Wear that babe!

*This post is sponsored by LILLEbaby and Elfin Marketing, but all opinions are my very own*

When our son, Bubba, was a baby we wore him around a lot using a baby carrier.  The one we used worked really well for him, outside of causing back pain, so we kept it in hopes that we could use it when we had baby #2.  Fast forward 5 years when we had our second child, our baby girl named Vivian.  Once she was a couple months old I began trying to wear her in the same baby carrier that we had used with our son.  

Oh the messes made...

*This post is sponsored by Lorena Canals and Elfin Marketing, but all opinions are my very own.*

Blogging about my family and our experiences is what I love to do.  It is the entire reason I started this blog.  I wanted a place to document our memories as well as offer support, advice and laughter for fellow mothers and their families.  Motherhood is such a messy thing, but I would not trade it for the world! 

Mamas, let's get personal for a minute...

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NatureMadeProbiotics #CollectiveBias

I think any mama will back me up when I say that a body is never the same after having children.  I am not going to say things are better or worse, but they are just different.  Our hormones are on a different level all together and our bodies take time to adjust.  Since our bodies and hormones have changed, so must our health and beauty routines. After the birth of my first child, I did not notice many bodily changes.  After the birth of my second child, a lot changed.  I have had to adjust my health and beauty routine in the morning to accommodate for the changes my body has experienced.  Here are some tips I have for mamas experiencing similar postpartum issues as I am.

Back to School We Go!

This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CampbellsShortcutMeals #CollectiveBias

As much as I am in denial, I have to acknowledge that summer break is nearly over.  I am not ready to embrace the hustle and bustle, but the first day of school is tomorrow.  We are a family of four with extremely busy schedules during the school year.  It is crucial that I make a thorough grocery list for my weekly trips to Walmart. My husband and I both work full-time.  We have a son going into first grade, who also plays fall ball, and a 9 month old daughter in daycare.  Busy is all we know during the school year, so we need quick and easy meal options to help make our nights a little less chaotic.  I try to prepare meals ahead of time that will yield at least an additional night of leftovers, as there is no way that I can cook five nights a week during the school year. Who has time for that!?

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One of my favorite meals to fix ahead of time is my cranberry-almond chicken salad served on croissants. On nights when my son has ball practice, we usually do not get home until 7:30pm.  Living in the south, where it stays summer until the end of October, we are hot and sweaty messes when we get home from the ball fields.  Being out in the heat after a long day of school and work usually means we do not want anything really heavy and rich. My cold, crunchy and refreshing chicken salad is the perfect alternative and is even better when washed down with deliciously fruity V8 Splash®.  For my chicken salad, I like to use Swanson® Premium Chicken because it is already cooked, low in fat and heart healthy.

Our son, whom we call Bubba, is not a fan of chicken salad.  He doesn't trust anything that is all mixed together.  Most nights I make him eat what we eat, but some nights he deserves to be a kid and eat fun foods.  On nights when we get home late and he still has to shower and do homework, I try to have a fun supper option for him that I am comfortable with.  One of my go-to's is Campbell's® SpaghettiOs® pasta.  I have never met a child who did not think they were one of the most fun foods ever, and my child is no exception.  Having Campbell's® SpaghettiOs® pasta means manners go out the window as Bubba loves to slurp up the o-shaped pasta!

While we may be eating in a bit of a rush, we still try to enjoy our time as a family around the supper table.  I like to find simple ways to make mealtime more festive like some flowers on the table or serving our meals on colorful plates.  One way to dress up supper on a weeknight is to serve V8 Splash® in fancy cups with straws.  It is the little things that make life fun and V8 Splash® offers fruity flavors, made with fruits and vegetables making it mom-approved!

Good luck to all of my fellow mothers out there getting ready to send their children back to school.  It is hard to believe summer break is over and we are back to our school year routines.  The lesson I have learned in this is not to say "We will do that later this summer" and to just do whatever "that" is as soon as possible.  Summer waits for no one, and neither does the first day of school!  Nonetheless, I have this chicken salad recipe made with Swanson® Premium Chicken to get me through this first week of chaos, I mean school!

