And is teething pretty badly at the moment???
 |
| check out that drool! |
You get this:
and this:
Looks like I'll be making this crib bumper I found on Pinterest today.
 |
| photo courtesy of janemarieblog.com |
A Dose of Happiness
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Uh Oh
What happens when you combine a little boy who pulls up on everything...
And is teething pretty badly at the moment???
You get this:
and this:
Looks like I'll be making this crib bumper I found on Pinterest today.
And is teething pretty badly at the moment???
You get this:
and this:
Looks like I'll be making this crib bumper I found on Pinterest today.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Back to School
No one in this house is going back to school today. It seems as though the rest of the world is, however, according to Facebook. And with the beginning of a new school year, comes the beginning of new emotions.
When my teacher friends went back to work last week, and when I received a few emails from former students and parents last week, I have to admit I felt a bundle of emotions I was not expecting. I felt a pang of sadness knowing I wouldn't be greeting those nervous bundles of energy on the first day of school. I teared up at the thought of my former students peeking in my old classroom looking for a familiar face, but I wouldn't be there. It took me by surprise, because staying at home with my baby has always been my plan. Like since I was a little girl and played house with all my dolls. I always knew I wanted to stay home, and I am beyond grateful and happy that I get to be here every day, but the back to school energy stirred up some sadness that instantly disappeared as soon as I remembered the report card stress, parent-teacher conferences, and testing, testing, testing.
Cam and I went to Target today (shocking, I know) and as we passed the Back to School section I watched as the little kids chose their folders and erasers and the moms checked each item off the list. I looked at my baby and I got a little choked up thinking that in just a couple of years, my little blue-eyed blondie is going to be sporting his own backpack and nervously greeting his own teacher.
I'm giddy and sad all at the same time right now. I can't wait to go school supply shopping again, yet I know the next time I do, I'll also have to send my little bunny away to be taken care of by someone else for a few hours. It's all just going too fast already.
To those of you with little babes starting school this week, and for those of you going back to the classroom to fill those minds and hearts with your words, happy new school year! Wishing you a smooth one full of more highs than lows and more smiles than tears.
When my teacher friends went back to work last week, and when I received a few emails from former students and parents last week, I have to admit I felt a bundle of emotions I was not expecting. I felt a pang of sadness knowing I wouldn't be greeting those nervous bundles of energy on the first day of school. I teared up at the thought of my former students peeking in my old classroom looking for a familiar face, but I wouldn't be there. It took me by surprise, because staying at home with my baby has always been my plan. Like since I was a little girl and played house with all my dolls. I always knew I wanted to stay home, and I am beyond grateful and happy that I get to be here every day, but the back to school energy stirred up some sadness that instantly disappeared as soon as I remembered the report card stress, parent-teacher conferences, and testing, testing, testing.
Cam and I went to Target today (shocking, I know) and as we passed the Back to School section I watched as the little kids chose their folders and erasers and the moms checked each item off the list. I looked at my baby and I got a little choked up thinking that in just a couple of years, my little blue-eyed blondie is going to be sporting his own backpack and nervously greeting his own teacher.
I'm giddy and sad all at the same time right now. I can't wait to go school supply shopping again, yet I know the next time I do, I'll also have to send my little bunny away to be taken care of by someone else for a few hours. It's all just going too fast already.
To those of you with little babes starting school this week, and for those of you going back to the classroom to fill those minds and hearts with your words, happy new school year! Wishing you a smooth one full of more highs than lows and more smiles than tears.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Baby Essentials Basket
Rick's colleague and friend who has been incredibly gracious to us with his legal services, recently had a baby girl. Rick asked me to put together a gift for him and his wife, and I obviously got giddy at the thought of buying ruffles and bows and pink tutus. Until I took a step back and remembered all the fluff we received as gifts when Cam was born and how most of that stuff never got worn or used because he lived in onesies and bibs for the first few months.
So, I decided to put together a basket full of our favorite baby things. I tried to think of things that you don't typically receive as gifts as well as some things that we couldn't have survived without.
