Half a Year!!!!!!

These past 6 months have seriously just flown by.  Life with 3 kids is definitely super busy and I wouldn't change it for anything.  Even though I started a business the same month that Séamus was born, I have had the opportunity to still be incredibly present in his daily life, nurse him on demand, and watch the kids every single day!  We have had so many highlights and accomplishments this half of a year and I have to admit that I am in both complete disbelief that this is actually our lives while also feeling that this is exactly how it's meant to be.

Séamus has grown and changed so much in his first half of a year and in reality that is when most of the changing actually happens.  He has also experienced almost every major holiday so far, which just blows my mind but I guess that's what happens with a summer baby.  So let's go over some of the Highlights of Séamus first 6 months...because I really just want to have them all written down in one space.

July:

Séamus was born 5 days late via emergency C-section.  We had to switch gears on our birthing plan and instead of being discharged within hours of his delivery we got admitted into the hospital and spent 2 nights there.  I dedicated so much of my time to physical recovery as well as learning how to breastfeed and navigating all of the hormonal milk production.  We focused a lot of energy on encouraging Joy and Love between Ellie, Finnley and Séamus and did our best to continue to give a lot of attention to the girls.  We took our inaugural trip to Target, out to eat, and spent plenty of time at home. I also started my Oils Business.

August:

We went on a family vacation and Séamus went on his very first plane ride at just 3 weeks old to go to Disneyland.  We survived the heat of Southern California, the crowds at Disneyland, and how different it is going with 3 kids.  Finnley got her collarbone broken so we had to manage the healing and set up Xray appointments.  We had post delivery doctor appointments and well baby check ups. I hit my first Rank of Star in my Oils Business. Séamus was nursing non-stop and it was quite painful at times. So we had a couple visits with the lactation consultants for more tips and tricks and learned he had a severe lip and tongue tie.  This was the month of using Stress Away daily and when we really leaned on our oils for emotional support.  We also went on lots of excusions and took the Ferry over to our Favorite Island and Séamus got to go on his very first beach!

September:

Séamus had his procedure for his lip and tongue tie as well as 6x daily recovery exercises and stretches to help his mouth heal well.  He absolutely loves baths (from his very first one after his stump fell off) the first of the three to love them from the get go!! Finnley's collarbone wasn't healing as expected so she was required to be in her sling for 3 solid weeks.  Ellie started Kindergarten several days late due to the Teacher's being on Strike because the District was unwilling to negotiate a fair wage.  We started back up with Nannying and began creating a new routine with Ellie in school 5 days a week. A visit to the State Fair was in order and we all had so much fun, the girls going on rides, pushing the boy around in the stroller and enjoying the ever famous scones!! We ramped up our use of Thieves around the house to give us all the immune support now that Ellie was in school and I made some major strides in my Oils Business that gave me the confidence and knowledge that I Can Do This!!

October:

Séamus turned 3 months and we got sibling photos taken.  All three kids did an amazing job and they were probably the best photos of Finnley to date!  We went to two different pumpkin patches, one with our MOPs group and the other on the other side of the mountains with Nanny and Papa.  It was a beautiful day, Séamus slept in the Ergo for most of it and then nursed the rest!  The girls went bananas for the whole excursion and both wanted to pick up the biggest pumpkins they could find.  Séamus also got to celebrate his very first Halloween and went out trick or treating as Mickey Mouse!  This month was also flooded with memories of all the hormones, shots, injections, appointments, emotions, ultrasounds, and procedures we endured last year (2017) to make Séamus a reality.  I also hit the Rank of Senior Star in my Oils Business, which was so very exciting!

November:

We were filled with gratitude this month as we approached Thanksgiving and once again were reminded at how fragile we were last year at the newness of our pregnancy.  Séamus was a happy happy boy, still nursing around the clock, not sleeping through the night and quite the petite little boy. At his 4 month well baby check up our pediatrician felt that he wasn't gaining weight quick enough and advised that my breastmilk was not substantial enough and we needed to move onto formula and/or begin solids.  I refused to do either and instead I began applying Fennel Essential Oil, increased my water and calorie intake as well as nursed Séamus as often as he wanted.  Aside from him being at the bottom of the weight percentile he was the happiest little boy and hitting all the other major milestones and was thriving.  We took a day trip to Portland, attended an assembly at Ellie's school (per her request), little man got to go in the pool for the first time as well as begin life in the exersaucer!! My Oils Business went crazy and I moved up another Rank to Executive!! Never in my mind did I think I would hit that rank so quickly and I am so so grateful for my team and leader to help me achieve this!

