Mother’s Day gift guide for the new mom

Happy May! Nothing feels better than hanging outside with short sleeves and taking the kids out without lugging coats and blankets. May is also the month of mom! Cheers to all the moms! In case you haven’t heard lately, you are doing an amazing job! I’ve put together some of my picks for Mother’s Day gifts. These are specific to the new mom, because let’s face it, she’s a category all her own! God Bless her, she is sleep deprived, figuring out new family rhythms, and if I can guess, she probably needs some alone time (or self care as I like to call it). So I’ve paired each gift with a moment to herself. (See below!)

Savannah & Co. garland

Savannah & Co. tassel garland + cleaning

This soft bamboo yarn tassel garland is custom made and a portion of sales go towards buying massages for moms so you can feel good about your purchase! Pair this with a clean home (hire that cleaning person) and mom can relax and take in the beauty of her home. This shop is local to Lexington, Kentucky.

Girl Stop Apologizing

Girl Stop Apologizing + pedicure

After reading, Girl Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis, her next book is on my wishlist. This book is motivational, and self care all in one. Pair this with a pedicure, and mom can get out of the house, put her feet up and read ALONE. She will come back feeling invigorated and relaxed.

Raising Y'all Mimi blanket

Raising Y’all Mimi blanket + wine

What a mom really wants? To cuddle with her kids but WITH HELP! So bring her a glass of wine so she can snuggle up with her kids in these adorable handmade blankets. Then, when she gets hungry, bring her food. And then tuck the kids in bed so she can enjoy her feet up. This shop is local to Lexington, Kentucky.

The Fire Within Her bracelet

The Fire Within Her oil diffuser bracelet + massage

“The Fire Within Her (TFWH) exists to come alongside women to help them overcome the adversity that life throws their way.” These beautiful bracelets are a true labor of love. They are a reminder to each woman that she has the strength to overcome any hardship. For a new mom that looks like a number of things; healing her body, postpartum depression, no sleep and the list goes on. She can look down at her wrist and be reminded of her worth and her fire! This shop is local to Louisville, Kentucky. Throw in a massage for mom and it’s the perfect combo. I’m loving my monthly massage at Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa.

Trader Joes MoonX wine

Trader Joe’s Moon X wine + pedicure

This is my go to wine!!! I’ve only tried the red wine, but it came highly recommended at Trader Joe’s. As far as I know, it’s only sold there. Send your husbands!! Bonus, it’s around $7.00! Send mom to get a pedicure while she is sipping on this wine.

Q & A for moms 5 year journal

Q & A a day for moms 5 year journal + wine

This came recommended from the Today Show, but is something I wish I spent more time doing. Journaling all the funny sayings from the kids or sweet things they do. All I hear is, this time goes by so fast. And yes it does. This journal can be a keepsake for all those sweet memories. Amazon baby! And throw that bottle of wine I just recommended in with it!

Anthropologie Garden Greeting Pot + her favorite flowers

In case my husband is reading this, this pot would pair well with some beautiful pink flowers or some tulips. 🙂 We are also using it for part of Savannah’s birthday party table decor! This pot is the cutest and can be used year round.

Lovepop greeting card

Lovepop Greeting card + her favorite smoothie

I received my first Lovepop card this year and it is so beautifully displayed on my shelf. Honestly it’s a keepsake that is more than a card. It tells a story and makes me smile every time I see it. Go check out all the designs they have. From weeping trees to flowerpots to birds. Think about that moment or memory you have with your mom and pick a card accordingly. Add a cute little note and pair it with her favorite smoothie.

Savannah & Co. family
photo credit: Meghan Beth Photography, Lexington KY
photo credit: Meghan Beth Photography, Lexington KY

I hope you share this list with your friends and family. Mothering has been the hardest job thus far in my life. And here’s a postpartum news flash; it is not just a six week timeframe after giving birth. I am over a year out and still in what I call, postpartum. So this list of gifts is meant for the new mom, however you define that. Let’s celebrate mom all month. Let’s celebrate the moms who haven’t met their babies yet. And celebrate moms who want to be a mom so bad, but are waiting. Celebrate the seasoned moms. Celebrate the moms who have it together one day and not the next. Just to hear that you’re appreciated is often the best gift.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Mother’s Month! #monthofmama

Kim

 

Our favorite things of 2018

Hi everyone! Now that Christmas has passed and we are enjoying our new stuff, I thought I would share some of our favorite things! Whether it was a gift this year, or something we continually use and love, I’ve included it. Being a stay at home mom of a baby and a (very independent) toddler makes life challenging, but these favorite things definitely help make life a little easier! And who doesn’t want that?! Cheers to all the bubbly tonight as we ring in the New Year! (as I’m typing this baby Owen is clapping)

