My girlie and I. 👩🏻💛👧🏼 . . . #Lenny #LennyLulu #Lulu #LennyGirl #Louly #Lupy
She’s finally ok with having a 5th brother. #fivebrothers #onlygirl #bestsister #mygirl #lennylulu
When you can never get enough of fishing and a snag on the lawn will do!!!!!! #LennyLulu @algaebee
When your daughter takes pictures like you do. 😂 #photogenic #likehermomandhermomsmom #daughter #lennylulu #sillygirl
ALL 💜💜 #family #lennylulu
This week has been a doozy. Daddy’s travel schedule for work is picking back up and it’s hard for us to get into the swing of that… so I may or may not have thought he was coming home a full day earlier than was true. 😬 Oakley also decided that crawling is no longer sufficient, so only attempts at walking will do. Problem is…once he’s up he can’t safely get down so…he may or may not have a bruise and an egg on his face. 😬 Lenora then swiftly threw us for a loop when she woke up with a VERY swollen left cheek and ear. Turns out she has a very terrible infection in her lymph node as a result of severe seasonal allergies and is now experiencing her first ever antibiotic. She’s not a fan, and neither is her tummy. Despite it all, she smiles and jumps and bubbles over with glee. This week was “Space Week” at school, and while she missed out dearly on some activities today she was certainly a HUGE fan of watching Uncle Jason’s (@boyfriday13 ) rocket launch into space and back earlier this week. Hasn’t stopped talking about it since and even popped on her spacesuit for us all today. Glimpses of a smiling girl who’s energy I can’t wait to see come back to life this weekend. She’s ready for your next flight, Jay! Just needs the right color suit 😉
My ❤ #mylenny #lennylulu
9 months in 6 months out #lennylulu
About yesterday... 🥰 I can’t get over how much this baby boy has transformed my first two babies into little mamas, watching his every move and jumping in whenever he’s fussy to lend a hand. #merryq even picks him up, rocks him and sings to him. I mean... come on. Heart. Exploding. I was always nervous about what having 3 would look like for us. And I’m so grateful that for the most part, it looks like this. You are one spoiled little prince, Oakley. I love it.
Today, Lenora got her first ever haircut and her big girl transformation is officially complete 😭 When I say she got pampered? I mean it. Rebecca at @hairbyrebecca84 really knows how to make a girl feel special. Mamas turn tomorrow mmmmk!? 😬 Stop growing, babies. My heart can’t keep up.
Yesterday this little sassafras turned FOUR! Mama has been in full on denial about it for a while now, but there’s no denying that our #lennylulu isn’t a baby any more. This year you started reading... which blows my mind... became a big sister and slayed your first real year on skis. Summiting a 4,000 foot vertical? Yeah. A first for you AND momma this year. You’re amazing, Lenora. Your energy is infectious, you’re brilliant, the kindest human I know and so full of laughter. We’re so grateful to God that He made you ours. Happy Birthday Baby!!
My Lenny ♥️ Happy Purim 🎭 #lennylulu
My favorite 2020 moments? They’ll be hard to top. While opportunities have been few, sharing our baby boy with our favorite people in the world certainly tops the list. In a year full of hard, my grandmother’s smile has never seemed so bright. Tied only with the moment my girls got to meet their baby brother for the first time, just hours after having him happily and healthfully delivered at home. Oakley, you sure have made this year one of our best yet. My 2021 wish: more memories like these. Of us. Together. Memories my children can hold on to for the rest of their lives. Give me your best shot 2021, I have my eye on you.
My sweet Lenny is one month old 💕 #lennylulu
Two weeks! Today my sweet #Oaks, you are two weeks new. Two weeks of holding, smelling, loving on and snuggling you. Two weeks of obsession by your #bigsister crew. This week we learned your true personality: sweet and spicy. You love your mama (sometimes a little too much 😉) and being held by her... all night long. 😂 You do NOT like being cold, which has made diaper changes quite the traumatizing endeavor. And you love to be hummed to, sometimes humming along as I sing you to sleep with the tiniest happy baby coos I’ve ever heard. It feels like yesterday and at the same time, I can’t imagine life without you. It’s like you’ve been here all along. Happy two weeks, My sweet baby Oakley.
