Monday, November 14, 2016

Holiday Jammie Guide

Those of you that know me should not be one bit surprised that this post exists. Christmas pajamas are the light of my life, the moon to my stars, the sunshine on my cloudy day. I seriously just love them so much. Every year since having kiddos, I basically start hunting for Christmas pajamas in, oh you know, September. I will confess that my boys have already worn them this year, because as long as I don't try to overshadow Halloween it's not a problem, right!? I have rounded up the CUTEST little styles below. There are endless options out there, but all of these are my absolute favorites from my tried and true locations for all things fashion for my kiddos.





1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

What are your favorite places to shop for jammies for your kiddos? I am always on the hunt for the best spots and would love to hear your go-to places!


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Wednesday, November 9, 2016

What I Wore

I am sharing a little peek into my closet lately for 'What I Wore Wednesday' today! I have been loving all of the fall fashions, and really can't get enough of all of the burgundy and army green things. Some pieces are old, but most of these items can still be found online, check out the links to shop for yourself!

 
Dress // Scarf (similar)
  
Jacket (old, similar here) // Dress
 
Cardigan // Tee // Pants // Booties (similar)
 
   
  



Linking up with The Pleated Poppy and What's Hap-pinning today!

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Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Lincoln: 6 Months

Six months. Half of a year has absolutely flown by. I cannot believe our little boy has been with us for so long already, and yet I think back to last spring and how completely different our lives were and it seems like an eternity. In May when he entered this world, I had a different job, we lived with my in-laws, our house was but a frame being laid in the dirt, and Jackson had not yet started daycare. Life has changed so much, and for the most part, they have all been wonderful changes. I can only imagine how much sweeter life will continue to get in the next six months as our baby continues to grow, learn, and develop the precious little personality that is so very Lincoln.
 
