Housewife Magic

I am now a housewife. More on that topic later, but today I wanted to share a few magic tricks I've learned thanks to Pinterest! And no, I don't sit on pinterest and play all day as a housewife, but I do when I'm nursing River or while taking a 5 minute mental break just like everyone else. ;)

Note: These are all phone pictures. Bradley would be ashamed they aren't perfectly captured and edited photographs. Hehe ;)

Mascara Magic

Mascara is every woman's best friend, right? Even on my no-shower life-is-crazy kind of days I ALWAYS wear mascara. However, I usually end up throwing a tube away before its actually all used because it gets dry. But no more! Simply adding a drop or two of contact solution boosts moisture and adds to the lifespan of your beloved tube!

Towel Revival

Part of being a housefwife is not having my own paycheck coming in, which consequently means I can't go drop some chump change at Target like I used to. After a while towels and wash cloths get a little funky, smelly, & feel icky. So instead of buying new fluffy plush towels every year, I have tried this pinterest magic trick: Wash towels with 1 cup of vinegar on hot, then wash again with 1/2 cup of baking soda on hot. Voila! Fresh & fluffy like new! Yes, you have to run them through the wash twice, but if that means not dropping $$$ on new ones I'm up for doing it every few months! I was a bit skeptical because you don't actually use detergent when performing the towel revival, but it really works! Even after one use my towel still smells fresh and feels fluffy instead of sticky and stale like it did before. Therefore, I'm washing less towels per week now because we can reuse them. And I used to NEVER reuse towels before throwing them in the laundry bin. This trick has changed my life a bit. Seriously.

Cooktop Bath

I'm lucky to have a fabulous kitchen after we remodeled our historic home. But with nice things comes the chore of cleaning them and keeping them in good shape. I am also lucky to have a husband who enjoys cooking and shares the responsibility with me. But with that also comes more messes. ;) Our shiny black cooktop was becoming streaky and dirty and driving me insane. Fortunately, I found this trick: Dunk a dish rag in a mixture of hot water and dish soap, sprinkle a heap of baking soda over your cooktop, and then squeeze the excess water out of that rag and lay it on top for about 15 minutes. Wipe it off, shine it with some windex, and then look at your clean shiny reflection!
I apologize for not having pictures of this tip. I recently cleaned my cooktop and don't feel like doing it again just to snap phone pictures. But here is a link to some if you need to see!

I hope these magical housewife tips excite someone out there and bring some thrifty cleanliness to your home!

Catching Up

Wow. Time. Is. Flying. Its time to dust the cobwebs and sweep the tumbleweeds from Dean Pudding and get up-to-date! Has it really been almost 5 months since I last posted? Part of me feels sad that I haven't kept up with this little ole blog. Not only is it a place for family and friends to glimpse into our lives but it is also our own little journal of memories. We have the traditional baby book, but come on... who actually has the time to tangibly scrapbook and keep up with one of those? However, another part of me feels excited that I now get to reflect on the past few months and write about our growth and adventures!

Confession: I started this post about a month and a half ago. This is the second time I have came back to finish it and have had to edit the info below to stay up-to-date on River's growth. It is currently almost 1am, and I am going to be so ticked at myself in the morning for staying up late doing this. But when the heck else am I supposed to find quiet alone time long enough to blog?

