5 Months | Baby 2

I realized the other day that all of J's clothes were getting too small. Then it hit me that I was still trying to fit her into 3 month clothes. Reality check momma, she is FIVE months old!

Weight: She weighs about 16 lbs, 12 oz and is in 9 month footed pj's. I could hardly believe it when I realized her Christmas jammies were 9 month. This is all happening too fast.

Health: Baby girl got RSV this month. We had just done the RSV test the week before and it was negative, so when she was congested and couching I just started battling it with the nose frida, saline spray, and humidifier. A few days later, she began coughing so much that she would stop breathing and I would have to hit her back, making her throw up and start breathing again. After it happened for the third time in a day I rushed her to the pediatrician. RSV. Luckily, they got her on breathing treatments asap that helped so we didn't have to stay at the hospital.

Julip and her twin (aunt)

Sleep: We moved her to her crib this month because she completely outgrew the rock-n-play and would flip to her stomach in it. She sleeps mostly on her stomach and about 10-12 hours at night on most nights. I will forever love her good night time sleep, but the girl is a no nap ninja. The only way she will nap is in my arms (like right now, as I type).

Diet: She eats 8 oz. of Enfamil Gentlease every 3-4 hours. We are also starting to notice she mimics our chewing and we feel so bad eating in front of her. She stares us down like she is savoring every bite. I can't believe we are almost to the point of high chair and food.

Clothes: Julip is mostly in 3-6 and 6 month clothes now and size 3 diapers. Like I said earlier; 9 month pj's. I have so many un-worn clothes that we just couldn't get her in fast enough. I'm also getting a little worried that at the rate she will be wearing her summer clothes in February.

Baby Gear Love: Crib, sound machine, pacifiers, pacifier clips for our spittin' baby, boppy, bob & double bob jogging stroller, double stroller, activity gym, and aiden and anais blankets, the bouncer, nose frida, bumbo, footed pj's.

Crying: She is such a softy (like momma). She cries if something touches her head, if she is hungry, or tired. She is a really sweet baby!

Likes: Sticking her tongue out, eating, watching my face, talking, watching tv, sucking on her hands, looking at her feet, music, her brother when he isn't stealing her toys, trying to sit up, standing for short periods, kisses on her cheek, and going for jogs.

Dislikes: Poopy diapers, loud noises, laying down when she wants to sit up, her car seat, getting dressed, being tired, and baths with her brother.

Sibling Love: Abram is a very helpful big brother. He is always trying to give her the pacifier and brings me a burp rag when I need it. He is starting to get jealous when I have to feed her in the mornings (his hard time of day). He is also starting to get possessive over toys now that she can play with some. He will take them and say, "mine", and then hide them and move onto another toy. He is having to learn how to share all over again.

Milestones: Julip talks and smiles to anyone who will interact with her. She loves to eat her hands and play with hanging toys. She will roll from side to side, but will NOT roll over. She just has no desire.

This month Julip celebrated Christmas, looked at lights, and spent the night at Doodle's.

xo,
Nikki

3 Months Old | Baby 2

Halloween came and went so fast that I almost forgot it was Julip's three month birthday! She is no longer a newborn and is such a sweet baby; she's always trying to chat with us and her brother. I swear I could eat her up sometimes...I mean those cheeks!

Weight: She weighs about 13 lbs, 4 oz and is filling out most of her 3 month clothes. She will be in 3-6 month and 6 month clothes within the next few weeks.

My behind the scenes "help" haha

Health: She has been great this month! We have been giving her Prevacid once a day for reflux, and that's all she needs to feel better. Her nose has been stuffy, but it's nothing to worry about really. Wow! I think this is the shortest "health" section I have ever typed.

Sleep: When Matt got back from his two week trip to Ohio Julip would wake up every time he would move or get up for work. I was exhausted! I was trying to wait until 12 weeks to move her, but finally around 11 weeks I made the call to move her up to her room. We kept her in the rock-n-play (next to the crib) for night and give her naps in her crib. I'm honestly a little nervous about having to make the transition. As of 3 months, she will go anywhere from 5-8 hours, but has done a couple 9 hour stretches! No real schedule yet, I just feed her every 3-4 hours and change her into her pj's before the night feeding. I keep trying to wake her for a dream feed like I would do for Abram, but the girl WILL NOT WAKE UP! I am starting to think that trying to get her to eat is shortening her sleep. I'm trying to do as little as possible to jinx her sleep. ;) 

Diet: She eats 6 oz. of Enfamil Gentlease every 3-4 hours pretty consistently.

Clothes: Julip is mostly in 3 month clothes now and size 2 diapers. Her pajamas are starting to stretch on the shoulders so I anticipate a switch to 6 month pj's soon. It is so crazy to see these socks that were huge on her at birth getting way too small. :( They really do grow so fast!

Baby Gear Love: Rock-n-Play, sound machine, pacifiers, pacifier clips for out spittin' baby, boppy, swing, her carseat and stroller attachment, bob & double bob jogging stroller, double stroller, activity gym, happy baby wrap {the moby was so hot and heavy}, and aiden and anais blankets, footed pj's.

Crying: She cries when she is hungry, when she is cold, when she has the hiccups, and when her tummy hurts, when she's tired, and when I pull a shirt over her head {she HATES it}.

This picture just makes me giggle for some reason...I think it's the chunky legs

Likes: Eating, watching my face, talking, watching tv, taking naps on our chest, sucking {pacifiers}, warm baths {she is totally relaxed}, naps on her tummy, music, her brother, staring at lights and fans, going for jogs, and being rocked.

he was a little helpful...

Dislikes: Diaper changes, poopy diapers, loud noises when it's quiet (she startles and cries so much), having to do too much exercise (tummy time) being cold and naked, her carseat, getting dressed, being tired, and laying flat on her back.

Sibling Love: Abram just adores his sister and is constantly giving her kisses and hugs, trying to share his toys, and entertaining her. She will just look at him and smile as he jumps around the room for her. He is trying to help me teach her how to roll right now. Sometimes he tries to pick her up and put her in his lap. The times when she can go in his bed are some of his favorite times. 

Milestones: Whenever we smile or talk to her she smiles back and tries to mimic our mouths and sounds. She has much better control of her head, but still hasn't rolled.  When we kiss her cheeks she just laughs and laughs. She has also started to put her hands in her mouth and notice her feet.Those legs are also quite scrumptious these days.

       This month Julip celebrated Halloween, dressed as a witch and a cookie monster, went to her first pumpkin painting party, first play date, and went to the pumpkin patch.

Also, I am guest posting over at The Girl In The Red Shoes today. I'm sharing my breast feeding journey with both kiddos on Julie's Breastfeeding Diaries series. I began reading it back when it first started, and when I had Julip or any time I had a trouble accepting the difficulties that came my way I would refer back to the series to read other's stories. It's a great resource for new moms who are just trying to figure out the best way to nourish their new bundle! Click on the link above to read mine and other's stories.

xo,
Nikki

Our Halloween/ Abram's 2nd B-day

The last two weeks have been a hectic, great time with a holiday, a wedding, a birthday, and Julip turning 3 months old the day of Halloween! For the sake of this post, let's start at the very beginning. Abram's birthday party was set for the day after Halloween months ago; due to our good friend getting married the weekend of his actual birthday.

