bare feet on the dashboard

My Harry Potter Adventure

2012-02-07T07:06:00.005-06:00

Welcome to Hogsmeade.

Harry Potter Nerd Alert

Warning... Warning...

I've read all the Harry Potter books three times.

When I finished the last one I was distraught and didn't know how to go on, so I gave it an hour and then read the last few chapters again for closure. So good.

Please respect the spell limits.

Enjoy the butterbeer.

I had two frozen, and they were delicious.

On a recent trip to Orlando for Young Life's All Staff Conference I had a few hours of free time and decided to embrace my nerdy obsessive side and venture over to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure to explore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It was all I had hoped for and more.

Jed does not share my Harry Potter obsession. It is an issue we are working through in our marriage. During our full day of free time we went to Epcot and the Magic Kingdom so that he could have fun, too. Thankfully my friend Jen shares my obsession and was willing to nerd out with me for a bit. We were like giddy schoolgirls. In wizard robes. Just kidding, we didn't have wizard robes. But I wish we did.

It was magical.

All aboard the Hogwarts Express.

The ride inside the castle rocked. Seriously, the scenery from the line was amazing. They really did a phenomenal job. There are only three rides, and the lines were short so we rode all of them. Hagrid's house was in the line for the Flight of the Hippogriff ride. Flight of the Hippogriff is more of a kiddie coaster, so I was thankful we only had to wait 10 minutes. The Dragon Challenge is a super fun double coaster with tons of flips and twists. It rocked. So did the 5 minute line.

The village of Hogsmeade is so cute and magical. The shops stay true to the Harry Potter books, and I had to buy some candy in Honeydukes. I wish we had time to eat at The Three Broomsticks or Hogshead Pub. We did go in and explore, and they were both so well done.

If you are a fellow Harry Potter nerd, The Wizarding World is a must do. It isn't cheap or in any way frugal, but it is a trip into the world of your imagination straight out of the books. If you aren't a Harry Potter nerd, you are missing out on so much and I can't help you. Read the books and join the fun. The movies are great, too, but the books are pure magic.

Medieval Times Dallas - Donating and Discounts

2012-02-06T21:00:00.000-06:00

Have you been to Medieval Times Dallas? I went once, back in college, on a spring break trip. It was hilarious and fun and ended with a dance party in the bar. It was also pretty pricey. If you've ever wanted to go, this Thursday you can get 50% off your admission by bringing a non perishable food item. The Dallas castle has a goal of donating 2000 pounds of food to Dallas Life and they are almost there. They have collected 1306 pounds so far and only have 694 to go. Discounts and good causes, gotta love it. Head to the Medieval Times Facebook page for more info.

A Bow Tie Onesie for Your Little Man

2012-02-05T21:39:00.000-06:00

As a dapper southern gentleman, Fisher rocks a bow tie on occasion. Being only 8 months old, said bow tie is best worn painted on a onesie. I've seen some really cute bowtie onesies on Pinterest and Etsy, and decided to try to make one for my little man. It was so super easy that I had to show you.

Here's what you need:

cardstock or magazine

disappearing ink pen

onesie

fabric paint & brush

or fabric paint pen

1) Stick your card stock or magazine inside your onesie to prevent bleed through.

2) Use your disappearing ink pen to draw a basic bow tie outline on your onesie, just below the collar. Keep redrawing until you are satisfied with your design.

3) Trace the outline of your bow tie with your paint and brush or paint pen.
I used a paint pen, so I had to dot it on to really fill it in. I will definitely use fabric paint and a brush in the future as it goes on much smoother.

4) Fill in the outline of your bow tie.

5) Let your little man rock that bow tie onesie.

So cute.

So easy.

So frugal.

This is his Zoolander Blue Steel Baby Model Pose.

This is his "Mama, how many pictures are you going to take?" pose.

I'm sharing this tutorial at some lovely link parties.

Check out their buttons on my right sidebar and join in the fun.

Did you pay attention to the Superbowl or were you crafting and blogging like me?

Love is...

2012-01-31T13:58:00.000-06:00

Do you read Ann Voskamp?

You should.

