Summer Essentials- Beaching it with a Toddler

Taking a toddler under two to the beach or pool can be a bit nerve wracking...because you its easy to feel like your dragging a 20 ton bag through the sand.  It doesn't have to be scary or a workout, but it does have to be planned and a well packed bag is a must. I keep this bag packed and ready, then I just throw in snacks and a sippy and we're ready to roll.

Here is my list of must haves for beach travel with a tiny human.

1. Vera Bradley Get Carried Away Tote- I love, love, love this bag. Its big, but not too big, and its got just enough pockets to keep everything in place. Plus some of the pockets are lined in plastic to keep sippies and wet things from leaking. Its also versatile enough to not just be a beach bag, but can go anywhere and not be spotted as a beach tote.

2. Burt's Bees Talc Free Dusting Powder - the easiest way to get sand off of little ones is a bit of baby powder and this one is by far the best. Its talc free, so its totally safe for little ones and works like a charm.

3.  Planet Wise Wet Bag- I got turned on to the idea of wet bags when we were attempting cloth diapers and even though the diapers didn't stick around the wet bag definitely did. They are perfect to put wet swimsuits into after a day at the beach, keeping everything else in the bag nice and dry. I keep them in my diaper bag for the instances when we have a dirty diaper or wet clothes- just toss them in and I don't have to worry about it. Plus, the colors? Can't be beat.

4. Snack Containers- Babies play hard at the beach so snacks are necessary. I love this snack container from Innobaby because I can put four different snacks in and then we have a variety. I also toss a few other snack containers in the bag filled with fruit, crackers and other snacks so we can avoid the unhealthy options of beach concession stands. 

 

5. Johnson and Johnson Face and Hand Wipes- love these things. They're perfect for washing sand off of hands and faces before snacks and they don't dry out babies skin.

 

6. iPlay Baby Rash guard and Swim Trunks with SPF 50 Sun Protection- of course when we are out in the sun I slather down the kid with sunblock, that's a no brainer. But I also love to put him in these cute rash guards from iPlay that have built in SPF protection. Its just a little more peace of mind in-between sunscreen lathering sessions. The swim trunks also have a built in swim diaper- which is a nice bonus!

 

7. Honest Company Sunscreen- I love the fact that this sunscreen has literally no chemicals and is safe for babies UNDER 6 months old. That never happens. Its also hypoallergenic, unscented, not greasy, biodegradable, water resistant for 40 minutes, non-nano and vegetarian. Its perfect and we use it on everyone in the family.

 

8. MD Moms Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes- Not going to lie, these are a bit pricy; but the convenience is worth the price.  We all know how hard it is to hold down a baby to lather them up with sunscreen and get it all rubbed in. These towels make it easy to just wipe on a nice layer of sun protection in a quick swipe. I make them last by using the rub in sunscreen on backs and bellies, then swipe these over areas that are harder and more sensitive like faces, eyes and the backs of his neck. I just pop them in a zip lock baggie and seal to use during the next application.

 

 

9. Shade Shack Instant Pop Up Sun Shelter- I love this tent because it opens up so quick and folds up so small. I can use it without the hubs being there, so it also goes with us to many pool trips for a little spot of shade.

 

10. Stearns Puddle Jumper Life Jacket- Grayson hates the life jackets that zip up around his throat but Mr. Fearless also rip runs for the water while forgetting the fact that he doesn't know how to swim all that well, so a lifejacket is a must. Puddle Jumpers are coast guard approved, super cute and kids love them. We won't go to the beach or lake without one!

 

Other items that are on our must have list? Pampers Little Splashers swim diapers, hooded towels, and a sippy.

 

What is on your must have beach list? Let me know if my bag is missing an essential!

A Child of Few Words- For Now

Grayson is not a kid I would ever describe as quiet- ever. He always squealing and laughing and making all kinds of noise. But words? Well, not so much.  He says Mama, Dada, Right There, Please and This on a regular consistent basis. Other than that- well, there isn't really much more. At his 18 month visit we mentioned it to the doctor, and I asked if we should consider Early Intervention. The doctor said it couldn't hurt to call, but he didn't think Grayson would qualify for services since he really is so smart. This kid understands everything you say...even when you spell words...its frightening. But he said it couldn't hurt to get a second opinion.

 

 

 

So I made the call and was connected to the most wonderful service coordinator who came out to do an interview and set up an evaluation with a speech therapist and an occupational therapist.  She said he needed to show a 25% delay to qualify for services, and she was glad I was doing it now before we hit the terrible twos and Grayson wouldn't be able to communicate. That would only lead to more frustration, which is never a good thing.

