17 week "bumpdate"

I've always been great about documenting my kids ages and development week by week, but not so much when it came to my pregnancies with each of them...

{maternity poncho/nursing cover c/o cover me ponchos}

Sure I snapped photos of my growing belly, but I never made it a point to write down what I was craving, how I was feeling, or where my head was at, at any given point during the 39 weeks that I was pregnant with both M&E.

I've been thinking lately, that it's never too late to try something new, so with this being my third pregnancy in just a few short years, I thought I'd take a stab at documenting how I'm feeling and what's going on week by week (or maybe month by month) this time around.

At 17 weeks along, and a few weeks into my second trimester, I'm thrilled to admit that the nausea seems to finally be behind me, my energy is returning, and I finally (thank God!) have the desire to drink coffee again!!!

It's strange, because so many people have asked me if my pregnancies were different when I was pregnant with a girl vs. a boy.  They weren't really at all, except for the fact that with Max, I knew he was a boy 100% from day one and with Ella I was clueless as to what we were having until my 20 week ultrasound.

This pregnancy has been the most different thus far, and I can't say it has anything to do with the sex of the baby.  The cravings I've been having are mostly the same... carbs and sweets, all day every day.  Spaghetti and meatballs, cupcakes, french fries, and English muffins are constantly on my mind... which as you can imagine, will likely do wonders for my weight gain.

The way I have felt this time has been so different though.  I never dealt with nausea before, and with this baby, it was bad.  I was also totally lacking any form of motivation for awhile there, but I suppose growing a human while chasing 2 around, will do that to you.

Much to my dismay, I'm also feeling much bigger, much faster this time.  Chalk it up to not losing all of the baby weight after having Ella, my uterus being stretched out, or a combination of the two, but I get the feeling I'm going to be feeling large and in charge for the next several months... Thank goodness for full panel maternity pants!

I began feeling kicks and flutters very early on with this pregnancy, around 14 weeks, maybe even a little sooner.  Prior to this, those flutters weren't felt until about 17 weeks, so that has been a fun change.

Another fun change with this baby, has been getting to share it with Max and Ella.  They are so excited!  Max always makes it a point to tell me that he is being careful around my belly, and Ella's new favorite thing to do is pull up my shirt, put her mouth to my bump, and say, "Hiiii, baby!".

I had a check up earlier this week, and all was well with the baby's growth and heart rate, so now the countdown is on to find out the sex... which thankfully (no pun intended), we will find out just before Thanksgiving.  I am literally dying to know if we are having a boy or a girl.  For all of you who manage to hold out for the surprise until the end, props to you, because I could NEVER make it!!!

Aside from all of that, I'm working at continuing with light exercise at least three days a week, enjoying the final days of being able to sleep on my tummy, and looking forward to all of the shopping that will ensue as soon as we know whether this babe will be sporting pink or blue.

Survival Parenting

I love my kids.  I really and truly love them more than anything in the whole world... but sometimes they legitimately make me feel like a crazy person.

Being a stay at home mom is a job I have always dreamed of having.  I am incredibly thankful to my husband for working so hard to fulfill that wish for me, but the truth is, it isn't always easy.

This past weekend, I was on my own with the kids for a few days, which in actuality wasn't all that different from how we usually roll, but for a full 3 days, there were ZERO breaks... I couldn't pee alone, shower alone, or even sit down and enjoy a warm meal in its entirety... not that any of us get to enjoy these luxuries often as moms, but when you feel like you are gasping for air, sometimes even 5 minutes of peace and quiet, behind a closed door can feel like a day-long trip to the spa.

Max is now at the age where talking back has become his area of expertise. "No I don't have to", has become a common response when he is asked to do something.

Ella has suddenly become a stage 5 clinger... as in she holds on to the bottoms of my legs with a death grip and yells "mommy, mommy, mommy" on repeat.

Lately, running errands has become a dreaded past time.  A simple trip to the grocery store requires so much more effort than I have the energy for.  Car seats, coats, socks and shoes have become the bane of my existence.  Add to all of that, a case of the "I wants" that carries on throughout the shopping trip, accompanied by hair pulling and personal space invading, and I have found myself gritting my teeth and mumbling "Lord, give me strength" under my breath, more often than I should probably admit.

This post isn't meant to be an all out vent session, but I suppose in some senses it is.

I try so very hard to be a good mom, but there have been days recently where I feel like I am coming up short.

I catch myself having very little patience, and often,  I feel on the verge of snapping, and the guilt that I feel when my kids push me to that point, keeps me up at night on occasion.

Sometimes I feel terrible for the way that I react to my children's actions, even though in the moment, it seems totally appropriate.  Seeing them cry when they push to the point that discipline is required, is something that tears me apart inside... but the truth of the matter is, I know deep down, that in the long run M&E will only benefit from structure and discipline, that these boundaries are something that they need in order to thrive.

