Let's Rewind to December 24th 2015

David and I always talked about having two kids. I was an older sister and David was a younger brother.  All along we thought we would give Max a sibling…but  one year turned to two and then three and then all of a sudden Max is four and we were enjoying watching him grow and we were this awesome little unit of three. BUT it was decision time, now or never.
So there we were…Christmas Eve morning staring at a positive pregnancy test, once again saying to each other, “Shit- what do we do now!?” It is equal parts excitement and total fear, knowing this is what you want but the full reality of it can be completely terrifying!
YOU are bringing another life into this world!
No pressure.
…We have hosted Christmas at our house since Max was born, I love it- cooking the big meal, having all family under one roof- it reminds me of when I was much younger and all going to Nana’s. Family.

2015 was a busy year and everyone was spread out for various reasons. We ended up having a smaller group of Myself, David & Max, My Parents and David’s Parents. David and I had decided that morning how we would tell everyone our “big news” and it felt kind of perfect just being our parents and Max.

I cooked the traditional meal of beef tenderloin, yorkshire pudding,mushroom gravy and asparagus…I poured myself a nice big glass of red before sitting at the end of the table (knowing it was my last one for a while). David and I looked at Max- he had that Christmas grin that stretched past ear to ear and I said, “We have one more Christmas present for you”…

“Would you like a little brother or little sister?”

Without.skipping.a.beat.

“NO”

Once the disappointment of not getting the 87th batman figure wore off- he was very excited about the big brother role and our parents were ecstatic too.

DUE DATE: AUGUST 30TH 2016
COUNTDOWN BEGINS.

Without going into long, drawn out details (because this post is already getting lengthy) it pretty much went like…
I’m tired,I’m old,I’m sore,I hate people, we are having a girl! really a girl?! Almost done, not really, I’m old,I’m sore. I’m on top of the world, I can do this, BOOM-Wonderwoman! I’m tired, I’m old, I can do this! What were we thinking!? I’m sore, all I want to do is lay and get pedicures.

 As hoped- I went in to labor a week early (just like Max)!
Our sweet girl, Charli Pye Hedrick arrived at 5:58pm on August 23rd 2016.

What an incredible day when you feel your life is complete once that little girl arrived. We are now a family of four, an even playing field of boys against girls.
  

Meaghan

Max's Big Boy Cave

Way back when I posted this little teaser with several paint samples I purchased at Lowes. Then life got  busy and alas…I failed to post a follow up to what exactly I was using those great colors for!
Let’s rewind back to Max’s first ever room in our old house. I had so much fun decorating it and getting it ready. When we moved to our new home, I decorated it very much the same:
 

Shortly after we moved, I started planning what I wanted Max’s big boy room to be. I am not a “theme” person but I wanted to incorporate some of his favorite things like star wars and also make it a room that he could grow up with and just have to modify furniture and bedding.


Because I am a glutton for punishment, I used a quilting hexagon pattern and painstakingly traced out hexagons in two sizes, taping off each one with painters tape before tracing the next.







             this.took.a.long.time.

In the end, it was worth all the time and effort…

 

*When I was pregnant with Max I saw this image and HAD.TO.HAVE.IT.

Once I was thinking clearly, I realized if I spent that much on a bookshelf-my husband would divorce me- no matter how PERFECT it was for the nursery!

Before Max was born my very talented father in law surprised me with this handmade bookshelf and he even carved Max’s name on the bottom-it was truly perfect and holds much sentiment.

       

It’s all in the details…

star wars bookshelf prints, light switch decal, “ Gentleman Rules” print

When I needed a bedside table for Max’s new room, I sketched out what was in my head and gave it to my hubby and… voila! he created it!

Another small detail that I have to give all credit to my hubby for are the Darth Vader knobs to the bi-fold closet doors (I’m not the only one who enjoys a trip to Hobby Lobby…ehem)

Max loves his big boy room and I loved creating it for him, even though it meant letting him get older, but I guess that was inevitable!

Meaghan

Cousins

David's Aunt bought an incredible house in Lexington that needs A LOT of work, but no one is better suited for the project than Jan.

With the passing of David's grandmother a couple months ago we all went up and spent the night in Lexington . MawMaw Hedrick was 93 years old and lived a full life, she will be missed.
It was a nice time to be together, enjoy family and enjoy the munchkins. Life is precious and tends to go by a little too fast. I was trying to capture some pictures of the kids for Christmas gifts and I succeeded! I don't think anyone reads this blog so I don't mind sharing before the holiday :)

Seeing these little ones together reminds me of my childhood and the memories of all my cousins. Cousins are partners in crime at a young age- there's a special bond similar to a sibling, but they don't annoy you nearly as much...
I hope Addy, Max and Lia will always be close and I hope that even though our newest family member, Landon is further away that him and Max will be close and create these types of memories

Making Traditions

Christmas...
December in general has a different feel...
It warms your nose and brings the edges of your smile up a little further. I remember before I was even pregnant with Max- I was excited for my future "kid" -I couldn't wait for holidays and traditions....some old- some new.
Wanting your child to feel the same happiness you experienced in childhood. You think you will remember all you want to do- and the years go by faster than they feel.
The Holidays, especially go by in a blink. Still wondering where November went...

Nana always got all the grandkids advent calendars for Christmas- like clockwork Dec. 1st we had a flap to peel back and if we were lucky...there was chocolate.
Such a simple thing that meant so much when you are so young. It was a moment to look forward to... those carefree,sugarplum moments that lasted a whole month before a fresh New Year!

Georgie Girl NYC was a blog that I followed years ago and she did a post on a book advent .
I LOVED the idea and made note to remind myself in a couple years to do the same thing.
This year is the 4th year and has been the most fun because I feel like Max really looks forward to the book before bed- it's kind of "our thing". I have replaced a few books each year with more "age appropriate" books and i hope its a tradition that sticks.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

PEG BOARD ,SHMEG BOARD

The Craft Room- My Sanctuary. 
When we first moved to this house the 3rd floor was a mystery [David thought maybe a golf simulator] and then it slowly developed in to the craft room...

David,bless him was very patient and "created" whatever I thought up....one of the first things being a wrapping paper hanger....truth is- I HAVE A LOT of wrapping paper and it takes up space and honestly it's not that neat on a roll. As I worked in the space and moved things around and organized, it was evident it had to be modified. I loved my peg board and it's cheap, so why not do the rest of the wall? So we did.
I love the large bike hooks- they contain several rolls without making it look disheveled. I reconfigured a lot of the hooks and shelves and just cleaned up and organized.

It's a common joke that I spend more time organizing the craft room than actually crafting....but I don't care. I still get an overwhelming feeling of joy and creativeness in this space. I have surrounded myself with pictures and memories of people and places. Little reminders of Nana peak through all nooks and crannies..., it's a space I can be messy, a space to escape and best of all a place

to show Max that it's okay to color outside the lines-get paint under his nails-use his  imagination and most of all, a space to remember...

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Cake season

Stay tuned...