Friday Faves

ONE | PLEEEEAAAASE...

...smile because it's Friday!!! This face. AHHHHH.

TWO | COVETING COVERALLS

I confess: I'm daydreaming of cooler temps (#hottestsummereverrrr) and this fall cuteness for Nancy. Baby romps stole my heart for the spring/summer, and coveralls will have my heart for the fall. I've complied a list of my favorites. Ohhhhh, the cuteness!!!! 

P.S. LOCALS: My first pick now hangs in Nancy's closet. You can find it for 50% off at Shower Me with Love! It's by Splendid, so you know how soft it is!! I love the gray background with the bright pinks and oranges. Obsessed. #CanIHaveOne? (Nancy will wear this on repeat this fall!!! How cute will it look with a little baby cardigan too?!)

THREE | SWEET N SWAG

And while I'm dishing on baby girl goodness, Nancy's Mimi spoiled her with some new kicks. We love Sweet N Swag so much!

FOUR | DRESSER UPGRADE

Y'all, I paid $20 for this dresser. I just changed out the hardware with these gold Martha Stewart pulls from Home Depot, and now it's ready for Nancypie's nursery!

FIVE | HOME!

Speaking of Nancy's Nursery, it's T-2 weeks till move in. I cannot wait to make our house a cozy family home! Cheers to that! Until then, I'll be doing things like waiting there for the [correct] fridge to be delivered...wish me luck today. 3rd time's a charm? Oof. Grown up probs.

Via

FRIDAY means I'm linking up with...5 on Friday:  Darci, April, Christina, + Natasha | Friday Favorites: A Little Bit of Everything, Momfessionals, + Grace and Love | Oh Hey, Friday: September Farm + The Farmer's Wife

Real Talk: Breastfeeding + Covered Goods

Real talk: breastfeeding. It's a big part of my day...everyday. About 3+ solid hours of my day are spent sitting and nursing my little Nancypie. That's a good chunk of a day! I have an app that keeps track of which side I last nursed from and for how long, but I mainly use it to keep track of when my last feeding began because during the day I always find myself thinking "There is no way it has been 2-3 hours since she last ate..." (and then, as always, it has been that long).

Breastfeeding wasn't always a walk in the park for us. It started off that way in the hospital, but when we went back to the hospital for Nancy's jaundice and shoved bottles of pumped colostrum and a little bit of formula down her throat while I pumped every 2 hours 24/7 for 2 days to try and get my milk to come in...well, that's another story. Obviously. But that little experience taught our oh-so-clever 4-day-old child that you don't have to work as hard to get milk from a bottle. After that experience of bottle heaven in the hospital, Nancy pretty much lost her latch. She wasn't having it. I was so frustrated because she latched so well the previous 3 days! A couple visits to the lactation wizard and a nipple shield (yes, that's a real thing) later, we were back on track. Now we're here to stay!

That's a little background on my breastfeeding "journey." :) My goal is to nurse Nancy for one year, and I'll be darned if it didn't take 3 months to hook myself up with a nursing cover. (Bless my family--espeically my 17-year-old brother-- because it's like National Geographic at home.) I'm peachy to nurse whenever, wherever at home, but when we're out and about in public, I prefer a nursing cover.

I didn't originally register for one because I heard that the typical covers were too heavy and opaque for summer and I would be sweating my face off while using one. No thanks. Humidity of the South + an unbreathable cover = no. But I know about Covered Goods! Bingo. This is the stuff, y'all.

See that?! It's a cute, light, breathable fabric (of course I went with stripes!). It covers not just your front but your back too. (Crucial.) It's like a little poncho without the sleeves. But then it gets better. Covered Goods hit the brilliance jackpot on nursing covers. This little number also has 3  (!!!) other uses. Wait for it...

