Sleepless with Savannah

As you might recall I featured the pic below in a collection of funny findings I'd seen on the internet. Little did I know that my life would turn into what I'd previously chuckled at. After reading a post on the Curly Mama blog about co-sleeping it got me to thinking a bit more about my own sleeping arrangements. Like Curly Mama, I had never thought of myself as a co-sleeping kind of Mama. As a matter of fact I still don't consider myself as a co-sleeper. 

After Savannah was born she slept in our room in a bassinet for the first couple months because I was trying to get the hang of breastfeeding. Some nights I would fall asleep with her next to me. She then moved to her own room and her own bed. That's where she had been sleeping with no problem until August when we moved.

Since it took some time for our house in Texas to get ready we stayed with my parents for about three to four weeks. During that time we all slept in the same bed. If I had known then that that was going to completely destroy her sleeping pattern I would have never done it. Since we've been in Texas she has slept in her own bed once. Once. Just once. All of the other nights have been a mix of her sleeping in our bed and me getting up all night and putting her back in her own bed. Exhausting.

This morning was my "aha moment" though. I was talking to Savannah about sleeping in her own bed and sleeping in her own room. I asked her "Where is Savannah's bed?" When she pointed at my bed I knew it was time for me to start sleep training again. I had been hoping she would just come around on her own. We did switch her to a toddler bed but I know that has nothing to do with it. She just wants to sleep with Mommy and Daddy and Mommy is not feeling that at all. Wish me luck. I see a few more sleepless nights in my future. 

Savannah's favorite sleeping positions are "H is for Hell", "Jazz Hands" and "The Stalker".

Credit

Kitchenista: Pinto Beans a Fall Favorite

You're probably reading that title and thinking "Why would anyone want to do a recipe that revolves around pinto beans?" Well. I thought almost that exact same thing when I was in high school. It was a snow day and school had been cancelled. I woke up to my Dad in the kitchen stirring a pot of pinto beans. I thought to myself "Yuck, Dad, you really shouldn't have. I don't want any pinto beans." 

They smelled really good but the thought of eating a bowl of beans did not seem desirable. Once my Dad was done cooking I decided to try the beans. Mainly because I was starving but also because he had made cornbread, fried chicken wings and coleslaw to go with it. I figured if I didn't like the beans I could at least chow down on wings and coleslaw. The pinto beans were delicious. They had me at first bite. I have been in love ever since. They are the perfect Fall dinner. Comfort food at its best. Here's how you can make this delicious meal for your own family...

Ingredients
Two and a half cups dry pinto beans
Ham hocks or Ham shanks (1-1.5 lbs) You can use more meat if you want a heartier meal.
One onion, chopped
Salt - one teaspoon

Directions
Before you start cooking make sure you have gone through your bag of beans and picked out any "bad" beans or rocks. Soak the beans in a bowl of water. Place your ham hock or ham shanks in a pot and cover with water. Sprinkle in a teaspoon of salt. Add your onion. Cook on a high boil for one hour. Drain the water off your bowl of beans. Add your beans to the pot with enough water to cover them. Turn stove down to a low simmer/slight rolling boil and cook for four to five hours. Keep watching the pot to make sure your beans are constantly submerged in water. Add water when needed.

my "bad" beans and rocks

soaking beans

ham shanks

ham hocks

done

plated

yum

And yes, I served my beans with fried chicken wings and cornbread, just like my Dad does!

Chic Obsessions: Baby Essentials with Guest Blogger Baby Teems

Classic Muslin Swaddle Blankets by aden + anais® 

So you finally got your swaddle down? You're on to your last wrap and tuck but don't have enough cloth. Rats! Now you have to start all over again. LOL, Well, the classic muslin blankets by aden + anais solved all of my problems. No more fighting with odd-shapped blankets. The muslins are large, perfectly square, and get softer with every wash. You will find the cost easy to justify with its versatility. During the summer months I have also used these blankets as a car seat cover and a receiving blanket.

Easy Expression™ Bustier By Medela 

Even though I am a SAHM, I pump. If you haven't discovered yet...pumping can be annoying. Once you get the hang, there is little need to monitor your flow. Instead of being bored, why not make the best of the next 10-20 minutes? I suggest you go hands-free and watch some tv, tweet, text, or update your Facebook status. You might not want to tell the world what you're doing though. LOL, Hands-free pumping will be your little secret to productivity. I already own a Medela pump so the this bustier was the perfect compliment. 

