The Calm Before The Storm....

I'm Hey there!

It's really crazy to me to think that I am actually writing this post. I can't believe it's finally here. Our time has come. Our entire lives are about to change. Our family will never be the same. This is it. The calm before the storm. 

This past weekend was definitely one of the best! Jake and I really wanted to focus the entire weekend on Easton and spending a lot of good, quality time together. And that's exactly what we did. 

Friday morning, Jake left for work and Easton and I played. Then went for a drive to pick up my sister for the weekend. The three of us enjoyed yummy pie at Grand Traverse Pie Company before we headed to my last NST baby monitoring appointment, which went well. Then we headed home. It looked like it was going to storm for a little while so we played inside. Once it cleared back up, outside we went! I filed up Easton's pool and his water table, we got out his slide and his car, and all of this toys. We lathered on the sun screen and he happily played! Jake surprised all of us in the afternoon by coming home early and jumping in the fun! After a little while, the clouds rolled back in so we cleaned up outside and loaded up in the car. At this point, Easton was out for the count so Jake went and got his hair cut and I stayed in the car with Easton while he continued to nap. Then we went to Costco. We loaded up on everything we would need for awhile since the new baby would be here and we don't want to make any unnecessary trips out anywhere. Then we stopped at a couple more stores before heading home for dinner. We played for awhile before bedtime and then we were all out for the count. 

Saturday was amazing! We all woke up and got ready right away. We packed up a big beach bag, a cooler filled with goodies and drinks, put the stroller in the car and headed out to the Kensington Splash Pad! I've been wanting to take Easton for awhile now and I'm so glad we did! The weather was so nice and warm, and was a perfect match for the cool water. He wasn't too sure about going underneath some of the water falls but he loved splashing and running around. He was on the move the entire time! At one point, he just climbed up onto Jakes lap and fell asleep all on his own.

Between the sun and all of his running and playing, he was worn out! So we packed up our stuff and headed to lunch. Easton slept right through lunch too so afterwards we went straight home and he finally woke up. I fed him, then we played while Daddy took a nap. Around 6pm, we changed and packed up again and headed to the Fowlerville Fair. Jake wore Easton in our Tula (baby carrier - which we LOVE) because he is too heavy for me carry while I'm this far along, and since it's at the fairgrounds, we didn't want to push him around in the stroller. Plus, when we're in big crowds like that, it's just easier to keep him close and safe. He shared a corn dog with me and ate an elephant ear - which he was so happy about! He drank some yummy lemonade and was fascinated by all the bright lights everywhere! He was pointing at everything and just talking away! We took him to look at all of the animals and he was loving that. I may have a small fear of horses. Okay, a HUGE fear of horses. I had an experience back in my childhood with one that has really affected me, but that's a whole different post. Of course, I would have a kid who points non stop at the horses and smiles from ear to ear. We saw pigs that he kept calling "doggies" - and, well, after that, every animal he saw was a "doggie" lol. He looked at the cows and he even got to pet a baby calf and he loved that. We saw sheep and goats and bunnies and even alpacas (that definitely hold a special place in our family since our Tula has an alpaca fabric print). Baby Andrews #2 and I enjoyed a caramel apple and it was yummy! Easton had a bite but he wasn't too fond of it. We walked around a lot and once we got home, it was late and we were all worn out. We let Easton sleep in our bed and we both snuggled him until we were all fast asleep. 

Sunday morning we woke up and all got ready for church. We dropped Easton off at his classroom in the children's ministry, he played with his friends, and we enjoyed a great service with a great message. Afterwards, we headed to lunch at Big Boy followed by walking around the Art and Music festival in downtown Brighton. It was very hot out yet somewhat windy but that didn't stop Easton. He slept in his stroller the whole time! When we were done there, we headed home. Jake and I both spent a good couple of hours playing with Easton, laughing and watching him. Then we all headed downstairs to the garage. Easton played in the passenger seat of my car (the car was off, windows down, and he was sitting in my lap so no judging) while Jake cleaned the whole inside of the car and he installed our infant seat. We cleared out the trunk and organized the things that needed to be kept in the car from now on. Then we headed out to dinner, where Easton enjoyed chips and salsa. Jake gave him his own little salsa dish and Easton picked up really quickly how to "dip" his chips. He was a pro! Then we stopped at the store to pick up some snacks for the hospital and some snacks for Easton and a couple of other things that we needed (like the Oreos that I've been craving for a couple weeks now - lol). It was pretty late by then and the weather really took a turn for the worst. As we were pulling in to our sub it got really nasty and Jake got a call, so Easton and I headed inside and he left for the fire station. That's always the sucky part about storms. We have to be scared at home without him because he's always called to the station. But it was okay. Easton and I cuddled in bed while he watched Mickey Mouse and since it was just the two of us, he fell asleep and I let him stay sleeping in our bed. It's only us for a short time so if he wants to sleep in our bed, he can! 