HELLO?! Nursing cover, infant car seat cover, infinity scarf, AND shopping cart cover?! Yes, yes, yes, and yes. This thing is the real deal. Seriously: how cool and nifty would you feel bringing this into a baby shower? (As if there aren't enough "oohs" and "aahs" at any given baby shower already. ;))

I'm obsessed with my Covered Goods. It's so soft too. I can assure you it's absolutely what I'll be wearing on the plane when we head to England this fall. Come to think of it, it'll be a nice little blanket on the airplane too. Don't y'all get cold on airplanes? I digress... Really though, I know this nursing cover will be my best friend as we make that 8ish hour flight across the pond. For now I keep it in my diaper bag at all times. I just fold it and shove it in one of my diaper bag insert pockets. Covered Goods, y'all rock. Thanks for hooking me up! CHEERS!
Shop my look + accessories here:[Not included but noteworthy: the diaper bag insert for my non-diaper bag! ;)]

Disclosure: Per Cheers Yall's policy, I was given this item in exchange for a product review; however, all opinions are my own.

Nancy | 3 Months

Dear Nancypie,

3 months! This is the first month that we keep talking about how "big" you've gotten. The rolls are multiplying, your cheeks are drooping more, and you've almost doubled in size since you were born. You are such a pie!!! It's all happening so fast. I'm clinging to every moment and holding and snuggling you as much as I can because I'm pretty sure you'll be 18 before I know it. 

God loves you, and so do I!

Love,

Mommy

3 Month Memories:

You are a little smooshface. See those droopy cheeks? You are still judgy. I love that picture of you with Daddy when you're on the counter. It perfectly epitomizes why he always says "She's such a little person. She's just a tiny, proportionate person." Yep!

We went on your first beach trip this month! We celebrated the 4th of July, and you loved playing in the tidal pools and napping on the beach. Mommy and Daddy suspected you would love the water because of how much you adore the spa bath time...we were right!

Your barely there blonde locks are nearly camouflaged against your head. There are no bald spots or big signs that your hair is really changing. It's still fine and light...maybe just a liiiittle darker on the sides?

You have become so smiley this month. We are still addicted to your smiles and know we are nearing a laugh sometime soon. We've gotten the teensiest glimpses of it, but we can't wait for the real deal.

For the first time EVER in your life (really just in this past week...3 month growth spurt?), you didn't go back to sleep after your nighttime/early AM feeding. (I know, I know! Sorry to all the other mamas!!! Nancy spoils me. Eeek!) One morning you were up at 4:45 to eat and then didn't go back to bed till 6:40. We went into your Mimi's room because she was randomly awake, and you just talked and smiled until you were ready for bed again. Then there was another night this week too when Mommy was up with you from about 4:45-6:45am again. (Side note: I am not--in any way!!!--complaining because you make sleep so easy! I'm simply documenting for my memory because that was a first! You're still, quite obviously, a chill, chill baby.)

Speaking of sleep, you like to sleep like this...touchdown!

And, truth be told, after that early 4/5am feeding, I love to let you sleep on my chest until my alarm goes off at 7:40. It's my favorite, and I'm pretty sure it's yours too. I will hold you for as long as I can, baby girl.

Your 2 month appointment (which was really about 2 weeks after you turned 2 months old) taught us that you are 43% for weight at 11 lbs 14.5 oz, 61% for height at 23.25", and 95% in head circumference, which you definitely get from me.

You love looking outside in the mornings. You just love all things outside in general. And you learned how to kick your shoes off, which is fine because these are too small for you now anyway. Your Mimi just ordered you some new Sweet n Swag moccs to remedy that. She spoils you because that's what Mimis do. :)

And since you love all things outside, the two of us have started waiting on the doorstep for daddy to get home from work. It's fun because it keeps you happy during the "witching hour." Yep, you have one of those now. Fussy time is between 6-7.

You and Daddy are very twin-like. He is excellent at impersonating you, Mini Marky. The picture on the right was taken after waiting for Daddy to get home from work. Apparently you were not impressed with his arrival.

