The Great Paci Purge

We've done it, you guys. We are a pacifier free household.

It's kind of funny how it happened, really. A couple Saturdays ago, we had a babysitter come to the house so we could have a date night. That night, the sitter didn't give Colin his paci, but he went to bed just fine without it. He's been without it at daycare for a while now, but we were still allowing him to have it in bed at home.

That night, we decided that if he could survive one bedtime without it, that it was time just to get rid of it for good.

Someone stole a paci intended for baby brother...

The first couple nights were too easy. The second couple nights you would have thought we were torturing him. After that, things kind of leveled out, and the last two nights he hasn't mentioned it at all. Saturday will mark two weeks since he's used one at all, so it's safe to say we're done.

Since Reid still won't take a pacifier at all (he prefers his thumb or a blankie to suck on), I think it's time to throw out the few pacis I've kept in hiding.

It feels really good to have a parenting "win" under our belt. Next up? Hopefully, more potty training successes.

I just love this little boy-man so much.

 

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Mom hair

Motherhood causes us to make sacrifices. If you're a mom, you know exactly what I'm talking about. We moms have to put ourselves on the back burner pretty much all the time. We are always making sure the kids are fed before we fill our plates. We wear the same pair of jeans until they fall apart, but our kids have more clothes than they can wear. We sacrifice our sleep, our bodies, our social lives... I could go on and on.

The funny thing is, these sacrifices don't always feel like sacrifices. We do these things because we love our children. Yes, we have moments when we feel a little burned out and even resentful, but at least for me, those moments are fleeting and often fade after doing something for ourselves. It doesn't have to be much. A Starbucks run, a hot shower, a date night, a new pair of earrings. Whatever it is that makes us feel a little human again.

One of the things I tend to neglect when there's a baby in the house is my hair. Besides the issue of time (it takes a while to blow dry and style it the way I like it), babies are grabby. As my sister recently put it, "those sticky hands find everything." I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of my hair being pulled out in fistfuls. As a result, this is the look I've been sporting on the daily.

{also notice the ugly nursing bra with a gigantic strap}

After having two babies, this is becoming a habit of mine. I grow my hair long while I'm pregnant, give up on it by the middle of the third trimester, and revisit it again when it starts to drive me crazy.

Well, I think that time is coming soon. I think I may be just about ready to take the plunge and get it cut again. Maybe.

Moms, what are some of the sacrifices you've made for your kids?

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Of Potties and Growing Boys

When you've got two small children, there's pretty much a new milestone every day. And when you're not the first born, let's be honest - those milestones don't cause as much of a commotion as they did the first time around. Not that they aren't just as special, but the chaos of having a family of four or more just makes parents more... relaxed about these things, in my experience.

Anyway, as a mom I feel it's important to document these milestones so that I can look back later and see what my kids were doing at certain ages. It's also important to take time to celebrate that my babies are growing, thriving and doing new things.

Which brings me to the two most recent reasons for celebration. Reid's big news is that at 7 months, he has started sitting up unassisted. I can't believe how big he is getting! He's at such a funny age where he is curious about everything and wants to touch (and taste) anything and everything in sight.

And as for Colin, well.. I don't have a picture to illustrate this one (haha) but my big guy has started to pee in the potty! The potty training thing has been slow going due to the fact that we have a very strong willed and stubborn boy on our hands, and also because he's in daycare Monday through Friday and it's hard to be consistent. We've decided not to push it because he seems to do better with it when he suggests a trip to the potty. When we prompt him too often, that stubborn streak kicks in and he is adamantly against it.

It's still not happening every day, but next week he'll be moving into the next class at daycare, and his new teacher there is a potty training pro, so I think she'll be a lot of help in getting him to use the potty all the time.

When he does go on the potty, flushing the toilet seems to be his favorite part of the whole thing. Sometimes he will pee a little, flush, sit back down and pee some more, then flush again. If only he understood the concept of saving money on the water bill. Oh well, at least we're making some progress, right?

There really is something new every day at our house. Soon, Reid will be crawling and cutting teeth, and who knows what new things Colin will be doing in the coming months. Time flies.

What milestones are you celebrating today?

 

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Reid is 7 months old!

