Review Extravaganza: October-December 2013!

And as we close out the year 2013, here's the last installment of the Review Extravaganza!

I started off the month of October by writing about as mothers when are we enough?

We took a glance at my boy at three, then the actual third birthday party.

I talked about how as moms we don't get any off days even if we are sick, and how I just want my own space.

We then celebrated fall with some pumpkin pickin' and a Halloween event at a local park.

I then let you in on my new venture of the Knoxville Moms Blog.  If you haven't been over there, check it out!

I then celebrated a birthday with a bedroom remodel and talked about as moms we always put ourselves last.

Next up we're in December, and I wrote about the not-so-nice part of being online.  Then we were off to find the perfect Christmas tree!

So there you have it, the year in a review.  What a crazy fast ride it's been!

In your recap post, please share you goals or hopes for 2014.  I personally haven't had much time to think on mine, so when I do I'll share in another post.  I do hope for a fun filled year watching my boys grow!


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Natalie

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!

View the entire collection of cards.

Sixteen Months and Growing

The little guy has surpassed the sixteen month and soon will be more toddler than baby.

He's interested in everything and always pointing and saying, "What's this?"

He says a few words and all are not your typical first words such as, cheese, teeth, silly, Teddy (our dog), doggy, tree, and of course the normal momma and daddy. 

He has the biggest grin and almost has all his teeth! Well before the two year molars.

We are not full out walking yet, but he takes steps between our furniture and will just stand without holding anything.  He is a very deliberate boy and won't do it until he's absolutely sure he's got it under control.  Until then he's a cruising, standing and holding onto momma's pant leg kind of guy.

His favorite book is "The Shape of You" by Dr. Seuss.  You also like anything that has a good rhyme!

He is usually full of joy, but if he is not happy the whole world will know about it.  

He loves water and baths...totally opposite of his brother at this age.  He is a little more destructive as in throwing toys and crashing trucks.

He loves his milk and would drink a gallon a day if I let him.  He is in the annoying throw your food phase which I forgot how much I absolutely loathe this phase.  Some days he loves strawberries and watermelon and other days he doesn't.  He likes pizza, graham crackers, peanut butter, fruit snacks, cucumbers, apples, and sometimes cutie oranges.

He loves chasing the dogs, grandma's cat, and looking at Christmas lights.

At his 15 month appointment, he weighed a little over 27 lbs and about 30.75 inches so 80% in weight and 75% in height.

I can't believe how quickly your little life has flown by, you need to slow down!

We love you very much little Conley!

Natalie

Review Extravaganza: July-September 2013!

We are quickly moving in the review of the 3rd quarter! Man did this year fly by or what?  Join us for another week of remembering the year three months at a time, and you could win some big prizes!

In July, I came back from a bloggy break and had some one-on-one time with Nolan.

We then had a rainy 4th but still enjoyed a parade and the aquarium.  It seriously rained that whole weekend!

I talked about my boy not being a baby anymore...and then my actual baby turned 10 months and then 11 months!

I finally got in a groove of being a mom of two.  I reflected back on my school days and wondered if my boys would do the same one day.

We finished off the month by staying out until the sun goes down.

August we started off with a bang with some hiking and Conley's 1st Birthday Bash.

Nolan started not being so sweet, and I shared my favorite go-to dish, Ham and Tomato Pie.

Another busy week in my household, Nolan went back to MDO and had some fun with trucks.

I had a serious post about friendships of the past and how sometimes friendships expire.

We headed off to the beach for vacation and some fun in the sun!  I also shared some facts about when you travel with me.

A late post about Conley turning 12 months, and then a night out with the gals!

We finished the month out with my 6th year wedding anniversary!

Man, I'm tired just from writing that...now it's your turn share your third quarter and win some prizes!

(You can link up for this third week until Wednesday, December 25th 11:59 PST)

You check out the rules from the first week's recap!

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Natalie

A Blur of a Week

As we end the year, I feel that the weeks move faster.  Maybe because it seems like everyday we have another commitment, another party, or just another item to mark off the to-do list.

Since I began the KMB site (check it out if you haven't!), I have found it challenging balancing everything.  However I really am thoroughly enjoying it, I am just having to make sure I keep organized and plan ahead.  Which with two children three and under this can be difficult at times.

Last week we had SO MUCH TO DO.  KMB held a barre3 class that was fabulous, Nolan had a pajama party at school (he refused to wear his pajamas because that's just not normal pjs are for bedtime), birthday lunch for my mom friend, kid's birthday party, date night and finally seeing Catching Fire, Nolan went to a birthday party with grandma, husband's work party, dinner with friends to celebrate baby Jack's 1st birthday, and finally taking the kids to see the Holiday Lights at a local park.  I mean this was JUST in a 6 day period of time.

What would Christmas be like if we didn't rush?  If we didn't have to buy a present for every single person in our family?

I wonder if it would be more moments that we would just soak in.

I wonder if we would cling to the real meaning of Christmas.

I wonder if we would enjoy our family more.

I know we still enjoy these times and that we create wonderful memories.

But for just once, I wonder what it would be like to have a stress free Christmas.

Do you feel like the holidays are stressful?

Natalie

Pull-Ups® and The Potty Training Adventure {Sponsored Post}

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pull-Ups® Training Pants.

When I first started potty training Nolan, I thought I could just use his diapers at night.  I figured no need to buy Pull-Ups® when I can just use the same ole diapers I had been using.

However the big problem with that was that he always would potty in his diaper. I couldn't seem to figure out how to get him to do #2 in the potty.  He always seemed to do it during nap time no matter how many potty breaks we took.

So I decided it was time to try something different, so I headed to the store to buy some Pull-Ups®.  I was amazed at all the different choices and that they were gender and size specific.  I decided to go with the Learning Designs®, since I knew Nolan would enjoy the Cars and Monsters Inc. characters.  He would always say the "monster is on the back!"  Magically, Nolan stopped having accidents.  I'm not sure if it was a mental note to himself that Pull-Ups® were not diapers and more of a "big boy" option, or maybe he didn't want to mess up the fun designs.  Whatever it was, I was finally happy to not clean up #2 accidents because this little boy can go.

I was seriously scared of the potty training process.  I knew that diapers were much easier than stopping a million times to go to the bathroom while we were out or planning trips out of the house accordingly.  However, I was really surprised how fast the process went and before I knew it I had a fully potty-trained boy.

If you are about to start the potty training process and have no idea where to start check out the Pull-Ups® tips for potty training success.  You can keep track of your child's progress with the Big Kid Calendar® and even customize a celebration for each success.  They even have an easy to access app, the new Big Kid® App to help keep up with your child's progress and to help celebrate those victory moments.

Right now you can get some pretty awesome coupons, so be sure to print some when you go to the store!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pull-Ups® Training Pants.  Save up to $3 on your next purchase of Pull-Ups® by registering at the Pull-Ups® website.

Natalie

Review Extravaganza: April-June 2013!

We are now hitting up April-June of our Review Extravaganza!

We started off the month with Easter festivities.  We had fun at our play group's Easter Egg Hunt, and Nolan had fun activities at school.  I also sent him to school was some snack goodies!

We also got all spiffed up for Easter Sunday and headed to church!

I had a few confessions on some of my favorite shows and not so favorite music.

I posted the sweetest laugh you will ever hear (or I think so!) from my baby boy.

I then talked about both my boys being 2 1/2 and 8 months...man they grow fast!

In April, we also took a fun trip across the state to visit some of our dear friends.  We had a wonderful time, and the boys really did a great job traveling.

May was a very busy month for us as a family.  For Mother's Day I wrote a letter to all the moms.  I then had a typical Monday and how they are not my fave.

I went to my first Bloggy Conference and met my favorite blogger Shell!  I shared a snapshot of our daily happenings.  We then had some Memorial Day Fun with some friends visiting.

I then had a serious post about how I have felt judged about my choice to be a stay-at-home mom.

June came in with a bang as I was a bad mood momma with a cold.  The little one turned nine months, my little man and I had some one-on-one time, Father's Day activities, and then just some time kickin' it with my boys!

Now it's your turn!  Don't forget each week you get to enter again for the wonderful prizes!  So what are you waiting for link up! (You can link up for this second week until Wednesday, December 18th 11:59 PST)

You check out the rules from last week's recap!


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Natalie

A Tree Hunting We Will Go

Since I was a little girl, I have find memories of going to pick out a Christmas tree from our land and chopping it down.

Granted, it was not a beautiful tree (cedar) and a huge fire hazard next to our wood burning stove, but we still did it until the year my mom finally bought a fake tree and said no more.

Since I have had my own house and as married couple, we have always cut down our own tree from local tree farms. We have continued this tradition with the kids, and it is hard to believe Nolan has already been four times, and Conley twice!

This year it was still warm, so we had a great time running around finding the perfect tree.

Do you cut down your own tree?  (Oh and it only took me a whole week to get it decorated!)

Natalie

Review Extravaganza: January-March 2013

Wow again I can't believe we're about to enter 2014?! But before we bring in the new year, let's recap this past year three months at a time...and enter to win some fabulous prizes from our sponsors!

In January, my boys were keeping me on my toes.  Nolan was showing off his dance moves to bring in the new year, and my little one was turning 5 months.  Hard to believe he's over 15 months now!

We also went to visit Llama Red Pajama and Nolan practiced being a good big brother.  Hey miracles do happen every now and then right?

We were pretty busy in February, but I took the time to write about the little moments that matter. Conley also was baptized in February right before Valentine's Day.

We had lots of fun with Valentine's Day play dates and school parties.

And then the baby turned six months...

Then before we knew it, we were heading into March!

We did a little toddler learning and some busy bags to keep him entertained!

I then wrote a post about my little loves and celebrated a two year blog anniversary!  Crazy to think I'll soon be on three years.  We then had a very warm St. Patrick's Day and pulled out the green and the flip flops!

We ended the month with a getting to know me post and finally catching up with Conley's seven month post.

Wow, it's crazy how much can happen in just three months!  It is nice to look back at the boys and see what fun/or not fun we had that month.  So join in with us and link up your first three months review and use the #RE2013 to share the love!

(Linky will be open for the first three months review until Wednesday, December 11th 11:59 PST)

How to Play
- Each Thursday** in December link with your recap of 3 months at a time     December 5th: Recap January, Feb, and March     December 12th: Recap April, May and June     December 19th: Recap July, August and September     December 26th: Recap October, November and December and 5 goals for upcoming year ** Posts do not have to be posted on Thursday but MUST be posted by the following Wednesday to count.  So, the first week you can post Dec 5th through Dec 11th, etc. The Rules - Must link up a recap, not just a general blog post- please link to your actual post - Must include the Review Extravaganza button in your post for your entry to count towards the prizes - Must link up at least one week to be eligible to enter - You will receive LOTS of bonus points for linking up all four weeks - Anyone can recap with us-but you must live in the Continental US to be eligible to win the prizes - We will be using Rafflecopter to keep track of entries and must use that form to get your bonus points -There will be two winners this year, with a Grand Prize and a Runner Up Prize
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Natalie