Aiden and Anais Burpy Bibs: These things are the ONLY bibs we have that we use. They have a snap closure and can be used as burp cloths or bibs. They're thick and absorbent and the only bibs that kept Cam clean and dry during his pukey months.
Bath Thermometer: No one thinks of this one, but Rick and I have very different opinions about how hot a shower should be. I like it scalding; him not so much. So when it was time to give Cam his first bath, we didn't know whose hands would be best for testing the water... enter the thermometer. Plop it in the bath, no guess work, easy peasy.
MAM Glow in the dark pacifiers: Every baby prefers their own brand of pacifiers. For the first few months when Cam used a paci, he only could keep the MAM brand in his mouth. The reason I am a huge fan of the MAMs is because they also make a glow in the dark version of their pacis! Makes those 2 am searches for the "baby plug" a lot easier.
Zip front Sleep n Plays: One night of using snap pajamas was enough to convince us that until a baby sleeps through the night, he/she should only be wearing zipper jammies. Snapping pajamas with one eye open in the dark didn't work for this sista. We loved the Target brand and Gerber sleep n plays!
The list could go on. Seriously, I packed that basket full of stuff, but I'll spare you.
I also have my own opinions on some things that really aren't worth your time or effort. For those friends of mine who are about to embark on parenthood for the first time, here are my two unsolicited cents :)
Wipe Warmers/Bottle Warmers: Don't do it. My sister advised me of this and it very may well have been the best piece of unsolicited advice I received. Consider this -- what happens when you're out in a store or at a restaurant and it's time to feed or change your baby but he/she refuses to eat the room temperature bottle you have with you because it's not warmed up as he/she is used to? Cam has never had a warmed up bottle, and he's just fine. Tue, a cold wipe on a baby's tush may startle him/her at first, but just like anything else in life, they get used to it.
Crib Bumpers: It's just not worth it. Yes, they're adorable and you may think they'll save your baby's head from bumps and bruises, but the risks associated with suffocation and SIDS is just not worth it. I'm pretty sure no one dies from a bruise or a leg caught in a slat, but SIDS is too scary for me to mess around with. Chicago became the first city to ban the sale of crib bumpers this year, and it's just another reason I'm so proud to call this city my home. (I realize this one is controversial... just my opinion).
Sleep Sheep Noise Machine: This very popular item just isn't worth it in my opinion, and let me tell you why. First, it only runs for 45 minutes then turns off. You see, since we brought Cam home he's been sleeping with a noise machine on. It's become his signal for sleep, so when he stirs in the middle of the night, he goes back to sleep with that soothing sound. How is a sleep sheep that only plays for 45 minutes supposed to do that?? Second, it doesn't get very loud. Cam likes him some LOUD ocean wave sounds. Instead, we bought a noise machine from Target for $20 that has multiple settings, sounds, lights, etc. and stays on all night long. In fact, he's slept through fireworks, city noises, Maizey barking up a storm, and more because of this sweet piece of technology. Sheep's cute, but cute only gets you so far.
Worry: I swear, everything I worried about (Cam never sleeping in his crib, Cam never eating solid food, Cam never getting rid of the pacifier, etc.) was such a waste of time. I'm a worry wart as it is, but seriously it all works out because as these little humans get older and bigger, they are just able to handle more and adjust more easily to new situations. I'm holding all of you responsible for reminding me of this when Baby #2 arrives and I'm freaking out about something that seems so insurmountable at the time.
So there you have it: a great idea for a new baby gift and some advice you never asked for!
So, I decided to put together a basket full of our favorite baby things. I tried to think of things that you don't typically receive as gifts as well as some things that we couldn't have survived without.
Aiden and Anais Burpy Bibs: These things are the ONLY bibs we have that we use. They have a snap closure and can be used as burp cloths or bibs. They're thick and absorbent and the only bibs that kept Cam clean and dry during his pukey months.
Bath Thermometer: No one thinks of this one, but Rick and I have very different opinions about how hot a shower should be. I like it scalding; him not so much. So when it was time to give Cam his first bath, we didn't know whose hands would be best for testing the water... enter the thermometer. Plop it in the bath, no guess work, easy peasy.
