Day in the Life

Sometimes, when you are a stay-at-home-mom, people ask you what you do all day.  And most of the time, I have no idea.  So I decided I'd keep track of a day.  Obviously not all days are the same.  Sometimes the toddler goes rogue and refuses a nap.  Sometimes we actually leave the house (okay, most days we actually leave the house).  And the above picture is from a "go to church" day, which are completely crazy and have no schedule at all.  But this was a standard at home day.

6:30- both kids start stirring in their cribs.  I lay as still as possible and hope they will go back to sleep.  

7 - Toddler is officially up for the day.  Change diaper, play, say goodbye to John.  

8 - Baby wakes up.  Breakfast for everyone!  This involves gathering all of the food for myself and toddler, putting him in his high chair, and then settling in to feed baby while toddler and I eat.  

8:30 - put baby down for nap, clean up toddler and kitchen, read books with toddler

9:30 - baby wakes up.  He plays on the floor while toddler insists we read the Easter bunny book 10 times.  Just for the record, it's November.  Not Easter time.   

10 - fold laundry, talk to my sister on the phone, toddler watches neighbor tree get chopped down and helps sort socks.  He also helps unfold laundry that I have folded, but he really loves carrying it to his room to put away, and doesn't realize that he's messing it up.  

11 - make a few phone calls, trim everyone's nails

11:15 - baby takes second nap

11:18 - just kidding!  Wakes up and wants to eat.  

11:36 - nap two take two - success!

11:45 - lunch for toddler and me

12:30 - baby wakes up. 

12:35 - clean up toddler and kitchen

12:45 - FaceTime with niece

1:15 - toddler naptime

1:30 - start some laundry in the washer.  

1:45 - grumpy baby!  Snuggle him until he falls asleep.  I'm slightly worried he would wake up if I put him in the crib, and also just want baby snuggles, so I just hold him for this nap.  

3:15 - everyone is awake and crying and needs mommy right now!  Put baby down, go get toddler, situate everyone on the couch so I can feed baby and snuggle toddler.  

3:45 - read books and play

4 - put baby car seat back together after taking it all apart to wash.  (Note - realize I put the straps in wrong the next day when we are running late to go somewhere and I have to take the whole thing apart again)

4:30 - read a few more books, clean up a little bit

4:45 - baby needs to nap but doesn't want to! Naps get harder as the day goes on.  

5 - make dinner.  Baby in bouncy seat and toddler in high chair watch me.  Toddler desperately wants to help, but can't be trusted with a hot stove!  

6 - John gets home and everyone is happy.  He and toddler eat dinner.  I feed hungry sleepy grumpy baby.  

6:30 - I eat dinner while John plays with the kids. 

7:45 - baby falls asleep.  We are at that stage where we are not quite sure if this is a nap or bedtime.  

8 - toddler goes to sleep.  I go to take a shower.  

9 -  Baby wakes up!  Wants to eat and play for a little bit.

10 - Baby back to bed.  

Usually once both kids are in bed, we clean up the kitchen and the living room.  Sometimes we watch a show, but sometimes I'm just tired and it needs to be my bedtime, too!  It's pretty exhausting taking care of these guys, but I mostly love it!  I mean...

Goodbye Shorts

Shorts season is coming to an end, so I better get more pants that fit soon!  I've been wearing these shorts a lot this whole summer and really thanking past self for buying a few pairs of shorts when I was pregnant in the winter the first time around.  These shorts were less than $5 and I've worn them roughly a million times.  Okay, that might be an exaggeration.  But probably 50-100 times is accurate.  That's a pretty great cost per wear, especially for a maternity item!

I wore this a couple weeks ago when my sister was in town.  John had a conference, and my sister was planning to visit sometime this fall, so I was super excited that it worked out for her to come while he was gone.  I'm sure I would have managed on my own with the baby and the toddler, but having my sister here made it SO MUCH EASIER!  We had a lot of fun while she was here, going to the zoo and the outlet mall, and the boys loved her.  I was actually a little mad, because Baby2 was smiling at her so much more than he smiles at me!  Not cool, baby!

Tee: Guster concert
Cardigan: Old Navy
Shorts: Loft maternity
Shoes: Sperry

Paisley shorts

These shorts were a favorite last summer, both before and after Mr. Baby was born.  I've already worn them a bunch again this summer.  But I've learned that when you are due in July, you need more shorts and tank tops than when you are due in May, so I've had to do some additional maternity shopping.  And I'm also much bigger this time around, so some of my maternity shorts are getting uncomfortable.  Not cool!  Luckily, these seem to have plenty of stretch, so I think they should last me through.  6 more weeks!!

Cardi: JCF
Tank: Kohl's maternity
Shorts: Loft maternity
Sandals: Target

Dirty Dancing

One of my excuses to get dressed up these days is the Broadway Across America shows.  I know I say this every year, but if you are into musicals at all, you should really check out the season ticket options in your city.  Around here, the cost per show is pretty reasonable, and it's such a fun thing to do.  This is what I wore to see Dirty Dancing.  It was pretty much exactly like the movie, which I have only seen once, approximately 15 years ago.  So, okay, I probably don't remember the movie all that well.

Anyway, I was excited to wear this dress again.  It's kind of shapeless, but I'm cool with that at this point in my life!  I posted the awkward sideways picture to show that the back of the dress is the same print but smaller than the front.  I think that is kind of fun.  And hey, a night out without Mr. Baby meant I could wear a necklace (which he promptly grabbed when I was getting ready to leave).
The next show is The Wizard of Oz, and I'm really tempted to find a gingham dress and red shoes.  Too much?

Dress: Limited (similar in black)
Cardigan: Gap (similar)
Necklace: F21 (similar)
Boots: Madden (exact)

Flare and Hair

These are my new jeans, and I'm kind of loving them.  Except that I'm sure the hems are going to be shredded soon because they drag on the ground when I wear flats, which is almost always.

I've also figured out that I feel fat in pictures when my hair isn't down.  I'm sure it's something about proportions. When my hair is down, it's big, so the rest of me looks smaller, maybe?  But if I'm doing anything with Mr. Baby, I can't really have my hair down, because he thinks it's a toy to pull on and try to eat.  So I guess I better get used to my hair being up!

Sweater: H&M (similar)
Jeans: Loft (exact)
Shoes: Old Navy (similar)

Wedding Weekend

As I mentioned yesterday, we spent the weekend at a wedding in Topeka! The church was right across the street from the state capitol building, which means the wedding photos are going to be pretty cool.  Like here, we look totally cooler than we actually are.  (that's the church in the background)  

  It also means I took a few pictures of the capitol.  I'm sort of nostalgic about my home state!  

John was a groomsman, so we spent the time between the ceremony and reception on a party bus with the rest of the wedding party.  We stopped a few places, including the middle of nowhere Kansas to take more wedding pictures!  Of course, I had to snag John for a picture of us in front of a field. 

The reception was absolutely gorgeous.  It was at the bride's parents' house, which is kind of out in the country.  They had a big tent set up, and lights everywhere.  The weather was completely perfect.  As I often do, I failed to take very many good pictures at the reception, but here's the bride and groom assessing how to best cut the cake:

We successfully got a friends picture of the women, but the guys disappeared before we could get a full group picture.  I later found them standing around the bonfire, discussing what happens when you throw ice cubes into the fire. (spoiler alert: nothing happens)  

Defeated, I gave up on a whole group picture, but I did get a selfie with the groom!  

And for those of you who read this blog for the clothes:  After my Letote dresses didn't work out quite right, I went on a mission to the mall to find something to wear.  I tried on about a million (okay, maybe like 12) dresses, and ended up buying 2 from The Limited.  I couldn't decide which one would work better when I was in the fitting room, because Mr. Baby was getting mad at me, and I couldn't think straight!  So I brought them both home and tried them on with shoes and accessories, and texted my sisters for advice.  This dress was a little fancier, so I picked it.  I was going to wear heels to the ceremony and then switch to flats, but I didn't have anywhere to keep my extra shoes, so I just went with flats for the whole day.  I also wore my gray cardigan during the ceremony in the cold church, but then it was warm enough the rest of the day to leave it off.  

Anyway, it was a super fun weekend celebrating!  I think we are done with weddings for a bit.  It was a crazy summer for weddings this year!  I think we've had 6 since June!  

Dress: Limited
Shoes: Target

Weird Week

Happy Friday that doesn't feel like Friday!  It's been a super weird week.  Yeah, I'm not working anymore, but weekends are still different, because John is home!  But this week was crazy because we spent Monday hanging out with his family, and then he had a work conference thing, so was gone earlier and later than usual Tuesday and Wednesday.  And usually, I have some sort of plans or appointments a few days a week, but I didn't have anything going on!  It was actually kind of nice to stay home for a few days.  And next week will be busy again!  I think I have some sort of plans every single day.

Anyway, this outfit is from last Friday, or maybe Thursday?  Yeah, Thursday.  The boy and I went to meet John for lunch.  I feel a little awkward when we meet for lunch, because he's in his work clothes, and I'm just so casual.  But I felt a little fancy in my pretty top.  

Top: Kohl's (dress refashioned)
Shorts: Old Navy (similar)
Sandals: Carlos Santana via DSW (similar)

Paisley Shorts Remix

One of my most exciting maternity purchases were 3 pairs of shorts from Loft, all for $4.88 each.  That's pretty awesome!  Anyway, it wasn't summer for very long while I was still pregnant, but immediately after giving birth, my regular shorts weren't about to fit.  And even once they did, the maternity waistband is just really ridiculously comfortable, so I just keep wearing these shorts.  

These linen paisley ones have been super fun to style, because they have lots of colors in them.  Here are 5 ways I have worn them:  

1/2/3/4/5

And here are a few other outfits that I either wore and didn't get pictures of, or plan to wear in the coming weeks.  

I'll probably need to retire these shorts for next summer.  3 months after giving birth seems okay to still wear maternity shorts.  A whole year might be a little weird.  Or maybe not.  Let's not make any final decisions just yet.  

Tank: Gap
Shorts: Loft Maternity
Sandals: Target

Summertime

Summer is almost over for anyone who has to go back to school, but it's still going to be hot for couple months, so I think we should avoid getting too fall crazy for now.  Shorts will still be the best option for awhile.   I keep saying I will stop wearing these maternity shorts, but I just like them so much and man are they comfortable!

Anyway, it's been an awesome summer!  First I had a baby, and then a bunch of family came to visit!  My sister and nieces are here right now and we are having so much fun.  It's super sweet to see how much the girls love their cousin!

Top: Loft outlet
Shorts: Loft maternity
Sandals: Target

Babies Everywhere

Last week, Tuesday was spent visiting some friends with new babies!  It was one of the 90+ degree days so I wore as little as possible while still being decent!

First up, I introduced my kid to his new BFF, who was about 4 days old at the time and about half the size of my giant 2 month old.  You can tell the boys are thrilled to meet each other.

Then in the evening, John and I went to the hospital to meet this sweet girl who was just about 18hours old.  Again, babies are so excited to meet each other.  We joked that this was their first date, but neither of them said anything, so it was pretty awkward.  

My two-month-old looked like a giant next to these newborns!  Then this week we had dinner with one of my friends from elementary school who was driving through town, and her 9-month-old made mine look teensy again.  I felt like I was looking into my future!  

I'm pretty thrilled to have friends with babies so close in age.  It will be so fun to watch them grow up and hopefully become friends!

