Girl Mom: Our Little Pearl

Being the mom of three girls, keeps me crazy busy! I've been finding that we are so crazy busy, that I need to take some time and stop and really soak up these little girls and all that they are loving right now.

Over the next three weeks, I'm going to be recapping everything that my girls are loving, and about their little personalities.

For this is a time that will go by in a blink of an eye, and I want to be able to look back and remember these tiny humans and all they are. 

I'm starting off with my little Pearl, Adalyn. 

I've shared before that my girls all have the name meaning of "pearl", so we affectionately refer to Adalyn, as Addy Pearl.

Every time I look at Adalyn, I really do wonder where she came from. In looks, she's totally unlike her sisters, and I love seeing how different she is. I love her fair brown, almost blonde, hair, and her big blue eyes. I love her crooked little teeth, and her skinny little arms and legs. She is tall! I can't get over how tall she is at age 2. I could just stare at her for hours. I try to figure out if she has any of "me" in her, she's such her daddy's image. 

She currently wears either an 18 month, 24 month, or 2T. It really depends on how the clothes are running, but she can get away with any of the sizes, although sometimes 2Ts fall off her little waist. She's a shoe size 7, and she can independently put on her shoes!

She loves the stroller. Whether, it's pushing her big sister or riding in one herself, she always wants to have it with us. If she knows that it's in the car, she'll say "stroller" as we're getting out.

Girl is toilet trained! We are only in pull-ups for nap time and night time! About two weeks ago, I told her daycare teacher, no more pull ups during the day. We were bringing panties, and lots of changes of clothes. Adalyn didn't want to stop playing to potty because she knew she had on a pull up. We've had several days of her staying in the same outfit! Sometimes she has accidents, but mostly in the afternoons. I think it's just a difference in consistency of her teachers, but she rarely has accidents in the mornings. 

Her afternoon teacher has told me that sometimes, she'll pull her pants down and pee right on the floor! I'm not quite why, but somehow, I think it's hilarious. I know I shouldn't, but I just can't imagine the moment and how her teacher must feel. Frustrated I know.

When we get home in the evenings, she does okay going potty. If I get her on the potty as soon as we get home, then we're good. But sometimes, she's too busy getting a snack to go, and then we end up having an accident. 

She's a big girl in her panties!

Addy LOVES her backpack. She insists on wearing it to school every day, wearing it home, and wearing it around the house. I have to hide it from her, or she'd wear it all the time.

She LOVES to jump on the couch! She'll climb up on their pink play table, and jump over the back. She jumps on the couch, and if the barstool is near the couch (if i'm cleaning the kitchen) she'll climb on it and jump on to the couch. She throws the pillows on the floor, she jumps on us. She is all over the place.

She also loves to cuddle! Loves her sippy cups, and loves her thumb. 

She's a mommy's girl, but when daddy's around, I'm chopped liver. 

She's giggly and almost always happy. But, she can also throw a lively tantrum. 

She loves to clean! Megan did too when she was Addy's age. I definitely don't mind her helping, and she'll help herself to the cleaning cabinet and go at it.

She also loves to help cook. If I'm in the kitchen, she is too. She grabs a chair, pushes it over, and climbs right up. If I get shredded cheese out, she asks for cheese. She loves cheese.

She also loves fruit snacks and wants one every day when we get home from school. 

She's fiercely independent. If she wants a snack, she helps herself. She grabs a bowl, a spoon, gets in the pantry, climbs up the cabinets.... anything to get something to eat. 

She loves babies. 

She loves chunky necklaces. 

She loves picking out her own hair bows. They don't always match, and I have to trick her into getting a matching bow, but she's determined to wear a bow that she picks out. It's almost always pink or purple.

She loves sitting outside while we let the dog out.

She loves that her daddy takes her to school every day. 

Ballet baby is her favorite. We've had at least four ballet baby's. We've lost some, we've saved her very first one, and now she's ripped holes in the belly of the two babies she has. Her ballet baby is always with her.

So is her thumb. Girl loves to suck her thumb.

When we tuck her in at night, she insists on getting a book to read. Her go-to is usually The Very Hungry Caterpillar. After she gets her book read, she asks to "ock" (rock), and then we sing "The Moon Song" and we finish off with prayers. 

Addy's a mover and shaker. She's always on the go, unless she's in your arms. 

She's beginning to learn her colors. Purple is her favorite!

Addy completes our family. I'm so glad that she was in God's plan!

To see my other posts about being a Girl Mom, click here.

Come on In: It's Fall!

A few weeks ago, I kicked DJ and the girls out of the house so I could decorate for fall! I love getting to decorate for the seasons, and bringing in the colors of golds and orange just makes me happy!

So, come on in, and take a little peek. 

In our entry way, I made an arrangement using artificial flowers, leaves, shiny pumpkins, and spiders! I added some pumpkins, a ceramic owl, a little squirrel, and a frame of my girls dressed in their Halloween costumes!

The spiders peeking out from the flowers.

