Hello, Friday [December 20, 2019]

It’s been awhile since I brain-dumped here, so I thought I would catch you up on a few things that don’t necessarily warrant their own post. We’ve been super busy getting things ready for the holidays (do you ever just get to enjoy this season?!), and in the midst of that, so many wonderful things have happened.

Since there was such a big gap between my pregnancy with Sophie and my pregnancy with Polly, I didn’t actually keep very many things of the big girls. I gave my sister most of the things my mom sewed and packed away their hospital gowns and coming outfits, but I couldn’t justify keeping 17 bins of toddler clothes. There are many things that I regret giving away, but just when I start to have a pity party, my sister unearths a treasure I thought long gone.

Most of the heirloom dresses that the big girls wore, were things my mom made for them (or us!), but this shadow work piece is one I picked up right before Ella’s second Christmas. I was actually telling my mom a few weeks ago that I was so sad we didn’t have it, when my sister dug it out of Vera’s closet. It thrills me to no end, that all three of my girls will share a few precious pieces.

Polly wore it to church a few weeks ago (ignore her wrinkles and stains — this was post church and morning snack) and it reminded me so much of Ella at this age. Their faces are shaped different, but their features and mannerisms are incredibly similar. They might not look alike to you, but for me it’s like reliving Ella’s childhood.

I reupped my Orangetheory membership back in August, but I had only been going twice a week. That was just enough to say I was going, but not enough to make any major changes. Once Polly was weaned in early November, it was much easier for me to workout in the mornings. I no longer had to drive back home to feed her and was able to shower and head straight to work.

Right after our NYC trip, I increased my membership and have been consistently going 4-5 days a week. I’ve already seen a huge difference in my stamina and strength, even if the scale has stayed the same. I know I’ll need to change my eating habits, too, but that will have to come in January. I knew that if I wanted to be successful at getting my life back together, I needed to focus on one thing at a time. Now that I’m back in the habit of going to the gym almost every morning, without thinking too much about it, I’ll be able to focus my energy on my meal template.

I convinced Ella to run a 5k with me a few weeks ago, since our office was sponsoring a team. We were so tired when it was over, but it was a nice change of pace for my Saturday morning workout, and gave us some fun time together.

Sophie signed up to take a baton twirling class this year and has been thriving. She has tried so many after school activities and it’s exciting to see something that she loves and is so good at. Her team performed a half-time show at the varsity basketball game a few weeks ago and she was amazing! They will be marching in a local Christmas Parade tomorrow and will have another performance later in the school year. She’s still playing piano and her basketball season starts after the holidays, so she’s a busy little bee this year.

One of my favorite parts of fourth grade is their Living History Museum at the end of the first semester. The kids in her grade get to choose a famous Alabamian to research and then they “present” their story when approached by parents and visitors. Sophie chose Heather Whitestone and not only did she learn some sign language for her introduction, but she memorized the whole thing. We were so proud of how well she did, even if Polly was a little distracted.

Speaking of Polly, that girl is a mess. I’m planning to write a full Fifteen Month update while we’re home for the holidays, but I couldn’t wait to share these two photographs with you. Once of the things I love most about my mom keeping her during the day, is that I get frequent updates and photographs of her shenanigans.

The photo on the left kept me laughing all day. My mom said she wore this Power Ranger mask all morning and it’s only funny because that straight faced expression on the mask mirrors her expression more often than not!

On the right, is post naptime in her new location. She was being too loud during nap and waking the other babies up, so my mom moved her pack n play into my sister’s bathroom. She actually did pretty well in her new environment, but that was only after she took out the curtain (see it on the floor there?), removed a sock and shoe, and got herself tangled in her Christmas dress.

I’m not sure how much I’ll blog during the holiday week, but I’m hoping to get myself into a better routine of sharing after Christmas. I miss this space and miss sharing and connecting with you guys so much, so it’s high time I made it a priority again.

Kristin is married to her high-school sweetheart and the mother to two daughters. Professional by day and creative by night, she is a family lifestyle blogger who writes about faith, family, and fitting it all into a busy schedule. At Taz + Belly, you’ll find healthy recipes, children’s party ideas, tutorials, DIY projects, and more. Click Here to Read More About Kristin