The Maternity Series: 34 Weeks

Outfit details: Tank: H&M // Skirt: Target 

So, if you've noticed, my hair has been up a lot lately... in a bun, in a twist, in braids. And yes, it's hot. And yes, carrying some extra pounds in the low heat waves we've had lately in Florida makes it even hotter. But also? Both my curling iron and flat iron busted... in the same week. I haven't replaced them yet, so I'm holding out with some extra up do's until that day comes.  (Recommendations welcome, by the way.)

On another note, our little bunny boy is growing! The entire family is getting ready for his arrival in just a few weeks (or a couple of weeks, we'll see!). And by entire family, I mean that even our puppy has been in training, or shall I say, we've been in training with her. And right now? I'm supposed to be carrying around one of Aliyah's baby dolls, cradled as my own to prepare for puppy/baby safety. I'll admit, I did good with that for all of about two hours and since then, that little blonde-headed doll has been in the bassinet, while I tend to my real kids. Aliyah is on the ball though, consistently asking questions like, "Mom, where's the baby?!" or giving me a nudge toward the bedroom with, "I think the baby is crying." And my answer is always the same, "She's in the bassinet. She's fine." At this point, I think it would be safe to say that my daughter is a little worried by my mothering skills.

Caution, more randomness ahead.

Last night Chris asked if I was getting excited. You see, I'm so thrilled for this third little blessing of ours that will soon fill not only our hearts, but our arms, and laps, and the big morning family pile up in the bed. But, I've also never been the pregnant mama that's too ready to move into the next phase of motherhood. My answer to the oft-asked question, "Are you ready?" is usually met with a heartfelt, "Yes and no." I like this stage. I like using all of me to create something amazing to bring into the world. There's something about this safety net cocooning our growing baby that also seems to cocoon me into a state of feeling settled and comfortable (and no, I'm not saying that my body is always comfortable). What I am saying is that motherhood can be scary, but I guess that's the beauty of it, because without having to be brave, there may not be as much reward. As I prepare for this next stage of motherhood, again, and swoon over cute little diapers and awesome onesies (more on that coming soon!)... and by the way, the whole diaper thing is what gave away the secret that I'm totally stoked to have this kid... I'm going to go pick up that baby doll and practice those innate mothering skills so I can show off when my daughter gets home from school.

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Kitchen Pantry Organization on a Dime + Free Printable Labels

So, along with our short week of daddy being away from home, a couple of trips to the doctor with sick littles and my own weekly (did you hear that, I'm down to the weekly check ups now!) appointment for the bunny, we've been happily cleaning our way through the house. And by happily cleaning, I mean, mama is cleaning and sorting and making about 100 more lists than normal, which brings our weekly total of lists to 5100 including the one Brayden asked me to jot down in the store for him to cross off with line items like Be nice to Aliyah and Give mommy a hug. As for the rest of the family, well, they're obliging and usually very helpful. Like the time last week Chris and I had the most adorable little helper stroll through the kitchen section of Ikea as we stocked up on jars and bins, and the moments Chris walks out of the room with a incredulously proud (and totally handsome) smile after he's taken charge and accomplished a few to-do' s of his own... things a 36 week preggo woman can't do like move a piece of furniture or retrieve stored baby items from the attic.

But back to the kitchen storage containers, jars and bins.

Have I mentioned that organization makes my heart swoon? Because, it does.



We recently sprinkled our kitchen pantry cabinet with a little more swoon-worthiness.

It wasn't too long ago that my mother was in town and we hit up Home Depot for a couple of wood planks... just because I was tired of cans and boxes and other miscellaneous items getting all topsy-turvey on the wire shelves. For us, this was a quick and perfect solution, no cutting or installing necessary, just slide on top of the wire shelf and done! It's a solution that works well for us since right now we're renting our place and didn't want to do anything to permanent, and these are perfect for me to re-use at a later time.
For the jars, a few of them we already had on hand, I just wanted to take our main staples and make them easily accessible, sorted and well, pretty... so our venture began. At first we hit up a couple of dollar stores with no luck, and after searching a bit online, these seemed to be one of the more cost effective, and yet still sealable and aesthetically pleasing options around. While there, we also picked up a few white bins to keep some extra items together that could be grouped, like Penelope's stuff, sauces and drinks like our tea and cocoa mixes, etc.

