MICHIGAN TRIP: GETTING THERE

A few weeks ago we packed up only the necessary baby gear, which still seemed like a ton of stuff, and took our three month old on a plane headed for Michigan! I was super nervous to fly with a baby and was kind of freaking out about what to bring for her. Since we were only going for a long weekend, Thursday to Monday, we decided to try not to bring the entire nursery with us. Instead we brought her car seat and base, diaper bag, and packed her fold-up bassinet, monitors, and eight days worth of clothes-just in case- for Hadley in a carry-on while we checked our bag. This way, if anything happened to our luggage, we would still have everything we needed for her! 

We bought this travel bag for her car seat and base on our way to the airport because we're really good at planning ahead like that. ;) 
When we got to the airport, I changed her before we got out of the car, nursed her while Tommy checked our bag, then we headed for TSA. 
I wore my SollyBaby wrap, but I didn't know if they would let me leave her in it through security, so I just held her...and she may or may not have spit up all over the floor while we were in line. We went through the metal detector instead of the full body scanner and then got to our gate with an hour and a half to wait. She looked out the window for a little while and then right before we were to board, fell asleep. She woke up once we got to our seats though so we took some pictures to document her first flight! She totally looks like she was trying to figure that whole thing out.
Everyone's advice was to nurse her on the way up and the way down to help her pop her ears. BEST. ADVICE. EVER. annnnd, she slept the entire flight in-between. On our way off of the plane we passed people who complimented us on how well she did. 

 

FIRST FOURTH

Our weekends are pretty laid back these days. This one was no different, except that we got Daddy for a four-day weekend! 

Each year, we go over to the beach side of town to get a great view of the fireworks launched on the riverside of the island. It's usually a few hours spent outside eating and hanging out beforehand. Girlfriend LOVES to go outside with me, but we usually only stay out for 20-30 minutes at a time. So when were outside for about an hour, she lost. her. shit. I get it, I screwed up. Pushed her for longer than she was used to. I took her inside but...y'all, I have never heard her cry so loud for so long. I was actually worried she had gotten bitten or something. She wasn't having any of that nursing business, changing her diaper didn't help, and the trusty white noise of the hair dryer (saved as a voice memo on my phone) didn't do its usual magic. We took her out to the car, blasted the A/C, and drove around for a bit. She was asleep in five minutes. Thank. GOD! 
We drove her around so she could sleep for about an hour. When we got back we planned on just taking shifts of bringing her inside every 30 minutes. Then, the manager of the facility we were at came over to tell us that he opened up the two story building overlooking the water for families with young kids to be able to watch from the balcony or inside. Again, thank God! We were able to snap a few pictures out on the balcony, but watched the rest from inside in the air conditioning! Homegirl was a happy camper, and we had the best view!

Hadley Girl, we hope you enjoyed you first Fourth of July! We hope you grow up appreciating all of the people that make our freedom possible.

God Bless America!

THREE MONTHS DOWN

Age: Three months

Stats: Weighs 15.2 lbs., and 25 inches tall!

Milestones: First out-of-state trip to see grandparents, on an airplane (you were fantastic!)! Still sleeping between 8-9 hours a night, mostly able to sit up for short periods of time on your own, grabbing and pinching (especially skin-OUCH!), and blowing spit bubbles.

Likes: Sticking out her tongue, eating her hands, open-mouth kisses, smiling when we get you in the morning, being outside, white noise, car rides, baths, watching TV (I only let her watch for a few minutes- I promise!) and you still like playing your Fisher Price piano!

Dislikes:Clothes going over your head, sitting still, and sudden noises while sleeping!

Noteworthy: Last week you went on your first airplane ride, and did so great- other passengers even commented on what a good baby you were! You were baptized in Michigan with your Grammy and Papa, Great Grandma, Aunt, Great Aunts, and cousins watching- no tears for you (Mama can't say the same)!

Well, we've got three months down in the books! Speaking of books, I need to get going on a baby book. I'm seriously loving the idea of these "yearbooks" for baby/family!

SUMMER TRENDS

I am by no means a fashionista, usually choosing comfort over style, but I do love looking at the instagrams and blogs of those who are! And I can't help crushing over what seems to be some of this summer's biggest trends: poms (you know I love me some pom poms based on my shop!) and tassels! Here are a few things that I am loving.

Baby Pom Pom Romper//Pom Dress//Tassel Top//Tassel Sandals

 

Also, if you know of any shops with baby clothes that have tassels, let me know! :)

MILKING IT//BREASTFEEDING + PUMPING

Before Hadley was born, I knew that I wanted to breastfeed. Not only for the convenience- at 2 am, sticking a boob in their mouth sounded a lot easier to me than mixing formula and getting the correct water temperature- but also the nutritional benefits and bonding experience. So when she latched right away after our skin-to-skin time, my mama heart rejoiced. But I was totally unprepared for just how much it would hurt. Like, don't give me even the softest hug because it felt like you were rubbing sandpaper on a sunburn kind of hurt. When the baby cried for her next feeding and it felt like I just fed her, I wanted to cry too. The Medela Sensitive Lanolin is a lifesaver during this time. If you can fight through the first 5-6 weeks- it sounds like forever, but you have a newborn so it will go by fast- then it gets SO much better, REALLY! 

I am returning to work (I'm currently a sixth-grade teacher) at the beginning of August, while that seems like a long ways off, I know it will go by way too fast (cue the waterworks)! So I have already begun building my milk bricks stash. I contacted my insurance provider about three weeks before my due date asking about a free breast pump since a friend of mine received one from her insurance company. They pointed me in the direction on their website for obtaining information on approved providers to contact. I found 'A Breast Pump and More' and filled out a quick online form, it was easier than checking out on Shutterfly (does anyone else have this problem? #FOMCC... fear of missing coupon codes!). I had a double breast, electric pump before the baby came! The pump I got is the Hygeia Enjoye, and they sent me four accessory kits that I know I will be so thankful for when it comes to pumping at work!

Right now, I pump one breast at a time into the same bottle so I don't have to clean two every time (yes, I'm that lazy), but when I have to pump at work I will pump both simultaneously.

To help with all of the feedings, and now adding additional pumping sessions, I've been eating some really yummy lactation recipes that I thought I'd share! Also, make sure you're drinking a lot of water. I can totally tell a difference in my milk supply when I don't drink enough, to the point where it seemed like my boob was tapped out and then I drank more water and was able to pump a bit more! When I pour a good pumping session into a storage bag I can't help but do a little happy dance as I'm writing down the ounces...and mayyyybe I draw a happy face on there as well. :) Celebrate the victories!

Power Cups:

3/4 cup flaxseed meal

2 tbsp. brewer’s yeast

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup chocolate chips (I use minis)

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2/3 cup honey (raw if you can get it!)

2 tsp. vanilla

1-2 tsp. cinnamon

*Optional: Add one cup of cran-raisins/shredded coconut/raisins (or all three!)

Mix this all together with a stand-mixer or spatula, press into baking cups, refrigerate for an hour, and then enjoy! I love putting some Greek yogurt on them and topping with Craisins for a yummy breakfast! It's like a breakfast cupcake if you're against eating real cupcakes for breakfast.

Fruit Smoothie:

2 cups ice

2 cups frozen berries

1 banana

½ cup flaxseed meal

2 tbsp. brewer’s yeast

1 cup Greek yogurt

1 cup almond/regular milk or orange juice

The great thing about smoothies is you can basically add anything you want to them and they will taste great! I’ve made a green smoothie too where I subbed out the berries for kale and added 1/3 cup of raw honey and a tsp. of vanilla.

