A Germy Weekend!

 

Happy Monday everyone! I hope that you had a fantastic weekend! Mother Nature has finally caught on around these parts and it was beautiful here yesterday! Flip flop weather! Please excuse me while I don’t wear any socks starting yesterday and until the first snowflake flies!

Not going to lie, it was a hard weekend in Mommyland. I was SO excited to spend the weekend with Sam. Ryan was still gone (until Sunday) and after only seeing Sam for 1.5 hours every night, I couldn’t wait for some extended quality time.

The quality time I got. But it wasn’t very fun! Sam was sick all weekend long. Up multiple times at night, crying for hours during the day and not wanting to be anywhere else except for in my arms. I know he is surrounded by germs at Daycare and this is our life but I was just SO looking forward to a fun weekend.

I did get some take out dropped off from my parents on Friday night. Which I enjoyed while sipping wine and watching the latest episodes of Downton Abbey on Netflix!

But that night was awful. Sam and I both hardly got any sleep! He woke up but didn’t want to leave my arms. Not even to eat. You know my son is sick when he doesn’t want food.

I gave Sam a dose of Mortin, which helped for a while. The good thing about Sam being sick this weekend? The Masters were on so we always had something to watch! Sam perked up a bit right before lunch on Saturday so I got a picture with him and Tiger.

My Dad was in and out of the house getting some measurements for a new shelf that he was making me! I was looking for some storage to use for Sam’s Daycare bag. I hated it lying around the house. I gave my Dad my idea and he ran with it. When he delivered my shelf it was PERFECT! I love it! We hung it a little on the low side so that Sam could eventually reach it himself when he gets a little older! My favourite part? The wood is from barns on our farm.

Oh! And after listening to a local radio station go on and on about grilled cheese sandwiches the other day, I couldn’t shake the craving and made them for supper!

After another rough night, Sam was still not himself on Sunday morning.

Before church my parents came over so that I could have a coffee and have 10 minutes without Sam in my arms. I was happy for the little bit of relief! After being without Ryan for 1 week, and dealing with a sick baby, this Momma just needed 5 minutes to drink a coffee in a little peace. Sam always enjoys snuggles with his Grandpa.

Ya, I know…I’m a lucky girl! My parents live about 30 seconds away from me and are always here in about 35 seconds if I need them. With Ryan being away, knowing that they are so close makes me feel so much more at ease.

They went off to church and Sam and I hung around. For the most part, I tried to make him as comfortable as possible but he would cry for hours at a time. My poor boy! I would have done anything to take away whatever was ailing him.

Finally, shortly after lunch, Ryan walked in the door after being away for a week in Myrtle Beach to go golfing! I was very excited to see him and Sam did not want Ryan to leave his side for the rest of the afternoon. He would play and then go over and lay his head on Ryan over and over again.

For supper we got our first chipstand taste of 2015! And set up our dinners in the living room so we could watch the final holes of The Masters Tournament!

Here’s hoping that Sam wakes up feeling 100% better this morning! Even though the weekend didn’t turn out like I had planned, I’m still glad that I was able to spend all of it with Sam doing what a Mom does best, being a comfort to her baby when they aren’t feeling good.

How was your weekend?

xo

Sam’s First Birthday–The Decor

 

Happy Friday, friends! My first (almost) full week of work is in the bag and I am REALLY ready for some undivided time with Sam this weekend.

A week ago today the house was covered in birthday paraphernalia as we got ready to celebrate Sam’s first year of life.

I love to plan and organize and that includes a party. I had known a LONG time ago that the theme of Sam’s birthday was going to be “Green Eggs and Ham”. It’s a pretty hard theme to decorate with because there is very little in the traditional party section at stores. So, I had to get creative but (as you could guess), I didn’t want to spend a whole lot of money! Here is what I did.

This awesome chalk board sign that adorned the kitchen? Free! It was bought and made by a good friend that I met through social media! I loved it and have it in storage for now!

