Weekend Wrap-up

Hi! Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!  Don't they go so fast?!  Rob rarely has weekend days off so this was a special treat to actually have him home Saturday and Sunday.  It'll happen again in about seven weeks so maybe we'll be a family of four by then...or at least super close to it ;) This pregnancy has flown by and I can't believe I'm 31+ weeks.  Olivia's big girl room is almost done, just waiting on finishing touches.  The baby's room is underway with fresh paint and wallpaper coming this week.  I can't wait to start organizing it with teeny tiny clothes and special touches.  We're all super excited to be bringing home another itty bitty babe.  

This weekend was a mash up between homemade pizza night, painting, colds (for Rob and Livvy), a tea lunch with my mom and sister (at my favorite place), flower making and some movies snuggled on the couch.  Today, my college roommate and her daughter are coming up for a visit, along with my sister and Brynn and we're so excited to catch up and play with them! The girls are all within six months apart and it's so fun to see all them together. 

Always sad to see the weekend go, but we have so many exciting things coming up so these weeks will be flying by.  Stay tuned on Instagram (@thebirdsnestblog) for a great giveaway coming up! XOXO

Friday Favorites

Hi friends! I'm so happy it's Friday (I totally just typed Wednesday...#babybraininfullswing) but really Friday is what I've been looking forward to all week.  Today, my sister and I are planning to run some errands and do some last-minute Valentine's Day shopping with the girls.  I've requested that my hubby make this deliciousness for dinner on Valentine's Day because let's face it, we have a toddler and she'll be included too because we didn't make plans early enough.  Have you read this post on Honest Toddler?!  So funny and so true! Speaking of some toddler fun, these are some candid snapshots from this week ;) 

Cheesin' before toddler time

Superbowl at my sister's house - they know how to party #partyhats 

Snuck downstairs while protesting a nap..."Hi, Mommy!"

Now on to some favorites of mine this week...

I cannot wait to try this Molten Chocolate Latte!! I'm sure a trip to Target will be occurring while we're running errands so this will undoubtedly be enjoyed. Even if the toddlers are losing it in the dollar spot. Starbucks + Target are a match made in heaven.

I've been making Valentine's crafts with Livvy all week and she is loving it!  While all of the glitter, paint, and glue can cause slight anxiety (read: everywhere) I know she's really enjoying it and she needs to learn how to use everything before she goes to school.  Trust me on this, teach your kids to use scissors and glue before they start and it will make a world of difference. These are some cute crafts I've seen on Pinterest that would be great for little ones to do: rainbow heart sun catchers, bee mine valentine, heart shaped animals, and a handprint monkey valentine.  

We just ordered the 4moms Breeze and I can't waitttttt to get it!  I did some mystery shopping for 4moms and received a gift card to put towards it so I'm SO excited to use it for the new baby.  I'm a neutral girl through and through so we got the black and grey version and I love that it can fit into our home decor.  I've never been a fan of baby-themed products that are super colorful or pastels unless it was going in the playroom so it'll be so nice to have something that sleek yet totally baby functional. Also, it's amazingly easier to set up than other playards so it's a win win! 

And because I'm 30 weeks pregnant and hungry I thought I'd throw some recipes in the mix that I'd like to try...because #dinnerrut .  This Bruschetta Chicken Pasta looks yummy and simple, Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti - yummmm, White Chicken Chili - perfect for cold nights, and Pioneer Woman Beef Stroganoff would be right up my hubby's alley.  I made homemade Arancini last night and it was so good.  I paired it with lemon-garlic roasted broccoli and we gobbled it up.  For the Arancini: 2 1/2 cups of cooked rice, 1 egg, 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, mozzarella cubes, panko, 2 beaten eggs   Mix together rice, egg, and parmesan cheese.  If it's super loose, add another beaten egg.  Roll rice into balls and stuff with a cube (or two) of mozzarella cheese.  Roll rice ball in egg wash & coat with panic breadcrumbs.  Lightly fry each side and place on baking sheet.  Bake at 425 until cooked through and golden brown.  For the lemon-garlic broccoli: Coat fresh broccoli florets with olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh garlic.  Toss together and roast at 425 for 10-12 mins, flipping once halfway.  Once broccoli is roasted, squeeze fresh lemon over the top.  

