Girl's tea!

For Christmas, I gave Emma and my mom a girls' tea date at Carolina Inn.  We have been trying to go for months, but 2 times, there was a chance for snowy weather, so we finally went a few weeks ago.  It was expensive (for a 4 year old), but well worth it.  Emma felt like a princess and her face was priceless.  I think this is a tradition I want to continue for years to come!

You could choose your tea, or have alcohol:) Or lemonade/juice for kids.  The food was amazing - little sandwiches, cookies, and cakes.  It was definitely enough food for a meal.  They even do mini grilled cheese and PB and J for kids - cut up super cute like the rest of food.  I was really proud of Emma - she had awesome manners and didn't spill anything:) 

Long time no see!!!!

I have completely fallen off the blog wagon.  Sometimes, I lay in bed after I am up with Merritt and think about posts and how I need to just get up right then and there and start up again.  I certainly take enough pictures...I just never seem to have 2 hands free long enough to type and upload pictures.  Alas....I am going to try again...because I do enjoy it and I want to document our life, you know, in case someone wants to read it later:)

Merritt is over 4 months old now and really growing a lot.  She still gets up once a night, but she is only up eating for about 30 minutes or so, then sleeps fine.  We did go through a week or so of sleep regression.  Jesus take the wheel.  It was awful - she would only sleep for about 1-2 hours at a time.  I prayed very hard during those nights and days for strength and patience.  I knew she would grow out of it, and instead of praying that she would sleep, I prayed for God to give me the tools I needed to handle it.  Surprisingly, I stayed positive, and we all made it through.  It was a challenge, and I know it might happen again....so I'll keep praying for patience and strength:)

Emma loves Merritt...and Merritt's eyes light up and follow Emma whenever she is in the room.  I am excited to see this bond grow!

We spend a TON of time outside.  Emma could play on her playset all day if I let her, and the weather has been phenomenal lately.  Brent built a workshop table, 2 stools, and a table for his porch.  I love our little set up out here.

Merritt slept through the night ONCE, and then went into her sleep regression.  For a short while, I was worried that there was a correlation between me not drinking wine and Merritt sleeping.  Thank God that was not positive, because I don't know what's worse - not sleeping, or not drinking wine!

Merritt and I take a lot of selfies, and neither one of us looks particularly awesome in many of them:)

One thing we are working on is napping in the crib.  One afternoon, she napped for 2 hours.  It was glorious.  But most of the time, it's only for 30 minutes.  Most of her naps are on the go in the car - that's just our life.  I don't mind...I'll take her on an errand or walk and she typically falls right asleep in her carseat.  She's even fallen asleep in the stroller sitting back also. Whatever it takes!

Emma loves to push Merritt in the swing:)

Tummy time - I don't do it as much as I should, but she is really strong.  She can almost sit up without a ton of support.

Merritt is also great at grocery shopping....we have yet to have a super big meltdown when she is in this thing!

4 month comparison - Merritt on the right, Emma on the left.  I see some similarities, but I definitely don't think they are twins.  Merritt's hair is much lighter and I think she is chunkier:)

I took Emma to Alamance Crossing to get a new pair of rainboots.....yes, far.  But we love Hunter rain boots and I think they are well worth the money.  Emma has had 3 pairs so far and she wears them in every season.  She had to have pink, and I didn't know her size...and the only place that had them was in Alamance, so we packed up after school one day and went over.  It's a fun daytrip - there's a lot of shops, a small park, and a Brixx pizza.

Merritt had a diaper fail right before we left...probably when we took this picture.  Maybe I need to start packing an extra outfit for myself too (eyeroll)

Merritt hasn't gone in the nursery yet for church, but I don't mind.  One Sunday, we chilled on the chairs and listened from there.

My sweet mom got the girls matching National Championship photos and Emma was pumped about hers.  My mom will pick up Emma once a week and do something fun with her, and will come over whenever I ask for help.  It's been really great, and I am very thankful.

