Baby Mim - 8 Months

Dear Mim,

Another month gone, in the blink of an eye.  I can't believe the months are just slipping by, one after another and I'm so helpless to stop them.  You are growing up right in front of me and I cannot believe my eyes some days when I look at the long, happy, round baby you've become.  Your newborn-ness has disappeared and it's been replaced with an excited curiosity and sweet personality that makes me reluctant to ever put you down or be out of your sight.  You are such a happy, lovely little thing, with your bright eyes, easy smile and fantastic giggle.  I just love spending time with you. 

Your personality is really starting to shine these days.  For the most part, you're easy going and love being toted around while we chase after your brother.  He is your favorite thing in the world and as long as you are around him, you're happy.  You love being part of the action and have started insisting (with very loud vocal objections) that you always be included, no matter what the activity.  Seriously, you do not need to be involved with changing your brother's diaper, but you will scream your head off if I leave you out of the process.  And god forbid that I sit you down to wash my hands or do anything without you on my hip - you are not having it.  You insist on being carried everywhere. 

I think part of the issue with you needing us to hold you is that you have no desire to learn how to crawl.  I'm convinced you'll skip crawling all together and go straight to waking.  You roll like a champ and can rock on all fours, but you haven't figured out the concept of crawling and haven't even shown any interest in it.  Standing, walking and bouncing, on the other hand, are your jam.  You love to stand and will pull yourself up on anything (anyone) you can get your chubby hands on.  

But regardless of your demands, you are still a total sweetheart and cuddler.  Ever since you were a teeny tiny baby, you'd lay your head on our shoulder when tired and just snuggle in and love.  You still do that and it's one of my absolute favorite things in the entire world.  I hope you never stop doing that.  You have started giving kisses and hugs, which totally melt my heart.  Your big sloppy wet open mouth kisses are so sweet.  You love giving hugs to anyone around, and will go back and forth, from person to person giving hugs and then reaching for another.  You love hugging the little neighborhood girls and they all squeal with delight and fawn over how adorable you are.  You were the hit of the party last weekend with a group of 6 year-old girls gushing over you while you giggled and kicked out of excitement!  I have a feeling you're going to be quite the social butterfly.

This month you've become quite the little eater.  You love food!  We're still doing BLW and most of the time you can't shovel the food in fast enough!  You've chowed down on everything we've given you and we haven't found anything you won't eat yet.  We started with lots of fruit and veggies (plums, baked apples, steamed carrots, bananas, pears, watermelon and asparagus) and have moved into carbs and meats.  You can take down a watermelon chunk like it was nothing and whole bananas disappear off your tray!  But the first time I gave you steak, you sucked/chewed on it like crazy and screamed when I tried to take it away after 20 minutes.  I love it!  

You still take bottles throughout the day as well.  We finally moved you up to a Level 3 nipple and you can take down a full 8 ounces in less than 10 minutes.  You are sleeping really well these days. You go down (with a bottle) at 7:30 p.m. and then have a "dream feed" bottle sometime between 10:30 and midnight and then sleep until 7:00 a.m.  It's really hard to complain about that schedule.  I usually stay up late and give you that last bottle and it's such a sweet special time for just the two of us.  You are always so warm and snuggly and make the most adorable little noises while you eat. You also still hold my hand while you sleep, which I can't get enough of. I will be so sad when our dream feed snuggles end.  

Other than the screaming and yelling, you're also trying to figure out talking. You say "dadadadadada" on repeat, but laugh when I try to get you to say "mamama."  Not happening.  You babble, coo and squeal at your brother like crazy to get his attention.  He loves making you laugh and will fake laugh, which cracks you up.  You love getting him to laugh too, which you usually do by accident and then squeal with delight.  You two are so funny to watch interact.  He's still learning to like and tolerate you, but the sharing's getting better and sometimes he even likes having you around. 

So basically, you're just perfection.  I'm probably going to give you a complex because I'm so obsessed with you.  I just can't get enough.  You are such a joy to have in our lives and I don't know what we ever did without you!  Thank you for being my baby.

xoxo,
Your mama

Likes:
- saying "dadadadadada"
- bouncing
- steak
- standing
- being held
- cuddling
- being tickled
- watermelon
- pulling mommy's hair
- screaming
- mirrors
- petting the dog/cat
- music
- hugging
- giving high fives
- rolling
- your brother

Dislikes:
- being put down or left alone
- getting your nose wiped
- getting out of the bathtub
- the carseat
- crawling

Hoppy Easter!

Hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend.  

We're still recovering from the inevitable sugar crash.  

Being a toddler is hard. 

Nuby Squeeze N' Squeak Teether

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope you all have fun plans for the holiday weekend - preferably ones that include lots of peanut butter eggs, marshmallow peeps and chocolate bunnies.  We have two egg hunts planned and I'm so excited to hunt with Mac this year, now that he's old enough to actually get it.  And I'm even more excited to steal the candy out of his eggs and eat it myself.  Does that make me a terrible mom?  Don't answer that.  

