happy heart.

Happy Monday, friends! I spent a nice weekend just relaxing with my family, after my husband had a 96 hour work week (not even exaggerating, I wish I was). I also spent a lot of precious time looking up online swimsuits and sandals. Filling my cart and then emptying it. I have a (sad) tendency of doing this. [Have you ever checked out or ordered from 6pm? They seem to have a lot of great shoes on clearance for kids. I just haven't made a purchase from there yet.] I'm just craving warm weather so I pretended I needed to buy sandals and swimsuits.

I have also been eyeing some prints on etsy. I want a new print to hang above our mantel shelf.

I'm thinking one of these. (Click on the picture for source.)

Pretend online retail shopping is so fun. Do you have anything you have been eyeing lately?

five months.

Little chica is five months today. She is still such a doll baby. Very smiley and adores her sister. My favorite thing she does right now is gives kisses by opening her mouth really wide. She loves to talk. Can roll both directions, but mainly just likes to chill. She is close to sitting up on her own, and can even do it for a few seconds. She is a nurse-aholic, doesn't like a bottle at all. We tried cereal the other day and she got the concept pretty fast. It's funny, because with baby number one, I was big on doing the cereal thing and getting to the next "milestone." But with baby number two, it's so different, a go with the flow type of attitude. And I like it.

I love my little Naomi Fae. [She makes my uterus want more. Now.] Happy five months, darling.

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Side note, we have accomplished one week of potty-training with Audrey. And she was pretty much a rockstar. She hasn't had one accident all week, even at night, except for, ahem, number two. She is still working on that, but I'm so very proud of her! She is a true princess now, or so she says.

small style.

I'm so excited that Morgan over at Mama Loves Papa started an every week link up with Small Style, where we get to share what our babies are sportin'. [Brilliant idea, yes?]





I decided I'm going to start small and just share one day of the week of what my kiddos wear. Sometimes I think about what I want to put on them and other days they may stay in pj's all day or just get a quick onsie on.

Here's Naomi's outfit (she is almost five months, gah.)

Sweater- thrifted
Bird Onsie- Old Navy
Pants- Lullaby Club, second hand child's store
Socks- Trumpette
Headband- Me

This outfit lasted a whole 1.5 hours before she had a major blow-out. Moral of the story, white clothes do not go well with babies. No matter how cute they look.

Here's Audrey's outfit (almost 2.5 years)

Sweater-hand-crocheted by my best friend's mom (How amazing is that?!)
Pink Undershirt-Old Navy
Jeggings- Target
Shoes- Old Navy
Headband- Me

You will notice I do a lot of Target and Old Navy. I'm normal and cheap, but then like to mix it up with a unique piece.

Every Thursday I will be linking up with Morgan for Small Style.

babywearing love.

I absolutely love wearing my babies. With Audrey I was pretty naive as to what type of baby carriers were out there and really what it was all about. But soon, I realized how awesome it was and found some great resources over at Adventures in Babywearing where Steph really knows her stuff. Now, I feel pretty confident in what I like and recommend.

When I'm asked what is your favorite baby carrier or what do you recommend for babywearing. It is so hard to answer that with a short, one answer.

But this is what I can offer.

Wearing Audrey in the Ergo at the airport July 2009

Andrew wearing Audrey, October 2010

My personal all-time favorite is my Ergo. [I also have been wanting an Angelpack, that is somewhat similar, thanks to Erin and her experiences with it.] The Ergo isn't super practical for newborns, but once they get big enough to support their own head, I think it is wonderful. One of my favorite things about the Ergo is you can use it with children up to 35lbs. We still use it with Audrey. I love how comfortable it is. Last summer, I would put Audrey in it and mow the grass, while pregnant. Perfect for long days of babywearing like at the zoo or museum. Easy to use and quick. And my babies always fall asleep in it, no matter the chaos going on around. And huge bonus and one of the main reasons I bought it-- very dad friendly. Down-side to the Ergo? Expensive (but totally worth it).

Wearing Naomi in the Maya Wrap Ring Sling November 2010

Wearing Audrey in the Maya Wrap Ring Sling, December 2010

If I had to recommend just one type of carrier to everyone? I would say buy a ring sling. They are cost efficient. User-friendly. And works wonderfully for newborns on up. Also, they are easy to store in your diaper bag or just keep in your car. I use a ring sling for quick trips-like in and out of the post office. Once babies are able to sit on your hip, this is a great way to carry in the sling. I don't recommend ring slings for a long babywearing day, it isn't nearly as comfortable as using an Ergo. I am borrowing my ring sling from my sister-in-law, she has a Maya Wrap. But I have been drooling over a Sakura Ring Sling for a long time, but I don't think I will ever be able to afford one.

