Lincoln: 15 Months

Our sweet Lincoln was 15 months old this past weekend! He is growing so very fast, and seems to be learning new things every single day. I catch myself laughing at almost everything he does. As I type this (at 5am thanks to said 15 month old) he is delicately laying his hand on my laptop, and then shyly smiling. Probably because he knows he isn't supposed to touch it. But really he is so sweet and funny, a lot of the time it is almost too much to handle!

Growth

He is still at the top of the charts for just about everything. He weighs in at 28-29 pounds, putting him at the 98th or above for percentile. He is 34 inches tall, also putting him off the charts, and rounding out his hugeness, he has a head circumference of 20 inches, which is, again, off the charts. He is seriously just growing like a weed, still fitting into 18-24 month clothing, but we are only buying 2T at this point and that is what size most of his summer clothing is! He is wearing size 4 diapers still, but I am thinking the next time I buy them I will go up to the next size just because I prefer they have a bit extra room. He still fits in a size 5 for shoes, but they are getting snug so his newest pair of moccasins are a size 6.

Development

It really has been so interesting to see how different our children have been in terms of development. Lincoln is doing great and continues to learn and try new things every day. He has mastered going up the stairs, and while we usually don't let him, he knows how to slide down the stairs and would most likely be just fine if left to his own devices. Sorry buddy, our staircase is just a little too tall to set you free on it! He isn't talking much, but he does have a few words. Mama, dada, and buh-bye, which he loves to say while waving, it is the cutest thing! He babbles all of the time, and has the most adorable jibberish you have EVER heard. We watch videos where we have caught him babbling and just laugh so hard.

He is quickly learning how to ask for things even if he doesn't have the words to do so yet. If he is hungry, he will walk to the pantry and stand at the door, and if he is thirsty he will bring a sippy cup to the fridge and try to open the door. He has even tried to use the water dispenser, but he isn't quite tall enough to be successful ;-)

He is constantly exploring, and tries to master anything he is able to. He is very good with a fork and spoon, and LOVES to feed himself. He is so independent, and for the most part just hates not being allowed to do things for himself!

He is still our best sleeper. He is taking two naps a day, but I think we are approaching cutting out the morning nap and going down to just one. He goes down at 7pm every night, and even if we put him in his crib wide awake, he will put himself to sleep. A lot of nights, once we walk into his bedroom he will actually lean back and I need to be prepared, we will be quite a ways from his crib but this guy is READY to lay down. He is not our snuggler, but he LOVES his stuffed animals and his blankie. I cover him up and put his animals around his face every night, and he settles in so happy and relaxed. He loves his crib. He did get sick a few weeks ago, and since then has once again started waking up around 4:30-5am which just..NOPE. I am thinking that cutting down to one nap a day may be the solution to this, but we will see.

Eating

He is still a good eater, but is definitely developing preferences. He is not the biggest fan of meats. He will eat them, but they are not his favorite. Jackson would eat chicken nuggets and hot dogs all day, but Lincoln will usually have leftovers on his tray and will mostly just pick at these things. He LOVES fruit, just last night at dinner he ate an entire peach by himself, and will eat bananas, blueberries, and raspberries all day. Vegetables are okay by him, but also are not his favorite.

We weaned from nursing right before he turned 13 months, and haven't looked back. He still takes his milk from a bottle, and has some right away in the morning, after naps, and about half an hour before bed. (And a fun side note, as I typed that he stomped across the room with his bottle of milk and handed it to me. And now he is waving at the characters on the TV. Seriously, he just cracks me up!) He gets water in a sippy cup at his meals. He LOVES water and nothing makes him happier than getting his hands on a water bottle his mom forgot to put away.

Some of his absolute favorite foods include pizza, bread, pretty much all fruits, goldfish crackers, anything sweet, and graham crackers. While he is a good eater, there aren't that many foods he seems to absolutely LOVE. Unless it is sugar. Give this kid ALL of the sugar. He has our sweet tooth for sure!

Personality

This little guy is almost too much to handle. From a young age, his dad has called him 'cheeser', and the nickname still fits. We often catch him giggling at the most random things. He loves to do little things like click his tongue, and lately has been fake 'chewing' while making eye contact with me, thinking he is so funny while doing so. He loves to climb up on you for a snuggle, but it will last about as long as a normal hug, and then he wants to get down and go about his business. He butts heads with his brother, oh by gosh does he butt heads with him. Jackson is really coming into his role as a big brother, but Lincoln is pretty vocal about not wanting to be hugged or kissed if he is not in the mood! They fight over toys constantly, and Lincoln knows how to use his voice if he is not getting his way! He loves Wallykazam and Sesame Street, and is pretty much hypnotized by either. He still does not have much interest in books at all, mostly because I think he just hates to be forced to sit still to listen! He loves to open all of the kitchen cabinets and drawers, and get into every last thing that he knows he isn't supposed to. He is constantly keeping us on our toes!

Lincoln, you grow sweeter by the second, and we are having so much fun watching you grow and develop. You are our blonde haired, blue eyed little mischief maker, and we cannot wait to see how much more you grow and learn in the coming months! We love you, boo boo!

 

Linking up with Julie today!

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Easter Baskets for Littles

We are already a week into Lent, say what. I just love Easter. Of course as a Catholic, the meaning behind Easter is so very special. But I also love that it is during spring, brings out all of the pretty pastel colors, and inspires celebrating new life! I love to treat my kiddos to Easter baskets, but really try to keep the gifts to a minimum. And really, I like to put in practical items that I would likely buy them anyway ;-)

We got Jackson the Happy Valentine's Day Mouse book, and he loves it! I am thinking this Happy Easter, Mouse! book needs to be added to our collection.

We received Home for a Bunny as a hand-me-down book, and I do not know what it is, but Jackson was so obsessed with this book! It is really sweet, and I love that it is a 'classic' book. I highly recommend!

I dare you to try and find a toddler who is not obsessed with Play-Doh. We typically reserve it as a treat and bust it out only occasionally, because with our little guy it usually requires some close supervision. But these easter eggs are super cute and would be such a fun gift!

