Just the Four of Us

This poor little blog has taken quite a backseat as we have been getting ready for Baby #3 {or Bananas, as George calls him/her!}. These last few weeks have been all about nesting and resting and crossing things off the never ending to-do list. Luckily in between all our projects our number one priority has been soaking up time with the boys and our last few days as a family of four. We have had such sweet time playing outside, going to the movies, eating sweet treats and basically just spoiling the boys rotten! They are so excited for this babe to arrive, and we cannot wait to become a family of five.

Five on Friday -- Fourth Goodies, Outdoor Living and Life Lately

{ONE} Fourth of July Goodies -- I love the Fourth of July and love decorating and entertaining in all things red, white and blue. Considering we will most likely just be coming home from the hospital with a newborn that weekend, I've been trying to stock up on some patriotic goodies ahead of time. Came across these darling candy favors that I know the boys would love. Hoping to muster up some energy to whip these up soon!

{TWO} Outdoor Living -- We have been in full nesting mode this last week realizing baby could come any day now. I have been checking so much off the to-do list, and it feels so good! One project that's almost done is our new deck and screened in porch. We love our covered porch but thought screening it in and adding a deck would make it even more enjoyable. Luckily we are not doing this ourselves {we are so not handy!}, but I do need to figure out how we will decorate our new space. Hoping to make the porch a peaceful, cozy retreat and add some new outdoor dining and entertaining furniture for the deck. Stay tuned for updates!

{THREE} Casper -- Anyone out there have a Casper mattress?? We have been in desperate need of a new mattress, and friends have been raving about Casper. So we decided to give it a whirl. This bad boy arrived yesterday along with our new bed, so we will be testing it out tonight. Oh how I am in need of a good night of sleep. Sadly I don't think a new mattress or bed will help with my middle of the night, multiple trips to the bathroom!

{FOUR} My little troopers -- My little men have been such troopers these last few weeks as I have been slowly becoming more and more on "couch rest" as I like to call it. It is so hard for me to get around and play on the floor with them or outside like I wish I could. And more often than not we are declining play dates because I am physically too pooped to keep up with both of them out tin the wild! Thankfully school two days a week provides good entertainment, and this week G got to participate in his first ever Vacation Bible School. The first two days he was a little unsure. It was a Mountain theme about conquering mountains with God's power. Well of course my literal little guy was so worried he was going to have to actually climb a mountain! Luckily he was loving VBS and dancing and singing in no time at all. The other benefit of G going to VBS was Jude and I got some one on one time, which never happens! We ran errands and played and he was just the sweetest thing ever. Made me appreciate how easy life was with just one. Crazy to think we are about to have three!

{FIVE} Dad/Husband of the Year -- I have to brag on the hubs. As mentioned above I've been a little worthless these last few weeks. B has been a rock star! They enjoyed "boys weekend" last weekend while I went on an overnight retreat with my Bible study gals to a friend's farm. It was so relaxing and so nice! B entertained the boys by ordering pizza {G's favorite thing to do!} and taking them fishing the next morning. George caught two fish and Jude jumped in the pond. The rest of the weekend B let me sleep and helped with all the projects my nesting mode was kicking into high gear. Each afternoon he's been coming home early to take the boys to the park, feed them dinner and give them a bath all so I can have a break and rest. He is a lifesaver! We will definitely be spoiling him and loving on him this Sunday for Father's Day!

Five on Friday -- Summer Fun, Odd Mom Out and New Jewels

{ONE} Summer Fun Bucket List -- I am all about a bucket list for some Summer fun. How darling is this one from May Designs? Thinking this will be good to keep the boys entertained after the new babe gets here. And I'm sleep deprived and cannot think of anything to do to keep them entertained!

{TWO} Odd Mom Out -- Oh my goodness, are you watching this show on Bravo? It is hilarious! I was literally laughing out loud watching this week. Definitely check it out!

{THREE} Mom Guilt -- And speaking of being odd mom out, I wrote about mom guilt this week. Anyone else get mom guilt??

{FOUR} Rocksbox -- I've shared my Rocksbox love before, but this week's box just might be my favorite yet. How fabulous is this Loren Hope cuff?? I've been wanting it for some time now and was thrilled to receive it. Still haven't tried Rocksbox? Use my code "boltonxoxo" to get your first month free. I promise it won't disappoint!

{FIVE} Summer Dresses -- And here's hoping this dress doesn't disappoint! I've been looking for some good transitional dresses for after baby comes and don't want to spend a lot since I'm hoping to lose the baby weight quickly and get back into my normal clothes soon. But let's be real, I love me some carbs! Thrilled to find this dress and cannot beat the price tag.

