8. 9. & 10. Month Roundup

Oh my, my, my. I cannot believe we have reached the 11 month mark. My baby boy is hardly a baby anymore...I sometimes catch myself telling stories about my "newborn," only to realize I'm no longer a new mom with a infant. Somehow things still feel new to me. Each chapter is new, and everyday is new. Today a woman at the department store wrapped a scented silk ribbon around my wrist and asked me, "What do you say yes to?" I responded instantaneously with the first thing that popped into my head and replied, "change." Now that one must have come from somewhere deep in my subconscious because I wouldn't say that I give the warmest of welcomes to alterations unless of course they entail taking in a beautiful Vince Camuto dress or hemming a brand new pair of blue jeans. I could have answered yes to anything--to traveling, to shopping, to happiness, to Luca always, to world peace, or to a free bottle of the amazing perfume this woman was the rep for (it had black currant in it. BLACK CURRANT PEOPLE.), but no, I responded with "change," and I have no idea  where "change" came from. I suppose I am more open to it than I thought, either that or the gypsy, my sagittarius husband, is really starting to rub off on me. We left my longtime home and up and put roots down further north, which I can't lie and say I was ecstatic about. It's as if one minute you are living where people vacation and the next you are staring at a photograph of the ocean as you sit in the AC because it is 100 degrees outside and you're starting to feel like a "Damn toucan." I swear I'm about to click clack my red glittered shoes together, close my eyes tightly, and chant "There's no place like home" over and over again until I open my eyes and I'm back at the beach. Not only is it hot, but relocating has brought with it the usual protocols such as having to make new friends, finding a new hot yoga studio, acclimating my skin to the high desert, figuring out a new routine, and re-familiarizing myself with my childhood home. It's not as bad as I'm making it out to be, I'm just missing my cottage by the sea. Soon I will find my new normal, I'll readjust, and I'll do my best to find the good in every situation. So I'm saying yes to change. We are almost completely settled in our new digs and I cannot wait to sit down, put my feet up, and call it a day. But before I do that, here are our 8, 9, and 10 month favorites. Enjoy!

 1. Safari Walker \\  This walker is perfect for the transition between crawling and walking. Luca loved playing with all the buttons and listening to the tunes before he was able to stand up on his own. And now that he's furniture cruising and balancing on his own, this little tool is great for Luca to practice walking around.

 2. Umbrella stroller \\  This light-weight and compact stroller is essential for when you need to run in and out somewhere running errands. 

3.Baltic Amber teething necklace \\ We swear up and down by this necklace. This may just be the most useful item on this list. If you aren't familiar with baltic amber it works by rubbing with the heat of your skin and creating a natural analgesic. Luca sprouted three teeth in a week and barely made a peep. I can't say enough good things!

4. Calm Forte Tablets \\ These are chamomile tablets so even though the package says ages 2+, they are totally safe. We've had both sides of our family recommend these for when Luca is overly tired or fussy and just like the tea, they help!

5. Safety First Cabinet Locks \\ These are rad. I could leave it at that. They are a total bitch to install but totally worth it. You use a little magnet to open the locks and there's a switch for when baby is asleep so you don't have to fuss with a child proofed kitchen.

6. Teething bunny \\  You know the old phrase "if it ain't broke don't fix it?" Well they make things simple for a reason. Luca likes this teether the most out of all his fancy-shmancy ones.

7.Mustela Lotion \\ I was recommended this lotion by a fellow mom and it is the best smelling baby product of all time. I feel like if you could bottle up the magical scent of a baby and sell it you'd place second because Mustela already did it. It's also really great for moisturizing Luca's eczema.
 8. Sippy \\ Luca loves water and is obsessed with straws, so sippy cups with straws are all the rage in this household.
9. High chair \\ This high chair doubles as a kids seat when your baby outgrows the highchair and Miles and I love products that are duel purposed. Plus it is so cute and doesn't look like most of the high chairs out there or how a hummer looks in a parking spot-- way too big.
 10. Ella's Puffits \\ These are Luca's favorite snack. We love all Ella's offers, but these are great because they are free of oats and sugar. They don't have all the added crap most of the other brands contain, just a couple simple ingredients and in this day and age that's hard to find!
11. Maxi Cosi Pria 70 Car seat \\ Lastly, but certainly not least...Luca is a beast for his age and so at 8 months the infant seat had to go. His feet were touching the back seat and he looked so uncomfortably squished. We read tons of reviews and decided on this plush seat. I love that it's comfortable and extremely safe. Worth every penny!

