Thankful: 1.

I am thankful for this adorable, wild and crazy, loving, and wonderful family of mine. Each one if these boys holds a special place in my heart, but together they are my world.

Happy November and here's to a month of being thankful! :)

And P.S. I'm also thankful that there is no school today. Here's to sleeping in on the day after Halloween! (Or letting Andrew asleep in while I deal with a cranky pants baby who didn't get enough sleep last night!)

Xo! :)

Eight months.

Happy eight months to Declan!

{It is shocking that I got even one semi-clear photo of this child.  He refuses to sit still for even a moment.  That's why the toy is present in this one- I had to resort to bribing him a little!}

Seriously though, this child is just non stop lately.  At eight months, he is now officially a crawler!!! He gets up on those hands and knees and he is on the move!  We can't leave him alone for a second unless he is restrained somehow in a crib, jumper or swing.  The child will.not.sit.still.EVER. :)  He is into everything, especially things that he shouldn't be into.  He has a strong willed mind of his own already, and he knows what he wants. :)

Declan is eating great, still trying a variety of different foods made by Gerber. :)  He loves to drink water out of his straw cup- no sippy cups for this kid, he prefers a straw just like us older family members!  He loves to try to snag Dad's huge Starbucks cup and take swig of water out of that when he can.  

Declan continues to adore his big brother, always lighting up when Andrew walks into a room.  They are the sweetest brothers together already. :)  He is enjoying going to the park with his big brother as well, and LOVES the swings.  He just laughs and laughs when we push him.  He loves to watch the other kids at the park as well.

He can utter lots of different words, from mama, to dada, to baba... although none of them seem to be meaning anything particular to him yet.  He yells MAMA when he wants just about anything ;)  He has the most hilarious laugh and is smiling all the time.  

He is sleeping so much better, and now likes to fall asleep to the sound of a soothing little blue seahorse.  {Or more like fuss himself to sleep- we still haven't mastered the falling asleep on his own trick.}  His naps are becoming more regular, and he goes to sleep around 6pm each night.  Whew, it is nice to have an evening after he heads to sleep! :)  He loves to snuggle with a cozy blanket, and still does not what to do with a pacifier.  {Total opposite of his pacifier-obsessed brother!}

Declan now has his two bottom teeth and the top two are just barely popping through as well!  He is around 20 pounds and is getting so big.  He had his first bout with sickness this past month, and had a yucky flu and fever.  Poor guy was feeling pretty awful, but made it through just fine. :)  

He likes to throw anything we give him as far and as hard as he can.  Why not? :)  He is a little stinker sometimes, but we sure do love this little boy.  He continues to bring so much light into all of our lives.  

Happy eight months, my littlest boy!

We love you!

xo!

Seven months.

Happy seven months, little Declan!

You sure are giving us a run for our money this month, little man.  Declan has decided he doesn't like to sleep anymore.  His schedule is a mess and he doesn't like to fall asleep on his own.  He prefers the cozy shoulder of mommy. :)  {Which I have to say is lovely, but also frustrating sometimes in the wee hours of the morning!!}

He is around 18 pounds now, and growing like crazy.  He has two little teeth on the bottom and eats so well.  He hates the homemade baby food I made for though, and starts gagging it up as soon as I feed it to him.  AH!  Little stinker.  He loves Gerber though, so store bought it is. :)

Dad and big brother Andrew make this baby laugh so much.  He loves them dearly and is always so happy when he can play with either one of them. :)  I am the one who is the comforter, the putter to bed, the shoulder to snooze on, the one who can calm him down no matter what.  That makes me feel so loved, and I adore his little head on my shoulder. I just need to be strong and make him put himself to sleep!  

Declan has started to love when I read him books, certain ones getting more laughs than others.  Like his brother, he is a big fan of the cute books by Sandra Boynton.  We have been to the beach quite a bit this past month and he loves it.  Anytime we are outside, this baby is quite happy!!! :)  He loves walks and is trying to determine how he likes the pool.  We are working on it! 

