AUBREY KINCH

sleeper | L'oved Baby

Well, Christmas has come and gone and I'm already feeling like it was a total blur. I wanted to do a lot more then I actually accomplished but that's okay. We always have next year! I spent this morning taking down decorations, deep cleaning and getting our home feeling nice and peaceful and fresh again. Sometimes doing that before New Year's Eve makes jumping into the New Year a bit less stressful and more organized. You know what I mean?

Christmas week is here and I'm blown away by how the Holiday season is almost behind us. This is by far my favorite time of year, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Drake fully understands how amazing that is and it's so cool watching Emery slowly comprehend Jesus and learning about Him. 

swaddle | Modern Burlap - diaper | Parasol Co (code AUBREYKINCH for 20% off first bundle) - headband | Hudson & Isla

top and skirt

Top Knots & Twirls

Christmas is something I look forward to every single year and I always say I'll embrace the season even more with each passing year. I'll do all the fun things celebrating Christ's birth with the kids and bake all the yummy goodies and let the kids be on sugar highs for a month straight but then it comes and it's finally chilly out and we bundle up and maybe have one movie night with hot cocoa and we blink and we're already taking down the Christmas decorations.

We have our Christmas cards in hand and ready to ship and I can't help but share the ones we chose. You saw here the ones I loved from Minted and when it came down to ordering, I went with these ones. Not even in the original bunch of ones I loved! So funny. I'm so indecisive, you guys!

one | two | three (we have one currently but not sure where to buy- maybe Craigslist?) | four | five | six

I've been stalling sharing Drake's room through an actual reveal because we have this pinball machine passed down from Andrew's grandpa and it's huge and still needs to be put into Drake's room. Me, being super type A doesn't want to shoot and share the space until that little (big!) task is done... until then, why not share a little inspiration to how the space looks though. Yes?

I know, I know. Gift guides are literally everywhere right now and that can either be a great thing for people who don't have a clue where to start with their holiday shopping or it can be utterly annoying and excessive. I tend to lean towards the latter but I can't help myself and share a few items (this post ONLY) that I would love to get in my stocking and make your gift giving a tad easier.

One thing moms told me before I had Emery is the immediate sense of feeling like yourself again after pushing that baby out and I seriously forgot how good that feels being on the other side. Don't get me wrong, being pregnant and growing a sweet babe is such a blessing and honor. I don't take that lightly especially knowing how many people struggle with that on a regular basis but pregnancy isn't easy on me. It's hard and complicated and leaves some mamas feeling so unlike themselves that when it gets down to the very end, it's hard not to be excited to have your body back to yourself again.

You know how as moms we run through how we think pictures will go and we fully map out what we envision them to look like when said and done? AND THEN THEY NEVER GO SMOOTHLY. Like ever. Oh my gosh, it's pulling teeth! I think back to when it was just Andrew, Drake and I and it was hard enough to get those boys to smile genuinely but man, those were the easy days.

One thing I take pride in with my kiddos is making sure they're using their manners and giving grace when going about their daily life. I know this really applies for Drake the most but now that Emery is understanding things better, it's been fun getting her involved.

We've been soaking in all the sweet newborn-ness we can over the last week and it's been so nice to really slow down and just enjoy the time together as a family. Andrew went back to work together but Drake came home last night so we're back into our typical routine and it's been pretty painless, honestly.

It's that time- I'm buckling down and getting Emery started with potty training. I've heard so many things about all these different methods and how to do it but I'm simply going to use my gut and listen to her cues.

She's here! I can't believe we've finally met our new baby girl and it was a better delivery and experience than I expected. Having induced the first time, we were in labor about 23 hours and it was a long process so I was comparing and thinking it would be very similar and something I was nervous to do again.

You know how you create spaces for your kids you think they'll love and spend all their time in? Yeah... I did that with the playroom and I'm being proven wrong. They prefer being snuggled in my bed watching movies or cartoons and if toys are involved, they're simply brought from this room right to my bedroom to be played with.

bra- here | robe- here

Let's chat about something a bit more intimate. I never found a nursing bra I loved the first time around because I didn't end up nursing for long. When I was nursing, I was basically topless for about 3 weeks straight and that's all it came down to. Since I'm deathly determined to make nursing work with Hollyn, I've been on the hunt for a really amazing nursing bra that offers support, comfort and functionality- obviously.

one | two | three | four | five

V05 Hot Oil Therapy- $15 on Amazon

Love love love this stuff! It's my go-to for a hair mask once a week. Run under hot/warm water, massage it onto dry hair and rinse off in the shower. It leaves you silky smooth and so ready for a week of processing and using product galore- hehe!

