Jumping Into Summer With Confidence

If you are a regular reader you probably know we are a Goldfish Family, if you haven't read about our love for Goldfish yet you can read about it, here, here , or here. We've hosted birthday parties at Goldfish, attended Friday Family Swim, family swim during the week, and of course our beloved swim lessons. One thing we had not tried yet were Jump Start Clinics.  

Let me start by saying when we first started at Goldfish Swim School, my kids had never taken a swim lesson.  They love (and we all love) to swim but they had not taken one single formal swim lesson.  I had one child who was very anxious and quite terrified to get in the water but LOVED it from a distance and one who couldn't swim very well but acted as if they were Michael Phelps. ;-) We needed an expert in the field to help us with both children and after a year of swim lessons I can say confidently that we got that and so much more.  Both of my kids are confident in the water, and know enough about water and water safety to be cautious around water but not scared of it. 

The gym we go to has a huge slide attached to their outdoor pool that my oldest really wanted to go down last summer but to be able to go down you have to meet a few requirements and last summer she just wasn't quite ready. To be able to slide down you have to swim an entire lane, without touching the side of the pool, and without a life jacket. Throughout the winter she has been "training" for this, she hasn't stopped talking about it, and every day we go to swim lessons she reminds me how she's one step closer to sliding down the "fun slide" at our gym.  My husband and I really wanted to set her up for success and help her with that goal so we signed her up for a Jump Start Clinic at Goldfish.  Best. Decision. Ever.  This girl ended the week with so much confidence and had an entire week 

What are Jump Start Clinics at Goldfish, you ask? Well, it's an entire month of swim lessons packed into one week.  Instead of going for 30 minutes once a week, you go everyday for 30 minute lessons each day.  For my oldest it was really beneficial because she was able to work on her goal every single day and by the end she had the confidence to give it her best shot and you know what? She mastered it.  She is looking forward to showing those lifeguards her progress and spending the summer by the pool, sliding down the slide, and jumping into the water.  Because she has the confidence and the strength.  

I personally found the Jump Start Clinic so effective because we were also attending regular swim lessons at Goldfish.  I firmly believe that even without attending regular swim lessons the clinic would have helped tremendously. 

Make sure you are following along with Goldfish on Facebook to stay updated on all their news including when the next session of Jump Start Clinic dates are announced, you can also head to the event section on the website. 

Postpartum Doula Support Helped Us Thrive | Columbus Birth and Parenting | 614 Mom

The other day as my husband and I were walking around a local baby store, we ran into a super sweet couple and their adorable daughter. We didn't know them, they didn't know us, but we started talking about babies, siblings, Columbus, and everything in between.  Once we started discussing siblings and life with three, it didn't take long until she asked about how we all adjusted when we brought home Baby E while having two busy kids already.  It went something like this..

"How was it adjusting to life with a baby while having two at home?"  - Kind Stranger

"Ummmm.....well....you know what, let me put it this way, we may survived solo but with the help of our postpartum doulas we thrived" - Me

I meant every word.  You see, our biggest support systems are either a two hour car ride or a two hour plane ride away.  The distance isn't always so bad but during major life events it really sucks. Flat Out. There is no other way to put it.

We knew that welcoming our third child into this world was going to take some serious planning.  I wanted to make sure that we had our oldest two taken care of and life ran smoothly for them while I was in labor, recovering, and bonding with our new baby.  We had family available to watch them while I was in labor but after that we were on our own. We relied on our trusted babysitter for a little bit while I was in the hospital and I reached out to my friends at Columbus Birth and Parenting to get some professional assistance during our first few days home. 

Leah and Catie matched me up with two of the sweetest women I have ever met.  Seriously - LOVE THEM! Debbie and Anna were such blessings to our family during that first week home. They helped us maintain balance, structure, and playtime in our home while we were adjusting to being a family of five. 

We had the Welcome Home Package - 3 five hour shifts and 1 overnight shift.  This package is only for your first week home to help you really recover, bond, and adjust.  I was able to have more bonding time with my little girl because our Doula was helping with the dishes, laundry, my older kids, and so much more.  What truly made our time with the Doulas from CBP special was their gentle approach in all that they do, the absolute no judgement state of mind, and their expertise in all things newborns and recovery for mom.  They held my baby so I could shower, play with my older two for a little bit (because oh how I missed them), nap and so much more.  They also supported us emotionally. I felt comfortable crying and sharing my fears with these professional women who showed me unconditional love and understanding. 