 

Me? I was just thrilled to bits she didn't say I was overreacting, wrong, or crazy.  It seems like most everyone else told me he'd catch up, he's fine, or he's smart and stubborn. Here was someone who listened and took my concerns and didn't dismiss them (ahem, Mr. Pediatrician can sometimes do that...and its annoying).  She scheduled the evaluation and we signed some papers and a few days later we all came together to test Grayson.

 

Overall it was a very easy process. They asked ALOT of questions, but they also really interacted with him. They played games with shapes, colors and objects. They hid blocks under cups and blankets, identified body parts and identified letters. They talked to Grayson and played for about an hour. Then they set him free to do the scoring and paperwork.

 

In some aspects he was off the charts high- like when he identified all of the letters upper and lower case and organized all of the shapes without being asked. In other parts he was average- which is great too. But in expressive language, he was way low. In the end, he qualified for services with that deficiency.  Now as I look back on it, I have some mixed feelings. 

 

 

 

On one hand, I'm super happy that he'll be able to work with a speech therapist to get his expressive language caught up to his cognitive abilities.  On the other I cant help thinking what I didn't do or could have done so he wouldn't be in this place to begin with. Everyone at the meeting assured me that had I not called, he would have caught up just fine on his own- it just would have taken him a bit longer. They said it was great, because they could see his visible frustrations and now he can work on getting his words so he's not so frustrated- which will make the terrible twos a bit easier.  So on that side, Im glad. On the other, I still feel like I could have done more as a Mommy to get him talking better. Cue the dreaded Mom Guilt. Even after the speech therapist watched us interact for two hours and told me that we're doing everything right, it's still there. She thinks we're going to have to basically trick Grayson into saying and doing what she wants, because he's so smart he knows what she's up too and he isn't about to give in. He doesn't have his Mama's gift for gab, but he got my stubborn streak for sure.

 

 

So I don't know. I know the words will come, and we have a plan and we're working towards it. Even after a few sessions he's already trying to create more sounds and form more words, which is amazing. I'm not ashamed that he needs help, in fact I'm glad that it's out there to help families and I give these therapists all the credit in the world for doing what they do. With each session as he works on verbal skills and strengthening the muscles in his mouth to form more words a little bit more of that Mommy guilt fades and I realize that it's not something I did or didn't do. He's smart, he's funny and he's on his way to being a talker...which of course once he is, I'll wonder why I ever wanted him to start talking in the first place. 

The day Grayson realized he had the best parents ever.

I kid, I kid. Well, sort of.  Sunday was a pretty epic day in the life of my little man- because we trekked him an hour and forty five minutes to meet a big blue engine.  We spent the whole week telling him he was going to go see Thomas, and he would smile and get excited, but he didn't really get it. Sunday we loaded into the car and hit the Ohio Turnpike headed for Akron to take a ride with Thomas the Train.

 

Once we got there, basically all he saw was a parking lot full of cars and a few tents. Nothing too impressive there.  Of course we had to walk through the gift shop tent first- those merchandisers are smart people. I have never in my life seen so much Thomas the Tank stuff and those kiddos were going insane for it.  Once we quickly walked through there, we realized we timed it just perfectly. The lady who was emceeing the event announced that she thought she heard Thomas coming, so we headed over to the fence.

 

 

He was thrilled, to say the least. We told him we would ride on him in a little while, and spent some time seeing what else they had to offer. We watched videos, heard a story teller, colored and played with trains with more pieces than he had ever seen in his little life. Then we stumbled upon the diggers and trucks that the kids could play on. He had a blast- and that was just all the free stuff!

 

 

 

Once it was time to board our train we headed across the street to the depot.  In all honesty, it took FOREVER to get the train unloaded and then loaded- so many a child was melting down by the time we actually got ON the train. It was probably a good 35 minutes of standing in line and getting on the train before we started to move.  That's a long time to do nothing for a 20 month old, but he held out like a champ.

 

Pointing and yelling THIIISS- because he knew where he wanted to go, we just couldn't go fast enough.

While waiting to board the train, he amused himself by picking up every rock on the deck and putting it back in the gravel. My child likes to clean up.

Finally on the train!

He got pretty restless waiting for the train to start moving, but Momma whipped out a bag of M&Ms and that kept him (and the little guy across from us) entertained.

Once we were moving, he was amazed pointing out everything he saw.

