Gift Guide For Guys

Guys are tough... it seems that they usually buy what they want or need on their own or it's really expensive, especially if your shopping for a guy like my husband. So, any time he gives me a little nugget, I'm writing it down so I can build a Christmas list for him. 

Now, you should know that I grew up in a family of girls.  Boys didn't really come along until we were married so what I've learned about gifting to guys I've learned from my husband and brother-in-laws.

Hitch Pin. No matter if it's 1 or 5, they'll be appreciated.  Go for multiple sizes.  I gift these to my farmer customers sometimes and since my husband knows that I have them in my truck, he's always looking for one.

Underwear.  Not just any underwear but Duluth Training Company Buck Naked underwear.  They're spending and guys are picking about underwear.  They also talk about underwear more than girls.  Weird.

Electric Fly Swatter.  This is just for fun.  My husband is going to get one of these.  He's always killing flies because we live on a farm and one of the boys at any given time will leave the door open.

Wallet.  Guys need a new wallet or an upgrade from time-to-time.  This one is great for carrying in their front pocket.

Tie Down Straps.  Someone asks for these every year in our family.  They are a necessity.

The Great American Burger Book. I've gifted this a few times for birthdays.  It's just a fun, out-of-the-ordinary gift.

Stocking Hat. No guy will turn down a stocking hat.  Not to mention, we're likely the one that will be wearing it.

Jack Daniels Beef Rub.  My husband and I discovered this in our cupboard one day and it is DELICIOUS, especially on ribeye steaks.  They also make a pork rub and poultry rub.

Gift Guide for Kids

Kids...they are the fun part of Christmas and since having my own kids my love for this holiday (besides Jesus of course) has been rekindled! I love how they find excitement in EVERY part of Christmas and gifts are the BEST surprises.  

Here is my round up of gifts for kids.  Primarily geared toward ages 3-6 since that's the age range of my two oldest boys.  Most of these gift ideas can work for boys or girls and are very hands-on to spark creativity, use up their energy and keep them busy long enough for us mama's to get stuff done...dishes, laundry, go to the bathroom alone... 

Not to mention we don't need any more toy tractors!

Classic Legos. I love the classic legos, actually I love the sets too but I'm only up for putting them together once and not having to go through the 50 page instruction book every time a piece falls off. At least with classic legos kids can build whatever they want without specialized pieces.

Kinetic Sand. My boys LOVE this sand. Just get a big, deep roasting pan to contain the sand and add a few construction toys and all of a sudden you've got an hour to yourself.

Sensory Kit.  These look so fun! (I secretly want one for myself)  They have play-doh and a whole host of little toys for their little imaginations to create with!  They have both boy and girl kits and mini kits.

Bouncy Bull.  If you've followed me for any amount of time on Instagram you've seen my boys ride these bouncy bulls.  They are a perfect winter toy that burns up energy.  They also have a bouncy horse and Lil' Buckers for kids under 3. 

LCD writing tablet.  These are really inexpensive and perfect for the car and church, or really anywhere that you need a quiet activity for your kids. 

Sequence for kids.  A friend recommend this game to me and it's so fun to play with the boys.  It's easy enough for Hank (he's 3) and still fun for Colton (he's 5). 

Spot It Jr. Another game.  It's pretty fun -- easy enough for kids and challenging enough for me to play with them.  Plus there are a lot of different versions of the game you can play.

Walkie Talkies.  They work inside, outside and fit so many "pretend" scenarios from hunting to policeman to hide and seek. 

TGIF: November 1

Happy Friday everyone! 

Even though it's a little rainy going into the weekend, I always welcome Friday's because it's time to just chill. I need it this week, it's been a good, scary and fun week all wrapped into one if you can believe that.

I used to write an every Friday blog post titled High 5 for Friday, it was pretty popular so I thought I'd bring it back but maybe call it Thank Goodness For Friday?? I haven't decided yet, that's just what today feels like.  

Anyhoo... here's the first installment of a (hopefully) regular Friday post that will likely be full of random things from the week.  Give me feedback, we'll see where it goes. :)

one || part of my job in the fall is to hop in combines with customers - I start out with a two-round rule because some guys like having people ride, other's don't and I try to be respectful of that.  Monday I rode with a pretty fun customer - good laughs, good information, good feedback.  They are the kind of guys who make me really enjoy my job. 

two || not quite as cool as number one but took over the majority of my week was a (hopefully) minor health scare with Gabe.  I'm not good at openly sharing tough stuff that happens, it never seems to fit in a conversation well but, he had a febral seizure on Tuesday evening at daycare.  It was scary - probably more scary for our daycare provider.  I sped to daycare, prayed the whole way there, rode in an ambulance with my 8 1/2 month old baby and spent a couple of hours in the ER.  We have some questions yet, and a follow up appointment, but if it was what the doctors say it was we are alright. We will just have to watch fevers VERY closely. 

What I learned is that moms, we can handle tough stuff in the moment for our babies, for our families and for our friends but it's ok to cry your eyes out the next day. 

