Prepping for Fall

{Written over episode one of Ozark...um, yes, we're hooked} Hello beautiful friends! While summer has been absolutely wonderful--we celebrated my son's first birthday on Saturday and there will be a few posts on that later--it is time to start thinking about fall.  This outfit holds at least 2 of my probable fall faves--these shoes and this blazer.  I adore navy blazers-- I am at heart a classic girl and there is nothing more classic than the double breasted navy blazer, complete with gold buttons!  It is as versatile as can be and I will wear it to the office (which is always chilly) with a dress like this one, or a pencil skirt and a crisp white shirt and on the weekends with jeans and statement sneakers.  It's something my closet always holds ( I probably have ten of them!) 

And then there are these shoes.  Even though I closely follow fashion trends, I am not a slave to them.  I sort of recoil from buying and wearing what everyone else is wearing but I do like to incorporate trends into my daily work-or-mom-wear.  And if I am buying a designer piece, I want to make sure the investment is worth it.   I love these shoes.  I saw them and mentioned them to my hubby and a few days later, they showed up in a pretty box! Yay for dropping hints that work! I will wear these with pant suits and jeans and that striped band really adds an interesting detail to an otherwise simple pair of cream heels.  Now, the weather just needs to cooperate and we will be off and running! What are your favorite fall pieces? I would love to hear from you and as always, thank you so much for stopping by!  Sweetly, Michelle   

Shoes || Blazer || Dress || Purse || Sunnies

You REDy for 2017?

This is my feeble attempt at posing.  #awkwardpartyofone

{blogged over the Bachelor and next to my poor sick baby girl}  This was not the best start to 2017- poor Addison has the stomach flu and has had a rough day of it.  We had the day all planned out- we were going to see Sing and then to lunch - a little mommy and daddy date with our girl. I am always nervous that she will feel neglected because baby Huds takes up sooo much of my attention and focus. I know it's not forever ( it actually goes by waaay too fast) but I still try to find time to spend with just her. Anyway, that plan went down the tubes when we woke up to her throwing up. And this seemed to me to be a little bit like life- you can have the very best plans and intentions, and sometimes, life throws you a curve ball. I DID spend one on one time with her (it unfortunately involved hanging over the toilet!) We just have to be red-y for anything, right? Happy New Year! Sweetly, Michelle

pc: @bleudogfotography

dress|| coat || shoes || sunnies

A Birth Story

My daughter was sooo excited for her baby brother.  She kissed my tummy every morning and every night and said " I love you baby brother".   It was beyond sweet and it melted me!

Four generations...how I love them so.  I could not do life without my family.

This bubble...and this mama...were getting ready to POP!

These photos are by the incredible Shawna at Bleudogfotography. She is an angel and the perfect photographer. We all love her so.

We are missing about 10 members but this is a part of the family I cherish and love.  My cousins, aunts, and uncles could not be more important to me.  My son an daughter are luckier than they will ever know to be born into this big, loving, supportive family. 

{blogged over MLB playoffs, popcorn and a root beer -- or as I call it, the nectar of the gods} I realized that I haven't shared too much of Hudson's birth story with you all, and time is sprinting by. First of all, we didn't have his name picked out until about four days before he was born, which caused me so much anxiety. Anyone who has been in this predicament knows how completely crazy it makes you.  I was on every baby name website known to man. I don't know why choosing a boy's name was so difficult for me. I knew my daughter's name by about my fourth month of pregnancy, and it allowed me to get everything in her room personalized and monogrammed, and talk to her while I was pregnant by her name. This time around... not so much. I had a few names that I absolutely LOVED, but my husband didn't think they were a fit.  I wanted a name that sounded a little different and a little southern and maybe a little distinguished too. It is so strange, but I  can be in love with a name in theory but then when I think about naming my child that same name, it doesn't  feel right (Atticus, for example).  Anyway, I was getting panicky but we stumbled on Hudson and loved it. We've had both of his middle names picked out forever, in memory of my brother, and when we put Hudson in front of those names, it was the perfect fit.

My doctor (who delivered my daughter and who I LOVE, by the way--and is a woman #girlpower) scheduled me to be induced on my due date if I didn't already deliver.  So on August 5th, we headed to the hospital at 3:30 in the morning (yes, this was my appointment time- yikes!) However, apparently August is a busy time to have babies – – who knew there was a busy time to have babies? – – and they didn't have a bed for me until 6:00 am.  I wasn't in labor, so I just dozed in the waiting room.  Once I got in there, got settled and they started the inducement process, my nurse told me that I needed to tell her when the contractions became too strong to handle and she would give me an epidural. Now, I am the kind of person that will basically grit my teeth and get through anything.  I have a really high pain threshold.  I got nervous that I would just lay in bed and grimace through the pain and it would be too late for an epidural. So I asked her "What kind of pain are we talking about here? When should I tell you?" And she said "When you are mildly uncomfortable" and I said "Umm, I'm mildly uncomfortable NOW".  And so it began.  My husband, my mom and my grandmother were all in the room with me (delivery rooms at Hoag are huge, so it wasn't crowded one bit) When I had my daughter, I breezed in, gave a few pushes and voila~ she was out! Not this time. For some reason, the epidural made my blood pressure drop and made me vomit. Not fun. He was facing up instead of down and his shoulder was sort of wedged in there..somewhere.  I felt like I pushed and pushed forever, but it was really only hard labor for a few hours. I was worried the whole time that my doctor was going to just scrap it and do a C-section, but we kept at it and at almost 8 PM on August 5, with a great big cry, my precious little boy finally arrived. 

