PJM - 8 months

Another awesome Chelsea, over at The Life We Love, has a sweet little 7 month old boy named Logan. Every month she does a bio for him, and I loved it so much I decided to borrow her idea. They will be fun little tidbits and pictures to remember P at this age!

Name: Preston James May

Age: 8 months (and 4 days)

Favorites:

• Jumping in your bouncer! You love it so much that you think every toy you stand in is made for bouncing. Your NeNa bought you a walker and you couldn't understand why you were going anywhere when you jumped!

• Picking things up off the floor and sticking them in your mouth. You are especially fond of the dogs food and seem to be able to find things even after I vacuum. Twice. 

• Talking! Your favorites include "Da Da Da Da" (even though I keep telling you Ma Ma Ma Ma) and "Ba Ba Ba Ba"

• Giggling! You think everything is the funniest thing you've ever seen! Especially when momma plays peak-a-boo with you or when the dogs lick your face.

• Snorting and blowing raspberries. You make the most hysterical face where you scrunch of your nose and snort in and out. It's especially funny when I do it to you and you do it back.

• You love Bella and Zoey! I originally thought you and Zoey were going to be kindred spirits just from how she was when I was pregnant and you were first born. Now I see that you love your Bella and she loves you. Boy does she love you! You are always climbing on top of her and grabbing her tail. She is so patient. She generally doesn't even move and when she does its only to give you a kiss.

Talents and Skills: 

• We have just got through your sleep training. We have tried to do it in the past but you weren't having any of it! You would just sob and sob and sob for hours -- until someone picked you up and you would promptly pass out! We have been working on your sleep training for just over a week and you are doing so well! It has also helped you get onto a schedule. You are down to 2 naps a day now, but they are awesome long naps instead of those crazy 30 minute naps you use to like. You are so sweet when you sleep...

• In a matter of weeks you have gone from doing an army crawl to sitting up, trying to crawl on your knees, and now pulling up on daddy and me, as well as the furniture. You are especially fond of the end table in the living room, probably because thats where we keep the tissues and magazines. 

Temperament: 

• You are the sweetest boy ever! You are so content and easy to get along with!! Momma is so lucky! You love to flirt with the girls when we are out and about and you are the best shopping buddy ever! You seem so content to just sit in the cart and look around -- to take it all in! You are so alert and it seems like you are learning something new all the time. I am constantly amazed by how sweet and amazing you are! 

Cooking and Cleaning and Crafting - Oh My!

I don't know about the rest of you moms (and non-moms) out there, but before becoming pregnant I was your stereotypical single girl. Granted, Ed and I lived together and I was relatively domestic, but it wasn't until I was pregnant that I turned into this "super mom".

I have never been much of a cook. Spaghetti? Got it. Grilled cheese? I'm on it. Salad? Done! Anything that required ingredients I didn't readily have available or took too much effort I just wasn't interested in. I am the girl that use to have french fries for dinner and on more than one occasion, wine and garlic bread. (In my defense, Ed was on the boat so he was gone a lot). The first time I made something with more than 5 ingredients was a couple of months before we got married. Friends were impressed. I wish I were kidding.

My mom is crafty. Like, super crafty. She can see something and generally duplicate it. She makes silver jewelry for heavens sake! Anyway, I am not really that crafty. I use to scrapbook and paint but got away from those and other than the DIY aspects of our wedding, I haven't hadn't been much of a crafter as an adult.

Then I got pregnant.

I tell you people, those hormones do some crazy things! It was almost like as soon as we moved in and got settled (I was roughly 2 months pregnant?) I decided that I needed to start making EVERYTHING. (This is also about the time that pinterest came along. I blame them too). Since then I have gotten majorly into paper crafting, card making in particular, and now I find all kinds of projects that I want to do. This bathmat, a t-shirt quilt for all of Ed's old Virginia Tech t-shirts, and this name art project for Preston's room are just a few of the projects waiting in my queue.

I am constantly amazed at how motherhood changes things. Sure our priorities shift and we are now responsible for growing and nurturing a little person (or people), but its amazing how much it changes things you wouldn't consider.

Alright, I'm off to Hobby Lobby before picking P up at the sitter. I am determined to get our living room wall done this week (and pictures to come!).

Beauty (and baby) in a Box

Is it just me or are there new sample delivery companies popping up everywhere? If you aren't familiar with this concept, basically, you sign up for a subscription and the company of your choice sends you a monthly box containing samples of products that they recommend.


The first one I heard of, birchbox, claims that "Birchbox is the best way to discover new grooming, beauty and lifestyle products. Sample top products from high-end brands, get expert advice, buy new favorites and earn points with every purchase." I have a couple of girlfriends that get Birchbox and they love it! I haven't committed yet, but I am thinking of ordering my own subscription. They also have gift subscriptions, which makes a fun and unique present!


What seems to be a little higher end is glossybox. This is also available through a subscription service, giving customers, "5 luxury travel-sized beauty products for you to lather, blend, soak, spray, buff, and groom. Indulge and experience luxury at its finest". This seems like it would be a great way to try to out "luxury products" without spending the big bucks on full size products. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather splurge on something that I know I love instead of just winging it and hoping for the best!


Okay, so we've covered the beauty end. Because I have checked these sites out a couple of times, Facebook has obviously got my number and has recently been advertising for me to check out citrus lane. This subscription service allows parents to specify the age and gender of your child and then receive 4-5 of the "best" products available. One thing I love about this concept is that there seems to be a theme every month. They are advertising the July theme as "Bon Voyage". The picture shows a toy, sunscreen, sippy cups, etc. Previous themes are artsy, bath time, and bed time. The one caveat is that this is only available for children up to 3 years old. 


What appears to be the best of both worlds is available through bluum, which sends out a monthly box containing products for both mommas and babies. Containing both full size and sample size products, bluum sends out beauty products for moms and all the cool stuff we have come to expect for our little ones! Like citrus lane, bluum appears to be creating themes out of there boxes, such as "spring is in the air" and "new beginnings". 


Do you have a subscription to any of these (or other) companies? If not, is this something that you would be interested in partaking in??

Instagram

I was late to the iPhone party. Don't get me wrong...I have had a myriad of apple products including one of the original iPods, an iPod touch, and a MacBook Pro (read about my ongoing feud with iPhoto here). Regardless, it took me a while to actually get an iPhone.

One of my favorite apps (and I will admit, one of the reasons I was so looking forward to my new phone) was the instagram app. I love taking pictures with my phone, especially with a little one who is always doing something new and, likely, entertaining. What's more...I love all the filters that instagram offers. I am into the retro shabby chic look right now. My husband, however, asked me the other day if it was possible for me to take a picture that "doesn't look like it came from the 1960s". Men.

Because I have been so behind on my blogging due to traveling, holidays, and general chaos, I thought it would be fun to just catch up with my latest instagram photos. Warning...there is tons of cuteness to follow...

 Preston playing with his sister Bella. He's so funny now that he can crawl. The dogs don't stand a chance!

Daddy and Preston at the dog park!

 He is all boy! This picture was taken right after he found a bug on the floor and laughed hysterically until I took it (as he was trying to put it in his mouth). 

As we all know...date nights are hard to come by for new parents. Even more so when you have a limited number of reliable sitters. This is from our "make your own pizza date night". I thought I was very clever with my heart of pepperoni :-)

As much as I wouldn't want to move back...I do love watching the sun rise over the mountains of 

West Virginia.

Like father like son. I forget what they were staring at but I love how alike they act!

This picture is one of my favorites! Out of nowhere Preston started sitting up on his own!

Nakey baby butt!

After a rough day little one was so happy to fall asleep with his MiMa. He's so sweet!

Typical kid...he has a floor full of new toys and he is more interested in playing with a plastic hanger. 

He figured out how to climb onto Grandma and Grandpa's coffee table and thats where he played. 

I hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful 4th of July! Happy Birthday America!