There is something so sentimental about the Charlie Brown holiday movies, so adding It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown is fun for both mom and the kids! ;-)

One of my favorite things about this time of year is the start of transitioning from winter to spring/summer clothing. And obviously, I have a pajama problem, so this is always the perfect opportunity to thrown in a summer option for when it starts to warm up. These shark jammies are perfect for my big boy. And for my baby who still can use a bit extra to cover him up at night, these organic jammies are so precious yet lightweight and a nice break from all of the fleece he has been wearing all winter!

This HOP sweatshirt is an updated version of one that I had wanted for Jackson a few years back and never bought. It is SO cute, and perfect for spring as it is a good transitional piece, nice and lightweight!

We have a tendency to leave all of the toys on the bathtub bottom. The boys are the only ones who use the upstairs tub, so we never have to pick them up. I think it is about time we get a bath organizer to clean things up and have somewhere to put the five million letters and toys that have a permanent place in the bath time routine.

And speaking of bath time, my kiddos always tend to try to play with or bump into the drain. I get nervous as it could hurt them if they hit it right, so this bath tub stopper is a great option to keep them safe!

My kids are always more excited to drink when it is out of a fun cup. This bunny cup is so cute, and how precious is this milk bottle one, too!?

As we prep for warmer temps, I typically can't wait to buy some new swimwear for my kiddos. Jackson LOVES the pool, and I am dying to get them both in the water! This little pair of swimtrunks is so darn cute I can hardly stand it!! Jackson would look precious in this little pair, too. There is not much sweeter than a babe in swim trunks, except for maybe a baby in fresh jammies ;-)

Of course, I can't do an Easter basket without throwing in some candy, and these jelly beans have, and will always be, the absolute best! Lincoln isn't quite up to the jelly bean level yet, but I think he could manage a bite or two of the classis Peeps ;-)

What are go to items for your Easter baskets? I am always looking for fun and creative ideas!

Linking up with Jenn and Jessi today!

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Lincoln: 10 Months

Our little man was 10 months old this weekend! I cannot believe how fast the time is flying, and how quickly we are approaching the one year mark *sob*. This month, our babe has bonded a bit more with big brother, and he continues to get into whatever trouble he can manage. He is a little daredevil, constantly on the go and giving us a heart attack. He is also snuggly, smily, and silly. He is quick to give a smile, and his smile will melt the heart of absolutely anyone. He is such a joy to have around!

 

 

Age: 10 months

Height: I seem to have a hard time getting a 100% accurate measurement on this, I blame a squirmy baby and a less than stellar tape measurer. However, Somewhere in the ballpark of 31-31.5 inches. Either measurement puts him right at the top of the charts in the 99th percentile. He is still wearing 12-18 month clothing, especially in his pants. He has started wearing some 18-24 month stuff, partly because his mama got the urge to go through Jackson's next box of old clothing and it just made sense to pull it all out at once. Some of it is a little bit big, but for the most part it all is starting to fit pretty well! He is wearing size 4 shoes, and size 4 diapers. 

Weight: 25 pounds. Little chunk keeps on growing! This puts him around the 98th percentile still.  He really isn't all that chunky at all though, there aren't many rolls to him. He is just a BIG guy across the board!

Milestones: While very brief, he has stood on his own for about five seconds! He is very funny about standing and walking, though. He is either in the mood or he is not. And if he isn't, the little stinker won't even bear weight on his legs! I really can't predict exactly when I think he will be walking, but if I had to guess I would say it will be right around when he turns one. He has started cruising along the furniture, so he is getting there! 

 

Sleep: This month was not the best sleep month. Between teething and a week long sickness, his schedule has been pretty thrown off. Now that he finally seems to be on the mend, we are hoping to get him back on schedule. 

Best Moments: He is really just the sweetest little thing, there are so many precious moments with him lately. He has started to babble a lot, and after he eats early in the morning, he will typically break away and talk so softly. And he has the sweetest voice, I could listen to those babbles all day long!

 

Worst Moments: Definitely dealing with sickness. He came down with a fever on a Monday, and really wasn't back to acting like himself until Saturday. After four days of fever, it broke and he then got a rash, so while it isn't an official doctor's diagnosis, I am pretty sure it was roseola based on that and all of his other symptoms (swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite, general fatigue). Poor little guy had a rough couple of days. There is just never anything worse than having to watch your baby be sick.

Eating: He continues to eat like a champ! Whenever he sees food coming, he starts breathing really fast through his nose, which he also does when he is excited about being picked up or given a bottle. He scrunches up his little nose and squints his eyes while he does it. It is so darn cute! He is developing a few food preferences, and go figure,  vegetables really are not at the top of his list. He also wanted nothing to do with barbeque meatballs. We have started introducing meats, but as they are a bit harder for babies to chew, I have been pretty slow in letting him try those. He continues to love blueberries, corn, cereal bars, string cheese, yogurt, pastas, and pizza. He isn't too crazy about fruits like banana and peaches, but he will eat them. He has refused butternut squash, black beans, and potato rounds, however he will eat mashed potatoes!

 

We are still nursing when he wakes up and before bed. Throughout the day, the pump has been put away (YAY!), and he is receiving bottles of pumped milk, both during the week and now on the weekends as well. He takes bottles well, and now will drink milk hot or cold. He still prefers nursing, and so when he is sick or in a bad mood that is what he will fight for over the bottle!

Teeth: He has three teeth, and the fourth will be through any day. And they are coming in out of order! He got his side top teeth before his front teeth, so fingers crossed he cuts those soon, otherwise he is going to be one cute little vampire baby!

Likes: He is still loving bath time! He also got his first taste of playing outside and LOVES it! He had so much fun just picking up and examining all of the leaves. He loves string cheese and blueberries most. Loves to snuggle, and if the mood is right he loves to cozy in to rock to sleep, which is such a treat. Likes car rides most of the time. Gets so excited whenever we walk up the stairs, he always smiles and flaps his little arms like crazy! Loves puppies. Loves any toys that make noise. Still likes the baby channel, but has also been caught giggling at Wallykazam. Everyone in this house loves Wally!!