As you have seen before, the balloon wreath. I hope that this wreath will be hung in our home for every birthday! It was very inexpensive to make because the only material that I had to buy was the balloons from the dollar store!

I had a couple of green table clothes that worked for our kitchen and dining room table. I had made 14 tissue paper pom poms and hung them randomly around the house. The tulips were a gift from my Mom for Easter.

A few years ago Ryan and I put our home on the Christmas House Tour. It was SO fun to show off all the work that we had done to our house. In order to demonstrate to people the amount of work we had done, I had printed and framed “Before” pictures to place in each room. I kept those frames for the last 3 years and haven’t done anything with them. I took my “Green Eggs and Ham” book to our office and photo copied a few pages and framed them in the old frames. I placed these frames around the house in every room. A fun and FREE decoration!

A couple dollar store table clothes decorated the food table. My table is wood so I could easily staple the tablecloth to the table and not worry about it moving. I REALLY scored at Target during their store closing clearance. Straws, napkins, plates and cutlery all came from target at 50% off!

One of my favourite things to do during the last year was taking Sam’s monthly pictures! I loved to see how he has changed during the last 12 months of his life. I took 1 picture from each month and printed it on regular computer paper, cut it out and used the frames on our closet doors in the kitchen.

It’s been a tradition in my family that every year you get a tin foil number hung in the kitchen representing your age! My brother and I have continued to carry on the tradition in our own homes. Here is the story behind tin foil numbers.

Balloons were ones I snagged when making the wreath.

More tissue Pom’s and a “Happy Birthday” sign that I made and painted from cardstock that I already had and old paint from when our bathroom was orange.

This chair was a huge score! My brother has had it in his attic forever and he didn’t know where it came from. He was actually planning on tossing it because it was in such rough shape! I quickly grabbed it before it hit the trash thinking that if I could fix it up a little, it would be cute for Sam’s birthday! Some hard scrubbing and old bathroom paint that was left over and this beauty was the perfect throne for the birthday boy!

My dad was taken aback when he saw it and asked where I got it. I said Jared was going to toss it so I took it. He said that he was pretty sure it was my grandfathers (and his sisters) highchair that was handmade. A quick call and sure enough, this highchair has been in the family for almost 100 years! I am so glad that I gave it a chance because its in great shape now and will continue to be in the family for many more years.

The banner was just something I quickly made the day before Sam’s birthday!

I loved how the Green Eggs and Ham themed turned out! Lots of touches or orange and green! The best part, EVERYTHING cost me less than $50. Now that’s a cheap way to throw a party! It just shows a little bit of time, searching around and elbow grease can make a big difference in spending a little or a lot of money! Sam won’t remember his first birthday party but I hope that one day he will look back on the pictures and know how much I did to make the day special for him.

Have a great weekend!

xo

Sam’s First Birthday–The Day

 

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope that everyone had a wonderful LONG Easter weekend! I know we sure did! It was so fun to not only celebrate the holiday but our boy turning one!

I was glad that Sam’s birthday landed on Good Friday this year. Knowing that most people would have that day off, it was a great opportunity to have his party! As you know, I’ve been planning this birthday for quite sometime and I was excited that the day was officially here!

I woke up early to get a few last minute things done before my boys were up for the day! Ryan and I walked into Sam’s room and sang him “Happy Birthday” and like any birthday boy should do, he stayed in his PJ’s for the rest of the morning.

I had prepared most of the food and decorations the night before because I wanted to make sure Friday was as stress free as possible. I didn’t want to spend my day running around getting ready for the party. I wanted to spend it with my ONE year old son! And that is just what we did! We even managed to get a nice walk in in the late morning.

Some last of the baby snuggles before Sam went down for his afternoon nap. I knew that the party time would be busy and I wouldn’t get this chance again till AFTER his birthday.

I had asked our guests to arrive as close to 3 as possible so that it would give Sam longer to sleep. Everyone did that and our boy woke up 10 minutes before 3! It was perfect timing to get him dressed and then greet all of his guests.

