Everett | Nine Months

Age: 9 months, 4 days. I was waiting to post so that I would have Everett's official pediatrician weight but then our internet has been down at home since Wednesday so I had to wait even longer. Whomp whomp. 

Weight: drum roll please, Mr. Chunk-a-monk is weighing in at 22 lbs 14 oz.  He is wearing size 12M clothes and size 4 diapers. [Fun fact: he weighs 3 ounces less than Natalie did at her 9M well visit and stands 1/2 an inch shorter.]

Likes: Sissy (still his favorite person), Puffs, Bath time, taking rides in Sissy's "van", his swing from Nanny and Farge. 

Dislikes: Diaper changes, not being able to walk, being hungry

Milestones & Big Moments: We hit the 38 weeks out mark. April 15th marked Everett being earth side as long as he was inside. It's so crazy to think about.

We have a crawler! For awhile there he was the king of the army crawl but he has finally figured it out and is constantly on the move!  

Everett also took his first dip in the pool and, just like his big sissy, he is a total water baby. He loved it!

This last month also brought a visit to the Easter bunny and Everett was a champ. Not a single tear!

Looking forward to: warmer weather and playing outside more often.

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We took our second trip to NJ with two kids for Easter weekend and B and I both agreed that it would be quite some time before we would be mentally prepared to do that again.  Traveling with two kids under five is hard - road tripping more than 2-2.5 hours away with two kids under five is downright brutal and exhausting. Everett did not do well on the car ride up and I ended up having to squeeze between to the two car seats for the majority of the drive to soothe him [hindsight being 20/20, I wish I had gotten a bigger car after my accident].  Then Natalie slept the last hour plus of the drive up and did not understand it was not morning when we got there, but rather 10:30pm and still time to sleep which made for a long night. Overall, once we got to NJ, it was a nice trip filled with lots of memories :)

I know I just talked about how hard the two kiddos thing is BUT, honestly, I think we are finally hitting our stride with this haha. It's still a lot of divide and conquer, which I don't see changing, but it's getting easier.  I am sure that is in large part due to Everett getting easier. He is eating more and more table food. He is getting better at independent play. He and Natalie are interacting and playing more. It's just starting to feel so good and so. much. easier. 

I have said a thousand times since Everett was born that our family is complete now.  Honestly, I felt this way mostly because the end of my pregnancy with Everett was so scary and so hard that I really wasn't sure if I could do it again mentally, but this last weekend I had this moment where it truly felt complete. [You were waiting for a pregnancy announcement or a we're trying again hint, weren't you - not happening.] We were sitting outside on a blanket on the deck, enjoying the perfect weather, having cocktails and the kids were playing together and it just felt so right. That whole having babies chapter of my life feels so done and my little family so whole. I had been waiting for that moment.

the three best friends

WARNING: Picture heavy post coming your way :) 

My freshman year in college I met Danielle and Dee and we were fast friends. We lived together most of college. We celebrated 21st birthdays and mourned break-ups. We were in each others weddings and the two of them were the first to know when I was pregnant with Natalie. It's safe to say these gals are my tribe.

Fast forward thirteen years and we all managed to have babies within 6 months of each other. If I didn't know better, I would think there was a pregnancy pact involved.  We got the kiddos together last August for their first play date and it was so fun to see Danielle and Dee as moms.  Obviously, they are total naturals :)

Easter weekend we were in NJ visiting B's family and we were able to get the kiddos together again and it was crazy to see how much they had all grown :)  It was also so good for my soul to see Danielle and Dee.

Danielle/JJ, Dee/Layla, Me/Everett

the boys' faces in this picture just kill me :)

I am so so lucky that Natalie and Everett get to grow up with tiny besties in NJ and I am beyond lucky to have such amazing best friends there too :)

Easter Baskets 2018

Y'all, I don't mean to toot my own horn but ummm honk honk. I really LOVED how the kiddos Easter baskets turned out this year.  

I have always loved putting together Nat's basket but this year was even more fun.  I loved doing matching his and hers baskets. 

I found the baskets in the $ spot last year and I snagged them since we knew we were having a boy. I also snagged the eggs and fluff on post Easter Target clearance last year (something I will do again this year #sorrynotsorry).

Carter's sent me an email a few weeks back and the picture showed matching dinosaur pajamas. It sparked the idea of putting matching pjs in the kiddos baskets.  This is something I really hope I will be able to keep up!  [Read: Natalie please stop growing so fast so I can actually find matching pajamas.]  Natalie is really into reading and it is something that I hope Everett will love too. I really love the 5 minute bedtime story books so I picked up his and hers versions for the baskets. I got both of the kiddos some little toys, Everett got teethers and sensory toys while Natalie got some additions to her (already too large) My Little Pony collection. And what is an Easter basket without something to munch on?!  Poor Everett got the short end of the stick with Puffs and Teething cookies (and a chocolate bunny for mom - those cute little bunnies are just too festive not to put in there) while big sissy got a chocolate bunny, Sweedish Fish (her current favorite), Skittles, M&Ms and cotton candy. 

Honestly though, the stars of the baskets are really the Cuddle + Kind bunnies: Chloe and Benedict.  

I absolutely adore these heirloom quality dolls.  They are super soft and cuddly and 100% hand knit.  I also really love the mission behind Cuddle + Kind.  For every doll purchased, they will provide 10 meals to a variety of organizations, including Children's Hunger Fund which provides meals to children in the USA. So while the dolls are on the pricier end of things, I absolutely think they are 1000% worth every penny.