I photographed a birth last night. It was amazing. One of the most humbling experiences of my life. I was so honored to be able to be there to document this amazing moment!! It was truly spectacular!!

Firewood & Technology

We got this stack of beauties delivered yesterday...

and then build this lovely...

 ahh.... hello lover.

Fireplaces with fires have to be the most cozy thing in the world...especially is freaking cold Chicago.. it's like -13 outside.... plus, it's snowing.

I just want a fire, all day, every day.

In other news, I'll leave you with some recent pics from our lives...

I must be the best mom ever... seriously.. Brave and cheez-its for breakfast. I rock.

Talking to grandma and grandpa - technology does amazing things

watching Mickey, with Mickey, before going to bed in his Mickey pajamas. Obsessed??

Basically, life is pretty simple and sweet lately... and warm.

Mission Printable in Max & Maila's room

I'm so happy that people are reading my blog and leaving comments!! It makes my day!! I had someone ask me yesterday where I got Max's "I Hope they Call me on a Mission" Printable as seen in this picture...

Truth is, I created it. I wanted something for his room and that's what I came up with! and I LOVE it!! It's a constant reminder (maybe not yet for him) but for what I need to be preparing him for already...

Do you want it???

Here's where you can get it ...

For now... here are the versions that are up on my website they are $5.00 per print and you can download and print as many times as you want:

THESE ARE SIZED FOR AN 8x10 PRINT

Light Blue & Black Font

Light Gray & Black Font

Light Gray & Lime Font

Light Gray & Red Font

Light Gray & Turquoise Font

Yellow & Black Font

For the one I put in Max's room... I made that special for him... It's a 16x20 size. Lime Green map with Black Font... 

All of these are also $5.00 and can be downloaded and printed as much as you'd like... 

Those can be found here...

Here are some examples of what versions I have for those... they can all have the child's name, or not have it... These all have Max's name..

Blue

Red

Tan

Turquoise

Like I said, obviously I have a green one too.. these can be made in literally ANY color!! 

I love them. What about you??

Maila is 6 months

We had her 6 month check up today - where has the time gone?? Sometimes I feel like she was just born yesterday, but then sometimes I feel like I've had her forever. It doesn't help that she looks like a newborn baby still so my timelines get all messed up...consistently...

She weighs 15 lbs 2 oz. She's in the 20th percentile for her height and weight. She's 24 in tall. Don't remember what her head circumference was, but she's in the 40th percentile for that. My doc said it perfectly ... on paper, she's a happy, healthy, growing baby - but not on paper.. we've got some issues.

Today's appointment was the first one where my doctor has been concerned about her developmentally. She is now noticeably not hitting the milestones that babies her age hit - EVEN when we adjust her age for her original due date. (She's 6 months, but should technically be 4 months - so they base a lot of her development on being 4 months old instead of  6... make sense??) So even for a 4 month old she's still slow. She has really bad acid reflux and is now on medication for that, and he thinks she may have digestive problems as well as allergies to a whole array of things - which could be causing her consistent illnesses.. I mean it when I say that she is sick more than she is healthy.

I've been blessed when it comes to my doctor. I couldn't have picked a better one. When I started crying in her appointment today - purely out of exhaustion and frustration with not knowing how to help Maila - he told me that he would be with me every step of the way and that, hey...yeah, having a preemie is hard. It's really hard. And it's going to be hard for a long time, but you're not alone. He even offered to go with me to the GI specialist if and when she needs an appointment. He assured me that this is what happens with preemies, and that there's nothing I can do but be patient and love her and remember to breathe... because guess what people.. Maila is hard. She really is hard for me. I know it may be ridiculous, but it makes me feel like I'm failing as a parent. Blah...

Sleep seems to be a thing of the past, but she is improving - that last two nights I've got more sleep than I think I've had since she came home from the NICU. Of course now I probably jinxed it...

It's not all doom and gloom though when it comes to Maila. She is my pride and joy and my little miracle baby. I love to show her off and I love her so!! Everyone loves her!! There's something so special and loveable about a little baby!! She smiles, giggles, "talks" constantly and LOVES LOVES LOVES Max! When my patience comes close to an end with her, I ask Max to make her happy and he does, every time, without fail. They are both such sweet spirits and they do bring a tenderness into our home.

I often wonder why she came so early to our family, and sometimes... when it's the middle of the night and it's just her and I... I think I know why. But that's just between us girls. But I feel that she still is so close to Heaven.

My dad is an inspired man and sends me emails often with "daily gems". Today's email struck particularly close to home...

"So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment."

—Thomas S. Monson

I learn more about this everyday. And just think, I thought I had already learned that lesson this summer when all this happened... Parenthood is a constant learning curve for me. But I'm up to the job, I love my babies.

:)

Max & Maila's Bedroom Tour - Before

 

 

Master Bedroom Stage 2 - Painting

Holy cow. I never fully appreciated how large my room was until I went to tape it off and paint it. I mean, seriously people!! My arms feels like they're going to fall off!!

The master bedroom is the top right room on this layout ... it's pretty huge. Which is AWESOME! We have SO much space to work with, but at the same time, painting is a beast!!! I did *almost* all of it by myself (the hubs helped me at the end) and it took ALL day. Literally ALL day. From 9 am Saturday until about 8pm. I took my time because I wanted to make sure it looked good!! that doesn't even include the 3 hours I spent taping it on Friday night or the 3 hours I spent doing touch ups on Monday morning. But after all is said and done, I LOVE the paint! Seriously love. The color is SO cozy and I just want to spend all day in there...

As you can see from the picture right above me on the right - the paint underneath the tan color is NEON PINK!! Wha??! I love my bright colors and all, but that's a little much. It was all over the room too! That's a lot of pink for a huge room!!

To get my perfect paint lines with no bleeding - I ran a barely wet paintbrush over the tape that had the original color on it. That way - if any paint bled, it'd be the white of the trim and ceiling as opposed to the dark gray I was putting on the walls. It worked really well actually! I had NO bleeding on my ceiling and just a little on my trim - BUT this is an old apartment and the trim is not smooth, so I'm sure had it been a smooth surface, it would have been perfect.

Then you paint! Check out how dark it is! *swoon* I'm in love.

I'm taping off a secret project on the left - I'll show you that one later! (but keep in tune because it's delicious!!)

Make sure while painting you take a break to read a book with your babe.

 

Especially after he has a melt down about not being able to paint. And no, we're not mean parents who don't let him help. We did let him hold the roller and he got gray paint where it was not supposed to go...

It was a LONG, TEDIOUS process but it was well worth it and we both love the color!!!

Afterwards, enjoy a bath... you've earned it.
But if your house is anything like ours, your kids will be the ones with the nice relaxing bath and you'll be the ones covered in your clothes and water... but oh well... at least Max had fun!

P.S. I know it's kind of a bummer I don't have a picture on here with the finished product... but You have to wait until my secret painting project to see the finished reveal - but it will be worth it! Promise!