friday favorites || happy fall, y'all!

The beginning of the season I love is really here!  And what's better?  It's actually started f e e l i n g  a little like my favorite season.  Our weather man says we won't be seeing any more 80 degree temps, but I'm not totally convinced.  Despite the fact, I have deserted my summer pieces in favor of sweat inducing booties, tunics, & leggings.  I'm that girl.

Some weeks just aren't going to be what we would like for them to be.  Prime example?  This one. 

Yes, even if it is fall!

 Conley has not slept a wink.  I think it's because of his teething stage.  He's cutting his top two as hard as he can!  Cam is at the stage where he says "mom" 435 billion times a second, even a f t e r I reply with "what?  yes son?"...he decides he has to poop for 35 minutes the second it's time to walk out the door.  He also does an aerobics routine every time I try to dress him or put his shoes on.  Try that for an early morning!  

NOW I know why I drink so much coffee.

The harder I try to clean my mom's house or our car, the more it snows a blizzard of toys & other random items or um, dirt.  It seems as though some weeks it all comes down on you & it's like wading through quicksand to make it to Friday.

I don't like to complain or vent, I'm just trying to be "real."   As much as I adore everything about my life with my babies, it's hard sometimes!  I know there are tons of other people in the world going through so much worse & his grace is sufficient for us all no matter what happens.  At the end of the day, it is well with my soul & I have a healthy precious family so I am the most blessed girl that could be. 

I think I'm in need of some light-hearted friday favorites!

one. footed jams & snuggle weather

I'm just going to leave this picture right here.  There is nothing better in this world than snuggling a baby in footy jammies  ;)  Moments straight from Jesus, y'all!

two.  october countdown

Prepping for a post on our bucket list for October!  I really want to make this such a fun month for the boys.  Well, technically Cam because all Conley cares about is what's to eat or drink:)

three.  what's in Cam's backpack

Cam going to preschool at age three came close to ripping my heart out.  What am I going to do when he starts kindergarten??  Let me just say, one of the highlights of my day is looking in his little backpack.  I love finding things he did at school & any little notes from his teachers about the upcoming fun things they are doing so I can get him pumped up for it:)  L i k e the Halloween party...;)  Can I come?  So. precious.

four.  birthday party prep

You guys, I really lucked up in having a baby on October 25th.  I m e a n, we can have a Halloween party/birthday party e v e r y year!  That makes my little festive heart sing.  I can use his party decorations annually allllll during the month of October & for his party.  Poor thing may never have a party of choice-until he's a threenager that is!  

Mr. Cam has decided he wants a football party this year.  

1.  His birthday is in March

2.  He doesn't even watch football

3.  This will be the theme for the rest of his life...b o r i n g

4.  How old is he again??

I thought I'd be able to "encourage" his theme selection til' he turned at least 15!

Getting off the soapbox.  Hehe.    

five. fall is in the stores! (& Christmas)

I (along with every one else in the world) love the Target dollar bins.  They had all three seasons stocked full the last time I went---halloween, thanksgiving, and christmas + of course Cam found something, too;P  We attempted to embarrass Daddy & Conley in all of our excitement.  I guess we were itching to buy everything we seen, but instead we just wore a toboggan & storm trooper mask around the store while we took everything in & avoided buying anything.  How's that for budget savvy?:)  

The look on Conley's face says it all.  Good thing we didn't know anybody...

People can have more fun than anybody;)

 

Til' October! :)

Mom Mode

So.  It's Wednesday night & I'm done with my work week.  I'm finally able to chill out as Conley's snoozes the night away (fingers crossed), Cam gleefully talks my head off b/c he gets to stay up a little late with me for "iPad time," & I nod my head to agree to be Optimus Prime for the 9th time today.  Please see meme below.  It's my glamorous life as a boy mom.  

Yep.  

I'm shifting back into what I like to call my "mom mode."  It's kind of like the best feeling in the world to be quite honest.  I finally feel like I can breathe & focus on my personal life.  Yes, one of which is the blog that has been completely neglected lately- but for good reasons:)

I would probably deem this month the most hectic I can pinpoint since Conley arrived eleven months ago.  Revival on live feed or in person every night for three weeks.  One of those weeks I had to be in Knoxville at the speed of lightening to pick up & take the Mr. back & forth to the airport.  We have been running like a headless chicken trying to get everything together for the impending closing of our (Lord willing) new AND old home.  And just go ahead & throw in around 45,434 birthday parties somewhere in the mix.  Remind me to never have a kid in September...

O v e r l o a d e d.

But happy.

K i l t. *<please see below>

But blessed.

If I'm not snatching Conley at ninja speed from sticking something in his mouth or watching him head butt a hard surface in slow motion (b/c ninja mom instincts unfortunately just don't work in those situations), OR being surnamed Super Woman, Power Ranger, or Firetruck Robot by Cam every 5 minutes (I can't keep up with my pretend name), I am:

Planning.

It's become my middle name.  

Am I ever going to blog again?  Conley's Birthday Party.  Birthday presents.  Curriculum for church.  All the things we will need for our home (we could go into a whole other post with this one-aye aye aye).  Meal planning (say what?  I know.)  The holidays & decorations (yes.  it's never too early).  How to become more organized.  How I'm going to keep our clean.  What we're going to wear for our Christmas Card pictures (not kidding).  The boys & their fall clothes/shoes needs.  Christmas shopping list.  How to have a dog with two littles.  Did I say birthday presents?  

 And some days when I have free time l a t e at night, I'm not gonna lie... I get sidetracked by Pinterest or wondering if I could plan for a way to just buy everything I see on Jane.com.  Everyday.  #imjustagirl

You name it.

You could say I'm insane or you could just use the hashtag slay...

I'll let you be the judge of that.

In midst of all the planning I get so caught up in...I am always reminded that life is a vapor.  We're here today, gone tomorrow.  The things we plan for are the moments slipping right through our fingers as the clock ticks in the background.  I have to admit, I think that last one is the hardest one for me to grasp.  

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

James 4:14

Though my mom mode may be all about planning for what's next & making sure we are prepared for what's next, I pray that I will never allow myself to get too busy planning the things that don't matter (or even the things that do).  After all, life isn't what we plan for-it's what is happening while we make those plans.  And I definitely don't want to miss it.  Do you?

#slay

This hashtag just makes me laugh.

 And May Your Mom Mode=simplicity+real moments >plans

*Southern slang for...dead or "killed."  Without energy.  Run ragged.  You get the picture.

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Cam's First Day of PRE-PreSchool

I didn't really realize that Cam's entering into the preschool world would be so soon.  It really does creep up on you, girls.  Cam is three.  The official "Preschool age" is four.  I contemplated letting him stay with my grandparents another year, but he is just ready.  I juggled the questions, statements, & thoughts of others around in my head for months.  They're in school they're whole life, let them be little & care free while they can be, or give them a head start, preschool is soooo good for them, allow them to socialize & be around other kids.  At the end of the day.  I can find truth to all of these.  But you know you're child best & know which belief applies to them & their little personality:)

*early mornings=TERRIBLE lighting for pictures:/

My Cam is a go getter.  

He loves playing.  He loves other kids.  He loves learning new things.

So.  We decided to go for it.

3 days a week on the days that I work.

A good way to break him in, right?  He LOVED it.  However, we had a little bit of a rocky start.  On the first day, his teacher was sick.  So we decided to wait until she would be there.  The next day WE were sick.  (The crud is going around these parts, y'all!)  

And finally...Wednesday came.  Everyone was pretty much back to normal.  

But it wasn't all a bed of roses.

 Conley didn't sleep ALL night.  Yep, those two front teeth are killers.  Little brother is ALL about his routine morning hops on top of Cam to roll him out of the bed.  Turns out...baby's that don't sleep ain't got time for that.  Drama KING.

So.  I had a sleep deprived Conley-rolling around losing his mind & Cam refusing to get up because "he was too snuffy."   He sniffed... "See Mom?  I'm too snuffy to go to school today we just need to stay here & rest." 

With much encouragement, I somehow got them both dressed & together for the day.  But FORGET pictures.  As you can see.  Cam was not about to do a normal smile standing still in front of our chalkboard.  Nooooooooo NO *in my best Clark G. impression.

Somehow, Cam was cool after that though.  He picked out his clothes, insisting on comfy shorts (he is completely ANTI jeans or pants that button).  We dropped Conley off with ease & he seemed super excited about his first day.  

He commented on everything from the Coke machine to the play ground (the most anticipated part of school).  I snap chatted it all for daddy...& then.  I got a thumbs up when it was time for me to leave.  Stab me in the heart.