I've mentioned several times how much I love decorating this little kitchen nook. I added a Halloween banner that I picked up at Target last year, along with festive napkins, paper plates, a sparkly jack-o-lantern, and the girls ghost footprints. I sat our candy bowl on the counter too, and for now, it's holding their trick or treat lanterns. 

I picked up the "eek" and "boo" containers at a little store in Alma, Ar. It's perfect for holding fun, festive paper straws.

I kept our dining room table simple and organic. I hate getting our table cleared with decorations because we have to eat there! I recently planted succulents, so I added a napkin holder, wicker pumpkins, and a jar full of sparkling mini pumpkins and acorns. 

I love the colors of fall. 

I also love all things organic. 

On the kitchen counter, I placed this festive pumpkin platter, changed our Bible verse, and added a jar of potpourri. 

A little secret- I've had the potpourri since DJ and I were married! It's long lost it's scent, but the year I used it, I put it in a ziploc bag, and even though it's lost it's smell, it still looks as good as new! I love the colors and textures in it. 

I added another jar of potpourri in our living room, and a little pumpkin candy dish.

We don't have a mantle to decorate (since our t.v. is above the fireplace), so I opted to use my sideboard as my mantle, and went totally overboard. 

I added squirrel candle holders, a flower arrangement my grandmother made, pilgrims, and pumpkins.

I added a tall candle stick for height, more pumkins, and a leaf candy dish.

On our end table, I added little squirrels, more pumpkins, another pilgrim, and some sparkly pumpkins below. 

I decided not to decorate our bookcases a ton. I added just a few small decorations on one little shelf.

I have lots of squirrels because squirrels are my college-sorority mascot. 

#alphagamgogam

I've had these squirrels since college!

I used an acorn candy dish in our guest bathroom as a soap dish.

And added a paper pumpkin and chalkboard sign to the girls kitchen.

So, that's a little peek of our fall decorations!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend was a doozy! It was crazy busy, and I really need another day because we just couldn't possibly squeeze everything in! 

I'm backing up a few days before our weekend actually started, because we were too crazy busy last week for me to post a Friday Favorites. So, you're kind of getting two posts, rolled in to one.

When we get home in the evenings, I take the girls outside while we let our dog out. Addy and Megan love to run in the backyard and play, or Addy will pull up a chair right beside me. She's looking like such a big girl! Noticed though, her two favorite babies right beside her. They need a bath, but she won't let me give them one.

We had a "shake your booty" party last week, and we definitely need these more often!

See! Isn't she just looking so big. She loves to climb up and sit at the bar. 

I received this picture last week from Megan's preschool teacher. They had a fire truck come visit, and she told me that she needed the fireman to help her climb out of the truck. It was just too big!

Friday morning, I ended up taking everyone to school. DJ got up and helped me get all of the girls out the door, but he didn't want to leave the house and then come back home since he had a hair cut appointment at 10. So, we left early enough for me to drop everyone off, and I made it to work on time. Which, I totally deserve a pat on the back for, because I'm never on time. 

#punctualityisnotmystrongsuit

Gretchen came to visit me mid-afternoon to pick up her tennis shoes. She had forgotten them at home (again) and her daddy had brought them to her. She brightened my day when she walked in. 

After school on Friday, Gretchen and I picked up Megan, headed to pick up a pizza, rounded up Adalyn and headed home. 

I told the big girls to get in their pj's early, and we had a pizza party in the living room and watched Cinderella. 

Have you guys seen the new Cinderella? I think it came out last spring, and Gretchen and I saw it in the theatre. It's finally out on video, and it is so good. Hands down, it's my favorite movie right now. We ended up keeping the movie through Sunday and watched it every day this weekend. Gretchen and I were pretty obsessed with it, and I think Santa needs to bring it to our house this Christmas.

Addy refused to take a picture of her snuggling with me. Instead, she leaned backwards over me and giggled. 

That's better!

And the big girls on the other end of the couch.

It was a pretty fabulous Friday night hanging in our pj's, scarfing down pizza, and watching a movie. 

At some point during the movie, Megan started "teaching". She is really picking up things from preschool and coming home to teach her pretend students.

Saturday morning we were all up bright and early. TU kickoff was at 11 am, so we had to leave no later than 10 to arrive by kick off. As I was getting dressed, Adalyn hung out with me, and insisted on cleaning her ears. 

We had a cool day on Saturday, so I had to find pants for all of the girls, and Megan wore her cheerleading outfit.

Addy wasn't too interested in taking a picture, but her big sisters were!

And then I stole this one and it turned out great!

But, do you see that little mark above her eye? She got in to my eye liner! Ha!

We made it to the game, checked in with DJ and then went up to the family suite to watch the game. 

TU ended up loosing, so seeing daddy was definitely the highlight of the game for the girls!

We made it home around 4, and since Addy didn't have a nap, she was a bit snuggly!

Thankfully, DJ made it home around 6, which gave us enough time to play outside before bedtime!

The girls decided a dog-pile was necessary.

And then a pony ride!

It was off to bed for the girls, and then DJ set to work working on game film, so I watched mindless t.v which was pretty perfect. 

Sunday morning rolled around, and the girls were thrilled to see a super hero photo booth at church.

