8 Months + My Take on Sleepless Nights

Thursday, August 27, 2015

I don't know how it is possible, but we have an 8 month old! It is kind of a strange feeling. On one hand, it still feels like yesterday that we were welcoming Rowan into this world, but it is also hard to remember life before he was here! Dane and I are over the moon in love with the little boy that made us parents, and we love watching him grow everyday!

Favorite Activities: eating, NOT sleeping, sitting up, reading books, being outside
Favorite Toys: squeaky cow, stacking rings, and anything with a tag
Favorite Foods: blueberries, butternut squash, and quinoa
Number of Teeth: FIVE


Notice that one Rowan's favorite activities is staying up all night! Well, that wasn't always the case. You know that saying, "Be careful what you wish for?" Well, if you read his 4 month post you could say I had it comin'. We had a 3 month stretch of good sleep, and then BOOM...teeth came, and sleep went out the window. However, I have decided that I am just going to enjoy absolutely every second I can spend with my little guy...especially the seconds in the earliest times of the day, before the sun is even out. Someday, he isn't going to cry for us in the middle of the night, someday he isn't going to want us to tuck him in, someday he isn't going to need us to read him a bedtime story, and when that time comes I am going to miss every 3 am that I am getting to share with him right now! I love that boy to pieces, and he is worth a million sleepless nights...and many more! So, for now I will just live on sloppy kisses and coffee...and probably be sporting some crazy hair.


Snyder Family Vacation

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Well, we have been back from vacation for a while now. I have been meaning to get this post up, but life happened, a cold happened, and lack of sleep happened...again! I may have decided that routines are a fairytale. Anyway...here is a little post about our vacation.


Vacation was wonderful, and SOOO needed. It was short and sweet, but filled with family time and memories that we will treasure forever!

The trip started on a Saturday! Coletta, the three kiddos, and I all rode together. This was the Rowan's first long road trip, and I was a little nervous about how that was going to go. He ended up doing great! After sleeping the first half of the trip, Hattie and Rowan jabbered about who knows what until we finally arrived. There was about fifteen minutes of crying at the very end, but I will count it as a win!

We got settled into our temporary homes and let the kids take a nap, and then we all got ready for dinner. The first night was a luau complete with themed food, decorations, music, and games. We had so much fun!


After supper we went down to the beach and put our toes in the sand. Rowan LOVED it! It was the perfect ending to a relaxing day.


Each day was just as much fun as the first. Day two we did some shopping and had a western themed dinner with casino games...and the daddies showed up, which was great! Day three we did some boating and had a little fiesta! We had such a great time, and I could not help but think how incredibly blessed I am to be part of such a wonderful family!



Oh, and did I mention that Rowan slept wonderfully while we were gone?! I guess we are going to have to go on a permanent vacation...gotta do what ya gotta do, right?

Project List

Thursday, August 20, 2015

It has been a long time since I have made a project list on here! Actually, the last time I did it, the nursery was still being called a guest room/office. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to do it again, and maybe it will motivate me to get some stuff done. You can check out the last list here.



Porch:

  • Decorate...Am I the only person who has trouble putting holes in new drywall? I have added a decal to one wall, but there is a large empty wall that needs something, and I just haven't figured out what that is. 
  • Find shoe storage
  • Buy new rug (I am planning on picking up this one the next time I am at IKEA.)

Living Room: 
  • Get new window treatments
  • Finish gallery wall
  • Find new furniture - Dane and I have been on the look for new furniture, but haven't found anything that we love yet.
  • Paint the trim
  • Plank one wall (like this) - I can't decide if I want to do this or not...I would love your opinions!

Master Bedroom:
  • Hem the curtains
  • Build a full length mirror
  • Rebuild the closet

Nursery: 
  • Finish the trim around the door
  • Change out the outlets and light switch
  • Find a new light fixture/ceiling fan
  • Find a shelf or cart of some sort (I have been looking at this one.)
  • Finish organizing the closet

Kitchen: 
  • Update the kitchen table
  • Build a shelf behind the stove
  • Repurpose a vanity into a cabinet
  • Replace the countertops
  • Paint the cabinets

Bathroom/Laundry:
  • Finish shelving
  • Touch up paint
  • Find a new hamper
  • Finish trim
  • Replace a few floor tiles
  • Size and frame mirror

Patio/Outdoors:
  • Finish landscaping in the front yard
  • Clean off back patio
  • Find outdoor furniture
  • Hang lights
  • Refinish fire pit
  • Buy a swing for Row
  • Decorate
  • Repaint mailbox, house numbers, and light...so they all match

DIY Nusery Art

Saturday, August 08, 2015


I have finally completed a project...it only took about 7 months are so! This little project has been on my to-do list for a long time, and I have actually had most of the materials for months. What took so long to get it done? Well, I needed a stick. When I got the materials there was snow on the ground, then it kept raining, then I decided I would just buy one, then I couldn't find one that I liked at any home decor store, then I decided I would just look for one outside, and that is when I found this the perfect little stick for the job. Phew...that process took longer than it should have, I know! Anyway...I found a stick and whipped this up in about an hour.


The materials: 
String (I purchased the garland kit, so the string actually came with the felt balls.)
Stick 

Making this was really easy! I just used an embroidery needle to thread the balls onto the string, and then I tied the string onto the stick. I did make the string different lengths and tried to change up the pattern of the colors. I suggest threading all of the balls at once, and then cutting the sections off at the desired length. 


Originally, this was supposed to hang from the ceiling and be a mobile, but it blocked the attic door. It is probably better this way...it was super easy to install. We just put nails in the wall at three points where the stick touched, and then we rested the stick on top. 


I am pretty much in love! That wall needed a touch of something, and this was perfect! 

I also think it would be cute to tie the strings around an embroidery hoop, and then hang that from the ceiling! There are a lot of ways to execute this, but I really wanted the natural look of the wood. 

Want some more DIY inspiration? Click on over to Tatertots & Jello for their Link Party Palooza

Books for Babes

Friday, August 07, 2015

One of our favorite activities is reading! Rowan is a big fan of books, and that makes me one happy momma! We have several favorites, and our book wish list seems to grow pretty quickly.



Little Blue Truck is our absolute favorite at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if BEEP is Rowan's second word (because Dane made sure that Dada was his first). Your Baby's First Word Will Be Dada is another favorite! We can't get through the first page without smiles...probably because it has a cow on it! We also really enjoy Naptime with Theo and Beau, Guess How Much I Love You, Snuggle Up Sleepy Ones, and A Kissing Hand for Chester Raccoon.

We have a little collection of Christmas books in the closet that I can't wait to get out. I plan on changing up his book shelves for the different holidays (is that weird?), but I am especially excited about Christmas! AND I just found out that there is a Little Blue Truck's Christmas...that is going to have to make it's way to our collection!

Some of the other books on our wish list include Goodnight Already, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way, I Don't Want to Be a Frog, and Dragons Love Tacos. I am so glad that Rowan loves reading time, because I love reading to him...and I love finding fun new books to add to our shelves!

What are your favorite kid books?!