Waiting for Baby

    I’m currently 38 weeks pregnant and we are patiently waiting for the sweet baby girl who will complete our family. To say it’s a mix of emotions is a massive understatement; I’m dying to see her face and hold her but also savoring these last days of my last pregnancy and the little extra time with just the big kids before our world gets turned upside down for a bit. 

   I want to always remember the excitement Charlie and Maddie have for her arrival and how giddy they get whenever they talk about “their” baby. Every time I go for a doctors appointment (weekly now) they expect a baby to come home with me. They are so ready and it’s really sweet. The thought of them meeting her for the first time definitely brings on all of the tears and emotions- I’m really looking forward to that moment! When Maddie was born, Charlie was a baby himself at only 20 months old, so this will be a very different experience this time around. 

   If I’m being honest, I do worry about how our day to day is going to look and if Charlie and/or Maddie might have a rough adjustment. Maddie’s fourth birthday is next week right around my due date so I’ve been prepping some fun things to make it a little extra special for her (did someone say piñata?!) just in case baby sister crashes her party. Tim has also planned out some fun Phillies outings for Charlie so our big guy can have some special things to look forward to this summer, too. I know there will be good days and some tougher days and am kind of in the process of mentally preparing for that while trying not to worry too much and enjoy the ride. Soon enough this phase of life will be a distant memory so the theme of “savoring it all” is where I’m trying to lay my focus.

   Logistically, we are ready for her arrival. We set up a fun new bunk bed for the big kids to be able to share for a bit since our house only has three bedrooms. We figure we’ll pivot as needed with the bed/bedroom situation but it gives us more options for now. The only thing we are really missing at this point is....a name for baby girl! Please feel free to leave any and all suggestions as we are fresh out of ideas for this sweet girl. A boy name? Totally have one. A girl name? Not so much! SOS!

   We may have NO clue when this sweet little girl will arrive but I can say we are feeling abundantly and overwhelmingly blessed as we await her arrival. Life may be even crazier than normal for a minute, but she is so so loved and cherished already and soaking in the reality of that may just be one of the very best things in life.

❤

   

Life Lately

    Spring has finally arrived here in Pennsylvania and we are SO happy to be enjoying all that the warmer weather has to offer. It really makes such a difference to be able to get the whole crew outside a little bit more. 

Charlie at Bat 

   Charlie started T-ball a couple of weeks ago- his first team sport ever! He’s enjoying learning the ropes of the game but I think even just being around other kiddos has been so good for him. He’s excited for his first game tomorrow and we can’t wait to see our big kid in action!

More Playground Fun

   The nicer weather means we can get to the playground a bit more and that has been really nice. The kids love getting out to play and scooter at the park and sometimes we can even meet up with a friend or two which makes it even more fun!

Prepping for Baby

   I’m currently 31 weeks pregnant and can’t hardly believe it. This has been the weirdest pregnancy ever. I’m really trying to savor the last weeks of my LAST pregnancy. If I’m being honest this pregnancy has been significantly different than my other two and whenever I think about the solo ultrasounds, rushed appointments, covid anxiety, and delivering a baby in a mask I do get a little sad. But we love this baby more than words can express and the gratitude we have for her mixed with the excitement of holding her for the first time is worth everything it takes to get to that point. Doing little things to prep for her arrival has been so fun and the kids are really excited which makes it even more special. 

Career Shift

   My job of 6.5 years ended last summer when my office closed and I’m definitely trying to figure out “what I want to be when I grow up.” It’s a bit more challenging job searching this time around so I’m really trying to get creative. Any and all suggestions are welcome! 

Here’s to hoping the hope and joy that Spring brings is bringing you all happiness wherever you may be. ❤

And Baby Makes.... FIVE!

 The Snee Fam is growing! In June, we’ll become a family of five when we welcome our third (and last!) baby. I am 22 weeks pregnant and there is definitely no hiding this fairly aggressive bump now.  

   The first trimester was definitely challenging with severe, all-day and all-night morning sickness. I had bad morning sickness with Charlie and Maddie, but this was on another level. During this stretch, the fam ate way too much take-out, hence the lack of meal planning here for a while. I am pretty sure this crew is completely sick of Chik-fil-A and can go a good year or two before revisiting their menu. 

