The Gift of Siblings

Now that I am pregnant the most frequent question I get is are you going to find out the sex of the baby?  Immediately followed by what would rather you a girl or a boy? 

I am most definitely going to find out the sex, I am a type A planner and I want to know what is going to come out of me in 5 months.   I like to decorate and shop way too much not to know.  I have no idea how people can wait nine months to find out!

As for the second question if I am being honest, all I want is a healthy baby, I could care less if it is a boy or a girl.  Most people say to me " I bet you are hoping for a girl, since you already have a boy."  It got me thinking did any of you have a preference what you wanted your second child to be?  Same sex or one of each?

Truthfully when I was pregnant with Sterling, I was secretly hoping for a girl.  I was actually convinced it was a girl and was shocked when we went for the ultrasound and they said "look there is the penis".  I was like what???  It took me a few days to accept the fact that I was indeed about to have a boy.  I am such a girly girl and I am so close with my mom and my sister I wished for a girl for that reason.  I wanted to have that same bond.  I had the girl stuff down, I love to dress up, paint my nails, shop, read fashion magazines,  all things I pictured doing with my daughter.   I was young and clueless about the world of babies.  I had no idea how much I could or would love having a little boy.

Then Sterling was born and he changed my life.  I never for a second looked back and wished that he had been a girl.  The moment I laid eyes on him for the first time my heart melted and I fell in love instantly.  There is just something so sweet about boys.  Being the mom of a little boy is the best thing ever.  Yes everything they say about boys is true, they are dirty,  sneaky,  pee everywhere, spill food everywhere, track dirt all through you house, bring bugs inside, snore, and are loud and smelly- all typical boy stuff.  But it is also true they also love their Moms more than anything.  Sterling is 100% percent a Mama's boy and I love it.  He always wants to hug and kiss me and cuddle and it just warms my heart.  There is nothing better than being a mom to boy.  I have fully embraced spiderman, batman, dinosaurs, cars, and sports plus I am pro at shopping for boy clothes now.  I adore having a boy and all the things that come with it. 

As for our next baby, I promise all I want is a healthy baby because that is the biggest blessing of all.  I see pluses to either sex.  I want a boy because I would love Sterling to have a brother.  I sometimes feel like same sex siblings are closer.  A boy would also be easier, I have so much boy stuff already and I have this boy thing down, plus I would be the only woman of the house.  Sterling insists there is a boy in my belly and whenever we ask him if wishes it were a boy or girl he says boy.   But I want a girl for the same reason I wanted a girl with Sterling.  As they say a daughter is a daughter for life and a son until he meets his wife.  Girls are so much better about calling their moms and staying in touch.  Plus not gonna lie I love all the little girl clothes it would be fun to shop for girl stuff.   This time around I feel like it a win win no matter what I have.  I am just so thankful for this pregnancy and can't wait to have another baby boy or girl.

Here is one thing that scares me with the next baby- I wonder how in the world I will ever love it as much as Sterling.  Will Sterling always be my favorite?  I just can't understand how I will love another child like him.  Your firstborn is just so special.

We should find out in about 3-4 weeks what we are having so humor me and take a guess do you think we are having a boy or girl?

Also if you have not read the article in the NY Times "The Gift of Siblings"  floating around, please do, it is so true and an excellent read.  I am so blessed to have my brother and sister and no matter what sex this baby is I am so excited to give Sterling a sibling,  because lets be real the main reason I am having another child is for him.  I want him to grow up having a sibling, because Siblings are the best!   The bond I have with my brother and sister is for life!

Leopard vs Stripes

 I found two dresses I am obsessed with!  I obviously can't buy both so I need your help.  Take a vote and tell me which one is the best option.  They are both comparable in price.  I love different things about each of them and hoping I can wear both pregnant and not pregnant. So tell me leopard or stripes? 

