A Long Post on 3 Year Olds and Friendship

"Violet, where did your headband go?" I asked my 3 year old when I picked her up from Kid's Day Out. "Oh mommy, the older boy in the class said he didn't like my hair, so I took it out". Then Christopher and the other girl told me to stop talking so much. And the other girl told me she didn't like me and didn't want to be my friend." Then we went and got a lollipop and instantly Violet was okay again.

But as Violet was talking to me about her day, my heart broke a little bit. She is this little person who now has to deal with the ins and outs of relationships. Making friends, keeping them. Dealing with criticism. Bullies. As a mom, I wanted to just to scoop her up, protect her, and show her that she is loved. But I cannot be with her every minute of every day.

As Violet was talking, I had these flashbacks to when I was a child. I was bullied. Quite a bit. I was tall, had buck teeth. Was called "Bugs Bunny" and was often called fat by the other kids in the class. I remember countless birthday parties that I wasn't invited to. In the 5th grade, my "best friend" toilet papered my house (which my poor parents had to clean up) and then called me afterwards to let me know that this was her way of saying she didn't want to be friends anymore. "Eiffel Tower". "Golly Green Giant". A few of the many names I was given during elementary school. I always have had trouble making and keeping friends. And have never been very good at moving on past the sudden shift in a relationship.

Sometimes, being a kid is tough. And for my Violet, who, like me, is as emotional as they come, all I can do is simply pray for her to grow to be a more strong and confident girl. To be able to brush off criticism and the meanness that simply exists in the world. My husband is so good at simply being himself and not letting other people's opinions get to him. I really am hoping that Violet has that strength of character, and that I can figure out how to cultivate that trait in her. 

And, I truly hope that she will be fortunate enough to make and keep good friends. The kind of lifelong friends who grow and change with you. My dad has these types of friends. I remember as a teenager, almost every weekend, my father was on the phone checking in with his 2 best friends from grade school. Seriously they talked almost every week. Dad, Alex, and CW. They were thick as thieves as children and had somehow mastered the fine art of maintaining friendship, even when several states, different jobs, and different paths in life had separated them.

I was always envious of my dad in that regard. 

I've been in and out of a funk for months now. A very important and longterm friendship ended abruplty.  It happened so quickly, with no closure, and all of the sudden I feel like I am in the 5th grade again. It wouldn't be fair to say that this situation is the whole source of my "funk". And the more I reflect on the whole situation, the more I can see some of the mistakes I made (hindsight is 20/20). However, I feel this enormous sense sense of loss. This person doesn't want to be a part of my life anymore. They don't want to know about my day, my kids, my struggles, my successes. and more importantly, they don't want me to be a part of their life anymore. I guess I am still grieving the whole ordeal. And wishing that it could be fixed.

Seriously, the older I get, the more I realize that it doesn't get any easier, the whole relationship/friendship part of life.

As for Violet, I find myself crippled with the fear of her having to face rejection. If I could I would pull a John Travolta in Bubble Boy and just keep her safe and contained from all of the pain in the world. But being a parent is about teaching your kids how to be, and letting them go out into the world, learn, and grow on their own. Comfort them when they are down, and celebrate with them when they succeed.

My prayer for my children this morning is that they will be surrounded by great, strong, forgiving, encouraging, loving, uplifting friends. And that they will be lifelong friends.

Sorry for the long post. Just something I have been thinking about for a while.

-Stacie

March

Hi. Just thought I would pop in. I've finished the decals and just need to shoot their product photos. This makes me happy.

In other parts of my life, the well still feels like it is running dry. I tend to have a slightly depressive soul, I guess you could say. I think it is the artist in me that struggles in vein with being either fully engaged in creating something, or stopped dead in my tracks when the inspiration feels lost.

Yet I've been trying to create some healthier habits in my life the past 2 weeks. I've watched much less television. I've been reading a bit before I go to bed (and if you know me personally then you know that I really don't find reading enjoyable..... weirdo I know). I've been going on walks with my kids, playing outside with them, and wishing we were outside when it is raining.

