TGIF! Can I get an amen for that??!? The last part of this week has been a doozy which I can't really figure out because we've actually had fewer tantrums. I think the no sleep thing is catching up with me again and I've been few on patience these days.

- One - If anyone ever tells you they slept like a baby feel bad for them...because it's not a good thing. Last night I crawled into bed and was almost asleep when Gannon woke up. I fed him and got him back to sleep only to be woken about two hours later for another round of change & feed the baby. I finally fell back asleep only to be woken a short two hours later by Garrett...screaming his head off. Toddler boy has a thing for stripping lately and decided to try stripping his shirt off in his sleep last night. Turns out he got all tangled up somehow and was nearly strangling himself. Children...

The worst part is that he would NOT go back to sleep so we've been up and at it since 4:45am this morning 😒 Not cool toddler, not cool.

- Two - Thankfully (and luck for everyone I've come in contact with today!) I have plenty of essential oils to combat all the feels on days like this. Here's what I'm getting by with today:

#allmyfavorites #gettinoilywithit

- Three - It's been chilly out here the last few days with some rain on and off but my flowers are FINALLY starting to blossom! I'm thinking we'll see little pops of color in my tulip beds within the next few days and that's pretty dang exciting! I've been itching to plant flowers and such but there are nights it still gets chilly and I'm not about to be hauling all the pots in every night! I'm hoping within the next few weeks I can get them planted though! My other bulbs are just starting to push their way through the soil but hopefully they'll grow quickly!

- Four - I was totally out of ways to entertain Garrett yesterday so I pulled out a favorite of mine from childhood...movie time! We piled blankets and pillows on the floor, popped some popcorn and enjoyed a little Scooby Doo (per Garrett's request). It successfully kept him busy but today he's constantly been asking for another "movie popcorn surprise".

- Five - Did y'all see the giveaway I've got going on? One of my lucky readers will win a minky blanket of their choice courtesy of Studio 26 Boutique! Head over here to enter!

Shop Spotlight: Studio 26 Boutique

What Studio 26 Boutique Is Known For || Studio 26 Boutique is known for handcrafted gifts and accessories for baby and home including burp cloths, bibs, blankets, security blankets, headbands, hair clips, hair ties, toys, and pillows. Owned and operated by Kelsey, Studio 26 Boutique began while on maternity leave. Kelsey decided to turn her (then) hobby into a business which has grown and flourished! Her items are available via Etsy and a few local areas near their home.

What Sets  Studio 26 Boutique Apart? || The variety and adorable prints listed in Studio 26 Boutique are some that you likely won't find elsewhere! I also love the fact that Kelsey creates items for both genders, boys and girls as well as a variety of gender neutral items as well! She really has something for everyone!


Here's a little "about me" via Kelsey herself:


"My name is Kelsey. I am a wife, a mom, an interior designer, animal lover, book worm, and shopping addict. What started out as a sewing hobby, turned into a business endeavor in July 2015.

Along with my husband we handcraft each item in our home in Iowa. We put careful thought and consideration into each material and design we create. We love to test them out on our sweet little boy - Sawyer."


Doesn't she just sound like someone you want to meet up with for a delicious iced coffee? I certainly admire her hard work, creative mind and ambition! It's not easy running a business while being a wife and mom but she makes it seems so easy, one stich at a time!

My Favorite Products || I am over the moon with the blanket that Kelsey created for us, a navy buck head blanket. It is the PERFECT addition to Gannon's nursery and we've gotten so many compliments on it! It is so super snuggly and soft that often times (if I'm being 100% honest) you'll find me cuddled up with it! I also love the size of the blanket. So many times I've ordered blankets and they are either super tiny or much larger than I'd like. This one is just perfect!

There are (of course) other items I'm dying for in the shop! For those of you with little girls I'd totally recommend this burp cloth set! I'm dying over the mix of chevron and tribal. And the colors?! Swoon!

If pink and gold tribal isn't your thing, no worries! How about this darling floral shabby headband? This is so delicate and darling! Definitely on my "to purchase" list should we ever have a little Miss!

