Christmas Gifts

What do you get a 8 month old for Christmas?  She doesn't really NEED anything but at the same time I want to make it special since it is her first Christmas while at the other same time I don't want Christmas to be all about presents for her.  I guess this is the first of many more parenting decisions to come.

Christmas Card Pictures

Here are some of our "ugly Christmas sweater" pictures.

I couldn't really find an ugly Christmas sweater for Megan so I ended up buying a $3 cardigan at Walmart and then making felt pieces to glue on.  It actually didn't end up being too ugly...whoops!  

Holiday traditions

I know most of you don't comment on here, but I know people visit!  I would love to hear what holiday traditions you have.  Now that we have little Megan there are so many traditions I want to start but I know I won't do.  I have too many ideas and wants that I know we don't have the resources or time to do.  So....what are some holiday traditions old or new that you do or will be doing with your little ones?

Eating...or not

My husband and I are really good eaters.  Really good.  We hardly ever say no to food, probably eat more than we should and just really enjoy food in general.  So when I started noticing that my daughter didn't eat much and wouldn't eat when I tried to force her, it really killed me.  I never thought I would be one of those parents that would do whatever it took to make sure my kid would be eating enough.  If I happen to put a bottle in her mouth at an angle that is awkward for me and she starts eating, then I stay still.  It's happened on more than one occasion where my husband is holding the baby, I come over and stick the bottle in her mouth and she starts drinking then we both don't move.  It doesn't make sense because both of us do not need to be there but the baby is eating, so we don't move.

So for all you parents out there that have great eaters, be thankful!

Pictures...

I just realized I have no pictures posted on my blog!  I'm so used to just uploading pictures onto facebook and never really took the time to put some on here...

So here goes!
~in no particular order and not edited(gasp!)~

The night before she was born

A just born shot!

Couple of weeks old

One month

About 6.5 weeks old and Megan's first time at Disneyland!

So happy to be at Nordstroms!  2 months old

Megan's 100 Day Celebration

At my cousins wedding in Malibu

Making her try on silly little hats

Cancun at 5 months

San Francisco at 6 months

Things I love!

I've been wanting to do a post like this for awhile but never got around to it.  Now that I'm actually writing it, I realized that so many things I've loved have already changed!  Babies grow so quickly and in so many ways that something I may not have been able to live without has already come and gone.

I guess I could start with some of the things that Megan has used from the beginning and is still using to this day.

1.  The pacifier....she loves it, we love it...cannot live without it.  I know a lot of people are against pacifiers for one reason or another, but I don't care.  In particular, she loves the Soothie ones.

The one complaint I would have in regards to these pacifiers is that they can't be used with most pacifier clips.  The only one that I've found to like are the Booginhead Pacifier Clips.  The Soothie pacifier clips that are made for this particular clip is extremely bulky and heavy.  

2.  Her Security Blanket aka magic hankie!  

These Aden and Anais Security Blankets have been another lifesaver in our household.  They are so lightweight, small and thin that I have no worries when I stick one in the crib with her.  There have also been many times when she is crying and I give her the magic blanket and she just stops! 

3.  The Pack n Play 

I didn't get one with all the fancy bells and whistles but have already used this more than I can count!  I used to keep this in the living room and she would nap in here, get her diaper changed in here and sometimes just lay here.  Now that she is past the napping in the living room stage I just keep it packed up in the car and use it when we are out.  If we go to a friends home for dinner and want to put her down, all it takes is a minute or two set up and down she goes!  

4.  An exersaucer!

A friend loaned us hers and I initially didn't want it!  I wanted as little baby stuff as possible and especially baby stuff that looked like baby stuff if you know what I mean.  But she insisted I take it and would need it.  Now I am so glad I have it!  Now that Megan is beyond just the laying around stage and is in the "I want to be upright and doing something" stage, this is perfect.  She is entertained in here, and has been for the past 2.5-3 months, and it gives me time to get things done.  

That's all for now....there are a MILLION products that could be reviewed in terms of baby stuff, i.e. bottles, toys, cribs, diapers, formula, and the list goes on and on.  

I'll probably be doing several more posts like this as I think of different products that I have used and loved or could have done without.  

Thankful...

~I'm copying a blog that I follow, but wanted to do the same~

What I'm thankful for:

1.  God

2.  Byoung

3.  Megan

4.  Family

5.  Friends

6.  Tyson

7.  Health