Sunday Swingin'

Monday, I am not exactly happy to see you. This weekend was great and as always, I wish it was longer. It's hard to believe that today is the last day of August (!!!!). I feel like we are out of the peak of the blistering heat in Texas and we got to spend more time outside this weekend than we normally would in August (normal=you feel like your skin is going to melt off). I have to tell you my heart skips a beat when I think about cooler temps and fall weather. Okay I'm realizing this whole paragraph has been about weather but I am an old lady at heart, I love the weather! We've been sitting on our deck in the mornings and blowing bubbles with Ford and playing on his playset in the evenings. Lucy has absolute googly eyes over Ford and loves to be in on the action and watch him play. And he has no problem performing for her, "Watch baby! I go fast on slide! Look!". We had some company in town this weekend, Jon's buddy from college and my little brother, and Ford definitely entertained everyone. Love him. I am so excited for this fall season. Ford starts mother's da out preschool tomorrow (why am I emotional?!), the kiddos Halloween costumes are purchased, and I am ready to eat everything pumpkin. 

I have a slight obsession with baby carriers and recently got a Mamaway Ring Sling and finally tested it out this weekend for some backyard time. I loved wearing Lucy in a wrap (Solly, Baby More, and Moby) and wear her all the time in a structured carrier (I have the Ergo and LilleBaby) but I've always been intrigued by a ring sling. I haven't tried a hip carry with any of my other carriers but now I am obsessed with the ring sling side carry! Lucy is finally able to be carried on my hip (can you say game changer?!) and the Mamaway allows me to be hands free while still holding her. I remember seeing my friend Jessica wear her daughter who is Ford's age in a ring sling and kept saying, "I need one!". I ordered the anchor pattern because of Hebrews 6:19, "This hope is the anchor for my soul". Having my girlie so close to me in the sling just reminds me of how God holds me in the palm of His hand as His precious daughter. 

I used these videos to figure out how to use my ring sling. 

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Lucy 4 months

Lucy Joy is 4 months old, someone hold me! I am kind of shocked 4 months have gone by and I consider each day we make it through a victory. Lucy is so sweet y'all. I can't even explain it. She just wants to love on you, smile at you, talk to you....we are in a honeymoon phase with her. She is happy, healthy, and has completely stolen our hearts. 4 months is such a fun phase because they are so interactive yet don't move anywhere (I am sure I will be singing a different tune when she is crawling and into everything in a few months).