And, boy mommas don't you fret! There's plenty for your little man as well! Like this adorable navy mustache burp set. Or perhaps this buck head set?

Perhaps you prefer something a bit more gender neutral? Kelsey totally has you covered! I really like this animal burp set and this yellow grey set too!

Quality + Craftsmanship || Kelsey does incredible work and Studio 26 Boutique is packed full of some of the most adorable items I've seen! Kelsey is SO easy to work with and beyond creative! I love her shop and would recommend it for every momma out there! Her items are made from high quality products with a quick turn around at super fair prices!

Value + Recommendation l l I'm sure it comes as no surprise but I'd highly recommend Studio 26 Boutique! I really feel like these make perfect baby shower/new baby gifts or just a gift for anytime!

Giveaway || Kelsey is such a sweet soul that she's offering a minky blanket to one of my readers. The fabrics will be of the readers choice and I', so, SO excited to see the finished product! Enter via Raffelcopter below! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Pineapple Pretzel Salad

There are few things I can eat and eat and eat until I'm sick. Chocolate is one, margaritas are another (and boy can those make you sick!) and this incredible-ness is another! My aunt first shared this recipe with us and it quickly became a favorite amongst my mom, sister & I. It's super quick to make which is perfect for those last minute get together events! It uses just a few ingredients which are mostly ones we always have on hand anyhow. Considering it has such few ingredients it makes quite a large batch and we often have at least some amount of leftovers after it's shared. (Which is one time where leftovers are A-Ok with me!)

It's a lightly, fluffy salad which makes it perfect for those spring/summer events! It pairs well with just about anything making it great for those bridal/baby showers or nights out grilling on the deck! I'm totally not lying when I say I've made it twice within the last few weeks and have ended up eating about 50% of it myself....those calorie needs are crazy insane while breastfeeding, y'all. Or at least that's how I'm justifying it...

Pineapple Pretzel Salad

You'll Need:

+ 1 cup chopped pretzels

+ 1/2 cup butter, melted

+ 1/2 cup sugar

+ 1 8oz cream cheese

+ 1/2 cup sugar

+ 1 (20oz) can crushed pineapple, drained

+ 1 (12oz) Cool Whip

Follow These Steps:

+ Preheat oven to 400*

+ Combine pretzels, butter and sugar (1/2cup). Press into 9x13 pan. Bake 5-7minutes. Set aside to cool.

+ In bowl, beat cream cheese and remaining sugar (1/2 cup) until creamy. Fold in pineapple and Cool Whip. Place into bowl or 9x13 pan. Chill until ready to serve.

+ Break pretzels mixture into pieces and sprinkle on top of salad when ready to serve.

The instructions actually say to mix the pretzel mixture into the salad but I found that they get soggy much too quickly and that grosses me out. So, we often serve the salad in a pretty bowl and have the pretzels in a smaller bowl on the side. That way they can be sprinkled on top after people have taken their serving. This way the salad is able to be returned to the fridge without the worry of soggy pretzels! And people can sprinkle the pretzels to their liking on the top. I always tend to go a bit heavy on the pretzels with my serving but hey, what can I say?

#breastfeedingismyexcuse

Country Living Adventures

There are just so many things that I love about this country life of ours. Many things I've talked about time and time again on this little blog of mine. But a few weeks ago we had a new experience, one that we've yet to see since moving here. A crop duster working the field right behind our house. I was beyond bummed because I'd just gotten Garrett down for a nap (after a good hour and a half struggle) so he wasn't able to see it. My boy LOVES searching airplanes in the sky so I know he would have just loved seeing this one in action. In typical momma fashion I snapped a ton of photos and a few videos though, to show him the minute he woke up!

Now we're just hoping it makes another stop nearby our house when the boys are actually awake!

The Bump In Review {Round Two}

I shared all my baby bump photos together in my 40 week post with Garrett but realized that I never shared them this time around! How dare I! So to make sure Gannon never feels those "second child" feels I thought I'd use today to do that, share all my bump photos.

