the story of a catnapper

Can I get an "amen?"

Amen!

I've been working tirelessly the last few weeks at figuring out the whole sleep dealio with Truett. 

Kid loves to catnap! And while I am glad he is getting some sleep, the 30 minute sessions here and there just kill me. It's hardly enough time to empty the dishwasher, or fold some laundry, or shower, or really do anything. 

He became so accustomed to sleeping on us as a newborn and I've been really trying to break him of this the last few weeks. I think the reason he's been waking up so much at night (about 3-5 times since his sleep regression, but only 2-3 before that) is because he is used to the comfort of us to get him to sleep and stay asleep. 

He used to be a pretty good sleeper and take decent naps (3 one hour naps a day) but since hitting that 4 month regression hes been an avid catnapper. 

I've read countless literature about how to sleep train, cry it out, non cry it out, etc. There is SO much out there I feel like my head is going to pop off. 

I finally. Finally! found a method that seems to work for both of us as I'm not comfortable just letting him cry and leaving him to fend for himself. I started putting him down in his cribs for his naps after a quick lullaby and some kisses. He usually stirs a little bit, gets fussy but doesn't usually cry. If he does, I pick him up and calm him down. If he fusses I pat him on the back and hum to him, then go sit in the rocker and wait with him til he falls asleep. 

The first few days of this I had to pick him up a few times and calm him down but he has finally gotten the hang of it! And all without having to leave him to cry and scream. 

He now naps for 1-1.5 hours in the morning, a mid day 30 min cat nap and then another 1-1.5 hour nap in the afternoon. And all I have to do now is a song, kisses, and put him in his crib and he might roll around a bit but eventually drifts to sleep without my help!

His night sleep has also gotten way better because of this "sleep training," he now only wakes 2 times a night (sometimes with a random 3rd waking at 5am) and I'm working toward getting him better with that. But we are seeing huge progress peeps. 

Anyway, long story long as usual, do what you feel is best for your kid! I read so many dang books all claiming they could solve every sleep problem. I liked a little mix of everything. But bottom line, I listened to True's needs and now he is sleeping much better. May not be all night yet but we are getting there. 

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peace of mind with angelcare

When True was born I refused to put him down. Sure, I would let other people hold him and cuddle him but I felt so much guilt anytime he was alone. I never wanted to let him sleep by himself or in his own space.

I figured, he's been inside my belly for the last 9 months, that's all he has ever known, so why would he want to be alone now?

[Truett at 1 day old]

Basically, I just cuddled and snuggled him every chance I got and he got quite cozy sleeping on me or Vince all day and night for the first few weeks of his life.

Eventually I began to realize he needed to figure out how to sleep without being attached to us so I slowly starting letting him sleep in his bassinet, mere inches from our bed.

It was really hard on me at first. I was so attached to him sleeping on us that I felt a total loss of control when he wasn't on me or Vince to sleep. I worried like crazy.

While on one of my Amazon Prime binges, I came across the Angelcare Monitor and was so excited for it to arrive in a couple days. Once we set it up, I couldn't wait for True to take a nap to test it out.

The monitor comes with a sensor pad that you put under the crib (or bassinet) mattress that detects motion & sound. Basically, if, heaven forbid, baby stopped moving or breathing at any point the sensor pad will detect  the lack of motion and send off an alarm.

[Truett at 11 days old]

This gave me some peace of mind.

Since I couldn't hold Truett every single nap & bedtime to make sure he was moving & breathing, I was put at ease with this monitor.

Once we moved him into his crib, we also moved the monitor and sensor pad and so far it has worked great!

We have only had one false alarm and it was because he wiggled his way to the far end of the crib and the pad wasn't at a sensitive enough level to sense him moving. Easy fix though, as there is a sensitivity level that you can easily adjust.

Long story long, the pad has been a life saver in terms of my sleep and attachment issues! A definite must have for any baby.

He still much prefers to sleep on us for his naps, especially when he is teething or going through growing pains. And we are working on sleep training, which deserves it's own post entirely since the 4 month sleep regression, but we will get to that later...

This is not a sponsored post, I just freakin' love this thing!

birthday weekend recap

My birthday was Friday, wohooo for 24!

