motherhood

Taking Control of our Back-to-School Routine with Guardian

August 27, 2019 by Rachel 30 Comments

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Okay, so maybe some of you think that should be the holidays, but for those of us with two or more kids, the most wonderful time of the year is Back-to-School season!

Our new school year only started a week ago, but we are already into a decent routine, thanks in large part to Guardian Alarm.

Living right next to the school has its benefits. Walking Ari to school each morning takes all of 1 minute. Traditionally, elementary school students in our district require an adult to pick them up at the end of the day. However, our proximity to the school means that Ari is allowed to walk home alone — even as a 1st Grader!

He has been able to maintain a bit of independence by letting himself in using our Guardian Alarm deadbolt with a passcode. He has his own passcode which not only allows him to enter but notifies me via the TotalConnect app when he does.

It has been incredibly helpful since school release is during the girls’ nap time. He has definitely taken charge with the home automation aspects, too!

And, of course, having the safety and security of knowing that he is home safe after a long school day is a huge relief. When I’m upstairs with the girls, I wait to hear that he is home, and then I check on him with our security camera. I can see him in the kitchen finding himself an afterschool snack. Then I watch him take it to the dining room, where he settles in for a few minutes of ‘chill’ time before homework.

Use this handy printable checklist to help the back-to-school transition:

As in all times of transition, we will find a good rhythm soon enough.

Leave It To The Pros // Why We Chose A Professionally Installed Home Security System

July 24, 2019 by Rachel 37 Comments

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY GUARDIAN ALARM BUT THE CONTENT AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN.

It’s hard to believe we’ve already been in our forever home for 7 months! We’ve done so much to make this house a home, but, funny enough, I have yet to hang up any photos or wall decor! I just can’t commit to the placement of things!

Besides not having anything hanging on our walls, the other major difference between this home and our old house was how we decided to protect our investment.

…

Summer Lovin’ // our summer in photos

July 12, 2019 by Rachel 16 Comments

Oh, HI! I didn’t mean to take a 10-ish day break from writing, but I have THE BEST excuse…

… we’ve been doing ALL THINGS SUMMER!

Oh — and we got a puppy. Because obviously, I make the best decisions. Ha! Her name is Lady and she’s a 12-week old terrier mix we adopted from a local shelter. The kids adore her and I am desperately trying to break her of her nipping habit.

But in addition to the puppy, we’ve been keeping busy with all things fun. From going to the library, to hitting up the splash pad, and everything in between.

Don’t get me wrong — I’m not trying to keep my kids “busy” all Summer long. We have LOTS of downtime, too. We have quiet time at least once a day (whether it be in the form of naps or iPad or books).

But those spaces in between? That’s where the memories are made. They might not remember the details, but they’ll remember the fun. They’ll remember the fun of their first trip to Waterworks; they’ll remember the milkshakes and the popcorn; they’ll remember they caught goldfish (and named them Goldie + Jonathan).

And I’ll remember their smiles and contagious laughter. And it will be enough to get us through until the next Summer. ♥ ♥

What are you doing

to make the most

of your Summer?

One Year Out // My Third Postpartum Journey

June 18, 2019 by Rachel 3 Comments

It’s hard to believe that one year ago today I was… anxious. Anxious and excited. I was beyond ready to meet our final and missing piece. It would still be two more days of waiting before Miss Mila Rose made her way into the world. And I spent these days doing a lot of walking and a lot of impatiently awaiting the start of labor.

But let’s back up — because if you had asked me if I wanted to have any more children after Remy was born 3.5 years ago, I would have emphatically said “Hell to the no.” And I’m not certain what changed. But at some point, I realized that our family needed a little bit more craziness. Enter our 3rd (and final) pregnancy.

Looking back on those last moments as a family of 4, I realize that, although I was anxious, I was also calm. I was ready — perhaps more ready than I’d ever been to tackle labor. I knew my body was capable of handling a rough 24-hours or so, all to help this beautiful new creature enter the world.

But what I didn’t realize at the time is that my postpartum experience would be drastically different this third time around. I was heavily prepared to be on the struggle bus shortly after delivery.

When I was okay, I decided not to hold my breath. I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. But it didn’t. At least, not really. Or not in the same way as before.

And as I round out these last couple of days with my final baby, I’m celebrating the fact that we did it — we made it through our last postpartum period. Hoorayyyy!! Now let me snuggle my last ever newborn for just a teeeeeensy bit longer! Thursday will be here before I know it. ♥ ♥

Mila Rose // 10 + 11 Months

May 30, 2019 by Rachel 13 Comments

Guys — SO much has changed in just TWO MONTHS! I seriously don’t even know how it’s possible. Perhaps it’s the fact that Mila is my last baby, or perhaps it’s the fact that she’s a joyous baby in general… but time is flying and I’m over here just crying, y’all! I didn’t mean to go two months without updating on Mila, but things happened and I got distracted (as life goes).

