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Baby Rabies

pregnancy & parenting

  • Start Here
    • About Baby Rabies
    • Baby Registry Top Picks
    • Favorite Pregnancy Apps
  • The Book
  • Pregnancy
    • Birth Stories
    • Perinatal Mood Disorders
  • Parenthood
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • School Age Kids
    • Parenting LOLZ
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    • Photography

      6 Stunning Photos You Would Never Guess Were…

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      Photography

      Simple Tips For Editing Snow Photos On Your…

      December 13, 2018

      Photography

      I Wrote A Photography eBook And This Is…

      December 6, 2018

      Photography

      Creative Lighting Ideas To Help You Take Great…

      November 27, 2018

      Photography

      Learn How To Take And Edit Photos On…

      November 19, 2018

  • Reviews
    • Reviews

      The Answer To Last Minute Holiday Gifting For…

      December 19, 2018

      Reviews

      I Was Never A Barbie Girl Until Now

      October 1, 2018

      Reviews

      Finally! Jeans For My Jean-Averse Kids!

      August 22, 2018

      Reviews

      If Your Kid Loves Dump Trucks & Garbage…

      August 13, 2018

      Reviews

      Nobody Tell My Kids ABC Mouse Is Part…

      September 4, 2017

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Reviews

Here’s Your Family Valentines Day Plan
BabiesDallas/Ft. WorthFood & WineParenthoodReviews

Here’s Your Family Valentines Day Plan

by Jill February 10, 2017
written by Jill

You know when you are acutely aware that 4 kids is quite a few kids? When you take them all out to dinner for the first time.

Here's Your Family Valentines Day Plan | #McAlistersFamilyDateNight | BabyRabies.com

That was our night last night.

This wasn’t just any old dinner out, though. THIS? This was family date night at McAlister’s Deli.

Here's Your Family Valentines Day Plan | #McAlistersFamilyDateNight | BabyRabies.com

McAlister’s Deli is sponsoring this post.

We are not at a point in our life when regular (or even irregular) date nights happen- like, just Scott and me. These little monsters lovely children go everywhere with us. So last night was a bit of an early Valentines Day celebration, but with the whole family.

Here's Your Family Valentines Day Plan | #McAlistersFamilyDateNight | BabyRabies.com

I know we’re not alone. All of you who have no chance of sneaking off for a romantic dinner for two on the 14th, HERE’S THE PLAN:

You, your love, your littles…. your little loves- go to McAlister’s Deli on Valentines Day for a #McAlistersFamilyDateNight (and then sign up to win a whole year of family date nights).

Why? Kids eat free on February 14th- up to 2 Kids Meals for every adult entree when families dine in!

Here's Your Family Valentines Day Plan | #McAlistersFamilyDateNight | BabyRabies.com

Also, because McAlister’s is the kind of place with something on the menu that will make everyone- even the pickiest of toddlers- happy. Lowell devoured his mac & cheese, applesauce, graham crackers, and milk.

Here's Your Family Valentines Day Plan | #McAlistersFamilyDateNight | BabyRabies.com

A place you can take your (rowdy and still mastering table manners) crew on Valentines Day, and you’ll be treated like family.

Here's Your Family Valentines Day Plan | #McAlistersFamilyDateNight | BabyRabies.com

And maybe, just maybe, if the kids can easily find something they love on the menu, and if you don’t have to stress about asking them to stop pulling the tablecloth or sticking their finger in the candle, then you might have a shot at a fun, sweet Valentines Day dinner… no matter how many kids you bring with you.

Also? Their desserts are amazing.
What is Valentines Day without great dessert?

Here's Your Family Valentines Day Plan | #McAlistersFamilyDateNight | BabyRabies.com

It’s pointless. The answer is Valentines Day is pointless without great dessert.

It’s also pretty pointless if you’re not sharing it with somebody, or all the bodies, that you love. So don’t give up on a Valentines Day date night. Just make it a #McAlistersDateNight.

Then, don’t forget to enter to win an entire year of Family Date Nights at McAlister’s.  You can enter to win even if, say, your kids get the flu this weekend and you don’t get a chance to actually go to McAlister’s. I mean, I don’t wish that on any of you, but… we know it’s gonna happen to someone because KIDS.

Thanks to McAlister’s Deli for sponsoring this post and our first dinner out as a family of 6.

February 10, 2017 1 comment
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Brushtime Confessions
ParenthoodReviews

Brushtime Confessions

by Jill December 16, 2016
written by Jill

Confession: As this pregnancy has progressed, it’s been harder and harder to be a mom who cares about things like my children’s grooming and hygiene habits.  Every now and then I’ll get a whiff of one and wonder aloud, “But when WAS the last time you bathed?” Whoops.

As much as I’m mostly okay letting things like showers and haircuts and “okay, you wore that 2 days ago, but it’s not THAT dirty” slide, I do put forth more of an effort to be sure they are on top of brushing their teeth. I guess that’s where I draw the line.

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I’ve teamed up with Hello as an ambassador this year because we love to use their products, and they are sponsoring this post.

NOT that it’s easy. Every morning I remind them to brush before coming to the table for breakfast and every. morning. they are shocked – SHOCKED- that they have to do that AGAIN. Like, they forget this in their sleep.

“Again? YES! Don’t you feel the fuzz growing in your mouth? Yes, again!”  It can really slow down our mornings.