Monthly stickers via Baby Bump Bundle/Lucy Darling

• We had her 4 month well check this morning and it went great! I didn't really have any questions and Lucy is hitting all of her milestones. She got 2 shots and 1 oral while brother got his flu shot. Note to self, don't bring two babies in for shots on your own... I was so sad but of course vaccinations are worth it! Lucy cried hard for about 5 seconds then was immediately soothed when I picked her up.
• 14lbs 6oz, 56th %
• 24.5 in 53rd %
• They forgot to write down her head measurement but it was 96th%.... big brain!
• Bedtime at 7:30pm and sleeps 11 hours straight. About 1/2 the time she wakes up in the morning and nurses and goes to sleep for another 2 hours but I love when she sleeps til 7am and is happy and ready to play! I am so grateful for a good sleeper.
• Naps about 3 times a day, it is hard to navigate naps when we are on the go with big brother but Lucy will sleep anywhere and loves a good carseat nap. She is funny, she hates a paci 99% of the day except for nap and sucks ferociously on her Wubbanub and spits it out when she's asleep.
• Nurses every 3 hours during the day and sleeps 11 hours straight without nursing at night. 
• Takes 1 4oz formula bottle a day and sucks it down like a champ. She is pretty selective about when she eats...if she isn't hungry she cannot be talked into eating and gets angry if you try to feed her. 
• I left her overnight for the first time this month (Jon watched the babes while I was at a retreat) and she did great! Jon did a few breastmilk bottles and a few formula bottles so we didn't hurt her tummy and she went right back to nursing when I got home. I don't know how exclusive pumpers do it... 
• She has become very talkative this month! She loves to hear her own voice and she does this evil little squawk thing it's hilarious. Jon calls it growling but it's not "mean". I need to get it on video!
• Belly laughs and smiles at the drop of a hat. She is not a crier and maybe cries once a day when she is hungry but all it takes is eye contact and she smiles. She is SO googly eyes for Ford too!
• Loves her big brother. She definitely notices him these days and likes to watch him play. Ford gets under the playmat with her and hands her toys and plays with her in the Mamaroo and bouncer. He now does "baby talk" for her and it is pretty much the cutest thing ever. I need to get it on camera
• She opens her mouth when you go in for a kiss
• We put her in the exersaucer for the first time this week and she really likes it! She still loves standing so she can be in her element when she's in there. I use a muslin blanket around her belly since she's still a little small.
• Teething like a mad woman! She has her hands or toys in her mouth 90% of the day and loves when we rub her gums. She is a drool machine and I feel everyday for teeth but nothing yet. 
• Wears 3-6 month outfits and 3 month jammies
• Cloth diapered during the day and size 2 disposable diaper at night (I can't wait til she can wear an overnight diaper because she pees SO much at night and they make them starting at size 3).
• Loves to watch the TV when it is on, especially football with daddy. 
• Favorite toys are mini Sophie, Zoli teether, those plastic little rings to hook toys on the carseat, playmat
• Loves her baths and chewing on wash cloths. We bathe both kids together and she is trying to sit up in her AngelCare bath seat lately. Ford is so cute and loves to pour water on her tummy and help wash her and hand her toys. 
• We start swim lessons today with Lucy and I can't wait! We are doing a parent child "Water Babies" class at Emler Swim School and Ford will be in mother's day out so I get some time with my girl. 
• Last night we put her in the highchair for the first time. We actually hate our Graco highchair but it is nice because it leans back and she can be in on the action. She hates laying down now and tries to sit up in her bouncer.
• First walk in the stroller seat last night

Dallas

Last week I braved I-35 and drove both babies by myself to Dallas to visit my sister for a few days. I was thinking I was nuts but the road trip was the easiest part! Lucy continues to grace us with being the easiest baby ever and slept the entire ride there and big brother chatted 2 of the 3 hours and slept 1. "Mommy it's raining. Mommy I hear thunder. Mommy it's wet. Mommy I need an umbrella". Despite my little parrot in the backseat (which I love), I was able to listen to a new book on CD, You and Me Forever by Francis and Lisa Chan. It is good y'all. Refining! So Dallas. We arrived in the afternoon and didn't have big plans for our stay except to hang out and play before my nephew is born in 3 weeks from Friday! I cannot wait to be an auntie again and have my first nephew! Sleeping in the same room as both of my kiddos was not so enjoyable. Lucy was in her crib before 8 weeks so I am used to no babies but she wasn't the problem. Ford is such an easy baby to put to bed at home (1 book and pop him in bed, say prayers and kiss him goodnight... 5 minutes tops and no issues) but out of town, he has been a nightmare. To make a long, emotional story short... he took 2 hours of crying, soothing, cuddling, reading, more crying to go to sleep and I had to lay in the bed in the room. He is still in a pack and play when we travel and I think he is hating it but is TOTALLY not ready for the big bed (we tried it and it failed miserably). So that stunk but little sis slept through the drama and despite getting 2-3 hours less sleep at night, Ford was a happy boy. We got ice cream, ate popsicles outside, played at an awesome indoor play center, and event decorated cookies at Embry's Back to School party. I love visiting my sister because I am away from the busy day to day at my own house and I can relax (well as much as you can in a house with 3 kids under 3). Embry and Ford had so much fun together, they are just so stinking cute. And Embry is obsessed with her cousin Lucy, she is going to have a hay day when her baby brother is born! I don't think I'll be making any more trips solo with the kiddos but we are heading up to Dallas for baby Toddy's BIRTH day!

