Simple October Crafting

During the regular week I will help the girls color and occasionally paint, but that’s about the extent of our crafting. I’d rather be gardening or cooking with them. But during the holiday season, I start to have my hot glue gun on hand; the Holidays manage to bring it out the “crafty mom” in me!

I’ve noticed my style of crafting is more styling or elevating, rather than creating something from scratch. Enter Halloween Potion making and BOOzy BOO’ing!

I’ve seen the “you’ve been BOOzed” floating around on social media, in my feed it was from @themamanotes. When I saw the pom-pom gift bows at target, and then the spooky themed red wine at Trader Joe’s, I knew it was something I could manage. Basically just styled gift wrapping - which I enjoy!

I found the potion bottles for $1 each on the end of a Target aisle, and the potion ingredients (sparkles and googly eyes, etc) in the dollar section. I scooped up a few red gatorades in the check out line and voila - I’m a crafty mom!! This weekend, I’m going to have the kids add the different “ingredients” to the potion bottles, add gatorade as the liquid, and then write out the potion recipe and how to use it (in an attempt to extend the craft).

Hope you were inspired by my semi-crafting activities. I’ve included as many links as possible at the end of this post!

LINKS!

// pom pom bows

// potion ingredients

// potion bottles

// similar boo kit

An Apple Pie in September

In the month of September, my goal is one, just one!, activity involving apples. Last year it was the apple cinnamon dutch baby, which was on repeat for a bit. This year, I attempted my first ever entirely made from scratch apple pie. I used Ina Garten’s deep dish apple pie recipe; substituting with Bob’s 1-1 GF all purpose flour and cold coconut oil instead of vegetable shortening in the dough. I love Ina’s recipes, because so many of them include fresh citrus zest and juice which elevates any bake.

I’ve been rewatching old seasons of The Great British Baking show and was inspired to get my hands into some pastry dough. I return to this show often, especially when I need to relax, because I enjoy watching the bakers create something, uninterrupted, from start to finish. The thought of focusing on a task until it is completed is soothing; no looking my at phone, no mama where is my [____}, no “the cat got outside!” The bakers on the show just start, work, finish, assess….ahhh, seems almost therapeutic.

I decided to bake this past Sunday morning, which meant I was absolutely going to be interrupted. In fact, I had helpers with their own opinions! ;) but it felt good to bake, style, photograph and of course to share it - both in person and on here!

Fall in the Home

After a 3 year hiatus, I am writing a post! I’ve been thinking about returning to blogging for a while; with Roswelle back in school full time and James Kate in preschool 3 mornings a week, I finally have some time to create and write! I’ve been using instagram as a creative outlet, but lately I’ve found the short, click-bait format draining more than anything else. I’ve been craving the long-form nature of blogging, allowing me to document in a relaxing platform. Many are turning to podcasts for this, but my creative outlet will always be styling, photographing, and writing….not talking. James Kate uses up all the talking reserves I possess.

Now on to what I really want to write about today, fall decor around the house. This year I tried to reuse as much as possible, while adding some faux pampas grass, merlot candle sticks, dried floral wreaths, and mums! I shop local as often as possible >> Briggs Nursery in North Attleboro (the best quality mums), Only Prettier Design in Norfolk (pillows, pampas grass, candles, matches and more), White Barn Farm (white pumpkins), and local thrift shops are what I have been frequenting lately.

It’s a struggle to find the balance between autumn warmth and modern minimalism. This September, I attempted to pull mauve, cream and black throughout the house. When I’ve seen pictures I like, styled for Fall, I noticed they used more shades of wine than pumpkin, and I tried to use that as a guide. Like anything, I’ll keep tweaking until it’s time to completely redecorate for Christmas!

No Bake Spider Snacks

If you are looking for a quick, relatively mess free, no bake snack for Halloween festivities look no further! We take snacks to Roswelle’s preschool about 2x a month, and with Halloween around the corner, I knew I wanted to do a slightly spooky theme. I scrolled Pinterest for about 20 minutes the other day, which is where I saw the banana ghosts and a version of a spider cracker with pretzel legs. We went to Whole Foods hoping for inspiration to strike, and it did!! I saw the Emmy’s cookies and knew I could make a spider snack with pretzels and some googly eyes (Michaels is in the same shopping center). Bonus: they are studying spiders this month!

