Composed // Dealing with Your Threenager

Hi!  Hope you enjoyed my last post about morning routines that have helped our mornings brighter and days starting off on the right foot.  Today, I wanted to share some things that have worked in our home that we share with our little threenager ;)

Since Charlotte has joined our family, Olivia has been less than herself most days.  To be totally honest, I was worried her "old self" wouldn't return, which completely scared me because she was the sweetest little girl.  Up until this past week she has been all out of sorts - disobeying us, being loud to wake up the baby, purposely touching the baby when asked not to, temper tantrums, etc. I was so not prepared for that.  Side note: I'm writing this with complete honesty because nothing makes me feel worse than reading blogs that make me feel less than a good mom because they have perfect days, perfect children, perfect moments all.day.long.  Anyway, after days of being so frustrated and searching for ways to correct this I decided to use some of my classroom management skills and they seem to be working very well. Read: We're not ending our days covered in stickers, in the corner, with all of us crying.  Olivia has been so much more herself and it's been so nice to get back to our old/new routines.

Get Some Fresh Air
Although it takes longer to pack up the car with both kids, extra clothes, diapers, snacks, extra snacks, sunscreen, sun hats, water bottles, the stroller...you get the idea, it is worth it haul everything and everyone to the park to get some fresh air.  Even walking around the neighborhood or playing in the back yard is a great way to distract from bad moods or boredness all around. It also helps them sleep better, which in itself is worth it. 

Positive Reinforcement
I've started using a star chart with Olivia and it has been a great visual reminder that her good behavior is being noticed.  We had a sticker chart for her bedtime routine but that ended up being too much of a distraction of wanting to put extra stickers on, peeling them off, using them for other things...with a star chart, the parent writes the star and that works really well so the child can see they are being praised and it's also not as much of a distraction.

Changing Their Mind
All too often it's super hard to be three.  Whether your baby doll's eyes won't open and close at the right time or you can't eat marshmallows for breakfast, it's super hard to compose yourself when you're feeling that it's the end of the world. I think it helps so much that my sister also has a three (almost) year old and lots of our friends have kids similar ages and we can laugh together at these moments.  To these little loves, these moments are truly a big deal to them and it's important to respect that they have these feelings.  It's super hard for them to express themselves at times so I find that changing their minds really helps.  For example, Olivia has been wanting her baby doll to do everything Charlotte does which is adorable most times, but other times it's just not possible.  If Charlotte is in her mamaroo, then Olivia's baby doll goes in the bouncer right next to her.  Every single day we have the same breakdown because the doll's eyes won't stay open when she's laying down.  Thank you Mattel, maybe next time you can make a doll that works according to toddler's needs!?! After her 145th tantrum about this I taped the doll's eyes open I tried to change her mind and direct her attention to something else and it worked.  If she's cranky or upset because she can't do something or something isn't working right then we change directions and it normally resets her whole mindset.

Less Electronics
We definitely aren't a family who use electronics all day, everyday but we certainly watch shows on tv and occasionally use the computer.  Of course we have our social media accounts and things of that nature but I try to put my phone in another room or away for the day once the kids are awake.  Olivia has used our iPad a few times and enjoys it but she's just as happy playing with toys so that is what we try for.  Most mornings I let her turn on a show to wake up slowly while she drinks her milk and munches on some Cheerios but I've been making a conscious effort to limit it to one show then the tv turns off and the day starts.  Mamas of little ones - Daniel Tiger is one of her favorites and has great teaching lessons for little ones.  Note: when she's up at 5am, the one show rule is out the window #mamaneedssleep.  By cutting down tv and electronic time, I've seen significant behavior improvement.

