Boon Flair Find & Bedazzled Baby

I don't spend money on a lot of things. Jeans, running shoes, hair color. Those are big ticket items for me but for most things, I'm happy to wait until they go on sale and enjoy the challenge of finding a good deal. I am my mother's daughter!

Krosby has Karlyn's old crib, dresser, glider, and plenty of hand-me-down clothes so I don't feel too guilty when I buy her new items of her own. I can't remember when I first came across the highchair of my dreams, but I did and I was sold. I wanted this one bad!

Oh but don't worry. Amazon has it for $229.00!

There was still no way I was going to pay over two hundred dollars for a highchair. Back around Christmas a fellow blogger tipped us off to a sale on them for $160.00 but by the time I saw it, Wal-Mart was out of stock. Diapers.com had a sale too but we decided to wait, thinking surely it would go on sale again by the time we needed it.

Recently I'd started refreshing my browser daily just to check! I think one of the biggest selling points to me was NO FABRIC. The all plastic and smooth materials were going to make it a snap to wipe down after messy meals and I loved the adjustable height feature. Plus, it just looked cool! Amazon gave amazing reviews and so little by little my heart was set on it. I knew exactly where I would put it and I could picture it there, sitting sweetly under the calendar. :-)

I'm part of a large moms group on Facebook so a few days ago I threw out that I was wanting a boon flair. One of the girls said her sister had found one at a garage sale for $30! Fast-forward to this past Saturday morning and another sweet momma snapped and posted a pic of the very chair I wanted at a Kid-to-Kid resale shop about an hour away. Ahhh! #BlessHer I called and asked a few questions to make sure it was in decent shape and then requested that they hold it for me. Krosby and I set out for a weekend drive which was actually really relaxing because she slept the whole time while I jammed out to the radio. <It's the little things.>

We made it there in no time and I gave it the once over. I even had to pull up the video on it because I couldn't figure out the pneumatic lift. Tip: Pull/Push hard! You can watch here to see how it works!

An employee helped me load it up and we were off! What a steal! It was also my lucky day because I was able to meet up with a friend from college that I hadn't seen since I was pregnant with Karlyn. She lived in the area so Krosby and I got to check out her super-cool house (I love older homes with character AND the previous owner left her with top of the line high-end kitchen appliances!) and we caught up on life over Torchy's Tacos. It was seriously such a fun day and totally out of the norm for me. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see her! We actually lived together for one Summer right after college, in Indiana. Crazy!

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On Sunday, I got my boon flair all cleaned up and wheeled into place. Oh yes. It rolls! But...not before I let my smallest child roll off the ottoman. 

Ya'll. I was horrified! This is what happened. I left for an hour on Sunday to go to the gym and returned home to this bedazzled baby. Karlyn had gotten a bracelet set with her Nona and with daddy's help decided to decorate her younger sister. I thought it was so funny so of course I was trying to get a picture. After I took a few I turned around for a split-second and whlop! There she goes. I had just told the dog to hop off the chair so I don't know for sure if he knocked her slightly or if she rolled all on her own (I think she did) and landed on the floor. Luckily she is squishy and the ottoman is not very high. But I still hated it and it scared me for a second. She cried for about a minute and then was fine. I guess we got that milestone out of the way. :-0 

Ta-Da!

So that was my weekend. I still can't believe the highchair I really wanted is sitting in my kitchen! I plan on replacing the pad with one of the colored ones - probably orange. Even though Krosby isn't ready for it yet, it's so fun to have it waiting on us for those first baby foods!

International Sibling Day

It's National Sibling Day, and while I'm pretty sure this is a made-up thing I can't pass up a chance to jot down some funny things my oldest said. My own mom tells me that I have to write this stuff down!

This morning I told Karlyn,

"Did you know today is National Sibling Day? Do you know what a sibling is?"

"A baby?"

"It's a sister or a brother."

"So what's this all about? You take your sibling to school? You pet them?"