 

Dislikes: In all honesty Jackson knows how to push his buttons like no other! He can make him laugh so hard but he also has to do one tiny think and Lincoln will scream his head off. He does not like butternut squash and is starting to get a bit more picky with his foods. He is not a fan of having orajel put on his gums at all! Hates whenever his mama is in his presence but someone else is holding him. Dislikes sleeping through the night lately...hopefully that one is off the list next month!

Sweet Lincoln, we love you more and more every day. You are the perfect balance to our family and remind us every day to go with the flow a bit more and just let life happen. You are so perfect and we love you to pieces!

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Milestone Baby

These days, there is not much slowing down around here. Our little guy is constantly on the go, and we can barely keep up! Some days, he masters so many new skills that I cannot remember it all. Any other mamas feel like they blink and their newborn is suddenly walking, talking, and doing all of the toddler things?
I will be the first to admit, I am not perfect and miss documenting a lot of these 'little' things. I keep on top of monthly updates through the first year, but the rest of those little milestones? I try my best to commit them to memory, but I often fall short.
Enter Milestone Baby. These amazing little cards really help you to remember and celebrate those little moments that make you smile.
  

 

Not only do these cards highlight your baby's most recent milestone, but the bottom of the card provides space to write down the date! I for one absolutely love having exact dates to reference back to remember these things. I have caught myself looking at the date, wondering what else we had going on that day, what the weather was like, and just what life was like for us when that special little moment occurred.

I have the original baby cards, but there are other options, including a toddler set, and a set to track your pregnancy, too!

I plan to put together our cards into a booklet in the future, and am so glad I will have this detailed keepsake to look back on! Do you have any favorite ways to track your baby's milestones?

 

*this post is sponsored by Milestone Baby. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Stang&Co!

 

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Lincoln: 9 Months

Nine months old. Doesn't that seem so much older than 8 months? Just me? Regardless, this has been a big month for Lincoln. He is officially mobile and is T-R-O-U-B-L-E. He is the reason that people baby proof. He is a danger to himself, because he is absolutely fearless and is into everything, all of the time. Overnight, he has discovered the stairs, all of our furniture which is perfect for climbing on, every scrap that the vacuum missed, and of course, the dreaded electrical outlets. His big brother honestly never even noticed the outlets, but you best believe Lincoln has already been caught trying to stick his fingers into the holes or chew on lamp cords. Despite being a complete and utter wild man, he is also the sweetest, happiest little guy. He is so much fun, and is determined to do all of the 'big kid' things that he can!

Age: 9 months
Height: 31 inches or so. Still sitting at the 100th percentile.
Weight: 24.5 pounds. 98th percentile. He is still up there, but already seems to be leaning out a bit. He may be big and sturdy, but there really aren't many rolls on him!
Milestones: This month has been HUGE for this guy! He started crawling mid-January, and since then has probably given me a hundred gray hairs. He started pulling himself to standing within days of crawling. He also has started cruising furniture a bit, and can climb the stairs. He can make it up our entire story-and-a-half staircase, and often is a few stairs deep before we even realize what he is doing. Needless to say, the baby gate has made its return. He babbles all of the time, and is just an absolute blast to have around, even when he is giving us panic attacks!

We also switched him over to a convertible carseat, because he is so tall we really had no choice. He was at the maximum height limit, so while it was the last thing I wanted to do during the darkest and coldest month of the year, he seems to be tolerating his new seat. He was pretty unsure at first, but seems to be enjoying having more of a view now!
Sleep: He is still sleeping through the night pretty consistently. He occasionally will wake up around 10-11pm, usually on nights where he fell asleep early or didn't eat enough before bedtime. Often giving him his nuk will put him back to sleep, and very rarely I will give in and nurse him as long as it is before midnight. He is, however, waking up by 5am most days, which has this mama feeling pretty tired. Both he and his big brother are almost always both awake by 5:30am, so we get lots of morning time in before the work day begins!

Best Moments: Watching him crawl really has been a lot of fun, even though he is getting into SO much trouble.
Worst Moments: He escaped our sight, made a dash for the stairs, and fell down a few the other day. Not fun at all! He got some sort of gash/wound on his upper lip, and a scratch on his head, but nothing major. That is what really prompted the return of the baby gates! He also loves to climb under and through things, so often gets stuck underneath the kitchen table, and he manages to wedge himself under and into our end table, which usually results in him getting pretty scared. This kid, I tell ya.
Eating: All solid food, all of the time. I have started keeping as many fruits and veggies on hand as possible, to make sure he is getting a good variety. He loves blueberries, string cheese, PIZZA, rice and noodle casseroles, and of course, anything sweet. He about loses his mind whenever he sees the container of puffs come out of the pantry. Really, he will eat absolutely anything. The greatest tragedies in his life occur when someone has food and doesn't give him any.

He is still nursing, and receiving bottles of pumped milk when I am at work. Since starting solids, he seems to be taking in less milk, which is totally normal. He nurses right away in the morning, gets a few bottles throughout the day, and gets one final nursing session before going to bed. We have quite a bit of milk stored, so I am thinking I will be cutting out my pumps at work in the next 1-2 weeks!
Teeth: Still just those bottom two. It has been a few months, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see the top two soon, but from what I can tell they aren't there yet!
Likes: Any and all food, climbing the stairs, climbing under things, picking up and eating everything he finds on the floor, getting thrown in the air, taking baths and splashing in the water, his pacifier, watching football (seriously!), laughing at his big brother, and using the end table as a jungle gym.
Dislikes: The most ironic dislike of Mr. Lincoln is his hatred of being taken OUT of the bath. If you go back and read his first 6 months or so of updates, you will notice he despised taking baths. He would scream bloody murder, and I truly dreaded bath night because he (and everyone else) were so miserable throughout the process. Now, he and Jackson often take their bath together, and when it is time to get out Lincoln comes out first. And he screams and throws a fit! I guess we just will always see tears during bathtime one way or another ;-) He also doesn't like being pushed by his brother, not getting fed fast enough, and when mom walks by without holding him. He also hates the baby gate. This week he sat at the bottom of the stairs and cried because he wanted to climb and couldn't figure it out!

He is giving us a run for our money, but life is so much more fun and entertaining with Lincoln in it! I continue to be amazed by how independent and determined he is. I love watching him become his own little person, with what is definitely a mind of his own! I wouldn't mind if this next month was slowed down just a bit, but knowing this baby boy, I have a feeling we won't be slowing down anytime soon! We love you so much, Mr. Lincoln!

