Halloween for the Littles

Halloween isn’t about haunted houses, scary masks, and trickery for your little babies. It’s about big orange pumpkins, dressing in something adorable, and maybe going around door-to-door on Halloween night. If this is your baby’s first Halloween, there are so many fun activities you can do that are interactive and fun for them. No candy or choking hazards involved! Engage their senses by getting a little messy and a little imaginative.

Bust out the finger paints (washable, of course). Make some art. Your little one may not know what they’re making, but the feeling of paint on their hands and feet will be fun and excite them. Make some ghosts, candy corn, and little Frankensteins. This would be a fun gift to give Grandma and Grandpa, especially if they live far away.

Instructions can be found at Lift With My Littles.

You could even put their footprints on a canvas to hang on the wall to decorate! From Momstown.ca

Pumpkins are fun for every age, and it’s the one object that tells us we’re nearing Halloween. First, head to the nearest pumpkin patch (or grocery store…I’m not judging) and pick out your favorite pumpkins. That’s a fun Halloween activity on it’s own that everyone can participate in. If you’re lucky, the farm you go to will give you a hay ride around their farm.

Once you bring your pumpkins home, it’s time to get creative! Carving pumpkins can be a little dangerous for a baby to dive into, so why not use the same paint as you used for their little footprints to paint pumpkins. You’ll have to help steady their hand, and it may be a project that only lasts two minutes, but the point is for them to have a little messy fun! If you have older children, you can include sequins, buttons, stickers, or other crafting materials to put in the paint. If you want to take it even further, you could cut out shapes (like a black cat or witch’s hat) to put on their pumpkin!  After everyone is done, you’ll have a few “masterpieces” for your mantle or stoop.

More instructions and inspiration at The Imagination Tree.

Another fun, pumpkin inspired project, that’s fun for all ages is using a felt pumpkin to decorate as a jack-o-lantern. You can make all sorts of silly faces with this one. The options are endless. Young babies will like the texture of playing with felt and giggling at the faces either you or an older sibling make out of them. The older children will have fun by making lots of jack-o-lantern faces! You could even have a pumpkin “carving” contest this way without the mess or risk of losing a finger!

You can be creative with all of the face pieces with this one! From Two Big Two Little

Another activity that’s really easy to do, and still involves the whole family, is to carve pumpkins with your older children (or your significant other). Then, put all the pumpkin goop into a big Ziploc bag for your baby to play with. Little babies love feeling different textures. It’s how they learn! So why not let them feel that ooey gooey center of a pumpkin…mess free! (If you can’t tell, I’m all about less mess right now since having a one year old involves cleaning up all the time!) Tape it to a window, like Jenae, from I Can’t Teach My Child did for her little girl. After your little one is done playing with the pumpkin bag, you could even separate the seeds and toast them.

I Can’t Teach My Child

There’s so much to do with our little babies. Enjoy watching them experience everything for the first time this Halloween!

Our Stories…

God is good. I could say just those three words and this post would be wrapped up, but I really want you to know why He is so incredibly good. As you know, Kevin and I have dealt with infertility issues. It’s a heart wrenching experience to go through and wouldn’t wish it on anyone else. Here’s the “funny” thing, though…other people do deal with this. Close friends deal with this. And I’ve been blessed to know people who have had children through years of going through miscarriages, infertility treatments, unexplained infertility, and so much more. They have miracle stories that are even more powerful than mine.

When Kevin and I were experiencing our lowest points through this journey, other women’s stories helped me more than anything. I loved to read their stories of how their little nugget of gold finally did come! God was waiting, so His glory would be shown even more so than if that child came right away. (I’m not saying that if you do get pregnant right away that it’s not just as much of a miracle. There are just different ways for God to show His glory and different scripts to write for His kingdom to grow).

