Thursday, April 17, 2014
Wordless Thursday
I didn't get the chance to post this yesterday, but Tuesday was our third anniversary and our first date since Eleanor was born (eek!).
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
~ Purex Non Sort Detergent Review AND Giveaway ~
I was provided this product for review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own.
Although I don't have any super nice clothes (I pretty much live in yoga pants), I was still a little nervous about trying Purex's new no sort laundry detergent. What if it didn't work and my clothes got ruined? I don't really have the budget to get new ones. And with my post baby body not where I want it to be, I really don't have the desire to go through the process of shopping for new clothes anyway.
Because I trust Purex and their products I decided to give it a go and washed a load containing darks, reds, and other bright colored clothes. The convenience of not having to sort my laundry and worrying about colors bleeding or dye running won out. You can't see from the image below, but I even threw in some of Eleanor's pants.
(Sorry for the poor image quality; my basement laundry room doesn't get a ton of light)/
When I went to switch them I was happy to see no surprises. I usually check over my laundry before putting it in the dryer just in case so after everything looked good I started the dryer.
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Generally I don't always sort my clothes or Rob's clothes because as I said with most of our clothes it doesn't really matter anyway, but when I do wash something new I wash it with towels or sheets separate just in case.
With this new product I can feel comfortable throwing all my stuff in the same load. I can wash fewer loads saving time and money.
If you want to try the new no sort detergent enter on the rafflecopter form below. Open to US and ends on 4/23. Winners have 48 hours to respond.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You can also enter to win a years supply and $1,000 by clicking this link.
Monday, April 14, 2014
The Eleanor Update: 27 weeks
This was a crazy busy week for that sweet girl.
Last Monday Eleanor turned 6 months (read the update post here). We visited the Fredrick Meijer gardens with my mom, niece, sister, nephew, my sisters sister in law (also Rob's bosses wife) and her 2 kids. Eleanor loved looking around at all the plants and watching the butterflies.
That night we have her solids for the first time (not counting the licks of stuff she's had from our fingers). She's had carrots, carrot and pea blend as purees, bell peppers and baby carrots in a mesh feeder and oatmeal.
The next day she rolled over from back to belly. She did it once the week before, but this was several times so I knew she had figured it out. A few hours later we went to the doctor for her checkup. She was 17 lbs 7 oz and 26' and her head was in the 95% (umm whoa!). She also got her shots but she did well with them.
2 days later I went to the store for a quick trip. While I was gone she learned how to say 'dada' and has been saying it ever since.
Breastfeeding:
I'm thrilled we made it to 6 months! I wound up with a bruise on one side, but I nursed her in the cradle most of the weekend because we were gone so she was latching differently. It's still there but I'm sure it will eventually go away.
Sleep:
See any of my other updates because I'm always saying the same thing.
I've been reading all sorts of sleep books, and basically she needs a bedtime routine and to be put down drowsy but not asleep. I have no consistency and she usually nurses to sleep.
Once she is down finally she will usually only wake up once a night.
I've been bed sharing a lot and am trying to break that habit. Although I sleep better when she is in bed and she does too, I'm worried for when she starts to roll over.
That night we have her solids for the first time (not counting the licks of stuff she's had from our fingers). She's had carrots, carrot and pea blend as purees, bell peppers and baby carrots in a mesh feeder and oatmeal.
The next day she rolled over from back to belly. She did it once the week before, but this was several times so I knew she had figured it out. A few hours later we went to the doctor for her checkup. She was 17 lbs 7 oz and 26' and her head was in the 95% (umm whoa!). She also got her shots but she did well with them.
2 days later I went to the store for a quick trip. While I was gone she learned how to say 'dada' and has been saying it ever since.
I know you all are thinking it... :)
We had this crazy freak flash no warning storm come through Saturday afternoon that left us without power until Sunday morning. So we spent the night at my parents. It was her first night not at home but she did okay.
