17 & 18 Month Favorites

Age:18 Months
Stats: 25.5 lbs. (75th percentile), 31.5 inches (70th percentile)
Clothes: Still fitting into her 12-18 month clothes best, but wearing a little bit of 24 or 2T month stuff as well. I love putting her in comfy tees instead of onesies, such a cute look!

 

Favorite Foods: Pasta, Peaches, Avocados, French Toast, Strawberries, Ritz Crackers

Favorite Words: Hi, Belly Button (bay-bah), Love you (la-la), Tootsie (too-tee), Eat, Pup-pup
She also says anything that ends with a "k" like "kay!" Like milk is "MILKAY!" & book is "bookay". It is my favorite favorite favorite!!!

Favorite Activities: Playing with Izzy, she loves to snuggle her & try to give her Cheerios. She is  a master organizer, she loves getting things out & putting them all back away, like books, magazines, toys, etc. Playing with all her "makeup" in the bathroom, I took some old lip glosses & body washes, cleaned them all out & put them in a makeup bag for her. She loves playing with them while I get ready.
Bath time is always a favorite, sometimes to make it even a little more fun we bring in some glowsticks! We got a big bag of them as a gift around her first birthday from a seasoned parent (you can find some here) who recommended them for emergency situations like boo-boos or roadtrips, they work like a charm! :)

 
Least Favorite Activities: The only thing she really hates is when she has to stop doing something fun if it is time to eat or leave. This is where the tantrums come in. Also, not that it's really an activity, but she is terrified of loud noises at this age. Maybe from all the thunderstorms we have had in Georgia, but even the ice maker in the fridge sends her running my way.

Favorite Things

Orla Kiely Books - Not only are these the cutest books of all time, but they are perfect for teaching colors, numbers & shapes to little learners. We love them!
Plush Puppy - My kid is obsessed with puppies. How she knows a stuffed puppy from a stuffed bear or even a stuffed ostrich, I will never know. But she does. And she carries it everywhere we go.
Boon Creatures Bath Toys - We gave up on all squirt toys since they get so gross so fast, these are all that are left in our tub & Harper loves them.
Alphabet Magnets - These keep her entertained for HOURS. She sticks them to the fridge, the dishwasher & all of our tin baking pans. They are hand crafted & totally safe since the magnets absolutely do not come off the back. Also filed under cutest kids toys of all time.
Crayons - You've heard me mention Harper's crayon obsession. She loves to color, but also loves to organize them in her little cups. I buy the extra washable kind in case she gets a little cray with them. Which she does.
Magna Doodle - I actually bought this months ago & she wasn't really interested in it until recently. A little artist in the making! These are also perfect for in the high chair or the car & fun for teaching letters, shapes & numbers.

Signature Moves: Blowing kisses (and saying muah!), pretending to wash her hair & brush her teeth, dancing, throwing herself on the ground & pretending she is going to sleep. She also sings the "whoa, whoa, whooaaa" part of Eric Church's Springsteen. As soon as the song comes on, she will start swaying back & forth singing along to it.
 

Mom's Proudest Moment: I turned my head long enough for her to put both hands in the toilet. Enough said.

Dad's Proudest Moment: Harper got her very first boo-boo (a skinned knee) "playing basketball" in the driveway with dad. She must have pretty aggressive defense.
 
Other Milestones: Harper not only sings country music, but is also learning the alphabet! She will sing ABC all the time, sometimes she gets to G. It is the cutest sound in the world!

 Favorite age so far? I think so! She really couldn't be a sweeter, more fun little girl. I look forward to every single day with her, learning, playing & even cleaning up her little messes. Having a toddler can be so totally chaotic, but I love every second of it. I love this little chickie to pieces!

PS. You can find more monthly favorites here!

Harper's First Day of "School"

Today was Harper's first day of pre-pre-preschool. I call it this because it is technically called "Mother's Morning Out" which makes me laugh a little. I would say it's less of a "morning out" & more of a cleaning & coffee drinking marathon. Enjoying the little things like a toddler-free shower & making a week's worth of work calls without Mickey Mouse Clubhouse blaring in the background.

The program is more like a nursery, for kids between 12-36 months, basically to learn to interact with each other, have music class, chapel, play outside, etc. I knew it would be good for her & she would eventually love it, plus I could have some dedicated time to work. I especially like asking her if she is going to school, which responds by pronouncing it "gew!"

The teachers actually come get the kids out of the car so it is less chaotic with a bunch of kids crying, clinging to their mom's legs (or mom's clinging to their kid's legs) in the hallways each morning. At first, I thought this was pretty badass because I could drop her off without even changing out of my pajamas.

