Valentines For The Class for Under $10

 It's been way too long, and quite honestly I'm not committing to anything at this point, but since Valentines Days is my favorite holiday I thought I would share Noah's home-made Valentines for his class this year.  Plus I made the cards on my own so why not share. You can scroll down to the bottom to get this printable and use it for your kids!

Simple, from the circle boutique (Target) and under 10$ plus the printing of the sheet which was a minimal cost.   We did print these from slightly thicker paper so they don't fold in the bag but otherwise a super quick project.   It took me less than twenty minutes to bag them all up and they're good to go!

Inside the bag is just a little notecard we cut out and those cute erasers we bought; 16 for $3.  For the bags: $2 for 12.  The best part is the erasers and gender neutral in colors so we don't have to sort them in any way. 

Click the following link to download the Valentines so all you have to do is print and cut!   

"Our Friendship Can't Be Erased"

Baby Number Three Nursery Inspiration

With only one month left to go it's really time to get my butt into gear and get this room ready for the new baby.  The last two weeks being sick really put a damper on timing and now I feel semi rushed to finish all the things like right now.  Not wanting to spend tons of money on this new room, but also wanting to feel like I'm doing something special for each baby we've tried to use a lot of the same furniture we had previously.  The biggest purchase really though has been a new crib since we can't quite kick Peyton out of his yet.

I'm updating the monochromatic look of Peytons room and adding orange, pops of black and a little more of a woodsy theme. This means we don't have any huge projects and will make the transition just a little bit easier.  The biggest statement piece of the whole room is some bright orange blackout curtains which will also be able to move around to any of the boys' rooms as they get older.

In true last minute fashion and honestly not having time to head out and shop, I was able to get most of the pieces from Amazon, so win for me and for Amazon prime for being so amazing.

/ Little Unicorn Quilt / Orange Curtains / Black Crib / Marquee Letter / 

/ Hamper / Similar Rocking Chair / Rug / End Table (budget friendly option) / 

/ Lamp / Hooks (budget friendly option) / Dresser /

Peyton 18 Months

Noah 18 Months

Peyton's personality is really starting to show up right about now.  This is really the time I start to enjoy so much more than those baby moments.  He's really started to understand what we ask him to do and is getting so good at playing with Noah and also by himself.  Life is good for this kid.

• Stats: Size 6 Diapers | 18mo -2T clothing
• Size: 26.8lbs
  
• New Abilities: Well the last update I talked about how he could walk.  That's so crazy to think that was just a little bit back.  It seems like he's been walking forever since he can run and climb on the couch.  He wrestles with Noah and is completely ok to go up and down the stairs on his own. Time sure does go quick.   New this month would be the total ability to move anywhere on his own, but really the mental leaps he's had are the most impressive.  He really understands so much more and is starting to communicate so much better.
• Communication:  Peyton can really express his feelings well but also is super stubborn which is becoming quite obvious.  If he doesn't get what he wants he really just throws a fit so we started doing calm down moments by putting him in the mudroom away from everyone for a couple minutes until he's ready to join the rest of the family and that's really seemed to at least change the behavior at that time. 
• Sleep: His night time sleep has settled for now.  Looks like we might be over those weird middle of the night wake ups.  He's sleeping 7:30p-7/8a with an occasional early morning wake up.  He's dropped his second nap - right around the end of the last update - so like 16ish months and is now taking a hefty nap at the same time as Noah.  Really convenient actually.   12:30ish for 2-3 hours.
• Mom Check-In: After being sick for the last two weeks I feel like I'm finally getting back to normal.  I've started to get a little more tired just doing regular everyday things but I will still say this pregnancy has been the easiest.  I don't feel like I'm going to burst at any moment and although I'm ready for baby to be here, it's not because I'm miserable.  

February Update

I realize these updates just keep getting longer and longer apart but I feel like I'll regret if I stop this blog all together.  I love looking back and reading old posts and reminiscing on all the fun we have as a family. It's been and up and down month so far and we still have a little over a week to go.  The most notable and frustrating was Jeff and I both getting the flu at the same time.  I don't think it should even be allowed for both parents to get sick at the same time.  It's so miserable.   We're both still battling the side-effects and although I'm glad the kids weren't the ones that were sick, part of me thinks it would have been easier for us to take care of them. I have absolutely no voice still and parenting and working without a voice seems to be more important that I may have previously thought.  Jeff is still up and down every day and really we're all just trying to make it through.

