bedtime update {great mommy advice}

a BIG thanks to all that left me a comment on this post... what do I do about...

I received so many wonderful comments and great ideas.  I encourage if you are walking in similar shoes as we are that you spend some time reading the comments in my post.  Wonderful thoughtful encouraging words! 

This is what I have changed in our bed time routine...

- no more iPad in his bed 

- once Crew goes to sleep which is around 7:45 or 8PM it is quite time all lights are out in the house and we snuggle on the couch together for 15 mins watching cartoons or a movie that he gets to pick out.  I also explained all of this to Grayson that after Crew goes to sleep it is quite time and mommy time to sit together and snuggle.  

After our snuggle time we go to his room and get ready for bed and read two books.  

We say our prays I explain to him that he has to stay in bed because it is time to sleep and mommy needs to go to sleep too.  

I have consistently done this since last Friday and the past four nights have been successful.  He may get out once, but I just walk him back upstairs and he stays in his bed.  I haven't sat outside of his room for a week now and it feels wonderful.  I am able to have my time and time with Chad as well.  

Looking back I feel as if I was the problem and I am glad I stepped out of the situation listened to other mommy's and changed our bedtime routine.

Thanks for being there for me...big hugs!

I will be the first to say if this doesn't continue to work I will try something else also glad I am not alone in this bedtime battle! 

  

I am also thinking of doing my series that I did two summer's ago called:

Working Mommy Series 

this is a series where other working mommy's, like me, can be a guest blogger on my blog and share their family and ideas they have to how they make it all work and balancing motherhood and working outside of the home. 

So who out there would be interested in doing something like this?  

If so email me at 

mlstafford26@yahoo.com 

I think we will do the posts starting in July.  

Crew's Teething Bracelet

I thought about not doing this post because I think topics like this can be controversial and I don't want to steer up negative conversations.  Anyways this is solely my opinion and how well it has worked for us. 

I decided to give the Amber Teething Bracelet a try with Crew.  I have heard many GREAT things about it and I am only going to share how well it has worked for us and you can decide if this is something that you want to try with your baby. 

Crew has been wearing his for 3 weeks and since than I have not given him Tylenol.  He has gotten 2 molars and is currently getting the other two molars and another 2 bottom teeth.  Before wearing this bracelet he would CRY nonstop, he would not sleep through the night if he was teething, and I was giving him Tylenol often to help ease the pain.  NOW I have a HAPPY baby that sleeps and doesn't show that he is in pain with his teeth.  It has amazed me because I really didn't think that it would work, but for Crew it has.  

My advice is do what you think is best for your baby and trust what your mommy heart says...it will guide you in the direction to go! 

Here is a brief description of what the Amber Bracelet is:

WHAT IS AMBER TEETHING BRACELET? 

A Baltic amber teething bracelet is made for wearing (not chewing) when a baby is teething. This can be worn alone or paired with a Baltic Amber Teething Necklace. The warmth from the skin releases the active ingredient in the Baltic amber, succinic acid. Recent scientific research has proved that succinic acid has a very positive influence on the human body. It improves immunity and the balance of acids when absorbed into the bloodstream; it stimulates the thyroid glands to help reduce drooling and soothes red inflamed cheeks. Amber's anti-inflammatory and therapeutic properties are recognized by allopathic medicine as a natural analgesic, which will help to relieve teething pain and calm a baby without resorting to drugs. The skin's warmth releases healing oils from the amber, a resin, which is absorbed into the bloodstream.  

   

the WINNER RODAN and FIELDS

the WINNER is the BLOGGER name:

JAY and JANELLE 

Please send me an email at

mlstafford26@yahoo.com to claim your prize

If I don't hear back from the winner by Wednesday June 26th, 2013 I will select a new winner! 

*I removed duplicate comments before selecting the winner*

365 DAY 2013

don't forget the giveaway ends today!  We will pick a winner tomorrow AM and announce via blog and instagram...


In case you did want to know I still take a picture everyday of my kids! 

Chad often tells me that it is annoying, but he will also be the first to tell you that he appreciates that I do this... 

I use to post them daily on Facebook, but this year I decided not too...

