Tiny Tot Tuesdays: Teething

Oh boy! Step right up folks we're having fun! If nothing else in life gives me gray hair, teething will! My wonderful, happy baby has turned into a holy terror with this teething business. Poor thing! But boy is it tiring! She wants Mommy 24/7. I have begun napping when she does just to get some rest. OK I am sure she is really not all that bad but with all the other little stresses in life (add to that having been sick) and I have felt on overload.
I know a lot of parents go for the natural teething tablets but all I had close at hand was Baby Oral Gel and Tylenol. Yes, I know terrible! But what can a mother do. She seems to do better just with the oral gel. In fact it's really cute cuz you give her the gel and she smacks her little lips! I love it (the mannerisms not teething or my child in pain)!
I don't remember teething being like this with Mr. Sunshine. To be fair that was 3-4 years ago. So no doubt I have blocked that from my memory. I did always accuse my own mother of having selective memory. Guess it's genetic.
Frankly, my mothering philosophy is we survived without knowing these things so I should be okay to smudge this. Maybe I am off my rocker (which probably nearer to the truth than anyone realizes). Well my husband is home for lunch (one pro of being in the military and living on base), so I am off to nap. Poor hubby gets no time with me these days but we survive!

Tiny Tots Tuesdays: Starting Solids & Little Miss

There is some exciting news in regards to starting babies on solids! There is no longer a formula to follow (start with cereal, then vegetables, and then fruits). Now they say it is better not to give babies cereal and to mix it up with the vegetables and fruits. They do say it's better to wait till babies are 6 months to start them on solids and you can add spices to baby's food! I am so excited to try this!
Little Miss has been on solids for a few weeks now, even though she is only about 5 months and a week old. We had to start her because she was waking up 6 times a night and eating all day too. She has done really well with solids and already can eat a whole jar in one sitting. I am so glad she is on solids it has been helping with her acid reflux (we found out she had acid reflux when she was 2 weeks old).

{Our happy Little Miss}

Little Miss already has her favorite foods. She loves Mango. She won't even let any get out of her mouth and on her face. She also likes Sweet Potatoes and Peaches. Bananas and Squash are ok but not her favorite thing in the world. I am waiting till she is 6 months to add spices to her food. I want to give her body the chance to mature some more before I add anything to her food. So right now we are just introducing her to a lot of foods and letting her enjoy the different tastes. 

{Ready to go get more food!}

I have a shout out to Hand Me Round (look them up on facebook if you love in Western Washington). I am so grateful for Hand Me Round up here in Washington. I get baby food for a quarter. You will hear me mention Hand Me Round a lot because not having all the money in the world I go there for all my baby needs (or 95% of them; diapers, wipes, and usually formula I have to go to WINCO or Walmart). I love how they have quarter bins for clothes and always have sales. But the best part is even on top of all the savings I get a military discount for being a military spouse! Makes my life easier knowing I have a place to go to get great deals and solids for my baby.

Babies grow up so fast. Little Miss isn't sitting up on her own yet up she is getting closer every day. Last we checked she was 16 pounds and 27 inches long (not bad for being only 5 months). She is a feisty one and a little chatterbox. I love seeing her develop her personality! Leave a comment and tell me what milestones your babies/toddlers are working on or your favorite one your kids have achieved!

{Showing off how tall she is but she is showing off her temper}

Tiny Tots Tuesday: Blended Families

Every Tuesday I will talk about my children or children in general. Today want to talk about living in a blended family. I think there are many of us who deal with this and I want you to know YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
I have been amazed when people ask how many we children we have especially when I was expecting our little daughter, Little Miss. Explaining sometimes seemed daunting but I quickly found that I was not the only one dealing with it! I met many other families who understood what it meant to have a blended family.
Here are somethings I have learned it means to have a blended family;

• You have to juggle more schedules than just one ( we do 3 including our own)
• You don't always get to plan when you see your kids
• You claim all the kids but if you are like the oldest would mean you were a teen mom (which I wasn't)
• Your kid thinks skyping is a normal activity (especially if you live long way away)
• Your kids are more excited to see each other than their respective parent
• Dealing sometimes with nasty ex-spouses

The list could go on and on. I love all three of our kiddos. Bean is 7 and is my step-son. He lives with his mom. Mr. Sunshine is 4 and is my son. He lives with his dad. And Little Miss, is our first together. She is now 5 months! Hopefully at some point we will have one of the two boys (or both!) living with us on a more permanent bases.

{Here are our kiddos!}