Do you ever wonder if your baby recognizes you more easily with a camera in front of your face than without? I have a feeling many mama bloggers may agree.

Gracie turns six months old tomorrow, so I know what we’ll be doing tonight: Photoshoot!! I’ve come to really love my monthly recordings of my daughter’s growth and development. With the busyness of life, I never did get around to reading cover to cover in the “Your Baby’s First Year” type books, but as the 29th day of each month approaches I do take the time to read about that particular stage, think about what happened over her last month, and write a special letter to my daughter recording our special moments.

And, thanks to the creative couple behind Young House Love, I also have a very fun way of recording Gracie’s physical changes each month. I love picking out fun fabrics for her to lay on for each snapshot – and I’m thinking I’ll make a quilt using all twelve when Gracie’s first year is done. (Full disclosure: I did totally hesitate to show y’all the how-to link since I get SO MANY compliments about each month’s onesie. Most people didn’t have a clue that it was Photoshopped.) If you don’t have Photoshop available to you and you want a similar effect, search etsy – there are lots of creative ladies out there selling “Month to Month” badges like Jenny uses on her blog.

I know lots of mommy bloggers have similar creative ways of measuring their little one. Have you guys seen Eleanor’s photos on Making it Lovely? They’re one of my favorite sets.

Another super easy and fun thing to do would be to pick out a favorite stuffed animal (not tiny – probably as big as or a little bigger than your baby when she comes home from the hospital) and take a photo of Baby & Stuffed Lovey next to each other each month. It’s fun to see them trade roles: first the baby lies there looking tiny next to the stuffed animal, but then before you know it the little one is towering over the lovey and trying to chew its ear! I tried to Google this to put an example here, but no avail. Has anyone done this who could share a link? So fun!

I love the creative energy that flows from blog to blog – most of my best baby ideas seem to come from one online friend or another. Do you have any ideas to share with us about how you measure your little one?

You should have seen the meat department!  The only poultry left at our local Publix was literally three whole chickens, a couple packages of chicken livers and two packages of chicken gizzards.  Yikes!  I’d hate to be the person that decides to eat that…

I had such a great time in the snow this morning with my little one – and, I was able to put the snow boots to good use that I had kept stashed for the last five years since our move down from Wisconsin.  I knew there was a reason I had held on to those!

Being out in Gracie’s first snow made me glad we had already had been through – and recovered from – the little lady’s first cold.  Early in December, Gracie woke up with a terribly stuffy nose and seemed to be feeling pretty awful.  What a helpless feeling for a parent to know your child is uncomfortable and to not be able to make things immediately better!

It was some comfort at least to have “Graco to the rescue!” as I was fully stocked with health care essentials in the event this very thing occurred.

First, an easy measure by the 1-second thermometer had me assured that there was no fever in my babe.  Then, I had seen video of my cousin’s baby LOVING the music-playing Nasal Aspirator so I decided to give that a try.

What Gracie says when I try to put SimplySaline in her nose!

I began by attempting to irrigate her nostrils with Baby Simply Saline – big mistake to try on my own!  With Nannie now enlisted, I gave it a second try… oh the screams!  Gracie was not a fan of this – but, as soon as the music began on the nasal aspirator, she became distracted and quieted down as I used the tool to clear her out.

I spent the rest of the day checking that fever (which never rose above low-grade, thank goodness), clearing boogies and giving my baby some get-well cuddles.  For the next few nights, a humidifier in Gracie’s room gave me peace of mind that all her nasal congestion wouldn’t dry up in there.  Within the week, Gracie woke up one morning stuffy nose and cold symptom free.  I guess I’m getting the hang of this parenting thing!

Before I run back out into the snow for some afternoon playtime, I do have a question for you all.

While I was Googling information about baby colds during all this, I came across a device that you use to suck out the mucus from your child’s nose.  WITH YOUR MOUTH!  Haven’t heard of it?  I promise, I’m serious.  Has anyone used this??  Does it really work?  How do you not transmit your germs to your child through this?  And – do the little boogers actually end up in YOUR mouth??  Please, do tell!

Photo courtesy of Layden Photography

I’m engaged!!  Well, I have been engaged for a month – but it is my first time sharing it here…so… I’M ENGAGED!!  I met my fiance, Danny, a few years back in NYC while we were both living in the WONDERFUL city.  We made a quick trip back to “our home” in December to visit some close friends.  After much scheming, he got down on one knee, on the Brooklyn bridge, and asked me to be his wife.