Well I'd better get swimming' or I'll sink like a bone, cause' the times they are a changin'

I wish you all a great rest of the week! 

Happy hump day!

24

I turned 24 a week ago and I can't tell you how greatful I am to have such an amazing batch of family & friends. I felt so special all day, receiving tons of well wishes and lots of love. So thank you to all who thought of me on my special day!

This was my first birthday with a baby and let me tell you, a birthday with a baby is pretty much the most awesome thing ever. As if the kid doesn't make me feel important and giddy enough on a daily basis, Luca gave me enough love to last me the rest of the year followed by his adorable applause after the grand "happy birthday" song was sung. I'm just happy I didn't have to sing the meatball birthday song like I used to at the restaurant I waited tables at once upon a time (trust me when I say that "the meatball song" is too embarrassing to explain). Uggghhh, why did I even bring it up? Now it's stuck in my head!

Moving on.

On my actual birthday my boys and I drove out to Costa Mesa and did a little shopping, I ate strawberry cream-filled crepes at noon because it was my birthday and who doesn't want crepes dusted with angel dust powdered sugar mid-afternoon? Crap, I'll eat crepes all day any day who needs a special occasion for crepes? That's right. No one. They were a small piece of Paris and a butt load of calories, luckily Luca wanted to be carried around for the remainder of our shopping excursion because nothing says calorie burning like one-arming a 27 pounder. My little bunch o' chunk is what I always prayed for. You know how little girls dream of ponies and dollhouses? Well I used to pray for a chunky baby with rubber band wrists (you know when the arm rolls are so apparent it looks like there's a rubber band tightly wrapped around their little wrists, right above those adorable dimpled hands? Yes. Those my friends are called rubber band wrists and I go nuts for them)

Here is Miles at dinner trying to desperately explain to the older generations at the table why eating organically is important. He was using big words such as 'Monsanto' and 'Genetic Modification.' God I love when he talks nerdy.

Anyway, I think it is safe to say that bringing up dietary matters in this day and age is just as taboo as talking about religion, money, politics and the movie "Black Fish." You just shouldn't go there. But they did and so while that conversation carried on my step-sister and I took selfies like this. Doesn't it look like we're in the jungle sans the crutch in the bushes?? Hakuna Matata, it means no worries.

Thus far, 24 has been great. I've got all a girl could ever need. I'm good.

Now here are 24 fun facts about me that you may or may not know:

1. I hate when people are grammatically incorrect. Yes, there is a difference between there, their, and they're--Its and it's--and sherbet is pronounced "sure-bay" not "sure-bert." I'm pushing my glasses up from falling off my nose with my index finger as I type this.

2. I wear contacts and glasses depending on my mood. I have a crazy bad astigmatism in both my eyes (thanks dad) and my eyes have two different prescriptions, but I'm way too scared to get laser surgery. I am now also having trouble reading too which pretty much means I'm S.O.L. Without my contacts or glasses I'm as blind as a bat.

3. My name is spelt Chel-sie rather than the traditional Chel-sea, and for some reason this really confuses folks. I'm told I was named Chelsie after my mom read an article about Chelsea Clinton and fell in love with the name. My grandmother tells me I am named after the daughter in the film "On Golden Pond." So who really knows. 

4. My mom was one of ten and my dad one of three, so I have a HUMONGOUS family and I love being a part of it. It is chaotic at times and sending out invites and thank yous can sometimes be a bitch, heck it could even give you carpal tunnel, but there is always someone there for you. Everyone has each other's backs and we all have mad love for one another. Most of us live in California too so the gatherings are endless, and the gossip plain outrageous. We'd make for a really good reality TV show.

5. I met my husband because he was my roommate. Unconventional, but cool story.

6. I always had a fear growing up that I wouldn't be able to have children, but clearly that wasn't the case. Luca was a total surprise and my little miracle baby. What did I know?

7. I don't drink coffee, although I love the way it smells. I am obsessed with tea.

8. My sister and I look like twins. We're the same height, clothing size, shoe size, have same hair and eye color and have similar facial structures, but we are three years apart.

9. I had the hardest pregnancy, but the easiest labor and delivery.

10. I love to travel, but get major anxiety over flying. It never stops me though.

11. I have been practicing yoga since I was 18, and it has changed my life. 

12. I love to cook and I love to bake, but I HATE doing the dishes. Dishes are my least favorite chore next to folding my laundry.

13.  My birthday is National Donut Day! Hollllaaaa!

14. I once sat next to Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter's sister) on a flight home from Kentucky. She was really nice. 

15. I binge watched the whole first season of Orange is the New Black on netflix and now that the second season is out, I am trying to restrain myself, or rather Luca is restraining me. Why would they throw the entire season at you at once?! It's as if they want you to stay in your pajamas, disregard showering and and lose days of your life completely enthralled by Piper Chapman and her prison drama. 

16. I make all of Luca's baby food from scratch.

17. I am highly less organized than my husband. I procrastinate like it's in style, but work well under pressure. I also have great long-term memory, but my short-term memory makes a goldfish look good.

18. I have my bachelor's degree in Literature & Writing and will start teaching as a substitute in the fall.

19. Crafting is my passion, and I am a perfectionist which can be both a bad and good thing.

20. I have all the dominant features, but my son looks just like his dad.

21. Going to the beach is one of my all time favorite things to do & I love what the ocean does to my skin and hair.

22. I once pulled all four of my molars out in one weekend because my dad jokingly said he'd give me a 100 bucks if I did it. Guess who got the last laugh?! I'm highly competitive by nature. 

23. I love playing the piano but I cannot and refuse to read music. I only memorize songs and my favorite song to play is "Maple Leaf Rag" by Scott Joplin. 

24. I love my baby, my husband and our family and friends more than anything in the world and I would do anything for them. 

"We may not have it all together, but together we have it all"

Well, I hope you enjoyed, and bravo to you if you made it all the way to the bottom. I am slow-clapping it out for you! If you haven't yet you-tubed Jenna Marbles you should do yourself a favor and do so right now. 

Father's Day Weekend

We spent most of our weekend tying up loose ends on our house while Miles was away on a work trip up north. I wish I could say Luca and I were successful, but unpacking, organizing, cleaning, etc. with a 10 month old as your right hand man can be a bit of a challenge for lack of a better word but you catch my drift. He was helpful enough to allow me to hang the curtains (and THAT was huge) and I even partially mopped--big emphasis on the word partially. Slowly but surely we are getting there and that's what really counts. All in due time, one project at a time, one temper tantrum at a time and a couple from Lulu too. But I can't wait to share photos with you, especially if you saw the original piece we were working with here. Talk about how true the phrase "One man's junk is another man's treasure" rings. I'm so happy with the way it has evolved, and all the time it took to become complete was totally worth it.

On saturday night Luca, my sister, and I went to dinner with our dad for an early father's day dinner since my sister had to work sunday and it being Miles' first fathers day, we had planned a special day for him. So we had a beautiful dinner with our wonderful dad who has been there for us through thick and thin, who has struggled trying to play a double role at times since my mom has passed, and who has worked his heart out to give my sister and I the best life he could, and he truly did. He's such an awesome and loving man, an amazing grandpa and I feel so fortunate to have him in my life. I could tear up just typing this! Hormones, freaking hormones, they will get you every time!!! With that one year mark since Luca was born lingering around the corner I'm hoping they will soon be stable again, not to say I still won't tear up during the Sara McLaughlin dog commercials or anytime baby Lu melts my sappy heart, but at least I won't be a walking sprinkler. The ugly cry is just sooo ugly, it doesn't look good on anyone... Not even Kim Kardashian. Sorry Kim.