She has a totally unique voice and daily challenges me to bust out of my normal and be revolutionarily thankful. Her book, "One Thousand Gifts" is phenomenal and her blog is a great read. I read it from my inbox, but sometimes skim and miss the point. A friend sent me today's entry and I took the time to really read it. The quote above stuck out to me so much that I made a little printable of it. I think it will go on my mantle. Feel free to print it, too. You can copy it from above or click on the free printables link at the top of the page.

Discovery

2012-01-23T11:16:00.001-06:00

We have been outside as much as possible because the temps have been in the 60-75 range. I am happiest when outside, and my son is the same. He recently discovered the wonders of grass. Touching it, ripping it out, trying to eat it, a world of possibilities.

Bargain Shopping at Serena and Lily

2012-01-21T13:51:00.000-06:00

I know that bargain shopping and Serena and Lily usually don't belong in the same sentence, but in this case it is true. They are having a sale where all items that are already on sale are an additional 40% off. Seriously. The Gypsy Tote has been an obsession of mine for a while now because it is the diaper bag that doesn't look like a diaper bag. It is normally $175. Um, no. Right now they have 2 designs marked down to $39.99, and temporarily and additional 40% off with the code EXTRA40. So I got the lovely Stinson Gypsy Tote for about $24. Then they have the matching changing pad which is normally $25 for $5.99, also 40% off. Heck yes. I bought them both. They also have a matching diaper clutch, but since we use cloth that won't work for me. I am in no way affiliated with Serena and Lily. I just love their designs AND a good deal. This would be a ridiculously cool baby shower gift or treat yourself mama gift for all you mamas out there. What is your favorite "way too expensive but I can still dream" brand?

Here is the link: Stinson Gypsy Tote | Serena and Lily.

PIPA and SOPA Break the Internet - Fight for It

2012-01-17T21:50:00.000-06:00

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

If I knew how to black out my site like the cool kids I would. Instead I posted this video. Watch it. Censorship is not what this nation is about and is worth fighting against. Take 2 minutes to go here and send a letter to Congress voicing your opinion.

Babywise Works for Us.

2012-01-11T06:38:00.002-06:00

Some parents love it, some hate it, but almost everyone who has heard of Babywise has an opinion. I've had a lot of people throw judgemental negativity at me when I say that I'm a fan. I think most of them probably haven't actually read the book. After a Twitter exchange that left me feeling judged I decided to take to the blog to defend our parenting choices, not that I have to.

I read about 18 parenting books before Fisher was born, among them "On Becoming Babywise", "Secrets of the Babywhisperer", and "The Baby Whisperer Solves all Your Problems." All three recommend parent led routines for babies. Babywise in particular is a little controversial, but I think a lot of folks judge the book by the misinformation that is out there. I was wary of it going in, but had noticed that many of my friends whose children seemed particularly content and well rested used the methods. I don't agree with 100% of any of the parenting books I read, Babywise included. We did not use the methods at first, but were pulling our hair out after 3 weeks of winging it with a baby who was having serious nursing issues and had his days and nights reversed. We decided it couldn't hurt to try, and it was like a miracle.

The nursing issues were resolved after his tongue tie was fixed, which you can read all about here. We used Babywise and The Baby Whisperer's advice to get Fisher's days and nights straightened out, and he almost immediately started doing a 5-6 hour stretch of sleep at night. We never forced anything, but guided him into a routine. He occasionally fusses as he winds down to sleep, but we don't let him "cry it out". As he grew he eventually dropped night feedings completely on his own. At about 7 weeks he stopped waking up for the 1 am feeding, then dropped the 4 am around 12 weeks. The first night he dropped each feeding I woke up freaking out that he hadn't woken up, but he slept right on through. Since then he has been sleeping from about 7 pm to 7 am with one feeding between 9-10 pm.

He is exclusively breastfed and has been since our nursing issues resolved. He is in the 95 percentile for weight and head size, and 75 for height. People often comment on how happy and content he seems. Are we really blessed with a sweet, easy baby? Yes, and we fully realize that. However, did we make choices that helped him become the sweet, growing boy that he is? Yes. We do not let him cry it out, but instead listen when he cries and try to meet whatever he needs. We do not keep him on a rigid schedule, but do use a flexible routine. It works for us, and for our child. We also babywear and cloth diaper and make our own baby food, but I'll talk more about those parenting choices at another time.