Monday was a busy, busy day for us. A lot needed to be done and that's exactly what happened. We had some very bad storms the night before so Jake was gone all throughout the night until about 4am on fire calls, and he ended up having Monday off due to the rain. I was so thankful for this because I had so much to do, but I knew he was tired. So I woke up before him and Easton and left them in bed sleeping. I dropped my dad off early at Dialysis this morning then came home to get to work. I did two loads of laundry, cleaned the whole kitchen and dining room, dusted and reorganized the living room, washed both bathrooms from top to bottom, washed the kitchen floor, and vacuumed the dining room and living room, including the couch. Then I headed upstairs and the boys were awake. They laid in bed reading books and playing while I cleaned our bedroom, dusted everything, put away laundry, then I vacuumed our room and the hallway. I took Easton downstairs and fed him breakfast and Jake laid back down for awhile. We played and then Easton went down for his morning nap. I paid some bills and reorganized the spare diaper that we keep in the trunk. Jake woke up and got ready and we went and ran a few errands before picking my dad up from Dialysis in the early afternoon. We got some lunch then headed home. Easton and Jake stayed home to play while I headed out for some mommy time. I got a manicure, pedicure and my eyebrows done. It was a very enjoyable nice two hours (especially since I definitely can't reach my toes at this point). Plus, I want to look extra nice to meet our newest addition! lol. I went back home, played with Easton for a few, then we all loaded back in the car to run more errands. We went to Verizon and got a new portable wireless Bluetooth speaker to take to the hospital with us, we washed the car, and filled the tank up with gas. We picked up Chinese food for dinner and it was yummy. Then we all just hung around and played, ate some ice cream, and headed to bed. 

(The above was written Monday night before I went to bed). 

It's 1:30am. We are headed to the hospital. Even though I'm set up for an induction (technically today, Tuesday) at 4pm, Baby Andrews #2 being just like his brother - fiesty. My water just broke naturally and contractions are kicking in. This really is the calm before the store. 

Here goes nothing....

It's Almost Time....

Hi guys!

I haven't posted about my pregnancy lately and I'm sorry. Life has just been crazy and honestly, the time goes by so fast! But I'm here now and ready to spill all the beans.

Right now I'm almost 37 weeks and I'd have to say the last month has been truly testing. Easton was born at 35 weeks so I never had to go through the "ending" of a pregnancy. Boy, is it rough. It's true when they say there comes a point when your body just can't grow anymore - but that doesn't stop your kid from growing. Stretch marks have approached me, I've noticed my face getting bigger, and my appetite has taken a turn for the worst. Acid reflux is rudely making an appearance numerous times throughout the day. The lower pelvic pressure has been extremely painful and uncomfortable. Swelling - especially with this summer heat - has been a journey in itself. And the exhaustion is at an all time high, sucking every ounce of energy I have straight from me. Has it been hard? That would be an understatement. Completely worth it? Yes. This time around has been much different then it was with Easton and I can honestly say that it's true that every single pregnancy is different. So many high fives and perks go to you mamas out there who have gone past your due date; I don't know how you did it! I am having preeclampsia again this time around, so again, I am being induced and we already have our date assigned for next week. So for us, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. After my appointment today; no more fetal monitorings, no more weekly doctors appts, no more blood work. Just a long weekend spent with my little family of three before the long, anticipated arrival of our fourth addition!

Jake usually works on Saturdays but ironically (and thankfully) he has tomorrow off. I've made it a point numerous times that we will be doing A LOT of fun family things this weekend. I really want us to spend family time and individual time with Easton. I want him to feel extra special. And I really want to take the ending of this chapter of our lives in fully and completely. The fact that we are able to have children, let alone more than one, is a huge blessing itself. And although I know that this is going to be such a beautiful, wonderful, experience for our family; I can't help but feel a little sad. Sad in a bittersweet kind of way. Easton is our first born. We learned how to become parents with him. We learned about struggle and sacrifice. We shared all of our firsts together. He changed our lives in ways that we could never even explain. It has been a beautiful experience, and part of me is sad knowing that things will soon change. It won't be the three of us anymore, soon there will be four. 

It's been a beautiful ride, to say the least. My son has brought so much joy to my life. Words can't even explain how much he has changed us for the better, and how much of a blessing he is. But with all of that being said, I know that our next little guy will be just as perfect. He will bring so much more joy to all of us and change all of us even more for the better. He will bring joy to his brother who will now have a built in partner in crime and best friend. We will bring even more happiness to us as parents. These next couple of days, I will hold Easton a little tighter. I will carry him whenever he wants and he will fall asleep in my arms. We will play with new toys and share ice cream cones and make huge messes. I will be sure to fully take in every single giggle and laugh, every moment he stops to concentrate on something, every word he tries to say and every snuggle he gives. He will have my undivided attention. I will hold him close and take in these last few days of it just being him. 

This chapter of our lives is ending, and a new one will soon begin. It's bittersweet but exciting, sad but glorious. God is blessing us with another life, and we couldn't be more thankful for that. Here's to a weekend filled with more love than ever. Happy Friday everyone!

