House Hunting & Egg Hunting
I think I've mentioned here a time or two that we are moving...to Ohio...from Texas...SOUTH Texas to NORTH Ohio to be exact. It will be a big change for our family. We will also pay for good snow advice next winter.
We listed our {first} house a couple weeks ago, after what felt like a decade of talking about it. We had three offers within the first 2 days, one of those being from the first people who saw it. It was a huge relief for me since the staging was all mine.
We lived with my parents the entire week we kept it on the market. Then, we headed straight to Ohio to buy a house while my parents watched the kids. We had about 50 houses on our first list and narrowed them down to 20-something in different areas of Cleveland. We knew nothing about Cleveland so the first few days were just driving around to see different areas. By the time Friday came we had narrowed them down to our top two. It was straight out of an episode of House Hunters {I hate that show}...I always feel bad for the people because there is never a perfect answer. House 1: Location and House 2: Roomy and updated.
In the end, after lots of tears from me, we went with house 1 and paid a little more than we would have liked for a smaller house that is in a great location. We will be down-sizing and cutting out the guest bedroom completely so that will be a challenge. The yard is great, as well as the community, and there is lots to do in the area...the lake is a mile away. Matt has always dreamed about being near the water and this will probably be the closest we ever get to a lake house, so that's what we will call it!
We headed back to Houston, on Friday evening, and had company come in for Easter. I tried to get the kids ready early enough to get their baskets before church. Abram is NOT a morning person, so he refused his shirt and didn't smile until he saw the candy and animals. Julip was just trying to sit up without falling and had gotten a mosquito bite on the middle of her forehead the night before... These picture will be awesome to look back on haha.
It was muggy and overcast for the majority of the weekend, but luckily the rain held out for our Easter egg hunt. We all went to my parent's house after church where we grilled everything you can think of, dyed eggs, watched the kids get WAY TOO into the hunt, and had my mom's Easter strawberry crepes {made gluten-free for me}. I seriously had dreams about them the entire week before!
Abram loved playing with "the boys"; he always imitates everything they do. Whenever they were counting their eggs on the grass, he began throwing his into the grass, yelling " 2, 3, 8, 10, 14, 18, 20". He cracks me up...hope your Easter was fabulous!
xo,
Nikki
2015!
Over the years I have gone from welcoming the new year with a list of resolutions of what I want to do, to a few simple resolutions of the type of life I want to live. Change is always uncomfortable for me; heck, I think it is for most people. I once heard a saying from a friend, "when it comes to change in humans, slow is fast". For me that could not be more true, so while the idea of the first day of the new year being like a restart button and suddenly everything changes sounds great; in reality I know that these resolutions will be a commitment I strive for each day of the new year. Maybe by 2016 I will be one step closer to the person I want to be.
Balance and no expectations are my resolutions. After having Julip and going from a full-time working mom of 1 to a part-time work-at-home mom of 2, I am still dealing with a lot of change. There are days when it seems like I try to do too much and days when I feel like I dominate. I am striving for balance in raising my children and pursuing my design career. My worst fear would be to be spread so thin that I stop excelling at these items I feel so passionately about.
I still have my list of personal, family, and business goals but will not put unrealistic expectations on myself. I will also not limit myself; simply live each day for what it is and try my best.
2015 is already proving to be a year of tests and growth for me. Along with goals to grow Mini Magnolia Designs, my online design business, there is also a strong chance we will be moving to another state. We first found out about a possible move when I was still pregnant. Since then the locations and dates have changed, but the chance of a move is about 90%. To say that I'm nervous about moving away from the support of family and friends to a state up North, where it snows, is an understatement.
After changing a lot about the current house we live in, the thought of another house to make my own both excites and exhausts me. I had already bought wallpaper and lights for house updates when we got the news, so I am anxiously holding onto them until we need to make our next house a "home". I would appreciate the prayers and will keep you updated on the progress of our move.
Before we leave I am finishing up a collaboration on the design of a small restaurant space. We start demo this week so I cant wait to share what's in the works! Happy 2015!
xo,
Nikki
Free Christmas Printable
Happy Cyber Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday. We always go to visit my family...9 hours away (10 with kids). I just got in late last night and am playing catch up today.