Pixi by Petra Beauty Blush Duo- $18 at Target

I ran out of my typical highlighter a couple weeks back and saw this at Target so I opted to try it. I thought if it could give me a blush/highlighter in one, perfect! It's been really lovely and something I've worn everyday since buying- so win!

Pixi by Petra Nourishing Cleansing Balm- $20 at Target

I also snagged this when I got the above because I've been hearing so much about balms to cleanse and remove makeup... guys! It melts it off and it smells so good. I really love this and have used it probably every other night in rotation with my TULA cleanser.

LUSH Rosy Cheeks Face Mask- $12.95 in LUSH stores

Emery and I ran to the mall the other day and I picked up a ton of bath bombs but I've also had some extra redness in my face so I snagged this mask. If you're not familiar with LUSH, they make everything in house and fresh so the product you're getting is amazing for your skin. You have to buy masks in store as they require refrigeration but this one has redness calming traits and smells so rosy. Love it!

Makeup Bag- $19.99 on Etsy

Just so stinkin' cute right? I got this a couple months ago after watching Mean Girls and I think it's just so fun! I've been keeping it filled with necessities in my purse. Lotion, chapstick, gum, kid snacks... you name it. I have the larger size!

IN THIS POST

Oh, you have no idea how excited I am to share these pictures! I wasn't even planning on doing maternity pictures this time around and I felt content with that up until about 32 weeks. Something clicked in me then that I haven't been documenting myself and this growing belly like I did with Emery and although I may be okay with that, maybe Hollyn would want some pictures knowing it was her inside her mama. Cliche? Totally. But it could be a keepsake she wants and I would feel terrible if it came down to that and I didn't have some for her.

one | two | three | four | five (clip) | six | seven

Hospital bag chat! I had a few requests for what I was packing for Hollyn on instagram so I thought I'd pull a little post together to share. It's not necessary to really bring a lot for baby but it makes your stay more comfortable whether it's one night or a few nights. Comparatively to our first time around, I checked off some boxes of what it was nice to have then and what I wish I had brought (burp cloths!) so this is it.

Not really a space people typically share but having gone from a much smaller, more simple laundry room it's been really nice having a large one with a sink and space to store items! When we moved in, the counters were a brown speckled laminate, which isn't terrible because the white cabinetry really brightened the space but something I wanted to change. Being on a budget and not putting a lot of money into this house as it's still a temporary home, I bit the bullet and bought vinyl contact paper from Amazon and gave the counters a little refresh.

Yesterday was the party we threw for friends and family celebrating Emery turning 2! We had such a blast getting together with everyone and stuffing our faces with yummy food and sweets. A little back story... Drake chose to get one big gift for his birthday this year instead of having a party but we still wanted to sing him Happy Birthday with family so we kind of did a joint party in a sense. He didn't care about the theme so we catered to Emery with that and his mom made him an awesome Broncos cake to enjoy.

do you guys remember Emery being this itty bitty, sweet thing?

4 months old here.

This "office" of mine has definitely evolved over time and it's always something I love updating here and there with a few things to keep it fresh. There's nothing like redoing a mood board to get you motivated for a new season or even swapping out a couple pictures you have in the area.

Happy Friday! It's time to share Hollyn's sweet little bedroom and I am so pleased with how it turned out. I wanted to go with a more eclectic vibe and pull pieces we could use with her over time to give her a toddler room and then big girl room. I started with the rug and knew everything else would fall into place pretty easily based on that one piece and I love the way it turned out.

tunic- Pink Blush Maternity | jeans (on sale!)- American Eagle | booties (on sale!)- Rack Room Shoes

While I'm all about comfort, it's okay to feel a bit put together as a mom and adding a bootie instead of flip flops makes all the difference for me. Better news? These particular ones from Rack Room Shoes have the most cushy soles and my feet didn't even cry the whole time wearing them. What a success!

I've been in a mode of not messing around and ordering items I think would be great to have on hand lately (thank you, Amazon Prime). So I wanted to collect my thoughts and basically give you a glimpse into what has been through my cart and in transit to me over the past week or two.

Let's start with baby gear... not much more to add here from this post recently being complied but 3 things I'm really pumped about!

It'll be sooner than later we start making this little room into a slightly "bigger girl" space so I wanted to share it while it's still a bit nursery-esque. We're planning to transition to a toddler bed when we feel she's ready as she loves her crib- I also don't want to give up the freedom of just laying her down and letting her enjoy some quiet time. Ha!

