1st Birthday Inspiration Board

Well, it's the final stretch until Ledoux's very first birthday.  So hard to believe that last year at this time, Lee had just returned from Afghanistan, and we had NO clue how much our lives would be changing.  Whoa!

I am a bit behind in the party planning department (in fact I still have invitations that need to be sent out!) but thanks to my beloved Pinterest, I have crafted my Ledoux's perfect party!  I introduce you to the inspiration behind Ledoux's first birthday: Pink and Gold.  In all its bold, over the top, gaudiness. And I cannot be more excited.  

Her cake smash outfit is all from Etsy! 
Tutu here
Crown here
One onesie here

Garland is from here and here

And who wouldn't love a cotton candy party favor?  Are you serious?  Awesome.  Found here.

Perhaps my most favorite party purchase thus far is this print.  It will not only be in her photos, but also displayed as guests arrive.  What a perfect and awesome keep sake to capture her first year!  I was able to add everything she loves, into one awesome print!

Of course, I have been in present buying mode as well!  These are the gifts Lee and I have decided on:

The book is from here  I plan to have all our guests write a little something in it, and keep it for her for years to come!  I love that it is personalized with her name and birthday throughout the book!
The Teepee is from here.  I admit, the teepee might be a little more of my obsession.  I have been wanting to buy her a teepee for months.
The lunch box is from here.  Now that Ledoux is a big girl, she brings her lunch to school, and naturally needs a pretty lunch box!

I cannot wait to share pictures of the actual day- but since we have 2 weeks left still, its time to keep shopping and planning!  I am thinking of gold spray painting everything.  Too much?

Hey, I am a DIY-er!

Sooo back in April (or was it May, the months all run together!) we bought a house! Wahoo!  Since then, it has been craziness trying to juggle life, jobs, baby, and making the house our own.  That being said, Lee and I have a laundry list of to-do's a mile along.  If you are anything like me, you hate the feeling of 'unfinished.'  I am very much the type that has a list, and gets the shit done. I hardly am able to relax until everything is completed that needs to be done... in the case of buying a home though, I am learning to  have to be content with the 'list.' Dun dun dun. (Instert evil, sinister music here.)  The list is my own, personal nightmare.  I cannot rest, its all I think about, it is all consuming.

Snapping back into reality, the list will never get done.  There will always be things that we want to do, have to do, wish we could do to our house.  There is no amount of time or money that will ever get everything acomplished.  That being stated, we do what we can, when we can.  (It kills me to say that, because again... I want that list to be GONE and tasks completed!) Ugh.  We have prioritized our list into things we can realisticly do now, in 6 months, and later (the 'later' category pretty much meaning they are being filed into the "when we win the lottery or it will never get done" category.  So much for my home wine room. humph.)

The view from our bedroom

So, project #1: Our master bedroom.  We sold ALL of our bedroom furniture on craigslist when we moved, thinking we would buy all new stuff.  (Um newsflash: bedroom furniture is EXPENSIVE.)  Stupid idea.  So, when we moved in, we had to buy new- but had a pretty strict budget set aside for bedroom furniture.  Well, in true Becca form, I found a table for another room that I had to have, which meant the only thing we could afford to buy for our bedroom was a matress. OOps. (But the coffee table I bought with our bedroom money is awesome!)  I scoured my pinterest, and found an awesome DIY project to make a headboard.  I enlisted the help of my super handy husband, bribed him with a Saturday morning of no baby, a 12 pack of beer, and he was on board.  (Anytime I bribe with beer it works.)  Fast forward to today, here is our new room!  I am serisouly considering adding a wine rack next to the red chair... there is just something super cozy about this room that makes me want to pop a bottle of cab open and enjoy it.  In bed.  Is that weird?  Because I think it is totally sensible. And I think, now that I write this, I am going to do it.