No need to feel like you need to reach out by leaving a comment or sending a message, just do me a favor and say an extra prayer for the little guy that he doesn't have to experience this again. 

three || I refocused and didn't feel the need to explain it to anyone.  I usually feel that if I change course, I have to explain why to everyone but after Tuesday night in the ER with Gabe, I just did it.  I took the time with my baby and didn't feel the need to answer to anyone. Family is always first.

four || The older my boys get, the more fun Halloween is. They love to dress up - especially Hank! He ran between houses shouting "SUPER CAT SPEED" and had no hesitation saying "trick or treat!" Colton asked me to dress up so, despite my hating to wear costumes, I gave it and found a mask and called myself "Super Mom!"  The boys loved it!

five || I'm doing it - I'm giving one of my entrepreneurial ideas a go!  I signed up to be a Maskcara Artist!  I love the makeup and I love skin care so I decided to take on this business venture.  Hopefully your willing to like my Facebook page and follow along for some skincare and makeup tips.  Click here for my website and here to like my Facebook page.

Have a super weekend... thanks for reading! 

What's in my diaper bag

You know that Luv's commercial where they show the mom with her first child and all of the stuff and then the third child where she's handing the baby to a dirty mechanic? That commercial is 100% accurate!  I'm pretty sure that was me with my first son, Colton.  Since then, I have changed so much as a mom and try to be fairly flexible and chill with my kids - except when it comes to behavior and Gabe's bedtime, my sanity relies on those two things. (Always exceptions, right?!)

I wish I would have written a blog post about what I carried in my diaper bag when Colton was a baby vs. what I carry 5 years later with Gabe - I'd bet its less stuff because I've pretty well pared it down to what I need.  Not to mention the less stuff I carry, the less I have to leave behind because that's been known to happen.

So what am I carrying in my diaper bag these days?  Here it is!

Anymore our trips seem to be quick; church, shopping and sometimes a quick day trip to see family. None of which require a lot of stuff - plus our siblings all have kids and well prepared grandparents seem to have what we need on-hand.  I'm not above asking to borrow something (for sure a change from kid 1 to kid 3!)

1. A wet bag - I bought mine on Etsy

2. A bottle pre-filled with the amount of baby water needed to mix a bottle. I use these bottles.

3. Burp rags

4. A toy

5. Baby Tylenol

6. Baby Wipes (even after my kids are out of diapers I will always have wipes on-hand!) 

7. Diapers (of course)

8. A & D Diaper Rash ointment

9. Neutrogena baby sunscreen

10. Change of clothes

11. Essential Oils roller ball for gassy tummies (doTerra DigestZen or Peppermint + doTerra Wild Orange)

12. Disposable Changing pads from Nena + Nene

13. Fruit snacks for the big boys

A couple weeks back Lauren, from Nena + Nene, reached out to me to ask if I'd be interested in trying out the disposable changing pads she designed and let me tell you - these are awesome to have on hand and so much easier than fooling around trying to get a cloth changing pad unfolded (and refolded) and laid out on a dirty bathroom changing table while holding a baby.  These also work really well if you change your baby's diaper on the living room floor like I do. Or if you find yourselves outside a lot with older kids.  I'm thinking they'll work well for outside snack time for the older boys too - can you tell we never know where the day will take us?!  There are 40 in a package so you can stash them anywhere you think you might use them - living room, car, bathroom, changing table...

You can buy these changing pads here!  They are also on my new favorite things page!

Ok... here is a quick "mom hack" for you.  Gabe likes his bottle warmed up (high maintenance baby) so if I know we are going somewhere that I wont be able to warm the bottle in hot water, I pre-warm the water in the bottle, in the microwave - just the water, not the formula.  Then I put it in the insulated bottle holders in the front pocket of my diaper bag.  Ta-da - magic! They don't stay warm all day but if you know your baby is going to need a bottle within the next hour to hour and a half it works pretty slick.

I should mention that my diaper bag is AWESOME!  It's trendy, cute and practical! You can buy it here!

This post was sponsored by Nena + Nena.

How I get my head in the game to 'solo' parent when my husband is gone

Awhile back on my Instagram stories I was talking about having to handle all the things - kids, farm chores, work, etc... - while my husband was gone for work and I asked if you'd like me to write a blog post about how I get my head in the right place to parent when my husband is gone.  Here is that post.

Let me start off by saying it's hard (I admire all of you that are single moms - you amaze me). I find myself ending each day asking God, and my boys, for a little grace and forgiveness. 

Figuring out how to get my head in the game to handle all of the things that motherhood, working mom and farm wife entails is a work in progress.  It's one that started 5 years ago, after we were newly married and had our first baby in less than a year.  I remember those early days of marriage and motherhood when I'd freak out if my husband wasn't home at the "right time" for no other reason than to be home.  It was hard on him and our relationship.  We fought through it and learned that the number one thing that makes the biggest difference is communication.

Communication.  It's so simple, yet so... dang... hard.  If Adam tells me that he's going to be gone, whether it's for work, late for supper, or doing farm things that are too dangerous for the boys to go with, I'm fine and can keep my act together.  It's when there are surprise instances that start with "oh by the way...I'm not going to be around" that being on my own with the boys becomes a struggle.

I need him to communicate with me when he wont be around so that I can mentally prepare to handle 3 kids on my own.  If I can mentally prepare, I've got my head in the right spot to be a patient mom and can put a game plan together for what our days will look, what we'll eat and if I need to rely on some friends for help. Then comes the part where I offer myself a whole lot of grace ahead of time for things like feeding my kids ridiculously easy, and at times unhealthy meals, my house being a wreck, using the TV as a babysitter, and boys up past their bedtime. And you know what?!  It's completely ok if these things happen because I've learned that in these moments memories are made and this one morning, one day, or one week, wont ruin my kids.

