it's Christmas!

We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year!

support for law enforcement

As a law enforcement wife, I am especially proud of my hard working & selfless husband who goes out day after day to help others. 

Wear blue today and show your support for law enforcement!

wild & fearless

I've mentioned before... but I definitely have a wild one on my hands and he goes by the name of Truett. 

This guy. I tell ya, he is fearless!

And unfortunately, with that fearlessness, has come a whole slew of owies. 

Since learning to crawl & stand he has had his fair share of head bangs and tumbles. Fortunately, nothing too alarming. But boy, no matter how closely I watch him, he always seems to find a way to go crashing into something. 

Just the other day he was fighting his nap and decided to stand up in his crib, lost his balance, and banged his forehead into the crib rail. Ugh! Talk about serious sad face (mostly me, he was a trooper & barely cried). He was upset for a minute or two but he has a lovely little goose egg to show for it. 

Poor guy is just too clumsy right now!

Okay, mamas - tell me, does it get better? Or should I be finding a padded house to live in?

oops i went MIA..

Well, well, where do I even begin?

Life has been a wee bit cray here at the House. And I guess I can blame that on a number of things but really, blogging has taken a back seat, and I apologize. Kinda. Honestly, my head has been spinning so really nothing I could have written would have even been semi-logical.. not that it usually ever is but you catch my drift.

Between organizing the House and preparing to put it on the market next month, that and chasing after a teething, crawling, lets-get-into-everything, little monkey.. I have had like zero time. Now that's not to say I haven't had any time to sit down and blog my heart out. But let's be real.. I've chosen those few moments to ya know... shower, drink some wine, brush my hair.. the important things in life.

Oh and am I the only one slightly, slightly overwhelmed by all the holiday madness? I mean, I know it hits me hard every year but THIS year.. way hard.

I'm trying to enjoy every second of it though, as this is the first holiday season with my sweet & crazy little man. Watching his eyes light up when we decorated our tree was pure joy in my heart. Focusing on soaking that all in along with him is really important to me and I'm doing my best do remember to slow down and enjoy it all.

So, that's that.

I'm back. And I know you missed me terribly (ahem...right?).. but I'm going to do much better at being a good blogger and you know, actually do the whole posting thing maybe.

Smell ya later!

seven months [truett]

A few days late but here we are! Seven months baby. 

Weight/Height: He was 21lbs at his 6 month check up so I would guess he's about 22lbs now and around 28". 

Clothes: All 12 month clothes but his sleepers are getting a little snug so sometimes we put him in 12-18 mo. 

Sleep: I've been working on weaning him from his 2am feeding the last few days so we shall see how that goes. But really he wakes once or twice per night still. Which I'm okay with for now. 

Feeding: nursing and two "meals" a day. He has some banana for breakfast and then a veggie with some puffs for dinner. He really likes to feed himself so we aren't doing too many puréed foods right now, mostly finger foods. He is so independent these days!

Likes: He is such a wild man! He loves to climb on everything and see what kind of mischief he can get himself into. He likes to stand and then try to let go but he isn't quite coordinated enough to do so. Poor guy got his mamas coordination with his daddy's fearlessness. What a combo!

Dislikes: Nap time. What fun. 

Milestones: He is crawling and standing with support. He tries to let go but falls. He has a total of four teeth now with 2 more top teeth coming in and I might have spotted another on the bottom working its way through too. He also has had 2 boo-boos this month. He is quite the brut and ran straight into a chair leg, barely cried, but got a little scratch on his eyebrow. The next day he banged his tooth into his favorite toy! This guy! Such a handful I tell ya. 

Events: first thanksgiving! He actually did really well with all the hoopla that day. We were, as usual, all over the place and he did great. He had a nice long nap midday and trooped through dinner. 

We got our Christmas tree this past week too and that was so much fun to do with him. He loves it! And even though we are still working on the whole "no touch" deal, he has actually done really well with it. 