The reason I haven’t been able to update is that we had ALL THINGS SICKNESS going on — again! Remy had another TWO UTIs and Mila had another ear infection followed by a 6-day fever of 104 degrees.

No worries — we’re on the mend now.

But here’s what you’ve missed in the last two months…

On The Move //

Girlfriend is MOBILE! Considering how late Remy began to walk, I was not at all hopeful that this baby would walk early. But she is walking around furniture and with help (ie. fingers or a walker). I’m eating it up and I just know she’ll be walking, unassisted, before I know it!

A Strong Will //

Remy always was and always will be my number one drama queen, but over the last two months, I’ve noticed a ‘spunk’ in Mila that cannot be ignored. She wants what she wants and she doesn’t want what she doesn’t want. As I navigate motherhood, I’m beginning to truly respect this aspect. Sure, it’s difficult, but isn’t all of motherhood? So as I see these little pieces of strong will shine through, I keep wondering what our future holds.

Stay tuned, friends!

Boob + Food //

This chick loves all of the food! Between nursing and real food, she’s practically eating nonstop. She will nurse in the morning, once again mid-morning, followed by a jar of food and some puffs, then nurses again before naptime, nurses after naptime, then will eat two jars of food and yogurt/puffs after naptime, more nursing before bedtime, and then sleeps. I feel like my life revolves around providing her with food!

Her favorite foods are peach puffs, pear and oatmeal baby food, and Annie’s Organic Mac and Cheese! I honestly don’t remember giving my big kids mac and cheese until they were about 18 months, but Mila sees them eating it now and needs it! So I just cut it up and she will seriously eat an entire bowl!

Sleep //

I still count myself lucky. She’s still a decent sleeper. During times of crisis (ie. 104 fever and double-ear infection), she has wanted to be awake with me in the middle of the night; but other times she sleeps through the entire night. So yep. I’m definitely lucky.

Weight + Height //

Soooo she’s still a peanut. Despite her very healthy appetite, she is in the 6th percentile for weight.

Y’all, I get comments all the time about how tiny she is. But I guess my kids are just tiny? Cause she won’t. stop. eating!

Truthfully, I’m not sure how tall she is, because I pretty much check out after the weight portion. But she’s not tall. Ha!

Health //

Despite the double-ear infections, she is quite healthy. She’s my first baby to ever have an ear infection (let alone, 3!), so that’s been a bit jarring, but we’ve really rolled with it.

When she developed a high fever last week, I was super concerned. Neither Ari nor Remy have ever developed a high fever (I truly think they are not kids that really get fevers), so I was extra concerned. We ended up in Urgent Care on day 4, where they diagnosed her with a general virus; but by day 6 I decided it was time to see our pediatrician. He diagnosed her with a specific virus — Hand Foot and Mouth Disease — based on three sores found near her tonsils. I was surprised but somehow relieved that we had an answer. And two days later all symptoms were gone.

Favorites //

Her favorite people are her brother and sister — hands down. She lights up whenever she sees them and I totally love it.

Other favorites include her (outdoor) swing, her binky, trying new foods, nodding yes, and waving bye-bye.

If you need me in the next month, you can find me crying into my coffee (or wine) about how my last baby will be turning one at any moment. ♥ ♥

Taking A Moment To Find Myself // My 3rd Postpartum Journey

May 13, 2019 by Rachel 13 Comments

I needed this Mother’s Day in ways that I cannot even convey to you. Just Saturday, I was a broken down mother — exhausted from the grind, full of self-doubt and self-pity. But late Saturday evening, I purchased a pass to Balance + Brews at Royal Docks in Canton.

Balance + Brews is a group of local yoga teachers that do pop up classes in craft breweries throughout Northeast Ohio. I’ve been meaning to show up for a class for years, but there was always a reason I couldn’t make it. In fact, this time I almost self-sabotaged — I almost decided not to go because I was afraid of going alone. But I bought the ticket anyway. I committed.

And as I was driving down the highway completely alone, blasting music from my college days, I realized… I needed this. I honestly cannot tell you the last time I went further than Target (which is about a half mile) in the car without a child.

And then to have a meal completely alone? It just sealed the deal for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my children. But the weight of always being “on” has really taken a toll lately. It took me until Sunday to realize just how much I missed being with my most authentic self. And in those moments of ~~screaming~~ singing Thursday songs at the top of my lungs, I made a vow to make myself a priority. Starting now.

So to all of the mama’s out there who are struggling to find their new identity, I see you. If you can, go ahead and take a drive, blast that music, and remember who you are.

And Happy (Belated) Mother’s Day.