Intentional Time Together
Since Charlotte was born, Olivia's mommy time is now shared with another little person and that can be hard at times for her.  Actually, for both of us because mommy guilt really is a true thing.  Intentionally spending time together has been a great treat for both of us. Whether it's going for ice cream or just doing a puzzle together and painting our nails, we both really enjoy it and I think it makes her feel special.  It's hard with Rob being away for work so much lately, but even a few minutes here and there make all the difference.  Also, I find when I remain calm during a tantrum or if she's upset or mad, then she tends to get over it quicker and we move on.

Pour Some Wine
All joking aside, seriously some days are meant to end as wine days. Now I don't currently have any in the house but if I did, I'd be enjoying that.  Alone. Watching Real Housewives. 

These are some things that have worked most days and I would love to hear other ideas about what has worked with your little tantrums, I mean toddlers ;)  When I'm calm and composed, they are calm(er) and more composed too! Stay tuned for another Composed post this week & as always follow along with us @thebirdsnestblog.  XO

Composed // Morning Routines

I've been wanting to share this post for a while now but we've been consumed by a little tiny person lately so its been on the back burner ;) Charlotte is now 7 weeks old and she fits perfectly into our lives.  She's the calmest baby and I'm so thankful for that.  That being said, with a three year old in the mix our days are still nothing less than crazy most of the time.  Rob has another two weeks of swat school so I've been solo parenting for a few weeks now and it is h.a.r.d.  I don't know how single mamas do it.  Some mornings were so overwhelming and that set the mood for the rest of the day so I was definitely ready for some calmness and composure for all of us. I'm thinking (hoping) other mamas have days like this so I wanted to share some tips and tricks that I've been using for smoother days.  

Start your day intentionally.  

Some mornings I just cannot wake up, whether it's because I've been up at night with the baby or Olivia has woken up at 4:59 for.the.day #truestory, but I literally cannot drag myself out of bed. On the mornings that I make myself get up and get moving it makes all the difference and I feel more productive throughout the day. It's so tempting to sit in bed with coffee and catch up on social media or your favorite show but just a few minutes can turn into an hour. Olivia likes to watch a show with warm milk in our bed when she wakes up so I've been taking that time to make coffee, feed the baby, and some mornings I even manage to get dressed without distractions ;)

Get dressed.

To some people this may seem silly, to other mamas you know the real deal. Getting dressed and moving is a small accomplishment that makes all the difference.  If I stay in pajamas once everyone is awake it's over.  Mornings eventually turn into lunchtime frenzy and I'm still standing there in a nursing tank and polka dot pants when the mailman shows up...not a good look ;) I also do my makeup and hair when I can squeeze it in because it helps me to feel ready for the day.  Whether it's in yoga pants or actual jeans and a tee, get yourself dressed and you're good to go if you need to run errands or simply make someone a nibble tray with pepperoni and cucumbers at 8am ;) 

Make a list. 

I'm a list person.  This is not to say that I don't leave my list at home every.single.time. but when I write things down it makes all the difference.  I've literally walked into another room and thought "oh, let me get that from the laundry room"...have walked into the laundry room and my thoughts are gone.  No idea what I was looking for and it'll come back to me at 3am.  Last night, I had Rob text me while he was sitting next to me, to check the due date of our Amazon card in the morning.  In the morning, I'll write down a few things that I want to get done and it's so rewarding to cross off those things...if I manage to get them done ;) 

Eat breakfast.

I've been preparing simple foods that are easy to grab for breakfast and it's been very helpful.  Hard boiled eggs, washed fruit, muffins, a big batch of pancakes that can be frozen...so worth it when you have a crying, hungry baby and a toddler who is also crying because her baby doll's eyes are closing when she's laying down #toddlerproblems.  It makes everyone feel better when you have full bellies to get you through until lunchtime.  It also makes for a much less crankier mommy ;)

These little tips have made for much calmer, happier days. I entitled this series "Composed" because I think as mamas we want to remain composed and some days it's just plain hard to not lose your you-know-what, but with little things like getting dressed, eating a good breakfast and making to-do lists, it's a little easier to remain a composed, calmer mama for the rest of the day;) I'll be sharing more soon!