Photos by Fatima

I want to introduce my friend, Leah at “Journey With Gabe.” I would tell you all of her story, but she’s already done a great job of that on her own blog. Please, please read her latest post on her little boy. Her miracle. Her little gold nugget. I cried (which doesn’t take much) tears of pain and joy while reading it and just want to scoop her little boy up in my arms and hug him.

Zeke’s Heart

It’s another story that shows who our true Redeemer is and who we need to trust and keep trusting every second of every day. This story should give hope to those struggling with infertility and to mothers holding their children in their arms to celebrate life! Celebrate through the truly tough and trying times, whether that be looking at yet another negative pregnancy test or a bad medical report from your little one’s pediatrician. 

I hope you enjoyed her story as much as I did.

Learning Curve

Being a mother has been so much more than I thought it was going to be. I knew I always wanted to be a mother…to many children. I knew it would fulfill some part of my being. I knew it was a calling for me. I didn’t know that I’d learn so much about myself during the process of motherhood (it is a process. Believe me. It doesn’t just happen over night)!

For one, I love writing on this blog and yet I haven’t written anything in two months!! I have several drafts going about different projects we (well…my handy husband) have done around the house, cloth diaper comparisons, what’s happening in life now that Hallen isn’t a newborn, etc. I really need to find a rhythm for my life again. Hallen definitely has one with her sleep, play time, and when she eats, but I don’t really have a set routine on what to do when she’s asleep. I have yet to outline a schedule for my time. This seriously needs to happen. Dust bunnies accumulate faster than snow in Minnesota, dishes pile up higher than Dolly Parton’s hair, and my ideas are left to sit in limbo just hoping my fingers will type one day. I do actually achieve things during my day, but I’m still left wondering why I don’t do the things I really want to do.

Second, being a mother has showed me how much selfishness I still have inside of me! Getting married and seeing what a “gem” I was was no easy feat. It took time, communication, letting go of expectations I didn’t even know I had, and sacrifice. It also took a lot of wine and coffee, but we eventually figured each other out (ish…enough to love each other and still keep sane). Having a baby was just another dose of having a mirror shoved to my nose to take a closer look inside at what was really going on and what selfish desires were still manifesting. It’s a great wake up call actually! It’s a totally different kind of love than what you have for your partner, so naturally it should bring these emotions back up in a different way. I had been told this would happen. I just wasn’t sure how it would resurface. Just when I thought I was living less selfishly than my single days, throw a baby in there and I could see I was still living for myself, just in a different way.

Looking into eyes that Kevin & I created opened my eyes to things I needed to let go of and move down the ladder.What truly matters in life is shown to me every day just a little more.

Third, I’m one of those moms. You know…those moms that take 30+ pictures of their kids a day (modern day, social media type of moms) and want the whole world to see, because I don’t think the world should have to live a day without a dose of Hallen Amélie. I mean…she’s the cutest baby alive and no other baby does what she can, right? I digress. I definitely wear the mom lenses in life these days. I’m okay with that, though. I’ve come to peace with talking like a baby in public, poop being my subject of choice, singing about obscene, off the wall topics, rocking the mom bun daily, and dressing my little girl better than me. (She needed Ugg booties. Her wittle toesies were fuuuhhhhweezing!!) And one day, I know I’ll do what I said I never would…wear matching outfits…probably at Disney World while wearing a fashionable fanny pack. 

You mean to tell me other babies can look this cute on a yellow rug?? No. No. Don’t believe it!

Seriously? More pictures?

Becoming a mother has been the most rewarding position I’ve ever been given. I hope to never take it for granted, live moment by moment not wishing for the next milestone, and to relish in all the ironic and embarrassing parts of motherhood!

Two Years of Praying Looks Like This

I should have written this by now. I really have had the time, but I’ve been on maternity leave, right?

8 weeks ago today was one of the biggest miracles I’ve witnessed in my entire life. The gift and miracle of life. It’s always seemed like such a cliche saying – “the miracle of life.” Now, I truly understand that not so corny saying.

