Real Daily Life

Elise is 11 Months Old!

2014-08-22T10:34:00.000-06:00

Oh goose, you are 11 months old... The last month before your first birthday! You don't know what that does to your mommy's heart! Where did the time go? I'm so glad that I have these monthly updates so that I can look back at them because this time has flown by and I have no clue where it went.

What have we been up to this month? Lots! You have 3 teeth and are working on your 4th and maybe your 5th. You love brushing your teeth in the morning and before bed (hope this lasts).

You are crawling all over the place! I have to race you to the dog bowls before you splash and dump water all over the place... Your favorite activity! You follow me wherever I go. You also love chasing your pups around at times, though you have gotten a bit irritated by playing tug-o-war with Gracie because she always wins. You have also just started to love being chased by daddy and I... you have this adorable look when looking at us over your shoulder, like, "come getttttt me..." I can't get enough of it.

I cannot believe how adamant you are about what you want. I always knew (since your breechment) that you would be stubborn, but oh my goodness... I had no idea how strong willed you would be! You have your ways of doing things and ways of being held and you definitely know what you want. And what you want lately is me. You whine when I'm not holding you or sitting right beside you. Granted, you did have your first fever this last week but you have been out of control clingy for the last few weeks. I will miss this someday.

You absolutely hate being told "No", you absolutely know what it means and you either ignore me or you sit your bum down and start crying.

getting in trouble...

You love making everyone laugh and imitate laughter when we laugh. It is pretty dang adorable! You also babble all the time. I think you are trying to say, "dog" but I'm not quite sure. I'm sure you will explode with words in the coming months. You are very expressive! You started making funny faces at us... especially at the grocery store while you are in the cart. And then I lean in and you give me the biggest hug... melts my heart every time.

Sleeping is another battle we are battling and I'm really not sure what to do about it. You're on my chest, sleeping as I'm typing this on my phone!

You are not very excited about eating anymore. I have a hard time getting you to eat protein. You still love green things, fruit of all kinda, and sweets (just like Mom and Dad).

We are getting so excited for your birthday! We have a big surprise for you in the making! There's so many people that can't wait to watch you dig into your cake and sing you "happy birthday" (I know I'm one of them)!

We love you so much, Goose! I never knew I could feel this kind of love for anyone... you are my everything and I will always, always love you more than you know!

Mid Century Dresser turned TV Console

2014-07-30T10:55:00.004-06:00

I have been ogling Mid Century dressers for quite some time. I wanted one to replace our small TV console so that Elise couldn’t pull the TV off. I also loved the design (which is probably the real reason we replaced our old piece)!

So the search for a dresser began. I always had my eyes open at garage and estate sales. Most of the dressers that I loved were never for sale or already sold. So one day we decided to go to the Denver Flea Market and low and behold we found a Dixie dresser just the right size and style!

The process of turning the dresser into something that would match our current style was tedious. We decided to re-stain the wood instead of painting it. This probably the first and last time I will re-stain anything!

First we picked up our supplies. Here is what we needed:

~Lots and Lots of Sand papers (Coarse and Medium grade)

~Electric sander (makes things a lot easier)
~Pre-stain

~Stain

~Sealer

~New handles

Mike also built a box to hold our receiver box and DVD player. Here are the materials for that:

~1/4” thickness 2’ x 4’ wood board

~6’ decorative boarder

~Finishing nails

First, we sanded, sanded, and sanded some more. This was the most tedious part of the project. We tried doing this by hand at first but then brought out the big guns (Electric Sander) because we were fatiguing fast!

While I was doing the sanding, Mike built the box. You just have to measure perfectly to get everything to fit together. Mike did a great job and made it look like it was always supposed to be there.

After the old stain was completely sanded off we put Minwaxpre-stain wood conditioner on. This just helps the wood accept stain easier.

We then applied Rust-Oleum stain in weathered gray. Which was a lot easier than painting anything. I actually really loved how easy and fast it was!

After the stain was dry we applied Rust-Oleum polyurethane and top coat in Satin. We applied 3 coats.

We had to wait for the sealer to seal for one week. After that we brought our new piece of furniture upstairs and painted a line in a crevice for some extra oomph and added new hardware.

Project done!

I love pouring our love into furniture because you value it that much more. Plus, it's a great conversation piece!

Thank you, Mike, for making me go to the Flea Market!

DIY Wool Dryer Balls

2014-07-28T08:38:00.001-06:00

I have been slowly making our home greener which means less waste, no harsh chemicals, and less energy use. This in turns makes a healthier and happier home. The one thing that has been lacking in the green department is our laundry. I’ve been using Tide and Downy (softener and dryer sheets) for as long as I can remember. This just wasn’t cutting it anymore for our lifestyle.

Browsing around the Internet, I found the concept of Wool Dryer Balls. They are not a new idea but to me they were. Wool dryer balls replace those chemical ridden dryer sheets that I have been using for so long. I pinned a couple of reasons to use them on Pinterest (follow me for more green ideas), and I made a mental note to look around for some. I found out that these sell for a ridiculous amount on Etsy and the ones that you find at stores are still made with lots of chemicals, synthetic perfumes, and some are even made with plastics that emit toxic chemicals when heated up! So what was I supposed to do? Make my own of course!

Why use wool dryer balls?

~They reduce drying time by up to 25% - They help circulate the warm air in the dryer and the wool also absorbs moisture (double bang)!

~Commercial fabric softeners and sheets are costly! Wool dryer balls can last for years!

~Commercial softeners emit those toxic chemicals and fumes I talked about above. They coat your clothing in chemicals which eventually end up on your skin… because face it; your clothes are in contact with your skin all day!

~Dryer balls are made with a renewable resource (so green!)

~They soften your clothes naturally and even reduce static and increase fluffiness as they tumble away in the dryer.

~They are great for those mamas that use cloth diapering since commercial softeners cannot be used on cloth diapers. They help keep them soft and fresh!

How do they work?

It is simple! The dryer balls basically bounce around your dryer separating your clothes, which allows more heat to circulate. As they tumble, the wools balls soften, reduce wrinkles, and fluff your clothing basically by pummeling your garments. Plus, they do so much more than dryer sheets; they pull moisture out of your laundry reducing the amount of time your laundry needs to dry.

Enough reasons? Lets get to it!

Wool Dryer Ball Tutorial

Choosing your yarn:

You must use 100% wool yarn. It also must not say, “super wash” or “machine washable” because these will not felt. This is the yarn I used. You can buy it at any fabric store or online. Heck, you could even unravel an old wool sweater if you really wanted to be thrifty!