We also took Declan to his first zoo this month!  The Orange County Zoo is tiny and adorable, so we ventured out there one cool afternoon and he loved seeing some of the animals.  Of course, he loved hanging out with his big brother there as well.  Not sure which was the bigger draw?! :)

We love you, little boy!  Can't believe seven months has already flown by!

xo!

Meal Plan Monday: no. 1

amazing meal planning calendars found here!

 

Here at my house, we are so disorganized when it comes to planning our dinners.  Both my husband and I will run to the store for a few things in an effort to get dinner made, and we rarely go big-time grocery shopping.  That gets hard with two kids and a house to run.  Yikes!  SO, I decided to get organized and start meal planning.  Last week, I took both boys with me grocery shopping.  Two and a half hours, one bottle, one diaper change, a few freebies at Costco, and four stores later, we had everything we needed for more than a week at least.  So I wanted to start sharing my meal plans each week with you all.  Maybe we can start getting dinner ideas from each other?!  You never know!  I can always use some fresh ideas when it comes to cooking. :)  Here's what our week looks like:

 

Sunday

French Dip, Potatoes & Salad

Monday

Hot Dogs & Macaroni and Cheese

Tuesday

Spaghetti & Meatballs, Rolls, Salad

Wednesday

Black Bean Quesadillas & Corn Casserole

Thursday

Breakfast for dinner! Pancakes, Bacon & Eggs

Friday

Salsa Chicken & Refried Beans

Saturday 

Buffet Night AKA Leftovers :)

 

I do want to share my recipes for Salsa Chicken and the Black Bean Quesadillas- both of which are frequent dinners at our house.  So easy, too! :) 

 

What will you be eating this week?  What recipes would you like to share?  Quick kitchen tips to keep your family organized?! :)  I'd love to hear from you!

xo!

 

six months old!

    Declan, you are half a year old!!!  Six months already?!  Time has seriously flown by.  It makes me teary eyed just to think of how fast you are growing and how quickly time really passes when you are little.  You have grown so much since you were born, changed in so many ways, and developed into a little person with his own hilarious personality.  That smile of yours {just like your momma with your mouth wide open with happiness!} is amazingly adorable.  You laugh wholeheartedly at so many things.  You love to be tickled, you love your jumper, and you are starting to love to splash around in the bathtub as well.  {Finally!} You can be completely distracted with your toys, or my cell phone covered in rhinestones- whichever is closer. :)  You babble and talk all day, repeatedly saying "ma-ma-ma" whenever you need something- a bottle, food, or someone to snuggle.  Not sure if you know what it means yet, but it sure makes my heart melt!  You think Dad is so wonderful, and when he walks in after work, you can't take your eyes off him.  Sometimes you need a break from me, and Dad is always there to swoop in and play. :)  Your brother is so in love with you, helping out wherever he can.  You laugh at him all the time, even when he isn't doing anything at all. :)   You love to eat, gobbling down oatmeal, applesauce, bananas, sweet potatoes, peas, peaches, prunes, and the favorite of all, green beans! :)  You are getting so much chubbier, and I can't wait to see how much you have grown these past two months at your next doctor's visit. {Monday!}  You sleep through the night soundly, but we do need to get you in your crib, once and for all.  You like to nap there occasionally, but still love sleeping in our room at night.  That's our next big hurdle, my dear boy.  I hate that you won't be at arm's length anymore, but it is time for you to love that cozy crib of yours as well. We also are working on you and the swimming pool.  So far, you think it is mildly  interesting, but haven't fully given in to the fun of the pool just yet.    These past six months have changed our lives in ways we couldn't imagine.  We are a happy family and we feel so complete knowing that you are part of our puzzle.  You might be small, but you have made a very large impact on all our lives and we couldn't imagine a single moment without you. I love you, Declan Eugene! :) Happy half birthday!
 Love, Mom

insta-friday.