And a quick mama update:

Weight Loss: Down about 5lb since last month. Progress is progress. Right? ...

Other Changes: I quit dairy again in hopes of helping with his eczema and it seems to help. Which is good for him but sad for me. I miss you cheese!

twenty five

Happy 25th birthday to this handsome fella I'm so lucky to call my husband! I love you Vincent. 

matching mama & babe

There are very few times in True's life that he will be able to match his mama (ya know... with him being a boy & all!). And he is the spitting image of his daddy, so he is already his twin. So I just couldn't help myself when I found these adorable Minnetonka Sheepskin Bootie!

Super cozy inside and perfect for the cooler temps we have been seeing the past few weeks. 

And might I add he looks pretty dang cute in them! 

He's fearless I tell ya. Already trying to let go of my hand. Not yet, little one, not yet. 

(not sponsored, just love these!)

house update // selections

Well I'm delighted to tell you that I survived the selections meeting this past week. I know how nervous you were about that. (ha!)

But it sure was overwhelming!

I'm feeling pretty excited about the options that we chose and I think it all came together really nicely. 

Here's a little sneak peak at the kitchen scheme we have going on..

^^^ floors, with granite counter, and the tile below is for the back splash in the kitchen that we are going to do as subway tile. 

I forgot to take a picture of the sample of cabinets but we are doing white cabinets in the kitchen. 

I'm going for a rustic, farmhouse look and really hoping it all works out. It was pretty overwhelming walking in there and seeing so many options! 

We were told they would start digging on Thursday but it didn't work out that way. Hoping that when we go visit next week something will be under way. I'll keep you in the loop cause I know you're just dying to know! 

Have a great weekend!

& then he stood up..

So this happened Friday evening....

(watch the video on my instagram here)

... And I'm freaking slightly (ok, majorly) that my little baby is no longer a tiny baby anymore. He is seriously growing up way too fast!

Time to baby proof.

Any advice, mamas, on any items that saved your sanity?

one year!

... to me!

It's hard to believe that just one year ago I was pregnant and starting this blog.

Thank you all so much for reading and sticking by my side this past year!

Some of my favorite posts to date:

18 Weeks Pregnant + Gender Reveal

Why I Fired My OB/GYN

What To Expect - The UGLY

Truett's Birth Story

That Time I Ate My Placenta

Have a great week & thank you again!

ten things im thankful for

It's November folks! And officially my favorite time of year. I love thanksgiving. But come on, who doesn't? And in honor of the holiday, I'm making up a list of ten things I am thankful for right now. I challenge you to do the same! 

1. My sweet, healthy baby boy. He really is such a happy child and I am so thankful for him. 

2. My kick-ass husband who works so hard to provide for our family, continues to challenge me, and loves me unconditionally. Not to mention, he is the best dad to our little man!

3. Family. I love our families, we really are freakin lucky to have such a great support system behind us. 

4. Afternoon strolls with my sweet babe and smelling that fresh crisp air. 

5. My health & my family's health. We really are so fortunate to be healthy and happy and I am very thankful for that. 

6. Our warm home. Nothing makes me happier than snuggling by the fire with my boys. I am so thankful for days like that and for the home that my husband has worked so hard for. 

7. Being a stay at home mama. I feel so lucky to be able to stay home and raise our son. I remember when I was younger always dreaming of having a family and I knew I wanted to stay home and do so. I am very thankful that I am able to do just that. 

8. Starbucks holiday cups. You best believe I went out first thing Saturday to get the first holiday cup of the season.

9. The birth of my son. I know I already said how thankful I am for him but I'm also feeling very thankful for his birth and that everything went smoothly and according to plan. I know there are so many things that can go awry during the birthing process and I feel so fortunate to have had a healthy labor & delivery. 

10. All of you! This whole blog world has really opened my eyes and I feel so lucky to have "met" so many of you. I love getting to know my readers and finding new blogs to follow as well. And if you are new to the House, welcome! And thank you so, so much for sharing in this journey of mine!

