A Double Party!

 I have been so excited about today! I just love to celebrate birthdays. Cake, ice cream, theme decorations... What's not to love? My cute hubby turns 26 today and little Weston turns 2 next week. October is the greatest!

With Weston's current obsession with Monster Jam, we thought that would be a fun idea for a party. Pinterest had lots of ideas for Monster Jam parties.. Particularly this and this one. So many fun ideas. I didn't use all of them, mostly because the kids that we were coming were mostly under 2 so a lot of the cute activities would have gone over their heads. But I loved all the different ideas for the food! 

We played in the backyard since the weather was so nice and kept the food simple with cake, root beer floats and doughnuts. Don't you love the Monster Truck shirt? Target :)

We had so many fun friends come over! There were even a couple more, but they came after the picture. So many cute little guys!

This was the quilt that I made for little Westy. I have been working on it for a while now. Remember this post about how to use crayon on quilts? That's what I did for this quilt. I used Pinterest to find coloring pages of all Weston's favorite things and then used a light box to draw it onto the fabric. 

I think my favorite part is the triangle border. I found this tutorial on Pinterest. It was a great, easy to use tutorial that adds so much to the quilt. 

It was so much fun to put together! And he has had a lot of fun looking at all the different characters on it. Two is such a fun age!

You didn't think I could get through an entire birthday party bash post and not mention how awesome  these boys are, did you? Because I totally can't. :) 

My parents always talked about how fast babies grow up, but whoa.. it's terribly true. Steven and I always talk about how when you are a parent, one minute can feel like a year, but a year can feel like a second. It's weird how that works. 

How did he go from this smiley little guy...

To this smiley big guy?

Even before we got married, I would always talk about how scared I was to have boys. I come from a house of girls, and I really, really love girls. Say what you want about the drama or whining, but I loved having a house of sisters and having a group of girlfriends. I loved the princess life and the sparkles and high heels. I couldn't imagine a life with cars and dirt and {gasp} bugs... I told Steven that the only way that I wouldn't be terrified of having a boy first is if our boy was exactly like him.

Well wish granted! These two handsome guys are seriously more and more alike each day. They have always looked like each other obviously, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.

They both are so active, and have so much energy it blows my mind. Weston can have a night where he sleeps 3 hours and still gets up at 7:00 wanting to go outside to jump on the tramp! 

To say that they love cars is a huge understatement. And they love animals just as much. 

Once they get their minds set on something, you can forget about trying to convince them of something else. That can make for a few hard toddler moments, but it is a quality that has greatly benefited Steven's whole life.

Weston is fiercely independent, but also loves to be cuddled. He thinks everything is an iPhone touch screen and he cheers every time his dad gets home from work. The boys even have the same diet! Chick-fil-A makes up a good portion of their meals. 

They are both loving, and they have tender hearts, which I think is the best quality a person can have. They are both extremely protective, of each other, me, and baby Cole. 

They both love to tell stories and make people laugh. They have utterly infectious laughs; it's impossible to not laugh along with them. Making new friends is always on their to do list. Coming from a person who was even too shy to call someone on the phone, both of them have pushed me to grow and learn and make new friends of my own. 

Steven and I have been together 10 years now, and he continually surprises me. For those of you who know Steven, he is out-going and loud and so much fun, but I think most of his high school buddies would be surprised at how quiet of a dad he is. He is very soft-spoken and hardly ever gets his feathers ruffled. There have been many nights that he has outrun me in the patience race. He works hard at work and school, then works hard when he comes home to help me with the boys. 

{Steven with Colton July 2015}

If you would have asked me when we got married what our life would be like towards our 6th anniversary, I never would have guessed this. Who knew I would have TWO little baby boys to look after? I never would have thought that I would know every name of every truck in Monster Jam or even all the one liners from movies like Cars. Now I don't even want to think about a life without Thomas Train. 

Happy Birthday to little Weston, who made me a mom. I'm so grateful you are you and for all the happiness you have brought us.

