Kids Clothes, What's Your Secret?

Okay, I'll be honest. This post partially derived from me just doing some virtual window shopping in the online baby section at Gap. I mean seriously, so much cuteness....

Those knee patches on that lil sleeper and that little straw fedora? Melt meeeee.

I'm obviously new to this adventure of kids clothes shopping. A couple of months back I had my first encounter with the lame-ity of the slim pickings stores can offer in the baby boys department (cough cough, Target) So I've started keeping a list of possible stores to shop for Finn. I haven't necessarily purchased from all of these, but these are stores I like to keep in mind:

• Gap - What can I say? Me and Gap are really close friends (but mostly stick to clearance or sale items)
• H&M - Cute and stylish stuff for cheap
• Old Navy - More cute stuff for cheap
• Target - Lots of stuff online, but not much in store
• Zulily - I'm new to this site, but there seems to be some really good deals on cute stuff

Also I should mention whenever I am purchasing online, before checkout I always check out RetailMeNot. This is an awesome site that provides coupon codes that usually saves me $5-$10. Definitely worth checking out.

Also a friend of mine led me to Ebates. This is a site that you sign up for and literally the only thing it requires from you is to go to their site and click on the store you are going to make an online purchase from and it gives you cash back for what you spend at that store. I'm still new to it, but definitely worth checking out if you make a lot of online purchases.

I will admit, I'm not a big shopper or spender, but I am seeing the fun in dressing my little boy up. I'm an obvious sucker for stripes (yeah, you may have noticed up there) or nautical or just general cuteness. Oh, but don't think that our little one isn't scooting around in a simple onesie at home, cause he totally is. Actually when he's with daddy, he somehow manages to loose the onesie. It's like a running joke lately. I recently realized Finn's naked a large portion of the time when I get home. lol

So how do you do your kid's clothes shopping? Do you get hand-me-downs? Do you have some favorite stores? I hear you can find some awesome stuff in thrift stores. Do you have stores that you avoid?

Banana Pudding, Anyone?

Here's an easy recipe that may help you stay cooled this summer...banana pudding! I really made this for Rob's enjoyment as he is a lover of banana pudding. I had wanted to make this for him for his birthday last year, but I was intensely pregnant at that time and was just barely able to throw him a birthday party. It's an excuse, but I think it's a good one. :)

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
• 1 1/2 cups cold water
• 1 (4-serving size) package instant vanilla pudding and pie filling mix
• 2 cups (1 pint) whipping cream, whipped
• Box of vanilla wafers
• 3 medium bananas (sliced and dipped in lemon juice from concentrate)

1. In large mixing bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and water. Add pudding mix, beat until well blended. Chill 5 minutes.
2. Fold in whipped cream. Spoon 1 cup pudding mixture into glass serving bowl.
3. Top with one-third each of vanilla wafers, bananas and pudding mixture. Repeat layering twice (or however many times desired), ending with the pudding mixture. (Rob and I then topped with some crushed wafers and some whole ones as well) Chill thoroughly. Refrigerate leftovers.

My little helper...he's definitely in that curious stage where he needs to know what's going on...

(Disclaimer: no child was splattered upon during this exercise)

I'm pretty sure I'll always make these attractive faces when there's a camera on me...

Rob taking over...he knows that banana pudding making is serious work, nothing to be toyed with!

And here's our finished product...baby drool anyone?

We brought this to our church for a potluck and the bowl was completely empty at the end. Not much to it, but certainly a refreshing treat for the summer. Only 4 months left of this ridiculous heat. I can do it, I can do it, I can do it...

Happy new week everyone! I totally need a kick in the bee-hind this week to get motivated. This weekend felt non-existent it went so fast.

Father's Day, World Market, and what's that?

I just realized I never wrote about my first Mother's Day. Aw, that was a good day...felt surreal a bit, but it was a sweet day spent with my little family and then later our larger family. How blessed we are to live within a few miles of our immediate family.

Well today's post is a hodgepodge of topics, so bear with me and this randomness.

Let's start with Father's Day. Rob's first.

I can't help but look back to the day I met Rob over a Doritos bowl at a 16 year old's birthday party. Classic story, right? And here we are married. Six, nearly seven years. And with this little kid who will call us mom and dad someday...

Rob isn't one who ever gives himself any credit. It's actually frustrating sometimes and I'm sure to tell him. Lol. But let me tell you Rob is a great husband, dad, man...and no, Rob, I'm not saying you're perfect, so don't start disagreeing with me now!

Anyway, I'm just thankful for him. I just love him a bit, ya know? And I think he's pretty neat.

Okay, moving on...

So I wanted to take some pics of the boys together on Father's Day. Let me tell ya something about pictures. For every picture that makes it on this blog, there are about a ba-jillion outtakes. Gah, it frustrates me to no end how many shots I can take and only come out with THREE that I'll like. Ah, but oh well. I'm thankful for the few I have...I'm just sayin, I think it's time I learn more about my DSLR.

