Last Friday was the dreaded day. The day I went back to work.
All I ever wanted to be was a mom. Sounds cliche, I'm sure. I went to nursing school and became a nurse just as a back-up plan. Just in case. Never did I think that I'd have to put my hubby through undergraduate school and then through law school and that I'd be working this long. But here I am.
I went through many emotions that day. Guilt. Sadness. Nervousness. Frustration. And then as I was preparing myself for the next day, I felt an amazing calm and peaceful feeling. Something that I don't usually feel as I go back to work. I know that He is mindful of my situation and that it won't be like this forever. I do have a lot to be grateful for . . . I have two healthy, beautiful little girls and an amazingly supportive husband. I have a flexible job with a boss who's been through what I'm going through and who's so understanding and also tries to work around my husband's schedule so we don't have to take them to a friends house. And especially, to have a job during this time when so many people are out of work. So much to be grateful for.
{These pictures were taken the day before I went back. Love these precious moments.}
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the LDS culture {aka: mormons}, once a baby is born they are usually given a "name and a blessing" sometime during the first 6 months. It happens during the church services by one who holds this.
Little Reese was given a beautiful blessing by her father earlier last month and she behaved perfectly (although . . . she was a little blotchy all day long due to a reaction to the lotion I put on her - - the same lotion we'd used many times before . . . baby Aveeno lotion - - luckily, I'd taken a ton of cute pictures of her before the blotchy reaction)
Can you tell the hubby loves his picture being taken? Too bad he's married to me! Cause I like to embrace the camera constantly! And Ava would've rather been playing with her cousins at that moment than sitting on my lap.
Reese wore the dress that I was blessed in almost 30 years ago (can I really be that old?) and she also wore the slip that my great-grandmother made for my mother to wear when she was blessed almost 60 years ago. How cool is that?
When I was pregnant with Ava, a cousin of my husband, suggested that I read this book. It made sense and I decided to follow the things they suggested. After implementing their ideas, little Ava was sleeping through the night at 11-12 weeks. And when we'd put her down to take a nap she'd just go to sleep, usually, without crying. I was amazed!
So with Reese I knew I'd be doing it again. I was a little bit more frustrated this time around cause it didn't seem like she was catching on as quickly. And during her second month, she was a needy little one. Always wanting to be held and crying if we didn't. But at 12 weeks she is now sleeping through the night and we're loving it.
Is there a book that you read that helped you prepare for your little one? Would love to hear about your experience!
{Now, I know, I know, I know. I've heard it many times. There are a lot of people who don't like this book. But this has worked for our little family and we love it!}
For Christmas, Ava was given a baking set by an aunt and uncle. She loved putting on the apron and baking mini cupcakes with me. It was at this point that I decided we'd do a baking birthday party for her 3rd birthday.
So I looked online for ideas. I had seen this feature from One Charming Party. Loved it. Then saw this cake shown here and wanted something like it, but on a smaller scale. And I loved the red, blue, and pink theme.
For the invitations, I just printed off on labels and then just stuck it on a cellophane bag, place 3 homemade cookies in, and tied with blue, pink, ribbon and red bakers twine.
The rolling pins I found on amazon.com and can be seen here. They were 12 for $11.99 which was a great deal. That's the cheapest I found them for.
I wanted to make aprons and chef hats for each of the children, but since I procrastinated and started making the aprons a week before the party (each morning I woke up hoping the apron fairy had come and would leave 14 finished aprons, but unfortunately that didn't happen), only Ava's chef hat was made. Which was fine with me.
The aprons were definitely a labor of love. I'd been looking online for a free toddler apron tutorial and just didn't find one I liked and that would be really simple. So, I just made up a pattern and came up with those that we gave each child. (The two boys that were at the party, received white aprons.) And I already had all of the fabric too! (except for the white fabric) The tutorial for the toddler half apron can be found here.
I made the garland out of flattened cupcake liners and doilies. I also placed the flattened cupcake liners on the water bottles. I made the smaller tissue pom poms that were hung over the dessert table and the picnic tables. You can find my tutorial for the pom-poms here. I also made the ribbon garland and you can find my tutorial here.
My friend Becca from Delectable Delightswanted some experience with fondant, so she offered to make the amazing cake and cupcakes. And it was so delicious!
And the party was a success! The kids loved it, especially Ava. She was so excited everytime that doorbell rang and one of her friends walked in. She loved making the cookies and frosting them. You know she was loading up her cookies with sprinkles. And then when she opened the presents, she'd say, "for me?". She's lovin the whole birthday thing.
The aftermath wasn't too bad. Although, my husband did say that if you licked the floor you'd probably get diabetes. I agree.
** If interested in having me make aprons for your little one's party, e-mail me (they would come with the rolling pins too!)
Ever heard of Amy Atlas? Well, in a nutshell, she's the party planner I want to be when I grow up. I love her amazing table/party creations.
Anyway . . . Ava's 3rd b-day party is being featured today! I'm beyond excited. When I saw the e-mail last night, I started squealing. The hubby thought I was getting a pay raise. (Cause when he was in the room right before, I guess I was writing an e-mail to my boss - - not about a pay raise, but about going back to work next week - - although I think I should definitely get a pay raise. Saving lives is difficult sometimes, ya know? Boo! Why can't maternity leaves be a year long like in other countries?)
Anyway, check out her blog here and her website here. Ava's party is here.
More pictures of Ava's birthday party will be posted in the next few days. Come check back! And the amazing cake and cupcakes were made by my friend Becca from Delectable Delights For You.
So, while looking at my blog this morning, I decided it needed a major face lift. And since we have no money right now to spend on a blog re-vamp, I decided to do it on my own - - in between taking care of a sick little 3 year old, hanging/folding the laundry, taking care of a 3 month old, and cleaning up after the little 3 year olds adorable b-day party from last weekend (pics coming soon). Just me, my bff picnik.com, and the new blogger template designer. I came up with this. So . . . yay or nay? Do you like it? Anything you'd change? Would love some feedback. Maybe one day I'll have a professional do it!
Would you guys want a tutorial on how to do this using picnik.com? Let me know if you're interested.
Lovin this new blog I found recently through my sis-in-law. Alicia from Lailie Lynn Boutique makes the cutest hair bows. And right now she's doing this {after Valentine's Day} giveaway for these cute hairbows. Uhh. Adorable. Would look pretty cute in Ava's hair. I'm just sayin. Not only does she make these adorable hairbows, but . . .
check this out. I'm definitely swooning over this news boy cap. I might have to use my birthday money for this one. Love this as a photography prop. And the best thing about it? All of the sales of these caps goes to this little boy's fund.
And the wall stenciling? Uh oh. My husband might be regretting that I saw this.
Check out this blog! So cute. And the giveaway ends Saturday, February 26!