So then came sunday, Miles' very first Father's day! And Father's Day was so much fun! We started our morning by walking over to the donut shop around the corner from our house, and then coming home to open gifts. Here's what Miles' opened up on fathers day:

watering tin || go the f*** to sleep book || walnut phone case  || calvin klein micro modal boxer briefs

moscow mule copper mug || michael kore watch

Miles is a big time gardener which I have mentioned in previous posts so he needs a nice watering can to keep our garden alive and thriving! This one fits the bill and is so chic which is a bonus for me! I like that it's pretty to look at, so we both win on this one!

The book "Go the F**k to Sleep" is so hilarious I highly recommend it to any parent with young kids! You'll get a good laugh which you definitely need at times AND it was a New York Times best seller surprisingly (Disclaimer: probably don't need to say this, but we obviously do not nor intend to read it to Luca)

The Paper Source has some great phone cases and they are usually really reasonable. This one was fitting since our last name is Wood, and it looks so sleek on a black iPhone :)

Don't ask me why I introduced these briefs to Miles' awhile back but now he is totally obsessed. Luckily Nordstrom was having their men's sale and I swooped a killer deal on these. They are totally worth the money though--they're soft, silky, and super durable.

Miles' rarely drinks, but when he does his drink of choice is a moscow mule. So it was natural that I'd get him the proper cup to drink out of. My recipe goes something like this 2-3 oz of vodka & half a lime muddled and shook up in a tumbler with crushed ice, then pour into your copper mug and top it off with ginger beer and voila! 

Mile's big gift this year was a Michael Kors watch. He'd been needing one for quite some time, and after all the hard work he puts in it was well deserved. I'm so happy he loved it and I loved spoiling my husband. Luca and I are just so fortunate to have him in our lives. We couldn't ask for a better husband, father, and superman extraordinaire. He just lights up our world, and works so hard to give us a wonderful life. Happy Father's day babe! Keep on keeping on, the world needs your stories, your humor, your positivity and your energetic spirit. we love you more than words could ever describe and you are our hero! 

A very happy belated father's day to all the loving dads out there doing their very best and devoting themselves to their families, to all the single dads out there raising their children alone, and happy father's day to those fathers who are no longer with us who are missed so much, and also to all the mothers out there who are both mothers and fathers, my hats off to all of you! Dads are just the greatest aren't they?! I hope everyone had a blessed Father's day weekend!

DADS ARE RAD

Is it June already?!

Hey there! I've missed you blank white screen...I've missed you my beautiful readers, my friends...I'm sincerely sorry I've been away for so long, but I feel happy, excited, and mostly relieved to be back to share with you all the ventures I'm about to take on and all the endeavors I've conquered while I've been away. Where have I been? Well that right there is an extremely loaded question. Where do I begin? I can start back to when our house was completely tore up from the floor up (no exaggeration there) and our move in date kept getting pushed forward over and over again. I became part lunatic, just ask my husband, or don't because he may argue that the line between partial and full on psychotic was a lot thinner than I'm describing. And I won't even get into his teenage mutant ninja meltdowns. Cabin fever began to eat away at us like some blood hungry parasitic honey badger and times got tough for a minute or two. Not to say that I don't love my dad, I love my dad to pieces, but when you are married with a family, living with your dad isn't the most ideal of situations. Hmm what else have I been up to? Oh, did I mention I have a 10 month old? For all you mothers out there, I could stop right there and you understand. He's crawling, climbing, furniture cruising, giving me a run for my money, etc. then there's the part where we finally could move in and I had to try and "pack" and build furniture with my said 10 month old. That was interesting to say the least. All in all, we have finally moved, and the wait was completely worth it. I'm not saying everything's unpacked and organized but were making progress. One day at a time. One project at a time. One dirty diaper at a time. That's my new M.O. mostly because that's the only way I can do it. But I promise to get our 8, 9, and 10 month faves up soon, and I recieved a lot of requests asking me to show and tell how I home-make Luca's baby food, so that's in the works and will be up soon as well! I'd love to give you a virtual house tour once we are settled, aaand I have a few give-aways coming up too, so stay tuned folks and thank you for bearing with me! If there is anything else you'd like me to share or post, please don't be shy! You can always reach me at thestringandneedleco@gmail.com

xx

hope your Sunday is marvelous

Im headed out to attempt to take on this crazy life of mine so wish me luck! 

Lord knows I need it.

Signing off, Chelsie