My 2012 Christmas Cookie Exchange Party!

Having a 4 yr old..2 yr old.. and almost 5 week old has

delayed this post a week or so. :) But here it is!

I really look forward to this party with friends every year.

I LOVE to bake... It's fun seeing the variety of cookies everyone brings...

and I love any excuse to get the girls together and have a party!

Here's a round up of photos from the fun night!

With a 4 week old at the time, the party details were cut to a minimum.

And with Christmas around the corner...extra budgeting is happening.

But I was happy how it all came together and

that we could have a fun girls' night!

First things first...the invite! I e-mailed it out to some of my girls.

I love having a creative project to work on....

but I also need some brain power to do DIY Projects and

my kids have currently zapped all brain power from me.

So I tried to keep it simple this year.

I feel like a walking zombie plenty of these newborn days..

A lot of things happened the couple days before with a baby strapped to me,

during naps, or while nursing (creating printables).

I had little helpers while making my sweets. :)

Here's how the set up looked like before everyone arrived and

placed some of their cookies on the taste testing table!

This year I used all my own plates from pottery barn..(wedding dishes)

and my reindeer (target couple years ago). The mini trees are from Big Lots ($6) and I put some gold ornaments on them from the dollar store. (our tree is all silver or I would have used those!)

I made a banner in Photoshop and then strung it up with some tinsel from the Dollar Store.

I got a sheet of gold sparkly card stock from JoAnns on clearance..and used my circle punch to cut out circles to place around the table for a little sparkle. :)

I also created some tented cards with numbers on them for the cookie voting.

I also had favors for the ladies.

I grabbed up a variety of mugs from our local thrift store...

50 cents each.. ran them through the dishwasher..

then used an OIL BASED Sharpie to decorate them!

Baked in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Sophie LOVED them..

so she got her own too. it says sophia on it. :)

(she is reallyyyy into hot chocolate with marshmallows right now. hehe.)

I filled up some of the extra clear bags with a marshmallow mix and marshmallows...

then tied with the gold curling ribbon from the dollar store.

The prizes this year were edible. (above are shots of work in progress)

Edible amazingness.

Oreo Truffles.

All time favorite dessert right now..... dangerous little things.

I made up some cute tags to go with them.. and packaged them

up in clear bags and dollar store curling ribbon. 

The cookie competition was fierce this year... ;)

Lots of yummy varieties to sample...

We loaded up our little plates with a taste of each... and got to voting!

 It's a tough job but someone had to do it!

 

Like previous years, I made up Ballot Cards for the voting!

I think it adds a fun activity to the night.

After the cookie sampling and voting was done...

it was time to load up the cookie trays!

I got silver dollar store trays..I thought they would be a fun alternative

to the christmas trays they had..

because the girls can use them for other occasions..

(like new years!)

I made Reese's Peanut Butter Cookies. A family favorite!

It was a fun group of girls!

I was so happy that we made this happen...

December is such a busy month.. 4 girls had to cancel last minute.

Here's some shots of the lovely ladies who came.
We all were happy to have girl talk and sample cookies... ;)
(ps. cute red straws below were from bed bath and beyond.)

Not only did the girls have the yummy oreo truffles...
but one of the girls that came sells Thirty One products, and
brought a handful of them for the winners to choose from! :)
A winner across the board was the Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies.

YUM! We all ended up with some pretty trays of cookies..
to freeze for Christmas... or to dive into right away.
we chose to dive in. ;)

If you want to check out my past cookie exchanges...

Here's from 2010 in our old rental...

and here's from 2011.

Thanks for stopping by..
Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Christmas is almost here!!!!
Can't wait to share our Christmas Card(s) Cutenessssss.
Today the girls and I are going to decorate sugar cookies...
and on Christmas Eve we're decorating their gingerbread houses!
I have a feeling sienna will be eating most of the decorations. :)

DIY Newborn Photo Tips- From one Amateur to Another

I love taking photos of my kids..and when they are newborn, you

REALLY want to capture their tiny little cuteness!

Newborn Photos are soooo adorable...

and with a few tips and tricks you can get really cute photos YOURSELF!

I am not a professional..I just like to take photos..

and take them a lot...learning as I go!

I thought I would try out some cute newborn poses with my

Micah and share what I did to make these shots happen!

CAMERA: Canon Rebel T1i

LENSES: 18-55mm and 50mm

(I shot most of these on manual. If you are learning your

camera check out you tube for great tutorials. I learned a lot that way!)

Here's my round up of tips for getting great shots.

Plan on taking your time...can't rush this newborn cuteness!

Nurse to comfort and calm the baby.. hold your hand on him or her to make them feel secure while you pose...let off at the last minute before you snap some shots!