One of my biggest struggles is parenting Violet. She is without a doubt the most strong willed child anyone in my family has met. She is an utter joy when she is happy. And the most difficult child I have ever encountered when she is out of sorts. And her mood changes so frequently. I've been reading books on strong willed children. Trying to become better equipped to be her parent.

Of course I still feel lost. V is the best big sister. Adores little Lucy. Violet is smart and charming when she wants to be. But golly she can stick her heels in the mud.

She is a lot like me in that way.

Aside from parenting, good things are happening. Nathan was offered a full time job at the local university as a "guest lecturer" once he graduates in August. We will then be on the job hunt during the next year for a full professorship elsewhere. But this job is the biggest blessing, both financially and professionally.

Also, Nathan and I may be traveling to NYC in April! Quick trip. It looks like I might be going to see the Martha Stewart Show :) And regardless of that, Nathan and I really wanted to take a little trip to celebrate his job and all of the small successes in our lives.

Oh, and on a side note. I got a really really bad haircut this week. Never go to the beauty school to save a few bucks on a haircut. I hope that ponytails stay in fashion for a while, because that is how my hair will be for a while :)

So that is my life right now.

How have you been?

Silence

(Lucy, 14 weeks)

I don't get much quiet in my life anymore. 2 growing girls. 2 annoying dogs. Busy husband working away on his dissertation. Me filling orders. Church. Family. Sometimes I can squeeze in 4 hours of sleep and maybe an episode of Downton Abbey.

All good things. But then there really really is never silence.

(Lucy, 14 weeks)

I miss having quiet, alone time. I have been so busy that I can barely think. Thus, the radio silence on the blog for the past few weeks. I think I have said this before here on the blog, but there have been so many changes in the Bloomfield family over the past 4 months. So much shuffling. Shifting. Growing. And I've lost my personal voice in the process.

You know that feeling where when you look at Pinterest and see so many inspiring things that you begin to forget what your own personal taste is? That is me right now. I don't feel confident in what it is that I want or need or even like.

Yes, I love working from home. Gingiber full-time. But strip away the work, and who am I? My identity is so deeply intertwined with the success and growth of my business. If I didn't have it, well, I would be completely unrecognizable to myself.

(Violet, 3 years)

Nathan and I have been going at a pace to where one of us is staying up until about 2 AM every other night working. Then Lucy wakes up for a feeding. Then we sleep if we can get her back to bed. Then a few hours later I feel someone breathing over my head, and lo and behold Violet is staring at me, wanting breakfast and Blue's Clues. And if I say no to the later, she cries. And Lucy cries. And I want to cry.

Work/life balance is non-existent right now. And that is my fault. And Nathan's.

(Violet, 3 years)

You know what is the most ridiculous part of living a life like this? Not realizing that there is life all around me, and I am sometimes too busy to notice. Lucy is growing. She smiles. She desperately wants to roll over. She is cutting her 1st tooth. Violet is maturing. Her hair is longer. Face is thinning. She wants her nails painted. Wants to dress like me. Still is small enough that she wants me to hold her. Just be near her. She wants bedtime prayers. She prays every night to poop in the potty instead of her pants.

My precious daughters. My selfish, busy self.

Priorities. I need them. A routine. I crave it. Quiet time? I have to find some for my own personal sanity. Hulu? Time waster. Pinterest? Identity-sucker. 

My family? The most precious gift that I have been given. 

My heart has been heavy, feeling the ever growing distance between who I am and who I need to be. Wife. Mother. Friend. Business Owner. That is the goal today.

If you've ever talked with me in real life, then you know I don't know how to end a conversation. So I will try to end this post by saying thanks for reading, and will ask if any of you ever feel like this? Just so I know that I am not crazy.

Stacie

Saturday

This is the best photo I could catch of the Bloomfield girls. Oh Saturday. I long for the day when weekends are restful again. Having 2 kids is simply exhausting. But I can honestly say I am happier than I have ever been previously.