No particular reason just didn't get in the habit of doing it. 

I will tell you that I am VERY HAPPY that I do this everyday.  I often look back at the past two years that I have done this for the boys and I just LOVE having that memory through pictures of what my boys looked like, what they were doing, what they liked etc. 

I just know that (hopefully) their future wives will love them too!

So my question is what do you do to capture moments of your kids or your life...

My friend posted a picture on instagram yesterday and it stated these words:

SUMMER will end soon enough, and childhood as well! 

What a great reminder to STEP back and ENJOY CURRENT moments, CREATE memories, and CAPTURE those details. 

I may not ALWAYS have my nice big camera with me to capture, but the ONE thing I do have is my iPhone and it helps me capture these moments with my boys and my family! 

Pictures are apart of our family and they will always will be! 

I want my boys to look back and see what they were like and see what their childhood was like when they both become adults.  

So please share it may inspire me to try something different...

What apps do you like to capture pictures or to create storyboards etc...

Here are a few that I use each day:

instagram

Camera+

PicFrame

Phonto

Afterlight

BeautifulMess

here is my current book I have created for 2013

 

PhotoProduct

what do I do about...

Kelly at Kelly's Korner did a post titled... what do I do about...

I love the title and it sparked a question that I have. 

what do I do about...

GETTING GRAYSON TO GO TO BED ON HIS OWN

I think this is the BIGGEST question I have and so HARD to figure out! 

I was able to break the habit of laying with him every night until he fell asleep now I am sitting outside of his room by the stairs for about an hour before he goes to sleep.  During this time I put him in his bed numerous times and he asks me about 20 times, "mommy are you there?"

I feel that me sitting outside of his room is not working. 

But if I don't he will come downstairs over and over again and he will never go to sleep. 

What is a girl to do! 

I would love for him to go to bed and stay there...

He use to be the best sleeper, but than in February I took his paci away and now it has been a constant challenge. 

I am not the type of person to lock him in his room and let him cry and here is why:

~ I hate hearing my babies cry

~ I think if I did this Grayson would destroy his room and he would have the BEST time doing so or he would flood his bathroom (ha!) 

I want Grayson to LIKE bedtime!

We have a routine and we do the same thing every night, but no matter what I do Grayson is not a sleep before 10PM.

It is exhausting...

SO I AM ASKING FOR HELP

DON'T FORGET ABOUT my GIVEAWAY IT ENDS TOMORROW!

GRAYSON'S SUPERHERO PARTY

Since I didn't blog at ALL in MAY and many of you who follow me on Instagram  (melissastories) asked me about GRAYSON'S SUPERHERO PARTY I thought that I would do a quick post on the details! 

before the party pictures

The decor for his party came from 

RKRCreations

Ashley was amazing to work with!  

She did everything from the party invites to the thank you cards

Since we just moved into our new house the week prior I wanted something that was simple and easy to do.  We had Grayson's 3rd Birthday Party at the park.  I rented a SPIDER-MAN bounce house, we had pizza, and cake.  We also had one art activity, which was super hero cuffs made out of toilet paper rolls, tattoos to put on, and the kids played at the park near by.  I thought it was a PERFECT idea for this age range and it seems as if EVERYONE had a GREAT TIME! 

Here is his invite and his thank you card:

  

I LOVE these two banners I had made, they are both made of vinyl and are now hanging in Grayson's Room 

Party Pics

Cake and Present Time

(grayson's favorite moments)

I can't believe my first baby is THREE, even though he tells me all the time that he is ONE... 

I just love the little boy he has become, he has a love for tractors still, he has a love for all things SUPERHERO!  

He has a sweet heart and is loving with a touch of wild in him.  He is SO busy just like his daddy.  

He is ALWAYS talking and telling me stories.  He loves to go to Walmart or LOWES with his daddy and he loves to snuggle watch a movie or read a book with his mommy or he likes for me to fly him like a superhero all over the house.  He loves to wrestle and be like a superhero with his brother.  

The age of 3 is so fun and NEVER a dull moment in our house! 

I hope this answer's all the superhero party questions! 

Rodan & Fields Giveaway

Thanks for staying loyal and coming back to read my blog... 