I’ve mentioned before, but one of my secret weapons that helps keep the kids from revolting when it comes to brushing their teeth is making sure each one has their own tube of Hello toothpaste in their favorite flavor, and they do have favorites. Leyna loves bubblegum because it’s “not spicy.” Lowell loves watermelon because, well, he’s 3 and watermelon. Kendall’s palette is a little more mature, I think, because he’s down with any of the mint flavors (though he will definitely brush with some bubblegum, too).

This is part of the success equation- that the toothpaste actually tastes good to everyone. I’ve tried some “natural” toothpastes in the past that, um… well, I don’t have nice things to say about how they tasted. So we love that Hello toothpastes are naturally friendly, free of stuff like parabens, triclosan, and microbeads, and also happen to taste fantastic.

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No sharing with brothers or sister is a small price to pay, and helps keep the brushing routine as smooth as I can hope for.

In addition to their own tubes of Hello toothpaste, they each get their own cup because GERMS and stuff.

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And, in what may be one of my best moves yet, I recently moved Kendall’s toothbrushing supplies into a bathroom upstairs, away from his little brother and sister (who usually brush in our bathroom except for the sake of the video below) because somehow it’s possible to fight over a faucet of water, and I just can’t deal with it anymore.

It’s crazy that this is a thing I’ve had to put thought into, but that’s what having children will do to you- force you to try to come up with battle plans for oral hygiene.

So I guess that’s my Brushtime Confession- if I didn’t go out of my way to make this easy and fun, and also NAG THE HECK OUT OF THEM, my kids wouldn’t be brushing their teeth. I doubt that’s shocking to anyone with children or who was ever a child at some point in their life.

Tell me I’m not alone.


December 16, 2016 1 comment
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Master Bedroom & Nursery Nook Reveal!
BabiesCrafty!Home Decor & DIYReviews

Master Bedroom & Nursery Nook Reveal!

by Jill December 12, 2016
written by Jill

I am one step closer to TOTALLY READY to evict this baby. Our bedroom and nursery nook are done! NESTING SO HARD.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

This glorious transformation and post brought to you by Carousel Designs – www.babybedding.com

We teamed up with Carousel Designs on the crib bedding and curtains. It was our starting point, and everything came together from there. Their HUGE selection of fabrics for custom bedding designed by me, made by someone else (the BEST combo ever) made it easy to create pieces that were fun and whimsical enough for a baby-centered space without being too cheesy for a grownup room.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

The crib sheet is made with Gray Willow fabric, and the crib skirt is made with Silver Gray Linen. We opted for no crib bumper. (More room details to come further down in the post.)

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Originally, I worried how to tie the nursery space into the rest of the room, but these 96″ x 42″ drape panels in Gray Ikat Damask are all grown up. We chose the basic lining since we have blinds in here, too, but blackout fabric lining is also an option.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

The changing pad cover is a pop of color in Aqua Herringbone.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

It is crazy easy to use Carousel Design’s Nursery Designer to design everything you need for baby’s room. You can even select wall colors, flooring, and crib finishes to match what you have in mind.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

They also have a super awesome feature that lets you design and personalize a crib sheet or changing pad cover. We are all over this! As soon as I have this baby and we figure out what his name is.

I wish I could have used Carousel Designs for the last 3! Remember that time I made all of Leyna’s bedding and curtains? Nearly. Killed. Me. This would have been a far better option that would have resulted in much straighter stitches and much less blood from that dang seam ripper.

Now, let’s get to the rest of the details of the room, shall we? 

I think first I should show you what this place looked like before.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Oof. It wasn’t pretty. We moved in 2 years ago, but of course, this room fell to the bottom of our priority list. We finished nearly every other room in the house and hadn’t got further than the (horrible choice in) paint samples on the walls in here.

As you can see, it’s huge (thank you, Texas real estate), and we weren’t doing anything with that side of the room, other than leaving my luggage there, still packed,  between trips.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

We needed a good excuse and a swift kick in the pants to get this place put together. We thought, let’s go all out. Let’s make a whole space just for the baby in here, and not worry about turning our 5th bedroom upstairs into a nursery. I quite like having a guest room, especially because I quite like having guests who will come and help me take care of this baby.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

So the idea of a “nursery nook” came to be. He’ll be in our room probably for the first 6 months I’m thinking (since that’s about how long the others lasted in our room), and then we’re moving him upstairs to share a room with Lowell.

It should be easy to transition the nursery space to a reading/lounging space once the crib is out. I have my hopes set on a sleeper sofa for the litter of children that always want to sleep in our room on Friday nights.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Paint Color- Nature’s Reflection by Behr / Shiplap wall- installed by my husband, following this tutorial 

The crib is the “Hudson” by Babyletto in all espresso. We HAD to get a new crib since Lowell busted out the rails in the last one. This one is smaller in scale, which is perfect for this space, and will be great when we move it into a room with a twin size bed. It’s still a full-size crib, though, and even comes with a toddler rail.

And yes, that’s a (faux) shiplap wall. Call us suckers for a trend, but it wound up being a great way to add some dimension and character to the space for very little money. Scott also put a lot of work into adding crown moulding around the room.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Crib- “Hudson” by Babyletto / “I Like Naps” sign – Hobby Lobby / Brass round mirror- Target / that thing tucked beside the crib- DockATot / Nursing pillow with “Serenity” muslin cover- Bebe Au Lait / Fabric basket- Target / Blanket – Aden + Anais

I asked my immensely talented friend, Mandy, to make me something custom for a mobile, and I love this fluffy-cloud inspired piece she came up with!