Karlyn likes to talk to her "YouTube" fans sometimes and make these pretend videos. We'll catch her talking out loud at random times and holding a dialogue with invisible friends. So later in the nursery while I was changing Krosby, I hear,

"So it's International Sibling Day and...I don't really know what that means because this is my first International Sibling Day."

ha!!!

The girls stayed home from church this morning after a late and long night so while daddy was gone teaching, I had both Karlyn and Krosby upstairs with me for a quick workout. Karlyn also loves to play doctor and give checkups and who do you think needed a checkup most but little sister!

I love these real-life pics of sweet sisters playing. Krosby needed some "blood work" and then had to have a cast which consisted of a baby washrag + hair rubber band. She begged me to leave it on her, which I did for about a minute. :>

I can't wait to watch these two grow up together and write down all the funny things that are said! I feel so blessed to be their mom and I will always remember how Karlyn prayed for her little sister. She would repeat after us at bedtime:

"God, please let me have a baby brother or sister."

...

"No, just sister."

Happy International Sibling Day!

Chocolate Avocado Pudding

That time I made pudding out of avocados.

Please save your judgement.

I'd tried a similar version before so when I came across this recipe and knew I had dates needing to be used, it was a no-brainer. Plus, I like healthy non-traditional recipes. And I got to use my nifty high-powered food processor which is always fun!

We had some interesting conversations around it for sure.

"Kati, WHAT is in this cup in here?"

"It's dates I have soaking for a recipe."

*****

Then after I'd made the pudding, Ryan asked:

"Do we have any avocados?"

"No, because I used them in the pudding."

"Oh, NO. I am not eating pudding with avocados."

Wimp. :>

I thought it was yummy and I would totally make it again. You could even add some honey or maple syrup to amp up the sweetness but I enjoyed it as is.

Smooth. Creamy. Chocolaty. And loaded with healthy fat. Try it. You might surprise yourself.

Recipe here.

Book Thoughts

That moment you realize you're probably not going back to sleep. Baby is fed and back to sleep, you've eaten a snack, gotten comfy and the light starts slowly pouring in from the living room windows where you're camped out in the chair. Just doze off, just doze off. It usually works! But not this morning, because chapter titles keep jumping into my head.

Oh, you know, for the book I'm going to write.

It's not a completely new thought to me but it's one that has resurfaced. A possible title popped into my head the other day and since then little ideas or snippets and chapters have made their way in. Maybe it was because I went to Half Price Books. There's something about that store, or any bookstore really. If you're a true reader/writer, you don't even have to buy anything. Just being inside, standing in the aisles inspires. I think to be a writer is to be a reader. You simply have to read if you're going to write. It's just part of it. Luckily, I love both. I couldn't find what I went in for but I wasn't going to leave empty handed; (I had already gotten myself and the infant out of the house!) a book was coming home with me. So I left with something by Beth Harbison and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

I really, truly enjoy writing but as with many things, it requires that I make time for it and actually DO it. Isn't that where the magic is? In the doing? Plus, with a five year and two month old, I really need to get out of my head. Talking to little people all day does something to a person and all those grown up thoughts and ideas get smashed into the back of my brain - and then dumped onto my husband the minute he sits down to eat dinner. So. I should probably start writing. Thirty minutes a day is the goal, whether that's here and blog published or in "book planning form." ha. Am I nuts?

Even if no one reads it, a book is a book right? I'm one of eight children (a fact that continues to baffle me the deeper I <sink> into parenting. How is that even possible? Life with two is a whole other world. But, my point. Surely that gives me nine people guaranteed to read. And publishing. Well I'll get to that.

There is something incredible about words. They hold so much power and when crafted together into sentences and paragraphs, thoughts and chapters they become this force to be reckoned with. Whether that force produces laughter, tears, introspection, or daring drive is up to the author - and reader. And I want to write the kind of book that can be re-read. None of this one and done stuff, but the kind you highlight in and flip open as a reference, and say to your friend, "You have got to read this book."

