Happy Halloween!  Can you believe it?! I know I can't, but I'm so excited for this time of year. All the magic, fun & make believe that goes with it. 

Aria can hardly wait to dress up. I've been practicing my french braid skills (something I just learned how to do two days ago) and seeking out cute bows & accessories for both girls. 

Before we head out for trick or treating I thought I'd share a free printable with you all. Just Save and print this 8x10, then paste it to a hard backing or throw it in a frame for your bar cart or near your candy dish for tonight. Don't forget to check out the other prints here!

Happy Halloween to you all! 

If you've been following me for awhile, you know I love to play with chalk. When I was little, my grandmother gave me a calligraphy set where I then spent hours practicing my penmanship. Over time I got away from it, but picked it up again a few years ago. Around that time, we found out we were expecting Aria, so I converted an old mirror into a chalkboard to capture my growing belly over those 9 months. I still have that chalkboard. 

That week-by-week hobby expanded to work, where I created the winery's flight and bottle pricing boards. Last year, Seth built me a larger chalkboard that hangs over our dining table, that became the space for my favorite quotes, lyrics, lettering practice, celebratory & holiday signs. 

With encouragement from you, our friends & family, I've decided to launch a little Etsy store, @ChalkintheKitchen, to share my designs. I found a way to turn them into a digital, downloadable printables that you can print to cardstock, canvas or any other durable medium. 

If you print from home, make sure its a quality photo printer, but I find it's easiest to email my local UPS store, where they will print an 8x10 on cardstock for .25 cents. I can then frame them or paste them to a hard backing to decorate various rooms in our home. 

I'd love for to you to check out my store and tell me what you think! This weekend, though 10/16, use code "NEWCHALK20" to receive 20% off your purchase to celebrate with me! 

xoxo, McKenzie

I can't even believe it! We'll soon be able to hold our new baby girl!  It's been a little bit, and with only 3 weeks left, I thought I would post a new chalkboard and update our little bump-quiz :)

Name: Emerson Rose Wheeler, our little Emi :)

How far along? 37 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 33lbs. I gained 35 with Aria, so that's right on track for me. 

Maternity clothes? Yes, I'm still living in these leggings, and maxi dresses.  I wear some maternity tops.. but mostly I just go up a size or buy longer and/or stretchy tops.  I haven't been able to commit to buying a pair of actual maternity pants with either pregnancy. 

Stretch marks? I have 3 tiny marks on the left side of my belly button. They cropped up over two days a few weeks ago. I still use Mustela everyday and swear by it's magical powers.

Sleep: I get about 4-5 solid hours each night. I tend to wake up around 3am and toss and turn until we get up around 5am. 

Movement: Lots little kicks in the ribs, which is all new territory this time. Beyond the kicks, it's mostly just squirming. She's made it apparent she's tight on space.. I'm just convinced she's packing her bags ;) 

Food cravings: Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (on gluten free bread ;), cereal... I'm pretty sure I'm eating more Cheerios than my toddler.. pineapple and olives.  I'm also craving a margarita like crazy!

Labor Signs: I started having regular contractions about a week ago. Timing them, they go from every 30 minutes down to 10 then down to 5 mins apart..then stop and return to every 30 minutes. Frustration has set in a little bit.. haha! We we're excited to find out that I'm about 1cm dilated and 70% effaced at our appt this week, so we'll see!

Belly Button in or out?  Flat and MIA.. 

Happy or Moody? Happy, moody, anxious, impatient, excited - all of it!

Looking forward to: Enjoying that margarita I've been craving ;) And sleeping on my stomach if I want. Moving & breathing easier.. and wearing the rest of my wardrobe again! haha!

But I'm really looking forward to the little and easily overlooked things.. like being able to fully hug my husband, and being able to better snuggle Aria as we read books at bedtime.

I savor all the sweet things about pregnancy - it really is such a blessing. I love every kick and push.. I can now feel her toes, heel and the shape of her tiny feet as they skim my belly. I love her little hiccups and when her fingers sweep around. I daydream constantly about what she'll look like, how her personality could be similar or different from Aria's and how they will play together. I just can't wait to meet our little Emerson, kiss her, squeeze her, take in all of her baby coos, and love her forever.

I know I'm deviating from the typical health & fitness posts this week, it's just fun to mix it up. I've been in the pink, red & white frame of mind recently with all the cute Valentine's things everywhere you go. 

It's funny to think that ever since Seth and I were dating, neither of us have been big on Valentine's day. We always thought it seemed a little forced; buying flowers, chocolates, cards, dinner out.. believe me, I love those things, but why just do it on one day because you're supposed to? What if those happen by surprise on a random day? (much sweeter in my opinion). 

We usually keep Valentine's pretty low key. We went out the first few years we were married, then with my job in events, I worked the past few, so we would get creative to make each other feel special and appreciated. 

Seth & I have been married for almost seven years. It's kinda crazy to look back on all of our years together.  Life is crazy and chaotic, with work, Seth back in school, and raising a toddler consuming our every day. But we strive to not let a single week go by where we don't chill out and catch up on the important things going on in each other's life. I'm not talking about just work.. but we discuss our dreams, the next steps we should take to reach them, our plans for the year or even just the rest of the week. We text love notes, make each others coffee, and go out of our way to do little things that make each others life a little bit easier. Not to say that marriage doesn't come with its fair share of struggles & arguments, but that's not what you're supposed to focus on in any relationship ;)  So may Valentine's Day be a little reminder to focus on the good, to celebrate all the things there are to love about each other & to have a little fun. 

