Friday, February 27, 2015

Etsy Love: February Edition

It's time for another Etsy love sesh! 


What is it about monograms that make us all swoon?!?!  There's just something about seeing your new babies name embroidered on a tiny little onesie that just makes our hearts swell with pride. Am I right or am I right?



As I've mentioned before, my best friend is having her first baby in April. Last weekend I threw her baby shower (pictures to come!!). I just knew I had to find her the perfect monogrammed gift for her sweet little boy. 



It's no surprise I took immediately to Etsy to find the perfect gift! I was lucky to meet Angela from 3DoodleBugsEM!! 


She has the most adorable and high quality baby items available that can be embroidered with whatever your heart desires! I saw the matching gown and blanket set and just had to have it for Baby Landry. I was able to pick the thread color, the font, you name it. 


The best part, it was in my mailbox a few short days later! Angela was fantastic to work with & super responsive with all my questions.



I couldn't wait to see Jenny open it..


But most of all, I can't wait to see it on little Landry in 6 short weeks!!!!!

If ya'll are in need of adorble, monogrammed outfits for your little ones, head over to her shop!! I'm pretty sure the adorble, baby ruffle tee is calling my name! 



Sunday, February 15, 2015

Happy 6 Month Birthday

My Sweet Lara Love,

How is it that our little 6lb, 16inch long nugget is half a year old? Everyday you grow up right before my eyes! As much as I love seeing you become a beautiful little girl, it terrifies me all at the same time. 

It feels like this moment was just yesterday...


And now, your a six month old taking swim lessons!


I remember our first night together. You were so warm and squisy. You molded into my arms like you were made to be there. 


We tried to keep you overnight in our hospital room that first night but your daddy & I were nervous wrecks! You were sleeping so soundly that we were convinced you weren't breathing! You were such a quiet little baby until about 10pm. That's when all hell broke loose. The nurses would come and wheel you in your little bucket down the hall to the nursery where you'd peacefully fall back asleep. I remember waking up the next morning at the crack of dawn full of excitement! I couldn't wait to see you, my sweet girl!


The funny thing is, I still do that today. I wake up every single morning yearning to scoop you up out of your crib and kiss your chunky little cheeks. The other morning you were fast asleep. I had about 30 minutes before I was to hop in the shower to get ready for work. I snuck into your nursery and gently picked you up. You fell right back asleep on my chest while I gently rocked you for that half hour. Those moments in the quiet, where I can hear your little breaths and smell your beautiful skin, those moments are the ones I will remember forever. 


Your spirit is contagious, my little one. For the first 6 weeks of your life you refused to smile, and not for lack of a valiant effort on my part. You've always been one to do things on your own time. But girl, in those early days, you sure had that terrified face down pat! 


I will never forget the day you smiled up at me!! I'm convinced my heart grew in size that day. You were about six weeks old and had just woken up from a nap. I was right in your face (as always). You had just opened your eyes when I asked you softly, "can you smile for mommy?" You finally gave me the most adorable, tiny little grin. 


The rest of my maternity leave was spent begging for smiles! 

These days you are full of grins. In fact, sometimes your daddy and I worry that you're going to hurt your cheeks because you grin so hard!! 


You grin the biggest everytime you see your dad. I'm convinced it's because you think you're looking in the mirror!

You two are twins and it's pretty stinkin' adorable.


You love your daddy so much, which is good because I'm pretty crazy about him too. ;)

You started sitting up about 3 weeks ago and you've never been happier! You are so proud of yourself! You'll sit now for hours on end, just looking around, curious about the great big world you live in. 


Your short little legs can barely support you! At your 4 month checkup you were in the 6th percentile for height, but you had a major growth spurt and are now in the 50th. Grow baby grow! If you're anything like your mommy, heels will still most definitely be in your future. 




The joy you have brought us since the moment we found out you were coming into this world is simply unexplainable. When you were just a seedling in my belly, I would place my hand on you and dream about what it would feel like to see your beautiful face. 

I always dreamed of having my own little girl, and there are still moments today where I can't believe your mine. 


I hope that you always wake up with a smile on your face.

I hope you always know how smart you are.

I hope you never lose your sense of curiosity. 

I hope you always push yourself to learn more and grow everyday. 

I hope you learn that being beautiful on the inside is way more important than being beautiful on the outside. 

I hope you love yourself, even if you end up with a few extra pounds from time to time. 

I hope you are always kind to everyone

I hope for you to have confidence in the woman you'll become. 

I hope you continue to light up every room you enter with your infectious spirit.

I hope you remain fiercly independent but learn to let people in. 

I hope you find a love like your daddy and I have.

But most of all, I hope you always know how much we utterly adore you! No matter how big you get, now matter how grown up you act, you will always be our little girl.

We'll love you forever, we'll like you for always. As long as we're living, our baby you'll be.

Happy 6 month birthday to you, our sweet Lara love! 


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Mom Guilt

This should be a legit diagnosis.

While there's no pill to cure it, I find wine helps. And Shiner Bock.

Let's just dive right in, shall we? 

I feel guilt every. damn. day. 

Did I take the time to make her giggle this morning while changing her "panties?" 

Did I give her enough kisses when I dropped her off at daycare? 

Did I show enough patience while watching her fling green beans all over herself & our kitchen? 

Did I spend to much time taking pictures of her instead of just being with her?

Did I keep her out to late the other night just so I could enjoy one last glass of wine with a girlfriend?

Did I cause her to catch a cold by taking her out to run errands with me last weekend?

I missed her first doctors appointment the other day due to a conflict at work. And with that, it became official. 

I'm the worlds worst mom. 

The guilt we feel as mothers. When does it end? 

The other night I crawled into bed after a longggg day at the office. I began to doze off & suddenly it occurs to me that I forgot to sneak into her room & give her one last goodnight kiss. The mom guilt, overpowering as it is, drags my ass OUT of bed for that one last kiss. 

Because you do realize if I didn't give her that one last kiss; if I don't show enough patience; if I keep her out past her bedtime, my daughter would obviously end up hating me. She'd likely rebel and get knocked up at 15.

Well, moms. It's time to knock it off. 

Because we're trying. We're trying hard at this whole mom thing. We may not always get it right. They're going to fall and bump their head the second we get distracted. And they're going to cry. That sweet, pitiful, heartbreaking cry. And we're going to feel like shit. And our hearts are going to ache and yearn to take away every ounce of pain they will ever feel. But we can't. And that's ok. They are going to fall. They are going to hurt. They are going to cry. But our steadfast, mommy arms will always be right there to scoop them up and kiss their tear streaked cheeks until that adorable grin we love so much, spreads across those chunky little cheeks.

So it's time to call a truce.

You and me, mom guilt.

We're done.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Our Weekend in Photos


From Lara's first swim class to a night out on the town celebrating my 29th birthday to which we turned in for the night at around 9:30pm and it was glorious. Sunday was spent celebrating my handsome little nephews 7th birthday earlier this afternoon then wrapping up the beautiful day walking the gorgeous trails at our local Arboretum. It was a weekend that I hoped never end but sadly, here we are. Sunday evening. But hey, at least the Grammys are on! Speaking of the Grammys, can we talk about TSwifts fabulous dress for a second? GORG. 

I thought I'd share with ya'll some of my favorite snapshots. This weekend was too good not to document. 

Have a great Monday everyone. Pun intended, because let's just get real. Mondays frickin' suck.