by popular demand...

Many of you asked if I made the letters above Elliot's crib. I did! I made them when I was still pregnant, and it was a quick and easy project. In fact, right after I made them, I actually did a blog post about it!
CLICK HERE to read it. :)

pictures?!

My new battery charger came. So, of course, as soon as the battery was charged, I snapped a few pictures of Elliot. He's changing so fast now and doing something new practically every minute, so I feel like I need to have my camera around my neck 24/7 so I don't miss anything!

right after his morning nap. Moments before I snapped this picture, he was squealing, "Mamammamamamamaaaaaaaaaa!"

Oh good. You're here.


We changed and went downstairs, and Elliot kept crawling over to the stairs and trying to climb up.



Cheeeeese!

Back in the safety of the living room, crawling towards another forbidden area... the kitchen. I may have to gate off the whole house soon!

Do any of you have one of those bottomless play yard areas? I'm thinking of getting one for the living room. I've always thought they were a little tacky, but I'm running out of options. I always spread out a quilt and cover it with toys, but he refuses to stay there and instead goes off crawling towards more interesting dangerous things like cords, stairs, hot ovens, and toilets...

amazing.

Last night, I was hanging photos when I came across some pictures of myself when I was pregnant. As I looked at my round belly, I smiled. Then, it occurred to me that my baby boy used to be inside me. It's kind of a strange thing to think about- that I carried this fantastic little person inside of me for nine whole months.
He's only been alive eight months, but it's hard to remember what life was like before he was here. When I was pregnant, I had no idea what color his eyes or hair would be, whether he'd be outgoing or shy, or what kind of personality he'd have. One thing that I did know, however, was that I loved him completely- more than I'd ever loved anyone. Then, he was born, and I loved him even more. Moments after his birth, he was whisked across the room to be examined, stabilized, and prepared for his trip to the NICU. I squirmed and tried to see through the wall of doctors and nurses, and I finally caught a glimpse of my newborn son. He looked exactly how I'd always imagined. I knew immediately that I would die for this person that I had just met. My life was forever changed.
It's crazy to think that this little boy, the center of my world, started off as nothing more than a tiny bundle of cells and then grew in my tummy for nine months before making his grand entrance into this world. Even harder to believe? He's already eight and a half months old.

It all began here:




And now he's grown from this:


to this!


All in just seventeen months!
Pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood is amazing.
It truly is.

a photo wall? yes please!

Today, I got 100 of my favorite pictures of Elliot developed. Okay, they're not ALL of Elliot... a few of the other important people in my life managed to sneak in there too... but they're mostly all of Elliot. And by mostly I mean 96%.
So, tomorrow I think I am going to tackle a new project: creating a photo wall. Since this will be the first one in the new house, I plan to make it as simple {and cheap!} as possible. No fancy frames, different sized photos, or anything like that. I simply don't have the time right now. Nonetheless, I'm excited and can't wait to finally put up some pictures of Elliot {somewhere other than my blog.
For some reason, I still feel like this "little" project might turn out a whole lot bigger than I think it will. Creating a photo wall is is item #11 on my day zero project, and I gotta start somewhere, right?

Inspiration:
via pinterest. You follow me, I'll follow you.

Source: thecreativemama.com via Jess on Pinterest

Source: walkslowlylivewildly.com via Jess on Pinterest

Source: paisleepress.blogspot.com via Jess on Pinterest

Source: dreamgreendiy.com via Jess on Pinterest

Source: paisleepress.blogspot.com via Jess on Pinterest

when I feel more adventurous:

Source: google.com via Jess on Pinterest

Source: style-files.com via Jess on Pinterest

Source: chutzpahrummage.tumblr.com via Jess on Pinterest

I'll be sure to post a picture of the finished product... once my new camera battery charger arrives, that is. UPS assures me that it is on its way.

I'm starting a Day Zero Project... and you should, too!

Source: icecreamisbetterwithafork.tumblr.com via Jess on Pinterest

Have you ever heard of the Day Zero Project? I've seen "1001 in 101" projects on a few different blogs lately. So, being the curious nosy person that I am, I googled it. And you know what I decided? The Day Zero Project is pretty freaking amazing! It's simple. All you do is create a list of 101 things you want to do in 1001 days. With that much time, you can put both short term and long(er) term goals on your list.
Being the obsessive list-maker that I am, I had already started thinking of ideas before I even fully committed to the project. And I decided that I will blog about each goal as I complete it.

