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9.22.2013

eleven.

[Raw Baltic Amber Necklace c/o GreenOrangeViolet]
We are rapidly approaching Ellis' 3 month milestone.
Every day she is doing something new and most definitely cute.
She is no longer content to just lay in her bouncy seat or snuggle with us, unless it's bedtime, then she is a pro-snuggler & must be near me all night long.
When awak, Ellis wants to move & groove and talk talk talk.
And eat.
This girl can eat.
I'm still trying to rebuild my supply and our donated milk has been depleted.
Kind of makes for a very stressed out Mama, which then hinders my milk even more.

One step forward 10 steps back over here.


xo

9.19.2013

Hello, Fall Favorites Giveaway

Fall is hands down my favorite time of year.
Everything pumpkin, mustard knits, chai lattes, snuggling, bonfires, hoodies, cider,
I could go on & on & on...

In the spirit of the season we've put together a fun little giveaway to get you in the mood.

Up for grabs is a $50 Amazon card, $25 Starbucks card, my favorite Colonial Candle "Pumpkin Spice", a box of Tazo Chai, Urban Outfitters Popcorn Arm Warmers, & Butter London nail polish in Nude.

If these awesome goods don't get you excited for Autumn, well, I give up.

Enter to win by stopping by some of our awesome sidebar sponsors & leave a comment on who you took a peek at and one of your fall favorites!

Other ways to enter:

Follow Hux + Lulu on Twitter
Tweet about the giveaway + leave link
Follow us on Instagram: @lifewiththehux @shophuxandlulu
Repost Giveaway on Instagram with hash tag #fallfavegiveaway and @huxandlulu
Pin Giveaway on Pinterest + leave link
Vote for us on Top Baby Blogs (click owl on left & only one vote per 24 hours)

*Giveaway will end on 9/30 & winner will be drawn via random.org*

Hello winner! Mama to Ben + Jake shoot me an email to collect your Autumn goodness!
huxandlulu@gmail.com

xo!
 

  

9.18.2013

making molehills out of mountains.


Seems like I've just been treading water over on this side of the screen.

Went back into the hospital on Sunday (first night I had to spend away from Ellis--worst night of my life), and left Monday as a walking (moreso bedbound) petri dish.

For weeks I was getting the blow-off from my OB practice. They said this was all normal, to live with the pain, etc etc. They made a molehill out of a mountain.

I went into ER three times in the past two weeks.
They found mersa, and a new fluid collection.

So basically, I know my body and how I feel & the entire time the practice (whom I have fired) was telling me how to feel otherwise.

This has been uphill battles since Ellis was born. 
I hate that this hasn't been a calm, celebratory time.
I hate that Huxley has been really taking a hit on this. We try and pour all of our attention on him, but there is only so much I can do right now--which is basically snuggle him and read miles and miles of books. It's time I truly cherish with him.

Ellis is definitely not a newborn anymore.
She is trying to sit up, has rolled over a couple times from back to stomach (what!?) and is a eating machine! 

Oh, and speaking of...
I have amazing amazing Mama friends.
They swooped in a donated breast milk when I was unable to provide for Ellis.
I had no back supply in our freezer, and with being in & out of the hospital, and hearing different takes on what medicines are okay or not okay to breast feed on...well..we ran out of options, and then boom our freezer was packed with the best nutrition Ellis can have--I cried out of thanksgiving a couple times and will definitely be taking those ladies to lunch when I am healed.

We have some pretty exciting things coming up on the blog & I cannot wait to write to you with news that I am 100% h-e-a-l-t-h-y.

Until then,
the winner of the mega awesome Etsy Giveaway was drawn.
See if you won HERE!

& while you are at it, go and check out some of our awesome sidebar sponsors! 
We adore them.

xo

9.14.2013

ten weeker.


[Knit Booties c/o NEEDLEhead crafts]

[She loves Hux even when he's stealing her "squeaky squeaky".]

I guess I should be familiar with this by now.
The fleeting time your babe stays a newborn.
Ellis is all smiles & coos.
Awake and alert.
Scooting and trying out her legs.
Such strength + untainted beauty.

Huxley and her get along so well.
We really are blessed in that respect, and many others.

I've still be trying to heal up--recently discovered that I am infected with MRSA (mersa--a form of staph). It hasn't been fun, and I am dying to get on with my life and do all the little things I relish like:

bubble baths
farmers markets
Target shopping
trips to the Grandparents
thrifting
sushi dinner dates
taking Hux to the park
even cleaning for goodness sakes!!