I also try to do something special with my boys while Adam is away.  This might be going out to eat at a restaurant they pick (usually McDonalds or A&W), playing at the park or we load up the big boy's bikes and Gabe's stroller to go for a walk on a local walking path.

The other part of mentally preparing is giving myself some things to look forward to like; not having to put as much effort into making meals (although I probably should), crawling into my bed early and reading a book or tackling a house project or decorating project without any interference or questions. In other words, I take the time to give myself a little re-charge by focusing on me.

As for the day-to-day communication when Adam is around we have a few "rules" that we abide by.  The first is that we have a family supper at 6:30pm.  If he's not going to be around, he has to let me know ahead of time, otherwise he'll be home at 6:30 so I don't need to call to check in on him. If he wont be home by supper time, he's either got to get home before 8:00pm or stay away until after 9:00pm.  8:00-8:30pm is bedtime.  And, on weekends, one or both boys go with Adam on Saturday morning if at all possible.

So if I were to summarize all of my thoughts for you on how to get your head in the right spot to solo parent, here is what they would be:
1. Communicate to avoid surprises
2. Offer yourself a lot of grace
3. Give yourself something to look forward to
4. Create some family "rules"

Lastly, believe me when I tell you are both SuperMom (like Superman, get it?!) and a SUPER-mom!  We're moms, we are meant to do hard things.

My Daily Habits (that keep me sane)

A week or so ago I met a new friend for coffee - it was so fun getting to know each other! During our conversation I remember her saying to me something along the lines of "you really have it all together, you're an inspiration." I was taken back by the really nice compliment.  In fact, I didn't know how to respond so I just said thank you followed up by "sometimes I have to fake it."

Both things are true.  I do have it together -  most of the time and I fake it - some of the time. Fake it till you make it, right?!

That whole conversation got me thinking about my daily habits that I believe help me to "have it together" most of the time.

Before Gabe was born I started to focus on turning some daily activities that made me feel pulled together and organized into habits.  After Gabe was born I kept up with these habits and they've made a difference in how I feel and how my family's day is positively affected.  I think it's also important for my kids to see their mom be able to take of herself, her home and her family (with help from my husband of course) so they can have a solid influence for adulting someday.  

I know that what I just stated could be controversial given the blog or Facebook post that's been floating around about society's expectations of a mom.  I want you to know that I have never felt that way.  I believe it's because my mom, and my husband's mom, set a good example for both of us growing up which were: control what you can control, take care of your family, take care of yourself, be a good person.  (Enough of that rant, that's like a whole other blog post.)

Anyway... back to my daily habits.

Here is the list of my daily habits.  Keep in mind that this is not a routine because these are not scheduled habits, I do my best to fit these things in at some point during the day.  A routine would imply that these need to happen at certain time or they don't get done.  Make sense?

Habit 1 - Get up before 6:00am.  Sometimes it's 5:59 but it's before 6:00am.  I need a head start on the boys or chaos become inevitable.

Habit 2 - Get ready for the day.  That means shower, do my makeup and do my hair.  I may hang out in workout clothes around home but if the rest of me is ready, I can throw on a pair of jeans and be out the door pretty quickly.

Habit 3 - Eat Breakfast. If I make myself breakfast I know that I've at least got one good meal in until supper time.

Habit 4 - Read the First 5 app. This is a good way to start the day - spending some time with God. Sometimes it's the way I end my day.  Either way, I'm spending time being grateful, thankful, and asking for help.

Habit 5 - Exercise. This is usually 4-5 days a week.  The Beachbody on Demand app has been a great time.  Tabata workouts are also quick, easy and beneficial.

Habit 6 - Do Dishes. I always do dishes, and clean up the kitchen, after supper.  I feel so much more at peace if I know that I'm waking up to a clean kitchen.

Habit 7 - Play. Each day I try to take some time to play or spend time with my kids.  I don't do this enough so it's a habit that is in progress.

Habit 8 - Pick up the House. Either after the kids go to bed, or first thing in the morning, my husband and I pick up the main floor of our house. Again, it brings peace to our household and I think it teaches our boys how to respect our home and in turn, their future homes.

Here's what I want you to know... I have bad days too, where the chaos becomes too much.  In fact, I had a really bad day earlier this week.

The other thing I want you to know is that if you feel like your life is chaos and you don't have it together, create a few habits for yourself.  Having it together, most of the time, is possible as long as you decide what that looks like for you.  Research tells us that we can form new habits in like 17-21 days.  Give it a go - you got this!

How to Meal Plan for a Whole Month

I'll kick this off by saying I like grocery shopping and I like cooking for my family (feeding them is a different story. I'll just say kids are tough sometimes!)

Now that you all question my level of sanity I'll get on with how I meal plan for a whole month and give you the high points of why I plan out a month at a time.

I first did this on a whim, right before Gabe was born because I knew I wasn't likely going to be taking my newborn out of the house for a couple weeks and I was getting a little bored waiting around for baby Gabe to make his appearance.  Oh - and my husband said I should try it (but this is my blog and my story so let's pretend that this was all me!  Kidding, kidding.)  Regardless of whose idea it was (thanks Adam, you do know what you're talking about sometimes) it worked really well!  It saved time, money and my sanity as well as reduced food waste.  All wins!

