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Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Sibling Snapshot

My favorite kind of post today: a sibling snapshot of our trio. They're all at such fun, but different, ages, and each is just so uniquely their OWN person. This has been both the craziest and busiest season of life, with all of us home ALL DAY EVERY DAY, but at the same time, I've really gotten to see them change and grow up before my eyes. The difference one year has made always takes my breath away, and looking back at pictures from February of last year, before quarantine began, really just gets me every time. They were so little.

 Oskar: 6.5

Equally brilliant and emotional. Our homebody. This whole year cooped up inside has kept him 100% in his comfort zone, learning 1:1 with a teacher he already knew, snuggled up in our makeshift home school classroom. And he wouldn’t have it any other way without lots of nudging. His perfectionist self is always afraid to try new things, so we end up having to really push him to so. He always ends up shining when he does, a roller coaster of emotions that eventually ends in pride in himself. Lover of LEGOs, Mo Willems, and wrestling with his brother. Master reader, bike rider, karate student and roller-blader. Reading and LOVING Indian in the Cupboard. An early riser, a picky eater, a deep thinker, and on a mission to be right ALL of the time.  A mama’s boy forever and ever.

Biggest parenting challenge: encouraging him to try new things, which includes both activities and food.

August: almost 5

Imaginative and scatterbrained, August never stops talking. Knows and plays with all the things that big brother is into and is growing up so fast for that reason. Always dressed up as something, but most of the time Luigi, a Stormtrooper, or one of Oskar’s long-ago forgotten Halloween costumes. Is the BEST at independent play and listening to his made-up dialogues between his LEGOs makes my heart explode. His teacher said he spends most of his days looking for things that he lost (SO August), but is also constantly surprising us with what he knows. Classic middle child has said, “I always knew that, but you never asked me!” more than once. The only one of his siblings that often sleeps in, and goodness I love him for it. His emotions are big, but most of the time he’s goofy and happy-go-lucky, wanting to make everyone around him laugh.

Biggest parenting challenge: getting him to not give up on everything so easily--he truly just does not care most of the time, which is such a change from his big brother who is almost obsessive. A happy medium would be helpful 😉.


Maren: almost 1

Our beautiful baby girl, most often found pulling up on mama’s legs and yelling “UP, UP”. Crawling everywhere unbelievably fast, but also wanting to be upright and standing against everything. Loves pop-up Peekaboo books, music, and walks in her carrier. Throws all baby toys aside in lieu of specks of dirt, cords, her brothers’ toys, or phones. We also call her "magpie" because she looooves shiny objects, including my earrings and necklaces that I can barely wear anymore because she wants to rip them right off. Says “mama” and “dada and “DA!” for both doggie and duck. Fiercely attached to mama with a serious case of stranger danger, in true quarantine baby fashion. Napping 9:30-10:30a and 2:00-3:00, and sleeping  through the night, 7:00p-6:00a (on a good day). Eats almost everything she’s given, bless her, and is still nursing 4 times a day. Her three-toothed smile lights up our entire world, and we’re all constantly doing everything we can to get her to giggle. My 2020 resolution was to soak up every last bit of her, our last baby, and I’m forever grateful I’ve had this time with her. I only wish I could bottle her up and keep her this age forever.

Biggest parenting challenge: getting her to sleep in (which really means until at least 6a). We've had plenty of mornings starting in the 5s lately, which are notoriously brutal 😑.

 



Wednesday, February 3, 2021

My Favorite Purchases from 2020

Friends, hi! It's February somehow, and here I am with a 2020 post two months later.  Life has been busy, yet the same old same old, with the boys continuing remote school through the next 9 week period, and Maren being shuffled around between me and any willing and able family members while I do my best to also work. The good news? I can ALMOST feel the end in sight, with a return to school date of April 1st for all parties involved--SO very needed for the boys, of course, but bittersweet for our littlest girl who has no idea what's coming. We have big transitions ahead for both of us,  moving to one afternoon nap and slowly weaning, and this also makes me super sad.  I want to get a sibling snapshot up on the blog because they have all changed SO MUCH this last year, so hopefully I can get that together before 2021 is over. Oof. Anyway, as for today's post. A round up of my very favorite purchases from 2020. All of my most loved items to get me through one crazy year.
 

 
ONE: I have finally been investing into GOOD skincare, and with the help of my insanely versed sister, landed here.  Vichy Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Elemis Cleansing Balm, Elemis Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream, and Neutrogena Eye Cream. This combo has BEEN IT for me, and my skin has been so dewy, glowy, and healthy.
 
TWO: All I wear, jewelry wise.  These diamond hoop earrings plus a Beth Macri necklace with the number 3 for my trio.

THREE: The end of 2019 ended on a ROUGH note for my hair, which got so incredibly damaged from being bleached. I had such significant breakage all around the crown of my head that 2020 was spent doing all the things to restore it back to health: heat protector spray, a silk pillowcase, continuing to take my prenatal vitamin, using these hair ties, a new hair dryer, and this Olaplex shampoo. Together, they've made all the difference. Plus, I stopped dying it, and have only sparingly highlighted.

FOUR: Eufy Stick Vacuum: The best money we may have spent last year. We use this thing CONSTANTLY on our hardwood floors. This even sucks up Cheerios, which none of my other vacuums have ever done.


FIVE: Athleta Leggings: It is no exaggeration that I've lived in these for a solid year. I now have 3 pairs. They are incredible.

SIX: Peloton: After months of being holed up, Matt and I needed an outlet. And we. are. hooked. Since I used to be more of a "frolic around outside for an hour and call it a day" in terms of exercise kind of gal, the Peloton took me a few weeks to warm up to but now I'm in love. And I've never been in better shape.  If you’re also interested in taking the plunge, I have a referral code (WMM8CX) for $100 off of accessories at purchase!

SEVEN: Solo Stove: Matt got this for his birthday in January of last year, and we had no idea the kind of year we'd have in store for us. We used this more than we ever thought possible to get outside and to safely gather with friends from time to time.

EIGHT: Since I had not much else to do but clean and purge, all of our old sheets from 10 years ago got the boot, replaced by this dreamy set with about 100,000 5-star reviews.

NINE: This heater / cooler combination has been SO NICE for our room that lives above the garage. Bonus? It's made for overnight use and never gets hot to the touch, making it safe for an into-everything-Maren.

TEN: Very late in the year came these beauties. I took the combat boot plunge. They are so buttery soft and look good with everything. I love them so much and feel like a cool mom now 😉. 


 
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