Adalyn's Pantry

Adalyn doesn't really have her own pantry, 
but her food does take up a good amount of space. 

I always like to see what other babies eat so I thought it would be fun to do a post on Adalyn's staples. 

So fun, right?

Okay, so maybe that wasn't the right word to use...

Yesterday I went grocery shopping so it was the perfect time since the last couple days I've been too lazy to go shopping and she's been eating corn pops, ritz bits and peanut butter and crackers because everything she loves was "in stock".

Breakfast

She starts off with some dry cereal and then usually has a yogurt and a fruit. I buy a mix of Yobaby and Gerber yogurt. I like how the the Gerber yogurt doesn't have to be refrigerated {which is a little weird too}, but it's great for on-the-go too.

Easy on-the-go snacks that she loves:

These are all clean and mess free so they're perfect!

 Sometimes the little strawberries can get stuck on her clothes, but other than that these are our go-to snacks. 

Lunch

 is usually a variety of some sorts. 

She's not a huge veggie fan so I like to get the fruit and veggie mixes and she loves those. 

I also love the GoGo Squeez apple sauce. I prefer to buy the jumbo pack at Target though. 

Some nuggets with a little ranch and ketchup.

Or

Peanut butter and crackers. 

Sometimes a hot dog, rotisserie chicken or grilled cheese.

Side "dishes" with lunch
She loves any kind of cheese, raisins, pirates booty {she really loves Jax (cheese doodles) but these are yummy, cleaner and a healthier option,} and mini rice quakes. 

I tried to be healthier and reduce the consumption of cheese puffs, but surprisingly she wasn't a fan of Veggie Sticks.
Can't say I blame her...

Dinner

 is usually whatever we are having
or

I prefer the Gerber graduates pasta dinners, but our grocery store doesn't have those so if I go there I usually get these Steamies and they are good enough. 
She loves the pasta stars and chicken and also the mac and cheese. {She also loved the Annie's mac and cheese, but I've only made that a few times}. 

The ravioli's are great and easy too- she loves those!

And dinner is usually finished off with a few animal crackers. 

Of course, all this food is mismatched throughout the day, but for the most part it's pretty consistent. 

This girl loves to eat just like her mama.


We haven't started juice yet, because she is still loving her water. 
And of course it never fails that she chokes on it because she drinks it too fast....

What do you're kids eat?

Anything they love we should know about??

Captured. Photography Page

I love taking pictures of Adalyn.

I love my camera {canon rebel xsi}.

It allows me to very easily take really good pictures. 

I honestly still have tons to learn. 

I am always in auto. 

I don't know half the settings.

ISO.

F-stop.

IDK. 

Get it? 

I Don't Know.

I thought it was a little clever. 

Anyways I'm so not ready to start a real business. 

I've had sweet people give me kind and encouraging words- prompting me to do so-but I'm really not at that level yet. 

Recently, I've had some friends ask me to take pictures of their child and nervously I said I would. 

Out of my comfort zone, but great practice! 

Through this I decided to to start a separate photography facebook page to upload the photos. 

It's a tiny step, but it's a step and we will see where it will go! 

Like my page, Captured. photography, if you want to follow along! 

I try my best to capture every sweet moment of my baby girl- moments that pass WAY to quickly and I am blessed and honored to be able to capture moments for others! 

Amber Necklace Discount

I posted about Adalyn's miracle necklace a couple days ago

 and today Baby Steals is selling them!

You're welcome.

Just kidding.

 I had absolutely nothing to do with it. 

But I thought it was cool.

Mouse in the house...

There appears to be evidence of a mouse in our bathroom.

Oh...

I take that back.

False alarm.

There appears to be evidence of a baby that is in to every.thing.

Amber Necklace

When I was pregnant I saw a few babies in blogland wearing necklaces, I read a little bit about them and decided I would have Adalyn wear one when her teeth starting coming in. 

The necklaces are made with Baltic Amber, they come in a variety of shades of yellow- real dark to real light.  

Baltic Amber has been known to be a natural healing remedy- helping with pain, inflammation, comfort, relaxation etc. 

These necklaces are not meant to be chewed on.  
Sometimes when I tell people it's a teething necklace they think it's for her to suck on- it's not. 
The length of the necklace is not supposed to be able to even reach the child's mouth. 

When Adalyn first wore her necklace it was hard for me to tell if it was too tight. You could hardly even see it with all her "necks" or lack thereof! 
It's been funny to see the it "grow" as she's thinned out- it really looks like it's doubled in size!

The beads are all individually knotted so if she or another child was to pull it, only one bead would fall off and the rest would stay in tack. 
Reducing the risk of multiple beads being swallowed!

The beads are small enough that if one did happen to be swallowed it would not be a choking hazard. 