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Custom mobile – Paige & Roy

We had to pack a lot of function into this tiny space, and I think we were successful. We have plenty of storage here for his clothes (current size only, and the rest is stored in our closet for now), swaddles, booties, hats, first aid and grooming basics…

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Dresser- Ikea / Copper basket- Joss & Main / Hanging diaper storage – Ikea / Floating shelves- Target / Wire bin & glass jar – Hobby Lobby / Booties – Robeez / A-Z bookends – Joss & Main / Books by Usborne (with a Fantastic Beasts thrown in) / Gray bin – Target / Hexagon shelf- unfinished from Target, painted by me / Bunny- Gift from little brother, by Peekawhoo / Plaid doggy- Sarit Shani Hay / Framed feather print- Hobby Lobby

And we also have plenty of room for disposable & cloth diapers, since we’ll be using both in the beginning, at least. I love using the FINTORP system from Ikea to organize above the diaper changing area!

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Disposable diapers – Seventh Generation / Cloth diapers – bumGenius / Wipes – Aldi / Cloth wipes – Target 

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Wood slice art- made by me with the help of my Silhouette Cameo

For our bedding, I had to tame my aspirations a bit. I really wanted a gorgeous, expensive blanket from Pendleton… until I read it was dry clean only. HARD PASS. We’ll have to give up the high-end bedding until there aren’t 4 kids and 3 dogs trying to climb in bed with us every night. The good news is the blanket I wound up getting wasn’t just a super great price (less than $50 for a king size!), but it also washes beautifully.

I did splurge a little on a couple gray linen pillow shams from Etsy to tie in with the gray linen crib skirt. I also love that they give the bed some varied texture, especially in contrast to the super smooth, super breathable white sheets by Bedgear. I love having white bedding as a backdrop for pictures of baby in those early days when you spend all your time in bed anyway. It’s one of my favorite tips for photographing a newborn!

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Photo – picture I took in Tahoe, printed on unstretched canvas by Canvas HQ, nailed to a DIY frame with upholstery tacks / Headboard- made by my husband / Lamps- Target / Side tables- Overstock / Gray stripe blanket- Wayfair / Fuzzy aqua throw- Home Goods / Gray linen pillow shams- Etsy / White sheets – Bedgear

This deserves a drum roll.

I’ll wait.

For the first time EVER, we have framed pictures of us up in our room!

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Brass frame – Target/ Photo by Life In Motion

This includes WEDDING PICTURES!! It’s only been 10 years.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Collage frame- Target / Photos by Tyler Schmidt 

Here’s a closer look at the curtains. Those rods came with the house, and originally I hated them, but they’ve grown on me. I like the pop of glam they give the space. And I like that they were free.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

We have no shortage of lovely, soft blankets for this baby, so I had Scott build a simple blanket ladder to store them.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Blanket ladder- built by my husband, using this tutorial / Swaddling blankets & thick blankets – Bebe Au Lait & Aden + Anais

We’ve had this Ikea dresser and the matching, smaller one for years, and have been really happy with them considering how little we paid. This wall was pretty simple. We just balanced out the space with the blanket ladder on one side, and a leaning floor mirror (secured to the wall) on the other.

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

Dresser- Ikea / Floor mirror- Target, chalk paint and distressing by me/ Battery operated candle and copper geo orbe thingy- Home Goods

I think that brings us all the way around the room and to the end of our tour!

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

A HUGE thanks, again, to Carousel Designs – BabyBedding.com-  for working with us on the room and for sponsoring this post. I can not wait to get our personalized crib sheet with baby’s name on it. But first, must have a baby! (Official due date is this Friday, if you’re wondering.)

Pin it!

Master Bedroom with Nursery Nook | BabyRabies.com

December 12, 2016 9 comments
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My Cloth Diaper Plan For Baby #4
BabiesCloth DiapersReviews

My Cloth Diaper Plan For Baby #4

by Jill December 2, 2016
written by Jill

It’s been a long while since I’ve blogged about how we plan to use cloth diapers on here. I have some really old posts in my archives from when I first cloth diapered my oldest- EIGHT YEARS AGO. Holy cow.

In some ways, a lot has changed, but what hasn’t changed is that I’m STILL using bumGenius diapers by Cotton Babies. So it’s super exciting that this year they are working with me on a series of posts as I embark on cloth diapering my 4th baby, including sponsoring this post.

My Cloth Diaper Plan for Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com

Newborn Cloth Diapering

To start, I’m thrilled to have 18 bumGenius Littles on hand for the tiny newborn phase. This will be the first time I’m using these, but I’m hopeful they will be just as effective and easy to use as the full-size (one-size) bumGenius diapers. While I usually prefer snaps over hook & loop closures, I think having h&l for newborn size is just perfect because sometimes you’re too tired to operate snaps, like when you have a newborn.

My Cloth Diaper Plan for Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com

Because these are sized specially for babies 6-12 lbs, they are far less bulky than regular size cloth diapers on a tiny bottom. They are also designed to rest below baby’s belly button to keep the umbilical area dry. The ultra absorbent microfiber core and waterproof outer layer are all one piece, meaning there is no stuffing required. They go on and come off just like a disposable diaper. Another win for exhausted parents!

