Bring it on THIRTY

I turned thirty years old this week. In a different world, that would terrify me but given all that I am grateful for I say Bring It On. My twenties were about figuring out what I wanted out of life and I embrace the upcoming years of thirties. It will consist of growing up a lot more, watching the kids grow and expanding my little business.

This week has been an up and down week. I have been crazy busy with baby Jack blanket sales and freelance design work on top of celebrating with family and friends AND planning a party. Today we are having over fifty people at our home in this 90 degree Wisconsin weather for a backyard BBQ - theme Burgers, Beers and Bounce House.

I have red solo cups, even for the kiddos. I have a quarter barrel and a secret stash of Shandy for the Mrs. I have a bounce house and sprinkler for the tots and I HAVE MADE BURGERS. Hamburgers on the grill and Cupcake Burgers for dessert. I envision getting pictures of people biting into them like sliders!! It was a simple Pinterest recipe that I am happy to share with you today. Enjoy these pictures, they taste like Twinkies!

Bake Yellow Cake Mix without liners and add sesame seeds on top. Cut in half for bun.
Bake Chocolate Cake Mix with liners - Cut into Thirds for Cupcakes for meat.

Take White Frosting and add Yellow food dye for mustard on bottom bun. Add patty.

I bought a can of green spray cupcake frosting with nozzel to look more like lettuce

Add some RED cookie icing as it looks just like Ketchup

Sliders for the guests

Big Burger for the Birthday Girl!

If you're happy and you know it...

I have been clapping my hands a lot lately. I am happy. I have found a balance in my life between two kids, work and play and it is leaving me with this feeling of contentment. It has a lot to do with the fact that I reprioritized my day and not put so much pressure on myself to accomplish it all. I feel accomplished when I make the bed and shower now...it's the little things.

When I first became a stay at home mom, I told Brian that I would get all these things done at home and have dinner on the table and so on and so forth. Three years being at home and we still joke about the fact that we are rushing to throw something on our table for our family to eat. Where does the time go throughout the day? Well, time flies when you are having fun.

The kids keep me insanely busy. At first it was chaotic adding another little human into the mix but now that Bailey is her own little person (and a great one who adjusted instantly) things are starting to flow. She is finally sleeping through the night and napping in her crib. She is cruising along the furniture, saying so many words (Mama, Dada, Jack, Cracker, Abbie, Dog, Doll, Book, Baba) and will be walking within weeks because she is a determined little girl. We are excited to be planning her first birthday party in May already. Crazy!

Jack has grown up since turning three and is a great big brother and the attitude has simmered a bit - or at least I changed my reaction towards it and now embrace that he. is. just. like. me. I call him my butthead when he acts up...because we butt heads being similar. Together we are loving this weather. If he could, he would be outside all day but he doesnt know his limits or how much fresh air he can handle and needs a nice big nap to re-energize!! He rides his electric tractor around the house for about thirty minutes, plays in the dirt, stomps in puddles, rolls down the hill and collects rocks - such a boy! We are currently trying to teach him how to ride a bike since it is so nice out. I try to keep all the outdoor fun in the AM before lunch to tire him out and then take a nap...so far so good :)

Brian and I are at our best. Approaching five years of marriage next month, we have a big fun-filled day planned the weekend before.  We have hired a professional photographer to photograph Brian and I - and the kids - for an Anniversary/Family/First Birthday photoshoot.  It is something I have been looking forward to for a long time; let's hope the weather pans out.

Work is consistent and calm right now. I have a lot of orders still coming in and I have managed to get them out in a timely manner along with preparing myself for Spring craft season. I usually get all my sewing done during Bailey's afternoon nap while Jack plays and it rolls right into Brian getting home from work. I get my time to myself while he plays with the kids and gets dinner together while I create. It doesnt feel like work to me, it's a hobby turned therapy. It centers me and I dont know what I would do if I couldnt sew.

Last but not least, it's the company that I keep. The people I surround myself with are great people. My family. My friendships of those near and far. My mommy friends. Each person holds different value to me in many ways and I feel truly blessed that they are in my life.

What is truly amazing to me is that two years ago I sat down with a dear friend who helped discuss my life's passions. She is a life coach and helped me recenter myself prioritizing of what was most important. All the items listed above were my passions: Creating Love out of Love, Being Present, Finding Balance, Enjoying Work, Surrounding myself with Positive People.  My heart is happy and full. Hooray!

A BIG Birthday Week for Jack

Jack turned three. Three years ago our lives changed and now our little boy is growing oh so big. I felt the same way when he turned two, something appeared different about him. He acted older knowing he is a year older.

We had a very busy week filled with treats for classmates at his school on Thursday, a birthday party at McDonalds with his little friends and a family party at home on Saturday only to head up north for the week on Sunday. Since Jack turned 3, we told him he would get to snowmobile and learn to ice fish, which he LOVED. He enjoyed every minute up north and needless to say we celebrated Jack's birthday for an entire week, literally - we had cupcakes to eat everynight up north so we sang to him. LOL  Here's some pictures of our days celebrating THREE.