Friday we spent the day with Vince's sisters and our new nephew. We are expecting another nephew any day now but he hasn't decided to show up just yet. Vince had to work that evening so my girlfriend Nicole came over for some wine and laughter. Always a good time with that girl! 

Saturday I spent the day cleaning the house for a dinner party with my cousins Jamie & Steven and their significant others & Jamie's kiddos. We made tacos, drank some wine, and ate cake. 

Sunday morning we got up early to head to Vince's sister, Lindsey's house to watch some football. Her due date was on Friday and we are not-so-patientl awaiting little mans arrival!

Then we headed to my moms house to BBQ with her, my brother Jake and his girlfriend (another) Lindsey. 

It was such a beautiful day and so much for to hang out in the yard and enjoy the last little bits of summer. 

These two just make my heart melt!

Overall the weekend was fantastic, filled with great people, good food, and lots of cake and M&Ms (my fave!). 

And this morning, little man and I will attempt to get back into our routine (& dreaded sleep training) and enjoy the week! 

Hope you all had a great weekend!

family photo shoot

A few weeks ago we got to meet with the lovely Jessica Armstrong of Jess H. Photography for some family photos. I was a total stress ball about finding the right outfits and such but I am so happy with the way they turned out!

It was our first time having professional photos taken (ever!). We didn't even have prophotos for our wedding, so this was kind of a big deal. 

Jessica was amazing and I am so pleased with the photos, I just have to share with you all! So here's a mass photo dump of our session. And if you're in the PNW, I totally recommend this pretty lady!

She was so great to work with and tried hard to get Truett to crack a smile or two. But he was so mesmerized by the camera. Regardless, he was such a trooper and we got some great shots of the three of us that I will treasure forever. 

I can't wait to do this again next year, I think we have a fun new tradition on our hands!

xo 

twenty facts

I know you're just dying to know twenty things about me, so today I fulfill your lifelong dreams.

It was actually a little hard to come up with 20 things about myself that could be considered facts at first but I finally got the hang of it. I think you will be quite pleased. 

So anyway, here ya go!

1. I hate doing laundry. I often forget I have something in the washer and then the load starts to stink and I have to run it again. This probably happens at least once a week.

2. I married my high school sweetheart at 21. We bought our first house at 20. And had baby at 23.

3. I like to bite string cheese instead of string it.. Yes, I'm that person.

4. I am not a fashion blogger. No way no how. But I'm pretty sure you already knew that.

5. I was born in California, had my childhood in Georgia, lived in London, and grew up here in Washington.

6. I change my hair color far too often. And I love it.

7. I love watching kid movies. On repeat. All day e'rr day.

8. I've never been one of those people that has a favorite band, actor, song, etc.

9. My son is my greatest accomplishment, he is my whole world!

10. I overuse the exclamation point!!! And am often & weirdly bothered when people don't use it enough.. 

11. I drive with my leg bent and foot on my seat. Often in silence. I prefer the peace and quiet and the roar of the wind hitting my car. 

12. I loved being pregnant. (& am seriously missing it)

13. I grew up in a family of youngest children. My mom is the youngest of five. My dad is the youngest of three. And then there's me and my brother, who would be the youngest of two.

14. I do not like condiments at all. Hold the mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, etc. I won't eat it.

15. I suffer from chronic resting biotch face. 

16. I have four tattoos and hope to get more.

17. I swear a lot but am seriously working on being better about it since having a little one. Please pardon my French, if you will.

18. I like a little bit of coffee with my creamer in the morning.

19. I change up the decor on the mantel above the fireplace with each season, as well as the front door wreath.

20. I am horribly sarcastic and that always comes across really well in my writing. [see: sarcasm]

Phew! That was a doozy. 

Alright folks, set forth and share your twenty facts. I would love to read them!

it's friiiday, again.

Well, well.
Hello there Friday.
We meet again!

I got some randoms for your enjoyment today.. just some quick snip bits of our week. Ya know, the youzhe. (& yes I just googled how to spell the abbreviated version of usual..)

