Photo Friday

Since I am slacking at this whole blogging thing, I thought I might get into a routine with some weekly posts.  So I am starting, and can hopefully keep up with:

 

Trendy Tot Tuesday

What I Wore Wednesday

Photo Friday

 

 

This is not an amazing picture by any means, but it does sum up what a great happy life we have been having lately.  We took H to the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco (Texas) the other weekend and was a great family time.

 

I am so grateful to have such a wonderful Husband that does so much for us.  H just adores him.  Which is sweet, even if she likes him more than she likes me.

 

We have big weekend plans, My parents (Mimi & Poppy) are coming to visit and we are going to get some projects done around the house and take H to a really cool park near our house called All Abilities Park.  Ill try to take some pictures, its unlike any other public park I have ever seen.

Summer Shopping

 

Last weekend it almost felt like Summer here in Texas, and I was really itching for some new clothes.  I just got these adorable sandals from Target - they look exactly like a pair I saw at Nordstroms for much more.  Plus, the gold piece on top slides, making the fit a little adjustable.  I love how they have a pattern but are still really neutral.

 

Source: target.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

 

I have also been searching for a pair of neutral flats, and I am pretty pleased with these all leather ones from Target.  The scrunching doesn't hurt my heels (unlike the Tory Burch ones) and they are really comfy.  Plus, did you know if you have a Target Red Card that online shipping is free, no matter how little you order?  Great for me since I don't have much time to go to the actual store!

 

Source: target.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

 

I also got a new swim suit.  I got this top from Target, I love how it is still a two piece, but gives a little more coverage.  The ruffle covers a few inches below the bra band.  I got a one-piece to wear to the pool when I take H (because bending over to help a toddler out of the water does not make your stomach look good!), but I wanted a new two piece in case The Husband and I ever get to spend some alone time relaxing.

 

Source: target.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Source: target.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

 

The Target bottoms it came with looked TERRIBLE on me.  I had muffin top squeezing out all kinds of places.  So yesterday I searched for some different bottoms, and found these at Old Navy.  The greens match really well and the coverage is much better than the ones from the Target Jrs department!

Source: oldnavy.gap.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Lastly, these pretties are probably going back to the store.  I have seen tons of bloggers wearing nude pointy toe flats, and they are pretty, but they look funny on me.  They make my feet look big and my legs look stumpy, which is never pretty.  And The Husband HATED them.  Sigh....I do love them though!

Source: 6pm.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

DIY Rustic Barnwood Sign

 

I made this rustic sign last month as a wedding gift for our friends.  I wanted to give it to them before the wedding, but they live kind of far away and we did not end up seeing them in time.  So I texted a picture to the bride, who loved it, and ended up bringing it to the reception site the day of the wedding for them to use with the rest of their decor.  I am really happy with how it turned out, and it was really quite simple:

 

1.  I used the monogram they had on their save-the-date card, scanned it, cropped it and enlarged it in Photoshop.  I also turned the image black and white to keep printing costs down.  My sign was 32x32", so I made my image size 28x28" and printed it exactly that size.

 

*I find that creating my oversize image to be the size I actually want on my sign is better than trying to enlarge a smaller image when printing to get the right size.  Yes, if it is a low quality image the lines get blurry, but in this case I really just needed a rough template and didn't need a perfect looking image

 

2.  I had some barnwood that a friend gave me, and I got my Dad to cut the pieces an even length, and he used some scrap wood to put two supports going vertically on the back.

 

3.  Then I cut out my oversize print and traced around the edges with chalk onto the wood.

 

4.  My Dad used a Dremel tool to carve the outline (the white part) into the wood.  This is not a necessary step, but I feel like it added some dimension to the finished product.

 

5.  I used sample size Behr latex paints from Home Depot to fill in the white and paint the blue.  I wanted it to be rustic, so it isn't perfect, and the blue is not a totally solid coat. 

 

If you don't have any barnwood available, there are some cool tutorials out there on how to age wood to give it more of a rustic feel:

 

Source: craftaholicsanonymous.net via Erika on Pinterest

 

 

Decisions

One

 

one is not stressful

one is not overwhelming

one makes me happy

I do not lose my temper with one

one feels manageable

one person for lessons, activities and college

one wedding to pay for

one person to travel with and pack for

one gets what little free time I have

one is a happy, easy little girl

 

Two

 

could be sister's best friend - or not

makes me nervous

makes me worry about my ability to manage my time

 

or two could mean double the love

 

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I was never sure I had room for 1, but I did and I would never go back

But I just don't know if I can handle 2

Pigtails & Mean Girls

 

Someone got their first set of pigtails last night.  While The Husband distracted her with coloring, I did my best to part her hair.