One day I'll report back and let you know I've done all of those things finally.
Soon.
We hope.

xo

Please take a moment and vote for our blog? It'd mean so much to us to stay in the Top 20 on Topbabyblogs.com
We've made so many awesome connections through that site & would love to make more with your help!


9.12.2013

!!!


We are so very flattered to announce that we were selected as  


Thank you so much for all your love + support.
We truly enjoy sharing our little world with all of you.

xo!

(Photo by Highland Street Photography)


PS: Topbabyblogs.com went & did it again! Votes were reset and we'd love to make it to top 10!
CLICK TO VOTE FOR HUX & LULU! 

9.09.2013

I'm Gilty...





Amazing, adorable, must have for your babes this season stuff on Gilt.com right now & at a fraction of the cost...if you aren't Gilty yet, you really should be...


xo

PS: why haven't you entered the major Giveaway yet? GO! Do! Win!

9.06.2013

the babes' rooms...




 Hux & Lulu's rooms are finally completed*.
I am in love with their spaces & I think they are too.

Keep in mind we moved into our house in May.
Ripped up the floors upstairs mid-June.
The rooms were totally undone when I went to the hospital.
We kind of just picked away after I got home, & went back in, then came home again.
Whenever I'd get bursts of energy I would go and plug away at something in one of their rooms--it was cathartic, an outlet, and kept my mind off of all the crap I didn't want to dwell on.

<<>>
Mobile made by my lovely & talented friend Chelsee who owns Charlie Boy Nashville
The "Lulu Pink" Deer Head, made by yours truly
Walls were painted with Lullaby Paints (which was awesome because I could work with the paint, as it's so natural you could probably drink it---I don't suggest it, but just sayin'. There are no fumes, no nasty chemicals, and the color was a gorgeous light light light pink. Loved the consistency of the paint too--went on nice, and the final product was just fab!
 
<<>>

Coat rack from Urban Outfitters
Whale Rug from his Grandpop (I think it's LL Bean)

Thank you for taking a little tour of our little loves rooms.
We hope you stop by again soon...

...*to see all the fun new additions being added--can...not...wait!!

xo


PS: Photos were taken by the lovely miss Tiffany of Highland Street Photography...you're going to puddle when you see the newborn photos of miss Ellis!

9.04.2013

2 days shy of 2 months.


You see that sweet little bundle of a lady I'm kissing on in that photo? Well that's miss Ellis at 8 weeks. Mama turns twenty-nine tomorrow & she will be 2 months the next day.

& the world keeps on spinning.

xo

9.01.2013

Buying for Baby Girl: Accessory Edition & MAJOR Etsy Goodness Giveaway

Having a little lady has opened up a whole new world...and Daddy's wallet.
I can't even begin to describe how much fun I have dolling up miss Ellis--it really was one of the things that got me through the rough recovery & hospital room boredom--that, & all of the amazing people who were by my side rallying for me, taking care of Huxley, and just simply being beautiful souls. 

When we went into the hospital I had added a box of pretties that these lovely Etsy shops had sent us to my hospital bag thinking it may be completely frivolous but little did I know that I'd spend so much time putting on different little bows, hats + headbands and do little photo shoots with my squishy sleepy model.

Each shop featured has gorgeous, hand crafted items that are perfect for everything from everyday wear, holidays, and photo shoot props---a couple (Lil' Nell, up a tree cup a tea co, Chunky Monkey Crochet, Hoo Loves You Baby & Urban Baby Bonnets) even carry items for the mini-man in your life--adorable bow ties, paper hats, crocheted hats...I mean, these ladies are pure talent!

1. Sugar Bee Boutique 
We were sent the sweetest little fairy wing set from Elizabeth for our photo-shoot (photos will be back from photographer soon!! Ee!) It was so pretty, and absolutely perfect for what we were going for---an Anne Geddes style shoot, with lots of natural light and a little fairy princess amongst flowers.

This crafty Mama just had twins--boys! Go her, right!? And she is already back at it, creating these adorrrrable pilot caps, which we swear by---they keep your Babe's head warm, and ears protected & c'mon---they're stinking cuter than the dickens.

