there is nothing worse than a crummy attitude on a beautiful day. and today, today was a real beautiful day. the morning started out warm and lovely and it just went on to get better and sunnier, meanwhile my mood just got fouler. rot and garbage and stuff.
i texted brandon at about 5:45 to warn him. the poor dear deserves all the advanced notice he can get. my husband is cute. he came home, rubbed my shoulders, and reminded me that i'm not being graded, that bad days are okay, and that i'm doing a good job. sometimes you just need to hear that junk. also i had just brought home some chocolate covered cheerios and lemme tell you. i want to kiss whoever thought of that one.
and anyway, later rebecca emailed me these photos she took of us last week, and that girl is talented. so that helped too.
thank you husband, thank you rebecca,
and thank you chocolate covered cheerios because you guys taste real good.
(and thank you also, blowfish shoes, for the boots!)
You look beautiful in these photos!
ReplyDeleteI just put my 18 month old down at 7:30pm when he normally goes to sleep at 9:30. This either means he will be wake up and stay up until 1am or he will be up for the day at 4:40am. Joy! We are all doing the best we can, it's everyone's right to have a grumpy day. You are a wonderful mother, it's obvious Huck adores you!
P.S. That lipstick is amazeballs.
ReplyDeletelove the new redesign and that huck of yours is looking awfully grown in these pics!
ReplyDeletexx jes
ps just wear those boots again whenever you're feeling down. i think boots can fix anything.
Bad days are the worst. Especially when there seems to be no good reason for it. I hate them.
ReplyDeleteI do however like the new header.
You are beautiful! I adore the blog redesign!
ReplyDeleteLet it out, girlfran. It's normal to feel like a terrible mother, and the fact that you care means you are a great one. That old gentleman was on point, you are a mother of talent and style and I congratulate you!
ReplyDeleteHello, new blog design! I love it! Always makes the day a bit more cheery. You look GORG.
♥Abbey
Along Abbey Road
DownEast Basics Giveaway
I love what a stylish mama you are and I love the blog design...still trying to figure mine out:)
ReplyDeleteP.s. gorgeous pictures!,
These photos are gorgeous! I'm sorry you have had a crummy day. I think we all need these once in a while, to remember how truly blessed we are. Love the new blog design! Xo
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures, your new design and what that old man said. Probably exactly what you needed to hear. Amazing :)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos, love the new layout. And I love your blog Natalie! Im sorry its been a pooptastic day, but your hubby is right - we all have them. (and oh, your boots are magical! But be they boots, or be they over-the-boot-whatsits?? In any case, they're awesome!)
ReplyDeleteI must know how you did your hair like that. Gorgeous. Something I have reminded myself of often as a mother: not every day will be a good day. Xoxo
ReplyDeleteYour husband is right - you're not being graded, and just the fact that you are worrying about being a bad mom kind of means you can't possibly be one. RIGHT?
ReplyDeleteThat lipstick is AMAZING on you. And OMG those pants. And the layout is pretty fantastic, I'm glad it made you feel better.
PS My mom is re-reading all the Anne books and today she sent me an e-mail asking me "what comes after Anne of Avonlea?" and I thought of you.
gorgeous photos!! love your lip color and your hair!
ReplyDeletewww.modernsuburbanites.blogspot.com
Um, ya. LOVE these photos and your new blog design. :) You are a wonderful mom and I'm so glad you have wonderful people in your life to remind you of that. Oh, and that outfit?! AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteoh dear, I have these days all the time. not as often as I did when she was first born but I feel like they impact me even more now bc she's a full-fledged toddler and can see it and understand it in my face. I feel like I work extra hard that day so she doesn't feel what I feel. I don't think we'll ever stop feeling like terrible mothers. I for one am working on not being so hard on myself all the time. I don't deserve it and my baby girl is so happy and sweet that I know I must be doing something right. We have to remind ourselves of that everyday and that we're human:)
ReplyDeleteI love the new blog design and the photos that rebecca took of you. You look beautiful and that boy of yours is more adorable by the second!
blog redesigns are the best. they're like a september sort of feeling in march. you know? you do. i know.