After a few minutes of no-words, and utter surprise, I said “YES!!”  He was down there forever, but I was speechless.

Thanks to my fiance’s planning and our dear friend, Lee, we captured it all on film.  Lee followed us over the bridge without my knowledge.  It was romantic, and meaningful, and the scenery of “our home” was especially beautiful that night.

After a week of non-stop dinners, celebration, and champagne, things started to settle down and we got to planning. Now, for me, planning was heavily focused on the obvious next step -  a wonderful wedding.  I was overwhelmed and almost immediately ready to elope.  After-all, who has time to plan the ceremony, the reception, the mood, the music, the favors, the wedding party…(you get the point).  Danny, on the other hand, started to prepare for our life together… post-wedding.  Yes, he is the very logical & practical one.

He began by talking finances & budgeting.   Which lead to discussing the pros and cons of one or two bank accounts.  But this simple conversation began to drift in to MUCH larger ones…  Where we will live?  What side of the family we will see for each holiday?  When we will get a dog?  What type of dog? (This is a hot topic).  How many dogs?  How many kids?????????????????  PHEW.

Although I am so excited to start my life with Danny and am certain it will be full of so much joy, we have officially started our very own family of two.

Decisions no longer belong to me – they belong to US. This is a new perspective, but so far, these conversations have gone over smoothly.  Before getting engaged, we discussed these “hot topics”  in passing and we’re usually on the same page — it’s just finally sinking in how much we have ahead of us!  We have a full year to prepare for our family of two, before it is official.  And we will take that year to figure out the important stuff.  In my experience, your “plan” only works out about 30% of the time anyways.

From previous posts about family – I think it is obvious how crazy I am about mine, and how important it is that I carry on the value of family as I plan my future.

It is exciting to be part of something so special (although small – with just the two of us).  I can’t wait to start our own traditions and pass them on to our children.  Hats-off to all you parents out there who have done it so successfully!  I can’t even imagine the conversations that will arise then (I’ll stick to wedding planning for now!).  Danny and I hope to follow in your footsteps.

Do you remember starting your own family of two?  What were the hardest & most exciting conversations you had?  What about when your family of 2 became 3 or more?

My pediatrician told me that I could start Pinkie Pie slowly on some rice cereal when she was about 4.5 months old (PP, the oldest, didn’t start rice cereal until she was 6 months old since she expressed no interest at all in eating solid foods). So, off I went to the store to buy some Gerber Rice Cereal and out came my Graco DuoDiner highchair. Pinkie Pie happily ate her rice cereal and we expanded into oatmeal after two weeks.

Since PP is a pretty picky eater (takes after her mom), I wanted to really expand Pinkie Pie’s palette to try to prevent  her from becoming picky as well. I started her with green beans figuring if she liked those then she would definitely like sweet potatoes and squash. Luckily, Pinkie Pie did like her greens (and still eats them today!). Once we went through all of the vegetables, then I introduced her to the fruits (which of course are almost every baby’s favorite).

At her 1 year appointment, my pediatrician said to start to move away from baby food and feed Pinkie Pie what we eat, but in very small pieces. I have to say that Pinkie Pie amazes me every day with what she will eat. She loves meat! Meatballs & sausage are her favorites (PP won’t touch that stuff, nor will I). Pinkie Pie also loves her fruit, drinkable yogurt and of course, Goldfish (any flavor will do…).

What’s on the menu for your little one? And when did they start eating their first solid foods?

On Thursday, we’ll be joined by my parents, my sister and her husband, my in-laws, my sister-in-law, and my aunt, uncle and two college-aged cousins.

I’m pretty sure this is the most people I’ve had in my home for dinner ever – let alone for the most highly anticipated meal of the entire year.

Needless to say – I’m psyched. I love being able to bring our families together, I love getting the chance to host and I love getting to COOK!

Now that said, I am by no means doing all of the cooking.

