Dec 23, 2015

Dear Talitha {six months}

Dear Talitha,

We've spent half a year with you, my little love. And it's seriously flying by.

People always say their second pregnancy seems to go faster than the first. For me, both pregnancies felt like they were nine months long. Not too long, not too short. Just nine months of growing a sweet babe each time.


But your newborn days FLEW by. I remember bringing you home from the hospital and wearing you around the house all snuggled up in a wrap, and suddenly I blinked and you are six months old. I remember at three months it started to dawn on me how fast your baby days were passing by. I was setting you in your crib for a nap, and I pondered how far we had come already. You were sleeping in your own bed, in your own room, through the whole night. You were down to nursing five times a day, taking two or three naps. You were already following the general schedule we will probably keep until you are a year old.

With Zianne, I remember the newborn days stretching on forever. I think the novelty (and pain) of first time motherhood etched those early days in my memory as if they lasted for years and not just a few weeks. I remember Zianne as newborn, but I will always remember you as a baby.


And you are the most beautiful, precious baby. You constantly give us your big, gummy grin, because teeth have yet to emerge in your baby mouth. You wake up from your naps with flushed baby cheeks. And you now pop up on your hands and knees and rock and lunge toward your baby toys. You love baby food, and you sit on dad's lap during dinner each night and cry if the purees of squash and sweet potato don't make it to your mouth fast enough. You sit in a baby chair in the bath and kick your little toes in the warm, sudsy water.

You are my beautiful baby girl. You perch on my hip. You love to giggle. You are ever so alert and charming. These months with you have been filled with joy, and I will look back on your baby days with fondness always.

Love,
Mama

Dec 21, 2015

Talitha Joy {six months}


Growing // Talitha visited her new pediatrician {whom I loved!} and passed her six month well check with flying colors. She weighs 18 pounds, 11 ounces, and is 27 1/4 inches long. She is in the 90-95th percentile in every category, including her cute little (big?) noggin.

Eating // Talitha is holding steady with nursing five times a day, and we try to give her solids every night at dinner. She loves eating purees and cries if we don't shovel another spoonful in fast enough. I need to remember to pick up some of those little puffs at the grocery store, so she can learn to feed herself while we eat.

Wearing // T is is fitting into 12 month clothes perfectly, which basically means she'll need 18 month pajamas in a few days, right? I bought her a few more 12 months onesies at H&M the other day to round out her long-sleeved collection, so I think she should be warm enough for the next few "winter" months.

Doing // Talitha has officially learned how to pop up on her hands and knees, and she's about two days and two seconds away from crawling. She rocks back and forth gleefully, turns, and lunges for toys that are out of reach. She can also sit up on her own for a few seconds.

Loving // Mostly the same things as last month (baths, Sophie, her orange plush ball, chewing her feet), but has an increased passion for eating from a spoon. Also, loves her paci, eating small board books, being tickled, and being held by daddy (constantly) when he gets home from work.

Loathing // Doesn't love getting dressed or when mom and dad are too slow with the jar to mouth transfer with solid foods.

**Read other monthly updates here.

Dec 19, 2015

Saturday Snippets



Yes, yes, yes. I've been saying this for years...

The ideal Facebook cover photo size...

Is it okay to be proud of your children?

Made this delicious soup yesterday...

I don't need any more jewelry, but I'm still loving these necklaces!

The former journalist in me was intrigued by this article on the state of freelance writing...

An insightful piece about the rise of multi-level marketing within the church...

Pinterest trends for 2016, including: coding for kids, throwback sneakers, passport tattoos, and more...

Two trends I bought last year but am finally enjoying since I'm not preggo - faux leather leggings and my slim boyfriend jeans...

Heart onesies for Talitha Joy and floral leggings for Zianne Eileen

I've vowed to myself that I'll never home school, which means God will probably call me to do it. If that's the case, I'll use this guide...

Books on screen in 2016...