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebirdsnestblog to see more of our less than perfect, yet mostly composed days ;) XO 

Smitten

Hi friends!  We are soaking in every minute with our fresh little one, Charlotte!  She'll be one month old on Sunday - fastest month ever!! She's just the sweetest baby...calm, quiet, and more importantly a great sleeper!  

You're welcome for baby fever inducing pictures ;) Now on to some things I've been smitten with lately...

One

With the warm weather approaching, teeny bathing suits are one of my favorite things!  How cute are babies and toddlers in tiny bathing suits?! Olivia and her cousin Brynn have been taking full advantage of the sprinkler and had a blast earlier today.  My current favorites are this one, this one, and this one.

Two

Nursing hunger is the real deal... I don't remember feeling this way with Olivia, but let me tell you it's not a joke, I get hangryyyy.  Tonight we're grilling steak and topping it with tomato bruschetta, grilling up some bread rubbed with fresh garlic and olive oil and rounding it out with a fresh cucumber salad.  This recipe is my favorite. Having a newborn in the house means quick and easy dinners are in need and I'm looking forward to trying this and this.

Three

Olivia and I had a tea party yesterday and it was the sweetest thing ever.  My mom gave her a tea set for her birthday so it was super special to use it (with real food!! - her excitement was uncontainable) If you have little girls, I highly recommend taking the time to do this.  Her little face lit up with joy and we both enjoyed ourselves so much.  It's the little things that make memories.  Some of our favorite tea sandwiches are cucumber, cream cheese, and dill, and cranberry chicken salad.  

Four

I'm a huge fan of iced coffee and I love this recipe.  Mornings are brighter with this ;)  I love it with half and half and simple syrup in an iced cold mason tumbler.  This sounds so good, coconut milk sign me up!  There's also a 100% chance this will be my next Starbuck's order...yum!!

Do you have anything that you've been smitten with?  Please share! Coming up... I can't wait to share our newborn favorites very soon! As always, follow along on Instagram to see more @thebirdsnestblog.  XOXO  

How I Used Spoonflower to Customize My Daughter's Nursery

*Our little bundle, Charlotte Elizabeth, arrived April 24 and is doing wonderfully!  Will be sharing more soon XO* 

Hi friends!  I am SO excited to finally share our baby girl's nursery with you! Putting together her room has been a labor of love all around and I absolutely love it.  I find myself peeking at it throughout the day, just admiring the beautiful wallpaper and everything special in it.  I've partnered with Spoonflower to bring you this post and can't wait to hear what you think! 

To begin, this room was our office since we moved in about three and a half years ago and we hadn't touched it since.  It's the smallest bedroom in our house so I knew I wanted it to have a pop of color and thought an accent wall would be the perfect addition.  Spoonflower provided me with this "Happy Floral" wallpaper and I was smitten as soon as it arrived. I've always tended to steer away from baby type rooms (i.e. pastels, etc) and wanted something that would grow with the baby as she got older.  The colors are so gorgeous and the design is exactly what I pictured for this room.  The walls were painted using the formula for Benjamin Moore's "Gray Owl" paint, which was lightened 50% and mixed in Behr paint.  I had it mixed at my local Home Depot and they have almost all of Benjamin Moore's formulas if you just ask :) 

"Happy Floral" Wallpaper

My dad got to work on the wallpaper, which was water activated, and it was done perfectly. Read: sorry hubby, didn't think you could hang it in a straight line ;)  I had some leftover and decided to make a valance for the window to tie it all together.  To make the valance, I used poster board cut to the exact size of the window frame and attached a curtain rod the to back once the poster board was covered with the wallpaper.  So simple, yet it looks custom made! We also chose to keep the blackout blinds in the nursery because #mommyneedssleep so with that I tried to tie the brown in with the mirror and side table.  