I have been really challenged with decorating our new house, as the house itself is true southwest: from the colors to the architecture, to the acre of cactus we live on.  My style is more rustic/restoration hardware, which really doesn't work in alot of our home, so I am doing the best I can do! I will share other rooms as I make it down this dreadful list, next step: my baby bow crafting room!

Ledoux is 11 months old!

OMG! I am getting anxious just writing this... my baby is 11 months old!  And she is hardly a baby anymore... in the last month she has become even more un-baby than ever!  She no longer wants a bottle-in fact, we are down to 2-3 a day (a huge contrast to the 8+ she was drinking a few months ago!) and wants to eat nothing but "big girl" food.  She actually has a traditional breakfast/lunch/dinner meal now, which blows my mind.  Where did the time go?!?!?! 

Stats: No new stats this week since we didn't have any doctor visits.  One thing for sure is this baby is loooonnnnngggg- wearing 18 month clothes and size 4 shoes! Holy canoli!  I tried to squeeze her into a 12 month onesie yesterday, and it was busting at the seams!

Sleep: Like a little champion!  No sleep issues with this little doll.  Lee and I were just talking about this the other day- we have been so lucky with her sleep habits pretty much since she was born... that if we ever have another, we are certainly screwed.  The next baby, with our luck, will never sleep!  Doo goes down about 7 pm every night, and sleeps til about 6:30 or 7 every morning.  She also takes 2 naps- one in the morning around 9:30 am, and another in the afternoon around 3:00 pm.

 

Eating: Like I mentioned, she really wants nothing to do with a bottle.  She gets one before her morning nap, one before her afternoon nap, and one before bed.  That's it.  She now eats real food- and loves raspberries, strawberries, avocado, string cheese, and bananas.  She goes ape shit (no pun intended) over nanners.  Holy cow!  She sees a banana and screams until she gets it.

Health: No problemos!

Milestones: We have a WALKER! Shiz just got real...she is legit walking.  Technically, she started yesterday, but took her first real steps about a week ago.  Lee and I were blown away to see her just start cruising.  I don't know if I am ready for this next chapter of little mobile Ledoux.  Slightly terrified! She also got a top, front tooth (finally!) so her tooth count is at 3.

Likes: She loves to play in her tunnel! She goes back and forth through it, over and over and over.  She also loves feeding the dogs her food (she laughs and thinks its hilarious!)  Other loves include anything with water (drinking it, playing in it, etc.), pulling the cat's tail, peek a boo, Raffi (the children's singer- especially Baby Beluga!), and her curious George monkey.  Actually... monkey anything.  She has a strange attraction to monkeys.

Dislikes: Strangers.  She has major stranger danger still (unless mom/daddy are holding her.) She doesn't like the swimming pool still (which majorly sucks because she has about ten suits to wear!) but I am hoping over time she will start to like it.  Its odd- because she loves to play in water, but there is something about the pool she doesn't enjoy.  (Maybe because it is cold water?!)  Ledoux also doesn't like when other children try to play with her toys.  Ledoux will go to school, crawl right over to a baby, and take their toy...but when they do it to her, she loses it.  Case in point: Ledoux had an extra bow at school, and one of her teachers put it on one of the other little girl's head.  Ledoux noticed the other baby had one of her bows on, and she crawled right over and snatched it off.  Thinking this was a fluke, her teacher's tried it again, with a different baby wearing the bow.  Ledoux did the same thing. Since babies this age are far too young to be "mean", I think of her as an emerging leader :)

Trips: We went to the Grand Canyon!  It was so much fun to take picture of Doo there (even though she won't remember it!)  If you haven't been, you need to.  It is ahh-mazing. 

Mom and Dad updates: We are doing great!  This new house keeps us busy- trying to make it our own.  We are slowly but surely making progress on that!  We have a list a mile long of things we want to do eventually, and are slowly nicking away at the list.  Mom's new job is cray- so busy and it never seems like there is enough time in the day...but adjusting to it.  Daddy is doing awesome, his job is great and he is a natural leader (duh!)  We miss our home in San Diego, but are slowly getting used to this new city.  Such a huge change!

