A Superhero Birthday!

Wow I realize I haven't posted since announcing Foster's birth but as you can imagine it's been crazy around here. We've been adjusting to becoming a family of 5 and also having Nolan start Kindergarten. Life is changing, and we're trying to settle in a new routine.

At the beginning of August, we celebrated Conley's 4th birthday party. The theme was a Superhero theme, and it was lots of fun at our local splash pad!

And this guy turned one month old at the end of July!

Happy September friends!

Natalie

Beach Party Fun!

We had so much fun celebrating Conley's third birthday at the local splash pad where we've held it for the past three years.

This year I did a beach party theme (super easy), and mainly blue and green colors.

The (inflatable) drink holder, beach balls, leis, are all from Oriental Trading. If you haven't used them for a party, you totally should! The bubble holders and the chalk sign are all from Hobby Lobby, and the printables I found FREE online and used frames I have used in the past. It worked so well!

The cake was actually from Kroger!

As far as themes go this was one of my favorites and very fun. Not to mention, I really didn't spend that much money on it which is AWESOME.

If you need any links to some of the products just comment below!

Natalie

You Are Three...

My youngest turned three this past Saturday. That's right my baby, my youngest...is now officially straight toddlerhood to boyhood.

It's weird to think I no longer have a baby in the house and that I'll soon be the mother of a five and three year old.

At three Conley is full of life and smiles, and feels everything (including tantrums and his way) fiercely.

He wants to open all doors and "I'll do it myself" is a constant sentence that we hear in our household. Much different than his brother was at that age with a more independent streak...yet still very much a momma's boy.

At this moment, if mom is home he only wants mommy for his boo-boos or putting him to sleep. He loves his big brother and enjoys antagonizing him any chance he can...aka messing up Nolan's Legos or anything he's focused on.

 

 

He is a great talker and always says the funniest things!

We had a fun Beach Party Birthday Party at the SplashPad (Post later this week!), and Conley even though adventurous as he is still stays close to mommy in a crowd.

We love your vigor for life little sweet boy, and we hope you always have such passion.

Happy 3rd birthday sweetheart!

Natalie

The Holiday Hustle and Bustle

The holidays are supposed to be a fun and festive time full of magic and joy!

As much as I LOVE watching the holidays through my children's eyes...I also feel stressed about the mile long to-do list.

I really don't mind shopping for the boys or for my husband...but everyone else seems SO HARD. My mom is pretty easy...but my husband's parents, my brother/sister-in-law, my brother and his wife, my grandmother, and my aunt. And these festivities aren't a one present deal and you're done. Everyone gets you several so you feel inclined to get several for them as well.

I really like to do thoughtful and meaningful gifts...so it's really hard for me to just pick out something on the shelf or a gift card. I sometimes wish I could hold a truce and say hey let's just not exchange gifts and instead just eat and enjoy the company!

I also feel like I should do as many as holiday events as possible. Which in reality I shouldn't feel that way. I need to pick and choose and not make myself feel bad if we don't go to every.single.one on the list. I loved Meghan's post on KMB on how we think the only way we can bring joy to our children is by doing things. When in reality, it's the simple things that create the fun.

Then it's the traveling. I really would just like to stay at my house. I don't mind the drive to the in-laws because they live in town, but each year I dread the long drive to my parents. I long to just have the holidays at my house...and sometimes just with the four of us!

Anyhow, we just received some of our photos from our fall session...this photo captures Conley's personality perfectly!

Happy Tuesday friends and Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you have tons of family fun with lots of turkey :)

Natalie

Fun with the Fleet

Last weekend KMB was the official snack sponsor at the Fun with the Fleet in our local town. This is an event we've attended for the past three years, and the boys always have a blast climbing and "driving" all the trucks. If you have an event like this in your town I strongly suggest to check it out!

I swear my boys don't look like brothers...and seriously how tall is Nolan now...he's like a 5 year old!

And I've been meaning to share this wonderful animal cuddly mat Conley received from the RedEnvelope in their new baby gift items. It's so soft and cuddly! You should really check out their baby items when you are looking for the perfect gift for a friend.

Happy Wednesday friends---almost the weekend, right?

Natalie

Tomorrow You Are Two

Two years ago, I went to the hospital to give you a little "nudge" since you were 5 days overdue. 7 hours later we met our precious baby boy, who now is a big two year old.