Dec 16, 2015

Family Photos at the Beach

Ah. Family pictures with small children. What a joy. What a workout. What a test of patience. Zianne typically refuses to smile for the camera, and when she does, her new thing is sticking her tongue out of the side of her mouth. See below. Part of me wants to pay a really talented photographer to try to capture our young family perfectly, and the other part of me knows that our current method is best - meeting a friend of a friend at the beach to snap a few pics of our beautiful chaos...














Details
Location: Corona Del Mar State Beach
Jen: Tunic // Necklace // Jeans
Micah: Polo
Zianne: Shirt // Leggings
Talitha: Overalls

Dec 15, 2015

The New Normal

I walked into the room with Talitha in my arms. She had just woken up for the morning. Zianne was already up, sitting on the couch watching Daniel Tiger with a sippy cup of milk in her hand. She looked up briefly, "Hi sissy," and turned her gaze back to the screen.

I sat down to nurse the babe and it struck me... after months of transitioning to life with two kids, after painstaking weeks of teaching Zianne to be "gentle" to sissy and enduring her toddler tantrums as she adjusted to sharing attention with a sibling... we were settling into normal.



Talitha is no longer new. Her presence is no longer disruptive to Zianne. Life with a little sis is Z's normal. It took a few months, but I am pretty sure Zianne can no longer remember her life before Talitha arrived in it.

Surely, the hardest part of Talitha's arrival was helping Zianne adjust. Her smooches on the baby's face would often turn into head butts, and we would find ourselves hurriedly separating the sisters we prayed would some day become close companions. As most parents' probably do after the second child arrives, we've been trying to balance our time and our attention - making sure Z still gets one-on-one time with each parent and attempting to savor Talitha's calm baby days, all while hoping to teach the older that life is better with the younger one in it.

For a while Zianne kept us on our toes. For a few days, we had both car seats together in the backseat, but we soon separated them because we couldn't trust our forward-facing two year old to keep her hands out of rear-facing sissy's face as we drove. Z never felt ill-will toward Talitha, just curiosity mixed with anxiety as this new, soft, chubby human took up permanent residence in our house. Zianne would share her toys by thrusting them into Talitha's face. Or she would kindly try to feed sissy her snacks, forcing us to repeat our new house mantra, "sissy only drinks milk," at least a hundred times.



Slowly but surely Talitha has become a normal part of everyday life. Zianne shares her toys more gently and loves to lie in the crib next to her sister. She brings Talitha her paci, informs us if T is "crawling" or "crying," and invites the baby to partake in activities around the house... "C'mon sissy. Let's go upstairs."

We crammed the family into the truck this weekend for a trip up to Disneyland, and we had to move the girls' car seats together to fit everyone in. Today, they sat in the back seat next to each other while we waited outside a restaurant for a to-go order. Zianne grabbed Talitha's hand and they started playfully pulling on each other's fingers, gently, happily. Talitha began giggling and Zianne laughed in return. There was no aggression, No anxiety. Just two sisters playing together the way we always imagined. Our new normal is my favorite yet.

Dec 12, 2015

Saturday Snippets



A thought-provoking read about Santa and the Gospel...

It's a little sad to post this, but what to do in an active shooter situation...

A cool site for stock photos...

Trying out this app to track my time...

Recent adds to my wardrobe: this neutral cardigan and the best v-neck tee {on super sale}...

On my wishlist: the best sports bra and new moccasins...

I could not pass up this set of printed onesies for Talitha...

An update for fellow grammar nerds...

Toddler tantrums and the grace of God...

Talitha's Chirstmas gift to Zianne and Zianne's gift to Talitha...

Dec 10, 2015

Talitha Joy {five months}


Growing // No well check this month, but I would guess T-Bean is at least 19 pounds by now. She is holding herself up well, so it's fairly easy to carry her around on my hip, thankfully.