The necklace is also made with a screw type clasp that would come undone with enough pressure. 

My Aunt actually bought one for her for my baby shower, she bought it from Inspired by Finn and I picked out the Raw Amber Light Mixture {except at the time I feel like it had another name?}. Adalyn started getting her bottom teeth when she was a little over 4 months. 
All of a sudden I could see them at her gumline and within a few days they had popped through.
It happened so fast! 
They never seemed to bother her so I was in no rush for her to wear the necklace.

I was told it was better to start wearing it now before any "symptoms" occurred so it gets into her system.

So I decided to give it a try. 

There's really nothing to lose.

If it works great, 
if it doesn't bummer and it's on to tylenol and bibs.

So she wore it.

And teethed fine. 

We took it off at night before her tubby and put it back on in the mornings. 

I read that some people put it around their kids ankles at night so we started doing that too.

I wasn't sure if it was working, I didn't really know how Adalyn was as a teether, but she continued to get teeth with no problem so she kept on wearing it. 

We had no bad diapers.

Maybe one bad night and I don't even remember if she was wearing it or not. 

No crankiness. 
Nothing out of the norm for our sweet girl. 

{See how much bigger it looks when her neck sprouted??}

One night I misplaced the necklace and she didn't wear it for a couple days and that's when I became a true believer. 

Niagra Falls moved into Adalyn's mouth. 

I could not believe the amount of drool that would constantly pour out. 

This did not happen when she wore the necklace. 

I was amazed.

I'm still amazed. 

I don't completely understand it, but it was night and day difference for her so I don't really care how it works! 
It works!

After seeing the difference it made, I now make sure she wears it as often as she can. 

One thing I don't like about it is all the comments I get when we are out and about. 

Before I had her I know I would have been judging in my head if I saw a baby wearing a necklace. 

The comments I get are not usually negative, they're more friendly comments with hopes that I can explain to them why my baby is wearing a small necklace with beads around her neck.

 "She's so cute. Ooo she's even wearing a necklace"

"Look at her in her little necklace"

"So fancy in her necklace"

"What a little fashionista"

Typically I explain {and sound like a complete loony} because I want people to know I'm not some vain teen {not really, but look like one} mom who is playing dress up with her baby. 

I mean don't get me wrong, I totally love to play dress up with my baby, 
but having her wear a little beaded necklace to go with her outfits everyday would be crossing the line. 

So I give my mini speech that it's for teething and the warmth of her body allow the healing oils from the amber to go into her body. That it really helps her with her drooling, etc, etc. 

"Oook lady" is typically the face I receive. 

And this is also when I am usually glad the necklace works, but secretly wish that it didn't.

I especially don't like it when I have her in a yellow outfit because then it really looks it's for style!

{Unfortunately it doesn't help with new trick of teeth grinding!}

A few weeks ago I accidentally put the necklace in the wash. 

It was in my pocket and I forgot to take it out. 

{So bummed!!}

The beads are very delicate-you're not really supposed to clean them with anything. 

I think a really soft cloth and a little water if needed.

So going through the wash, in my jeans and with detergent was not exactly ideal. 

So she went without it for a few days and I was reminded of how awesome the necklace really is!

I let it dry and had her wear it for a couple days and unfortunately she continued to drool like crazy. 

It didn't seem to be working anymore. 

Wah.

I read some tips online that said to let it dry, recharge it in the sun and put some olive oil on it.  

I crossed my fingers and tried that and it didn't seem to help. 

When she was wearing it she was still  drooling so badly that I would either have to change outfits or dry her shirt while she napped.

It was getting ridiculous. 

{Couldn't she just wear a bib?
 Well yeah, but back to the whole fashionista/baby dress up thing...it just doesn't fly.

She can totally pull off a bib

they just aren't my favorite.}.

So I bit the bullet and bought a new necklace at a local natural store down the road. 

Literally within hours her drool was so much better.

And of course again, I was amazed. 

It really does work. 

Does she still drool with the necklace on?

Yes.

But clearly, it does not even compare to when she's not wearing it. 

And I've recently learned, with her being sick, that it doesn't help much when her nose is stuffy. 

But of course if she can only breathe out of her mouth- that's expected. 

I drool a lot when my nose is stuffy too. 

Now she wears it most days and sleeps with it on most nights. 

I usually take it off when we go to church {I don't want anything to happen to it while Adalyn is in the nursery} and when she has doctor appointments. 

And also for most special pictures or photo shoots. 

And if I'm not in the mood to explain or justify, I sometimes take it off before going out to a store.

Apparently it doesn't work on all babies {I have a friend whose daughter still drools a lot with it}, but for most babies I know they do. 

I'm a big fan 
and I say give it a try if your baby is teething and/or really drooly! 

