Five on Friday - Molly Anne's Week

ONE:
On Tuesday after work/school we played out back with her water table and other toys.  This is one of her favorite things to do and I think Mills equally enjoys it!
  

TWO:
I had to take Molly Anne with me to meet with our builder one morning this week.  It honestly isn't the safest place for a toddler but I keep my eyes on her like a hawk.  She definitely knows where her room is now.  Permanent stairs got installed this week and the 1st to 2nd floor ones are gorgeous....they curve out at the bottom.  

Laying out the cabinets and kitchen island in the background!

THREE:
This child loves running and jumping on Mills' bed every morning and evening.  She giggles the entire time!  This week, Molly Anne has really started talking more in sentences.  Last weekend at Target she literally narrated her way through the whole store.  Crazy!  One day this week she walked into Becky's, stood by Alexa and said, "Ms. Becky can you play music please?"  

FOUR:
Music class is wrapping up for this session and she's had the best time having Emmerson in her class!  These girls are so sweet together!  We are swimming this afternoon with Emme!

FIVE:
I was supposed to go to Vegas on Sunday for work.  It's the largest commercial real estate conference in the country and I go every year.  My client decided a week ago that they aren't going so there's really no point in me going.  I'm bummed to not see some other friends out there that I only get to see once a year but it'll be nice to be home with my people.  We have some fun plans this weekend.

House Update - Cabinets

Something that I didn't expect to be fun has actually been one of my favorite things so far.  I think because our space is coming to life!  

Last Thursday I met the cabinet guy at the house and went through each room talking about what cabinets we will do.  Well mainly bathrooms and a few other areas.  

So here is our kitchen that we are trying to figure out what to do with.  I love the symmetry of this back wall.  We have 10' ceilings so we are deciding if we should go to 8' or 9' with the cabinets.  The top level of cabinets on the picture below just seem like such a waste to me because we'll never use them but maybe they make the space look better?  These cabinets are to 9'.

Here is a picture of cabinets to 8'. 

And here is a picture to 9' without the upper cabinets and instead taller cabinets.  Kind of leaning towards this.  Thoughts?

Butler's pantry cabinets.  I don't want a bunch of glass front cabinets but we do want a couple so that's what this shows.  Any thoughts on this area?  Any must haves for the bar?

The below picture has our fridge area on the left (microwave on the right midway) and our island on the right.  We are going to make some tweaks to the island because we don't like the shape of the post on the bottom right and a couple other things.  Definitely wanted the cabinets on the opposite side of the island, at your feet as you sit at it....good storage space.

In the powder room, we may do a furniture piece like the below to save some money.  This one is a steal at $899 on Amazon.  

As always, your thoughts are welcome!

Matchy Matchy

To be honest, I'm not the biggest on being matchy matchy with Molly Anne.  I don't know why but I never have been.  Actually I don't think we've ever matched in our Lilly.  Maybe because she has all of the newest and cutest patterns and my Lilly is from 2010 and earlier?  Ha!  The life of having a child and wanting to buy them ALL THE CLOTHES!  Let's be honest, my child is much better dressed than I am.  And I love it!

This week one night I was surfing the web and saw this adorable print on Lilly's website.  You know when certain things catch your eye and you're like, "I must have this?!"  That's how this print was for me.  So today I'm going to get her this dress.  

And I may just try this dress on for good measure! ;)  I like how it is a swing dress so sort of forgiving but sometimes swing dresses make me look like a balloon and I'm better off in a tailored shift dress.  We'll see.  

Maybe this will be our first matchy matchy outfit?!  Oh my!  

Mother's Day 2017

Sunday was Mother's Day even though I'm thankful for my Mama and getting to be a Mama every day!  Molly Anne gave me a sweet card that morning.  She and I went to the Farmer's Market and to get a few bundt cakes for dessert that night.  

Ms. Becky had the girls make these for their Mama's last week.  It has Molly Anne's thumb prints all over it making the little decorations.  So cute, right?!  Now I just need to plant the gorgeous flowers!  They also baked muffins for us.  Becky is so thoughtful!

Back to Sunday....we had a little photoshoot where this one just laid down on the kitchen floor haha!

After taking some pictures, the three of us went to my in-laws to celebrate with them.  My FIL grilled a wonderful dinner - steak, shrimp, veggies.  Delish!  We ate on their back deck and enjoyed the weather.  It was the perfect evening!  Miss Molly Anne was the entertainment of course!

We did lots of FaceTiming with my Mom throughout the day.  My parents had sent me a really nice J. Crew gift card last week with the cutest note on it and they sent my sister in law her favorite flowers!  We are thankful for my SIL Emily because she really is the best Mama to my nieces.  I look up to her Mama-skills a lot!  We are excited to see them soon!

And Kevin surprised me with a super sweet card and told me to go get a couple things I've been wanting - a new pair of workout shorts and some summertime perfume.

It was a nice day with my people!  I love being Molly Anne's Mama!!!!

Chris Stapleton

Good morning friends and family.  On Friday afternoon this one had a mouthful of string cheese but I just thought she was too cute.  Well I always think that, let's be honest.  But I couldn't get enough of her little Shep Shirt and boots with shorts.  

We decided to take her to hibachi Friday night for a little treat.  We had only been once since her first birthday and that time we didn't get a table where they cook in front of you because we didn't have a reservation.  Anyway, reporting in - she LOVED it!  She giggled so hard when they flip the zucchini into everyone's mouth.  

