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I am a happily married new mom who loves exploring, creating new adventures and loving on my sweet daughter. I am a K-2 teacher who is now staying at home with my little one! Welcome as I explore all things a part of my sweet city love!
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5.20.2013

The Crib Transition


We are trying to make the transition from Rock N Play (a bassinet of sorts) to crib.  It's so not as easy or as seamless as I wished for.  The bassinet keeps her snuggled and cozy and the crib...well, it's just so big and cavern-like.  After researching tips and tricks online, I settled on one that makes her crib look pretty high-tech.  We've stuffed pillows underneath to raise her mattress and rolled up two blankets under her sheets to create bolsters.  I know, I know - "do not put ANYTHING in the crib with your baby."  It's ok, we're watching her and she's yet to spend a full night in her crib. We're just tackling naps so far - and that's a struggle.  The bolsters and incline are helping but we can tell her naps are not as restful as they are in the bassinet. Friends last night suggested moving her from bassinet to crib when she's super drowsy and won't really notice a change - great idea! I think we might try that tonight.  In good news, baby girl is out of her swaddle! I feel like that's a major hurdle that we are over - thanks to LC and her desire to be a free woman! It is so cute, when she is in her crib, she sleeps with her arms fully extended (in a T shape)...I think she likes the new space, she just doesn't quite know how to handle it all just yet.

We had a rainy weekend here in Virginia, so we played a lot inside and LC got introduced to her Jumparoo!  She wasn't so sure at the beginning...but is starting to really like it! She spins around (not so much bouncing up and down) but thinks it's pretty cool to be standing on those feet.  She'll be visiting it today as she watches mommy organize her newborn and 0-3 month clothes for storage (ahhh oh my gosh).

The weekend starting off with a little date with her birthday twin friend!

Our first date night since LC was born.  It felt great to go out to dinner and enjoy some time together, just the two of us.

 Jump! Jump!

LC was practicing rolling from back to side on Saturday!

Our rigged crib...pre-bolster








5.16.2013

Is 30 The New 20?


This TED talk has been shared around on Facebook.  I am so glad I took the time to watch it. I wanted to save the video here so I can come back to it if the mood strikes!  Motherhood has made me so much more confident of a person.  I'm not sure if that's a normal reaction to having a 7 pound bundle of love join your family, but I feel more myself that I ever have.  I no longer feel like I need to be this idealized "me" (does that make sense?) but instead feel more confident in who I am, right now, at this moment.  I am the mother of a beautiful baby girl and that, just by itself, makes me feel pretty good.  I've also been thinking that as her mom, she will look to me for inspiration, for help in building her own self confidence and for support in all of the joys and struggles that life brings.  I have to make sure that I work on my best self so I can show her how to always reach for her dreams...

Quotes that really spoke to me from this TED talk:
"Do something that's an investment in who you might want to be next."
"Explore work and make it count."
"Invest in your identity capital."

Sometimes things come into your life at just the right time.  I've been thinking about who I want to become next and this might just be the catalyst I need...!


5.15.2013

Slow down, baby!


Our baby has blossomed! We have a drooling, happy, smiley baby now who is wearing 6 month clothes and size 2 diapers! Woah!!!! When did this happen? She is such a joy as her personality is really starting to shine.  My prediction - we have an independent, opinionated thinker of a little girl on our hands who is loving, charming and really, really special.  She is pretty incredible.

Also, my Tog & Porter box came yesterday! I'm meeting with my stylist tomorrow to review the items and will post about it soon.  Upon first glance, I am really, really happy with everything :)




5.13.2013

Tea Cups


Traditions have been started.  Isn't that one of the greatest joys of being a parent? You get to set up for your children what will become timeless traditions, stories that they will tell their children one day and things to look forward to each and every year.  My husband started one of those traditions on this very special FIRST Mother's Day for me :)  I've been wanting to start collecting tea cups for awhile but just haven't gotten started.  I want a dainty cup to sip out of, a cup that has a story and one that makes drinking tea an experience, a reason to stop and enjoy the little things in life. 

