Dancing with my Daughter

Sometimes, in the evening when you are very sleepy, I will scoop you in my arms and carry you to the quiet space of our bedroom. In the dim light we dance to the steady rhythm of your cooing.

Did Someone Tell the Pizza Guy About My Diet?

Me: • We'd like a large hamburger & black olive please.

Pizza man: • Anything else?

Me: • Ummmm... do you have anything dessert wise?

Pizza man: • Uh, no.... but we have salads

Me: • ...........

Three Peas in a Pod

I have been wanting to get a nice picture of Tyler, Ali and I all together. We found a great deal with Jessica Bridgewater Photography and decided to ditch the gym shorts and clean ourselves up.

The three of us together - we brushed our hair and everything!

HAPPY WEEKEND TO YOU ALL!!

Always with a Flower in her Hair

Milestones

Our baby girl is pretty amazing and has been passing big milestones left and right! Good thing I am quick with the camera and caught her in action:

Driving

Writing her Name

God is Good

I can’t hold a baby and not feel God. In the tiny fingers pressed onto my skin, her sweet milk scented breath against my neck... She’s everything true and just. The definition of a blessing in its purest form.

I am filled with gratitude for all the ways the Lord has worked in my life – but most specifically for this magical, warm little person that is asleep across my chest at this very moment.

God is so very good and I’ve got proof.

Facial Hair

What I did last night after Aliyah went to bed and Tyler fell asleep on the couch (when I could have been doing any number of household chores that need my attention)...

I was putting a beard on my baby!

I think this might be a cry for help as I obviously need some serious intervention in rearranging my priorities.

oh lawd!

Car Seat Blues

Aliyah is a good baby (no bias or anything), but if we want to get raw - my sweet peaceful dove can quickly turn to a cranky angry kiddo when she gets tightened down in her car seat. No rhyme or reason - some days she just decides that she rather not be strapped down.

It is crushing to the heart listening to her get so frustrated while stuck behind the wheel, but we do have a few tricks that seem to be working: 1. her nature sounds dolphin (I will post more about this fun toy later) or 2. loud music ... yesterday, the loud music won

Even when Aliyah is having "one of those days" - I must say, I still feel blessed with a screaming baby in the back seat of my car while I sing, Fat Bottom Girls at the top of my lungs.

Droopy Dog

SEPARATED AT BIRTH?!?!?!?!?

Oh, the cheeks on this kid! I love ‘em

Beautiful Water Birth

I just had to share this amazing water birth. I’ve had tears streaming down my face the entire time - it just brought back so much emotion.

I had no concept of the journey a mother takes with her child to bring them into this world before I experienced it for myself. It played over and over in my head for days after Aliyah was born, weaving its way into my dreams and conscious thoughts. It will forever remain the single most powerful experience of my life.

This is just absolutely stunning and I had to share.

This is the disclaimer on the website:

"Breast and breastfeeding otherwise discreet."

Theo's Birth video from hailey bartholomew on Vimeo

Figuring It Out

This past weekend our little family was out every night together with friends and family. I must brag a little and let you all know that we were NOT late all weekend. This should impress most of you who know me :) We are finally getting this all figured out - getting ourselves ready, the baby and pack all the things we need before leaving the house.

While we were out, Ali J always seemed to wake up hungry when it was time to eat. On Saturday, while I sat in the bedroom nursing her and listening to the adult conversation happening in the other room - I realized that this will be my life ongoing. Pressing the pause button on a regular basis in order to dedicate my time and attention to this new person who needs me. By the time I had returned, my plate was filled while others were finishing - but you know, it was really encouraging to see my old self and the new one melding into one. I ate my dinner happily while my child slept (with a full belly and clean diaper - thanks to Tyler) in the arms of some wonderful friends and family.