"It's changed me!"

Of course I'll need a cover design. Thankfully I have a sister-in-law who excels in design. She does really great work and you should definitely check her out.

Alright. Well, my thirty minutes is up. This has been good. And it's time for breakfast. Happy Monday friends~

FIVE

Karlyn~

You are 5 YEARS OLD TODAY!!!!!

I can't believe it. Where did the last five years fly off to? Wasn't I just packing my hospital bag to meet you sweet girl? And now YOU are the big girl!

Karlyn, you are an amazing kid. You continue to blow your daddy and I away with your sweet and kind heart, the wacky, zany, hilarious things you say, and that you still sleep-walk to our room every night to sleep. I could write a book about you. You made me a mommy and you will always be my special, first girl and baby and hold a place in my heart that can't be filled by anyone else. 

Let's talk about what you're up to at 5 years old!

You wanted to be a mermaid for Halloween!

We took preggo walks together and held hands. #sosweet

You built an amazing castle at the dr's office using all the blocks and legos!

3 things you love: Daddy, His phone, and your Disney Princesses

You like to dress up!

Things you love~

Cheese. All your baby dolls and being a little momma to them. Paw Patrol. Picking out your clothes. Doing Aunt Ashley or Aunt Sam's hair. Braiding! You've figured out how to braid hair and can braid your own in seconds! *You'll braid anything...a long necklace at Express :-0, fringe on a scarf, and you try to braid my fingers. ha. The Target toy aisle. Watching YouTube shows about American Girl Dolls, "cake shows", shows about kids getting casts put on. You love being a little nurse / doctor and giving daddy and I check-ups. You say, "How have you been feeling?" and "Are you allergic to penicillin?" We think you'd make a great nurse one day! Doing "routines." You will talk out loud about your day, narrating it like you are talking to your YouTube fans. And sometimes add, "and you can leave your comments down below!"

Things you don't love~

Cleaning up your room on Saturdays. Sleeping in your own bed. Pretty much anything I make for dinner. Naps. 

Funny things you've said / done~

"Ugh, why did God make our thingers (fingers) turn into raisins after a shower?!"

"It doesn't get much better than this...holding your baby sister and watching a show."

"Daddy, you've been getting a lot of text-es."

"She's breakin' my heart." (holding Krosby)

"You look great! You look awesome! Although maybe not as awesome as a princess."

"Mommy, I'm not tired! I don't need a nap! I have enough energy to run down the street!"

"Mom, why don't I have any knee socks?"

"Uh, I don't know. Do you need knee socks?"

"Well, I don't urgently need them but they do make socks that go up to your knees."

"Sometimes you land on your feet; sometimes you land on your bottom." Talking about a slide...

"Actually momma, I think a pulse oximeter can only go on your thinger."

Hygienist: "Do you floss?"

Karlyn: "No, I just stick my finger in between my teeth and get the food out."

"This is the best part of being pregnant. You have your own belly as a table."

You also tried to give your baby sister a wet willy! Daddy stopped you.

Elsa hat

Even big sister's need naps.

Love you.

You decided you wanted to exercise and this was your outfit.

Always babies in hand. 

Things you like to eat~

Grilled cheese, scrambled eggs with cheese, vanilla yogurt, green apples without the skin, applesauce with cinnamon, oatmeal, PANCAKES! olives, cherry tomatoes, avocado, cheese cubes, mustard-glazed chicken, black beans with cheese (catching the trend here?) pretzels, and ice cream!

Things you don't like to eat~

You've become kind of a picky eater. :-0 What happened?! You eat a lot of the above and don't like eating pretty much anything I make for dinner...you don't like potatoes anymore, rice is hit or miss. Bananas are no more. I think you may have gotten burnt out on some of these. Oops.

Chick-fil-a date

Cheetah girl.

