Happily Ever Mock

Elise Claire Smash Cake

I have been slacking in the update department.  Elise Claire is 1! I can’t believe it. 1 year update coming at you soon. For now here are the adorable photos from JC Photography & Design of Elise’s Smash Cake session.  Just like big sister, Elise loved her cake! Having a sweet tooth must run in the family!

Hope you enjoyed these photos as much as Elise enjoyed the cake.

Elise Claire-11 months

I do not understand how a year can fly by so quickly! We are (Less than) one month away from your 1st birthday sweet Elise and I just don’t know how it happened!

Age- 11 months

  • Weight-  We were excused from a weight check this month, but if I were to guess about 14.5
  • Length- No check this month
  • Size- Size 2 Diapers. I Just pulled out 9 month clothes, so we are wearing a mix of 6 month and 9 month clothes.  6 Month still fits perfectly, but we had a lot of winter 9 month clothing for Hal, so its nice that I didn’t have to buy anything new…poor 2nd kid!
  • Eyes- Grey
  • Hair- She is our little blonde girl! She is finally getting more hair too!
  • Sleeping- 10-11 hours at night, and during the day Starting to give up naps except for in the car.  With Sister I had such a set schedule but this kid just naps on and off all day.  I usually get one solid nap out of her.
  • Eating- 22 oz a day, though we are really uninterested in formula. However, girlfriend LOVES solids. She eats and loves everything! Eggs, Peanut butter, yogurt, veggies, meat, fruit, cheese! We did finally find a food she dislikes…beans. Of all things! She eats more than sister!
  • Milestones- Mimicking everything we say!  She is cruising a ton and can stand alone for a few seconds at a time.   She still adds new words almost ever day!
  •  Memorable outings-First Christmas!
  • Favorite toys/activities- She is OBSESSED with looking at photos of her family. Especially ones of sister.  Dolls and stuffed animals. Especially Olaf and her Puppies! LOVES the bath. She likes her walker and  Baby shark. Enjoys the princess castle!  She wants remotes phones and all of sisters toys much to her dismay.  She likes her toy phone and laptop and LOVES being read to.  Especially Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Baby Giggles and animal books!.   She loves music and dancing with Momma. She is starting to dance on her own too! She loves music! “This is Big”. Loves the baby shark song, pat-a-cake, head and shoulders and I’m a little teapot.    Sister is her favorite person ever and she makes her crack up! She loves Stella and other animals.  Mommy plays Rolly Polly with her which makes her laugh. Absolutely loves to cuddle and be kissed and hugged.
  • Words/sounds- Momma, Dada, Haha-Hallie, Hi, Hey, Bye Bye, A Dog, more, all done, up, woof, pup, night night, nom nom, stella, good girl, stinky toes, again, no, Oh!, uh oh, eyes-while poking you in the eye, yes, hat, BOO! . She also pretends to sing! She can actually kind of sing to baby shark saing “Doo Doo”
  • Nicknames-Peanut or Peanut Butter, Chicky, E or E-Claire, Sweets
  • Funny moments- She will grab her head and shake it as if to say “You’re making me crazy!” She has serious FOMO especially with food.  One night she was (I thought) asleep in Christopher’s arms.  I went to open a chocolate kiss and she heard the wrapper, sat straight up opening her mouth wide like a baby bird!  She’s a camera hog! Loves looking at herself in the camera and also pictures of loved ones.  This one is more scary than funny….girlfriend can get out of anything.  One day I had her strapped into her highchair while I was cooking dinner.  I turned to flip the chicken I was cooking and when I turned back around her was sitting on top of the tray with one leg over the side! I almost had a heart attack! That little Houdini now requires 24/7 supervision even when strapped into something!
  • Looking forward to- Celebrating her birthday and watching her go to town on her smash cake!

Sweets you are the silliest happiest little girl who loves to laugh and smile.  Though hearing no breaks your little heart and you give me the saddest fat lip I have ever seen! You love your family something fierce and Momma is LOVING watching your little personality shine! 11 months is bittersweet has you transition from babe to toddler.  You’re so loving though and even the busier you get, you are always still up for a cuddle! I love you so!

