Holiday Happenings

 Trying to catch up on some of the FUN happening around here!

MB had her first school Thanksgiving Feast and it was so fun to be there with her:

--

Pancake Breakfast with Ole St Nick:

--

Holiday Date Night to Charleston Grill:

--

2nd annual Nutcracker date with EB:

--

That brings us up to speed...moving SOOO fast these days.

Happy Holidays!!!

xLaura

Thanksgiving 2022

We had a Thanksgiving to remember.   While prepping, the dishwasher flooded the kitchen...twice!  And there were children everywhere! All turned out well in the end and we had a great crowd.  It was a FEAST.   We are so grateful for these years hosting aunts and uncles and cousins, etc.  Though difficult to navigate with 3 kids, we will cherish these memories of hosting extended family when the Thanksgiving table shrinks down.

--

No picture perfect tablescape here.  Little pinecone turkeys, pecans and other finds from the yard:

We tried:

J's First Thanksgiving:

 

--

We got our trees:

Stay tuned for Christmas decorations, and Birthday reflections.  I turned 37 yesterday and there are thoughts to share...

xLaura 

 

Halloween 2022

 We have been hit hard with the sickness over here the past few weeks, but wanted to share some pics from our Halloween celebrations.  We had fun at Trunk or Treat!  My last minute monster car...

Trick or Treat!  MB made a last minute switch from Paw Patrol's Skye to Frozen's Anna.  EB was Audrey from Descendants 3, which she was introduced to at a friend's house and I'm not really loving it...

And our little rookie of the year!

--

And now Thanksgiving is next week....Ahhh!

I'm buckling up for the next several weeks.  Let's do this.

xLaura

Friday Highfive

 TGIF!  Here's a high five for making it to the end of the week!  

Sharing some recent Fall Fun...

{1}

We spent a Saturday morning in a fairy tale down at the Aiken Rhett house recently.  They had a petting zoo, indigo dyeing, colonial games, quill writing.  I love exposing the kids to all of the history Charleston has to offer as I have vivid childhood memories from fieldtrips downtown (Hello, Old Exchange Dungeon).

--

{2}

I "chaperoned" on the pumpkin patch field trip with EB's class. 

--

{3}

Boone Hall has the best hayride in town.

--

{4}

I brought Halloween BINGO to EB's class yesterday!   I loved spending an hour with all of our new friends.

--

{5}

My little sidekick, he's in on all the fun.  

--

Hope y'all have a FUN weekend and enjoy Halloween on a Monday...

God Bless our teachers <3

xLaura

We have a six year old!

 We celebrated EB's 6th Birthday last weekend and she had the best time!  We booked the Arctic Room at Outslide In.  Pizza and Cake and lots of Playing with friends!  I'd highly recommend pressing the easy button and booking a party with them.  

My heart just swells seeing her this happy...

--

Happy Birthday to our first baby!!  The best six years of my life.

xLaura

Thoughts on Thursday

K is home today to prep for whatever Hurricane/Tropical Storm brings our way.  That's how I'm able to pop in and say Hello!  

Life with three is...busy.  I really understand the saying 'Full Hands, Full Heart' these days.  We are still very much finding our groove as a family of five but it is going well.  Baby J is just the sweetest.  He's also the hungriest.  Our days consist of lots and lots of feedings.  Lots of car naps.  And lots of baby wearing.  

I have been using my wrap/sling until my sister in law let me borrow the Ergo, which is definitely better on my back.

I have not ventured out with all three more than a few times.  Just to the library and chic fil a, our *safe places* .  EB took this on the walk back from the food court.  She's having her birthday party at Outslide In in a couple weeks...6 years old!

--

EB drew this diagram of how to do the Cupid Shuffle, which I think is the most wonderful thing:

--

Baby is awake so I only have time for one last thing.  I wanted to share this resource for new moms.  Postpartum Support Charleston delivers monthly care packages with a lasagna, flowers, and a few other items.  I love love LOVE this and plan to give back to the cause once my time allows.

Ok, I gotta run.  Hope to catch up some more soon.

Thinking of everyone impacted by Hurricane Ian, especially those in Florida.  I always think of moms in the hospital delivering their babies during storms because this was my experience with Hurricane Matthew in 2016.  A very stressful time.  Thoughts and prayers.

xLaura

Back to School 2022

 As of yesterday BOTH girls are off to school!  I'm looking forward to some quality time with little brother.  Here are their First Day pictures.  It's going to be a great year!

Kindergarten:

3K:

xLaura

It's a BOY!!!!!

 We had the surprise of a lifetime when the doctor said "It's a BOY!!"  

I think because my symptoms had been more or less the same, and the fact that we already have two girls, I was convinced we were adding another sister to the family.  I was also hesitant to get my heart set on having a boy or to get K's hopes up.  So it was an incredible moment to hear that our son was born.  I'm still shocked when I think about it, and so so happy to get to experience the joys of a baby boy!  It's a dream come true and our family is complete. 

--

Meeting their little brother for the first time:

Welcome home!

Two little mommies.

K left the hospital and went straight to Dick's Sporting Goods to get his son a football.

xLaura

My Final Days of Pregnancy

I am feeling sentimental that TODAY is my last day being pregnant....ever.  Tomorrow we will head to the hospital bright and early to deliver our final addition, completing our family of five.  

Closing the chapter of "growing our family" is so bittersweet because it has been (so far!) the best times of my life.  I really like to stay focused on "the best is yet to come" but I know that these are special days that we will look back on.  It's funny to me because, compared to many friends/women I know, I was never one to yearn for children or feel a distinct pull to motherhood.  It wasn't until I met K that I thought to myself  "This is someone I want to have a family with"...and I still feel that way.  We make a great team.  So, while I've never been "a baby person", I have been completely fulfilled, in ways I never expected, by being pregnant and having kids.  And I know I'm going to miss it.

