Wordless Wednesday: My First Pigtails

*Love*

-stephanie

Picking a Name

I am just realizing I never discussed how we came about naming Addie.  So let's take a step back.  As any other young girl, I had dreamed about the life I would one day have, the size of my house, my career, and the names of my children.  What you don't realize at that age is how different that dream looks from reality.  My house is not at all like I had pictured, I didn't turn out to be a dentist and I don't have twins named Brock Cole and Brook Lyn.  I know, I know, what was I thinking name my daughter after a city in NY and my son after my favorite vegetable.  I guess it's a good thing that dream didn't turn out how I had hoped!

You may remember reading about our pregnancy journey and the battles we faced to finally bring a baby home with us.  Much like any other couple who finds out they're pregnant, one of the very first things we did was start planning names.  Rick and I both quickly agreed that if we had a daughter her name would be Addison Grace.  But miscarriage after miscarriage, the name seemed like it wasn't meant to be.  It didn't feel right naming the daughter we would bring home the name that we hung onto for so long.  We had to let the name go.

Through the first several months of my pregnancy I didn't want to even think about names.  I was still trying to figure out how I would get through the next 6 months worried about every doctors appointment.  I couldn't let my mind think about a name in the event this pregnancy didn't stick.  But as the baby grew from month to month and the scale inched further and further up, we knew we had to start discussing names soon.  We both agreed to discuss the names with each other and tell no one our choice.  We didn't want our babies name to be judge by anyone we told. It wasn't their baby so their opinion didn't matter to us at all.

Interestingly enough, we couldn't decide.  Rick wanted more traditional names and I wanted a unique name.  We both knew we would give her the middle name of Grace but for months debated potential names for her.  We continued this debate on the way to the hospital after my water broke, again during the 20 hours of labor, and again as they prepped me for surgery.  We couldn't agree.  At this point we knew there were a couple names we both liked but didn't want to make a decision until we saw her.

The first time I heard her cry and saw her face hanging over the curtain in the operating room, the very last thing on my mind was her name.  So she remained nameless for nearly an hour until Rick and I were sitting in a triage recovery room by ourselves checking out our new baby.  We quickly pulled out our list of potentials and when we came across Adalyn we both quickly agreed.

And so our little baby was now named Adalyn Grace.

How did you decide on your babies name?  Tell us about it and come share over at Toddle Along Tuesday.

-stephanie

Yarn Wreath Flashback

This is one of my most popular posts and it was really an easy project, just a little time consuming.  I've had it for about 6 months now and it's still in great shape.

The Fabric Wreath

I've been wanting to do a fabric wreath for a while.  When I saw this one on Pinterest I seriously swooned!  Gray is my new favorite color in everything, clothes, shoes, handbags, fabric, etc.  And I'm a sucker for cool blue shades so I knew I was going to mimic this wreath exactly as I saw it.  You'll need a Styrofoam wreath (the white ones not the green floral type as the white Styrofoam are cheaper), yarn, several (I used 6) sheets of felt, and a glue gun.  Start wrapping the yarn around the wreath making sure to not overlap (unless that's the look your going for).  Make sure to pull the yarn tight.  I stopped every few rounds to make sure the yarn was lining up and rotated the yarn clockwise to pull it tight.  After you finish you'll need to hide the yarn on the back and glue it down.

The felt flowers are a little tedious.  You'll need to cut a circle but wave the edge as you cut.  The larger the circle the larger the flower.  The larger flowers on my wreath took up about half of the felt piece.  Then cut into the wavy circle making a spiral.  From the inner spiral piece starting rolling the flower up tightly and roll loose as you approach the end.  Glue down the outside piece to prevent unraveling.  After you're finished with each felt flower, plot out where you'll want each flower.  Then glue each flower to your wreath and voila, you're wreath is complete. 

This project was a time consuming one.  I worked on this for about 4 hours spread over several days.  Patience is key, especially if you want a smooth, clean looking wreath.



-stephanie

Easter Basket Ideas

With less than 2 weeks away, Easter is quickly approaching us.  I love everything about Easter, dressing up and going to church, eating lunch and yummy desserts as well as Easter egg hunts and fabulous Easter baskets.  Last year we did not give Addie an Easter basket because what does she know or really enjoy at 3 months old?  This year I want to make her a basket but I also know that I'm not going to go out and spend very much because again, how much will she really enjoy it.  To prepare for some Easter basket shopping I've been on the hunt for some great fillers and wanted to give you some ideas in case you're stumped.

1.  Triangle Crayons.  I love the idea of a triangle crayon as they won't roll off the table.  I also love that these are natural so if they eat them it's not that big of a deal.  I don't love the price but I have seen them out much cheaper than this.

