pearson {28 months}

I should probably get this posted since Pearson will be 29 months on Saturday.  

I'll post all the things he's doing and saying combined in the 29 month post.  The last two month are all starting to run together since I'm behind!!  

10 on 10 (on the 11th) {november}

Last month I was like 10 days late, at least this month I'm just a day late!!

This is pretty much my fall maternity uniform: maternity shirt, maternity skinnies, non-maternity cardigan and a scarf.  Do you see my little bed head photo-bomber??

Pearson loves to play in the bathroom while I get ready.  He was so proud of his car carrier and choo-choo that he built this morning while I was getting ready for MOPS. 

We made the cutest chalkboard clothespins at MOPS today.

I swore I would always have a clutter free fridge, but Pearson comes home with the cutest things from school and I can't resist.  I originally said I would just have one thing up at a time and I would replace it as a new one came home, but they are all just too cute to take down.

Y'all my dishes were out of control today.  I HATE doing the dishes.  I'd rather scrub toilets or fold laundry than do the dishes. 

 I've been sitting in Nash's room admiring all the work we have gotten done lately!! This stinkin' bookshelf was a labor of love, but I absolutely love it now!!  I painted two coats of the wrong orange then had to prime it then painted two coats of the right orange.  Five coats later it's exactly how I wanted it.  Now I just need to get the shelves back in it.   I'm hoping to get some wall decor figured out soon so I can share the whole room with you!!

 Big brother has a new love for his rocker now that it's in Nash's room. 

 This kid can't keep his fingers out of his mouth these days. I'll be glad when his molars are all in and he drops that habit.

 Someone wanted to be just like Daddy and eat dinner without his shirt.  

 After I got dinner ready for the boys, I snuck out for a night with the girls for Bunco!!

meal planning monday

Monday:  Boys: Breakfast Me: Bunco

Tuesday: Lasagna, Garlic Toast, & Fresh Veggies

Wednesday: Baked Potato Soup

Thursday: Taco Soup

Friday: Fried Rice & Egg Rolls

Saturday Breakfast: Matt: Out with the Guys Me & P: Baby Shower Brunch

Saturday Lunch: Snacks

Saturday Dinner: Cheeseburger Wraps & Sweet Potato Fries

Sunday Lunch: ??

Sunday Dinner: Fajita Pizza

baby no. 2 {25 weeks}

how far along? 25 weeks

how are you measuring? I'll find out at our appointment on Tuesday.

size of baby? size of a cauliflower

heartbeat? 156 bpm (at our 21 week appointment) 

total weight gain/loss? 12lbs

maternity clothes? I'm pretty much wearing all maternity clothes now. 

stretch marks? No new ones. And no dark line under my belly button yet!!

sleep? I've only been waking up once a night to go to the bathroom, but I get up ever few hours to switch sides.  Charlie Horses wakes me up in the middle of the night sometimes too.  

best moment this week? Having a week at home with my little man with not very many things on our calendar.  My Mom and Mother in Law and I had a work day on Thursday.  We finished all of Nash's bedding!! I also re-painted the bookshelf and I'm extremely pleased with how it turned out.  Now I just need some wall decor!

movement? Yes! He moves alot in the evening.  

food cravings? Chai Tea Lattes.  I can't get enough of them.  I have one almost every morning during the week.  Pearson calls it my hot milk.  I am also loving Honeycrisp apples and roasted garlic hummus with pita chips. 

gender predictions? BOY!!!! Nash Matthew Link

what i miss? Sleeping on my back.
what i'm looking forward to? My dr's appointment this week.  It should be my last appointment where i have to go 4 weeks in between.
how are you feeling? The cramp that I have been getting in my butt has gotten worse this week. It's especially bad in the middle of the night.  Some night I wake up and I literally have to limp to the bathroom because I'm in so much pain.  If I switch sides and sleep on the side that doesn't hurt it goes away.  I'm also having a hard time catching my breath.  I feel like I have to take deep breaths all the time to catch up with my self.   

comparisons to last pregnancy? My Charlie Horses aren't near as bad as they were with Pearson.  With Pearson I would have to get out of bed to stand up and stretch the cramp out.  I can always get them to go away in bed with Nash.  

Here I am 25 weeks with Pearson and 25 weeks with Nash.

five on friday

I've been wanting to join this link up for a while now, but every week by the Friday rolls around I forget to get a post up.  This week I actually remembered so here goes.......five random thoughts on Friday.

{one}
On Thursday my Mom, Mother in Law and I had a Project Nursery Work Day.  My Mom had already got quite a bit of work done so we all worked on finishing it all up.  We were able to get just about everything that has to do with fabric completed!  The only things left are my diaper bag, a pillow for the chair, and a basket cover for the diaper basket.  Here's a little sneak peek of his bed skirt.  I'll do a whole Nursery Reveal post once I get all the decorations figured out.

{two}
Last weekend Annie Sloan and I got together again to paint the bookshelf in Nash's room orange.  Annie Sloan doesn't have a ton of colors to choose from so I couldn't believe that they had a color that looked like it matched perfectly.  Sadly after painting two coats on the bookshelf I realized it was not turning out how I wanted it too.  It was starting to look UT orange and the brown was still showing through.  I was going to have to paint a third coat to get it completely covered but then it would make it even darker.  I decided to just scrap it and move on.  I painted it with Kilz this afternoon/evening and I'm going to paint it a brighter orange with some paint from Sherwin Williams tomorrow.  Hopefully it turns out exactly how I want it because I'm not painting this bookshelf a third time!

**This picture doesn't really give a true picture of what it looks like with the Annie Sloan paint.  It doesn't look so bad here but it really was very dark burnt orange.  And this is also a little sneak peek of the curtains!!


{three}

Pearson is absolutely cracking us up these days.  He is TOTALLY a two year old and we definitely have lots of tough moments, but he is talking so much these days and saying so many funny things.  I have got to get better at jotting the funny things down on my phone so I can post about them in his monthly posts.  I have completely dropped the ball on his 28 month post so I'll have to combine his 28 and 29 post.  I'm so sad that I missed a month.  I'll probably take a picture this week and call it his 28 month picture so I'll have one.....shhhhhhh....don't tell anyone!!

{four}

In a few weeks I am participating in "A Meaningful Christmas".  I've known about this since Pearson was a baby.  I wanted to participate in it, but I wasn't ever able to get a group together.  This year a friend from church organized a group and I am so excited to be a part of it.  I am in charge of making 24 ornaments with a cross on it to go along with the Advent Devotion Topic- Believe; John 3:16.   When we get together at the end of November I will give my ornaments away and receive 23 other ornaments.  I will also get a devotional book that corresponds with the ornaments to do with my family each day leading up to Christmas.  I know Pearson is still a little young to really understand this but I'm excited to start it this year!!  He will at least have fun adding an ornament to the tree each day. 

{five}

I don't know about you, but I'm starting to see lots of cute Christmas crafts pop up on Pinterest.  I'm queen of pinning stuff and never actually making it, but I'm determined to change that this year.  Michaels is making this easier by starting to have "Pinterest Inspired" end caps.  They will have all the supplies you need to make different Pinterest Inspired crafts.  The projects will change throughout the seasons and it will encourage people "Don't just pin it, make it your own."


#JustAddMichaels to make your holiday crafts!
 I’ll be at the Pinterest inspired in-store party at Michaels on November 10 – join me!!

diy foaming soap

Oh my goodness........it's been WAY too long since I've done a "Pinned There Done That" post.  I feel like I just haven't had time to browse Pinterest lately or doing any fun projects, crafts or recipes.  My blog has been strictly used for Meal Planning, Pregnancy Updating and Life Scrapbooking lately.    I'm ready to get back into sharing fun ideas, crafts and recipes.  We'll see how long that lasts though since I'm in the thick of decorating Nash's Nursery and starting to get busy with holiday stuff!!  

Today I want to share with you a recipe that my Mom found for refilling your foam soap dispensers.    

You know, the $12.00 foaming soaps at Bath & Body Works, does anyone actually pay full price for those? I don't know about you but I hate paying full price for anything.  Obviously I would never pay full price for a bottle of soap, but even when you get them on sale, they can still run you $5 a pop.  This DIY recipe will cut you way down in cost and it's so nice to just be able to fill your bottles up when needed!! With this recipe a big bottle of refill soap can last your FOREVER.  I'm not sure where the original recipe is found on Pinterest, but here is the one that my Mom likes best!!

Here's what you need.....

3 Tablespoons of any kind of soap

(I just use store brand hand soap)

2/3 cup of warm water

Directions:

Microwave the 2/3 cup of water in a glass measuring cup for 2-3 minutes.  Put the 3 Tablespoons of soap in the water and stir. 

Pour the liquid mixture into your foaming soap container.

 Voila!!  DIY foaming soap that is super easy and cheap!!

Enjoy!!

daisy comes to play

Pearson's friend Aisley came over to play this morning.  Her Mommy had a meeting so I happily watched her little girl while she was away.  Pearson LOVES having friends over and I love it to because it makes our mornings fly by.  He doesn't ever get bored with a playmate around.

 Pearson talks about Aisley all the time.  They see each other quite a bit at church.  When Pearson was younger, he called her "A-See", but somehow in the last few months that has changed to Daisy.  I just can't correct him so I've been calling her Daisy too! It's just too cute!!

We had a fun filled morning with puzzles, car races, a pretzel snack, coloring, playing with playdough and eating a delicious lunch.  

Speaking of lunch, Aisley's Momma, Loyce, knows the way to this pregnant Momma's heart........Edamame Salad!!  She brought some over for us to eat with our lunch.  I'll definitely have to share the recipe soon because it is my absolute favorite right now.   

Fresh fruit and roasted garlic hummus with pita chips are pretty high on my favorite snacks/lunches right now too!! 

shhhhh.....baby sleeping

This week on Dallas Mom's Blog we are doing a Sleep Series where a few of the contributors are sharing their experiences with sleep.

Yesterday I wrote a blog post titled "How I Got My Newborn to Sleep Through the Night at 10 Weeks."

Go check it out and tell me what you think.  

How did you get your newborn to sleep through the night?

meal planning monday

Monday: Dinner @ Oma & Joe's

Tuesday: Shrimp Alfredo with Fresh Veggies

Wednesday: Tortilla Soup

Thursday: Me: Countdown to Christmas Boys: Paninis & Chips

Friday: Lasagna, Garlic Toast, & Sauteed Green Beans

Saturday Breakfast: Chiloso $1 Breakfast

Saturday Lunch: BBQ Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Saturday Dinner: Pesto Chicken & Tomato Skewers, Baked Brown Rice, & Greek Salad

Sunday Lunch: Chicken Salad

Sunday Dinner: Pizza

baby no. 2 {24 weeks}

how far along? 24 weeks

how are you measuring? I forgot to ask at my last appointment

size of baby? size of a cantaloupe

heartbeat? 156 bpm (at our 21 week appointment) 

total weight gain/loss? 11lbs

maternity clothes? I'm pretty much wearing all maternity clothes now. 

stretch marks? I don't think I have any new ones yet. 

sleep? I'm still just getting up to go to the bathroom 1-2 times a night.  I wake up about every hour needing to switch sides though.  I hate that I can't just move around in my sleep these days.  I have to wake up, adjust my pillows, turn around and then I can go back to sleep. 

best moment this week? We got so much done in the nursery this week.  I painted the walls (and ceiling) with my neighbor, Matt put the crib together, we put all the furniture in place including moving the glider out of Pearson's room, I painted the bookshelf and Mom got the valence, toy bag, quilt, 2 blankies, and a taggie blanket made.  We also got the valence and black out shades put up.  The room is really coming together!!

movement? Yes! However I'm pretty sure he had a sugar crash on Friday after Halloween because he barely moved all day.  I was getting really worried that I hadn't felt him move much but then that evening he was back to his normal kicking self.  His movement has seemed a little less this week which seems odd.  However, sometimes I think I'm just so busy taking care of a toddler that I don't even notice it sometimes. 

food cravings? Anything sweet.  It's terrible. I have got to slow down or I'm going to be a whale at the end of my pregnancy.  I'm already feeling my face get kind of chubby which is not good!!  

gender predictions? BOY!!!! Nash Matthew Link

what i miss? Sleeping on my back, having the energy and time to work out, and my colored jeans.
what i'm looking forward to? Having a work day with my Mom & Mother in Law on Thursday.  We are hoping to get just about everything done for the nursery this week except for the decorations.
how are you feeling? I'm feeling pretty great.  I am just totally worn out by the end of the day. 

comparisons to last pregnancy? I'm pretty sure I already had the dark line under my belly button with Pearson at this point.  It hasn't shown up yet so we'll see if I get it.  I would love to not get it because it took forever after he was born to finally fade away.  