Oh and I should mention that we did try getting shots outside in our overgrown beautiful backyard, but that little Finn is sooooo distracted outside. He looks at everything else but the person holding him or the camera. But still I think this shot is cute...

Also, it was a wonderful feeling when I came to the conclusion of what to buy Rob for his first Father's Day. I keep feeling like my gift ideas for him have been only sub-par lately, but it finally hit me while browsing a new favorite online store (hello transition to our next subject)...

WORLD MARKET!

How could I have not heard of this place till now!? It's tagline alone has got me..."unique, authentic and always affordable." Yep, this store is my new friend. I just wanted to mention it to you to check this place out.

Going back to my gift idea for Rob. Whenever I'm with that man and we see a globe of some sort (most of which have been really cheap looking) he's drawn toward it. So I stumbled upon this beauty on World Market's site a few weeks before Father's Day...and I was pretty sure it was the one. And with free shipping and a coupon code I found on Retail Me Not, it was a pretty great deal.

Super nice looking, right? I love that wooden stand. Well that's about all the time I have to share, but my goodness this feels like a long post. So I guess I'll wrap this up with...

What's that?

Oh!

A picture of Finn of course!

Love to you all!

5 months!

Oh this boy...

Gah, he melts me. My 5 month old. CAN'T believe he's almost half a year already. This year I just know Christmas is going to be here before I know it. And I love Christmas, so I don't really mind that too much, but my goodness. This boy just keep growing and changing and growing some more. How can I forget what it was like when he was an infant already??

Well, these 5 months have been like nothing else I've ever experienced. So much joy, so little sleep (hah), so many amazing and fun milestones and firsts, and so much patience building.

I love how being a parent (that still just feels so weird typing that) molds you into a better person. Obviously, it couldn't if you didn't allow the task to, but it really does. It makes me so much more responsible. Like, hello, I need to make sure a little human stays fed.

It really makes me look at my priorities. And most importantly it makes me attempt to simplify my priorities as much as possible. It's easy to get caught up in an episode of Grey's Anatomy (I told ya I was hooked) while eating dinner and then Finn starts to fuss and I gotta stop eating and pause it and pick him up out of his bouncer, but then I remind myself what's important. Well, mama eating dinner is important, but you know what I'm saying...

These moments are precious in a child's life. I've heard it from sooooooo many people. "Cherish this age..." and then they usually proceed with alluding that things just get worse. Which I don't believe, maybe more challenging, but overall I understand things won't be like this forever. Finn won't be able to be held in my arms forever. Oh my, tears welled up on that thought!

My baby, our baby. Teaching us so much, and I certainly hope that we can teach him too. It's the strangest thing staring at your little one knowing that they're not always going to be your little baby. They're gonna grow up and be independent and well hopefully still want to talk to you, lol. We can only hope that Rob and I don't scare that boy off with our weirdness.

Anyway, all this randomness to say happy 5 months to our growing boy! You continue to change our world and make it better, sweet boy. Words couldn't express the love we have for you.

Here's a few more pics from his 5 month shoot...

This kid l-o-v-e-s to stand with just a bit of assistance..

His face in the last one melts my heart. Oh and if you were wondering, yes those are his bulky, but lovely, cloth diapers. It's been super easy and such a huge money saver for us.

So let me wrap this post up and go to bed. I have a few things coming in the mail from my beloved Amazon...few things for the house...mainly decorative. So I'll be sure to share.

Love to you all!

Finnstagram

Well goodness, I certainly haven't had as much time as I used to to post on here. Wonder what's the cause of that, lol. Currently Rob and I are back in the saving mode as he has started his job a couple of weeks ago. So the house is relatively staying the same, besides the stinkin spiders that are kindly showing up. Gah, I hate the heat in Florida and how it brings in the bugs.

Currently I'm looking at organizing one heck of a junk room that our office/guest room has turned into. My main reason for clearing/cleaning it up is so Rob and I can sleep in there for a bit once we put Finn in his room. He's still currently sleeping in a portable crib in our bedroom which is on the other side of the house. The guest room is right next to his room, so I'll feel a little more comfortable sleeping in that guest room for a bit. Or however long I need, lol.

But anyway, things are going well.

I wanted to quickly stop by and share my lastest photos on Instagram of baby boy...all taken throughout random days with my phone. Our little boy. Prepare yourself, there's a few! :))

Family of three...still sounds crazy! Wouldn't have it any other way!

It's so stinkin fun watching him discover new things...this bouncer is also a lot of help when we're needing to put him down to do something (like eat, lol)

My bay-by...

Love his little chubby hands...

Weekend naps together are a favorite of mine...

 
On a walk around our hood...

 
Morning tummy time...lately he likes to scoot around and around in circles on this blanket...

At Nana's house...

 
First time in a pool...he liked it for a bit...

Then took a nap and bonded with uncle Greg...

I love all the things he does while nursing...holding onto my hair or a necklace is his go to...

Playing with his owl with his foot...cracks me up

My favorite picture from the month...

Soaking up the months as they continue to flyyyyy. 5 months is knocking on the door.

Love to you all!