Little things....

I ordered myself a little "jewelry display box" from West Elm about 2 months ago, and it was backordered. I kind of forgot about it until it showed up on my doorstep yesterday. How quickly your house gets taken over by all things baby, so for some reason, I was like a little girl putting my jewelry in a box that has my name on it. I have my own little space for some of my precious pieces. It was just a little thing that kind of made my day today!

TGIM ( Thank Goodness Its Monday)

I am sitting on my couch watching television/staring at all of the ribbon and wrap on my dining room table so that I can actually wrap gifts while Amara sleeps, but I just can't seem to muster up the energy!!
We had our first week of being SICK, SICK and SICK. I am surprised we made it almost 15 months quite honestly. We were driving home on Wednesday ( the day of the week Gabe leaves for his shows) when I hear a choking baby in her car seat. She was throwing up, but her car seat isn't tilted up enough for her to get it out. SCARIEST MOMENT of mommyhood so far. I just pulled over, ran over to her door and yanked her out of her car seat, and let her just release on the side of the road. I felt so bad for the little thing....

BTW...Thanks to the sweet lady that pulled over to ask if Amara was okay, and if she needed me to call anyone! SO sweet!

Anyway, I had a sick/mopey baby for about 2 days, and then I woke up at 6:30 am with what I think was food poisoning. My mom, sister, and I all went to eat the night before with some friends, and all 3 of us woke up that morning throwing up. I literally could NOT move. I was getting sick every 30 mins. Somehow, my mom pulled it together and took care of all 3 of us. I was so grateful and I couldn't have done it without her. Amara had her energy back that day, and I just knew I wouldn't be able to keep up.
We have recovered from a rough week, but daddy comes home tomorrow!!! That is all these two girls could ask for. All things are made right when he is here... Mondays are our favorite!

We had a little time out today walking around Downtown Franklin with our friend Christy taking in the Christmas scenery.....perfect weather. How can I be okay with no jacket in December?? Kind of weird, but it was one less thing to have to wear. Baby is enough sometimes!

14 months...what!?!

I have completely fallen off of my monthly updates, and I am sorry to say that I think it will be a permanent fall. I can, however, manage to do a post every now and then ( every two months) haha!

I just wanted to do an update on the sweet baby girl who is just rocking our world right now. I am going to call her our "baby" as long as I possibly can, although, she is quickly making her way to Toddler-land. 

 After her first b-day ( pics HERE), it was like she all of a sudden felt grown up to me. I have a bad habit of rushing to the next milestone, but she always gets there and then I can't believe it has already come and gone!?!?! Ugh, I need to stop already. The gap between her taking her first step to her walking as fast as we do is all too short. I would say walking, eating "big girl" foods and taking our world by storm with her independence and opinions are the most drastic changes. I welcome them, but man oh man.....

The last two months have honestly been kind of a blur to me. Work is picking up for me ( new business ventures, current clients, etc.), we are adjusting to daddy's tour schedule, which seems to have no end in sight ;), and just everyday life tends to make my mind hazy. I am not going to lie, I have had some harder days now that Amara is more of a handful....( and I sometimes talk about wanting another one soon??? what!?!?!) Crazy, I know! My husband reminds me all of the time. Despite all of these things, there is not a day that goes by that I question Amara's purpose in our lives. I know for me personally, I am learning patience ( she walks slow/ I am always on a mission), I am learning to get stains out of EVERYTHING, I am definitely learning to be giving of my time, and trying to not be selfish with it     (when nap times don't go my way), Goldfish are my best friend ( shopping trips are a nightmare without them), trying to master the reprimanding without smiling or laughing....the list goes on! I am so thankful for the things God is teaching me through this little one! I couldn't be happier to be her mommy!

Photo disclaimer: I have not been very disciplined about using our camera, so most of these are phone shots...oops!

Happy 14 months "Boots"!

Breathe.....

I sometimes feel like I need to blog about a project or show noteworthy pictures, but then I realize that only 2 people read my blog....two of my besties and my blog was never intended to be a projects blog. So, today, I am just writing! I am in super good spirits because I woke up to a happy baby who went back down for her morning nap perfectly and the sun is shining. Forget that Amara spilled my freshly brewed cup of coffee all over the coffee table ( barely missing my laptop).... I just don't care!

Yesterday, daddy left and I was feeling a little un-optomistic about facing the day alone with a fussy baby, but that was YESTERDAY, and the Lord makes all things new in the morning huh? I feel like my head is in a MILLION places right now, and my memory is not serving me well these days! Yep, there babe, I said it! I actually had to go buy a little planner to sit on my kitchen counter so I would actually write stuff down, and it is there staring at me DAILY! Isn't she pretty....

 I just need to make better uses of my time and organize myself a little better. We are moving Amara's room into a larger room in our house, trying to set myself up an office ( I am desperate!!), Gabe is traveling a lot, I have a Thanksgiving dinner to host (gladly), a meeting here, a flu shot there, a dog that needs grooming...the list goes on. My list is no different than the next person's, however, I bet the next person can remember their child's flu shot before the morning of :)

All this to say, I just need to focus on one thing at a time instead of trying to create perfection in my everyday! It just isn't possible! I am really trying to learn to let go of the dusty baseboards and blinds, and tell myself that that doesn't have to be taken care of TODAY. A lot of times, I get overwhelmed and then I just shut down and don't do ANYTHING. Not. good.

So, today is my fresh start. I believe there is a balance in managing time better to accomplish more, but not killing myself over every little thing that didn't get done that day. Happy Friday everyone!! Do what makes you happy this weekend so that when Monday rolls around, you feel accomplished AND relaxed!

My most relaxing moment of the day.....mornings with my little love! I cherish them!

Life lately according to MY Iphone.....

I see this post topic on lots of blogs that I love to read, and I thought it might be fun to add it to my blog as well. Not trying to copy, but there is a lot I DON'T post on my Instagram :) Who doesn't love pictures anyway....right?

Happy Monday you guys!!.....It is cooooold, and I don't know if I am totally ready for winter other than in my fashion life ;)

   

DIY elastic hairbands......oooor PASTA!!!

  I love the little elastic hair ties that you see EVERYWHERE, and I will admit, I purchased them when they first came out! However, I am much more conscious with my pennies now, and I look back at how ridiculously priced they are!!!

  I found this website, via Pinterest ( my BFF), and decided to order my own elastic so that I could get much more for my buck! My daughter has quite the head of hair, and these elastic headbands are perfect for her! They stay on, don't cause any "owies" and come in EVERY fun color you can imagine! When I received my package in the mail, I just kept wanting to toss them up in the air and letting them all fall down over me like confetti. You know what? Maybe I did do that......several times.... what?!

  Everyone's measurements will be different depending on the size of the lucky head that gets to wear them. Amara has quite a large head ( daddy), so I just wrapped the elastic around her head and then added about 2 inches for my knot and little tail that hangs at the end. For the hair ties, I like them to wrap around my hair 3 times, I measured from the tip of my middle finger to my palm and added an inch, and it seemed just right for me! I even made little mini ones for Baby A, and some for a BFF of mine!

  I spent about 10 dollars for about 14 yards of elastic people!! Shipping was around 6 for me, but even so.... $16 bucks for 14 headbands, and around 16 hair ties is much better than a pack of 2 headbands at Target for $5 bucks or 5 hair ties for $7.50. I don't want to freak out every time one gets lost, cause THEY WILL GET LOST!

  The best part of it all is when I was in the middle of the project, I tossed the elastic into a mixing bowl and let Amara stir to her little heart's content! She is really into that right now! Throw some little wooden balls in there ( from another toy of hers) and you have some spaghetti and meatballs! It literally occupied her the entire time that I cooked dinner that evening! I have some scraps leftover that I plan to add strips of ribbon to so that we can have that as a constant toy for now!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you all enjoy your weekend!!! :)

Autumn

I used to be a Summer lover, yes, even in humid TN, but I think Fall has stolen my heart! Sorry Summer....it was fun while it lasted. Not only do I love the not sweating while hauling around an antsy 1 year old part, but this time last year, we were adjusting to life with a newborn. Gabe was home the most he has ever been during our marriage, and I was falling madly in love for the second time in my life! This season just holds such a special place in my heart now, and it is full of so many fun festivities! Getting your first hot pumpkin spice latte from "Starbizzles" as my husband likes to say, going to pick out pumpkins, baking pumpkin bread for the, making turkey chili and throwing on a scarf with leggings and my brown boots! I look forward to it all! It is so much fun this year because Amara is starting to understand more and find fun in things! We are so blessed beyond comprehension, and although we are missing daddy a lot this season due to his traveling ways, we are making the most of our time together as a family! Hope everyone is enjoying this time of year and appreciating where God has you at the moment! I know I am doing my best!!

(Below) A little fall decor for the abode...