Here's how it works:

First, I use this Go-To Meal Ideas form from Emily Ley.
Next, I list out 20 meals for the month and note where to find the recipe.
Then I build my grocery list.
Finally, I go grocery shopping.
All that's left to do is pick a meal from the list on the fridge and make it!

The interesting thing about grocery shopping is that I can spend the same amount of money if I plan for a week of meals as I do for a month of meals.  Does anyone else experience that?!  Needless to say, planning for a month rather than a week is definitely a money saver!

Tips for success:

1. Cook meals with similar ingredients within 5 days to reduce food waste.
2. Store what you can in the freezer until you use it, things like bread and cheese.  If you don't use it all (specialty breads that work for one meal) put it back in the freezer.
3. Make meals with fresh ingredients within the first week.
    I still stop at the grocery store regularly to pick up additional fresh ingredients, milk and things I forgot.
4. Substitute frozen fruit and vegetables when you can to save a few dollars.

In the end I plan about 20 meals to pick from.  I cook breakfast and one planned meal a day for my family, even on weekends.  Saturdays I cook lunch since church is at 6:30pm - we do something quick, like buttered noodles, for supper for the boys. Sundays we plan an evening meal.  Sunday lunches are usually leftovers or sandwiches.  For side dishes, I just list out the possibilities and pair them with a meal - no shame is making the same side dish twice in a month.  Then of course there are pizza nights, date nights and other days we eat leftovers.

I should also note that we stock our freezer beef, pork and whole chickens so the only protein I purchase from the grocery store is pork chops (I buy a loin and have the meat counter cut it when they are on sale - $1.49/lb is a good sale in Iowa), bacon, lunch meat, and frozen chicken breasts. In the summer we have a garden so we freeze green beans and carrots.

I'll post my monthly meal plans to my Facebook page so make sure to follow me there to download my list of monthly meals!  You can also download my April Meal Plan here.

Baby Things We Love

And by we I mean Gabe and I.  Well actually, truth be told, if mom and Gabe are happy, everyone is happy so that means the whole family likes what we like!

If you are just tuning in, Gabe is my third baby boy.  One would think I'd sorta have a clue as to what I'm doing with a baby or I'd at least have all of the stuff, but I'm always learning.  I am however more relaxed with a baby and by relaxed I mean I know that just because my baby is fussing doesn't mean that he has a chronic illness.

Between Hank (3) and Gabe being born there seem to have been a few new baby "inventions" that have come to market and a few new things I've discovered to be helpful with a new baby around.  In an effort to help out any mama's-to-be I've created a list of baby things we love right now.  All of the items are linked below!

First, this Moms on Call book is an awesome reference book.  I've read a baby care type book before each of my boys were born.  This one has been my favorite. Some of the ideas and items we are using, and working, came from this book.  FYI... it's not a read front-to-back sort of book.  It's more of a reference book.

Two of the things I'm using with Gabe that top my list of things we love are the Hatch Rest sound machine and A&D Diaper Rash cream. 

The Hatch Rest sound machine is awesome!  You can control it with your phone, it can act as a night light and eventually be set up as an "ok-to-wake" light. This has been a great tool to help Gabe sleep, especially since we have two big boys that don't quite understand BE QUIET yet.  I may actually get another sound machine like this for the big boys.

The A&D Diaper Rash cream is like gold.  Why did I stick with the other brands before?! I love this stuff.  Gabe is a little bit of a pooper so we've already experienced some mild diaper rash.  This stuff clears it right up.  It's a vasaline-type consistency so it creates a protective barrier between the poo and baby's bum as well as heals.  During Gabe's bedtime routine I slather some of this on his little butt cheeks to keep that little bum clear.  On a side note; the smell of this stuff is so familiar.  This must have been the stuff my mom used for my sisters.  Strange that a diaper rash cream would take me back to my childhood.  Do you ever experience that with smells?

Next up, I am a huge fan of the Snuggle Me Organic.  I kept seeing these on Instagram and decided to give it a try.  Gabe sleeps pretty well in it.  It's designed so they can't roll and makes them feel like they are being held since it has a false bottom.  It's a little spendy but I'm glad I made the investment.  The color I got is "Moss."

It only took me 3 babies but I've learned the importance of swaddling babies.  I used to think it seemed like some sort of cruel and unusual punishment but did you know that it's actually calming to babies from newborn - 3 months old?  (You probably did.) I learned from the Moms On Call book that babies aren't able to control their reflexes so they startle themselves awake.  Swaddling helps to keep them sleeping because their reflexes are under control.  I had no idea.  Since I'm not very good at swaddling with a blanket, I cheated and bought these SwaddleMe swaddles.  They work the same and don't require all kinds of fancy tucking.

A couple of other noteworthy mentions.  I opted for a backpack diaper bag.  This is the ticket. So much easier to carry with children in tow.  I got this one. 

For Christmas, my mother-in-law gave me a package of newborn-3 month baby socks by Gerber and believe it or not these socks actually stay on my baby! 

Finally, I've been liking the Dove Baby Body Wash and Lotion. I use the sensitive, fragrance free.  It's keeps Gabe's skin soft all day.  My sister is using it for her toddler and likes it as well!

There you have it, simple things that have saved our sanity.... so far.

