photo NavTwit_zpsc1rktw78.png photo NavIG_zpsaip8p7oy.png photo NavPin_zpsuu9kgez7.png photo NavBL_zpscv6phppl.png


7.31.2015

Friday Favs | Baby Girl Faces

Its Friday!  And is been a busy w e e k.  I still feel like we are going through the motions of transition to a family of five relatively easy, but Jordan went back to work (officially) this week, leaving me at home with three babes.  Thankfully Parker and Jolie have been amazing and great big sister helpers, so its not been a complete cluster - we even made our way out of the house to do a little girl shopping - but at the end of the day, my heavy eyes get the best of me after the house is quiet and its just me and my sweet Baker.  I could cuddle all day long with this girl - she is THEE best at that.
It makes it really hard to put her down to bed at night.
There has been lots of talk about 'who Baker favors' and Jordan and I go back and forth as to who we think she resembles the most.  Sometimes she's ALL Parker (those cheekies and button nose are so delicious), while I feel like her little lips, chin, and wide eyes are just the spitting image of Jolie when she was a tiny little thing.

   I was going through my phone of old pictures of the twins (I keep my most favorite memories on my phone so I can go back and look at them at night after everyone is asleep.. I know I'm not the only mama that does that) and came across some photos that I had to do a double take.  I went back and put the pictures into a side by side and it is amazing how similar our littlest sister looks of both her older sisters.

Parker -- Baker
 Baker -- Jolie

Baker is just the perfect blend of Parker and Jolie - and I LOVE that!
What do you think?  

Photobucket

7.30.2015

WE EAT | Grilled Chicken Burrito Bowls

Life since adding in a third babe to the mix has been busy.  Even when we don't leave the house for the day's entirety I still feel like I've been run ragged by 5pm.. and I still have 3 hours before bedtime.
I use that word (bedtime) loosely as it seems to be later and later every night.  Still working on getting into the groove of this new baby thing, but we are barely into our third week, so I can get a pass for that very reason, yes? 
The evening seems to be our busiest time- and when time flies the fastest, so I don't want to spend a terrible amount of time prepping and making a dinner meal for my family.  
Easy is what I will be looking for during this season of transition, and easy is exactly what this meal is.  Oh, and delicious.  That matters, too:)

I used farro as the base grain for these bowls because thats what I had on hand leftover from the Greek Farro Bowls I lived and loved off of the last couple weeks of pregnancy,  but you can surely use quinoa, rice, orzo.. all of them would be equally delicious.

Corn is in season and so, so yummy- and I took the opportunity to bargain shop the sweet corn while its just about ten cents an ear.  In the summer there is no better way to eat it than grilled with a little butter and garlic salt brushed as it cooks.
Grilled Chicken Burrito Bowls
inspired by Iowa Girl Eats
1 pounds chicken breasts, grilled
(I used a pre-packaged + marinated chicken -- easy!)
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed 
1-1/2 cups cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1-1/2 cups fresh sweet corn
(I grilled the corn and shaved it from the cob)
4 ounces freshly shredded cheese (I like a Mexican blend)
1 small head romaine lettuce, rough chopped
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 cups farro, cooked and drained 
(I cooked the farro according to package directions using chicken broth - adding salt, lime juice, and cilantro)
Additional Toppings:
0% plain Greek yogurt
Guacamole 
(avocado, lime juice, cilantro, salt to taste)
Fresh or store-bought salsa
--
Scoop cooked cilantro farro into bowls then top with grilled chicken, beans, cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, shredded cheese, romaine lettuce, and onion.  Serve with additional toppings, if desired!
See.. easy.  REALLY easy.
Jordan and the girls ate these as is, and I drizzled mine with a little homemade lemon vinaigrette dressing.  You could say that these bowls might just be a copy-cat recipe from your favorite famous burrito place.  
We always make leftovers of this kind of thing, and when I store it in the fridge for next day's eating, I put each component into their own tupperware so that it doesn't become one big soggy mess.
This is a family favorite of ours and I hope you enjoy it, too!

Photobucket

7.28.2015

Naming Baker Bree | Newborn Photoshoot

When asked how we came about deciding on  the name Baker for our newest girl, it is sort of a boring story.. and basically it comes down to the fact that "it just felt right".
Have you ever had one of those moments?  
Where you just know in your gut that this (whatever this is) is right?

I've had plenty of those in my 30 years of life, but I recognize this feeling when naming the littlest sister.  It was the same exact feeling I had when we decided on the name for Jolie. 
In the past, talking about kiddos, we always had our number one girl name (Parker) and number one boy name.. so when we found out we had not just one baby, but two baby girls to name - we thought long and hard about what name we would choose for the second baby girl.
Jolie Grace.  It felt right.  And now, she couldn't possibly be anyone else but Jolie.

