Sunday, September 07, 2014

nash {7 months}

This post is long over due.  I have had the pictures taken since he turned 7 months on September 7th, but I am sadly just now getting around to posting all the details. Sorry 2nd child!! If you would sleep better, maybe Mommy wouldn't be so tired!!
Dear Sweet Nash-
Oh little buddy, this hasn't been our best month.  My little baby that slept all the time is officially gone.  While your sleeping has been terrible this month, thankfully you are still the sweetest, smiliest, happy baby ever.  You are such a go with the flow kinda baby and will just be on whatever schedule I need you to be on during the day.  We love you sweet boy, even if you don't sleep through the night anymore!!
Sleeping: 
Ugh, we are still struggling in the sleep department.  I should have never complained about a 6:30 wake up time because for most of this month you woke up during the 5:00 plus woke up at least once during the night.  I really think your bad sleeping is because you are teething.  You tooth finally popped through towards the end of the month and now we have had a semi decent week of sleep.  You are still waking up at 6am on the dot but at least you aren't waking up in the middle of the night.  Most nights when you do wake up I am having to feed you, and that is just ridiculous because you definitely don't need the extra calories.  After the first two weeks of terrible sleep I decided to go ahead and quit swaddling you.  You were waking up in the night busted out and then could fall back asleep on your back.  I am breaking all the rules and let you sleep on your tummy even though you can roll both ways.   Naptimes have also been a nightmare this month.  I have no idea when nap time should be because you wake up at different times each days and sometimes even fall back asleep in our bed after I nurse you first thing in the morning.  Sadly, you have also started taking the dreaded 45 minute naps.  I just can't seem to get you over that hump.  Overall it's just been a terrible month of sleep and this mama is just plum tired.  I am still rocking you for bedtime and both naps, but that is going to have to stop next month.  We are about to do some major sleep training and crying it out. 
Eating:
This month I was really trying to get you on a 4 hour nursing schedule but with your waking up so early we are really still nursing 5 times a day (sometimes 6 if you wake up in the night.) A typical day is usually 5:00, 8:30, 12:00, 3:00, 7:00. You get a bottle of breastmilk at least once a week when Daddy keeps you or on Wednesday nights at church.  We introduced a lot of foods this month and we haven't really found anything you don't like.  We introduced a new food every other day or every few days just to make sure you didn't have any reactions.  You have had bananas, apples, prunes, pears, mangos, peaches, squash, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, and carrots.  I think your favorites are mangos and squash.  With Pearson I slowly moved to 3 meals a day but since I'm already feeding Pearson 3 times a day I go ahead and feed you 3 times too.  It's just smaller portions.  I usually give you a little oatmeal and half of a fruit for breakfast,  a half of a veggie and the leftover fruit for lunch, then a veggie and a little rice cereal for dinner.
New Tricks/Activities/Accomplishments: 
You are an official sitter.  Right before you turned 7 months you started sitting really well.  I still put a pillow behind you because you tump over every now and then.  You are totally capable of rolling over from your tummy to your back, you just rarely do it.  You are happy doing tummy time so you just stay on your tummy.  You are starting to babble lots of sweet little sounds.  No real consonants, mainly just high pitched screeching! You are so close to being able to put your paci in your mouth.  Smiling at everyone is one of your favorite things to do.  You also love to giggle at big brother.
Likes:
You love your paci, your teething toys, the Johnny Jumper, the Jumperoo, and laughing at your big brother.  You love eating, playing with your hanging toy in your carseat, when we throw you in the air, and being rocked to sleep.  
Dislikes:
Sleeping (again this month), when brother knocks you down, when we lay you on the changing table, 
Other Random Facts:
  • You first tooth came in on the bottom and it is sharp!
  • Solids changed your pooping! Thanks the Lord.  TMI….but it instantly made it more solid and no more blow outs!!
  • You don't sleep in the nursery at church anymore but the teachers always say that you are so sweet. 
  • You started sitting in a high chair when we go out to eat and you do great! 
  • You are sooooooo heavy.  You clothes really hide a lot of your chunkiness.  You have rolls under rolls under rolls.  
  • Honestly, I have been so tired this month from our lack of sleep that I didn't jot down many notes of what went on this month.  Hopefully next month will have more info!!

6 month Stats
Weight: 20ish pounds
Length: ??
Head Circumference: ??
Eating: nursing exclusively around 5:00, 8:30, 12:00, 3:00, 7:00 and eating 3 meals a day around 7, 11 and 6.
Bedtime: around 7:30pm
Awake: in the 5:00 hour but totally unpredictable
Naps: 2 45min-1hr naps (who knows when..it's different every day)
Diapers: size 3 
Clothes: 12 month hand-me downs 

 Here is Pearson at 7 months and Nash at 7 months.

Look how you have changed!!

Friday, September 05, 2014

a quick and easy lunch

**Disclosure: I have partnered with Hormel and their Pizza Ready Blogger Program.  I was provided samples of these products in exchange for a review.  All opinions are my own though!!

When it comes to lunch at The Link Home, I like something quick and easy!!  When Hormel sent me their new line of ready made pizza ingredients I knew these would be the perfect lunch for me and my little man.  

