Day off..."Mommy Tip: Bath Time"

Today was my day off. Kinley and I actually slept in till 9:15 this morning! I really love my days off with her. She is so sweet. I think I probably say that all the time, but she really is. I don't think I've ever been around a baby that was so content so much of the time. I wish I could have just played with her all day, but I did have a To-Do list to tackle and I actually got everything done on it but one. And the day is not over yet. She is taking her nap right now. Its a little late in the day but she was too busy playing earlier to go to sleep.

"Mommy Tip"
The tip for today has to do with bath time. The first time I ever gave Kinley a bath, I decided to plug in one of those little heaters in the bathroom and shut the door for a little while before we got started so it would warm up in there. Some people may have heaters already as a switch in their bathrooms, but we don't. Also, this seems to work better and faster. I have a little pad that I lay out in front of the heater. I put her towel on it and then lay her down. This has always calmed her down. She loves to lay down there in front of the warm air. Then when I get her out of the bath, I lay her back on the towel (on the pad) and she never has a chance to get really cold. Also, during bath time, I use 2 washcloths. I dunk them in the warm bath water and then lay one over her chest/tummy area and one over her head like a hood. This helps keep her warm. I use the one on her head to wash her head and then leave it there while I use the other one to wash her body. I always make sure that at least one of them is always on her to help keep her warm. This may just be my opinion, but I think a lot of babies don't enjoy bath time because they get cold. With these 2 ideas, maybe they would like it better. Or maybe its just Kinley that likes it, but it works for us. She loves baths!!!

Something new...

I'm going to try something new with my blog. When I first started it, I intended for it to be all about Kinley and our family. It will still be mostly about her, but I want to start sharing some "Mommy Thoughts" and "Mommy Reviews". I know that some of my favorite things I use are because someone else told me about them. Whenever I shop for something, I always read all the reveiws I can find before I make my decision. I am also big into all of the books because I like to know what to expect. So I thought that I could use my blog to not only share stories and pictures of Kinley and our family, but to also share some of my experiences with products or helpful tips. So if you know anyone who is a new or expectant mom, then please feel free to share my blog with them. I would love to create a community of moms who share tips that worked for them or products that they love. I'm sure there's not a mom out there who wouldn't love to know what really works for real moms!






My first "Mommy Review" is actually about 2 JJ Cole products:

This is the JJ Cole System Bag. I love it! I have the red one pictured. It is stylish and functional. I can fit a change of clothes, diapers, formula, bottles, desitin, toys, my camera, and my wallet in this bag. My husband gets frustrated with it, but I love it. My favorite part is the changing pad. It actually folds open as opposed to others where the pad has to be pulled out and unfolded and then put back in. It has a zipper slot on the inside that can hold at least 2 diapers. On the outside, you can fit your travel wipes case. It also has a handle that unsnaps so you can attach it to any bag or stroller. I use the changing pad with whatever diaper bag or purse I'm using. I wish JJ Cole would sell it by itself, but the only way I know how to get it right now is by buying this bag. This bag also comes with stroller hooks which I love! I leave them on the handle of my stroller and just clip my bag to them whenever I use it. This keep my bag where I can reach it and I can use the compartment underneath for extra stuff or shopping bags.

This is the JJ Cole BundleMe. The top and bottom of this product come completely apart. You put the bottom section down in the carseat and pull the straps and buckles through. Then you can zip on the top section. It creates a little sleeping bag-type thing. You don't have to worry about blankets falling off or your baby not being warm enough. It is so easy and if you have to get out when its rainy or windy, you can hold the flap up with your hand or lightly lay it over the baby until you get inside. I put it in Kinley's carseat when she was about a week old and have used it ever since. You can also put it in a stoller once they are no longer using their carseat as much. There is a toddler size, too!

So this is a trial run for the tips and reviews. Please let me know what you think. And if you have any specific questions, please ask. I know I've only been a mom for 3 and a half months, but we all learn something new everyday. I'm sure we all have something that other moms would find helpful. I'm not saying that I am an expert by any means. I'm just a mom who loves her baby and would love to reach other moms out there. I need all the tips and reviews I can get, too.

Pictures, pictures, & more pictures

OK, I know I have not been doing a very good job of keeping the blog updated. I promise to try to do better! This post is FULL of new pictures. I can't upload pictures as easily with my laptop being "out of commission" so I don't always get the pictures on here as fast as I'd like to. These pictures are not really in order. I just love them all, though. I had to go to Wal-mart tonight so I could make a picture CD so I could put them on the blog tonight!

Kinley is holding her head up so well during tummy time now and she doesn't cry the whole time! This is earlier today.
This picture is for Manda...she got Kinley this outfit for Christmas and she wore it to dinner at Chili's tonight.

