Moments

Lately I haven't been able to shake this feeling. It is hard to describe. Almost dread, yet joy at the same time. I am at the place in my life I have always wanted to be and now I fear it passing me by. My kids are changing on a daily basis. Sometimes an hourly one. And I don't want to miss it. I don't want to leave this phase of life. I like it here. 

I like the late night cuddles with my baby on my chest. I like the way my toddler lights up when he sees a train and yells to find another one after it passes. I love the kissing sounds Isla makes after I kiss her and how she waves whenever I say bye. I love how Connor copies me and says "good morning sunshine" to Isla. I love it all. Sure there are plenty of hard and stressful parts too. We get the tantrums, the tired babes and the up-all-nights. My dining room floor is always covered in food, my sink full of dishes and bathrooms not clean. But the rest of it more than makes up for all of that. 

I just feel like this is the only part of my life I can't replace. Ian and I have plenty of time to go to dinner by ourselves, go on a world adventure, have clean cars and a clean house. But we only have this one opportunity to have babies at home and it is slipping by to quickly for my own comfort. 

Oh, and I realize you may think I am crazy for saying this given that every single person I have brought this up with lately has looked at me like I was crazy and said they couldn't wait for the baby phase to be over. Oh well. I guess I am different. It's not the first time. 

Also, I realize there will hopefully be more little Grimbleby's to follow, but I still can't bear the thought of no longer having to wash my little ones in the bath or cuddle with one before I put them to bed. This mama seems to be getting empty nest syndrome when motherhood has only just begun for her! 

Fall Fashion Week - Day 7

Once again, fashion week comes to a close. tear. Thanks to all the lovely ladies that left such wonderful and uplifting comments to me. It really lifted me up and made me smile. 

Today I am trying something I don't normally wear. I am wearing leggings with a shirt, rather than a dress. Sure, it is a long shirt, but still it barely covers my butt, so I feel a little exposed. Even with the exposure, I am thinking I kind of like it. 

Shirt: Topshop

Leggings: Hollister

Shoes: Reef

And so many of you ladies inspired me this week. Especially with the fabulously large and colorful earrings so many of you sported. I wanted to throw some on with this outfit, alas I didn't have any. Mental note to self, buy some fabulously large and colorful earrings. They are fun and look cool. Thanks again for all the inspiration throughout the week and a huge thanks to Deanna at Delirious Rhapsody for hosting us. 

Lately {in photos}

1. Loving the swing

2. Evening family walk

3. Aren't we cute?!

4. That's how he rolls! 

5-8. Railtown 1897 - on a steam train

9. Park fun

10. I found a stowaway in my bed

11. Lunch time

12. Bath time

Fall Fashion Week - Day 5

I got dressed this morning, looked in the mirror and laughed. This outfit is identical in color and pattern to the first fall outfit I wore this week. You can't tell what I like!

Shirt: Made Well

Shorts: CAbi

Shoes: Reef

The shirt has a pocket. I thought you would like to know. I am not sure why I like t-shirts with pockets so much, but I do. They break up the monotony somehow. 

I actually got this shirt to match my colored jeans. And I loved the color of my jeans so much, I picked up some shorts in the same color. Hey, if you find something that works, stick with it! Plus, I already knew what shirts I own go well with the color, so it was an easy transition. And maybe I should also add, I like the fit of the shirt so much, I went back and bought two more in different colors. Like I said, stick with what works! Hmm...let me just make that my fashion message of the day. 

If you find something that works, stick with it! 

There you have it. All my fashionable wisdom for you...or perhaps me just showing you how fashionably stunted I am. I buy the same things over and over and over again.

Fall Fashion Week - Day 4

This dress was actually a dress that I decided to cut the top off of and turn into a skirt. However, I don't like how it looks as a skirt, so I wear it as a dress. Follow me? It's a dress I turned into a dress! 

Dress: Urban Outfitter

Necklace: PacSun

Shoes: H&M

This dress has its pros and cons. It is super easy to feed Isla in. But, its also super easy for my kids to yank on and expose me in public. Gotta be careful with that one!

Also, I am getting better at the whole posing thing. For instance, today I learned not to hold one of my arms behind my back because rather than looking cool or artistic, it makes me look like I am missing an arm! And, well, I generally pose with my legs crossed because I don't like them and I feel like it helps them out a little bit. So there you have it, my posing wisdom for the day!