Sneaking in some snuggles with this freshly made #bigsister! The last 10 days haven’t been anywhere nearly as bad as I thought they would be for this girl. Up until Oakley was born. Lenora was pretty much the forever baby around here. But I swear, since his arrival she has grown a foot and somehow seems so heavy to pick up 😂 She grew up overnight and I’m not sure I love it? But I’m so grateful for her gentleness with baby brother, her enthusiasm and willingness to fetch me things I need for him, and her ability to let mommy focus on this new babe without tantrum or complaint. She has really surprised me and gosh how I love her so.
Yeah... they missed him. And DANG it feels good to have all my babies under one roof tonight. Lenora is so excited she can barely contain herself, like the hurricane she is, and yet she shows Oakley such sweetness and gentleness. Merry might be even more emotionally attached to him than her mother...so we’re both going to have to work on the random crying. 😂 She is such a good little mama to him and it is SO FUN to see her in this new role. We built these tiny humans @briancusick. With love and with joy and with trials and with hope. And oh how I love watching them grow.
Clearly we are still working on the whole “Smile for the Camera” part of life! 🤣 This Mama had her first #postpartum check up at the doc and was told I am healing extremely well! 🙌🏼 . . . I won’t even lie when I say #motherhood is H A R D work y’all, but it’s literally the greatest and best thing I’ve ever done! I absolutely love being this girls Mama...even during that 5 hour window of crying every single day. 😩 I remind myself that “This too shall pass” and that one day I will miss her needing Mama and Daddy to snuggle her and hold her tightly so instead of complaining (I’m sure it will happen some) I’m going to soak in every single snuggle! . . Snagged her cute little headband from @lucylusboutiquetn , pants from @target and she is rocking her custom name onesie from her aunt @jkramsey99 💖the mean mug/ RBF face is courtesy of her Mama haha 🤣
Saturdays, selfies and life in general look quite different these days! Realized as I gave this babe her first bath that I have now been wearing this shirt for more then 48 hours, my hair hasn’t been brushed in probably the same amount of time or more and my new perfume titled “Spit Up” isn’t sold in-stores! 😂 . . . But as always I want to keep things real on here and even though this little one is my favorite thing ever, this is H A R D work! 😩 I hate to hear her cry, and trying to learn which cry means what is even worse! Last night we cried together, prayed and sang what felt like every song we knew.... but look, we made it through the night and the sun is shining and both of us are smiling! ✨ . . . I’m exhausted but on cloud 9 all at the same time! Now that she is fast asleep, it’s time for this Mama to show herself a little TLC and go take a shower and put on clean clothes and maybe a better smelling perfume! 😂 #LennoxMarie #LennyLuLu #LifewithLennyLu
Our days as just “us girls” are numbered now, so I’m trying to soak them up as much as possible. Tonight their bath time imaginations are running wild and it’s the sweetest dang thing. Being “stuck” at home has turned into a blessing in many ways - the biggest one being that these two have really learned how to play well together. That used to be a serious struggle (and we still have our days... like yesterday... 😂), but I love listening to the stories they tell one another. I understand nothing of their game, but gosh they’re cute in a bathtub 😍
We did it!! After weeks of it being way too hot for mama to waddle around picking berries, we finally got a nice breezy day to fill our bellies with blueberries and blackberries (although there’s clearly some debate among my children as to what they think a ripe blackberry looks like 😂). I was a little worried after multiple reports of semi-poor local picking that we wouldn’t have much luck. But ya’ll... it took them a whopping 5 minutes to fill these berry boxes. @russellorchards did not disappoint!! Now, if I could just convince the girls to save me a few for muffins... 😂
You know what is SO weird?!? Waking up every morning and literally not knowing if you are going to have a baby that day or not! 🤣 It’s seriously so crazy and the most surreal thing ever. . . . Little girl is EXTREMELY active in there and seems to be camping out pretty low 😳 so it will be interesting to see what they say at the doctor this week! We are officially placing “bets” on when Lennox will make her debut. @fortuneodendhal is guessing August 14th (even though he wants her here on his birthday THIS Wednesday🤣) and even though I have dreamed August 4th I’m guessing August 9th or 10th! 🤷🏻♀️ Drop your guesses below, we are going to write them down to see! . . . I snagged this beautiful dress from @rue21 for less than $20. Snag one while you still can! . . . #styleoftheday #fashionbloggers #fashionblog #knoxvilleblogger #beautybloggers #instablog #liveloveblog #onlineshopping #outfitoftheday #styleblogger #girlswhoblog #blogaboutit #whatIwore #fashiondiaries #outfitideas #stylegram #styleblog #realoutfitgram #rue21official #lennoxMarie #LennyLulu #girlmama
