Caroline is 9 months!

The little bambino is 9 months old today.

Our sweet little baby is not so little anymore. 

I don't think I have ever seen a happier baby. Caroline is always smiling or laughing and chatting up a storm. She has so many expressions- it's so funny to watch her as she checks out this great big world. 

She has so much curiosity for everything around her. 

We did learn this month that she is not a real big fan of hay. With it being October, we took her to a pumpkin patch....interested in the pumpkins - however, weirded out by the hay bales. It was quite a sight to see. 

And after doing this months "monthly pictures" we have realized that the process is becoming more and more difficult, as you can probably tell in the pictures. It's a joyful process ;) it's so worth it though. 

 

Fun Facts About Caroline:

• weighs 20 pounds on the dot
• 27.75 inches long
• pulls up everywhere and on anything (even if she has to bend over to stand) hehe.
• laughs hysterically when she thinks something is funny
• her favorite toys is her blocks
• knows how to clap and does it often (especially when you say "yay" in her direction)
• is really curious about jewelry- plays with mommy's rings any chance she gets and loves a good necklace ;)
• likes to play peekaboo and "where's the baby"
• is really skeptical about grass and hay bales
• loves her lovey more than she ever has before - best friends for life we're thinking
• her head is measuring in the 99 percentile now - she gets it from her daddy ;)
• walks from room to room while being held by her hands (only when she feels like it. if she's feeling lazy she will life her legs into a sitting position and refuse to put her feet down)
• is extremely ticklish 
• extremely happy

 Every day is a blessing with this little sweetheart. It's truly amazing to be her mommy.

Unfortunate Realization

We're moving in 3 short months.

In order to prep for the move and make things easier on us when it comes down to crunch time I've been packing rubbermaid's every few weeks with things that we don't use on a regular basis.

As I contemplated on what to box up today, I walked into my closet and it hit me...I don't wear half of the clothes that are in here. Not because I don't want to, but because they don't fit me. 

You know, pre-pregnancy clothes.

As I pull each item off of their hanger, I get this feeling. I would say it was a sad one.

My daughter is about to be 9 months old. Now I know I was told, time and time again, that losing the baby weight would take some time, but I never imagined it would take this long.

I wanted to be one of those moms that gives birth, has their 6 week recovery time and then bounces back and is in their favorite jeans again. Why can't that be me?

It's not for lack of trying that I haven't lost the weight yet. I work my ass off. I watch my calories and eat the right things and I work out on the reg. What's the deal? How much time is enough time to wait until I'm back in the shape I want to be in?

As I'm boxing up my crop tops and tight tee's, favorite jeans and dresses that I used to love wearing- I'm wondering if there will ever be a day that I'll get to pull this box out and rehang them in my closet. I'm wondering when one of these Small shirts & size 4 jeans will be wearable again. ugh.

So the realization is depressing.. it's going to take more time. Probably a lot more time. And then I'll have another baby and have to start all over again. Is this going to be a cycle that repeats itself? Will I ever be a 4 again? I really, really hope so.

Packing the box might have gotten me a little upset, but it did something else for me also. It motivated me even more. I want so badly to be able to wear those clothes again. So, I'm going to keep working at it.  Every. Damn. Day.





P.S- you ladies that have given birth and either wore your pre-pregnancy clothes home from the hospital or bounced back in under a month... I hate you. Not really, but I am incredibly envious.

RIP - Winkflash

I never imagined this would happen. I thought you would be around forever...seriously. I don't know if I am more mad or more upset that you're gone.

Winkflash was my go-to for all things pictures. I ordered my prints from there, posters, my greeting cards and my photo albums. They were amazing. They offered good quality and good prices. Not to mention, if you were wondering where your shipment was, pick up the phone & holler at them. Real life people picked up and were happy to help you. that's rare in itself these days...

But now, I've been hung out to dry. They're no longer servicing customers.

Did I mention, I spent my precious time prepping ALL of my photo albums for print. I'm talking about years worth of photo albums that I was just waiting to print. 2009-present. (Every 2 months, they had a coupon code they offered customers for Flat Rate books. what does that mean? It means that I could make a 100 page photo album and have shipping and all included for $25.) You can't beat that.

If you make your albums online you know this is a huge deal, most sites only offer 20 pages per book at $19.99 and then $1 per page after that. THAT ADDS UP! especially since i'm doing a year at a time. 

Ugh. I've been searching high and low all around the internet trying to find another good deal such as the one Winkflash offered. You guessed it.... no luck. 

I'm so saddened to see you go. Like really, I hate it. 

RIP Winkflash. you will be greatly missed.