Chevron Chevwrong

I posted this last week not knowing about this link up,

so next time I'll post a new one.

Assuming I'd have some new readers here's my experience with a chevron lampshade. 

--------------------

Pinterest and I have a love-hate relationship.

I love the plethora of ideas.

I hate that I hardly do anything I pin.

I love the simplicity and the projects that spawn my imagination.

I hate that it "makes" me unhappy with our home and the decor we have.

Specifically in our bedroom.

So last weekend I decided I was going to whip up some chevron lamps.

I got these lamps last year at Goodwill, I had already painted the bases but the lampshades were just off-white and boring. 

I thought it would add a little modern touch to our room if I made them chevron.

I had the tape.

I had the paint.

I had some time.

Perfect. 

Adalyn went down for her nap, I got my supplies and it was time to transform the lamps. 

After about 30 minutes of trying to figure out how to even tape a point, I was getting really frustrated. 

Not only was I wasting nap time, I was annoyed with myself and my brain....why couldn't I figure this out?!?

Seriously.

I've seen a million and one DIY chevron projects.

Why am I not capable of taping a zigzag onto the lampshade?!

I'm annoyed again just thinking about it. 

I'm pretty sure another 15 minutes passed by and whenever I thought I finally "got it" the next one I tried wasn't lining up right.

Since Mr. B is much more of a perfectionist than I am he decided to give it a try.

I found online that if you put some tape as an ending point for your points it's easier to line up the points.

So we gave it a try.

Please note all the bunched tape on the ground...which may or may not be half of the pile from my trial and error.

We wasted more nap time.

And tape.

And happiness. 

Mr. B thought he got it and then, sure enough, the more he did it the more it wasn't looking right. 

Adalyn woke and it was a whole {at least} hour and a half hour nap completely wasted. 

Well... not completely.

We did get one point done.

Do you understand the value of a nap time and how detrimental it is for one to be wasted on trying to make a triangle with tape?!?!

So our day went on, we took some breathers until it was time for time for Nap #2. 

I had a new idea and used Adalyn's nesting box to make my points so they would be even and the same size.

This started out as a great idea until I pulled the tape off the box and ripped it multiple times. 

Awesome. 

I was almost finished with the top row and then I got to the end and there wasn't enough room for the rest.

Hmm, I guess this is why people measure these things....

I gave up and tried again at bedtime. 

Using a new wooden box toy this time for my angles, I was on a roll and it was finally working. 

I finished the top row and then it was time for the second row which then created it's own problems because this row really needs to be measured equally {aka way too much work}

Mr. B helped- we tried- we failed. 

It stayed like this in our room for a few days. 

Super classy.

I went to take the tape off and officially give up and decided to give it one more try.

This time all the zigzags were lining up. 

I was feeling relieved and happy.

I put it up, took a few steps back 

and realized it wasn't even.

At all.

And then the thought of making another lampshade and going through this process again made me want to cry. 

And punch it. 

And then throw it at the wall.

So the tape came off. 

I wasted hours of free-time.

Loads of tape.


I eventually measured it and the lampshade is smaller on top and slowly gets bigger towards the bottom. 

So I think {and hope} that this has something to do with my big fat failure of a chevron lampshade. 

And in the end I was left with this amazing transformation!!

I have a new respect for the people that do DIY chevron. 

Seriously.

It takes some patience.

And skill.

And major brains.

Ok, maybe not major brains...but it definitely takes a fully functioning brain.

Which these days is rare for me. 

I'm lucky if I can even remember how to spell or have an adult conversation. 

Baby Steps...

Adalyn has been pulling herself up and cruising all around for a couple months now.

She could stay standing for a few seconds and I knew the time was coming soon when she'd be taking her first steps.

I told Mr. B that we should be practicing every time he is home because I knew she was close and I was worried she would do it while he was away at work or school. It would really bum him out not to be there, so we started having her go back and forth between us a few times at night before bed. 

She struggled.

She fell.

She wouldn't let go. 

But we kept trying a little every night. 

She was ready, she just needed the confidence.

Last week she took one step with me at home so it officially became "game on".

She needs to be in the right mood- focused and confident- in order to really do it and yesterday was the day!

Mommy, of course, was very proud. 

Daddy was shocked, ha! 

I don't think he fully comprehended how ready she was.

I mean, she is only 1 month old after all....

:: just go along with our denial, k? K. ::

So she's at it again...she won't stop growing. 

And she feels the need to prove to us everyday that she's no longer a baby.
To her and to everyone else they're just baby steps, but in our eyes they're more than just that. 
They're huge steps.

Steps towards losing our baby. 
Steps towards gaining a big girl.
Steps to new challenges in parenting. 
Steps towards independence. 
Steps towards letting go.
Steps towards wanting a new baby.
And as always, 
bittersweet steps. 

We are so proud of our little lady! 

Smelly Reunion

This summer all of our family reunions were during same week.

What are the odds??

Apparently there is only one perfect week in the 3 months of summer for a vacation.

Needless to say we were busy!

Unfortunately we were only able to spend a little bit of time at each reunion because of this, but we made the most of it and had a great time!

I am always bummed that Mr. B's parents, his sister and her family live in Texas.

It's sad that, for the most part, our niece and nephew only know us through pictures.

I grew up doing a lot with my cousins and it's a bummer that Adalyn will only get to be with her cousins a few times a year, but it is what is and I will capture as much of them together through the years as I can!

07.28.12

We met the family up at the Lake and without wasting anytime we went out on the boat and got some lunch. 

{Adalyn does where her lifejacket while the boat is going, when we are anchored we give her a break sometimes to let her breathe and move around}

Adalyn came down with a high fever and then a cold a few days before we left, so unfortunately she was sick. The good thing was she was usually happy as a clam during the day, but it was the night time that she became a sad restless girl! Good for us with the family, bad for us at night...aka Zombie Momma!

07.29.12

We woke up and had some breakfast with the fam

It was a pretty yucky day out so we ended up just hanging out around the house and visiting.

::Boogie Wipes were our best friend::

::Celebrated Uncle Matt's Birthday::

::Michael had a love/fear relationship with Roxie::

::Watched the boys play outside with the ball::

::Snuggled with Papa::

::Played with Nana and her toys::

It cleared up for a little and we were able to have some fun at the playground

That night Mr. B had to go back home because he had work and school the next day.

Adalyn and I stayed at lake to soak up some more time with her cousins!

07.30.12

The girls had on their matching dresses and they were ready for some "cousin pictures". This was the first time all three of them were together- so pictures were a must! 

They didn't think so.

These are seriously they only pictures I got. 

 It went nothing like I had imagined in my head. 

Silly me...

After that we were on our way for a fun day at Story Land.

While we were riding the merry-go-round the clouds rolled in and it began to downpour.

Of course the strollers were soaked by the time we got off the ride. 

No worries, Auntie A took care of that with a maxi-pad she had in the diaper bag. 

They actually worked really well- super absorbent!

{I'm thinking we could "pin" this for "tips and tricks", don't you think? 

Okay, maybe not... but it was inventive and it did the job!}

Thankfully the ride was next to a store so we ran in there and bought some ponchos.

We were getting ready for lunch anyways, so we ran to the food court and had lunch until it stopped raining. 

Please note: I was careful at keeping my two prized possessions dry. 

The timing was perfect and it cleared up after lunch and we were able to enjoy the rest of the day!

And a special thanks to wonderful Nana for bringing us!

Everyone had so much fun!

It's the beginning of many great memories and vacations together for these little cousins! 

Wasn't It Just Me

Today my college roomie is going to deliver her baby girl.

I've been checking my phone non-stop the past couple days waiting for the official "It's go time!"

And today is the day!!

Such an exciting time!

The details are still so vivid in my head.

Seriously, wasn't that just me?!

Wasn't that just me breathing through the contractions and anxiously awaiting the time to push and meet our sweet girl??

Wasn't that just me that went through the most painful thing ever only to experience the most joyful feeling ever??

How is it possible that it was a little over 9 months ago??

Two week ago Adalyn officially blessed us as much outside of the womb as she did in.

And let me just say that the past 39 weeks 3 days with her out were so much better than those 9 months in!! 

I am so excited for my friend to get to experience the joy and love of being a mom. 

There really is nothing like it. 

And I can not believe my baby is almost 1.

Wasn't that just me in the delivery room??

{And you can bet there will be some serious newborn fever when I see her pics!}

Caption Contest

I was uploading some pictures on facebook and trying to think of a caption.

Sometimes captions on facebook can be as difficult as making a title for a post. 

They are usually dumb or cheesy, or in the case of Facebook, obvious. 

A picture of my grandma reading a book to Adalyn..."Great-grandma reading her a book!"

The creativity is truly almost too much to handle. 

Anyways, I was uploading a picture of Adalyn that needed a caption. 

Her facial expression is screaming for a witty one, but my wittiness went to bed about 5 hours ago. 

Apparently Mr. B's went to bed before that because when I asked him his response was "Motor Boatin' ".

Seriously?!?!

There's a new country song out about a pontoon that we like so although it was fitting for our weekend, that's not exactly what I was going for with this picture. 

Oh, men...sometimes they just don't get it. 

So there's no real prize, but I will pick a winner on Friday and then post it! 

There's not much better than a shout out, right?

Totally wrong I know, but it's all I got.

So let's just pretend.