Ramblings of a Mom of 2

long time no blog, my mind is overwhelmed with hot weather...

Sometimes naptime includes momma... especially with this terrible humid hotness lately. 

Where is fall??

I end up with a lot of pictures like this on my phone. 

She is so funny & I'm beginning to hear "Whats this & Whats that" all day long and strangely I love those little questions. 

She is not liking the weather either and takes it out on me. Oh well lol.

I really like food -

Paul Martin Grill

go there now

He is super sweet 70% of the time and the other 30% he is teething. 

Poor guy has a streaming river out of his mouth, soaked drooly wet onesies for days. 

Plus the saddest tears when I put him down. 

He may be a more needy baby than Hayden was but I don't care cause his smile & dimples wreck me every time . 

My friend

Kim's

 3rd Annual Mug Swap happened this past week, I have participated every year. I love everything about it, the joy in finding and deciding on a mug and bits for someone else and then knowing one for you can come at any moment. It's a whole lot of fun! My mug came from another Emily, Emily Hope of

Hope Ink

to be exact. I've been loving the mug she customized and of course she sent some of her inspiring artwork along too. Which is happily placed next to my washi tape storage. 

I was assigned to get a mug for

Kate

 of Songs Kate Sang, she stated her preferred style was

simply relaxed & romantic

. With that direction I opted for a simple feather mug with gold detail from Target's Threshold line. I threw in one of my handmade crocheted coasters, two summer teas from David's tea & some fun little bits including her name on Dymo tape. Always fun to pack up all the stuff and I'm so glad Kate liked it!

Coming out of the Baby Haze...

-

 Zach

turned 6 weeks old yesterday. It seriously goes by way too fast but there is something special about this boy. I've been trying to savor every moment with him, we are 80% sure he won't be the last Tucker baby but you never know. He is a milk beast... & now weighs 10 lb. He also really likes to spit up and drool on me. Mama's boy might be an understatement. 

-

Hayden

will be 2 next week, I might cry. We are keeping it low key this year. Planning for a fun day trip with her cousins next week though. She is funny and frightening all at the same time. Tantrums come and go. Mine is the new word of the week unfortunately.. but the other new thing 12ish smothering kisses in a row is the best. 

- I ordered 6 months of pictures for my project life album, so be on the lookout for pages and bits of my scrapbooking process soon. Time to get cracking on my studio calico project life kits. 

- Reading Bread & Wine still

- Bart strike = lame 

- If you like oatmeal make this => 

Overnight, Slow Cooker, Banana & Coconut Milk Steel-Cut Oatmeal

but if you don't make this =>

Fancy Mac & Cheese instead

hi we're alive here

We've done a lot over the past 3 months, which is by far the longest true bloggy break I've ever taken. In a way I needed it but on the other side there was no other choice. My first trimester this 2nd pregnancy has been overwhelming with the mix of work & toddler. It surprised me a lot because 1st pregnancy I had 2 jobs during my first trimester and yes was overwhelmed then too but in such a different way. I was mentally just demolished for a period and trying to figure out my footing in life but after this Christmas season I am back and have gained some useful tools for future periods of depression & anxiety.

I am now 18 weeks & 2 days, which I wouldn't know if I didn't have an app that told me. Its funny the contrast from 1st pregnancy- where every detail is SO important to 2nd pregnancy- in which I'm lucky if I remember my due date. I have the worst case of preggo brain, so if you ask me something involving a date farther than a week from now I will look really concerned and frustrated for a minute and then maybe if you are lucky have the right answer.

Hayden will be 18 months next week and I can't believe it. I have been watching videos from her first year and I was in shock of how much she really has grown and how she really isn't bald anymore. We are gradually incorporating potty training into our routine and Hayden has already peed on her potty once. She sometimes is now picky about foods but mostly on the factor if she can feed it to herself. Her signing and speech is crazy good, she is adding a few new words to her vocabulary every week. In the past month Hayden has been adding in some short sentences as well but I am most proud of her manners, she signs and says her pleases and thank you's very often with little prompting when speaking to Patrick and I and often none when speaking to others. She is quite the ball of energy and scary good at climbing, this makes my job a little harder but by far my favorite part of my day.

-xo emily

Hayden's First Birthday Party: Part 3

Here it is, finally the finale of our Hayden-boo girl's 1st birthday party and sadly now only a week away from her turning 13 months old. 

Warning: lots of photos

friends arriving

ladies mingling

cousins & auntie

playtime interlude

mylie + hayden = love & giggles

peek a boo

former grand girls

mama, what is going on?

now why is everyone staring at me?

why is that on f i r e?

really people, whats going on here?

m e s s y

this isn't that exciting... 

this pic could use some lasers and cats

We are beyond blessed with a fabulous support system made up of really amazing family and friends!

Hayden's First Birthday Party: Part 2

Back again today with some more recap & how I planned out Hayden's first birthday.

Missed the first part on how the theme was inspired, read it HERE.

Next step... Plan Menu:

I wanted to take a little inspiration from the theme of the party, so most of the food choices are apple inspired.

Waffle sticks: cinnamon apple & jalapeno cheddar, Caramel dipping sauce, Veggies + ranch, PB/Apple butter sandwiches, Pretzels, Turkey Club wraps, Peanut Butter dip, Fruit to dip, Cole slaw, Italian Pasta salad, Baked Mac & Cheese Bites, Dwarf Dogs (mini corn dogs) and Caramel Apple cupcakes

All prepped and ready

Peanut butter dip & PB/Apple butter sandwiches

Cupcake smash cake - I made white pound cake from a box ;)

Almost all the food I was able to prep the night before plus some help from my sister-in-law.

Part 3 coming later this week...


-xo emily

Hayden's First Birthday Party: Part 1

First birthdays are always the most important, even though its really a party for mommy and daddy surviving the first year. So of course I was on a mission to make Hayden's special but not crazy. I personally believe kids birthday parties should be simple and tasteful. I'm am very open (i.e. too open) with my dislike of typical themed kids parties, no generic Disney Princess or Cars theme here.  

Enter the inspiration: 

Clearance apple tablecloths from Target!

Apple tablecloth = Snow White poison appleish theme

Invites:

Adorable invite I made! First ever I've made and had printed through Overnight Prints.

Beyond those 2 items I wasn't really worried about decor since we were having it at the park. If we had hosted at home I would have done more crafty things. 

Favors:

Awesome bags found in the $1 dollar section at Target. Which I found after I had already made the invitations chevron background. Kinda freaked me out a little.. 

Contents: Caramel apple pops- normally I wouldn't give children candy but they fit with the theme too perfectly, Lip Smackers - in gender neutral sporty flavors w/ Spf 24 & food/dessert erasers from Target's kids party favor section.

...to be continued Monday!

-xo emily