Monday ramblings

Hi there! I really hope everyone had a most fab weekend, and are ready to get this week started. (sighhh..)  Be warned, my post today has absolutly no flow to it...and is full of totally random thoughts.

1.) That moment when you have spent the entire morning with your little one, chasing them around and trying to keep them out of every potential hazard and danger, and they finally are **this close** to napping.  That was me yesterday.  After a morning of playing, chasing, crawling, and walking around the house, over and over with Ledoux, I was exhausted.  And she was well overdue for her little baby nap.  So I dimmed the lights, turned on the lullabies, and gave her a bottle.  As I was rocking her, and she was **this close** to falling asleep, someone knocks on the door.  And my dogs go crazy. Of course, is startles the babydoll and I am left with a decesion- do I get up and answer the door (and risk her not napping), or do I stay put and keep rocking her to sleep?  I choose option B. Don't get me wrong, I love playing with  my baby, but I live for the 45 minute naps she takes so I can dash around the house like a mad woman getting everything done that needs to be completed, before she wakes up and we start all over again.  Any other moms feel me on this?!

2.) I discovered the most amazing thing in the world this weekend.  Now  that Ledoux eats solids, and we are introducing more and more finger foods at mealtime, food is everywhere.  She takes fists full of food, with the intent of stuffing it in her mouth, only for it to end up all over the floor.  And of course, the dogs know better than to eat fruit and veggies (wayyyy to healthy for them!) so I have to get down on my hands and knees and pick it all up.  Have you ever tried to pick up a half of a banana, mashed up into small pieces?  Can we say slippery/sticky/gross.  Ugh!  Enter: the most amazing bib ever made.  It is some type of plastic/silicone (translation: you clean it in the sink, easy peasy!) and has a "lip" on it that catches about 80% of the food that would usually end up all over the floor.  Ahhhhh-mazing.  Seriously, every mommy needs one of these.  You can find them here, but I but found mine at Target for half the price Amazon has them listed for.

3.) Today marks my very last day before I start working in an 'office' job again.  Although I am excited to have a mission, if you will (like get up, actually shower and get dressed, and go to work), I am conflicted at the idea.  I have been working from home since I moved to Tucson, and although it is hard to work from home, it has offered me a ridiculous amount of flexibility, and time to spend with my little Doo.  I am not sure I am ready to jump back on the going to the office wagon...wish me luck!  I know it will take a bit of time and it will be fine, but I will miss being able to pick up my baby from childcare whenever I want (not to mention my trips to Target in the middle of the day, just because I can).  Sigh. I am also a bit worried at how I am going to juggle it all, but most of us mommies have to do it.  If y'all can do it, so can I!


I plan to spend the rest of my day off, before going back to work tomorrow, watching a lifetime movie and relaxing.  No cleaning the house.  No working out.  I am going to lay here, and do nothing.  And enjoy it.  I hope you all had a great weekend, and your week is off to a great start!  XOXO

Baby Brains and Literacy!

Via First Things First

Hi Y'all!  Happy Thursday!  I really hope your week if flying by, gosh... mine sure is!  I still haven't made it to Express (or the mall, actually...) to buy some cute new work clothes in prep for my first day on my new job next week, but I have been spending some time reading some interesting information on young children.  If there is one thing that I cannot stress enough, it is the importance of understanding the impact we have on your children.  It just kills me when I see parents, grandparents, or just people in general who don't realize how much of an impact they have on children.  Whether its because they don't care or they just don't know, it is sooo important to educate everyone!

I think that picture at the top of this post says it all: The brain is the only organ not developed fully when a baby is born.  What does that mean?  It is constantly developing in the early years... and we are they key in that development!

So in short, what can you do today to help encourage learning and brain development?  Well, the list can go on forever, but we can start by focusing on literacy in the early years.  It is as simple as that- read to your babies!

