Bluum Box

I just became a member of Bluum.  

You may have heard of Birch Box or other sample companies. Bluum is a company that sends you samples each month of baby and mom products. 

My first box arrived last week. 

First let me say it comes in the cutest box! I know I will find some sort of crafty use for it. 

PRODUCTS FROM THIS MONTH'S BOX

• 

  Disney Cuddly Bodysuit™ 3-pack
  

  This little body-suit is soft and has extra snaps so it can grow with your LO. My kids run a little large so this little body suit is great to have in the wardrobe. I also like that it is white so I can put a little design on it for my little girl. 
  
  

• 

  Burt's Bees® Intense Hydration Night Cream
  

  I haven't tried this yet, but I am enjoying the Burt's Bee products. 

• 

  Burt's Bees® Baby Bee® Shampoo & Wash
  

  I've been using this on Reagan since we got it. She seems to like it...as much as a new born can express :). Its tear free and that is ALWAYS a plus!

• 

  Burt's Bees® Lip Shimmer
  

  The color doesn't work for me, but I like that other colors are available. I wont be using this particular color in public. But overall it feels really nice. 

• 

  Happy Baby and Happy tot pouches
  

  I haven't used this one yet. Reagan is still too young. But I know other moms that use it and like it. 
  
  
  Looking forward to my next box and doing something creative with our Disney BodySuit and Bluum Box. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  UPDATE: 3/27/2013
  I quit the Bluum box, the prices have SKY ROCKETED and I didn't really care for what I was receiving anymore. I'm thinking of going with IPSY or BirchBox. One steady price and a little something to look forward to. 

Reagan Noelle is Born Part 2

After praying and crying in the car I pull myself together as we pull up to the hospital. And of course my pants are wet because my water just kept on breaking! I felt like a little girl trying to hide what had happened. I am admitted and I have the sweetest nurse ever. I told her how I really didn't want Pitocin and she said that she will tell the doctor and that she understands because "Pitocin makes things 1000 times worse" (her words!). It was nice to feel validated.
I get on the IV and they do what they gotta do. Husband takes a nap in the chair and I start watching TV.
I'm not sure about time, but I watched the following:
the end of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
most of Miss Congeniality
and 2 full DVDS of Friends Season 1.
That with a couple of walking breaks in-between.
I would say it was during the 3rd Friends DVD where the Dr came in and said that she is sitting on her hands  trying to not to give me Pitocin.
So I decide I am going to make this happen. I literally get on my knees and pray. That is, I climb into the bed and get on my elbows and knees and pray.
That is when the contractions really started.
Every 3-5 minutes.
Then the nurse came in and we moved the bed to a high level and I leaned over the bed standing. During each contraction Husband drove his knuckles into my back.
 I was so sure I just couldn't take it anymore and I told Husband:
"I don't know why I think I can do these things" and
"I cant do it anymore" and
"I think I want the drugs".
He just looks at me and I'm sure he says something, but I can't recall.
Really it is when you think you can't take anymore when it is almost over.
Lo and Behold it was time to push.
I had to push.
I HAD TO!!!
But they told me not to because we had to wait for the doctor. That is probably the worst feeling ever. I would say it was 5 or more contractions of wanting to push but being told that I cant.
Finally she came, along with 3-4 nurses, and she climbed onto the foot of the bed. I was actually surprised. I thought for sure that she would tell me that I still had ways to go, but nope, the baby was coming.
Then the Dr. says: "Dad, are you okay, you look a little queasy?"
Husband: "I'm okay, I think it is just something I ate."
If I wasn't preoccupied I would have laughed out loud at this.
I think it was about 3 pushes and our little baby girl was born.
Push 1..."She has a lot of hair"
Push 2...Nurses and Doctors: "You are doing great, we can see her eyebrows"
I think: "Just her eyebrows! All that work for just her eyebrows!" I thought for sure she was half way out by now. I ask them "Cant you just pull her out?" They said no.
Push 3...Nurse says: "She is coming, look, open your eyes, look, look, look!"
I REFUSED to look or touch...its gross!
But then, baby is born and they put her warm gooey body on my body and I have 2 thoughts...
"ITS OVER" In a relieved sort of way. Like finally this pregnancy is over. The labor is over. The pushing is over. The waiting is over.
My other thought is "Wow, she looks just like Emily."
The first thing Husband says is "Now you can sleep on your belly" LOL.
(its been 3 weeks and I still have not done that :)
-------------------------------------------------------
It took us more than 24 hours to name our little girl Reagan Noelle.
Emily loves her...right now. Reagan hasn't offended her yet. :)
I did take a post labor pic and I am still not "one of those women" But the pic isn't THAT bad ;)

Vintage Nursery!

I know some pretty cool peeps that are expecting their little one any day now and they just completed his nursery. Its vintage inspired and many of the toys belonged to them when they were tots. The colors and theme are just plain cool, but I would expect nothing less from those two.

Vintage Inspired Boys Nursery

I had that Fisher Price phone too!

Old books and Fisher Price toys. 