At 7 months old, Reid:

• is still toothless.
• has the biggest, most amazing smile.
• can sort of sit up unsupported, but starts to tip after a couple minutes.
• is very "grabby" and pulls hair, which is why mine is always up right now.
• has the prettiest gray-blue eyes.
• loves to snuggle and to nurse.
• is currently waking twice a night, although he goes back to sleep pretty quickly.
• drinks 7 oz of pumped breast milk at a time while at daycare.
• eats 2 jars of stage 2 baby food each day in addition to his milk.
• loves his big brother so much.
• just started saying "dada."
• rolls from tummy to back and back to tummy like a pro.
• can scoot a little, but hasn't attempted crawling yet.
• is basically an angel baby who has totally stolen my heart. 

Reid, you are going to be a ladykiller one day. I hope you never forget that your mama was your first love.

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Colin is 2 1/2!

At 29 months, Colin:

• sleeps well in his big boy bed, but still wants us to lay with him while he falls asleep.
• still uses a pacifier at home to sleep, but doesn't have one at daycare anymore.
• has peed in the potty a few times, but we still have a long road ahead of us in the potty training department.
• often eats like a full grown man. he's a bottomless pit.
• does not like to be told what to do. he is fiercely independent.
• however, he loves his mama very much and hates it when i leave him at daycare.
• is an incredible big brother. he is so, so sweet with Reid and i'm so thankful.
• loves trains, cars, trucks, boats, and big machines.
• does not like to have dirty hands.
• is very expressive, can throw a mean tantrum and has had his fair share of time outs.
• can navigate the iPad all by himself and loves Netflix and YouTube.
• has an amazing vocabulary and memory for a two year old.

Oh how I love you, my silly pumpkin head. I can't wait to see what you'll be like at three!

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Sleep, glorious sleep.

It's probably the most frequently discussed topic among parents of young children. We ask each other questions about it, discuss it at length with our spouses, complain about how we can never get enough of it. I'm talking, of course, about sleep.

The funny thing about sleep is that it varies so much from kid to kid. What worked for one may not work for another. We learned that lesson when our sweet little Reid came into our lives. He is such an angel in so many ways, but sleep has always been a struggle. For months, the only way he'd sleep was while he was moving. In the car, in a swing, whatever. In the crib, he would wake often. It got to the point that I just could not take the sleepless nights anymore. It was bad. I was working a full time job with such little sleep that I had become so stressed out. Something had to change.

I explained the situation to the ladies at daycare and asked if they would put him in a crib for naps instead of in the swing. You see, on a typical day he'd take several long naps in the swing there, and then he'd come home and wake up every hour that night.

Long story short, he did amazingly well in the crib. The first day, they said he fussed until he fell asleep, but he never all-out cried. The second day, there was even less fussing. The third day, as soon as they laid him down he turned over on his belly and went right to sleep.

The best part? He is SLEEPING during the night! Last night he slept from 10 pm from 5 am, and fell right back to sleep after a feeding!!! This is huge in our house. Huge!

And then there's Colin. Oh, Colin. He has always been a pretty good sleeper. However, when we transitioned him out of the crib a few months ago, he suddenly realized he could hop right out of bed and come visit us whenever he wanted. That little habit comes and goes. Sometimes he'll sleep in his bed just fine for a week, and sometimes he'll climb in bed with us every night for a week. We usually put him right back to bed when that happens, but sometimes we shrug it off and enjoy our snuggles. This morning, I woke up to find him between Justin and me in the bed. I don't even remember him coming in, so I'm not sure how long he's been there! Little stinker.

The other "bad" habit he has developed lately is that he wants me to lay down with him at bedtime while he falls asleep. Here's my mommy confession, though: I'm not sure I want to correct this right now. You see, with work, a husband, a baby, and everything else I have going on, Colin and I don't get a whole lot of quality mommy/son time lately. So if he asks me to lay down with him for 15 minutes a night, well, I'm going to oblige. I know that the day will come, probably sooner than I think, that he will be too independent to want snuggles with Momma before bed. So dang it, I'm going to enjoy those snuggles while I can.

How is your little one sleeping these days? When did he/she start sleeping through the night? 

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Reid is 6 months old!

Who is officially the momma of a 2 year old and a 6 month old? This girl!

I can't believe Reid is already halfway to a year. It really does go faster the second time.

