31 - things

Every year around my birthday, I like to share a few things with the few people that might still be checking in here. 

I know that this spot has started to collect quite a bit of dust - and I'm sorry about that. I always have great intentions of signing on, writing a post, and for whatever reason, I either come up blank or fall asleep ;) 

But, I'm here now, at the cutest littlest wine bar ever (Aroma in downtown Crystal Lake), I have one hour with a babysitter at home, and I'm about to get a refill of Rose - SO.....let's do this.

1 - My favorite line has been - I'm a horrible "stay at home mom" because I hate to stay home. We stay very busy throughout the day, and ideally I try to only be home for nap time to be honest.

2 - In order to make that work, I try to keep a tight schedule of home-ish chores so that I can stay on top of things, and keep us busy. I have a laundry schedule I stick too....

3 - Which means I do 1 load of laundry every day

4 - I also try and cook dinner most nights of the week, and the key to my success on that one is having everything prepped at nap time. That way, when 5:30pm rolls around, I just bake/fry/etc.

5 - The other reason I'm really successful at that? My husband is incredibly helpful and supportive. He cleans up the kitchen every night, lines up the coffee machine, loads the dishwasher, UNLOADS the dishwasher, gets laundry started in the morning, ........and about 50 other things he manages on a daily basis along with providing for our family. He operates on very little sleep, has a discipline like no one I've ever met, and also doesn't really know how to relax and/or sit down.

6 - I'm obsessed with my kids. I think they're truly the most beautiful, smartest, funniest, and loveliest little things to be around. They both - OF COURSE - have their moments - but for the most part, I spent the day in awe of how we created these two little doll babies.

7 - On that nice note, I really do feel like I'm living the life that I always dreamed off.

8 - I have been SO against red wine lately. Unless it's a really nice bottle, I really haven't had much of a desire to drink it. I've been having a lot of beer, rose, and vodka.

9 -  Speaking of nice red wine - pretty much the only time I'll drink red wine is Sunday's at my parents. We spend every Sunday at their house for dinner. It's such a special tradition and treat. They cook for us, we hang out, spend most of the afternoon and then enjoy and early dinner together.

10 - I really wish you could be listening to these idiots sitting next to me. I'm not even going to get into detail but I pretty much want to puke in my mouth they're so lame. This is random, I know, but trust me.

11 - I get energy from being around other people. I am VERY much an extrovert, VERY social, and would rather be around people than be alone.

12 -  I take half a unisom every night in order to even try and sleep through the night, and even with that, it's a crap-shoot. Since it works 80% of the time, my doctor thinks I should stay on this path since it's very mild and there is a lot of room to play if it gets worse.

13 - My favorite day of the week is the day that we have our babysitter come to our house to help me from 3:15-6:15pm. It almost blows my mind that those 3 hours are sometimes what gets me through the entire week - but to just have 3 selfish hours where I can go sit at a wine bar, or go to trader joe's alone, or organize the kids closets or whatever. 

14 - We moved from Los Angeles two years ago, after spending five years there. We knew that the Chicago suburbs would always be home.

15 - I miss parts of living in Los Angeles, but I really couldn't imagine living there right now. The lifestyle here is much more aligned to the life I want, but I'm so glad Joel and I lived such a chunk of our twenties there.

16 - I know a lot of people move West for the weather - but I truly missed seasons. I've discovered now, I missed summer, fall, and winter - but I actually friggen HATE Spring. It's cruel here in Chicago. It's cold, gray, flirts with you, and then leaves you again.

17 - My newest favorite instagram account - and least favorite because she is making me go broke - instagram is @things.i.bought.and.liked.

18 - I bought these really cool silk, top-knot-ish-y headbands she reccomended - incredibly random - but I wore it today and no joke, got like 10 random compliments on it. Along with socks, cleaning supplies, underwear, wine.......she's amazing.