With the Olympics starting we have however had a lot of family time in front of the couch.  Noah asking way too many questions but coming just at the right time with all the couch time we've needed for rest.   Our house is filled with hand drawn flags of all our favorite countries and I'm pretty sure Noah knows more about the sports in the winter Olympics than I knew by the time I was twenty.

Peyton, the little stinker continues to be his mischievous self getting into everything.  Running away from parents, hitting Noah and wrestling like he's the same size and getting into the chocolate bowl even though I'm pretty sure he knows he's not supposed to.

With only 43 days until baby number threes' due date we need to get our butt in gear around here.  We still need to move Peyton to the guest room and get the nursery ready for our new baby boy.  I would love it if we were all healthy and the house kind of caught up on.  Laundry always seems to pile up so quick and I can never keep up with sweeping our floors.   I'm guessing that's just what happens with kids but I'm determined to get it under control by the time baby gets here!

January Update

Happy New Year!... I mean, end of January.  Whoops!

Time flies when your having fun - or when your busy with life, right?

We got right into the swing of things when we were done with Christmas break.  We all went back to work and school. Jeff went to Florida for work for a couple of days.  We do our usual routines and honestly not much super crazy stuff going on around here. Oh ya, did I mention I'm pregnant?  Yep.  That happened too. We're already 30 weeks along and cruising.  Can you believe it?  We'll be welcoming baby boy in April and I feel like I'm super ready and at the same time not at all.  We can't quite kick Peyton out of his crib yet and I've literally bought just one zippy for the new baby and that's it.  Third kid I suppose. But without Peyton out of the nursery I don't really feel like I've been able to set anything up for the next one quite yet so here we are... until we kick him to the other room.

So what have we been doing with our time the last month?  Well, playing a lot.  Brothers playing together mostly which is super sweet to see. One minute they love each other, the other... well you know.  Just crazy town.  Peyton sure stands up for himself and Noah is trying to figure out this playing with my brother thing out.  They sure do love each other though and we're excited to welcome one more boy soon to the pack.

Peyton - Sixteen Months

Noah 16 Months

• Stats: Size 5 Diapers | 18mo -2T clothing
• Size: 24lbs
  
• New Abilities: Guys, He can walk! Finally!  And all over the place I may add.   He goes everywhere walking now and is super good at it. He falls here and there, especially in slippery areas but for the most part can do it all.  He does up and down the stairs and climbs on the step stool in the kitchen.  He moves and I love it!  And the other big thing is he's getting really good with his fork and spoon handling and mostly eats with utensils because I'm pretty sure he hates having dirty hands.  Guess that makes sense.
• Communication:  This from last month is still pretty much the same "He can say "mama" & "dada" and can do signs for "more" and "milk".  He can also shake his head for "no".  He babbles a ton and is always singing and making noises.  He can point to whatever he needs and mostly gets his message out. Personality wise, Peyton just does what he wants.  He's quite the stinker and thinks everything is funny, even when he's being naughty. He gets into everything and wants to be where ever I am.  His most favorite things to do is be in the kitchen right up next to the stove and watch and help cook.  He likes to stir things in the pan and is a pretty good helper. He's one loveable kid though.  His cuddles are amazing and will snuggle with you most of the day if he's not in his exploring mood.  He loooves his brother and can hold his own with Noah.  He even has started hitting him or pushing him out of the way.  *eye roll*  He's one tough little guy." 
• Sleep: Sleeping 7:30p-7/7:30a at night.   Two naps during the day still 1.5-2hrs, something one is a little shorter.  We will be moving him up at daycare in the next month and they take only one nap.  I don't like it since he only takes short little naps as it is and I do not need a grumpy kid.  Maybe, for whatever reason, he will surprise us and start sleeping one long nap at school since he gets a blanket, a stuffed animal and a cot...?  We can only hope.  Until then, we're sticking with the two naps as long as we can.
• Mom Check-In: I'm doing great.  Getting things done for Christmas and feeling great about it.  It's nice to be in an easy routine. Working out regularly for the last year has done wonders for me and my attitude in general and I love having that scheduled time to get away and do something for myself.  If you're in the Grand Rapids area Renew Mama is such an amazing place to work out and connect with other moms and I'm super grateful for them. 