Now the ride itself is only about 25 minutes, and to be honest he could have cared less about the ride. Im not saying I think the ride wasn't long enough, because all of the kids seemed to get restless around that time so it was a good length of time to keep them cooped up.  He spent most of the ride asking where Thomas was, because he didn't get the concept that he was ON Thomas. To be fair, the 2.5 year old across from us and the 4 year old next to us didn't get it either. They all would have been pleased as punch to just watch Thomas chug on by, and we wouldn't have had to pay $20 bucks a ticket.

 

He was pretty impressed with the certificate they gave him.

After we got off, we stood in line to have our picture taken with Thomas.  Grayson could NOT take his eyes off of him.

Blowing kisses. 

Now they do take a professional picture with Thomas for you, then you can take one with your own camera. They also take them inside the train. A piece of advice?  If you get a decent shot- save yourself the $15 dollars for the photograph. Honestly, its not any better than the ones you take except it costs money. Lets not forget you still have to walk through the souvenir tent to leave- spend your money wisely.

 

 

The nice guy in front of us took this for us after I took one for them- I love finding likeminded cheapskates in line!

 

Overall- he had an AMAZING day. My Mom went with us, and she made sure he left with a few Thomas souvenirs so he could remember his day. That Nana spoils him rotten and he knows it.

 

Here is my advice for anyone thinking of going. First, its free to walk in the tent and see all of the stuff like the coloring and story telling. You only need a ticket to actually ride the train. If you have little ones that wouldn't get it, save yourself the cash and do all of the free stuff. Stand in line to get the pictures with Thomas and Sir Toppom Hat- but only shell out the $20 if you think your kid would get it. The lady at the ticket counter told us they always have a few extra tickets, so if once you're there you decide you want to take a ride you can always check it out.  Also, if you get motion sick this is not the ride for you. The train started out going forwards and I was okay. Then the stupid train backed up, and I thought I was going to die. Seriously, there is not enough Dramamine in the world to help in that situation.

 

Overall, it was one of the greatest days in Grayson's little life. When we got home and he was getting ready for bed I asked Grayson if he had the best day ever and he leaped into my lap, threw his arms around my neck and said "YES!" That alone made the whole almost tossing my cookies worth it. At least for that night he thought he had the coolest parents ever, and hopefully he remembers that feeling when he thinks we stink.

 

 



What Motherhood has taught me...so far, that is.

Ah Motherhood- you are a tricky devil.  I don't think anything makes you feel like you can do it all and makes you realize know absolutely nothing about anything at the exact same time.  In these short months that I have been a Mama I have had successes and failures, and each one taught me something different.

 

1. Even if you are terrified of giving birth, and 40+ weeks you will NOT be saying "I'm too scared to have this baby". Rather you will say "Get this kid out of my kidneys and off of my bladder" to anyone who will listen.  I'm pretty sure the hubs was never more surprised when I said flat out to the doctor to take Grayson by C-Section (considering I pass out at the thought of needles on a normal day) because I wanted nothing more than to snuggle my baby and have him stop kicking me in the bladder.

 

2. The moment that child is born, you learn what love really is. Yes you love your spouse, your pets, your family- but until you lay eyes on your own baby you've got no idea. Trust me on this one.

 

3.  Babies can sense when you're upset. When Grayson was a bitty bean and he would get sick, he never wanted me- he wanted his Daddy.  I couldn't figure out what was wrong, why my baby didn't want me- I really felt like a failure. I would be lying if it didn't make me cry that he reached for Daddy and not Mommy- and Patrick of course thought it was amazing that he was the favorite.  One day I realized that whenever Grayson didn't feel well, I got all worked up and he could tell that I was all wired.  Patrick is probably one of the most laid back men on the planet, so when Grayson would lay on him he just felt relaxed.  Once I figured that out, I chilled out, and all of a sudden he loved his Mama and wanted me. 

 

4. You are never prepared- motherhood will always get you.  You just have to run to the store for a quick second? Thats when your kid will poop out of his diaper. You have a change of clothes? They will need two or three.  Just be prepared to accept defeat, its easier that way.

5. If you're excited and just oh-so-sure your little bundle of joy is going to love something, there is a good chance they will hate it. I wanted to cloth diaper and I loved Sophie and the Mama-Roo- he wears disposables, threw Sophie and screamed the whole time in the Mama Roo. Consider it practice for the teenage years when they will fight you on everything.

