baby news – the Spiff

This Girl

April 23, 2019 No Comments

Say hello to Elianna Elizabeth!

She came into this world about a month ago with a head full of hair that we snuggle every day (it’s so soft!).

While she didn’t take as long to get into this world as her brother did, she did ring in with a head a full inch bigger than his. Lordy, my children and their giant heads.

Speaking of her brother he’s totally in love. He runs to the nursery when I’m changing her to help soothe her cries and tries to talk to her in the same baby voice we do which is always hilarious.

Life with a girl is different in so many ways already. I’m still getting used to putting together little girl outfits that are littered with bows (I’m so not used to bows). But I’m having fun translating my style for her which will only get easier as she grows.

Postpartum dressing has been a little easier this round. I was more prepared for what to expect with a post-baby body this time. I would love to write more about that later, because in all my searching there wasn’t much out there for postpartum style advice.

Until then, enjoy these pictures of our little doll and stay tuned for more Spiffy content!

PS: I can’t say enough about Taryn Yager Photography. She is a magician when it comes to children and getting them to smile for the camera and her pictures are individual masterpieces. I can never pick just one!

Beauty, style

A Spiffy Girl

September 21, 2018 No Comments

When I say we’re going to need a bigger closet, I mean it.

This week we announced news we’ve been relishing in ourselves for almost three months now – we’re having another baby!

I was excited to get all the details out at the same time – the fact that it’s a girl and her name is Elianna (middle name TBD).

The idea that I’ll be dropping “Dude” and Dinosaurs for “her” and bows (also TBD, haha I’m trying to work up a love for bows currently) is still settling in, however, she is truly an answer to prayer and I am resting in the fact that God will equip me to be a mother to this little sweetheart.

I’ve had this name picked out for over 15 years – before I even knew my husband. In Hebrew it means, “God has answered.” And boy, is that spot on! We’ve been believing for another baby and He has answered in the perfect way.

There’s so much more I can say but I’m still in processing mode so it’s not coming out as smoothly as I’d like.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in our excitement!

Beauty

Jackson Update: 10 Months

June 3, 2016 No Comments

WE ARE IN DOUBLE DIGIT MONTHS, PEOPLE.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard how fast it goes, I could pay for Jackson’s college education already.

At first, it annoyed me to hear so often how fast it speeds by, but then I realized two things:

1. People aren’t going to stop saying it. No matter how much you pay them.

2. Instead of getting annoyed, use it as a reminder to soak up every moment.

So I’ve done that since day one (because I started hearing about it 10 minutes after the strip said “Prego!” – which is barely an exaggeration). I have to say, it’s helped me not feel as if it’s flown by at lightning speed.

Just a little public service announcement for all you moms out there.

Here’s what Jackson’s been into these days…

Everything.

Alright we’ll see you next time! Ha, I could end there because it is an accurate answer.

But I will get more specific…

Skills:

He can crawl, pull up and feed himself.

Last night he fed himself a whole plate of carrots! He served himself too as the carrots were in a bowl designed not to topple over while babies ate out of it. He fixed that and dumped it over onto the highchair. Problem: solved.

He’ll eat anything but always gives you a “what is this you’ve stuck in my mouth?!” face to something even if he’s had it before.

He is so proud/excited to stand up. 90% of the time when he pulls up or you stand him up, he gives this proud “look what I did” kind of laugh and looks around to see who saw it. Love that.

He is pointing a lot and uses that same index finger to pick up food. I could watch that little finger come out and scoot a puff into his palm for HOURS.

Character Traits:

He giggles the most right now when you try to startle him. I was acting silly one day (ha, one day) and I would pretend like I wasn’t looking at him then ah-BOO! And oh my goodness – hard-core belly laughs.

The best noise on the planet.

Still into things that bang together. And definitely into things in a basket – more specifically things that aren’t his designated toys in a basket. *rolls eyes

Overall he’s chill and always so happy (except when Mommy tries to get him to nap without being held, Ha!)

Gosh, I love this kid. :)

Fashion, Videos, wbir, west town mall

My Cool Cat’s Fashion

March 9, 2016 No Comments

From the very start, I knew what I wanted Jackson’s style to be – mixed patterns and layers with a hipster kid feel.

My style has an undercurrent of edge and I wanted to highlight that in the things he wore. So far, it’s been hard to weave all the black and white I’m envisioning into his wardrobe (that color combo is missing from the boys section), but with the help of GAP Kids and some great bibdanna’s I’ve been able to keep the layering and the mix prints going strong.

GAP Kids has the best collection of pieces for your little ones that can stand on their own, but then layer to really create personal style. Of course I don’t want my kid looking like everyone else, because I don’t want to look like everyone else.

So I love the idea of buying individual pieces that I can mix and match and use to create my own looks.

Watch my video below for some really adorable spring outfit ideas for your little ones!

It was just here that I was announcing the fact that he’d be a boy, now I’m looking at 9 month sizes. Oh Lordy, Lordy.

Beauty

Half a Year of Jackson

January 22, 2016 No Comments

Those little cutie cheeks and everything attached to them are about to be 6 months old!

He is growing and changing so much these days. It’s a far departure from the sleep all day, suck down some food and then sleep some more. Now I feel like I’ve got to watch him every minute while he’s awake so I don’t miss something!

My favorite thing he’s been doing lately (for a little over a month now), is laughing.

I wanted to document the list of things that make him laugh so I can ~~make fun of him for it~~ reference it in the future…

Fart noises
Noises made into any spot on his neck
Our dog Zack when he’s trying to hack up something
Mommy jumping up and down

I can already tell, this kid’s got my perfect sense of humor ;)

He loves to grab his toes and oh, by the way, he’s sitting up on his own! He’ll wabble for a second, but it’s so neat to see how their little muscles develop and start to hold him up where before he’d just collapse to the side. Not that he doesn’t topple over every now and then, but you don’t have to harness him up like he’s about to mountain climb. Maybe just pad the area around him.

We’re swimming in a sea of slobber. I mean it. We come home, put on our wet suits and just swim around in it everywhere. Lord help Mommy let go of her unstained clothes as they fill up with baby dribble. (That was a legitimate prayer).

And snow happened this week so he got to sit in it. No sledding with Mommy yet, right now we’ll just sit.

Coming up on half a year with him renews my desire to just enjoy the here and now. I believe that has truly helped it not feel as if it’s flying by. I constantly check myself to make sure I’m not lamenting over time passed or wishing away the present to when he’ll be walking, talking, etc. I make it a point to have a moment each day where he’s the only thing on my agenda. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes, it’s me and him (and Zack cause he gets in there too) and we’re just there to play.

As cliche, overused and trite as it sounds…enjoying the moment really makes a difference.

Have a fun weekend everyone!