Clothing

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Kid Stuff

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Household

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Mama time & Wellness

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Thanks for reading! Happy New Year! Please share any of your favorite things from this year. I’d love to hear from you!
Kim

 

 

Baby Owen’s birth story

DSC00113Every pregnancy is different and leading up to 39 weeks, the anticipation was building. Not knowing how or when I would go into labor left me just waiting for the moment. My entire second pregnancy was different from the first (and not sure if it was because we were having a little boy vs. a little girl). Savannah was born pretty much on her due date and this little guy decided to come early at 39+2 days. So here’s my birth story:

Leading up to the day of labor, things were changing rapidly. I was even cleaning baseboards the day or two before. Full on, sitting on the floor cleaning. Crazy, I know! The evening of Monday, March 12 I began having slight cramping and little bit more intense Braxton Hicks contractions. The morning of Tuesday, March 13 I had a friend over for a play date and I felt a lot of pressure when I would stand up or walk. A noticeable difference from the previous day. As the morning went on, I called my mom and she decided to drive down since she was going to be taking care of Savannah while we went to the hospital. My dad ended up driving me to my last OB appointment since Dan was working. He knew something was happening, but not enough yet to take off work. And with my parents here, I did have help in the meantime.

Around 8pm that evening we decided to finalize everything and make our way to the hospital. With Savannah, we waited too long to get to the hospital so I didn’t want to take that chance this time. I was told by my doctor that with the second, things would progress much quicker. That didn’t really seem to be the case for this little guy.

Upon arrival at the hospital, triage checked me in and hooked me up to the monitors so they could keep an eye on contractions and the baby’s heart rate. Several doctors came in and checked my dilation. I was at 2cm and seemed pretty comfortable according to them so I had several choices. We decided to walk the hospital to move labor along and after an hour returned to triage. I was still at 2cm but I was definitely more uncomfortable and could tell labor was coming VERY SOON. We decided to leave the hospital and return once the contractions were even more intense. This was around 11pm.

I labored at home until around 3:30am, woke Dan and he popped out of bed. He knew it was happening and couldn’t wait to meet his little man. We headed back to the hospital and this time it was clear that I wasn’t going anywhere. I was 4cm and the contractions were getting worse. DSC00065I labored at the hospital until I got my epidural around 7 or 8am. Once the epidural kicked in, I was much more comfortable. The nurses kept coming in and rotating me because Owen’s heart rate kept dipping. And they had me wear oxygen to help regulate his heart rate as well. They came in at some point and broke my water. This would help move labor along.

Around noon I was at 10cm and they made all the preparations for me to start pushing. The doctor was worried about his cord possibly being wrapped so they wanted me to push fast and get him out. I pushed for about 20 minutes and he was here! That part was much quicker than with Savannah’s birth.

And here he is! 8lbs, 4 oz of pure baby bundle! Sweeter than we could have imagined and looking a lot like his sister! We love you so much little man! DSC00135DSC00132DSC00070DSC00145DSC00163DSC00085We say he came early to catch the tournament. GO CATS!!

Thanks for reading!
Kim

It’s a boy! Owen’s sweet nursery

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With a few weeks to spare, the nursery is complete! For some reason, it was a lot more difficult to design a boy’s nursery than with Savannah’s room. Something about little girls and all the girly stuff is so fun! You can see Savannah’s nursery (once in this room) and her now big girl room! Not to say this wasn’t fun, it was just different. I can’t wait to experience what everyone keeps telling me about little boys. Owen’s nursery took a lot of inspiration from his daddy. It’s filled with UK Blue, Blue and Army stuff! I also threw in a little scripture that has kept me looking forward throughout this journey. And Savannah made sure he had a book wall so he could keep up with her love for reading! And I’m sure they will share a lot of it. It will be fun for her when I am nursing, changing, or playing with him in the nursery.DSC09957DSC09934DSC09931DSC09932DSC09940DSC09935DSC09954
How fun is this wool ball garland? If you know me, I had to throw in some handmade items! And this big print of Blue framed above the crib. Can you believe this print and frame came in under $25 total? A little DIY magic.DSC09948DSC09920DSC09943DSC09952DSC09929
As you can see, we still need to decide on a picture for that frame. The random little girl eating ice cream is cute and all, but maybe a sweet family picture would be better. And I have a thing for using what you already have to decorate, like hanging special clothes on the wall. I did the same with Savannah’s first year dress. DSC09925DSC09939
This little burlap hoop was a gift from a dear friend, made locally by Tina at Go Big or Go Home. It’s hand painted and so much love was put into this. What a sweet welcome to his room.

Now to get my bag packed for the hospital. I’m a little behind, but at least my laundry is done! He could be here tomorrow or in a few weeks! AHH… the anticipation of it all!

