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Dear Hunter @ 12 months

June 7, 2018

June, 2018

Dear Hunter,

Happy Birthday!!!

I really can’t believe that you are 1 year old now.

There are moments in life that I know I will never forget, and the moment when they told us you were a boy and when I saw you, is one of them. “It’s a boy!” We really couldn’t wait for them to show you to us from behind the curtain, so we asked. It was just so exciting in the moment. Then I got to see you, and it all fell into place. You were meant to be, and meant to be in our family.

You have really been a easy, happy, joyful little boy. There have been few difficulties or moments when you were really fussy or unhappy. Of course, when you you were in daycare you were often sick but you never seemed to unhappy. Ah, my poor sick coughing boy!

Staying home with you and your sister has meant that our pockets are pretty lean, but I wouldn’t trade that in for anything right now. The every day with you really routine, but really is quite magical. I love seeing your personality develop and get to play with you and your sister. You find it hilarious to throw things

I am really proud of the fact that we have reached a year on our breastfeeding journey. After having so many struggles with your sister, I was really happy to have such an easy experience with you. The beginning was quite painful at times, but once that period passed it was quite a breeze. You still are nursing during the day, before bed, and 1x during the middle of the night, so I’ll take it upon you to let me know when you are ready to wean.

Overall, it really feels like this year has flown by way too fast. From swaddling you to get you to sleep, to just holding you on my left side and patting your back with my right hand to get you mellow out enough to rest your head on my shoulder. Or propping you up on the sofa for your monthly picture to reminding you to not try to climb over the back of it!

Throwing something is your favorite thing to do, even if it means you wack me in the face with a book. You don’t mean it to hurt, but throwing everything around is just the funnest thing ever. Dropping things from our second floor on the stairs below is also hilarious.

You still just have 2 teeth, but you make great work of all of the food you eat with them. Blueberries, banana, guac, and steak, but you’ll happily eat anything. Doing baby led weaning with you, and your sister, was the best for you guys. We love that you are so eager to eat, especially blueberries- you grunt and reach out when for them like they are the best things on earth.

One of my favorite things you do is say “hi” while you hold my phone to your ear. It’s the cutest thing! I love the voice you do while you say it- so soft and sweet.

We keep wondering when you will walk since you prefer to crawl and stand. Actually, it’s more like a football bear crawl since we got the carpet taken out of the first floor. You are so strong and fast as you crawl around and then pop up to stand and then trow something from there.

I love that the little things bring you such joy, and I am there to be able to see it.

It’s obvious to say that, I am really looking forward to seeing how you grow and develop in the weeks, months, and years ahead.

I love you.

Love, Mommy

The Ultimate Weekend Away Packing List for Babies and Toddlers

May 23, 2018

Traveling with babies doesn’t have to be tricky when you plan and pack well. This “Ultimate Weekend Away Packing List for Babies and Toddlers” printable packing list will help you prepare and have a great time on your weekend away.

We love traveling with our kids.

It can be just visiting family or on a trip – near or far.

We have done it so often that I have mastered the art of packing for our kids. (And our dogs, but that’s another story)

I can pack for an other night or for a week. Now, I can do it efficiently, with nailing the right amount of stuff needed for that time, not forgetting anything, or over packing.

I hate over packing! It just takes up really valuable space. I would rather need to re-wear something than come home from a trip with clean clothes. It’s just a pet peeve of mine. So I have studied how well I have packed from a trip and have worked on getting better at it every time.

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Our 2018 Brilliance of the Seas Cruise- Day 4: Cozumel

May 18, 2018

Our 2nd port of call on our 5 Night Western Caribbean cruise was Cozumel.

We had already been there when we did another Royal Caribbean cruise out of Tampa in 2015, but we were really looking forward to going again. When we previously went, we spent the day in the port shopping

Autumn being Autumn… upside down sunnies and eating donuts.

We planned the night before and ordered room service (Free- continental breakfast) so that the kids could have something to eat while we took our time waking up and getting ready as we cruised into port.

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The Week in Rewind #19

May 14, 2018

05.07.18- 05.13.18

Nothing says “Monday… oh, it’s you again…” than a red eye flight that arrives at 6.08am. Oooph!

The busy, fun, tiring weekend away in Seattle whooped my butt so Monday was pretty chill with the kids. At least I came home to the living room all set up again. Price worked so hard all weekend and set the furniture back up and wall mounted the TV.

I had the goal of having a more productive Tuesday, so we went to the library in the morning, but I was still so zonked from the weekend that I tricked Autumn into taking a nap with me. Except that she bailed on me at the last minute and I slept while she colored in bed next to me. Thankfully I set an alarm and we made it to gymnastics in time.

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Dear Hunter @ 11 Months

May 6, 2018

May 2018

Dear Hunter,

This past month has flown by with you!

You are cautiously trying to stand. You do it when you forget about it, but once you are realize it you sit right back down. It’s

You are also trying to to talk. I think you are closest with saying “Dada”, which is just like what Autumn started with. And you try “dog” too, but I think you’re more confused about that as we don’t say “dog” much, at least compared to saying their names. Even if you don’t say words yet, you are trying to talk all the time.

My favorite thing that you do is make funniest noises. You blow raspberries and make “la-la-la” noises with your tongue sticking out of your mouth. It’s funny looking and sounding. You drool so much when you do it and you do it so long that it’s just the funniest.

The dogs bowls are the funniest things to you. Stopping you from bee- lining from to beeline to them is so tough! I generally beat you before you get to them, but if I am too slow you slap that water with all your might soaking yourself, the floor, and the wall in the process.

You take most of your baths with Autumn. You get in first and then she hops in while I am washing you up. I try to give you guys some time to play around together, but you make a BIG mess!!! You toss everything out of the tub. I need cat like reflexes so that I can catch everything that you toss out, including the full cup of water that we use to rinse your sister’s hair.

You also make a big mess when you are eating! Well, you are clean on yourself, but you toss everything on the floor when you are done with it. “Nope, no more peas!” TOSS!!!! “Pass, I don’t want anymore hummus.” THROW!!! That’s why the dogs are chunks now.

Whenever I think about your upcoming birthday, I am taken aback by how fast it will be here. But I am really looking forward to it at the same time. Ah, it’s all the best.

Love,

Mommy

Blueberry Overnight Oats

May 1, 2018

These Blueberry Overnight Oats fun and delicious way to enjoy your breakfast oatmeal. Layer the oats with yogurt and fresh, plump blueberries for a healthy breakfast parfait.

Good morning!!!! Rise and Shine!!!!

We finished our 5th Whole30 yesterday. Woohoo!!!

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The Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Guide

April 29, 2018

Hey!!!!!! We are just 2 weeks out from Mother’s Day!!!!!

Ladies, share this round up for great gift ideas!!! Hint Hint Hint!!! Guys, pay attention!

I think that a lot of mom’s approach Mother’s Day differently. Some want to spend the day with their kids doing a fun activity. , while others want to get far, far away so they can read a book in peace while they have a mani pedi. Or maybe you kick your family out of your house so you can lay in bed all day.

Whatever you end up doing, just remember it’s you special day.

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Our 2018 Brilliance of the Seas Cruise – Day 3: Day at Sea

April 11, 2018

As much as I love days in port, I love days at sea. They are our chance to relax and enjoy the ship. We hang out in our room more than our days in port, sometimes we even get a nap in! We also walk around the ship a lot, check out the fun activities the cruise director and staff have prepared, and browse the shops. Our first day at sea was delightfully relaxing.

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Dear Hunter @ 10 Months

April 10, 2018

April 2018

Dear Hunter,

Please stop biting me.

You have recently discovered that you can bite. That you can bite me. That you enjoy it.

That’s great, but please stop. You may have just 2 teeth, but it still does hurt when you chomp down on my arm, shoulder, chin, face, and stomach. It is not funny, please stop giggling.

Okay, you can keep giggling when I tickle you, but not when you bite me. Can we make a deal?

Can we also make a deal about slowing down time?

I really can’t believe that you are already 10 months. The time has flown by. I feel like I say that every month. It just feels so unreal every time I put on your monthly milestone sticker on your onesie, grab the lion & blanket, and my camera to take pictures.

I am really glad that I document each month like this, writing you a letter so that you can look back at these when you are older and know how much I love you. How much we all love you.

It’s so easy to be head over heels in love with you as you are charming, silly, giggly, handsome, and just so adventurous. You gave me a heart attack when you climbed up the slide on the playset on the lanai. There you were, proud as can be, at the top of the slide. I never would have thought you cold have done that. So much for letting you just crawl around on the lanai while I made lunch or did the dishes. Now I need to watch you like a hawk.

You are very different than your sister, Autumn, in that regard. We didn’t need to baby proof much for her, besides a baby gate at the bottom and top of the stairs in our condo in Chelsea. She didn’t both the books and things on the bookcase, or open up kitchen cabinets, or jsut get into things.

But you, are so much trouble!

You love to get into all the different things in the cabinets and you throw them out onto the floor. Clang! Clang! Clang! You mess our piles up books up, you climb in and under things, you toss dirt out of planters. Even the baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairs annoy you and you shake them so hard, trying to open them. ha!

You are a real character, I love everything about you!

Love,

Mommy

Adventures in Honeybell Orange Picking

March 29, 2018

I grew up going apple picking, so when I moved to Florida 2 years ago, I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t get to experience the joys of getting to pick fresh fruit while living here.

But, Florida has providing me with plenty of great opportunities to get out and pick fresh fruits and vegetables, just not apples. While I miss getting to pick apples, I have enjoyed picking tomatoes, blueberries, and strawberries. Now I can add picking oranges to the list.

We recently went to Dooley Groves, about a 20 minute drive from our house.

Dooley Groves is a family owned grove that was started in the 1960’s. They offer a wide variety of citrus that is available from November to April.

Beside their shop and their you-pick groves, you can order their citrus for home delivery.

I had heard such good things about Dooley Grove from friends that we knew that we needed to check it out. Plus, getting bunches of oranges is so yummy and fun.

We went to pick Honeybell Oranges, which are a hybrid of Duncan Grapefruit and Dancy Tangerines. They are bright in color and densely packed with really sweet juicy meat. Honeybells are in season for a short period of time, which makes them in high demand.

While Hunter was just along for the ride for our picking adventure, he did enjoy the Honeybells when we got home. Man, he loves oranges!!!

Watching this bee buzz around all different flowers was so cool. His legs were packed full of pollen. Off to the hive buddy!

Autumn had a blast at the grove.

She was eager in selecting which Honeybells to pick and to help load them up in our bag. Can’t beat getting to run around in rainboots on a sunny day while picking fruit. Gotta love when 4 year olds dress themselves.