{@thebirdsnestblog}

Be sure to follow along on Instagram, Facebook , and Bloglovin' for more snap shots of our week! Hope you all have a great weekend! XOXO

A Weekly Cleaning Schedule (that you can actually stick to)

Cleaning is something that I enjoy doing (most times) and I feel it helps me relax when the house is clean & calm.  Are you like that?! I'm not saying I love scrubbing the toilet, but little things each day make all the difference to have a clean home and clear mind.  It's been really hard to keep and to want to keep the house clean while having a toddler, husband, dog, cat and being 30 weeks pregnant.  Embarrassingly so, I've let the housework go longer than it should have and once that happens it's overwhelming to try to get everything back in order and clean.  My mom has always suggested a weekly routine to keep on top of housework so I created one that I can stick to and hopefully it'll be helpful to you to! Here's so to a little less cobwebs and more joy and peace;)

I'd love to hear if this is helpful to you or if you have tips to keeping on top of cleaning. XOXO

Valentine's Day Round Up: For Kids

Pretzels / Craft / Window Clings /  XOXO /  Book /  Re-Play Plates

Valentine's Day is coming up and I love to make holidays extra special for Olivia.    This year I'm planning pink, red, and heart shaped balloons and fun breakfast of heart shaped pancakes and fruit for her to wake up to! I've also filled her bookshelves with Valentine's Day themed books for her to enjoy all month long. 

She loves to help in the kitchen and I know she'll love to make & eat chocolate covered pretzels! Re-Play plates are our favorite and I can't wait to get her some flat plates in bright pink ;) 

Target always has fun dollar spot finds and these window clings are perfect for her to stick and re-stick (twenty times a day).  I also love that "xoxo" banner...so cute to hang in your little one's room or playroom.  

Crafts are one of our favorite things to do and it's so important to develop their fine motor skills.  Cutting & gluing are great for them to learn at an early age! This bee craft is simple and fun to get in the Valentine's Day spirit ;)  She's super excited to make Valentine's for our family and friends so we'll be making plenty of these.  

Lastly, there are so many cute Valentine's Day books out there.  We normally buy ours on Amazon and also check them out at our local library.  Some of our favorites are: Happy Valentine's Day Mouse,  Ollie's Valentine,  The Biggest Valentine Ever, Clifford's First Valentine's Day, and What is Love, Biscuit?.  

What are some of your favorite Valentine's Day books?  Do you have a favorite craft to do with your little ones? I'd love to hear! 

Pizza Party: Toddler Style

Is there anything sweeter than a toddler pizza party?  On Friday, my sister, mom and niece Brynn came over for a little homemade pizza party.  The girls were so excited to make their own pizzas and although it was messy and they ate more toppings than they used (ahem Olivia) it turned out to be such a fun night.  We used Naan bread, which I looove, and it was the perfect size for individual pizzas.  I whipped up a quick batch of homemade pizza sauce (crushed tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, basil, oregano, and sugar) and chopped up some fun toppings.  Olivia is currently obsessed with pepperoni, which she asks for for breakfast some days...#gag...so olives and pepperoni were the winning toppings for her.  Afterwards, we had a yummy dessert that my sister made - Fastest Fudge Cake and the girls shared a purple bath together.  

Do you homemade pizza night in your house?  I definitely think this will be a regular occurrence in our house! 

Pregnancy Progress: Weeks 17 - 28

I literally can't believe I'm 28 weeks already!  I've always heard that it flies by with your second but wow! Olivia's big girl room is coming together nicely and I can't wait to show the reveal. I'm half excited and half I-really-hope-she-sleeps-so-I-can.   She's been in her crib since day one and while it's bittersweet I can't wait to see her in her big girl bed.  The baby's room is at a stand still until Olivia's is done, so that'll be our next project.  I'm so excited to design her nursery and can't wait to show you some fun collaborations coming up. 

