five on friday: welcome september

It's the first Friday in September! I can't believe it. It's a crisp, cool morning here in northern NY, but the forecast shows that it's really not fall yet, with temps promising upper 80's again next week. I can dream though, right?! Anyway, I'm participating in another five on Friday because I'm so excited for a long weekend! Ryan has a 4-day, I have a 3-day, and we have some big things coming up. Today, I'm linking up with A. Liz Adventures and Hello Happiness.

1. Sleep Training 

Porter will be 3 months old next week, and we decided to get the ball rolling on sleep training this guy. We waited a long time with Spencer, but their situations were totally different, too. Spencer woke every 3 hours (aka 3 times a night) up until about 6 months. Porter has been doing 1 wake-up a night since we got home from the hospital. Because of this and because he's a strong little guy with a healthy growth curve, we've officially moved him out of our room into the guest room in the pack 'n play for now. Things we've discovered and used for night one? He's a tummy sleeper (and fully capable of lifting and moving his head if need be), he like noise, so I think we need a white noise machine, and he still has to get used to having a lot of space. Onto night number 2 tonight...

2. 3-Day Potty Training 

^^^ image via

I hesitate to admit we're giving this a go, but since we have a long weekend, we decided it was worth an honest shot. Spencer has been showing us signs of comprehension and readiness for a while now. He's told me "I poo-poo", removed his diaper, wanted to sit on the potty, etc. We're going to give this bad boy a real go this weekend, and this is the method we'll be using. Have you ever potty trained in 3 days or less? I'm interested to hear your experiences!

3. Ulta Haul

^^^ image via

I've been needing new makeup for a minute (or ten now). I always put off buying it though because it costs a pretty penny and, honestly, I'm a makeup newb. I really don't know the first thing about contouring, shadows, toning, or any of it. But I snagged this coupon, and I went to town. I got about $300 worth of goods for just $115, and I'm pretty excited to adult again - makeup style. I snagged some new mascara from Benefit, a Bare Minerals contouring kit, some Anastasia brow definers...yeah, let's see how this goes!

4. Financial Peace University

^^^ image via

Ryan and I actually started this a good while ago - and finished it - but during my maternity leave, we got really off track. We made a lot of purchases, including a big-ticket item, our deck. It's not that we can't do these things, it's just that we have a goal of attaining true financial freedom by the end of 2017. With Ryan's deployment, it should be totally possible, but we're going through the course again to reiterate with ourselves and one another just how intentional we have to be about our money.

5. All Things FALL

Flashback to Spencer being 10 months old! I can't wait for fall weather to truly hit though, and yes, I realize just how basic that is. BUT I don't do pumpkin spice anything, so that helps, right? I can't This year, we'll have a 4 month old, as well as an almost 2 year old, and playing in the leaves, drinking cider, picking pumpkins and getting apples will be more fun than ever. I can't wait!

8 months of spencer bruce

Cue momma tears. I'm an emotional mess right now anyway since Ryan just left for an overseas trip - read: very little contact and single parenting for a while. It's not a deployment, thankfully, but it's still our first time as a family in which I'm a single parent here, and that's insane. Plus, I miss my best friend, and I think that's the most challenging part by far. Luckily though, Ryan was able to be here yesterday for Spencer's 8-month birthday, and we celebrated having this little guy in style. 

Weight: His weight gain seems to have leveled off a bit this month, and he is a nice 18 lbs 6 oz. He feels huge to me, but I'm watching all his little rolls lean out, and I realize that my baby isn't such a teeny little baby anymore. 

Clothes: We literally just retired his 6-month onesies yesterday. Spencer is firmly in a blend of 6-9 month clothes and 9-month onesies - though the onesies are still a bit too big on him. I've found that I really dislike the onesies lately, too, because with the heat, he gets very swampy. We've been doing a lot of t-shirts and shorts, and he seems to enjoy that more.