I've never really decorated much for Halloween, so I figured I would make his party Monster/Halloween themed to have a good excuse to buy some more decorations and not stress out about trying to re-decorate. 

Halloween out take...check out instagram for the ONE good picture!

The night of Halloween we dressed him in his Wild Thing costume and headed to a friend's house for their annual cal de sac Halloween get-together. We each put out a bowl of candy, ordered pizza, and brought desserts. This year we played the Elsa drinking game which wasn't too bad considering we took our kids trick-or-treating for the majority of the time.

My parents came to help us, and my dad and Abram literally ran from door to door "tick or teating". Abram insisted on carrying his own bucket of candy. He was like a little boy! Tear... He kept up with all the older kids; running around all night long and digging through his candy.

The next morning he woke up to us preparing for his party, with my in-laws. We had Jambalaya, pigs in a blanket, mint-chocolate dipped marshmallows (Matt's request), cheese dip, candy, monster punch, regular and gluten-free devil's food cupcakes, and chocolate covered apples for favors. We set up some carnival games and fun jumps in the back yard. If you don't have a fun jump you should make it a Christmas gift to your kids and yourself; it saves us during almost every party/dinner/tailgate and is safer for the young-ins.  It all came together perfectly and everyone had a blast; costume or no costume. 

I don't think Abram stopped until he hit the pillow. We had some help opening Abram's gifts from some of our favorite little boys. They tore through every gift and Abram was so happy to see his favorite things; cars, balls, LSU, and elmo. Seriously, I have no clue where to put everything! That's more scary than Halloween! 

Oh and for the record, it took a full week for all of the black to get out of his nose...oh my.

xo,

Nikki

2 Months Old | Baby 2

       Julip turned two months last Tuesday and had her checkup the same day. She is really getting big and starting to get those adorable baby rolls. Her personality is also starting to show and she is such a happy little lady. I could literally copy and paste the section about hair loss from her brother's 2 month post. Around 6 weeks her hairline started to recede until she was bald on the top of her head, then right before 2 months little hairs started to appear. The new hair is no lighter than the hair she didn't lose, but it does seem her hair lightened a bit.

Weight: She weighed 11 lbs, 8 oz at her check up {57%} and was 23.25 in tall {85%}. Abram was always a tall baby and his weight was always around 50% or more, but one thing was quite different...his head size was always on the smaller side. Her head circumference was 15.24" {66%}! No wonder all the headbands I ordered, thinking she would be about the same as her brother, are too tight! Considering she arrived three weeks early she is doing great! 

Health: She was diagnosed with silent reflux and we tried AR formula, but that just constipated her. After trying out Zantac, she is now on prevacid with Enfamily Gentlease. She has been a little more fussy because of that and some gas, but we have been managing it with Dupois and baby wearing to keep her upright. {Love my happy baby wrap}

Sleep: She still sleeps in the rock-n-play next to our bed. She goes anywhere from 4-6 hours between feedings at night. I have started to swaddle her in the miracle blanket when she will not calm down and for naps in her crib. She is much more aware of her surroundings {and noise} now so napping has been difficult unless she is in a separate room. I loosely follow babywise, so she is on a "flexible" schedule and I try to do a dream feed at night. We are slowly getting into a routine, but it is not very well established yet.

Diet: This month we started feeding her every 4 hours when she wouldn't wake up at 3 or would only drink an ounce. She drinks 4-5 oz, every 4 hours like a champ! We were using Enfamil Newborn, then AR, then newborn again and when the gas got worse, we started on Gentlease...fingers crossed.

Clothes: She wears 0-3 and 3 months clothes, and has grown out of several headbands already...bummer. She is still wearing size 1 diapers and has a long torso like her brother did.

Baby Gear Love: Rock-n-Play, sound machine, pacifiers, boppy, swing, her carseat and stroller attachment, bob jogging stroller, activity gym, happy baby wrap {the moby was so hot and heavy}, miracle blanket, and aiden and anais blankets.

Crying: She cries when she is hungry,, when she has the hiccups, and when her tummy hurts, when she spits up, and when I pull a shirt over her head {she HATES it}.

Likes: Eating, watching my face, taking naps on our chest, sucking {pacifiers}, warm baths {she is totally relaxed}, staring at lights and fans, going for jogs, and being rocked.

Dislikes: Diaper changes, being cold and naked, her carseat, getting dressed, and laying flat on her back.

Sibling Love: She is starting to notice Abram. During the LSU photo shoot he kissed her and she wouldn't stop staring and smiling at him; her eyes followed him around the room. He is still in love. He tries to "help" with her by feeding  her and giving her a paci when she is crying. When she is sleeping in another room he wants to find her, "baby?". We absolutely love seeing him as a big brother. He will walk up and give her hugs randomly and just started trying to give her his toys, hat, blanket, etc...it gets a little dangerous.

Milestones: Whenever we smile or talk to her she smiles back and tries to mimic our mouths. She is ALWAYS sticking her tongue out {since she was born}, and is much better at holding up her head. She will sometimes coo or do a little laugh. When we put her on her belly she just about takes off, and she has rolled to her side on several occasions.

Julip and her future bff at the party

       This month Julip went to her first birthday party, went to the park, started going running with mommy, listened to live music outside, got the thrill of watching mom as a single parent, and went shopping a lot.

Nursery 2 Details

       This nursery was a guest room and the room where junk came to collect. I do everything on a budget so when I wasn't re-using pieces from Abram's nursery I tried to DIY or buy from discount stores. 

       We moved the full size bed into Abram's room with a new frame {his toddler room update is coming soon}, and moved his crib into the nursery.  I also used the glider we had in his room and shopped my house for other decor.

       I made a simple, faux suede skirt using the tutorial I had posted for the previous nursery. I also made the "make believe" print above the crib and will be posting a free printable of this one and another version on the blog soon.

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore "Creme de Mint"

Ceiling Fan: Modern Fan Company Halo Energy Smart Fan 
I really wanted a chandelier like this one from Ikea, but it was too long. Then I a few more options like this one from Etsy. We were going to do a separate table fan since the room is upstairs and it gets HOT in Texas. After doing some research and not feeling comfortable with the fans and little kid's fingers, we went with this modern fan. We LOVE it! You can barely tell it's a fan because of the way the blades are mounted.

Crib: Jenny Lind Davinci

Crib Sheets: Land of Nod
my alternate {not pictured}: Etsy

Pillow in Crib: H&M

Curtains: TJ Maxx

Curtain Rod: Ikea

Wooden Bird Feeder: Target

Glass Feather "Bubbles": Red Arrow

Flamingo in Boots Print: Etsy; in Ikea Frame

Don't Stop Make Believing Print: I made {diy coming soon}; frame from my house

Dance Party Print: Society 6; in Ikea Frame

Throw Blanket: Ikea

Frog Statue: TJ Maxx {also saw at Home Goods}

Wall-mounted cabinet: Ikea with one of these doors

Paper lining back of shelf: Paper Mojo adhered to some matte board and inserted behind the shelf.

