Ainsley is 6!!!

That is a really hard reality to grasp!  Maybe that is why it has taken me almost two weeks to write this post.  My baby Ainsley is really 6 years old! We had her party on her birthday and she was so overjoyed.  We kept it pretty low key with a few of her friends and family at a little park.  She wanted a Powerpuff Girls cake, she really makes it easy on me!  

Watching her grow and learn the past six years has been such a joy!  She has always has the sweetest most giving heart.  She lights up a room the moment she enters and always thinks of other people before herself.  We are so blessed to call her our own and I couldn't be more proud of the little lady she has become!  I have to make sure I soak this time up, before I know it she will be 16!

Oh Hey Real World, I'm back! Vacation Recap and a Photo dump

Last week we took our yearly trip to Topsail Island, NC.  It was wonderful and as it always is, went too fast!  The week was filled with lots of beach time, family, food, beer, bloody mary's, and fun!  We were so sad to have to leave!

Here are a ton some pictures from our trip:

Don't let her face fool you, Harper really loved the beach. 

Ainsley had a few wipe outs, but never hesitated to jump right back in!

After several handfuls of sand, she finally decided she didn't like it.

This is my happy place!  I miss this view already!

Dinah got to stay with us for a night and absolutely loved it!

Now I guess it's back to reality (wah wah)!  We started home school yesterday and it went surprisingly well!  I have had my hesitations but so far everything is going pretty smoothly!  

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Oh and Pin It & Spin It will be back tomorrow! Yay!

Weekend Recap

Yeah yeah, I know, it's Wednesday! A little late for a weekend recap, but this weekend was too good to go undocumented!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, our plans to see the fireworks were postponed until Friday.  Ainsley stayed with her Nana on Wednesday night, so Scott, Harper, and I started the fourth off with a lazy morning in bed.  It was amazing!

Later in the day, after some much needed work done around the house, we had Scott's mom and sister/my bestie, over for some steaks on the grill and a little (and I mean liiitle) swim in the pool (it was freezing).  Steaks, cold beer, cheesecake, and sparklers, I can't think of a better way to have spent the holiday!

So I have this crazy fear of sparklers so I make Ainsley shield her hand with a cup! I'm lame, I know!

Friday was the big day for fireworks.  We/Ainsley look forward to this day all year.  We always go with my in-laws down to the park on the lake where they have food stands (ahh the grilled corn), live music, and bouncy houses.  This year, Ainsley got to really enjoy the bouncy houses and she and Scott spent most of the daylight there.  I stayed with Harper and Scott's sisters and took too many pictures!

Harper's first selfie

My camera gets a little wonky as soon as the sun isn't blazing bright!

Harper did great with the fireworks as long as I held her.  She also stayed awake THE ENTIRE time and we didn't get home until 11!

Hope you had a great weekend!

6 months >> Halfway to too big!

I know I say it every month, but I can't believe 6 months has already passed!

It's a strange thing, I remember when Ainsley was this age I was encouraging her to crawl and walk and talk.  But the second go 'round, I am just trying to soak up every minute of delicious baby rolls, snugs, nursing, everything, and unfortunately it is slipping through my fingers WAY TOO FAST!  I just wish I could pause time for a bit to make sure I enjoy every last detail of both of my girls at this stage in their lives! SO, until that time machine is invented, I will try to capture as much as I can!

What's new with the Harpster:

>>All of that jumping you do (and boy do you do a lot) has slowed your weight gain.  You clocked in at a whopping 16.2 lbs! Not to shabby Missy! You landed in the 55%.

>>Your weight gain may have slowed but that doesn't mean you stopped growing!  You measured 26.75" long and landed in the 90% for length.  

>>You are wearing 6, 6-9, and some 6-12 month clothing

>>We have explored several different foods and you seem to have come to the conclusion that you like...food. Spaghetti, chicken noodle soup, broccoli, peas (not pureed, only when you can pick them up yourself), mashed potatoes, and yogurt are a few of the new foods you have enjoyed.

>>You still love to jump and bounce

>>Getting much better at sitting and you roll like a champ!

>>You can balance on your hands and knees but end up in a face plant as you try to lunge forward.

>>You have two adorable, sharp little teeth and working on a few more 

>>Oh and you are a thumb sucker! I don't care what anyone says, I think it's one of the cutest things ever!

Some more fun pictures from the last month:

Oh, and THIS is happening:

In the {Diaper} Bag

I've seen a lot of bloggers who have done a "What's in my Purse" and I love reading them!  So, I thought I would do a version with my diaper bag.  

To be completely honest, I don't always carry my diaper bag.  My pocketbook is large enough to hold a few diapers and wipes, so if I'm just running out for a quick trip I skip the diaper bag! 

Don't get me wrong, I love my diaper bag but with two kids it's much easier to leave it sometimes. 

When I do carry my diaper bag I make sure that it is stocked with these items:

~An extra outfit-for obvious reasons, babies are messy little things!

~A sweater- this doesn't get much use, but for those cold restaurants it comes in handy

~An extra pair of socks-for the cold restaurant

~Diapers, wipes and cream-I put these in a little pouch so everything is together and I don't have to dig around!

~Lotion and bath wash- because well, you never know!

~Boogie wipes- these are wonderful!  They smell like grape and get rid of the sticky boogers without having to rub their little noses raw!

~Paci wipes-Harper doesn't really care for her paci like Ainsley did (a thumb is more her style) but these are great when they start playing the "lets throw everything on the disgusting floor then scream because she remembered she reeeally wanted it" game. It's also great for shopping carts!

~Toys- these are interchangeable and the amounts vary depending on where we are going.

~First aid kit- A 5 year old is an accident waiting to happen!

~Beauty emergency kit- floss, deodorant, earring backs, stain remover wipes, etc.

~A light blanket- NC weather can be tricky

~Security Blanket- I will say, it took me a while to get on the Aden and Anais blanket boat but there is something about this blanket that Harper LOVES.  She has one in her crib and one that travels with us!

There are a few things that I generally carry but aren't in this picture like snacks (crackers, puffs) and some sort of coloring page for Ainsley to play with.

So, that's what is in my diaper bag!  It may seem like a lot because it is, which is why I only carry it if I know I will be out of the house for an extended period of time!

Linking up with Kristin for Baby talk!

aaaannd Target Stikes Again!

ALL I NEEDED WAS JUICE!

Seriously though, juice, and some how I ended up with an outfit for Harper that she absolutely HAD to have didn't need, a shirt for Ainsley, because well, Harper got a new outfit and it's only fair (right?!), and a candle that smells SO good I can't keep my face out of it! I am not condoning my recent behavior but if you have a Target within driving distance get there now and pick up the Pure/Clean/Soy candle in Pink Magnolia and hurry because there is a very possible chance that I will wipe them out!

I think I need help, a Target intervention maybe!  

I do have to pat myself on the back for passing up on this absolutely adorable jumpsuit for Ainsley (it was so hard I tell you, so hard!)

I may or may not have already made a deal with myself that if it's still there next week I will get it!

Ahhh see!  I am planning trips to Target a week in advance now!  So, I am officially going on strike (for at least a few days, I mean did you see that jumpsuit?)

At least I got the juice right!  Well played, Target, well played!

Munchkin Must Haves: 2 and 3 Months

A few weeks ago I participated in a "Preparing for a little one" link up with Kaitlyn over at Wifessionals.  I received several emails about this post and questions about other items I have found to be helpful, so I decided to do a monthly feature.  These will be things that I have used with both of my girls or things that have made the second go 'round so much easier!

Nuby Teether / Bumbo / Towel / Paci Clip / Sound Machine / Jumperoo / Shampoo / Tutu Onesie

1 / This teether has been a life saver! It comes with a nice case to keep it clean when you aren't using it.  It has soft little "teeth" that massage baby's sore gums and it seems to really relieve the pain!  We put Harper's in the freezer and, aside from the massive amounts of drool, this thing is wonderful!

2 / I'm sure you have seen or heard of the Bumbo.  It is definitely all it is cracked up to be!  It is wonderful to free up your hands for a few minutes (I'm not recommending strapping the babe in and peacing out, but it is nice to at least have two hand for a minute!) I will say though that Ainsley LOVED her Bumbo and would use it all the time, even as a make shift high chair for a while.  Harper, on the other hand, likes it alright but quickly, and I mean quickly gets tired of it!

3 / Any hooded towel is nice to have, but I really like this Circo owl towel.  Not just because it matches her nursery, but also because it is thick cotton and not super thin like a lot of baby towels are.

4 / If your little one takes a paci, a paci clip is an absolute must!  You can only pick the paci off the floor SO many times before you want to chuck it out of the window!  This paci clip is cute with the ruffles and holds that paci tight so it is always within you or you babe's arms reach.

5 / I have had this sound machine for both girls (two different, but same model).  I used this until it ran out of steam when Ainsley was 3!  It is wonderful!  It has several different sound settings to choose from, we like the ocean, and it has a projector that shines onto the ceiling above the crib.  You can choose from three different slides, Hey Diddle Diddle, Ocean Scene, and birds.  This is wonderful to drown out noise and when the baby gets a little older the projector gives them something to look at!

6 / The jumperoo, ah the jumperoo!  I don't know if I can say enough about this wonderful thing!  Ainsley literally lived in this thing!  From birth she (actually Harper too) would push off with her feet and all they want to do is "jump".  We put both girls in this probably WAY sooner than recommended!  We had to put pillows under their feet so they could reach, but let me tell you once their feet connected with something, they would go to town! It is so much fun to watch as they squeal and jump!

7 / So both of my girls had baby eczema and couldn't have any perfumes or dyes in their lotions or bath wash.  Harper's only affected her face, but Ainsley still has skin issues!  This bath wash is super gentle and has tea tree extract which helps calm not only eczema but also cradle cap!  Did I mention it smells wonderful? Oh I didn't, well it does! 

8 / What little girls doesn't need an adorable tutu? I loved this onesie so much I am about to get it in a larger size!  It's soft cotton with a cute little tutu on her rump!

Well that's about it for 2-3 months!  I will try to post 4-5 month must haves soon!

What couldn't you live without during the 2-3 month age?

Preparing For a Little One

So the adorable Kaitlyn recently found out she and her husband are expecting their first child.  She decided to host a weekly series to help her get ready for life with a little one!  I am no expert, but thought she may benefit from some of the things I have learned as a mom of two. Some of these things other people have told me and others I have learned on my own.

The first week of her series is all about registering.  What to you absolutely MUST have, what would be nice, and what to not bother with.

I will start with my must haves.  These are things that I absolutely wouldn't have been able to live without with both of my girls.

 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

1- I know a lot of people talk about swaddling your baby and how helpful it can be.  Well I am not here to disagree one bit!!  I have had the pleasure of having both an extremely colicky (fussy) baby and a very happy baby, both of which LOVED the swaddle.  I did learn my way around the MANY different swaddling blankets though!  With Ainsley (my first) it was about a month in when I found the Miracle Blanket.  This thing was sent from heaven! Other swaddles were never "tight" enough and would always come loose, not the Miracle Blanket, that baby was wonderful!  I recommend getting AT LEAST two for when you need to wash one!

2- You are going to need a diaper disposal of some sort.  Many people use the Diaper Genie, which I have heard is great.  I on the other hand prefer the Diaper Champ.  If you are a family on a budget I highly recommend this, as you don't need to purchase "special" refills like you do for the Genie.  You simply place a kitchen trash bag into the base and, if you prefer, some sort of odor absorb-er such as baking soda, I skip this step as the Champ does a really good job holding in all odors!

3- If you are planning on breast feeding, lanolin cream is an absolute MUST those first few weeks.  I will be honest, those first weeks can be excruciating, especially if baby doesn't latch properly! The lanolin cream gives relief to those sore nipples! I am not really recommending any specific brand but I used Lansinoh and really liked it!

4-Whether you decide to breast feed or not you are going to need nursing pads!  During those first few weeks your body is producing milk on overload and trying to figure out how much baby is eating (or not eating) and you are bound to leak ALL. OVER. EVERYTHING.!  This is where nursing pads come in to play.  There are different absorbency levels to choose from, I recommend getting super to start and go from there.

5-The last must have is the snap and go swing.  I used the Graco Snugride car seat,which is awesome in itself, it clicks right in to this swing.  This thing was a life saver when we would come home and baby was asleep in her car seat.  You would just take the seat out of the car and click it into the swing and baby would continue to nap!  I also really liked this swing because it it small and doesn't need it's own corner of the room!

Easter Weekend

I have been swamped this week!  I'm not sure whose idea it was to have two REALLY difficult assignments immediately following Easter weekend but they should be punished!

 Is it really Thursday already?!  I know it may seem late in the week to do an Easter weekend recap, but I really don't care, I'm going to do it anyway!

Of course, any great Easter weekend starts off by dyeing Easter eggs!

About 6 in and she was done!

The Easter Bunny made his stop!

This outfit! Can she be more precious?! 

Ainsley finally obliged to take a photo with us. No one said she had to look at the camera!

Egg huntin' is serious business!

This one, I mean, seriously!