Momma needs a haircut. And to buy some makeup as I have been out of everything but mascara and concealer since December.

Oh, and sleep would be nice too.

And maybe a date night with the husband. Heck, even a night when we are the only ones in our bed! The girls have a habit of wanting to sleep with us....

I have been working so much that I finally made myself stop on Friday and relax. It was much needed and a reminder that even though I am working from home I need down time.

How has your Saturday been?

26

Hello friends! Today is my 26th birthday, and I am celebrating with little Lucy, waiting for the rest of the little family to get home.

I have had the most phenomenally blessed year of my life. And, I look forward to seeing what my 26th year has in store. I have a few personal goals for the year, and may write a proper "26 before 27" post later on this week is over. As I am now closer to 30 than 20, I want to focus on my sweet family. Now that I have 2 precious daughters, I want to become a less selfish mother. I tend to be a workaholic, and now that Violet is older, I need to find a way to put her needs before my own. Because that is what being a parent is all about, right?

This morning I was lying in bed, Lucy cradled in my arms, I was thinking of my own mother. All I wanted to do was call my mom and chat with her, because she always knows how to cheer me up and encourage me. She knows me so well. She is selfless and somehow knows how to make the small things in life magical. Every birthday growing up with her was magical because she made it that way. Breakfast in bed. A special handpicked present. Dinner with the family. Homemade cake.

It never occurred to me how much effort my mother put into making my sister and I feel so special and loved. Yet she made it seem effortless.

I want to be that kind of mother to my girls. Finding the sparkle in the mundane things of life. Celebrating special moments with creativity and love.

Funny how the older I get, the more I cherish my friendship with my own mom.

Here's to turning 26, and growing with grace, striving to become more like my own mother.

2011 Recap: Best Year EVER

I know that it is already 2012, but lo and behold I was fast asleep when the ball dropped last night. So here is a blog of thankfulness for 2011, arguably one of the very best and most fulfilling years of my young family's life!

J A N U A R Y 

I turned 25 and made a list of goals for the year. The truth is that I have a lot still to finish, and my birthday is 10 days away! Yikers.

F E B R U A R Y

My new niece Charis was born! She is such sweet girl, is a the perfect addition to my sister's family.

M A R C H

Gingiber was named the #1 etsy shop for nursery decor by Babble.com! Such an honor and motivator for growing my business :)

A P R I L

In April we announced that we were expecting another little Bloomfield!

M A Y

In May we closed on our little house in Springfield, MO! We were so blessed to sell it given the housing market. Definitely a big amazing highlight :)

J U N E

We found out that we were having another girl!

JULY

My owlphabet print was in DIY Magazine! Granted it is in the background of the picture, but still it counts!

A U G U S T

I added my line of animal pillows to the Gingiber shop in August! 

S E P T E M B E R

The month of September was filled with lots of decorating the girls' shared room! I made this headboard for Violet and she loved it!

O C T O B E R

I hit 500 Etsy sales in October!

N O V E M B E R

Miss Lucy Emmeline Bloomfield was born on November 11th, 2011 (11.11.11)! Great birthday, right? We so did not plan it :) 

D E C E M B E R

I was honored to be named the Etsy Featured Seller on Decembr 5th! Definitely a big step for my business and a dream come true!

So there you have it. 2011. Amazing. Fulfilling. A year of growing. Letting go of the old, and making way for new goals and dreams.

Perhaps 2012 will be even better? Be still my heart!

Stacie

In Photos: Lucy's Arrival

I wanted to formally introduce you to Lucy Emmeline Bloomfield. Thank you all for the warm wishes :) I feel like my family is so fortunate to have another healthy girl. She is such a calm baby. Dark hair, dark eyes. Looks just like her daddy. And I am smitten! I will post her birth story later, so for now enjoy a healthy dose of photos of her arrival.

