Our week in Insta-grams.

It has been a full week!  As I went through the photos on my phone, I had trouble remember if this had really happened tihs past week.  They all, in fact, did happen this past week......but just felt so weird to see- this weeks has flown.....but in some ways sees so long ago.  Such is life, I suppose.

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We visited the mall with friends.  Grace was just lounging in her stroller.  Thankful she wasn't trying to get out and run around!

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When we got home from said trip, Parker was cutting paper with her scissors.  She's been so good about only cutting paper and always (well- most of the time), putting them up.

But on this day- I she had left them out and I did not want Grace to get a hold of them.  So I told Parker to put them away.  She did.

Good.

Then- as I was preparing dinner- I just so happened to look into the trash can and found this.  Her hair.  I don't remember exactly what I said, but to my surprise, I did not yell.  I think there was a firm talking to, but she knew she was wrong, and she busted out crying.

I later found more evidence on the kitchen floor.  And just yesterday I found some in our bathroom?  So I'm not sure where exactly she cut her hair, but she did.  And then she put those scissors up and thought I woulnd't have been the wiser.

Luckily- she just cut herself some little bangs.  Kind of just looks like new hair, so not too big of a deal.

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Also on this day- Grace did not sleep a wink.  So I took this picture to catalogue her first ever day to not nap.  She did all right, but this girls still needs her nap.  She will usually sleep about 2 hours....or even 3 hours at Kristin's house.

Little stinker!

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Saturday morning we made a quick trip to Wal-Mart before Geoff got home from the deer lease with my dad.  They just looked to cute in the cart to not take a picture.  They are really starting to look more and more like each other.

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After Wal-Mart- we came home and had lunch.  Then we put in Beauty and the beast.  When the "Be Our Guest" song came on with the dancing china and silverware....Parker ran into the kitchen to get her 'china and silverware.'

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One day this week- Grace got a hold of a blue marker and thought she'd put it all over he mouth and teeth....like lip stick I guess (except I guess the goal of lip stick is to keep it on your lips).  But so proud of herself nonetheless.

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These next few may be my favorite.  The girls spent the night with my mom and Terry this past Friday since Geoff and I were both working.  I got to sleep in until about 9 or so since I wasn't going to be able to go to bed the night.  Anyway- when I got up and into the living room- it wasn't long until Parker told me she had packed her bag for Gramma and Poppa's.  I was SO impressed!   

Turns out- Geoff packed their bag.  ;)

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Head on over to The Vanilla Tulip tomorrow.  You should really be reading her blog daily, though!  Megan told us about her blog and I've been hooked ever since!

Well- she has a craft fair going on now and for a few more weeks with lots of great shops and giveaways and discounts.  Tomorrow- she is featuring our shop- Anything Baby Boutique- and their just might be a discount offered for her readers!

These are a few of my favorite things....

A few months back.....I told you about this Fisher Price Rock and Play Sleeper.



My friend, Alissa, told me about this product.....and after getting one for ourselves.....I loved it, as well. So I wanted to share about it then.....so that others could enjoy the same!


Since then.....I have come across several more things that I love and want to share about. :)


My friend, Heather, told me about the RaZberry Teether. I had told her how Grace is not really interested in the pacifier....but that I thought she was starting to teeth. She then told me about this!

I love it.....and more importantly....Grace loves it! It has the 'ridges' and 'bumpiness' all around it. The whole thing is made out of the same material.....it's not too soft.....and not too hard......and the handle is so skinny and small....perfect for her little hands. She chews on the entire thing! And it comes in several different colors.

I have seen these at Babies R Us (in the store, but not online)......and Amazon.....and I am sure they can be found in many other places.....but these are the places I have seen them for sure! Thanks, Heather, for letting me know about such a great find!

Next up.........a sound machine!


Right before Grace turned 5 months old.....I felt she was ready to start sleeping in her room. And in all honesty.....she was probably ready a little sooner, however, due to some 'issues' I was having in getting Parker to bed peacefully.....I kept her in our room a little longer! ;)

Since then.....things with Parker have gotten much better.

In addition.....Grace has not been a very good napper. Not really sure of the cause.....but sometimes I do think it is because of noise. Caused by us. Caused by Parker. ;)

Anyway.....I think it may have been about a month ago....Kelly (from Kelly's Korner blog)....posted about how she purchased this sound machine and that it made all the difference in her daughter sleeping through the night. I immediately went to check it out!

Grace Sweet Slumber Sound Machine

After some research....and a suggestion from a blogging friend, Kat.....I decided to go with this one.

