Posts tagged GRW

Less than 2 weeks until Christmas—where does this precious time go?!  A few thoughts this week:

• Tomorrow is Charlotte’s last day of school until the New Year.  I’m sad she will be missing a few weeks of her routine, but honestly I am looking forward to a few laid back weeks without the hectic driving to and from her school and dragging Ellie up and down the stairs (and Charlotte who refuses to leave!).  It will be a nice break for all—but I know she will miss it!

• This week I introduced the classic, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”, to CG.  She LOVES it, and asks to watch “nose” all the time.  During the part where the other reindeer kick Rudolph out of the playground, my sweet CG cries HYSTERICALLY to the point of shaking and running to me to comfort her.  She is so upset they are being so mean to him!  I hope this means I am raising a compassionate child, and I will remind her of this story if she is ever a bully on her own playground someday! (and I’m starting to think she is a little young for this movie…)

• I am not a baker.  My mother, however, is the QUEEN BEE of Christmas cookie baking.  I think this is why I don’t even try half of the time.  I know I can’t compete with her cookies, so I usually just take a bunch of hers to hand out to my own friends.  And don’t worry mom—-I do give you all the credit!

• Ellie has a big weekend ahead.  On Sunday, she will be baptized!  This is such a special day, and with our whole family in attendance I know she will be doted on by all.  I think baptisms are the most special and sacred day to celebrate a baby—Charlotte’s was so joyful and happy—and with Ellie’s at Christmas-time, what could be better?

• I ordered Christmas cards last night—better late than never!  Of course I wanted to have the “perfect” Christmas picture with our family—but life isn’t perfect and neither are we, so instead I chose a few of my favorites from this year.  I think it turned out great—I just love looking at the photos from year to year.  It’s amazing to think our family grew every year since Andrew and I have been together—God’s gifts!  :)

Enjoy the Christmas weeks ahead!  

I haven’t done one of these for awhile, but today is one of those “days”.

• Poor Andrew has been really sick with strep throat all week.  While I of course feel awful for him, and want him to get better—my first instinct is to go into “paranoid mode” and keep the girls FAR AWAY from his germs!  Luckily, we have our parents nearby and he stayed with his for a few days while I put the Lysol can to good use.  Thank goodness for antibiotics—he is on the mend!

• I’ve been in a bit of a blogging rut recently.  Not because I don’t have much to say—I have PLENTY to blog about.  But we are busy this time of year, and I just can’t seem to mind the time or motivation to sit down and write.  I need to start planning out some posts again.  I find that when I plan out posts, and write them in the evening before posting for the next day I can get some of my thoughts out a little better.

• I am loving Christmas this year.  Mainly…because I have 2 girls which means twice the fun with dressing them in adorable Christmas clothing!  I may have found a new hobby (or Andrew would say obsession).  I just love shopping for my girls, and dressing them up!!  They will only be little for a short time, and I know someday soon they won’t let me choose their outfits.  So I am enjoying it while I can :).

• We are all decorated for Christmas.  Andrew and I were worried Charlotte would try to play with the tree and take all the ornaments down—but she barely glanced at it!  I guess that’s the difference between boys and girls—she is very good about not touching grown up things!

• I have another new addiction.  Homeland.  I don’t think I have EVER seen a television series with better acting or plot.  I watch at least 2 episodes tonight, and think about it all the time!  If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon—I highly recommend this series!

For more pictures and updates—follow me on Instagram and Facebook.  :)  Hope everyone is off to a great start in December!

It’s Wednesday!  I hope everyone took their opportunity to vote yesterday—I know everyone has their own opinions and views about politics, but I am just grateful that we as Americans can express ourselves with the right to vote.  It was an exciting race last night!

• I took Ellie with me to vote.  We waited in line for 45 minutes, and she was an angel!  The highlight was meeting a sweet woman behind us and sharing stories from our childhood.

• I took the girls to the gym nursery for the first time this week.  I knew Charlotte would LOVE IT—and of course she ran right in and threw a fit when I came to pick her up.  But I was nervous about Ellie because she is completely “mommy’s girl” recently.  I worked out for 45 mins, and was SHOCKED I didn’t get a call to come save her.  I walked in, and she was comfortably in a baby bjorn with the nursery worker—she did great!  I was so relieved!

• I think it’s officially winter now in Pittsburgh.  I’m so sad to see all the leaves have fallen, and the gray skies are in our everyday forecast.  I am excited for the holidays though—this is sure to be a fun one with Charlotte—she will LOVE Christmas.

• Andrew and I are in dire need of a date night (or maybe it’s ME who needs a night out/off).  I can’t remember the last time I went somewhere without either of the girls—and we haven’t been out together since my birthday.  I’ve been feeling a little like I need some time without kids recently…it’s always non stop around here!

