Feeling Free

One of us (I’m not naming names) felt so free she insisted on being naked...

Happy Birthday to this Wonderful Guy...

Aliyah loves her grandpa, there is no doubt about it! She will stop whatever she is doing to hear him play her a song.

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

We are so excited to come celebrate with you tonight.

also CONGRATS to our friends, Bruce and Stephanie... Steph was such a rock star yesterday bringing in 11lb (that's right! ELEVEN) baby Jackson - he is such a doll

Making Your Own Baby Food: It's Easier Than You Think

Tyler made a good point when he said recently that every time we think we get our arms around Aliyah's needs - she grows and what she needs from us changes. I had no idea where to start when it came to introducing solids. I entertained the idea of baby led weaning, and I still hope to incorporate that idea. I feel we may be headed that direction as Aliyah loves to gnaw on food off of our plates rather than mushed up veggies.

Tyler and I set aside some time last week to make up a few different types of baby food for Aliyah to try.  Here are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned so far:

THREE no-cook baby foods: Bananas, Avocados and Mangoes! Mash them up with the back of a fork until they are smooth. It requires no cooking, no refrigerating beforehand and all are perfect to throw in the baby bag for whipping up a quick and easy meal on the go.

Aliyah's first bite of Mango: It looked like she didn't like it at first, but she ended up eating 3 more pieces after this one!

Some of our favorite babyfood recipes:

We've taken to steaming most of the veggies we've tried so far by putting a few inches of water in the bottom of a pot, bringing to a boil and then placing a mesh strainer full of veggies over the steam and covering until tender.

We tried a lot of flavor combinations in the hopes of encouraging Aliyah to be an adventurous eater. (I’ll let you know how our little science experiment plays out in the long run).

A few favorite combinations (all of which can be pureed in a food processor with breastmilk/formula/water until smooth)

Slice up a few carrots. Steam with cauliflower and add 1 dash of garlic powder and black pepper.

Steam one handful of fresh or frozen green beans with 1 dash of cumin.

Wrap a sweet potato in tinfoil and cook on 425 until done. Remove skin and add a steamed zucchini (skinned) with a dash of cinnamon.

Cube up butternut squash, brush very lightly with unsalted butter. Bake at 425. Sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg.

We purchased a bunch of the 1 oz ice cube tray baby food tupperware containers with lids and I spoon in enough food for one serving. Because we only made a week or two worth at a time, I don’t date them - however baby food is good for up to 3 months in the freezer, so it might be worth it to mark them accordingly and build up a supply.

It really takes no time at all and these blends are SO delicious. We thaw each meal by putting a day’s worth in the fridge the night before or by leaving out on the counter an hour before eating. Confession: we haven’t tried to cook fruits yet!

I know this isn’t rocket science and making baby food is extremely simple - but it’s been a lot of fun to plan what veggies (and fruits!) to try next and what flavor combinations work well together.

If you’ve got a baby food tip or a recipe that you and your little one love - leave a comment as I’m still learning so much about all of this.

Tie-Dye Baby

Check out our “long haired hippy baby”

Well... I imagine one day she eventually may be - but for right now, she’s our “bald headed hippy baby”

(FYI: A lesser known but equally cool group of hippy babies)

First Christmas

Dear Aliyah,

A year ago on Christmas day we were so excited - a new baby on the way! My bump had just started to show and in a week we would learn that you would indeed be a SHE.

Last year it had snowed so much that we almost thought we would be stuck inside all day instead of going to my family's annual Christmas gathering. I remember the day so well. We opened our stockings and gifts while singing Christmas songs to you in my belly and signing songs to little "L"

It was such a crazy day after just adding a sweet little foster daughter to our celebrations two days before. She played with her new toys while we watched sitting on the floor with her, Tyler rubbing my belly and trying to imagine how big you’d be this year. “She’ll be able to open her own presents! In footy pajamas!” we dreamed outloud while watching in joy the little one sitting on the floor in her footie pajamas that we had scurried to purchase before the big snow storm hit so that her and our other foster daughter could match.

And now today, with thoughts and well wishes for the sweet girls we have fostered, we hold onto you and know we are blessed beyond measure.

Christmas morning we sat cross legged on the floor watching as you pulled the ribbon and paper off your gifts. Your eyes were so big as you took it all in, holding a baby doll in one hand, a colorful maraca in the other. You showered us in good morning kisses and squealed with delight as you lunged towards daddy in your footie pajamas.

And there you were.

Opening your own gifts.

In your footie pajamas.