But it was tough. Much tougher than I thought. Harper cried her little eyes out, blowing me kisses as the teacher walked her to her classroom. Break my heart! I called Brandon on my way home (sobbing) to tell him how it went.
"She was bawling! They took her right out of her carseat & into the school, I didn't even get to take my seatbelt off! And she took her shoe off in the car, she didn't even have her shoe on, what if they don't put her shoe back on for her????"

Hello Onesie | Pink Cord Pants | Ruffle Backpack | Moccasins | Pink Bracelet

I went early to pick her up so I could linger in the hallway & watch her play with her new friends. Which she was. And she was smiling! I couldn't have been happier to have her run into my arms, lips puckered up for a kiss when I came in to get her.

So, if you are debating on whether or not to send your baby (toddler) to daycare or nursery or pre-pre-preschool, we can vouch for the fact that they will do just fine! Us mamas, on the other hand, may not. We might cry & weep, and look at pictures of them in their first day of school clothes, and then look at pictures of them as newborns, and then start worrying about what it will be like when they go to real school and have to deal with other kids being mean & all the awful stuff that comes along with it. 

Then you start to wonder why the damn program isn't called "Mother's Morning Meltdown."

Our Weekend in Pictures

Another weekend recap, which means more good food & cute Harper pictures.

On the menu this weekend was baked chicken tacos & lots of homemade guacamole! I've simplified a few recipes for guac into the following super easy concoction:

3 avocados, 1/4 chopped red onion, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 1 squeezed lime, Sea salt to taste.

Directions: Mix all ingredients together while drinking a Corona. 

This makes the perfect 2-4 person serving, since I never like saving it. It is one of Harper's favorite things to eat! :)

Sunday family fro yo dates are our favorite! I clearly did a stellar job with Harper's pigtails here.

 Baseball Tee | Happy Camper Tee

This weekend also kicked off our porch getting screened in!! Like I've mentioned before, our yard really isn't kid friendly so this is going to be such a fun little space for Harper to play outside. I hope the screens also keep out all the creepy-crawly-critter-creatures that lurk in our forest of a yard.

It should be finished in another week or two & we can't wait! I think Harp loves it already.

 Striped Pajamas

Tomorrow is Harper's first day of "pre-pre-preschool" as she starts her mother's morning out program. I can hardly believe it, wish me luck as I sit in the parking lot teary-eyed for three hours sipping my coffee.

Happy Monday!

PS. Be sure to check out our newest sponsors on the right hand side of the blog, you'll be glad you did! :)

Love List

I'm so happy you all are enjoying these posts as much as I am, they've quickly become my favorite because it is exactly how my mind operates. Skipping around to random things that I love! ;) And the list is only gonna grow as Fall & the holidays approach.

1. Harper as a Happy Camper! You all know how much I love Camp Brand Goods, I think Harper now loves them just as much! How cute is this toddler tee paired with the most amazing Candy Kirby Designs watercolor ikat leggings?! Can Harper please wear this outfit forever? 

 

2. Caramel Apple Spice from Starbucks. If you follow me on Instagram (@jlgarvin) you may have already seen me getting my hands on one. It isn't coffee or tea, just steamed apple cider with cinnamon & whipped cream! A Fall festival in your mouth! And the good news? They have them all year! 

 Nailcolor is Essie Smokin' Hot

3. Vests! I've always loved vests myself, but I can't get enough of mini sized ones for Harper! I've been eying this yellow vest (from the boy's section!) for her to wear during football season (go Hawkeyes!) & also love this leather vest for myself! I picture it over a white tee while the weather is still warm or over flannel for the Fall & Winter, plus it is majorly on sale with free shipping! Love!

 I scooped this floral vest up on day one of H&M's online shopping & also can't help but want to try on the largest kids size for myself. Think I could pull it off?! :)

 4. You all know I love Philosphy products beyond words. Their new Fall body washes, Pumpkin Pie & Apple Pie, just came out & I literally may drink one. They put me in the best mood when I use them each morning!

5. I just bought Harper this pair of Hunter Rain Boots for Fall, I can hardly WAIT for them to arrive! She has grown out of almost all of her shoes already (she is wearing a size 5 now) & I was so excited to find that they made these that small! I will always love her gold metallic shoes that she has worn for the past year almost, so I had to go with metallic again.

