Our 7 Month Favorites

Here is this months edition!

Bright Starts Teethe and Read Teether Book:  This isn't the exact book, but is very similar (same brand, same design, just different pictures...).  It's a soft book and crinkles and entertains her in the car for a long time.  It's how I know she's awake or sleeping.  If she's sleeping it's quiet. :)

Elmo & Friends (My First Look and Find)

This is one of the books we read the most.  It's a board book but it's over sized and I think that's why she really likes it.

Nuby Super Spout Easy Grip
This is the only sippy cup we've tried so far, and she sometimes has a hard time getting milk or water out (because she gnaws at the nipple) but it's easy for her to hold onto and she's starting to figure out to tip it back.

Mum-Mum's
We just started giving these to her.  The face she first made was totally confusion and I kind of had to show her that she could eat them, but since then she really likes them.  I've only tried the banana flavor, but I did buy the vegetable flavor and are going to try those soon.  I only give her a half of one at a time and usually only once or twice a day, but they are great for keeping her entertained for a few minutes (although still with supervision) while we are out to eat.

See: 1 month favorites 2 month favorites, 3 month favorites, 4 month favorites,  5 month favorites, 6 month favorites

Eleanor is 7 months

7 months already.  We are more than halfway to a year and I look back at pictures and get sad that my memories are already fading a little.

Eleanor:
She's become very mobile with scooting but only going backwards.  She hasn't figured out how to go forwards although she does get up on all fours and rock.

She can roll and turn herself to get where she wants also.

We've been doing solids and have tried several vegetables and a few fruits and she's been pretty good with everything she's tried.  No reactions yet.

No teeth yet.

Still breastfeeding about every 3 hours but really I just follow her cues.  Sometimes it's less and sometimes more.

She's moved up to size 3 diapers for disposables although I use cloth most of the time - expect if we are out of the house and Rob still uses disposables (but will take off a cloth).

Clothes are mostly in the 6-9 month range, pajamas with feet are in the 9 month size and when she wears a cloth diaper I go up to 9 month usually.

Likes the vacuum and anything anyone else has. :)


Me:
Last week I started to have some random stomach pain and I realized that it was near the c-section site and was most likely connected.  Since then it's been on and off.  I haven't had any issues from the time I was 'healed' (November ish) but I know it's normal to have some for a long time post surgery.

Still losing hair like crazy.  It's worse when I wear it down, and I usually don't but it get's out of control sometimes.  I have to vacuum all the time now that Eleanor is mobile (not that I didn't ever vacuum before)

Kellogg's Family Rewards

I think I may have mentioned this program before but I love it!  I've already gotten a free book for Eleanor from it and am saving up my rewards for a gift card (these are not always offered, and usually go very quickly).

Several times a month they offer free codes.  Recently they had one for a thousand points!  Most are 10-100 points though.

Click the image below to learn more and sign up.

Shop Spotlight & Giveaway: Bellasbitsnbaubles

Unless you are a brand new reader you'll know about my love of girly dresses and accessories for Eleanor.  And while she has adorable clothes from bigger stores like Target or Kohls, I've been loving finding unique pieces on instagram.

When I came across this shop on instagram I was so excited!  Adorable dresses WITH matching headbands!  

Chelsea - the face behind Bellas Bits n Baubles just started making these adorable outfits and opened an etsy shop to share the girly love!

Hi my name is Chelsea, I'm a stay at home momma and obsessed with all things girly! My husband and I are blessed with a beautiful, spunky 4 year old little girl, who has a little sister on the way giving me another reason to happily indulge my obsession! Enjoying time spent with my family and making wonderful memories, keep me inspired and are everything to me! I also LOVE crafting, sewing, crocheting, and pretty much want to just create create create!!! All these things together are what created BellasBitsN'Baubles! When you see my shop, I hope you see all that inspires me; my family, my life, and my love for all things girly!!

Pretty sure she has the pregnancy glow.  I might be slightly jealous. 

 I was super excited when she agreed to a review and was in major anticipation once she let me know it had shipped.

Eleanor is wondering what is in the package also.

The paper is even cut with decorative scissors.

Her super cute business card packaged along with confetti

One step closer to opening it.

The packaging is amazing

She even sent me coordinating earrings which I love- but I also
 love the little mason jar it's attached to.

THE DRESS!!!! 

Matching headband

She likes it!

Yes mom!  I want that!

Rob wasn't around when I opened it, but when I showed him the pictures, I kept going "and look at this"  "and how cute is this?"  and he clearly knew how excited I was.  He agreed that the packaging was awesome. I realize not everyone might care about the packaging and just want what is inside - and I was excited about the outfit - but I love love love the attention and detail she put into making it look pretty.  First impression win!

This picture melts my heart.  My sweet adorable girl gazing up at her daddy!

I loved this dress and loved how precious she looked.  She wore it to church the day after getting it and got so many compliments and questions about where I got it.  I love that it is unique and no one else is going to have the same outfit as her. 

One of the tests I do to make sure something is well made is to give it to Eleanor and then try to take it back because if she wants it she will hold onto it death grip style.  Nothing budged on the headband.

I was kind of nervous to wash the dress because I didn't want to bow to come undone because I knew I won't be able to make it look so pretty.  I washed it on gentle with no issues; the dress is still beautiful.  Nothing frayed and I did manage to make the bow still look good. :)  I'm thinking she might be wearing this again on Saturday to Rob's birthday dinner with family (it might be his 30th-but she's going to steal the show!)