MAM Glow in the dark pacifiers: Every baby prefers their own brand of pacifiers. For the first few months when Cam used a paci, he only could keep the MAM brand in his mouth. The reason I am a huge fan of the MAMs is because they also make a glow in the dark version of their pacis! Makes those 2 am searches for the "baby plug" a lot easier.
Zip front Sleep n Plays: One night of using snap pajamas was enough to convince us that until a baby sleeps through the night, he/she should only be wearing zipper jammies. Snapping pajamas with one eye open in the dark didn't work for this sista. We loved the Target brand and Gerber sleep n plays!
The list could go on. Seriously, I packed that basket full of stuff, but I'll spare you.
I also have my own opinions on some things that really aren't worth your time or effort. For those friends of mine who are about to embark on parenthood for the first time, here are my two unsolicited cents :)
Wipe Warmers/Bottle Warmers: Don't do it. My sister advised me of this and it very may well have been the best piece of unsolicited advice I received. Consider this -- what happens when you're out in a store or at a restaurant and it's time to feed or change your baby but he/she refuses to eat the room temperature bottle you have with you because it's not warmed up as he/she is used to? Cam has never had a warmed up bottle, and he's just fine. Tue, a cold wipe on a baby's tush may startle him/her at first, but just like anything else in life, they get used to it.
Crib Bumpers: It's just not worth it. Yes, they're adorable and you may think they'll save your baby's head from bumps and bruises, but the risks associated with suffocation and SIDS is just not worth it. I'm pretty sure no one dies from a bruise or a leg caught in a slat, but SIDS is too scary for me to mess around with. Chicago became the first city to ban the sale of crib bumpers this year, and it's just another reason I'm so proud to call this city my home. (I realize this one is controversial... just my opinion).
Sleep Sheep Noise Machine: This very popular item just isn't worth it in my opinion, and let me tell you why. First, it only runs for 45 minutes then turns off. You see, since we brought Cam home he's been sleeping with a noise machine on. It's become his signal for sleep, so when he stirs in the middle of the night, he goes back to sleep with that soothing sound. How is a sleep sheep that only plays for 45 minutes supposed to do that?? Second, it doesn't get very loud. Cam likes him some LOUD ocean wave sounds. Instead, we bought a noise machine from Target for $20 that has multiple settings, sounds, lights, etc. and stays on all night long. In fact, he's slept through fireworks, city noises, Maizey barking up a storm, and more because of this sweet piece of technology. Sheep's cute, but cute only gets you so far.
Worry: I swear, everything I worried about (Cam never sleeping in his crib, Cam never eating solid food, Cam never getting rid of the pacifier, etc.) was such a waste of time. I'm a worry wart as it is, but seriously it all works out because as these little humans get older and bigger, they are just able to handle more and adjust more easily to new situations. I'm holding all of you responsible for reminding me of this when Baby #2 arrives and I'm freaking out about something that seems so insurmountable at the time.
So there you have it: a great idea for a new baby gift and some advice you never asked for!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
On The Move!
Someone took two "steps" forward yesterday morning and today he's been a crawling machine! This kid is on the loose and it's so fun to watch him get to where he wants to be now. His facial expressions all day today have been ones that say, "Thank goodness! I can finally get where I want to go!!" It's adorable.
I can also see his two top teeth coming through, so it should be an interesting couple of days. I forsee lots of chasing, babyproofing, fussing and Ibuprofen in our future!
I can also see his two top teeth coming through, so it should be an interesting couple of days. I forsee lots of chasing, babyproofing, fussing and Ibuprofen in our future!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Birthday in Vegas
When I was pregnant I read a lot of books about what to do when the baby comes. Looking back on it now, I probably read too much, but what stuck out to me the most was that in each book, blog and website a common theme continued to pop up: A happy marriage makes for a happy baby. At the time, it seemed unessential and inapplicable to my situation. Rick and I were happy, connected and had a really good balance going on between our relationship, work and friends.