What people think Babywise is about:

rigidity

strict schedules

crying it out

not listening to your baby's needs

What Babywise is ACTUALLY about:

flexibility

routines - eat, play, sleep

interpreting your baby's cries

listening to your baby's needs and fulfilling them

If a particular parenting choice doesn't appeal to you, it is easy to judge that parent and think that they are wrong and you are right. I do it, you do it, and I did it a heck of a lot more before I had a baby. I think the key to getting rid of the judgement is realizing that there is no one right way. There are parenting choices that most can agree are universally bad, but after that we all have the freedom to choose to parent our children the way we see fit. I hope that your choices are working for you and I respect them, and hope that you can respect mine. If you want to learn more about Babywise and the Baby Whisperer, definitely read the books. You can also learn more at Babywise Mom and the Baby Whisperer Forums.

Have you read Babywise?

Do you love it/hate it?

Do you use it?

If not, what parenting books/methods do you prefer?

A Vintage Highchair Makeover with Tutorial

2012-01-08T21:30:00.005-06:00

Fisher is now 7 months old, and was in desperate need of a high chair. We looked all over to find one that we liked, but had no luck. We wanted a vintage wooden one, but all that we found were ridiculously expensive. Big plastic models were looming in our future when our friend Betsy spotted this metal gem at a vintage store for $20. She grabbed it for us. Jed was horrified.

The poor chair was all kinds of ugly, and Jed though there was no hope. As eternal optimists, Betsy and I saw lots of potential. I took the ugly duckling home and it sat in the garage for a while until we had time to get the project completed.

The tray has already been sanded in the above pic. It was originally the same color as the back below. Ick.

Ugly, oh yes she's ugly. On the other hand, she is very well made and easily folds to store flat against the wall. The tray also removes completely so that it can be easily cleaned. Awesome.

The tan seat and seat back had to go, immediately. My mama and I went to visit City Craft, a great Dallas fabric store. I wanted to find some oil cloth to recover the chair so that it would be durable and easily cleaned. City Craft has a great selection, and had a sale going on. I choose an oil cloth design in black and white that looks like Mexican papel picado decorated with birds, flowers, and calaveras (happy dancing skulls a la El Dia de Los Muertos).

We removed the cushions and Jed sanded the ugly bronze paint off of the seat, tray, and back. The legs and arms were already in pretty good shape.

I removed the vinyl covers off of the seat and back, and then laid them out on my oil cloth.

I cut a big square for each one.

Then I trimmed it down to size. I had to trim it even more so that it would fit well.

Meanwhile, Jed painted the tray, seat, and back with a lovely light turquoise. He had to do 3 coats to get it to look right.

To recover the seats, I had to carefully stuff the oil cloth behind and under the seat and the back. Then we hammered the seat and back in. This was the trickiest part of the whole project. I got a little frustrated, but persevered so that we could have this lovely creation.

What do you think?

I love it.

I love the black and white, the papel picado design, the paint color, everything. I'm a little obsessed with it, quite frankly.

Fisher loves it too.

The metal makes a great sound when he bangs his little hands on it, and an even better noise when he bangs his sippie cup.

I love using vintage pieces because they are often so much higher quality than plastic crap from Target. We love Target and have our share of plastic baby stuff, but are happy when we can have something a little more stylish and sturdy to go with the rest of our house.

If you've made it this far, thanks for putting up with the insane amount of pictures in this post. Like I said, I'm obsessed.

How have you used or repurposed vintage furniture or baby gear?

I'm sharing this project at some great blog parties. They are listed on my right sidebar. Be sure to check them out to see tons of awesome crafty ideas. Thanks for reading.

Baby Laughter is Magical

2012-01-06T10:18:00.000-06:00

If you need a laugh today, enjoy this video of Fisher laughing like crazy at our dog Jackson. He did this for about ten minutes before I started filming. What was Jackson doing that was so funny? Most of the time he was just laying in his bed. I wish I could be so easily entertained.

Lone Star Ladies

2012-01-06T10:08:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited to be the Blog of the Month over at Lonestar Ladies of Dallas.

If you are a DFW girl, be sure to check out their blog.

Thanks ladies!