We will have a smorgasbord of dishes that bring together each of our family’s traditions — my MIL’s stuffing, my mom’s applesauce bread, my aunt’s sweet potato pie. Green Beans and Swiss Cheese for my husband, Green Bean Casserole for my BIL. Pumpkin, pecan, pudding, and peanut butter pies (and apple of course). A Family Fun Run in the morning (Voelker family tradition) and “Chips & Dips” and Turkey & Butter sandwiches in the evening (Killian family tradition – and I swear, try a turkey & butter sandwich on plain white bread this year – you will NOT be disappointed!)

I WILL however, be tackling the turkey. We have a monster bird in our fridge as we speak and frankly, I’m not totally sure what to do with it. Do I Brine? Baste? Fry? From what I’ve read, I think I’m going to smear the whole bird in butter, cross my fingers and hope it doesn’t turn out like the one on “Christmas Vacation.”  And, well, if it does – I guess we’ll have a good story for the years to come.

We have a lot to be thankful for this year and I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families! Wish me luck!

Is this your first year hosting Thanksgiving? Any tips?

Thanks to Sugar Daze for this awesome photo.

You know you’re a grandmother when …..

- You find yourself anguishing not about your big meeting next week, but instead by what your grandmother name is going to be…….hmmm

- You find yourself in the birthing room again, but it’s not you doing the work this time!  (I’m not sure which side of the bed is easier).

- The office you couldn’t wait to make for yourself out of your daughter’s vacated bedroom is now a make-shift nursery.

- You cannot walk through a department store without checking out the baby department for deals on stuff you would never have bought your own kids.

- You wave to your friends getting pedicures as you pass by the spa on your way to Toys “R” Us.

- The time alone on weekends with DH that you had so long awaited is now spent making the rounds to “see the kids.”  Afterall, you have all those great finds to deliver!

- You take vacation days from work to babysit.

- You buy your children movie tickets, so you’ll have a chance to babysit.

- You learn from your daughter-in-law on how to properly burp a newborn.

- You say “yes” to having the kitten live at your house, since SIL is allergic.

- You suddenly see bedtimes as arbitrary and discretional.

- You remember minute details of your own child’s early life you thought you’d long forgotten.

- Your granddaughter says “Nana” for the first time 

- Your granddaughter says “I want Grandma to sit next to me!” 

- When you first see your child holding her child and you are overwhelmed by the indescribable realization of the infinite nature of time, love and the circle of life.

How GREAT to be a Grandmother!! What are your favorite things about being a grandparent?

–First outing: Target (Pinkie was 5 days old). This is a Parlaman baby tradition since my older child, PP, had her first trip out to Target too (at 4 days old). I get my girls used to shopping with their mom early in life!! PP’s favorite store is still Target since you can get movies, toys, decorations, candy, all under one roof–that is a one-stop shop for PP.

–First time she slept through the night: 2 mos. You never know if your child is going to be a good sleeper. PP was OK as a baby so wasn’t sure if were going to have a baby that never slept, or a really good sleeper. Well, thankfully I have to put Pinkie Pie in the camp of good sleeper.

As for any new mom, the first two months are rough. But the light was at the end of the tunnel when I could put Pinkie Pie to bed at midnight and she would sleep until 6 am. I thought it was pretty good for that age so I was happy. As time went by,

I was able to put Pinkie to bed a little earlier each week, until now she goes to bed by 7:30 and wakes up at 6:00 a.m. every day.

–First smile: 2 mos. This is such a fun moment when your itty bitty smiles back at you and rewards your for all of the baby talk and funny faces you have been making to get her to smile. Anyone who meets Pinkie knows that once she smiled for the first time, there was no going back. Pinkie has a million dollar smile!

–First laugh out loud: 3 mos. I can pin point the exact moment when Pinkie laughed out loud. My husband would make it look like Pinkie would throw her diapers across the room (when actually he would be the one throwing them). It made PP laugh so hard and in turn Pinkie started to crack up too (we have video of this and believe me, it never got old!).

–First time she rolled over: 5 mos. Pinkie was upset the first time she rolled but after that, she enjoyed her new found tummy time.

–First time crawling: 7 mos. Pinkie Pie loved when she became mobile since she would crawl after her big sis as she ran around.

–First word: 7 mos (momma!!). On my first business trip after having Pinkie Pie, I had to leave her for 5 days to go to Santa Monica. Of course I was missing my baby, but I heard from my husband that Pinkie spoke her first word and it was Momma. She was missing her “mommy” and letting everyone know!