What you’ll need:

1. Wool Yarn

2. Scissors

3. Blunt tip crochet hook

4. Pantyhose

5. Cotton or acrylic yarn to secure in pantyhose

Step by Step

1. Begin wrapping yarn around two or three of your fingers about 10 times.

2. Pinch the middle of your bundle and start wrapping the yarn around the middle.

3. Continue wrapping around the entire bundle until a small ball forms

4. Continue wrapping TIGHTLY until you have your desired wool ball size (I made mine tennis ball sized but you can make them as large as a softball)

5. Use crochet hook to secure the end of the yarn under several layers of yarn and cut the end.

6. Repeat steps to obtain 4-6 balls (I made 4 tennis sized balls out of 2 bundles of wool yarn).

7. Put your wool balls in the nylon stocking or pantyhose.

8. Tying tightly between each one with your cotton or acrylic yarn (don’t use wool yarn or it will felt your pantyhose). Tie of the end and you should have a wool ball caterpillar.

9. Throw the entire “caterpillar” in with a load of towels on the hottest water cycle and coldest rinse cycle. Then dry them with the towels on the highest heat drying cycle.

10. Remove balls and check for felting. You may need to repeat the last step 3-4 times to obtain the right amount of felting. (Felting just makes sure the yarn ball won’t unravel in your dryer).

Storing your dryer balls:

You can just leave your dryer balls in your dryer between laundry days or store them in a basket. Your kids can even play with them (though they may not last as long).

Scenting your dryer balls:

You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to each of your dryer balls before each drying cycles. My favorite is lavender (especially for sheets)!

Tell me what you think! Do you already use dryer balls or is this a new concept to you?

I am also happy to make you some! You can contact me here.

Follow me on Pinterest, Twitter, or Instagram for more green ideas!

Pinterest Friday

2014-07-25T09:55:00.001-06:00

//via Ivory and Olive

Happy Friday! Wow, this week went by so fast! We are spending the weekend celebrating Mike’s 28^th Birthday! He started it off by digging up our old, almost dead lilac bush so we can replace the space with some more garden boxes and a playground set for Elise next Spring! He has a funny way of celebrating.

Here are my favorite Pinterest finds this week! Follow me on Pinterest for all of my Pins.

How cool are these wind chimes? A bit expensive but oh so beautiful and unique. I bet they sound amazing!

//via Refinery 29

Yummy delicious muffins! Strawberry shortcakes, muffins, and doughnuts all rolled into one? Yes, please!

//via Kevin and Amanda

How cute are these little dinosaur tails! I know Mike would even like these!

//via Running with Scissors

This is almost like dessert for breakfast!

Breakfast Parfait

I love fire pits but a fire pit in the house! I’m in love!

//via Houzz

Happy Friday everyone! And Happy, Happy early Birthday to the best husband and daddy around!

Follow me on Pinterest

Wildtree Wednesday plus a Giveaway!

2014-07-23T09:02:00.000-06:00

It’s Wednesday. And because it sounds clever, I’m going to start Wildtree Wednesday here on the ol’ blog. I’ll post some Wildtree recipes and my review of them. This week is Wildtree BBQ Chicken using the MemphisDry Rub and Cactus Pete’s Agave BBQSauce. Use the links to check out all the product details on my Wildtree site and to purchase products. Remember, Wildtree products are a healthier substitute to grocery store products. They are made with all natural ingredients to help you prepare and cook healthy, simple, and yummy meals for your family.

I LOVE BBQ sauce! I especially love BBQ Chicken! That is all I wanted while I was pregnant with Elise. But, I always had the hardest time finding a BBQ sauce made with healthy and natural ingredients. I love that Wildtree’s BBQ sauce is made with Agave instead of sugar. I also love that it is USDA Certified Organic!

The Memphis Dry Rub is a great addition to BBQ Chicken. I’m sure it goes great with Ribs and Brisket too. You could even make it veggie style and put it on potatoes or zucchini. It has a hint of spice with that BBQ flavor that I love!

Will I make this again?
A BBQ dish that is tasty and healthy? Yes, please!

Kid Friendly?
Yep! Of course, Elise eats everything…

The BBQ sauce is sold in a 14.5oz bottle for $9.50
The Memphis Dry Rub is sold in a 4.5oz jar for $8.00 (I only used about a Tablespoon of this!)

Thanks for checking out Wildtree Wednesday! Have you tried these products yet? If so, let me know your feedback.

If you want to check out many of the other great Wildtree products visit my site: http://www.mywildtree.com/katierobertson.

I highly recommend the Scampi Blend, Roasted Garlic Grapeseed oil, and Italian Dressing Mix.

Questions or want to order from a real person (me!) email me at here! I’ll contact you within 24 hours to answer questions or take your order.

Ready for the Giveaway? Enter using the Link for Rafflecopter below. All details are in the link! I will announce the winner next Wednesday! Good Luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Elise is 10 Months Old!

2014-07-21T11:15:00.000-06:00

Dear Elise,

You have officially hit the double digits! You are 10 months old and you are loving life!

I never doubted people when they told me that this would go by in a flash, but oh my goodness, it is going faster than I thought it would. I still remember bouncing you on the yoga ball like it was yesterday. My knees thank you for making that a short-lived need.

Not much has happened since your last post because I wrote it so late. Some fun things we have been up to: You met your first goat (and not your last and you love goat cheese and yogurt!), we got our family pictures taken, I am starting to plan your 1^st Birthday party (I still cannot believe it), you love going in the backyard to check on our garden (we do this at least twice a day when dad is at work), and you had your first girl date last weekend!

Your first goat encounter!

Your cousin and you at the goat farm.

You are slowly crawling! You can definitely get from point A to point B but you go at turtle speed. You can sit up from a laying down position. Your favorite things to crawl to include: dog toys, dog bowls, and dogs. You do crawl towards dad and I, too. In fact, you are crawling to my laptop as I type.

Your best friend, Chloe!

I walked into your room the other day to get you up from your nap and you were sitting up playing with your toes. We saw you do it one other time yesterday, so you’re pretty much a pro at it now!

Big news, your official FIRST word is, “Mama”! You figured out the other day that it gets my attention, so now you say it all day long if I am doing things other than playing with you. Except it is more like… “moma mom, mam, ma, mama” all day long! I love it!

No new teeth yet. You’re still working on the two top teeth. I check them everyday and you hate it.

You’re still eating like a champ and even slowing down a wee bit on breastfeeding, especially if we are out and about.

You can eat all of this!

Sleeping is still a little tough but we are getting through it. That’s all I have to say about that.

We love, love, love you, goose! HAPPY 10 MONTHS!!!! You are my angel, my darling, my star!

Happiness at its best!
Photo by Bonnie

Pinterest Friday

2014-07-18T13:19:00.000-06:00

//via Your Girls and Boys

Happy Friday, everyone! We have a big weekend coming up with lots of fun outings! We are visiting a goat farm on Saturday… I have a thing for baby goats! We are also finishing up a big project early in the morning… details up next week! Sunday, we are getting our photos taken for Elise’s “before 1 year old” session! So exciting!

