There is one thing you can count on having a kindergartener with you all day: surprises! Like finding a shark in the bassinet.
Or spiders appear next to your oatmeal!
I was nervous about having both boys for such a long stretch of time over winter break, but it actually went quite well. Matt had Mazen for a portion of the day times, so that was super helpful. I scheduled a few playmates to come over for Mazen, and our times just hanging out went well too. He is so sweet with his brother!
Tummy time.
Sharing his bee and owl blankies with Birch (#bedhead!)
Brothers play Pokemon together:
Legos with Thomas:
We did a ninja course morning workout together and went to ACAC swimming on the weekend.
A walk downtown for the library and hot chocolate. We tried out the big boy seat in the stroller. B did well, but it’s not as warm and cozy as the car seat so we’re mostly using that for now.
And a visit to Bounce and Play where he played hard with several other kids while we relaxed in a chair with a podcast and one of us napped:
On the day I didn’t have Mazen last week I went to Bend Yoga with Birch for the mommy & me yoga class. Birch was happy through the whole class! My shoulders were sore from all the downdogs.
We stayed after for the weekly mother-to-mother lactation support group, and then I went with a friend to Citizen Bowl for lunch. The #umami bowl is my all-time favorite.
I’ve been making big bowl salads at home too, like this arugula one with roasted sweet potato, chicken, goat cheese, and a homemade honey mustard dressing. The dressing is just equal parts honey, dijon mustard, olive oil, and lemon juice plus a little salt, pepper, and garlic powder (or garlic if you like!) Shake together in a jar and pour.
I ate cornbread muffins for days! Yum! These were made from a mix I found at Whole Foods.
After moming it out for the past few weeks, I’m hoping to focus a bit more on work with Mazen back in school. I said I was going to wait until the new year to get “back to work.” I’ve been publishing a lot more lifestyle posts and less recipes/topics – do you like things this way? I’ve enjoyed taking some of the pressure off of an editorial calendar and just kind of writing what comes to mind everyday. It’s been refreshing – like the good ole days! I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Fun times with the whole family! You make me want to play with Lego again! 😛
Would appreciate likes! <3 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/charmainenywcom/
Yes, these lifestyle posts are great! I’m sure it’s easier to write in this stage of life with a newborn and a kindergartener. Plus, this post does have a recipe–love the quick way to make a salad dressing 😉
🙂 Thanks!
I’ve really enjoyed reading the more casual posts! Happy New Year!
Great!
I love the lifestyle posts! Probably because my daughter was born the same week as Birch so I like to hear how things are going and what is routines/challenges/wins are!
🙂 He slept 6 hours again last night so that was a win!
B is looking super cute! I’m glad Mazen likes his baby bro so much. I really enjoy these types of lifestyle posts the most.
I love your lifestyle posts! I understand the need for sponsored posts and more structured topics but my favorite posts are your lifestyle / spontaneous topics.
Loving the lifestyle posts! If you want to make the stroller more cozy for winter, there are many buntings/muffs that fit on it. My son loves ours for the Upppababy!
I have one! It was just a pretty warm day when we tried the seat.
There’s also an Uppababy insert for infants. We have it and it keeps them a lot more stabilized, especially as they transition to sitting. We still use the seat portion for our healthy 9 month old.
I’m enjoying the lifestyle posts! It IS like the good ol’ days. I’ve been reading for years, just don’t comment a lot 🙂 So nice to hear about your routine and how you’re getting on.
Yessss to the above. Love these lifestyle posts and much prefer them! And I second the comment about the simple recipe for the dressing – I like just hearing how something is just thrown together!
I love most of your posts. I’ve been reading for years and appreciate you for sharing your life. I really liked your first pic today. I’m not sure if it’s a post topic, but I’d love to know how to take a good selfie.
Also, I think you should continue to do you. I know your squiggly line effect is about eating habits, but I think it can be applied to life as well.
Have a great day, Kath!
That pic was taken in a mirror actually!
I have a second baby on the way and the age gap is similar to Mazen and Birch so I’m loving this content. Keep it up!
Love the causal lifestyle posts!
Keep them coming please!
I love these posts so much!! I relate to them a bit more, *but* I love all of your posts. Curated, sponsored, recipes, and snapshots/lately/life. <3
As long as that round little face keeps poppin’ up I’m happy. Dangit he’s cute!
