Just the Three of Us

So far as a family of four, we have tackled the dreaded first grocery shopping trip, doctors office visits & even a few strolls around the block. All quite successful. But, yesterday! Yesterday was our first day home, just the three of us, which I was both terrified of but also looking forward to in a way. I have been excited to see how we would be able to make a routine together, but with this slow c-section recovery it has been hard to do everything that I want to, mostly picking up Harper when she wants me to.

We started our morning off snuggled in my bed watching Nemo, I fed Eloise, Harper ate cheerios & I guzzled my first cup of coffee. Harper wanted to hold her & they watched the movie like this together for a few minutes, I couldn't take my eyes off them. Too much cute! Showering & getting dressed was totally out of the question, but at least the girls made it out of their pajamas.

Eloise is taking cat naps most of the day, despite how much I try to keep her awake. It gives me a lot of one on one time with Harper though, which is so important right now. We kept busy with loads of sticker books (courtesy of grandmas), puzzles & playing dress up. She also wants to do everything I do, which of course had me laughing so hard when I caught her using my scarf to tie her cat stuffed animal to herself because that is how I have been wearing Ellie most of the time lately. I helped her get her scarf in position (instead of tucked into the back of her diaper like she initially had it) & she just loved it.

Striped Terry Pajamas

The hardest thing so far is being able to tend to Ellie's feeding schedule while still being there for Harper, and re-learning how to do all things one handed. Their naps overlapped by about one solid hour, so I had a chance to pick up some of the messes, make a second iced coffee (amen!) & attempt to peek at my email inbox, although I desperately wanted to just take a nap with them. By the late afternoon, everyone was restless, including me, but we pushed through to the finish line by playing hide the Easter eggs for the 203984th time.

And then, when Brandon shot down the idea of "no dinner mondays" I took the laziest but most delicious route ever & made one of our old favorites, hot ham & cheese subs! I thought I would share because it takes approximately ten minutes from start to finish & all mamas need a dinner shortcut every now & then.

So. One loaf of Italian or Cuban bread from the bakery (cut lengthwise & lay open on a baking pan), layer with sliced ham (or turkey) from the deli, cover in shredded mozzerella cheese & broil for 3-5 minutes (watching very closely) until cheese gets melty. We like to add Marzetti's ranch veggie dip & lettuce, but you can add anything you normally like for your deli sandwiches.

Overall, being outnumbered went better than I expected, but it won't be long before we all go stir crazy if we are stuck in the house. I see frequent park trips & donut dates in our very near future. Things can only get better from here as we start to develop a routine, right? Or maybe they won't, it is summer after all. Tis the season to be carefree! ;) I would love to hear any tips from moms of toddlers/babies if you care to share!

Friday Favorites

What a week! I am so looking forward to some weekend fun & relaxation before I am officially flying solo with both girls home with me next week. I am freaking out just slightly. We had such a fun week, celebrating Cinco de Mayo with some pineapple margaritas on the patio.

My recipe went a little something like this: 1 cup tequila, 1/2 cup triple sec, about 8-10 freshly squeezed limes, 1 cup pineapple juice & 1 cup pineapple orange juice (simply orange brand). Mix together, pour over ice & garnish with lime & fresh pineapple wedge. I don't measure everything perfectly so you can definitely do more or less of some ingredients depending on your taste. They were so so good!!

A major perk of the warm weather is being able to bring Harper's highchair outside for dinner, gotta love not having a mess to clean up! Well, other than the actual mess of Harper herself! ;) Her favorite outdoor activity these days is picking up pinecones & hitting them with her little golf clubs. Such an imagination she has!

We finally got out of the house this week since I can drive again after my c-section, we did some much needed shopping & a few coffee dates. I have been wearing Eloise in my Solly Baby Wrap that I finally decided to buy, such a great investment. I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle double-strollering quite yet, so this has been an amazing way to take both girls out together. I am currently putting together my "baby number two favorites" post & will be sharing some of the things that have been lifesavers for us. If you have something amazing to share, please do! :)

Some not-so-favorites from the week? Our new sleep schedule which is the equivalent of "never", although I can't really complain because overall Ellie is a pretty darn good baby. And her cuteness really makes everything okay in my book. I had my first experience trying to nurse while trying to put an overtired, unhappy toddler down for a nap (all while not being able to pick her up). Holy moly. Hats off to all moms who do this regularly, I had no idea what I was in for!

It is officially getting HOT in the south which means it's time for the girls to rock some sundresses & rompers! I am in love with this denim bubble romper for Eloise & totally wish it came in Harper's size.

I have been on a swimsuit hunt for quite some time & have officially fallen in love with this floral print (which is on sale this week!). Harper starts swim lessons soon too which makes me so excited for lots of pool time this summer. I also can't wait to put Eloise in all of Harper's baby swimsuits that I love so much, although I'm not sure she is squishy enough to fit in them quite yet! ;)

Mother's Day is this weekend, it seems so fitting to celebrate both my mom & mother-in-law right now after all of the help they have been for us over the last few weeks. After having them stay with us & cooking together a bunch, my gifts are going to be recipe books! This recipe tin or this recipe book are both beyond cute, especially filled with some of your own favorite recipes & even some mixes (like fajita seasoning or cookie mix in a jar) to go along with it!