6. Its impossible to find the information for easy questions like how much formula should you buy? All I wanted was someone to say you need X amount of diapers a week and you'll need X amount of formula, but it was nowhere.  That's because every baby is different, and its impossible to predict how they will eat/pee/poo from day to day.  Here's a good place to start, as a newborn you can expect to go through around 2 containers of formula a week and around 12 diapers a day.

7. In college we all pulled fun all nighters where you managed to go for a few days without sleep. Do not think that life with a baby will be the same. All nighters will be frequent, but you can no longer handle them with the same zest and vigor you once did.  Invest in a good coffee pot and some strong dark circle concealer.

8. Its okay.  Its okay if the toddler wants to eat nothing but a banana and some cheese its for lunch. Its okay if you cant remember when you last switched the laundry. Its okay if the baby and you don't get out of pj's until three minutes before Daddy walks in the door. Its okay to sniff your baby in public to see if he or she has pooped. Its okay if you hide in the bathroom to eat the Reece's Cup so you don't have to share with a tiny human. Really, its okay.  The people who judge either never had kids or they just suck, period.

9. You develop some super human strength as a Mom.  Those infant carriers are heavy, and yet you can juggle one of them loaded with a 20 pound baby and all of the groceries with ease.  You can also resist the urge to cry out when you stub your toe after putting baby down to sleep or step on a lego on the way out the door after checking on a sleeping toddler.  You learn to change the rankest of diapers and clean up the grossest of messes without gagging, even if your gag reflex is in full swing when it comes to anything not child related.

10. No one will love that baby as much as you, or know what they need like you can.  If you think something is right for your baby, then trust your gut. Doctors, Mothers, Mothers In Law, friends and even complete strangers may have advice, but if its not right for you and your baby then tell them to stick it.  They'll respect you for it, and if they don't you really won't care.

11. Find Mommy friends.  They will be your biggest support system, because someone who doesn't have kids just cant get why you do not attend dinner parties after bedtime or refuse to skip the all holy nap time. Mommies will get it.

and lastly

12. You are an awesome Mommy.  I know there are days you don't feel like it. There are days you yell at the baby or get stressed out and feel like the worst Mom in the world. You are not. You are amazing and wonderful and you just need someone to remind you of that.  If you ever find yourself in that situation, just email, tweet, or comment- Ill let you know how amazing you are :)

The best moment of my life hands down- even if I was tied down and sliced open.



Mom Fails- Things I never thought I'd hear myself say out loud

In reality, I'm still new to this whole Mom thing.  Knowing that, I'm shocked that in his short little life span Grayson has made some of these phrases come out of my mouth. The worst part HAS to be that you have to say these things with a straight face- and sometimes when you look back on the moment you have no idea how you managed to not pee your pants. I know we all have something that our children have made us say that we can't believe, so please feel free to share so that I don't feel like the only one!

 

No! We do not eat the dog's food!

 

Please do no lick the kitchen floor, that's gross.

 

Grayson, where did you find powder?

*as he leads me to the pantry where he has exploded a WHOLE bag of flour onto every imaginable surface*

Buddy, we don't make it snow inside, that makes Mommy mad and we are out of wine.

 

Quit poking the dog in the butt!

 

Hold still- I need to pick your booger!!

 

Please stop shoving cheese in your ear.

 

What did you just flush down the potty???!

 

We don't laugh out loud when we fart, we say excuse me!

 

Whats in your mouth? Why are you eating a penny? Didn't Daddy feed you today?!

 

We do not chase the doggies with our toys, and we do NOT beat the dog over the head with them either!

 

Do you have to pee? No? Well then its not appropriate to grab yourself and dance in public.  Please stop that.

 

We do not drink the dogs water!!

 

Please dont scrub the sink with Daddy's toothbrush, he will not be happy!

 

Oh Motherhood- how you continue to surprise me.  

 

 

 

 

 



DIY Birth Announcements

Hello, Lovelies! Dropping in today to share with you a post I was lucky enough to share with Kristens readers over at Life With The Ellwoods over a year ago.

Birth Announcements.
 You have to do them.  I mean, come on, you spent 9 months baking the bean you want to show him or her off.  But have you checked the price of them out?

Sorry kiddo, can't send you to college- we spent all our money on birth announcements. 

I spent hours pouring over the Internet looking for the perfect announcement.  The ones I absolutely loved?

These beauties are from Minted.com.  If you click on the picture it will link directly to the listing.

They were perfect, sweet, simple and unique.  Oh, yeah, they were also $2.20 each. We needed 100 to send out to all of our family/all of the people who came to the baby shower.

They had a similar one at Shutterfly.com

They were cheaper, at $1.35 each...but still way too much for my cheap pocket's liking.