FINALLY! Cloth Diaper Update

I kept putting this post off because I felt like I needed to use our cloth diapers long enough to give them a fair assessment. The original plan was to get a few different brands of cloth diapers and evaluate them, but I didn't want to spend too much money on cloth diapers not knowing if I would really stick with it. So for those of you who have been following along, in my original cloth diaper post I talked about how and why we decided on gDiapers:

Pluses: Covers are easily reusable over several diaper changes, hybrid use allows for cloth inserts or environmentally friendly disposable inserts. Disposable inserts are great for travel and on the go when I don’t want to carry around wet diapers. They seem to have less bulk than other cloth diapers.

Minuses: Sometimes leak if any part of the absorbant insert is not inside the plastic shield. Disposable inserts are a bit pricey.

Overall consensus: We LOVE gdiapers. The velcro make them easy to put on a wiggly baby and the fact that the covers have a plastic pocket that allows them to be used over several diaper changes cuts down on the number of diapers we have to wash. I’ve found deals on the gdiaper disposable inserts on ebay to cut down on the cost, and honestly we just use cloth inserts with them 98% of the time. (Cloth inserts can be ordered through the gDiaper website or Babies R Us carries them in-store. I think Target and Wal-Mart carry them online only)

And a note on our experience in general: It’s so much easier than I imagined! I was really nervous making the switch to cloth, but after only a few days I was so surprised at just how easy they were to use. There has only been one day we slacked and she was in one of the leftover disposable diapers in our supply, but I really truly mean it when I say using cloth has been an awesome experience. It feels good to know that we aren’t contributing to the waste in landfills and the soft, brightly colored diapers are so cute on Aliyah. We haven’t had a single instance of diaper rash and the best part is that "blow-outs" have decreased dramatically... actually, we haven't had to change her outfit due to a dirty diaper since we switched to cloth - TMI???

Wipes: We have also been using cloth wipes!! I would have NEVER thought cloth diapers, much less cloth wipes would be in my future, but here we are... loving it. The cloth wipes seem easier when you are doing cloth diapers because it can all be thrown in the same bin vs. trying to find a trash can for wipes after you have taken care of a dirty cloth diaper. I bought plain white baby washcloths and use a simple recipe of water, baby wash & baby oil (Thanks Beth & Dena). I spray the solution on the washcloth or directly on her bum. Easy!

One more quick tip: the thought of actually leaving the house with Aliyah in a cloth diaper frightened the bageebiz out of me. Again, I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was, but I admit that things got SO much easier once I started using a wet bag. We were using zip-locks to store the dirty cloth, but there were a couple reasons why I was not feeling the zip-lock... 1. see through = gag reflex for myself & friends 2. Throwing away the zip-locks after unloading the dirty diapers each time seemed like a waste of money and back tracking my green efforts. Now with a wet bag I just throw the whole thing in the wash and don't even touch the dirty diapers - perfect!

Do you have another brand you recommend we try? (I know Beth and Katherine LOVE bumGenius) Tips and tricks that make your cloth diapering life easier? Detergent that you use? We are still using disposables at night... any tips/tricks for night time? Let me know!

To All the Dads Out There

I saw this on my friend, Kristen's blog - Rated "M" for Max - I thought I would repost the video here in honor of Tyler's first time hanging out with our little dove all by himself. With that being said, I am off to the movies!

Enjoy It

I heard those words in my head, “Enjoy it. The time goes by so fast” and I closed my eyes and did just that...

Baby Chub

Here’s a little baby chub action for your Friday...

and also, even though we’re mainly into folksy/blues/acoustic stuff in our house, I’ve been working on a rap. It goes like this

Little Aliyah

a hot potat-ta

Making double chins in

since two thousand and ten

Ok, that’s all I’ve got. Ali gives me a sympathetic look every time I sing it to her and if she could only gain full control of her chubby little hands, I’m certain she’d pat me on the head and say “Nice effort, Mom... but no”

Neighborhood Luau

The last weekend in July our neighborhood had a Luau at the pool. We hadn't met too many people outside the few homes right around our own, but this sweet baby face has been attracting new friends - we had a blast and met two families with kiddos who would be in the same class as Aliyah when she starts Kindergarten. Here are a few pictures from our evening:

on our way...

party animal

Aliyah's looking curvy... Mom's been doing P90X

She LOVES swimming with Dad

Baker Baby

Let's Go Wildcats!!!!