Milestones: This guy likes to jump in his jumperoo like a boss. He's also determined to hold himself upright in a standing position, and his new favorite thing is to hold onto the stair railing and pretend he's standing all on his own. He also tries really hard to climb the stairs, but (thankfully) fails miserably. Crawling is on the horizon right now for this guy. He very easily gets up on his knees and rocks back and forth, but he's still working to consistently move those knees and hands forward. He scoots though!

Food is his favorite! He eats like a champ now. We made the difficult decision to start supplementing with formula this past month because of my inability to keep up with the amount he needed while at the sitter. He usually gets two 4 oz bottles a day, and then nurses the rest. He eats solids at night - usually a blend of kale, spinach, pears, greek yogurt, carrots, etc - and suddenly loves them all. He still hates avocado though.

Sleeping has been a mix this month. For the most part, he goes down really well around 7 PM. Then he'll sleep until about 1, when I change and nurse him. Usually he'll sleep again till about 7 AM. There have been a couple bad nights though, including one where I actually had to drive him around until he fell asleep...a first in the 8 months we've had him. 

Spencer's Favorites this Month: He loves love loves Baby Einstein Puppets. I swore up and down we wouldn't be those parents, but if he's happy in his fussy "witching hour" by watching some Baby Einstein, so be it. He also loves to pull Stella's tail, "climb" the stairs and play on the swings. 

Mama's Thoughts this Month: This little guy is really developing a personality, and we're loving it. With the good comes a touch of bad though, and I will admit that he's learned that he can throw tantrums a little bit. He doesn't do it often, but when it's around 5:30 and he wants to eat, he wants it right. now. We're working to ensure he knows that we will be firm but gentle in telling him that it's not allowed or accepted in our home. Yes, 8 months is young, but I believe in raising my son knowing he can't be entitled...even if he's too young to understand.

All that said, I'm loving watching him learn, grow and explore the world around him, and I can't believe how fast time is flying. This baby boy is going to be a year before I know it. 

friday favorites

I've been a terrible blogger this month. And, truthfully, I'd apologize, but I don't feel bad about it! Life is for living, and these summer months are so short in Northern NY that I'm savoring every ounce of sunshine that I can. Being able to have Spencer outside and enjoy the beautiful weather is such a gift, and I certainly won't apologize for taking the time to soak it all in. Life is oh-so-sweet lately, and as I watch my little boy's personality grow by the day, I fall more and more in love with him. So, without further ado...five of my favorite things this sunny Friday:

one// Target's $4 special - the perfect itty bitty baby pool! We discarded our beautiful blow-up pool because it was too much of a hassle to clean and keep our grass happy. This little pool is Spencer-sized, and he just loves it.

two// Spending time in the aforementioned baby pool with my little peanut. (Have I mentioned how hot it's been - and humid?) Last week was deadly, and it looks like this next week will be something else, too. Be prepared for a lot more pool shots. 

three// Shopping cart covers! Spencer is getting bigger and more independent, and these shopping cart covers are a lifesaver. Almost everything goes straight into his little mouth these days, and the last thing I want is for him to be sucking on a commissary shopping cart handle. Added bonus? He's strapped in securely, and he loves it!

four// I've had some time lately with our amazing childcare team of Heidi and Sam to actually run and get some other things - besides work - done. Just this week, I managed to take the time and sew a crib blanket for a friend of mine...a hobby I thought I'd never be able to enjoy again. It was so therapeutic.

five// This boy. Simply put, he's the best thing that's ever happened to both Ryan and myself; our happiest little accident. I can't imagine life without him, and I love my husband even more because we have this tiny little man.

Linking up this week with Darci for Five on Friday this week.