These are the (very tired) faces of a crew who braved @ikeausa today and survived, pretty unharmed 😂 An hour drive each way, walking slowly through the store following all the directional arrows and maintaining our distance. Keeping small hands from touching things and small feet from running off. Wearing masks the entire time - including in the warehouse, where #MerryQ pushed one cart and I pushed the heavy stuff ( #lennylulu perched on top). It was HARD work! But my girls were AMAZING. So we tailgated with ice creams afterwards together 😂 Listen mamas. I spend a lot of time doubting myself. Wondering if I’m capable enough, strong enough, patient enough, kind enough to tackle hard tasks like this. But that’s a lie the serpent slips into our minds. Was today perfect? No. Am I exhausted? Yes. But the TRUTH is that God gave me everything I needed to do my very best today. I was plenty strong, capable and patient enough to show my girls: we can do hard things. And we can do them with kindness. You can, too. The winter ahead will be long. But you are more than enough. He made you that way. Just look up, and ask Him to help you a little. It’s His greatest joy.
When you’re 40 inches tall at age 3.5, you forward-face much earlier than your sister ever did. 😭😭 With a new car on the horizon, #lennylulu and #Merryq will be moving to the third row and I need to embrace some independence in the car seat situation. My momma heart wasn’t quite ready to admit she isn’t a baby anymore? But her smile says it all - she giggled with glee the ENTIRE time we were out for a drive today. 😂 Stop growing, babies. My heart can’t quite keep up!
My favorite thing about summer is how uncomplicated lunches can be. Something as simple as a quick sandwich or salad, thrown together with whatever I have in the fridge for leftover proteins, can bring me so much joy. I just deconstruct it for the girls as I’m making it for me. Throw a dollop of hummus on the side. Today they’ll also get eggs ( #merryq scrambled, #lennylulu boiled). Don’t get me wrong, I love the decadence of an extravagant meal. But somehow summertime calls for simple. Some of my favorite salad hacks to make them more interesting but keep them healthy? Nuts or seeds instead of croutons. Homemade vinaigrette instead of bottled dressings with sugar in them (swipe for one of my fav recipes). Avacado because who doesn’t like avacado... What are your favorite simple summer lunch ideas? Or fab salad toppings??
Tomorrow is the day!! TOMORROW we find out the gender of this sweet, bouncy, growing baby and for the first time ever... I can’t wait. 😍 We didn’t find out with #Merryq and it was my absolute favorite thing ever. We found out with #lennylulu because we wanted to know if we were pulling out boxes of clothes or starting from scratch. But this baby has been different in so many ways. Being home in this “new world” has added stressors to my brain and body that I couldn’t imagine, so it’s been hard to be truly excited and connected with this pregnancy. Most days I forget entirely that I’m pregnant... and then my body reminds me swiftly with fatigue and begs me to sit and chug water. I’ve never wanted to know our baby’s gender early. I wanted to be surprised. But feeling how I’ve been feeling these last 8 weeks? I’m excited. Because knowing more and more about you will bring such joy to this house and to my heart. Joy we all need. So... WHAT SAY YOU?! Girl or boy?! 😱😱😱😱😱
Just like that, we’ve reached the 18 week mark. I feel like we discovered this baby yesterday. The weeks have both flown by and dragged on, with the new reality of months at home setting in and consuming our minds, rendering me unable to focus on pregnancy much at all. With #Merryq and #Lennylulu I was crazed with picking out special items to put on a list, organizing the nursery, focusing on physical health and only eating the good stuff. But with this baby my focus has been more on emotional health, for me and my kiddos. We still eat well for the most part, but mentally I’ve been toast by noontime and meals have been thrown together last minute instead of carefully planned and pre-meditated. Looking forward to finding out what this sweet potato is - just a couple weeks away! - so we can start finding mental space and energy to be more present in this pregnancy. For now, my goal is to find just 5 minutes a day to sit and focus on this baby, feel its movements and share the joy of them with my people. One day at a time. It’s all we can do.