It was just as incredible as we thought it would be and a million times better. Merry first Christmas my darling girl. I’ll say the same thing we always tell you, because it’s Christmas and it feels exceptionally fitting.

You are the best gift. ever.

Love, mama

The Digital Story of the Nativity

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Our Christmas Elf

First Annual Family Christmas Card

I have been dying to share this amazingly adorable bloomer with you all, but since it ended up in our family Christmas card this year, I wanted to wait. My very sweet and stylish cousin, Stephanie (and fellow ddd sister), was in town with her mom and stopped by for a minute to deliver some delicious treats for us along with this lovely Christmas tree for Aliyah.

Thank you to Stephanie & Tracy for the hugs, treats and cutest pine tree I have ever seen!! I cannot get enough of this darling little bum... it should have came with a warning: induces countless amounts of squealing, posing and picture taking.

Oh the rolls on this kids thighs! They go perfect with Christmas trees, don't you think?

Little Life Lessons

We're having to teach Aliyah that the whole "destroy after reading" thing only applies to top secret documentation and not her personal book collection

Aliyah is Officially on Santa's Nice List

Although, Tyler says it is not fair that Aliyah has only had to be good for 6 months while he has been working really hard for the past 12 months... it wouldn't have really mattered what list she was on because mommy & daddy have been squirreling away many little goodies since we found out that we were going to be adding to our family over a year ago.


Here is what she is going to find wrapped up all pretty on Christmas morning:

this blabla mermaid doll was just too sweet to pass up! I found out about these soft knitted dolls a while back from a friend. They are a little pricey, so when I found a store close to us that had them on sale one weekend, I couldn't help myself. She is currently popping out of the top of Aliyah's stocking.

I thought that this Melissa and Doug wooden grasping toy is quite appropriate hence the grasping part. This little girl will grab and pull, twist and yank on anything in her personal (and not so personal) space. Maybe this will help limit the grasping of hair, drinks, dinner plates, necklaces,etc... maybe???

I love the colors and crinkle noises of this soft Lamaze shape sorter. simple and sweet.

Creatology music box set - Aliyah has shown such a love for strumming my or grandpa's guitar and shaking the jiggle bells we've given her - so I’m really excited to see her have a go at this box full of musical goodness. In our house, we’re always game for a little good old fashion noise making.

Tyler picked out these roll around touch and tickle balls from Fisher Price. Aliyah is really into textures so I think she will have a fun time chewing on these and chasing them across the floor (she is so close to crawling! right now she scoots backwards and rolls around)

Choo choo! I love a good train and this cutie from Melissa and Doug doubles as a stacking block set.

She’s also getting a swimsuit and towel so that we can start mommy/baby open swim Friday mornings, cute pjs, and quite a few items for eating/storing baby food and some sippy cups. But those things are more exciting to me than her, so I didn’t include them on this list. I know that I am forgetting something but that is about right these days... people were not joking about getting a "mom brain"

I’m really happy with what we’ve picked out. Beautiful, engaging, quality toys. We love toys that encourage movement, music, and problem solving.  All of them are reasonably priced too, which is important on our tight budget. (One more bonus: most of the things we got her didn't required me to take a single step inside a mall or shopping center!!)

What’s Santa bringing your babes this year?

A Celebration

Daddy now holds a masters in mathematics & statistics
YEAH DADDY! We are so very proud of you

Humming this song and thinking about these two.

I’m gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you’ll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
That loved his daughter more than I love you

-Paul Simon

Santa Claus: Take Two

If you recall our first try with Santa... Aliyah suffered some serious "stranger danger"

We had high hopes for Aliyah's first visit with Santa as I assume most parents do. We thought Tyler's beard would have worked in Aliyah's favor, but she let out a wail shortly after plopping her in his lap. (even though Tyler and I were only steps away reassuring her, "It's okay Aliyah. Santa is a nice man!") It wasn't what we had expected from Ali's chill attitude, but we have to smile at our classic Christmas photo.... We were still crossing our fingers in anticipation for yesterday's visit.

The "grandmas" and I planned to take her to see Santa and then go to lunch together afterwards. Aliyah had on her beautiful Christmas dress (the one I started searching for as soon as Halloween was over so she would have the "perfect" Christmas dress). I sang along to Christmas songs in the car on the ride to Bass Pro. We met up with YaYa and Grammy at the front doors and made our way to the back of the store for our turn on the big guy's lap.