So here goes, 40 weeks with Mr. Gannon John:

Ekks. Was my belly really that large? Now, a month post partum it's hard to believe. It's also hard to believe I was ever as tiny as that week five photo! Hello new tush & thighs! I think they are here to stay!

A Little Tractor

The paint is chipped. It's slightly beat up. The seat is a bit rusty. But when I look at this little tractor tears well in my eyes and a lifetime of memories is brought back to me.

This little tractor is 60ish years old. It was purchased by my husband's (late) grandfather for my father-in-law when he was a small child. As he outgrew it this little tractor was passed on through the family. To various cousins, in various states finally making it's way back to Wisconsin when my husband was born. He rode around on this as a small child and when he grew to big to enjoy it, it was tucked into storage. Brought out years and years later to be enjoyed by his nephews as they came along and grew. It's been at my in-laws now for years, hardly being played with as our nephews have grown too big to enjoy it.


This weekend my in-laws dropped it off. A gift passed down through the family it now sits in my garage awaiting endless hours of play time with my growing boys. Garrett is so in love with it and seeing him enjoy it puts a smile on my face. It's the history of this little tractor that means so much to me...knowing that my husband rode it, his father and so many other members of my extended family. But there's something more to it...there's a reason that this little tractor brings tears to my eyes. And that's the very person who bought it.


You see, I grew up next door to my husband's grandparents. They where kind people and we visited them often. My sister and I would gather their mail and bring it to them as the trip down their driveway was a bit much for them in their elder years. My mom also helped out around their house as needed. I remember endless times of playing outside and looking up to see my husband's grandfather watching out the window, a huge smile on his face. It was as if they where our third set of grandparents, wonderful ones at that. Each Christmas they purchased presents for us that they nestled under the tree, right along with all the gifts they purchased for their family. His grandfather would joke with my mother about me dating always making sure she'd promise that I brought the boys over, so he could "approve" them.


I thought highly of his grandparents. And when I awoke one night to an ambulance at their home I was overly sad. For the next morning I'd learned that his grandfather has passed away. Many years sit between that memory and now. I'd met my husband at their house (of course) as a small child, sometime around eight years of age. And as time went on we lost contact. Years later that contact was rekindled thanks to social media and we've not been apart since. We laugh when we think and picture the look on his grandfather's face as he tries to figure out how my husband and I ended up together. Often we wonder if he would have "approved" of my selection for a husband, knowing full well he would have.


And now, having children it hurts a bit knowing that they'll never know him. They'll have stories we share, of course. And Garrett will carry on his memory through his middle name. But they'll never actually know him. There will never be presents under the tree from their Great-Grandpa Merlin. They'll never see that beaming smile as he watches them play out the window. But having this little tractor is like having a piece of him. And getting to watch our boys grow and enjoy it makes it seem like he's right there with them, smiling from the best window. His window up above.

Trips To The Creamery

We have a small creamery just five miles from our house. It's a short drive and one that I love to make as often as possible as the weather warms around these parts. I love heading there with my little family. Reading all the flavors they have, trying something new each time. Licking the ice cream before it drips and seeing the smile on Garrett's face as he gets his very own "kiddie cone". It overlooks the farm that produces the milk used to make the ice cream so Garrett is always pleased to see the cows. And, if we head there late enough at night we're able to sit on the porch, rocking in white wooden chairs and watch the sunset.

It's nothing extravagant. And it normally takes us about a whole half hour to drive there, enjoy our treat and drive back. But there is something about it that soothes my soul. I always leave feeling relaxed and replenished. It's as if that simple ice cream cone melts away the day, no matter how challenging it may have been. And that is just one more reason I love trips to the creamery.

Gannon: One Month

It's sort of funny but in all reality brings a whole lot of tears to my eyes at how quickly time is going. On the chance of sounding like a broken record I just have to put it out there. People always mention that when you first become pregnant..."Watch out! Time goes so fast once you have a baby!" And it's so, so true! That little clock sped right up the minute Garrett made his entrance into the world. But who knew it would double time once again when Gannon came along? I'm trying to enjoy each and every moment of this time but I (sadly) find myself thinking "Gosh, I only have eight weeks left of maternity leave". That's always in the back of my mind no matter how hard I try to shake it. This time, these moments with my littles are escaping me far quicker than I'd like.

