Four
Recently this photo showed up in my FB feed- the number "4" tattoo I got with my sister four years ago.
My husband will tell you the tattoo was for him- that it commemorates his lacrosse number, despite the fact that it predates my knowledge of his very existence.
Instead, this one was for the girls- for my mama, two sisters and myself. Four very different ladies that love each other fiercely and unconditionally no matter where we are in the world.
Hello. I Love You.
Oh, hey February. So happy to be here. And what better way to kick off the month of love than with my very first giveway? Woot Woot. I'm so happy to be hosting with some of my favorite ladies to give one lovely reader this adorable Valentine's Day gift for mama and her little.
Friday Favorites
T.G.I.F: Looking forward to the weekend ahead- a combination of some mommy time and a girls' night out, mixed with maddie's second swim class and hopefully some lazy family mornings in bed. I haven't gone out much sans Maddie in the last eight months, but I always feel like my tank is a little more full after a carefree night with good friends.
WMW | Hearts
When your PJs match your mood: These Roberta Roller Rabbit pieces are giving me all the heart eyes. MM is a Roberta fan- having worn her onesies and swaddles since day one. So when I found a super cute pair of matching mama-jammies, I couldn't resist. Perfect for lazy snowed-in mornings curled up with MM and a cup of Joe, I see these hearts getting a lot of use in the near future.
X's + O's
Truth: I've never been big on Valentine's Day. In fact, I'm not even sure if my husband and I have really ever celebrated the holiday. That being said, I was having severe holiday-withdrawals in the weeks following Christmas- left full of cheer, with nowhere to place it. With the decorations all put away and peppermint-laden baking no longer acceptable, I started to explore my options.
Bright Starts
Before I had MM, I really wasn't a fan of all the primary-colored plastic toys out there. Aesthetically, they're pretty hard to look at, and at the time, there was something super cheesy about them to me. I think I had envisioned an earthy, neutral-toned playroom filled with wooden toys a la Melissa + Doug.
White Out
Winter Storm Jonas, so nice to have met you. You gave us an excuse to spend the day by the fire- to catch up on our worst DVR'd Bravo, in our comfiest of sweats. You had Maddie mesmerized. You gave Henry a challenge. You finally gave us a taste of Winter. You somehow made it feel like Christmas again- as we cuddled up all day as a family.
Hospital Bag Must Haves: For Dad
When getting prepped for my hospital stay, I have to admit I didn't put too much thought into a bag for the Mister. Lucky for us, we live minutes away from the hospital, and he was able to sneak home for a shower, change of clothes, and a few essentials once I was settled and hanging with the family.
Loving Lately
Well it would seem that winter is finally here- the temperature has dropped, some snow has come with more looming in the distance, and we have officially started hunkering down indoors. A few days have been spent walking the mall; but most are spent at home, leaving us to make our own fun. For MM this means lots of play time, nursery rhymes, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
MOM HACK: 5 Fave | Apps For Baby
I'm guilty of it- I let my baby use my cell phone. I won't plop her down with it during the day, but I will use it in a pinch- most often when we are out and her normal toys are no longer keeping her entertained. With some research, I found there are actually a lot of fun, educational apps out there for baby.
Puppy Love
In the months leading up to MM's arrival, I would often think about how she and Henry would get along- Would he welcome the new addition to our family? Would Maddie be scared? Would she be allergic? We did all the things we read to do- weaned Henry off of sleeping on the bed weeks before her due date, brought her newborn cap home for him to smell, and made sure to continue to make him feel special- although, if I'm being honest, we fell short on that last one in the early days.
Hospital Bag Must Haves: For Mom
I'm a planner- big time. So when it came to packing my hospital bag, I did some research well in advance of my due date, and had my duffel ready to go about three weeks before Maddie came. Laugh if you will, but it was a welcome luxury when the babe came two and a half weeks early...
Avocado Pudding
It's official- I'm back on that Vitamix train. Two weeks in, and 2016 has been chock full of quick, easy, healthy morning smoothies. This Kourtney Kardashian-inspired Avocado Pudding has been my daily-go-to; just two ingredients...
10 Best: Netflix for Kids
I know, I know- Maddie is only seven months old {today, ah!} so what do I know about kid shows, anyways? Truth be told, I've been a fan of cartoons for a while.
WMW | Stars + Unicorns
Have I told you about my love affair with Buy Buy Baby? Totally obsessed- since the first day I set foot in the superstore to register for MM.
Dear Maddie
Recently, at a friend's baby shower, I sat sipping my mimosa as the guest of honor joyfully opened all her gifts. She was pressured into the act, doing so as a good daughter and friend does to appease those who live to see a mommy-to-be ooh + ah over burp cloths and onesies.