Sam in his special birthday outfit!

The party was underway and the guests continued to flow in. We just kept the party as small as possible which still ended up being about 30 people. But, this will be the biggest of birthday parties for our boy for quite sometime.

Sam’s cousin Everett giving him birthday kisses.

I had set out a few appetizers for people to enjoy around the island in the kitchen. This made for a great place to stand and chat.

Around 4:30 I set out the Easter feast! Beans, scalloped potatoes, buns, coleslaw and of course, green eggs and ham! 

So excited to be celebrating our boy and the last year of his life.

I stripped Sam down because shortly after supper it was CAKE SMASH time! We all gathered around to sing and then watch him devour his cake.

He went at his cake pretty delicately at first.

But then got into the mess of it and even wanted to share with me.

The easiest way to clean off cake and icing from a one year old? A bath tub! I took Sam straight upstairs and rinsed him off in the tub and put on a fresh shirt. We headed down stairs for more visits and to open his birthday presents.

Everyone was so generous and Sam is having so much fun playing with all his new toys! I kept a few in their boxes for when the weather warms up and he can play with them outside. Our boy was getting sleepy and people were starting to leave. Sam had a great party and it was so fun to celebrate with everyone. He got so many birthday wishes on social media as well and thank you so much for taking the time to write something for him.

Sam CRASHED into bed that night and was fast asleep before I even got to his door. I think he was tired from all the excitement of the day!

When Sam was in bed, Ryan and I started cleaning up and doing the dishes. Ryan also put together Sam’s present from us. His own little recliner. We wanted to save it and give it to him the next day without all the chaos of the party.

I still have a hard time believing that my baby is 1. It’s been an amazing first year of his life and I couldn’t think of a better way of celebrating then a party! Looking forward to the next year of Sam’s life and all that it entails!

Happy Wednesday!

xo

Sam, You Are One!

 

Dear Sam,

As I write this you are peacefully sleeping upstairs in your crib, not even aware of the fact that today is your birthday!

As I look into the monitor and see you, my mind flashes back to the first time I watched you sleep there beside me in your bassinet in the hospital. The hours of labour had melted away as I stared at your sweet face and thought how much you resembled your Daddy. I was in shock that you were a boy and you were still nameless until the next morning.

A year later and in a way, I am still feeling shocked. How is it that I have been lucky enough to be blessed to be your Mommy? I feel honoured to have watched and helped you grow over the last 12 months. Every new milestone and accomplishment makes me so proud.

I have heard a lot of Mommies get really sad when their babies turn 1. I hear it is because you are no longer considered a “baby” but a “toddler” instead. Motherhood is kind of cruel. In one way you want SO badly to hold onto your little baby but you also want them to grow and thrive. Know this my sweet boy; no matter how old you get, you will ALWAYS be my baby!

Last night when I was about to put you in your crib to sleep I held you just a minute longer. I give you one extra little hug and kiss and I closed my eyes and deeply took in the smell of you. The smell and feel of my little baby one last time. When I said “good night, I love you”, I was also saying it to my baby knowing today you would wake up a toddler. I walked out the door and I let a single tear fall down my cheek.

This morning, I am excited to wake you up and celebrate the fact that you are ONE! We are going to celebrate the last 12 months of your life and all the wonderful things that you have brought to us.

Today you are a toddler and I am excited for all the fun things that life will bring you. As you start to gain confidence and independence know that Mommy and Daddy are always just a step behind you, ready to catch you fall and help you back up.

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

xo 

Starting My Spring Cleaning And Letting Go of Those Clothes!

 

Happy Wednesday everyone! Today I am in the city for one of my first post maternity business meetings. Here’s hoping I can still remember the lingo and don’t pull a soother out of my bag or something!

