Midweek Randoms

After a couple weeks of various sickness, Reid is back to his old self. And now? Now I have a cold. Sigh. Better me than him I s'pose. 

Last Thursday was Wii Night and it was also our wii little family's birthday celebration for Val. =) See what I did there? Yes, I'm really this cool in real life. Anywho, we had chicken and waffles and cinnamon rolls. I was eating so well before that. 

The weekend was spent doing odds and ends around the house. It looked a little like this since Reid was still not 100%. Then, Saturday afternoon, I did a little for-fun photo shoot. 

 Sunday, we went to church and I had a coke date with Kayla. Much needed.

 Monday, I had a board meeting and that day was when I really started feeling no bueno.

Tuesday. Oh Tuesday. What was meant to be a night of loving on my boy and resting turned out to be a bit of a mess.

First, I made turkey and quinoa-stuffed acorn squash. That's probably my favorite part of getting a bountiful basket - trying new things.

We had barely finished supper when there was a knock at the door... to make a really long story short, we had an in-home demonstration of a rainbow air purifier and vacuum. Oh lawd. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Wednesday, I treated myself to this. I've been SO strong so far this candy-filled holiday season. It couldn't be helped. I had to. It was worth it. I'll do better next time. =)

Other randoms:

Have you guys heard of oil pulling? Apparently it's a way of teeth/mouth cleaning? You swish oil (like coconut oil for example) around in your mouth for 20-minutes. It claims to give you better dental health (and health in general) as well as make your teeth whiter. Crazy. I'd never heard of it before yesterday. Clearly I'm not as worldly and in-the-know as I think. =)

I'm digging that song "Say Something" by A Great Big World featuring Christina Aguilera. It's not new and it's played all the time, but this post is about randoms so I'm just randomly telling you I like it. =)

I hate that having a cold makes it hard to breathe, sing, swallow food...

If I had to name 5 artists/bands currently at the top of my list of must see live (that I haven't already seen), they'd be: Matchbox Twenty, Garth Brooks, Mumford & Sons, Counting Crows, and number five... well, it's left open because I have lots I'd like to include. =)

I'm really loving my EOS sweet mint lip balm I got for Christmas.

I've gone make-up free to work TWICE this week. I figure it's pointless with all the nose blowing.

Have you watched the Budweiser super bowl Puppy Love commercial? No? Watch it. Now. Oy, it's heart melting. =) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQB7QRyF4p4

The Following started back up last week. Love that show. Goodness it's creepy though.

Reid had his first time out last week. Welcome to Toddler Town. Hope you enjoy your stay. =) We've tried to keep it very consistent but not just put him in time out for any little thing. It's mostly been when he pulls blinds and bangs them against the window after we've told him not to several times. Or - he's been put in timeout a couple times because he's stood on the bottom of the baby gate and shaken it. Again... after being warned. We pick him up and sit him down on the floor away from his toys for one minute. He doesn't get attention during that time and doesn't get to play. I knew it might be a stretch starting at this age but I do believe it's a good option for him. Who knows, we've only just begun.

That's all for now.

About Me: What's the Hardest Part of Growing Up

In case you missed it, I recently started a little "About Me" series. I'm working through a list of things I want my kids to know about me. I thought it was sort of a cool getting-to-know-you project and would also be nice for this scrapbook that Reid will eventually look through.

Here's what I've done so far:

1. List 20 random facts about yourself

2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears

3. Describe your relationship with your spouse

4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could

5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

6. If you could have three wishes, what would you wish for?
7. What is your dream job and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have right now?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and explain how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Name 10 of your pet peeves.
12. Describe what your typical day looks like right now.
13. What's the hardest part of growing up?


There's plenty of hard things about growing up. I think the hardest part is the transition from being who everyone thinks you are and expects you to be - to being who you really are... who you're meant to be. I think everyone probably goes through this to some degree at some point. I also think it can be tough to figure out who that person is exactly. There's also a lot of pressure to have your life plan in place by like 16 and whoa... I'm pretty sure I still don't know. =) Also, I think as you grow, you lose innocence and the gift of being naive. The world can be a crazy, scary place and the older you get, the more aware of it you become.