New Year Blessings

2012-01-01T22:30:00.001-06:00

May your 2012 be filled with joy, love, laughter, and family.

On the Move

2011-12-31T15:28:00.001-06:00

I guess it is time to baby proof. He is 7 months old today and scooting backwards all over the place. I'm sure he will get the forward motion figured out soon and then we will really be in trouble.

Austin, TX with a Baby

2011-12-09T11:14:00.005-06:00

For your viewing enjoyment, I present a photo collage via Instagram of our trip to Austin this week.

It was in the 30s and 40s, with a hazy shade of winter cast over the city. We stayed downtown at the Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental Hotel, because we were in town for a state teacher testing conference representing Jed's school. Fisher and I did a lot of lounging around in our room because of the cold both weather and illness affecting us. We shopped and ate and enjoyed ourselves, and would love to go back when the weather is nice. Downtown is very walkable, and the city has so much to explore. I would choose a different hotel next time. The Intercontinental was nice and had lots of architectural interest, but our room was tiny and expensive (paid for by the school) and the mandatory valet parking was very pricey.

Where did we eat?

The Mellow Mushroom near the University of Texas campus was our first dinner stop. We were headed out to Hula Hut at the lake, but traffic was horrendous so we decided to stay close. We love Mellow Mushroom in Asheville, so we went for what we know. We had the Funky Chicken pizza and the soft pretzels. The key at MM is to order a side of the Esperanza house dressing. That junk is so good.

The next day Jed had a long lunch break so we went to Mellow Johnny's, Lance Armstrong's bike shop. My husband is a cyclist and could entertain himself in a bike shop for hours. He showed Fisher all the cool bike stuff while I shopped for Christmas presents for him. If you are into bikes, the shop is a must see. Many of Lance's bikes are on display along with a well thought out selection of cycling gear and accessories. It also has a cafe called Juan Pelota's that serves breakfast burritos and coffee.

For lunch we headed to the Taco Shack. I had a chicken torta with bread that melted in my mouth. Delicioso.

At the Taco Shack, Fisher had a big first. He sat up in a high chair throughout the meal. Yay!! He loved playing with his toys and sitting up like a big boy while we ate.

Fisher and I did a little more exploring, driving around the state capitol and South Congress shops. We picked up a few cupcakes from Hey Cupcake, one of the famous food trucks on South Congress. I surprised Jed with them when he got back to the hotel.

Fisher and I did lots of snuggling on the big king sized bed in our room. A sniffly baby makes exploring in the cold not so much of an option.

Our last night in town we went to Magnolia Cafe on South Congress. It rocked my world. It was cheap and delicious with a laid back atmosphere and creative menu. I had baked acorn squash with the chef's special pecan pesto on top, with a side of curried shrimp and veggies. Oh my. I was in broccoli heaven.

We came back to Dallas and were greeted by gridlock. We loved the feel of Austin and hope to go back and explore more when the weather is nicer. Where would you like to explore?

Fisher at Five Months

2011-12-09T08:28:00.001-06:00

Here is our boy at five months.

His favorite activities right now:

bath time with Daddy

airplane

Mommy & Daddy serenading him

playing in his Johnny Jump Up and Exersaucer

walks around the neighborhood

being outside

He is so curious and aware of his surroundings. He tries to touch and grab everything, then stick it in his mouth. We've had a few messes caused by curious little fingers.

His eyes are still a gorgeous blue grey.

He smiles and laughs so many things.

A few examples:

me hiccuping

tickles

Jackson (our dog)

rubbing his belly with my face

when we smile or laugh

silly songs

This look may be a preview of the teenage years.

He does push ups like a champ, but still isn't rolling over.

I blame the giant noggin.

He babbles constantly, especially when wanting attention. His little voice is so sweet, but he can get LOUD.

He sits up pretty well, but can come crashing down at any time without warning. Most of the time the crashes don't bother him at all. I wish I could have posture like his.

He is super easy going, and sleeps really well most of the time. He sleeps from 7 pm to 7 am with only one feeding at 10 pm in between. We are still exclusively breastfeeding, but are excited to start solid food soon.

We fall more in love with him every day.

Frugal Friday - Buying a Used Car with CASH

2011-11-25T06:14:00.001-06:00

Meet Betty, our new-to-us ride.