3. up a tree cup a tea co. 
You've probably seen Johanna's sweet little bows on many bloggin' Mamas babes. They're perfection. She even designed a 'Lulu' set of bows and a 'Huxley' bow tie. Beyond. We're smitten, and the elastic is so forgiving on Ellis' head since it's a sort of twisted fabric. Love that.

When we received our box of pretties from the talented miss Courtney I was so floored. Soo many bows, and flowers. They were Ellis' first accessories, and she rocked them hard in the hospital and is still to this day. They can even transition into clips once my little baldy has some hair...bonus!
For 20% until the end of October use the code; HUXANDLULU at checkout!

5. Posies and Petals
I had envisionments of a Mama + Baby shot with us both wearing flower garlands, but unfortunately I wasn't up to the challenge of making my own, so we just got Lulu in her yellow flower crown from Megan. She was a woodland angel. I am so excited to see the photos of her in it!


6. Chunky Monkey Crochet
Al of Chunky Monkey Crochet creates crocheted masterpieces. We were sent the gray pixie bonnet, & oh my--it's so soft, and elfen & definitely going in miss Lulu's baby keepsake box.

A Mama + Daughter shop, that makes magic at their kitchen table creating such fantastic whimsical pieces that you must have in your next photoshoot. Seriously, you will be overwhelmed with cuteness, and probably put a good dent in your wallet. So. Much. CUTENESS.

Ellis has been saved by her Urban Baby Bonnet from the crazy hot summer sun (on those good days that we actually got outside to play). Tons of fun designs to choose from, for boys, girls + adults. From summer hats to winter fleece lined caps, you can find that perfect shower/birthday/ChristmasKwanizika gift that's unique and functional.

****

To enter this crazy awesome mega huge giveaway that is worth over $175 in Etsy shopping bliss..
Visit each shop, come back & comment on your favorite item for each (+8 entries)
SO MANY ADDITIONAL WAYS TO ENTER!!!

 Like Urban Baby Bonnets on Facebook
Follow Urban Baby Bonnets on Twitter
Subscribe to Urban Baby Bonnets Newsletter (located at bottom of page)
 Like Sugar Bee Bows on Facebook
Like Chunky Monkey Crochet on Facebook
Like up a tree cup a tea co on Facebook
 Follow up a tree cup a tea co on Twitter
 Follow on Instagram: @upatreecupatea
Subscribe to up a tree cup of tea co's Blog 
Follow Hux + Lulu on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram: @lifewiththehux @shophuxandlulu
Follow us on Pinterest @lifewiththehux

 Post picture of your favorite item from each shop or this giveawy to your Pinterest (+8 entries)
Share this giveaway on Instagram 

Happy Entering!!
xo

*Giveaway will end on September 15th, 2013 and winner will be selected via random.org
US participants only, no cash value*

& the winner is...
Knitwit Mama!

congrats! shoot me an email to claim your awesome prizes! huxandlulu@gmail.com 

8.26.2013

sun shiny wonderful.


Hi! Sure has been quiet on our blog, eh?
It's just been so hard to find time to sit and put a few words on this screen. 
Things are going really good--Matt's back to work, and I've been with the kids for two weeks now. It's been an adjustment but I love it. Hux has been phenomenal with Ellis, and is so kind and helpful. Whenever he is asked to be a "big helper" he is more than eager to oblige. Love him.

Ellis June has been growin', chunking up, and giving us hours of soul bursting awake time where she just coos and laughs and smiles. Such simple things she offers up that are better than anything on this earth.

We hope you're enjoying these sunny days of summer.
Soak them in.
Smile.

xo

8.22.2013

just me + the Babes.




Oh, boy. It's back to reality. Thank my lucky stars--I wouldn't want it any other way...no, wait. It WAS really awesome having Daddy here round the clock, snuggling and cooking and just generally being amazing.

I'm pretty much all healed up...kind of...I mean, the nurses only come twice a week instead of every.single.effing.morning at the butt crack of dawn.ugh. So that's an improvement.

And by the way...we've officially entered into the real world of raising a newborn + toddler.
What once was glorious sleep filled  nights the first few weeks with Lulu now goes something like this...

