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
     

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...

Matt's 30th | Summer Fun

Matt turned 30 this weekend. I had all of these grand plans on how to celebrate, but work and nesting has been running our lives lately. Then, I got put on modified bed rest Friday...I basically can't drive because of the dizzy spells I keep getting that come out of no where. Chalk it up to pregnancy anemia not being cured by iron supplements because of my Celiac disease; bummer. I'm hoping we can get a handle on it now that we know the cause...and maybe I won't be so tired.

Checking out Matt's birthday flock

Needless to say, poor Matt may get a second "30th celebration" next year. We did manage to spend a few hours at the pool and then met friends at one of his favorite restaurants for dinner.  After dinner the city center was playing "Hook" in the park area so we hung out and let the kids run around. It wasn't a giant, extravagant celebration, but it was nice way to celebrate 30 with good friends/family. 

Sunday, we were back at the house projects. We are getting so close to the finish line I can see the light! I can't wait to share everything with you!

We have also been really into doing at least one fun thing {on top of projects} every weekend. That has meant lots of water fun, snow cones, ice cream, and parks. Abram is at a really fun age and I just want to take all of him in, while it is just him. Now that I'm home I am still bringing him to daycare at least until I get all the home preparations/cleaning finished. I let him sleep in and then we have a long breakfast...just the two of us playing eating. I'm really hoping I can get everything done at least a week early so we can just hang out and do whatever we want. As a working mom, extra time with your little one is something you dream of so I want to take advantage. Have a great week!

xo,

Nikki

Maternity Session for Baby #2

Around 32 weeks we finally got around to taking maternity photos. These have a much different feel than the photos we took in the country last time. I'm not sure which I like better, but let me just say I am so over taking maternity photos in the heat of the summer! The next baby will be a winter baby! 

Last pregnancy we gave ourselves 3 chances to get some good shots since we do them ourselves. This time was a one-and-done situation. We brought my mom to help us with the little man, and to take a few pics of us together. Abram was D-O-N-E after about 5 minutes so the majority of the time my mom chased him around while Matt took pics of me and "Pixie". We had so many cute family, couple, and mommy and two kids photos planned that we didn't get to do, but I am just happy I was able to capture the pregnancy with my beautiful girl!

 Trains kept passing which freaked me out, but Abram loved it

Making the best of a difficult toddler

I swear I blinked and went from seeing two lines to sitting here typing this post. Although I am getting SOOO uncomfortable that I am beyond ready to feel myself again; I am trying to take in what is left of this pregnancy. It really is such an incredible journey and before we know it she will be in our arms and growing up entirely too fast.

xo,
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.

Outfit Board Source

Top left to right: Chandelier // Beach Photograph // Ahoy Print // Star Fabric // Hello Pillow // Coral Herringbone Throw // Star Pillow // USA Art // Stripe Fabric // Crib // Storage Basket // Rocking Chair // Iron Letter Decor // DIY Paper Pinwheel // Lamp // Lampshade // Round Jute Rug // Dresser

Have a Happy Fourth!!!

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
....

Daily life week 6 & Summer Plans

This past weekend we played catch up and spent most of our time in the nursery or folding laundry. We did manage to get to our neighborhood pool for an hour, on Sunday. It's a kid's pool with a small slide; Abram was obsessed and after the 6th time down and us carrying him around while he lifted his feet in the water like he was on a ride, we called it quits. Sorry if Abram is in every pic this week...he is sort of my world.

It is officially the point in the summer where the heat and humidity are so high that my hair stays up and we only go outside when the sun is low, or we can get in the water. I have been trying my hardest to take advantage before it gets to the point of deathly hot; the kind that makes you sweat at night and the water doesn't even sooth you. It should be showing up about a month before baby girl "pixie" arrives. You will then find me parked inside with my feet up and a snow cone in hand.

We have also reached the point in toddlerhood where Abram has so much energy that his toys don't entertain him. He gets grouchy when sitting around the house for too long. We are trying to start planning at least one big activity a day during our weekends. There will be regular pool days scheduled and I'm trying to think of some things we can get for the backyard to entertain him and keep him cool. I'm also on the hunt for creative indoor activities that we can do for the second half of the summer. I would love to hear games, activities, and projects you have done with your kids; feel free to leave your tips and tricks in the comments or email me!