Having a baby is NOT easy.  You need time to recover and you need the best support so you can recover properly.  Debbie, Anna, and CBP gave me that (as well as my awesome husband, of course).   My mom lives out of state now and wasn't able to be home for the birth of Elizabeth, and that was really hard for me - but it wasn't until Debbie was in our home that I realized how hard it was not having my mom there.  Debbie made it so much easier.  I can recall one moment vividly, I was sitting on our couch holding Elizabeth and Debbie sat down near me to ask how I was doing, and to see if I needed anything.  It was an hour later when we finally stopped talking. What I NEEDED in that moment was for someone who understood what I was going through to just listen to me.  She didn't judge, she didn't try and stop me, she just let me talk and she let me ask her questions.  She shared stories of her own family and after I felt really connected and happy.  It was then that I realized how much I missed my mom, but I was also so thankful that Debbie was there to be such great support to me in a delicate time.  

I really need to tell you this story because it really meant the world to me...Baby E had a moment that had the doctors and I a little on edge. She had lost 12% of her birth weight (they should only loose 10% max). I felt like I had failed her, I was nursing her all the time but she wasn't interested in eating and she was loosing weight. What am I doing wrong? How can I make this better? She just won't eat!!!  My very first call after that news was Catie and Leah. I knew that they would be able to point me in the right direction.  Catie happened to have some time in her schedule so she immediately got in her car and came over to help me.  I am tearing up thinking about how amazing that was of her to drop what she was doing to be there for us when I needed help.  Catie was able to help me figure out a plan to get Elizabeth to stay awake and nurse for longer before falling asleep.  We were  on the right track for weight gain.  With Catie's tips and the schedule she gave me I was able to get Elizabeth's weight back up and she is currently a healthy 2 month old baby wearing 6 month old clothes. :-) 

I am so thankful for the support of all of the women at Columbus Birth and Parenting. I have never met such an amazing, supportive, group of women in my entire life.  I cannot recommend them enough.  They also offer parenting classes so if you are past the baby stage still follow them on Facebook or Instagram to stay up to day on all of the classes they offer and the super fun and educational blog posts they share.  

Columbus Birth and Parenting helped us THRIVE.  

The Villages At Central College

I recently shared that my husband and I are searching for a new home, and one of the neighborhoods we've looked at is Village At Central College.  We love the Westerville community and the house we toured would be the perfect fit for our family of five. 

It's still crazy to me that we are a family of FIVE!! As amazing as that is, it means that we need more space in our home...like right now!!  Our wishlist includes 4-5 bedrooms, 2-3 bathrooms, a playroom, an office for my husband and I, a nice sized kitchen with an island, top floor laundry, and storage.  I know it may sound like a lot but we currently live in a three bedroom 1.5 bathroom house and it's taught us that we need to be really picky with our next house.  I would also love a formal dining room but that's a want not a need.  

The Village At Central College fills a lot of our wishlist.  I felt like we could live comfortably in this house.  Between the mudroom and large walk in pantry to the upstairs loft and top floor laundry we would be set.  The house we toured had 4 bedrooms plus an upstairs bonus room that was similar to a family room with the formal living room downstairs.  Where it was located, my kids could make a mess the night before and when I wake up I wouldn't even have to walk by it until after I had my coffee.  Hide that mess away!! The bonus room also had a closet which would be perfect for toy storage. 

The master bedroom had a huge closet, a gorgeous bathroom with a tub and shower and plenty of storage. The other three bedrooms were great in terms of size and closet space.  My kids were with us on this tour and wanted us to purchase this house as is.  They LOVED the decor.  Mary Cook Associates did an amazing job on the train room and the super pink room that my six year old is obsessed with.  Not kidding they ask us everyday when we are buying this house. :-) 

Let's talk about light!! M/I does an amazing job at making sure there is a lot of natural light coming into the home. Something our current house is lacking.  