In honor of Friday, I am trying something new and posting my favorite pins from this week! If you don’t do so already, follow me on Pinterest for even more inspiration for all things home, family, baby, and food related

Without further ado… My Five Favorite Pins from this week are:

My Favorite Easy Dinner Pin:
One Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls

//via No. 2 Pencil

My Favorite “I Need To Make” Dessert Pin

Raw Cashew Dreamcake

//via My New Roots

My Favorite Baby Related Pin

//via A Little Bit of Bliss

My Favorite Dream Garden Pin

//via This Chick Cooks

My Favorite “This Is Too Cute” Pin

//via VegFriend

Have a GREAT weekend! I know we will!

Baby Food: Round 2

2014-07-17T10:29:00.001-06:00

...Or should I say Toddler Food: Round 1?

Now that Elise is almost 10 months (whaaat?) and eating a whole multitude of foods, I thought it was time for another post about baby food.

Around 5 or 6 months (mommy brain), we started giving Elise puffs (Happy Puffs). She loved them, and I loved that they allowed me to do a couple of things around the house while she silently ate her puffs.

When I was a nanny, the parents would bring me finger foods to feed the kiddos. So, I followed suit with my own child and low and behold, Elise loved eating independently! The fancy name for this parenting technique is Baby-Led Weaning and there are a plethora of books on the market. But the main gist of it is, baby eats what you eat but in bite-sized pieces and they feed themselves. The only things that Elise has not eaten are peanuts, milk, honey, really spicy things, beef, and pork (the last two are for my own reasons not medical). She eats 3 meals a day plus a few snacks here and there.

Some things that are difficult with this path:

1. Babies choke. 99% of the time they will work it out themselves. It does make your heart drop when it happens but as long as you are mindful of the size you are cutting the food into; there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. Of course, start your kiddos off on very soft foods (bananas, avocado etc) and work yourself up from there. Dads are actually the worrywarts in this department. Mike would always get mad if she choked and tell me to switch back to purees. As you can tell, I never listened to him.

2. It’s messy! Our pups get A LOT of treats. It is a lot easier if you have dogs that are natural vacuum cleaners.

3. It’s Expensive. Our household has gone completely organic or at least Non-GMO (for things that are not available in organic). We shop primarily at Natural Grocers, Sprouts, and farmer’s markets because it makes it that much easier to shop (Natural Grocers is the only store that carries all organic produce and most, if not all, of their other products are organic). Our grocery bill has gone up by 30%; however, I do believe this is completely worth it. I’m feeding not only Elise, but Mike and I, food that I don’t really have to worry about. I also believe this is so much healthier in the long run.

The PROS:

1. Elise feeds herself. No need spending time steaming, pureeing, and feeding her pureed food. Although, I do think parents should start their kiddos off with homemade purees (it’s short lived and helps them get used to food and texture).

2. Elise eats what we eat. I don’t have to cook another meal every night. With the exception from above, she eats and most of the time loves what we are eating

3. It’s less time consuming! Elise eats while we are eating. Easy peasy!

Some of Elise’s favorite foods:

1. Blueberries- I cut these in half and she devours them

2. Chicken Marsala- This is her absolute favorite dinner. She eats for about 30 minutes continuously. She absolutely loves the mushrooms.

3. Peas- Just steamed frozen peas whole

4. Cheese- cut into bite sized chunks

5. Falafel- This was her first favorite food. Just cut into bite sized pieces

6. Green smoothies- although these are spoon-fed to her. She has not yet mastered the straw.

Elise loves, loves, loves to eat. She also love flavor. Funny, because while I was pregnant with her, I ate a bland, bland diet and hated to eat.

In case anyone is wondering, Elise still nurses anywhere from 6-10 times in a 24 hour period

So, I am interested: What do you feed your toddlers? Are they picky eaters?

Want to be a front row observer of my mommy hood adventure? Follow me on Pinterest or on Bloglovin' so you don't miss any new posts!

9 Baby Essentials

2014-07-14T15:38:00.000-06:00

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9

Now that Elise is coming up on a year, I feel like I have somewhat of a grasp on what we used almost everyday in her infant days. These are in no way “necessities” but they made and still make babyhood a whole lot easier on us. So here is my list of 9 things that are great for the first year of life!

1. Johnny Jump: When Elise was a newborn, I would have to bounce her on a yoga ball to calm her down and put her down for naps (nothing else worked). I knew when she was old enough she would love jumping and bouncing. And I was right! I absolutely loved this thing and so did Elise. This allowed me to cook dinner, clean up the house, and have a few moments to rest my arms.

2. 4Moms Baby Bathtub: This tub makes bathing a baby a breeze! The temp indicator is a great feature because our faucet likes to change temperatures on us. She still takes baths in this and will continue until she no longer fits in it.

3. OXO Tot Sprout chair: I love the look of this chair and it goes with our house décor. The other great feature of this is the one-handed tray release. It is nice and sturdy and wipes up very easily!

4. Ergo Carrier: The Ergo made shopping a breeze. At first, I was a little hesitant because it was so darn bulky but as soon as I learned how to put it on, I never left the house without it. We even had some dog walks with this… I’m sure Chloe and Gracie even apprecialted this carrier. In fact, when I put it on the dogs still get excited like we are going for a walk. Lately, I have been putting her on my back and doing yard work and vacuuming (Elise hates, hates the vacuum if no one is holding her.)

5. California Baby Bath and Lotion: About a year before Elise was conceived, Mike and I got rid of all parabens, sulfates, dyes, phalates, and animal tested products. I actually did a lot of research and testing of baby washes and lotions while I was pregnant. This one wins hands down! It’s gunk-free and has a perfect baby lavender scent to it.

6. Dohm Sound Machine: Hands down, the best sound machine out there. Mike and I got this before Elise was born and we can’t sleep without it. As soon as she was born, we invested in another one.

7. Little Castle Glider: My mom ordered this for me while I was pregnant. It was a great gift! It is a bit pricey but it is so comfy! And a comfy chair is a necessity when learning how to nurse an infant. This also will be a good addition to living room furniture once the breastfeeding part of my life is complete.

8. Hape Galloping Zebras Baby Walker: We just got this walker for Elise and she loves it! Shes is still a little bit unsturdy and needs one of us behind her but it definetly will help her learn how to walk a lot quicker! I am also a fan of wooden toys. I read that toys that are not interactive develops a baby’s imagination much quicker and better than interactive and loud toys. Plus, the zebras are just so darn cute!

9. Summer Video Baby Monitor: Even though Elise does not sleep in her room at night, this is still awesome for her naps. I love being able to see her and knowing she is ok so I can go about my day.

Garden Update #2

2014-07-09T16:42:00.002-06:00

Well there should have been at least another update before this one but I’ll just have to deal with it.

Our plants took off but only after replanting after a Mother’s Day snow storm. We replanted about after the snow storm and to our demise we got quarter sized hail which gave us some chopped salad and some tomato branches. To our surprise, everything pulled through and is going strong!

After the Mother's Day storm... waa waa

After the second planting hail storm

Last year, we got lucky if we grew a semi-sweet tomato… this year is a WOW year! I’m so surprised at what a little peat moss and a small bag of compost will do!

About 2 weeks ago

Today... Notice the height of the lettuces and the start of the 2nd crop of Arugula.

My new favorite thing this year… Lettuce! Arugula especially. I planted a second crop a week ago and it is just starting to emerge.

This is the first year that we had a great crop of all types of lettuce and kale. Salads and smoothies galore!

One harvest of kale

We have not harvested anything from the pepper or tomato plants yet but they are producing and growing a lot. Poblanos, anaheims, and Fresno peppers are producing so many peppers and I can’t wait to pick and make some delicious meals with them!

I cannot wait to make tomatillo salsa! Who knew a tomatillo plant got so huge so quickly!

We have about 10 peaches that survived and hopefully they are as amazing as the first year we planted the tree.

Our raspberries are going strong per usual! I’m thinking we should put a sign out front for “pick-your-own” raspberries and charge about $5 for a pound! But I think we will keep them to ourselves! I can’t wait for Elise to taste a fresh raspberry!

We all get so excited (Elise and the pups included) to go outside in the morning and look at what our garden did in one day!

Now all we need is a baby goat!

Source

Happy Gardening!

Elise is 9 eh.. 9.5 Months Old

2014-07-08T16:45:00.000-06:00

WOW! I am late with this update!

Elise,

You are now just over 9 ½ months old going on 3! Your personality is BIG! You know what you want and you won’t stop until you get it.

This month you got your two bottom teeth and you are working on your top left one. You love showing them off, too! You even realized that I have a full set of them and giggle when you touch them. Hopefully, the teeth explain your sleep…

One reason why this update is so late is because you have been keeping mommy up a lot at night. Your naps are also suffering. So, whenever I have a moment to myself, I am either working on a project or catching up on sleep. There are nights that you wake once, you eat and you go right back to sleep. Others include up to 6 wakings with little that will console you. Last night was a rough night but we did have a big day and you ate something new. Beside last night, I THINK it is slowly getting better.

On another front, you are not quite crawling… but oh soooo close! You are rolling everywhere though and there are times I put you in a spot walk away and return a few minutes later and you aren’t there anymore! Granted, you are only 5 or 6 feet away from where I left you but it still makes my heart drop a bit. You’re really good at doing the yoga position “pigeon”. For the third month in a row… I am guessing you will be crawling by Daddy’s birthday.

Pigeon pose

You love, love, love to eat! Some of your favorites include: Blueberries, peas, mushrooms, pasta, green smoothies, and your #1 favorite is Chicken Marsala. You love flavor and veggies. My dream come true! Hopefully it lasts into toddlerhood.

Speaking of toddlerhood, I can see that phase creeping up on us. You have the biggest personality. You do this face when you want something (squinting eyes, smiling really big, and waving your arms everywhere)… this happens especially with food or a toy that you love. You are also starting to throw little tantrums…

You tell that bird!

You have started forming relationships with some of your favorite toys. Your bathtoys are some of your favorite things to “talk” to about how your day went. You giggle, wave your arms about, and your eyes light up when I bring them out during your bath. You also talk to a counting giraffe and kiss all of your stuffed animals.

You have started giving kisses, clapping, waving, and (what I believe is one of your first words) saying “mama” (but only when you’re crying) and “dada”.

This last month you have become your own little person! You have your own wants and preferences. You are definitely doing better with strangers especially if they are women. You also love other kids!

Your first "selfie"

I cannot believe you are only 2.5 months away from your 1^st birthday! You and I are going to have to start planning the big event, very soon!

I love you, goose! Thank you for making me your mommy!

First 4th of July... you just wanted to eat watermelon

You are my angel, my darling, my star!

Love,

mommy

Monthly Roundup in Pictures

2014-05-31T12:03:00.001-06:00

Goodbye May, Hello June!

My Wild(tree) Adventure

2014-05-23T11:57:00.000-06:00

I recently became a representative of Wildtree products. For those of you who know me, you know that I am not a sales-y type of person and I actually believe this about myself also. However, I really love and believe in this product and what it stands for. I love that it can make a person’s day a little bit easier and healthier.

So what is Wildtree?

For those of you who are not familiar with our product line, Wildtree products are organic, non-GMO, and all natural - no fillers, MSG, high fructose corn syrup, dyes or any other additives in any of our products. We believe that food should taste great, be good for you, and be simple to prepare. We realize that everyone is busy, so we make adopting a healthier lifestyle simple by providing great resources to our customers.

A good way to explain what we offer is that we represent the “inside of the grocery store”. If you go to a grocery store, the perimeter is filled with all of your fruits, veggies, and meats. The inside is usually all of your processed and packaged items. We sell hundreds of products that replace your pantry. A few examples of what we sell are seasoning, oils, dressings, culinary blends, and some convenience food items (boxed cake mixes, etc).

The main focus of this company however, is to make dinnertime a lot easier on those of you who are busy, stuck in a rut, or want to eat healthier but don’t really know where to begin or have the time.

How does Wildtree make your life easier?

We offer Freezer Meal Workshops! The big trend in today’s family life is meal planning. I, myself, had no idea where to even start with meal planning. I thought it was too much of a hassle and I didn’t have the time (and quite frankly didn’t want to) to make a meal plan, grocery list, and prepare everything. I didn’t want to spend a whole day doing this. That’s where Wildtree comes in. They do all the planning, grocery list making, and recipe deciding for you! All you do is buy your meat and veggies, put them in freezer bags, and come to a workshop with some of your good friends, and knock out 10-20 meals in ONE hour! You go home, put them in a freezer and you have easy meals to put together on busy nights. It couldn’t be simpler! You also get to go home with 5-7 full sized Wildtree products and recipes on hand to use them.

The meals are delicious, healthy, and simple. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want that.

This is also IDEAL for new parents or soon-to-be new parents. I made a few dinners before having E and stuck them in the freezer... I really wish I had so many more meals that were ready to make. I also really wish I knew about Wildtree so I had healthy meals ready to go.

Becoming a Rep:

If anyone is interested in making some extra money or even if you just want a fun night once or twice a month, you might want to consider becoming a Wildtree Rep. My team leader is on her way to replacing her nursing income with working very part time and our executive director made $83,000 last year and she has been doing this for a little over 2 years.

I will be having a launch party in late June (invites will soon go out), but in the meantime, if anyone wants more information on this product line, would like to be included in a workshop, would like to try some product, or if anyone would like to join my team and become a rep, you can email me (kbelle873@gmail.com), go to my website at www.mywildtree.com/katierobertson, or comment below!

Happy eating… and Happy Friday! Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!

Elise is 8 Months Old!

2014-05-21T12:12:00.003-06:00

Elise,

Baby girl, you are growing so, so much! You have the sweetest most adorable personality that I have ever known.

You still love to talk and I think you will be a little talker, especially in front of your dad and I. You’re saying “da-da-da-da” and I swear I have heard you say “mom-mom” a few times (I have a video of it so it is more of a fact)!

You know a few words. You love to jump and when I say “jump” you jump. You also “dance” the same way. You give mommy kisses when I ask for them and you automatically look around when I say your puppies’ names.

Even though today is not part of your “8 month update”, I have to share this story! Your puppies went to the groomers this morning. You weren’t very content the whole time they were gone. Once we got home and you were bombarded by puppy kisses, you started to clap your hands. I swear, you will do all of your “firsts” for your pups.

You love when I sing the ABC’s, itsy bitsy spider, and patty cake. Your whole face lights up when I start singing.

I get soooo many compliments about you from strangers saying how smiley and happy you are. People actually come up to you and I and tell me how cute you are and that they now want babies of their own. I love it!

You still have zero teeth but your bottom gums are rough so you shouldddd be getting them anytime now…. HOPEFULLY!

You are nowhere near the mobility that I thought you would be at by now; mainly because you hate being on your tummy and you automatically roll over and you can lay there looking and kicking at the ceiling for a long while. Maybe by next month you will be giving me extra exercise by chasing you everywhere!

I adore that you absolutely love being outside. You love going for walks, gardening with us, and just sitting out in the backyard.

You weigh around 17.2 pounds, wear 6-9 month clothes, and size 3 diapers. You actually gained almost an entire pound in less than a week. With you going through that huge growth spurt and teething… we haven’t been getting much sleep lately.

You are my angel, my darling, my star, and my love will follow you wherever you are. I love you, my goose!

Love, Mommy!

Spring Garden Update Plus an Easy Green Smoothie

2014-04-30T11:51:00.000-06:00

So, last year our garden was a bust. Between the heat, my pregnancy, and the condition of our soil, our plants just didn’t want to produce. I am really hoping that this year is different. I think our soil has improved much through the winter… we also added some compost and peat moss to help it maintain moisture. Last year, our garden boxes were like the Sahara.

So far, I have planted a mixed variety of lettuces, kale, carrots, and arugula of which the kale and lettuces are growing already. I also bought a swiss chard plant which seems to be doing well. I am so excited to make green smoothies with our very own garden produce (recipe at the bottom)!

Kale

Lettuce

We also have two rhubarb plants in the alley but I don’t think we will be getting a crop this year.

Our seedlings just aren’t doing great indoors so I am thinking we will be buying plants this year. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant are on the list. Basil and rosemary are some herbs that I really want to grow too. We already have mint and what seems to be cilantro growing in odd places in the yard.

As always, our raspberry garden is in full force. I added a golden raspberry stock to liven up the variety!

Golden Raspberry

We plan on using the entire side of the house to plant pumpkins this year. We are already excited for roasted pumpkin seeds!

Our peach tree survived this year and hopefully we will have some deliciously sweet peaches come August!

Peach Blossom

Elise got her very own peony this year! It is a coral peony and I am very excited to see it bloom!

Cross your fingers that I will have lots of garden updates this summer. Also, some rain dancing would be greatly appreciated!

Green smoothie recipe:

-2 cups of greens plus some liquid (I use water but any kind of milk or juice would work)

-2 cups of ripe fruit and veggies (banana, oranges, strawberries, apples... anything goes really)

-add-ins (chia, flax, protein powder, wheat germ, anything you want)

-Blender or bullet (I use the bullet)

Blend the greens and the liquid first then add in your fruit/veggies and add-ins. Blend until smooth! Enjoy!

Elise is 7 Months Old!

2014-04-24T19:26:00.000-06:00

Goose,

What a month does! You have suddenly become your own little person who knows what she wants. You are a curious, happy, demanding, cuddly, and above all, oh so loving.

You are a mama’s girl but your face lights up when you see your daddy. You give him the biggest smile (one that I only see when you see him) I read somewhere that babies seek fun and excitement from their dads and love and comfort from their moms…that fits you to a T. However, I think we lose out to your pups. They get the biggest smiles and happiest laughs from you.

You hate when your dad or me walks away from you. In fact, you are typing with me right now because you didn’t want to be one foot away. You have become very attached this last week and it is hard for us to get anything done. I love that you love to cuddle. You reach for me in your sleep and if you don’t feel me you wake up (which has its own problems) but I still love it no matter what. Speaking of sleep… what is sleep? I am chalking it up to teething and I hope this new found hate for sleeping of yours ends soon. It takes about 45 minutes to get you to take a nap and go to bed. Whatever it is just make it end soon… mommy is tired!

You absolutely love to eat. You still despise avocados but everything else you love. You love feeding yourself already and will get mad if I try feeding you. I have recently started giving you whatever we are eating for dinner. Last night, you ate chicken, pasta, and veggies. I blended some at first but you weren’t having that, so I cut little pieces up and you gobbled it down. You were happily eating away for about 30 minutes. Your other favorites are HappyPuffs and Little Yums. You also love sharing my morning bowl of oatmeal.

You are sitting up like a pro now. You are pulling yourself forward so that you end up on your belly, which I think is a good start to crawling. I’m thinking that by next month you will be mobile. We need to get going on baby proofing!

You absolutely love being outside. Whether it be in the yard or out for walk. I can put you in your bumbo and garden away and you’ll be happily pulling at the grass, watching the dogs, or just watching what I am doing. If you’re having a particularly bad day, I can take you outside and you will stop crying instantly.

You had your first trip to the zoo this month and your first ride on the carousel. Daddy was so excited…get ready to go with him a lot!

You also celebrated your first Easter and dyed your first Easter egg. We went on an egghunt together. So far, that has been the best holiday with you!

Things you love:

Eating

Cuddling

Your pups

Anything that is not a toy (my wallet and hair especially)

Walks

Your Ergo

Jumping

Your mommy and daddy (but that goes without saying)

Things you hate:

Napping

Sleep in general

Being left alone for 0.3 seconds

One of the funniest things you have started to do when you’re mad is turning really red and putting your firsts up in the air and yelling. All I can do is laugh.

You are my angel, my star, my darling! Mommy loves you! Happy SEVEN months!