December:

We really tried to take this month slow and easy.  We eliminated a lot of our Christmas Activities and just did our best to soak up this fleeting time with our kids.  Séamus was the best little trooper and went along with all the things we did decide to do.  I attended my first vendor event with Séamus and he was absolutely perfect and the event was quite successful!! Hooray! The littles and I attended play group at the library, I hosted my annual Ladies Holiday Party (with Séamus in attendance), and we had a baby play date.  We celebrated Christmas with ourselves and each of our families, visited Santa, and enjoyed all the family time we could.  Séamus was still nursing all throughout the day,  moved up in the clothing department, and was just as happy as could be.  Near the end of the month/year he was so close to sitting and we all couldn't wait for it to happen. My team and I worked as hard as we could and made some great strides but I didn't maintain my Executive Rank this month.

January:

Séamus rang in the New Year with a new skill!!  He began sitting with intention on New Years Day and we all celebrated.  We spend the last week of Christmas Vacation with each other doing all the things.  Séamus spent a lot of time working on his sitting skills, sitting in the Bumbo, and began drooling even more than usual and was sticking all the things in his mouth.  We got all bundled up and took another day trip to Vashon Island, spent lots of time at the library, and Séamus got to sit in his very first high chair! I was still taking in lots of water, eating more food, and continuing to incorporate Fennel Essential Oil into my daily routine.  He rolled all over the place and was able to wiggle himself to where he wanted to go. Sweet boy hit the 6 month mark and gained enough weight for our pediatrician to accept that he is just a petite little guy.  We also started to have Séamus begin sleeping in his room at night and a nighttime routine set in place with getting his diffuser set up with Sleepyize and Gentle Baby, spraying his crib with Seedlings Linen Spray, and being sure to apply his baby roller to his feet when he gets changed into his jams.  He would make it about 3 hours before he woke up and joined us in our bed for the remainder of the night.

This 6 months has gone by so quickly and I love looking back and remembering all the fun things, milestones made, challenges overcome, and growth in all things we have experienced.  Life is better with our family complete and I can't wait to see what the next 6 months brings: crawling, walking (hopefully), talking (hopefully), solid foods, and Séamus first international vacation to Ireland and England!!

♥ Ashley

The Séamus Weekly - week 26

Another week and here we are.  Séamus is still rocking like he wants to move so bad and I just cannot wait until that happens!!

Eats: we are so close to little man being 6 months old.  We are still only breastfeeding and he nurses multiple times a day.  He has started to get quite distracted so I close up shop and then he is ready to eat again shortly after.  He is still nursing about 2x a night but is quite the satisfied little boy.  He has been reaching out for all the things so I think that starting solids is near and he will hopefully take to it well.  We have been having him sit in the Bumbo and join us for dinner which is so fun...we all love it.

Sleeps: little Séamus is the king of car naps.  I haven't been successful in transferring or from the car seat this week but he has been happy nonetheless.  Although I do have to mention that he has also been trying his darndest to not fall asleep so some of our car rides have been quite noisy.  We've been starting him off in his crib at night and he has been sleeping from about 7:30pm to almost 1am and then he comes into our bed with us.

Goes: the kids and I met up with my Dad over the weekend and we joined him at a train show, Séamus spent the whole time in the Ergo and then we did have a small nursing session there as well.  Then we just did all the usual things; store, school, nanny house.  Nothing out of the ordinary but sweet man enjoyed it all.

Does: Séamus has become quite efficient at Sitting and can do so for large quantities of time.  He plays in his exersaucer, grabs for all the toys, rocks on all fours, planks all the time, shrieks with delight, and is loving all the Copaiba for his gums.  He also somehow managed to get his arm out of his outfit the other day and we dubbed him "sexy baby".