6. Finally organizing our upstairs (so I can give you a tour!), which has included hanging pictures (printed from INK361) & adding some new furniture. Oh yes, I don't care if I feel like a college student with my new Ikea dresser, I dig the shit out of it. The Hemnes Collection speaks my language.

7. Camo. I already mentioned the camo backpack that I love, but something about Fall approaching makes me want more, more, more! I am especially loving this camo baseball tee (two of my favorite things), anyone with me?! :)

8. Halloween party planning! Ok, of course you already knew I was gonna go here. I know it's still two months away, but that hasn't stopped us from starting to make plans. Conversation with my husband went a little bit like this the other night.

Me: We should have a Halloween party!

Brandon: Ok.

Me: On Halloween night! We can have a firepit in the driveway during trick or treating!

Brandon: And a keg?

Me: Yes!

Brandon: And we could turn the backyard into a haunted forest!!

Me: YES! I love it when you talk dirty to me.

Halloween Excitement!

I know there is still quite a bit of time before Halloween, but that isn't stopping us from hunting down the cutest, most festive outfits for the upcoming season. I have always loved graphic pieces, especially for the holidays, especially when mixed with stripes & polka dots!

I've rounded up our current favorites & can't wait to dress Harper in most of this, paired with lots of festive headbands! Too bad she won't keep a hat on to save her life.

One | Two | Three | Four | Five

Six | Seven | Eight | Nine

Harper also wore her first pair of Halloween jams already, which she is obsessed with because I told her there are kitties on them. She points to them & says "MEOW!" I am pretty sure these also glow in the dark, guess I've become that mom.

Halloween Pajamas

Not to mention, Hocus Pocus has been on ABC Family at least a dozen times already this month. Are you all as excited for Halloween as I am?!

Also, if you haven't already checked out all of the new Halloween prints in my Etsy shop, remember that you can use coupon code HOCUSPOCUS for 25% off for the rest of this month!

Happy Hump Day!

Hurricane Harper & the Terrible Twos

Today was one of those days.

We don't normally have a lot of rough & tough days, nor do I really post about them. I focus more on the good & the happy. But I feel like I owe it to you mamas out there to make sure I share some of the rough days too.
And holy shit, today was one where I really felt like throwing in the towel.

We kicked off the morning with Harper hulking her diaper in half. Oh yes, you read that right. She took her own pants off in her crib, like a ninja & then proceeded to rip her diaper into shreds. Covering herself, her crib & the floor with urine soaked diaper beads. Son of a mess.

After a morning bath, breakfast & reading, she rolled into tantrum number one because I had to take her crayons away from her to change her diaper. She threw them everywhere & screamed her head off well into lunch time.
Lunch consisted of her frisbee-ing her plate across the kitchen, slamming her sippy cup on to the floor & spitting her mouth full of water all over herself. She refused to eat, which left her too hungry to nap. Things only went downhill from there, testing my patience with just about everything in the house that she knows she's not supposed to do & tantrum number two.

This is her pretending to be asleep on the floor after I asked her to pick up her crayons for the 800th time.

I called Brandon at work & tried to bribe him with beer & lemon bars to come home early. Spoiler alert: it didn't work.

I'm not sure if this is the early onset of the terrible twos or what, but we have yet to experience a day this bad. I have to keep reminding myself not to get frustrated with her (or the whisk that fell on the ground that I abruptly yelled "good, stay there!" at). The way that we discipline her & how we react to her tantrums are going to forever shape her behavior. Sure hope we are doing it right. I really wish I could just hug & kiss the ornery right out of her.

In the mean time, our overtired babe is finally asleep, the ringing in my ears from her shrieking is finally going away & we are counting on tomorrow being a better day.

And for the record, the whisk is still on the floor. Guess I am teaching it a lesson.

Mini Meals Part 2

Thank you all so much for the great feedback on all of our mini meals that I shared a few weeks ago. Like you, I am always looking for new things for Harper to eat, so I am happy to keep sharing!

We've been waiting for the picky eater days to kick in but really, this kid just loves food, although sometimes she isn't interested in eating because she'd rather be playing.

I'm sure none of you are meal planning on this lovely Saturday evening, but in case you are (or for your reference later) here is last week's meal lineup:

Scrambled eggs & fruit. My husband is the cheesy eggs king, so we only eat these on the weekends.

French toast. French toast might be in my top five favorite foods. And the trick to making good french toast sticks? Cut the bread before you soak them in eggs & cook in butter, it will make the whole thing crunchy!

Sweet potatoes. Random meal of the year, but Harper is obsessed with sweet potatoes.

