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beckett {one month shy of 2 1/2}

Published on January 28, 2013 by cara.b.b.5 Comments

it was downright spring-like here today, so the short guy and i spent a lot of time outside. we went on a walk in the hopes it would send me straight into labor, and when that didn’t happen, i decided b-man was due for some new pics so i broke out the camera. he hammed it up for me, so prepare to be photo-assaulted.

we’ve been working on manners lately because, i don’t know about you, but we thought “stop talking” wasn’t the best way to speak to your elders. we told him that he should instead say ‘excuse me’, and thankfully, he caught onto that pretty quickly. it’s pretty cute too. it is my motherly mission to raise kids with manners. is he too young to start opening doors? beckett is keeping us on our toes, but we have had such a great time with him lately. it’s hard to believe we are just days away from adding another little human to our home, and b’s days as an only child are over. we have been trying to soak up the minutes with him, and really give him a lot of attention since i know it’s about to get crazy up in here. i would be lying if i told you i wasn’t nervous. i am. but i also know a lot of people who have done this, and they lived through it. i’m hopeful we can too.

hope to be popping in with some good news in the (very) near future, but right now, i feel like this kid is never going to come out. tomorrow is my official due date, and i didn’t really think i’d make it this far. i definitely didn’t think she would come late. it’s been hard not to let thoughts of her arrival consume me, but i’m trying really hard to enjoy the calm before the storm and stay distracted. this little guy has helped…

diy {baby leg warmers}

Published on January 16, 2013 by cara.b.b.4 Comments

unfortunately, i cannot take credit for this idea, but i have made these baby leg warmers, and they come out so so cute. i’ve made 4 pair so far, and i plan to keep ’em coming. they will be perfect to keep baby’s legs warm and still be able to change one million diapers a day with ease. here are the diy instructions i used. i did simplify a bit and didn’t sew the cuff first. i just stuck the cuff in the leg warmer and did one seam through all three layers. that’ll make sense after you read the directions. i used knee socks for mine (all these are from target), so they would last longer than just the newborn stage. can’t wait for ‘rosebud’ to get here and try these on!

christmas {in pictures, part I}

Published on December 31, 2012December 31, 2012 by cara.b.b.Leave a comment

i really can’t believe that christmas….is over. dang. i always feel like it goes so fast, and this year was no different. we tried to take a few moments this season to really enjoy what it’s all about and since beckett was so into it, this year was extra fun. here’s what went down…

{watching a special message from santa claus for the 57th time}

{visiting santa. he was not impressed.}

{however, he was impressed by the train set-up at crown center}

{making christmas cookies with mema}

{trying to remember to take a few bump pictures this time around} {playing with christmas ‘wights’}

i’ll share more tomorrow.

lighten up {a post-holiday dinner}

Published on December 27, 2012 by cara.b.b.2 Comments

if you’re like me, you did a little over-indulging this past weekend. oops. to help bring us back to normal, i’m planning to make some lighter dinners this week, and this one is on the menu. i made it a few weeks ago and added italian turkey sausage, an onion and green beans, which made it a bit heartier, but i know it would be just as good if you prepared it without the meat. i neglected to take any photos, so you’ll just have to trust me that it looks good and tastes great too.

ingredients

– 5 1/4 c vegetable broth (i used chicken broth since i was adding meat)

– 1 (14.5 oz) can italian-style stewed tomatoes

– 1 clove garlic, minced

– 1 (16 oz) package of cheese tortellini, thawed

– 10 oz spinach, rinsed and chopped

– 1/2 package of frozen green beans

– 1 white onion, chopped

– 1 lb. sausage (i used turkey sausage)

– parmesan cheese for topping

directions

bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. add tortellini and bring to a boil; reduce heat slightly and boil for 7 minutes, adding the spinach for the last minute. drain and add the tomatoes, green beans, and broth (and browned sausage and onion if you wish); simmer for 20 minutes. enjoy!

beautifully written {not by me}

Published on December 11, 2012December 11, 2012 by cara.b.b.1 Comment

i ran across this post today, and it’s so thoughtfully and beautifully done. i want to keep a link to it, so posting it here to do that and to share with you. it’s about growing up. ‘you can never go home again‘ i think we can all relate to one thing or another. i got a little choked up while reading it – in a good way. i must be hormonal or something. ;)

it got me thinking about transition – something our little family is doing a lot of right now. life is all about learning to adjust to new things, people, situations – and i think the better you’re able to go with the flow, the happier you’ll be.

