SIX

my navy sweater | jeggings | similar booties | vest | button-up
Bear’s outfit (3 piece set on sale for $22!)

This little boy hasn’t been on the blog (without his brother) in awhile and I wanted to show his sweet almost SIX year old face! Bear’s birthday is two days away, on Sunday, and to say he’s excited would be an understatement. He has been talking it up for weeks, months actually, and is so excited for a fun-filled weekend! We kicked it off by taking him lunch at school this afternoon, which made my mama heart completely melt. He ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug while wearing a giant paper crown his teacher gave him. Pretty sure he’ll be wearing it all day and I can’t stop laughing about it- oh to be six again. Tomorrow is his birthday party at Main Event with friends before we head to visit family and have a “cousin birthday party”. Safe to say Bear is going to have lots of celebration!

I look back on this year and I can’t believe how quickly it’s flown. Boone was born on February 24th and with that brought a lot of changes into Bear’s life. While he was thrilled about getting a baby brother, there were times I could sense him trying to get our attention or acting out a little between the newness of a sibling, moving into a new home, and starting kindergarten. But the past 3 months or so, he has completely adjusted to life as we know it now and I couldn’t be more proud. He’s the best, sweetest big brother and Boone adores him. He’s doing so well in kindergarten, ahead of the curve and right on the brink of reading. He loves playing outside and riding his scooter around the neighborhood with the other kids around us, and is always happiest in a group. He loves when we have company and we call him our “Social Bear”.

I’m well aware of how biased I am as a mother, but I’m also well aware of the fact that it’s my job to be my sons’ #1 supporter. I always want both Bear and Boone to know how loved and special they are. I remind Bear all the time that while I love Boone and him the same, he will always be the one who made me a Mommy. Six years ago, God gave Zach and I the best gift we’ve ever been given.
Happy Birthday to our Bear Clayton!
xo, Britt

boone: eight months

How am I already writing this post? And almost a month late because our sweet Boone Thomas turns 9 months old in 10 days. I took these pictures last week at the height of Boone’s bad cold, and you can see it on his little face that he wasn’t feeling well. But he was a trooper and is pretty much back to 100% now, thanks to lots of snuggles and antibiotics. It’s currently 31 degrees in Houston so we are trying to stay as warm and cozy as possible- bring on all the Hallmark movies, pumpkin scented candles, and jammies! My favorite time of year is here.

Boone’s hair looks VERY red in these photos, which is a mix of the editing filter I use and the lighting. His hair is actually very blonde and Bear’s always had this same reddish tint in photos, too. It will be interesting to see if Boone’s hair goes dark like Bear’s or stays light- Zach was also blonde as a baby so I think they’ll both take after him. Zach & Bear’s hair is basically the exact same color now so I think Boonester will be with them at about age 3 (when Bear’s went darker). We aren’t concerned with hair color, but are just so thankful to have two healthy and happy little boys. And happy Boone is! He’s constantly smiling and laughing (mostly at Bear), even when he’s sick. I feel so incredibly lucky to be his Mommy and it makes my day every single day seeing the way Bear and Boone interact together. I knew it would be sweet but I had no idea just how much I’d melt over it.


Things to remember:
-Boone weighed in at 21 pounds at his doctor’s appointment last week, making him right at the 80th percentile for weight (they didn’t measure height).
-Laughing at Bear is Boone’s favorite pastime; he thinks his brother is the funniest person on the planet. Bear can do anything from burp to tie his shoe and Boone is uncontrollably laughing. Cutest thing ever.
-Boone had his worst sickness yet the past week and a half, with an awful cold that kept us both up a lot at night. Thankfully he’s pretty much completely well and stayed a happy baby through it all. I don’t like seeing my boys sick; I think that’s one of the hardest parts about being a parent. Thankful for modern day medicine and Zach, who is the baby whisperer.
-Biggest news of all: our little man now has TWO teeth! He popped his first tooth through on his 8 month “birthday” and the second tooth came through the very next day. Teething was rough for a couple of days, but then he was back to normal. That’s been almost 3 weeks and no other teeth yet.
-Boone is still nursing every 3ish hours and eating solids a couple times a day. He is kind of over baby food, and I can’t say I blame him, but he will still take it. Table foods like avocado, rice, and mac n cheese are what he prefers. He’s ready for Thanksgiving feasts!
-Another big milestone: Boone figured out his knees a few weeks ago, also right around his 8 month birthday, and is officially crawling all over the place. He’s been crawling for about 2 months but would do more of an army crawl/scoot, until several weeks ago when he got up on his knees. He’s keeping us very busy these days.
-He’s in size 12-18 month clothes but lives in jammies most days, because YOLO.
-He still loves his walker and motors all over the house in it. We put a big fence around the Christmas tree so he wouldn’t bulldoze into it and so far, so good.
-Boonester still isn’t sleeping through the night (or even close); he’s up usually 3 times to nurse and goes right back to sleep. I know I need to sleep train but….I secretly don’t mind all the snuggles.


