house projects.

We finally put up some backsplash in the kitchen. It's amazing how just a small change can impact an entire space. Everyone may have thought I was a little crazy to go with glass blue subway tile...it was a risk but a well worth it one!

work.

I am so blessed to be able to work from home. All of you mommas that go into the office pregnant I BOW down to you. Honestly you are saints and your husbands should rub your feet every single night. This is my snug little spot as I await the arrival of this child. At least I get a shower every morning... I can prepare myself for the non sleep about to be thrown back my way but it's the days of non showers when you're on maternity leave that are hardest....

nursery thoughts.

Winter is slowly approaching and that means that two babies are on their way. Below are some nursery designs I put together. Meg ordered the bedding and it's so amazingly gorgeous. My bedding may arrive the day the baby does since it's on backorder for forever. One step at a time. At least it's progress.

football season.

happy football season!

home!

they are home!! I was so excited to grab them from the airport. Six days was a long time and Colin was in the best mood while we waited for the car to cool down. I missed them and so happy to have my house messy again :)

unplugging.

We are returning to Captiva island for some relaxation! Thanks to Will for house and dogsitting :) Off for some much needed vitamin D so says my doctor...

weekend.

This weekend we revisited Sunset Vineyards and Hillsborough. I absolutely love the fall & spring in Loudoun county! We do spend a lot of our time at the same wineries but we have been to many to figure out which ones we want to come back to. If you haven't been to some of these I am telling you you will be hooked. Virginia has some great wine, gorgeous views and such a great laid back atmosphere in VA's wine county...

chrysalis (*)- seriously amazing wine. go for the relaxed atmosphere. bring your dog. go early. get their patio white or patio red. worth the trip!
swedenburg- just eh. if you go to chrysalis you might as well swing by but just for a one time thing.
tarara - huge vineyard. great for a family picnic. gets crowded. have a live band on Saturday nights. We dont love this place... they have their nose in the air a tad. but someone else may have a totally different opinion :)
lost creek - near tarara. may want to swing by but just for the one time experience.
hidden brook- small place. so sweet. but bless their hearts it just not great.
hillsborough- a lot of people love this place. It's just ok. Pretty views but nothing like...
bluemont - (*) holy moly gorgeous winery, super friendly - get there EARLY right when they open @ 11. Always have the guitar playing.
sunset hills- (*) huge winery but still manage to keep the friendly atmosphere. this place serves food and they always have the guitar playing as well. next to chrysalis and bluemont this is another favorite. go early :)
chateau o' brien- really pretty rustic feeling. a bit of a hike. but great to visit in the fall if you head out to markham to pick apples :)
veramar- pretty mountain views, allow you to bring in food and have a grassy area for kiddos. Not my favorite winery but it's not bad either.
breaux vineyards- (*)i dont know what it is about this place but it may be a new favorite. Plenty of seating and sometimes have the guitar going. The views of the rolling vineyards is beautiful.



next on our list-  three fox vineyards and North Gate!

whew.

Well we have been a tad busy over here. We were battling a sick child for a week or so and Friday he was met at the doctors with every imaginable test. I wont go in details but a catheter and pinning your son down to get stuck with needles FIVE times is seriously not ok. But all tests are fine and it was a nasty little virus he appeared to be fighting.

So onto the positives! Colin's FIRST birthday is coming up and boy do I have the party sugars ready to go. Colin will beat any baby on frequent flyer miles. He takes a trip to Captiva,FL with the family in June and onto England in July. I know we are nuts.

I am finishing our master BR painting project.. another thing that has been on my to do list for um a few months. If I put it on my blog that will make me finish painting right?

We are so excited for the next few months. Colin becoming a toddler right when the weather is beginning to change couldn't be more perfect. And because posts are boring without pictures.. {thats why you visit right}... here is Colin practicing his new favorite word "uh oh"...

my boys.

it's just past 7:30. colin is tucked in bed. it's thundering out. im finishing my rum & coke {because we are out of red wine}. Justin is watching pawn stars and I am about to take over the remote after I post this sweet moment before bed. I love them.

crafts.

I've gone over the deep end with this balloon wreath yes. But I made myself feel better by telling Justin it was going to be the birthday wreath for years to come. What else can I fit in before April 12th?!?

{to make: greening pins, balloons and straw wreath - leaving plastic on}

gratitude.

I heard a quote on the radio as I was driving in traffic with brake lights for a mile ahead.. "have an attitude of gratitude"... I like to think that this would be easy. Life lately around here has been chaotic- dropping phone in tub, driving around with a broken horn, running out of hair salon with a wet head, returns, groceries, clean house, dinner, laundry, full time job- you get it.


slow.down. take in life's small moments. and like I heard on the radio have an attitude of gratitude.

holiday cards.

There has been a huge push this year to help local/small businesses- so that I did. I contacted Rita {who also designed this blog} to design a custom holiday/moving card. She did a fantastic job. Thanks Rita! Then I took these to a local printer to print/cut cards. Feels great to support the crafters and small businesses! If you can you should too! A very happy holiday season to everyone!! Thanks for reading :)

DIY Coasters.

I come up with these random crafty ideas from time to time. I am not sure who likes it more me or my dog who likes to chew anything new I create. I am outnumbered by boys that test me. So I need a little girl time in my life..

If you have some coasters that need a face lift this literally takes two seconds and is super cheap! Buy some Modpodge {best stuff on earth}. Cut out pretty scrapbook paper. Apply modpodge directly on coaster. Apply scrapbook paper. Apply modpodge on top for finish.
Here you go! Fun. Simple. And super duper cheap :)

soap box.

I dont usually like to write long posts but I was talking to a very good friend of mine and I feel other moms need to be reminded from time to time of what a great job YOU are doing.

Being a mom is hard, exhausting, leads you to ask youself if you have another hour left in you. But it also comes with the largest rewards. I have never felt so blessed as I do now in my life. I mean look at this man we brought to life...

Colin went through a very fussy stage and at times is still very fussy. He would cry for two hours straight when we got home at night. This last about a month and only 2 things worked: bjorn and airplane rides. We. were. exhausted.

I receieved an email from a good friend and a very wise mom:

No one is really a super mom. Everyone wants to make it sound like it's Disney... it's hard- seriously. But it's the kind of hard that gives you amazing returns.. .the smiles, the hugs, sparkling eyes, sounds and the talking back!

I sometimes just go back and read that when I am having a hard day or think I am not doing a good job. Justin and I about 2 weeks ago were still getting up in the middle of the night making bottles, shh shhh shhhhing Colin and rubbing his back. Again we.were.exhausted. Then one night we finally decided we should let him cry it out. Awful. Again I had to go back and read those words. I can now tell you that after 2 nights of 20 minute crying spells he sleeps from 8 PM- 6AM. Heaven.. dare I say "Disney"?

camera stuff.

I just have to share this with those who have those big ugly ,bulky camera bags (sorry honey- I loved my big bag while it lasted). The Smiths gave me this gorgeous bag for my birthday and Meg, Ryan, Justin and my parents bought me a new lens I thought I'd have to wait for Christmas for :) Still hoping to get into that photog. class in a few months. Crossing my fingers!

strollers.

Have I lost my mind- yes (my husband would tell you it hasn't come back since I found out I was pregnant). When we first registered for a stroller I thought I would be jogging away all my weight. "Luckily" I have a 20+ lb baby at almost 6 months and therefore got rid of my gym membership and am now selling my ever ambitous jogging stroller.

So I began my search for a new practical stroller that would hold coffee and my shopping bags rather than be paired with running shoes. When Colin was sick last week it led me straight to the store to buy the Peg Perego Pliko. ahhh. That would make him feel better :) But my heart was still set on the Chicco. Craigslist I went. Hello new Chicco and Peg Perego. I remember when dresses and coats were an obsession....

under construction.

Thanks to Rita my blog has undergone some major changes. She's pretty much awesome and we aren't done just yet!

And because a post would be boring without a picture below is a shot of my husband he allowed me to take of him :)

small moments.

These past almost 5 months I have learned more lessons than my brain consumed in 18 years of school. To name just a few random thoughts.. ive learned...

*To always be one step ahead of your child (with a toy, a bottle, pacifier..).. always.be.ahead.
*That a smile really can just crush my heart and a laugh just destroys it
*That being a parent is a huge responsibility but has the greatest rewards
*To cherish my conversations with friends as they are few and far between. Thank goodness I have very understanding friends
*That what happens one day may not repeat itself the next
*That material things don't matter and neither does doing my hair in the morning
*That coffee is my best friend and not just one cup like the old days
*To accept help and not to feel defeated when I need it
*That talking to myself in the car is normal
*That my singing is remarkable {at least my son thinks so}
*That tearning up when my son smiles at his daycare provider is normal
*That family really is everything
*To remember the small moments because they really do matter the most

3 gens.

3 generations of Smith boys.

brothers.

Tucker just loves his younger brother :)