I hope you all have the best weekend!! You all are some of the kindest, most inspirational moms I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, I hope you all enjoy your mother's day celebrations with your families!

Eloise's Newborn Photos

So excited to share a few of our favorites from our newborn session this week. I am obsessed with the way the girls expressions are captured, it shows so much of their personalities! I know it will only be a matter of time before they don't look anything like these pictures, time is going by much too quickly already.

This just might be my very favorite picture, Harper's big blue eyes just melt me & I love seeing the girls side by side! :)

As always, a huge thank you to Scobey Photography for capturing these precious moments in our lives as a now family of four. You're the best.

Girl Print Swaddle \\ Gold Sequin Heart Hairclip \\ White Flower Hat \\ Star Print Swaddle
Heart Swaddle \\ Feather Headbands \\ Harper's Grey & White Dress

Monday Morning Madness

The days are all starting to run together around here, two hours of sleep here & there, cold french toast on a paper plate & really, never enough coffee. I'm certain that as a mom, we easily forget what the newborn days are like. All of a sudden, Monday is here & I am thanking God that my husband has a few more days to stay home with us. In all honesty, I am terrified of my first day home with both girls!

Eloise has a bit of night & day confusion right now, she tends to be most awake (and most hungry) from about 1-4 am. She hates being swaddled & isn't a huge fan of taking a paci, totally different than her big sis. Those were two of the biggest soothers for Harper, so it's a whole new ballgame for us, which we had a feeling would happen. It sorta feels like I am a first time mom all over again. On the plus side, she is such a little snuggle bug. She loves being held, curls right up in your neck & drapes her arms around you. I mean, it doesn't get much sweeter than that.

Harper is doing an amazing job as a big sister, every day I am so proud of her I could just cry. She loves to give Eloise kisses on her head & feet, loves to push her button to turn on her rockaRoo & wants to hold her for just about five seconds. She also tells her "no whining" when she starts to cry or fus. Brandon & I died laughing when we heard her say it for the first time. Having a newborn around really emphasizes how grown up Harper is & it is so bittersweet.

 Floral Stripe Baseball Tee \\ Floral Stripe Onesie

We managed to make our first outing with two kids this weekend, a stroll through our neighborhood to check out all of the yard sales (we are on the hunt for a ping pong table!) & to get groceries. Eloise slept through most of it & we made it home alive.

 We had newborn pictures taken this morning, the girls took turns being uncooperative & Harper had quite the buffet of goodies waiting for her after all of the things we had to bribe her with to stay "frozen like a popsicle!" I can't wait to see how they turned out!

Being a family of four has been quite the adventure so far, but we are loving every second of it. Well, minus a few seconds in the middle of the night I guess. ;) But we'll get there.

Happy Cinco De Mayo to you all!! Hope you all get to indulge in a delicious margarita or two this evening! XO

Eloise's Nursery

Our sweet little Eloise is already one week old, time flies when you're so in love! ;) I'm excited to finally share her nursery, even though it's not quite finished. I still have to find & hang curtains, hang a small gallery wall above her dresser & finish the letters for her name that will go behind the glider. The rest is complete for the most part & I am so happy with the way it came together!! 

The whole room was based around a painting that I made when I decided that I wanted to use purples & golds for her nursery. I love that she has a little unique piece of art in her room, I will never forget painting it on the entryway floor this winter while she was still in my belly, excited for the day that she would finally be here & lay in her crib looking at it.

The sweet people at Urban Walls generously offered to send us a gold heart wall decal, I had been in love with them forever & was so excited to put one in the nursery. I'm going to blame it on user error, but sadly we couldn't seem to get it on the wall quite right, but it was so beautiful that I decided to paint one in it's place. I used Martha Stewart Gold Metallic paint & just sketched the heart with a pencil on the wall. It's far from perfect but I am still so happy with it! ;)

I collaborated with my sweet friend Erin at Candy Kirby Designs to turn my painting into a fabric, which we then used as a changing pad cover! The Evie Collection (named after big sister Harper's middle name Eve) turned out beautifully & I am in love with the swaddles & hats that she created.

The crib, glider & changing table were all from Harper's nursery. The dresser was another craigslist find for under $100, we fixed a few of the drawers & updated the knobs. It is the perfect addition to the nursery to give it a little character & tie in some of the natural wood that I wanted. We bought the same white faux sheepskin rug that we used in Harper's Room, as a 5x8 it is a great price (it is almost always on sale for 30% off with free shipping) & it makes the perfect backdrop for photos!