One Month As Of 04.18.16

Stats: Gannon's last appointment was at 13 days old. He weighed in at 6lbs 13oz (10%) was still measuring 19 inches in length (2%) and his head circumference was 35cm (29%). We don't see his pedi again until he's two months old.

Features: Still with a head of dark hair which attracts attention wherever we go! His eyes are still very, very blue but I'm nearly sure they'll turn brown. He definitely has Steve's ears, chin and nose! Everyone thinks he's a spitting image of his big brother! 

Sleep: My least favorite topic! During the day he usually takes a semi good nap in the morning, about 1-2 hours. He'll take a comparable nap then in the evening and a shorter one in the afternoon. This varies quite a lot though so I definitely wouldn't say we're on any sort of a "schedule". He's still up every 2ish hours at night to eat. he did sleep 9:30pm to 1am one night this last week in his crib though, which was pretty dang amazing! During the day he naps in his rock and play or on the couch. At night we've been co-sleeping which seems the only way he'll get some sort of sleep at night. It is funny in comparison as Garrett is SUCH a light sleeper and Gannon doesn't sleep well unless there's some sort of noise going on. Quite honestly he sleeps in his rock & play in the kitchen during the day most days as we're constantly in and out of there. It helps that the dishwasher is usually running for his morning nap.

Eating: Still a pro at this! During the day he nurses about every 1-2 hours...closer to the 2 hour mark if I have my way ;) His longest stretch between nursing is when he sleeps at night, from 12am to 3am. Other than that it's 1-2 hours between feedings around the clock. I've also been trying to pump a couple times a day to build up a stock. Between all this I feel like I do nothing but breast feed all day long!  

Diapering: Still in newborns though I think we'll likely use up what we have left and move onto size 1's. He's been leaking though and having more blow outs so it's time to move up I think!  

Clothing: All newborns! He is definitely growing as his newborn clothes are getting snugger on him but the 0-3 months are still large. I was looking at his 0-3 month sleepers and picked out some of the smaller ones, I think he may fit into some of them without them being ridiculously large on him.

Social: He continues to be more and more alert though those periods are still pretty short during the day. More and more things seem to catch his eye though his favorites remain the fans and the trees out the windows. We've tried a few toys (with lights and noise) but he's far more content with the trees. He turns his head to more voices these days but if big brother is around he's generally trying to find him! I've been trying to get Garrett to spend time sitting and talking with him but Garrett is more content to squish Gannon while saying "Hi!", "You're so cute!", "Aww! He loves me!" or "You're my best friend". When Gannon cries Garrett will sometimes break out singing the ABC's which only sometimes help. I swear I caught his first smile this morning and (of course) it was directed at his big brother! He's rolled over once and I'm certain he'd likely do it more often if he had the chance to get uninterrupted tummy time. I have to be super careful of letting him lay on the floor because Garrett is either squishing him or prancing around the living room nearly forgetting that Gannon is laying on the floor.


Momma: To put it simply, I have my moments. The no sleep thing really gets to me some days and I have the hardest time keeping myself awake. There has literally been days I fall asleep on the couch (for super short periods of time) while Garrett is playing and wake in a panic about what he's doing/where he is. Not my finest moments but when I'm up from 1am to 10pm and then awake between those hours as well it's a reality...especially when I get that amount of sleep days in a row. Last night I got about 3ish hours of sleep and the same the night before making me a bear this morning. I'm not afraid to admit it in the least as I think about anyone would be edgy with my current sleep "schedule". My patience is (obviously) lacking in those moments which makes for a challenging day with a toddler and newborn in the house. I try to stay as patient and calm as possible but sometimes it really gets to me. I feel a little less "blue" this time, at least so far. Though that may be because I have no time to think about my feelings. It's diapers, breastfeeding, play with toddler sun up to sun down...everyday. I'm hoping that I can maintain that and avoid a struggle with PPD again.