Tyler and I met during college at Baker University and now that our days of theatre, football games and dancing at half time are over, our school pride is taken out on our daughter. I must say... orange is a good color on her!

Baby Stuff

We’ve been having more fun with your baby stuff than I think we are supposed to. Technically, all of these books and stuffed animals and musical gadgets are for your benefit - but your dad and I have found ourselves in fits of laughter at night while we try them out.

Last week, while you laid between us we perfected our shadow puppet techniques on the ceiling with your glowing seahorse. I’m happy to report that Tyler does a fantastic wolf and I’m still working on my bunny.

Last night, we all laid down on the bed and attempted to read to you. Your dad scolded me for reading the words and not singing them in funny voices. “If you’re going to do it, do it right” he said. I think his life is just one huge musical - he sings around the house all the time! So we started over - singing them as we went and acting out each page while you laid there slumbering away.

All that signing moved us onto a few rounds of "If your happy and you know it"... Can you imagine two grown folks singing “If you’re happy and you know it kick your legs” with all 4 of their legs swaying up in the air above your head? That was us last night - having entirely too much fun.

You’ve been pretty oblivious to it all so far, but when the day comes that you do actually want to watch our puppet show, sing in a silly voice or kick your legs along to the song - we’ll be old pros.

Do Cartwheels Count?

(an unrelated, but cute picture of my peaceful dove)

I’ve never watched an episode of The Hills. Or Gossip Girl. I’ve never read a Twilight book. I don’t know a single song by any artist with the $ symbol in their name.

But I can sing along with Van Morrison records and Crosby Stills and Nash. I love watching Project Runway and painting on a canvas. In the evenings I have been known to put together a puzzle or two while sipping a glass of wine.

Does this make me an old lady? please say no.

I like to do cartwheels. that has to count for something.

Bob Marley

For the past week Aliyah has been making her left hand into a tight fist and then holding it stiff armed in front of her or above her head. She stares at it for minutes at a time before finally trying to fit the entire thing in her mouth. It’s her new signature move and since No Woman No Cry was the first song Aliyah heard after she was born, Tyler is totally convinced she’s channeling Bob Marley:

Another Baseball Game

We took Aliyah to her second baseball game (Go Royals!) last Sunday afternoon. Again, we were lucky enough to use the Diamond Club tickets from my dad's work, staying out of the sun and watching the game in AC.

Even though the KC Royals haven't had the most amazing season, it was a great Sunday... considering they actually won the game and also gained one totally adorable, color-coordinated new fan.

ROLLING OVER!!!!!

I realized this week that you are officially a real baby now. You recently decided to hang up your newborn status without sending your father and I the memo. I say this because newborns don’t hold their necks up and look around for minutes at a time. Newborns don’t have intense baby babble conversations with that weird little cow thing that hangs from your bouncer. Newborns don’t decide to ROLL OVER after dinner on Monday night.

I will miss my little “sack of flour with a pretty head” as a swaddled and sleepy newborn - but I like this new baby you’ve become. You are turning into a real firecracker and I am constantly amused by the big personality that is pouring out of my little girl.

Currently, your favorite thing in the entire world are the ceiling fans in our house. They fascinate you in a way nothing else does. You’ve almost figured out how to push your binky back in your mouth using the back of your chubby little hand and you prefer me to sing old Tina Turner and Whitney Houston songs to you over the traditional lullabies. (What’s love got to do… go to do with it? What’s love, but a second hand emotionnnnnnnnnn!)

Sometimes I think I can actually see you growing right before my very eyes. The whole world is opening up to you and we have been standing right there, watching with amusement and joy as you soak it all in. You are one heck of a baby Miss Aliyah Jacquelyn and I am one lucky mama.

Birth Announcements

I’ve accepted the fact that I’m never going to be one of those moms that effortlessly has it all together. So when it came to ordering birth announcements - it was something I wanted to do, but just wasn’t sure I had the time or energy to send out... Or know where to even start for that matter.

