Rewind one Year

     Last year at this time we had planned a snowboarding trip to Mammoth...we were so excited to rent a cabin, snowboard, drink hot chocolate, and relax by a fire watching snow fall. Then I found out I was pregnant (best news ever)...and yes I even asked my doctor if it was okay to snowboard while pregnant (even though I already knew the answer DUH). My SIL had to cancel last minute because she was traveling for work and since I couldn't even snowboard we decided to cancel. Instead we decided on a coastal road trip! We drove up the coast and stopped in Santa Barbara, San Louis Obispo and then took a VERY long detour because the CA 1 apparently fell into the ocean (who would have thought) on our way to Monterey and Carmel. We saw beautiful scenic views, tasted tons of yummy food (although limiting the seafood while pregnant was difficult being in Monterey), and I watched the others drink delicious wine.

  Oddly enough it looks like this year that Mammoth vacation may actually happen. I wont be snowboarding because my little babe can't quite go to ski school yet! But I am sure excited to buy him a snow outfit!!! 

Took PCH up the coast

  

acting like sardines..

Had to stop and take some scenic pictures

Walked and stayed on Cannery Row

My sista

Showering with LoVE

When scheduling a shower or party of any kind timing is key! If you are hosting during lunch hour, there better be lunch! When throwing a baby shower it is also important that the mama to be can actually eat the food provided (no deli meat, limit or eliminate alcohol, and no unpasteurized cheeses etc)

 We served pasta salad, Chinese chicken salad, a green salad, caprese sticks, and fruit kabobs.

Another party planner designed the "sweets" bar and every little detail was amazing!

Valentines Wreath

Finally Finished my Valentines wreath

Showering Jen & Baby London

This past weekend I, along with some other gals showered my best friend and her babe with love and lots of gifts! I'd say it was a success and as you can see she looks absolutely amazing!

Party Throwers & Mama to Be

Some of the guests

Details will be coming shortly...

Finally a Bedtime routine

     For months we have struggled with implementing a night time routine. As sleep starved parents we were trying any and everything. After research, talking with other parents and tons of trial and error we found what works best for our family. We were referred to this website troublesometots.com and decided to go with it. I never thought that I would let my sweet, darling baby "CIO" (cry it out) but after many sleepless nights for the baby and parents, we decided it was time. I learned to establish a routine and go with it. I realized he was well fed, in no pain, the right temperature, and he was crying regardless of being held or in his crib.
   For months we would rock, sing, sway, "shh and pat", go for a drive, whatever we could think of to get this baby to sleep...and it would be hours and hours of crying! I always heard, put your baby to sleep awake...umm has anyone ever tried this? It is torture! When my good friend painted a picture of her son standing in the crib screaming "mama", I decided I better do this now! After 3 nights of the awful, dreaded CIO, we have had almost 3 weeks of easy bedtime! Our boy does his bath, massage, story time, song, and nighty night (wide awake)!


- white noise is key
- have NOTHING in the crib/or room that is "timed" no mobiles, no songs, nothing! (If the baby falls asleep with it, it better be on when they wake up or they freak out!)
- have a video monitor to spy on them/make sure they are safe!
- have a set bedtime and stick with it.
- naps are a must


Our next task...longer sleep periods, or even better, all night!

Homemade Baby Food: Sweet Potatoes

Wash and Scrub Potato

Prepare containers and prick potato with fork

Bake on cooke sheet 400 degree for an hour

Scoop potato and puree in blender

Adding some life to the Cucina

Although this time of year is labeled "winter" sometimes in Southern California we have bursts of "summer" weather in January. It was a very warm weekend, we hit 81 degrees today! I took advantage and added some life to the kitchen. I chose succulents because they are drought resistant, which is helpful because I am not the best at watering indoor plants daily. I have been excited to use my west elm trowel since I got it Christmas morning!

started with three mini succulents from Lowe's

3 Ikea pots & West Elm Trowel

Added some dirt from our vegetable garden

Finished product

I used to think succulents were a very pointless flower and they did nothing for me. But I am currently in a succulent phase. We will see how long this lasts! 

Why I am choosing to make Easton's Food

As you know I was so excited to start feeding my boy. Started with rice cereal, made a quick switch to oatmeal (both Earths Best brand) and then started with some real food! I personally think the containers are the cutest things ever. I decided to purchase both Gerber and Earth's best to try them out. I compared the labels...why I didn't do this in Target, I'm not sure! But do you see all the "ingredients in pears", I thought sweet potatoes were sweet potatoes. Gerber contains 7 ingredients! Of course I am sure they are all good for baby, but when I feed sweet potatoes, I want to be feeding sweet potatoes. Earths best has 2 ingredients, sweet potatoes and vitamin C...pretty close to homemade I would say!