And in case you care about what else is going on in my life, be sure to check out my post about Connor potty training! 

P.S. I can't figure out for the life of me why the font size and spacing will change in my posts randomly! Notice how the stuff before my picture is different than the stuff after. Anyone have any wisdom to share on how to fix this?

Momentous

Something huge happened in my life yesterday. Remember how I am potty training Connor? Remember how it became a battle of the wills? It appears we have cracked him...don't worry, no water-boarding was used in the potty training of Connor.

Yesterday, exactly 12 days after we began potty training, Connor went all day long without an accident. And you better bet I was so freaking excited. Not only did we take him out for ice cream, we also gave him a present. A leaf blower. Sure it was meant to be a present after he made it a week without an accident. But just getting to a day was difficult. Much more difficult than I ever anticipated.

He has already chased after his sister with the leaf blower. Such a loving brother, he is. And don't worry, he hasn't had any regression since getting the toy. In fact, after we put his diaper on for him to go to bed last night, he still asked and went pee in the potty TWICE. I am one proud mama.

Fall Fashion Week - Day 3

Ok, I have officially given up on fall. It's supposed to be in the mid 90's this week, definitely not feeling fallish and I am no longer going to sweat it out in fallish outfits trying to bring it on. But I am sporting brown and that is a fall color. 

One of the things I have been working on when buying clothes is buying pieces that I can throw on and look put together. Yes, a t-shirt and jeans is my signature look, but sometimes I want to look a little more put together, but still with minimal effort. Enter nicer t-shirts...hahaha! I KNOW how to class it up! 

Anyway, what I love about this shirt (besides the fact that I got a stain on it while drinking my morning coffee) is the fact that I can wear it with a chunky belt or by itself. The belt makes me feel a little bit more put together. And without a belt, I am ready for a day of getting stuff done around the house. 

Shirt: Old Navy

Belt: From a store in Scotland

Necklace: Sorry, can't remember

Shorts: Juicy Couture

Shoes: Rainbow

My goal for next summer is to buy a couple pairs of cute sandals that aren't flip-flops. You know, class it up a bit more! 

And on a completely unrelated note to fashion, say a prayer that Canon fixes my camera fast. As of today, I am currently using like one of the original Canon dslr's. Its like pulling teeth. Seriously. It's painful. I just hope I don't miss out documenting too many moments of my children's lives while the camera is gone...did you read that Ian? Total guilt trip! 

Nuby Sippy Cups {Nuby Product Review}

Back when Connor was a baby, I had a hard time transitioning him to a sippy cup. He just didn't seem to get the concept. I had to take out the stopper in order for him to understand that it was meant for liquid to come out. Once he got the hang of it, I put the stopper back in. This was not the case with Isla. One day I turned around and found here happily drinking away from one of Connor's cups. 

That was the Nuby Easy Grip Cup. The great thing about that cup is it comes with a silicone top. Such an easy transition for baby from bottle to sippy cup. And the top is replaceable, just like a bottle nipple! The one thing you have to be careful about, is just like a bottle, when these spouts are pressed to the side while laying down, say in a child's car seat, they leak. Now, when rolling around on the ground without the spout being pressed, I haven't had a problem. But I have quickly discovered, if I don't want Isla covered in wetness when I get to my destination, this is not the cup for her to play with in the car. 

After having such great luck with the Nuby Easy Grip Cup (which Nuby did not provide for me...just thought you should know I have actually bought their products as well!), Nuby sent me two other sippy cups for the kids to try out - the Nuby Flex Straw Cup and the Nuby Sport Sipper Cup. 

The Nuby Flex Straw Cup is a sippy cup with a straw that goes all the way to the bottom. And the straw is made of silicone on the top part of the cup. That silicone piece is again, replaceable. This cup has been great at reminding both kids that they actually have to hold a cup down in order to drink out of a straw. I really like this cup because of that. 

