It sure did. All weekend long. And here are the snaps to prove it!
[nothing screams summer like freshly painted tootsies & The Sandlot]
[pre-parade snuggles with my little firecracker]
[evie’s first fourth]
[God bless the USA]
[patriotic mani alert]
[story time with Auntie Marissa]
[gravel roads and blue skies… Happy birthday America!]
Another Fourth is on the horizon and I can’t wait to celebrate with a sparkler or two! We will be heading to the lake for the long weekend, but not before Evie takes in his first parades (West Des Moines & Urbandale).
Here’s a look at my Independence Day to-do list:
moccasins // beach towel // dress // swim trunks // scarf // shirt
Whatever you have planned for this patriotic holiday weekend, I hope you have a very festive and safe Fourth!
Sometimes you just need a change of scenery. So this past weekend we packed up and headed east to exotic Gurnee, Illinois. Some rode coasters. Some found good deals. All had fun.
[grandpas are the best]
[the sweetest of shops – Lolli and Pops]
[snuggles for everyone]
Sheesh. Just realized I haven’t done a post in over a week. Not bad, but not great. Being a mom has really made my priorities change. I’ve been a lot more focused on Everett and his schedule lately instead of taking time for myself (and my blog).
It is very easy to get bogged down with mom thoughts. Very easy. Am I doing everything right? Is he happy? Am I a good parent? I could go on and on…
The last few weeks Ev has been doing a bit of sleep regression and is getting up once or twice a night. After having a great sleeper since eight weeks, this has thrown us for quite a loop. I keep thinking: he has a bit of a cold, he’s teething, he’s going through a growth spurt, he’s hungry, he’s dreaming, he’s entering a developmental milestone (crawling). Literally thinking about anything and everything that it could be. Truth is, it could be any of those things. Or none. Who knows?
I have been getting up and nursing him back to sleep because nothing (and I mean NOTHING) was working. No binkie, no snuggle, no lovie, no rocking, no sound soother. Nothing. After realizing that he was starting to create a waking pattern and expecting to be fed, we let him cry it out last night for the first time. It was rough on both mom and dad. A full hour of him crying at varying levels. But we made it through and he finally soothed himself back to sleep.
I went in this morning after he woke up and sweetly said, “Good morning Everett.” His response: a big gummy grin.
[a scene from this morning: darn cute kid]
I have no clue what night two will be like, but we are going to roll with it. I’m hoping this is just a phase. Until then, I’ll be the mom drinking a coffee and wearing sunglasses until I sit down at my desk.
As moms, we are all just trying to do what’s best for our children. Such a tough gig, but I wouldn’t give it up for anything!
[Did you go through this with your little ones? I’d love to hear your story!]
World Cup fever, that is. (See, I’m not the only one.) And it seems like there is no cure. At least, not for the next few weeks anyway.
Play is already underway (here’s the full schedule) and Team USA took the field last night and delighted fans with a 2-1 win over Ghana. They are in Group G, also known as the ‘group of death’, along with Germany and Portugal. Teams play each other and the top two from each group advance on.
I know I’ll be following along with every match, and I might even bust out a festive outfit or two! Do you have the fever?
underwear // book // kids tee // mens tee // womens tee
This past weekend was spent with family celebrating dads.
And lazy lake days.
And cute babies in seersucker.
And cousins.
How did you celebrate this weekend?
In honor of Father’s Day this weekend, Everett’s dad decided he’d like to do his own obsessed post. Get excited people!
Pflueger Trion Spinning Combo: Great mid-priced rod and reel combo. Perfect for the fisherman in your life.
Columbia PFG fishing sportswear: I’ve been in my fishing gear (shirt + shorts) non-stop lately so that I can spend any and all free time that I get out on the water. Check out the monster walleye I caught while wearing them. Good luck outfit? I think so.
WTSO.com: I love great wine at great prices and this website is a one stop shop for those wanting to stock their cellar. (Download the app so you never miss a deal!)
Brushy Creek State Park: Located a little over an hour north of Des Moines, this is an ideal place to set up camp with the family. In addition to the lake, this park is loaded with excellent facilities and amenities.
[Shout out to my husband in honor of his first father’s day: Marcus, seeing you interact with Evie makes my heart swell with pride. You are such an amazing dad and I am enjoying watching you grow into a role you were destined for. We love you!]
Evie loves:
hearing himself “talk” (we have decided he sounds like a baby raptor)
pulling hair
sucking on washcloths
sweet potatoes and bananas (his first foods)
My parents are both from Kansas, so a trip west is no new thing for me. But it was for little Ev this weekend as we blew into Kansas City for an overnight visit to take in some shopping and a ballgame.
Think it was a coincidence that the two things I purchased from H&M were blue and white striped? A top for me and a newsboy cap for my little man.
Mom and dad even had the chance to get away Saturday night for a little date night dinner at our favorite KC restaurant, Webster House. I highly recommend you check it out!
While we didn’t see a Yankees win, we did see a super cute baby in an oversized ball cap.
I’m sure he’ll grow into it faster than I ever could have imagined.
Fresh cut peonies: I have four peony bushes in my backyard and wait patiently for them to bloom every year. The smell is intoxicating.
Boyfriend jean shorts: I have been anti jorts for so long, but my sister told me to try these this year. I have been converted.
Black strappy sandals: After seeing Taylor Sterling of Glitter Guide in her tan version, I knew I had to track some down in black. Unfortunately, these bad boys are no where to be found online, but I lucked out by finding them in store. SCORE!
Diet Snapple Peach Iced Tea K-Cups: Warmer weather must be here to stay because I can’t get enough iced tea right now. Peach or mixed with lemonade, iced tea is my official non-alcoholic summer bevie of choice.
Tomorrow's To Dos 