tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58511993668973331532024-03-14T02:04:19.930-05:00This, tooEven the ordinary is an adventureKarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.comBlogger332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-85402468941850090972017-03-16T07:00:00.000-05:002017-03-16T07:00:14.774-05:00JUST LISTENING<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I dress Everly the way I want to dress and am dismayed I still can't find that lemon tee in my size. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her cousin got into the lipstick that morning:)</td></tr>
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There's a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Alphabet-Parade-Music-Learning/dp/B004FLIDZO" target="_blank">kids CD</a> that has become a permanent fixture in our van since summer. We got it from our friends, and I thought I'd give it a try since it seemed less creepy than a lot of the traditional nursery rhymes. Especially the one about the old lady swallowing the fly. Ick. Now every time I start the engine, though, I cringe a little bit as the same songs about "big A" and "little a" marching down the street start up again. These songs have become the soundtrack to my dreams. I guess it's only natural after you've heard a song for the 50th bajillion time. But Everly seems to like them and they are pretty catchy, so the CD stays on repeat. <br />
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The other day, I pulled into a parking spot at work and noticed that I had kept the CD playing even after I had dropped Everly off at daycare. Normally I switch to the radio or a podcast, but those songs have become so synonymous with her in the car with me that I wanted to listen a little while longer.<br />
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Not humming or singing along. Just listening.<br />
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I find myself listening more these days and wanting to talk, or maybe it's share, less. I've started several posts for this blog, but just haven't felt the urge to finish any of them. In the same vein, I've begun multiple photo books and printed off pictures in an effort to continue documenting every mundane and momentous moment with Everly, but seem to just stop after a day or two. These things feel like clouds hanging over me, following me around and reminding me I have unfinished business. But I like this season of quiet.<br />
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Mainly because it allows me to hear a little voice in the backseat say "buh-bye" a 100 times as she waves to every car we pass. As Everly is finding her voice, I find my voice becoming quieter. Not in a bad or sad way. Just in a way that quiets everything down so I can listen more.<br />
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I listen for the sound of the thud of a book she throws out of her crib and the inevitable cry that follows as she tells me she's ready to get up in the morning. <br />
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I listen for her little feet, stomp stomp stomping as she chases me around the house.<br />
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I listen for her infectious giggle turn into uncontrollable belly laughs as I tickle her. <br />
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I listen for those words that aren't quite words yet as she tells me a story so emphatically you'd think she'd seen a unicorn a daycare. <br />
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I listen as she whispers nonsense in my ear and then pulls my head close to hers so that our foreheads touch just so. <br />
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And when the day is done, and I sink into bed exhausted, I lay still a bit and listen to it all over again in my head. <br />
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And then of course, "big A, little a, marching down the street" starts up again as I drift off to sleep.<br />
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<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-8748517738104500112016-10-14T07:00:00.000-05:002016-10-14T07:00:02.448-05:00A CHOICE IMPOSSIBLY SMALL BUT SO SIGNIFICANT<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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I haven't been able to pick Everly up from daycare the past few weeks. Instead I've been staying an extra hour after work to study for a certification I need to get. But on those days I don't get to see her big semi-toothless grin as she recognizes me when I walk in the door to pick her up, I stare out the window of my office and remember a specific day about a month ago. I had parked the car a little further down from where I normally park to pick her up. It was such a beautiful day. Still hot, but a mild breeze jostled the leaves on the trees ever so slightly. I usually followed the sidewalk to the driveway to the front steps and through the door. But that day I walked through the grass. It's not that it was such a crazy thing to walk through the grass. It was that I stood there for half a second looking at the different paths before me. Consciously choosing to take the softer, slightly muddy route. It was small. Infinitesimal, really. No one looking on would think anything of it. But it has stuck with me all this time, and I've reflected on it often. <br />
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It made me feel like, even though my days are so structured with responsibilities and routine, I still have choices. I think it's hard as we get older. The choices inevitably start to dwindle as our paths take shape. And then we add on kids and mortgages and bills and suddenly those choices that we may have chosen years ago are locked in. I'm not saying I regret any of these choices. Far from it. These choices have allowed me to be part of this wonderful life. But it is a surreal feeling when you stop one day and realize how every choice has become inextricably tied together and one adjustment may have residual effects. <br />
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And I realized that day that this statement couldn't be any truer.<br />
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Because I did make a choice that was outside my routine. And it did have a residual effect on me. I chose a different route to the same end. Impossibly small and insignificant to everyone else. But for me? It was so significant. Instead of the hard concrete beneath my sandals, I felt the earth give way to each of my steps. And for those 20 steps, I felt lighter. I felt rebellious. I felt different. <br />
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And then I saw a sweet, chubby-cheeked face in the window light up when she saw me, and I forgot all about this quiet metamorphosis. <br />
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You see, it didn't <i>really</i> matter how I got to her. Even if I had to cross a fiery chasm, I would have gotten to her. But I got to choose how to get to her, and that choice that day has stuck with me. It has reminded me to look for those small options that are present at every turn throughout my routine. The normal way that is perfectly fine, but the other way that may be just a <i>liiitle</i> bit more fun or special.<br />
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"And that has made all the difference."<br />
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- Robert Frost<br />
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<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-89226679340066005432016-09-08T17:00:00.000-05:002016-09-08T17:00:07.452-05:00DEAR EVERLY RAE: HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<br />
You are my sunshine, my sweet wildflower, my heart. <br />
<br />
You have changed me.<br />
<br />
As I got you ready for bed last night, I found myself doing everything more slowly. Taking my time as I washed under your sweet double chin, making sure all the lotion was rubbed into your back, listening to you "read" me a story. The minutes were pulling me ahead again, and I already knew what was on the other side. When I tiptoed out of your room and closed the door, I would be finishing a chapter of our story. The most wonderful, difficult, magical chapter of my story and just the opening chapter of yours. Two stories intertwined, but also growing branches that pulled away from each other. <br />
<br />
I cried as I changed your diaper this morning, because I couldn't picture the skinny little newborn who used to lay there and stare up at me. It was like trying to remember the melody to a song as you listened to another song. Impossible. Instead here you were. This happy and chunky 1 year old who wiggled out of my hands. I know next year I'll cry because you'll be too big for the changing pad on the pack and play I keep in our room that only is used as a catchall for clothes now.<br />
<br />
But away from your wonderful current self, I remember. I remember your hot breath as you fell asleep after I nursed you. I remember you screaming in the car and then only quieting down when I sang you your favorite song, "Beautiful Dreamer". I remember the first time we locked eyes as the doctor placed you on my chest. That, I will always remember. <br />
<br />
And as crazy as it seems to me that you will be running and talking this time next year, I will hold these images of your first year so dearly. You were mine this year. My permanent shadow who needed me so completely. And while you'll still need me in the future, it will be different and always changing. And that's ok. The one thing I want you to know is how <i>fiercely</i> I love you. Now and always. <br />
<br />
You are the happiest, sweetest, most inquisitive baby. Our favorite thing is when you hold up something you found. You are so very proud of yourself as you make sure we all see your new treasure. You give your love freely, and I love when you clamber up my shirt and clutch on so tightly when you're worried I may put you down. <br />
<br />
You wave and give high fives. You clap your hands whenever I say "Yay Everly!" You say "mama" (kind of to me) and whisper "bye-bye" just as people head out of ear shot. <br />
<br />
You love being cuddled. Every night when you get home from daycare, you waddle up to your toy dog and slap it's back, signaling that you want to sit on it and us to pull you around the house. Which we do, because it makes you so very happy. <br />
<br />
You get into EVERYTHING. The cabinets are your treasure boxes that surely hide something amazing. We gave you a toy remote control, which you like ok, but you always go after the real one given the chance. <br />
<br />
You are walking more and more and love the new freedom. We know when you're tired, because you try to stand but then drunkenly fall down and resort to crawling. <br />
<br />
You're eating more and more table foods and meal times take an hour. Your favorite food to feed yourself is peas and your favorite food for us to feed you is applesauce. You cannot get enough applesauce. <br />
<br />
You still have no teeth(!). I worry sometimes that there aren't any teeth in there and that we'll have to get you baby dentures. Every time you fuss at night, we assume it's teething, but then no tooth pops out. <br />
<br />
You have very little hair. So the no hair and no teeth thing trick me into thinking you're younger than you really are. Then I pick you up, though, and remember that you're huge! You're already wearing 18-24 month clothes. <br />
<br />
You love to giggle and be tickled. You already have a great sense of humor and know how to get us laughing. <br />
<br />
<br />
I wonder sometimes what are those things I want to tell you, to make sure you know, to help you as you find your way. In my 20s, I did a lot of reading with a single purpose. I wanted one truth that would explain everything. That's a tall order, but what I did find was a passage in a book that made me see value and adventure in my seemingly ordinary life. The best advice I have for you is to stay in the present. Appreciate the fleeting moment for what it is, without focusing on how the past was better or how the future will be brighter, because guess what? Today is a day you'll one day look wistfully back on as "the good old days". I know that as I cry about missing your newborn days, years from now I'll cry about missing your toddler days. It's so much easier said than done, but a wonderful reminder that you don't have to do anything extraordinary to have an extraordinary life. Just open your eyes to the incredible world around you.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">If we could have remembrance now</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And see, as in the days to come</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We shall, what's venturous in these hours:</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The swift, intangible romance of fields at home,</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The gleams of sun, the showers,</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Our workaday contentments, or our powers</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> To fare still forward through the uncharted haze</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Of present days. . . .</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> For, looking back when years shall flow</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Upon this olden day that's now,</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We'll see, romantic in dimm'd hours,</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> These memories of ours.</span></i></div>
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<i style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">--"Romance by Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer</span></i></div>
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<i style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
No matter how old you get, you will always be our sweet baby girl. Happy 1st birthday, Everly. You are so very loved. Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-29427958282832554272016-09-06T17:00:00.000-05:002016-09-06T17:00:23.893-05:00THE FENCE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
Those weeds that used to tangle in and out of our back fence are finally starting to reemerge. Most people would bemoan the fact of their perseverance, but not me. <br />
<br />
When we first moved in to our house, some said we should get rid of it all. "It's just a ton of weeds back there!" they exclaimed. But to me, those weeds overtook a boring chain link fence and transformed it into an illusion of isolation within a sprawling suburb. It created a "best of both worlds scenario" for our house--close to the hustle and bustle of the city but also a semi-private retreat.<br />
<br />A few months ago, someone new moved into the house we share that fence with. At least I assume the home had new owners since the house had a lot of people coming and going. But the true giveaway was that our once lush weed barrier turned brown overnight and then disintegrated from sight. Now I could see a dog roaming around through the links and a woman trying unsuccessfully to restart her lawn mower. The illusion had unraveled along with those vines.<br />
<br />
First I got mad. A great many pictures had been taken in front of my weed backdrop, transferring us from a backyard to some sort of forest retreat. I'm not saying I want to barricade myself off from our neighbors, but it is nice to pretend that we have a little privacy even though we're surrounded by a grid of houses. But I let it go. It seemed silly for our first talk with the new neighbors to be about our disappointment of them getting rid of the weeds. Wade, for the record, was a fan of the clean landscape.<br />
<br />
And then yesterday, I smiled. I watched Everly while she stared out the big window into the backyard. I was about to teach her how we don't bang on the glass with puzzle pieces, but my "no" turned quickly into a "no way" as my gaze settled on to the newly formed greenery slowly but surely climbing that back fence. The setting sun had turned the weeds a soft golden color. I guess some things have a way of fighting back.<br />
<br />
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-27067714738662870732016-07-08T17:30:00.000-05:002016-07-08T17:30:12.444-05:00A BYE-BYE THAT SOUNDS MORE LIKE HELLO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<br />
"Say bye-bye to the bunny," I urged.<br />
<br />
"Bye-bye," she whispered in the sweetest voice as she stretched out her little arm and clasped and unclasped her hand towards <a href="http://thistooisfoundhere.blogspot.com/2014/12/our-miss-was-actually-mister-bunny-fka.html" target="_blank">Mr. Maisy</a>, the same way we had been showing her for months.<br />
<br />
Funny how her goodbye sounded more like a hello to a whole new chapter.<br />
<br />
But this wasn't her first word. I'm counting it as her second. Her first word will go down in the baby book as Mama. Actually, it's more like Mamamamama. But still. Close enough. It happened on Father's Day. As Wade kept telling her to say Dada, she started (and kept saying) Mamamamamama. Sweetest words to this tired mama's ears.<br />
<br />
And now she's scurrying after us as we walk around the house, pulling herself up on my leg, and clapping at herself after she mimics the gestures to "Itsy Bitsy Spider" while I sing. She's my little shadow....who has quite a mind of her own.<br />
<br />
How did we get here? She's 10 months old today? I've only posted her 1-6 month photos, so surely we can't have jumped ahead in time this far.<br />
<br />
But alas. Here we are. Halfway through the summer and more than halfway through this little one's first year. <br />
<br />
Tonight I'll take her 9 month photos, because I've gotten into a bad habit where I take her monthly photos on the last day of her technically being in that month. And I just realized I already missed it by a day. Close enough. I'm going to have to up my timing, though, and take the 10 month ones in a few weeks. That will get me back on track. <br />
<br />
Now there's a first birthday to think about and also push out of my mind. It's too soon. I have so much more to document. It makes me wish I would have kept the momentum up in this space, to have written down more in the moment, but then I was either busy enjoying the moment...or sleeping.<br />
<br />
We've taken Everly on three road trips so far: to Chicago to surprise my sister for her birthday (the big 4-0), to Iowa for a reunion with my family (man, it was so wonderful to see everyone in one place), and back again to Iowa to see Wade's family (in our new van--the most comfortable ride there is). Each trip we think she'll like the car more, but each time she proves that she hates being confined for more than 15 minutes. <br />
<br />
I think about this space often. I think about how hard I worked to cultivate it into something I felt proud of. At times I feel ok letting it go, but there are other times when the thought of not having this outlet feels like a failure. Like I'd be letting go of a piece of my pre-mother self that I'm not ready to do. Not that the two are mutually exclusive, but sometimes it feels that way.<br />
<br />
I have a few drafts of posts with pictures from moments that have gone by. I overthink what I should say. If it's thoughtful enough, funny enough, worthwhile enough. <br />
<br />
Enough with enough.<br />
<br />
It's not time for bye-bye quite yet. <br />
<br />
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-7216671890658217202016-06-21T06:00:00.000-05:002016-06-21T06:00:00.916-05:00THE OTHER SIDE OF 40 WEEKS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
When I was pregnant, 40 weeks was my finish line. My end goal that drove me through each nausea-filled day. I was simultaneously impatiently rushing head first to last September, while also dragging my feet as the clock pulled me along with each passing minute. <br />
<br />
On the one hand, I couldn't wait for the 40 weeks to be over: I'd feel like me again, get to eat/drink whatever I wanted, and most importantly, I'd get to meet my little girl.<br />
<br />
But on the other hand, life as I knew it was changing. Forever. There were no take backsies or redoes. This change was permanent. What an amazing reason for my world to change, but still, I fretted each day as to how I would handle this wonderful and imminent disruption.<br />
<br />
Just shy of 40 weeks, I wasn't left to wonder anymore. I dug my heels in harder as the pangs of labor began to intensify. <b>But as I pushed Everly into the world, I realized I was also pushing myself to assume this new role.</b> My mom told me the next day that she saw me become a mother as I held Everly for the first time. That sweet observation from someone whose opinion I value so highly has remained with me. Sometimes you need others to believe in you so much that you begin to believe in yourself. To let the confidence work its way from the outside in. <br />
<br />
And all of a sudden, it seems, another 40 weeks has passed. <br />
<br />
But this side of 40 weeks looks so much different. <br />
<br />
<b>These 40 weeks weren't spent anticipating, they were spent <i>experiencing</i></b>. I wasn't focused on an end date, I was focused on each day, each moment within these 40 weeks. I spent these 40 weeks memorizing a face, figuring out how to make a new little human feel happy and safe, how to make my current self feel happy and safe, how to be more patient, that it's ok to feel like crying, that it's ok to cry. <br />
<br />
<b>These first 40 weeks of Everly's life were the best 40 weeks of my life. </b><br />
<br />
And you know what's funny? Now I find myself digging in my heels all over again. Not because I'm scared this time, but because I want to stay in these moments a while longer. I can feel the passage of time pulling us forward. It's causing Everly to grow soft strands of hair that barely cover her bald head, to grow a little (sassy) personality, to grow <i>up. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I was surprised to see the app on my phone tell me Everly was now a whopping 40 weeks. I hadn't counted anything in weeks for a while. No more how many weeks pregnant are you or how many weeks old is she. Instead of it being a day marked with fanfare, it passed just like any other wonderfully ordinary day. It did make me stop for a moment, though, and think back on how far we both had come and how much there is to look forward to....with no end goal in mind.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-63818568468421614752016-05-21T06:00:00.000-05:002016-05-21T06:00:12.183-05:00FIRST MOTHER'S DAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ah, Mother's Day. That one day a year where moms everywhere get to sleep in as late as they please and leisurely go about their day, right? Right??<br />
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Alas, the bubble I had been living in the weeks leading up to Mother's Day quickly burst when Wade and I found ourselves spending multiple hours (ack!!) trying to get Everly to take an afternoon nap....so we could take naps. The day had started out fairly close to my expectations...<br />
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<i>Wake up leisurely to the smell of breakfast in bed.</i> Ok. I still had to get up early to feed Everly, but she did nod off again for a little bit, which was nice. And there were pancakes. Good ol' Mickey D's hotcakes, which were delicious. <br />
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<i>Arrive at church early enough to give my mom her special flower. </i>I had envisioned arriving early to church to give my mom her lily for her to wear, but characteristic for us, we were 10 minutes late. This lily corsage is a tradition my grandpa started many years ago. I'm not even sure exactly when it began, but I have memories of the doorbell ringing each Mother's Day before church and then my mom walking back into the kitchen with a beautiful smile and a beautiful flower pinned to her shirt. It was a quick delivery on his way to his own church service, but it started the day with such love. The first Mother's Day after my grandpa passed away, I noticed there wasn't a lily pinned to her sweater as in years past. It was another raw reminder of the void he had left. The next year, I went to the store a few days before Mother's Day and picked out a lily corsage for my mom. I've been doing it every year since. This year I even picked up one for myself:) <br />
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So while I didn't get it to her early, at least we were able to be twinsies for a few pictures.<br />
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<i>Enjoy a picnic lunch of KFC.</i> If mom isn't supposed to be burdened with cooking, what do you do? Cook ourselves? No way. Grab some KFC and eat outside is the best idea. It was raining, though, so we enjoyed our KFC inside. Everly was pretty fussy, and I complained to my mom how I had started to realize how moms don't really get a break, even on Mother's Day....while she was busy clearing the dishes herself and getting me more water. The irony wasn't lost on me:)<br />
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We used to sneak into my parent's room and pilfer through my mom's drawers and then wrap up her old scarves and jewelry as her Mother's Day "gift". She always acted surprised, but I'm sure it just added another thing to her to do list: put away all the crap my kids took out of my drawers. <br />
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I have to say that Everly is already proving to be a good little gift giver. She (and Wade) gave me this awesome jogging stroller! Now I'm going to be able to run everywhere with my little babe by my side and all that baby weight will come melting off, right? Right?? Or is that another motherhood delusion?<br />
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The day before we went to see my little niece shake her booty in her first dance recital. She was A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E. We went back to my brother's house afterwards for a pre-Mother's Day celebration and also to see their new tree house. This is far from the one we had as kids, though. It's got a roof, patio that multiple adults can stand on, two levels, a slide, and POWER! Yep, they should rent that thing out through Airbnb. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, we're both wearing golden pineapples. If being a twinkie with your baby is wrong, I don't want to be right:)</td></tr>
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Seeing the love between Everly and her cousins melts my heart. I remember when these little tykes were babies and now they're playing with my baby. It's very surreal and wonderful. <br />
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I'm so lucky.<br />
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<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-70458542933198822942016-04-23T08:00:00.000-05:002016-05-09T17:56:40.612-05:00EVERLY RAE: 4 - 5 - 6 MONTHS OLD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm still playing catch up with Everly's monthly posts. Typically, the day before she turns one month older I scramble for the camera, put a sticker on her and pat myself on the back that at least I captured her in the rocking chair, with her kangaroo, while she was legitimately in that age category. While she was 6 months old, I scribbled notes here and there about what she had been doing during months 4 and 5, certain that I would get caught up. But....then the 8th of the month rolled around again and surprise, surprise I still hadn't posted them.<br />
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I think about these posts all the time, but never make them a top priority. When you're in it, you think you'll never be able to forget how her hot milk breath smells against your cheek as she falls asleep, but then suddenly you lose track of the time and other precious memories start clouding the previous ones that had been front and center. (By the way, they need to make a scratch 'n sniff sticker with that scent--baby milk breath (TM)--moms would go nutso for it. Yep, I just trademarked it so don't get any ideas:)<br />
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So it's time to get stuff done. And today's the day! After a bunch of flip flopping, I've decided to combine months 4, 5, and 6 into one post. One long, but manageable post so that once it's done I'll be able to stop fretting about my lack of record keeping and can get back to giving Everly zerbert kisses that make her squeal in delight.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">4 MONTHS</span><br />
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Poor Everly. We have been those parents who equate cutting our baby's fingernails with some terribly difficult and potentially traumatizing act. Her fingers are SO tiny, though! How are we supposed to trim them when nurses don't even want to take it on? So we let them grow and grow...and grow. We shouldn't have been surprised when they turned into little talons, only getting sharper every time she dug her nails into our skin, secured her grip, and clawed us. Every night after nursing her, my chest would look I had gotten in a skirmish with a cat, except that skirmish was really just Everly exploring her world through her claws, oh I'm sorry, I mean hands:) She even drew blood when she scratched my mom and dad's hands. I'm not proud of it, but it did provide us the wake up call to trim her nails. We ended up clipping one of her little fingers, but she didn't seem to notice. It was more of an emotional drain on us. If anyone has a better way to clip baby nails, I'm all ears.<br />
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After her 4 month check up, the doctor said we could start her on solids. I over analyzed this whole process. We had just figured out a smooth routine for her milk intake and now things had to change again. After a lot of questions and help from friends (thanks Devon!!), we took the plunge....and then quickly retreated. We started with the standard rice cereal. A very very thin consistency the first night, which went ok. But then we made it thicker the next day and that's when everything went downhill. Our normally awesome sleeper would just start screaming when we put her in her crib. We decided to switch to sweet potatoes the next day, which went a little better. But then came the green beans. Whoo! I realized it was a terrible idea when I laid her down that night. Poor little thing had an awful tummy ache. So we decided to stop the solids for a few more weeks. It just didn't feel right when she got so upset at night, and I viewed it as her little system needing a bit more time to develop. (<i>We did start solids up again when she was closer to 6 months old and now she can't get enough of everything!)</i><br />
