Eddie or Aladdin?

sweater: old navy   pant: gap    wedges: target    necklace: groopdealz

When thinking of a baby name I felt a lot of pressure, as you only get one shot and your kid is stuck with that name forever.  I knew we didn't pick a super common name, but did not think it was that unique.  However this last week one person told me that's "an interesting" name and another "that's really unique."  Which to me translate to "that's weird." 
Plus some random caller (which I'm blaming Chris for when he wasted $15 signing up for some baby model search, which he is still waiting for Addilyn's claim to fame) left a message and said Addilyn's name three times and pronounced it uh - dell - in.  

Thankfully I'm still pretty confident in our name for our daughter, as I can't imagine her as anything else.    But it made me think about how I was pretty convinced ten years ago that I'd name a girl Sophia and a boy Noah.  I also loved the name Ava.  
Fortunate for me my mom made sure to point out that Ava Vale sounds ridiculous to spell.  a. v. a. v. a. l. e. Too many a's and v's.  And even worse than that I would've named my son Noah Vale.  Like to no avail.  Pathetically enough I think when she told me that I didn't even know what that meant.  Given I was probably only 21, but embarrassing nonetheless. 
Thank goodness for my mom.  
Now after Addi was born I learned that my dad had jokingly called her Eddie (before we had decided on that name for sure).  And my sister did once refer to Addilyn as Aladdin, but she was eight months pregnant and tired so I'm letting that go.  
Did your mom ruin your baby name dreams (and okay, thankfully save your kids from future name calling)? Or did your family make fun of your baby names? 

Just a few

I haven't really made resolutions the last many years but wanted to this year.  I love making lists and love having goals and think it would be helpful to pick a handful of things I hope to work on this year.  I already wrote out a word for the year and learning how to relax is something I want to focus on.  But here are a few other things I hope to accomplish this year: 
To be more disciplined with quiet times.  Before Addilyn was born I'd wake up pretty early before having to get ready for work and read my Bible or journal.  While I wasn't always consistent I did it much more regularly than I do now.  I pray often these days, during middle of the night feedings or when I'm napping with Addilyn, but I have read my Bible so few times in the last five months and want to change that. 
Get  back in shape. I want to get back into my pre-pregnancy shape and would love to eventually get back to the weight I was before I starting all of our hormone treatments a few years ago.  I am working on eating less sweets and still trying to work out at least three times a week.  I really miss feeling strong and in shape.    Run a race.  I haven't decided yet if I'm going to sign up for the Chicago marathon but if I don't do that one then I want to at least do a half marathon this summer.  
Stop comparing.  I struggle with comparing myself to others, my mothering, my baby, my blog and in general need to work on not being jealous and being content and confident in who I am and all the things God has given me. 
Thankful project. I'm really good at being thankful during the month of November and I love that Chris and I have a poster that we write on each year.  I want to make something that we put in Addilyn's room and we write down one thing we're thankful for each day.  
Be more intentional.  I want to be more intentional with my free time, with my time with Chris and in my friendships.  I want to continue to work on initiating things with friends.  I want to not always be on my phone or computer when Chris and I are together.     Not I just need to reread this often and make an effort to work on them!  Cheers to a new year!

Unibody

sweater: jcpenney    jeans: target    wedges: target

There are so many things I've loved when it comes to watching Chris be a dad.  And quite a few funny memories I have that I want to remember.  
When we are going places with Addilyn, especially around new people Chris doesn't like it when she has her green pacifier because he wants people to make sure to know she is a girl.  As if the big flower headbands and cute dresses aren't clues enough. He'll spend minutes looking for her pink or purple one before we leave.
I get Addilyn dressed about 99% of the time, as picking out her clothes is still one of my favorite things to do.  One day I had laid out her clothes and Chris went to change her.  When he came out he had the biggest smile on his face and she was not wearing what I put out.  He wanted to pick out her outfit and was so proud for putting her in something that matched and was cute.  
The other day Addilyn had another diaper disaster and needed a new outfit when we were at my parents' house.  Chris came out and asked me if I brought an extra "unibody" for her to wear.  And by unibody he meant onesie.  

It is really fun watching Chris love on our baby and learn this whole new world of all baby things.  

a wedding

dress: jcpenney    shoes: target   necklace: c/o choies.com

This weekend we went to Chris' cousins wedding, which was Addilyn's first wedding and our first "fancy" event as a family of three. Besides our parenting fail of forgetting our diaper bag at home and having to run to Walgreens to get diapers and wipes we had a great time.  Addilyn did awesome and even managed to fall asleep during part of the reception (with her bunny of course).  They had a dessert table and candy bags to fill to take home, which pretty much means an automatic win in my book.  That and having a flash mob at their wedding.

On a different note the time has come where more and more people in my life are aware that I have a blog.  Chris' cousin was giving me a hard time about how I should blog about everything while we were there (hi rob), like the appetizers or the dancing or pretty much anything.  I'm slowly getting over the fact that people in my life read my blog and feel a little less embarrassed than I used to.  Although I'm not sure that will ever go away entirely.  

Hope you had a great weekend!

If I'm being honest

 

top: loft   shoes: target  pants: kohls   necklace:  groopdealz

I'm only looking down in these pictures to avoid the mess that is my bangs today.  They are too long.  And when I tried to curl them I failed and kept getting a terrible dent in them.  However now you see my grown out roots.  Lose lose I guess.  
I have found a new stress reliever.  Groopdealz.  I can't stop looking at their site and wanting everything. Thankfully I restrain myself most days, but couldn't pass up this necklace.  I got two for $12.  If you don't know about groopdealz you need to check them out.  Plus if you follow this link you can get $5 off your first purchase.  (Okay, and I will $5 too.) 
I still don't feel like myself after having a baby.  I really thought passed the six week mark the uncomfortable post pregnancy symptoms would be gone.  While better, I still feel like these lingering annoyances are going to stick around for awhile.  Nursing pads, spit up, and poor bladder control make me feel not so hot most days. 
If I wouldn't have cropped this picture you would have seen my dog pooping in the background. 
I forget about twitter about 95% of the time.  My blog, facebook and instagram is enough social media for me. 
Speaking of social media, when I'm up in the middle of the night feeding Addilyn, I'm always seriously disappointed to check my instagram or facebook feed and see only a few new posts.  So please.  Post away. 

I should be embarrassed . . .

sweater: loft   pants: jcpenny  shoes: target  scarf: gap 

. . . that I am wearing just about every shade of blue possible. 
. . . that I didn't know who was playing in the Super Bowl until I asked someone the day before.  

. . . that I ate a bowl of yogurt and granola four times in one day. 
. . . that I am much happier about the week starting because the Bachelor is on two nights in a row. 

. . . that the pants that I told you about yesterday didn't even button when I bought them.