Friday Favorites

It is Friday again and I can't believe how fast this week has gone. I guess time flies when you are up to your neck in diapers, bottles, formula and Baby Einstein...but then, the days drag on.

What's that saying? The days are long but the years are short?! Too true.

Just this week Facebook reminded me that I moved into my freshman year dorm this week NINE years ago. How is that possible?!

I mean, this is still in style, right?

Me and the Rooms... Sorry, Katie! Love you!

There are a few things I have been loving this past week...Especially these shirts! They are just simple tees that are super comfy and last week when I bought them at Target they were on sale for $6 and $7 depending on the style.

I also have been loving this outfit I wore for my sister's bridal shower this past weekend. I am still not back to that "pre-baby" body (for the past two years..ugh lol) so I didn't want to purchase a dress that I might not wear more than once. I have had great luck with Rent the Runway and so I decided to give it a try again. 

My shoes are from Target! Check them out here.

This is the Like Candy Dress by Monique Lhuillier. You can currently rent it for $30 and it retails for $498 according to the website. I love this dress because the sleeves cover your not-so-toned arms, flares out to cover your belly pooch, the color is gorgeous and the lace adds a touch of elegance. It is thickly lined so you don't have to worry about anything peeking through. I also wore the blue version of this dress to a wedding in February this year when I was about 20 weeks pregnant and it worked out perfectly. 

What is great about Rent the Runway is the customer reviews where you can read what others have experienced with the item you are looking at and they can tell you if it runs true to size, larger, or smaller that normal. Also, RTR allows you to order a back up size, just in case. It is great if you are between two sizes or you aren't familiar with the brand's sizing. They ship it to you in this neat garment bag and include everything in there for you to return after your event. 

If anyone has an upcoming event - wedding, shower, company party, birthday party, bachelorette party, etc. - check out Rent the Runway. If you use this link, you can get $30 off your first rental! Score!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Ben's One Month Update

Weight: 10.5 lbs

Length: I'm going to guess 21 inches. he is so squirmy!

Diaper Size: Size One Diapers

Clothing Size: A few newborn but mostly 3 month clothes

Nicknames: Tiny, Benny Boo, Ben

Health: He is doing well! When Ben was born, they were concerned with his Bilirueben levels and we had to make 4 trips to the doctor's office to get blood drawn and weight measurements. Thankfully the levels never got high enough to be considered jaundice and we didn't have to use specialized lights.

Sleep: Ben sleeps a lot during the day, and usually wakes up at 1:00 AM, 4:00 AM, and then 7:00 AM. David takes the 1:00 AM feeding and I take the 4:00 AM feeding. Unfortunately, that is the time Ben likes to be awake and after his bottle, he usually gets the hiccups. I don't get to go back to sleep until around 5:30 AM--If I'm lucky. 

Diet: Formula. We nursed for the first four days and that was quite enough for me. I know a lot of people say "breast is best" and I agree, but formula is best for our family. With an extremely mobile 13 month old that does not yet know how to obey, nursing and/or pumping was going to be almost impossible. 

Loves: being held and cuddling, eating, and he does very well in his car seat

Dislikes: tummy time, sleeping at 4:00 AM!

Other Random Things:  Ben took his first road trip at two weeks old! We went to Belton/Salado for cousin Natalie's wedding and he was a champ on the road. Mom and Dad survived sleeping in a hotel room with two kiddos for one night. Luke had a sleepover with BeBe and Grandpa one night ;)

Luke has seemed to warm up to Ben a little bit. When Ben is in his bouncy seat or on the floor, Luke will walk over and gently touch (poke) him and then walk away. 

My two precious boys!

Friday Favorites

I love Fridays! David has half Fridays so he always picks up lunch on his way home and I have an extra set of hands to help out with the boys.

This week, I have be LOVING my dry shampoo. Silly, I know. I have tried many dry shampoos but this one is my tried and true. For the longest time, I was always one of those people that HAD to wash my hair every day, but since discovering this dry shampoo, I can easily go two days without washing or even three like today ;). It is a little pricey compared to others, but it is totally worth it.

Y'all. I have not set foot into a Walmart in years. I just don't shop at Walmart. Call me a snob or whatever, but since I heard about Walmart Grocery Pickup, I have been using it every week. It is a godsend when you are 9 months pregnant and have a 12 month old. It is even more of a godsend when you have two little ones. You just go online and put any and all groceries you want in your cart, schedule a pick up time (usually next day), and pay for it. Usually 15 minutes before your designated pick up time, you get a call from Walmart saying your order is ready and they ask for a 15 minute notice when you are on your way. You just park in one of the reserved spots and give them a call to let them know you are there. They bring out your stuff, load it in your car, and you are on your way. SO wonderful. Oh, and did I mention it is free? Yeah.