The day seemed to last an eternity.  His teacher sent me pictures & commentary throughout the day.  Which I LOVED btw...

So this message leads me to my favorite part of the day.  As you can see from the text, he peed on himself during nap time because he refused to go to the bathroom before.  Cam had dumped everything in his backpack out some period between Monday when he was supposed to go to school & Wednesday when we actually made it to school.  Including his extra clothes in a grocery bag.  When I hurriedly had put everything back in, I didn't notice his extra shorts & undies were still in the floor of the car OUT of the bag I stuffed back in his Dragon.  Wouldn't this happen??  

The school had just donated almost all of their extra clothes from the previous year.  SO.  All they could find Cam to wear was a little TINY girls pair of hot shorts until I got there.  When I opened the gate, I spotted him from a mile away digging out a WEDGIE!  

Tears, y'all.  I still can't keep a straight face talking about it.  This kid has no shame.  He just loves life.  And that's what I love about him:)  

To the first day of PRE Preschool (& first LAST pair of hot pants)...

First day of PRE Preschool photo dump:

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five on friday || scattered september

Happiest of Friday's to you all:)  

While it's still hot as Blaze & the Monster Machines (as Cam would have it) in the South, I feel a touch of fall here & there in the mornings & late evenings...enough to nudge myself into preparing the boys fall & winter wardrobe for the cooler weather coming!  Have any of you started thinking about starting to switch over clothes yet?  

I say something about time & fall in every post-& I'm sorry guys but R E A L L Y.  Is time not flying by?  I've missed a couple of friday favorite posts so my post is staggered this week in things I want to remember.

  P.S.  It's time for the Mr. to come again this Tuesday & we can't WAIT...but I guess that's a no brainer!  

one.  western nc tent revival.  

I haven't got to physically go to the tent much, but when I do, OR if I don't, I'm telling you-I just can't miss watching the live Facebook feed, my heart is b l e s s e d.  Don't miss it.  If you log on to Facebook, search for Ralph Sexton Ministries & it's a live feed at 7:30 pm Monday-Friday.  If you're not saved, you're sure to hear the gospel & God's convicting power is present ready to save!  If you are, you'll have tears of joy watching people GET saved & others grow closer to God-including yourself!  I think every Christian present online or under the tent have had some type of rededication or growth after everything that has went on.  America needs this so bad!  So thankful to the Lord for still giving us such undeserving mercy & grace.  Let's continue to pray that God will have his way with this revival!  He is able!

photo credit: josh lane via facebook

two.  happy mail days!
I don't know about YOU-but I am an online shopper through & through.  I LOVE to window shop all day long & make small purchases every now & then-but making purchases IN store just makes me a nervous wreck...I'm crazy, I know.  I like to study on my purchases & think about it.  Buyers remorse right here, y'all.  I said all that to share that I just got all the boys fall clothes in-yes, because I shopped online.  Shopping online means exciting mail days!  Oh, & the hubs & I are relieved to have that behind us-and so is our savings account!  :-0

three.  let the pumpkin patch fun begin!  

This year, just prepare to have pumpkins galore here.  I've decided one visit a year just ISN'T enough:)  After all, pumpkins rot within a week, right?  Even with all the pinteresty tricks to keep them fresh-I've tried em' all.  So, Cam & I agree- we just gotta keep going back for more;)

Funny story, though.  SQUIRREL.  Bear with me.  I talked up a hay ride to Cam last Friday-all to drive up to the pumpkin patch & have them look at me funny when I asked about taking one in the middle of the day.  

"Well...we don't really do it until the evening-we are pretty slow during the day..."

Cam's puppy eyes (okay, or maybe mine) apparently got to them because somehow, SOMEWAY

we talked them into taking just the three of us on about a twenty minute ride around the farm & to the patch.

Just the three of us.

And our new pumpkin, "Charlie Brown."

Oh, & then, something I've been waiting a year on...the first PSL of the season.:)  
I guess my chipped nail polish is a distraction.  Why do I even paint my nails??
#aintnobodygottime

four. celebrations

We celebrated Grandparents Day last Sunday by taking a trip to Dollywood.
Anybody else have a hard time recalling this holiday as a child?  Lol.
I think social media has made all kinds of new "days" up the past few years...
All the same, I am very thankful for my grandparents & my babies grandparents-
so why not celebrate?

