winter blues

I don't know about you but I am so over winter, and I'm pretty sure Lily is too. Often times I will see her just staring out the window and I know she's secretly wishing she were outside playing at the park, having a picnic on the porch, filling the driveway with sidewalk chalk, taking long walks through the undiscovered parts of our neighborhood.....well ok maybe she's not thinking ALL of those things, but I sure am.

This winter I've had to get a little creative with things to keep Lily busy and ways to beat the boredom of the same ol' same ol' when we are stuck indoors. Thankfully pinterest is full of fun ideas for little ones and I picked up a few other ideas from my cousin as well. So, I thought I'd share them with you because it looks like we will be experiencing at least a few more weeks of this cold stuff!

Here's just a handful of ways we tried to beat the winter blues around our house.......

Watching movies and listening to books on the ipad - brother even got in on this one!

Bringing snow inside to play with, sort, pile, eat, you know - all the fun stuff.

I found these play dough and puff ball (don't know the technical name for them) print outs on pinterest and they are so fun. They are different shapes, numbers, letters, colors and the kiddo has to just place the puff balls and/or play dough on them to create a picture. Lily loves this one! I also thought this would be a great thing for the car. I bought a binder and those plastic paper covers and made her her own little binder full of them.

We baked, and ate, chocolate chip cookies!

We tried out our decent sized hill with some sledding and snow man building with our cousins for the day!

Baking soda and vinegar - who knew something so easy could be so much fun! My cousins blog gave me this idea and Lily loved it. I filled a small pan with a thin layer of baking soda then placed vinegar in a handful of small bowls - used food color to die the vinegar, and then we used medicine droppers to squeeze the vinegar onto the baking soda. Lily loved watching it bubble up and of course doing it herself.

Salt. Another one from my cousins blog - I took a small tupperware and filled it with salt, then let Lily use her finger to draw things in the salt. Another simple thing that she loved. Although I must share, this one was going really well so I thought I'd sneak upstairs quick to lay Preston down and let Lily continue playing. Bad idea, I came downstairs to salt all over the kitchen floor. Lily's reaction "whoopsies Mommy, don't know what happened...." Right.......

Give mommy a pedicure! Haha - I only add this one because my lovely husband DID give me a nice foot rub while we were back at his parents one weekend and of course Lily had to help. Although this may come in handy in a few years.....:)

We painted finger nails - Lily absolutely LOVES having her finger nails painted. Most every day she gets into the cabinet where I keep all my polish and brings one to me telling me to "paint please" Although I am finding it to be a good outlet for helping her learn her colors!

And that's about all I got. I must admit we had some fun making up our own ways to entertain ourselves during these cold days however, we are so so ready for spring in our household. I love the smell of spring, I love having the windows open and hearing the birds, I love going for walks to the park, and so many other things. But for now we will just think about these things and enjoy our time together cooped up in the house :)

6 months

The little man in my life turned 6 months old last week - half a year already, really?! And he is growing and developing by leaps and bounds!

We have entered the not so wonderful world of teething and unfortunately with that comes lots of late night fussiness, but other than that he is continues to be happy as a clam, as long as you are giving him some attention! :)

New things for our little man this past month include; sitting up all by himself!, can feed himself puffs, has tried a few foods - sweet potato, banana, and avocado, as well as puffs and yogurt melts - he likes the puffs and yogurt melts the best, food seems to be just ok so far, he got pink eye - boo!, he sits in the highchair, and he really has been playing with toys - grabbing them on his own and interacting much more with the things you give him.

It's so fun to watch them discover the world around them. They learn and grow so darn fast. He has been pushing up on his knees and I have a feeling he's going to be an early crawler - which I'm so not ready for! He sees his big sissy doing things and running around and just wants to join her!

