Working Mommy Posts

Thanks to all that have commented or emailed me in regards to the working mommy posts.  I have received a great response and will be emailing you each with details on thoughts/ideas and confirming which day of the week works best for you to do the post.  I think it would be great to do the post here on my blog, but link up to your blog where you will have the post as well. 

Some ideas I plan on sharing on my post are:

~quality time spent devoting to the word of God and praying

~how to get things done such as dishes, laundry, keeping the house clean, etc

~how to spend quality time with your spouse, dogs, and little ones

~how to spend time with friends

~how to spend time with extended family

~keeping up with blogs and other social media 

~balancing it all because I think all moms out there take on TOO MUCH and we think we can do it all.  At least I am this way! HA!

I will have to say some of the above things I am great at doing and others I need to work on them.  If only there were a FEW more hours in the day...

Again these are just my thoughts and you can expand on them when you do your post, but I wanted to get them out to you so you can start thinking and preparing your post.  I am excited to do this series and look forward to hearing how other moms balance work and home life! 

If you are a stay at home mom and you work too I would love to hear from you as well.  Also if you are a stay at home mom Karen at Karen at Home is doing a series RIGHT NOW about the Day in the Life of a Stay At Home Mom.  You should go check it out!  Plus Kelly from Kelly's Korner is doing a week series on Week in the Life, this is where she shares her day with her readers.  I think it is great because it gives other moms ideas on things to do with their kids and more.  Go check it out too!

These two moms did not ask me to write about them.  I just think the topics they are sharing are wonderful and can add value to stay at home moms and I wanted to share.  You can read if you would like...

Again thank you for your interest and we will begin the series July 11th, 2011.  Please look for an email from me later today or tomorrow.  If you are interested in doing a post please send me an email or leave a comment. 

Have a Beautiful Day!



Sippy Cup HELP {Notes}

As promised I am sharing all the comments I received with all of you that are in similar situations as I am! 

I am ready to try some of these tips and hoping for success!  I will keep you posted on how it is going.  I am really hoping by our 14 Month Post I can say he is on a Sippy Cup 100%!!!!

Please note that everything listed below are from comments I received.  Take it as you want...I think it is great that so many moms out there support one another!  Plus if your baby isn't on a sippy cup I think this post is great to save for future reference, but again that is just my opinion! 

{Notes on Sippy Cups}

I tried to add links if a reader left one, plus if I haven't heard of a particular sippy cup I went on amazon and found it and listed the link.  I hope this helps everyone!

1.  Dr Brown's Sippy Cups

2.  One comment stated, "My sister had some sort of stoppers that she put in the lid of the sippy cup so that it didn't just flow out, they actually have to suck on it to get the milk out.  Then when they got use to that she took the stopper out."  Based on this comment I think that she is talking about the Playtex sippy cups.  The one we have has a stopper in it.  I just purchased this sippy cup this week based on a twitter comment I received this week too. 

3.  Tip for transitioning to sippy cup from bottle... go for it COLD TURKEY!  I think this is how we are going to have to approach this with Grayson, but I do have another plan that I want to try first.  We will see what happens. 

4.  Born Free Trainer Cups - they have a handle like a sippy cup but a spout that is more like a bottle.  This mommy also left the following tip, "We used this cup for probably 6 months or so before we transitioned to a straw cup, but still using the trainer cups in the morning and before bed.  In the beginning, we would even tilt him back with the cups as though he was drinking from a bottle.  It worked really well for us, even though the Born Free cups have more parts than other sippy cups.  It was well worth it to get him off of a bottle.  One thing I will say, though, is they have two types of nipples, hard and soft.  Stick with the soft, because the hard nipple is free flowing and one was always too fast and two it doesn't have a back-flow valve, so every time it gets tipped over it spills.  The soft nipple is slower and doesn't spill. 

5.  Playtex Insulated Hard Top Sippy Cup

6.  BornFree - they have a vent just like a bottle.  Actually the sippy lids are interchangeable with the bottle tops and vice versa.  They also come with a cap to throw in the diaper bag and removable handles. 

7.  Start with a soft top sippy cup, then move to a hard top sippy cup, and then a straw sippy cup.

8.  Playtex Brand - they have a good stopper in them.

9.  Munchkin Soft Tip Sippy Cup

10.  Nuby "Sport Sippers"

11. ThinkBaby Thinkster - they stated that it is just like the bottle but instead of the nipple it is a straw.  She did warn me by saying that it is pretty much spill proof which is a plus, but it is quite a pain to clean. 

12.  Straw Sippy Cups

13.  Break the habit of going to bed with a bottle or sippy cup.  My friend Kate sent me some GREAT details on how to do this and I am really excited to give this a try and break this habit all together.  Wish me luck!

