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. 

Five

pants: loft   shoes: kohls  necklace: c/o curated by kelly

1. I've wanted a pair of boyfriend jeans forever and recently got these and another pair.  My problem is that I think they make my legs look even shorter.  I may need some style help with them.  Hopefully the answer isn't that they just don't work with short legs. 

2. On Sunday we went to the forest preserve after church and brought lunch.  It was so fun to do things as a family and I think it may become a new weekend routine as long as the weather is nice. 

3. I've slowly started working out again.  Although it's only happened a few times, it feels good to break a sweat (not from hormones or when I'm nursing and get overly hot).  I still hate Jillian Micheal's voice and mute the tv.  

4.  I forgot to share this sweet bracelet that Chris got me after we had Addilyn.  It came in the mail the day we had to come home while she was in the nursery, which was such perfect timing.  I LOVE it. 

source

5. I am ready to start decorating for Fall, even though the weather isn't quite there.  I bought a chalkboard pen yesterday and want to do something like this on the chalkboard by our front door.   When do you start decorating for fall? 

I hope you have a great weekend!

On the other side

I've been thinking a lot this week about where we are now as opposed to a year ago.  A year ago, Labor Day weekend was one of the hardest weekends of my life as we found out that we were no longer pregnant after another fertility treatment.  I couldn't have been more devastated, sad and pretty hopeless feeling.  That weekend I stayed home and cried and cried. 
This last weekend we got to take our sweet baby to a Labor day party and it was so much fun.  Last night I was rocking Addilyn as she feel asleep, just thinking about the difference a year makes.  Once she feel asleep, I was scrolling through my facebook and instagram feed on my phone and seeing so many pictures of babies.  I've had a handful of good blogging friends have babies recently and I love looking at all their pictures.  
Last year at this time, scrolling through baby pictures would have been so hard for me, as it was a constant reminder of what I wanted but didn't know if I'd ever get.  There were many weeks where I wouldn't spend much time on facebook or instagram, as it sometimes was too hard and painful. 
I know there are a handful of friends I've made through my struggle to get pregnant that are still waiting for their baby.  I think about them often and wonder if it's hard for them to see my pictures or read my blog.  I almost feel guilty that pictures of my baby would made someone sad, as I know the feeling all too well.     It makes me leery of posting about how somethings have been hard since having Addilyn.  I don't ever want to come across as complaining, although some times that is what it feels like.  Motherhood is hard and although I wouldn't change where we are one bit, the transition and struggles are real and I think talking about them, getting encouragement and support is good for me.  However, I remember reading statuses or blogs about moms exhausted from staying up all night and thinking how I want that problem.   So I guess what I'm saying is that I want to be real that sometimes life is hard, but I am so grateful for the place we are in.  While I don't enjoy only sleeping a few hours each night, I feel lucky that that is a problem I have. 
It'd be impossible to not blog about being a mom.  About the fun things and the hard things.  And I want to be able to look back and have our stories written out and remembered.  I know people don't expect me to not post pictures of Addilyn or write about her, but I am just reminded how much of a true blessing this baby is  and I want to be sensitive to others going through that struggle. 

Dear Lauren,

top: target   pants: old navy   shoes: kohls   necklace: groopdealz

I loved this tank top so much that I bought a shirt just like it from Target.  For only $6 I'm wishing I bought it in other colors.  
I think your son has the best dance moves of anyone.  I sure hope he can teach Addilyn how to shake her booty.   

On the other hand I hope that Lena does NOT teach Addilyn her poor sleeping skills.  While this facebook status of yours gave me a chuckle, I know that you were not laughing about it at the time: 
Lena is refusing to go to sleep. She gets mad, takes off her clothes, throws them across the room, and crawls out of her crib and runs into the hallway. We put her back in bed. On repeat. Literally for hours. Someday this story will probably amuse me greatly. Not today folks, not today.
I got the cutest headband for Addilyn last week and think you need one for Lena.  I've wanted her to have one of these turban style headbands for awhile and was so happy to find this one from the etsy shop AzyMae. 

Her headbands are so cute, plus much cheaper than a lot I've seen.  This one is only $6.50 and you can use code LaurenandLauren and get 10% off.  I want Addilyn to own this one and these ones too. 

I have always wished that you lived here, but since having a baby I wish it even more.   Only two more weeks until you come here.  Addilyn can't wait to met you and her cousins! 

I love you Lauren!
Love,

Opposites attract

I know I've said it many times before but Chris and I couldn't be more opposite.  I could make quite the list about ways that we are so different.  I think that a lot of couples can relate to that.  Which is why sometimes buying gifts for couples can be challenging since they are so different.
You can believe how excited I was when I was contacted by Target Wedding to help interpret their theme of "Be Yourself, Together."  Just like two people who are very different can work well together, the same can apply for two gifts.  They seem separate on their own, but together can create something more.  

When I checked out some registry items, I knew just the thing that could represent how different Chris and I are, but how we work well together.  A bicycle and running clothes.  

When I was training for the marathon our first year of marriage I would have loved it if Chris ran it will me.  Or even ran a few of my training runs with me.  However he is definitely not a fan of running.  Actually sweating in general.  Here's a picture from the Chicago marathon.  What gives it away that Chris isn't actually running the marathon.  His chunky shoes, khaki shorts or that he is just too happy to be on mile 18?
While he wouldn't run it with me, he did want to support me as I was training.  So he decided he would bike next to me while I ran.   It definitely didn't seem fair for him to be biking so easily and slowly, next to my attempt at fast running, but it was really appreciated.  
So while he may not be a runner and I may not enjoy biking, the two go quite well together.  And what girl wouldn't be happy opening some clothes as a wedding gift, right?  

This post is brought to you by Target, but all opinions and content are my own.  Follow along with #TargetWedding.