Xoxo,

Christine 

Parent "Judging" and Our Rude Encounter

If there's one major thing I've learned the hard way when it comes to parenting, it's the "judging" factor. Basically, it goes like this: no matter how great of a parent you are or how crappy of a parent you are, no matter how much you go by the "old-fashion" ways or you decide to do things "modern and new," no matter what you say or don't say - SOMEONE will have an opinion about it. Whether it's about vaccinations, co-sleeping, nursing or formula, how you discipline your children, and the list goes on and on. Now whether or not people decide to share their opinions with you is up to them. Most of the time, it's family or close friends. Every once in awhile, a stranger might even say something to you. Either way, majority of the time, something is said. And when that something is said, so many different things can happen. It can crush you as a parent, it can make you second guess your decisions, or it might not bother you at all. But overall, the "judging" factor is unavoidable.

Personally, I haven't had too many "bad" judging experiences. Besides the "normal" opinions from family members about our decision to co-sleep and about how "it's going to be the worst decision we've ever made" or the select few who've decided to rudely share their opinions about how "it's so disgusting that I exclusively nursed until Easton was one"; but those things really didn't bother me. I kind of took them with a grain of salt and moved on with my life. They didn't bother me because our decisions have been right for OUR family, they work for US, and no one else really matters. Once it's happened to you a couple times (people "sharing" their opinions, even without being asked), you tend to realize how annoying it can be. And with myself, it made me realize that I definitely DON'T want to be that person. I don't want to be that person who shares my opinions when it isn't asked. I don't want to be that person that makes someone else question their decisions. I certainly don't want to feel like that and it's not fair for me to make someone else feel like that. I just don't think it's right.

I never had a really bad opinionated, judging experience before.... until last week. (I can honestly say I wrote this post a week ago but I've been hesitant to post it, and finally decided that I needed to.) Which brings me to my next point. I completely understand that everyone may have different opinions about this, and having a different opinion is completely and utterly fine. But please choose carefully how you decide to express that different opinion. With that being said, here's our story.

We were going to a family party last weekend at my moms. She has a pool, and although I am well-prepared to take Easton swimming because he absolutely loves the water, I knew I couldn't be in the pool with him forever (especially at nine months pregnant). I really wanted to get him a sand & water table so that when we weren't in the pool, he could still have some fun in the sun with water. So last Friday we set out to shop. Meijer was the third store we had been too, everywhere else had been sold out of them. Even though it was almost nap time, Easton was being great! We got to the water aisle of the toy section, finally found a sand & water table, loaded it in the cart, and we were as happy as can be. I turned down the next aisle, which happened to be the girly/Barbie/dress-up/baby doll aisle. Now this is where the controversy could come into play. Lately I have been debating on buying Easton a baby doll. My reasoning? Easton is such a great little boy. I know he will be an amazing big brother. But the reality of it is, right now, he is an only child. He doesn't have to share his toys or his time, and he especially doesn't have to share his parents or all of the attention he gets. He isn't mean, he always has good intentions, but he can be a little aggressive sometimes. I really think that he doesn't realize his size or strength. He is used to playing on his own and we've never been ones to baby him when he falls or run over immediately when he hurts himself. He's a tough little boy, that's for sure. He will head-butt you while trying to give you a kiss without even knowing it. It certainly isn't intentional, but it can happen. We are expecting Baby#2 anytime now, and I want to try to prepare him the best that we can for our newest addition. I want to get him to understand that the baby is fragile, that he needs to be nice and gentle. I figured that the best way to do that would be to get a baby doll of his own. One that we can swaddle up in a blanket, teach him to touch softly and gently, to be nice and kind to. I haven't asked too many peoples opinions on the subject, but the people that I have talked to have reassured me that they also think it's a good idea and it couldn't hurt to try. So as we were turning down the girly aisle, I decided I would see what our options are. There were three other people down the aisle, other than myself. A lady by herself, and another lady with her daughter in her cart who was playing with a Barbie dressed in a bikini. As I looked through the many options of baby dolls (there's so many now-a-days compared to what there was when I was a kid!), I finally found one that I thought would work.

