3 Month update - Bennett

Here we are again, and I'm only a few days late with this one...I think I'm getting a little better about this whole blogging thing (it's only taken 2 years)!!!

It's crazy to think that 2 1/2 years ago I was writing a 3 month update about Nathan...crazy!!!

So, where to begin....

This month has been just as easy as the others...maybe even more so.  You are still a complete joy to be around.  Everyone you meet completely gushes over you and how good you are (well, except your baba but what does she know anyways...kidding).

Stats
No stats since your 2 month visit.  I'm guessing you weigh 16lbs or more by now.  You're a chunky guy, just like your brother.
Still in size 2 diapers.
Wearing 3-6 month clothes although you're starting to wear some 6-9 month stuff lately.

Sleep
This month we implemented an actual bedtime instead of just keeping you with us until we go to bed.  Most nights you are asleep by 8:00.  Since evenings are still your fussy time and also the the time when you least like sleeping, I've been developing a bad habit of nursing you to sleep.  This will probably come back to bite me in the ass but as of right now it's the easiest (and fastest) way to knock you out.

We still swaddle you and turn on your sleep sheep every night.  You still sleep in your pack and play next to us.  Mama likes it this way at 4:00am.

Usually once you're asleep you wake between 3:00 and 5:00am for a quick feed and then you go right back down.  I'm literally only awake for 15-20 minutes max and I honestly don't even mind the wake-up one little bit.  Then you sleep again until around 7:00 when you're up for the day.

Usually you take one long nap per day (3ish hours).  There are usually at least 2-3 others in there that typically last for about 45  minutes.  Still no set schedule yet, which is fine by me.

Eating
We're still nursing and it's going great.  You're starting to go longer in between feeds.  Most times now you feed every 3 hours; sometimes sooner if you're fussy and you won't settle.  For those new moms out there...boob in mouth always works. trust me.

I hate pumping so I'm only doing it when absolutely necessary.  I started working a day and a half this month so unfortunately we've had to give you some bottles (And apparently you've made it very clear that you like your milk straight from the tap. thank.you.very.much).

Likes and Dislikes
Still loving your swing.  You still have a love / hate relationship with being swaddled...understandably so.

This month you discovered that you love eating your hands.  Any chance you get those pudgy little fingers go directly in your mouth. #nomnom

Most of our "photo shoot" actually looked like this...

Bath time is now a big hit...especially when it's when your brother.  Speaking of, you LOVE your big brother.  We catch you staring at him just smiling away.  And I know he feels the same way about you too.  You already have a special relationship that will just continue to get stronger with time.

You still dislike evenings.  You are not a fan of bottles, although you will take them reluctantly.

You dislike loud noises.  Your eyes widen about 2 full inches when your brother runs around the house screaming.  

You also dislike tummy time but after looking back on pictures of Nathan at this age we realized that you're a little behind...so we're forcing you to like it.

Others
For some reason you've been giving your baba (grandmother) a hard time and have been acting like a little cranky pants for her.  I think you just really miss your mommy when she's at work though (just a hunch).

We heard your first almost-giggle this month.  Sounds more like a "huh-huh" rather than a laugh but it is absolutely adorable.

Bennett, we all absolutely adore you and it seems hard to picture a time when you weren't around.  You've already made such an impact in your short little life and I can't wait to watch you grow (but not too fast please).
XO

A green recipe...in honor of St. Paddy's day

Since I'm quite old now and not indulging in green beer today, I still wanted to be a little festive and whip up a different kind of green drink.  This drink is perfectly healthy and won't leave you with a hangover the next morning (don't be fooled though, it's is not nearly as fun as green beer).

Most of you by now have either tried or seen a green smoothie but I thought I'd share my own take on how I make it.  Unfortunately a lot of the recipes I see around the net while healthy, are actually packed with extra calories and act more like a meal replacement rather than an afternoon beverage.  So here's one you can enjoy guilt free without giving up your dinner.

Here's all you will need.....

First I add 3/4 - 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk.  This particular one by silk is flavored with vanilla but still only has 35 calories for 1 cup.  

Next I add 2 huge handfuls of spinach and / or kale, whatever I usually have in the fridge at the time.  The blender is usually 3/4 full at this time.  Then I blend the mixture until the spinach / kale is nice and smooth.  

Next I'll throw in a 1/2 a banana (either fresh or frozen) and blend.  Then I'll throw in about a 1/2 cup of frozen fruit.  Again, whatever I have in the freezer at that time.  Today I used mango pieces.  The frozen fruit helps make the smoothie extra cold and a little creamier. 