And then there is this girl. She is going to be the best big sister. I can’t wait to see their love for each other when Owen gets here. Little Owen is going to be a charmer, brave, and strong just like his daddy. We already know he is pretty wild and he hasn’t even arrived. God really did have a plan for our family and I am witnessing it first hand. It’s not easy, but it is so worth it! DSC00005DSC00041DSC00061DSC00050Thanks for stopping by and peeking into Owen’s room. We will keep you posted once he gets here!

Kim

My love for buffalo plaid (and all plaid!)

Happy New Year! Hope this new year has been a fresh start for you. Thank you to each and every one of you for reading my blog and inspiring me throughout the year. I’m hoping to blog more so I guess that can be my resolution for 2018. I realized this holiday season that I was drawn to buffalo plaid (and all things plaid for that matter) and wanted to share a few of my favorites. Although the holidays are over, this is still a trend that can be carried throughout your home year round! DSC09463
I just finished up sewing this window seat cover. Hobby Lobby has this beautiful plaid in multiple colors and you can use the weekly 40% off coupon on a single cut of fabric. I ended up recovering this cushion seat for under $20 using 3 yards.  Not a sewing fan? Try this tutorial on a no-sew option I made before I began sewing. I decided I needed to be able to sew one and remove it for easy washing. With a large dog and messy toddler, this is the best option for our home.

burts bees sheet
With a baby boy on the way, I want to keep things simple and classic for his nursery. Burt’s bees had a big Christmas sale and I bought these sheets along with several other things, because who doesn’t love Burt’s bees??

plaid blanket
THIS BLANKET!!! Can you look and see how soft this is? Well, I will basically keep buying this blanket over and over again. I got it last year (2016) around Christmas and ended up buying several more since they are so cozy. And I bought several for gifts. Did you know if you download the Macy’s app you get an additional 20% off your first purchase? These ended up being less than $20 each. A pregnant girl’s best friend right here! plaid robeI have this Martha Stewart robe in black and white and it is so cozy, even a year later! It’s warm enough but not too thick. This robe is my go-to for being a stay at home mom on those lazy, coffee drinking mornings.DSC09647Here is my little baby model in her cotton plaid t-shirt dress from Old Navy. It’s soft and will last throughout the winter, not just the holidays. You can dress it up or down too! She paired it with these cute Target Cat and Jack brand  leggings.
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This last one is a stretch for plaid, ha, but thought I would share anyway! I came across Kayla Weber Art, a local shop here in Lexington, Ky. She paints beautiful works of art and made these ornaments around Christmas. I ordered one for a friend of mine who left Lexington for her husband’s new Naval base in Italy. I wanted her to have a little piece of Ky to take with her. I encourage you to check out her shop!  You will see one of these beautiful paintings on Savannah’s new room reveal! Gotta have a derby themed painting for my derby baby living in Lexington, Kentucky.

Links to all these goods:

Hobby Lobby Sawyer Buffalo plaid duck cloth fabric

Burt’s bees plaid crib sheet

Charter Club Cozy Plush Throw

Martha Stewart Robe

Old Navy toddler plaid dress

Kayla Weber Art

Thanks for stopping by and checking out all the fabulous plaid! I hope you and your family have a happy, healthy New Year filled with all of your favorite things! -Kim

Getting ready for our second baby!

It has been about 13 weeks since my last post. Just in time for the first trimester feels to pass. But seriously, it is like a train hit you mixed with all the uncertainties of will I be sick or will I pass out from dizziness?? And then you have a lucky 12 hours of sleep and that’s still not enough! There is bound to be some side effects from growing a tiny human.  Now that I can think clearly I am getting some cleaning done and making preparations for our second baby, a sweet little boy!  Our kids will be about 22 months apart so I will have my hands full I’m sure. If you know me, you know I have been primarily thinking about decorating. Not only the sweet baby’s room, but we are moving Savannah’s room down the hall so the baby can be directly across the hall from us. Our current nursery has off white walls so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on some pink paint for Savannah’s new room! And that leaves the perfect backdrop for sweet baby boy’s room. Got me over here feelin’ like Joanna!

Here is my inspiration for Savannah’s new room. The paint color is Sherwin Williams Intimate white. And our painter is here today so pictures will be coming soon!pure-country-nursery-0216
Image found via Country Living

We will be moving her existing furniture and decor into her new room but I couldn’t resist adding a few new things too. I found a vintage dinosaur poster at Street Scene, a local vintage store here in Lexington, Ky. The muted greens will look great against the blush wall color. And who says dinosaurs are just for boys?! I mean, Savannah can say “dactyl”, her favorite flying dinosaur.