[one] I cleaned my house. Ha! I know this doesn't seem like a big deal but seriously, these days cleaning is a mighty task. I wrapped up the little man and got to cleaning. 

It lasted about 5.728 minutes and then it was a mess again. But a clean mess, if you catch my drift. 

[two] I've been holding out on mentioning this here buuuut... We are in contract for a new house! It isn't built yet. And should be finished around March of next year. We are pretty stinkin excited and still a little in shock. It's a larger home than we have now, bigger yard, nice little neighborhood, and I'm basically in love. 

[three] After signing some paperwork at the new home office on Tuesday we went to the little playground for a quick swing. First time on the swing for True and I'm not sure he loved it but I'm excited for him to get to play here soon. He will be about 10 months when we move in so I think it will be lots of fun. 

[four] True had his four month check up on Tuesday as well. He powered through the shots like a champ! He also discovered (well, we knew already..) he is a big boy! He is measuring in the 95th percentile for both height and weight. At four months he weighs 18lb 1oz and measures 27inches! She said this would start to taper off once he gets mobile but for now we have a chunk on our hands. 

[five] We have been working on getting his sleep schedule down. I don't want to call it sleep training really... But we are trying to get him to take longer naps. He is a serial catnapper. Which I'm sure could use an entire post of its own. The lack of sleep is starting to wear on the both of us and so to chillax one day we had a pajama day and it was grand. 

Loving these Hanna Andersson pajamas! They're super cozy and they fit so nicely. Also at the top of our list for fave jammies are these Gap ones. I'm a sucker for a soft material and a fun print!

How was your week? Anything fun and exciting happen? Tell me about it!

Linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday and Karli & Amy for Oh, Hey Friday!

DIY vintage mason jars

One of my favorite things about the interweb is finding fun new craft projects and ideas. I came across this idea on Etsy when searching for home decor and figured I could easily find a way to do it myself.

I got the kiddo in the car and bee-lined for Hobby Lobby, where I picked up the following items to complete the project:

Ball Jar Mouth Pint Jars with Lids and Bands, Regular, Set of 12 Acrylic Paint (I am using DecoArt American & Folk Art)
Spray Paint Clear Gloss 
Sponge Brushes 

You will also need sandpaper (which I already had on hand) and some paper to protect your surface while the jars dry.

To begin, make sure your jars are clean and dry. 

I applied the paint directly onto my sponge brushes and then painted onto the outside of the mason jars. You will need to allow time to dry between coats. Depending on the type of paint you are using this can take anywhere from 40-60 minutes. I got a little too excited and only waited 30 on one of the jars and smudged the paint everywhere which meant starting all over. So learn from my mistake & be patient folks.

They should look a little something like ^that.

I recommend doing at least 2, maybe even 3 coats of paint on the jars. You want it to look solid and not stripey. Allow to dry overnight.

In the AM, grab your cup of joe, and get to sanding!

I used whatever sandpaper I had in my messuvahgarage so I'm not sure on the exact grit but I'm sure you can use any.

The fun part about this is that you can't really mess up! I lightly went over the jar marking up any areas I felt I wanted to distress a bit, namely the words and areas of the lid. 

Make sure any paint residue is cleaned off the jar and then spray with the clear gloss. Please do not do this inside! This stuff seriously stinks. So go outside, grab a mask or somethin' and get to sprayin. You only need to go over it once to let it all set & be protected.

Finished product should look a little somethin like this.. But the great thing about this project is that it doesnt need to be exact and you can do it however you'd like.

I then added a few faux flower type things from Hobby Lobby and set them up on my mantel. 

These are fun for any season, as you can change up the colors and the flowers to go with whatever decor you would like.

I would love to see your finished projects! And please feel free to comment below if you have any questions. Enjoy!

Linking up with Annie & Natalie this week during Thoughts for Thursday. 

holy hormones batman!

I swore to myself I was not going to be one of those new mamas that let themselves go (and I even have a whole post dedicated to things I swore I wouldn't do but did) and yet somehow it has begun.

Okay I guess I'm being a little dramatical here but seriously...

I am going bald.
I will be hairless within weeks. I might as well just shave this mop off completely.

I am breaking out like a teenage boy who sits in front of xBox all day eating Doritos.
Call me pizza face. Just do it.

My lower belly pooch makes me look like I am still pregnant.
No, awkward dude staring at me from afar, I am not due in a few months. Leave me the f-sauce alone.

I may or may not be slightly bipolar these days.
No I'm not.
Yes I am.
Whatever.

And I blame it on the hormones.
The post baby hormones have finally caught up to me.
Somehow I was so naive to think that I would get away without a scratch. But oh no, was I wrong!

Fellow mothern, please tell me my hair will grow back, my face will clear up, I will magically lose the baby weight, and my moods will even the heck out.

Why is mother nature so cruel? Come on lady. I pushed out a nine pounder, can't you take it easy on me?

mommy monday week #2

So I promised I would be a good girl this past week. And I was. For the most part.

I admit I had a glass of wine here or there and a few too many peanut butter filled pretzels. 

But hey, baby steps.

As for the results:

T25 - one session

Walks - three 30 minute walks

I ate okay. Not the best. But certainly not the worst.

Loss/Gain: -1lb

Booyahh! Hey, that little number right there.. No matter how small, it's still a number! 

Goal for next week is same as last.

I'm getting my Britney Spears on and I'm gonna "work bitch."

Pinky promise!

a grand loss

It's been an emotional weekend for me, as I found out my Grandma Monica, my mom's mom, passed away early Saturday morning. She passed peacefully in her sleep, so that is comforting to know.

As some of you may remember my mom's dad passed away at the end of last year. So this is a very trying time for her and I am doing my best to comfort her in whatever ways I can.

[circa 2007]

My Grandma was diagnosed with dementia about two years ago and has been living in assisted living homes since. She recently had to move to a more monitored home, whereas before she was living in a large house that was run by a lady who was basically just like a supervisor. The new home she was in was much more regulated and had nurses, schedules, rules.. the works.

Last Monday my mom, Vince, True, and I were all going to go visit her but for one reason or another it didn't work out. You can only imagine the guilt I feel right now for not getting to do that one last time.

My heart is broken.

She passed unexpectedly but peacefully. And even though we didn't get to say our goodbyes I am comforted to know that her soul is resting and she is at peace.

She was a quirky little lady and loved to crack jokes - especially at the expense of my mom, which only made us laugh harder. She loved her wine and cigarettes and used to drive a cute little green convertible that my cousin and I would steal the keys to and sit in the front seat and pretend to drive. Before she moved into her assisted living homes she had a sweet little cottage on a lake that we would go visit and hang out in her yard. She was the best decorator and always smelled amazing (despite the cigarettes). Her home was beautifully decorated in an Asian-esque theme and I am so lucky to have inherited some of her art and furniture from her old home.

She will be sorely missed.

I am so happy Truett was able to meet her while she was still here and that I have some photos of us all together. I love you so much Grandma & miss you already!

xo

fall favorites on friday

It's officially my favorite time of year! I love everything about fall. For one, September is my birth month and this will be the first year with my little man. Last year I was pretty freshly pregnant and not many people really knew about it so when it came time to order drinks at dinner I had to be a little sneaky.

So for this weeks Hey, Friday post I'm going to share some of my favorite things about fall. 

[one] the outfits -I love me a good pair of boots, some leggings, and a long cardigan. Basically my staple. If I could get away with wearing this year round I would. Judge away!

[two] the decor - I love decorating my house for the seasons. I change up my mantle and the wreath on my front door to coincide with the season. I have been recycling my decor the last year because I was preggo (see: lazy). But this year I want to change things up a bit. I have a bunch of Pinterest ideas I want to tackle. We'll see how that goes..

[three] the drinks - Okay so I know everyone makes a huge deal about Starbucks Pumkin Spice Lattes. But I'm gonna be real with you - Not a fan. Shoot me. Go for it. But I do love me a nice warm Vanilla Chai Latte. Sorry pumpkin spice lovas!

[four] the changing leaves - The PNW is gorgeous year round but she really kicks it up a notch during the fall. All the leaves changing colors are just so pretty. Plenty of ooohing and aaahing over here. 

[five] time with my little man - This will be our first fall with Truett and I'm so excited to introduce him to my favorite season. I also am pretty excited to go on our annual Pumpkin Patch trip with Vince's family. It will be so different this year because we will have 3 little boys with us and last year I was pregnant with True but no one knew it yet! (we shared the news later the next day at dinner though!)

What are your favorite things about fall?

Linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday and Karli & Amy for Oh, Hey Friday!

four month favorites

Here are some of our favorite items at four months old.

[one] Monkey Wubbanub - True wasn't too crazy about the pacifier until fairly recently. And even still, he only likes this one when we are in the car. It's nice because it's easy for me to find when he spits it out while I'm driving and it's also something fun for him to play with.

[two] Evenflo ExerSaucer Jump & Learn - Despite this taking over our entire living room, True loves this bouncer! It is fairly large at the base but all the fun toys and teethers make up for it. He will sit in it for about 10-15 minutes either chewing on the little toys or just looking around the room, with the occasional spastic bounce or two. He hasn't quite figured out how fun it is to bounce yet but I'm sure he will soon.

[three] Aden & Anais Swaddles - He never liked to be swaddled but these are great as a lightweight blanket. We put them over him in the car seat and they are also good for a quick nursing cover if we are out and about. I can't say how they are for their actual intended purpose, as we never successfully swaddled him but the lightweight material is really nice.

[four] Charlie Banana Cloth Diapers - We started cloth diapering Truett about a month ago and so far these are my favorite. We have tried probably 7 different brands of cloth diapers and I feel like these are the best. They are super soft, come in cute colors, and the liner is nice and thick so there are less chances of leaks.

[five] Jellycat Monkey - This stuffed animal is super soft and cute! It's the perfect size for little hands and he loves to cuddle with it and chew his nose. I'm definitely going to need tp purchase another one as a stand-in incase this one needs a wash or gets lost.

xo

four months old [truett]

Four months old today! 

Weight/Height: his four month appointment is tomorrow so I won't have an exact number til then but our at home scale says around 18lbs

Clothes: he is kind of in between sizes right now. I feel like I'm stretching out his 3-6 month clothes but the 6-9 are just a tad big. He has some 6-12 sized pieces and that is just confusing but he can wear them easily. 

Sleep: with all the teething that's been going on lately his sleep has been super wacky. He still gets a good 4-6 hour chunk the first part of the night and then from there it's all up in the air. 

Feeding: Still breast feeding every few hours and at his night wakings but I'm working on eliminating a night feed because I don't think he really needs it. He falls asleep as soon as it's in his mouth so I feel like it's more of a comfort thing. 

Likes: he loves to be on his belly or in his bouncer. He would much rather chew on his own hand than the millions of teething toys he has (though we just bout him an amber necklace so hoping for some relief there) he also loves his toes and playing with his hands. He still comfort nurses frequently. He loves bath time and his nightly lotion massage. He is just starting to like books too. 

Dislikes:  nap time. for some reason he has been only taking cat naps and I can't seem to get him caught up on his day time sleep. He doesn't like diaper changes or being on his back. Car rides and stroller rides are getting way better though!

Milestones: He has two teeth! And he has found his toes! Since he can officially roll over, diapers changes have gotten especially hard but now he can distract himself with his feet so that helps. Oh and if he's holding his feet he can sit for like a second! Not quite a completed milestone hah but almost. 

Events: His cousin Miles was born this past month! We didn't do any major trips but had a lot of baby showers and other fun events. We went to our first movie and that was lots of fun!

And a quick mama update:

Weight Loss:  still the same, fun! But I have started a Mommy Maintenance Monday post and will be holding myself more accountable each week. Hoping for some progress. 

Other Changes: I am shedding like cray-z. It's really horrible. I'm pretty sure I will be bald any day now. Also, breaking out like a teenage girl. My hormones are all over the place. It's really sad. I'm considering taking my placenta pills out of the freezer and seeing if that helps to even out my wildness that's going on..

But back to True...

I can't handle all this cuteness!

^teeth!

I love you sweet boy!

*Update: At True's 4 month appointment he weighed 18lb 1oz and measured at 27inches. He is in the 95th percentile for both height and weight. Big boy!