Currently | v. 3 LINK UP!

Happy Thursday, friends! Today is our very first Currently link up and I couldn't be more excited. Sooo.....

Currently I am...

Cooking a lot of breakfast foods for dinner. There's just something so wonderful about fluffy scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, and a big buttery biscuit. It makes my heart happy. And since I don't have time for big breakfasts in the morning, I've been serving them up for dinner instead. Bonus points for being easy and quick.

Wearing sandals! Hallelujah for summer shoes! I am not a fan of tight, uncomfortable shoes, so I am thrilled to get to wear flip flops and sandals again. Target always has the cutest sandals in such fun colors. I think I'm going to have to stock up soon.

Wanting a new car. My current ride is a 2010 Honda Civic, and while I love the awesome gas mileage, I hate how tiny it has become since having Hannah. Now I see why so many moms drive minivans. Between the strollers, car seat, and general kid crap, I feel like I'm buried alive in there. I have my eye on the new Ford Edge, and I'm borderline obsessed. If only money grew on trees, right?

Listening to my kid scream. No really, that is happening in the other room. Wytmer is trying to convince her to go to bed but she's not having it. Gosh, two has been hard on us. I think I need to dedicate a whole post to this, though, because if I start now I'll never stop. But really, the attitude on this girl is INSANE.

Watching Horrible Bosses. It took me about a week to get through this movie because every time I started I had to stop for one reason or another. Maybe I would like it more if I watched it all the way through? There were some funny parts, though. But nothing memorable.

[edit: I feel like this list should end with a "womp womp" sound effect. Blame the monster who won't go to bed for making me feel less than giddy while I wrote. Good thing she is cute.]

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Ready for your turn? Just grab the code below to add our button to your page (or link back in some way). Then link up below! Remember that the linky will be open all week so it's okay if you post on a different day. And don't forget to stop by Harvesting Kale and say hi to my lovely co-host!

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Wedding Inspiration | Gray

I recently came across these dreamy wedding photos from Brooklyn Bride and I was instantly in love. I just love the soft gray color pallet with the pops of green. And I love how fresh and soft everything looks. But the little girl in the gray tutu is what really stole my heart.

After getting lost in these gorgeous photos for awhile, I think I'm pretty obsessed with the idea of having a gray bridal party. I found this dress from J. Crew that I love (Hannah however, just looked at my screen and said this dress was stinky. Gosh, this girl). Here it is....

Thoughts? Oh, and then I found this one for Hannah....

Also from J. Crew. Luckily she doesn't think this one is stinky.

XOXO

P.S. Tomorrow is the first day of our Currently link up (which I am co-hosting with Harvesting Kale)! I hope to see you all back then!

Currently | v.2 [and some NEWS!]

Before we get to my currently post of the week, I have some NEWS for you today!!

My friend Randalin from Harvesting Kale contacted me a week or so ago about co-hosting a linky party for our currently posts. I of course agreed right away because what a great idea, right? I keep seeing bloggers writing their currently posts and no link up to share them in.

So here's the details--every Thursday we will do a currently post and that's when you can come back to link up. We even have a fancy button (care of Randalin) for you to use. Randalin and I will be using the same five category/themes each week and you are more than welcome to use ours as well (we will list them ahead of time). Or, if you want to come up with your own category/themes that is cool, too. Just put together a post that shares what's currently going on in your life and link it up. The link will be open all week, so if you want to post on a different day, that's okay too. This Thursday we will be writing about what we are currently:

• Cooking
• Wearing
• Wanting
• Listening to
• Watching

I'm so excited and I hope to see lots of people link up this Thursday!

Currently I am...

Watching The Bachelorette. I used to think people who watched these shows were stupid. But I've been sucked in and I'm hooked. Yes, I know the show is ridiculous and not reality in any way. But it's still fun. I'm not so sure about this season though, because Emily is a little weird.

Reading Fifty Shades Freed. Oh goodness. I know I said I didn't like the first book in my last "currently" post. Since then I read the second book and started the third, and it actually got better. I mean, the plot is still all over the place, and there's way too much sex. But I'm not the kind of person to stop reading a story. I want to see what happens. I'm invested with the characters. But gah, so much about this series is sloppy and just bad. Don't read it.

Happy about Memorial Day weekend! I love this little taste of summer before vacation starts. Three days off with my family? I'll take it. We're planning on a few trips to the pool, long afternoons on the patio and lots of time spent just relaxing. Add some chilled lemonade and a giggly little toddler, and you've got a recipe for fantastic.

Shopping for a cute and inexpensive one piece swimsuit for summer. Emphasis on the inexpensive. We're wanting to put Hannah in swim lessons again this summer at the YMCA and I'll need a new suit so I can get in the water with her. I kind of love this one and this one.