Mirror: Inherited from my great grand parents with a bedroom set and painted it gold

Branches: Had in my house already, but similar at Hobby Lobby; butterflies from Hobby Lobby

Branch Container: Target

               

Basket on shelf: TJ Maxx

Alice in Wonderland Babylit Book: Amazon

Alice in Wonderland Hat: Etsy and I love that she can use it for dress up later.

Cup and saucer: Hobby Lobby and I will be replacing those with some handed down from Matt's grandmother.

Headband Container: Poppytalk for Target

Picture: Matt ordered the "Mother's Love" print from Kelli Murray and this came as a free gift {smaller than the one for sale}. I loved it so I framed it for our baby girl. {Frame from TJ Maxx}

Dresser: inherited from my Great Grandmother and was painted "Black Raspberry", from Benjamin Moore...original drawer pulls.

Changing Pad Cover: Target

Glider: Walmart

Fur rug: Marshall's

Pillow on the chair: I found on sale at Target for $5

Owl: a gift from my mom {from Pier One}

Beautiful Girl Print: Matt had to have this for her; from Hobby Lobby

Mermaid picture: I already had this in the guest room from Garden Ridge years and years ago.

Rocks in frames: When I was younger I was a HUGE rock collector. My box full of smaller rocks has been sitting in the attic for years, so I pulled it out and used some of my collection as the decor in some shadow box frames from Ikea.

Toy Baskets: I really wanted some type of toy baskets that weren't a typical shelf so I found some large candle holders at Garden Ridge, painted them gold, and mounted them sideways to the wall. They remind me of something you would see at the bottom of the ocean.

There you have it; Julip's nursery details! If there is something I missed feel free to email me!

xo,
Nikki

Don't Stop Make Believin' Nursery | Home Tour

       A full 6 weeks after having our little girl I finally "finished" her nursery. If you've seen my first nursery for our son, you know that I try to mix and match elements to allow the room to evolve so it is never really finished. I also don't love specific themes, just general ideas to give me direction. My son's nursery was all about adventure and being "wild and free". I seriously thought about doing a gender neutral nursery this time around, but quickly realized that this may be my only chance to be "girly".

       When I had just found out I was pregnant, and didn't know the sex, I walked into West Elm and fell in love with the displays of moss, butterflies, and lights. I didn't want a woodland themed nursery, but there was something so ethereal and imaginative about the feel the display created. I really wanted my daughter to use her imagination, so I thought of "make believe" as a general guide to help me in my decision process. Starting with an idea is sometimes harder than finding a piece of artwork or fabric. I knew I wanted a purple, mint, blush pink, white,and I was obsessed with a black and white dot patterned wallpaper so I made an inspiration board to get started.

       Matt would not let me wall paper so I started painting dots on the wall, in black {bigger than I originally wanted}. After we finished an entire coat I felt like the black was too harsh against the mint since I wanted the room to feel fresh. I decided to change them all to gold and to paint the dresser {inherited from my great grandmother} a dark, moody purple so it would pop.

       The nursery has a mermaid, a dancing bear, a prince frog, a flamingo in boots, toy baskets that remind me of something at the bottom of the ocean, a mad hatter hat, twinkle branches, feathers in "bubbles", a mirror on the wall, and rocks I collected as a kid.

Jenny Lind Crib

              Mixing pattern, texture, and several colors will allow me to transition things in and out as she grows. The song quote above the crib is not only a play on the "theme", but also ties into our Louisiana roots; the LSU band plays it at every football game. I think it all came together nicely and is girly enough without being "princess."

xo, Nikki

1 Month Old | Baby 2

       We hit the 1 month mark on Sunday, and daddy and I had our first night away on Saturday. We went to the LSU game which was amazing. When we got back it seemed like Julip grew over night! Her going home outfit no longer fits...boohoo...sad mama.

       Baby girl has been a great baby so far! There has been so much that was forgotten about and is just coming back to us, and some things that are different from the first time around. She seems to have a calmer personality than her brother, or maybe she is just more sleepy because she came early...time will tell.

Weight: A few days before 1 month I weighed her on our scale and she was 9 lbs. exactly. I'm sure that may be a little inaccurate, but it shocked me that she was already that heavy! She was not even at her birth weight at the 2 week checkup and was around 20 inches.

Health: She has been in great health for the most part! I was anticipating another baby with stomach issues, but she has been using the bathroom like a NORMAL baby...thank you God! She did get a bad diaper rash, but we were able to get it to go away pretty quickly. Abram had a cold and gave her a bit of congestion, but she handled it like a champ. Other than that, just the normal gas, hiccups, and baby acne which have been helped with gripe water and dupois colic remedy.

First real bath with the help of Doodle/G-deb

Sleep: This chick will NOT sleep flat on her back! After two nights of her protesting the pack-n-play and having me hold her all night, we bought a rock-n-play...magic. She goes anywhere between 3-5.5 hours without eating at night with the average being 4 hours. She sleeps most of the day and doesn't need to be swaddled {we found out after we bought 2 miracle blankets since big brother had to have them}. Right around one month she started crying more during the day and only going 3 hours at night, but we are thinking it was a growth spurt.

Diet: I began breastfeeding again this time, but with the mindset that if it doesn't work out I will not beat myself up. Then she latched and ate wonderfully; I breastfeed easily for 3 whole days! Day 4: engorgement...according to the pamphlet. What it doesn't say is severe engorgement that won't let any milk out and the pump doesn't work on me. After working with 2 lactation consultants this time I found out that my reoccurring problem was due to hyperlactation caused by my hyperhydrosis. I am so happy to know there is a reason my body doesn't function correctly, and in the future {if there are other kids} I can combat the problem before it begins.

       The next day I got double mastitis {again} and when all the icing, antibiotics, and cabbage leaves didn't work I was ordered {by doctors and lactation consultants} to stop breastfeeding before I ended up in the hospital. FYI it is still heart breaking the second time around. I was able to exclusively breastfeed for 10 days, and then switched to Enfamil Newborn. She is a fantastic eater. We started giving her 2 oz. every 3 hours and are now at 4 oz. every 3 hours...sometimes we have to give her 1-2 more ounces.

Clothes: Julip just started to grow out of her newborn clothes and the headband she wore in her newborn photos. We are using the last of those clothes and diapers and are moving on to size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes.

Baby Gear Love: Rock-n-Play, sound machine, pacifiers, boppy, bouncy seat, swing, her carseat and stroller attachment, moby wrap, and aiden and anais blankets.

Crying: She cries when she is hungry {literally from sleeping to screaming}, when she has the hiccups, and when her tummy hurts.

Likes: Eating, putting her hands by her face, taking naps on our chest, sucking {pacifiers}, warm baths {she is totally relaxed}, and being rocked.

