Hugs & Kisses Round 2

*My first experience with Hugs & Kisses can be found here

The Hugs & Kisses Consignment sale is one of the largest child sales in the Fayetteville area.  They have everything you'd need from birth to junior high!

Again I was stressing a little bit about getting some of the bigger ticket items on our list but had high hopes because a friend of mine had given me a pass that would allow me to shop two hours earlier than what I had planned. Consignment sales are great for the savings but definitely get overwhelming with the number of people grabbing things.  I'm usually 50/50 going into the sale.  50% excited. 50% stressed.

This year I was extra nervous because I had to take Mara with me.  I knew this sale ment at least an extra 30 minutes waiting in line before my designated time and then up to two hours shopping and check out time.  I didn't know if she would last that long.

Well I didn't give my girl enough credit.  It was me who was at my last straw by the end of the day.  I swear I was doing circles in the building making sure I didn't forget something.  Not to mention I accidently deleted half of my list and couldn't for the life of me remember what was on it.  (Pregnancy brain has permanently been replaced with mom brain) To top it off the big ticket items we wanted were all sold by the time we got there!

Despite some anxiety, we did pick up a lot of feeding supplies, clothes, and toys for the next few months all at great prices that saved us probably more money than we actually spent.  I even braved the crowds again for the 50% off sale the last day picking up some more outfits. (My girl has too much clothes)

I complain a bit but really this sale is a huge blessing.  We are able to get everything we need for Mara at a reduced price and still in excellent condition!  Childrens items are so expensive now a days and kids go through things so fast.  Its great to know that we are saving that money instead.

I didn't take a photo but here's a brief rundown of what we were able to pick up:

1 swaddler 6-12 month
3 suction bowls with lids
5 feeding spoons
1 squeeze and feed spoon
8 sippy cups
2 mesh feeders
Numerous dresses and outfits for 9 and 12 months
3 cloth diapers
Toy telephone
toy piano
wooden bead maze
place mat
push activity cart
pull up to standing play station
2 pairs of sandals
1 pair of baby keens
1 Clemson cheerleading outfit
1 swim float
2 bathing suits
1 sand pail
1 teething necklace
1 bib

Life Lately-Rambles

Well hello neglected blog.  It's sure been awhile.  Life has been a little hectic in the Bast household and finding time to write well that's at a premium.

Here's a SHORT rundown of life:

We hit up a consignment sale last week that is one of the largest ones in the area.  This sale is both amazing and so stressful.  We managed to get most of what we'll need for Mara over the next six months and probably bought one too many outfits.

Mara's been a little clingy lately.  She has a cold (again) and may be pushing a tooth through.  Either way its really hard to get anything else done.

My grandpa passed away last week and Mara and I traveled up north to be with family for the services.  Even though the circumstances weren't the best, it was nice to see everyone.

Josh has been very busy at work and getting home late.  This combined with a fussy Mara has not really allowed me any extra time.  Plus although I love this little space of mine, spending quality time with my hubby comes first!

Anyways...I'm back and have a few posts in the works for this week.  Happy Early St. Patty's day!

Asheville Area Brewery Guide

On our recent trip to Asheville, Josh and I checked out a ton of breweries.  Asheville has the largest per capita of breweries in the country.  Josh loves craft brews and brews himself so it was natural for us to make sure we checked out a lot of the local scene while we were there.

Overall we made it to ten breweries on our trip.  Here's a little run down on each one along with our favorites.

1. Lexington Avenue Brewery: Located in downtown Asheville, this was a great start to our brewery tour.  We grabbed lunch here and a few pints.  Josh thought the Eleanor Rye IPA was pretty good. Jen didn't prefer the honey wheat due to the sour notes from the belgian yeast. The layout of the restaurant with a huge round glass room in the middle holding the brewing room was impressive.The beer was good but neither of us were impressed enough to warrant making a second trip.

