Baby Check In: Eleven Weeks & 365 Love Letters Week 2

WEEK: 11 weeks

MILESTONES: C-man is growing so fast! I'm unsure of any specifics but he's rapidly starting to outgrow his 0-3 clothes. This week he's started to click his tongue in his mouth and make some funny sucking faces. He's really super-aware of his surroundings and every little movement catches his eye. 

WHAT YOU'RE UP TO: Trying to juggle business, house work, blogging, baby, and now working for my dad (starting this week). My life is pretty much chaotic.

EATING: BFing has been a struggle this week. Little Monster went a few days where he didn't want to latch on and I had to fight him to eat. Then he acted like he wanted to drop a feeding at night before bed. He seems to be back to his normal self the last few days but some days I want to give up.  

SLEEPING: We can't seem to incorporate any sort of bed time routine yet. But, I'm not concerned about it much, he's still pretty young. 

DIAPERING: Just fine. 

VISITS/OUTINGS: Haven't gotten out too much lately but...

MOMMY & DADDY: We had our date night last Saturday and it was so refreshing to be together and talk about adult things. We went to Outback for dinner! mmmmm

365 Love Letters Week Two: 

break - over

I've taken on way too much in life the last few weeks between my business, blogging, baby, hubby, home, etc. I had to take a few days to regroup. I just wanted to let ya'll know I'm still here and posting will resume tomorrow! I've got an amazing giveaway planned for Friday as well!

I hope to also catch up on those I follow this week too, we'll see how far I get! 

Also, Welcome to all the new followers!!

Busy weekend

It was hubby's birthday this weekend. We had a group of friends and family at his family's restaurant (italian, mmm!!) for dinner - 34 of us, actually - and then about 15 people at our house to watch the UFC fight after dinner. It was such a long and busy weekend I didn't get ANY blogging done (didn't even get a chance to READ any!) and I'm still trying to catch up this week. 

I promise I have more things for you except just photos of my lil man & family. 

Like this beauty...

Mimosa Bedding in Aquamarine from Z-Gallerie

*swoon* 

I almost bought it then and there. We were passing time between family events this weekend and went to the mall and I spotted this beauty from across the way in another store. It's PERFECT. But $180 for JUST a duvet cover?! I can't quite commit. I'm THISCLOSE to ordering it online... 

Am I the only one that has anxiety over committing to a darn bedding set?! Sheesh why is it so hard?! 

Either way I'm going to make a decision before the month is over - I've got to get started on the makeover if I want to try and get anything else done around the house (re-do's) at all this year! 

joy of love [5], [6], & [7]

Hubby LOVES video games. l.o.v.e.s. 

I think they're lame - well except for Tetris, because I'm actually good at it! - but he works his butt off and well, if he wants to spend a few hours on a free day just playing around - I can't stop him. He deserves to have a lil fun, even if its totally meaningless! 

I didn't know what to take for this one. So, because my Little Monster and Hubby love me, here you go. 

And actually, it was already taken before the challenge but I ran out of time. Meh.

I didn't have my camera over the weekend, when we were with family & other generations, so I took a photo of C-Man with a photo from our wedding of his Great Grandma and Grandpa. 

365 Love Letters: Week One

Welcome to my own addition to 365 Love Letters.

I previously mentioned I saw this idea on Baby Making Machine and decided I just HAD to do it myself. I already document Little Monster's life taking a photo (or more) a day, this will just motivate me more! I've been trying to learn to use my camera on manual and change settings for ISO, etc.

I can't seem to figure out why there is so much "noise" in these photos - like on the blank wall for example. Any words of wisdom? I'm using photoshop and some free action sets from The Pioneer Woman, which I love! What are your favorite actions for photoshop? Do you know of any other free resources? 

Anyways.... tell me what you think!

 

(see, in the photo above... all that noise or "static"... how do I get rid of that? Any suggestions?)

Call Me Crazy...

But I might try and DIY my comforter....

Yes, I still can't find the 

P.E.R.F.E.C.T.

duvet cover/comforter set

*le sigh*

All those options that I just LOOOOOVE but they're not exactly what I want....

What do to, what to do...

Well, I saw this comforter at Target the other day and then caught word that Silhouette now has fabric interfacing to cut fabric in the machine.........

so my thoughts are this...

