Elba's 6 Month Update

6 Months Old



I am going to just continue to say how much I enjoy every new month since Elba has become our third wheel. She is so much more giggly this month and excited. She is interactive and aware. She cuddles and also pushes away. When she wants something, we are going to hear about it, when she doesn't want something...she lets us know. She is becoming her own person every single day. She is incredibly aggressive and tough, if she bumps her head Zack and I are always cringing waiting for the meltdown but it never happens...she hardly every cries if she bumps her head or hurts herself, she is so tough! She will however cry if she is not being held by either Zack or myself if she is having a rough teething day. She will cry because her teeth that have been coming in since she was 3 months old have yet to break through. Teething has NOT been our favorite! I have loved the face grabbing and the affection though. She is so much  more aware of us and we grow more important to her each day. It is endearing when she reaches for us, when her cry changes to a giggle, when she makes her high pitched squeaks/shouts, and when she just wants to cuddle. I am loving this age. Not to say that it doesn't come with its battles, but aside from the craziness this has really been such a rewarding age. I never knew how much I could love someone else. It is a different kind of love & it is amazing!

Mama's Favorite Things

Watching her experience new things

Her little gasps when the wind blows

How she grabs my face and kisses me

When she attacks my face and giggles

When she grabs my hair and screams with excitement

When she hears Zack on the phone and reaches for the phone

I love when we are FaceTiming with Zack and she gets super excited

Watching her experience new foods

I love when she kicks, reaches, and giggles when she watches me put on the ergo

I love her high pitched squeaks

When she laughs at Zack and I

How she could be content all day if she was just outside

I love how she attacks my hands to teeth like a little monster

I love her smiles

Everything

Every month is more rewarding

Every single day is more exciting

I love everything about this girl

Elba's Quirks

Scratches

Growls...full on monster growls

Grabs faces for kisses

Grabs faces for attacking 

Always wants to be outside

Does not like being set down too much recently

Loves to be scared (she's dark)

Loves when we hide and pop out at her

Loves when we blow on her belly or neck

Attacks our limbs for teething purposes

Makes high pitched squeaking noises

Makes gasping noises when she is excited

Makes gasping noises to be funny and then continues to do it if we copy her

Loves the ergo carrier, she would prefer to be carried in it all day

Starting to get upset if we take something from her that she wanted

All sorts of aggressive

Throws things

Wants everything- reaches, grabs and steals

Super giggly- when she wants to be

Doesn't like when I have a towel on my head--scares her but cracks me up

Loves gnawing on leather, she has petrified one of her FP moccasins from sucking on it to death. She keeps trying to get her hands on my Lily Jade Diaper bag...not gonna happen!

Has decided she doesn't like to bottle feed anymore. KILLING ME. We are getting her back into it though!

Loves watching videos of herself...Elba loves Elba.

Loving sitting up on her own

Wants everything in her mouth

Loves looking around on our walks

She will kick, fling her arms around, and smiles when she sees the ergo carrier come out, she knows we are going for a walk outside! Her favorite.

Likes pulling leaves off of trees and bushes

When she doesn't want to be in the car seat she starts scratching and doing sit ups as if she is going to claw her way out

Starting to learn how to manipulate, we will be changing that haha

Loves FaceTiming with Daddy, makes her smile immediately

When she hears Daddy on the phone she tries grabbing the phone from me

Size (Diapers, Onesies, Etc.): Diapers size 3; Onesies 6-9 months; Shirts 6-12 months; Leggings 6-12 months & some 3 month ones; 3-6 month, 6 month and 9 month jammies!

Eyes: Olive green & gray/ hazel

Hair: Her hair is getting much longer! Especially on top and in the back! Her new hair is coming in much thicker too! It has lightened up so much since she was born. When she was born it was pitch black and now it is the same color as Zack's and mine.

Sleeping: Getting better. When she started teething she back tracked completely on our great sleep schedule. But things are looking up again, slowly but surely!

Eating: She isn't too into purees. She loves eating whatever I am eating off of my finger. She doesn't like avocado unless it is on my finger. I made sweet potato in my Vitamix and she seems to like that much better than bananas. She loves blueberry things. She loves experimenting with foods, but no purees that she continues to open her mouth for in excitement. We are getting there though. This past week has shown more promise!

Milestones: 

• Army crawling/ kinda crawling
• Getting up on all 4's to crawl
• Rolls like crazy
• Experimenting with solids every day
• Laughing
• Copying/mimicking
• Sitting up on her own
• Walking around like a crazy when I hold her hands
• Standing on her own if she is holding on to the couch or something else for a few moments
• Dropped the swaddle cold turkey around 5 months when she kept working her way out

XO Sydney

Things I Have Learned as a New Mom

Things I Have Learned as a New Mom:

Doing some reflecting before Mother's Day! I just wanted to talk about a few things that were on my mind. I haven't really had a chance to do so since my girl was born and I always feel like I am pushing all of my blog post ideas aside lately and thinking I will get around to it and never do. I have so many blog posts planned, just haven't found the right time to post them. I also really want to know what you guys love to read on here. I love incorporating my ideas with some requests every now and then, so if you have any requests, let me know! I have a few emails requesting more mommy things, more beauty things and even videos. How do you all feel about that? What are some fun things you guys prefer? Let me know in the comments below or in an email! You know that I always get back to all of you and love to chat with you all! 

