although I don't get much of that done with a toddler) as well as shopping and taking pictures of my little model for some super adorable Instagram/Mama shops! {HERE} is my Instagram. I love spending time with my family and traveling! Lately, I've just been enjoying pregnancy and helping my little family transition into a family of FOUR!
pinspiration for our new home - playroom
2/06/2015
Well here we are STILL waiting to close on the house. It feels like it is taking an eternity, but that is probably because we are living with my mom and I am 29 weeks pregnant. Right now we are waiting on the other agent to get a contractor to fix a few issues, then we just have to get the house reinspected, and we can close. It is looking like another 2 weeks minimum, which is frustrating when we only were supposed to need two weeks as it was. In the meantime I just need to find ways to deal with the situation. I had to trust in God that he would find us the right house, and now I have to trust that he will get us into it in time for Baby P to make her arrival.
One of the things I am most excited about in this new home is that Lilly and Baby P will have a playroom; and one of the hardest parts about having our stuff in storage is Lilly not having her toys. Honestly it has been really hard being away from our things, and I can not wait to get them back and give Lilly such a special place to play.
The room that will become the girls playroom has a bay window, so we will be building a bench seat. I always dreamed about reading in a window seat as a kid so I am so excited to finally be able to do it, also that my girls will grow up being able to.
Since Lilly will be spending most of her time playing in her play room, and I will be spending lots of time nursing and caring for baby P it is very important I find a way to keep us all together. I plan on getting a giant comfy chair for the playroom so that I can nurse the baby in there instead of on the couch. I want one large enough that Lilly can also come up with us and cuddle if she wishes. The last thing I want is for Lilly to feel left out and I am hoping by us spending the day in the playroom (instead of the family room) she will feel as important as she is.
I know Lilly is going to be beyond thrilled for her new playroom, and I really can not wait to give her the toys she is missing and space to play like the adventurous 18 month old she is.
One of the things I am most excited about in this new home is that Lilly and Baby P will have a playroom; and one of the hardest parts about having our stuff in storage is Lilly not having her toys. Honestly it has been really hard being away from our things, and I can not wait to get them back and give Lilly such a special place to play.
The room that will become the girls playroom has a bay window, so we will be building a bench seat. I always dreamed about reading in a window seat as a kid so I am so excited to finally be able to do it, also that my girls will grow up being able to.
To say we have a lot of toys is an understatement. I am basically a giant kid myself so I have a hard time not buying a new toy every time we go to the store, which means we have ended up with way to many toys. With that being said, lots of storage is going to be a must. We will be using a bookshelf, toy box, and lots of bins to keep all the girls stuff organized.
I cant wait to get Lilly's tepee set up for her again. I really miss our snuggles and reading books in it, and this playroom has the perfect corner for it. Since moving Lilly has also started learning to color, well by color I mean scribble on a page. So we will also be creating an art gallery to hang all her work up which is something I really cant wait to see. I loved arts and crafts and look forward to letting my girls be creative and messy. There also will be a kitchen area for the girls, complete with grocery cart and fake food. Lilly is really into "making tea" right now and I often find myself daydreaming about our first tea party in her playroom.
Since Lilly will be spending most of her time playing in her play room, and I will be spending lots of time nursing and caring for baby P it is very important I find a way to keep us all together. I plan on getting a giant comfy chair for the playroom so that I can nurse the baby in there instead of on the couch. I want one large enough that Lilly can also come up with us and cuddle if she wishes. The last thing I want is for Lilly to feel left out and I am hoping by us spending the day in the playroom (instead of the family room) she will feel as important as she is.
I know Lilly is going to be beyond thrilled for her new playroom, and I really can not wait to give her the toys she is missing and space to play like the adventurous 18 month old she is.
You can find all these pins and their links on my Pinterest profile.
Behind the Blog - Heather
2/02/2015
Okay, I know this little series got completely neglected in my little blogging hiatus but I really am back, and so is Behind the Blog. So today I have an awesome mama to introduce to y'all named Heather. She blogs over at I lay Smiling, and I really hope you take the time to check her out.
Hi! I'm Heather.
I'm 26.
I
married my high school sweetheart Jared, almost 5 years ago on
11.14.09, and I'm still in awe of how amazing life with him is. He's
been my best friend for 13 years now and our love story is my absolute
favorite.
We
had our first baby boy, Rowan Michael on 11.11.11, and a baby girl,
Briar Elizabeth Story on 7.22.13. Being a wife and their mama.... it was
like finally finding myself. I've never been so sure of what I was
meant to do, or so happy in it. Not a day goes by that I'm not thankful
for this amazing life.
I
feed off of creativity, and I love guiding my babies in it as well. I
like to make pretty things. I paint, draw, and love DIY projects of
almost any kind. Fashion, and taking care to be happy with how I look is
important to me as well. Photography is another creative outlet for me,
and I'm just starting to learn more about it.
I
love reading, especially reading blogs, I'm a tv show junkie (J and I
re-watch our favorites on a constant loop), online shopping, being
outside, and cooking/baking.
I wasn't an organized or clean person until I
had kids. I'm a big believer in doing what you're called to do well.
And I couldn't be good at raising two babies, being a wife and a
homemaker if we were living in an unorganized mess. It just stresses me
out. So another thing I enjoy is keeping a clean house, and always
working to do better at it. Not to say that I don't struggle with it-
because I do! But its something I'll always be working on. To be
organized and intentional in the way that we're invested in raising our
babies. With love, and lots of play, reading, crafting, learning,
exploring, and growing.
I
live in a small town in upstate NY, in a house we bought 1 year and a
half ago, (though we've been living here for 3 years), that just
happens to be next door to my in-laws!
I
started blogging four years ago, shortly after Jared and I got married.
Its something I have grown to love more and more as the years have
passed.
If
you want to follow along, expect to see lots of posts on our life
together as a family, milestones as our babies grow, how our life is
guided by our faith in Christ, fashion posts, some DIY and the
occasional recipe, some poetry, and lots and lots and lots of pictures.
Posts on whatever is interesting to me at the time.
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