On his six month birthday, I took my baby to the pediatrician to have his ears checked out. The poor guy has rarely, if ever, not had an ear infection. As I suspected, his ears were still infected. I don't think the last infection ever totally cleared up. We had just finished his last round of antibiotics the day before we left for Michigan.

Despite the never-ending ear troubles, and as a result, lots of night waking, Reid remained his happy, adorable self. We are seriously blessed to have such a sweet little guy.

A week after the sick visit, I took him back to the pediatrician for his scheduled well visit. According to Dr. C, his ears were still full of fluid, but they weren't as red anymore. Still, he wasn't very confident that they would clear up entirely, or that they wouldn't become infected again as soon as we stopped the antibiotic.

The fun part about the visit, of course, was finding out our (not so) little boy's height and weight. His official 6 month stats?

Weight: 18 lbs 4 oz   |   Height: 27 1/4 inches

At first, I thought that sounded huge, until I looked up Colin's stats at the same age. Reid is a full THREE pounds less than Colin weighed, and one inch shorter. Holy cow!

Fast forward to the next day... Reid had an ENT consultation. I tell ya, this kid's been through it this week. We thought it would just be a consultation, but at the visit, Dr. B said she could put his tubes in at 2:30 the very same day. Say what?! I was under the impression he would have to undergo the whole surgery deal, with anesthesia and everything. Apparently, there is a certain window when they can put tubes in a baby's ears right in the office by using an ear drop that numbs the area locally. We agreed, and amazingly enough, that afternoon my baby had a five minute procedure, and bam - he suddenly had tubes. He was fussy that night, but overall he has done amazingly well. The doctor said she drained quite a bit of fluid, and we can already tell that his hearing has improved as a result. I am so glad it's all over and done with.

So, there you have it. I have a six month old. With tubes in his ears. And also, an almost two-and-a-half year old, who has a post of his very own coming soon. Stay tuned!

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Use Shutterfly for all your photo gift needs!

I am a mother. Therefore, I take a lot of pictures. Like, a lot. As in, there are rarely less than 400 photos on my phone at any given time. So when Shutterfly contacted me to create a photo gift and write a review, I was thrilled! 

I chose to create a photo mug for Justin for Father's Day. Here it is, in all its glory.

Cute, right?! The quality is awesome. The colors, fonts and images on the mug are completely true to what they looked like on the site, and the template was easy to choose, insert photos and customize. I am very happy with how it turned out. My one complaint about the site would be that the template isn't fully customizable. If you use a template, you can't move things around, add or take away elements. On the flip side though, that makes the ordering experience very easy and straightforward.

I would definitely recommend Shutterfly to anyone looking to create a high quality photo gift for any occasion!

Hint hint: Use coupon code SHIP30 to get free shipping on any order over $30!

As compensation for writing this review, I was given a $20 Shutterfly.com credit..
 

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A road trip, a wedding, and more

Where do I begin?

This past week has been a complete whirlwind. On Thursday, we left at the crack of dawn for my sweet little hometown in Michigan.

We drove all day. Yep, all four of us.

We talked, played, listened to music, watched movies, stopped a ton of times to change a diaper, run around, breastfeed, grab some food. It was a long trip. Two years ago, with one kid, it took us about 12 hours. This time, it took closer to 14.

But we made it! What an amazing feeling to finally drive up to the house I spent so many years in, and to bring my kids inside with me.

We spent the evening with family. Snuggling, playing, letting the kids stay up far later than bedtime. Friday, there was more snuggling, more playing. A rehearsal and then dinner, and then even more snuggling and playing.

On Saturday, my little brother married the most wonderful girl, and I gained a sister.

photo courtesy of instagram.com/callieliz

It was simple, and sweet, and emotional. There was a small cake and coffee reception at the church, and then a beautiful party at a little red barn in the country. I was a "groomswoman" (meaning I stood beside my brother during the ceremony), and with everything going on, I left my phone at my parents' house. Unfortunately, that means that I didn't get any photos, but I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures floating around social media soon. The photographer was also an old friend from college, and it was amazing to see her! I'm so eager to see how her shots turned out.