Mama: this week was so busy just doing all the things.  I thought that things might slow down a bit since Ellie is in Kindergarten all day but it just seems like all we do is drive in the car.  I have been listening to podcasts in the car and love all the information that I get to soak in.  I am still loving my Oils Business and how I am getting to support our family in a new way and even more importantly bringing wellness into the homes of others!!

Sisters: Finnley is still as obsessed as ever with him, getting in his face, laughing ridiculously loud, and shoving all the toys in his face.  She is talking so much more, quite defiant, and the loviest of all.  She makes all the funny faces and cracks us up all the time.  Ellie is doing great at school, we signed her up to start gymnastics again and to start an art class.  She is beyond excited for all these new activities.  She is really the best big sister, the best help, and soaks up information like a sponge. It has always been my desire to raise children who adore each other and so far I think I am accomplishing that.  We do a lot of positive sibling talk, encourage lots of playing together, and facilitate disagreement strategies.

Previous Weeks:

Séamus week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, 13 weeks, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17, week 18, week 19, 20 weeks, week 21, week 22, week 23, week 24, week 25

Finnley at 26 weeks

Ellie at 26 weeks

♥ Ashley

The Séamus Weekly - week 25

These weeks are seriously just flying by! How is sweet Séamus 25 weeks already?  That means he is nearly 6 months old and we're getting closer and closer to him being a big boy!  Honestly though, I am loving it! He is trying new things, is so curious, and making his way to hitting new milestones every day.  I have been intentional to soak up everything baby from him but I wouldn't be truthful if I didn't say that each day gets better and better!

Eats: we are still nursing strong over here! I am trying my darndest to not introduce any solids until next week when he hits the 6 month mark, but I did head out on Saturday to teach an oils class and left little man at home...even though I have bags of milk in the freezer - I gave away all our bottles 😁 so Thomas had to resort to some avocado.  He took maybe 2 bites, I've let him suck on a french fry, and he keeps grabbing for all the things!  But still we nurse!  We went on our island adventure this weekend and went to the beach...so we nursed on the beach and I am so thankful every time I get to nourish my babe from my body, honestly something I never thought I was going to get to do.  We are still nursing all throughout the day, and just once (maybe twice) at night!! 👐

Sleeps: we have been super busy this week and thankfully this guy has been totally go with the flow (PTL).  He has taken lots of car naps, nursing naps, and lap naps.  He got to take a couple of naps in his crib but not as many as I would have liked.  However, we are still putting him in his crib for bedtime and he is making it longer and longer in there!! He even slept through the night on Monday!!  He hasn't since, but there is light y'all, light!!

Goes: We have been to all the places!! To the library for Play Group (twice), story time, Vashon Island (parks, beaches, coffee shops, toy store, restaurant, ferry), our Nanny house, McDonald's for a friend meetup, and then the regulars of car, school, to the Post Office to mail out oily packages.

 

Does: he is a sitting machine! He is getting better and better at it, is more controlled when he "falls over" and is grabbing for all the things.  He rolls and wiggles to get to where he wants to be, gets focused on a toy and makes his way over to it reaching the entire time.  He has also figured out how to get onto all fours and has started rocking!! Ahh my favorite!  He is still putting everything and anything into his mouth and drools like a Newfoundland, so that makes me think that teeth are in his near future.  I've been applying Copaiba on his gums and y'all the personality change is something else, I know he is getting relief from it and that makes my Mama heart so so happy!

Wears: well I have officially removed all of the 0-3 out of his dresser and we are in 3-6 month clothes.  He does NOT like to have his feet in pajamas so we have to make sure we get the footless kind...what he does is pull on the toes and then his legs get stuck in the crotch and he gets all sorts of mad, so if he's in the footless ones that doesn't happen!  He sleeps in a sleep sack and sometimes gets frustrated with the constriction of his feet.  We have him in size 2 diapers and there are still a few items of clothing that I had gotten for the girls that were "gender neutral" that he wears and I have to tell you, there is something about seeing your children in their siblings clothes!

