FRIDAY FAVORITES
April 22, 2016 • SHOP
Happy Friday you all! Fri-nally! Our week has been about as crazy as the weather. Spring in Kentucky means it's 45 degrees with rain one day and 80 and sunny the next. So we have been switching back and forth between sweaters and sun dresses the last couple of weeks. Everly's winter wardrobe is running thin so we are desperate for some consistent Spring temps.
So, along with our favorite day of the week, here is a round up of some of our current favorite things!
Pool season is right around the corner and we definitely need one of these Sunnylife radios. There is a pool in the middle of our apartment complex that we plan on taking full advantage of and this will be a must. And since this mom bod isn't quite ready, I am dying for this peplum tankini.
I've got Memorial Day planning on my mind and I have my shopping cart full of Gap's new americana line. These shorts being at the top of that list. We have big plans of grilling out and pontooning so of course the baby has to be dressed appropriately for the holiday.
With the crazy weather we get this time of year, layering is key. This field jacket is perfect for Spring, Fall, or even Winter. And of course I had to find a matching one for Everly. I could totally see us rocking those with our Hunter boots. (Update: the toddler jacket sold out but here is a similar one.)
Chad and I signed up for a gym membership at a local church right next to my new office. The plan is to get our exercise in on our lunch break so we don't have to sacrifice time away from Everly in the evenings. We are so excited to get back in the gym together. It was a ritual we rarely missed when we were newly weds. I'm anxious to hit the free-weights again. I am beyond over all the at-home work outs. So with our new routine comes meal planning. This zesty ranch bake is on the menu for this weekend. It sounds delicious! And a bonus that it's 21 Day Fix approved. I try hard to follow their meal plans... most of the time.
We have started the bidding process in our home build and it's almost time to start choosing all the details of each room. I am always on the lookout for great home inspiration and stumbled across Leah from Simply Fabulous Living. She is in the middle of building a custom home as well. Her Instagram is one of my favorite accounts to follow. All the details of her home are so perfect.
I hope you all have a great weekend filled with lots of fun plans. Thanks for stopping by!
We have started the bidding process in our home build and it's almost time to start choosing all the details of each room. I am always on the lookout for great home inspiration and stumbled across Leah from Simply Fabulous Living. She is in the middle of building a custom home as well. Her Instagram is one of my favorite accounts to follow. All the details of her home are so perfect.
I hope you all have a great weekend filled with lots of fun plans. Thanks for stopping by!
BABY BLUES
April 8, 2016 • MOTHERHOOD
With Everly's second birthday right around the corner, talk of baby number two has become inevitable. Conversations among Chad and I in addition to pressure from friends and family have begun. I go through spells of being ready and then not. I've always imagined I would want multiple children. I came from a big family and absolutely love it. Honestly though, I'm terrified.
Everly's arrival completely rocked my world. The instant we arrived home it felt like the world came crashing down on me. I have experienced complete sadness, loss and heartbreak many times throughout my life. But the depression I experienced after giving birth was unlike anything I had ever felt before.
Everly's arrival completely rocked my world. The instant we arrived home it felt like the world came crashing down on me. I have experienced complete sadness, loss and heartbreak many times throughout my life. But the depression I experienced after giving birth was unlike anything I had ever felt before.
I cried uncontrollably throughout the entire day, for no reason at all. I was terrified of my new life. I felt lonely and lost. I could be in a room full of people and still feel like I was a million miles away, all alone. The day Chad left for work took my depression to a new level. I was so afraid we would never be the same again, that he would never love me the same again. The fear and sadness completely took over my mind and body. I could not eat. I could not sleep. I was pre-baby weight within days of having Everly. It terrified me. Could I even do this whole "mother" thing?
My effort to breastfeed only made it worse. I felt dehumanized, ugly. I felt like this baby was using me, not loving me. I never wanted to leave the house. And even when family and friends came to visit I had to shut myself in a room by myself while I pumped to allow everyone to meet the baby. The lack of sleep and exhaustion began to take a toll on me.
But as the weeks passed by I began to slowly feel like myself again. We finally got into a routine. Within a month Everly slept for the majority of the night, only waking up once for a feeding and quickly falling back asleep. My body began to take shape again and I stopped breastfeeding. Our lives started to feel normal again, a new normal. My relationship with Everly grew a million times over as my emotional state began to heal. She began to interact with me and smile. I fell madly and deeply in love with my baby girl. Chad began to thrive as a new dad as well and it made me even more crazy about him. We finally felt like a family.
So now the questions begin. Will baby #2 change my relationship with Everly? Am I ready to share myself? Can I even love the next baby as much as Everly? Am I prepared to see the heartbreak in Everly's eyes when I can't hold her because I'm holding a new baby? Will I feel the same sadness I felt after giving birth to Everly?
How did you know you were ready for baby number two?
But as the weeks passed by I began to slowly feel like myself again. We finally got into a routine. Within a month Everly slept for the majority of the night, only waking up once for a feeding and quickly falling back asleep. My body began to take shape again and I stopped breastfeeding. Our lives started to feel normal again, a new normal. My relationship with Everly grew a million times over as my emotional state began to heal. She began to interact with me and smile. I fell madly and deeply in love with my baby girl. Chad began to thrive as a new dad as well and it made me even more crazy about him. We finally felt like a family.
So now the questions begin. Will baby #2 change my relationship with Everly? Am I ready to share myself? Can I even love the next baby as much as Everly? Am I prepared to see the heartbreak in Everly's eyes when I can't hold her because I'm holding a new baby? Will I feel the same sadness I felt after giving birth to Everly?
How did you know you were ready for baby number two?
EASTER WEEKEND
April 5, 2016 • HOLIDAYS, MOTHERHOOD
This update is coming a week late. It has been a crazy week with the start of my new job and Chad being in and out of the state for work. I feel like my mind hasn't taken a break. But I am here now and happy to finally write down a recap!
We had such an amazing and fun Easter. We saw the entire family, ate way too much food, praised the Lord, and played until we crashed. Saturday was spent with my side of the family. All of our immediate and extended family near and far came together at my mom's for the day. I absolutely love spending time with everyone. The entire family is so much fun and easy to talk to.
We celebrated with a late lunch with hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, immediately followed by the annual Easter egg hunt. Everly napped for a good two hours so she missed out on that. But we finished the afternoon with bubbles in the backyard and chalk drawings all over Nana's driveway. So I don't think Everly minded too much. The cousins all sat around the table and talked for hours while the kids played outside. I wish every weekend could be like that.
I did a terrible job of taking pictures. I was having too much fun to step away from everyone. Sometimes it's more important to live in the moment rather than constantly trying to capture it.
Everly got her Easter present from Nana a few days early. I had to share this picture from earlier in the week. She was proud as punch over this rain jacket and boots.
On Sunday Everly was visited by the Easter bunny! I had too much fun putting her basket together. Even though she doesn't understand the concept of the character yet, she was still happy to dig through her new presents.
We all got dressed after a quick breakfast and headed to church with the family. Thankfully Everly was well behaved and loved listening to the music. We struggled when the communion plates came around though.
That afternoon we headed to Hartford to spend the day with Chad's side of the family. Everly was greeted with a box of goodies from her Mimi, and of course she always loves seeing her Uncle Brock "Bock". The rain came pouring down when we arrived so we spent the day inside coloring and watching Mickey with everyone. We headed home that night with an overly tired baby. So I climbed in the backseat with her to hum Amazing Grace, which always seems to calm her down. She was asleep within two verses of the song.
Aunt Leslie and Uncle Logan spent the weekend in Florida. But they made sure to stop by a couple days later for a visit before they returned to Knoxville.
We had such a fun week with everyone. It was definitely one of my favorite Easters to date. I hope you all are having a great week! Thanks for stopping by!
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