It isn’t often my “babies” slow down these days. Always crafting, imagining or playing with something. This one in particular - I’m fairly confident doesn’t even know how to walk. Run is her only speed. #lennylulu When they finally DO slow down and ask for some cuddles, I’m cashing in. Sitting here with an arm falling asleep, sweating with my little sauna, dog at my feet - it’s where I’m called to be right now. Are there a million things that need to be done around here? You bet. Do I care? Nada. Soak them up while they’re little ya’ll. You won’t ever regret it.
Suns out bumps out! 🤪 Girls on scooters. Ice cream in hand. 70 degrees. I often think “life can’t get better than this,” and then it does.
She is SOOO ticklish just like me lol. Thankfully she just has the most adorable laugh ever and doesn't have the urge to get violent when being tickled. #ticklemeandillhurtyou #mostadorablelaughever #lennylulu
And just like that, our baby turned FIVE! @briancusick Today was filled with adventures. Chocolate chip waffle sticks for breakfast, followed by clip-in hair extensions (which she instantly wanted to share with her sister... be still my heart). Then it was off to the @museumofscience to learn about dinosaurs, space exploration, how trains, phones and electricity work. Then lunch at @cheesecakefactory and a visit to @western_cycle to pick up her brand new @trekbikes 20” PURPLE bicycle. Topped the day off with a choose-your-cake adventure at @stopandshop and a birthday dinner at home. PHEW! What an amazing, exhausting, beautiful, family-focused day for our sweet girl!! Stop growing please. I love you just as you are!!
Lenny’s face says it all... we were HUGE fans of Frozen II this afternoon! For #lennylulu’s first ever theatre experience, she did pretty darn well. And yes, she was the kid saying “mummy, I want more candy” whenever it got silent. 😂 Love my crew.
“Mommy, I want bwaids wike sithy.” Well, ok #lennylulu. Let me just see if I can replicate that with the 2 pieces of hair on your head. 😂 #challengeaccepted It’s funny how these little milestones - like a baby’s first set of braids - can make time seem like it just flew by. When did she grow enough hair for this? How is she going to be 3 in just a few months? At some point I’m sure I’ll have to stop calling her mumma’s baby, but not today. Mmmmk?
Summertime sadness with our old hair cuts ✂️ #wemissthesun #herecomeswinter #muchneededspaday #aussiedoodle #poodle #doodle #oodlesofpoodles #halifaxnoise #eastcoastdogs #dog #fur #sleek #soft #cute #sisters #lennylulu #sallysuesue #models @lanadelrey
Another day, another chance to play with my sweet girls. It doesn’t escape me how precious these years with them are. Even when sometimes they are hard and frustrating and exhausting. They’re mine and I love them so.
When your bestie is a photographer and gifts you with gems like this one. 😭😭 Swoon. #lennylulu has been a little shadow these last few months. Always asking to be held, snuggled, loved on and cared for. It’s her age and transitioning to full-time at preschool and probably so many things. And while my arms are exhausted, my heart is so full. I’ll forever cherish these months with my forever baby. ❤️❤️ Thank you @kellyanncarey for capturing this stage of her life so perfectly and effortlessly. 📷 @kellycareyphotography
Fiiiiine, @briancusick. You were right. We looked pretty incredible. 🙄 #happyhalloween from our crew - this has to have been the best one yet!
This morning when the girls woke up I was annoyed. It was too early (5:22, to be exact), I wasn’t ready to be up for the day and I was grumpy about it. I was snapping, sassing, frustrated - all before we even came downstairs. We all have days like this, right? But what for? Today I’m grateful I caught myself, checked myself and decide to soak them up, instead. They came into bed with me, brought books, cuddled and read to me in their jammies. #lennylulu was “givin’ tuck tuck wuvin’” and you know what? Instead of being annoyed, I was suddenly grateful. It gave me new life and new energy to start a new day. It’s amazing what a little gratitude can do. What are you grateful for today? Let’s celebrate it together. I promise it will put joy in your heart and a spring in your step.