7 months of spencer bruce

I'm so far behind on blogging. I had the best of intentions the past couple weeks. I wanted to blog every other day. Ryan's on block leave though, and we decided to enjoy this time as a family...and that meant that the blog went by the wayside a little bit. So, let me back up to one of the most important monthly events, and then I'll recap the trip later this week(end). Spencer Bruce turned 7 months old on the 4th of July! We spent his 7-month birthday with his Aunt Kristina and Uncle Josh in Philadelphia, and it was a grand ol' time.

^^^ morning snuggles with Aunt Kristina

^^^ baby in the middle

^^^ mid-destruction of everything around him

Weight: This little man is not so little anymore! Weighing in at a whopping 18 lbs, he has rolls on rolls on rolls, and I just love it! His goofy little pot-belly is the best thing ever.

Clothes: We're still pushing our 6-month onesies, and he's firmly in his 6-month pants and shorts now. I think we're nearing the tail end of the 6-month tops though because a lot of them look a bit like v-necks now. He's in firmly in size 3 diapers, and we switched to The Honest Company after one too many blowouts in Pampers. It's funny - they didn't work when he was a newborn, but we love them now.

Milestones: What hasn't he done this month?! On June 18th, this boy cut his very first tooth, and just 8 days later, the second little tooth came in, so he now has two little bottom teeth, and it makes me super happy! He scoots around a lot now, and flips over onto his belly if you ever set him on his back. He hasn't mastered crawling, but he scoots backwards under the couch all. the. time.

He enjoys a few solids now, though not too regularly. He likes apples and pears, so we mix them with broccoli and other veggies to ensure he's getting the best of both worlds. We're starting to investigate weaning, since Ryan and I are going on a cruise in November, and he'll need to be weaned by then (or mostly weaned). We also discovered he has a few allergies - raspberries, and he got hives when he had a dab of Ryan's milkshake. To add some fun, he now gags whenever we try to give him avocado.

Sleeping was rough for a while, but we seem to be in a decent routine for the moment. He sleeps at 7, gets up around 12:45 to nurse, and then he sleeps through until 7, which I can deal with.

Spencer's Favorites this Month: He has literally no interest in his toys anymore. However, if you give him an empty water bottle, or something that crinkles, this boy has the time of his life! Oh, and he loves his jumperoo, and that makes me a happy momma.

Mama's Thoughts this Month: Honestly, I thought teething was going to be worse. He usually has one really fussy day before the tooth actually cuts, but other than that, it's no better or worse than usual. I love love love love love him, and I'm hoping that Ryan can cram all these baby snuggles in before he leaves next month (more on that later).

a weekend in pictures

Summertime is oh-sweet in the North country, and I'm really learning to love this northern New York scene. We haven't had the chance to explore as much as I'd like yet, but I know we're going to get around to it eventually. It's difficult managing these things with a baby. Perhaps we're the only couple that struggles with it, but I think finding the time to explore, coupled with balancing his feeding/napping schedule is definitely a tedious task. Perhaps it gets easier when they're not exclusively breastfed? Just musing here.

I digress. We had a relaxing weekend here in the Moore household. Ryan's coming up on block leave, so we're going to have him home for a good bit for a while, too, and we can't wait! Training is in full swing again, and I signed up for another half marathon - the Empire State Half Marathon - in October. What can I say? I got bitten by the bug!

^^^ one of our favorite toys - the flapping flower from Melissa & Doug

^^^ it was a little chilly for him, but he loved the water, and this momma was SO happy!

Little man finally cut his first tooth on the 18th, and we had some sweet relief from his fussiness…plus he had a little break from the pain. Thank goodness for sweet little miracles. Summertime, you make our hearts happy.

5 months of spencer bruce

5 months. I can barely believe our little man is 5 whole months old today! They said time flies, and they weren't kidding. Every day, this little boy changes just a little bit more, and I watch that silly, creative little personality develop. Every day, I fall more and more in love with this little half Ryan/half me, and I can't believe he's all ours. Sometimes, Ryan and I just stop and stare…wondering how in the world we could be so blessed to have such a perfect, handsome little boy. We are so, so lucky.