 LC got me my first tea cup this year.  The hubby thought this is a tradition that we could start (cue tears).  Every year, our children will pick out a tea cup for mother's day.  It could be one they choose, one they paint themselves, one that tells the story of a memory or a place we've been or one they think their mommy would like.  Once they are grown, I'll have a beautiful collection that tells the story of our lives.  Beautiful.  My husband I tell you...he's a keeper :)




5.09.2013

A Nap Time Job


I have a great sleeper of a child. I know I am blessed, lucky, should thank the sleep gods and shout praises everyday! So, what I'm about to say may cause much eye-rolling, huffing and puffing, but...I need a job.  Somedays, LC will take two 3-hour naps.  Other days, she'll take just one long nap and somedays her naps will be only 1-hour each.  Nonetheless, I have some time on my hands.  I know these naps won't last all that long and that in a month or so (or maybe sooner?), I'll be begging her to sleep, but today, at this moment, I need something to do.

 I'm a teacher - I'm used to running around NON-STOP all day long.  Now, parenting aside (we're super active and it is quite exhausting when she's awake), this once busy-bee needs something to keep me occupied.  I need help! I need ideas! I even dreamed last night that I was excited to go back to work - something I haven't really considered until now.  I think my mind is needing more stimulation.  What is a side job I could pick up? Should I take an online class? I'm not all that crafty so you amazing moms who make cute onesies, hair bows and bloomers...I'm not one of you. I need a job for nap time.  There's only so much "cleaning the house" I can do (I actually despise cleaning and want to hire someone to do that for me...), blogs I can read and coffee I can drink.  Help!




5.08.2013

What I'm Loving Wednesday



Happy to be linking up with Jamie today!

1. I'm loving my morning cup of Joe.  It truly makes me feel better.


2. I'm loving inspirational quotes.  This one is from Jamie today on her blog! It spoke to me and warms my soul.


3. I'm loving Leah over at Everyday Love who wrote about the joys and struggles of being a first time mom.  Again, my heart swelled with love for my little girl.

"But that is honestly the one thing I would tell new and soon to be moms.  
It is the best job you will ever have. 
It is the hardest job you will ever have. 
The days will be long. 
The years will be short. 
Don't beat yourself up because things are going as you originally planned. 
Let your baby be your guide.  
Your baby will tell you what he/she needs. 
Things will workout in the time they are supposed to and how. 
Soak up the cuddles and ask for help when you need it. 
Give all the love in the world.  

Just remember, there is no such thing as a perfect mom.
All you can really do is try your best, learn from your mistakes and enjoy each stage. 

Most importantly, get ready to experience a love like no other. "


4. I'm loving my sweet girl and how she has started sleeping sans swaddle!!! She sleeps in her Rock N Play every night (these are two post-milk naps).  The next step is transitioning from bassinet to crib...



4.  I'm loving that we have tried our best to travel with LC and help her build flexibility and comfort even when things aren't exactly the same as they are at home.

5. I love the relief that washes over me when we walk through our front door.  This little girl has brought an entire new feeling to "home."


6. I'm loving this adorable chair! I can picture LC sitting in it during cocktail/milk hour at the river :)

7. I'm loving this sweet life...









5.06.2013

How to Remember


LC is almost 14 weeks - oh.my.gosh! I spent about an hour the other day pouring through pictures of her on her birth day and the weeks after.  I was going to print a bunch and put them together in an album.  Easy enough, right? Oh my gosh, I was an emotional mess and froze.  How could I possibly begin?! Each picture is a treasured memory.  Even the mess-ups are special and tell our story.  I need suggestions on how to begin. I don't want the years to pass by and I don't have any printed pictures.  Computers and iphones are great but they just doesn't take the place of a photo album.  I need an LC brag book that doesn't include me saying to friends and family "Let me show you my favorite LC pictures! Do you have a minute? Here, scroll through these 3,000 pictures."  

How do you save these most special memories to remember forever?













5.03.2013

A Little Help Along the Way

 

So we are three months in to this "raising a baby" thing.  And, so far, it's been pretty incredible.  It's been so different than I thought but filled with more joy and love that I could have imagined.  I've already said many times and thought even more, I cannot imagine doing this on my own.  Being a single parent must be one of the hardest things to do in the entire world.  My goodness, LC is not even on the move yet and I already feel like I need 8 arms to do it all (including a little help when the dog knocks me down while carrying LC and cleaning up his doody...ugh!).