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4 month old Everly started rolling from her tummy to her back! That's how much she hates tummy time and now has a way of showing us that she's in control:)<br />
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Everly started sweating to the oldies and is jumping in her little swing. At first, she just kind of pushed herself around on her tippy toes, but she's starting to get some air now. <br />
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Whoever said babies have it easy apparently didn't think about how hard they have to work to get their milk. I love how rosy Everly's cheeks get after she nurses. My sweet rosy-cheeked little girl.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">5 MONTHS</span><br />
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I love Everly's expressions in these photos. As I'm doing my most ridiculous faces to get her to smile, she's just not having it. Instead of crying, she just stared me down with this smirk that implied, "Really Mom? You're making that face again? Have a little dignity." What she doesn't yet realize, though, is that I will never ever stop trying to make her smile, no matter how cuckoo I seem.<br />
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Spring came a little early to our neck of the woods, and we took advantage of it. Lots of evening walks around the neighborhood and a few fun firsts, such as...her first time in a park swing and her first time at a bar. Now before you gasp and quote the line from <i>Sweet Home Alabama ("you brought a baby...to a bar?")</i>, it's important to realize that this was more of an outdoor beer garden with TONS of other kids running around. It apparently is the place for parents to bring their little ones when they want to prove to themselves that they're still hip. It's also right along a bike trail that would be fun to explore this summer. <br />
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The best part about this age is how much she giggles! All you have to do is start chuckling and that will set her off. She's such a happy girl!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">6 MONTHS</span><br />
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A LOT happened this month. It seemed like one day I was worried about her not hitting certain milestones yet and then the next day she just started sitting up and rolling from her back to her tummy like it was no big deal. It was a great lesson for me to take a chill pill and not worry about what the books say since she'll figure things out on her own time.<br />
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For her 6 month birthday, I wanted pictures of her on the actual day. So I rushed home over my lunch break and started ranting to Wade how we need to take pictures of her RIGHT THIS MINUTE. He protested a bit at first, but soon realized how strongly I felt and snapped these adorably sweet photos in about 10 minutes. I love how they capture her at this stage.<br />
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Everly took her first road trip in March to surprise my sister for her birthday! She slept the first hour, and my mom made a comment about how it was going to be such an easy drive. Literally a minute after she said this, Everly woke up, screamed, and continued crying the majority of the way to Chicago. Not exactly the relaxing trip we were hoping for. But on the whole the trip was awesome and Everly had the best time hanging out with her cousins. I've got a whole slew of pictures that will make their way into their own post eventually.<br />
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On our trip, Everly had her first dip in the pool. She appeared a bit ambivalent about it and didn't convey much expression. At least she didn't hate it. I bet the next time we take her, she'll love it even more.<br />
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Like I mentioned above, Everly is now sitting up all by herself and loves playing with her toys on the floor. We have hardwoods throughout the house, so got a rug for the sunroom that is quickly becoming her domain. She's loving her new view.<br />
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She's also rolling over from her back to her tummy. It seemed like she figured it out overnight. She still cried when she got to her tummy (she still hates tummy time at this point) since she didn't realize she holds all the power now and can flip over any time she wants. <br />
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Everly is becoming even more aware of her surroundings. When we eat dinner, we put her in her little jumper (which she can't get enough of). She watches our mouths so closely and sometimes even opens and closes her mouth like she's chewing, too. We've gotten into a routine for feeding her solids now and have been increasing the amount she gets every week. Right now, she's eating a fruit or vegetable around lunch time (1/2 an avocado, sweet potatoes, bananas, etc.) and then some oatmeal or whole grain cereal at night. She's really getting into her meals and makes this cute grunting noise if we aren't feeding her fast enough. <br />
<br />
She's gotten even more ticklish as the weeks go on. She giggles when I tickle under her arms and her chubby thighs, but really gets going when I kiss her all over her tummy. She loves it! <br />
<br />
She's been doing pretty well playing independently for short amounts of time. The other week I plopped her down in front of her toys, put on a record, and sat down at my desk to craft. That was a solid 10 minutes of sheer enjoyment--getting to craft some items for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/everlyrae" target="_blank">my shop</a> while watching my sweet babe play with her toy moose. In my mind, it doesn't get much better than that.<br />
<br />
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<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-16304580259737957082016-04-14T06:00:00.000-05:002016-04-14T06:00:25.005-05:00THE BEST PRESENT...CAPTURING THE LIFE OF A MOMENT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
“This picture is missing something,” is what I often think
after taking a picture. In fact, I feel
that the majority of photographs don’t truly capture the magic of a
moment. More often than not, I find
myself reaching for my camera to commemorate something only to be dismayed when
I check out the screen.<br />
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<br /></div>
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The resulting
photo is cute and has done an admirable job, but it never seems to quite stack
up against its real life counterpart.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how our eyes are way more
amazing than any camera will ever be. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Once someone knows their picture is being taken, the moment
has already passed. But sometimes you’re
just sneaky enough and able to pull the curtain back a little without anyone being
the wiser. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>And you’re able to
capture the life of a moment.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a cold and wintry evening a few months back after just
returning to work from maternity leave, I walked into the house and stamped my
feet on the rug. The warmth enveloped
me, and all I wanted to do was take off my parka and cuddle my 3 month
old. I was worried she had already
forgotten about me during the day, so I scooped her up and tried to coax a
smile out of her sleepy eyes. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I eased
into the rocker and after nursing her, she fell into a deep newborn sleep on
me. As she slept, I thought how I wanted to hold on to this moment, because it reminded me that she still knew me, still depended on me, still missed me. Even though she was getting bigger, and I was away from her more, we still felt most at peace around each other.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I didn't even realize Wade was paying much attention to all this until I saw the pictures later. His answer was simple, "you both looked so content and the light was hitting you just right."</div>
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<br /></div>
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A few days later I quietly got out my phone and snapped this
special time between Wade and Everly. He had been so thoughtful to capture a raw and unedited moment between us that I wanted the same for him. These are still some of my favorite pictures of them.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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<br />
<br /></div>
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We take so many photos where I’m yelling at Everly to “look
over here” or “smile”, but there are few photos in which we're completely unaware and just in the moment. <br />
<br />
Taking the time to recognize one of these moments is
happening and grabbing the camera to document it is the best present he could
have given me. <b>He made my memory tangible.</b></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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So if you’re looking for that perfect gift for someone,
capture the life of one of their moments, without them asking, without them
knowing. Just be sneaky about it<span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-1058133903794596972016-02-04T06:00:00.000-06:002016-02-04T11:00:11.579-06:00BEAUTIFUL DREAMER: A VERY SPECIAL SONG<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's a special song that is very close to my heart. It's the song my grandpa and I danced to at my wedding, the melody (I incorrectly thought) I listened to when I wound up my music box as a child, and the words I sung over and over to my growing belly at night. </div>
<br />
In my mind, I had heard the tune of "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnRmX0yqXzY" target="_blank">Beautiful Dreamer</a>" play constantly through the music box my grandpa gave me one birthday. That made it the perfect song for us to waltz to at my wedding. My grandpa was an exceptional dancer, always going to or coming home from a dance where he wore one of his snazzy bow ties or blazers. I was all nerves as people watched us on the dance floor that night, but my grandpa made it look like we belonged there. <br />
<br />
The music box was lost for many years. As I got older, I didn't think it was very cool having it on my shelf anymore. So with the other memories of childhood, it got packed away and moved to the back of a closet. It suddenly became important again and took on new meaning, though, when I was planning my wedding. After a search that proved more difficult than we thought, my mom finally found it in a long forgotten hiding place. The little blue house, with the rooms that moved to the music wouldn't play, though. It quickly fell off my radar again.<br />
<br />
Seven years went by. Upon learning I was pregnant with a girl, I was brought back to all those nights of winding up my house and watching the little family inside go about their daily activities as I listened to the tink tink tink of the melody.<br />
<br />
A few days before my baby shower, my mom gave me a gift. It was my music box, all cleaned up and ready to play. Apparently my little hands had over wound it years ago and all my parents had to do was loosen it a bit to get the music playing. At first they were overjoyed, until they realized the little box was playing a tune other than the expected "Beautiful Dreamer". And the rooms didn't spin anymore. <br />
<br />
When I started the music box, the real melody it played came flooding back to me, as well as the realization that I had heard "Beautiful Dreamer" on my sister's musical unicorn, which I had probably stolen from her room countless times. <br />
<br />
Originally wanting to present me with this sweet and sentimental gift from my past for my future baby at my shower, my mom was concerned I would be too disheartened that it didn't play the song that I equated with my grandpa, so she decided to give it to me early. I was a bit disappointed and do think she made the right choice. After thinking about it some more, though, I'm glad things played out the way they did. If I hadn't formed the wrong connection between the music box and song it played, my grandpa and I might have picked another song to dance to that night. And I can't think of a more perfect song to serenade us during our last dance.<br />
<br />
While I was pregnant, I read that singing to your baby in the womb is a wonderful way to interact with her and she may even recognize the song after she's born. The fact that Everly would associate this song with me and might remember it left me over analyzing what song to sing to my belly. I sang a handful of songs that meant something to me, but the song I sang the most was "Beautiful Dreamer". <br />
<br />
I have so many favorite memories of Everly and me, but the absolute closest to my heart is how she responds when I sing "Beautiful Dreamer". Since she was born, the second I start singing the song, she quiets down and either stares at me or "sings" along. <br />
<br />
She doesn't do this with any other song I sing her. <br />
<br />
This one is special. <br />
<br />
This one encompasses the memories of the past, the joys of the present, and the promises of the future. Everly doesn't yet know how much it means to me that she connects with this song. Sometimes I imagine my grandpa and me twirling around the dance floor as I rock Everly at night, lulling her to sleep with this sweet melody. <br />
<br />
<b>For me, it's a way of introducing Everly to her great-grandpa.</b> <br />
<br />
This past Christmas, I received another gift. This time from Wade. And in it was a musical carousel horse. Can you guess what it played?<br />
<br />
It was one of the most thoughtful gifts Wade has given me, and that's saying a lot since he's a superb gift giver. <br />
<br />
Now Everly has two very special music boxes, and I can't wait to tell her the stories around both of them.Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-78081988851101200832016-01-29T06:00:00.000-06:002016-01-29T06:00:14.903-06:00EVERLY RAE: THREE MONTHS OLD<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Wowza! This little lady’s happy personality has sure
started to surface this month! Everly is
engaging with those around her by smiling, talking, and even giggling if you
act ridiculously enough in front of her. </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">She
has also become increasingly more aware of her surroundings. Before, Wade and I would be able to squeeze
in a movie at night as I nursed her and she snoozed between nursing
sessions. When we sat down to watch
Scrooged a week before Christmas, though, she kept crying and wouldn’t latch
on. I was worried that she wasn’t
getting enough milk until I took her back to our usual quiet and dark room
where she ate like a hungry little hippo.
