Fairytale Princess Photoshoot

As we were hiking the lighting in the forest looked eerily like a fairytale. I envisioned princesses and fairies. Who better to play the prince than the real one himself - daddy.

I about died over this photos while editing.... What a dream!

Swingin' in the Summer

We went home to Houston this past week and my parents went crazy! 

My dad brought down my old swing (good thing it held up well! Ah!). He tied it to the tree out front and we had a blast. Bentleigh loves swinging, and this was such a special moment, I just had to snap a few pictures! 

Fun with Food

We found some of my old stickers from when I worked for a healthy school lunch program. Bentleigh had so much fun with them I decided to do a mini shoot with them while introducing her to some new veggies. 

Pretty darn cute, eh? 

Safe to say she loved the veggies, the spoon, and the stickers :).

HOW TO FEEL LUXURIOUS AFTER HAVING A BABY

As I was writing this title I literally laughed out loud! Because it sounds so absurd. There's no way to feel luxurious after giving birth. NO. WAY. But I do think there are a few things you can do to feel as good as possible. As someone who had a risk for postpartum depression, my heart goes out to mom's who feel miserable for many months after giving birth - exhausted, run down, unbeautiful (or like a milk-cow!). So, here are a few ways I helped myself prevent the post delivery blues...

THE MINIMALIST MOMS' GUIDE TO BABY GEAR 2015

I (almost) never give my two-cents when it comes to baby-anything (I already tread in dangerous waters when I give my opinions about food and fitness!). I take uber cute pictures of Bentleigh and am usually on my way. Breastfeeding, vaccinations, baby safety, baby development, sleeping techniques, working vs stay-at-home... Jesus, even Ergo Baby versus Baby Bjorn disputes! Y'all, some moms can be overly opinionated and CRA-ZY. Some of it is for good reason, but in the end I have to trust that everyone is just trying to do best by their kids (...and those that are opinionated just to listen to yourselves argue... I just tune you out!). Here is my very, non-opinionated, minimalist list of things I found a baby actually *needed* in the first 4 months of life. So if you are on a budget, have limited space (like us), have a true hatred for letting things go to waste, or just want less crap cluttering your life - this is for you.

EASTER EGG DYE: USING SPICES FROM YOUR KITCHEN

One night last week  (yes, at 10pm), I decided to dye some eggs for the Easter season. Although it was still snowing and 30 degrees outside, I was determined. I pulled out a carton of eggs and some spices, and I was more than excited with my beautiful outcome. And more-so than the gorgeous hues of reds, yellows, and lavenders, I was proud that my creativity in making an all-natural dye actually worked (I have my fair share of trial and error!). Here's what I did...!

THE MINIMALIST MOMS' GUIDE TO KEEPING YOUR GROWNUP DECOR

When we found out I was pregnant, I starting having nightmares of baby "stuff" taking over my home. I love home design and decor, and I feared that having a baby meant I would have to give it all up. That I would have to put the fate of my kitchen and living room decor into the hands of the Fisher Price design gods.

8 (ALLERGY-FREE) GUILTY PLEASURES

I actually do not have any food allergies - like none, whatsoever. I love EVERY kind of food - which is why it was so tragic when we learned baby Bentleigh had a food allergy. After a choking reflux episode that landed us in the ER at 2 weeks old, I was desperate to help her feel better. My pedi suggested the typical dairy-free diet for 3 weeks. If that didn't work then wheat-free for 3 weeks, then nut-free... and so on. I was not about to sit around for 3-15 weeks and play the allergy game. So I cut it all out. Dairy, soy, wheat, eggs, nuts, and seafood. It was the most depressing thing I've ever (voluntarily) done.

BUT FIRST, LET ME TAKE A SELFIE

As I was flipping through my photos last week I realized ALL my photos had only 2 people in them. Ben and Bentleigh. It was inevitable, I know... but I just thought I would be in some of the photos. Yes, I could take an unflattering selfie several inches from our faces (difficult to do when it still takes two hands to hold the baby!), or I can drop a lot of $$$ every time I want good photos of us.

LOOK AT YOU... YOU HAVE A BABY... IN A BAR

                       

I have always been amused by this quote. Maybe it's because I like Reese Witherspoon... Or maybe I just thought how incredibly absurd it was to actually have a baby in a bar! 

Well, I must admit - I was that mom. Now of course there's no smoking inside anymore and almost all restauarants in NYC turn into bars at night. But either way, I was very amused to find my little family sitting in the middle of a quaint SoHo bar a couple weeks ago. Better yet... I nursed Bentleigh while eating appetizers in the middle of this bar. 

NEW HOME, NEW BABY

   

It's been almost 6 months since we moved to the east coast. I still can't believe it. Last year was a crazy whirlwind: Ben interviewed and accepted an offer from NYU Dental, just 3 weeks later we found out we were pregnant (surprise!!!), we finished renovating our house, got my job transfered (#joblove), sold the house (the renovations paid off BIG!), packed the house, drove to NYC, Ben started dental school, I had a baby while at work, Ben finished off his first semester very strong (while being a first time dad.. learning how babies work right alongside me), then we flew home for the holidays with a 6 week old. PHEW!