What Landon wore...

Going to get our taxes done...

I often find pieces that I can mix & match plus wear multiple times!

I try to keep it very affordable and I buy many items on sale- utilize coupon codes and try my best to keep it budget friendly.

Who knew dressing little boys could be soOOoo fun!

Hat: $7.99
Sweater: $19.50
Pants: $21.50
Shoes: $4.75

Potty Training Landon- day 133!

I wanted to update on our potty training progress..

if you are interested- you can read about how we got started HERE

When Landon was about 12 weeks old, we started potty training. why??

1. because was a preschool teacher for almost 10 years and potty training could be a bitch.
2. potty training a 2+ year old can be frustrating and stressful- especially if the child is stubborn.
3. I've heard from multiple sources and read tons of articles about how introducing potty training at an early age- conditions a child that "using the toilet" is normal.

and am I a believer??

YES. YES I AM- because Landon has been successfully sitting on the toilet and doing his business for almost 19 weeks. he's only had 10-15 dirty diapers since October.


I'm not saying my kid is 100% potty trained- but I believe he prefers to poop while sitting on the toilet.

We also talk about "going poo-poo" every morning before I put him on the can. I'll say,

Before: "Landon, you PooPoo?"

During: "Landon, go poo-poo."

after: "good boy, you poo-poo"

and now- he says "poo".

When we introduced solids, I had to transition him differently because he wasn't going regularly like I liked. So after a week or two of adjustment- I decided to give him prunes with his morning oatmeal to help keep him regular.

So- you might think I'm looney for doing this- but I swear, I have a little potty training gang. Below you can check out my friends who decided to potty train as well... IT IS ADORABLE.

this is my cousin over at: http://pneebaby.blogspot.com/

This is my Girlfriend over at http://thesouthbaynewlyweds.blogspot.com/

Over The Shoulder boulder holders...

who decided that Breastfeeding shouldn't be sexy??? I mean- you spend your whole life trying to stay sexy.. collecting victoria secret bras and lace thongs- but the minute you get pregnant, all that goes out the window and suddenly, its granny panties and droopy bras.. no wonder mothers feel fuddy duddy after their babes arrive...

what is the point of getting up and getting dressed if you have to put this on...

gross.

not only are nursing bras droopy and uncomfortable, they're not even flattering.

I bought 1 nursing bra after I had Landon.

the Gilligan & O'Malley® Women's Nursing Full Coverage Lace Bra from target.

this bra was mediocre at best.

Pros: it was semi flattering with underwire for us "non-volumptious" gals.
cons: the straps are too thick to wear tank tops and it doesn't provide cleavage... and it shows when you wear low cut tops... and because i'm not a full C cup, theres always a dent.

to add insult to injury, society makes us go back to work and some idiot invented this concoction:

aww- so we can multi-task.

such bull-shit RIGHT??

and then, this little baby was introduced...

The Arden Bra- is a sophisticated 2 in 1 bra!! It was designed by Emily Ironi- a nursing mom!!

it functions as a nursing bra and a hands free pumping bra! I CANNOT WAIT FOR IT TO ARRIVE!!

for those of you who follow me- you know that my office is my car. I pump twice a day in the back seat of my car... and when I have to pump, I have to usually remove my scrub top- remove my bra and hang onto dear life- while I pump for 15 minutes... its sooOoOo frustrating that most days I pray some cop taps on my car and tells me I'm doing something illegal.


So- how do you get one?? Check out the Arden Bra Kickstarter Campaign link The Arden all-in-one bra is priced at $68 and if you purchase one now through the Kickstarter Campaign you will get it for only $58!

Support your Breastfeeding mamas!!

Losing Baby Weight and Staying Healthy

Losing baby weight is not easy.. it doesn't magically slide off on its own...

Most of you know- I was obsessed with 2 things during my pregnancy..

1. cake
2. McDonalds

but once I had Landon- I went into "GET YOUR ASS HEALTHY" mode. I didn't want to be the mom who "let herself go".. but it wasn't easy.

SO- as the 37 lbs began to shed- I did the following:

1. get some rest. Carrying a watermelon for 9 months is exhausting... pushing out that watermelon.. well- that's a different story. But- I went into full hibernation for 4 weeks per my mothers request. The minute I started labor- I was on strict orders to relax and take it easy. I wasn't to lift anything or do anything but nurse, eat and sleep for a month. It gave my body time to heal and I believe it was well worth it.

