Month 2 of 2022 in the books!! If you’re new, in this series I wrap up the previous month for our family every first of a new month! I don’t always share about the kids individually unless something big has come up for them or worth sharing – it’s just kind of a ‘free share’/’catch up’ on us and what we’re doing, accomplished, or working toward! I also think it’s great to have to look back on one day when everyone is grown up and flown the nest 😉
Colly
Colly has been going through a rough time with her teeth – she went from 0 to basically 7/8 in a matter of a week, which is similar to what Honey did (both boys had a bunch of teeth by 10 months – the girls were 12-13 months by the time one broke thru finally!) So we’ve been trying to do a few different things to keep her happy/comfortable aside from Tylenol. I picked up these drops that are to be swallowed and then some teething oil for her gums. Poor thing has just been in so much pain!
Boys’ Birthday Party + Well Checks
In January, we celebrated 3 of our 4 kiddos turning another year older. It was a lot 😅 We wanted to have a party for the boys since it had been since 2018 that they had a party with friends, but there was no way we were going to be able to swing it that same month. So we opted to do a little shindig in Feb, and they had so much fun! We went somewhere they they could do go-karts, jump on the massive trampolines, and zip line. It was a blast! SO thankful we are done with birthdays now until Honey’s in July!!
The boys (and Colly, the 3rd Jan baby!) all had their well checks this month too. The boys are about 10lbs apart right now and both super healthy and strong. The ped was pleased to hear how they’re doing healt wise and in school/sports. Colly is now 19lbs! So incredible considering how things started out last year for her. We knew she’d get there. Her reflux is doing so much better too – instead of 25+ times a day, she’s down to once or twice a day. The more “people food” she’s eating (which is basically every meal we eat together – breakfast, lunch, and dinner with bottles in between) I think has definitely helped. Now that she’s drinking whole milk too when she does spit up it’s that sour smell…which is so unpleasant but I’m choosing to focus on the positive and how far she’s come with it!
Home
We’ve still been working on our house projects – slow moving, but they’re happening! We installed a new ceiling fan/light fixture combo (similar to the one we put in our master which I still need to share!) but are working on updating this room a bit too. I have a collaboration with an amazing custom wallpaper company – they have SO many fun options so I’m really excited to share this with you all too. I WILL be sharing our playhouse makeover reveal this month so stay tuned!
I also finished two other organizing projects that I’ll share here soon – they both have been intimidating to me for quite some time so I’m really glad I decided to tackle them! One is our spice area in the pantry and getting all of the jars in uniform/organized and the other is an expandable skillet/pan organizer which holds lids as well!
We’ve been still enjoying easy crockpot dinners and eating outside as a family lately. The temps are already starting to rise so we’re trying to enjoy our backyard as much as possible before it’s an inferno!
Conner
Conner started tutoring as he has to pass a state test and write a pretty big essay for, so we thought it would be beneficial to get the extra help 1 day a week. This has usually been on Saturdays so that C can help me take him and then I stay with the 3 younger kids at home (and Colly can nap!) It’s been a really positive experience and I do feel it’s helping him dramatically prepare for this test, which is all we could hope for!! He’s also finishing up Phase 1 of his orthodontic treatment and just got his expander. He’s had a good attitude about it but I know from experience that it’s uncomfortable (and hard to talk/eat!) One day when his teeth are super straight it will be worth it though. C has been working with him on this planet (Jupiter!) project he’s had over the last month and his presentation is actually at the school tonight at 5, so we’re excited to go see him and cheer him on 🙂
Cole
Not really much to update on our Bug – him and Conner both are wrapping up running club and they’ve had a lot of fun. He continues to get A’s on all of his papers and tests and we are just so proud of how awesome he’s doing in school. He’s regressed a little bit with his meltdowns/fights with his sister so we are working on that, haha. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies and I try to be as transparent as I can with you all.
Honey
Hun has been my little helper lately. I mean, she ALWAYS is/was even before Colly was born, but she’s really taken it up another notch. We’ve had quite a bit more appointments lately (for all of us) and she’s had to come along of course. She’s helped me settle Colly during my own, helps me brush out her curls and detangle her hair daily, takes notice when/if Colly is getting into something she shouldn’t, and just overall the best big sis. She’s such a funny girl too – she doesn’t stop talking but cracks me up even when I’m feeling all mom’d out. We just got the notice today actually that she’s been accepted into her brother’s school for kinder and I am in disbelief that this has come up so quick!!!! I’m trying to be intentional with our time together at home before she starts full time in August.
Flagstaff
C took the older 3 for a quick weekend trip up to Flagstaff (northern Arizona, where it does actually snow!) last month too! They were hoping to see and play in some snow, however most of it had melted from a small storm a few days before. They got some good quality time in with Dad though and made lots of memories. Colly and I stayed home due to her teething and it not being a super baby (toddler) friendly trip with being outside in the cold.
Work Updates
Many of you know (and likely found me!) from my small business, Curly Q’s Counter. Due to my original printer of 6+ years closing, I stopped printing from May 2020-July 2020. I continued to run the other side of my business on Etsy creating one of a kind distressed denim pieces for infants and toddlers, which is where the whole thing started for my brand in 2013. I was able to pick up printing again in August 2020 with a new printer. There’ve been so many challenges with the pandemic and small businesses (with the postal service included), I decided to stop printing in November of 2020 in anticipation for Colly’s arrival. Again, my Etsy stayed open throughout this time. There’ve been many times where I really wished I was able to do a limited drop or bring back a collection, but with running my blog, Etsy, and also taking on a new role in administrative work for my husband’s small business (I’ve been doing social media for almost 4 years for them, but recently began an admin role to help more with their needs), it just didn’t seem feasible to do. I also began to get extremely burned out from the denim side of my business. I started to realize (as hard as it was, because CQC is like my 5th baby!) with these other jobs I’m doing plus raising our 4 kiddos, it just didn’t make sense to me to continue to burn the candles at both ends. As I said above, the pandemic has made it extra difficult to run a handmade business and I really give so many props to those who are still doing it.
After a lot of discussion with C, we decided it’s best I put my Etsy on pause for now. So what does that mean – is CQC really closed? For now, yes. I am not printing, however I do print for my husband’s company – their uniforms are contracted by me so I am still in touch with my printer every 5-8 weeks) so my website is still open for that and whatever tiny amounts of ready to ship merch I have. My Etsy shop is on ‘vacation’ and I’m not sure when that will be turned off. The cost and supply issues with the pandemic has also had a really negative effect on my business and what I sell. I could keep going on about how it’s so hard, and how I really am sad to be closing/pausing this chapter for now, but I know the future is so bright. If I can get to a place where I feel comfortable printing again and the costs/supply issue makes sense, I definitely can see myself doing that. I loved creating empowering pieces for moms to wear daily to not only give themselves a little pep talk but also feel comfortable in. It was (and still is!) a huge passion of mine to raise awareness through my brand about topics like infertility, NICU life, miscarriage, C-sections, and other struggles in motherhood that I’ve endured. I loved connecting with so many of you through my small shop. And while I started transitioning to working my blogging/content creation full time prior to this pause, this is the first time I can really start treating it like a full time job.
Part of me is sad with this chapter coming to an end, but also hopeful and so so excited to see what’s to come. I wouldn’t say I have more ‘free time’ now since I do have this + my other job, but I can breathe so much easier without having to hand make and ship hundreds of orders a month. I poured everything into CQC over the last 9 years and raising my babies alongside of it, so that’s why I’m holding on that it’s not a forever/permanent thing, but a time to take a step back and focus on what else I’d like to pour into. Not to mention, I have more flexibility to plan my content/sponsored work around my growing family’s needs. That is huge, HUGE, HUUUUUGE to me! I am keeping my website open and I have zero plans of selling my brand, so if/when the time comes to reopen or move forward with CQC, I will be sure to update our newsletter subscribers and social media platforms!
Family Photos
On the 27th we did our family photos with Molly! She’s given me several sneak peeks which I’ll be sharing more on my IG this month but omgosh, I am swooning. We haven’t done professional pics of the fam since Colly’s newborn shoot last January so this was totally necessary!!! The kids change so much in 6 months even, I love hiring a professional to freeze time and have these memories to look back on. C had me do a side by side last night of the boys around a similar age to Colly and Hun 6 years ago with one of our sneaks!!! I am in a puddle!! 😭🥺 Make sure you’re following us on IG to see more!
What’s To Come
I have my March content calendar all planned out – some DIY, home updates, brand collaborations, and rolling out a few new series!!! Mondays I plan to share “Mom hacks/finds/faves Mondays”, Tuesdays will be “Try On Tuesday” with some mom-forward fashion finds/OOTDs, and Wednesdays we will share “We Eat Wednesday” packed with new, simple, and fun recipe content! Hope you will stick around to see!!