Major catch up

Warning. This post will be a whole lot of random for ya. I haven't written for over a week so I feel the need to dump my thoughts and pictures into one big post. We now have a two year old in our house in every sense of the number...it's been sweet, fun, and emotionally tiring. I love that our big Ford is independent and out spoken but man he has been giving us a run for our money with his stubborn little attitude. I feel like God gave us Lucy at the perfect time. She is seriously the happiest and sweetest little thing and when Ford has me wanting to rip my hair out, I can look at her and get a big ole smile and remind myself that Ford was just the same (and that Lucy will drive me nuts one day as well haha). I think the Lord so perfectly plans out the dynamics of your family, the ages of your children, their personalities, etc. all to compliment (and bless) each other. What's crazy is that Ford has shown us major attitude but is SO affectionate lately. Even my mom commented on it. He wants to cuddle all the time and kiss you on the mouth and hold your hands. Gosh he's cute. Speaking of cute, my dear husband let me sleep in until 9 yesterday morning (that's what having a daytime cocktail during a date will do to me) and snapped this picture of our babes relaxing. It is nearly impossible to look at Lucy and give her any sort of attention and her NOT to smile. Ford was probably locked in on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

So what has our house hold been up to lately? Well I actually left the babies overnight for the first time last week and it was wonderful. I didn't leave Ford overnight until he was 13 months old (darn you bottle strike) but again, my sweet Lucy girl will take a bottle from anyone and allowed me 24 hours away with the women I trudge alongside of in motherhood with. I want to share more about this another time but back when Ford was 3 months old I started meeting with about 5 or so women from church regularly to talk about the woes of motherhood. Well fast forward almost 2 years and we've now created a mom's group of almost 2,500 women in Austin to provide support, advice, community, fellowship, and encouragement for. God is crazy and good! Being away from my children is such a sweet rest for my mind (and my hands!). They both slept through the night, seriously Lucy is a rockstar, and Jon kept the house in tact. I love a hands on husband who didn't even bat an eye when I asked him if I could have a weekend away.

In not so new news, Lucy is always happy. How cute is this Texas onesie from Fayebeline baby? You can find them (and other states, even though Texas is the best) on Amazon!

She can also be carried on my hip nowadays and it is a life changer! I don't want to wish time away but gosh I can't wait until she can sit up in the shopping cart... that will make my grocery trips 10000 times easier. 

Ford is still obsessed with his sunglasses and a friend told me that blue eyes need extra protection from the sun so I happily oblige when he wants to wear them 24/7. I have to keep an extra pair with us all the time just in case. 

I had my annual with my OBGYN last week and although I am very happy I am not pregnant, I am sad that I won't see her for another year (I do NOT plan on getting pregnant within a year, God willing!). She is the bomb.com, I wish I could hang out with her everyday. If you are in Austin, it is Dr. Diana Wang at Austin Area OBGYN. She is so talented, you should see how small my incision is compared to how big my kids were. 

A church near our house has the most incredible indoor playground that is open to the public and we go at least once a week. Ford tends to get overwhelmed when there are a ton of kids in one area so Friday was particularly busy and he spent an hour running races with his little girlfriends. It was pretty much the cutest thing ever. 

I've been trying to get Ford more involved with me in the kitchen lately because he loves to help. He helps me unload the dishwasher and this weekend we made cookies and I let my hair down  a little and allowed him to pour almost everything in. My kitchen was a disaster but we had so much fun and he was all about licking the spoon. When he realized he was dirty he was totally over it and didn't even want a cookie because he was "too messy mama. I need to wash my hands". He is so funny. 

We dropped off the kiddos at my parents house this weekend for a couple of hours and Lucy got some cuddles with her Uncle James. He will start his junior year of HS tomorrow, what?! Ford was all about James' lacrosse stick, we may have a future lax man on our hands. 

Day dates are my favorite for a few reasons. #1 I get a break from the day to day with 2 small children and can really enjoy myself. The kids go to bed so early that I kind of don't like going out at night because that's when I already get my break! And day dates allow us to be active and be in the sun and we can continue our date into the night when the babes go down. We are trying to be intentional about doing a date every other weekend and this weekend we went to Shake Shack for lunch, hit up Peter Pan Mini golf where it is BYOB and so fun (drinking John Daly's out of a Bubba Keg!), grabbed a brownie topped donut at Gordough's, then did a few shopping errands. Whether it's 6 hours or 60 minutes, being out with my husband is medicine that my body needs. It's little things like holding hands that you don't get to do when you are carrying a diaper bag, sippy cups, and two babies. 

