Christmas Prep with Baby Isla

As a gal who prayed and prayed for a sweet baby, I always dreamed of what it would be like on Holidays and how I would work to make each one special and filled with traditions! So how do you start your own family traditions? I guess you just start doing what you do and make 'em stick!

Our NEW Holiday Traditions (Hopefully:))

• Family Decorating Night

          This year is SO special when it comes to decorating the house and I want it to be memorable... 

          Obviously Isla will not REMEMBER this year but Preston and I will always remember her first 

          Christmas.. and TRUST me, I will be taking photos every step of the way.. 

          So, I have started a "family decorating night" which consists of hot coca, overly loud Christmas

          music, Monkey Bread made by yours truly (Prestons favorite), tree decorating, NEW  

          Christmas PJs and a mini photo shoot of my sweet girl. When she is old enough, I believe she 

          will most certainly call the shots on how all of this goes down but for now, it is pretty sweet 

          and simple!

• Pajama Palooza

          This has yet to take place this year- we are only just into the month of December BUT I 

          envision a quick trip to Dunkin Donuts for some hot coca, while donned in our cozy Christmas 

          PJ's, and a fun-filled Christmas-music blaring tour of lights! We have a local city park here that 

          has great Christmas lights all throughout and some really spectacular homes that do it up really 

          big! Again, as Isla gets older, I full heartedly assume she will call the shots on how all of this 

          plays out but for now, this is how I foresee this shenanigan!

• Visit to Santa

          Just the typical meet and greet with 'Ol Saint Nick for Isla. We have a Santa at the mall... not  

          sure I LOVE this set-up and would much rather have a local "breakfast with Santa" or 

          something more fun but I have yet to find this in my near-area. The search will resume though:)

• Christmas Eve

          Our Christmas Eve has always been spent with Preston's family- which is HUGE, fun, loud, 

          LOTS of delicious food, drinks, AND... Santa visits (which I am fairly certain this year will be 

          Preston)! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas Eve spent in this capacity and I know this will be 

          awesome for Isla growing up! Also, Christmas Eve is Preston's' birthday so it is DOUBLE 

          special.... He may or may not be turning the big 3-0 this year:)

• Christmas Morning

          Ah, the real Dooze! So, growing up my parents ALWAYS had our presents set out for my 

          sister and I in piles, all nice and show-boat-y from Santa! I remember waking up Christmas

          mornings and running down the stairs to our respective piles and going to town on all the 

          goodies... I am torn on this.. I think this is how I want it to go down for our kids but Preston has 

          always had the gifts wrapped and under the tree! We have a good year or so to kick this one 

          around because I am certain she won't care this year.

I love traditions and would love to start as many as possible so our kids have great memories of the holidays and can maybe pass them on to their kids. It is such a magical time of year! 

Chritmas decorating PJs!

My love setting up the tree

Not so patiently waiting for the lights to be turned on!

Just a little of our mini photo shoot- this one made the 2015 Christmas Card!

Santa is coming to see ME?!

A real gem, this gal! Do you like my dimple?

Sweet Isla!

Isla is 3 months old! Maybe I will back date some posts and update on her birth and being a first time Mom over the last 3 months but for now.. here she is:)

Isla's Nursery is COMPLETE

Ah, at last. The vision has become a reality and is MUCH more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

We of course went with grey walls and a soft pink accent color (exactly like our wedding). We did  not want to do a theme- disney character or something similar. I think themes are kind of cheesy and end-up being a waste of time/money because the little ones grow out of it so quickly. So, we like to keep things simple.

The most special part of this room to me is the painted fairies above her dresser. My yiayia had painted these for me over numerous years and had given them to me as gifts (Christmas and birthdays I believe)... The oldest is from 1999. I ADORE these and probably never truly saw the value and hard work that these encompassed until later in my years. I LOVE these- they are so sentimental to me and and absolutely darling--- she is absolutely one of the most talented people I have ever met in my life.

The second part of this room that really rips at the 'ol heartstrings is that closet. Yes, its a closet but it was built from start to finish by Preston who put SO much time and love into it, thinking of every possible need for our girl and making it a reality. It really is so great to see something done with such love and determination the way that he does things.. makes a gal want to cry even thinking of it!

And, the most fabulous piece that I CAN NOT get enough of is this chandler. Okay, okay... we love chandeliers and have too many but this one is DIFFERENT. This pal has subtle pink crystals throughout and is absolutely stunning in person. Really, the photos don't do it justice.

So, here it is, in all of its soft pink glory!

Unfortuntley, you really can't tell from photos where the pink crystals are but in person, they are darling! We also put this on a dimmer so at night when we put her down, we can dim down and it looks SO cozy!

From the hall

I DIE over this furniture. I had to have it... and do not regret this decision in the slightest. We got the bed and dresser from Nebraska Furniture Mart after HOURS of searching and comparing. This is in an antique white which is the only way to go for us because nothing is white-white in our house. Everything is off-white.