Dislikes: Diaper changes, being cold and naked, her carseat, getting dressed, and laying flat on her back.

Sibling Love: She doesn't really notice brother except for when he startles her or pokes her in the face. He loves her! He is so intrigued and wants to touch her, pet her, give her the pacifier, and feed her the bottle. He has also started imitating her crying in the car.

Milestones: Making eye contact and she really just started smiling at me as I typed this post, but my mom has seen her smile a few times {she has dimples}. She is also really good at holding up her head, but isn't very sturdy yet.

Julip's first pediatrician appointment

       This month Julip had her first bath, first doctor appointment, first photo sessions, first and only visit to the farm, first smile, went out of town twice, went shopping with mommy and doodle/g-deb, and went to a few restaurants.

Little Miss J

We had Julip's newborn pictures schedule for 5 days after her due date {which was Wednesday}, luckily the photographer {Jasmin Chen} worked us in 3 weeks early so we could get them when she was only 6 days old.

Some of my favorite newborn pictures of Abram's are the ones where there is nothing covering his head so I avoided buying hats for her. I wanted a simple look, and honestly I hadn't finished getting everything bought and decided on for the pics when she arrived so we just kind of winged it. I threw in some pearls in honor of her middle name and my granny, and used some of the headbands I had purchased from Etsy. 

Every time we tried to wrap her in something she would potty on us so she was pretty much in her birthday suit the entire time. I'm glad I hadn't gotten the chance to buy something.

Her nursery was partially done so there are only a few pictures in there. I had literally ordered her crib sheets, roman shade, and changing pad cover the day before I went into labor. They ALL arrived the day after the shoot..NO JOKE...a total test of my type A/ planning personality. 

 Regardless of the lack of planning, we absolutely love the way they all turned out!

xo,
Nikki

Introducing Julip Pearl

So much has changed since my last post. I took my 36 week picture at my baby shower and hit 37 weeks the following Wednesday. That day consisted of trying to finish nursery projects, organizing our house after the carpet installation moved EVERYTHING around, and making returns with Matt my chauffeur because I couldn't drive. At dinner that night I mentioned to Matt how strange I had been feeling all day, but we brushed it off as a long day in the summer, while being 37 weeks pregnant.

The couple of nights before I had not been sleeping well and would stay up until 2, but that night I forced myself to go to bed around 10. I woke up at 1 am with some cramping and woke Matt up to tell him it felt very similar to a contraction, but when another didn't come for a long time I told him it probably wasn't and to go to sleep. Of course my mind was racing with "what if's" so I began googling and diagnosed myself with pre-labor contractions that can last weeks. 

The next day I would definitely need to pack my hospital bag and get the most important stuff done; just in case. Well those thoughts started to change when the pains continued to keep me awake.  I took the advice of the internet, at 3 am, and tried distracting myself by windexing the glass of a picture frame I had painted for the nursery that day. I could barely stand or walk, and after 5 minutes I gave up and slowly moved myself to the bedroom to tell Matt something was wrong.

"Matt, I was windexing and I can barely stand", was about how I said it. 

"Why were you windexing at 3 am!?"

He continued to brush me off and told me it was way too early and even if it was labor it would be a long time until I had the baby. He realized, at 4 am, that we may need to start timing the contractions, but they were 10 minutes apart and were only lasting 30-40 seconds. That is not what the books say is "go time". By 4:15 they had gotten stronger and closer, though they were still short, we decided we should figure out what needed to be in a hospital bag. I think we had only gotten the cameras, chargers, chapstick, and hard candies {I have weird priorities} packed before we decided we needed to call my parents to watch Abram so we could leave.

At 5 am I could no longer stand it and knew we needed to leave NOW. We left with my parents close by and pulled out of the neighborhood; tires screeching. Ya, I got the movie moment I had been wanting. I kept thinking that they would tell me I am a wimp and send me home. Matt pulled up to the hospital, grabbed a wheelchair and wheeled me to the waiting room to be taken up. By the time I got to labor and delivery they could see it in my eyes that the baby was coming and quickly moved my name from a "monitoring" room to a "delivery" room. 

I fell onto the bed where they started hooking everything up like a slightly panicked, well oiled machine; then told me I was 9 cm and the only thing holding back the baby was that my water hadn't broken. They called my doctor and told me not to push. Then they asked me a billion questions while I screamed, breathed, and demanded drugs that I could no longer get. I professed that I no longer wanted a movie moment, and may have cursed my daughter for going against my plans... jokingly {maybe}. I have a feeling she will always be the leader in her life. 

At 5:30 am my super doc ran into the room, threw on his gloves and hat, and I began to push. Julip made her debut 20 days early, on July 31st, at 5:46 am; after 10 minutes of pushing. We all breathed a huge sigh of relief when it was over. My doctor thanked me for letting him put on his hat and apologized for asking the nurse if he had time to take a shower before driving to the hospital. Apparently I was almost that woman who delivers in her car.

Julip was perfect. She weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and was 19 inches long. She scored a 9 on her APGAR {like her brother} even though she was almost 3 weeks early. I guess she wanted a July birthday like her parents.

She has dark brown hair that covers her head, forehead, and has some on her shoulders. She looks much more Persian than Abram did. She has dark eyes that are a greyish-brown we think. Her chin is pointier than Abram's and her face is heart-shaped. She has our heart lips, but they are not as pronounced as her brothers were. She has some pretty little eye lashes, my ears, a nose that looks Persian, and a long, skinny body. Her legs are long and thin, much like her feet. She constantly sticks out her tongue and sucks on her hands.

Her going home outfit Aunt Kiki picked out since it was still on my "to do" list

We are now one week in and her brother is in love; sometimes a little too in love. He always wants to know where she is and rubs her head, gives her kisses, wants to put on her hat, and tries to give her the pacifier...after he has stuck it in his ear. She loves to sleep during the day and party at night, and eats like a champ. When I had Abram I had finished the nursery by 34 weeks and packed my bags by 36; then we waited and waited. This time around I was much more relaxed about time and was caught completely off guard...I promise to post the nursery as soon as it is finished. Keep us in your prayers that she has a better tummy than her brother, and you can throw in a prayer for her to sleep long stretches at night ;). 

xo,
Nikki

8 Months

I have officially hit 8 months {I'm actually 37 weeks now} and crossed the threshold into pure discomfort. I've also kicked nesting into overdrive now that I am home all day. I'm not sure why the arrival of a new human in your family makes you want to purge through all of the "things" you thought were important in the past. Our garage is full of goodwill/habitat donation items. 

If you follow me on instagram, you may have noticed that we got new carpet this past weekend too. We really wanted wood flooring in the Master and stairs, but the quotes we got were way over the cost of just replacing the carpet in all bedrooms, gameroom, and stairs. Finally, after 6 years in this house we have comfy, non-stained carpet. We have thoroughly enjoyed rolling around our bedroom floors every night.

