Laters Baby

Fifty Shades of Grey
Yes, this is the first movie I saw post-baby. It's wasn't even one I saw with the boy since it was with a group of friends, which does mean we've yet to see a movie together since Elley arrived. But since this post is meant to be about the actual movie, let's get to it.

I actually wound up really enjoying this, and thought it was well done. Considering how bad this could have turned out that was quite impressive. It actually wasn't nearly as over the top as it could have been since they took out several of the more risque things out.

I had completely forgotten where the first book ended and was a bit surprised when the movie ended. So much of what I remember is actually from books 2 and 3, which does means as much I as enjoyed this I'm looking forward to the next ones even more.

3 Months Update

Elley, you are three months old!

March 11Which also means you're a quarter of a year old. You don't have a doctor's appointment this month, so no official stats. But by the scientific method of weighing myself with and without you, you're around 11 lbs, which supposedly would put you between the 10th and 25th percentile.

February 23You're still technically in 3 month clothing, although several onesies have gotten two small and you can't quite stretch out your legs all the way in your sleeper. But all your 6 month clothing is washed and ready to go, so I'm sure we'll slowly start rotating it into your wardrobe. You're still wearing size 1 diapers, and while you really only wear them on the weekends, your bumgeniuses now have one snap open around the waist.

February 16, At your great-aunt's houseYour world was rocked this month, first by taking a 10 hour road trip to Atlanta where we spend a night at your godfather's, then 2 more nights at your great-aunt's house. You also got to meet 5 of your second cousins, although we weren't quite sure what to make of all the craziness they caused.

March 7, Hanging out at WhichWichThankfully you did pretty well on the road trip, pretty impressive since your not a huge fan of your car seat. Although we did learn that after your 7:30 bedtime you want to be all wrapped up in your crib, and still being in a car seat at that time is practically torture.

March 4, Unsure about Daddy's sneezeIn other earth-rocking news, I went back to work this month which completely changed your day. You spent 3 weeks with Pappi and Nanna, your grandparents, although starting next week you'll officially be at daycare. (By the time this posts go live though that's where you'll be.) I'm sure you'll do just find there, although if I have any concern it's that they won't pay enough attention to you since you're so easy-going. Although honestly, with you being as cute as you are, how could they stay away?

February 26, Morning cuddlesYou're still sleeping really, really well. Plus now once you're asleep, you're down for the night and that's it till morning. I can't remember the last time you decided you weren't quite asleep yet and we had to go back in 10 to 15 minutes after thinking you were asleep to try again. In the 3 weeks I've been back at work there was only 1 time where you woke up early enough where I needed to put you back in your crib. There are times when you'll wake up 20 or 30 minutes before my alarm goes off, but all that means is after you've eaten you get to cuddle in bed with us. And those early morning cuddles are some of the best.

March 5, More morning cuddlesYou're still eating like a champ. During the day you're eating 4 4-oz bottles of pumped milk. Then we have nursing sessions first thing in the morning and last thing before bed. I'm definitely grateful I've been able to pretty much keep up with you by pumping twice during the day, except I'm already over it. But while I'm looking forward to the end of pumping, I'm not quite ready to even think about the end of nursing.

March 9You are smiling a ton now. One of my favorite things is picking you up at the end of the day and when you see me and start smiling. Although it's pretty impossible to get a picture of these smiles since as soon as you see a camera you get serious and distracted.

March 11, Eating your 3 month numberYou're starting to figure out your hands a little bit more, and the past few days have started gnawing on your fists. You haven't quite figured out how to shake your toys or even really bat at them yet, but I have a feeling by the time we're at next month's update you'll be a pro! Who knows what else you'll have mastered by then, but I definitely can wait to see!

1 Month ~ 2 Months

Mailbox Monday (110)

Somehow I've actually managed to post my Mailbox Monday post two weeks in a row! It's a little later than I normally get my post up, but still technically on time.
For Review from France Book Tours
Race to Tibet by Sophie Schiller
This is a historical fiction about a French explorer who travels to Tibet. I've actually started it already, and while it's different than expected, so far I've been pleasantly surprised.

For Review from TLC Book Tours
Diamond Head by Cecily Wong
Another historical fiction book, this one taking place in Hawaii. I can't remember a book I've read that took place in Hawaii, let alone a historical one which makes me really excited for this.

From Goodreads
The Trap by Steven Arnton
Yet, another historical fiction. This time we're in Iowa in the 1960s. It's a middle grade book which is different than the other two. It's supposed to be a little science fiction too, which sounds like an interesting mix.

Seeking Serenity by Amanda Enayati
Definitely not historical fiction! I wouldn't call myself a very stressed or anxious person, but even so I hoping to learn something by read this one.

Start Me Up by Nicole Michaels
Sometimes there's nothing like a cheesy romance novels. In case you couldn't guess from the title the romantic interest here is a mechanic.

From a Friend
You Are My Sunshine by Caroline Jayne Church
Hello, Bugs! by Smriti Prasadam
Where is Baby's Belly Button? by Karen Katz
Peek-a-Who by Nina Laden
! friend of mine was cleaning out her own baby items and gave these to me, as well as a bunch of clothes and toys. I've already read each one to Elley and have a feeling we'll be reading each one many more times in the years to come.

What did you find in your mailbox this week?

Differences in Development

Infants and Mothers by T. Berry Brezelton, M.D.
Published: July 1, 1983 by Delta
First Published: November 28, 1969
This is another one of my mom's parenting books. Given that it was published a little over a year before I was born, I have to imagine this is one she read before or just after I was born. It is a little comforting knowing that I'm doing the same thing she was 30 years ago, especially since she's not actually able to be here for my parenting journey.

I do love the idea behind this book. It takes three babies, an average baby, a quiet baby, and an active baby, and let's you see their growth and development broken out each month over their first year. I love that it shows you the milestones to expect, but the way it's written it shouldn't make you feel like you're baby is behind, since the point is to show how different babies can be. It's actually readable, and more like a story, compared to something that just fact after fact.

Not only does it show different types of babies, but different lifestyles as well. One baby is the first child, one is the second, and one is the third. Also one mother goes back to work, while the other two stay home. Again, this helps show the wide range of experiences your child might potentially go through, that wouldn't be as easy to see if it was just one child.

More than following the babies, there's also a good amount given to the mothers. You get inside the mind of each mother so you can see what they're thinking. No mother is perfect either, and there are definitely times where the mother does something less than ideal where the narration comes in to say how it could have been handled better.

The book definitely has a lot going for it, and yet so much of it is outdated it's really hard to enjoy. For example, as each baby leaves the hospital they are handed to the mother in the front seat to hold on the drive home. I realize this must have been normal then, but reading it now, it just screams danger to me. There's others too that I noticed, like putting babies to sleep on their stomachs or starting solid foods around 2 or 3 months. But if these are the ones I noticed, I have to imagine there's others I didn't pick up on. It makes it hard to be able to follow any advice given because it's likely no longer considered safe.

I do wish that this book had been updated more recently, because I think it's a really interesting idea. And while it's hard for me to recommend it as a parenting book, I do think it's interesting to read and see just how much practices have changed in the past 30 years.

3/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

February in Review

I'm a few days late getting this post up, but better late then never, right? Life has definitely been crazy since I've gone back to work. There's even been several nights where I've passed out on the couch before 9, but at least I'm able to function during the day, so I guess that's saying something!

In February...
...We had a ton of delicious food! The boy cooked a ton making Mushroom Asiago Chicken, Beef Stew, Spaghetti, and few other things, but out of them all, my favorite was his homemade Gnocchi with Sage Brown Butter Sauce.
...Of the non-homemade variety, we went out to Kona Grill for book club where I had this Fig & Brie Flatbread. (It really is awesome being able to eat brie again after avoiding it for nine months while pregnant.)
...I also went back to work and took advantage of the fact I could have a leisurely lunch by myself at Panera.

...I posted reviews of 4 books and 1 movie.
Matched by Ally Condie
The Temptation of the Night Jasmine by Lauren Willig
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
The First Six Months by Penelope Leach
Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of
Likely not too much of a surprise, but I'd have to list my favorite of them all as the Backstreet Boys movie. Although out of just the books it would be The Temptation of the Night Jasmine.

...5 years ago, in 2010, I posted about buying my first smart phone. Crazy to think we were able to survive so long without them, and how much we rely on them now.
What were some of your highlights from this past February?

Mailbox Monday (109)

I had every intention of sharing this book last week for Mailbox Monday, and that definitely didn't happen. In fact this is only the first post I've been able to write in a week and a half, but at least I'm making it happen now!
For Review from France Book Tours
The Witch of Painted Sorrow by M.J. Rose
I read one M.J. Rose book last year and really enjoyed it, so I'm definitely looking forward to this one. And actually this is the first review book I've received post-baby. I have 3 review books lined up in the next two months and I'm starting to think I may have overdone it. But I guess we'll see if I'm able to pull it off as the days get closer!

What did you find in your mailbox this week?

Into the Woods

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Published: 1971 by Harper Trophy
First Published: 1932
Series: Little House #1
I'm not sure how many times I've read the Little House books, but I do remember reading them for the first time in 3rd grade. They weren't the first historical fiction books I really got into (Those would be the American Girl books), nor do I consider them my all-time favorite (that would be the Betsy-Tacy books), but even so, I still have a very found place in my heart for these.

It is interesting reading these now. One of the biggest things I'm realizing is that there isn't actually a plot. Instead it's full of little anecdotes tied together. It doesn't seem like the type of thing that would capture a child's interest, and yet clearly it does, especially since there's certain parts I recalled so clearly.

One of my strongest memories of this book is the butchering story, when Laura and Mary play catch with a pig's bladder. I'm not quite sure why, maybe because I was a little grossed out as well as fascinated? Although I didn't realize till I started the book that it's the first chapter, so I'm sure that has something to do with it. I guess that's one way to capture a kid's interest, right?

In slightly less gory detail, I always loved the maple sugar dance. Again for some reason the part where Laura meets another Laura Ingalls is something that I've always remembered. Maybe because the idea of meeting someone with my own name was unbelievable? Or just that it's coincidental in a way that with so few people in Laura's world, there's still someone with her name?

I definitely loved getting transported back into my childhood with this, and am really looking forward to rereading the whole series. I would probably list Little Town on the Prairie as my favorite of the series, which means I have quite a few more to read before getting there!

5/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!