Life. . .

Right now the speed of life is both in fast forward...and slow motion. How ironic that things can be like that at the exact same time.
It's hard to believe Sweet P is 3 months old now.  . .somehow it felt longer getting to 3 months with W. Of course Sweet P was born right before several major holidays, and we all know those just fly by.

I want to blog more. . .I have tons of ideas and things to share. . but finding the chance to take photos is hard!

Sweet little girl is a fussy one. Thankful that she's not a screamer (like W was), but she's definitely crying more than smiling right now. We're trying some diet changes, hoping it improves her mood, praying that it's fixable. Most days I spend sitting right here at the keyboard, bouncing her away in the bouncer with the vacuum going to help soothe her. I know someday it will all just be a memory, a story i tell her, and others...so I'm determined to find the things to be thankful for in it.

Not that it makes the hard any less HARD. . .but i think thankfulness despite difficulty is how God gets us through. It's how he fulfills those promises-the ones about joy even in sorrow, even in the face of the impossible.

I'm so grateful i started reading Ann Voskamp's book last month...it's helped tremendously during the day to day with a 2 year old, and a fussy baby. Looking for the thing to give praise for makes the "trials" so might lighter. Read it. Especially if you're going through a struggle right now.

So for now I will just share some photos I've been able to (quickly) snap recently.

 (these really were taken yesterday! It was over 60 degrees here in Jersey!)

A Month in Pictures. . .

From Dec 19th to January 19th....

Making Salt Dough ornaments (Which BTW did NOT come out very good!)

Helping "Beeebeee"

The Fam (Hubby's)

It's not a family photo unless W cries

Foods (By Hubby)

Apple Oven Pancake

Homemade Soft Pretzels

  

Bath

Little Feet (that almost never stop moving)

House it going. Part THREE

Pardon my inability to get this in when I said I would! A nasty stomach bug has TORN through our church this week, and we were sadly not immune. W started on monday, and me & hubby followed a few days after. EVERYONE we know seems to getting it-I have to admit this kind of stuff freaks me out! I feel like it's some sort of movie, and somehow a stomach bug will end the world.
I know. I'm silly.

But on to what I was going to show you in the house series part 3!
W's room....it's coming along! When he was in my belly cooking, I had this great idea to paint stripes across the center of the room, and decorate it baseball themed. I loved it..for about ten seconds. I quickly felt like it just wasn't me...wasn't W. But I lived with it for a while. But when I was cooking Sweet P I decided it was time to change it to something I felt was for fitting for us. Here's what I've got so far!

 I picked up that toddler bed at the Dutch Auction for $12...it's originally IKEA and retails for $100! It was in perfect condition! I decided though that the plain wood look wasn't W, and used the leftover paint from the Dining Room (which is Warm Gold from Better Homes & Garden) to paint it. I still plan to cover up the somewhat weird dog and cat cutouts with upholstered panels!
The cool vintage blankie belonged to hubby's uncles, there are two of them we scored during a house clean out! I LOVE them. They're warm and vintagey perfection!

  W loves his "moooon". Oma picked it up for him at...guess where?! Yup-IKEA! The "artwork" is a super simple DIY.
I picked up a TON of canvases when Micheal's has a sale months and months ago so i already had this canvas on hand. I spray painted it with the $1 gray spray paint at Wal Mart. Then I found a free font online that I loved, and I printed it out extra large (I believe it was about 200 point). I then cut around each individual letter (no Cricut over here!) and Mod Podged them on the canvas. That's it! See it's easy!

 I saw this idea on Pinterest and I couldn't help but run out to IKEA and get me some spice racks. I LOVE this for storing books in a cute way. If course W has WAY more books than will fit on two shelves, so only his faves made it on these..the rest are stored under his bed!

  Of course alot of the time the books are still ALL OVER the floor. :sigh: Life with toddler.

I love that little cubby shelf. I picked it up at the Christmas Tree Shop (Which is oddly NOT a Christmas store) when I was prego with W for like $2 because the box was damaged. The canvas boxes used to be bright red and navy blue..they went with the baseball theme, but not so much with a more vintagey yellow and orange. So I hit'm with a few coats of that same gray spray paint, and there you go! Making over things you already have to fit your new style is usually EASY and CHEAP.
The "artwork" below the cubby is another DIY. Dollar Tree (my second fave store-IKEA being first of course) have little flower print wooden plaques. I knew they would be a great way to make some cheap art so I grabbed a few. I sprayed them with white spray paint, and then scoured the internet for cute posters from W's fave movies. I used a feature on Picnik photo editor called 1960's that gave them a more vintage look and printed them out to the right size on REGULAR paper (not photo). Then I just Mod Podge those bad boys on the plaques..and there you have it!

another view...next time I would use Matte Mod Podge. They're a little too glossy for my taste.

And just in case you forgot what W looked like.

Next in the house series is our Living Room!

Sweet P

Just a few days ago my lovely OTHER sister volunteered to do maternity photos of my ever-getting-huger bump! She did a FANTASTIC job, and I'm so in love with the results! 

I can't wait to get some of these printed up and around the house!

We took them in a beautiful orchard right near my parents house....

W LOVED the location. All the "pumples" (Apples) he could eat!

Hubby can barely hug me anymore....my belly be HUGE!

The first shoes I bought for my little girl! I never thought I'd get so excited about shoes!

                                           

Sweet P was only about 6 months along in the Ultrasound pic...we couldn't get a snap of her now...she's so BIG you can't even tell what's what anymore!

My super brilliant U/S tech informed me that Sweet P has LONG legs a rather LARGE noggin, and weighs almost 6 lbs now! Way ahead of big brother!

Yes, this is my belly! I have no belly button, lots of stretch marks, and imperfect skin. 

But it's all for my babies, so it's worth every imperfection I get!

My sister is brilliant!

And to top it off here's a comparison of my pregnancy photos with W. I was only 2 or 3 weeks away in the shot on the right, I still have 5 weeks in the one on the left!

The wedding

I have been obsessed and preoccupied with something wonderful the past month or so....My sister's wedding!
We spent pretty much the entire month of August getting ready for the big day...stressful,yes, but totally worth it!
I've never seen a more beautiful bride in my life!

The bride & Dad!

                                           



There were dresses to alter (thanks to my supa talented mom!), cake pops to make (baby sis is a PRO at it), programs, favors, cards, parties and more...so busy but so fun!

  I feel so honored that I was not only able to lend a hand, 
          but both myself and W were in the wedding!

Outdoor ceremony? Must have a pond with goldfish if they want to keep the Nemo obsessed ring bearer happy.

There were no rings, and the pillow was not carried. But he DID manage to get down the isle and make everyone laugh at his supreme cuteness.

All the siblings

obligatory photo of myself. I almost look not pregnant.

My Mother-In-Law makes the best, most gorgeous cakes EVER.

Brother-In-Law played music for the ceremony

There was (thankfully) NO cake smashing! Who even does that anymore?

No day would be complete without a W meltdown. Hubby was VERY helpful since I was MIA all day!

W stayed in his suit ALL day...he never wanted to change!

 (disclaimer:I suck at taking photos...all the photos you see about were either taken by Hubby or my Mother-In-Law)

Back and Better than ever!

Did you like even know I was gone? Well I was.


For a whole week. 
I had no cell phone reception, and no internet.
I thought it would be fabulous and all "getting back to nature" and such. I thought it would be refreshing...nope it wasn't. I was bored silly.
We went on vacation with Hubby's family to Maine. To like the middle of NOWHERE Maine. It took us 12 hours to get there. Yeah-TWELVE hours in the car with toddler...so not on my list of things to ever do again.
Turns out there's also not anything for a 6 month prego woman and with a two year old strapped to her leg, to do in Maine. Hiking...nope. Quaint little town with lots of shops that have breakable items..nope. Kayaking...nope.
I brought three books. I finished them all within two days of arrival.
There was water...but W actually didn't want to go IN the "wa". He just wanted to throw rocks in or ride in the "butt" (AKA the boat/kayak-thank you Finding Nemo for that hilarious tidbit). So there was much just chasing of toddler up the hill to the house, down the hill to the water...sit for 10 minutes while toddler throws rocks in the water..run back up the hill as toddler goes in the house....keep toddler from destroying all the electronics and personal belongings of Uncles, Aunt and Grandparents. lather, rinse repeat!
While it wasn't the super duperest vacation for me ever, W and Hubby enjoyed it, which makes me happy. Following are photos from our week. Notice how I'm wearing a cardigan and sweats in some..yeah the weather was fab up there. I'd like to put it in my pocket and bring it back down here.

                             This happened the first morning we were there. I made coffee, spilled a bunch, and there in the middle of the mess was THE MOUSE. a PERFECT one too. Oh Mick...I miss you too.

                                       Pretty view from the house. I was SO wearing shorts...i promise.

                                                   W and Opa in the "butt". He LUVED it.

                    Mah belly be huge. And where ever my belly is there W's elbow shall be also.

                            If I had put the seltzer "wa" in his sippy there's no way he would drink it.
                                                                    But it's oh so cool in a can.

                                                   Aunt Gigi is like the most gorgeous eva. I swear.

                                        Yes my child was shoeless as we walked around the town. I=bad mama.

                                       Hubby went hiking, W ran around like a nut and didn't take a nap.
                                                     So they fell asleep on a bench waiting for dinner.

                                                                                 
   Trying to get a toddler that's already not a napper to take one on vacation in a strange house is...impossible. Turns out when he's tired enough, W will put himself down for a nap...wherever he is when the moment strikes. We found him on the chair, and took care to move him to the couch....a little while later we found on the floor under the couch. Apparently my child doesn't want to be comfortable.

 

          Token Happy Family shot. Don't I look thrilled? I was starving outta my mind in this picture.
                                                            I seriously wanted to BITE someone.


 I'm so glad to be home, and able to blog again.