{home is where your people are.}

dropping in {with a little holiday cheer}

Published on December 10, 2012December 10, 2012 by cara.b.b.3 Comments

if you haven’t seen this jimmy fallon/roots/mariah carey/kids collaboration, you need to take three and a half minutes and do it. it’s pure awesome, and if those kids don’t make you smile, i don’t know what will. hope you’re enjoying the holiday season. i can’t believe that christmas eve is just two weeks away! i’ve got work to do, but i hope to be popping in more often. things are starting to settle down after a few hectic weeks – can i just tell you that a 2-year-old with a case of the terrible two’s and a dog fresh out of surgery to repair his torn ACL has me a little distracted? thankfully, beckett’s ‘beast mode’ seems to be taking a break, miller is recovering nicely, and we are starting to make some headway on this house of ours. new light fixtures are headed our way – hooray! we cannot get rid of what we have fast enough. in the meantime, here’s my update….

christmas is happening! like his mother, beckett is beside himself with the joy that christmas lights bring. he looks for ‘christmas wights’ and ‘cowors’ (colors) when we drive through our neighborhood at night. he is not disappointed.

we finally decided it was time to bid farewell to beckett’s rat’s nest and got him a proper haircut. he now sports a smaller rat’s nest and looks a little like kate from ‘jon and kate plus 8’ when he’s fresh up from a nap. he’s cuter though.

‘rosebud’ is a-growin’, and a-kickin’ (like, a lot). we are mere weeks from her arrival, which has us both elated and a little terrified all at once. i think we’ve landed on a name, but we’re not tellin’.

{a simple quote}

Published on November 13, 2012 by cara.b.b.1 Comment

just a little something to leave you with today. it’s a quote that helped me put a few things into perspective this week. though we are facing challenges (like every family), this thanksgiving season, we have a whole lot to be grateful for.

wish list {winter edition}

Published on November 12, 2012 by cara.b.b.Leave a comment

well, we had, what i have to believe, is our last beautiful day this past weekend. saturday was in the mid 70s and just gorgeous, and then yesterday, the bottom dropped out – there was ice on our deck by 4.00. winter is coming (game of thrones anyone?), and since we had such a mild one last year, i am convinced this year will be a doozie. here are a few things on my current wish list for the cold season.

hunter boots – i know everyone and their sister has a pair of these, but my current wellies have lived their life, and i’m due for a refresh.

hot chocolate – chocolate, salted caramel, enough said.

fox sweater – i’m having a moment with these animal sweaters and foxes – combine the two, and i’m sold. once i have a normal belly again, plan on seeing me in one of these.

moccasins – a classic moc, i think i would wear these all. the. time. they’re like winter’s flip-flop.

cloth napkins – new house calls for new napkins, right?

dutch oven – for making soup all winter long

floral fabric – if only this weren’t a million dollars a yard, i would slather ‘rosebud’s’ windows in this fabric and temper it with some black and white to keep it modern. has anyone seen something similar that won’t send me to the poor house??

lions and tigers and bears {oh my gosh, these are cute}

Published on November 7, 2012 by cara.b.b.Leave a comment

i’d run across these photographs before, but since we’re in the middle of doing two kids rooms at moment, these really caught my attention this time. they’re done by sharon montrose, and i think they are pretty spectacular. just the right amount of cute, and pretty affordable too. the animals have many ‘poses’, but something about the ‘headshot’ really gets me. head here for more information about the project.

i’m thinking of one of these for beckett

and one of these for baby girl

or how cute would a whole row be??

a happy halloween {for a little lumberjack}

Published on November 2, 2012 by cara.b.b.3 Comments

well, the short guy got all suited up as a lumberjack on halloween. he wasted no time in figuring out that the (cardboard) ax was a tool and began chopping things. he was a little confused about going up to strange houses, but when he figured out he got to ‘ding the bells’ and get free candy, he was all in. by no surprise, he was asking to do it again yesterday.

{he had us laughing so hard ‘chopping’ this log}