Julia || 9 Months

Julia,

Here we are! Month nine! We're closing in on that big birthday, and it's still so surreal. While time doesn't slow down I'm still never fully prepared to admit another month has come and gone.

This month you began to full on crawl. You'll resort to army crawling if you're not getting where you want to go fast enough. But, you have the components of crawling down, and typically use that method to get from place to place. Speaking of place to place, you are all over the place and into everything. You're also pulling yourself up onto your knees, and have even pulled into the standing position a couple of times. Nothing is safe from your little hands these days, just ask the dog and cat.

You continue to babble, and I'm preeeeetty sure I've heard, "mamamama," a handful of times. We'll keep working on that one, as you have no problem spouting out, "dadadada." You also love to scream and yell when things don't go your way. I feel this is pretty typical and standard for girls, and something I'm still getting used to. On the flip side, I melt every time you giggle, and I will go to great lengths of looking a fool just to hear you laugh. You're a ticklish little nugget, so often I will resort to that to get some delightful squeals from you.

We've kicked the pureed foods to the curb (can I get an Amen!), and I pretty much feed you whatever we're having - albeit, those foods are cut into pieces you can grab, and/or I'll steam fruits and veggies so they're soft enough for you to gum up. Thus far you love yourself just about any fruit, particularly steamed apple slices, watermelon, pineapple, and strawberries. This month we tried yogurt and cheerios, and you're a fan of both. I also slipped you a PB&J, and that is by far your favorite lunch meal. I'm also thrilled to know you don't have a peanut allergy. As of recent we've learned you don't mind gnawing away at chicken and meat balls.

You still nurse four to five times a day, and I absolutely adore that we have this time together. Nursing is a journey I didn't think I'd ever get to experience, and I'm soaking it all up while I can. I love when we can sneak away to your room for a nursing session and quite time. I firmly believe those moments together are good for both our souls.

Speaking of food, we had your Well Baby Check-up, and you're gaining weight, but nothing like your brother did. At birth you were in the 90th percentile, but now you've slipped steeply to the fifth percentile. Your doctor doesn't seem overly concerned, as you are gaining, just not quite as much as I was hoping. It's hard not to compare kids, and I'm trying to stay away from that slippery slope. You never seem to be starving, and appear to enjoy both nursing and eating. Hopefully between now and your year check-up you'll have packed on two or three pounds. For now, we'll keep trucking along the path we're on and hope that it's enough for you.

Sleep. Oy. I feel like we take one step forward and two steps back with this. Just when I think we're golden and you give a solid stretch of sleep something inevitably disrupts whatever progress we've made. This month it was one cold after another, and I also have a sneaky suspicion you're teething (again- teething just never ends, does it).

Stranger danger is still very strong in your world. Just this weekend you didn't want a whole lot to do with your grandma, and while I chuckled when you announced you didn't want her to hold you, internally I was sad because I know it stung grandma quite a bit. You did take to your Uncle Tyler, which is so bizarre to me, because to me he just seems like one big, hairy beast.

Marcus continues to be your sun and moon. You cannot get enough of him. Together you two are the most adorable things my eyes have ever seen, and my heart simply bursts when you two are together.

This weekend we spent time with family to celebrate Mother's Day, and everyone commented on what a good, happy baby you are. I love that your smile shines so brightly and makes others smile as well. Keep sending that beautiful light out into the world little lady.

Cheers to another month, sweet girl!

I love you to the moon and back. Twice.
Love,
Mommy

Stats
Height :: 28 inches - 75th percentile
Weight :: 14.15 pounds - 5th percentile
Clothing :: any where from 6 months to 12 months
Diaper size :: Pampers size 2
Teeth :: two

For kicks, a look a Marcus versus Julia at nine months.

At nine months Marcus was 24 pounds (97th %) and 30 inches tall (97th %) with six teeth already in! Marcus was such a cuddle bug (and still is!), while Julia isn't much for snuggling unless she's nursing. At this point Marcus was already drinking water, whereas we have yet to try water with Julia. It's so crazy and wonderful and fun to see how vastly different these two are.