We made 16 spiders and a web last night, which took less than hour, with a 4yr old being involved and a 1 year old at my ankles. The biggest mess were the leftover pretzel crumbs. I made the bananas quickly this morning before school since I didn’t want them to spoil/brown.

helpful hints: I used a skewer to poke 6 indentions (I could not make 8 legs fit) in the coconut cookie to help the pretzel stay in place. I used a small amount of frosting (simple mills brand) to help the eyes stay in place (this is what Roswelle helped the most with). The web is piped icing on parchment paper. The bananas ghosts are self explanatory (right?).

Tidbits: A clementine pumpkin would be a great addition to the spread, but we had already used that snack earlier this month. You can find the Emmy’s cookies at most grocery stores and even Starbucks!! The irony of “farm to bag” on those pretzels is not lost on me….>insert eyeroll emoji here<

Lastly, I only did this because I wanted to and had the time. If you don’t have the time, leave it to the others that do! Hello: The Bare Minimum post.

The Bare Minimum.

Life Giving vs Life Filling. I had to make the hard distinction around 6 months ago. I found myself drowning in the life I had prayed for and been blessed with. Nothing was bad, in fact it was all good! Two daughters, a loving marriage, a growing side hustle in photography, friendships, travel, health, fitness. Again, all good, but all felt un-relentless in its demand and my dreams were breaking me. I realized I had to strip my life way down and take back control.

We all get 24 hours in the day and many of us have the privilege and power to decide what we fill those 24 hours with. I made the distinction between life giving and life filling. I made my list of what was most important through the lens of a 31 yr old wife and stay at home mom to a 4 year old and 10 month old baby. I stopped responding to emails, I cut way back on my social life, and I put photography on hold. I did not have the bandwidth for those items while I took care of myself, my family, and my home. I became a no person in order to be come a yes person.

What helped me get laser focused on the changes I needed to make was realizing two things:

“1. The people I value the most, were not getting my best.”
”2. The things I enjoy doing, were becoming burdens.”

To break down the first item above, I was emotional, exhausted, and insecure. Not giving my girls and husband the best version of myself, which is what they deserve. I remember one Friday specifically where I just could not get myself motivated to get out of the house and everything was making me cry. And the most important part is that this feeling/day had become more usual than not. We were getting ready to go to Target because I had convinced myself we "needed to" but I was taking forever and we ended up wasting our Friday at home walking around in circles and confusing the girls. I began crying on the floor of the nursery and couldn't stop. Roswelle saw me cry and cry, I face-timed Paul upset and exhausted, he promised me he would be home early which in turn made me feel worse because that meant I couldn't do my job. I was disappointing no matter how hard I was trying. It didn't help that James Kate didn't sleep through the night for 9 months. Sleep wasn't something I could control or get enough of, so I had to make changes elsewhere. That may be work for you, or something else demanding a lot of your time that you simply can't control. It’s been said before, this is another reminder, decide to control the things you can.

And item two; of course we all have things about our jobs and daily lives that we don't love doing and are annoying. But the things I love to do: photography, exercising, blogging, cooking, taking care of my home and family... all became burdens because I was spreading myself too thin and not doing anything well. When you do something halfway, typically you leave it feeling less than.

I realized that I had to peel way back and make big changes. I started doing the bare minimum, but doing it really well. My day to day became very routine and simple, and it made me feel SO good. I wasn't being the best friend, neighbor, preschool mom, blogger, photographer but I was working out every day, started sleeping well again, and most importantly started being excited about what the day held! I was searching for only what was life giving, anything else I left behind. 

“not no for forever, but no for now”

— Breathing Room by Sandra Stanley

What's important in this is to remind yourself over and over again, "not no forever, but no for now." I haven’t put time with girlfriends during the week on the shelf forever, but for this season in life. I'm not giving up on photography, but placing it on hold for several months while I read at night and don't open my computer for days. 

My bare minimum will look different than yours. You may be able to handle more, or less; but we all have 24 hours in the day and we can choose to fill them with life giving items. It will change by the day, week, month, year as life circumstances continue to change. Am I doing it all really well? if the answer is no, then something has to go. I am continuously trimming what “all” means for me. Opportunities will be missed, connections won't be made, sales will end, friendships will fizzle, but there will be another opportunity or sale or connection and those friends will still be there when I'm ready to do more.

AND FINALLY, in an effort to make this post more interesting and personal. This is what my bare minimum looks like for me, right now:

• I gave myself permission to not respond to emails or even texts immediately. Sometimes I go days without responding to a text message. I’m comfortable with people saying “oh that’s just Lauren - she doesn’t respond to texts or answer the phone all that often” It’s nothing personal, I just don’t immediately stop what I am currently doing to respond to my phone anymore. My phone is the one who waits!