When we found out we were pregnant this time around, I sent the running list of names to Jordan that we had compiled over the last several years and he picked a handful of girl names and a handful of boy names.  After announcing "Its a Girl!" we went through the names Jordan had picked as his 'favorites' and I came across the name Baker.  I don't even remember when I put that name on 'the list', but sometime along the way I had heard it somewhere and threw it on there almost as an afterthought.
While I was dead set on another name that was also on Jordan's short list,  after saying her name out loud, "Baker",  we just kept coming back to it.  It just felt 'right'.  The same right we felt when we named our precious Jolie Grace.
That might seem silly and less than exciting to some, but it held a familiar meaning for us. 
Baker was decided just a few days after finding out we were having a girl, and "Bree" is Jordan's mom's name - well known here on the blog as BB.

Fist names are up in the air and can be whatever our heart's desire.
We keep middle names in the family.
Parker is named after her great grandmother, Jane
Jolie is named after her great grandmother, Grace
..and Baker is named after her grandmother, Bree.

When we set her name in stone, we opted to keep it a secret (from everyone - family, friends, and strangers) mostly because we just wanted to keep the element of surprise and besides,  it was really fun!  Jordan's aunt would group text us everyday with the most randomly selected names. Jordan's mom and dad would heckle the twins for hints on what we decided on- just to give us a hard time.  

Baker Bree was extra special to us and making this pregnancy we had hoped and prayed so diligently for just a little bit different this time around was why we ultimately kept her name close to our hearts and didn't share with anyone.  








 This flower hair bow was the same bow that the twins wore when Brittany shot their newborn photos.  
I'm a puddle.

 The watch was a gift from Brittany- it is an antique infant watch that is set to the exact time she was born: 10:21am
Yep.  I cried.




I couldn't be more proud of my family.  Looking at these pictures, my eyes well with happy tears, and all I can think is how incredibly lucky I am.  
I could do this motherhood gig one billion times over again.
I love my people.

photography / b faith photography

baker
glitter crown / little blue olive
glitter watercolor headwrap c/o shelby chic boutique
feather angel wings / couture baby headbands
custom lace bow c/o jameson monroe

parker + jolie
sailor bow / free babes
Photobucket

7.27.2015

Supper Club Newbies

This weekend we had our first Supper Club since the babies were born.  I remember talking about amongst the girls last month (while very pregnant) and thinking it would never get here, and here we are with a recap.
But first- this teeny tiny baby girl turned 2 weeks old on Saturday.
Still sleeping a lot, but she stays awake between 1 or 2 feedings every day and still as sweet as ever.  I think her daddy could agree - we could snuggle her all day long.
Who has/needs a to-do list, anyway.
lace bow / baby jules boutique // pocket romper / remie co
Back to Supper Club..
We decided that a late lunch would be the most fun (and easiest for bedtime routines for the new bebes), so after a rather non-existent nap time for the twins (that is happening more often these days, I'm afraid), we headed over to the Cabrera's with our bathing suits in tow.
bathing suits / gap // piggie clips c/o ellia may designs
 It was the perfect day for the pool- rather warm out..and after we ate a casual lunch the older kiddos and the boys were the first in the pool
 Me and this new mama sat the sidelines with our babes - the patio was covered and cool.  Neither of us were quite ready to get in a suit just yet, but still enjoyed the conversations over raspberry lemonade and baby cuddles.
Snack break - and just about the only time these two paid any mind to me while we were there.  
The pool is w a y cooler than mom.
I didn't mind the ice cream cone faces!
 While we tried to make it an early night.. 9pm rolled around so quickly - and Toy Story on the tv screen was all it took for these sweet kiddos to stop running a million miles an hour while we adults continued our random conversations about anything and everything.
I always enjoy my people and thankful to do life with them and their growing families!
Then a little bit on S U N D A Y
Because a pedicure with my newest girl is worth documenting. I was desperate and mentioned to Jordan that the only thing I REALLY wanted to do this weekend was get a pedicure.  My feet were desperate and have been heavily neglected this summer due to an enormous baby bump.  
After my much needed pedi we headed over for dinner and more swimming with the Singleton's.  Mandy cooked us a yummy dinner, and the girls played non-stop until we peeled them away to make our way home.   
These girls are just a couple months apart and always have the best time together!
Fruit Snacks + Besties
They are growing so quickly!
Super easy weekend spent with friends and their families - definitely another great weekend for the books! I never want these summer weekend days to end.  5 more days until Friday.  

Who else is counting down?  Happy Monday!  XO!

