Ainsley Update 6 month

Little Miss has been growing so FAST!! Of course, and no matter how hard I try I can not slow it down. She is officially 1/2 way to her first birthday and we just had our 6 month check up. Here is an update on how she is growing!!

Our friend Myk captured this amazing pic!!

Weight: 16lbs 13oz (64%)

Height: 25"

Head: 42.5"

Clothes: 6- 9 month

Diaper: size 2

We started solids at 4 months. I prefer to make my own baby food although it has been a little slow, this making it, due to our busy schedule. So far we have had, banana, avocado (not a fan), sweet potato, butternut squash with a little cinnamon, applesauce (today), and oatmeal cereal. I have in the works to make carrots and beet soon. Also, I have given her puffs, few bites of sister's mac and cheese and bites off my ice cream.

She is a rolling machine and can get anywhere she wants, as long as it is to the right of her. HaHa! For some reason that is the only way she rolls, although she will scoot around until desired object is on the right side of her and then proceed to roll. She also has gotten onto her hands and knees once.

Sleeping through the night is a NO! Although, I do blame myself. Since the 4 of us share a room I was always afraid to let her fuss in fear she would wake up Mackenzie. In the last few months I have learned Mackenzie sleeps like a rock, therefore no need to worry. So, I have started to sleep train with her. I let her fuss for no more than 15 minutes (although this is not a solid cry, more of a whine or talking to get attention) then I give her binky and rub her back for 5 minutes, usually she will go back to sleep. She still scares herself when she rolls over in the middle of the night. I think when we can get her into her crib where she has more room this will solve the problem. Also, she wakes up at 5 am sure thinking she is starving. Goal is to first deal with the 1 am wake up (that is the above routine), then deal with the 5 am feed. Also I am soon to work on putting her in bed not all the way asleep. Girl, loves to be snuggled and cuddled all day, errday. 

Napping is a hit and miss, she is tired every 2 hours and will sometimes sleep 15 min at a time and then take a good 1 to 3 hour nap later in the after noon. I need to work on a schedule but, I find this challenging with a toddler. Mackenzie will go in her room and wake her up or we are out and about and a noise will wake her up.

Our very loose schedule (this happens about 3 days a week. I am hoping to make a consistent one in the next month)

5 am snack and go back to sleep

7-8 am wake up

8 am breakfast (cereal and BF or 4 oz)

930 am nap (15 min or if lucky can get up to 1 hr)

(sometimes a few powernaps and maybe a bottle in between)

12 lunch (just started this, fruit or veggie and BF and 4 oz)

1 pm nap (This one can be up to 2 hours once it was 3!!)

330 pm snack (BF)

5 pm Watches us eat dinner and has a few puffs (if she can get them in her mouth or guilt gramma or gg into feeding her)

7 pm another power nap

730 pm bath (we shoot for T, Th, Sat)

8 pm Dinner ( cereal and veggie, BF or 4 oz)

Get ready for bed

830 - 9 asleep.

1 am wake up (see above notes)

Ainsley is an extremely happy baby! She loves to smile at every one, laughing can be more challenging. She is in love with her older sister and just stares at her all the time. Especially in the car!!! 

To go to sleep she likes her taggie and a blanket no matter the temp! She also must be held to go to sleep. No sleeping while playing!!

Ainsley,

It is a joy and honor to be your mommy! You love to make people smile and always brighten up every room! People love to talk to you! Mommy and Daddy and Sister have always and continue to pray for you! You are a blessing and anointed. I know you will do great and mighty things. Mommy loves you more than cupcakes!

Birthday!

OMG! Life has been busy! Not anything special, looking at houses I think is a second job. Life has just been busy. I didn't mean to take a break from the blogging world, I couldn't find time to write. My fingers have missed this, they have been itching to write. Blog, blog, bloggity, blog, blog, blog. They are so happy.

During this time somebody turned 3!! Can you believe it! No better way to celebrate a new post but, with a birthday update!

Since we live with my parents, I didn't feel like crowding their house with people to celebrate a birthday. So, with that we went to Chuck E. Cheese!!

I will admit Chuck E. Cheese is a little too much for a 3 year old and wouldn't necessarily recommend it.  Overall it wasn't too bad. I really like their ways of protecting the kids. Nobody can take the kids out of Chuck E. Cheese without an adult with a corresponding stamp. So, the few times Mackenzie got away from one of us to go play more games, I didn't panic and wonder if she ran out of the restaurant. They also do all, ALL, ALL of the work for you. It was great!!! I didn't have to do anything!! They give out a bunch of tokens for all kids and the birthday kid gets a bunch of tickets! I think she got 1,250 just for being a birthday girl. Which got her a Chuck E. Cheese doll and 1,000 sticker set. The cost wasn't that bad, no more than I would have spent decorating a house and getting food.  She did freak out about Chuck E. coming towards her but, later on when Chuck E. was dancing she went and danced with him. She loved running around playing games. Overall I would give the complete experience a 7. I think it would have been given a higher number if she was older and if the rest of the day wasn't so crazy. See more below. First, pictures!!!

I should say knowing the day was busy we started out with donuts and chocolate milk at home. Chuck E at noon and then right after that a wedding. The wedding was beautiful!! It was at a vineyard and with a no nappy 3 year old I let her play in the dirt next to the seats. She was quiet, that was all I needed. We left the wedding before the reception due to the heat and again did you read no nap 3 year old!! YUCK!!! As we were leaving both girls fell asleep in the car. So, Mondo and I hit up a drive thru and sat in the car to eat while they slept. Picture perfect date!! HAHAHA! Next, was a Shock game!! This year the Shock are not doing very good, so the joy of the games is watching Mackenzie dance and cheer! 

morning before party

at the wedding

shock game!

Overall, it was a busy, successful, stressful, fun day!

Mackenzie is 3! Here is a short update.

Weight: 27 lbs
Height: Just shy of 3 feet. 2' 11.9"
Just so you know 3 year check up is the first time they get blood pressure checked and BMI checked. BMI is perfect and blood pressure was a little high because home girl won't stop moving! Doc said she wasn't worried about it.

Wears a 2T, shoes 7.

She likes Tacos (nachos), mac and cheese, pizza, chocolate milk.

All things princess are her jam!

She is a great big sister!

She dances and sings and says things that make us laugh all day.
Another Mackenzie said post will be coming!

Mackenzie the amount you have grown up the past year is phenomenal. I love you more than ice cream!!

You can email Mackenzie at mackenzieayako@gmail.com

Conversations with Mackenzie

I have a pretty funny almost 3 year old. Everyday we have the funniest conversations. I wanted to share a few of those with you.

On Daddy's "toys"

Me: Kenz do you like Star Wars

K: No, Daddy like Star Wars Kenzi like Frozen. Daddy has a lot of Star War toys

Playing outside

Me: Why are you holding your hair?

K: It's Windy I don't want it to blow away.

looking for her football book (Shock program)

K: Where's my football book?

Me: I put it where all your other books are on the book shelf.
Gramma: Actually, that's GG's book. She took it from GG at the game.
K: GG took my football book. She stole it.

Looking for the Ipad

K:Where's the Ipad
Me: I don't know. Where is it?
K: Daddy took it!
Me: I don't think daddy took it.
K: He did. He put it in his backpack, took it to work.
(same story with anything she misplaced that day)

Sitting in my lap like baby sister

Me: look GG I have a new baby
GG: Oh, Hi cute baby. What's your name?
Me: Let's call this one George.
K: Look GG new baby (points to sister)
GG: What that baby's name
K: Let's call her Ainsley


Daddy vacuuming
Mackenzie named the vacuum Prince Philip from the prince in Sleeping Beauty.
She gets a plastic sticks (a sword) starts hitting dad with it. 
K: Dragon, Dragon stop hurting Prince Philip

These are just a few of the hilarious conversations I have daily with my daughter. I want to document these so I won't ever forget them.