So even though Max might think that I am a mean mommy for making him eat a real dinner, rather than the granola bar that he'd prefer, or if Ella cries when I have to detach her from my legs and redirect her attention elsewhere so that I can accomplish a simple task, it doesn't necessarily make me mean, it means that I am doing my job.

If on occasion, I have to leave the room, shut the door, and count to ten, or, if on certain days, I feel the need to skip a trip to the store because it's just too hard to manage, than perhaps that is what I need to do.

I'm making it a point to be more forgiving with myself from this point on, and accepting of the fact that I just can't do it all.   I shouldn't feel inadequate, there are just going to be those days that are a struggle, and then there will be days that seem to breeze by with out so much as a hiccup, but I think that this is how parenting is supposed to be... I'm not sure, but I think.

I'm also making it a point to not compare myself to other mothers, who seem to have it all together, because let's be honest, it's unlikely that any of us do... and not to compare my children with other kids, who might seem so much better behaved than mine in certain moments, because no child is perfect.

I had to laugh the other day, when while dropping Max off at school, a couple of moms standing near by, overheard me asking "are you sure you don't need to go potty again before class?" "you'll tell the teachers if you have to go, right?" "make sure you share with your friends today, and use your words, don't just take things."... The other moms smiled, and one asked, "isn't it so funny how we all have the same conversations with our three year old before school?" The simple sentiment of her asking that question, reassured me that I'm not alone in the way I feel sometimes, that I'm not alone in constantly worrying that I'm parenting my kids the right way.  It appears that all of us, as mothers have moments where we feel inadequate. That we all question if we're teaching our children right from wrong.

The silver lining is, that we also get to experience those moments when we feel proud.  When our children do something great that validates our worth as parents and makes us feel good about the choices that we make for them.  Some days we might feel like mean or bad mommies, but in the eyes of our children, I doubt that's truly the case (at least until they are teenagers).  We're all striving to do the best we can, and the struggle is real.

So... like I said, this post wasn't meant to be entirely about my venting and getting all of this off of my chest, it was also meant to make any of you, who might feel like I do sometimes, aware, that you are not alone in these thoughts.  We're all in this together, just trying to stay afloat.  Deep breaths.   if today is a tough one, tomorrow is a fresh start.

Swoon Worthy

I am pleased to say that coffee is FINALLY tasting (and smelling) good to me again (thank you 2nd trimester)!  So this Swoon Worthy post comes to you courtesy of one very happy, caffeine infused mama!

I'm fueling up for a day full of Halloween crafts, costume making, and a neighborhood parade this afternoon, so Lord knows I will need a big cup to keep me going!

I hope you all have some fabulous plans lined up over the next couple of days, even if that means lounging on the couch watching Netflix (true confession, I'm only slightly ashamed to admit it, but I'm on a bit of a Gossip Girl bender myself).  

Here's what I'm swooning over this week:

1.  When I heard that Gap was collaborating with Peanuts, I had to check it out... This Charlie Brown romper is so cute for a little guy!

2.  With the amount of trips that I make to Target in a week, an app that pays me just for walking in, is my new obsession!

3.  This autumn lasagna is on my must-make list for dinner next week!

4.  Love the look of this vest, and this price is pretty great too!

5.  If you didn't check your social media accounts at all yesterday, you might have missed the drop of this... I, like everyone else it seems, can't stop listening.

6.  I don't exactly like to refer to myself as "aging", but let's face it, I'm not getting any younger... This concealer is one of the best I have found for hiding dark under eye circles, and it's budget friendly!

7.  Probably going to have to make this sometime this weekend, as a compliment to the honeycrisp apples that I can't seem to get enough of latelty.

8.  Twilight fans rejoice... I hear there's a new must-have book available for purchase.

9.  Yet another awesome product from one of my favorite clothing lines for littles.  I can't get enough of all the fun colors!

10.  And... last but not least.... no links yet, but the picture that you see above is a sneak peak of Target's amazing 2015 Christmas line!!! My store started stocking stuff this past week, and it's safe to say, I'll take one of EVERYTHING!!!

Have an amazing weekend friends!

Halloween Fun for Kids

With Halloween about a week away, I've been searching both Pinterest and the web for some fun crafts and snacks to make and enjoy with M&E over the next few days, to add a little more excitement to an already fun holiday.

Besides the making of green frosted cupcakes topped with Halloween themed sprinkles, the countless costume changes made by Max (first it was Hulk, then it was Captain America, now it is Spiderman... and God only knows what's next!), and the fun neighborhood parade we'll be attending tomorrow, here are some of the fun ideas that I've come across...

Egg Carton Bats

Candy Corn Pretzel Hugs

Worm Ice 

Candy Corn Banner

DIY glow in the dark slime

Mini Donut Spiders

Popsicle Stick Spider Webs

Footprint Ghosts

If you have any fun and simple ideas that are good for little ones, I'd love to hear about them!

Happy Friday!

Maternity Must Haves | Part One

prenatal vitamins | DHA | long sleeve maternity tee

refresh oil | belly butter | maternity leggings | preggie pop drops

Seeing as this is my third pregnancy in the last 4 years, I like to at least pretend that I have a little bit more of a clue this time around then I did during my first pregnancy.