I'm sure it varies from location to location, but I have NEVER had an issue with any produce that they pick out for me. I've gotten bananas, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, avocados, zucchini, sweet potatoes, etc and they have all been exactly what I would have picked out. Love Love Love.

My Fitbit Alta. I had the Fitbit Flex for the longest time and I just grew tired of it. I recently got the Fitbit Alta and I love it! It has little reminders throughout the day that you can set that will remind you and motivate you to get up and move if you haven't taken 250 steps that hour. It doesn't have the heart rate monitor that some of the other ones feature, but I didn't really care about that. I wanted something that looked sleek and would motivate me to keep moving. Since I can't really work out just yet until I'm cleared with the doctor, I am just trying to stay active around the house with two little boys. If anyone else has a Fitbit, add me to your friends (jordan meline). I need more people to compete with!

Last but not least, I am SO excited the Olympics are here! David and I watched the first Women's USA soccer game the other night and will likely be glued to the TV for the Opening Ceremonies tonight. Some of my favorite events include women's gymnastics (I always wanted to be a gymnast growing up!), swimming, diving, and beach volleyball.

I'm 99% Real Today

Some days, it is the little things that keep you feeling human.

Last night, Ben decided to be wide awake from 2:30 AM to 4:30 AM. It took him over an hour to drink one ounce from his bottle.

Needless to say, Mama needed a little something extra to get me through this Hump Day. Since I can't go get my normal pick-me-up of my grande ice caramel macciato from my beloved Starbs - gotta get back in that pre-baby bod somehow - glamming it up was the next best thing.

I have been experimenting with fake lashes lately. I would love to get lash extensions but A) they are crazy expensive to maintain and B) ain't nobody got time for that. I've had them before and they were so convenient and glamorous but going in every two to four weeks for touch ups is just not realistic for me at the moment.

On days like this when Luke is content watching Baby Einstien in the Pack 'N Play and Ben is asleep in his rocker, I try to take the time to practice putting on lashes. It doesn't always end in success, but I seem to be able to pop them on a little faster every time. My biggest issue is getting the ends of the lashes to stay all day long. When I am out and about, I feel like I have to check myself every few minutes just to make sure they are still on!

The Ardell Lashes 105 is what I am currently wearing, but I think I like the Ardell Demi Wispies better. As a splurge, I bought the Velour Fluff'n Thick Silk Lashes in Fluff'n Edgy. They are "high volume and dramatic style". I really like these lashes because they have a black band instead of a white/clear one that you can see once they are in place on your eyes. It is like having a built in eyeliner... although since I am still a beginner, I still put eyeliner on too! :)

What is your favorite way to up the glam? 

Life Lately...

I have been WAY behind on my blogging and so many things have happened in the past few months. Here's a little recap of our lives lately...

Luke turned ONE! We had a big birthday party for him and we had a great time. A word of caution though: Anyone who is trying to plan a one year old's birthday party nine months pregnant, it is exhausting! Our sweet boy is officially a toddler. He is going non-stop and keeps us on our toes and laughing constantly. The most recent thing he has discovered is his nose, and nostrils specifically. He is ALL BOY.

My sister, Tara, got engaged! We are so excited to be welcoming Logan into this crazy, mostly estrogen-filled, family! It has been so fun planning another wedding, especially because its not mine! :)

The first dress she tried on, we knew it was THE ONE. It is stunning on her and we were all so honored to be there with her on such a special day. Mariah was even able to skype from Zambia! :)

We welcomed our precious second son, Benjamin Walker to the world on July 8. I am planning on posting his whole birth story later on, but it was a completely different experience compared to Luke's birth.

Toys everywhere, check. Luke trying to step on Ben's head, check.

Such an expressive face! 3 weeks old!

David was able to take two weeks off from work for paternity leave and it was the best experience ever. For the first week, Luke spent most of his time with both sets of grandparents (such a blessing!) so David and I could get used to our newest little bundle. Since then, it has become a balancing act with having both boys around and we have mastered the divide and conquer method when David is home. I have been surviving when I'm at home alone with the two... no one goes hungry (for long), everyone is (somewhat) clean, and I am slightly sane when Daddy FINALLY comes home at night! Our house is a wreck and there are dishes stacked in the sink and piles of laundry everywhere but I get to snuggle with two sweet boys everyday and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Baby Box for Car

We seem to always be on the go with Mr. Luke, either to family events, church, dinner with friends, etc. Sometimes we either choose not to take the diaper bag with us, or we accidentally leave the house without restocking the bag.