Elise Claire- 10 Months

We are in the double digits now…what?!

  • Age- 10 months
  • Weight-  We were excused from a weight check this month, but if I were to guess she’s not quite 14 lb
  • Length- No check this month
  • Size- Size 2 Diapers. Onesies and shirts 3-6 month very few 9 month mixed in.  Pants- We are sort of in Limbo-Mostly 6 month…but really only 1 brand fits…otherwise we just still use high waters 3 month because that’s what fits her wiast  PJs-mostly 6 month or 3-6 month however I have pulled out the 9 month but they are still pretty long
  • Eyes- Grey
  • Hair- She is our little blonde girl!
  • Sleeping- Really well! 10-11 hours at night and during the day she naps a lot.  With Sister I had such a set schedule but this kid just naps on and off all day.  I usually get one solid nap out of her.
  • Eating- 22 oz a day, though we are really uninterested in formula. However, girlfriend LOVES solids. She eats and loves everything! Eggs, Peanut butter, yogurt, veggies, meat, fruit, cheese! We did finally find a food she dislikes…beans. Of all things! She eats more than sister!
  • Milestones-Clapping and Pointing. She also will say “Who’s that” or “Whats that” when she is pointing at something.  She loves Playing peek-a-boo which is the most adorable thing ever!  She is cruising a ton and can stand alone for a few seconds at a time.   She still adds new words almost ever day!
  •  Memorable outings-First Thanksgiving and First Mock Family Christmas!
  • Favorite toys/activities- She is OBSESSED with looking at photos of her family. Especially ones of sister.  Dolls and stuffed animals. Especially Olaf and her Puppy! Enjoys stacking cups and bath toys. She wants remotes phones and all of sisters toys much to her dismay.  She likes her toy phone and laptop and LOVES being read to.  Especially Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Baby Giggles.   She loves music and dancing with Momma. She is starting to dance on her own too! She loves music! “This is Big”. Loves the baby shark song, pat-a-cake, head and shoulders and I’m a little teapot.    Sister is her favorite person ever and she makes her crack up! She loves Stella and other animals but calls them all “A-Dog!” and barks at them!  Mommy plays Rolly Polly with her which makes her laugh. Absolutely loves to cuddle and be kissed and hugged.
  • Words/sounds- Momma, Dada, Haha-Hallie, Hi, Hey, Bye Bye, A Dog, more, all done, up, woof, pup, night night, nom nom, stella, good girl, stinky toes, again, no, yes, hat . She also pretends to sing!
  • Nicknames-Peanut or Peanut Butter, Chicky, E or E-Claire
  • Funny moments- I always say that her toes are stinky because it makes her laugh. Now she will pick her foot up and ask me, “Stinky toes?” so I will say “Oh they are so stinky!” and she just bursts into giggles.  When she points at something saying “Whats that” it sounds like she is saying “Whatsup!” like that old Budweiser commercial. She also disobeyed Momma for the first time. I was telling her “No no.” because she was crawling toward something I didn’t want her getting into. She looked back at me, said “Yes” Nodded her head and kept crawling!
  • Looking forward to- Watching her open Christmas presents tomorrow…Momma got her a Mommy shark! Also just slowing down these next two months to savor the last bit of her first year.

Sweet E,  you are the happiest baby who is always smiling and loves to laugh! Momma, Daddy and Sissy love you to pieces and can’t believe that time can pass so quickly! We love watching you grow and learn and can’t wait to see you you are going to be.

 

Elise Claire- 9 months

We are getting dangerously close to the 1 year mark and this momma’s heart just can’t bear it!