• I make dinner around 4:30/5. I don't try to time it all out perfectly, when there is no need for us right now. I have kids that are hungry before I am or Paul walks through the door. Some nights when he gets home late - he reheats everything with no complaints and I stopped apologizing for it. And sometimes, that “dinner” is just scrambled eggs!

• I exercise every. single. day. Whenever I can, 6am, 10am, 2pm, 7pm. The time changes but I rarely skip. Find something you look forward to doing, which is spin for me. After my first class back on February, 15th, I texted Paul "endorphins are flowing" and never looked back. I even purchased a spin bike for my home!

• I strive for an autonomous hour every night. How I spend it is up to me. No one touching me or needing something from me. Whether it's watching Bravo, a face mask, reading, scrolling instagram. I try to give myself that hour (usually 8-9pm).

• I keep the weekends simple. We don't attend all the things we could or even go out to dinner all that much. There will be a time for that, just wasn't during the last 6 months or probably the next 6 months. (again, not for forever, just for now)

• I put off errands until "tomorrow". All the sudden it's been 5 days and I realize i really didn't need that thing I was going to drag the girls to Target for. Sounds strange but it works. I was just giving myself something extra to do which typically ends up in me overspending and sitting in traffic.

• I make space to “just do nothing” with the girls during the day. We sit in Roswelle’s room and play very casually. We go outside with no plan or toys. We sit on the floor with nothing to entertain us but each other. I think boredom and lack of intentionality can feel so good.

That's what I've been up to these days!  not forever, just for now.

Fall Y'all, in the new house!

I spent the summer getting the house in a good place where I felt content with the style, Paul was happy with the budget, and the girls got comfortable with their designated play spaces. The last thing I want to do this Fall is change anything up (which is kind of unusual for me). I have absolutely no desire to go to HomeGoods or Target to buy anything new for the house. My creativity cup for the house is empty and I just have to wait for it to fill back up (hopefully by Christmas time!).

I am however, finding the smallest changes and pieces made a big impact this year….ie: apple printed diapers! An orange throw from a storage bin, a pumpkin here and there, black lanterns, and and some $3 target coffee cups have done the trick. We’ve also been apple picking, made backyard bonfires, the girls painted pumpkins with my mom, and even collected leaves with my grandmother. So there is no shortage of Fall lovin’ over here.

Do y’all decorate for Halloween? Thanksgiving? I typically lump October/November into simple Fall decor and then we buy a Christmas Tree the day after Thanksgiving!

Summer 2018

Oh Summer. You were good to us!! I'm exhausted, but you were still good. We bought a house in the country, celebrated James Kate turning 1 in GA, attended weddings, went to the cape - a lot, hosted friends and family, and even welcomed a new baby to our extended family!

I'm mostly posting these pictures for documentation/journaling. Poor James Kate, I have not blogged much of you. You are the giggliest, most predictable, quick to learn baby there is. Life is so wonderfully full with you in it!!

Roswelle started school this week, so I thinkkkkkk, I might have time for blogging again. we'll see... ebbs and flows, y'all.   

Christmas 2017

6 days, y'all! 6 days left until Christmas morning! I'm so excited. I would be so upset with myself if I didn't squeeze in a Christmas Blog post for memories. It's James Kate's first Christmas and those two little love bugs pictured below are the most wonderful gift of all this year. We are down South in GA right now celebrating with my family over multiple meals, multiple church services, and 1 trip to see Rudolph at Stone Mountain! We fly back next week and head straight to Paul's parent's house to celebrate with his family. I'm so thankful we extend the holidays with loved ones all the way through the new year. 

I decorated with restraint this year (believe it or not!) and actually didn't even open two boxes of Christmas decorations in the attic. Just left them up there...they'll feel like new ones next year! I refreshed the decorating with a few rolls of blush ribbon from Michaels and a handful of ornaments from Target. With little ones, I'm using less fragile ones on our tree, and leaving the keepsakes in storage until they are a little older.

Roswelle has been loving the idea of gift giving this year. I had a few holiday boxes that I brought down and she has had so much fun putting presents (toys and trinkets) in them for us to open every day, all day. She also loves playing with the manger scene, rearranging it often. And finally is really excited for RUDOLPH to come to her house on Christmas Eve.

James Kate is loving eating food and drinking milk. being held. sleeping though the night on a regular basis (finally!!). she'll be the first one up this year on Christmas morning, starting the day off around 5:30am most likely. I plan to have some snuggles with her in front of the tree with a cup of coffee before the excitement starts.

Hopefully I will be able to blog more in the new year, because it really is something that I love. Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy new year!

That's a Wrap: Summer '17

the Summer of 2017 summed up in pictures...