They have children's chopsticks where they are held together with a rubberband on top that she loved using.  She practiced on raisins while we were waiting for our food and she really had it down pat!  She ate everything we did - she loved the shrimp and noodles the most!  After dinner, we slipped by and checked on the house which has become our Friday night tradition! 

Saturday morning we hung around and then I slipped out to meet my friend Margot for a mani/pedi at Polished.  It had been a loooooong time since I had done this so it was a huge treat.  Plus, it was Mother's Day weekend after all! ;)

After nap, Kevin took Molly Anne to his parent's house and Mills and I hung out.  AKA we played ball for awhile.  

Kevin had surprised me with tickets to Chris Stapleton for our anniversary.  It was SO FUN.  We tailgated with some of my work friends.  They had rented a huge party bus and made shirts.  They were such a crazy and fun crowd.   

Kevin wearing Laura's sunglasses.  Chaos.

When Kevin bought the tickets, the only ones left were for the PIT!  So we were in the very front and standing room only.  It was actually really cool.  This is looking out from the stage.  Gorgeous evening!

They were so amazing...true artists.  His wife, Morgane, got teary at one point and you could just tell she was overwhelmed with how loud the crowd was.  They said it was the best crowd they have ever had.  Very cool!  

Sunday morning early I went to grab Molly Anne from his parents.  Mother's Day recap is tomorrow!

Five on Friday - Bunco For Babies, Music Together, Windows

ONE:
On Tuesday night I had the pleasure of attending a fundraiser for military families with young children.  Our friends April, Sarah and Kristen put it together for the Susan M. Tillis Foundation!  Everyone purchased a ticket and brought along a new baby item (diapers, wipes, formula) for donation.  A local wounded warrior family was honored and given a new wagon and convertible car seat.  They had a silent auction as well and in total raised over $1,500!  Proud of my friends for making a difference!  Great job girls!










TWO:
Got these in the mail this week with some stationery for Molly Anne too.  I love these stickers to put on birthday gifts that Molly Anne gives to her friends!  So easy.  I got them from this Etsy seller!
 


THREE:
I've discovered that Molly Anne knows about everything that I don't think she knows about.  In the past, she's had a hard time with us leaving her with her favorite babysitter Kathryn but now I've decided to tell her that Kathryn is coming before she comes.  Well guess what?  That solved it!  She has been fine since I started telling her about things instead of just surprising her with stuff like that.  Also -- she can go get her own shoes from her room and put them on.  And she can go find something I can't find.  I'm going to start letting her do this stuff!  
 

FOUR:
We have been going to Music Together since September and have really enjoyed it.  Molly Anne loves Ms. Maureen!  Yesterday we got there early and I took a couple pictures for her baby book (we aren't allowed to take pictures during class)!  It has really made Molly Anne blossom with music and she loves it.  I'm sure you all can imagine but Molly Anne is alllll over the place during class.  One of the mom's told me yesterday - "Molly Anne is going to be a leader in whatever she does in life!"  That was such a compliment and I really appreciated it!
  

FIVE:
You don't wear boots in 80 degree non-rainy weather?!
 

Bonus:
Yesterday I happened to be at the house when the guys were installing our windows!  Took them about an hour to install them all!  Check out this before and after picture of the breakfast area!

 

 

Crazy right?!!

We have been inundated with decisions this week.  I met with the cabinet guy yesterday for a long time which was our first of many meetings.  We are rearranging the layout in the jack and jill bathroom, doing some neat things in our kitchen and butler's pantry.  Can't wait to share all of the little details we are doing!  

Kevin and I are spending time every night after Molly Anne goes to bed working through our to do list of decisions for house stuff!  Trying to visit a fireplace tomorrow morning.  And maybe looking at bluestone for our covered porch.  Whoop whoop!

House Updates - Sliding Glass Doors

This week's big decision is all about sliding glass doors!  And we have three options - good, better, best.  They also rank like this - $, $$, $$$.  Know what I'm saying?!  So tell me what you would do!

Here's the set up - we have a 12' wide opening between our den and covered porch.  We imagine opening that up to have a large, combined open area of these two spaces.  The only thing is that we would probably only use it in the spring and fall because of how hot summer gets here.  The 12' opening sounds super cool and amazing but let's be honest of exactly how many days in the year we will use it.  We are really trying to build our house not for the 5 times a year we entertain but for the other 360 days of normal day to day practicality.  Not to mention, it costs a lot more.  Maybe I'm trying to convince myself that Option 1 is okay?  Anyway, let me know your thoughts!  

Option 1 -
This is what is included in our budget/loan.  The two center panels move, the side ones stay stationary and open to be 6' wide and the doors would pretty much look exactly like this.

Option 2 - 

This would be about a $3k-4k add to our budget.  Three panels would fold to the side and one would be stationary, giving us 9' of open width.  

Option 3 - 
This becomes even more complicated because these doors can fold like shown below or they can go into a pocket door.  This involved changing our framing and building walls out to accommodate the doors and tracks.  Actually option 2 does too, hence the large increase in cost from option 1.  This is roughly an $8k add.  But how awesome would this be?!!!  $8,000 awesome?  I am kinda thinking - not so much.  

(all images are via Pinterest)

Sooooooo what would you do and why?!!