Happy Friday, friends!

I interrupt this self-quarantine with a picture of baby Maddie enjoying a subscription book box last year. I can’t believe how big she’s gotten; how much has changed. Especially given these unprecedented times.

Ok, if I’m being honest I’m playing a little fast and loose with the term teacher. I never technically had my own classroom. But I do have just a few units left before I earn my Masters in Education, and I spent over a year in a local elementary school as an in-house sub. Plus I do have a current GPA of 4.0, meaning I know a thing or two or writing a lesson plan.

You guys: this sweet little cherub is six months old today, and I honestly cannot believe it.

It’s such a strange dichotomy: to feel so strongly that this tiny person was always meant for us, while formerly having succumbed to the notion that she may never come. As a result, there were moments, at first, where I couldn’t believe she was here. That she was ours. That after everything, after she decided to grow in my belly; that she came so effortlessly.

Happy Humpday, kids!

It was a slow start to our week thanks to a tummy bug and cutting teeth; but we’ve fully recovered and are back in the swing of things and business as usual. Just in time for my upcoming girls’ trip to sunny Florida- which this mama desperately needs.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago {here}, things are beginning to get a whole lot messier around here. Lila’s officially a fan of rice cereal, and it won’t be long before she’s eating all the mashed up fruits and veggies she can get her hands on. We’ve been loving these silicon bibs {here}; and now I have the perfect protection for the floors to match.

If you’ve been around here long enough, you probably know I’m a huge sucker for a seasonal set of PJs. I’ll never forget our first pair of matching heart-clad Roller Rabbits- I was so excited to have a twinning moment with our girl, and to get decked out for the holidays together.

So when I laid eyes on this matching heart sweatshirt + jogger situation it was, well, love at first sight.

Splish Splash! Is there anything better than a chubby baby in a bath filled with bubbles? I think not. And, thankfully, both my girls have been big fans of bath time from the start.

Happy first Monday of 2020! The holidays are officially over, and we’re easing back into the swing of things over here. This sweet babe turned four months old today, and I can’t believe how quickly time seems to have flown by. While the first few months were filled with that newborn fog, we are now in that sweet phase where life begins to settle; where sleep isn’t so scarce, and our new normal is beginning to feel, well, a little more normal.

A few months ago I shared my complete baby registry here. Comprehensive as it was, you never really know what’s going to work for your baby until she gets here- I think we tried about six sleepers before finding one that worked for MM. Luckily, this time around didn’t require as much trial and error. And almost eight weeks in, we’ve pinpointed our tried and true baby products. Some we used with MM, and some are brand new {to us}.

Friday marks six weeks with our newest addition and I can’t believe its gone by so fast.

I learned rather quickly with MM that what they say is true: The days are long, but the years are short. Cliché, yes. But clichés exist for a reason. And in this part of our journey, where so much has changed, that remains the very same.

It has taken me some time to sit down and write this piece about our transition from a family of three to a family of four, because the transition has taken us- has taken me- some time. More than I had thought it would; more than I would like to admit.

Rainbows and hearts and baby cheeks, oh my!

If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you may already know we’ve been spending a whole lot of time in our pajamas around here.

Early newborn mornings, cozy fall afternoons and lazy long weekends have been begging for our comfiest pairs; and I’ve taken ever opportunity to dress these two chickadees up in matching sets.

Four weeks ago today we welcome this sweet little bean into the world- Lila Lee, born 9.6.19. On her due date, no less.

And, so far, it’s been an absolute dream. From the beginning.

As I’ve mentioned before {here} I’ve been pretty invested in clean beauty ever since becoming pregnant for the first time, roughly five years ago.

It was through a little bit of research way back then that I learned the importance of avoiding parabans and phthalates when pregnant. Immediately, I began switching over so many of the products I used on a daily basis; and I’ve been interested in clean, everyday swaps we can make at home ever since.

A few weeks ago I shared my plan to preserve all of the paintings, crafts, drawings and keepsakes created by our MM over the years {here}.

After years of struggling over what to do with all of Madeline’s special creations, I finally found Artkive- a simple and easy-to-use service that will convert all your kids’ precious artwork into a beautiful hardcover book.

34 weeks pregnant and its just about time to pack my hospital bag. Eek!

I can’t believe how quickly the last few months have gone by- it really is so much faster the second time around. And we can’t wait to meet our newest girl!

To celebrate the arrival of Baby Number Two, I’ve teamed up with Greenwich Moms and the Local Mom’s Network to share my Hospital Bag Essentials and to give away one bag filled to the brim with all my must-haves to one lucky reader- valued at $1500!

This post was originally intended to be part of the “Weekend Recap” series. But with the temps in the 90’s the past few days, we didn’t do anything all that noteworthy other than stay cool. That said, we did keep ourselves super busy as a family- a trip to see The Lion King, a few dance parties, a lot of playing dress up and a couple home-cooked meals.

So, instead, I decided to do a little roundup of our favorite ways to spend a summer afternoon when its HOT, HOT, HOT.