More Vintage toys. Some are thrifted.

Fisher Price Farm, I remember how the doors "mooed" when you opened them. 

I Want to be One of "Those" Women

You've seen them. Perhaps you are "them". Those women that post their pics on Facebook after they just delivered their baby and they look INCREDIBLE! I almost never look at their new baby because I am in shock with how un-sweaty, un-blotchy and un-swollen they look. Their hair looks perfectly quaffed and their eyeliner and mascara are in place and not all smudgey looking. How does this happen? If it is you, how do you do it?
I'm really speaking out of jealousy here. My "post-labor" pic is not flattering at all!!! I took one because it is expected and I thought no one would see it. Well Husband REALLY wanted to show his co-workers the pic and I reluctantly said okay. Three weeks later I went to his work picnic and everyone told me how great I looked. I looked just okay, but their only reference of me was that post-labor pic, so I probably looked like a super model in comparison.
This time around I am going to try to look like one of "those" women.
"Why?" you may ask. "That seems pretty vain." And you are right it is TOTALLY vain, but guess what, I don't care! There is so much out of your control when  you go into labor and deliver your baby. You can have a Birth Plan but that is just your ideal of how you would like things to go. You can go early, late, in public, or home alone. It can go quickly or take forever, you may need drugs, the drugs may not work, you may need surgery...SO MUCH CAN HAPPEN! So let me at least try to have control of ONE thing and that is my "post labor" pic.
My Birth Plan is go natural again. My Post Labor Pic Plan is to go all faux. I plan to have my hair in a tight bun or braid of some sort. I will have eyeliner, mascara and any other cosmetic I can manage to get onto my face while having contractions. I also want to take a note from Christina Applegate and search for that perfect headband. And if I still look like a hot mess in that post-labor pic, I will use Photoshop.
Here is our pic after Em was born...

YOWZAH!!! After Em was born, this was the pic Husbands co-workers saw...OF COURSE I looked good after that. Anything would!

Ill just use this pic from our wedding, I look nice and young, I think people will buy it.

Ill just mash them up, like so...

Not so believable, how about this...

Well I still have some time. Vain or not, just give me this. 

A Very Berry Birthday

Em's Berry Birthday was this weekend. It was fun and thank the Lord that the heat wave broke the day of the party. She had fun, we had fun, the kids had fun.

A Berry Themed Birthday Party. A lot of recipes came from Pinterest

Berry Punch 

Berry Trifle

Em covers her ears when she is uncomfortable.

But she enjoys the treats

Singing!

Party Planning is exhausting, and everything is more exhausting when you are pregnant. I ended up getting really sick after the party, but since I am the only one that got sick I'm thinking it was pregnancy related and perhaps I had been overdoing it the past few weeks. This week I have been taking it pretty easy and the house reflects that :) I have so many different things I wanted to do when I knew I would have more time to do them and I havent checked a single thing off my list yet (except this blog post).

But I dont have plans for the rest of the summer except a few DIY projects, some Bible Studies and oh yeah preparing for our second kiddo.
There really isnt a lot of prep work in getting ready for the second baby. We have all the girl stuff we need. So really, Im just waiting, keeping busy and taking it easy all at the same time :)

My Curly Haired Girly

Emily gets compliments and comments on her hair almost every time we go out and about.
I occasionally am asked how I manage her hair.
So far its been a little bit of experimenting and a lot of practice.
I thought I would share how we maintain Emily's locks. I am also open to suggestions.

To Start, here are the products we use:

Baby Hair Product by legendaryee 

 1. Before we get ready for a bath I spray Em's hair with Johnson's No More Tangles Detangling Spray. 

2. While in the tub, I apply Johnson's Extra Conditioning Shampoo for Think/Curly Hair. 

3. Then before I rinse, I use a regular conditioner and apply on top of Em's already lathered hair. I use Suave with Almond and Shea Butter. I use this brand mostly because I don't want to use my expensive conditioner for color treated hair on my girl. 

4. I wait a couple minutes before rinsing. I let Em play and give her a scrub, then I rinse. 

5. Once her hair is rinsed I begin to brush out the tangles. I grab a tuft of hair and hold it in my palm and hold  tight with my index finger and thumb. Then I take a paddle brush and brush the tangles out against my hand and arm. That way it pulls on her head less and she feels less pain. She still doesn't like it, but it seems to be the best way to avoid pain. I take tufts from all over her head until the tangles are gone and I can run my fingers through without them getting caught. Em moves around a lot so it takes a little time and depending on her mood she may or may not cooperate. It takes between 5 and 10 minutes to get all the tangles out. 

 

6. After our bath I then add Johnson's No More Tangles Leave in Conditioner. This is the product we use the most. I try to apply it everyday and every time we go out. It keeps her hair from turning into a frizzy fro and keeps her curls springy looking. 

7. Finally I accessorize. That part is the most fun. Since she turned one, I've been using adult sized headbands. Em's noggin has been in the 80th to 90+ percentile, so I don't want anything too tight on her head. She wears Goody stretchy head bands the most. I use them too :) Old Navy also has super cute head bands, (the adult size) and they are reasonably priced. I also buy little pin-ons from H&M to attach to her head bands. 

Goody Headband from Giant and flowers from H&M

8. One more thing I have been trying to do is have Em wear a handkerchief on her head. I am hoping that it will help her curls dry "down" vs. up in the air. But alas she will only wear the handkerchief on her head for about a minute. It is cute while it lasts. 

I hope this was helpful to anybody with a curly haired kiddo. And if anyone has any tips they would like to share, Please do!

Johnson & Johnson K-BB-1006 Johnsons Shea & Cocoa Butter Baby Lotion by Johnson & Johnson for Kids - 15 oz Lotion

Its been a while...

Its been a while since I posted anything real. I have been a little preoccupied. I've been growing another human being for the past five months! I was pretty darn sick and didn't do much for about 6 weeks.
I feel MUCH better now and have been working on some projects and now I am ready to dive back into this little blog.
So yes, I am expecting another little girl. I am very happy and very excited. Em is such a fun little tot and to be honest I love her little girl clothes so much, I REALLY wanted to use them again.
I have a WHOLE list of projects I want to complete before baby numero dos shows up (Thank you Pinterest).
I have also been working on expanding my skills so that I can expand my resume and portfolio a little further so that hopefully I can make a little more money working from home. So I think I am going to be pretty busy this summer!
All in all things are good and we are EXTREMELY blessed. :)

Supposed to be me and Em and my belly :)
Created in Illustrator. 

Em Sings

A little music for your enjoyment, or at least mine ;)

Proud Mom Moment

Another Proud Mom Moment...

Emily says her letters at 18 months old.

Naturally Glowing Baby Bottoms

Attention to Detail is not one of my specialties. Balancing my church secretary job, my IT job, learning and launching webdesign and being a mom and wife is taking its toll. 

The other day I realized I made a mistake. 

I discovered that I lathered Emily up with Jergens Natural Glow lotion, and myself with Johnson's Baby lotion. I  discovered this about 2 days after the fact when I was wondering why the Jergens bottle was chilling in the living room.

Now before you call social services...please look at these bottles.

At least Emily has a natural glow this winter for a week or so, and my legs are as smooth as a baby's bottom.

Proud Mom Moment

So I have a ton of stuff on my To-Blog list, but last week was a pretty busy week. I hope to add more next week.
 I had to put this up because I think my kid is cute and smart and like to show her off every once in a while!

Tinkering Around

My 31st birthday came and gone without any fan fare. Just the way I like it. 
I did get some awesome teal rain boots from my husband.
 Im loving teal these days. In case you couldnt tell by my blog layout. 
I got some flowers and cookies and from friends and I finally got my hairs did by my European hair dresser at a local salon in Phoenixville.
My Besties got me a gift card to Fossil and I got this sweet little dress. It has POCKETS! I love pockets in a dress. 

In addition to getting older I've been putting together a little online portfolio. Its not much now, but maybe, in time, it will become slightly impressive. :)
Em is getting older and the weather is getting colder. Im starting to look into pre-schools for her. I wanted to be a work from home mom for my babies, but I do not have the discipline to provide crafts or activities for my tot. 
She is only 16 months now and doesn't get too bored yet. But the time is coming where she is going to need a more structured, stimulating environment. 
Plus, I LOATHE being cold, so this makes it difficult for me to play with Em outside. A nice pre-school for a few hours a day for a couple days a week might be perfect her. 

Im not going to get into the thousand other thoughts this leads to, like money, work, future babies, a house, etc  etc etc. 

So yes, Ive been tinkering around. 

Conversations

Here is a conversation Em and I had today. 
Its one of our first conversations where Em actually answers back.

A Glimpse of Things to Come

So I took Em shopping today. She has a ton of dresses, but she needs some winter accessories to make those dresses wearable through the seasons.

So we went shopping for tights, shoes, cardigans and hats.

We were down to one wearable pair of shoes and then we lost one of them last night. I searched EVERYWHERE. No idea where it went.

While shopping I discovered that just moving one section over from baby to toddler items, the  prices are practically doubled!!!

A glimpse of things to come I’m sure. I imagine things will just cost more as she gets older.

Despite the price jump, we I had a lot of fun trying things on Emily.

Looking at her facial expressions, I think she was having just as much fun as I was…

Again, another glimpse of things to come and shopping with mom.

These aren’t even all of the hats I tried on her…I ended up buying a cute one from H&M among many other cute things.

We will let dad decide which GAP hat Em will don this winter.

Happy Birthday Emily!

So as promised here are some pics from Ems first Birthday.
I did an owl theme and it turned out as well as I had hoped.
        
I made cupcake liners and a “chandelier” type thingy that Husband didn’t get any pics of. The cake fell apart out of the pan and I glued it back with icing…it was for smooshing anyway! I found the little hair clip on Etsy as well as the iron-on sticker. Husband chose the little yellow-flower tutu. We had 3 wardrobe changes and a lot of fun. Im still tired from it all.