Saying goodbye: The sale of our first home.

This last weekend we met the movers and they packed our home in Oregon up.  After two days of packing, all of our belongings were loaded into a truck and headed towards Seattle.  We handed our keys over and left our very first home for the very last time.  I felt a feeling of relief that the house had sold and that we would finally be able to get settled in Seattle, but I couldn't help but feel a little sad.  It was the first home Eric and I had ever owned.  We spent so much time and effort making it our own and just the way we wanted it.  And if I'm being totally honest, I was super bummed about leaving Sloan's gorgeous nursery behind.  I had spent so much time planning and perfecting her nursery, I don't feel like she ever got to enjoy it!  BUT, I know that as long as I have Eric and Sloan, I can truly be happy anywhere.  We have an incredible life in Seattle and I know this move has been such a blessing for my family!

And now it's time to unpack.  Unpacking with a very mobile 9 month old should be interesting to say the least!  Wish us luck!!!

Adventures with Woo.

Sloan and I have been busy, busy, busy meeting new friends and exploring our new city.  I have to say, I am falling deeply in love with Seattle.  We have met some of the most amazing moms and babies.  I cannot think of a time in my life where I felt more content.

Here is Sloan on some of our latest adventures!

Green Lake, Seattle.

Snoozin' on mama at Target.

Evening stroll down to the market with Eric & Woo.  So beautiful.

Starbucks Monger... wonder where she gets it from?

Woo is OBSESSED with this guy who lives downstairs in our building.  You can't see it in this picture, but Sloan has a mouth FULL of scone... the only thing she wants to eat these days!

The Starbucks Monger at it again.  Oh and yes we go to Starbucks in our PJ's and a giant fuzzy bear hat.  You don't???

"WHATTTT??? A cart just my size?!  Sweeeeet!  Ok Mama, you hop in and I'll push you around."  -Woo

Yawns after a very long day of playing.

My (not so) secret belly butter recipe!

When I was pregnant, I made my own belly butter and by some miracle I did not get any stretch marks during or after pregnancy.  I don't know if that is because I made this belly butter, or if it's genetics, or if it's just luck?!  But, I can't help but think that this helped!  I rubbed this on my belly, hips, and thighs every morning after taking a shower.

A TON of friends have asked me for this recipe, so I thought I would share.  I got all of the ingredients at a store called Super Supplements.  I found these little plastic containers at New Seasons, they were for people that make their own lotions and soaps with a twist on cap.  I'm sure you could use little tupperware containers too. 

Ingredients:
1 jar of organic coconut oil 
1 container of organic cocoa butter 
1 container of organic Shea butter 

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a pot so that they can melt together (just spoon it out of their original containers into the pot).  The cocoa butter might be hard to get out of the container as it is the most firm.  I tried to break it up with a knife or fork and then poured it into the pot.  After everything is melted, pour into containers or tupperware and store in the refrigerator overnight.  I would make a few containers at a time and store them in the refrigerator until I was ready to use them.  

I sure hope this helps you mamas!

-Marisa

Raising a city baby.

When Eric, Sloan, and I moved into the city, I initially thought that the city was no place to raise a baby! I immediately started picturing us buying a nice big house in the suburbs. BUT after living in the city for the past couple of months, I have absolutely fallen in love with it! Don't get me wrong, I am definitely an Oregon girl... But I am having a love affair with Seattle. It has so quickly become our home. Sloan and I are so active and are making so many friends. We walk everywhere... which is good since I haven't worked out since I was pregnant!

Our house in Oregon sold this week (Woo Hoo!). So now the house hunting begins! Hopefully we can find something that is just right for us.

Feeling pretty darn lucky to be living this life.

Sloan and her friend Ruby watching the construction workers from our apartment.

Sloan hanging out in her bedroom.

Happy New Year!

Hello 2014!

I cannot believe we have already said goodbye to 2013 and are now welcoming 2014.  2013 was an absolutely incredible year for my family.  Eric and I shared our highest highs and some of our lowest lows.  I am so thankful for the high moments that we shared.  Obviously welcoming our sweet baby girl is at the top of my list!  Our family and friends have been so incredibly supportive of us as we navigate parenthood.  I am also so thankful for the amazing opportunities Eric has had in his career.

Eric and I said goodbye to someone we both loved so very much in 2013.  Fred, we miss you so much and think of you all the time.  I tell Sloan all about you... especially how quirky you were... and how much you loved all of us.  We find such comfort knowing that you are in heaven watching over us.  Sometimes in the middle of the night when Sloan wakes up and I see her reach right for her pacifier (eyes still closed) on the monitor, I feel like you are sitting there in her crib and put it right in her hand.  You loved your little "sweetheart" so much, I wish you could have had more time with her. Thank you for being our angel now.

2013 was really an incredible year, I am even a bit sad to see it go, BUT I look forward to what 2014 will bring my family.  I have so much to be thankful for.  Sometimes it scares me because I feel so lucky.  I don't think I've done anything good enough to deserve this life, but somehow it's mine.  Somehow my amazing husband and sweet little girl are all mine and I am keeping them!