He's outgrown most of his 6 month clothes now and has moved onto 6-9 months - which is a little tricky with this weather because most his 6-8 month stuff is spring and it's still freezing out! He has his 6 month check next week so not sure on weight and height but when he went to the doctor for his pink eye last week he weighed just over 20 lbs.
**At his 6 month appointment he weighed in at 19lbs 2 oz and measure 27 1/4 inches long. That puts him in the 80% percentile for both - he grew 2 inches in the last 2 months!

As I think about the fact that our little guy is yet another month older I can't help but be overwhelmed by the incredible blessing he is to our family. He really does just do something to my heart every single day. He is a little miracle and makes me smile just thinking about him. I absolutely adore that little man and can't even imagine our family without him in it.

And here's some pictures of Mr Smiley himself, enjoy!

dirty laundry

So I never believed in a family bed nor did I EVER think I'd be one that would allow my child/ren to sleep in our bed however, we are that family. Ever since we moved our bed has been a place of rest for 4 family members - insert deep sigh. 

While Preston began sleeping in the pack and play beside our bed in Cedar Falls, we quickly realized he much preferred our bed and slept SO much more and better when cuddled up next to me. So, what'd our sleep deprived selfs do? We allowed him to sleep next to me. Then once we moved Lily became really scared often in her new room. She would wake up screaming and screaming and have a really hard time settling down unless she was cuddled up next to us. So, what'd our sleep deprived selfs do? We allowed her to sleep in between us.

So our bed looked something like this - Preston on one end, then me, then Lily, then Jimmy. Glad we went with a king sized bed!

And we've been dragging our feet on correcting our problem, until recently. A few weeks ago we got Lily a big girl bed. My thought process was that maybe if we made a really big deal out of getting her a new bed, letting her pick out a toy/stuffed animal to sleep with her in her new bed, a new pillow, etc. that she would be excited to sleep there. And it's been working, for naps. We have yet to make the transition at night but we are getting there - slowly but surely! She has taken all her naps in her big girl bed for the last week and our plan is to get her sleeping in their at night within the next week too. I do have (somewhat) of a valid excuse on this one as Jimmy has been working late nights all this past month so I'd rather wait for him when I can have his help.

And Preston....I can confidently say that he is now sleeping in his crib all night long as of a few days ago. And although I do genuinely miss our snuggles I am sleeping so much better, and I think he is too! He has transitioned to waking only one time in the night and it's been so wonderful.

So one down, one to go until we have our bed back to ourselves. And I think I can pretty confidently say that once a 3rd child comes along he or she will start out in the crib so we don't have to go through this transition period again!

Lets hope I'm not the only one whose bed isn't their own and who has become that person that does something they said they'd never do. I think as a parent we all find ourselves doing this on a thing or two. 

5 min makeup

Since having Preston I've had to learn ways to make my getting ready routine a little bit quicker. I seem to have less time and less sleep but that doesn't mean I have to compromise the way I look. However, it does mean I have to figure out a way to get myself ready quicker.

Aside from taking showers during nap or at night time, opposed to the morning, which I was doing after I had Lily, for the most part, I have figured out a daily make up routine that literally takes me 5 minutes and I thought I'd share it with you.

This is what I do 90% of the time now unless I am going somewhere special for the day and/or have a date night with the hubs. Otherwise, this is it folks. These 8 items are all I need to make this face presentable. 

From top to bottom here's what the products are, they are listed in the order that I use them as well:

1. Revlon Photoready BB Cream - have you heard of this stuff (BB Cream)? It's the latest in the make up world and it's fantastic! It's a moisturizer and concealer in one and I love it. I use the light/medium, you just pick your skin type and it matches your skin tone naturally - LOVE!

2. Bare Minerals Matte Finish Foundation (Fairly Medium is the color I use) - I have used this product for years and love it. It gives you great coverage yet a very light feeling on your face.

3. Last part of my base is Bare Minerals Bronzer in Warmth - again I've used this product for years and really like it.

4. Then onto the eyes - I start with a eye shadow stick - have you tried these? This is Covergirl Smokey Shadow Blast. I either use that stick or Bare Minerals eyeshadow in Cashmere color. I like both of these eyeshadows and may prefer the Bare Minerals just a tad bit more.

