Wednesday Wife Letters- me

Dear Mrs.

This week has been a beating and its only Wednesday...

Its good though. Good things are happening. It's just craziness.

Officer and I have been planning and dreaming for the future lately. I am the realist so I rarely indulge in dreaming with Officer, but when I do I enjoy it.

I am a big picture person. This I have learned most since being a mom. I used to argue with people and say, "no, seriously I am detail person," when they would look at how I work and the way I organize. Silly me, I don't keep lists, I live in chaos and I function best thinking about the big goals, not the small ones. I really am blessed by this way of processing because it saved me from a lot of trouble. I am always thankful to the Lord for that. But I am not a detail person...not even a little bit.

As I look at a living room with books and toys scattered about, a completely empty toy shelf (because they are all on the floor), a kitchen table covered with beach towels with art projects sitting on top, a baby gate in front of the tv and entertainment piece that makes the tv slightly harder to see, and a stack of papers to file, sort and figure out...I feel a bit overwhelmed, but also right at home. 

Motherhood has brought all of these things out. I have written about this before because it has shocked me. I am much more of a free spirit than I ever thought, I spend 99% of the time not being put together and with out make up. This is not at all how I used to be. My style has shifted to more of a bohemian urban style, I am still very into fashion but I find myself drooling over things I would have thought were weird before. Fox is on a pretty specific sleep schedule but everything else is pretty free. We are teaching her baby signs and are enforcing rules and discipline along the way but I am not falling on that side of the street as naturally as I thought I would. It is definitely my desire, but I thought it would come easy to me. It doesn't.

I don't always wipe a toy off after someone else uses it, and I make baby food but I also give her bought baby food. Ha, again things I didn't see myself naturally doing. She is around kids all the time, we use public bathrooms and she has been sick more than her fair share of times. I am not judging if you do differently. Since being a mom, I have learned we all have to do what we think is best and everyone has different experiences that shape the way they do things. I am simply saying the way I do things.

Fox is social. She gets giddy when she sees other babies and kids, and loves interacting with them. She is also independent and keeps herself entertained a lot of the time. She is a charmer, adventurous, has the smallest pain tolerance, and she is so funny. I adore her. She is my heart and brings me so much joy. She is all the good of my officer and me. Officer is such a good completer and partner to me. Times are not always easy, we work hard at our life, but God is refining us and making us more like him one shift at a time.

This probably seems random, but that is what happens when you haven't posted in a month. Life is crazy right now and I often want to control it all. The Lord is teaching me the sweetness of being utterly out of control. Because he's got it.

~an Officer and a Mrs.

School of Rox- 9 MONTHS!

Fox, my sweet love and little buddy.

You are 9 months baby girl. Every day I wish time would slow down. Even when you are being a pill, you bring your dad and I so much joy.

You are so funny, smile often and laugh even more. It warms my heart when I hear repeatedly what a happy baby you are. It also warms my heart that you cuddle just a little bit with me in the morning and evening. You are still and have never been a cuddler, but your dad and I soak up the few moments.

Stats:
On your 9month birthday:

12 month clothes
3 diapers
17.15 pounds (43%)
26.5 inches long (47%)

What you are about...

-Dolly. Dolly. Dolly. You love your doll. You give her kisses, chew on her big tails, laugh with her, hug her, and must have her when you go to sleep. Mom has already invested in a back up dolly.
-Crawling at lightning speed, and having mom or dad chase you. You giggle and take off extra fast
-Books, you LOVE reading books, but only a select 3 that we read over and over.... Go Dog Go, The foot book, and I love you through and through. Mom is hoping to expand to some others this month. But your big smile with each page makes me ok reading them 10 times a day.
-You love pulling up on ANYTHING and EVERYTHING, which results in MANY falls. You have a few bumps, a few bruises, low pain tolerance, but lots of adventure in you. I love that.
-Your Vtech sound piano gets dragged every where and you talk into the microphone and love it. Best $20 I ever spent.
-Eating dog food or dog bones. Yep this has happened so I have to watch you like a hawk.
-pulling your bows out and eating them...makes mom very sad but dont worry I am going to fight it.
-Rice cakes and puffs. You are the cutest chewer and you are picking them up all by yourself!
-BATHS. You love bath time. You could spend an hour in there if momma let you.

You....
-wave good bye and hi
-sign "all done"
-respond to the sign "more"
-shake your head "no" often. To be silly and when mommy says no.
-Say, "dadadada", "mommamomma", "baababababa"
-Talk higher when you talk to the puppy, and chase puppy up and down and all over
-make the funniest noises in the highest pitches
-Dance, and dance to mommy singing which will probably mess you up
-Laugh hysterically when mommy does a cheer for you.