Before I left last week, I decorated the playroom (which is about 90% finished) for Christmas. Included in the decor were some simple Christmas prints I made. While I am busy editing the playroom pics to share later in the week I figured I would "gift" everyone the Christmas prints just in case they need one last thing to finish off their Christmas decor. Just click on the picture to pull up the 8 x 10 pdf printable. Need a larger size? Email me (under the contact tab) and I will get it to you.
xo,
Nikki
A Very Mini Magnolia Christmas!
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.
Happy Fall!
I cannot believe it is already fall! We have been in zombie/crazy/bliss mode as we try and navigate through life with a newborn AND a toddler. I may have lost my mind when I thought that this would go smoothly-ish.
A couple of weeks ago Matt went out of town for an entire week {even over the weekend}. I honestly thought he would come home and I would be unconscious on the floor, with a toddler jumping on me. It was a tough week and we may have watched the movie "Cars" a few more times than I care to admit, but I made it through alive and even wrangled Abram to help me make brownies for us Matt when he got home.
I am told it gets better and is even fun once they are a little older. That being said I do love both of my babies and life right now, and will even more once I am getting a full night of sleep. I am one of those people who knows I don't do well without sleep, but watching Abram smother Julip with kisses always brightens my day!
We try not to bring JP anywhere crowded until she is vaccinated {1 more week...I keep having to remind myself}. It has also been deathly hot and humid, monsoon rainy, and mosquito infested here so we haven't been able to go outside...cabin fever. We mainly enjoy football games and baby photo shoots during the games we are losing. It reminds me of why I love fall; it's not about the pumpkin spice latte's {not my favorite}. It's about football and weather I can go outside in after a HOT summer.
Today, mother nature got the memo. There aren't beautiful colored leaves everywhere...it's Houston people...but the weather is about 5 degrees cooler and 80% less humid so I celebrated by taking Julip on her first run! She fell asleep for 2 hours!! RECORD nap...
It gave me time to work on Abram's 2nd b-day party decor; we are throwing a Halloween/monster themed party the day after Halloween. I don't have a lot of Halloween decor because before I was a parent I was never that into it, but this party is giving me a reason to stock up...even if the old women in Micheal's called it evil and gave me the stink eye as I pushed my 6 week old through the aisle of witch hats and trick or treat signs. :/ Don't worry I hate anything scary so this is a happy, candy-filled, festive party.
Happy 1st day of fall and yay for me for managing to get this post up with 30 minutes to spare!
Nikki
Land of the Free | Outfit to Room
July is always a crazy month around here with the 4th, my birthday, and Matt's...now add some serious nesting into the mix and we all might as well just run around the house screaming and dancing...it gets crazy!
"Pixie's" nursery is about 85% complete as far as work goes. I'm waiting on some back-ordered curtains to come in before I continue with the artwork and finishing touches {gotta make sure I like it all together}.
I have also been really into fresh, beachy, gender neutral nurseries lately. Maybe it's because of summer or that I am inspired by the upcoming holiday. I decided to put an inspiration board together to show how inspiration can come from anywhere.
If you've read anything about Abram's nursery and my design style you will know that I'm not into themed nurseries/rooms. I actually do use some sort of theme most of the time, but only to guide my ideas into something more. This board is a great example. I was inspired by the outfits, the 4th, the beach and thoughts of summer; I love that it is not in-your-face red, white and blue.
The chandelier is my "firework" and the mixture of glam, gold accents with natural elements is a great way to achieve a balanced, neutral look without being too mundane. Enjoy.
Easter Recap & Week 1 of "A Pic A Day"
Easter weekend was a blast! My brother came in from college and I haven't gotten to spend Easter with my family in two years, so it was great to spend the whole weekend with them. Saturday my dad ordered 60 lbs. of crawfish and we hung out together while we boiled them all afternoon. It was nice to relax with amazing weather while Abram played in his bounce house. In the evening we had an Easter egg hunt for the kids. It was my first one to put together as a mommy so I had a lot of fun watching them run around with excitement in their faces. Abram was thrilled to find them, then either shouted "ball" and chunked it or shook it and pried it open to spill the candy.
Sunday we went to church, then went home to see what the Easter bunny brought. After he went through his Easter loot we colored with the crayons he got and laid down for a nap. My mom made her traditional ham and green bean casserole and strawberry crepes. I have NEVER had a better crepe...probably just as much nostalgia as deliciousness, but strawberries at this time of year hit the spot!