NATURAL LIGHT makes the difference. Most of these were shot in

the early afternoon while my 2 and 4 yr old napped.. some were shot in the late afternoon.

I moved my coffee table around to get different shots..some in direct light and some not.

I liked the variety of shots! But if you have limited time..go for the indirect light..

overall you get great photos with detail! (my favorite is the one above!)

Sophie was a little helper during one of the sessions...

Big Sister snuggler/comforter. I went to switch my lense

and caught the below ones of her quick. ;)

I LOVE my green and white striped blanket

(clearance from target 4 years ago.. but they have similar styles sometimes)

I knew I wanted some shots with that blanket..

I love the textures that it and the fuzzy blue blanket give!

My mom crocheted a sweet little hat for Micah. Isn't it cute?!

She has made up her own pattern so that the hat doesn't

have that weird point..so much sweeter. Maybe I'll get the pattern out of her to post! ;)

For this shot..I stood on the coffee table..carefully..

waiting to capture that smerk that he kept teasing me with!

Worth the wait..love this one!

 

Photographing your baby at different times..sleepy time..or his or her awake time...

gives you a variety of faces! I love the sleepy ones..but the ones with his eyes wide

open are what he looks like too and I don't want to forget it!

I could stare at this kid all day.

oh wait.. I do! ;)

one last thing....

Photo EDITING:

I use photoshop for all my photos.. 'Levels' is a big help in getting the right lighting!

If you have photoshop but want to get better at it..again..watch you tube tutorials!

I also use actions. you can search for tons of free ones!

It makes editing a breeze! you can use actions and

then tweak yourself till you get it the way you want.

Here's a ton to check out via a Pinterest Search.

And here's some favorites of mine.

LOVE this one..

Happy photo taking!! :)

Hope these tips and photos give you inspiration and motivate

you to pull out your camera and take some photos of your baby!!

My girls are used to me well documenting their lives...haha.

My sienna (2) pretends to take photos of me with her play phone...

 while she takes pretend pictures she says "one more"..."awww cute"... "one more!"

she might have heard these things from me.....possibly. ;)

Christmas Tree Time!

I love having a 2 and 4 yr old.

I'm especially loving it this Christmas season!

They are so into everything.

The other day we went to pick out our Christmas Tree.

As soon as we pulled up to the nursery sophie goes..

"what is that smell!?..christmas?!"

We hunted down the perfect Tree...

It was magical to them...making their way through the trees...the christmas smell!

And tying a tree to the car?!? awesome. ;)

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend

and enjoying all the Christmas time fun!

Sophie was actually a big helper with decorating the tree.

Even though she kept putting up all her decorations

in the same general area.. ;)

I'll share our Christmas decorations soon!!

And because people asked via instagram:

--sophie's outfit--

polka dot sweater... old navy (current)

purple "soft" skinny jeans....target (current)

hat....old navy

--sienna' outfit--

polka dot sweater..target(4 years old)

yellow skinny jeans... old navy (current)

Some days are harder than others.

Today Shannon would have turned 27.

Missing her.. wishing I could face time with her and have my girls sing to her. :(

A part of me feels like it's just the long distance of atlanta and

pittsburgh and busy mom lives we had that is what's keeping us a part.

When my mom was just here visiting..we were talking about shannon.

I was telling her how it feels like our childhood years

together feels like another life.. so long ago.

This was back on my 18th birthday. (mine is in january)

Shannon was in my dream the other night.

In the dream I had found an old video of her and

I was watching it over and over..happy that I had another "view" of her.

Every single night on the news...

there is some sort of case of domestic violence.

It pulls on my heart every time.

WIth each case that I hear, I think of Shannon.

Please continue to pray for all those affected by domestic violence.

speak up and help those you know around you...

you might save a life.

Final Baby Book Page & Bump Collage!

Excited that Micah's Baby Book is complete!

Each week (more or less) I documented my pregnancy with my

growing bump and a note to baby.

I plan on compiling all my graphics and ordering a photo book!

BLANQI Mama

I took some photos the

other day while the girls napped.

I will post soon on how I got these shots..

from one complete and total amateur photographer to another!

ps. my mom made the hat! so cute right??

Here's the complete series of my growing bump!

I wore my BLANQI throughout my pregnancy..

helped with my back/leg pain (sciatic nerve issues)

The one photographed below was my white, medium, regular length blanqi.

I started taking the weekly photos at 12 weeks..

when I was still feeling sick but at least able to function.

(missed a few weeks near the end due to.....life.)

I actually have been wearing it even more postpartum.

It helps smooth everything out and makes me feel more trim

as I work off this baby weight!

