Posts Tagged ‘Caroline’

What We Did Over Summer Vacation (2014 Lake)

Friday, October 10th, 2014

It’s October, but that’s not going to stop me from posting these photos I took in August.  Maybe I’ll have the Kiawah trip photos done by Christmas.

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All The Perfect Little Pieces {Win $100 from Mustela and BlogHer}

Tuesday, October 7th, 2014


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My baby is amazing.

It doesn’t matter that he’s my third baby, and I’ve already done this newborn thing twice before. It doesn’t matter if it’s 2am and I’m exhausted. It doesn’t matter if his tiny fingers are ripping all the hair out of the back of my neck. He’s an itty bitty miracle.

When I’m nursing him, the hairs right behind his ear gleam like they’re made of copper. It’s the only time I am really sure he’s going to be a ginger, since the fuzz that grows in a perfect imitation of his father’s hairline on top of his head is white-blond. When he’s sleeping he makes sniffling snorfling noises and says “mmmmm” and “oooooo” and “eh eh eh eh eh” when he’s having mysterious baby dreams. I can no longer sleep without those noises, or I wake up in a panic that he’s TOO quite or TOO sound asleep. I cover his chest with my palm and feel every rib at once as they move up and down with his breath.

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His ears are like tiny monkey ears on the outside, covered in a light layer of fur, and seashells on the inside, pearly pink and smooth. I can’t stop touching them while he’s sleeping in my lap, because I know in just a few weeks poking him is going to wake him up. When I’m feeling stressed, I smooth the tiny M that Linc gets between his eyes or the lines on his forehead or the little creases he gets by his eyes. His baby skin is so soft, but so incredibly sensitive.

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I first heard of Mustela a few months ago when I was photographing a newborn for a client, and I couldn’t stop smelling their baby. Then a friend suggested it when I mentioned Linc’s cradle cap was acting up. Now I’m the one recommending it to friends for all stages of motherhood. The 2-in-1 Hair & Body Wash is a tear-free, soap-free gel, specially formulated for the delicate skin of babies, but is great on the older kids too. It rinses very easily from Caroline’s hair and truly is tear-free, so there’s no more fighting when it’s time to wash it out.

But our real favorite is the Hydra Bébé Body Lotion. It’s so thick and smooth without being greasy, and absorbs very quickly even on just-washed baby skin. My hands are softer than they’ve been in years just from applying it to the kids. And I have been applying it to all the kids – on Caroline’s eczema-like rough patches, on the rash Evan gets from wiping is face on his sleeve, and on poor sensitive Linc, who gets a new case of baby acne or cradle cap or heat rash every day. They all love the lotion and you should see Linc smile when I’m rubbing it into his adorable chubby baby cheeks.

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Mustela has been trusted by parents for over 60 years and is developing new ways to protect skin both today and in the future. All their products are hypoallergenic and free from parabens, phenoxyethanol, phthalates, EDTA and chlorphenesin. I feel good using their products on every inch of my little miracle for years to come.

You can learn more about their in-depth research, testing methods and science by visiting their website.

Mustela and BlogHer are giving you a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift card. Just leave a comment answering the question, “What is your favorite newborn moment?”  

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My Week(205) in iPhone Photos

Monday, October 6th, 2014

This week (the one we’re in, not the one in the photos) is International Babywearing Week. In the last 2 months I’ve been totally brainwashed by those sneaky babywearers, who got me with their pretty patterns and fabric geekery and adorable selfies. I promise I’ll take pictures of other stuff one of these days, but since THIS week is IBW, I can’t promise it will happen soon.

Sunday:

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He’s a jumper, not a toe-dipper. He does not get it from me.

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Pretty in Pink

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Vacation baby sleeps on the couch

Monday:

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I don’t think this qualifies as “baby” wearing

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He’s frowning because this is NOT the pool with the gorgeous view. He still loves the actual floaty.

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That’s my kid hugging my best friend’s kid. FEELINGS.

Tuesday:

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We were supposed to leave at 7 am. Oops.

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So of course this is what happened on I-95. More than an hour parked…

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…which lead to some car nursing. PARKED. WE WERE PARKED.

Wednesday:

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Vacation recovery day. I just stared at this for 12 hours.

