Cal and Evie's Mickey and Minnie Party

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Hot diggity dog! Cal and Evie turned THREE and we celebrated them Mickey and Minnie style! Although after Everly saw the decor she declared that she preferred an Elsa party (insert eye roll). I'm not sure how long I can keep up the boy/girl joint theme going on. And I refuse to do a joint party with two separate themes. Suggestions?!

I actually purchased just about everything at party city. Or I used items I already own. The sugar cookies are by @morgieporgiepuddinpie but everything else I made myself with my cricut (cutting machine).

The balloon garland I made myself and I have to say THIS electric air pump has been a life-saver. 










Prolacta Bioscience for NICU babies

Tuesday, August 27, 2019



When your preemie is in the NICU, the ONE THING you want most is to take your baby home!

If you've been following me for a while you know that Blair was in the NICU after she was born early at 35 weeks. She spent 10 days hooked up to many breathing machines, jaundice blankets, and feeding tubes. Having to drive home without her every night was heartbreaking. I’m grateful things went smoothly and we were able to bring her home so quickly— but for babies born
extremely premature, it could take months until they have grown and developed enough to go home.
Nutrition is so critically important in the NICU.

Preemies miss out on the last trimester growth period, so they need extra nutrition to catch up for what they missed in utero. I learned that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends adding a nutritional “fortifier” to mom’s or donor breast milk so that babies born weighing less than 3 lbs. 5 ozs. 1 can get the added calories and protein they need for brain and body development.
Surprisingly, most “fortifiers” labeled “human milk fortifier” are made from cow milk, which has been linked to serious complications.

Thankfully, I found an alternative: Prolacta Bioscience makes the first and only nutritional fortifier from 100% human donor breast milk. And it’s proven to reduce complications compared to cow milk fortifier. I’m partnering with Prolacta Bioscience to help raise awareness. We want moms to be educated so that they know to ask for Prolacta by name. And thanks to many moms already out there, NICUs nationwide are now changing the standard of care by making Prolacta’s 100% donor breast milk fortifier available as part of an exclusive human milk diet.

If you have a preemie, or know someone who does, please be a voice for them. Click my link for information about how to get Prolacta and share with friends, family or even your baby’s care team.


Logann Mae's Nursery

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Since we decided to wait to know the gender of Logann her nursery was very gender neutral to start with. I used most of the decor from Cal's old nursery and planned on throwing in some pink if she was a girl. Well, she was! I just got one other piece of wall decor for above the glider that is freaking cute but when I photographed her room it hadn't arrived yet. THIS is the piece.

One of my favorite pieces in this room is the swing by Little Dove Store. You can check it out HERE.

Wood flower from hobby lobby, love you more abacus from hobby lobby, yarn rainbow from oh little wren IG shop, wood letter board from madera modern IG shop, alpaca source unknown, rainbow stitching from oh little wren IG shop, buffalo print unknown (and soon to be changed out to her bible verse), lamp from target, nightstand from ikea, crib from babyletto, flokati rug from amazon, blue rug from crate and kids, sheet and blanket from mebie baby, navy pillow from pottery barn, pink pillow from target, garland from target, flokati pillow from pottery barn kids, rocking chair is vintage, plant from target, moses basket from amazon
book shelves from target, bow rack from amazon, clock from target, curtain rod from amazon

dresser is vintage, mirror from target, macrame plant holders from amazon

plants and pots from target, throw pillow from target, swaddle blanket is evies, side table from amazon

curtains from ikea

wall hanging from target, geometric shelves made by matt




wood rainbow from amazon, wood block gifted, bible verse card from magnolia market
Most of the decor was repurposed from Cal/Evie's twin nursery. I'm loving the boho vibe in Logann's room and all the natural textures. It's probably my favorite room in the house right now :). Let me know if you have any questions!

Logann Mae's Birth Story

Thursday, May 30, 2019

April showers sure did bring us a May flower! Logann Mae was born on May 22, 2019 at 3:48 pm. She came into the world quickly (for me) after about 3.5 hours of labor (thank you, Jesus!). She was 7 pounds, 13 ounces and 20 inches long... my biggest baby yet! Also the baby I carried the longest. Blair came at 35 weeks, the twins at 37, and Logann at 40!

I had a lot of hopes for Logann's birth but was trying to keep my mind set as flexible as possible. I wanted to remember that no matter how she entered the world, as long as we were healthy then that was a good thing.

I mentioned that my "plan" was to have a natural birth. I had an epidural with Blair and the twins (in hind sight if I had had different doctors with the twins I wouldn't have needed one. C'est la vie). You can read Blair's birth story HERE and the twins HERE.


On Monday my doctor checked me and I was dilated to a 4. He stripped my membranes (again) and this time I hardly noticed...which meant my body was more ready for labor. The baby's head was farther down. He mentioned that he was on call in the hospital on Wednesday and that after that he wouldn't be on call till July. I LOVE my doctor and really wanted him there for delivery so we decided to schedule an induction. He knew that I wanted a natural birth so he suggested breaking my water on Wednesday as opposed to Pitocin. He figured I was "ripe for the picking" and that that would get things going quickly.

My doula and best friend helping me to stay in control during transition

After talking things over with him, my doula, and Matt we decided I was a good candidate for induction and I headed to the hospital on Wednesday morning. They broke my water at 12 and at first I didn't notice much while sitting in bed. My doula texted me to get up and walk around and that definitely got things moving. I had contractions that I could walk and stand through for about an hour and then things started to get serious.