Pregnancy number one included lots of book reading, internet searching, and Pinterest pinning in terms of what I needed, what was happening to my body, and which fruit my baby was shaped like during any given week along the way.

This time around, "ain't nobody got time for that"! So, even though sometimes it feels like I might just be winging it, I thought I would create a little series of lists of my own maternity must haves... perhaps for all of those first timers who are feeling as clueless as I did in the beginning, or maybe even for you seasoned professionals who are looking for some new and fun things to try along the way!

The following is part one of my "must haves":

Olly Prenatal Vitamins- Prenatals are super important during pregnancy.  I prefer the chewy variety, and I love this brand that can be found at Target.

Honest DHA Complete- First of all, this stuff is strawberry flavored, which means no weird after taste, but more importantly, this stuff includes Omega 3's and Vitamin D, and promotes fetal brain and eye development.

Maternity Tee- I literally own these in every color they sell.  they are incredibly comfortable, the long fit covers your growing belly, and they look great paired with maternity jeans, yoga pants, and even over a long tank and leggings.

Refresh Oil-  With this pregnancy, I've been getting a lot of headaches and have been feeling drained.  I'm not big on taking anything for the headaches (not that there's much you can take while pregnant anyway), so I keep this stashed in my purse, and roll it on my wrists, behind my ears, and even under my nose when I'm feeling tired, or when I feel a headache coming on.

Belly Butter- I've been fortunate, thus far, to not have experienced too many stretch marks, but I certainly have experienced the itchiness that comes with stretching skin and a quickly growing belly, this stuff helps to soothe that, and may just be the secret for continuing to avoid those stretch marks.

Maternity Leggings- Hands down, my number one must have!  I cannot live without a good pair(s) of maternity leggings, I even wear them when I'm not pregnant!  They are comfortable, cover/support my belly, and can be dressed up or dressed down, depending what they are paired with!

Preggy Pops Drops- Thanks to lots and lots of first trimester nausea this time around, pregnancy number 3 has provided me with a reason to try these for first time.  They honestly taste great (particularly the green apple flavor), and for some reason sucking on them does seem to at least tame the nausea a bit.

Stay tuned for more maternity must haves!

Swoon Worthy

Well... that was one heck of a week.  I am so glad that the weekend is here, and I can't wait to whip up some chili, roast some pumpkin seeds, and hang out in sweats... and by hang out, I mean chase 2 tiny humans around... and by sweats, I mean as opposed to my usual yoga pants...

But that's neither here nor there.

I thought I'd give a brief little description of what these Swoon Worthy posts are all about, for the many new friends that have been making their way to kozyandco.com.

Swoon Worthy is a random weekly (for the most part) post/list of all of the things I am loving/swooning over at the moment.  This list usually includes, but is never limited to, fashion items, products my family loves, recipes, crafts/DIY inspiration, and even other blog posts or articles from the web.  I hope that helps to clarify what you're about to read.

Without further ado, here's what I'm swooning over this week...

1.  Six different recipes for pumpkin seed flavors... and I fully intend on trying them all.

2.  Naturally I'm already virtually shopping for Baby K #3... and kind of wishing that I could get one of these jumpers in my size too!

3.  I never met a blanket scarf I didn't like.

4.  If your in need of some lunch inspiration for this weekend, I'm hoping this recipe will help you out.

5.  For those of you who don't already know, my love for handmade shops runs deep, this shop's Thanksgiving inspired  bows and headbands have me swooning for sure.

6.  My super creative friend had me sold at the sheer mention of pumpkin spice latte, and Max sold when he heard the words play dough!

7.  This stuff has been a total life saver in our house this fall.

8.  This "bark" almost looks too good to eat!

9.  I couldn't call myself an obsessive holiday lover, if I didn't share the love and provide a link for the 13 Nights of Halloween line up.

10.  A whole season has passed and I'm still obsessed with all things buffalo plaid!

Hoping you all have the BEST weekend!

Harvest Chicken Salad

I am an avid fan of chicken salad... particularly when it is prepared with fruit and fresh herbs, giving it the perfect sweet and savory flavor combination.

This "Harvest Chicken Salad", is my go-to recipe when I want to whip up a small batch to have on hand, for lunch for the weekend.

It's easy to throw together, and is great served on croissants, fresh bread, or even atop lettuce for a great salad.

Harvest Chicken Salad

Ingedients

1 (store bought) rotisserie chicken, breast meat removed and shredded

2 Tbs mayonnaise

3/4 of a cup, of plain Greek yogurt (give or take, depending on how creamy you prefer it)

the juice of half a lemon

1/2 cup of apple, chopped (I prefer honeycrisp or granny smith)

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/8 chopped pecans

1 Tbs chopped fresh chives

S & P to taste

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.  Chill until ready to serve.

Now we have lunch on hand for the weekend!

Happy Friday!