 This is the first time I am linking up to the InstaFriday party over at Life Rearranged!  So, so excited!  Hello to any new faces that I haven't met in blog-land quit yet.  I am happy to have you here!  Here's a sneak peek at my week... {and don't forget to oogle the cute photo of my four month old.  He is such a cutie in his monthly photo!}

 

 My oldest son got a great hit in his last basebll game- so proud of him and his team!!! They are in the playoffs and  not out of it yet!  He plays again tomorrow, so think good thoughts for the Angels. :)

 

 My littlest son had his four month check-up this week.  He is doing amazing and the doctor witnessed him laughing and smiling and talking.  Declan was is such a great mood... that is, until his shots.  Bummer.  It took a good two days to get him back to his happy, normal self.  But all is well now! :)  How cute is that face, right?!

 

 Southern California got rain this week!  It was so, so cozy.  I am such a sucker for wet, chilly weather, and it so rarely hits us here in Orange County.  But I fully enjoyed it, and even took Declan out to the front porch to listen to the raindrops coming down.  He was totally impressed.  Totally. :)

 

And one more photo of this happy face.  I mean, seriously... who wouldn't want to spend their day chatting with this little bug? :)

 

Happy Friday, xo! 

Four months.

Declan is already four months old. Four months!!!!? I am willing him to stay little for as long as possible. :)

 

Happy four months, my sweet baby!

This month, you weigh 14 pounds, 11 ounces. Your height and weight are still in the 25th percentile, so you are a tiny guy. :) But of course, your head is still very big!!! (75th percentile there!) It must mean you are just so super smart. ;) You smile, you laugh, you talk all day long. You are still the most easy going baby, always happy and calm. You sleep all through the night, from around 8pm all the way until around 6am. This makes your mommy extremely happy! ;)

 

You think your brother is hilarious, you absolutely love to have Dad "fly" you through the air, and every time I change your clothes, you crack up laughing. :) You have brought such a light into all of our lives and we can't imagine life without your darling little face. :)

 

Next up, Declan? We got the green light to eat some oatmeal! What fun this next month will bring as well:)

Happy four months, baby boy!!!
Love, Mom

 

Blessed.

St. Patrick's Day.
Wearing green.
A few fun decorations.
A beach date with little boys.
Toes in the sand.
Chatting about leprechauns.
I feel blessed. :)

Words of Inspiration: no. 2

This weekend, my husband is away in Arizona with two of his brothers and his uncle. They are out there for the Angels spring training and are having a ball so far watching baseball until they come home on Monday.

 

Since we got married last year, this is the longest I am going without my hubby here with me. The nights alone in my bed??? Hmmmph. I am already missing him. At least I am spending some quality time with my two darling sons. ;)

 

BUT, like these wise words state, sometimes being alone is healthy. Sometimes we need that to recharge, to watch what we want to watch, to eat what we want to eat, to spend the evenings with your self. It's healthy. And it's making me realize just how much I appreciate my husband being home with me. That man is getting a big fat smooch when he gets back, believe me. :)

 

Now I am off to watch an early Angels baseball game of my own... only my son is on this team. Go little league Angels! Hopefully Andrew's team will remain undefeated today!!! :)

Happy Saturday, xo!

Words of Inspiration: no.1

I find words comforting, inspiring, wise and happy. I will be sharing with you some of my favorite quotes, words, phrases and thoughts, each Saturday. They tie into my week or my weekend, my life at the moment, our my current state of mind.

 

 

This weekend, my sister and I are going on a little mini girls trip and night out. Long overdue! We are putting on fancy dress and pretty shoes, and heading out downtown San Diego for a fun evening together.

 

 

We have shared so many nights like this in the past and it always is so much fun. Fun hotel and a couple swanky cocktails, a little shopping and some sister chit chat!  Can't wait to have this girly night away!

Happy weekend, xo!

 

 

The Little Things

As busy mothers, sometimes it is hard to pick out the little things that make us happy on a daily basis.  We are running kids to school, feeding the baby, cleaning the house, making dinner, go, go, go all day long.  But we should all stop to see these little things, that while they may seem insignificant in a passing moment, are truly what our happiness is made of. :)

Here's what I stopped to smile at this week...

