Posted in Two Cents Worth of...

Favorite Things – 6-9 Months old

A new Favorite Things list is here! This one was a little tougher for me to pin point since our little guy is a moving machine now. He loves to army crawl around and pull himself up onto all kinds of things to get a better view and test out those wobbly legs of his. It is amazing to me how much they grow and learn in such a short amount of time!

Below is our list of items from 6-9 months we have began using and enjoy a ton each day!


Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.


Click on any of the images below to be taken
to the page in Amazon to purchase!

1 – Dollar Tree balloon, no joke – I stopped at the Dollar Tree after I went to a baby shower recently and grabbed him a balloon. It was a simple thought and a small gesture for being an amazing little man while we were there. He loves to pull on the ribbon holding it and play with it. It has been weeks we have had it and it’s a never ending $1 purchase.

2 – LeapFrog My Pal Scout – One of his aunties bought him this shortly after he was born and we have enjoyed the songs he sings with his named programmed in it. The light draws his attention as well. Recently, the favorite part about Scout is to listen to him sing lullaby songs while he goes to sleep. We turn him on as he lays in his crib, along with the white noise machine, because Scout only plays for 5 minutes. It is long enough to calm him typically, and relax him as he falls to sleep.

3 – Munchkin Stay Put Suction Bowls – We just began using these recently with dinner since he is trying new foods and eating with us at dinner time. While he does very well grabbing and feeding himself, we are working on him having his own bowl. He already knows if we are eating he gets to join us and try what we are having. Using the bowls I hope he learns that his own bowl and mommy’s plate is hers. We will see though! It’s worth a shot but I know not likely! 🙂

4 – The First Years Disney Baby Bath Squirt Toys, Finding Nemo – These are his favorite bath toys right now. Mainly because they have areas to chew on. Yes, I am aware of possible mold growing so we will keep an eye on that. They are not expensive enough that I can’t toss these ones and buy a new set. He loves to splash like crazy and toss them around. He is a water baby for sure that stays in so long he’s a little prune. I hope that doesn’t change as summer is on it’s way!

5 – Avent Bottle warmer – How have I not shared this yet? It took a friend of ours to notice it and say how they will need one soon when they move to bottles for me to realize how clutch this is for us still! (Is clutch still a “cool” term?) We have this in it’s own place on the counter and is used daily for us. It has the option to thaw frozen items such as breastmilk I used to freeze, a warming temp to keep items at the right temp for baby to eat and then a quick heat. I use that when I obviously forget to warm it quick but do not leave it on that setting too long.

6 – Banana Teething Toothbrush – He has been using this for a while now that he’s been teething. Though we still have no teeth popping in, it’s great for his little hands to grab and all corners and ends are good to chew on for him. The concept of brushing is there though he doesn’t realize it just yet!

7 – A real toothbrush – When I had my recent dentist appointment I got to chatting with the hygienist and she kindly handed me an infant toothbrush. Specifically the Oral-B Pro-Health Stage 1 Baby Soft Toothbrush with Winnie the Pooh on it. She made the suggestion to allow him to begin using it as a routine to become used to it, just like the above teething toy. These bristles are very soft but much different than rubber. He will not allow us to move it around in his mouth but he will hold it and chew it himself. We try to remember to allow him to chew on it after his last bottle in hopes that it may become a routine when those tiny teeth do decide to break through.

8 – Mirrors – We have them in our cars on the headrest for us to be able to see him of course. We also got him the mirror at Christmas time to play with. I joke and sing the song “you’re so vain” when he oodles over himself in the mirror but it is adorable. Especially before a bath, we have the mirror as well as our shower doors are mirrored so he loves to stare and smile at himself. Babies realize just how cute they are of course!

 9 – Baby Einstein Discovering Music Activity Table – This was a Christmas gift to him from one of his aunties. He loved it when we could only keep it on the floor yet loves it even more now that he can use it as his own table to pull himself up to. There is plenty to do on it to keep him busy and even can be switched to other languages. Though I think that would confuse us all!


Our previous lists still have items we use that I could have easily added to this again but I always hope to give you new items we have discovered or began using.

Maybe your little one or other’s little ones around you would like some of the items listed above. They would make good “thinking of you” gifts to them!

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Posted in Mom life, Two Cents Worth of...

Take a Deep Breath

Today I did not write and schedule a blog like I have been the past few months. I am writing it mid-day and posting later than my 7:30 am deadline I give myself.

To be honest, life got busy as it does for everyone. I refused to pressure myself to pin a topic down and write it. I do that too often; pressure myself into being sure something is done for others. My mental health and anxiety is at stake when I do that and it’s not fair that I do it to myself.

Honestly, I could not pin point an exact “mom thought” for the week you would want to read about.

Truly, I had a stressful Tuesday at work that took a big toll on me and I had thought about that day leading up to it too. It’s been just me this week with our little guy since my husband took a quick trip with his buddy to fish, which he has thoroughly been enjoying and deserved.

The thought of stressing myself out was not worth it to make sure I wrote you the perfect blog though.

I have enjoyed a little extra one on one time each evening with my son. He has been getting extra time with his grandparents too since they have been helping watch him this week. That village, it is a real thing I am so very thankful for.

Putting our time first has been great, just him and me. Sure, I pressure myself at work to do the best I can and hit my deadlines and make sure every task on my checklist each day is marked off by the time I head home, but our time at home together is so important to me.

There is something about coming home and knowing you made it through the day a-okay and can spend that time being with your family.

Making it through every single day is an accomplishment. Remember that. Take the deep breath or the sigh of relief you deserve. You made it through.

I had taken that deep breath each night knowing I did my best as a mom, an employee, a daughter, and a friend.

Not every day is easy and not every day is your best. Nevertheless, make it through and know, there are more ahead.

Posted in Mom life

No One Prepares You for a Mother’s Love

Given that it is Valentine’s day tomorrow, love is certainly a topic this week.

Growing up you do not realize just how much your mother loves you. It is not clear to us as kids then teenagers and even young adults. I had realized it before I became a mom because my mother and I are so close but especially after becoming a mom it was even more clear to me just how much love your heart can hold for a child.

Those days of the stupid fights, when you are young, do not add up in your head how much she still loves you and wants to protect you from the world around you even if you are a little shit and she wants to smack you into next week. 😉 Right, mom?

My mother and me in Vail, CO a few years back

This week I cried twice because of the tiny human I have in my life that is my sweet little son. He makes me feel some kind of love that no one prepared me for.

I am an emotional person and can tear up over a lot but I flat out cried over these two moments and it showed me that my heart does love him more than I ever thought it could. I knew this, obviously when he was born, but these really highlighted that feeling. It grows stronger every single day too as he grows bigger.

The first time I cried this week was the night we lowered his mattress. He can now pull himself up to stand and I instantly envisioned him taking a header when he flips himself over the rail. (I know many days of injuries may come since I have a little boy. Believe me, that is a reality to me)

Left was his pride showing so big.
Right is how disappointed he is that we lowered his mattress.

I cried because I had to really lean in far to kiss his little head that night since he is much lower in the crib and it all hit me. He is not my tiny 8 pound 7 ounce baby any longer that we brought home from the hospital that would sleep quietly on my chest after eating.

He will never be that little again and I had a hard time accepting that, as I am sure most moms and dads do. I scrolled through pictures of his newborn days showing my husband every single one, as if he has not seem them before. 😊

The next time I cried was yesterday morning. I woke up almost an hour late and had rushed around the house like a maniac to get ready. What I did not get done was spending my short time with my son in the morning. I could only quietly walk in to his room to kiss him, hoping not to wake him, and run out to make sure I was not late for work.

How our mornings typically look together

I had not thought too much about our mornings together before this moment since it is routine for me to get ready, wake him up, feed him, change him and head off to work. But the morning I did not get to do that, I cried from the moment I was done getting ready until I got to the train station.

I cherish that short amount of time, as a working mom, that I get with my little guy while he wakes his sleepy eyes in the mornings. I felt I had robbed myself of the time with his little self and felt so guilty because I NEVER sleep through my alarm like that. My husband reassured me we both needed that extra sleep that morning since he slept over an hour past his normal wake up time.


Everyone has advice on how to breastfeed, sleep train, potty train, or when you should drop their mattress as they grow. What no one tells you is how much you are going to love this child and how it will destroy you at the same time. When I say destroy, I mean it in the best way possible.

You cannot hold them back from growing up. You are here to raise them the best way you know how and love them with all you have, but they will not stay little forever. You will work to raise a decent human being and cherish every single moment along the way all while loving them unconditionally no matter what.

My favorite moment of every single day when I come home from work is the excitement and smile on my son’s face when I come through the door. It may not last forever, but my love for him will only get stronger each day and I hope he knows that as he grows.

Posted in Mom life, Two Cents Worth of...

Freezing Moments

I want to freeze moments. Not only with my child but also with my life and loved ones all around me. Hell, right now, I would even freeze moments at work because my new job is THAT good with the people I work with.

I am sure everyone could wish the same thing about freezing a moment because there are so many moments that make our hearts feel so full. Full of love, friendship, adoration, and just the fulfilled moment of happiness.

So what if I am a bit sappy writing this. I have had many of these moments recently and they can really help drown out the bad ones we all have. Believe me, the bad days can suffocate anyone but why not write on the good ones instead of highlight the bad. There is so much bad around us anyways, we don’t need to focus on that right now.

Below are a few moments I love that are frozen by a photograph and why I love them.

If you think of a moment you have frozen by a photograph,
drop it in the comments to share below!


My parents are in Vail, CO skiing on their vacation that we have gone on in the past but with a little one it wasn’t quite in our cards this year to join them. We hope to join them again in the coming years for sure! The picture below melted my heart. My long time best friend currently lives in Colorado for work with her fiancé. As soon as I told her a little while back that my parents were coming, she quickly made plans to meet them. Not only that, as soon as my parents got to their place I got a text from my dad saying, “This is Lindsey’s room when she comes.” Forget me, his only child, one of his pseudo-daughters is coming to join them and he has to be sure she is taken care of! All week long I have been getting updates from each of them on their days skiing and how she is going back out next week to join them again.

Know why I want to freeze this moment? I was lucky enough to meet this girl when she came to our school in the 7th grade. We grew up together making all kinds of memories together whether it was on the softball field, at our homes, or at the lake together with both of our parents treating us as their own additional kid. I want my son to grow up making friends that become family too. Moments like this where she is with my parents and I with hers.

My parents, my BFF, and her fiance
Vail, CO 2020
My BFF, her mom & my son

This moment. Five of us together. Not blood, but still family. These crazies are my claimed siblings. I grew up with them since they were born and we have each added one more to our mix. My husband and then my “little brother’s” girlfriend. Without them, my family would be extra small for sure, but they also add a lot of love and life to the years. This moment was one I never imagined would happen but it did and it was great. My “little sister” convinced us all to visit her at her college for her last semester after her senior diving meet. It was SO worth the trip.

Little bro, my hubby, little bro’s GF, me, and little sis

Long time friends. The ones we each have known since grade school in some capacity. The ones that grow in different directions as individuals with their own lives but remain as close as ever because we are THOSE kind of friends. Without them I am not sure what direction I may have taken or the other memories I may have made. But I know for damn sure, I can call on any of them at any moment, their parents too for that matter, and know they would be there for me.

This picture was on a day in San Diego when the one thing I asked to do was visit the Top Gun bar. The girls all were a bit iffy on my idea but once we got there and had a drink together, the memories began and the day remains as one of my absolute favorite from that trip. Also, our bartender made this day hilarious.

All of my BFFs & our bartender

This right here makes me smile because these people are who I was lucky enough to meet when I met my husband. They’re the kind of people you don’t need to know for forever to feel like you’ve known forever. He grew up with the guys and their other halves have become very close friends of mine that I can count on for laughter, trust, and advice. Plus a few beverages among us is always a guarantee!

Not pictured is a bunch more of our friends & family that have our hearts in central Pennsylvania that we love spending time with and making moments like this happen.


My two handsome men in my life. The picture I didn’t know I needed at work the day he sent it to me. These two make my days better when I have a bad one.

We are rocking daddy daycare while my husband is off work for a bit and he is rocking his role. Our son is soaking in the moments too by growing like a weed and learning new things with dad at home to help him. This moment is such a great frozen moment for me to have and adore.


I have printed so many photos over the years and put them into albums. Call me old school, but I don’t want anyone to forget what we have done. I absolutely adore old photos of my family and me as a kid with my parents in them. I want my child to have that too as well as anyone else I have wonderful memories with.

Take the pictures. Freeze the moment. Remember the feelings you felt when you were there. Relive them over and over again.