  • Age- 9 months
  • Weight-  13 lb .5 oz (1 lb smaller than Hallie at the same age)
  • Length- 26.5 inches (.5 inches smaller than sister)
  • Size- Size 2 Diapers though they are still very roomy. Onesies and shirts-3 month with some 6 month mixed in.  Pants- We are sort of in Limbo- She is starting to outgrow size 3 in length but anything else is WAY too big   PJs-mostly 6 month or 3-6 month
  • Eyes- Grey
  • Hair- She is our little blonde girl!
  • Sleeping- Really well! 10-11 hours at night and during the day she naps a lot.  With Sister I had such a set schedule but this kid just naps on and off all day.  I usually get one solid nap out of her.
  • Eating- 22 oz a day, though we are really uninterested in formula. However, girlfriend LOVES solids. She eats and loves everything! Eggs, Peanut butter, yogurt, veggies, meat, fruit, cheese! We did finally find a food she dislikes…beans. Of all things! She eats more than sister!
  • Milestones- She loves giving hugs, pat pats and HUGE open mouthed kisses.  She loves Playing peek-a-boo which is the most adorable thing ever! She hides under a blanket or puts her head into the bed until you say “where’s Elise” and she pops up. I remember Hallie doing this too! It’s such a fun age! She is trying to stand on her own and will probably master that this month.  She still adds new words almost ever day!
  •  Memorable outings- Grandpa’s 98th birthday party! First trick or treat.
  • Favorite toys/activities- Dolls and stuffed animals. Enjoys stacking cups and bath toys. She wants remotes phones and all of sisters toys much to her dismay.  She likes her toy phone and laptop and LOVES being read to.  Especially Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Baby Giggles.   She loves music and dancing with Momma. She is starting to dance on her own too! She loves storytime and the songs we do there, especially “This is Big”. Loves the baby shark song, pat-a-cake, head and shoulders and I’m a little teapot.    Sister is her favorite person ever and she makes her crack up! She loves Stella and other animals but calls them all “A-Dog!”  Mommy plays Rolly Polly with her which makes her laugh. Absolutely loves to cuddle and be kissed and hugged.
  • Words/sounds- Momma, Dada, Haha-Hallie, Hi, Hey, Bye Bye, A Dog, more, all done, up. She also pretends to sing!
  • Nicknames-Peanut or Peanut Butter, Chicky, E or E-Claire
  • Funny moments- She yells “BYE” when someone leaves the room.  She also pretends remotes are phones to call dada on!
  • Looking forward to- savoring each and every moment! They are going too too fast! First Thanksgiving and Chrsitmas.

Peanut Butter you are the happiest baby and always so sweet natured! You have the biggest smile and most precious giggle! I am going to miss these days that you love being held and snuggled! I love you so and can’t believe that time can pass so quickly!

Elise Claire- 8 Months

Didn’t I JUST write Elise’s 7 month update? Somehow another month has passed.  Elise Claire you are now 8 months and time is just flying by!

  • Age- 8 months
  • Weight-  12 lb 9.5 oz
  • Length- not checked
  • Size- Size 2 Diapers though they are still very roomy. Onesies and shirts-3 month with some 6 month mixed in.  Pants- We are sort of in Limbo- She is starting to outgrow size 3 in length but anything else is WAY too big   PJs-mostly 6 month or 3-6 month
  • Eyes- Grey
  • Hair- Coming in Blonde or maybe strawberry blonde
  • Sleeping- Really well! 10-11 hours at night and during the day she naps a lot.  With Sister I had such a set schedule but this kid just naps on and off all day.  I usually get one solid nap out of her.
  • Eating- 24 oz a day, though we are really uninterested in formula. However, girlfriend LOVES solids. She eats and loves everything! Eggs, Peanut butter, yogurt, veggies, meat, fruit, cheese! We did finally find a food she dislikes…beans. Of all things! She eats more than sister!
  • Milestones- Cruising around, she’s waving and saying Hi and Bye Bye.  She adds new words almost ever day!
  •  Memorable outings- First Pumpkin Patch trip and First time traveling out of state! She went with me and my aunt Jane to visit my cousin Karley in Missouri!
  • Favorite toys/activities- Dolly and stuffed animals. Enjoys stacking cups and bath toys. She wants remotes phones and all of sisters toys much to her dismay.  She likes her toy phone and laptop and LOVES being read to.  Especially Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Baby Giggles.   She loves music and dancing with Momma. She loves storytime and the songs we do there, especially “This is Big”.  Sister is her favorite person ever and she makes her crack up! She loves Stella and other animals but calls them all “A-Dog!”  Mommy plays Rolly Polly with her which makes her laugh. Absolutely loves to cuddle and be kissed and hugged.
  • Words/sounds- Momma, Dada, Haha-Hallie, Hi, Hey, Bye Bye, A Dog.
  • Nicknames-Peanut or Peanut Butter, E or E-Claire
  • Funny moments- Loves when Mommy sniffs her and pretends she is stinky! She also covers us in the sweetest open mouth kisses. She is scared of balls!
  • Looking forward to- savoring each and every moment! They are going too too fast! Also can’t wait to celebrate her first Halloween!!