It's hard to believe the "baby" is now two and how fast life moves.

We celebrated your birthday last Saturday with a Nautical Theme styled by Laura from Pop of Happy. It came out wonderful! If you guys need help planning a party and need some decor, she's your gal!

Now onto the photos!

Happy birthday to my 8/8 boy and his rambunctious nature! We love you more than words can say and can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Natalie

To the Baby Who is Almost Two...

To our little boy who is almost two...

You are a spitfire, a boy full of joy but also anger. You can be super excited and in a second in tears.

You are full of determination and perseverance that leads me to believe you'll be the athlete in the family.

You want to be just like big brother and do all the things he can even though your legs might not reach.

You are full of words and sentences, "I don't want it, I like it, I love it, I did it" and saying 88 degrees from watching the weather channel with big bro.

Your wild blonde hair fits your wild personality, and we can't cut it yet for those reasons.

Your smile is the biggest and your cry is the loudest.

You are a lover of chocolate, waffles, blueberries, and anything sweet. 

Your hand dexterity is so crazy good, and you use a fork better than your brother as well as color and write with the correct hand hold.

Watching you grow especially these last few months has been so enjoyable. Seeing you interact with your brother just warms my heart when you two play and go on little adventures.

To my little boy, my baby, my Conley...I love you little one. 

Natalie

18 Months and Life Lately

Last week we had some beautiful spring like days.

And although the boys have been battling a cold we decided to take advantage of some good ole sunshine.

This is the first season Conley is walking outdoors, and he's so fun to watch toddle at fast speeds.

However watching him climb stairs and ladders, not so fun as he has no fear of heights and just dropping off the top of all the playground sets.

Conley is now 19 months old and just went to his 18 month check up. He's around 29 pounds (90th percentile) and 33 1/4 in height (70th percentile). I always think he's so heavy compared to Nolan at this age, but when I looked back at the stats Nolan was heavier and about a 1/2 taller. We'll see if little brother follows the same path as his big brother and becomes just as tall.

Conley is a little parrot and copies everything we say. He also talks in his own toddler gibberish with convincing facial expressions.  I think he definitely talks more than Nolan did at this age.

His favorite words are: cookie, hot, head, poo-poo, yeah, Con-Con, chicken, doggy, car, truck, all done, kitty, daddy, momma, ball, boat, help, heart, up, apple, cheese, blueberries, wa-wa (water), shirt, shoes, hug, uh-oh, up, socks, shapes, moon and probably tons more I can't remember. He also can make most animal sounds, and I am pretty sure he can identify blue, red, and yellow. However keeping his attention for long is not easy!

He also LOVES to get in trouble and mimics us when we tell him to sit on his bottom. He points his finger and does an impression of "on your bottom." This kid is trouble I tell you!  And boy can he throw a tantrum and stomp his feet already.

There have been some exciting developments in our household for upcoming trips, so I'm pretty excited about the next couple of months. Once we pin down the details, I will share...but for now we're looking at possibly two family beach trips and just MAYBE a trip for just the husband and I to one of my favorite cities!

Speaking of the husband and I, we are heading to a wedding tomorrow sans kiddos so we're pretty excited. Also excited to see my gals!

Here we all are, minus Sarah won't be pregnant!

Happy weekend friends!

Natalie

Finally Friday!

It's Finally Friday!

Who's ready for the weekend? I know I am!

My good buddies from high school are coming in town for a girls' night, and I could not be more excited! After a long week with sick kiddos this momma is really looking forward to not be cleaning runny noses for a few hours.

I am also ready for the month of March. I am not sure why, but February has been the longest month! Yes I know in reality it is the shortest month, but it has just seemed SO LONG.

It's probably seemed longer because it has snowed and been super cold for our area. Then we've had the glimpses of spring with some 60 degree weather. Such a tease mother nature is, no?

Many people say that Conley and I favor a lot...and sometimes I see it and then sometimes I don't.  Well I pulled out some old photos of me around Conley's age...and...well...

Looks like we do!  What do you think?

Happy Weekend Friends!

Natalie

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

Fall Festivities

Wow it's Thursday? It seems my days have been flying by lately!  Before you know it, we'll be into full blown holiday cheer!

For some reason, I have felt like Halloween has last forever this time.  Maybe because we started celebrating with the Pumpkin Patch very early this year.  All I can say is I'm ready to take my decorations down and move just to fall.

Last night, daddy and Nolan carved his first pumpkin  Surprisingly, Nolan actually put his hand in to get the "guts" out.  I never in a million years thought he would do that since he's weird about sticky things.  But he did, and they had a great time!

(Please ignore the photo bombing of Conley behind our glass door!)

Conley is growing and becoming more like a big boy.  He started really cruising about two weeks ago, and I believe probably by Thanksgiving he'll be a walker.  It's so weird to see him standing everywhere like a little man!

Did you do any pumpkin carving this year?

Natalie

12 Months and Growing...

The 12 month post that was never written...

As we have entered the late summer and early fall (ok it's not fall yet but in my mind it is), life had been on fast forward.

My little baby has turned one. Hard to believe you are actually over 13 months now. 

Healthy as an ox, you weighed in a little over 24 lbs and just over 29 inches. You are about average in height and a good 70% in weight. 

We had your first birthday party at the playground and splash pad, and this little water boy loved it. 

Most of the time you are my jolly boy, but lately you've been teething, and this has caused you to be a tad on the cranky side. You are now up to eight teeth, four on top and four bottom. I believe you are getting two more bottom teeth on both sides of the middle four that you already have. 

You decided you were ready to do more traditional crawling, and now you are all over the place, standing on your knees, and pulling up on anything you can reach. I still think we are a ways from walking, but I guess time will tell. 

You pretty much love any food.  Around 4:45 pm you are ready for your dinner.  It never fails that you start to get super cranky, so I put you in your high chair give you some food.  After that you are usually happy as a clam!

Anytime your big brother is on the potty you love to crawl over and pull up on the toilet.  Actually anywhere I go I find you quickly behind me.  You love all trucks, trains, and anything with wheels. You make little truck noises, and I am not sure if that's from watching your big brother or your natural disposition.  Either way you are ALL BOY.

Your first beach trip was a success.  You loved the sand, the ocean, and the pool.  You are my fearless little boy!

Happy late 12 months my love...I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for us.  So many changes...and soon a toddler.  Bittersweet to watch it go, but also exciting to watch the world through your eyes.

The Birthday Bash

Conley's first birthday has come and went in the blink of an eye.  It's hard to believe that now he will be heading straight to toddler-hood.  However for now since he's not walking he will be my baby for a little bit longer! 

The party was a whale theme.  I wanted to keep it fairly simple since we were having at the splash pad/playground.  And to be honest, as much as I love all those Pinterest ideas I have decided not to stress myself out about it.  Because in the end, he's not getting anything out of it.  So why not keep it simple and let the kids have some fun without momma losing it?  I know some really find enjoyment in it, and that's cool just not for me.  And with two kids under three?  It's hard to get anything accomplished these days.

We had it at 10:30 in the morning since I knew it would be a hot day.  Good thing because the heat climbed up to 90 degrees and super humid! 

I just went with a few snacks such as mini-muffins, fruit tray, Goldfish and Annie's fruit snacks for the kiddos since it was in between meals.  (Perfect party times are snack times so you don't have to worry about feeding a whole army!)

I ordered "I AM ONE" banner, water labels, and favor tags from this site on Etsy.  I had these fun hats in the party favors.

I ordered this adorable design from this Etsy shop for the invitations and printed them at home.

Ok now enough about the details and to the real fun---the photos! Here's some of the decorations.

And the cakes!  We had a sheet cake and cupcakes for everyone, and a small smash cake for Conley.
I ordered them all from Publix and think they turned out great!

Getting ready for the birthday song and his cake!

Sweaty head Nolan and the birthday singing with friends.  A lot of my friends in my mom group have recently had baby #2 so there was plenty of baby wearing which I loved! One of my friends just had a baby and brought him---just 10 days old!

Let him eat cake!

Splash time!

And another party was going on at the other pavilion, and they had a special guest.  Nolan had to check it out...can you tell he was in heaven? I love the photo of him talking to the firefighter...asking some funny question as usual I am sure.

I think the party was a great success and that Conley had a blast.  Hope you had a good weekend too!

Natalie