I am in full-on nesting mode right now (33 weeks today!) and I have come up with a little box to keep in the car at all times with some things we might end up needing at some point!

Here it is all assembled. I just bought a clear Hefty bin with a lid to keep everything organized.

First things first: Start with the glamorous things...A few plastic bags to dispose of whatever needs to be disposed of, a roll of paper towels to clean up any messes that may occur, and a Ziploc baggie (gallon size). The baggies come in handy to hold wet, dirty clothes until you can do a load of laundry.

Next, a light blanket for the summer months (I might have to switch this out if it ever gets cool again), a burp rag (this can be doubled as a bib), and a bib. The blanket and burp rag are both aden + anais and are so stinkin' soft!

I also included a change of clothes, pacifier and a pair of socks. Ok, so the clothes are actually a set of PJ's from Target, but it looks like a normal every day little boy outfit so don't judge! I put our pacifier in a little ziploc bag so it doesn't get fuzz all over it.

Baby wipes and diapers are absolute necessities. We never know when our kiddos will surprise us with that special, smelly gift! I also put in a few Table Topper place mats. These come in handy when you are out at restaurants and don't want your little one eating puffs off of one of those nasty restaurant tables. These have adhesive strips on the back to stick the mat down on the table without it sliding off. 

Last but not least, I put in a book and a little toy to keep Luke entertained in a pinch. I decided against anything that may have a battery since this will be left out in the car during the Texas summers...

I'm going to have to be adding some newborn diapers and a tiny outfit in there soon. I think I might have to put some hand sanitizer in there as well.

Anyone else have something similar to this or have any other suggestions to put in this box? Let me know! :)

Luke's 10 Month Update

How is this boy already 10 months old?! I can't believe how fast time is going!

Oh how this little guy has my heart!

Weight: 22ish lbs

Length: 28 inches?

Diaper Size: Size 4

Clothing Size: 9 - 12 month clothes

Nicknames: Booger Boo, Lukey Pookey

Health: We have been fortunate to have a month of a(mostly) healthy baby with TWO teeth! The second tooth just popped through one day and it didn't seem to phase him one bit!

Sleep: All in all, Luke is just a great sleeper. He usually takes a mid-morning nap and a mid afternoon/evening nap, and then goes to sleep around 8:30/9:00 and then wakes up around 7:30/8:00 AM. 

Diet: We are still trying new baby foods and he loves pretty much everything he's tried. Butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and bananas seem to be his favorites. Luke enjoys the Gerber Puffs and Melts as well and has learned how to feed himself (Thank Goodness!).

Loves: Luke still loves crawling, but the creeping around on furniture is more his style these days. He heads straight to the back door to look outside. He has also taken his first steps!! EEEK Momma is so not ready for this...especially since I am getting bigger with baby #2 every day! Luke loves being outside, his Baby Einstein videos, the Aggie War Hymn (WHOOP), his grandparents, mommy blowing her nose, snuggling face first into big foax fur blankets, and getting into things he's not supposed to be getting into! haha

Playing with Daddy

Dislikes: When you walk out of the room, LOUD voices and laughs (it scares him, poor guy).

Other Random Things:   
Luke likes to imitate people, especially when we "squeal". He will "squeal" with his eyes closed.. so funny!
He says "bah bah bah" and loves to make noises like a motor boat while he is cruising around the room.

Cousin Madelyn, BeBe and Luke

We had a play date with Cousins Rachel and Madelyn one afternoon... Madelyn loves Luke, but little guy couldn't crawl away fast enough! It won't be long before they are the best of buds -  they have no choice :)

We had to say "see you later" to Luke's newest best bud, his Aunt Mariah as she headed back to Zambia. It was such a wonderful time and every time Mariah came into the room, Luke just lit up! They have a precious bond and it makes my heart full! Can't wait for you to come home again, Ri!

We also celebrated Luke's first Easter! The Easter Bunny left him some yummy puffs, a new Hot Wheels car, and a toy grill. We went to Easter Service at church then headed to Waco for a family celebration. 

Me and my boy(s)! 10 months and 25 weeks along!

Love you, sweet angel!