ALSO KNOWN AS [MOMMA]

It's true... I love, love! And I love these two newlywed lovebirds more than anything!! I am so grateful to them for letting me take their pictures and get more experience with photography- practice makes perfect... right?! 

When I asked if I could take their pictures I knew that I wanted to do a shoot that represented everyday life... not so much posed but just candid shots that captured raw emotion. After talking with Cass we both agreed that the best place to do that would be at their house with a "lifestyle photoshoot." And, goodness, I am so glad we did that! It was so special for soooo many different reasons but one of the top ones being that they will always have pictures of them in their first house together. And, friends, it just doesn't get much sweeter than that.

The love these two share for each other is really something special. It's inspiring and challenging. It's beautiful and real. It's simple and so pure. If the first 6 months of their marriage is a foreshadow of what's to come, then they are in for a lifetime of magic. That is for sure.

Happy Friday, friends!!

I hope you have had a great week!

We sure have over here! Lee has had the week off of work (praise hands) so we have been finding the best breakfast places, tackling our longgggg to-do list, and then cooling off in the pool at the end of the day! It really has been the best little staycation and I really don't want it to come to an end.

1. Island Way Sorbet... ya'll, this stuff is delicious. Not to mention, it has the cutest packaging ever. The sorbet is served in the actual fruit and then wrapped in it's own individual packaging! You can get a box of these bad boys at Costco- I promise, they'll be the perfect treat to cool down your weekend and I guarantee they  won't last long! 2. This song. Love love love! It is so fun and so upbeat. We have had family dance parties to it alllll week long!  3. Shoes!! [Heart Eyes] I love shoes and I love that you can buy one pair of sandals and get your second one FREE at Altar'd State right now. It's true! Head to your closest store and getcha some! 4. The intense summer sun mixed with chlorine from the pool has got my hair all sorts of dry. Thankfully I have this Moroccan oil serum to help make my hair soft again!! It's amazing and you should try some if you haven't already! 5. Gotta have starbucks! Lately, I have been loving the Strawberry Acai Refresher with 2 pumps of peach. It's summer in a glass!! (disclaimer: the picture is actually of a passion tea lemonade!)

The other day I posted about what was in my Hospital Bag (you can read that post here) but for the sake of the post already being quite long I decided to save what is in Baby Levi's and Daddy's Hospital bag for another day! Like today!

The first time around with Charlee I packed wayyyyyy too much stuff for her! Seriously, I think half her closet was in our hospital bag... yikes! This time though, I know what is important to bring and what is provided (or should be provided) from the hospital! Which makes not only packing much easier, but also, the bag MUCH lighter! --- Make sure you check with your hospital before packing to ensure you will have all the supplies needed for your sweet new baby! ---

Keep on reading to find out the must-haves for our Daddy and Baby Hospital Bag!

1. For Charlee I packed everything under the sun... literally. Dresses, Onesies, Pajamas, a Going Home Outfit, socks, mittens...etc. Guess how much I used?! Like 3 pairs of the pajamas. THIS time though, I am going to save myself the hassle and only pack onesie pajamas! The company MilkBarn has the cutest and softest little pajamas for newborns everrrrrr.  Seriously, I love them! I will have a few pairs of these in his bag at that pretty much will be it for clothes!  2. Baby hats are a must and although the hospital provides you with a newborn hat I love to bring my own that we can keep in the kids memory boxes for them to have when they're older! (Because everyone wants their baby hat, right?!)  3. Burp clothes... can't have enough of them! Especially those first few months of feeding your little one! I love these from Aden and Anais because they aren't massive but they are very soft and get the job done. They also fit perfectly over your shoulder! I will definitely bring one or two to the hospital just in case! :)  4. Again, Aden and Anais for the win... but, these swaddle blankets are WONDERFUL! They are so multi-functional and again, soon soft!  5. If you didn't know, right when babies are born their nails are SO sharp! In order to keep them from scratching themselves you will want to have some mittens to put on their little hands! I love these from Children's Place- so cute and gender neutral! They'd be perfect to keep for baby #2, #3 or #4!  6. On to Dad! For Lee I will pack about 3 outfit changes. Athletic shorts and t-shirts, a pair of jeans because it can get pretty chilly in a hospital and even a pair of sweats for nighttime! Don't forget any extra shoes that he may need- shower sandals? Tennis Shoes? The good thing is, is that if you do forget something hopefully he can just run home and grab it!  7. If your hubby is planning on spending the nights at the hospital with you then he will definitely want a pillow and blanket! Some hospitals only provide those things for the mom (crazzzzyyyyy if you ask me) but, even if they do provide them I am sure Dad will want the comfort of, at least, his own pillow! 8. Another thing to not forget for Dad are his toiletries! One thing I did last time, and will do again this time, is just buy travel size versions of the products that he uses and place in his hospital bag! That way, when it's go time I won't have to think about grabbing my make-up bag PLUS his toiletry bag! I'm all about making things as easy as possible. 9. This one goes without saying but don't forget the camera!! Even if the camera you are using is on a phone- clear space ahead of time, charge the batteries, buy an extra memory card...etc. Dealing with camera issues when you want to take a picture of the first time your baby yawns or sneezes or blinks, or... (okay, you get the point!) is not ideal. Either pack this in your bag or your husbands bag- but DO NOT FORGET THE CAMERA! 10. Another great idea to pack for Dad is a zip up hoodie! Not only can it get pretty chilly in the hospital room but even more important than that is that Dad will want to do skin-to-skin with your new baby as well! The zip up hoodie helps keep the baby warm and in place... it's just a great thing to have just in case a blanket isn't cutting it!