Via Anthropologie

 2.  Bubbles.  Who doesn't love bubbles?  You can easily find these at any dollar store or make your own.

Via La-La's Home Daycare

 3.  Sidewalk Chalk.  Another cheap dollar store find or you can make your own.

Via Pink & Green Mama

 4.  Movies.  Addie is no where near ready for a movie theater experience so why not try to watch one from home.  We are especially excited to check this one out.

Via Target

 5.  Other Random Fillers.  Cheap books because Addie loves "reading" her books.  Puffs and yogurt melts because she can't get enough of these.  Cheap plastic Easter eggs with some puffs in them.

Do you have any other great Easter basket ideas?  We'd love to hear about them.

-stephanie

Adalyn Month Fourteen

On Wednesday you turned fourteen months old.  I know I've said several times that you're developing such a personality and it's nice to see it every day, but it's so true.  You crack us up everyday!

Stats:  Again, we haven't been to the doctor since your twelve month check but you're about 22 lbs and you're getting taller.  I can tell because you can now reach things on the buffet table in the living room that you couldn't before.  You're still in a size 3 shoe which makes me wonder if you'll ever grow into the cute Tiny Toms you got for your birthday.  We bought you your first pair of sandals which are so cute!

Sleep Schedule:  You know, a funny thing happened while I was out of town training for work for two weeks.  Your dad went and got you to sleep through the night.  Yes, it's official, at fourteen months old, you have finally reached the place I only ever dreamed of.  You now sleep from about 8:30/9 to 6:30/7.  Though I wish you could push that morning wake up call back about an hour I cannot complain because you're giving me enough time to get a full 8 hours in.  And if I want to do something crazy like stay up until 11 or 12 I still get a good amount of sleep.  It's much appreciated!  You're down to one nap a day lasting approximately 2 hours.  On the weekends I can push you to nap 1-3.  You haven't figured it out at grandma's yet but we'll get you there!

Foods:  Is there anything you won't eat?  I suppose there are a couple things though they are in the minority.  You are back to loving fruits which I'm so happy about.  There for a couple months you wanted nothing to do with them.  Now you can't get enough.  You love lemons and limes and rarely make a face while sucking on them.  You have officially had shellfish, in the form of popcorn shrimp, as well as peanut butter.  Surprisingly, you seemed to like the shrimp more than the peanut butter. I'm sure it's because they were deep fried which definitely verifies you are your mama's baby!  Every day your dad makes you a smoothie and every day you chug it down.You're now completely to whole milk and drink about 20-24 ounces a day.  You love that stuff.

Firsts:  I mentioned earlier that you are wearing your first pair of sandals.  You do have your first Tiny Toms to break in, however your feet just don't seem to be growing.  You had your first pigtails last weekend, though it wasn't easy for me to get it there.  Your hair is very fine and doesn't want to be confined and would rather remain in your eyes at all times. I won't cut it though!  You're now sporting your first pair of sunglasses which makes you look even more like a little girl than before.  You officially have your sixth tooth.  I suspect you're preparing for more as you are drooling more than an english mastiff!

Favorite Toys:  This one is an interesting one.  You still play with the toys you've had though you prefer to pull out the pots and pans or the plastic cutting boards.  We have a plastic pitcher you pull out of one of the cupboards and you talk into it.  I think you like that one because you sound different.  You also finally figured out how to blow air into a toy horn and get sound to come out.  That's been one of the funniest thing to watch.  You love to be pushed around in your stroller now.

I know each month I enjoy more but I say that because every month you develop more of a personality and show us who you are.  You're independent, stubborn, and are afraid of nothing and no one.  It's amazing that you're around literally no kids your age yet any time you see one you're not afraid to run up to them and interact.  I'm so impressed by that as your dad and I were, and oftentimes still are introverts.  You're an amazing girl!

-stephanie

Blog Love: Austin Kimmey

I'm doing something a bit different today.  I wanted to spotlight a blog that's near and dear to my heart.  Meet Austin Kimmey.  Austin Kimmey is written by Andrea, mom to 7 year old Drew and nearly 5 month old Austin.  Andrea created  the blog when her son Austin was born at 26 weeks gestation weighing only 1lb 14oz, as a way to connect and provide updates on Austin's battle to family members.  After 20 scary weeks in the NICU, Austin is finally being released and will be going home today.  Please check out Andrea's blog and wish her and Austin a Happy Coming Home Day!



Yay Austin, keep thriving and stay healthy!

-stephanie

Adalyn Month Thirteen

Let me start your 13 month post by saying I'm sorry.  In the midst of preparing for a new job I forgot all about posting about your 13 month update.  You're becoming more and more of a person and we're definitely seeing a stubborn personality coming out of you.  I'm sure you get that from your mama!

Stats:  It's hard to say where you are height wise but you're hovering around 21-22 lbs at this point.  You have thinned out a little bit since you've started moving around but your chub is still hanging on.  You're still wearing 9-12 month clothes and size 3 shoes.