Gerber

Earths Best

My plan is to feed Easton pre-made food to make sure he likes the fruit or veggie (I am not doing the work if he wont eat them). Then if he likes the item, I will make it!

Homemade Baby Food- Pears

Task one of the week is complete! Yes many brands make great baby foods and earths best organic really does only have pears and some vitamin C, but why not make your own? It was so incredibly easy! I purchased 4 Organic Pears from Trader Joe's which totaled $2.69. I washed them, peeled them, chopped them, steamed them, and blended them! Easton actually made them "mmm" sound when he ate them...and I did not get that with the pre-made baby food, therefore I say this was a success! 

Wash

Peel

Chop

Steam

Blend and Store

What our week looks like in I-phone Pics

- This week I plan to take my boy our for many walks, I swear he sleeps better at night if he gets out

- Have breakfast in our jammies as much as possible

- Start our Valentines day decor (wreath, garland, nursery prints)

- Learn how to make baby food

- Figure out our new car...got home from work yesterday and had this gem in the driveway!

- Print out some pictures for our frames

Year in Review Video

You know it really is nice to have a sister that is so talented with photography, photo and video editing and all things photoshop. On Christmas Eve she surprised the family with a video/slideshow that she made for all of us. It was definitely a hit and caused the tears to a start rollin', happy tears of course. She posted it on her blog: handpickednotions.blogspot.com and of course I stole it, with her permission of course. 

Cookin' up a storm for mothers day brunch

Year in Review Video

Easton is 5 months

As I look at my sweet babe snoozing on the baby monitor I cannot believe that 5 months have past. Time needs to slow down so I can take a breath and take this all in. I obviously never really knew what mothers meant when they explain or attempt to explain the love they feel for their children, or how you would give anything for them. I almost feel overwhelmed when I even attempt to think about the love I have for my little boy. Every milestone reached amazes me.

Easton you have conquered so much. Over the past month you have perfected rolling from belly to back, learned how to eat baby cereal, started sitting for short periods (very short periods), found your yelling/screaming voice and on your last day being in your 4th month you started rolling all over the place. I think that maybe you have forgotten how to sleep, but my sweet boy we will get it back, someday. Mama now understands how important a "routine" is for you.

Most days looks like this:

Morning:
7:00 a.m. (ish) wake up/eat/discuss our day
7:20 a.m. Mama has coffee time/watches the today show and you hang out in your swing then switch to your play mat
9:00 a.m. Mama attempts for sometimes an hour to get you to take a nap
10:00 a.m. Mid-morning snack time, get dressed and some more play time
10:45 a.m. if we need to leave the house...this would be the time to do it!
I try and get you to take 3 naps...and by try I mean I spend more time getting you to take a nap than you spend actually sleeping!

Evening:
4 p.m. you watch your favorite show, Ellen...or maybe its mine? Pick up to house, attempt to start dinner and feed you before Papa gets home
6:15 p.m. Papa gets home and we either eat, or start dinner
7:30 p.m. Bath time
7:45 p.m. Jammies and wind down. This is where things get really tricky for us and all rules go out the door! : )

These days your sleeping anywhere from 45 minutes to 4 hours at night. Your still breastfed but this month we started introducing cereals. When you drink a bottle you usually get around 5 oz. We think you weigh about 16-17 lbs. Your wear some 3 months clothes and some 9 month clothes, it really depends on the brand. Your loving your stroller. Hating night time. Love smiling at any and everyone. And have developed some anxiety when your away from your Mama...oops! : )

2012 Year in Review

2012 was an amazing year for us! We found out in December that we were expecting our first little one's arrival in August. We drove up and down the coast of CA. We made some major home improvements. Tucker and Alex went kayak fishing and made some fresh fish dinners! We started and finished Easton's nursery. Had mothers day breakfast for Mama Macartney. We went to the Colorado river for memorial weekend. My cousin came out for my baby shower. I turned 26. We walked around the OC fair as I was 9 months pregnant. Had some major health scares with our little bundle. I flew with my 8 week old across country. Had a visit from Easton's Great grandfather. Went on a road trip to AZ for thanksgiving. Celebrated our first Christmas as a family of three!

We went on a road trip and stayed in San Louis Obispo 

Spent the night in Monterey

Tucker made new vegetable gardens

My personal tile man completed our backsplash

Mr. Bruce wanted to go kayak fishing with the boys

We started the nursery

We had a mothers day breakfast for the best mama in the world

We celebrated memorial weekend at the river with family

My first baby shower given by Tuckers family

My second baby shower

very pregnantly celebrated Brett's bday

oh you know just had a baby

brought that baby home

the baby learned to "couch sit"

Flew to Boston for girls weekend and introduce my son to my family

worked our butts off with some tummy time

celebrated Eastons first Halloween

Took our first family photos for our holiday cards