weekend wishlist

christmas has come and gone, and even though i really have everything i could ever want, it doesn't hurt to add a little wish list, right? do these lists come across greedy and ungrateful? i hope not. they're fun for me to create.

here's what i've been peeking at this week, friends.



this cute little owl.

these chic leather mats that make clean up a breeze.

this cool calendar. great design much?

these matching mama and baby bird shirts.

this bedframe that makes me want to put white pillows all over it and go to sleep for a nice healthy 12 hours straight. ugh, can you imagine, friends?! even 8 uninterrupted hours sounds too good to be true. how long till your babies started sleeping through the night, ps?

i hope you all have a lovely weekend.
thanks so much for stopping by!
xo

christmas photos.

happy christmas, friends! i hope you all had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed spending it with loved ones. i usually go crazy this time of year taking a million pictures (and video!) with my family, but keeping an eye on teddy made it a little harder to document as much as i usually do.

i'm a little devastated that i wasn't able to put together a family video this year like this one, this one, and this one, but i'm gradually accepting that having a baby has made my priorities different.

next year i'll be more prepared. maybe.

anyway, here are a few pictures that i managed to snap while we were with family in texas this year.

we had a family nativity and teddy was the sweetest little angel, right?

 ollie and teddy. what hunky cousins, right?!

i'll upload more pictures when i'm not so sleepy. deal? :)

stay warm, friends!
(especially texas friends-- holy blizzard much?!)
xo

christmas minus presents.

guys, christmas is in less than three days and i haven't bought any presents. christmas has never been this off my radar in my life. i'm not even sorry. i mean, on one hand, i feel like the worlds worst deadbeat wife and mother, and on the other hand, it's nice not bothering with gifts (giving or receiving).

i gave myself permission to put gifting on the back burner this year, since teddy has made life busier, and he's too little to recognize the effort it takes to plan, buy, wrap and unwrap presents.

 i have ideas of what i'm getting for gid, but not giving myself a deadline of the 25th has been THE BEST. i love it. i'm sure next christmas i'll be going nuts buying everything in the world for teddy, so i'm enjoying the hail out of this year's lowkeyness.

not worrying about presents lets me focus on hanging out with family, and that's so much better than running around town buying everything in sight, and stressing whether anyone will like what i got them.

there are a few exceptions- my family has a gift drawing, and i got my brother a gift card at REI (which i thought was so boring and lame). i apologetically gave him a heads up that i didn't do anything exciting, and he was so sweet and excited about the gift card.

have any of you given up gift giving for christmas? what are your substitutes and traditions? i can't decide if i love it forever, or if it's just a crazy year with our first baby and i'm loving it temporarily since it allows me to focus on my teddy instead of buying stuff.

and seriously, all i want is a silent night. teddy's sucky naps are killing me these days.
happy christmas week, guys.
xo

update

a dear friend of nine has the sweetest little boy and after giving me a hug, he leaned in, put his hand on my abdomen and whispered, "so, is there another little baby in there?" kids, man. so honest.

i had a dentist appointment for the first time since before grad school. i know. it's bad. but dentists scare the bejesus out of me, and i've convinced myself that as long as i don't swear at strangers and take good care of my teeth, heavenly father will help me not need to go. gideon doesn't believe that's how it works. (oh ye of little faith..) anyway, when the hygienist asked me why i hadn't come for a check up while i was pregnant i told her i loved my baby and i wanted to protect him. she didn't laugh. (ps-the dentist told me i have beautiful teeth, and said he can't believe i haven't been in for so long. he's totally my favorite dentist i've ever had.)

my milk is running out and it's frustrating and a huge relief all at once. frustrating because i really wanted to be so so good at breastfeeding (like nursing my baby while i was out for a jog good), and relieving because if my milk runs out, i don't have to pump or keep hoping that maybe teddy and i will finally figure out exclusive breastfeeding.

i'm crazy about this time of year. the lights. the smell of pine. candles glowing. family. there's nothing better.

sometimes in the early morning gid and i will bring teddy into bed with us and he loves it. he sleeps so much better with a warm body next to him. i've been flirting with the idea of crawling into his crib with him because i'm pretty sure the mattress we got him is nicer than ours and i want him to enjoy it.

i never understood why people would get caught up in comparison via social media until i spent my days at home with a newborn and started using instagram for more than the filters. there are so many cool (and thin!) people out there, and they do interesting things, and take beautiful pictures, and live these incredible looking lives, and i'm over here in frumpy pajamas wishing i was living in an alternate universe where i'm super good looking and photogenic all the time, and have a talented videographer follow me around documenting my carefree hashtag blessed life. then i hear myself thinking and i'm like, "girl. get a grip. go read humans of new york and clear your head."

humans of new york always helps me see how good i've got it. especially right now with the interviews of syrian refugees. it's incredible how social media can change lives. thank goodness for the helpers. i'm lookin' at you, brandon.