Talk to me about photo books! @briancusick and I want to print a couple for the girls each year for Christmas, a small album of all the adventures we’ve gone on throughout the year that they can look back on as they grow up. Social media documents, but I want something they can have in their had. Has anyone used @chatbooks for this? Other apps you’ve used and loved? I want small and simple! Go!
Hanging out with these fools while a couple of droids prepare our lunch in the back. 😂
When they say this place is full of magic, they aren’t kidding. PURE MAGIC It’s really the only way to describe these last couple of day’s. Sure, we’re tired, taking stroller snoozes and waiting in long lines can be exhausting. But meeting all our favorite people has been a dream come true for these little ladies (even if the full on costumes of our animated friends makes us pee our pants sometimes). Another 48 hours of adventuring at @waltdisneyworld should fill our cups to overflowing. Gosh I love these, my people. ❤️❤️
Popcorn as tall as my toddler, cotton candy, carousels, tractors, pig races and falling asleep on mommy during the walk back to the truck. I’d say we had a pretty amazing time at the @topsfieldfair yesterday! Things we learned about our kiddos: 👉🏻 #merryq is a thrill seeker and has no fear 👉🏻 #lennylulu would like to pretend she doesn’t, but the “woooopy swide” (loopy slide 😂) wasn’t exactly her favorite 👉🏻 #merryq and her love for animals rivals her mother’s 👉🏻 #lennylulu will forever go down in history as the child most full of wonder Take me back. Actually don’t, because tomorrow we leave for @waltdisneyworld and if yesterday was any indication, it’s going to be one heck of a trip. 😍😍
SURPRISE!! Daddy is HOME!!! This morning as I sipped my morning cup of coffee, the door started to open. Tucker immediately went crazy and of course my first thought was, “who the heck is walking in my front door at 8AM in the morning?? Don’t they know they’re going to get eaten alive?” But....it was DADDY!!! Holy moly. We survived, ya’ll. WE SURVIVED!! We’ve done two weeks away before, sure, but never with half a world and a 14 hour time difference dividing us. And not after a 2 week stretch just over a month ago. It’s been overwhelming to say the least. But seeing the look on their faces when he walked in the door this morning and hearing the squeals that followed? I wish I would have known it was happening because I would have video taped it. THREE very excited girls in this house, and a puppy who was so over the moon he couldn’t even sit still for the pictures.
This girl. She is always climbing into my lap and asking for hugs and snuggles. She’s also always climbing, jumping, running and screaming - full of life in all the ways. As we round the corner to 3 with her, I’m reminded of how hard that age was with #merryq. But instead of panicking - which crosses my mind on a daily basis - today I’m choosing to soak her up where she’s at right now. Because worrying about when she’ll turn from sweet toddler to sassy threenager? It’s going to get me absolutely nowhere. What worries are you holding onto like this? Can you let them go long enough to enjoy this moment you’re in? Because worry is based on fear, often if the unknown or the uncontrollable - and what can be done about that? Nothing. Choose to absorb the good today. Worry about the worry tomorrow.
This kid kills me. She’s full of personality, opinions and sass. Her mean mug at yesterday’s birthday party was just one of my favorite moments from the day. 😂 Happy birthday Emma, from a fairy princess who has no interest in Prince Charming, but would most certainly put up with him if he presented her with another piece of birthday cake. 😂
She made her lunch demands clear, ate it all up and then snuggled down with mama. All while sister naps. This week has been one of big transition for us. The girls going to school 5 days is a huge blessing, but it’s also been really hard on all of us. Their snooze schedule is out of whack and my heart misses them so, but we know they’ll get the hang of it soon. Plus, it makes moments like these - snuggles up with miss #eyelashesfordays - that much more special. Who else is transitioning right now? How’s it going at your house? Be kind to yourself and give each other grace where you can.❤️
Talk about a fun twist on a probiotic - this is one my kiddos LOVE! Often times I give them these little pouches straight up. They dump them into their mouths like a pixie stick and think they’re getting a huge treat 😂 #momwin But today, we’re sprinkling it on our strawberries at breakfast. It’s their absolute favorite and I don’t blame them - yum!! Tastes like sugared strawberries...but it’s good for them? Yes, please!! MightyPro is both a probiotic AND a prebiotic. With no artificial anything. No dyes. No junk. Just the good stuff. Fun fact: your gut is your second brain, so what goes on there helps control pretty much everything in your body. Not just your bowels. Our immune system starts here, too, so take care of it! Winter is coming!!