Isn't she lovely?

Here is her story.

After much discussion, Jed and I decided it was time to purchase a car. We already have 2 cars, both completely free to us thanks to the generosity of Jesus/Young Life donors/family. Those cars are 10 and 20 years old respectively. We love them in their old age, and are so thankful for their faithful service. Big Red, Jed's 20 year old GMC pick up has developed some issues that are pretty serious, so we know her days of dependability are numbered. We thought about waiting until she died a natural death, but decided the wiser thing to do would be to start the search for our next car while we still had the flexibility of two working cars.

My 10 yr old XTerra has almost 150,000 miles on her, so we thought it would be good to make her our secondary car before the miles get too high. We also discussed going to one car, but our current living/working situations don't allow for that.

We set a budget of $10-12,000, knowing we could pay cash for that. We are FAR from wealthy by American standards, but we have worked hard to save most of my paycheck each month for over a year. We also have a 6 month emergency fund built up that we didn't touch for this purchase.

We started looking on Craigslist for lots of different models. We both like Tahoes, Outbacks, and other small SUVs and station wagons. We looked at mini vans, but just couldn't do it. Not that there is anything wrong with mini vans. They are great, I'm sure, just not for us right now. We test drove cars from dealers and individuals, including 2 Tahoes that I'm pretty sure were stolen or from police auctions. SOOO SKETCHY.

We looked at used car dealers in our area that were part of bigger dealerships with good reputations. At one dealer we found a 2005 Honda Pilot listed at $16,915. She was beautiful, but way out of our price range. We wanted around 80,000 miles or less, she had 81,000. She also came fully loaded with leather, a sunroof, DVD, 3rd row, rear air, and more cup holders than you could ever want or use. Right off the bat the salesman told us he could mark her down to $13,900, because she was a Honda on a Chevy lot. Still way out of our range. We drove her, and she was such a smooth ride. We went home, ate lunch and let Fisher take a nap. We checked the Kelly Blue Book and her Carfax. The Carfax came back saying that she was worth $330 more than the KBB value, which was $18,600. Whoa. So, she was offered to us at $5000 less than the KBB value. She was still over our budget by almost $2000. Not ok. Then we pulled up the dealer website to look over the details again, and noticed that the rock bottom internet only price they had listed was $12,500. Hmmm. That might be doable for a car that is far beyond anything we had hoped to find.

We went back to the dealer that afternoon and told our salesman about the internet price. He said he would have to honor it. We went for it, on the contingency that our trusted mechanic could take a look at it first. He asked us about financing, and we told him we were paying cash. That threw him off completely. He didn't really know what to do, and said no one had done that since he had been there.

They wouldn't let us use our debit card or write a check, so we had to wait until Monday morning when I could go to the bank and get a cashier's check. I handed the check to the dealer, they gave me the keys, and we were done. No car payments for us! We love our new ride and are so thankful to not have a big car payment every month.

Why pay cash? Interest my friends, interest. Let's do a little math. If we put down $1000 and financed $11,500, we would actually end up paying over $1000 extra for our car. Yikes. That's a lot of money.

Have you ever paid cash for a big purchase? How did you make it happen? Would you do it again?

I am thankful for you. - A Free Printable

2011-11-23T16:47:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Click here to find the free printables page and print one out for your loved ones.

I hope your day is full of family, food, fun, and lots of love.

A Nap Time Prayer

2011-11-23T05:50:00.003-06:00

Father God,

Thank you for this sweet baby that you've entrusted into my care. Help him to sleep well and wake up refreshed and rested. Protect him as he sleeps and give me peace of mind to know he is safe. Help me to be the mom you have designed me to be. Give me wisdom as I raise him and help him to see you.

In Your Son's Name I pray,

Amen.

My Christmas List - A Sweet Mama Necklace

2011-11-22T10:19:00.001-06:00

What's on your Christmas list this year? I'm hoping for a few things. I'd love a new pair of TOMS shoes. I'd really love a sewing machine so that I could finally learn to sew. I'd like to have a new fleece jacket that I could actually zip up (embarrassing, but true). And I'd love a sweet little necklace to commemorate the birth of my son. There are some seriously ugly and cheesy mama necklaces out there, and I want no part of those. It seems like there are five uglies for every one cute on Etsy. Seriously, who buys that stuff?

Here are a few that I like:

LKMcDesigns on Etsy

These two are from Lisa Leonard.

Stella Salvador on Etsy

Did you commemorate birth with jewelry, a tattoo, anything?

What's on your Christmas list?

A Thanksgiving Quote with Free Printable

2011-11-16T06:36:00.005-06:00

I found this quote and really loved the simplicity of the message. I'm printing it out for my Thanksgiving mantle in orange to go with the pumpkins and gourds. I've uploaded it to a file sharing site so you can print it for free if you like it. Here's the link to my free printables page. Just click on the color you want, download, and print.

What are you thankful for today?

I'm sharing this design at some great parties. Check them out on my right sidebar and find tons of great ideas.

Ten Songs That Inexplicably Get Stuck in My Head

2011-11-15T10:35:00.002-06:00

Do you ever get a random song stuck in your head? I do, all the time. Oddly enough, I have some repeat offenders that have come around for years. Some are songs I love, while others annoy the crap out of me. Tell me I'm not the only one. Here are the top ten songs that inexplicably get stuck in my head.

1) "One" from A Chorus Line

Obviously I sing this one to Fisher. We dance, I dip him. He loves it.

2) "All Around the World" by Lisa Stansfield

Why? Who knows. This random song appears in my head quite often and has since it came out in 1989. When I was ten. I'm a freak, I know. You might be more familiar with the Puff Daddy/Mase version, "Been Around the World", but I prefer the original.

3) "So Fresh, So Clean" by Outkast

This one has even turned into our diaper change song. What, you don't have one of those? "Ain't no baby cute as me, I'm just so fresh, so fresh and so clean clean. And they think I'm so cutie, I'm just so fresh..." You get the idea.

4) "Paradise City" by Guns n Roses

Best middle school skating rink hang out song. Ever. Period.

5) "It was a Good Day" by Ice Cube

Yes, I know all the words. Yes, I love old school rap. Don't judge me.

6) "Strawberry Wine" by Deana Carter

It came out my junior year in high school and has been making repeat appearances since then.

7) Lodi Dodi by Snoop Dogg

Again with the old school rap. I can't help myself.

8) "Me and Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin

This one and the one below always appear during road trips. Fitting, I guess.

9) "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson

10) "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera

Love this show.

For some reason I feel the need to explain myself about this list. I grew up in dance class and loving musicals. I'm from Arkansas, so country music is a given. My parents raised me on classic rock. I went to middle school and high school where I was by far in the minority so listening to rap was a way to fit in, and I came to love it. Other than that, I have no explanations.

What random songs get stuck in your head?

Frugal Friday- Halloween Costumes

2011-11-11T10:33:00.000-06:00

Halloween has come and gone, but I had to share my cute little bear with y'all. Fisher was asleep before the first trick-or-treaters hit our house, so we had to do a little photo shoot earlier in the evening. We set him up on a vintage quilt with pumpkins in his little bear suit. Here are the best things about his costume, besides the obvious cute factor.

It was free.

My mama and her bff bought it for Fisher from the Carter's outlet. Thanks Mom and Tricia!

It is a legitimate piece of clothing.

It is a full suit with feet and a hood, made for real wear, instead of a cheap-o costume made for one time use. It will be his winter coat until he grows out of it (which may be sooner than I'd hoped).

It is warm and comfy.

He loves wearing it.

I'm hoping we can go this route in the future, wearing real clothes that can useful in daily life as a Halloween costume. I've seen so many DIY costumes that use this kind of practicality across the internet and I think it is genius. With a few handmade accessories, you can turn an outfit into a costume for a day, then wear it for the rest of the season. I've also heard about great finds at consignment stores and garage sales, since most costumes are worn only once.

How do you save money on costumes?

Ten Things I Don't Do

2011-11-01T06:43:00.003-05:00

I've seen a lot of life lists in various forms around the blog world, and decided to make one of my own. I'm going in a slightly different direction. Here for your reading enjoyment is a list of ten things I don't do. Were I a famous actress these would all be clauses in my contracts.

I don't...