This dress is amazing, and I'm thinking ahead, but Eleanor might need a special 1st birthday dress for herself and I would love to be able to get her another one from BellasBitsNBaubles!

Giveaway:

Chelsea will be sending one very lucky winner the outfit (dress and headband) below in a 6-12 month size!  Enter on the rafflecopter form.  Giveaway ends 11:59 pm 5/16/14.  Open to US.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Eleanor Update: Week 30

Every week I take her picture with this bear; but she rarely shows interest in it. 

Feeding: I've been working on some introducing some new foods lately.  I've been trying not to do to many fruits yet because I want her to love vegetables.  Most have been successful though.  She liked peas (puree) and even though she tried broccoli (as a whole piece) most of it wound up in her high chair.  I also have her puffs which she didn't eat (I don't think she could pick them up very well), but she liked the Mum-Mums.  I only give her a half of one once or twice a day.  She could and probably would eat the whole one, but they are kind of expensive so I don't. 

She's still nursing on demand - it's closer to 3 hours now.  Yesterday she went a 4 hour stretch and when I realized it (by looking at the app I use when I sat down for her next feeding) I felt awful.  Rob said she wasn't crying and she would have if she had been hungry and I know but I felt like I starved her anyway.





Sleep:
Yesterday I put a soft blanket in her crib and laid her on it.  She napped for an hour and half.  I had to wake her up to get her dressed and fed before church.  I don't know if it was just a coincidence and I want to try it again, but I'm nervous to.  I kept checking that monitor.

She also slept from 9 pm Saturday night to 5:30 am Sunday, I nursed her and she slept in until 7 am.

I write these posts throughout the week so I write how it's been going and then the night before I publish it she switches it up just to make me re-write it.  Like this morning she slept in until.......wait for it.....8 am!  I'm pretty sure that hasn't happened ever.  She woke up at 1:30 and 5:30 to nurse though, but I don't care.  8 am is a lot easier to get up at than 6:30.



Misc:  
We didn't get out much this week.  It rained a lot this week so we were stuck inside a lot.

She's become an expert at scooting backwards and has been getting up on all fours a lot lately.

Pictures:

A new garage sale puzzle

Visiting nana at work; she really loved that binder clip.

Exhausted after visiting Nana

She loves that vacuum.

~Lemongrass Spa Review~

Since being pregnant and Eleanor's birth, I've been trying to incorporate more natural based and products with chemicals that aren't as harsh into daily life.  It's a slow change, but I've been doing this with cleaning products and cloth diapers among other things.

One of the biggest changes I've been trying to make is with the things we use on a daily basis the most- body care products.  Especially baby stuff.  Eleanor's sweet baby skin is so sensitive and I don't love putting strong chemicals into contact with it (although I'm pretty sure nobody does).

So when I was contacted by Samantha, a seller of Lemongrass Spa products  I was intrigued.

I'd never heard of Lemongrass Spa, but was more than willing to give it a try.  They use no harsh chemicals and are gmo and gluten free as well.  They sell products for the entire family.

Samantha sent me baby lotion, baby wash, a jar of healing elements balm and some samples of a few other products for me (body polish, lip balm, bar soap and whipped body butter)..

I was really looking forward to trying the healing elements balm. It's good for so so many things.



Eleanor often gets rashes because she gets moisture in her rolls (and we know she has lots of those). She gets one under her neck and it's hard to keep it from chaffing and irritating her.   So I applied this several times a day to her neck and it really helped.  It's not completely gone - but I'm not sure it will be because of her rolls.  As a plus it smells good and reminded me of a cupcake.



This jar of balm will last a long time.  I've used it a lot and haven't really made a dent in it.

It was hard to see in the pictures (She was trying to take the camera and I had to act fast)  but it did clear it up.

Eleanor loves her bath time and she gets a bath most days.  So being able to have a product that is better for her skin and being able to use it on a daily basis is a plus!  I wasn't a huge fan of this smell.  I like those sweet scents and this had an earthy smell to it.  It's not a bad thing if you like and prefer that and I wouldn't not use it, because of it, but it would be great if there were scent options for it.

The lotion has the same smell as the healing balm and so I naturally loved it and it  makes me want to kiss my baby even more.  After her bath she gets a diaper on, lotion on, pajamas and then when it's almost bed time a sleep sack.  I could still catch a faint whiff of the lotion in the morning (12 hours later), which is impressive because she has become a warm blooded baby and sometimes wakes up sweaty.  Most of the lotion I use doesn't even do that. 

Oatmeal milk and honey soap, pink grapefruit body polish,
whipped body butter and pink shimmer lip balm. 

I was also sent a few sample sizes of some various products.  Every one of them smelled great.  I'm not normally a fan of grapefruit (to eat it and to smell it), but this scent was not overpowering and I didn't mind it.  I used it on some rough spots on my elbows and then post shower used the whipped body butter.  I don't know the scent of that but I loved it!  

The pink shimmer lip was very pink lemonadey (I know; not a word) and very perfect for summertime.  I loved it.  Rob didn't like him when I kissed him with it on my lips, but since he's not wearing it (hopefully, haha) I don't have to worry about it.  The tube is small, which is good for portability, but could be lost easily, and while I haven't run out yet, it seems like it wouldn't last a super long time. 

One thing that I thought was really neat about the products is that on the bottom there is a date that they were made.  The lotions and baby wash were made just days before I got them.  I like knowing that they haven't been sitting around a shelf for months.

 To check out all the other products Lemongrass spa offers you can shop here.

Samantha also has a facebook group where she shares sales, tips and ways that the products have worked for her and her family.  To join it click here.