mamahood round 2

if i'm being honest, the past three months are a blur.  a happy blur.  and a messy one.  being a mama of two is no joke.  i had some friends who told me it wasn't a big transition at all for them and that they eased into it, where others told me it rocked their world.  i think we fall somewhere in the middle but definitely leaning towards the latter.  it has been a big adjustment.  for everyone.  but that baby boy of mine?  he is the perfect addition to our family.  it's so amazing to me how God chooses each person in a family and it is so evident that matthew was our missing part.  he has the most laid back demeanor, completely unlike his sister as a baby.  he's the smiley-est baby of all times.  even mid-meltdown city, just flash him a smile and whisper his name and he's all ear-to-ear gummy grinning.  it's a contagious gummy grin i tell you.  and that big sister of his?  she melts my heart in all sorts of ways.  she's slowly taking to her brother and has just started taking it upon herself to show him all of her toys (this is HUGE people).  i want to break down in a puddle of mush when i think about how much she has grown up over the past three months too.  she has matured and learned and loved and screamed and cried it all out.  it has been so beautiful.  in the really hard moments i remind myself that georgia will never know a life without matthew.  she will never remember being the only baby.  and truthfully, i'm thankful for that.  every single night i pray for their relationship.  that they will love each other fiercely and speak truth and life to one another.  i pray they will have each other's back, especially in high school and middle school (hello awkward years!).  i pray when one is too weak to fight for something worth fighting for then the other will offer the nudge that is needed.

and then there's the mess that is me.  i'm definitely more laid back this time around.  like for real.  sometimes i wish i would have had this perspective more when georgia was so tiny but i also know that it is all part of the learning process.  the mama process.  i'm savoring a little more this time.  even those 2 am and 4 am cuddle fests when really, i want to be asleep!  but i'm still a worry monster at times (all the time) too.  so don't worry.  pyscho mama is still here.  although my relationship with google is much healthier this go round.  thank goodness!

and gosh my people.  my village.  my husband who works so hard for our family both at work and at home.  the selfless way he serves us and the way he loves my babies and me.  i just can't even.  and my mama.  oh my mama.  she deserves a break.  i mean she's already raised me and my sister.  but yet she shows up still and helps me do the messy, hard stuff with my babies.  these past 3 months would have been a bit horrendous without her.  and the host of of people.  the rest of my family, taking georgia for amazing playdates, my best friends, showing up with food (and wine!) and playing with my babies, my neighbors - gosh i am so humbled.  my mama best friends who indulge my 3 am text-a-thins because they are there too.  there have been so. many. times. that i have just started sobbing in the middle of the day both out of gratitude as well as heartbreak when i think of others who don't have the support system i do.  so consider this a PSA - help the mamas out.  whether a working mama, a stay at home mama, a single mama, and foster mama, a rich mama, a poor mama, a mama with lots of help or a mama with no help at all.  love them.  love them all.  encourage them and support them in any way you can.  they are doing hard work of raising the next generation.  that goes for the daddies too.  support and build each other up.  we need each other.

this was a bunch of mumbo jumbo for my first blog post in a million weeks.  but hey.  that's life.  and this is my life.  and i'm so happy these days.  so grateful too.  thank you god for these perfect little blessings.  and the messiness of this season of my life.  and tomorrow is my hubby's birthday which means... CAKE!

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Lactation Boosting Protein Balls

Breastfeeding this time around has been totally different from my experience with Georgia.  Some good.  Some bad.  But all around just different.  However there has been one common thread - my supply.  It was an issue with G and continues to be an issue with M.  Luckily, Mrs. Patel's makes some amazing Chai Tea that helped a ton with G and continues to work it's magic this time around with M. And I've recently added the Munch Crunch to my daily menu and it is so yummy!  I made a version Emily Jesser's lactation balls and the recipe is below.  I eat one every morning with my breakfast and one before I got to bed.  I truly believe they help!  And they are delicious.  See below.