Ergo Baby Carrier

Baby wearing helps my son feel secure and in the mix while letting me be hands-free. I actually prefer grocery shopping with my carrier. There is only one cart to push and more room. Although I love wrap carriers, my Ergo is a fave because its durable, quick to put on, yet manly enough for my husband. I also love having pockets and the option to wear it on our back. There are many chic colors to choose from!

Chicco KeyFit Caddy

 When my husband and I made our fancy stroller purchase, people suggested we get one strictly for the infant car seat. I was dead set against it due to cost and storage. However, in less than 4 weeks we gave in and bought the KeyFit Caddy. Everyone was right. It is quick, light, and super convenient. This was a much better purchase for the earlier months. Although my stroller has an adaptor for the car seat, it's just not as easy to pull up to a table or maneuver through small stores like the caddy. I love the cup holders and large storage below. There is also a little hidden compartment up top. I use that for hand sanitizer which is good to have before you pick up the baby in public. 

Pronto! Changing Station by Skip Hop

  

This changing pad is by far my favorite item ever! The Skip Hop Changing Station is affordable, sleek, and stylish. It is designed like wristlet/clutch- so perfect for a chic mom! In fact, I use it so much that I tend to keep my baby bag in the car. I am no longer afraid to change my son in public. I even use this on top of changing stations in the restroom. It is easy to clean and makes me feel a little more sanitary. One of the best buys you could ever make.

Thanks for letting me share my top 5 chic obsessions for the first 5 months. I hope you enjoyed it! 

Feel free to stop by Baby Teems where my expectations meet experience in a candid journey through motherhood. 

Guest Post: My Toddler is Public Friendly...

My toddler is public-friendly…

I know you're probably wondering what a public-friendly toddler is.

Read the full story over on the Baby Teems blog, I'm her guest blogger for the day!!! :-)

Stylish Saturday: Coral and Black Cynthia Rowley

I hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday! I sure am. We went downtown and enjoyed some lunch on the Riverwalk. If you're ever in San Antonio make sure you check out the sites downtown.

You can take a tour of the Alamo downtown too, but we didn't do that today. Now for some fashion. The weather here in Texas is still pretty warm. However, since I'm an east coast girl I decided to just turn summer off and switch to some more Fall friendly clothes. There's just something odd about wearing sandals in October.

Today I wore a Cynthia Rowley top that I found at TJ Maxx. I love the coral and black stripes.

Leggings are from Express.

You can't really tell in the pics but my boots come way above my knee. Love them.

I tried a warmer red for my lips. The color is Amber Suede by Mary Kay. Oh. You didn't know, I'm a Mary Kay drop out.

Here are some more pics from our day. We had lunch at Dick's where the food is great and the service is sarcastically rude. Fun times!

*sorry these pics turned out so grainy. My BlogPress app distorted my images for some reason. If you click on each pic you will get the original clear version. Sorry about that...

-posted with my chic iPhone

Friday Funny

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Here is a round up of some the funny cards I've seen on the World Wide Web this week!



















Hope y'all enjoyed these! See you tomorrow for Stylish Saturday!


-posted with my chic iPhone

The Mom Gene

The "Mom Gene". I saw this story on Good Morning America online after my parents told me about it. They said the story made them think of me and that I should check it out. Did any of you see this? I wasn't sure what to make of it so I had to watch it a couple times. Apparently researchers at Rockefeller University believe that some women are born with a "Mom Gene" that gives them the instincts they need to be good mothers.

I'm not sure if I totally believe that some women are born with a "Mom Gene". I do however, believe that some women are just more maternal than others. Some women are just better with kids than others. I think the way this issue was covered made it seem like women without this gene are bad Moms, or maybe not as good as their Mommy peers. There is a wide range of Moms out there. I talked about that a little in my post about the Smother Mother.

When I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be a Mom, but it certainly wasn't my life goal. I think that I am pretty good and patient with Savannah. I naturally transitioned from a working woman to a stay at home Mom without any problem. Does that mean I have the "Mom Gene"? If a woman chooses not to stay at home, loses patience easily or sends their kid to Grandma's every weekend (cause y'all know that those Moms exist) does that mean that she doesn't have the gene? I always thought that once you became a Mother that instinct to nurture just took over. Even if it's just to do the basics and nothing else.

I'm still trying to form an opinion about the "Mom Gene". I don't quite know what to think of it. I'd like to think that I have it, but I honestly wasn't mommy focused until I got pregnant. I baby sat my younger brothers as a teenager and no one died so I guess I was pretty nurturing then too, right? Does that mean this ability was always in me? What do you think about the "Mom Gene"? Do you think you have it? Do you know anyone who clearly does not?

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