Fifty Two Pages | Feb 24 - Mar 2

It's Monday...which means it's time for #fiftytwopages!

It's a project on being intentional.  It's a project on making memories and keeping them alive.

It's your memories in Fifty Two Pages.

If you are new, click here for full details! :)

We are soooo ready for sun and warmth around here!  Olive turned 4 months and E climbed out of his crib.  Boo.  What did your week look like?

My #fiftytwopages collage --- Feb 24 - Mar 2

Will you share your collage?  Link up with the #fiftytwopages community on IG/Twitter!

Olive Ruth | 4 Months

Weight: 16lb (est)

Length: 22 inches long (est)

Likes: You are all about your hands.  If we don't have them swaddled down, they are in your mouth.  You are learning that those things can do something, and you control them!  You can get your paci out of your mouth, but can't quite figure out how to get it back in. 

You love your brother.  If you get fussy, we just put you in your bumbo and let you watch him run around.  You think that he's really funny...and you are right!

You also love baths.  You would stay in the water as long as we let you. We are pretty sure that you are going to be a little fish.  I see swim lessons in your future as soon as possible!!

Dislikes:  Still not a crazy fan of tummy time.  You will tolerate it a little bit longer, but not much.

Your biggest dislike right now is losing your paci.  Especially at night.  It's becoming a huge frustration for you and your mama.  We would appreciate it if you would either learn to keep it in your mouth, or not care when it falls out at night.  Please and thank you. :)

Milestones:

We know that you can sleep through the night, but you still choose not to quite often.  We think it has to do with you coming unswaddled and losing your paci.  But there is no consistency and no matter what we do, every night is different.  But you are sleeping through the night every couple of nights, so we will take what we can get!

You now eat 6oz every 3 hours during the day. We only feed you at night if absolutely necessary.  

You found your voice for sure.  You scream like a cat and it's the cutest little voice ever.  You like to be heard, and that means screaming over your brother.  Which is really loud.  I didn't think that any kid could be louder than Ellis, but you are already giving him a run for his money.

Still not rolling yet.  You've gotten really close a few times, but just haven't completely rolled without assistance yet.  You'll get it :)

Firsts:

You've started grabbing at things.  You will reach towards toys and your pacifier.  Oh and you have pretty good aim for mom's hair.   You don't quite know what to do with said things once you get them in your hand, but you're working on figuring it out!

You wore TOMs for the first time.  And real jeans.  I know, sounds silly, but it's actually pretty monumental around here :) 

Fun Fact:

You are quite the little chunker.  We say that with all the love in the world.  Your cheeks are pretty amazing and seem to somehow get bigger and bigger.  You are barely 4 months, but you are wearing mostly 9 month onesies and 6 month pants.  It's pretty hilarious.  And amazingly adorable.  

Happy 4 months Miss O!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

You can check out Ellis' 4 month post here!

Snow, Snow, Snow and Ice.

Around here there's nothing but snow.  Well, besides that huge ice storm we just had...but mostly snow. More snow than I can remember in a long time.

Most moments I'm very very over it. My soul longs for sun. But I had a moment of strength this weekend when Bryan asked me to come out and take some pictures of Ellis playing in the snow.

And I was newly inspired after reading this Shultz Photo School article on 3 simple tips for shooting pics of your kids in the snow.

(side note:  A lot of you have asked what camera I use and if I can share any tips on how I take pictures of my kids. I owe all my photo taking abilities to my good friend and photographer, Kyle Shultz. I worked as a graphic designer for him for 5 years and stole all the camera knowledge I could. And he's now bottling all of that goodness online and sharing it over at Shultzphotoschool.com. If you haven't heard of Shultz Photo School, go check it out now!) 

So, I grabbed my camera and my boots and got out in the cold.  I'm no pro like Kyle, but I definitely came away with some keepers!

 

Okay, sure. The pictures might be cute. But Spring... you are welcome anytime now.

Hi, I'm Kendahl, and I'm a terrible gift giver.

I'm no Valentine's Day expert.  I'm not much of a gift giver.  If you ask my husband, he'd say (with love and a big hug...) that I'm a terrible gift giver.