Breastfeeding:
I'm thrilled we made it to 6 months! I wound up with a bruise on one side, but I nursed her in the cradle most of the weekend because we were gone so she was latching differently. It's still there but I'm sure it will eventually go away.
Sleep:
See any of my other updates because I'm always saying the same thing.
I've been reading all sorts of sleep books, and basically she needs a bedtime routine and to be put down drowsy but not asleep. I have no consistency and she usually nurses to sleep.
Once she is down finally she will usually only wake up once a night.
I've been bed sharing a lot and am trying to break that habit. Although I sleep better when she is in bed and she does too, I'm worried for when she starts to roll over.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Our Favorite Things: 6 Month Style
These are some of the things that have gotten the most use around here this last month.
1) Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack
This thing has been a huge hit lately. She loves the top two rings. It's probably because they are the easiest to get to, but she will play with them and swing her arms around.
2 RaZ-berry Teether
We have a few different teethers (the other ones are the kind that go in the freezer) but she likes this one the best. I wasn't sure when I bought it if she would, because it's similar in shape to a pacifier and she doesn't like those, but she likes to gnaw on it. Not just the red part, but the leaves on the side.
3) Fisher-Price Stand-Up Ballcano
This was a Christmas gift that we recently pulled out and it catches her attention instantly. There is a little thing you spin, which raises the center part and then the balls roll down the sides and she likes to watch that. It plays music too. Mostly she likes to stand against it and grab at the balls on the top.
4) When Eleanor was younger she hated diaper changes. After decorating the Christmas tree I had some leftover silver bulbs I hung over the changing table. It helped her not freak out but then she kind of didn't care. In the last few weeks she has really taken a liking to them again. She likes mirrors and since they reflect it's kind of the same thing I guess. She will look at herself and smile.
She's sleeping so I don't have a current pic, but here is one from when I first put them up. (and how tiny was my little girl).
5) City Mini Stroller
: Now that Eleanor is bigger and it's warmer out, we don't use the keyfit caddy (mentioned in the one month favorites) as much. I do still use it for quick runs into a store but we use the city mini more. She can see out out it so much better, and when she does fall asleep it reclines flat so it's comfortable for her.
See: 1 month favorites 2 month favorites, 3 month favorites, 4 month favorites, 5 month favorites
1) Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack
This thing has been a huge hit lately. She loves the top two rings. It's probably because they are the easiest to get to, but she will play with them and swing her arms around.
2 RaZ-berry Teether
We have a few different teethers (the other ones are the kind that go in the freezer) but she likes this one the best. I wasn't sure when I bought it if she would, because it's similar in shape to a pacifier and she doesn't like those, but she likes to gnaw on it. Not just the red part, but the leaves on the side.
3) Fisher-Price Stand-Up Ballcano
This was a Christmas gift that we recently pulled out and it catches her attention instantly. There is a little thing you spin, which raises the center part and then the balls roll down the sides and she likes to watch that. It plays music too. Mostly she likes to stand against it and grab at the balls on the top.
4) When Eleanor was younger she hated diaper changes. After decorating the Christmas tree I had some leftover silver bulbs I hung over the changing table. It helped her not freak out but then she kind of didn't care. In the last few weeks she has really taken a liking to them again. She likes mirrors and since they reflect it's kind of the same thing I guess. She will look at herself and smile.
She's sleeping so I don't have a current pic, but here is one from when I first put them up. (and how tiny was my little girl).
5) City Mini Stroller
: Now that Eleanor is bigger and it's warmer out, we don't use the keyfit caddy (mentioned in the one month favorites) as much. I do still use it for quick runs into a store but we use the city mini more. She can see out out it so much better, and when she does fall asleep it reclines flat so it's comfortable for her.See: 1 month favorites 2 month favorites, 3 month favorites, 4 month favorites, 5 month favorites
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Hey 6 months!
6 months = 26 weeks =182 days.
Yesterday my sweet precious baby girl was half way to a year.
