Christmas Gifts My 6 Month Old Daughter Loved

I've been looking at lots of gift giving guides trying to get ideas for the kids in my life, and I've had a realization. Often I'm looking at these gifts wondering just how much the kids will actually use them and love playing with them. So I decided to write a first hand review of the toys my daughter received over the past two years and share with you her favorites that we can highly recommend for the kids in your life, starting with her first Christmas.

Intentional Decisions for Raising a Baby

Today I'd like to do something a little different, I'd like to share with you all of the very intentional decisions I've made while raising Carolyn, in particular when she was a baby. I am one of those people who likes to make decisions thoughtfully and research them thoroughly. As much as I was dying to become a mom I wanted to wait until my husband and I were settled enough to feel comfortable in the money department and make sure I felt confident to take on the challenges of being a mother. With all this extra time waiting I've been observing all the mothers around me picking and I've been choosing the parenting decisions that I think are best. These are some of that strategies that I have decided to follow while raising my daughter. I put in a disclaimer that I am not the most educated person in the world; I only have a bachelors degree and a teaching credential, and am not a professional in early childhood development. All I know is what's important to me, and that's what I want to share with you today.

Cookies & Milk - A 1st Birthday Party

Our friend's sweet little daughter turned one this summer and they threw her the cutest little Cookies and Milk 1st birthday party! I never would have thought of that theme, and it was simply darling!

Baby Bath Hack

I have the most useful baby bathtub hack for you today!

Cloth Diapering - Tips - Tricks - the Truth

Oh, you cloth diaper! Wow I'm so impressed!
I hear it all the time! It's funny how to those that don't participate in this age old baby care tradition find it mysteriously scary and daunting. But is it really so difficult?

Baby Led Weaning

This post should really be called Baby Led Feeding because that is what you are actually doing. There is no weaning involved here, Carolyn is 1 1/2 and she still nurses 2-4 times a day. What I'm actually going to be talking to you about is feeding your baby real food! When you begin the object is to introduce your baby to food (not feed them whole meals that replace their milk diet). Slowly as the baby eats more food it will take on the role of the nutritional source and the milk will become the supplemental source.

How to Make a Hair Bow Hanger

I think I'm not alone in saying little girls have A LOT of BOWS!  I finally decided it was time to pack up her infant head bands, and boy did Carolyn have a lot of those!  Now we've moved on to the little hair bow clippies and because I have a feeling she'll be wearing these for a long time I decided it was time to get organized.  So with a little help from my husband (he's my master spray painter) we made her this cute hair bow hanger.

Carolyn's 1st Birthday - Mermaid Party

Carolyn's 1st birthday was such a special day for her and me!  I've been planning this party all year! Actually longer than that even, but let's not get distracted with how crazy I am...  The way I looked at it, this was the only birthday party for her where I would be able to choose the theme, from now on she'll have more and more of an opinion and will pick her own theme.  So why not pick my absolute favorite, mermaids!!!!

Announcing the Arrival of Carolyn Grace

The apple of my eye has arrived!  She has made my heart swell so much more than I ever could have known!

Free Gift with Registry

When I was preparing for baby I registered at three places, Babies'R'Us, Buy Buy Baby, and Amazon.com.  Each place will give you free gifts just for registering, some were much nicer than others.

A Woodland Nursery

The nursery is done and now you get to see it!  Lucy would like to welcome you to her new favorite room.

Nursery Progress

The nursery has been a work in progress for the past nine months, but we're finally done! Before I show you the finished product, I'd like to show you how it came to be...

Girl or Boy?

We're excited to announce that we're having a girl!

Christmas Announcement

This may be a little late, but what's a few months???

Ben and I have a big announcement to share!

Audrey's 1st Birthday - Under the Big Top

My cousin's first baby just turned one and she had the cutest circus party!

Lion King Baby Shower

After attending three showers in a row it was my privileged to get to host one for my best friend from college!  Her nursery is going to be Lion King themed so I jumped on board the theme bandwagon!

It's a Girl Baby Shower

Baby shower number 3 for me this month was for my cousin Lindsey.  She already has three adorable boys, but now she is expecting a GIRL!  Therefore her shower was pink to the extreme!  Let's start off with this cute diaper wreath!  I love how creative my aunt was in creating this in lieu of a diaper cake.

Whimsical Woodland Baby Shower

Recently I attended the most charming baby shower; it was woodland animal themed with a touch of whimsy!

Baby Audrey Gifts

My cousin and his wife were just blessed with the most beautiful little girl named Audrey!  I was unable to attend her baby shower, which worked well for my baby gift-making procrastination.  With her birth quickly approaching I had to finish up her gift pronto.

Teddy Bears & Roses Baby Shower

Auburn's Baby Shower for soon to arrive Margaret Rose was held by my Aunt Diane in her home.  She has been nicknamed Martha Stewart, and this is quite an accurate description.  Look at all of the amazing details she put into this shower!  The theme was teddy bears and roses with lots of pink!  My Aunt is such an amazing inspiration for party throwing and attention to detail, one day I hope to be as talented as her!