 

I used the HEB brand tiny clear elastics - they were recommended to me b/c they stretch more than other tiny clear elastics and they worked great.  I was actually able to get my fingers in there and twist them pretty well

 

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My first job of out college was in the Merchandising/Buying program at a major department store.  It wasn't a hip and trendy store by any means, and they were working in infusing a new fresh crop of recently college grads into the work force.  We were referred to as "new talent."

 

Since there were not many of us youngins there, we tended to flock together.  We were young, single(ish) and into fashion.  We were quickly and jokingly (I hope) nicknamed the "Mean Girls" and I was dubbed head of The Plastics.  Not sure if this was a compliment or what, but whatever, I went with it.

 

Fast forward 8 years (dang, I'm old) and it seems as though I have myself my own little Cady Heron.  H's teachers told me that she has a groupie.  One of the little girls in her class follows her around, waiting for her to drop her blanket or dog, so she can hand it back to her.

 

And the other day, when the older (and by older I mean 24 month) girls were in her class, she ditched her same-age playmates to play pretend with the older girls.

 

I think I'm in for a long road ahead, and for sure a couple of sleepless nights as I wait up for my teenage daughter.......

Happy Half Birthday

 

On Monday night we celebrated H's 18 month birthday with cake and ice cream in the backyard.  She was very neat about it, and wanted to use her fork to eat her cake.  She does not like her hands to get messy, and would grunt at my to get frosting off whenever she got a spec on her.

 

I haven't done a monthly update in months, so I thought it would be fun to do one for this milestone half birthday:

 

Height: 32" when laying down, 31" when standing.  This is a weird thing I noticed at her last visit, there is a huge difference when they mark her laying down vs standing up.  It puts her in the 60% for height or the 25%.  Big difference!

 

*also interesting, the pedi told me at age 2 they are approximately half their full grown adult height.  So right now she is on track to be taller than her Mama's 5'2"........

 

 

Weight: 23 lb 4 oz.  & 30%

 

 Sleeping:

During the week we wake you up for school at 6 am, and you don't really like it.  It takes you awhile to wake up, so you drink your milk and lounge on our bed while we finish getting ready.  You take a 2 hour nap after lunch at school.  All the kids lay down on their little nap mats, and the room is dark.  You snuggle with your blanket and can sleep for hours.

On the weekends you sleep in, and wake up anywhere from 7:30-8:30.  Mommy thanks you!

Eating:

You still have a morning and evening bottle, about 5-6 oz of whole milk.  Since you refuse to drink milk from a cup, this is the only way to get you to drink it, and I think it is comforting for you.

At school you eat breakfast at 7, and again at 9.  Followed but lunch, 2 snacks, and dinner.  You love to eat!  You eat everything they feed you at school, but are more picky at home.  Sometimes you only want cheese and crackers, and other times you will grab whatever is on my plate to taste.  It really depends on your mood.

Likes:

Being outside is your favorite thing ever.  You ask to go outside constantly, no matter if it is dark or raining.  You love your blanket(s) and dog, but are getting better about leaving them stored away during the day.  You also can't get enough of the park, and we sometimes go twice a day on weekends.

You love Daddy the most some days, and Mama the most other days.  You love to visit your grandparents, cousin Caleb, and dog Molly.

You also love music, buckles, school, tea parties, coloring and books.  You are an all around happy girl.

Dislikes:
You don't dislike much, but I will say that you are not really into watching TV.  We watch 15 minutes of Elmo on weekends in the am if you haven't slept through it.  And you are also hot and cold about dogs.  You like the idea of them, and looking at them from afar, but when they come close they sometimes scare you.

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I really wanted to write one of those letters to you that I see other moms so eloquently write to their children on their blogs.  Letters where they say how amazing their child is and that they are the funniest, smartest kid they know.  But I am just not that good of a writer, nor am I that sentimental.

But, I will say this Hadley Jean.  I can't wait to see your sleepy face every morning.  And I rush home from work every day and try to see what you and Daddy are up to because seeing you is the best part of my day, everyday.

We love you so much, you complete our little family.  And you are super funny.

.

Easter Fun

Its a little late, but better late than never, right?

 

We spent Easter in College Station with The Husband's family, and H's favorite cousin, Bubba.

You can't tell from this picture, but she really does adore him!!

 

 

She learned to say "cheese!" and smile for pictures that weekend

 

 

And she had a great time hunting eggs with the big kids at the club.  She did not, however, enjoy the man in the Easter bunny costume, and screamed bloody murder when he got close.  Despite my efforts to wave him off as he approached us.  The Husband said he could hear her scream in the other room as he was filling his plate at the brunch buffet.

 

 

Hadley's outfit details:

smocked dress via ebay

ruffle socks from JCPenney

Pediped mary janes via ebay

bow from etsy