I will try to write more often and NOT take a 2 month break...

with that I thought that a GIVEAWAY was in order...

I am working with a friend Melanie who runs her own Rodan and Fields business and she is allowing me to do this giveaway.  

I am super excited about this giveaway because it is such a NEAT company and I have seen AMAZING results all over FACEBOOK about people using this product.  I am especially excited to try the Redefine MACRO Exfoliator after reviewing this product on the website it sounds amazing and something my skin is screaming for...ha!  

Keeping it real... 

I feel like I am starting to get those smile lines and the little lines by my eyes...yikes...it is happening aging!  So I thought I would give it a try!

EXCITING! 

Okay now back to the giveaway:

ONE FREE REGIMEN of YOUR CHOICE to ONE WINNER

also during this week she will give a discount of 20% on any order

you can email Melanie at meg@63007@yahoo.com to place an order

the business website is as follows:

www.melaniegould.myrandf.biz

go check it out and see all the wonderful product that this company has to offer.  

Entry into giveaway as follows:

GO TO the following site

this is the Solution Tool answer the consultation questions and it will tell you what regimen works best for your skin.  Once you do that come back and tell me you did the questionnaire and what regimen works for you and you will be entered into the giveaway! 

Here is a little about the company:

Rodan + Fields Dermatologists are the creators of Proativ Solution. They dominate the Acne market and are set to do the same for the Anti Age market! These products are all multi-med therapy, slightly below prescription grade, and their goal is to treat skin concerns and bring affordable Dermatology to the general public. Dr. Rodan and Dr Fields are practicing Dermatologists in CA and have a vision to Change Skin while Changing Lives with Independent Entrepreneurship.

Redefine is the Anti-Age line -  loss of firmness, wrinkles, fine lines, and enlarging pores
Reverse - freckles, brown spots, sun damage, dullness Unblemish -  cystic acne, adults acne, post acne marks                        Soothe -  redness, sensitivity, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis  

R+F just launched the Macro Exfoliator February 2013 and it features patent pending Doc Smart technology and we are the only Network Marketing company to have an in-home tool that is the equivalent of receiving micro-derm abrasion in the Doctors office - but less invasive and zero down time! It removes the top layer of skin and sluffs off 5 million dead skin cells in just 5 minutes 1 time a week. It can decrease fine lines and wrinkles after 1 use and has been slated to appear in over 30+ magazines and publications in 2013!

I hope you are excited about this giveaway as much as I am...

the giveaway will run from today (June 17th, 2013) - Friday June 21st, 2013.  I will draw and post the WINNER on Saturday June 22nd, 2013.  

Here are a few before and after images so you can see some amazing results of what this product can do for you. 

If you have specific business or product questions you can email Melanie at meg63007@yahoo.com

Happy Monday!  

  

the HOUSE is decorated

HI ALL!

 

Thanks for all the HOUSE LOVE!

a few questions answered:

all the mirrors in the bathrooms are from Hobby Lobby...

in fact if you are building and want to do something like we did I suggest telling your builder so you can get a credit on the mirrors and next go to Hobby Lobby and buy the mirrors, but WAIT until they are 50% off.  It happens trust me...

 

 

We also did this for lighting if I saw a light that I LOVED I purchased it and once the guys were ready to install lights at the house we just delivered the lights to the house.

 

Baby gates they are all custom made from the "trim guys" that our builder uses. 

 

Paint Colors

Main House Color - Shermin Williams Laggia SW 7506

I wanted my main house color to be neutral and fill light and airy and I think I achieved this with this color

Playroom - Shermin Williams Ellie Gray SW 7650

Grayson's Room - will update later 

Crew's Room - will update later

Stain Color on hardwood floors - ?? not sure sorry - I don't have a sample of this after they finished building

 

How tall are your ceilings?

10 foot ceilings 

 

Now onto the pictures and what we did to make this home our home...

Welcome

to the

Stafford Home

 

 

 

thanks for coming by and seeing our home

love the stafford family!

 

A SPECIAL THANKS TO JIM AND KOBY FROM HOMES OF DISTINCTION, INC FOR BUILDING OUR HOME!

WE LOVE IT!