Hello sweet friends!We are over the moon to share that we have another baby on the way! I still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that this is really happening. I will share more details in a later blog post but for now I can tell you that we assumed because of all the health complications that Matt has experienced recently, that we may not be able to get pregnant again.Happy (and still a little surprised!) to report that even in the midst of everything he's gone thru, this little miracle is still on the way.I'm in my fourteenth week and very VERY happy to say goodbye to the first trimester. Again, more details in a dedicated post, but I'll just say that it has been the hardest pregnancy by a long shot!We were able to keep this secret from our girls until I was twelve weeks along and it was during these sweet photos that my friend Megan took for us that we got to share the news. The look on their little faces was priceless. I have always wanted to have my kids close together and wasn't sure how this age gap was going to work. However, now that they are a little older and can really grasp the concept of a new baby in mommy's tummy, it just makes it that much more magical!My favorite moment after telling the girls about the baby was when they both immediately put their hands on my tummy and then asked if they could try to listen to the baby. Cue the abundant mom tears!Here are some of our favorites from our baby reveal pictures...
Thank you so much for sharing in our joy! Thank you to my sweet friend Megan for capturing this sweet time for us![showshopthepostwidget id="3028686"]
Mom Life Monday
Hey, friends!Hope your week is off to a good start. I'm slowly getting back into my regular blogging schedule after a post-Holiday hiatus. It was a fun break but I'm super excited to get back into this space!For today's mom life Monday, I'm going to share my Top Five #momlife approved Spring items with y'all AND a little bit of encouragement in this crazy journey through the Motherhood.Let's start with some fun fashion![showboutiquewidget id="689818"]This is such a weird time of year because we are all itching for Spring but the temps are still flipping up and down fast enough to give you whiplash. Here are a few of my favorite items that are perfect for easing that transition.Lightweight Cardigans are my go-to right now because they can be worn over swing dresses, jeans, and shorts when we get finally get to that point. I purchased this cardigan during the Nordstrom sale and it's been worn SO much. I got a good deal on it but honestly even paying full price would have already been worth it by now. This one is light weight and kind of a linen blend. The quality is just amazing!I got these boyfriend jeans a few months ago and OH my goodness I love them. I ordered one size up for a loose fit and I love how they are so easy to dress up or down. They look so cute with a pair of loafers and a tee or heels and a sweater for date night. They're currently on sale for $29, and you just can't beat that price.These loafers honestly feel like you're walking in your bedroom slippers! Definitely ideal for chasing toddlers but also cute enough to wear to dinner with your girlfriends. I'm obsessed with them. I have them in the "sand" color, which is really more of a blush pink. Thinking I need a few other colors to add to my collection.I know I'm like a broken record when it comes to this cami but it REALLY is necessary! Its the easiest thing ever to throw on under just about anything and the loose fit is ideal for any body type. It's not too low cut either, which is also a benefit. It's currently on sale for only $20 so snag it fast. You won't regret it!Last but not least, I wanted to share this sweet blush backpack I just ordered. I love carrying cute bags but a backpack is the most ideal during this season of my life. I may not be carrying a diaper bag currently but this bag has room to hold a wallet, snacks, and whatever other random things my kids put in there. Plus, having two free hands while out and about is super duper convenient.Ok now that we've hit on the style portion, let's talk about some momma stuff!Recently I have found myself feeling more like a referee than I mom. I feel like I'm constantly breaking up arguments and being asked to solve problems for my kids. I really do believe that there are times when it's beneficial for me to step in and help create teachable moments for my girls, BUT there are also so many silly squabbles that I end up tending to that by the time I make it to the meaningful moments, I'm too tired to deal with them.I've already shared how I respond to most whining by saying "Before you complain about a problem, try to find a solution" but this takes it a little further.I realized that ultimately what I'm trying to instill in my girls is an ability to solve problems and create win/win situations. So here's what I've started saying when the little tifts come up:Rowen: "Mommy! Reese won't give me that toy and I REALLY REALLY REALLY want a turn!"Me: "Rowen I believe that you are fully capable of solving this problem and creating a win/win for you and your sister! Now go for it!"By using these specific words, I'm trying to build confidence in them that they can solve their own problems. Sometimes I still have to help them, but it's been amazing to see how they've started taking initiative to deal with issues that arrive rather than always asking me to do it for them.It would be easier to just say "I don't care! Go figure it out!" But then there's nothing intentional or teachable about that. Changing up your words just a bit can make all the difference.I hope y'all have a great start to your week and thank you so much for stopping by today!
