First Night Away from the Baby

It is funny how much as parents we stress about our first night away from the baby.  As a mom you worry/prep for hours on end leading up to the big day to discover the only one traumatized by the whole event was you. So our first night away occurred last weekend when my husband and I had a wedding to attend in Philly.  Liv is five and a half months old and stayed with my sister who watches her two days a week anyways.  So, I am pretty sure Liv thought is was just another day at Aunt Bean's.  And honestly the days she is there are absolutely amazing b/c the kids entertain her and she naps 2x as long as anywhere else including our own home. Lately Liv has regressed in sleeping.  She use to sleep through the night but now she has been getting up 2-3x.  But don't you know she slept through the night for her Aunt Bean during our getaway.

Anyways, we hit the road like two carefree adults.  During our drive I didn't have to continuously climb in the backseat to find a bink or feed a baby a baba.  Added bonus we were finally using our gift card to stay at The Rittenhouse.  I doubt many first time parents get to spend their first night away at a five star hotel. Needless to say, I could get very use to the luxurious accommodations. Not only that, I don't remember the last time I was able to leisurely shower, do my hair and makeup and get dressed without stopping to tend to Liv. 

Our wedding was simply divine.  The food was impeccable and I danced the night away.  I can't lie though, we spent a good time looking at pictures and videos sent to us of Liv. The night however did not go off without a hitch.  Unbeknownst to him, my husband lost his license, credit card and our room key getting out of the cab at chruch.  Thank goodness there are still nice people in this world.  A kind soul found all his belongings on the street corner and called our hotel to notify someone.  He even went the extra mile to drive them to us at the reception venue.

Being a nursing mom can be difficult when you have events to attend sans baby.  I had planned on taking my pump to the wedding with me but it was just to much to carry.  Plus I didn't want to be the woman awkwardly sitting in a stall pumping at the reception.  So I pumped right before walking out the door for the church and then held out as long as possible before calling it a night to go back to the hotel and pump before bed.  We had a wonderful uninterrupted nights sleep and woke up nice and early to get on the road home to pick up our girl.  Could not have asked for a better first night away.

Weekend Roundup

Last Thursday, Liv sat up entirely on her own at 5.5 months old.  Well since then, it is all she wants to do.

We are still getting use to eating solid foods.  I think more ends up on her than in her mouth. But how could you get mad at that face?

Started off my Saturday with a pre-sunrise run.  It was so peaceful and serene.

She can't get enough.  I put her down for a nap and by the time I got downstairs and turned on the monitor, she was sitting up and playing.  Quite the freshy!

It was time for change. Between postpartum hair loss and Liv yanking it out herself, I had become fed up with my long hair.  I am loving my new mom do.

What it's like to be Five Months Old

I'm about a week late on this but better than never.

Liv wakes up anywhere between 6:00-7:00am.  After a morning feed, sometimes she will go back to sleep laying on her daddy but most times she is ready to play.  Depending on the day, she will either play in bed while we get ready for work, get a tubby or play in her exersaucer.  Morning naps occur for about an hour sometime around 9:30.  She is still obsessed with textures and recently has taken a liking to hardwood floors.  She is working on mastering the sit from a crawling position and gets lots of practice all day long.  She will drink somewhere between 8-14 oz in the morning and started solids foods last week.  I bought Happy Baby Stage 1 pouches and they are a big hit.  So far we have tried the Green Beans and Sweet Potatoes, which she inhales.  Also, she has taken a liking to Beech Nut - Just Apples.  I love both of these brands since they are organic and have no extra ingredients.  Liv will tell you when she is done eating b/c typically she will try and eat the spoon but when she is finished she shy's away.  However, my girl always saves some room for puffs.  Again, I have been using HappyBaby Banana Puffs.

Afternoon play might consist of rocking on all fours, playing with her piggies, jumping in her jumper or the newest phase of trying to pull herself up on things.  She isn't strong enough to actually go anywhere yet so she usually ends up biting whatever object it is instead.  We have been working on her sitting up and playing with toys.  Last week she was very wobbly but this week she sits very well.  I don't trust her to not throw herself backwards so we try to always sit behind her at this stage in the game.  Before her afternoon nap, she will get another bottle of about 4-6oz, which she can hold on her own.  Afternoon naps run from 1-3 hours depending on who is watching her that day.  She is a rockstar sleeper for my sister and seems to cat nap for the grandmothers.

We are currently waiting for her third tooth on the bottom to break thru which has meant less sleep, tears and more tylenol.  She is such a happy baby so I know something is wrong when she actually cries. Typically Liv only poops once a day and boy has it changed since starting real food.  Honestly, her poop never smelled before.  Certainly it wasn't roses but it really didn't smell bad.  Wow, it stinks now and seems to reflect the color of food she had that day.  And on a daily the now pasty poop is up her back.  So I always have an extra outfit on hand.

From the time Liv wakes up she will play until dinner around 6.  I try to feed her first so she is content playing and my husband and I can eat peacefully.  However, this isn't always the case.  Sometimes she is at the dinner table with us and I am feeding her in between my own bites.  Bedtime occurs around 7 with a 4-5oz bottle or breastfeed occurring immediately before.  I only rock with her for a few minutes b/c I read somewhere you do not want to get into the habit of rocking your child to sleep. So from the beginning I have tried to put Liv down while she is still awake and allow her to fall asleep on her own.  Again depending on the night, if she is a crazy child or overly tired, I will rock her b/c it is the only way she will fall asleep at a reasonable hour. 

The Beach with a Baby

This was our first family beach day and it couldn't have gone more swimmingly.  Randy missed Liv's first beach experience b/c he had to work, so I was happy we were there as a family this time around.  The days of just walking out the door with a surfboard and beach chair are long gone.  Convenience wise, it is much easier to spend the day at the pool, and I am guessing this is why it has taken us until August to make it down there.  With all that said, it could not have been a more beautiful day, not too hot and somewhat decent waves. Since we have to take so much to the beach these days, Randy dropped all our paraphernalia off at the steps before parking the car.  I put Liv in the Baby K'Tan Wrap so my arms were free to carry additional items.

These are my suggestions for necessities when traveling to the beach with a baby:

• Vented UV Umbrella - Don't skimp here b/c we have bought the cheap one that you constantly worry is going to blow down the beach and impale someone.
• Baby powder - Takes off sand 
• Pop Up Tent - Perfect for naps or keeping a baby quarantined so they aren't eating handfuls of sand
• Beach hat - One that straps under their chin will help keep them from pulling it off
• Rash guard - Less skin that needs sunscreen reapply
• Mini blow up pool - Cools them down and less sand eating if they stay confined to the pool

KidCo PeaPod

And I had a happy hubby who got to surf while the baby napped.

Chocolate Lasagna

For my sister's birthday last week, I wanted to make a NEW dessert.  I am guilty of cooking/baking something for the first time and then continually making it until another recipe strikes my fancy.  I have pinned so many delicious items on Pinterest and figured it was time to try one out.  To be honest, I chose the Chocolate Lasagna b/c there was no baking involved.  I needed easy and this one delivered by CenterCutCook

 There are not many ingredients required:

• Package of Oreos (Regular not Double Stuffed)
• 6 TBSP Butter
• Package of Cream Cheese
• 1/4 C Sugar
• Tub of Cool Whip
• 3.9oz Package of Choc Pudding
• Milk
• Mini Choc Chips or any small candy pieces

1. I ground up the Oreos in my blender b/c I do not have a food processor,  Melted the butter and poured over the Oreos and used a fork to bind the ingredients together. 
   
   
   
   
2. Next I made the chocolate pudding according to directions and placed in the fridge to cool.
3. For the cream cheese layer - whip the cream cheese until fluffy,  add 2 tbsp of milk and the sugar, when combined well then add a cup of Cool Whip.  Mix for additional minute.
4. Time to layer.  I used the bottom of a small measuring cup to pact down about 1 tbsp of cookie mix into each cupcake liner, Next add 1 tbsp of the cream cheese mixture and spread evenly, Followed by 1 tbsp of choc pudding and 1 tbsp of cool whip.  
5. You can top off the dessert with mini choc chips or crushed candy pieces.
   

I placed one tray in the fridge and one in the freezer and can say I thought the freezer version was much better.  It didn't fall apart as easily.

CenterCutCook also offers a second option of substituting the cream cheese layer with ice cream.  I will have to try this next time around.

1 package regular Oreo Cookies, about 36 cookies. *You will use the WHOLE cookie, cream and all! 6 tablespoons butter, melted 1-8 ounce package cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1- 12 ounce tub Cool Whip, divided (*See note about Cool Whip above) 1- 3.9 ounce package Chocolate Instant Pudding made according to package directions (You will need 2 cups of milk) 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Recipe: http://www.centercutcook.com/chocolate-lasagna-cupcakes/

1 package regular Oreo Cookies, about 36 cookies. *You will use the WHOLE cookie, cream and all! 6 tablespoons butter, melted 1-8 ounce package cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1- 12 ounce tub Cool Whip, divided (*See note about Cool Whip above) 1- 3.9 ounce package Chocolate Instant Pudding made according to package directions (You will need 2 cups of milk) 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Recipe: http://www.centercutcook.com/chocolate-lasagna-cupcakes/

Merry Go Round

We decided to Shoobie it up and head to the boardwalk Friday night for dinner and rides.  Shoobie is the term we use for out of towners, which was originally used to describe day trippers who took the train here. The train offered pre-packed lunches that came in shoe boxes hence the term.  Anyways after a long week of work, it seemed easier to hit the boards for some food and fun.  We timed the rides just right as people were still getting off the beach or going to dinner so the amusement park was pretty empty. 

First order of business was to take Liv on her first ever amusement ride, which was a total success b/c she loved it.  I think 4 tickets is a little excessive for the Merry Go Round, but seeing her happy face each time she came around was priceless.

We danced to the music while her cousins enjoyed some other rides.

Apparently I must be a very funny dancer and singer b/c she thought I was hysterical.