We hosted a couple's baby shower on Saturday for some friend's in our Bible Study and it was so much fun. Very different to ladies only, but so much fun. When it's just ladies, the Mama-to-be opens the gifts while the seasoned moms chime in about each product and it's different uses along with tips and tricks. I think it is great to include the dads although, some of the advice (like how to make padsickles) that other mom's share when it's just ladies are really good to know but they keep quiet ... View the Post
Montessori Style Nursery: Pros and Cons + Baby Toy Wish List
| Object Permanence Box | I love having a space in our home where I know Ollie can play safely and independently. Obviously even in his Montessori style nursery, there are things that we need to move and tweak as we realize he can get to or hurt himself with. I decided to write some of the pros and cons down so far, especially now that he is crawling and the floor mattress is a blessing and a curse. Pros: Oliver can choose and access any of his toys neatly presented on his shelves. He ... View the Post
How to start cloth diapering
I know I haven't been doing this for a long time at all, but I did want to write down some encouragement to those of you who are thinking about incorporating cloth but haven't dived in quite yet. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. My plan was to be a cloth mom almost right from the start but all that pressure wasn't helpful, it just created guilt. I had three newborn cloth diapers (two Grovia and one Luludew AIO) that he would wear when I didn't think he was going to poo ... View the Post
Oliver’s 9 month update: All the milestones but no more teeth
Catch up on previous updates: Oliver's birth story | Month 1+2 | Month 3 | Month 4 | Month 5 | Month 6 | Month 7 | Month 8 Nine month's old is such a fun one because that's how long he was inside my belly and I still think that is remarkable. It has obviously been a much busier 9 months than when he was all tucked inside but it's incredible getting to know our little one. This month he has grown in leaps and bounds; not so much physically, but in what he is able to do now. I'm going to ... View the Post
Taking baby to the pool
My mission this summer is to not let Oliver get sunburned or let him eat anything that he is not supposed to. I have never been more challenged in my life, seriously. I'm pasting on suncream 234, 976 times a day and I'm scurrying around the house making sure my hair clips or loose change aren't lying around. Now that Oliver is crawling and pulling himself up on things, I've moved into a whole new season of busy. It's wonderful to watch him grow and learn new things. I am so thankful that we ... View the Post
Oliver’s 8 month update: Separation anxiety + Getting on a schedule-ish
Catch up on previous updates: Oliver's birth story | Month 1+2 | Month 3 | Month 4 | Month 5 | Month 6 | Month 7 | (Outfit deets: Jeans- Gap (old) similar, similar, similar | Shirt | Old Navy ) This month has been an interesting one. Oliver is moving around so much, and getting into so many things that he has me on my toes. He isn't crawling just yet but is so close it could happen any moment. Every time I turn around, he has scooted backwards and found something he shouldn't like a ... View the Post
What I will do differently for baby #2 (if there is one)
First of all let me say that baby number two is not on the horizon at all. I have joked to Daniel saying that when Oliver can make me a PB&J then we can think about trying for another one. Becoming a mother has been so wonderful but it has also been painful, exhausting and emotional. You can't prepare someone by telling them what it's going to be like - they just have to jump into the pool that is motherhood and learn how to splash around until they can swim by themselves. Of course we ... View the Post
7 month update: Starting Solids + Cloth Nappies
Catch up on previous updates: Oliver's birth story | Month 1+2 | Month 3 | Month 4 | Month 5 | Month 6 | Sleep Day: Oliver has three 1-2 hour naps a day, in the morning, noon and afternoon. He is pretty close to falling asleep on his own, but I do have to go in and out of the room a couple times to turn him from his back to his tummy and pat his bum a couple times. We have made huge progress from having to hold him to sleep so we are thrilled. He wakes up happy from his naps and ... View the Post
Vegan Lactation No-Bake Cookies + My Breastfeeding Journey
There are many hidden mysteries about pregnancy, childbirth and parenting that you have to discover for yourselves. Honestly I do know why we don't talk about them with others who don't have kids, unless they ask: It can be a little scary and overwhelming. I still don't remember my friends having conversations about tearing, sitz baths, crying babies or teething, but I probably wasn't paying much attention anyway. When babies are not on your horizon, anything people say simply falls on deaf ... View the Post
Oliver’s 6 month update: Teething + Jet lag
Catch up on previous updates: Oliver's birth story | Month 1+2 | Month 3 | Month 4 | Month 5 We recently took a month long trip to South Africa and I feel like we brought home a totally different baby. Isn't it amazing what they can learn to do in a month? One day he was face-planting while trying to sit up and not having a good time at all, but the next day he was holding himself up beautifully and was super proud of what he had learned! Sleep Day: Oliver takes 4 naps a day. ... View the Post