Lastly I throw in about a scoop of protein powder and either flax or chia seeds for extra fiber and omega 3's.

Depending on the fruit you use, this smoothie probably has less than 200 calories total.  It's 100% healthy and very delicious!!!

Enjoy!!!

New look, New name

In honor of resurrecting the ol' blog, I decided that a new name and a new look were in order.  The lovely Erin from Love, Fun, and Football gave this blog a much needed make-over (Thanks Erin!!!).  It actually looks legit now!!! She also helped my sister, Renee, from So Fill Your Heart.


Also new around here is the name.  "Baby 'E' Makes 3" no longer applies since our family has grown to 4 (And likely stopping right there, thank you).  The 'Eye' is because my hubby and I are both optometrists, in case any of you were wondering.  And the remainder is because I love my little family:)


Anyways, I'm hoping the new look will inspire me to write a little more and document the things I want to remember 10 + years from now.  Hopefully, the kiddies can look back on these pictures and memories some day and appreciate our day to day adventures.  Afterall, that's why this blog was born.


I hope you all like it!

Snow day "activities"

Snow days with 2 little boys can be quite the challenge.  Especially this time of the year when the weather makes us think that spring is just around the corner...and then BOOM, here comes a foot of snow!!!

Nathan tends to go a little stir crazy cooped up in our house all day.  And now that his brother is around and demanding to nurse every 2-3 hours, coming up with "fun" activities is imperative to everyone's sanity.

Please note, these are  not your typical mommy-blogger ideas with tons of DIY crafts and pinterest-worthy pictures.  This is real life.

So, here are some ideas based on our snow day:

1. Allow the toddler to help you make cookies.  I will warn you however, toddlers lack the finesse it takes to maneuver around the kitchen, so there will be mess.  And lots of it.  So, if you're like my husband who cringes at the sight of any unnecessary spills, you may want to jump to #5.

2. Take advantage of the fact that you're stranded inside and practice potty training.  This one obviously will only apply if you have an almost 3 year old still in diapers.  Luckily, he's been doing A-Mazing and is 90% trained (more on that topic later).  This activity will in turn produce another snow-day-worthy activity....taking pictures of your toddler modeling his new "big boy undies".

3. Trick your toddler into thinking that cleaning the house is so.much.freakin.fun.  Here's the thing about 2 & 3 year olds...they only want to do what they feel like they're not allowed to do.  So, you need to make them think that they are too young to clean the floors and then, VOILA, they're on their hands and knees faster than...well, I'll just go ahead and stop right there......


4. Find the nearest gym in your area that has a daycare center.  This one is a win-win for everyone.  The toddler can burn off some of that built-up energy, the infant doesn't need to leave his carseat (and doesn't really know what's going on anyways), and you get to burn off those 4 cookies you ate earlier extra calories. #sorrynotsorry


5.  Finish the day with a little bubbly / wine / beer / alcohol / whatever-helps-you-get-through-the-day-with-2-kiddies drink.  And then cross your fingers that spring will be here tomorrow and you will actually be able to leave the house again.  Oh, and enjoy another cookie. Again, #sorrynotsorry

5 on Friday

So this is my first official "5 on Friday" post.  I must say it was actually a little tricky to come up with 5 different exciting events over the past week (yes, my life is that dull).

So here they are (in no particular order):

1.  This by far has to be the most exciting piece of news this week...we just booked a trip to the Azores for June. If you're unfamiliar with this group of Islands (I was too) let me sum it up...they are a small group of 9 volcanic Portuguese Islands somewhere in the atlantic ocean between Portugal and New Jersey.  My girlfriend and her family booked the trip a while back and had an extra room available in their condo for the week...so we jumped on the chance!!!  This will be our first overseas trip with the boys (wish us luck:)

2. Bennett had his 2 month check-up yesterday.  Obviously he hated the needles, but was super easy to comfort afterwards (hello boobs!)  He weighed 14 lbs 7 ounces (hello chunker) which is in the 95th percentile.  His head circumference was in the 50th percentile and his height was in the 66th.

3. I've somehow managed to keep up with working out for the 4th straight week in a row (yipee) and I'm finally seeing some results.  Oh, and it helps that I got these super cute sneakers this week as some motivation.

4. The big brother got a super cute "big boy" haircut this week.  He's just loving telling everyone all about it.  He looks like such a little kid in this pic (where is my baby??)

5. Last but not least I finally finished Divergent this week.  And when I say finally, I really mean that I couldn't put it down so I actually started it and finished it this week.  Oh, and please ignore the wine bottle on top of my book please.  