I guess she’s telling us a. that she doesn’t care for 80s Bill Murray
movies (which is a shame and we’ll have to revisit this when she’s older) and
b. she enjoys a nice quiet candlelit mood for her meals. Talk about high maintenance</span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">J</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">My
mom said she had to stop nursing me at 6 months, because I was just too
distracted by everything else going on.
I’m hoping that Everly isn’t trending this way and will still be enticed
by her dinner instead of the blank wall across the room. I know it’s a pretty cool wall, but now she’s
just making me feel unwanted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Let’s
see. What else did she do this month
that completely wowed us and made us exclaim we must have the most advanced super
baby around? After checking the little
calendar I bought to log all her firsts and swore would be easier than writing
in her baby book every time, I’m dismayed to find that it’s looking rather
sparse. Not for lack of Everly’s amazing
happenings, but rather for her mom’s forgetfulness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">A
big thing that has been gradual, but more noticeable this month, is that she’s
holding her head up so well. It’s so
much easier to carry her now that her head isn’t flopping around. She wants to be in the mix and see everything
around the house. Even those dust
bunnies in the corner of the room seem to impress her. Oh, to be able to see the wondrous world
through the eyes of a babe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">She’s
been sleeping well. I don’t even want to
go into specifics here, because I’m sure it will jinx us. Wade didn’t believe me about how important
her little routine is and tried to go back into her room after laying her down for
the night. Boy, was that a mistake. Let’s just say we don’t question the routine
anymore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">We
celebrated Everly’s first Christmas during this time, and she loved it! Incorporating her into the festivities and
starting our own traditions with her made this time of year even more
magical. Her cousins were a constant
source of entertainment for her as they followed the direction of my brother
for this year’s Christmas play, a rendition of The Nutcracker. The little girls danced around in their tutus
and my nephew marched out as the nutcracker in a cardboard costume covered in
colored tape. Just <a href="http://thistooisfoundhere.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-magical-light-display-retirement-party.html." target="_blank">another way</a> my
brother added so much whimsy to the holiday.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">It
seems as though each new day Everly does something new to amaze us. We told ourselves we wouldn’t turn into that
couple who just sits and stares at their kid, but we don’t care anymore! She’s too fun to watch! Even though we’ve seen our nieces and nephew
do what she’s doing, it’s exciting because <i>she’s
</i>doing it. We <i>ooh</i> when she grabs her
foot and sticks it in her mouth, and we <i>ahhh</i> when she gives us that little
flirty smile of hers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">How can you not melt for those chubby little cheeks? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hh5PEIQXmes/VqKWCGFni7I/AAAAAAAAHXQ/cqm5JeM5ano/s1600/IMG_0983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hh5PEIQXmes/VqKWCGFni7I/AAAAAAAAHXQ/cqm5JeM5ano/s1600/IMG_0983.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geez, Everly, try to pretend you are having a good time:)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-72069162272313098572016-01-21T06:00:00.000-06:002016-01-21T06:00:13.982-06:00SCATTERED<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I’ve been feeling scattered lately. Like I can’t quite put my thoughts into
words, let alone coherent sentences.
Even writing those first two lines took more time than it should
have. I have moments I want to chronicle
and ideas I want to write down, but when I find the time to sit at my computer,
my mind goes blank. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m often thinking about what Hemingway said about writing—</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“There’s nothing to writing.
All you have to do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sounds easy enough, but it’s not working like that. A big part of it has to do with constantly
second guessing myself. Thinking too
much into every word and trying to wait for the ultimate inspiration to
hit. Sometimes, though, after wasting 15
minutes thinking about “a hook” you just have to put something down on the
page. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wasting time. That’s
what it is. Between spending time with
Everly and doing responsible grown up things, my free time has dwindled. I no longer have the luxury of waiting for my
inspiration to strike. Instead, I have 15
minutes after feeding Everly where she’ll play quietly by herself. If I can’t accomplish my goal in that time
slot, then it may be a few hours before I get another chance. It’s too much pressure! There are so many things I want to get done
that instead of just doing something…anything…sometimes I squander the time by
trying to beat Wade’s high score on Tetris (we are in the midst of a pretty heated battle).
Or I just snuggle Everly, which never feels like a waste of time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not all lack of time, though. I’ve reached a kind of paralysis. It took me two and a half weeks to write my last
blog post. I would sit down to finish it
and then just stare blankly into space.
I figured I would find the words I wanted at a later time, but at some
point I just had to put down what I could.
Even now I think about what else I wanted to say in that post. Like how I found out I was pregnant with
Everly last New Year’s Eve and how special it was to be cuddling her close
only a year later. You know, all these deep, philosophical thoughts on time and change. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Last weekend, I put Everly down for a nap and started
working on some headbands so I can finally take my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/EverlyRae" target="_blank">new shop</a> off of vacation
mode. It was like my hands didn’t work
and nothing was turning out. I kept
thinking she was going to wake up at any moment so I had to complete at least
one thing. It ended up I completed three
things that weren’t up to snuff. Nothing
annoys me more than spending an hour on something and having nothing to show
for it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It reminds me of how I had trouble sleeping after Everly was
born. As she started sleeping longer
stretches at night, I stopped sleeping.
It infuriated me that she would sleep 4-5 hours, and I would be awake
the entire time. I kept thinking how it
was my only chance to get solid sleep, which made me too anxious so that I
couldn’t fall asleep. It was
terrible. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know it’s just me adding this pressure to myself,
though. I’ve been trying to change my
mindset over the past few weeks. Even if
I have just 5 minutes here and 10 minutes there, I can still chip away at
things. Things are different now. More wonderful, for sure, but different. I may not have 45 minutes to clean the
bathroom or put all the clothes she’s outgrown into storage bins in her closet,
but I can clean the sink one night and pack her newborn clothes away the next
night. Sure, it takes way longer to
complete a task, but that’s ok. <i>(Let's pretend that I'm not admitting here that my bathroom is in a constant state of dirtiness. Of course there are fresh flowers in there every morning and one of those toilet bowl tablets that turns the water blue:) Because that's how grownups keep their bathrooms, right?)</i> There’s
nothing I really have to do except go to work and come home to snuggle my
baby. Everything else is just awesome if
it gets done. Even finishing this
terribly rambling post that seems to have changed focus multiple times makes me
feel better. At least I wrote
something and tried to capture my feelings at this point in time. I'd call that a win for today! Now I just need to post Everly's 3 month photos and take her 4 month pictures before she turns 5 months in a few weeks. Sounds pretty doable, doesn't it? Wish me luck:) </div>
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-333968026428498742016-01-13T08:59:00.002-06:002016-01-13T08:59:31.486-06:00A MAGICAL LIGHT DISPLAY + RETIREMENT PARTY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We told her that you can't touch baby's head, only baby's feet. That's what makes this picture even more hilarious:)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And suddenly, there was LIGHT!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I gave my sister this <a href="https://www.walden.org/thoreau" target="_blank">Thoreau</a> onesie when she was pregnant with her first. </td></tr>
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<i>I started writing this post on New Year's Eve, but am just now getting around to finishing it. Under two weeks to write a post. A new record:)</i><br />
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I'm sitting here in the comfy armchair at my brother's house next to their beautifully lit tree, complete with hand drawn gingerbread ornaments on brown paper with green jewels for their noses, listening to Everly's cousins playing upstairs. I can hear the plodding of little feet on the floorboards above and then a loud <i>thump</i> followed by a piercing cry. As my sister rushes upstairs, I hold my breath until I hear her console one of the kids and know everything is ok. <br />
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With all the noise, I use my free hand to put "earmuffs" over Everly's exposed ear. She has recently become more aware of her surroundings and is easily distracted while eating. She also demands that I do nothing except stare at her while nursing. I can't complain, though. It's our special time, and I take a deep breath before each nursing session, willing her to focus on the task at hand and not get lured away just yet by the amazing world around her. <br />
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I can hear my mom and brother having a side conversation as he prepares to head outside to work on his light display. Over the years, he's become the epitome of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958/" target="_blank">Clark Griswold</a>. Lights set to a radio station, life sized Santa dancing in the yard, and a snow machine he made himself. All to enhance our holiday spirit. Which it does. He tirelessly works each holiday season to make it the most memorable event for the kids. And the adults have the side benefit of enjoying the magic of it all, too.<br />
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A mere hour before all this, we were throwing a surprise retirement party for my dad. Having only started planning it the night before, I think it turned out pretty good. Before, he had access to a HUGE printer and would make us the coolest posters for our birthdays with our faces on them. No family gathering was complete without one of these posters. I found a way to inexpensively print something similar for him from FedEx. It wasn't in color and didn't have all the fancy detail his did, but it was a nice sentiment. The poster was surrounded by drawings all the grandkids made for him. Hiding behind the chairs, they jumped out and yelled "happy retirement" when he walked in. 40+ years at the same company is almost unheard of now. I think it speaks to our changing society and how loyalty is not being honored the same way it was in the past. It's sad, but it's what makes his experience that much more admirable. Growing up, I remember my dad having to leave on work trips. He'd travel to these faraway places that he had to show me on a globe. My little mind didn't really think about where he was going. I just waited eagerly for him to return. And he never came home empty handed. There were puzzles from Japan, a box of polished rocks from I don't know where, and then the crown jewels, VHS tapes of my favorite movies. I still remember begging for Jurassic Park while he was gone and being overjoyed when he came home at the end of the week with a copy for me. After all these years, though, I finally realize that the real gift was him working so hard in order to provide a happy life for us. I hope we were able to show him, even if just a smidgen, how much we truly appreciated all the long hours he put in at the office while still managing to make it to cheer us on at every basketball/tennis/baseball/volleyball game.<br />
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Everly is snoozing on my shoulder now. Passed out in a milk coma. I carry her into the kitchen to get some water. I can see my brother and nephew in the backyard throwing things into the fire pit in anticipation of the next activity--making a huge fire. My mom informs me that after the retirement party, light display countdown, and fire watching, we just have to do the parade, open a few other gifts, and then can do the adult gift card exchange. I start chuckling. Why don't we tack on a ping pong tournament and pie eating contest to round out the night? </div>
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The fire billows up in the next second and we all ooh and ahh. And as quickly as the fire reached towards the sky, the kids equip themselves with toy instruments. They line up, and we play our parts as either parade follower or picture taker. As they sing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" at the top of their lungs, I am amazed at how such a simple "parade" can bring us all so much joy. I imagine Everly traipsing around after them next year and can't fathom her toddling around. <br />
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I know why my brother works so hard to create this magical world for the kids. They're growing up right before our eyes and soon they won't be impressed by my brother dressing up as <a href="http://frozen.disney.com/olaf" target="_blank">Olaf</a> or want to parade around the house just because. It's like he's filling their little heads with dances of sugar plum fairies and lights as far as the eye can see so that these feelings of wonderment stay in their hearts forever. <br />
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And I know all his hard work won't be in vain, because these moments have already left a permanent impression on my heart.<br />
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-61460439955854111422016-01-05T06:00:00.000-06:002016-01-05T06:00:01.338-06:00EVERLY RAE: TWO MONTHS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, technically Everly is 3 months old now (almost 4 really), but I think I'll just do these monthly reviews at the end of the month so that I capture everything she did in that monthly window.<br />
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Two months was a HUGE month for her! She grew by leaps and bounds and has really become her own little person. She is no longer that little newborn blob who just stared at us without much expression. Now she's able to show us when she's happy with her sweet smile. Her first real smile emerged when she was about 6 weeks old. My mom and I had just tried to go to a craft fair, but it was too windy and dusty to take her out, so we went to the next best place....Target! <br />
