five on friday

happy weekend before Thanksgiving week!!
how is it already time for turkey?

one. thankful

this week we celebrated thanksgiving with a chicken tender + green bean feast at the girls' preschool. I am always eager to see what creative things my girls come up with at school especially during this time of year- so many cute little arts and craft projects that Parker and Jolie are SO proud to show me. last year they made these really darling placemats- and I was excited to see them again this year!  when I went to admire Jolie's mat my eyes welled in tears for what she is thankful for.  this girl has a great big heart, I tell ya.  they apparently talk about baby brother A LOT in class, which makes me really happy!

in case you were curious- Parker Jane is thankful for the color pink.

me too, girlfriend.  me too.

two. thanksgiving!!!

I cannot believe we have ended yet another week of November and are walking into the week of Thanksgiving!  I totally have my stretchy pants ready. 

I always skip the turkey and go straight for the green bean casserole, potatoes, stuffing.. Jordan's mom always makes broccoli rice casserole and its gone in minutes.

this year we are staying close to home and not traveling to several holiday meal gatherings- just one! turkey day will come and we will eat, probably multiple times that day, watch football, and take naps.

probably multiple times that day:) 

what are ya'll making for the big meal?  

these smashed sweet potatoes sound delicious!

holiday brussels sprouts!

classic corn casserole is always super easy to throw together..

I've made this wild rice casserole before and its so yummy!

you can always make the risotto I mentioned above! I am actually going to make it for our gathering because its so darn easy!  Ive made this butternut squash and spinach dip a couple times last year over the Christmas season and it was a giant hit!

I just cant wait to eat. 

reflecting back on this month and what its truly about, I'm so thankful for so many things.. including the color pink.

three. easy in the oven

ya'll!  I made risotto in the oven this week!!  this butternut squash risotto was delicious.. and freaking easy.  I was really skeptical.. 5 minutes on the stove + another 20 minutes in the oven- how well would this actually turn out without the constant 30-45 minutes of stirring of the rice to creamy perfection. BUT I was pleasantly surprised and excited to try it again with different versions of this creamy goodness.  risotto of any kind might be Jordan's favorite meal, so this is a giant game changer for me!  

four. more nursery things 

more progress!  this week knabe woodwork installed the custom bar wood door in the nursery.  the room is oddly shaped and there is really only one large wall where the crib and most likely the changing table will go.. but the closet door opens up onto that wall- loosing space I didn't want or have. I told Jordan when we decided on making this room the nursery that I wanted to just take the door off and have an open closet or something of the like- I had seen on pinterest and other blogs.. and then then after many other ideas we decided together about the barn wood style door.  

ITS AMAZING. 

there is a large window with stained brown shutters on the opposite wall of the room that match this barn door- the accents of wood will go perfectly with the style I'm going for!

 when Caitlin and Nick came to install the door they also brought this sweet little baby gift.  I probably cried.  I guess its been an emotional week for me:) 

..AND we have started to discuss paint!!  going for a true grey color in his room.  we did decide on a crib and we are picking it up next week (!!) and after dinner the other night Jordan and I swung through Lowe's to browse color options.  this is just one of the few sample cards we picked up- I'm all ears for your recommendations!  I really don't want yellow or green or blue undertones at all whatsoever.  there will literally be zero blue of any shade in his room, so I want to stay away from that in paint.  

fire away those ideas- please!

five. back to the basics

tired of seeing the belly, yet? I have felt really large this week. 

just saying.

THESE amazing Gap pure body tees (I also LOVE the tanks + henley's + long sleeve crews) are on super sale.  $10 bucks for the tanks (normally around $24), and $12 for tees.  I end up getting two in most of the colors I buy mainly because I love them for both sleep and wearing outside the house. tanks for layering under anything and everything, henley and long sleeve tees for wearing under vests, cardigans, and casually with jeans and boots or sneakers! 

Use code YAY at checkout for 40% your entire purchase 

the best maternity basic I can recommend. hands down.

baker bree | 16 months

here we are.  sixteen months. its been a big month of change and "firsts" for this little gal.  

we were sick for a lot of this month, so dealing with that on top of a lot of change has been a little rough, but we have seen the light!  and its always this little girl.

 pointing fingers and furrowed brows during intense discussions about who knows what.