And by "work off this baby weight" I mean nurse

like a champ and chase my 2 and 4 yr old. :)

Thanks for following a long my pregnancy journey!

and also thanks for all the e-mails..

I am feeling the love and so thankful for the words of

encouragement and congratulations!

First Week of Having 3 Children Update. (ps. we're alive.)

UPDATE: We are ALIVE.

barely.

JUST KIDDING!

But seriously.. ;)

Looking at this boy's sweet face just makes my heart melt!

I really just stare at him all day long.

We have the first week of having 3 kids under our belt. go us!

Couple things we noticed this time around...

1. Micah is a dream baby. so far. ;)

2. He smells like a boy...little tooter pooper.

3. my husband is extra proud of everything "boyish" about him...

example: farts..poops..rolling over(muscles).... all impressive to my husband.

4. Changing boy diapers is a lot more stressful.....

The risk of being PEED on in your FACE is a lot higher than with girls.

5. Learning how to handle THREE kids..is tough.

but has it's "we are awesome at this" moments to help you get through it.

6. Ben and I fist pump a lot more with each other about this baby...

proud of our cute baby and perfect "3rd child" producing skills.

(as the 3rd child in our families..it's a proven fact they are the best.)

7. One of the best parts of having another baby..is seeing the girls interact with him.

Sienna is loving him up. She is 2.. a good age to bring home another baby I think!

She is interested enough to be lovey..but then not interested enough to be

able to go off and do her own thing and leave baby alone.

She has been a stinker at night..waking up and wanting only me.

working out those kinks.

Sophie is SO GOOD with him.

BUT...doesn't want to let him go.

That's a 4 yr old for ya.

She keeps getting upset with me for nursing him "all dayyyy"...

But she just holds him so sweetly.. "MOM! this is sooo fun!"...

and "MOM! He is snuggledddd up."

I think it'll be good when school starts up again for her...

bring back some of her normal routine.

But it seriously is the most adorable thing seeing her "nuggle" with him..

brushing her cheek against his and giving kisses.

I'm crossing my fingers this kid doesn't

lose an eye from sienna...

or toe.

I don't even know what's going on here.....

newborn days.

enough said.

Loving being a family of 5!

Having my 3 babies feels so amazing...

not gonna sugar coat it...I've broken down into tears a couple times for no apparent reason.

I'm a big ball of hormones. Told my husband that.. his response.

"ok..I'm taking that as a warning....."

haha. yup.

Getting used to our new normal is going to keep me busy...

I have some fun stuff to share as soon as these 3 bambinos let that happen.

Thanks for all the continued congratulations and well wishes. I read each and every comment/facebook post/instagram comment... I get excited about each one!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Introducing Micah Joseph - His Birth Story

I though it made sense to do this post on Thanksgiving..

considering it's what I'm most thankful for.. my happy healthy family!

We are so excited to introduce

a beautiful healthy baby boy to everyone!

Thank you for all the well wishes and congratulations via Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

His birth was seriously the most intense thing I have ever done in my life...

and I am soooo thankful that he is here!

For those of you wanting to hear all the details..

here's Micah's birth story:

I had my last doctor's appointment on friday... the doctor told me that I was 4 cm. 80 % effaced. and my water bag was buling. She predicted that I would break my water over the weekend. I was excited..but tried not to think about it too much since my babies are known to be stubborn and make late arrivals even when all signs say labor is coming.

So Saturday morning I cleaned the entire house like a crazy nesting pregnant lady.. working through contractions..finished up printables..and in my mind I was like ok...we could have a baby now. As if this baby cared at all about my to-do list. ;) We went to our friend's house for dinner that night.. 10 minutes after we got home I felt like my water might have broken..but it wasn't much. So I tested it. Ben and I each layed down in the girls beds to get them to sleep..looking at each other like oh my gosh...could this be the real deal?? They finally crashed and I stood up........GUSH! I ran to the bathroom.. and started cheering. haha. And then I cheered some more every time another gush came. My water officially had broken! There was no denying it...no false alarms.. I tried to change my clothes and just made a mess. I had never experienced it like this before!! Our friends who were gonna be on big sister duty were on their way over. Pretty soon our Pastor who lives near us came over..and said a prayer with ben and I for a safe delivery and healthy baby. Contractions were coming stronger and stronger and more frequent. We were putting together the last couple things for the hospital trip...my hospital bag was already in the car..I was cleaning up the family room, kitchen and play room (where my mom was going to be sleeping)... ben telling me to stop the whole time haha. and suddenly more gushes came! non stop! I was standing there half freaking out half laughing (in front of my pastor this whole time...) "It's gushing! It's gushing! What do i do!?" I had no clue how to get to the hospital in this situation. (with sophie it was a trickle then it stopped) My friend told me grab a towel! So that's what we did. We arrived at the hospital with our baby gear..and me dressed but with a towel under me. haha.