Baby Things We Love:
1. Moms on Call Basic Baby Care: 0-6 months Book
2. Hatch Rest Sound Machine
3. A&D Diaper Rash Cream
4. Snuggle Me Organic
5. SwaddleMe Swaddles
6. Diaper Bag
7. Gerber Newborn Socks
8. Dove Baby Wash
9. Dove Baby Lotion

Cheers!

Meet Gabe

Gabe is here!

He arrived on February 15 weighing in at 8lbs 3oz of cuteness, officially making me a #boymom.  We named him Gabe Lawrence.  Gabe because it was short, traditional and there was no mistaking that he is a boy (yes, we're simple folk like that) and Lawrence for Adam's grandpa.  I think it has a good ring to it.  It will roll off my tongue really well at some point when I need to get his attention.

Adam and I always wait until the baby is born to find out if we'll be raising and boy or girl and we were fully prepared to be raising a girl (totally bought girl stuff) - just guessing based on the pregnancy.  We were all surprised, even the doctor, when she announced "It's a ... boy!" I think we both said in sync, "A boy?!" and from there everything felt perfect and right with the world.

Once the doctors and nurses had cleared the room and it was just Adam, Gabe, and I, I said to Adam, "Aren't you so proud that we are parents to 3 healthy boys?"  With watery eyes filled with pride and joy he said "Oh-my-gosh, yes!" and then followed up with "but I feel bad for you that we wont have a girl for you to get to do your stuff with." I think he was concerned about me feeling lonely down the road when the boys grow up.  That's not the feeling at all, I'm excited to have all boys - I was meant to raise boys.

The hardest part of having Gabe was that his brothers couldn't come into the OB to meet him (they got to meet him thru the window) due to flu season.  I was crushed.  I was sad for Colton because he wanted to be with me so bad, his big heart was worried about his mama being in the hospital and he wanted to be there with me to keep me company. I was sad for Hank because this would be his only chance to meet his new sibling in the hospital. But, I did get to hug and kiss the big boys outside of the OB and spend a little time with them running around, checking out what the hospital had to offer.  (I'm crying right now. This still makes me really sad.) Fortunately the excitement was not lost by the time we got home.

Leaving the hospital with Gabe was a little surreal knowing that was the last time I'd experience the magic of delivering a baby and the last time I'd walk out of  The Birth Place with a new baby because Gabe is the last baby we plan to have.  After we got Gabe loaded in the truck to take him home the nurse, Sue, gave me a big hug. It's as if she knew it would be the last time we'd likely see each other.

I love this sweet boy so much and I love having a newborn baby!  But, if I start talking crazy about having another one (because clearly I've forgotten how uncomfortable and crabby I was during pregnancy) - someone please throw some cold water on my face. I know that once we are out of diapers (again) and everyone is eating table food and playing together nicely I'll love the phase we are in.

The transition to 3 boys has been easier than expected.  Actually, going from 2 kids to 3 kids has been easier than 1 kid to 2 kids so mama's there is hope.  Don't get discouraged.  I've also got to throw in there that Gabe is a really good baby. I'd mention the things he's doing really well but I'm not going to jinx it.  Sorry.

PS... I took Gabe's newborn pictures myself.  This is a shameless humble brag because I'm really pleased with how they turned out. :)

Cheers!

5 Things I'm Looking Forward to Post-Pregnancy

I'm finally reading Rachel Hollis's book Girl Wash Your Face (I know, I'm behind the times) and so far there have been a couple parts of the book that I swear were written for me.  Specifically, the part about pregnancy not being her thing.  I can relate and I talked about it some in this post.  I admire all of you mama's who love pregnancy. 

The good news is that the end is in sight, we are (hopefully) less than two weeks away from meeting our baby which has got me thinking about a few things I'm really looking forward to post-pregnancy.

1 // Cuddling a new baby. Really, enough said here.  Oh and finding out if we'll add another boy to our family or navigate a new adventure with a little girl.

2// A new wardrobe. I am SO tired of my current clothing situation.  I don't think I'll care if I see another plain colored, long-sleeve shirt or cardigan for the next year!  You should see our laundry piles right now, mine is pretty minimal since I keep wearing the same thing over and over...and over, making my husband's pile look like Mount Everest. All of my clothes will be new to me and of course I've bought a few things recently that I'm looking forward to wearing - like these jeans and this sweater.

Jeans
Shirt
Earrings

3// Exercise. I don't think I've exercised even 1 day during this third trimester.  I've stayed really active - no choice with two boys - but haven't done any scheduled exercise.  This is taking a toll on my mental health so I'm looking forward to getting back at it as soon as my body is ready.  I follow these two gals - Rachel and Kari - who have given me tons of inspiration to get back at it!  Give them a follow!

4// A drink. Yep - I need to take the edge off.  My husband would likely agree.  Not that I need to drink but sometimes is just nice to have a little at-home, Friday, happy hour or have a drink when we get to go out for dinner.  The Palm Breeze I put in my fridge 9 months ago is calling my name.

5// Not working. It's true, I'd be lying if I said I'll miss work.  I'm sure eventually I will miss work, but I'll be back at it soon enough.  For now, I'll try to think of maternity leave as a little vacation that will hopefully allow me to catch up with some long-lost friends, finish up a couple of small house projects, and enjoy my family without feeling pulled in different directions.  Sorry to my customer's who might read this, don't take offense - you'll see me again soon enough!

What did you look forward to most post-pregnancy?  Comment below!

