Baby Shermie Number Two

So I don't think I'll be able to recreate any chalkboards, and I don't intend to stay super positive about  ALL the lovely aspects of pregnancy, but I'm finding that I now can't remember everything about my pregnancy with Brooks (it was almost 3 years ago!) so I thought this would be a good way to keep track of things!

How far along? I'll be 17 weeks on Thursday!
Total weight gain/loss: I am up almost 10 pounds now.  UGHH
Maternity clothes? Yes and no.  I can still fit into a lot of regular stuff, but maternity is more comfortable.
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: I'm finally getting up LESS to pee at night, so it's better!
Best moment this week: Making my appointment to find out the sex of the baby next month.  SO excited!
Miss Anything? A nice cold summertime glass of wine or beer.
Movement: Yes! I've been able to feel something going on for a few weeks now.  Usually when I'm lying very still.
Food cravings: Lots of salty stuff- popcorn like you wouldn't believe.  Pretzels and hummus.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not anymore- I'm back to coffee drinking and chicken still doesn't sound awesome but I'll eat it!
Have you started to show yet: If I wear a tight shirt- yes, you can tell!
Gender prediction: Still thinking GIRL but we'll find out next month.
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: I've been a bit moody this past week- I think my husband would agree with that :)
Looking forward to: I can't wait to know if this babe is a boy or a girl in a few weeks!

Ode to Nursing in Public

Written in the style of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss


Oh! You're hungry! Well, let's see.
Should I nurse you in a car? Or huddled under a tree?
Should I cover your tiny head, so that you can not see?

No, I do not think you'd like that.  I do not think you'd like that at all.
I think I will nurse you right here, in the middle of it all.

I will nurse you in the park, on a bench in the spring air.
I will nurse you eating lunch, even if people stare!
I will nurse you at the beach, at the pool or the at the lake.
I will nurse you at the mall, while I sit down to take a break.

I will nurse you standing up, I will nurse you lying down.
I will nurse you even when you kick your legs round and round!

No, I do not care if people catch a glimpse of me nursing you.
Newsflash everyone, this is what breasts were made to do!

So I will nurse you here, I will nurse you there.
I will nurse you everywhere!

No need for me to stay at home and hide.
Ladies, latch your babies and show your nursing pride!

source

Hair Evolution

Before Brooks, I didn't spend too much time doing my hair.  I'm not sure why- I just didn't know how to curl or style it, and I never ever used any products in it.

When I got pregnant 3 years ago, I was not feeling so good about myself.  It's really hard to be okay with gaining weight and knowing you're going to get much (MUCH) bigger than you've ever been before.  So, while searching for ways to style my hair for a friend's wedding, I came across Kate's blog, The Small Things Blog.  Kate is a former hairdresser turned stay at home mom whose hair I seriously envy.  She has a TON of hair tutorial videos that I started watching and thinking, "hey, I can do this!"

Kate has made me realize the power of the products and tools you use when styling your hair.  As well as the idea that your hair is "your best accessory."  I always feel better about myself when I take a little bit of extra time to fix my hair.  Plus, because of dry shampoo I don't have to wash and style it every day!

Anyways- I FINALLY mastered curling my hair with a flat iron [this is the one i have -got it on clearance for $30!]. I found this picture [which i'm sure you've seen if you are on Pinterest!] and decided I needed to stop dragging my feet and really figure out how to do it!

via

I'm going to link to one of Kate's video tutorials that I watched numerous hundreds of times and then try and provide a little extra info that I've found to make it easier, as well as the products that I use.

This is Kate's tutorial.

Toni & Guy shampoo/conditioners are my favorite, I wash my hair every other day or so.  Then, I use a tiny bit of Eufora "sculpture styling glaze" in my wet hair [p.s. if you don't have a wet brush get one immediately. especially if you have little girls.] And blow it dry.  Unlike Kate, I only split my hair into two sections to save time. And I start the flat iron mid-way down my hair so it's not quite as curly as hers.  I do comb out each piece before I curl it.

So, I think the thing that is most confusing when you watch anyone flat iron curl their hair is that it looks like they are just putting the flat iron in, turning their wrist one time and then pulling the hair through.  For me, I found that I have to continue turning my wrist [about 2 full turns] in order to get my hair to curl.

Also, it makes a difference how fast or slow you go.  If you pull the flat iron through your hair too quickly, you won't get a decent curl.  You don't have to go super slow, but enough so that your hair actually receives the heat and bends to curl.

After I do the bottom and top sections, I then comb through my hair with my fingers to separate the curls.  Then spray some flexible hold hairspray on it and we're good to go for the next few days! I think the whole process probably takes me about 10-15 minutes.  

I will admit, some days I do a better job than others.  And some days I just do not feel like doing anything with my hair at all.  And, of course, I only have one child which makes it quite a bit easier to distract him while I am getting ready in the morning. However I think, [with dry shampoo] you could do this at night, sleep on it and be ready to go in the morning!

So what are your favorite hair products? What can't you live without? I always want to try new stuff... [specifically dry shampoo. i am still on the hunt for the BEST dry shampoo.]

He Sleeps

You guys.  My kid sleeps.  All night. In his own bed!!  Ok, so he's been doing this for a little while now, but sometimes I still can't believe it.  I am so proud of him, and us!  We did it!

A little update on Brooks' sleeping situations, in case you were wondering...

Birth to 2 weeks or so =  slept in rock n play next to our bed
2 weeks- 3 months = spent half the night in the rock n play, other half in our bed
3 months-  ~18 months = slept all night in our bed
18 months- 2 years = slept for 2 hours in his bed (we put him down in there first thing), rest of the night in our bed
2 years- 26 months = slept in his bed until early morning, then our bed
27 months- now = sleeps all night in his bed!

Having Daddy take over Brooks' bedtime routine around 18 months or so was a huge help.  Of course, the transition when he was 2 years old from being in our bed most of the night to being in his own bed was sometimes a challenge.  For the most part though, when he woke Pat would go comfort him and then he'd go back to sleep.

My purpose in writing this post is just to say to those of you that are co-sleeping and thinking that your kid will be sleeping with you FOREVER ....or to those of you with small babies who are hesitant to co-sleep....your kid will be just fine.  And they will sleep! On their own!  It just takes time.  We made small changes as Brooks got older and never let him "cry it out" and he has done wonderfully.  Again, I am so proud!

And now some super cute pics, just because it's Friday..

Happy weekend to you!

Style Challenge - 02

Ok, week 2!  I had high hopes of taking decent pictures of a full outfit over the weekend...until I got the stomach bug.  And then Brooks got the stomach bug.  And suddenly having pictures taken of myself did not seem like such a fun idea.

Sooo anyways... wear a bright color.  Yikes.  My closet consists of mostly neutrals, so again this was definitely a challenge for me.  But! Accessories count.  So I remembered this pink infinity scarf I got a few years back and figured this was the best way to incorporate some color.

scarf |  old

sweater | Stitch Fix

tee | Loft

jeans | AG

boots | Lucky Brand

I'm looking forward to re-creating a outfit I've pinned on Pinterest next week!

Wednesday Confessions

Ok, time to make some confessions again.  Ready?

1. Brooks and I had the stomach bug last week. It sucked, but was over pretty quickly, thank goodness. I went a little crazy disinfecting everything [who knew we had so many light switches?!] after we were both feeling better, in hopes of keeping my husband healthy. It's been a few days and he's still feeling good, but I now have developed anxiety heartburn because I am paranoid about him catching it. Sigh. 

2. Although it's been tough to hear Brooks ask to "nee-nee" [nurse] on occasion at nap time or in the middle of the night, I've been kind of enjoying my freedom.  For example, my heartburn. Why yes, I will take some medicine for that!  And try a new moisturizer without worrying about the ingredients? Definitely ! [ps Philosophy's "Renewed Hope in A Jar" is the shit. ] 

Also, wine. More wine. Amen. 

3. You guys, the 50 Shades of Grey movie is coming out soon and I am not ashamed to admit that I'm dying to see it. I might even make it our Valentine's Day date activity! Sorry, honey. True love is seeing a movie you have no interest in. 

4. I've succumbed to the winter sales. Somehow Loft still had all the Lou & Grey pieces that I tried on but didn't buy after Christmas, now for $15.88! I can't pass that up, since L&G very rarely goes on sale and is way pricier than Loft itself.

leggings

sweatshirt-blazer

5. I'm officially over snow.  It makes getting out of the house extremely difficult and everyone knows staying inside with a 2 year old all day will drive you crazy.  I would love for it to be summer, but I'd even take 45 degrees- at least then we can get outside!

6.  One night when I couldn't sleep last week, I decided to start re-reading Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me?  If you haven't read this, do so immediately.  It is hilarious.  Like, seriously laugh out loud funny.  It's also full of decent advice for young people that I'd like to post all over social media, but I'll spare you.  I will, however, leave you with one of my favorite opinions of hers [probably because it's one that I share]:
I don't think it should be socially acceptable for people to say they are "bad with names." No one is bad with names.  That is not a real thing.  Not knowing people's names isn't a neurological condition; it's a choice.  You choose not to make learning people's names a priority.  It's like saying, "Hey, a disclaimer about me: I'm rude." 

And with that, I'm done!  Anyone else have some confessions to make this Wednesday? :)

Our Breastfeeding Story - The End

I never thought I'd be writing this post.  It often felt like Brooks was going to nurse forever.  Yes, hello, it's me Colleen, nursing my teenager.  And yet, here we are...I'm sticking to it.  Some days are harder than others, and he still occasionally breaks my heart with the "I want nee-nee back!"  But, we're done.  My baby is growing up!

I didn't really have a plan when it came to weaning.  However, a few months ago I came across this article from Mama Natural that pretty much outlines all of the things that I did to encourage Brooks to wean himself.  They are:
1. Create a replacement [we used chocolate milk-aka instant breakfast]
2. Limit nursing sessions
3. Go slowly
4. Get daddy or others involved
5. Make the decision [the hardest part!]

Initially, my goal for nursing Brooks was one year.  Then it was two years, then it was January 2015. I'm not sure if I'm proud of myself for meeting my goal, or sad because it's finally over.  I'll never nurse my first baby again...what a bittersweet feeling.

And so, I leave you with a few of the breastfeeding selfies I took [and two professional photos, thanks to Lindsey Welch Photography] in the 26 and a half months I nursed this sweet baby.

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow, 
for babies grow up...we've learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep...
I'm [nursing] my baby, and babies don't keep.