It really was a wonderful day. I'm going to choose to remember the good parts, and not the crazy toddler meltdowns Colin had throughout the day. To be fair, we put him through a heck of a lot over the weekend. He even had a job to do during the ceremony; but more on that when the pictures come back. :)

Sunday, we started our trip home. We decided not to put the kids through another all day journey, and instead opted to stop at a hotel at the halfway point and drive the rest of the way home on Monday. It worked out pretty well, but Reid was fussier than usual. He also felt a little warm to me, and I had a hunch that his ears were still infected (he finished his last round of antibiotics last week).

Long story short, our little turkey, on his six month birthday, got a new prescription and an ENT referral. Yayyy. We are looking into the possibility of tubes. More on that later, too.

So then, today, I finally go back for my first full day of work this week, and.... daycare calls me at work. Twice. The first phone call is from Belinda in the baby room. Reid has pooped through all of his extra outfits, and is currently dressed in a diaper and a way-too-big t-shirt they had laying around. Okay, no big deal, I'll bring more clothes tomorrow, I say. The second phone call is Ms. Pam, the daycare director. Colin threw up all over himself at the lunch table. Oh dear.

I told my boss and left, and thanks be to God, Colin seemed fine when I picked him up. Maybe it's a mild bug, maybe it was something he ate... who knows. He's been sleeping for an hour and a half now and I have been keeping an eye on him. Hopefully tomorrow we will all resume our schedules as usual.

If you've read this whole post, thanks for sticking with me! As soon as I have a few more minutes to breathe, I will have more to share about my little men, including Reid's 6 month stats.

More to come!

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My kid doesn't sleep

So, my kid doesn't sleep. Well, not at night anyway. It's been rough. This momma is a walking zombie most of the time these days. There's not enough coffee in the world to keep me perky all day long until bedtime.

Apparently the white noise machine doesn't work.. it's gotta be the real ocean.

So, I think there are a few different reasons for the current lack of sleep in our house.

First off, Reid is growing all the time. He is probably in a growth spurt as we speak, as he has recently started downing two full jars of stage 1 baby food a day - one at daycare and one at home. I am also filling his daycare bottles with 6.5 oz of breast milk, which he always finishes. He has put himself on about a four hour feeding schedule there, but still nurses more frequently when I'm around.

Secondly, my poor baby is getting over his fourth ear infection. As a result, he has been on antibiotics (again), which irritates his tummy and gives him gas and diarrhea. Probiotic powder has helped some, but he is still going through two or three outfits a day thanks to nasty blowout diapers.

Thirdly, as if the first two things weren't enough, my little guy is in full blown teething mode. We actually have two teethers in our house now, as Colin is still working on his last set of molars. Reid is showing every symptom in the book. He chews viciously on everything he can get his gums on, he has been fussing and running a low grade fever, and he has become a fountain of drool. I think we will see his first teeth emerge any time now.

As desperate as I am for sleep, it's hard to be upset when I know all the things that are upsetting my sweet boy. Plus, he's really cute, and I know this stage won't last forever, so I'm really trying to focus on the good in all this - that I get to spend quality time alone with my little turkey at midnight... and 2, and 3, and 5....

more to come. :)

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I'm on Bloglovin!

Hey, guys! As you are probably already aware, Google Reader is going away in the very near future. As a result, I finally got with the program and joined Bloglovin. Come join me so you can still find me after Google Reader bites the dust!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

This concludes today's public service announcement. Sorry I didn't have anything more interesting to offer. Here, have a cute photo of my kids.

 

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Beach Babies

This weekend, we embarked on a brief getaway to the beach, which is just a couple hours away. It was Reid's first time at the ocean, and while it wasn't Colin's first beach trip, it was the first time he was old enough to walk on the sand, play in the water and swim in the hotel pool. Here are a few snapshots from our mini vacation.

 The weather was perfect, the kids did well with the drive, and Justin and I were even able to escape for a bit one night to walk on the beach and enjoy the hotel's jacuzzi. My only complaint is that we couldn't stay longer. Here's hoping our trip to Michigan for my brother's wedding in a couple weeks is just as smooth!

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Mrs. Patel's Milk Making Treats {Giveaway!}

This post features two things I'm pretty passionate about right now: breastfeeding and tasty treats. Mrs. Patel's is an innovative company that sells handmade treats and teas designed to assist with lactation, and to help with the postpartum healing process. When I heard about Mrs. Patel's products, I was intrigued and had to give them a try! For the purpose of this review, I received a combo pack of Fenugreek bars, two varieties of Milk Water Tea, and a bag of Munch Crunch.

Of course, the very first thing I had to try was the chocolate Fenugreek bar. Holy yum. The flavor is a very unique combination of sweet and savory, and the chocolate has a subtle spicy kick. I'll be honest, it was a little hard to pace myself and just eat one per day. 

Just like with Fenugreek supplements I have taken before, I noticed a slight increase in my milk production within a couple days. The most notable change, though, was that several days after starting the Fenugreek bars, my letdown happened sooner, and I could really feel it happening. Reid was thrilled. He can sometimes be a little impatient while waiting for that initial letdown, so he was a happy little nurser once my milk making treats started to work their magic.

Peanut Butter Fenugreek Bars | Milk Water Tea | Munch Crunch

Oh, and the tea. The tea is so yummy. The chai spice is awesome. Right now, it's the only chai lactaction tea on the market, and it really does work. My supply was already fine by the time I tried the tea, which might have been a mistake because I produced so much milk the day after drinking it that Reid spit up after a feeding, which he never does! Oops. Lesson learned. This stuff is pretty powerful!

Can you tell Reid likes his milk?!

A couple more cool things to point out about Mrs. Patel's: You can save 20% off with your first order using the discount code "MAKEMILK." Also, they have recently launched a line of gluten-free, vegan Fenugreek bars. There's something for everyone!

So, onto the fun part. Who wants to win some milk making treats?! Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck, and happy lactating!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Guest Post: Kendra's Travel Tips!

The sun is finally out, you guys, and that means it's vacation time! We actually have a couple trips coming up. At the end of the month we'll be heading to the beach for a weekend, and mid-June we will be taking a road trip to Michigan (yes, all four of us!) for my little brother's wedding. So, when Kendra Thornton, travel expert extraordinaire, contacted me, I was more than happy to let her share some family friendly travel tips with all of us! Here are Kendra's tips. Thanks for guesting, lovely lady!

Top Tips for Traveling with Children

Summer is steadily approaching and the hustle and bustle of the school year will come to a much needed summer break. For most families, this is the perfect opportunity to schedule some quality time with a family vacation. Taking time to plan for a summer vacation is crucial to ensure you’ll have fun later. Here are five must-know travel tips that can help when preparing for and enjoying this year's family vacation.

What to pack

Packing in layers can be a time saver for everyone on a family vacation. When traveling to a warm destination, the top layer of each suitcase should include swimsuits, to ensure the family can bolt for the pool upon arrival. This is a perfect way to occupy time when the room is not yet available for check in. Oftentimes, hotels will have the rooms ready for check-in after 3pm, which allows for some poolside fun while you wait.

Pool gear: check!

Choose toys wisely

If you are traveling with toddlers, it is important to pack toys for the duration of the trip. They will need multiple choices that can fit easily into carry on baggage and that are amenable to air and car travel. Technological devices that can serve many purposes such as an iPad can be a wise choice. iPads can really be a great traveling companion for all ages as they allow for surfing the web, reading books, watching movies and streaming television shows. There are also a host of educational apps you can download to ensure your children are still learning throughout the summer. 
 

Research your retreat

Your accommodations for vacation can really make or break a trip.  Everything from hotel room service to kid-friendly amenities are key features to consider before picking your palace.  Doing your research before booking a place will not only cut down on issues that could arise during your trip but also reduce your pre-vacation stress.  Knowing your family has a safe place to rest their heads after a long day is key to a wonderful trip.  The best part? If you have access to a computer, this step is free!  Use the Internet to read reviews and forums on the best places to stay in your destination city.  While planning a family trip to Oahu, I was able to read reviews for the best family friend hotels in Honolulu to determine which one met our needs best. The Internet is also the best place to find insider information, such as the best restaurants in the area or the best time to book.

Baggage claim

Choosing luggage that is easily distinguishable from others can be a good way to spot luggage quickly on a conveyor belt at the airport. This can also deter thieves from walking away with your luggage unnoticed. If you are one of the many millions of travelers with a black suitcase this summer, it can be easy to tie a neon ribbon around the handle to make for easy identification. If you have already had the dreaded experienced of losing luggage, you may want something with more security.  GoCodes offers GPS enabled luggage tags that allow you to reconnect with your luggage in the unfortunate event that it gets lost.

Vet your jet

Deciding which airline to use can be tricky with so much to consider: price, layovers, reliability, baggage fees.  When deciding on an airline, do your research.  Many airlines that appear cheaper at first glance, may in fact have hidden fees which hike up the price at checkout.  Look into deals and members options as these can help save.  Many credit cards can accumulate air miles or be shown upon check-in to receive free upgrades! Using the mobile check in features that many airlines offer can save time at the airport and allow more time to relax.  With kids, any extra time getting to the gate will be beneficial.

Kendra Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have taken my excitement for travel and brought it to you with some of my favorite travel tips and tricks. Enjoy!  

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A Little Instagram Love

Let's be honest, I've been slacking a little in the blogging department. Between work and home, things are a little crazy right now. The kids have taken turns being sick, too, which has added to the craziness but I think (knock on wood) that we are finally on the up and up.

When I'm not blogging, you can usually find me on Instagram {username sbuxsweetie}. Come find me! I'll most likely follow you back. :) Here's a taste of what I've been up to lately, Instagram style.

Are you on Instagram? Please tell me I'm not the IG addict out there. :)

More to come soon, promise!

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iBaby: Kids and Technology

My children are going to be smarter than I am, and I'm okay with that. In fact, that's how I think it should be. Parents want the best for their kids, and in my mind, that means that we want them to do better than we did in our lifetimes. To learn more than we learned. To have better jobs than we had. And in this day and age, to understand technology.

My generation is steeped in technology, yes, but we weren't raised with it the way our children will be. At two years old, Colin can fully navigate our iPhones and "his" iPad Mini with ease. He can turn it on, find an app, adjust the volume, and even find a show to watch on Netflix. He gets upset when we're out of wifi range and Netflix doesn't work. Is it bad that I think it's funny when he hands me the iPad and says "it's broken" because Curious George won't play?

So yeah, my kid pretty much loves technology. And he's already a pro at it, which is either a testament to how smart he is, or how far technology has come. Probably a little of both. I feel like I should add a disclaimer and say that we do encourage imaginative play and outside time, of course, and he isn't glued to the iPad all day long. However, with a 4.5 month old little one to tend to, any good distraction can be helpful. And hey, it's educational, too! One of Colin's favorite apps is called "Endless Alphabet." That app alone has helped him big time with his letter recognition. The other day when a commercial came on TV, he pointed to the screen and named several letters in a row. I am constantly amazed by how quickly he is picking things up.

Basically, I'm a big proponent of encouraging the use of technology from a young age. As parents, we need to use our judgment to make sure our kids are getting involved in enough activities off the couch, but I do think it's really cool that my sons will grow up with these powerful tools at their fingertips. They have a world of knowledge available to them that I didn't have access to as a child. In a society as dynamic and fast-paced as ours is, they need to know how technology works in order to keep up. Just my two cents.

How do you feel about kids and technology? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

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Little Caesars DEEP!DEEP! Dish {Giveaway!}

Oh my gosh, you guys. You're gonna love this one. I've tried to limit sponsored posts lately, but whenever there's pizza involved, I know you won't mind. Am I right?

So, I was recently asked to try Little Caesars' new DEEP!DEEP! Dish Pizza and review it. Tough job, right? Uh, you guys? As soon as I tried it, I regretted eating some Crazy Bread in the car on the way home, because I wanted more pizza! Like any good deep dish pizza should be, it's thick and chewy, with perfectly crispy, caramelized edges and melty, ooey gooey cheese. I kind of want to eat it again, like really soon. Justin and Colin loved it, too!

And the best part? Between 4 and 8 pm, it's available HOT-N-READY, so there's no wait time for you and your hungry family. I picked mine up on the way home from daycare with the kids in the back seat, and was thankful for the fast and easy dinner that night.

So, who wants free pizza?! Little Caesars has generously offered to give a $10 gift card to one of my readers, so that one of you can try the new DEEP!DEEP! dish pizza for free! Not a bad deal! To enter, just use the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Disclaimer: To try Little Caesars' DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza, I was given a $10 gift certificate. I was not compensated for this post in any other way, and my opinions in this review are my own.

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A Tired Mother's Prayer

God, help me not to lose my mind when I have been up five times in the night with one child, and the other decides to start the day bright and early.