   Once I had my twelve week ultrasound and we got back our genetic testing results (thanks to my “advanced maternal age!”) we told our families and the kids, which has honestly been the best part. The kids are SO excited. The love they already have for “their” baby is the sweetest, purest love and it’s just the most beautiful thing to witness. Maddie has BIG plans for her baby and is taking her Big Sister role very seriously, while Charlie is loving being the leader of the pack and a seasoned Big Brother. 

   We are really excited to welcome this sweet little baby into our family and feel embarrassingly blessed that God has entrusted us with another precious child. 

   I thought it would be fun to document this pregnancy with a few “Bumpdates” here and there and selfishly want to have these memories to look back on someday when this phase of life is only a memory. So, here goes......

22 Week Bumpdate:

How Far Along? 22 weeks already which is crazy to me!

Size of Baby? Baby is about the size of a spaghetti squash, or roughly 11 inches long, weighing about one pound!

Gender? IT’S A GIRL!!! We found out fairly early on this time (early Dec) with the genetic testing done on baby. I definitely cried happy tears in my laundry room when the doctor’s office called and told me she was a healthy baby GIRL. Maddie is over the moon to have a sister and can’t wait to show her all of her Barbie dolls  Charlie asked if the NEXT baby can please be a boy, causing his parents to have a heart attack! (Sorry, buddy...)

Symptoms? I generally feel pretty good, just extra tired; the nausea does surface in the evenings still but carbs definitely help!

Loving? The kids’ excitement! The way they talk to baby girl is so sweet. She’s one of the crew already and so so loved.

Loathing? The pandemic pregnancy situation has been vastly different than my other two pregnancies. I definitely feel a bit more anxious about Covid and going to the ultrasounds alone has been a little weird, but overall we’re blessed so I remind myself this is just a part of her special story and arriving into the world during these times will be something we tell her about down the line.  

Movement? I definitely feel more movement now vs the flutters I felt a few weeks ago. I LOVE laying in bed at night just feeling her move all over. She still has plenty of room and is partying her little heart out in there- especially at bedtime!

Cravings? Unsweetened black iced tea with a ton of ice, scrambled eggs or omelets, toasted bagels, and randomly putting spinach in everything! 

Best Parts this Week? Feeling more movement! I love feeling her kicks and am just really soaking it all in right now.

Worst Parts this Week? It’s snowy and super cold so I am REALLY missing our good long walks outside but we are safe and warm at home and for that we are grateful.

Looking forward to? The fam getting to feel her kicks! 

Pandemic PreSchool Pivot

   Like everyone else, our plans for the school year changed dramatically due to the pandemic. We had each kiddo registered for preschool classes that we felt were a perfect fit. Big Kid Charlie was going to go to school four days per week and Maddie, having just turned three, was going to ease into her first ever school experience by going to a sweet little church nursery school two days per week.

   Fast forward to Fall of 2020 and both kids’ programs announced they were not planning to open at all due to the pandemic. I was honestly a bit relieved in a sense having had the decision made FOR me, because I can be a bit indecisive and struggle with making decisions like that. 

   Charlie had been in preschool the year prior and loved it. Since he is starting Kindergarten next year, we knew we needed some form of preschool exposure right off the bat for him. After researching a few options, we decided to sign him up for a recurring preK class on Outschool. We read class reviews and tried out a few different “one time” classes with fun topics like dinosaurs and monster trucks to get a feel for the teachers and see how he responded to the virtual learning format. We ultimately picked a preK class that meets regularly with a sweet and super enthusiastic guitar-playing instructor. 

   While I know he really misses the social interaction of an in-person preschool class, this has been a wonderful backup plan for Charlie. He takes his “big boy class” very seriously and really looks forward to it each week. I’m glad that he can be exposed to other people and other kids even while he’s at home and he is always excited to tell us what he learned that day. 

Showing off his completed homework

BYOG - Bring Your Own Guitar

   Now that it’s January, I think we will test the waters a bit with Maddie and see if this is something she might enjoy, too. Maddie is the type of gal that will play with her baby dolls for HOURS on end and is super content playing and crafting all day, so we will try out a few one time classes for her to see what sparks her interest. She’s shown some interest recently in school and you can often times find her walking around with a back-pack (full of Barbies). 