Our bedroom; sans carpet

The dizziness is still going strong and my anemia is being tended to; trying to get my levels up. My feet are the size of melons and Abram thinks my belly is a mountain that he must climb and conquer every day. It hurts. He has also taken to Matt and become quite attached lately. It hurts my feelings so bad, but I tell myself that it will be a good thing when the newest member arrives and needs me. It wouldn't sting as much if he wouldn't call him Momma :/...we have been working on this issue. 

Total weight gain this month: +32 pounds

Maternity clothes? I am so ready to be in my normal clothes again, but am terrified that this time around the weight won't come offas easy as it did last time.
Stretch marks? None yet. I'm using Burt's Bees Belly Butter every morning
Sleep: I toss and turn all night long and feel very anxious. I'm so sleepy, but most nights I am so uncomfortable I cannot wait to get up in the morning.

Best moment this month: Celebrating our birthdays, the 4th, swimming with my boys, and seeing our little girl one last time before we get to meet her!

Miss Anything? Sushi, drinks, exercise, and my clothes

Movement: She is quite the mover and shaker {I imagine}. I turned down ice cream the other night and was promptly elbowed in my side. This girl knows how to throw an elbow btw...

Food cravings: Chocolate milk. I eat a lot of sweets and am really wanting to scale back and eat healthy for the next two weeks.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  I get nauseous with my dizziness sometimes and when she moves too much.

Have you started to show yet: I am sicking way out there.

Gender prediction: IT'S A GIRL!!!

Labor Signs: Just some braxton hicks. I start getting checked for progress next week!
Belly Button in or out?  Poor thing.
Wedding rings on or off?  On
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Tired

Looking forward to:  Finishing the nursery, home organization, and mirrors. Maybe resting for a week and then meeting our girl! {I accidentally called her "he" at my appointment Monday}.

A friend from Junior League through me a sweet Sprinkle Tea. It was the perfect way to celebrate our baby girl! In a pregnancy that has been flying by, this sprinkle made me stop and take everything in. I got to catch up with the girls, eat some amazing food, and baby "Pixie" got headbands made for her by everyone that was there. There were even gluten-free cupcakes that I may or may not have taken home and eaten one every day since. Yikes...

7 Months

Total weight gain this month: +28 pounds

Maternity clothes? Almost all maternity, stretchy skirts, and dresses. I could wear maxi skirts every day.
Stretch marks? Fingers crossed, none yet
Sleep: I am starting to get pretty uncomfortable. I am also sleepy ALL.THE.TIME. Nothing will pull me out of it.

Best moment this month: Going to the beach was by far my favorite thing, but going to the zoo and pool are close seconds. I just love introducing Abram to new things.

Miss Anything? Exercise, wearing the clothes in my closet, and a fruity summer drink, eating dinner...oh and energy!

Movement: This girl must love to stretch because I feel her pushing in two directions every day and I'm not loving it.

Food cravings: Chocolate milk and cupcakes

Anything making you queasy or sick:  I have been nauseous on and off every day starting at 31 weeks, but mainly it's just heartburn times 1,000...I can barely eat dinner

Have you started to show yet: I think I'm bigger than I was last time at this point

Gender prediction: IT'S A GIRL!!!

Labor Signs: Braxton hicks are going strong this pregnancy
Belly Button in or out?  It stayed flat last time...this time it is holding on for dear life, but I'm afraid it won't make it another 8 weeks
Wedding rings on or off?  On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Both. Not having energy always puts me in a foul mood. I do get to laugh at Abram every day which is such a blessing.

Looking forward to:  Finishing the projects, our birthdays, and the 4th

We celebrated our Anniversary last weekend by heading out to a steak place Matt had been wanting to try. My dad watched Abram and could not get him to come inside the entire night. They explored and watched some birds dive bomb a cat which fascinated Abram. Finally they came in and Abram passed out on his knees, leaning on a chair, talking to Bijou. He literally did not move when we took him to bed...success.

I got to get a little pampering at the hair salon, Saturday morning while Matt watched Abram and cleaned. Then we worked on the nursery.

Sunday we headed to the zoo. I was determined to take Abram this year because he is laughing animals and their noises right now. He has the Land of Nod animal pillow and every night we point to the animals and make their noise. I knew it would only get hotter so we wrangled my dad and some friends to join us and headed out there. Abram never tucked his pointer finger in his hand...I'm pretty sure it lost blood flow by the end. He was amazed, and I could see his wheels turning that these were REAL animals and not just a character in a book. He loves monkeys so he kept making the noises when we saw any type of "monkey". Second favorites were the elephants and sea lions. Have a great weekend!

xo,
Nikki

Father's Day Weekend & Nursery Update

 When I met Matt in high school I knew he was a good person, but had no idea whether or not he would be a good dad. Then I saw him with our dogs. He is the doggy daddy that randomly brings home treats and toys because he sees something they "need", and yes they have always had a stocking for Christmas. Matt is as soft-hearted as they come. He hates that Bijou {our 65 lb hound} sleeps with us, but doesn't have the heart to kick her out of the bed. It sometimes gets to me that I am more of the disciplinarian, but having a loving husband who truly cares about everyone around him makes me feel so lucky! He has been the same way with Abram as he is with our dogs, and I know he will show "Pixie" how much a dad can love a daughter.

He "never" {his words, not mine} gets to go fishing anymore now that we live in Texas, so I let him spend Friday fishing with his brother and dad while I worked...easiest gift ever ;). Truth...Abram had bought him a fish fryer and cajun cookbook for Father's Day and wanted him to be able to use it. Me wanting homemade fried fish had nothing to do with it...maybe.

Saturday we dove straight into the rest of the celebrations with a 1st birthday party for one of Abram's future best friends. It was at a beautiful little park and all the kids LOVED running around playing. I loved the ice cream...

He found my necklace and when I grabbed my camera he stood there and said, "cheese"...I was stunned and he officially now has my entire heart!

Afterwards we made our way to Ikea. Abram passed out at the store while Matt and I searched and searched for some shelves/storage for the nursery. I swear this has been the HARDEST room I have ever put together. It felt good to stock up on items I may or may not need...just to feel like I accomplished something felt great! Abram rode his sister's shelves out of the store. Today I decided I didn't like them anymore, then decided I did...see what I mean...pregnant women shouldn't design their own nurseries; it is bad for everyone involved.

After our 1.5 trip to Ikea, which felt like we broke some speed shopping records, we needed a refresh so we headed to meet my parents for the last crawfish of the season and a little live zydeco music. We chowed down and danced until the place shut down. Abram had his first crawfish and danced his first Cajun dance. He spent the rest of the night throwing rocks and strutting across the lot to pick them up. He is amazing us by how fast he is learning the world around him, and by how fast he is learning to control those around him.

I'm so happy I was able to celebrate the awesome dad's in my life!

He wants to be just like dad

Sunday was a full-fledged nursery work day...

Progress:
All the walls are painted {including the focal wall}
The fan has been installed
We primed and put the first coat of paint on the dresser/changing table
Picked out shelving {hopefully it will stay}
Moved the rocker and crib into the room

Still To Do:
Finish picking/buying/painting artwork
Finish painting dresser
Install shelves
Pick/make rug, curtains, bedding
Finishing touches
....