They immediately put him on my chest for skin-to-skin and all I could do was cry.   I cried at everything when I was pregnant.  It was emotional for me anyway once we found out we were having a boy, not only because I knew I would name him after my brother, but because I knew Addison would be a big sister and there is no relationship in my life that I treasured as much as being a sister.  All of this made me more emotional and sensitive than normal – – and normally, I'm a pretty sensitive girl!  The rush of feeling that you get after birth is indescribable – – you are exhausted, euphoric, relieved, and welling up from somewhere deep inside, filled with love in every part of your body. It is overwhelming to look down at your child for the first time.  His face was new to me but I looked into his eyes and he looked at mine and I knew him.  I was finally able to hold the little being that twisted and turned and squirmed inside of me for 9 months.  And as I softly spoke to him, he heard the voice that he had been hearing for so long from the inside.  I didn't know it then, but he is the most mellow, accommodating, go-with-the-flow little man. Our days are unpredictable and I am constantly throwing him in his car-seat to go get his sister from school or run errands and he handles it all without a peep.  I love my son with a depth and fervor that I would have not thought possible.  I want so much for him-- to live his life with an open, generous, accepting heart and have his days be blessed with love.  As for the love part, this little family of mine is just showering him with it!  I am not sleeping, I am barely showering, but I am happier than I have ever been!  Thank you so much for stopping by, dearest reader.  Sweetly, Michelle

Dress and here and here|| Stroller|| Blankies 

What Motherhood Means to Me (Part 2)

{Written after reading When Breath Becomes Air... Sooo good} Hello dearest reader! This is the second in my little motherhood series and here, my mom answers some of my questions.  It was amazing to me that when I became a mother, I became part of a club whose members (mommies) had so much wisdom and insight.  I find myself asking for advice or input from other moms all the time- not only do I think it is healthy to admit that you don't know all of the answers (hint: no one does!), but it's wonderful to share experiences and tips with others who are going through the same things.   It is an incredible lifelong group that I am so proud to be included in.  

There is no question that everything I know about being a mother, I learned from my mom. She is the most positive, selfless, supportive, loving, sweet person ever.   I tell everyone that any success I've ever had in my life is because my mom made sure that we knew there was a net under us at all times.  That net was the unconditional love she (and my dad) had for me.  It's very easy to chase your dreams in life when you know that no matter what you do,  whether you succeed or fail, your family is 100% behind you. Unquestionably, and without judgment-- just support and love.  It is so important to me that my children will know this – – that no matter what they do, what decisions they make, wherever their hearts might take them, I will be right there, cheering them on, raising them up, and covering them with love.    

In honor of Mother's Day, I sat down with my mom (over a chocolate chip cookie and a cup of ☕️) and asked her some questions about motherhood.

GDSL: What do you think is the very best thing about being a mother (besides, obviously, having me for a daughter, ha ha)?

The very best thing about being a mother is the love you feel. Having your heart grow with so much love and loving someone in a way you could never imagine before becoming a mother.

GDSL: Isn't that the most unexpected thing? This little being comes out and within a second, you would lay down your life and do anything...ANYTHING... for this child.   What do you think is the most important thing a mother can give a child?

In my opinion, the most important things to give a child would be unconditional love, strong values, and a great family foundation. As a mom, I knew that if I instilled values in my children and created an unbreakable family unit, they would go out in the world as confident, good, loving human beings.  And I am proud that they did. 

GDSL:  Aww!  That is so sweet.   I feel like I learn from my child everyday....What did you learn about yourself through motherhood?

That you will never feel like you know the right answer.  That you will need to ask for help.  That some days are long and exhausting and those will be followed by beautiful days that seem like a dream.  That motherhood, like life, is a marathon and not a sprint-- and the collection of days are what matter.  I learned that my greatest pride and love come from being a mother. I learned that my capacity to give and care are limitless.  I learned that to be a mother really is about teaching and shaping and hopes and dreams for these little people that you love.  Motherhood has been my greatest journey. 

GDSL: Gosh, that is the perfect answer.  I know those feelings and how connected you can feel to the sadness and the happiness of your child-- how you want the best for them at all times...How is being a grandmother different from being a mother?

I don't know if there's any difference between being a mother than a grandmother. The love you have for your daughter and then to become a grandmother is so special on many levels. I'm a grandmother to my daughter's child. I fell in love with her as soon as she was born (actually before she was born). At that moment I remembered becoming a mother myself and the overwhelming love I had for my own daughter. Now I'm seeing my daughter entering motherhood.  It's the beautiful circle of life. 

GDSL: There is a little baby boy in my tummy--how do you think this baby will fit into our lives?

This little guy is already loved so much and he is going to fit into our family perfectly.  He has a big sister who is over the moon to have a little brother and he is going to be smothered with love by his cousins and aunts and uncles.  A baby is a beautiful blessing and now, its about making memories together.

GDSL:  It's true.  I knew as soon as I found out I was pregnant that telling my daughter would be the very best part.  She wakes me up with kisses on my belly and must say 15 times a day "Tell baby brother I love him". It is the sweetest, purest thing and it gets me emotional every time.   You've watched me and guided me through motherhood – – what has been your favorite part of that?

Pride and joy fills my heart as I watch you as a mother.  You are an amazing mother-- so loving, kind, attentive and always there for every one of Addison's needs, guiding her to be polite, thoughtful, kind and considerate. Addison is truly blessed to have you as her mother.

GDSL: (Blushing)...That is so nice!  I think we are all blessed....

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mommies out there- in every form motherhood takes (to 4 legged babies too). Moms are heroes to me, each and every one of you! Hope everyone has a beautiful day...Sweetly, Michelle