my lily girl

So obviously I haven't blogged in forever, however tonight I felt inspired to get on here and do a little write up about our lily girl. Lily turned 11 months old on the 7th of this month and I just wanted to record for myself (and our family) what she's like at this age.

At 11 months old:

Lily walks like a pro. Seriously she is SO good at walking, it amazes me!

She has 6 teeth.

 She still breastfeeds and still sleeps with us.

She loves to get into things she is not supposed to and she loves to play with things that aren't toys.

She FINALLY let her feet touch the grass the other day (hence the photo) at the park.

Her hair makes cute little curls in the back and is still a golden blonde. 

Her eyes are still sparkly blue.

She LOVES to cuddle with mommy and for me to hold her while she plays with Billy.

She loves watching her big brothers and they adore her.

She likes to sing. She likes to play with Billy's guitar.

I think she looks best in white. :)

She loves to clap for any and everything.

I call her Lily Parker.

Lily Grace Wilson you bless our socks off. We love you to the moon and back.

blue + green

Billy tried to tell me blue and green are boy colors.

I had to laugh because I think that sounds so outdated!

While our little girl will certainly have some pink things, her wardrobe is currently about 99% blue courtesy of the little boys' section of baby stores.

Don't know what it is, but I'm just drawn to it...they're soothing colors, don't you think?

We finally bought her her first baby blanket from the etsy seller Patapri.

In keeping with my new love for creating storyboards, here's my new one featuring the baby's blanket!



I told Billy a bow can make anything girly :) Even plain old white onesies and baby boy leggings!

pregnancy

So far I have been really good and purchased only 2 new things for our baby girl and only just recently purchased a few things for myself since we will now be going into the 6 month of our pregnancy this Friday!

I've been having fun making little inspiration boards for baby girl's "nook" (she'll have a small space within our room for the first year of her life) so I thought I'd go ahead and also make a board for my recent "me" purchases (which since diving into being self employed since last May are actually very far and few in between!).



1. Isabella Oliver Sleeveless Ruched Dress I have a thing for navy blue and asymmetrical lines and Billy really loved this dress as well. I probably only buy around 4 maternity pieces while pregnant and I have long admired Isabella Oliver's maternity line and feel so blessed to incorporate one of their iconic pieces into my teeny, tiny maternity wardrobe. I know I will wear the heck out of this dress so it's definitely money well spent.

2. Active Birth This book was referred to me by another pregnant mother and I'm so glad I picked it up. I've read so many books this pregnancy from developing a birth plan to reading birth stories told through the eyes of a seasoned midwife...however with this book I feel like it's really helping me to actually prepare to be ACTIVE in the birth of our daughter. I have felt in the past that birth was something that happened to me and I was kind of just "along for the ride" but with the information/facts in this book along with the exercises it recommends, I feel (still scared as heck) but actually ready for labor and birth.

3. Erbaviva Soap I first started buying this about 5 years ago when I worked in a local children's boutique here in town. The boutique has since gone out of business, but my love for Erbaviva has stayed strong. Erbaviva is an all natural, organic line and this soap is not only gentle it smells wonderful!

4. Erbavia Back Rub Oil Long before I was pregnant I've suffered from back problems. I have a slight curve in my back and so carrying around extra weight tends to bring out some extra back pains. I love our local spa, Spa Therapy, and try to go every 4 weeks, however this essential oil rub is perfect for the end of the night when I retire my tired body to bed and Billy nicely rubs my back (thanks Billy!)

5. Eminence Citrus Exfoliating Wash When I get pregnant my skin tends to go a bit crazy for the first trimester. I have been faithful to the same products (BION, Cosmedicine, and Murad) for years but with this pregnancy even when my skin went back to its "normal" it stayed perpetually dry. I decided to use up the last of BION glycolic wash and then I invested in this organic face wash. Not only does it smell terrific, it does its job while not being as harsh as the BION wash that I was previously using.

6. Eminence Wild Plum Tonique Jen, the owner of Spa Therapy, has sprayed this on me several times when I visited but I never really saw the point a toner before. However with the skin changes this pregnancy brought on I decided to give it a go and picked up this product. Like I'm discovering about all Eminence products, it smells fabulous and is perfect since I've stopped using the Cosmedicine MegaDoser serum because the smell is now way too strong for me.

7. Eminence Persimmon and Cantaloupe Moisturizer SPF 32 Around month 5 with this pregnancy I had to have a biopsy done on some tissue on my stomach for skin cancer. This is the second time in my life I've had this done (previously on my arm) and it is really unnerving and stressful. My dermatologist recommended that sunscreen go on my face every day (which I previously did not do, but to be honest I'm not in the sun that frequently). I decided to splurge on this moisturizer and I have not been disappointed. It's definitely richer than what I was using (though it's still considered 'lightweight') and I love that it also offers me sun protection. I no longer have a peely face constantly now like my other beloved products were leaving me with! My skin feels quenched and although I was hesitant because it costs double what I was using, this is a quality, organic product and a little goes a long way.

So. There ya go! I hope you enjoyed reading my 'essentials' list! I'd love to hear what helps get you through your pregnancies! I wish I had a "magic" product on my list that cures morning sickness! What products make your life easier while you're growing your baby?

100 years

Wow. I feel like I haven't blogged in a 100 years!!!

I signed on to copy and post a link to the Baby List I compiled 2 years ago for a friend that is expecting her first baby! I thought while I was logged on here, I should at least announce some very important news.