Mix 2 TBS of Munch Crunch, 2 TBS of Chia sees + 1 scoop of protein powder (I used a packet of Shakeology Chocolate but you can use anything!).  Then add 2 TBS Honey and 4 TBS of Peanut Butter/Almond Butter/Nutella (I used Vanilla Almond Butter in this batch - AMAZE!).  Mix everything well and divide into about 12 small balls.  Enjoy :)

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what i'm reading these days

this picture was taken in 2012 on our trip to antigua.  i pretend i'm reading on this porch from time to time ;)

I've been reading through some really good books lately in my (lack-of) spare time ;) and I wanted to share.  All are super easy reads so I pick up one of them before bed usually and log 10 or so minutes and that's all it takes.  If you are interested in any of them email me and if you are first, I'll mail you my copy since I'm finished.  Otherwise the links are below too!

1.  Mom Enough - This was recommended by a friend and it is a series of blog posts.  Super easy read.  Super encouraging.  And yes, super convicting at times.  Most recently, these words by Tim Keller spoke to me in chapter 23, "Jesus must become more beautiful to your imagination, more attractive your heart, than your idol.  That is what will replace your counterfeit gods.  If you uproot the idol and fail to 'plant' the love of Christ in it's place, the idol will grow back."  I love this.  Jesus has slowly been revealing some idols in my life and they come in the form of approval of other moms, a "well-behaved" toddler and kids that are never sick.  I'm learning to turn away from those and fill those holes with Jesus.  Link to buy book here.

2.  Moms on Call Series -  I bought all 3 books after a friend recommended these as well.  While I don't agree with everything in the book as far as methods go (especially in the early ages), it is a great read and I love that the authors are believers.  As a mama, I think there is a fine line between information overload and gathering different resources.  In my opinion, this is a good resource though.  I am LOVING the toddler book right now and think they make some excellent points on discipline and my parenting mindset.  Link to buy books here.

3.  French Kids Eat Everything - I read this one last summer as Georgia was starting to really get into all kinds of solid foods.  I love the author's experiences (make you laugh and cry kinda thing) and I love her practical advice.  I've always wanted to raise a kid that tried all kinds of foods and enjoyed vegetables as much as she enjoyed ice cream (well, almost as much!).  Since the beginning Matt and I have both tried to make Georgia a version of what we eat instead of making her own meal of "kid food," (I mean, ain't nobody got time for that anyway!).  I never make her eat anything she doesn't want to eat, but I always encourage her to at least try it.  And if she doesn't like roasted asparagus with salt and pepper than maybe next time I'll try a different method or seasoning (I've found I can usually get her to eat anything cooked in soy sauce!  ha!).  We are not enforcers of the clean plate club at our house either.  I want her to decide when she is full and when she is still hungry.  One thing very early on I decided was that the dinner table was not going to be my battle field either.  I want it to be a place we all look forward to coming to.  I have the BEST memories as a kid of spaghetti dinners around the table with my family and I crave those memories for my children too.  Sounds rosy and peachy right?  Needless to say, this is something we are working towards and sometimes mealtime goes great and others it's a disaster!  But like everything in toddler life, we are working on it.  And this book is GREAT!  Link to buy book here.

4.  Write the Word - This isn't really a book per say, but it leads me to the best book in the world - the Bible!  It's simple and gives you freedom in your quiet time - two things that are essential right now for this tired, scatter-brained mama.  I usually do it while I pump early in the morning before the kiddos are awake.  The journaling part usually looks like a written out prayer, bullet points or a verse written over and over that really spoke to me.  Link to buy book here.

Next on my reading list:
Out of the Spin Cycle
Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood
Boys should be Boys
Make it Happen

What are you reading?  Any books I should add to my list?

xox

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the "not-so-terrible" two's

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the term "terrible two's."  My tiny princess lady is getting very close to her two year birthday marker and with that I have seen an increase in temper tantrums, a little sass here and there and me-oh-my is she Miss Independent or what?!  But then the other day someone asked me, "Why does it have to be the terrible two's, why can't it be the terrific two's?"  And I kinda wondered the same thing.  Our society is great at labeling things - great at labeling people.  I'm guilty of it already with Georgia for sure.  But what I don't want, what I want to intentionally strive to prevent, is that those labels become any sort of identity for her.  Anyone who spends five minutes with my child can see certain personality traits right of the bat - strong willed, stubborn, independent.  But a lot of times people miss so many other traits - her gentleness, her passion, her nurturing ways (she immediately picks up her stuffed animals and kisses them when she accidentally drops one!), the way she has learned to be so careful around mommy's belly.  It's all so sweet.  

