Transition

Oh, hello.  It's me, the long-lost blogger.  My life has been so out of control the past few months, this blog (sadly) was the easiest thing to cross off the list.  Working full-time as a teacher, plus filling 40-50 orders per month through the spring for our Etsy shop, preparing our house to go on the market and house hunting for a new place....then there's mothering a two-year-old and attempting to spend a little quality time with the hubs before I pass out from first trimester pregnancy exhaustion each night.  Am I forgiven yet?

Yes, life has been a crazy, beautiful thing lately - and I'm still waiting for things to settle down.  We sold our house in one day, found one we loved, lost it, found another one that we liked, bought it, then the house we fell in love with on the first go-around came back on the market so we canceled a contract on the like house and went for the love house.  Make sense?  Long story short, we move mid-June and we can't wait to get into our new place!  TONS of space, a little work to be done, but we couldn't be more thrilled.

On top of that, I'm not returning to teaching in the fall. Decided to take some time off to be with my sweet girl and the baby-on-the-way coming in November.  I'm looking forward to putting more time and energy into my family and the Etsy shop.  I have been completely maxxed this past year with working full-time teaching and growing the small business - I am really looking forward to slowing down a little and hopefully feeling like I'm not so stressed all the time (just in time for a newborn to enter the picture!). 

Okay - so lots of life changes - job, home, new baby....we are just in one big transition right now.  Not to mention all the changes that have been happening with a very sweet two-year-old.  She is the most amazing thing.  Ever.

 

I just can't believe how big she's getting and how much she's learning.  Talking in sentences.  Learning all her colors.  Counting to twenty.  Learning ABCs.  Reciting books we've read over and over.  Picking out clothes.  Helping with chores around the house.  Good grief, she's like a pre-schooler!  That has been hands-down what I've missed about blogging.  Because although I know that friends and family love to read what's happening with our family, it has from the beginning been my way to document our life.  Even now, when I go back and read posts and updates from the past couple of years - I read things that I've already forgotten about.  And I don't want to forget all of her amazing-ness because life is so crazy that I don't write it down.

So, I'll be trying to make an effort to do some more updating - certainly more than one post every couple of months.  There will be so much to remember in these next few months!

My honey and I are going on a little vacay to San Diego next week - first time EVER leaving Natalie, and the first vacation we've had since before I found out I was pregnant with her 3 years ago.  Needless to say, we are overdue! 

Happy Summer, everyone!

Announcing...

Natalie's little brother or sister is coming in November.  We couldn't be happier! :)

 

My baby is TWO!

So unbelievable.  The sweet, tiny, helpless baby that I held in my arms just two short years ago - has blossomed into a beautiful, spunky, independent, lovely little toddler.  She makes us laugh each day and reminds me over and over just how much we've been blessed by her.  My favorite things about her right now include her sweet voice, her hugs and kisses, her funny expressions, and her curious nature.  And the fact that she is so darn sweet. :)

We celebrated our girl over the past few days.  Starting with a snow day ON her birthday (how perfect?), and a fun birthday party just a couple of days later...she was a total sweetheart.  And has a newfound love for presents and cupcakes - which she now asks for daily. :)

The Elmo theme was a no-brainer.  Our girl is in love with the furry, red guy...and this momma has a compulsive need to throw a beautiful and perfect-in-every-way birthday party.  I can't help it!!  With two bonus snow days before the party, I actually had enough time to pull everything together and bring my vision to reality.  Natalie loved all of it, and kept saying "My Elmo party, Mommy?"

 

Cute cake!  I cheated a little....HyVee made the cake and iced and decorated the sides - but they wouldn't do an Elmo on the top because it's a licensed character.  So - I did the Elmo face on the top.  A joint effort!

 Pretty little door sign to welcome our guests. :)

 Cupcakes!  Natalie's favorite part of the celebrating.

 Made these yummy chocolate covered Oreos as favors.  They were super easy.

Silverware tags - Daddy helped with these a week before the party. :)

 Pretty birthday girl in her pretty party outfit.

 She loved the balloons....possibly her favorite thing that day.

Mommy & baby big girl.

 Littlest friend and party guest.  Natalie was enamored with Miss Maggie!

 

Quick family photo.

 She loved it when everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to her, and gave the cutest little shy smile.

 

Blew out her candles like a pro!

Can you tell she liked the cake?!  What a mess...
She hugged and kissed and said "thank yous" after each present.  I loved watching her during the party because she was so happy and having so much fun!  She ended the night with her own private dance party....demanding "music, Mommy" and proceeding with some cute moves as the party guests dwindled.
Such a fun, fun day.  We were worn out afterwards but were left with so many sweet memories of our precious two-year-old!

P.S. Do you LOVE the Elmo decor?  It will be in my Etsy shop soon!! :)