This baby hates Italian food and reading and scrapbooking.
But it loves Cadbury mini eggs. Like LOVES. It also loves jalapeno kettle chips.
We shall name it Cadbury Jalapeno Howell. Has a certain lovely ring to it, doesn’t it?
xoxo
This Kid…
Two days ago I watch her step on stage and audition for Aladdin.
I sat in the chair and just looked at her. Really looked. And my eyes filled with tears.
She’s nearly nine. NINE. How is it possible? I feel like it was just yesterday that I met her for the very first time. She was sunny-side up and took her sweet, indecisive time coming into this world. Out, then in. Out, then in. Much like the sweet, indecisive girl she is now.
She was born with a head full of dark hair and her daddy’s eyes. And my world was never ever the same again.
I watched that dark hair and those dark eyes as she confidently sang with a big smile on her face.
And it physically hurt my heart.
She is so beautiful. And so kind. And so infuriatingly picky. And so talented. And so utterly, completely HERSELF. All big teeth and long legs, constantly singing and fighting with Sadie. Sometimes in the same breath.
She is independent yet needs me so much. She doesn’t want me dressing her (or even giving my opinion!) yet she still wants to hold my hand when she’s scared. She has her first crush but she’s too sweet and innocent to even look at him.
I see glimpses of preteen in her. An errant eye roll or sigh. And she feels so bad the MOMENT that those things happen she apologizes over and over and over – with a look of abject terror on her face. As if she can’t even believe that she just did that!
She is over the moon excited about this baby. You should have seen her face when I told her I was pregnant. PURE, unadulterated, TRUE joy. Because that’s her.
She is joy. And light. And love. And she is becoming a young lady and I couldn’t be prouder.
Go get ’em Harper! You will rock that townsperson/ensemble role. I just know it! I am so proud of you.
xoxo
15 Confessions on the 15th | March Edition
1. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know it’s the 16th. I’m just proud of myself for getting this post written at all!!!
2. Whenever a friend starts a new exercise or diet program (especially CrossFit and Whole30 for some reason) I find myself praying that they’ll still retain the ability to talk about other things besides said program. I know, I know. Maybe it’s selfish. But I hate it when the obsession is so complete that they can’t talk about anything else!
3. I took the girls to see Cinderella last night. We loved it. Not only was it beautiful to look at (but why the Jose was her waist so small???) , I loved the Have Courage Be Kind piece. Sadie whispered “Mommy that’s kind of what like you always tell us!”
4. I’m listening to The Girl on the Train on Audible (I just signed up and chose it as my free book – I was number 2938402384 at the library). I’m super engaged but it’s just NOT FAST ENOUGH!! I need the real book in my hands so I can race ahead and read at the speed of light. Sigh.
5. I hate that I’m only blogging once a week, if I’m lucky. I just don’t have the energy or desire to write more. But I’m not the same when I don’t write here! I’m seeing the light at the end of the first trimester tunnel and I’m praying I’ll be back to myself soon.
6. Speaking of the first trimester, I’ve been so….WEIRD. I told Jimmy that I’d turned into an introvert. That I didn’t really like people and that all I wanted to do was sleep. And he said… “You’re turning into ME!” Hahahaha! I’d like old Stephanie back stat. This doesn’t suit me!
7. I’m in the midst of planning our Spring Break. I’m looking at Paris/Normandy, Krakow, and Prague. I know that I’ll never again in my life have Spring Break options like this. So I want to take advantage. Especially while its just the six of us.
8. I’m addicted to The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Some of it is seriously stupid humor. But what can I say, I’m not above that. HA!
9. I just ordered my very first Kikki K Planner. The pink one was on sale so I scooped it up. I have a feeling I’m going to be obsessed. I haven’t had a proper planner since my Filofax was stolen and my nerdy organizer heart is so excited.
10. I have been a disaster at math my entire life. Like really, truly, pathetically BAD. Y’all…Harper’s third grade math homework is so damn hard. What in the world would I do without Google? I honestly don’t even know what half of it means. Are all of you never going to come back now that I’ve admitted the depths on my Math issues???
11. Harper is auditioning for Aladdin tomorrow and I’m so nervous for her. It’s so nerve wracking watching your child, your heart make themselves vulnerable. Don’t you think so? I never get better at it.
12. I hate Italian food since I got pregnant. Despise. Pasta literally makes me retch. Pizza makes me gag. It’s horrible! But I’m so grateful that there hasn’t been morning sickness (I was SO sick with the other 3 pregnancies) that I’ll take it.
13. I’m very homesick (America-sick?) lately. I love it here, but I miss the comforts of the USA a lot. I wish it wasn’t so hard to get back home because I’d love a little visit right now. I need some Mexican food and a Target trip!
14. Whenever I tell people we aren’t finding out the baby’s gender they say WHY?? And I never know quite what to say. Ummm…because we want to be surprised? 🙂
15. I never know what to say for number 15. I feel like it needs to be interesting, and then I just get stuck. So I’ll just say I’m done. Yes, I’m a cheater.
xoxo
S
Stitch Fix Maternity
I’m so excited that Stitch Fix is now offering maternity clothes… I had to blog about it!
I’m planning on using and reviewing the service the next six months and sharing my experience with y’all.
I got my first box last week and I was too lazy to photograph everything. I know- off to an illustrious start. HA! I promise I’ll have more energy soon.
I ended up keeping a cute dress that will accommodate a growing belly, a striped top:
and a fuschia long cardigan:
Since I’m at the beginning of the pregnancy, I don’t think anything in my box was officially maternity, but it was all soft (jersey, etc), comfy and long.
I have another box coming in a few weeks and I won’t be lazy with that one, I promise. HA!
If you sign up make sure that your due date is correct in your profile. And like I always say- BE SPECIFIC in your feedback/wants/needs. Super specific. Then your stylist will take it from there.
I still maintain that Stitch Fix was one of the best things to ever happen to me style-wise.
Happy Wednesday, y’all.
xoxo
I am a Stitch Fix affiliate, which means that if you purchase anything through my links I will receive a small commission. I don’t share anything I don’t love and believe in.
As We Speak…
Watching // 30 Rock (Yes, I know – why in the WORLD did it take me so long? , The Theory of Everything (I think my eyes are still puffy) // Nashville (it’s so soapy and i LOVE it.) // Whiplash – watch it. NOW.
Reading // Sobbed my way through Tell the Wolves I’m Home and trying out a few things since but I haven’t been fully engaged yet.
Listening // Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. Clearly I’ve turned into a 16 year old girl.
Making // Not much of anything, sadly. Making a baby I guess. HA!
Feeling //
TIRED. Exhausted. And I kind of hate everything I usually love. Reading, crafting, Italian food. Crazy right? My mom says that my babies steal my personality the first three months and that that’s why my kids have such big personalities. I kind of love this thought and that’s what I’m holding on to.
SCARED. I’m a lot older this pregnancy than I was for my others and that is scary to me. Trying to take care of myself (I hired a personal trainer the day I found out I was pregnant) and rest when I can.
Love you all. I miss sharing here. Hope I’ll be “back” soon.
xoxo
S