8 Months, The Unoffical Start of Summer & How Mama Got Her Groove Back

Over this last month my husband and I happily celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary. Mind you we had a super long engagement (Stefano-you're a saint for waiting on me honey) so it's actually been over 9 1/2 years for us. Meaning I have almost spent a decade with this man! Time flies when you're having fun I guess! It really seems crazy that we now have an addition to our "family" and I'm sure some would probably consider it even crazier that we would take our baby on our anniversary dinner date. Looking back I guess it is a little out of the norm-but to begin with we weren't even sure if we'd be able to go for dinner (#restaurantlife) so on last minute notice-I didn't want to put that pressure on anyone to feel obligated to watch Nico. In addition, we truly enjoy being with our baby and it seems all to rare that we get to be a threesome and go do things (again #restaurantlife) as a little family unit. Not to mention- if he wouldn't have been along for this picture it probably wouldn't be as adorable as it is...

Our Love Has Grown Into ANOTHER Human!

Obviously, Nico looked the sharpest out of all of us three. His little baby button up with a coordinating vest and leather shoes-he defines a well dressed man. Takes after his dad. Speaking of his dad-when he walked in before we left for our dinner he complimented and ohhhhed and ahhed over the baby. Me not so much. Don't worry I'm getting use to it. Happens all the time...with everyone. We had a delicious dinner at one of our favorite restaurants at the moment-Bleu. Although, dinners out as of recent are getting a little more tricky since Nico is so active and wants everything in sight. But all in all-he was well behaved and allowed mommy her glass of wine, let her quick eat dinner, and enjoy the one and only dessert she likes...Crème Brulee. She even gave Daddy a bite. So we will chalk our anniversary dinner along with our marriage thus far a success. :)

So what else is Nico up to these days? Well he has become a pro at shaking his head "no". Its so funny and cute you can't help but laugh which only makes him do it more. 

He likes to go visit at the restaurant and smile and swoon all of our customers and the Luigi girls give him oodles of attention which he very clearly enjoys. Recently, there was a customer who unprompted stated Nico is going be a Packer player...so yeah-he obviously is already being scouted (reference 2 posts ago).We are now showing a little more interest in "real" food. Nico is a big fan of carrots! He also has expended his palette and tried nectarines, cauliflower, applesauce, apricot, and fresh figs. 

Feeding Time Fun!

While Nico has been read to early on he is REALLY getting into books! He gets super excited when we open each book and start to read. He is really examining and interacting as we navigate through each page…being a huge lover of reading myself this thrills me to no extent. 

What Do You See?

Seriously, reading to your child and having them develop a sincere enjoyment of reading is so very important and so very beneficial in every aspect of childhood development and really life in general. It is the single most valuable gift you can ever "give" your child. Sorry...I'll stop myself and get off my soapbox before I go on a huge tangent. Just do it ok? 

Letter Fun!

A few more of Nico's other favorite things at this point in time (in pictures)...

Loves Anything With Dad...

1st Swing Experience…

Wagon Rides...

When The Wind Is Funny...

Smelling & Touching New Things...

When TT Puts You In A Dump Truck...

Laying Outside on a Big Blanket & Stroller Rides with Bellina... 

We are now upon 8 Months…each month that goes by is just a reminder how quickly time passes and also an opportunity to reflect on what life was, currently is, and is yet to become. Being a new parent you are not only trying to meet all the old obligations of life-but now also all the new obligations that come with the new life you've brought into this crazy hectic day to day life that we live that somehow manages to become even more hectic than it previously was. Got that? If you did, you're probably a parent as well because I think that's the only way you can fathom how busy life gets when you throw kids into the mix. After 8 months and a very generous gift from our husbands-the bestie and I (Just us! No kids! What? Weird!) went out of town, had an uninterrupted lunch, day "drinked" (just one) where then a handsome gentleman graciously covered our food/drink tab. Sometimes you're just that lucky. With our full stomachs and empty arms we went and indulged in a little spa time together. It was a new-found bliss-being touched with nothing expected or needed in return...heavenly. Don't get me wrong…I am by no means complaining about life's demands-I love the chaos, I love being needed, and I especially love taking care of my family-but after 8 months (maybe longer) the moment you realize you have not taken any time for yourself… a facial, bikini wax, massage, color, and a haircut later- I'm feeling like a better-well groomed-even busier-so very needed-version of my old self. I like it! Remember that me/you/us need to take care of ourselves in whatever, however or whichever fashion that might mean to you. It's all for the greater good when we are mind/body/spirit ready. We are then able to better care for those in our home/work/life that need and deserve the best version of us. We ALL need to never forget or lose our "groove". 

He Deserves The Best "Me" Every.Single.Day

XO. 

JLOVE AKA "Mommy"

P.S. Erin and I already have our next spa day on the calendar. We learn quickly. But for now I gotta run... I have a baby that needs to be fed, clothes that need to be put away, phones calls that need to be returned, reports that need to be finished, a dog (and a husband) that both need some attention…

Room Unveil

If there is any truth in what I hear about how with the first baby one plans endlessly to make the room look something out of a magazine then along comes #2 and you're lucky if you even have a sleeping bag ready...then I better get this crap documented. Especially for the fact that we can give any children from here on out a huge complex that we loved Nico more than them all because of such a lovely room. Which may be true, I mean how could I love another baby as much as I love Nico? Is that possible? One day maybe I shall know....Anyway, lets get back on track to the room thing and not the questions that dance around in my mind. As most of you know, we didn't know if we were having a boy or girl. (Well...I did. Mommy intuition) I knew I wanted to do a gender neutral coloring of the walls...just in case. After a "few" trips to Sherwin Williams and my professional painter (Mike) coming in to see if the colors matched my expectations-we finally had it. Just a simple light cream color along with a darker accent wall. We tore out carpet and put new flooring in (thank you to our other Mike for that). My mother kindly provided the dressers for us. My Pops the crib and Sara the rocker and bedding. We had all the essentials and just had to wait on the little one for the fun part...the details. I of course had some general ideas if it was going to be a boy we'd go for this look and if it was a girl it would be more along that look. But BB (Before Baby) we were out shopping and I saw this and I knew either gender this would be perfect...When something makes you get teary eyed it's a must right?! (At least that's how I explained those new boots to my husband).

So So Soooo Sweet.

This kind of ruggedly sweet look was exactly what I wanted boy or girl. Well here comes Nico and after many trips to Hobby Lobby and other like shops and stores here are the details we came up with for his main wall for above the crib... 

Love. Love. Love.

Don't you just love the giant dandelions? I hope that Nico takes after his dad and loves to give flowers to his mama and that there are many dandelion bouquets in my future. Hint, Hint Nico. Huge thank you to Tony for scoring the barnwood and holding it up against the giant wall all while I was like-"a little to the right, nope 1/2 inch down now up 3/8 inches to the northwest corner." Yes, I am literally that insane. As well as humoring me and having lengthy discussions on how many wood pieces we should include, and if we should do longer in the middle or the top or maybe all 3? Should we use the front side or the back side? Told ya, insane. How 'bout that burlap banner? Custom created and painted just for Nico…finally Tiny's Art Degree has paid off. ;-P Some other note worthy details is the center picture...my sister has a new Graphic Design Degree and I put her to the test! Here it is up close.... 

Contact SENECA for ANY of your Graphic Needs. :)

Shout out to Dad's home land courtesy of Etsy.....

Sicilia

I searched endlessly for the perfect rocker and as fate seemed to work we stumbled upon it randomly! I love it!

Ciao & Vespa Pillow? Seriously. Thanks Etsy!

Next I found some awesome prints on Etsy (obviously you can find anything you dream of on Etsy) that the graphic is printed on dictionary paper. (Random Mommy Fact-she won the fastest dictionary looker-upper in her class one year!) I tied in the barn wood above the crib with some coordinating frames. Love how they turned out!

Nico Will Never Have 1 of These...

OR These. Sorry Bud.

Dresser details include antique crown drawer pulls-aren't they perfect for my little prince?!

Rug is perfect to play on and for some cute photos. :)

Finding decorations for on top was just as fun! I thought I'd compliment the sailboat print with a mini rustic version! Nico loves it already! 

Sail Away

Then a little boys room just wouldn't be complete without a globe right? He already knows how to spin it!

Nico the World Travler

My sister is also a Scentsy Seller (Jack...errrrr...Jane of all trades I tell ya!) and she got him the Edison Light Burner! I hope it inspires him to be innovative and full of ideas…in addition to never having a stinky room…girls don't like stinky boys. 

Be Bright Always Nico!

The tall dresser I trimmed with candlesticks that I spray painted myself and have the stain on the patio to show for it...whoops. I paired them with a little luggage set along two clocks. One with the current time here at home-another with the current time in Sicily.

Burlap Anything? Yes. 

I throughly enjoyed decorating and perfecting Nico's room. I'm sure I drove a few individuals insane with all the details but I wanted it to be almost as special as the little one we were welcoming into it. 

Again, thank you to all of our family & friends that helped make the room utterly perfect for our Nicoló.

P.S. Suck it Pinterest.

XO.

JLOVE AKA "Mommy"