And Happy Birthday to my one and only love. You make every day a good day. 

Must-haves for Baby!

So many people have asked me about what kinds of products are my must-haves for my babies. And I have to admit, that if I'm going to be spending money, I love to buy baby things! Here is a list of things that I loved for my newborns...

The Boppy

Learning to nurse can be hard! It's hard learning the best positions and not getting a sore neck or back. This was so helpful for me. And as the baby gets bigger it's a great way to help prop them up to see the world.

Aden & Anais burp cloths and swaddles

I will admit, the burp cloths are a little pricey, so I only have two of them. But they are great. The material is super absorbent and they fit around your shoulder perfectly. The swaddles are great, especially for spring/summer babies because the material is so light that they don't get sweaty. Plus, they are super cute! :)

The Mamaroo

Oh, the Mamaroo. I didn't have this for my first baby and boy, do I regret it! We got this as a gift for baby Colton and it has been INCREDIBLE. Because it moves all different ways and different speeds, it fits every mood. It can rock him to sleep for me on nights that Weston is having a hard time. I know my friend loves to use hers in the morning so she can get ready and her baby stays perfectly content. Completely worth the money. 

The Woombie

This is probably one of my all time favorite things. The Woombie is a zip up swaddle. Colton just loved to be swaddled so this was perfect. They do run pretty small like the reviews say, so keep that in mind when ordering one. I used the newborn size for a few weeks then switched to the Big Baby size. The minute I put Colton in his, he would calm right down. You can't use these when they start rolling because their arms are swaddled up so the next step is the Zippadeezip. My friend swears by hers, so I have one ordered and on its way! 

Butt Paste 

I tried several different diaper creams and this one worked the fastest by a long shot. And the tube lasted me forever. 

Nuk Binkies

I love Nuk Binkies because they actually stay in the baby's mouth without me having to hold it in for him. Nothing is worse than finally getting a baby soothed and calm with a binky then the binky just falls out. Grr! These binkies match the shape of their mouth so it's easier to keep the suction.

Drop In bottles

Drop In bottles are perfect for newborns and little babies because they are so fast to warm up. When warming up bottles, you have to warm they by sticking them in a bowl of hot water. It can take a while when warming them up through a thick plastic bottle. The drop ins make it fast because they are thin. And if you buy the Target brand of drop ins, it can be very affordable. 

Tommee Tippee

These are my favorite for when they are started on formula or regular milk. They are easy to hold and easy to wash. They don't have all the extra parts that are easily lost. 

formula carrier 

This simple carrier is so great for formula babies! You have the exact amount of formula for a bottle in each section ready to go at a moments notice. No fumbling trying to get the correct amount of powder without spilling when you have a screaming baby. You can find different brands of these at many different stores by the baby food.

Breast Pump 

This is for moms who choose to breast feed. This isn't my exact pump, I have a much older version of it. But whatever pump you choose, you definitely need one! If there's ever a time when the baby doesn't eat enough this saves you from feeling sore! Plus, in the first month you can really get a good amount of milk storage so if you go back to work or ever need to have a night out, the baby sitter is all set with bottles. In the first month I probably used my pump 2-3 times a day. As my milk starts to level out, I use it more like once a day but it is so nice to have. And now most insurance companies reimburse you for one so they are easier to get. 

Coconut oil 

This may seem strange to some, but I use coconut oil a lot the first little while with my newborns. Instead of using nipple cream, I have a tiny jar that I fill with coconut oil that I put on myself after feeding the baby. It heals me right up and I don't have to worry about the baby getting sick from it. It's great for newborn skin too. There were a couple places where Colton had some chapped skin and this cleared it right up. Even as Weston got big I used this. When Weston started on formula, he would get really constipated so I would put a tablespoon of melted coconut oil in his formula once a day or once every other day and it worked like a charm! 

Hopefully this gives everyone some good ideas! Happy mothering! 