JOIE DAWNA TANK DRESS

vs

EQUIPMENT OWEN DRESS

BLT Dip

Get ready for the best appetizer ever.  We made this over the weekend and demolished the whole thing.  I found this recipe in a church cookbook my Mother-in-law gave me.  Aren't church cookbooks the best?  I swear they have the best recipes.  This recipe is super easy.  A few tips if you can use fresh farmers market tomatoes- they make it taste so much better.  I used a mandolin to slice the iceberg lettuce super thin but you could also just buy the pre-shredded kind. The recipe didn't call for it but I added chopped green onions to the top and I think they really added to it.  I will always add them when I make this recipe.  We served ours with Fritos and I thought it was the perfect combo but you could serve with any chip you like!
 Enjoy!

:: B L T  D I P ::

- 1.5 cups sour cream

- 1/2 cup mayo

- 1 pound bacon cooked and crumbled

- 1/2 head iceberg lettuce finely shredded

- 2-3 tomatoes diced

- 2 green onions sliced
- Fritos or Corn Chips

Combine sour cream and mayo, put in bottom of dish.   Put bacon, lettuce, tomatoes (season this layer with salt and pepper), and green onions on top.  Cover and chill.

*If you make ahead I would recommend leaving the tomatoes off til right before serving because they will make the dip watery.  I mixed up the mayo, sour cream and layered with bacon and lettuce and let sit in fridge 1-2 hours then added tomatoes and green onions before serving. *

Citrus Lane, Best Idea Ever for Kids

Have you Moms heard about Citrus Lane? About a year ago my friend Katie got a box from here and showed to me and I thought wow that is so cool.  Her son is Sterling's age and Sterling was enamoured with everything in the box.  Then I promptly forgot about it til I saw an ad on FB recently.   

 What Citrus Lane does is send you a box each month with toys and items designated for your child's age.   Sterling absolutely loves helping me get the mail and whenever a package comes he always asks is this for me?? I think he is going to be so excited about getting these packages every month.  You can sign up for one month or up to 6 months.  We get our first box in July and I will report back then with what is in it and if we love it, but for now you should try it out and take advantage of the promo.  If you click HERE you can get $10 off your first order!  That brings your cost to $15, such a steal!

Here are a few samples of monthly boxes for different ages.  You enter your child's age and sex and then they design the box based on that.  Such a cool and fun concept!  I also think this would make an incredible shower gift- the gift that keeps on giving!  

Get your box HERE!

** I am not being paid for this post I just think it is a really fabulous idea!**

Obsessions

{MARA HOFFMAN RAINBOW PRINTED BANDEAU SWIMSUIT} 

This is such a gorgeous one piece. Since hitting up the pool last weekend I have decided I am one piece kind of woman for the most part so I want to invest in a few nice ones that I feel good in and that don't look like "Mom suits".  This fits the bill with flying colors.

{SOL SANA AVERY FLAT SANDALS}

When I first saw these sandals I could not believe they were less than $100.  They looked so expensive to me.  I have been on the hunt for a great pair of black flats and I think these are just what I am looking for!

 {RAG AND BONE THE CUT OFF SHORTS}

I am beyond obsessed with all things Rag and Bone right now.  They are quite possibly the perfect brand.  Sadly I probably can't fit in these right now but I need them for next Summer.  The perfect jean short.

{FURBISH NUDE PRINT}

You are not going to believe me when I tell you this  nude print is only $28!! Amazing steal, right??  After I saw Melanie post hers on instagram I knew I needed one.  Thinking I am going to hang it in our bathroom.

 {ELIZABETH AND JAMES WILLOW DRESS}

This dress is made out of super soft jersey.  I love how it flows.  I think it would be great worn pregnant because of the loose fit.  Such a great versatile dress.  It also comes in an equally fabulous eggplant color.

{ISABEL WEEKENDER}

I go out of town frequently mostly to Charlotte.  I usually just go for a few days and I have been on the hunt for a cute weekender bag.  Right now I use a duffel bag that I have had since college- it is time to upgrade.  I am officially obsessed with this adorable weekender.  It looks so chic.