More outside entertainment. You sure do look cute (and judgy) watering the garden with Daddy.

We applied for your passport for our trip to England this fall. Mommy had fun doing a little passport photo shoot with you, but we wound up just getting your picture taken at a local place just to make sure it would be approved. :) It's hilarious to think about you using that same passport for 5 years. You are going to change so much between now and then!

You've gotten so strong this month. Your little neck is so strong, you have started scooting to the top of your co-sleeper, you grab and pull on things now (namely my hair), you love for us to hold your arms and help you sit/stand up (a "game" Mimi made up with you), you seriously enjoy bearing weight on your legs, and you've started this new thing where you use your legs to push your little bottom up/arch your back. Oh, and you're still a tummy time champ.

There you are, little strong neck magee...loooooving being on your tummy and looking around outside.

You "talk" all the time now too. We love talking with you and watching you work so hard to mimic anything we're doing. You've let out quite a few hilariously precious, high pitched, little girl squeals too.

One of my favorite things that I dressed you in this month is this outfit of mine--straight out of 1987. I love it so much and kind of wish it was in my size too because it's so cute (and because we could match).

You love being sung to. I still love our nighttime routine that we started last month. I love singing praise and worship to you, sweet girl.

We visited Daddy's work this month for the first time. It was so priceless and precious watching him light up, show you off, and talk about you to all of the folks at the office. He's very proud of his baby girl pie. He always talks about how pretty and perfect you are, just so you know. :)

Beautiful you. Mimi dressed you up in this cute number for her birthday. You looked so beautiful! I feel like you change so much everyday, little girl.

We celebrated Mimi's birthday! Your Mimi loves you so much and is going to be very sad when we move out next month. Here y'all are at Auntie Hope and Uncle SpySpy's house watching Dox and Tina "tickle fight." You could watch them chase each other around for ages. This is how we caught the first glimpse of your little giggle.

And I have to include one more favorite from your 3 month pictures:

Other 3 Month Memories:
Family Beach Vacation

A Day in the Life

Trendy Cactus

1 Month | 2 Months | 3 Months | 4 Months | 5 Months | 6 Months | 7 Months | 8 Months | 9 Months | 10 Months | 11 Months | 12 Months

Friday 5

Source

...story of my life. :)
Happy Friday! Here are a few of my favorites as of late...
(Oh! And don't forget to enter the Trendy Cactus GIVEAWAY here!)

ONE | MOROCCAN RUG

I'm IN LOVE with this runner for our house. (You might've gotten a preview here.) I originally wanted something bold and Aztec looking, but my wise mama reminded me about the lightness of that weave and how something heavier might be better. [Thanks, mama.] Couldn't be happier with this purchase -- currently 70% off at my tried & true rug shop, RugsUSA! My fave? The tassels on the end!

Marrakesh Shag Natural Rug

TWO | SISTER, SISTER COPYCATS

I know something is cool when my little sister goes and purchases it for herself after me. (She's more of a fashionista than this girl.) That was the case with these knockoff birks (that are leopard and $20!!!) a few weeks ago. This time I copycatted Hopey. I don't know how she saw the coolness of this graphic tee from this online image, but she nailed it. We both got the "creme de la creme" color. It's comfy, almost sheen fabric, slits up the side, and long on the rear. I'm obsessed. Aaaand then I got it in heather gray too and wore it 3 days in a row. (Confession: I already want to purchase the striped long sleeved version for fall...)

THREE | NORDSTOM

Aaaand Nordstrom Anniversary Sale confessions too...

FOUR | BLACK + WHITE LOVE

I haven't purchased any of this, but I'm daydreaming about it for my "office"/Nancy's playroom/the sunroom. :) Hobby Lobby, you win again.

FIVE | EEEEK! HOB LOB AGAIN

It's too early to think fall, it's too early to think fall, it's too early to think of fall...but these...!!!! I might have to fester up a DIY version?!