Also, I've realized my google+ views are over 1 million views so I would love to know all of my followers. If you aren't already, do me a favor and follow along with email or any of the other options on the right hand side of my blog. I love seeing all of you guys pop-up on there! Makes interacting, writing, and blogging in general more fun when I can connect with you all! Moving on...

1. There is no right way to do anything.
 Do what feels right, I intentionally didn't over research during my pregnancy because I did not want to feel inadequate. Sometimes I feel like when you get too many opinions from a bunch of different people you stop trusting your instincts and don't go with your gut on anything. You start re-thinking all of those articles you read when you were pregnant. No mom needs to feel inadequate, trust your gut!

2. I am now ambidextrous.
Guys, I swear. Being a mom is pretty cool sometimes. You figure out you have all these super powers you didn't know you were capable of doing, like buttering toast with your left hand while holding your babe in your right arm.

3. Life does not revolve around me anymore.
Not saying this in an obnoxious way, but seriously, things change big time. It is a major adjustment being a mom. Oh, you have to pee? TOUGH. Baby needs to eat. Oh, you're hungry? BUMMER. Baby just had a major diaper blow out. Something as simple as showering requires a baby swing/jumper, a few good toys, some music and a clear shower curtain. Not even a shower can be relaxing with a new baby because you are busy shaving your legs and singing songs to keep little one occupied long enough to rinse out your conditioner.

4. I have become VERY forgetful. 
I have a great memory. I can remember dates and birthdays and I am great at memorizing things. Someone please explain to me why I can't find my phone half the time or where I put my keys. I have found it is most likely because I am more concerned about Sophie the Giraffe making it into the diaper bag and because I am wondering if I grabbed enough diapers before heading out the door. Shortly after my girl was born I started finding my phone in weird places. Zack found it in the fridge one time and another time in my mom's dresser drawer at her house...you just lose it. Every mom will tell you there is no hope, forget you ever had a memory. If I am the only one than you guys are impressive and I bow down to you.

5. I respect and appreciate all moms.
There are a BAJILLION other things that I have learned as a new mom and continue to learn as a mom every single day. However, the most important thing I think I have learned is moms are amazing. All moms. I respect and love all moms. Their love for their babies is unconditional and raw. A mother's love is so real and beautiful. I am grateful that I get to experience a love like this. As exhausting as it is to have all of my thoughts consumed by thoughts of my baby girl...I am so in love with her I wouldn't want to think about anything else. I never really realized how much I put myself first until I had a baby, but it feels so natural to give up that selfish side. Some days being a mom is easy other days it is difficult and you break down crying, but every single second is so worth it. I have a deep respect for other moms and think we all need a pat on the back, or a really really long massage because my back is jacked up from breast feeding and I can't move when I wake up in the morning, anyone else with me?

Happy Mother's Day to all of you gorgeous mommies out there. Whether you are reading this and are pregnant, a new mom or a mom to many little munchkins, you are all doing your best and you are all superheroes. 

XO Sydney 

Elba's 5 Month Update

5 Months Old

I can't believe I have a 5 month old baby girl...where has the time gone? I feel like she was just a little newborn and now she is growing way too quickly for me. It really is so bitter sweet because as sad as I am to watch her grow I am also having so much fun watching her personality develop.

Mama's Favorite Things

I love how sassy she is

I love that she still prefers to cuddle as a way of falling asleep

I love her giggle

I love how she actually enjoys getting kinda scared and jumpy (weirdo)

I love when she sleeps like an old man with her hands behind her head

I love when she gets excited

I love how she mimics me

I love what a little chunk she is

I love when she snacks on her feet

I have a love/hate relationship with how much she loves her bath

I love that she does raspberries all the time to entertain herself

I love her high pitched squeaks at home and in public

I love it all....and much much more...

Elba's Quirks

She is a zombie/attack dog/gremlin/monster, she will attack anything in her path with her vicious gummy bite

She is super sassy with a major attitude, she will choose random times of the day to intentionally NOT crack a smile even though you can see she is holding one back

She will go on a screaming rampage starting at about 7-7:30pm because it is bath time and if she hasn't got a bath yet, you will know about it

Obviously she loves her bath time

She attacks faces with her mouth

LOVES any bag with crinkly sounds, she will steal bags from my hand

She will grab my face or Zack's face and smother it with a giant open mouth kiss

She is starting to get super cuddly

She still loves to be outside rather than inside

If she could go on a walk all day she would

She is very demanding & controlling

Very into touch & scratching

She loves Barney

Starting to throw her toys

Starting to cry when she throws her toys and then wants her toys again

Holds her mouth shut super tight when she doesn't want her pacifier

Extremely into touch, she still strokes her face with her hand whenever she eats, it is hysterical to watch

Finds it funny to laugh and smile when I am trying to feed her in public under my shirt...as if trying to finagle that isn't difficult enough already I have a little comedian making it 10x harder

Will gag herself super dramatically if she doesn't want her pacifier and we try to put it in her mouth...ACTRESS

Likes to be thrown in the air

She gets excited when we get excited for her

Breaking out of the swaddle half-way through the night to teeth...poor girl

Loves all of her teething toys, especially Sophie the Giraffe

She loves when I make super obnoxious noises and grunting sounds, sooo weird haha

.....and way more.