BUT I am also so excited to move into the next phase of family life.  I can feel just how much the world opens up when you get past the infant/toddler phase.  I am grateful to get to do this one more time, but to also know that we can see past nap schedules and diapers.  And I think that motherhood will continue to bring me purpose and contentment, that all of the different phases will be just as fulfilling/challenging.  I believe in the law of attraction, and I know that the future holds good things for us.  

Ok, dont want to go down a rabbit hole of manifestation...

I'm just spending some time thinking through the end of pregnancy and the beginning of....everything!

My oldest starts Kindergarten Monday and I am SO excited for her.  She is beaming with excitement as well, which is comforting considering the wild weeks ahead.  

It is sad that I'll never feel a baby hiccupping from the inside, or marvel at just how amazing a heartbeat coming from my stomach sounds.  I'm going to miss how nice everyone is to a pregnant lady, especially one with other kids.  I've never had more sweet smiles shined my way, or offers of help with the groceries...But I suppose I can look forward to my elderly years in this way ;)

Yes, I will miss a lot, however I also want to remind myself of the extreme nausea, food aversions, overwhelming fatigue/lack of physical energy to do anything.  Feeling like a rather depressed/pity party version of myself for months on end...  These are the things that I'll need to remember when an uncanny urge to go for number 4 seems like a good idea.  Not happening future Laura!!!

I've spent this week feeling reflective and soaking in the final days of Summer with the girls:

Nesting mode: printing and framing some family photos:

--

I was able to book a last minute peppermint foot scrub/massage at Earthling Day Spa.  It was so nice and relaxing, I could have laid there for hours.

 Today I'm doing one last load of laundry and taking the girls for ice cream.  

'Til next time...

xLaura

Two Weeks' Notice

Not even two weeks...9 days to go until we meet our new addition.  Here's a quick catch up of what we've been up to...doing my best to take it slow from here on out.

--

We had a double date night to Hamilton at the PAC a couple of weeks ago.  Wow, what a show.  I think we may have been the only audience members who had not seen it before.  I'm glad we got the chance to go!

--

Beach day...our last one of the Summer.

--

Jungle Jim at the Library.  I don't think I've ever seen my kids laugh harder than when this grown man blew up a life size balloon and wriggled his body inside.  The library has been rocking their programs this Summer- We are headed to see the Aquarium Rovers this afternoon.

--

Last week I got my hair done and I left the salon with HOT PINK hair.  I was a little shaken because we had discussed a pastel rose gold sort of look.  I kept the faith and it has faded into a look I like.

--

EB's second year at VBS down the street was so great.  Of course I was a little nervous because she didn't know anyone going into it this year, but she really thrived.  It makes me feel so good about her going into Kindergarten soon.

--

Nursery for Number 3!  

I am feeling ready to welcome this baby into our home.  I am scheduled for induction next Friday and I have just a few To-Do's remaining.

Tomorrow is laundry day:  EB's uniforms, newborn pajamas, sheets, and as many other loads that I can do to get ahead (ha-ha)

Also some meal planning, a maid is coming to deep clean, one last date night, and I'd like to squeeze in a manicure if possible.  

I imagine this will be my last post for a bit...wish us luck :)

xLaura

Third Baby Buys

I was trying to think of the different ways we are preparing for baby this time, and other than diapers and wipes, we didn't need to buy a thing!  These are a few purchases I made in anticipation of Baby #3 along with some thoughts...

--

The DOHM machine is the only new piece of baby gear that we purchased.  With MB we used the Shusher which worked great at lulling her to sleep, but the problem was her waking because she heard her sister playing.  She dropped naps WAY too early for this very reason.  The DOHM definitely drowns out everything, I want one for our room :)

--

The nursery currently looks like a storage room, but I have been inspired to make some subtle changes with a "sky" theme in mind.   These cute wooden sun and moon are my jumping off point.  I think some sort of cloud artwork above the crib...  We also purchased a new rug so that will be fresh.  We are going to try and finish this up over the coming weekend.

--

I bought this nap dress before I was pregnant (but with the hope in mind) and think it will be nice to wear for some photos or just relaxing at home.  It's definitely a modern day house dress.  I also bought a new pair of pajamas to bring to the hospital.  Oh, and let me say how I much love the current trend happening with the biker shorts/oversized t shirt look, and plan to jump on this as my post partum uniform.  

--

I found these sweet matching sailboat dresses for the girls at the Ragamuffins sale a couple weeks back.  I'm planning on purchasing a coordinating look for little brother or sister...

--

Ok, hear me out...  I already spend SO much of my time as a stay at home mom cleaning.  I was feeling like I wanted to get a few *special* cleaning products that may make bring a small sense of pleasure to my day to day life.  I've also purchased some of the Laundress detergent for towels and linens to make that chore slightly less annoying.  This idea came about when I remembered my "self care" priority with Baby # 2,  and how special bath/beauty products brought me a little boost.  

--

Well there you have it.  I'm so grateful to not have any major purchases this go around.  

I'd say I'm feeling "cautiously optimistic" regarding the newborn stage.  I was SO nervous going into number 2 and yet the experience was much better than with my first.  I know we are about to become outnumbered and overwhelmed, but we are confident parents at this point, so we know we'll survive...one way or another. 

xLaura

P.S. Here are some thoughts on preparing for baby from my second pregnancy that I plan to repeat.