Eating // Talitha nurses five times a day - usually around 7:30/8, 10:30/11, 1:30/2, 5:00ish, and 8/8:30. She has been begging to start solids (she grabbed a whole sandwich in both hands and tried to put it in her mouth at a picnic the other day and she dives into dad's plate every night at dinner), so I finally gave in a few weeks ago and let her try some sweet potatoes and then some carrots. She's officially eaten two jars of baby food in her whole life, and she loved them.
Wearing // T is pretty much in 12 months clothes, but I am still putting her in some nine month long sleeve onesies. We have almost no cold-weather clothing for the girls since we've only lived in warm climates since they've been born. It's actually still quite warm in SoCal, but on the rare cool day or in the evening, I just try to dress Talitha in what we have, even if it's a little too small or too big (second child problems). I did break down and buy a couple new hoodies and jackets for her a few weeks ago.

Doing // Girlfriend wants to be on her stomach all the time (including sleeping). She perches like a seal and rolls and wiggles her way to toys. She wants to crawl but hasn't quite figured out how to lift her stomach off the ground. Has started eating purees, but acts like she's ready to eat bread, meat, and any other solid she could get her hands on. Takes her paci in and out of her mouth and gnaws on the side of it. 

Loving // Loves baths, Sophie, her orange plush ball, chewing her feet, watching sissy, eating with a plastic spoon, being lifted up high above mommy or daddy's head

Loathing // She is so good-natured it's hard to say she loathes anything, but these are a few of the things that make her lose her grin...  getting buckled into her car seat (but doesn't mind the car), getting dressed, the time between dinner and bedtime (unless she has constant engagement and activity), and she hates being read to (sad face!). If you put a book in front of her that she can't chew on, she gets angry. She demands to thrust the cover in her mouth, and then it becomes impossible to turn the pages. 

Milestones // Talitha had her first Halloween (she was a mouse!) and Thanksgiving (in Arizona with family). She conquered Disneyland, not once but twice, and loved it both times. She lasted over 12 hours at the park each time we went, hardly slept, and smiled the whole day. She tried sweet potatoes and carrots, and decided eating solids is the best thing ever.

**Read other monthly updates here.

Dec 9, 2015

Shopping guide for babies and toddlers

Here is a round-up of our favorite baby and toddler toys this year. I am very picky about toys and get rid of anything that feels like clutter or doesn't get played with often. Here are the items that have earned a permanent place in our house.


Baby Einstein Alpha Books are no longer in print (sadly!) but you can still find them on Amazon...

Minnie Mouse Book Set - it's like books and blocks combined...

This toddler game is my new go-to gift for every 2nd birthday party we attend...

A classic walker toy - Zianne still uses it and Talitha will too before I know it...

Lunch basket because Zianne is all about play food these days...

Can't go wrong with a doctor's medical set...

A swing for the backyard...

The most beloved baby music toy...

And some favorite books: Wacky Wednesday // Pete the Cat // Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother too? // Lift the Flap Bible // Chicka Chicka Boom Boom // If You Give a Dog a Donut

Dec 8, 2015

How I Use Ebates for Holiday Shopping

Exactly two years ago during Christmas time, I signed up for Ebates after seeing a trusted, savvy blogger friend talk about it over Twitter. One of the best decisions I've ever made. Why? Because I get cash back for shopping online.

I posted about Ebates a few times during the weekend after Thanksgiving and one friend asked me, "Is it legit?" The answer is YES! I'm not really sure how the business transaction works between Ebates and the stores, but I'm sure Ebates gets a cut from retailers, the stores are hoping rebates drive sales, and then you get cash back on your purchases. Everybody wins!

But you don't actually have to spend extra money on your end. You just buy exactly what you were already planning to buy from almost any online retailer and Ebates will kick you back a little cash. Every few months they send you the balance on your account in the form of a "big fat payment," otherwise known as a real check sent in the mail. I have literally made a few hundred dollars over the past few years.