Enter Pixlir.com.

I made these little babies for free, then printed 4x6 prints at Ritz camera to the tune of $0.09 each. Yeah, that's right nine cents each.  Oh, and the nice people at Ritz gave us the envelopes for free as well. Score!

If you haven't used pixlr before you need to check it out. You dont need an account, and it works like photoshop but is much easier. They have a few options, either express or avanced- but Express seems to work for most of my needs.

Start by uploading a photo, then have fun playing around with the different effects. You can add text, crop, color splash- tons and tons of different effects.

If you want a 4 x 8 flat card, just click on the collage tab at the beginning. Then you can choose your layout and upload photos from there.

Then choose your style, I like the four boxes side by side.
Drag and drop your pictures where you want them, leaving one block free for text. Once you finish, click finished and then it will bring you to the editing screen where you can add the effects you want.

When you're all done, click save- and thats all there is to it!

Then you just upload it to any photo printing site as a blank 4x8 card, and you're good to go.  We made similar ones for Grayson's baptism, and they cost $0.54 each at Ritz, and that included the envelopes.

And there you have it. DIY birth announcements for super cheap, and they take almost no time to make.
 

Baby Essentials

A friend of mine was asking the other day what were the things that we registered for that were utter essentials for us- things that she should make sure she has for her bean-on-the way. So I decided to compile a list for anyone who is asking the same question.

 

1- The Padalily
Anyone who has lugged a baby in an infant seat knows they are big, bulky and heavy. The Padalily is a cushion that wraps around the handle and makes it so much easier to carry. They sell for around $25 and its well worth it for all of the times it saved me from having the car seat carve a niche into my arm as I lugged chunky monkey through parking lots and to and from the car!


2- Beco Gemini Baby Carrier
I love me some baby wearing. Once Grayson grew too large for the k'tan I started looking at other carriers. The three big ones are the Bijorn, Ergo and the Beco- and I researched each and came up with the Beco for a few reasons. First, like the Ergo, it was easier on your back than the Bijorn. With the strap that goes around your waist it takes alot of pressure off of your shoulders, which is important. The thing that made it win over the Ergo for us was the option to face outwards. Grayson loved to look around, and I knew he wouldn't be happy only facing in. Overall I have loved this carrier- I can wear him for hours and my back doesn't hurt at all.

3. The Boppy
This was kind of a godsend. He ate in it, he had tummy time in it, he napped in it (even though Boppy frowns on that), it held him up when he was first learning to sit...I could go on, but you get the picture. Trust me and the 10000000 other bloggy Moms who rave about the Boppy- you need this.

4.  JJ Cole Orignial Bundle Me
We live in Pittsburgh, its cold here. The bundle me was amazing for the cold winter months because I didn't have to dress Grayson like he was the kid from A Christmas Story just to go to the grocery store. He stayed nice and toasty inside his fleecy little bundle, in fact nights he wouldn't sleep I would stick him in here and he would be out like a light.  I also loved that the blanket zipped, so even in the wind it didn't budge. They also make a lighter version for spring time, and we loved that too.


5. Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier
Kiddos get the sickies, and when they do there are zero meds that help. Pretty much all you can do is use the humidifier and a booger sucker to help ease the congestion, and this version is by far my favorite model. We have had a few different varieties of humidifiers, and this one is super quiet and easy to clean. Some tend to get mold gathered in the parts, but we have not had that issue at all. Plus this one has a spot for the vicks pads that help big people when they are all stuffed up.

6. GroVia Magic Stick
This beeswax formula diaper rash ointment has no petroleum, so its cloth diaper friendly. Its also neat and easy to put on and protects like no other. Anytime we would see a hint of red on his bum we would swipe this stick over it and it would be gone. $13 bucks might seem like a lot for 2 oz, but we use it a lot and were still on our first stick. Totally worth it.

7. Fisher Price Jumparoo
Grayson adored this, and spent hours upon hours jumping and laughing in this thing.  It was huge, and took up a good chunk of our floor space but I could put him in it and he would bounce and play with the toys and I could get dinner cooked and put on the table so it was well worth my floor space.

8. The Baby K'tan
When he was diagnosed with reflux all Grayson wanted was to be held. My poor arms couldn't take it, and I hit the interweb for a solution. So many bloggy Moms recommended this carrier, and said it was much easier to use than the Moby so off I went to diapers.com to order myself one.  It was amazing. It was so easy to put on, I could do it by myself without needing a Youtube video, and Grayson loved feeling close to me. He would nap in there and I could actually get stuff done.