Life with TWO - 3 months in

Hi! Just averaging less than one blog post a month over here.... As you can imagine - any spare minute I had this summer was spent showering, feeding myself, or watching Game of Thrones (let's be honest), leaving little time to sit down and write a blog post. If you want to keep up with me in real-time, I post more frequently to Instagram :) >> @laurenlashway

Anyways - LIFE WITH TWO! I'm not the first to do this, and I'm not the last. I'm writing about worked for me with my two girls, some of it might work for you and some might not, just sharing some things that have made life more manageable these past 3 months.

In a nut shell, I've accepted tons of help from family, I've barely worked out, and I haven't been away from James Kate for more than a couple of hours (and only once!). My daily priorities are to spend some quality time with Roswelle and keeping myself healthy enough (fed and hydrated) to nurse James Kate. That is all I have the capacity for at the moment - both mentally and physically. 

The Fast Five 

(5 quick tips I try to implement on a daily basis, no matter what comes at me)

1. A healthy breakfast. I always have 3 scrambled eggs and a green spinach smoothie (I'll post my recipe one day). Like anyone else, I eat bread and cookies and chips after tantrums, spills, and traffic. But even if I get off track during the day, I know I started off well and got some good in with the bad.
2. Quiet time with Roswelle. Every night, no matter how tired, I am the one to do night-time routine with Roswelle. I give her a bath, I read her books, and tuck her in for the night. It's a nice reset for the next day together.
3. I lay down during the day. It's hard to leave the laundry in the dryer, or the dishes in the sink, or the toys ALL OVER THE HOUSE. but the my work will always be there, that's how work "works" - it is constant. Instead of hustling to get ahead, I lay down and restore, even if I never fall asleep because I'm softly rocking the bassinet with one hand to keep James Kate settled.
4. Have your go-to outfits ready. I have 1 dress, a few tops and 1 pair of shorts that I know without fail, will FIT, feel comfortable, and allow me to nurse easily. This is really important when trying to get out of the house. The last thing I need is to spend time figuring out what to wear, then finally deciding on something only to realize it doesn't fit - instant mood killer and simply a waste of time that I don't have. 
5. Realize my fears and anxieties for what they are and ignore them. Whether it's fear of getting caught in traffic, messing up our routine, or anxiety around three-year-old-tantrums in public, I keep getting out and about. I remind myself that most of my fears would just be inconveniences, not real life trauma. No one is going to starve, we always have spare clean clothes, and rest in the near future (even if that just means a movie while cuddling on the couch). It will be ok. repeat: this is an inconvenience.

Things I don't suggest....but often do ;)

1. Stay up late watching tv. I'm currently re-watching game of thrones for a FOURTH time. it's oddly calming to me - mostly because I know each episode by heart. It feels nice to do something reckless, selfish, and irresponsible like staying up to 11pm watching my show (although it doesn't feel so good when James Kate wakes up at 1am). 
2. Eat a whole container of cookies while I'm grocery shopping. Does anyone else do this? Roswelle and I basically have an entire meal of snacks while we roam through the grocery store aisles. doesn't matter if we just had a meal, we always seems to snack - and it definitely makes shopping with 2 easier. When we go to check-out we have a stash of trash we have to pay for....
3. Over-do it. I say "yes" to play dates while we are still in our pajamas and then exhaust myself rushing us all out of the house. I count errands as outings, knocking off my to-do list while toting a three year old and 3 month old. One week I took both girls to the museum, library, and zoo by myself! I'm not tooting my own horn - I'm saying it was probably too much. As a family that stays on the go, I have to remind myself it's ok to have a day of just doing nothing. 

1 0n 1

a very posed picture of the two girls...If only real life was really this calm, orderly, and photogenic

Real-life...cords, toys, tv, and dirty dishes....

Postpartum Recovery - the first month

My Recovery 

Over the past month I've been battling the typical physical challenges post delivery:

I'm recovering from a tear. My back kills from on-demand breastfeeding...and picking up a 40lb toddler in between. Speaking of breast feeding, I'm fighting off clogged ducts - I do NOT have time for mastitis. I have stretch marks that are more and more visible as my belly goes down. I have frequent headaches from a month of disrupted sleep. BUT...these are all physical complaints and challenges.

Mentally, I'm feeling almost 100%. I have much more energy than after my c-section with Roswelle. I have even more patience than I ever thought possible. Of course I've cried - but it's been over normal things...exhaustion, a mouse problem the week we returned home with James Kate, and even our wash/dryer busting the second week. These are all normal life issues that are just plain frustrating and warrant some tears every now and then. What I have noticed is that my anxiety and fears are short lived - and I'm very thankful! Yes, I still worry about whether I will hear her cry, is she still breathing in the backseat, is she eating enough, and am I good enough mom to BOTH of my girls - but thankfully I'm able to quickly talk myself off the ledge.