Thanks for reading my ramblings. Happy Valentine's! XOXO

But this past weekend we hit the last big milestone before she arrives.. we opened the door to the 3rd trimester. The home stretch! So I figured it's about time for a little bump-date, complete with a little preggo quiz. 

This year, with 2016 looking to be very exciting for us, I feel like I want to make some resolutions, but I want to call them "goals & intentions".. it just feels more accurate. ;)  You never know what may happen when you have a toddler, not to mention adding a newborn to the mix in just a few short months! 

So here we go, some thoughts that have went through my head over the past weeks that I wouldn't mind improving upon:

Finish my damn coffee. I'm up most mornings at least 30 minutes before Aria wakes.. I just need to make sure I drink it in 15 of those, otherwise it is lost to the microwave for the rest of the day.

I will not let "Blue's Room" (ridiculous side-show of "Blue's Clues") be my toddler's go-to show anymore. We must find something else. Anything else. ... I just can't.

Stop eating the leftovers on my toddler's plate. I mean.. what am I doing munching on cold quesadilla anyway?

I will stop throwing temper tantrums not get so upset when my toddler throws a temper tantrum.

I promise to carve out more mommy-only time… even if that comes down to just going to the grocery store by myself.. I can spend an extra-long time looking at avocados can't I?

I will stop using the logic that "my toddler seem really hungry, and cheese has calcium" as an excuse to make quesadillas

I will get more massages. I suppose this relates to more mommy-only time from above.. but I swear I will be walking with a permanent lean to the left from the waist up if I don't.

I will stop letting the dogs clean up the trail of crumbs on the carpet and couch.. they are already fat enough. I just need to go get the vacuum and.. . nevermind. Let's be realistic - It's just easier to tap my foot at the crumbs.

I will stop hiding in the corner of the kitchen to eat all the delicious snacks.. actually, I just need to cut down on the delicious snacks. I'm not really supposed to be eating two portions of chocolate just because I'm pregnant..even if the baby wants chocolate.

I will find something to do with the 4000+ pictures on my phone and computer...

I promise to keep reminding myself that I am only human and raising tiny humans is hard work!

So here are my goals & intentions for the new year!  Seeing 2015 come to an end is bittersweet, but either way, this year is sure to be full of so many new memories, experiences, laughs, cries.. Cheers (with a tiny bit of pink champagne!) to a Happy New Year! 

You've heard the joke.. Black Friday is the one day where you'll get trampled by the shopping mobs exactly one day after you are supposed to be thankful for what you have... 

I have only participated in Black Friday shopping twice. I prefer to be an online shopper so that I can sleep in, make my cup of coffee, peruse the sales, make breakfast and have a lazy family day. Although, for the past couple years I have had to work the three days following Thanksgiving as it is the busiest time for wineries. I try not to complain, because every year when this weekend comes around, I am thankful I am working those three days. 

Here's what comes to mind for this Thanksgiving: 

I am thankful that I am employed..(even when I don't want to go to work ;) 

..that my wonderful husband can stay home with our sweet girl when I am at work. 

..for my husband, who works his buns off to provide for us so I can be part-time.
I am so blessed to be the mama to the sweetest, happiest, best little girl ever!

..that we are surrounded by wonderful family & friends through the year, not just the holidays. 

..that we have a warm house, full bellies, and everything we need, even though there is always something on our shopping list.. 

I'm so grateful that we are all healthy. 

I'm thankful for this sweet little baby I'm carrying, as I know there are many who wish they were. 

Thankful that each of my pregnancies have been easy, no serious complaints or concerns.. 

I feel so, so blessed. 

I have never been one to post the '30 days I'm thankful for..' and I know that this may seem a short list.. but as I sit here looking around our home, my eyes are teary. When you stop and think about everything you have, I could not put it all into words. Things are never perfect, that's not how life works, but it is pretty damn good. 

Wishing you a happy, grateful, thankful and blessed Thanksgiving this year... The Wheelers

How is it already Thanksgiving eve? I feel like it should still be February.. summer was a blur and fall left a us with a quick kiss and a wave before dissolving into a Winter chill.. 

I don't think I have looked forward to December this much since I was a little girl awaiting the clatter of hooves on our roof. Having a baby.. make that a toddler, makes the Christmas season so fun. The magical nature of everything that twinkles, glitters and makes you warm and cozy is just the best with a little one. 

I started Christmas shopping the moment that cute little decorations came out on store shelves.. thank you Target. And while Halloween is fun and all.. I had a basket of Christmas that was going to explode if I waited one more day to decorate. 

My little helper loved pulling out all the "pree balls" (pretty balls - aka glitter ornaments) and sitting in the pile of lights as I checked each strand. We will wait another week or so to get our tree - if I can wait that long. 

In the meantime, stockings are hung and the house smells of balsam fir.. as I stand in the kitchen eating all the yummy snacks and sipping on iced coffee. 

Wishing you the happiest Thanksgiving! <3