2. Green Man Brewery: One of Asheville's oldest breweries located downtown.  We stopped in here after lunch at L.A.B.  Green Man had a great pub atmosphere and was a nice little place to escape the cold. Josh tried the Seeing Double IPA from Foothills Brewery (see later note) for the first time here and it ended up being one of his favorites. Neither of us were huge fans of the british style of the Green Man's brews.

3. Wicked Weed Brewing: Both Josh and I loved the atmosphere at this place.  With a separate bar downstairs, you can get away from the casual dinners (or be a dinner without the beer crowd!).  The place was packed but we appreciated the quick service and the large beer selection.  They had an outside area which I bet is great in the summer months. There were five different IPA varieties and Josh enjoyed the "Freak of Nature DIPA" the best. Despite not being able to try them all, both of us agreed that this was probably the best of all the breweries we visited.

4. Wedge Brewing Company: This brewery is in the River Arts District and definitely reflects that.  The outside decor seemed to be a collection of whatever had been found at the local scrap yard put together with an artist's eye.  With no inside seating, you have to have a nice day to enjoy this brewery but the food trucks parked outside were a nice touch.

5. Asheville Brewing Company: Asheville's third oldest brewery is combined with a pizza restaurant and movie theater making it an unique experience.  We stumbled onto this one as it is located across the street from a growler store. Josh enjoyed a seasonal IPA that is nowhere to be found online but was better than their Shiva IPA.

6. Tipping Point Brewing: In Waynesville, this small brewery is more a restaurant than bar.  We stopped in for a light lunch and a few pints before heading to Bryson City.  The Punch In the Face IPA was more like a slap in the face at just 4.9%

7. Nantahala Brewing Company: In Bryson City, this brewery uses clean, crisp Great Smoky Mountain water from one of the purest, protected watersheds on the planet.  This brewery had one of the more unique set ups of all the breweries.  They were undergoing lots of construction to build multiple levels and places to hang out.  Its going to be a really great place to hang out come summer. There was a huge open area inside with a band stage and enough space to play a few games of cornhole. While the beers were good, this place probably came in second overall due to the ambiance.

8. Lookout Brewing: In Black Mountain, this nano-brewery specializes in IPA's and session beers.  This brewery was the smaller of the two in Black Mountain but our favorite.  The atmosphere was super relaxed and felt more like hanging out in a friend's garage than in a brewery. Their beer was reasonably priced and really good! Our only disappointment was they didn't have the usual number of IPA's (Josh's favorite) on draft due to a busy weekend and limited production capacity. Thankfully, halfway through the first pint, they brought in a beautifully crafted seasonal double IPA.

9. Pisgah Brewing Company: A local staple, this brewery was voted best brewery in Western North Carolina.  Pisgah specializes in brewing organic beer.  We weren't overly impressed with the beer or atmosphere of this place.  It was pretty quiet and dark inside and the bartender was a bit rude.  We mainly hit it up to be able to say we'd been there.

10.  Foothills Brewery: This brewery got thrown in the mix on a whim.  Located in Winston-Salem, we stopped in here for lunch on our way back from Asheville.  Despite feeling like a chain brewery, I think overall this brewery had a really well rounded selection of brews and a few fun seasonals to throw in the mix.  Josh fell in love with their Seeing Double IPA at the Green Man and ended up filling up a growler to take home.

Daddy Daughter Love

From a self proclaimed Daddy's girl, it just makes my heart melt to see Josh and Mara's relationship blossom.  There is something special about that relationship.  Your dad is the first man you ever love.  The man you compare all men to.  He's your rock and you know he will always be there no matter how hard you fall.

There are things only a Daddy can teach.  Lessons that she will remember forever and some she will wish she could forget.  There will be times when she won't understand his firmness but will be thankful for it in the long run.  He'll drop her off at her first day of school.  He'll kiss her cut when she falls.  He'll cheer her on at her first sport event.  He'll take her car keys away some day.  He'll walk her down the aisle.  He'll shed a tear (or a few) when she lets go of his hand.