The Boy's Bedroom

If I were to own a business I think it would be interior styling. It's fun, relaxing, my creative space, my escape from the day-to-day of corporate America.

One of the benefits of my corporate America job is that I get the whole week between Christmas and New Years off as a holiday! IT'S AWESOME! So naturally this was the perfect time re-decorate Colton's room and turn it into Colton + Hank's bedroom!  Let's be honest though, I'd been bringing this decorating plan together for months. Package by (hidden from my husband) package!  It's not that I spend a lot of money, I just get a lot of why questions. Dude, trust me!

The good news is, the boys were beyond excited to share a room! They are only 21-months apart in age so not only are they brothers, they are buddies so sharing a room was a big deal to them.    I had documented the room coming together on my Insta-stories so they watched the room take shape while they were at daycare. They were ready to go to bed at 7:00pm.

I've had the vision for their room for quite a while and stored my wants on this Pinterest board.  It all started with the striped IKEA duvets - loved them, had to have them. I knew I wanted the room to say "Boys sleep here!" so I went with the natural boy colors - blue and green.  The only new things I purchased for the room were the duvet covers, navy blue fitted sheets, the green throw pillows, a rug, and the dresser.  It was tempting to buy matching sheets but I reasoned with myself - no one sees the sheets when the beds are made, no one cares, I don't need more stuff!  (Yep hun, I'm saving us some money!)  Everything else was already in their rooms.  Full source list below.  I also knew that I wasn't going to paint - I like the current color, Sherwin Williams Repose Gray.

The whole process went smoothly, except for the dresser.  I thought I had ordered something that would fit their clothes, and was reasonably priced.  However, there were 3 things wrong with it - it was too small (even though I had measured, some things just look different in the space), it was made of cheap material, and my husband had to assemble it.  Cost savings are not worth it to him if he has to assemble it.  I think he said something along the lines of "Don't ever buy furniture again that I have to assemble, just buy something alreaassembled that's quality." Done.

We were pretty practical when we got beds for the boys.  We just got a standard box spring and metal frame.  So, if you need a quick fix idea for covering your box springs put a fitted sheet over them, that's what I used the navy blue fitted sheets for. Smart, simple, and inexpensive

The bedroom is pretty small overall, but then again so is our whole house.  Two beds and a dresser fill the room up pretty quickly.  Fortunately we are not bedroom people.  We sleep in our bedrooms, that's it - same for the boys.  A bedroom just isn't my sanctuary.  The boys don't have any toys in their room so there isn't any reason to spend time there.  I think this is what has helped them become really good sleepers - no distractions.  Our bedrooms are for sleeping.

You're likely curious how the transition went.  I was only slightly nervous about it, here's why.  The boys sleep a little differently.  Colton is an early riser.  As soon as his eyes open, he's out of bed and ready to take on the day (like his mom dad). Hank is a lounger that will open his eyes for the first time around 6:45, lounge in bed and if you open the door too early, he'll get up to shut the door and crawl back under the covers. So we had to employ a couple of new habits.

1. Abide by the ok-to-wake.  When the clock turns green, it's ok to get out of bed  Get one, you wont regret it.
2. Pick out Colton's school clothes the night before and put them in the bathroom.

As for the first night together in their new room.  There was a lot of running around, giggling, the typical stuff when you're excited.  Night two and on has gone well.  Hopefully this doesn't change when we bring home a new baby!

SOURCES
Rug
Metal Wall Letters
IKEA duvets
OK to Wake Clock
Throw Pillow
Buffalo Print
Moose Head (old)
"ADVENTURE" Letters (DIY Project)
Dresser
Fitted Sheets
"Ladies Love a Gentleman" Print

One Month Away From Meeting Our Third Child

Let me catch you up.

We are welcoming our third child in the next 31 days!

Last week I updated my personal Facebook profile picture with one of the maternity photos I took and added the picture to Instagram. I received a flood of private messages and a few comments saying "Congratulations!" quickly followed by, "Did I miss an announcement?!"

First of all, thank you.  I appreciate the words of congratulations.  Second, no, you did not miss an announcement.  The updated profile picture was basically the announcement.

You see, I'm strange about pregnancy announcements and talking about being pregnant.  I guess if I'm being honest I don't love being pregnant (I feel guilty about this).  It's taken me three pregnancies to admit this because social media says we should love it and if we don't we are wrong and plagued with judgmental comments. Don't get me wrong, pregnancy is an amazing experience that I know I take for granted. I'm well aware of all of those beautiful, perfect women who aren't able to experience pregnancy. And, being pregnant is not hard for me (my husband would likely disagree, I can be a wreck!)  Be confident in knowing that I do thank God every day for this life I'm carrying. 

As I'm getting older (35 which, according to the medical world, is old for having babies) I'm becoming more private, aware of my surroundings and conscious of the struggles other women may be facing.  I also don't get caught up in the stigma of having a baby. I'm not pregnant because I want another baby, my husband and I want to raise a good human.

The other reason I've been strange about being pregnant... my self esteem took a huge downward spiral during this pregnancy. (Hormones are killing me - maybe a sign it's a girl?!) While I should feel beautiful and like I'm glowing I just don't see and feel those things this time around. I've worked hard to counteract this by getting up every morning to shower, put on makeup and do my hair.  I've pledged to myself that I will remain as normal and put together as humanely possible for as long as possible. Don't judge, it's just who I am.

Moving on...