More sicky, sleepy boy

Like I mentioned, I stayed home with Reid again yesterday. He showed some signs of improvement, ie: actually got down off my lap and played a little.

 Otherwise, it was back to more of this.

 And this...

 and this... (pitiful drama)

 I had lots of time to study him yesterday. He normally doesn't sit still long enough for me to really get a good look at him. Those lashes.

 My body may have been half asleep and the other half, sore. But there is nowhere else I would have rather been.

Since then, he continues to improve... just kind of slowly. It's so good to see some of his smiles peek through some again. 

Midweek Randoms

For the past week, Reid has looked a lot like this: poor guy hasn't felt good. First it was a stomach bug.

Saturday, we went to my parents' house for lunch and to hang out!

That evening, they kept Reid for a while so we could celebrate Daniel's birthday at Let's Paint Wichita.

I'd never painted like that before and it was actually a lot of fun!

Good times with good friends and... Cake! :)

Before

In progress

Finished product!

Dac and I

Anyway, that was a great time away. Sunday, Reid was continuing to have belly problems and was crankier than usual. I took our friends' family photos that day and hung out with Val for a bit. Monday, we went to work and daycare as usual. Reid continued to act less than stellar and sure enough, that night he came down with a fever. It was a loooooong, rough night. I stayed home Tuesday and took him to the doctor.

Upper respiratory virus and ear infection. Poor kid is sick and struggling.

We spent most our afternoon in the chair me even slept in it last night.

No surprise, we're here again today! Hope he feels better stat!

Being Mama: Baby Gear

1. Britax B-Safe Infant Car Seat, 2. Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat, 3. Fisher Price Jumperoo, 4. Motorola Video Monitor, 5. Skip Hop Duo Diaper Bag, 6. Fisher Price Space-Saver Highchair, 7. Bumbleride Indie Stroller, 8. Ergo Performance Carrier, 9. Aprica Haven Play Yard.

1. After lots of research, review-reading, and personal recommendations, we chose the Britax B-Safe infant carseat. We were pleased. I think it's probably pretty rare to go wrong with a Britax. It wasn't their top-of-the-line infant seat but it was well-made, got good reviews and safety ratings, and was a doable size for our vehicle. We used this guy for about a year and I feel like we already got our money's worth out of it. Plus, I washed it up (looks good as new) for any potential baby #2 down the road since it still has plenty of years left before it expires. We had thrown the idea around of just getting a convertible seat to begin with but found that infant seats tend to get better safety ratings for the little ones AND with a winter baby, I thought it would be nice to have the carrier. I'm glad we went that route. It was nice to have it for shopping, eating out at restaurants, etc... and we had a nice cover for when we were out in the elements.

2. I knew we'd eventually need a convertible seat so we chose Britax again. I found a good deal on diapers.com and got this Marathon for 30% off + free shipping. They have their Britax seats on sale like that a few times a year. Anyway, Reid started using that when he was basically a year old. He seems very comfortable and secure in it. The straps rarely get twisted and I think it's just a nice, well-made seat I expect to get years of use out of. Again, this isn't their biggest-baddest convertible seat but it certainly does the job. We also plan to get the Britax Roundabout as a secondary seat for Dac's car.

3. I did not want a jumper. Like the swing, I thought it was just one more thing to clutter my family room. However, Reid was using one at Cori's during the day and loved it. I realized it would help give me somewhere to sit him when I needed to do something and it would be something he would actually enjoy. SO - Cori let us borrow one of hers. We just recently took it down to give back to her. We got a lot of use out of it. I definitely think this is a product worth borrowing or maybe buying a nice used one but no matter what, it was great to have around!