*A note on investing in newborn size diapers- I’ve used newborn sized diapers on all my babies (I did fitteds with covers for the other 3), and I think it was a worthwhile investment if you can swing it. You won’t be using these diapers nearly as long, so they will make it through more than one baby with no issue, and retain great resale value. 

In fact, you can even sell them back to Cotton Babies, along with many other sizes and brands of cloth diapers, via the Cotton Babies buy back program. 

Infant to Toddler Cloth Diapering

Once baby outgrows the Littles, we’re moving right along to bumGenius Freetime and Elemental one-size diapers. I’ll have about 30 of these once I finally get the diapers I used with the other kids out of the attic, but a stash of 18-24 should be plenty for one baby.

My Cloth Diaper Plan for Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com

With my first and second babies, I used mostly bumGenius pocket diapers, and they were wonderful, but I really dislike stuffing them, especially with such limited time now. Luckily, the all-in-one diapers have improved so much since then in terms of durability and absorbency. I donated most of my pocket diapers, and am excited to exclusively use all-in-ones this time around.

Like the newborn sized Littles, and as “all-in-one” suggests, they are all one piece, so no stuffing pockets or snapping inserts in.

These fit kiddos up to 35 lbs, so they should get us all the way to the potty training stage, which they have in the past.

Wipes

Sometimes (a lot of times, actually) we’re pretty lazy and use disposable wipes. I don’t know why I classify that as “lazy” because it’s really more work. When you use cloth wipes, you just throw them right in the diaper pail with the dirty diaper. With disposable wipes you have to separate them and throw them in the trash. So I’m going to try not to do that as much with this one. (Of course, with my first, I never used disposable wipes.)

You can buy special cloth diaper wipes, but I’ve found the inexpensive, thin baby washcloths that you can get at big box stores are just as effective. No need to keep either kind in a special wipe box or wipe warmer. Just toss the clean ones in a box or basket that’s within reach of your diaper changing area. I promise, there are better things to do in life than spending time folding your wipes.

Oh! And I like to use the peri bottle I bring home from the hospital to fill with water and tiny bit of baby shampoo. Then I squirt that on the wipes right before I use them.

Cloth Diaper Laundry

I try to get a load of diapers in every 2-3 days. In the meantime, the dirty diapers are stored in a basic plastic, step-lid trashcan, lined with a large, waterproof pail-liner. I actually need to get a new one of these, and am eyeing this one by Planet Wise. In my experience, this method is really effective in keeping smells at bay – no fancy diaper pail required.

While the baby is exclusively breastfed, it will be fine to toss his diapers in there without rinsing poop off first because breast milk poop washes away with no issue in the washing machine. Once he start solids, though, it’s super important to rinse the poop off before throwing them in the wash. I use a combination of flushable diaper liners, and the help of my Spray-Pal splatter shield and diaper sprayer.

To wash, I like to use All Free & Clear, and I follow the washing suggestions for our top-loading washer from Cotton Babies (though I’ll admit I rarely line dry and usually tumble dry on low).

My Cloth Diaper Plan for Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com

While Out And About

It’s pretty easy to cloth diaper while you’re out of the house running errands. Just keep a couple clean diapers in your bag, along with a travel size wet bag. These do a great job of containing mess and smells, so you can throw the dirty diaper (and wipes if you use cloth wipes while out, too) in there, zip it up, and then toss it in the diaper pail when you get home.

On Keeping It Real

With my first baby, I cloth diapered him full time, like even on vacation. As I’ve had more kids, that’s just not been an option. With our 3rd, I cloth diapered while at home and used disposables or Flip covers with disposable liners while out and traveling.

The cool thing is cloth diapering doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Do what works for you! I’m hoping I’ll be able to cloth diaper this baby more than the last one. We’ll see! Not going to be upset if we don’t.

This is a very basic overview of our cloth diapering process, but I also feel like cloth diapering has become so much more streamlined (at least for me) over the years, that there’s not much of a learning curve anymore. I’m sure a lot of you have questions that I didn’t answer, though, so feel free to ask away! I’ll do my very best to get you some answers.

December 2, 2016 5 comments
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No Longer An ALDI Newbie- What I Learned & Love About The Store
Dallas/Ft. WorthFood & WineParenthoodReviews

No Longer An ALDI Newbie- What I Learned & Love About The Store

by Jill November 22, 2016
written by Jill

Let me tell you a story about the first time I went grocery shopping at ALDI. It began as I’m sure most trips do there- at the grocery cart coral, as I tried to figure out how to retrieve my cart after inserting a quarter to, essentially, rent it. Momentarily, I felt really stupid and a little frustrated. That is until a kind older man approached me with a smile on his face, “You trying to get that buggy out?” “Yes, I’m new here. Obviously,” I smiled back. He showed me how it worked and gave me a knowing “we’ve all been there once” look.

Now, this sponsored post is supposed to be all about my experience in the store, buying, and using the products, and I’ll definitely get to that, but I think it’s worth noting that so much of my first trip through those aisles was peppered with genuinely kind interactions with other customers and store employees. And, no, nobody knew I was there to report back to all of you.

So, as I mentioned in my last post about ALDI, I know a lot of my friends and family and readers are big fans, but despite one opening near us not too long ago, I just never got around to visiting our local ALDI. Safe to say, though, I’ll be going back regularly now.