*all these opinions are from my own experience from what worked with my babies. I was not paid for any of these opinions*

Surviving the First Few Weeks of Two Babies Under Two

From the time I had my first baby, I knew I was going to have a second boy. Whenever I thought about having more kids, the name Colton would pop into my head. What I didn't know was how fast he was going to come! 

Steven and I have always planned on having our kids fairly close in age, but having them exactly 18 months apart was not exactly what we had in mind. We were so excited when we found out we were pregnant again and even more excited when we found out it would be another boy! Not only would Weston have a little buddy, but we had all the clothes already and my best friend was also having a baby boy! It just seemed perfect. 

When Colton decided he was ready to make an entrance, boy, he came fast! Props to all you mommas out there who go natural because I dilated almost all the way to an 8 without anything and I definitely don't think I could go all the way! He came so fast in fact, that the nurses told me next time I have a baby I have to go to the hospital on my first contraction, otherwise I will likely have a car baby. No thank you! He came so fast, and that pace kept up. 

Having two babies under two can be very intimidating. Especially when your 18 month old is as active as mine! From the day that Weston was born he has been a mover and a shaker. I was so nervous about the sleeping situation since Weston still gets up in the night (and trust me, I have tried every method on this planet to try to get him to sleep). 

Luckily for us, we haven't had the sibling jealousy as bad as it can be. From the minute Weston met Colton, he just loved him. 

We had bought Weston toys for when he came to the hospital, and when he met Colton, he immediately tried to share his toys with him. 

That was probably one of my favorite moments of all time.

I stayed one night in the hospital and Steven had two days off of work. Then it was back to real life. Steven had work and huge final projects, and I had two babies under two.

I have only had 5 weeks of experience with this, but this is what I have learned so far. 

1. Don't make any promises.

This starts before the baby is even born. One thing I did with my first baby that was a huge mistake was that Steven and I promised all sorts of things to all sorts of people. We told people that we would go to their house for dinner, or that we would still be able to go out with them on a Friday night. Learn from my mistake! Don't tell people what you will be doing after you have the baby. Babies are a mystery. You never know what kind of temperament your baby is going to have, not even to mention if the birth will have any complications. When people ask you to make plans for after the baby is born, tell them to call you again when the baby is a week old. At that point you will know whether you have a happy baby who is a great sleeper or if you have a less than content baby who keeps you pretty sleep deprived. It gets to be an even bigger deal with two! I had no idea what Colton would be like or how Weston would be acting after I brought the baby home. It was much easier this time not coming home from the hospital already having plans to be different places. 

2. Organize and Prioritize

This is a big one people! My day goes much easier when I have it organized. Once we get both boys asleep at night (which is quite the mountain to climb), I grab clothes out for the next day for both the boys and myself. I make sure the carseat and diaper bag are packed and by the door ready to go. If we have any special plans for the next day, I make sure those things are ready to go. That way, the next day we can just get dressed and relax until it's time to leave and everything is already there. I'm not running around the house looking for things at the last second or I'm not getting upset when there's a tantrum being thrown right when I'm supposed to be getting ready. It takes a LONG time to get out of the house. Good bye to the days of when I could grab my purse and keys and run out the door. You have to have enough diapers, a change of clothes, blankets, bottles, special toys.... The list goes on and on. If you are trying to grab everything at the last moment, you will never be on time again. 

You also have to know what is important in the moment and what isn't. Having priorities is important because most likely, you won't have time to get everything done. I pick one household chore to do once a day and just focus on that. Two different days a week are laundry days, one day a week is cleaning the bathroom, one day is for the kitchen... You get the point. 