Grilled cheese. Another favorite at our house, always an easy go-to meal.

Lasagna. I've mentioned before that Harper loves pasta, we usually eat it once or twice a week. She has been eating it since she was 10-11 months, just cut up much smaller.

Bagel or Toast & fruit. Can you tell we eat this ALL the time?

Turkey & avocado sandwich, peaches & sunflower seeds.We've been snacking on roasted sunflower seeds a lot lately because they are not only tasty, but have tons of health benefits. Turns out, Harp likes them too!

You can find more meal ideas & other feeding favorites in this post.

For healthy snacks, I give Harper little bowls of dry cereal like multigrain Cheerios or Chex, Graham crackers, cucumbers, applesauce, ritz crackers with peanut butter or bananas. And every time we say snack? She plops down right in the middle of the kitchen floor. It's the only place she likes to "nack" apparently! Yet it never fails, she leaves a toddler trail of Cheerios wherever she goes. I found some in her diaper the other day & even one in between her toes. Crafty little critter she is.

You've probably seen me mention a few times on Instagram that our weather has been AMAZING lately, feeling more like October than August. I think even mother nature is ready for the holidays. You know the saying. Don't hate the player, hate the game! ;) Happy weekend!!

Love List

1. We are ready for some FOOTBALL!
The first Iowa game is later this month & we can't wait! Football season is our favorite time of the year. Time to stock up on new Iowa gear for Harper (and myself!) & plan lots of fun football parties at our house. Harper is also obsessed with the football & loves trying to throw it. Just in time!!  Looks like dad almost has a new partner to play catch with outside during halftime! ;)

 Set, Hike!

You know I have an obsession with baseball tees for a while now. I have been searching forever for one for Harper & finally found these from American Apparel. They are so soft & comfy, I love them SO MUCH. Harper's is size 18-24 months & is pretty big on her, for your reference. :) There may be nothing cuter than a toddler in a baseball tee! I also got this zip-back baseball tee for myself & also love it! I can't wait to buy more colors for both of us!

Baseball Tee | Ruffle Bloomers

2. Target sales. I had been stalking these wreaths FOREVER waiting for them to go on sale & finally got them last week at half price! Second best part about Fall stuff hitting the shelves? Everything else goes on clearance! I feel like these could be kinda Fallish right?? Some pumpkins might make those peach flowers pop! The downside of having two doors is that expensive wreaths are way out of the question.
Also, I clearly need a bigger rug.

3. I am loving all of the Halloween outfits that are popping up everywhere!! Nothing makes me happier than a festively dressed babe, especially in this Boo onesie which actually looks cute with leggings (so we don't have to put the onesie on the outside!) & these amazing cat tights. I can't wait to see Harper's little diaper booty in them!

4. I finally printed some Instagram pictures! I ordered a bunch of small sized prints from Ink361
to save & send to family, as well as some larger art prints that we could frame in the house. All you have to do is select to import pictures directly from your Instagram, then you can choose all sorts of print sizes or even canvases. I was so happy with the quality (and they shipped so fast!) so I can't wait to print more!! Ikea also sells super inexpensive square frames that are prefect for 12x12 prints, this would make for such an amazing photo wall!

 5. My backpack obsession. I mentioned in this post how Harper is starting her little mother's morning out program & I ordered this ruffle backpack for her. I also discovered this camo backpack & can't get over how cute it is! The most perfect option for something that isn't too girly! I kinda want it for myself!

6. Harper's new school desk! Or, very old school desk I should say. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably remember this gem from a few months ago. I found it at a flea market for $25! Brandon has been hard at work restoring it & it is almost done. I can't wait to share after photos & see if Harper loves it as much as we do!

 

7. Fall treats. I got my first few cans of pumpkin from the grocery store the other day & am already looking forward to making the first batch of pumpkin muffins. Use the recipe from this post for the easiest & most delicious muffins that you can whip up in no time!
 

8. Hocus Pocus. Ok, dead giveaway that this would be on my love list. We have been watching it non stop. I also have to ask, have any of you seen the old classic Double, Double, Toil & Trouble? If you just squealed & instantly considered naming your next child Agatha, we might be best friends.

Our Weekend in Pictures

Seems to be a trend in our weekend posts, cute pictures of Harper & lots of good food. This weekend was filled with lots of rain, some sleeping in, birthday parties, Maid-Rites, a furniture makeover (more on that soon) & french toast sticks. Doesn't get much sweeter than that! :)

   Orange Polka Dot Onesie

Oh, and I also may have put up the very first of our Fall decorations.