My parents babysat while Matt and I worked on cleaning our black hole of a garage for a few hours, then we topped off the weekend with homemade crawfish pasta made from left over crawfish from the boil. I just needed someone to roll me to bed to make the weekend completely successful ;).
On another note; I was sick of seeing all of the blurry/grainy pictures my expensive camera was taking because of the low light in our house, so I bought a 35mm lens to see if it would make a difference {it has so far}...now I am challenging myself to take a pic a day for 50 days. I'm loving trying to capture the smaller moments in life. Here is week 1:
xo, Nikki
Easter Ideas for Toddlers
I'm not sure if I said it yet, but happy Spring! We are watermelon addicts over here so we kicked off our spring with my husband picking the most perfectly sweet watermelon you have ever tasted...amazing!
Anyway, I got my Parents magazine in the mail and saw all of the Easter crafts; like putting purple food coloring in the kid's milk {genius}...I cannot wait to do that next year! It inspired me to start searching for my Easter basket gifts.
I am so excited for Easter this year! This will be the first Easter in a couple years that we get to stay home, and my parents now live near us which means I get some of my mom's Easter Strawberry Crepes {recipe coming soon}.
I always have trouble picking {narrowing down} gifts and try to buy Abram gifts that I know he will use instead of little trinkets. This year I am focusing on creative toys and things he will need for the summer...what a fun summer it will be! I also have gotten a few things for baby girl that I may include in her "basket" so I don't feel guilty. ;)
Here are some ideas by category, but they can be easily combined into the perfect basket for you!
Fox Sleeping Bag // Boy Stuffed Animal // Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story Book // Throw Pillow // Veggie Tales: Easter Collection // Woodland Nightlight // Girl Stuffed Animal // Cloud Pillow // Pinkalicious: Eggstraordinary Easter // Toddler Pink Flamingo Slippers
Boy Beach Towel // Ship Print trunks // Beach Toys // Sprinkler // Rugby Stripe Cover-Up // Kiddie Pool // Ruffled Swimsuit // Girl Beach Towel
Outdoor Play
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Little Creative
Superhero Cape // Xylophone // Easter Chalk // Kids Paint Bath Soap // Play-Doh Eggs // Frozen Soundtrack // Easter Crayons // Petal Tutu // Oh Bunny Art
Mother's Day Weekend
Friday, I was a vendor at a fundraiser for our local firemen to go to a competition in Ireland. Before I could attend that event, I had to get the decor ready for our friend's baby shower that took place, on Saturday. Of course there were kinks that I forgot to work out ahead of time, so Saturday we were running around like crazy. Procrastination is not at easy with a baby, but I happen to have one of the best husbands in the world. He ran around to multiple stores to find the white flowers I requested, which apparently were a hot commodity the day before Mother's Day.
Finally my decorating was finished and looked great! I forgot to take pics myself, so I had to rely on others...typical. It was a nautical theme so I had a great time making things, and dressing a little beachy too.
Sunday, I woke up to two smiling boys holding a card. Nothing is better than my baby's smile with those 4 teeth. He looks like a little rabbit! "Abram" had written the best little message for me and got me a paint sprayer...best.gift.ever! Look out, I just may walk around spraying things with paint now that I can! We went to church afterwards and Abram got to show his scooting moves for the pretty 9 month old in the cry room with us.Then we did brunch at one of our favorite cafes, and headed to the nearby board walk. It was Abram's first time to be that close to boats and the ocean. We are so excited to bring him to the beach next week!
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How was your mother's day?
Happy St. Patty's day!
Hope everyone had a good weekend celebrating! Our weekend consisted of poison ivy and several home remedies that had my husband smelling like a walking Easter egg, as he blow dried his arms.
No, you did not read that wrong.
We also got to clean, install sink faucets, and most exciting of all...a trip to lowes to buy trees! Watch out!
Abram enjoyed the festivities and most of all, chewing on his hands.
I guess everyone needs a catch up weekend, and we have the next 3 booked up with fun so I can't complain. Here's the smile that made this holiday the most special of all St. Patrick's days I've celebrated ...his belly laughs are the greatest!
Oh and a 4 month post is in the works!
2 months
Right around the time of the 1 month post, Abram started to get a receding hairline, and then continued to lose all of his hair on the top of his head. Yes, our son was "Old man Abe"...I hate that nickname and will never repeat it. Just when we thought it would all fall out, tiny little hairs started showing up again. It was so strange because the color didn't even change. Babies.... Anyway one thing we have noticed is how thin it is {like mine}, so it has a slight spike...and a red tint to it!