As I have mentioned in some recent posts, my postpartum recovery has been a priority to me. My c-section recovery after Roswelle wasn't that bad - I still connected with her, she nursed well from the beginning, and I didn't battle with any sort of postpartum depression - but physically and mentally I wanted to feel myself again faster than I did. I'm 4 weeks out from my VBAC with James Kate and I can say that by comparison, I didn't feel this good after Roswelle until at least 7 weeks. I did a few things differently this time around, most notably the birth, but also a few self care steps before and after that I think have made a difference in my recovery.

Pre-delivery Prep

I delivered early with both of my babies (Roswelle at 37wks4d & James Kate at 38wks4d). With James Kate I had almost everything ready at 37 weeks and would advise any expecting mother to do the same. Bag ready, clothes selected, bills paid, forms filled out, amazon orders made. There may be the fear that if you have everything done at 37 weeks you will be twiddling your thumbs but let's get real - life keeps happening and things will come up for you to do. You can see some of the prep I did in this post: http://www.bostonbelleblog.com/www.bostonbelleblog.com/2017/5/12/comfort-in-the-wait

 - take those pictures (don't put it off because you may go into labor!) Paul took this picture above less than 48hrs before my water broke! 

Post Delivery Personal Care

Shower

It seems so simple, but it can be quite the task when you are exhausted and needed every 20 minutes those first few weeks. Every night after Roswelle went to bed, I passed James Kate off to Paul or my mom and showered. The hot water helped relax my back, I shaved my legs, did a sea-salt scrub, moisturized, and even put on a face mask post shower every couple of nights. Spending 15 minutes on myself every night was incredibly restorative. 

Placenta Pills

I shared on my insta-story that I was taking my placenta pills. My doula (Keelia Reigg) offered the service of encapsulation and so I jumped on it! I decided I'd rather take them than not, as the positives out-weighed any negatives in my opinion. Much like a pre-natal vitamin, I'm can't pin-point the effects, but I know it's working and doing good things. If you'd like to read more about the benefits - check out this website: http://www.placentawise.com/

Diet

I don't mean to discuss diet for the purpose of losing "baby weight", but simply making good choices for mental and emotional stability. I returned to a whole30 based diet as soon as I returned home from the hospital (hospital food, while free and no clean-up, is quite unhealthy IMO). It felt good to eat really healthy those first few weeks, but whole30 takes a lot of time, commitment, and cooking - which I didn't have the energy for. Over the 4th of July weekend, I kind of ate whatever I wanted, and while it was enjoyable, I didn't feel great after and worried how it was effecting James Kate. I've since decided that the best solution for me is to just eat gluten & dairy free - which I find much more manageable .

Help

I make no apologies for the amount of help I've received the first 4 weeks with James Kate. My mom stayed with us the first 3 weeks and I was with Paul's family the 4th week in Cape Cod. I'm a firm believer in accepting help from your family/friends - the saying "it takes a village" should be a reality not a saying! There is no reason to do it on your own! My doula also gave me great advice: when people ask you if you need anything - always give them an answer and an opportunity to care for you. You always need something. Case in point: my girlfriend was at target and asked if I needed anything, we actually needed ziploc bags. I told her those and she brought them over (along with some peonies and dark chocolate ;) ).

James Kate Lashway - Her Birth Story

James Kate Lashway arrived just over 2 weeks ago on Sunday, June 11th, at 1:05pm.  She is named after my dad (who was known as Jim or Jimmy), who passed away 8 years ago, and my grandmother, Katie, who is still here to love on her great-grandchildren. We are calling her by both her first and middle names - I just love the double name! It’s probably going to take a little bit of time to make “James Kate” stick up here in the North, but this Southerner is up for the challenge.

At 10:45pm on Saturday night, while I was in bed and just about to fall asleep, I felt my water break. It was not as dramatic as when it broke with Roswelle, but I knew it was the start of a long night for us. We started packing for the hospital – they wanted me to come in just to get checked out – we were planning to return home to work through the initial stages/hours of labor. We arranged for Paul’s brother to come over to our house, as Roswelle was already asleep in bed.

On the way to the hospital, I had 2 or 3 contractions but was still fairly comfortable. By the time I was checked in and evaluated at the labor and delivery triage, my contractions had moved to 2-3 minutes apart. The midwife suggested that I go ahead a stay at the hospital as I was headed into active labor and attempting a VBAC, which meant the baby would need just a little more monitoring.