Size (Diapers, Onesies, Etc.): She is still in size 2 diapers; She wears size 3 month leggings/6 month leggings; She wears anywhere from 3-6 mo shirts to 12 mo shirts; She wears 6-9 mo onesies...

Eyes: A super confused gray-olive-brown-blue...

Hair: Her new hair is coming in super thick and short haha with her long hair making little pig-tails in the back...

Sleeping: Pretty well, some rough teething nights here and there

Eating: She isn't too into solids yet, she wants all of mine and Zack's food, we tried bananas and she is NOT into them as of yet. We tried the oatmeal thing, she doesn't hate it but doesn't love it!

Milestones:

• Sitting up on her own for long periods of time, she is really getting good at balancing herself
• Rolling from tummy to back
• Rolling from back to tummy
• Laughing
• Army crawling lil' inch worm
• Mimicking 
• Experimenting with solids

We love you so much baby girl. You really have completed our lives. You are my purpose and my every day and I love you like crazy. Your daddy loves you to death and you are his number one girl!

XO Sydney

You! Lingerie Giveaway

You! Lingerie Giveaway

[CLOSED]

Another giveaway! This will be my second giveaway with You! Lingerie. The first one was so fun and everyone really seemed to love it, so why not have another go at it? 

Check out the shop!

You! Lingerie

If you are a nursing mommy or pregnant, check out You! Lingerie, go see what catches your eye! They have a gorgeous selection of yummy colored bras...from candy colored lace to pastel pretties! They also have the coziest nursing tanks for moms (like in the first picture above). The one I am wearing is called the Sydney Tank! You can find that exact one here! 

I am also wearing the Anastasia Maternity & Nursing Bra! Nice thing about these bras? They have a huge selection of sizes. Mommas know about jumping a few hundred cup sizes! Plus, they're pretty gorgeous, right? 

All bras, tanks and chemises have the signature pink bow!

Winner will receive a $60 gift card to pick out any products from their website.

How to Enter:

[+] Follow both Instagram accounts @sydneysedillo and @You_Lingerie

[+] Follow my blog

 (right hand side of my blog---enter your email or follow along with Google+, Blogger, or Bloglovin')

[+] Tag your favorite mommas or mommas-to-be who would also love to win!

Want to increase your chances?

[+] Repost image on my instagram for an extra entry and tag #SydneyYLgiveaway or comment on my blog at the bottom of this post saying why you would love to win!

Good luck you lovely ladies!

Giveaway will end Tuesday night!!!

WINNER

@happygirl_alli

Check out the shop!

You! Lingerie

XO Sydney 

**I was sent all products free of charge, thank you for supporting the businesses that support our little fam**

6 Weeks Postpartum Update

6 Weeks Postpartum

I have yet to go to the doctor for my formal 6 week postpartum check-up. I will be going soon just to make sure everything is okay! So...here we go...As I mentioned a few posts back, I had a breast infection a few days after giving birth to baby Elba. I was given one round of antibiotics and they did not work. I was given a second round of a different antibiotic and it still did not work. Finally, 1 month postpartum I was given another new antibiotic, prescribed to be taken for ten days and finally at around 5-6 weeks my breast infection cleared up! FINALLY. That is a pain I don't wish upon any new mom. If anyone is going through that or had gone through that long of an infection, I feel for you. 

Another pain in the ass thing that has happened is I am pretty sure I started my period at almost exactly 6 weeks. I can't be sure that it is my period but I had stopped bleeding from birth at around 4 weeks and then I started bleeding again around 6...so I guess I will see next month if that for sure was my period. It really sucks because that is one thing you should almost be able to guarantee not happening for months down the road after birth. That is supposed to be your gift for pushing a baby out of your body, but no...my body has taken it upon itself to re-start that charming process all over again and I am exclusively breast feeding, so I am just extremely unlucky there...haha.

I have no idea how much weight I lost yet because I do not have a scale. I need to get my hands on one. I lost about 15 I think immediately after birth so I don't think I have too much to go before I get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. However, as frustrating as it is to have to still be in "fat" clothes I am trying to do my best to not be so hard on myself and let nature take its course. I am breastfeeding so I have to think of baby girl and make sure I am getting all of my nutrients. The weight loss will happen.

I have given myself the okay to start working out slowly. I do not think the bleeding is a bad sign or any sign that anything is wrong. I know most doctors clear you to workout at 6 weeks so I have just been going on hour long walks again with Elba and the pup. I will be starting a more intense workout schedule in about a week (I think). I just wanted to ease into working out first to make sure nothing hurts and nothing goes wrong.

So, hopefully next postpartum update will be a little bit more detailed and I can include information the doctor gave me and blah blah blah all that fun stuff. I think this will just be a good reminder to have for any of my future pregnancies. 

XOXO Sydney