ReplyDeleteoh girl, you are absolutely gorgeous! i am loving your whole attire, from the hair, lips, nails, jewelry, all the way down to your new blowfish booties. we definitely all have those bad days. and it's true, we should not be hard on ourselves for having them. your husband is a gem. your baby adores your. and that old man is the best. if only we could all have those kind of people to walk around with us at all times feeding us compliments. swoon ;)
ReplyDeletehere's to tomorrow!!
xo TJ
Truth: I am growing my bangs out for my wedding and would heart you forever if you could please tell us how you did those braids?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Kate at ummmnowwhat.blogspot.com
YOU. LOOK. AMAZING. Go you! And sometimes we need the crummy days to smack us around a little bit, just to make sure we remember how blessed we are.
ReplyDeleteWow, I love your new blog design! Sorry you had to have a stinky day to get there. :( But it's fantastic.
ReplyDeleteLove the blog, and LOVE the braid you're rocking in the pictures! How do I do it??
ReplyDeletehere's to tomorrow indeed. i hope it goes better nat.
ReplyDeleteDitto, ditto, amen. Must be one of those days. I just put my babe down w/ a fever of 103.3, and I feel like dog poo. UGH! I wish I looked at lovely as you & Huck in those pictures! Maybe I should pick up some of that lipstick? It kind of rocks. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteDon't we all have days like this? Days when bedtime is the best time. You do look great in your pictures, I love the lipstick.
ReplyDeleteI am sitting here after my not so stellar mood day feeling better I am not alone. Thanks Natalie, here's to a better day tomorrow!!
ReplyDeletelove this and the photos! isn't it awesome to have amazing husbands that reassure all that we do?! love mine for this too :)
ReplyDeleteOooo...love the new design and I just wanted to let you know. I'm usually so bummed when people redesign their blogs, but this is a wonderful upgrade!
ReplyDeletelipstick = swoon. bad day = gone! magic.
ReplyDeletebad days come and go (and thank goodness for the latter). but i have to agree with everyone else so far, the new blog design is wonderful and so are the new pictures. i've been reading your blog for a while now and i must say your style has transformed over the years and i love looking at the outfits you put together. especially this last one. dont worry, tomorrow is a new day!
ReplyDeleteOh I just love how open you are about the dirty days we all have. Feel better tomorrow! I know, frame a whole wall with these pictures, SO GORGEOUS! xo!
ReplyDeleteToday was a bad day for me . im sick and my 10 month old is not wanting to sleep alot. But reading your blog makes me feel better that im not the only mama going though rough times and yes it does get better and I love reading your blog. I feel im not alone
ReplyDeletewe all have bad days lady, pretty turdy isn't it? i hope it makes you feel better to know that your words often make me feel better. here is to a better day!
ReplyDeletebeautiful pics and RAD new blog design. you are lovely.
xoxo
Oh, I just had a similarly crummy day--the worst is when you know how blessed you are and then you feel guilty for feeling so terrible when you really don't have any reason to
ReplyDeleteBUT the blog design is beautiful, and I'm sure Huck thinks you're the best mom ever, and tomorrow is a new day with only opportunities to get better :)
These kinda days are bound to happen but the grace in which you handled your crummy day is the true test. Hope tomorrow is better! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the new header. but it kind of privileges the Holbs.
ReplyDeleteThose boots are too die for. I love your entire outfit here. Absolutely beautiful pictures. You look lovely.
ReplyDeleteoops- *to
ReplyDeleteI echo the sentiments of this lovely random gentleman: you are a beautiful woman, a wonderful mother and a stylish New Yorker. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteIt's okay to have bad days. Bad days don't make us bad people -- at least, I hope not. Otherwise, I'm in trouble. :)
the world needs to know your lip color!