Decorating for Christmas

It was so much fun this year decorating the Christmas tree.  Noah was a huge help and did the kids Christmas tree all by himself and I didn't really have to make any adjustments because he did such a good job.   We got a couple new ornaments he helped pick out and he really liked that we added those on the tree too.  I see a tradition happening.
Since we got a way too big tree (oops) and had to cut the top off, we had to buy extra lights to fill up the whole tree.  We headed to Target on none other than early morning on black Friday to pick some up and finished decorating the tree by the end of the day.  Peyton was pretty useless but he sure was cute in his Christmas PJ's. We really thought he would be all about pulling things off the tree but surprisingly our little naughty boy has been pretty good so far. Well, minus my favorite pig ornament he keeps trying to take off and snuggle.   I guess I can't blame him, that pig is pretty cute.

At the end of the night after we put Peyton down for bed Noah and I stayed up and talked about all the things he wanted for Christmas and wrote our own Santa letter.   He was really excited to give it to him when we saw him this week and told him all about his batman legos.   We're prepped and ready to go for Christmas!

Picking out our Christmas Tree

We were on the ball this year and picked out our tree the day before Thanksgiving.  We were hoping we would have the place to ourselves and we were right!  I guess everyone is busy prepping for the holidays to come pick out a tree.  We were one of the only ones there which made it so much more fun.  Peyton patiently waited in the sled while the rest of the family walked around looking for the perfect tree.  We found it, or so we thought, until we brought it home and realized it was about two feet too tall.  Oops!

Christmas Pictures 2017

We got on the ball early this year and took some family pictures. I waited until the last possible moment last year hoping it would snow and we could get some fun snowy white pictures and we just ended up freezing our butts off, sipping hot chocolate in the car every couple of minutes to warm up.  The kids were actually really great through it all but I figured it would probably be better if we just skipped that hassle and got them done just a tad early.  As usual, Kelly did an amazing job and although we had two kiddos who weren't all that into it we managed to get a couple good ones to use on our Christmas cards. Plus I got to wear a tulle skirt so all is well in the world.

Peyton - Fifteen Months

Noah Fifteen Months
Seriously, I feel so bad this is the first update for Peyton in forever.  I haven't even done a one year update.  What happens to parents who have five or six kids?  Do they forget things this bad too?  Oh man...   Honestly, the only reason I even checked was because we think that Peyton is transitioning to one nap and I wanted to check when Noah did that.  Then I scrolled back to Peyton and... whoops.  So here we go.  Fifteen month update for Peyton and I promise at least with these I'll get better.

• Stats: Size 5 Diapers | 18mo clothing
• Size: 23.9lbs (67th%) - 30.5in (23rd%) My poor little shorty
  
• New Abilities: His walking is getting better but nowhere near where Noah was at this point.   He can get around a couple of feet at a time.  Mostly best when he's barefoot and on carpet but he slips and falls a lot and trips over his feet and mostly just ends up crawling.. but at least he's trying right?  He's getting there, just taking a little (lot) longer.
• Communication:  He can say "mama" & "dada" and can do signs for "more" and "milk".  He can also shake his head for "no".  He babbles a ton and is always singing and making noises.  He can point to whatever he needs and mostly gets his message out. Personality wise, Peyton just does what he wants.  He's quite the stinker and thinks everything is funny, even when he's being naughty. He gets into everything and wants to be where ever I am.  His most favorite things to do is be in the kitchen right up next to the stove and watch and help cook.  He likes to stir things in the pan and is a pretty good helper. He's one loveable kid though.  His cuddles are amazing and will snuggle with you most of the day if he's not in his exploring mood.  He loooves his brother and can hold his own with Noah.  He even has started hitting him or pushing him out of the way.  *eye roll*  He's one tough little guy. 

• Sleep: His sleeping in probably not as consistent as it was with Noah but goes down great at 7:30pm and wakes up around 6:30-7:00am with no wake-ups at night. When he's a school he takes three short 40mins-1hr naps and when he's home he takes one really good nap and one shorter nap.   One 2ish or more hours and the other 1.5-2.  Recently though he's refused a second nap after a super long ( like three hourish) nap and he can stay up the rest of the day with only a little grumpyness.... hence the maybe he's going to one nap?  We'll see.
• Mom Check-In: I'm doing great.  It's so crazy to see the difference this kid is for my attitude and with Noah.  I feel so much more happy in general and I'm much more healthy and it just makes me more excited for life with these kids. I'm really excited for this holiday season and just being together more as a family.  There will be a lot more days off with vacations and holidays and I can't wait for everyone to be together.