Mama Baby Style

my outfit:   dress: target (girls' section)   boots: dsw  scarf: made my sister-in-law

I'm making Addilyn follow in my footsteps and get a little behind in jumping on any kind of fashion trends. Which is good, except that in my case once I buy something (bubble necklaces, polka dot jeans, heart sweaters) they seem to go out of style quickly.  Luckily I usually wait long enough until it's on clearance, which should be a sign perhaps it's not trendy anymore?  I've yet to learn my lesson.  

I do hope that babies wearing moccasins will stay trendy for some time because they are just too cute. 

I had the hardest time trying to get Addilyn to look at the camera, let alone smile without having something in her mouth to chew.  I ended up with a few pictures like this.   Ultimate pouting face.  I am not ready for these faces, but they are popping up more and more. 

 

So these were the best we could do for this outfit, which is one of my favorites so far.

Meet Addilyn's newest blogging friend Klair.  Klair is 14 months old and is quite the little stylish girl.  Klair's mom Autumn, just started blogging and I love her blog.  It's so fun getting to know other moms and I love when I find a mom a little ahead of me in the mothering phase so I can see what is ahead and know they were where we were not that long ago!

I can't wait to see all your little fashionistas and fashionitos (thanks for the new word Jennifer. Baby boys definitely welcome!).  No rules - link back here if you'd like and check out other mama's posts.  Thanks for linking up! Come back and do it again in two weeks!

What kind of parent am I?

Sometimes I feel like motherhood makes me waver between extremes.  Days I feel confident and days I feel overwhelmed.  Days I feel like Addilyn is the happiest baby and days I feel like she is miss crabby.  Days we are right on schedule with naps and eating and days we're all over the place.  My sister reminds me constantly that motherhood will forever be unpredictable and that I'd save myself a lot of energy accepting that sooner rather than later.  I think that will forever be a work in progress for me. 
I read a lot about different types of parenting and I find myself wavering between the extremes.  I'll read something about attachment parenting.   Babies are babies for only a short time.   Babies don't know how and shouldn't be expected to self soothe.  Babies should not be alone crying in their cribs for any amount of time.  Give her all the cuddles and snuggles that she needs.  
Yes. Yes. and yes. 

I tell myself that I'd be okay if Addilyn slept in our bed until she was ready to sleep on her own.  That she can take naps on me as long as she "needs" to.  That she'll learn independence when she's older. 
Then I read things that are the opposite.  It's so crucial to teach babies how to soothe themselves and put themselves back to sleep.  Sleep training might make for a tough week but it will be so worth it.  Babies cry and that is just part of being a baby.  Yes. Yes and yes. 
I have moments where I need time to myself.  I love when she takes a good nap in her crib.  I love when she wakes up for the day in her crib and not next to me.  I like my space when I sleep at night. 
It all depends on the day.  Sometimes I'm convinced it's time to let Addilyn cry more.  To figure out how to sleep through the night.  That she needs to learn how to put herself back to sleep when she wakes up.  That she should be napping every time in her crib. 
Then I have days where I don't care if we end up bedsharing until she's three because I hate the idea of her being in bed crying alone.  That I will hold her for naps as long as I want to.  
Sometimes I wonder if you can be both.  If I can hold her for some naps but teach her to sleep on her own for most of her naps.  If she will learn to sleep through the night with time and I should relax and stop trying to force her to do it now.   
Parenting is a tricky thing.  Making decisions about what is best for your baby is hard.  And no one can make that decision but me.  And that feels like a lot of pressure to me sometimes.  Each day is different and each day I'm faced with what kind of mom I want to be.  
When it comes down to it I want to be a mom that does whatever I think is best for Addilyn and best for our family.  I want to start each day reminding myself that being a mom is unpredictable.  And that yesterday she may have gone down for a nap with no problems but today for no reason at all she won't take a nap.  And I want to be okay with that.  I am learning to stop being obsessive and attempting to let things go and not over analyze everything.  I don't have to define myself by what kind of parent I am but be confident that I am doing that best that I can and that whatever ways I choose, Addilyn will be just fine and so will I. 