5. I then use black eyeliner on my bottom lid only. I use Maybelline Define a Line in black.

6. Then mascara to finish off my eyes. The tip I always have with mascara is keep applying - apply several layers to get a great look. I'm not drawn to one mascara over another, I tend to try different brands/types often. The one I am currently using is Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes.

7. And the last step is a simple gloss. I like all Victoria Secret's lip glosses the best - this one happens to be the Mint Beauty Rush in a tub. Good good stuff!

And that's it, it literally takes 5 minutes and I like the natural yet finished look it creates. Hope this gives you a few tips!

And here's a picture of the finished product.........

cancun

In T minus 38 days me and the hubs will be sitting on the beaches of Cancun sipping margaritas (well one of us will be) and enjoying the sunshine! We are headed on a kid free 6 day vaca to sunny all inclusive, adults only, resort in Cancun called Live Aqua and I'm not sure I could be any more excited.

When we got married we made a plan to have at least one get away a year - even if it was just a quick weekend away and then when we had kiddos we really wanted to ensure we did this. Since our honeymoon we haven't been on a beach vacation without kids. Last year we went to St Pete, FL but we brought Lily along so the beach with a 10/11 month old isn't exactly my idea of a relaxing vacation :) Although fun, of course, not much for romance or relaxation. Last year our alone trip was to Galena, IL and it was lots of fun - Galena is a nice get away for something close and that's the only time we've actually left Lily over night! Which means we, of course, haven't left Preston alone at all.

We are a family that definitely wants to show our kids different parts of the country and teach them about different parts of the world and cultures, however we also know how important it is to invest in our marriage and take time for just the two of us. We haven't had a lot of alone time in our marriage as we are approaching our 3rd wedding anniversary in March and already have 2 kiddos! However, I wouldn't have it any other way - we knew we wanted kids soon into our marriage and I truly believe they are one of God's greatest blessings. All that being said, I am going to enjoy this time with Jimmy, away from our kiddos, soaking up the sun and reconnecting as a couple. The count down is on.

And I made my first beach ready purchase this weekend.....I couldn't resist these Michael Kors beauties! Aren't they fab?! I sure think so!

a day in the life

It's been quite a while since I posted a good ol' "day in the life of" post giving some insight into what our everyday life looks like these days. Especially now that there are 2 kiddos in the house, our daily routine has changed a bit. 

I feel like I've found a decent balance between staying home and going out and doing things. I attempt to keep our Mondays and Thursdays open so that we are home majority of the day, with no scheduled activities outside the house. 

Wake up time for Preston and I is between 6-6:30am. I usually start our day with getting him changed and dressed, a bath if needed, and then picking up anything that may have been left out the night before, refilling diapers in the basket downstairs and in the drawer in Preston's room, and I also use this time when Lily is still asleep to get myself ready for the day. If I know we aren't going anywhere in the morning then I throw on workout clothes and don't get myself ready for the day until later because I workout in the mornings, when I am able. After that we head downstairs where I get a bottle ready for Preston, coffee for myself, and we enjoy Good Morning America together for a while while it's still relatively quiet and peaceful in the house:) I also get his bottles and any dishes that may have been left over from the night before washed. 

Lily wakes up between 8-8:30am most days and then joins us downstairs. I usually always make sure to turn the TV off at this point and we just hangout for a little bit, read books, look at her dolls, talk, etc. Lily doesn't like to eat right when she gets up so we spend a half hour or so chatting and playing before getting breakfast ready. Then it's time for breakfast, diaper changed and clothes on, and we are ready for the day. The rest of our morning is usually just playing - some times I am doing laundry, wiping counters, washing diapers, picking things up, but for the most part I am sitting on the floor playing with my kiddos. This is something that is SO important to me as a stay at home mom. When I made the choice to stay home I always promised myself I wouldn't be one of those moms that ran around the house all day doing odds and ends chores, cleaning, talking on the phone, searching the internet, making meals, etc. Basically anything BUT playing with my kids. Now don't get me wrong I'm guilty of doing those things every now and again but I try really hard to be intention and not do them on a daily basis.

Then around 10am Preston goes down for his morning nap. At this point I usually turn the TV on - although it usually gets turned on closer to 9:30am because Lily loves Elmo :) and during this time I do my workout while Lily watches TV, plays with her dolls, reads books, and mimics me as well! Right now for my workout I'm doing the Jillian Micheals 30 Day Shred and really like it. That's honestly about all the time, 20-30 minutes, I can commit to and be consistent with right now, and it's been working well. I only have a few days left and then I have some treadmill workouts pinned on Pinterest that I am looking forward to trying next. I am anxious to get back into running and plan to run a half marathon this summer so need to get back in running shape! 

After my morning workout I usually hop right in the shower and get myself ready for the day. This is another one of those things I promised myself I would maintain when I decided to be a stay at home mama. It's important for me and my self esteem to get myself showered and dressed every single day. Now that doesn't mean the outfit doesn't often consistent of yoga pants but hey - it's not PJs right?! I also feel like it's important for Jimmy to see me every day ready. Whether he cares or not, and he'd be the first to tell you he often prefers me in comfy clothes and no makeup compared to all fancy but I always want him to find me attractive, and to me, it's worth the effort. Now since becoming a mom of 2 my makeup and hair routine has changed drastically as well. I literally have a 5 minutes make up routine that I do almost every day, unless we are going somewhere special and/or it's a date night, in which I will spend a little more time. PS - I plan to post a blog on my 5 min makeup routine later this week in case you are interested.

So, after workout and getting ready it's usually time for lunch. Preston usually naps for 1-2 hours and so he's up again at this point. We do our lunch and then usually do something a little more creative or interactive - whether it's coloring, stickers, bean box, play dough, finger paint or whatever. Then nap time comes between 2-3pm for both of them. It's been a little tricky for me to get them to nap at the same time, we've had issues with Lily's sleeping habits since we moved so it's been a little tricky but most days it happens! 

During nap time I usually blog, catch up on other people's blogs, email, do dishes, clean up around the house, pay bills - you know all those little things that just seem to take up way more time than you think! I also try to start dinner during naps - so either mixing things together that I can, making one of the sides, cooking meat - whatever can be done ahead of time often times it done during naps.

After nap time we just play again - alot of times I try to venture to another area of the house on those days where we just stay home all day. So we may spend the morning in the living room/main floor, and then later on head to the basement play area, and/or play upstairs in their bedrooms. 

Then at 4pm every day we watch Ellen - it may be my guilty pleasure but secretly I think Lily likes it too because she always dances :)

After Ellen I get dinner ready and we wait for Jimmy to get home. Most evenings we just hangout as a family, doing things around the house that need done, going for a walk, running errands and/or just relaxing and watching some TV. Both kiddos go to bed around 8pm and we head to bed between 10 and 11pm most nights. 

And that's really about it - that's what a typical day at home looks like for us. Now most days we do get out and do something. We do story time once a week at the local library, I have been trying a few different MOPS groups in the area, I try to plan at least one play date a week, and we have a pass to the local indoor playground/jumpy house. So lots of times our days are cut up with having an activity either in the morning or afternoon but I enjoy our full days at home too. 

So many days I feel like pulling my hair out or just being alone, untouched and in quiet. But when I think about doing anything but being with these beautiful babies in our home I can't imagine it. They brighten my heart and teach me things about myself I never knew so although most days test my patience there's no other place I'd rather be!

be mine

Happy Valentine's Day to the ones that capture my heart daily - forever and always!

to the man that still makes my heart skip a beat
to the man whom i have created such a beautiful family with - a family i cannot imagine a single day without
to the man that knows me better than anyone else and loves me anyways

to these sweet babies that brighten my world every single day
to these sweet babies that make me laugh and cry all the time
to these sweet babies that are absolute miracles that i will cherish forever