Age: Six months
Height: 29 inches. 100th percentile. Huge.
Weight: 23 pounds. Still sitting right around that 100th percentile. He slowed a bit though, as he only gained one pound this month ;-) He is wearing 12 month clothing, and all new items I have been purchasing are 12-18 months, which are pretty roomy but he can pull them off (the outfit above is 12-18 months we just cuff the sleeves once). He is wearing size 4 diapers, he still fits into 3s but the 4s are much better for overnights and preventing him soaking through. He wears a size 3 shoe, but he really never actually wears shoes because he kicks them off and mama is afraid of losing them :-)
Milestones: He has truly changed SO much this month! I don't know if I have much for particular 'milestones', but overall we have just seen a HUGE shift in his temperament. He is finally content being held, at least some of the time, while we are sitting down. Up until the past few weeks, he basically demanded we walk around and bounce him a huge chunk of the time, which was wearing on everyone. He is screeching, babbling, and makes so many precious little sounds all of the time. He is still drooling up a storm. We are talking going through 5-6 bibs a day because they are totally soaked within about two hours. He is starting to enjoy Jackson a bit more ;-) They have started noticing each other in the backseat, and have started giggling back and forth. I literally cannot handle it, I have pulled over just to watch them jabber in my rearview mirror.
Sleep: He is still by no means a good sleeper, but we are seeing some progress. I recently purchased some of sleep sacks, and am totally a new believer. He rolls over in his sleep all of the time now, and while it makes me nervous, we have discussed that what is best for everyone is probably him learning to stay asleep on his stomach at this point. He is strong and mobile, and he tends to flip over and then wake up hysterical. So, if he is going to flip anyway it makes the most sense for him to learn to put himself back to sleep. However, we have always covered him with a light blanket, and with his new acrobatic moves that was just not happening anymore. He is so clearly cozy in the sleep sacks, they are warm and snuggly, and he seems to have become better with him sleep in the week since we started using it at bedtime.
We have finally started putting him to sleep in his crib again. With Jackson being next door, and a whole other battle at bedtime, it was too tricky trying to put Lincoln upstairs, because usually just as we would get him down, Jackson would make enough noise to wake him right back up. Jackson is finally at least somewhat putting himself to sleep (PRAISE!) so we braved the new bedtime routine with Lincoln, who is seriously just about at maximum capacity in his bassinet. While he hasn't slept through the night, we have had nights where he woke once and then stayed in his room the rest of the night! I am doing my best to be consistent and keep him in there as much as possible. Maybe this will be the month we finally get a full night of sleep! (if my children could read I am sure they would laugh with an evil glint in their eye at what I just said)
Best Moments: My absolute favorite moment this month has come at bedtime. With his fussiness and general upset behavior, even when holding him until he falls asleep it was always away from my body, in whatever position managed to get him to calm down. I say this what a truly heavy heart and not one bit lightly-I had never cuddled my baby. Sure, I held him all the time, he sleeps in our bed some of the time, but holding him to my chest, listening to him breathe, rocking him while his little body relaxed against mine? I do not exaggerate when I say this is something we had never experienced. And we finally had a breakthrough this past week. I was rocking him in his room and nursing him, and he fell asleep. Usually at this point I am terrified to touch or move him, and as quickly as possible get him into his crib or bassinet and cross my fingers he stays asleep. Instead, I decided to be a little risky and lifted him up onto my chest. And he snuggled right in and kept sleeping like a precious angel. I did not want to move. I sat there and savored every sweet second. And I am now finally looking forward to bedtime and those cuddles. I write this in tears in my eyes because while I have always loved my sweet boy, it has been as if there was a wall up that prevented us from ever 100% connecting. I truly cannot put into words how full my heart is having finally held my baby in my arms, content, full of love, and happy. I hope this is a corner we have fully turned, because I am loving these new moments with him.
Worst Moments: This really has been a good month, I can't think of too many 'bad' moments. He does have a cold though, so listening to his mucous coughs has not been very much fun. For whatever reason he has also been spitting up more it seems, so that always has us a bit on edge.
Health: Poor little guy has had quite the cold this month. With it has come a pretty icky cough, and some wheezy breathing. He has been pretty happy despite his cold, though! I am hoping it resolves soon because there is nothing worse than listening to your poor baby wheeze.
Eating: For whatever reason, he has really decided he does not like baby food. He outright refuses to eat fruits, especially peaches and apples. He will eat things like squash and sweet potato, but he grows tired of them quickly and then the pursed lips come out. He is at an age where I don't worry about this too much, as his nutrition still primarily comes from breast milk. However, he gets so excited when he sees food and even lunges at it, so his refusal to eat is frustrating. I am leaning towards baby led weaning at this point, even though my knowledge on it is pretty limited. I purchased this great little piece on Amazon, and it has been helping! I put in things like strawberries and bananas, and am thinking I might try out some veggies like steamed peas and carrots soon. I had similar items with Jackson but the piece for baby to chew on was mesh, and one use of bananas and I swear it was never clean again. This piece is great because it is similar to the nipple on a bottle, and it washes out with such ease! Bonus points that it comes with a little lid, so I can throw in some fruit, clip on the lid, and have it on hand if we are out and about and baby gets fussy! This weekend I even threw in some beef and macaroni casserole, and his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree after you had a taste. Every time I would take it away he practically lunged to get it back. I am thrilled that real food did not disappoint!
Teeth: No teeth yet! I am kind of hoping he gets them soon, as I recall with Jackson once those bottom teeth broke through the drooling really slowed down. My poor mother is growing pretty tired of washing 4-5 bibs a day at her house, we can barely keep up!
Likes: Giggling, the baby channel, going for walks, talking to himself, laughing at his brother, going for car rides (seriously a 180 from a few months ago, he LOVES the car!), tasting real food, gnawing on apples, being tickled, his jumparoo, his sleep sack, being thrown up in the air, when mama hugs him and goes 'squish squish squish!', when grandma says she's gonna 'get you!', watching grandma's puppy, chewing on anything and everything, grabbing things (he has great hand eye coordination).
Dislikes: When his brother sits on him, when his brother pushes his head down, basically whenever his brother tries to touch him ;-) He is not a fan of pretty much any pureed fruits (but give him all the strawberries!). He really does not like being on his tummy for long. He hates whenever mom isn't directly in his line of vision. Still not a huge fan of bathtime, but it is also not quite the end of the universe as it once was.

We love you more than words can say, sweet boy. Every day with you we learn new things, both about you, about ourselves, and about the world surrounding us. You constantly are keeping us on our toes, and I can't imagine that changing now as you grow more mobile and capable of doing things for yourself.