By 2am I was checked into our delivery room and very uncomfortable. The midwife checked my dilation – I was 2cm. I could.not.believe.it. I was in so much pain! This was just the beginning? It was discouraging news to say the least. Thankfully, my doula, Keelia, arrived around that time. Paul and Keelia didn’t leave my side for the next 4 hours – helping me through each contraction which were consistently 90 seconds to 2 minutes apart. I was gradually becoming utterly exhausted. We later laughed that Paul would help me count through my breaths. As the contraction started, he would say "ok, 5 breaths you can do this!" - and we'd begin counting and wouldn't stop until 12 or 14 - the contractions were coming often and they felt longgg. After 6 hours of labor I asked for the epidural – it was 6am, I had been up for 24hours (since Saturday morning) and was 6cm dilated.

I decided that it was more important to me to have the energy to push and not feel so exhausted once she finally arrived. I wanted a successful VBAC and to enjoy her post delivery more than I wanted a drug-free birth. All births are different and their own, but my c-section experience with Roswelle was definitely influencing my decision-making this time around - I wanted to feel good.

The epidural was a dream, with no side effects; I could move my legs and actually did feel the delivery. By 9:30am, 3 ½ hours after the epidural, I was fully dilated. My doula encouraged me to wait as long as possible to push, allowing James Kate to continue to move down. We wound up waiting 3 more hours, as she worked her way down on her own and I finally pushed for 25 minutes before she was placed on my chest.

I had dilated 1cm per hour, experienced 6 hours of labor and 6 hours of rest before pushing. We delayed cutting the umbilical cord and left the vernix on her skin, rubbing it in rather than washing it off. It was a perfect delivery – she and I were both safe and healthy. We didn’t have any visitors that first night, not even Roswelle. Paul and I held her on our chests, kept the lights down low and the room quiet, getting rest and enjoying our new baby. I showered; we ordered food from Darwin’s just down the street from Mount Auburn Hospital. The next morning was sunny and I felt rested and was excited for Roswelle to come visit.

Our hospital stay at Mount Auburn was great and we got just enough rest and quiet time with James Kate before returning home to our new life with two daughters. The transition has been what you would expect – mostly good and joyful with a few tough moments - toddler tantrums and new mommy tears mixed in. Because this post is already so long, I’ll be writing soon about the first few weeks at home – including what I’ve done for self care, helping Roswelle transition to big sister, and how I kept things as simple as possible when it comes to baby gear.

Thanks for all the well wishes, we’ve read every single one and appreciate the love and support. The journey to our second baby was one I would have never predicted but I’m thankful for all of it as it only prepared my heart more for sweet James Kate.

Comfort in the Wait

We are down to just a couple weeks left for baby girl #2 arrival. I've found myself enjoying the routine we, as a family of three, have for just a little while longer. 

I told Paul the other night, my goal right now is to set myself up for a successful post-partum recovery. Right now I'm trying to "dot every i and cross every t" so that when baby comes and something unexpected happens (or most likely I just won't have time to do anything), at least the background noise of everyday life is taken care of. I've become laser focused on decluttering our house. I spend every morning on Amazon Prime trying to think of things I will need or stocking up on items like paper towels, batteries for the fire-alarms, diapers. You name it, I've probably considered it. Of course even the best laid plans go array - I have learned this time and time again - especially with Roswelle's unexpected c-section in Maine and my journey through IVF. BUT it makes me feel calm to make lists and cross things off these last few weeks, so that's what I do every day. 

I've witnessed enough friends have their second child to know things are about to change A LOT. And many of them have warned me so much about it, that I'm even a little nervous. But for now I'm remaining blissfully hopeful that the transition will go smoothly. Isn't that what everyone must tell themselves when adding yet another baby to their family? ;)

Finally, a few other things I'm enjoying while we wait...

Spending a lot of my time pouring into Roswelle, enjoying our special days, just the two of us. I tell her all day long how much I love her, planting the seeds of stability and confidence before the imminent change ahead of her arrives. Going to bed early with Paul, and still having the energy to have conversations with him. And finally, I will miss the quiet moments by myself - reading at night and having my coffee alone in the morning.

Five Year Anniversary

Paul and I have been married 5 years today!! Our wedding day was the stuff out of fairytales, as everyone's should be. He's my best friend, the person I want around the most and also drives me nuts, but that's what a best friend/husband is right? Our biggest challenge this past year has been learning to allow each other to grow individually, while maintaining a united relationship. We have both changed since we got married, and will continue to, but keep working on a strong foundation and always, always working on how we communicate. We are headed into another big life change, baby #2!, and I wouldn't want anyone else by my side for it.