Bryan had a birthday last month.  I really thought this would be the year.  The year that I didn't give him an awful birthday present.  I planned ahead and started collecting ideas in a note on my phone.  He had to work that day, so I figured I would leave him to his day, and then plan a nice dinner and have a gift waiting.  I had a great idea.  He always talks about how he gets his best ideas in the shower.  He even tried to buy some kids shower crayons to write on the walls once, but they didn't quite do.  I found it.  A waterproof notepad.  It could hang on the wall in the shower, he could write and then when he left the shower, tear off the page and take it with him to remember!

Perfect. 

Small (because I was on a tight budget)...but thoughtful and planned ahead.  And paired with a nice dinner out without the kids, it was sure to be a hit.   

Fast forward to the day of his birthday.  To make a long story short I forgot to find a sitter, his gift arrived at 8 pm, and well...the aqua notes were lame...like extremely lame.  (I should have known...)

So, this Valentine's Day is a redeeming one for me.

I can't spoil any surprises, but I didn't forget.  Gifts are (almost) wrapped, and dinner is already in the crockpot. 

It's nice to hear that you are loved, but empty words don't make good gifts.  I can have the best intentions, but if I wait until the day before to order on Amazon, I'm going to end up with late, awful, aqua notes.  (It's going to take a loooong time to live that one down...)

As the adage goes, "actions speak louder than words..."

So go, be with your valentine today.  

-----------------------------

And here's my gift to you!  All orders placed today will receive this Valentine's Day print FREE.  

(No code necessary.)  Go shop now! ----------->

When I decided to stop fitting them in...

Ellis is at this adorable age where he has learned to "take you" places. Instead of just whining about what he wants without having the words to tell you, he now grabs your finger, with his insanely cute little hand, and directs you to where he wants you to go. This started out very practical. When I wasn't sure what he wanted, I would say "show me" and he would. Then it turned into a way for him to get what he wants. All day long he's "taking me" to the stairs (you know, so he can go up and get his paci from his bedroom). Or "taking me" to the box of animal crackers in the kitchen. He thinks just because he can take me there means he gets what is at the destination. Not so much, kid. :)

I was having one of those mornings. As soon as I finished changing one diaper, the other needed changed. As I was feeding one kid the other was screaming for food. I apparently then turned on the wrong cartoon because someone was not pleased. Oh, and all this happened while my to-do list for work and home was staring me in the face. 

Not enough time in the day. 

Just a whirlwind. Not bad, just hectic. I finally got the right cartoon on (crisis averted), Ellis fed, Olive changed, and sat down to feed her. Then it happened...  "Lego, Legoooo LEGO!" (let's go) he screamed. Over and over. Pulling at my hand. After explaining I was feeding sis, he just got worse. My Lassie radar kicked in, thinking maybe something really was wrong and so I put O down and followed. 

He lead me to the dining room, pointed at the ceiling and laughed.  Then ran away.  

"Seriously Ellis, I don't have time for this..."

I stopped and in the foolishness of the moment was kicked in the gut.

I don't have time for this?

For this.

For my son?  He's learning, exploring, and developing the cutest little personality...and I apparently don't have time. I hate that I said it, but I'm also so glad that I did. 

Because then I was able to hear my ugliness loud and clear. 

In that moment I realized what I had been doing...trying to fit them into my schedule. Feeding and changing all those diapers that morning was a nuisance because I saw those things as getting in my way. I have gotten busier with my shop and blog and graphic design work and somehow in the mess of it all I treated my kids as the add-on. 

How fast can I feed and get Ellis down for a nap so that I can blog?  

If I swaddle Olive up tight she might sleep for another 20 minutes so that I can finish this design even though I know she's hungry...

I'm not perfect. And I never will be. But at that moment I decided to start being intentional.  I decided to stop fitting my kids into my life

... And remember that they are my life.  

Ellis didn't get it. He wasn't hurt by my words. But I was. I was broken. And so I apologized and asked him to forgive mama. He just looked at me and laughed. And then ran away to watch his cartoon.  