Here I am 24 weeks with Pearson and 24 weeks with Nash.

desktop {november 2013}

twick or tweat

We started our Halloween evening off by taking a trip to see my Oma.  She was thrilled that Ashley and I brought the kids over.  She sent us home with too much candy and some delicious chocolate chip cookies. 

My parents have the best street to Trick or Treat on, so we all just camped out at their house for the evening.  Of course we couldn't get Pearson to put his hat on, so this was the best picture we could get with Lolly and Pops. Carson and Olivia's costumes are vintage.  My big brother, Ryan and I wore them when we were Carson and Olivia's age.  I was so impressed that Olivia would actually wear the hat!!

Before we took Pearson Trick or Treating he got to pass out some candy with Pops.  He actually did really good putting two pieces of candy in each kid's bucket.

Pearson felt like such a big boy walking around with his pumpkin bucket. 

Next year we are going to have to practice letting the people hand Pearson candy.  Since our first two houses we trick or treated to were my parents and my grandparents.  They just let him take as much candy as he wanted.  The first "real" house we Trick or Treated to he just stuck his hand in a took a piece......and then went back in for a second piece.  Thankfully it was my parents good friends so they didn't care.  In fact they told him he could take even more!!!

I walked up to each door with Pearson but I let him ring the doorbell or knock each time if the people weren't already siting outside.  I had to remind him to say Trick or Treat and Thank You each time but he would say it to every person!! After each house he would say, "How bout dat one?"  I think he really got the hang of Trick or Treating this year!

 Of course he took a few pieces of candy at Nonnie's house.

And then he tried to convince her to open a piece for him!!

Happy Halloween from two minions and Gru!!

We sure had a fun night and I hope you did too!!

halloween festivities

Pearson is not into costumes at all this year.......especially hats.  He can not stand wearing a hat.  It was a pretty big battle this morning getting him to put his overalls on for his Costume Parade at school this morning.   He knew they weren't his regular clothes so he threw a huge fit while getting dressed.  He wasn't about to put his little hat on for me, so I just sent it in his bag and told his teachers that he didn't have to wear it if he didn't want to. Much to my surprise when I arrived at his school for the costume party, his teachers had got him to wear his hat.  My pictures are blurry because I had my camera on the wrong setting, but look at how cute my little minion is!! He was the line leader for the day.  He was leading the class so confidently through the aisles of the church.  I'm so proud of him. 

After they walked through the aisles, they got to go through the church offices and trick or treat.  He couldn't wait to dig into his bag to see what all he got.  

Pearson just loves his little class and talks about Ms. E-Yane (Elayne) and Ms. Uh-Rees-Uh (Teresa) ALL.THE.TIME.  They were all so stinkin' cute dressed up in their costumes.  Pearson's teachers both had minion t-shirts on, so they were a huge fan on his little costume. 

After the parade and pictures I walked back to his room to help his teachers get the kids out of their costumes.  I am just amazed at how well behaved Pearson is at school.  At school he just does exactly what he is supposed to do for his teachers.  It's like they are magic!!  He really is a great kid at home, but we definitely have our moments of defiance and terrible two's.  Although it stinks that we have to deal with the tough stuff, I'm glad he acts the way he should at school for his teachers. 

I headed back up to the school around 12:45 for his Halloween Party.  I was in charge of the party all by myself.  I had no idea what to do for 2.5 year old so I just did exactly what his teachers told me to do.  Keep it simple......a craft, a cookie, and a treat bag.  I did exactly that and they loved it.  We made a little shape candy corn craft and decorated cookies on a stick.

The cookies on a stick were a big hit!! Lots of smiling and messy faces!!

I'm so glad I got to be a part of his special Halloween Day at school!!