8pm: Ellis falls asleep.
9ishpm: Hux follows suit.
11pm: Just as I'm falling asleep, Ellis wakes. Nurses. Goes back down.
11:45pm: Hux is up. Needs a drink.
2am: Ellis is up. WIDE awake and wants us to fawn over her chunky cuteness. One of us grogily obliges while the other is tending to Huxley, who is now up as well because he wet the bed or he teeth are hurting. Or both.
4am: Ellis needs boobs.
5am: Hux wants cheese and crackers and Kipper.
7am: I am ready for a glass of wine.

 One kid was a cakewalk...but this isn't sooo bad. I mean, these are the best days of our lives, right?

xo

ps: Polarn O. Pyret Giveaway winner was drawn...see if you won by clicking HERE






8.21.2013

31 months + 6.5 weeks with souls of a hundred years or more



Oh how much I achingly love + adore these two amazing little persons.
Brimming with personality, curiosity and a palpable love.
Their eyes, giant orbs that tell stories of what the are, and was and will be.
My old souled Babes.

xo

Want to shop Hux + Lulu's closet?
Visit us on Instagram: shophuxandlulu
to check out the goods

 

8.16.2013

Hux + Lulu [dot blogspot dot com]


Whew! We've finally updated our blog to include Baby Sister Ellis (as Huxley has come to call her)...that only took about 8 weeks to do...

Please note that we will be changing our URL from 
lifewiththehux.blogspot.com to huxandlulu.blogspot.com on Monday, August 19th!

Wouldn't want you over there on the other side of the screen freaking out with a "Page Not Found" error, like "Oh my gosh, no more life with the Hux?! It can't be!! Say it ain't so!! My life is ruinnnnned!" Because that would just not be good! So please make note! We will be changing this on Monday--so find us at www.huxandlulu.blogspot.com and then bookmark us so you don't forget! 

xo


Editors Note: I opted not to change---we may be buying our own dot com that will just redirect our original URL...way less of a headache perhaps. Stay tuned & keep voting for us! 

8.14.2013

big-eyed babes.


Still resting up & healing over here.
Officially banned from making plans as I'm a grade-A space cadet these days.
Forgot diapers on our first outing to Grandpop & Honey Mom Moms.
(major epic Mom fail)
Forgot the photographer was coming tonight.
(had to reschedule)
Forgot I'd made plans to meet with some Mamas this morning to trade wares.
(had to send Matt--bless his giant amazing willing heart)
So, I'm learning how be non-commmital for now, and distracting myself in the best way possible...
snuggling these big-eyed babes of ours.

xo

8.10.2013

6 weeks + a letter to Ellis.




Oh, miss Ellis...what the six weeks we have had! 
I'm so very thankful that we got this (terrible horrible yucky) excuse to snuggle for pretty much a month straight--it helped me cope with the pain, frustration and all the bad things that came along with the journey & it brought us so very close.

Last night while your Daddy held you I walked into the room and started talking to him---your eyes got bigger, your started to act really excited & then proceeded to shower me with these genuine, heart-cracking smiles and coos.

Made every ounce of hurt vanish.

You're my morphine, Ellis June + I love you through and through.

xo

8.09.2013

our first big adventure out + Polarn O. Pyret $75 GC (& free shipping code) Giveaway

[Hux in striped tank c/o Polarn O. Pyret]
I've got to admit, it's getting better--all the time. 

I'm starting to feel more like myself again, and not revolving around the routine of medicine logging +nurse visits (although those still happen daily) and laying about-- I've been more inclined to get up and arou the house, hep with c
hores and Huxley and even braving the grocery store.

Last night we decided to can going to our local co-op and adventure downtown Traverse City for some veggie sushi and strolling the kids in their fancy new ride (we ended up getting a Bumbleride Indie Twin + LOVE it). 

Simply dressing up to go out of the house brings me contentment. I love styling my babies. They're my doll babies, Matt says. Since the Michigan weather gods were smiling, Huxley rocked his new striped tank c/o Polarn O. Pyret--it's the perfect summer top and great layering piece & if you order it a little big you can get a couple seasons wear out of it! Bonus. I'm a huge fan of simple designs, and boy do those Swedes pull of simple gorgeously. 

If you haven't checked out what PO.P has to offer you really should, and if you find yourself stocking your online cart with $75 or more worth of clothes (which is scary easy to do) you can use the code HUXPOP for free shipping on your order.


Don't feel like spending $75 on clothing? Then enter to win $75 store credit to Polarn O. Pyret by simply visiting their website + leaving a comment on your favorite piece. 

You can earn extra entries by...