I mean, you guys, even just for the savings on stuff we pack for the kids’ lunches! We make 13 school lunches a week, and stuff like organic fruit snacks really add up when we shop at other stores.

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Who am I kidding? Like these are only for lunches? The kids go through fruit snacks and cheese sticks like water, especially when their friends are over.

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I was also so happy to see organic milk for much less than we’re paying for it at any other store in our neighborhood because we go through a lot of that, too.

I wound up getting nearly a week’s worth of groceries for just a little over $100. We already had meat for the week and some produce, so I didn’t have to spend on that, but I did stock up on a lot of pantry staples like sugar and muffin mixes for breakfast. Um, and also some chocolate candy. For me.

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Quick newbie note- in addition to needing to bring a quarter to “rent” your cart (you get the quarter back when you return the cart), you’ll either need to bring your own bags or pay to buy theirs.

Per usual, I forgot my own bags because my brain is practically pouring out of my head lately (it’s like pregnancy liquidates the cells), but I was able to buy paper bags for a nominal cost. You do have to bag your own groceries, but there was a convenient area right near the checkout in my store.

A reader actually had a great suggestion to bring laundry baskets with you. I will definitely have to (try to remember to) do that next time.

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The Creamy Pasta With Broccoli and Chick Peas was a hit with our whole family. Click through for the recipe.

I’ve said before that I don’t like to sacrifice the quality of our food to save money, and I really don’t think that I have. We’ve been eating what I purchased at ALDI all week, and I haven’t noticed a difference. Their sparkling water is a perfect substitute for my (other fancy name brand sparkling water) addiction! We are going to save sooooo much money.

In some ways, the quality of the food is probably better than the name brands we’re used to purchasing. Their SimplyNature line is free of 125 artificial ingredients, all organic and non-GMO.  Plus, ALDI is continuing to expand its organic options and is removing all pesticides and growth hormones from their private label products.

So yes, we will be back! Often. I’m glad I finally got through those doors to give it a try, and that next time I’ll be a pro at renting my cart and bagging my own groceries. Now, if you’re an ALDI fan, you need to tell me what I absolutely have to add to my next shopping list. Go!

This post was sponsored by ALDI, and product was provided at no charge. All opinions are my own, and not representative of ALDI.  You can follow ALDI on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

November 22, 2016 5 comments
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We’re Going To Have A Lot Of (Expensive) Kids. Can ALDI Help?
BabiesParenthoodReviews

We’re Going To Have A Lot Of (Expensive) Kids. Can ALDI Help?

by Jill November 14, 2016
written by Jill

You know what’s expensive? Kids. You know what I’m going to have a lot of? Kids. As of NEXT MONTH (holy cow, OMG), I will have 4 kids to feed and clothe and keep clean. We all know they only get MORE expensive and require MORE food as the years go on, but, babies and toddlers aren’t free or cheap, either.

Admittedly, our grocery budget is something we have always been terrible at. I can barely get my life together long enough to make menu plans and grocery lists, and that really only happens about 40% of the time. I certainly can’t be counted on to clip coupons. I also hate to sacrifice the quality of the groceries we buy just to save money.

ALDI launches Little Journey product line for babies | BabyRabies.com

This is going to shock some of you because I know there are some serious ALDI fans out there who have been singing their praises for a long time, but I’ve never shopped at or even been in an ALDI grocery store. And there is one really close to my house!

When they reached out to me to work together on a campaign this month, I was actually excited for the opportunity to get myself through those doors and really check out what they are all about, mostly because SO MANY of my friends are already card-carrying members of their unofficial fan club.

The launch of their new Little Journey product line, complete with nearly 50 high-quality, affordably priced feeding and diapering essentials for baby could not come at a better time for us. This could really help with the grocery budget struggle.

While we plan to cloth diaper part time, we will also need disposable diapers part of the time, too, and I’m looking forward to trying out the Little Journey diapers. I especially have high hopes for the Little Journey wipes because we go through prolific amounts of wipes, even when our kids aren’t in diapers. Is it normal to think I’ll be buying them until they move out?

ALDI launches Little Journey product line for babies | BabyRabies.com

Also, hooray for affordable, Little Journey organic baby food pouches! I can’t believe I fed my first baby without these. (Of course, back then I had the time to make all his baby food, which is simply not a luxury I have anymore.) I am so Team Baby Food Pouch now, you guys. They are sanity savers for me.

ALDI launches Little Journey product line for babies | BabyRabies.com

I’ll admit to being excited I can find Little Journey puffs and yogurt bites for great prices partly because that will make me feel less guilty about all that will wind up turning to dust at the bottom of my diaper bag… I mean purse. Fourth babies don’t get diaper bags.

ALDI launches Little Journey product line for babies | BabyRabies.com

Remember that bit about not wanting to sacrifice the quality of our food to save money? Not an issue with the Little Journey products.

“The Little Journey food products are tested in our ALDI Test Kitchen located at our Batavia, Illinois, headquarters, to ensure we meet or beat the national brands on quality, nutrition and taste. And to be 100 percent sure we maintain our high-quality standards, we conduct independent lab analysis on all Little Journey food products before they hit shelves, and continually test products we sell at least twice a year. When a product doesn’t meet our standards, we ask our suppliers to improve it.” – www.ALDI.us

While I don’t anticipate needing to buy formula for this baby, it’s worth noting that the Little Journey line also includes a variety of formulas, including a lactose-free Soy formula. They are all “clinically proven to be well tolerated and also support growth and development, as well as meet the nutritional and quality standards established by the FDA.”