..I am always up for Baker's explanation of why the dog is barking or a train whistled. 

while this is all in babbles and baby chatter, we are starting to catch a word here and there.

..dad (all day), MOM! which sounds more like meem, hi, di-di (which is her paci), more, fish, dog..

but no real sentences.

this month you have gone from 4 1/2 teeth (the front four plus the front right incisor) to EIGHT teeth, with number 9 and 10 on their way in. 

..those molars are NO JOKE and you've got four coming in at once.   

heartbreaking cries and your baby hands around your mouth as if you are in so much pain come out 2-3 times a day if someone is not carrying you around on their hip.

..I've learned that if I can get you occupied in something else independently, you are totally fine.

early in the month you were basically refusing everything I offered you, a true hunger strike with zero interest in anything.

..but this is typically a direct result when you are cutting teeth.

over the last week or so you are eating everything under the sun.

..we went from nibbles to shovels over night. 

pasta, turkey and cheese, waffles or pancakes and syrup, dry cereal, french fries, eggs..
your definite favorites right now are oatmeal, spoonfuls of nut butter- we just have to stop giving it to you and hide the jar of peanut butter to get you to give up on that.. grilled cheese, corn dogs, chicken, strawberries, raspberries, grapes, applesauce, milk and yogurt.

I am so thankful food is of interest to you again!

you continue to be the greatest little cuddle bug.

..but daddy has gotten his fair share of love from you this month, little miss.

NO ONE compares to your dad right now.  

your entire world could be ending with no where to turn except your mama and you will just walk straight away from me searching for your dad with giant tears rolling down your face.

thanks, sister.

anywhere he is, you are very close behind.  

DADADADADADADADA

all day.

you understand and pick up on things very quickly.

..smart as a whip, that Baker Bree. 

it typically takes one time of showing you how things are done, and you nail it the very next try.

..puzzles, games, actions - go get it. 

while all this is true, you have become very dramatic.
you to make your big sisters squeal in frustration after you steal their toys.

..and if something isn't going the way you think it is supposed to, you become very frustrated and tears are quick to make their debut.

its clear that those crocodile tears aren't 'real' tears.

..you are all smiles after a little help from mom or dad.

your belly laughter is the best when it comes from the deep.

..almost like a growl from below before bursting into an all out squeal when daddy tickles you.  

you ask for those tickles, too.

..no matter how high dad throws you, how fast the spins, or how long he swings you, its never enough.

you're contagious laugh is ALWAYS credited with a head toss and an open mouth.

your demeanor started to mold and change last month.

..and this month you have become this sweet BIG helper.

cleaning up your toys, unloading the silverware from the dishwasher, and above all throwing things away, anything you can 'do', you will.

..right down to the smallest speck on the ground, you girl, you will find it and trot right over to the trash can.  

on the opposite hand, you have become hilariously defiant.  

..you find humor in all things that can get you in trouble.

and it takes everything we have not to laugh.

you'll walk close to the trash can and raise your eyebrows as you look around to me or your dad.

..and climb up onto the couch, with a quick peek over your shoulder to see who is watching.

and take off down the hall with a stolen toy just begging for someone to come chase you.

..and then comes the crumbling to the floor in hysterics because you've been 'caught'.

your giggles are out of control cute..

and most of the time you listen when corrected.

the BIGGEST stinker of them all..

 ..and the face we get when we call you a stinker:

 the patch

I mentioned Baker's eye patching in last month's update after we went to see the pediatric ophthalmologist for her right eye. it has been slightly pulling to the middle, especially when she is tired, so we were advised by our pediatrician to get it checked out.  the thankfully the pulling doesnt seem to be affecting her vision at all, and its purely cosmetic (at this point), so we were advised to patch her eye for a couple hours every day while she plays or eats to strengthen that muscle.  

this sweet girl has continued to impress me with her acceptance of this patch!  I almost snorted/chuckled/laughed right in that doctor's face when he handed me the sample patches to start placing over her eye.  there was NO WAY this busy child, the business of all three of them, was going to stop for 3 seconds to let me put this giant sticker over her eye.  