You hate...
-eating. period. You are so busy it take mommy all the energy in the world to get a full serving down you. Same with a bottle.
-when you can't do something your self. You are very independent. You would rather try than have mommy do anything.
-socks and shoes. All these cute options and you kick and pull them ALL off.
-not getting your way. You are very in to tantrums
- putting your clothes on
-getting out of the bath

Mom's favorite thing:

Whenever I walk in the door or pick you up from something I am not at, you light up and race to me. Its like you hug me when you see me. Warms my heart and makes everything worth it and nothing else matter. You are my heart sweet fox. Thank you for teaching me, that my life is so much better when it isnt about me.

Your momma and dadda

First weekend AWAY

Hi friends,

We are alive but we have been SUPER SUPER busy so a little break was in order. Here is a quick update:

We sold a car and for now, are functioning on ONE car....yep. Its been an adjustment.

I opened my Etsy shop, Jacks & Roxanne with my high school bestie. We are featuring items for mom, baby & home. Click HERE to check it out.

Fox started pulling up on EVERYTHING

Officer and I had our first ever weekend away - just us. It was incredible. I recommend it. Even if you have an awesome baby who is on an awesome schedule- you need a weekend away. We missed our Fox every second, but we got to just be us and it was fantastic.

We went down to Roundtop, TX for Officer's best friends wedding. We stayed in this gorgeous b&b and ate terrible. It was AWEsome.

We stayed out late Friday, talked late on the porch, made some plans for the future, went on a run Saturday morning, ate a late breakfast and enjoyed each other with no other responsibilities.

Here are a few pictures from our blessed weekend:

GREAT WEEKEND!!

Friday FAVs- Travels with a newborn and an infant STYLE

Happy FRIDAY!!

So a LONG time ago I mentioned giving more details about traveling with a baby. We have done a lot of this so I thought I would actually follow through and share our FAVs for TRAVEL with BABY!!

1. To MAUI

Our first flight with Rox was when she was 7 weeks old on an 8 hour flight to Maui. Some made read this and think we were are crazy but I would honestly say this was the easiest trip we made with her and therefore I would say that is the best stage to travel. She had her shots and wasnt collic (i think those two factors can be game changers) and was still in that super sleepy phase. I researched quite a bit and here is what we embarked on this 8 hour flight with:

Carry-on:
Ergo baby carrier (I carried Roxie in this through the airport and until we got on the plane)
Breast Pump (I 100% pumped at this point)
12 hour bottle cooler- this was the best one i found and all the bottles made it to our hotel 10 hours later
Boppy- GAME changer
10 diapers
Travel wipe pack
disposable changing pads
disposable burp cloths
2 passies
one outfit change
one shirt change for momma
2 rattle toys
1 soft blanket

This may or may not seem like a lot to you but each item was necessary and we used it. I pumped 2wice on the flight and Jeff, Fox and I slept for 3 hours together and then Rox slept for a couple other spurts thanks to the boppy. It was so nice to secure her in this and each take a break or enjoy a drink or snack. This flight both ways went almost flawless. Just a few fussy moments! We had a blast.

If you travel with a baby I would look up local rental companies because we rented a crib, jogger stroller, swing, and beach tent for 7 nights for only $140 dollars. They were all clean (although I additionally cleaned them and brought our own sheets) and super easy. We laid by the pool every day and had Rox in the jogger with this fan that I found on amazon. Also a game changer. Now we use it on jogging trails and in the car.

2. Nebraska


My mom and I went to Nebraska when Fox was 10 weeks old. This was such a fun trip to do with my mom and we got to take a 5 generation picture with Roxie since my great grandmother is still alive.

I packed the exact same way and this flight was only 2.5 hours. Super easy and went just as well both ways. I also forgot to share that I bought a bag like this for her car seat and car seat bag to go on. It has been so worth it since we have flown three times with Roxie so far.


3. Lubbock, TX


This one I did with my parents. We went and visited my sister who is in her last year of nursing school at Texas Tech (Wreck em). Fox did great. We stopped two times in our 6 hour drive. Both times I fed her, changed her and let her squirm around a bit. I brought some good visual sound toys I could distract her with when she got tired and I also used my car seat canopy so she could nap when it was really sunny out.

4. New Mexico

This trip was so fun but challenging because Fox is and was at this point rolling all over the place and not quite crawling. I carried her in the bjorn and had only one bag total. I did a back pack after reading this post here (since it was just me) and was so glad I only carried that. So I looked like this in the airport.

It was a good time. I carried a water bottle and took sips when I can, because when you do not get your 7 month old a seat and hold her the whole flight, be prepared to never eat or drink for the whole flight.

I carried:

-This changing pad that held everything I need. Wish I would have had this for my first flight.

-One outfit change (we used this the second we got to the flight because Fox had an explosion that went through the bjorn while we were in security...so fun!)

-4 toys I strapped all on one ring so I could pull them out easily

-4 bottles (on the way back she drank 13 ounces which is not normal for a 2 hour setting but it kept her happy and settled

-teething cream

-baby food

-a blanket

This was by far my most tricky trip but we survived it!

Those are our FAV travel items with baby!!

~an Officer and a Mrs.

School of Rox - 8 MONTHS!

Roxie-

Where did the time go? I can tell you one thing my love (and the fact that posting this is 3 full days late is proof) you are ON THE GO:

-Crawling at lightning speed
-Flipping away mid diaper change causing Officer and I to yell, "naked baby on the loose"
-Pulling your self up on the empty box of diapers (your new favorite toy) only as mom turns her back
-Pulling yourself up on anything when mom turns her back
-Crawling over all barricades mom creates
-Diving into any pile of laundry (clean or dirty) mom leaves out
-Diving off the bed because you saw puppy do it and mom catching you in the air (yes- this happened and yes it scared me almost to death)

Food:
Apples and Rice cakes (gluten free of course) are your new favorite snacks

We introduced you to your first antibiotic this month when you got (all at once) an eye infection, ear infection and stomach bug. Mom was SUPER happy you were not allergic since her entire family is. You were such a trooper even the Dr. couldn't believe you really had all of these things.

You will actually sit still and enjoy two books and two books only so we read them over and over.
-I love you now and forever more and Go dog go!

We got you the vtech music piano for Easter and you drag it around by the microphone. Its adorable.

You love to fake cough- thanks to your bff Jackson and its pretty funny.

You talk like a crazy girl and it makes Officer and I so happy.

You are not crazy about sitting in your high chair eating. Mostly because it keeps you still and bound. We are working on some table manners right now.

You can sign "all done" and you can wave and say, "hi"

You think its hilarious when mom tells you know and have QUITE the attitude if we suggest something you have no desire of doing or take anything from you. I have NO idea where you get that...

You adore me, your momma. You are happiest if you can see me. You smile and laugh at all my jokes. You even let me hold you and comfort you. You reach for me when I pick you up at the nursery. It melts my heart. I know a day will come when you might not be as crazy for momma so I soak up these moments. I am grateful to be able to spend my days with you Fox and I can't imagine life without you. You make your daddy and I so happy.

~an Officer and a Mrs.

Friday FAVS

Hi friends,

We have lots of excitement going on at our house these days...

A. This is my new favorite picture of Fox who is so happy when we are outside. B. SHE HAS A TOOTH poking through. After weeks of teething pain, we welcome this tooth!

She now "eats" apples! SHE LOVES when I let her "chew" on an apple and really she just sucks all the juice out of it and it feels good on her teeth.

This is our Easter! Roxie and momma got matching sunnies for the pool this summer, Easter service and Officer and I got a date night at the Ranger games...he is kinda the world's biggest and most truest fan.

We go from this.....

to this in .3 seconds...this is also a new favorite picture of us because this picture totally captures what that day was like.

We are week 4 on Paleo and week 2 on Crossfit. The results are unreal and we feel so great.
I am making this (thanks to this girl! :)) and this (I already made this early in the week and dominated it!) tonight for a treat.
We are planning to do some Spring cleaning and this will help.
And officially decided our fall trip to celebrate my belated 25th birthday, 4 years of marriage, and officer's 27 birthday will be to HERE!

Happy Friday!

~an Officer and a Mrs.

Style on an Officer budget

Hey there!

I have been out of the loop and a little out of my routine due to some major changes the Officer and I have made. As you read a few posts back the Officer and I started cross fit and are 3 weeks in to paleo!! Woot woot. I want to die a little bit on the inside because I have an INTENSE love/hate relationship with cross fit. 


I love the change I already feel and I hate that I have been sore for 2 weeks. 


I love how quick the work outs are but I hate that I did pull ups for the first time since the 5th grade PE assessment yesterday.


I love that it is competitive and requires discipline and stretches me, but I hate that I fight back throw up or actually throw up some where during the work out...haha yes this happened.


TRY a class or a week! It's amazing but it aint for sissies.

Back to the purpose of the post. I wanted to share some affordable fashion inspirations and fun crafters that I follow that make us Officer families capable of having cute and nice things on our budget.

I have been reading this one for months but just discovered this one. The first one has great fashion steals and sales on affordable cute clothes and the other one has life organization and my personal favorite: how to maximize your closet.

I love this crafter and just discovered this one. These are some of the most creative people ever. I wish I had the brain space to come up with this stuff.

 I am a new woman because of this one. I am not great with hair but because of her tutorials I have figured out how to tease and get volume on a regular day and change of from the boring every day hair styles.

That's what this Mrs. is reading these days!


Happy Tuesday!


~an Officer and a Mrs.