I know I’m not alone in the grocery budget struggle, and that I’m not the only over-extended parent who can’t find time to cut coupons. If you’re interested in learning more about the Little Journey product line at ALDI, there’s more information here. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

This post was sponsored by ALDI, and product was provided at no charge. All opinions are my own, and not representative of ALDI. 

November 14, 2016 2 comments
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Make STEM a Festive Part Of Your Holiday Break
ReviewsSchool Age Days

Make STEM a Festive Part Of Your Holiday Break

by Jill November 11, 2016
written by Jill

If you have school age children, chances are you know that STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. You may also already know that this isn’t just an important group of skills for high schoolers. In fact, the earlier kids start engaging in STEM activities, the better chance they have of competing with their peers at the college and workforce level.

But let’s not be so serious because STEM activities for kids don’t have to feel like something that’s only preparing them for college and a better paycheck. I’ve partnered with Sylvan Learning to show you how we can get our kids doing something educational without them even knowing it, all while using stuff you’ll probably have laying around the kitchen over Thanksgiving break.

Make STEM a festive part of the holiday break with this SUPER EASY activity | BabyRabies.com

Here’s what you need:

Fresh cranberries
Toothpicks

That’s it!

What I recommend doing, especially if you have more than one child wanting to participate, is to divide the supplies up and place them on individual baking sheets (the kind with shallow edges) to keep the cranberries from rolling onto the floor.

Make STEM a festive part of the holiday break with this SUPER EASY activity | BabyRabies.com

Start by showing how to make a basic structure, which is pretty self-explanatory, but here’s a pic of Leyna’s first attempt.

Make STEM a festive part of the holiday break with this SUPER EASY activity | BabyRabies.com

All you’re doing is inserting the toothpicks into the cranberries, and building out from there. This is a great time to talk to the kids about things like what “center of gravity” means and why structures with larger bases can be built higher.

Make STEM a festive part of the holiday break with this SUPER EASY activity | BabyRabies.com

Once they had the basics down, I let mine get creative, and encouraged them with questions like, “Can you build a Christmas Village? What about a rocket for Santa?”

Feeling adventurous? Challenge them to see if they can work together to build a structure taller than the table… maybe taller than them?

Make STEM a festive part of the holiday break with this SUPER EASY activity | BabyRabies.com

It’s not about perfection! If the structure falls, talk to them about some reasons why that happened. I loved taking this moment to tell them that making mistakes is a part of the process.

Make STEM a festive part of the holiday break with this SUPER EASY activity | BabyRabies.com

The best part is I didn’t have to babysit this too much. I was in the kitchen, yes, but I was making dinner. I was available for questions and guidance, but not to micromanage, making this an awesome activity for restless kids while we’re cooking turkeys and pies in a few weeks. Assuming few rogue cranberries roll away, it’s really not very messy at all. And you all know how much I love a mess-free activity.

Make STEM a festive part of the holiday break with this SUPER EASY activity | BabyRabies.com

We’ve been trying to get our kids more involved with STEM activities, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that we can take our kids to a nearby Sylvan Learning Center for their EDGE program. These are hands-on, cutting edge classes for kids that focus on programs like Robotics, Engineering, Coding and Math.

So if your kids enjoy this activity and you want them to continue learning STEM through more activities like this, check to see if there’s a Sylvan Learning EDGE program near you. Not only are they fun after school programs, they’re also preparing kids for success in the global workforce down the road.

November 11, 2016 0 comment
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Tried & True Baby Items I’m Happy To Use Again For Baby #4
BabiesGreen LivingParenthoodReviews

Tried & True Baby Items I’m Happy To Use Again For Baby #4

by Jill November 4, 2016
written by Jill

You’d think after 3 other babies that I’d have a huge stash of stuff ready for this one. I mean, yes and no. There isn’t a ton we need for this baby, but I also haven’t kept every single thing I’ve ever used with the other 3, either. For good reason. Half of it was crap.

And while there are some awesome new things that have come out over the last few years that I do plan on getting, I am pretty confident in all the good stuff that I’ve kept.

Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com

This includes our bumGenius cloth diapers by Cotton Babies, who is also sponsoring this post. 

If you’re a first time parent, I think these are some quality items to put on your registry. Of course, everything in parenthood is subjective and really relative to your lifestyle, so take this for what it’s worth- just my opinion… my opinion based on having 3 other babies in 8 years, with a 4th on the way.

Fisher Price Bouncer SeatTried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
There are a few variations of this, but I’m partial to the most basic. The vibration function is nice, but what we use this for the most is to manually bounce our babies to sleep because our babies love them a good, hard bounce.

My favorite pro-parent tip is to master how to bounce a baby to sleep with your foot with the seat on the floor in front of you while you sit at your desk and work, sit on the couch and watch TV, or sit at the table and eat. It’s also the perfect place to put a newborn while you shower. Yeah, there’s going to come a moment when you’re alone with a baby, and you can’t stand your own stench, and then you’re going to be like, “Uhhhh… so like, what do I DO with you?”

bumGenius Cloth Diapers by Cotton Babies

Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.comI can’t even begin to quantify how much money cloth diapering has saved us while raising 3 kids. bumGenius diapers are the most reliable, longest lasting brand I’ve tried. I’ve got some bumGenius Original pocket diapers that I used on my first baby 8 years ago, that I’m prepping for baby #4 now, along with a nice stash of new Freetimes and Elementals.