I don't like cats. There I said it, don't hate me. I just really don't care for them. I feel like they are always plotting a way to attack me. My mom has a cat named KD (after Kevin Durant, but the cat is a girl) and she isn't nice yet is obsessed with my mom and brother, they are always trying to talk her up. I had to get my mom these pjs when I saw them at Forever 21... hilarious!

Ford has meet the teacher this week for his pre school that starts the following week so I am getting everything ready to go! Y'all know I love to #monogramallthings so I found someone in my neighborhood to make vinyl decals for his YumBox lunchbox. And because Lucy will start food soon, I bought her one too. How cute are they? Also, I think I need a Silhouette Cameo now. Does anyone have one? Recommendations?

This Texas shirt is hands down the most comfortable and softest t shirt I own (not a joke). It is made by Utopia Graphics, a screen printing and embroidery company out of Fort Worth, TX and $8 of the $22 shirt goes to the Make A Wish Foundation of North Texas. Get one NOW!

For my fellow monogrammed obsessed friends, I am hosting a giveaway from Charlotte's Threads and you can find more info here. 

This post is getting way too long and no one has probably hung on long enough to read down here but last week I braved I35 by myself and drove to Dallas with both kiddos to spend some time with my sister before her baby boy is born in 3 weeks from Friday! I am going to dedicate a whole post to that later this week because there were some super cute pictures and videos. I promise not to be so radio silent around here. Well, I can't promise that because it seems like someone needs me at every moment of every day but hey, life is good! 

Ford's Birthday Celebrations

Well, Ford's birthday has come and gone and now we have a two year old in our house! It has been a funky week... we found out Ford had a double ear infection at his 2 year well check so he's not been feeling awesome but his actual birthday was so special! We took him to a mini golf place by our house (left Lucy with neighbors) and had Sonic corndogs, a fun date with our big boy. He woke up nice and early on his birthday (Tuesday August 11th) and we had blown up a ton of balloons and put them in the family room. We gifted him an easel and a tricycle so we had that set up with some other gifts from family members and friends for him to open. Last year we went all out for his first birthday party so I wanted to keep it low key this year. We had his friends over to swim at Mimi and Papa's pool and I ordered cupcakes from Sams. I stressed that it was NOT a party, just a play date with some extra sugar. Ford took an awesome birthday nap and we took him to a new Mexican food restaurant by our house. He indulged in chips, quesadillas, and a whole piece of flan!!! Jon and I put him to bed together (technically he wasn't 2 year, he was born at 11:46pm and I didn't meet him until the next day) and I cried reading The Night You Were Born to him. I have such sweet and scary memories from Ford's actual birth day, I couldn't have asked for a better TWO years with this happy boy. Thank you so much for all the kind comments, messages, etc. for Ford on his birthday! Cheers to making it 2 years in parenthood.

My aunt gifted him the coolest little "block" connector things (like my description?). They are called Squigz and are right up this little engineers alley!

Ford is obsessed with puzzles right now and he is moving on from the Melissa and Doug block puzzles to "real puzzles". We got this set of two giant floor puzzles from The Learning Journey International and they are going to be such a great learning resource for him! One puzzle is of animals and the other is colors so he and I did them together, talking about the colors, shapes, pictures along the way. The pieces are big enough for his chubby fingers and he had fun shrieking, "Elephant! Tiger! Giraffe!". The pack is only $14.99 and can be purchased here. 

Sweet Deborah, The Cupcake Stylist, gifted us this Ford cake topper, made completely from sugar! I didn't let Ford eat it because it is so darn cute, I have it saved. 

How to get a bunch of 2 year olds to sit together for a picture? Give them cupcakes!

Beautiful little sis enjoyed a dip in the pool 

Sometimes you have to nurse while doing 1000 other things (and socialize at the same time)

Love my babies!

My safe boy went down the waterslide!