Ella's Nursery

As much as I loved creating Hudson's nursery, I really loved creating Ella's.

The room is one of my favorites in this house.

It gets tons of light throughout the whole day.
It came together almost effortlessly, and is the perfect room for a little girl if you ask me.

Taylor's cousin, Kelsey, made this for Ella without ever seeing her room or knowing the colors, and it could not be more perfect.

`Her room wouldn't be complete without a pink tractor pillow pet that matches Hudson's red one.

The room was already painted gray by us a while ago, so I just had to add the striped wall. It was actually super easy to do. I measured the highest part of the wall and then divided it by and odd number which made the first and last stripe white. Having the first and last stripe be white meant that I didn't have to tape along the baseboard and most of the ceiling. I used a laser level to tape off the stripes, and the painting was super easy.

We'll probably get an area rug eventually to make it a little more cozy for Ella when she starts to play in here. I can't decide what color rug I want to get, so for now it will stay rugless.

One thing that's nice about having a second child is that their room is a lot cheaper to furnish.
The crib and glider were both Hudson's.
Dresser: Facebook sale page. I repainted it white and used the pink from the stripes. I diluted the pink with white paint to make it ombre.
Elephants: Hobby Lobby (on clearance!)
Glitter lamp: Target (on clearance!)
Elephant print: Hobby Lobby
"E": the wooden E is from hobby lobby and the flowers were from the dollar store

Hudson's nursery can be found here.

Resolutions & Goals for 2017

I started working on this post over a week ago, so I suppose it is time I get it posted and get working on our goals. I'm really hoping that writing our goals and resolutions down for anyone to see will help us continually work on them and stick to them.

Taylor & Rachel
-Set a budget and stick to it. Save and stay out of debt! Get the car paid off as fast as possible. Continue to always meal plan in an effort to reduce the grocery budget.
-Date night out of the house with a sitter at home at least once a month
-Family home evening every Monday night

Rachel
-Get to my goal weight. Everyone has to have some sort of weight loss goal, right? haha Truthfully, I'm not that far off from my goal weight (I weigh less than I did when I got pregnant with Hudson! but I definitely don't look it), but having 2 babies in less than 2 years has not been the kindest on my body. I guess I really want to be to my goal shape.
-Less screen time
-Always have a project/craft that I am working on in my free time (if I can ever find free time)

Taylor
-Do more things that he enjoys to do

Hudson
-Ditch the binky
-Potty train
-Learn 5 new words a week
-Learn how to ride a bike (with training wheels for now)

Ella
-Roll over
-Crawl
-Walk
-Learn 5+ words

Here's to hoping 2017 will be the best year yet!

December!

December is such a busy month for us with birthdays and Christmas, but it is always a great month for us. This year was no exception to it being great.

We started off the month with a Christmas expo and some pictures with Santa. 

Hudson wouldn't sit next to Santa long enough to even snap a picture, so Taylor ended up in the picture this year.

Hudson helped me make decorations for his birthday party one Sunday afternoon.

He pretty much sat there and said "gickey" over and over again while showing Taylor and Rebekah the Mickey heads.

A sweet lady in Walmart bought this fan for Hudson after I told him to put it back. 

It was such a kind gesture that totally made Hudson's day.

Hudson started front facing in December. I promise you rear facing until 2 isn't that bad, and remember it's 500 times safer than forward facing.

We received Ella's stocking from my Grandma.

I loved Madeline when I was a little girl, so she made her a stocking with Madeline, the Eiffel Tower and some purses on it. 

These stockings mean so much to me, and make me so happy that my children will have their own special stockings forever. 

Hudson got a new car seat (that I got on a super awesome sale), so we can pass his old convertible one down to Ella.

& Hudson went out in the snow for the first time!

We attended Taylor's work Christmas party and our ward's Christmas party in the same week.

Taylor's work Christmas party was ghetto as usual haha, but the food was good. 

The church Christmas was filled with more good food, good company, and good music.

Hudson was wild as usual until one of the youth in our ward entertained him.  

While doing some shopping at the mall Hudson kept trying to wander off.

We solved that problem real quick by taking Ella out of the car seat (who can't wander off even if she wanted to) and put Hudson in there instead. We have since solved this problem by buying a double stroller, but it gave us a good laugh at the time. I can't believe that he used to fit in this car seat!

  

Hudson turned TWO! And we celebrated the occasion with a Mickey Mouse party

Ella wore a dress that my sister and I wore, and I tried to get a picture of Hudson and Ella together since they both looked so nice for church. 

None of the pictures turned out nice and smiley like I hoped, but here is a pretty great outtake haha.

My parents bought me a cricut three years ago before they came out with the explore machines. After watching a neighbor use her new cricut I decided that it was time to upgrade mine with the help of some Christmas money. I have tried my hand at making some shirts since I bought it, and it has been so fun. This was one that I made for my mom for Christmas. If anyone knows her/us, then you know it is absolutely perfect for her.

As an elders quorum activity they did frozen turkey (and ham) bowling

We didn't win, but Hudson had a blast bowling and watching everyone else bowl.

During Taylor's Christmas break from work we took Hudson real bowling for the first time. 

He clapped for Taylor as well as for himself. 

We celebrated Christmas at home with some of Taylor's family coming over for dinner.

A full post on Christmas can be found here.

12 Months of Ella// Month 3

Weight: She is super close to 12 pounds if not right on 12 pounds

Height: 23 and a half inches

Diapers: Size 1

Clothes: 0-3 months & 3 months with just a few newborn items still in the mix.

Sleeping: She take 3ish naps a day and is usually down for the night between 7 and 8. As long as she isn't overtired she is pretty easy to get to sleep. She has been moved into her own room, and we are working on getting her out of the rock n play and into her crib full time. She is always swaddled when she sleeps. We dream feed her some time between 10-11, and she usually only wakes up once a night. I'm dreading the 4 month sleep regression because she is sleeping pretty great right now.

Eating: 4 ounces every 3 hours.

Milestones: Her head control is nearing perfect. Hudson was rolling over by now, but she is nowhere near rolling over because she hates tummy time so much. She will last maybe 30 seconds before she is screaming. I don't know what happened to her rolling over at 3 weeks haha. Her hair has definitely started to grow and her eye lashes have gotten super long.

Likes: baths (finally!)//binkies//the play mat//jumparoo//hanging out in the bumbo

Dislikes: She still is not a fan of tummy time and that's about it for dislikes.

Personality: She is becoming so smiley and sweet. She has the biggest smiles when she first wakes up and sees you. She loves to talk to you whenever you talk to her, but otherwise she stays fairly quiet.

A dress that my sister and I both wore as babies and her Christmas outfit

Great Grandma Linda crocheted her some headbands per my request, and as a bonus she made a hat as well :)

I'm so grateful to have talented family members!

& She is really starting to love her bumbo. 

She usually hangs out in it on the table while we eat dinner so she can be with us.

The coloring isn't the greatest in the picture of Hudson, but they look so similar!

I looked down at Ella last night as I was putting her to sleep, and I realized that our little girl is not a newborn anymore. Her little chicken legs have turned into chunky thighs, and her expressionless face is filled with smiles. Her constant sleeping has turned into more and more awake time. I must admit that it breaks my heart a little bit, but I am so excited for all that is to come.

Hudson's 3 month update can be found here.