1. Read to young children EVERYDAY! (It doesn't matter if they are a newborn or a 4 year old!)
2. Talk to your babies, regardless of age, and explain to them what you are doing.  Ask them questions (even if they cannot talk yet!)
3. Take young children to the library.  Let them see you reading.
4. Tell your children stories.  Make up stories with their name. 
5. Read nursery rhymes, or even better, make up your own rhymes!  Sing them, chant them, whatever you want to do!
6. Point out letters around you. Read alphabet books.  Play with Alphabet magnets.

I leave you with this awesome statistic, below.  Now, go READ to your babies! :)

Babies, and bows, and onesies...oh my!

Holy Canoli!  I have been knee deep in creating, making, and shipping baby bows and accessories lately!  I just updated my Etsy Shop with some new designs, and have started creating baby onesies in addition to baby bows (and a few baby boy bow ties...more to come soon!)  Sorry, the wine in the picture isn't included in any bow purchases.  However, if you live near Tucson, come on over! :)

As a special little gift for my friends in the blog world, use promo code BLOGGER to get 30% of your purchase in our store!  We also do custom orders, so if you see a bow you love, but wish you could make it another color, change the headband, etc. just let us know!  We will make it to your heart's desire.  Here is the link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LedouxSands

I hope everyone out there is having a great week- Happy hump day, y'all!  It is **almost** Friday!  Wahoo!

Ledoux modeling one of our 4th of July bows!

Our weekend recap in pictures!

Well, we meet again Monday.  Ugh.  This is my last week of working from home, before I start a 'real' job again.  I am very excited, a bit nervous, and somewhat bummed at the idea of actually having to wake up, dress up, and go to work.  Luckily, the only person who will have to deal with the transition is me, as Ledoux has been in childcare for a while now, and has developed quite the 'second' family there.  I think a trip to Express to stock up on some cute work clothes is in order this week.  Twist my arm.


Anyhoo, I hope y'all had a most fab father's day weekend!  We celebrated Lee's first Father's Day on Saturday, because my honey works Sundays.  So Saturday morning, we just lounged around as a family, and gave Lee is father's day gifts.  We got him a date-vitiation which he loved.  He also got a high powered pellet gun, so he can sit on the balcony, and keep the nasty little Arizona critters off of our piece of desert.  We decided the bunny rabbits, birds, and lizards are free from the wrath of Lee, but the snakes and spiders are free game.  Not to mention the wild pigs, coyotes, etc. that often make their way down the wash to our front door.

We spent the afternoon re-decorating our loft area.  We have an entire second level, that has a huge open space and our master bedroom bath, and we have had the hardest time deciding what to do with it.  Although it is far from done, we spend almost all of our time up there thanks to it being the only area of the house with carpet, that is totally baby proof (so Doo can move and groove to her hearts desire!)  I made her a little spot that is all her own, and I think she loves it!  Her favorite part?  Staring at pictures of herself.  Of course.  It is meant to be a fun place for her to lounge, read books, and maybe...someday...curl up and take a nap!? Yeah right.

 That evening, I surprised Lee with a date night to the zoo!  Ok, ok, I know you are thinking that sounds lame!  It was a special, after hours event at the zoo called 'Brews at the Zoo' and it was so fun!  For 3 hours, 15 or so different breweries set up shop in the zoo, and we walked around, sampled beers, and played at the zoo.  There is nothing I love more than the zoo, paired with unlimited amounts of beer...?  Count me in!

Since my hubs had to work Sunday, it was just me and Doodle!  We designed her 1st birthday cards (and old west theme is what we decided on!) and did some grocery shopping.  And yes, she actually loves to wear sunglasses.  She takes on a whole new 'tude when she puts them on, and I love it.  So sassy.  Soooooo sassy. She wore mine through the store, the whole time were there.

I hope everyone had a most fab weekend, and that your Monday flies by!  Only 4.5 days until the weekend, you can do it!!