3. Have Someone To Talk To

Luckily for me, I have quite a few friends that have babies. A couple of them have babies 12 months apart! And I think that 18 months apart can be tricky! There are several things that unless you have had a baby, it's just hard to understand. Take for instance going to the bathroom after you've had your little one! As much as my husband would be kind enough to listen to me complain about it, he just wouldn't understand like my best friend would. There are moments that are hard and you just need someone to listen to you. There are times when tantrums are going to drive you up the wall and you need someone that you can cry to when you are just done. What's even better than have someONE to talk to, is have PEOPLE to talk to. Different moms and dads experience different things so it's nice to have a group of people that you can go to for advice or just a shoulder to cry on. 

{Weston likes to share his food with his brother}

4. Use Your Resources

We live in a world of technology. Use it to your advantage! I don't have time to scrapbook all the cute moments now. So instead, I open a new note on my phone, date it and write down what I would write in my scrapbook. When I have a few moments, I print off all these notes and file them by month. That way I don't feel bad about not having all my memories written down and I can even do it while I'm breastfeeding! 

Obviously, I also am a big fan of blogs. I love mommy blogs! They remind me that the hour long tantrum isn't just from my 18 month old. The internet can be a great thing!

The first time we tried to get some dinner after having the baby, Weston was crazy (which was nothing new). Steven was smart and had a movie downloaded on his phone and gave it to Weston to watch while we were there. I'm sure a lot of you are thinking that we shouldn't just resort to movies to get our child under control... But if that's what gets us to have our first dinner out and it entertains him while we spend 20 minutes eating our Cafe Rio... GREAT! Use what you got. 

5. Plan short outings to gain confidence.

When Colton was about 2 weeks old, I braved grocery shopping. With the two boys. By myself. I did have people that would either be willing to come with me, or do it for me, I felt like I needed to do it. I needed to show myself that I could be ok while going out by myself with just the two of them. To be honest, I think I only gathered milk and chips and fruit snacks, but it showed me that it was going to be ok. 

Plan hour long outings like going to the duck pond, going on a walk, going to get a treat. If it's much longer than an hour, it takes much more planning. But an hour is possible! It is long enough where you feel like you get out of the house, but not so long to the point where you are going to have big break downs. I also try to keep it close to my house so even if it ends up a nightmare, I throw everything and everyone in the car and just go home. Planning little things every week has given us the chance to be out in the world so we don't feel cooped up and we get some fresh air. 

6. Take lot of pictures!

All parents know this feeling... They grow FAST. I remember when I was little, my parents would always say, "You are getting big too fast!" I would think, "No I'm not. I've been 7 years old forever!" But now that I'm a parent, I completely understand! Even from week 1 to week 4, Colton has gotten so big! And when I left for the hospital, Weston was a baby, and after I came home he seemed like a big boy! You will never regret having too many pictures. 

7. Know when to throw in the white flag.

There are some moments that you are just going to need help. The week that we brought Colton home, Steven had huge final projects. He was gone from 6 in the morning to after 10 at night. There were a few times that I just would have gone insane if it wasn't for our families and friends. We are lucky to have two sets of parents, four sisters, and lots of best friends and neighbors that will come to our rescue at any minute. We definitely used them all! Don't be afraid to ask people to come and help. And most likely they would love to come play with the babies anyway. :)

8. Give yourself a break!

Sometimes you are just not going to win and there are certain battles that just aren't worth fighting. Weston's sleeping thing is worth fighting to us, because we need to sleep too! But his picky eating... not always worth the battle. The first week we had Colton, there were two nights in a row that Weston threw absolute fits because he wanted to have popcorn for dinner. So guess what... he had popcorn! Yep, that's right. No vegetables, no fruit.  Just plain home-popped pop corn. I was tired and I was trying to breastfeed my 3 day old and there were worst things than Weston eating popcorn for dinner. 

There are going to be times when the dishes don't get done or the laundry sits in the basket for an extra day. Toys are going to be scattered. You just have to do as much as you can, and everything else can wait. Just do what you can momma! Sometimes you have to take it a day at a time, and sometimes an hour at a time. 

And after all the chaos is over, the boys will be cuddling or laughing or trying to share. And you realize that life is really great.