Remember I mentioned that I'm 35?  Well, 35 comes with extra doctor stuff.  I have to say, my doctor is so kind and good at reminding me that I'm not really old.  Bless her heart!

With being pregnant at age 35 I've had to do a few more checkup-related things including a more intensive ultra-sound at a pre-natal center.  Fortunately, everything checked out really well there.  

I was also required to do the "downs-syndrome test" which my husband and I have never done before - we've never felt the need to. Let me take a moment to talk about this test.  This was my first pregnancy that this test was explained to me as more than testing for downs syndrome.  The test actually looks for any possible signs of birth defects.  This test, in combination with the intensive ultrasound, can actually help our hospital be prepared for any issues that might arise.  Because the hospital where our baby is going to be born is small they don't have all of the equipment on hand but do have the ability to bring in equipment that they may need and limit the amount of time that we are separated from each other in the case that something is wrong.  Who knew?! Had they explained this to me I would have taken this test every time. 

I'm now down to weekly appointments and am required to take a non-stress test.  These are actually pretty relaxing.  I get to sit in a recliner, read a book, and no-one can bug me because cell phone reception is so terrible at the clinic.  WIN!

And now for the good stuff.

It has been so fun walking through this pregnancy with my two boys - Colton 4 1/2 and Hank almost 3. They are so excited about this baby! Colton wants a brother and Hank claims we are having a baby zebra.  We don't know what we are having - although, I can rule out that it is NOT a zebra!  My sister is convinced that I know it's a girl.  I swear I don't know, it's just the feeling that I have since this pregnancy is so different (morning sickness, excessive hormones, a difference in weight gain and how I'm carrying the baby, some anxiety...)

It's also been fun to get back into one of my old interests - decorating! During Christmas break we moved the boys into the same bedroom which was so fun to decorate for them.  They were so excited to share a room and have really adapted well to being in such a close space together.  I also put together the babies room - simple, gender neutral and still one of my favorite rooms in our home. (You can see a quick glimpse of it in the picture above.) Bless my husband that he is cool with decorating being my interest, it can get expensive.  Do you want to see the rooms?! I can do a blog post with a source list.

I'm also excited to out some new baby things including a Snuggle-Me-Organic, this sound machine, this swaddle, and reading the Mom's On Call book (you'd think I'd have the hang of this mom thing, right?!)

Let's not forget to mention maternity leave!  I get 10 weeks of leave and after this sales season in agriculture, I'm looking forward to the break.

I have a strong feeling that this baby will come early (We have to avoid this weekend, my husband is going snowmobiling for 5 days in Colorado) so stay tuned!

PS... thinking of bringing my blog back. Is anyone a blog-reader anymore?!

All About Our New Sectional

I've been asked a whole bunch of times on instagram about my couch.  Not shocking since I fell in love with this sectional through pictures a friend of mine posted on her Facebook page. So, I thought I'd put all of the details together in this blog post.  Not that there are really a lot of details to share, but you get the point.

Our sectional is from Slumberland, is part of the Rise Collection and made by Brahaus Furniture. It is very simple with clean lines and square arms.  What I loved about this collection is that you can mix and match the pieces so you get exactly what you want.  The standard sectional is a 3-piece, right chaise sectional that comes in the exact color I have.  This basically means that they have all of those exact pieces in stock and you can get your coach within a few days.  For us, those 3 pieces weren't exactly what we needed for our space so I worked with Keith (he's great!) at Slumberland in Carroll, Iowa to put the pieces of our sectional together.

Our sectional is 3 pieces, two sofa-like pieces and an extra armless seat.  The sectional could have been two pieces, using the sofa-like pieces and I would have been perfectly happy and about $339 richer but my husband insisted that we get the extra seat so there was plenty of seating in our living room. (I wish I could insert an eye-roll emoji right here.)  So basically if 10 of you all come for a visit, all 10 of you should have room to sit on the couch. 

Unfortunately the couch comes past the wall which makes me totally crazy.  So I added this gold lamp from Target to balance it out a little bit.  Once I round up some non-husband help, because this will have to be a secret mission, I might take out the extra seat and use it as a slipper chair somewhere else in the living room. 

Anyhow, since I ordered pieces that weren't generally in stock it took about 5 weeks for the sectional to arrive. (It just missed Hank's third birthday so everyone had to sit on the floor... of course that would happen!)  Since the pieces that we ordered had to be made, the salesperson had me look at the different fabric options, I stuck with the standard gray, and I got to pick out my pillow covers.  There were a lot to options to select from, most of which were NOT my taste.  Luckily this navy velvet was an option.  I like the color, we use the pillows, and they go with my over decor scheme.  Winning all-around!

Now to answer the most important question - "Is it comfortable?"  Yes! I fall asleep on it almost every night.  Mom life, am I right?!

I find furniture shopping to be both fun and stressful, especially when you know exactly what you want but have a hard time finding it.  Keep in mind that with sofas and sectionals you can change fabric, pillow covers, arm-style, etc...  Once I took a look at this sectional I knew it was exactly what I wanted, I just had to talk my husband into it.  The price-point seems a little steep but for a decent quality sectional, it's right in the ball park.

We've really stuck to our guns on the "no food or drinks in the living room" rule and its been working wonderfully.  My boys have only taken the cushions off the once which I quickly put a hard stop to.

Overall, we are really happy with our purchase!  Now to get something hung on my walls...