Craving: a good summer beer. I'm not a huge drinker, but I do get the odd craving for a cold beer. I like light beers and thought I'd try Shiner's Ruby Redbird, which is their summer brew this year. Not a fan. The grapefruit made it too bitter for my taste. I'm open for suggestions.

XOXO

Our Life Right Now

I thought I might write a little update after my post last week.

Things are definitely different than they were a month ago, but surprisingly that isn't such a bad thing. After the initial shock wore off we decided to embrace this short time in our lives.

Monday through Friday I leave the house at 6:15am while Hannah and Wytmer keep sleeping. Around 7:30 Hannah wakes up and their day starts. After breakfast, cartoons, and getting dressed the two of them usually  head out to the park. Everyday Wytmer sends pictures, like the one above, of Hannah having the time of her life on the playground. I love hearing about the adventures they go on together. After the park they come home for lunch and nap time. Wytmer has been a serious beast about the laundry and I haven't done a single load in two weeks. He also takes advantage of nap time to search and apply for jobs. Hannah typically wakes up from her nap around 3pm, and I get home shortly after that. I've absolutely loved coming home with Wytmer here. Things are already done and Hannah is taken care of. My afternoons are so much less stressful. We are eating dinner together as a family, and just spending time together. It's been so long since Wytmer and I ate dinner together. I've missed it so much. It's also nice to let him clean up dinner while I give Hannah a bath. Finally there is someone else to share the responsibilities. And our relationship has improved because we are both slowing down. There's time for conversation now. I love it.

I can't say that this is the perfect arrangement for us though, because Wytmer does miss going to work. As awesome as he is at being a stay at home dad, I don't think it's really what he wants. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous. He's living my dream, and I'm living his. And then there is the benefits issues, and the serious budget tightening that is stressful. And if we ever do want to get married and grow our family, my income is not enough to cover the extra expenses. Sadly, we both need to work.

But my, I am enjoying the break.

XOXO

Currently | v.1

I've been loving the "currently" feature on Sometimes Sweet for awhile now, and have also loved reading other bloggers take on the idea. I love having a quick little snapshot of life to look back on later, so I was thinking it might be nice to start writing some "currently" post of my own to share here on the blog. Fun!


Currently I am...

Reading: Fifty Shades of Grey. I just finished this book, actually. And honestly? I didn't love it. The writing is terrible and the plot is a direct rip off of Twilight. And as much as everyone talked about how hot it was, I was actually turned off most of the time. That being said, I am considering reading the second book because I hate how to story just stops at the end of the first book. Nothing was resolved and I want to know what happens. Maybe it gets better.

Watching: Downton Abbey. I know I'm like 6 months late with hopping on this bandwagon. But I saw it on Netflix one evening and decided to see what all the hype was about. I wasn't expecting to like it, but I'm obsessed. I'm trying to go through the episodes slowly so I don't finish the season too quickly. Highly recommend if you are looking for a new series to love.

Listening to: Brandi Carlile. Seriously talented and amazing artist.

Thinking about: That stupid Time Magazine cover. I really agree with most of the principles of Attachment Parenting and I hate the way it is being portrayed lately. I hate the message that was sent from this cover, and I hate the awful way so many people have reacted to it. Why do we always find it necessary to criticize and insult people? So some mothers chose to breastfeed their toddlers, so you let your baby cry it out...why do we have to argue about it? Love your kids. That's all that matters. (I loved loved loved what Liv had to say about this here)

Anticipating: Summer vacation! Only a few weeks of school left and I will be home with my best girl. Can. Not. Wait.

Eating: Almonds. I am seriously addicted to grabbing a handful of raw almonds for a quick afternoon snack.

Working on: Blogging more often. Another reason why I am anticipating this summer is that I will finally have time to blog regularly. I don't know how you working mama bloggers do it sometimes.

Wishing: That we could win the lottery and quit our jobs. I've been loving all our extra family time lately and keep thinking about how nice it would be if this was a long term possibility. But I'm also wishing for a good long day of shopping, so unless we win the lottery jobs are kinda necessary.

XOXO

Wedding Inspiration | Dresses

Oh hey, I'm getting married! Ha. Sometimes there's so much else going on that I forget we've got a wedding to start planning. I thought it might be fun to do some wedding inspiration posts here on the blog, and wedding dresses seemed like the perfect place to start. Here's a few of my favorite dresses that I've found so far:

Any favorites? I love the bow in the first one, and you can probably tell that I love lace dresses.

[sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

XOXO

We Will Be Alright

So far this year has been one huge roller coaster ride for our family. One minute we are getting engaged and celebrating Hannah's birthday, and the next we are dealing with being sick and getting some bad news. Everything has been so up and down that sometimes it's hard to know how to feel.

Last week Wytmer called me at work to let me know that he got laid off from his job.