a few nights ago gid and i watched a christmasy russian film and it was so weird and good and made me miss college.

christmas is next week guys.
nuts.
xo

inside the diaper bag.

all right, people. we're going on a trip soon, and i'm packing my diaper bag for the plane, and i need to know if i'm missing any essentials.

this is what i've got so far:


solly wrap- because they're the best and i keep one with me at all times.
diapers and wipes. obviously.

this pacifier that doesn't pop out of teddy's mouth.

hand sanitizer. (it's foam. which is just nice.)

an extra outfit. because blow outs.

teddy's fav bottle. i'll never use anything else.

nail clippers, because his nails grow impossibly fast and i can't bear it when he scratches his perfect little skin.

taxi rattle. teddy doesn't leave the house without it,

this banana toothbrush. for massaging those sweet tender gums.

burp cloths. because they're necessary.

sophie. a teether and a toy.

our fav swaddle. soft, sturdy, and the one he has the hardest time getting out of.

---------------

what am i missing you guys? advice?

the sometimes happy, sometimes anxious, sometimes miserable pear.

i was joking with my neighbor the other day about the title of my blog. first it was "gideon and alyssa". then, on a day i was feeling spontaneous and ultra cutesy, i named it "the happy pear". then, when i tried to change the url and realized it wasn't available. i added "very".

that brings us to today- the very happy pear. do i ever wish i named it something different? yes. often. it is what it is though. get over it if you don't like it. (and if you do like it- thanks.)

my neighbor and i were joking because these days i write a lot about things that aren't happy- let alone very happy. and sometimes i think i should change the title of my blog to the title of this post.

i write about my anxiety and frustrations. because i'm a normal human being with anxiety and frustrations. i also write about sweet things that teddy does. (lately he hugs my face and chews on my cheek. i think that's his way of giving me kisses.)

a few weeks ago, a different friend from school called me and said she was worried about me because my blog is so depressing. i thought about it for a second, (embarrassed), wondering to myself if i was depressed, or if i was just being honest in my writing.

guys, i think i'm just being honest.

and i think,  honestly, sometimes being a mamma (especially a stay at home mamma) is a little bit of a bummer for me. in the past, my anxiety has always been linked to something that was time sensitive. due dates. work deadlines. a performance. my thesis defense. it was something i had an ending to look forward to. being a mom doesn't have a deadline. (thank goodness, right?!) there's not an end to this semester. there's no summer break. there's just a small person who needs me all the time, and sometimes throws up on me. and i'm crazy about him. it's just a life that takes some getting used to.

a few nights ago i started crying in a grocery store parking lot because it feels like i'm losing my identity one diaper change at a time, and some days it feels like there's nothing i can do about it.

last week, when i had breakfast with a friend the most exciting news i had to offer was how teddy has started eating baby oatmeal and could she believe it, and how mind blowing it that?! she was telling me about her dissertation and some truly incredible jobs she's applying for. i was envious for about three bites and then was like, "holy moses these crepes are delish."

sometimes i imagine getting a really great job that i'm amazing at, and finding a spritely british nanny who takes teddy on walks in the park, but never allows him to do anything cute without me there. in fact, she makes time stand still while she's watching him, so i don't have to miss out on anything. because even when teddy is having a meltdown, it's sweet.

it's weird how you can never want another baby again, and yet totally be okay with the thought of more babies. there are days i'm totally like, "okay! i could do this again. right now." (i can't believe i'm admitting this on my blog.) i'm not saying i'm going to have another baby soon. i'm just saying my teddy hasn't scared me enough to not already be thinking about it. that's a good sign, right? or maybe i'm losing it.

motherhood is the hardest, most thankless job i've ever done- there's no doubt about it. and even though some days are JUST THE WORST, i feel like i'm getting better at it. and writing helps me. it helps the good days shine a little brighter, and let me see the humor in the bad days (because man, i get melodramatic sometimes.)

so if any more of you are wondering if i'm okay, i am.
i'm not crazy depressed, (today, at least.)
i'm a new mom being honest. 

that's all. 

weekend wishlist

can we talk about how christmas is less than two weeks away? when did that happen?!

these are a few things on my radar this week you guys. 

and gideon- if you're reading this- i promise i won't buy myself a vintage fiat over the holidays.
(after the holidays it's fair game though, k?)

a little wooden play gym for teddy, because he'd go crazy for this.

this jogging stroller base for my running hubby.
(okayyy okay, for me too.)

this cozy quilt for teddy becasue it's heavy enough to keep him warm, but light enough to not get him sweaty.

these bloomers because ARE YOU KIDDING ME.

this jcrew coat that i've been ogling for the past year.

and last but not least, this vintage fiat because it's the holidays and i'm daydreaming.
(and if anyone has an extra $20,000 they'd like to give me that'd be great. thanks in advance.)

texas! i'm comin' for you.

christmasing our apartment (with a video!)