I cannot believe that I am already packing my hospital bag for the second time! Packing for my first hospital stay was overwhelming, to say the least. I had no idea what I was doing and ended up over-packing on things I never used and under-packing on the items I actually needed! This time, though, thankfully, I feel like I know what to expect a little more so when it comes to packing my hospital bag I am not as stressed about it!

Check out my Must-Haves list below and let me know if there is anything I should add! I am all about making the hospital stay as easy as possible... I mean, for goodness sakes... Having a baby is tough work! The least I can do for myself is make sure I am comfortable afterwards!

1. Make-Up Wipes are an absolute must for after you've given birth, especially if you are planning on having a C-Section like me! Getting up and walking around is not the easiest thing to do so it is nice to be able to at least go to sleep with a clean face thanks to these wipes!  2. Fresh Sugar Chapstick is the bomb freaking dot com. (Do people even say that still?!) But for real, it is! In fact, even if you aren't about to stay in the hospital I recommend you go to your nearest Ulta or Sephora and get some for yourself! Your lips will thank you!  3. Hospital gowns are great and all for when you don't want to get your own clothes dirty but if you are planning on walking around (which you are) then you will quickly realize that unless you are wearing a robe, your bum will be plain as day for all to see! I recommend getting a dark robe to not only help conceal that lingering baby bump but also to help keep things covered if there happens to be leakage.  4. If you are planning on nursing then I highly recommend bringing a nursing pillow to the hospital with you! Just a tip- there really is no need to bring the pillow in with you when you first get to the hospital! Wait until after your baby is born and send Dad or another family member out to the car to get it!  5. Water. Water. And, more water. If you thought you needed to drink a lot of water while you were pregnant well, you ain't seen nothin yet! While nursing, it's so very important to drink as much water as you possibly can! One of the ways that I stay motivated is by having an oversized cute water bottle with me at all times! Just put that bad boy in your hospital bag and have your husband fill it up with ice chips (yum!) and water once you get admitted!  6. Nursing bras... some say they aren't necessary but I found them to be extremely helpful! Especially at the very beginning when you are still getting the hang of everything. One thing to keep in mind is that you DO NOT want any underwire. Trust me. Mastitis is a B... 7. Although I didn't do my make-up fully while I was in the hospital it was still nice to have mascara and eyeliner to put on when I knew we would be having visitors! Do yourself a favor and remember to grab this before you head out the door. Better yet, go to Walgreens and buy a cheap mascara and eyeliner and just throw it in your bag so you know for sure that you'll have it! Also... that make-up bag! Beautiful. 8. Along the same lines as number six... Nursing Tanks! I really couldn't have had enough of these for the first few weeks with Charlee. I lived in these things. Target sells them for fairly inexpensive and they are really comfortable! This would be a perfect thing to wear under your new robe! 9. Snacks! You get hangry, I mean hungry, after labor! It's nice to have some bars, trail mix, candy... really anything in your room with you to munch on! Especially when 3am rolls around and you find yourself starving! #Don'taskmehowIknow 10. One thing that I almost forgot was to pack my own towel. Sure, the hospital has some that you can use but I found it to be such a comfort to have my own soft towel with me after showering for the first time!  11. This may seem like an odd one to you at first glance because it definitely was to me! Compression socks- I never thought to bring them last time but after my feet and legs swelled up to what felt like to be actual tree trunks  I swore to myself that I would never forget these again!   12. One thing that I was so glad that I did last time was pack my favorite shampoo and conditioner, a good smelling body wash, and my favorite perfume! Of course, don't forget all your other toiletries but those were the ones that I was thankful I had! They made me feel a bit more normal after going a couple of days without being able to shower.  13. This one isn't on the list but I also will have loose pajama pants with me. Last time I was so concerned about my "Going Home" outfit that I forgot to pack extra-large sweatpants! Won't make that mistake again! The pants I did pack were too tight and just made me feel kind of blah. To be honest, my going home outfit this time will most likely be a nursing tank, some sort of jacket and leggings... Fancy. I know!  14. One more that isn't on the list but is equally important. Bring your own blanket and pillow! You really can't have enough pillows after labor and it's nice to be able to sleep with one that you know is comfortable. Same goes for blankets! Bring one that you like- you may use it or you may not but at least you have it in case you get cold!  15. Last but not least, don't forget phone chargers, computer chargers, camera and camera chargers!! You will want all of those things and will kick yourself if you forget them because, Pictures!!