A sure way to not boost your self esteem

 

vest: jcpenney  scarf: ?   tee: old navy  jeggings: walmart  boots: gojane

Want a sure way to make your self esteem plumate?  
Watch the Bravo tv show Toned Up.  
It's yet another reality tv show that sucked me in, despite the fact that I feel like I should go run miles and do a 5,000 jumping jacks instead of watching it while sitting on my couch.   Besides hating them for their toned selfs, they live by the beach, have gorgeous long hair, and are pretty funny. 

So pretty much save yourself some self loathing and don't watch it.  
On the plus side I did workout four times last week and then Addilyn got sick and I worked out zero times the week after.  You win some you lose some right?

Love ready

heart: diy   flannel shirt: old navy   jeans: target   boots: zulily 

We've never been a big celebrator of Valentine's day in the past.  But thanks to more time at home and pinterest I now love decorating and acknowledging Valentine's day.  Having a baby to do things with makes it more fun too! 

1. Heart sweater.  Now I've seen some pretty cheap cute heart sweaters, but when I made mine two years ago I could not find one.  I made mine for less than $10 (check out the easy tutorial here).  Of course this summer I found one at Old Navy for less than $5 and justified needing another heart sweater.  

2. Decorations. I love my Valentine's decorations that I made last year and may be a little overboard adding this heart felt garland.  Super cheap.  Super easy.  

Cut out hearts and sew together.  Easy, easy. 

3. Footprints. After making these I want will happily find any reason to put Addilyn's footprint on anything.  I'm pretty sure I'll do some footprint project on a canvas for every holiday this year.  
Happy February!

The last thing . . .

 

tee, jeans and sweater: target   boots: old navy   scarf: gift 

The last thing I wore: this neon t-shirt that Lauren got me for my birthday.  It makes me so ready for bright colors and Spring weather.  But alas. I'm standing in a snowstorm.  Wearing a scarf and big sweater.  
The last show I watched: the most recent episode of Parks and Recreation.  I am so bummed that Rob Lowe is leaving the show.  He is literally the funniest actor there is. 
The last person I texted: My sister Lauren.  I've pretty much resorted to typing out a novel every night with my desperate play by plays and over analyzing, as I am enduring tears on Addilyn's end (okay and mine too) as we try to get her back to sleeping in her crib after being sick and being held all the time.  I will be forever grateful for her advice and help through this sleep training stress.  
The last food I ate: cinnamon baked french toast that Chris made for breakfast this weekend.  
The last thing I cooked was sweet potatoes for Addilyn. 

The last thing I drank: TrueMoo Chocolate Marshmallow Milk.  You know that lately I love finding anything that I can count as a dessert without really being a dessert.  Enter delicious chocolatey drink that I love.  It tastes just like hot chocolate and is delicious hot or cold.  
I actually used to not be a fan of chocolate milk and haven't tried it in years.  I'm not sure what I was thinking, as it is so good!  (I used to not like coffee either and that couldn't be farther from the truth now.)    
Last night I heated it up, added a few marshmallows and was drinking a "non dessert" on a snowy evening.   Although I think I can legitimately not count it as a dessert because it has 1% milk, right?  Plus it is made with pure cocoa and a little natural sugar so I am definitely counting it as a healthy choice!

Then the other day we had Jacob and Lauren over for breakfast. Normally I'm a poor hostess and we have nothing but water and milk to offer people to drink so it was nice to have another option.  Jacob was a fan.  And of course Addi wanted to try get a taste too.  
Even better I bought it at Target, which is my favorite place and will be buying it again.   (Warning.  This is a new flavor and it out only for the month of February so get yourself to the store to try it!)  Next time I will have to try out the chocolate or vanilla flavors, which are available all year.  Hello new special treat.  

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