• Last night I let Ellie cry it out for the first time during the night when she woke up at 2am for the 8th day in a row.  I think she is in the habit of doing this now rather than hungry, so I decided to leave the room and let her fall back asleep.  IT WORKED.  I woke up at 5am and realized she was sleeping!  I think it’s sometimes harder for the mom than the baby…

Happy mid-week!

I’m back with GRW—-it’s been awhile!  It’s fall, and we have had lots of fun things going on around here.

• I love fall, and the change of season.  With it, comes—back to school—which means one thing: new school clothes.  I have a current obsession with buying second hand smocked clothing, and children’s clothes in general.  Matching girl outfits consume my everyday thoughts!

• Speaking of school clothes, Charlotte and I made a trip to Stride Rite for the first time today.  She was in desperate need of some new shoes that actually fit.  I know they won’t last long….but a comfortable shoe for CG was important.  We found out she is measuring a 4.5 WIDE.  No wonder she screamed every time I put her shoes on!  The poor girl was being squeezed into a non-wide shoe.  Hopefully now she will be more comfortable.

• It has been so nice having some alone time with Ellie while Charlotte is in school.  I realized she is soon to be 7 weeks old, and I never get a chance to  just spend one on one time with her!  I guess that’s what happens with the second child…

• I had the most wonderful birthday last week.  I was spoiled with two fancy dinners out: one with my mom, and one with Andrew.  Our living room and kitchen are filled with flowers and cards and I really had a special few days :)

• Does anyone use MyFitnessPal?  I just started using it to track my calories and food everyday.  It’s kind of tricky to use while breastfeeding, but I really like it so far.  Add me if you use it: KendallCole6—I could use some motivation!  I also started back to the gym, and it feels SO GOOD to be working out again.  

In lieu of a traditional GRW post (because let’s face it…we are waiting on a baby—what else is there to say?!) here are some pictures of what’s been going on around here (mainly of our main girl).  Most of these photos are from Instagram—my new obsession!  If don’t already follow me (kendallleigh6) I would love to see some new faces!

Charlotte has been on a bit of a napping strike.  This photo was taken after she had “quiet time” (aka screeching time) in her crib for about 1.5 hours.  I was exhausted, so we had our own little cuddle time with Barney.

CG spent the afternoon at Mimi’s yesterday.  She is always spoiled with her grandparents—and the look on her face says it all!  I had a Dr. appointment and got some much needed laundry and last minute shopping done.  It was a nice afternoon for all!

WHO is this little Diva and what happened to my baby?!?!  I couldn’t believe this pose my mom send me while I was out yesterday.  Hand on hip, beveled toe and that smile—-wow are we going to have our hands full!  I can’t imagine where she gets the drama from?!  ;)

And for some exciting news this week: Andrew just found out he has been promoted at work!!  We are SO proud of him, and are very excited.  He works so hard and absolutely deserves this recognition :)  Charlotte clapped for her daddy at our celebration dinner out.  We love you!

It’s mid-week!  And if you’re 9.5 months pregnant like me (haha…) then you are probably living each day like it’s your “last”.  Each day I wonder if this is IT—here is what’s on my racing mind these days:

• Tomorrow I will be at 39 weeks.  39 weeks means that I made it further than I did with Charlotte who was born exactly at 39 weeks.  The first time around, I would have loved that extra week to “get ready”.  This time around, I know what is coming and how special it is—AND I’m really over being pregnant.  COME ON BABY!  (oh, and I’m DYING to find out if we have a little boy or a little girl.  Dying.)

• We have recently purchased all new furniture.  A new mattress (desperately needed), and yesterday we received a new sofa.  It’s bigger than our old hand me down—and I love it!  We are waiting on our new swivel arm chair to arrive, and then we will really start looking like grown ups.  It was time for a change (thanks mom for your help!).

• I’m very excited because this weekend Andrew and I have a date night planned.  We are seeing The Dark Knight Rises (filmed in Pittsburgh!) and having dinner.  I realized today that we haven’t seen a movie in theaters together since before Charlotte was born!  It’s the little things, but I’m really looking forward to some time alone together.

• Yesterday poor Charlotte fell at the pool.  It was actually my fault—I was putting her swimmy on, and she leaned forward and I pulled her back and she fell FLAT on her face!  Blood everywhere and lots of screams.  It was pretty scary, I was worried she lost a tooth or would need stitches.  But she was a trooper and ended up with a fat lip that looks so sad!  We ended up staying at the pool anyway and had a fun time :)

• You know something that has really been bothering me?  People (in general) do not say please, thank you, or “how can I help you?” anymore.  I have dealt with some very RUDE people this week and it makes me sad.  What happened to manners?  This makes me realize how important it is to teach your children to be respectful all the time, and to always say “please” and “thank you”.  I know my Granny would agree.

Have a great week, friends.  I wonder if this may be my last GRW until Baby 2 or if I will be back next week?!