Life Lately [Linkup]

Hey ladies, we are at another Tuesday which means it is time to link up for Talk About It Tuesday! Life is crazy busy with us lately, so a lately post is what I have going on today!

Life with two under two is no joke. Lincoln is not the easiest baby, and some days have been pretty tough. He is pretty vocal compared to Jackson, who seriously NEVER cried, and he wants to be held all the time. This is so sweet, but some days as a mama it is hard to have that when your first baby needs you, too. I am so grateful both sets of our parents are within minutes (or under the same roof!) during this phase of life, mostly because Jackson is getting precious attention from both sets of grandparents all of the time when I need to be tending to Lincoln.

One thing we have been about lately is time out on the deck. Jax loves to enjoy lunch outdoors, or help with the grilling at night!!

Me and my big guy snuck off for a mommy and me date last week and he enjoyed his first ice cream cone. I think this picture sums up his feelings about the experience.

We hit up our local unclaimed freight store to check out furniture, and ended up finding a near identical set to what we had selected in the furniture store ordered brand new for nearly $200 less than the sale price in store! Of course, the round spinning lounge chair was Jacksons favorite, and I can't say I blame him!

We spent our weekend playing at the water table and pool in the yard. Our water baby started swim lessons last week, and he LOVES the water. And this mama loves joining him in the perfectly heated pool ;-)

Aside from pool time, we have been crazy busy with the house. I'll have more of an update soon, but in the past 1-2 weeks Mike and his dad have been doing their work, meaning they are there at night and on weekends. It has been stressful and tiring for all of us, but it will be so worth it in 2 or so months when we are moving in! :-)

And, when babies miraculously nap simultaneously (or my mother in law is being an awesome grandma), I managed to whip up this caramel corn and these muffins this weekend. Nothing makes me day more than some solid time baking in the kitchen!

That's about it for us lately; building a house and surviving a growing family! It's crazy, but at the end of every day I know we are really so blessed! 

An InLinkz Link-up

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Lincoln's Newborn Photos

Once again, I have slacked in getting this post up. It is amazing, I can log in and check things from my phone, but sitting down at an actual laptop and uploading pictures, forget about it! Finally, after lots of battling of naps and half an hour before heading out the door for swim lessons, I managed to get these sweet pictures put into a post. I already look at these pictures and can't believe how chubby his little cheeks have gotten since these were taken. My dear friend Amanda took these and once again, I could not be happier. She does such a fantastic job, is easy to work with, and really captures authentic moments, which I love. There is little to no posing with Amanda, she just clicks her camera, and BOOM magic. For those of you who live in Minnesota, I highly recommend checking her out!

I love love all of these, but the brother shots are my absolute favorite. They capture so well the reality of their relationship at this point in time; Lincoln sleeping, and Jackson excitedly kissing his head while panting like a dog. I am not joking, if you hear Jackson suddenly quicken his breathing with a devilish grin on his face, you know that he is coming in for kisses, and you better brace yourself (and Lincoln!)  It is so special to have these little memories in photo, and I hope I always remember these precious moments.

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Confessions

I am linking up with Danielle for some confessions today, and as I continue to adjust to mommyhood of two little boys, I definitely have lots to say!

I confess...

My toddler finally woke up and ignored his new baby brother long enough to actually fall back asleep and slept until 7:30 and I nearly cried tears of joy.

Both children proceeded to be monsters that day so that hour to myself was probably the only thing that kept me from crying in a corner.

I am so excited and thankful to have the new house we are building, but some days I just want to stomp my feet like a little kid and demand to move in NOW. I really wouldn't mind sleeping on bare wood floors with sawdust. 

I need a day to myself. Bad. Just because I am on maternity leave doesn't mean I get to enjoy downtime. My mom is a gem and watches the kids long enough for me to run a few errands or squeeze in a run, and I am so thankful. But I need a solid 8 hours to emotionally check out and be selfish.

I am debating spending $34 on a t-shirt, for real. Ladies, do any of you have this one, and do you think it's worth it? So long, and reviews say it is so soft. I love me some t-shirts, and I am kind of over buying cheap every year.

I despise brushing Jackson's teeth. While Instrive to do it daily, in reality...I don't. 

I still haven't had an adult beverage since having Lincoln. I need one. Little men who eat at unpredictable times make it pretty darn difficult, though.

I turned on the Bachelorette Monday night, but ended up putting Jackson to bed. Mike watched the entire two hours, and again last night. I wanted to yell at him, because he watched, and ENJOYED a show I have been dying to watch, but you know..children.

I don't think I am going to hate going back to work at the end of my leave. Don't get me wrong, I don't want leave to end..but two kids under two is no joke. Some days I get jealous when my husband gets to leave and has a break throughout the day.

This is kind of a downer post. Probably due to being written on a difficult day with difficult kids and feeling blah.

I also confess that I really do like my life, I promise ;-)

One day until Friday, ladies!

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Wedding Guest Style [Linkup]

I have always been a huge sucker for dresses. I have been known to look for excuses to buy a dress. I found a dress once upon a time, and when it was marked down from $150 to $50, I basically bought it on impulse, and was able to rock it at my bachelorette party, as well as my bridal shower. Best money I ever spent. Anyway, I only have a few weddings on the docket for this wedding season, and already snagged the beauty below for my brother in laws wedding. The blue is sold out, but you can find other colors here.

 That doesn't stop me from looking at all the beauties out there though! Below are some of my favorites that I have stumbled across this summer.
1. I have said it before and I'll say it again, Old Navy has been killing it all year. This dress looks so light and airy, and is totally trendy with the Off the shoulder look for those hot summer days and outdoor weddings!

2. This dress is a great option to beat the heat while dressing things up a bit more. And how fabulous is that bright yellow and tie detail on front?!

3.Maxi dresses are a great option to wear as a wedding guest, and I am loving the high necklines that are in style lately. This option is both stunning and comfortable, which you cannot beat!

 4. I love love LOVE this BB Dakota dress. It is modest and perfect to wear to a church wedding, while still looking super fun and perfect for cutting it up on the dance floor later on.

5. If you are able to pull off something a bit sexier, this strapless dress is perfect and the most amazing color! Can you tell pink is my favorite color?! This one is currently on sale so snag it up! Throw a jacket or cardigan over the top for the ceremony, and ditch it for the reception for a fun, versatile look!

Don't forget to link up today for Talk About It Tuesday!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Lincoln: 1 Month

It seems like the more we think time can't possible go any faster, it does. We are already one month into life with Lincoln, and it has definitely been a change around here. Some days are challenging, but for the most part, having two little men around the house is wonderful. Quite opposite of when his brother was little(see Jackson's one month post here), Lincoln has a voice, and he will definitely let you know when he is not liking something. Once he gets what he was looking for, though, he is usually quick to return to his calm, sweet self. He is not the most content baby of all time, and I already have a strong gut feeling we will be babyproofing and dealing with mischief much earlier this second time around as parents. It has been amazing to see how, even at a few weeks old, you can really see the differences between your children. Of course, when you have a big brother who steals your pacifier, smacks you on the head, and attacks you with loving but vicious kisses, I would imagine you learn to be tough and resilient pretty quickly!

Age: one month

Height: 23 inches

Weight: 12ish pounds. This is from me stepping on the scale with him and then without, but I would say based on the readings he is solidly in the 12 pound range for sure!

Milestones: Staying awake for longer periods of time, making eye contact, and he has rolled over from tummy to back multiple times! Of course he isn't really doing this intentionally yet, but he is a strong little guy. He is constantly pulling his legs up beneath him during tummy time, and can hold his head up like a champ.

Sleep: He is not too bad in the sleeping department. We get three hour stretches some nights, some nights it is a little less. So far, our best night has been waking up to eat twice around midnight and 3am. Because of our living arrangement, he is in a bassinet in our room and will be until we move in about two months, and it doesn't take much crying from him to wake Jackson, so as a result Lincoln ends up nursing in bed with both of us falling asleep quite a bit. There are pros and cons to this, but I will say I feel like I am getting more sleep this way than with Jackson, who I always made an effort with to put back in his bassinet after feedings. I think doing things that way resulted in a LOT less sleep!

Best Moment: Seeing him smile! While he hasn't done it much, we have definitely seen a few real, authentic smiles, and they are just the sweetest. I cannot wait to see more of his gummy grin in the coming weeks.

Worst Moment: Honestly, we haven't had any terrible moments so far. Jackson is just the sweetest with Lincoln, but during moments of jealousy the poor baby has gotten a smack or two on top of the head. He is a champ at ignoring these attacks though, and usually just goes about his business of eating as if nothing even happened ;-)

Health: So far so good! At his two week checkup, everything from his growth to his healing from his circumcision looked great. He is eating, pooping, and doing baby things just like he is supposed to!

Eating: He loves to eat all day, every day! He got the hang of nursing pretty quickly, and this round has been a bit easier than it was with his older brother. Most specifically, his ability to nurse while laying down has been a lifesaver for this mama, because that makes it so much easier to wake up for feedings than when I have been forced to get up and move to a rocker in the past. His weight gain clearly shows he is getting plenty. He had his first bottle about a week ago, and ended up drinking down about 6 ounces like a champ! I was shocked when my mom told me!

Teeth: None, and let's keep it that way for a while!

Likes: Being held, his pacifier, eating, being warm, looking out the windows, being in motion, his bouncy chair, hanging in the Solly wrap with mom.

Dislikes: Being cold, bathtime, having his diaper changed, driving through roundabouts, when mom stops driving, being taken out of the Solly wrap, loud noises.

Mr. Lincoln, you are just the sweetest, and we are so glad to call you ours. Already it is hard to remember life before you, and we are so very excited to watch you grow!

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