These flatbreads make for a perfect little individual sized pizza.  Pearson was so excited to have a whole pizza to himself.  
There are four choices of ready made sauces, supreme, mini pepperoni, italian sausage, and three meat (not pictured). 
Product Description:
With Hormel Pizza Ready you can create convenient pizzas that start with a delicious flatbread and can be further personalized to everyone's individual taste.  Hormel Pizza Ready offers several meat sauces to choose from, including Mini Pepperoni, Three Meats, Italian Sausage and Supreme.  Hormel Pizza Ready makes it fun and easy for the whole family to come together and create a custom made pizza.

 I love that these pizzas are a perfect way for Pearson to help out in the kitchen.  
 He was so proud of his pizza masterpiece.  
 The best part about these little pizzas is that they only take about 5 minutes to cook.  Pearson ate every last bite of his pizza so I guarantee these will be on our lunch menu rotation from here on out!!
If you would like to try Hormel's new Pizza Ready products you can check them out at these local Albertson's.  

Garland, TX
5710 Broadway Blvd.

Murphy, TX
200 East FM 544

Plano, TX
1301 Custer Road

Rowlett, TX 
8505 Lakeview Pkwy

Wylie, TX 
921 Westgate Way

Wednesday, September 03, 2014

#thelinkhomeeveryday2014 {week 35}

{Day 239}
Slam Dunk!
{Day 240}
Watermark Tree Fort
{Day 241}
Nash's new normal is waking up before 5am so my new normal is going to bed before 10pm.
{Day 242}
$1.50 Tacos at Chiloso are our favorite!!
{Day 243}
And football season has begun…...
{Day 244}
BBQ for the last day of summer.  School starts tomorrow for Pearson!!
{Day 245}
My hungry boy ate EVERYTHING off his plate. 

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

pearson's 1st day of 3K preschool

Today was Pearson's 1st Day of 3 Year Old Preschool.  
My little goofball was so confused that he was going back to his old school but his teachers weren't going to be Mrs. Elayne and Mrs. Teresa.  
We had such an amazing year at Learning Academy Preschool last year.  We are excited for another year of learning and fun with Mrs. Dawn and Mrs. Beth or as Pearson says, Mr. Dawn and Mr. Beth.  
I asked Pearson what he was excited to do at school and he said, "PLAY"!!
I was a little nervous about drop off today because he has had a hard time transitioning to his new class at church, but you can tell by this picture that he was very excited to be back at school.  
I prayed that he would be able to walk right in and feel like he was at home and let me drop him off with no tears.  God answered my prayers! He wouldn't even hold my hand on the way in.  He was Mr. Independent ready to go to school.  
His teachers helped him find his cubby to put his things away and get his name tag, then he gave me a big hug and kiss and he was off.  
My big boy got right to work on his table activity and just looked at the little boy that was crying like he was crazy! I just love that he feels so at home at his school.  I pray that he has a wonderful year with Mrs. Beth and Mrs. Dawn, that he builds lots of great friendships and learns lots of new things.  
And this post wouldn't be compete without a good ole comparison picture.  

Monday, September 01, 2014

labor day 2014

The past two years Pearson school has started the day after Labor Day, so Labor day does truly mark the end of summer and the beginning of fall for us.  I am beyond excited about school starting. I love my sweet boy but I am ready for some routine with our two days of school a week!!

We spent our last day of summer sleeping in and staying in bed (as best as we could with a babe that wakes up in the 5 o'clock), then we ran a few errands and ate lunch out.  After nap time we headed to my parents house for a delicious BBQ dinner.  My Dad smoked ribs and sausage on his new Big Green Egg that he got for Father's Day.
Nash loves Nonnie!!
It's been so fun having a baby that will smile so easily.  Pearson was such a serious little dude.  We could barely crack a smile out of him.  Nash is quite the opposite.  If you just look at him, he will smile!
 Nash favorite place to be is in his Johnny Jumper so we brought it over so he could get some "exercise".  Lolly & Pops doors are a little too high put a box underneath it so he could reach the ground!!
 Why is it that food at your parent's house always taste so much better than at your own house.  I just love going to my parent's house for dinner.  
Every single thing on our plate was absolutely delicious. I stuffed myself silly.  Good thing I can still eat a few extra calories a day since I'm nursing!!
 Even Pearson ate every single bite off of his plate.  
 I love these little munchkins and I'm glad we got to spend our last day of summer with all of my family.  
Happy Labor Day!!

meal planning monday


Monday Breakfast: Sausage & Cream Cheese Roll-Ups




Monday Dinner: BBQ @ My Parent's


Tuesday: Mississippi Roast, Potatoes & Carrots

Wednesday: Leftovers (on the go)

Thursday: Margarita Chicken, Cilantro Lime Rice & Black Bean Corn Salad

Friday: Parent's Night Out

Saturday Breakfast: Waffle Quiche

Saturday Lunch:  Boys: Chili Dogs Me: Baby Shower

Saturday Dinner: Stromboli

Sunday Lunch: Leftover Roast Beef Sandwiches & Chips

Sunday Dinner: September Birthday Celebration w/ My Family

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

#thelinkhomeeveryday2014 {week 34}

{Day 232}
Lunch with my favorite guys. 
{Day 233}
We busted out the big boy bath seat tonight and I think he loves it!!
{Day 234}
So glad we could squeeze in a walk before it got too hot for the day!
{Day 235}
It's a legos in your PJ's kind of morning over here. 
{Day 236}
My handsome little boysies all ready for their new class at church. 
{Day 237}
I found a copycat recipe for Cafe Max's chicken salad and it's pretty darn good!
{Day 238}
Making Chocolate Cherry Brownies after a crazy day!!