This room has been so much fun to decorate, I am so excited to put some finishing touches in it & hope that Eloise loves her new little home! :) 

Sources
Jenny Lind Crib \\ Dresser & Changing Table from Craigslist
Rocker from Babies R Us (no longer available) \\ Wooden Stool \\ Bamboo Blinds
White Fur Rug 5x8 \\ Purple & Gold Heart Pillow \\ Gold Polka Dot Crib Sheet \\ Tassel Garland
Basket from Home Goods \\ Ballerina Doll \\ Grey Owl Plush \\ Bambi Deer Plush
Fawn Pillow \\ Purple Pom Blanket (found at local boutique but similar on One Kings Lane)
 Dresser Knobs Purple Floral & Pink Glass \\ Gold Tray
White Lamp \\ Deer Teether \\ Changing Pad Cover/Blanket \\ Tissue Box Cover
Painting made by me (Acrylic on Canvas)
Photography by Ashley Scobey

Home from the Hospital

First things first, I just want to say thank you all again for the comments & well wishes on the birth of baby Eloise. We are so incredibly thankful for all of the love, support & encouragement. I feel so blessed to have this precious baby girl in my arms & love her more than I ever could have imagined.
 

The same goes for Harper, she went from just being the baby to being the sweetest, most caring big sister ever & it totally melts my heart. Wherever Eloise is, Harper is close behind, always watching over her, making sure she has her paci if she needs it & of course, always reminding me when she is "pying" (crying). Sometimes she even starts crying too, but usually just says "uh-oh, mama, hold it!"

Since coming home from the hospital this weekend, things have been a little rough. As I mentioned in my last post, my recovery has been harder this time, even though I usually hear the opposite. I didn't really feel ready to come home from the hospital but I desperately wanted to be home with Harper. I am really sore & still have a lot of pain where my incision was, which makes it so hard to do a lot of things, mostly picking the baby up a million times in the middle of the night (either getting out of bed to do it or having to lean over into the playard). 

I have had an allergic reaction to some of my medication, so on top of everything, my skin is itchy & my eyes have been swollen & red. Again, I don't like to complain & definitely don't want to scare anyone, I know c-section recoveries can be totally different for each person.  On the plus side, breastfeeding is still going well for us, which is a total shock after my experience with Harper. There has been pain & bleeding (I will spare you the details) but we are making good progress. When Harper saw me nursing Eloise for the first time, she said "baby sissy eating mamas belly!" And I died laughing, and then I felt like I was actually going to die because it hurt to laugh. We also let Harper feed Eloise some pumped milk from a bottle, Harper loved every second of it & was so excited. It was the cutest thing ever, she whispered to her "is it good?" 

Eloise loves to sleep, mostly during the day, waking up usually every two hours to eat. The first night home she had a really rough night, she was really gassy & couldn't sleep or get comfortable. All was good though after a few blowouts. ;) Last night was much better, a solid three hour stretch of sleep felt pretty good for all of us. Harper didn't start sleeping through the night until close to five weeks, but I know every baby is different so I have really no expectations for the sleep situation. I'll take whatever sleep I can get & will snuggle the heck out of this cute girl while we are awake.

Welcome to the World, Eloise Ruby!

We are so excited to announce the arrival of our baby girl, Eloise Ruby, born April 23rd at 8:01 am. She weighed 7lbs. 4oz., 19 inches long & had a full head of beautiful dark hair. She is so incredibly sweet, she loves to sleep & be held, which is just perfect because I never want to put her down! ;) It is an amazing feeling to bring another baby girl into this world, you always wonder how you will be able to love another child like the one you already have, but then it just happens. And it is incredible! My heart is bursting with love & happiness.

My c-section went really well, I went into it feeling like I knew a little bit of what to expect so I think that helped to calm my nerves a little. Recovery has been quite a bit harder this time around so far. I'm not much of a complainer, and certainly don't want to scare anyone who is having a c-section, but yesterday was really rough. It was like a rollercoaster of pain, highs & lows depending on when I took medication. I felt like it wasn't as bad the first time around but maybe that was just my memory doing me a favor? :) The nurses assured me that it would be the worst day though, and they were right. I am feeling so much better today & have been able to finally move around. Having a sweet, snuggly newborn in your arms does wonders for the pain though, it is totally worth it & I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Despite our unsuccessful breastfeeding experience with Harper, things are going surprisingly well this time. Eloise has been doing great latching & has been nursing so well! I totally did not see that coming, I brought my dreaded pump expecting the worst. Holding her in the early hours of the morning while she nurses has been amazing, I am feeling really optimistic this time & hoping things continue to go well once my milk comes in.

Harper has been to the hospital twice now, she is in love with her sister & always asks if she can "give her a pet?" (pet her) and rubs her hair. She gets really upset when Eloise is crying, I'm sure she will get used to it eventually though. We think they look alike in a lot of ways, but not identical. My mom swears that Eloise looks just like me when I was born, which is funny because we thought Harper looked just like Brandon as a baby.

Harper is such a great big sister so far, I love seeing them together & can't wait to see how they interact once we bring her home!

Thank you all so much for all of the well wishes! I can't tell you all how much we appreciate it, we have really felt so overwhelmed with love from everyone!! You all are the sweetest & I am excited to continue sharing our journey with you as we take sweet Eloise home & adjust to life as a family of four. 

XO