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5.16.2016

cabo cabo cabo


 well. we are b a c k!  
feeling refreshed and NOT ready for Monday to be here already.  6 days of mountains in the desert of Cabo.  so much different than every other trip we have taken to Mexico.  we usually stick to the Cancun side, so Cabo was a big change!  the weather, the atmosphere, and most importantly..the weather.  
did I say that already?
it was sunshine and blue skies..and my hair was amazing the entire trip.
true story- I didn't take a shower and feel like I needed to take another shower after attempting to blow-dry the frizz out- ha!  Cabo is very dry with low humidity and never gets above 85 degrees! it was beautiful.  a beautiful time with my best guy.  we didnt leave the resort- laid by the pool for about 12 hours everyday and then peeled ourselves out of our swim suits and rinsed off the sunscreen to get into real clothes for dinner.  
the food!  the food was delicious!  I ate a cheeseburger + fries just about everyday for lunch.  Jordan loved the baja shrimp tacos.
we had so much fun just the two of us- being lazy without a single responsibility or obligation in the world.  we made our way to the beach about once a day- the surf was incredible. there was no swimming allowed on the side of Baja Mexico we were on because the undertow is very strong and very dangerous- but the view of those 10 foot waves crashing like thunder about every 10 seconds was amazing to see.  
we caught ourselves about one million times talking about what we could do with the girls and how much "fun the girls would have if they were here".  we stayed at Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort + Spa and will definitely be going back and bringing the babes!

 I love a good fruity drink.. in fact I cant even count how many 'superman' frozen drinks I had over the course of the week, BUT a Bloody Caesar is my go-to.
extra spicy, for favor!
 there were iguanas all over the resort and this little guy was missing part of his tail and one foot.  happy as can be bathing in the sun.


 annnnnd we got ourselves a selfie stick.  Jordan made fun of my purchase for the entire trip. 
if I shared how many selfies this boy actually took you would think he was singing a different tune!

 gah.  I love him, so.
 breakfast every single day for the last 4 years didn't stop in Cabo.  
oh, well.. I had scrambled eggs, too.  so there.

 the day they added bacon to my cheeseburger.. 
 the best dinner of the entire trip.  
crab stuffed sea bass
 hey, Caesar 
 Jordan.  muscle tank and ball cap.
you can take the boy out of Texas, but not Texas out of the boy.

all of my bathing suits were from Victoria's Secret (I buy VS suits every single year!) except the highwaisted bottoms and peplum top.  those amazing pieces are from kortni jeane! they run true to size, so I got my usual.  I always size up on the bottoms at Victoria's Secret:) their tops fit me pretty well and my favorite style is definitely the bralette- they recommend ordering a size up.
from right to left:
(I got the coverup on groopdealz a while back but did a quick search and found it on amazon!)
 hat / top / bottom
 don't mind my crazy-I-just-want-to-get-home eyes.  and last night's makeup.. and salty hair.  we had a few hours in the morning that last day, so we soaked what we could of those last moments in the Mexico sun- literally came from wearing my bathing suit at the beach straight to the airport. 
but first, Starbucks!  I never thought I would be so excited.  I'm such an American.  
 my people!  we are home!  we got home late on Saturday night and Auntie and Uncle J had the babes in bed already.  I laid about 25 kisses on those sleepy girls but they didnt move a muscle.  the big girls woke to us being home in our beds and we all laid there exchanging stories about our past week.  Ah it is so great to be home! 
such a fun week spent with my love. much needed adult time to be away and recoup from the everyday life of being parents to three- but it didnt take long to miss our little dolls fiercely.
next time those girls are coming with us!
happy Monday!