The Nuby Sport Sipper Cup is actually my current favorite sippy cup. The spout is again made out of silicone and replaceable. It looks like a straw, but like a sports cup, you have to tip it up to drink. Isla does really well with this cup. Besides its adorable appearance, which is a little more grown up than the average sippy cup, I think the other reason I like it so much is that it comes with a lid. Like the Easy Grip Cup, I have had issues with this one leaking when the spout gets pressed against things. So, I love that it has a lid, which means I don't have to worry when I throw it in my purse on the way out of the house. 

My favorite thing about all three of these sippy cups are that they could be used with both my children at the ages they are at. No having to worry what cup I am grabbing for who. Also, the spouts are actually replaceable! This means, I can actually use them for long term. And that to me is probably the most amazing part. 

You can purchase Nuby sippy cups at most of your local retailers - Target, Walmart, CVS, just to name a few. You can also buy them online at BuyBabyDirect and Amazon. 

Also, I wanted to thank everyone that participated in my Nuby Infant Feeding Essentials Giveaway. Laura L. was the winner and her prize will be on its way to her shortly. 

I did not receive any compensation for this post, although as part of the Nuby Mommy Blogger program I may receive items to sample or review. 

Fall Fashion Week - Day 2

In an attempt to keep with "fall fashion", I decided to wear a light jacket with the sleeves rolled up. I only made it half way through the day before I pulled it off. It's in the mid 90's here today people!

I must say though, I had fun getting dressed this morning. I tried on a couple shirts before deciding on one. It's fun to actually look through my closet in the morning and put thought into my outfit rather than just mindlessly throw something on.

Anyway, here is me today...

Shirt: Urban Outfitters

Jacket: Roxy

Shorts: Juicy Couture

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

I wasn't going to show this picture because I feel like I look pregnant the way my shirt is gathered on the sides. Talk about hyper critical of myself, right?! But Connor just ran into the photo, stood next to me and said "cheese" and he looks so stinking adorable, so I had to share it.

After this picture was taken, Connor actually tried putting on both hats he was holding at the same time. It was cute. And don't mind his mismatched outfit. Given that he is still learning battling me on peeing in the toilet, he is going through a couple pairs of shorts during the day and doesn't always match.

Fall Fashion Week - Day 1

It's here, it's here, fall fashion week is here!!!

It feels like it has been forever in a day since I have participated in a fashion week and I always enjoy being a part of them because, well, they are fun, I meet new bloggers and get inspiration from other's style.

The past few days I have been wishing fall upon us here in California by dressing more fallish (i.e. jeans and leggings). Unfortunately the weather hasn't gotten the clue and we are still having highs around 90. Oh well. I am not ready to give up. Here is what I wore today (and sweated in a bit).

Shirt: Banana Republic

Pants: Made Well

Shoes: Reef

Bracelet: So old, I have no clue

Be sure to head over to Delirious Rhapsody and check out all the other lovely ladies participating. And for those of you not participating, just bow to my peer pressure and do it. You will have so much fun! 

Seriously?!

My husband, the accountant, is only one step away from wearing ties with short-sleeve shirts and using a pocket protector. Yesterday, I caught him using this:

He calls it genius, I call it lame. Perhaps something only an accountant could like? He told me not to be jealous when I am hot when using my computer. Don't worry honey, I won't be! 

And don't even get me started on potty training my toddler. Connor has been wearing underwear full time for more than a week and still choses to pee and poop in them whenever. Actually, I lied. The poop really does bother him and he prefers to do that in a toilet, though doesn't always make it. Either way, I constantly hear "change my undieroos". Yes, we call them undieroos. I never realized potty training would require me to do so much laundry. 

Thankfully I was reenergized today when I came across other moms whose toddlers didn't potty train in a day. Those other moms, you know the ones who lie about their kids potty training instantly, I just want to punch them at times. Harsh, I know. But I dealt with my son pooping in his underwear twice at the park the other day. Twice! Its a cruel, cruel world. Hopefully he will get the hang of it soon.

DIY Menu Board

Apparently good things happen when your husband's out playing poker and you have an itch to do something. 

Supplies:

Paint tape

Chalkboard paint

Moulding

Vinyl letters 

I actually had everything except the moulding on hand from other projects. So really, this project cost me the price of the moulding - $8. 