Baby Ledoux is 10 Months!

Ten Months Old!  How is time going by sooo fast? I just look at her and wonder where these last ten months have gone.  Everyday, she learns a new 'trick' and watching her learn and grow is such a trip!

Stats: There is no doubt she continues to grow (obvi!)  I don't know her actual weight, but she is definitely over the 20 pound mark, without a doubt!  She is also in 12-18 month clothes now, and size 4 shoes. She is super tall, and has really long fingers (future piano player or basketball player, maybe?!)


Sleep: Still a little angel (knock on wood) when it comes to sleeping at night.  She is in bed, every night, by 7 pm, and wakes up between 6:15 am-6:45 am.  Whatever you do, don't try and push bedtime past 7 pm.  She will make your life hell.  She is very clear on letting us know when it is 'that time' and Lee and I rush home like crazy people to try and make our 7pm deadline, before baby flips the bitchy baby switch!  I am not complaining, but I sure do miss sleeping in... I don't think I have slept past 7 am since Ledoux arrived... sigh.  She continues to not nap much during the day, sometimes she will take a nap, around lunch time, for about an hour, and a couple random cat naps in the car.  Other than that, this baby is go-go-go.

Eating: This is one of my sweet little piggy's favorite things to do.  Ledoux is officially eating big girl food, all by herself!  Lee is still terrified to see her eat actual food (he worries she will choke) but I am getting more used to the idea.  Her favorites are bananas and string cheese.  This little monkey will down an entire banana is less than 5 minutes (true story, I timed it this morning at breakfast!)  She pretty much eats whatever we eat, as long as we cut it up into small pieces.  She also had shredded chicken and really liked it!  Mostly, she eats fresh fruits though.  She still has the normal baby food, but everyday starts to hate it more and more... she would much rather feed herself.  We are down to about 3-4 6 oz bottles, but most of the time she doesn't finish the whole thing.

Health: Nothing in the last month!  She has been healthy, happy, and beyond active.  I am exhausted just thinking about it, hah!

Milestones: She now says "mama" and "dada" all the time.  She also stands up, crawls, and pulls her body up on to everything (chairs, baskets, ottomans, etc.)  Ledoux can also stand, unassisted, for a few seconds at a time!  She took her first half step last week (ahhhhhh!) so I am certain we will have a walking baby in the next couple weeks.  She LOVES to walk, and if we hold her hand, she will walk all throughout the house. Over. And over.  And over.  We also bought her a walker, and it is hilarious to watch her walk and push it around the house.  It is her (and our) favorite evening activity.  If I take her away from it, she screams.  New fave toy!

Likes: As mentioned above, she LOVES her walker. She cruises throughout the house with this thing, non stop.  She also has started a new game at dinner, and as soon as the spoon gets close to her mouth, she takes her hands and claps (so that the spoon is between her two hands) and food goes flying everywhere.  Of course, she laughs hysterically.  She also loves playing peek a boo, and hide and go seek (I hide, and yell "where's my baby?!") and she will come crawling looking for me- and then I jump out and scream "baby!"  It spooks her every time, and she loves it!

Dislikes: She has stranger danger, especially older men . The minute she sees one, she cries.  So odd! 

How are mommy and daddy? We are doing great!  Lee is rocking it at work, but working a lot of long hours lately. Boo!  Good thing he gets paid a lot of overtime! :)  I just got a new career working at the United Way, and start in a couple of weeks. Bittersweet, because I have really enjoyed working from home and the flexibility to spend time with my little darling, but I have to go back to the 'real world' sooner or later! We have what seems like a million baby showers coming up over the next 6 weeks, with 6 new babies getting ready to arrive before the end of August!  Holy canoli! My head is spinning, but I am so excited for all of our friends to meet their sweet littles!  Such an exciting time (and even more exciting?  I have almost made it through my first year of parenthood!)

I am looking forward to Lee's first father's day this weekend...planning is in progress as we speak! :)