M & J Monday

God could not be everywhere, therefore he made mothers.

Happiest of Mother's Day!

Happy Monday!

The Mother's Day Exchange Edition

We've survived the week! Friday has never looked so good, and the weekend is shaping up to look even better. Though Scott will be gone due to some work obligations I am so excited to spend Mother's Day with my mom! I can't remember the last time I was actually with my mom to celebrate her. On our agenda: brunch, the beach, and hopefully bottomless mimosas.

Another fabulous reason to celebrate Mother's Day was the sweetest blogger gift exchange hosted by Elizabeth and Courtney.

I was partnered with Crystal {Hall Around Texas} and Tara {A Tale of Two Maples}. I sent a package to Crystal. I've followed Crystal for sometime, and I had the best time selecting thoughtful items that I thought she'd love. To see what goodies made it to her, hop on over and check it out. 

Tara sent a package my way. I'm pretty new to Tara's blog, but after exchanging emails with her I felt like I'd known her for the longest time, and we have so much in common. I'd also like to mention she's kicked cancer's ass, and is doing amazing. She's honestly such an inspiring, uplifting, and positive momma. Be sure to swing by and say hi to her. 

On to the goods!

1. The Sweetest!

I mean, talk about opening the best package! And that note had me all sorts of misty eyed. 

2. Coloring!

Adult coloring books are currently my jam. Tara sent such an awesome book, and two sets of pencils that I don't have in my collection. There's not much more I enjoy than to settle down after a long and crazy day with a coloring book, pencils, and a good glass of wine. 

3. Wine!

Speaking of wine... Tara officially became my new best friend when she sent not one but TWO different wines, AND a wine glass. Both the red and the white were fantastic. It's safe to say that since opening the package and writing this post both wines are long gone.

4. Hair ties!

These are honestly my favorite type of hair ties of all time. If I wear my hair down it's great to throw one of these on my wrist - they're cute and functional, and my hair doesn't get all knotted up in them. Not to mention, the ties that I own have been used so much the elastic is all but shot. These came at just the right time!

5. Starbucks!

Tell me this is not the cutest presentation of a Starbucks gift card you ever did see?! The tissue paper in the cup looks like a frap! And, honestly, what mom can resist a good cup from the 'Bucks?

6. Bonus! Bubbles!

The bubbles were the sweetest touch, as I presumed they were for Marcus/Julia. One afternoon Marcus and I waited until Julia was napping and we spent that time blowing bubbles and chasing after them together. The bubble were the perfect item to carve out a little one-on-one time with Marcus that I don't get to do nearly as often as I'd like.

Tara, thank you so much for the most thoughtful Mother's Day package! It was the most wonderful pick-me-up amid the craziest of weeks.

Happy Mothers' Day to all the mommas out there!

The Wheels Are Off and Pedals Are On

When I sat down to write this I really wanted something profound. But the only thing that comes to mind, and out on to the keyboard is that I cannot believe my little man is really, truly growing up. Right before my very eyes. One minute he's riding on the back of Scott's bike, the next moment we've moved from training wheels, to balance bike, to actually riding a bike.

Rewinding a bit... About a year ago (maybe longer?) we put training wheels on a bike Marcus was gifted. He took to the bike, no problem. Then a friend suggested we remove the training wheels AND the pedals. In essence, creating a balance bike of sorts.

A handful of months passed, balance biking went swimmingly.

Then this weekend happened. We pulled out the "balance" bike and watched as Marcus maneuvered it like a champ. In passing we asking if Marcus wanted to try pedals. We were greeted with an enthusiastic, "YEAH!"

On the pedals went.

Marcus hopped on to his bike. Scott and I both held our breaths. And away Marcus went. Like it was no big deal. Scott and I looked at each other in disbelief.

So far there hasn't been a single fall or scraped knee.
It was as if he'd been riding his bike, sans training wheels and with pedals, forever.
Now I think it's time to get him a bigger bike.

M & J Monday

You know there's a light that glows by the front door.

Don't forget the key's under the mat.

Childhood stars shine, always stay humble and kind.

Go to church 'cause your momma says to.