What To Wear For Valentine's Day
Ok, y'all, tell me I'm not the only one that loves loves LOVES Valentine's Day?! I get so excited about planning the outfits, the little school parties, and of course all the fun things we do at home with the girlies. We used to try to get babysitters and go on a fancy date but in recent years, we have enjoyed being home so much more. We make a special little supper for the girls and give them their little love day gifts. It really is so special!This year we are also planning to make home made cookies and cards for a few of the special people we love that have lost their spouses. We want to use this day as an opportunity to share with our babies not only how much we love them and how much God loves them, but also how important it is for us to love on those around us. Especially those who may feel forgotten and lonely on this day.[showshopthepostwidget id="3008065"]
If we're gonna talk about what we do on V Day, we've also gotta cover what we wear! In honor of this sweet day of love, I'm working with Nordstrom to round up all the inspo you'll need for planning your outfit. The good news is that you've still got time to get something ordered before the big day. Nordstrom's shipping is always free but also FAST.
Since we will be pretty relaxed this year on V Day, this little Amour Graphic Tee is perfect! It fits true to size, I'm wearing a size small. If you love it as much as I do, you'll want to order quick because sizes are selling out. I love it paired with a dark pair of skinny jeans and don't red heels just make everything more fun?!
Hope you guys have the sweetest season of love with the ones who are close to your heart! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today and to see even more of my picks for V Day, see below!!![showboutiquewidget id="685736"]
Winter Transitional Styles
Hi, friends! I'm so excited to be working with Nordstrom for today's blog post. This is a huge dream come true for me and I just want to say a huge thank you to ALL of YOU for your sweet support!Y'all know I do the majority of my shopping at Nordstrom, mostly because I can find goodies for my entire family all in one place. But the customer service and customer experience found at Nordstrom just can't be beat! I love that I can order online and always have free shipping and returns. This busy momma needs all the help I can get in the time saving department. Insert praise hands emoji here. :-)If you're anything like me, you are kind of itching for all things Spring. The reality is, most of us are going to be stuck in Winter for a solid two more months before it'll be time to bust out the Spring clothes. This is where transitional styles come in. Some people call it a capsule wardrobe, I just think of these items as things that aren't limited to being worn only one time a year.Finding transitional items not only stretches your dollar, but it also stretches your options when outfit planning year round. These are wear now AND later pieces!
I love this flowy peplum tee because it works with skinny jeans but would also work with cut off shorts when it gets warmer. You can style it under a utility vest, denim jacket, button down top, or just with a cute necklace. Honestly it's cute enough to wear all by itself. It fits true to size. I'm wearing a small. Oh! And it also comes in the prettiest forest green.These skinny jeans have been a new FAV of mine! I love the crop fit and the raw hem. The wash is perfect for a dark skinny. They run a wee bit large so I'd suggest sizing down one size from your normal size. I'm wearing a size 26 for reference.
This cardigan comes in ivory and grey, is really light weight, and I love the blouson detail on the sleeve. So sweet! I know it may be breaking some "rules" but I love a cardigan with a cami, cut off shorts, and booties in the Spring and Summer time. This one will be perfect for that!I purchased these bow slides last year and OH my goodness am I glad I did! They are so dreamy. Obviously comfy because this is me we're talking about but I also get compliments on them everywhere I go. They're neutral little show stoppers that (you guessed it!) I wear all year long.Thanks again so much for stopping by the blog today, y'all! You guys are the sweetest squad around and I'm so thankful for each and every one of you![showshopthepostwidget id="2999351"]Today's blog post was sponsored by Nordstrom. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.[showboutiquewidget id="683760"]
JEEP Holiday and Stone Mountain Christmas
Today's post is sponsored by JEEP. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hey, friends!Last week we had the pleasure of getting to tootle around town in the all-new 2018 Jeep Compass. Since Matt was off work, he did most of the driving and LOVED it. He really loved the Apple Play for the convenience of having his phone completely in sync with the car. I could tell that the voice command really cut down on any distractions while driving so it also ends up being a safety feature. The heated steering wheel was very convenient since it was SO cold over the weekend! The heated seats were my favorite feature because AGAIN SO COLD! I could also easily control how heated I wanted my seat to get, which was really nice. The touch screen dashboard monitor allowed me to help with navigation and music as well. Now how do I get one of those in my car?!
We had plenty of room for both girl's car seats and they loved the view out their window. Rowen exclaimed at one point in our drive "Mommy! I have such a great view in this car!" There was plenty of legroom in the passenger seat and the overall comfort of the seats I felt was top notch. The car is a very smooth ride and we were so lucky to get to drive it around for a few days!
Part of the fun JEEP had in store for us included a trip to Stone Mountain Christmas. We were pretty excited to go because it had been years since we'd been able to make the trip over there. We went early afternoon for the sake of nap schedules, but I'd highly recommend taking your kids in the evening time because the village all lit up is breathtaking. They have a beautiful Snow Angel that lights the village and a ton of shows that play all during the day. We took the girls to the 4D Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer show and they loved it. We also took them on the Christmas Sing a long train! At night, the train takes you through tons of lights around the mountain and tells the Christmas story. So sweet! They stayed entertained the whole time. There are plenty of spots for hot cocoa and snacks and lots of seating if the kiddos get tired.
We are really so grateful to have had such a fun opportunity to get a MAJOR ride upgrade for a few days. If you've been looking into a JEEP Compass for your next car, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have!Thanks so much for reading, sweet friends! Happy weekend!