Something fabulous for our new home

Yes, I realize we haven't actually moved. But, I'm slowly collecting fabulous things that I know I will love in our new house.

Here is something I stumbled upon.. either through another blog... or etsy.

Petit Design Co. is amazing! We got the beautiful print below of Emery emailed to us (no shipping!). It was very inexpensive at $15 and we have unlimited use of the emailed image. We plan to print a few extras to give to family members.

blog.petitdesignco.com

It was so easy! I purchased the image through her site, then emailed in a few profile shots of Emery... a few days later, this landed in my email.
The hardest part was trying to get a profile picture of a two year old that loves to say "cheese" to the camara.
Jason and I had something simlar done at disneyland a few years ago...
So did my two cousins, Cami, Rachel, and I, when we were kids.
I just love how it is such a subtle image that captues the beauty and innocence of a little one.
I'm so excited to add this to the amazing hodge podge of items I've been collecting from etsy...

Celebrating silly (but important) milestones of my girl

Now that Emery is 2 (and 3 months), I am quickly realizing that the major milestones are fewer and farther between. Gone are the days that I want, or need to document her every smile, outfit, and movement. In fact, there were a few months when we only took 5 pictures IN THE WHOLE MONTH, which is devestating. Those moments with my precious baby are gone. To be honest, it is getting harder and harder to even get a good picture because she never slows down long enough for it to happen.
But, since I am 'the' crazy picture taking mom, and since we just invested in a crazy fabulous new camara, I'm back to celebrating milestones and capturing moments. Mostly, because this new awesome (and by awesome, I mean expensive) camara can take great pictures of a moving target.
So, last night, we celebrated Emery's first time using a big girl plate! Yes, a regular plate. She still isn't using my princess house plate (over my dead body), but she got her own nice, but plastic plates this week. I had been admiring them for a few weeks at my local Target. And when they went on sale to just over $1 a piece, I knew it was a sign. I was socially obligated to impact our economy and take them off the hands of this particular Target. Which I did, 3 of them, along with 2 matching bowls.
We had been using some baby take and toss plates for Emery. Except we never actually tossed them. Or, we had a lovely collection of the kid plates from the Target dollar bins.
Next up, big kid utencils.
And because any good milestone celebration is not complete without pictures...

Emery decided to have a dinner party with her new bear last night... We even "fed" the bear some smoothy from her "like mommy" straw sippy...

What fun milestones are you celebrating? Because it's more fun to celebrate the silly ones!

Fashion?