A soft baby boy doll dressed in a blue outfit. I grabbed it off the shelf, showed Easton, and said "Look Easton, a Baby!" He instantly grabbed it out of my hands and was really looking at it. I said "you have to be nice to the baby, gentle." He continued to cautiously look at it before he started poking at the face. I again said "Be nice to the baby" and he looked up at me. I immediately thought in my head "this is totally going to work!" Right then, my thoughts were interrupted by one of the ladies that was down the aisle. The lady who had a daughter in her cart, while playing with the bikini Barbie, pushed her cart half way down the aisle and proceeded to tap my shoulder. I turned around, smiling, to realize that she had a stern look on her face. She said to me "are you buying that baby doll for your son?" I then said "Yes. We are hoping to prepare him for when his baby brother arrives, which should be soon." She then, in a very rude tone, said "Or your just allowing your son to play with baby dolls like a girl." She then rolled her eyes and continued on down the aisle, pushing her daughter in her cart. She left me standing there speechless. I was caught completely off guard and was certainly not prepared for the conversation that had just happened. Before that moment, I never second guessed my decision to give my son a baby doll. I thought it would be a good teaching experience, a nurturing tool, and frankly, I really didn't think it was a big deal. But then this complete stranger decided that she should (and very rudely) voice her opinion about MY parenting decision. And because of that, I started second guessing myself. I wanted to ask her if she was really going to allow her daughter to play with a Barbie that's dressed in a bikini? A Barbie with extremely large features that are being showcased by a bathing suit. If she really thought that was appropriate? If she was trying to imply something to her daughter? But no. I said nothing. I said nothing because that is HER parenting choice, not mine. When I finally came to my senses and realized what actually had just happened, I grabbed the doll from Easton. Just as I did that, the other lady (who was by herself in the aisle) walked immediately over and strongly said to me "Oh no. Don't you dare put that doll back on that shelf. You take that doll right up to the cash register and you buy it, or else I'm going to buy it and follow you out to your car to give it to him. There is nothing wrong with that little boy playing with that doll if that's what he wants to play with! Don't you let that ladies rude mouth change your mind!!" And I honestly felt, in that moment, she was my sign from God. I needed to hear that. I needed her to remind me that it was MY parenting decision and nobody else's. If I wanted to let him play with a doll, then he can. I did not ask for that ladies opinion. I also didn't ask for her to be so rude when she shared it. She decided on her own, to go out of her way, to make me feel a certain way. To make me question my decision. And I didn't like that. I didn't like the way it made me feel. I didn't like, that for a couple of seconds, she had won, and I had started second guessing my opinion of something, when before that point, I was perfectly okay with it. I would never want to make someone else feel that way. It was a horrible feeling to have. And thankfully, another kind stranger knocked some sense back into me. I smiled at her, kindly said "thank you, I really needed to hear that," I handed the baby doll back to Easton, and we made our way to the check out. As I drove home, I kept replaying it in my head. I really couldn't get over the fact that the lady had just been so down-right rude about the whole situation.

Which brings me here, to this moment. I wanted to make it a point to share this. So that, next time someone doesn't ask your opinion about something, you think things through before you decide to say anything. Think about how you would feel if someone shared their opinion with you, when it wasn't asked for, and it made you feel a certain way. If it made you feel bad, or it made you second guess your decision. That isn't a good feeling to have, especially when it comes to parenting. It's hard enough to be a parent. To tackle the everyday challenges and struggles. But to add peoples opinions on to that, it doesn't make any situation any better. So all I ask is that you take a minute to think things through before you decide to tell your best friend about how she definitely shouldn't let her kid use a pacifier, or when you tell your sister in law that she shouldn't be giving her child a bottle anymore. Think about how you could really affect that complete stranger that you really want to say something too. Is it worth it? Does your opinion REALLY matter when it comes to that persons life? Did they ask for your opinion? Do they even want it? Think before you speak. You would want someone to think before they speak to you.

My very smart, kind, loving son has taken to his "baby". He is being very gentle with it, observing it a lot and closely watching it. He gently touches the babies face and he gives it plenty of snuggles. Often times when I wake up in the middle of the night, he's cuddling his baby, just like he cuddles his blanky. My heart is full knowing that he is like this. My heart is full knowing that he will be amazing with his little brother. My heart is full knowing that a kind fellow mama reassured me that my decision was right in purchasing this baby. My heart is just so full. 

We all need support, most importantly, from each other. Be kind, mamas.

Xoxo,

Christine

Strollers Galore!

I'm Hey guys!

It's been a crazy two weeks, but I know I've said before I wanted to do a stroller review so here we go!

Strollers are so important!! At least, in our family they are! My grandparents bought us a single jogging stroller for our baby shower when I was pregnant with Easton, and I can honestly say I've gotten SO much use out of it. 

Baby Trend Expedition EX Jogger in "Edge" 

There's so many great features about this stroller, really! It has a nice grip handle. The parent tray has two cup holders, an enclosed compartment, and an AUX cord hook up with built in speakers so you can listen to music on the go. The canopy is big and covers your little one from the sun. The seat reclines back; not to a complete, flat recline; but enough to comfortably take a nap. The seat also has a 5 point safety harness and the straps have soft, cushioned strap covers. There's a front child tray bar that has two cup holders. There is storage underneath; although it's not a ton, it gets the job done. The front wheel has an easy-to-use lockable feature to help with stability when jogging (I never really used this feature but Jake did a lot). The trays and the fabric material are very easy to wipe down and clean, which is so important. The stroller itself is surprisingly light, and it folds down and opens up super easily. It does have a higher weight capacity and will hold a child up to 50lbs. Like I said, SO many great features.

We - very easily - used our stroller 2 to 3 times a week because it was easy and quick to use and it made life so much more convenient. Definitely a major A+ goes to Baby Trend and I would easily recommend this stroller to a family of one. With that being said, our family is growing and we need room for two. I have done a TON of research on double strollers. I spent countless hours on Google, watching YouTube video reviews, reading plenty of blogs, and going to numerous stores to check out strollers in person. I knew that picking a new stroller was going to be important because of how much we actually use our stroller! And I wanted to make sure I picked the right one for us. The options? Overwhelming! Believe me, you are not alone. But here are some important things you should consider when making your purchase:

Style:

There are so many different styles out there but it basically comes down to two different kinds: a front-to-back or a side-by-side. 

A front-to-back stroller is exactly what it sounds like: a stroller where the seats sit one in front of each other. Pros? Width! The stroller itself is the same width of a single stroller, so maneuvering in and out of places shouldn't be difficult. It will fit down isles at clothing stores and through doorways with no problem. Most (and I mean most, but not necessarily all) front-to-back strollers have numerous seating facing options. This means that the seats can either face you, face forward, face each other, etc. This makes your stroller versatile instead of just the normal ride. (I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the normal ride, either). Front-to-back strollers tend to be bulky though, since they can't fold up as easily or as small as most people would like.

A side-to-side is exactly that; a stroller where both seats are next to each other. These are great if you have twins or babies that are relatively close in age that like to always be together or next to each other. They are wide though! Some can't even fit through a normal size doorway which could become a problem if you are shopping or going through small aisles. Also something to consider when choosing a side-by-side; certain ones have individual seats, where you can choose to recline a seat individually, while others only have one back, which means if you want one seat reclined, both have to go back. This can become a problem if one child naps and you want to recline the seat, but the other child is still awake. I also noticed that some seats are separated with individual lap bars or trays, while others don't have a lap bar or tray at all or they have one combined, shared lap bar. These are just things that you should consider when looking at them.


Brand:

Just because someone you know "swears" by a brand, or you see a brand everywhere, that doesn't necessarily mean that's the right brand for YOU. Don't get settled in on something just because of the company that makes it. Check out lots of different kinds of brands. Before we picked our stroller, I didn't even know the company of ours even existed!


Weight:

This is so important! Check the weight limits of strollers! Some strollers you can't use with an infant; your child must be at a certain weight or age before they can sit in the stroller. Also, some strollers might seem great but they might not hold children to a higher weight, meaning that you are going to spend a bunch of money on a stroller that isn't going to be of any use to you once your quickly growing child grows out of it (which could be sooner rather than later on some strollers).


Infant Car Seats:

Some strollers have infant car seat attachment pieces, some come with build in car seat attachments, and some you can't use a car seat at all with it. This is important to check into, especially if you plan on using your stroller immediately. Most companies offer attachment pieces that hook into the stroller and your car seat safely buckles into it. Some strollers have build in pieces that tuck away when you aren't using them. But some strollers you can't use an infant seat with them at all. Also, some attachments are only good with certain car seats so check that as well.


Price:

Obviously price is something to consider when making a large purchase. I didn't put an exact limit on our budget, but I knew that I didn't want to spend an outrageous amount. Let me tell you, strollers come in ALL different kinds of prices. There was some under $100, and some over $1,000. I was shocked! And it can also be overwhelming. But you really have to sit down and rationalize what is important to you. A lot of strollers have certain features that people like, and companies know that can jack up the pricing and people will still buy them. Again, this is why I say look at a lot of different brands. You might find similar things you like from one company, in a stroller from another company for cheaper. Once you find a stroller that you love, check everywhere before you buy it. Check online, and at numerous stores. Some places might offer deals, specials, free shipping, and double-check if they price-match or if they accept competitors coupons. This is a great way to save big bucks!!


Size & Space:

Many people don't necessarily consider this right away - but trust me, you should. The size and space that your stroller will take up is important! If you can't fit your stroller in your trunk, then you will end up having an even bigger issue on your hands. Make sure you can easily fold up your stroller by yourself, and don't rely on someone to always be around to help you. Also, if you live in an upstairs apartment or if you don't have a lot of room at your home, remember that you have to put this stroller somewhere if it's not in your car. And if you don't want it to be an eye-sore in the middle of your living room, then make sure you have a spot for it. Some strollers are very heavy too. Be sure you can lift it in and out of your vehicle on your own. If you have a vehicle with a third row seat that can fold up or down, make sure your stroller fits back there with the seats up and down. You don't want to get somewhere, fold the seats up, and then realize that now your stroller doesn't fit back there. That would not be good. So take the stroller out to your vehicle when your looking at it at the store. They will let you. (Just tell someone first, so they don't think your stealing it lol!)


Accessories:

This is a big purchase. Don't settle on something unless you love it! Check out all the accessories that strollers have to offer. If you're a parent who always has water bottles with you, then you probably want a stroller with a cup holder for you. Or if you have a big diaper bag, then you most likely want a stroller that has a lot of storage underneath. Remember, the company that makes your stroller most likely has add-on accessories and other companies make accessories for strollers too so check all of those out. Your stroller might not come with a cup holder but you might be able to order one, or purchase one from a different company that will work with your stroller. Check out all the options!



Now I know this can be so overwhelming, or at least it was for me. I really wanted to make sure I purchased a stroller that was going to work for our family, and not only work, but help me. The purpose of a stroller is to help the mom out. And that is exactly what we need! So after lots of researching, testing out, and a very long three hour visit to Buy Buy Baby (where, thankfully, my best friend tagged along and assisted with caring for my cranky toddler), we finally decided on.....

The Contours Options Elite Tandem Stroller in "Envy Green"

We absolutely love it! There are so many great features about this stroller!! It is a front-to-back style with rubber coated wheels so the ride is nice and smooth. The material on both seats is super easy to clean and wipe down, which is great for us. It has a very easy-to-use fold down that has a lock to keep it all together, and it doesn't weigh too much (I can get it in and out of my trunk by myself). It has a huge basket underneath that even has a side zipper, so you can easily get to things in the front of the basket without taking everything else out of it. Both seats recline all the way back, which has been great when Easton has fallen asleep when we've been out. The canopy on both seats is HUGE and both even have zippered extension canopies for even more sun coverage. They both have 5 point safety harnesses that are easy to use, and again, easy to clean. Plus, I can brag enough about all the different options of seating this stroller offers. Easton loves that there are so many different ways he can ride, depending on his mood that day. And the leg room even when both seats are reclined is still great, so no complaints there! Overall, we just love it!

Some downfalls (that didn't stop us one bit!)

* Contours does offer certain accessories, but you have to purchase them separately. A couple of those things: the infant car seat adaptor piece, parent console trays, and kids trays. Heres the breakdown for those:


Infant Car Seat Adaptor:
You can purchase the infant car seat adaptor piece for an additional $29.99 from their website (and most stores have them in stock).

Parent Tray:
You can purchase the parent tray for an additional $29.99

Kids Tray:
You can purchase the kids tray that has a cup holder built into it for an additional $29.99

Here's what we did (and how we got such a great deal!)

I went to Buy Buy Baby, where they have a HUGE selection of strollers. I mean, they must have at least 100 on the floor to look at and demo. Once I caught my eye on the Contours and started asking the sales man a billion and one questions about it, I found out that they had just took this exact stroller out of the box the day before to use as a display, and they actually hadn't received their shipment of these strollers in yet, only that one. He informed me that it could be ordered online and shipped to me for free, but I wasn't going that route. I simply asked him if there was any way I could purchase this exact floor model at a discounted price. The stroller originally is $299. He left to speak with a manager, and when he did, I inspected the stroller all over from top to bottom. There wasn't even a speak of dirt on the wheels! When he came back, he told me that his manager said they could sell it to me for $240, which meant they were giving me a 20% off discount since it was considered a "floor" model. But, since this was a floor model, the company had sent them the Infant Car Seat Adaptor to show customers how it is used with the seat. So, the sales man told me that the Infant Car Seat Adaptor would automatically come with this model, and that it would be at no extra cost to us! BINGO - just saved $30! We decided to purchase only one of the children trays though (because Easton likes to take his "juice" everywhere with him, and we won't need another kids tray until a ways down the road when our littlest gets bigger) so he did order that for me online with free shipping to get sent to our house. Are you still with me here? So now were at $270. I knew I wanted a parent tray organizer, but I didn't really like the one that Contours had, so I went to the accessories area of Buy Buy Baby and found two that I liked!
One was made by Baby Jogger:

The other by Brica:

The Baby Jogger one was priced at $19.99 and the Brica was on clearance for $9.99 - so I decided to just get them both. Still adding? We're now at $300. So we headed to register. I used four coupons, all from Bed Bath and Beyond for 20% off one item (they take their coupons there, and you are aloud to use one coupon per item). So with all of those discounts and my coupons; we got the stroller itself (with the infant car seat adaptor), the additional childs tray, and the two parent organizers for $288!! That's a huge savings of over $100! It would of originally cost $390! So we got a great deal, a great stroller, and great accessories that we love!!!!

My advice: do your research! Don't settle! Take the time to go to different stores and check out a bunch of different kinds!! Don't get something just because the "cool mom down the street has it" or because it's all the "rave" this week. Find what's best for your family and use coupons! Don't be afraid to ask questions or to try to get the best deal! 

Hopefully this was helpful! Good luck on stroller hunting and let me know how it goes! 

Xoxo,

Christine 

DIY: Homemade Lavender Sugar Scrub

Hey there!

Man is it hot out! Summer definitely has arrived!! And with that comes all sorts of fun things; fresh fruit, tanning, pools, shorts and tank tops, and so much more! But also with that, comes the sun. You have to take care of your skin when it comes to the sun! And if you're like me and pregnant, then this heat is really doing some work on you. The sun may give you a nice bronzed look, but it can also do a lot of damage. You can burn and your skin tends to dry out a lot. The sun pulls moisture out of your skin, which can leave it scaley and dry. And no one wants to strut a pair of Daisy Dukes and their bikini top with dry, flaky skin. 

What's the solution? TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN! People usually relate dry skin to winter, but that's not necessarily true. Your skin takes some damage in the summer from the sun, chlorine from pools, lots of sweat from your body, and so much more. The key to fix it? Moisturize! Sunscreen, lots of lotion, and exfoliate. One thing I absolutely love to use is a Sugar Scrub. Don't go running to the store to buy some. Yes, the store ones are great but they're expensive and you can make so many batches at home on your own for cheap! It's quick and simple and you know exactly what's in it! Plus, when you run out, you can just whip up another batch instead of having to run out to get more. Try it!

Homemade Lavender Sugar Scrub!