But when Cam arrived, everything changed as everyone says it will. We barely had time to converse during the week, Rick was exhausted from working at the office and helping at home. I was exhausted physically and emotionally. The "Put Your Marriage First" chapters of all those books were starting to make sense. A few months in and once things settled down, we decided to make a conscience effort to put each other back at the top of the priority list, and I have to say it's made a huge impact.
We get a babysitter often so we can go out, we spend time at home together, we've created a schedule for Cam that allows us to have adult time in the evenings, and we make an effort to have conversations that don't revolve around diapers and bottles. One of the promises we made to each other when we decided to start our family was that we wouldn't give up the things we enjoyed doing, we would just adjust our new "normal" to accommodate our hobbies. Traveling has always been one of our favorite things to do. We prefer the long weekend vacations visiting friends, relaxing on beaches and skiing in the mountains. Instead of saving up for one major trip each year, we have been known to jet out of town for the weekend several times a year. So, when thinking about how we were going to spend Rick's birthday, it became clear to us that we hadn't been on a vacation alone just the two of us in over a year and it was time to bite the bullet.
Thankfully, we have an incredible assortment of caregivers who we feel more than comfortable leaving our little bunny with, and so Mimi and Poppy swooped in and held down the fort while Rick and I hopped on a plane and headed to one of Rick's favorite places -- Las Vegas.
Oh, what a vacation it was! We had the best three days filled with sleep, drink and food. We lounged at the pool, played a lot of Blackjack (and won big!), and spent time alone talking about politics, our plans for the future, and nothing at all.
Sadly, for me, not this one.
Instead, we saw Absinthe. If you enjoy incredible acrobatics, vulgar humor and aren't offended by a large amount of swear words, you must see this show. We laughed so hard we were crying, and my jaw hurt by the end because it was practically on the floor throughout the entire display of strength and flexibility.
 |
| This acrobat piled wooden chairs on top of each other and climbed upon them until he reached the ceiling! |
 |
| We drank champagne and toasted to the birthday boy! |
Putting your husband first, over your children, really seemed like a strange and backward philosophy to me. Your children are supposed to be what you live and breathe for, so inevitably they should be number one, right? After this weekend, and reflecting on the past nine months, it makes a lot more sense and it is so clear to me that a strong, happy relationship is essential to raising happy children. We are both more energetic, engaged and present than we've been in a while, and I know Cam can feel it.
If you think about it, without your spouse, your children wouldn't exist. How could you not put that person on a pedestal for gifting you that?
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Nine Month Stats
Pardon me for the delay in posting Cam's nine month stats... we've been busy playing with Mimi this week!
Cam and I went to see Dr. T on Monday for his nine month check up. She was so excited to see him so giggly and flirty. She gave him an A+ and said she was so glad to hear he was doing so great off all of his medications.
Cam officially weighs 22 lbs 10 oz (93%ile) and is 27 3/4 in long (25%ile). Of course, I immediately asked if I should be concerned that he's so chunky yet so short, and she said no. She assured me he was eating a proper amount and that as soon as he starts crawling and walking, he'll start to lean out. We shall see!
This little nugget is SOOO close to crawling. Today, he moved his back leg and front arm at the same time and then tummied-out. I have a feeling he's going to make a move this weekend while Mimi and Poppy are babysitting!
Cam and I went to see Dr. T on Monday for his nine month check up. She was so excited to see him so giggly and flirty. She gave him an A+ and said she was so glad to hear he was doing so great off all of his medications.
Cam officially weighs 22 lbs 10 oz (93%ile) and is 27 3/4 in long (25%ile). Of course, I immediately asked if I should be concerned that he's so chunky yet so short, and she said no. She assured me he was eating a proper amount and that as soon as he starts crawling and walking, he'll start to lean out. We shall see!
This little nugget is SOOO close to crawling. Today, he moved his back leg and front arm at the same time and then tummied-out. I have a feeling he's going to make a move this weekend while Mimi and Poppy are babysitting!
At Dr. T's office...
Mr. Chunker got a tattoo onesie from Mimi. Come on!
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