Aside from the beautiful house the community is great, Hoover is really close by, as well as a few other parks, and I hear that there are plans to develop land nearby for a park.  We also really love exploring Westerville and all of the local businesses.  

15 of My Favorite Places In Westerville

One of the best parts about living in Columbus is all the different communities that surround us. From Dublin, New Albany or somewhere in between. Each one of them brings something unique to our community.  I've been touring M/I homes in Westerville  I was inspired to explore Westerville and try some of the new places I have never been and visit some of my favorites again.  I've put together my top 15 things to do in Westerville. Do you have a place you would add to this list? Tell me in the comments.  

To Play

1. Inniswood Metro Park - I can't even count how many times we've had family photos here.  They also put on the best events during the summer.  

2. Hoover Reservoir - PERFECT place for a picnic with the family and some sightseeing.  I also love climbing the stairs solo for a good workout. It's also minutes from one of the Villages of Central College - which I adore.  

3. Alum Creek - picnics, swimming, boating...you name it they've got it and it's beautiful there. 

4. Everal Barn and Homestead - speaking of beautiful - this homestead is so fun to visit and explore, run around outside, and if you stay tuned here or on their website they sometime host kid friendly events that are a lot of fun. 

To Eat

1. Uptown Deli and Brew - The perfect place to work/eat or take the kiddos to for lunch. 

2. Asterisk Supper Club - Afternoon tea in uptown Westerville? Yes, please. 

3. Antonio's Pizzeria and Restaurant - They have the best cheesy garlic bread around.  Enough said. 

4.  Northstar Cafe - This has always been a family favorite but the new location in Westerville is amazing.  Perfect food and perfect location. 

*3 out of the four are really close to a beautiful new community in Minerva Park 

To Shop

1. The Gemma Shop!! My FAV store in all of Columbus.  You have to get there one weekend. You will be so happy!! Watch my Instagram feed to see what new pieces I'm wearing from The Gemma Shop. 

2. Columbus Running Company - I'm a runner so this is one of my favorite stores in Columbus. 

3. Pure Roots Boutique - Shopping local is made easy in Westerville with this super cute boutique. 

4. Polaris Fashion Place - Polaris does an amazing job at offering a lot of kid friendly, family focused events year round. Plus the stores here are some of the best. 

For Kids

1. Goldfish Swim School - You know I love it here. ;) 

2. ZenKidz - Super cute, cozy, play cafe. 

3. Naturally Curious Kids - I love shopping local and I really love buying my kids educational toys. Here I can do both. 

4. Westerville Community Center

5. Legacy Train Depot - A hidden gem, for sure. 

To Relax

1.  Hair Artists

2. Meza Wine Shop

Eat Pak'd and GIVEAWAY

Life around here has been chaotic to say the least, so I have been loving having Eat Pak'd as my go to resource for healthy and easy lunches for my older two kiddos.  Eat Pak'd provides families with healthy, kid approved meals right to their front door through a subscription service.  Imagine no meal prep, no clean up, just a few clicks on your computer and a nice cold delivery at your door.  SO EASY!!!!

I am really picky when it comes to what my kids eat, I want to keep it GMO, organic, hormone free as much as possible and Eat Pak'd feels the same way I do and they keep their lunch packs filled with yummy and healthy food for kids of all ages.  The Paks are designed by nutritionists and then created by chefs - they take such care of all the meals they send out and make sure to limit sugars and sodium as often as they can.    

Freshness: One thing I was concerned with was how the food could stay fresh all week when it had to be prepped and then shipped.  I am pleased to say that we can eat them all the way through Friday with no problems.  The Paks are created the day they are sent out and they are sent in a cold, insulated box.  

Price: Let's talk about price - you're getting healthy food delivered to your door with very little work from you. Sounds too good to be true? I promise it's great AND true.  They are also very affordable. You can get 12 Paks for $72, which makes it $6 a pack.  They also have other options if you don't need 12...you can order as little as 5 or as many as 12.  You can also use code "614MOM" for $20 off your first order of 5 Paks (That makes it $16.30 for your first order) 

In February I hosted the Eat Pak'd Launch Party at Firefly Play Cafe in Clintonville and shared my love for Eat Pak'd with some of my favorite Columbus bloggers.  You may have seen some Paks on their feeds.  Check out some pictures from the event and be sure to head to Eat Pak'd and use code "614MOM" to give Eat Pak'd a try! You won't regret it.  