   It’s a major understatement to say parenting littles during a pandemic is.....complicated. Families all over the world have struggled to find their footing with the new schooling formats  and many have been forced to make tough decisions to make it work. I’m so grateful that there are safe, online options for virtual classes available. It’s honestly been a lifesaver for us and has really been such a positive experience for Charlie. Which leads me to..... how on EARTH is my baby starting Kindergarten next year??! ❤

Hello, Old Friend

    It’s been a while since I’ve written on this little blog. 2020 was a weird year (understatement of the century...) and truthfully I lost my motivation to share parts of our world. It seemed inappropriate to share happy things when people were suffering and it seemed to be beating a dead horse to vent about things that everyone was dealing with. 

   Over the summer, I lost my corporate job of 6.5 years. The time at home with my kiddos has been such a blessing and I feel so lucky I’ve been able to be safe at home, watching them grow and bearing witness to the special relationship and bond they have with one another. After working my entire adult life and adjusting to life as a working Mom, I’d be lying to say it doesn’t feel weird not having a job. It’s been a huge adjustment all around. 

   All around us, people have adjusted to major changes to their daily lives. I think the clincher that really sealed the deal on how different 2020 was for everyone was how the holidays were spent. Like many, we didn’t see any family for the first time ever over the holidays. It was a quiet, minimalist, simple Christmas.  I started putting away Christmas decorations this morning and in some ways it felt surreal that Christmas came and went without many of our usual traditions.

   Despite how different everything has looked and how much daily life has changed, one thing remains: 

WE. ARE. SO. ABUNDANTLY. BLESSED. 

   We are so very blessed. We have our health, we have one another, and we have our cozy home where we’ve been able to quarantine. We have luxuries like virtual preschool classes, grocery pickup or delivery, and FaceTime to see family members safely. Yes, we’ve had to adjust the sails numerous times this year, but how lucky are we that we have all of the tools needed to do so?!

   I’m ending 2020 by being so inspired by the resiliency of those around me. So many of my friends and family members have made tough decisions and have pivoted with such grace. I am so so inspired by all of you. Every single person faced challenges we never could have imagined, and here we are. We made it!

   As we sit on the precipice of a New Year, I feel so hopeful. Hopeful that better days are ahead. Hopeful that, at this point, we can tackle anything thrown at us, however crazy it may be. I hope if you are reading this, you feel some hope for the new year, too. We’ve got this, friends!

XO

Weekly Meal Plan

   I am really trying to get better about making weekly meal plans; It makes life SO much easier planning ahead and purchasing everything for the week. Right now, I am back working at my office and Tim is working from home while entertaining the kiddos, so planning is a must otherwise we are both too exhausted to prep and plan at the end of each day. This is what's cookin' in our house this week:


Monday: One-pan cheesy chicken, broccoli, and rice

Tuesday: Chicken fajita bowls; The kids love filling their "boats" - I make rice, chicken, veggies, homemade guac, and of course top with lots of shredded cheese

The kids love filling these fajita "boats" - Maddie calls it 'Moana's Boat' from the Disney movie

This is the rice I've been using- super similar to Chipotle

Wednesday: Homemade pizza + salad. I bought pizza crusts and let the kids "help" top them- Charlie really loves making pizza! {Using a ball of fresh mozzarella sliced for a margherita pizza- yum!}

Thursday: Hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, corn on the cob, pasta salad

Friday: Take-Out! TGIF! {Local Peeps: Our go-to lately really has been Venice Pizza in Malvern. They have curbside pickup DOWN to a science and their menu is huge. It also helps they're the nicest folks ever!}


Hope everyone is doing well and hanging in there! ♥

Life Lately

   Even though life lately kind of feels like groundhog day and there's nothing super new and exciting to report, I did want to document what life has been like during these unusual times. Sometimes I still wake up and think "is this really happening?" but overall life in quarantine has been overwhelmingly positive and I really think we will remember it as such.

We saw this on our walk one morning and it's an excellent reminder; Staying positive is so important

   It has been soo nice not having to rush everyone out the door in the morning every day; we really are appreciating the slower pace of life and the extra time together as a family. The break from the daily grind has been such a nice reset. Tim still spends his weekdays working from his basement "office" but I have had so much extra time with the kiddos during the day that has really been special.