My mother, husband and mother in law did all the cleaning and cooking while I relaxed and eased into motherhood...

2. eat healthy. For my first month, I was on a strict vietnamese postpartum diet... (I'll do a post on this later) After a month of this- I moved to an all organic diet... all organic meats, veggies, fruits and grains. for a girl who ate chicken nuggets everyday- I thought I would die of starvation, but this transition was not difficult. I prepped snacks for the week to keep me fueled and it really helped. I did cut all dairy from my diet. when I do have dairy, it is organic.

3. Nurse or Pump (If you can)... I nursed Landon around the clock and still do! They say "Breast is best" and it how can you pass on burning 500 calories a day!??! 7 months and still going strong!

4. exercise- have you all met me? this word was not in my vocabulary... but after month 1- we started going on walks around the mall... at month 2- I started doing Insanity with my husband. I didn't apply myself 100%- but I did break a sweat and by month 3- I was back in my pre-pregnancy clothes. Insanity is a great work out- I really helped me tone my body and rebuild muscle tone- I was able to do it at home while landon slept and its only 45 minutes long!! By month 3, keeping up with Landon and nursing was all I needed to shed my baby weight. between month 5-7 I took a break because my wrist started to hurt... but I started up again because I wanted to continue to stay stronger.

5. Think positive... Stay Positive... believe in yourself!!

Landon is 7 Months!

Oh Little man!! He's getting so BIG so FAST!! I wish there was a little pause button to put him on hold!! He's sooo much fun lately and SOOOO very active! He's been a JOY and I can't get enough of him!!

Weight:

At 6 months 22 days he weighed 18lbs 9 oz placing him at 55%. his head circumference is 43.9 cm- 42% and he is 27.5" long- 71%. We won't be seeing his Doctor until his 9 month appointment but he feel pretty sturdy.

Health:

Flu season is here and he's been really holding up strong! We survived traveling to Pennsylvania without any sniffles and I hope we can make it to hawaii next month without any issues as well!

Sleep:

He is tired by 6:30 every night. We have a night time routine.
6:00 dinner
6:30 bath
6:45 lotion, hair brushed, diaper
6:50 2 books.. 1 regular 1 pop up
7:00 7oz bottle of breast milk
7:10 we say good night- place him in bed and give him a paci and some pats
7:18... asleep.

sometimes he will fuss a little bit but he's sleeping til 3/4am and then back down again until 6:30 am... he wakes up super happy and some mornings I bring him to bed for snuggle time... sounds like a bad idea, but it WE all LOVE IT!!

Clothes:

Jammies: 9 months
Everything else is 6-12 months

WE LOVE dressing him! He's such a handsome guy so i can put him in cute little baby clothes and he looks great- but its soOOoo much fun dressing him like his dad.

Diet:
is there anything he won't eat? we are moving away from purees and moving towards baby led weaning... whatever he's eating- I must admit, he has a very STRONG belly. Somedays- his lips are SEALED and I can't even get a spoon into his mouth! We've added: Cauliflower, broccoli, white/black/kidney beans, tofu, chicken, and egg yokes.

Development:

WOW- what a month. Besides rolling around EVERYWHERE, he can high five, wave hello, clap his hands, he's started CRAWLING!!! seriously- he IS CRAWLING and the other day he sat up by himself.. I think it happened for a few days because we were VERY confused about putting him down and turning around and he was sitting up... then I actually witnessed it happening!!

Crying:

this is not in our vocabulary... there's a little fussing here and there but tears are rare. There is however.. this noise he makes... it sounds like a dying seal sunbathing in winter... its painful to hear... and it comes out when he's around my husband and my mom... his ped warned us that he would start discovering voice... and his dad acknowledged this strange noise- so lucky him. lol.

postpartum:

I feel really repetitive with this second.. So I'll retire it.. the only thing is.. the shedding is getting a little intense. My hair is already thin- is STILL shedding. fml.


Oh my love, you're a joy. You're amazing and so sweet! I love your big bear hugs and I'm obsessed with you!!

Landon's Rings in 2013!! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year.. 2012 was amazing.. I CANNOT wait to see what 2013 has in store!!

Our New year was pretty quiet. He went to bed at 9:30ish after you opened all his presents from my family- then my hubby and I snugged in bed- put on a lame movie.. he fell asleep, I finished the movie and at midnight, I woke up the hubs with a kiss...rolled over and went to bed. It was awesome.

xoxo