ReplyDeleteThe photos are beautiful, and bad days will happen every once in awhile! What a great re-design though, love the new look!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sealedwithakay.com
xo
Kayla
I love the comment about not being graded. Boy do we all need to hear that sometimes. New blog design looks lovely:)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you had a rough day. Those photos are fantastic though! What lipstick is that? I need it!
ReplyDeleteMaria @ Orchard Bloom
a little redesign can go a long way!
ReplyDeleteA. I agree - your lipstick is fantastic. Do you use both the stain in your previous post and color on top?
ReplyDeleteB. I sympathize completely. Once our babies start to get older and enter into toddlerhood I think the parenting mentality totally shifts. They get opinions, they fight you, the act out, but then act sweet. My hardest years were from 18 months - 3 years old. My daughter is about to turn four, and I have had SO many days that I have gone to my husband upset that I'm doing it all wrong. I'm not patient enough, I'm too firm, I'm not firm enough, I am in constant flux trying to get it exactly right. My mom then told me the quote "there is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one". I just try my best, as do you! You're a great mom - it's natural to have bad days. At least that is what I keep telling myself :) I also keep looking at my 9 month old and squeezing and appreciating her - trying to hold off the moment when she's screaming "NOOO" at me.
I am loving your new blog design--my favourite thing is its simplicity. And I lvoe the new photos--Rebecca is one talented lady.
ReplyDeleteAnd everyone has down days, and you seem to be a great mum. And remember tomorrow is a fresh start.
Kudos to your Holbsdaddy for saying all the right things. Good men know. They just do. You are a fabulous mom (and stylish too, the old guy was right!) and I think that us moms are always harder on ourselves than we should be. But it is life. Just know that tomorrow (today?) will be a better day and that your little and big guy adore you and know that you are doing the best you can - even when you don't feel like it.
ReplyDeleteI, too, love the header. It look like Brandon is staring upon you lovingly :).
the new layout looks FANTASTIC! love it. i enjoy your blog SO much. keep doing what you're doing. you ARE to be congratulated. your love for your family is so evident in your posts and i don't know how you always look so FABULOUS!
ReplyDeletexoxo
lissa
http://lookingglassblog.blogspot.com
i love the new blog look. and your hair. and your sweater. and your baby. and basically you rock :)
ReplyDeletei LOVE the new blog design, and basically your whole look in these pics. and what a sweet compliment from that old man <3
ReplyDeleteYou look STUNNING! The blog looks great and the photos are incredibly gorgeous.
ReplyDeletei love that the holbs says you're not being graded...as i'm having a terrible day today i think i will take his advice myself. and stop giving myself a big fat "f"
ReplyDeleteThe photos look great! What an adorable family!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the new blog design... fantastic
I hope all these great comments you got on this post will help your day as well!
xo Jessica
www.newlyloved.com
i think the hardest part about being a new mom is that ennui-failure-type-feeling. <3 i hope the fact we grade ourselves so hard as moms means that we actually care and are doing ok....i'm scared of actually being as big of a failure as i feel sometimes!!
ReplyDeletethe fact *that* oops
DeleteLove the re-design it's fabulous! You look fabulous I look up to you a lot as a mother. I hope I can be as awesome as you one day!
ReplyDeletei have had many days where i feel this way. but i think the most encouraging thing i read was when your husband said you aren't being graded. thanks for sharing and i hope you start to feel better soon :)
ReplyDeletethank YOU natalie for being my online buddy, for sharing and caring and for being an inspiration to me. some days, if it wasn't for you and huck, i'd feel kinda lonely...i can't tell you how grateful I am to be following your adventures as I create my own with my delicious son who is almost the same age as yours. don't fret...we'll get through it all...and when we're wise old ladies we'll laugh at all the silly little things that got us down!!! keep it up pretty lady!