I have been wanting to do a menu board in my house for a while now. I got the idea off pinterest. Originally I threw around the idea of putting it on the door between my kitchen and dining room. Yes, we have a door there...our house is old, okay? But something just wasn't right with the idea. Then, a while back, I rearranged our kitchen and ended up with a huge blank wall. A wall that was just begging to have a menu board put on it! 

Enter Saturday night. I was home with two sleeping children. I decided to tape off the menu board area (18"x42") to see if I liked it. I thought I would give it a couple days to see what I thought. The taping only took a couple minutes and it looked fine to me, so I painted. 

On Sunday we ran to Lowes and picked up two 7' pieces of moulding. Ian cut them down to size for me...with the help of Connor, of course! 

Then we hung them. I put up some vinyl letters for the days of the week and viola, a menu board! I made the vinyl letters with a friend's cricut a while back. Now I just need to get back to her house to make something that says "menu" for the top. For now, my chalk letters will do. 

I like how it turned out and how it has livened up my kitchen a little. Oh, and I like how it is always easy for me to remember what I am making for dinner! 

Looks Can Be Deceiving

Today I suddenly realized the house was quiet. Eerily quiet. So I went to check on the kids. Connor had shut himself and Isla in his room together. Normally this would not be good. Lately Connor shoves Isla to the ground if she even gets close to him. So, imagine my surprise when I opened to door and saw this:

Just as I was getting ready to run across the house to grab my camera to catch this beautiful sibling moment forever, I took a closer look and realized...there was no sweetness going on. Connor wasn't reading his sister a book or anything. No, they were ganging up on this poor book and ripping out every last flap in the poor book.

Heck, this mom was just happy that Connor took a second out of his day to do something with his sister besides beating up on her! I'll take what I can get!

And because she is so amazingly beautiful and growing up too fast for this mama, one more picture of Isla from today.

Don't forget, only a couple days left to enter my Nuby Infant Feeding Essentials giveaway. It ends Friday.

Liebster Blog Award

About 23 years ago, Charlotte from The Daily Snapshot nominated me for a Liebster Blog Award. 

Basically, it is a fun way to share the love to a blogger that has less than 200 followers. And the important part, it is a fun way to torture others with weird questions...questions I always love asking and answering myself! I love these types of things because no matter how long you have known someone, you always end up learning something random about them. Anyway, here is what Charlotte asked of me:

Bath wash or bar soap? 

Dove bar soap

What did you have for dinner last night?

Chicken kebobs 

Do you normally remember your dreams? If so, what do you typically dream about? If not, do you wish you did?

When I was pregnant, I always remembered my dreams. They were usually about having the baby and finding out the sex. Every once in a while I will remember a dream. But it is usually crazy scary. Because of this, I am not a fan of dreams. 

What is your most recent obsession - tv show, song, book, food, whatever?

Parking Wars (tv show) and wire baskets...like actual wire baskets, not a band or something like that. 

What was one of the quirkiest things you did as a kid?

I crossed my eyes all the time. So much so, that I started getting punished for doing so. 

What is one of your bad habits? Are you trying to break it?

I bite my nails, with pride. I stopped years ago, but didn't like wasting time cutting my nails. So back to biting them I went! 

What is one of your favorite smells?

Ummm...not poop! 

If you could adopt any (child) fictional character, who would you adopt?

Harry Potter!

Tell me one thing you absolutely love about the city you live in.

All the fresh produce. I do live in the middle of farm country and love it because of that. 

What is one thing you wish you were better at?

Cleaning my house

If you were a breakfast cereal, which one would you be?

Lucky Charms. It is my favorite.

Drumroll, please. 

Now for the 11 bloggers I will torture...

Actually, I feel like my friends never play along in anything like this. So, I will just give an open invitation to anyone that wants to participate, even if you just want to post your answers in the comment section. And, if you do post it on your blog, let me know. 

Now for my questions:

1. Do you eat breakfast regularly? If so, what?

2. What was your first car?

3. How many countries have you been to?

4. Do you use a toilet seat cover when using the bathroom in public?

5. How many cups of coffee do you drink a day?

6. What time do you normally go to bed?

7. Do you take lots of pictures?

8. What was your first job?

9. When was the last time you went to Disneyland? (or Disneyworld)

10. Do you bite your nails?

11. How often do you brush your teeth?

So, did you learn anything new about me?