Life By Nadine Lynn - Page 100 of 336

baby

Dear Zoe – A Letter on Your First Birthday

Dear Zoe,

As I was getting things ready for your party yesterday morning, Daddy and I both turned and looked at you just walking by yourself in the living room. You paused to look at the TV and we both looked at each other and mumbled some comment about how it is so weird to see our tiny little human walking around looking like a toddler in our living room.

When I was pregnant, everyone kept telling me how fast time was going to go. I just politely smiled and laughed. But no, seriously, time flies. I remember laying on the operating table in the OR and hearing the doctor telling me to open my eyes so that I could meet my daughter. I remember fighting the cloudy haze I was in and opening my eyes and seeing you stare back at me. I whispered the words, Hello, Zoe. And my heart literally swelled and grew so much. I instantly felt this incredibly overwhelming love for you. I was so silly to worry when I was pregnant if we were going to bond right away. Of course we were, how could we not?

Those eyes of yours can move mountains and turn my day from horrible to amazing with one look from you. Your smile lights up my entire world. You have changed me in so many ways, all for the best. I am filled with such love, fear, wonder, pride. I know that I am not perfect. I appreciate that you are patient with me as I learn my new role as a mother. You have taught me so much. Patience, how to function on little to no sleep (haha!), to trust my gut instincts, to trust that you will show me what you need, and how much love I truly have to give. (Way more than I could have ever imagined.)

You went from this tiny little sweet smelling newborn who I cradled ever so delicately, to a smiley drooly happy baby who learned how to sit up. Then you started learning how to scoot around, which eventually lead to crawling. You were so proud that first time you pulled up to stand on your own. And now you are walking around the house pointing at everything with so much pride in your eyes. You are going to learn and grow so much this next year, and I am going to promise to do my best to be present and soak up every moment I can.

You have the most incredible snuggles, the best laugh I have ever heard. You have the sweetest little voice, and you might give a better side eye than me. Your personality shines through everything you do.

On your first birthday, my wish for you is that your smile is always so big, that it reaches your eyes. That you keep your sweet disposition and your hilarious sense of humor. That you remain curious and give yourself grace. That you still clap for yourself and keep your sense of pride in everything you do. And my main wish is that you know how truly loved you are. You are such an incredible little girl and I know you are meant to do great things.

I love you forever,

Mom

December 4, 2017 by Nadine

Friday Favorites

Favorite Moments: On Monday I grabbed a salad from Moe’s! I hadn’t been there in so long. It was delicious.

Wednesday, Chris asked me if I wanted to meet him for lunch. It is so nice to have a day date together!!! We went to Shiki and I had massaman chicken and enjoyed every last bite.

Zoe loves turning pages in her books and being read too. Makes me so happy to see her looking at them randomly during playtime too!

The pure joy on her face lights up my entire world.

The flags are out all along the street on my route to work Wednesday. I guess they were out for Thanksgiving? I love seeing them again.

Favorite Recipe: I am getting ready for another round of Whole30 in January. Starting to pin all the things!!! Although this Sweet Potato Pizza Bite recipe says Whole30 friendly and dairy free, one of the ingredients listed in the comments is cheese. Just skip out on that if you are trying to stay true to the diet.

Favorite Lusts: Has anyone tried this shampoo? I saw it and wondered if it’s claims for hair loss and fuller hair was true. It seems to be all natural and cruelty free.

I went to Ann Taylor on Tuesday and they were having a 50% off sale. Unfortunately, my store didn’t really have anything I wanted in my size. I went to order some of the stuff I saw online until I realized the sale was over. I hope they do another one in December!!! These are the items I will keep checking back on!

Love this houndstooth shirt!!!

This shirt is such a gorgeous color!

I really loved the Kate Fit dress pants that they had. They fit soooooo good on me. Unfortunately, they only had ankle cut and I really need some trousers or more professional looking ones. I noticed it said they are dry clean only. Has anyone washed them on the delicate cycle in their washer before? I have zero time for a dry clean run.

Favorite Funnies:

Linking up with Amanda. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

December 1, 2017 by Nadine

baby

Smash Cake

I knew before I even got pregnant that if I ever had a baby, I would want smash cake photos. I just think they are absolutely adorable and a great way to capture the huge first birthday milestone. And also the milestone of your very own first cake! My photographer wasn’t available to do them until a few weeks after Zoe’s birthday…and that didn’t make much sense to me. So I looked at Chris and said…we can do this ourselves! I don’t quite think he knew what we were in for. None the less, Chris has some photography equipment that he purchased several months ago that we never even took out of the box and it gave us an excuse to at least get the lights out.

Anyways, the tutu Zoe is wearing was purchased when I was pregnant. I put it on her around the three month mark and took a few pictures of her then but was saving it for a special occasion. The pearl necklace is mine, and we just got a pack of bows for her hair a few weeks ago at Target and since the headband that matches the tutu no longer fits, I thought the bow was perfect!

The cake stand is from HomeGoods, I swapped out the black bow it came with for a pink one with white polka dots. Publix made the smash cake, they are also making her birthday cake for this weekend. The tassel banner is from Hobby Lobby, the colorful pendants and gold string lights are from Target. The top pink blanket is an Aden and Anis (present at baby shower) and the white throw is Kate Spade from TJ Maxx.

