Holy Frickin’ Freezin’ Frijoles! It has been FOREVER since I blogged last!

I was waiting for this lovely blog design revamp to be completed; and then life happened. Sitting up, pulling up, eating solids, a trip to Dallas with mommy, AND a trip to the ER for mommy happened! (More on that later gator.)

Anyhoo, I am so excited to be up and running and blogging again and have tons to talk about! First things first though…look at this awesome blog design! Thank you so much Chelsea, from Yours Truly, for your expertise. This is fabulous!

Feel free to poke around and see what my little family is all about. Also, take note of my “Fitness Blog Friday” section! With a background in corporate wellness and fitness, I will jot down a few fun tips and tricks here from time to time. Feel free to message me if you have a topic idea in mind!

Switching gears, I am so thankful for this time of year with my new family. Experiencing things like it’s the first time and having a blast doing the small things to make Tallan’s first Christmas special. Both my husband’s and my family were together in KC this year, making things super fun, loud and just a tad bit redneck. (No comment on which side brings that trait to the table.)

 

I’ll leave you with some fun family pics I snapped on the phone, as well as Fall photo shoot pictures I just received back from Wendy at Cantwell Creations here in Kansas City. We absolutely LOVE the way she captures the joy Tallan has brought to Matt and I. Wishing ya’ll a very Happy New Year! Yeehaw! (Damn, just gave away who’s the redneck-est of them all.)

The boys: (from left to right) The hubs Matt, my bro, my Dad & father in law

                

Vegas Baby!

Last week was my 27th birthday. (I'll pause while you gasp in shock at how old I am!)
Well, happy birthday to me - my hubbo took me to Vegas for a long weekend! This however, was not the "SURPRISE! - I'm whisking you away for a romantic weekend," type of sitch. Oh no no no, mommy needed a few weeks to wrap her head around this.

Mid-October, after confirming my mother was available to stay with our dear Tallan, Matt had told me about this birthday trip. First of all, because we needed a game plan for bottle/sippy cups, neither of which Tallan had ever taken before. (Who could blame her, have you seen my boobs!?) Secondly, my sweet hubbo knew, though I love the romance of a getaway, that I would need to prepare myself for my first night away from baby. For his thoughtfulness, I am so grateful. Muuuuah!

After confirming with the pediatrician that my daughter would not starve, typing and notarizing a Medical Emergency Form, and creating a Mimi cheat sheet, we were off for Vegas baby!On the agenda - a fancy dinner out, some adult beverages, sight seeing, and a Cirque du Solei show all in 48 baby free hours.

We had a fantastic time! I am so grateful to make new memories with the man I have known for over a decade, and still find silly, funny and oh so charming. The adult beverages took the edge off the little pangs of homesickness felt throughout each day. How sweet it was to realize the hubs felt the same way when we both shared a couple tears over sushi on our last day there.

Headed to dinner @ Bobby Flay's MESA Grill

Reaching the milestone of "weekend away from baby," has sparked some reflection. Here goes:

• Yes, I can still look presentable and talk like a grown up!
• I am so excited to be able to get away with Matt. Thanks pharmacy school!
• The "pump n dump" concept is the most unnatural thing EVER.
• My mom is a saint. Tallan is now a sippy cup pro after ZERO meltdowns.
• Sending a man through airport security with a breast pump to explain to TSA is the best way to get a good chuckle. 
• Whoever said "home is where the heart is," must have had children.

Needless to say, my birthday trip was a total success! Husband and wife time will never, ever be overrated.

Our Little Hoot Hoot

Yesterday marked our first holiday with Miss Tallan. We were so excited to dress her up! Keeping trend with our current obsession, Tal dressed as an owl. She was the most adorable little owl we'd ever seen. (We aren't partial...at all.)
Of course, mommy had to glam up her costume a bit with a homemade bow, duh!

 She will be 7 months in a couple of weeks, and we have learned out little pumpkin is a whopping 19 pounds 2 ounces (90th percentile,) and 27.5 inches long (95th percentile.) Ummmm, is this my child? Proof that these boobies are more than just for show people!

