Our Valentine's Traditions

I am so excited today to be participating in a link-up that a few of my favorite bloggers are all hosting! On the second Thursday of every month, we will be writing on a different topic, and this week, it is our Valentine's Day traditions!

I will be honest, I have never been huge into Valentine's Day. Back in my high school days, I had a boyfriend who took me out to eat, and I hated it! The lines were outrageous, the menu items were cut down to accommodate the busy kitchen, and we were rushed in and out so the next people could have our table. I found nothing about this to be romantic, and since have always stuck around the house for the holiday!

Due to our constantly changing family and housing dynamics over the past few years, we don't really have any hard and fast traditions for Valentine's Day. There are a few things I try to do every year, especially now that we have kids.

My absolute favorite thing to do during Valentine's Day is to create cutout heart sugar cookies. A fun backstory, I found out I was pregnant right around Christmas of 2013. Of course, the news was fresh so we kept it to ourselves throughout the holidays, minus our parents. But, I hit that 12 week mark right on Valentine's Day, so I figured it would be the perfect time to let the cat out of the bag! I frosted all of the hearts and made them look like sweetheart candies, and put a big white letter on each individual cookie before snapping a pic to share with our family.

Since then, I really look forward to making these every year, and cannot believe the time has flown so quickly and we will be able to start making our cookies with that little baby we didn't even know yet in this announcement!

For other little traditions, when our kids and schedules allow, Mike and I have cooked meals together, which can be so much fun. Of course, we really aren't in that season of life this year, so I am leaning towards perhaps a heart shaped pizza for dinner ;-)

For the boys, I bought each a little gift and plan to give that to them on the day. Nothing big or crazy, but I did grow up always having even the little holidays recognized in some way, and I think it makes those little moments so special!

 

I can't wait to see what everyone else does as their Valentine's Day traditions!

 

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Sound Sleep with Dockatot

I have been pretty open and honest about life since we welcomed our second baby boy back in May. I love my life and my boys, but we had many long and hard days, followed by long and sleepless nights. Not only did Lincoln hate naps, but he also tended to wake up consistently throughout the night. None of us were getting any sleep.

Finally, about two months ago, we decided to pull the trigger on doing some sleep training, and boy oh boy am I glad that we did. In a matter of days, my baby who had never had a night where he didn't wake up fewer than twice was sleeping through the night. All night. Every night. It was absolutely amazing. And despite the difficult moments, it was truly worth every tear and moment of sadness to know that I am now giving my baby the conditions he needs to get solid, sound sleep so that he can fully recharge and continue to grow and thrive.

While we seem to have finally gotten some control over the sleep in our house, one consistent struggle has now become getting Lincoln to nap anywhere besides his crib. With the exception of his pack n' play at grandma's house, he has become pretty particular about where he snoozes. And, he is pretty darn particular about how he drifts off to sleep, too. He really prefers to put himself to sleep most of the time, even if it requires a bit of fussing. No rocking or cuddling for this guy!

I was so excited for the opportunity to have him sleep in a Dockatot.

My very first thought was how perfect this would be when we didn't have access to his crib. I cannot tell you how uneasy it always makes me when we end up having him take a nap on a bed when we are at the homes of others. I had gotten into the habit of stacking about fifty pillows around him and checking on him obsessively to ensure he hadn't rolled to a dangerous spot. Not only do I hate this uneasiness, but trust me when I say that I know that this is incredibly unsafe. Thanks to Dockatot, we can throw it in the car, and when he starts to get sleepy, rather than trying to create a safe sleep space when the conditions just do not lend themselves to be, I can be confident that he is laying in a safe, secure place that will keep him in one spot while he sleeps!

 

Dockatot is not only designed with the comfort of your baby in mind, but their safety as well. The fabric is 100% breathable, which provides so much relief and ease of mind for mamas of young babies. It is also non heat absorbing, meaning regulated temperatures and, again, comfort for baby. It is hypoallergenic, and a great transitional tool for babies moving from cribs to toddler beds. To have found a piece that is 100% safe for my baby, while also providing an environment where he feels comfortable and secure, is such an awesome feeling. He has napped in multiple locations that I would never have been able to get him to remain sleeping had it not been for Dockatot.

The docks come in two sizes, the Deluxe and the Grand. The Deluxe is perfect for newborn-8 months. The Grand is for 9-36 months, great for continuing with babies who have outgrown the Deluxe, or who are ready to transition to a bigger bed by providing extra comfort and security. Lincoln is a big guy, so at 8 months we went right to the Grand, and it is the perfect size for him. Of course, big brother (who is 30 months old) thinks the Dockatot is pretty cool, too, and has stolen it out of his brother's room more than once! It's a total hit in our house, all around!

 

Want $10 off of a Dockatot of your own? Shop with this code, and check out all of their adorable designs.

*This post is sponsored by Dockatot. As always all opinions 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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Weekending: Superbowl Party!

As always, the weekend flew by WAY too fast. We decided to test out our new smoker and throw a Super Bowl party yesterday, and can I just say that weekends go by MUCH faster when you spend them prepping!?

On Friday after work, we had a lazy night of pizza and a glass of wine. We knew the weekend was going to be busy, so it was about as low key as you can get!

On Saturday, we were up bright and early, because for whatever reason our kids think 4:45 is a great time to wake up lately, and made a Target run with the boys. We loaded up on stuff for Sunday, and got a diaper stash, because #momlife. Jackson cried when we left the store. A child after his mama's Target loving heart! The rest of the afternoon, I ran more errands. Has anyone ever noticed that when you have a party, it takes at least three trips to a store that you could have gotten everything at once. You always forget something! #becauseweneededkleenexesandforgotthemonthreeseparatetrips

Saturday night, we had about zero desire to cook because we knew Sunday would be spent in the kitchen, so we had shared dinosaur chicken nuggets with our toddler for dinner. We were parents of the year this weekend! The boys had baths, we got them off to bed, and I passed out on the couch. We are wild!

Mike was up at 4:30am on Sunday to get the meat put in the smoker, and the boys followed shortly after. I 'slept in' until Lincoln decided to join in on the fun at 5:15am. My 6am, I had already vacuumed the entire main floor of our house, so I guess there are some perks to waking up at the crack of dawn.

Likely due to sleep deprivation, Mike mentioned that TVs were on sale yesterday, and I finally gave him my blessing in buying one. Our mantle is huge, but our old TV was sitting on it because we knew we would eventually replace it and didn't want to waste our time mounting it. And there is no better time to buy a new TV than on the day you are having company over! Mike took off to the store, and I did some prepping in the kitchen. Once he got home, we realized quickly that the wall mount he bought wouldn't work, as our outlets are on the wall above the mantle and the mount didn't stick out far enough. SO, I loaded up Lincoln and took off to Sam's club for a different mount. Nothing like a whirling morning of TV buying!

Once I got home, Mike and his brother worked on getting the new TV set up, and I got the boys down for their naps. And we went to work prepping the rest of the food!

That rock candy is leftover from Jackson's FIRST birthday party. It's sugar, and the colors matched the cupcakes, so I figured they were still good. Probably gross, but they still tasted good!

The meat Mike made was a barbacoa pulled pork, so we decided to do a taco/burrito bar! We had fresh guacamole, cilantro lime rice, corn salsa, and a bunch of other toppings. And, because you can't do a football game without it, we had some buffalo hot dip, too! The cupcakes were courtesy of my mama (and Sam's club!)

Was anyone else just BLOWN AWAY watching that Super Bowl!!? I was kind of rooting for the Falcons, because I always want to see the underdog win. And, as our Vikings have never won a Super Bowl, I felt like I was cheering for a team that was similar. And, in true Vikings fashion, the Falcons lost what seemed to be a definite win! So heartbreaking, although fun to see the Patriots rally like they did. WOW.

We had such a fun day with family, and despite all of the work, are really loving being able to finally entertain in our own house! Now, if anyone is looking for a jumbo tub of nacho cheese, feel free to give me a call! ;-)

Linking up with Biana today!

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Friday Favorites: First of February

Happy Friday friends! I don't know about you, but I am not one bit sad to see January go. I am ready to see the days get longer, enjoy the pink and glitter of Valentine's Day, and maybe even get a unicorn day in Minnesota where the temps get into the 40s. I have high hopes for February! As always, I am linking up with my favorite ladies for some Friday fun!

1. A little sparkle

 

Mug (Target Dollar Spot) // Nail Polish
Last week, I saw this ring was marked down to $7, and decided for that price, I couldn't pass it up. I am really hesitant to try new jewelry, especially rings, but I got it in gold and am OBSESSED. It is so sparkly, and such a dainty addition. And the criss-cross design really make sit stand apart from my other rings that I wear every day. It was such a fun way to change things up a bit!

2. New Markdowns

Nordstrom just marked a bunch of new items on sale this week, and some are things I have been eyeing up for awhile! I ordered this mixed media top the second I saw it in the oatmeal color. This mock neck sweater is very similar to the one I scooped up over Christmas, and just got marked down! How adorable is this moto jacket!? We have a lot of cold days ahead of us still up here (womp womp) and would get a ton of use out of it. This v-neck sweater has been so popular, and the red color was just marked down! And while I wouldn't be wearing it anytime soon, this draped tank (from Nordstrom Rack) is absolutely gorgeous, and would look amazing paired with some white jeans come spring!

3. Reading

 

We are just touching the tip of the iceberg with potty training, but decided to approach it first by getting some books on potty training. We picked up 'Duck Goes Potty' and Jackson LOVES it. He has been waking up first thing in the morning asking to read it. And, for the first time, I have found him sitting down with the book, having memorized the words on each page and reading it to himself. Be still my mommy heart. He is growing up so fast, and while I wish I could freeze him in time, watching him learn is truly one of the greatest joys I have ever experienced.

4. Smoking

No. Not cigarettes ;-) We received a smoker from Mike's parents for Christmas, and are using it for the first time on Sunday to make some pork barbacoa for the Super Bowl! We are kind of homebodies, especially after living out of town in a very small house followed by a year of not having our own space. But, we really want to make our house a place that people are welcome, and are so excited to have both of our families over on Sunday to enjoy some food, watch the game, and crack a beer or two. I am just so excited to start making memories in our home!

5. Brothers

We had a pretty easy time adjusting Jackson to a baby brother, but he really was indifferent to Lincoln for the longest time. Lately though, every day it seems my sweet boys are loving each other a little more. Jackson has been caught giving Lincoln toys, sneaking him bites of his snacks, and oh when they giggle together. Cue all of the sappy emotions. They are really starting to act like brothers, and it just might be one of my favorite things I have ever witnessed. Those two are always my favorite!

 

I hope you all have a great weekend. Who is watching the Super Bowl?! I basically watch it for the puppy and Budweiser commercials! That one still makes me cry ;-)

Five on Friday // Oh Hey Friday! // Friday Favorites // Friday Favorites // High Five For Friday

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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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