#biggywigs - 6 Months

#biggywigs | 6 MONTHS

nicknames | Monkey, Chunky Monkey, Love Monkey, Baby

weight |  23 pounds (!!!!) and 27 1/2 inches long.

size | Size 4 diapers all the way.  You are STILL in 18 month clothes.  Hallelujah!  This is the longest stretch where you stayed in the same size.  I can tell you are thinning out/lengthening, because your arms and legs don't need to be rolled up as much anymore.  And your belly isn't quite as round.  I have a feeling you'll be in 24 month clothes after the New Year.  

sleep |  Oh buddy.  This month started out great.  Then you got your first cold while teething.  Woof.  This past week you would wake every two hours due to congestion or teeth pain.  I’ll be so glad to have this behind us! 

eats | Right after you turned 5 months old I made some puree’s.  You started with yams.  Next up was carrots and then squash.  You love squash!  You still aren’t a big fan of spoons, so I’m not really pushing it.  You love to nurse and still 100% breastmilk.

loves | Your jumperoo and exersaucer.  Your favorite toys are your Octopus rattle and snail.  You love to sit up and watch your brother (he’s your favorite).

dislikes | Waiting to eat.  Being overtired and tummy time.  I, of course, make you do tummy time at least three times a day.  I’m hoping your frustration will encourage you to crawl sooner rather than later! 

firsts |  Halloween!  First overnight trip to Missoula (I think it was your first hotel stay?) first cold and first teeth!  Those two bottoms one are so dang cute.  Now those two top teeth better get in ASAP.

Momma | Happy Half Birthday!!  Time is just flying by and I can't wait to experience your first Christmas with you :)   You are so happy and so snuggly and so Loud!  You really can keep up with #wiggydiggy in the noise department ;)   I love you so much Monkey.  

Daddy | You are such a happy little boy who loves his big brother.  Every time you see him your face lights up.  You are starting to come around to daddy.  When I see you, you light up and you make my heart so happy.  I love snuggling with you and giving you Ugga Mugga nose kisses.  I love your laugh.  Currently your little teeth are starting to pop through your gums which is painful I know so you aren’t feeling great or sleeping great and you have a little cough, but I think its due to the teething, but this will pass and soon you will be back to your happy self.  Your mom and I and brother love you so much.  Your brother loves climbing up in the bed every morning or really any chance he can to snuggle with you and kiss your head.  You are growing so fast and you have started eating real food.  Where did the time go.  I love you so much son!

How We Make Mealtime Work

In our house, we have a few mealtime rules.

1.
We eat dinner as a family.

There are a few exceptions - event night*, date night, or one parent is working late.
*Event night is either swim class or gymnastics and #wiggydiggy eats a 'sack' dinner:
peanut butter and jelly, applesauce, Baby-bel, Goldfish, etc.

If one parent is working late, the rest of us eat together.

2.
I am not a short order cook.

We meal plan two weeks out to cut down on grocery runs and utilize more leftovers.  With that being said, it is very rare that a meal I make for Justin and myself won't be eaten by #wiggydiggy.  (think super spicy or ethnic food)  Those nights I often make chicken nuggets or fish sticks as his entree but he eats our sides.  I do put a bit of our main dish on his plate for him to try.

3.
You must eat two bites of vegetables to be excused.

This rule came about due to my lack of appetite during pregnancy.  Veggies weren't offered often so a "dislike" suddenly showed up at dinner time.  Once #wiggydiggy turns four, he will have to eat three bites of vegetables.  When he moves up to a new class at school, it'll be five bites.
Only took him one week of throwing a fit and now he eats those bites so fast!  I know adding one more won't be a struggle.

4.
We say Grace and we clear our plates.

By clear our plates - I mean to move it from the table to the sink.  This is an expectation at school so we reinforce it at home.

5.
You don't have to like it, but you do have to try it

Once we put our expectations into place, the dinnertime battle stopped.  #wiggydiggy knows that he cannot say "That's gross"or "Yucky" to food I've made.  Those comments cost him a reward coin.

Also...

Bribery

Dessert is the biggest motivator to eat well and behave at the dinner table.
(Dessert is a small bowl with 10 or so M&M's)

(We also don't use our phones during dinner, so I don't have any meal photos!  haha)

Beauty stock up!

Currently on flash sale on Amazon!

I LOVE this stuff.  I have seen a noticeable difference in my skin.  Highly recommend!

Friday Five - Favs, On Sale!

Target is having their Pre Black Friday Sale, and some of my favorite items are on sale!

(P.S.  There's nothing in this for me, other than sharing my favorite things.)

1.

Roomba

I seriously cannot explain how much I love my robot vacuum.

When I was researching, I purposely looked for one that would work on carpets AND hardwood/laminate.  The wifi capability and Alexa capability are big pluses.

I love the Roomba 690.  #wiggydiggy has named her Ruby and she's my favorite electronic.  She starts her job every day at 9AM and vacuums the whole house 5 days a week.  Well, minus the sunken living room.  That just leave me to spot clean (the rug edges catch debris occasionally) on the weekend with my Dyson stick vacuum.

2.
Hand Towels

I love white hand towels.  However, their lifespan isn't terribly long with my two boys.  I love to find white towels on great deal to freshen up my stash.  These fit the bill!  (They also handle being washed in bleach often.  Always a bonus)

3.
Diapers

Target is having their spend $75 get a $15 gift card deal. Always a nice time to load up on some diapers :)

4.
Kitchen Aid Stand Mixers

This is the time of year where mine is used weekly.

5.
Not a Target item - but one of my all time Loves
STARBUCKS HOLIDAY IS BACK!

And today you can get a red reusable cup for the season.

Happy Halloween

From my Chunky Monkey and Batman, to yours.

Hope your Halloween was a great one!

Batman went trick or treating for the first time and had a BLAST.  However, he had way more fun handing out candy to all of the trick or treaters that came to our house.
When we were running out of candy, he grabbed his pumpkin full of goodies and dumped it into our bowl.  What a sweetheart.