Weight: Spencer is now a hearty 14 lb 3 oz, which is still on the peanut end for a 5-month-old. We've been encouraged to start solids for a while now, and he's been exhibiting all the signs that he's ready, so we're going to bite the bullet and start a little bit today, while otherwise exclusively breastfeeding. Here's hoping he loves it! We'll recap those adventures tomorrow ;)

Clothes: I've officially retired the 3 month onesies, though he still fits in his 3 month dress pants. Most of the 3 month sweats are a little snug about the waist, so I retired those, as well. He's comfortably in 3-6 month onesies, as well as 6 month onesies from Carters, though his petite little legs are bit too small for his 6 month pants right now. Luckily, we're wearing a lot of rompers and shorts these days with the warm weather!

Milestones: What didn't this boy learn to do this past month?! Raspberrying at momma and daddy is his new favorite pastime, and I love it. He mimics us when we do it to him, and though there's a tremendous amount of drool to accompany it, I love it! He smiles so darn big, and he's officially learned to roll from back to front - though he's an obstinate little guy and doesn't want to do it ever again. He's much more interested in scooting around on both his tummy and his back. I think we're going to have a crawler soon! We've also noticed his first two teeth starting to bud. Neither has cut yet, but we're getting so close. Oh yes, and he loves using his voice. A lot. 

Sleeping has been worse this month - about 2 wake ups a night - but last night he threw me for a loop and slept from 8-5. I was so surprised that I got up to make sure he was still breathing. He's also officially sleeping without a swaddle…finally. It was a tough break, but we knew it had to happen sooner rather than later!

Spencer's Favorites this Month: He's absolutely loving his Sophie la Giraffe teether, and I think it's his favorite of all the toys we have for him. Because he's not loving lying down anymore, he's also really partial to the Baby Bjorn because he loves facing out and being at our eyeline. And, above all else, he loves the warm weather! I've never seen such a happy boy in the sun!

Mama's Thoughts this Month: This month has been more challenging than the last few for a few reasons. First, losing our sitter and balancing work has been difficult. Second, the sleep regression (though not terrible), made for a sleep-deprived and stressed mama. All that said though, I'm loving watching Spencer grow more and more assertive every single day. I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world! 

it's finally friday

Holy moly...it's Friday. I swear this week has both flown by and dragged. On the one hand, it's been so fast because we've been in a haze of sleepless nights. Last night though...last night was a Godsend. Sweet little Spencer Bruce slept from 8 until 3, and then again until 7:40. It was almost as good as a full night of sleep! And because of that, I'm participating in my first 5 on Friday. Boom.

one// We've discovered Hyland's Teething Tablets. I was a skeptic. My friends, they work. We popped two of those fast-dissolve suckers into his little mouth, and he got instant relief - and a little nap. It gave us both a little room to breathe, which made this momma's heart soar.

two// Despite the snowy weather here in New York, it looks like real spring weather is on the horizon again! We can't wait to get this little boy outside again because I think it makes him just as cranky as us to be cooped up inside - however nice this house may be!

three// You might remember my immense mom guilt about dividing my attentions and being a work-at-home-mom. It's been a constant battle, friends, because I love my son above all else, but it's financially and mentally good for me to keep my job and my career. I bit the bullet and cued the waterworks today, and I took Spencer to hourly childcare on post. They're wonderful there - sweet and attentive - and I know it will be good for him to meet other babies and play. Like my sweet momma said to me, I'm looking at it like a playdate, rather than daycare, and he's only there a few hours a day. 

four// Spencer had another checkup at the doctor, and it looks like his eczema is under control for now, which is awesome! He's gaining a little less weight right now, but they think it's because he's been uncomfortable. They're still recommending I start introducing solids soon, so we'll see! I'm still loving these sweet mommy-baby moments we have together.