Together we dumped and sorted, wiped down and stacked up, arranged and laughed until we had our way with the shelves... and I had yet another list of all the jars that needed labeling.

After printing on sheets of sticker paper, I just cut them out and added to the jars!


And now for the FREE editable photoshop files so you can customize them for your own pantry... Click here to download the large labels, and here to download the small labels. (You can edit in both Photoshop and Elements.)

I couldn't be happier with another space in our home dusted with shiny, sparkly, spruced up fairy dust. And with it being so family-friendly, our kids know exactly where things are and where things go... over a week later and it still looks like this!

Happy sorting.
xo

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Life Lately, in iPhone Photos

These photos were originally posted on Instagram.  If you want to find me, I'm on Instagram as TabithaBlue and would love to "meet" you!

We're weaving our way through the week... with daddy gone for just a couple of days, and the crazy stories beginning to unfold. But we are blessed, and recovering, and still praying for the families of Oklahoma. Happy Hump Day lovies!

Welcome to our tradition here on Fresh Mommy Blog... on Wednesdays, when I try to be wordless, which doesn't always happen, I'm just going to dump the previous week's photos from my phone. Welcome to Hump Day Dump, we'd love to have you join, whether it's one photo or many, phone pics or camera pics, wordless or not! So just grab a photo and link up with us! You can grab my button from the sidebar, but it's not required. If you'd like to connect with some other great Wordless Wednesday participants, just click here or on one the thumbnails below. Don't forget to link up below!

      

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The Promise of Right Now

I had a few posts planned, a handful of half-written (although even that's an overstatement), partially edited photos, written ideas, including one that I meant to finish last night and then decided I'd finish this morning because I couldn't keep my eyes open last night. All to say, plans have changed.

With the devastation that has rocked Moore, OK and surrounding areas, I feel the need to write and the pull to bring swirling emotions from my heart and head into words. Though it may be a semi ramble of sorts. My own plans and our own issues seem so small and insignificant when looking through a small lens of what other parents are feeling right now in that area. My heart has been rocked by these images, and swells for those families.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that yesterday Chris flew out of town for a couple of days. While our big girl was in school, Brayden and I took him to the airport, loved on him with sloppy wet goodbyes and headed home... and that's when our night began. I couldn't pull into the Target we pass on the 15 minute drive from the cement stretch of airport runway to the cement of our driveway quick enough while our newly potty trained three year old cried out for a bathroom. Little did I know I'd be in that overly lit Target restroom for the next half hour diagnosing a case of the runs while texting to see if Aliyah could stay with a friend until I could get Brayden out of there... since we weren't going to make it to carpool drop off on time.

Later on that evening, I received a text from Chris that he landed safely at his destination in DC, though his flight was rerouted and had been delayed because of storms. Little did we know at that point the climax of pain those storms had caused.

Today, though our morning consisted of many tired tears and painful coughs, a trip to the doctor and pharmacy and subsequent return home to nurse back to health, I will say that I'm so blessed that I can tend to the exhaustion and ailments of my little ones and care for them. I want to celebrate the fact that I have them under one solid roof and can help them get back to normal life. I want to look at this time with them, even if we all need more sleep and a boosted immune system, as the blessing that it is. Because yesterday, someone would have given anything to have their child at home, under a safe roof, to feed them chicken noodle soup, and now they can't.

I just recently heard a phrase that hit home to me, "Tomorrow is a gift, not a promise." In light of what's happened in our country recently, and in recapping the events of yesterday, this brings tears to my eyes... both in empathy for the loss so many feel and for the immense joy that I have another gift with me right now. I have today with the most precious ones in my life. Today, I celebrate them. I celebrate the small things. I appreciate each little whisper or wailing cry.  I'm blessed by their sweet helping hands as we wash all the bedding and sanitize the bedroom, whispering our own prayers of gratitude that we can, before crawling back in for a much needed rest.



We're looking for the beauty, for the angels that arise as the dust begins to settle, because it does come and the wonder of human love that runs to the rescue and sacrifices when needs are exposed is more than beautiful. Oklahoma, we're holding you in a tender corner of our hearts and praying for your peace.

If you're like me and have your hands full, there's an easy way to help by just texting REDCROSS to 90999 and automatically donating $10 to their efforts, or check it out here online.

Update: Pioneer Woman has a great list of different relief efforts to join hands with here.

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