Visit Grandpa every chance that you can.

It won't be wasted time.

Always stay humble and kind.

Hold the door, say please, say thank you.

Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie.

I know you got mountains to climb but,

Always stay humble and kind.

When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you,

When the work you put in is realized,

Let yourself feel the pride but

Always stay humble and kind.

When it's hot, eat a root beer popsicle.

Shut off the AC and roll the windows down.

Let that summer sun shine.

Always stay humble and kind.

Don't take for granted the love this life gives you.

When you get where you're goin',

Don't forget turn back around.

And help the next one in line.

Always stay humble and kind.

Humble and Kind

Tim McGraw

Happy Monday!

The Week This Blog Changed Edition

I won't sugar coat this past week. It was crap. Not a whole lot went right, even more went wrong. Thanks to not-so-nice people in the world I've taken this space and made it private. To see something I've worked diligently on for over five years come to a crashing halt was a bit of a blow to the gut.
This is the space where I shared with friends and family a little glimpse of our lives so far from home. This is where I've posted the birth of my babies, their growth, milestones, and day-to-day lives. This is the place where I met so many wonderful ladies, fostered friendships, and made online relationships turn real life. Going private was a painful decision,  but the smartest one for my family and me at this time, but that doesn't make the sting of it all any less...

To add icing to the proverbial cake, both my babes were riddled with a handful of sicknesses this week that left me doing more loads of laundry than I even care to count. I've also used more disinfectant and scrubbed more surfaces than I care to think about as well.

With all that said and done, there's still good to be found in this week.
So. Moving along to the highlights.

1. Blogger meet-ups turned family get togethers!

Photo courtesy Erin.
If you don't follow Erin on Instagram you're missing out on some gorgeous photos and beautiful walls.

This. Right here. This is all because of the blogging world. Two of my favorite ladies online have become two of my favorite ladies in real life. And, all of it thanks to blogging. This weekend Erin, Liz, their littles, and husbands all came over. Our kids played, food was grilled, the guys chatted and drank beers, while the ladies sipped on sangria and talked about everything under the sun. I'm going to miss meeting and making friends like this. It was honestly one of the greatest joys blogging brought to my life. 

2. At least they're cute!

After one doctor visit, two ear infections, an RSV relapse (but no breathing treatments needed this time!), and two cases of the stomach bug, I'd say our house went through the ringer this week. Good thing they're cute, because I've lost more sleep and cleaned my more than my fair share of gross stuff in the past five days.

3. A breath of fresh air!

After all the gunk in our house it was nice to spend some time outside. Julia is happy as a clam swinging away the day. Marcus continues to impress me with his strength and monkey bar skills.

4. Peace out pureed food!

PB&J anyone? The little lady loves to gum up the bread and scrape all the peanut butter and jelly off the slimy mess that was once a slice of bread. It's totally gross, but she loves it.

For the past couple of weeks I've simply been handing over food to Julia at meal times. Albeit most of the food has been steamed or cut to fit her little fingers. But, it's been SO nice to not have to chop, steam, and blend. The mess is something I'm still trying to embrace, but meals have gotten so much easier. Plus, Julia really digs feeding herself. So, we're all winning this one.

5. Crawling!!!

After the longest time army crawling Julia has finally put together the pieces to actual crawling. Game changer. Game. Changer.

That's a wrap.

M & J Monday

May God grant you always...

  A sunbeam to warm you,

A moon beam to charm you,

An angel to protect you,

Laughter to cheer you,

Faithful friends around you,

and whenever you pray,

That Heaven hears you.

The Extracurricular Edition

This week was a hodge podge of randomness that lent all sorts of fun to us. I suppose the summer-like temps played a part in that as well. And, to round out the week, this weekend I have a little blog date lined up with Liz and Erin, their kiddos, and husbands. It's sure to be a grand old time, and you'll likely see all sorts of goodness on Snapchat between the three of us (desireemacke if you want to follow along).

On to the weeks highlights, shall we?

1. Cameraman! 

Mad props to the Olympus - that thing is STURDY, and has held up quite nicely to the less than gentle ways of this four-year old. 

