tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post5214444588099535445..comments2024-03-29T02:16:01.130-05:00Comments on Blessed to Be: 7 Things I Could Use Your Help With Right NowStephanie @ Blessed to Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-32948164902036803902015-10-06T13:06:09.734-05:002015-10-06T13:06:09.734-05:00Hello!!
I have been holding off on commenting bec...Hello!!<br /><br />I have been holding off on commenting because I really wanted to take the time to respond to several of your questions. I see now that you’ve gotten a ton of comments, so maybe I’m too late to the party now, lol. <br /><br />1. Have you considered eMeals? Sheena at Bean in Love introduced me to the service and we LOVE it. You could select a meal plan that meets any of your four criteria, or some combination thereof. I LOVE the fact that grocery lists are included and it even gives a projected cost. If you have access to some of the suggested retailers, they will also provide meals that take into account sales for the week. Super nice. If you want more info, let me know because there are referral codes I could share. <br /><br />2. Do you follow Jen at Into Your Will? She’s been learning Creighton but I don’t know the status on her training. She might be interested in getting your perspective on things. <br /><br />3. I think the side braid is really cute, but I have to dry and straighten my hair for it to look decent so I don’t do the braid until wash day. There is this cool wrap thing that you might like for switching things up. I can usually swing this only when my hair is wet, which is what you asked for. Here’s a quick link to the idea, but there are tons of others out there: http://blog.birchbox.com/post/32280546613/how-to-the-princess-roll-hairstyle <br /><br />-I bow out of suggestions on 4, 5, and 6, lol. – <br /><br />7. Water bottles! We go through water bottles like crazy!! I am SUPER weird about water bottles and insist on having something with the spout covered because EW. I have owned several of these (http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Nissan-Intak-Hydration-Bottle/dp/B001EGGQB6) and love them because you can keep up with water intake pretty easily via the notch on the side. I will say the plastic is durable but I have had some of the spout clasps break. Last year, I purchased this one (http://www.amazon.com/Contigo-Autospout-Addison-24-Ounce-Watermelon/dp/B00C5G3PCC/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1444154520&sr=1-2&keywords=contigo+water+bottle) for my husband, with a spout that more so resembles what I remember of the Camelback versions. The spout on this one is contained (a requirement for me), so I don’t feel like it’s disgusting and I *hope* it cleans as easily as I think it does. <br /><br />BONUS: A while back (way before we were pregnant), I saved your baby shower post because it was as super cute, unique idea. I kept it in the back of my mind as a potential theme for my own (future) shower because of how fun and unique it was. As it turns out, my friend asked me about baby shower ideas last week and it’s still the only idea I’d ever come across that I really liked, SO we may have something similar to yours!! I don’t know when or what it will all look like but I thought you would get a kick out of hearing that. Lauren @ Here We Geauxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11969093662089695547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-68212635267863382612015-09-30T16:53:41.278-05:002015-09-30T16:53:41.278-05:00You're so right about baked chicken. Great tip...You're so right about baked chicken. Great tip! And you know what? I should probably just stock up on chicken one of these next trips to the grocery store and store it in my freezer so I always have last-second meal components on hand. Great plan!<br /><br />I'd love an invite to jet.com, if only to just check it out! Thank you! I'd never heard of it before, so I'm grateful for the suggestion. :)Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-17986278655388491742015-09-30T16:48:52.084-05:002015-09-30T16:48:52.084-05:00Hahahaha! So true about babies changing EVERY DAY....Hahahaha! So true about babies changing EVERY DAY. As soon as I feel like I've figured him out, he's off changing again. :P Silly babies! <br /><br />I'm adding your blog to my blogroll so that I can feel like we're having play dates/mom dates at least. :)Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-64179373696675642772015-09-30T16:46:20.590-05:002015-09-30T16:46:20.590-05:00It's encouraging to hear that it's somethi...It's encouraging to hear that it's something all moms experience and you just get used to it. :) At least that way I know other folks are likely to be understanding.Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-34776580638776546332015-09-29T11:11:33.345-05:002015-09-29T11:11:33.345-05:00Yum that looks so good!! As I was typing that I wa...Yum that looks so good!! As I was typing that I was hoping you liked balsamic chicken since both recipes have it haha <br /><br />Too bad I'm not in the same city! We are in Auburn, AL which isn't too far... but definitely too far for play dates :) But seriously, I can't get over the due date.. the chances of that are so so slim. <br /><br />Babies are so unpredictable! Every time I make any statement, "JohnMark is so smiley today"- he instantly cries. "Wow, JohnMark is sleeping so well" -his eyes pop open. I guess they just like to keep us on our toes!Emily Hineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15749870642306851153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-13493321497867324982015-09-29T09:51:53.820-05:002015-09-29T09:51:53.820-05:00The tomato juice comes in either a can or a bottle...The tomato juice comes in either a can or a bottle. I think both are 64oz. You find it with the juices, like V8.<br /><br />As for the store... Maria is old enough/I've been her mom long enough that we can survive without her nursing for a bit. haha. When she was littler I might have stopped to nurse her. (and seriously. We went out for lunch and then went home and she was just fine so I don't think she really needed to nurse. She didn't even eat much lunch) I ended up taking her out and carrying her while awkwardly pushing the cart with my other hand, and then at checkout I just put her back in and she cried. It can be frustrating/embarrassing but I guess you just have to get used to it.<br />Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06914343351803930748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-11423823538091968742015-09-28T14:49:09.533-05:002015-09-28T14:49:09.533-05:00As far as easy recipes, my go to when I was single...As far as easy recipes, my go to when I was single was baking chicken in different sauces - marinara sauce, salsa, etc. I don't remember how long, but it was at 350. You can get so many different flavors without much effort.<br /><br />As far as shopping, if you're interested, I can send you an invite to try Jet.com. My brother described it as Amazon.com and Costco's love child. The idea is that it's like a club store, but all online. I've loved being able to just order stuff online, though it doesn't work for perishables. Dry goods and nonperishables only.Stephanie Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08435698159183117354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-51597898104462382762015-09-28T12:02:33.134-05:002015-09-28T12:02:33.134-05:00Shut the front door!! Same due date and similar na...Shut the front door!! Same due date and similar names??! Please tell me you live in the same city so we can have a play date ASAP!<br /><br />I'll let you know when I figure out the hair issue. Today, I'm letting it air dry. Sometimes I french braid it too, but even that takes too much time for me, so usually it's just a quick side braid and a headband over that. Too bad it makes me look like Pippy Longstocking ALL THE TIME. Haha. I guess I don't care *that* much though, because I haven't stopped doing it yet.<br /><br />John Paul hated the swaddle as he was falling asleep, but once he was out, it kept him sleeping way longer than if he wasn't swaddled. So we used the swaddle for several months. Around 3 months,we transitioned him to the Zipadee-Zip, which is like a wearable blanket that also restricts arm movements a little bit, so it's like being semi-swaddled. We use it for naps. :) For bedtime, we just have him in footed pajamas now. Obvi it's not perfect because some nights he fights us so hard. But once he's asleep, he's pretty good at staying asleep or putting himself back to sleep (for the most part), so they're at least helping him with that. He also loves the Aden and Anais blankets. Sometimes they help him fall asleep just the way you described. It's adorable! But other times, they do nothing. He's a funny little unpredictable dude. :P<br /><br />Also, HOW DID YOU KNOW I LOVE BALSAMIC CHICKEN!?! OMGoodness, those sound AMAZING! Thank you! One pot/skillet recipes are the bomb. I'm going to try this one out tonight: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2015/09/one-pot-chicken-fajita-pasta.html<br /><br />Thanks for all the help! This is awesome. :) <br /><br />Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-72914314893740245602015-09-28T11:48:23.890-05:002015-09-28T11:48:23.890-05:00The husband has put a block on all co-sleeping ove...The husband has put a block on all co-sleeping over here. :\ I let John Paul take one nap on the bed with me and when I told John about it later, he said, "Please don't do that again." So no co-sleeping for us. I'm glad it works for you guys though! <3<br /><br />I didn't even think of the hooks idea! How lovely! And it'd be so easy to lift them from the cart straight to the conveyor belt. Much easier than unloading all the individual items one at a time onto the belt. So smart!!<br /><br />I've never heard of that app but I'm definitely going to look it up. Thank you!! <br /><br />Great tips!! You're the best!Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-33832154433137296032015-09-27T10:58:40.471-05:002015-09-27T10:58:40.471-05:00I have a 4 month old too! And from reading your bi...I have a 4 month old too! And from reading your birth stories I am pretty sure we had the exact same due date! (May 11th??) But JohnMark was born on the 16th. (Also JohnMark and John Paul.. maybe they are meant to be friends!) <br /><br />Anyways! I really hope you find some good hairs styles because I am having the exact same problem! I used to dry my hair every day... but now with a baby I don't want to waste time on that! And wearing my hair down is impossible with little grabbing hands. Right now I've been doing a french braid, but I'm terrible with braids so I switch it into a messy bun when I leave the house. <br /><br />I also haven't had to go to the store with JM yet! I don't know how I've lucked out.. but I always go Saturday mornings so my husband can watch him. We also share a car so I can never go when he is at work anyways. <br /><br />I am so sorry about the sleeping! Eek!! We still swaddle JM (keeping one arm out since he can roll over) and that does the trick for us. He also has these little blankets. http://www.adenandanais.com/en-us/productlanding/4624/baby/security-blankets/classic-issie/issie+classic.aspx <br />He loves them rubbed against his face and will always help him fall asleep. Then I just take them out of his crib when I go to bed just in case!<br /><br />I love easy recipes that can be made in one skillet. Here are a few of my favorites!<br /><br />http://www.melskitchencafe.com/balsamic-chicken-noodle-bowl/ <br /><br />Skillet Balsamic Chicken with Summer Vegetables <br />1. Pound 1.5lb chicken into 1/4 in. thickness, sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. of garlic salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper<br />2. Heat 2 Tbsp of oil in a large skillet over med. heat; add chicken, and cook until browned. Remove and set aside. <br />3. Add 8oz fresh green beans and 10oz of shredded carrots to skillet. Cook until crisp tender. Remove from skillet and set aside. <br />4. Add 1/3 C Italian salad dressing, 1/4 C balsamic vinegar, 2 Tbsp honey, and 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper to skillet. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute. <br />5. Slice the chicken, add chicken and veggies to skillet. Cook for 2 min or until heated through. Sprinkle with chopped tomato. <br />Serve with cornbread muffins and honey butter (1/4 C softened butter mixed with 2Tbsp honey) <br />Emily Hineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15749870642306851153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-34566867733308474342015-09-27T07:26:16.969-05:002015-09-27T07:26:16.969-05:00All I can suggest for sleep is co-sleeping I know ...All I can suggest for sleep is co-sleeping I know its a big no no for some but its the only thing that works for us I hate listening to baby cry. Wearing baby is a great way if he doesnt like it check to see if your carraiges have the hooks under the baby seat like whwre your pelvis is on the front you can hang bags there pop some reusable shopping bags there to stuff... For water I love the plant nanny qpp!Justinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07706997143361838129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-63433842481353007532015-09-26T15:04:09.423-05:002015-09-26T15:04:09.423-05:00Ok, just pinned all those recipes you sent!! Aweso...Ok, just pinned all those recipes you sent!! Awesome! They all sound SO GOOD!<br /><br />I reeeeally really want to use that 2-3-4 method for naps because it sounds awesome. But guess who takes 5 naps a day?? If you guessed John Paul, you'd be right!! I think it's because he doesn't stay asleep long enough during his naps. Some are only an hour long, and he's only sleeping about 8 hours at night right now. So in order to reach the 13 hours (or whatever it is) that the average 4-month-old needs, he takes a million naps to catch up with the sleep he's not getting at night. Wild, right?? Anyway, the trick is probably getting him to bed earlier than 11pm and then getting him to sleep through the night better, more like 10 - 12 hours. Once he can do that, the 2-3-4 will probably be what we use for naps. But until then, I'll just be putting my son down for naps 5 times a day. No big. :P I should probably re-name him Mr. Sleepy Head. :DStephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-37573583765997866242015-09-26T13:26:49.147-05:002015-09-26T13:26:49.147-05:00Emailing you some recipes! That's probably the...Emailing you some recipes! That's probably the only thing I can help with :-P sleep is so hard, I think the hardest part is that their sleep needs are constantly changing throughout their first year of life (and beyond) have you looked at the baby sleep site at all? I've found that helpful. Something else I found helpful that I read about recently is 2-3-4. it may not work quite yet since JP is probably still taking three naps but it's something to keep in mind for later. I've heard it can work up to a year old for most babies. Put baby down for nap 2 hours after waking in the morning, then put them down 3 hours after first nap and down for bed 4 hours after last nap. It seems to have really helped Juliette a lot though perhaps it just randomly coincided with Juliette sleeping well at night but she's been sleeping 11 hours straight (then eating and going back down for an hour) and she has not been fighting her morning nap like she was before we tried this. Maybe it will help find the sweet spot for John Paul's sleep/tiredness so that he'll go down without a fight. Maybe there is a similar routine for 3 naps a day, worth looking into! Ok, now I'm gonna email recipes cuz I honestly don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to sleep!Kate Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03555350062227904698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-92119881132709042472015-09-26T12:04:39.644-05:002015-09-26T12:04:39.644-05:00Oh man! I wish I had seen that cover before we pur...Oh man! I wish I had seen that cover before we purchased ours. We got the Infantino one through our registry: http://www.amazon.com/Infantino-Compact-Shopping-Cart-Cover/dp/B004Y426XM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443286887&sr=8-1&keywords=shopping+cart+insert<br /><br />It doesn't look like it has the side support like yours does. Hrmmm. :\ I guess that means we'll just have to wait until he can really sit unassisted before we use it. Thanks for your rec though. That would have been awesome if we didn't already have one.<br /><br />America's test kitchen 30 minute meals sounds like exactly what we need! I'll be checking our library soon. Thanks for the tip. And heck YES to leftovers! I love making meals that last at least two nights. :) Panini Friday sounds fun too!!<br /><br />Thanks so much for your help. Great recs!! Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-70460183429873832032015-09-26T12:00:55.703-05:002015-09-26T12:00:55.703-05:00I'm glad this post spoke to you too! The numbe...I'm glad this post spoke to you too! The number of things I've had to learn how to do or readjust since John Paul came along is wild! I'm loving it, but sometimes I'm just clueless. Glad to know I'm not alone. :)<br /><br />We LOVE Amazon Prime too. I'm constantly ordering stuff from there. The only thing I haven't figured out is grocery shopping though. I hear some cities have an Amazon grocery service, but it hasn't made its way to our city yet. Does yours have the grocery service? That would be so cool! <br /><br />We used the eat, play, sleep routine when he was younger, around 1 to 2 months old. It worked for a little while, although he's always had trouble with falling asleep. We'd have to put on the noise machine, sing, swaddle, and sway with him until his eyes got heavy. Then we'd lay him down. But it was usually 50/50 on him being able to fall asleep or stay asleep once we put him in his bassinet. Sometimes it worked, other times he'd scream and we'd have to start again. Now that he's older and bigger, we don't have to swaddle him anymore, and I like to nurse him right before sleep. (Shhhh, don't tell anyone! This is supposedly a bad habit to get into. Eek!) Oh sleep! I wish it were easier. :P<br /><br />If you ever need support from another new mom, I'm here for you. Thanks for all the help!! :)Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-47377832622951362242015-09-26T11:51:26.059-05:002015-09-26T11:51:26.059-05:00Oh my goodness!!!! That product is exactly what we...Oh my goodness!!!! That product is exactly what we've needed all along!! I'm thinking since he's almost at the sit-up-on-his-own phase, I'll probably just wait it out now, but for (God willing) future children, that's going on the list of must haves!! Thank you! :DStephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-47275875698481730652015-09-26T11:44:48.699-05:002015-09-26T11:44:48.699-05:00It's so funny you reference that article! I sa...It's so funny you reference that article! I saw it circulating on fb the other day and read it because I reeeeally want to change up my up do's from the usual boring bun or braid. I love all her cute do's!! But honestly, your French twist sounds like the easiest of them all! I'm going to have to practice, though. I tried it this morning and it was a hot mess. Hahaha. Can't wait to master it!<br /><br />I've never heard of Bkrs before! They're beautiful! (Is it weird to say that about a water bottle??) Actually, I love that they're glass. You're right that it makes for a break hazard, but it *is* scary to drink out of plastic all the time, right? And I like that they have the screw top. That way I can throw it into my purse or on the couch while I'm nursing. Having water wherever I go is a big must for me, and part of the reason I think I forget so easily. I also noticed they're on amazon! And the blue is only $30. Hrmmmm . . . I might just have to buy one this instant! <br /><br />Thanks so much!! Great advice!Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-33719183618412970332015-09-26T11:39:04.690-05:002015-09-26T11:39:04.690-05:00THOSE RECIPES!!!! <3
Thank you so much for sh...THOSE RECIPES!!!! <3 <br /><br />Thank you so much for sharing them!! The marsala and the pulled pork and the spaghetti sauce. I'm salivating!!! Question though, where do you find tomato juice? Is that in a can too, like the sauce? Or is it more like V8? <br /><br />Sorry to hear you have bedtime struggles too. Babies. Gotta love 'em. Also, so confused by them. :P<br /><br />Also, not that it happened to you yesterday or anything, but yikes! The shirt pulling and crying would have driven me batty too. Eek! What do you do? I wonder if I'd find a chair somewhere and nurse him really quick or just power through and nurse once I got home. I don't know why, but I have major nerves about taking John Paul out with me and having him have a melt down or cry session in public. But I should probably get over that because babies just do that, right? And people just understand that, right??<br /><br />Big ol' water jug from the hospital? I didn't get one. They gave me a refillable pitcher and a styrofoam cup, neither of which I took home. You must've been at a fancy hospital. ;) I was drinking out of a large cup of some sort with ounces marked along the side when I was pregnant and needing to increase my fluids and John would drink out of it all the time! So I know the feeling. :P <br /><br />Thanks so much for your help!! And general encouragement/empathizing. Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-76992474177844023022015-09-26T11:32:27.759-05:002015-09-26T11:32:27.759-05:0010 months?! Eek! Ok, no big deal. I still got this...10 months?! Eek! Ok, no big deal. I still got this. :) I think I'm just going to have to become a more confident Ergo user. It's ok if a baby cries a bit while they're in the carrier, right? A momma's gotta shop, ya know? And at least he'll be cuddled close while he's crying. :)<br /><br />Great advice about not doing anything we don't want to repeat in the middle of the night. Lucky for us, he only wakes about once or twice per night right now. (This is a new thing, btw. He used to sleep through the night about 8 hours. I think the new wakings are his 4-month regression.) And when he wakes, it just takes a little shushing and sometimes a paci to get him back to sleep. Phew! <br /><br />Thanks for the post. I actually read it a few months ago, right after John Paul was born. Great tips for staying at home with baby. I *wish* my husband didn't mind night waking like yours. It would be lovely if he could take over on that. ;) As it is, we take turns, so that's good. And his night wakes really aren't that bad. *knock on wood* So we don't mind them *that* much.<br /><br />Thanks for all the advice! This is great. :)Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-86815802630596588832015-09-26T11:27:25.582-05:002015-09-26T11:27:25.582-05:00Crown braids . . . giirlllll, when do you have tim...Crown braids . . . giirlllll, when do you have time for that?! Jk, sounds lovely!<br /><br />I'm so torn on CIO. It makes sense, but it doesn't, ya know? I want him to learn to fall asleep on his own and I worry that by us being there next to him while he's trying to fall asleep, he's only learning to do it with our help every time. But then I also don't love the idea of making him cry so much on his own. Don't get me wrong . . . we've let him CIO a few times before just because we were so exhausted and not in a happy place from helping him for hours to try to fall asleep. He cried for about 10 minutes and then finally slept. But it broke my heart a little. Ugh. What's a gal to do? I think for now, we'll keep at what we're doing. He actually fell asleep SUPER easy last night (go figure!) and I think the trick was an extra nap (super short cat nap) around 8pm. But CIO (with scheduled intervals of checking in and helping him) will always be in our back pocket if we get to a really bad place. It just makes NO sense to me because should sleepy babies just fall asleep? On their own? And easily? Hahaha, yeah, no.<br /><br />I think I'm going to use that "propping up the baby" trick next time we're at the grocery store and he doesn't want to be in the Ergo or the sling. And actually, that'll work well since I can use the Ergo/sling as a cushion to prop him up. :P The good news is: he'll be sitting up on his own soon. So hopefully this phase will be a thing of the past within the next few months. Though, God willing, we'd love to grow our family again in the next year or two, so I guess the next baby will go through this awkward grocery shopping phase too and we'll also have a two or three year old (John Paul) to keep track of at the same time. Yikes! The daily parenthood struggle is real. :P<br /><br />I agree about water drinking being SO MUCH EASIER when you're drinking out of something cute and fun. Hrmmmm. Maybe it's time I buy another Tervis tumbler or something like that. <br /><br />Thanks for all the help! Great recommendations!! :DStephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-37609257401229078262015-09-26T11:16:10.582-05:002015-09-26T11:16:10.582-05:00I haven't tried an infuser water bottle yet. T...I haven't tried an infuser water bottle yet. The idea of infused water (with fruit!) sounds fantastic, though I have to admit . . . I don't love the idea of having to clean up the fruit after. :\ <br /><br />Thanks for putting my name out there as a CrMS practitioner!!<br /><br />We do have a white noise sound machine! We discovered that it helped him when he was only a few weeks old. We've been using it ever since. And actually, we just use a white noise app that we downloaded onto an old iPhone of ours. Perfect! (Btw, you're not a non-mom in my eyes. <3)<br /><br />Love the veggie tray suggestion! Sounds so easy, and a great way to get those veggies in but without all the extra prep (washing, chopping). Where do you get your veggie trays? Just the regular grocery store? Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-22222149592580199372015-09-26T08:19:01.636-05:002015-09-26T08:19:01.636-05:00We have the Leachco shopping cart cover, which is ...We have the Leachco shopping cart cover, which is the only one I have seen with both a seat belt and side bolster pillows. It's the best! I used it for both of my boys at that age and never had a problem. Here it is: http://www.sears.com/leachco-prop-r-shopper-body-fit-shopping-cart/p-04925382000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&pla&kpid=04925382000&kispla=04925382000P&kpid=04925382000<br /><br />Regarding meals, almost all of my quick ones are from America's test kitchen 30 minute meals. It is now out of print, but you can get it used on amazon or ebay for a song. I'm sure your library has it if you want to check it out first. I also make a soup or pasta at least once a week because they make the best leftovers. Also, paninis on Fridays : )daniellem02https://www.blogger.com/profile/07794397142168752128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-5749368145545422822015-09-25T18:21:05.234-05:002015-09-25T18:21:05.234-05:00Love this post. My baby is 2 months old, so I stil...Love this post. My baby is 2 months old, so I still needed help with 1,3,and 5. At the moment, I only go shopping with my husband or shop online. Amazon prime is a life saver.....it is amazing what I would normally just run to the corner store to get that I now I buy on amazon when I'm in a pinch bc it would get her faster than me waiting for the weekend. Love the basket under the cart idea. I am still really bad at cooking...or lack of cooking so I am also excited to get in the crock pot more. I wash my hair and let it air dry. LOL As for sleeping. I have had lots of success with the eat, play, sleep routine. I play music or use a white noise machine. I try to use different sounds each time so she does not get stuck with one specific thing. Then I rock her to sleep. with the pacifier. Once it falls out of her mouth, I know she is asleep. When she is really over tired and crabby at night like around 7pm, we still have to swaddle her up to her neck, we rock her to sleep and then place her in a car seat, or swing. She still needs that small area feeling. Simonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11707429755251982900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-70746411187973155972015-09-25T18:09:42.156-05:002015-09-25T18:09:42.156-05:00http://www.amazon.com/Binxy-Baby-Shopping-Hammock-...http://www.amazon.com/Binxy-Baby-Shopping-Hammock-Quatrefoil/dp/B00VY9ERQY<br />These are awesome for shopping with baby!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15623529432629419736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753193842106749410.post-22187432681648457342015-09-25T17:37:30.429-05:002015-09-25T17:37:30.429-05:00Ugh. The dreaded 4-month sleep regression. I hear ...Ugh. The dreaded 4-month sleep regression. I hear it's a thing. I don't want to believe it's a thing though. ;) I hope that means it's almost over, since he's 4.5 months old now. <br /><br />Thanks for the website rec!! Their reflections are short, which will make it a lot easier for me to fit in my busy days! And the recordings of the readings?! Perfect. :) <br /><br />Thank you so much!!Stephanie @ Blessed to Behttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15432625948200484509noreply@blogger.com