 

A happy baby at his two month doctor's appointment.  All smiles! 

...That is, until those crummy shots to the leg.  {sniff!} Made me so sad for this little man.

 

A wonderful husband who brings me flowers for no reason at all...

except to let me know he loves me. :)

 

 As a self-proclaimed TV addict, catching up on The Vampire Diaries was very happy for me this week.

{That is, until one of my favorites got killed.  Not cool, not cool at all.}

 Coffee.  {Need I say more?}  It's what gets me through the morning. :)

 Baby smooches!!! :)

{and for momma keeping it real with my crummy hair, roots and all, no makeup, looking like total crap.  A day in the life, people. ;) }

 Family game night!

{Seriously, who knew Risk could be so much fun?  And so addicting?}

 It was Andrew and my first time playing!  John was quite the teacher of world domination.

 

 

 One smart little cookie that I have raised.

Andrew got an A+ on his report about Teddy Roosevelt.  Go Andrew!!!!

You sure know how to make a momma proud. :)

 

What made you smile this week? :)

xo!

 

*Linking up with Falling for Friday :) Love her blog!!!

*Also linked to a new blog I just discovered. High Five for Friday! :)

Warm Days

I feel so lucky to live so close to the coast. We live four miles up the street from the beach, so this past weekend, the sun was shining and the weather was perfect for an evening trip to the beach. We tossed a few towels in the car, I grabbed my beach chair and a book, and took my boys down to enjoy the last couple of hours of sunshine.

Andrew splashed his toes in the water, played with shells and rocks, we shared some snacks, I started my new book, and we watched the sunset.

 

Oh yeah, and Declan slept right through it all. :) 

 

Thank you to the wonderful weekend weather, even though it's back to being a little chilly for the rest of the week. Feeling lucky to be a southern California girl right about now. :)

xo! 

  

Declan is Two Months Old! :)

Happy two month birthday to you, Declan!

{well, a few days ago actually.}

 

This month you are starting to get chunky and so much bigger it seems. How you've grown since last month's photo!!!  You have the cutest cheeks and the sweetest little wrist rolls;) You have started to smile all the time and you are the happiest baby!! You and I "chat" everyday, especially when you are getting your diaper changed. You love to lay there and coo at me and I love to hear you talk! :) You love your floor activity gym and you are so cute when you kick your legs like crazy. We have figured out that you love to be in a baby carrier while I get some chores for around the house, which is quite helpful! You are eating close to five or six ounces at every feeding and you are sleeping so much better. There have been a couple nights you have slept straight through around eight hours even! Let's keep this up, baby boy! ;)  Your big brother is wild about you, and you think he is fabulous, smiling at his every chance you get.

 

We love having you in our lives, and our family would not be complete without you.

Happy two months, my littlest boy. :)

Love, Mom xo!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy birthday to my wonderful dad today!!!  You are the best dad a girl could ask for and I am thankful to have you in my life :)

This cute photo is of my dad and Declan a few days after he was born. I am thinking that the boys and I have to do a mini photo shoot after Andrew gets out of school today. Declan has a "team grandpa" onesie that he is itching to break out! ;)

I love you, Dad!!! Hope today is extra special!!! :) xo!

Missing you...

One year ago, we lost my amazing Aunt Jackie to cancer. That day, I lost a family member, a loved one, and a friend. I miss her all the time, but especially when I think about my children and my family.

My aunt loved my son Andrew. She was always ready to play with him, sit and chat, or stick him in a Target shopping cart and fill it with toys. {Seriously, no one loved Target like my aunt! ♡}

Aunt Jackie would have been so proud of Andrew. He started baseball this year, which was her favorite sport. I know she is watching him play from heaven, and that makes me happy. :)

I am lucky enough to have had her meet my husband, but we lost her right before our wedding last year, which was very hard. And that means that my second son, Declan, will never get the chance to know my aunt, which makes me tear up just thinking about it. :(

She did, however, get to meet her grandson, Breckyn. She was so in love with him and he loved his "TuTu"!! :) The photo below is of my aunt and Breckyn when he was littler. I am so glad he knew her. :)

We will always miss my aunt, but we will also always love the memories we have of her.  I love you, Aunt Jackie!!!