1. keep plants alive

2. iron clothes

3. eat meat that looks like the original animal

4. shower daily

5. text while driving

6. ride ferris wheels

7. watch scary movies

8. enjoy clowns or mascots or costumed theme park characters

9. keep up with the Kardashians

10. wear shorts

What are a few things you don't do?

Fisher at Four Months

2011-10-31T10:31:00.001-05:00

Today our boy is five months old, so I'm officially a month behind. Here he is at four months. Don't you just want to squeeze him? A random lady at the Texas State Fair asked how many tickets it would cost to take a bite of those baby thighs. I was a bit creeped out, but still flattered.

Fisher is growing and changing and doing new things every day. He is laughing and really responding to us now. He discovered his feet and likes to chew on his toes. He has started soothing himself by sucking on his thumbs and sometimes his whole hand.

At his four month check up he weighed 18.2 pounds, putting him in the 95 percentile for weight. We've come a long way since our breastfeeding crisis at 2 weeks old. He is still exclusively breastfeeding and I would say it is working pretty well.

His eyes are still blue with hints of grey and green. As a brown eyed girl married to a blue eyed boy, I hope his eyes stay blue like his daddy's.

He is losing his soft baby hair and has a wicked mullet developing in the back. It is still super cute. New hair is starting to come in on top and I think it looks a lot lighter. His daddy and I were both blonde as kids (Jed still is) so I wouldn't be surprised if it turns a lot lighter.

At his check up he measured at 25 1/4 inches long, in the 75 percentile. He also measured off the charts for cuteness.

He has started really grabbing things this month, so we are having to be more careful. He likes holding on to his toys and then putting them straight in his mouth. I bought him an exersaucer (we call it his office) at a consignment sale, and he loves it. I bring it into the kitchen while I'm cooking and he plays happily. He is also loving his Bumbo chair right now.

But mostly he just loves his toes.

My Favorite Baby Products - The Woombie Review

2011-10-28T11:10:00.007-05:00

I've written about swaddling before, and how it worked wonders for Fisher's sleep habits. By the time he was about 11 weeks old he could fight his way out of every swaddle blanket and velcro swaddle we could find. I was visiting a semi-local cloth diaper shop (our closest one at 30 minutes away), The Nappy Shoppe, when I spied the Woombie. I asked an employee about the product and she raved about it. I purchased an original Woombie in the orange "paprika" color in the Big Baby size (14-19 lbs) for about $27. It was wonderful. The original Woombie zips right up the front and swaddles baby in a comfy cotton sleep sack that even our little Houdini couldn't escape.

We loved the Woombie so much that I wrote to the company and asked to do a review of the Convertible Woombie. They kindly sent us a Convertible Woombie to try, and we love it even more. It is light enough for Dallas weather, but adds a layer of light warmth for our sweet boy.

We used it with his arms tucked in until he started rolling on his sides in the crib. To help him sleep safely we unsnapped the arm holes and released his little arms to freedom. We were nervous that transitioning to arms out sleeping would be difficult, but it really wasn't. He self soothes by sucking on his little fingers and naps like a champ.

Why do we love it so much? It is easy to use, you just zip it up. If your babe falls asleep you can even get him/her in without waking them up. Amazing. They can't fight their way out of it, and the soft cocoon soothes their startle reflexes and helps them sleep longer and better.

Even though the Woombie keeps him snug, there is still room for movement.

Woombie has a ton of great products, for babes from 3 pounds and up. Next on my shopping list are the Ultra Sleeper, the Eco Baby Donut, and the brand new Mod'Sleeper. The only negatives I've found with Woombie products are the prices. As a frugal girl and consignment/garage sale addict I have trouble shelling out close to $30 bucks for a baby item. I know, I'm cheap. However, when you find a product that really is above and beyond the competition, it is worth the money. Obviously I think Woombie products are worth it, or I wouldn't be sharing them with you.

Woombies are available online at the Woombie website, Amazon, lots of mom and pop baby stores, and right now on Zulily for only $17.99 instead of the normal $27.99. Woohoo! Just search "Woombie" on Zulily and all the options left will pop up. I'm thinking about stocking up for baby showers and future wee ones.

**All opinions are strictly my own. I am in no way affiliated with the Woombie company, and was not compensated for my opinions other than being given a product to review.