Sissy snuggled up with her favorite book; it is such a blessing having this extra down time

   If you didn't already know this about us, we walk A LOT. We take multiple walks a day and I now truly have a thorough appreciation for how walkable our neighborhood is. Sometimes Charlie takes a scooter or bike, sometimes both kiddos ride in the stroller, and sometimes they ride in the wagon. We walk as much as we possibly can and I can honestly say it's a critical component of my sanity now more than ever.

Big kid on his bike! He really does so well riding his bike now

...And the scooter! He really moves on this

They love taking the wagon together

And Mama enjoys getting out in the sunshine!

Little besties being silly

   We also bake a lot! We used up some extra Easter candy in our cookie-baking recently. Both kiddos love to bake so this is a go-to activity for us, especially on rainy days when we can't get out and walk as much.

These were delish! (Also: I dont know how I ever baked without parchment paper)

My little helpers in the kitchen

   Tim celebrated a birthday last week and the kiddos enjoyed it as much (maybe even more?) than he did! Charlie baked cupcakes and both kids helped him open gifts. We got curbside takeout for dinner and it was a really nice day.

Happy Birthday, Tim!

This little peanut thought it was *her* special day

Homemade cupcakes for our birthday boy!

   There was a neat flyover close to the city last week, too, and the boys went to see the Thunderbirds. Charlie was enamored with the fighter jets and is still talking about how awesome it was. Dad was careful to practice safe social distancing with our precious boy and both wore their masks. (Thanks, Nani Akita! Best masks EVER!)

A view of the flyover from the art museum

Sweet boy in his awesome Batman mask

   Char has also been doing Zoom with his preschool class three times a week. He really looks forward to this and his awesome teachers do an incredible job making their virtual class-time special. Sis even joins in (ahem, butts in) occasionally to see all of the "big kids."

Zoom preschool is fun!

Sis loves to check out what they are doing, too

   We are spending as much time as possible outside in our yard every day. Tim started a garden full of fruits and veggies for this summer and the kiddos have been having fun playing out in the fresh air. The outdoor play really helps and they sleep so much better after a good day outside. I found this cute little playset on super sale in the middle of the winter and we just put it together. I am thanking my lucky stars for this little thing right now. They love it!

Swinging and bouncing!

This has been endless fun (and a huge help for parents' sanity)

   Speaking of outdoor fun, last week the kiddos were able to chase around our neighbors' chickens for a bit. Our little animal lovers had a blast playing with their chicken friends.

Charlie and the chickens

They really are SO cute

Maddie liked the baby ones

   Being home 24/7 has also made us more aware of all of the little things we want to get done around the house, so us grownups have been doing lots of house projects, both inside and outside. I have been obsessively planning the addition of another bathroom, so stay tuned for that project.

Home sweet home (with a sweet little pup at the front door)

I hope you ALL are doing well and finding peace during this crazy time. Sending you love wherever you are ♥

Let's Go for a Walk

   I've always been an avid walker; Ever since I was a teen I have loved to lace up my sneakers and go walk a few miles outside. Being home the past few weeks has given me more time to enjoy long walks around the neighborhood, which is SUCH a blessing. Add in the emerging Spring weather and it's been truly blissful, and dare I say therapeutic, to get outside and walk.

   I am finding the days where I can get in a super long walk (or two) are just better days. I have more patience, I feel less stressed and anxious, and I seem to have more energy and a more positive outlook. My kiddos luckily LOVE long walks and both of them do really well in the stroller so it's been such a nice, peaceful group activity, too.

My favorite walking buddies; these two love a good, long walk

On a nice day, there are tons of walkers out in our neighborhood

   As I've gotten older, I have realized how much exercise, even walking, affects my mood each day. On rainy days, I have even been trying to hop on our basement treadmill for a mile or two because it really does help so much.

   Lately, we have been discovering little "snippets of joy" around our neighborhood emerging more and more during this quarantine (our state has a mandatory 'shelter in place' and is thankfully taking this pandemic very seriously). I love the thoughtfulness of these things people are creating for their neighbors so I thought I would share some.