Scroll all the way down to the bottom to enter to win TWO FREE Weeks of Eat Pak'd 4 Pak Service.  :) 

Thank you to Amy from Beloved Photography for great shots of the entire evening.  

Beautiful New Community in Minerva Park | M/I Homes | 614 Mom

My husband and I are obsessed with searching for a new home, we spend hours on Zillow, spend our free weekends (haha - do those even exist?) attending open houses, and I have a Pinterest board (or two) filled with inspiration, so when M/I reached out to me about visiting their new communities in Westerville, I of course said YES! 

The first community I went to is a brand new community in Minerva Park.  I've always loved this area so I was really excited for the tour of the house and to get to see the entire neighborhood.  The house is beautiful, the entire team at M/I put a lot of work into every detail and it shows. I especially loved the loft and the mudroom.  That may sound silly because we are mainly focused on the kitchen/dining areas, bedrooms, and bathrooms when looking for a new home. Don't get me wrong those were all amazing but the loft and mudroom really stood out to me.  While I do cook, sleep, and lounge in my house - we also live in our home.  We make messes, we play, we dance, we dance outside in the rain, we play in the mud, we really truly LIVE in our home and this house in Minerva Park gives you the freedom to live in your house while keeping a sense of calm.  Muddy shoes?  98357 bags being brought in from that vacation?  Toys all over the place?  The mud room and the loft have you covered.  It might be because we don't have either of these in our current house that really had me excited over the potential these rooms offer but I thought having both would be pretty awesome with three young kids running around.  

I also loved the kitchen the beautiful counter tops and the window above the sink - little details that really help make the house feel more like a home.  I can imagine washing dishes or making a snack and looking out that window to my husband and kiddos playing in the backyard.  How sweet that moment would be.  

I could go on and on about how beautiful this neighborhood is and how amazing the house is but I think I'd rather let the pictures speak for themselves.  

After my tour I called my husband I told him that we had to go to the grand opening two days later, I knew he'd love the house and exploring with him is always so fun.  

M/I is dedicated to making communities not just houses and they did just that in Minerva Park. From the cozy curves roads, walking paths, and green space this is a true community.  You would be very lucky to call this area home.  

Locker Soccer

A few months ago my little guy saw some guys practicing soccer as we drove past the park.  He immediately started asking a million questions (like most 2 year olds do) and through his questions he found out that his daddy played soccer and loved it.  Like a lot of young boys, his dad is his number one hero, and learning that he played soccer was the most amazing thing he had heard all week.  Owen started showing interest in playing soccer immediately.  

In typical Eryn form I started researching soccer programs for young children and digging into what makes each program different.  For Owen's age (3 years old) I was mainly looking for a program that was play based with great coaches.  Through all my research, I found that Locker Soccer was the one program that stood out.  They came highly recommended by women in my mom's group and I loved what I heard from the staff about how their programs runs.  Bonus - the program is indoors so they run year round.  I don't like to change things around a lot so if I put my kids in a program I like to stay there and not bounce around so a year round program was a huge bonus for us. 

We started at Locker Soccer in December of 2016 - every Saturday at 11:20 we were on the field passing a soccer ball around with our little guy at 11:25 we headed off the field and Owen went to huddle with Coach Mike and Coach Allie.  It made for the perfect Saturday. 

Coach Mike is incredibly patient with all of the kiddos he has running around the field.  He keeps them engaged every second and while we were new to the season it was clear that the other parents knew him well and loved him.  There was a moment that Owen wasn't listening and was just running around on the field while Coach Mike was speaking with the other kids as a group. It looked to me like Coach Mike didn't notice so I went up to the net and tried to get Owen's attention so he would go back to the group. Coach Mike looked at me and said "He's fine mom, I've got him." He did notice that Owen wasn't with the group but he was giving him the time to explore for a minute before getting him back with the group.  It was in that moment that I knew we had picked the right program for us. 

We spent many Saturdays taking our guy to soccer, warming up with him, watching as he made new friends, and laughing at just how adorable a bunch of three year olds are playing soccer together.  Owen would come home and talk to us about his friends, his coaches, and then ask his daddy (not me or his sister) to go play soccer with him.  

Owen now loves soccer for more than just knowing that his daddy used to play but because Locker Soccer has taught him about the game. He loves running around the field kicking the ball, playing sharks and minnows, and seeing Coach Mike and Coach Allie.   He can't wait for Spring Season to start. Stay tuned for updates on how he progresses and how the program changes as he gets older.  

Baby Elizabeth

Oh my sweet baby girl.  

Baby Elizabeth is here and we are so in love. I have been living in this newborn bliss for the last three weeks, snuggles, nursing, kisses, baby coos, the sweet smell of baby, ahh! I never want these moments to end. As a mom of three I know all too well that time moves so quickly and I need cherish every moment and that's exactly what I've been doing. 

She arrived much differently than expected, at first my doctor thought she would come WAY early, I was even put on some medicine to try and stop this from happening...eventually she took me off the meds and said she was comfortable letting baby girl come on her own.  The meds worked though - to the point where I agreed to be induced.  All was set, I was to be induced on Monday at 5am.  The control freak in me loved that I had a date and time I could count on. I knew when I was going to meet my baby (unless she came earlier, of course). 

On the Sunday, before my induction,  I started having really intense contractions I labored at home all day, went to my inlaws for dinner, left our kids with them, went home and got the house ready for the chaos about to hit. Around 11:30pm I went downstairs where my husband was working and told him I was scared...I felt like this was really happening like right now but I had an appointment in 5.5 hours, could I wait it out and just show up for my appointment?  That's what I wanted to do.  My mind was going crazy...I had no idea what to do.  After a few really intense contractions I decided it was time.  My husband and I gathered all necessary/last minute items and added them to the hospital bag, hopped in the car, nervous and excited. 

I got all checked in, met my amazing nurses, met the beautiful sweet angel who arrived to give me the epidural (ended up not loving him as much as I had hoped...more on that later), and got ready to meet my baby.  10 hours, a lot of laughs between my husband and I, a few tears, lots of support from my wonderful nurse Ashley, later I was holding my baby girl.  

I have been living in such a sweet, peaceful bliss ever since. 

We had plans with Amy from Beloved Photography for her to meet us at the hospital a few hours after Elizabeth was born to capture some of those super sweet moments from her first few hours of life. I really wanted the first few moments of Emmalyn and Owen meeting their baby sister, baby toes, and Riley holding his baby girl just hours after meeting her for the first time photographed.  I am so so excited to have these photos to cherish for the rest of my life.  I'm also excited to share some of them with you.  

Did you have a Fresh 48 session or a birth photographer at your birth?  Tell me about your experience in the comments. 

Day In The Life | Beloved Photography | January 2017

I've never been one to sit still, I always have something I'm aiming for, a new goal, a new adventure I'm planning, something on my to do list, and generally it is something I love about myself.  I love that I am always striving to be a better person and not settling into the same old habits and getting myself into a rut.  However sometimes this need to always be doing something makes me miss the moment I'm in.  For example, I don't really love our house at the moment...the main bathroom makes me crazy, the color of the carpet upstairs is gross, and I want to update the trim in the entire house, don't get me started on the landscaping the previous owners left us with....the list could seriously go on forever.  It wasn't until summer of 2016 that I learned to start loving my imperfect house and embracing this season in our lives.  We have two beautiful kids and another on the way, our marriage is strong, we are healthy, and we are still young. We are building our careers, creating memories with our kids, and I refuse to focus so much on what needs fixed and miss what is right in front of me.  