We were married down South, on St. Simons Island, with our reception at Crane Cottage of the Jekyll Island Club & Hotel. The Spanish Moss, warm sunset, family style dinner, and party that went until the early hours of the next morning are details we don't take for granted. 

Tonight we are headed to a new-ish restaurant, Frenchie, to celebrate. I booked this spot solely on the interiors which came across my Instagram feed! However, we have been told by friends that the food is just as good as the decor. 

photo via @mstarrevdesign

photo via @mstarrevdesign

photo via @kiraamaa

Engagement Photography: Kathleen & Tyler

I took engagement pictures for my friends, Kathleen and Tyler, back in November while I was at home in GA. They live right in the heart of Atlanta, only a short walk from Piedmont park. It was a beautiful sunny evening, which allowed for some very soft, sun-filled pictures. It seems fitting to finally blog these - the week of their wedding. CONGRATS Tyler and Kathleen! 

Packing for the Hospital

With just a few weeks left to go, I'm in full prep mode, which includes packing the Hospital bag! 3 years ago, I was not prepared for Roswelle's arrival in Maine at 37 weeks, my brother-in-law had to go to our house and pick-up what little I had packed and bring it up to us. So this time around, baby's and my items are ready at 35weeks! I even have a list on the fridge for Paul with those last minute items included - chargers, tooth brush, etc.

I'd love to hear from you as well - what did you pack that you couldn't live without, and maybe what did you forget to pack?

For Myself

The first few days with Roswelle all I did was nurse or have her on my chest, so I focused on button down options for myself, allowing for style, comfort, and easy access. I'm not much a robe person, I decided instead to pack 2 versions of button-down pajamas, 1 short set and 1 long shirt. I'm also packing a very comfortable "going home" outfit. I've detailed the main items in the bag below, omitting the obvious items - tooth brush, important forms, and the not so photogenic undergarments. 

• Button down pajamas - both a short set from top shop (on sale!) and a soft sleepshirt (in case shorts/pants are annoying). In those first few days I hope to have her on my chest a lot and also will be nursing frequently - so the buttons will aide in easy access and easy coverage when visitors arrive. 
• 1 going home outfit - I plan to wear my favorite, stretchiest, maternity leggings and a long chambray button up shirt with flats. Simple and comfortable.
• nursing bra/tank
• Hair Brush/style spray/curling iron. I know myself and I feel best when I feel somewhat put together. Laugh all you want (I'll be sure to insta-story whether or not I used my curling iron - promise - I'll admit it if it's a waste), but I think it will do wonders for my energy, post-partum recovery, and attitude. I plan to take a shower, freshen up my hair, and even put on some bronzer on day 2.
• Speaking of bronzer - Make-up bag and toiletries. You can read a detail of my make-up here, I still wear the same thing everyday. I'll be wearing a minimal amount of makeup, but some mascara and color on my cheeks is almost as good as a cup of coffee for my energy.
• Not pictured: Camera/Laptop/iPhone/Chargers

click on any of the images below for direct links >>

For Baby

I know this list for a newborn may be over the top, but I'm a planner, a photographer, and a little crazy excited, so I love the idea of having a few special items for her.  I 100% intend to take pictures, assuming all is well and calm in the room. However, for the most part, I expect she will be naked on mine or Paul's chest.

I'm planning to bring all of my own baby blankets, onesies, socks, hats etc for her that I have pre-washed in a chemical-free, plant-based detergent. Additionally, I'll be bringing water wipes and honest newborn diapers. I don't plan to give her a bath for a while so no need for any baby toiletries.

All the items are detailed, with links, below!

• Her going home Layette. When Roswelle was born we had a beautiful "going home" dress for her but realized it made getting her into the carseat a little tricky. This time around I will have the baby in a footed onsie with a sweet sweater, bonnet and blanket. It will mostly likely be June, but that does NOT mean it will be warm here in Boston.
• Blankets - my own eyelet white&pink baby blankets made my grandmother, Mammie, and some simple white swaddling blankets.
• 2 extra outfits, if we decide to dress.
• Her monogrammed eyelet bonnet and bow blanket. My mom ordered these for her and I couldn't be more excited to photographer her in them.
• Knitted sweater and hat from her grandmother, Gigi.
• Plain white onesies and socks.

click on any of the images below for direct links >>

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL ALEXANDER - 6 MONTHS OLD

I never thought to have Roswelle's 6 month pictures taken, but I wish I had!  It really is a milestone age and is worth documenting. This sweet little guy did his own thing on a Sunday afternoon, being curious, skeptical, and downright adorable. Michael, it's clear in the pictures - your parents think the world of you! 

