Andrew's Nursery (Featured on Project Nursery)

 

Finally Andrew's nursery is complete.. only took me over a year, right?

It was a long first year.. nothing like our first year with SJ.

 

So the nursery has evolved into what it is today... the crib is now lowered to the last setting ... the burp cloths have been put away.. and there are no binkys or tiny newborn clothes in sight..

But its finished .. for now.. and is ever changing as I tend to quite enjoy and find peace in re-arranging and re-organizing certain areas when I feel inspired.

 

 

Floating shelves... something I wanted from the start

I have some fabric wrapped canvas' on the top shelf, along with a globe to keep with the "map" theme, and Melissa & Doug giraffe that was Samantha's

Below we have baskets with diapers and socks.

 

 Blankets and more blankets.. but every blanket has a story here...

From top to bottom:

Burlap Pillow (made by me)

Gap "ugg" blanket as we call it.. super super warm (was a shower gift when I was pregnant with Samantha

USMC Heavy Blanket.. Gift from Daddy to Mama when we were still dating!

Soft Blue Chenille Blanket (Hand me down from my dear friend Megan)

Red/White Striped Afghan (Mama's from when I was a baby.. My nursery colors were red and white.. and I have several blankets in great condition from my nursery)

Grey Polka Dot (Made by Mama for Baby #2)

Blue Polka Dot (Gift from Baka)

 

The Crib:

Bumper & Skirt (Light Linen): Made by Me

Pottery Barn Kids Chamois Crib Sheet

Gator: Pier 1

Painted Frames: Michael

Mobile: Made by Me

 

Ikea Frames with Maps

Each Map contains an area where Andrew has family across the country.

 

View from entering the room...

 

Small drawer unit..

Holds old burp cloths now.. and swaddle blankets

 Dresser: Target

 PBK Bookshelf

 Map Bunting from his first birthday party

 Chair where we spent many a nights together Andrew and I.

I made all the pillow covers.. I especially love the grey chevron.. Oh, and its actually the burlap pillow..(pictured above..) I found chevron fabric online and thought it looked better so I covered up the burlap..

Like I said.. his room is an ongoing project you could say.. Im always changing things, re-organizing clothes, décor.. and he's constantly growing too, I can no longer leave certain things within reach, and that forces me to change the location of certain things as well.

You can see his nursery.. and I think a few more

pictures... HERE @ Project Nursery.com

Vanilla Bean Angel Pillows {recipe}



These are very light and flavored with vanilla sugar... so yummy.

I believe I got this recipe from my MIL, and I think she read it in a Taste of Home magazine.

 

Here's what you need:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise

1 cup cold butter, cubed

1/4 cup vanilla sugar (make ahead a few weeks)

 

Preheat oven 350 degrees

 

In food processor, combine:

flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar, & salt.



Cover and pulse until combined.

Scrape pulp from vanilla bean

and add to the mixture...

 



Then add the cold butter to the mixture

Cover and process several times, until the dough begins to cling.. stopping once to scrape down sides.

Gather mixture into a ball

Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls.

Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

 

Bake 12 min, or until edges began to brown.

Transfer to rack to cool for about 5 min.

 

Place vanilla sugar in a bowl





 

While cookies are still warm, but NOT hot.. roll gently in the vanilla sugar to coat

Cool again on rack

If you try to roll the cookies when they are still hot...

this is what happens.. crackage.. (is that a word? ha)

The recipe makes about 28.

They are light and fluffy and smothered in sugar and yummy vanilla bean flecks

7 Years of Marriage

Our anniversary is today..

 

We started off the weekend with an Ice Cream Social at Samantha's Nursery School on Friday night

It was cute.. all the kids colored & ate their sundaes.. and Andrew just ran around the tables like a little social butterfly.. he isn't afraid or shy AT ALL.. its too funny.

 

Saturday I went out looking for some additions to a few gifts I got the hubby, but I couldn't find what I wanted at Barnes & Noble for him..

But I did find this for myself.. The cover had me.. Its just too cute.. and all the recipes are either mini, or bite sized foods.. I love anything mini!

So one day when I actually HAVE time to have an "afternoon tea" party.. I'll be prepared.. ha!

Today... (Sunday) was a really nice day.. it was close to 70, sunny and beautiful.

We spent a lot of time outside.

Grammy came over, and Andrew took a decent nap, so Daddy and I got to get some things done, and we feel pretty accomplished.. Nothing major, just the usual, Daddy was outside getting a few things ready for spring/summer, lawnmower, garden & lawn pruning, and I got some things done, laundry, changing our spring sheets on our bed, more laundry.... organizing a few cabinets, the pantry, my makeup cabinet in our bathroom.. and I baked a little anniversary sweet

 



I attempted to make some chalk paint with Samantha.. but it came out more like chalk rocks instead.

I pinned a recipe .. and it was kind of a fail.. Im not sure we crushed the chalk as fine as we were supposed to.. but she didn't care.. and as you can see it turned from sidewalk, to tree.. and I think its quite pretty!

 

So 7 years..

We've had quite a lot of living since we met on this evening in Cleveland (below)

Who would have thought.. 7 years later.. 2 kids, a house, post-military career, stay at home mom...wheew... and you know what? It truly seems like yesterday.. time has flown.

Sometimes I wish I could go back to these fun times .. but then I look at SJ and Andrew and think, what did we do without these two miracles in our lives! We have so many amazing memories, and some trying times that aren't so warm and fuzzy. But that's marraige, right? Ups and downs, and you work through, because you're a team, and there is no one else I would want by my side through our journey together as husband and wife and as parents. 

 

We've learned to keep each other grounded..

We calm each other during stressful times.. and during the most difficult moments (most were last year with a colic baby) We each knew when one had to take over for another without even saying a word...and that to me is part of our special bond that I value and never ever take for granted.

