Let's Go!

We've been on the go a lot and it doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.  The month of August is jam-packed with stuff!  I am happy to be busy and this helps pregnancy time (which as we all know is different than "real time") go much faster.

Doing their Mama proud at the St. Joe's festival.

A little evening park & ice cream outing at the Silver Grove Dairy Bar.

Trying to win a gold fish.  Good thing they didn't, I doubt it would've had much life expectancy left in our home!

Date night - another Reds game.  I told the Hubs we need to change it up!  I just go for the free food.

Currently I'm trying to figure out the details of an upcoming trip to Florida for a family wedding/vacation.  Do I take both kids' car seats on the plane for them to sit in since we will need them to get around in Florida?  Or do I skip all that headache and just get those CARES straps for the flight and rent car seats with our rental car?  I'm leaning toward the second option, but if anyone has any other input to flying with two toddlers, I'm all ears!  I will say I've heard nothing but BAD experiences from people who've checked their car seats, so I'm planning to avoid that.  The whole thing is giving me a headache.  I kinda miss the days where I packed myself a carry-on, hopped on a plane, and went wherever I felt like it!

And assuming I'm able to make the trip (I have my doubts at times), good luck to me finding a formal dress to wear to the wedding.  Any suggestions?  I've sent back 4.  FOUR.  I'm finding non-maternity clothes are just not flattering this go-round.

I've recently discovered a new health/pilates blogger and credit her for helping me get back on track with eating clean(er) and doing some Pilates again.  (This is not some sponsored plug either, she doesn't know I exist although I did comment today thanking her, haha!)  This pregnancy I've only wanted junk to eat.  Mostly in the form of baked goods, sweets, cereal, etc.  It's so bizarre!  If you're interested, her name is Robin and you can find her over at The Balanced Life.  I love finding blogs/IG users like this!  People like her help remind me and keep me focused on my own personal values.  It's a lot of good common sense and self-care.  Just what I need right now.

I finally canceled MoJo's preschool registration at the preschool we attended last year.  I think I seriously had tears in my eyes when I sent the email.  Knowing Joey won't get the same wonderful experience that Morgan had last year....seeing the same littles and their parents who I've come to know...visiting with Judy in the office while I wait for class to let out.  Sentimental Mama here.

Morgan and her school friend Everly at the pool.  

Instead, Morgan will be going to the same school her Daddy went to...out in the country.  It's only a 10 minute drive from our house.  I'm excited (and nervous!) for this new adventure.  I've got a good start on the mile-long school supplies list and they are supposed to start in 2 weeks -- already?!?!

And I still have not bought a minivan nor any other child-toting vehicle.  I know.  You were dying to know that.  I'm testing out keeping my Highlander - either with removing the 2nd row middle seat (making captains chairs) and utilizing the 3rd row OR cramming the infant carrier into the middle of the 2nd row.

We've also been waiting on the sale of our condo.  We had buyers and a contract and everything last week.  We signed our counter offer and then?  They backed out -- cold feet at the last second.  Gah!  Guess we better keep praying to St. Joseph!

Winning.  Until I unload them and lay them down for naps.  Then not so much.  Happens EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.

Limbo

I always enjoy getting past the "100 Days to go" mark - I think we're right around 93 days now.  Something about double digits makes it seem like it's going to go quick from here on out.

Saw my OB today and everything looked good.  I'm having contractions so we're going to wait and see where that leads...  In other news, I'm up another 3 pounds.  Food is my jam these days, what can I say?

We have some decisions to make to prepare for this sweet Baby -- and since I'm so indecisive, I feel like everything is in limbo.

First up:  The nursery.  We've decided to use the guest room and turn it into a nursery.  My vision right now includes leaving the boring beige walls and going totally neutral with a black/white/beige color scheme.  I may throw in pops of color.  I don't want it to look too "grown up" though.  I've already purchased several items in this scheme, so I guess....here we go!  (Also I kinda love the queen size bed mattress that's currently in there, so if there's a way to keep it so Mama can nap close to baby, it stays.  I seriously go into comasleep when I nap/sleep up there!)

VIA Danielle Oakley blog

chair from IKEA

Link VIA

Via Natasha over at Schue Love - who has great style!  I told her she read my mind.  She actually designed the guest room for me, which I never did get around to decorating because we found out we were expecting another baby. 

Speaking of nursery...I'm really resistant to buying a THIRD crib, and a THIRD rocking chair.  Would you believe neither of my children are ready yet to give up their rocking chairs?  We still use them every day and night for reading books so I do love that.   But we did buy all convertible cribs with the intent that the kids would have them just short of forever.