Tank & shorts: Loft 

Sandals: Target

A Birthday

This is what I wore on Saturday to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday.  We went to a new restaurant downtown, and it was kind of a fiasco.  The College World Series was going on, so traffic and parking was ridiculous, but once we got into the restaurant, it wasn't too crowded.  But then they had a super limited menu because of the event, and I'm pretty sure (really hope) that they were using different ingredients for the food than normal.  The whole deal with the restaurant is that they have food and beers from the area, but honestly, it seemed like they went to the local Sam's Club and bought a bunch of frozen burgers and a giant bag of Ruffles potato chips.  So I don't think we will be going back there any time soon.  But we survived our first trip to the Old Market with a baby, and I assume subsequent trips will be less dramatic if the CWS isn't in town!

Anyway, after dinner we continued the celebration with presents and cupcakes and ice cream.  So that was fun!

And yeah, I'm still wearing my maternity shorts.  I just kind of love them, and if I didn't have a blog where I talk about my outfits, no one would ever know.  So, let's just keep it between us, okay?

Top: JCF
Shorts: Loft Maternity
Sandals: Target

One Thousand

This is my 1000th post!  I was kind of hoping it would line up with a baby announcement, but I guess not.  And I'm not quite crazy enough to stop posting and save the 1000th post for that.  I'm still just impatiently waiting for him to arrive.  And happy that I bought a few pairs of maternity shorts, because we are having warmer weather right now.  I wore this outfit last week to meet some friends for lunch, and check off important items from my pre-baby to-do list, like getting a manicure and pedicure.  That's why I'm wearing flip flips - otherwise, I probably would have worn these sandals.  

I feel like I should have some profound reflections on blogging for the 1000th post.  I kind of can't believe I've been at it this long.  When I started the blog in 2011, I wasn't really sure what I was doing, or what my focus would be (I'm not sure I know what I am doing even now).  I'm sure I had visions of more sewing and DIY type posts, but who has time for that?  I had no idea I would end up with some really awesome internet friends and even meet some of them!  I've never really had a goal for blogging; it's just something fun to do.  Of course, if anyone wants to start paying me or sending me free stuff, have your people call my people.  Oh wait, I don't have people.  Just email me or something.

As for the future, I really have no idea what to expect.  I don't intend to become a mommy blogger, but I don't know how interesting my outfits will be as a "leave the house whenever I want to mom."  I'm just going to see how things go, and maybe I'll post once a week instead of every day.  Either way, it will probably be pretty quiet around here whenever the baby actually shows up.  Because I've heard rumors that newborns kind of turn your whole world upside-down.

Top: Target Maternity
Shorts: Loft Maternity
Sandals: Havaianas

Currently March

It's March, which means I have plus or minus 2 months before Baby Smith arrives.  So there's that.  I'm sure no one is ever really ready, but I'm not feeling too panicked (most of the time).  Today, I'm linking up with Anne and Jenna for what I'm currently doing (spoiler alert - it's mostly baby-related):

Dreaming - oh, so many weird dreams right now!  I've always had weird dreams, but pregnancy has really upped the ante.  Oh wait, is this supposed to be more like what I'm dreaming of happening soon or something?  Well, okay then - I'm dreaming of how much my life is about to change, and how wonderful and scary that is all at the same time.

Planning - have I mentioned my enormous baby spreadsheet?  I'm usually a pretty go with the flow personality, but this kid has me on my A game.  I have timelines, task lists, packing lists, gift/thank you lists, and freezer meal recipe lists.  It's a bit crazy, but I think it helps me feel more prepared and in control of the situation.  Otherwise, I could see myself going forgetting some important things!

Making - things for the baby's room!  I've done some random crafty projects, and I made curtains this weekend.  I bought a plain white lamp shade that I want to paint something on, but I can't decide just yet.  It might have to wait until the rest of the room is more put together.

