Holiday Gift Guide 2013: For the Babes

To follow our baby giveaway from yesterday, here are a few of my favorite lovely things for the baby in your life:

Leather Moccasins ($60) | Natural Squish Toy ($13.29) | Teething Rings ($15) | Ergobaby Carrier ($195) | Animal Friends Rattles ($12) | Onesie Gift Set ($25) | Wooden Hedgehog Shaker ($9.95) | Leather Blucher ($35.90) | Knit Bird Rattle ($24) | Bow Headband ($14) | Organic Clouds Baby Blanket ($42) | Stripe Baby Wrap ($65) | Wooden Fox Teether ($12) | Knotted Headbands Set | Swaddle Blankets Set ($34.95)

Initial Embroidery Hoop ($36) | Wooden Fish Rattle ($22) | Fox Terrycloth Bath Mitts ($22) | Pirate Rattle Set ($98) | Baby Swing ($183) | Classic Wooden Bead Toy ($15) | Minnetonka Moccasin Booties ($19.95) | Knit Dog Musicbox ($32) | Wooden Stacking Toy ($40) | Striped Booties ($16.95) | Crochet Fox Ball ($34.95) | Organic Clouds Blanket ($48) | Knit Crown ($42) | Hello Onesie ($18) | Yay Shirt

Don't forget to enter the giveaway and in case you missed it, here are my favorite gifts for little artists! xo, Lauren

P.S. My favorite baby gifts from 2012  and my baby wish lists.

Featured: 

Little Hip Squeaks

Little Hip Squeaks believes that kids are fun, and their clothes should be, too! Our aesthetic is for of bright colors and bold prints, with modern babies, tots and kiddos in mind. 

Juniper Wilde

Juniper Wilde began in 2010 when Owner and Designer Nicole VandenToorn gave birth to her first son. She was unable to find organic, eco-frientdy nursery decor that fit her own rustic/modern aesthetic. Being a trained designer it seemed only natural for her to take on the project herself. That's where is all began and from there a passion was born, soon to be followed by an Etsy shop! Nicole designs all of the fabrics for her collection and they are used exclusively for Juniper Wilde. All of the products are organic and the inks used in the printing process are non-toxic and eco-friendly, which makes Juniper Wilde items perfect for snuggling the style-savvy littles in our lives.

Egg-A-Go-Go 

The whole Egg-A-Go-Go product line is painted, designed and printed by Sarah in Boston. From tiny watercolor paintings on clay to screenprinted clothing and from clever cards to cute postcard sets, Sarah hopes to make things that make people happy and to bring appreciation to small and often-overlooked wonders.

Busy Bonnie Bee

Busy Bonnie Bee grew like a magic mushroom out of my crafts and crafty works that had started to accumulate over the years. As my kids were born and grew, I enjoyed dressing them in this and that, and I'm still tickled when they wear my clothes or when someone compliments their clothing and it's something I've made. My philosophy of creating clothes and toys is to have fun and love what I am making.

Koukku

I am a 34 years old, and I am very proud to say that I was the first one to bring crochet nursing items to Etsy. It was a fantastic creative process five years ago. My hobby and Etsy customers literally saved my life in 2011. I had to spend two weeks in the hospital and deliver my second daughter after six months of pregnancy. She didn't make it. I almost lost my life too. It was my Etsy shop that helped me to survive. I received orders and lovely feedback every day, so I just kept crocheting and my husband was my personal postman. And we made it. Day by day, our first daughter kept us busy as well and we are okay now.

I am working on an art deco collection for women and girls and hope to launch in 2014.

My Everyday: How We Do the Grocery Store

My phone decided to freak out on me and I can't access any of my photos at the moment, so instead here's a fun one that my girlfriend snapped of me at the park - Violet had a meltdown (she was tired, had a cold, and it was miserably hot and sunny), we were a fair distance from the car, and she was refusing to walk, so I borrowed my friend's Ergo carrier, strapped Violet onto my back, and made a dash for the car. NOT how we do the grocery store (I'm not insane I swear!) Here's how we actually do the grocery store...