I’ve been all over the place with cloth diapering, from using them ALL THE TIME with my first (road trips included) to using them just at home with baby #3. Even if you’re not planning to commit to full-time cloth diapering, I think it’s great to have at least 6 on hand. Then you don’t have to stress if you run out of diapers in the middle of the night, or if the brand you’re using suddenly seems to be giving your baby a rash.

Not to mention, they’re ADORABLE. (Look at those prints!)

Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
I’ll be sharing a lot more about cloth diapering over the next year!

Miracle Blanket & Woombie
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
These are the only 2 swaddles that have ever contained our hulk-smashing newborns. (They are all born with super strength.) The Miracle Blanket helped save my sanity when my first baby had colic. The Woombie came about in time for our 2nd, though she seemed to prefer having her arms at her side in the Miracle Blanket. But, our 3rd LOVED having the freedom to scoot his hands up a bit in the Woombie. I’m going to have both washed and ready to see what works best for baby #4.

Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets and Dream Blankets Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
The basic swaddle blankets are such workhorses. They make excellent nursing covers, spit up rags, car seat covers, light blankets, and plain ol’ swaddles. They are HUGE, which is really useful. The Dream Blankets (like that star one up there) are several layers of the basic swaddle, and they are the perfect weight blanket for when you need something a little heavier. They get softer with every wash, and soon you’ll be wishing you had one in your size (which they actually make).

Fisher Price Rock & Play
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
I’ve only had the Rock & Play for my 3rd baby, and man, I wish I had it for the other 2. My babies all love to sleep in a slight incline, and this thing is PERFECT for that. The Bouncer seat is, too, but it’s not always convenient to sit it on the floor, especially with older kids and dogs running around. Lowell napped in this all the time, and even spent a few fussy nights in it. I hear there’s one now that automatically rocks itself?! Yeah, getting it.

Diono Radian RXT Car Seat
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
These seats are WONDERFUL if you need to fit 3 carseats across one row of your car. With just one Radian RXT in the middle, we were able to get 3 carseats across the back of our Infiniti G35. Leyna, at nearly 6, just outgrew hers and is switching to a Britax Frontier.

Medela Harmony Breast Pump
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
If you think you’re going to even try to breastfeed, I can’t recommend having a manual pump enough. I have used this so much with 3 kids that I’m actually on my 2nd one now. The first lived a long, hard life. Even if you think you’re going to exclusively breastfeed and never give your baby a bottle, and even if you already have a fancy double electric pump, here’s why you need it:
1. Sometimes you need to pump a little bit to relieve engorgement to get a newborn to latch, and having to bust out the electric pump for that can be overwhelming.
2. If you unfortunately wind up with a clogged duct or mastitis, this can really help you get milk moving to help it clear up faster.
3. If you travel, a small manual pump is immensely easier to throw in your bag and take on an airplane with you.

Stokke Tripp Trapp
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.comThis is the only high chair we’ve ever had, and I fully expect we will still have it when we have grandchildren. It’s easy to clean, impossible to destroy, and functions as a high chair, booster seat, and adult size chair. It’s a fantastic investment that you can feel confident will not wind up in a landfill anytime soon. You can read a more thorough review of it here.

 

Boppy Feeding Pillow
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.comNot only does it make a great nursing/feeding pillow (and mine looks a little deflated here because it’s been used A LOT)…
Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com
But it’s also wonderful for tummy time, and helping babies sit up. I love that it’s uncomplicated, and you can find a ton of cute, custom covers on Etsy or from sellers on Instagram. Get you a couple because this thing gets covered in a lot of bodily fluids on the regular.

Bonus- I also need to add some sort of baby carrier to this list, but since I can’t narrow down a specific favorite, and we’ve used several over the years, I’m just going to encourage you to do some research and find a good quality baby carrier (that you can usually find 2nd hand for a great price if you’re not sure it will work out) that works well with your lifestyle.

Tried & True Baby Items I'm Happy To Use Again For Baby #4 | BabyRabies.com

I do love a stretchy Moby Wrap for those newborn days. This saved me when my oldest had colic. I also love soft structured carriers when they get older.

What about you, seasoned parents? What are some of your tried & true baby items you’d recommend a new parent get?

Thanks to Cotton Babies for sponsoring this post. Many of these items, plus so much more, can be found at CottonBabies.com, and shipping is FREE with every order.

November 4, 2016 2 comments
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Costumes, Candy, and Hello Toothpaste- We’re Ready for Halloween!
ParenthoodReviews

Costumes, Candy, and Hello Toothpaste- We’re Ready for Halloween!

by Jill October 30, 2016
written by Jill

We’ve got the costumes laid out, the pumpkins are getting carved tonight, and we’re ready for some good ol’ fashioned trick-or-treating tomorrow!

Kendall is going is Kylo Ren,

Halloween prep, 2016! | BabyRabies.com

Leyna as Belle from Beauty and the Beast,

Halloween prep, 2016! | BabyRabies.com

And Lowell as Bob the Builder.

