Carrington's 4 Month Update

Happy Monday! (isn't that a bit of a contradiction?) 

Our weekend was one of the most relaxing we've had in a while. My in-laws were supposed to come up, but plans changed, so suddenly the weekend was plan-free. To make the most of it, we went out to dinner as a little family of three (still love saying that) on Saturday night, followed by a trip to Babies R Us to check out bouncers for C. We put her in one (after wiping the crap out of it, obviously) to try, and she looked so proud, like she thought she was a big girl. It was the cutest thing ever. So I think we're going to order the Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo this week! Once we got home, we put C to bed *in her crib for the first time* and the husband and I rented The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. So good! And C did great in her crib! I, on the other hand, was up about once an hour to check the monitor. Sunday we satisfied my fierce taco craving by having a yummy lunch at Chipotle, then did some shopping at Target. 

Our Carrington girl turned 4 months on Saturday! She is more bright and beautiful every day. I've been doing a monthly update picture that I post on Facebook for our friends and family, but decided to begin doing an official monthly update in this space, as well! 

Weight: 14 lbs. 1 oz. (somewhere around the 55th %)

Length: 23 3/4 inches

Health: Excellent! I know I'm probably jinxing myself, but so far, no colds or sicknesses

Sleep: Again, I'm probably jinxing myself, but it seems like we've been blessed with a pretty great sleeper. C sleeps about 11 hours a night, usually from 7:45 or 8pm to 7am. She takes 3-4 naps a day, anywhere from 30 minutes - 1.5 hours.

Social: This past month we did a lot of visiting. C's auntie Sarah and uncle Jamie came to visit and we went to dinner, we visited with both of our families back home, we went to auntie Becky and uncle Paul's house for takeout dinner and a visit, C came to work with mommy a few times, we went to a poetry reading and visited with close friends there, plus every Friday we do a mommy/baby yoga class and then lunch with our friends Margaret and Josephine (who is just 12 days older than Carrie!).

Diet: C is still doing very well on her alimentum formula, and though we were given the green light to start solids, I think we'll aim to wait another month or two before beginning.

Clothes: C is almost exclusively in 6 month clothes now (and the few 3-6 month items she has) - I can't believe it! She has so many 6 month outfits, I'm already stressing about her getting a chance to wear them all. Hoping the weather warms up soon so she can wear some of the sweet spring dresses!

Baby Gear: Carrie is still loving her SkipHop activity mat, naps in her swing, plush baby doll, and OBall.

Crying: Carrington only truly cries when she gets those terrible gas pains (we hate you, gas bubbles!)... other than that, she gets a little fussy/whiny in the evening around 5 or 6pm. But overall she's a pretty laid back girl.

Likes: Girlfriend loves to be sung to (specifically the ABC's, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, If You're Happy and You Know It, Twinkle Twinkle, etc.), talked to, and cuddled. She also loves riding in the car and her stroller (usually lulls her to sleep).

Dislikes: Doing much better with tummy time but still tells us she's over it after a while. Also not a huge fan of getting dressed. 

Postpartum: Nothing too new. Kind of weirdly, my c-section scar has been kind of itchy lately, which is annoying. I'm thinking it's been all the weather we're having... my skin is extra dry. I'm also in the market for a treadmill - need to tighten up this tummy for summer!

Milestones: Carrington rolled over for the first time last Monday, and then did it all day the next day. Since then, she's been on strike. ;) She rolls from belly to back. Does great with tummy time, grabs toys (and brings them to her mouth), tracks objects and watches mommy and daddy, holds weight when standing assisted.

We love you so much, jellybean, and can't believe you've been here for 4 months already. You're growing and learning so much each day, and we are so proud of the sweet, smart, silly, sometimes shy, smiley, lovable little girl you are already.

xoxo, Jen

Let's Talk Mom Suits

Swimsuits, that is! 

I totally applaud those moms who can go back to their bikini a few months after giving birth. I rocked mine while pregnant, but 4 months post partum, I just feel like I'll be more comfortable in a one-piece this season. Even though I'm below my pre-pregnancy weight, things are just...different (you moms know what I mean). Don't get me wrong... I'm more in awe of my body than ever, I just want the loose bits tucked in so I can focus on having fun this summer. ;)

However, being in my mid/late twenties, I don't want to succumb to the generic "mom suit" just yet (or ever). So here are my favorite young, updated, fun, and sexy suit picks!

#1 - This Trina Turk suit is to. die. for. I think this might be the one.

#2 - Robin Piccone crochet suit. I'm kind of feeling the crochet...

#3 - Red Carter one piece with peplum. Super cute, but not sure if I could pull it off.

#4 - Victoria's Secret Flounce one-piece. Loving the price!