Mom Guilt

The other day I was picking the boys up from school and one of the moms stopped me to introduce herself. Her daughter is in Jude's class. She said her little girl's name and that she just goes on and on about Jude and they would love to do a play date with us. I smiled and said of course, but as I walked away I quickly realized this was the first I was hearing of this little girl. Shame on me, I know every kid in George's class by name {mainly because he talks about all of them nonstop!} as well as their mom's names, but I didn't know a single kid or mom in Jude's class. And why is this little girl talking up a storm about Jude, but Jude has never uttered her name. Should he be talking more? This is when mom guilt starts to take over.

Oh it's a dangerous, slippery slope and one that I have been skating on lately. I usually feel it when it comes to Jude and get the mom guilt about the second child. You may recall I mentioned I was too lazy {and big!} to take him to the birthday party last weekend so I got a sitter. But as we approach the arrival of this third babe, I realize it's not just Jude that is getting the short end of the stick. It's all my kids. I cannot tell you the last time I actually cooked for the boys. We pretty much microwave something every night. Gross, I know, but it's survival mode. And this poor babe! When I was pregnant with George and Jude I was so diligent about what I ate and did not eat. Round three, dinner has been known to be graham crackers and Nutella. Please, no judgement. I do have to laugh that when I was pregnant with George I bought the sweetest Belly Book and filled it out religiously as well as snapped bump pics each week. Then we got pregnant with Jude, and in an effort to not give into mom guilt, I bought the same book. Sadly the bump pics were only every couple of weeks, and I only filled out the first couple of pages sharing how we found out we were pregnant. Round three I swore I would be better and ordered the same Belly Book immediately, swearing I would fill it out each week. This pregnancy would be different! Can I tell you the book is completely empty, completely! And I literally took one and only one bump shot this entire pregnancy.

You know what though, who cares! I can sit here and tally up all these "failures" and let mom guilt take over or I can look past them and recognize I am doing the best I can. Sure I flake on play dates because I am too pooped to chase {waddle} after the boys at the park, we have watched more TV in the last couple of months than we did the entire first year of George's life, and yes my kids are spending more time in their bed/crib than most because I'm exhausted and nap time might be three hours playing quietly in your bed/crib because mama needs a break. They're not crying or screaming, so why not? At the end of the day, I'm giving my kids my all and loving them the best I can, and they are doing just fine. It's comments from George telling me, "Mama, you look beautiful," as I put him to bed still in my pajamas with dirty hair and no shower or Jude letting me rock him to sleep as he holds onto me so tightly that make being a mom so worth it. And I think Baby #3 will be just fine too. I actually ate some broccoli for lunch yesterday to balance out the Nutella!

Father's Day Gift Guide

Is it just me or are the men in your life always the hardest to gift? Father's Day is next weekend, and if you're still racking your brain trying to figure out what to get dear old dad, here are a few ideas sure to please even the most difficult to shop for guy.

{ONE} The Carry-On Cocktail Kit

{TWO} Mophie Juice Pack Air

{THREE} Buff and Shine Shoe Polish Kit

{FOUR} Moscow Mule Copper Mug

{FIVE} Dollar Shave Club

Scenes from the weekend...

Before I had George I never even really liked donuts. People would bring them to work, and I could walk by several times and never even be tempted. Then I got pregnant and the addiction was born. I swore donuts would only be a treat I would indulge in when I was pregnant but obviously that didn't happen. I've been eating those tasty treats ever since and now my boys share my love {addiction!}. So of course we kicked our weekend off celebrating National Donut Day. We treated ourselves to the most delicious pastries from the sweetest bakery. These 100 layer donuts are dangerous! B left town Friday morning to head to Texas for his cousin's wedding and wasn't here to help us with the donuts. And since I was solo with the boys and very pregnant, we justified pretty much eating donuts all weekend. Survival mode over here folks! 

I suffered a little mom guilt this weekend as well. Some of our best friends' little man was turning one and as soon as my friend told me the date and location of the party I knew I was in trouble. Splash park, B out of town and me waddling around did not add up. I knew I could not take both boys solo {and come back with both boys!}, so I got a babysitter for wild man Jude and just George and I went to the party. It was such a treat for me to only have to keep up with one kid, and I think Jude really enjoyed some one on one time with his favorite babysitter. Plus we brought him back an Icee, so all was well in his world. I'm all about bribing these days!

B made it back home Sunday afternoon thank goodness! I woke up that morning and was paralyzed. I don't know if it was the heat from the day before or just keeping up with the boys all weekend by myself, but I quickly realized I was spent. Thankfully B took the boys to the park and played outside all afternoon while I stayed in bed recharging. Trying to get as much rest while I can. I have a feeling rest will quickly become a four letter word once this little babe arrives!

Five on Friday -- Donuts, Getting Ready for Baby and Beach Trip Recap

{ONE} National Donut Day -- Today is National Donut Day and if you know my boys and me, this is like Christmas! You better believe we are celebrating today. What's your favorite donut?

{TWO} Willow Crowns Headbands -- We didn't find out the gender with George or Jude and each time I only bought a boy going home outfit and a girl going home outfit. I totally think this babe is another boy, but for some reason I bought headbands this week. Just in case! The little one is due July 1st and when I saw Willow Crowns was launching their Fourth of July goodies on Monday, I totally jumped on the bandwagon. How cute is their stuff?? Even if this babe is a boy, he just might have to rock one of these headbands. Totally kidding, B!

{THREE} Brotherly Love -- And speaking of our soon to arrive, I am loving how excited Jude is getting about the baby. It brings back such sweet memories of how George was when I was pregnant with him. Jude will lay with me and love on the baby and say, "Hi baby!" Here's hoping he's as gentle and sweet to the new babe as George was with him.

{FOUR} Wine Time -- And with less than a month to go, I'm counting down until I can have a big glass of wine! Now to just decide which bottles to pack for the hospital. Not even kidding! Totally having a glass of prosecco as soon as this baby arrives.

{FIVE} Rosemary Beach Recap -- I finally managed to get a post up about our beach trip a few weeks ago. It was a little bittersweet looking back at all the pictures. We had the absolute best time as our last hurrah just a family of four. Counting down the days until we go back!

Rosemary Beach Vacation

A friend once said, "A vacation with kids is really just a change in location." I laugh because that was our initial thought at the start of our beach trip. Luckily after getting settled that first day the rest of the trip was absolute bliss. I cannot believe it's been several weeks since we ventured down 30A to Rosemary Beach. It seems like just yesterday, and we are already counting down the days until we go back in September {with three, three and under!}.

As soon as we arrived we put on our suits and headed down to the beach. There is something truly magical about watching your kids take in the sights and sounds of the ocean that just never gets old. It's crazy to think Jude wasn't even walking on our last trip to Rosemary back in October, but he certainly made up for lost time. Our boys were all about some sand and loved running around, building sandcastles and even eating plenty of it {that would be Jude!}. We made it back to the house that first night and unpacked groceries, got settled, put the boys down and finally took a deep breath and relaxed on our porch just B and me. Finally it felt like vacation.

The next morning we were up bright and early for a trip to the Donut Truck. Always a hit with our crew! I do have to admit the boys were not as into the donuts as they usually are because they could not wait to splish splash on the fountain pad in Alys. This place became a bigger hit than the actual beach this trip. I wasn't complaining because I propped my preggers self in a chair and watched the boys just splash around and run free on the grassy field. It really is our happy place. Stopped back by the house to pack a picnic lunch and we were back down at the beach. As much as I would have loved to just sit back, read a mag and catch some rays, I really did have the best time playing with the boys. Watching them filled with such joy just made this mama's heart grow!

After a full day at the beach and some alone time for me at the pool while the boys napped {thank you B!}, we showered and headed out for some family pics before dinner at one of our favorites. Of course we had to bribe the boys with sno cones and lollipops from Sugar Shak! The boys enjoyed their sweet treats, and B and I were finally ready for some Mexican from La Cocina. As much as I was wishing my marg was not virgin, it still hit the spot. We dined outside and the boys were perfect {which is not always the case!}. B and I laughed looking over at a table next to us with a family whose kids were in high school and thought to ourselves, that will be us before we know it! Even though life with toddlers is often hectic and chaotic, it is still so sweet and a time we are trying to savor.

More beach time, more biking {for B and the boys!} and more splash pad playing filled our days. I love that the boys play so hard and then sleep even harder. B and I loved our nights to ourselves and even managed to snag a babysitter one night so we could have a date night out. Started at another favorite of ours, George's, and per usual, it did not disappoint. As tasty as the seafood was, the heirloom tomato watermelon caprese was my favorite! After dinner we strolled around Rosemary and ended up at the Pearl's rooftop bar Havana for cocktails for B and dessert for me. The perfect nightcap to a lovely date.

We couldn't bid farewell to our favorite beach destination without a trip to the Donut Hole. It was the perfect end to our vacation, and we certainly filled our bellies for the long drive home. As we drove back to Nashville, I kept smiling to myself thinking what a gift those five days, just the four of us, were and how much fun we had with our two little men. I then had to grin a little bigger wondering how it will be when we go back in just a few months with Baby #3!