Dealing with baby drama...

*This post is sponsored by DockATot™ and Elfin Marketing, but all opinions are my own.*

At 8 months old, Vivian has reached one of the more demanding phases in her life.  She demands to be held as much as possible...and not just by anyone, by me and me alone.  She has been a daddy's girl for most of her life and has loved on everyone that has held her, but now she has a conniption fit if anyone else holds her while she can see me.  Seriously, I should have named her Scarlet O'hara because of her drama.  I am trying to enjoy this stage, because who doesn't love being someone's favorite...but being someone's favorite, especially when that someone is a very heavy and dramatic 8 month old, is exhausting after a while.  I've got things I need to do like cook supper, fold laundry and prep clothes and bottles for the next day.  Here are a few tricks that I try in efforts to get Vivian to play on her own for a bit while I handle whatever task is at hand.

| T O Y S |

This is an obvious one, I realize that.  I am not trying to reinvent the wheel.  It is important to place your baby somewhere safe and comfortable and to be intentional about which toys are available to your baby for the sake of entertainment.  Vivian does not like feeling enclosed, so a pack and play is not the best.  She really likes to be in her DockATot™ Grand while playing.  It is comfortable and soft, yet structured.  I try to be strategic about how many toys I have out for her at one time.  I used to have all her regular toys out and readily available to her at all times.  What I have found works better is to keep some of them out of sight for a while so she is not used to playing with them.  If I am in the middle of cooking supper and she starts whining to be held, because she is bored with the toys she has been playing with, I can get out the toys that she hasn't played with in a day or so to keep her entertained for another 10-20 minutes.

| M U S I C |

Vivian loves music.  She is just like her brother and is learning to appreciate talented musicians at an early age.  At the moment, she gets down to John Mayer and Leon Bridges.  She will raise her hands up and down and attempt to clap while the music plays.  I always make sure to have her in a safe place, like in her DockATot™ Grand on the floor near where I am.  The DockATot Grand helps prevent injury if she loses her balance while dancing or moving, her head will not hit the hard floor.  She really loves to watch me dance and listen to me sing along.  Again, to win more time, I am strategic.  First, I let the music play alone and do nothing, but cook or clean or whatever it is I am trying to get done.  I try not to make a lot of eye contact with her because that is the easiest way to remind her that she is not being held.  Then when she starts to fuss a bit, I start dancing and clapping a little while I am finishing up the task at hand.  Once she grows bored with that, I will start singing along which will buy me a little extra time until she has had enough and will settle for nothing more than being held.

| U S E    T H E   O T H E R   O F F S P R I N G |

I try to never make it my son, Bubba's, responsibility to entertain his little sister, but it does take a village.  If you have more than one child, the sibling is one of the biggest weapons in your arsenal for keeping your baby entertained.  Bubba is always telling us how he wanted his sister first...meaning he wanted to have a sister before we even considered having a second child...and he is absolutely right.  He was begging for a baby sister at 2 years old and I have video to prove it.  So my argument to him when I need him to play with her for five minutes is "Like you said...you wanted her first...now you got her!"  Most of the time, I do not have to convince him.  He loves to make her laugh by dancing crazy, making funny faces or tickling her.  Even Bubba likes the DockATot Grand.  It is meant for ages 9-36 months, but he is so tall and slender that they both fit in it comfortably.  He really loves to snuggle with Vivian in the DockATot Grand while watching a movie. 

| L E T   H E R   C R Y |

In the wise words of Hootie & the Blowfish "Let her cry..."  At the end of the day, babies need to learn how to play independently little by little.  No one can hold their baby all of the time, nor should they in my opinion.  I never let her cry for too long, but I try to let her work it out a little bit on her own.  When I do this, I want to make sure she has a completely safe space to unleash that is close to me so that she does not feel abandoned.  When she is mad, she throws her head back and kicks a lot.  The DockATot™ Grand helps ensure she stays safe and does not injure herself in her rage over not being held.