We are so excited to spend the holiday season with family and enjoy Boone’s first Thanksgiving and Christmas; it’s going to be such a special time and I want to soak up every minute of it. Bear is SO excited for both his birthday this weekend and Christmas, and I can’t help but feel all of his excitement and more. Being a mama to these two boys is the best gift I’ve ever been given.
xo, Britt

my secret to hydrated skin

Being a busy mama of two now, I feel like I never really sit still. I’m either in the car driving to swim lessons, running around after a (very quick) crawling Boone, or folding seemingly never-ending piles of laundry. And don’t get me wrong, I love how busy this stage of life has become. My skin? Not so much. When I was pregnant with Boone, my skin was drier than it’s ever been before. The skin on my face was actually flaking for months- I felt like my face was one big onion peeling back layers little by little. It was frustrating, and nothing seemed to help the dryness, which lasted for months until I recently discovered a game-changing secret: Olay Mists.

I have always used and loved Olay skin care. My mom taught me from a young age that beauty products didn’t have to be super expensive to work well. My mom has always loved Olay products and it’s easy to see why- they are amazing quality at a price you don’t have to feel guilty about spending. Sharing more about my new favorite Olay product below…

When I discovered Olay Mists were just $9.99 at Target, I couldn’t believe it. You guys, these Mists will change your skin in the best possible way. I never leave home without the Olay Energizing Mist- it gives me a skin hydration boost on the go that helps keep my make-up in place and brightens my dull skin. Now that winter is basically here in Houston, my skin needs all the help it can get in the hydration department. Does your skin get dry in the winter, too? If so you have to try these! Our skin benefits so much from one bottle jam-packed with Vitamin C, Bergamot and Vitamin B3.

I use the Calming Mist at home both right after I apply my make-up as a setting spray (it really works!) and at night after taking off my make-up, right before bed. The botanical ingredients not only make this Mist smell amazing but seem to tell my skin to “chill out” when it is feeling super dry. I love products with Aloe since I know this is a natural ingredient that won’t harm my skin, and the Olay Calming Mist has Aloe Leaf, Chamomile and Vitamin B3 as its main hydration-boosting ingredients. And if I’m being completely honest, sometimes I spray the mists on my face just for fun, because I love the way it feels. You know that feeling when you’ve just done an hour-long sweaty work-out and take that first big drink of ice-cold water? How good it feels going down? That’s the same feeling my skin gets when I nourish it with an Olay Mist. And I don’t even have to run 3 miles to get it….although I do probably chase Boonester around the house that much in an hour.

I tend to ramble, as y’all know, but my point is this: Whether you’re a busy mom on the go or plan to sit on the couch and watch Hallmark Christmas movies for the next 2 months, Olay Mists can and will help your skin. And they’re affordable. I plan on using both the Calming and Energizing Mists as stocking stuffers this year because no matter what age, lifestyle, or skin-type a person has, these Mists reap the same benefits. And who doesn’t want softer, brighter more hydrated and healthy skin? I’m proof that they work and trust me, this mama needed a lot of help. Now if I could just find a way to energize the rest of me as much as my skin, I’d be set.
Have you tried the new Olay Mists from Target? If so I’d love to hear your experience!
xo, Britt

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine.