Americana Baby

I am all about getting decked out in the Red, White, & Blue any chance I get...I love it! Since Memorial Day is just around the corner, (can I get an amen for the unofficial start of Summer?!) I thought I'd put a little patriotic board together for the baby and toddler girls! 

Old Navy and Gap have lots of CUTE stuff right now, and Jaqs may or may not already have some of this waiting in her closet ;)

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Y'all know me...rompers and jellies are two of my favorite things! And those swim-suits? Ah. I can hardly handle the cuteness. Cannot wait to squeeze my little water baby in hers!

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I'm linking up for 'Trendy Tot Tuesday' for the first time today!

Also linking up for 'Baby Talk'!

one year favorites

It's been a little while since I've done an updated favorites list, so I wanted to share what we're loving right now! All of these items have been approved by an adorable 1 year old and her parents ;)

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Nuk Forks: Now that Jaqs is trying to feed herself WITH utensils, I decided to give these a try. They're great! They're not sharp, and they are easy to hold. Perfect for learning and the toddler years, too.

Munchkin Snack Containers: We use these snack cups pretty often, but especially on the go. They definitely don't prevent all spilling, but they at least keep it to a minimum!

Aden & Anais Security Blankets: I'm sure I've mentioned our love for these before, but Jaqs is seriously obsessed with her blankies. We try to keep them in the bed for the most part, but if she isn't feeling well or bumps her head, they always comfort her. She LOVES them. I'm not sure if she could sleep without them ;)

Boon Grass Drying Rack: I was so excited to get rid of the bottle rack sitting on my counter at a year, but then I remembered we'd still have sippies. I thought if I have to have one, then at least it can be semi-cute! Insert this cute drying rack! I considered going with the lawn, but figured the grass would be perfect for what we need right now which is usually a couple of cups and some utensils. It's not super spacious, but it's perfect for now!

Take & Toss cups: These little straw cups are CHEAP, so if you lose one, it's not a big deal. My only complaint with these is that the straw can easily be yanked out by little hands ;) If there was some sort of stopper, they'd be perfect, but for the price? WIN.

Board Books: Jaqs is finally LOVING to be read to, and board books are a favorite for all of us because she can easily turn the pages without ripping them. Sandra Boynton books are well-loved around this house!

Britax Marathon: We switched the girl over to this seat around 8 months, and we've had no complaints! She's still rear facing, and this seat is easy to get her in and out of. It also has excellent safety ratings, and she will eventually face forward in it as well.

Brica Cup & Snack holder: Our car-seat doesn't have cup-holders like other brands, so we decided to attach this to it, and it's been perfect! It's nice to be able to remove and clean it, too.

Radio Flyer Pathfinder: Jaqs loves, loves, LOVES her wagon! We go on walks every day, and she just thinks it's the best thing ever. We also purchased the canopy that clips on, and that provides her some nice shade. We cannot have that sweet little skin getting sun-burned!


Are there any other amazing toddler products out there that I need to know about? Do share!


I'm linking up with Kristin for Baby Talk!

 

Spring Fashion: Dress Obsessed

I'm continuing on with the "Hello Spring" link-party hosted by Mateya and some other lovely ladies! Today's topic is Spring Fashion. I blogged some about this last week, but I decided to build on my dress obsession and do it again. You can find me wearing comfy dresses quite often in the Spring & Summer! They're so easy and not to mention breezy in the summer heat. I love them! Here are some favorite finds:

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The printed Mod Cloth dress is SO adorable, but so out of my budget. I'm a bargain shopper through and through, so I'd rather buy 5 dresses for that price at Target, Old Navy, and Forever 21!

T-strap sandals are also an every day thing for me...can't get enough.

Can't wait to see what you're loving this season!

Spring Fever

I know I haven't been the only one itching for Spring, and with last weekend's time change I'm just THAT much more ready to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather headed our way! After all, we have to savor these perfect, 70 degree days before we head into melt down mode.

I can't pick just one favorite color, but mint and coral are definitely topping my list this year! It seems like everything I pick up is one or the other lately. Here are some things you'll likely see me wearing in the near future:

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• I've got to get more maxi dresses in my closet ASAP. This one from Old Navy looks like the perfect addition for not a lot of cash.
• These J.Crew tees look super comfy, but the Target Boyfriend tees are my go-tos. Just $5 right now! Love them.
• Colored skinnies never get old to me. My favorites are Old Navy & Celebrity Pink brands.
• Essie has THE BEST colors! I wish I could have one of each.

What's on your Spring must-have list?

feeding favorites

We are in a transitional period in the feeding department around here. Jaqs has always been pretty enthusiastic about eating, but lately she has not been digging on the purees anymore. As I mentioned before, she would choke on almost any 'table' food I would give her, but now that she's finally mastered the puffs and yogurt melts, all she wants is REAL food!

I have to say, this makes things a whole lot easier for me...no more making baby food for this mama. Kind of sad! As simple as it is to give her what we're having, I do still have to plan ahead and make sure that I have something I can easily fix for her if we're having something spicy or not great for her.

So with all that said, here are some of our feeding favorites right now!

Eddie Bauer High Chair/ Kiddopotamus Tinydiner Placemat/ Summer Infant Bibbity/Yogurt Snacks Mixed Berry / Baby Dipper Feeding Set/Playtex Baby First Lil' Gripper / Johnson Johnson Baby Hand Face Wipes/ Happy Baby Sweet Potato Puffs

• Silicone bibs with the little crumb catcher are one of the best inventions! As much as I love the A&A bibs, cloth just gets too nasty.
• We have this high chair, and it's great! You can remove the tray with one hand (a must!), and you can remove the top portion of the tray for easy cleaning. It is a little straight up & down for a younger baby, but I just used the bouncer for feeding before she was ready for that.
• Puffs & Yogis are still favorites. I call the Yogis her dessert after each meal ;) It's awesome that they can be used as distractions when out and about too! Ha!
• J obviously cannot use utensils on her own, but this little dipper fork is my fav! It's the perfect size and shape.
• J&J hand and face wipes are a must for eating out when you don't have easy access to a sink or wash rag.
• I've raved about these Playtex trainer cups for awhile, and we still love them. All we use!
• Along with the silicone bibs, this place-mat is awesome for restaurants! You can easily roll up baby's mess when she's done, and of course, it keeps her food off the nasty restaurant tables.

Some of the foods we've been using the most for this 'transitional' period are steamed veggies, soft fruits like blueberries, bananas & cuties, avocados, boiled/scrambled eggs, grated cheese, and one of J's favorites is still YoBaby yogurt!

What are some of your little one's favorites?

We haven't tried any meats/beans yet, but I am hoping to be able to expand Jaqs' menu very soon!

stuff it!

Stockings are one of my favorite things about Christmas morning! My mom has always done them up right, and I sure hope to follow in her footsteps because they are such a fun tradition for us! If you're looking for ideas, hopefully this can provide you with a little inspiration. Rob even helped me pick out the items for the guys!

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phone case pretty
essie "beyond cozy" polish--perfect for the holidays
how great would an initial for each kiddo be for a mama?
washi tape--endless crafting ideas
starbucks via for coffee lovers
gold dot thank you notes--LOVE these
isotoner gloves
bow stud earrings
EOS lip balm--a personal fave
portable phone charger with cute design to boot

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jcrew brown leather belt
gillette razors--always a necessity for the men in my life
orbit/reese's--gotta include the favorite treats
fossil wallet with money clip--rob's loves these
iPhone charger case
brain teaser game
starbucks via
masculine travel coffee mug
titleist proV1s--my dad's fav

What are you hoping to find in your stocking on Christmas morning??

1st Christmas list!

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, I figured I'd start up with the Christmas posts :) It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!
When Jaqs was born, her first Christmas seemed so far away, but somehow, we're almost to it. I can't believe it! As hard as it is, I'm trying not to go too overboard. I want the focus to always be on the birth of our Savior, but gifts will probably always be a part of our tradition, too. I love finding the perfect gift for the ones I love!

Wondering what's on J's 1st Christmas list? You've come to the right post ;)

Bodysuits/Shape-Sorting Cube/Owl Hooded Towel/Critter Sherpa Hat/ Ella's Kitchen Organic Baby Food / Boon Pod Bath Toy Scoop/Chiffon Flower in Red & White Stripes/ Plum Organics Super Puffs/ Lil' Gripper/ Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection

• Baby girl has outgrown all of her little infant towels, and how cute is that owl?
• We're working on our book collection, so of course we have to add the classics!
• Since J is growing like a weed, she could always use the next size in necessities. Can't go wrong with Old Navy.
• Another Old Navy gem...love this little hat! If it'd ever get cold...
• Jaqsy only has one cup right now, and we'll need an extra as she starts using it more.
• Jameson Monroe headbands are ADORABLE. Love them all, but this one is particularly festive and would be perfect for Valentine's Day, too!
• Another classic...every baby needs a shape sorter! I prefer the wooden variety over plastic just for aesthetic reasons.
• Bath toys aren't too far in our future, and we'll need a place to store them all!
• I make J's food, but we LOVE these pouches when we're on the go. We haven't really ventured into the world of finger foods yet, but it won't be long.

Even though I know that Jaqs will mostly be interested in the wrapping paper this year, I'm excited about the memories we'll make and the traditions we'll start!

baby fall/winter favorites

I've always been an Old Navy fan, but now with Jaqs in the picture, that place is even more dangerous for Rob me. They have the most adorable baby clothes for girls and boys alike in  my opinion! Throw a little Baby Gap in the picture, and you can have one stylin' wardrobe for wee ones in no time.

These are a few of my current favorites.
Baby skinny cords? Polka dots? Leopard? Fringed moccasins? Cardigans?
AH! I'm dying from all the CUTE.

Minnetonka Moccasin Side Zip Double Fringe Boots
Old Navy Quilted Frost Free Vests For Baby
Old Navy Foil Sequin Tees For Baby
Gap Dot Cardigan
Gap Intarsia Tunic Sweater
Gap Legging Cords
Old Navy Deer Candy Cane PJ Sets For Baby
Old Navy Sweater Knit Flower Hats For Baby
Old Navy Leopard Print Mary Janes For Baby
Gap Littlest Legging Cords
Old Navy Girls Rosette Leopard Print Headbands