My girls love playing dress up and make believe, so picking out Halloween costumes every year has become an exciting time for all! This year I took my girls to the store and let their imaginations run wild. I gave them each the opportunity to pick out their favorite costumes and they both picked adorable and creative looks!
Here we go – Our family is growing -Pregnant with Baby #3!
You heard it right, Baby Wodiske is joining our family in April 2018! While it still hasn’t completely sunk in yet that we are going to be a family of 5… We are thrilled to grow our family and we feel extremely blessed. BUT, why does 3 seems a lot scarier than any of the other pregnancies?! (EEK!) I am thankful to say that our transition from 1 to 2 went very smooth and we have been blessed with two sweet girls who are going to be the BEST big sisters. We are saying goodbye to man-to-man defense and transitioning to zone defense as our little team of 3 will officially be outnumbering us! Let the games begin!
I come from a family of 3 kids and I am the beloved middle child, so having a family of 5 has always been a dream of mine. Although life is harder in the baby stage, I know it will all be worth it to have the fun bigger family to make memories with forever!
With all the joy of growing our family comes all the agony of morning sickness! Unfortunately, morning sickness for me is for REALZ!… and whoever dubbed it “morning” sickness never had to endure ALL DAY sickness! Sadly I have endured nausea and vomiting with all three pregnancies. I am praying that in the next month or two things will calm down and I will start feeling more like myself again. It took until 19 weeks with my first two pregnancies, and right now 19 weeks seems like forever away! For all you ladies who were/are sick during your pregnancies, I feel for you… It is tough, physically and emotionally.
It was so special talking to both of our girls about the new baby in mommy’s tummy and seeing their expressions. They are going to be fabulous big sisters and already have so much love for their sweet little baby! My oldest is already calling it a little baby girl… we shall see!
We couldn’t have asked for a better friend and talented photographer to take these beautiful photos of us as we celebrate our new bundle of joy! Chris, you captured our joy (and craziness) in such an authentic & beautiful way and we will forever cherish these photos! Thank you La Brisa Photography for always capturing our special milestones in the most perfect way.
Well that’s the scoop! I plan on keeping you posted on our journey through this special pregnancy, I’m sure you will hear a lot about my cravings and exhaustion, but most importantly my excitement and preparation. Stay tuned a gender reveal post may be coming your way soon with highlights from both of the girl’s gender reveals and a little trip down memory lane.
Thank you again for joining us during this exciting time. So much fun is ahead!
SHOP OUR LOOKS: (*affiliate links)
MY DRESS / LACE UP HEELS ( SIMILAR) / PAYONT’S DRESS / MATCHING GOLD BOOTIES / PAISLEY’S DRESS (OUT OF STOCK – SORRY!) / GOLD MYLAR NUMBER BALLOONS
Dear September,
Where has the time gone? And just like that we are heading into the (real) fall season and I am beyond ready for cooler temps, living in layers and lots of hot coffee! We have finally been able to enjoy our backyard and patio in the mornings and evenings and having football back has made this month extra special!
October, we are excited for pumpkin patches, costumes and harvest-filled memories.
:: Our Month in 9 Squares – September 2017 ::
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HostUltimateTailgate #CollectiveBias
Fall means football… and I love fall!
To successfully host a family-friendly home-gating party you need to focus on three main aspects: tasty treats, a kids activity corner & of course team spirit!
This book is ALL THE THINGS!!!
Big Little Lies is filled with friendship and laughter, touching moments, twists, murder and a dramatic ending… after all isn’t that what you want out of a good fiction book? When you read this book you will understand why it is on the New York Times Bestseller list and why it was turned into a tv show. To be honest, I heard about the tv show before I read this book and that sparked me to read the book first, and I am so glad I did!
Dear August 2017,
WOW what a scorcher! With extremely high temps comes a lot of staying inside or pool time for this family! It was a slower month for us to regroup and focus on one another, sometimes uneventful is a nice time to recharge before the busy season hits.
September is going to bring a busy schedule and new exciting adventures. We are excited for what is to come and I am looking forward to football and Pumpkin Spice season!!! How about you???
:: Our Month in 9 Squares – August 2017 ::
STAYcation: [vacation close to home]
My husband and I recently celebrated our nine year wedding anniversary with a STAYcation at one of our favorites! When you live in a state that offers some of the most beautiful resort options available, why leave town to have a good time!? As you already know from my previous posts, we are big fans of STAYcations and constantly promote the idea of staying nearby and enjoying all of the amenities that your city and state have to offer! We selected the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa because it holds a special place in our hearts and is filled with sweet memories over the last 9 years of our relationship. Plus, it is beyond fabulous!
The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona is simply stunning! From the second you walk in, you feel like you’re at a desert oasis. The pool area is magnificent with different areas to lounge and delight in their decadent drinks and poolside food. You can also jump on a raft and float along the lazy river. With several different pools to chose from, our personal favorite is the waterfall pool because you get an awesome experience of a tranquil waterfall with a nearby DJ providing musical glory!
The JW Marriott Desert Ridge offers a fabulous grand entrance, and the rooms are so accomodating; once you arrive, there is no reason to leave. They have everything you could possibly need, want or desire on site: an incredible spa, a full service Starbucks, a large store/souvenir shop, nightly live music, top notch restaurants, kids activities, golf course and unbelievable views in every direction you look.
Don’t just take my word for it, enjoy a few photos from our amazing weekend away and trust me you, too, will want to stay here!
Dear July 2017,
You were a very toasty month for us in AZ so we enjoyed our California beach getaway. You were also a month filled with milestone moments for our first born. She got her first haircut, started Kindergarten and celebrated her fifth birthday! So many sweet and bittersweet moments. Our littlest one started dance and it has become a highlight of each week. There is something so cute about a 2 year old fluttering around in a leotard and tutu.
We have so much to be thankful for and looking back at these 9 photos is such a great reminder to be present and enjoy every minute. #feelingblessed
August, my only hope is that you bring more monsoon weather and of course more FUN!!!
:: Our Month in 9 Squares – July 2017 ::
My Wish For You… On Your First Day Of Kindergarten
When you become a mom, you hear so often that you need to enjoy every minute because time flies by… overused advice, but oh so true! I am so grateful for all of the time and cherished moments we’ve shared together. Memories have been made, time has flown by, and though I don’t want to believe it, here we are… my daughter’s first day of Kindergarten. How can my first-born and little bestie, that I have spent every waking minute with since the day I found out we were growing our family, be starting school? I am flooded with emotions. Everything from excitement to sadness to loneliness to nervousness… but most of all, I am overwhelmed with a sense of pride in who she is and who she’s becoming. If I could pass on a few important things, these would be what I would want you to take with you as you enter your Kindergarten class.
Dear Paisley – On your first day of Kindergarten, my wish for you is…
We took our girls out to the woods of Prescott, Arizona for their first camping weekend as a family of four. To give you a little perspective, our girls are 4.5 and 2.5 years old and this was our first time all sleeping together in one small space… without a pack n’ play! My husband was raised camping and in the outdoors so he had been dreaming of the day that our girls would be old enough to enjoy a trip like this, and this was our first attempt. To say it went well is an understatement… much to my surprise it went great! But don’t get me wrong, with any trip you come across a few hiccups here and there. But, it was so much fun to take the girls off the grid, push everyday rules to the side and just let them enjoy being kids for the trip… and I know that we made memories as a family they will not forget.
If you are like me, and questioning whether or not your family is ready for a camping trip, I say go for it! You will never know until you try. And to help you out, here are a few of my ‘camping with kids’ recommendations. I hope these ideas help make your trip extra enjoyable for all – we all want happy campers!