5.11.2016

baker bree | 10 months

our littlest sister girl is 10 months old! double digits!! WHAT??  for the love of pete that's just so hard to say. its bittersweet watching her grow, change, and develop. every stage is the new favorite, and Baker at 10 months old has been a blast with a capital B.
happy double digits my little doll. thank the good Lord you are a little peanut because I couldn't handle you being any bigger!
clapping for herself and saying YAAY!
she kills me.
banner c/o | headwrap c/o | ruffle bomber c/o | romper
 whats new?
  • she always has this random mini wooden spoon that she swipes from the play kitchen (see picture above).  she carries it around all the time! she doesn't chew on it.. or play with it. just holds it. 
  • Baker waves 'bye bye' to anyone and everyone that will return the gesture.  her waves are somewhere between slapping herself in the face and blowing a kiss.  
  • the greatest sass pants of them ALL.  she's too young to really interpret the word NO,  but when I or her sisters take something away from her the squeals in protest make it crystal clear that she did not like what just happened.
  • she consistently takes about 6-8 unassisted steps in a row- which is just absolutely insane.  
  • says the word 'day' for Dad and shakes her head no when she doesn't want to do something.
  • LOVES the dogs. but from a distance.  if the dog comes closer than about 3 feet she's whining and clawing at me to pick her up.  but otherwise she is hollering and clapping at them for their attention.  its actually really adorable.
  • she gives the best sugars!
  • she has definitely become a paci baby.  we started the pacifier late in the game and its only been since about 7 or 8 months that she's really taken interest.  but now she has one in her mouth and at least one in each hand. the bunny Nuby pacifinder is her favorite and she will not sleep without it.
  • she's not a fan of the car seat or shopping cart or the stroller.. basically anything with a buckle or strap she's fighting to be set free!  she's not a complete maniac in the carseat like she used to be, but I have noticed a regression in the way she acts. often times myself or Jordan is holding her hand in the car.
  • she's an amazing sleeper, but she rarely sleeps anywhere but her crib- which means never in her carseat.
  • wears 6-12 months clothes and size 3 diapers.
  • laughs at everything!  she's a little singing bird these days   she sings all the time! BB says its just the same way Jenna was when she was young.  Jolie sings this way, too and I LOVE it.
  • I left her for the first time EVER overnight this month.  I missed her so much but her happy little self did just fine while we were gone!
  • her smile is just about the best smile ever and her fake laugh is FUNNY.
  • her favorite toy (besides the wooden spoon) is definitely the activity cube.  the twins found it in the spare bedroom which we use for toy overflow (yes, I'm serious) and she loves to stand and play.
  • we play hide and seek a LOT.  she will chase us around the island of the kitchen and loose her mind with giggles when we come into eye's sight. it is the funniest thing!  
  • she absolutely adores her BB. when BB is in the room she's clawing to get out of my hands and into hers.
  • she HATES getting her diaper changed.  it is HARD to keep her still for what should take just 2 minutes but ends up taking about 5 or more.
  • LOVES the bath.  she will play for a solid hour- until she's a wrinkly prune. 
  • she's still definitely an even blend of both big sisters, but more and more I have been seeing her change to resemble Parker just a little bit more. their profiles are nearly the same! 

 E A T
 this girl.  a meal isn't over until she's rubbed about 75% of it on her little person.  especially in her hair.. takes a bite, rubs her hair.  takes a bite, rubs her face.  which means that every night is bath night!  she's not super picky about what I offer her, but she knows what she wants and when she wants it and there is zero consistency whatsoever. but I know this isn't just Baker girl, the twins did and still do gobble up something one night and won't touch it the next.  I can tell when she's done with whatever is on her tray because she will pick it up and literally star me down as she tosses it to the floor.  
as if she is saying "what were you thinking with this, mom?"
she's eating about 3 meals/day which she has sort of transitioned into on her own.  breakfast is usually toast + a fruit puree pouch or fruit leather (a one-ingredient recipe HERE!) and yogurt.  she likes fruit but prefers the veggies and protein is really her favorite, I think.  her largest meal of the day is dinner, and she will eat 1-2 veggie pouches (puree) and then a vegetable/fruit + protein + yogurt.  meatballs, fajita beef, chicken, beans - she won't touch a meat puree with a ten foot pole, but give her the real stuff and she's all about it!    
other favorites- pizza! macaroni, pancakes and waffles + sprouted toast and nut butter, banana, roasted butternut squash + sweet potatoes (cubed and tossed in evoo + salt + pepper. baked at 450 degrees for 30 minutes), bbq chicken, rice (which is a HUGE mess).
the growth spurt that started last month is still in full swing.  I think it also has to do with her being so active.  she wants to eat all the time.  where she puts all that food is beyond me, but she's growing so much.  