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's easy to focus on the former traits - the one's that come out in public and cause a scene.  The screaming child leaving the pool or the little girl who will. not. share. that turtle pool toy because it is M-I-N-E!  And then another unassuming mama passively referring to my child as "bossy."  Well, talk about wanting to shrivel up in a corner and cry!  But why?  Because I felt judged that's why - especially when it comes to sharing.  Not sure why but since G has started playing more with others I always want to make her share, make her give her toys to others.  It scared me (and embarrasses me) to think that my child was entitled or greedy or something that I never want them to be.  So I ripped the toy out of her hand and handed it to the little boy.  Was the the right thing to do?:  Probably not.  I really have no idea.  But guess what?  My child is 22 months old and her mama is a work in progress.  And while yes I felt inadequate to "handle" my 22 month old ball of fire that day, frankly it's not about me.  It's about teaching her.  Teaching her to love others and give to others and that doesn't happen over night.  Thankfully, I don't hold myself or my parenting to a standard of this world.  I'm held to a standard of grace.  And most of the time I really have no idea what I'm doing - zero - zilch - nada.  Lucky for Georgia (and Matthew soon), we've got Jesus.  His love.  His grace.  His guidance. 

And while Miss Priss races through life faster than some, isn't that how they are supposed to act at this age?  Isn't it my job to take the "temper tantrum moments" and try my best to turn them into a learning lesson.  How is she supposed to learn to share or take turns if I don't teach her?  And how can I teach her if she never gives me the opportunity.  I love that G is strong-willed and even a little stubborn.  I pray her "stubbornness" takes her right into high school and she is able to stand-up for what is right or wrong.  Her passion may come out as screaming at the top of her lungs right now but one day I pray it comes in the form of fighting for someone who may not have the voice to fight.  Every single night I ask God to help me be a better parent - listen better, have more patience, and most of all point my babies to Him.  So to all the moms out there (me included) who find yourself in a battle with your tiny two year old human, just know this is a terrific time.  In your life and in their's.  It's a time when their personality shines through even more.  Know that God hand picked your child's personality and also hand picked your child's parents.  There was no mistake.  God doesn't make mistakes.  And if your little angel has the best table manners at home, but then decides to throw her milk clear across the restaurant at some poor old man the ONE time you try to take her out - so be it.  Teach her.  Love her.  And give her grace.  Our little ones need it just as much as we do. 

Ps - how great is it that it's Friday?!?!

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Georgia Grace is 18 Months!

We celebrated my tiny baby lady's 18 month milestone this past Friday night and I am still scratching my head, wondering where the past year and a half has gone.  No really?!?  When people tell you, "the days are long but the years are short," they couldn't be more right.  I want to cling to every little moment and never forget all of her little expressions and funny little sayings.  Matt and I will be out on a date night and we'll find ourselves laughing over the little things she does.  Oh I love her so much.  So I decided to do a little update on her 18 month old self for ya!  She's a firecracker I tell ya...

Weight: 23ish pounds!  Growing like a little weed!

Health: We battled the winter with some serious colds.  It seems they have subsided over the past month, so for that, I am thankful!

Sleep: It’s funny how this used to cause me so much anxiety, and now things are just normal!  And I love it.  G goes to bed anywhere between 7:45 and 8:15 depending on how long her bath lasts and how long she can stall mommy and daddy…  “more story, more story!"  And she sleeps until anywhere from 6:30-7:30.  Usually its closer to 6:30 and I used to loath this so much, but ya know?  It's not so bad.  When she's older and able to understand we'll try to train her to stay in her room until 7 but until then, I'll take the snuggles, even if they are when the moon's still out :)

Social: G is thriving in her little toddler class, which she attends 2 mornings a week.  I was sooooo unbelievably nervous about this at the beginning of the year.  She is by far the youngest babe in the class (with her friend, Caroline!) by 10 months in some cases.  So I was worried she wasn’t ready.  But truth be told, I am so glad she has this class.  It not only gives me a tiny break but she absolutely loves going.  Her teachers are saints, truly, and she is learning so much it blows my mind!  And it will be nice that next year when she transitions into 2 year old preschool it won’t be such an adjustment.  I mean, she will have a tiny baby brother or sister at home, so I think that’s plenty adjusting for her in the fall!

