Charlie's Nursery!

Apparently I'm going for the Procrastinator of the Year awards, because I've *finally* gotten around to taking pictures/sharing Charlie's nursery with you....you know, only 14.5 months later:)  When I was pregnant with Charlie, we moved Emmy into a big girl room so we could use the nursery for our newest baby.  Even though we knew she was also a girl, I wanted to change things up a bit...make it special for her too.  I blogged about what the room looked like when Emmy had it here.

As you can see we got a new crib, new dresser {it was one of Skip's and my old ones} and rearranged things.  The original set up I had for Emmy didn't work so well, so I wanted to change it around.  There's no real theme in the room, but if I had to pic, it would be a mix of a few Precious Moments touches and a smattering of butterflies!

It's crazy to think that in about a year we'll be converting her crib to a bed and probably redoing her room again to something less baby-like!  {also no judgies on the pictures, I was tired of procrastinating and so I didn't clean anything up}

Hallway door

First look in the room

Other wall

Reading/rocking corner

Changing area

Towel hook on the back of the door

My sis and BIL made this toy box for her

I just love this crib

Her photo mat that was signed at her baptism by everyone

I love this sign since her middle name is Grace

Poms left over from her birthday party

 

One month...

It's been one month since we lost our sweet boy. 

In some ways it feels like just yesterday, and in some ways it feels like forever ago.

I guess I can say the pain has lessened a fraction? I still cry every day, but it's not all day long, so that's progress.

I still miss him all the time though...when I get up in the morning and when we go to bed...anytime I come home from being out...anytime we're outside....anytime I come into the house...after every meal time...when the girls go to bed...when I'm sitting on the couch watching TV...when Skip has to work all night...when Emmy asks about him.

I've lived a month without him...so can someone please bring him home to me now?

Nuby Tickle Toes Review

As one of the new Nuby Mommy Bloggers, I've been able to review some of their fabulous products.  So keeping tuning in here every week as I tell you all about them!

One of the first products the girls pulled out of the box the other day was the Nuby Tickle Toes.  According to Nuby, "Hilariously funny, the Nuby Tickle Toes are soft, adorable, and make the perfect playmate for your child.  A gentle squeeze of the foot makes the character giggle and chuckle and is guaranteed to have you and your child do the same."

Charlie, who is the stuffed animal lover of the family, was the first to grab it, and pretty much hasn't put it down since.  This dog is soft, snugly, and exactly what she wants!

She loves to make it giggle, and I am so happy to report that the sounds and laughs are not annoying or creepy {something we all know can happen with toys sometimes!} Just look at her face when the toy is laughing!

So far we've had no problems with durability either!

This toy is definitely a favorite in our house.  I may just have to start collecting them all for Charlie!

The Nuby Tickle Toes can be found at the following retailers:
- www.buybabydirect.com
- K Mart
- www.cookiekids.com
- www.diapers.com
- www.amazon.com


Disclaimer: I received one of these toys for review as part of being a Nuby Mommy Blogger.  I was not monetarily compensated in any way.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bare Fruit Review and GIVEAWAY

I don't know about you, but finding healthy, easy, portable snacks for the girls is really a struggle sometimes.  So when Bare Fruit contacted me about reviewing their baked dried cinnamon apple crisps I jumped at the chance.  My girls {and Skip!} absolutely love eating apples, but they're not the easiest thing to just bring along in the car.  But crisps would be a whole other story!

When I received my bag, I was so pleasantly surprised at the size of it.  This was not just a little snack bag, this was some serious apples!  These snacks are super healthy, organic, gluten and dairy free, low in calories, fat free, and like all apples, high in fiber.  The only ingredients?  Organic apples and organic cinnamon...doesn't get any simpler than that.

But the best part?  Everyone in our family loved them!  I can't keep Skip out of the bag, haha.  I love that it's an easy way to get another serving of fruit into the girls.

The people at Bare Fruits have generous offered to give one of my readers your own case of their delicious snacks.  Just follow the Rafflecopter instructions below.  The giveaway will run until Tuesday September 4th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: I was sent a free bag of the product for my review purposes.  I was not monetarily compensated in any way.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday

My Baby Is Growing Up

My sweet little baby Emmy, the girl that taught me to be a mommy, will be starting preschool at a local Catholic elementary school in just two weeks.  'Scuse me as I cry into a tissue for a minute.

