He's here! {ESW}

And just like that, in His most perfect timing, he's here!

  

Emery Shepherd Waldman

Born at 11:52am Tuesday May 15th

9 lbs 13 oz 21 inches long

 

A birth story is to come but I wanted to get out a few things about the last 5 days before they start running together.

Overall it's been an incredible experience; after a picture perfect birth we had excellent care throughout our stay at the hospital and the adjustment at home has been kind to me.

Emery surprised us all with his dark hair and complexion! We still can't get over his long fingers and mirror image feet of his Daddy's. His nose is just like Moses' which is just like mine but his head shape and chin are all his own. He had lots of built up mucus the days following birth so there was lots of burping, choking, and congestion but on day 5 we are down to just a little snoring and heavy breathing. On thing to note about his complexion is the almost non existent jaundice this boy has; not 1 but 3 nurses and our pediatrician told us they've never seen someone with such low bilirubin levels!

Moses is handling things really well. We knew taking him to school Tuesday that he would have a baby brother by nightfall and we're able to share that with him before he left which made him very excited. I had a note written from Emery to Moses telling him how excited he was to meet him and that he had a surprise waiting when he got to the hospital so needless to stay after a brief hello to Emery he was looking for the special surprise! After that he warmed up to him, help him, and has given about 85 kisses since then.

I just heard poop from the swing so that's all for now!

PS. We are so head over heels crazy in love.

Playlist {April}

The evolution of a playlist: I listen to music 6 out of the 8 hours a day while I work and I’m constantly looking for new stuff. I love the apps Spotify offers for up and coming music as well as being able to lurk my friends to see what they’re listening to ( my girl Roshelle has incredible taste in music so she is my number one source) and then I just start listening. A song catches my ear and I slide it over into a playlist. Sometimes it stays, sometimes it goes. The monthly playlist is the result of all the songs I’ve really liked and listening to way too many time. I’m posting late in the month (really really late) and actually growing old of some of the songs I picked out 4 weeks ago but they could be new to some of you so enjoy!

Heart it Races by Architecutre in Helsinki

Goodbye, Goodnight by Mae

Go Home by Lucius (my most favorite this month)

Mirrors by Justin Timberlake (was my favorite from the CD before it go overplayed, quick)

Always Spring by I’m From Bacelona

White Sky by Vampire Weekend

Colder Weather (Live) by Zac Brown Band

New Summer by Young Galaxy

Fever Dream by Young Summer

Feels like We Only Go Backwards by Tame Impala

Humming Bird by Alex Clare

{bump} this.

Update written on April 15th. The last two pictures were taken after this update but you get the idea; I'm ready, oh so ready!

 

Has it really been a month since I posted an update? I try not to talk too much about the bump but gosh it feels like so much has changed since then. And to think I thought that felt like the final stretch at 33 weeks? Ha! With 2 weeks until my due date its crunch time! I swear that’s all the midwife needs to say is 2^nd babies come sooner than your first and you’ve got me thinking I’m having a baby tomorrow. According to my last two checkups my body doesn’t seem anywhere near ready for labor but as my Mom kindly reminds me she was checked with zero progression the day she has my sister so… God’s timing is perfect, right?

35 weeks

 

Physically: I’m tired. 9pm feels like 10pm and the simple task like straightening up the house is daunting because bending down to pick up 15 small objects creates heartburn for hours! I haven’t been to the gym in a week and I don’t see myself bumping around on the elliptical much more; possibly a few times in the lap pool but yall, I’m tired! Just this past week I started to have terrible carpel tunnel in both my hands specifically my fingers which makes me feel very old but also very useless. I also just got a linear line in the lightest brown tint which I was not expecting because I didn’t have it last time. It’s so crazy how our bodies change over these 40 weeks and then can actually somewhat go back to normal; God’s creations can blow your mind!

Remember how I talked about living in dresses? I wasn’t kidding. I bounce between 3 or 4 and wear them every chance I get even if the stripes make my belly look like a dining room table for 10.

37 weeks

My emotions in a nutshell: Ahhh yay whoaaaa weee ahhh yay. Mixed, so mixed. Am I ready to go into labor tomorrow? Not really. Am I ready to meet this little guy and feel reach for the starts over the fence world series kind of love? YES! Mostly I’m not ready because I’m feeling anxious about labor and what time or day it will be and where Moses will be and all those details you can’t control that I want to control.

