Favorites Friday: Shout outs

My biggest accomplishment was manning the grocery store this week with both kiddos...it was no easy task but I survived! You mommas with 3 and more are my heros, seriously.

 I have to say the brightest spots in my week were the special notes, emails, and shout outs I received from all of you. How can I thank you enough? You made a tough week, full of sunshine!

Here are my shout outs right back at ya!

Fran from Green Street rocked her roman shades in greek key trim, I'm speechless and amazed; they look killer, Fran! Head over to her amazing blog to say hello and find out her big news!

Spearmint baby is a fantastic blog with all things momma baby featuring diys, birth stories, and wonderful photography! Thanks for the lovely feature on Bo's room!

Check out Jena from livingcolor, isn't her dining room amazing! Her site features homes and their paint colors, taking the guess work out of choosing colors, so smart! Thanks Jena for having me!

Some more link love:

Amber is using this amazing fabric for her roman shades

This is the epitome of summer, along with her hair!

I've always wanted to do a fish tail braid

Flamingo baby shower

Just me and the boys this weekend, wish me luck!

So incredibly thankful for my newest blessing, I'm in awe and wonder! Thank you Lord!

Have a lovely weekend, friends.

{Cheating} shelves

This almost seems too silly to do a post on, but I had a few requests asking about my floating shelves and how they are hung! Its a magic trick really.....place L brackets on top and cover with books and trinkets! Ideally these would be built-in bookshelves, but since those cost an arm and leg, I went with cheap shelves from home depot and L brackets. It gives the wall some architectural interest without breaking the bank!

Fall picks 2011

As life gets a little more complicated and sticky with two kiddos, I"m attempting to streamline and simplify everything else including clothes. These picks all coordinate with each other so getting dressed in the morning is easy and mindless! Carmels, cognac, leopard and polka dots are all the rage! Bring on the fall.

Isn't she lovely

My mom came to stay last week and was such an incredible help and blessing to me! When I went to pick her up at the airport I saw her from behind and thought to myself, "who is that hot blonde in skinny jeans? She's truly lovely! Can't wait for our next visit, thanks Mom!

p.s She also makes me want bangs too!

My 4 year old took these pictures

I think I have a budding photographer on my hands! At chuck e cheese's this week, I caught him in chuck e's photo booth taking a picture of himself and even centering his face in the frame! Too funny!

Favorites Friday: Embracing family

Happy weekend dear friends, I'm so happy to greet it! Husband has been gone all week and now he's back, bring on the cuddles and extra help! Huge thank you to my mom and sister for making my milk-challenged baby bearable! Also to all your sweet comments and bits of advice....they are like balm to my soul; I'm so grateful for all of you.

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And yes this image is from High school musical, isn't it so happy?!! I'm a huge fan, what can I say I love all musicals!

For your weekend delight:

This post is pure power

Such adorable twins

A pocahontas princess nursery

Stay tuned next week for my fall picks, a special interview, and my magic shelves!

A gentle answer

Somewhere in one of my many middle of the night wake ups, the Lord gave me the verse, "A gentle answer turns away anger (Ps 15:1)." Immediately I knew it regarded Gideon and my reactions to his many testing gestures and truth be told it works, really and truly. When I feel myself getting pretty hot under the collar (putting it nicely) I say the verse in my mind and it really diffuses my response to him. Now if I could just memorize more scripture I can only imagine the power it would have in my life!

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I can't whistle but I can make milk

Somehow I missed the fact that my sister could whistle all these years and when she shared that enviable fact at the dinner table my husband chimed in on his whistling skills while I sat there in silence! Finally I blurted out, "well, I can make milk" and had them both stumped! 

The whole lactation process astounds and perplexes me! I have officially done it wrong twice now! My first kiddo latched incorrectly (then loved it so much wouldn't ever stop nursing!) and this time apparently I'm a milk goddess and make too much. Bo has only been getting the foremilk, full of fat and lactose giving him all kinds of GI pain, poor honeyB! Sheesh! We are pressing on modifying things and seeing improvement so I will continue to be in awe of the miraculous milk-making process!

The whole acting out thing

Our biggest challenge to the new baby has been our warrior 4 year old, Gideon. He hits baby, pulls his nose, and shakes baby's seat which is pretty horrifying. Our pediatrician told us to make everything about Gideon, giving him as much attention as possible! I'm hoping that the newness and excitement of the baby wears off for him soon because its pretty unnerving! My genius sister came up with a perfect beat-the-heat summer indoor game to divert his attention. Let me introduce you to toilet paper bowling! It was a major hit and you couldn't hear a pin drop!

Me and honeybee

Bo's breath smells just like honey, I literally sniff it all day!!! Thus the nickname honeybee, plus I have to nickname everything!