I took that as a yes.

Fifty Two Pages | Jan 27 - Feb 2

++++++++++++++++++++++

Note: Apparently when I was prepping my posts for this week I was a day off on the calendar.  When this post didn't go up this morning I got to investigating and found I was off on everything.  

I would apologize, but it actually works to your favor. 

Because the BUY1GET1 coupon code for the BE Print Shop is still working through TONIGHT at midnight.  Ooops. :)  So, if you missed it over the weekend, today is your lucky day!

Again, all prints are still buy one get one free with code "BUY1GET1" through the end of the day!

++++++++++++++++++++++

It's Monday...which means it's time for #fiftytwopages!

It's a project on being intentional.  It's a project on making memories and keeping them alive.

It's your memories in Fifty Two Pages.

If you are new, click here for full details! :)

I've had a lot of questions lately about how I add the date and which collage apps I use.  

I try and keep all the most asked questions in the "FiftyTwoPages FAQs" menu button at the top of the blog! :)  If you check that out and still can't figure something out, please don't hesitate to email me!

Here's my collage for the week:

Fifty Two Pages | Jan 27 - Feb 2

What did your week look like?  I'd love to see your collage!  

The #fiftytwopages tag works on FB and Twitter, but most seem to be linking up on Instagram.  Share your collage and use the #fiftytwopages tag to share your collage with the rest of the #fiftytwopages community!  There are so many great collages out this week already!

----------------------------------------------

Also, apparently when I was prepping my posts for this week I was a day off on the calendar.  When this post didn't go up this morning I got to investigating and I was off on everything.  

I would apologize, BUT it actually works to your favor.  Why you ask?

Well, because the BUY1GET1 coupon code for the BE Print Shop is still working through TONIGHT at midnight.  Ooops. :)  So, if you missed it over the weekend, this is your lucky day!

Again, all prints are still buy one get one free with code "BUY1GET1" through the end of the day!

BE Print Shop + Giveaway

+++ a little hint: read all the way to the end (or scroll down if you're impatient) because there is giveaway info AND a coupon code +++

So, the BE Print Shop is now live. 

___________________________________________

When you check out the new BE Print Shop, this will be the first print that you see. This is the heartbeat behind all our new designs. We pray that these prints would be more than pretty art.  

We pray that these prints encourage + inspire the young hearts in your lives to be exactly who they were created to be. 

We, as parents, have to be intentional. 

I designed this next set of prints specifically for my son, Ellis. When you read books on parenting, he falls into what they so kindly call the "free spirits"...which we all know is just a nice way of saying "wild child".  He may be wild + crazy but he has the biggest heart.  He is so full of joy that he radiates a room with his laughter.  His eyes are so full of life.  But I know it's a scary world.  And I know how easily that childhood innocence can be stripped away.  My prayer for him is to "be brave, dream big, and soar high, little one." 

...And I'd love it if you prayed it over your kids as well.  So, I've giving away this set of "Little One" prints.  Along with my favorite pair of earrings from my friend Ashley, over at The Poppy Chain. (because who doesn't love an amazing pair of earrings?!)

___________________________________________

If you stuck with me this long, you can now head on over to the BE Print Shop to see all of our new prints! 

Oh, and all prints are BUY ONE GET ONE FREE through Sunday at Midnight with code: BUY1GET1!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Apology to working dads...

This is an apology.

From all moms to working dads...

We are sorry.
We are sorry for the mess.
We are so sorry for the clutter.




We are so very sorry for the dirt and crayon and paint.  The cheerios mashed in the cracks of the hardwood floors.  The playdoh that stained the kitchen table.

The dishes all over the kitchen when you get home.
The living room that looks like a tornado.
The piles of laundry that don't seem to ever get smaller.
That spotless house that you left behind when we decided to have kids.



We really are sorry for this mess.
But its not about the actual mess.

See, what we really are sorry about is that you don't get to see it.  We are sorry that you miss the mess.  We are sorry that you don't get to experience the memories behind that mess.