What are you thankful for? I listed some silly little things and I'm sure I could find plenty more serious ones, but figured I would try to keep it "light" and not get too deep on y'all. I would love to hear what you are thankful for too! 

xo

six months old [truett]

Happy Half-Birthday sweet boy!!

Weight/Height: His six month check up isn't until next week so we won't have an accurate number til then. But I'm guessing he's a little over 20lbs now. 

Clothes: He has outgrown all of his clothes! Ah! I swear I feel like I buy new clothes every week. For now, he is in 12 month but I'm sure he could easily go up another size. 

Sleep: He had on really rough week, waking up anywhere from 3-4 times per night! I felt like I had a newborn again. But now he is on a much better schedule. He goes to bed around 6:30-7, wakes up once around 2 or 3 to nurse and then up for the day around 5 or 6. Only once per night! Such a huge change and it's been so great. He seems happier too now that he's getting better sleep at night. 

Feeding: Nursing still. My initial goal was to make it to six months, so yay I'm there! Now my next goal will be to 9 months. We have also added one "meal" a day, usually lunch time he gets some sort of veggie. He still hasn't quite figured out the while swallowing deal haha but it's so cute to see him try! 

Likes: He loves the doggies and is always trying to pet them, but really just ends up grabbing their fur. Lola doesn't mind but Leo is such a baby and cries and runs away. They are really good with him though! He loves to crawl around on the floor and play with his toys. He has also been loving walks in his stroller. 

Dislikes: Still not a fan of long car rides but if they are short he does great! He also hasn't been a huge fan of his exersaucer bouncer as of lately. He would much rather roll around on the floor. 

Milestones: He's had a big month! He can sit all by himself without any support. He has started crawling and scooting around. The crawling is so cute! He can make it a few steps before crashing but overall he does really well getting around. He is sleeping a ton better so that's a huge milestone too! And he said "mama" this past month too! He said "da" the other day but not the full "dada" yet. 

Events: First trip to the pumpkin patch! & His first Halloween! 

And a quick mama update:

Weight Loss: Down a couple since last time. Nothing major. 

Other Changes: My monthly visitor came back this past month. That's been real fun. Not. But on the up side my hair is growing back in. I have lovely little baby hairs that poke out all over. 

happy halloween!

This little monkey is wishing you a very happy halloween! 

More pics to come, of course. 

Can't wait to see your littles all dressed up too!

a million...

 ...that's how many things there are to decide/choose for the new house. At least it sure feels like it anyway!

Our offer for the new house was accepted back in August and things have been rather slow since then. They won't begin building til mid-November so it's been pretty quiet. We are lucky though to be getting in so early because that means we get to pick everything out and customize it a bit!

Last Friday we had a meeting with our builder to give us the skinny on what our selections appointment would be like. Basically he told us we have to pick everything out for the entire house at this 3-4 hour meeting. Oh and we can't change our minds on a single thing. Say what?!

So you best believe I have been on Pinterest like a mad woman. 

And yes, my poor husband. I'm probably, no, definitely driving him crazy with all my decision making. I guess I'm kind of indecisive about some things... ha! (if you're reading this Vince, stop with the eye rolls! jk)

But really. How am I supposed to pick out hardwoods, carpet, paint colors, cabinet style, and all that jazz in a 3 hour meeting? And did I mention I haven't even seen any of the options yet? Such a silly plan I tell ya!

We are so over the moon with the new house beginning construction next month. But I do think I might lose my marbles trying to figure this all out. 

Any tips for me on how to get organized and make real, lasting decisions? I'm scared to pick the wrong thing and then getting stuck with it. 

cuddles + a giveaway

Well, I apologize for my lack of content today but I currently have a (finally!!!) sleeping baby strapped to my chest...

Poor guy has been on a nap strike... so this is how we'll be rollin today.

To make up for my lack of posting, we have $150 giveaway going on over at September Farm! Enter below..

jess | nelle | kaelene
amy | karli | sarah
rachael | jamie | lisa
ali | alycia

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

cinnamon apple cobbler

Nothing says fall quite like a fresh baked apple cobbler!