What you need:

Granulated Sugar

Baby Oil / Olive Oil / Coconut Oil

Lavender Essential Oil

Mason Jar

How to do it:

Pour one cup of sugar into a bowl. Add 1/2 cup of oil to the bowl. Put 10-15 drops of Lavender into the bowl. Now, take a fork and continuously mix together until all the ingredients are combined. It will look something like this: 

Lastly, scoop into a Mason jar, seal it up, and voila - you're done! It's that easy!! 

* If you want to go the "cheap" route, baby oil is the way to go. Plus, it's a great moisturizer! Olive oil and Coconut oil are great moisturizers for your skin as wel, they just tend to be a little more pricey. 

* If you prefer your scrub a little thicker, you can always just add more sugar until it's at the consistency that you want. 

* You can use any kind of Essential oil that you want; Lavender, Lemon, Mint, Clove, Orange, etc. Also, if you want the scent to be stronger, just add more drops until you're happy with it. 

* The measurements above fill one half-pint size Mason jar. If you double the recipe, it will fill a regular pint size Mason jar. 

I made 8 batches today (I filled 4 pint sized mason jars) because I have some things coming up where I wanted to have some on hand to give as gifts. I took thicker white computer paper and made a homemade label by using a hot-glue gun to adhere it to the top. Then I tied a cute ribbon around the lid just for decoration! I keep my scrub on a shelf that's next to my shower so that it's easily accessible but not actually in the shower. It's great to use after you've shaved your legs! It leaves them silky smooth! Plus, the lavender is a natural relaxer. You will feel like you're being pampered at the spa, all for only a couple bucks!! 

I hope you enjoy!! 

Xoxo,

Christine 

DIY: No-Sew Crib Teething Rail Cover

Hey there!

If you're already a mom, there's one thing you know for sure.... babies are EXPENSIVE! I learned that fairly quickly with Easton. There are so many new fancy things that people "claim" you absolutely "need" for your little one. While some things I've found that I did use and some things that were helpful and handy, there was plenty of other things that I would quickly inform a mom not to buy.

I told myself when I was registering with Easton, "why in the world would I ever need a crib rail cover?? Uhmmmm...... NOPE!" Well, little did I know, I was in for a big surprise. It sounds ridiculous or you might say "Oh my baby won't chew on their crib. My baby won't need one of those. I will make sure he/she doesn't chew on this crib." Yeah, right. Me too. Or at least I thought. Until things got a little too quiet and next thing I knew there were tiny little chew marks all over the front rail of Easton's crib. I was so sad about this because 1) I obviously don't want my son chewing on wood that has chemical stain on it and 2) his crib converts to a full size bed so we have every intent for him to use this bed for a very long time and we want it to last. Right when it happened, I was kicking myself for not buying a crib rail cover and I immediately ordered one online. Two days and $60 later, we have covered crib rails and a happy, teething baby. 

This time around, I knew I needed a set of crib rail covers no matter what. I wasn't taking any chances. But I also knew that there was PLENTY of other things I wanted to spend $60 on and it did not include covers. So with lots of Pinterest and Google searching, I got up enough courage to DIY some myself. So off to some stores I went. 

I will say this, I am NOT a sewer. Whenever I need anything sewn, I go right to my Grandma. Which, at the beginning of this project, I had every intention of buying my materials and making my way to her house. Lucky for her and not-so-lucky for me, my Grandma is out of state on a vacation this week. I'm inpatient and thought to myself "I can do this". I decided to take bits and pieces of numerous DIY projects and put them all together to make these awesome covers. Here ya go! 

DIY: No-Sew Crib Teething Rail Cover

What you need:

- Fabric of your choice (I used soft flannel. Make sure that you measure the length of your crib rails and make sure you have enough to wrap around your rails with extra, just in case.)

- Ribbon (I used three spools)

- 3 pool noodles (be sure to get the ones that have holes in the middle)

- Double sided fabric tape

- Hot glue gun with glue sticks

- Scissors

How to do it:

Measure your crib rail (I did the front rail and both sides). Then cut your pool noodle to the same length as your crib rail. I used one pool noodle for each section of rail. Then, cut a line straight down the pool noodle all the way to the middle, like this:

Now you take your fabric and lay it out so that there's enough to "wrap" around your noodle. Then cut strips of the double sided tape and place all throughout the inside of the pool noodle, all on the same side. 

Take off the paper on the double sided tape and place your fabric on it. Continue to do this down the entire inside of the tube, making sure that if you do have printed fabric, that you keep your prints aligned together. 

Next, pull your fabric tight around the noodle and hot glue gun it into the other side of the noodle, on the inside. 

* * * I will say this, I found that it was much easier and quicker to use the hot glue gun, so I ended up using that for the rest of them instead of the double sided tape. * * *

Glue the rest of the fabric all the way down, until the whole noodle is covered. I folded in each end and then glued it down. 

Repeat those steps for the other rails.

Next, measure your ribbon. I used seven strips of ribbon for the front rail and four strips each for both of the side rails.

Place your covers on your crib. This will make the next couple of steps a whole lot easier. 

Take a piece of the double sided tape and place it on the center of the ribbon. 