Even though it certainly doesn’t look like Spring yet, I’m getting the itch to start my cleaning! Call me crazy but there is something so refreshing about a cleaned and organized house. Opening the windows after a long winter and making everything smell so fresh!

I’ve just started the process and this is what it includes:

1. Going through coat closets. Wiping everything down. Donating what we don’t need, storing heavy winter stuff somewhere else and bringing spring stuff out of storage. This now includes taking inventory of what Sam needs.

2. Assessing my kitchen cupboards. I go from every cupboard and take out everything (one at a time). I figure out if I need something still and donate what we don’t. The things we do keep, I asses their location. Example, recently I realized that my large utensils are not actually beside the stove but behind it. Beside the stove was my towels and stuff. Everything got switched and now it’s a lot more functional! Everything is neatly put back in each cleaned cupboard and the outsides are washed as well.

3. Time for paperwork! Throughout the year paperwork collects. Some of it is really important and some of it we save “just in case”. Papers have a tendency to really pile up. I don’t just mean receipts! Catalogues, flyers, coupons, notes and artwork by Sam! It ALL has to be gone through. Normally I end up tossing 80% of it! But for the few things that we do keep we have a filing drawer built into our office desk that I use. It has household manuals, tax information, important receipts and other documents. The only thing is I have had a fun new material piling up! Art work from Sam’s daycare and Sunday School!

For that I purchased a specialized box from Staples (On sale for $10) that allows me to use hanging folders with tabs. This box will be specifically for Sam’s stuff! I keep some of the special ones for each section. Sunday School, Daycare and then all his grades in school. The plastic ensures it’s safety in storage from water!

4. The last thing I have done so far is always the hardest for me. Clothes! What is it about clothes? We have such an emotional tie to such a stupid piece of fabric. It could be because of weight loss ambitions, memories attached to that article or the fear of letting go of something because of the money spent on it! Either way, its tough!

I kind of started this process last Summer after I got back down to my pre-baby weight. I had been holding onto SO much in hopes that I would either grow to love it or fit into it again. This year I really want to start having a minimalist closet. A closet that I can walk into knowing that everything in there I can wear!

First, I took out any stained, ripped or tattered clothes.

Next, I started by looking at each article of clothing and asking myself if I were in a store RIGHT NOW, would I buy it again? If I said no, it was gone.

If I hadn’t worn it for over a year, GONE! This step is the hardest because sometimes it feels like a waste of money. But I’ve also learnt that if I don’t wear something for over a year (or sometimes longer like some articles), chances are I never will. Therefore, it’s taking up precious space.

Finally, I realistically looked at my life and my needs. Did I really NEED 10 pairs of black yoga pants? Probably not.

Clearing out the closet hurts but I find having a couple of non-see through bags really helps. If you can see those precious clothes squished in a bag, you may be tempted to take them back out. 

Have you started your Spring cleaning yet? What are some of the things that you do?

xo

We’ve Been Everywhere, Man

 

Happy Monday! Wow. Is it bad when a weekend is so busy that you are kind of looking forward to the normalcy that comes with Monday? I think our whole family was exhausted last night as we went to bed.

Friday I picked up my boy early from daycare (no issues, just our schedule right now) and headed home to do some puttering around the house. Ryan had the afternoon off to go play hockey and I was pleasantly surprised to see him home to have supper with us!

Sam was being very helpful when I was unloading the dishwasher!

 

Sam was pretty tired after an almost full day at Daycare. He isn’t use to the early morning wake up calls yet. We decided to do his bedtime routine a little earlier to help our little guy out!

When Sam went to bed, Ryan and I settled in for a movie night! After 3 choices of his, it was my turn to pick a movie! We watched Tyler Perry’s Temptation.

Saturday morning we were all up early and got ready for our day. While I was getting ready Ryan made us breakfast sandwiches! I’m not use to him being home so much during the Flying Elbows Tournament but I’m not complaining! The extra set of hands was nice!