Disclaimer: I am not fashion-ista, but I do have some serious opinions on the topic.
I didn’t grow up in a house that ever seriously considered fashion. My family subscribed to the mantra of “It’s on sale, and it fits, it’s perfect.” I love my mother and grandma, but they were not exactly fashion icons growing up. My grandma has dressed like a grandma, since before she was actually a grandma. Think stretch top pants and stretchy bottom blouses… My mom… well, she has one look: A cotton tee (which now-a-days is either from Northern Reflection, or is an Elks Lodge polo), tucked into her black denim, bedazzled belt buckle, and sneakers. Yes, they are both comfortable and always ready to leave the house in 10 minutes, but it certainly will not be featured in vogue magazine…
Looking back, High School was a fashion mess. I was the poster child for teenage anger and angst. And I was all too proud to tell you that I didn’t give a (enter dirty word here) what you thought about me, or my clothes. I regularly sported slippers to school, courtesy of a very lax dress code. And, because I worked in a doctor’s officer after work, I would wear my work scrubs to class. In the end, I basically wore pajamas to school every day, and I looked like a sloppy mess.
Come college, and I find myself in a sorority with 100 other ladies that apparently did already know what coach and jimmy choo were, and I had some serious catching up to do. I got my first adult credit card and promptly bought myself a tiffany’s bracelet and coach purse. Yes, it was the smallest purse ever, but it was mine! I look back at my freshman year photo album and wonder how I managed to put together such ridicules outfits, and how did I manage to still have friends. Whoa!
I have spent much of my 20s still trying to figure out fashion. Now, as a mother, my goal is to make it out of the house each day dressed. It really is that simple. I love watching shows and reading blogs about fellow mothers and our universal struggle to gain (or learn) some fashion tips for being a mom on the go without wearing pajamas. Now, I strive for the “chic mom on the go” look… which mostly just includes classic items that actually fit my new mommy body, and items that it is ok if they get juice/snot/tears/food, or bodily fluids on them. My beautiful kelly green silk blouse from Banana Republic has not seen the outside of my closet in over a year. But, it’s stunning, so I keep it. And, I hope someday I’ll have a job again that requires fabulous business attire. I love cardigans and ballet flats, tunic blouses and relying on jewelry (insert www.31bits. com plug here) to make an outfit fun.
But, I have been known to try to tackle fashion… mostly unsuccessfully. When I do, I end up taking every fashion trend of the moment and putting it in one outfit. Like the time I wore my tunic style dress, with a belt to give a shape, with a scarf (because it was winter), which was also why I added the tights. Add the headband because I was too lazy to actually “do” my hair, and the cute ballet flats because I’m 5’10” and don’t need any extra height. Looking back, I must have looked ridicules. By the end of the night, I found myself delaying my trendy looks, one piece at a time. I felt stupid, I looked stupid. But, I was so excited about each trend, and I don’t get to go out all that often, so I decided to toss them each into one outfit.
Or the time I tried leggings as pants. This is probably the WORST TREND OF ALL TIME! Unless you are actually a model, you should probably skip this one, ladies. I especially love it when women add a printed full-bottom panty that we can clearly see because the butt of you leggings is begging for mercy! My outfit consisted of leggings, with a cute long tunic, that same damn adorable scarf and my trendy brown steve madden boots. You know the ones that every girl on the planet owns, with the buckle on the side/back and a small wedge. Yup, those. Then, I added a short, almost cropped jacket (also not covering my booty) and headed out the door for date night with Jason. In his defense, he did suggest another outfit. Something I DID NOT react well too and stomped into another room to sulk. I knew he was right, and he said it with the “but I want you to feel comfortable,” concept… but I didn’t listen….
Here’s a few other “trends” of our recent past that I tried, and failed at….
-Uggs, with a denim skirt and hoodie
-Tennis skirts and rocket dogs
-White “wife beater” and a black bra
-Ultra low rise denim (insert thong top and butt crack here)
Here’s my point. Most trends are ridicules. 95% of the population is going to stuff themselves into an outfit because it’s trendy, but end up feeling uncomfortable and self-conscious most of the time. Why not just wear what fits, what flatters, and what you love?
This is my work in progress and my eternal struggle… finding a balance between comfort and fashion…. And motherhood.

My issues with personal space.