Marpac 980 Sound Screen Conditioner

I am not saying which sound machine is better. I can only attest to the one I bought.....and I love it!!! Last night she woke up at 5am......did a little whining.....but not enough for me to go in and get her. And she went back to sleep until 7:15 (after going to bed at 6:30 the night before!).

Also- the napping is getting......better.

Now......with all of that being said.......I really do not know for sure if this sound machine is the reason she is sleeping better. Maybe she is just getting older and able to sleep longer stretches? Maybe her teeth aren't bothering her as much in the day, so she is able to nap better? Who knows!!

But what I do know.....is that I have comfort in knowing that it is on while she is napping and while I am getting Parker to bed....because then I do not feel like we have to walk on eggshells and I am not always trying to tell my 2 year old to quiet down......because the reality of it is......it's not going to happen!!! ;)

It has several settings....so you are able to somewhat adjust the volume....depending on room size and how much noise you are wanting to drowned out!


And last....but not least. My newest favorite thing is this laminator!!

Scotch Thermal Laminator

I found out about this product through Carissa at 1+1+1=1. This is the laminator they use.

And to be honest.....I bought a big roll of contact paper not that long ago to 'laminate' things that I wanted to be able to keep for a while because I thought it would just be cheaper and easier.

Well....Carissa blogged about how right now through July 31......if you buy this laminator (which is about $40) and a box of 50 laminating pouches (about $10).....you get a $20 rebate (I am sure you already know this.....but you do need to keep the packing slip to send in with the rebate form....so don't throw it away, ok? Not that I did this....I'm just saying.). So, basically.....you'd get all of this for $30.00! And this product is eligible for FREE SuperSaver shipping!

I used this for the first time tonight and love it. Instead of printing out the stuff I wanted to keep for a while on cardstock....I am now just using regular paper, then laminating.

I have been using up the contact paper before I started using the laminator because I did not want it to go to waste.....but I will tell you....the laminating is so much nicer....sturdier.....clearer (more see-through).....and easier to cut than the contact paper.

And so I figure....since Parker is just now 2.....and I have another little one (Grace) to think about down the road.....and how much time I spend printing and cutting and planning.....and the many more years that I will be 'teaching' the alphabet......then I want my stuff to keep for a while! And this is the perfect solution!


I hope some of these products will help you out as much as they have helped me!

I love this thing!

My friend, Alissa, had her baby boy almost 4 weeks after we had Grace. When I visited her when he was 2 weeks old, she showed me this bassinet/rocker/lifesaver! It's actual name is the Fisher-Price Newborn Rock & Play Sleeper. These are the things that I love about it....

• #1....it's the only infant seat that meets industry safety standards for a bassinet.

• #2....When Grace was about 6 weeks old....she had a little bit of a snotty nose. And it was mostly at night that it really seemed to bother her. She would get up every 2-3 hours....not even because she was tired, but because she just couldn't breathe! Anyway....since she was (and still is) sleeping in our room in the pack-and-play, I couldn't really elevate the cardboard insert....and for some reason I was nervous about leaving her in the car seat all night (even though that is wear she does take quite a few of her naps!)....and at very desperate times I would put her in the bouncy seat, but that made me extremely nervous and we still didn't sleep very well. But this seat is perfectly elevated....and I felt that she was safe in it.

• #3.....It slightly rocks....so sometimes when I lay her down and she kind of jolts.....I can sometimes gently rock her and she goes back to sleep. Also....right now she is having trouble staying asleep in her naps. It's like clock-work and she seems to wake up 45 minutes in. Sometimes I am able to go in there and get her back to sleep without picking her up by putting her paci back in or just by gently rocking her.

• #4....It just seems a little more cozy in there than laying her in her pack-and-play....and although I do not have her sleeping in this at night because she seems to be doing fine in the pack-and-play for now (unless she is congested)....sometimes I do think she takes better naps in them. She's able to kind of lean up against one side....it just keeps her a little more balled up...like she's still being held or something. (and this could just all be in my head, but hey, whatever works, right?)

• #5....I do not think that Grace has reflux (and I could be wrong).... but this is a great seat for an infant suffering from relux or GERD.

• #6....For what I feel like you're getting.....the price of this chair is GREAT! Only $49.99. And....it folds up nice and neat so it's easy for travel, too!
  

After learning about this chair (when Grace was 6 weeks old), we went out and got it the very next day. I only wish we had learned of this chair sooner!

And I really have been debating about writing about this for the past 4 weeks....and finally decided today that I should....because I really do love this product and if somebody else out there can find it useful..... then I would love it.

Oh....and doesn't Grace look so sweet and peaceful in it, too? ;)