Personal – Page 67 – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Personal February 5, 2015

8 Months

Isla celebrated 8 months of life (outside of the womb) yesterday, and while it definitely has flown by, so much has happened during the last 244 days. Eight months is also the length of time that you are aware that you’re pregnant, and ohmygosh just thinking about how long that is makes me want Isla to be an only child!

This is a really fun age, as Isla’s personality is definitely apparent now. While she used to steal her pacifier from my mouth and put it in hers, she now takes it, looks at it, then puts it right back. She even gives all of her food to Belle while in her high chair – so clearly she will forever be a good sharer. Right? Ha. Wishful thinking.

So, what are some things that make Isla laugh? Peek-a-boo in the sheets when I’m making the bed and she’s still in it, tickling her underarms and feet, filling my cheeks with air and clapping her hands over my mouth to blow it all out – she loves this!, silly voices and my cheerleading jumps (never fails!). Isla laughs and laughs every morning when we do our dance routine to Uptown Funk. She also giggles uncontrollably when she watches videos of herself giggling uncontrollably, which makes me… yeah, you got it – giggle uncontrollably.

Things that Isla loves? Food. Yup, just like her parents! Isla loves sweet potatoes, avocados, berries, rusks, puffs, dried mango and Plum Organics purees. She loves reading before bed and bathtime. She loves going on runs with me (and sleeping the whole time), as well as doing errands during the week. She is obsessed with the Life Time Fitness day care, and has made a few ‘friends’ who are consistently there at the same time as her. She loves getting her feet licked by Belle and walking with her cart and getting pushed on her bike.

Things that Isla hates? Going to bed. What? She was doing so well for the past few months, but as of the last two weeks, she cries and cries and cries. I think it has to do with separation anxiety that is prevalent at this age. She also hates the sound of packing tape (a lot), as well as getting her diaper changed or getting put in the car seat when she’s hungry.

Every night I pray for Isla, and I get excited as I tuck myself into bed, just thinking about seeing her in the morning. It’s so cheesy and cliche, but seeing her tiny little face every day makes me the happiest human alive.

Personal February 2, 2015

Week in Review

I truly love a good yearly planner, and I’ve used one forever and ever and ever; however, after Isla was born, mine got left behind in my laptop bag that hasn’t been opened since June. My organization was shocking, which is totally understandable for the first weeks or months. 7 months in? Maybe not so much.

I was really excited to get my Sugar Paper planner for Christmas, but even more excited when I found out last week that I had won a Simplified Planner from Christina Leigh’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaway. It seemed perfect timing, as Emily Ley (owner/creator of the Simplified Planner) gave birth to her adorable baby twins last week, and I couldn’t stop crying when she posted this photo on Instagram. What is wrong with me? I now want twins really, really, really badly.

So, besides twin babies (whom I do not know) being born, other highlights of the week included:

Two lunch dates to Ruggles Green with the most adorable babies – Hollis (11 months old and a walking machine) and Alexander (please see photo below to understand my utter obsession) – I love catching up with their sweet moms too, especially while eating a Texas Goat Cheese Salad
Finishing the editing on my video for Milk Nursingwear – it’s being reviewed, but I’ll be able to show it soon!
Participating in the 30 day challenge with 89.3 KSBJ, which is a local Christian radio station – I seriously cannot be in a bad mood while listening to this station (and when Broken Vessels is on… my heart is extra happy). I’ve also started the She Reads Truth Bible study and am obsessed. Can we talk about the content, as well as the beautiful graphics?
Traveling to Galveston for our niece’s Christening, which was beautiful – Ana is a champion and slept through 90% of it, then cried for only a second (during the dunking, which is understandable!)
Laughing and laughing when I looked over at Isla one morning as I got ready to see that she had climbed on the scale and was standing up, examining herself in the mirror (handy though, she weigh 19 pounds now… avocado and sweet potatoes are chunking her up!)
Receiving a beautiful package for Isla from Janie and Jack and getting some cute little jeans and a top from Nordstrom for her as well (does anyone ever do returns without buying something??) – also, let’s talk about how I only buy clothes for Isla now – this is the definition of being a mom!
Enjoying time with my older sister and both of Isla’s grandmas who came to visit this week and play with Isla

I felt awfully sick on Saturday (I kept Googling symptoms of an Appendicitis, but turns out I have a cold, ha!). A very laid back day helped me get back on my feet quickly. How was your week? What were your highlights?