This girl loves her daddy.  She can be having the roughest day and then just lights up when Josh walks through the door.  She turns when she hears his voice and looks for him in a crowded room.  Her smile for him just fills my heart with so much joy.

I love watching her reach for him and just look up into his face.  He is the only one who can constantly make her laugh and she loves nothing more then when her daddy gets down on the floor to play with her.

Watching these two love each other is seriously the most amazing thing.  I loved Josh before we had Mara but I didn't know my capacity to love him until I saw him with her.  He is the best daddy to her.

I'm so lucky to have these two in my life and cannot wait to see their relationship continue to grow and blossom.

Baby Wearing aka Our Lifesaver

I had never really heard of babywearing until I was pregnant.  I had seen the popular Baby Bjorn but that was about it.  Different carriers were recommended to us and I thought maybe they might be useful on a long hike or outing.  Today, we wouldn't get through the day without babywearing. Not only do we have a carrier but we have three!

Now its pretty laughable my lack of knowledge was.  Now I'd even consider myself a bit of a baby wearing snob.  I am pretty picky about my carriers and now tend to cringe when I see a baby dangling in a
Baby Bjorn or laying down in one of those sling wraps.  I am always checking out other mama's carriers and will be the first one to ask if I don't recognize it.

Babywearing is so much for us.  First and foremost its the fastest way to calm Mara down.  She loves to be worn and immediately settles when she is put in a carrier.  She usually will  look around a bit but then settles in for a little snooze.  It also promotes attachment.  She loves to be near us, smell our scents and hear our heartbeats.  I love holding her but sometimes it can really do a number on your back and arms.  Bring in the carrier!

Its also super convenient.  Both Josh and I can throw her on our back or side and quickly bring her where ever we're going.  I don't know if you've ever lugged one of those infant car seats around but man are they heavy.  Add a diaper bag and a purse and yeah its hard.  Its so much easier for me to wear her, leaving my hands free, then grab whatever else I need.

We have three carriers.  When Mara was really little I used the Moby Wrap almost exclusively.  The Moby is a jersey fabric that wraps around the parent.  Once on baby just slips inside and is cuddled against the parent's chest.  This was perfect for a newborn because it was a longer wear wrap.  Once you got that thing on you didn't want to take it off or the baby out for a bit.  The downside of the wrap is its made of jersey fabric.  Really after Mara hit 12 lbs I didn't feel comfortable carrying her around in this.  It just stretched too much.  I felt like she was between my knees.

The Moby

Our Ergo is the other carrier we've had and used the longest.  We knew we wanted this carrier from the beginning because we thought it would be great while hiking and outdoors.  Not only does the Ergo do great when we're out and about its great around the house too.  We never bought the infant insert for it (because we had the Moby) and Mara started riding around in it at about 1.5 months.  I just put her legs in fetal position and went from there.  At three months she was finally big enough to ride with her legs out and at four months we started wearing her on our backs.  To say that this carrier is loved by all is an understatement.  Mara loves to be able to see from her perch on our back.  We love how easy it is to wear and get on.  This is normally our go to carrier for all things long.  When we're out and about, traveling, hiking, trying to get her to nap we use it!

Out for a walk

We recently picked up a third carrier, the ring sling.  This is my all-time favorite carrier.  Our ring sling is a woven wrap that has been converted to a sling.  Its so easy to just grab and throw in the diaper bag, then whip out when we get somewhere.  This sling is also perfect for breastfeeding.  I've almost abandoned my old nursing cover for this.  I much prefer to just flip the excess fabric over Mara and go about my business.  Mara doesn't easily fall asleep in this wrap but for the most part I'm not looking for her to fall asleep in it.  My favorite part of this wrap is its just like carrying her on my hip without actually having to carry her!

Sleeping in the sling (a rarity)

Four Month Sleep Regression

I had never heard of the four month sleep regression until we were in the midst of sleep issue last month.  Low and behold of you google four months and sleep you come up with all this information about the sleep regression.  I didn't know that babies are starting to sleep more like adults at this point, not going into deep sleep for almost an hour after they fall asleep.