Lili made this bow for Kinley so I just had to take some pictures in it after her bath today

I was in a picture-taking mood today so I've got a lot of different poses of her just hanging out at the house

This is last night...this is the first time I've seen her hold her head up this well when she's laying down...she was in a good mood the whole time

Just a picture of my little monkey

This is Kinley and Daddy on Daddy's birthday!

Kinley and Daddy on Valentine's Day before our family date

Kinley and Mommy on Valentine's Day

I thought Kinley looked absolutely adorable on Valentine's Day...her shirt said "My (heart) belongs to daddy"...she was all decked out in pink and red

Presley is "reading" to Kinley...aren't they cute?

Lili sometimes has her own photo shots with Kinley which I love looking at my camera at the end of the day and seeing new pictures of Kinley

Here is Kinley's 14 weeks pictures...I'm not sure where her 3 month picture is but I did take one

Another cute one Lili took

Kinley was happy while we were in the waiting room when my dad had knee surgery

She loves to "eat" her hands

Sitting in her bumbo

We played in the floor in her room for awhile a couple of Sundays ago...that day she had just started really interacting with toys and pulling them to her mouth.

Kinley seems to grow every day. She is really beginning to fill out. When she was born she was so long and skinny. Not anymore!!! She has cute little thighs with rolls and her belly is always so big right after she eats. She smiles and "talks" all the time now. It really doesn't matter what you say to her. We've started calling the changing table "the magic happy table" because she always smiles and laughs when you lay her on it. Its funny. She's still wearing "0-3" month size clothes which is good because she still has some she hasn't worn yet. I love to dress her up and take pictures of her. She still LOVES baths. For some reason, Kinley seems to love watching TV. We don't put her in front of it intending for her to watch it, but if she catches a glimpse of it she stares at it. Sometimes you can't get her to look away from it.

Right now she is in her swing, squealing and "talking". She is so funny to us. I think she really enjoys hanging out with Presley all day. It gives her something to look at and listen to because Presley is always doing something.

I took her to a wedding shower that I was throwing for a friend at work last Tuesday. Everyone kept saying what a good baby she is. And tonight when we were almost done eating at Chili's, our waiter said that he just wanted to let us know what a well-behaved baby we have! She really is such a good baby. I could spend all day, every day with her!

Well, I better end this because its quickly becoming a very long post.

Valentine's Day

Here is a picture of my little angel on Valentine's Day! Isn't she cute?!?!? She gets to spend the day at home with her daddy while I'm at work. But I'm off tomorrow and we're doing Beth's shower.

3 Months Old!!!

On, Thursday, Feb. 5th, Kinley Grace was 3 months old! I can't believe how time has flown by. She gets prettier every day and seems to change so much. I did take pictures, but I will have to post them later. She smiles so much now. We used to have to coax it out of her, but now you barely have to look at her and she grins big time! She is so sweet and loving. I can hardly contain myself when I get off work and I'm on my way to pick her up. I just can't wait to get my hands on her.

She is currently staying with a friend of our's and her little girl. This was truly an answered prayer for us. I was very nervous about putting her in daycare and then it worked out so perfectly for Lindsay to be able to stay home with Presley and keep Kinley, too. We don't know how long this situation will be able to last, but I praise God for every day that it does. It is great being able to call your friend and check on your baby and to get pictures of her through text messages throughout the day.

I work four 10-hour shifts a week and my day off is not always the same. I definitely look forward to my day off more than ever. This weekend I was blessed to have Friday and Monday off so I am in the middle of a 4-day weekend with my angel! The only problem with that is I will have to work four straight days before I get to next weekend with her.

I have to brag on her a little bit. She is such a good sleeper. We are truly blessed in that area. She usually goes to bed around 10:30 or 11:00 and sleeps until 9:00 or so the next day. She's even pretty good about taking naps. Not so much at Lindsay's because I think there's so much going on for her to be interested in. She is a good eater, although she is very impatient once she decides she is hungry. She is starting to reach at toys and grab them. Sometimes she even pulls them to her mouth. She would gladly "eat" her whole hand if I let her. I love getting her dressed up. I love having a girl!!! (Not that I wouldn't love a boy if that's what God blessed us with.) But I truly feel that Kinley herself was meant for me and Bryan to raise. She is the love of my life and I can't wait to see what God has planned for her.

On a different note...on Valentine's Day, Bryan and I will celebrate 7 years together (about 2 1/2 of that married)!!! Four years of that I spent a little over an hour away in Russellville while I was in college. I can hardly believe it. We have come a long way! I love him more every day, though. Seeing him with our daughter is an amazing feeling. He is a great daddy and I can already tell that she has him wrapped around her tiny finger! I love to catch pictures of them sleeping together in the recliner or on the couch. I have pictures like that of me and my daddy!

Well, I could probably go on and on about my baby and my hubby. But I've got to get ready for bed and for tomorrow. My dad is having knee surgery. Its nothing too serious, but any prayers would be appreciated!