Peanut Butter you are the happiest baby and always so sweet natured! You have the biggest smile and most precious giggle! I am going to miss these days that you love being held and snuggled! I love you so and can’t believe that time can pass so quickly!

Fall Style {Mom, Big Sis and Little Sis}

Fall is finally coming to North Texas! Pumpkins are everywhere and the weather is just now starting to cool! It’s time to pull out joggers, jeans and sweaters! I couldn’t be more thrilled. To be honest with it being so hot, I haven’t bought a ton for Fall yet.  But, here are some of my picks for this season! I tried to make sure to add some coordinating pieces for the girls and I, because I love matching my girls!  Also you are going to love me.  A TON of these pieces are currently on sale! Hallelujah! 

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For me, the key for Fall in Texas is light layers.  I recently wrote a post for Dallas Moms about Texas Fall Wardrobe staples which you can read here.  There are a ton of great styling ideas and specific pieces I shared, but I figured I would still share a few of my favorites here!

Like I said, a TON of these pieces are currently on sale! Those adorable flats, UNDER $10! Also they have them in a ton of colors! The jeans, currently $15 and my favorite cardigans that I stock up on each year are right now $18.50! The denim jacket is also on sale, along with so many other pieces!!

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Hallie is currently really into matching Momma and sister which I think is precious! That’s why I was sure to find several coordinating pieces! We all have a jean jacket that I love! This one is currently on sale, so be sure to check that out! Also when I bought my flats, I picked Hallie up from school wearing them, and my animal loving girl demanded leopard print shoes of her own! I love the adorable sparkle leggings paired with the cute Thankful top, and of course I was sure to pick a ton of dresses because my girl loves a good dress! Top the list off with a plenty of Ashlilium clips because they are so darn precious and your girl’s Fall wardrobe is set!

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Well if we are all going to have leopard shoes, baby girl is going to need some too, amiright? She also has this darling jacket, and I can’t wait to snag her those coordinating dresses and sparkle jeggings to match Hal! I love a good one piece! They make school drop off super convenient because I can let her sleep in them the night before but then wake her up, add a cute hat, and she’s ready to go!

What pieces am I missing?

Elise Claire- 7 Months

Sweet Elise, time flies so quickly! Even more so than with big sister.  You are 7 months old and I am trying so hard to soak up all the sweet baby moments because they are fleeting little girl.

  • Age- 7 months….somehow
  • Weight-  11 lb 14 oz
  • Length- No length check this month
  • Size- Size 1 diapers though I just stocked up on size 2s.  We are still using the Hello Bello and I didn’t want to be stuck with unusable diapers if she grows in the next month. Onesies and shirts-3 month with some 6 month mixed in.  Pants- We are sort of in Limbo- She is starting to outgrow size 3 in length but anything else is WAY too big   PJs-mostly 6 month or 3-6 month
  • Eyes- Grey
  • Hair- Really light…almost blonde maybe?
  • Sleeping- Really well! 10-11 hours at night and during the day she naps a lot.  With Sister I had such a set schedule but this kid just naps on and off all day.  I usually get one solid nap out of her.
  • Eating- 24 oz a day, though we are really uninterested in formula. However, girlfriend LOVES solids. She eats and loves everything! Eggs, Peanut butter, veggies, meat, fruit, cheese! Last night she ate more than Hallie! Smoked BBQ turkey, avocado, cheese, peanut butter and even one of mommy’s brussel sprouts!
  • Milestones- Crawling EVERYWHERE! Adding more foods, sitting up, Pulling up to standing.
  •  Memorable outings- We took family photos this month which was really fun! She also went to her first Fall Festival at our Church.
  • Favorite toys/activities- The Exersaucer!! Dolly and stuffed animals.  She wants remotes phones and all of sisters toys much to her dismay.  She likes her toy phone and laptop and LOVES being read to.  Especially Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Baby Giggles.   She loves music and dancing with Momma.  Sister is her favorite person ever and she makes her crack up! She loves Stella and other animals.  Mommy plays Rolly Polly with her which makes her laugh. Absolutely loves to cuddle and be kissed and hugged.
  • Words/sounds- Momma, Dada, Haha-Hallie.
  • Nicknames-Peanut or Peanut Butter, E or E-Claire
  • Funny moments- Loves when Mommy sniffs her and pretends she is stinky! She also covers us in the sweetest open mouth kisses.
  • Looking forward to- savoring each and every moment! They are going too too fast! Also can’t wait to celebrate her first Halloween