*32 weeks pregnant with emery

I've been having the worst tooth pain for the last couple weeks to the point of finally going into my dentist to get x-rays done to decipher the problem. Behold! My wisdom teeth are starting to pop on in and those babies mean business. I finally have an understanding of what Emery went through teething because that pain is like no other.

Happy dance! Happy dance! Not only because it's Friday but because the Speak Wines collection 3 launch has taken place and I've been part of that happening! What an exciting thing to finally be able to share but I can't wait to blab your ears off about this awesome project I've been working on with them.

Here they are- the limited and few shots I was able to capture at my baby shower my mom threw but at least it's something to document the special day she planned for myself and baby Hollyn! She's always so prompt and on top of making any event memorable and enjoyable for all parties and the day didn't disappoint. From the sweet details of pictures of Andrew and I as babies to using a crib to collect cards and gifts, it was so lovely!

It is literally insane and so ironic to me we have our three kiddos birthdays all within weeks of each other. Drake and Emery are hard to combine with such an age gap but you better believe next year, the girls will be sharing a party and probably for the rest of their lives. Haha!

Happy Monday! How was everyone's weekend? We had my baby shower which turned out so beautifully! I wasn't super intent on taking pictures (shame on me) but I have some so I'll share it here on the blog this week sometime. My mama is one talented party thrower- let me tell ya! :)

top- Pink Blush Maternity | leggings- BLANQI (code aubrey25 for 25% off until midnight!)

We got the most exciting package in the mail about a week ago and it's one Emery is all sorts of happy about! A new stroller and car seat! It was time to make the jump and get something for her so we have her current convertible for Hollyn and we went with the new Quinny x Rachel Zoe collection that just recently launched. Best decision ever. We've always had great reviews with Quinny and Maxi Cosi so it was brainless knowing we wanting to jump on board but the detailing on this collection is so beautiful and luxe! It really brings a whole element of chic to gear with babies and toddlers.

Good morning! Do you ever just have the best night's sleep after not sleeping for a serious amount of time and wake up so refreshed?! It totally changes your mood and makes you feel like a million bucks. We've been sick here and there and I finally could breathe through my nose again so even though the night wasn't a long night of sleep, it was restful and for that, I'm appreciative.

one | two | three | four | five | six | seven

we did also get the matching convertible seat for Emery, the Pria 85.

one (code "aubrey25" for 25% off BLANQI until Sept 20) | two | three (coupon here) | four

Talk about a list, yeah? I've been collecting my thoughts on a few things we've purchased and used the first time around as well as ones we haven't yet but are excited to try with Hollyn so compiling it all in a post has been on my to-do for quite some time.

What are some things you used and couldn't live without when a newborn joined the fam? Either for mama or baby...?

The dining room at our old home was literally my favorite room in the old house simply because of the space it offered, the light, bright and casual yet comfortable feel it offered and mostly because the table was hand crafted by my dad. When looking for new homes (and food for thought when building custom) I knew we had to be smart about a space that would accommodate a 10 foot table... yet again, comfortably. This home does just that with about 2 feet of space on either side of the head chairs and plenty on the sides. It was a dream come true seeing it planted in the new space and dare I say, I love it even more!

How's everyone's short work week going? It's taken me an extra day to get back in the office because we had a baby appointment yesterday and Emery has a runny nose so she's been extra clingy. We didn't do much for the holiday but a small BBQ with Andrew's family at our place. We did host draft night Saturday too so we've been good breaking in the new house with entertaining! ;)

Eating time in our house has taken a turn for gambling. I never know if she will want to eat and if she does, how much she will it. This is seriously foreign to me because she's been an eater from day one and never was picky until about 3-4 weeks ago. It's like a switch went off and I'm desperate to get her to maintain a healthy routine with fruits, veggies, grains, dairy.

I may not be the only one who's a little OCD when it comes to a clean home and that's A-okay! I always grew up with expectations of having my room picked up, things were in it's place if it wasn't being used and I was my mom's helper every Saturday cleaning the inside of the home and grocery shopping while my brother helped my dad outside with landscaping and maintenance. I think those expectations for our kids are great core values and teaches and molds them to be more responsible and clean adults.

stocked and ready for fall with Parasol Co prints!

use code AUBREYKINCH for 20% off your first month subscription box

We are moved! We are settling! It's been a process but a fun and encouraging one at that. I've learned we have the best and most generous friends and family and life would be so difficult without all their help, rallying together for us. We hit the jackpot in that department. We are seriously loving our new home and the way it already feels so perfect for us. We were moved in last Saturday and unpacked and completely organized Sunday evening. I'm telling you- BEST FRIENDS AND FAMILY.