My list so far:
1. Send Aaron love letters during his next deployment
2. plant a tree
3. tie a note to a balloon and let it go
4. take a photography class
5. try a new recipe every day for a week
6. buy a jogging stroller
7. start running again
8. watch a sunrise and sunset in the same day
9. start a 365 photography project
10. be debt free
11. paint a picture
12. take a second honeymoon
13. eat vegetarian for a week
14. don't use paper or plastic bags for one month
15. adopt an animal from the animal shelter
16. have dinner by candlelight
17. take a picture for each letter of the alphabet
18. take Elliot to the ocean
19. make chocolate chip cookies from scratch
20. learn to knit
21. become a licensed groomer
22. meet up with a bloggy friend
23. write a poem
24. make my husband breakfast in bed
25. read a book to Elliot every night before bed
26. send my mom flowers
27. create a budget and stick to it for 6 months
28. read a book in one day
29. start going on weekly date nights
30. go home for the holidays
31. get 100 new followers on my blog
32. blog every day for a month
33. create a gastroschisis/NICU journey photo book
34. organize my closet
35. have a second child
36. learn more about photoshop
37. send out Christmas cards with a letter inside
38. take Elliot to the zoo
39. volunteer at a NICU
40. pick up garbage on the side of a busy road
41. help a stranger
42. teach Elliot to say please and thankyou
43. create a photo wall
44. go to a Red Sox game
45. visit two new states
46. read ten classic novels
47. eat at five new restaurants
48. get a new car
49. Meet another gastroschisis mama and baby {in person}
50. organize our "junk drawer"
51. create a fun bulletin board
52. donate clothes
53. read the bible
54. go to a range and learn how to shoot a gun
55. write a letter to myself to open in 10 years
56. record a day in Elliot's life- in photographs
57. dance in the rain
58. take a picture of a rainbow
59. Complete the 30 Day Shred- all 30 days
60. go to a wine tasting
61. make homemade crayons
62. walk for the March of Dimes
63. bake bread
64. repaint my childhood dresser
65. wish on a shooting star
66. feed pigeons on a park bench in a big city
67. walk in central park
68. go on a family bike ride
69. ride in a hot air balloon


I'm going to put this as a new page in my navigation bar soon :)

voila!

As you can see, we have a new look.
I redesigned my blog last night because I just wasn't feeling the old color scheme. I wanted to try something simple and pastel so... ta-da! Much different than anything I've ever had on here before. I like it.
There is also a new page up there in the navigation bar that you should check out ;) Okay, so maybe I just made it for myself so I could scroll through pictures of Elliot as he ages and tear up...
Nonetheless, Change is good.

Two other blogs I recently designed:
Adventures in Mommyland
and
Erin Miller Photography

Craving a new blog design?
visit J. Ashley Design!

recipes, anyone?

Like I said earlier, I'm making an effort to post about things other than just Elliot on this blog. One thing that I really love to do, but rarely talk about here, is cook. Cooking is fun, even with a baby running through the kitchen in his walker, running over my toes and pulling down the dish towels. Call me old fashioned, but I love having dinner ready for my husband when he comes home from a long day at work.
When we moved to Texas, Aaron and I made a goal to try at least one new recipe every week. That means my lucky readers will have the pleasure of discovering new recipes along with me!
To kick things off, here's our very first recipe!


White Cheddar Broccoli Mac n Cheese {from the Craving Chronicles}
I absolutely LOVE Macaroni and Cheese. Seriously. Even the over-processed kind that comes in a box with a packet of bright orange cheese powder. For some reason, though, I've never really tried to make it myself. This will be my first attempt! To sweeten the deal, this recipe features one of my favorite veggies, broccoli. I don't know about you, but my taste buds are excited!

Ingredients
3 cups frozen baby broccoli florets
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/3 cups milk
4 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
2 ounces pepper jack cheese, grated
salt to taste

Directions
Steam broccoli 5-10 minutes, until tender.
*the original recipe said to microwave the broccoli, but we avoid using the microwave whenever we can.

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add elbow macaroni. Boil according to directions until al dente. Drain.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk to form a paste (roux). Cook 1-2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste. Slowly pour in milk, whisking briskly to remove lumps. Continue cooking over medium heat, whisking constantly, until milk mixture thickens. Remove from heat and whisk in shredded cheese. Add salt to taste.

Add drained macaroni back to pot. Pour cheese sauce over macaroni, add broccoli, and stir to combine. Devour.

how sleep training worked for us

Not too long ago, putting Elliot to bed was getting to be so difficult that I dreaded bedtime every night. As bedtime drew near, Elliot would start screaming, kicking, and arching his back. Nothing I did seemed to help. After one, two, or sometimes even three hours, he would finally fall asleep... only to wake up an hour or two later. This continued ALL NIGHT LONG.
Before we started sleep training, he was waking up an average of five times between 10pm and 8am, and was drinking 24-32 ounces of formula throughout the night {which is unheard of at his age}. We were both exhausted and cranky, he was soaking through his diapers, I was washing his sheets daily, and we were going through a LOT of formula.