+

some sort of scroll/damask/paisley design

+

=

Exactly what I want!!!

It'll be a lot of work, I know. But you know what? It'll be cheaper and in the end what I want. Because I can't commit to anything until I get what I want. I have issues!

Stylish Blogger Award

*blushes*

I've never been called STYLISH before! 

But Jen over at Life, Crafts, and Whatever awarded me this Stylish Blogger Award! Thank you so much, Jen. I'm so happy to have found your blog (or did you find mine? either way!)

Okay, maybe she wasn't calling ME stylist, but my blog instead. I'll take it either way!

So... there are a few rules that come along with receiving the Stylish Blogger Award.

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!


So, you want to know 7 things about me, eh? Hmmmm, okay!

 

[Jared Wilson Photography] [Pixel Art Photography]

Makeup by me!

1. I make people beautiful for a living. If you haven't read already on my Our Family page, I'm a makeup artist. I worked for one of the world's most prestige makeup companies in the world for almost 4 years and am now enjoying being a Work At Home Mama owning my own business doing makeup. My income comes mainly from bridal work (which I LOVE) but I also do a lot of creative work too!

2. I'm a little obsessed with blogging but I wasn't always. I mean, my blog is going to be a year old in May (whoa!) and I took a pretty big hiatus during the early stages of my pregnancy because (1)I couldn't figure out my niche, per say, (2) I was oh-so-tired and could care less, and (3) I wasn't inspired by anything because of said pregnancy. However, now I'm really trying to get "out there" and find my way. I think I've developed a bit of a personality on the blog, here. Sometimes I'm funny, sometimes I'm mushy... and most times that personality is pretty inconsistent - but if you know anything about me... that's ME!

3. I secretly want to learn photography but for so long I have brushed it off because I don't have a good camera. The photographer that took the second photo up there told me, "So what, pick up a camera and shoot. The only way to learn is to DO. Don't be scared." So, I am. In comes the Joy of Love project and the 365 Love Letters project I'm trying to do (and hopefully stay consistent on). One day I will have a DSLR that is "nice" so by then maybe I'll know a little something about photography? Maybe?

4. I met my husband when I was 16 years old working at an Arby's down the street. The name on his name tag said, "Chocolate Chip Cookie". I thought he was a tool. Turns out, he was the exact opposite. More on this soon, I plan to get all sorts of mushy on you and tell you our love story.

5. I am a messy person. THERE I SAID IT. I always have been. I'm trying very hard to get in to the habit of cleaning up after myself. I thought it would be easier after the baby got here - umb. No. It's not.

6. We have unfinished projects EVERYWHERE in our house. Seriously.... I guess this relates to #5, right? Mess. We still don't have the edging done on our DIY countertops or all the brackets installed in the cabinets (you know, to keep them closed) and we "finished' our kitchen re-do months ago... yeah not finished afterall. whoops!

7. I used to be obsessed with green plants everywhere. I mean everywhere. In all the window sills, on every flat surface in my house there was a green plant. Then they all died because after my miscarriage I just didn't care about much. I tried to revive them, but then I got pregnant again and well... didn't care. The only ones I have left are two in my kitchen and a bamboo in my dining room.


Okay, I'm passing it on...
1. The Blind Ones
2. Now Let Me Tell You Something
3. Aura Joon
4. Bambino
5. Eighteen25
6. Life {Sweet} Life
7. Peace, Love & Applesauce
8. This is my Excellent Life...
9. The Day Book
10. {Love Stitched}

I'm awarding 10 bloggers instead of 15, sorry I broke the rules!

joy of love [1], [2], [3] & [4]

I stumbled upon this beautiful project over at Willette Designs and since I've been wanting to learn more about photography and taking my own photos, I figured I'd join in! You'll be seeing a lot of photos around here between this and the 365 Love Letters project I'm working on. I promise I'll have some DIY/Home/Craft stuff for you soon!

The purpose of this project is to SEE your loved ones (again). Kelly, like many of us, found herself getting caught up in day to day life and needing some inspiration to rekindle that love she has for her family. I have to say - I've been faced with that very same thing, especially with a new baby in the house.