Nursery Inspiration | Rockers & Gliders

Rockers and gliders for the nursery have come a long way since the days of watching my mom rock my brother in his cow nursery...or was it Noah's ark {can't remember}.

When I first started searching for a rocker for our first nursery I was totally overwhelmed. There were soooo many options and it seemed like all the ones I liked were the price of a dining room table or couch for the living room. I am all for quality, comfort, and style while rocking my baby to sleep, but when my child is old enough to have sleep overs on the couch with me I want to actually be able to still afford one. Luckily, there are plenty of great chairs that don't compromise style and comfort for affordability.

Out of all the pieces of furniture in Abram's nursery, the rocker is the one I get the most emails about. Since I won't be doing the rocker search for this nursery {re-using our other one} I decided I would help out some parents who need some quick guidance. Obviously the quality will vary based on price, so before you order make sure to read the reviews and return policy.

All of these rockers and gliders can be purchased for under $1,000 {I tried to keep it on the lower end of that range} and are a variety of styles. Here are my top 10:

1- Rock Point Rocker {$162}: If you are looking for a simple wooden rocker this one fits the bill, buts adds a pop of color for a lower price tag than some. {Similar-Land of Nod Classic Wooden Rocker}

2- Holden Modern Rocker {$200}: This simple, modern rocker definitely has the "less is more" look. It would be perfect for a neutral nursery, and brings in the modern while keeping the warmth of wood.

3- Bentwood Rocker {$200}: If you are looking for a whimsical rocker with a vintage flair this is the rocker for you. In fact, you can probably find a true vintage rocker of this type on websites like craigslist. Luckily if you want the look there are several sites to choose from. Just imagine this rocker with a pop of color or maybe with some added upholstery for the more colorful nurseries. It could definately be your nusery's statement piece. {similar for less}{similar}

4- Enchanted Cherish Glider {$354}: This is our rocker {Black and white stripe}. After 1.5 years of use we still love it. I am 5'3" and my husband is 6'2" and we can both sit pretty comfortably in it; it's plush and comfy. We love the pin-stripe look and the black and white is versatile with almost any nursery color scheme. My husband's one complaint is that it doesn't recline. My complaint is that the back cushion is sewn to the back so it is hard to fluff. Oh and for light colored furniture, scotch guard is amazing. {Similar- PBK Glider} {Similar- Land of Nod Glider}{Similar- Serena and Lily}

5- Eddie Bauer Chair and Half Rocker {$400}: Great for the parents that want to sit together or for family stories since it is a little wider. {Similar for less}

6- Grayson Rocker {$400}: I saw this shortly after having my son and wished I had seen it sooner. This rocker is so unique for a nursery. Although the arms aren't upholstered, a pillow could provide extra cushion needed.

7- Eddie Bauer Wingback Rocker {$400}: This rocker has the classic appeal of a wing back chair and the comfort needed for long nights with the newborn. If you are going for a classic or gender neutral nursery, this rocker would be a great affordable option as opposed to some of the more popular brands. {Similar- PBK Rocker}

8- Modernica Arm Shell Rocker {$435}: This modern rocker comes in a variety of colors to fit your nursery scheme. It would be the perfect fit for a more contemporary nursery or a smaller room that cannot fit the larger, upholstered rockers/gliders. A couple of bonuses are that any spills or accidents can easily be wiped up and it will easily transition into a great chair for your child's room/playroom later on. {Similar for less} {Similar-Land of Nod Rocker- Same Price}

9- Little Castle Charleston Glider {$450}: An upholstered glider with more contemporary lines and a choice of colors. The tufted back and subtle pattern in the fabric adds to the look without competing for attention. {similar} {similar- Land of Nod Luca Glider} {similar- Enchanted Glider} {similar- Rockabye Glider}

10- Nurseryworks Empire Rocker {$900}: This was the rocker I dreamed of for our first nursery. Unfortunately I wasn't working at the time so it wasn't in my budget, but if I had a closet of rockers to trade out this would be the one I would want...in my room...to sit in by myself. ;)

Feel free to "Like" my brand new facebook page for post updates, tips, and inspiration. Plus, you will be able to influence some of my future DIY projects.

Have a great weekend!
Nikki

Mother's Day Weekend/ Daily Life Pics & 18 Month Update

I celebrated my second official Mother's Day yesterday, and it was every bit as wonderful as I thought it would be. Matt went hunting with some of my family from Thursday to Sunday morning, so it was just me and my littlest man in my life. For some reason he was up at the crack of dawn on Saturday so we laid in his new big boy bed for about an hour before starting our day {well he poked me in the face while I tried to sleep a little longer}. We got to eat breakfast just the two of us, play/clean, and Abram watched "Up" all the way through for the first time! He wanted to sit on my lap while he ate and watched the movie, so I put my phone and chore list in another room and soaked him up. I needed that moment; it was my favorite Mother's Day gift.

Mother's day breakfast at the kid's table...still half asleep

 Then things got a little crazy and when I couldn't take being out of breath anymore from leaning over, at almost 26 weeks pregnant, my mom came to save the day. We ran some errands, I finally took the plunge and shopped at a maternity store {my first time}, and then we took Abram for his first fro yo to celebrate my new, lose fitting clothes ;).

 Sunday I got to just relax a little and go for a family walk. Matt Abram came through in the gift department more than I had anticipated, and got me both the Kendra Scott earrings AND Kelli Murray art I had been eyeing for a couple months. We have tons of art in our house, but so much of it was bought to fill space...I have been weeding things out and starting to collect art that I LOVE and that means something to me. This piece represents the new me, as a mother, and I am so excited that I can stare at the beauty every day and be reminding of the real joys in life. 

source

Later we went to my parent's house to have a Mother's Day lunch and then my mom, sis and  I met some of my friends for a mani/pedi session. Needless to say I did NOT want to have to stop the fun and go back to work.

 Time is passing by so fast...

Speaking of time flying; Abram turned 18 months last week! I look at his one year pics and cannot believe how much he has changed in 6 months. He went from just taking his first steps to running and talking. He is a full-fledged toddler these days and with that comes a lot of fun, hilarious times, but also a lot of exhausting moments.

Health: He was sick throughout most of the winter, and is now on Zyrtec every day. Sometimes we have to use an inhaler to stop his wheezing...it is crazy that getting his adenoids out didn't really help. The past few weeks {knock on wood} with the warmer weather has seemed to help us manage it better.

Abram sleeps great {most nights} and moved to his big boy bed last week. The kid turns 360's while he is asleep so I think moving to his full-size bed has just given him more room to not get tangled. I'll be doing a separate post on the transition.

What he will eat still changes daily, but we are managing. Grapes, watermelon, and yogurt of some of his favorites. 

