Easter 2014

Who else OD'd on candy this year? 

My teeth are still aching. Every year I try to give up all the sweets I constantly snack on for lent. So when Easter morning rolls around I am so ready to indulge in my sweet tooth. 

I filled Boden's Easter basket with tons of baby goodies...

It was SO adorable to watch Boden tear through his basket. His favorite present was his stuffed bunny. He tore it out of the basket and promptly smashed his face into it and chewed on the ears. He then had a death grip on it for the rest of the day...wherever he went Mr. Bunny went. :)

I now have to get back to stuffing my face with the rest of the Reese's eggs we have left...

Baby B's First Spring Day

FINALLY! We had some warmer weather last weekend! We were able to enjoy the semi warm weather outdoors and get some fresh air. Being cooped up indoors in the stale air was really getting to us. Boden has never really felt a warm breeze on his face before. He loved it!

This poor little guy lives in bibs. It's non stop drool central over here. We probably go through 5-8 bib a day just for catching all the drool. AND there still isn't any teeth in site! 

The pugs also enjoyed the warm weather! I love watching Boden squeal with laughter as he watches the pugs run around his play pen!

Baby's First Easter

I love Easter! All the pastel colors, warmer weather, fluffy bunnies, dyed Easter eggs,  and of course Easter baskets!! I can't wait to put together a basket for Boden's First Easter!

I want to keep his basket simple with small toys and gifts that are practical and useful. I want to keep Easter a day to celebrate with family and enjoy all the little things!

-Easter Basket-

I love white Easter baskets and filling them with all sorts of colorful goodies. I also order this lining to go on the inside and to personalize Boden's basket.

-Farm Plush Animals-

These little plush animals were too cute to pass up! How adorable are they! Little baby animals are perfect for Easter!

-Bunny-

This is the cutest plush bunny. And it's so soft! I can't wait to pack it into Boden's basket along with all the other goodies!

-Easter Weebles-

I always got little weebles in my Easter basket when I was a kid. They are so cute and I could always be found all day on Easter rocking these little guys on every counter and surface I could find!

-Plum Little Yums-

I can't wait to give these to Boden. He has been chowing down on every baby food we give him and I know his little teeth are about to poke through. These are the next step closer to giving him real food!

-Happy Easter, Little Critter-

We have been reading more and more recently to Boden. He usually gets a bath, bottle, book, then bed. This book was one of my favorites as a kid and I hope to start this as a tradition for Boden as he grows!

*hippity hoppity*

*Easter's on its way!*

Summer Gear for The Boy

This weather has me ready for spring & summer! It has gotten up to over 50 degrees a few times! The second it was above freezing temperatures, and acceptable to be outside with 15 layers of winter clothes, we took Boden out for a jog in the stroller. He loved it! The fresh air and little bumps in the road had him asleep in less then one block!

Not only do I love this warmer weather but spring clothes and summer bathing suites are everywhere! I couldn't help but snatch up a few summer essentials for my little man.

-Baseball T Rashguard-

-Orange Embroidered Tropical Swim Trunks-

-Colorblock Swim Trunks-

-Slip-on Sneakers-

It's time to start counting down the days until we are sippin drinks on the shores of Lake Michigan and roasting marshmallows around a beach camp fire!

St. Patty's Day Luck

We are hoping to run into lots of luck with St. Patrick's Day just around the corner! A large pot of gold would be nice!

But realistically I'll just hope for Boden's first tooth to make it's debut. It's so close..I can just barely see that little white bump poking through!

Until then..we celebrate with lots of green, gold and yummy food!

On the agenda:

-Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes-

These are SO amazing..I only allow myself to make them once a year for St. Patrick's Day. Otherwise I would be stuffing my face with them year round. (I'll post recipe later.)

-Rueben Sandwiches-

I know. Everybody always makes corned beaf and hash. I don't get it..I've never been a fan of that. So my tradition has been to slather my rueben sandwich in as much Thousand Island dressing as I possible can and pack it full of sauerkraut!

And of course an adorable green baby outfit! Boden looks so dashing in all that green!

If only Boden knew..it's not lucky him...it's lucky ME!  

Ferber Method for the Father

Well apparently babies aren't the only ones who need the Ferber Method.

Father's of your baby do too!!! 

I will just assume that we've all been there...

Baby is born, everyones happy, both parents are ecstatic for the arrival of their new bundle of joy, all sorts of family and friends come to visit, the baby is passed from loving hand to loving hand, annnnnd then every one goes home.

Suddenly there is this little tyke who screams for no reason, constantly eats, poops 5,000 times a day, and randomly sleeps. AND now there is only 2 people to deal with this life changer instead of the 15 relatives that were just over visiting. Mom has maternity leave and Dad is back to work... "See ya later honey, have a great day with the baby!"

Mom lovingly stares down at the baby and smiles..."have a great day at work babe! I'll have dinner ready when you get home!" (ha! yeah right!)

Dad comes home from work, wipes his brow, kicks his shoes off approximately 6 inches in from of the door way, and plops his butt down on the couch to relax for the evening.