Marcus got hold of our old Olympus camera and has been a picture taking machine. I'm not in the least bit exaggerating when I say he's taken no less than 1,400 photos in the last five days. When I have the energy and patience I'll download them all - clear most, and hang on to a few of the things (every. single. thing.) that have inspired him.
Here's just one of the hundreds he's taken:

Not terrible, right?!

2. Bunco!

I was lucky to be invited to join a group of ladies to play Bunco this past weekend. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous about it all - I'd never played the game before, and I only knew two ladies going into the evening. But! It was an absolute blast, I met some really great gals, the game was easy to learn, and I thoroughly enjoyed just being Desirée (and not Mom) for three hours. 

3. Pool time!

The weather has been warm borderline too hot this week. We've made sure to take advantage of our pool on more than one occasion. I have a feeling I have two water babies on my hands, and I'm not at all mad about it. Now to see which will become my butterflier... Is it too soon to get Julia started??

4. The Shopper!

I finally found these little carts at our grocery store! Marcus was probably the best he's been in the store (not that he's ever really difficult when we go shopping). He was beyond tickled to have his very own cart. The little man controlled the cart like a champ, collected all our necessary items, and placed them on the conveyor belt at the check out line. Next time I'm going to see if he can pick up the bill while he's at it.

5. Back in the Saddle!

I took an unexpected break from running for the past week. Last Tuesday I fell down our stairs, all while holding Julia. It was the scariest moment of my life, and mommy instinct and mommy strength subconsciously took over and Julia didn't have a bump or scratch on her - how that is even possible is totally beyond me. I've been sending up all sorts of praise and thanks for keeping Julia safe. My back, however, took the brunt of the fall. After a week of rest (and a lot of Tylenol) we're back to pounding pavement! I'm thrilled to be running and Julia doesn't seem to hate it. Right around mile two she passes out and stays that way for a solid 30-45 minutes after wards in the stroller. Win win!

Bonus!

Thanks to everyone who entered the Stitch Fix giveaway.

The lucky winner was Christine W. I hope her next fix is a 5/5!

And that's a wrap.

Have the best weekend!

Awards x4

Any time a little Q&A is involved consider me interested. So, when not one, not two, but four lovely ladies nominated me for the Liebster Award I couldn't wait to get started on answering (though it took me an unbelievably long time to actually get this post together). But, after realizing I'd be answering 44 questions between them all, I decided to do a little picking and choosing and answer 11 collectively.
So - here goes:

Amy - Keeping Up With the Smiths asks --
What was your favorite part about your wedding day :: such a tough one. There were so many parts of that day I will hold in my heart forever. But, the best was seeing Scott for the first time as I walked down the aisle.

What is your least favorite chore :: putting away folded laundry, hands down. I don't know what it is, but putting the mountain of clothes away is a task I hate.

What is your favorite Disney or Pixar movie :: growing up I watched The Lion King on repeat. My brother and I could recite that movie verbatim. I still love that movie and can't wait to watch it with Marcus.

Brittany - Just Another Day in Paradise asks --
What are you most looking forward to this summer :: the kids and I are headed to the midwest for two weeks (maybe longer??) for our annual vacation spent between both sets of grandparents.

Favorite vacation spot or upcoming vacation :: aside from going home for two weeks, we are making our (other) annual trip to Cabo. A week of nothing but pool time, relaxing, and Mexican food. It's glorious stuff.

What's your favorite room in your house and why :: I love our kitchen (when I'm the only one in it). For me, there is something incredibly therapeutic about chopping, measuring, baking and cooking.

Leslie - This is For Keeps asks --
How did you and your significant other meet :: I was brand new to Kansas City and didn't know a soul. I decided to join a slow pitch softball team that was put on by the city in which I was employed. Our first game I was playing first base and Scott was second baseman. We had some pretty lively banter during that game (of which I gave him a lot of crap for missing two ground balls, and he recovered by hitting a home run). Months later I learned Scott was talking about "that girl at first base" in the stands, only to have my mom turn around to inform him that was her daughter. BAHA! My parents had come down to visit me for the weekend, and my mom apparently caught a bit of an earful while spectating.
From there we cultivated a friendship that grew into something much more.
And, here we are today!