New Directions

For the past two months, my main job has been to be a mom. Well, that is always my main job, but I haven't had any other work to worry about on top of that. My shop has been put on a temporary pause, aside from a few little things here and there, and it has afforded me to figure out where I want to go with Mommy Holly. I have been brainstorming new ideas and new directions to go in, and it making me so excited.

I want my shop to flourish, to grow, and to be a success, so having a little downtime proved to be easential to how I think about myself as a business owner. Not only do I want to do this job for myself, but I want to contribute to my family, yet still be able to be the mom who shows up to school each afternoon to walk my son home. I want to be a presence in my boys' daily lives and running a successful online shop allows me to do that.

Success is key. I have realized that in order to achieve that success, I have to be organized, prepare ahead of time, make lists, keep my space tidy, and ultimately, keep it all together. Can I do that? Time will tell. I am so motivated to make it work. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this momma can make big things happen. :)

SO... Here's to the re-opening of Mommy Holly, which will be happening very soon. I've got some fun blog posts planned and some new items that will hopefully make you want to shop, shop, shop. :)

In the meantime, be sure to follow me on facebook, instagram, twitter and pinterest. Links are to the left. :) Lots of updates in the near future, and there will be a giveaway tomorrow!! Stay tuned. :) xo!

one month old.

  Happy one month, Declan! Declan is the best little baby.  He rarely cries unless something is wrong.  He is starting to make the cutest little coos and sounds.  He is focusing on us like crazy!  He watches me walk through the room and i sstarted to smile a little more.  Not sure if that should still be blamed on gas, but it sure is cute. :)  He went in for his one month appointment and is packing on the pounds!  He gained three pounds in the past three weeks and is now a whopping 9 pounds 8 ounces!  Hungry, growing boy! :)  He is sleeping in longer stretches and we sometimes get five or six hours of sleep straight, which is wonderful.  We just love having him here, part of our daily lives, and we feel blessed to have such a content and happy baby so far!!   Technically, I should have posted this photo on February 1st. It just took me six days to actually get this photo edited and blogged. Life of a mother with a newborn, right? But I really want to take these monthly photos- they are so important! OK, baby needs a bottle and momma needs a nap. xo!   PS. New things are being planned for this little blog. I am desperately wanting to be back here with lots of new ideas and exciting updates, so please stay tuned. Liking the new look to the blog?? Did you notice?! :)    

Welcome to the world, baby!

Declan Eugene is here!
Born on New Year's Day morning, we welcomed our beautiful baby boy!!!! He weighed in at 6 pounds 13 ounces and surprised us by coming a week early :) He is perfect and is such an amazing baby so far!

At two weeks old, he is a good sleeper for a few solid hours at a time and rarely cries! He makes the sweetest baby sounds and loves to snuggle!  Andrew is such a proud big brother and helps hold and feed Declan as much as he can. I can't believe that I am now a mother of TWO beautiful boys!! I am so very blessed. :)

More photos to come... this momma is trying to find the energy to get back into blogging. Bear with me, I will return!! :) xo!

9 weeks to go!

...until baby boy is here!!!    I cannot believe how quickly this is sneaking up on us. We've got to get cracking on the boys' room!!! :) xo!

baby bump! {24 weeks}

   Baby boy is now 24 weeks as of today!! {photo was taken over the weekend!}   By the way.. Time to get serious here.... Does anyone have any cute boy names?? We are SO stuck with names, it is ridiculous. Any ideas would be fantastic. :)   I watched my first born son play his first baseball game this weekend and I couldn't be prouder.  He is amazing and did so well {even in the so-cal heat!} and I am so lucky that soon I will have two darling boys. :)  Loving life, let me tell you.   Hope you all had an equally wonderful weekend! xo!