SUYL - Best Parenting Advice

SUYL- Best Parenting Advice

I still consider myself a new mommy.

I've only had this job for 2 years.

So, Im more interested this week in reading other people's advice/tips

But I've learned a LOT in the past 2 years.

So I have a few tid bits to pass on ..

1. This too shall pass.

I Always always remember saying this in my head during the tough times in parenting.. One in particular was weaning SJ from Breastfeeding.

Girl could not get enough..

And Momma .. was TIRED!

I had to let her go COLD TURKEY one night and we never looked back.

It was a rough 3 days of screaming and crying.. but she got through..

and all I kept thinking in my head over and over was this phrase...

This too shall pass

and it did

2. Enjoy every moment (even the not so fun ones)

Even though some moments are not all bows and giggles and smiles..

I do look back on the sleepless nights and want my little baby back..

So Im really excited to have a 2nd baby.. because I think hubs and I were so "worried" all the time with what our tiny miracle was or was not doing that it seemed to go soooo fast..

Now second time around I think we'll be more relaxed .. because we've already been through it once.

3. Your instinct is usually right...

This advice I guess goes more for Momma's.. They say a mother's insticnt is usually right, and I found myself in sooo many cases .. esp. when SJ was teeny weeny.. She couldnt tell me what was wrong, but often times I just "knew" ... and I was right!

Like if she was hungry.. sleeping a weird way, too cold, too hot, needed some air/or a walk.. etc..

Ugh, I cannot beleive my little bubba is so big now..

I am so so excited to meet #2..

I just hope I can give as much love, affection, attention and good mommy things to the 2nd one as I did with SJ.... I need some advice about that Mommas!

Help!

Hey Bloggers..

Im trying to get a Pinterest account.

I think the website may be messed up....

Can someone tell me if this is normal,. or if Im even at the right website?

Thanks

xoxo

Joelle

New Art

Check out my newest addition to my Art Portfolio

Click Below on "3rd Floor Art"

3rd Floor Art

If anyone is interested in placing an order or has questions

Just email me:

joelle1026@yahoo.com

What Im Loving Wednesday

WILW

join up with Jamie!

Im loving my newest miracle ..

He/She is loungin' in my tummy.. and was VERY active yesterday for our first sonogram..

As you can see...the tiny leg sticking up...Its hands and arms and legs were all over the place..

Such an eye-opener to see it .. I know Im pregnant, but as soon as I saw this little bean moving around, it just made it all the more real for me.

Its my most prized possession and Im going to make sure I take good care of it!

Yum Nuts - Toasted Coconut..

They are delish! So glad my awesome grocery store carries them!

The Lake.. we went this weekend on Sunday for a little adventure..Its not Surf City beach by any means, but I still love living by water!

Im loving that the Pioneer Woman is coming!!!

She's coming to the Food Network in August!! Yea!

Im loving that it finally rained this week and its a little cooler

12 Weeks & 1st Ultrasound

Hello Baby #2

{my newest love at 12 weeks}

Can you see her/his leg sticking up? I thought it was hysterical!

Samantha's first sonogram was done at 11 weeks, and she was NOT this active!

Its hands and feet were all over the place.. at one point it was crossing its legs at the ankles..
I cant wait to find out what it is so i can stop referring to it as an IT!

12 weeks:

Size of baby:

About size of a limeWeight Gain:
Lost 2 lbs! – Im sure its only temporary..
How am I feeling:
Not as tired lately.. this past weekend I felt great ALL day on Saturday.

Nausea comes and goes, but is slowly dissipating
Appointments/Events:

Next Appt – August 8th to find out the sex!
Craving:

Nothin too crazy yet

Carbs/Bagels… Pickles.. (like a true pregnant woman)

Missing:

Feta Cheese, Hot Dogs, Ham, Pepperoni, Margharitas
Baby Moving:

Too early – Although I think I feel flutters a little from time to time
Funny Things:
Our grocery bills.. well might not be funny to the hubby.. I cant help it.. it is VERY dangerous to send a pregnant woman to the store.. okay sometimes I go anyways on my own.. anyways.. weird cravings start happening at the store.. and I start putting meals together in my head and run through the aisles looking for all the ingredients..