Our 4th little baby is a GIRL! Looks like a pink "love bandit" is on her way to steal our hearts.

Isn't she precious?

in l-o-v-e.

Haven't blogged in forever...well, at least not over here.

BUT these shoes were so beautiful, I figure I'd document them. This is one of my absolute favorite colors...Kate Spade is always making the best things!

growing pains

God is good all the time. All the time God is good!

I know I have been absent from the blog for a bit and there are a couple reasons for that.

One of them is that since Billy had his last day as a Sam's Club employee (after almost 11 years!) we have been really busy getting our own business collateral finished up for our studio grand opening.

The other reason is that I have been going through some growing pains and have been turning more towards actual journaling (pens and notebooks and all :)) instead of hopping on here.

I still really enjoy visiting on everyone's blogs and getting glimpses into your lives. I'm confident I'll be back to blogging regularly in no time, but lately I feel like I've been dealing with a lot.

God is stretching me in ways I don't really want to be stretched but I am trusting Him because I know that without Him I am literally nothing!

In the meantime, if you think of me will you pray for me? Will you pray specifically for strengthening in mine and Billy's marriage? Especially now that Billy and I work full time together, we need a stronger marriage than ever before. But the truth is that marriage is hard work and we definitely need God's grace and love.

And on a separate little note..there are many of you whose blogs I still visit regularly but blogger will not let me leave comments because of cookies?! No clue what this means but I am still out there!

waiting...

just waiting on Friday to roll around so that I can finally announce our BIG news! yippeeee! In the meantime I'm quite amazed that I haven't burst from holding it all in.

So while I sit around counting down the days till I can officially freak out about everything going on I'll just share another little "for me" purchase.

Picked this up at Nordstrom's a couple weeks ago with the husband...I was in need of something fresh and bright and though I don't typically wear makeup I love MAC lipsticks...I think its the vanilla-y smell :) This shade named "vegas volt" is the perfect amount of brightness for a palester like myself :)

I was hoping it would make me feel more like bright and happy Spring weather is really on its way and with the sunshine peaking out today I think our mission was accomplished :)

On Distant Shores-Five Iron Frenzy

I have been scarred so deep by life and cold despair,
and brittle bones were broken far beyond repair.
I have leveled lies so deep, the truth may never find.
And inside my faithless heart, I stole things never mine.

If mercy falls upon the broken and the poor,
Dear Father, I will see you there, on distant shores.

I have toiled for countless years and ever felt the cost,
and I've been burned by this world's cold,
like leaves beneath the frost.
On my knees I've crawled to You, bleeding myself dry.
But the price of life is more, than I could ever buy.

If mercy falls upon the broken and the poor,
Dear Father, I will see you there, on distant shores.

And off of the blocks,
I was headstrong and proud,
at the front of the line for the card-carrying, highbrowed.
With both eyes fastened tight,
yet unscarred from the fight.
Running at full tilt, my sword pulled from its hilt.
It's funny how these things can slip away,
our frail deeds, the last will wave good-bye.
It's funny how the hope will bleed away,
the citadels we build and fortify. Good-Bye.

Night came and I broke my stride,
I swallowed hard, but never cried.
When grace was easy to forget,
I'd denounce the hypocrites,
casting first stones, killing my own.
You would unscale my blind eyes,
and I stood battered, but more wise,
fighting to accelerate,
shaking free from crippling weight.
With resilience unsurpassed,
I clawed my way to You at last.
And on my knees, I wept at Your feet,
I finally believed, that You still loved me.

Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls once again.
Jesus Christ, Light of the World,
burning bright within our hearts forever.
Freedom means love without condition,
without beginning or an end.
Here's my heart, let it be forever Yours,
only You can make every new day seem so new.

hair pretties love.

I have been a big fan of Meghan's ever since I first discovered her adorable etsy shop.

I scooped up several of her precious hand knit booties for Baby Isaac and we were even so honored as to have Meghan naming a pair after him! That was a HUGE honor for us! (Okay..maybe for me more than Isaac but I'm sure he'll be honored when he can understand honor :)).

So imagine my delight when I saw Hair Pretties tagged in these super cute photos today. Isn't she gorgeous? She sure knows how to rock a limited edition pretty if I do say so myself too.

Thanks for the shout out today Meghan! You made my day!

for me...

It seems as if all the shopping I do is for the boys and for billy. And I'm not complaining because sometimes I think I enjoy buying them things more than I like getting things for myself!

However, lately I had been on an unofficial hunt for a trinket holder. I found a vintage cloissonne bowl on Etsy that I absolutely loved but I stalled on purchasing it and of course it sold. Since then I always check back in that seller's shop hoping to see something similar.

When I saw this cute little box as a tiny thumbnail picture I was still immediately drawn to it because of the colorings. Its another vintage piece and after looking at the bigger photos of it I knew I wasn't going to stall this time and went ahead and purchased it.


As much as I love all my boys, sometimes its nice to buy something with a more feminine appeal. I can't wait for it to get here! I think vintage pieces or passed down items are so much better than something that's brand spankin' new. New things are nice, don't get me wrong and there are some items I would only want to purchase new....but for the most part I think the stories behind vintage and heirloom pieces win over a new piece just about every time.

In the meanwhile I am wondering just how in the world it got to be March 19, and how I thought this month would d r a g on forever, and yet here we are and it's already almost over.

BIG news ahead. I can hardly wait! :)