To tie the changing area in with the wallpaper, I chose a sage green changing pad cover along with matching crib sheets.  I'll be alternating between watermelon pink (matching the flowers) and sage green sheets (matching the leaves).  Being organized is so important, especially at 3am when you're changing diapers and feeding.  I found the cutest lazy-susan type organizer at Home Goods, which will be used for diaper cream, paci clips, brushes, a thermometer, etc.  We also love using a wipe warmer, which adds a touch of comfort during those night time changes.  My friends gave me the adorable striped basket filled with diapers, an outfit and a rattle, which I'll be using to hold all of her diapers for easy access.  Again, being organized is key for smooth days and nights!

We are also SO excited to share the baby's name, so without further adieu... 

I've slipped so many times and almost spilled the beans on her name while completing the nursery progress and I'm so happy to now share it with you.  We both loved the name Charlotte and Olivia loves it too! Little Charlotte will be wrapped up in that gorgeous personalized swaddle blanket from Audrey's Bear for her first hospital pictures and I can't wait to share! Rachel personalized her blanket and matched it with the wallpaper design, which makes it even more special.  

The felt ball garland is from The Strand and Meg custom designed it with the colors of the wallpaper...swoon!! I've always loved how whimsical and fun felt garlands are and she made my vision come to life perfectly.  It adds the perfect pop of color underneath her name!

For the faux zinc letters, I was going for an Anthropologie look - similar to these and chose to DIY them.  I purchased paper mache letters from an online scrapbooking company and my brother spray painted them with hammered metal spray paint.  After they were dried, I used Command picture hanging tabs to hang each one.  One of my favorite parts of her room.  I love, love, love how they turned out!  

How gorgeous are these prints?!  Andrea from Little Kit Design sent these prints, which match with the wallpaper theme and they are perfect for our little one's nursery.  Not only do I love the meanings of each print, but the colors are beautiful.  I chose to use floating frames to really emphasize the prints alone.  I'm thrilled that I was able to find something meaningful and so pretty to use on the opposite wall from the accent wallpaper wall to tie it all together. 

Thank you so much for stopping by to read how I customized our daughter's nursery with Spoonflower.  I couldn't ask for a more gorgeous room to bring our little one home to! XO

Sources:

"Happy Floral" Wallpaper - c/o Spoonflower

Personalized Swaddle Blanket - c/o Audrey's Bear

Nursery Prints - c/o Little Kit Design

Customized Felt Ball Garland - c/o The Strand

Pink Moccs - c/o Freshly Picked

Handmade Pacifier Clips - c/o Loved by Sophia Claire

Rug - Land of Nod

Sunburst Mirror - Target

Hemnes Dresser - Ikea

Side Table - Target

Rocking Chair - Babies 'R Us

Floating Picture Frames - Target

Diaper Pail - Ubbi

Wall Color - "Gray Owl" lightened 50% - Benjamin Moore

Valance - DIY with Spoonflower

Faux Zinc Letters - DIY using Hammered Silver Spray Paint

30 Things on My 30th Birthday

Today is my 30th birthday (what?!?! 30?!) and I love reading about other bloggers and getting to know them more so I thought it would be fun to share 30 things with you!   Also sharing some pictures throughout the years...

1. I'm a twin, younger by nine minutes
2.  I'm currently 38 weeks pregnant and expecting my second little girl
3.  I've always wanted to be a mommy to all girls

4.  My favorite tea is "wedding tea" from Harney & Sons and I have it whenever I can
5.  I love to do girlie things like get pedicures, manicures and my hair done 

6.  I hate being cold
7.  Before being a stay at home mom, I was an elementary teacher and plan to go back when the girls go to school
8.  I've been married for almost six years (July) 

9.  I love going shopping
10. I have an irrational fear of being kidnapped...just ask my family ;)
11. I also have an irrational fear of going blind...just ask my brother ;) "I knew this day would happen..."

