We Sleep

I’m almost scared to put this in writing for fear that I’ll jinx it. But… Bug has slept through the night the last two nights!  Last week his middle of the night feedings were getting a little bit later each time.  The past two nights, hubby has given him his bottle around 9:30 and put him to bed.  He hasn’t gotten me up until 5:00, which is what time I get up anyway.

Keep an eye out for the blog on Friday.  I’m starting a series called “Mom’s Favorite Things”.  Each week for 5-6 weeks I’m going to highlight two household/kid products that I love and that make my life a little easier.  I look forward to sharing with you.

StyleUnited

Have you heard of StyleUnited yet?  It’s a great new site where you can get tips and tricks personalized just for you!  I was recently invited to try StyleUnited through my friends at SheSpeaks.  Here’s the official word on what StyleUnited is all about:

About StyleUnited

StyleUnited is brought to you by brands including Olay, Frederic Fekkai, DDF Skincare and Cover Girl. Providing access to exclusive editorial content and personalized recommendations, StyleUnited connects women to their full style potential using these unique tools:

• Style 360 - a fully personalized diagnostic quiz that has been designed to understand your individual needs in skin care, hair care, cosmetics and fashion.
• Customized Beauty and Fashion Content - hundreds of curated articles, blogs and how-to videos from industry experts created to answer your every question while keeping you up on the latest trend news.

 

Upon logging in, I answered questions in four basic categories: Hair, Skin, Fashion and Makeup.  Based on those answers, a cool profile was created with the best products and tips just for me.  I just love that I can go there and get ideas on what I need to look for when I go to the store.

StyleUnited is an awesome community and will be a great asset to me for both now and the future. 

I can’t possibly explain all the endless ways you can use the StyleUnited website, so I invite you to go check it out for yourself.  Plus, when you sign up before June 8, you can be entered into an amazing giveaway they are doing. Click here to join.

So, what are you waiting for, join today!

 

This post is sponsored by StyleUnited and SheSpeaks.

Back to Work

After a week of bed rest and six and half weeks of maternity leave, I returned to work this week.  I love staying home with my children, but I was also excited to get back to work.  Mostly I was ready to get to our “normal” life and get a daily routine going.

Bug is going with Ting to my in-laws so I wasn’t worried about him at all.  It really makes it nice to know that my kids are with family all the time.  I know that they are being watched and protected, and most of all loved by their caregivers.  If I can’t stay home with my kids, what we have is definitely the next best thing.

Our schedule seems to be working itself out pretty well.  Hubby is taking the bedtime bottle and I am going to bed a little early.  Bug usually wakes up around 2am so I take that one.  Then, I’ve been getting up around 5:15 and starting to get ready.  I get Bug up around six and it works out great to feed him and then get both kids ready to get out the door.

This morning we changed it up a little and hubby fed Bug.  When he was done, Ting crawled up in the bed and we turned on cartoons for them.  I thought this was just the sweetest picture.

I really enjoy my job and all the people I work with.  It feels great to be back at work and getting into a routine.  Hope everyone has a great rest of the week.

Field Trip

This is my last week on maternity leave and Ting is spending the week at home with Bug and me.  After two days with lots of toddler energy and nothing to do, I decided we needed a little field trip.  We are fortunate to have a small state park near us so I decided to go have a picnic.  Ting requested a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and Sonic french fries for her lunch, so that’s exactly what she got!

When we got there we discovered two school buses in the lot and a ton of children in the picnic area.  Soon after we sat down all the kids hit the playground.  I called them “wild kids” and the rest of the day Ting kept talking about the “wild kids” every time we saw them.

Inside the visitor center the park ranger took out a pink snake and let Ting touch it.  She wasn’t scared at all (which scares me to death, ha).  She also looked at the alligator and turtles.

She wanted to go look at the ducks in pond so we took the long, very downhill trail to the pond. When we got down there, we noticed that the ducks were over by the pier.  The only way to the pier is a short nature trail.  The trail normally takes less than five minutes but when you are pushing a stroller, things go a little slower.  YES, I pushed a stroller through all this!