Last week while visiting with family, my grandma (who we call Nonnie) brought me a bunch of apples from the tree in her yard and said that they would be perfect for baking with. Now, I'm not as great of a baker as Nonnie, but I must say that this apple cobbler is to die for. Serve warm with a scoop (or two) of ice cream and try not to eat the whole thing in one sitting!

Ingredients

Makes about 6 servings

Apple Filling:

5-6 apples - peeled, cored, and sliced (I'm not certain on the kind of apples that grow in Nonnie's yard but I would recommend a tart apple for this recipe)

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Cobbled Topping:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup softened butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup boiling water

1 - Preheat oven to 425° and coat baking dish of choice with cooking spray. 

2 - Toss apple slices with lemon juice. Add sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch and mix until coated throughout. Then set aside.

3 - In a mixing bowl (I used one attached to my KitchenAid Mixer), add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add softened butter to dry mix.

5 - Then in a small bowl, heat up 1/4 cup water in microwave til almost boiling and add vanilla.

6 - Add vanilla water to dry mix and combine until dough becomes sticky.

7 - Pour apples into baking dish and using your fingers, plop small pieces of dough over the top of the apple filling. Try not to work the dough too much and be sure to cover apples somewhat evenly.

8 - Bake for 25 minutes.

And enjoy!

Linking up with Annie & Natalie this week during Thoughts for Thursday. 

$125 cash up for grabs!

What's that you say? 

Another cash giveaway!? 

Oh yes please!

Go check out these lovely ladies and enter for your chance to win $125 buckaroos.

Liz | Jess | Tawnya

Penny | A Mommy App | Ali

Amy | Karissa | Jaelan

a Rafflecopter giveaway

life lately [truett]

Head over to the Farmer's Wife and check out a fun Q&A sesh with me today! This girl is awesome sauce and her two boys are stinkin' adorable. Go check her out!

I feel like so much has happened since Truett's five month update that I just need to post about it.

This guy has been checking off so many milestones lately.

He can sit by himself.

He is army crawling.

He is so close to actually crawling, it's kind of scary. He has the motions down but can't figure out how to do it all at the same time just yet.

He said 'MA MA' the other day! I swear it. I even have it on video. I had been working really hard at it and I swear it's probably the only thing he ever hears me say because I really wanted it to be his first word. And it was! I was in total shock and thought I was losing my mind but nope, I got it on video!

He is changing so much, guys, and I can barely keep up. I seriously can't take my eyes off of him for even a second without worrying I might miss something.. or that he might just take off rolling across the room.

And that he has.

playroom inspiration

Since our new home will begin construction next month, I have been dreaming up a storm for ideas on our new playroom.

The upstairs has a huge bonus room that we plan to turn into a room for Truett and future kiddos to play in and I have been browsing Pinterest like crazy trying to find some fun ideas for it.

I'm thinking I want a theme.. but at the same time, I don't want it to look too "theme-y," if that makes any sense at all..

I have been eyeing these teepees by B.E. Little You and Me and think it would be a fun addition to the playroom. True won't be able to fully enjoy it til he is a little older, but that doesn't mean I can't! I imagine getting all snuggly inside and reading stories..

[source]

I would love to do a big chalkboard wall like this as well. And of course, lots of book shelves!

[source]

[source]

And, of course, we'd need some rules...

[source]

I can't wait to get started on decorating and organizing for this room. It will be so nice to have a spot specifically for True and his buddies (aka my nephews) to play in one day.

You can find more of my Playroom Inspiration here.

What are your must-have playroom items/pieces? Anything you think is a must for True's new playroom?

[oh hey friday] | randoms

[one] Vince and I celebrated our 9th anniversary last Friday. Yep, you read that right. We have been dating for nine years! Crazy, I know. We had his mom come over to watch True for the night while we went out and enjoyed some fondue. It was delicious. And definitely a much needed night out for us. When we came home, True had woken up, but was fast asleep on Grandma's shoulder. It was so sweet to see and made me very happy that he was comfy and content with his Grandma.