PS The winner of the Isla necklace giveaway was Joanna Murnan! Congratulations!!

Personal January 28, 2015

Comparison is the Thief of Joy

Every day in January, ClassPass is sharing a new blog post written by a blogger in one of their 20 cities (see all posts here). From setting attainable goals to success stories, recipes and fun stories – these posts are providing readers all the tools needed to make 2015 your happiest year yet. This is a part of their New Year’s challenge: Blogging for a Happier New Year.

I am honored to be featured on the ClassPass blog. My post was shared yesterday and is titled: “How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others and Be Happy as YOU!” I was inspired by the Teddy Roosevelt quote that I kept seeing over and over again on Instagram – “Comparison is the thief of joy.” I hope you enjoy reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Nowadays, we have constant visibility into other people’s seemingly glamorous lives with sources like Facebook, Instagram and reality television. We are bombarded with photographs of perfect-looking people doing exciting things, like drinking champagne on the beach while wearing beautiful designer swimsuits and showing off their flawless bodies.

Fashion January 27, 2015

The Kendra Scott Isla Necklace (Giveaway)

One of my very best friends, Sophee, has one of the coolest jobs. She has been working for Kendra Scott since she graduated from The University of Texas, and recently switched into a new finance role. Almost two years ago on my bachelorette weekend, she told me that she had named a bracelet the ‘Ailee’ (see post here) – it was part of the 2014 Spring Atlantic Collection, and is my favorite Kendra Scott piece, naturally. This summer, she told me that she had named a necklace after Isla, and I literally cried. She is an amazing friend.

Week in Review January 26, 2015

Week in Review

This past weekend, we hosted a wedding shower at our house for two of our close friends, Scott and Amanda. We tested the capacity of ‘The Manor,’ and had 67 people eating, drinking, laughing and taking polaroids (or Instax Minis, to be precise). Sasha and I had such a good time, and seriously cannot wait for their wedding in New Orleans in just a few months. I’ll share a handful of photos later this week – although it’s hard to play photographer when you’re busy being a host! I’m glad I got some photos taken before the party started. I did share one of my favorite pictures below – Amanda’s two adorable nieces came, and they love the photos. You’ll see the ‘World’s Best Selfies’ below!

The shower was by far the biggest highlight of the week, and getting ready for it took up most of the week. There were a few other fun moments, including:

Meeting two sweet friends for lunch at Adair Kitchen and getting one of my favorite meals in the city – their black bean quinoa burger (it’s heavenly)
Getting our new ficus lyrata set up – we ordered it from Houston Interior Plants and love it
Ordering a British passport for Isla
More mushed berry finger painting with Isla, as her aunts commissioned pieces of their own
Hanging up lights in our backyard (well, Sasha did) – we ordered these ones from Amazon and love them!
Taking Isla to the park with her cousins and swinging for the first time!
Receiving packages from one of my best friends, Sophee, and from Kendra Scott – details on what was inside will be shared tomorrow!
Catching up with one of my closest high school friends, Joy (who owns the amazing jewelry company, Priya) over lunch at Zoe’s Kitchen
Receiving my two new wedding bands, as the tiny pave ones I had kept losing diamonds!
Discovering that Isla is obsessed with Plum Organics squeezable purees – we are doing baby led weaning, but want to make sure Isla practices eating from a spoon too! She is obsessed with the Greek yogurt, spinach and raspberry flavor
A playdate with McKenzie and Sasha’s mom on Friday – we had Isla time, then enjoyed lunch together at the house
Getting pampered on Saturday morning with a mimosa and blowout (something I need every day!)
Buying at least 7 outfit options for the shower, then wearing something I already owned (how often does this have to happen for me to learn?)

A definite low point was spending hours on the phone with Apple to fix my iPhoto – where I store all photos. Yikes. I was extremely cranky last night while this was happening!

What were your highlights this week?