Likes: Watching the trees out the windows and fans, big brother! Eating and cuddling! He loves his baths and just fusses a bit with getting undressed and then dressed.

Dislikes: Having his hair dried, getting undressed/dresses, getting into his car seat (he's fine once we start to move though, thankfully!), being alone in a room.

Where I've Been

I've gotten a whole lot of the "Hey! Where have you been lately?" from various people. I sort of look at them funny and want to laugh when I hear that question.


Where am I? Where am I?

I'm at home raising the two cutest boys in all of the world. Changing endless amounts of diapers. Cleaning baby spit up off of nearly every shirt I own. Sneaking chocolate when the toddler isn't looking. Chasing around said toddler who seems to know no fear. Reading books. Squeezing little hands through tiny sleeves. Reheating my cappi at least four times every day. Counting down hours until the next naptime comes around. Trying to figure out how long it's been since I showered. Breast feeding 24/7. Watching countless hours of The Incredibles, Horton Hears a Who, Meet the Robinsons & Cars. Attempting to find time to eat one hot meal a day. Wondering what I filled my time with before children. Singing the ABC's. Counting to 13. Cuddling my littlest in the wee hours of the morning. And wondering why the heck 3:11pm (the time daddy gets home) takes so dang long to get here some days!


So, if you're curious. That's where I am. And while some days I feel in way over my head I am loving every single stinking minute with these two little men. Seriously, every single minute. Even when my face and need for a 10am margarita tells you otherwise 😉 

Gannon: Three Weeks

I feel like someone played a terrible trick on us and sped the clocks up. There is NO way that it's been a whole week again, already! The calendar tells me it's true though so here we are!

Three Weeks Old As Of 04.08.16 

Update: Talk about a week! Whew! Steve went back to work on Monday and we've been in full survival mode since! Monday and Wednesday where good days...we all lived, I managed to get something done around the house, Garrett went down for a nap well and Gannon actually napped at the same time meaning momma had some time to herself! Win! Tuesday was a dreadful day as Garrett seemed determined to get on my nerves and it worked! He screamed, threw tantrum after tantrum and refused to nap. Ugh! Top that with an increase in breastfeeding (didn't even think that was possible with our previous eat constantly schedule) due to a lovely two week growth spurt and momma was ready to pull her hair out! Yesterday was another crazy day as well. Garrett seems to be struggling a bit more this week in the "getting attention" area which comes out in him refusing to eat, sleep and getting into absolutely everything he shouldn't be. Yesterday he'd run off while I was breastfeeding and get into some sort of trouble. While I was cleaning up that mess (all while breastfeeding) he'd run off and make another. That is, in fact how the poop finger painting session (freaking gross) took place as well as how I ended up with an entire bag of pretzels dumped in the middle of the living room floor. Oyy! Today I broke out my Moby wrap which proved a good idea as Gannon took a super nap in it this morning! Praise Jesus as he was up grunting and fussing all night, literally all night. Garrett ate a huge bag of fruit snacks for lunch and squirted my homemade bubble bath all over the bathroom creating a sticky, slippery mess. He's also currently been laying in bed for an hour trying to prolong nap time. Children...

Needless to say this week has been a challenge. A huge, hot mess express challenge. There have been a few moments where I've looked at Gannon and thought "It's great you're cute and I love you lots or I'd be wondering what the h--l I did to my life". This is totally a season, this I know. It will pass and I'll look back one day and laugh...but holy cow is it frustrating right now!

Stats: We don't see the pedi again until Gannon is two months so I don't have a height/weight update for now. I still think it's so crazy though, how little Gannon is. I can't get over his tiny little fingers and legs!

Features: As his jaundice fads we're able to see his eye color a bit more and it's the most gorgeous greyish blue. It sort of makes me sad to think that he'll likely lose that unique color and have brown eyes, like his dad and brother.