12.  My favorite shows are Real Housewives & Fixer Upper
13.  I would love to own our own "fixer upper" 
14.  I'd love to move to North Carolina or somewhere in the South one day

15.  I have way too many throw pillows
16.  Anthropologie is my weakness and I wish I could decorate my whole house from there
17. I'm the worst at returning texts (I'm one of those that responds in my mind)

18. I love decorating and would secretly love to do home decorating one day for others
19.  Christmas is my favorite holiday, followed by Easter
20.  Gray is my favorite color, followed by lavender

21.  I love going on vacation to a beach area aka somewhere relaxing
22. Camping, outdoor showers, and bugs are pretty much my worst nightmare (I'll be in the hotel enjoying myself)

23.  I love mixing antiques with new decor
24.  Spacial ability is not something I have, hence the "Mommy hit the curb again" comments from the back seat ;)
25.  I love blogging and sharing with other mamas

26.  I really love math, but embarrassingly enough I would probably fail a history test
27.  Audio books are my enemy - sorry hubby, if it's on during a car ride it makes the drive 23918 times longer
28.  My sister and I are due ONE day apart and I can't wait to see when the babies arrive

29. Eating ice cream makes me cough...literally every time. 
30.  My favorite meal would include antipasto & pasta


So there you have it...30 things about me to share with you! XO

Hospital Bag Must-Haves: For Baby

Ollie Swaddle || Loved by Sophia Claire || Freshly Picked || Audrey's Bear || Onesie || Free Babes

Audrey's Bear - I found Rachel's shop on Instagram and immediately fell in love. Easily the softest blankets I've ever felt! The material is amazing!  I'm obsessed with the custom design to match her nursery and the polka dots on the back - love! I love, love, love all things monogrammed and personalized.  There is a huge selection of baby blankets and gift sets to choose from and so many gorgeous colors and designs.  Some of my favorites include this vintage floral , chevron , and tropical flowers.  Audrey's Bear is also a swaddle for swaddle program, which won my heart - such a great program! It'll be so special to wrap our little one up for those first hospital pictures with her name being shared to family and friends.  

Loved by Sophia Claire - These are the cutest pacifier clips ever! There are so many gorgeous colors and they are so well made.  These would also be great to clip little toys on too and who hasn't lost a pacifier?!  Will definitely be my saving grace ;) I also can't wait to try the Natursutten pacifiers that are available here.  This pink poppy clip is already packed in my hospital bag! 

The Ollie Swaddle - I am thrilled to try the Ollie Swaddle with our little one.  It's designed with moisture-wicking fabric, velcro for custom sizing, and diaper changes are a breeze due to the opening on the bottom. This lavender color is so pretty for spring! Olivia loved being swaddled when she was a newborn, but never slept overly great and didn't sleep through the night until after five months. I think this swaddle will be life-changing.  I've heard so many great things and I can't wait to see if it helps the baby sleep more soundly, and longer! The Ollie Swaddle also comes in the cutest gift box and would be such a great baby shower gift! 

Free Babes Handmade - The sweetest bows ever!  I love that they are so versatile and can be used for even teeny tiny newborns.  Olivia will have matching pigtail bows and I can't wait to see the girls together with matching bows. I love the message behind the company as well, creating accessories for little free spirits ;) Some of my favorites include the chambray sailor bow, blush linen school girl bow, and the lavender hand-tied pigtail set.  

Freshly Picked- One of my all time favorite baby items!  Olivia had a few pairs of moccs and they are so well made and easy to coordinate outfits with, I just love them!  They were the star of our gender revel for the new baby and when I saw those bright pink moccs come out of the box I was over the moon! Two of my absolute favorite colors are salt water taffy and platinum.  They are such a great company and I love that even the tiniest feet can fit in them.  These will definitely be a part of our newborn photo shoot.  