Like Neytiri says in Avatar,
"I SEE YOU" 
(by the way, this made me cry in the movie)

Here are my first four days that I caught up on today... I would love to hear what you think. Keep in mind I'm shooting with a old point and shoot camera that has been dropped so many times it no longer recognizes a USB cord to import photos (so I have to take the card out and put it in a reader, whoops). Ya gotta work with what you've got, right?

This is Gunnison, our 2 year old full bred border collie. He drives me i.n.s.a.n.e. but I love him so so much. We aren't getting much exercise since it's cold out so he's been just lying around the house. Sometimes he'll follow me upstairs when Little Monster is crying to be sure he's okay, but mostly he's just lazy. 

This is hubby. He's super scruffy right now because he's waiting until tomorrow (his birthday) to cut his hair & trim his goatee. I remember when I was pregnant, he decided he was going to grow his beard out until the baby came..... well that was his plan anyways. I had other plans, especially since we had our maternity session coming up - no scruff!

Just two months difference - it amazes me. 

Hubby wears these worn, nasty old work boots to his second job. They go along with the scruff, which I secretly think is sexy *wink wink*

Want to join in on the Joy of Love project? It's not too late! 

Baby Check In: 9 Weeks!

WEEK: 9 weeks

WEIGHT: 9lb 3.6oz 

LENGTH: 21"

HEAD: 39.5cm

MILESTONES: Our Little Monster is ticklish! We noticed it randomly a few weeks ago but he really IS ticklish now. I love the grunting noises he makes when I tickle him, like he's trying to giggle or laugh but just doesn't know how yet. It's a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e! C-man is also no longer loving be swaddled. He outgrew his swaddlers so we've been using regular receiving blankets and he gets so mad if his arms aren't up by his face. Okay, mister, I get it. 

WHAT YOU'RE UP TO: I'm a little stir-crazy right now. It's been FRIGID cold (umb, right now it's -4 (-16 with the wind chill) so I haven't been out since Monday very very briefly. Tonight I escaped to Target when hubby got home because I needed a break. I'm trying to plan for hubby's birthday this weekend and get things cleaned and organized around the house. Slowly but surely.

EATING: We're trying to feed every 2 1/2 hours now because of his slower rate of growing we discovered at the pedi's office on Monday. I'm wondering if my supply is low. It's hard to tell. He seems satisfied after he eats, but he also empties me out really fast... So, I'm taking More Milk Plus to try and boost my supply. We'll see. 

SLEEPING: Can he get any more inconsistent?! I don't know where my good sleeper went! Have you see him?!

DIAPERING: I discovered his OS Bum Genius now fit him (kinda bulky but not too bad) so we've got a really good daily stash going. I can now go 3-4 days between washing... though I try to go no more than 3 for the stink-factor in his nursery. I need to do add more to my cloth diapering series I planned to do here on the blog. I'll put that on the to-do list.

VISITS/OUTINGS: See above. -16* out. There haven't been any!

MOMMY & DADDY: We've planned a date night for 2/12!! So very excited to be without Little Monster for a while and just spend time with hubby. With a fussy & hard-to-get-to-sleep-suddenly baby, there hasn't been any time even for cuddles before we fall asleep at night - which I really dislike. :[ 

WEEKLY PHOTO: 

Two Months Old!

Little Monster is 2 months old today!

We had his 2 month check up yesterday, here are his stats:

Weight: 9lb 3.6oz - 6%

Height: 21" - 2%

Head: 39.5cm - 19%

Clearly our lil man is a petite prince. His Pediatrician wasn't overly concerned about his lower percentiles, but he wants us back at 3 months to be sure he's growing consistently. I'm also to feed every 2 1/2 hours instead of every 3 hours (though yesterday he was feeding every hour all night long, yikes!). He did really well with the shots, calmed right down after they were done and he was in mama's arms. I didn't even cry!! 

I can't believe he's grown so much! 

Edited to Add our Month in Photos: January

I'm starting a very exciting new project in addition to taking C's photos every day. Many people know of the 365 Projects flying around the internet. Well, Baby Making Mama put her own spin on this type of project with her beautiful daughter and called it 365 Love Letters with a life lesson or mommy-note on each day's photo. I can't help but want to do the same, so I think I will!

I started with today's photo and I'll post them weekly (hopefully!) so stay tuned!