Problem is.. its so hot, I wouldnt dare turn on the oven!

So its dangerous.. all the time.. which brings me to my next point below:

Special Buys/Finds This Week:
Yum Nuts - Toasted Coconut - my new favorite snack

Veggie Stix

Im sure I'll eventually be posting other things like baby stuff Im making/buying.. but until we know what it is.. I havent bought a single thing clotheswise.. cause if its another sweet girl, we already have a good jump start!
These few things have been sitting in the "guest room/baby #2's room" for a little while

Its never too early to stock up on these I suppose, and I had a double coupon!

Until next week!

xoxo

Joelle

Samantha's 2nd Birthday Party

Preface to this post: I had big dreams for her party.. (before I became pregnant)... ha.. I still managed to bake/decorate almost like I wanted to.. But these days I am often nauseous, on the couch, or in bed by 9.. when im not chasing after SJ so most of the decor and even some food things were not happening..

The day of her party came and it was blasting hot.. I had a cutie dress and earrings all picked out.. but after a morning full of running around and preparing, I just kept the maternity shorts on that I wore all day, and tried to find a pretty top and called it a day.. ha!

Anyways.. the party was fabulous.. and Im so glad it turned out just the way it did.. But I am no preggo Martha Stewart...

Turning 2 was so much fun!

Last weekend we hosted Samantha's 2nd Party at our house.

The theme was "fairy garden party" so I made lots of treats with flowers/roses and decorated with flower balloons, mushrooms in terracotta pots, and had pink/green/turquoise colors.

I realize this post is all over the place, and not much is in order... oops, you get the general idea!

The Menu:

Hot Dogs

Wings on the Grill

Baked Beans

Potato Salad
Fresh Veggies
Chips/Snacks

Apple Straws

Pretzel Logs

Shrimp Salad in Phyllo Cups - Courtesy of Paula Deen

Pink Lemonade

Iced Tea

Water Bottles

Beer

Wine

The Dessert Menu:

Rose Sugar Cookies
Strawberry Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Buttercream

Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Buttercream

Pastel Marshmallows

Birthday Mints

Dubble Bubble Gum

Candy Mix

Homemade Cake Batter Ice Cream

Side note: SJ woke up feeling awful that day.. it was probably close to 90 degrees, sunny and humid, Poor thing had a faucet coming out of her nose all day, and she had a fever of 100 right before her party was about to start...

You cant tell, right?

She seemed to snap out of it by 6pm thankfully, and had a great time at her bash.

This is also the reason you'll see her almost naked in all her pics.. I had an adorable Watermelon Smocked dress picked out for her to wear, but when I took her temperature, I just couldnt put her in more clothes.. so the bloomers made it though!

Cupcakes make it all better!
Sam and Lucy in her Wagon


The dessert Table!






Present Time:

She loved this skirt from my Mom, she kept taking it and pretending to put it on...

Opening was getting easier..

Dessert Cupcakes.. I had to wait till last minute to put them out b/c it was SOO hot!

Family... Me and my brother and sister...

Eatin' cake with Grammy and Aunt Shauna

Our sweet friend Jo and her husband came in for SJ's birthday!

Opening more presents...
New Microphone.

Rose Sugar Cookies..

I made a ton, so I wrapped them up for take home favors

Rose Cake...Supposed to be for SJ, but she wanted a cupcake instead..

I was quite proud of myself though, so i'll brag about the cake a little bit..

Frosting was vanilla bean buttercream

Inside were layers of Strawberry Cake and White Cake

I decorated the outside with a Wilton 1M tip, and sprayed it with ColorMist Pink Coloring.

It tastes so good.. and its still in my fridge..

The cake is super light and fluffy and the buttercream rich and yummy.. perfect match

And since it was 90 degrees and extra humid, I made homemade cake batter ice cream.

I was very close to buying an ice cream maker, but I found a recipe that didnt have eggs, and I experimented with it, and it turned out awesome!

Great friends, great party, I love baking sweets as you can tell.

To check out last year's party...

Decor

Pictures

SUYL - Marriage Advice

SUYL- Marriage Advice

Today over at SUYL Kelly's Korner were giving our best marriage advice.

