Our Remie Rue turned THREE MONTHS Monday, I have been thinking so much about the day she was born since — it seems like it was two minutes ago & absolutely forever ago all at the same time.

And look at her sweet face!!!!!  I could eat her.

Three months is definitely the sweet spot for Miss Remerie.  She has grown out of her reflux (!!!) which we found out when she got RSV last month and I stopped a couple doses and she showed none of the signs she had before.  She is also just more laid-back in general, she will sit in the bumbo or lay with toys in front of her completely content forever (or until one of her big sisters comes running over to pick her up) and is just the happiest little lady, always smiling. Even when gets upset, she is the first of my babies to be able to soothe herself this early, she will either suck her thumb or her two fingers and can even put herself to sleep this way.  Overall she is completely living up to the whole “third baby being the easiest” thing (for now) and I am thankful for that.

We moved her to her room the week before I went back to work, and even though that was sad for me, I think it was the best thing for all of us.  She is sleeping way better now, and obviously so are we, and it also has brought a sense of normalcy and routine back that you just don’t have in those first couple of months.  The hour of quiet time at night after all three girls are asleep is also good for my soul, I just need it to recharge for the next day.  I have so much respect for those who co-sleep and it works for them, but it just isn’t for me and I am completely fine admitting that. 😉

Remie rolled over for the first time about a week ago (from her back to her belly!) and has done it sooooo many times since.  She is so strong for such a little thing!  She is SO CLOSE to laughing and I am pretty sure when she finally does, it will be either Waverly or Avalon who makes it happen because they always get the biggest smiles.  She is still in some newborn clothes but mostly 0-3, and wears a lot of hand-me-downs from the big girls, which is always so special to see.  She loves bath time and to nurse, she is taking a bottle pretty well while I am at work but most definitely prefers to breastfeed and it’s one of my favorite parts of the day also.

She is just such a dream and even though being outnumbered is definitely crazy, life with her in it is just so much better than before and I could never imagine it any other way.

We LOVE you, sweet Remie Rue — here’s to 12 beautiful weeks & soooooo many more ahead!  XO

PS – Looking at these pictures makes me realize how much I LOVE itty bitty tights for my first fall newborn, she seriously lives in them.  They are sooo much easier than socks which fall off all the time, I get all of hers from Little Light Feet and they are the best quality EVER!

It’s the most wooooonderful time of the year!!!!  Christmas is my favorite holiday (with the Fourth a close second, especially since I am a teacher & off during that time) — but there is just nothing quite like the pure magic in the air during the month of December.  We also found out we were pregnant with our sweet Remerie last Christmas day, so I think it will always hold an extra special place in my heart forever.

Seven days into December and I feel like we have already been so busy with all the (best!) things.  We went & picked out our tree, decorated gingerbread houses, visited Santa, hung holiday lights and have picked names for our Secret Santas with family.  Our elf also showed up December first and brought the girls breakfast, they LOVED it and were so excited about her.  This is one those things I know I will desperately miss when they are older, watching them whole heartedly believe in an elf or Santa (also the tooth fairy who came again over the weekend!) — it is just the best and one of my favorite things about being a parent.

Sharing some things we want to get into over the next few weeks before the big day hits, while also keeping it a little lighter than usual to give myself some grace in our first holiday season as a family of five!

1 — Bake cookies and deliver to family.

2 — Parents-only date for stocking stuffers & last-minute holiday gifts for the girls.

3 — Make chocolate-covered pretzels and drive around to look at lights while we eat them.

4 — Hot chocolate and holiday movie night.

5 — Christmastown, one of our very favorite traditions every year.

6 — Take donations to an animal shelter in honor of our sweet dog Bogger, who we had to put to sleep last December.

Number six just gives me all the feels, I know the girls will love this so much and I hope we can make it a new tradition in honor of him each year.  Hoping you are having the best start to December your way! XO

It’s officially the most WONDERFUL time of the year!!!  I love all the holidays, but Christmas is by far my favorite and we are so excited to do all the fun & festive things over the next few weeks.  But first, a quick Thanksgiving recap!

We had a half-day of school Wednesday and spent the rest of the day making the cutest edible teepees, starting to bring out the Christmas decorations and then celebrating making it through my first week back to work with margaritas & mexican!  It was so much fun doing something different before all the turkey, we decided it will be our new Thanksgiving Eve tradition.  Friday, we watched the parade with some fun cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and then stayed around the house until dinner at my grandparents and then dessert at my brother & sister-in-laws.  It was a lot of driving and Remie doesn’t love her car seat unless she is sleeping in it (and also isn’t used to being out late at night) so there were tears and some chaos from being off her schedule, but overall SUCH a fun day with family.  We have so much to be thankful for and at the very top of that list is our three healthy, happy little girls — every holiday I realize how we are truly creating their childhood memories, especially on days like these, and that really is such an incredible feeling.

PS — Last week before I headed back to work we bought a mini van & I chopped my hair!!!!!!  And I am LOVING both.  Three kids later and I am officially a mom, you guys!

Hope you had the best Thanksgiving ever! XO

Thanksgiving week is always one of my very favorite of the whole year.  All of the excitement of the holidays and all the fun that is to come, the decorations are out and you can feel the magic in the air, I just can never get enough!

This time around is a little bittersweet, I left Remerie for the first time and headed back to work Monday morning.  Other than a few days in August right before I had her, I hadn’t been to work since last June — between summer break & then maternity leave I was off for almost FIVE months!  Getting back into the routine will definitely take time and be an adjustment, for all of us, but I promised myself during my pregnancy and over Remie’s first few months that I wouldn’t worry or stress about it.  I spent a lot of Avalon’s pregnancy upset just thinking about leaving her and after some work changes during her first year, I learned (the hard way) that being a teacher really was the best job for me and overall the best situation for our family.  And that truly, no matter if I am a stay at home mom, part-time or full-time working mom — my bond with them and the kind of mom I can be to them is exactly the same.  My girls live in a beautiful neighborhood and will go to great schools, they can do dance and the other fun activities that they want to without us having to stress about it.  I always want them to know that part of the reason we have that is because I worked hard for it — FOR THEM.  I know every family and situation is different and I support ALL moms in what they choose to do (because truly, I have done it all and no situation is easier than another), but ultimately this is what we found works best for us.  I also of course am forever grateful for the schedule I have, and part of what gets me through is definitely counting down the days to our next break.  Only one half day left until my very first one!

And some pictures!  We are sooooo ready for all the red & green festiveness, but November is pretty, too.

Happy, HAPPY Thanksgiving to you & yours! XO

So excited to share some favorites from Remerie’s newborn pictures we took about a month ago, she has already changed so much since then (and also no longer likes to be swaddled!) — so of course I am so grateful to have these moments to look back on forever.  I love how Waverly & Avalon’s love for their little sister shows so much in these, life as a family of five is crazy and in no way seamless or easy, but we have never had to worry about either of them being jealous or not absolutely adoring Remie.  She fits in so perfectly, it was always meant to be.

Some things I never want to forget about Remie during her first weeks of life, her bright blue eyes, so alert even at such a young age, her smiles (that started almost immediately after she was born!), and how much her sweet little face looks just like her daddy’s newborn photos.  We love you so much, Remerie Rue!

All photos are by Shawna Bielat, as always we are so thankful for her capturing our little family! XO