Desperate for something, anything that would help, I started googling different sleep training methods. I decided to try the "less tears" Dr. Sears method.

The rules:
• Put the baby down in the crib awake
• Whenever your child cries, console and comfort him, using any method you want, as long as it doesn't involve removing him from the crib

Click here to watch a video that we found helpful.

Those rules seemed awfully tough to me. Especially since Elliot was still drinking so many bottles at night, and not being able to pick him up meant he wouldn't be having bottles, either. In fact, I broke the rules often, picking him up and continuing our tiring routine of walking him around the bedroom until he fell asleep and then trying {in vain} to put him in the crib without waking him up. I also picked him up the minute I walked into his room in the middle of the night. At this point, though, when I was only trying sleep training here and there, breaking rules as I pleased, Elliot continued to wake up every 1-2 hours, and he would still cry miserably every night at bedtime.
It wasn't until Elliot became extremely cranky during the day {due to lack of sleep} so clingy that he literally wouldn't sit by himself for even a minute that I decided something needed to be done. I couldn't eat or go to the bathroom unless he was sitting on my lap. He wouldn't play with toys unless I was playing with him. It was exhausting. I couldn't stand it anymore. So I decided to give sleep training another try, for real this time.

Here's what I did:
• Followed our usual bedtime routine {going for a walk outside at 7:30-8:00, bathtime at 8:30, followed by a bottle. Then, I rocked him for a couple minutes before laying him in the crib.
• At first, he would start crying the minute he touched the mattress. In fact, he'd stand up and shake his crib bars angrily. I'd gently lay him back down, while talking or singing softly, and pat his back. He'd stand back up. I'd do it again, and again... and AGAIN. The first few nights, this was a long process. He cried a lot, but I was always there to comfort him. Eventually, he'd fall asleep, and I'd cover him up and leave his room. Whenever he woke up in the middle of the night, I'd do the same thing- lay him down, pat his back. Thankfully, he always fell back asleep quicker in the middle of the night.
• As the days passed, I could get him to fall asleep in his crib by tickling his back after only a few minutes. He'd usually wake up after I stopped, though, so I'd resume the tickling and patting, and try to leave again, however many times it took until he didn't stir once I stopped and left the room.
• after about 8 days {Elliot is stubborn like his parents}, Elliot got the message. He realized that bedtime wasn't scary, that he didn't need bottles at night, and that it was perfectly okay to fall asleep without being held.


Elliot happily standing and waiting in his crib after a nap.

Now? About two weeks after we started sleep training, Elliot falls asleep in about five minutes {while I tickle his back and face}. He usually sleeps 6ish hours before waking up around 4am, and then doesn't wake up again for at least another six hours. Lately, he's been sleeping in until nine or even nine-thirty! He's a happy, balanced baby again. He will happily run around in his walker and play with toys while I clean or cook or eat. Bedtime is no longer a long and stressful process. I actually look forward to it.

I couldn't be happier that we finally decided to try sleep training, and how well it worked. I have my happy baby back, and we're both getting more sleep!
I highly recommend Dr. Sears' less/no tears method of sleep training. It might not be for everyone, but it worked very well for us.

oh no!

I can't find my camera charger!!
... and I've looked everywhere. So I guess there won't be any new pictures on here until I find it. :(

a little boy's best friend

The little white kitty we brought home last week is now eight weeks old, and we renamed him Charlie. Well, according to Aaron, his full name is "Charles Xavier," like in X-MEN. Yes, my husband's a bit of a geek. I've just been calling him Charlie, though.
He and Elliot are getting along fabulously. They're like two peas in a pod. They do EVERYTHING together! Anywhere Elliot goes, Charlie is right behind him. If Elliot cries, Charlie cries. If Elliot's napping, Charlie is curled up into a ball somewhere nearby. It's really ridiculously adorable.
Before we brought him home, I always wondered how a cat would get along with a baby versus a dog... and apparently, I had nothing to worry about. Elliot is sometimes a little rough... patting hitting him when he's excited, pulling on his ears and tail, and he always crawls over and steals whatever toy poor Charlie is playing with. "Gentle, be gentle, be nice Elliot, play nice with the kitty, don't hurt Charlie..." those are frequent phrases in our household. Charlie has never once tried to bite, scratch, or even run away from Elliot, though. He takes it all like a champ. Don't worry- Elliot isn't ALWAYS so, uh, excited around the kitty. Whenever Charlie comes up to him, Elliot almost always greets him with a gentle hug. He also likes to copy me and pet "his" kitty, which Charlie clearly loves, judging by all the purring.
Elliot and Charlie are best friends.









If you have a minute, would you mind voting for us? I have two giveaways coming up! :D