19 - I mentioned above that I haven't been having a ton of motivation to blog, and with that, I haven't had a ton of motivation to read blogs. Have you felt the same? I have a few of my favorite girls that I check in with, but for the most part, they just don't fulfill me like the used to.

20 - I do really love to Liz Adams at @HelloAdamsFamily - but more than her blog - I follow her for her instastories which I think has stolen much of Bloggers mojo

21 - I'm so excited for this summer. We decided to join our local country club and I think it's going to change the entire feeling of our summer. Their pool doesn't open until 12, so I think we will end up visiting the pool after naps until before dinner....which literally THRILLS me! Plus, I'm going to try and play tennis there in the morning, and hope to play tennis and pickle ball with Joel on the weekends.

22 - I'm also hoping to have Leo do a camp on Fridays in the summer from 9-3.

23 - The only problem - he has to be potty trained and he isn't.

24 - One of my worst parenting experiences - thus far  - has been our first attempt at potty training. I was a horrible mom in regards to the process, I put WAY too much pressure on Leo and on the situation, him and I both cried for two weeks straight, and then eventually I threw in the towel.

25 - But, it's time to do it again. Leo will be 4 in the fall, and I hope that this time around, we can both come at it from a much more gentle and calm place, and we're just going to take it one day at a time and hope that it sticks. Because we were both so burned from the first process, I'm not following any perfect book/schedule/routine but more so going to try and follow Leo's lead.

26 - We are REALLY hoping to travel with Leo and Drew next year to Europe. The best trip Joel and I ever took was to France a few years ago, and we dreamed of taking our little babes with us. I think they'll both be a very fun ages to do it, so we're really going to try. We'd like to do two weeks in Italy and France but for now, it's truly just a dream.

27 - I have to leave this wine shop in 15 minutes, so the next few points are going to have to be quick

28 - My favorite dessert is key lime pie

29 - I hate getting my hair and nails done. Truly, I find them as chores that I dread.

30 - My favorite food is pizza.....I think.

31 - I am SO beyond thankful. For my health, for my families health, for my life, for my friends, for my house, and for my life. And thank you for checking in here.

Our Decked Halls (& our Christmas Baby)

Our Christmas baby is ONE.

HOW is this possible? 

To think back to last year at this time, checking into the hospital, having the IV placed like six times before they could get it, walking into the OR while Joel was still in the bathroom, having the surgeons sing me Christmas carols, to hearing the LOUDEST cry while my doctor told me Drew was officially here with a head full of dark curls.....and truly, since last year on December 21st at 7:59am, our lives were forever changed.

 

Drew has brought SO much joy. She was our missing piece and she is just the apple of all of our eyes. She has the sweetest energy, biggest smile, and overall love for people and life, and she makes everything better.

And now, somehow, SHE'S ONE! 

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And since last year I sort of just went through the motions of all things Christmas (....see above!), this year has been even better. I love our house at Christmas time and I'm not ready to take all of the stuff down either! I wish we could keep Christmas decorations up until Spring! 

For the most part, I kept things from last year, the same - you can see last years here - but there have been a few changes to the house and furniture throughout the year, so a few things did switch up. 

So come on in! 

 

We did add garland on the second floor balcony which I really love. I like having some Christmas lights up stairs - and it's really pretty when you walk in the front door as well. 

 

Right when you come in, to your right we have our living room and dining room. 

We keep a tree in here where I keep some of our sparkly, nicer ornaments. 

 

 

I found this table cloth at Hobby Lobby that I have loved - it gives me a major Ralph Lauren vibe, and it hides the fact that our table top desperately needs to be refinished! 

 

 

I love having the Christmas cards displayed in the kitchen - just string and mini clothespins, and it's such a cute display. 

The kids each of Christmas books displayed in their rooms, along with mini flocked trees, and we put Christmas lights (and a felt Christmas tree) down in the basement, which I love. I actually think I'm going to keep the Christmas lights up all year down there....it adds a lot of light and coziness! 

 

Drew's 1st Birthday Party

HOW.

I honestly have no idea.

