Happy almost-weekend, friends!

Does anyone else feel like it suddenly transformed into summer overnight? After months of hoping and wishing for a little sunshine to come our way, it finally arrived here in Connecticut. And boy, it was worth it. MM and I didn't miss a beat, and went right back into our summer routine: early mornings spent as the first ones at the beach, with just enough time to soak it all in before it gets way too hot.

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Mother's Day is just a few days away, and I can't believe it will be the second one I will celebrate as Madeline's mom. This year will be especially happy, as we will be celebrating with my mama in tow- three generations of ladies. Last year I was so overwhelmed with new feelings of motherhood, that all I really wanted to do was hold my little one for Mother's Day.

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The days are long, but the years are short.

That's for certain.

Sleepless nights with an infant transform into nonstop days with a toddler (or two). All in an instant. After almost two years with my girl, its about the one thing I know for sure.  And throughout the last twenty-one months, I've asked myself time and time again "where did the time go?"

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Lucky for me, our girl has always been a lover of bath time. Even as an itty bitty babe, she was happy as a clam in a good ol' fashion sink bath. Just a little thing with some soap and warm water.

As she grew into her regular tub, we incorporated a few favorite toys, lots of sudsy bubbles, and the occasional soundtrack {typically a lá Raffi, and lately Moana} into our nightly routine. 

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Schedule

It's been a chilly week here in Connecticut. But fortunately for us the sun came out, which always makes those cold days a little more bearable. Even though a runny nose kept us indoors, there's nothing like a little sunlight to liven up our winter days.

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Before I get down to business as usual, I want to thank everyone for their kind words and comments on yesterday's post. We received such an outpouring of love and support; most of which included your own, very similar stories to our own. I am so grateful for this platform to share my own experiences- to find the silver lining in it all, but also to let others know they aren't alone. 

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Happy Friday, folks! We made it. I know technically it was a short week, but for some reason it sure felt like a long one to me. This crazy weather of ours has us pent-up inside some days; and while I enjoy any excuse for a day in pajamas, my little one has other plans. Thankfully, a trip to the toy store brought some distraction with a few new favorite puzzles

One of the many perks of raising our daughter in the very town we grew up in, is the ease with which we can share our favorite childhood memories with her.

Yes, my husband and I both grew up here in Connecticut. We even attended the same elementary school, though several {sorry, babe} years apart. And so we share so many memories of the same people, places, and activities that molded our youth; and are happy to be able to share them with Madeline in our daily lives. 

When I was pregnant with MM, my mother and I serendipitously came upon the most magical baby store a girl could ask for. It was a cold, snowy day in NYC, and we were determined to ignore the weather and enjoy a shopping day in Soho. Looking for some much needed warmth, we hopped into what world be one of my very favorite baby boutiques: Bonpoint.

I loved everything. The decor. The color palette. The whimsy of the little French dolls, stuffed animals and keepsakes. And the clothes. Ahhh, the clothes. And so the addiction began. 

Our first week into 2017, and we're off to a decent start. Our kiddo classes have begun and I'm officially working on a post detailing our favorite ones in the area. There are so many amazing activities for the littles around here, which will prove useful in the chilly upcoming months. Thursday marked the start of MM's fifth semester of Music Together class. I started taking her when she was just three months old- at first more of an excuse for Mom to leave the house.

Brrr. It was a cold one this week, folks. Bringing our first several dustings of snow and high hopes for a White Christmas here in Connecticut. This weekend will bring our third official holiday party. The hubs and I threw our first one the first year we lived together; then the second the following year, after we were married. A great start to what we thought would be our annual holiday shindig.

For as long as I can remember, I've had this thing for planners.

Even in elementary school, I would look forward to the start of each school year- when I could happily invest in a crisp, brand new one. To this day there are few things that get me as pumped as meticulously writing a to-do list, then proudly crossing items off as I complete them. Pair that with my favorite pen, and it's pure bliss. I know. Nerd alert. 

A few months before Madeline was born I shared the start of what I referred to as her Neutral Nursery - the beginnings of a room for a baby girl, free of pinks and frills and anything too girly. I put my heart and soul into creating that room- artfully choosing pieces for every nook and cranny; envisioning our girl someday enjoying all of them. 

In the nearly eighteen months since I had our little girl I've been able to sneak out of the house a whopping three times to get my hair cut and colored. To be fair, I've never been the kind of girl that goes for a regular cut and color; but since Madeline's been around, spa-pampering and trips to the salon have have become sporadic, at best. Nowadays, a cut and color either means hours away from home, or {eek} bringing her along. Which I only did once with the help of my sister, when Madeline was itty-bitty and slept right through most of it. 

If you're going to be cooped up in the house due to days on days of rain, it may as well be the first week of December- giving us loads of time to delve into some of our most beloved holiday traditions. And because we picked up our tree over Thanksgiving Weekend- as is tree-dition- we were all set to unwrap ornaments, trim the tree, and enjoy lazy morning and afternoons amongst our decorations. Yes, the holidays are in full swing- and not even a few days of rain can bring us down.