Six Month Milestones

Organic avocado puree for my six-month-old baby's first meal. 

Whether you are a man or woman, preparing for your first child can be one of the most new feelings in the world. There is no guidebook. Unknown questions and an immense weight of fresh responsibility rapidly grow alongside the baby over 40 long weeks, and you are never too sure exactly what to expect. It may be the first time in your adult life that you have experienced such newness.

Then, your baby is here. Suddenly a brand-new world of firsts opens itself up to you and your family all over again. The only difference is this eye-opening journey does not have a due date.


The last six months of firsts with Charlotte in our lives has brought us more pure joy than anyone could ever feel worthy of. It is now at her half birthday that this precious little consciousness with preferences and personality is really mastering movement, expression and self-awareness. Beyond that, she's strong, affectionate and the size of a small toddler. Sweet Charlotte, happy six months darling. 


Some of Our Six Month Milestones in the Last Two Weeks:

First Two Teeth - During my niece Sadie's sixth birthday party, my sister Lindsey noticed Charlotte had two teeth poking through. The only symptom she has of teething is DROOL.

Sitting Up - My mom came over last week and propped Charlotte up to sit. Charlotte sat there for about 15 to 20 seconds before she lost her balance and toppled over. Why is it that everyone else catches on the Charlotte's firsts before I do?

First Vegetable - This one I get to take credit for. I bought an organic avocado and proceeded to make a week's supply of baby food using the Baby Bullet and a fresh supply of breast milk. To say that Char enjoyed the food would be an understatement.

Successfully Scooting - Between rolling like a champion and army crawling across the floor, someone in on the move.


Watching Charlotte learn, grow and enjoy life is the ultimate payment for all the hard work raising her entails. What are your favorite baby milestones?

Our Projects — Getting DIY for the Wedding

Wedding bells, anyone?

I have taken on the task of planning my future wedding. After over three years of engagement and one bald baby later, Josh and I have officially set a date for our celebration of love and commitment. With that comes a never-ending list of to-dos, which will ultimately serve as my third job in addition to being a full-time mom and freelance writer.

Once the venue was booked and the colors were decided, I embarked on a journey to do-it-yourself (do-it-MYself) as much as possible for this joyous occasion. From signing up for a floral arrangement class to ordering mirror-esque spray paint, I have absolutely embraced the many hats I am going to wear over the next 10 months.

The first conquest in my DIY adventure was to create special gift boxes full of goodies to ask my bridesmaids, maid of honor and parents to each be a part of our wedding.

This spirit started with my primary project . . . The staple of each gift-box was going to be a rhinestone bedazzled tank top for each important lady in my life (myself included). I ordered the tanks online from H&M. Each shirt was $5.95 plus tax, and I used a code to receive free shipping.

I also ordered rhinestone heat transfers through etsy of the words Bride, Maid of Honor, Bridesmaid and Mother of the Bride. Each transfer was between $2.99 and $6.50. I saved money on the shipping, because I took the time to find a seller that had high quality heat transfers for every word I needed.

The heat transfers came in the mail pretty much next day, and they were in excellent condition. Using the easy-to-follow instructions, I successfully made the shirts in less than an hour, and that is considering I had to take breaks to keep my six-month-old girl happy.

I included a matching bracelet, matching nail polish, hand-painted card, baby-feet stamped information card and a personal wine bottle (or apple cider bottle for my bridesmaid who is seven months prego) for each lovely lady. It almost goes without saying that my wedding party, as well as my parents, were really happy to receive the gifts. Not only did I save money on the project, I also let some of the people that matter most know how important they are to me.


Whether you have been a bride or you are a bride-to-be, feel free to share your creative wedding DIY ideas in the comments below!

World Breastfeeding Week 2014 - For Life!



World Breastfeeding Week 2014 - Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal for Life!

Many of the debates that surround infant nutrition tend to concern the beneficial qualities of breast milk versus those of formula. This argument is unimportant when you start to examine the real benefits of breastfeeding on a larger scale. Encouraging mothers to breastfeed becomes necessary when it is a matter of life or death, especially in countries plagued with poverty.

Today is August 1, 2014, which marks the first day of World Breastfeeding Week. This year's theme is, "Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal - For Life!"

The goal of this year's worldwide National Breastfeeding Week is to share the importance of breastfeeding with as many groups of people as possible. This is because we need to build the momentum towards supporting, protecting and promoting breastfeeding. Mothers are more likely to succeed at breastfeeding long-term when they receive continued support from family, friends and/or the community.

Breastfeeding holds a greater benefit to children beyond being nutritionally superior. First and foremost, breast milk is an ideal energy source to prevent hunger and malnutrition in children under five. In families who face poverty throughout innumerable countries, breastfeeding may be the only lifesaving option for infants and young children. While breastfeeding is recommended by the World Health Organization until two-years-old, the global average age of breastfed children is up to four. Numerous other critical benefits of breastfeeding include a reduced infant mortality rate, the ability to help combat diseases like HIV/AIDS, among so many more.

Mothers and the world gain positive effects from breastfeeding. Mothers experience improved postpartum health by breastfeeding. Immediately following labor, the practice reduces blood loss, while there are also long-term benefits, which include a lowered risk of developing breast, ovarian or endometrial cancers. Beyond that, you may also heed benefits, because breastfeeding is eco-friendly.

Happy National Breastfeeding Week to all the moms out there, and let us celebrate breastfeeding for its life-giving, life-sustaining qualities. At the end of the day, the concern should not be about how a well-fed and cared for child is receiving their nutrients. Instead, breastfeeding saves lives by nourishing little bodies that would not receive nutrition otherwise. Breastfeeding is a powerful option, especially when it is the only option.

To find out more, visit the World Breastfeeding Week official website: http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/