Help me to be the best mother I can be, but God, help me not to beat myself up over the times that I fail.

Give me endless amounts of love for my babies, and help me to keep my cool even when one of them throws a fit because of something that seems so insignificant, but apparently can turn a toddler's world upside down.

Lord, give me the wisdom to know when I just need a break. Help me not to feel guilty about those moments to myself, and to understand that they make me a better mother.

When my paid leave time off is all used up at work and someone comes down with yet another illness, give me the strength I need to wipe the boogers away for the millionth time, or to squirt Tylenol into the mouth of a screaming child, or to do a load of laundry and give a bath at three in the morning because a certain someone threw up all over himself.

God, please help me to remember that this won't last forever. Help me to hold onto the sweet moments and banish the memories I'd rather not hold onto. Show me how to be the best version of myself, for the sake of my husband and children.

And for goodness' sake, please, Lord, let both children sleep through the night. Just once. Please?

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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Update on the Boys

At 2 years and 3 months, Colin:

• is totally obsessed with Thomas the Train, and trains in general
• can sing his ABCs and count to 10
• eats well and loves to snack
• is sleeping through the night in his big boy bed
• asks for seconds when I give him applesauce or mandarin oranges
• is nowhere near ready to potty train just yet
• still takes a nap each day, thank goodness
• likes to read books, do puzzles, play with bubbles and play outside
• still uses a paci, but only when it's time to sleep
• is a whiz kid on the iPad and likes to play games and use Netflix
• will kiss your owies better if you point them out
• is a great big brother to Reid, who he loves like crazy

 At 4 months, Reid:

• weighs 15 pounds and is 25 inches tall
• drinks pumped breast milk at daycare and nurses when we're together
• smiles a ton and has laughed a couple times
• sleeps well in his crib, usually waking once a night to eat
• can support his weight and hold up his head like a champ
• sucks his thumb to soothe himself
• loves the swing and naps well in it
• has sensitive skin, just like his brother did at this age
• drools quite a bit and can soak through a onesie in no time
• has a few blowout diapers each week. the kid can poop.
• is still comfortable being held by new people
• has the most adorable little voice when he coos and "talks"

I can't believe how fast these boys of mine are growing. I really can't.

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Colin's Big Boy Bed

Guys, we did it. We moved our "little" Colin out of his crib and into a big boy bed. Is it just me, or does he look like a mini teenager here? Where has my baby gone? (Good thing I have another one. hehe.)

 

We decided it was time to make the switch when he started trying to climb out of his crib. He never actually made it out, but we caught him quite a few times with one leg hiked up over the side, like he was getting ready to throw himself over the edge. So, we broke out the crib conversion kit, bought some Thomas bedding to get him excited about it, and voila! Colin's big boy bed was born. Cute, right?

The first night was ridiculously smooth. Too smooth. Too good to be true. Yeah, he fell out of bed a couple times, but he snoozed right through it. On the second night, it's like he realized he had the freedom to hop right out of bed if he wanted to. CRAP. This is when the Battle of the Bed commenced. I started to dread bedtime, and so did he. We tried reading stories in bed, but somehow that got him even more riled up. He hopped out to get more books, flipped through them quickly, and then ran to get more. Oh dear goodness.

We tried singing songs. Praying together. Snuggling. Not snuggling. Anything to get him to settle down and go to sleep. What we finally learned, through trial and error and a few tough nights, was that we were trying too hard.

It was really my husband who stumbled upon the "right" way to tuck him in. He sat on the bed next to him, sang "Twinkle twinkle little star" with him one time, gave him a kiss, said goodnight, and left the room. He pulled the door until it was almost closed, just enough to peek through and check on him. Colin whined a little bit, but - wonder of wonders - did not get out! I was amazed!

Last night, it was my turn to give it a try. I did exactly what Justin had done the night before, and it worked! A little bit of whining, and then silence. He fell asleep within a few minutes! Now, I don't expect for every night to be this easy, but so far our short and sweet bedtime routine seems to be making a big difference.

I am so proud of my big boy!

And speaking of big boys, Reid will be 4 months old on Thursday. Holy moly! I will update with his 4 month stats after his appointment Friday. I may be a little biased, but there is a whole lotta handsome going on here.

 

These boys. They have my heart.

More to come!  

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