 

As we grow and change, so does our marriage, and our love for one another.

I am so thankful for you, my groom, and if there is one day I could go back and re-live all over again, it would certainly be this day..

back in Jacksonville, NC.. Friday, April 28th 2006.

No one but us.

One of my most cherished memories.

And here's my dessert I made for tonight..

Its not very pretty.. but it tasted identical to an Original Cookie cake from back in the day.

I pinned the recipe last week, and thankfully this one was not a pinterest fail.

So good!

Park Day!

I can't remember the last time I was outside for more than 2 hours with the kids... Maybe because it was in 2012.... and that whole year is kind of a blur. I could have never successfully taken them multiple places or walked as far as we did this day.

 

It was about 65 and sunny.

We left the house at 10:15 and didn't return back until 1:30.

 



I packed some lunches.. which I love making little bento & fun lunches with cute shapes, packaging & containers.. I wanted an excuse to use my very cute new sandwich pouch from Target.. I think I need more.. they are too adorable and had more colors/designs.. ahhh I digress...

In the pouch: Peanut Butter & Honey on Wheat for Mama...

Apple for everyone to take bites

Ziploc "Bento": Hard Boiled Eggs, Carrot Sticks, Olive Oil Popcorn, Cheese Stick, cut up, and Cinnamon Schoolbook ABC cookies in the Glassine bag.

 

In the Dr Sears Pineapple Tray: Organic Pumpkin Snacks, Pretzel Chips, Grapes, PB Chips, Annie's Bunny Snacks, and Mini Nilla Wafers

 

If it looks pretty.. my kids eat better.. that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

First stop was Starbucks... I had promised a certain little lady last week that we'd rollerblade/stroller there for a Chocolate Milk... and we did... but Mama got all the way there and forgot her wallet...Mama brain.. SJ put the wallet in my purse this time before we left the house.. Glad she is thinking for me.. cause I clearly cannot !

 

Mr. Mr. fell asleep as we headed towards the park 

 

Lunch was a hit!

 

Swings

Slides

Bouncers

Sandbox... We made new friends, and played until we had to use the bathroom.. 

Headed home for Naps...

It was a fun long awaited outing.. the first of many

Rochester & Run Down

Last week we headed to Rochester for the day.. we had 2 places on our agenda.

Trader Joe's and The Zoo.

We are getting a Trader Joe's here soon, but since we made the drive, we stopped and grabbed some of our favorites

 

Baby on the hip, headed into TJ's

Andrew slept on the way there.. and he was in such a good mood.. SJ too of course.

 

We loaded up and headed to the zoo next

 

It was around 70 degrees and sunny.

Perfect day.

The Rochester Zoo had a lot of very active animals! Almost every animal was out.. and the kids lovvvved it..

 Our zoo is flat... very flat.. This zoo had lots of hills, which was great.. great for wearing out a little almost 15 month old

We stayed about an hour and a half, then headed home.

SJ fell asleep pretty quickly, and Mr Energizer Battery conked out as we pulled in the driveway.

 

 

We stayed out when we got home and just enjoyed the long awaited weather.

Playdough outside is a great idea .... mess free!

 

 

I made some Sugar Cookie Bars this week, and Samantha requested purple frosting.

They were sooo good.



This past weekend, we had a lot of running around to do.

Andrew managed to get a huge fat lip as well.

He falls every single day.. multiple times.. but he still looks so sweet with his poor battered lip

Samantha had another party this weekend. This time for her friend from school.

The girls from her class were all there.



We almost didn't make it, SJ was feeling pretty lousy on Saturday morning... Maybe because the weather dropped 30 degrees in 2 days... UGH!

But we went to the party, after I called and warned them that she was under the weather.. so were many other people there as well...

Passed out cold after her party....

Im so glad we went.. but she was spent..

I hope this is the last cold till Fall.. 



Just us Girls

Rarely do Samantha and I get to "get away" for a few hours without the boys.

I always have to be paying waay more attention to Andrew often, because he's so fast and sooo busy/mischevious.. he'll wind up in the ER if left alone too long..ha just kidding, sortof...

 

 

Im pretty big on one on one time with my kids.

So this weekend Samantha and I had 2 events that we spent just us girls.

 

Saturday we went out to the country to visit our cousins.

They have a beautiful log cabin in the woods, and I loved every single thing about it.

They had invited us out to see their baby chicks who had arrived 2 weeks ago.

 

The chicks were adorable.. but I think Andrew would have done some permanent damage had he tagged along.

 

A big ole orange cat.. 

The house is amazing.. and I only took one sadly of the inside.

I could live here..

We hung around with the chicks and then headed outside to see the coop and the bigger chickens and rooster. We peeked inside the coop, and saw todays eggs.. so cool.

I really hope to have our own eggs someday.. and so does Daddy.. We are realizing that we truly do want to live somewhere with a little land.

Our adventure out to the country was so much fun.

Samantha had such a good time, and took a looong nap

 

Sunday, Samantha was invited to Lily's Birthday party.

The theme was Rapunzel, and Maria did a wonderful job.

Look at these cupcakes.. and the TOWER? I die.. right up my alley..

 



Sun and Crown cookies & snacks, and white chocolate covered pretzels with sugar sprinkles.

So yum.. I think SJ ate about 10 of the pretzels.

The party was at a really fun interactive play place.. full of toy stations, dress up clothes, chalkboard and dry erase walls, lego areas, trains, 

We had lunch and then it was time for a craft

right up her alley.. she loves painting.

The birthday girl

I had so much fun with my little "big" girl this weekend.

I look at her face, and I can still get flashbacks of when she was just 10 months old. She still has that same little baby face to me.. Getting bigger by the day, and I love this girl more than words!