Deep breath.

After the initial shock wore off, I told myself that we would be okay. And we will be. We all know that teachers don't make a fortune, but I have enough. We've had to sit down together and make cuts where we can. Our budget is tight, but our bills are paid and our family is fed. We will be alright. Wytmer and I had to pull Hannah from going to her sitter's house, which means he is taking care of her during the day. This has been both sad and wonderful, as Hannah asks for her "Shea" everyday and misses her friends. But Wytmer is finally getting the time to bond with his daughter. He's been working six days a week, late into the evening everyday for years. We missed him, and now he is home. Hannah has fallen head over heels obsessed with her daddy, and I've loved getting photos and stories sent to me at work. It's nice to come home in the afternoon and be together. And I know it's hard for him to be home during the day. It's a big adjustment, and I know he is eager to get back to work. But we will be alright.

The hardest part is just worrying. It's a big responsibility to know I'm in control of all of our money. Everyone is depending on me. It's also hard because I know Wytmer is upset. I'm doing my best to make sure he doesn't feel like he let us down. I am trying to manage the worry I feel so I don't have to burden him with it. And of course it's not something that we are proud of. It's pretty difficult to sit down and write out this rambling post. I know some of our friends and family will read this and that is scary. I don't want anyone to feel sorry for us or worry about us, if that makes any sense. Yes, this sucks and we've seen better days. But we have what we need and we will be alright.

XOXO

Every Mom's Fantasy

A few nights ago I found myself saying to Wytmer, "I just want a day to be home alone. I'd watch cheesy movies, take a bath, read a book, and just sit here alone." I expected a "yeah, that'd be nice," but instead I got a "alright, I'll have my mom watch Hannah on Saturday and I'll go to the Dynamo game with my friend." I'm sure he was looking for a reason to get some alone time just as much as I was. And so here I am. And it's kinda glorious.

After we dropped off Hannah I made a quick lunch and then soaked in the tub for well over an hour. I let my fingers and toes turn into a wrinkly, pruned mess while I finished the last few chapters of Fifty Shades of Grey. Then I dried off and took a nap. What? Me, taking a nap? This ish never happens. But my, was it delicious. And now I'm relaxing in bed with a tall glass of iced tea and no plans for the rest of the day. Perhaps I will watch a few episodes of Downton Abbey on Netflix. Or maybe I will just lay around looking at blogs and Pinterest for awhile. Maybe look into getting the next book after Fifty Shades, because oh my gosh what a terrible way to end a book.

Perfect way to start Mother's Day weekend, if I do say so mahself.

XOXO

A Good Update

I got a call from Hannah's pediatrician Thursday afternoon that her test results finally came in. Apparently they found bacteria in her nose swab, so she's now on a pretty strong antibiotic to clear everything up. It's hard for me to believe that that a sinus infection was the cause for all that mess, but I'm also glad that it wasn't anything worse. It's been two days since she started her medicine and her fever is finally gone. Today she ate two slices of homemade pizza for dinner (a first for her) and asked for more! Her weight had dropped a little while she was sick, and this afternoon she was already back up to 26 pounds. Her nose is still pouring, but goodness, I am so happy to see an end to her being sick all the time.

All is right in the world again, and I am so very thankful.

XOXO

A Sick Little Girl and a Worried Mama

Lately Hannah has been feeling under the weather. She's been sick off and on for over a month now. At first it was just a runny nose and a cough, but then she started getting fevers and vomiting  and her appetite has almost disappeared. Some days are good and we think she's finally headed back to her normal healthy self, then she gets hit again. I'm not sure if she's gotten multiple viruses, or if she's just not getting better from the same thing. I was convinced she had a milk allergy for awhile because she was throwing up every time she drank milk, but it's been a week since her last cup of milk and she's still miserable.

Yesterday morning Hannah woke up with a 105.2 fever. Wytmer got her temperature to go down with some Motrin, and brought her in to the pediatrician. After a long day of testing (nose and throat swabs, blood tests, and a chest x-ray) we still have no idea what's making her so sick. Her doctor thought it might be pneumonia, but the x-ray came back fine. Her blood tests showed a very high white blood cell count, and I guess that means she has some kind of infection. We had to get a urine sample at home (so incredibly hard to do with 2 year old), and we are now waiting for the results to come back from that. Her doctor doesn't want to treat her until she knows what it is because more than likely it is a virus. Meanwhile, my poor girl is so very, very sad. I'd like to say that I'm handling all of this well, but honestly I'm very worried about her. It's hard to see her crying in pain and I can't do anything to fix it. I want to just make it all go away. And of course I looked at Web Md and am now convinced that she has leukemia. But I know deep down that I'm just being irrational. Right?

This is by far my least favorite part of motherhood.

sigh


XOXO