When we first moved here, I was 8 weeks pregnant.  It was all so new and so exciting.  It still blows my mind to think that was my little LC in there - going through all these life changes with us.  I wonder if she liked that trip to Denver we took? Did she feel my happiness at Christmas? Did she enjoy that massage? Anyway, after living here for only a few weeks, I joined a first time moms group. We were all first time moms and all due within 2 months of each other. Amazing, right?!  I knew that I couldn't go at this adventure alone.  These girls have already been a huge rock for me and my little girl.  We went through our pregnancies together, our deliveries together and now the adventures of motherhood.  I've told the husband, big C (all of the people/fur babies in our house begin with C...hence LC...little C), that no matter where we each go in our lives, these women will have been through the most life changing moment with me.  It'll be the type of relationship where years down the road we can reconnect so easily, knowing we've been through this most vulnerable time together.  It's pretty special.  We all send numerous emails a day asking anything from "what books do I read to my baby?" to "why won't he take a nap?!"  It helps to know that help is out there.  That there are other women who are going the same thing, with the same joys and the same struggles, makes it all seem a little more manageable.

I'm proud of what I am doing, what we are doing.  I'm happier than I have ever been and I feel strong knowing that when I need it, I have a little help along the way from a really great group of moms.

5.01.2013

Body After Baby


I'm working on getting rid of this baby pooch - it's still hanging out waaaay to far.  I loved every minute of my pregnancy (seriously, I'm one of those weirdos who LOVED being pregnant!) and don't wish anything different.  However, I do wish I could take back a few of the brownies, muffins, cakes and pies sweet people brought us after LC was born.  I swear, that's where this pooch came from.  I ate healthy during my pregnancy but fell victim to my major sweet tooth in the crazy few weeks after she was born. Also, no one tells you how nursing makes you starving!

I've been trying a few different things to get my body moving again.  I have about 15 pounds I would like to lose and am trying it in a few ways.

1. Long walks with LC and Charlie (and the husband when he's home!)
2. Postpartum pilates
3. Barre 

I had my first Barre class last night at Lava Barre and really, really liked it! I felt like it was a great complement to pilates.  We used more weights and I felt muscles being worked and strengthened that pilates can miss.  I can't wait to start feeling stronger!  Hopefully these classes will also help strengthen my knees, which are weak and sore a lot of the time (ugh to bad knees!). I'm not looking for a rock solid body, just a more toned, post-baby me :) Here's to a new workout!



4.30.2013

Early to Bed, Early to Rise


We had the best visit with my sister this weekend! She came down on Friday morning and we had lots of outdoor time, made pizza, snuggled with LC (of course), went on long walks and had a cookout.  It was so special that she took the time out of her insanely busy schedule to take the bus (which can be pretty rotten) to see us! LC loved being with her and I love that she will grow up knowing she has an aunt who loves her so much!

She also got a good dose of "babies aren't quiet, cute and cuddly all the time" when it took us awhile Friday night to put LC to bed.  Many tears, rocks, shushes and a vibrating bouncy seat later, she was asleep.  This had started to become a trend.  She goes down for naps so well but bedtime was starting to be a battle.  So we read up on our favorite sleep book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Weissbluth and we came to the conclusion we were putting her to bed too late.  So we pushed up bedtime, kept her up for no more than two hours from her last nap and voila! success! We've been starting the bedtime routine around 6:00 and she's nursing to sleep by 6:30.  We've had 3 nights of no crying, no re-waking, solid, all night sleep! Plus, it gives the husband and I a nice dinner time together and a pretty peaceful evening. Now the flip side is that LC is waking up around 6:00 am.  But, honestly, it's a happy trade-off for an easy bedtime routine.  I really see her waking up happier, too.  Maybe because she's getting such better rest at night? And, since she goes back down to nap around 7:30, I can then shower, drink some tea, work on my computer and light a yummy smelling candle, creating my own morning serenity lounge :)

Cheers to a great sleeper, a beautiful baby, a loving aunt and a happy life!








4.25.2013

Time to Shop...


I really don't like shopping.  I pretend I do, I dive into stores with fervor and then, inevitably, I leave tired, hungry and defeated.  It's just so not fun.  I wish I had the eye to dig through a sales rack and come out with the cutest clothes that fit and flatter my body (all at 70% off) but I never have that kind of luck.  I end up paying full price for something that I cringe about when I try it on at home (why doesn't it ever look as good as it did in the store?!).  Now that I have a little girl, my anxiety is in full swing.  Now not only do I need to shop for my post-baby body, but I also have the pressure of dressing my darling in the cutest baby clothes.  Major gulp!

When I was pregnant, I didn't have a ton of maternity clothes.  Many of my "regular" clothes fit until near the end of my pregnancy (besides pants...I was out of those at 17 weeks). In the end, I loved have a fixed wardrobe.  I could mix and match, throw on a new scarf over the same black top and voila, a new outfit.  I want that now.  I need that now.  I get paralyzed with decision and end up frustrated with "nothing to wear."