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FOXES. I’m not sure I’m going to keep this one, but it’s so adorable

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A sea monster to eat your baby!

Thursday:

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My baby bump is still there. It’s just tied on to the outside.

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She thinks she’s “sneaking” apples for a snack. OH NO DON’T EAT THE APPLES.

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Floor nap success!

Friday:

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Sweater weather

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This one is called Ahoi and Caroline says it’s her’s.

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They would walk for hours if the sun didn’t set so early

Saturday:

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Great Grandma brings the best presents

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Caroline thought Brutus needed to be put to bed

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I’m not keeping this one, even though Linc seems to like it.

It’s officially fall here in Connecticut, although I am resisting turning on the heat for at least a couple more days. It’s gorgeous and my photography is getting busy again and there are way too many fun things to do. We also got (what I’m calling tentative) confirmation we’re going to be staying in Connecticut for at least a little while longer, so I can just enjoy my friends and my life and not worry about starting over somewhere new. Although Hawaii is going to start looking pretty good when they come fill the oil tank.

My Week(204) in iPhone Photos

Sunday, September 28th, 2014

I’m at the beach and never coming back.

Sunday:

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His face looks like this 90% of the time

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This photo was taken at 3 pm. Those are pajamas.

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Siblings

Monday:

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Babywearing pedicure

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Oceany toes in preparation for the beach

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After school face

Tuesday:

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Purple is a good color on him

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Not happy about those shots

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The icee machine was broken so someone stole my vanilla bean frap #spoiled

Wednesday:

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Pumpkin muffins taste better at MorMor’s house

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Watching Friends on my parent’s couch because I am actually 16.

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Foxy baby jams from Target

Thursday:

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Even soaking wet play areas are more fun than riding in the car for 8 hours

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My car died on the way to vacation, but Frozen + headphones helped (Car is fine now, dead battery)

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At the beach, you drink champagne with your snacks

Friday:

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It’s only like 73 degrees this weekend

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Spoiled children don’t even appreciate how huge this house is

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All those things are mine.

Saturday:

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Everything about Kiawah is nicer than regular places. This was just set up at the shopping center for pictures (I guess?)

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When I was pregnant with Caroline, we called her Sandy

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There are so many awesome things in this picture.

Like I said, I’m at the beach. I’m never leaving. Although I did ignore my children and put down my mixed drink long enough to finish my nursery post, so if you want to see Linc’s nursery you can come back tomorrow. I won’t ever see it in person again though, because I’M NOT LEAVING THE BEACH.

My Week(203) in iPhone Photos

Sunday, September 21st, 2014

This week was seriously insane. I tried to jump back in to work all at once and ended up really, really tired. Plus I think I pinched a nerve in my back. Also I have a weird lump under my armpit that is definitely not a plugged duct. I don’t think. Basically, I’m falling apart. But I got a new iPhone, so this week gets an A+ anyway.

Sunday:

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The gingers found these and ate them ALL. They are lucky to still live here.

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Third baby gets set on the ground a lot

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#nofilter for real, the whole parking lot was full of people taking photos of this sky

Monday:

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This is who helped Caroline wait for the bus today

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Another amazing evening for a photo shoot

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I am super lucky to have clients who actually LIKE my kids. Or at lest pretend really really well.

Tuesday:

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Baby burrito

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I love her little uniform so much

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Only Tuesday and we’re already falling asleep on the couch

Wednesday:

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Picture Day!

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Same park, different gorgeous day

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Emergency evening shopping trip for diapers and bread (and chocolate)

Thursday:

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I feel exactly the same way when my alarm goes off

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I had big plans to iron all those wraps, but I never did.

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I plan to never be awake to see that time again.

Friday:

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My first picture with my new phone!!!! I was too excited to care that it wasn’t a very good picture.

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It’s so clear! You can see the mess so much better!

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Literally two people who read this will know what I mean, but doesn’t this dress pattern look just like my Tekhni Ceres but in black instead of green?

Saturday:

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Best view in the world

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In looooove with that crib, especially because I put it together all myself.

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This was amazing.

This weekend was rough. On Saturday I actually made the kids go back to bed and start the day over. They both napped for 2 hours and then we went to a festival, where everyone was well behaved and we had a nice time. Sunday was rough all over again. I like school days. Thank God the week is full of them.