I love the day in the life posts the most! I have a baby boy about a week younger than yours and a 2 1/2 year old son, so I like to see how your days are, they’re so similar to mine!
It’s so cute to see B awake and alert! You’ve captured some great little facial expressions in these photos. And I’m all about the daily, “whatever comes to mind” lifestyle posts. Keep rockin it!
I LOVE the lifestyle posts! I’m due with baby boy #1 in March, and it helps to hear about your days, and sleeping and eating!
I absolutely love the lifestyle posts! I’ve been reading for years and these type of posts are always the best! Baby B is growing up too fast though!
I definitely prefer lifestyle posts! It’s very rare for me to make a formal recipe that I see on a blog, but I love little “throw together” recipes like your salad. I will totally try that dressing.
Yes I love when you post about your day to day life so much! Please continue!
I love the lifestyle posts!
Another vote for lifestyle posts! TBH, the internet is saturated with recipes and I don’t read recipe posts.
I”m digging the lifestyle posts. It’s a nice change from everyone else. Don’t get me wrong, I look forward to the occasional recipe type of post. This is just more relatable. Thanks. 🙂
Love the more lifestyle posts! Seeing little Birch grow is so fun! Thanks for including us.
As a momma-to-be I have been really enjoying your blogging style lately! I also tend to skip over editorial posts on all blogs and prefer the true-to-life content–even if it’s a few days behind or however it works for people!
Lifestyle posts are always my favorite! Nothing compares to the snapshots of your delicious daily meals, outings, & household updates. Hope you had a great holiday!
Love your current content!
I like everyday life stuff
Yup, Kath. Loving your content!
B has the sweetest smile! I am, as always, amazed at how fast time goes. I see B holding uo his head and think wow, he was just a newborn.
I really enjoy your lifestyle posts! They really make me miss having two that young. Enjoy!
I have been enjoying the lifestyle posts!
I always enjoy reading more lifestyle inspired posts! But I do also appreciate recipes. A healthy mix of both basically.
I love these lifestyle posts! (and prefer them to recipe posts, personally… but maybe that means I need to do more cooking!)
Love love love these posts! Lifestyle posts are my favorite. I’ve been reading since the “good old days” and they do remind me of that. I look forward to reading these posts every day. Please keep them coming!
What podcast are you loving right now? I need some new ones. I listen to YHL and Fitnessista every week but they’re pretty short!
Those two plus Dave Ramsey and a sprinkle of Jess Lively and Brooke Castillo. I also tried out The Purpose Show for a bit.
Definitely love the lifestyle and day-to-day posts! They are the reason I read your blog every day and no one else’s. Birch is soooo cute! And that’s great that even with the age difference Mazen is adjusting well to being a big brother 🙂
love these posts so much
no need for recipes!
Loving the lifestyle posts.
I enjoy reading your lifestyle posts.
I love reading about your daily activities and meals.
I like your lifestyle posts/content 🙂 Thanks!
Lifestyle posts are always the best 🙂
I like the lifestyle posts! I love to hear about recent eats/finds/daily life!
Another vote for lifestyle posts!
I love your lifestyle posts! Way more than recipe posts
I’ve been enjoying these casual posts and appreciate any and all the healthy lifestyle and healthy eating ideas you share whether they be recipes or semi-recipes (like the salad and salad dressing today)
Just chiming in with another big “YES!” for the lifestyle posts, though I do like and read almost everything that appears on these pages (also don’t comment so much coz I’m just content reading ;)) – so happy new year and keep up the great work! <3
I love the lifestyle posts a billion and one times more than any other type of post! All posts are great and I know some are necessary to keep the blog going, but the ‘chatty’/ informal posts are my favorite to read! Keep them coming.
I love the lifestyle posts!!
Yes! Love love love the lifestyle posts. You are doing so great with the boys
Love the lifestyle posts! I definitely read these more than the others 🙂
I’ve been a reader since before you had Mazen and i’m loving the lifestyle posts, they feel more real and less perfectly curated. Congrats on your growing family!
I love the lifestyle posts!!
I love the good old day lifestyle posts! Not that I don’t enjoy all your posts….!
I miss the recipes!
Birch’s little smile is so sweet <3