daily feeding/solids schedule:
 6-7am: nurse
9am-9:30am: 6-7 ounce bottle of formula
10am: yogurt + fruit + puffs
1pm: 6-7 ounce bottle of formula 
4-4:30pm: 6-7 ounce bottle of formula
5pm: snack (puffs + fruit)
6pm: dinner (protein + starch + vegetable + yogurt)
7pm: bath
7:30pm: nurse/bed

Baker still nurses here and there, but really I think its a soothing thing rather than a hunger thing. I don't pump while I'm at work any more, but I sometimes will get in a session before I go to bed at night.  after getting a bottle over the last month, she doesn't want to mess with working very hard to get her meal.  she can suck down a 6 ounce bottle in less than 5 minutes.  places to go and people to see, right?  I still cherish our time together, but I forsee it to be over soon. 

 S L E E P
she's THE BEST sleeper!  I am so thankful for that.  Parker and Jolie have always, well basically sucked it up in the sleep department- even now at 3 years old they only consistently sleep through the night about 4 out of 7 days.  Baker had a touch of sleep regression and it was rough around that 6 month mark, but after sleep training (HERE) and learning how to find herself that paci in the middle of the night, sleeping for Baker has been golden.  once she's down for the night she's OUT and hardly moves.  I could probably bang pots and pans over her crib and she would sleep through it.  she's moving all day long and when her body is at rest its legit at rest.  naps are getting more consistent.  Her first nap of the day has become the longest- occasionally its 3 hours and she never wants to miss it. we try really hard not to leave the house in the morning so she can get in this nap- she doesn't sleep in the car very well.. probably because her big sisters are hooting and hollering from the back seat the entire time, so to get that nap in she wants to be in her crib.  this nap is also so important because she only gets that second nap about half the time.    

typical sleep routine
wake: 6-7am (nurse) and then back to sleep until 8-9am
nap #1: 11-11:30am-1-2pm
nap #2: 3:30pm-5pm
bedtime: 7:30pm

 P L A Y / D E V E L O P M E N T 
 oh this girl. such a busy body.  turning into this independent little person that makes her way around as she pleases and communicates better and better everyday.  her little personality is in full throttle- Baker is present and everybody knows it!  but hardly a surprise because she is definitely on a mission to keep up with her sisters.  she loves to play.. and will contently play solo for long periods of time.  the playroom can be clean and picked up and she makes her way in there and demolishes it in about 4 minutes. I used to think this was all the twins, but she proved me wrong when it was just she and I at home while the twins were at school.
she loves the play kitchen, 'reading' books, these stacking blocks and this activity cube.  she loves to be outside and playing in the water is a recipe for the best day of this girls life- which makes me SO EXCITED to get her in a teeny bikini and lounge by the pool.  this summer is going to be a BLAST.  
sitting to standing, crawling and cruising.  she will stand unassisted and then bend down and play in a squat position.  it is THE funniest thing to watch her do.  she's also figured out how to fit smaller toys into larger ones, which makes blocks and stacking cups her favorite entertainment. the random wooden spoon makes it everywhere with her- holding it in one hand while using the other hand for a different task.  she's become quite the mimic.  she finds herself in all my hair styling tools (I keep them in a basket under my vanity) and the other day she was sitting with my hair brush and she went to 'brush her hair'.  I about fell over because surely she doesn't know what to do with that, YET!! but oh, she does.  she follows one-step commands pretty well- clap clap or wave bye bye! are the most frequent.  she will also clap for herself and say YAAAAY! when we first taught her to clap we would get all excited and say YAY BAKER! and after she would clap.  so.. any time she claps for herself she squeals in excitement.  its basically the cutest thing ever.
she's started to point and make sounds. Dah for Dad and pointing to other people in eyes line of view.  at her 9 month check up Dr. B asked if she was doing this yet and she wasn't but it came out of no where this month.  she's definitely exploring and observing her surroundings- taking it all in like a little sponge.
we have started with a little separation anxiety.  she wants her people (which typically is myself + Jordan + BB) and won't be satisfied with anyone else holding her.  dropping her off at the nursery for church has become really hard.  sometimes when I pick her up I can tell she's been crying- but the sweet teachers will always tell me "she did SO good!" last week I was so proud when I went to get her because she was the only baby sitting on the floor quietly playing away.  she had her pacifier in her mouth, but hey whatever works.  
we have had lots of days of her being fussy and clingy.  standing at my feet crying for me to hold her.. and even sitting on the floor isn't well enough- she wants me to stand up and carry her around.  once she finds herself busy playing or entertained by the twins she's just fine, but getting her to that point can be a challenge.    
 B A K E R 
to my sweet girl.  I never thought my heart could swell so much. it blows my mind that you are in the double digits of babyhood! I make it a point in my every day to try not to take for granted your resilience, cheer, sparkle, and absolute beauty. I am floored and completely fascinated by your ability to see nearly everything as wonderful and humorous and we all wish life would be. your smile lights up our every moment, and your laugh- OH I LOVE YOUR LAUGH - I thought it would never come, but its become the regular soundtrack of our house. the admiration of Parker and Jolie grows every day and its the joy of my heart to watch all three of your play together.  your desire and drive to seek out everything around you is impressive and you are a tiny tornado through the entire house- it wont be long before you are up and running all over the place.  
thank you for filling our days with laughter and joy and your sweet little face. you are going to be a whole year old before we know it and I am soaking in these last months of babyhood with you in this season.  I cannot believe how richly you have blessed us.  
our tiny miracle.
our rainbow.
our Baker Bree.
I love you so.