Elise Claire you are such a joy! You have the sweetest happiest demeanor, but you can stop growing up so quickly Mkay?

Baby Must Haves 0-6 months

**This post contains affiliate links and was in part sponsored by Hello Bello

6 months have somehow passed since Elise was born. I am not sure how time can fly so quickly, but alas I have a 6 month old.  In the past 6 months one thing I have noticed is that baby stuff has just gotten better and more convenient in the short 5 years since having Hallie.  Today I am sharing our must have products that have been the most helpful these passed 6 months.

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Feeding

The Dr Browns Pitcher and Sterilizer both saved so much time for us! If you have been following you know that I exclusively pumped and bottle fed both of my girls.  You also know our journey of getting more calories for Elise, and how I had to fortify my breast milk with formula.  The pitcher was great for mixing the breast milk and the formula each day and just pouring each feeding into bottles.  We are still using it now that we have switched to formula.

The Sterilizer was such a God send! With all the bottle and pump pieces it was used daily to keep everything clean and sanitary.  Once everything came out of the sterilizer I let everything dry out on the Boon Lawn.  We also cleaned everything with the Dapple Soap before putting it in and it made such a difference keeping the bottles looking like new!  My sweet Sister In Law told me about it, and I am so thankful! As far as Breast Storage Bags go.  These have been the best I have found.  They are thick, cheap and I didn’t lose 1 to spilled milk in the 6 months I pumped.  They have a hole for hanging but I used them to slip my finger through when filling them and it made it so easy!

Sleeping

We still love this Pack N Play.  It has been perfect for each stage with a bassinet and diaper changing insert and a higher sleep setting for those earlier days.   Speaking of sleep. These sleepers are awesome! They zip from the bottom so late night diaper changes are so much easier!

Play and Diapering

I can’t stand normal bath toys and how quickly they mold! These Clean Squeeze toys totally rock! They open in the middle so you can dry them completely and they stay mold free!

If you are an avid reader you know my obsession with Freshly Picked! Their Diaper Bag is AMAZING! It has so many pockets including in insulated one which I use to keep bottles cold! I also love that I can carry it as a backpack leaving my hands free for everything else us Mom’s have to lug around!

Lastly but most importantly, Hello Bello you guys! Literally EVERYTHING from Hello Bello.  The price for the diapers has been unbeatable yet the quality doesn’t lack. They are softer from every other diaper we have tried but hold up well, even over night!  We do the bundle and get 7 packs of diapers and 4 packs of wipes every month! I love that they come right to our door! Recently we were gifted a few of their bath products and they smell so good and are made of quality ingredients leaving our girl so fresh! Check them out y’all! You’ll be glad you did!

Elise Claire- 6 Months

Elise Claire, how the heck are you 1/2 a year old? It has been the quickest 6 months I have ever experienced!

We had a little half birthday celebration for her with confetti and party blowers and she was so happy! She is the most smiley happy baby ever! I just couldn’t love her more! Here is all about our sweet girl.

  • Age- 6 months
  • Weight- 11lb 2.5 oz. She is smaller than Hallie at the same age.  For a comparison at 6 months Hallie was 11 lb 13 oz. The doctor really wants us to push more calories on her.
  • Length- 24 3/4 in long.  Just our little string bean!
  • Size- She is mostly in 3 month clothes with a few 6 month items mixed in.  Though we do wear 6 month pajamas for length.  She is wearing size 1 diapers.  We started using Hello Bello diapers, wipes and bath products and we are in LOVE! They fit great and are so soft!
  • Eyes- The jury is still out! They appear a gray blue, though I am not holding my breath for a blue eyed girl. Hallie’s stayed blue for so long and they eventually turned dark. Though her Memi thinks they might be green, which I would love!
  • Hair- Light brown, and getting lighter.  Especially her eyebrows.  Much lighter than sisters at this age.  It’s actually almost becoming strawberry blonde maybe?  She also has much less of it than Hallie.  Her bald spot is starting to fill in!
  • Sleeping- She is still sleeping great this month. Usually 8:30- 6:15 when I wake the kids to get Hallie ready for school.  She would sleep later if she could of course and takes at least 2 long naps a day.
  • Eating- We are still fortifying my breast milk with formula to get her some more calories each feeding and it’s working!  She usually takes about 4-5 oz every 3 hours. I use the Dr Brown’s pitcher to mix breast milk and formula in each morning and it works great! I just started weaning so pretty soon she will be on strictly formula which hopefully will help her pack on the pounds! She has tried several foods and loved everything she has tried! She is such an eater and could care less about milk!
  • Milestones- Eating a ton of foods.  Sitting up by herself.  Pretty close to crawling.  She does a downward dog motion and falls forward.  She also rocks back and forth on all 4s.  Also she has a few words down: Mama, Dada, Baba. She calls Hallie Haha! Which is precious!
  • Memorable outings- Taking sister to Kindergarten.
  • Looking Forward to- Honestly I wish time would just stand still! She is so much fun! Of course looking forward to Each and every day!
  • Favorites- Girlfriend loves toys! Has a favorite dolly and blanket.  We recently gave her a pop up toy which she enjoys.  She puts everything in her mouth and loves food! Loves danccing with Mommy, laughing at Hallie, and signing with Daddy. We also play a game called “Rolly Polly” which makes her burst out in giggles.  She is just a little dolly.  

Back to School Style

Someone please tell me how my child is about to start Kindergarten!? Summer is almost over and Hallie is pumped to go to school. She even made a little paper chain and pulls off one each night exclaiming how many days until school starts!

I am a little more reluctant to send her off into the big world all by herself. But alas here we are in the last days of summer. So now it’s time to buy school supplies and new shoes and clothes.  Honestly that was my favorite part of going to school! Hallie and I looked at a lot of dresses and backpacks and here are some of our Back to School Favorites.

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Hallie really loves animals, and I can definitely see where her inspiration for back to school shopping came from! She also loves anything rainbow or unicorn, and picked out that sweet rainbow dress.  She isn’t really big on wearing shorts or T-shirts, but on karate days I try to convince her to wear them.  I love these Old Navy shorts, because they are elastic waist. The Navy striped skirt has a matching baby one so sister can match!

 

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Hallie insisted on this exact backpack and lunchbox as a birthday present from her grandparents.  I tried suggesting unicorns, hearts and mermaids, but she declared them “too babyish”. My baby is really growing up. Good news though, they are both on sale! The ice packs are Cat and Jack.  They are sold out online but our local store still had plenty! I just picked up 2 more. We got a Bentgo box to try out this year and so far I love it! I have been making Hallie school lunches to try out over the last couple weeks to see what she will eat. I’ve found if I make the meal fun she’ll pretty much eat anything.  Be sure to keep an eye out for my lunchbox post for Dallas Moms soon!

We have 2 very favorite brands for hair clips and bows! Ashlilium and Modern Piggy.  If you purchase from Modern Piggy, be sure to use the code HAPPILYEVERMOCK for 10% off your order. As far as shoes go, I feel like Keds hold up the best! Also playground shorts are a must for a girl who doesn’t stop moving and pretty much only wears dresses!

What’s on your Back to School shopping list?