five// Ryan and I are having a much-needed date day tomorrow! It pains me to leave our sweet baby bear, but we're committed to keeping our marriage at the forefront of all things, and so, we're going to spend some quality time together! I'm so excited :)

serenity

^^^ a sad teething baby. bear suit courtesy of h&m

It is so easy in blog land to paint life solely in rose-colored hues. Truly. And I love my son more than anything in the world, so let's pre-empt this post by saying that. I don't think I had a single inkling how very arduous motherhood and parenting could be until Spencer was born. You recover from the sleepless newborn phase, and you relish in the wonders of your first full night of sleep, though you soon discover you'll find it hard to actually stay asleep. 

Then, when you think you've got that all figured out, all of a sudden your baby will throw you a new curveball. In our case, Spencer got pretty severe eczema - to the tune of needing three topical steroids, as well as an oral dose for five days. And on top of that, he got his first cold while visiting my parents, and it was rough.

Now, we seem to have the eczema almost under control, though it will probably be an ongoing battle for about a year according to his pediatrician. Redheads, I tell ya. During our visit to the doctor yesterday though, we discovered that his first tooth has begun to bud. Oh yes, my friends, it's that time. We've gone from once-a-night wakeups to five or more, plus endless meltdowns during the day. He's in pain. I know it. It breaks my heart, and it hurts when nothing I do helps. 

All that said, I've been lacking that center, that calm space...that serenity. I know that this, too, will pass, but my goodness...it makes me question whether I am fit to mother more than one child. I love him more than anything in the world, but oh my gosh...between the mom guilt, the exhaustion and the baby mood swings, I have such a hard time seeing that light at the end of the tunnel.

I've been praying lately for God to grant me the serenity to get through my days and show my son the love and patience he so deserves...but my goodness. It's challenging, my friends. Mamas, any words of wisdom or advice? 

10 things on a tuesday (1)

Is it really only Tuesday? Can it please be Friday already? I swear, this week has already been so insanely busy that I may very well lose my mind before it's over! I'm doing my best to get back on track with work, blogging and life, and finding the little "free" moments is hard, but I'm working to make a point of having a better outlook on the balance, or lack thereof. Motherhood and my marriage comes first and foremost, and that is the way it shall remain, no matter what! 

I used to do a little feature somewhat like this on my book blog once upon a time, but I look forward to doing it here, too. It's just a quick, easy way to update family and friends on the goings-on in the Moore household. If there is already a feature like this, please direct me to it, and I'll link instead.

1. It is finally warm in upstate New York. In fact, it was so delightfully warm (think: 74 degrees) yesterday, that we actually took a family walk with the babe after dinner. It was vaguely reminiscent of our walks way back when in Arizona. And now, we can see our house sans snow!

2. The plague is going strong in the Moore household. Spencer looks like he's getting better quickly. Yours truly, however, feels worse than ever. It can only get better from here, right?

3. Spencer is outgrowing his 0-3 month clothes, and it's both amazing and breaking my heart. I packed the majority of them away today, and pulled out his 3-6 month clothes. Plus side? They're so. dang. summery. 

4. We started a pretty epic regimen of meds to combat Spencer's eczema last night. What I thought was cradle cap gradually spread and got worse and worse. Now we rely on this:

5. I finally sent in my first clean-out bag to Thred Up. I can't wait to find out how much I earned so I can go shopping again! For the record, their quality is impeccable, and I'll totally buy any future maternity clothes from there, too.

6. We finally got Spencer's passport docs/application in today. We've been struggling to find the time to do it, but we finally made in today. Oh yeah, and we had to go twice because, yes, I forgot his social security card/number. Also, he legit blew out at the office. So there was that.

7. Starbucks new cold-brew coffee is my latest obsession. I love it so, so, so much.

8. I just ordered Spencer's high chair. I can't believe he's over 4 months old and getting ready to sit at the table with us. It baffles me how fast this child grows! Our pediatrician wanted him started on solids by now, but I want to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, and so long as he's growing well, I think I'll keep that up.

9. Ryan's coming up on 24-hour ops in May, so Spencer and I are taking a trip to Philadelphia for my little sister's law school graduation. This silly momma is going to do the 5 hour drive solo for a 3-night stay in the city. I'm a weird combo of terrified and excited.

10. I'm taking a sick day tomorrow. That is all.

one month of spencer bruce

As I write this, our little Spencer Bruce is fast asleep next to me. His one month birthday was, coincidentally, on Ryan and my anniversary - January 4th - and we celebrated calmly with a family nap. It was glorious. I can't believe how quickly time is flying by. It seems like yesterday Ryan and I were in the hospital wondering how we could have been blessed with this precious little boy. In the same breath though, it feels like an eternity ago that we were just learning to navigate midnight (and 2, 3 and 4 AM feedings). 

 Spencer was such a champ throughout the entire moving process. He's taken to the time difference, the different surroundings, all the loving arms begging to hold him and a weird new schedule so, so well. He's a really easy-going baby, and despite the sleepless nights (and trust me, there are sleepless nights), we are so in love with his goofy little self.

Baby's Milestones: Spencer smiled about a week and a half ago! His smiles are real now sometimes - not just reflex smiles - and they just about explode my heart each time I get one. Aunt Nikki, my older sister, got the very first real smile, and I think it might have convinced her to give little Spencer cousins sooner rather than later. Fingers crossed?!

Baby's Loves: Spencer's Rock 'n Play is still his absolute favorite. Since we just went through a PCS, we're still waiting for all of our household goods. At Huachuca, we bought the Arms Reach Mini Co-Sleeper in lieu of a crib because of the fast move, but he didn't sleep well in it. He does, however, get about 3-hour stretches in his Rock 'n Play, which is wonderful for both Ryan and I.

Special Moments: Ryan and I had really been looking forward to giving Spencer his first bath, and much to our chagrin, he seemed less than enthused by the whole thing. You could see that a part of him loved it that first week, but he has a really strong Moro Reflex, so I think his panic took over. Once we moved into our new house though, I have been sitting in the tub with Spencer, and seeing Daddy over him while having Mama hold him seems to calm down his intense urge to hyperventilate and panic. He's finally able to really enjoy bath time, which is special for us and him. For those wondering what a Moro Reflex is, it's a reaction to a sudden loss of support or feeling of falling that pretty much all babies have during the fourth trimester…he gets it in the bath and when we change him…see exhibit A:

^^^ not having household goods means changing a baby on the floor

Mama Favorites: Spencer has a tendency to scratch his little face when crying or in his sleep, so mittens have been a must for him. He is also squirmy though, and he usually manages to extricate his little hands from them. Carters makes these amazing little onesies with mittens built in though, that have made our lives much easier…I just fold over the mitten, and his little hands are safe and warm again!

Mama Thoughts: I'm loving this new phase of Spencer's little life! He's finally fitting in his newborn clothes, and he's got the sweetest little personality. He's only waking us up (on average) twice a night now - once when Ryan feeds him a bottle of pumped milk around 1 AM, and one more time when we nurse around 4 AM. We're finally getting on a bit of a schedule, and he seems to be taking to it quite well. He loves to be held, and we just love holding him, so it's been a great arrangement here in the Moore household!

I'd be remiss if I didn't address the realities of how difficult transitioning to motherhood can be though. I've definitely struggled with a tad more than the baby blues, and there were quite a few tears shed. While I love my son more than anything, it's a very trying transition. I've had to learn that I still need to make myself a priority, that a shower can make a bad day better, and it is alright to let him cry for a little bit if his needs have been met. It's all a learning process, and I've definitely learned that by giving myself a little space, I can enjoy and appreciate motherhood all the more.

Happy one month to our beautiful boy (a few days late)! Mama and Daddy sure do love you!