–First tooth: 9 mos. Pinkie is still working on her second tooth 4 months later! She only has her bottom 1.5 teeth but has recently been drooling big time so i think the top two are coming in now too.

–First time clapping hands: 9.5 mos. Pinkie Pie enthusiastically cheers for herself when she has done something well–we practice positive reinforcement!

–First steps: 11.5 mos. Pinkie Pie started taking a few steps right before her first birthday, but by the day of her party, she was strutting her stuff with her new found walking legs.

–First time singing along: 12 mos. I had to add this in since I thought it was so cute that Pinkie Pie tried to sing along while we sang “Happy Birthday” to her at her party (we got that on video too!).

Those are just some of pur many favorite baby “firsts.” What are yours?

It seems like only yesterday that our little LoveBird was still a bump, but now she is way more than a bundle and much more than a baby!  Our little lady turned 1 year old on September 11!  She celebrated with her parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles, aunts and friends at the restaurant where her mommy and daddy first met . 

Here she is telling everyone about her milestone.  How did you celebrate Baby’s First?

Visit other great photos of cuteness and awe (and share!) on the Graco Flickr page.

Maybe you’d like to share that great shot of the ever-growing baby bump you are sporting, your newborn baby’s very first picture or anything that captures the wonder, humor, marvel of childhood and parenthood — here’s how!

As Baby held her mouth open, I still wasn’t sure what I was seeing. I finally use my fingernail to touch the spot. It was a new tooth breaking through the gum! I immediately felt a little panicked since it was coming in behind her baby tooth. That subsided though, as I was able to wiggle the baby tooth in front of it. My baby has her first loose tooth! I was downright giddy telling Baby she would soon lose her tooth and a new one would be grow in it’s place.

I just loved the feeling when I got a loose tooth when I was a kid. I would wiggle the tooth constantly until it fell out. Sometimes I was impatient enough to just rip it out just like @mommybits’ son did this week. Kudos to the little tough guy!

Baby is not a wiggler. In fact, she was a little upset. Baby felt better when we talked about the tooth fairy. I explained we needed a special box for her tooth so it wouldn’t get lost under her pillow. That weekend we made a trip to our local craft store. We returned armed with fairy stickers, press on jewels, and of course a small heart shaped wooden box to decorate. Lastly, I got out my secret stash of Sharpies and let Baby go to town. The end result was a treasure to behold. Lasting memories were made doing the project together, and countless more will created when the box is put to use in the coming months.

I can’t be sure if I was ready for my baby girl to start losing her teeth, but life moves pretty fast sometimes. Too often we don’t focus on the little things that make the journey more enjoyable. Maybe by the next tooth, Baby will be a wiggler.

How are you commemorating the milestones along the way? Do you have any simple crafts that you do with your children that you can share?

I had the typical concerns about getting Baby back into the school routine.  The 5 days a week.  The every day homework load.  The special projects.  These were all part of the great unknown. 

Part of my fears were eased knowing Baby was returning the same class and teacher. She attends a Primrose School and her location combines first grade and kindergarten in the same room, but with a split curriculum. The remaining uneasiness just stayed there waiting for the first day to arrive.

The night before the first day, Baby and I planned the perfect outfit. Such decisions! Of course the uniform requirements helped minimize choices, but heaven help me when she becomes a teen! We planned her breakfast and then off to bed she went. How many times do you think my little princess was back out of bed?  Too many to count!  You name it, and Baby used it as a reason to get out of bed. With every new excuse, I was transported back to my own childhood.  I was also one of those kids too excited to fall asleep the night before the first day of school.

Baby finally fell asleep and sure enough, I had to drag her out of bed in the morning. Poor thing! However, I do have to say, a sleepy morning was a less emotional morning, at least for me. Baby was dressed, finished her breakfast and soon we were rushing out the door.  Of course I took time to take a few pictures to commemorate the oaccasion too.  What parent doesn’t? 

To my complete surprise the first day drop off was a breeze.  I didn’t cry at all.  I wasn’t surpised by the lack of tears  from Baby (unlike last year’s first day), but I really shocked myself.  I think I may actually getting used to this “my baby’s growing up” thing.  Then again, I make no promises for next year when there will be a school bus ride involved.

How did you handle your child’s first day of school this year? Was everyone dry eyed or teary?