What Baby Ate Wednesday

Hello Mama's and future Mama-to-bes,

I am so SOOOOOOOO proud to say that Aaron has finally started to eat a decent amount and variety of solid food!!!! Naturally, I am now worried about him eating a balanced diet - will the worrying ever end? I doubt it. As moms I think we will always find something to worry about. I know several mommies that feel the same, and I was thinking we should join forces and form a sort of community.

I always enjoy reading all of your experiences/ and baby updates on Instagram. So I am reaching out to you all and sharing a day in the {food} life of Aaron, in hopes that it will give some of you ideas for meals and snacks. AND  I hope you will comment here or on Instagram/FaceBook your meal/snack ideas whether your baby is 2 months old or 10 years old - they will always be our babies right?
* DISCLAIMER
I am in NO way a nutrition expert - this is just what I am doing for MY baby at this time :)

Morning Bottle - 6 oz. Breast-milk

Breakfast
1/4 C. Cheerios
1/4 C. Whole Milk Cottage Cheese
1/4 C. NurtureMe Organic Quinoa Baby Cereal
1/4 C, Mango Carrot and Banana Puree
1/4 Banana
1 oz. Water

Snack 
1/4 C. Yogurt Melts
4 oz. Breast-milk

Lunch
1/2 Avocado
1/8 C. Pinto Beans
1/8 C. Mexican Rice
Veggie Puffs
4 oz Breast-milk

Snack
4 oz. Breast-milk

Dinner
Few spoons of Mashed Potatoes with Cheese and Meat Loaf
6 oz. Breast-milk

*Since Breast-milk digests quickly he still wakes up for a 6 oz.bottle of Breast-milk at some point in the night.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to hearing from you!

{11} Month Baby Update

HAPPY 11 MONTHS my sweet boy!!! The past month has been my FAVORITE month spent with my boy (I am sure I will say this again in the future - each month brings more and more joy!). I have adjusted and become comfortable in my role as a mother, we have found a routine that works for us and he is in my biased eyes an amazing, perseverant, HAPPY, intelligent, silly boy that overcomes obstacles in an admirable fashion each and every time. I do still miss him being little, but I think that the best is yet to come :)

WEIGHT/HEIGHT - 

My little shorty is 19.5 pounds and still has baby soft and chunky little legs and lots to love! He is short but being tall isn't in his genes exactly (I'm only 5 ft!).

EATING - 

I am still exclusively pumping for Aaron and I am so SO so happy/proud to have reached my personal goal of giving him breast milk for the first year! It has not been in the least bit easy - but it has been worth it! I never thought I would be even thinking about continuing past the first year but since primarily lives off of breast milk at this point - I plan to continue as long as he needs and my body allows me to. On that note  he has recently started to try more and more foods, and eat much more enthusiastically! He is also going to start seeing a speech and language pathologist, and occupational therapist so we can work on his oral aversion issues. Once he is eating enough solids, we can wean him off the "boob", and hopefully remove the g-tube!

*If anyone has questions regarding our oral aversion journey, or exclusively pumping I would be happy to answer them or create a separate blog post?

SLEEPING

Pretty much the same as last month except he has been getting bursts of energy right before bed time, and he  is going to bed around 8:30/9:00 instead now.

HEALTH

Aaron had surgery this month and an MRI for which he had to be put under - I think it was harder on me than it was on him. It was actually the toughest of his procedures for Dad and I. The days prior to his surgery we couldn't stop thinking about the fact that we would soon be forced to hand over OUR little boy to doctors for hours. We are never separated from him, and hate he had to be put under. Thankfully our strong boy took it like a champ! He was happy the entire time leading up to the procedure even though he had to fast for it! He was even clapping, jumping, and raising his hands "hallelujah"! The worst part was when we witnessed him be put under anesthesia - I NEVER want to see that again. Period. He was in pain the first day, BUT the next day he started to crawl for the first time!!! And I never ended up giving him more than Tylenol! He really is resilient and just AMAZING!

Waiting for the surgeons to come get him.

Clapping!

Raising his hands Hallelujah!

              

WHATS NEW?/

*He has learned to sign "all done"!

*He is now FINALLY taking a sippy cup and drinking water from it!

*He is obsessed with balloons, and points them out wherever we go. or in books, saying "booooo". 

*He pulls to stand with a quickness!

*He can clap, high five, and raise his hands in the air

hallelujah!

* He can find mommy, daddy, the ball. the balloon, his bottle, and water!

*Apparently he can also stand on his tippy toes in his crib and reach over to the nearest drawer and pull out all of his pajamas!

*He got his first two bottom teeth! 

*He puts things in his mouth - something he never used to do!

*He graduated from his first helmet - but it getting a second one soon.

* I am probably missing things - I have mommy brain!

Pictures from this month....

 I know I haven't posted any makeup or fashion posts! I have been so busy but I would love to do one - any suggestions? Thank you so much for reading!!!

{10} Month Baby Update

  

DOUBLE DIGITS..... whhhhhaaaat???!!! Only two more months and my baby will turn one, I don't know how I feel about that. I already miss him being my teeny tiny baby! This stage of motherhood is a constant struggle between wanting him to stay little, and at the same time loving seeing him grow and turn into a little boy. Anyways before I go off on a cliche tangent... here is what is new this month!

Personality - Aaron is serious at first but once he is comfortable he is the silliest little ham! He loves a good laugh and lots of ATTENTION! He is such a joy to be around and I couldn't love him more!

Weight -  I have no idea because his check up is next week, however I swear he gained a couple pounds overnight! His legs are so much more chunky, and he is getting harder and harder to lift out of his crib! No joke I am staring to get "mom biceps"! Homeboy went from size 6 months to 12 months in the last month! YAY! 

Check out them guns ;)

Aaron's Schedule- 

Aaron is a busy bee with a schedule full of doctor, surgeon, therapy, and headband appointments. On a typical week we go to about 4 appointments, and most of the time they are in San Diego ...so a consistent schedule is difficult to achieve these days. However whenever we are home Aaron's day looks a little like this....

7:00 am - Wake up/Bottle

8:00 am - Playtime on the floor (I also stretch him at this time)

9:00 am- Breakfast with Mommy (Typically cottage cheese or yogurt and oatmeal with fruit)

9:45 - Change into outfit of the day

10:00 am - Nap (I pump/do homework)

11:00 pm - Plays while Mommy gets ready

12:00 pm -Lunch with Mommy and Daddy (Avocado of vegetable and puffs)

1:00 pm ish Bottle (Meanwhile I pump)

1:30-3:00 pm - Either run errands/ go to physical therapy/ or Playtime on floor

3:30-5:00 pm - Nap (I pump, clean, and cook dinner)

6:00 pm - Dinner w/ Mommy and Daddy (A teething biscuit and attempt some sort of veggies/chicken with rice puree)

6:30 ish - Bottle/ play with Dad (Meanwhile .... you guessed it I pump)

7:45 pm - Bath time/Brush Teeth/ Books

8:15 pm - Sleep!

* It has also been much easier to get him to sleep at night because a) he is tired from not napping as often and b) he is super relaxed after his warm bath and reading books routine. I try to soothe him towards the end of his bath, letting him float (with my help) in the water as I sing to him, and then sing softly to him while I change him in the dark (making it very clear it is bedtime), and finally reading "Goodnight Moon" to him. By the time I lay him down his eyes are drooping.

New Foods/Solids - 

Aaron thinks avocado is errr'ythang!!! He eats half of a large avocado or even a whole small avocado everyday! His other favorites include cottage cheese, mango flavored yogurt mixed with Quinoa baby cereal (I get YoBaby organic full fat yogurt for him), yogurt melts, and cheesy brocolli-carrot Puff'ems! He has improved vastly in terms of eating, and we rarely use the tube - but we are waiting to see a feeding specialist to introduce a little more variety - oh and a few teeth would help too (lol he still has no teeth!)

First Words!!!-

Aarons first word was "poo-poo", call me immature but I find it hilarious! I always ask him "did you go poo-poo?", and one day he looked at me and whispered "poo-poo". Now every time he has a poopie diaper he whispers "poo-poo" ha ha! I hope it makes for easy potty training! His second word was "Papa", and it makes his papa incredibly happy and proud! He also says "baby" after I sing "baby, baby, baby... are you my baby?" to him. Still waiting on "ma-ma", "ma", "mami", "mom", "a'ma" ANYTHING!!!!!!

New Discoveries/Accomplishments- 

-Points at what he wants

-He fake coughs/laughs/growls for attention

- Plays peek-a-boo

HE LOVES....

-FaceTime

FaceTime with Grandma and Lolita

-Reading 

- Hanging out with Daddy

- Being Outside/ Going to the park

-Standing any chance he gets

- Holding mommy's hand 

              

-Dancing especially to "Uptown funk" 

-Oldies and 50s music???

-Wrestling,shadow boxing and playing tag with mom and dad

-The movie Grease

-BATHS

-Being silly

- Physical Therapy 

- Being called a monkey or a big boy!

- Boxes - any and all kinds of boxes!

- Waving Hi and Bye

Byyyyyyye Guys!

Thank you so much for reading! 

I LOVE Holland

Hiiiiii guys! I have been ridiculously busy these days and have no time to update the blog but I just wanted to share this poem by Emily Perl Kingsley that really hits home! Enjoy!

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

{8} Month Baby Update

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I am so glad Aaron turned 8 months old just a day before Christmas because I LOVE this age. He is so active and aware of everything. I have not enjoyed the holidays this much since I was little! Having a child during the holiday season means reliving all of the Christmas traditions like buying him his own ornament, Christmas pijamas, visiting Santa, tree lightings, parades, going on drives to see the lights AND  I can shamelessly sing Christmas songs anywhere:)                                                                                                                                                      

This month has been a rollercoaster for us. On one hand, his eating is very hit and miss (scary at times), he started wearing a head band to help with his head flattening due to sleeping at an angle his whole life, and we found out he has to have another surgery and an MRI which he needs to be on anesthesia to have :( On the other hand, Aaron is a happy, amazing baby and a joy to to see growing. He overcomes obstacles on the daily with a huge smile on his face. Thank God for that because it gives me the strength to keep going!

Weight -  16.11 pounds - the doctor said he is finally chubby!!! He is outgrowing his 6 month clothes now, and starting to wear 9 months.

Aaron's Schedule- 

I call Aaron my pint sized boss because he is always changing the schedule! Just when I think I have it down, he decides he no longer wants to nap or eat at that time. But as of late he...

6:00 am - Wake up

7:00 am - Bottle and attempt solids(Oatmeal and fruit)

8:00 am- Change and get ready for the day/play/look at his fish

9:45 am - Bottle/Nap time

11:00 am - Wake up/play

12:00 pm - Bottle and attempt lunch w/ mom and dad (vegetables/ teething biscuit)

1:00 pm - Run errands

3:00 pm ish Bottle (Might power nap)

4:00 pm - Play

5:00 pm - Nap 

6:00 pm -Attempt Dinner w/ Mom and Dad

6:30 ish - Bottle

7:00 pm - Play w/ Dad

7:45 pm - Bathtime/Brush Teeth/ Books

8:15 pm - Sleep!

New Foods/Solids - 

Eating solids, and even bottle drinking, has slowed down this month after a few choking episodes. He has gone back too eating very little. Thank God for his g-tube, I can still make sure he gets enough to grow and gain weight. A few days ago he had a very scary choking incident, so we have been working hard with his eating and swallowing therapist to get him to eat again. This has to be one of the hardest things to deal with as a mom. Every so often he still really enjoys sweet peas :)

                                                                                                                                                                            

New Discoveries/Accomplishments- 

-Shakes his head "no"

-Waves Bye and gives high fives (Sometimes)

-Cries when I'm out of sight or Dad leaves - decided to develop stranger anxiety the day I started work - broke my heart to pieces!

-Stands with support

-Scoots on his butt to get around

-Tries to stand up in his crib

A few pictures from this month...

First time he tried to pull himself up... and out of the crib!       

Grocery shopping with mommy <3

Ready for the Christmas tree lighting at the Temecula Duck Pond

Here he started at the boppy, and made his way over to put his feet up on the wall!

Thank you so much for reading and Merry Christmas!

One of my FAVORITE parts of Christmas is shopping for gifts for the wonderful people in my life! I love putting together gifts that are tailored to what I know they love or would appreciate. When shopping for my beauty obsessed friends this year, these were my top picks. I hope this helps you find the perfect beauty gift - or even add something to your own list! Happy Shopping!

THE most luxurious feeling brushes at an affordable price! Ulta has gift sets starting at just $19.99! 

Sephora always has crazy good gift sets - I received this exact gift last year from my fiance and enjoyed every last drop(just finished up the hair serum yesterday) - it was a great way to try Josie Maran products, and maintain hydrated through the drying winter days! 

Matte makeup is a pretty big trend right now - thanks in large part to Kylie Jenner. Help your friend achieve the look with the Naturally Pretty Palettes by IT Cosmetics! I was able to swatch these in stores just the other day and oh-em-geeee they are buttery soft, pigmented, and to die for! Plus the colors are neutral - you can't go wrong with them! I added this palette to my own list!

Fragrance can make a very nice holiday gift, but it is also very personal. I love this set of 14 deluxe samples of Sephoras's best selling fragrances, because it comes with a certificate that allows you to choose your favorite and trade it in for a full size bottle!

GLAMGLOW face masks are amazing..... and quite pricey! This is an incredible deal because it comes with three for the price of one. I can confidently say that your beauty obsessed friend already has this on her list

Face oils are still pretty popular, and there are so many to choose from- I recommend Maracuja oil to anyone who is willing to listen- I am obsessed with it! This cute mini gift set allows you to try the skin brightening oil (lasts forever), the eye cream, and a cheek-stain! Beauty obsessed or not your loved ones will thank you for this!

THE brow game tool from the brow queen - enough said.

NARS did it again with this creamy and pigmented line of lipsticks named after woman (Pictured:Charlotte). If you are willing to splurge a little it is a perfect stocking stuffer!

I don't know any girl that loves beauty that would not love a gift card to Sephora or Ulta!This is a simple go-to present that is sure to be enjoyed!

Thank you so much for reading, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!