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Sleep Training Your Infant: Our Baby Wise Experience

A few months ago, we had had enough. Sleep was nothing but a five letter word and had little to no part in my life. While I am not trying to throw myself a pity party (okay, maybe just a little bit), I handle drop-off and pick-up for both of my boys every day due to Mike's crazy work hours, I am still breastfeeding Lincoln and pumping whenever I am away from him, and I work forty hours a week at a job. Oh, and one more thing. At seven months old, Lincoln was still waking up four times every. single. night. I could count on one hand the number of nights that he had been generous and only woken up once, and perhaps on two hands the nights he had stuck to two wakings. On the regular, though, I had been up four times a night, every night, for seven months. While I know I am not the first mama who has gone through this, the icing on the cake is that I have a full time, professional career outside of the house. Everyone was suffering. Mike is up by 4am for work every day, but between both Jackson and Lincoln he very rarely was able to actually sleep until that early alarm went off. I was not exactly pleasant after being up all night and then going to work hoping to do a decent job. I was yawning in people's faces during meetings. I cannot put into words how rude and uncomfortable I felt whenever that happened, but it did happen, and a lot.

Pity party aside, the fact of the matter is that we needed to do something. We never did any sleep training with Jackson, and as a result, we have had battles of epic proportions with our now two year old who is just finally learning to put himself to sleep. We have made some progress, but rules basically have never applied to a bedtime routine with Jackson. And we knew that we did not want to go down that road again with Lincoln. So, we made the decision to cry it out, and loosely follow Baby Wise. We made adaptions and modifications, sure, but for the most part, especially during the first few days, we really did stick to these methods. And wouldn't you know, it worked! It was not the easiest thing we have ever done, but after coming out on the other side, I would truly do it a million times over. While I know experiences are likely different for all babies, I wanted to share what we did, our challenges and successes, and why I would recommend this to any parent in need of a good night's sleep!

1. Have a plan

We agreed on when we were starting. We planned it out. We knew it would likely take a few days of tough love, and with that in mind we started on a Friday night, knowing we would have all weekend to handle it ourselves, and sneak in naps during the days if we ended up staying up all night. I also had to speak with my mom, who watches Lincoln during the week. She is a grandma and, bless her heart, is way softer with my children than I am, and cannot bear to see them cry. But I told her this was non-negotiable. She had to follow what we were doing, or else everything we did that weekend would be a wasted effort. She was on board, and we were ready to communicate regularly on how things went throughout the day and if there were any challenges.

2. Stick to your guns

We were in it for the long haul. On a few occasions with Jackson, we dabbled in letting him cry, and always ended up caving. With Lincoln, we knew the long term consequences of not sticking it out, so we decided that even if it meant a night of screaming from dusk until dawn, we were going to do it. Nothing breaks your mama heart more than hearing your baby cry, but being a mom isn't always an easy job and it requires doing things that we don't want to do!

We set out on our plan on a Friday night, and, as expected, Lincoln screamed his little head off. We would go in to check on him every 5-10 minutes, pat his back to do some slight soothing, and then would leave. To be honest, he seemed to be even more upset after we would go in to soothe him. It felt a bit like we were teasing him, as he would anticipate being picked up, and then he would be disappointed. I hated it.

After about 45 minutes of screaming, Mike mentioned trying to give him a nuk. As a side story, both of my boys declared a hatred for their nuk's around 4-5 months of age. I have never been able to figure out why, but almost do the day, they both figured out we gave it as a means to induce sleep, and both of them were angered by this! However, as we were desperate as the screaming was not quieting at all, Mike suggested to dip the nuk in sugar (dentists and dental hygienists, close your eyes) to see if that would get him to take it. And he did! Once he got over the rage of being offered the nuk and realized there was sugar on it, I couldn't get the darn thing out of his mouth. He sucked for a few minutes, and fell asleep. I felt like I had just won the lottery, he put himself to sleep!

That night, he did wake up around 2am or so. I was told that, while you can go in to soothe during the bedtime routine, in the middle of the night, unless your baby appears to be sick or unsafe, to not go into their room. It creates the expectation that, whenever they wake, you will go in for them. So, we had to listen to him cry. However, it only lasted 15 minutes or so, he put himself back to sleep, and he slept until 7am! I was seriously amazed, and could not believe it.

Later that day, I was dreading naptime because I knew there would be more tears. And you guys, I gave him that pacifier, zipped him up in his sleep sack, laid him down and he put himself to sleep with ten or so minutes of fussing for a two hour nap!! He had been a terrible napper, never giving much more than a half hour or so at time, which made daytime with him almost as difficult as nighttime. I woke him up around the two hour mark, and later in the day he went down without a fight for another two hour nap! Part of Baby Wise is to keep baby on a schedule, so while it went against everything in me to wake a sleeping baby, it really led to providing us with more consistency and predictability as we established a new routine. To say I was feeling like the mom of the year at this point would be quite the understatement.

Saturday night, there were more tears at bedtime, but it was again in that 5-10 minute range, and he put himself to sleep. He woke up crying once during the middle of the night, and was back asleep within minutes. And then Sunday night it happened. We put him down with little to no fuss, and he slept straight through the night, not once did he wake up crying! Since then, we very rarely need to go into his room during the night, and he is sleeping through the night like a champ.

Since tackling sleeping through the night, his daytime schedule really smoothed out as well. It really seems that by fixing his nighttime schedule, his daytimes fell into place beautifully. While he certainly has off days (for example, only sleeping 45 minutes for each nap yesterday), for the most part he takes two solid naps, has a predictable bedtime, and goes down without a fight the majority of the time. Everyone has so much more free time, and it is so amazing to roughly be able to anticipate when he will be due for a nap or bedtime.

Another funny side effect of this process is that he is now IN LOVE with his pacifier. Whether he is sleepy, sick, or happy and playing, his nuk is with him at all times. He loves it, and will grab it and stick it in his mouth whenever he sees it. I do not know how we would have gotten through all of this without the nuk, to be honest. We now lay him down for bed and he rolls right over, snuggles with his nuk (which is attached to a wubbanub bunny) and is so happy to be there. He will wake up in the morning and just babble to himself in his crib. It is so incredible to have broken through that barrier and to have made the crib a place that he enjoys versus fears.

So, of course my conclusion in all of this is that I would sleep train my baby a million times over. It took being a second time mom to do it, because while I hate to see my babies cry, it took a LOT more tears and frustration to get our two year old to sleep well than it did with our infant! We saw such a shift in not only our baby's schedule, but in his temperament because he was finally getting the sleep he needed. We were honestly surprised by how easy the whole process was. While I anticipated a week of no sleep and lots of crying, it really took us one rough night! It is amazing how quickly they can learn to self soothe. If you are on the fence, or feel guilty, my advice would be to go for it. Your baby will never remember a few nights of crying, but everyone will be happier once sleep becomes normal in your household once again!

Linking up with Annie today!

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Baby Must Haves: 6-9 months

I cannot believe I have already made it through the first nine months with my little guy. They were long and hard, especially during that very real 4th trimester. Months six to nine really have been so much fun, though! He has grown and changed drastically. I love so much about every stage with my children, but I really think nine month olds are up there as one of my favorites. They are so sweet, playful, innocent, and wonderful. I think this age is what you would find in the dictionary if you looked up 'baby'. Sweet, precious goodness, and smiles for days.

I have rounded up some of my favorite items over the past few months. After having two babies, these are the things that truly have been game changers for us!

1. A jumperoo is an absolute must. Both of my boys got so much use out of this thing. There are a lot of varieties out there, but this one allows a lot of 'bouncing', and doesn't limit baby on how much they can use their little legs. There are lots of toys for entertainment, and heights can be adjusted as baby grows. We tested out a few others, but I can say with confidence that this one will not be a regret!

2. Both of my boys went through phases of refusing the pacifier, but once we did a bit of sleep training, the wubbanub was a life saver. Our sweet boy now uses this thing all of the time. The sweet plush toy acts a bit like a stuffed animal, so when bedtime comes, it is a natural piece that our little guy can snuggle with and get some extra comfort. And, they are adorable. Is there anything cuter than a baby with a pacifier? I think not!

3. One thing I purchased for my first baby that I would never do the second time around was shoes. They fall off, bother baby, and really are just not worth the effort. Even now at nine months, Lincoln doesn't wear shoes all that often. However, I have found that moccasins are the best option when you do want your little one donning something on their precious feet. The elastic around the ankles and the fact that they slide on easily yet also stay on is huge. They are great for new walkers too, because they are lightweight and don't hinder baby in learning to move on their own.

4. Both of my boys have drooled a ridiculous amount. So much, in fact, that they would soak through 4-5 bibs a day. Ick. A lot of bibs didn't hold moisture well, and once I discovered bandana bibs I really didn't look back. They are absorbent, super soft, and sit around baby's neck so much more comfortably. I bought them in bulk packs, and once I started using them I basically did away with all of our old bibs. And they are so cute and trendy! I love that they are a drool catcher disguised as a trendy little accessory ;-)

5. I do not, and do not know if I ever will, understand the whole Sophie the Giraffe trend, but without fail, every single baby loves this toy! Something with its design is so perfect for a teething baby. I would have laughed at anyone who told me I would spend $25 on a teething toy, but after buying at least that much in failed products, I can tell you that silly little giraffe is 100% worth the investment.

6. During this stage, both of my boys learned to roll over during the night. Which usually resulted in a rough sleep period for our entire house. This time around, I was lucky enough to receive a DockATot, and it is AMAZING. It provides comfort, protection, and stability for baby. While my now mobile little guy certainly can roll over when he is awake and active, it keeps him pretty darn stationary while asleep. It is also amazing for when you are on the go. We throw it in the trunk and bring it to grandma's house for easy naptime, without the hassle of dangerous bed naps surrounded by pillows. We love our DockATot!

7. Perhaps this is less of a need for those in warmer climates, but we need hats every day for about six months out of the year with our babies, and these beanies are a favorite! Thick hats are great, but those little babies are toasty creatures, and these beanies are lightweight, while still being warm. They are also fitted great, so they work on newborns with a roll or two around the bottom, yet unrolled will even comfortably fit my toddler. They come in so many cute colors and styles, too! I die a thousand deaths every time I see my baby rocking a beanie. It is too cute to handle.

8. I learned quickly that the road to solid foods is different with every baby. My first was a huge baby food fan, while Lincoln will barely touch the stuff. Baby led weaning has been our process this time around, and it was really our baby's choice. Both of my boys have loved puffs, though. They are wonderful for helping with hand-eye coordination, and don't fill baby up too much, so they are nice to give when we are trying to prep dinner and can stick our little guy in his high chair with a snack! They also dissolve pretty darn quickly, so they are a great transitional tool for babies who don't quite have the ability to eat many solids, but are learning!

9. It gets cold here in the winter. And nothing is worse than trying to decide whether to let your baby freeze at night, or risk covering them with blankets, which we have all learned is a no-no. My little guy loves to be snuggly, so I was stumped for awhile. My dear friend Brittany posted on Swaddle Designs sleep sacks, and once I gave them a try, I was hooked! You zip baby up, and it is like a wearable blanket. I got the fleece versions, but the cotton versions would be wonderful during the warmer months. We have multiples, and use them without fail for every nap and bedtime. They provide security and warmth, without any of the risk!

What are some of your favorite items for your baby during this stage? There are so many products out there nowadays, and I love to hear what works for others!

*post contains affiliate links

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Little Man Holiday Looks

The holidays are upon us, and if there is one thing that I like better than shopping for myself, it is shopping for my little men. I have said it before and I will say it again, I was never very excited about clothing for little boys. So many of the options out there are so cartoon-y, covered in goofy sayings, and are just downright 'blah' to me. Once I had Jackson, though, I realized there are SO many cute options out there, they just aren't often as obvious or easy to find as girl options. I so look forward to dressing my little guys in their holiday outfits, and now that I have TWO of them and can coordinate for festivities?! Be still my boy mama heart.
I have rounded up some of my favorite little man looks for the holiday season. It is all about warm sweaters, darling button ups, and stylish pants for us, and I have included options that work whether you are dressing up for church or heading to a casual family function. Most of these looks can be found at my favorites (think Gap and Old Navy), and their Black Friday sales are incredible, so this week is the perfect time to pull together the perfect holiday looks. Enjoy and happy shopping!

Red Sweater //  Cardigan // Chinos // Fair Isle sweater // Moose Pullover // Santa Sweatshirt // Santa Joggers // Reindeer Sweatshirt // Twill Pants // Buffalo Shirt // Sweater Vest //Buffalo Hat // Deer Hat

*Affiliate links used

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Lincoln: 6 Months

Six months. Half of a year has absolutely flown by. I cannot believe our little boy has been with us for so long already, and yet I think back to last spring and how completely different our lives were and it seems like an eternity. In May when he entered this world, I had a different job, we lived with my in-laws, our house was but a frame being laid in the dirt, and Jackson had not yet started daycare. Life has changed so much, and for the most part, they have all been wonderful changes. I can only imagine how much sweeter life will continue to get in the next six months as our baby continues to grow, learn, and develop the precious little personality that is so very Lincoln.

 

Age: Six months

Height: 29 inches. 100th percentile. Huge.

Weight: 23 pounds. Still sitting right around that 100th percentile. He slowed a bit though, as he only gained one pound this month ;-) He is wearing 12 month clothing, and all new items I have been purchasing are 12-18 months, which are pretty roomy but he can pull them off (the outfit above is 12-18 months we just cuff the sleeves once). He is wearing size 4 diapers, he still fits into 3s but the 4s are much better for overnights and preventing him soaking through. He wears a size 3 shoe, but he really never actually wears shoes because he kicks them off and mama is afraid of losing them :-)
Milestones: He has truly changed SO much this month! I don't know if I have much for particular 'milestones', but overall we have just seen a HUGE shift in his temperament. He is finally content being held, at least some of the time, while we are sitting down. Up until the past few weeks, he basically demanded we walk around and bounce him a huge chunk of the time, which was wearing on everyone. He is screeching, babbling, and makes so many precious little sounds all of the time. He is still drooling up a storm. We are talking going through 5-6 bibs a day because they are totally soaked within about two hours. He is starting to enjoy Jackson a bit more ;-) They have started noticing each other in the backseat, and have started giggling back and forth. I literally cannot handle it, I have pulled over just to watch them jabber in my rearview mirror.

Sleep: He is still by no means a good sleeper, but we are seeing some progress. I recently purchased some of sleep sacks, and am totally a new believer. He rolls over in his sleep all of the time now, and while it makes me nervous, we have discussed that what is best for everyone is probably him learning to stay asleep on his stomach at this point. He is strong and mobile, and he tends to flip over and then wake up hysterical. So, if he is going to flip anyway it makes the most sense for him to learn to put himself back to sleep. However, we have always covered him with a light blanket, and with his new acrobatic moves that was just not happening anymore. He is so clearly cozy in the sleep sacks, they are warm and snuggly, and he seems to have become better with him sleep in the week since we started using it at bedtime.

We have finally started putting him to sleep in his crib again. With Jackson being next door, and a whole other battle at bedtime, it was too tricky trying to put Lincoln upstairs, because usually just as we would get him down, Jackson would make enough noise to wake him right back up. Jackson is finally at least somewhat putting himself to sleep (PRAISE!) so we braved the new bedtime routine with Lincoln, who is seriously just about at maximum capacity in his bassinet. While he hasn't slept through the night, we have had nights where he woke once and then stayed in his room the rest of the night! I am doing my best to be consistent and keep him in there as much as possible. Maybe this will be the month we finally get a full night of sleep! (if my children could read I am sure they would laugh with an evil glint in their eye at what I just said)

Best Moments: My absolute favorite moment this month has come at bedtime. With his fussiness and general upset behavior, even when holding him until he falls asleep it was always away from my body, in whatever position managed to get him to calm down. I say this what a truly heavy heart and not one bit lightly-I had never cuddled my baby. Sure, I held him all the time, he sleeps in our bed some of the time, but holding him to my chest, listening to him breathe, rocking him while his little body relaxed against mine? I do not exaggerate when I say this is something we had never experienced. And we finally had a breakthrough this past week. I was rocking him in his room and nursing him, and he fell asleep. Usually at this point I am terrified to touch or move him, and as quickly as possible get him into his crib or bassinet and cross my fingers he stays asleep. Instead, I decided to be a little risky and lifted him up onto my chest. And he snuggled right in and kept sleeping like a precious angel. I did not want to move. I sat there and savored every sweet second. And I am now finally looking forward to bedtime and those cuddles. I write this in tears in my eyes because while I have always loved my sweet boy, it has been as if there was a wall up that prevented us from ever 100% connecting. I truly cannot put into words how full my heart is having finally held my baby in my arms, content, full of love, and happy. I hope this is a corner we have fully turned, because I am loving these new moments with him.

Worst Moments: This really has been a good month, I can't think of too many 'bad' moments. He does have a cold though, so listening to his mucous coughs has not been very much fun. For whatever reason he has also been spitting up more it seems, so that always has us a bit on edge.

Health: Poor little guy has had quite the cold this month. With it has come a pretty icky cough, and some wheezy breathing. He has been pretty happy despite his cold, though! I am hoping it resolves soon because there is nothing worse than listening to your poor baby wheeze.

Eating: For whatever reason, he has really decided he does not like baby food. He outright refuses to eat fruits, especially peaches and apples. He will eat things like squash and sweet potato, but he grows tired of them quickly and then the pursed lips come out. He is at an age where I don't worry about this too much, as his nutrition still primarily comes from breast milk. However, he gets so excited when he sees food and even lunges at it, so his refusal to eat is frustrating. I am leaning towards baby led weaning at this point, even though my knowledge on it is pretty limited. I purchased this great little piece on Amazon, and it has been helping! I put in things like strawberries and bananas, and am thinking I might try out some veggies like steamed peas and carrots soon. I had similar items with Jackson but the piece for baby to chew on was mesh, and one use of bananas and I swear it was never clean again. This piece is great because it is similar to the nipple on a bottle, and it washes out with such ease! Bonus points that it comes with a little lid, so I can throw in some fruit, clip on the lid, and have it on hand if we are out and about and baby gets fussy! This weekend I even threw in some beef and macaroni casserole, and his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree after you had a taste. Every time I would take it away he practically lunged to get it back. I am thrilled that real food did not disappoint!

Teeth: No teeth yet! I am kind of hoping he gets them soon, as I recall with Jackson once those bottom teeth broke through the drooling really slowed down. My poor mother is growing pretty tired of washing 4-5 bibs a day at her house, we can barely keep up!

Likes: Giggling, the baby channel, going for walks, talking to himself, laughing at his brother, going for car rides (seriously a 180 from a few months ago, he LOVES the car!), tasting real food, gnawing on apples, being tickled, his jumparoo, his sleep sack, being thrown up in the air, when mama hugs him and goes 'squish squish squish!', when grandma says she's gonna 'get you!', watching grandma's puppy, chewing on anything and everything, grabbing things (he has great hand eye coordination).

Dislikes: When his brother sits on him, when his brother pushes his head down, basically whenever his brother tries to touch him ;-) He is not a fan of pretty much any pureed fruits (but give him all the strawberries!). He really does not like being on his tummy for long. He hates whenever mom isn't directly in his line of vision. Still not a huge fan of bathtime, but it is also not quite the end of the universe as it once was.

We love you more than words can say, sweet boy. Every day with you we learn new things, both about you, about ourselves, and about the world surrounding us. You constantly are keeping us on our toes, and I can't imagine that changing now as you grow more mobile and capable of doing things for yourself.



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The Next Breast Thing

For those of you that follow along with me, you likely know by now that my babies are on the larger side of the scale. They are both proportionate, healthy, and doing great, but boy, are they big. They are both off of the charts for their height and weight, and don't seem to be slowing down any time soon.


Needless to say, babies who grow that much eat, a lot. Here we are, over five months in with Lincoln, and sleeping through the night is a concept makes me laugh out loud, because I would do anything if we could even get it down to ONCE a night at this point. While the sleepless nights may be driving me a bit crazy, I will say that nursing makes it much easier to handle. We still have the bassinet in our room, and when Lincoln awakens, I simply pull him into bed with me, lay alongside while he nurses, and we both fall back asleep. Most of the time, I am awake no more than a few minutes for a feeding, so at least in that respect I am thankful.

Once I went back to work, we had to introduce bottles during the day. Okay, rewind. I tried introducing bottles before going back to work on a few occasions, but the little guy has gone through some rough patches, involving lots of crying and being upset all.of.the.time., and on those days the last thing we were going to do was mess with a feeding method that calmed him down. So, on my first day back to work, I dropped him off with grandma, handed her a stack of bottles, and made a dash out the front door. And he did surprisingly well. While I would not say that he took to the bottles like a fish to water, he at least was willing to drink out of them. If he was propped in the perfect position. And had a view he could enjoy. And a hand to hold. And was being bounced. I do not lie when I say that my precious boy is demanding.
So, while feeding was going okay while I was away, it was not going great. And then I came upon the Breast Flow bottles. And knew I had to try them. I have seen plenty of bottles with valves and countless parts claiming to improve flow and risk of colic, but what was different about these bottles was in the design of the nipple itself. It has a suck and compress feature, so it truly operates as a breast would during feeding. I have watched both of my babies take bottles with milk dripping down their necks because they stopped sucking, but the bottle flow did not. And while neither of my babies have had major issues with gas or colic, and therefore I have never branched out much in terms of trying bottles, I figured, why not give these a try?

And you guys, I am sold. I left these with my mom, and after his first feeding I was truthfully a bit discouraged. He was not particularly hungry, and did not seem thrilled with them, and so I thought shoot, I guess it's back to the old bottles. And then a few hours later, when he was truly hungry, I received rave text messages that he LOVED them. The biggest thing that was noticed almost immediately was that my baby truly had complete control over the flow of the milk. He has reached that age where he gets distracted during feedings, and when he decided to take a break, he was able to leave the nipple in his mouth, with no milk flow disrupting him. They have taken him a bit longer to drink than his other bottles, but that is likely because he is a) not losing an ounce that had in the past been dripping onto his neck and clothing, and b) he genuinely seems to enjoy his feedings and is taking his sweet time, because these bottles allow him to do so. In fact, since using the Breast Flow bottles, he has been falling asleep during feedings, which he has never done before!

In addition to feedings being easier, cleaning has become easier too! The nipples are very wide, and to clean them does not require special brushes, as there is enough space that ensuring all milk has been washed away is very easy to do. While it may have one more part than our old bottles, the ease of cleaning and ensuring they are completely sanitized with each wash makes it totally worth it.
Aside from nipple design, the starter kit also comes with a storage container for formula if that is your method of feeding, as well as a brush for cleaning. And, a particularly thoughtful part of the design is that the covers snap onto the bottom of the bottles! This is a lifesaver when trying to give a baby a bottle and not wanting to set down the lid on a random surface, making it one less thing for a mom with a hungry baby to have to worry about :-)
I would recommend these bottles a hundred times over. I have seen so many styles and products out there, but none that so closely reflect the real thing as these. I am still trucking along with breastfeeding, and it is a comfort to know that when I am away, my baby is receiving something as close to the real thing as possible. If I can't be there, at least I know he has the next breast thing!
Have any of you tried Breastflow bottles before? Are you thinking about giving them a try? I would love to hear your thoughts, and am happy to answer any questions that you may have!

*This post is sponsored by The First Years. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Stang&Co.

Linking up with Annie.

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Lincoln: 5 Months

This little turkey is five months old! And getting busier by the minute. While I wouldn't say he is any less demanding, he is certainly becoming fun entertainment and one smiley little guy. His baby babbles are coming out in full force, and slowly but surely him and his big brother are starting to become buddies! He has grown so much in this past month, I can't wait to see what month six has in store for us!

Wearing his jersey for his 5 month update, in honor of the Vikes going 5-0 yesterday!!

Age: Five months

Height: 28.5 inches. Still growing, still off the charts. Still huge.

Weight: 22 pounds. Again, off the charts. This boy is tall, sturdy, and soo very squishy.
Milestones: He has started rolling over from back to front! He was getting over like 90% of the way and was just stuck on his shoulder, and he was starting to get so frustrated by this. As of last weekend, he has officially started to make it all the way over, which definitely had his mama doing some cheers for him! He has started eating solids, too! In fact, he is up to eating twice a day already, because this guy gets HANGRY and so very excited when he sees food.

He is getting very good at grabbing onto things, and reaches for things that he wants. Rolling over has really helped with this, as he can now reach for things that aren't quite in reach by flipping onto his side or belly. He is SO observant, and has also discovered his reflection. He loves to flirt with himself, and he is his favorite comedian because he giggles like crazy when he watches videos of himself.

Sleep: Still terrible. The best night this month was when he made it until 2am, and then slept after that until 5am. It is pretty typical to be up around midnight, then 2ish, then 4ish. With that being said, it is not uncommon for him to fall back asleep, and this past weekend he slept in until 9am, and only woke up because his big brother broke into the room and started making noise. I keep reminding myself that they DO eventually sleep. Of course, I am still waiting for sleep to not be something we battle with his brother who is two years older..they do sleep eventually, RIGHT!?!?!?

Best Moments: He is just oh so sweet, and loves to giggle, coo, and gurgle, especially before bedtime when you can tell he is getting sleepy. It is the most precious thing to listen to, the kind of sounds you just want to bottle up and keep with you forever. Watching him learn to eat has been fun, too!

He has really taken to his jumparoo and is becoming more content to lay on the floor (when his mood is right) so for mom and dad it has been a GREAT moment to be able to do a few other things besides holding him.

The absolute BEST moment this month, though, came last weekend. This little guy is NOT a snuggler. He likes to be bounced and held when falling asleep, but even then he often would rather do a bit of fussing and put himself to sleep. However, early on Saturday morning we were up and I had the baby channel on, and he sat on my lap, little head against my chest, just content watching TV. If it is any indication of his temperament, I truly think that was the first time my baby has cuddled with me without it being for food or sleep. I sat there, closed my eyes, kissed his little cheeks, and just soaked up every second of it. I am not holding out hope for him to ever be super snuggly, but I am hoping moments like this become more frequent as he grows.

Worst Moments: Just sleep. What is sleep. Someone hold me, or hold Lincoln while I sleep. The end. We tried moving him into his crib for a few days, but I was making my way upstairs at least two times a night, and every time resulted in him ending up in our bed anyway. So, for the sake of my brain cells and being able to function as a normal human being, he is back in our room, in the bassinet he is quickly outgrowing, where I can scoop him up and nurse him in bed while I fall back asleep. There's always next month!

Health: He is a healthy little guy. He seems to have gotten a touch of the cold that mom and big brother have been sharing, but overall we have been blessed with another healthy baby. He has had plugged tear ducts since birth, and while they still give him grief, they do seem to be clearing up so hopefully the eye 'gunk' will be gone soon! There is definitely an improvement in that over the past month or so, which is great to see.

We did kind of go out on a limb and try giving him reflux medication, even though he has no physical sign of reflux. His tantrums and fussiness were getting hard to explain (he is seriously SO fussy and never content) and I knew silent reflux exists so we figured it couldn't hurt to try. And within 12 hours, everyone who was around him commented he was seriously like a different baby. SO much better. Was it truly reflux? I guess we don't know for sure, but we have definitely seen an improvement and I am so glad we made the decision to give the medicine a try!

Eating: Like a champ! He still nurses, and thanks to our new bottles (review coming later this week so stay tuned!) Eating during the day bas become a million times better with grandma. Of course, anyone who gives him a bottle must heat it to the exactly perfect temperature our mayhew will ensue. He loves pretty much all fruits, and while he doesn't seem to like veggies quite as much, he has still eaten them without much of a fight. He seems to go the most crazy over apples, but I am sure that will change as he grows. We pretty much skipped right over rice cereal, we served it up a few times and he did okay but I mean, it doesn't taste like anything. Partly because I am lazy and partly because his pediatrician told me it was okay, I don't really do much mixing with oatmeal and instead serve him the fruit straight up. I was shocked when, on only his third attempt, he put down an ENTIRE container of bananas. So I may start adding back in the cereal just to fill him up because he is now eating two containers of baby food every day and seems eager for more. My growing boy!

Teeth: None yet, but his bottom gums have the appearance of teeth being not too far beneath the surface, so I am thinking they will be breaking through fairly soon. He loves to chew on EVERYTHING and thinks having his gums massaged is the greatest. Those babies can't be far away from making their appearance.

Likes: Playing in his jumparoo, or mobile car while at grandma's house. He loves to watch his big brother play, and is just a snoopy little thing, always listening in on conversations. He loves attention from pretty much anyone, whether it be mommy, daddy, or a complete stranger. He is a big fan of diaper changes, and gets super excited when he gets taken out of his clothes and is allowed to hang out in nothing but a diaper in the early evening. He is a big fan of eating at all hours of the night, and also thinks that mom and dad's bed is the best place to sleep. He enjoys ceiling fans and when he is in the right mood he loves to have conversations with them. He is in love with the Baby Channel, especially Hide and Seek/Peekaboo, which was Jackson's favorite as a baby as well! His most recent LOVE has to be food; he gobbles down his apples and bananas faster than I can feed them to him!

Dislikes: Snuggling (cue the sad faces), being hit on the head by big brother, being shaken while in the jumparoo by big brother. He still is not the biggest fan of bath time, but basically just the part where I wash his face and hair, so we still save that for last ;-) He does not like being set down, or whenever people are not within eyesight. He will be happy as can be but if I get up and leave the room he will be hysterical almost immediately. He is not a fan of being held while nursing, and basically the only way I feed him is laying side by side, which makes it a bit tricky if we are out and about!


The days with this boy keep getting sweeter as his personality blossoms and those tough baby days become a bit less frequent. He is a determined, hard-headed little guy, it is clear to everyone who knows him already. It is a joy to watch him work so hard to reach his milestones and grow big and strong. He is a precious soul, and we are so lucky that he is ours!

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