If I thought Leo's first year of life went fast, Drew's went by quicker than the speed of light.

And since she is a Christmas baby (12/21), I decided to throw her birthday party a little early so that she could get the well deserved attention and love. She is an absolute delight, gem, and ray of light, and I'm so glad we decided to throw her a little party.

We kept it as casual as we could, while still putting a few touches out that really made it special for her (and me).

 

 

 

I've been very into hosting 10:30am birthday parties. It's perfect for families who have a morning napper, and perfect for families who have an afternoon napper (or both, like mine), it's not too early to have a drink, and the food is super simple (bagels, eggs, donuts, etc.).

 

 

We picked up coffee and bagels from panera, donuts from our local donut shop, Joel made two egg bakes, and his mom made some amazing cheesy potatoes. Fruit salad, snowmen cheese sticks, and lots of mimosas and bloody mary's and we called it a day! 

 

 

 

One of the best things I did was have our family babysitter come to hold down the fort in the basement. She came in the cutest little "santa's helper" apron, ran a few crafts in the basement, a couple of games, and made sure no one was going to crazy.

The parents were able to stay upstairs and enjoy and the kids had a ball in the basement - win win - and honestly was the best money I spent for the party!

My favorite part of the birthday party was when it was time to sing to Drew. She spent the entire song pageant waving to the 40 people watching her.

 

 

 

 

Then when she got her big donut, she really had no idea what to do with it. Six or seven of the big kids had circled around her to watch her eat it, and each one of them was trying to coach her how to take a big bite. Finally a few of the girls started breaking off little pieces for her to try, and then she got the hang of it, but it just melted my heart at how truly loved she is.

Our friend were so generous - especially during this time of year - and it really was the most perfect first birthday party for the most perfect little girl.

Weekend Recap

It's really feeling like fall around here and I'm loving it! 

Friday our high school had their homecoming parade, so we met up with a few friends and kids to watch all of the students. 

 

The kids loved it - and then we decided to walk down to Crystal Lake Brewing for a beer.

A few families went home, but we tried two restaurants with friends downtown to grab dinner, and both had way too long of wait times, so we decided to head back to our house. We ordered pizza, let the kids play, and drank a ton of wine until the kids (me) were falling asleep on the couch. 

Saturday morning we woke up early to celebrate Leo's birthday! We decided in lieu of a birthday party this year we would head into the city and go to the Shedd Aquariam. 

We left our house early, and after a quick drive, did end up having to sit waiting for the parking lot for a while. Luckily no one broke down and we were in the Shedd exploring pretty quickly thereafter. 

 

My sister Hannah met us (my mom is in Europe, my other sister Nell was at a wedding in KY, and my dad was good skipping out), and we spent two hours following Leo from exhibit to exhibit. He was in hog heaven.

 

 

I was really glad we got there early in the morning, because it was a Saturday, it was jam packed by noon. 

So, we all loaded into our car and drove for lunch at our favorite taco spot in the city - Big Star. 

 

We had a few margaritas, Leo chowed three quesadillas and all of the guac he could consume, opened some presents from Aunt Hannah, and then headed back home.

We were home pretty early, but decided to skip naps for everyone so that we could put them to bed a little earlier. 

We did baths, got them into bed, and then Joel and I both sadly watched our teams (Vols and Hawkeyes) lose some pretty important football games.

Sunday morning Joel let me sleep in which was glorious - and then after breakfast we went out for a 4 mile run, followed by a 4 mile bike ride (Joel ran both). It was the PERFECT weather, so we really enjoyed spending the morning outside. 

After naps, we wrapped birthday presents, mowed the lawn, ordered groceries, typed this blog, and got ready for a birthday dinner with Leo's grandparents.



 

It was the perfect weekend - and I'm so excited to be starting fall with a THREE YEAR OLD!!!

Tomorrow we will bring treats into school, play at the library, and then have a park party with some friends and brownies before coming home for dinner and presents! A pretty fun weekend for a pretty special little dude.