Having a child who is starting to understand the world around him has made me appreciate and want to celebrate each season that comes our way.

Here is our summer to-do list so far...it is pretty packed already:

• Get snow cones {Abram's first}...fun fact: my mom owned a snow cone stand when I was younger. I took the orders and made change, AND made the kid's snow cone menu with my own flavor creations.
• Go to the zoo
• Visit San Antonio
• Swim A LOT
• Make homemade ice cream
• Celebrate our birthdays and anniversary
• Visit the Kemah board walk
• Go out on the boat
• Finish the nursery
• Sparklers for the 4th
• Head to Louisiana to visit
• Welcome our baby girl!

Family Beach Vacation Recap

We got home from our trip to Gulf Shores on Sunday evening which gave me just enough time to unpack, do our laundry, and pile it on the living room chairs. Needless to say I was very unprepared for the work week, but it was totally worth it to spend an entire WEEK at the beach. How do you even summarize a week of amazing into one post?!

Have you ever had one of those vacations that was your saving grace from complete breakdown? That was this vacation for me! I tend to be a list maker and put way too much on my plate. On top of working full-time, being a parent to a toddler, and being 6.5 months pregnant I have also gotten sick so many times this pregnancy. I'm sure it is from the combination of everything, but this trip saved my mind and body from a potential collapse. Seriously.

Not to mention that we live for the water, and when we were in Louisiana we spent as many weekends as possible on the boat or at the beach. Now, it rarely happens, but it is something that gets us back in touch with the world. We got to Gulf Shores on Saturday night, along with a couple of our friends' families. Think 4 children under 4. It actually went along well without too many meltdowns which in our books is a win! 

28 weeks pregnant with our girl! Only day I was brave enough for a bikini...

Sunday through Wednesday went a little something like this: Our day started around 7:30 with the ritual of the morning mad-dash to the beach; coffee, breakfast for all, changing into our suits and lathering up, packing the beach bags with snacks and other supplies, and then making our way down. I don't think we ever got there before 11 am even with all of our efforts, but we got really good at preparing to stay all day. We set up two canopies for shade for the kids...and the pregnant lady. We also got a blow up pool and filled it with a very small amount of water so they could stay cool playing with toys without us worrying about waves, etc. Under our tents, food was never sparse and there was a continuous flow of our version of beach tunes playing. We basically set up camp and I pretty much stayed parked in my beach chair, feet buried in the sand, for the majority of the week. 

Abram is a certified beach baby. We went on the trip worried; remembering last year when he was terrified of all water, even baths. I put him in the sand and he instantly dove in and rolled around. He rarely had anything else but a handful of sand in his hands. He looked around and took in every morsel of the beach; the birds, the waves crashing on the shore, and he literally ate almost every grain of sand. After filling up his pail and dumping it out about 20 times he would inevitably crawl into my lap {covered in sand} for some kisses and gold fish. By the time the tenth gold fish was dipped in the sand and eaten I decided it was time for an ocean break to clean both of us off. He never even gave one look of fear with the water. He was at complete peace in our arms and enjoyed the rocking waves. By the end of the day, or by the time we were sick of feeling like sand paper, we would head to the pool. Again our little fish was fearless and would jump to us from the side over and over. Last year's swim lessons paid off ;).

There are some days that I know God made this kid JUST for me...it's like he gets me ;)

Thursday it rained so we made it into a shopping day, also known as, walking around to lots of boutiques and then realizing that cute summer clothes aren't in the cards for me this year... so we got ice cream instead.

Friday was our last day. We met some Louisiana friends to ride around the bay on their pontoon boat. We were dodging rain pockets all day, but there was plenty of places to stop for food and drinks while we waited them out. It was Abram's first boat ride and it took a few minutes for him to get his sea legs. Once we started he was in awe; he just kept saying "whoa". He absolutely loved it and when he got tired, the boat's vibrations and white noise would put him right to sleep.

Captain Sina and Abram for his first ride. Both sporting the LSU attire... we did it just for Sina :)

We did make it out to eat one night of the week. Lulu's is a must for any family visiting Gulf Shores. They have good drinks and a live band, and for the young kids they have sand and water to play in. A change of clothes is a good idea; within 5 minutes they were soaked!

Saturday we headed to Lafayette to stay the night. We made a pit stop at an antique shop in Alabama first, and then one more stop to visit Aunt Layla, in New Orleans. I used to visit New Orleans a few times a year, but we hadn't been since before I got pregnant the first time. It was a quick visit. Just enough to see the horses pulling the carriages, look at some beautiful art, listen to the brass bands, and enjoy a Cajun/Creole dinner. When your waiter asks, "what would you like dawlin'?" you know you are in New Orleans. 

Playing soccer at the family farm

This week we are back to reality and feeling refreshed, and only slightly depressed that it all had to end. Now that my batteries have been recharged I am ready to tackle our projects that we need to finish before baby. 11 more weeks!

Nikki

Happy Memorial Day and Welcome Third Trimester!

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all the troops that make it possible for us to enjoy living in this beautiful country! We will be celebrating from Gulf Shores...a much needed family beach vacation (aka semi-baby moon) with some close friends. Cannot think of a better way to welcome the third trimester; besides a large cold glass of chocolate milk.

Total weight gain this month: +22 pounds

Maternity clothes? I finally went into a maternity store for the first time ever! Putting on those maternity shorts after squeezing into my jeans was A-MA-ZING! I hate the prices, but love being able to breathe again.
Stretch marks? None yet. I'm using Burt's Bees Belly Butter every morning
Sleep: I am having more and more trouble breathing and some leg cramps at night, but other than that it is great.

Best moment this month: Just hanging out on the weekends with my boy. Trying to get as much time in with him as possible.

Miss Anything? Sushi, drinks, and my clothes...and running without pain

Movement: Yup...every night she goes crazy

Food cravings: Salad every day for lunch and the chocolate milk craving is back this time! I also LOVE strawberry milk...

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Getting the stomach bug. Every time she would move I would get even more nauseous...horrible

Have you started to show yet: Yup!

Gender prediction: IT'S A GIRL!!!

Labor Signs: I had braxton hicks contractions for 3 days straight and ended up going to Labor and Delivery where they told me it was from dehydration. I'm drinking a lot of water now.
Belly Button in or out?  It is almost flat.
Wedding rings on or off?  On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Stressed about getting everything done in time

Looking forward to:  Getting the nursery and other projects finished 

Under the Weather and Daily Life Pics

I fully intended on writing a post about kids and art, then real life struck and I got a stomach bug on Friday. I was couch ridden ALL weekend and into Monday. I missed a few celebrations with friends, working on the nursery and house stuff {that desperately needed to be done}, spending time with my baby boy, and felt sick every time I would sit down to write. That's just life... I know most moms understand when I say I do not have time to get sick!! Plus, Abram has ANOTHER sinus infection and has been having blow-outs all weekend because of his medicine. {poor Matt}

Luckily, we just have to stick it out until next week's family beach vacation. It will be very much needed, but their is still lots of packing and pep talks needed to get myself ready to be 6.5 months preggo on the beach...with two thin, non-pregnant, able to drink friends.

Hope your week is grand!
Nikki

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

Darlin' You're the Mint to my Julep...

Can you believe I have never had a mint julep!? I have also never been to a Kentucky Derby Party...until this past weekend. 

When I got the invite I jumped at the chance to make a big, over-the-top, annoying hat. I grabbed my beach hat I got on sale, for $5, at Target last year, put a ribbon around it so that I could glue as many flowers as I want without ruining the hat, and perused the floral aisle of Hobby Lobby for an HOUR! Hobby Lobby is so draining...

 my hard work paid off...it even had a bird!

The party was so fun and I seriously have some creative friends. There were adult only mint julep cupcakes, a horse shoe cake, and tons of food and betting. Here are a few party pics...

For the rest of the weekend we set up our gazebo and Abram's big boy bed...wish us luck! I also took some time to relax since last week I had to go to the hospital for dehydration...nothing serious...I just apparently need a ton of water when I am pregnant {flashback to 2 years ago}. No pics were taken this time; Matt was too busy chasing around Abram and picking up fruit off the floor. 

I am continuing to take my picture a day even if my life seems monotonous to others, the pics mean so much to me! Have a great week!