Monday, November 7, 2016

Weekending



I'm usually not the best at recapping our weekends, but ya know, today I figured why not since my children heard it was daylights savings yesterday and decided to wake up to celebrate at 4:15am today. I would totally escape early to work and just sleep at my desk but wouldn't you know daycare doesn't take kids at 5am. So I figured I may as well recap our weekend, because it really was a good one! Also, before diving into our weekend I recapped 20 items under $25 at the Nordstrom Fall Clearance Event yesterday. Read here to check it out-lots of cute items, great accessories, and some fun gift ideas!
Friday I worked all day, and we did a low key night at home. Is it sad that I already can't remember what we had for dinner? I just wracked my brain and I can't recall if it was soup or something else. I blame sleep deprivation ;-) Aside from our clearly forgettable dinner, I did a major happy dance because our Christmas tree arrived! In two HUGE boxes. If that is any indication of how big this tree is going to be. #soexcited I haven't even opened them yet, at this point we figured we might as well just wait until the day after Thanksgiving, but I will say that shipping was SO fast, like I think I had it within three days of ordering. We got it from Sam's Club, and so far I am super impressed.
 
After dinner, my brother and sister-in-law stopped by. Laura and I have actually been friends since high school, and were on dance team together. We actually both hung out with each other before either of us started dating our husbands. I have said it many times, but I am always kind of amazed that of everyone out there, I was lucky enough for her to be my sister in law. And there was no matchmaking involved. Total chance that we both chose Stang boys!
On Saturday, we hit the road early to go into town. Quite often once mid-morning hits on a weekend, the kids are antsy and we are ready to get out. We went to Hobby Lobby and walked out empty handed. There is so much good stuff, I honestly don't know how to narrow down what I want to buy. We then went to Target, and this book was immediately thrown into the cart when we saw it. Moms of little boys, the Little Blue Truck books are awesome, and this one has a tree on the last page that LIGHTS UP when you open to it. We were going to wait to give it to Jackson until closer to Christmas, but I will honestly be surprised if there are any gifts under the tree Christmas morning because we have no self control and get so excited to give him things ;-)

We then swung by to visit my in-laws for a bit. Jackson got to run around outside in the amazing warm weather we have been having, and I got to catch up with my mother and sister in law. I snapped the picture below of Lincoln, and then set it beside a picture of Jackson wearing the same outfit. They definitely have some features where I can tell they are brothers, but most of the time I am just amazed how different they look!
Once we got home, I assessed my amazing finds from the Target dollar spot. You guys, all of the Christmas things. I got some garland for our fireplace, red glitter coasters, and the most perfect coffee mug I have ever laid my eyes upon. And for only $3!? Yes please!

While the boys napped, I decided to go on my first run since going back to work. I was really good about working out during maternity leave, but once I went back to work it's like there just aren't enough hours in the day. But I was able to complete my normal loop and I felt really proud of myself. And today my quads and hamstrings are in major pain. Worth it :-)
Saturday night Jackson had a pizza night with dad and I took Lincoln to dinner with my mom and sister who are 'hunting widows' this weekend . Jackson was happy to see me go, and as I went to the door rather than chasing after me, he just smiled and said 'BUHHH BYE!' It was nice to escape and have some girl time (plus Lincoln). It is so nice to have him finally outgrowing his 'fussy stage' and really become more fun to take places!
On Sunday, thanks to daylights savings we were all up by 5am, but at least we had PLENTY of time to get ready for family pictures. My dear friend Amanda was a shadow photographer at our wedding, and since then has taken pretty much all of our family photos. Fun note, we were going to try to just take a few Christmas card shots on our own this year, and we got about five minutes in and Mike is the one who said "can you just call Amanda"? And every time I am so glad I did. Our boys are not at an easy stage to capture, but she sent me a few previews yesterday and I am just swooning. So thankful we have her to capture this sweet (and tiring) season of our life. I'll leave you all off with a little preview of my biggest little love :-)
Linking up with Biana today!

Sunday, November 6, 2016

20 under $25: The Nordstrom Fall Sale!

I know we all love to talk about the big Nordstrom fall preview sale that happens every summer, but really, Nordstrom has so many awesome sales throughout the year. Right now, their fall clearance event is happening, and there are so many items at such amazing price points, it makes it hard to click away from the website without making a purchase or two ;-) With the holiday season upon us (!!!!) I rounded up twenty items under $2. These items are great accessories or basic pieces for you, and also would serve as amazing stocking stuffers or gifts for friends, coworkers, or exchanges! Happy shopping!