Bryan,

I really am sorry that you weren't there to celebrate that Ellis learned to drink from a cup for the first time.  All you saw was the water on the floor from the 85 times he did it wrong.

I truly am sorry that you missed the time that he made the connection between the block and the right hole that it goes into.  All you see is the 300 blocks on the ground.

Im sorry that you missed the amazing game of "stop!" Go!" that we played for at least 30 minutes.  All you see is the destruction that came of all the running and stopping and dancing and laughing.

I hate that you missed bath time.  Sis loved the water and she just giggled at her brother the entire time.  He kept pointing and saying "sis" "sis!" and it was really really cute until he pooped in the bathtub for the 800th time and we had to get out in a hurry which left the mess of towels and clothes and toys all over the bathroom that you found.

I'm sorry that you missed the impromptu dance party right after lunch.  The one that included pants on our heads and making an absolute fool of myself all to get a grouchy toddler to stop crying...all you saw was the highchair still covered in food when you came home for lunch.

Mostly I'm sorry that you see piles of unfinished laundry when I see an afternoon of snuggles from a baby girl that just wanted her mama.

I am sorry.  I really am.  Because I know you would love to be there.  I know that you want to be a part of these memories.  And I know it's hard for you to understand when you come home from a long day at work.





Please know this:
I appreciate you.
I appreciate what you do so that I can be there.  So that I can make the mess with our kids.

Moms...lets promise to start telling more of the stories.  Because your husbands weren't there.  And all they see is the mess.

...and it's so much more than just mess.

_______________________________________________________

| SHOP NEWS |

Just another reminder that the new BE Print Shop will be open this friday with a big reopening SALE!

And make sure to enter our giveaway on IG (@klthrock) ...one lucky winner will win 10 free prints!

Fifty Two Pages | Jan 20 - Jan 26

It's Monday...which means it's time for #fiftytwopages!

It's time to collect your favorite photos, make your collage, and share it with the rest of the #fiftytwopages community!

If you are joining us for the first time, click here for full info and details.

Olive turned 3 months old this week.  Insane.  I geared up on Thursday to take her monthly photos, and just when O was making the cutest face...it happened.  

"Cannot save photo, you have no storage available"

Have you been there? I have so many pictures and videos on my phone that I couldn't even save one more photo.  I missed the moment.  The only silver lining is that it made me get my real camera out and in return got some pretty awesome photos that I couldn't have captured with my phone.  

Does this happen to you?

Do you have so many photos on your phone that you are overwhelmed and even out of space?  Do you just dump them onto a hard drive and hope that you will do something with them some day?

This is where #fiftytwopages can help.  :)  I still dumped all 1700 photos onto my computer (because I am a crazy photo hoarder) but I knew that my absolute favorite pictures had already been used.  I knew that they weren't going to just get lost in a folder on a computer.  They were in a collage, saved on my computer, ready to print into a book later on.  It took the guilt away from all the picture hoarding.  

Maybe next time I'll work on paring it down a little.  Maybe :)

Here's my #fiftytwopage collage for the week:

Would you share yours?  

Link up over on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the tag #fiftytwopages!

_______________________________________

| SHOP NEWS |

Just a little reminder that the new BE Print Shop will be open this friday with a big reopening SALE!

And make sure to enter our giveaway on IG...one lucky winner will win 10 free digital prints!

This little dude.

Coming off of my last post, I wanted to make one thing clear...

I am absolutely crazy about this little dude.
His messy clothes.  His wild hair.  His goofy smile.  He melts me.

He made me a mom.  And I look at him daily and thank God for him.

Looking through my phone I found these pictures from the other day.  A seasonably warm January day.  We had just gotten home from church.  Olive was inside sleeping and Bryan had a lunch meeting.  It was just me and him.  A mama and her boy.

It was nap time.  He hadn't even eaten lunch.  But I know my son.  I know his heart.  I know what he needs.  And it's been a long, cold winter around here.

He needed to be outside.  He needed the sun.  He needed to run.
...and I needed to see him in his element.  Pure joy.

It was good for both of our hearts.