You got to open these earmuffs today for your b-day!

My little silly.

On turning 5~

We had your birthday celebration at Red Robin and you so sweetly remarked that "this was my best birthday ever!" Works for me! =) We were trying to fit in a celebration before your little sister came and we succeeded! You had lots of family there to help celebrate and we made a gluten-free funfetti cake with chocolate frosting. It was pretty delish. You got a pink purse and Barbie Glitter Hair Doll which you LOVED, plus a bunch of other fun things. You kept saying on the way home, "thank you momma for getting me that...I never thought this day would come!" ha.

Barbie Love!

You also got a baby sister this year!~

Karlyn, it has been so fun already watching you with Krosby. I know you have waited and prayed for this little sister and now she is here! I can't wait to watch you grow together and see the love that I know you will have for each other. You are right - she loves you and fits perfectly into your arms!

Sweet girl, I love you. I love that you are old enough to really go shopping with me and you have an opinion on things. I love your sweet, sensitive spirit and that you don't like to disappoint. I love how helpful you have been to me over the past week as a big sister, and I am in awe that I get to be your momma. You are going to do big things and use that little brain of yours in amazing ways!

We love you so much!

Momma and Daddy

Spaghetti Squash Boats and Little Words of Wisdom

 I made a new dish last night. Kinda. Karlyn and I love a good spaghetti squash but Ryan's not a fan so we took the opportunity of him being out of town to have it for dinner. I had seen this recipe on Pinterest and thought I'd simplify it some - although I think the original recipe looks DELISH!

I split the huge squash in half (this is super hard sometimes so be careful with the knife!) and roasted it at 425 for an hour, although I should have cooked it longer. Scraped out my seeds and started pulling the noodles out with a fork. I made Karlyn's separate since I knew she wouldn't want spinach. I combined my "noodles" with Classico brand tomato & basil sauce, browned ground turkey that I'd seasoned with salt, pepper, and fresh garlic + some wilted spinach. Tossed colby jack cheese on top and broiled it until it looked right.

IT. WAS. SO. GOOD.

I had leftovers tonight, minus my squash boat. Definitely a keeper recipe and the combination / topping possibilities are endless. 

Beef, turkey. Ricotta, mozzarella cheese. Salsa, black beans, corn, cheese. Pepperoni, onion, green bell pepper. What would you like in your boat? ;-)

I definitely ate too much and the less than adequate belly space I have left was f.u.l.l. 

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My four year old is going on fourteen. The stuff she says...it blows me away. Last night we were getting ready for bed and she was hanging out in my bathroom while I soaked in some epsom salts - my almost nightly ritual. She was getting to sleep in the big bed with daddy being gone.

I decided to confide in her. I said, "Karlyn, I'm scared a little. I'm kind of scared to have another baby. And to have two kids." She didn't blink. Didn't laugh. Just stood there and said,

"Mom, just take it easy. Just take it one step at a time...and just try it."

 It was amazing! She knew exactly what to say and truthfully I sometimes feel like the Lord speaks through her. I think she and I are going to grow so much closer over these next few months being home together and I will treasure that time. Not every day will be perfect - we both agreed that yesterday was kind of a bust. But I told her today, some days will be more fun than others.

Some days we'll get out of the house and do things. Some days will be like yesterday where I piddle around the house wondering whether or not I should pay $60 for her to go see the chiro because her head hurts, she stays in her pajama shirt where both breakfast and lunch stains land, and we leave the park crying after ten minutes because she wanted to swing, but I messed her up, but I was only trying to help, and no, she didn't want to do anything else but swing. #stayathomemomadventuresday2

I'm so thankful for her little life and the person that she is. Thankful that she eats my spaghetti squash, and blessed to have her speak words of life into me at four years old.

Gender Reveal

Note to self: When planning a gender reveal party, start earlier than one week out. I got sick over Fourth of July weekend and decided in my downtime that I should probably start thinking about how I wanted to announce BOY or GIRL after our anatomy scan.

