MyLittleGuy - 7 Months

My sweet sweet 2nd born is 7 months old today! I literally cannot even believe it!

I really feel like I just had him last week. 

Second time around goes by so much faster. 

So, here are some stats of my handsome little guy. 

- MyLittleGuy is 18lbs (at least he was the last time I checked... we might have to edit after his appointment this week)

- He wears size 3 diapers and 6-9 month clothes. 

- MyLittleGuy is not a fan of food! I try every day to give him purees but he just isnt interested. 

- He is a full on crawler but will still army crawl since he is faster that way and is wanting to catch up with big brother. 

- MyLittleGuy wakes up 1-2 times a night to nurse and wakes up for the day between 5am-6am. He goes to bed at about 8:30pm. 

- He sits up unassisted so so well! He crawls and then sits up and plays with his toys. 

- MyLittleGuy coos and 'says' "momma" and "dadda". 

- He loves mommy's milk, playing in Seth's teepee, sleeping on his tummy, turning off the xbox, and anything he can chew. 

- MyLittleGuy has 0 teeth but it seems like the bottom teeth may be coming in soon. 

- He can pull himself up on the couch and his crib but plops down pretty quickly. 

- His favorite toys are: Sophie the giraffe, cars, a big Train. 

- MyLittleGuy dislikes food, when his brother cries,  and when mommy leaves the room. 

- He is still pretty laid back but is now expressing himself and will scream if you take something away from him. 

- MyLittleGuy is so so loved!

We adore you MyLittleGuy and feel so blessed to be your parents! 

baby stats and love, Monica

its beginning to feel a lot like.......

CHRISTMAS!

I do not know what it is but I am like SOOOO excited for Christmas this year. 

i know i know. 

Its not even Thanksgiving yet. 

But I am still like beyond excited this year. 

Last year was different. I was joyfully pregnant and we were in our own place... but we decided not to get a tree. We didnt put up stockings. I did listen to Christmas music though! 

Martin was working a ton (which hasnt changed much this year). We tried to visit Santa but failed miserably (SethJason was TERRIFIED!). 

Of course none of those reasons are why we celebrate Christmas and we still had a great season. 

But this year I want to go all out.

I already had a local momma make our stockings (I realized that we have never bought Seth a stocking!) I am so so excited about them and will feature her shop once I get them.

I am planning to do the kindness elves (instead of The Elf on the Shelf) starting in December. 

I am going to do the 25 names of Jesus ornament to help celebrate Advent. 

The boys' gifts are already picked out (this year we are doing Kmart Layaway. Super simple and easier to budget). 

I am looking up fun and delicious recipes and cookies. 

I am hoping this weekend i can stop by the Target dollar spot and see any nice decor I can get (or possible stocking stuffers). I am also planning ahead to take the boys to see Santa. 

We have started listening to Veggie Tales Holiday on Pandora Station too. 

I am really hoping we can decorate our tree this weekend too. (: 

I just feel so festive. 

What about you? Are you feeling the spirit yet... or are you still holding off? 

What way will you be celebrating Advent? Do you have any Christmas traditions with your family? Let me know in the comments! 

ornaments, misteltoe, and love, Monica

{Also remember to follow my twitter and instagram: @thatbelovedlife

and 'like' my facebook page www.facebook.com/thatbelovedlifeblog}

ANOTHER rebrand.

Well, I am sure you have seen some changes to the blog... again.

I went from Captivated by Love.
To Top Knots and sippy Cups.

Last night I was laying in bed and tossing and turning ... like I do most nights trying to get comfy laying next to a toddler.
I started thinking about my blog and what I want for it.

I thought that I wanted to just write mommy stuff -- which is why I went for a very mom type title.
Last night I realized I don't want to limit myself.
I want to write mom stuff and updates on the boys. I want to post recipes and crafts I am doing. 
But I also want to journal about what he Lord is doing in my life. What I am learning. How I am growing. The good, the ugly, the scary, the lovely.  All of it.

So the last and final change.

Welcome to:
That Beloved Life!

Promise it will be the last change. Haha.

I made a Facebook page where you can like!

Www.facebook.com/thatbelovedlifeblog

You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram:

@thatbelovedlife 

Thanks so much friends for sharing in this blogging journey with me!

More changes and love, Monica

October Update

Wow. Well that month went by fast! Am I the only one who thought that? 

October was filled with pumpkins and love. hehe. 

Now we are in November and realizing the dear is almost over has me in shock! But lets recap on the month of October. 

October Update. 

 What have you been reading this month?