If you could live anywhere you wanted, where would it be :: Kansas City. Though I'm from Iowa, after college I made KC my home, and I miss it every day.

What was your dream job in high school/college :: I always thought I'd be a news reporter or anchor for a television network, hence the Journalism/Mass Communication major.

Whitney - Work it Mommy asks --
What is your favorite blog post you have written and why :: Lately I've been on the struggle bus with loving my body right now, as well as seeing myself in photos. My post, Baring it All, is a good reminder that while my body is no longer what it once was, *I* am no longer who I once was. My kids have made me a mom, and that's pretty amazing... Maybe even more amazing than killer abs...

Who is your best friend :: Amy D. I've literally known her my entire life. Though many, many miles have separated us most of our lives, she's the one friend who has been present in all the seasons of life. She's hilarious, smart, loves to do things fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants (totally opposite of me), and also happens to be a self published author, which bumps her up a notch in the cool department.

Phew! Good stuff. I love these. And now you know just a little more about me.

While I'd love to continue the nominations, I feel as if this award has really run its course. Feel free to answer any of the questions above in the comments section! 

A big thanks to the ladies above who nominated me and asked some great questions!!

M & J Monday

And as the years go by,

our friendship will never die.

You're gonna see,

it's our destiny.

You've got a friend in me.

~Toy Story

Happy Monday!

The Picture Perfect Project {{4}} - Edits

This month's Picture Perfect Project just kind of snuck up on me. I blame it on March being an absolute whirl wind of a month (St. Patty's Day, Easter, a 4th Birthday, teething, RSV... and on and on...). And my photo ideas for this month never came to fruition (and I still have yet to pull the trigger and actually shoot in manual - because, I'm terrified!).

After a conversation with some of my favorite blogging ladies about photos and editing I figured what better topic to discuss for this month is editing and programs/apps used.

So, instead of photos themselves, I thought I'd go through two apps I use on my phone for photos. One I've been using for quite a sometime (Afterlight), the other is relatively new to me (PhotoWonder).

Let me preface this entire post by saying I just tinker around with my photos until I like the way they look. I've never taken any classes, nor do I claim expertise. These are just a few tool I use, and thought I'd share them. I'd also like to point out that for the sake of demonstration, most of these edits are quite exaggerated, to the point of being over edited, so they are easily identifiable. Typically I don't like my edits to *look* like edits, if that makes sense...??

Afterlight

If I'm doing quick edits on my phone I use Afterlight. For 99 cents I think it's a packs a pretty good bang for the not-even-buck.

Here's the original photo I'd like to edit:

Taken with the trusty iPhone on a cloudy and rainy day. 

1. Open app and select photo
2. Use photo selected
3. The two tools I primarily use are the adjustments (arrow on the left), and the size and tilt tool (arrow on the right).
4. Opened the adjustments and meddle with exposure, saturation, brightness, shadows, and the like.
5. Open the size and tilt to straighten and crop the photo.
6. Save photo onto my camera roll.

The edited photo.

PhotoWonder

If I'm looking to enhance my photos by more than toying around with exposure and shadows and brightness, I really like PhotoWonder. This app can greatly alter an image (sometimes too much so), but I use this primarily for eye enhancement.

Before any adjustments to the eyes.

1. Hit Edit button, and then select photo to edit.
2. Click the Beautify button.
3. Scroll over to the Brighten Eyes option.
4. Select the size of brush to use on eye (this particular photo I used the smallest option), and fill in eyes. Once finished, click the check mark in the upper right corner to save the edit.
From there, simply save photo to camera roll.

The edited eyes.

Here are a few other programs I'm currently playing around with when editing on my phone:

VSCO

ReTouch

PicTapGo

Color Story

Major thanks to Erin for introducing three new-to-me apps that will hopefully produce some pretty photos (because have you seen her stuff?? Swoon-worthy)!

What are some of your favorite editing tools to beautify your pics?

Be sure to link up with the Picture Perfect Project hosts and share your photos, tips, and tricks!