Why I Love Breakfast

I know y'all know what's coming but it's coming anyway...because this:

We have officially entered the phase of, 'if it isn't what you're eating then I'm not eating it' or 'I'm so done with baby food.' Yes, that's yard sell stuff still sitting there. They've decided not to have a yard sale so I've got to have one or get this stuff donated. It's driving me nuts but Baby M loves it.

Tucker loves breakfast too.

But for different reasons.

He acts as a vacuum which helps me out with after breakfast clean-up.

Remember the little table I painted and decoupaged for Baby M's room? She was trying to climb the rocker or move it or something and I didn't want her to because the wire from the Foscam runs behind the rocker. Baby M persisted so I blocked her with that little table. Here's what she did:

If you've forgotten, don't even bother trying to fox a baby because the baby will out fox you every single time. That's me calling her auntie at the end to tell her to come see what Baby M had done.

The little stinker.

Happy Monday, y'all!

Please visit my Etsy shop, CoasterDoodles
For some Mother's Day gift ideas!

What do Babies and Wrestling Alligators Have in Common?

Not a single week, hardly a day, goes by that I am not reminded of my age or something I forgot from days gone by or that I learn something new while taking daily care of this face:

Can y'all see her teeth? Isn't she adorable? Or is it just me? 

Lately, for example, I've discovered:

• I hate long onesies that snap in a U shape from one foot to the other. Do y'all remember it being a problem when your kids were babies? Trying to snap those little legs into a footed onesie is an aerobic workout. I kid you not. 
• Diapering is also an aerobic workout. This child will not lie quietly in her crib while I change her diaper. As soon as I get it off, she turns over and turning her back over is like wrestling an alligator. And then I have to change the crib sheet because no diaper means she gets everything wet which also means I get to change her clothes. 
• Changing her clothes. Alligator wrestling? What's harder than alligator wrestling because that's what it's like changing her clothes. 
• Those toys that make the crinkly sound are NOT FUN when you're trying to put the baby down for a nap and you have to move the toy out of the way because the dang thing makes a HUGE noise regardless of whether you pick it up by hand or carefully with tweezers. 
• Putting the baby in a stroller to go for a nice little stroll is a major production. I do not remember this being a production when my girls were growing up. By the time I strap her in the stroller, put my shoes on, get Tucker on his leash and find my keys, I'm exhausted but have to take the walk anyway because that's what Baby M and Tucker think we're doing. 
• Feeding. Good grief. I remember my girls getting messy during feedings but I do not recall me being covered in the food. Or the table. Or the chair. Or anything within a 10' radius. 
• As soon as I put Baby M down for a nap, do two little things and sit down with a cup of something hot, she wakes up. Every. Single. Time. 
• Zulily is of the devil. Stay away from it. 
• Speaking of Zulily, y'all buy my coasters. I have bills. 

Life is never dull with a baby in the house. And I am loving every minute of it. While I do tend to try and see the humor in as many daily happenings as I can, if I had to boil it all down to one thing, it's this: cherish every moment you have with these little ones-- pay attention to everything, the way those tiny little hands hold onto your finger, the softness of their skin, the small, soft sound of their sweet breathing, their laughter that fills your heart with joy, the way they look at you and you know you would give them the world and protect them from all harm, even their tears that you would gladly shed just so they don't have to because you would take away all their sadness- present and future- if you could...Grandmothering is the absolute best!

And to those of you who are about to join the Grandma Club- WELCOME! You're going to LOVE it! It's the best EVER!

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all!

How to Entertain a 4 Month Old

One thing I've learned, and I learned it fast, from providing daycare for Baby M is, even though I have a MS in Early Childhood Development, I have forgotten just about everything. Ha! Now that Baby M is 4 months old and not sleeping most of the day but not yet mobile, what in the world do I do with her? Because seriously, THIS KID DOES NOT SLEEP.

Here's my TOP TEN on the short list:

1. Take more walks. Because Baby M loves going outside and walking and grandma could use more activities that make her get off her rear. Now that the fall temps have defeated those horrid summer ones, we can do this. 
2. Tummy time. Except that Baby M has been having tummy time for many weeks already and she gets bored with that pretty quickly. She has been turning over now so maybe that will help entertain her little stinker self.
3. Sitting up. This is what Baby M seems to want to do RIGHT NOW even though she's just not developmentally ready. Her mind is far ahead of what she can physically do right now. This is frustrating to both of us. So we sit in about a million different ways until she's bored with that. 
4. Crib time. Baby M LOVES her crib time whether you stand there and talk to her or just leave her for a bit. She enjoys her alone time too. But I feel bad that she's not being entertained or held and...well, y'all know.
5. Bouncy seat. Never mind. She's no longer entertained by this thing.
6. Put ballet on the television. Yes, I do this. We sit together and enjoy the ballet and, BONUS, it usually sends Baby M drifting off to dreamland.
7. Put Raffi (or baby videos) on television. Yes, I do this too. It holds her attention for about 20 minutes. I think this lasts so long because she's trying to figure out what that sound is coming out of Grandma's mouth when she sings along. 
8. Hold Baby M and kiss her all over her face and blow raspberries on her tummy. Yep, she loves this. For about 10 minutes. When those 10 minutes are up, switch to talking to her and blowing those raspberries on her fingers. She will squeal with delight. For about 10 minutes. 
9. Get one of those baby floor mat gyms and hope for the best. 
10. Get a dog. Baby M is entertained by Tucker and I am constantly trying to get him to just walk back and forth across the floor. He is convinced I have lost my mind. 

Always, when all else fails and you know exhaustion is going to be the reason for your death because you are GRANDMA and old-ish: this phase doesn't last forever. :)

I know there are so many things to do with babies but we need some good advice for those grandparents out there who don't have the energy or stamina we did when we had our babies. By the time I've gone through my TOP TEN list up there, it's only 9:00 in the morning. She gets here at 7:30. 

Baby M loves to sit in front of the computer and she goes crazy if I pull out my phone but I have some issues with her being in front of digital devices at her age. I don't mind the television as long as I approve of what's on it and we use it for less than one hour every day. The digital age and I are at odds right now. 

What do y'all do to entertain 4 month old babies?

Links to my first 8 days of NaBloPoMo in case y'all missed them (because they're so dang interesting and all...Ha!):

1. TWIGS AND ROOTS! Where I introduced y'all to Deanie's new business. 
2. THE BRAVE SIDE OF ME Where I shared my nonexistent bravery with y'all. 
3. BABY M'S NURSERY Where I finally show off the pictures of the nursery!
4. KEEPERS: FALL TELEVISION SHORT LIST Where I shared the few fall shows I watch.
5. SINGING ALONG WITH BABY M Where I shared some songs Baby M and I enjoy.
6. BABY M GOES TO CLEMSON where I shared a gazillion pix and commentary on Baby M's first ever college football game!
7. THANKSGIVING FAILS where I shared that I cannot make holiday meals as good as my grandmother did. 
8. IT'STHAT TIME! where I slacked off and just posted a voting clip art. Don't judge. This is hard.