#loversxmas

every year for the past... oh 10 years? my high school bffs/ soul sistas get together for a christmas exchange.  until last year it was a sleepover.  but since we are now scattered across the country, our sleepover has turned into a 6-7 hour brunch when everyone is in town for the holidays.  nonetheless, these girls are my sisters and our time together is so precious.  we are weird, cooky and imperfect and we love each other just as we are.  

this year was especially meaningful for me because we had a new addition to the "lovers xmas."  georgia of course!  she couldn't quite hang with the ladies the entire time (she said 'brb' for a few naps) but she was back in action after her quick snoozes.  it's funny how life has changed so much.  how 6 friends, all in different walks of life, different parts of the country and different loves can remain so close.  i hear about friends losing touch all the time.  and honestly it could have been easy for us to do that.  it would have been easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and not make our time a priority.  but we didn't do that.  and we never will.  because you don't let go of friendships like these.  they are forever.  these girls know me better than i know myself.  and watching the way they have loved, supported and encouraged me over the years - especially this past year - humbles me and leaves me speechless.  i don't deserve friends like these.  but i'm blessed with them.  and watching them love on my daughter - recklessly, unconditionally and without reserve - there truly are no words.  they would do anything to make her smile, make her giggle.  they love her like their own.  i pray every night georgia finds friends like these.  

i love you lovers - mere, banna, mal, kris and ashe (ashtwanna).  cheers to another successful exchange!

love my lululemon top from mere!

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Georgia is 5 months old! Where has the time gone?!?!

I know I say this every month but HOLY COW I can't believe my wittle babe is 5 months old!  Well, technically it's 5 months and 1 week today being that last Monday was the original celebration, but hey!  Better late than never right!  I really do wish I could just stop time, but yet I am so excited for what is to come.  Anyway, here is a little peak as to how our baby lady is doing!  

Weight: G is weighing about 15.8 pounds!  She is between the high 50 and low 60^th percentile in weight now, which is down from her 70-80th percentile but still great!

Health: So blessed to say she is a healthy baby STILL.  SO thankful for that.  Since we kicked her stuffy nose, we haven’t seen anything since then.  Hoping to keep it that way!

Sleep: OK so this has been a work in progress.  I know I’ve talked about it a few times on here already, but G has had somewhat of a hard time finding her sleeping groove since she’s been 2 months old.  But!  But!  She is on the way to finding it.  Yes friends, it’s true.  Now we still wake up once a night, and sometimes two – but for the most part she is only a once a night waker (usually between 4am-6am) and will go back to sleep until 7 or 8am.  Hey, I can’t complain. 

Social: That kid loves people.  Loves them.  And December was really her month.  With all of the parties and birthdays and holidays!  She was in heaven.  My high school BFFs and I had our annual Christmas exchange the other week and G ate it up.  “Why hello there aunties!  You are coming to see me?  Spoil me? Love on me?! Go righhhhhhht ahead!”  I swear that was what she was saying through that cooky chuckle of hers.  And then having all of the family in town on top of that?!?  More spoiling.  More hugs.  And more people acting a fool around her just to see that gummy smile.  She obliged everyone and loved every minute.

Diet: Still exclusively pumping here and still on solely breast milk!  YAY!  It’s was a little hard over the holidays and I feel like I was the traveling bag lady with all the things I brought to our parents’ houses (diaper bag toy bad, PUMPING bag!).  But we made it and are still pushing onward.  I am really trying to soak up this last month before she’s introduced to solids!  EEEK.  I’m so excited to break out my baby food maker thingy.  I’ve been doing lots of research on first foods, etc. and I am considering skipping rice/oatmeal all together at first.  Any thoughts?  Any mamas have any suggestions?  If you did start with a grain, which did you do and how did you introduce it?  ANY suggestions would be greatly appreciated because I’ve gots NO clue what I’m doing over here.  Pretty standard these days….  Also, I want to thank all of you who reached out to me after the 4 month post regarding my breastfeeding journey.  I am happy and eager to share with anyone who needs encouragement, and appreciate all of the encouragement I received from yall!

Clothes: Right now G is still somewhat all over the board in sizes.  She can still wear some of her 3 month sleepers, but mostly 6 month is fitting her best.  She has some nine month sleepers that fit her great in length (she’s a tall glass of water I think), but they are too big everywhere else so she kicks the buttons open and pops out of them.  Oh, and she’s still rocking lots of summer attire… just with tights and turtle necks J

Baby Gear Love: Medela I still love you and your breastpump.  We have a special relationship that’s for sure.  We’ve also been introduced to Sophie in the past month and she’s a crowd pleaser over here.  My Ergo carrier is my best friend as well.  Since G has packed on the lbs lately I haven’t used my Solly as much.  So when we are out grocery shopping or just out in general, I usually pop her in the Ergo and she is happy as a clam.  I also like that she can look out if she wants or if she gets tired and/or overstimulated she can turn her face in and I can cover her little head for a quick snooze. 

Crying: She usually only cries when she’s hungry now which is a blessing.  When she gets overtired she starts rubbing her eyes but no real tears.  Thankful for the happy little baby lady that is my daughter. 

Likes: She LOVES when her daddy gets home from work.  It’s like the. Best. Thing. Ever.  She also think the tiny baby that lives inside the mirrors in our house is pretty hilarious.  Her aunties make her laugh too.  She’s pretty tickled over anyone who will give her attention.  She loves reading her books too.  She tries to hold them now lately and when I turn the page it’s like excitement overload.  She kicks and laugh and smiles.  I mean the possibilities are endless!  Only when she calms down can we actually read the page.  And she’s a babbler.  She loves talking to her friends – you know her bunny friend, her mermaid friend and of course her sissy. 

Dislikes: She really doesn’t like it when she has to wait more than .5 seconds to eat.  When she’s hungry, she’s hungry.  Other than that, she’s pretty good with life!

Postpartum:  Feeling good still but definitely feeling like I need to start on the exercise train.  Especially with summer in the far distance.  I’m gonna do it.  I am.  I think I can I think I can.

Milestones: She’s a rolling baby now!  Yayy!  Well kinda yay.  I can’t leave her on the changing table or bed anymore, but it makes her so happy when she can roll to her favorite toy.  Her smiles and laughs have also been coming by the second!  She starting babbling more and her animation makes my heart smile.  I love her ya know.  

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2014 goal setting V I

2014.  I can't believe it's here!  I love a new year just as much as the rest of em.  A blank slate.  New beginnings.  A fresh start.  It's all so refreshing and filled with so much hope.  Hope can move mountains I tell ya.

This year I'm really taking the time to set goals.  Make priorities.  Evaluate my life, the things in it, the relationships and the "stuff" that fill my day-to-day.  I'm weeding out that stuff that doesn't matter and making more room and more time for the things and the people that do.  I'm working my way through Lara Casey's Goal Setting Series as well as her Power Sheets for 2014.  I'm praying about things I want to change and see in the new year.  I'm getting real with God.  Pouring out my imperfect heart full of yucky stuff that I hate to admit, so that He can wipe it clean and really use it.  Use me.  

I am no where near finished with the goal setting stuff (I'm only on part 2!) but I will leave you with my progress so far.  It's somewhat of an overview, and as the weeks go on in January I am going to walk you (and me) through my individual goals.  If nothing else, I hope to gain some accountability and encourage you in some way!

purchase this print HERE

First and foremost in 2014, I need more Jesus. And if that is all I accomplish in the next 365 days, than it will have been a successful year that's for sure.  I have picked my word for 2014 and it is SIMPLIFY.  That word has been laid on my heart for so many reasons.  This year I hope to work through my life and simplify every aspect of it.  Ultimately, I don't need a bunch of "stuff" or a bunch of "to do's."  I need a simple life with the ones I love most, impacting others in whatever way I can.  So all of my goals in some way are an effort to simplify.

best friend and my baby

I've also started my 2014 Inspiration Board on Pinterest.  You can follow it HERE!  Do y'all have one?  Leave the link in a comment - I would LOVE to follow you!

Have any of y'all chosen a word?  Made any goals?

PS - Is it bad I only made it 'til 11pm on NYE?  I tried, I really did.  And does it count that I was up at 3 am with my babe?  I mean that counts as ringing in the New Year right?!  Oh how things have changed... :)

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