A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words?

First, my dilemma.... to post pictures of my family on here or not?  I wanted this to be a pretty anonymous blog, and plus I am worried about my kiddos' safety.... My hubby is in a high-profile line of work, so I'm not sure that it is smart to include photos and/or identifying information on here.... though we both have FB accounts, and we post plenty of photos on there.  Hmmm.... any thoughts?  Should I post photos of them, just not their full names?  I really would love any input you have!

I've gone back and forth many times with this... I want this to be a true "diary" of our life as a family, and I would love to have this blog full of pictures so my boys can have it as a online scrapbook of sorts one day. Then again, what if they don't want their pictures on here?  And I doubt they will appreciate my detailed accounts of potty-training them being on the internet when they are 13!  So I just don't know.

While I think about it more, here are some photos I have taken recently with my new love.

*Disclaimer: I know NOTHING about photography and am just playing around with this amazing camera.  I am hoping to take a class on using my DSLR this summer.  Until then, youtube has been teaching me the absolute basics.  So no mean comments on my lack of skills, please!  I will get better with time!!

Here are some non-face pics of my little angels:

Showing off a new teething toy he picked out for the baby.

Yummy toes

Such long fingers, just like his big brother.

And now, some non-kid pictures I took while playing around with the settings on my camera:

My Aching Head

I have been having the WORST headaches on and off for the last few weeks... I'm not sure if they are migraines or not, but they are brutal.  Since I am nursing, I'm not sure of what to take.  Any ideas, mamas?  So far I have been just using ibuprofen and it is just not cutting it. :(  Help!

Babies and Dogs

Nothing better than those two, right?? Right. Check out this cuteness on YouTube:

This video came from one of my fave blogs, which is written by a sweet girl who I went to high school with.  For every view of this clip that they get, it counts as an entry into a contest to win $20,000 worth of furniture!  Check it out- it's only 37 seconds and it's adorable!!

If you can't see the above video, click here.

Good luck, Spohr Family! I hope you win!!!

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag!

For my birthday a few months ago, I got a GORGEOUS new diaper bag:

I am in love with it!!! Thank you hubby!!! As if that weren't enough, he ALSO got me an exquisite new camera bag:

The only problem was I didn't have the DSLR camera to go in it yet.  I have been wanting one for soooo long, but they are so pricey, so I have been holding out.  I saw a good deal at Costco for the camera that I wanted, plus an extra lens, for cheaper than the cost of just the camera at Best Buy .  But of course when I went back to get it, they were sold out.  I learned they weren't getting any more, so I was back to square one.  Then, for Mother's Day, the hubs took me to a local camera store and bought me my newest baby:

Its official name is the Canon EOS Rebel T2i, but my name for it is my new love. Why? Because it can take stunning pictures of all my true loves!! I am having soooo much fun taking photos of our little family.  Hubs, if you're reading this, you are so generous and thoughtful and I am sooooooo grateful.  I don't know how I lucked out with a hubby like you, and NOT because of all the pretty things that you buy me!!!

xoxoxo

Mommas on a Mission

Found this video in the comment section of one of my favorite mommy blogs. How cute are these preggers?

Expectant Mommies Flash Mob

For every view on Youtube, the March of Dimes will receive a dime for research to prevent babies from being born too soon. Such a worthwhile cause, and such an adorable video!

Being pregnant is truly such a magical thing. I am so grateful that I was able to have two successful pregnancies, and that I got my two healthy, wonderful, perfect babies from them. Words cannot express how thankful I am to God for the gift of my boys. I am so, so lucky, and try never to take it for granted that I was so blessed to have two full-term pregnancies after a couple bumps in the road to mommyhood. I will never compare my experience to anyone else's loss, or say that I truly understand, because of course I don't- but my heart aches for the mamas that have experienced any babyloss. It is just not fair, and I pray that they get the babies that they deserve. I really do. And I am honored to support an organization that will help make that happen!

Check out how awesome the March of Dimes is, and sign up to March for Babies!! I've marched, and I will do it again and again, with my two cutie pies decked out in purple!

Wrapped Up With Love

With our first son, we discovered the Ergo.