Sometimes we don’t behave for our babysitter, so we don’t get to sleep until after 9:00 and need to watch movies all morning piled on top of mama. And sometimes mama is so tired herself, that she lets us. #growingupcusuck #merryq #lennylulu
We 💜 our dad #australianshepherd #doodlesofinstagram #poodlesofinstagram #sallysuesue #lennylulu #novascotia #haligonia #falmouth #sunset #view #nature #summernights
They dressed themselves this morning. I’m not mad about it. 😍
When a wasp in the yard picks on the smallest of you, Owie to the rescue. #lennylulu went from huge welt to back in the pool within minutes. So grateful for these little bottles of plant juice in our lives.
In the morning when the light is poor? Magic happens in our household. I thought moving #lennylulu into a room with Merry’s was going to be horrible. But no one told me about this. How they’d both wake up in the morning, read books together for a while and then come crawl in with me to snuggle for a movie while i get ready for the day. Magic, I tell you. Pure magic.
One consequence of active babies is frequent boo boos. #lennylulu took a pretty good fall on her tricycle this weekend and her knee neared the brunt of the impact. It took a looooong time to settle her down enough to clean it up, and even then it looked pretty horrible. Grateful for tools like this that can help with healing. Just a few days in and the scab is already starting to fall off. I’ve definitely got a couple of tough cookies!!
Fun with friends at the Stoneham Zoo!! The last time we were at this zoo together, Emma spent most of the time in a stroller and #merryq was waddling around in a diaper like #lennylulu is now, and I was waddling like the super pregnant lady I was. 😂 Now, we have FOUR hanging out together (only one of whom will be contained by a stroller 😂) These little ladies were hanging out way before they were born and it’s so fun seeing them all grow up together.
Momma is tired. We are on our 4th movie of the morning. And we just put pants on for the first time all day. . But it is SO good to be home with my babies. Snuggling them all day.
I’m sure going to miss this kind of sweetness these next few days. . Maybe not the screaming at each other 2 seconds later. But the sweetness, definitely the sweetness. 😂
Water tables and baby biscuits. Is there any better way to spend a summer day?
Need an easy dinnertime out? Smoothies are mine! . In the summer they make the best dinner treat. After a long day in the sun the last thing I want to do is cook. . 2 cups fruit 2 MultiGreens capsules, opened and dumped in (Young Living’s veggies in a capsule) 1 scoop protein powder 1 cup almond milk . Voila. Dinner is served. And they think they’re getting a treat 😂
We spent today soaking up rays on the beach and boats with family. . Peanut butter jelly, being buried in the sand, building sand castles, snacking all day and zipping around on the boat . This has been the best few days. . Maybe not the whole #pottytraining on the beach part of today. But the rest of it. 🤪🤣
Spent the second half of our day hanging with the best of the best poolside. . Well... I expected to stay poolside most of the time. Last year #lennylulu was terrified of the water. But this week she officially declared herself a #biggirl and she’s been taking on SO many new adventures with bravery instead of fear. . Potty training? Check. Asked and successfully went TWICE at the #poolparty today. Zero accidents or wet pull ups while out. . #Babyshark transformation? Complete. She wanted to swim just like the big kids (but like... she needs and refuses flotation devices so... constant monitoring required. 😂) . Sometimes We don’t give our kids enough credit. They can do hard things! They are smart, brave and beautiful, inside and out. We only need give them room to be that way. ❤️ . Happy 4th from me and my little fishies!
A ride in the wagon, a parade (which Lenora hated but we powered through 😂), 10am popsicles, walks with daddy and my diva girl. The day is already off to a good start over here and we hope the same for YOU! Happy 4th, all! Enjoy the day!
“Girls, smile for a quick pic for mummy?” RESULT. . Another day of pool play date fun exhausted these two divas. They BOTH took naps (thank you Lord) and woke feeling extra fab to tackle the rest of the day. . Summer, please stay forever mmmk? Because life really is sweet with these two around.