Also - here is Michael as a newborn >> http://www.bostonbelleblog.com/www.bostonbelleblog.com//2017/01/newborn-portrait-baby-michael-alexander.html

My Reading Philosophy (and book reviews)

Before I had a child, I was an devoted reader, mostly because I had the time! Over the past 3 years, my reading rate slowly dropped off to 2-3 books a summer and maybe 1 during the winter. However, as I've recently shared, we've implemented some lifestyle changes including cutting cable and changing our nightly routines. These changes re-kindled my love, and allowed time, for reading and I'm only happier for it.

My reading philosophy:

Time

Paul and I typically get Roswelle to bed by 8pm and our entire house shuts down for the night by 8:30pm! Paul and I both go up to our bedroom to get ready for the night and have at least an hour (if we fall asleep around 10pm) to read - although we both often only last 20 minutes before falling asleep with our books on our faces. The point is, its been amazing!  We love winding down this way, and I'm certain we sleep better because of it (and we are now morning people:)   

Also, make plans around reading! My girlfriends recently started a book club where we are planning to meet once a month, with the host of the month selecting the book we read. This gives me encouragement to prioritize finishing the book and allows me to make time for myself, my friends, and my mind! 

How I Read

I ONLY read hardcover books, finding the pages and substantial weight of the book comforting and relaxing. If I know that I am going to an appointment solo (doctor appt/oil change/nail salon)  I will toss my book in my bag opting to read it rather than scrolling on my phone while I wait. 

Money

If you become an avid reader, it can be expensive to buy the books. With more and more friends using their kindles, I have less books to borrow. I renewed my membership at our local library (after paying $51 in late fees/lost books (whoops!)) and always look forward to the emails that my requested book is ready for pick-up! Roswelle and I make a trip out of picking up my books, and she has so much fun in the children's space. We usually checkout a couple books for her as well. 

Genre

Know your genre and stick with it. Most of the time, if someone tells me they just don't enjoy reading, I assume they haven't found the right genre. I love chick-lit and fictional mysteries so that's what I read and I don't apologize for it. Paul and I couldn't have more different preferences when it comes to reading (as you will see below) and that's ok. This is about restoration and time for yourself - so you do you! Once you find the genre you love, you will be more likely to actually read, which is the whole point.

Below are some lists of what I've recently read (and my review of the books), what's next on my list to read, and what Paul is reading (just to give y'all a broader context of some books out there).

Happy reading, y'all!

What I've read recently:

• The Nest, by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney - fun, entertaining and makes you wonder which sibling you would be when a large sum of money is to be inherited.
• Fates and Furies, by Lauren Groff- definitely a step above my reading level, but I enjoyed the challenge. I had to focus when reading it so it's not something I would suggest while you sit on the beach with the kids. It takes a "furious" twist at the end that I found refreshing from the typical happy ending novels I read. 
• Rich and Pretty, by Rumaan Alam -  to be honest, I really did not like this one. I found the writing style choppy and I kept waiting for something to actually happen. Mostly read it because I saw it on someone else's list, but didn't even finish the last few chapters! Only including it because it is, in fact, something I've recently read.
• Before the Fall, by Noah Hawley - If you like to wonder what really happened until the very end - you will enjoy this. A small plain crash occurs killing two rich and important families, leaving only a small boy, who is heir to his father's wealth, and an artist who was hitch-hiking a ride, to survive. There are many plausible theories as to how and why the plane went down with an unexpected, but satisfying ending.
• Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty - LOVED this and honestly love the HBO series based on the book just as much. All about chaos amongst parents in a wealthy area of California. You spend the entire book learning the little lies everyone is telling and ultimately trying to find out who dies in the end and how.
• Into the Water, by Paula Hawkins - The best thriller I have read in a long time and I think better than her first novel, Girl on the Train. I finished this book in one week which is impressive for me and had nightmares 1 or 2 nights from it. I plan to lend it out (I actually purchased this one), with fair warning on the creepiness.

Next on my list:

• Small Great Things, by Jodi Piccoult
• The Couple Next Door, by Shari Lapena
• The Girl Before, by JP Delaney
• All the Missing Girls, by Megan Miranda
• The Nix, by Nathan Hill

Paul's List

(for some balance to my chick-lit/mystery)

• Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters, by Meg Meeker (a "must" for Dad's of daughters, according to Paul)
• The Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson
• Dynamic Aging, by Katy Bowman
• A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson
• Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer