TWO

a few of my favorite pictures of Fos over the last two years

Yesterday my little nugget baby turned two. In some ways I feel like he's been in our family forever, and in other ways I feel like those two years raced by and it was just a few weeks ago that he was born and we were moving to California! He is the most special, sweet, tender hearted baby, is the biggest mama's boy, and adds so much to our family. I don't know how I ever lived without him.

He talks non-stop and parrots everything and anything that anyone says, loves motorcycles and fire trucks the most, can recognize and name all the capital letters and many of the lower case letters, can count to 14 (and then starts skipping numbers), loves to be outside, loves to sing, is a champion sleeper (and sleeps in til at least 9 every day), is incredibly polite (he always says "yes, please" and "no, please") and wants to do everything that his older brother does.  He also really loves pancakes.

We spent the weekend celebrating with a family trip to Disneyland, a trunk or treat church activity, and an Olaf cake and balloons on his actual birthday (you can see more about the weekend over on my instagram!) It was the funnest weekend. And he spent a lot of it singing Happy Birthday to himself :)

Happy birthday, sweet boy!

CRAFTING WITH KIDS: MONOGRAMMED LIBRARY BAGS

A few weeks ago I posted about my mom confession that I'm a lousy projecting mom. But after some encouraging comments, I realized that maybe I just needed to try easier projects...ones that didn't take up an entire day, or ones that my child could actually do himself with only a little help from me, and ones that he's actually interested in. Revolutionary, I know.

So we've been tackling a few easier projects together lately, and just this little change has made a big difference. I mean, I still don't love to craft with them, but I'm getting better.

Our first project together was some easy monogrammed tote bags. Both boys absolutely love books, and every time we go to the library they can go a little overboard and then I end up carrying the stack of thirty books out to the car by myself (all the while trying to keep both of them from running in the street). So the new rule is that they each get a tote bag, and they can bring home as many books as they can carry!

Materials:

• Tote Bags (I got mine in a goody bag a few years ago; similar here)
• Fabric Paint
• Sponge Brush
• Freezer Paper

Directions: Draw out the initial on the non-shiny side of the freezer paper. Cut out the shape and iron in place on the tote bag til all edges are sealed to the bag. Let your kids paint in the cut-out letter. Allow one hour to dry before peeling off the freezer paper. Then let your kids paint the back side of the tote bag however they'd like (this was B's favorite part)! 

Now take to the library and let your kids enjoy filling their special tote with books!

blurry, but I love that little face. had to include it. 

He found Junie B. Jones books! :)

Happy crafting with your kids!

FAMILY PHOTOS + MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Family pictures are always a bit of a chore for me. I take pictures of myself almost every day so I don't mind being in front of the camera at all. But my boys are another story -- Peanut never looks at the camera and has a silly wide-open mouth smile (which I love, but not all the time), Buck is one so obviously he doesn't sit still, and Philip just doesn't love getting his picture taken. 

So this year, as always, I went into our family photoshoot with a bit of trepidation. But Sara of Sara Walk Photography did them for us and she was beyond fantastic. She came prepped with fruit snacks for my boys (as a reward for great smiles), little props to get them to look at the camera, and a lot of energy. When I got them back I was THRILLED with how many we got with the boys smiling and looking at the camera and sitting still....a Christmas miracle! Sara is an Orange County photographer, and her rates are amazing, so if you're looking for someone for photos this year, she is definitely your girl.

photos by Sara Walk Photography

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

____________________________
me:
gingham: forever 21 (similar)
skirt: c/o corilynn
tights: c/o we love colors
boots: forever 21 (similar)

peanut:
sweater: target (similar)
gingham: h&m
jeans: c/o tea collection
boots: old navy

buck:
sweater: c/o joules
leggings: target
shoes: old navy

MOMIFORM AND KID STYLE WITH JOULES

that little belly poking out just kills me! 

During the fall and winter, my go-to momiform is simple layers. I'm gravitating toward sweatshirts this fall, and a cute graphic one layered with a plaid shirt is so easy, but makes your outfit look purposeful. Throw on a pretty puffer vest and you're cozy for colder days, but can easily shed layers if the weather warms up (I wish I'd taken a picture of the inside of this vest -- it has the most gorgeous floral pattern that makes for a subtle bit of pattern mixing when it peeks out).

For my kids, I've learned that durable pieces are absolutely essential. My boys are constantly outside, so I put them in pieces that won't wear out after only a few wears. Peanut's rain boots from Joules are incredibly high quality and are his absolute favorite shoes, and Buck's sweater is cozy, very well made, and pretty much the cutest baby sweater I've ever seen. Joules has lots more fabulous clothing for little boys -- check them out here!

__________________________

my outfit:

vest: c/o joules 

plaid top: old navy

sweatshirt: old navy

jeans: american eagle

boots: c/o chicwish

peanut's outfit:

top: target

jeans: c/o tea collection

boots: c/o joules

buck's outfit:
sweater: c/o joules
leggings: target
moccs: old navy (old, similar)

THE WEEKEND

Over the weekend, my parents came into town. They make a trip to LA for my Dad's birthday every year, stay at the same fancy hotel, rent a convertible, and spend an evening at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. This year, since we're close, they invited us to go with them, but I'll share more about that later this week! 

On Saturday, Philip had a golf date with his boss in the morning and several basketball games in the evening, so the boys and I headed to Irvine to meet up with my parents. We spent the day at the Great Park, riding the unlimited for $3 carousel, playing on the playground, and riding up in the air balloon. After a few busy weeks of work, it was the perfect day to relax and spend time with my family.  

___________________________
me:
jacket: c/o persunmall
tee: h&m
jeans: american eagle
boots: c/o jellypop
sunglasses: c/o choies
bag: c/o lily jade

peanut:
hat: h&m
vest: c/o kapital k
shirt: c/o tea collection
shorts: c/o kohls

buck:
overalls: target
button up: c/o kapital k

12 MONTHS

I'm a little late on this, but my baby is twelve months! I can hardly believe it. In some ways this year has gone by slowly, and it seems like ages ago that we were moving to Huntington Beach, but in other ways it has flown by so quickly.

This baby is the light of our lives. He is such a happy little baby, and is the most beautiful boy you've ever seen (at least that's what I'm told almost every day by random strangers ;))

Here are twelve things about my baby at twelve months:

1. As far as we can tell, he's left handed. I put things in his right hand all the time and he'll immediately switch them to his left hand. Any hammering with toys, or coloring with crayons and chalk is done with his left hand. 
2. He is obsessed with going outside. With the amazing weather we always have in HB, Peanut is outside in our backyard constantly. Of course baby Buck wants to follow, and then I spend the entire time making sure he doesn't eat a rock or a snail. 
3. He's not walking yet, and is still refusing to stand unless he's holding on to something, but since he's the second child I'm not one bit worried about it and am just enjoying the crawling phase as long as possible! 
4. He has five teeth now -- the tooth to the right of his top front teeth just popped through a few weeks ago!
5. He is a tummy sleeper, and when we go check on him before we go to bed every night he is bundled up in a little ball with his bum in the air. It kills me every time. 
6. One of my very favorite things that he's starting doing this month is holding my hand. Whenever he nurses (two or three times a day), we sit quietly on the couch or the bed and he reaches up and interlocks his little tiny fingers through mine. I can't even describe how much I love it. 
7. He is no longer interested in baby food at all...any time I am eating something, he just sits there and screams "ma, ma, ma!" (more, more, more!) until I give him some. It's actually really nice though cause he eats everything and anything that I make for dinner along with the rest of us. One less thing to prepare, hooray!
8. This month he's learned how to give kisses. Yes, they're big open mouthed, tongue out, horribly slobbery kisses, but they're kisses nonetheless. And if you ask him for a kiss, he knows to lean forward and open up ;) 
9. He's developed such a mischievous little attitude, and if you tell him not to do something, he'll look at you with a little wry smile and do the exact thing you're telling him not to. 
10. His signature move is a little ankle cross, and he always does it when he's relaxed or sleeping. I always know when he's tired or sleeping in his carseat, even if I can't see his face, because I look back and see those little crossed ankles. 
11. He said his first real word this week! As I was putting him down one night, I asked him if he was ready to go "ni-night," and he looked at me and said, "ny-ny!" He said it to me several times over the next few days every time it was nap or bed time, but now that he's gotten such big reactions from it he's suddenly refusing to do it :) 
12. In addition to that word, he says "mamamama," "dadadadada," "nananana," and does a lot of spitting and raspberries! 

Check out how much he's grown (and how blonde he's gotten!!) over the last 12 months! 

OVER THE WEEKEND

Over the weekend, Philip's family came into town to help celebrate Buck's first birthday. Between a visit to the pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins, attending our church Trunk or Treat, spending a day at Knott's Berry Farm, and of course throwing a little party, outdoor dinner-party style, for my baby, we had a total blast. Lots of fun, lots of good food, and, of course, great company.

However, with five kids under five in the house, the downside was that there wasn't a whole lot of sleeping involved...my boys usually sleep in their own rooms, so putting them in the same room for the weekend was not their favorite. On Sunday night they were finally back in their own spaces, and poor Buck slept in until 10:30am the next morning -- think he was a little worn out from the weekend?

Enjoy a whole bunch of photos.

sweater c/o lulu*s, wedges from forever 21 

leggings c/o white plum boutique -- don't forget to enter my giveaway here!

crown c/o Lil Sugar Bowtique

candles from target