I asked for the bosu ball and spent the rest of my labor on that! My doula arrived around 2:30 and I was really feeling it. She helped me to stay in control of my breathing. In through my nose and letting it out slowly through my mouth. For me, it really helped to hum while letting out my breath and to rock on the ball. Motion and noise helped distract me from the pain. I kept drooling because I was so focused on my breathing I couldn't even swallow my spit! In hindsight it is hilarious. The pictures are awesome haha. Listening to worship music by Lauren Daigle also soothed me.


Once I started transitioning I was getting desperate. I kept asking "How much longer?" because for me it helps to have a deadline on my pain. There were moments when I said I couldn't do it anymore and that I was going to need the epidural. At that point I was so close to delivering but didn't know it yet. I was repeating "I can do anything for one minute and one day" over and over in my head. I also had to remind myself of other women I knew who had labored naturally and that if they could do it then I could do it! The last thing that I told myself was that this was temporary. I wanted to meet the goal I had set for myself.

Realizing it's a girl

My doula reassured me that I COULD do it and to focus on my breathing. She reminded me that I was strong, that I was made for this, and that I wanted this! Minutes later I started to feel the familiar "pressure" down there and told her my body was starting to push on it's own. She told me to stay in control while she told the nurse and doctor who apparently were standing right outside my door waiting for her green light. They came in, I had one more contraction on the ball and then they helped me onto the bed. The next contraction I pushed half of her out and then had another half contraction and the rest of her came out. One and a half pushes?! I'll take it!

The amount of relief I had after that was overwhelming. So much so that I didn't even ask/look to see what the baby was till after they had laid her on my stomach. I was so glad to be done laboring! When I did ask they picked her up and I was the first to see it was a GIRL!!! I was SO surprised and happy! My whole pregnancy I was telling myself that it just made sense to have a boy but deep down I had a feeling it was going to be a girl. My body carried Blair the same way.


And yes while it would be nice for Cal to have a brother he has three boy cousins his age who live right down the street... he will be just fine! And I have to admit... he is my special boy and I kinda like having him all to myself as my little boyfriend. He's going to make a great husband one day that's for sure!

After realizing I had had a natural birth I was on top of the world! I shouted, "I am a CHAMPION!" so loud I'm sure the nurses station heard me haha! I also said, "I can't believe all you stupid people who do this!!!" Which then my doula reminded me that I was now one of those "stupid people." Haha. My doctor was laughing and just said, "See? This is what all births should look like!" He was beaming and so was I. The emotion and joy in that room could not be matched. I'll never forget the feeling of realizing I had done something that seemed impossible. It must be similar to running your first marathon and crossing the finish line.

The Lord met me in so many ways that day. From little things to big things. I got a full night of rest the night before. I labored and had Logann at a super convenient time which allowed my Mom, doula, and photographer to be there without too much trouble. My labor was fast. Pushing was minimal. I didn't tear (bonus!). My doctor delivered my baby. I didn't need an epidural. Baby and mama were healthy. My kids were able to meet her shortly after. My milk came in and has been plentiful (nipples are currently being chewed off but that's another story). And it was a GIRL!


God. Is. Good. And I realize not everyone gets their perfect birth experience. And if I didn't then guess what? He's still good and I would have learned something from that too. He is always refining us! And let me tell you... four kids is refining LOL. My time has come!

Let me know if you have any questions below! I'm an open book! :)


Cal's Big Boy Room

Friday, May 17, 2019

Since taking these photos I've made a few adjustments to Cal's room but you get the idea for the most part! I will tell you that designing a little boy's room is not my strong suit but I'm happy with the way it has come together.










Bed: unknown (Blair's old crib)

Bedding: Ballard Design

Leather Pillows: Woven Nook

Dresser: Ikea

Shelves: DIY by Matt

Shelving Brackets: DIY Cartel (on Amazon)

Jute Rug: Rugs USA

Round Rug: Amazon

USA Map: vintage HomeGoods

Curtain: Ikea

Curtain Rod: Amazon (super cheap!)

Bookshelf :Pottery Barn Kids

ABC Poster: Hobby Lobby

Chevron Basket: Target

Geological Poster: Vintage

Trucks Wall Decor: Hobby Lobby

Again, let me know if you would like sources for other items and I will do my best! Most things are reused since this is Blair's old room (same for the girls' shared room) so the items can no longer be purchased but there are lots of similar things still available!

The transition from the twins being in cribs to big kid beds was pretty easy (luckily!). Blair was the same way. We've only had a couple of "falling out of bed instances" and we just added extra blankets that we rolled up under their fitted sheets. Nothing fancy... just blanket burrito because let's be honest... even in winter we aren't putting extra blankets on our beds where we live. ;)

Girls Shared Room

Thursday, May 16, 2019

In the downtime that I have while waiting for this baby (hurry up!) I thought that I would share the girls' room. The last thing that I want to do is add some floral wallpaper above the chair rail behind their beds. I'm *pretty sure* I found one that I like and should probably order that before my life consists of sitting on the couch nursing 24/7.




I adore the whimsical Disneyland prints above Everly's bed. Unfortunately I can't remember the shop name! 









Beds: Crate and Kids

White Bedding: Crate and Kids

Frozen Quilt: courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids

Canopy: Pottery Barn Clearance

Nightstand/Dresser: unknown

Curtains: Ikea

Rug: Crate and Kids

Shelves: Crate and Kids

Chandelier: Pottery Barn Kids

Flokati Stool: Hobby Lobby

Natural Stool: Ikea

White rope basket: Target

Book Ledges: Ikea

Book Cube: Ikea

White and Pink House Shelves: Target

Small Oval Mirror: vintage

Swan: Target

Laundry Basket: Target

Let me know if you need sources for anything not listed here! Can't wait to show you the finished room with the wallpaper! I'm sure Matt can wait. ;)