4. Like so many of Reid's things, we got this monitor as a gift. I feel like a video monitor is such a luxury and I felt silly registering for one but I also knew that I'm such a worrier and that a video monitor might put my mind at ease. It has. It has allowed me to see if a cry in the middle of the night is a serious "come help me" cry or a "don't worry about me mom, i'm just fussin' myself back to sleep" cry. That, my friends, is priceless in and of itself. It also gives the room temperature too which has been helpful. Bonus: Sometimes I just like to look at it and watch my adorable baby sleep. He's so dang cute with that little booty in the air. =)

5. After much debate (I seriously had the hardest time picking a dang diaper bag), I chose the Skip Hop Duo. I like that it's sturdy and has lots of pockets. I also like that ours (plain black) is very gender neutral and it's one that Dac has no problem carrying. I DO wish I had picked a bag more like the one I pictured (a textured grey... so me... they didn't have this one at the time though) or something with a print. The plain black is just that... plain. My only other complaint is that while the bag is super deep, it's not super wide. This makes it a sleeker bag but also makes it harder to get things in and out of the main compartment. Overall, though, I love the bag and it's one I still use and probably will for a while. Oh - and it has special stroller straps so it nicely snaps on and hangs from the back of our stroller.

6. For a highchair, I knew I wanted something that wouldn't take up a ton of space and that wouldn't require us to have multiple chairs. The Fisher Price Space-Saver fit the bill. It straps on to our regular chairs so it... wait for it... saves space. =) It's easy enough to throw in the car if we're going on a trip and it's super easy to clean which is a total must in my opinion.

7. This pretty little booger is the Bumbleride Indie annnnnd I love it. I had narrowed my stroller search down to the Britax B-Ready and the City Mini GT stroller. Both of those get great reviews and seemed to fit my specifications... especially the City Mini GT since it had the more beefed up tires (great for our brick streets and crappy sidewalks). Then, my mom came across the Indie on Zulily one day. This is normally a stroller with a super high price tag and I would have never bought it on my own but it was at a great price on Zulily and my parents and aunt and uncle went in on it together as a gift for us. We've love it. It has a super smooth ride, folds and un-folds easily, has a very-adjustable seat, and it turns on a dime. Oh - and it's pretty. =) It really does ride well on un-even terrain and I have no doubt it will last a long time. My only possible complaint (other than price) is that it is a little on the large side. Since it turns so easily this is rarely an issue but I'm sure there might be times in the future when a small umbrella stroller would come in handy. Still, I love it. Period.

8. We bought the Ergo when Reid was around 6-months old. I used it off and on around the house to vacuum, etc... and while at the store a couple times. Honestly, we haven't just used this a ton. BUT - I do love it and it's easy on the back. I think it would be invaluable with more than one kiddo in the house. I also think we'd use it a lot if we traveled more. Side note: They now offer a super cute anchor design. I dig it. Another side note: I just read where Ergo will be releasing a wrap next month. I bet it will be fabulous and great for those first few months.

9. I pretty well knew I wanted a pack-n-play because I was just sure our little babe would sleep in it before moving to his crib. Well, we already know that didn't go well and we used the Fisher Price Rock'n Play for several weeks. Still, this bad boy has been used a ton. It has done some traveling and currently resides in our office/guest room so that he can play and be contained if one of us is needing to work in there. I particularly love this one because it sets up in one quick motion and is super sturdy. I also like that it doesn't scream "BABY!". I mean, as much as a pack-n-play can't scream baby. ha! =) It has a real nice, supportive mat and Reid has always seemed comfortable sleeping in it. Again, this is a product I see lasting through another child.

I mentioned the jumperoo was borrowed but we also borrowed a Bumbo seat. That's an item we used some and, for a few short weeks, was nice, but we really didn't use it much at all in the grand scheme of things. We did, to my surprise, use an activity mat for quite a while. Every kid's different though and every family has different needs on a daily basis. Another item we used for a while was this Fisher Price Rocker-Bouncer.

We used it quite a bit in those early weeks. The vibrations made it a nice soothing nap spot. It can also serve as a toddler rocker chair. I like that it's a nice transitional piece but I wouldn't say it was a necessity for Reid. I can see him using it more again as he gets older though. It's in the corner of his room right now and I think it would be a great little reading spot.

I already mentioned the Fisher Price Rock'n Play and 4Moms Mamaroo in my Newborn Essentials post... both of which I think are pure excellence in the gear department. My philosophy on baby gear was to keep it to a minimum but to buy quality items to stand the test of time. I fully anticipate all our bigger items (that we actually purchased or were gifted as opposed to borrowing) to do just that!

Daycare Christmas

Oops! Here's one last Christmas 2013 post. It's from Reid's little daycare Christmas party.

There were snacks, goodie bags, and Connie got the kiddos presents. Reid got a book with a sweet note in it, shirt, and jeans. =)

He has such a good group of kids at daycare and of course, I can't say enough good things about Connie.

The big kids are sweet to Reid and several insist on giving him a hug before he leaves. He and the other littles seem to have a great time playing together or at least alongside each other. =)

A happy baby at daycare makes for a happier mama at work.

Midweek Randoms

Thursday was Wii night so we had supper and watched SOA while the kids played. They are really starting to play together more now that Reid is a little older. They had a good time.

 They even shared snacks. =)

Saturday, after doing some house work, Reid and I went on a little shopping trip to Derby. Sunday, we went to church and I hung out with Sky for a while. Then, we were supposed to go visit my Grandma for a bit but Reid threw up his supper. He was totally happy and normal-acting after that though, and we knew he'd been getting two new teeth so we thought maybe that was the cause. Overnight, he thew up again. 

I had meetings Monday so Dac stayed home with the little man. 

This is totally out of order. It was taken Friday. When he was still very much himself. =)

This was yesterday...

Annnd today...

I stayed home with him today. He's been extra tired and lethargic. This makes me sad because it's SO not like him but it's also nice to have the extra cuddles. I called the doctor and was told just to let him rest and keep him hydrated. Check and check.

I started back on myfitnesspal.com last week. I'm off to a good start. My focus' are eating less crap and eating more good things. I'm trying to eat lots of things that will fill me up and not just low calorie foods.

Today's lunch. Turkey & cheese roll-up with grapes. And my good looking fuzzy buddy in the back. =) 

Yesterday: cuties, hummus, and nut-thins. Boring? Yes. But it gets the job done.

Breakfast: 1/2 a banana and a scrambled egg.

I've also ate Kind bars and Luna bars for breakfasts/snacks as well as apples and almonds among other things. For supper we've had turkey chili, pork tacos, meatloaf muffins made with quinoa. I've also had candy, pop, and a real lack of veggies and exercise. Hey, baby steps. =)

In other news, operation get photos out in the house is moving right along. =)

In other, other news. I'm super behind on work projects. I've started watching Rush on Hulu. It's an Australian cop show. I kinda like it. Another show I like... Chicago PD. It's a spin-off of Chicago Fire, which I also love.

Being Mama: Newborn Essentials

1. Fisher Price Rock'n Play Sleeper, 2. Emerald Breakfast on the go!, 3. Solly Baby Wrap, 4. Carter's Zip-Up Sleep and Play, 5. Baby Gap Onesies, 6. Baby Gap Leggings, 7. Medela Freestyle Pump, 8. Summer Infant SwaddleMe, 9. Aden+Anais Swaddle Blankets, 10. 4Moms Mamaroo

I always enjoyed looking at other people's "essential" lists when I was pregnant with Reid so I thought someone else might enjoy it too! I plan to share more of my favorites in the future.

I was (and still am) of the mindset that babies need very little. I kept our baby items to a real minimum knowing that 1) I didn't want a lot of stuff crowding our house and 2) every baby is different. One baby might adore a swing, while another loves a bouncer seat. You just never know. With that in mind, these are some examples of the things we either used and loved or things I'll make sure to have in the event of a baby #2. (Slow the heart rate there grandparents, it'll be a while.) Really, these are mostly luxuries... but still. =)

1. You may remember the story of how I insisted Reid sleep a certain way and he refused... in came the Fisher Price Rock'n Play. Dac's cousin brought us hers after two completely sleepless nights. It quite bluntly saved my sanity. Reid loved being at an incline. He napped and slept in it at night for the first six weeks. I could rock that thing in my sleep. It was perfect to have out in the family room during the day and came right up to bed height making it a great bassinet. It folds up super easy too and is lightweight so it can be quickly moved from room to room. The one we used was first generation but I see that they now come with vibrations. That might be nice but even in basic form this thing was worth its weight in gold and more!

2. I totally underestimated how much I would need to eat to feel even remotely normal. I lived off gallons of water and trail mix pouches for the first month.

3. I did not have a wrap when Reid was born. When he was a month old I was gifted the Baby K'Tan wrap off our registry. Once I tried it, I wished I'd had it from day one. I did a lot of research and the Baby K'Tan got excellent ratings for ease of use. I think I would have loved it minus the fact I think I got the wrong size. So - with that in mind, I'd probably get something stretchy and one-size next time. Your body changes so much during those first few weeks anyway. I've read a lot of good things about the Solly Wrap. It looks similar to the popular Moby wrap. I haven't done my research to really know the difference. Regardless, being able to go about life with both hands again was wonderful.

4. I was told to stock up on sleepers and yet still seemed to acquire more onesies than anything. We definitely used both but those sleepers (I found the zip ones to be more convenient), especially those first weeks were so nice. They made for a comfy, warm baby and allowed for quicker diaper changes. Also, it's a complete outfit all-in-one but at the very least, I'd pack a couple of these in the diaper bag for the inevitable blowout. On another note, everyone says to not worry about buying much in newborn size and since we expected a pretty good size baby (toward the end at least), we didn't. Reid was fairly big but still needed newborn size at first. Couple that with the weight loss at first and the need to do laundry almost constantly... I wished we had more. My go-to brands were Children's Place, Carter's, and even a few of the softer ones at good ol' Wal-Mart for $5! Anyway, sleepers - a new parent's friend - get some. =)

5 & 6. These were some of my first "oh my goodness, we're having a baby, I want to shop!" purchases. =) I ordered a 3-pack of long sleeve onesies and a pair of these super soft leggings during a good sale when I first found out I was pregnant. They were so tiny and so soft. The onesies have nice big head holes which made it easier to dress our big-headed little guy and the leggings are form fitting without being tight. Most pants I bought him were super baggy and barely stayed on. These fit his little skinny legs perfectly and even have a drawstring. Side note: These are the only things I've bought him from Gap! I have a hard time bringing myself to pay the prices. They really are such good quality though and still look brand spankin' new. Oh, and while we're on the topic of clothing - little newborn gowns came in quite handy too. They made diaper changes super fast!

7. For breastfeeding, a good quality pump is such a help. For pumping exclusively like I did, it's a definite must. I don't think you can really go wrong with a Medela pump. My friend Cori graciously offered to let me borrow her Pump-In-Style. It was a great pump and really saved us some dough! Plus it lasted through several rounds of exclusive pumping (between Cori and me, plus a couple other people who borrowed it for a bit too...) so you know it holds up. If there's a next time, I may consider splurging on the Freestyle in case I end up having to pump so much again. Side note: She also let me borrow her manual pump which I loved - especially as I got into more of a routine. It was great to take in the car or on quick errands. Other side note: It's great to have a couple extra sets of parts and bottles so you're not constantly standing over the sink washing things. Learned that lesson the hard way!

8. I was convinced I'd be an awesome swaddle-master and planned to use Aden+Anais blankets to do just that. Confession: I was tired and found these wraps to be far more convenient and secure. We used both the SwaddleMe and the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle (not pictured) and loved them both. I'd say we used the SwaddleMe more when he was itty bitty and the Sleepsack Swaddle more as he grew. He loved being all cozy and secure in a swaddle. He loved to be held tight too. He must have been used to cramp living quarters. ;)

9. Even though my swaddle skills were sub-par, I used the heck out my Aden+Anais muslin blankets and still do! I used them as a nursing cover, carseat cover, changing pad, and lots more. Now, Reid uses them as his crib blanket. They are huge, soft, breathable, and I can't recommend them enough! They are my go-to baby gift for other moms (they were even before I became a mom too). Side note: I also loved the feeder bibs they make. They are multi-layered muslin fabric and are very absorbent which is great for all that milk the baby sloshes about. They're also big and have an adjustable neck strap. I'll still put one on Reid occasionally.