After I had Lucy I quickly realized that running simple errands was now going to take some serious strategizing. Luckily Kev does a lot of our grocery shopping now (thanks honey!), but on occasion I have to get groceries. On those days here's what we do:

Lucy goes in the Ergo carrier. Our grocery store does provide carts onto which you can safely strap your car seat, but then Violet is forced to walk and I have to lug the car seat up to the store and hunt for those particular carts which are not always in the same spot, gah! So we've given up on that and just keep it simple with the Ergo. Violet either walks or goes in the cart. She always wants the car cart (does your grocery store have those? That thing that seems like a cute idea before you become a parent, but then you realize that the thing is seriously like driving a tractor trailer?) Now that I have two kids I've learned that I just have to say no for my own sanity. I also take advantage of the deli kiosk - it saves so. much. time. I go there first, punch in my deli order, and come back after I've done the rest of my shopping to pick up my lunchmeat and cheese. It seriously shaves at least ten minutes off of my shopping trip!

Since they've both gotten older and I've gotten more experienced with juggling two kids the grocery store has gotten a lot easier, but when Lucy was a newborn and Violet had just turned three, there were some seriously trying times. On one particular occasion I was completely exhausted when I left the store - Violet had had a couple of tantrums (she was newly three and had a tough time adjusting to sharing me right after I had Lucy), I was still sore from giving birth, had sprinted to the restroom twice carrying both of them (toddler pee emergency!), Violet had spilled her snack all over the floor in one of the aisles, and I was incredibly sleep deprived. I just wanted to cry as I was finally putting my grouchy preschooler, fussing infant, and giant cart full of groceries into the car, when a sweet older woman came up and gave me a smile and a knowing look. She said, "I know how tired you must be sweetie - let me take that cart back to the store for you." It was such a small gesture, but it made such a difference. Amazing how one small, kind gesture from a stranger can completely change your day for the better!

And here's how some of my favorite blogging mamas do the grocery store:

Dani of Sometimes Sweet:

How I do the grocery store has drastically changed in the past two months with the birth of my second son. Now, it's all about planning ahead (put the baby in the wrap, get my oldest out of the car, put him in the cart, plan ahead in case of a toddler meltdown or other bump in the road...). At first it was challenging but now juggling two kids and six grocery bags has become my new (crazy) normal. I am in awe of the mamas who do it with three or more little ones!

And Drea of OhDearDrea:

The grocery is easy for us. Every other week we pick up a share of vegetables at a stranger's house (not as creepy as it sounds), and the other weeks we grab a sweater for the air conditioned and chilly Whole Foods and plop down in a cart. Sometimes we snack, usually we don't. And Marlowe ALWAYS helps to unload the cart - it's a must. 

Thanks ladies! I can so relate to the sweater - it's a must for us too, our grocery store is seriously like a refrigerator! What's up with that? If you want to read more of Dani's writing, here is one of my favorite recent posts from her blog about adjusting to two kids, and a genius idea from Drea for when you have to be away from your little ones. If you've written a post about doing the grocery store/Target/something similar with your little ones you can link up here (or just leave a comment as usual!):



And here's the schedule for the rest of the series if you want to play along:

• Wed Nov 13th - Typical Lunch
• Wed Nov 20th - Naptime
• Dec 4th - Favorite Holiday Traditions
• Wed Dec 11th - Favorite toys
• Wed Jan 15th - Getting the chores done
• Wed Jan 29th -Typical Dinner 
• Wed Feb 12th - Arts & Crafts
• Wed Feb 26th - Bedtime

P.S. My Everyday Stories We're Reading and my Mom Uniform.

10 Best Babywearing Costumes

Hi all! Just wanted to pop in to let you know that I'm sharing my ten favorite babywearing costumes over on the Ergobaby blog today! Pop on over if you'd like to check it out. xo, Lauren

P.S. Isn't this Harry Potter baby just adorable? You can actually purchase this costume over on MammasMilk on Etsy.

Beach with a Babe

We're thinking of taking a day trip to the beach (I wanted to go longer, but Kevin thinks it will be a big hassle with the baby). Plus we are trying to save money with me being off work, so I guess a day trip is better than nothing! We've taken Violet to the beach as a toddler but I've never been to the beach with an infant. I've been trying to think of everything we might need...

1. I'm thinking some sort of sun shade is in order. Although there are some really amazing sunscreens out there, I've read that you shouldn't use sunscreen on babies younger than six months. So an umbrella or tent/cabana is going to be necessary to keep the rays off that baby-fresh skin. I love that this cabana is made using UPF 50 fabric and folds up for easy transport. (These sunscreen wipes look really convenient - might have to snag a pack for Violet!)