14.  Open Cup - use a small plastic one, fill it a third of the way, and give it to your bibbed toddler at meals.  It encourages lip retraction -- when lips have to make a smiley face for words like "hi".  Straw sippy cups - They are mostly spill proof, so use them at home or in the car.  Benefits:  Promotes funneling -- when the tongue stays in the mouth to talk -- and also strengthens cheek and lip muscles. 

15.  TILTY sippy cups this sippy cup has a tilt inside so that your toddler doesn't have to tilt his/her head back. 

16.  Nipple Shaped Sippy Parts @ William Sonoma

17.  NUK Latex Learner Sippy Cups

18.  Use the brand of Bottle you used with your infant and see if they have a sippy cup.

19.  Avent Sippy Cups



spaghettiO's oh my!

For dinner last night I decided I was going to try giving Grayson SpaghettiO's...

let's just say he LOVED them!

what a mess...

and now he clean!

{love my sweet baby G}



Thank you so much for all the comments on my last post regarding sippy cups!  I love all of the comments and support.  I thought you would give me a list of sippy cups which you did, but some of you offered additional support on how to break the bottle.  AMAZING SUPPORT!!!!! 

So what am I going to do...well now I am going to go through all the comments and do a blog post so that all readers can get this AMAZING SUPPORT!!!!!

BIG THANKS AND A BIG HUG!

Sippy Cup HELP!

We are starting to get Grayson off of his bottle and on a sippy cup full time, however it is not going well at all! 

Problem: when he takes a nap or goes to bed he has always had a bottle before he goes to sleep.  Every time I give him a sippy cup he drinks a little bit and than sits up like he can't drink out of the sippy cup and go to sleep.  Does that make sense?  I feel as if the sippy cup flow of milk is faster than in a bottle.  I don't think he will have an issue converting to a sippy cup, but I think I just have not found the right one for him.  So can anyone tell me which sippy cup out there will be the best to transition from a bottle?  I would love the help!

Here is a list of sippy cups we have and have tried:

Tommee Tippee Sippy Cup

Nuby

Nuk

Nuk Air System

Take and Toss

Look at this sweet smile...



365 Project

Over the weekend I finally caught up on our 365 Day Project.  I usually don't do a post on our daily pictures, but I thought I would since I had 18 pictures to update.  If you follow me on Facebook that is where I keep this project updated.  I am happy that I have kept up with the daily photos it has been fun looking back at all of the photos. 

I created two storyboards and I will try my best to share a caption about each picture. 

1. first time playing in his baby pool

2.  at our friend's house playing on their deck

3.  G wanted to push the swing instead of being pushed...it was a little dangerous and it didn't last long before I started pushing him in the swing

4.  teaching Grayson how to sit in the chair, instead he kept crawling out of it and sitting beside it

5.  fun picture I took before Grayson fell down

6.  Grayson was starting to get upset and I was trying to get a picture of him making his face with his bottom lip sticking out it is too cute!

7.  Daddy watering flowers with Grayson.  This is the best way to do it.  I watered the flowers once with Grayson and he was COVERED in MUD afterwards!  He loved it, but it was a complete mess!

8.  Grayson finally likes the grass...

1.  At Meme's new house... he already knows how to turn on the bathtub!

2.  Summer fun...I was changing Grayson into his swim shorts in the backyard and he ran away from me and I couldn't resist taking a quick picture!

3.  Just playing

4.  Trying a cracker at Meme's house

5.  Cute picture of Grayson that I got mid-action of him starting to stand up!

6.  Grayson was teething HORRIBLE last week so I gave him a frozen waffle in the backyard and he loved it!  Hint..go outside it makes a big mess!

7.  I love this picture of Grayson he looks so much like his cousin Drew in this picture.

8.  Teething again...this is how he uses his paci when he is teething.

At Red Robin having dinner with friends on Saturday. 

Grayson loved getting the ballon!



Swim Party on Sunday.  Grayson had already went swimming and we were having a lunch break so he found some toys to keep himself busy.  I love his cover up, it kept him warm without having to change him out of his swim shorts. 

Question for all readers:

My friend Karen at Karen at Home recently did a week long series  on Stay at Home Moms.  I loved reading the posts each day and I was wondering if anyone of MY readers would be interested in guest blogging on MY blog for Working Moms.  I think it would be VERY interesting to READ how all Working Moms manage home life and work life.  Don't get me WRONG I strongly believe that staying home with your kids is being a WORKING MOM, but I was wondering if anyone would be interested in reading on HOW moms manage working outside of the home and all the details that go along with it.  I could start off the series and we could go from there... give me your feedback and I was thinking we could get started on July 11th, 2011.  I would love to share what I do in a typical day with work, taking care of our house, Grayson, and Bella. 

