Aiden {6 Months}

I officially have a 6 month old. That means Aiden has been our lives for half of a year. I just can't believe it! A few of my friends have had babies recently and Aiden looks huge next to them. It makes me sad, but like I think I've said so far every month...this is such a fun age!!

This month has been full of changes. The biggest change is that Aiden is now sleeping in his crib in his nursery. He transitioned so well...almost too well. I think it was harder on me than on him. I was nervous about putting him in his crib swaddled because he is now rolling over (another first) so I ordered a Baby Merlin's Magic Sleep Suit to help with the transition. He napped in it in his crib the week leading up to us putting him in his crib during the night and I am a believer in the magic of this suit. Aiden no longer needs to be swaddled during naps or night time and continues to be a good sleeper.

People still say he looks like his Daddy (he is wearing his Daddy's overalls from when he was little in these pictures), but Aiden's hair is getting lighter and I'm secretly hoping he will get my curly hair. Time will tell.  

He is still curious about everything!! He is so darn smart. He is now pushing buttons on his Jumper by himself to turn on the music, watching us eat and grabbing for our food and watching things with his inquisitive brow. 

He has taken much more interest in our kitties this month. He follows them around the house with his eyes and grabs at them when they walk by. The cats are in for some "fun" when Aiden is on the move.

He is still a very routine and content little guy.  He loves being outside and the sound of music will cheer him up in an instant if he is fussy. He loves being around people and is all about trying to "talk" to us. I can't wait to hear what he has to say.

A few stats about Aiden at six months:

Weight: We go to the doctor Monday for his 6 month check up so I'll find out then. I'm going to guess 17 pounds.

Height: Official stats to come soon.

Size clothes: He is still in 3-6 month clothes, but is mostly wearing 6 month outfits. He wore his first pair of overalls for this photo shoot and I think I might just dress him in overalls every single day. I mean come on!

Sleeping: He is still sleeping pretty well if you don't count the last few days where he decided to randomly wake up around midnight. He usually sleeps from 8:30 to around 4 then I feed him and he goes back to sleep until around 7. He is sleeping in his crib, which he started doing at the beginning of 5 months, which was perfect for us. 

Eating: He is still getting 100% Mama's milk. Good news for us is that he is not spitting up nearly as much as he once did. He used to constantly have to wear a bib. It was his go to accessory. Now it's a rare thing to have to wear a bib for more than a few minutes. After his 6 month appointment we are going to start real food! I plan on making it myself so please share your favorite recipes!

Random stuff only parents want to know:

Nicknames: Love Bug, Sugar sugar, Peanut head, Stinky and of course Bubba.

Likes: Watching Mom and Dad eat (don't worry baby solids are coming your way soon!), chewing on anything he can get his little hands on, bath time , eating his toes, laughing, scrunching up his face when he smiles, listening to me sing "You Are My Sunshine."

Dislikes: Teething, being a nap skipper.

         One Month Update          Two Month Update         Three Month Update        Four Month Update

Bring on month #7!

Dilly Cafe {Date Night!}

You guys. We went on a date. Just the two of us. So it must be documented! Since Aiden was born we've probably gone on 3 dates so it was time. When you are a new parent you sometimes have to settle for a date night in, but getting out of the house just the two of you is important for your relationship. We decided to explore a part of town we don't normally go to. We made reservations at a cute restaurant that I've been hearing good things about called the Dilly Cafe in Mariemont.

The atmosphere was fun and there was live music too, which was nice. They had a huge beer and wine list so we had fun trying new drinks and browsing their new Spring/Summer menu items. Drew ordered their meatloaf and loved it and I tried their Cauliflower Gnocci with Italian Sausage. Oh my gosh you guys it was one of the best dishes I've eaten in a long time. Y-U-M.

We of course talked about Aiden and might have watched a video of him while we waited for our food. We did talk about other things too, I promise, but we made something pretty great and we are proud parents I tell ya. We were able to just breath and stare into each others eyes without getting distracted by our ridiculously cute son.

After our delicious dinner we walked around the village of Mariemont, people watched, chatted, held hands and ended up getting dessert at Graeters.

It was so nice to spend a few hours just the two of us, but coming home to our sweet baby and being able to sing him to sleep was the perfect ending to a wonderful night.

What's Your Brew?