Mama: I cannot even tell you the excitement I have that little Séamus is rocking on all fours!! If you've been reading along for a while you know that I welcome a mobile baby with most open of arms!!  Hands down something that makes me so so happy!! I have been focusing on my word of the year a lot and am just thrilled that I get to watch my children grow up together.  Even when I want to knock Finnley on the side of the head because she will not leave Séamus alone or get exasperated with Ellie because she is now insisting on doing all of these things by herself (getting snacks, using glue, and hiding all the things in her bed...) not to mention that both girls have decided that it's okay to jump on the furniture - news flash that is never okay.  When I take a pause, I can't help but be so happy (while deep in irritation) that this is actually my life.  I have been one to try and focus on the positive side of things because mindset is everything.

 Dada: I know! I have never included this before...but this guy is rocking all things in the dadhood category.  He is the baby retriever at night, the diaper changer when he's home, and he is theeeee best at preparing all the rooms for bedtime: sound machines, filling the diffusers, reading the books, and getting on the jams.  He lives for being with his kids and is hands down the best partner in this wild a crazy adventure that is parenthood.

Sisters: as I mentioned above Finnley loves her brother hard.  She loves to make him laugh, bring him toys to play with, and lay on top of him.  Since we've been busy with play dates and going out in public this week, I have been rolling her Unicorn Roller on her like crazy so that we can all have a good time.  Her attitude and ability to just be herself and play is the best when we remember to oil her up.  Her vocabulary is bursting, her favorite word is still a very dramatic "NOOOOOO", and will be constantly asking if Nanny and Papa are coming.  She has been singing songs, loves Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and refuses to wear a jacket if she is wearing her Moana shirt.

Ellie is still rocking it at kindergarten.  We've had a couple of accidents at school but we're still working on it and hopefully soon she'll be listening to her body better and remember to use the bathroom on her own.  She is silly and goofy, and says the best things.  She told me the other day that when she grows up she wants to be fat, also that she is NOT getting married, and that everyone needs oils.  She is still drawing all the pictures, is obsessed with Ryan on YouTube, and would live in the bathtub if we let her.

Previous Weeks

Séamus week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, 13 weeks, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17, week 18, week 19, 20 weeks, week 21, week 22, week 23, week 24

Finnley at 25 weeks

Ellie at 25 weeks

♥ Ashley

Friday Favorites!!

I can't believe that it's Friday already...this year is already flying 😆

I finally finished up our Kitchen reface and let me tell you...it just looks so much better. I sanded, painted, sanded, painted and sanded the cabinet doors and drawers...and let the coats dry for quite some time in between (patience is always the hardest).  I also sanded and painted the bases, which really needed to happen in addition to spray painting our hardware oil rubbed bronze.  It was a relatively cheap project since all I needed to buy was sandpaper!  I was also able to give each of the cabinets and drawers a thorough cleaning since I had to completely empty them out.

I am participating in the January Cure again this year and it's so nice to be given simple and easy daily tasks to clean our home and tips to keep it up year long.  Some of my favorite tasks are cleaning out a drawer (which then turns into many), deep cleaning the bedroom, and cleaning all of the floors everywhere (under furniture, in closets and including the baseboards).  My other favorite task is the permission to buy flowers every week!!


Last year my Word of the year was Let Go.  It was the perfect word for me because I have been hanging onto so many things (mentally, emotionally and physically).  By focusing on Letting Go, I gained so much freedom and grew a ton.  I was able to get rid of boxes full of home items, clothes, trinkets, etc.  Just the extra space has been amazing not to mention less stuff to clean and collect dust.  I started listening to a couple of minimalist podcasts during the year and they were so helpful in my transformation.  I have also been able to let go of some control (unbelievable I know 😆😆), the girls have gone on sleepovers over at Nanny and Papa's, I was totally go with the flow with Séamus crazy birth, and I'm not always following behind and correcting everything in the house after Thomas 😂.  Probably one of my favorite self developments I've worked on ever! This year I'm focusing on Embrace! I cannot wait to see how this year pans out!

I got this diffuser for Séamus nursery and I love it!! I'm not of the camp that everything under the sun needs to come from Young Living, don't get me wrong I absolutely adore my YL diffusers and the customer service is top notch.  But when I came across this one I just knew it would be perfect!  It has two diffusing settings: 1hr high or 13hr intermittent.  It also has a couple of lighting options and the plastic design is super kid friendly.

Young Living just announced their January Jump Start Sale!!! Y'all you can get 10% off the Desert Mist Premium Starter Kit January 11-14th!! Bringing it down from $160 to $144 PLUS I'll send you an additional $25 back, Heck yes!!! I also have a special going for anyone who enrolls with me through the 14th and you DON'T want to miss out on this!! The Premium Starter Kit is the best way to get started, you get 11 of our favorite oils (I seriously use these almost every day), the Desert Mist Diffuser...my favorite ever! Plus samples of Thieves Cleaner (y'all know my love affair with this) and Ningxia Red (if I could sing a song!!).  In addition to all of this you'll get your wholesale membership getting you 24% off of future purchases of everything forever!! I will be available to help hold your hand AND you'll get access to our member exclusive online communities that are absolutely priceless!! I would love for you to come Oil with Me!!!

♥ Ashley

The Séamus Weekly - week 24

Y'all I can't believe that Little Séamus is almost 6 months old!!  We are loving every single minute of it and now that he is sitting up, life is so so much better!!

Sleeps: we started off the New Year with having Séamus begin sleeping in his crib in his room.  He doesn't always last very long in there but it's a start.  He tends to nap better in there than he does for nighttime.  Although we did get one night that gave us a glimmer of hope!! He still nurses about 2x at night and then will nap several times during the day.  Sometimes I am able to transfer him and others not so much.

Eats: we are still exclusively breastfeeding and it's still my favorite ever!!  Though now that little man is sitting up I am getting anxious to have him try some solid foods!!  BUT we're waiting until he is 6 months old for that.  It's funny because I couldn't wait to start feeding solids with the girls but I haven't really given it much thought this time around.  Maybe it's because I know he's my last baby or maybe it's because I don't have to do bottles this time around. Whatever it is I am embracing it.

Does: as you all know little Séamus is sitting up and it's just the best.  He got to sit in a high chair (at McDonald's) for the first time and hallelujah Mama got to eat with two hands all by herself with 3 kids at the table!!!!  He is reaching out for more and more of his toys and still gnawing on anything he can get in his mouth, his favorite are his own hands (or toes).

Goes: not anywhere new this week. Thomas got the snip, we went out to eat a few times, had a huge windstorm so we went on a search for our trampoline...found it four neighbors down and now have to take it to the metal recycle.  Ellie didn't have school due to the power outtage, so I took all the kids to McDonald's.  We also worked at our Nanny house and just went to all the regular places.

Wears: little man is in size 2 diapers, has pretty much grown out of all the 0-3 pants I held onto, so I have to go through his drawers and closet again.  I am still loving all of the 3-6 month tops we have and getting to see him in all the fun clothes and sitting up and being a little person is just so fun!

Mama: my heart could burst that we have all three of our kiddos!! They are all growing and thriving and I've found myself just pausing and watching them with the biggest smile on my face.  I want to soak them all in because I know it's not always going to be like this.  We are going to have easy days and we are going to have even harder days than we've already experienced.  Even though I am constantly telling the girls to get off their brother, I have to laugh at it at the same time because honestly what a problem to have...the kids loving each other too hard!! I finally got the kitchen completed this week and while I was waiting for the final coat of paint to dry...I couldn't help myself, I had to rearrange our great room and flip the living room and dining room.  So now they've switched places, I sold the coffee table and the chandelier.  It gave me a chance to do some deep cleaning (like under the area rug) and now I feel like we moved into a new house! It was the creative stretch I have been craving and I hope we keep it this way for a while.

Sisters: both of these girls live to get all up in Séamus's business, they are constantly giving him kisses and hugs, trying to get him to laugh and Finnley uses the gruffest voice saying "cute baybay", She also rather enjoys being the boss of him and I hear her telling him No a lot...I wonder where she gets that from 😉.  Ellie was so happy to go back to school and while she misses us every day I am pretty sure that she is enjoying the "free life" from Mama!! She talks about our oils every day and wanted to make sure that I am not planning on getting rid of them like I am with some of their unused toys!! Kids are so so funny and I love them to eternity.

Previous Weeks

Séamus week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week 7, week 8, week 9, week 10, week 11, week 12, 13 weeks, week 14, week 15, week 16, week 17, week 18, week 19, 20 weeks, week 21, week 22, week 23

Finnley at 24 weeks

Ellie at 24 weeks

♥ Ashley