Our third baby will be 8 weeks old tomorrow, so as you can imagine, the topic of sleep has been on my mind! We've been very blessed with two amazing sleepers - both Pippa and Teddy slept through the night at or before three months, and really never had any major sleep regressions. At the risk of jinxing myself, I will say that it seems like Lewis will be following in their footsteps. He's been giving us longer and longer stretches at night!
Read MoreEver since our family moved to Florida, we've had the urge to discover all of the fun destinations our state has to offer. Since we've had two babies in our 2 years of living here, travel options have been somewhat limited, so we've been starting with easy day trips to the surrounding cities.
Read MoreHappy Friday! Hope everyone's having a wonderful week. We've been taking it slow around here and spending a lot of time inside due to rainstorms and humidity. The mornings have been lovely for getting outside for a bit, so we've been making it a priority, otherwise the kids get cabin fever! Meanwhile Justin and I have been sorting through some boxes that have been packed up in our garage since we moved over a year ago. We condensed from 7 bins down to 2, and I will be using the remaining empty bins to sort and organize the kids' clothes.
Read MoreWe live in an era where nutrition is incredibly confusing for the average person. One study says to eat less and exercise more. Another says carbs are the enemy. A few years ago we were supposed to avoid fat, now we're encouraged to consume "healthy fats." We're supposed to eat clean, but our food no longer has the same nutritional value that it did 100 years ago.
Read MoreBefore I had kids, I took for granted how easy it was to do menial tasks, like getting in the car, making a meal, or running errands. Now here I am with a 4-year-old, a one-year-old, and an infant, and nothing is easy. Going to the grocery store with kids can feel like an insurmountable task - a new mom's Everest. But little by little, you get better at it. You learn tips and tricks to get through those aisles, and before you know it, you're breezing through checkout like a pro. Just kidding, your kids will probably still be screaming and begging you for a sticker while you try to pay for your groceries, but it won't bother you as much.
Read MoreHappy Friday! We've had such a rainy week here in Florida, but we really needed it! Unfortunately that means the kids and I have been cooped up inside quite a bit, but we're managing. Lots of movies, puzzles, books, and trips to the library made it bearable, and I'm thinking Friday warrants a trip to Dunkin' for an iced coffee!
Read MoreHappy fourth birthday, Pippa! You have grown so much over the past year in more than one sense of the word. Yes, you are taller and lankier, with gangly legs that go on for days. But you have also become so mature, and you're the most caring little girl. You notice the emotions of those around you, and won't stop until you've put a smile on everyone's face. When I wasn't feeling well while pregnant, or recovering from having a baby this year, you would tuck me in bed with a tender kiss on the forehead.
Read MoreOur summer break is off to a great start! My sister Abby flew down to visit us for Memorial Day Weekend, and we spent a good portion of her time here at the beach. The kids soaked in the extra attention, and I enjoyed plenty of sister time!
Read MoreDear Daughter,
This morning, just like every morning, you walked out of your room wearing the most gloriously mismatched outfit. You beamed with pride because you picked your clothes out all by yourself, and you loved how the colors looked on you. For you, getting dressed is pure joy, because it is a chance to express your personal style and show off your favorite colors.
Read MoreIn the weeks after having a baby, it's so tempting to dress in pajamas, leggings, and comfortable V-neck tees and never leave the house. Every once in awhile, though, you need to feel human again, and it feels so good to shower, get dressed in something cute, and do your hair and makeup.
Read MoreToday's Friday Favorites is short and sweet! I've taken the week off from blogging, mainly because the lack of sleep associated with having a newborn has really hit me hard this week. Every time I sit down to work, I feel a strong urge to close my eyes and rest, so I've been listening to my body and getting sleep when I can! The good news is that Baby Lewis's sleeping patterns are improving - we're now getting 3-3 1/2 hour stretches in between feedings at night! There is hope!
Read MoreHappy Friday! Even though I've been at home all week with all three kids, it still feels like the week has flown by! I will say that I absolutely love the flexibility of our days. I love not having to be anywhere at a specific time most days, and if we don't feel up to leaving the house we don't have to.
Read MoreI have been blogging in some form or another since 2009, but it has always been a hobby until this year. With my third child on the way, I decided I really wanted to make my blog a source of income for our family, so I could scale back on my work outside the home and spend more time with my kids. We are so blessed to live in a time and place where we can use the internet to make money from anywhere! There are countless websites, articles, and blogs dedicated to helping others learn how to harness the power of the internet to make money, so I dove in and started researching.
Read MoreI like a little bit of coffee with my cream and sugar.
It's true. I love the morning ritual of a hot cup of coffee, but the bitterness of black coffee makes me cringe every time. I've at least upgraded to healthier creamer options, but still wonder if my morning cup is slowing down my efforts to lose the baby weight.
Read MoreFrom the second or third doctor's appointment I had after finding out I was pregnant with Lewis, my doctor and I agreed that it would make the most sense to schedule a C-section at 39 weeks. To recap, I had a scheduled C-section with Pippa because she was breech, and I desperately wanted to try a VBAC with Teddy, but due to his size, and moving across the country at 36 weeks pregnant, we ended up going with another scheduled C-section at 40 weeks + 4 days.
Read MoreThis week has been quite the emotional rollercoaster in our household. We had family in town over the weekend for Lewis's baptism, and one by one they left for the airport between Sunday and early Tuesday morning. That left me home alone for the very first time with three kids on Tuesday. We survived, and I even got everyone down for a nap at the same time! Mom win!
Read MoreHaving a new baby is one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced in my life. I love inhaling their sweet milky breath, dressing them in stylish miniature clothes, and snuggling them for hours on end. We are currently in the midst of the delirium that is life with a newborn. Our little Lewis is two weeks old, and our whole family is so in love with him!
Read MoreAfter having my first baby, I was back at my pre-pregnancy weight within a few months. I still felt uncomfortable seeing myself in pictures or wearing a lot of my old clothes, since my weight had apparently shifted around. Here is my story of how I felt like myself again and even saw abs for the first time in my life after having my first baby.
Read MoreThis past weekend was an absolute whirlwind of fun, family time, and baby snuggles. With both sets of grandparents in town, plus a few siblings, we had plenty of extra hands to help out with our newest addition and keep the older kids busy. It also helped us to get out of the house and head down to the beach a few times. Recovering from a C-section is tough, but it was so good for my mindset to get out in the fresh air.
Read MoreHappy Cinco de Mayo! I, for one, will be celebrating with my first post-baby margarita on the beach tonight! I crave margaritas with every pregnancy, so this will be a treasured moment for me.
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