Moving on, here is a recap of weeks 17-28.  Lately, I've been so busy around here I haven't been able to update you and blog consistently so my goal is to get back into it more frequently ;) I love looking back at updates when I was pregnant with Olivia so it's such a sweet way to document this time.  

It's really fun to see the progression of my little baby bump! Sometimes I have little helpers (my niece Brynn was in the last picture) and sometimes it's mass chaos with toddlers running around so it's always fun to remember these picture days ;) Also, can you tell which weeks my hubby has taken the picture? He's a one snap-it looks fine kind of picture taker so most weeks my sister and I take each others updates. My sister and I still have our due date ONE day apart so I can't wait to see when each baby will be born. 

Some days I almost forget there's a little one growing in there because I'm so busy with Livvy and other days it's pretty undeniable when I'm feeling like nothing fits and I'm borderline narcoleptic ;) We have a name picked out that I can't wait to share when she is born.  Follow along on Instagram (@thebirdsnestblog) to see more weekly updates! 

Favorite Recipes || Fresh Cod with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

Hi friends! I wanted to share a new recipe that I tried last night for dinner and it was SO delicious.  Cod is one of my favorite types of seafood and even Olivia likes it so it's a win! This recipe could not be easier and its a great, healthy (ok without the cream) meal that tastes like it came directly from a restaurant. 

Here's what you'll need:

Fresh cod (enough for your family)

12 oz. jar of roasted red peppers, drained

1 garlic clove

Basil (I used frozen cubes)

1 1/4 cups of cream or half & half

Zucchini

Two carrots

1/2 red onion

Fresh parsley

Salt + pepper

I used my Dutch oven, but anything oven safe would work. 

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cut veggies into matchstick pieces and set aside.

2.  Roughly chop roasted red peppers and sauté with garlic, basil and olive oil until warmed through.  Puree the mixture and return to the Dutch oven.  Add cream and veggies and stir together.  Layer the cod over the mixture and put in the oven.

3.  Cook at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until fish is flaky and cooked through.

I served ours over jasmine rice and it would certainly work over pasta or egg noodles.  Even alone with some crusty bread...so yummy!  

What are some of your favorite fish recipes?  I love to try new ones! 

Tales from the Crib

Every morning, Olivia hangs out in her crib with her stuffed animals and baby dolls.  She'll read to them or have little conversations, and I love listening to her over the monitor.  Sometimes this can go on for close to half and hour and others, she's calling for us instantly.  Boy, was she on a roll this morning!

(IG @thebirdsnestblog)

She loves to talk to her baby sister and frequently gives my belly kisses, talks to her, and exclaims "she's so cutie tootie!" I think she'll be the best big sister!  This morning started out with her saying "Baby is going to say Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, and me tell her it's ok baby."  Then she proceeded to ask her baby doll some important questions... "You have an "O" for Olivia, Baby Jesus?"  "Oh, oh, oh, ok, ok me hear you."  

One of her newest favorite songs is Shut Up and Dance.  Her version this morning was "Ho, Ho, Ho shut up and dance with me!!" She also has killer dance moves to go along with her songs ;)  

Once she decided she was awake and ready to start the day, she looked into the camera and said "Mommy, you listen to me!  I want to go to Mama's (Grandma's) house!  You listen to me right now! Mommy, you listening to me?!" She is so stinkin funny! A few weeks ago, she looked right into the camera and told me "Mommy, me speaking English!?  Come get me!"  I can't help but crack up! 

I just think this age is so funny...perfect little humans that are so hilarious! Do you have any funny stories to share? I'd love to hear ;) 

Party Details - Our Gender Reveal with Freshly Picked

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!

We are SO excited for another little girl.  I was hoping Olivia would have a sister and we're over the moon that she will.  We've chosen a name for the baby and Olivia says it in probably the cutest way possible!  She's been talking to her so much lately, saying good morning, I love you, what are you doing in there...it's so adorable! It makes me so excited for the baby to be here and to be a family of four.  