Us at the hospital. Me walking around at a 7 :)

Lucy's arrival! I was so happy... Like one of the happiest days I have ever had :)

Violet coming to meet her sister! She drew us some pictures.

I just love these photos of Nathan showing Lucy to Violet!

This is my favorite photo. I love these 2 so much, and the smile on Nathan's face is priceless.

Happy little family :) Now we need a photo with Violet in it too!

I Love You So (Husband) and The Black Apple

image source: the black apple

I love these cards so much! Heck, who am I kidding, I am such a sucker for hand drawn typography. Add a lovely border around it and I am smitten!

The cards are sweet and delicate. I think I need them. Because I need to send one to my husband. You see, I have been what you would call a tad hormonal the past few..... months?

Blame pregnancy.

or not.

Regardless, I have not been as nice to my sweetheart as I should be. I've been tired after work and quite irritable. And what does Nathan do in response? He asks me how he can help me and makes me pancakes.

He sleeps on the floor in Violet's room so that I don't have to wake up with  her at night.

He does the dishes. Without being asked.

He even rides with me to Lowes at 9 PM because I get a hankering to purchase some new lightbulbs that mimic daylight!?

The other day, Nathan gently mentions, "So... this pregnancy has been a bit more rough than the last one, eh?"

Poor, sweet, wonderful husband.

He deserves a card for sure. And then some ;)

VLOG Questions Please (and Blog Navigation Update)

Hello! After months of dancing around the subject, I am going to actually make a VLOG. My goal is to finish it before the baby is born (giving myself plenty of time), but I need you to ask me some questions so I will have something to say :)

If you are interested in contributing a question to my 1st vlog, just leave the question in the comments section of this post. I will try to answer them all, that is assuming that some of you have questions for me :)

You can ask me ANYTHING (as long as it is not mean in nature).

Also......

I've updated navigation of the blog. Now you can find most of the important links in the purple navigation bar. I've also added some fun Blog Topic buttons so that you can find all of my DIY's, a Home Tour (still in progress of being photographed and updated) and other features here at GingiberSnap.


-Stacie

The A to Z of Me

I've seen lots of these sweet little questionnaires on various blogs, so thought that I would share with you the A to Z of Me! Maybe you already know all of this about me?

A. Age: 25
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: Ughh, yard work
D. Dogs: 2. Wallace (my snuggle bunny) and Schroeder (my pee machine)
E. Essential start to your day: French Press of half caf coffee
F. Favorite color: Recently it has been a golden shade of yellow
G. Gold or Silver: Silver. Especially around the holidays. Silver bells all the way
H. Height: 5’9
I. Instruments you play: I used to play the piano in Jazz Band, as well as the Clarinet. Those days are long behind me :)
J. Job title: Administrative Support Supervisor by day, Creative Director of Gingiber, LLC by night
K. Kids: Did you know I have a daughter named Violet (not that I talk about her much here) and another girl on the way in November? I kid, I kid....
L. Live: Arkansas
M. Mother’s name: Pam
N. Nicknames: Lucy, Sweet Baboo, Babe
O. Overnight hospital stays: When the kid was born I stayed overnight in the hospital
P. Pet peeves: Chewing gum. It makes me ill to see it, smell it on someone, think about it, etc.
Q. Quote from a movie: I don't know... something from Dumb and Dumber about our pets heads falling off?
R. Right or left handed: Right handed
S. Siblings: Yeppers! Older brother, Steven, and Older sister, Angie
U. Underwear: Huh? I do wear underwear. And I like it.....
V. Vegetable you hate: I am not really a hater of veggies. I am an equal opportunist when it comes to these types of things :)
W. What makes you run late: My daughter wants me to hold her all morning, which means I never look put together and am usually 5 minutes late
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Teeth and back  
Y. Yummy food that you make: I make really really good quiche
Z. Zoo animal: I think that my favorite zoo animal is a baby panda bear! Très cute!

You should blog about the A to Z of your life and link to it in the comments section below!

-Stacie

Saturday Blur

Hello weekend! Our fun started Friday after work, when Nathan and I had friends over to our house for the 1st time (you know, aside from out of towners and family)! Pizza and cupcakes were the go to food, followed by an attempted episode watching of Mad Men while the kiddos tried to play nicely in the other room.

Today, Nathan let me sleep in (YAY) and I awoke to he and Violet cooking cinnamon toast together in the kitchen :) I spent most of the day working on a DIY headboard for Violet's bed while Nathan went to band practice. There was also ample sampling of cupcakes between Violet and myself :) The kiddo and I colored, blew bubbles, and left the front door open so that this PERFECT pre-fall weather could invade our home!

Finally, we took V over to her grandparents house for some swimming and popcorn. Definitely a successful weekend thus far!

Oh, and I got a haircut! What do you think? Pardon my make-up free face in this photo!

How has your weekend been so far?

P.S. THANK YOU for all of the "Lucy" love from the last post!

L is For.....

L is for Lucy. The name of our daughter. Due in on November 25th. 

She is currently nestled in my tummy, listening to Stars through the headphones resting on my belly. And I am so in love with her already.

As a child, a family friend gave me the nickname "Lucy" from the Peanuts, because I was rather grouchy and loud :) 

I have always loved the name, though. The day before Nathan and I found out the gender of this little one, I was walking around the University of Arkansas campus, hoping to come up with the perfect name if our child was a girl. The entire walkway of the UARK campus has the names of every graduate etched in the cement. I looked down, and there was the name "Lucy" jumping out at me. I immediately called Nathan and ran the name past him. He LOVED it!

Violet and Lucy. My girls. Amazingly, months after we had chosen the name, we had a bit of an ancestral discovery: my great great aunts (who were sisters) were named Violet and Lucy! I had no idea of this family link. Kinda cool and freaky all at once, eh? Destiny, I suppose :)

This past weekend, My mother and I were antiquing, when I put my hand down on a table for support, and noticed that my hand was resting on this red aluminum "L".  It was $4, and the perfect addition to the girls' room.

Lucy Emmeline.

That's my girl!

Weekend

Hi everyone! I hope that everyone here had a fantastic 3 day weekend. I don't know about the rest of the midwest, but in Arkansas, the weather was picture perfect :)

Here's what I did this weekend:

• Took Violet for a Mommy/Daughter walk around the neighborhood
• Baked Cupcakes with Nathan
• Antiquing with my Mom
• Drank my 1st Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season
• Date with my handsome husband
• Fantastic coffee date with my friend Amber Perrodin
• Spent Monday in the back yard landscaping while Violet played and finger painted
• Worked on Gingiber orders

The weekend was filled with hints of fall weather, laughter with friends, and thoughts of thankfulness. Blessed to have a mom who would drive up from Springfield and spend one of her only weekends off of work with me. Blessed to have a not only a partner in Nathan, but a best friend who is a constant source of encouragement end support. Blessed to have friends who think well of me, even when I don't think so well of myself. Blessed to have a sister who is planning a baby shower for me, even though she lives a state away :)

Tell me, what was the best part of your weekend?

Prepping Violet for Big Sisterhood

Last night I was watching an episode of Mad Men. It was the episode where Sally is scared of her new baby brother, Gene, and begins to act out. She has nightmares, screams when she sees the baby, etc. 

Perfect timing, no? You see, ever since we found out that we were going to have another baby, I have worried about Violet. How will she handle not being the only child? Will she feel secure? How will she do sharing a room? What if she acts out? My thoughts could go on and on.....

Now on Mad Men, Sally turned out to be scared of her baby brother because he reminded her of her recently deceased grandfather with the same monkier (oh Mad Men and your mid century drama). We don't have any haunting dead relatives for Violet to worry about. Yet Violet has been extra clingy ever since talk of the baby started back in March. So, I have really been trying to spend more time with Violet and talk to her about her new sister.  I want her to be really excited and really involved! 

