26 of my Favorite Things for my 26th Birthday

It has been a little while since I've written a post. So since today is my birthday I put together 26 of my most favorite things, just in case anyone wants to stop by with a gift. ;) Totally kidding....

I'm not a huge fan of my b-day anymore, especially because the number keeps on getting closer and closer to 30. I don't have any big plans, I'm just hanging out at home with my favorite little baby. Best birthday plans ever. 

1. I'm obsessed with candles. I have multiple in every room (out of the reach of tiny hands, of course). My absolute favorite scent is Bath and Body Works Mahogany Teakwood. 

2. Framed pictures. If you know me, you know I cannot take enough pictures. I love decorating our home with memories, and what's better than a bunch of framed ones all over our walls?

3. Acrylic organizers. Is organizing considered a hobby? If so, it's my favorite one. And these organizers are both pretty, and functional. 

4. MUGS. The only dish that I prefer to be mismatched. It's way more fun to pick out a different one each morning. 

5. Mason jars. I can think of a million uses for them. The best are the blue tinted ones!

6. Tea is usually what fills up my mugs. Chai tea, to be specific. I love these k cups. 

7. Favorite meal? Pot roast, my momma's pot roast to be exact!

8. Boom Chicka Pop popcorn. So many flavors. All. So. Good.

9. Food steamer. It was originally purchased to make vegetables for Nolan's baby food. But, after I learned how easy it was to use, and how good the food turned out, I started using it to make a lot of our meals. I'm now always looking for new steamer meal recipes.

10. If I'm out and about without my chai tea, I always end up at Tim Horton's getting a small iced latte, with one sugar. 

11. Monthly subscription boxes. It's no secret that I'm in love with Birchbox, and I'd love to try out some others. I'm thinking about getting FabFitFun and Fabletics, as I have read good reviews on both.

12. Benefit they're real mascara. I have short, thin lashes and this has been the only mascara I've been able to find that really thickens and lengthens them. 

13. Dermablend concealer and foundation. If you need something covered, get this makeup!

14. Clip in hair extensions. Super easy, and currently super necessary with my post partum hair loss situation. 

15. Honest company products.  Everything I try I fall in love with. Currently obsessing over their shampoo, which makes my hair so soft! 

16. Fabulous bras by Victoria's Secret. I'm too embarrassed to admit how many I actually have.

17. Another VS favorite: The Everywhere legging. Makes you look skinnier, and feel skinnier.

18. Assets spanx. These are a post baby discovery, and in my opinion, totally necessary in anything form fitting now.  

19. Wristlets. Before mom life I would always have my purse with me. Now, it is so much easier to keep the basics in a little wristlet and throw it in the diaper bag. All time favorite is my Coach. 

20. Converse. Another thing that has changed with being a mom; my shoes. I used to always wear heels outside of work, now I love slipping on my converse to go anywhere. It's even better when I put Nolan in a matching pair. :)


21. Not that I currently need them as a SAHM, but when I am working I live in my Iguanamed scrubs. They are SO comfortable! 

22. Coupons. I love nothing more than a good deal. Send all unused coupons my way!

23. Gift wrap. I have a good sized collection of it under my bed. I really enjoy decorating gifts, color coordinating them, and probably making the box look better than the actual gift inside of it is. 

24. Tracer projector. So this is a fairly new purchase, but it is SO cool. I have soo many projects in mind for it. 

25. Orchids. Oh so pretty. 

26. My most favorite thing of all: My family and friends, of course. 
And I'm not just saying that so they'll bring me a gift.. ;)

Nine Months of Nolan

As of April 2nd my little Nolan is 9 months old! He's a wild little ball of energy and I am just having so much fun watching him grow and learn new things. It's crazy how much they can change in just a short month, so here goes another monthly baby update. 

Age: 9 months

Stats: Weighs 22 lbs 4 oz and is 29.5 inches tall.

Sizes: 4 in diapers, 12-18 months in clothes, 3 in shoes.