What are your thoughts???  

Have a great week!

13 Months {9 days}

First I am SO happy that Picky Sticky created stickers for months 13-24! We can NOW continue with our monthly updates. Which is really good for me because I have not STARTED one page of Grayson's baby book. Thank goodness for my blog.

Grayson you are 13 Months Old {and 9 days} once again I am several days late doing this post.

Not only can you WALK but you are RUNNING. You love for me to chase after you. You love to play hide and seek. You have also learned to shut the doors in our house. Your favorite room in our house is mommy and daddy's room and closet. You love to take the shoes out of our closet and carry them around.

You drink whole milk and LOVE it! I probably mentioned this on your last monthly post, but now that you are on whole milk you sleep through the night and it is such a huge blessing to mommy and daddy! Yeah Grayson! You still take your nap and night time milk from a bottle. I plan on breaking you from the bottle starting VERY soon. I am hoping by next month you are 100% on sippy cups.

 

Other big news is that we can also put you in your crib for naps and bedtime and you will go to sleep ALL BY YOURSELF. This is HUGE!!!! I really thought that I would be rocking you to sleep until you were 5, but not anymore. We are so proud of you!

You love table food and you EAT SO WELL! Here are is a list of food items you like: you love waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, fruit, veggies, yogurt, beans & weenies, hot dogs, noodles, corn dogs, fish sticks, cereal bars, mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, and applesauce. Your newest thing is throwing your food on the floor when you are done eating. It is not fun to clean up so we are trying to stop you from doing this! Good thing Bella loves to help clean up too!

 

You are still saying Mama, Dada, Bella, Ball, and you can also say Ouch! It is so cute!

Every morning when I go and get you from your crib I pick you up and you give me a kiss...I love it! It is so sweet!

 

You love watching cartoons, your favorite shows are Wonder Pets, Yo Gabba Gabba, and Backyardigans. You also still love your Baby Einstein videos.

You LOVE being outside playing. You love to walk around in the grass and play with the dirt and mulch. You love to swing in your swing, splash in your pool, and go for walks in your wagon.

 

At your last appointment you weighed 19 pounds 5 ounces. You were 28 inches in height.

This past month you had Roseola that you got from daycare, but now you are feeling 100% better.

 

You are wearing size 3 diapers, however once we finish up with our stock on size 3 we are moving up to size 4.

Clothes you are wearing size 6-12 months or size 12-18 months...most of your summer clothes are size 12-18 months so we are wearing those and they are starting to finally fit you over the past week.

You wear size 4 shoe

You wear size 6-12 month or 12 month PJ's

You have 4 teeth on the top and 3 teeth on the bottom plus this week you started getting your one year old molars. It has been so rough on you. You gums are so swollen. We have given you your frozen paci, frozen waffles, and the one thing that really has worked is Orajel.

 

You are going through separation anxiety right now. If I leave the room you cry and now that you are walking you will follow me around and cry and whine. I either end up picking you up or I go and play with you in your playroom.

You have a great personality and it is neat to watch how you have changed so much over the past month. When you get upset now you stick out your bottom lip first before you start crying. When you don't get your way you either CRY, Hit my Face, or you will jump up and down and get upset. You don't get upset a whole lot the only time you get upset is when you want to go outside and I don't let you. That is when you start throwing a fit.

You have gotten several bumps this past month from walking and trying new things. Like climbing in and out of your chair you have fallen a few times. But you keep trying to learn how to sit in it and watch cartoons.

 

Your daddy loves that you are walking he thinks you are SO MUCH FUN! You get so excited when daddy comes home from work. You get the BIGGEST smile on your face and you walk super FAST to get to him.

You still love bath time and WATER in general. You love playing in Bella's water bowl. If the water bowl is on the floor you go straight for it and put your hands in it and splash!

 

This past month you did start swimming lessons. You did great and loved being in the water. You wanted to get out of my arms and play with the toys. I think you are really going to love swimming lessons.

You have changed so much Grayson and we are so blessed to call you are son. Thank you for the wonderful blessing you have given to us the past 13 months. You have brought so much happiness into our family.

 

Happy 13 Months to our Big Boy Grayson!

Pinterest

Pinterest...

have you heard of it?  If not you should check it out!  I can send you an invite too...just let me know in the comments. 

Once I watched a quick video tutorial on how the site works I fell in love with this site. 