We are just a little over 5 weeks from meeting our little baby boy and goodness gracious are we excited!! It has become an everyday conversation with Charlee that she is going to have a little brother soon and although I don't think she understands exactly what we are saying, there are moments when she will lean into my belly as if she is giving him a hug! ... At least that's what I am choosing to believe... more likely than not though, she is probably tired and is using my growing belly as a makeshift pillow.  #momlife 

I still catch myself questioning "are we really going to do this whole 2-under-2 thing?!" and the answer every time is still yes. yes we are. The only part (right now) that is a little concerning to me is the sleep situation,  just because we live in a 2 bedroom apartment and yep, you guessed it, they will be sharing a room! 
Please send prayers. 

I have been trying to figure out how to organize/decorate their room in a way that will be both cute but also practical because i'll have a one-year-old and a one-month-old. Needless to say, practicality is a MUST. I have put together an inspiration board for their room and will be tackling that project over the next couple of weeks! I thought I would share it just in case anyone else out there is in the same boat as me!

• One.  I am pretty much in love with these signs! My plan is to have one hanging over Levi's crib that will look almost identical to the one in the picture but I also want to have one hanging over Charlee's crib that will say "I am a daughter of the king..." Because these are so big and because what they say is so powerful I am planning on these being the main focal piece of the room!  

• Two.  Aden and Anais is one of the best companies (in my opinion) out there right now for baby products! Everything we own from them we love and I am planning on getting a couple pair of sheets for the kids cribs because they are so soft and easy to care for. 

• Three.  Teepees!! Insert all the heart eyes. I love teepees and would love love love to have one in the kids room. Unfortunately, due to lack of space, I don't think it will fit but I guarantee that the moment we have a play room this will be one of the first purchases! 

• Four.  Again, this probably won't be what the kids closet looks like this go-round but how beautiful is this picture?! So clean, so simple, and would be perfect for a shared closet!! Thankfully our closets right now are pretty big so I am not too worried about lack of space for the kids clothes! 

• Five.  I just love this little rocking chair corner. We have a rocking chair already because of Charlee but I want to brighten up our space like the one in the picture. Also- I love the books on the floating shelves... I might just have to ask Lee to make that a reality for us! :) 

• Six.  Shoutout to my incredible husband because he built the kids cribs!! Like from scratch. I was and still am very impressed! The crib in the photo above isn't the one he built but it looks very similar to it! I love that the kids will have matching cribs and I just think it is so special that their daddy built the cribs just for them! 

• Seven.  These blankets are perfection. Seriously, don't you just want to crawl into the picture and cuddle up with one of those bad boys?! I do. I am thinking about getting a pink one to hang over Charlee's crib and maybe the gray one to go over Levis. I just love how cozy they look and think they would be the perfect addition to the room. 

It's been a little over a week since Charlee's first birthday party and it has been SO fun watching her play with all of her new toys! If you're anything like me though, shopping for a one-year-old is TOUGH. Seriously, figuring out what I wanted to get her for her birthday was such a dilemma! I knew that I wanted to get her something that she could play with/keep for awhile but at the same time I didn't want to get anything too advanced that she wouldn't show any interest in for years! I reallyyyyy researched gifts and was debating between 3 different ideas but in the end I am SO glad I went with what I did.

Just in case you are struggling with figuring out what to get yours or a friends little one I narrowed down the best 5 gifts (in no particular order) that Charlee received that have definitely kept her attention since her birthday!

As a little girl all I wanted to do when I grew up was be a mom. I couldn't wait to have little mini people that were mine that I could dress up, play with, take places and just watch as they grew up into adults. Now that I am a mom I can honestly say that having kids is even better than I had imagined! Although there are some definite sacrifices (little sleep being top of the list) the benefits and the joy outweighs it all. As I sit here one year in to this parenting thing I am so very grateful to be given the chance to be called mom by my sweet little girl!

Lately I have been thinking about how fast time has flown and how it really is baffling that Charlee is already a year old! From hearing her cry for the first time, to bringing her home, to worrying about every little noise she made, to watching her learn how to smile and giggle, talk and now walk... it all has been so very very special and so very very fun but goodness, it's gone by fast.

This weekend we took a break out of our busy schedules to gather our family and friends to celebrate our baby's girls life so far! It was such a fun day and I really do believe that Charlee knew the whole day was about her! I started planning her birthday party when she was about 6 months old (I know, I know... jumped the gun a bit on that one).  Really, it was just looking at Pinterest and getting ideas but it all paid off because her party ended up being so beautiful and really captured the significance of what it all meant!

A HUGE thank you goes to my mom and sister for helping me plan and decorate the whole thing! I could not have done it without them! All of the signs that you see in the pictures below were done by my sisters company, Southern Timber. Check her site out if you are in the market for signs for weddings, showers, parties or just home decor. She really is amazing!!

Southern Timber

Via: Southern Timber

Via: Southern Timber

Via: Southern Timber

Via: Prettiest Print Shop

Via: Chickabug

Via: Southern Timber

I hope you guys enjoy the pictures and for all the mommas out there who are planning your little's first birthday, happy planning!

xoxo