Clothing
I am in love with the delicate detailing on this floral top and think it would pair perfectly under a cardigan or jacket. This cardigan is on MAJOR markdown at 65% off, and is the perfect cozy color and fit. I am loving this witty print tee, and think it is the perfect tee for those days where you are just over everything ;-) Love the color on this basic tee, perfect for the holidays. And when short sleeves are what you're looking for, I love that this style is jersey, which is just the most comfortable fabric ever. The cross front and cutout back detailing on this tee are so fun, and it is still available in a few colors. With holiday parties, winter weddings, and new years coming up, a fun pair of tights is a must have for sprucing up any outfit. This tunic is nice and long, and comes in so many great colors. I just cannot get enough of quality, comfy basics like this. This sheer trim top is so so pretty, my favorite is the pearl gray color.

Home And Accessories
This bar pendant is a great staple piece, and can I just say how in love I am with the fact that gold accessories are totally back in style!?
My all time favorite tassel necklace is selling out fast, and is a MUST have. You can't beat the price or quality of it. I love the colors on this check scarf and personally cannot have enough scarves in my closet! Another absolute STEAL, these stud earrings come in a pack of four for less than ten dollars, and look ridiculously similar to the designer version that came out last year!
Not much can change a look more quickly than the addition of a fun headband, and I love the fall touches that this one offers. A cozy throw is an absolute must during the chilly winter months, and this one is so pretty. I think this Fondue Set would make such a fun and unique gift, perfect for friends or family that may have a new house! Seriously it is SO cute! On the subject of cute gifts, how adorable is this cutting board!? Because cheese totally deserves some special attention in my  book. Nearly identical to last year's popular version, this Infinity Scarf comes in such pretty, holiday inspired colors. No phone is complete without a cute case and this one is just perfection on so many levels. This pretty ring is a fun accessory. I am trying to start wear rings a bit more and think this one is great! If you are looking for a new bag, this reversible tote fits the bill and is a great piece.






Items are seriously going FAST, a lot of items I had in my basket and went back for are already gone. Get a jump start on that Christmas shopping, or treat yourself to some of these great deals for your closet!



Friday, November 4, 2016

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday, and HAPPY NOVEMBER! I know it's already four days in, but I am so so excited, because November means that people can not shame me for doing all of the Christmas things! I am already totally in planning mode for the holidays this year, and cannot wait to start enjoying all of the things that go along with my favorite months of the year!




1. All things apple
Last weekend we took Jackson to the pumpkin patch. We were going to go to another place in town, but it charged for entry because of all of the activities, and with where Jackson is at, we knew all he needed was a pile of pumpkins and he would be happy. Sure enough, he about died of excitement seeing all of the pumpkins and going on a wagon ride through the patch. Sweet boy. In the little shop, despite us being there for pumpkins, I took advantage of the apple orchard onsite and bought a few things. I love pumpkin spice, but at the end of the day my heart lies with apples. Apple cinnamon everything, please! I grabbed some apple cinnamon applesauce for Jackson, because lately he is obsessed with applesauce and will eat bowls of it! I also grabbed some apple butter and it is so delicious on toast!
I enjoy different aspects of all seasons, but I truly don't think anything can top the scents, foods, and flavors that go along with fall!


2. Gap Family and Friends
It is that wonderful time of year again. The Gap family and friends sale is happening! It gets you 40% off everything online plus free shipping, and 50% off regular priced items in stores! For those of you that have a Gap Factory, it applies there as well! I hit up our factory store all.the.time. for the boys, with this discount on top of their already discounted prices I swear I walk away with things practically for free! I plan to purchase their clothing for the Holidays this weekend. I totally have my eyes on this dress, this cozy tee, and how perfect is the color on this beanie!? For the kiddos, I purchased these jackets for both of my boys. We need warmth during our winters (because Minnesota), but the bulky jackets are so hard to handle in carseats. These prima-loft jackets are SO warm and cozy, but the material compresses and makes buckling into carseats super easy. For any of you with kiddos who struggle with the jacket/carseat issue, these are seriously amazing! I also am thinking Jackson needs these jammies, I cannot get over how cute they are, and they can survive beyond the holidays while still being seasonal and fun :-) And because we can't forget Lincoln, how adorable is this little one piece sweater!? I love nothing more than a baby in a romper, and you better believe it is just about the only thing I put my boys in for as long as I can manage. Use code FFCARD or GAPWOW to receive the discount and free shipping!


