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

fresh start.

Today is an exciting day for our little family. 

Today, after a long transition season, we are moving into our apartment! 

The past 6 months has been filled with driving, suit cases, unpacked boxes, squishing all in one bed, staying with family, and being on someone else's schedule. 

We have enjoyed this season of seeing family we havent seen in years and having help with our boys as we mesh into a family of 4. 

Now, JaydenMichael is about to be 6 months and crawling all over the place.... and SethJason is a typical two year old. It was time we got into our own place. 

We were so blessed and were able to buy everything we needed or were gifted by members in the church my in laws go to. And to be honest with you...... we have never had this nice of stuff. 

I am so so excited to have my own place to decorate again. 

Our apartment has a work out room, pool, and even a playground! It still is a commute for Husby for work but it was right at our price point and with everything, we couldnt pass it up. 

This whole getting back to our own place really feels like a fresh start.

Husby and I have had some really great conversation the past week about changes we wanted to make in our lives to better our marriage and family. I wouldnt say we were struggling but, as always, there is room for improvement. 

We have made the decision to start doing family devotion time again so I bought both of us our own daily devotionals as well as a couples one to do once a week. I even got SethJason a little toddler one (Jesus Calling for Little Ones by Sarah Young. $5 on amazon)! 

So every morning we will have some family devotion time in our new apartment with delicious coffee made from our Keurig (my splurge item). 

It was easy for us to decide to make all these changes with this new big transition. 

We want to invest more into our boys and each other. We desire to have Christ first in our marriage and in our parenting. This is truly a fresh start for us. 

I know we didnt NEED a move to decide to make these changes but it just felt right in this season. A lot of people do New Year's Resolutions to start doing things differently. These instances make us reevaluate how we are living and prompt us to change. 

Remember sweet friends, you dont need a new year, or big move, or different season to start fresh. His mercies are new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23) and His joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). No matter what is going on, what season we are in, what we lack, or what we are afraid of.... we can always turn a new leaf. We can always run to the Lord. Whether we are already living wholeheartedly after Jesus, feeling a little lukewarm, or just heard of His name yesterday -- He is there waiting for us. 

We can make a commitment for change. 

So, that is where I am at today. 

starting fresh.

new apartments, renewing commitments, and love. - Mrs. V

I love Fall

The title of this post says it all.... I love Fall.

Like truly truly love. 

I have literally been picking out everything I can that is pumpkin spice. 

YUP. I am one of those girls. 

I have had pumpkin spice coffee, pancakes, mochi, m&ms, waffles, tea, and of course pumpkin spice lattes. I cant wait to go to Trader Joes this weekend and pick up some more pumpkin items too (mmm.. pumpkin chai is on my list).

I am only allowed to endulge in this spicy, sweet, delicious little  big gourd one season a year. So I get as much as I can, while I can.

Speaking of those beautiful orange vegetables, I am extremely excited to take my boys to their first pumpkin patch next weekend. We have been putting it off for so long but I told my Husby that we have to do it next weekend since there are only 2 more weekends left in October.
I am still debating whether we will carve them or just paint them.. but of course I have to take pictures of SethJason and JaydenMicheal in the pumpkins.

SethJason and I have also been enjoying the falling leaves.
He has been wanting to go outside everyday... which I am totally okay with.
He runs and jumps and throws the leaves all over.
Today I was editing a picture I took of him and tells me "pho down" and grabs my hand.
Nothing makes me want to jump up faster then my 2 year old telling me to unplug.
we ran and jumped over the leaves together.

It still isnt THAT cold... well, besides in the morning time... but I am so ready to walk around in my leggings, boots, and scarves.

Truly, I wish it was Fall all year round... but then maybe I wouldnt appreciate as much.

Whats your favorite season? Is pumpkin spice your friend or foe?

falling leaves, more pumpkin spice, and love. - Mrs. V

what you dont see {social media lies}

My little family of four had family pictures taken last week.
I try to take pictures once a year to see our family grow and get older. I really really love getting them done. My husband and kids done exactly look forward to it, the way that I do. hehe.

After getting some previews back and posting them to social media I realized something... social media totally lies!



You see this super cute picture of my guys and I laughing. Pure joy on our faces.
And although it is true..... it isnt all that is there.

You dont see that my amazing husband and I were arguing that morning while getting ready to go.

You dont see that I got maybe 5 hours of sleep (NOT in a row).

You dont see that my 2 year old is very strong willed and independant and even the simplest task can be a struggle.

You dont see that my 5 month old is starting to teethe and wanting to be held nonstop.

You dont see that we worry about bills being paid, that the house was dirty, and there was so much laundry to do.

You dont see that I have insecurites. About my looks, my mothering ability, my wife skills, and being adequate.

You dont see that my husband just worked 6 days straight and only had that day off to start all over again.

- . - . - . -

Now, I dont believe that we should share every little nitty gritty detail on social media. Facebook, Twitter, and instagram are not appropriate places to publicly vent to (in my opinion).
But just know that the picture or status you are envious of or comparing yourself to isnt the whole truth.
I know, for me, I look at other people's homes or activities with their kids and I look over at SethJason, who is watching his 3rd episode of Little Einsteins, and I feel awful!
I read a status about how in love two people are, while I am in mid-argument with my husband, and I feel jealous.


Comparison is the thief of joy.

Social media is the highlight reel!
You see the filtered, cropped, sometimes staged, edited versions of their lives.
If your life is messy, crazy, confusing, frustrating, sometimes tough, know that you are not alone! Those moments just dont make it on to my instagram.

laughs, tears, and love. - Mrs V.

Today is a good day. 

Today is the first day of Autumn. 

My absolute favorite season of all!. 

My day started out with a delicious cup of Trader Joes pumpkin spice coffee, my littles playing, and my Bible. Really, it couldnt have been more perfect. 

t h e n ....

.... my 2 year old, who has been potty trained for about 2 weeks, had two accidents. My 5 month old did not have to be put down at all. JaydenMichael is usually really happy and laid back but today he was just not having it. He cried on the floor. He cried while nursing. He cried in the jumper. SethJason just wanted to play with me {and his little brother} but I was trying to clean the kitchen and keep JaydenMichael quiet. SethJason had a few meltdowns because he wanted to use his new sippycup {which was dirty}, he did not like what we were watching {because I can only watch Little Einsteins so many times}, and I wouldnt like him sit on his little brother {yup, just yup}. 

This is life.

Sometimes it isnt pretty enough to put on instagram or awesome enough to put on youtube. 

Some days you wake up and have an amazing morning and then it can get crazy and you are SOOO looking forward to bedtime. 

But i wouldnt trade this for anything. 

And now my littles are asleep and my husband is home. (: 

big cups of pumpkin spice coffee and love, Monica