I have taken Violet on special mommy daughter yogurt trips. We wake up early together and put our aprons on and partake in our daily ritual of making cinnamon toast (she loves to sprinkle that cinnamon sugar mixture).

Violet and I talk daily about baby sister. She feels the baby kick my belly. She wants to go on stroller walks with her once she is born. I tell Violet all of the time how she will be momma's big girl helper once the baby arrives. And Violet wants to be a big girl so badly! She is almost 3, and to see this fiercely independent little girl attempting to do little things all on her own, like brushing her own teeth or picking out her own clothes, reminds me how quickly time passes. Not too long ago, she was that little newborn that I cradled in my arms :)

I know that no matter how much we prep Violet, change is coming. Transition is tough, and, as my husband put it yesterday, our world is going to turn upside down yet again!

Moms, do you have any suggestions on how you prepped your children for a new addition to the family?

Armchair Therapy

armchairs: via anthropologie

Hi, my friends. So, what do you do when you've been a little bit down? I'll tell you what I do! I imagine that it is fall. I grab my favorite quilt, cozy up in an arm chair, and imagine that my decaf cup of coffee is actually a delicous Pumpkin Spice Latte.... yummo!

image source: lick the bowl good

And, wouldn't the 2 armchairs at the top of the post be heaven to snuggle up in? They, of course, are from Anthropologie. LOVE their furniture! What girl doesn't dream of owning their blue amelie sofa?

But, in all seriousness, when I woke up this morning around 5 AM, after 2 days of feeling really in a funk, I opened the back door, and there was the smallest hint of fall in the crisp, cool air. I was reminded how thankful I am for the recent rain showers, and how blessed I am to have a community of uplifting friends and family both online and in Arkansas.

So, here's to a fresh start on this Friday morning for me and you.

Dear Blog.....

Dear Blog,

I feel like we have a very hot'n'cold kind of relationship going on. You see, I love writing on you. I get a bit tingly with excitement every time I see a new comment on one of your posts. I gulp with anticipation every morning I check my feedburner statistics to see how you are growing.

And yet, somehow, I just don't have enough time to give you all of the gentle loving you deserve......

I seem to have ideas for new blog posts and plans to update my blog roll. But, then quitting time at my day job rolls around. I get home, make dinner, give into the curse that is pregnancy television coma, and somehow loose the will to blog.

I forget to take pictures before it gets dark.....
My grand ideas for a vlog are as elusive as a candle in the wind.....
And if I were to post all of the recipes that I cook on a regular basis, everyone would realize that I essentially live off of spongebob mac n cheese....

I digress.

Little blog, I wholeheartedly plan on attending to your needs soon. Please forgive me? I'll buy you a pony!

Yours truly,

Big Momma Bloomfield

Happy Family

Here we are. Nathan and Stacie Bloomfield. A Twenty-something young couple who enjoys going on cheese dip lunch dates, watching episodes of the Office, and spending as much time together as possible!

Sometimes when you spend a little "too much" happy time together, you get one of these:

Enter Miss Violet Clementine. The perfect addition to the Bloomfield family. Complete with my spunky personality, and Nathan's brains and focus. And now, as you know, we are happily expecting Baby Bloomfield #2!



Here is baby girl's 1st (recognizable) picture! Do you see the resemblance already between her and Violet? It is CRAZY! Same nose, little lips, and furrowed brow. I am so in love with her.

Today at work, the subject came up about what I would do job wise after the baby is born. Honestly, I've been throwing some ideas around... should I make a go for Gingiber being a full-time-work-from-home job? Should I try and transition to part-time at the day job? Should I simply stay put? Do I really want both of my kiddos in daycare?

Nathan and I are still weighing the pros and cons of what to do. But let me tell you, every time I look at my little girl's face in this ultrasound picture, all I can think about is how much I adore my family, and how I would give anything to spend more time with my children.

Time will tell! For now, I think that I am content with enjoying this pregnancy.

Oh, and I need to take more pictures of Nathan and I together. I love that man to bit :)