Favorites Friday: Baby bliss

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This week I spent many countless quiet hours staring at my precious newborn, he's a lil dreamboat I tell you! Big thanks to my husband, sister, and dear friends who've manned Gideon for me and dropped off such beautiful meals and gifts. I'm humbled and grateful.

Some fun links for your weekend:

A wallpapered kitchen

Maxi skirt turned dress

Linda's drawings plus matching outfits are darling

My mom will be here next week so posting may be sporadic and I promise to answer all those email questions this weekend, so sorry!

 Next week Ill be sharing those sweet newborn photos, have a happy weekend!

I really like these

See that basket in the corner under the window? I've loved it for a long while now, but not so much the price point! They are perfect for hiding toys, clutter, or any other rogue items in your house!

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Now, west elm offers a very close look-a-like at a pretty good price and furbish offers a pretty yellow one as well, score.

A bug and a boy

The adventures of Gideon and the grasshopper....man does this kid love bugs and dirt! Can anyone else with boys relate?

p.s little camera tip with kiddos.....follow them around first before you ask for any posed photos, makes them a little more cooperative and truth be told I LOVE candids best everytime!

In the delivery room: Boaz's birth story

Thank you again for all the wonderful emails I've received and continue to get, I'm working my way through them and promise to respond soon! Without further adieu, on Tuesday July 19th at 0645 am we were induced and Boaz arrived (finally) at 1050pm that night! Yep, none of my kiddos wanna come out even when forced!  Essentially I was on pitocin, which is one evil mad dog drug. I tolerated those contractions on a fitness ball for a good couple hours then threw in the towel when I learned I was only at 4cm and coudn't breathe through them or make much progress. They brought in the epidural and I asked for the smallest dose possible and was thrilled when I could still feel my legs and actually move around, best of both world my friends!

After the epidural (4pm) I labored on without feeling pain but just pressure which was truly a joy! Being present in the room and of my sound mind was such a gift! When it came time to push the nurse discovered he was sunny side up, so in order to turn him she had me get on all fours in the bed for a half an hour and with the light epidural, I could do it! Yippee! And guess what? It worked!

I pushed for a half hour and out he came, tears of joy and laughter all around. I appreciated how nurse-driven the whole thing was, the doctor came in to catch in the last 5 minutes.

Aside from the standard lack of sleep, we stare and coo at our honeybee all day long and thank the Lord for his perfect bill of health!

The it list

Hey everyone! Were home and in complete baby bliss even in my sleepy stupor! He is such a little dream, thank you again for all you sweet words and prayers, so grateful!Check out all the weekend links:
Happy Friday peeps! I hope you are staying cool these days... stay inside and discover some great new blogs with all these fun links! Enjoy!

• gs lillian uses two men's neckties as a belt - this is so cute and fun idea for raiding your guys closet! Or the mens section in your favorite store or thrift shop! (find gs lillian on twitter!)
• a spot of whimsy brings you gorgeous beach photos... does the beach ever get old? Never.  That's what I say! (find a spot of whimsy on twitter!)
• johns journal had her handsome, handsome baby boy this week... bop on over and give her some sweet words! (find johns journal on twitter!)
• alisha of alisha and brandon gives tips to style bloggers on how to do your own photos... especially helpful when your live-in photographer (or otherwise) isn't available!  Check out her tips! (find alisha and brandon on twitter!)
• sweetie pie style devotes a whole week of her blog to her kitchen... stop by to see the "befores" and give your two cents on her selections. She has a very fun project in the works! (find sweetie pie style on twitter!)
• little tin soldier mixes yellow and leopard print. I suddenly wish I had more of both in my closet - gorgeous! (find little tin soldier on twitter!)
• simply stylish mom is giving away one of these adorable wall flags... stop by to check them out and enter to win! (find simply stylish mom on twitter!)
• verbal melange is going on a Financial Diet and she's encouraging you to join her - stop by to see what it's all about! (find verbal melange on twitter!)
• the style dossier takes three sisters who each style up the same dress... see how they do it!  This is so fun! (find the style dossier on twitter!)
• fabulously average calls this outfit "corporate chic" - I love that! I remember working in a business office in the summers and finding it difficult to look profession and keep cool She does it! (find fabulously average on twitter!)
• take me for a twirl shows off this awesome thrifted skirt in bold red!  What a fun color for summer. (find take me for a twirl on twitter!)
• good life for less contemplates what's appropriate wear for summer outdoor activities... check it out! (find good life for less on twitter!)

the IT list is produced weekly by jill of good life for less, for more information on how to be involved... click here!

He is here!

Boaz dominick Johns born July 19, 2011! 7lbs 10 oz 20 inches long and perfectly healthy, praise the Lord!
More photos and birth story to come, we are in total love with him!
Thank you for all your prayers, felt every single one!
Xoxo, Maria