ten month photo dump



























5.10.2016

when life gives you lemons..

..you dress up in pretty tutu dresses and throw a lemonade party. right?  
occasionally we are blessed with love from small shops and ALWAYS these shops blow me away with their creativity and talent.  when people as me if I 'make their hair bows' or DIY craft for their parties I literally snort slash laugh slash turn green with envy because I wish I had half of the talent these creators do.  I leave all that stuff to the professional.  its rare you will find DIY anything on this blog, but what you will find is my pride in sharing my favorite shops for decor and bows and clothes! 
Brittany has probably taken thousands of photos of Parker + Jolie over the last 3+ years of their little lives and so they know her very well.  they know what to do when she come around, and its funny because Britt and I have become much closer than ever before and see each other almost everyday (we live in the same neighborhood).. so its more than just for mini photoshoots.  so they aren't totally sure what to do with themselves when she's not there to play dress up!  for the last several summers b faith photography has hosted summer mini sessions and this year's theme is 'when life gives you lemons'- I was over the moon when she asked P+J to be her little models for the promotion. and of course she doesn't forget about the boys!  we had our little buddy Jacob come and model her boy set up for 'gone fishing' SO CUTE, right?  

I cant even handle my children these days.  my heart explodes with delight over their sweetness.  they are absolutely beautiful inside and out- and I tell them that everyday.  
my favorite moments are when when they put on a new dress or wear a colorful bow they look at me and say 
"I feel so pretty, mama.  I'm a princess!" and do a little twirl.
yes my sweet, sweet girls.  you are the most pretty princesses there are.  may you make the most of the lemons in this life.  
bringing you up to know that will be one of my greatest accomplishments!

 if this picture doesn't make you smile from ear to ear!! 
we told Parker that Jolie had a booger on her face.
its all about the bodily functions these days that they find incredibly hilarious (thanks, dad!).
last week I was in the kitchen making a cup of coffee at four o'clock in the afternoon (such a mom) and I can here their little voices in the playroom:
Jolie: Kahkah (Parker).  I burped.
Parker: JO.  you gross. 
BAKER!!! 
Baker wasnt going to be in these pictures.. in fact she was still in her jammies hanging out on a blanket with some toys while the big girls were getting their glamor on and Britt told me to get her little bootie in the pictures. I didnt have a bow or a cute outfit, but.  oh.  this was much better. 
 ..and of course Jacob killed it.  I love this kid.
for my local peeps- Brittany and her sister have sign ups for this mini session TONIGHT at 8pm CST on the bfaithphotography Facebook page HERE!! 

banners c/o pearl and jane
dresses c/o taylor joelle designs
flower bow: jameson monroe
Parker's head wrap c/o shelby chic boutique
felt flower crowns c/o little blue olive
pom necklaces c/o hooray everyday
props + decor: hobby lobby

5.04.2016

making a transition | Munchkin LATCH

Becoming a mom is an exciting and wonderful experience, but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming, especially in situations you never expected- something for new mama's to make note of.. things rarely go as planned:) 
I mentioned in Baker's 9 months update that we had recently transitioned into supplementing with formula.  when she was cutting her bottom teeth back in between 7-8 months she went through a nursing strike (terrible!) and would nurse for just a short time and then be done- which really hurt my supply.  and then it gradually decreased as the weeks went on.  sure, I could have done things to increase my supply.  I could have pumped after every time she nursed.  added in another session before going to bed at night.
drink special tea.  
lactation cookies.  
supplements.. 
but then again I have toddlers that rule to roost when they know I'm strapped to the pump and take advantage of those 20 minutes to completely wreak havoc.  the stinky horse pills linger for hours after taking them and if the tea was actually coffee you might have made me a believer.  
since Baker hit 9 months old we have been in the midst of a massive growth spurt - even drinking seven or eight ounces in a bottle at a time.. much more than her usual 6 ounces and this mama just cant keep up.
 I was fine with Baker getting a bottle or two while I was away at work or running errands, but getting a bottle for almost every single meal time during the day was giving me anxiety.  how would that transition go?  I wanted there to be a solution for she and I to be able to continue our nursing sessions for as long as I am able to provide and she wishes to accept it- even if its mostly just first thing in the morning and before she goes to bed at night.  I'm still pumping a couple times a day, but for the most part Baker takes 3-4 bottles of breastmilk + formula and I exclusively nurse her in the morning and before she goes to bed.

we've more or less used the same bottles between Baker and the twins- trying out a few new ones along the way, but I was recently introduced to the LATCH bottle, and it couldn't have come at a better time!  while other bottles were designed to look like the breast, the patent-pending accordion nipple of the LATCH bottle was designed to not only look like the breast, but act like the breast, too! the LATCH nipple stretches, moves and pumps just like the breast.. I am seriously impressed by the flexibility and how realistic this nipple is.  because of the amazing shape and design of this bottle, the LATCH lets me provide as well as I can for Baker, but also have confidence that offering her a bottle to supplement for over half of her meal times throughout the day isn't going to break the bond that we share during those quiet moments together.  taking care of a baby often means there’s less time for taking care of myself - I don't even want to know how many hours I've spent with the pump.  but thankfully, me time just got a little bit easier with the MunchkinLATCH Bottles. their products are designed to allow moms like me to easily and comfortably transition between breast and bottle - completely relieving the stress of all that comes with it.



while I do appreciate any me time I can get, being a mama to my three girls is the greatest gift I have ever been given.  
I can only describe motherhood as the ultimate act of unconditional love.  I am challenged and pushed to my upmost limit every single day…I am the woman that I am and the woman that I want to become because I am a mother. motherhood kicks my butt, keeps me humble and gives me the greatest sense of accomplishment and peace compared to anything else I've ever done in my entire life- and I don’t remember what life was like before these little girls that consume my world.
 
the truth is, none of us are perfect and we shouldn't aspire to be.  we are so hard on ourselves with such high expectations that we think we should abide by.  I am by no means perfect, but I am their first teacher and it is my responsibility to teach these young girls how to be a lady just by the way I carry myself through life, teaching compassion and empathy along the way. 
life is absolutely, one hundred and fifty percent crazy- but the beauty of it all, the beauty of motherhood, is something I would never ever trade. 
BIG thank you to b faith photography for snapping these photos and to Munchkin for their sponsorship of this post.  
All opinions expressed are my own.

5.02.2016

food facts from Texas FNCE 2016

its the time of year again for all things food and nutrition in my world.  I mean, it usually works out to be about 65% of my day between work and home when I feed my family- but when the Texas Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo rolls around I'll fully submerged in it.  just what my nutrition slash foodie heart + mind and soul live for.  this year the theme was all about health and lifestyle and what food has to do with it.  I always walk out of those three days with a notebook full of scribbles and so much to reflect on.. and with full desire to change the universe one french fry at a time.  this year was close to home (driving distance), so I got to come home to my babes every night - which I appreciated.  I caught up with old RD friends that I see about once a year at this conference, made some new ones and learned a thing or two about whats new in the nutrition world. 

FOOD: A Prescription for Health and Wellness
rumor has it that GMOs cause cancerautismallergiesgluten intolerance, or other illnesses and conditions in humans and animals (remember MAD COW?).  all of these 'rumors' are absolutely false. biotechnology in plant agriculture has come to mean the process of intentionally making a copy of a gene for a desired trait from one plant or organism and using it in another plant. the result is a GMO (genetically modified organism).  the truth is that every fruit, vegetable, and grain that is commercially available- including organic - has been altered by human hands.  as of 2014 ,GMO's are grown/imported/used in 70 countries. there are currently nine GMO seeds in the US: alfalfa, canola, corn (field and sweet), cotton, papaya, potatoes, soybeans, squash, and sugar beets... apples have recently been approved and are coming to the market soon! (learn more about GMO's here)
cancer + obesity. American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR) estimates that
130,300 U.S. cancer cases every year are related to excess body fat- most commonly endometrial, cervical, ovarian, stomach, lung, and kidney cancers.  if you have diabetes you are at a 23% increased risk in developing breast cancer.

food photography.  a food blogger typically spends up to 6 hours on prepping, styling, shooting, and blogging one single recipe.  toothpicks, cotton swabs, towels, straws, tape, scissors, spray bottle, and tweezers are all good items to have on hand for styling food.  tiny bowls and plates so less food can fill up the space.. and odd numbers are preferred (such as three lemons or 5 meatballs).

dietary fiber + health.  the recommendation for fiber intake is 38 grams/day for men and 25 grams/day for women.  most people only get about 10 grams/day.  in 1985 'wood pulp' was listed in the ingredients list in the first 'high fiber bread'. today you would find the word cellulose.
wood pulp IS cellulose.
fiber is fiber, eh?

school lunch program.  there are over 30 million children that utilize the school lunch and school breakfast programs.  colorful salad bars, with fruit and vegetable items offered from A to Z (apples to zucchini) have been successful in elementary schools.  not every school district utilizes these resources in creating healthy balanced meals for their students.

2015 dietary guidelines. the dietary guiltiness play a HUGE role in shaping the structure of many different government food programs (school lunch, WIC) not just providing recommendations on how we should eat and be active. 
five key messages:
follow a healthy + consistent eating pattern across your lifespan // all food and beverage choices matter.  choosing a healthy balanced diet most of the time will help to manage weight and prevent chronic disease.
focus on variety, nutrient density, and amount // to meet nutrient needs within calorie limits, choose a variety of nutrient dense foods across the foods groups and within recommended amounts.
Limit calories from added sugars, saturated fats, and reduce sodium intake // 13-17% of our calories come from added sugars. 39% of those calories comes from sugar sweetened beverages- in children ages 1-18 years. nearly 100% of children, ages 1-8, exceed the recommended amount for solid fat and added sugar.
shift to healthier food and beverage choices // drink whole milk?  try 2% or 1%.  always eating out of a can?  opt for fresh (vegetables).  very small changes make the most impact.
support a healthy eating pattern for all // everyone has a role in creating healthy eating patterns in various settings nationwide; including home, school, work, and your community.

NEW food label proposal includes: bold and enlarged serving size + calories per serving, updated daily values , and differentiates between natural sugar and added sugar. 

culinary intervention for certain chronic disease and illness can be significantly improved and/or prevented through food alone.  studies have been shown and conducted in the use of an anti-inflammatory diet against such disease as breast cancer and has shown real benefits.
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