My dear friend Tara is changing the world one post at a time. Her heart is pure gold and her desire to share who she is and let others in on her life is inspiring. She had the brilliant idea to have people step out and allow others get to know their hearts a little better by answering the question, "What's Your Brew?" So with Tara as my inspiration, here's 20 little known facts about me...

If I could be a Disney Princess I would most definitely be Cinderella not because of the Prince or her fairy Godmother, but because of her relationships with animals. True story. I have a huge heart for animals.

I have this constant fear gnawing at me that I'm just not good enough...I have to do my best to silence it everyday.

My love language is Words of Affirmation...just say nice things to me and I'll be your best friend.

Growing up I dreamt of being a teacher. I was a classroom teacher for 6 years until God closed that door and opened one for me in children's ministry. This is something that surprised me. I love that God is full of surprises.

I love getting lost in a book. Listening to my husband read aloud to me is one of the things that relaxes me most.

You could call me old school...I love checking out actual books from the library, buying CD's, writing my notes on a notepad, journaling on paper and listening to the radio.

I've always wanted to learn how to play the piano.

I enjoy getting dressed up, but hardly ever paint my nails and I have no clue how to really do my hair or make-up for special occassions.

I'm married to my high school sweetheart. We survived a long distance college relationship and I still have a crush on him.

I'd rather wear hiking boots than high heels.

I eat Nutella by the spoonful and don't feel guilty about it.

I have lived in the same state my entire life and have no plans to move. 

My whole world changed for the better the moment I met my son.

I believe in God's deep love for me and for you. After being a Christian for almost my entire life I'm just now truly beginning to understand the depth of this love and how to live out my faith. 

I just tried Chai tea for the first time this year and am making up for lost time.

I'm Type A all the way. I always like to have a plan even on days when we are just hanging out at home. Sometimes it drives me crazy that my mind is constantly on the move.

I am an outfit saver. When I get new clothes I wait until the "perfect occasion" to wear them often meaning that I don't wear them for months. Oops. 

I am super sensitive and feel very in tune with how the people around me are feeling. When I was a little girl I had to have every single one of my stuffed animals on my bed for fear that they would feel "left out." I think this quality makes me a good friend.

I believe hand written notes are one of the most romantic and thoughtful gestures. 

I lack confidence in my self sometimes and allow doubt to creep in, so this activity was a stretch for me, but stretching the mind and soul is good for you. 

 From Tara: We all have different experiences, dreams, testimonies and a story to share with the world, someone-somewhere could be changed + inspired by you, sharing yours. I’d love for you to join us throughout the month of April to share your story, in one post, on Instagram or Facebook, in ten-twenty bullet points using the hashtag #WhatsYourBrew. Strip away the labels and let your light shine. Give the world an opportunity to get a glimpse of your heart, who you are, and what ingredients make up your ‘BREW’ [story].

Baby bowties + bunnies

There's really nothing cuter than a baby in a bowtie. Then add bunnies and I'm a puddle on the floor. I did my very best to just post a "few" of my favorites from Aiden's 5 month photo shoot. I love his little expressions, his rolls, his little delicious toes and how much he adored sitting with the bunnies. He laughed and giggled through our entire photo session. My heart could burst with all the love I have for him. I'll let the pictures do the talking in this post...let the baby cuteness commence.

Thank you Tracy and Little Rascals Photography for capturing these images of my sweet boy!

Tales from the changing table

Ever since Aiden was a teeny, tiny newborn he has loved his changing table. It is what my husband and I lovingly refer to as his "happy place." He is a pretty content little man, but if he is ever upset, a quick trip to his changing table will fix that.

It was probably his changing table where we first saw him smile and I know it is where we first heard him laugh. It is the place that he makes the most noise and even if he is on the verge of falling asleep, he becomes wide eyed and bushy tailed as soon as we lay him down to change him. For some reason this kid just loves his changing table...and being naked.

Teething is upon us (dun dun duh) which can make for a fussy baby. Aiden's changing table along with some amazing teething toys have helped make this process easier on us as new parents. There are so many different teething toys out there that it's hard to know which ones to invest in. I've seen teething toys that resemble fake food like hot dogs and cheeseburgers (Ew), teething toys that look like a dog's chew toy (no thank you) and honestly I just want teething toys that work and help my little guy feel better. So I decided to try the Nuby 3 Stage Teether Set.