So here's the skinny on River in a nutshell:
-Nearly 9 months old. Best and worst 9 months of my life. I'll elaborate on that statement in a later post. Don't worry, its a positive thing. ;)
-Over 21 pounds and 28 inches at his last check-up a few months ago. Naturally, he's tall and slender.
-2 bottom teeth and 2 top teeth. His is the sweetest smile I have ever seen!
-Hasn't consistently slept through the night since he was 4.5 months old. So I'm zombified and suffering from mom brain 75% of the time.
-Speaks gibber jabber fluently. "Dada-dada-bum-bum-mama-la-la-hummm-squeal!"
-Likes: bananas, singing, squirming, Rylee, pulling hair and beards, Daddy's lunch breaks, females (already), tickles, the color orange, his rubber duckie, chewing iPhones, reading books, playing with the recycle, Sesame Street, peak-a-boo, blowing raspberries, and other baby activities.
-Dislikes: car rides in the dark, vegetables (already), fighting sleep, ear infections, bumping his head, nasal spray, and nasal aspirators (the bane of motherhood).
-He can crawl, but more often army crawls and inchworms from one room to another pretty fast. Therefore, we can't leave him alone anywhere but his crib... for now at least. I give him another month before he is climbing out of it! He also pulls himself up to standing and is getting more steady on his feet each day!
-The little guy is into e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. And he is strong, sharp, and stubborn. Oh boy!
-His newest actives are singing and dancing. Bradley and I put on some fun tunes and sing and dance with him til we are all three worn out from giggling so much. I love our life!

I still owe you my birth story! I promise I'll work on it next. The only opportunity I have to type & blog is when River is napping or when he goes to bed at night. And honestly, I am usually too exhausted and have laundry or something else to do during those quiet hands-free moments. Nontheless, I am going to find the time and energy to type it all out within the next week. So stay tuned- this time I really mean it. Also to come is a post about the choices we made about birth, breastfeeding, etc. and why.

Here is a brief (i take a zillion pictures a week of this beautiful boy) photo catch-up! If you are our facebook friend or follow me on instagram then you have already seen these, but I can't get enough of this adorable face and you probably can't either, right? ;) And these are most all phone pictures, so forgive the blurriness and such!

 

3 Months of River

I thought I would blog much more often once River arrived and I no longer "worked" full time. Yeah, right! Now, how do I even begin to reflect on the past 3 months of motherhood and catch you all up?

Well first of all, it really is true. "They grow up too fast." River has grown, developed, and changed so stinkin' much in twelve weeks. I find myself looking back through my cell phone pictures and feeling so mushy about how little he once was. A few more weeks from now I will look back at his current pictures and feel the same way. And before I know it he'll be going to kindergarten, getting his driver's license, getting married, and having a son or daughter of his own. Sigh. Time really is flying.

I am so thankful to have such a healthy and happy baby boy. He's currently 15lbs 5oz and 26" long... yes 26!!! I won't way he's growing like a weed, but more like a jasmine vine- strong, bountiful, and quick. And oh boy, he is all smiles! This little guy smiles, chuckles, squeals, and "talks" to us all the time. He's so cute I can't even stand it. Sometimes I get caught up with housework or projects, and then I will hear him laugh. I have to just drop everything I am doing in that moment and cuddle him. Look into those big eyes, smile back at his vibrant face, and soak up every moment of his life. There will always be work and cleaning to be done, but I won't be able to relive River's precious moments as a little baby. So needless to say, I have a slightly messy house and haven't been very productive the past few months. But I have a happy baby and a happy husband and that is enough for me.

Being a new mom and settling into my new life has been a bit of a whirlwind. There have been moments where I have felt so flawed, immature, selfish, weak, & like a complete moron. And there have been moments where I have felt strong, beautiful, loved, equipped, and like I am fulfilling my destiny to be a wife and mom. Motherhood so far has strengthened and humbled me over and over again. If I am ever having a weak moment I have to remind myself that there is no one else in this world that can do a better job at being River's mommy than me. And I am the best wife that Bradley could ever have. I was made to love, nurture, encourage, support, and take care of them... and they do all the same for me. I couldn't have a better husband or son. Bradley is the most incredible daddy, and he continually encourages me to be the best me I can be. I'm so blessed.

I do plan on sharing our birth story soon! I know it will take me quite sometime to write it all down between feedings and diaper changes. ;) So stay tuned!

River Asher Dean

Introducing our sweet baby boy, River Asher Dean!!!!
(2+ weeks late)

Born July 31st at 8:37 pm

8 lbs 8 oz, 21.5" tall

All natural birth

Blessed, healthy, & head over heels in love...

The Waiting Game

Being told you could have your baby any day now is worse than being 5 years old on Christmas Eve! At least you know that Christmas is for sure coming the next day, right? For the past two weeks Bradley and I have been on pins and needles waiting to meet our precious little baby. Any sign of progress or labor has made our hearts flutter with excitement, but still no baby yet. Our due date isn't until August 2nd, a week away, and I was mentally prepared to wait until then or even a week later since it is so common for first time moms to go through 41 or 42 weeks. However my doc told us of the progress that's already been happening with my body and that D-day will come sooner, so I have grown expectant and impatient. But at the same time we're enjoying this last little bit of precious time of just the two of us though. And resting and napping while we still can! I go in waves of nesting and knocking out my to do lists, and then taking it easy and enjoying the quiet. I don't take it for granted, but oh boy I cannot wait until that quiet is filled with sweet little breaths, coos and ahhs, cries, and baby grunts.

So, here's that update I have been promising you in a nutshell:
At our last ultrasound 2 weeks ago he or she weighed 7 lbs 2 oz, and on average a babe in utero gains about 1/2 lb per week during the last few so I wonder how big little Dean will be? We have decided on names, however we are not 100% on these. We know that when we hold this sweet baby and look into its precious eyes we may know that his or her name is something totally different! So stay tuned to see who he or she is! I have loved the mystery of our baby, and cannot wait for the surprise!!! How many surprises do you really get like this in life? ;)

I have absolutely enjoyed our pregnancy. And having such an amazing guy like Bradley by my side makes me so thankful. Yes, I'm hot, tired, uncomfortable, and can't sleep now. But the baby and I are healthy, and that's all we could ask for! This has been such a special time in our lives and I know we'll look back and treasure it. After 9 months I am as prepared as I can be for the next step in life. I'm not anxious nor frightened. I am ready to take it all on and embrace every moment of new life, from the sweet snuggles and smiles to the sleep-deprived diaper changes. Bring it on!

Here's a little photo update of the past few months and weeks:

31 weeks after the Cotton Row Run 5k. I felt amazing to jog it 7 months pregnant!


32 weeks


35 weeks at the beach


39 weeks and counting...

I have a feeling this kid will someday look at this photo and laugh at my hair.

Xoxo!

Darling Howard

Howard has been my most popular Darling Darling this wedding season, and I've whipped quite a few over the past few months. Wouldn't he look great on your handsome guy?

I'm busy working on my next custom order for a beautiful bride and her beau. And I'm really looking forward to playing around & creating more goodies to add to my Etsy shop in between feedings, naps, & diaper changes with our newborn in the next few months. So be on the lookout! ;)

Xoxo

SPW

If you have been keeping up with the Shoals Perfect Wedding then you have already seen Erin & Alex's lovely engagement photos by Armosa Studios! They chose the location Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve, which I must say is my new favorite place in (or a little outside of) town. If you adore nature you must go there! I helped style their outfits and made their music sheet background which is also going to double as their photobooth background for the big day. Notice Erin's skirt- it was her mother's back in the day. I love details like that! Erin & Alex are such a fabulous couple and are truly deserving of the Shoals Perfect Wedding. They are both so appreciative, joyful, & full of genuine love. I've enjoyed working with them, and their wedding is going to be a beautiful event! And baby Dean's first wedding. ;) If you haven't seen their engagement photos yet then go pick yourself up the newest copy of No'Ala magazine, or go to Armosa's blog to check it out. Oh, and did I mention that I got a sneak peak of Erin's bridals? Well I did, and she is such a gorgeous bride. I can't wait for you all to see her in all her bridal beauty... especially Alex. :)

Here are a few of my favorites:

Be sure to keep following Erin & Alex's wedding journey and experiences with our fabulous local vendors here!

Until next time, xoxo.