Our Hallen Amélie is such a miracle. I won’t rehash my other posts, but she was prayed for by many people over the past couple of years and here she is. It was November 17 at 11:12 pm that she came into our lives. Two and a half weeks early. Perfect timing (according to any woman in their third trimester. 40 weeks seems like an eternity away that last month). 

So, here’s the birth story. One of the most painful but blissful and intimate experiences I’ve ever been part of and feel blessed to have a great birthing story. It started early Sunday morning with pre-labor contractions. Kevin and I packed the hospital bags around 3:30am just in case we needed to leave. The contractions never amounted to anything much, so we fell back asleep. Contractions continued throughout Sunday, but didn’t feel much more painful than a Braxton Hicks. Went to bed Sunday night and woke up Monday morning to nothing. I was a little let down thinking I would still be having contractions and having the baby early! So, I went to work and taught my Monday morning Barre class, worked out, and then went grocery shopping. Then, all of a sudden, they started back up! And a little more painful this time around.

I still didn’t know if this was labor or not being that this was my first baby and not quite knowing what contractions felt like. I called my mom and was texting my sister-in-law. Both were convinced I was in labor and needed to call the midwife. So, I quickly called Kevin and told him we needed to go to the hospital. He came home about an hour later and we rushed up to St. Joseph’s. Sadly, I was only dilated to 3 cm when I arrived in triage, but she was at a +2 station. Although not very dilated, I was in labor! The nurses told us we could stay and wait it out or we could leave and go walk around somewhere. We chose to leave and go shopping! Not really…but we did go to the Towson Mall for two hours to walk around. Every few minutes I’d have to stop where ever we were and sway back and forth. I’m sure people were thinking I needed to head to the hospital soon! 

After two hours of “shopping” we headed back to triage. I was only 4-5 cm dilated. Thinking it’d take all night and part of the morning, I was kind of depressed and a little mad that my body wasn’t speeding things up! 

We stayed in triage for about two hours, because we wanted a room with the birthing tub in it. It was a tough two hours. Once I got to the room, my midwife checked my progress and I was still only 5 cm. I almost broke down and started crying. These contractions hurt! How could they not be making me dilate more? So, to the halls we went. Walking and walking…well, trying to walk. I eventually needed to sit, but right before that happened I got sick and apologized to my mother-in-law for almost throwing up on her and the nurses for throwing up on the floor.  I couldn’t walk anymore. I had to lay down. For thirty minutes Kevin helped me relax by putting counter pressure on my back and helping me focus on who we were going to be holding soon. During these contractions, I totally understood why epidurals were created! It was unbearable pain! But, I also remembered the natural birth we wanted. About this time, I stated pushing. After two pushes I figured I should tell someone what I was doing It just came so naturally at first, I didn’t think twice about voicing it. The midwife came in and checked, although all the nurses said I probably shouldn’t since I was at 5 cm two hours earlier. Sure enough, though, I was 10 cm! The midwife broke my water and my urge to push was so overwhelming I let out my one and only loud wail.

Kevin, being the super sweet, endearing, loving husband that he is kept asking if I wanted to get into the tub. He was prepped and ready in his swim trunks! All I could do was obnoxiosly grunt, “Noooo…I just want it out!!” I kind of felt bad for him…standing there with his sweet, wide eyed face, shirtless, in swim trunks in the midst of all these nurses. Ten minutes of pushing and our Hallen entered the world. Kevin caught her, cut the cord, and we both fell in love harder than ever before. Our miracle was here. As Kevin said, ” this is what two years of praying looks like.”  And that couldn’t be more true. 