Eating:
Still breastfeeding! I still get pain when nursing and sometimes I have to unlatch her and re-latch her, but I was thinking back to the beginning when I would cry and curl my toes when she would latch and we've come a long ways since then. I'm not at all ready to stop yet. I love that she's getting the benefits and so am I.
I would like to keep going past a year. I know it's not the norm at all, and Rob thinks it's weird (but I think a lot of people think that), but my sister will be at a year nursing my nephew next week with no signs of stopping and I think it helps having that example (and I'm super proud of her for getting there- love you Ali!).
I'm pumping once sometimes twice a week (so maybe 6-10 oz) despite the fact that I probably have about a 10 day milk supply. It's more to keep it fresh, if it makes since.
We started solids last night! We gave her carrots as a puree and she loved it. We will probably mostly do baby led weaning though. But that means we need to eat healthier if she is going to eat what we eat.
Sleep:
Seriously all.over.the.place. One night she would sleep 8 hours in her crib and the next she'd be up every hour.
The night she turned 5 months we put her in her crib for the first time at night. It was hard for me because I missed her, but it got easier.
Then a week or so later she started waking up all the time and I wound up bed-sharing. That's something I said I would never do, but she slept better and I actually slept (not better though).
Her naps are actually getting better though. I put her on her belly for naps and that helps.
Still no schedule. For us I think rather than set times, such as nap at 9, a better way would be to maybe take a nap 2 hours after waking or something like that.
She usually wakes up at 6:30 am. This is the one thing that is consistent with her.
Growth:
We are about to move up to size 3 diapers. She probably could stay in size 2 (at least the Target brand since they seem longer) but we are about out of size 2 so we will give size 3 a shot. If they don't work, I'll go back to size 2.
Using cloth more (although with the whole starting solids, I'm nervous about that change since breast milk poop washes out easily) and she's fitting into some of the one size diapers better so we have a lot more options and I'm addicted to fluff again.
Yesterday my sweet precious baby girl was half way to a year.
Eating:
Still breastfeeding! I still get pain when nursing and sometimes I have to unlatch her and re-latch her, but I was thinking back to the beginning when I would cry and curl my toes when she would latch and we've come a long ways since then. I'm not at all ready to stop yet. I love that she's getting the benefits and so am I.
I would like to keep going past a year. I know it's not the norm at all, and Rob thinks it's weird (but I think a lot of people think that), but my sister will be at a year nursing my nephew next week with no signs of stopping and I think it helps having that example (and I'm super proud of her for getting there- love you Ali!).
I'm pumping once sometimes twice a week (so maybe 6-10 oz) despite the fact that I probably have about a 10 day milk supply. It's more to keep it fresh, if it makes since.
We started solids last night! We gave her carrots as a puree and she loved it. We will probably mostly do baby led weaning though. But that means we need to eat healthier if she is going to eat what we eat.
Sleep:
Seriously all.over.the.place. One night she would sleep 8 hours in her crib and the next she'd be up every hour.
The night she turned 5 months we put her in her crib for the first time at night. It was hard for me because I missed her, but it got easier.
Then a week or so later she started waking up all the time and I wound up bed-sharing. That's something I said I would never do, but she slept better and I actually slept (not better though).
Her naps are actually getting better though. I put her on her belly for naps and that helps.
Still no schedule. For us I think rather than set times, such as nap at 9, a better way would be to maybe take a nap 2 hours after waking or something like that.
She usually wakes up at 6:30 am. This is the one thing that is consistent with her.
Growth:
We are about to move up to size 3 diapers. She probably could stay in size 2 (at least the Target brand since they seem longer) but we are about out of size 2 so we will give size 3 a shot. If they don't work, I'll go back to size 2.
Using cloth more (although with the whole starting solids, I'm nervous about that change since breast milk poop washes out easily) and she's fitting into some of the one size diapers better so we have a lot more options and I'm addicted to fluff again.
For clothes she's mostly in 3-6 month onesies with a few Carters 3 month (which really are 0-3 since they run small). Pants are 6-9 month and pajamas are 9 months (I can still get her into 6-9 but they are snug).