They checked me in the triage and at about 10:30 I was still 4 cm with 80-90% effaced. The contractions were getting very painful. (the above photo was before the BAD ones started) I was relieved when they said I was still 4cm because I thought for sure I had time for an epidural. they sent me back to a room for delivery..and ordered the epidural. The contractions were BAD.. insane. my text messages to my family turned into "Owoowowowow" text messages..and then ended all together. I felt like that crazy person on a baby story that was wailing. I had never felt contractions this bad with the girls. FINALLY the epidural came.. I had a 3 minute long contraction that almost made me throw up all over ben.. Lots of "I can't do this I can't do this!!!..and Honey it hurtssssss!!" was being shouted. (as the nurses joked later It was the most controled intensity they had ever seen. haha) As he was giving me the epidural I had 3 more intense ones..the final one happening as he was taking the tape off my back.. I said "I need to lay on my side! I feel pressure!" I seriously felt like I was sitting on the baby while he was giving me the epidural. I rolled over...screamed...Begged the 'epidural guy' to tell me it was going to kick in soon...he totally lied to my face and said yes any minute. The nurse looked down at me...then at ben..and said oohh I think it's going to be someone's birthday right now! I see her get on her phone and say a bunch of code words..The nurses are grabbing my knees and telling me I can bear down and push! The doctor finally arrives for the first time and I push 3 or 4 times... all the while ben looking petrified(I've never seen such a sad scared face. he didn't enjoy seeing me hurting) but he kept cheering me on "you are doing amazing..you're amaing!!"... I can't even describe the pain..It was INTENSE. but finally after those 3 or 4 pushes (thank goodness only 3 or 4!!) Micah was born!! Ben yelled "It's a boy!!!" and he started crying! I started crying!! He tried to make out with me. haha. And then I just kept saying over and over out of breath.."we did it...we did it!!" Then I was like.."we made a boy!"......"We don't have any boy clothes." ;) I had totally forgotten about the boy or girl thing. I was in shock..and when they placed him on my chest I just couldn't even believe it..he was here! and ..he was a boy!!

The doctor came back later to repair me since I could feel everything at the time.

The epidural finally kicked in ten or so minutes after I was holding our Micah.....

So.......

Within an hour...I dilated from 4 - 10 cm

and the baby was coming out on it's own.

INTENSE.

So thankful for a healthy baby boy.. still in awe of him.

Feeling incredibly blessed.

And no we are not done since we had our boy.

having him only makes us want a gajillion more like him!

eventually. ;)

He is SUCH A GOOD BABY!

Ben and I keep joking

(being perfect 3rd children ourselves)

that that is why he is so good. ;)

He is so sweet and snuggly.

So far He only cries when you change his clothes or diaper.

He doesn't like being bare..he likes being snuggled up and cozy.

He's a good nurser.. and an even better sleeper.

We are enjoying this newborn stage, because we know it might not last ;)

The next morning, Sophie and Sienna

stopped by to meet their little brother!

It was incredible. One of the best parts was seeing them fall in love with him.

Their big sister shirts I had ordered off of OldNavy.com

I was wearing my Pretty Designer Hospital Gown by Dear Johnnies.

Sophie was IN LOVE. She just wanted to hold him constantly.

Sienna loved him too..but in a more aggressively

lovey 'I want to poke your eyes out' sort of way.

Their sweet little brother brought them presents!

Sienna wore her fuzzy high heels around the hospital room.

Going Home.

Ben and I enjoyed our time at the hospital..

We gave our nurses and the hospital staff our little thank you goodie bags.

they loved it. I might have gotten into the candy tooo..

We were excited to bring him home!

So far we are all doing really well. I'm a tad sore.

and I forgot how tired nursing makes you. and hungry.

The girls are doing well. Sophie definitely had a hard time the first couple days...

She thinks she is the mom. She was getting upset with me... "I'm upset with you mom!"...

when I would take him to nurse or change his diaper. Or telling us "I got this I got this!"

Hoping that that drama-rama dies down a bit.

I'm so glad we are all home and together. Enjoying the newborn baby snuggles.

He is a good sleeper over all.. sienna is the one who has

been waking up in the night and ONLY wanting me.

Working through those kinks. It's only been a few days..

so giving us time to get settled.

Hope you all have a

wonderful Thanksgiving!

I might have accidently got a chicken instead of a turkey..

but it's still going to be delicious!! ;) (pregnancy brain)