9. The Wubanub
I loved this pacifier and was so sad when at 6 months Grayson kicked it to the curb. Not only is it cute as a button, but its easy to find in the car seat from the drivers seat. Grayson would always rub the different textures of the fabric on the monkey to fall asleep and when his teeth were bugging him the monkey's foot became a teether in a pinch.

10. The Lovey.
A stuffed animal head sewed onto a small washcloth sized blanket= a best friend for life. I don't know what attracted Grayson to his lovey, which is a giraffe, but he is obsessed with it. It used to be we couldn't get into the carseat unless it was tucked safely under one arm, but we've gotten better and now only need it to fall asleep at night. No matter what time you go into his room hes always got one hand on that lovey.

11. Eucalyptus Oil
Strange, I know, but this was recommended to us by our pediatrician. Whenever Grayson has a cough, we rub some of this oil on his feet and put on nice cozy socks and he gets some much needed relief. We also put it in the water in his humidifier to help unstuff him, and it works wonders. I like it because it doesn't have any other chemicals but is just a pure essential oil. We bought the 4 oz bottle and it lasts forever.

12. Prince Lionheart Wipe Warmer
Those wipes get cold, and when a cold one would hit a warm, happy, just fed milk coma baby's bottom he would scream and be wide awake. I cant say I blame him, but I was in dire need of a solution. Once we started pre-heating the wipes we had no more wide awake screaming issues. Which meant that for the $18 price tag, this Momma got lots more sleep.

13. Luv U Zoo Space Saver Swing
We had a MamaRoo and hated it at first, so we picked him up this little space saver swing and it was a hit. Its small, easy to fold up and take places and cute as a button.  Grayson was a swing baby, and this was probably one of our most used items.

14. The Bumbo
Grayson loved to be up, seeing what was going on around him so he loved his bumbo. When he was still kind of little for his high chair we would plop him in this on the table between us when we were eating and give him bites of his baby food. He felt like a big man, and always ate so much better when he was sitting with us. He still tries to sit in it sometimes, but his chunky butt doesn't exactly squeeze down into the opening anymore.

15. The Womb Bear
From the day we brought him home from the hospital, we would turn this on in Grayson's room to drown out the noise of the dogs barking or any other outside noises. He always slept so much better when it was on, and would sleep through anything. He doesn't use it anymore, but when we were sleep training it was essential.

16. Tadpoles Foam Playmat
 With hardwood floors and a baby learning to crawl/walk, we would have had many more goose eggs and bruises if we didn't invest in this mat. I loved that it would cushion his fall and was easier on his hands and knees than the floor. Its not always the easiest thing to clean, but its well worth the effort (I just put mine in the dishwasher to get it germ free!).

What did you consider a baby essential that I forgot about? Feel free to share!


*Please Note- I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are solely my own and based on products we have used and enjoyed!*




 

 



A few Mom Fails- and what they taught me.

We've all been there, you know what I'm talking about. Those moments when you're going along, thinking you've got the Mom thing down, then all of a sudden BOOM- a mom fail.

 

Lets see some examples, shall we?

 

How about the time a few months ago we left home to run to Giant Eagle (grocery store) that is roughly 2 miles from our house for a few essentials. Of course I left the baby bag at home, we would be home in 20 minutes, and I had JUST changed his diaper and fed him and thought we would be cool.  Mommy friends see where I'm going with this? We get in the store no issues. Grayson is in the buggy, laughing at Mommy who is making faces as she grabs produce, when all of a sudden I smell it.  Poop. I figured we would just finish the shopping, go home and get him changed. Until I walked in front of the buggy and realized the back of his white shirt was now brown.  Lovelies, he pooped out of the diaper and clean up to his armpits. Here I am, full cart, no diapers, no wipes and no change of clothes. Mom Fail.

 

Now- there is always, always, always a spare diaper in my purse. Also I keep a change of clothes, thing of wipes and a diaper in the glove box of my car.

 

Then there was the time we were reading the story "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" and Grayson started jumping on the couch.  I laughed, because in the book it says at the end "but no one says anything about the sofa!" Here I was really impressed, because he understood the story.  I even reached for my camera to show Daddy the silliness.  Then he took a flying leap off of the couch and landed square on his head. Mom Fail.

 

We don't allow jumping on the furniture at all anymore.