3. Christmas tree
I ordered our new Christmas tree this week! We have two-story ceilings, and decided we just couldn't do anything less than a 12 foot tree. Go big or go home, right? I am already kind of dreading decorating it, because it will require a ladder, but am also SO looking forward to seeing the look on Jackson's face the first time he comes down the stairs in the morning to see it all lit up! I did quite a bit of research, those tall trees are expensive. Once you get taller than 9 feet it seems like prices just skyrocket. We knew we wouldn't be buying a super affordable item, but I also didn't want to fork over a thousand dollars. I found this one at Sam's Club online, and based on reviews, as well as the fact that it comes with a nice storage case and remote control for turning the tree on and off, decided to pull the trigger. ALSO, apparently the branches are a memory material, meaning limited fluffing and reshaping every year when it is pulled out of storage. I cannot wait to see it in person-hopefully it lives up to our expectations!


4. Necklace
I recently purchased this necklace, and have gotten tons of compliments and am so pleased with it. I was so happy with the price when I purchased it and it is totally worth it, but I just was that it is marked down under $10 right now! You guys-RUN and buy one in every single color. I know I am! I absolutely promise you will love love love it. BP wins me over a little more with every item I purchase from them.


5. Stripe Tee
I am hardly the first person to jump on this bandwagon, but rolling with BP, I ordered this top this week and am in love with it! As a tall girl, I am always on the hunt for length in both the body and sleeves of tops, and this one fits the bill. In fact, I purchased and returned a similar top last year from another retailer because it just didn't fit quite right, and have been on the hunt ever since. I love the crew cut of the neckline, and am already so excited for all the fun ways I can pair this style throughout the fall and winter! And I may be a solid 8 months away from this, but how cute with jean shorts and a baseball hat in the summer!? Too soon?..


I hope you all have an incredible weekend, and enjoy the official start of the holiday season! Or a shopping weekend while your hunters are away :-)



Thursday, November 3, 2016

Lincoln's Baptism








A few weeks ago, we finally got around to Lincoln's baptism. We did it a bit later for him, with our move, getting settled in the new house, and the overall craziness of this summer, it made more sense to wait than try and squeeze it in. Also, we were so eager to finally host a celebration in our own home. We used Lincoln's baptism as the opportunity to have guests in our home for the first time!

We spent the whole day prepping food and cleaning. Mike's brother has a smoker, and has become somewhat obsessed with it ;-) Mike found a pulled pork recipe, and they were up and starting that process before the sun rose. He also made a homemade barbeque sauce. Those men and their smoked meats. Seriously, such a process!

 
As I have mentioned a time or two (or ten), Lincoln is not the easiest of babies. So, to be honest I was a bit anxious about the baptism and service leading up to it. We have not been to church with the kids since he was born. Jackson is at a wild man age, and Lincoln basically refuses to sit, so we are just too nervous to even attempt it. Surprisingly though, they both made it through the service relatively well! We had to get up with both of them because they got antsy about halfway through, but it wasn't a total trainwreck, so I chalk it up to a win!

The baptism was held after the service, and again, I was a little anxious. Lincoln SCREAMS whenever I get his head wet during bath time, so I figured having water poured over him wouldn't be his favorite thing. And wouldn't you know, he didn't make a peep through the whole process! I got a couple of questionable looks out of him, but he stayed calm and I was so surprised. We prayed over him, he was blessed with oils (which smell just so amazing), and welcomed into the church. It is always such a special experience to take that step and have your child baptized. It is a blessing to know someone greater and more powerful than me will always be watching over my children!
 




After the ceremony, we bolted home to get the food set up. My brother and sister in law were so helpful and were preparing and setting things out while we were at church, so things were nearly all set up. I ordered cupcakes from my favorite local bakery, and a small cake for Lincoln. The rest of the menu included cheesy hashbrowns, a veggie tray, veggie salad, banana pudding, and fresh fruit. I will give Mike credit where credit is due, and say that the pulled pork was AMAZING. Totally worth the time and energy they put into it. It was seriously delicious.


 


For the adults, I made a caramel apple sangria, and it was super yummy! I will be sharing the recipe here on the blog soon :-)


Overall, the night went so well, our one setback we ran into was not having enough seating! In the process of moving, we just didn't quite think to buy extra folding chairs and tables, so even with our table and large sectional for people to eat on, people ended up sitting on the floor (bad hostess!) Needless to say, those items have been added to our need to buy list!

We are so thankful and blessed to have such amazing family that came out to celebrate our sweet boy, and we are so happy to have finally had him baptized. We all love you, sweet Lincoln!
 
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