Anyway, I am thrilled to announce that I'm now part of the official Nuby Parent Blogger Program. Nuby has been one of my favorite baby brands since Mac was little.  We're big fans of their sippy cups and teethers already, so I'm looking forward to trying out some of their other products and letting you know how we like them.  Most of all, Mim is terribly excited because this means she actually gets a few new teethers and toys all of her own - not used chewed-up, drooled-on hand-me-down items from her big brother.  Second child problems.  

The good news for you is that I'll not only be reviewing some Nuby products, but I'll be giving some away too!  I can't wait to send you some of our favorite things - we're all about sharing the love these days.  If you're in the market for some awesome sippy cups, toys, feeding gear or teethers, you've come to the right place.  

The first product we got to review was this adorable elephant Squeeze N' Squeak plush teether.  It's great for any baby 3 months and up.  The middle section is plush (with a squeaker) and there are multiple taggies, loops and plastic links on it for teething.  It's really easy for babies to hold and super colorful and fun.

Obviously Mim is a fan.  Now if someone could just tell me how to keep our dog from thinking that all these plush squeak toys are hers, that'd be great!  (Good thing it's also machine-washable and easy to clean!)

Anyone else have a teething baby?  

Or a dog that thinks baby toys are hers?

What are your favorite teethers or secrets to getting through those tough teething days/weeks/months?

Nuby Squeeze n’ Squeak

• Age: 3 months +
• Multiple textured surfaces
• 3 soft and fun characters
• Bright fun colors and patterns
• Easy for baby to hold
• Fun squeaking noise
• BPA-free
• Available at Walmart (retails for $5.97)

If you'd like to keep up on Nuby's latest products, you can follow them on social media:

Facebook // Pinterest // Instagram // Twitter

* I received this product free of charge for the purposes of a review, but all opinions, love and drool belong to me and Mim. 

Spring Blogger Exchange

Apparently the theme of the week is "SWAP BOX," as this is my second post this week about blogger gift box swaps.  I don't know how or why, but they seem to come in pairs, I guess.  Or perhaps I can just never say no to a fun swap box.  This awesome blog box swap was masterminded and coordinated by Amy from Keepin' Up With The Smiths and Jess from Kessler Kraziness. Mac and I were lucky enough to get to shop for Amy and her son Cash - you'll have to head over to her blog and check out the goodies we sent them.  

The theme for the box swap was Spring and we were the lucky recipients of the most AMAZING box from Becky, who blogs at B Happy in Today.  Becky and her daughter Linnea put together the most perfect spring box you could possibly think of.  I'm totally jealous that I didn't come up with some of these ideas for my box.  We absolutely loved everything!  And to make it even more fun, each item was individually wrapped, labeled and decorated!  Mac had a blast going through everything and opening each item - that was genius and perfect for an excited toddler.  Here's what we received...

The very first thing he opened was this gift for me...a big bag of Starburst jelly beans!  Becky, how did you know that the way to Mac's heart was through Starburst?!  He was obsessed, so of course I had to share (don't worry I finished the bag later).  I gave him a couple, but I could barely get him to move on and open more items because all he wanted to do was sit and eat all the jelly beans.  I might need to get some more of these for his Easter basket. 

Next up was a package of seeds!  Gorgeous zinnias!  This was such a great idea.  I have been wanting to plant some flowers in the back yard and these will be perfect! 

And you can't plant seeds without some gardening tools.  Becky sent us a package of Paw Patrol (again, how did you know?!) gardening tools that Mac has used every day since opening them.  He's obsessed with digging and loves his "Marshall" shovel and rake.  

Sidewalk chalk - another springtime necessity. You can never have too much chalk, in my opinion. Meanwhile, Mim was very interested in the correspondence.  She thought the beautiful colored note from Linnea was the greatest (and tastiest) thing ever. 

Next up was The Rabbit Show book, which we did not have but now love!  And a giant bubble wand that kept Mac busy for a good half hour the next day (that is major!).  

And last, but not least, Becky and Linnea sent Miss Mim her very first pair of sunglasses!  

You guys, I put these sunglasses on Mim to take a photo and I kid you not, she could not figure out what the hell was going on.  She was trying to grab at the air in front of her, looking at her hands very strangely, tilting her head from side to side and just had no idea what was happening to her.  I was laughing so hard I nearly peed my pants.  I could barely take photos because I was crying so hard.  Babies are funny!

Of course we had to get outside and put all our goodies to good use.  The bubble wand was serious entertainment for both kids.  Mac would blow bubbles and Mim and she would just squeal in delight. 

We also planted our zinnia seeds.  I planted a couple myself to show him, but I let Mac dig the holes and put the seeds in himself with minor supervision, so I have no idea if he did it right or if the entire package of seeds is in one shallow hole.  I have zero gardening skills, so I feel like he has just as much chance of getting them to bloom as I do.  We've checked on them and watered them (probably WAY too much) everyday since we planted them.  If they don't make it, it was not for a lack of love. 

Thank you so much Becky and Linnea for the awesome spring box!  You guys did a great job!  

And check out the rest of the bloggers participating in the swap:

Jessica @ The Newly

Alisha @ Simple Luxury

Amy @ Keepin' Up With The Smiths

Jamie @ Cocktails & Carseats

Jess @ Kessler Kraziness

Becky @ B Happy in Today