My First Stitch Fix

2014-03-28T10:19:00.000-06:00

If you haven’t heard about Stitch Fix yet, here is the rundown…

When you go to the website and join you pay a $20 styling fee. You are then directed to your styling profile, where you tell your personal stylist your size, lifestyle, style, shape, and budget. You then schedule your fix and your personal stylist sends you 5 articles. You get to try it on at home, keep what you want, and send back what you don’t. That $20 styling fee is put towards what you keep. For instance, if you only like one item for $48, you send back the rest and pay $28. You also leave feedback on the website about what you liked and didn’t like about the fix. Easy, convenient, and oh so fun!

So I got my first fix this week! I got so excited when I saw the box on the porch!

It was so-so and I only ended up keeping one item…which is good for the budget. I think they get better with time because your stylist truly learns your personal style. There were some really cute ideas but they just didn’t fit me well.

I’m a tiny person but when I tried on some of these things, I felt like it made me look like I gained 20 pounds.

So here is the lowdown…

Emperia Avalon Two Tone Tote with stud detail

I am no longer a purse person because I use E’s diaper bag. Even if I were, I wouldn’t like this purse. It didn’t seem like it was good leather and I just didn’t like the way it looked.

RETURNED

Honey Punch Layla Elbow Patch Detail Cardigan

Before I tried this on, I thought this was the piece I was going to keep. I really loved the idea of this cardigan. I had asked for easy nursing clothes and this fit the bill. I loved the patch on the elbow, the stripes, and the material was amazingly soft. I actually loved everything about this piece except for the fit. It was really long and almost kind of bulky.

RETURNED

Loveappella Elmes Button-Front Mixed Print Tank

Just, No! Material was really nice but ick, ick, ick!

RETURNED

41 Hawthorn Toulouse Collared Wrap Dress

This is a cute piece but I really have no need for a dress at this point in my life. I actually liked it a lot more after I saw this picture of me in it but still… it went back.

RETURNED

Sanctuary Larken Roll-Cuff Cotton Cargo Short

I thought this was the one piece I was not going to like when I opened the box. I’m really picky about pants and even pickier about shorts but these fit me oh so great! They are comfortable but look really cute too. I’m excited to have these in my summer wardrobe!

KEPT

I’m really happy that I liked one piece of this fix. Hopefully, next month’s will be even better.

Stitch Fix is really fun and I invite you all to take part. This post is not sponsored but I do get referral credit for whoever signs up using the links in this post.

Pinch Me! Elise is 6 Months Old!

2014-03-20T14:34:00.003-06:00

Goose, you are 6 months old!!! It feels like you have been with us forever but at the same time I cannot believe it has been 6 months since you have been born!

It just keeps getting more fun with you. Even though I miss your cuddling, sleepy days, I love being able to play with you and make you laugh. You make me laugh and smile more than I thought possible. Your personality is really shining through and I think you are a good mix of both your dad and I. I can tell you are going to be a talker around us (you’re a little shy around other family members) and you definitely like things your way. You definitely love your parents and the life we have given you.

Look at those beautiful blue eyes!

You finally have rolled over both ways. I think you think you don’t know how to do it because it happens spontaneously and you get this surprised look on your face. You are sitting pretty well on your own but still sway a bunch so we keep the Boppy behind you. You’re starting to react to your toys, which is really fun to watch. You shake rattles, hug and kiss stuffed animals, and reach for your favorite toys. You have also found your feet and love them!

Bath time is still your favorite time of day. You have taken up splashing and water is starting to get everywhere. I have a feeling that once you are sitting up better we will have to move you to the big bathtub.

I have started running with you in the jogging stroller and boy is it hard. You don’t seem to mind it much but get a little annoyed with bumps and if it is longer than 20-30 minutes. You have to be well rested and fed to enjoy things like that.

This is one of my favorite pictures. It tells my story...

You grab everything that is in your reach. You love your door bouncer. You have just started really enjoying eating. You love your pups. You love being read to and looking at the books. You love being sung to and talked to. You love mornings. You love the Ergo (and so do I… I wouldn’t be able to get any shopping done without it)! You love being close to your parents.

Your first time at the park... you aren't too sure about the swings yet. No tears though so that was good!

You do not like not getting what you want. You do not like not being able to move from point a to point b. You do not like when I walk away from you. You HATE the carseat and “long” (more than 5 minutes) car rides.

We got a camera this month and I have been having so much fun playing around with you as my favorite model. Here are some of my favorites...

You like life… what can I say?! I love watching you grow and learn about yourself. And, I love that you are mine!

You are my angel, my darling, my star and my love will find you wherever you are!

Love, Mom

Day in the Life with a 6ish Month Old

2014-03-07T11:20:00.001-07:00

I see these posts on blogs all the time and I always like reading them to see how much our schedule delineates from “norm.” Plus, I think they are kind of fun for family to see what we do all day.

We will start off the night before:

7:30-8:00pm - E goes down for the night

8:00-10:00pm – Mike gets home. We get to watch our favorite tv shows or if he gets home really late we will just eat dinner and talk at the dinner table until we get tired

2:00-5:00am – E wakes up for a feeding

7:30am – E is up for the day

8:00am – We finally get out of bed and start our day

8:05am – E plays around with breast feeding and decides she would rather not

8:10-8:30am – Dogs get fed, I drink coffee, and E either gets held or jumps in her jumper. She starts to complain so we move onto something else

8:30-9:00am – We go into the playroom and see if we can waste some time. I usually get more interested in her toys than she does and I often catch myself pushing every single button on a toy while E is chewing on a block 3 feet away

9:00am - Nurse E to sleep

9:10am – E doesn’t want to take her nap. I put her in her crib… she cries… I take her out… she stops… I put her back in… she cries… I take her out and she starts to suck her thumb and lays her head on my chest and falls asleep 6/10 times like this.

9:30am – E is finally asleep. I speed clean the house. Sometimes I get a spark and deep clean the entire house in 45 minutes (I would really like to see myself during this time… I probably look like the old, tanned neighbor from “Something About May.” I usually wait to run on Mike’s days off but sometimes I’ll run on the treadmill during this time. I take a shower. Do LOTS of laundry

10:00am – I am starving. I eat breakfast… oatmeal, berries, and maple syrup

11:30am – E’s naps vary and she will wake up anytime between 10 and 11:30

11:30am – Nurse E

12:00pm – Change E and put her in day clothes. Take 300 pictures because she looks so darn cute

12:20pm – Feed E real food. She gags, I laugh, she laughs, and then she is done

12:50pm – E is starting to get bored again and so am I. We take the dogs for a walk and I curse the fact that we did because Gracie is pulling and Chloe gets scared of her own shadow.

