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!

Growly Gus

I just wanted to stop in really quick to say hello!  I have a four page paper due today and I only have about half a page! Ahh! So of course the right thing to do would be to procrastinate all day by going thrifting and follow that up by writing a blog post!

I just wanted to share a little video of my gremlin baby!  This happens every time she eats, and sometimes just for fun!

Happy Saturday folks!

(sorry it's kind of long)

Sleep (or the lack of)

First, let me start off by saying that I am NOT a morning person!  When someone says they wake up at 7 or 8 in the morning, I cringe!  Don't get me wrong, when I had a job outside of the home, I did what most people do and rolled my butt out of bed at an ungodly hour, but I was not happy about it! 

You would think that having two children I would be a little more accustomed to waking early...you would think.  However, Ainsley is what we call "an Andrews".  You see, Scott and his family are night owls, even his 66 year old Mom stays up late!  In turn, this means they like to sleep in.  So, we got lucky with Ainsley in that she would sleep until at least 9am when she was a toddler.  People were amazed when I would tell them this!

Well.....fast forward 5 years and now we have little Harper. She not only looks more like my side of the family but unfortunately has inherited their sleep habits!  My parents consider "sleeping in" like 8:30, insane, I know!  Well, this has become Harper's sleep pattern.  She likes to go to be early (again not something we are used to) and she likes to get up veery early!  If you follow me on Instagram you probably saw where Harper was wide awake at 7:30, what you didn't see, was my zombie of a self laying next to her!

Since I am not a morning person, I tend to stay up waaay too late.  Again, something I should have learned by now! However, I tend to be a fairly stubborn person.  Well, last night, I did it again, only this time, Harper's incoming teeth really screwed up her (and my) sleep.  Which means, today I am running on fumes (if you couldn't tell from all of the rambling and this somewhat pointless post!)

If I have to get up at the crack of dawn, at least I am greeted with this sweet face!

 

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:

Munchkin Must Haves~4 & 5 Months

Go Ga Ga Teether / Boogie Wipes / Security Blanket / Little Einsteins Aquarium / Peg Perego Stroller

I have finally compiled a list of just a few of the items that we haven't been able to get by without these past two months!

1 / I'm sure if you have a little you have heard of Sophie the Giraffe.  I have been all to tempted to purchase this little guy, but the price (+shipping) has always kept my finger from clicking the purchase button.  On one of my many trips to Target, I came across this little cutie, Millie, as we call her.  I'm assuming she is Target's version of Sophie, as she is made from all natural rubber and resembles Sophie in just about every way (other than being a monkey of course!).  Millie was about half the price of Sophie so I couldn't put it in the shopping cart fast enough!  Harper immediately took to her and has been one of her favorite chew toys!  She is easy to grasp and lets out a little squeak when being gnawed on! Harper has been teething like mad lately and has shown Millie a lot of extra attention and she seems to be quite satisfied!

2 / With a teething baby comes a very runny nose (at least that has been my experience with both girls).  These boogie wipes are saline based and wipe away sticky boogies in one clean swipe.  This leaves baby's nose un-irritated and smelling like delicious grapes!  They are a must have in my diaper bag and I have an extra pack for my pocket book!

3 / As I mentioned in my diaper bag essentials post, I was quite leery of these tiny expensive blankets but caved and got them anyway!  They are wonderful, enough said!

4 / The Little Einstein Crib Aquarium has been a life save with both girls.  With Ainsley I had the older version but was sure to pick up the new non-recalled version.  Harper is SO squirmy and nearly impossible to rock to sleep.  This aquarium helps lull her to sleep even when her body doesn't think it's ready!

5 / I recently purchased this Peg Perego Pliko Switch Stroller and have LOOOVED every minute of it! The seat is forward and rear facing and has the ability to recline completely to become a bassinet!  It pushes like a dream and I love being able to see Harper while I'm pushing her (she seems to enjoy the view as well!).  The link I found is a bit pricey but I have found other sites with much more reasonable prices!

Linking up with Kristin

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!

Shop Update!

So I finally got around to updating the Etsy shop!  I have had some of these items made for quite some time but never got around to posting them until now! 

Do you jump the gun when it comes to Holiday outfits and decorations?  Me either, if you do you can get your little beauty's 4th of July accessories here! 

Here is the first item in our new line: The Rock Star Collection and am currently working on several others that I'm super excited about it!  So if you want your baby to get their moonwalk on, hurry over and scoop this "Bad" boy up before they are all gone! 

Do you need new baby decorations? I know I'm always in the market!

Follow us on Instagram here to be the first to see new items!
Oh, and I've got a pretty awesome giveaway planned for when the shop reaches 100 followers, so spread the word!!

Linking up with Kristin for Baby Talk

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!

Lordy, Lordy, look who's four..er..months old!

See those little leg rolls, they are kind of my favorite!

It really hit me today that it's going by WAY too fast!  Let's just slow it down now Missy!

A few updates:

Baby is still fat! 15.4 pounds to be exact, you go girl!

24.5 inches long, in the 60% range (she does NOT get that from me!)

She loves oatmeal, bananas, and boobie milk.  We tried apples but girl was not having it!

She is still loving her jumperoo and she wants jump ALL. THE. TIME. 

She can sit for a few on her own but slowly face plants onto the floor.

I'm so sad that she is growing up so quickly but I am so excited to watch her learn new things everyday!  I love you pumpkin!

If you like her headband you can pick one up here!

The party don't start 'till I walk in!

As I mentioned before, I am a little late to the pregnancy documenting party, about 7 months to be exact. The important thing is that I am here now! So let's get this party started. Don't get me wrong, I haven't come completely empty handed! I have managed to take a few growing belly pics along the way, they did start to thin out and I am hoping to pick back up! I should also mention that neither I nor Scott are photographers, actually we couldn't be farther from it! I have a basic Nikon digital camera and a trigger happy finger, so generally I am lucky to get one good shot! So here it goes, starting at 7 weeks!

First peek at peanut #2!

Baby Girl!