*Contest and Free Shipping Code will run until August 16th, 2013, winner will be drawn via random.org*




xo 

Please shoot me an email, lucky winner..
Blogger Miss Penny Pincher said...
I like the eco basics
August 15, 2013 at 2:25 PM
Delete

8.05.2013

dear haute hippy mama types, it's OK to drink Starbucks + baby wear.


Yesterday I was lucky enough to have my dearest friend and her sweet family over for a visit (and help wrangling Hux before Matt flew back into MI from his Grandmom's funeral out in PA) and we were talking about crunchy hippie Mama things like baby-wearing, co-sleeping, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, placenta encapsulating, organic clothes + gardening---you know, granola nut stuff. We dig it. But, anyways, she had made a statement that it has become trendy to be into said earth muffin things. I guess I never really realized it or gave it much thought since our family's lifestyle has kind of grown into what it is now, which began in college for me & really ramped up after becoming pregnant with Huxley. I turned into a super chemical-sensitive, label-reading, organic/Non-GMO only food + clothing freak. Kind of over-board I'll admit.

 & it irked me to think about healthy living being trendy, because where is the heart in that? We chose to raise our kids in a healthy environment because it is the right thing to do not because it'll gain us a friend in the co-op check out line. But then I'd just be as judgey as the next person. I don't want to be judgey. Drink your grande non-fat no foam latte, Mama. I am not throwing stones.

Having kids has totally humbled my once wannabe dirty hippie self. I want to put out there into the universe that both my babes were augmented hospital births, Ellis was an emergency cesarean, & I have had to give my children formula.

I cringe at all of those things. I've mourned over all of those things. I've beaten myself up and down and sideways over all of those things because that wasn't what I wanted for my babies. I wanted pure, natural, untainted beautiful beginnings for them and they got dealt a whole different road. 

But you know what?

Huxley is gorgeous. He is kind, and funny, and healthy.

Ellis is beautiful. She is a zen, un-needy little being that is gaining weight and growing perfectly with just the tiniest help from formula.

And I am not going to apologize or turn in my Mama card or feel less than...annnd I will proudly breastfeed in public with my designer diaper bag, sipping kombucha and eating kale chips because I actually like the taste of them not because they are the cool thing to be eating but simply because I can, ...and will dammit.


xo

8.03.2013

learning lessons.


Sitting here uploading photos I came across this one and couldn't help but laugh out loud. 
A major parenting fail, leaving Hux alone with chocolate pudding, but man did he have fun--it's like edible finger paint...that stains! What fun!

Maybe next time we'll try it on paper at the table with newspaper laid down everywhere, and with much more adult supervision...

I love that kid, I really really do.

xo

8.02.2013

learning to breathe.

[Ellis will be 4 weeks old tomorrow. Pinch me.]
[Who is this handsome young man, and where is my sweet baby boy?]

This month has dealt us quite the hand.

Birth, sickness, growth, adjustment, the passing of Matt's Grandmom, the birth of a new cousin, our struggles to knit together our family of four--- newness everyday. 

I'm still healing up. Fingers crossed next week I will no longer have an open hole in my lower abdomen. The daily nurse visits are not really my cup of tea, and I really really really miss getting out and doing things on my own. That being said, I am really really really grateful/blessed/overwhelmingly indebted to our family and friends for stepping in and helping us with Huxley and anything we've needed. 

God most definitely had a plan when we moved to MI.

Hux is having a really hard time lately. It breaks our hearts to watch him act out in frustration, jealousy, all those horrible feelings I never wanted him to feel with the arrival of Ellis. Eventually we will all find our stride. Until then, we are relearning how to breathe...

xo

7.26.2013

home.


We left the hospital the moment they gave us the green light. Seriously. I made sure to already have everything packed up and we were out the doors the second I was unhooked from the happy maker machine (dispensed heavy pain meds and IV fluids), which I named Steve.

They say home is where your heart is, and being away from Huxley was like being lost in the wilderness. In a way I feel like I was---and I'm just now really processing what just happened to my body, our family, this whole stupid ordeal. It makes me feel sad, overwhelmed, angry, cheated and all I want is to wake up pain-free + able to care for both my babies the way a Mama should.

The healing will take time, I know, but I just really wanted a different start for our little tribe of four...but we'll work with what we have & hope my body patches itself up real good this time around.

Thanks for all your love + prayers--you mean the world to us.

xo