Growing Up & Spreading Out

Being a mom, I am growing as a person right along my kids and how they emerge into little beings. They grow like weeds. Their personalities are showing and I am learning so much from them. They are teaching me patience (which is spread thin) and forgiveness.
They are validating my sewing passion and business, making me strive to the next level. Our little family is growing (not the number, just in gereral) and our business is sprouting as well. I couldn't be more content with how things are. I am happy.

Jack is nearly three and is very independent with a mind of his own. His favorite choice phrase is "No I cannot." Emphasis CAN NOT. It's been hard seeing this little boy get frustrated, throw tantrums and talk back lately but it's another part of the growth process I guess. Threes are the worst, so I have heard.

Bailey is almost 9 months and near crawling. She scoots backwards and zips around the kitchen in her walker but for the most part she is focused on trying to stand - at all times. She just wants to be like Jack - running amock and playing all day. She idolizes him and this is by far the best thing about parenting to me; seeing your children love eachother unconditionally. It's only a matter of time before her first birthday approaches in May and time will speed yet again. I love capturing these moments...

Today was an epic day for baby Jack blankets. For a week I have been prepping for a meeting with the merchandising manager at the Milwaukee County Zoo and today was the day. We discussed opportunities of having our animal print silk loveys in the MKE Cty Zoo gift shops and everything looks promising. I have a tendancy of getting in over my head so I am staying positive that things will work out. He was interested in carrying them in their store and having them stocked by Memorial Weekend. AND Jack and Bailey will be on the Point of Sale signage - how amazing. Everything I do is for my kids and to see my creations with my babies on the signage in a very public high traffic gift shoppe is a true success for me. It is a stepping stone of getting the word out about my product and I am elated right now. Fingers crossed the final details go through next week!

Potty Mouth While on the Potty

So today Jack had his first #1 and #2 in a public restroom. He was a bunch of nerves but he had that look in his eyes like he needed to go. After taking him in the restroom several times, he finally told me his tummy hurt. I sat him on the potty and OMG. The kid just ripped away without a fear. I love him at this age, quite fearless.
After proceeding to toot away, he left a little remnant in the potty. Seeing it for the first time after all that noise, he yelled OH SHIT, OH MAN. My jaw dropped but I attempted to not make a big deal of it. I just said, let's use our words and say Oh Dear or Oh Gosh.

This adventure left him telling the entire restaurant that he pooped and peed and it left me speechless - which does not happen often.

A feces kind of day

Changed 3 dirty diapers of Bailey this AM. Already the morning was a blur. Here's my afternoon after naps.
Jack pooped on the potty! YAY. *% it fell off his butt and onto his foot. He shook it off. I cleaned up mess.
Bailey ARMY CRAWLED today!! Backwards! It was a proud moment. No poo can bring me down today.
Bailey pooped. (a suprise while changing her diaper) Jack needed to poop. I changed her and put her in crib.
Jack pooped. Attempted to take off his underwear and put it in the potty. Underwear too. Cleaned up mess.
Bailey screaming. I forgot to put a diaper on her after last change. She peed in crib. Switched crib sheet.

I dont know how many times I washed my hands and still found some sort of grossness on me. Cleaning house and showering again.

A Mom Moment

I just returned from taking Jack to his Pre 3K class and got in my car and sobbed. You know that uncontrolable snotty sob for no reason? At least it was a happy sob...all because my mini man is growing up. I am reasurred by my own mother that there will be many more of these moments.

Since Friday we have been potty training Jack and it has been going a lot better than expected. He caught on completely by Sunday and I have my husband to thank, after all Jack realized that Mommy cannot pee on Cheerios the way Daddy does. (yes we had the anatomy talk). He has been doing great and telling others (Gramee) that he has to go and will run to the bathroom and do his business. I am amazed, proud and have chalked up another transition into boyhood. Do other moms get this weepy during these transitions? I remember the last time I sobbed like this was when we took down his crib and he started sleeping in his Big Boy Bed.

Anyways, Jack was nervous about going to school this morning and it was a battle getting both kids out of the house. He was scared about the school potty and I explained how nice his teachers are and that they there to help him. The moment he arrived, he was so proud and confident; talking about peeing at the school potty (I think they have a urinal!). I collected his things in his mailbox and noticed an adorable Christmas card to Brian and I with a picture of him and lost it...cried at how grown up he looks. Sobbing in my car, the uncontrolable snotty sob.

As I wait at home - keeping busy - until 11:30 pickup time, I cross my fingers for a great day for him with no accidents. Either way, he is growing up so fast and there is nothing I can do about it except embrace the change and give him a hug & smile.