2. Something to carry the babe in. I don't think pushing a stroller over the sand sounds like much fun to me, so I'd probably bring our Ergobaby carrier, and a beach-y bag to carry all of those teeny weeny baby things.

3. And, of course, cute swimwear, water-friendly footwear, a floppy hat for some extra sun shade, stylin' sunnies, and some colorful toys to entertain the babe and the toddler. These cloth swim diapers are super cute too, and UPF 50 fabric for that little bum!

4. Speaking of baby bums, I've heard that a little baby powder helps take the sand right off of your skin. Is that true? Anyone know from experience? If so I'm definitely stocking up on some before we go.

Anyone have any advice? Like I said, we're babe-at-the-beach novices here. Thanks so much! xo, Lauren

Favorite {Baby} Things Giveaway - Last Day!

It's giveaway time! To thank you all for visiting A Lovely Lark and helping me to stay home with my girls a little bit longer, I've put away a giveaway of some of my favorite baby products. One lucky reader will win 1. $100 credit toward Birth Announcements or Nursery Art from Minted, 2. $35 store credit to Little Hip Squeaks, 3. Four-Pack of Classic Aden + Anais swaddles in one of their newest prints, 4. Virginia Johnson Crib Bedding Set, 5. Baby Moccasins from Freshly Picked, 6. A sweet little Crocheted Cloud Cushion, 7. Sleep Gown from Tadpoles, 8. Set of Glass Bottles (two 8-ounce and two 4-ounce) and Bottle Sleeves, Gia Nursing Pillow and Cover from Dr. Brown's, and 9. Organic Ergobaby Carrier in Lattice Print. That's a total retail value of over $600!

Here's how you can enter:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

A big thank you to our giveaway sponsors! Show them some love:

Minted: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Pinterest
Little Hip Squeaks: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Instagram
Aden + Anais: Website . Facebook . Twitter
Freshly Picked: Website . Facebook . Twitter . Instagram . Pinterest
Tadpoles Bedding: Website . Facebook . Twitter
Dr. Brown's Baby: Website . Facebook . Pinterest


This one's open to U.S. residents only, and it will run through Friday 6/28/13. Good luck and thanks for reading A Lovely Lark! xo, Lauren

Friday Favorites

Here are a few of my favorite moments from our life lately according to my Instagram feed:

Life has been full of its ups and downs lately, but luckily mostly the former. My girls are completely in love with one another, there is literally no end to the kisses, snuggles, and hugs that Miss Lucy gets from her big sister each day. I'm so happy for both of them - having a sister myself I know how special that relationship is and will be for the rest of their lives. It's like having a best friend for life no matter what.

At the same time, Violet has been having a difficult time adjusting to the fact that I'm not available to her at every moment. I thought that being home from work would help her to be a little more independent of me, but she really seems to be feeling a lot of stress and I'm not sure how to help her. After a particularly challenging day, I was surfing the web and came across this post which talked about how we start expecting more of our older child when we have a new baby, but really they're still just a baby too and need us just as much if not more. Luckily Lucy is a champion sleeper and my mom has been helping out a lot, so I do get a lot of time with Violet throughout the day to play, although my house and this space have been feeling neglected for sure. (Any tips on keeping your house decently clean with two little ones? It feels somewhat impossible at the moment!)

The other evening Lucy had just eaten and was having a long snooze with her papa, so Violet and I snuck off to the park together. It was a gorgeous evening - the perfect temperature, the smell of wood burning in the air (always reminds me of camping!) and we had a wonderful time. It felt so good to get out with just her, and not with the baby in the carrier.

Speaking of baby carriers, we tried out our new Ergobaby carrier with the infant insert this week and Lucy loves it! We used it three times and each time she fell right to sleep. Lucy had another first as well - her first bottle of mama's milk! Violet has been itching to feed her ever since she was born, and her and Lucy both did a great job. It's hard to motivate myself to pump with everything else that is going on, but it is nice to have a small supply frozen in case of an emergency. It gives me peace of mind, so definitely worth the extra time it takes.

If you'd like to see more photos of our daily happenings you can follow along on Instagram here.

Happy Friday!

xo, Lauren

Baby Wish List No. 003

When Violet was an infant, the Moby wrap was one of my best friends. She loved it, and I was able to have her snuggled close to me and still get things done around the house. We never quite got the hang of nursing in it, but she slept in it, went on walks in it, and just hung out. For the new bambino, I'd love to continue to use the Moby but have other 'baby wearing' options as well. The Sakura Bloom ring sling has always interested me - it's gorgeous and seems like it would be great for warmer weather. Sometimes the Moby wrap would get a little hot for both of us. And the Ergo carrier seems like it would be a great option that both Kevin and I could use.

On the downside they are both fairly expensive and I don't have a store nearby that I could visit to try one out ahead of time. Does anyone have experience with either of these carriers? Or did you use another carrier that you liked with your baby? I'd love to hear about your experience! You were all so helpful with the Lifefactory bottles - I loved reading all of your comments! xo, Lauren

Baby Wish List posts are generously sponsored by the online baby registry, BabyList - put anything on your baby registry from any store. It's as easy to use as Pinterest, because making your baby registry should be fun!

Supermom: Bridget Hunt of Tales of Me and the Husband

 Bridget Hunt - Tales of Me and the Husband

This week's Supermom is Bridget Hunt of Tales of Me and the Husband! Bridget became stepmom to four kids when she married her husband and she recently became mom to her very own little one, Parker, in July. While I know being a mom is one of the hardest jobs in the world, I've got a feeling being a stepmom is even harder! Read on to find out more about this week's Supermom:


I've always loved writing--it's the English major in me--and I found myself a bit swamped by my new(ish) life as stepmom.  I needed an outlet in the worst way.  On top of that, I saw Stephanie Nielson of the NieNie Dialogues on Oprah, became fascinated by her story, and checked out her blog as soon as the show was over.  I fell in love and thought blogging was really cool.  Thus, my blog was born. Two and a half years later, I'm sometimes surprised at the places it's brought me... in particular, actual friends that I met through the whole thing!

Probably laughing with the kids.  Lindsey is so funny these days and she really "gets it" (humor-wise). And Parker, oh that smooshy Parker... when I hear him on the monitor, I run upstairs to get him.  As soon as he sees me he gives me the biggest smile.  He always wakes happy and I like to think that's telling of his personality (ohhhh but time will tell!).  

For me it was probably getting over myself and becoming selfless.  With kids, it's really all about them. Selfish me took some time to get used to that!

1. Beco Gemini Carrier

2. Aden + Anais Swaddles

3. Summer Infant Portable Video Monitor -  With that last one, I felt like a total cheeseball.  Who needs to SEE THEIR BABY ALL THE TIME while they sleep?  But it has given me SUCH peace of mind. While I used to go upstairs every 15 minutes or so to see the rise and fall of his chest while he was sleeping, now I just click on the video.  It's the best.

For toddlers??  Gosh.  Crayons and a coloring book.  That can provide endless entertainment--at least for the girls!  Parker isn't a toddler yet, but I know this will come in handy then too (and already has): the City Select Baby Jogger stroller.  Love it.  And the carrier... I know, overlap, but it'll continue coming in good use especially when he's on-the-go and I can keep him stationary in it! 

1. FOOD.  I am a ravenous nursing mother and always want quick-eats which often are unhealthy ones. Pasta salads with fresh veggies, fruit, quiche, yogurt

2. My camera.  I have gone very few days without using it at all. 

3. The vacuum.  Here's why: sometimes it's the best for putting a restless babe to sleep (white noise!) and you can actually GET STUFF DONE (you know, using it to actually do its job of vacuuming) at the same time.

I don't.  There are nights when dinner is Trader Joes chicken nuggets or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!  And days where I felt like I was too "absent" on the computer or doing chores.  While the productive days are some of my favorites, I try to give myself lee-way for those other days too.  But then, sometimes, the mom-guilt sets in... 

Above all else, tell your kids you love them.  It covers a multitude of sins. 

Gosh, probably my Mom.  Cliche?  Sure.  But, she's pretty great.

Thanks so much to Bridget for your thoughts and advice! I second the vacuum advice (or the vent fan in the kitchen) - it's the only way we could get Violet to sleep for a while! See more of Bridget on her blog here.


xo, Lauren

For Babies & New Mamas - Christmas Gift Guide 2011

Clockwise from top left: Pom Blankets, Organic Striped Booties, Eat Sleep Poop, Orfeo Bloom Rattle, IGLU Wooden Play Gym, Striped Bodysuit, lifefactory Bottles, Knit Rattle, Knit Pom Booties, Wooden Crochet Teether, Birth Print, Gizmine Humidifier, Donna Wilson Plush, Sakura Bloom Sling

Little Traveler

Although we haven't done much traveling with Violet, I always perk up when I see a product for traveling with a baby. You see, my sister lives in Australia, and I'm hoping that she does a LOT of traveling when she has a baby (namely to come and see me). Here are a few great products I've come across that will hopefully help to make for smooth travels with your little bundle of joy:

1. Travel-Tot Travel Childproofing Kit
2. The First Years On-the-Go Booster Seat
3. Moby Wrap
4. Baby Bjorn Travel Crib Light
5. Mountain Buggy Nest Bed
6. Travel 2-in-1 by Delta Baby

Do you have any favorite products or tips for traveling with a baby? I'd love to hear them!

Randoms from Our Weekend

Here are a few random photos from our weekend:

I decided to try wearing Violet on my back for the first time in the Beco carrier. I hadn't done it before because first she just seemed to small, and then she got into a hair-pulling phase. Now seemed like the right time, and guess what - she loved it!

In other news, our family had a crab feast this weekend. I'm not a fan, but the Hubster dug right in. I don't think the taste justifies the horror of ripping apart something this disgusting-looking piece by piece, but that's just me:

 

I did, however, very much enjoy the rest of the food. When it was time for dessert the Hubster asked if I preferred strawberry cake or cheesecake. I had one of each, of course! It was great to hang out with family on such a perfect summer day - baby pools, bubbles, badminton, horseshoes, and general lounging about were just a few of the activities that too place.

In cat news, Charlie thinks he is a hunter and has claimed this (faux) sheepskin as his own. He looked so cute laying there in all of his fluffy glory.

And last but not least, a few randoms of the babe. She has recently started imitating us a LOT. When I say 'thank you' or 'I love you' she sometimes imitates the inflection of my voice. Kind of like, 'Ah uh oooo'. It's sooo cute.

She also has a bit of an obsession with the Hubster's belly button. We eventually showed her that she, too, had a belly button, and she was thrilled. She erupted into delighted squeals and almost fell over trying to get a good look at the thing. Now when we ask, "Where's your belly button?" she pulls up her shirt and points at it. I die every time. You have to beware if you ask though - she will usually want to see your belly button as well! After she learned that my parents also taught her where her nose was. When she points to it her finger usually ends up in a nostril. I mean, it's just the perfect resting spot for those chubby little fingers, right?

Oh this little girl gets cuter every day. It doesn't seem possible as every day I think she must be the cutest person on Earth, but every day she manages to raise the cuteness bar. It's set pretty high, so sorry to any of you out there who were hoping to steal the title - I don't think it's gonna happen.

Hope you all had a great weekend as well! If you entered the Tea Collection giveaway, stay tuned - a winner will be announced shortly...good luck!

Beco vs. Ergo

So in part one of our search for a structured carrier, we tried out the Bjorn and decided that although Violet liked it, we didn't want to start scheduling regular visits with a chiropractor. In round two, we compared the Beco carrier with the Ergo.

Appearance:
We definitely preferred the streamlined look of the Beco carrier to the slightly more bulky appearance of the Ergo.

Ergonomics:
Both carriers have a waist strap (unlike the Bjorn), which makes them much better on the back. I would compare these more to a hikers backpack and the Bjorn to a Jansport - which would you rather use to carry ten plus pounds?

Cost: 
Comparable to one another with the Beco coming in at $140 and the Ergo at $120 respectively. Definitely more expensive than the $76 Bjorn, but we figured that those chiropractor visits would make the Bjorn infinitely more expensive in the long run anyway.

Baby Comfort:
Both carriers have an available infant insert, which Violet would need, but while the Beco's was included, the Ergo's was separate at an additional $25, making the prices almost exactly equal.  The Ergo infant insert, while comfortable-looking, seemed to add additional bulk to the carrier, while the Beco's did not.

Length of Use:
Both carriers have both a front and back carry option, which meant they would be useful much longer than the front-carry only Bjorn.

In the end I think we would have been happy with either but decided to go with the more streamlined and compact Beco. We couldn't be happier with our decision, as both Violet and our backs love it!

We try to take Violet for a daily walk in the evenings, and she loves to look up at the trees and sky. Most of the time she falls asleep in the carrier before we make it back to the H-Haus, which is no small feat, as she is a sleep-fighting champ!

Do you own a structured baby carrier like the Ergo or Beco? 
We'd love to hear your opinion on it!

Bjorn vs. Beco

So even though my Moby wrap was great, it's a little too hot for the summer. Even with our window-unit air conditioners, the H-Haus is comfortable, but not cool. We decided for both indoor and outdoor use we needed a cooler (temperature-wise that is) carrier. We started out by looking at the three major ones - the Ergo, the Bjorn, and the Beco.

Because we weren't sure if Violet would even like this more structured type of carrier, we decided to purchase the inexpensive and readily available Bjorn from Babies R Us and try it out before proceeding any further:

They assured us that we could return it if she didn't like it, so that put our minds at ease. It was relatively inexpensive at $76 and seemed to be nice and compact. The Bjorn has two straps that go over your shoulders and criss cross in the back, and it can be used as a front facing in and front facing out carrier.

There was no infant insert, which we were unsure about, as Violet was still only a month and a half old. When we tried it out, it was very easy to put on (basically like a Jansport backpack that you wear backwards.) And getting Violet in was a breeze as well. The front of the carrier opens on one side, you place her legs and arms into the carrier, and then close the side.

Violet seemed to be very comfortable and even fell asleep in the carrier! BUT there was one major problem. It was horrible on my back, neck, and shoulders after only about half an hour of use. Fail. (But at least we knew that Violet liked it.) So we decided to return the Bjorn and as promised, BRU took it back and refunded our money. Sorry Bjorn - Violet loved you, but we all know that if mama ain't happy,  ain't nobody happy.

That closes the Bjorn chapter of our structured carrier search. Stay tuned for Bjorn v. Beco Part Deux next week!

Violet - 2 Months

Yesterday, Violet turned two months old! It flies by so fast - I feel like I can't take enough pictures, videos, and mental snapshots of her cuteness. At the same time, it's hard to remember a time when I didn't have her. Work, leisure time, sleeping as long as I want - it all seems like a distant memory. She is definitely my whole life, and I love her so much it hurts!

This beautiful blanket was crocheted with love for Miss Violet by her Great Aunt Carol. Other than my baby blankets, this is the first baby blanket she received after we announced that we were pregnant.

[And as you can see, we did much better with the onesie this time around. We switched from Gerber brand, which are wide but not nearly long enough, to Miniwear, which fit her perfectly. She is in 3 month clothing at this point, but even a Gerber 3-6 month size wouldn't be nearly long enough for our babe!]

Cute things Violet is doing at two months (along with lots of sleepy pictures):

• She smiles ALL of the time. Especially if you smile at her first. She even does this cute thing where if I smile at her, she'll smile and turn her head like she's being shy. 

• Talking up a storm! She 'oh's', 'goo's', and 'gah's'. We have the longest conversations. I'm not always sure what they're about, but I love girl talk with my baby. 

• Rolling on her side. For a few weeks, she HAD to be on her side to sleep. We'd lay her on her back, she'd squirm for a while in her sleep, and she'd end up on her side. Lately she's been sleeping on her back again, but she still enjoys rolling from time to time.

• Holding her head up and turning it from side to side. She does this especially when we go on walks outside. She loves her Beco carrier because it allows her to look around at the world. Trees are her absolute favorite - she's always looking up at them. 

• Still growing like crazy! At her one month appointment she weighed 10 pounds, 9 ounces and was in the 90th percentile for both height and weight. She has been in 3 month clothing since she was a little over a month old and is almost out of it...3-6, here we come! I can't wait to see how much she weighs at her two month appointment.

• Fights sleep and is sleepy all of the time. I miss the newborn days where she would just 'fall' asleep when she was tired. Now she fights it like a champ. She squirms, thrashes, anything to stay awake. But she is SO sleepy and cranky at the same time. We have to rock her, walk her, or bounce her to sleep most days now. If all else fails, I can lay down with her and she'll usually go right to sleep. This is probably good for me to get some much needed Mommy rest anyway.

I love her so much and I'm trying so hard to soak up every moment, from the wonderful ones to the tired and cranky ones. She changes so much from day to day and is growing up so fast. Thank goodness for digital cameras - I take a ridiculous amount of photos and videos. Stay tuned for some cute videos of baby babble, sleep suckling, and more!