Check-In: 23 weeks

Yes, that is my son as a blur with a headband. He is actually who decided I needed to wear a headband today. I’m pretty sure it is Lyla’s doing, but Jazz LOVES headbands!

I had a doctor’s appointment this week. It was my official midway ultrasound, so the doctor took all of the necessary measurements to  confirm my due date. Of course, after having two itty bitty babies neither my doctor or myself was surprised to see that Atticus was measuring on the small side of the date we originally assumed. My due date is still December 28th. However, like the size of my babies being similar for all three pregnancies I will most likely not make it that far. My guess is the first weekend of December. What do you think? Jazz and Lyla were both born at 37 weeks 3 days.

shirt-Old Navy, Skirt-Thrifted, Shoes-Chuck Taylor via TJ Maxx

On another note, Lyla and I matched today. After seeing what I was wearing she asked if she could wear a skirt too. I told her that was fine, and this is what she came back wearing. My skirt has dots, and her’s has little butterflies. However, they are both navy blue and we tucked our shirts.

Month of Manicures: August

I paint my nails a lot. Here is what was on my nails this month.

Sinful Colors in Bare

Sally Hansen’s Complete Salon Manicure in I Pink I Can

Finger Paints in Tiffany Imposter

OPI in Pink Flamingo

How To: Easy Body Scrub

I don’t like a lot of fancy extras in my body scrubs. I like them to be gentle, yet, exfoliate what needs to be scrubbed. I like them to be a little moisturizing too, so they leave my skin silly smooth. This body scrub doesn’t take more then dumping the salt (I just use iodized table salt) in the jar you will be using, and adding oil (I use olive oil). I fill the jar 3/4 of the way with salt, and oil for the last 1/4. You will need to stir this up before each use. For best scrubbing results I like to massage the scrub onto dry skin then rinse off.

Check-In: 22 weeks

 

Woo!!! It was a hot one this week! It looks like it isn’t going to let up next week either. I’m proud to say that the heat hasn’t gotten the best of me yet. I’m still walking Lyla to and from school all the time. Go me! (Yes, on this matter I am not ashamed to pat myself on the back.)

Shirt-Target, Scarf-Target, Skirt-Thrifted, Wedges-Payless

How To: Homemade Carpet Cleaner

I have two kids and number three is on the way. Stuff happens and messes are made. This is just an inevitable fact of life with kids. When cleaning up after whatever spills and stains come my way I like to be as kid friendly as I can be. I have shared with you my green daily shower spray, and today I leave you with what I used to clean up this stain I found in the kids room. Honestly, I can’t tell you the origins of this mystery stain, or even how long it has been there. I can tell you that I cleaned it up rather easily, and without any heavy-duty commercial cleaners. I wish I had an after picture to share with you, but I scrubbed this mess away right before Jazz’s nap. I forgot to get a picture later, but I assure you that mess is gone.

Ingredients and Directions

1Tablespoon Baking Soda

3 Tablespoons Vinegar

2 Cups Water

Dump the baking soda into your spray bottle. Carefully add the vinegar to the bottle. I use a funnel when making this, and a bigger than necessary bottle. When adding the vinegar the mixture will fizz some. Add in the water, swirl it around, and spray on stain. I use a scrub brush to help clean up stains, but a rag would work just fine too.

Let me know if you have success with an otherwise stubborn stain. I’ve used this on some stains that I know have been around for an embarrassingly long time. I’ve used it without a problem on kid stains, pet messes, dried-out dirty foot prints, and many other spots and stains!

How To: Moisturizing Face Wash

A few posts back I shared my recipes for a natural diaper change, but today I want to share the steps to making your own moisturizing face wash. This recipe is super simple and probably the best and cheapest formula I have used lately. It does a great job removing makeup including eye makeup. It is also fairly moisturizing too. For someone like me it is the perfect amount of moisture while not making my oily skin any greasier.

Directions and Ingredients

3 teaspoons Dr. Bonner’s Castile Soap (Baby Formula)

3 Tablespoons Filtered Water

3 Tablespoons Glycerin

1/2 Cup Olive Oil

Pour all the ingredients into a blender, and blend for 2-3 minutes to thicken it. Pour into a bottle, preferably with a pump. You only need a small amount each time. Massage onto your face for a minute. Wash off with a warm wash cloth.

Check-In: 21 weeks

Good weekend everybody! What happened this week? Lyla started school. Jazz and I are adjusting to being home alone while Lyla is at school. Baby Atticus is moving around more and more. It is yet to be seen if that will continue when I go back to teaching dance at the end of the month. We took the kids on a hospital tour, and they did great. Judging by the class Jazz is a great swaddler, but won’t be holding or feeding Atticus solo anytime soon. Lyla on the other hand is a champion big sis!

Dress-Target, Shoes-TJ Maxx

Lyla goes to kindergarten

My baby girl went to her first day of kindergarten yesterday. She has grown up so quickly, and I’m incredibly proud of her.  I know you want to ask the big question…was there tears?!? Lyla didn’t shed a single tear. She got a little quiet when they sat in their line during check in. I thought I might cry at that point. I will admit that Jazz wanting to play on the playground kept me busy. I pushed Jazz a little farther away from the playground, but where I could still see how Lyla was doing. He calmed down and we watched our big girl follow her teacher to the school assembly on the basketball court.

Jazz was fine the whole walk home. until, I took him out of the stroller. He started running back toward the school, crying, and screaming for Lyla. That did it! My pregnancy hormones kicked in, and I did tear up a bit. I managed to get Jazz calmed down, and everything else went fine. We did a couple fun things together, and then he played while I did my housework. After his nap it was time for lunch. After that I told him it was time to go get Lyla. He got a huge smile on his face, and ran to grab his shoes

We walked back up to the school, and waited for the kindergartners to be dismissed. When Lyla made it to the front of the line she still looked happy. When she looked around and found us her face lit up, and she hurried over to give Jazz a big hug and kiss. Yes, even before mom! These two played together the rest of the day like they hadn’t seen each other in days. They really are each others best friend! Makes this mama smile!

UpCycled Dryer Balls

This isn’t much of a how to post. It is more of an upcycling brag post. I’ve been in a nesting, DIYing, and upcycling mood lately. I haven’t used fabric softener in over a year. I’ve been using bpa free plastic dryer balls. In all reality, I hardly ever use my dryer. I prefer to line dry most of my family’s clothing and my cloth diaper stash. I have two dryer racks that work for most everything. I have a clothing rack that I hang any of my nicer stuff and Nate’s clothes on. I only use the dryer for towels and sheets. In an effort to use even less energy drying things, I decided to make use of some of the extra yarn I have sitting around. I made up a few balls of yarn, stuffed them into spare socks, and tossed them in the dryer. The verdict is still out whether this will help in any sort of significant way, but in theory it sounds like a success.

Check-In: 20 weeks

I hit the official half way mark today of my pregnancy. Currently, I’m off work for almost a month. I’m a dance teacher and I love my job! Without going to work I’m doing a lot of extra house work. I deep cleaned and reorganized my bathroom/laundry room and my sunroom. Thursday, I decided to start the process of switching the playroom back to a nursery for Atticus. Jazz has been using the crib/toddler bed, but I moved that out of the kids’ room. I brought over the twin mattress to lay on the floor for Jazz, and reassembled the crib. I still have a lot of work to do before the transformation is complete. I need to figure out the whole toy storage situation. What toys will move into the sunroom, the kids’ room, and what will move into the sunroom. Wish me luck!

shirt-Old Navy, Skirt-Charlotte Russe (secondhand), Shoes-TOMS