That's it for now!!!!  

2 month update - Bennett

Another month has gone by and I swear, Benny you have almost doubled in size.  This month has been just as enjoyable as the last and it's so much fun getting to know you.  It's amazing how fast your little personality is changing.

So here are some updates:

Sleeping:
This month has been amazing, and Bennett, mommy thanks you for it!!!  Most nights you only wake up once, usually between 3 and 4:00, for a quick feed and you sleep again until sometime between 7:00-8:00.  I'm hoping not to jinx myself here but it's been amazing.  You are still sleeping in the pack and play next to mommy and daddy which I have no intention of changing anytime soon.

You still nap quite a bit during the day.  Usually staying awake for only an hour at a time before you start getting a little fussy.  We have quickly realized that you love being swaddled.  For the most part you won't really fall asleep on your own; you like to be "put to sleep" in either your swing or pack and play.

Eating:

Still eating like a champ.  Usually every 2-3 hours, but your feeding times have shortened over the past month.

You're still a puker.  Your mommy constantly smells like sour milk and she's become very efficient at doing laundry:)  This month you've been a little wishy-washy with taking bottles (since 95% of the time you are breastfed).  We had the opposite problem with your brother (hello nursing strike) so this is new territory for your mommy.

Firsts:

This month has been all about the smiles:)  Around 6 weeks you started showing us the biggest and gummiest smile.  And your daddy and I have been enjoying every single one of them.

Other firsts:

Your mommy started work again this month (boooooooo).  But only for a day and a half per week, so it's not so bad.  Luckily we have terrific grandparents who have agreed to babysit for a few months while we all make the transition.  

Likes and Dislikes:

You love your swing, staring at lights, smiling, eating, and diaper changes.

You still hate the evening.  Your fussy time starts around 7:00 every night.  I use the word "fussy" lightly because mosts evenings it's not even really fussing.  You just hate napping at that time.

You also hate being hungry and over tired.

I said to your daddy the other day that you "almost" make me want to have another baby.  But then I think about the part where I have to carry another 10lb baby in my tiny 5"2 frame and I quickly snap out of it!!!

We love you Benny! XO

Favorites right now

I'm a major product junkie.  My husband keeps telling everyone that our top drawer in our bathroom looks like sephora.  And the sad part is, he's not completely exaggerating.  I'm by no means an expert in the area but I am a sucker for anything that promises to make me look better.

So, since I'm back on the blog-writing-train, I thought it would be fun to start posting about some products that I'm trying.

Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay:  Yes, you read that number right (#2 not #3).  I was a little hesitant to even buy this product.  It has a hefty price tag and I'm not a major eyeshadow gal.  Usually with any kind of palette I stick to 1 or 2 neutral colors and the rest barely will get touched.  But everyone kept raving about these particular sets so I thought I would give them a try.  I chose the 2 based on my skin tone and color preferences.  The #3 just looked a little too "rosy" for what I'm used to.  And this product does not disappoint.  I'm making an effort to try different combinations and get the most use out if as I can.  And I'm really in love.

EOS Lip balm:  This was actually a stocking stuffer that my husband gave me for xmas.  I can tell I'm wearing off on him because he actually picked it himself based on seeing this stuff around and other ladies using it (Yup, he's a keeper:!!!!)  I love the flavors and you can't beat the price tag!!!!

Ole Henriksen Oil:  I was kinda talked into this product by some lady at Sephora.  The truth was that I was a little hesitant to even try this product since I'm prone to hormonal breakouts each month.  However, she assured me that oils actually do the opposite and among other things will help with this issue.  I've been using this now for about a month and I've had multiple comments lately on how good my skin looks!!!!  I'm telling you, this stuff is amazing!!!!  Some of the reviews complain about the smell but I actually don't mind it all; in fact, I kinda like it!!!!  This one is going down as a new "cult favorite" for me.

Julep nailpolish:  I've only tried one color but so far I'm really liking this stuff.  It's fairly thick and the color lasts.  It's supposed to strengthen nails which is another major plus.  

Caudalie Beauty Elixir:  I bought this product because I've been reading a lot about it on some of my favorite beauty blogs.  Then when I saw it on Jillian Harris' blog I practically ran out to buy it (She was my favorite bachelorette and she's a total Canadian beauty).  I've been using it as a toner and as a finish once my make-up routine is done.  I also really like a mid-day spritz to freshen up my look.  I'm not sure if it's doing anything to my skin but I really like how refreshing it feels.

What's your fav???