As We Prepare for Easter

Here are a few pictures from around our home as we prepare for Easter. And a big shout out to Pinterest for all of the ideas :)

I made string egg garland for the mantle...

 We speckle painted eggs and decorated the dining room chalkboards...

I tea stained eggs and stamped them...

We dyed lots of colorful eggs...

But my favorite moment...as I'm putting Lilly-Belle to bed last night (after a really long day) and she says, "Tell me about Jesus, Mommy." That's how you really prepare for Easter.

Colson Turns 7!

It is so very hard to believe that 7 years ago I gave birth to this little peanut

and now he's 7 years old!

He decided he wanted a Power Ranger Party and instead of cake, he wanted an Icecream Sundae Bar. It was a fun party...but unfortunately, I forgot to take a lot of pictures. Guess we were too busy wrangling all of the kids!

I found a craft idea on Pinterest to make homemade puffy paint pictures. Here are a few pics of when we tested it out.

All you do is mix equal parts flour and salt and then add water to make it a paste like consistency. Once you've painted your picture (we used q-tips), pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds and it will puff up.

We ended the day with dinner at Don Juans where he got to wear the sombrero while they sang Happy Birthday!

 I think he enjoyed his day! Happy Birthday Monkey.

Sam at 3 Months

Here's Sam-a-Doodle at 3 months!

Weight: 13lb This is an estimate based on our bathroom scale since he doesn't go back to the doctor until his 4 month checkup.

Length:  23.5 inches

Sleep: He is sleeping about 4-5 hours at a time, but in the past few days it's been 3 hours on the d.o.t! Can we say "growth spurt"??

Awake: He still enjoys his playmat for short periods, but he will now crane his neck and wiggle around to look at the t.v. Not really a fan of this habit, so unless we're watching something it's off. He loves to have me sing silly songs to him and make him do little dances.

He is not a fan of tummy time.

Eating: We're trying an Avent bottle, but with about as much success as the Similac one. Guess I won't be going anywhere for a while.

Other fun facts: He slept in his room for the first time on February 24th. It was hard for me and I left the crade beside our bed for about two weeks. I finally moved it to the corner of the room the other day...just in case he needs to use it. :)

He will carry on a conversation with you. I will talk and then ask him a question and he'll babble back. Of course, I pretend that I know exactly what he's saying and then we continue the exchange. I love this little man!

These are my confessions

Today I'm linking up with Catalyn at Confessions of a Northern Belle to share my confessions.

 

#1. I gave up soda for Lent. I've cheated twice. I drank a Sprite in the middle of the night and then yesterday I had a cherry coke (and a marshmallow bunny) at 10am. I blame hormones. 

#2. I do not know how to throw a small party. I told Colson that he could have a few classmates over for his birthday...somehow we've now invited 20 kids.

#3. Once I start a project, I can't stop. I got it in my mind that I wanted to print and organize the photos for Colson, Lilly-Belle, and Sam. My confession: I haven't printed pictures in 3 1/2 years. 450 pictures later and I'm only through 2010 for Colson and LB. Sam is up to date. :)

That's all I've got for today. Happy Wednesday!

-Misty, Southern Belle Mama

Liebster Award

Thank you to one of my favorite blog reads Confessions of a Northern Belle for this award!

RULES:

1. Link back to the person who nominated you

2. Write 11 facts about yourself once nominated

3. Answer the 11 questions from the person who nominated you

4. Come up with 11 questions for the 11 people you nominate 

11 Facts About Me

1. I am left handed so I'm very particular about which seat I sit in when we go out to eat.

2.I have never read any of the Harry Potter or Twilight books.
3. I started my blog "while trapped under a nursing baby" and I now find myself in the same situation. I wonder if it will be my last time? 
4. I have a special place in my heart for lists. I love to make them and check things off of them.
5. I have one tattoo, but I'm planning another. 
6. I've now officially been with Nick for over half of my life.
7. I would rather shop for shoes and handbags than clothes.
8. I didn't have an epidural with any of my three children. 
9. I love a good midnight snack. 
10. I've never been to Disney World...but one day we'll take the children.
11. I will always (ALWAYS) turn into Krispy Kreme when the Hot sign is on!

Catalyn's Questions

1. What is your favorite movie?

I'd have to say Dirty Dancing...perfection!
 

2. Did you sleep with a stuffed animal/blanket growing up? If so, did it have a name?

I don't think I did, but I did have my two baby dolls (Hannah and Katie) that I took everywhere and were my real babies. I've always been a mother at heart. Lilly-Belle is their mommy now.

 

3. What is your favorite flower?

Easy. Tulips! They make me think of Springtime, which is such a happy time.
 

4. Did you have a signature scent in high school? What was it?

Not really. I wore Gap Dream and Heaven body spray if anything.
 

5. What food do you turn to after a bad day?

Chocolate. Chocolate candy. Chocolate iced doughnuts. Chocolate milk. Chocolate in any form is my food therapy. 

6. What is one item of clothing you could not live without?

Not really clothing, but my Frye boots. I love them so. 

7. Ugliest piece of clothing in your closet?

This dress. I bought it after my second child when nothing fit. I don't know why.

 ...and yeah, I can't rotate it. It's prettier this way. :)
 

8. How did you meet your best friend?

I have several very close friends, but the very first one I met was my friend Camey and we were in Kindergarten together.  

9. How did you find out there was no Easter Bunny?

Honestly, I can't remember.  

10. Do you like cheese?

Ummm...yes! Who doesn't?? 

Hey...where's #11?? ;)

Questions for YOU from ME:

1.What celebrity have you been told that you look like?
2. What is the most memorable moment in your life?
3. Do you find it difficult or easy to say, "I'm sorry."?
4. What is your dream job?
5. Do you eat breakfast?
6. What song best describes you?
7. Coffee or Hot Chocolate?
8. If you could hop on a plane right now, where would you go?
9. What is your favorite season of the year?
10. Someone gives you $1,000. What do you do with it?
11. Why do you blog?

I nominate some real life blogger friends:
Stephanie @ Waiting on Pink Lines
Amanda @ The Sweet Life of Poella Divine
Kelly @ The Crim de la Crims

It's Okay

It's time for It's Okay Thursday!

 It's okay that I have about 3 1/2 year's worth of pictures to print and put into albums...thanks Shutterfly for the 100 free prints. That will put a chip in the mountain of a project!

It's okay to keep your baby in a cap to hide the multiple scratches he's inflicted upon himself. STOP SCRATCHING!!

It's okay that it was really (I mean, really) hard to resist buying a pair of Toms on Zulily yesterday. But I did resist.

It's okay that I'm addicted to these little treats...and that I don't want to share them with anyone.

It's okay that I spent half an hour last night watching Harlem Shake videos. The first one I saw is still my favorite.

Sam at Two Months

Technically he's two and a half months now, but here is Mister Samuel's two month stats:

Weight: 11lb 10oz
Length: 23 inches
Sleep: His first stretch of sleep in the evenings will be 5-6 hours and then 3 hours after that.
Awake: He likes to lay on his play mat or be held and walked around during his wake time.  We love to use the moby wrap for those times when he wants some extra "hold me" time.

Eating: Nursing is going great, but he isn't the biggest fan of the bottle. We're going to try some different kinds to see if there's one he'd prefer over the Similac bottle we've been trying.

Other fun facts: He gets up about 5:30 every morning and gets in the bed with me and Nick for some snuggle time.

He started smiling at about 7 weeks and is now beginning to coo and laugh.

He is definitely a Mama's boy!!