Sleep Schedule:  As was last month, your sleep schedule is still erratic some nights you do really well and sleep a solid 8 hours and others you wake up and want some cuddling.  I can see a positive change in direction though and imagine I'll soon be wondering what happened to my crazy sleeper.

Foods:  Well you're officially on whole milk and you were a bit hesitant at first but you seem to be on board.  You're reacting well to it, no adverse reactions which is great.  So far you're not allergic to anything which is lucky for us and you.  We're down to only morning and night nursing sessions and throughout the day you're doing whole milk.  You still don't really have the sippy cup down at all but I'm positive that you'll get there someday.

Firsts:  Well you had your first trip to IKEA as well as your first taste of Swedish meatballs.  The trip to IKEA you liked, the Swedish meatballs, not so much.  It could be that aversion to meat though.  You had your first Dairy Queen ice cream cake for your grandpa's birthday!  Of course you loved it, who doesn't love ice cream cake?!

Favorite Toys:  Your really digging anything you can push around the house. That could be a toy or it could be furniture.  You still love your books and are starting to carry around animals or dolls so I think you may be a future doll lover.

This month passed by surprisingly quick and your growing into a little person.  You have 5 teeth and one guy wants to poke through so I'm sure we'll see that tooth in the next update.

-stephanie

Wordless Wednesday: Brushing My Teeth

On a recent shopping trip to Target I made my way down the tooth care aisle specifically to find Addie her first "real" toothbrush as well as some flouride free toothpaste.  Prior to the new purchase we were using a toothbrush which came from one of those new baby kits.  Addie really wasn't too interested in that old toothbrush any more than to chew on it, but add a little toothpaste and the kid is suddenly interested (shocking right?).

Honestly, I think she likes it mostly because she's teething and it's something to chew on.  That and that toothpaste.

-stephanie

Adalyn's Favorite Activity

One of Addie's favorite things to do is read, or at least flip through the pages because she can't actually be reading if she can't talk right?  We several times will "catch" her in her room sitting on the floor with all the books pulled off the bookshelf scattered around her while she sits in the middle of the room reading.  Her favorite book is the Sesame Street series that she has.  We can now ask her, "Where is Elmo?" and she'll find him on the page and point at him.  Very cute.  While we're watching television at night or sitting in her room watching her she'll walk up to us at any point with a book because she wants to sit on your lap and have you read to her.

What's your little one's favorite activity?  Tell us about it.

-stephanie

The High School Yearbook Photo

The other day I ran across my high school yearbook which has been sitting untouched on a bookshelf in our office for 6 years.  Of course I flipped it open and looked at old friends and remembered what it was like in high school.  Luckily I graduated in a time when the craziest fad was overalls which, thankfully, I was not wearing in my senior photo.  So I can't share that story without sharing a photo of me right?  Here I am at 17, hard to believe that was nearly 13 years ago!

For the most part I think I look the same except my face has thinned out a bit which is a very good thing. I was pretty round in the face in high school.

I was checking out the Shutterfly website recently and saw a feature I'd never noticed before.  Shutterfly now has Yearbooks!  Shutterfly Yearbooks are the easiest and most affordable way to preserve school memories for your child and your school, helping parents of a single student, class or an entire school, easily create specially designed page templates for school activities, subjects, and student classroom and faculty photos.

Easy-to-make Use the specially designed page templates to capture school activities along with favorite student, classroom and faculty pictures. Make it just the way you want with the All New Custom Path.

Easy on your pocketbook  Get up to 75% off when you order for your class or school. Shutterfly has prices as low as $5 per Yearbook, which are only available by contacting Shutterfly for a quote.

Made to love, made to last  The award-winning photo books are printed in color and professionally bound. Your Yearbook is saved forever and you can re-order it at any time.

Obviously I don't run a school or classroom but I could see ordering these custom yearbooks for the family each year.  As a sort of look back on the previous year.  You can take the best pictures or moments you captured throughout the year and organize them in these yearbooks and leave them out on the coffee table or keep each years book lined up on a bookshelf.

Check out the Shutterfly Yearbooks directly at their site or at any one of their social media channels; Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. 

 Note:  This is a sponspored post.

- stephanie

St. Patrick's Day Pinterest Finds

St. Patrick's day is just a few days away and I'm thinking up all sorts of ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc that can all be dyed green!  Here are some great St. Patrick's Day Pinterest finds.

Green Pancakes via Thoughtfully Simple

Corned Beef Grilled Cheese w/Carmelized Onions via Closet Cooking

Green Beer via Beer Blotter

Creme de Menthe Brownies via She Knows

Cake via Twig & Thistle

Do you have any great St. Patrick's day finds?  Food, outfits, activities?  What are your plans for St. Patrick's Day?  If you don't already follow us on Pinterest you can do so here.