Since i've only been married 5 years, I still think I have a lot to learn/figure out.

Mathew and I have survived many many large events. Being separated when he was stationed in NC, a 13 month deployment to Iraq, moving all over the place, and now we're finally settled.

It seems that we sometimes stress over the silly small things and forget all the HUGE things we got through as a couple, and this helps me reflect on how blessed we are.

I think its important to remember how you got to where you are in present day as couples.

Day to day things may irritate you, but I've learned to pick your battles, and sit back and sometimes remain quiet, when I could really open my big mouth and start a huge argument... often times it just isnt worth it, and I dont like fighting.
Mathew and I can both be very stubborn, but we try not to let it get the best of us, and we always try to make up after we have a little tiff.. ha!

I think also taking time out for you as a couple is extremely important. Like Kelly said, children are important, but you need to focus on you as a couple.

We're attempting to plan a small getaway in the fall without Samantha.. only 3 days.. Of course we're nervous about leaving our baby behind, but I think it will be the BEST thing for us.

And it may be the first and last getaway we take before baby #2 arrives in February.

So all in all, Im still learning on how to be a good wife and supportive partner. I am interested in reading everyone else's advice and tips for a good marriage!

Happy Friday!

Beating the Heat

Its a little hot in here..

We're experiencing a bit of a heat-wave, as is much of the midwest states.

Dont get me wrong, I love summer, but it sure is rough when you're already tired and feeling nauseous, chasing after a 2 year old, etc..

We've been going to Grammy's pool a lot, and the kiddie pool in our town.

Samantha has loved watering things too as she is brave enough to hold the big hose by herself

The weather is great if you are by a pool, on the lake, or at the beach, but trying to do daily tasks like cook/clean/laundry/naptime.. has become irritating b/c its so hot!

Here's a look at our forecast.. but as usual they are always wrong.. my car and phone said 93 today.. so there you go!

Cooking is out of the question these days.. and its a shame cause there are so many things Im craving that I would love to make.. If we do cook, its grill foods only.

Tonight we're having bruschetta w/fried ciabatta bread & baked potatoes on the grill.

Last night we ate out at Cheeburger Cheeburger and it was marvelous... It reminds me of Andy's which is a southern chain - same type of atmosphere, food and shakes.. delish!

I think Mathew and I may have had one of our first date's at Andy's.. I remember us grabbing lunch after being at the ocean all day on one of my many trips down to NC during our datin' days.. (ok i digress...)

Samantha - dancing to the 50's music.

Daddy and I got burgers, a big basket of fries, and chocolate shakes.

SJ got chicken fingers and fries, and had some of our burgers too..

She ate like a champ!

Such a wonderful break from the daily routine for dinner..

I have a feeling a couple more nights like this may be in needed.

If any of you are in the midwest/south you probably think im crazy for making a big deal out of temps in the 90's....I think my body was used to it when we lived in NC... but since moving up north, it just isnt used to the hot hot heat!

What Im Loving Wednesday

Here's What I've been Loving this Wednesday

I am linking up with Jamie today

My new maternity jeans..

My Savior for morning/day and evening sickness. I thought with my first pregnancy, how the hell can sucking on one of these make me feel better when I felt awful and sick... But boy do they work, at least for me!


Starbucks Via Packets.. I've had one in my pantry, and its waaay to hot for my favorite hot drinks at S-Bucks.. So I tried it, and the next day I went out and bought 2 packets.. They are delish.. and taste JUST like as if you would have ordered a fancy drink at the store, but you did it yourself, and for more than half the cost. You get 5 packs for $5.95, and some days I only drink 1/2 so its coffee for 2 days!




My "special" way of preparing it is this creamer that I fell in love with when we bought it when we lived in NC.. at the Fresh Market.. Add tons of ice, stir and enjoy!

I've been obsessed with roasted cauliflower lately.. preggo craving I assume. I drizzle with really good olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt, roast/broil till it gets nice and browned..

Belly Bars. They USED to sell em at Target but you can get them online or at specific maternity boutiques. I ate them all the time with SJ.. and I have to get some soon!
\
And they have Shakes too, which I think I need to also try.

Lastly, but certainly NOT least, Im loving my family, and our new addition in my belly: