Wednesday, January 27, 2016

What's Up Wednesday

Today I'm linking up for What's Up Wednesday thanks to Shay over at Mix And Match Family. Hop on over to her page to find lots of fun ladies who are sharing What's Up in their lives this week!

 
 
 
 

What we're eating this week:
 
I finally broke down and gave Blue Apron a try, so for the last few nights we've been at the mercy of the chef elves that put together our meal box. After only a week, I'm sad to say that I have cancelled my subscription. I'm sure this is an awesome program for some, but it just isn't the right fit for our family right now, so although we gave it the ole college try, Blue Apron and I have parted ways.



What I'm reminiscing about:
 
A warm vacation. I'm beyond ready for a break vacation and some of these places of yesteryear are calling my name. There may be a trip to Florida amongst my February, so a girl can dream.
 
 



 
What I'm Loving:
 
Our new playroom! This past weekend we converted our home office "crap catch-all" room into a dedicated playroom and I'm loving the results. Thanks, Pinterest for your organizational inspiration and DIY bench cushion building tutorials! #PinterestWin #Proudmom
 
 
What we've been up to:
 
Staying warm and indoors while also trying to entertain a toddler. I cannot wait for spring when we can let Nash run free in the grass and fresh air!
 
What I'm dreading:
 
A few more months of winter and ice and snow and cold. Seriously, why did I leave the south???
 
What I'm excited about:
 
We have a few weekend trips on the horizon and I'm excited for a change of scenery and quality time with friends and family. Two of my best friends also gifted me a VERY generous United Airways gift card for my birthday, so I'm stoked to cash that puppy in and pack in some serious girl time soon (Thank you R&T!)!

We're headed back to Grizzly Jack's to see family in a few weeks.

 
And I'll back to Charleston in March to see these pretties!

 
 
What I'm Watching/Reading:
 
Watching: Judge if you must, but the Hubs and I are fans of the original Teen Mom cast, so we've been in full Teen Mom OG swing in our home. Two things, friends:
1) I'm going to try to be kind here as that's my mantra for 2016, but Farrah is one of the least kind human beings I've ever seen. The way she disregards human deciency, lacks respect of all others, and her ability to spit venom to EVERYONE makes me physically ill and so very sad. MTV, why is she even allowed to remain on this show?
2) Tyler and Catelynn's wedding was one of the sweetest moments I've witnessed on a reality show. Tyler's vows were the sweetest, most sincere and beautifully written professions of love I've heard at a wedding. Many of us have grown along with them throughout the last 6-7 years, so this wedding felt like a family affair. Sigh.
 
Reading: I love a good read and Elin Hilderbrand is one of my current faves. In December I finished both her Winter Street and Winter Stroll books and am now reading A Beautiful Day. Her characters and scene setting abilities have now added a trip to Nantucket to my bucket list!

 
 
 
What I'm listening to:
 
I'm a huge Pandora fan and am back on my Lionel Richie station addiction, with a little Serial Podcast thrown in the mix. Although season 2 of Serial is not as compelling for me, it's still super interesting to have a closer look into the investigation process.
 
 
What I'm wearing:
 
Layers, winter gear and sweats. Nuff said.
 
What else is new:
 
Tonight kicks off a new book club (aka...wine/book club) and I'm so excited for the five of us to get together and read and laugh and learn in 2016! Who doesn't love a good book and a glass of wine?

 
 
What are you up to?
 


Friday, January 22, 2016

Friday High Fives

We made it, friends! Cheers to a short week thanks to the amazing works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which always falls on the weekend of my birthday. Lucky me.

This week's high-fives were brought to me compliments of:


Aveda Stress-Fix- This cream smells ah-mazing, y'all. I feel like I'm at the spa every time I crack it open and my skin cannot get enough during these ridiculously dry winter months.


The return of my favorite TV shows after the holiday break. I probably watch too much TV once the Munchie goes to bed, but for now, I welcome the mindless entertainment. Judge if you must.



 
Snuggle time with our Munchie in the morning. With the low temps and our living room being a wall of 15ft windows, it's much more cozy for Nash and I to snuggle in our bed while he drinks his bottle. We watch Mickey, cuddle and dream of staying there all day.
 
 
This fellow below, and not because he's handsome, but because I've been digging his music for awhile now. He's a welcomed change of pace from the other country stars I've heard lately.
Give him a listen.
 
 
 
 
 
These beauties brightening up our kitchen for over a week now. If you're local and looking for flowers that last, give Kings Flowers a call! Special shout out to the Hubs, for sending them for my Bday. There's nothing better than a floral delivery, am I right?!
 
 
Welcoming Bessie into our family. I have been waiting patiently for Bessie to circulate back through DecorSteals and when she did, I snagged her up. What's even more fun, you ask? Placing her on the Hub's pillow for a creepy, little surprise:) Side note, friends who don't live in the Midwest will most likely not understand why anyone would anxiously await a cow head décor piece.
#WeLoveCows #FarmhouseChicForTheWin
 
 
Receiving pictures from daycare. These snapshots into Munch's day make me oh so happy. AND how adorable is our baby holding a baby?! I can't even. He just looks so proud and so happy and so handsome. He'll make a great big brother some day, Lord willing.
 


 

Sticker fun when we're prisoners staying warm on a -9 degree day.
Nash is just now starting to sit still long enough for activities like this, so I sneak them in when I can.




#NationalHugDay. Who doesn't love a good hug??!!
Who gives you the best hugs?



Happy Friday, y'all!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

How Can It Be

Today is a good day.

The sun is shining.

There's a Midwestern heat wave (y'all, we've crept into the 20's for the first time in days and I can feel my toes again!).

And I'm just going to leave this here for you...



Our wrongs have been righted. Our causes pled. Our chains broken. Our dirty made clean. Our olds made new. We are free.

Today is a good day.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Show & Tell: Momfessionals



Today I'm linking up with Andrea for the January edition of Show & Tell: Momfessionals (aka...mom confessions). I've already read a few of the momfessionals over on Andrea's page and many of them had me laughing and nodding my head in agreement. There's a certain unity in our survival mechanisms of which I am pleased to know I'm not the only one.
United we stand, mommas!

Without further ado...

  • I loathe the bedtime routine of changing the diaper, changing into jammies and brushing Nash's teeth. He screams and fights the toothbrush the entire time and by the end of the day, I have zero fight left in me. I do, however, rule the bedtime story, rocking and singing of a lullaby or two. Once in his room, I nail bedtime every night. Everything leading up to that I gladly hand over to his dad. Sorry, Hubs.
  • I've recently noticed that I overuse the phrase "I'm going to let you do that" when it comes to changing a rank diaper, brushing of said teeth, putting Nash in his car seat, etc... I'm hoping that if I word it as though I am "gifting" my husband the task opportunity, that it will appear more appealing and super selfless. Let's not ask Tim how he perceives it, OK? 
  • There is one act of toddlerhood that cuts right through me and can make me see red on the spot...throwing of food. I truly make an effort to prepare things for dinner that I think Nash will enjoy (that are also nutritious) only to have some of them thrown on our floor, table or even worse, at me. Momfessional alert here>>>>I almost lose my mind if the food hits me. Oh, no you didn't!
  • I stay up WAY TOO LATE watching mindless TV or playing on my phone and Facebook simply because I can. No one needs me after 9pm, no one needs anything for that matter, so I can simply just be. Are there more constructive things I could be doing? Duh. But I've been constructive all the live-long day and I'm done. DONE. I just want to be a blob who will pay for it the next morning.
  • I still put my 17 month old in his baby swing when I need a break (minus the mobile so don't panic). He's a little peanut so he still fits comfortably and he enjoys the coziness of it while watching a show, so why the heck not milk that thing. I joke that I'll still put him in that thing when he's 7 but secretly I'm not joking. Seriously, do they make them in big kid sizes? Graco, I'm talking to you.


  • I'm a proud germaphobe. P.R.O.U.D and I make no apologies. While 9 months pregnant, and already exuding beauty from every angle, I got pink eye and the doc thought it was probably from a grocery cart. Picture being almost 10 months pregnant in the heat of August AND you have a swollen shut, gooey eye. Ain't nobody got time for that. I felt bad that people even had to look at me as I looked freakishly similar to Sloth from the Goonies. I will forever sanitize grocery carts, restaurant tables, my child, etc... If it's not moving, I'll probably sanitize it.
Hang in there fellow mommas! We've got this, secrets and all.






Thursday, January 14, 2016

In My 36th Year

For the last few years (read last year's here) I've taken a moment on my birthday to reflect on all that life has taught me over the last 365 days. These are by far some of my favorite posts as they show me that although some days are hard, some days hurt, some days make my sides hurt from belly laughing, the sum of these days and moments show me growth and life and faith and love. This year was no exception.

In my 36th year I learned that the term "new mom" is relative. I'm thinking at this rate, I may always feel "new" in this arena. Seriously, just when I get a stage or phase nailed down, boom, onto the next parental learning curve. I've also learned I'm sick of changing diapers, but that I can't do a darn thing about it.

I've learned that owning three homes with three mortgages is zero fun. Selling two of said homes feels fantastic and makes me want to never buy a home again.  Renting looks pretty darn good to me in the future. I've also learned that not owning a boat whilst living on the river because, ummm, 3 mortgages, is painful. Watching everyone soak in the rays and the breeze on the water while we watch from our deck in 97 degree weather is definitely not as fun. In my 37th year I hope to have learned what it does feel like to be ON the water, but I digress.

I learned that standing before God, our pastor and my family and committing my son and his faith journey to God and the church is a moment I will never forget (even if the pastor called me Bethany the entire time). We cannot make Nash believe, but we can lead him in the right direction and we can show him a God who loves him and ALWAYS has Him in his hands and heart.

I've learned that watching a human grow and develop into a person with a personality is a miracle which unfolds moment by moment and day by day. How lucky are we to have front row seats to this masterpiece? I've also learned that being a boy mom is not for the faint of heart. Seriously, upon birthing a boy, they should give you a helmet and a "get ready for this..." manual. I may or may not have mini heart attacks daily as I try to stop Nash from head diving off of everything.

I've learned that watching those you love battle mental or physical illness can test your faith, but that you have to believe things will get better. They will. I know they will.

I've learned what it feels like to lose your best furry friend and that the realization in that moment brought me to my knees. I heard a part of me cry out from deep inside my soul that the audible sounds startled me. I learned that even 6 months after his passing, I'll still forget Piggy's gone when I run home at lunch or see something at the front door window. There will never be another Piggy. He was irreplaceable and I was the luckiest person to have him love me for so long.

I've learned that although you know your grandparents won't be around forever, their mortality still sneaks up on you. I've learned that the greatest gifts are time and that I never want my loved ones to be alone when they're failing and ailing.

I've learned that being a parent makes you finally understand when your folks used to say "you'll understand when you're a parent." I get it now. Parenting is incredibly hard for a love that comes so easily. It is challenging and energizing and exhausting and exciting and important and silly and it is a gift that isn't promised to all. I've also learned that watching your parents lose their parents is heart wrenching and makes you want to soak in all of the moments with yours while you still have them.

I've learned that goodbyes on this side of earth are not fun, regardless of timing or preparation or warning, but they are not final. This is not our final destination.

I've learned that friendship, both near and far, makes me incredibly grateful. Nothing beats a good friend. Nothing.

And lastly, I've learned that true love takes work and I'm thankful for everyone in my life who works at this crazy stuff with me and alongside of me daily. You all make this journey, and my 36th year, worthwhile. Cheers to 37!