Naomi just born in the Sleepy Wrap, October 2010

Naomi in the Sleepy Wrap, February 2010

The other carrier or wrap, that I love is the Sleepy Wrap. It was so awesome to use when Naomi was a newborn. She just fit right in nice and snug like she was still in the womb.Three days after she was born I used it at the Farmer's Market to keep her away from strangers who wanted to smell touch her. And now I use it a lot by having her face out. This kind of wrap can be intimidating because it is basically a really long piece of cloth that you wrap around yourself. But honestly, once you try it out a couple of times I think it is easy. The downside? I think it could get pretty hot in the summer time. But it has been great for the winter. And again, great for babies when they can't support themselves.

There are a lot of babywearing options out. My best advice is to find someone who has a carrier you are interested in, try it out and see if you like it before the purchase. Also, don't give up if you don't get it the first time. Not all baby carriers are for all mamas, you have to find the one that works for you and your baby.

potty training 101.

The day finally came where I said, That's it. I'm doing it. It's potty training day.

So, this past weekend we spent A LOT of time cheering on a little girl to go in her potty.

And she did.

Now, we just finished up day three. But it seems to be working. And not really that stressful. I did not want to stress about it and get upset over it or get her upset over it.

I'm going to share what we have been doing. But, it's not for everyone. It's just what we have decided to do. [Which is what parenting is all about, being able to choose what is best for you and your child.]

I knew Audrey was ready because a) she is at that age, almost 2.5 b) she could tell us when she went potty in her diaper c) she would have a couple of hours of dryness throughout the day d) she woke up dry in her diaper after 12 hours of sleep a lot of the time.

Our method? Kick it in the butt without looking back. We decided to go full-force panties only, even nap and night. We didn't buy any more diapers or pull-ups. [Because if we did, I know I would have used them just in case.] We knew she would have accidents. But once she figured out how to actually go in the potty, she wouldn't want the yucky feeling in her panties anymore. [She hates getting dirty.] Her first day, she had quite a few accidents before she went in her potty. But once she did it (which we practically threw a party for her and she got a present), she kept doing it. I took some advice from a friend who sent me a three day potty-training guide and made sure I didn't say Do you need to go potty? Instead I said Tell me when you have to go potty. (It makes the child feel like they have control.) This seemed to make a difference as far as her not getting so annoyed with us talking about it consistently. For the first five times she went in the potty, she got an actual present. I picked up some small princess items from the dollar section at Michael's Craft Store. She thought this was totally awesome and great motivator. Then we moved to just a small piece of candy. And now she just gets a sticker.

It really seems to be working. She has had one accident since she "got it" on the first day. I was so skeptical of following some three day potty training guide, considering my child had never even peed in the potty prior to this. But here we are, day three, and she can go all by herself, and sometimes without even telling me. Now, she hasn't mastered going ahem, number two, but it's just a matter of time. I'm hopeful.

[I was going to post this cute picture of Audrey sitting on the potty. But then I thought, she probably would hate the fact that when she is 16 there is a picture of her on the potty with public access to the world.]

to the ocean.

Yesterday we took a trip to the ocean. We gathered sea shells. Went swimming with life jackets on. Talked to Ariel and Flounder. Laid out on the beach.

For a second, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and felt like I was really there.

But there is no denying it, this is where we are at...

Come on March, I can't wait for you to be here.
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(I thought I would be away for a bit, sick and all, but a miracle happened. I didn't get that sick and felt fine in less than a day. Amazing. I will never forget the Stomach Flu Invasion of 2011.)

see ya soon.

Well, folks. It hit me. This afternoon the cold chills and the ache-y body started. I have eaten half a banana today. So, I may not be here for a couple of days. [And Naomi is still sick. And the husband is sort of starting to recover.]

But I did (thankfully) get some new items posted in my shop, before the sickness took over. Purty please go check them out- they have been so therapeutic for me to make over the last couple of days. [And if you can spread the word, it would be totally awesome. And yes, I'm trying to promote my shop. I love you guys, thanks.]

Also, I'm thinking another giveaway is in order, maybe next week when all this sickness has hit the road.
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See ya soon.