I found this pin on Pinterest and decided that was it! I loved the idea and the cool picture she got. Plus, I had already been thinking along the lines of balloons and I really didn't have time to decorate a big box. Although I think that idea is super cute too. Party City and Hobby Lobby were both out of stock for 36 inch black balloons so I paid $11.00 shipping to 2-day it from Amazon. So what if I paid double the amount on shipping that a 3-pack of these balloons cost me. It was going to be worth it. =)

I gathered more ideas for food on Pinterest and hit up Hobby Lobby, Target, and Tom Thumb for my party items. We had a small gathering of family and it was SO FUN and joyous to get to celebrate what felt like a monumental event for our little family. Would we be bringing home blue or pink in December?

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Let me back up here for a second and talk about our sono the day before. We did decide not to find out the gender so that we could be surprised along with everyone else the next day. It took a tiny bit of excitement away from that day but it was SO worth it and I would definitely do it again. We had a new sono tech this time and right away she said, "Oh you're going to make this difficult, baby." Baby Ivey was all curled up and not wanting to budge which made it hard for her to look at and measure all that she needed to. Even still she got it all except for the face straight on. So I go back in two weeks for that. But we saw the four chambers of the heart, and the belly, arms, etc. She finally said, "OK, I'm going to look for the gender now. Ryan continued looking at the screen even though I told him to stop! ha. Then she said, "I'm going to type it now." He looked away and I asked her, "So you think you got it?" She said, "Yeah!"

Karlyn was begging me that night to open the envelope but honestly I really wasn't that tempted. I figured we had waited for this for a few years now - what was 24 more hours?

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I took the day off to get the house ready and my sister (thank goodness!) came over to help. I worked from about 7:00 that morning until 7:30 that night when everyone arrived. It was a long day but the anticipation kept building and I couldn't wait! It was kind of crazy and I don't know if it's because I was going, going, going but that afternoon for like three hours or so I had pretty much a constant cramping feeling and sometimes it caught me off guard. Not really hurting per se but just ache-y, crampy. It worried me a little - although we had just had our sono the day before - but I figured it was just baby growing and things stretching and I remembered a day like that with Karlyn around this same time so I figured and hoped everything was well. <<You really don't stop worrying, I tell ya.>>

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Karoline and I had fun at Party City and it didn't take long at all for them to put it together. We had a little bit of a hard time fitting the balloons in my car but once we moved Karlyn's car seat over one, they fit. I was glad I had her though because it was windy too! 

We got home and finished making snacks and put the finishing touches on a few things. 

Everyone started to arrive so we stood around and chatted, ate, and speculated. =)

My sister-in-law Sam and I. Sam and Luke are expecting baby Harper in November!

Sam, Ashley, and I. Sisters-in-Law!

Party Food. We went with a PINK + BLUE theme if you couldn't tell!

Ryan was in charge of a game so he had everyone go around and guess boy OR girl and write down their reason why. Karlyn told him red meant girl and black meant boy. Clearly.

Then it was time for the BIG MOMENT! I made a mistake here and forgot that we needed the balloons to be high so that the confetti could fall down. Ryan was thinking he would bring the black balloon down to Karlyn's level so that she could pop it so...the pictures of the actual balloon pop didn't turn out quite like I'd envisioned. But we decided to throw the confetti up afterwards and got a couple good ones that way. Live and learn!

This picture (above) was right after the balloon pop and shows our true reactions.

Ryan: Ah, seriously?!

Me: Yay!!

Karlyn: WOOOOOOOOOOO  HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Confetti Toss

We're having a GIRL!

Karlyn asked the next day if we could keep the confetti out. That way when the baby came in December, she would know she's a girl. ;-) #toosweet

We are thrilled and so thankful for everyone that came to celebrate with us. What a fun, memorable evening! And thank you to Sharon for taking pictures for us!!