6lbs 11oz, 18 3/4in long

I guess he put his shirt back on at one point…

On the way home

Touch of Pink

The nursery is finally done…I think 🙂 There are always final touches that could be made, but all in all, we’re ready for this chick (on the planning side of things).  And I have to say, I absolutely LOVE just going to sit in there. It relaxes my mind and just calms me as funny as that sounds. The “touch of pink” on the walls is enough for my anxious thoughts to scatter and my mind can enter a tranquil place. I can envision the giggles, late night nursing, and rocking to soothe our baby’s tears. I know the nights won’t always be as calm in that room as they are now, so I’m savoring these last few weeks and meditating on the sweetness to come.

We were very fortunate to get  hand-me-downs for all the furniture in the room except the rocker. My parents gifted us that soft chair for our baby shower. It’s probably my favorite part of the whole room and the reason I’m able to relax 🙂

Still a little cluttered, but this is baby H’s nursery.

We received the monogram from one of my best friends at our baby shower. Up close, the monogram just looks like a lot of curly-cues. It was ordered in natural wood, so we could paint if what ever color we wanted. Of course I wanted it gold to go with the color theme. It was super easy and required no thought at all.

I bought a “brilliant gold” spray paint by Design Master from Michael’s and went to town. I sprayed three coats just to make sure it all was coated evenly. While I had the spray paint out, I also decided to spray one frame on the wall the same “brilliant gold.”

Beautiful monogram from Strickland. They did a beautiful job. Great prices too!

Tassels and “Pray Big” pillow from my sister-in-law Kelly. Beautiful monogram from one of my best friends. And crocheted blanket from our baby shower made my some special hands!

White turned gold frame.

I was so excited with how the gold came out. Spray paints are always so difficult for me to pick out. There are so many shades of each color, and they start to run together after staring at the case for 20 minutes trying to decide between three colors. Luckily, the crafty people at Michael’s helped make the decision when I shared my vision of gold! 

This frame went above the changing table along with a few more frames. This oval frame is still empty. Waiting upon the arrival of baby H. My thoughts right now are leaning towards a sweet daddy/baby photo or footprints and handprints. If you have any cute ideas, let me know in the comments. As mentioned above with the gold spray paint, sometimes it’s nice to have a third party make my decision! 

Please disregard the glare in these photos. The room doesn’t have a a good time of day for taking pictures and not having a glare in the glass. The photos, left to right, clockwise: 

• Cross stitched photo of a child praying that my mom made for me when I was born. She brought it by surprise on her last visit. The colors were perfect for the room, but even if they weren’t, it had to go up.
• Gold “Love” photo from Homegoods
• “You are My Sunshine” wooden photo from my sister-in-law, Kelly.
• White and light pink frame from my baby shower with a sample of Anthropologie’s wall paper I received for free about a year ago.
• Antique gold frame with a maternity photo my sister-in-law, Kelly, snapped for our baby shower.
• Center frame is the gold spray painted frame that something special will go in after baby H is born. 

I’m really happy with how this turned out. I love photo collages on walls. I’m actually still working on one in our den. It’s been incomplete for probably 6 months now. (Don’t judge! Baby fever swept over me.)

 This is a panoramic of the complete nursery. Back in the left corner is the carseat, diaper pail, a big cloth toy basket, and my hospital bag (which is only packed with the baby’s clothes right now).  In the right corner is a little nightstand with our baby monitor and another little toy box on top. Right now, the nightstand is also our little library. Hopefully, we’ll be able to find a little bookshelf for under one of the windows eventually. All this to say, there is still some clutter left in the room, but it’ll go away very soon!

There’s one thing I may still change about the walls. The starburst mirror on the right may come down and be replaced with something else. Possibly the tassels hanging on the crib (they won’t stay there anyways). Again, suggestions would be great! We also are still in the process of looking for a little chandelier for the room. I’m not sold on the two lamps in the corner. For me, it’s clutter!

I’ll be 34 weeks tomorrow. It feels so close! Six weeks left. Our last Bradley class is this coming Sunday. 12 weeks of the class went by super fast. That means these next six will go by even quicker.

My bump at 33 weeks. Tomorrow 10/23 I’ll be 34 weeks!