It is the best baby carrier ever!!  It's super comfy and best of all, according to our pediatrician, better for baby's hip and spine development than a front facing carrier like a Bjorn.  With our new baby, we are again using the Ergo, only this time we started earlier so we used the infant insert.  I can't say enough good things about the Ergo.  I love it and so does my hubby!  He suffered a back injury from work, and while the Bjorn puts tons of pressure on the wearer's back, the Ergo doesn't at all, so he is completely comfortable wearing it.  A few weeks ago, I heard that Petunia Pickle Bottom (my absolute fave!!) and Ergo are pairing up to make even cuter Ergos.  I have the black one, so I am sooooo jealous of mamas that get to enjoy the awesomeness of the Ergo carrier in the super cute PPB patterns! I might just have to have a girl so I can get one!!!! Look how cute:

In addition to the Ergo, I LOVE wearing our little one in a wrap.  It is great to have both options, because our older son can still fit in the Ergo, so sometimes it is occupied. (I tried using this as a reason why I need the new PPB version, but hubby said "Nice try." Mean!) I love the Moby Wrap, but I simply adore the Sleepy Wrap.  They are both amazing for babywearing, and great for discreet nursing too.  I was pretty nervous about using a wrap when our little man was tiny, so I went to the Pump Station's Wrap Clinic.  They showed me exactly what to do and how to wrap him safely.  It was so great because I could try on the different wraps and decide which one was the best fit for me and my baby.  The best part of all was the clinic was free!  Just another reason why I love the Pump Station!

I had gotten the Moby as a gift, and after playing with the different wraps, I was actually going to return it for the Sleepy Wrap.  Instead, I decided to keep both because they are fairly inexpensive, and I figured if baby spit up on one, I would always have the other ready to go.  They are VERY similar~ about the same size and price, and both are truly amazing products .  The only difference to me is that the Sleepy Wrap is a bit stretchier, which I liked, because I could make the wrap tighter around baby.  I feel like the Moby is more like t-shirt material, so when it gets stretched out, it doesn't really "bounce back".  I'm not sure of that makes any sense, so be sure you try out both wraps and see which one works for you!  The Pump Station Wrap Clinic is an awesome place to start!!

Baby wearing is awesome, and if you have two little ones, it is essential.  Gone are the days where I can sit on the couch for hours on end, cuddling with and gazing at our brand new angel.  This time around, I have to chase around his big brother as well, and it is great to have my new sweetie pie wrapped around me while doing so.  I don't know if it is feeling Mama's heartbeat or what, but he is instantly comforted, and usually passes right out when I put him in the wrap.  If you don't have one already, any of these three are well worth the money!! Happy Wrapping!

Cribs

So we made the big decision that our big boy should get to stay in his crib, and the little one needs his own.  Off we went to Bellini and because they were in a new location, they were having a big sale!  Win!!  We got his crib at over 50% off, and it is super cute!  It is a different style than his brother's, but the same antique white color so it coordinates nicely.  Most importantly, it is the safest crib available.  Both cribs will eventually convert to toddler beds and then full size beds, so even though they were much pricier (even on sale) than most other cribs I've seen, in the long run they will save us money because we won't have to keep buying more beds as they get bigger.

I feel very happy with our choice, and (I think) both boys will be too.  The baby still hasn't made the official switch from bassinet to crib, but it is all decked out with super cute bedding waiting for him when I am finally ready to not have him in our room anymore.  I have been putting him in the crib for a few minutes at a time, just so he can get used to it, but until we switch the Angel Care from bassinet to crib, he won't be sleeping in it yet.  But more on baby monitors later...

Anyway, thanks to those of you that commented on last week's post.  It is always great to hear from other mommies when making big changes like this one!!  I will keep you updated on how it goes over the next few weeks as we let the baby sleep in his own room.

As they say on MTV Cribs, this is where the magic happens:

The magic, of course, being the baby sleeping so Mommy can get some rest! Ha ha.  That picture is not exactly what the nursery looks like, but it is beautiful, so I stole it from one of my favorite baby bedding shops, Posh Tots.  My hubby has forbidden me from shopping there though because I could spend the boys' college funds with no problem at all!  A Mommy can get in some real big trouble on that website!

Here's hoping that when I finally do put my little man in the crib that there are minimal tears. From him and from me!