I know she is ready and will just LOVE school, it's me that's taking this hard.  Mainly because for the past three and a half years she has been home with me every single day.  And I have loved every second.  She never went to daycare, mother's day out, or even library story time.  Only family and a few very close friends have ever babysat.  With me I know she is safe and happy.  But now, for five mornings a week, I have to trust someone else to take care of my girl.  She'll be doing things without me, meeting kids, playing, learning new things, all without me.  She'll have SUCH a wonderful time, but it just hurts my mom heart a little.

I'll miss her those hours she's gone.  I'll miss our lazy mornings sitting around in our pajamas.  As of September 10th, our whole lives will change as we know it.  We have to be up, dressed, fed, and out the door every day at a certain time.  We'll be spending a lot of money to send her to the school, and have volunteering and fundraising requirements to reach.  We'll have to plan vacations and trips around her schedule now.  Skip, with his crazy schedule, will see less of his little girl.

But I know that this does come with some great perks as well.  Emmy is just itching to learn, to play with kids every day, to spend some time away from us as all kids need to do.  I'm excited for a little scheduling in our lives.  I can't wait to spend some alone time with Charlie Bear.  With just one kid in the mornings I know I'll be able to get a lot more done in those hours.  But I still am going to miss my baby something fierce.

So who wants to bring me tissues as I stand sobbing outside her classroom on the 10th?

Wedding Bells Ringing

I'm so excited to be linking up with Becky again for her Show & Tell Monday!  I love that this week's topic is all about weddings as well!



 Are you married? If so when did you get married, and tell us about your special day. If not? How would you describe your dream wedding?  Yes I'm married!  Seven years ago, on July 29, 2005 Skip and I were married in the church I grew up in.  Our reception was smallish, only 70 people, and was at the reception hall where my parents and aunt were also married.  The whole day was just a perfectly fun celebration of our love.  Sure there are things I would have changed looking back {hello, no Pinterest back then!} but it really was just such a wonderful day.

Show us some wedding pictures. Either yours or of some that you love

My gradma, parents, sisters and I

The ladies of the house

My dad and his girls

Leaving my parent's house for the last time as a Miss!

Bridal party

Just married!

Mr. & Mrs.

One of my favorites...just shows what a great time I was having!!

 How about the engagement? Tell us your story. If not engaged, what's your dream proposal? In May of 2004, Skip headed off to California for some pre-deployment training.  Before he left, he gave me a promise ring.  He said it was a promise that we were spending the rest of our lives together and a promise that he was coming home safe from Iraq. So I never in a million years was expecting a proposal two months later.  August came and one day I cam home from working at camp, and Skip was waiting in my house for me!  They had all been given 5 days of leave before they deployed so he came home and surprised me.  We spent the next two days together.  That Sunday Skip said he wanted to spend some time with his sister.  I said it was no problem as long as it wasn't all day.  I would be at my Grandma's since my cousin had just come home from his deployment, and I told Skip to bring his sister there so we could all hang out.  Well as each hour ticked by, I grew angrier and angrier.  Finally Skip asked me to come pick him up at his parent's house at 5:30.  I was fuming.  He met me at my car when I pulled in and brought me right into the back yard.  He explained that  he was really sorry he had been gone all day but he was working on a something and it took longer than he thought.  He then told me how much he loved me, pulled out the ring {which he had been picking out that day with his sister} and proposed.  Obviously I said yes:)  Skip and I had known each other for less than a year, but I just knew he was my soul mate.  We then spent the rest of the night celebrating with our family:)

Show us your wedding rings or an engagement photo! If not engaged/married ... show us your "dream" ring.

My promise ring

Saying goodbye before he left for California

Engagement ring!

 

Tell us why you think marriage doesn't work out for so many? What can we do to make things last.  I think a lot of people don't enter into marriage these days with the right intentions.  I think people get married because they think it's the next step, or they've been together a long time, or they just want a wedding, not necessarily a marriage.  I also think that people give up too easily when things get hard.  Do I believe that some people should get divorced? Absolutely.  I just think some people see it as their first option, instead of their last.  I also think people need to really evaluate and think about the fact that when you enter into marriage {unless extenuating circumstances come up} you are in this for life.  Divorce is not just like a break up.