we finally got a tree over the weekend. teddy wasn't super impressed with the farm we went to, but i'm thrilled with what we picked. it's bushy and full and fits perfectly under our staircase. 

it's a harry potter tree.

this is our first christmas with teddy, and i didn't want to forget it (especially the little things) so i set the camera up and made a little video of us decorating our apartment. it's not too interesting now, but i think we'll look back on it and have sweet memories.

memories of how sweet teddy is right now (those eyes!). memories of how little i get ready these days and how many chins i have... memories of the awful stockings we bought at some cheap store six years ago (good suggestions of where to buy nice stockings welcome!), and all of the other decorations we got when we were newlyweds and haven't replaced.

memories of our little loft apartment. memories of our harry potter christmas tree.

i keep telling myself one of these years i'm going to go to pottery barn and buy everything seasonal, and then i remember that after i pay for christmas decorations, i still have to shop for christmas, and then when i look at our little things they seem cute again.

this time next week i'll be in an airplane heading to family. i can't wait.

christmas cards
teddy's striped blanket

happy december, guys.

weekend wishlist

can you guys believe it's december? crazy. want to hear something even crazier? 

we still don't have a TREE. normally it's up no less than the day after thanksgiving. 

what can i say? babies change things. so.

goals for this weekend:

-get tree

-decorate

-make hot cocoa. 

-with whipped cream.

here are the things i'm loving most this week, guys.

this cupcake shirt because YES.

(not the shirt we deserve, but the shirt we need. #batmanreference)

this little jacket that my friend and i found while we were shopping for her toddler.

i think i'll buy it for teddy to use in the next few years.

this quilted onesie to keep my bear warm during snowy walks. (sale!)

these boots because they're pretty. (and a staple, right?)

this cute doormat. because i love a friendly doormat.

(okay but anyyyyy of these would work.)

this couch or AM I NUTS? i know it's light and i have a kid, but i love.

(gid said i could buy it, but i gotta find a place for it first. 

anyone want a nice love seat and two cute chairs? seriously.)

this sweet monitor that alerts you if your baby stops breathing. because it. is. genius.

(more to come on this peace of mind game changer.)

...i still can't believe it's DECEMBER. wish us luck getting a good tree!

happy weekend, thanks for stopping by!

five months.

my hair is falling out. i thought i managed to escape that charming side affect of post pregnancy.

it. is. the weirdest. every time i look at teddy's hands, he's got a few loose strands in them.

he hardly sleeps at all you guys, i started him on this 1.5 hour training schedule and we were doing so great for a few days, and now he refuses to nap for more than 30 minutes during the day and is up on the hour at night. it was worse when i tried to just let him make his own schedule. sometimes gid brings him into bed with us, and he sleeps longer, but i worry about him getting used to it.

we're gonna need a bigger bed.
(see what i did there? instead of "boat," i put "bed"? yup. teddy is jaws in my reference.)

he weighs 18.5 pounds. is that heavy for a five month old? it feels heavy.

i feel like gid is getting more handsome, teddy is getting more cute, and i'm over here with relief society arms and baby blowout on me. i am DEF the least attractive in our family. i should adopt a weird looking cat or something.

chic-fil-a's peppermint milkshakes are back and i swear when i drink them my milk supply boosts.

however, i've gotten so lazy with pumping that it's a miracle i have any milk left. originally my goal was to not throw in the towel until 6 months, but to be honest, i never thought i'd get this far, and that's only a month away, so i think i'm going to make my goal 9 months. (then i'll probably change it to a year. can you imagine lasting a year?!)

meanwhile, my thighs have the same shape as teddy's and yet somehow are not as cute.

his latest thing is growling. he loves to just keep eye contact and exchange growls. he thinks it's the best. what a cool baby i have.

i ate something that made me a little sick over the weekend and it passed on to him. it's heartbreaking watching him work through gas and knowing that i'm the one that gave it to him. i'm really hoping once he gets through it, he'll be back on track with sleeping. pray for me guys.

he's becoming more generous with laughing. i love it so much.

and next month will be half a year? 

are you kidding? what a crazy world. 

teddy's favs.

teddy's night time routine has included reading since he was tiny, and i'm starting to see a preference and interest in some books over others. isn't that crazy? babies are so much smarter than i ever realized.

his favorite book right now is about a little calf going around the farm and playing with other animals and its darling, you guys. teddy loves this book so much, and it kills me- since, you know, his dad grew up on a ranch and loves cows the way most people like dogs. 

(have i ever mentioned that? how gideon thinks baby cows are so cute and i thought it was such a weird animal to love? like father like son...)

teddy is still little, but his attention span is outgrowing his baby books, 

and i'm in the market for some classics that will last as long as possible.

   recommendations, friends?

some of teddy's current book favs:

come along calf
if i were a hedgehog
if i were a puppy
little owls night
goodnight moon

  thanks so much for stopping by. xo

things i don't want to forget.

happy first of december.