10. Ah... the crown jewel... the Mamaroo. This was still fairly new-ish when I was doing my baby product shopping and research. For one thing, I didn't even register for a swing because I knew so many babies didn't care for them. Plus, they take up so much room and aren't usually super stylish. Needless to say, I was not about to pay for this contraption. Oh sweet naive Alisha. Bless your heart. We weren't two weeks in when I was dreaming of this thing. It's a sorta-swing but moves in various ways to mimic the way a parent moves, a car ride, kangaroo, etc... all the ways babies like to be soothed. Why oh why did I try to be frugal and practical? I'm certain this would have been well worth the roo-lah. (See what I did there... funny.) =) There are plenty of things worth skimping on or skipping altogether when bringing home a newborn. I say anything that helps you get rest is not one of those things. =)

Other items I loved but didn't list above are:

Tommee Tippee milk feeder bibs. These are great for the wee ones and have a padded collar to help soak up the milk drool. That keeps baby's neck and clothes dry. Winning.

The old school pre-fold cloth diapers. They make the perfect burp cloths. Get several. Feeling crafty? Sew some pretty fabric onto the middle section. Better yet, find a friend who will do it for you. ;)

The little packs of Carter's socks you can buy at Wal-Mart. They were white with colored toes/heels. These were the only socks that would really stay on his feet. Of course, every baby is different, but I've heard lots of moms say this. They're nothing fancy but they're great.

A comfy, supportive seat. I breastfed but even if I hadn't, I spent lots of time holding Reid. I chose a recliner in the family room but any glider/rocker/etc... would be ok too. That's just what worked for me. I liked having Netflix and Hulu at my disposal. =)

Humidifier and/or sound machine. With Reid being born in the winter, the humidifier was quite handy. It also provided white noise which was very soothing for Reid. When the temperature warmed up, we switched to a sound machine. Now, we're back to the humidifier but I think Reid would be fine with no white noise at this point.

These aren't really newborn essentials, but like the snacks I showed above, they were essential to helping me function. I never got real excited about my nursing bras but loved nursing tanks. I had a few but honestly, the ones from Wal-Mart were my fav's. Shout out to Kayla for recommending those. I wore them everyday. They served as my bra for the first six months. They were soft, long, and easy to unsnap.

A Change of Pace

So after a wild night Monday, Tuesday evening was a welcome change. After supper, I was putting some clothes away in his room so he kept me company. =)

I hadn't done this right then, but here's a good example of what happens when I tell Reid "no". He gets sad for a minute, then smiles like "haha, I'm too cute to be told no." Then, (not pictured) has a super sad, pouty, meltdown when I reinforce the fact that, cuteness aside, I'm serious. =) Again, this wasn't the case in these pictures, it just kind of looks like it =)

 Then, we played with a puzzle for quite a while. Yes, he actually sat there and played. Gasp. Clearly God whispered to Reid that I was worried and worn out from the night before. ha! ;) We're learning that Reid can get a bit over-stimulated when there's tons of toys laying out. When I pull out just a couple options for him, he seems to be able to keep focus and might actually sit and stay for a while. =) We had such a great time. PS: Is he not just a total doll in his hoodie and sweat pants? I find I kind of like boy clothes. He tried to kick his pants off last night when I was changing his diaper so I reminded him he should be thankful he gets to wear sweats all day! =)

I also read a couple little books to him. While I was reading one, he read the other (upside down, of course). I didn't catch the whole story but there was something about "bop bop, ga, ba ba, bop". Sounded interesting. ;) Disregard the tubs of outgrown clothes in the background. Those are now at home in the basement. (Finally, they've been in his room every since he outgrew his newborn clothes!)

It was a perfect night with my sweet little guy. He's so fun and I love to see him learn new things. =) We get so dang busy that it seems those nights are few and far between. Note to self: don't get so dang busy.