Tried and Ture Chocolate Chip Cookies (or the 4-hour cookies, according to my husband):

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 tbsp. water

2 tbsp. flaxseed meal

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour (I used whole wheat flour)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup mini chocolate chips

2-4 tbsp. brewer’s yeast (I used three in this batch)

*Optional: Add a half cup of cran-raisins/shredded coconut/raisins/crushed walnuts (or all of them!)

Preheat oven to 350°, mix flaxseed meal with water- let sit for 5 minutes, beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar, add eggs one at a time and mix well, add flaxseed mix and vanilla and mix well, sift (may you have more patience with this than I did!) together flour, brewer’s yeast, cinnamon, baking soda and salt, add dry ingredients a little at a time, stir in oats a little at a time, add chocolate chips and any other goodies you are putting in (I put cran-raisins in and hoped I had coconut with no such luck..)! Scoop onto well-oiled baking sheet or parchment paper in tablespoon size, bake for 10-12 minutes. Then just try not to eat all of them in one sitting a day! ;)

As mamas, we do the best we can, or what's best for us and our babies- if breastfeeding/pumping is not for you, that's okay too! Having a happy and healthy baby is what's most important! Speaking of happy and healthy, I'll leave you with this smiling babe!

Please share any of your favorite recipes, I know I will want to have more in my repertoire! :)

HADLEY'S NICKNAME

After we first found out I was pregnant, we were at Disney Springs for dinner and just enjoy walking around. We always make our way into the art shop that they have there and on this particular night they had one of their artists selling and signing his work there. My husband saw this Winnie the Pooh painting and thought it would be great for the new baby's nursery.

The artist asked if we would like a character, that wasn't in the painting on the front, to be drawn on the back so we would have a one of one piece of art. I immediately called out, "Roo!" He looked at me a little puzzled and said, "Roo!? No one asks for Roo...maybe Eeyore or Owl?" But I explained that Roo is so cute and he is the baby of the group and we were planning on putting this in the baby's room. So Roo it was! Even though we didn't go for a "Winnie the Pooh" themed nursery, we still incorporated it into the room's décor.
This led to us calling the baby Roo for the duration of the pregnancy, even after we found out we were expecting a girl, and because we were not revealing her name until after she was born!
The nickname has stuck even after welcoming Hadley into the world- and I still think it's adorable! :)

Do you have any stories about how your little one got their nickname?!

TWO MONTHS WITH HADLEY

Age: Two months

Stats: Weighs 12.4 lbs., and almost 24 inches tall! Homegirl likes to eat!

Nicknames: Hadley Roo, Roo, Hadley Girl, Hadley Hiccups- she gets the most adorable squeaky hiccups!-Little Roo (I will post the story about how she got the nickname Roo later!)

Milestones: She had been sleeping 5 hours at night since she was around four weeks old, at six weeks she started sleeping seven hours a night. Now she typically sleeps for 7.5-8 hours at night. We thought this was awesome- maybe a little too good so we called the doctor at six weeks to make sure this was okay for her to be doing (yes we are those parents). He said, "Bravo! You've got a good one!" :)
She took her first bottle at 7.5 weeks like a champ! We were in the car and I pumped her a bottle and gave it to her while we were driving. Zero hesitation or resistance and she slept the rest of the way there and just about made it home before she lost her sh!& (approximately 2.5 hours).

Likes: Eating, being close to mama-especially in the Solly wrap, sleeping, stroller and car rides, mama and dada singing and dancing, getting burped-or just having her back rubbed or patted, being in her swing, playing her piano, and looking out the window.

Dislikes: Getting changed, being put in her car seat (once she's in she loves it!), having to wait for food, and commercials on Pandora.

Noteworthy: Even though it breaks mama and dada's heart when you cry, the way you stick out your bottom lip and crinkle your eyelids when you are upset is just so adorable! You are so strong, you've been able to hold your head up for short periods of time since you were four days old! Now, at two months, for even longer time periods!

Hadley Girl, we are so in love with you! We sit and stare in awe of you on a daily basis and we are so proud of all the leaps and bounds you've made already!