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.

3 Years

Today marks 3 wonderful years since I said forever to living life with my best friend!

I am so thankful for each year, season, chapter, up and down we have experienced together.

I am thankful for the wonderful husband, provider and daddy that Mr. B has become.

" And I thought I loved you then..."

Our wedding song, and a song I am confident will be true with each passing year!

And of course we can't celebrate this day without bringing back our Father/Daughter Dance!

I love my dad and I am so glad he made these fun memories with me!

Weekend Rewind

Friday

I found this toy on craigslist for $5 and she loved it!

Later that evening Auntie A & J came over so Mr. B and I could go out for dinner for an early anniversary celebration!

We put her to bed and enjoyed a delicious dinner! 

And we managed to not talk about Adalyn the whole time. 

We had a wonderful night out!

I love my hubby.

Saturday

Somebody turned EIGHT months!!

And looks like such a big girl!

We enjoyed another beautiful day on the lake. 

We had fun being anchored at the sand bar and enjoyed time with new friends and family!

And we also got the sweetest text from Uncle CJ

Love that little man.

Sunday

We went to church, out for lunch with some friends and spent some time at the farm.

Enjoyed some applesauce

Her new favorite face to make..

Then Mr. B went to see Batman. 

{my heart breaks for the victims and their families. I can not even imagine. I am praying for peace and healing to all of those involved.}

Adalyn and I stayed home, had an early tubby and bedtime {Love Sunday nights!} and I edited some pictures from the day of her in her cute little romper.

Love summer weekends and I am sad that they are quickly coming to an end!

Road Trip, Wedding, Reunion

On the 4th of July weekend we took Adalyn's first road trip.

A 9 hour drive to the middle of nowhere Erie, PA. 

Adalyn did great and stuck right to her schedule!

I couldn't resist buying her a new book. 
Mickey + Road Trip= Meant to be!

We arrived at the hotel around 4PM, unpacked a few things and went for a swim with daddy.

Followed by a delicious dinner at Texas Roadhouse. 
Munched on some yummy rolls {and salad, and steak and loaded sweet potato and gained 5 pounds}. Got back, had tubby, read bedtime books and called it a night.

Our morning started off with her first munchkin from Dunkins. 
She approved.

Then we were off to an indoor water park! 

She loves her tubby time and she didn't disappoint us with loving the water park, too! 

She started off with just a few smiles, I think there was so much around her that she was taking it all in. 

She is such a water baby and had a blast!

We got lunch on the way back to the hotel, she took her nap and then we were off to celebrate Alice and Tyler! 

Alice was beautiful and they were both glowing. 
Weddings are such special times filled with so much love and joy. How can anyone not be smiling?!

Mr. B stayed in the hallway during the ceremony since little Miss Adalyn is quite the screecher these days. 
Weddings are pretty much the only time that my college friends and I are able to get together. 
So these weddings are always extra exciting!

The reception was held at a beautiful old theater. We enjoyed catching up with our friends, good food, love and dancing!

For kicks and giggles....

Yes, my gorgeous friend {the next bride to be!} is that tall.
Yes, we are that short.
Yes, our boobs start at her hips. 
So sad.

Last year we reunited at Jules' wedding

And this year, they're expecting!

My first roomie and sweet friend, 5 years later...

We have another wedding in October and we will get to meet their sweet baby girl! 

First and last dance for the bride and groom

Speaking of dancing....the books forget to inform you that when you become a mom you lose most or all sense of rhythm. 
I was never a good dancer, but I had some moves. 
I was nearly in tears when I realized that must have snuck out with Adalyn on November 21. 

So us mommies stayed in the back and enjoyed the freedom to let loose where few could see. 

Lesson learned that a wedding past bedtime + sleeping for an hour+waking up when time for bed= wired until 12:30AM. At least it was the hyper/funny overtired!

Which then resulted in a little someone sleeping in our bed...and not wanting to wake up to get an early start home!

We started a journey back home and took a pitstop at Mr. B's grandparents house in Buffalo. They haven't met Adalyn yet and we also had some little 2nd cousins to meet!

We had a great visit, she loved her great-grandparents and her 2nd cousins and I wish we could've stayed longer!

It's no fun living so far away from people you love!

We are looking forward to our next reunion in October to celebrate Lauren and Nate!