 {SARAH CHLOE CIELA BANGLE}

I love the simplicity of this bangle, I think you could wear it daily.  Either alone or layered on with other bracelets.  You could do your own name but I would probably do it with Sterling's name.

Scenes From Our Weekend

It has been awhile since I did a scenes from our weekend post because in all honesty our weekends have been kind of boring lately.  Lets be real, I am so tired most of the time and I can't drink so I am not the funnest person to be around.  Most weekend nights we are in bed by 9 reading- so lame I know!  We finally made some plans this weekend and had friends over for dinner.  Here are a few snapshots from our weekend.

My weekend started off right when my Rag and Bone booties arrived.  Ladies, these are even better in person.  I am now convinced I need a black pair too.  Get em while they are still on sale.  My mom got a pair too and loves them- great for all ages:)

Rag and Bone Booties in Painted Leather

 Friday night we hit up the Yacht Club to let our wild man run around.  

Saturday morning, Sterling and I did our favorite activity and hit up the Farmers Market.  He played on the jump castles for like an hour.  I was slowly dying in the heat.  This is his tough face.

I did manage to snag these gorgeous flowers.   I have been trying not to buy fresh flowers lately to cut costs but these were too good of a deal and too pretty to pass up.

That night we had our friends over for dinner.  Here is what I wore.

[White tank top | Black Maxi Skirt (similar)]

We cooked up some amazing food.  We did our Kabobs with Hash Brown Casserole and then I tried out two new recipes- which one do ya'll want for Recipe Wednesday??

Caprese Salad or BLT Dip.  Both were amazing.

We finally joined our neighborhood pool this year (thank you Mom and Dad) and hit it up for the first time this weekend.  The pool is nothing fancy no concession stand- but you can BYOB and it has some of the best views in town.  I think Sterling and I will be spending alot of time here this summer.

We spent alot of time walking around the block on Sterling's scooter.  This thing was the best investment ever, Sterling loves it and I like to think it counts as physical activity for him.  For all you locals I got it at Wonder Works- it comes in pink too.  Sometimes he gets lazy and makes me pull him as seen in the pic below.

Lastly I spent alot of time in this Vince Dress.   It is the perfect dress to throw on for errands.  I am starting to become obsessed with the Vince brand.  They are such nice pieces that fit really well. They are great pregnant or not.

This particular pattern is sold out but the same style dress is available HERE and HERE.

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend, now it is back to the grind.

Things I Want to Eat aka Food Porn

For a long time I have not had my same lust for food.  I was so nauseous in the beginning of my pregnancy that I wanted to eat nothing and on top of that too tired too cook. We have eaten alot of cereal and frozen food (think bad frozen food like bagel bites and pigs in a blanket)  around here lately.  I finally feel like I am slowly starting to feel like myself again (thank you second trimester) and I want to get back in my cooking routine.  Cooking and food make me happy, its as simple as that.  Here are a few things I have had my eye on lately that need to be cooked asap in the Mason House.

:: B R I E  A N D  B A C O N  G R I L L E D   C H E E S E  W I T H   F I G  J A M::

:: C R O C K  P O T  B E E F  C A R N I T A S  T A C O S ::

:: C I N N A M O N  R O L L  B U N D T  C A K E::

 :: C H E E S Y  B L A C K  B E A N  S W E E T  P O T A T O + A R G U L A  A N D  E G G::

:: H O M E M A D E  M A P L E  C I N N A M O N  P O P T A R T S::

::   C H O P P E D   B L T   S A L A D::

:: G R E E K  V I L L A G E   S A L A D ::

::  C A L I F O R N I A  V E G G I E  S A N D W I C H ::

 

:: S H R I M P  A N D   P E S T O   P I Z Z A  W I T H  G O A T  C H E E S E ::

:: C A R A M E L   S E A   S A L T  B R O W N I E S ::

:: G I N G E R   S E S A M E  G R I L L E D  C H I C K E N   S A L A D ::

 

 

What have you been cooking lately?  What should I add to my must cook list??

** all images and recipes from my pinterest page **