My friend Leah from Columbus Birth & Parenting posted some amazing pictures that she had taken of her family and I was immediately inspired.  Her photos were all just a day in the life - I don't remember seeing one posed photo in all that she shared.  I immediately reached out to Leah to get the contact info for the photographer who did this for her and reached out to chat a bit. I really enjoyed getting to know Amy over the phone.  We spoke for about 45 minutes and it was all so natural, I felt like if I was going to let anyone into my imperfect house to capture some very real moments, with the people I love the most, it had to be her.  We decided to schedule for a weekend day so that my husband would be home and we wouldn't have to be anywhere - it was seriously effortless.  My house was the very basic level of clean (not mom level clean - but also not gross), I was in my normal sweatpants, the kids dressed themselves like usual, and we just hung out like we normally do on the weekends.  There were a few moments that my kids weren't sure what to do - I wanted them to play like a normal day but they didn't want to miss out on any action because they really loved Amy so I had to encourage them to take her to see their toys.  Even with that I still feel like Amy captured them playing naturally in their rooms like any other day. 

I don't know about you and your family but my husband is not a photo guy, he gets stressed out over spending money on something that may or may not turn out because the kids are being divas, which to be fair our kids are.  Any fan of Friends on here? Both of my kids (and my husband) have a total Chandler smile when a camera is put in front of them. You have to be a really skilled photographer to get a genuine smile out of any of them.  However this documentary style photography was totally meant for my husband - he got to play video games and Legos with the kids in jeans and a t shirt while getting his picture taken and his wife was happy.  It was like a triple score for him.  

Let's get down to the pictures - Amy with Beloved Photography captured such amazing moments for us, from the kids helping me with dinner, to the crazy contraption E came up with using two horses and a guitar, and O loosing PieFace Showdown.  I'll let you see for yourself - and if you're interested in documentary photography I highly recommend you speak with Amy. She has such a passion for this type of photography and is happy to just live life with you.  She mentioned being happy to hop in the car with us and take photos wherever - a trip to Target, school drop off/pick up, she's good with it all.    Enjoy our photos and share your thoughts in the comments! Would love to hear if this is something you would feel comfortable doing.  

CrossChx Saved My Sanity!

December hit my family hard, I had to see a few specialists due to this pregnancy, my son got a peanut stuck up his nose, both kids were hit with pink eye, stomach bugs, and anything else you can name.  I also sprained my hip! Yes, seriously! The biggest pain with all of this, other than having sick kiddos and being in pain myself, was all of the paperwork that I had to fill out at every appointment.  At ONE appointment I counted 10 different times that I wrote my name, 5 times I had to put the same medical history, 5-6 times had to state that my appointment was not accident related, and the list goes on.  The theme here is repetition.  I was in serious need of something to streamline the process.  Luckily, I had just heard of CrossChx, a Columbus based business who does just that.  

CrossChx is an app (available for Iphone and Android) that allows you to plug your medical history in one time, in a very easy way and then let you just scan into your doctors appointment without any fuss.  Best App Ever! I don’t know about you but I find it really difficult to fill out 10 papers per appointment per patient while my kids play jungle gym in the waiting room.  My kids aren’t the only ones that do this, right?  What is it about the water fountain that makes them want to suddenly take a bath?  Just mine? Okay.   Let’s move on.  

What I love about CrossChx is how easy it is to use and how I can plug in each family member, add a photo to make it easy, my insurance card, emergency contact, and then easily scan my device when I check into my doctor’s appointment. You can also easily keep track of your prescriptions in the app. If your doctor isn’t set up for an easy check in (first tell them to get set up for it because it’s amazing and easy for all sides) and then you can share with them your unique URL and privacy code that they can pull up on their computer and quickly pull and print all of your info.  See - easy for both sides.  

If you are anything like me, you have one concern with putting all of your health care information on an app - PRIVACY! I would be lying if I told you that wasn’t my first thought.  You may find this hard to believe since I run a blog and share a lot of information on social media, but I am a very private person. My husband makes fun of me daily because of it.  I actually spoke at length with the wonderful guys at CrossChx headquarters about this and the assured me that they take this very seriously.  The QR code that you use to check in changes every few seconds which means its never the same and impossible to copy.  They aren't looking at your medical history to sell you anything - they just want to help streamline a process that hasn't been updated in years.  With the advancements in technology why are we still having to fill out SO many papers at every appointment? Thank you CrossChx for solving a problem and creating such an amazing solution for all of us.  You can download the CrossChx app here.  

Do you have this app?  What do you think?