And September, well.  Let's just call it the month of the birthday parties because we have one, if not two or t h r e e, about every week!

five. cam's 1st day of pre-preschool
this is a whole post in itself, but yes.  And I can't stress it enough.
PRE Preschool, y'all.  PRE.
That's what I'm calling his first year.
okay?
That is how this momma's heart is handling it.

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Conely Scout || 10 Months

We're in the double didgets folks.  TEN months.  This age is precious, but let me tell you...Conley Scout keeps me on my TOES.  He is in to E V E R Y T H I N G.  He is crawling & pulling up like a boss.  He puts everything in his mouth.  He is fearless, stubborn, & has the worst temper you'll ever witness... BUT- has a smile that will make you "melt like a popsicle on the fourth of July."  Thanks for that simile, Darla.;)

Weight:  lbs

Birth: 7 lbs 14 oz

Width:  inches

whats new...

LOVES

crawling, opening and closing doors, pulling up on everything, car rides, slapping glasses off my face

HATES

for the most part...if he can see mommy-thats it just had him over!  busting his head, when Cam rough houses (I guess thats a Southern term for being rough?), when the person feeding him takes too long, being in the car seat all day

play & cognitive development

He took one step y'all!  But that's it.  He busts his head about three times a day:,(

We have two teeth!  Two bottom teeth as I mentioned in my earlier posts.  It's really something I wasn't expecting as Cam didn't get teeth until after he turned one!  He is totally turning into my little blondie.  I never dreamed I'd have a blonde child-even though their daddy's hair is blonde.  It's crazy!:)

eat

This little mister is totally the second child.  He gets to taste of just about anything anyone else is eating.  Cam didn't have sweets until after he was one year old.  I was adament about making sure he was getting "clean food" and wouldn't have his first taste of sugar until his cake smash.  Long gone are those days.  I like to call my life & parenting techniques "survival mode."  Keep them alive & happy.  That's my main priorities these days.  Eating about 50% baby food/50% real food.  Still nurses, but not as frequently.  And it's for certain.  This child will never take a paci.

sleep

Another month in the no sleep books.  I contribute it to teething since he just sprouted two little teethies.  He senses when I am not around.  I swear he can feel it.  It can be at nap time, in the middle of the night, or when I get up in the mornings.  You know how people talk about getting up in the morning to have "me time" and read their bible or get things done?  Yea, not happening with Conley Scout.  I don't know how many failed attempts I have had at this.  I give up for now!  Maybe next year:)  Hehe.

ten month photo dump

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Also, I have GOT to get better at taking pictures.

(For my own sake...)

Happy 'Ber Months! || Fall Favorites

Little in life makes me more excited than this time of year.  I don't know why but the older I get the more & more I love it.  It's during this long weekend we celebrate (while some mourn) the end of summer.  For once in f o r e v e r we've felt what seems to be a high of around 77 degrees with a cool breeze!  It was so nice- I even took the boys to the playground one day...(in their Halloween tees LOL).  Im SO over the hot weather.  I could barely even make myself put on a bathing suit this weekend.  I'm just o v e r it.  I know what you're thinking...she's a martian.  So be it!

In other news, I got an email Thursday that Starbucks has welcomed back the PSL.  Yes, it's that time again.  I seen where McD's has one too!  Have y'all tried it?  We've made the most of our days "out on the town" by keeping our eyes peeled for anything orange, red, yellow, or black;)  I guess I'm still perseverating on fall.  Let's just cut to the chase & talk about some cute things I've found for the upcoming season...

I have a feeling my Fall favorites list is similar every year:)  What can I say?  

I'm such a creature of habits & traditions!

Stripe Pants || Mummy Tee ||  Pumpkin PJ's || Dish Towels || Garland || Countdown || Pumpkin Spice || It's The Great Pumpkin || Mug 

Matching Pajamas & Peanuts are a must for every season or holiday & I am very excited to start a new little tradition with the Halloween Countdown!  I found an idea on Pinterest here, but I'd like to add some biblical aspects like the jack-o-lantern & how it is symbolic to being a Christian:)  I'd love to hear other ideas from you if you have any to share!

I think my munchkins are just as excited as I am...

What are you looking forward to this fall?

Also, I am doing a Facebook challenge in sharing some of my favorite scripture & would like to share here as well...hope it touches your heart throughout the week!
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Psalms 28:7-8

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