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December 16, 2020

Christmas 2020

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… a really crazy year.

It’s hard to believe that the holidays are here. The end of 2019 feels like yesterday and at the same time feels too good to have happened. The carefree life we all lived before this pandemic feels so out of reach, I’m struggling to grasp my mind around it. It’s not that this state of the world will ever feel normal, but COVID has impacted so many parts of our lives that going back to the way things were seems unattainable. I mean, imagine booking concert tickets, hugging a friend you randomly run into, or having a dinner party where you share a plate of appetizers with people not in your household. It sounds crazy, doesn’t it?

Maybe that’s why this time of year feels extra special to me.

Despite the complete shitshow this year has been, I’m really looking forward to Christmas. My immediate family hasn’t been under the same roof in almost a year, and I am ecstatic to have them here. Jude is still young, but he’s really enjoying everything that comes with the holidays and it’s Heath’s first Christmas, which is always special. My brother hasn’t seen Jude since he was 11 months old and I can’t wait for them to see each other outside of FaceTime, and he has yet to be able to meet Heath. We won’t be spending much time out of the house due to the fact that we want to be as safe as possible, but to be able to play board games together and keep our Christmas traditions going sounds like a dream after being a part for so long.

I’ve talked about this before but Christmas Eve is much more of a celebration for my family than Christmas. My mom makes stuffed shells while my dad makes a big antipasto dish. We open one gift on Christmas Eve night – a tradition my husband brought into our family, and then on Christmas day my mom makes waffles after we open gifts. Typically we eat something non-traditional that night (tacos has been a popular dish in the past) so this year my husband will be making dumplings.

My husband and I are SO excited for Jude to open his gifts! I try and take a more minimalist approach when it comes to toys (my husband on the other hand is a big kid himself and loves toy shopping) but we picked up some things for Jude we knew he would love. He’s been on a real Toy Story kick, so we picked up a Woody Doll for him – we’re calling this the “big gift” because we know he’s going to absolutely lose it when he sees it. Outside of a few other things, we also got him a Melissa & Doug cleaning set since he loves to help us “clean” the house. Another gift I can’t wait for him to open is his Slumberkins doll from my parents. Not only are they incredibly soft, but I love the meaning behind each one. We purchased Heath more practical items since he’s too young to open gifts, but I’m so excited to create memories as a family of four. And if you didn’t think I was that type of mom to buy us matching pajamas for Christmas morning, you were wrong.

In the past, I always thought that decorating too early for the holidays was rushing time, but I’m a full-blown believer now in getting a Christmas tree as early as possible. It’s so nice to have the magic of the holidays in the house earlier, and especially now that we’re all stuck at home, it’s nice to enjoy it longer. (Side note: I’ve still yet to find a tree topper I like. Hopefully in 2021 I’ll find “the one”) This is also the first year that we’ve lit the menorah. We always had ours out this time of year, but now that we have children, we’re putting more effort into celebrating Hannukah as well since we want the boys to know both holidays. They’re lucky kids!

I understand that a lot of people feel completely burned out from 2020. So many people have experienced unbelievable heartbreak from losing loved ones to COVID and it has put so many things in perspective for me. I am so grateful for the health of my family and for the birth of my son this year, and although Thanksgiving was the first holiday we weren’t able to spend together, I know how lucky I am to see my family for Christmas. This year’s celebration will be that much sweeter.

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FOLLOW ALONG @jillbadlotto
Happy weekend. 🖤 Made it to the Van Gogh exhibi Happy weekend. 🖤 Made it to the Van Gogh exhibit in Miami yesterday. If it’s in your city, I highly recommend! #miami #darlingweekend #imaginevangogh #vangoghexperience
When I brought up driving to Florida with our two When I brought up driving to Florida with our two kids and two dogs to my husband, I was half kidding and half hoping he would say yes, because MY GOD did we need a change of scenery. We knew flying wasn’t an option, and we wanted to drive straight through in order to avoid people. Here are some things to make the journey easier on us:

- Organizing EVERYTHING with Amazon packing cubes. We packed things by category (one cube for small toys, one for snacks, one for pumping parts) so everything was easy to grab.

- We kept a ball in the car so when we stopped at rest stops, Jude could let out some energy and stretch his legs (Also, stopping at rest stops vs gas stations is ideal. There’s rarely any people and usually there’s outdoor space to run)

- We tried sticking to nap schedules by playing white noise via Spotify through the car. This helped the boys sleep!

- Investing in a good cooler was a MUST. Our @yeti cooler kept all the bottles cold, along with snacks like fruit and sandwiches. 

- To keep Jude busy, we raided the @target dollar section for new toys. I also binded flash cards together so they didn’t get lost in the car, and magic marker color books kept him entertained for awhile. 