- I am so so excited! I have been reading my Wife After God devotional. It has only taken a few years, lol. I have been trying to get up with the boys and while they play I will do my devotional. I also got the One Thousand Gifts devotional by Ann Voskamp that is transforming my thinking. Other then that... nothing. The Bible of course. 

What has been your favorite or new foods this month?

- Well of course it was October so I had a lot of pumpkin stuff. haha. I really enjoyed the Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea from Trader Joes this month. It is so so good made with milk instead of water. Also since we moved into our own place this month I have been able to cook dinner again. Mmmm... mayonaise chicken is sooo yummy! And so so simple! Just mayonaise, herbs, garlic salt, and pepper all mixed up, slathered on chicken, and bake in the oven until done. The flavor is so so good and the mayo makes the chicken so moist! mmm. 

What movies/shows have you been watching this month?

- Once Upon a Time! I just love this show so so much. haha. I havent really been watching anything else besides that. Grey's Anatomy a little bit too. But really I dont have much time to watch shows. Plus MyBigBoy is always bugging to watch his shows. lol. Right now all he will watch is Little Einsteins on Netflix. 

What has MyBigBoy been up to this month?

- MyBigBoy is a talking machine!!!! He has been repeating so so much it is just incredible. So many people would say that it happened overnight and really I didn't believe them. But I was wrong. One day he is was saying one word at a time and now he says sentences! haha. He will tell me "Its dark." when we get up in the morning (well then go back to bed, prince). He is repeating a lot too. Pretty much everything I say he repeats. Its absolutely adorable. We were having a few potty accidents when we moved into our new place but he is already doing better. We decided not to put him in preschool until next year because he was having seperation anxiety pretty bad. Now that he is already talking and understanding more I am kind of sad we arent... but it will be nice for him to get into a routine better. 

He still wakes up once a night and isnt normally napping during the day. BUT falling asleep for bedtime is getting easier. 

What has MyLittleGuy been up to this month?

- MyLittleGuy is ACTIVE! He is army crawling all over the place. He sits up unassisted and can sit up on his own from the crawling position. Right now he is teething... and its the worse. He has an amber teething necklace that seems to help a little but I can tell he is still in pain.... especially toward betime. He is still joyful and laughs a lot! He is now in size 3 diapers and 6-9 month clothes. I am not sure how much he weighs but he is 6 months old! So crazy to think that in 6 months he will be a year old already! 

What are some new/old products that you have been loving?

- I bought a beauty blender spongue in october and I am really in love with it. I am not a makeup guru at all and even though i am almost 30 (shudder shudder) I feel like 15 year olds do their make up better then me. lol. But this little pink blender ($5 at TJ Maxx) is just amazing! It applies my makeup so so nicely and blends perfectly. Makes my life easier too since I dont have much time to mess with putting on my makeup now that both boys are mobile (and fast).

I also was loving Bronner's soap. (Trader Joes) Its a super duper concentrated soap that is plant based. I add some with water to a foaming soap dispenser and it is the perfect hand soap. Also it takes stains out of carpet like a champ! MyBigBoy has been having accidents and this stuff lifts up any stain. new and old! I got a cut and didnt realize it on my leg and saw that I got blood on the carpet and the couch. I mixed the Bronners with some water and rubbed it in and it came right out! No one could even tell!!! 

What is something you were proud of this month?

- I was really proud of us as a little family this month. We moved into our apartment at the end of October and I just feel so so proud and happy that we are here on our own. It was a long 6 months of living with family in various homes and it feels great to be in our own little home sweet home. We got everything moved in pretty quickly too. 

I was also proud of MyBigBoy and how he handled Halloween. lol. I dressed the boys up as Woody and Buzz. They were so so cute!!!! MyBigBoy drew on a pumpkin and then we went to the church's trunk or treat. He had a good time and everyone was super impressed with his throwing skills. haha. 

What is something you look forward to next month?

- Thanksgiving! I love love love thanksgiving food, so I am really looking forward to that! I am thinking maybe I will make a dinner here at my place too. I am not sure my in laws will do traditional thanksgiving food and it will be fun to make my own dinner. 

I am also looking forward to SLEEP! I am planning to move MyBigBoy in his own room this month and hopefully somewhat crib traing MyLittleGuy. I am going off of about 5 total hours of interrupted sleep with having at least one boy in bed with me. My back is hurting and my coffee needs coffee in the morning times. I am noticing that its affecting my parenting too... so time for a change! 

What is something you look forward to in November? Tell me in the comments! 

updates and love. - Mrs. V