Cheers to an amazing new year!

Xo,

M

Christmas

Sloan's first Christmas was so amazing!  Eric's mom and my mom and brother came up to Seattle to celebrate with us.  We had such a wonderful day and made so many memories.  Sloan was so pleased to have all of her favorite people under one roof for a few days.  Oh and she was spoiled... rotten!

 "So this is Christmas, Dada?"

 Opening her very first stocking!

 She's the first grandchild on both sides... of course she was spoiled on Christmas!

Sloan and her Grammy.

Sloan, Uncle Devon, Mimi, Eric, & me.

Sloan's Christmas Letter

I just had to share Sloan's Christmas letter that we sent along with this years Christmas card.

Hello Family & Friends,

My name is Sloan Eloise, but most people just call me Woo.  That’s short for Sloany Woney Woo Woo.  I have met most of you and some of you I am anxiously waiting to meet!  Since this is my very first Christmas, I thought I would write you all a letter to introduce myself.  

Let’s start at the very beginning.  I was born on May 1st, 2013 at 1:54pm.  I really wanted to stay in my mama’s belly forever, but a few days after her due date she decided to kick me out.  I got her back though with twenty-one hours of labor!  I was very long and skinny, weighing six pounds fifteen ounces and measuring twenty-one inches long.  I didn’t make a peep when I entered the world, I just laid on my mama’s chest and stared up at my dada.  I reached out and grabbed either side of my mama and I knew she was mine forever.  My parents were acting all funny, crying like little babies… parents are just so weird.  It wasn’t long before I got to meet my Mimi (grandma Chris), grandma Carrie, grandpa Fred, and my two uncles Devon and Tyler.  

I had the best summer ever… well it was my only summer ever, but it was still the best.  My parents took me to the beach, California, the zoo, and lots of other fun places.  In California I got to meet my great grandparents, great aunts and uncles, and my uncle Darren.  I also got to go swimming everyday… it was so awesome. 

At the end of the summer, my parents sat me down and told me we were moving to Seattle, Washington.  I was totally bummed because I knew I would have to leave my grandmas and all of my friends!  Luckily, I’m very good at making friends (it’s because I’m so cute).  As much as I didn’t want to move, I have really fallen in love with Seattle.  My mama and I walk everywhere and have started meeting lots of nice new people.  I’ve even met some pretty chill Seattle babies.  Oh and they have some killer story times up here.

In my wise old age of seven months, I have learned a lot.  I can sit up on my own, roll over, and scoot backwards on my tummy.  I do not understand why my body will not move forward, it is the most frustrating thing ever.  I have two teeth (I hated getting those bad boys).  I absolutely love broccoli and pears, but cannot stand apples or avocados.  I am obsessed with my little silky blanket, my stuffed owl name Winston, and toothbrushes.  I enjoy grunting, growling, and making fart noises.  If I have an audience, I can do these noises quite loudly.  I am still long and skinny and have super tiny feet.  I have my mama’s eyes, but mostly look like my dada.  People seem to like when I smile and laugh so I do it all the time these days.   

I just celebrated my first Thanksgiving and I am looking forward to my first Christmas.  I’m hoping Santa brings me some new headbands ;).  I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed new year.

Hugs and slobbery baby kisses,

Sloan Eloise

Christmas Through Her Eyes.

Today after a little last minute Christmas shopping, we stopped to let Sloan see a beautiful Christmas tree.

Seeing Christmas through your child's eyes is like experiencing Christmas for the first time yourself.  I love watching her eyes light up when we walk past a big Christmas tree or light display.  There are a few cranes around our apartment in Seattle and they decorate them with lights for Christmas.  Sloan can sit by the window forever, just staring at the cranes.  Oh and Sloan was NOT interested in looking at the camera today :).

Hello World!

Hello!

I am new to blogging, but would like to say, "Hello World!"  My name is Marisa and I am a stay-at-home mama of a sweet baby girl!  Her name is Sloan, but we call her Woo.  Sloan was born May 1st, 2013-The day our lives changed forever and ever.  I am married to Mr. Wonderful, but you can call him Eric.  We live in Seattle, Washington.

I decided to create a blog because I am very passionate about being a mama and thought I could share my experiences with other mamas, mamas-to-be, or just anyone who loves squishy little babies!  We do not live near our families, so I thought that this would be a great way for them to follow Sloan as she grows and changes so rapidly!  Also, I do not write in a journal, and I thought that this would be a great way to document our lives.

I have ALWAYS wanted to be a mom.  I snuck my baby dolls in my backpack until 4th grade.  I used to go over to my backpack and check on them throughout the school day.  My dreams came true when Sloan was born and I have loved every minute of our lives since that day.

I hope you enjoy reading my posts and I look forward to connecting with others.  After all, us mamas need as much support as we can get!

Sincerely,

Marisa