Adalyn wasn't too interested.

And the big girls insisted on individual pictures in their best super hero pose.

After church, DJ headed to the football office and the girls and I headed home for lunch and nap time. I spent most of the afternoon catching up on laundry and then embroidering Halloween treat buckets, while Gretchen watched Cinderella again.

I was taking photos of them, and Megan wanted her picture made with the bucket!

Once Addy got up from her nap, we headed to the football office for family dinner night. 

And, before we left, I decided to try my Lavender Lip Balm from Young Living, and I've declared it better than EOS. I ordered a three pack of these last month, and I've already decided that these will be the best teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, and little presents for moms, grandmothers, sisters in law, and nieces.

Once we made it home from football, I sent Gretchen to get in the shower, Megan, Addy and I unloaded the dishwasher, and then we jammed out to music to put all of the laundry away! It was a super busy night trying to get ready for our week ahead, and I may have had a mini-meltdown because there's always so much to do, and it's never easy doing it all alone. Thankfully, DJ sensed my mood, and finished putting away all of the laundry! 

In our football life, he is rarely home, and it's a life I signed up for years ago. It doesn't mean it's easy. In fact, sometimes it downright sucks, but I also look back and know that I wouldn't change it at all. Not even for a single second.

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend too!

See you back here tomorrow.

HPA Goes Oily: Cleaning ReVamped

By now, I've been on my "Oily Journey" for 4 months! When we bought our new house, I was determined that it would never see a toxic chemical. We have a long way to go, but we are slowly riding our house of toxins and bringing in products that are so much healthier for our home and our bodies!

Did you know that you can use essential oils for cleaning? Gone are the days of bleaching my house and breathing in harsh chemicals!

Today, I'm sharing a few of my favorite ways to use essential oils while I clean!

First up- Wool Dryer Balls. I bought mine of Etsy because I love supporting moms with small businesses! You can also buy them from Amazon if you feel so inclined. I add a few drops of Purification essential oil to each ball, toss it in  my dryer, and that's it! I also love to add Lavender Oil for a flowery scent. The oil lasts on each ball for about  2-3 loads.

We said bye-bye to dryer sheets and their carcinogens. You can read more about these dangers here and here.

I'm also finding that my drying time has been cut in half, so I'm using less energy thus saving some serious moola!

On the downside, I'm actually having to fold my laundry  more often because the clothes are drying super fast!

Raise your hand if your child has ever colored on the wall with crayon? I know I'm not the only one. I have three girls and each of them have a belief that crayons also work on walls, furniture, tables, lamps, and so on.

I have finally found the answer! A few drops of Lemon Essential Oils and crayon marks literally disappear. I even had to show DJ this one because I couldn't believe how miraculous this oil was! Not only, does it taste so yummy, it's super good for you, but now it cleans crayons off of surfaces!

Our children are now free to color on whatever surface they wish, because I now have the secret weapon to make it come clean!

(I'm just kidding- our crayons are still locked away, but just in case- I can pull out my lemon oil, and the marks are gone!)

While I was cleaning this weekend, DJ noticed a sticky drip all down the front of our oven. I pulled out my lemon essential oil, put a few drops on a papertowel, and the sticky came right off! Now, you can use lemon oil rather than Goo-gone!

This little concotion is THE BEST wood furniture polish I have ever used! Long ago, I used Pledge furniture polish, and then I switched to Method, thinking it was a "greener" alternative. After scanning it with my Think Dirty app, I realized that Method wasn't as non-toxic as I would've liked it to be. So, thanks to an oily friend who recommended this recipe to me, I now have the shineiest wood furniture ever.

I mix 1/2 cup of olive oil, 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 20 drops of orange oil. I mix it together in a glass spray bottle, and give it a little shake before I use it. Because of the orange oil, you have to use a glass container so it won't eat away at the plastic of a plastic spray bottle.

With my new furniture polish, my girls are able to help dust and no one is breathing in or touching toxins.

I added Thieves cleaner to one of my monthly orders and this little bottle is so concentrated that I still have over half of it left!

To make my all purpose cleaner, I use a plastic spray bottle filled with water, and 1-2 capfuls of Thieves cleaner. The bottle lasts me about a week (depending on how messy my kitchen is) and I'm able to use my all purpose spray on my granite, my toilets, my bathroom countertops, on the floors. I also let the girls use it to clean their pink plastic kid table.

Thieves cleaner can also be used in place of dish detergent in your dishwasher- just add one capful! Or in your washing machine in place of detergent! Again, just add one capful!

Need a glass cleaner- that's right- just use your Thieves cleaner.

This stuff can clean anything!

And this past weekend, I found out that Thieves was the best stainless steel cleaner too!

I shared last week, that I used my Thieves cleaner to clean Addy's Natives. I added a capful of the cleaner to a sinkful of water and soaked her shoes. After they soaked, I simply pulled them out of the water, wiped them off, and they look as good as new!

So, are you excited about oils yet and revamping (and simplyfing) your cleaning routine?

To learn more about essential oils, send me an email and I'll answer your questions and help you get started on an amazing journey!