Mara hit this sleep regression about a month ago.  She went from sleeping anywhere from five to seven hours straight to less than four.  Its so hard to go from getting that much sleep to being thrust back into the middle of the newborn weeks so to speak.  You're cranky, she's cranky, your partner's cranky.  Its just a mess.

We were at a loss as to what to do.  Did we bring her back into the bed with us?  Did I feed her EVERY time she was waking up?  How did we get her back to sleep?  Seriously we were at a lost with that last question.  Mara didn't know how to put herself to sleep without me and nursing.

Looking back on it, that was the key to everything.  We needed to help her figure out how to fall asleep without nursing.  Or more so not using nursing as a crutch.  I started trying to make sure she took her naps without nursing to fall asleep.  The basic sleep, eat, play, and sleep schedule.  She took to this super fast and now won't fall asleep at the breast during the day at all.

The night was a little different of a challenge.  (Mara has always been SUPER different in her sleep trends during the day and at night.) We were still using nursing to help her fall asleep but trying other techniques to keep her that way.  We swaddled.  We used noise machines  We put shirts with our scents in her crib.  She was still waking up every two hours or so.

I was starting to get worried that we had created a habit until our recent trip to Asheville.  As we climbed the mountain Mara was having trouble with her ears.  I stuck her pacifier in her mouth on a whim and she took it!  My daughter does not like her pacifier so this was huge.  Back at home I had a thought, "Why don't I try the pacifier at night?"  I knew she wasn't hungry and thought maybe she'd just use the pacifier for comfort.

I was right.  Slowly two hours became three and last night it was four.  We're getting there.  Slowly but surely we are emerging from this sleep regression.  I'm just thankful that through it all she has consistently slept her 12 hours allowing us to catch up when we needed to.  Hopefully in another week or so we will have a little girl who likes to sleep 5 to 7 hours again.  Dreams people.  A dream!

Mara-5 Months

Weight: I just weighed you this morning and I think you are probably around 17 lbs.  Our bathroom scale has been off before so I'm not betting on this number.  Everyone keeps saying how big you're getting.  Daddy and I said last night that we don't really notice it but we see your sweet face everyday.

Loves chewing on glasses

Health: And the cold is back...I think you may have picked something up from the kids at the ski resort day care.  You have been a little stuffed up ever since although its definitely not as bad as last months cold.  At the first sign of congestion we broke out the nosefrida, humidifier with oil and the rub.  Just last night I noticed that you don't sound like you're struggling anymore.

The teething is still going.  We see a ton of drool everyday along with chewing on everything.  We are still putting pumpkin butt oil on your gums and you love it.  I swear you'd drink the bottle if we let you.

Your skin is giving us the most worries as of late.  It still seems dry although we slather it up multiple times a day.  This dryness leads you to scratch which opens it up.  Last night as I was putting you to bed you did a number on your face.  So much so I had to bring you out to your Daddy for help in getting you taken care of. We've been trying honest company cream, this one with honey in it, coconut oil, aveeno baby, etc.  We also put hydrocortisone cream on you as well to help with the itch.

Mara's been to more breweries than most her age

Social: You are super social all the time.  You give everyone smiles and love to hang out with whomever wants to hold you at the moment.  You really love kids your age and reach for them.  I really need to get you in a playgroup where you can check out other kids.

playing with those feet

Diet: You are still breastfed but we have been experimenting with food.  On our trip you loved sucking on bananas and pickles.  Weird but whatever works.  You have also had the naked brand juice mango and blueberry flavors and LOVED them.  You even at them from a spoon!  I think you may be ready for real food soon.  We're going to try to hold off another month or so but I'm thinking its time to start filling the freezer with some homemade baby food!

More feet

Clothes: You are mainly in 6 month clothes although your 3-6 month things are still in your drawer.  They barely fit you but I'm still trying to get that one last wear out of them.  You seemed to have stalled a bit in the growing out of clothes but I'm sure now that I've said that we'll be in 9 month things tomorrow.  We've had some issues with your cloth diapers leaking since you've been sleeping on your side but I think that's just user error rather than an issue with fit.