Zoe didn’t get as into the photos as I would have liked. I think the lights were too bright, we did it right after she woke up from a nap and all she really cared about was eating the icing. I can’t blame her there. I love icing too! I feel like they turned out really cute though. All the photos I am sharing today are from my iPhone 7. Chris took many with our DSLR but if I waited until we downloaded and edited those, she might be two before I shared them. Haha! If you are coming to Zoe’s party this weekend, pretend like you are shocked that you will get one of these sweet pictures to take home, ok?! And now for the photo dump.

November 30, 2017 by Nadine

weekend shenanigans

Weekend Shenanigans – The One With All the Food and Shopping

It is always so hard to come back to work and reality on Monday after a long weekend. Especially when that weekend included so many delicious eats, shopping, and one frustrating football game. But I dont want to talk about that last one, ok?

We kicked off the holiday with an early dismissal from work on Wednesday. I didn’t hesitate to pack up my stuff and head on out to get Zoe. She was so excited to see me so early! Her and I went and picked up some snacks for the weekend and ordered her smash cake and birthday cake!

I decided to make French toast for us on Thanksgiving morning while we watched the parade. Hopefully a new tradition. Zoe didn’t care to much for the parade, but she loved her French toast and ate the entire slice I gave her, crust and all! She was a good eater all day, and tried a bit of everything at both lunch and dinner! Here is her first Thanksgiving lunch plate! She even had ham and turkey (not pictured).

We go to Chris’s parents house for a late lunch and then my mom’s for dinner. We were all beat after all that eating and traveling and headed home. Chris went back out that night with our BIL to do some shopping, while Zoe and I snuggled up and watched a Christmas movie.

Zoe with her all of her cousins on Chris’s side of the family

Friday, Zoe got her first Black Friday experience. My mom and I have been shopping every year (except last year when I was hella pregnant) since and this year it was so surreal having Zoe out with us! Next year she will probably stay home with daddy since she will be more mobile, but I think she liked all the excitement this year. She was really good the entire day and only got fussy once when I was in the fitting room at Nordstrom Rack. Grandma walked her around while I finished up there and she was happy once again when I took her to go try on some shoes. That girl loves shoes. She did give me a look before lunch that told me she was over it. Hahaha. I don’t know where she gets those facial expressions from. ~~Me.~~

Parmesan truffle cheese fries from Cowfish for lunch

We had a lot of fun shopping with my mom and I even got someone crossed off the Christmas list.

Saturday was Iron Bowl and after we got a little cleaning done around the house, we headed over to watch the game with Chris’s dad. We spent a lot of time shaking our heads and yelling at the tv. We still have hope that *maybe* we can make it into the playoffs?!?! That evening after we got home and got Zoe to bed, Chris hung out with J in the basement and I decided to try a Christmas movie on Netflix. You guys. I have never cried so much during a movie since Marley and Me. I chose The Heart of Christmas with Candace Cameron Burre and….just cue the tears. The movie is about a woman who learns of a little boy that is dying of cancer and it changes her outlook on life. I didn’t realize the movie was based off a real family and so at the end, I wasn’t prepared to see pictures of the actual little boy. It was such a good movie, but so so heartbreaking. I had to watch Home Alone after to get it off my mind!

Sunday, my sister and one of my nephews came over and went grocery shopping with us. I picked up some Mexican on the way home for lunch. When we got back, we put Zoe down for a nap and started prepping props for her smash cake pictures!!! We did them ourselves because our photographer wasn’t available before her birthday and I really wanted them done now. I think they turned out pretty good and I will be sharing them soon!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and Thanksgiving!!! May your Monday be filled with coffee and go by quickly! Linking up with Biana.

November 27, 2017 by Nadine

favorites, friday favorites

Friday Favorites

My mom and I have been doing Black Friday together since I was 10. I absolutely love our tradition and that is where I am today! I am not out for anything crazy this year, normally we just pick up some Christmas presents and do some clothes shopping for ourselves because there are some killer clothing deals out there! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! I hope my walking around all the stores burns off some of the calories I consumed yesterday. I have no limits or control when it comes to delicious holiday foods!

Favorite Moments: Had lunch with Laura Monday at Babalu. Of course their enchiladas, tacos and table side guac are amazing…but they seriously might have one of the best burgers in town!!! Look at this thing!!! The fries are delicious too. mmmmmm

Tuesday I had to run an errand over by Brookwood so I stopped in Chick Fila to collect my free 3-count chicken strip (I am forever a nugget girl, but free wins) and I ordered a fruit cup instead of fries because balance and Thanksgiving or something.

Selfies with this sweet girl are always my favorite.

I was getting the shaft from Influenster for a lot time, but this past week I received two packages from them and one from Smile360! I will share all of my thoughts, of course!

Favorite Recipe: After all those delicious eats at Thanksgiving, it is time to go back to paleo/keto type foods again! Well, until we start baking Christmas things! These sweet and sour meatballs in the crockpot sound delicious! I think I might prepare them on a Sunday and we can have them during the week!

Favorite Black Friday Wish List Items: I went to Loft earlier this week to scope out what I wanted to try to get on sale today. These are my top picks! I already tried them on so I can just grab my sizes and go!

This shirt is so pretty in person and I love the bright red. Perfect for Christmas activities and still wearable all year.

This rib trim grey sweater with the split sides was so flattering on and felt sooooo cozy!!!! I cant wait to scoop it up. Will look so cute with so many things!