Never thought we would have a red head, my family is full of them and Matt's mom has brown hair with a red tint. This month we have seen more and more of Matt's mom and grandma in Abram. She was the only grandparent who wasn't still with us when we started dating. We always say she got us together...so now I guess she gave us Abram too. ;)
Weight & Height: We had to visit the pediatric surgeon for his constipation issues the day before he was two months old and he weighed 11 lbs 11 oz. It shocked us! He is so long, at almost 25 inches that he looks thinner than he is I guess. At he 2 month check-up {which we did at 6 weeks}, he was just under the 50% for his weight and head circumference, and was in the 86% for his height. Dang son!
I had been loosely following a Babywise type of sleep schedule since 4 or 5 weeks, but with his tummy it was hard. At around 8 weeks I started a firm schedule with regular feedings every day, a bedtime routine {bath and a book}, and a dream feed. He goes to sleep pretty easily by just swaddling him with white noise, turning him on his side, and patting his rear until he is drowsy, then he puts himself to sleep. A week after he started napping, he stopped. His naps last anywhere from 20-45 minutes {in the pack-n-play and crib} and then he is up and WILL NOT GO BACK DOWN. That makes my days lots of fun! Not.
My elf
Crying: He knows what he wants..."I'M HUNGRY!" or "I'M TIRED!". The only times he really cries besides that are when he is cold or in pain.
Christmas with Aunt Kiki
first Christmas
First Holiday Season with Our Boy!
The guys went hunting the weekend before Christmas while my mom and I finished up the shopping. I also got to visit my cousin, Casey, who had surgery for a tethered spinal cord the week before. Abram was the only person he would sit up for :). He wanted to hold him so bad so I laid them next to each other...too bad Abram was in a crabby mood that night.
Both sets of my grandparents stopped by to see him for the first time too. I am sure the next time they see him he will look {and act} like a completely different baby.
Most of the week we just relaxed and hung out, or played darts, or some other type of game.We always had stuff cooking, so I was stuffed the entire week long stay. We even got a little snow, but forgot to get a pic of Abram in it. Bijou loved it though! It was perfect!
We relaxed at our friend, Leigh Ann's house, for New Years Eve. Luckily their baby just started sleeping in his crib so the pack-n-play was set up and free for us to use for the little man so we could ring in the new year all together. Hope your holidays were fantastic!
Hope Your Holidays Were Filled With Joy...Happy New Year
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1 Month Old
I look forward to nights with better sleep and seeing what his personality will be like, but I also know he will never be this small and new again. He has started to grow out of his newborn clothes {that I only had a couple of anyway}, and I find myself holding them up and crying as I remember him in them {I'm crazy}.
Weight: Not exactly sure....but at our surprise pediatrician appointment on Thursday he was 9 lbs 7 oz {pre induced diaper explosion}. At the two week appointment he was 21.5" long, so he is probably at least 22 by now, I would imagine.
First real bath with the help of Doodle/G-deb
Crying: He mainly cries for food or when he is gassy, or just when he has an upset stomach {a lot}. Honestly, he could care less about his diaper being dirty.
first visit with Aunt Layla, at Thanksgiving
first Thanksgiving
39 Weeks and Waiting Patiently
Sleep: This is the week I stopped sleeping well…now I see why other pregnant women in the 3rd trimester are so crabby
Wedding rings on or off? On and off when I get worried about swelling
38 Weeks...Happy Halloween
Sleep: Off and on still…it hurts to roll over
Wedding rings on or off? On and beautiful thanks to the jewelers for working miracles
Happy or Moody most of the time: Everything and loving this moment of our lives
Matt's exam was Friday so I sat around most of the week praying the baby wouldn't come on, or before that day. We had dinner with our friend, Ashtyn, who was in from out of town one night which was a nice break for Matt. I have also been sick all week so laying around was not too bad, but as soon as I knew Matt's exam was almost over I started walking around and sitting on Kristen's exercise ball to try and make some progress happen. I have not made ANY in 2 weeks!
Saturday morning I got to see another friend from out of town, Leslie {my lucky week}. We had brunch with Leigh Ann and Leslie's sister...just missing one person {you know who you are}! Once Matt was free from his exam prison, we took advantage of the amazing weather for the rest of the weekend. If you were around our town, you might have caught me walking around...I am a girl on a mission!
