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? 

PreciouStatus at Foundations Learning Academy

I don't know about you but when I started my infant in daycare (almost 6 years ago) one of my biggest fears was missing out on some of the everyday things like diaper changes, feeding schedules, random smiles, the cute way she'd grab her toes, the list could go on - this was in part because I was being sentimental and also a control thing as well as a care thing. I wanted to make sure she was healthy, eating enough, having enough wet diapers, etc.  Yes, with my first born I had a journal where we wrote down every detail from every single diaper change.  I just wasn't sure if this wonderful teacher taking care of 4 other babies besides mine would have time to give my child the love and attention I wanted her to have while still keeping me informed and doing this for all of the babies in her care.  

I recently learned about an app that Foundations Learning Academy in Hilliard has implemented.  PreciouStatus -  it allows the caregivers at Foundations Learning Academy the ability to keep the parents informed throughout the day on everything from how much their child ate, to diaper changes, potty training updates, other items that you'd find on the normal daily sheet at pick up as well as other alerts and then of course pictures! :-) What could be better in the middle of a hard work day than to see your baby (of any age) smiling at daycare. This app also works for multiple kids and you can customize it with their names and pictures and go to each "folder" to view different kiddos.  The app works on any smart phone and is of course free for all parents at Foundations.  

I know I would have loved this when my girl started daycare, the peace of mind it would have given to me would have been so nice.  If you haven't checked out Foundations Learning Academy yet you can read more about them on the blog and then head to their Facebook page to learn more and get their contact info.  

A Little Bit of Honesty....

DISCLAIMER!!! This post is something that has been weighing heavy on my heart over the last several months and I really want to take some time to share some of my thoughts on the subject.  I love being a mom, I love sharing my favorite kid spots, I adore my family, and I love all of your families even though I haven't met them all.  I take great pride in what I write and I only ever want to give you quality pieces. If we go somewhere "new and trendy" but I feel like I was let down - I simply don't share it with you.  That business could have been having a bad day, short staffed, or whatever.  My goal is not to hurt businesses but to help the families of Columbus and I believe to do that I need to be totally honest is everything that I share.  I hope you'll read this and understand where my heart is and not simply think that I'm complaining because I'm not.  I just feel like some of these things need to be said.  I would love your feedback.  

Being a mother doesn't define me, but it is also a title I wear very proudly.  I am a lot of things woman, mother, wife, friend, daughter, entrepreneur, and many more.  I have found through numerous engagements that people are quick to judge the mothers of this world as if we no longer care about anything other than motherhood.  I have been known to through back a few shots of Patron and dance the night away since becoming a mother, I can carry on conversations about world events and I enjoying reading books other than Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  At the same time I can talk in detail about the struggles of the tantrum stage, I won't blush when you tell me about that time your son started talking proudly about his penis in public, and I am happy to share my thoughts on the best places in Columbus for kids.  I am well rounded, as most of us are.  

Truth be told, I find being classified as a "mom blogger" very limiting. It's easy to assume that because this is 614 Mom, that I won't discuss anything other than kids. NOT TRUE!  However I am not ashamed to be a mom blogger - I actually love it a great deal.  I get to share some really amazing things with the moms of Columbus and the families visiting Columbus and that is something I don't take lightly.  614 Mom was founded on the fact that while we are moms, we are humans too.  It's the foundation on which 614 Mom was built and I plan to stay true to the 614 Mom brand as we grow. 

I just hate the thought that Moms are these really uptight women who only focus on their kids. Moms are strong. We are devoted, loving, strong humans and we kick ass. I have some serious goals and some wild dreams that I am currently chasing and having kids will not change that. I adore my children and I know that while I can't spend every waking moment with them, I am doing my best for them and for myself.  Finding my true happiness is extremely important because if I can't love myself and love where my life is headed then how can I be a great mother?  

This post is filled with thoughts that have weighed heavily on my heart over the last few months and I just feel like it needs to be said.  I am so proud to be a mom, a wife, an entrepreneur.  I am chasing my dreams and I hope you'll chase yours with me.  Tell me what are some of the things you're working so hard on while also juggling motherhood?  

Our Favorite Mother/Daughter Spots | December 2016 | 614 Mom

I grew up as an only child to a single mother so getting quality time with just her wasn't something we ever had to plan for or make happen.  It was just us, living life, doing normal things, and I didn't really think anything of it. Sure, there were times we did extra special things like our trips to New York, or the time she took me to see The Nutcracker for the first time, but everyday was a  mother/daughter date.  Fast forward to 2014 - I now have my husband, my daughter and my son.  There was no big conversation on how we needed to make this a priority, we just made it a priority.  My husband and I started taking our oldest on dates, the days and times would change, the things we'd do would be different every time, but at the end of the day it wasn't really about what we did but that we were spending quality one on one time with each other.  I've compiled a list of our favorite Mommy/Daughter dates.  Hopefully some of these can inspire you to find the perfect thing to do with your little ones.  Also, check back because I will be sharing my husband's favorite places to take our daughter, as well as our favorite places to take our son on dates.  