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After feeding her in the car, my mom was burping her and making funny faces. Her little face just lit up instantly! It was such a special moment.<br />
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After that day, she couldn't help but smile at anyone who would lock eyes with her. She also started following us around the room with her eyes, almost daring us not to smile back at her, It really felt like this month she was engaging with us and wanted to be in on the action. <br />
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We've also started to be able to discern her different cries and are starting to figure out when she's trying to manipulate us into doing what she wants vs. when she really needs something. Must be an innate sense in babies to con their parents from birth. <br />
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The best part of my day is when I wake her up in the morning. She sleeps in a sleep sack, so she looks like a little burrito. When I pull off the velcro, her arms instantly spring up over her head to stretch. Then she gives me the BIGGEST toothless grin, and I scoop her up because I can't stand not cuddling her for one more instant. <br />
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Another big milestone this month is that she started grabbing things. I first noticed it when she was in her little chair that has rings on the front. I came to get her and saw that she was holding one of the rings. Over the weeks, she's gotten increasingly more interested in little toys. <br />
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We had our first date night during this time, too! We were gone for a whopping 2.5 hours. It was nice to get out, but we couldn't wait to get home to see her. She didn't give us the time of day when we first walked in the door, but Wade got her giggling a few minutes later. Her first laughing session! She hasn't giggled too much since, but I know more is just around the corner. <br />
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<a href="http://www.thistooisfoundhere.blogspot.com/2015/11/thanksgiving-2015.html" target="_blank">First Thanksgiving</a>! Everly was so jazzed up about family being in her house that she didn't take a nap all day. Even once everyone had left, she couldn't stop "talking" about her day. I just can't get enough of our little "conversations".<br />
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-12395094673221898592015-12-25T17:20:00.002-06:002015-12-25T17:20:04.106-06:00MERRY AND BRIGHT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh, when Everly smiles, it's the cutest thing in the world! But it can be hard to coax a little grin out of her sometimes. We worked pretty hard on it Christmas Eve and were rewarded with a few gems. More often, though, she furrowed her brows at us as if she was asking what in the world we were doing. <br />
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Christmas Eve started with me running out trying to buy one last present for Wade and coming home to a crying baby who was alerting me it was past her feeding time. The day felt rushed, and I got overwhelmed quickly. I pretty much just threw up my hands at everything when the fancy wrapping paper I bought shed glitter ALL over the table. What a mess. <br />
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So I went upstairs to change into my slightly nicer outfit for the night, only to look into the mirror and think to myself, "I look like a chubby Catholic school girl". No offense to Catholic school uniforms, but for someone in their 30s trying to lose the baby weight, it was enough to push me over the edge. I called my mom crying and just wanted to scrap the whole night and watch TV.<br />
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But then my parents got there and my aunt arrived, and the holiday spirit came ringing through the house. We started laughing and taking pictures, and I thought how thankful I was that I didn't let the stress of the day ruin Everly's first Christmas Eve. Really, how thankful I was that I had family that was able to lift my mood and make everything ok. <br />
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We had a lazy morning today. We're going to my parent's tonight to join my brother's family for an encore of Christmas morning tomorrow. I love the presentation of gifts--the wrapping paper, the pretty bows, but this year with Everly, we just didn't have time to do all the wrapping for each other. So when Wade and I exchanged our gifts today, I had a box and he had a bag we just refilled with our little gifts. It was like the Mary Poppin's bottomless bag! It definitely made things easier. <br />
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you! Wishing you a day full of merriment and love!<br />
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<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-68517538493173791262015-12-08T18:28:00.003-06:002015-12-08T18:28:54.114-06:00UNCLICKING THE PAUSE BUTTON<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Everly is wailing in the back seat as I start driving home from my last, glorious day of maternity leave. I look in the rear view mirror to see my little 12 week old, her face all scrunched up and red with anger and left eye matted partially shut with gunk that builds up when she cries. That's when my tears start flowing and before I know it, we're both ugly crying in the car as "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" plays on the radio.<br />
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Everly calms down as the car gains speed and she's lulled to sleep by the motion. I, on the other hand, keep crying. Only now, I'm trying to muffle my sobs so as not to wake her. The day I had been dreading had arrived. It was like for the past 12 weeks I had clicked the pause button on any responsibilities outside of keeping this little human alive (which seemed daunting enough). And I liked it this way. I didn't want to unclick the pause button and have to resume my normal work activities. <br />
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Maybe I didn't get tired of staying at home because there was an end date, so I knew I needed to soak up all the precious time we had together during the week. I really think, though, that I could stay at home full time. In fact, I would love to. Lazy mornings in our pjs and afternoon outings with my mom. Sounds way better than trying to cram in quality time for a few hours at night. I did not understand the guilt and sadness working moms experience until I had to kiss Everly goodbye last week after I nursed her and she had already drifted back off to sleep. <br />
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Instead of taking a nap myself, I threw on the one pair of pants that fit me and rushed off to work since I was already running late. My mind was fuzzy as I tried to remember my computer password and worried about where I would pump. That first day, I pumped in a large conference room and sat at the head of the 12 person table, feeling like anything but a powerful career woman.<br />
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Today is Everly's 3 month birthday. I opened the app that tells me what my baby should be doing week by week, and it happily announced that my baby was no longer a newborn. The tears started flowing again, because my little squishy baby was entering infantdom and I suddenly felt my pictures and videos of her so tiny were lacking. Enter more mom guilt.<br />
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Wade brought her to me over lunch today, and I nursed her in the car of a Walmart parking lot. We ate Subway sandwiches, and I watched her big cheeks seem to get impossibly bigger and cuter as she ate. <i>(Sidenote: she seems so satisfied when I nurse her, but I don't get as much milk when I pump. Any advice for pumping? Have you tried any of the Fenugreek products?)</i> We watched as a woman parked her 1992 Nissan minivan across the way from us and proceeded to put a club on her steering wheel. She still nervously looked back at her car as she walked towards the store. Wade laughed harder than I've heard him laugh in weeks. Must have been some pretty precious cargo in there. <br />
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It's not all bad. The people I work with are nice and understanding. It just seems strange that we undergo this huge life change by bringing another tiny human into our family and then are expected to go back to "normal" after a few months. That reality doesn't exist anymore. Now, there is this new world that is so much better and more challenging because she is here. I still struggle with how much weight is placed upon women's shoulders. We're expected to nurture the babies, be a cutthroat career woman, fit back into our pre-pregnancy jeans, and also fit in time for date nights. We're expected to be all things to everybody, and it's exhausting. I don't think it would be that different if I stayed at home, though. Stay at home moms have just as much on their plate, and I'm sure I would have added pressure to become a great cook. Wade has been staying home with Everly the past week, and he agrees that staying home is its own job. Except the boss is tiny and unreasonable. <br />
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I know that there is no perfect solution and that it will get easier. Life keeps rolling along, and there is so much to look forward to. I may be late posting her 2 and 3 month updates, but they will get done eventually. She is changing every day, and I don't want to miss capturing how she is right now.<br />
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I guess the one bright spot is that I may get out of changing so many dirty diapers. Even though I think her poop smells like popcorn. Must be a mother hormone so that I don't get disgusted by my baby:) Who could not love everything about this sweet face?<br />
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<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-2361935662179548882015-11-30T10:17:00.003-06:002015-11-30T10:17:50.732-06:00THANKSGIVING 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was this little turkey's first Thanksgiving! And boy was she excited! All dressed up in the plaid jumper my mom sewed her and the turkey headband I quickly made before everyone arrived, she spent the day wide awake and loving all the commotion in the house. <br />
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It was our first time hosting Thanksgiving, which made it even more special. Wade is great in the kitchen. Unfortunately, my culinary skills are quite lacking. I can follow a recipe on a box, but nothing ever seems to turn out and I have zero desire to get any better. I do love food, though! So luckily for me, my mom and Wade came to the rescue. <br />
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Wade made a rotisserie turkey on the grill, which turned out fantastic. I peeled some potatoes and that was about it. Taking care of the baby was a good excuse to bow out of the kitchen gracefully. <br />
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It was my mom who really came to the rescue. She brought over pretty much everything. All the sweet potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, etc. All those favorites that taste like Thanksgiving. Only doing a small part of the meal, I'm embarrassed to say that I never was much help to her in the past. I had a vague notion of what went into the prepping of such a big meal, but really no clue how hard it really was. My fondest memories of Thanksgiving from when I was a kid were waking up to the smell of turkey in the oven and walking downstairs to find my mom telling my dad he was putting too much brown sugar in the sweet potatoes (but Dad always made them just right--extra sweet:). Then magically the meal would appear, and we would all stuff our faces and then retire to watch TV. As I've gotten older, I'm realizing more than ever how my mom is the backbone of the family. She always works so hard to make things special and nice for us without asking anything in return. Thank you, Mom, for all your hard work! I promise I'll help you more:)<br />
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This year my brother and sister were with their in-laws, but we'll get to see them for Christmas. I'm sure Everly enjoyed getting all this special attention as the only kid, but she'll also love watching her cousins run around the house. <br />
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During dinner we went around the table and said what we were thankful for. It was no surprise that Wade and I said Everly. I still feel like pinching myself when I look at her to make sure she's really here, and I'm not just dreaming. Even when she screams and gives us that big pouty face, I'm so grateful for her. And grateful for my mom who thought she was getting a break this year coming to my house, but ended up still working so hard. I owe her an ice cream date:)<br />
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Hope you had a wonderful weekend!<br />
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<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-51156564790122821632015-11-18T06:00:00.000-06:002015-11-18T06:00:04.465-06:00EVERLY RAE'S BIRTH STORY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was due in 4 days, just shy of 40 weeks, but when I woke up with a start early that morning, I knew that the day I had been anxiously awaiting for months had finally arrived. We had taken the birthing class, washed all the tiny clothes that I thought would be way too small, and cleaned the house (mostly). But this being my first baby, I thought for sure I would be late and still have another weekend to really finish everything. <br />
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The day before was Labor Day. I hadn't slept well and was extremely irritable the whole day. Luckily I had forced myself to run those errands I had been putting off for weeks. I waddled around Target and picked up groceries and other items I had read I would need postpartum. The cashier asked if this was my last shopping trip before the baby came, and I laughed because I was sure I'd be back again later in the week stocking up on more necessities.<br />
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We were running late driving over to my parent's to meet them for dinner. My mom texted and asked if I felt ok, perhaps already having a premonition that I was in pre-labor. We finally made it and headed to Texas Roadhouse for one final hurrah before a baby would make our leisurely meals more difficult. I was in a terrible mood, but I'm so glad my parents took this picture of us that night. This is the last picture of us before baby.<br />
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I went to sleep that night and then woke up around 6am to a pain in my stomach. It felt like a cramp, and I had a passing thought, wondering if this was it. I couldn't fall back asleep, so I watched a little TV and tried to dose, but was conscious of the cramping in my stomach. I decided not to go in to work and told Wade to stick by his phone. About 9am, I called my mom and told her it was happening! My contractions were about 5-6 minutes apart and while they were getting more intense, they were not bad yet. I remember thinking that this was going to be a piece of cake. Oh, how naive I was. I took a shower, finished packing my bag, and told Wade to come home in an hour or two. <br />
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Around 11am I had a strange sensation and felt like my water had broken. It wasn't a gush of water and didn't even soak my pants. It was just a feeling I had. That feeling, coupled with my contractions coming less than 5 minutes apart made me want to head to the hospital ASAP. I ate a sandwich and loaded up on water and snacks since I was told I wouldn't be able to eat once I was checked in to the hospital. <br />
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Wade came home and asked me if I was for sure in labor. I was so offended, but worried that maybe I really wasn't and we would get sent home. The fear of having to go through with labor without an epidural, though, was motivation enough for me to risk embarrassment of being sent home. The only part of the main house that we hadn't cleaned was the dining room table. It was covered with papers, baby stuff, and other odds and ends. I could not leave the house without cleaning that table, because the idea of coming home with our new baby to that mess pissed me off. Needless to say, Wade wasn't too jazzed about my timing for cleanliness. We squabbled over it for a few minutes until he finally just took a huge box and shoved everything into it in a huff. Then he threw the box in the garage. Out of sight, out of mind. Good enough for me! We were off!<br />
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We got to the hospital around noon and I went to get checked out. I was only dilated to 1cm (wah, wah), and the nurse didn't believe I was in active labor since I wasn't crying through each contraction. I told her that I thought my water had broken and she kind of smirked at me and said she would do a test just to make sure but that it was unlikely my water had really broken. We walked around the halls for about an hour to see if I would progress. I didn't. She was ready to send us home, but I asked her what the results of my water breaking test were. She went out to check and came back saying that my water had indeed broken so we would be checking in to the hospital! Honestly, I was pretty annoyed with this nurse. She had acted so cavalier about everything and wasn't really listening to me. I get that she sees this happening all the time, but this was my first baby. It just reinforced that sometimes you have to be your own health advocate. You know your body the best. <br />
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Once I knew I was getting checked in to the hospital, the reality of the fact that I was having a baby that day hit me. Of course I was excited to meet my baby girl, but at that moment I was very scared and was on the verge of a panic attack. A trio of nurses tried to put in my IV and only had luck after a few tries. I hate needles anyway, but how much they were talking about my veins and having to "float the needle to the vein" really grossed me out. I was a blubbering mess and could hear the nurse ask Wade if I was usually like this. If I could have talked through my sobbing at that point, I would have yelled at her to have a little compassion--that I was just a bit overwhelmed at the moment. Geez! What do they expect? Women to just be all easy going about everything when they're about to push a basketball out of a hole measured in centimeters? The logistics still didn't make sense to me.<br />
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So once the IV was in, we went to the birthing room. My mom was already in the room, and I ran over to hug her. I love my husband so much, but there is nothing better than having your mom there to tell you everything is going to be ok. We talked about it just being Wade and me in the birthing room, but I was so nervous about labor that we asked my mom to be there, too. I'm so glad we did, because it was wonderful to have her calming presence there. They let me eat a little more before they cut me off since I was still only dilated to 1cm and assumed I had a long road ahead of me. At that point, the contractions were only about 3-4 minutes apart and getting more intense. My dad came by the room a little later and then my brother, sister-in-law, nephew, and niece a little after that. It was so fun to have them there and see their excitement. My happiness started to wear off pretty quick, though, as the contractions got more intense. Now it was about 5pm, and I was crying through each contraction. The nurse checked me, and I was still only dilated to a 1. How could that be?!! Regardless, I wanted the epidural NOW! The nurse tried to persuade me to sit on the birthing ball or stand in the shower. Nope. Epidural time.<br />
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The guy with the juice came in a little later. Boy was I glad to see him. The problem was that my contractions were every 2.5 minutes now so it was really hard to sit still. The mean nurse told me that getting an epidural was elective, so if I couldn't sit still they would not try. That scared me enough to force myself to be as still as possible. Getting the epidural didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. It was more the idea of a needle in my back that was unsettling. After that wonderful concoction streamed through my system, though, it was worth it. I felt immediately relaxed and relieved to have a break from the pain. I think it was about 7pm by this time. I took a little nap and Wade and my mom settled in for a long night since the nurse thought I wouldn't be ready to push until the next day. <br />
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A new nurse came in a few hours later and checked me. I was already at 9.5cm! We were all shocked! It was about time for the main event. I started pushing about 10-10:30pm. I was happy that I could still feel the pressure of the contractions so that I could push well, but there wasn't any pain along with them. Being pretty modest, I had told Wade to stay up near my head and to not look "down there". When you're in the war zone, though, anything goes. The nurse had Wade holding a leg and flipping me over. After about an hour of pushing, the nurse said to stop since she could see the baby's head. She hit a big blue button and a football team of people came swarming in. The doctor got in position, and I kept pushing. And suddenly I heard, "here she comes!" The cord was slightly wrapped around her neck, but the doctor scooped her out and laid her on my chest at 11:46pm. Through every push, I closed my eyes, because I was scared about seeing the blood and everyone staring at me. When they put her on me, though, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. My baby girl was here. Her eyes were wide open and staring straight into mine. And her little hand wrapped instinctively around my finger. Everyone else fell away. I know people were still milling about and things were still happening down there, but it was all in the hazy background. <br />
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Everyone said how I would love her instantly, but I didn't anticipate how all consuming that love would be. It was a tidal wave of emotion that came over me as I cried and held her close. She was here, she was healthy, and she was mine. <br />
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All the worry that had plagued our minds--would she be healthy? would a boy pop out and have to live in a peach room? would we know how to take care of her?--all those thoughts wafted away when I met our sweet Everly Rae. I was her mom. She was my daughter. It was so simple, yet utterly life altering. Seeing Wade hold his little girl was magical. I said a little prayer and thanked God. Birth is truly a miracle. I've tried my best to put into words that moment when our eyes locked, but nothing seems to be able to capture it quite right. I guess as corny as it sounds, it was pure love and gratefulness for this little life that changed our lives in the biggest way.<br />
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<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-21508530063907141632015-10-22T13:46:00.001-05:002015-10-22T13:46:24.899-05:00DEAR EVERLY: 6 WEEKS OLD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear Everly Rae,<br />
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I've been wanting to write a letter to you for weeks now. It was supposed to be for your one month birthday, but you're already six weeks old! How has the time passed so quickly yet also stood still as I watch your tiny fingers clutch onto my shirt when I hold you?<br />
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You are the sweetest, most beautiful baby. I may be a little biased, but your dad and I just can't stop staring at you. Every little whimper, each time you open your eyes, they all seem to be the most magical moments that we have to capture to remember always. <br />
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When we brought you home for the first time, we walked you around your new room. I made Gigi and your dad take a video of me showing you around your room--all the things we lovingly painted and added to your room to make it <i>yours</i>. I had a grand vision that I would talk about each piece of furniture and where we found it, how Gigi and I had painted the dresser the perfect shade of coral (and then your dad had come in when we were done to give it one final coat:), how I had rocked in that glider Gigi reupholstered as I made your headbands (and a few matching ones for myself), and how I had already imagined you playing on the green carpet in the middle of the room as I looked on.<br />
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All of this I wanted to share with you so that you would know how much we loved you and thought about you before you were even in our arms. How we wanted to create the most whimsical and loving space for you to grow up in. And how we painstakingly worked on each detail of the room since we didn't know what else to do with ourselves as we waited for you to make your grand entrance.<br />
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But I couldn't tell you any of that in the video. Instead, I cried through the whole thing, because even thinking about the words turned me into a blubbering mess. I was so overcome with emotion that you were actually here now! In your room! With us! I was literally so happy I couldn't speak and could only cry out of joy.<br />
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So much has happened since that first day home. Your first bath (which you cried all the way through), meeting your cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, your first smile (!), and more hours of cuddle time than I can count, Those late night feedings are the toughest, but when I look back on them I'll always remember you dad bringing you to me at 2am, me thinking it can't possibly be time to feed you again, and your dad talking with me as I nursed you. All of us sleepy in that dimly lit room, trying to stay awake while you fed. We talked about the past a lot. Things we used to do before you. Memories from when we were dating. But then we'd always start talking about the future--all the adventures we plan to do with you and the things we're looking forward to you experiencing for the first time. <br />
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I've cried as you've cried as I try to figure this whole motherhood thing out. It's hard knowing what you want all the time, but you make it so easy to love you, and I will never stop trying to figure out what makes you happy and keeps you safe. <br />
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You have filled our lives with more love and happiness than I could ever tell you. <br />
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I'm so lucky I get to be your mom and you're my daughter.<br />
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You are so significant and loved, sweet girl. Our beautiful Everly Rae.<br />
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Love,<br />
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MomKarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-38307138718931237382015-09-23T15:15:00.001-05:002015-09-23T15:15:14.930-05:00TWO WEEKS<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--RG7dkxrCnk/VgLxYOWwXKI/AAAAAAAAHFs/YEqhmOm_O54/s1600/Mom%2Band%2BEverly1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--RG7dkxrCnk/VgLxYOWwXKI/AAAAAAAAHFs/YEqhmOm_O54/s1600/Mom%2Band%2BEverly1.JPG" /></a><br />
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Two weeks and one day ago, we met this little lady for the first time. When the doctor handed her to me, she locked her eyes onto mine and clutched my finger. I fell in love harder than I ever thought possible in that moment.<br />
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The past 15 days have been measured in hours between feedings, too many diaper changes to count, and taking in her newborn glow. <br />
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There have been tears, both hers and mine, but the smiles and cuddles outweigh them. <br />
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At times I worry that I'll break her somehow, so I clutch her tighter. When she sleeps longer than I expect, I watch her little chest move up and down to make sure she's ok.<br />
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I've become a sentimental sap whenever my mom comes over, because I can't believe that I was once this tiny and that someday Everly will be my age, perhaps with her own little baby, crying about the same passage of time.<br />
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I'm sleepy, but she is such a sweet baby. I know that while these first few weeks are tough, they won't last forever and I should treasure the magic of these moments.<br />
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Two weeks ago, our world was turned upside down in the best possible way. I can remember our lives before she was here, but I can't imagine a future without her. <br />
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She is the love of our lives, and I'm so thankful that I get to be her mom.Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-11402694158786425602015-09-14T18:44:00.001-05:002015-09-23T12:34:33.235-05:00EVERLY RAE<br />
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She's finally here!!!!! Everly made her big debut on September 8th at 11:46pm, weighing 7lbs, 13oz. We are absolutely smitten with her, and she is such a sweet baby! More to come later, but just wanted to share these first adorable pictures with you:)</div>
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-79141207804827904052015-09-03T06:00:00.000-05:002015-09-03T06:00:05.359-05:00FINALLY, THE NURSERY REVEAL!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We FINALLY finished the nursery! As I sat in the rocker the other day as Wade and I looked around the room, we wondered if it looked like this room was completed in a few weekends. Because we knew the truth--that this room was a work of love over the past several months. I still can't believe how far it has come, and I love how eclectic yet cohesive it is. <br />
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You may remember what this room looked like <a href="http://thistooisfoundhere.blogspot.com/2015/06/making-progress.html" target="_blank">before</a>. Wade had set up camp in this room with his massive collection of video games. It took a little bit of prodding for him to move the games out of this room, and I still can't believe the transformation.<br />
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Every little project we did in this room seemed to take an inordinate amount of time, but it was all worth it in the end. I love all the little special touches that add an element of whimsy and fun to this room without making it too baby-ish.<br />
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After researching a few different kinds of boards (magnetic and chalkboard), I decided to make this felt board. Felt sticks to felt and flannel, so I hot glued a piece of peach flannel to a foam board and then cut out felt letters. A great time saver here is just to buy the <a href="http://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-%26-Hobbies/Basic-Crafts/Felt/White-2%22-Adhesive-Felt-Letters-&-Numbers/p/25185" target="_blank">self stick felt letters</a> and then cut a border to stick them to. This way you can add a bit of color to your letters, but it won't take you a ton of time to cut out. Plus, these felt letters seem more baby friendly. I'll let you know how it holds up over time.<br />
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The thing I most love about this room is all the little things that have special meanings. These vintage watercolor Winnie-the-Pooh paintings were given to me by my sister this past Easter. She found them in a resale shop, and I became a blubbering mess when she gave them to me. I love the classic Pooh books and wanted to incorporate them somehow into the room without going overboard. I think this is just perfect.<br />
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<a href="http://www.lifeofmeg.com/" target="_blank">Meg</a> is very wise (and sweet) and knew we needed a Miss Maisy, too, so she gave us that adorable pink bunny:)</div>
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Another special gift was this handmade quilt from my best friend. She lives in Seattle, and I had briefly shared my color scheme for the room, so I couldn't believe how well all the colors matched the room! I guess she knows me pretty well. I can't imagine tackling a project that big, and am still in awe at how beautiful it is. (Thank you, Kate!!)<br />
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I couldn't have done all this cute decorating without my mom! She sewed up a storm these past few months, making the window seat cover, recovering the glider, helping paint everything from the room to the dresser, and even making adorable baby leggings and headbands for little Roo. In addition to all of that, she made that beautiful blanket draped across the crib. She's made us all blankets, and I know that little Roo will treasure this one from her Gigi.<br />
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Everything except the <a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4033738&cp=&parentPage=search" target="_blank">crib</a> was bought second hand. My mom found the dresser/changing table at the Salvation Army. It was <a href="http://thistooisfoundhere.blogspot.com/2015/07/focusing-on-little-things.html" target="_blank">painted black</a>, and I had a hard time seeing the diamond in the rough. At least she and Wade did, though, because painting it coral and adding shiny brass handles transformed this piece into such a beautiful addition to the room. We painted the entire dresser using a $5 paint sample. Also, since I couldn't find the perfect paint swatch, I brought in the pillow that is on the window seat and had Ace Hardware scan it. The resulting color is a perfect blend of peach and coral. <br />
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I actually bought the bookcase and window seat toy chest before we were even pregnant. I saw them while browsing in a resale shop with my sister and mom and fell in love. Wade and I went back the next day to pick them up. They actually were already painted this blue gray.<br />
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The glider we found at a garage sale hosted by a friend. My mom and I scoured all the fabric stores for the perfect fabric to recover it with. We loved the <a href="http://www.joann.com/nate-berkus-home-decor-print-fabric--ameil-dot-paramount-citrus/13556089.html#q=nate%2Bberkus&start=27" target="_blank">yellow Nate Berkus fabric</a> we found at Joann, but I wanted something blue/gray with texture to tone it down.<br />
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I found the perfect solution as I was strolling Target one day and stumbled upon these <a href="http://www.target.com/p/nate-berkus-woven-curtain-panel/-/A-16503560#prodSlot=medium_1_4" target="_blank">curtain panels</a> (also by Nate Berkus--he did it again:). The material is fairly thick, so I'm hoping it will hold up well.<br />
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I love all the detail on the dresser. Perfect for a little girl.<br />
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My mom searched high and low for a kangaroo for Roo. I can't believe she found this mama and baby roo:)<br />
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I made the mobile using a wooden embroidery hoop and wrapping it with embroidery thread. Adding some pom pom trim and fake flowers brightened it up and added the perfect pop of color to that corner.<br />
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Have you heard of <a href="http://www.lucydarling.com/" target="_blank">Lucy Darling</a>? If not, then check her out! She has the most adorable <a href="http://www.lucydarling.com/collections/prints/products/metallic-you-are-loved" target="_blank">prints</a> and monthly baby stickers in her shop. I got the <a href="http://www.lucydarling.com/products/little-artist-memory-book" target="_blank">first year book</a> and <a href="http://www.lucydarling.com/collections/stickers/products/fhl-1-12" target="_blank">monthly baby stickers</a> from my aunt and cousins and can't wait to start using them. And Meg gave me a set of fun <a href="http://www.lucydarling.com/collections/closet-dividers/products/little-lady-closet-divider-set" target="_blank">closet dividers</a>. <br />
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I had a lot of fun personalizing the bookcase. The fake cacti are from a <a href="http://thistooisfoundhere.blogspot.com/2015/07/peicd-projects-even-i-can-do-painted.html" target="_blank">DIY</a> I posted about earlier. The lovely music box was given to me by my grandpa when I was a little girl, and I'm so thankful that my parents could fix it up and get it working again for Roo to enjoy.<br />
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Man, it took what seemed like forever to get this shelf up. Apparently the room is a bit crooked. It looks great, though, and is the perfect place to store all of the headbands and bows that I'm going to force Roo to wear:) I've been busy making all her headbands and flower crowns and can't wait for her to wear them. The little headband tree is actually a <a href="http://www.target.com/p/boon-twig-countertop-drying-rack-accessory/-/A-14296752#prodSlot=medium_1_3" target="_blank">bottle drying accessory</a> that I spray painted gold and stuck in a piece of foam covered in moss. I would have posted a DIY for it, but I wasn't sure how it would turn our and did it late one night. I turned out great and will be a nice storage idea.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.target.com/p/loft-by-umbra-magnet-bulletin-board-turq/-/A-16929684" target="_blank">magnetic cork board </a>was another find from Target. We took out the black foam underside and painted it white. I really like how you can use magnets or push pins to hang things.<br />
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I made the flower "E" (hint, hint as to a name) from a cardboard letter from Hobby Lobby by painting it gold and hot gluing fake flowers to it. I'm excited to actually put some real pictures into those frames soon. Definitely one from our <a href="http://thistooisfoundhere.blogspot.com/2015/08/maternity-photos-capturing-this-feeling.html" target="_blank">maternity shoot</a>.<br />
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After reading about them on Pinterest, I bought drawer organizers from Ikea. I was annoyed when I put them together and found that they were too tall for my drawers. I flubbed when I checked the dimensions of the packaging instead of the actual organizer. All was not lost, though. I simply cut each side of the boxes down a bit and folded them over, securing the sides with hot glue. Worked like a charm and now I have no excused not to stay organized. Right?!<br />
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Thank you for letting me walk you around the nursery. It's my favorite space in the house for sure. Just imagine me glued to that rocker in another week or so:)<br />
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-87122344833313133372015-08-31T06:00:00.000-05:002015-08-31T06:00:02.017-05:00MATERNITY PHOTOS: CAPTURING THIS FEELING WITH LAURA MORSMAN PHOTOGRAPHY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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T<span style="font-family: inherit;">hrough</span>out this pregnancy I've been flip flopping about getting maternity photos taken. I had a few of the bump and me that had turned out ok, and Wade and I had one of us that my dad took. After seeing the breathtaking photography of <a href="http://lauramorsmanphotography.com/" target="_blank">Laura Morsman</a> on her website, though, I knew that I wanted something more special to capture this fleeting and incredibly precious time in our lives.<br />
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I still didn't know what to expect, but all my worries subsided when Laura walked up to us in the park last week, amid the glow of the setting sun, and introduced herself. You know when you first meet someone and instantly like them and their positive outlook on life? That's how I felt when I met Laura. She made me feel comfortable in front of the camera (which isn't easy) and even got Wade to hop in for a few. We talked about movies we liked and how Austin is different (and the same) compared to Kansas City. It felt like we were spending the hour with a good friend who just happened to also be an amazing photographer. <br />
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At one point when Wade and I were looking at each other during a photograph, I started getting teary. It suddenly struck me that we were about to be a family of 3 in just a few weeks, and I thought about the long and windy road we had taken to get here. I credit this special moment to Laura, because she got us out of our shells and was able to translate our emotion into every photograph.<br />
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I can't imagine not having these photos and am having a hard time deciding which ones to print out to frame. Laura is currently based in Austin, TX, but is planning to move back to Kansas City this year (yay!). KC friends--that means she's available to capture all your special memories. Laura also has options available for traveling to you no matter where you are.<br />
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Since I've been going on and on about Laura, I thought it only fitting to actually introduce you guys to her and let her fill you in on a little more about herself. So without further ado, here's Laura!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="im"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Kari:</span> <span style="color: #e69138;">You mention on your website that your photography business grew out of your love of connecting with people and telling their stories through images. (I love that!) Was there a specific moment when you thought to yourself, "yeah, I could really turn my passion into a business?"</span></b></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Laura: Totally. I consistently get the "what is your favorite subject to photograph" question a lot, and for me hands down it is kids, and fashion, it always has been. The two combined is absolutely magical to me and that is when I started styling my own photo shoots that centered around those two subjects. I loved the story telling aspect of creating whimsy, imagination, and fun in photography while letting kids just be kids throughout it. No perfectionism, no starchy posing or overbearing direction. After a couple styled shoots of my own, I realized I had a perspective to bring to the photography world, loving your clients more than your business. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Kari: You are so courageous to strike out on your own. Was it hard to get started? What were some valuable lessons you've learned along the way?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Laura: YES! It was such a scary leap to finally cut the chord of a regularly scheduled paycheck and clock in-clock out world! The roots of my business started when I would take photos of my youngest brother and sister who were brought into our lives from Ethiopia 8 years ago. I mainly played around with my mom's old point and shoot camera and someone saw an image they loved and asked me to shoot their wedding. Jaw dropped. WHAT?! It took that someone taking a chance on me for me to think of myself in that light and that wedding ended being my first paid photography job. It wasn't until I moved to Texas in 2010, was a manager for the women's store Anthropologie for 4 years, and built a client base from some of my closest customers before my photography work was full time and lucrative. I never thought of working retail to fund my passion and new business as a lack of drive believe in myself, it was a wonderful way to test the waters of running my own business, as well as an awesome way to have an organic outreach to gain more client relationships!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Kari: You've had your work featured in many publications, including Cupcake Magazine and Austin Monthly. What was it like to see your images in this way? What were some other triumphs you've had that made you give yourself a big pat on the back?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Laura: Oh my goodness, it's always a surprise and mini celebration when your photos get picked or featured! I never in a million years thought I would have the change to be published so it's still quite dreamy when it happens and you see it in something you know so many people are viewing. As far as triumphs or other little celebrations, honestly the biggest pats on the back come from when a large group of friends are now repeat clients due to one of them referring me to their circle of friends. That is incredible to me and a huge compliments when a friend loved their experience so much that they would encourage their friend to invest in my work. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Kari: What is the most interesting thing you've photographed?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Laura: The most interesting things I have photographed...There are so many things! I would have to say that a styled bridal shoot that I did for a local magazine in Texas with two horses at a dining table with the bride would be on the top of my list! That or a local PR firm's Halloween party that was "Alice in Wonderland" themed. The entire house was transformed into difference scenes from the fairytale. It was magical!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Kari: I'm trying to be better about printing out pictures to place around my house instead of always just keeping them in digital form. How do you like to display and organize your photos?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Laura: I am right there with you and from what I hear, many others are as well including the majority of my own clients! Having digital copies of your images is always a wonderful idea and keeps them safe, and in one place, but sometimes they never leave that USB drive or display anywhere beyond Facebook! Every 6 months I have started to order my own prints in larger batches from the previous months of the year. This way I'm not feeling like I'm losing memories buried deep in a hard drive that I eventually forget about, and if the prints end up on the wall, wonderful, if they end up on the fridge, on my work desk or by my bed, totally fine as well. I LOVE a wonderful photo collage wall. Mine at home is framed with the most simple of white Ikea frames and I love how it showcases the color and subject of each image!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #e69138;">Kari: What is the biggest piece of advice you'd give someone starting their own business?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Laura: Wonderful question! I think across the board when you are working with, selling to, or interacting with people at all in your life of work, there needs to be an aspect of what I call "loving on" your client. It is easy especially in a creative field to assume that what you are heading out to "sell" is exactly what people will immediately love, accept, and purchase in it's original form, when in reality the client's response will help you fine tune what they are actually looking for from you, and that's not a bad thing! "Loving" on your client means to authentically hear what they are looking for, to have a genuine and open communication together in the planning process, and to invest in how to make their experience and final outcome truly fit what they sought you out for. I look at my business as a continuing relationship and would never want that emotional connection between myself and my client to not be the pillar of where the love and intention for my work comes from. </span></strong><br />
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<strong>THANK YOU, LAURA, FOR THE WONDERFUL ANSWERS AND BEAUTIFUL IMAGES!!</strong><br />
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<strong>Check out Laura's sites for more information and breathtaking images!</strong><br />
<a href="http://lauramorsmanphotography.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Website</strong></a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LauraMorsmanPhotography" target="_blank"><strong>Facebook</strong></a><br />
<a href="https://instagram.com/lauramorsmanphotography/" target="_blank"><strong>Instagram</strong></a><br />
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<em><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;">Note: I did receive a free sitting session, but all reviews and opinions are my own</span></em><br />
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-70420504383043415842015-08-27T15:02:00.000-05:002015-08-27T15:02:36.271-05:00PEICD (PROJECTS EVEN I CAN DO): POM POM SHORTS DIY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wCdCkN3fE54/VdE2QuH4V8I/AAAAAAAAG9E/oBHtd7dxotw/s1600/pom%2Bpom%2Bshorts%2Bdiy3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wCdCkN3fE54/VdE2QuH4V8I/AAAAAAAAG9E/oBHtd7dxotw/s1600/pom%2Bpom%2Bshorts%2Bdiy3.jpg" /></a></div>
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I've seen pom pom shorts popping up all over the place recently. They are so cute and add a fun bit of flair to any outfit. I found a pair of elastic waistband shorts at TJ Maxx for $10 and decided to add my own pom pom trim. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lg-XEP8BWNI/VdE2P7At_FI/AAAAAAAAG88/w_4aJH68_V8/s1600/pom%2Bpom%2Bshorts%2Bdiy4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lg-XEP8BWNI/VdE2P7At_FI/AAAAAAAAG88/w_4aJH68_V8/s1600/pom%2Bpom%2Bshorts%2Bdiy4.jpg" /></a></div>
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Seriously, this project is so easy that it doesn't really warrant any directions except for: 1) go to the craft store and buy <a href="http://www.joann.com/simplicity-0.75x3-yds-large-pom-apparel-trim/1890334.html#q=pom%2Bpom%2Btrim&start=14" target="_blank">pom pom trim</a> and 2) hand sew it on to your shorts.<br />
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The helpful tip I do have for the sewing part is to make small stitches on the front. I started the stitch from the underside of the shorts, went through the front of the shorts, and then came back down very close to where I started the stitch. This ensures that you really don't see the stitches on the front of your shorts. I would also recommend just hand stitching the trim on instead of using a machine so that you don't see a lot of the stitch on the shorts.<br />
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Choosing a pair of shorts with pattern also helped to hide any stitches, although I'm sure that if you used the right color thread on a solid pair of shorts it would hardly be noticeable. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments or send me an e-mail.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hMcNxRHxkWg/VdE167QB85I/AAAAAAAAG84/i5RMo6GOZ_Y/s1600/pom%2Bpom%2Bshorts%2Bdiy5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hMcNxRHxkWg/VdE167QB85I/AAAAAAAAG84/i5RMo6GOZ_Y/s1600/pom%2Bpom%2Bshorts%2Bdiy5.jpg" /></a></div>
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This took about an hour to do, and I love how they turned out. I added these shorts to my list of <a href="http://thistooisfoundhere.blogspot.com/2015/08/maternity-wear-favorites-and-regrets.html" target="_blank">favorite maternity wears</a>. <br />
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Have you been making anything fun recently? Anything easy enough that even I could do? Leave a link in the comments, because I'd love to check it out!</div>
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5851199366897333153.post-33042928331182552982015-08-18T06:00:00.000-05:002015-08-18T06:00:08.631-05:00MATERNITY WEAR: FAVORITES AND REGRETS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UQLAQKvjomM/VdEzgng6xlI/AAAAAAAAG8Y/KmBRwKvAGAw/s1600/pom%2Bpom%2Bshorts%2Bdiy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UQLAQKvjomM/VdEzgng6xlI/AAAAAAAAG8Y/KmBRwKvAGAw/s1600/pom%2Bpom%2Bshorts%2Bdiy2.jpg" /></a></div>
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When I found out I was pregnant, I rushed out to the nearest Destination Maternity store since surely I would need multiple pairs of shorts with giant elastic bands that covered my (at the time) barely noticeable bump, a maternity swimsuit, and countless other clothing items that had specifically been designed for the next few months. <br />
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I perused all my favorite haunts for maternity sections and even checked out online retailers. I did all this before anyone else could even tell I was pregnant, but I just knew I should be prepared. Here's what I've learned looking back at each purchase now that I'm 36 weeks along. Some items have been real winners and others I wish I would have put back on the rack. <br />
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I've broken the purchases out into two sections: Maternity and Non-Maternity, since some of the best buys were not geared toward those of us who are preggo.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Non-Maternity</span></u></b><br />
The thing I've been most surprised about during this pregnancy (in terms of clothing that is) is that I could get away with wearing some of my pre-pregnancy clothes and even clothes from the non-maternity section of my favorite stores. The key is to find the right pieces that have enough elastic to fit my expanding belly as the months progressed. The plus is that a lot of these items will still be cute after I give birth. <br />
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Lucky for all the pregnant ladies out there, elastic is IN! Take your pick of elastic shorts in cute colors, skirts with elastic waistbands, and dresses that have a nice amount of give. It really has expanded our options. The key is to find a piece of clothing that has a nice amount of stretch and then size up. Here's what I've been wearing during my 3rd trimester.<br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Elastic waistband shorts--</span><span style="color: lime;">Great Buys</span></b></span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1009253&vid=1&pid=482166002" target="_blank">Blue</a> // <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1009253&vid=1&pid=482166002" target="_blank">Striped</a></td></tr>
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The key on the elastic waistband shorts is to find ones that have elastic waistbands around the ENTIRE waistband. Some of them may just have elastic in the back, and I haven't found those to work as well for me as my stomach has grown to the size of a basketball. </div>
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I picked up these two pairs of shorts in a size larger than what I normally wear for $5 a piece when they were on sale at Old Navy. Talk about a steal! For now, I'm wearing them lower so they hit under my big belly, but I'm hoping they'll still be cute next summer.</div>
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The most fun shorts I've been wearing were a find at TJ Maxx for $10. They are super stretchy, and I loved the fun pattern. I've really been loving the <a href="http://www.hm.com/us/product/85132?article=85132-C&cm_mmc=pla-_-us-_-ladies_divided_bottoms-_-85132&cm_mmc=adwords-_-us-_-brand-_-&gclid=CICwureqsMcCFVMXHwodnRcDTw" target="_blank">pom pom shorts</a> trend this summer, so I decided to add my own pom pom trim. I'll be back later in the week with a super simple tutorial. <br />
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I liked having a few options for shorts that were comfortable but still fun to wear this summer.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-btE-eqPhE78/VdEz8Mpw-tI/AAAAAAAAG8g/FrfUDFcwTTE/s1600/pom%2Bpom%2Bshorts%2Bdiy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-btE-eqPhE78/VdEz8Mpw-tI/AAAAAAAAG8g/FrfUDFcwTTE/s1600/pom%2Bpom%2Bshorts%2Bdiy1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<li><b style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;">Romper--</b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: lime;">Great Buy</span></b></li>
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Who says you can't wear a cute romper while pregnant? While they do make some maternity rompers, I found this one at Old Navy (on sale again) and was surprised that it was a little longer in length than other rompers and fit just below my belly. It's a little harder getting a one piece off for my frequent bathroom breaks, but still a fun buy.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07grwfxqJYA/VdE1bcWaehI/AAAAAAAAG8s/4yrdKavPQQQ/s1600/romper%2Boutfit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07grwfxqJYA/VdE1bcWaehI/AAAAAAAAG8s/4yrdKavPQQQ/s1600/romper%2Boutfit.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1038533&vid=1&pid=477446012" target="_blank">Romper</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Maternity</u></b></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Traditional Maternity Shorts (Over the belly band)--</span><span style="color: red;">Regret</span></b></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I bought a pair of over the belly band shorts early on, thinking that they were really loose fitting and would last throughout the pregnancy. However, I didn't realize there were a lot more options out there that didn't include pulling an extra giant piece of fabric over your belly in the hot summer months. Also, while these started out loose, they are now tight in the thighs and uncomfortable. They would be my one item that was unnecessary.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Updated Maternity Jean Shorts--</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Good Buy</span></b></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A few stores offer a different form of maternity pant that has a side panel extender. These look like regular pants, but have a lot of give in the waist. I wore these through my 5th month. They were super cute and made me feel stylish, but as I got into the 3rd trimester, they just got too tight. I've always had a preference towards loose fitting clothing, though, so I could see others really loving these until the end of pregnancy. For me, they were a nice in between stage </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NyFhQ3K7h8/VdIaTHRT1jI/AAAAAAAAG9U/-q2kfdJbqR8/s1600/jean%2Bshorts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NyFhQ3K7h8/VdIaTHRT1jI/AAAAAAAAG9U/-q2kfdJbqR8/s1600/jean%2Bshorts.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1031788&vid=1&pid=461033002" target="_blank">Shorts</a><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Maternity Dresses--</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Good Buys</span></b></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://us.asos.com/" target="_blank">Asos</a> has a great maternity section. There are some pricier things, but a lot of inexpensive items as well. A lot of other maternity websites were so overpriced, I felt. I ordered two maternity dresses from here--one for a wedding (that I also wore for my <a href="http://thistooisfoundhere.blogspot.com/2015/08/baby-shower.html" target="_blank">baby shower</a>) and a casual one. Both were on sale and fit well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I also bought a few tank tops and shirts for work and just know that my wardrobe is fairly limited right now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My biggest takeaway was how I really didn't need a ton of maternity options to get me through. I know other people told me this, but I was a little bit skeptical. It helped that stretchiness is in right now and that I don't have a formal dress code at work. My biggest challenge has been finding a pair of jeans. I just gave up on that hunt since I was pregnant mostly in the summer. I'm sure fall jeans shopping will be fun:) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Anything that you found super helpful you would add to the list? Anything you bought and then regretted?</span></div>
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Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04482703385103047136noreply@blogger.com15