Freshly Picked was a HUGE part of our gender reveal and I couldn't be more thankful for their hard work!  At our 16 week ultrasound, we were able to find out whether the baby was a boy or girl and asked that our ultrasound tech keep it a secret from us.  She wrote it down on a card and sealed the envelope and I typed up an email before our appointment and she was able to type boy or girl on the line and sent it on its way to Freshly Picked.  From there, Rachel (FP) put the moccs in a box and sent them our way!  For a boy, I had chose "Prince George" and for a girl, I chose "Neon Pink".  I wanted bright, bold colors to ensure we knew exactly what it was when we opened the box ;) My friend Masha knew what the baby was too and was so good at keeping our secret! She was able to get the tracking number for the moccs and updated me when I was freaking out. When the moccs arrived, I had our neighbor open the box and put them in a special box I had chosen for the party.  I couldn't risk opening the mailing box just incase I was able to see through the FP bag! t ;) 

For the party prep, Olivia and I got to work making chocolate covered pretzels, popcorn, Nilla wafers, cupcakes and pink/boy water bottles.  She loved "helping" and I was sure to save the ones she made to the side...just incase little nibbles occurred here and there ;) I made everything but the cupcakes the day before so I wasn't running around like a nut before the party.  

By the time everyone arrived, I was able to put all of the treats out and enjoy myself.  Around 7pm we started FaceTiming family and friends who could not be with us and I was getting so anxious.  I felt like I knew it in my heart that the baby was a girl, but then I was second guessing myself...it was all exciting leading up to it! We had Olivia open the box and pull out the FP canvas bag and sure enough, she pulled out bright pink moccs!  It was really fun to have everyone vote right before and seeing their guesses, "team girl" was winning for sure.  

Overall, we had such a fun night and its so nice to know there is another little girl on the way!  Now to start planning her nursery ;) Hope you enjoyed seeing a glimpse into our gender reveal party!  Did you have one too?  What are your favorite details of gender reveals that you've seen?  I'd love to hear! XO

Yummy Thanksgiving Sides

I looooove Thanksgiving!  I can't wait for all of the yummy food, and of course seeing our family.  Thanksgiving has always been at my parent's house and we gather together with all of our cousins, aunts, uncles, and family friends.  As the family is growing, it's been so much easier to serve everything buffet style.  There's turkey, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, creamed onions,  cranberry sauce, green bean casserole...so many yummy dishes!! (I almost just drooled #preggoproblems)  Last year, I made green bean casserole and used this recipe for fresh cranberry sauce.  This year I've been looking for something equally yummy and I'll pass off the green bean casserole for my sister to make.

{Photo via: Damn Delicious}

This slow cooker creamed corn sounds SO good!  I love that it can be made in the slow cooker then transferred to Thanksgiving dinner.  It's gotten great reviews and let's face it, anything from Damn Delicious is, well, delicious!

{Photo via: The Local Vegan}

I'm also going to make these brussel sprouts with cranberries, pecans, and balsamic drizzle.  I've made a version in the past, but adding the balsamic drizzle will undoubtedly make this a delicious side.  Also, perfect to take as a side dish because you'll be roasting them at home...leaving the brussel sprout aroma there when you leave instead of at your host's house ;)

What are some of your favorite sides?!  I would love for you to share!

P.S. - Check back on Tuesday for a fun giveaway!!

16 Weeks - Baby Update

Today marks 16 weeks with baby number two.  Tomorrow we're headed to the doctor to check the baby's growth and we'll be able to see if the baby is a boy or girl.  Normally, they would wait until 20 weeks for another ultrasound, but since the baby was measuring ahead of schedule they are checking to see growth progression and if my due date is accurate.  I'm SO excited!  Instead of finding out at the appointment, I'll be asking them to write it down and seal it in an envelope.  Then the big gender reveal plans will get started!  I'm thrilled that Freshly Picked will be doing our gender reveal for us and they'll know what it is before we do!  We'll be having a small get together mid-week next week to reveal blue or pink moccs...super excited!  Can't wait to share with all of you!

With Olivia, I was good about weekly updates and posts...now with baby two it's basically when I get a chance (or remember) #sorrybaby #secondchild oops ;)

How far along:  16 weeks

Gender Prediction: Girl...I've been feeling very similar to when I had Olivia so we'll see!