Right now Aiden doesn't have any teeth that have cut through and the doctor said he could be teething until he is 9 months old before ever even cutting a tooth...oh joy! This Nuby teething set comes with three different teethers and all natural teether wipes. Each of the teethers targets a different area of your baby's mouth. The stage 1 teether is amazing and targets the front of the mouth where the first teeth come in and is designed to massage a baby's delicate gums. It is also very easy for tiny baby hands to grip!

I have tried several other teethers and Aiden's favorites are Sophie the Giraffe and the MAM Mini Cooler from Target. This Nuby set is becoming a quick favorite as well. I love that each teether included in this set has a specific purpose to help out those poor teething babes because let's be real...teething is not fun for anyone involved. So the motto of this post is: find your baby's "happy place" and a good teether and just keep them in said happy place with that toy until teething is officially over.  It sounds good in theory, right?

Does your baby have a "happy place?"

What are some of your favorite teething toys?

You can find the Nuby 3 Stage Teether Set here.

I did receive this item free as part of the Nuby Parent Blogger Program, but all opinions are my own!

Fri-YAY!

Happy Friday friends! The sun is out and our big plans for the evening include a family walk at the park and dinner picnic style! Here are some other things that are making me smile...

ONE: 

A family friend who just so happens to be a fantastic photographer took some pictures of Aiden and I'm in love. I was so excited to actually get some pictures of just the two of us. I'll be devoting an entire post to these pictures so prepare yourselves for some baby spam.

TWO: 

The Rootbeer Stand is OPEN and dangerously close to our house.

THREE: 

It is finally warm enough to wear my cat Vans. Oh my gosh, I'm in love. Plus the money my husband paid for these shoes...some of it went to the SPCA. Win, win.

FOUR: 

I am finally getting back in the swing of cooking meals consistently. It's about time right?! I have a post in the works about some simple, new mom friendly meals.

FIVE: 

Spring means babies. One of my best friends just had her second baby boy and we are planning a visit this week to meet him. Another one of my dear friends is due with her second set of twins any day now as well!!!

Happy weekend!

A little sunshine, a lotta love

It truly is amazing how much a little sunshine can do for your spirit. Lately I've felt a little discouraged. No particular reason, but I just feel like I'm in a bit of a rut. Drew and I haven't had much time alone together, work has been crazy, it's been gloomy outside and our house to-do list is forever long. I'm also still trying to figure out how to be productive most days. So when Mr. Sun decided to show up, I took full advantage.

Aiden absolutely loves being outside! The last few days I have taken a blanket and a few toys outside  and we spend our afternoons listening to the birds and watching the clouds drift above us. It's times like these that lift my spirits. I know this guy deserves all my attention and the laundry, planting, cleaning and decorating can wait.  He won't be little forever.

I love days like these. Days that remind me of the simple joys of life.

Aiden's First Easter

Aiden's first Easter was definitely a special one. Being the typical picture loving gal that I am on top of being a new Mom, this is your warning....this post contains an overload of pictures!

We kicked off our weekend on Saturday by going to lunch with Drew's family at our favorite restaurant, Grand Finale! I ordered their salmon cakes (the best!) and we shared a few desserts because you can't go to Grand Finale and not get their desserts!

After lunch I had to go into church for a few hours to help run the evening Easter services, but Aiden opened his Easter basket (the first of 3) and went on a hike with his Daddy and Aunts and Uncles.

On Sunday we attended an awesome church service as a family and later we headed out to my Aunt and Uncle's farm for more Easter fun.

This year was extra special because Aiden was able to celebrate his first Easter with every single one of his Aunts and Uncles! That's a big feat considering several of them are from out of town. He seriously has the best looking group of Aunts and Uncles around. I mean come on!

Aiden got lots of love and witnessed his crazy family compete in egg and spoon relays, sack races and an Easter egg hunt complete with 20 dollar eggs courtesy of my Aunt Pam. These pictures make me laugh! Adult fun at it's finest. Haha.

I absolutely love seeing Aiden interact with the people I love so much. It is a special time of life and I am trying to soak in every second!

Great Aunt Pam

Uncle Josh and Aunt Carly

Uncle Arjun

Great Grandma JuneBug

What a beautiful day. We have so much to be thankful for if it isn't obvious enough in these pictures. But above all I'm thankful that Jesus is alive and that he cares about every detail of our lives.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter.