May Mini Style Challenge Part I

What is May Mini Style Challenge? It is an instagram photo challenge put together by two of my favorite bloggers! Each day there is a "challenge" - like plaid or pocket - and participants take a picture of their mini wearing that style.

There is no winner, there is no prize, it's just for fun! The photos are all hashtag'd with #mayministyle so check it out if you're on instragram!

And while you're there, take a minute to follow me. That is if you like pictures of babies. And dogs. And army-wife stuff. And food.

Anyway, here is a quick run down of how Parker Bear and I are doing with the super fun May Mini Style!

1 - Stripes

2 - Pocket (*on his cardigan. I know.)

3 - Mint

4 - Socks

5 - Yellow

6 - Bib

7 - Shorts

8 - Sports Team

9 - Plaid

10 - Jammies

11 - Polka Dots

12 - Mama and Mini

13 - Shoes

14 - Animals

15 - Denim

I've had so much fun playing along! Can't wait to keep the challenge up for the second half of May!

Have a great rest of the weekend ~

H54F

Oh Hi Friday, you're back. Wow, that was quick!

Well once again I'm linking up with Lauren to say High Five for Friday! Here are my top five favorites from this week:

1. Definitely celebrating my second "first" Mother's Day. It might be my new favorite day!

2. This Chevron Dress Honey gave me for part of my Mother's Day gift. Now? Need a reason to wear it! Love!

3. This? Not only a highlight of my week but also a highlight of my life! First of two smash cakes on Parker Bear's birthday.  Sooo much fun!

4. Such a fun week preparing for our little boy's FIRST Birthday Bash happening this weekend!

5. Having my mom here for a whole week helping me get ready for Baby Parker's big day! Having her here has made a whole lotta work into a whole lotta fun!

What are you saying High Five to this Friday? Have a great weekend!

Big Weekend in Review

I realize that today is Thursday but I can't let another day go by without recapping our fabulous weekend! Mother's Day + Baby Dedication + Parker's First Birthday + Family all in one weekend!!

First, the grandparents arrived! Both sets of parents came in town on Saturday and we were so thrilled to have them visiting for the rest of the weekend. Saturday was a fun day - we had lunch at home as soon as they all arrived and then after Parker's afternoon nap we went out to dinner together. Parker loved the attention from all of them!

The next day, Sunday, May 12 was our triple threat: Parker turned one, Mother's Day, and Parker's Baby Dedication at church. 

We attended the Baby Dedication ceremony at church in the morning. It was very special! Our church provides each set of parents with "homework" to prepare a statement describing your goals as parents as you build in your child the kind of characteristics you would most like to see in them as they grow. We read our statement to our parents during the ceremony. It was very special for Honey and I to take the time over the last several weeks to prepare that for this day and then to read it to our parents since they will help hold us accountable as we raise our little Parker Bear. 

We celebrated Mother's Day by exchanging gifts with our Mother's and Honey and Parker gave gifts to me. It was so much fun! I was so excited this year because even though it was my second Mother's Day, it felt like my first. Last year in the NICU it just didn't feel like Mother's Day. This year definitely felt like Mother's Day and I loved every minute of it!

After lunch we were so excited to let Parker open his presents and of course eat his first smash cake. We weren't sure what to expect with the cake. At first Parker touched it and played with it before he realized he could eat it! Once he figured that out he was very into his cake. Here is a progression in pictures: 

It was oh so much fun! I'd like to re-live the weekend again. This time in slow motion! We had such a good time and so enjoyed our time with family and celebrating our sweet little miracle boy.

Happy Birthday Parker!

So What Wednesday

Happy Wednesday! Today I am linking up with Shannon at Life After I Dew to say So What Wednesday! 

This week I'm saying...

So What... if yesterday was the first showing our house has had in a while?

So What... if I had about 20 minutes to pick up before the above mentioned showing? Yikes! Our house is *party preparation central* these days as we prepare for Parker Bear's first birthday party this weekend!! And would you believe that the agent said the house "showed really well"? Yay!

So What... if my mom is here for the week helping me get ready for the big bash on Saturday? It is nice to not rush all of the decorating and food preparation into a couple of days. Having the week to prepare is making it soooo much fun!!! 

So What... if by the time it is all said and done Baby Parker is going to have two smash cakes? He had one on his actual birthday and he'll have another this weekend at his party. Lucky boy!

So What... if the birthday boy has been opening presents as they have been arriving? I don't see the need to wait until his birthday OR his party to open all of his gifts. As my family has been sending gifts, our happy has been opening them up! So fun!

So What... if I'm busier now than I ever was when I worked. I certainly left the work force at the right time. The speed of life as increased significantly since early April with no end in sight. Fortunately, we are having the time of our lives!

I'm sorry that this post was all about the house being on the market and Parker's birthday. This week, that is what is on my mind!! Check back next Wednesday for a whole new list.

What are you saying SO WHAT to? Have a great Wednesday!

Want To Fall in Love with Your House

Do you want to fall in love with your house all over again? Do you want to turn your house into the home you always wanted? Well I can tell you how to do that:

Get Your House Ready To Go On The Market.

Seriously. It will work. Since finding out that we are moving to Kansas in two months Honey and I got busy getting our house ready for sale. We made a list of all the things we needed to do before the FOR SALE sign was put up in our lawn.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t think we’d ever finish that list.

Clean up the “storage area” of the man cave? Well, yeah. We’d wanted to do that forever.

Paint? Sure we’ll paint our two-story living room. What?

Clean out our spare closet? And do what exactly with all that stuff?

And of course there’s all the things that look “fine” to us but to a potential buyer? It’s messy. Our closets. Our bed side tables. My desk. The corner of the kitchen that has become command central for our busy household. Things like that.

Well amazingly we somehow got through our list and much, much, much more.

And now? Our home is gorgeous! I look in closets and cabinets and pantries and laundry rooms daily. Hourly sometimes! Every square inch of our home is next to perfect!

I never, ever want to leave! Well until we have another baby. Or until disarray slowly seeps in. Or until we move to Kansas.

The point is Honey and I agree that we should have done all of this work sooner and then ENJOYED living in this house! So my advice to everyone who owns a home? Get it show-ready! Not to sell but to live in! You won’t regret it.

And as unrealistic as I know that is, Honey and I have decided that in every home we live in for the rest of our lives we will have “get-it-show-ready” month. And during that time we will do the projects we never want to do and get our home looking it’s best. 

And then? We’ll live in it. And LOVE our house again!