I go back and fourth on this rug. I really wanted a circle rug to lie below the chandelier and certainly wouldn't change that but the color is not EXACTLY what I was going for- usually isn't when you order something like this online and do not see it in person first. It has a blue-ish tone to it opposed to the solid light grey I was looking for but I still like it either way.

Ah this chair... Preston and I had some major debate in regards to this pal. I HAD to have this bad-boy regardless of the cost and without sitting in it before ordering... another online find. But let me tell you- it is amazing. The back is high enough that you can rest your head and the arms are at perfect level, not to mention, it really is a beautiful piece and exactly what I had envisioned for her room.

Chair here:
http://www.amazon.com/Fun-Furnishings-Tres-Glider-Buckwheat/dp/B00LA5118E/ref=sr_1_33?ie=UTF8&qid=1440086658&sr=8-33&keywords=tufted+rocker+glider

The frames I adore. I have mirrored frames throughout the house but these are just dainty enough for a nursery. I finally found what I was looking for and what I had in my in mind all along at TJMAXX (love me some TJ). Unfortunately, they only had 3 at my TJ so I had the overly-excited and willing cashier help call around and find more for me and WA-LAH, there were some about an hour South in KC that my sweet sister was kind enough to swoop up for me on her way to work! I believe these were around $20 a piece- quite the steal!

The sweet lettering for her name I ordered off of Etsy and LOVE it.

The curtains were from Target, the tie-backs from Urban Outfitters and the table was from Hobby Lobby (originally a hideous pee green color, painted off white).

There she is! The closet my sweet husband spent so much time on. Every nook and cranny was well thought-out and deliberate. It really turned out so great.

I have everything labeled of course. The bins on the right hand side house her toys, books and the one you can't see is empty. There are 4 shelves within the middle console that I have baskets (also labeled) that house swaddles, burp clothes, bedding/changing table pads and blankets. And the top there has tons of diapers given to us by friends/family at showers!

I can't take credit for the creativity behind these poems being framed. I found on pinterest where a gal had framed Shel Silverstein poems and I LOVED Shel Silverstein poems/books growing up so I wanted to be a copy-cat. I spent many hours combing through his books finding the perfect poems for Isla and ended up with 6 that worked great! I used pink paper as the back-drop purchased from Michaels.

Yes, I am well aware that those pillows in the crib can not stay in the crib whens he is in there:)

THE paintings! These were given to me with gold frames and since nothing in the room was gold, we did a little DIY spray painting. Preston loves to tell the story of how we were in the driveway spray painting away on a beautiful July morning and our neighbor is walking by, curious as to what we are up to and Preston tells him, "Oh, just spray painting these fairy frames pink..." Ah, he has no idea how pink his life will  be over the next 18 years+

Again, lots of love was put into this room and years of me envisioning what a sweet little girls nursery would look like, came to fruition. I can honestly say this is one of my favorite, coziest rooms in the entire house. I can not wait to sit in here with Isla and rock her to sleep! 

Nursery progress for Baby Isla!

Preston and I love the home projects and have re-done 90% of our home at this point- its been a real doozy. Well, I love the decorating and the purchasing and he does all the hard labor but in my defense- he is good at it! Really, really good at it!

This guy is good at everything, I swear! I feel very lucky that when we begin to talk a new project and sit down to envision what is going to take place that we are usually on the same page and know exactly what we want... And, a lot of times, he has the vision to take things above and beyond where my mind can see at that time- ALWAYS looks great and ALWAYS is done with precision and care... he seriously is the biggest perfectionist I know where I get so impatient and the mess alone puts me into sever anxiety mode... I sure am lucky to have him to bring me back to earth:)

Here are a couple progress photos.. Let me tell you, this room before was a kind of a 'catch-all' and didn't get too much love. We had a spare bed in there and a bunch of JUNK! This, along with Preston's office are the only rooms in the house still with carpet. As much as I love our dark hardwoods throughout, I wanted Isla to have a nice soft floor to play around on- so, we kept the carpet.

Remi hanging out at Home Depot on one of our many runs. She is a hit at the Depot and such a great little helper!

We love us some chandeliers and these pendants that go above them on the ceiling really make the whole look come together.- and are cheap! This chandler is our 4th one in the house now! Don't judge:) 

Ah, a blank canvas, an ugly boob light and plain tan walls (and a real disaster zone)!

The start of the chandelier installation. I was the assistant.

The before closet. This is where I admittedly had no vision and Preston came away with the win. He wanted to build a customer closet for our girl and I wanted to be impatient and throw some cheap metal wire organizers in... Thank God he doesn't listen to me! 

He spent HOURS designing and measuring the exact space needed for her tiny clothes with a tiny shoe rack that also fits regular shoe sall while keeping in mind that her clothes wouldn't always be so tiny so he built the shelves to be removed and the bars to adjust as she gets bigger- or we sell our house and real-size people need a normal closet! He is a genius I tell you!

