Christmas...er I mean Happy Halloween!

Yep, Henry has 2 Halloween costumes.

Deal with it.

I didn't want to do any cheesy typical baby costumes, and I thought if I was a boy, what would I want to be?

Harry Potter of course.

I mean, Henry Potter.

But lets face it, as much as I am trying to be in the Halloween spirit, my true love awaits in the Christmas season.

Tomorrow I am making a prop for family christmas pictures, and then working on a new set of stockings for my little family, that I am super excited about.

I am also trying to finish painting my house, so I can rearrange my living room to fit the Christmas tree and new decor where I want it.

Basically, I loved Christmas before, but I adore it even more just thinking about Christmas with this guy:

Can't, wait.

its almost here...

(3 new blog posts, scroll down.)

On this day, I dressed Henry in adorable Christmas PJ's, turned om the fireplace, and snuggled with him and a nice cozy blanket. He fell asleep like that.

loved it.

I can not wait for the christmas SEASON. Not just the day, in fact not even the day, but the season.

these are a few of my favorite things

Now that Henry is 6 months old, I am gonna share with you some of our favorite baby items.

ya know, for fun.

Infant Fruit Feeder

Oh my, we love this. just keep it in the diaper bag and when you are out, maybe to dinner or lunch, just put a piece of fruit in there and they go to town on it. It seriously keeps him happy forever. MUST HAVE. Since they are eating it fresh, there is no need for any preparation! just stick it in there! $4.

Snuggle Banket

Henry loooooves blankets. But we won't let him sleep in his crib with one, for obvious reasons. So recently I bought him one of these blanket snuggle things, and he loves it. He chews on it, rubs it on his face, and doesn't get tangled in it. Genius. They are like $5-$15.

Fisher Price Swing

I have already blogged about this swing, but it deserves to make the list. This swing saved my life.

although next baby I am getting this one, for a bunch of reasons.

Raspberry teething toy

Henry is constantly teething, he has two teeth already but more moving around and he LOVES this teething toy, and hear a lot of babys do. Its nice because he can move it all around his gum line and get way in the back, when he wants. He doesn't use binkies, so he holds it in his mouth. They are like $5. good investment.

Formula Dispenser

Obviously for formula fed babies only, but this thing is handy. most people use it most when they leave the house or leave the baby with a sitter, but we use it most for the night feedings. Its nice because we dont have to go to the kitchen to make a bottle. They are like $2.

Playtex ventaire bottles

These bottles are awesome. The bottom of the bottle is a ventilation cap that lets the air come in the bottle through the bottom, instead of the nipple hole. It makes it so Henry swallows less air, but the best part is it makes it faster for him to finish a bottle. When we use the other ones that are just regular ones, it takes him twice as long. $8 a bottle.

Hooded towels

Obviously these are awesome. Henry has outgrown most of the store bought ones, but a family member made him one out of a regular sized towel, and I love it. I am sure its no big deal to just use a regular non hooded towel, but he looks so cute in hooded ones. :) $8

Toddler car seat

Did you know that your baby can ride in one of these once they are 5 lbs? so basically when they are born. Henry has been riding in one of these since he was 4 months old and he absolutely loves it. At first it was annoying cause we had to hold him whereever we went, but now that he sits its a lot better. He just hated his infant car seat.

Well those are just a few of our favorite things. They make life easier and more fun. :)

best time of day

My FAVORITE time of day is Henry's bedtime.

Not because he is going to bed(although that helps), but because I love our routine.

Its soothing, bonding, and so relaxing.

Step 1: dinner. we eat our dinner, and he eats some solids and a bottle.

step 2: a little bit of play time, usually with Daddy. Henry absolutely adores his dad, and no one can get him to laugh the way Jason can.

step 3: bathtime. henry LOVES bathtime. He splashes like mad, and Jason squirts him with his toys. When its over we wrap him in a warm towel and snuggle him till he's dry. Then we get him dressed in adorable PJ's.

Now in the summer this is when we would go on a walk with the stroller, but now its too cold.

step 4: Little bedtime snack, and a bottle, in his nursery.

step 5. I cuddle him in the rocker and sing to him this song:

Lean on me, when you're not strong

and I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

for it won't be long

til I'm gonna need

somebody to lean on

just call on me brother, when you need a hand

we all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'd understand

we all need somebody to lean on

I love this song and I love that it talks about leaning on each other and not just one way.

step 6: family prayer

step 7: Then we put Henry in his crib, turn on his crib toy, give him his tiny snuggle blanket, and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Kiss him good night, and see him again in the morning. (well for me I see him again at midnight and 4 am. stupid wakings)

I love his bedtime routine, and I think he likes it too. It goes so smoothly and he goes right to sleep. I read a few books during the newborn stage about sleep, feedings blah blah, and while I learned a lot from each book, Henry's digestive system doesnt really allow us to strictly follow any of them. BUT the bedtime routine theory is the best thing ever, and works like a charm. We have been doing this same routine since he was born.

love it, and love that we do it as a family.