Next up:  The family vehicle.  I'm still completely in love and having a hard time parting with my Toyota Highlander.  But 3 car seats is just not going to work easily.  I've been looking and just can't make a decision.  The obvious choice is the Toyota Sienna minivan.  (Although I've silently kicked/screamed/tantrum-ed the whole time because I just don't want a minivan.  There.  I said it.)  I have to have AWD to get up our mountain of a driveway and the Sienna is the only van that has it.  Also, friends who have one (and it seems everyone's got one!) LOVE LOVE LOVE them.  So that's comforting.  I do think it would make life with littles easier.

But I was also lured in by the Toyota Sequoia and the GMC Yukon Denali.  More space.  The car seat configuration issue isn't as bad as my Highlander since it's easier to get to the 3rd row.  I wouldn't be looking to ditch the vehicle as soon as kids were out of car seats.  I can see myself committing long-term to this.

Name:  Well we all know by now, in true Tammy & Joe fashion we are nowhere with that!

I also had a mini freakout this week about preschool.  Morgan & Joey will both be going this fall and where I currently have them registered is going to have me running around like crazy, not to mention a terrible parking situation AND lots of downtime while waiting for them (their start times and end times are staggered 30 minutes apart).  Throw in a newborn and I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge.  Of course, the other choices for preschool are already full and they start in 2 weeks.  So there's that.

Summer Play Time

We've been keeping busy this summer.  I truly LOVE summer, LOVE being out in the sun/at the pool/etc.  But I have to confess due to the pregnancy slowing me down, I'm counting down the days til Autumn arrives.

In the meantime, I'm full-speed ahead with operation #wearthemout:

We had a playdate with our friends Ellery & Willis & Mama Mica at OZO Play Cafe a couple weeks ago:

 We've been playing in the back yard a LOT:

 We went up to Ikea for a few things:

 We've become regulars at the Y Pool:

Her "smile" cracks me up here...such a little Ham!

 We've probably watched too much Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, specifically Minnie's Bowtique, which is the obsession of my firstborn:

We wave goodbye to Daddy every morning (if we're up in time before he leaves):

Don't mind the bare bum; we're potty trained!  Woo Hoo!

And spent lots of time exploring outside...there are always new flowers to see/smell, new wildlife to spot and the kids are getting better at climbing the mountain of a yard.

And speaking of new wildlife to discover, this guy sunbathed on our front sidewalk alllllll morning a few days ago.  He was nearly 4 feet long.  The kids were fascinated and after we watched him outside, I convinced them to get back in the house and watch from the front door glass side panels.  I may or may not have lied to them and told them he would bite us.  Haha.  Mean mommy!

Joey woke up from his nap that day (long after our "friend" was gone), ran straight to the door and said "Mom, yook!  It's a snake!  He's comin' up the driveway!" I couldn't stop laughing!!!!!

As stated on instagram....I told the Hubs we're moving.  I'm not cut out for this country livin'!  Nope. Nope. Nope.

A lil' Recap of the 4th

The 4th of July weekend was going to be SO FUN this year.  I was really looking forward to it because the Hubs had FOUR days off and we had something FUN! planned every day.  A pool party, a concert, a parade, a Reds Game, friends coming into town...aahhhh!  It was going to be epic.  We would all be so exhausted from having so much fun!  Plus I had cute themed outfits for the kids to wear and there was bound to be lots of great food.

I whipped up this little cake for Joe's aunt & uncle's annual 4th of July pool party:

I got my mani/pedi done in festive colors:

 We let the kids swim (even though I seem to have misplaced their puddle jumpers I just bought last year and used one time) and feast on cake in their themed little outfits:

And then I went to the ER.  After which they promptly admitted me to the hospital for a bladder infection that spread to my kidneys and dehydration.  I also had a drug reaction to the antibiotics causing a rash on my torso & legs.  They pumped me full of fluids and IV antibiotics.  So our fun came to a screeching halt and my husband was left home alone with the kids for the rest of the weekend.  Womp womp.  I got out later on Saturday and spent the rest of the weekend resting and recovering, feeling awful.

I got to watch fireworks from my hospital room

An IV in the AC (right where your arm bends)?  Equals NO SLEEPING.  And fluids pumping in equals constant trips to the bathroom with your buddy the IV pole.

I just wanted to get home to these little cuties as fast as possible.  Luckily they had fun with Daddy and I think I wasn't missed all that much, haha.  Here's hoping next year is better and they can actually see some fireworks for the first time in their lives!