Diet: She’s a great eater thankfully!  But… she wants what she wants if ya know what I mean.  Some days she will gobble up sweet potatoes and others she just passes over them.  So I have had to get creative and always always always plan out her (and our) meals!  She’s recently taken to blueberries which used to be her least favorite fruit.  She still loves a good Mexican meal (black beans and guacamole thank you very much!).  We’ve cut down her milk consumption a bit to the allotted amount because we noticed at around 15 months she wasn’t eating a ton but she was drinking so. Much. Milk.  Well now she still drinks 3 glasses a day but eats 3 meals a day and 3 snack a day.  Having her on a schedule with eating has also helped us a ton.  I didn’t realize how inconsistent her meal times were (and how much we were snacking!) until I really stuck to a schedule.  Now she eats better meals and sleeps better!  Praise the Lord!

Clothes: Georgia is still in 18 months, and probably will be until she’s almost 2.  She’s tall for her age but she is a bean pole (with a big belly!).  So the 24 months stuff just looks so wide on her still.  But we can swing certain things.  Can we just talk about how mommy is so over bundling my babe up and is so ready for bubbles and sandals again??

Baby Gear Love: As far as “gear” it’s mainly the toys that we love.  G did go through a stage where she hated bath – despised it really.  We couldn’t get her to sit down even when Matt or I would get in with her.  Well my sweet mama friend, Kelly, recommended bath thingies that turn the water different colors.  And hallelujah for that!  Now she loves picking the color of her bath every night and washing her hair is no problem at all.  In fact, the only problem is getting her out sometimes!  Thanks for the rec Kelly!

Crying: She’s a pretty happy little lady these days.  If she falls or bumps her head she wrinkles her face up, looks up for mommy or daddy (or a grandparent, friend teacher, anyone will do!) and says, “kisses.”  Once you kiss her boo-boo she says in a sweet southern twang, “allllllllllll better.”  She’s the best I think.

Likes: She loves making pretend sandwiches and playing with her plastic food.  She also loves being in the kitchen with mommy and “help help” or “mix mix.”  We’re big bakers over here these days.  She loves being outside with daddy and finding the “birds,” (said with an English accent that comes out here and there with certain words).  She loves eggs in the morning and helping mommy make her “coffeeeeeeeeeeeee” after a good session of being “cozy” of course.  (“Cozy” means cuddles on the couch with some milk please.  Stuffed puppy required.)  She also loves her “milkies” (aka milk in a sippy cup) and of course “sissy” will always have her heart.  A favorite game is finding anyone and everyone’s belly button and sticking her finger in it J  She’s got a way with people I tell ya!   

Dislikes: She has renamed the dreaded vacuum cleaner a “buckano” pronounced buk-a-no.  No idea where that came from, but anything that resembles a vacuum is also a buckano.  And frankly I usually push her when it comes to pronunciations, but the way she says “buckano” is too cute for words so I haven’t had the heart to correct her.  But it’s still not OK to turn on the real vacuum while she’s in the room.  We’ll work on it.

Postpartum:  Well I’m 17 weeks pregnant so there’s that!  Thankful that I’m feeling good and thankful to feel my tiniest love squirming around in my belly already!

Milestones: She’s talking a mile a minute.  She probably knows about 100 words by now and she’ll talk your ear off.  She has started putting 2 and 3 words together for phrases like “wake up” and “vest, wear, zip.” We went to put her sleep sack on the other night and she looked at me and said, "No sack for meeeeeeeee."  I love our sweet conversations.

So that's a little about Miss Gigi lately...
xox

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our schedule as of late

*all photos taken by my amazingly talented best friend, meredith miller, during our christmas party.

these days the little lady has a wild mind of her own, and frankly a schedule of her own too.  so our days look slightly different than the last but that's ok.  truthfully, i've never been good about keeping a schedule, but as georgia has gotten older i have attempted to make it more of a priority.  ultimately she does better with a schedule.  so i've been using the Moms on Call App to keep me straight!  We are also in the process of dropping her morning nap AND experiencing a bit of the 18 month sleep regression, so let's just say things are interesting these days.  but nonetheless they are fun.  so fun!  so here is what most of our days look like:

7-7:30 - wake up.  let me just pause here and say this is ideal.  this is what matt and i silently pray for as we lay georgia down at night.  and we get this a few mornings a week.  but a few mornings a week we also get the 5:45 wake-up.  so when that happens we deal.  

7:30 - breakfast.  g is on an egg kick these days.

7:30-9:30/10 - play play play!  we try to get lots of wiggles out here.

9:30 or 10 - snack time! usually applesauce and a granola bar, or some yogurt

10-12 - play some more!  this is a hard time of day for us.  georgia is usually exhausted because she hasn't adjusted to one nap a day just yet so it's super important for me to keep her occupied.  i bring out the play dough or we go for walks.  i try to avoid the car during this time so she doesn't nod off for a quick cat nap.

12 - lunch time.  because she is so sleepy by this time, this is her "worst" meal of the day in terms of how much she eats + her attention span.  so i save her favorites for lunch - things she can't turn down (yogurt, guacamole, mac n cheese, turkey/cranberry/cheese sandwich, kiwi, strawberries and veggie soup are all on rotation during lunch)

12:30ish - naptime!  she usually sleeps anywhere from 2-3 hours during this time.  when she wakes up we play play play until snack.

3:30 - snack time.  usually some hummus, cheddar bunnies, a smoothie and/or apple slices

5:30/6 - dinner time!  matt and i don't eat at this time because he isn't home from work yet so she usually eats whatever we had the night before, or what we are having that night just a little early.

7 - bath time.  this is a serious struggle lately and i'm not sure what gives.  she used to love bathtime!  any suggestions mamas?

7:30/8 - night night as georgia says.  and then mom and day pray for 12 hours of sleep.

wala!  that is how we roll.  what do you other mamas do for a schedule?  any tips?

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mama's life

being a mama is hard sometimes.  there's puke everywhere, you usually have a messy house, you're always always late, dinner is never ready on time, your tummy is soft and your hair full of grease.  at least that's how it is most of the time around my house.  but i've come to find the hard mess the most beautiful thing.  matt has been a big help in this.  he makes sure i know he finds me even more beautiful than before.  he tells me he loves our messy house way better than our perfectly straight house.  and that means the world.  one of my favorite boards on my pinterest page is this one.  most of these photos don't show the mess, but they do show the small moments in between the mess.  dancing around the kitchen, holding tight to mama's sleep (probably after she just cleaned up puke), sleepy cuddles.  they make my heart happy. i just love seeing mama's and babies and their different style and way-of-life.  which is why i've also fallen in love with the grace tales.  and before i was a mama i loved being an aunt and a teacher.  these women in these photos may not even me mamas.  they could just be women in a young babe's life that loves them dearly.  and i love that.  so cheers to special women and the role they play in a child's life.  and a special shout out to our teachers as they go back to school!  your influence in our child's life is immense and i am forever grateful.

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xove baby review

disclaimer: 

getting 3 babies to sit still on the couch for more than half a second is serious yall.... but we tried :)

When I find a brand that I love, you can pretty much count me as a fan for life.  Anytime that brand is local? Fist pump please!  Anytime that brand also gives back?!  Double fist pump.  And today, I get to share a brand that does all of the above - XOve Baby.  It has become my go-to for baby shower gifts with their adorable onesies and baby blankets.  The onesies are soft enough (made with 100% organic cotton) for the newest baby skin but sturdy enough for serious play dates (as proved above!).  Their blankets are perfect for swaddling or cuddling.  We are transitioning G out of the sleep sack during her naps and at night and this blanket is the only one I trust with the job.  It's soft and still breathable and G loves curling up in her crib or on the couch with it.  There are three designs currently and I'm planning on stocking G with all of them.  Check them out below and get your shop on!

XOve Baby SHOP

FACEBOOK   //   INSTAGRAM   //   TWITTER

*** side note - while the largest size currently offered is 9-12 months it fits G perfectly!  They have some stretch which is nice so you can get a lot of wear out of them.  Tripp is modeling the Signature Print above in a 3-6 month size and he is 8 months!  Like I said, the onesies have stretch and are a great staple for a baby wardrobe because they really can continue to wear them for months and months.  Miss Anna Davis is modeling the Pearl Print in a 6-9 months.

thank you to my adorable models Tripp (8 months), Anna Davis (7 months) and Georgia (1 year)

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