And when all else failed, we used the trusty iPad for some screen time. All screen time limits go out the window on a road trip. Just make sure you download an app beforehand that locks the screen so you don’t have to fix it 100 times in an hour. 🤪 You can check out my recent blog post on more tips/tricks, and some photos from out time here so far. 🚗🌴#linkinbio #heyjudeharrison
Yesterday we celebrated Heathie boy’s 6 month bi Yesterday we celebrated Heathie boy’s 6 month birthday. ❤️ Can not believe it’s been half a year but also can’t believe there was a time where he wasn’t a part of our family. Heath has such a peaceful presence and calming nature. I love the way he takes the world in, a little skeptical and curious but still always smiling. He is so happy to be out on adventures and admires everything that Jude does. He’s constantly laughing, rarely gets upset, loves when we play music, and is turning into a little water baby. But nothing makes him happier than putting him in his sleep sack and taking a nap (just like his mama 😂). He is truly an angel on earth and we are so lucky he is ours. ❤️ #heyheathjoseph #6monthsold #babyboy #childhoodunplugged
Foolishly thought because I felt fine after my fir Foolishly thought because I felt fine after my first shot that the second #covidvacccine would be fine. Yeah... 😂😂. Had body aches and a bad headache all day yesterday that kept me in bed, with a fever last night and chills. Feeling so much better today, especially sitting outside in this beautiful weather we’re having. So excited to be fully vaccinated and hopefully pass along some antibodies to my children! #ᴠᴀᴄᴄɪɴᴇssᴀᴠᴇʟɪᴠᴇs #florida #darlingescapes
YAY for science! And vaccines! 💉 Received my 2n YAY for science! And vaccines! 💉 Received my 2nd dose of the #covidvaccine and it feels like Christmas in April. I know we still have a bit to go and it’s crucial to follow CDC guidelines, but this shot in the arm felt like that light at the end of the tunnel actually exists. This time last year I was sad that my job was put on hold (and eventually eliminated), we had all of our weddings for our coordination business postponed, and I had no idea when I’d see my family again. And now I can almost taste an overpriced glass of wine in a crowded bar with my friends. So grateful for science, doctors, nurses, essential workers, and all those who continue to carry our society through this pandemic. #WillSelfieForVaccines #covid_19 #ᴠᴀᴄᴄɪɴᴇssᴀᴠᴇʟɪᴠᴇs
Sharing some photos from our time in Florida so fa Sharing some photos from our time in Florida so far and some tips for road tripping with two kids on the blog today! 🚗 🌴 #linkinbio

FOLLOW ALONG! @JILLBADLOTTO

Happy weekend. 🖤 Made it to the Van Gogh exhibi Happy weekend. 🖤 Made it to the Van Gogh exhibit in Miami yesterday. If it’s in your city, I highly recommend! #miami #darlingweekend #imaginevangogh #vangoghexperience
When I brought up driving to Florida with our two When I brought up driving to Florida with our two kids and two dogs to my husband, I was half kidding and half hoping he would say yes, because MY GOD did we need a change of scenery. We knew flying wasn’t an option, and we wanted to drive straight through in order to avoid people. Here are some things to make the journey easier on us:

- Organizing EVERYTHING with Amazon packing cubes. We packed things by category (one cube for small toys, one for snacks, one for pumping parts) so everything was easy to grab.

- We kept a ball in the car so when we stopped at rest stops, Jude could let out some energy and stretch his legs (Also, stopping at rest stops vs gas stations is ideal. There’s rarely any people and usually there’s outdoor space to run)

- We tried sticking to nap schedules by playing white noise via Spotify through the car. This helped the boys sleep!

- Investing in a good cooler was a MUST. Our @yeti cooler kept all the bottles cold, along with snacks like fruit and sandwiches. 

- To keep Jude busy, we raided the @target dollar section for new toys. I also binded flash cards together so they didn’t get lost in the car, and magic marker color books kept him entertained for awhile. 

And when all else failed, we used the trusty iPad for some screen time. All screen time limits go out the window on a road trip. Just make sure you download an app beforehand that locks the screen so you don’t have to fix it 100 times in an hour. 🤪 You can check out my recent blog post on more tips/tricks, and some photos from out time here so far. 🚗🌴#linkinbio #heyjudeharrison
Yesterday we celebrated Heathie boy’s 6 month bi Yesterday we celebrated Heathie boy’s 6 month birthday. ❤️ Can not believe it’s been half a year but also can’t believe there was a time where he wasn’t a part of our family. Heath has such a peaceful presence and calming nature. I love the way he takes the world in, a little skeptical and curious but still always smiling. He is so happy to be out on adventures and admires everything that Jude does. He’s constantly laughing, rarely gets upset, loves when we play music, and is turning into a little water baby. But nothing makes him happier than putting him in his sleep sack and taking a nap (just like his mama 😂). He is truly an angel on earth and we are so lucky he is ours. ❤️ #heyheathjoseph #6monthsold #babyboy #childhoodunplugged
Foolishly thought because I felt fine after my fir Foolishly thought because I felt fine after my first shot that the second #covidvacccine would be fine. Yeah... 😂😂. Had body aches and a bad headache all day yesterday that kept me in bed, with a fever last night and chills. Feeling so much better today, especially sitting outside in this beautiful weather we’re having. So excited to be fully vaccinated and hopefully pass along some antibodies to my children! #ᴠᴀᴄᴄɪɴᴇssᴀᴠᴇʟɪᴠᴇs #florida #darlingescapes
YAY for science! And vaccines! 💉 Received my 2n YAY for science! And vaccines! 💉 Received my 2nd dose of the #covidvaccine and it feels like Christmas in April. I know we still have a bit to go and it’s crucial to follow CDC guidelines, but this shot in the arm felt like that light at the end of the tunnel actually exists. This time last year I was sad that my job was put on hold (and eventually eliminated), we had all of our weddings for our coordination business postponed, and I had no idea when I’d see my family again. And now I can almost taste an overpriced glass of wine in a crowded bar with my friends. So grateful for science, doctors, nurses, essential workers, and all those who continue to carry our society through this pandemic. #WillSelfieForVaccines #covid_19 #ᴠᴀᴄᴄɪɴᴇssᴀᴠᴇʟɪᴠᴇs
Sharing some photos from our time in Florida so fa Sharing some photos from our time in Florida so far and some tips for road tripping with two kids on the blog today! 🚗 🌴 #linkinbio

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