Photobucket

7.24.2015

One Week-ish

Its been just one week since we've made our way home from the hospital, and honestly I cannot express how 'smooth' its been since introducing this new baby girl that makes our family of five.
Texts, emails, messages.. all wishing us well in hopes for an easy transition, and well, I keep waiting for it to blow up in my face because it is going really well.  
The twins adore 'Baker Baby' more than I can even express into words.  We spend a good part of our day talking about that little babe, and most of the talking is actually kissing and smothering hugging Baker.  Since being home, we have been relatively busy..we didn't skip a beat after our hospital discharge last Wednesday, and I'm sort of thankful for that.  Thursday was nice to just be at home after spending 5 days in the hospital away from our sweet 'big' girls, but with two toddlers in the house, it was evident that by the end of the day they were ready to be out.  Like, out, out.
And I was exhausted.  
 Our days have consisted of snuggles and more snuggles and lots of naps in between before we made time to get out of the house for a little bit
 Dinner at the Dunaway's was our first 'outing' as a family of five.  We ordered thai take-out and spent the evening lounging with the newbie parents and their sweet little buddy, Grayson.
 ..and more snuggles.
I about died when I put on Parker and Jolie's preemie jammies on Baker.  That sleeper is my favorite and the twins wore it all the time.  Newborn clothes swallow her up - and I was thankful to have held on to those teeny preemie items the girls wore for the first month after they were born.
All the feels, ya'll.
 ..and naps.
Oh, but you know, there is always the dress up of that tiny dancer.  I forgot how baby things are just way, way precious.

 Baker is not a huge crier.  She fusses, because hello she's a newborn, but really it's when she's hungry and when she needs a new diaper, but her fussiness is better described as grunts and whines than real crying.  It is also the cutest thing you've ever heard.  Diaper changes are not her favorite (!!!) but once she gets a dry diaper on her bum, she is silent and very interested in her surroundings. 
She sleeps 3-4 hours at night between feedings and wakes me with these grunts I speak of.. 
As far as night time goes - we are all sleeping pretty well.  She eats, and gets a clean diaper all in about 30-45 minutes and goes right back to sleep.  
Can I just say what an enormous difference it is to breastfeed one baby?
I remember with the twins it would be an hour and a half of me and Jordan awake together to feed the twins and then awake again a hour and a half later.  
So- this time around I am feeling like it is pretty breezy. I think we've approached that two week growth spurt- her nursing sessions are lasting a bit longer and the time in between is shorter. 
 Saturday we headed out to do the last minute shopping we had planned for the week prior until Baker made her own plans for us.  We just needed a handful of items, but it was still fun - Target is always a safe place.
I also tried out my new Solly Baby Wrap - and after watching the videos a couple times and with the help of Jordan we got her situated while we strolled the baby aisles.  
Its amazing how exhausting a short trip like that can be.  
Sister love.  LOTS of sister love.
 We met Brittany in the neighborhood earlier this week for Baker's newborn pictures and I cannot wait to get them back! The twins cooperated as best as 2.5 year olds could, and Baker slept sweetly after the first half hour of observing her surroundings.  
She was so enthused by the sounds of being outside and was WIDE awake.
Again with the teeny baby dress up:)
 more sleeps..
 ...being 10 days old is just the sleepiest.
 On Wednesday we went for Baker's first pediatrician appointment at 11 days old.  The twins were glad to be there for Baker and not themselves.
She left the hospital a week earlier at 6 pounds 8 ounces and when she was weighed at the doctor she was 7 pounds 4 ounces.  Yippee!  I was so excited to have her well above birth weight before that two week mark.   
 Big sisters keeping their littlest sister company while we waited on Dr. Butler.
 Daddy talks.  His love for our girls makes my heart swell.  I have this exact same picture of he and the twins at one of their monthly pedi checkups.
We left the appointment with doctor praises and first sight of baby rolls (please can she be a chunky monkey?), with instructions to return at her one month birthday.
We made a few more stops before home - and she slept the entire time.
 Sister snuggles.  More of them.  Over and over and over.  
We have made it a habit this week to pile into our bed first thing in the morning with coffee for daddy and me and smoothies for Parker and Jolie.. and DVR'd Bubble Guppies.
It is my favorite part of the day.   
 As this week ends and we quickly approach her second week of life, I cannot thank the sweet Lord enough for how life has been for us these last 13 days.  Baker has been the perfect addition, and her big sisters have played their role beautifully.  They continue to impress me every single day with how well they have taken to this wild transition. 
The bond they have created and the excitement they have over their new baby sister just keeps me glowing with mother pride.  
Heres to the end of the first week.  I cant wait for an eternity of weeks with my family of five.  

Photobucket
Pin It button on image hover