Halloween prep, 2016! | BabyRabies.com

The main motivation for all those costumes being I didn’t have to make a single one. Too pregnant. Too tired. Thank you, online shopping.

We did a trial run this weekend, and then I had to explain that, no, they can not wear them until Halloween, despite their whines and pleas. It’s been a long weekend. Such a rookie parenting mistake.

Of course, when prepping for Halloween, you have to have stuff to give out, and I’d be lying if I said this pregnant momma isn’t excited about the candy. We certainly have a stash of it ready to go, and we fully expect our kids to get plenty of it while TOTing, too.

But, we’re also offering some candy alternatives at our house this year, like glow bracelets (for the Teal Pumpkin project), and mini-tubes of Hello bubble gum flavored toothpaste from this post’s sponsor, which happens to be my kids’ favorite flavor  AND mine.

Halloween prep, 2016 with Hello Toothpaste | BabyRabies.com

Listen, I know that kids aren’t exactly trick-or-treating for stuff like toothpaste, but our kids will be rushing to brush (with some encouragement, of course) after they eat their candy for the night, and I’m sure a lot of other kids will, too. Hello toothpaste tastes so great that my kids never complain about having to use it, so hopefully anyone who winds up with a sample tube from us will realize how AWESOME we are for introducing them to a great tasting, ADA accepted toothpaste that’s also vegan, cruelty free, and free of artificial flavors, dyes and other icky stuff like triclosan or microbeads.

And also, BUBBLE GUM flavor.

Halloween prep, 2016 with Hello Toothpaste | BabyRabies.com

Plus? How fun is a fresh tube of toothpaste that’s all your own? (Are we total dorks over here? Everyone in our family has their very own tube of Hello toothpaste, which is nice when some of us squeeze from the bottom, and some of us are total toothpaste slobs and squeeze from the middle, and nobody has to share so GO BRUSH YOUR TEETH AND DON’T TOUCH YOUR SISTER!)

I know not everyone gets to come trick-or-treating at our house ::sad trombone::, but it’s not too late to swing by Walmart, Target, or RiteAid and pick up a fresh tube (or 3) of Hello toothpaste of your very own. There are lots of other great flavors.

Kids (and parents) are going to pig out on candy on Halloween, we know this. But don’t forget to rush to brush before everyone goes to bed. Cavities are scary! A fresh new tube of great-tasting toothpaste could go a long way to reduce headaches brought on by hyper, whining kids who just don’t wanna.

October 30, 2016 10 comments
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Our Family Through Another Lens- Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX
Dallas/Ft. WorthFashion & FitnessParenthoodPhotographyReviews

Our Family Through Another Lens- Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX

by Jill October 27, 2016
written by Jill

It’s been a long time since I’ve been on the other side of the camera without the added stress of trying to direct my husband to get the shots that I have in mind. So when photographer Kelly White reached out to me to see if she could get some pictures of our family for her portfolio, I pounced on the opportunity. A chance to have the WHOLE family in a shot with no tripod or shutter remote to be worried about? IN. Not to mention, she’s incredibly talented, and I knew she’d produce some stunning images.

Photos by Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX | BabyRabies.com

These photos were taken when I was about 28 weeks pregnant, and wow has my belly grown even bigger since then! (Exhibit A- I’m nearly 33 weeks now.)

Photos by Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX | BabyRabies.comPhotos by Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX | BabyRabies.com

I’m glad we did them when we did because I don’t know if I could make it through that nature preserve now in the wedges I was wearing. It would have to be flip flops and lots of strategic crops.

Photos by Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX | BabyRabies.com

And that dress? I officially outgrew it in Hawaii (when I wore it to dinner and realized the inner lining wouldn’t even stay over half of my bump).

Photos by Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX | BabyRabies.com

Speaking of that dress, let’s talk outfits! Because I LOVE how we all came together, and I owe a whole lot to Stitch Fix. I told my stylist I had pictures coming up, and she sent me an entire fix full of options. This dress was all I kept from that fix because at this stage in pregnancy I really don’t have many reasons to dress up. I loved the fall colors and knew they would be easy to find pieces to coordinate with  for the rest of the family. Plus the dress will make a great 4th trimester piece since the neckline makes it breastfeeding friendly and the tummy coverage is very forgiving.

It also helped that Scott got his first Stitch Fix Men box that same week, and the linen button down shirt and marled maroon t-shirt went perfectly with the dress!

Photos by Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX | BabyRabies.com

I picked up everything the kids are wearing at Target! I couldn’t believe how easy it was to find pieces in the maroon, navy, black family. Must be on-trend!  And relying on some basic denim pieces to bring it all together made it even easier.

Photos by Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX | BabyRabies.com

Kelly did a wonderful job working with our kids’ energy levels, which were off the charts during the shoot. I love that she managed to capture their personalities through her lens. It’s always fun to see how they will look at someone else when you’re used to being the one yelling at them through clenched teeth telling them, “Look here!”

Photos by Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX | BabyRabies.comPhotos by Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX | BabyRabies.comPhotos by Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX | BabyRabies.com

If you’re in the Dallas area and looking for a family/lifestyle photographer, Kelly White Photography gets a standing ovation from us. You should check her out! I’m looking forward to working with her again after baby gets here.

Photos by Kelly White Photography, Dallas, TX | BabyRabies.com

Kelly White provided photography services to us at no charge, but I was under no obligation to blog about it. Stitch Fix links are affiliate. 

October 27, 2016 41 comments
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