Family

Settling In

It’s been a month since both girls started school. Our routine during the week has finally started to feel normal. Although our days don’t fluctuate much, it’s so refreshing to have this new schedule. Thankfully the transition into the school year has gone practically flawless ( I say practically because ironically today we overslept throwing our schedule completely off,) which took a lot of stress away from me.

When we lived in the city, Harlan had school in the afternoon, which we loved. I have never been much of a morning person so we took our mornings with leisure and took our time getting ready. It wasn’t until after lunch time that we took off for the day to take Har to school.

Now we have both girls starting early in the morning. While I enjoyed our slow mornings in the city, I have found that I really enjoy getting out in the morning and starting my day. I am much more productive when I am forced to get out and start my day. You know that saying, “The early bird gets the worm?” I get it now.

The girls have had no problem transitioning. While we’ve moved our bath time to the evening instead of the morning for the sake of time, they haven’t noticed that much of a change to our schedule. We tried to keep our schedule the same during the summer so that when school-time did roll around, it wouldn’t take much on our part. With a few exceptions, bedtime has always been at 7pm for both of them and they wake up on their own in the morning. Keeping the routine the same was key for us because I haven’t had to do anything extra to get them ready for the school-year. As a busy mom of three, this was really helpful.

What I love most about this new season of our life is that it finally gives me the opportunity to have one-on-one time with each of the kids.  IMG_8819

Harlan is usually always the first person awake in the morning and will come in my room to wake me up and cuddle with me. She  just lays next to me for a while while I wrap my arms around her. Although she’s not my baby anymore, there are times when I get to reminisce those days and our morning cuddles give me just that.

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Avery and I have time together in the mornings while she isn’t at school. Two days a week, while Macks is taking his morning nap, A and I do our thing. Most of the time it’s turning on music so she can sing and dance for me, but she also loves drawing pictures together.

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While Macks is always my right-hand man, I have been focusing more on our alone time together. I’ll get on the ground with him and play. We just sit and laugh together. He’s at the stage when everything I do deserves a laugh. He’s my biggest fan at the moment.

It’s reassuring when a new phase of your life that you’ve been stressing over turns out to be far better than you could have ever expected. The girls are so excited to wake up every morning to go to school, I’m loving the productivity in my day, the alone time that I get, and the one-on-one time I get with the kids. I’d say we’re settling in to our new life just fine.

 

 

 {Disclosure: I am working with Playtex as a proud member of the Playtex Baby Mom Trust program, a virtual network where moms can find common ground and support each other through sharing stories, tips, product reviews, insights and unique experiences of motherhood. As always, all opinions are my own.}

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Family, Motherhood

Macks: Month 7

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This is SUPER late, but with Macks’ weight problems this month, I’ve been really focused on his feedings and

This month has brought its ups and downs. The downers would be Macks’ weight. When we went in for his seven month weight check we learned that he lost three ounces. I didn’t expect him to gain much weight (because my kids never do at this age,) but I didn’t expect him to lose any either. But he did gain an inch in height this month, so that was definitely a plus.

I am convinced that Macks is just days away from crawling. He mastered getting on all fours this month and also managed to perfect the plank. He also loves to push himself backwards across the room in order to get to where he wants to go.

Sleep has gotten somewhat better this month. He’s more consistent than he has been and is sleeping through the night most of the time. He does get up very early in the morning though, but I’m convinced it’s only because he wants to see his daddy before he heads off to work.

I am hoping that month eight brings us mobility as well as weight gain!

{Month One :: Month Two :: Month Three :: Month Four :: Month Five :: Month Six}

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Family, Motherhood, Reviews

Study Up: Harlan’s Homework Spot

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Harlan had her first homework assignments this week. Since she’s started kindergarten all she has asked about is homework. Right now the idea of homework is a novelty and something that makes her feel more grown up. While I know that won’t be her mindset forever (although I hope it does,) I am taking full advantage of her eagerness to learn even after school is over for the day.

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With two other kids around in the afternoon, it’s hard for Har to find a place that she can quietly sit and concentrate on her homework. We’ve tried the dining room table, but Avery always ends up joining us and then Harlan gets sidetracked. I wanted to create a space that was just for her to do her homework and get the alone time that she deserves.

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A couple of weeks ago, Pottery Barn Kids sent us their Parsons Mini Desk and Upholstered Round Task Chair  so that Har could create a study space that was all her own. She was so excited by the bright pink color that went perfectly in the girls room and she’s a bit obsessed with the chair (because it spins and goes up and down.)

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She immediately started to fill up the desk with her school supplies, learning materials, and of course fun decorations that show a little bit of her personality.

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This lamp gives the perfect amount of light to help her focus on her reading. I also leave it on as I’m putting the girls to bed because they love to read in their beds and this leaves just the right amount for them to do so before bedtime.

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Har had so many school supplies from Yoobi that she couldn’t possibly fit in her backpack, so her desk was the perfect spot for all of the bright colored supplies.

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I absolutely love this caddy. It’s great for her to keep all of her pens, pencils, markers, and scissors and it’s also so easy to pick up and bring downstairs if we need to.

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This tablet stand  holds her Little Scholar Tablet perfectly and is yet another extension of learning. The girls are so focused on technology that I wanted to be able to provide them with something that was educational while also fun.

Since we’ve had Har’s study spot, she comes home from school everyday, immediately takes out her homework and heads upstairs to her room. As a mom (and a former teacher) there is something about it that makes my heart skip a beat every time I see her sit down excited to do her homework. I hope that this space encourages her to be as enthusiastic as she is now for years to come!

{Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I did receive the desk and chair compliments of Pottery Barn Kids. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.} 

 

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