For now, that's life!  I have lots of posts scheduled, so check back!

Ups and downs....

Life seems to come in waves - some days better than others.  There are ups, and there are downs...

I had my hair cut a few weeks ago....and my awesome stylist posted my pic on Instagram....I am not a celebrity...but sure felt like it after my style:)

The ups and downs are not limited to daily moods - we are still having crazy weather.  Warm one day, cold the next.  Emma LOVES to be outside and play on her playset.  It's been nice to have her get some energy out.

This little munchkin has a lot of personality.  She is such a mama's girl.  She can be screaming bloody murder, and as soon as I take her and hold her, she is fine.  She is 14 lbs and already in size 2 diapers.  She is also fitting into her 3-6 months clothes easily -something which seemed so far away when I got them out from Emma's old clothes.

I'm slowly getting back into making things.  I'm working on earrings...and have ordered new hang tags for my pieces when they are at shows or stores.  My next goal is creating a website, and perhaps doing away with my etsy shop.

One Sunday, we went to Duke's campus to hear a friend sing who is in the Due Choral Society.  We took both girls because it was last minute, and we want them to be cultured (eye roll....)  I knew it might be a disaster, and it wasn't completely.  But I didn't get to listen to most of the show.

I spent it here.....on the floor in the bathroom....nursing my sweet babe (insert another eye roll).

This was a low point....I have been trying to accept my fate as a nursing mother.  I don't love it...I don't mind it when I do it at home, but going places has become a challenge.  We keep trying bottles....probably not as much as we could.  We did try that night and it worked for 5 minutes....see below.

Emma has become so independent lately.  I found her making her own sandwich the other day!

After some failed outings (and nursing in cars, bathrooms, etc...), I did venture out for the Duke/Carolina game to a friends.  And while I did need to nurse there for a short time, the rest of it went well.  Merritt was content to just hang out and chill!  It was reassuring...I miss people and friends!

Bundled up for a cold day over the weekend.... 

Snuggles with dad on Saturday morning!  I love Merritt's sweet smile looking up at Brent here.

and these cheeks....good gracious, I could eat them!

Friday, I met a friend for lunch at Living Kitchen - a great, healthy place in Chapel Hill that just opened up.  Merritt did take a little bit of the bottle there, and sweet Sarah held her so I could eat.  God, I'm so so grateful for friends who hold my babe so I can be a REAL PERSON:)

Meanwhile, Emma is such a diva sometimes.......I really hope she doesn't think this is what I look like when I talk on the phone!

We are still loving the Binxy carrier....and all the old ladies at the grocery store do too:) 

I even got bold enough to have one of Emma's friends over for a playdate.  Her mom, Sally, was getting her hair done and LORD knows taking a 4 year old to a hair appointment is NO FUN.  So I offered to have her over.  It was the first time someone had come over besides the neighbor friends.

Sweet Merritt all dressed up for an outing....

Can we talk about these rolls for a minute....good gracious!!

I also accomplished going back to the gym for the first time this week.  I went for 30 minutes, and Merritt did great!!!!  I was so worried, especially since she won't take a bottle yet.  She was all smiles and the ladies at Stay n Play loved her.  I was very pumped and cant wait to keep going.  Little glimpses of regular life make me soooo happy;)

Merritt is still getting up once a night, sometimes twice.....so while I am trying not to wish this stage away...I am ready for some regularity and more sleep.  I took a break from activities last week because I had been so discouraged - I was always missing out because I had to nurse.  But this week, Merritt slept through the entire church service and I was able to actually sit and listen (and it was awesome, thanks to the RUF minister that spoke this week!).  And mall group was a cookout with the kids, and I didn't have to nurse Merritt at all while we were there.  I know all this sounds stupid, but getting Merritt on a schedule and being able to live a life is HUGE for me right now:)  I hope everyone else has a great week.....and could it be the possibility of some snow this weekend?!?!?!?