Retrospect: I’m so very thankful how easy this pregnancy has been. I know so many people that struggle just to get pregnant then struggle with severe versions of the things I’ve slightly encountered then have complications and yeah…I’m blessed. So very blessed. 

39 weeks and Funny story about this picture: it's horrible. I had bedhead and felt nasty but wanted to document in case it was my last belly shot, ya know? As my loving Husband said "you know how some women get really fat noses when they're pregnant? You don't have one at all but this picture makes it look like you do"...THANKS HUNNY!

 

{hermit}

In hiding is what I’d like to call it. I have about 5 posts floating around (some even written out) but I can’t bring myself to publish. I’m officially sick of being around strangers because if my belly comes up one more time I may throat punch someone. I get it; it’s a way for people to connect, they are being friendly, they are making small talk, they want to talk about this experience, yadda yadda who cares I’m over it! I’d be happy as a clam if he came tonight or in 2 weeks but it’s being seeing by the public that’s killing me. I’ve completely hermit crabbed out and that includes leaving Aprils playlist, belly updates, or whatever else I wanted to talk about buried away.

Easter {Wordless Wednesday}

 

Vintage Noles Tee. Florida Boy flip flops. New Lego watch. Egg hunt success smile.

 

 

He can swing himself as high as the sun.

DIY Face Wipes

Well slap my knee and call me crunchy because well this is…crunchy! I’m all for saving money (turn OFF the lights when leaving the room) especially if it means the end result will be more natural or environmentally friendly (hello cloth diapers) so I was a bit surprised it took me this long to make my own face wipes.

 

I checked out a few internet recipes but found they weren’t working and here’s why. Yes it’s great to make 200 wipes at one time but I’m only one person and after about 30 days I noticed they carried an odor I did not want on my face. So I adapted and perfected the cheap, easy, crunchy face wipe! And yes all you skeptics, I’ve been playing around with these for months now so they've been tested and tested again and look my face is still wonderfully fresh!

Here’s the breakdown of what you’ll need:

• Water
• Coconut oil (please tell me this is already in your pantry because it’s the crunchy girls version of Greeks and their Windex)
• Gentle liquid body/face soap; I used baby shampoo but I’m sure any toddler or gentle brand wash would work great.
• A good roll of paper towels; don’t skimp! I went all high roller and got the $2 roll of Viva at Target because you need sturdy for this project.
• Small container with a lid.

Instructions:
Melt 1 tsp coconut oil.
Add ½ tsp of soap and 3/4 cp water to the oil mixture and set aside.
Cut paper towel roll in half…yes as in get out a knife and slice right down the middle. Put one half in storage for 6 months down the road when you’ll need to make more.
Pull off 30 sheets of paper towels and fold into squares (half then half again) and stack in your container. Its okay if they practically don’t fit because they still shrink down when wet.
Pour liquid mixture over paper towels, close lid, and flip around until it’s soaked through.

Price comparison

Store Brand:
I used to buy Target’s Up & Up brand which came in a pack of 30 for lets say $3 (I’m being super generous).
$3 x 12 months = $36/ year to wipe makeup off my face every night

My DIY version:
I had everything except the paper towels which costs $2 at Target.
1 roll of paper towels = 400 wipes (200 per roll and we cut the roll in half)
400 wipes lasts 13 months
$2 divided by 13 months = 16 CENTS a month

So $3 a month or 16 cents a month?

Not to mention you know exactly what’s going into your face wipes and your face still feels great! I take off mascara as well as wipe all over my face each night for an overall crunchy clean!

Pineapple Casserole {recipe}

As Easter weekend approaches I know most of us enjoy a traditional ham lunch of some sort on Sunday and with that comes one of my favorite “holiday recipes”. It’s super easy and actually pretty southern (read: not health) which if you know me know I’m not at all the “southern type”. Anyways if you’re not from the south or never had the pleasure of enjoying this goodness spread over your ham then I suggest whipping it up.

Pineapple Casserole

20 oz canned pineapple chunks

½ cup sugar

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

3 TBS flour

½ stick salted butter, melted

½ cup Ritz crackers, broken

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Reserve 3 TBS of pineapple liquid

3. Mix undrained pineapple chunks, sugar, cheese, and flour in a bowl; pour into greased 9x9 casserole dish

4. Mix melted butter, reserved pineapple liquid, and crackers in a small bowl and sprinkle on top of mixture

5. Bake 20-30 minutes and enjoy!

Like I mentioned this is a small side dish for the ham so either serve next to it or on top! Sweet, buttery, crispy goodness!