She had her 6 month appointment this morning. She was 26" (70%), 17 lbs 7 oz (75%) and her head was at 95% (Whoa!). Other than the head thing (which the doctor thinks might have been an error-but they didn't remeausre) her growth has been pretty steady.
Misc:
We've been getting out and walking more, now that the weather is getting better out. She loves to walk in the big girl stroller because she can check everything out. Before, in her other stroller, it would put her to sleep in minutes, and now she could stay awake 15-20 minutes.
She loves to talk and makes this scrunchy face when she thinks something is funny.
She just just (as in this morning) figured out how to roll back to belly. She did it a few times so I think she's learning. She did it once last week, but not since - until today. And actually I've yet to see her do it because she always seems to do it when I look away.
She fake coughs when she wants attention. Hilarious.
Me:
I knew post-partum hair loss was a possibility, but it didn't really happen until this last month. And I lose a lot. Every time I shower, brush my hair, take out my pony tail, get in the car, walk down the steps (so basically always) I lose hair. That plus when Eleanor grabs a fistful and yanks it out of my head. I'm not sure how I have any left.
This is a completely random and not sure if it's related observation, but before being pregnant if I would lay on my back, and stretch my legs out (like lift and straighten) my hips would kind of pop. Every time, and on both sides. I noticed the other day that doesn't happen anymore.
For funsies here is the birth story.
She had her 6 month appointment this morning. She was 26" (70%), 17 lbs 7 oz (75%) and her head was at 95% (Whoa!). Other than the head thing (which the doctor thinks might have been an error-but they didn't remeausre) her growth has been pretty steady.
Misc:
We've been getting out and walking more, now that the weather is getting better out. She loves to walk in the big girl stroller because she can check everything out. Before, in her other stroller, it would put her to sleep in minutes, and now she could stay awake 15-20 minutes.
She loves to talk and makes this scrunchy face when she thinks something is funny.
She just just (as in this morning) figured out how to roll back to belly. She did it a few times so I think she's learning. She did it once last week, but not since - until today. And actually I've yet to see her do it because she always seems to do it when I look away.
She fake coughs when she wants attention. Hilarious.
Me:
I knew post-partum hair loss was a possibility, but it didn't really happen until this last month. And I lose a lot. Every time I shower, brush my hair, take out my pony tail, get in the car, walk down the steps (so basically always) I lose hair. That plus when Eleanor grabs a fistful and yanks it out of my head. I'm not sure how I have any left.
This is a completely random and not sure if it's related observation, but before being pregnant if I would lay on my back, and stretch my legs out (like lift and straighten) my hips would kind of pop. Every time, and on both sides. I noticed the other day that doesn't happen anymore.
For funsies here is the birth story.
Monday, April 7, 2014
The Eleanor Update: Week 26
26 weeks and we are officially halfway to a year. This update will be a little shorter because I'm working on the 6 month (sob) update.
Breastfeding:
Still having some latch issues. I don't think it's going to change, and as I've mentioned before I'm not willing to stop so I'm just dealing with the pain.
Her nursing sessions have been pretty short this week and while she generally doesn't go more than 2 1/2 hours, there have been a few cases where she went 3 hours. I'm trying to stretch them out a little bit.
Her nursing sessions have been pretty short this week and while she generally doesn't go more than 2 1/2 hours, there have been a few cases where she went 3 hours. I'm trying to stretch them out a little bit.
Sleep:
I'm starting to feel like a broken record. It's good. It's bad. It's good. It's okay. It's bad again. It's okay.
Thursday night she slept from 11 pm - 6:45 in her crib. She didn't wake up once.
Friday night she slept from 9 pm -12:45 in her crib, nursed, back in crib until 5 am, nursed again and then was basically up until she napped on me from 8-9.
Misc:
She's been super clingy this week and I feel like I've gotten nothing done. If I walk out of her sight, or even out of her reach she whines.
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