Words: Mama, dada, and we swear we have heard him say a few other things. For example: "egg roll" :))

Milestones: He is crawling all over the place. It takes just seconds and he's across the room. He is our little explorer, and is already into EVERYTHING.

He pushes himself off the ground into a downward dog position, but he hasn't figured out how to get his upper body up from there. 

Waves hi!

Understands what "No" means.

Foods: Nolan LOVES tofu! He cannot shovel it into his mouth fast enough. He also likes blueberries and asparagus. 

I used to make him breastmilk popsicles, but now I've been trying fruit ones and they're a big hit. I usually give him one while I'm trying to make dinner, it keeps him occupied. I use these cute little popsicle molds.

Side note: Stevie gave him a bite of cheesecake while I wasn't in the room and he apparently was not impressed, good boy Nolan!

Favorite Things: This musical dino toy is definitely his favorite right now. He likes to put all kinds of toys in it, and then push on it to stop it from popping. I think it is currently broken from that.
Throwing dishes out of the dishwasher as I put them in it.

He loves to open and close drawers, I put my hand in-between so he doesn't slam his in it and just let him go to town!

He is still obsessed with animals. Real, stuffed, animated; he loves them all. 

Least Favorite Things: Getting dressed, he fights me the entire time. It takes so long to get out of the house nowadays!

Getting his face wiped after he eats. He will literally scream as if I am seriously injuring him. I really need to buy these flavored wipes.

Looking Forward To: Taking him to swimming lessons! 

And, I'm still waiting on him to sleep through the whole night.....

Nolan Matthew you've brought me so much joy. I can't wait to see what you have coming for me this next month, but please, stop growing up so fast!

 

  

  

 

Our Easter

Finally getting around to sharing our Easter! I dropped and broke my phone earlier in the week, so I've been without one until today. Luckily, I learned my lesson from a previous broken phone and made sure all of my photos were backed up! I couldn't wait to look through the Easter ones again, as Nolan was looking pretty darn cute that day. :)

The night before, I made some "carrot" footprints with Nolan, and some chocolate covered strawberries for Stevie and I.. Which were also carrot themed. :)

I kinda overheated the chocolate, which made it clumpy and hard to cover the strawberries. But whatever, they still tasted delicious! Along with some iced coffee and adorable bunny print straws.

Easter morning Nolan slept until 11am! We brought him out to his Easter basket, and he just sat there and smiled. Then, started pulling all of the grass out of it and into his mouth.

 

 

I got him dressed in his cute little man suit. Then of course, needed pictures next to his basket again. That is, after I stuffed all of the grass back into it.                                    

That little yellow truck was a hit. As well as the bubbles. He LOVES the bubbles. My favorite was the God Gave Us Easter book. I can't wait to read it to him again as he is older. It does a great job of explaining the true meaning of Easter.

I had bought myself a white dress to wear, and Stevie a teal button up that matched Nolan's. I didn't feel like a matched my guys so I tried to find a necklace that would coordinate their outfits. I couldn't find one anywhere, so I sort of made one. Nolan's bow tie was navy, teal and orange. So I bought an orange and a teal necklace. I took off a teal flower and replaced it with an orange one from the other necklace. Then, I painted a couple flowers navy blue, and the centers of all the flowers with an orange or a blue with some acrylic paint I had at home. 

 

I think it turned out good, and it matched his outfit perfectly.

 

Oh, then Stevie didn't like the shirt that I got him and ended up wearing one that did NOT match us. Men, always messing up our plans. ;)

...Nolan and his daddy kinda always look like twins anyways though. 

We had four stops to go to and made it to them all on time.... almost. Nolan got super spoiled at every one of them, and we got super stuffed with Easter brunches and dinners.

 

 

Nolan's grammy and grandpa repainted that old rocking chair for him. 

I tried to get in a little photo shoot by my Aunt's barn. Stevie was just about over my picture taking by then, and Nolan just wanted to get down in the grass and play. I still got a of couple cute ones though. 

Also snuck in a selfie..

At the end of the day Nolan's Easter basket count was up to six! He is a very loved little boy, and all of his grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles sure did get him some cute stuff!