 Tassel Garland

PS. It actually is five o'clock somewhere (here!!) & Oktoberfest has officially hit the shelves at most grocery stores. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? :) Happy Monday to you all!!!

$10,000 Destination Nursery Giveaway

So excited to bring to you today an unbelievable opportunity! We are honored to be a part of presenting the 3rd Destination Nursery/Kid's Room Make-over Giveaway with Mom's Best. What a unique opportunity for 1 lucky winner to have their dream space exclusively designed by Serena and Lily! This would be a dream come true! #thisisreallyakidsroomgiveaway Delighted to also partner with these other amazing blogs in presenting this opportunity... Mom's Best, Spearmint Baby, The Wise Baby, Mommy Guru, According to Nina, and In this wonderful life.

A very special thanks to Serena and Lily for their wonderful generosity in donating all of these items for 1 LUCKY WINNER! You will have the choice between a nursery or kids's space for a boy or a girl. Serena and Lily will be designing a one of a kind space for the winner using some fun "new"items from their "Fall 2013" collection. Check out a few pieces from their new wall paper line!  

Nautical Theme Boy...all items can be found at Serena and Lily except for #3 Zebra sheet, #4 Denim Wall paper, and #11 Variegated Stripe rug...they will be debuting soon in their new Fall 2013 collection.

One | Two | Three (Zebra Sheet New for Fall) | Four (New for Fall) | Five | Six |  Seven | Eight | Nine Ten | Eleven (New for Fall) | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen | Seventeen

Sweet Stripes Girl...Loving the color palette for a sweet nursery or kid's space! All items can be found online at Serena and Lily except for #3 zebra sheet, #5 pink stripe wall paper, #8 aqua french tassel curtains and #10 pin stripe rug, they will be available soon with their new "Fall 2013 collection."

One | Two | Three | Four | Five (New for Fall) | Six | Seven | Eight (aqua color New For Fall) | Nine 
Ten (New for Fall) | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen   
 

Special Delivery: Mama and Child additional prize package! Talk about a chic mama and her baby or child! You could also win all of this! 1. Leanne Barlow great lengths maxi skirt, 2. Von Bon Apparel 1 complete set for baby, 3. Faas Design (2 pairs) patterned moccs and boots, 4. Little Bow and Arrow Leggings for a baby or child, 5. Make Pie custom made jewelry 2 custom items.  

To ENTER:

1. First watch our behind the scenes video ...to see exactly what may go into creating your dream nursery/kids space!   
2. Please leave a comment sharing your favorite Serena and Lily product and if you win will it be for a girl or boy...nursery or kid's space!  
3. You must complete all items listed below in Rafflecopter ...all entries will be verified so please be honest in completing all of the items. When Pinning the 3 images ...Please Pin them to a baby or kid's type board...There are a couple items you can share and do daily to increase your point score and chance for winning! Once you are complete now be sure to visit the other fantastic blog while dreaming about how much you are going to love your new dream nursery/kids room make over! Watch Instagram for more ways to increase your chances for winning. 
4. On August 26th we will randomly pick 5 semi-finalists...these 5 people will then be asked to submit a quick 30 second video clip sharing their story...this will Go LIVE to our Voting On August 28th. Then for 3 days, the public will have the chance to vote on their favorite video, you will have the chance to help us pick the final winner! Best of luck! Winner Announced by September 3rd!  
5. The only RESTRICTIONS to enter...you must be at least 21 years old and either 6+ months pregnant or already have children...we are offering a kid's room space for a child of any age. Anyone can enter that fits this criteria. Open to US and CANADA residents only.  
6. You may not enter to win these items with the intent of donating some or part to someone else. This is meant solely for the winner. Thank you! **This is a nursery/make over with design help...you will be expected to paint,prep, and assemble the space with items received in the prize package within a specified period of time... We will require before and after video footage from which we will create a mini video to share with destination nursery readers.  
7. You may NOT use more than one valid email address to stack your entries...doing so will disqualify you from being a semi-finalist. ****Mom's Best would like to bring a design team to your area as we make over your nursery/ kids space. You could be a part of our mini-web "Reality" series...as we travel to the next 3-5 winner's location! Watch for our campaign launching soon...raising the necessary funds to travel to each winners location...starting with our current winner Kailee Fitch from St. Louis! Will you be our next destination? ****All items will be donated to 1 lucky winner! This is a sponsored giveaway, we did not receive any cash compensation...but in some cases product samples were given to allow us to share our honest opinion. Thank you! a Rafflecopter giveaway