Is there anything better than an impromptu #poolparty with friends? . We finally got the pool up today and the kids couldn’t WAIT to dive in. It’s small but perfect for our kind of summer fun. Pool + popsicles + peeing in the yard = our kind of summer fun. 😂 . And I mean...check out these toddlers in lawn chairs. I think I’ve found my favorite place to be this summer: our backyard hangout!
Today’s the day. Today we said 👋 to diapers and 👋 to the big girl potty! . This time around I have a big sister helper who’s excited to show #lennylulu the way, but I also have a toddler who’s far more stubborn than her older sister was at this age. 😂 . So far so good: no accidents. We follow the #ohcrappottytraining method so I’m excited to see how she does with it. #merryq has only ever had about 5 accidents in her life but every kiddo is different - so we’ll see! . What tips do you have for potty training? Pray for me? 😬
Face painting, good food (good enough for a solid pinky raise form #lennylulu 😂), and tons of fun with friends. Makes for a hella good toddler birthday party. And naps for BOTH girls this afternoon. 😍😍😍🙌🙌🙌
These two had a hard day. . #lennylulu really wanted to play, but she just didn’t have the energy. #merryq really wanted to play with her sister and it was difficult to accept that she just couldn’t and wouldn’t. . But in the midst of the hard, there was so much goodness and sweetness - like this brief moment at the piano. . How lucky are they to have one another to love and play with?! #sisterhood is the most special bond, and even when they’re sick, it’s beautiful to witness.
While we get our snuggle on, daddy and sissy are getting some much needed solo time together. Seeing her not feeling her best is hard, but it also makes us stop, slow down, appreciate these moments together and focus on meeting her most important need: love.
Sometimes you make grand plans for the day (like @amomsvillage gym time, mommytime, and play dates at the pond with friends) but wake up feeling cruddy and in need of snuggles. . We’re having one of those days here. Even the dog is joining in the chill time. What a life he leads 🤣 . I sometimes have a difficult time changing schedules. When I have a plan, I like to follow through with it. But knowing when we just need to stop and rest? It’s equally important. We can’t be our best selves without rest. . Reminding myself of this today and soaking up snuggles with my sweeties.
There really is nothing like a farm day. Picking food. Buying treats. Eating on grass and picnic tables . I’ve been freaking out a little about this summer. We opted not to send the girls to camp so my childcare has been dwindled down to one day a week. . But here’s the thing. I can continue to freak out about it. Spend all my time with them wishing I could “get things done.” Or I can embrace it. And I can get WAY more done WITH them. . Like adventures on the farm. Walks on sandy beaches. Tours of every park we can find on the North Shore. Trips to the aquarium, children’s museum, zoo. ALL THE THINGS. . My summer list is long and we are going to get through it together. One day and one strawberry-covered adventure at a time.
Celebratory dinner to celebrate the official start of #summerbreak! . At drop off today Merry’s teacher asked me if I was the crying type. Would I cry when I picked them up today? Get emotional leaving their teachers from the year behind? . The truth: no not really. I couldn’t see myself crying today, knowing we’ll be back there in the fall and all the familiar faces would be welcomed. . But ya’ll. Ask me Friday? When I don’t have school drop off? My answer will likely change. 😂 . Bring it on, #summer! We’re ready for you. Sorta. Maybe. I think. We’ll see.
Excuse me. I’ll just be over here sobbing over how much they’ve grown this year. 😭 . #lennylulu, your first year of preschool has been nothing short of magical. From day one you walked in the door like you owned the place, and by every indication, you made your mark while there. Spreading joy to those around you is your greatest gift. You grew from a baby into toddlerhood in a big way. I’ll forever miss your babyhood, for its been the sweetest. . #merryq, your pigtails get me every time. I can’t stand how big you’ve gotten this year. You went from knowing your alphabet to reading your momma bedtime story, writing the names of every person you know and love, and learning to add and subtract. I’m crazy amazed by you. Stay 4 though, ok? Because I’m not ready for you to grow up just yet. . Happy last day of school, my precious little loves! I’m forever proud to call you mine!