Mommy & Me Time

Hubs is back in classes for the semester in the evenings and my little lady is off the boob so we have lots of Mommy and Me time to be out and about! She certainly misses her daddy and says "dada?" constantly throughout the day:)

I feel so lucky my family is in the area, we make an effort to get together with my mom at least once a week!

A rare picture of the two of us that hubs snapped before we left to see Nana!

Gymboree!

I was a bit hesitant to enroll after baby girl cried most of the trial class, but sure enough she has taken to it wonderfully and runs around with the biggest smile on her face - melts my heart! Living in a small space during the winter months with a VERY mobile (and into everything) baby is challenging but in addition to our scheduled class time we have "open gym" once a week which is just another chance to get out and have some fun:)

 Just Being Silly

One of the gazillion pics we take of ourselves daily:) Ms Peanut loves to "help" me put my makeup on by digging through my bag as we sit in front of my big full length mirror. She even has her own (clean) powder brush to put her "blush" on with. It keeps her busy while I get my face on and she has so much fun! It is a special little time that we share together.

The days are long but the years go by in a blink - I feel so lucky to be able to spend each day (despite how long or challenging) with my little girl.



"Eternal Want List"

My Sweet Hubs lovingly referred to my blog once as "an eternal want list". He has since changed his tune, but I figured with Valentines Day, My 30th (barf) Birthday, our Wedding Anniversary and Mothers Day all on the horizon I may as well put a few of those items out there :)

My favorite all time scents, wore them on my wedding day so they always make me happy!

 

new neutral flats, my current faves got destroyed on a slide at the playground! A crossbody for when I actually run out of the house sans baby girl and my diaper bag (rarely!) for appointments and meetings.

I have wanted one for as long as I can remember, then I got fat pregnant and have a little one wanting to rip anything off my neck, I am hoping ( praying) that she is finally beyond this and I can wear necklaces again! Please and Thank you:)

What items are on your "want" list these days?

Giving Back

I had the opportunity to volunteer last evening with my JL council at the Capital Area Food Bank here in DC. Let me tell you this place is incredible! Its a massive warehouse in the district where tons of donations come daily from local churches, community centers, grocery stores, you name it. As fast as the food comes in it goes out, to those in need, shelters, soup kitchens, elderly assistance programs, some is sold for $.19 per pound and even those damaged food items are offered for sale to local farms for animal feed - nothing goes to waste.

As I woke up this morning to snow on the ground I am reminded how many people don't have a warm place to sleep or food to eat and I hope that our efforts last evening helped just a tiny bit. 
I am never intentionally wasteful but I am going to make more of an effort to donate those food items that we wont use instead of just pitching them, seeing first hand the other side of those "donate canned goods" boxes was moving.

I am lucky and blessed for such a wonderful life and I must pay it forward:)

"Momiform"

To say I get dressed in cute boots or flats daily with a perfect blow out and makeup worthy of a night out would be a lie. Some days I do, depending on what we have going on, but some days I simply don't have time. A mom at gymboree confessed to me the other day that she stuck the ipad in the crib so she could get a shower, no judgement here, I can totally relate!

Lots of days involve lululemon pants and a lulu jacket with sneaks, a twistband, bbcream, blush, mascara and chapstick- how is that for keeping it real!

I worry people see me in gym clothes (at target) so often they think I neglect my child when in fact i haven't made it to the gym at all!

I know lulu is pricey, but here is where they totally won my loyalty....I wore all my lululemon pants through my ENTIRE PREGNANCY (all ** pounds of it!) and I am still wearing them and they don't look the slightest bit stretched out! So any item of clothing that can see me through an ordeal like pregnancy and beyond and still love me is good in my book!

A few newbies I need in the rotation....

  

 And Sometimes more than my lulu pants, I believe my crock pot shows me lots of love:)

Dinner from a pack of chicken, jar of salsa, pepper, onion & some spices?!?!?! I think its a keeper:)

Sippy Cups Should be for Chardonnay!!

Weaning is going smashingly well and baby girl is down to one feeding at night and should be totally done in three days (fingers crossed). I cannot lie when I tell you I cannot wait to have my bubbies back!

My little lady never took a bottle, ever! Making the transition to sippy a breeze, but goodness gracious I spend the entire day cleaning up milk off the floor after she lovingly heaves her sippy toward the dog!

I found a few sippy cup leashes I loved and this one from little bitty things is on its way..

( I am tracking its arrival religiously and may even hug the postman when it arrives - I am that desperate!)

I was told by everyone to be ready to try lots of cups, and everyone was right! It's a ridiculous Goldilocks situation, some have to be tilted to much, sometimes the straw won't reach, others the baby won't grip well- sheeshl

So far these are ones we are currently loving!...

This one stays cool up to six hours, perfect for car trips or day outings

Weighted Straw is Key!

OK for everyday use in the house, it does leak a tiny bit at times

Any other brands we need to try please send them my way:)

Valentines Day 2013

Valentines Day 2013 

I always woke up on Valentines Day Morning to a gift bag or bucket full of sweets and sweet little gifts from Mom & Dad. Last year baby girl was a month to the day, so this year seems like her first! I am hoping to put together a little something sweet for her to carry on the tradition:) I love lots of these little items for each member of our little clan.

Miss Peanut Turns 1!!!

What a whirlwind weekend it was! Her party was so much fun and we celebrated her actual birthday on Monday with lunch and dinner out :) 

Without further adieu ...

This was my easel from childhood, hubs and I sanded, painted in and slapped a new coat of chalkboard paint on it 

for future arts and crafts time with our lil' lady

I made Chocolate beer cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and vanilla buttercream cupcakes, 

along with white chocolate fudge and marshmallow pops- whew!

These are sugar paste flowers from our wedding cake! 

They can last 30+ years and we thought what a cool idea so I put them on her cake:)

Proud Parents

found the highchair on craigslist, sanded, painted it and loved it! Hopefully she will use it with her baby dolls

I made everything for her party with the exception of two free printables!

Tent Cards 

Water bottle labels & favor tags