We have photo shoots galore scheduled this fall, along with family visits and a hub & wife only trip to Vegas (yea, don't get me started on the anxiety I feel about this...that's a whole 'notha blog!)

I'll leave ya'll with a few shots from our Halloween spent with Tallan's grandparents (Hub's side.) Can I get a hoot hoot for this little cutie!?

Much love to you all,
Tara Faith 

Mommy Hobby or Hindrance?

I've spent countless minutes browsing Etsy, and just a "couple" of bucks on cute little baby hair bow bands. I have grown obsessed! Nothing seems to scream "I'm a bald baby GIRL" like the hair bow, right?

I like to think of myself as a creative type...nothing too fancy, but I can accomplish the occasional DIY task.
Inspecting my latest bow band purchase the other day, I thought, "I can do this!...maybe." So I set out to try!

Inspirational Pinterest instructions in hand, I have been experimenting with fun fabrics and sufficiently burning the crap outta myself with the glue gun for a couple weeks now. I am loving the results! I've made hair bow bands for friends, placed floral flowers on ear warmers, and pinned them to my favorite scarf! The accessory options for these cute little guys are endless! I'm thinking of buying canvas totes and dressing them up too!

The hubbo sparked a question last night. Etsy shop? Hmmmmm, will this turn a fun little hobby into a burdensome hindrance? It would cover the cost of supplies. Decisions decisions. Any thoughts?

Enjoy a quick snap of my latest florals to attach to bands or beanies or ANYTHING. Also, check out Miss Tallan Hope sporting a mommy creation.    

30 seconds...GO!

Feels like Fall in Kansas City!
I have had a Fall Tallan Hope picture in my head since she was born; and yesterday, Matt and I finally made it happen. I pictured a cute, chubby, nakie baby, in a new handmade owl hat, sitting in a pumpkin, looking perfectly Fall Fabulous! This concept turned out to be harder that I thought...but produced the exact photo op I was hoping for...and a couple more memory makers. 

For the quick shoot, I am grateful for my OCD/Type A organization and planning. 

1- Buy large enough pumpkin for my plump little peanut
2 - Hollow pumpkin and carve leg holes...easier said than done
3 - Scope out fun little "fall-ish" spot in the front yard

4 - Prime the location with quilt & pumpkin / test shoot for perfect depth of field (ooh big words!)
5 - Daddy brings out baby Tallan, only in her cloth diaper, owl beanie and leg warmers
6 - We realize our genes have given Tal a bubble butt and this baby booty WILL NOT FIT!

PLAN B
7 - Momma cuts the entire back out of the pumpkin to make room for Tallan Tush!
8- Sitting in my photog spot, allowing daddy to place Tal in her pumpkin, I am READY!

Welp, Matt and I had about 30 seconds of shooting before Tallan let us know pumpkin wasn't her outfit of choice. We called a wrap on our photo session not even a minute after we started...BUT not before we got the perfect little shot I had been hoping for. 

It took a little snuggle and lotta boob before she forgave me.
One day, she'll look back and thank me for her awesome picture....I HOPE! 

Finally...an Outlet

Woo Hooo! I had a baby 6 months ago and finally, I am getting around to the blog I planned on starting when she was born. Ain't that the way things go?

After having Miss Tallan Hope in April, I promised to never bomb facebook with every silly pic and happening of our day to day as stay at home mommy & baby. I broke that such promise. I find myself in a constant state of "overshare-don't care" to keep our family and friends posted on our new family adventures. Not finished with facebook, but yearning for a fresher outlet, I am here now. Discussions on cloth diapering, nursing in public, dear hubbo, poops and milestones?....Yes, please, to all of the above (yet I will save those for a later date.)

For now, I would like to congratulate my little fam on our most recent accomplishment - a vacay.
Four flights, four days, beach bums, boobies, and here's the kicker - ZERO meltdowns! Yay Jarvis Family!