In the morning we ran to Shawville to check out the curling tournament and hockey tournament. Make an appearance and support both! But we flew home to give Sam lunch and put him down for his nap at his normal time. We are trying to stick to the Daycare’s schedule as much as possible.

Unfortunately, during Sam’s afternoon nap on Saturday, it was also a birthday party next door for Faith and Clark, my niece and nephew. Ryan stayed at home with Sam and I went to the party for a couple of hours. After the presents were opened I rushed home so he could head to the hockey rink again to help out.

Sam woke up about 1 later in a great mood! For a while I was feeling like he was mad at me. He always wanted his Daddy because I think he was associated me with leaving him. There’s something that I love about a little boy in overall’s and I loved watching him play with his Uncle Jared’s old Tonka forklift. He LOVES this thing. Anything he can push around with wheels. Tucker in the background, never too far from us.

After Sam went to bed I had the whole house to myself! I practiced piano, did a facemask and then watched a chick flick on Netflix! I settled into bed pretty early knowing that Sunday was going to be a busy day!

We were all up at our usual time but on this particular Sunday there was no lazing around. We had breakfast, got dressed and then hit the road for Greely, Ontario! Social media can be an amazing place. It was through a Canadian April 2014 mommy group that I met these Ottawa ladies (1 missing) and their families. We have talked in the middle of the night, during sick times and many happy times. We’ve shared so much with each other and are now like family.

On Sunday Sam and I attended the dedication of our ABC (April birth club) cousin and then celebrated his 1st birthday. Between the three babies, there is only 3 weeks in age difference.

On our way home after a fun party, I got a text from Ryan saying that they had won their 1 PM game and would be in the finals. Really, I didn’t want to go but I knew how much it would mean to Ryan to have Sam and I there. So, I quickly ran into the house to grab milk and snacks and continued driving to Shawville. We didn’t stay for the whole game but Ryan enjoyed taking Sam into the dressing room to show him off to all his team mates. Unfortunately, Ryan’s team lost 3-2.

To say we were a little tired Sunday would be an understatement! Our boy was a trooper and thankfully we still stayed pretty consistent with his nap and meal times. We had such a great weekend together!

How was your weekend?

xo

Five On Friday

 

Happy (finally) Friday! This was a week filled with work! It is going to be a learning curve. How to go from a hectic work mind and then unwind to my mommy mind. Today Sam will go to Daycare for his longest day yet, 7-3. I feel as though he is ready!

Besides work and daycare, the other thing occupying my mind is first birthday preparations. I love to organize and throw parties and I have been getting things ready for Sam’s birthday for over a month! There is nothing that I hate more then last minute running around! I would much rather be prepared ahead of time. Here are 5 things I have done in preparation for the 1st birthday bash!

1. Pom-Poms! When planning the birthday I looked at balloons that went with Sam’s theme. But who wants to spend the morning of the birthday blowing and hanging up balloons? So, I opted to make these inexpensive and fun tissue paper balls! A pack of tissue paper cost me $0.50 and I got 2 Poms from 1 package. Total I made 14 tissue paper balls to hang in various locations of the house!

2. Each holiday has it’s own large container to hold the decorations. I’m starting to collect birthday stuff in one small bin. I wanted to make this wreath for a while and figured this birthday was the perfect opportunity! I already had the wreath and just bought 4 packs of balloons from the Dollar Store. I hope to store this wreath and use to for every birthday we celebrate throughout the year.

3. We decided on a menu for the birthday party and Japanese meatballs are part of the meal. One of the reasons I chose this is because it is so easy to prepare ahead of time and put in the freezer. All the meatballs are made and ready for Sam’s birthday party.

4. I wanted to give a little token to the people who are at the party. A little “thank you”. I decided to make some “Green Eggs”. These little chocolate/pretzel treats are a favourite and again, something I made in advance and is currently in the freezer waiting for the party!

5. Last but not least is the first birthday invitation! The theme is Green Eggs and Ham!

1 week to go till party time!

Hope you have a great weekend!

xo