When I found some coupons for shutterfly I was thrilled. I desperately needed a little direction - fortunately, they have cute designs and all I had to do was upload photos, type in our info - and voila! Beautiful birth announcements that only took about 10 minutes of my time. They came in the mail 3 days later! Completing this task so easily has me feeling sort of super-momish.

I haven’t even had the mental coordination to send out a Christmas card for the last 3 years so the fact that I’ve accomplished so much (in so little time!) has me feeling like quite the domestic queen at the moment - now if only I can actually get them addressed and in the mail (bah!)

My Thoughts: Reality TV

There is a reason you can’t find true love on a television show.

Because it grows best in the quiet times

when there are no cameras, no prying eyes, no people there to watch it.

It grows in the slow breaths and long silences of a car ride

in the short distance between his shoulder and mine.

Real love is not a fairy tale.

It is not perfect.

It can be flawed and difficult:

It even hurts sometimes.

Real love takes weeks and months and years to become.

It knows the story behind the scar on your shoulder,

your greatest fear,

and what you look like in sweatpants and a tee shirt.

True love isn’t a contest.

It’s the most unforced and natural of all life’s possibilities.

It’s what happens when you let go of cookie-cutter molds and expectations

and reveal all of yourself, privately and wholly to another soul.

Save reality TV shows for design contests and cook offs,

leave love alone.

It's the Great Binky, Charlie Brown

Can we talk about this massive binky for a moment? Leave it to our daughter to fall in love with the blue (she has a pink one too) whale of the binky world... but this humongous silicone bink has been a saving grace for us.

I really debated whether we wanted to give her one in the first place as I know how hard they can be to take away once a child grows older and I had read there are some increased cases of gastrointestinal issues from babies that use them. Then I read that they have been proven to reduce the risk of SIDS and I thought, “well, we’ll just give it to her when she sleeps”. But as soon as she was born, Aliyah started sucking on her fingers and if her fingers weren't there her little lips were sucking even if she had just eaten... it seemed cruel not to... so - plop - the binky was in her mouth.

We heard good reviews for the WeilBaby Pacifier but had to order it online since we couldn't find it at any local stores. I think the large size helps her hold on to it more easily, and I like the fact that it is a single, molded silicone piece (no crevices for bacteria to get into). In the course of two months our daughter has acquired an addiction to this bink - She can go from a screaming banshee to sprouting angel wings the second you give it to her.

I try so hard not to resort to sticking it in her mouth every time she is fussy - but sometimes, it’s the only thing that can keep her happy. I’d sign her up for Binkies Anonymous if such a thing existed - she’s a bonafide binky fiend!

I am already imagining the battles we are going to endure when it’s time to give it up. But I figure a binky is easier to take away than to get a kiddo to stop sucking their thumb. (On that note, Anyone have any recommendations on a good age to wean her off?)

This thing might be in the running for a guinness book record due to it’s size, but it also wins the prize as a sanity saver in our house.

I've Caught the Sickness

You know the one - The OMGosh... Let me strap a big flower to my baby girl’s head - sickness

What is it about a perfect round baby girl head that screams “I need a headband with the biggest freakin’ flower you can find?”

It’s an incredibly contagious disease and one that seems to be running rampant with mother’s of little girls everywhere. (Have you been affected too? Let’s start a support group)

When I put this thing on her, Ali looked at me like “Oh come on mom - I look like the chiquita banana lady”

Maybe so - but isn’t she divine?

Smiling's My Favorite

Some people have said that Tyler and I have big smiles,

but check out the grin on this gal...

The Inzer Family: We take smiling to a whole new level

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

I cannot say thank you enough for voting on Aliyah's picture in the best facial expression photo contest!!! She started out in 1,221st place and has bumped all the way up to THIRD PLACE (you all are amazing!) Today is the last day to vote. Would you mind voting one more time by clicking HERE and then scrolling down to the "vote for me" button? Many MANY Thanks!!!