She loves pickles!

Mama's Favorites: I'm just loving this stage.  You are so much fun little girl.  You laugh easily and playing with Mommy and Daddy are your favorite things.  You still love to be worn and will only nap if you're in the carrier.

I'm also getting really excited to hit up the local consignment sale next week to shop for all we will need for the next six months.  Its crazy to me to think of you and what you'll need at 1 year of age?!

Crying: You're nights have continued to be a bit fussy.  I have a suspicion that you are wanting an earlier bedtime but we keep putting it off because I want to give you and Daddy sometime in the evenings together.

Love this smile

Sleep: You are still sleeping in your crib with no issues.  We had a few nights that were rough on our trip but even pulling you into our bed one night didn't really affect you.  We are no longer swaddling you to sleep and you aren't flailing to wake yourself up.  This is a huge relief because we were running out of swaddlers to fit you.

You are now sleeping on your side and seem to do best when we lay you down like this.  You sometimes roll to your back but then you seem to sleep lighter.  Right now we're working on sleeping longer stretches of time at night.  You were waking up every two hours wanting to nurse.  I KNOW you're not hungry so we're working on getting back to those longer stretches before every two hours becomes a habit.

Lately you have been taking a pacifier to soothe yourself back to sleep at about 1am and will sleep another hour or so until you really want to eat.  Last night after a little while of holding the paci in your mouth you went down again until 4 am!

You're still a catnapper and I don't know if we're going to be able to change this.  You did sleep long stretches on our trip if we were in the car but this is the only time you will do so.

We've moved the jumper into the bathroom so mama can get her shower in the morning

This Week: We went on our first big vacation as a family of three.  You did amazing!  You were so flexible and willing to sleep on us or in the car.  We just got back home and you've adjusted so easily.  Its like we weren't even gone.  I love how adaptable you are girl and appreciate that we can cart you just about everywhere.

This grin

Baby Likes: You still love glasses and chewing on the rims.  You still love your jumper although it is on its last leg.  We can't make it any taller for you!  You are obsessed with toys.  You grab them and shove them in your mouth.

You love giving kisses.  You squeal and then grab our cheeks to lay a wet one on us.  You usually can't stop with one and do it a couple more times.  This melts my heart.

You love your Daddy and sometimes he's the only one who can make you smile when you're fussy.

You also love getting your diaper changed although you're making it much harder with all the rolling around now.  Buddy is also your new obsession, to his dismay.  You stare and laugh at him.  When you're close enough you grab fistfulls of his hair in your attempt to "pet" him.

She loves playing on her mat with all her toys

Milestones: So many things!  I feel like you've changed overnight.  You are rolling from back to belly now with ease.  You just did it one day like it was nothing.  You didn't get your hand stuck or anything.

You found your feet!  You love grabbing them and pulling them up although you can't quite get them to your mouth yet.

This shot just captures her personality

You are also no longer distracted when we take something away from you.  You used to not even notice but now you do!  You get mad if we take that napkin away that's coming apart in your mouth or something you shouldn't be sucking on.

You love tasting new things and loved eating mango and blueberries.  I'm guessing you're going to be such a good eater.

You're still super vocal and are babbling most of the day.  You have recently found your squeal and give these ear piercing screams just to hear yourself.  You think its funny while mom and dad cover our ears.

You are getting closer to sitting up on your own.  You can pretty much do it if you lean forward.  I think you'll have it mastered in the next month or so.  You already show signs of frustration when you have to lay down to play with your toys now.  You're ready to sit.

In her stroller like a big girl

Best of Times:  Our family trip!  I can't say how good you were little girl.  I hope you're going to be a great traveler!

Five months already?

Worst of Times:  Your fussy times at night.  Although they are super minor in the grand scheme of things its rough.  You're so happy the rest of the day that its so weird that you get so upset then.  Again I think you're just overtired but we'll work though it!