I plan on making this a continuing series.

An Ode to the Super Mom

Some days as a mom you feel like a failure, or question your every move. I have even had moments where I have doubted any ability I have to be a mom. I am pretty sure a few things I am doing I will traumatize her for the rest of their life, or a a least require expensive amounts of counseling. 

It's days like these that it is hard to remind myself; that with God all things are possible. Even the impossible job that feels like parenting. Or even that I am made to be more than a conqueror, I am fearfully and wonderfully made (that's for the days I can't remember if I brushed my teeth or that all the clothes I am wearing have miscellaneous stains). So, this is an ode to those days where life just keeps spinning.

Super Mom!

The women who can accomplish any job while holding a baby.

Including cook, eat, and clean up a whole entire meal.

Whose super powers include super hearing, including knowing when a toddler is too quiet.

Being able to function on little to NO sleep and a few sips of coffee.

So kind hearted to share the above coffee, and all other needed treats.

The lady with eyes all around her head to spot the child sliding backwards down the slide and the other one about to flip off a swing.

Another super power of super speed for when any child tries to run the opposite way of mom.

Negotiating skills to calm an unreasonable threenager into eating broccoli even if it's only one bite.

The woman who can heal with a gentle kiss and dry some tears with kind words and a hug.

One who can navigate a crazy tornado of toys to spot the little much needed binky.

Finally, the lady who can rock spit up on her shoulder like no other!

I know there is so much more I can hit on and that is just a few things that we do on a daily basis. Just remember you are amazing and you rock!!

Have a great mother's day week! Use those super powers!!

Whole 30 and me

As you know I did Whole 30 back in October. You can read all about that here. I decided to do Whole 30 again to try and lose the baby weight. We started the Monday after Easter and I have been sticking to it for the past week.

Here are some of the meals I have ate.

When I read about people who did Whole 30 for a second time a lot of them said the second time was harder. I actually didn't find this to be true. Whole 30 the second time was a lot easier for me. I had a caffeine headache day 2 other than that no issues. 

I really like how I feel on the Whole 30 I sleep better (unless baby is going through a growth spurt or sick and need held or feed every three hours), my sleep feels more productive. It's easier to wake up! The biggest one for me is I don't feel like a sugar monster. Before  I started the Whole 30 this time around, I wanted sugar and I mean a lot of sugar, like 3 boxes of girl scout cookies a day was not enough. Now, I don't feel like I need it and when they had free cookies at work it was easy for me to say no!!! Although on one high stress day I did want a coke and ice cream. Scratch that I still want a coke!

Mondo also likes how he feels on the Whole 30 and we were talking about how to make this more of a lifestyle change. So we decided not to end after 30 days and to stick more to the spirit of the law. So when we went out to eat we wouldn't worry so much what the food had been cooked in but made sure to not eat non compliant foods. If that makes sense, example, we went to Mcdonalds for breakfast which their sausage has sugar and the eggs have diary so it's not compliant but, eggs and meat and potatoes are, so we got a big breakfast ate the eggs, sausage and hashbrown not worrying about the fact that those eggs, that sausage, and that hashbrown were not technically compliant. We also decided we would do 2 weeks on and one weekend off. Everything was going great!

Until I hit day 8, then my milk supply plummeted! Like crazy! Ainsley wasn't getting enough to eat and I was having to give her 2 oz of my back up supply. Which isn't a big deal since I have A LOT!! Still, I didn't like this idea. At first I chalked it up to lack of water over my weekend (Sunday andMonday) lack of pumping, and a sick baby. Two bloggers I follow did Whole 30 while breastfeeding and claimed an increase in supply. Tuesday night I did some research and realized that I was missing some stuff from my whole 30 diet while I was breastfeeding. I need more fat, more calories, more starchy veggies, and more carbs. I missed the fact that both bloggers stated they sipped on full fat coconut milk throughout the day, more eggs (I was usually doing one maybe 2 they did 4 or more.), and sweet potato with almost every meal.

Tuesday night Ainsley woke up every 2 hours to eat, with my milk supply being low this seemed impossible. Another google search and she has hit her 3 month growth spurt. So even though it completely broke my heart and actual tears were shed ( I resort this to hormones and lack of sleep) for breakfast Wednesday I had cheerios and banana. My child comes first and I need to up my supply. So my plan going forward is to add back in milk and grain Wednesday, Thursday, Friday(not adding in refined sugar), over the weekend allow the splurges like planned (Coke please!!), then on Monday if my supply is back up, return to Whole 30 Monday thru Friday, increasing fats, starchy veggies and carbs. Weekend (which will be spent in Seattle anyways) allow milk and grain back in. Then again on Monday back to Whole 30. Hopefully this will keep my milk supply up while allowing me to continue eating healthy.

One thing I want to mention during my 8 days of strict Whole 30 I lost 4 lbs. My goal is between Easter and Mackenzie's 3rd birthday (Can you believe she will be 3!!) which is May 30th. I want to lose 12 lbs (average of 1.5 lbs a week). Hopefully I will be able to continue the weight loss!!

Back to Basics: Bootie Edition

I am trying to be more purposeful in my fashion buying. I find that I buy a lot of stuff I like and maybe doesn't last long. I also found I have a lot of trendy pieces and not enough basics in the mix or my basics I have had so long they are falling apart/ no longer fit or just flat out need to be replaced. So I am purposing to buy quality basics that fit correctly when I clothes shop instead of just buying stuff to make me feel good.

The first thing I found I need are booties. I also picked this item in hopes that this time of year would be a good time to get them since they should be going on clearance. So far, I have not had such luck. Although I do want to buy quality pieces my budget does not allow for high end brand items. I do believe you can get good quality at a good price I just haven't found the right pair yet.

I am specifically looking for black and brown booties. These are great pieces because you can pair them with anything, jeans, dresses, skirts, leggings. Here are my top picks.

image source google

image source google

Here are a few of my pinterest inspirations with black and brown booties.

pinterest

pinterest

Pinterest

I will post pictures of my booties once I find them but, for now the search continues.

Dorinda

Easter!

 Easter is hopping right around the corner!!

I love Easter and everything about it. Even the goofy made up bunny that may or may not poop jelly beans (have you seen hop?). Last Easter we did hide eggs for Mackenzie and she so did not get it. This year I can't wait because I am sure she will get it!!

We bought her a big easter egg to put all her presents in,because of those lovely youtube videos she is OBSESSED with! Have you seen them, do your kids obsess over them? I am sure she will be jumping for joy when she sees it.

Easter fashion is always cute! I plan on buying an Amelia dress at my LuLaroe party to wear on Easter. My mom bought the girls outfits, although I couldn't find a picture of Ainsley's, here is the top she got for Mackenzie.

HM

Ainsley drools so much I am thinking of getting her this bunny bib to go with her outfit.

Target


While we were in Seattle we went to a Christian outlet store and bought Mackenzie these books:

You can find them on Amazon here and here. I have heard rave reviews from friends on the Jesus storybook Bible and Pinterest even has some great ideas.

We haven't bought anything for Ainsley yet but some ideas floating in my head are;

socks

bibs

book

little people toys
bows and headbands

More ideas for Mackenzie are;

stickers

hair clips

undies

nail polish

Last year I made my sister in law a basket filled with goodies.

It's a super easy project and works great for friends and or husbands.

You need a cardboard drink holder. I used Henry Weinhard or you can get wine ones at grocery stores. Cover the box in scrapbook paper.

Add in favorite drink on one side, I put in coke zero. Put grass in the other side.

Fill a couple of eggs with goodies. Candy, baby lips, nail polish, chapstick are great ideas.

Add a few more goodies and Viola a cute inexpensive easter basket!!

I made one a couple of years ago for my husband too. His, I glued the grass around the edge, or you can glue cheap Easter garland too.

I hope you enjoy this super easy tip and if you use it send me a pic, I want to see yours!!

Email me at mommyministryandmore@gmail.com