1. Cambridge Tea House - We LOVE the Cambridge Tea House in Grandview. It has quickly grew into "our place" for my daughter and I. We celebrate the small and big moments here, we dash off for scones and iced tea any chance we get. My daughter loves getting dressed up to go here and politely requesting that I wear a dress as well.  The staff is always so friendly, the food is delicious and the tea is the best I've ever had.  I love that there is a place in Columbus that my daughter and I can call our special place.  I would highly recommend reservations. We've tried to just pop by occasionally when we were able to get away but sometimes they run out of scones, or have a full house.  If you do wait - trust me it's worth it. 

2. Spa Day - I'm raising a diva and I'm okay with that.  E and I LOVE spa days.  Not kidding, her favorite place for a mani/pedi is The W Nail Bar, in the Short North.  I one time made the mistake of letting her pick what type of pedicure she wanted and she picked coffee.  WOW! Let me tell you, the coffee in your pedicure really does give you a burst of energy. Luckily it was just us in the space - plus about 5 of my closest friends, so I didn't have to worry too much because everyone thought it was hilarious but wow was my girl was bouncing off the walls.  So, just a little tip - get yourself the coffee in your pedicure but make your little ones get the rose petals.  ;-) We are also obsessed with The Blowout Bar.  This is a personal favorite of mine.  They have two locations, Dublin and Grandview, that are equally amazing.  Blowouts for Mom are $40, and Blowouts for 10 and under are 25. They have a ton of other options like up dos, dry style, I woke up like this, hair extensions, and my personal fav 10 minute scalp massage.  They have all of their menu selections with prices listen on their website to help you plan. 

3. Lunch and Craft at American Girl Store - If you have a little girl I'm sure you are at least aware that there is an American Girl Store at Easton now.  We've had a few lunches there and enjoyed it every time.  We went for my daughter's birthday almost two years ago, for the first time and it was very sweet. They had high chairs for her dolls, the staff was very kind, and they had a very special birthday cake for her.  We've also been on a random day and had just as much fun.  If you ask - they have crafts in the back that they can bring out for your little ones (for a fee) which are fun to do while you wait on your food.   Make reservations ahead of time! 

4. Ice Skating - We have a few options for this fun date.  The Chiller is an obvious first choice but if you don't need to rent skates Dublin offers a fun outside option at Coffman Park.  In February Winter Park downtown opens - right next to Nationwide Arena. $5 per skater and includes skate rental. This year it opens February 3 and it looks like they will also have snow tubing as a fun option.  Bonus, there is a Tim Hortons right across the street.  

5. Seeing a performance - Seeing a play at the theatre is one of our favorite things to do together.  Whether it's heading to Children's Theatre to see their newest feature or catching a musical with Broadway In Columbus - we always leave with our hearts full.  I absolutely love that she is as into the theatre as I am.  It has created lasting memories for us and I can't wait to take her to her first Broadway musical in New York.  Note: CAPA is a great resource for all live entertainment in Columbus.

6. Paint Your Own Pottery - Oh, this one is so fun.  We really enjoy our time at Color Me Mine in Dublin.  They have a whole line of princesses, super heroes, unicorns, and so many really cool things for the kiddos to paint.  They also have seasonal items, and the items do change often so you'll never run out of things to paint.  We really enjoy this because we get the chance to sit and talk to each other while it's peaceful and calm.  

7.  Lunch at her favorite place - My girl is known to change her favorite place for lunch often.  Occasionally it's North Star, sometimes it's Red Robin, sometimes it's Rusty Bucket.  I just never know.  Right now she's on a Chinese Food kick so I imagine she would pick a new restaurant if I were to ask her tomorrow.  Letting her pick gives her so much power which is super fun for that age...which leads me to my next idea. 

8. Let her take the lead - These days are my FAVORITE!!! I can only ever do them when we have all day to spend otherwise I end up having to cut it short and that makes her sad.  We start mid morning/early afternoon and it's her day until bedtime.  Typically it starts with brunch, some shopping, pedicures, stopping at every photo booth we see, getting an Iced Tea from Panera, and a whole lot of other random things she feels like doing. It's the perfect day. Sometimes I wish I could do this with her everyday, but then they wouldn't be as special.  

9.  Hiking - We normally do this as a mom/dad/daughter date.  Our girl is very adventurous so it's better when it's 2 against 1 so that we can keep her safe.  It's so fun and opens up so many conversations about nature, the world, and adventure.  Our family favorite is Hocking Hills. 

10.  Mommy/Me Yoga - I am very active, I love staying fit and taking care of my body.  My daughter sees that when I take her to the gym with me but she gets so sad that she can't work out with me.  While the gym doesn't allow kids under 12 anywhere besides childcare and the pool - I can still get her passionate about fitness through Mommy/Me fitness classes. I've found yoga as the best option for her age.   

Remember, it's not always about what you do or how much money you spend, it's about spending quality time just the two of you. These are memories she will look back and remember.  She may remember that time you slipped on ice, or the way you laughed when she told a joke, she may remember you teaching her to ice skate and making her get back up when she fell, or the way you'd kiss her boo boo. The point is, she will remember these moments big or small and it's important to have these special memories between just the two of you.  