 

I remember back when Grayson had reflux really bad and I took him to meet a friend of mine for lunch.  She doesn't have kiddos and is terrified of all gross things that babies do, but she had deemed mine "safe".  We were having a grand old time eating and talking. She fed Grayson, hugged on him, played with him.  It was all going too well.  When she handed him back to me, I gave him a quick hug. As I pulled him away from me the bouncing/squeezing must have gotten the best of him because he decided to projectile vomit all over me in the middle of the Olive Garden. It even soaked my bra, and I had no extra clothes. Mom Fail.

 

I learned to carry an extra shirt that day, or pick restaurants adjacent to Target in case I needed to purchase a quick change of clothes.

 

A few weeks ago I had made Grayson a wonderful dinner. Roasted chicken, corn, mashed potatoes and apple slices. He ate the corn and apples no problem. Wasn't a fan of the mashed potatoes but hes a bit of a texture eater so that was okay. But the main dish? He flat out refused to eat the chicken.  Like cried tears when I placed it into his mouth. Now he'll eat nuggets till the day is gone, but grilled skinless chicken might as well be brussle sprouts to my kid. So rather than fight it, I let him go and just eat his corn.  Fast forward about an hour to when it was time to feed the dogs.  Grayson loves to help feed the puppies, he pours the food into their bowls and giggles. Our dogs eat Chef Michaels with bits of dehydrated chicken and veggies.  Well don't you know that little snot reached into Gizzy's bowl and started to eat her dehydrated dog food chicken; not an hour after refusing the stuff that I took hours to make that was you know, people food. Epic Mom Fail.

 

We don't leave Grayson alone with the doggies while they are eating anymore.

 

This kid keeps me on my toes for sure. But no matter what the situation was, in the end I always end up laughing. Please let me know Im not the only one who has Mommy Failures out there?!

 

Christmas Gifts a 1 year old LOVES

Each month I always shared a list of must haves, things that Grayson really enjoyed that month. I did it so when I have baby #2, or when someone else has a baby, I can look back and get ideas for gifts and needs at each stage. I decided that I would share the gifts that he really seemed to enjoy this year for Christmas for the same reasons- and if these lists can help any of you lovelies out, then all the better!

 

Imaginarium Train Set with Table - 55-Piece

 

I picked this train table up for $40 on Black Friday, and I'd say thats the best money I spent this year for Christmas. Its not too big, only 4 square feet and its only about 1.5 feet off the ground so the size is PERFECT for Grayson Boy. He can reach to the center and really play with all of the pieces. I read alot of reviews and everyone suggested a train table, but I didn't want to bite the bullet and spend $150 on a huge one if he wouldn't like it.  This is the perfect little starter table and as he grows we can buy more pieces and then graduate to a bigger table.  Another plus? It doesn't make noise. WOO! Grayson will play with it for an hour at a time, making train noises and moving the pieces around. So hes actually getting to use his imagination and I don't need ear plugs. Its a win-win!

 

Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Stand 'n Play Rampway

 

 

Grayson has been playing with cars on a more frequent basis, so we thought he might enjoy this. Well, we were right. It stands about three feet tall, so its perfect to grow with him. He loves putting the cars on the ramps and then watching them go all the way down.  He can then push them all around the living room and put them on the elevators to take them back to the top. It gets about 20 minutes of solid play- and for a toddler that's pretty golden.

 

Playhut 6- Foot Tunnel

 

Grayson loves crawling through tunnels at the park, so when I saw this guy on sale for $10 I figured I couldn't go wrong. It folds up really easily, and gets nice and flat so its very easy to store. Grayson has already logged many trips crawling from one side to the other.

 

Super Why DVDs

 

My kid is obsessed with Super Why- if you don't remember, mosey on back and check out his first birthday party. My stepdad found these DVDs on Walmart.com and picked a few of them up.  Coupled with the in-car DVD player we can get almost ANYWHERE in peace. Each DVD has 3-4 episodes on it, so for $9 dollars its a great deal. Plus, there are alot of new episodes that kids haven't seen on TV which always holds their interest a little more.

 

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Puppy

 

My Dad picked this up for Grayson and at first I was skeptical. We already own Leap Frog's version- Scout, who can say Graysons name and be programed to remember things he likes.  However, Grayson loves this puppy.  He likes the songs he sings, and plays along whenever the puppy says "Wheres my hand/foot/ear/etc?" Its a great way to help teach body parts, something Scout doesn't do.

 

Tonka Chuck & Friends Classic Vehicle - Boomer the Fire Truck

 

 Chuck has a bunch of friends. A bunch.  We gifted Grayson a few different ones for Christmas because they are the perfect size for chubby toddler hands.  Plus they are semi soft, so when he chucks it at his head it wont hurt too bad. Cant go wrong with Chuck and his friends.