Maternity Clothes:  Not yet, still wearing my regular jeans and tops...although that may change soon as I'm starting to pop out a little

Cravings:  Nothing too crazy... still loving grapefruit and anything shrimp related.  Although I did start texting Rob at work around 8am yesterday to decide what he wanted for dinner...as if I was starving and would never eat again. 

Aversions:  I can't even look at/think about anything Asian based.  The thought of lettuce wraps literally makes me gag.  I can barely type the words! Random, I know but some of you have asked for my lettuce wrap recipe and I just can't even think about it.  Also, anything with ginger, stir fry, literally anything like that I can't even stomach the thought.  

Missing the most:  Probably a good deli sandwich and some sushi... and sleep.

Sleep:  I feel like I'm more sleep deprived than when Olivia was a newborn.  I don't know what is wrong with me?!? I wake up for hours and hours at a time throughout the night and I'm up between 5 and 6 for the day, which makes for a loooong day with a toddler!

Overall health:  Overall, feeling pretty good.  I've had a sore throat that will hopefully be on it's way out soon and very tired, but feeling much better than first trimester.  

So excited to share our gender news with you soon!  Be sure to follow along with me on Instagram (@thebirdsnestblog) for all of the updates! XO 

Nursery Inspiration - Baby Boy

Today I'm sharing Part Two of our nursery inspiration, specifically for a baby boy!  As I mentioned previously, we don't know what we're having yet so this is a fun way to get excited for our little one on the way.  To read Part One, Baby Girl Nursery Inspiration click here. 

For a baby boy, I am leaning towards rustic touches with blues and grays mixed in. We'll be using the same crib, rocker, and possibly dresser from Olivia's room, which are white, so I'd like to incorporate some masculine touches to round out the room.  I'll be partnering with Spoonflower to create the room's wall design and I love this reclaimed wood wallpaper, which I would use as an accent wall.  I'd pair it with a blue-gray paint and accent the crib with navy sheets.  Here is my inspiration board for a baby boy's nursery...

I've always been drawn to grays and being a neutral-lover, I'm really hoping to create a calm environment for our little one.  I've never been a fan of pastels, especially baby blue colors so I think I'd lean more towards deeper blues.  I really love navy hues with gray!  Can't wait to see if this little one is a girl or a boy!  What are your favorite paint colors for boy rooms?  I'd love to hear! 

Nursery Inspiration - Baby Girl

Today I wanted to share some sweet nursery inspiration with you.  We don't know what we're having yet, but having a little girl already, it's all I know so far! I'll be starting off with some baby girl nursery inspiration, followed by baby boy nursery ideas next.  

Currently the future nursery is occupied by our cat, Annabelle, and office furniture - aka everything we don't use gets piled in there...as in I'm not sharing pictures because I'd be embarrassed.  We told Olivia that the baby will be living in Annabelle's room, which she replied "that's really vierd..." I almost died with her little toddler accent and judgmental looks.  She also knows that she'll be giving the baby her crib and she'll be getting a big girl bed.  She now asks everyday if we're going shopping for her big girl bed ;) We thought about having Santa bring her one, but there's so much excitement around the holidays that we may do it closer to Valentine's day so it's less overwhelming. Also, let's be honest... I don't need a "Hi Mommy!" at 6am in my face instead of hearing it on the monitor quite yet.  Thanks to my mom for pointing that out. Seasoned parenting win.  The office is smaller than Olivia's room so I'd like to move her dresser in there as well as it's bigger and more practical to use in a nursery but we'll have to measure to make sure everything isn't too tight.  

I'm thrilled to be partnering with Spoonflower for part of the room's wall design and depending on whether the baby is a girl or a boy will determine which route we take.  Going with a girl theme, the floral wallpaper above is one that I love!  I would pair it with pale pink walls and pink crib sheets.  We're using the same rocker as Olivia had, which is a great gender neutral gray.  I also love the look of barn doors to add rustic touch to the room, which I think would be really fun! Overall, what I'm looking for is a mix of pinks, grays, and whites to create a soothing, yet girlie area for our new baby.  

Up next is my baby boy nursery ideas!