Sleep: Ahh! The sleep habits of a newborn! The past few days have been especially difficult as I think the lack of sleep is really getting to me! It never fails that Gannon wakes up and is ready to rumble for awhile. He eats about every 1-2 hours meaning he's up and awake a lot. He's sort of a stinker like his brother was at this age and the minute we lay him down at night he's wide awake and wanting to start the whole process all over again. He sleeps on and off through out the day, usually for a couple hours at a time.

Eating: We're totally in the middle of a growth spurt I'm sure! We've been breastfeeding non-stop! It's frustrated me a number of times this past week as I feel like it's literally all I do as there where a few days where we didn't take a break from it for longer than 10-15 minute intervals. It was exhausting! Today has been a bit better. Steve had picked up some supplementation formula so we've been doing 1-2 bottles of that each day...just to give me a little break. I ultimately end up overfull then so I usually try and pump during that time. If I'm lucky I'm able to pump 1-2ozs which is almost one feeding for this growing boy! I have no stash of milk as I can't hardly keep up now but there's part of me that's still hoping!

Diapering: Newborns-Pampers Swaddlers

Clothes: All newborns! Lots of sleepers as I'm too lazy to mess with all those tiny clothes when we're just hanging out at home!

Social: Talk about more alert every day! I can't hardly believe it! He's slowly seeming to notice more and more things around him. He loves to look out the windows and watch the trees and hang out on his play mat! He seems to recognize Steve's voice as well as mine and big brothers! He likes to stare at the fans and lights as well. In a total fluke (I'm nearly sure of it) he rolled belly to back at the beginning of this week!


In other Gannon news:


- His cord (FINALLY!) fell off on Wednesday! Ya-hoo! That resulted in his first tub bath last night (04.07.16). He surprisingly didn't scream until I took him out of the bath tub and was super content the entire time! I expected a scream fest as he hates being undressed and having his diaper off!


- Big brother continues to love the heck out of him! I literally have to tell Garrett to let him breathe a little during the day as he would spend the entire day half laying on top of him, tell him how much he loves him. It's so, so cute but Gannon gets a bit frustrated with it from time to time.

Easter 2016

I knew when thinking about and making our Easter plans for this year that I really wanted to have Easter be fun for Garrett and attempt to stick to some of our traditions...even if I had just given birth 😉 With Gannon's due date being March 23rd and Easter being the 27th I wasn't looking forward to possibly being in the hospital for Easter. Lo and behold there where other plans in store for us though, we ended up being induced on the 18th. We discharged from the hospital on the 20th and my mind went into total Easter mode!

We'd already baked, frosted and decorated cookies so that was one messy tradition checked off the list!

Next was dying Easter eggs...another messy activity!

The day before Easter we spent the afternoon at my in-laws. My husband's parents where there, his grandmother (whom is in her mid 90's) along with his sister, her boyfriend and her three children, our nephews. Let me tell you that getting us together usually means lots of noise and loads of wrestling. Her boys are 10, 7 & 5 and love to tackle each other. Throw in our 2.5 year old and you've got a recipe for noise! The afternoon sped by with lots of Easter egg throwing (the adults took part too) and sugar induced fun! Garrett managed to hit just about everyone up for a cookie which resulted in him eating five, yes FIVE Easter cookies. Throw in the two juice boxes my sister-in-law gave him and he was wired!

Easter morning started with an Easter egg hunt. Sadly we had to keep it indoors as the weather was cruddy outside. Garrett had fun finding the eggs though and was even more excited to find that they where filled with treats!

I whipped up bunny pancakes then while Garrett played with the Easter eggs and Gannon soaked up daddy cuddles. My pancakes left much to be desired but being a whole nine days postpartum, it worked 😉

Next came Easter basket hunting. I did a basket for all three of the boys this year and that was such fun! We hid them and gave Garrett clues to find them. Garrett's was in our coat closet, Gannon's in his crib and Steve's was in the fridge (being that it was a beer basket)

 We then packed up the boys and headed to my grandparents for Easter dinner, an egg hunt and visiting with family. The weekend left us all exhausted but it was very much worth it, to continue our traditions! 

And, this wouldn't be complete without a {blurry} photo of my handsome boys!