Baking - I haven't had a lot of cravings during pregnancy, but for the last week or so, I have just really wanted some cake, like a boring white cake with home-made buttercream frosting.  So I made one this weekend and it is delicious.  I hope that satisfies the craving for awhile, and I don't feel compelled to keep baking cakes!

Cardigan: Gap outlet
Scarf: cruise souvenir shop
Dress: Loft outlet
Boots: Madden

PMT - Wear Something Neglected for 6 months

This week's challenge is to wear something that has been neglected for 6 months.  I went looking through my archives and was shocked at the things I would say I really love, but haven't worn in a long time.  Like this cardigan.  Is it even possible that I haven't worn it in over a year??  I mean, I might have worn it and not blogged it, but even so, it's crazy to have gone a whole year without wearing this in a blog outfit.  I love this cardigan!  So here it is being reintroduced to the world, and hopefully will get more action in the future.

This is also a copycat outfit, because that just makes life easier.  I stole the idea from Caroline over at Tasteful Style, because she just looked so great in maroon and polka dots!  And I added the scarf for a little extra warmth, and coverage.  I wish my dress had a higher neckline like hers!

Cardigan: Old Navy
Scarf: Loft
Dress: Loft outlet
Tights: H&M
Boots: Madden

Dress as a Skirt

Oh, look!  It's my maroon dress pretending to be a skirt, and not paired with leopard print!  See, I can learn new tricks!  Honestly, I don't love this outfit, but it was sure comfortable!

Sweater: H&M (british version!)
Necklace: F21 (similar, similar)
Dress as a skirt:Loft Outlet (option,option)
Tights: Target
Boots: Steve Madden (exact)

Maroon & Leopard (again)

Apparently this dress just demands to be worn with leopard print.  I guess I don't have as many ideas about how to wear maroon.  I will have to get more creative, I guess.

Also, winter has finally arrived in the midwest!  After being spoiled in October, the beautiful fall days are pretty much over.  It even snowed on Monday night (womp womp).  I'm about 2-3 weeks behind on outfit photos, but just know that in real life, bare legs are going to be a rare occurrence for the next several months!

Cardigan: J.Crew Factory (similar)
Scarf: H&M (similar)
Dress: Loft Outlet (option,option)
Belt: Steve Madden (similar)
Boots: Steve Madden (exact)

Confident Twosday

It's Tuesday, which means I'm linking up with Laura for her Confident Twosday party.  And this week is extra special, because she asked me to co-host!  Whoo!

I've been thinking about confidence, since that's the whole theme of the linkup.  I've never considered myself to be a super confident person, but I pretty regularly have people tell me I must be confident to wear whatever bright colors or crazy patterns.  That may be a back-handed compliment, but I'll take it.  The more I've thought about it, I guess I agree with them.  I don't walk around feeling super confident all the time, but I also don't spend very much time worrying about my flaws.

It seems like there's a trend recently towards celebrating different body types, and I think that's good.  What I don't like is that it sometimes swings too far, and we get into the "real women have curves" type comments.  So I would like to say that yeah, sometimes real women have curves, and sometimes real women have angles, and sometimes we are short or tall or medium, or whatever.  I don't buy into the "everyone is perfect" thing.  I'm more on the "everyone has their own set of flaws" side of things.  We've all got to work with what we've got.  So I probably need to lose a few (well, more than a few) pounds, but right now I'm a little bit fat.  And that's okay.  

And here's a SUPER HELPFUL definition of "self confidence" from Merriam Webster: confidence in oneself.  Wow, I never would have guessed that.  Isn't there supposed to be a rule that you can't use the word to define itself?  Doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of defining things? 

Anyway, link up below!  And I'd love to hear your thoughts about confidence! 

Cardigan: H&M (similar)
Dress: Loft Outlet (option,option)
Belt: Steve Madden (similar)
Necklace: Old Navy (similar)
Shoes: Target (exact)

I do deClaire (Bloglovin) | Just Another Smith (Bloglovin) 

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