Now for the baby’s nursery! Here are a few inspiration pictures. We haven’t decided yet since we literally found out Sunday we are having a boy plus the whole first trimester thing I mentioned earlier didn’t have me thinking about much.

LukeNewborns-2576Image courtesy of The Sweetest Thing Blog
I am swooning over these light blue curtains and accents. But I also love the below nursery. All the lush greens and nature themes while keeping it very simple and airy!
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Image source here

Another idea I have floating around is incorporating scripture into his room. I absolutely adore this sweet blanket by Modern Burlap and I have to have it! It is perfect for the story of this little guy and how much of a blessing he is. God definitely had a plan for this little guy and knew we needed him this soon. I remember thinking when Savannah was born, “Is this real?” and “Why haven’t we met her sooner?”

blanketWe are also thinking of integrating sports into the design. LOVE these simple vintage baseballs. I’m sure I can find a mason jar laying around here somewhere (wink, wink).  And if you know Dan, we will have some UK and basketball stuff too. So stay tuned for more updates as we get the nursery finished.

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Besides decorating, I have also started a new Amazon baby registry. Mainly so I don’t forget what I need to buy, but also for when family asks about gifts. This mama will not be able to keep all of this in her head! I already have my main needs but need a few new things since we will have 2 toddlers at once! Hello 2 cribs and 2 changing pads. Yikes!!! I have also heard really good things about the book, Simplicity Parenting, so I need to get my hands on this real soon! Have you read this?

The final thing I will mention in regards to preparing is exercise! I exercised throughout my pregnancy with Savannah and it made labor and delivery fairly easy! And this time around I have an amazing village of mamas that I didn’t even know existed until after Savannah arrived. The group is called Fit4Mom and we push our strollers while working out, running, and singing to our babies. This has been a true life saver for my sanity and postpartum recovery. And you can bet I will be continuing this journey throughout pregnancy and beyond!16835715_705232732991594_8958558124395901390_o
Image courtesy of Fit4Mom

What other things did you do in preparation for your second, third, or fourth baby?? I would love to hear your ideas. Please comment below! Thanks for reading!

Kim

Full Nursery Reveal: It’s a girl!

DSC04809Savannah and I are so excited to finally show you her full nursery reveal! Mama is 3 weeks away from bringing this little bundle into the world and her room is absolutely PERFECT!  If you remember, I shared the nursery inspiration board here, and the final nursery is much more than I imagined. With a lot of love from friends and family and some creative juices flowing, here it is!

First a look into her crib. I love how the white furniture really brightens up the room and allows for the colors of her toys, stuffed animals and decorations to pop. The Fisher Price Snugapuppy Calming Vibrations will be great for soothing the baby at home or on the go! It will match her other Snugapuppy Rock n Play! This little girl better be ready for doggies, since her big brother, Blue, can’t wait to meet her!

DSC04763When picking a theme for the nursery, I knew I wanted to stick with the vintage touches that I love with the subtle colors and tones. We went with woodland creatures, but more bunnies than anything. So many sweet stories about bunnies, and you can’t beat how cute they are. And bonus, having a baby in the spring because you can find all sorts of bunnies around Easter! This is on the nightstand beside her crib; a picture of mommy and daddy in Savannah, where we got engaged. The precious little shoes from one of mommy’s favorite stores- Marshalls! I can’t tell you how many times I found the perfect baby stuff there and cheaper than some of the big box stores. Hobby Lobby and Target are another few of my favorites for decorations, lamps, curtains, and all the other details.

DSC04771As soon as we found out we were having a girl, I knew this quote was going to be on the wall! So I handcrafted this sign! I love how the natural look of the wood paired with the white walls and furniture turned out. And the moment I laid my eyes on this bunny mobile I fell in love. It swings on its own with the gentle vibrations in the room.

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This sweet baby journal is from The Morris Book Store here in Lexington, KY. I love its vintage feel and extra pockets. Baby girl will have all her little memories stored in there.

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As soon as we found out we were pregnant, I wanted to keep all of her ultrasound pictures in a safe place!

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This one’s my favorite- we have a fighter!

DSC04802DSC04800Here’s the laundry hamper! It makes me smile every time I see it. I had Dan, my husband, pick the animal for it and love which one he picked! (great choice in my opinion as the others were goats and some other silly animals!)DSC04780This vintage globe came from Reclaimology, formerly Repurposed Soul. I am happy anytime I can support their mission to give back to the local community and abroad.

Now to decide which outfits to pack… the hospital bag!DSC04797DSC04808We are ready as ever and can’t wait to meet our sweet baby girl, Savannah Reese, or as my dad would call her, baby cup! Hope you love your room as much as we do and can’t wait to start this journey with you!

Thanks for reading! Please share your comments below on what makes your baby’s nursery special!

Love, Kim and Baby Savannah