So what do you think? What type of suit will you be rocking this summer?

xoxo, Jen

Shameless Selfie

Selfies with this girl are the best kind. Everything is more fun with her. :)

Hope you all had a nice weekend! 

xoxo, Jen

Getting to Know You...

I love a good survey... it brings out the 14 year old in me. :) But, really, I'm too tired to think of anything else and I love reading random facts about other people, so why not? Here goes!

A- AGE: 26

B - BIRTHDAY: July 9th

C - COLOR: Red (ok…and pink)

D - DRINK:  Non-alcoholic variety: Croix Sparkling Water and alcoholic: margarita

E - EYES:  Brown

F - FLASHBACK: Growing up in Amish Country (That's me in the pink with our neighbors/BFFs pretending to be Amish. Normal.)

G - GENT:  My hubby and best friend (and baby daddy), Stephen

H - HOBBY:  Shopping, lunches with friends, list-making, reading, writing

I - INDULGENCE: Shoes

J - JOB:  Full time mommy and part time publicist :)

K - KIDDOS:  My daughter, Carrington Elle, who is almost 4 months

L - LOVE:  My crazy, wonderful family

M - MUSIC:  So eclectic. Goo Goo Dolls will forever be my favorite.

N - NICKNAME:  Jenny, JPa, Jenny P, JTuc

O - ONE WISH:  To be closer to our families

P - PETS:  Our sweet golden retriever, Layla Penelope (everybody has a middle name in our family, furry members included)

Q - QUOTE:  Too many… I love me some quotes!

R - RESIDENCE:  South Jersey (hailing from the “country,” let me clear up that I think the people here are lovely, the drivers aren’t all that bad, and it doesn’t smell)

S - SIBLINGS:  An older brother, Matt

T - TEMPERATURE: Current? Too cold. Favorite? Warm… 70s and 80s please J

U - UNIVERSITY:  West Chester University (aka Dub C)

V - VEHICLE:  Nissan Altima Coupe named “Ruby” (you can guess what color she is)

W - WORST HABIT:  Biting my nails

X - XRAYS:  I’ve had a few. Hopefully no more!

Y - YUCK:  Stink bugs, bugs with a million legs, throwing up

Z - ZODIAC: Cancer

 xoxo, Jen

Being a Mom Means...

I was that little girl who was obsessed with dolls. When any of my friends would want to play, my game of choice would be "pretend mommy." There's a video of me when I was around 5 years old and my brother asks me what I want to be when I grow up... I reply "a ballerina and a mommy." Well, I never got beyond beginner dance classes and love spaghetti too much to become a ballerina, but at least one of those dreams came true! ;) As an adult, my greatest fear was that something would happen to me before I could experience being a mom. The point? Being a mom is what I've always, always wanted.

And now that I'm three months deep, it is more than I ever could have imagined. More wonderful, more challenging, more life-changing... just more in every way. Despite less sleep (although we're getting plenty these days... stay away four month sleep regression!), it's as though my whole life is enhanced. My emotions are more raw, my fears more real, my love more all-encompassing. 

With all that said, several times a day I think to myself "so this is what being a mom means." As a newbie, I'm just figuring it all out one day at a time. Some are serious thoughts and some are funny, but they're all real.

Being a mom means...

Reading quietly with a reading light after baby goes to bed (yes, there is still a market for reading lights - it's 14 year olds and new moms)

Feeling like you have it all together when you can clean up dinner and find matching lids to tupperware containers in under 10 minutes

Embracing the "uniform" (you moms know what it is)

Getting excited to run errands because it's a good excuse to put on real pants maternity jeans, a nice top, and mascara

Scarfing meals down faster than you ever thought possible

Cleaning up all types of bodily fluids without batting an eye

Kissing cheeks, eyes, belly buttons, thigh rolls, and toes all day, errday

Putting the milk in the cupboard and the cereal in the fridge. It's ok.

Doing anything and everything for baby giggles. They're like chips... you can't stop at one. If that means I must dance around with spirit hands making airplane sounds, then so be it.

Delighting in the smallest things: she brought the toy to her mouth! She smiled at herself in the mirror! She didn't completely lose it during tummy time!

Swaying and bouncing at all times, even sans baby. It can freak people out.

Constantly questioning yourself: am I doing the right thing? Are they happy? Are they healthy? Should I do that differently? 

And yet, following instincts you didn't even know you had.

Waking up every morning to the sweetest smiles. Who knew the mere sight of your face could make someone so happy?

Leaning on your partner as you never have before for support, guidance, laughter, reassurance, advice, and love.

Discovering how strong, pure, and unconditional love can truly be.

xoxo, Jen