Abram loves running, jumping, pretend falling, standing on chairs/etc, drawing with his water/juice, coloring, eating with a spoon, doing everything himself, dancing to music, baths, climbing the stairs, throwing balls, bubbles, food, going down the slide, his golf clubs, being rocked to sleep, reading books before bed, playing with legos {the larger ones}, sitting at his own table to eat snacks, and mimicking everything you do.

He hates when he can't move so he still despises being changed or dressed, sitting still, being strapped into his carseat and stroller, getting his face wiped, learning to share, getting his teeth brushed, waiting on food, and eating veggies.

Entranced by "Up"

Since his first birthday he has gotten tubes in and adenoids out, celebrated Christmas, gone to his first Mardi Gras parade, and hunted Easter eggs for the first time. He has moved up in classes at daycare, given up pacifiers and bottles, and moved to a big boy bed. His first REAL word was ball {spoken with a Russian accent}, followed by bubble. He can now say mommy, daddy, uh oh, more, ball, bubble, water {wawa}, doggy, owl, horse, moose, car, hot, eye, mouth, socks, and shoes. He will repeat just about any word you say and if he knows the sound affect to go with it, he will follow it up with that {doggy ruff ruff}. He has no clue what is making my tummy so big...

Have a great week!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Ever since I found out we were having a girl I have had mixed emotions. I keep hearing, "perfect, now you have one of each!" and "girls are so fun and you can buy them so many cute clothes!", but I all can think of is me as a teenager. I was a good kid, but I know I was difficult.

I may come back to this post in a couple of years and laugh; probably like some mothers of girls are laughing as they read it now. 

Truth is, I wanted a boy first; having Abram was a relief. To me, having a boy first is sort of like getting my feet wet before I dive in. Don't get me wrong, I know boys have their own issues, but they seem just a little bit simpler. Now having a girl seems so foreign to me. Yes, I am so excited about connecting with her and having our mother/daughter "girl" time, but will I be able to give her the confidence she needs in life?

My mom was a HUGE force in my life. Honestly, if it wasn't for her I probably wouldn't be here today. I was a good mixture of girl and dirt, was extremely creative, had good grades, and was very involved in school activities. I also had bad acne, braces, drank, and took diet pills in high school to try and be as skinny as the other girls. I remember being teased by some, just as others probably remember being teased by me. Then I think about the addition of social media and what that would have been like and it makes me want to take my daughter to an island for her teen years and home school her. Adolescence is tough on young ladies. Puberty, peer pressure, sex, body image...I went through it all and this time I will have to be the one to guide my daughter. Can I do it? 

The notion of "mean girls" appears to have gotten worse today than even a few years ago. About a year ago, I was running and saw some elementary school girls following and teasing me. My first thought was to turn around and start chasing them to see what they would do {it would have been great}, but my second thought was that I am an adult and could this really be happening!? They were so young yet I was slightly scared of them!

I have seen so many women who think snark and bitchiness is a good quality. I know that no mother wants to teach their daughter that, but we all do things we are not proud of when we think they are not looking...they are. I would like for my daughter to have a big heart and a sense of humbleness, and to know that she doesn't need snark to get by. I hope I can show my daughter the power of being nice to others. There is power in that...being kind. 

Our boy {left} and our girl {right}

I cannot imagine how the personalities will differ from boy to girl, inherently. Abram is all about balls, sticks, and as soon as Matt lays down he runs to tackle him. I am very used to this life. He saw a barbie at the party we went to last weekend and grabbed it and started waving it like a sword. He had no clue what it was good for. 

Matt's coworkers have told him, "Boys break bones and replaceable objects, girls break your soul". Ummm...not sure I can take that lightly. Abram is a strong willed boy, but having a strong willed girl may be on another level. Plus, our family has a rich history of a very strong willed second child so if that is true we are in trouble! 

None the less, I hope she and Abram grow close and can be there for each other when one of them needs help and guidance. I have prayed for good character in my children. Yes, I could say the specific personalities I wish they would have, but that wouldn't make them that way. Instead, I hope they find what they love and never stop doing it. I hope they enjoy life, and do everything with a sense of pride and humbleness. I hope they lead by example, not by being bossy. Most of all I hope Matt and I can manage to raise them without too many bumps and bruises; I am sure we are in for a wild ride! Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful moms and a very happy one to my mom!!

xo,
Nikki

Daily Life Pics and Headboard for Grabs...on the side of the road

We have been in full baby prep mode over here. Yes, I know I am only 24 weeks but my nesting phase is much stronger this time around. I suspect it's because I am working and really can't get much done during the week. I have also had a lot harder time getting nursery inspiration for this little chick. Last time I had a lot of stuff that I pulled from other areas of the house, but with this one I am pretty much starting from scratch. My anxiety level got so bad that Matt met me at a fabric store last night to look for inspiration {hence the day-late post}.

Part of bringing another human into the world comes the task of clearing out a room for them. Luckily our house is big enough. When we moved in we had enough bedrooms for the amount of kids we want, not because we are great planners like that, but because a two-story house was cheaper than the smaller, one story houses we were looking at...have I told you we are slightly frugal?  I have tried not to fill the rooms too much, but I have filled the closets with storage stuff and the rooms became a collection of the projects and crafts I did in college. Saying goodbye to those things has made me a little bummed. I know they are things, but some are models and boards I spent countless sleepless nights on...and one thing I am really dragging my heels with is my upholstered headboard. 

When I first moved on my own, in college, I decided I wanted a chartreuse headboard to go with my dark purple/brown walls. I still love that room and headboard to this day. I figured out how to make it before the days of pinterest. I used the wrong type of thread to pull the buttons tight, I didn't have a staple gun to upholster so I bent finishing nails to hold down the fabric, and I didn't cut the mdf to make it lighter; I just used the whole monstrous piece. It was totally a "work with what ya got" moment and after 2 moves {both with sets of stairs}, and Matt and his brother breaking their back carrying the mdf and getting stabbed by the nails and cussing me out, I must say good bye to my rigged headboard. Matt is jumping for joy, but I might just spend one more night sleeping against the soft padding. Just a representation of my life and emotional state at the moment...I used to be a project badass, today I'm just a round, blubbering fool.  ;)

I would say come pick it up if you want it, but your husband might hunt me down.

Good thing I have my little man to distract me. Daily Life: A pic a day- Week 2

xo,

Nikki

Toddler Mealtime Struggles

When we first started solid foods I was sure I could make my child not be a picky eater. Matt and I will eat almost anything. I followed everyone's advice; I made my own baby food to control what was in it, started with the veggies, and didn't allow juices or many artificial sugars until after one. I was in full control of the situation and he ate everything I served him.

Then I got a job and had to send him to daycare. They all laughed at/with me because I would not allow sugary snacks and would pack something separate for him. I mean I wasn't totally unreasonable if there was a celebration or something, but I just figured if he couldn't ask for it why give it to him?

Soon after he turned one his "divaness" started and he would demand food right away and then spit it out all over his highchair. The funny thing is this food was nothing new...he loved it last week. It started with veggies and has progressed through the food pyramid to some of his favorite fruits.

A couple weeks ago the thought of mealtime would have me breaking down. I desperately started googling it and apparently it is quite common. He is just starting to assert himself and his independence {duh mom}. I have read so many articles that give great tips. One that I found particularly helpful was this one, by Dr. Sears. The best thing it did was help me to relax and realize that this is a phase.

I have started switching up where he eats and what he eats on/with. I also offer a few options on his plate {some I am not sure about and some he usually eats} so that he doesn't think I am catering to him, but can choose what he wants. Another HUGE trick that I am all about because it has worked so well is dips. One random Saturday morning he would not eat his blueberry waffle...a WAFFLE people! I thought **** if he won't eat a waffle I will never get him to eat anything today!! Enter strawberry yogurt as a dip and it became the most delicious meal in the world. Another great way to sneak some nutrition in him is smoothies. They are like gold around here. I have also become less of a food control freak. I mean I really really want him to eat healthy, but if one night he eats one bite of chicken and an entire bowl of mac-n-cheese I just have be thankful he ate and try again the next night.

This parenting thing is a learning curve...

What are some great tips you have for getting toddlers to eat a balanced meal...or even eat at all sometimes?

Slow Down My Little Magnolia

My baby boy is growing too fast. He got moved to the next class up in daycare this week. I sat at my work computer watching the monitor as they brought him in for the first time, and I {not him} just cried like a baby. He is the kind of kid who stands back and observes for the first 15 minutes and then dives in. For that 15 minutes every motherly worry came to me; will the other kids play with him, will he handle the change well, are the teachers nice, etc...  It was the first time I wasn't physically present for a big transition and I didn't want him to have to go through it without me. 

He fit in perfectly, but I think another reason for my tears is because he is just growing so fast. I anticipated his arrival so much and felt so connected with him before he was born. Then he arrived and turned our world upside-down; we really weren't prepared and it was tough at first! 

Now, it has been amazing! 

I prayed for a child with character and he has it! His personality is perfectly quirky, sweet, and adventurous. We just have so much fun laughing at and playing with him and I know this, like the baby phase in the past, won't last long...it is killing me. I find myself looking back at his pictures with tears in my eyes...probably in part to being pregnant and emotional. ;) For a while he no longer needed me to rock him to sleep and I thought that was a big accomplishment. Now he lets me...I think it is because he knows I need it more than him. I don't want to see his fat wrist crease fade away so I just stare and try to smell him up while I rock.

Before I got pregnant this time around a friend joked that he was getting his teeth so fast so he could grow up and make room for a sibling. It hasn't been long since that comment and now #2 is on her way {full steam ahead...half way today} and we are ordering a big boy bed for #1. Everyone tells you it passes quickly, but you don't believe it. I pray that his little sister learns from him and has the same awesome character that he does, but with her own twist. I know he will be a fantastic big brother and I hope I can handle another child growing way too fast. Bear with me over the next 5 months; they are bound to get a little emotional.

xo, Nikki

Weekend Project: Ikea Highchair Hack

I am ALWAYS working on projects. It is kinda like a bad habit because people will come over and be like, "I thought you had a degree in Interior Design; your house is a mess!" and I am like, "Ummm...I'm pregnant, have a toddler, oh and I have this horrible habit of doing five projects at once."

Being a busy working momma I totally understand the stress of doing nothing during the week, and then assigning the projects for the weekend. I always feel so much more accomplished when I can actually complete something in a weekend so I have decided to do a new series of posts that will show the projects I have done that can be completed in one weekend or less. I will try to post projects and crafts that only take a few hours, but some may take more...but let's face it, we want to ENJOY the weekend as well.

First on the list....

This is soooo late {blah blah same song, different day}, but I never did post about Abram's highchair and I am so in love with this thing that I feel it is a must! I had gotten one of those expensive, padded highchairs when I registered and was so excited about my registry score...but then I panicked hard! It was so padded and big. It would take up so much room in my kitchen and wasn't the most attractive thing on the planet. I could not afford those stylish expensive chairs though; it just wasn't in my budget at the time. Then I started reading reviews on padded chairs and how hard they are to clean EVERY MEAL, and then saw this post and my thoughts shifted as to what the perfect high chair would be for our family.

1) Easy to clean
2) My son was a hot baby, so extra padding= extra sweating= extra fussing
3) Affordable
4) As Compact as possible
5) Not an eyesore

Photo via Ikea

Enter the $25 Ikea highchair from the post. I hated the legs so the spray paint idea was genius...not my genius {hers}, but everyone gets their inspiration from somewhere. I did a test of a copper, gold, and rubbed bronze legs. All three would be amazing so take a peek at this pic, but for our eating area I chose the gold. Just tape off the ball feet and spray.

After that was finished all I had to do was decide what decal would grace the back of the chair. I am obviously NOT a monogram person because it took about 3 seconds for me to realize that Abram's initials would be the Texas A&M logo and as LSU fans there was no way that was gonna happen. So the next 2 ideas were a fork and spoon decal {hard to find the right size}, or the "eat" decal which won. I got it from this etsy site, and had her do it custom, at 6.5" wide, and you can pick from her many colors to go with your decor {I chose mint}.

We LOVE it over 9 months later. Abram has had no problem sitting in this chair. The tray can detach, but we leave it attached most of the time. Whenever he gets older we can pull it up to the table without a tray. The legs come off if we have to bring it out of town. It is light as a feather so sometimes he gets living room meals if I feel lazy {don't judge}. I just clean it off quickly after every meal with the Honest Brand cleaner we have, but since it is white I sometimes have to bleach after foods like carrot juice. And for the big messes we swiftly carry it outside and  unleash the hose. AND since it is only $25 baby #2 can have her own ;).

Supplies:

$25 Ikea Highchair

Spray paint in color of your choice

Painter's tape

Vinyl decal of your choice

Approx. Time= around 4-6 hours depending on how long you let the paint dry

xo, Nikki

Let's Take it Back to Mardi Gras Weekend

A weekend so refreshing I would like to do it all over again...

Who says pregnant girls can't have fun at Mardi Gras!? When the woman on our float found out I was pregnant she was shocked. I had been dancing to every song {we are a dancing family}, so she was sure that this baby was gonna come out ready to party and having a good time :). I reassured her that as soon as a song comes on Abram starts to shake or drop it like it's hot!

Our friends invited us to be on their float for a parade, in Baton Rouge, and it had been so long that there was no way we were turning it down. The theme was Flamingo Dynasty {flamingos are always a part of the theme}, so we rocked the camo and pink...and a couple beards. Our friend buys pool floats on sale at the end of the summer to throw...GENIUS...I have never seen this done and they get the crowds going wild!

 Our parents split watching Abram back in our hometown, and my parents took him to the children's parade where he racked up the goodies. They were throwing balls like crazy and that happens to be his FAVORITE.THING.EVER and the only word he says, on repeat.

The weather was perfect and we got crawfish after the parade for the first time all season. It felt good to be back in Louisiana; we cannot wait to show our kids the rich traditions and culture of our home state!