Sources

Sectional - Slumberland | Footstool - thrifted | Black & White Pillows - CB2 | Lamp - Target | Faux Fur Throw- Target

How we celebrate Easter + Easter Basket Goodies For the Boys

Hard to believe that it's already Easter.  One of my favorite memories growing up was getting up early to hunt for our Easter baskets then getting all dressed up and having my hair done especially nice for church, followed by a big Easter dinner with my cousins.  Easter nowadays looks a lot different.  I'm the one planning Easter for my family - how did I come this far so quickly?  And, who gave me all of this responsibility?!

Actually, it's not that difficult.  My husband and I, along with Colton and Hank have our own Easter celebration.  This is strange to me, and honestly, sometimes hard.  I haven't done well letting go of the whole big-family gathering Easter celebrations that I'm used to.  This change came at my husband's request to stick around home for this holiday.  While I thought it was strange at first, it's really started to make sense for our family.  You see, we live a long ways from his family and my family so it's a lot of work to pack up the kids for an overnight stay, or even a quick day trip.  And, when the Easter holiday falls later in the spring - like mid-late April, it's nice to be closer to home since our jobs are both in agriculture. 

So, how do we celebrate Easter?  

Our first priority is to go to church.  Afterall, Easter is a Christian holiday.  Since church is early I'm planning on preparing a simple Easter brunch, served on nice dishes. Strange that I feel as though serving our meal on nice dishes is important enough to share but pulling out the best, even for a small gathering, creates meaning and a sense that what we are celebrating is important.  

Here is our menu:

Cinnamon Rolls (the frozen kind)

The Pioneer Woman's Pretty, Yummy Fruit Salad

Scrambled Eggs

Bacon

Funfetti Cookie Cups (the boys and I will make these together for something to do this weekend)

Let's not forget Easter baskets!  I'm not really big on going all-out for gifts on this holiday and I'm trying to avoid giving them so much candy.  (I think I still have Easter candy from Colton's first Easter.)  So, I'm keeping things pretty simple.  Here's a look at what's going in their Easter basket.

I'm thinking the Easter basket hunt will have to happen after church or we might have a knock-down, drag-out fight over not wearing our new chore boots to church.  (They are not rain boots at our house, they are chore boots.  Remember, I have farm boys.)  I also opted for dollar section type of toys so I don't feel bad if they get wrecked or if they mysteriously disappear one day.  But, do you all remember water snakes??!! I do - I didn't realize they still made them.  Such a good find!  By the way, I love having young kids, I don't have to work hard at hiding anything!

Easter Basket Source List

Stripe Rain Boots - Target | Black Rain Boots - Target | Ferdinand - Target | Water Snakes - Walgreens | Paddle Ball Paddles - Walmart

Happy Easter!

3 things to do with palms on Palm Sunday

The boys were all mine this weekend while their dad was out of town.  We always have a good time and try to do something special together - just the boys and I.  And honestly, I take pride in taking my kids out in public.  I do my best to teach them how to use their manners, not beg for things and just how to be decent in public.  If someone gets in trouble or acts up, we just go home.

When we are out with our kids, generally, one of two things (sometimes both) happen; First, a complete stranger says, "wow, you have your hands full" to which I reply, "yes, and so is my heart," or the stranger compliments us on how well our boys behave in public. To which I give my most heartfelt "thank you."

You see, my boys are busy.  Most days I love it because they are being creative, silly, learning, and engaged in their surroundings and not watching tv, phones or ipads (which we never allow in public.)  On the flip side, they are busy. Which means that I am always on my toes, trying to referee arguments over toys, keeping them from digging holes in the yard or taking off their boots in the snow.

This weekend I was set on bringing them to the Palm Sunday church service.  One of my "things" during lent was to not let a lame excuse like "my husband it out of town," keep me from going to church. I am a strong believer that attending church is essential in raising children. Believe it or not - we made it to church, early even!  Now, in my scramble to get everyone to church in a pleasant mood, I forgot two important things about Palm Sunday service; 1. We get palms in church. 2. The gospel reading is the Passion of Jesus. Uggghhhh... I said a quick prayer asking God for patience, good behavior and peace.

It was about that time that we began the procession to the alter to take a palm. I thought about avoiding this all together - I had a hunch that palms and kids might get out of control but my feet started to move before my mind made the final decision to stay put. So there we were, a palm in each of my boy's busy hands, headed back to our pew.

My kids are fairly well-behaved in church but remember how I said a couple paragraphs ago that my boys are busy. That showed in true form.  During the reading of The Passion the boys, mostly Colton, discovered 3 things you can do with palms:

1. You can have sword fights with them (duh!)
2. You can tickle people with them - anybody really. In front of you, behind you, next to you. It really doesn't matter. (thank God we have the best church family in the world)
3. You can "go fishing" in the pew ahead of you. (I nearly busted out laughing when my 3-year-old showed me this)

It's true that you can  do all of these things as long as mom doesn't catch you and your being quiet.

The palms also work as a fantastic bribe that sounded something along the lines of: "You can have all of the palms after church is over if you sit quietly." Colton (he's 3) got all of the palms, clearly they were something he desperately wanted.

Here's why I share this story. It's because as moms, we can do hard things as long as we allow ourselves grace and the ability to find humor in the situations put in front of us.  Plus, God doesn't care how we come as long as we are there.