Here is how it works. If you sign up for an ebates account and scan their page you will see tons of retailers offering rebates... and I'm talking about great stores like Nordstrom, Etsy, Kohl's, Amazon, J.Crew, Walmart, and the list goes on. The secret is to install the Ebates cash back button. This is a little button you install at the top of your browser. Anytime you are shopping online, the button will alert you if there is a rebate offered on the site you are browsing. You click "Activate cash back," wait 3-5 seconds while Ebates loads, and then continue your shopping. You won't notice anything different about your shopping experience, but Ebates will track your purchase and add a rebate to your account. Usually rebates are between 1-5%, but during the holidays some stores offer 6-25% back, so rebates can add up quickly during December.

This is how it works...

After you sign up for an Ebates account, install the cash back button. You can see it installed up in the upper right hand corner of my screen between my Amazon and Pinterest buttons.


Then, shop as you usually would at your favorite retailers. I am eyeing this white and gray bath mat from Nordstrom. When I go to the Nordstrom website, I see the store is currently offering 6% cash back, so I click to activate the rebate.


Briefly, I will see this window pop up. It usually last for five seconds or less, and then the page jumps right back to the shopping website.


Now my cash back is active. I can add the bath mat to my cart and complete my order. If I buy the rug for $29.00, 6% of my purchase ($1.74) will be added to my Ebates balance. It might not seem like much, but it adds up over time and with larger purchases. If you get a few dollars back on every Christmas gift you buy this season, you will be able to buy yourself a gift with your rebate after the holidays are over.


That's it! The cash back button makes it so easy to shop online and get money back at the same time. Ebates also has a mobile app, so you can shop from your phone as well. If you aren't using Ebates yet, you're crazy! :) Sign up here. You can thank me when your first check arrives!

Dec 7, 2015

Dear Talitha {five months}

Dear Talitha,

If I had a tagline for you, it would be: "You make me want a million babies."

While many babies spend their first few months of life cuddled and swaddled, sleeping in pretty cribs in perfect nurseries, your life has been anything but delicate, comfortable, or low-paced. You still sleep in a pack 'n' play every night, as we figure out the room-sharing situation with your sister. You have endured more long car rides during our move than most babies do in their few years of life. You have nursed in the car countless times while we navigate our new city. Your schedule and surroundings have been a bit chaotic since birth, yet you are always in a cheerful mood.


You are the essence of sweet, like your nickname "Sweet T." Your cheeks are always puffed out in a smile, making them perfect targets for my kisses. You like to hold my hand when you nurse. You light up when you see your sister across the room, and sometimes you giggle for no reason at all. You like to sit on dad's lap during dinner each night, and you reach his food with the determination of a hungry teenage boy, not like a tiny baby who has tasted purees only a handful of times.

Your rosy cheeks and red hair and gentle demeanor are captivating, darling girl. I would seriously consider having a million babies if I knew they'd be as sweet as you.

Love,
Mama

*Read other Dear Talitha letters here.

Dec 5, 2015

Saturday Snippets


The goal of discipline is reconciliation...

The hidden costs of discounts...

An older post, but a good reminder about safe sleeping conditions for babies...

What Adele's record-breaking week can teach us about marketing...

I'm loving these shoes for little kids...

Bonhoeffer's thoughts during advent...

Because my two-year old doesn't pay attention to my advent readings...

These doodle books would make a great stocking stuffer for kids...

Love these day-in-the-life photo sessions...

Sign me up for a salted chocolate tart with a potato chip crust...

I want to fellowship with those who fellowship with God...

Excited about the Read Scripture project.

My daughter's wild hair...

Dec 3, 2015

December Goals

Hey! Hey! I have goals. What? I haven't formally written out my goals in months, due to moving craziness, but it's December, so I thought I'd accomplish a few things now and then gear up for a fresh set of yearly goals in 2016. Cheers to that.


Get rid of sofa. We have a sofa sitting in our garage. It's in great condition, but it's so ugly that no one will buy it {Craig's List} for the ridiculously low price of $60. I'm embarrassed it was once in our house... but it was. Time to donate.

Learn how to hip-carry with ring sling

Print {and use} goal-tracker for dissertation writing

Finish editing two chapters of dissertation

Make yearly photo album

Take coins to CoinStar and open vacation savings account with the cash

Open Early Saver account for Talitha Bean
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