   One neighbor puts out a 'riddle of the day' on a white board; they always give me a chuckle when we walk by their house:

Why do bicycles fall over?  -Because they're two-tired  (haha)

   Another neighbor painted a beautiful religious display and adds a different 'scripture of the day' each day; it's always so comforting walking by and reading these reminds us there is a higher power watching over us:

They even have a prayer request box- so sweet

   Several houses fill their driveways with chalk art and uplifting and positive messages aimed at the street so people walking, running, and biking can enjoy:

Brighter days ahead, indeed

   Our walks have definitely been helping to keep us all happy (and sane!) lately. Even Ellie seems more chill and relaxed after a good walk. Sometimes while Maddie naps, one of us will take Charlie out for some 'big kid' one-on-one time and let him walk his doggie:

He looks like a mini teenager walking his dog

Ellie is loving this

   Another little highlight of our walks has been this super cute scavenger hunt of my closest girlfriends sent us. Charlie and Maddie both love this and the fact that it's pictures vs just words is perfect for our non-readers ;)   They beg to do this over and over and each time find different/new things. It's been so fun!

My kiddos LOVE this little scavenger hunt- Thanks, Tina!

   Our walks have really been such a bright spot during all of this. Have you been walking more than usual? Is anyone else seeing some cool/inspirational stuff out on your walks? 

XO♥

Easter 2020

Happy (Quarantined) Easter 2020

 
   I don't think when the year 2020 began any of us pictured spending the Easter holiday in quarantine...I honestly couldn't have envisioned this in a million years! When I was looking forward to and planning for Easter this year, I was picturing the kiddos doing the annual town Easter Egg hunt, a visit to the local bunny, precious matching outfits, and lots of fun spring activities. As is the case for all of us, life changed overnight.

   I didn't realize when I dropped Charlie off at school on March 12th that it would be the last day my kiddos got dropped off for their routine in any semblance of normalcy. Life since then has been completely different than our 'norm' of work, school, errands, and playdates. In turn, we've adjusted the sails to honor our 'new normal' and create a positive, joyful home for our kiddos. It's important that they see perseverance, flexibility, and stability from their grown-ups during these uncertain times. We wanted Easter to be a fun day for them full of the traditions they love.

   The day before Easter (Saturday), someone in town set up the "Easter Bunny" for drive-by visits right in the center of town. It was such a sweet gesture and the kids loved getting to "visit" the bunny while still practicing safe social distancing. We drove by (twice) so they could wave and say "hi"; they both loved this!

The fact that we could still "visit" the Easter Bunny is so special

Pure JOY getting to see the Easter Bunny in person

   Even during quarantine, the Easter Bunny still visits and brings treats. We ordered Easter basket goodies well in advance so that each kiddo would have some happies meant specifically for them. Maddie's basket included Rapunzel Barbie, a rainbow dress, some fresh sidewalk chalk, new 'big girl' underwear, and a Frozen art set. Charlie's basket held a new Phillies' jersey, a Hot Wheels carrying case and cars, sidewalk chalk, a Jurassic World art set, and new Spider-Man underwear (the E.B. does have a practical side....). Both kiddos loved going through the baskets discovering all of the treats the bunny left for them. They spent the morning playing with their toys and we made a big Easter brunch. It was a nice, relaxing Easter morning.

Maddie's basket

Charlie's basket

   After nap-time, the kids got to hunt for eggs. The bunny went overboard and hid 82 plastic eggs filled with little treats (mostly their favorite candy) which ended up being kind of perfect because at the height of the afternoon sunshine they spent a good hour collecting eggs, then another hour sorting and opening all of them. They loved doing this so much that the next morning they both asked if there was another hunt that day (sorry babies...nope). The fresh air and sunshine felt amazing and watching them have fun finding the eggs was definitely a highlight of the day.

Let's go hunt ♪🎵♩♪🎵♩

A blue one! His favorite color ☺

Expert egg-hunter

Her first egg hunt!

She learned the ropes real fast

This is fun!!!

Going off in two different directions...

...but always finding their way back to one another

A little sorting and a lot of snacking

Sorting all of her eggs ever so delicately

   While the day-to-day may look a little different right now, and certainly some days are easier than others, I'd say we have embraced our new normal and have found a new routine. We feel grateful we have the luxury of being safe at home being able to watch our kiddos grow during these uncertain times, fully aware that not everyone is able to do that. Whatever your circumstances may be, I pray you feel peace, comfort, and even some moments of joy right now.

Sending so much love to you all ♥