Happy Easter!
We went to Lafayette for Easter which just so happened to be Mrs. Debra's b-day too. Saturday we went crabbing which I haven't done since I started college...we were only out there for 3 hours, but that was plenty. Oh by the way, to the right of the first picture was about 3-4 gators hanging out with us and waiting to eat our left over chicken when we left. We got two shows in one here, Swamp People and Deadliest Catch haha. We caught 3 dozen crabs...Matt's family cooked them that night, but I went out to eat with my long lost friends, Erika and Leslie. Erika has been a Northerner (sorry mid-westerner), living it up in Chicago since September. Matt just so happens to have training there in May so we will be paying her a visit.
Sunday, I got to visit more with Erika at her son, Clark's first birthday party (where has the time gone). At Matt's house they fried up some chicken on the porch...and I seemed to get there just in time! Happy (late) Easter and happy birthday Mrs. Debra and Clark!
Lots of Celebrating
First there was Mardi Gras...we couldn't go with my parent's to New Orleans that Tuesday because Matt had to work (stupid Texas not letting people off ;) ) so we hung out in Lafayette the weekend before.
We got there Friday night and drove straight to the fair which was where we were watching the parade with friends. We had just enough time to get a drink and get me a chicken on a stick...gotta love anything on a stick...before it started to rain. Being the parade novices that we are, with bags of beads at home, we watched the parade from under a tent and let the kids get wet for beads. We did, however challenge ourselves to get one bead each...mission accomplished! The run to the cars got us wet anyway.
The next day it seemed like the rain would never end, but it did let up a little for us to enjoy some of the best crawfish we have ever had at Cajun Claws, in Abbeville, with some of our favorite people. They were all consistently large and cooked perfectly...5 pounds for me please.
Before I left I was finally able to stop by Logan's and get my Gable painting...and a surprise Lucky painting. They are even better in person...thanks Logan! She recently decided to donate some paintings to auctions raising money for non-profit groups; I know she will do well. Check out all of her amazing cow, animal, and house paintings on her etsy site: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoganBerard...I'll let you figure out which one is which...
The best part about living in Houston is that it is close enough to Louisiana for their celebrations, but as soon as the Mardi Gras fun ends the Houston Rodeo begins. Last year, I didn't get to go to anything because of school. This year we were invited to the barbecue cook-off last weekend, the Alabama concert on Tuesday, and are going to Blake Shelton with my parents next week. I am so pumped...of course just seeing the rodeo action before the concert is fun...I love the wagon races and the muttin-bustin which consists of sheep with a padded-up kid stuck on it's back and we see how long they can stay on...they usually just roll off. Matt looked at me on Tuesday and said exactly what I was thinking, "Our kid WILL do this one day!" It is just too funny to pass up.
The barbecue cook-off tent we were invited to was started by a group of high school friends who had the help of their dads in the beginning and have kept it going ever since. We so need to do something like that! They had three cooking set-ups with brisket, chicken, pickles, onions, etc....the reason I like Texas barbecue the most is because it comes with pickles and onions (my two favorites foods). They had a large tent with chandeliers, a band, and cow print covered tables.
Happy Valentines Day
I should have expected that Matt and I couldn't go without celebrating the holiday at least a little. I came home from boot camp to filet mignon and asparagus and I whipped out the chocolate wine I had secretly bought for him.
I did make a comment about how it was weird to not get flowers from him on the holiday, but I was fine with it...and I even told him to suggest to a friend going on a first date NOT to get red roses because they are too typical.
After dinner he went upstairs to get the yellow tulips and gluten free crave cupcakes he had hidden from me. Geez he knows me well and geez am I lucky...I'm loving the unplanned Valentines Day dinner and the second date night I get for suggesting we shouldn't do the typical Valentines Day ha!
On another note, I have never owned a puppy in my adult life. There is a reason for it...they are HARD to care for, you don't know how big they will get, and you cannot train them.
I must have forgotten that when I volunteered to babysit these little piglets. I am not saying they are horrible and I am not promoting that they don't get adopted...they are puppies and no matter how much you tell some people to go the adult dog route, they will always love the puppies...so I am just being honest. It has been a while since I have had to clean up this much pee and poo (Lucky and Bijou were both pretty much house trained when I got them)...