alas, I was completely wrong.

there are some days, most days really, she doesn't mind it at all.  she lets us put it on without a fight and she plays independently while wearing the patch for the two hours thats recommended she wear it everyday and other days she whines and fusses and pushes our hands away when we try to put it on.. other days she occasionally requires her pacifier for the entire time she's wearing the patch and is under my feet or on my hip for security about it- we usually don't make it the full two hours on those days.

overall its going GREAT and I'm confident we are doing the right thing by strengthening her eye.  we go back to the ophthalmologist in a couple weeks for a follow up to make sure that her eye is not getting worse and we hope to hear that the patching has actually improved the muscle strength.  we will see!  she's awfully cute while wearing, I must say:) 

Baker, you have no idea how much you have molded this family of ours.  you couldn't have been a more perfect addition to our crew- bringing light into our world just when the Lord knew we needed it the most.  I continue to thank Him every single day for your smiling face and the glee you illuminate with every expression you give.

we love you so, girlfriend.

sixteen month photo dump

five on friday

this is what I woke to this Friday morning. pallet on the floor next to my bed and two little babes in their Christmas jammies. 

one. so.much.love

all the encouragement and lifting of my spirits is SO appreciated.  I cried through reading all of your experience and mama drama and I am thankful for each and every one of you.  I saw this quote on the blanqigirls IG while browsing before bed last night.. and its PERFECT.

 the texts and calls and emails and comments.  seriously overwhelmed with support.

we've got a great community!

..and this little gem laded in my inbox last night as I was getting everyone in bed.  

if only Starbucks delivered Amazon Prime style.

my friends know what I need and when I need it the most.

two. speaking of my favorite drink!

I about lost my marbles when I pulled through the drive through at Starbucks and saw the picture of their Christmas drinks- chestnut praline latte is BACK!  ya'll.. last year my Kroger Starbucks put the left over bottles of chestnut praline syrup on sale for like $4 bucks.  and I bought all that they had:) 

its so good. 

half-caf, non-fat, no whip- please!! 

the salted caramel mocha has been too sweet for my pregnancy tastebuds, so I had been getting picky with my order (1 pump mocha, 2 pumps toffee nut.. etc) and this is the perfect amount of sweet! 

three. baby boy things

I've spent the entire week thinking and planning for a baby boy.  I'm about to hit 21 weeks (on Sunday) and literally cannot get over HOW DARLING baby boy things are!! I plan to do nursery updates as they come along.. but, as of right now, the nursery is piled with clothing I need to box and ship from the incredible closet purge I did of the girls' clothes over at my IG sale page(@shopmasseya) last weekend..oh and a giant gun safe that is as tall as I am.  BUT. we have a a few fun details we have picked up and BB has surprised me with so many fun things that are perfect for his nursery, too!  

I LOVE this bronze star mobile- none of my kiddos had mobiles in their room, so he will be the first! these pacifier clips.. and omg the personalization is so sweet! this tank romper, that I need to find the sweetest black cardigan for him to wear home from the hospital with his personalized beanie hat- all his sisters had these hats for the hospital (and after) and he has one, too!! the weather is so weird in March- its either 90 degrees or snowing.  so we will see:)  I also have a few of these newborn bodysuits to tote along in my hospital bag for the little guy.

four. christmas jammies! 

hands down my favorite place to buy pajamas, outside of hanna andersson is gap and old navy.  they are relatively cheap and go on sale about half the time.  HA are SUCH good quality, and the twins are actually able to wear their hanna christmas pajamas from last year and they still look brand new, but by the time I buy three pairs of pajamas its over $100! so I have to be picky about how I spend my monies there.  just for fun.. here are some of the holiday jams I stocked up on while they are on sale this week!!

five. birthday planning fun!

I sent the twins' party invites out this week!  I cant believe I'm about to have two FOUR year olds next month!  life is flying by!! I thought Baker's strawberry party was my favorite, but I really think this paint party might be even more fun!  I got a giant box in the mail from sweet lulu this week and I about fell over dead with all the precious rainbow details.