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I am a Honey Bee

All about my adventures with cooking, crafts, and travel

Baby & Kid

Happy 5th Birthday Autumn

Happy Birthday to Our Amazing Birthday Girl!

I can’t believe that you are already 5 years old! Holy Smokes!

It is cliche to say but it really does seem like just yesterday that you came into our lives. But really, it has all been a whirlwind of fun, craziness, singing, reading, playing, and snuggles. The days are long, but the years are short- so true!

You are so smart. It just amazes me, when you do something for the first time, especially with ease. Like you learned how to ride a 2-wheeler without training wheels in under 30 minutes. You aced it! You talk endlessly so your vocab is fantastic. (yay us for no baby talk!) When we bake you count and add things well. Mixing colors together is your new interest so we talk about that a lot and how  to mix things with Red, Blue, and Yellow to create other colors.

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Back to School with Tom’s of Maine

Get ready to go Back to School with Tom’s of Maine®. Start your day off in the right direction by using clean products for your teeth, mouth, & whole body. Plus, by choosing Tom’s of Maine, you’re helping children in need get essential school supplies.

Thanks to Tom’s of Maine for letting me be a part of their Back to School campaign. 

Autumn is going to Voluntary Pre-School (VPK) this year. We have VPK orientation on Saturday morning. Then she starts on Friday, the 10th. Gah!!!!

I don’t know if I am super excited about it or sad because I am such a mix of emotions about it all: excited she gets to see her friends and that I get some quiet from the non-stop talking. And sad that she is already old enough for VPK. Makes me feel old-ish. ha!

 

Well, I do know that Tom’s of Maine® is part of our daily routine!

Our whole family uses Tom’s of Maine products.

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Summertime Picnicking in the Park

Picnicking in the Park is one of the best activities to do with your kids in the summer. It’s lots of fun when you listen to music and cloud gaze. We wouldn’t go on a picnic without our Baby K’Tan Swaddle Blankets are the best blanket for the kids to sit on. Cute, color coordinated, and perfectly sided for each kid. 

Seriously, I feel like Florida is out to get me some days.

All this past week, I’ve been telling Autumn that we would be having a picnic for lunch.

Every day it has rained!!!!!!

I’m not talking cloudy all day Seattle kind of rain, I’m like “hey, it’s sunny in our front yard, but raining in our backyard.” That is how things work here, in Tampa Bay, no joke.

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Raising Our Little Global Citizens

Little Global Citizens is a new subscription kit that is geared to kids 3-7 that teaches them about a new country every month. There are crafts, toys, and books to help teach them about the culture in the country that is featured that month. 

Raising kids who are creative, compassionate, cultured, and inquisitive is a really important thing for my husband and me. Our kids are the future.

We have always made learning a priority so we are always looking at fun ways to do that. Like, going to the aquarium or the zoo from a young age, and regularly, has been a fun way at incorporation learning into a fun family activity. We have had different memberships to different places, like New England Aquarium, when we lived in Boston, to now having a membership to Glazer Children’s Museum, here in Tampa. They provide different, fun ways for the kids to learn and be active. Exposing them to different exhibits gives them a chance to learn and create fun memories while playing.

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Dear Hunter @ 12 months

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

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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Dear Hunter @ 11 Months

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

 

Dear Hunter @ 10 Months

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

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Hunter @ 8 months

Dear Hunter 8 months
February 2018

Dear Hunter,

This past month has really been wonderful with you.

So far transitioning to be a stay at home mom with you has really easy and enjoyable. Spending days with you, and your sister, is so fun. There are tough times when I want to hide in the pantry to take a break from the noise, but it’s so great.

We just need to have Autumn listen to us the first time that she can’t keep siting behind you. We understand she is trying to be helpful, but from siting behind you so she can catch you if you fall, quickly turns into her holding you, which makes you yell and squirm and then there is the constant “AUTUMN!” It’s hard to scold it when she means well, but things would be so much easier if she just listened. At least she means well.

Your appetite is constantly growing. It’s awesome to give you something like quinoa, steak, broccoli, blueberries, yogurt, melon, and so much more

I swear you are looking older and older every day with your hair growing in and your features becoming more and more defined. It’s amazing to see. I see so much of your daddy when I look at you and old pictures of him. You even have that pout down.

I can’t imagine our house ever being quite again since you can be so loud when you are happily babbling. Angry or tired babbling is just as loud, but the happy, silly, giggly babbles are much more fun.

You have mastered standing while holding on to something like a pro. From there you sometimes give us a wave. But you are really good at waving when we are holding you and you then are prompted to wave at someone.

You went on your first cruise this past month! You were so fantastic on board. I can’t wait to take you on more and more as you grow. Our first family vacation went so well.

I love you so much.

Love,

Mommy

 

Dear Hunter @ 7 months

January, 2018

Dear Hunter,

This has been one exciting month!

Your first Christmas! Your first New Year’s! Your first time standing up!

Oh boy!! What a fun Christmas surprise for us.

I was sitting in front of the tree getting some toys out of their packaging for Autumn and you crawled over like normal. But then, you pulled up on me so you standing. You were so excited and we were so shocked. Thankfully, Daddy had his phone so he could quickly snap some pictures of how proud and excited you were. It was so magical to be there, and for it to be on Christmas too.

You quickly mastered crawling last month and now this. I’m afraid that if I wait 5 more minutes you will be walking. ha!

Besides being a master at pulling yourself up now, you are doing such a great job of feeding yourself. You eagerly try whatever we give you but it’s really clear that broccoli is your favorite food. Raw, steamed, or roasted- all of that works for you. yum!!

Sleep is still a struggle with you a times, but I really don’t mind the nightly feedings. I really enjoy getting to snuggle up with you in the chair in our room. The glow of the moon peaks through the gaps where the curtains join, allowing me to just see your face while you nurse back to sleep.

I have always been looking forward to what the next month has to offer with you, and your sister, but this next month is extra exciting since I am going to stay home with you guys now.

Work had stopped being enjoying a long time ago, but I didn’t want to hate it because I loved the profession and company where I have built my architecture career, and I knew that I would if I kept working. I was longing to spend more time with you and Autumn without feeling the insanity of trying to fit it all in. I know that being home won’t solve everything- goodness laundry is never ending. I know things will still be hectic in a different way with being home, but at least we can have a lot more adventures together.

My next letter to you will have the fun recap of how we went on our first family cruise together. I really can’t wait for that fun!

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

PS. I couldn’t find the lion we have for your monthly photos to show off how much you are growing compared to it. I looked ALL OVER for it, gave up, took your pics, then Dad came home and I lamented to him about how I couldn’t find it anywhere. “you mean the one sitting on top of the dollhouse?” Yep, that one that I walk by 500X a day. duh! So next month, there will be a lion!

 

Dear Hunter @ 6 Months

 

Dear Hunter,

Half a year with you!!

I still can’t believe that 6 months has already sped by.

You make every day so wonderful.

I’m in awe of your bubbly personality. You hardly fuss as you are just content with with held, being on the floor, playing with toys, or with Autumn. Plus, you make everyone really happy with your smiles and giggles. Your smiles are like yawns, they are contagious.

You have mastered sitting up. It’s amazing to see you sitting up and looking around, taking the world in. You really like to watch Autumn and the dogs. Besides just being able to balance you are able to be on your back or belly and twist and turn to pop yourself up to sit up. Sometimes you pause while doing it, and you look so suave as you are sprawled out on your side, minus the come hither look. ha!

You are so close to crawling too.  that it is just a matter of days. You spin and roll around on the floor, meandering around as you wiggle this way and that, but you are really going to take off very soon.

There has been so much progress this month from you sitting up well, almost crawling, getting better and better (and more eager) at eating food, and finally having a few weeks not being sick from that awful cough… amazing, wonderful, bliss…

I can’t even begin to imagine what the next month holds, besides getting to celebrate your first Christmas, but I can’t wait for it.

Love,

Mommy

 

Happy Birthday Autumn @ 4 years old

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I simply snapped this picture while you were waiting for Poppy to come over for your birthday to give you your presents, but it’s a new favorite.

It shows off your personality perfectly.

You are eagerly waiting for presents, because you have zero chill. Yet, you still look cool and fun. I think it captures your free spirit.  You won’t let us do your hair but you need to have sunnies around at all times for style and for the sun that bothers your eyes. The TV sometimes bothers them too, so it’s cute seeing you wear them in the house when you first get up.

I think you barely go a day without wearing something related to Disney, but it’s just so cute how you love the princesses just as much as you love Mickey and the Roadster Racers. But we don’t tell Disney Jr how you are also in love with Paw Patrol and Shimmer and Shine. shhhh, your secret is safe with me!

You are insanely smart. You easily identity colors, shapes, letters, colors, animals, and so much more. You are quick to point things out, and eager to continue to learn more and more.

However, you do not enjoy playing by yourself. You would be happy to watch youtube or TV allllll day if we let you (we do not!) but the moment the TV is off you are like “but who is gonna play with me?!?!” Dare we suggest that you color by yourself or create some play-doh masterpiece by yourself. HOW DARE WE?!?!? You think its much better that we draw something super complicated like Sophia the First with her horse and rabbit with the sun shinning that you immediately color in vs using the very coloring book that you want us to replicate.

I love how caring you are with Hunter. You are a wonderful big sister. It’s so fun to watch you with him. I know that you will continue to do a great job of holding him, helping him get toys, and helping me out with him. We just need to work on you not being so loud around him, or me.

There are moments when my frustration with you is ripping my head up when you are not patient or really, really loud, but those moments pass quickly as you have me quickly cracking up with some exaggerated expression or response to me. I know I should take you seriously when you roll my eyes at me, but it’s the cutest thing ever. Omg, when you nail being sarcastic… perfect!

I keep catching myself seeing you in the future, like in the picture above. There are these moments when you are looking so mature and I see you 10 years in the future and it breaks my heart and excites me at the same time. I don’t love how fast.

I am looking forward to everything this next year brings.

I love you so much!

Love,

Mom

__________________

Currently…

you love “teacher beans”, carrots in chicken soup, but not the chicken, Doritos, making smoothies with me, rice, pasta, hot dogs, waffles, peas, corn, coconut water, and any excuse for “sessert” even when I tell you we don’t have dessert every day, it’s a special thing. You don’t like sharing food. We can play around pretending to steal your food until you don’t think it’s funny anymore and are like “cool it guys, it’s MINE!!!!!!”

symnastics (gymnastics) is your favorite thing. classes on Tuesday night make your week. You can do headstands against the wall with little effort. Your cartwheel needs a lot of work, but we can’t tell you that. At least your enthusiasm is 110%

You battle us at bedtime. You really shouldn’t be napping so long during the day, but it is what it is since you are at daycare, since it makes bedtime a struggle when you aren’t too tired, but need to bed to have enough sleep. And you sneak into our bed most nights, esp. since Hunter was born.

You weigh about 29 pounds. You generally wear 3T with some 2T and 4T in the mix as well.

Owl is still your favorite stuffed animal, but not the original owl since his eyes got beat up in the washer/dryer and you do NOT like them. You won’t let us wash this owl so I keep spraying it with monster spray (night time essential oils) to keep it smelling fresh. Also, I hope the oils will mellow you out at night too

“What did you say?” you say that in the cuuuuutest way when you missed what we said. It’s kinda excited and confused and all just one word at the same time.

You are not a cuddlier. Well, only when you know we will kick you out of our bed and then you want to cuddle. sneaky! And you still don’t like covers either.