 

 

Other gifts that we really liked were the play-a-sound books that make animal noises or music- he received a few of these and loves them all pretty equally. As well as an assortment of balls- something you cant go wrong with for a boy at any age. 

 

First Haircut!

A few weeks ago Hubs started mentioning he wanted to get Grayson's hair cut.  Now, the kid doesn't have gobs of hair, but he was starting to get a little baby mullet. I was apprehensive though, because I didn't want him to be grown up quite yet. Eventually I caved and off we went to Little Snips for our first baby trim (seriously, they couldn't even give me a lock of hair, it was more like little wisps).

 

All ready to go in the police car- they also had a tractor, plane, taxi and something else I cant remember.

Before- The baby mullet

The lip. We were not too sure of this lady.

 

Attempting to free himself.

 



Thumbs Up- I found toys, I'm cool now Mom! Once he realized there were toys in the little car he was content to sit there and let her cut his hair.

After- the mohawk is back in full force.

 

Cant believe this kid is growing so fast- it breaks my heart!



A Boy Momma

A few months ago I had a conversation with my 12 year old sweet baby cousin when they came to visit. He told me that he was really glad I had a boy, because that's what he wished I would have.   

 

 

When I first found out I was pregnant I wished wished wished for a baby girl. I had her name picked out (still do, and if the next kiddo is a boy I may stick him with it on principle), her room was planned (it was white, pink and shabby chic to the core), and I was already buying dresses online. Then I had my ultrasound and the lady gleefully announced "We have out door pluming!"

 

What the heck was I going to do with a boy? 

 

I was going to understand how to play trucks, blocks, and ball. I was going to be outnumbered when it comes to watching Sports Center on TV. I was going to learn how to aim that little weenie down into the diaper, and to change him at lightning speeds when it is cold out. I was going to see the fun in playing in a bucket of nails, hammering a piece of wood, and digging in the dirt.  I was going to see the fun in buying boy clothes and dressing him like a little man from his hat down to his sneakers.

 

I really hope that someday I get to be a girl Momma...but right now I'm totally okay with the trucks, balls and trains.  Im a Boy Momma, and I'm proud of it.

 

 

 I remember when this chucklehead was the same size as Grayson- how is it possible that hes this big already?!

A Super (Why) First Birthday Party!

This past weekend we celebrated Grayson's First Birthday. It was a cool day, but the weather cooperated and the rain held off until we got everything packed into the car to come home. I shared with you all my inspiration board a few months back (see it here) and I'm excited to say that my vision actually did come together nicely! Grayson is obsessed with the cartoon Super Why, so that was the overall theme. We rented a local park with an amazing playground and had wayyy too much food. It was an awesome celebration for our little guy, and we're so thankful to everyone who made it out!

 

Our Invite- made by the amazing Rachael over at La Petite Giraffe. She did an amazing job and was so easy to work with- I had the finished proof within 48 hours of placing my order, and thats even after I asked her to make changes and added a custom item. Check her out on Etsy and see what she has to offer!

 

I made this banner to hang over his high chair- I wanted a nice back drop for all of those smash cake pictures!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My insanely talented friend Julie made Grayon's cake and his smash cake. How cute is it that she made him the book club as his smash cake and its all 100% edible. I made the cupcake toppers to put on some cupcakes we got from Sams Club. They were really easy and took almost no time at all to create.

 

 

I made these little capes for all of the kids to go in their treat bags, but I tied Graysons to his blue high chair to give it a little pizazz. Go here for the cape tutorial and here to see how I took a cheap high chair to this blue beauty!

 

 

My other crazy project was paining the cast of characters on Luan board and having hubs cut them out. We wanted the kids to be able to have their pictures taken with them, and they were a huge hit. All total they took about 5 hours to make, go HERE for the tutorial on how I made them.

 

The kids went nuts for them, so it was time well spent!

 

 

Settling our debate the old fashioned way- ps, I totally kicked hubs ass in this poll. Hes still bitter.

Singing Happy Birthday

 

Nom Nom Nom

The aftermath- he did pretty darn good!

 

Trying for a group picture

 

This is about as good as it was going to get. Trying to get 12 little ones to sit still after sugaring them up with cake wasnt happening.

 

Grayson and Aunt Ashley

Opening presents - this was when he was actually into it. After awhile the sugar wore off and he opened the rest like this.

Happy Birthday Grayson Boy- Daddy and I love you so much!!