DockATots have a been a lifesaver in our household.  They are made in Europe with breathable, washable, hypo-allergenic materials. We used the DockATot™ Deluxe+ from the time Vivian was two months old until she was seven months old.  Now, we use the DockATot Grand for everything from naps to play time.  It is so versatile and very portable.  It is easy to move anywhere in the house and to take on trips.  We have a beach trip coming up in a few weeks and you better believe we will be taking this little piece of magic with us.  It will help Vivian feel at home in the hotel, which normal make her feel uneasy.  I imagine the DockATot will be really helpful in her transition from the crib to a toddler bed in a couple years as it will provide that sense of security as she transitions from a cozy crib to what seems like a large and open toddler bed. 

How do you help your baby learn to play independently and safely?

To my American friends, family and readers: Have a happy and safe 4th of July tomorrow, y'all!  

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Gipsy Wild...

*I received these products for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my very own.*

At 8 months old, Vivian's personality has really begun to shine bright.  Over the last month, we have noticed some strong personality traits of our daughter's.  In my opinion, this is where it starts to get really fun.  Tiny babies are adorable, but I really love it when I get to watch my children begin to form opinions and decide what they like and don't like.  Hard to believe I gave birth to her over 8 months ago.  It still feels like I was pregnant with her yesterday.  Her birth definitely gave us a taste of what she would be like.  A wild child who knows what she wants...

She is not a fan of green things...

From avocados to green beans, she is not a fan of the greens.  She loves orange things...like pumpkin, sweet potatoes and carrots.  Her favorites right now are probably pumpkin and peaches.  She is a little impatient during feedings, meaning we can never get another spoonful in her mouth quick enough, and she also has my sensitivity to textures which makes for some interesting and messy feedings when trying a new food.

She likes to be free...

The more naked the better in her book...which is something we will have to work on as she gets older, but for now it is endearing...When she can't be naked, She prefers coveralls and dresses to footie pajamas and pants.  She likes to feel free to move, twist and crawl.

She is fast approaching her first teeth...

We have plenty of drool and teething toys to prove it.  This gal is always trying to put something in her mouth to chew on...which is terrifying, so I have made a point to have plenty of teething toys around the house for her to grab.  Our favorite teether is the 100% organic wood rattle teether from Finn & Emma.  The teething rattle is made from Indian hardwoods, filled with Indian cooking beans and finished with vegetable seed wax.  I don't have to worry about anything toxic going into my baby's mouth so long as she is gnawing on this rattle.  What I also love about this rattle is that it is chunky, which makes it easy for her sweet baby fingers to hold onto it.

She is a ham...

This girl definitely has our sense of humor.  She absolutely loves to smile and laugh.  She brightens the darkest of days.  Her personality is truly magnetic and she is chock full of charisma.  She has the gift of spreading happiness and I intend to support and nourish this gift, as the world needs so much of it.

She wants her mama...

There is not much in her world that I can't make right, and I am eating up every second while it lasts...I know all too well that daughters becomes daddy's girls, just as they should. She wants to be held all of the time, which is a bad habit...but considering I am about 85% sure she is our last baby, I am going to enjoy it while it lasts...Even if my back is on fire and my arms are jelly...

She is inquisitive and adventurous...

Vivian wants to know about everything...so she is into errything! Once she sets her eyes on something, so must get to it...whether it be by kinda-crawling to scooting or just rolling...she is going to find a way to get to what interests her. She loves to be outside looking at the sky or feeling the grass between her fingers and she really loves to feel the wind in her face.  She is definitely our little earth-loving, gipsy-hippy girl.

Clothing has become more and more important now that she is so active.  She is pulling up on things, rolling across the room, scooting on her behind and army crawling.  She definitely needs durable clothing that gives her the soft and easy comfort she craves so she does not feel constricted.  Finn & Emma 100% organic cotton coveralls are perfect for my little explorer.  Vivian is wearing the Fairytale Coverall in the photographs and it is easy to see how comfortable she is in them. I demand  quality cotton clothing in tasteful patterns and styles for my children.  I limit the amount of tulle, glitter and characters on her clothing, just because that is my person preference.  Finn & Emma has unique and tasteful patterns in gorgeous colors all while maintaining the integrity of their products by using 100% organic cotton, lead/nickel free snaps and non-toxic dyes.

This girl is on the move and I have a feeling she will not be slowing down any time soon.  Goodness, gracious babies sure don't keep.

How to be a sideline hero...

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #SaveSnackScore #CollectiveBias

This baseball mama has been at the beach on vacation with her family for the last four days. It has been a glorious break from life, including baseball life...and has given me time to think and plan for the next month that will consist of my son's baseball practices and tournaments in the hot summer sun.

Currently, my son is on his county All-Star team and is also preparing to be a part of a travel ball team beginning this fall.  We have spent the last four seasons at the ball fields and it is one of our favorite places to be.  I love being a baseball mama and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but it is utterly exhausting being on the sidelines out in the Georgia heat.  My husband and I both work full-time and, in addition to our son, we also have a baby girl.  As you can imagine, our days are packed.  We have no choice, but to be strategic and prepare ahead of time.

Here are some of the things I do the night before to prepare for an upcoming baseball game so that I can be the sideline hero that totes a baby on my hip while cheering on my son:

1. Gather all necessary baseball items (bat, glove, helmet, uniform, cleats, athletic cup, eye black, gloves, etc) Once I have everything together I place bag and equipment in back of my car so I have one less thing to worry about in the morning.

2. Pack change of clothes for myself because I do not want to be sweating buckets while wearing my "dry clean" only work clothes!

3. Pack diaper bag with diapers, wipes, toys, misting fan, water, baby food, etc... I have to be prepared with multiple ways of entertaining my baby on the sidelines so I can watch my oldest out on the field! Once diaper bag is packed, I place it in the car the night before.

4. Gather umbrella, chairs, sunscreen and bug spray, cooler and anything else that will make me slightly more comfortable in the blazing heat.

5. Ensure my snack basket is stocked

I created a snack basket to keep in my office at work.  I work from 8am-5pm, then I have to pick up both kids and have my son dressed and on the ball field by 5:45pm.  I do not have time to stop and pick up snacks and drinks on the way to the ball fields.  To give myself one less thing to worry about in the mornings I created a snack basket that I keep at work. Keeping the snack basket at work allows me to grab what I need on my way to get the kids and head to the ball field. There are plenty of concession stands at baseball tournaments, but they charge and arm and a leg...and truthfully I do not want nachos in the hot sun...blech…

Cheering on my son, with a baby on my hip is exhausting so I always need something to eat and drink that is replenishing. Some of my favorite snacks and drinks for the ball field are NABISCO RITZ BITS cracker sandwiches 12-pack and POWERADE®, both of which I purchased at my local Wal-Mart. I love the convenience of the snack pack and the ability to have portion control.  My son’s games can be intense and if I had a whole box of snacks open I am liable to eat them all just out of nervousness!!  The POWERADE® helps give me fuel while cheering on my son as it is easy to get dehydrated in the hot sun. The NABISCO RITZ BITS cracker sandwiches 12-pack and POWERADE® are also great for sharing with other parents on the sidelines who are cheering on their children while keeping up with a baby or toddler on the sidelines as well.

POWERADE® 8pk 20oz is currently on roll back at Wal-Mart.  You can also grab these in-store coupons from NABISCO:

• coupon neck hanger on POWERADE (8pk 20oz): Save $1.50 on NABISCO 20-pack Multipack
• coupon sticker on boxes of Nabisco snack packs : Savings of .75 when you purchase a 12-pack or larger NABISCO Multipack

Be sure to check out other ways you can be a sideline hero here!

Being a sideline hero means always being prepared! Make sure you use these steps when preparing for your child's next game!

Play ball, y'all!