This Santa was amazing! Not only did he look like he stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting or Classic Coca Cola advertisement, he had a sweet personality that was a perfect match to his jolly belly. There was no line. Santa walked over to us and started talking in a low quiet voice to Aliyah. She looked at him, then back at us. We smiled back at her...

"Well we better get a picture in while she is not screaming," I said with a little laugh. Santa, in his low quiet voice said, "Parents are always in such a rush. Kids don't care if there is a long line or no line. They just want to take it all in."

Ah... wise words from St. Nick. He allowed Aliyah to just stare at him and his beautiful twinkling lights that decorated his corner of the Bass Pro Shop. When she seemed more at ease, Santa sauntered to his over-sized wooden chair and sat down with a welcoming knee. This time Aliyah smiled, stuck out her tongue, and turned around to give his beard a little tug.

Santa took two pictures with Aliyah and then one with each of her groupies on the opposite knee. He was so sincere and happy. so patient. We left the store with 5 beautiful pictures of Aliyah and the best Santa ever!

I had a great afternoon with a few of my favorite ladies. Lunch was wonderful, the company was even better, and we definitely picked the right Santa for the job!

Fighting a Cold

We all have been fighting the sniffles over here. Tyler was first and was so kind to share with me. I am now on the tail end of my cold while Aliyah seems to be in the thick of hers. Poor Baby. It is tough to see your sweet babe not at 100% but so far, this cold hasn't seemed to change her mood - still happy as a clam! (where did that saying come from anyway?)

A helpful tip for getting through a mild cold... a warm steamy shower. Aliyah loves the water!

CAUTION: soapy babies are slippery

Al8iyah*

the best present EVER!!!

mabye w0ell try thiis later
aliyah is helping 42
me typ3e3.2632*
2
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0
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011041
6
236
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that is her message to you

A Love Story

A story about the time I fell in love with an undergarment...

This is going to sound completely obnoxious, but before having a baby I didn’t really get the whole Spanx thing. What was the big deal with high waisted biker shorts?

Thinking about that now, I just want to whap that girl upside her skinny little head. After Aliyah, I quickly learned that Spanx are actually a glorious, fantastically wonderful gift to womankind. There should be a Spanx holiday. with a parade. and cupcakes.

I am now a Spanxer for life. Baby weight or not, they’re miracle workers and will forever remain part of my wardrobe.

As the weather warmed up after Aliyah was born I was out of the house a lot so I (of course) utilized my trusty new friend Spanxy’s (We’ve grown so close, I gave it a nickname). I started feeling more energized - jumping, running and goofing off - between my flouncy tops and my low waist jeans... My spanx were showing up all over the place. Me and Spanxy, we’re close - but not that close.

Perhaps this makes me a fickle friend, but Spanx are only awesome when they go undetected. Flashing them is never cool and the “Sorry, I... you know... just had a baby” excuse only works so many times.

...BUT they are the reason I was able to squeeze in those pre-baby cute summer shorts.

And so this random little post is an ode to my little spandex miracle workers. No matter how many babies I have or pants sizes I fluctuate between, just know you’ll always have a place in my closet.

Sweet Baby Boy

Welcome to the world Chase Martin!! I thought that it was so wonderful you were born on the most beautiful day in December, and then the next day was the first snow. Good thing the hospital gave you a warm stocking to snuggle in. Take care of those wonderful parents you have, and I will see you again soon!

What a sweet sweet boy you are...

It's a Boy

I know how painfully one sided my blog is when it comes to cute baby stuff. It’s girl, girl, girl all the time because, well, that’s what I’m mainly looking for when browsing online. BUT with a slew of new baby boys being born into my friend circle, I felt it was high time I feature some ridiculously cute baby boy finds.

Today the Hill family will meet their sweet baby boy face-to-face for the very first time. Excited isn't even close to how thrilled I am for them. This is because Chase's beautiful mommy has been a best friend of mine for over 20 years!

Dear Little Man - you are one lucky boy to have such amazing parents. You are entering this world in a family full of love... just for you. Don't worry, I will be rushing over to the hospital sometime today to give you a big hug and kiss after you make your grand entrance.

Tea Collection: Bicycle Tee

Rosenberry Rooms: Wheels Motif

Fawn & Forest: Night Owl

Gracious May: Happy Hippo Loafers

Our Retro Toy Box: Train Hooded Sweater

MsTips: Corduroy Street Sign Romper

Miskabelly: Fisherman Overall Shorts

Happy Family: Astronaut Onesie

Mary Yarns: Aviator Hat

Marillionjade24: Crochet Zipper Jacket

Zappos: Frye Boot

Baby Gap: Pirate Sweater