An Elmo Breakfast Birthday Party!

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My sweet angel turned two last week. I keep pinching myself about it, because it's super emotional to think back over the past two years of his life. But he's so funny, you guys, because he asked for an Elmo birthday party. With an Elmo cake. How does he know to ask about these things?! We weren't going to do a party for him this year, because honestly, we threw a big shindig last year and it was tons of fun (please tell me you remember my hand-made fruit pirate ship) - but also tons of work. And I wanted to just give myself a pass on this one. However, when Everett asked about his birthday party (we've been to several birthday celebrations lately), and said, "want Elmo cake", everything in my mama heart said, "You got it!"

Thank goodness Publix makes a mean Elmo cake. Twenty balloons, a carton of Starbucks coffee, and a bag of Panera bagels later, we were in business. This was a great, eeeeeasy birthday party. We just invited our families over for a 9am breakfast (because we are a big family!), let the kids run through the sprinklers and it was the perfect amount of hoopla and celebration.

Oh, and the birthday boy got to pick a special donut for breakfast. Because apparently you can't eat healthy on your birthday around here...

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Cousins table!!! Many thanks to Travis & Liz for gifting us this amazing kid's picnic table.

I was a tiiiiiiny bit nervous about having him blow out the candles. I mean, that fire was close to his face. Thankfully, his cousin Wynn helped him out with the task. And Everett couldn't have cared less, because he was super enamored with the birthday song. He is still asking me to sing it to him, every day when he wakes up. "Bird-day song, mom?"

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"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to"

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People ask me all the time, "Why did you guys move from NYC?? Don't you miss it?" and of course I do. But when I see these photos of my son tumbling in the grass with his cousins and getting loved on by his grandparents and getting affirmed by his aunts and uncles, I am more sure than ever that we made the right choice. Everett is the happiest boy, so loved by everyone around him, and it's such an honor and a hilarious joy to be his mom every day. Happy 2nd birthday to my bright, beautiful boy!

Those Summer Neutrals.

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Summer, where have you gone? It's like I blinked twice, swam three times and suddenly August is here. Does anyone else feel this way? Our little family has kept busy in this Georgia heat, swimming and golf carting and playing at the park. I've been growing this little tummy of mine and have been busily preparing for our trip to London :) I guess it's no wonder the summer has flown by.

I assembled this airy outfit of denim, white and cream for our date night last week. I love this combination of neutral shades and textured accents - adding this Banana Republic small stud-suede zip pouch and Delise Woven-Strap D'Orsay Pumps were the perfect sassy "pop" for this otherwise simple look. The zip-pouch is great because it's not too fancy but it's really sleek with those studs. And it smells like that yummy Italian leather - you know that scent that makes you want to eat a bag or shoes? Yep, this has that going on. And of course, need I say anything about those shoes? I mean seriously. Banana, I wish you would make cuter clothes. #kidding #iwantmore #clothesnotcandy

Outfit Details:
Motherhood Maternity Top, Gap Maternity Jeggings, Knox Rose Cardigan (sold out but similar here and here), Banana Republic Clutch (c/o), Banana Republic Pumps (c/o), Michael Kors Watch

Is it lame to admit that even though I was feeling all fancy because I had just gotten my hair done that day (shout out to Susan at Shane Buffkin Salon!) and I was wearing my super fly shoes - we totally ditched our date night. I mean, we tried. We went to the restaurant, sat down to look at the menu, moved tables twice, and I just wasn't feeling it. The menu looked gross (its a great place, but I was just repulsed for some reason), and the air conditioning was too cold, and then they sat us at one of those tables where you're supposed to sit next to each other. I don't understand why those tables even exist. So yes, I guess I was having a temperamental, high-maintenance pregnant lady moment. We apologized to the hostess, grabbed our favorite Thai takeout, and went home to eat and watch reruns of The Office. I know - we are so cool. I'm really lucky that I found my soulmate early in life. I would suck at the single-and-dating game.

Even though we bailed on last week's date night, summer is seriously the perfect time to get out and about with the one you love. And wear reeeeeeally cute shoes while doing so :) What are some of your favorite summertime date ideas?

Many thanks to Banana Republic for sponsoring this post and sending me products. All opinions expressed are my own.

Baby #2 - A 20 Week Bumpdate.

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This has been, simultaneously, the fastest and slowest pregnancy ever. The first trimester dragged on for an eternity and I thought there would be no end in sight with all the nausea, exhaustion and headaches. But oh my goodness, the second trimester is flying by - the only reason I'm able to remember where I'm at in this pregnancy is because the belly of mine is growing like mad. I am definitely bigger this time around than I was with Everett - sometimes I give myself grace like, "hey, it's a second baby, these things happen!", and then sometimes I'm legitimately worried that I'm growing a 19-lb. human inside of me. I've already grown quite a bit since these family photos were taken a few weeks back by the wonderful Rachel Koontz.

I thought it was high time to resume the bumpdates that I had going the last time I was pregnant. Because its fun. And actually, I have been referring back to those bumpdates lately, trying to remember what I felt like back then. So it's helpful, at least to me!

How Far Along: 20 weeks - 5 months!

Gender: Unknown, but only for 1 more day!

Name: haa yeah right. Ideas please??

Sleeping? Yes! Thankfully. Although I'm beginning to think I need the body pillow I used the last time I was pregnant...

Eating: Fruit! And big breakfasts! My appetite has picked up significantly in the past few weeks, and I am hungry around the clock. Though by dinnertime I couldn't care less about eating. So my day starts out really hearty and healthy and kind of peters out... I wish I wanted to eat more vegetables, they are still grossing me out. Stevie's been force-feeding me asparagus and tomatoes. Yuck.

Emotional Check: I feel like my normal self - none of the mood swings I was experiencing during my first pregnancy! I used to cry all the time, but this pregnancy hasn't been anything like that. In fact, I am just feeling really energetic and alive these days. I'm trying to take advantage of this second tri burst of energy before it leaves me in the third tri. Meaning I've got like 6 half-finished house projects going on right now :)

Movement: Yes! I started feeling the baby move around 17 weeks, which was really reassuring and special. Feeling the baby move is always a turning point for me; beginning to feel connected to this alive little person inside. It's pretty remarkable, actually. I love the feeling, and it makes me super grateful that I am able to house this little treasure inside my body.

Looking Forward to: Finding out the gender this week! And going on a babymoon to London this week! <-- We are heading across the pond for a dear friend's wedding, but we are treating this little baby-free getaway as our last big alone trip before we become parents of two. My oh my. The time is passing me by, friends!

Wearing:
BCBG Maxi Dress (old, I've linked to a few similar below)

Stevie and I are doing our best to be intentional as a family of 3 before things change this holiday season. We want Everett to know how special and loved he is, even with all the changes of a new sibling that are upon us. Any ideas on how to get the most out of being a family of three? Any fun ideas for special dates to do with a 2-year old?

A great thanks to Rachel Koontz, Eyesong Photography for taking these lovely photos of my family :)

Off to London!

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We have a dear friend getting married in jolly old London next week, and I am so excited to dive across the pond and spend time celebrating this wonderful wedding! It is a 3-day Indian wedding, so I know the festivities will be gorgeous and lively and I am just so excited to be able to experience it! While it would be a blast to bring Everett, Stevie and I are treating this as our babymoon and leaving him in good hands back home. We are also going to be in 3 days of wedding events, which doesn't really scream "toddler friendly" - though I'll admit, I am getting reeeeeeally sad about leaving him. He's just so wonderful and funny and tender and the thought of spending a few days so far away from him is a little unnerving. Say a little prayer for my mama heart :)

Even though we will be really busy on this trip, I wanted to ask all of you if you have suggestions for places to go/see/eat/do. The last time Stevie and I were in London, we did a lot of delightful touristy things, like having high tea at Fortnum & Mason, seeing A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe Theater, touring the London Natural History Museum, visiting the Tower of London, shopping (and eating!) at Borough Market, riding the London Eye, drooling at all the dresses in Harrods, lounging in Kensington Garden and trekking around Notting Hill. I would gladly do all of these wonderful things again because truly, this is a magical town, but I'm sure there are a slew of other places we should visit while we're visiting. I would love your suggestions!

Below are a few of my favorite pics from the last time we visited London. Oh, we were just babes then, living the adventurous pre-baby life and traveling like hippies around Europe with two backpacks and a Rick Steves travel guide. I wouldn't trade my life now for what we had then - but I'll admit, our Euro Trip was the best, most fantastically adventurous trip of my life.

Note our odd outfits - we were seriously running out of clean laundry.
 

I am so excited about this trip I am almost itching. I am such an anglophile (in other words, a typical American girl) and I am excited to don a Kate-Middleton-esque hat and get my tea on. Seriously friends, trip suggestions are appreciated! Thank you in advanced! XOX

The 5 Ways I Make Time for Exercise (with a Toddler + a Baby on the Way!)

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The battle for our hearts are fought on the pages of our calendars.
- Bob Goff

It's really hard to make time for exercise when you have a job and a family and hobbies and a life. It's just hard. It's taken me a lot of time to figure out how to implement time for exercise that works for me and my family. Usually by the time I "figure it out", everything changes again. Schedules change, seasons change, work load changes, my husband starts traveling incessantly for his work, and suddenly I'm back to square one. I'm certain I'm not alone in this constant battle for time and the need for more disciplined time management - but in the realm of exercise, it's become a necessity for me to figure out how to make exercise work within the available time frames that I actually have. Creating time for exercise is what has helped me regain my sanity and overall sense of good health since having my son two years ago. Like I said, this has been a loooooong road in figuring out what works, and I'm sure that I will undergo another season of "figuring it out" after I have another baby this winter. Navigating life with two littles is certainly going to be an interesting new challenge!

I wanted to share these few nuggets with you because so many people have reached out and asked me how I make time for exercise, even with a toddler (and even while pregnant!) While I certainly don't have all the answers, I am happy to shed light on what has worked for me over the past few years. I am so passionate about staying active because it's obviously good for my own health, but it's also one of the best examples I can set for my son and baby to be. Showing them that I care about my health, that I care about my well-being, and that those things are a priority will only set them up for a lifetime of good health success, too.

I also want to mention that I am not a registered dietician, nutritionist, nurse, or anything even close -  I'm just a regular ol' mom. This is my own personal experience, and you should consult your doctor before making any changes to your own fitness plan.

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1. Exercise Early.
This is my favorite tip. I have never been a morning person but have discovered a new love for the early hours of the day because I can have "me" time before my son wakes up. I wake up at 5:30am three days a week and exercise, no matter what. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are my days to leave the house early and get to a 6am workout at the gym. Lately I've been incorporating Pure Barre as well, and I'm getting dangerously addicted to those classes.

2. Get Out of the House.
It's really good for me to get out of the house for my early morning workouts, because I am much more motivated by the change of environment. If I try to do a workout DVD at home at 6am, I tend to get lazy and sit on the couch and scroll through my email and think of making a pot of coffee... you get the point. Getting out of the house causes me to focus solely on me and make the most of my time. By the time I get home at 7ish, my husband is ready to get out the door for work and my son may or may not be awake. This is one of the ways that we can tag team the parenting of the morning and it still allows me to get that exercise in. (In case you're wondering, Stevie works out the other two mornings of the week. I didn't want you to think I was stealing all the good days of the week for my work outs :)

3. Mix Up The Routine.
I get bored doing the same thing all the time. In order for me to stay motivated and excited about exercise, I have to do different kinds of workouts throughout the week. While I prefer exercising without my son in tow, sometimes I have to get creative and incorporate exercise into my daily life with him.

I mentioned above that I love my early AM workouts - I usually lift weights 1-2 times per week (my sis-in-law meets me, and we get to catch up with each other while we lift, which is super fun), I like to swim laps (very gently, I never actually put my head in water), and lately I've added Pure Barre to the mix and I've been at the Pure Barre gym 1-3 times per week. Cardio is obviously important, too, but I've been scaling back on super strenuous cardio since getting knocked up. If I have to exercise with Everett, I like to get outside and walk him in the Bob stroller. I also add on some squats and lunges mid-way through the walk, and he just laaaaaaughs and counts them out with me (we are working on counting these days). Between all of these options, I'm averaging about 4 workouts per week.

If it's a rainy day and I need to get a workout in during my son's nap time, I love the Tracy Anderson Pregnancy Project DVDs. I've also heard great things about her Post-Pregnancy Workout and her Method and Metamorphosis series. Plus, she's not an annoying person to watch on a DVD :)

4. Listen to Your Body.
This is a really important one. There are some days that my son is super active and by the time he finally goes down for a nap, I'm exhausted. In these situations, I am often challenged by feeling tired, but also feeling the pressure to "get in my workout" while he's sleeping. I've learned this lesson the hard way, but in these moments it's always better for me to listen to my body and lay down to take a nap. It makes me a better mom and it makes me less likely to injure myself.

On the note of listening to your body, I've had to make major adjustments lately because I am pregnant and my center of gravity keeps shifting. Lately I've been lifting weights a little less, and when I do lift I am doing much less weight. And even though I enjoy running, I don't run at all when I'm pregnant, because it's just too much pressure for me. I know a lot of ladies love to run late into their pregnancy and feel really good doing it, but I'm jut not one of them. I am a big fan of scaling back really intense workouts and using my own body weight for resistance. This is important all the time, but especially when you're pregnant - listen to your body! You know that "good" pain feels like and what bad pain feels like.

5. Create a Motivating Playlist (or Podcast!)
I kid you not - in the fall, I was listening to gardening podcasts at my 6am gym workouts. I'm a granny. But seriously - this was how I learned to take care of my roses and which vines to plant along my fence! I like to rotate between my hip-hop/R&B playlists, gardening podcasts, and church sermon podcasts (I love listening to Bethel Church and Bethel Atlanta :) And sometimes, I like the quiet and I don't listen to anything at all. This kind of goes along with tip #3 above - mix up your routine and you won't get bored.

There you have it! The 5 ways I've incorporated toddler-friendly and toddler-free workouts in my schedule. We all have different time constraints with how and when we can exercise, but I am a big believer in "where there is a will, there is a way". I hope some of these help inspire some creative exercise scheduling for you!

Questions? Words of advice/encouragement for me and other mamas who are reading this? Leave a comment below! I love hearing your feedback and I try my very best to respond to every comment :)