By the time we got to the pier, the ducks were gone – of course! So, back on the trail!  We finally caught up with the ducks and then I had to push the stroller back up the hill to the visitor center.  I definitely don’t need a walk tonight!

Ting also got to feed some ducks up around the visitor center.  We were all hot and tired, but had a great time out bonding with nature.

Oh yea, Bug was there too!

Photo Catch-Up

So I’ve been a little busy lately and haven’t been too good at keeping this up.  Maybe once I return to work and we get in a “routine” around here I can find more time to post.  But here’s a little of what we’ve been doing:

We attended the annual Mother/Daughter Banquet at church.  I took Ting, my mom and my mother-in-law with me.  We were supposed to dress ‘glamorous’ for the event.  Ting wore this beautiful dress my mom had found a few months back and I thought she was the prettiest one there!

 

Since we didn’t make it to church on Easter Sunday, Ting wore her Easter dress on our first Sunday back.  It was three weeks late, but I thought she looked cute just the same.  I told her she was wearing her Easter dress and she asked if the Easter bunny was coming again, ha!

 

We had Bug’s newborn pictures taken.  Once again our photographer did an awesome job!  If you are in the South Arkansas area, you should check her out.  Here’s her Facebook page. She’s definitely worth the drive.

 

Ting also had school pictures taken while I’ve been so busy.  One of the great things about her going to small school is they get something better than the traditional ‘sit in front of a blue drape’ school pictures.  I just love this one against the school bus.  She’s getting so big so fast.

 

The annual end-of-school awards program was also held.  The primary learning center does a program each year where they sing some songs and quote several scripture.  Ting did an amazing job and I am so proud of her.  I’ll post the video in a later post. She also got a certificate for scripture memory and an award for most creative girl in her class.

 

Last night I thought the kids were looking especially cute so we went outside for a mini photo session.  This was taken with my cheapo camera, but I thought it was so adorable.

 

Bug – One Month

Bug, you are one month old today.  It’s hard to believe you’ve already been a part of our family for a whole month.

  

We haven’t measured you lately, but our home scales weigh you at 9.8 lbs, or 9 lb, 14 oz.  You are growing fast.  You are in a size one diaper and wearing 0-3 month clothes.

Your hair is still a little dark, but I think it’s going to be either very light brown or blonde.  Your eyes are a dark blue color, almost navy.

You are still not in a great eating routine, but you are getting there.  You are taking anywhere from 3-6 oz every 2-4 hours.  I said it wasn’t great!

Your sleep is getting better.  The first two weeks at home you refused to sleep unless we left a lamp and the TV on for you.  As a result, we moved your bassinet to the living room.  We got you weaned from the light and TV finally!  You usually take a bottle around 9:00 and then get up around midnight or 1am and then again at 4am.  Sometimes you go right back to sleep, and other times you keep me up for about an hour or two.  Mommy is tired!

Ting loves you so much.  She always hugs and kisses on you and wants to be wherever you are.  She stands close by for all your diaper changes, baths, clothes changes, etc.  She loves showing you off to people.  Whenever someone asks if they can have you, she says “No, he belongs to us!”

You are getting really good control of your head.  You lift is up and move it all around a lot.  This week you have started turning your head toward familiar sounds such as our voices.

I’m looking forward to spending the next few weeks with you before I have to go back to work.  I love you so much and can’t wait to see who you are going to become.

Ting’s First Haircut

Today Ting had her first ever haircut.  We had planned to have it cut before she became a big sister, but I got sick so we had to wait until now.  Ting was born with a head full of hair and it has grown like crazy these (almost) three years.  Here is what it looked like before we left for the salon.

She was so excited to go get her hair cut.  I had to get mine done as well so I went first.  As soon as I was finished she jumped into the wash chair and was ready to go.

 

She thought the apron was so cool and said she looked like a big girl with it on.

 

The first snip! Yes, we saved the first snip to put in a book for her.

 

All cut and ready for the dryer.

 

And the finished product!

I’ve been so worried about her losing all her curls when we got it cut.  The girl dried it straight, but after we got home it started getting curly again.  I’m letting it air dry after her bath tonight and it looks like it’s still going to have some curl to it!