Chloe loves... (Vol 1)

So I am going to start a new series called Chloe loves and well... it will be about something Chloe is currently loving.... why? Because she is growing up so fast and I can't wait for her to look back at this blog when she is older and see all the things she loved as a child.

Chloe loves baby wearing! We are so lucky that Chloe loves her some baby bjorn. Let me tell you, we can keep her in there for hours! She just laughs and giggles and smiles the whole time. We usually put her in it when we go to the zoo (which is often) and when we are doing things around the house. She especially loves it when we stand in front of the mirror. Ya, she thinks the "baby front pack" is funny looking too.

♥ Michelle

New Old Furniture

It's amazing what you can find at your local thrift store!

Granny chair: $27.50,  Dresser turned media cabinet & dog bed $30

White bookcases $65/2,  White Frame $5, Old books & Glass bottles < $1

♥ Michelle

We heart tattoos.

I have been wanting to do this post for a while... and Jessica at Tart just gave me a reason to get 'er done. James and I get at least one tattoo every year and we plan to do so for the rest of our lives. So far, I have 10 and James has 12. I particularly LOVE feminine tattoos.  Here are just a few of our favorites. All tattoos shown were done by Guf at Tattoo Royale in San Diego, CA.(click on the pics and they get BIGGER)

This is the newest one I got... it has Chloe's birthday and birthstone. This is actually drawn up from the necklace that I made and wore in maternity photo shoot here. located on the outside of my right wrist.

This is the newest one James got for Chloe. If you can't tell, her name is in the red on the side of the plane.  Located on outside of left forearm.

My Russian Doll that represents me and how Christ is at the center of my heart. Located on inside of right forearm.

James' "Hold Fast" to your faith. Located on outside left forearm.

"You are only as lucky as you think you are". Apparently, I am pretty darn lucky. Located above my right elbow.

Jame's dead or alive birds inside both  forearms

my Angelique Houtkamp birdie. Located inside my right upper arm.

♥ Michelle

DIY projects

I finally had some time to get some of my d.i.y. projects I have been putting off. Only got to a couple, but at least it's a start. A while back, I found this awesome hounds tooth fabric in the overage bin at Joann's. It ended up being only a $1. I used it to make a new pillow for our living room tonight. I still had some fabric left over and remembered this diy heart project here on Jess' blog, Tart. Chloe loved the black and white pattern and it will be pleasantly placed in her crib.

♥ Michelle

Tuesday's Tunes

Here is what I have been enjoying lately.

♥ Michelle

Baby Butter - (may gross you out)

By accident, we turned my breast milk into butter. For Reals.
We were out all day and the bottle was in my diaper bag getting bounced around like crazy. Then the bottle was dropped a couple times and bounced around some more. Normally, the extra bottles we bring for day excursions are left in a cooler in the car, but for some reason this one was left in the diaper bag. Needless to say, it churned into little chunks of butter. I couldn't believe it! I mean, it makes perfect sense that it would do that.

James and I googled breast milk butter just to see if anyone else had come across this and this is what we found:
http://www.food.com/recipe/breastmilk-butter-53903

We were laughing so hard! Enjoy! hahaha

p.s. So, when chloe starts to eat solids, can I just put breast milk butter on her pancakes? hahaha.

♥ Michelle

Chloe's 3 Months

♥ Michelle

My Saturday

Today we got to sleep in. I dyed my sisters hair a lovely shade of chocolate and Chloe got to have play time with Daddy and Peanut. She loves to look at herself in the mirror.

After starting our day off pretty late, we went shopping for random things we needed around the house, ate at Rubios (yum)and finally got the accent chair we had been debating on. (Still not sure if I love it, but we will have to see once the couch comes in.) I would show you a picture, but I am waiting to reveal the whole new living room. Soon, I hope!

Chloe turns 3 months tomorrow. :) I can't believe how big she is getting. Here she is wearing a cardigan James wore when he was a baby. Too cute, I know. Hopefully she will love cardigans as much as I do.

♥ Michelle

Back to work for this Momma

Unfortunately, my time has come to head back to The Smencil Co. Just one week shy of Chloe's 3 month birthday. It is definitely bittersweet. More bitter than sweet, I might add. Chloe is at the point now where she is more aware than ever. She plays with her toys and smiles like crazy. She coos and has "conversations" with us. I feel so connected with her. That connecting usually happens during the day. The time that I am now going to be at work. I know that I will get some time to bond with her when I get home, but it is just not the same. The evening is usually her cranky-pants time. I won't get to see her big smile when she first wakes up in the morning and notices that I am standing over her. I won't get to see her wide eyed stare as she looks into our jungle of a backyard, taking everything in. We are lucky to be able to have my sister nanny her everyday and the bonding that they will create with each other will be special. And it is very important for my sister to have that time with her before our big move. I just hope I am not "replaced" in Chloe's eyes. I am afraid we will be missing all the milestones that will more than likely happen while we are away. When she first rolls over, starts to crawl, her first infectious laugh. Maybe I can just pray all of that happens on the weekends only? 
It is also a little sweet. It is nice to get out of the house and to have some where to go everyday. It is nice to have adult conversations. It is nice to spend more time with James and our other friends again. So, for now, I need to just focus on the good aspects of going back to work to help me get through this week. I know it will get better as time goes on. For now, I just keep praying that God gives me the strength to leave my baby girl every morning without crying.



♥ Michelle

There has been so much going on   that I don't even know where to begin, but I will update soon, promise... as soon as Chloe let's me put her down for a minute...



♥ Michelle