[two] True is going through some major growing slash milestone hitting slash teething slash you name it. His favorite thing to do right now is to army crawl all over the house or to sit and bang on his Baby Einstein piano.

[three] I'm working on a fun new project that I just can't wait to share with you guys.. so here is a quick sneak peak. I'll give you a hint. It involves paint, wood, and this vinegar & steel wool stain I mixed up. Any ideas? No? Okay, just you wait!

[four] I saw this on Facebook the other day and just had to share. I know some of my mommy friends could really use this little reminder...

[five] I participated in a Journal Swap last month and was paired up with the lovely Donna at Grace & Galoshes. It was my first time doing a swap of any kind but it was really fun to be paired up with someone, learn about them, and discover a new blog. I wish I had taken a picture of the journal I sent to Donna (bad blogger moment!) but here is the one she sent me. I sure do love a good mint chevron!

Welp, that was my week! How was yours?

Linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday and Karli & Amy for Oh, Hey Friday!

a mommy app: review

Okay, all my fellow mommy app lovers out there, this post is for you!

I'm excited to be sharing with you all this fun and new app that was just released this past week. This new app is called A Mommy App and was created by husband and wife team, Jon & Tiffany, who are registered nurses and parents of two sweet little ones. The app was created for mommies to enjoy, document their little one's milestones, and even for a little bit of stress relief. And don't we all need a little bit of that!

You can read all about the features here, but first let me share a few of my favorites:

[My Kids] - Okay, not gonna lie, this was probably my favorite part! I love anything personalized and this was a lot of fun to create a little space for my babe. I decided to go with a fun winter theme.. maybe because it's freezing cold in my house, but whatev. I added a little deer, some snow, and made it nighttime. You can personalize it anyway you want and there are a bunch of fun little images to add. I think this would be a lot of fun to do with older little ones so they could help pick it all out with you. On the sides there are little arrows where you click and out pops a milestone tracker, likes, dislikes, and upcoming appointments and such.

[My Pregnancy] - No, no I am not pregnant. BUT this was funny to play around with. I took the 'Am I Pregnant' quiz for kicks and giggles and my result...

"Eat a cupcake".. Don't have to tell me twice! 

[Stress Relief] - I'm pretty much obsessed with True's sound machine but this stress relief portion of the app is the bee's knees. My favorite sound would have to be the thunder storm. Yes, yes, I know, I live in the PNW so I can just open my window and hear rain.. but we never get real storms! Also, you can click on whatever mood you are in and little affirmations and notes of encouragement will pop up. So thoughtful! 

Alright, now off you go & try out this new app.. I'm off to eat that cupcake now! 

The deets:
- You can purchase A Mommy App through the website here: www.amommyapp.com for $0.99 (such a steal!) available on iPhone and Android phones.
- Join The Mommy Glow community and follow along via Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.

This post was brought to you by A Mommy App.

pumpkin patch pickins

Every year we have a tradition with all of Vince's family to go to the Pumpkin Patch and pick out some pumpkins. This time last year, I was pregnant with Truett and nobody knew it yet! It was especially exciting to think about how fun it would be the following year to bring him along with. Little did we all know, there would be two more babies added to the bunch!

The weather was overcast but the perfect temperature. And since it was a Friday afternoon we practically had the entire farm to ourselves!

He takes the pumpkin patch very seriously, guys.

We trekked through the fields in our rain boots, picked out a bunch a few pretty pumpkins, and munched on some kettle corn. Vince bought some pickled somethin' or other.. (can you tell I don't like pickles?) and overall, it was a great day! 

And I think this little guy really enjoyed his first time too.

Can't wait for next year when I'm sure I'll be chasing this little monkey through the corn maze, riding on the tractor, and pickin out more pumpkins!

xo