FRIDAY means I'm linking up with...5 on Friday:  Darci, April, Christina, + Natasha | Friday Favorites: A Little Bit of Everything, Momfessionals, + Grace and Love | Oh Hey, Friday: September Farm + The  Farmer's Wife

Trendy Cactus LOVE + Giveaway

If you asked my former kindergarten students what my favorite word is, I bet most of them would remember that it's "love." Snagging this precious onesie from Trendy Cactus was a no brainer. My favorite word, the floral wreath, the script! I feel like I should have it as a print in Nancy's nursery too! Love.

My other favorite picks from the shop include bright popsicles, a personalized name wreath, and crazy hair [don't care]. No babies needing onesies? You can order toddler shirts for your bigger littles as well. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spread the Trendy Cactus LOVE and enter the giveaway below to win one shop item of your choice. Can't wait? Order away using CHEERS20 for 20% off your order. Woohoo! Cheers to Trendy Cactus and its sweet, sweet shop owner, Elizabeth! 
Disclaimer: Per Cheers Y'all policy, I received one item to review and one to give away. As always, all opinions are my own.

Love Your Neighbor

Source

Yesterday at church the sermon was about ways can love our neighbor. Before our pastor spoke, we had extended "meet and greet" time to say hello to the people around us--this time it lasted about a minute or so instead of the typical 10-20 seconds.
Mark and I spoke with a lovely married couple seated behind us who are probably about the same age as our parents. Of course we connected when we found out that the husband went to Camp Thunderbird when he was 7! :) Anyway, at the end of the service, they met Nancy who had moved from snoozing in Solly wrap with me and into Daddy's arms to dance through the last set of worship. As everyone was leaving, they told us that they were going to pray for our family throughout his week. 
Wow. I can't explain exactly why or how, but that little encouragement meant so much to me--to us. Especially from folks we just met! We talked about that sweet married couple by name multiple times throughout the day yesterday. We both felt so encouraged by their kindness and the short, simple conversation we had with them.
So where am I going with this? I want to encourage y'all to love your neighbor this week. Strike up a conversation. Let's all choose a family, a friend, an acquaintance, or even a stranger that we meet today and commit them to prayer for the week. Then tell that person or family that you'll be praying for them all week long. Maybe you'll encourage a heart as profoundly as mine was encouraged yesterday.

A Day in the Life...

I got a request to do one of these "Day in the Life" posts. My initial thought was "no." I [still] feel like we're in transition. We don't live in a home that's "ours." We live at my mom's. This isn't the "normal" life of our little family yet. But then I thought...you know what, I am so darn grateful that we've gotten to spend these past several months at my mom's house. Rent is free, the food is delectable, the help is endless, and my mommy is just the greatest. She really is. We are extremely fortunate to be around family -- that's why we moved back in the first place. :) With that said, here is "a day in the life" while we live in Nancy's Mimi's house. Nancy will have spent the first three (maybe 4? Hopefully 3!) months of her life here. It's absolutely worth documenting. 
I wanted to document our day in an unfancy way: just my iPhone, no fancy camera, no tidying things before a picture, no major editing, no trying to find the best lighting...just "regular" life. These days aren't glamorous, but they full of grace, love, and family. Most of all, these days are ours...so that makes them pretty special to me. I hope to look back on posts like this one years from now and remember this season. Between moving and becoming parents, it's a season full of transition. Aaand I'm pretty sure as we add more little Houstons to the mix down the road, these days will only get harder, louder, more tiring, and crazier. I'm smiling as I look forward to those regular days too. Cheers to this life, to our families, and to good ol' regular days.

4:00 AM
I suppose my day technically started at this hour. Nancy's last feeding began at 10:30 the night before, so she went about a 5.5 hour stretch between feedings. Pretty good. So up at 4 to feed the little baby girl, then we both go right back to sleep.

7:30 Nancy wakes up and is ready to eat. I nurse her in bed, and Mark gets his day started as well.

7:55 Nancy and I head downstairs. I put her in her Snugapuppy and face her towards the sliding glass doors. This baby loves to look outside. It's hilariously amazing. She loves the outdoors. I love it!

I start making Mark's breakfast. I make it for him every morning, and the truth is, I really enjoy being able to do that for him. While he serves our family with his job, it brings me joy to serve our family in all things home.

This morning he requested eggs, but we didn't have any, so it was cereal. And hot tea. Always a cup of tea. So English.

8:10 Marky's breakfast is on the table with the lunch I packed for him last night, and now it's time to make a delicious cup of coffee for myself.

8:15 Since Mark isn't downstairs yet, I run upstairs (while Nancy is amused looking outside) to make the bed and get dressed (aka change into my workout clothes). I think the sheets were crumpled at the bottom of the bed, so I grab them and it's actually a TINA! Ooops! Pup was still sleeping. Much to her dismay, I continue to make the bed and get her up. (Yes, Tina still sleeps in our bed. She always will.)

I feel a little more excited than usual to get dressed for the day because my mama surprised me with this workout tank yesterday. Pep in my step with fancy new workout wear. Thanks, Mommy!!!

8:20 Back downstairs to sit with Marky and sip my coffee. I pop it in the microwave since it's been sitting...and because, in my humble opinion, the Keurig doesn't make it hot enough anyway. Marky judges my early morning picture taking, we discuss that tomorrow (now today! ;)) is Amazon Prime Day, and I remind him to take the currently-being-used-as-coasters papers with him to get notarized so he doesn't have to go apply for Nancy's passport with me at the Post Office.

8:30 Mark heads to work, kisses Nancy and I goodbye, and I finally decide to knock out my blog emails. There have been too many sitting unanswered for too many days. Eeek!

8:45  I realize that Nancy has fallen asleep. Still in her Snugapuppy. I continue to pound out some emails until my inbox is empty! (!!!) Then I write a guest blog post for a friend and finish it just in time as Nancy wakes up.

10:00 The freshly awake Nancypie and I head upstairs to keep getting ready for the day. Translation: I brush my teeth and do nothing else but play and talk with this happy, smiley little girl for the next 18 minutes.

10:20 I take Nancy out of these precious pajamas for the last time...she is too tall for them! I am sad to pack them away because they're one of my favorite pairs. Ruffly bottoms, my favorite colors...sigh. On the flip side, she looks pretty darn precious in this new outfit from her Sip and See with [wait for it] matching bloomers! Bless!

10:25 We head downstairs. Why am I so hungry? Oh yeah, hello! Breakfast for me?! No wonder I'm starving. Well, so is Nancy. Eeek. I eat a banana while I make my green smoothie. Nancy's hunger turns from fussy to full out crying by the end of my smoothie making. Mama's gotta hustle.

10:30 Smoothie by my side, I nurse Nancy and simultaneously call the passport agency to make an appointment for tomorrow, read today's SRT, and just generally stare at and study my sweet baby. These once so lanky thighs that are thickening up...! BLESS (again)!

11:00 I'm still hungry and definitely need fuel before my workout. I make some toast with almond butter and cinnamon while Nancy has tummy time. We play and talk for a little after that. Our new thing is sitting her on the edge of the table/counter/whatever. Mark and I can't get over how much she looks like a "little person" in that position.

11:35 I nurse Nancy for a few more minutes more before I leave to workout. And during this nursing session, I text my sister in elation at the news that Ben H is the new Bachelor. YESSSSS.

11:55 I head to Hilliard. Hope and I are going to class together today! Mom comes home from my sister's house and takes over.

12:00 Purple circle day at HSM. AKA the hardest of the hard. I'm pretty sure my legs and core were still shaking when I walked back down the stairs post workout. (I usually attend the 8:15 class, but one of my favorite teachers was teaching the 12:00 today, so I switched. :))

1:15 I'm back home. Mom is in the kitchen writing invoices for her interior design company. I grab a protein bar and chat with Mom about her play time with Nancy and find out she only fell asleep 20 minutes ago. I realize that the late nap gives me time to shower before she wakes up. Going for it. But pausing for a moment to soak in this sweetness...

1:45 Right on time...as I finish getting dressed after my shower, I hear Nancy waking up. She nurses for about 30 mintes. A long lunch for the Nancypie. Then this cutie has some more tummy time while I snack on some hummus, chips, strawberries, and blueberries.

2:40 Mom and I head to Hope's to pick her up, and the 3 of us run errands together. We'll be gone for a few hours, so I throw a giant organic red delicious apple (my fave) in the diaper bag. First we hit up Fresh Market for $2.99 Tuesday. Next is the new Houston home! The hardwood floor guy called as I was walking into Hilliard, and he wanted to meet me over at the house later that afternoon.

I meet with the hardwood guy and mom and Hope measure some windows and rooms. I am excited to learn that under the ugly tile in our foyer there was linoleum "slate"...aaaand under that...hardwoods! No need to install new ones for that little area as planned. He'll just sand and refinish those. Yesss. I also give him the approval to put a threshold between the kitchen and laundry/mudroom as that square footage was added on and is thus 3/4" higher than the original home. Grown up life.

Oh, and last weekend I got paint happy and painted my laundry room cabinets light blue with some leftover paint the original owners left in the house. This used to be the color of the master bedroom. It's really pretty, so now it's a fun (but still light) pop of color in our future laundry room.

These people. Why Mark and I decided to move home. :)

4:40 We stop at Hope's to grab the groceries (we put the chicken in the fridge at her house before heading over to mine). I snack on some almonds and nurse Nancy there before we head back to mom's. Of course, we sneak in a little Nancy playtime too. :)

5:30 Back at mom's. I throw Nancy in the Ergo and address thank you notes from the Sip and See.

6:20 Bathtime for Nancypie!

6:45 Nurse the baby again.

7:00 Daddy's home! He went by our house after work, so he's back a few minutes later than usual tonight. I hand over Nancypie and help my mom with dinner. (Poor Tina..."Hey! What about me?")

7:30 Dinner! Mom, Mark, Chuck, and I eat a really good meal tonight: Fresh Market chicken, balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts, salad, and sauteed squash (straight from Marky's garden!) with onions. Don't we have the cutest table centerpiece?! Keepin' it real.

8:00 Nancy and I head upstairs for her bedtime routine. Fresh diaper, swaddle, a little nursing, rocking, and lots of worship music. This is basically my little quiet time. I'm glad Nancy is a part of it. It's full of singing praises, prayer, and just generally talking to God.

Anyway, it takes a little longer than normal tonight because I get distracted after changing her diaper and swaddling her. I call Mark upstairs because Nancy is "talking" and smiling so much. I feel like we're getting closer and closer to hearing her laugh. She smiles so big with our silly blabber and eskimo kisses. Love this little girl so much.

8:20 Mark goes back downstairs, and I get on with the routine. This still, sweet quiet time is probably my favorite part of the day. I love rocking my baby. Quiet/worship/rocking/prayer time was extended tonight too just because I just love it so much. Hillsong was filling my heart tonight!

9:00 I head back downstairs and start writing this post! Nancy cries about 10 minutes later, but I run upstairs and rock/wiggle/lightly shake her little cosleeper for a minute and she falls back asleep. Then I finish this post, nurse Nancy once more around 10:30/11 before she starts her longer night stretch (she'll probably wake up to nurse around 3:30/4), and head to bed. Maybe I'll get to read a blog post or two before I doze off?!

11:30 I set my alarm for 7:40 and then change it to 7:30 because I forgot to make Mark's lunch earlier this evening. Ooops! Oh well. And goodnight!