Now, back to my baby.  I found this monthly subscription called Wittlebee.  It's $39 a month and each month you get a box of super cute baby clothes! I pick three things and they pick three things to go into the box.  You mean, someone will pick out clothes for me and I don't have to pour over the racks and websites wondering why baby clothes are only a smidge less expensive than adult clothes?! I can pick the basics, I'm thrilled for someone else to package and send the fun pieces. I have high expectations of this going really well! I'm so excited for my first box to arrive!

Now, back to me :)  I found this website called Tog & Porter and am so interested! You set a budget and a stylist will meet with you over FaceTime and talk about what you need.  They will pull looks/outfits and send them to you (along with ideas on how to mix and match). You FaceTime again with your stylist when your box arrives, talk about the looks and then you keep what you like and send back what you don't.  Are you serious?! This sounds amazing!!!! And, while it's an investment all at once, I swear I would end up spending less than buying different pieces here and there (those small purchases add up so fast!).  I'll keep you posted...but I see myself working with a Tog & Porter stylist very soon!

And, because I love my baby girl more than anything - here is us celebrating her 12 week birthday yesterday!



 And here is LC at 1 week! Our baby girl has grown so much :)


4.19.2013

A Day in Our Life at 11 weeks!



LC is 11 weeks old now (ahh, where has time gone!?!).  We're starting to get in a groove and here is a glimpse into what our life is like at this point!

7:15 Wake-up.  LC usually wake up so peacefully and just start babbling to yourself.  She let's us know she's awake but also happy and content giving yourself a little chitter chatter.

7:30 - 8:00 Breakfast.  This is my most favorite time of the day. She is awake, happy, still stretching from getting out of the swaddle and nurses really well.

8:00 - 9:00 We say good-bye to Daddy and then have some play time.  She'll play in her bouncer (which I just pulled out and she loves!), kick around on her playmat or swing while I eat some breakfast.  Then we play together (listen to music, talk together or practice grasping toys).

9:00 - 11:30 Nap.  LC is a great sleeper.  She has been from day 1 in the hospital.  We're starting to see some patterns emerge and she takes two long naps during the day (which I think is unusual for someone her age...I think 3 naps is more typical).  If baby girl doesn't get to sleep when she needs it, she lets you know.  It's time for swaddle, some white noise and her rock 'n play.  While she's a fabulous sleeper, she doesn't just sleep anywhere, anytime.

11:30 - 12:15 Lunch for LC.

12:15 - 1:15 Activity time in the house, walk with Charlie or out to run some quick errands.

1:30 - 4:15 Afternoon nap.

4:15 Meal time for LC

4:30 - 7:30 Play time, music time, more food, books, helps make dinner, long walk with daddy and Charlie

7:30 Bath time.  This is LC's favorite time of the day! She splishes and splashes for so long :)

8:00 Swaddled and eating her last meal before bed.  Thankfully, LC sleeps all night and wakes up happy and ready to go at 7:15!














4.17.2013

What I'm Loving Wednesday


It feels wonderful to be linking back up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday!


It's all about inspiration these days! I read this quote over at This Kind of Love and knew I had to link-up. This brought tears to my eyes (in the good filled with love way!).


1. I'm loving that my baby girl is 11 weeks old today! She's just perfect and lights up my life more than I thought was possible. LC at 2 weeks and again at 10 weeks.



2. I love LC and her crazy bed head!


3. I love baby girl smiles


4. I love how her daddy makes her laugh and smile


5. I'm loving my postpartum pilates class - even though it's seriously kicking my booty!


6. I'm loving these recipes (and yes, I've tried both!)



7. I'm loving the beautiful blooms I'm seeing outside of my window.



8. I'm loving that I have connected with some great new mom friends!


except we look more like this...


...well a little less Audrey Hepburn and a little more mom :)

9. I'm loving life.  Truly, I feel content and happy and that is a beautiful thing.


10. I love that LC got to visit the river for the first time this weekend.  She got to tickle those little toes in the sand and was seriously the cutest ever.


*obviously not from the beach...but just imagine this cute little girl wondering why something hard and scratchy was touching her feet.  Oh and include the bright bright sun shining so she couldn't even open her eyes (even while wearing a cute floppy hat!). It wasn't the "dream moment" but was still pretty darn cute!