ReplyDeletethank YOU natalie for being my online buddy, for sharing and caring and for being an inspiration to me. some days, if it wasn't for you and huck, i'd feel kinda lonely...i can't tell you how grateful I am to be following your adventures as I create my own with my delicious son who is almost the same age as yours. don't fret...we'll get through it all...and when we're wise old ladies we'll laugh at all the silly little things that got us down!!! keep it up pretty lady!
ReplyDeletedaaang those boots are so great!
ReplyDeleteI love the photos in the header! Very cute redesign. Also, I want to add my support to the many other readers- no matter how you do as a mother, it is obvious that you love Huck and do the best you can for him, and in the end, that's all a mother can really count on. Keep your chin up! (And your lashes on!)
ReplyDeleteaw, bad days are such a bummer. I had one today too. I hope tomorrow will be much better (for both of us)!
ReplyDeleteeven if it's not, it helps to remember that man was right; you are a stylish & talented mama! and I like your new blog design. ♥
I agree with those who said that 18 months to 3 years can be the most challenging stage to our good-mama senses. UGH!!! These sweet creatures we've raised with hugs and kisses suddenly turn to us and think, "Hey, WAIT! I don't have to think like you! Or do what you want me to do! Let's do things MY way from now on, shall we?" it has been suuuuch a humbling and sucktacular experience at times. I've felt like a failure so many times these last three years. But I also look back and see how I've changed and gotten more patient and flexible and long-suffering than I would have if life had just been swell. And that helps me get through those wretched days. That and cleaning out a closet or reorganizing a shelf or prettying something up. At the close of my last truly horrible day, I sat on the floor and cried, then put all the toys away and vacuumed and straightened up, and I felt WORLDS better. That and an early bedtime for two impertinent missies turned the day around. And some online shopping,
ReplyDeleteLovely post! We all have days like that, and it's a good thing! Because when we have good days we learn to appreciate them a little more!
ReplyDelete-Karen
littlemisscibelle.blogspot.com
have you already talked about your lipstick color?! if not i'm interested. let's talk. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are beautiful and amazing, and I don't know you in real life, but I love you and your blog. {In a completely non-creepy way, of course.} Thank you for the reminder that I'm not being graded; I need it today.
ReplyDeletei love your hair and braid!!
ReplyDeletehttp://alisialynn.blogspot.com/
you are so beautiful!! and what a sweet gentleman :) i adore those photos and your blog still, of course! xoxox
ReplyDeleteyou are so photogenic. and I LOVE your new header! :)
ReplyDeleteyou are radiant in these photos!
ReplyDeletep.s. sorry to hear about your bad day. hope things have been looking up since then!
Hair tutorial needed STAT! Sorry to hear about the funkiness going on. These times come and they pass. Hang in there! But really, I'm serious about the hair tutorial.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you do seem like amazing super-mom who holds it all together so well, and these posts let us see the humanity and that your life is not always perfect.
ReplyDeleteBut you're awesome, and hang in there. You're a great Mum, and it sounds like Holbs is an amazing support.
Great great photos. :)
Ha! I'm having this day today! Including a fit throwing baby and filthy floors (the bane of my exIstence). I'm backreading your blog like it's mental chocolate. I love your blog! I actually lead the dutch version of your life in Amsterdam. Haha! Roaming the streets with a stroller and an Iphone. Thank you for making me feel good for being a stay at home mom and taking care of my family!
ReplyDeletePs being dutch means i know nothing about mormons, but i have to say you sound like a friendly, positive and stylish bunch of people. So ignore the haters!
Ha! I'm having this day today! Including a fit throwing baby and filthy floors (the bane of my exIstence). I'm backreading your blog like it's mental chocolate. I love your blog! I actually lead the dutch version of your life in Amsterdam. Haha! Roaming the streets with a stroller and an Iphone. Thank you for making me feel good for being a stay at home mom and taking care of my family!
ReplyDeletePs being dutch means i know nothing about mormons, but i have to say you sound like a friendly, positive and stylish bunch of people. So ignore the haters!