Hunter: 17 Months

Sometimes you just gotta let them play with a hair bush and a skin cream box...

You guys, parenting a toddler is DAMN HARD.  He is belligerent if he doesn't get his way.  He's LOUD.  He is argumentative.  He cries for no apparent reason and trying to get him dressed (or change his diaper) is like wrestling a crocodile.

Basically, he's like the drunk version of myself.

Between temper tantrums involving thrown sippy cups, we did actually have some sweet moments this month.

First off, Hunter shared his second Valentine's Day with his very special lady friend, Jenna.

I made them matching shirts that said "My Heart Belongs to Jenna/Hunter".  They were the hit of daycare.
Jenna's mom, Cara, sent me this picture later in the day-- their first picture together (Jenna was maybe a week old and Hunter is about 9 weeks) and the current picture from Valentine's Day

 Sing with me now.. we're still havin' fun and you're still the one...

Speaking of Jenna, apparently at nap time, the two love birds have to be separated  because their talking and giggling is disturbing the other children.

  

         

Ahh.  Young Love.

This month, Hunter has also really taken an interest to JEGs' guitars.  He has them hanging in the man cave/playroom/ guest room/ room I throw random crap into.  Hunter will point to them and say "taaar??  taaar??"  and JEGs will let him strum some chords or Huntface dances along while JEGs plays.

His obsession with all things motor-vehicle continues.  This is the most opened page of his favorite book My First Words

His other favorite books are Miss Spider's ABC's and (go figure) Miss Spider's New Car.  We read them no less then 15 times at bedtime.  

His vocabulary continues to grow;  we've added 'door', 'book' and 'walk' to the list.  He also kind of says 'waffles' but it comes out 'wahwah'.  Close enough for me.  He also has this amazing ability to say words once, and then never utter them again, such as 'stroller', cinnamon  and 'Uncle Mike'.  

Last month I posted on my Facebook page, asking for remedies for eczema.  Hunter has it really bad on both of his ankles, knees and calves-- to the point it keeps him up at night.  I tried switching his bath soap from Johnson & Johnson to Aveeno, and we've used every kind of overnight creme we can think of.  It's gotten bad enough that we had to take him to a dermatologist.  He's on a regiment of antibiotics  and a super strong medicated creme for two weeks and then a slight less strong medicated creme for two weeks until we go back to check up on his progress.  Here is hoping it works, because listening to that little boy itch his legs over the monitor at night kills me a little bit inside.  

Little Dude,

  I'm not gonna lie, this is a tough age-- you are really giving Mommy and Daddy a run for their money.  But between the frustration and tears (from both parties) we know deep down that we have the sweetest little punk on the block.  And we love you for it.

Hummus cracker in the hair:  all the rage on the Paris runways

Always&Forever,
  Mommy

I Love it When a Pin Comes Together...

You know what I love the most about Pinterest?  Realizing that something you have pinned is totally doable.

I know I am guilty of pinning projects I'll never tackle, or outfits I'll never wear.  That five layer rainbow cake?  Not gonna happen.

The other day I pinned this outfit because I liked the ivory skinnies with the tall boots.

Source: Uploaded by user via LizzieBeth on Pinterest

..and then I was like, 'dude.  I totally have a purple sweater and grey blazer in my closet'.  So for work last week I pulled everything out and tried it on.  I added a long necklace for extra shazam.

Please pardon the crappy iPhone picture-- cellphone photography is clearly not my medium
Also, I am still rocking the 'au natural' look for Lent.

White button down: NY&Co
Sweater: NY&Co
Grey blazer: Express
Ivory skinny cords: Marshall's
Tall boots: Payless
Necklace: Premier Jewelry Design

As I was gathering everything from the closet, I realized I could so a similar look with a grey sweater and burgundy velvet jacket

White button down: NY&Co
Grey sweater: NY&Co
Burgundy velvet blazer: GAP
Ivory skinny cords: Marshall's
Riding boots: Payless
Purple and black necklace: NY&Co

Randomly, I noticed the original ad was for Land's End, so I popped over to their site to check out their boots.  I like my boots and for as cheap as they were ($29.99) I can't complain too much, but they are really big around my calves and give me serious cankles.  I am totally digging on the Allaire High heel boot and the Blakeley Riding boot.

                  

I don't know if I am ready to be an adult and invest in a pair of shoes though.  I do enjoy my cheapy so much.  Thoughts?

Do you invest in good pieces  or are you like me, and buy cheap stuff and hope it lasts more then a season?

Always & Forever,
  ME

Stick A Fork In This..

...cause I think I can offically declare the nursery DONE.

 I know.. it only took me, what, two years?

Something that has always bothered me was the rug in the nursery.  In the rush to get the room ready, I grabbed this from Target for $25.

Now, I grew up in a house with wall to wall carpeting.  I know absolutely nothing about rugs.  I don't know to use them in proportion, color or texture.  And I think it is pretty clear with the above picture.  First off, it's bizarre 4 x 6.5 sizing is way too small for the space.  Secondly, it's the most hideous brown color.  Thirdly, it is about as soft as sand paper.  

Every time I went to IKEA or Target or any place that sold rugs, I would look through their selection.  Again, since I never had area rugs growing up, I was gobsmacked at how much they cost!  I couldn't find anything I loved enough to justify spending the money on.

So I turned to my good friend Craig and his list of other people's crap.  And I found this.

I knew it was exactly what I was looking for:  a pattern with warm colors that matched the room perfectly.  The size 5 x7 would fit the space much more appropriately.  It wasn't too childish or trendy either.  I loved the reds that went throughout it to pull in the red in the artwork on the walls.

Now that the rug is in, I am even confident enough to put an "After" tag on the picture.

Boom.

While we are at it, I will give the source list for the entire room:

Wall Color: Glidden's Navajo Sand.  Rug: Craigslist find. Curtains: Target  "Hunter" Art: A gift from Hunter's Auntie M.  Shelf: IKEA dresser door from As-Is department (brackets from Lowe's)

Antique Dresser: family heirloom Owl Lamp: Target  Lamp Shade:  Target, with DIY ribbon trim.  Tree decal: Etsy seller Janey Mac  Rocking Chair: family heirloom Pillow: Target

 Jenny Lind Crib: (in cherry): Amazon  Treetop Friends Art: Etsy

If I have missed anything, please feel free to ask.

I love this room.  Maybe because it's the only place in the house that doesn't feel like a storage room, but I could spend hours in here.  If and when we ever have a second child, I might even leave it the same way, just because I love it so much.

...who are we kidding?  If I ever have a girl, that room is going to be 8x9 of glittery wonderness.

Always & Forever,
  ME