Zip-front One-Piece - Perfect for keeping baby extra cozy for their first day home!  Also, if you're a seasoned parent, you know there's nothing more annoying than buttoning up the onesie only to re-do it 18 times in the middle of the night after a feeding and diaper change to actually get the buttons lined up...zippers in this house all the way! I have two similar outfits packed in the hospital bag, one in 3 months and one in a newborn size incase we have a little peanut ;) 

In addition to the pieces above, I'll also be bringing a baby book so we can stamp her tiny footprints after she's born! 

Have I forgotten anything?!  Since this is my second time around, I feel that less is definitely more and a few special pieces make all the difference!  Would love to hear what you packed or will be packing. XO

Hospital Bag Must-Haves: For Mama

We are SO close to baby time!! I'm so excited for our little one to arrive and can't wait to be a family of four.  Today, I wanted to share some items that I feel will really make your hospital stay and "home coming" even more enjoyable. These items are perfect and you will be able to use them for months! 

Covered Goods - this multi-use nursing cover is so versatile and perfect for both nursing in the hospital and coming home.  When I nursed my daughter, I didn't have a cover that I really loved and always felt uncomfortable if my back was exposed, it just didn't fit right, or she was able to pull it off or to the side.  Covered Goods to the rescue!  Not only is it long enough to cover your back, but you can use it in so many ways! From a nursing cover or scarf to a car seat and shopping cart cover, it's so useful especially to keep germs away when your little one is fresh and new.  I got the black and white striped one and I'm in love.  It also folds up super small to fit into a diaper bag and is made of stretchy, super soft fabric.  Can't wait to use it! 

Bravado Nursing Attire - I'm super excited to use comfortable, stylish and practical nursing attire.  Let's face it, nursing isn't always glamorous and definitely not always the most comfortable thing so I can't wait to use both the Yoga Nursing Bra and Dream Nursing Tank.  I wore a nursing tank under my clothes everyday for the entire time I nursed Olivia and I definitely plan to do the same with the new baby.  I can't wait to have a comfortable bra to lounge in and sleep in, as well.  These will definitely be in my hospital bag!

Cozy Delivery & Nursing Robe - I think a robe is a great item to include in your hospital bag.  It's perfect for staying cozy at night or to head to the shower if you have a shared shower in the hospital.  It's also great when visitors come - you can easily cover up your nursing tank or bra and be comfortable at the same time.  I love this fuchsia colored one from PinkBlush Maternity.  

Pure Body Dance Pants - Easily the most comfortable pants I own!  I still wear them occasionally, they're just slightly tighter with my belly;)  You definitely want to be comfortable, especially if you have a natural delivery and I felt so much more comfortable in my own clothes rather than a hospital gown. These are so, so soft and stretchy, most definitely made from some magic material ;) I'll use these for both my hospital stay and for coming home. A few of my friends also recommend a comfy maxi dress, such as this one.

Solly Baby Wrap - Again, something I didn't have with my daughter and I'm dying to use it for the new baby! I've heard amazing things about the Solly wrap and I love that it's so soft and stretchy, yet supportive to wear your baby up to 25 lbs.  I have the natural & grey stripe wrap and I'm eagerly waiting to use it.  Olivia got a similar style baby sling as well and she is so excited to match Mommy and carry her baby doll it in. I plan on bringing it in my hospital bag to make sure the baby gets plenty of snuggling ;)

Yes to Grapefruit Face Wipes - These are the easiest thing to throw in your bag, yet so convenient when you are exhausted but need a pick me up and fresh skin.  I love the smell and they really do brighten your skin.  It's little things like yummy smelling facial wipes or a great chapstick that are comforts of home and make you feel more human! 

Other essentials in my bag:
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Contact lenses & glasses
- Face lotion
- Cell phone charger
- Daily medications & prenatal vitamins
- Granola bars
- Chapstick 
- Makeup
- Dry shampoo
- Socks
- Comfy t-shirt
- Lightweight sweatshirt

Hope you enjoyed my suggestions for packing your hospital bag.  What did you pack?!  Any other suggestions are welcomed! Next up, Hospital Bag Must-Haves: For Baby! XO