I promise he likes me... and photos!

A little later into the process- measuring the 'Isla' for above the crib!

Celebrate good times... REMI IS ONE!

This pal is ONE YEAR old and we wanted to celebrate because she is like a child to us!

She was given a coned birthday hat that she refused to wear because it scared her, a soft-food treat with a '1' candle burning brightly that she would not go near for photos because she was scared (yes, she is scared of EVERYTHING) and, LOTS of treats and new chew toys--- hopefully she stops chewing on my belongings and rug but thats a whole other post!:)

Remi has been the best dog I have ever had and is by far the sweetest tempered and most loving little gal around. She LOVES playing with her pink frisbee at least 4 times a day and will carry the thing around with her or drop it on your lap until you take her out back, loves to snuggle with her dad- a routine that makes my heart melt, literally stands on her hind legs and wraps her paws around you neck  to give you a hug when you get home from work or from being gone no more than 15 minutes, spends lots of time chewing on her chew sticks, following us around the house from room to room and being the most curious little pal I have ever met. Not to mention, she is beyond smart and adorable (even with her necessary shorter haircut- the curls are coming back thankfully). She came at a perfect time for Preston and I and has truly given us lots of joy!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY REMI ELIZABETH TAYLOR!

**Please excuse my filthy hard-woods.. we are in the middle of our sun-room redo project (SURPRISE!) and lots of tracking in and out makes it IMPOSSIBLE to keep clean.. trust me, anxiety has the best of me!**

FROM NY TO ND

Me and my bump have traveled around the past few months, from NY, NM, IN to ND and still going... Unfortunately, I only took two bumpies while en route to these places but I think they are kind of funny:)

Mothers Day

Have I mentioned that I have an extremely thoughtful and sweet husband.. I know I have!

This Mothers Day is technically my first and it was WONDERFUL. My husband brought me breakfast in bed, a sweet card, roses and funny little bib! 

Yep, I definitely cried and as of late, those cries are never cute, they are ugly. Real slobbery (due to my awesome allergies), exaggerated (due to my hormones) and just plain ugly (because, well, you don't always feel so beautiful when you've packed on the LBs).... :-)

5 Months Pregnant with my sweet little girl:) 4.24.15
We were heading out to attend my sister-in-laws rehearsal dinner! Such a fun weekend:)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK!

Last week I was in NY for an annual conference. The venue changed to a hotel right in Times Square, where it used to be right across from Central Park and was amazing... It was spring break, so tons of kids everywhere AND it was raining/snowing- so venturing out of the hotel during non-conference hours or cocktail receptions where I could not cocktail.. was a no-go. Kind of a dull week but great net-working and seeing my pals in the industry is always fun.

It was Baby Taylor's first trip to New York.. She has already visited Indiana, Iowa and New Mexico and has a couple more trips coming her way in the next two-three months.

A new life!

After a year of heartache, we have a keeper!

Preston and I found out we are expecting again on the day of our Christmas Party this year- so the beer can was in-fact filled with apple juice---- gotta be clever around our pals, they are always suspecting:)

I can't fully explain the emotion that goes into finding out your going to have a sweet baby especially after loss because it is such a mixed bag! You see, the first time was exciting and my heart was so happy, the second time, I was timid and terrified and this time around, I was all of those things and cautiously optimistic.... I never wanted to let myself think beyond a substantial point so that just maybe I could shield myself from heartache again. The innocence and PURE joy is gone after losses but there is always hope. The craziness came out in full force, constantly worrying, googling and praying for answers.. I even purchased a fetal doppler at around 9 weeks which, let me tell you, has been a God-send that has eased my mind 1, maybe 2 or 3 times a day when I get the hankering to find her sweet heart-sound... annnnnd, I am pretty sure Preston thinks I am certifiably crazy but, I guess he is stuck with me!

Over this year, I have also realized what a great husband I have. How supportive and loving he is and that getting through such sadness and loss not only strengthened our marriage but also made me realize that we can get through anything, and, gave me the most overwhelming sense of who he will be as a father... Loving, understanding, compassionate, patient, kind and all in.. no matter what. He has always been my heart and I am excited to share him with our sweet baby girl who will surely love him as much as I do!




Now, if we can only AGREE on a name!

Let there be light...

After about a year of old dangling light fixtures- because we are too darn picky when it comes to fixtures and can never make up our minds- we found two of these gems for our hallway!

This fixture has a brass decorative ceiling base and NOTHING in our house is brass ( I outlawed that day one of the first renovation) we got crafty and painted the base black and WA-LA, matches our other chandeliers in the kitchen perfectly!
Side Note: When I say "we", I mean Preston because I admit, SOMETIMES I have no vision and think things won't work and scoff at the idea- but, he is always right... wait, did I just say that? Shh...

I believe we finally found these at Lowes!