In fact our friends are moving here VERY soon and I have spent some time looking at the site for things she wants in her new home.  There are so many wonderful ideas on the Pinterest site. 

For example this cute DIY project:

framed flower vases

I secretly hope we can recreate this in the hallway of our friends new home...



I have also sent several ideas to my friend Tiffany who is having a Gender Reveal Party soon and I found some great ideas on the Pinterest site too.  I found the ideas by simple searching Gender Reveal Party and several pins come back with AMAZING pictures and ideas.  She is using one of the ideas I know for sure and I can't wait to see the party details in a few weeks! 

I have also created boards for our Future Nursery, Home Ideas, Photography Ideas, Sock Monkeys, Party Ideas, Neat Ideas, and Yummy Treats.  I love it because I can save these ideas in one spot and I don't have to search through my bookmark for these ideas when I need them.  The other neat idea is that you can follow people just like you do on Facebook and Twitter.  I am sure there are several other neat things about this site, but I am just a newbie learning as I play! 
I wish I would have known about this site before Grayson's party there are so many cute ideas... and don't get me started on baby rooms.  Trust me just check it out you won't be disappointed.  I have also started a board for future house ideas.  Here is one idea I love if we ever build.

Office space off of the kitchen

 

I will caution you that it is VERY ADDICTING! 

Happy Pinning!

Summer Fun

I love this summer and all the FUN we have had already! 

Grayson LOVES being OUTSIDE!

A few weeks ago I got Grayson a small pool and we have spent several afternoons playing and enjoying the warm summer sun!

Here is Grayson checking it out!  I first blew it up and Grayson loved crawling in and out of it in the house.  He played in it for hours before we went outside!  I think this was a GREAT $10.00 purchase from Walmart!



Next we went outside and he LOVED PLAYING in the water!

I am so happy I purchased this for Grayson because I would not have these wonderful memories in photos to share with him when he is older. 

New Shoes

I am sure many Mommas out there have the same feeling when you first put a pair of toddler shoes on your baby.  IT is like a turning point from being a baby to a toddler and I just want to cry!  A year ago I was holding a newborn and today I am running around with a one year old!  WOW what a difference a year makes... I have LOVED every moment!

 

I have had a difficult time finding shoes that fit Grayson.  I finally went to Stride Rite and I thought Grayson was wearing a size 3, but he really wears a size 4 so I was able to find a cute pair of everyday sandals for him to wear.  No more running around in socks.  He is a big boy in big boy shoes! 

Watch out this baby of mine is ON THE MOVE!

quick side note: sorry I have been away and not blogging much.  We have been busy and plus I have had camera downloading issues that I finally figured out with the help of my sister.  So now I am catching up on posts and our 365 day project. 

Have a Happy Weekend!

Daddy's Day

he's not perfect.  You aren't either, and the two of you will never be perfect.  But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold unto him and give him the most of you can.  He isn't going to quote poetry, he's not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break.  Don't hurt him, don't change him, and don't expect more than he can give.  Don't analyze.  Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he's not there.  Love hard when there is love to be had.  Because perfect guys don't exist, but there's always one guy that is perfect for you.  {Bob Marley}

I love the above statement it is so true and I am blessed to have found the man that is perfect for me and a WONDERFUL daddy to Grayson and Bella too! 

Happy Father's Day Chad!  We love you to the moon and back!

so HAPPY to see FRIDAY!

I am so HAPPY today is FRIDAY!  It has been a LONG week!

Sorry I haven't blogged in over a week, we have been extremely busy between work and at home.  I think that I have said this before, but I will say it again now that Grayson is walking we are BOTH on the go until we go to bed.  It is exhausting, but I really LOVE this stage.  One of my NEW favorite things is when Grayson runs and hides from us.  It is so cute!  He gets the BIGGEST smile on his face when I or Chad run after him.  

Another new thing in our house is Grayson loves to EAT all by himself.  He will not let me feed him at all.  Here are a few fun pictures that I took this week.  

and finally before I go and get ready for the day...
TODAY GRAYSON is 13 months old! 

I am hoping to have his 13 month post up later this afternoon! 

Happy Friday!

looking in the mirror

It is neat to see Grayson discover new things like looking in the mirror and seeing his reflection

and than trying to figure out how it works by going behind the mirror...



Grayson is learning every day it is so much fun to watch!

independent

Grayson loves to be independent these days...

look at that face...

He can also wear his bowl as a hat...

and he can do tricks too...

taking a break from playing to try the food again...

and attempting to use the spoon...such a big boy!

wrong way buddy...you have to turn the bowl over to eat...

look Mommy I did my own hair...

this is so yummy...



oh the joy of being a toddler and getting messy...I love it!