Crumb Catcher

Apparently we need a bigger crumb catcher.

A really big one.

I always have the diaper bag filled with toys and snacks when I know we will be going out to a restaurant.

It's always a little nerve-wracking to be out in public with a baby- at time it's like a ticking time bomb- and I try my best to have things on hand to keep her busy and quiet to avoid making a scene.

Sometimes I am amazed at how much she really ate.

Most times I am amazed at how much I thought she ate and how much ended up on the floor.

When Adalyn started solids and we went out for the first time she felt the need share the wealth and leave some of her goodies behind.

As we were leaving I saw Mr. B picking her crumbs up off the floor and I questioned what he was doing.

He thought it was rude to leave the mess.

I thought they have a broom and vacuum and they could clean it up.

The more I thought about it and the more we ate out, I decided it is  nice and respectful to clean up her mess as best as I can.

So typically we just clean up the bigger chunks of food.

And now she like to just waste our money throw food onto the floor so those pieces are easy to clean up anyways.

I was curious to see what you all did because I had never really thought about it. 

Do you clean up the floor in a restaurant after your child?

And if everyone says "yes" I may or may not feel like a bad person.
Just sayin...

Top Baby Items: 3-6 Months

I am so behind on these.

Shocking, I know.

It's now to the point where these make me sad because she looks so young. 

How am I forgetting that she was so cute and chubby already?!

So in no particular order here are our top baby items for 3-6 months:

Pack 'n' Play

 Originally we didn't register for one of these. But as she got older and no longer slept well in my arms {tear} it was time to get something she could sleep in at The Farm. This has been a life saver both there and our travels/hotel stays. I really liked having the bassinet part when she was younger, too! I used some coupons and got a great deal on this one at Babies R Us.

Mum-Mums

 One of the first finger foods she ate. They are clean, easy and safe! 

Playtex sippy cup with the straw

We started out with the Nuby sippy cup, which worked fine for her but I felt like she was ready for a straw. I hated the Nuby sippies with the straw- she couldn't get anything out and I tried and even had a hard time with it too! 

With that one you need to kind of bite the straw and suck it at the same time. So I bought these ones and they were so much better! The only problem with this is she usually sucks too much and ends up coughing so we have to remind her to slow down. She's been using it since 5 months and we love it! 

Amber Necklace

 I have a post on this soon. This has been a must for us! I can't believe it works, but it really does! The necklace has worked wonders with all her teethies coming in. 

Exersaucer

 Adalyn was never a huge fan of the jumperoo, but she loved her exersaucers! We have two at our house {one upstairs and one downstairs} and one at The Farm. She loves standing, twisting and playing and I love knowing she's safe and happy and the freedom it gives me to get ready, clean or make dinner. 

Lovie

 This is a giraffe that is filled with lavender beads and she loves to cuddle with it. She also has her Elephant "Ellie" that she likes to cuddle up with. Having "lovies" to sleep with is a security and comfort that helps her fall asleep wherever we are. And it's pretty much the cutest thing ever. 

Inflatable Duck Tub

I loved our big Primo Bathtub, but when she learned how to rollover it didn't take long for her to start trying to rollover in that tub. So we pulled out the duck tub and she loved it! She loved being able to sit up and move around a little bit and I loved that it was padded and protected her little noggin as she slipped from time to time. It also has a suction cup on the back so we just hung it up in the shower when we were done with it. 

Shopping Cart/High Chair Cover

Absolute must!!! This stays in the car and we use it everywhere. In every store and every restaurant. I love the style/colors, the easiness, the comfiness for her and protection against the germs. 

Take and Toss Bowls and Nuk Soft bite spoons 

We also use the take and toss spoons, but I prefer the rubber ones. We use these all the time.

Aroma Rice Cooker and Steamer

This makes the best rice and it also steams her food fast and easily!

Black and Decker MiniPro Food Processor

Easy and fast to make some food for Adalyn. 

Space Saver Highchair

Love this! Love that it's just part of our kitchen table and I love that she could sit up and play in it while I got things done and then when she was ready for food she can sit at the table and eat with us. 

Push and Ride Toy

A special farm toy that she loves. She is the most content thing when she is riding this! 

Still loving from 0-3:

Sound Machine

AngelCare Monitor

Nail Scissors

K'tan

Gripe Water- I've become a fan of the travel ones {found at Buy Buy Baby}, they come with the syringe attached! I think they should all come like that! She still gets hiccups all the time and this is our miracle worker.

To Flu Shot or Not...

That is the question. 

Today Adalyn had her 9 month check up.

Yes, NINE months. 

::tear::

At her 6 month appointment the Dr. mentioned that at her 9 month there would be no shots, but that it would be time for the flu shot. 

This had me freaking out a little. 

I wasn't ready to commit to it. 

At this point, I feel as though I am pro-vaccines, but as far as these side ones...I'm not so sure.

So I've been doing some research, I asked some of my friends and currently the responses are tied.

So I went in to her appointment today and decided I was going to put it off at this time and if I felt she needed it then I would come back another day.

I wasn't feeling 100% comfortable with it-with the adverse effects I read about, a slight chance of it even working and the misc chemicals being put into her body- I just wasn't confident. 

And thankfully, God was good and they didn't have the flu shot yet and said to call back in a month to set up an appointment. 

Which gives me more time to be confident in my decision! 

Mr. B and I don't get them. My family doesn't get them. I stay home with her and we go to occassional play groups and the nursery on Sunday so she's not overly exposed to germs.

But on the other hand, although we rarely get the flu I know when it hits it is zero fun.

I don't want that for Adalyn nor do I want to risk it turning into a worse condition like pneumonia. 

But I've read that vitamin D and healthy eating is also sufficient in building up her immune system to fight off sicknesses.

Neither is a guarantee.

 So is it worth it?

There will be no judgement either way. 

I'm really on the fence with this and respect whatever decision you make for your child, I am just curious to hear what you do/did and the reasoning behind it. 

Thanks!! 

Babies Don't Keep

There's a poem by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton, that replays through my head most days. 

Out of justification/excuse, but also out of truth. 

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

I feel behind on everything.
It seems to be the consequence when you choose to enjoy your sweet baby 
or choose to do other things like tv,pictures or pinterest during nap time. 

And that's okay. 

Those things can wait. 

Because as soon as you think your baby has grown...
 she grows even more the next night. 

So in the meantime, I will continue savor each moment and beg time to slow down.

Because babies don't keep.