1:20pm – Get home. E starts to rub her eyes. I take that cue and nurse her again. This time she falls asleep

1:30pm – E is napping and I get the much-needed break. Can’t really tell you what I do during this time but I try to be productive. Today, I made pear puree for E next week. On hard days, I lie on the couch and catch up on DVR shows.

3:00pm – E is up and gets nursed

3:20-6pm – We roam around the house. I snack, E jumps, sits in her high chair, I snack, we play in the playroom, and I snack some more.

6:00pm – E is done

6:01-6:30pm – I try to entertain her until bath time and minimize crying. I also try to cook dinner during this time. Not the easiest feat.

6:30pm – E’s bath time. Her favorite time of day

7:00pm – Nurse her and try to get her to sleep

And we do it all over again, tomorrow!

This is typical day for us. We will sometimes venture out or have a Grandparent come over; but for the most part this is E and I’s life without Dad.

Of course, as soon as I hit publish on this post she will change everything.

Why I Make my own Baby Food

2014-03-05T15:32:00.001-07:00

Now that E is starting solids, I want her to have and taste REAL foods. I really have nothing against store bought/jarred baby food and it is definitely a route I would go if I had less time on my hands. This may sound funny or silly but since I have been “making” her food since she was born (and even before that, I suppose) I wanted to keep the trend up. I make dinner for Mike and I so what is so difficult about making my daughter food, too? Seriously though, it is ten times easier than I thought it would be.

I also love the fact that I get to choose the ingredients and actually see/do the process from start to finish. I select, wash, cut, steam, and puree it and I know there is no contamination. I’m “processing” her foods but I am not buying and giving her processed foods. The hope in doing this is that she will grow up loving the taste of non-processed and fresh foods instead of junky, processed foods. Also, by introducing her to textures and flavors at 5.5-6 months (instead of giving her “one texture” purees and at a later age), I hope and believe that she will not be a picky eater into toddlerhood.

Processed and fast foods have become such an epidemic in our society, and I am victim to it. My teenage years were spent eating fast food and drinking pop. I fell into the slump of eating a lot of processed junk during my pregnancy and after having E and I am just now slowly transitioning back to eating whole organic foods, again. I’m not going to withhold food from my daughter, but my hope is that she will CHOOSE healthy foods over junk.

I know… high hopes!

So far, E has only had sweet potatoes, avocado, and green beans. She basically despised avocados (Heck, I hated them until I was in my 20’s), but seems to really like the potatoes and green beans. I tried rice cereal about 3 or 4 weeks ago but she seemed to get really cranky the rest of the day so I basically skipped the cereals altogether. I’ll introduce oatmeal later on.

HATES avocados!

Theres is also the fact that making my own baby food is cost effective. I can make 10-20 servings for the cost of 2 or 3 of those store bought pouches. This isn't a huge reason I do this but it is a cherry on top!

The process is really quite easy:

1. Choose organic, in season produce

2. Peel skinned veggies and fruits

3. Wash thoroughly (before being cut and once it is cut)

4. Steam

5. Blend in a food processor or blender (adding cooking liquid to get the texture suitable for your baby’s age)

6. Divide into ice cube trays and freeze

7. Take food out of trays and place into freezer bags (veggies and fruits are good up to 3 months in the freezer)

The only two exceptions are bananas and avocados. They do not need to cooked and can just be mashed up with a fork as long as they are ripe enough. They also cannot be frozen.

Veggies need to be cooked until the child is 12 months old to reduce choking hazard.

Foods suitable for 4-6 month olds:

VEGGIES: sweet potatoes, green beans, and squash (acorn or butternut)

FRUITS: pears, apples, avocados, and bananas

GRAINS: whole grain organic cereals (oatmeal, rice, and barley)

Of course, always follow your instincts. If you don't think your baby is ready for solids then wait. E loves to breastfeed and nothing has changed from before we started solids.

Elise’s Baptism

2014-02-25T16:59:00.000-07:00

I’ll admit that before Elise was born, I wasn’t at all religious. I believed more in science and concrete evidence. But now that I have this perfect baby girl with the best little personality that came from happiness and love… I can’t help but think there must be something more.

I was brought up Catholic and it was my parents’ request that we get Elise Baptized, we, of course, agreed. As the time drew near, I was more and more excited about it. I do not want to raise Elise to think that there is nothing else out there and that there is only this life and then it is over. I want her to have faith and hope. I want her to know right from wrong. And above all, I want her to believe in something. She can believe in whatever she wants to, but I want to give her the tools to choose the right path in her life.

We chose, in our eyes, the perfect Godparents for our little girl. Two people that we look up to immensely (both as parents and as husband and wife) and who will help us teach Elise so that she can choose her own path once the time comes. Godparents who will love her always, no matter what she chooses in life.

The day was perfect! Elise wore my baptismal gown. I was always so excited for my child to get to wear this gown. Every time my mom would show it to me, I would get giddy about how special it will be for me to have my baby wear it. And it was just as special as I believed it would be. I hope she will feel the same way.

She had her closest family there with her on her special day. Family, that (I think) before she was born, had dwindled on their beliefs.

We returned home for a brunch buffet and cake… that turned out just how I pictured it!

I’m so excited for our little girl! She does and will make so many people smile throughout her lifetime. I know she makes me smile more than I ever thought possible! She, alone, has brought faith back into my life.

5 Months Old!

2014-02-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

To my sweet baby girl,

You are 5 months old! You are my little buddy and we do almost everything together. I love this stage so much.

One day, you decided that laughing was the best thing ever and some days all I have to do is look at you with a funny face and you crack up! It is so much fun. The things that make you happiest are your pups. You love watching them wrestle and play together. You especially love pulling on Gracie’s hair but you are so gentle with Chloe (I think you know their personalities already).

Reaching out for Chloe

You love being held by your daddy or me. You are also letting others hold you as long as I am beside you. You still are not rolling over (probably because you like being held so much) but you are able to sit up for about 5-10 seconds unassisted.

You are growing so fast and becoming your own little person. It is hard to believe that you have changed so much in these 5 months and I cannot believe that you’ll be ½ year soon. I cherish every single second with you because they are going so fast. I never wish away moments because I’ll never get them back.

You wake up every morning with the biggest smile on your face. You are just so eager to start your day. And thanks to you, I am now a morning person… it is your happiest time. I love waking up next to you every morning and I think you love waking up next to me, too!

We tried solids the last couple of days but I don’t think you are quite ready. You were extra clingy and a bit of a crank…. I think we might forgo the cereal and start you on veggies next month, but we will see. You seem really interested in food but your tummy might not be ready for it.

You are quite the talker… and complainer… and yeller… and singer. You like to talk (you get that from dad). You love singing in the bath (you also get that from your dad). If something is not going your way you will complain… and if it isn’t fixed you start to yell (you get this from my side). I love everything about you.

You love breastfeeding… and I love it too. At night you will nurse then snuggle into my arm and fall asleep… this is my favorite part of our day together. It is my little slice of heaven.

We do things our way and it is working for us. We are a team; I listen to you and you hear me. Every decision I make revolves around you. I’ve learned not to force anything upon you… you have your own mind and you tell me what works for you.

Valentine's Day!

The love I have for you is something that I will never be able to explain to you. One thing I have learned is that you never know just how much your parents love you until you become a parent yourself. Every day I love you more and more…and I know it will just keep growing.

I believe all moms and babies have this special connection that as long as you nourish and love it, it’ll last forever. I know, because your grandma and I still have it. My bond with you is forever… never forget that.

Elise is 4 months old!

2014-01-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Elise,

I cannot believe you are 4 months old! I will probably say this for the rest of my life, but where is the time going? We sure are having fun though! We have the cutest conversations and best snuggles at night.

You are the most beautiful baby! Those eyes could melt an iceberg! Get used to people telling you that you have amazing eyes... because you are going to hear it for the rest of your life!

This month was full of firsts for you! First Christmas, New Years, laugh, and sleeping through the night.

New Years Eve! You enjoyed the sitar player at Little India!

Your laugh is magical! We were delighted to hear it on New Years day while I was reading you a story. So far, that was your one and only true belly laugh but you do throw in some squeals of delight and some giggles here and there (you’re a tough audience). You are babbling like no other and just like your mama, you love to complain!

Your sleep can be all over the place, one night you might sleep from 9-5 and the next be up every 3 hours. I sure do savor those good nights.

I believe you are in the midst of teething. You are turning on your drooling machine full blast and you chew on everything that comes into contact with your mouth. You are able to grab hold of a toy, my finger, or my hair and guide them straight to your mouth (We always knew you were smart). Just the other day, you started chewing on my chin and my nose whenever I hold you close to my face.

I don't mind the drool one bit!

A coffe connoisseur just like your Aunt Sara and Loree

Your first Cowboy boots from your Grandma Baba

Speaking of teeth, not that we had any doubt that you would need braces, but you found your thumb! I am pretty happy that you found it though, I am not a huge fan of those pacifiers (Gracie sure is though).

We think you will be able to start cereal soon. You are always watching us eat and have grabbed something from my hand and put it in your mouth (raisin bread and graham cracker). You are still a bit confused by your highchair though!

Things you love:

story time

bath time

diaper changes

walking your pups

eating

the camera

your pups

Things you hate:

your carseat

not being held when you want to be held

not being the center of attention

having mama be some place you are not

tummy time

I love you more than you ever will know! Happy 4 months, Lisee Pie!

P.S. Chloe also had a birthday on your 4 month anniversary! She is 7 years old! It is really quite hard to believe. She has been there by my side every step of the way! We love you Cocos.

Elise's First Christmas

2013-12-29T10:53:00.000-07:00

By far, this has been the best Christmas for me. I was able to get that childhood spark back by seeing Christmas through my child’s eyes. Of course, this Christmas was more for Mike and I. Elise didn’t really care about the presents she got; she did, however, enjoy her family and stayed up for a good portion of the day.

We all spoiled her but Santa took the cake! He must really love her and she was an exceptionally good girl this year! She now has a better wardrobe than me and enough toys to fill a toy store. I am really hoping she starts enjoying toys in the next few weeks. Right now, she could care less and her main entertainment is staring at Mike, her pups, and me (and she also loves to eat).

The day started off with Mike and I impatiently waiting for Elise to wake up.

As soon as I heard her start to wake up and told Mike and we both ran to the room and told her Merry Christmas and that Santa had came! I fed her and then we took her out to see all the presents that he brought her. It was so much fun. She really liked her kick piano mat and laid there kicking like crazy while Mike and I opened our presents.

Then my family came over for Christmas breakfast. Elise was the main attraction with her little elf outfit (Grandma Baba got her every single Christmas outfit she found).

We then opened presents, which took a good 2-3 hours. Always fun!

After everyone left, my mom cooked and Mike and I cleaned up all the presents. Elise now has a basement full of toys that are a little too advanced for her right now and a drawer full of toys that I try to get her interested in.

For dinner, Mike’s family came over. I am really hoping she loves her door jumper that her nana and papa got her… here is a test run (of course she is still too little).

Elise passed out after everyone left and woke up once more to eat before Christmas was over. It was a whirlwind kind of day but one of the best kinds. Christmas’ are just going to keep getting better from here!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Elise is 3 Months Old

2013-12-20T09:14:00.001-07:00

Elise is 3 months old!

Dear Elise,

Where to start? These months keep flying by so fast and you are growing and learning so much every single day. You smile every minute you are awake, even if you are crying you manage to get a smile in there somewhere. You have really started to “talk” and I love having our mini conversations with you everyday. Your favorite question is, “what did you dream about last night?”

I feel like you made a huge stride the last 2-3 weeks. You are sleeping better (both naps and at night), eating well, and happy as can be! You love your family and you have one of the biggest hearts! You smile uncontrollably when your puppies come around you…especially when they are playing! I can tell you three are going to be great friends one day (especially when you will be able to feed them from your high chair!). Gracie is already starting to paw at you to play and you just smile and giggle.

You absolutely adore "airplane"

...and storytime

...and these characters

We haven’t had the pleasure of hearing your laugh yet and I am hoping to hear a Christmas laugh! (hint hint, Elise!) But you giggle and coo all the time and I love every single moment of it!

You had your first Thanksgiving this month. Everyone was so happy to welcome you into the family!

Another big turn is that you really like going places now. Before, I was always so tense because you only could stand about an hour out. You went Christmas shopping three times (one time for 7 hours with the family) and you did great. You love looking around, smelling different smells, but hate loud music for very long. I was so extremely proud of you and now I don’t mind taking you places… in fact we both really enjoy it.

You have also discovered your hands and you are so happy about it! You are also starting to look at your feet with curiosity.

Your pups have become accustomed to knowing that they are going for a walk when I bring out the carrier… and I am glad we all can get some exercise and fresh air all at once!

You also got to meet the jolly old man for the first time this month! You weren’t very sure of the whole experience though. He said you wanted a pogo stick, but I think we will settle for a jumperoo instead!

We also got our Christmas tree and waited for you to wake up so we could all decorate it together. You really liked looking at the Angel and were happy to be held while I hung the ornaments.

I am so giddy to spend Christmas with you! I am so excited for Santa and presents and spending time with our family. You make me feel like a little kid again and have made me feel the magic of Christmas once more.

I cannot explain to you how much I love you. Our little family has made me happier than I ever thought possible and I am so thankful for you, my little girl! Love, Mama