Chinese Lantern Festival | December 2016 | 614 Mom

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, we bundled up the kids and we headed to the Ohio Chinese Lantern Festival.  This was a new experience for all of us but it's safe to say that it's a new favorite. My kids have already asked when we can go back and my husband and I really enjoyed it.  The larger than life illuminated displays are crafted by Chinese artisans from Zigong, Sichuan.  You can also enjoy nightly performances at 6:30 and 8 as well as a 9:30 show added for Friday and Saturday evenings only.  Craft and food vendors are on site with one of a kind traditional Chinese crafts to purchase and plenty of delicious food for everyone. 

I would highly recommend this as a fun family event! My kids loved the lights and it was an easy and enjoyable path all the way through.  

The Details

Where: Ohio State Expo Center
717 E 17th Ave. Columbus, 43211

When: Nightly until January 2nd
5pm - 10pm

Cost: $15 Adults
$10 Youth (17 and under)
$12 Military
 

Deal: You can purchase the Family Four Pack on the website.  $40 for two adults and two youth.  ($10 savings) 

Enjoy some pictures from our fun night at the Festival.  Be sure to follow them on social media to see even more photos.  Note: It wasn't super cold the night we went - but I would make sure to bundle up, there aren't any places to get warm. 

Macy's Believe Day | December 2016 | 614 Mom

I am so excited to share with you a fun event happening this Friday December 9 2016 at the Easton Macy's.  Believe Day is a FREE family friendly event with balloon twisting, face painting, crafts, and so much more. You won't want to miss it - we love visiting Macy's during the holidays and this is a favorite event of ours.  You can find out more details below.  

During Believe Day at Macy's make sure to drop a stamped letter off to Santa in the big red letterbox and Macy's will give a DOUBLE donation.  Providing an additional $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 Million.  

Macy's Believe Day

Location: 4141 Easton Loop E
Columbus, OH 43219

Date: December 9th 2016

Time: 12 pm

Cost: FREE

For more information on this and other events with Macy's this holiday season be sure to check here.  

“This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of Macy’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.“

Sweet Gifts For The Mamas In Your Life | Shop Local | 614 Mom

My favorite gifts are the thoughtful gifts that come from the heart.  The ones that you can tell someone put a lot of thought and love into.  I've complied a list of really sweet gifts to give the mom (or grandma) on your list this holiday season.  The best part?  All the items on this list are from local businesses.  Shop local while getting something to be treasured for a lifetime by the mama you're shopping for.  Moms - send this to your significant other. Husbands/Wives/Boyfriends/Girlfriends - book mark this page, it will still be here in April when you're starting your Mother's Day shopping.  ;-) I do this because I love you! 

To my husband - I will take them all! ;) 

1. Tag Necklace from BOHINDI - this particular piece is one of my personal favorites. I love that it is a gorgeous classic piece that I can love for a lifetime. It's not overly trendy so I know even in 10 years I could still wear this and love it. I love that you can add different tags as your family grows and each tag can have something different on it. The length makes it even better - 20" inches for the chain - yes please.

2. Custom watercolor family portrait from ElmerConceptions - Amanda, a local mom of 6, hand creates these beautiful custom watercolor family portraits. I can't wait until our bundle of joy gets here so I can order one when we officially become a family of five. :-) I follow Amanda on Instagram and had the pleasure of meeting her at 614 Mom's Celebrating You event last year and she is the sweetest woman with such amazing talent. This gift would make any mama heart happy. It's too late to order one of these for the holidays but you can always get a gift certificate through Amanda, and allow mom to pick the photo she loves the most to use as inspiration for this custom artwork. :)

3. Almost anything from Good Makery - located in Grandview, Good Makery, allows children (or adults) to create one of a kind gifts using their own handwriting. Some ideas I'd have for you would be picture frame, surprise candle, keepsake box, necklaces, or ornaments. Personally, I am obsessed with my daughter's handwriting. I think it's the most adorable thing ever - so to have something I could have forever with such sweet moments of their childhood would mean the world to me. I can't be the only mama that feels this way.

4. Silhouettes from Little Mugshots - You may have read all about my love for Stephanie and Little Mugshots on the blog a few days ago. This is a definite must for this list. Stephanie offers one of a kind hand drawn silhouettes on both paper and Christmas ornaments. This is such a sweet gift for any mom on your list. Hurry, you only have until December 5th to make sure you get your order by Christmas.

5. Beloved Names Necklace from Geo Supply Co - This is such a classic and beautiful piece that allows you to make it your own by customizing the names on the necklace. This necklace can fit up to 4 names with 9 letters per name. Geo Supply Co also offers the most adorable marble + rose gold Christmas ornaments. They deserve all the heart eyes.

6. Take your kiddos to Clay Cafe to make a special gift for mom - these handmade gifts are probably the most cherished by mom. A lifetime of memories in one hand painted piece. Nothing will ever replace that time your two year old made you a purple dinosaur because purple is your favorite color and a dinosaur is his favorite animal. :-)