Playing in Colored Organics clothing this winter season!

Three cheers for stretchy clothes that keep us warm, right kiddos? ;) So far, this month has been all about fully enjoying the invention of the elastic waistband. And January, you’ve been so good to us with your weather! Up until the last week or so we’ve had a pretty mild Michigan winter, which I so appreciate because we are traveling a lot between Grand Rapids, Petoskey, and Detroit, and the light snowfall has been a good transition for our little family.

But, like I knew it would, the snowy season has officially arrived :) Someone asked me recently how the transition has been, and honestly it’s been pretty easy. The colder weather isn’t anything to complain about, our home is warm and we have plenty of toys and activities and family members nearby to keep us all busy inside. And update: the kids are back to their regular napping schedule, and I’m all THANK YOU SWEET CHILDREN, because I have been joining them myself for an afternoon of rest.

Can we switch over to some girlfriend to girlfriend talk? :) And I’m probably going to sound like a roller coaster right now, but sometimes I really don’t mind napping during my afternoon free time, and other times I really miss being able to do a few things for myself, like reading or knitting (I only seem to do this in the winter) or watching a show (Downtown Abbey season 6, anyone?) or coloring or learning something new. (I expanded on this topic last week, in case you missed it.)

I know this particular season is here for a reason, and I know being home with my babies is a short, purposeful season in the grand picture, but reality speaking — mama to mama, it’s not always an easy season to be in. Maybe I need to get back at my 20-minute projects? Things I know I can work on when the time allows, but doesn’t leave me feeling flustered when I need to stop. What do you think?

Over the last year I’ve been able to refine my ability to recognize the different seasons of mamahood, which is amazing. Certain seasons gives me a little more time to spend on myself, but as the kiddos become even more curious about life and learning, my time available to spend on myself decreases. (It’s a continuous up and down.) We are definitely working our way into a very busy time as April nears and we prepare for the birth of our third little one.

And since we’re talking girlfriend to girlfriend here, I will say it hasn’t always been easy for me to accept the limited free time. Those times fill me up in immeasurable ways. But like the snowy season won’t be upon us forever, this busy mamahood season won’t always be here, either. Whew :) thanks for letting me share a little!

Playing alongside the kids, coloring together or organizing our home together — swapping out “old” toys for “new” toys” to keep them engaged, are two easy ways for me to be creative while staying current with our day-to-day needs. (I know you have a couple of suggestions, and I’d love to hear from you.)

Let’s get back to that elastic waistband thing, OK? Usually in the evenings, right after dinner and before bath time, I switch one pair of stretchy pants for another. Read: skinny jeans for leggings. I throw on a maternity sweatshirt or a cardigan, and now my cozy self is ready for the evening ahead.

The kids have been wearing little sweatsuits while they play from Colored Organics, an organic cotton toddler clothing line based out of Minnesota (another cold-weather state we hold dear to our hearts). Colored Organics offers fair trade and sweatshop free clothing for babies and toddlers, not to mention clothing that’s comfortable, practical, and fun to mix & match. I love so much they can easily play or nap in their CO outfits (there’s no need to change before naptime begins).

Natalie is wearing the portland raglan pullover with matching tapered pants, and Maxwell is wearing the fleece raglan hoodie with coordinating hudson athletic pants.

How about a giveaway so your little one can wear a Colored Organics outfit this winter season? Two Maggie Whitley Design readers will win a $50 gift card to Colored Organics. So awesome! Here’s how you can enter:

Thank you for supporting the shops that help support me and my family.