Mom wants a break from her full time baby duty and Dad wants a break from his full time work day.

Well who's going to deal with the baby now!?

Ummm....both parents! But apparently dudes don't have that natural instinct to rock a crying baby, feed them a bottle, change their stinky diaper OR get up to every little peep they make at night. They have to be taught. Just like each baby has to be taught to self soothe, eat, crawl and explore the world!

And what do ya know...the Ferber Method isn't just for babies! Father's can learn from it too!

After I went back to the salon from my maternity leave I was surprisingly excited to get back to work. Although I am so glad I only started back part time because I missed my little man SO much for the 2 hours I was gone my first day. :)

Anyways, my husband had been so busy working during my maternity leave that he hadn't picked up on all the little details that Boden requires. Such as: how many ounces for his bottle, how ofter he eats, how much cereal, what kind of veggies he likes, and what each little cry means!!! Awww!!! What's a mom to do! And NO Mother/Wife wants to be that nagging gal to her man. SO...here comes the Ferber Method!!

One day I had to head to the salon, "here you go Daddy! He's all yours!" and I walked out the door! No instructions, no lists, no nothing!

I just about crapped my pants driving to work wondering what my husband was going to do.

I'm sure they both sat there and stared at each other for a good 15 minutes before moving on to some toy or bouncy chair. Needless to say, Boden and Erik survived! Ha! I win again! Erik did everything himself with NO problems. What great Daddy & Baby bonding time!

So for all you crazy Moms out there...toss that baby to the Daddy and head out for the day! Those boys will figure it out on their own! :)

Ferber Method Madness

Hush little Boden don't say a word,

Mama's going to buy you a mockingbird...

Annnnd some earmuffs for myself.

I did it. The Ferber Method. It was awful yet oh so glorious. I win!!

When we went in for Boden's 4 month check up and shots the doctor asked me how Boden was sleeping. What? Sleep? What does that mean? I have a baby that thinks a 30 minute nap is equivalent to a whole nights sleep.

He continues to ask if I put him to sleep wide awake or after he's dozed off a bit. 

I respond with "well I nurse him every night before bed and he falls asleep at the boob." What can I say..he's a boob man.

"Oh no no no you don't. Not any more! That little man needs to go to bed wide awake and self soothe!" replies my doctor. "Give it a few nights of self soothing and he will get the trick."

"Ok!" I respond...and happily skip out of the doctors office.

Well he never told me how they learn to self soothe. Waaaaaah. Waaaaaaahhh..

So we begin the Ferber Method.

Night One: 8pm: Bottle

8:30pm: Change into PJ's, rock in the glider and we sing Hush Little Baby.

8:40pm: In crib, flat on back, lower half swaddled, snuggles with security blankie, humidifier on, noise maker on, we leave the room.

10:30pm-12:35am: Wide awake, crying. Screaming because Mommy won't give in to his every wish. (Mommy joins in on the crying)

12:35am-2am: Sleeps peacefully.

2am-4:25am: Wide awake, crying. Screaming, again, because what the hell, Mommy still isn't running to my side. (Mommy, once again, joins the cry fest).

4:30am-6am: Rests his puffy little eyes and sleeps.

Night Two: 8pm: Bottle

8:30pm: Change into PJ's, rock in the glider and we sing Hush Little Baby.

8:40pm: In crib, flat on back, lower half swaddled, snuggles with security blankie, humidifier on, noise maker on, we leave the room.

12:30am-1:25am: Wide awake and having a cry/pity party in the crib.

1:30am-4am: Sound asleep.....ahhhhhh finally

4am-4:30am: "I'm awaaaaake Mommy! Waaaaaahhhhh!!!"

4:30am-7am: zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

Night Three: 8pm: Bottle

8:30pm: Change into PJ's, rock in the glider and we sing Hush Little Baby.

8:40pm: In crib, flat on back, lower half swaddled, snuggles with security blankie, humidifier on, noise maker on, we leave the room.

2am-2:15am: Talks to himself in the crib and blows some bubbles to kill time.

2:15am-6:30am: Dreams peacefully...nighty night.

Night Four: 8pm: Bottle

8:30pm: Change into PJ's, rock in the glider and we sing Hush Little Baby.

8:40pm: In crib, flat on back, lower half swaddled, snuggles with security blankie, humidifier on, noise maker on, we leave the room.

8:40pm-6:30am: Sweet sweet sleep. For Mama and Baby.

I swear that first night was almost as difficult as labor. It was awful! Non-stop crying allllll night. But it was so worth it. Boden now sleeps through the night. He might get up once or twice to check out his feet, snuggle his blankie, or have a one way conversation with himself. But no crying. He can put himself back to sleep..no bottle, no rocking, no diaper change, no nothing! The difference it has made in my day is amaaazing. I'm no longer tired, my patience levels are normal once again, and I can hold a conversation past 6pm without falling asleep!

At first I thought the Ferber Method sounded cruel but after hearing from countless people that it worked I had to give it a try. It's so worth it and it was definitely worth one night of screaming for many many more nights of peaceful sleep!!!