If you haven't been to my house, then you don't understand my struggle with personal space. Meaning, in my house, I have none. We are so lucky to rent my childhood home from my grandma, with a yard large enough for our two very big doggies.... but what the house has in yard space, it looses in actual home space. When it was just Jason, Carley (our beloved mutt), and I... we had plenty of space. The second bedroom served as our guest/office space, where Jason or I could escape one another for a few minute to check email or, in my case, various celebrity smut cites that have my undivided attention.... It wasn't ideal, but it worked. And, we never thought we still be there 3 1/2 years later, with a toddler and second, larger dog, Jackson. But, here we are.
For a while, the computer desk stayed in Emery's room. But, then her toys began to take over the living room, and we thought we could contain them all in her room and bring the desk into the common space. Well, that was crazy. We've brough most of her toys into her room, but the living room is now the home to her table, desk, stroller, and shopping cart. Serously, as she grows, so do the size of her toys!
We have one common area, and all of our stuff, and the 3 of us are here, together. All. the. time.
We made the decision when we got married that our bedroom would not have a TV. Our bedroom was not going to be a place that we disconnected from one another, or stayed up late watching TV. We have some of our best conversations as a couple in the time between going to bed and falling asleep.
We had originally made the same decision about Emery's room. No TV. I wanted to be able to control what she watched, and when. Well, months of fights and tantrums over backyardagins vs. real housewives... and we are getting Emery her own TV. I'm not sure where, in the maddness of her room with a pop up tent/house, kitchen, bookshelf and toy bins (yes there is a bed in there...), we are going to put it... but the time has come. She will not have cable EVER hooked up to her room. Just a DVD player. And, I'm ok with this cave of my "ideal" parenting ideals.
But, as we prepare to move to Colorado, the little voice in my head that has been frustrated and begging for some personal space is getting louder and louder. I love being a mother, and a wife. But, I never shared a room until I was in college. Now, 8 years later, I'm still sharing with Jason (which...is fine), but I'm desperate for some personal space. As any mother knows, the bathroom isn't even a place of peace. Now that we are potty training, Emery has to celebrate everyone else's bathroom accomplishments.... which involved a face to face clapping and "woo hoo!" Showers? Forget it! I've learned to avoid getting water on the floor with the curtin half open... avoiding the 100000 million "what are you doing mommy?" questions...
All I want is a small craft/mommy nook. I don't need a whole room. I'm willing to share the other half as a family office. But one desk, one wall, must be mine. If I'm getting really greedy, I want a vanity table. Someplace to set up my jewelry and makeup where I can sit and get ready in the morning.
I've been reading some mommy blogs about amazing craft areas on one of my FAVORITE DIY blogs:

Some of these spaces are amazing. How do moms find time to create them, then utilize them. I envision a place to house and wrap gifts, work on Emery's snapfish photobook, keep my photo albums and books... I want to decorate a small space with all my own tastes. In our home, I walk a fine line of something being to feminine for my "macho" husband. (insert belly laugh here).
My grand plan involves finding two small old book shelves that will be the foundation for my desk. We'll (and by we, I mean Jason) add a top and front legs. I want to create a chevron design on top and paint the whole desk in some bright colors... maybe yellow and green! I'm going to need some bright sunshine in
winter-y Colorado.
I don't claim to be an interior designer, but I did a simple sketch of what I hope for. I don't look like much here, but in my head, it's a little piece of mommy heaven.
I love being a mother, but as any mommy knows, 5 minutes of time to breath and collect your thoughts in priceless. I realize it will be a few months before we move, and several months before we purchase our forever home... but this is helping me get excited about a move that is pretty scare for me.

I'm going to be reusing some frames we have in the closet to create the j+c=e. I'll paint them all one color and use card stock for the letters/symbols. I plan to tack some fishing wire to one wall and use the clothes line clips to hang current photos of my friends and family. The "flower" picture in the center is one we already have from IKEA a few years ago... I got a mason jar from Michael's for scissors, pens, and markers. And I hope to scout a couple of used book shelves from a yard sale or thrift shop.... Besides being budget friendly, this is a fun project that can help me settle into CO life. I can explore and find fun vintage shops and find a way to fall in love with somewhere new.
I'm going for a fun spring, clean, uplifting vibe... that celebrates my friends and family. Ironic, since it is supposed to be some personal space...

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone


I want to try to do more with this blog. This has become a way for me to document my life, sorta. I want to explore more and share more. We are getting ready to move 1100 miles away from my family and friends and I know that this will provide a window into the life of our family. We hope to explore Colorado...and I want to share these explorations... our frustrations. The good. And the bad. But mostly the good, in hopes of bringing a friend, or family member to the dark side (aka, getting them to move onto my block, so I can have a piece of home with me in CO)....hint hint: Cami...Angela? I know you are already on the fence. =)

That is my goal for the summer: Figure out how to make reading my blog more fun. And figure out how to make writing it more fun... This time? One of my favorite quotes about parenthood. I truly believe this is true. Emery and I have this unspoken connection. It's like we look through eachother's eyes and into our souls. I feel the women of my family are all cut from the same cloth and have a kindred spirit feeling. Which, might explain why we are all so passionate, crazy, opinionated, compassionate.... so love fiercely, and fight the same way...

Motherhood + Time = Comedy

I've been doing a lot of reading lately. My girlfriend, Bri, and I have our very own bookclub. We each buy a book, read it, fall in love, and then jet to the post office to share it with our bestie on the otherside of the country. Yes, my book club buddy lives in Tennessee. But, so far it is working. And I love to send off a fabulous book with a great note of "love love love this. Finally another woman who gets it and isn't afraid to be honest about life."
So far, we've mostly been reading books about being a real woman. Not the woman with perfect hair and legs, walking around town with full make up, high heals, and a coffee in hand. We're talking about the mom that runs out of the house in the morning just thankful to have made it to 8am. Because let's be honest, that's most of us moms, or women for that matter. I have quickly come to realize that the balancing act that I mantained in college need not apply to life as a wife, mother, and woman. Notice how I end up being last in the equation. Nevermind my volunteer committments to my sorority, my job, family, and friends (that I don't see nearly as often as I would prefer).
Right now, I'm just over half way through Brooke Burke's "The Naked Mom" While I'm not sure why she needs to naked on the cover, I do appreciate her honest humor. Motherhood is pretty comeical. There have been many days where I leave the house in an outfit that is bizarre, no makeup, after just a few blocks of 2 hours of sleep through the night. At some point, you need to either laugh or cry. And sometimes, Emery leaves the house in something that doesn't fit, is stained, and her hair is a tangled mess. And to be honest, sometimes I say "daddy dressed her," when in fact, it was me.
I've said it before... I'm just trying to make it through the day. I'm spread too thin, with a husband that travels too much. When he is gone, I do dishes once a week, and will eat my sandwich dinner off a napkin to avoid the dish. I'd rather read books to Emery, than wash another damn plate. I'd rather stare at a wall than wash another pot. I've often had this ideal of a house that is clutter free, with homecooked meals on the table each night. Well, our house is too small to avoid clutter, and we don't actually have a dinning room table. But, we do our best to have a meal on the ottoman trays most of the time.
So, let's just talk about last night.... Emery was up most of the previous night with a fever. And, if you know our story, you know that a fever sends me into a panic because of her previous fever induced seizure. Plus, a good friend's daughter had one recently, bringing back up a lot of emotions... So, I was already exhausted yesterday... We had a lovely homecooked dinner and made it to bed about 9pm. I say we, because Emery refuses to sleep in her own bed, or my bed, without me by her side. She cries, says "Sleep mommy bed, mommy, sleep together!" So, because I'm actually pretty tired, and even more too tired to fight with her, off we go. Within 20 minutes, success, we are both snoring. 11:30 rolls around and I'm woken up by Emery sobbing. Not just crying, but sitting up in bed sobbing. Her diaper is dry, I'm in bed with her, and she doesn't have a fever... what the heck is wrong?
She has had problems with night terrors and more recently "scary night night." So I thought that was it. But, my poor girl was so upset she couldn't communicate what she wanted, didn't want, or anything else. Emery is pretty chatty and can community with sentances... so I've grown acustomed to her telling us what she wants to eat, watch, play, etc. Throw this in with how tired I am and I am at a frustrated loss. I tried milk, juice, cuddling, blankey, baby doll, nothing worked. But, eventually, she just layed down and was out again. However, on my run to go get juice, or the blankey (not sure which...), the doggies decided they were awake and wanted to play. My two 70 pound dogs planted themselves through every inch of my walk way with their tails wagging. So here I am, trying to figure out what is wrong with my child after being woken out of a deadsleep, she is WAILING and I have two doggs looking for a play date. Needless to say, they were sent to the backyard to potty or play, which ever they prefered.
We had a few more crying-floppy fish moments through the night before waking up to a request for snuggle time. Now, after a cup of coffee and sufficent mind-numing surfing of my favorite celebrity gossip sites, I can almost laugh about this. I guess I'm just doing the song and dance of motherhood. I hope I'm not the only one out there just trying to figure it out as I go along, knowing that as long as I know I love my child and am doing my best, we'll all be ok...

xoxo,
C.

My third mother's day.

Even writing that this is my 3rd mother's day makes me a little sad. I can not believe that Miss Emery is passed her 2nd birthday. So many milestones have happened and I can't seem to keep up with recording them in my brain to savor each moment. "They" weren't kidding when they said that life goes by so quickly and you really need to enjoy each moment.
As we prepare to move to Colorado, I find myself realizing how truly blessed we are to have the friends and family that we do. Our support system here could never be matched. We've been able to surround ourselves with friends that accept us for who we are as a couple and as individuals. And those that love Miss Emery. She has so many "aunts" and "uncles" that will always be apart of her life. And, my family... They are lifesavers. Without any hesitation my family will come in and help pick up whatever pieces have fallen that day. The idea of leaving them will never get easier, and I will never be ok with being away from them. But, I know that they will support me no matter what, because that is what families do.
While mother's day is a day to celebrate the mother's around the world. I want to make sure to celebrate not just my own mother and grandmother, but the mother's and women in my life that I adore.

So first a few pictures of the past 2 years to celebrate the mother's and women of my family!

On a Disneyland visit, my cousin Cami and Jacob.



Emery and my grandma at the 2009 Buyou Festival. Emery spent the whole day snuggled in my grandma's arms. I'm not sure who loved it more.



Easter 2010 at the Elks Lodge with Nana





Mother's Day 2010: Grandma, Emery, Mom and I. The "odair" ladies. The 3 most important females in my world.



and finally, my sister and Emery's Auntie Jenny. The best aunties in the world to my girl. She is so lucky.


Plus, I'd like to share a few mommy blogs that I love to follow. I appreicate each of these women's humor and passion for motherhood. Eachtime I read a new post it helps me realize that I'm not the only OCD mommy out there that has bad days. One of these mom's I actually know, the others I do not. But, the help me to laugh out loud about the crazy things that kids do and say...

Ground Swell: www.cartersgroundswell.com A lovely blog sharing the challenges of international adoption, adding in christian inspirations, and all about family love.


Stone Chic: http://networkedblogs.com/hsOYA Brooke is a sorority sister of mine. While we were not in college, or the collegiate chapter together, I truly adore her. She is a strong, beautiful, confident women that has the most adorable son. I love her "tell-it-like-it-is" attitude.




And finally, probably the blog I love the most because it truly makes me laugh out loud everyday... Rage Against the Minivan: http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/ Love this moms practical and honest approach her sharing her international adoption stories. She's just a mom to 4 adorable children, sharing her daily challenges, things that make you think, laugh, and shed a tear every once and a while. I'm so thankful to my bff, Kacie, for sharing this with me.

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I'm not sure anyone actually read my blog on a regular basis. I love the opportunity to share our daily stories with those we love that are far away. It is my own personal place to journal my feelings on motherhood, friendship, service to others, or whatever else pops up in our lives. But, I feel about my blog like I did about my journal in 7th grade. I love the idea of having these memories 10 years down the road, but I'm so busy having fun and living life, I often neglect it. Plus, that journal from 7th grade is pretty cheesy and...VERY 7th grade girl. Almost painful to re-read... But, since we are moving soon, I need to prioritize blogging for my friends and family... but mostly for me and Emery. I need a place to express myself. If someone reads it, lovely. If they feel so inclined to share a comment, great. But, if not, then that is ok too....

Happy Mother's Day to all the women in my life! I'm so thankful to be surrounded by so many powerful, smart, and classy ladies.

xoxo,
Crystal