Now, take off that paper on the double sided tape and place the ribbon, sticky side down, around your noodle. 

Repeat until you have all of your ribbons on there.

Now you can tie your ribbons and BAM you have yourself some covers! What makes it great is that you can use any fabric you want to match your nursery. Your crib rails are protected and baby isn't going to swallow any small pieces of paint or wood that has any chemicals on it. It's a win-win for everyone. Plus, this entire project is super CHEAP to make and budget friendly. Each pool noodle cost $1.80, each spool of ribbon I got on sale for $1 each, my fabric was on sale plus I used a coupon so I got all of it for only $3.98, I bought a new hot glue gun with sticks for $4.75, the roll of double sided fabric tape for $4.98 and I already had the scissors at home. All of that for under $23 and I still have fabric, ribbon, the hot glue gun and glue sticks, and some double sided tape all left over for another project. Such a great deal!!! Let me know if you decide to do this, I want to know how it turns out for you! Enjoy!!

Xoxo,

Christine 

Hearty Beef Stew

Hey there!

Even though it's the end of June, today was a nasty, ugly day. It's cold and rainy and just plain sad looking outside. Jake worked a full day outside in this weather and I thought, what better dish to come home to and enjoy other than a nice piping hot bowl of some hearty beef stew? Nothing! It's the perfect weather for it! So I trenched out in the rain to the grocery store and picked up some stuff that I needed. Then I came home and got to work. Here ya go!

Hearty Beef Stew

Ingredients:

- 3/4 Beef Sirloin Steaks (depending on how much stew you're making. Make sure it has a lot of fat marbling through out it).

- 2 large yellow onions

- Celery

- Baby carrots

- Petite yellow potatoes

- McCormicks hearty beef stew seasoning packing

- Minced Garlic

- Worcestershire sauce 

- Beef Stock

- Salt

- Pepper

- Garlic powder

- Steak seasoning

- Flour

- Canola Oil / Olive Oil / Extra Virgin Olive Oil (whichever you prefer). 

Steps:

First thing I always do if I'm cooking with veggies is to prep them. I wash them (if needed) and dry them. Then I cut them up. The onions I cut into good sized slices, the baby carrots I cut in half, I sliced celery and only used a little since I'm the only one in our family that likes celery, and I quarter the potatoes. 

Next, I cut up the beef into good one inch or bite sized pieces. Be sure to have a sharp filet knife! 

Now I got my dry mixture together in a seperate bowl. I used flour, garlic powder, steak seasoning, salt, and pepper together and made sure it was mixed together well.

This mixture is what you use to coat your meat. You want every piece of your meat coated. It will give it good flavoring and the flour will work as a natural thickener later on. 

Next, your going to get a pretty big pot (I use my extra large pot from my stainless steel Tupperware cookware series). If you have non-stick then perfect! Mine isn't non-stick but I never have any issues with food sticking too bad. Now you're going to want to coat the bottom of the pan with oil. You want a good level of oil in the bottom, around 1/3 of an inch. And turn your heat up, mine was set to around 6, so that the oil heats through and you start to see little oil bubbles form. You really want your oil good and heated and ready before you put your meat in. I usually sprinkle a few drops of water in to see if it sizzles. Once it sizzles, you're ready. 

Once your oil is ready, carefully use tongs to scatter the meat in the pan. Be sure not to over-fill the pan! It might take you a couple batches. This time, it took me four different batches. Patience is a virtue at this point! 

Let it brown for a couple minutes then flip over. 

The meat should be browned. It will not be fully cooked through but that's okay because it will continue to cook later on. Remove pieces to a separate bowl when they're done and continue on with the same technique until all of your meat is browned and in a separate bowl. Now you should be left with a pot that has lots of little brown bits in the bottom. Don't wash them out! That's the best part! Those little bits are full of flavor! Now pour all but one cup of the beef stock into the pot, leaving the heat on, and use a good wooden spoon to scrap the pieces off of the bottom of the pan. Be sure to use some "elbow grease" and really get those seasonings off the bottom! 

Now take that one cup of stock and put it into a bowl with the McCormicks packet. Mix it up really well and set aside. 

Now pour your veggies into the pot. 

Add a good scoop of minced garlic and a couple good splashes of the Worcestershire sauce. 

Mix that up well. Add your beef and the sauce mixture to the pot and turn it on high heat, stirring until it comes to a bowl. 

Once the pot is at a roaring boil, put a lid on it and turn it down to medium heat. Cook for an hour, checking it and stirring it every ten minutes to make sure things are sticking to the bottom. You will notice the sauce start to thicken to make a nice gravy. After an hour, turn it down to low and let it cook for another half hour to an hour, stirring frequently. 

This stew is packed with everything you need; meat, potatoes, veggies! You can certainly eat it all on its own. I personally like to serve mine with a starch and some good bread. Sometimes I serve it over egg noodles, but today I went with white rice. Yes, I use Minute rice. It's quick and easy and almost impossible to mess up. I also browned some Hawaiian Sweet Rolls in the oven and served those with it. I wanted to get a picture but I completely forgot. 

Hope you guys enjoy!

- Christine