M.I.T. Mondays: Rugrats Sensor

Babes Age: 20 weeks or 4 months

Babes is on the move. She’s not sure where she’s going yet, but she’s going places...on her back. She doesn’t know how to roll over yet, but girl knows how to move.

I discovered just how far she can scoot this morning. I left her alone on her activity mat, like I usually do, while I made breakfast and about 10 minutes later I hear her fussing. I look over and she’s hit her head on our couch...which is a good 5-6 feet from where I placed her!

My little Rugrat.

You know, that cartoon from the 90s where the babies used to break free from their playpen? My mom and I were talking, and we came up with a brilliant way to solve the Rugrat dilemma.

Mom: There should be a Rugrat sensor activity mat.

H.I.T.: A what?

Mom: A mat that sounds an alarm when Babes goes over the edge.

H.I.T.: Do-do Do-do Do-do Do-do.

[laughter]

H.I.T. [in alarm voice]: Scoot away from the edge!

Mom [in alarm voice]: Back off. Mommy is on her way!

H.I.T.: Border alert! Border alert!

Mom: Danger, Baby, Danger! You will receive a timeout if you cross this line.

H.I.T.: What a great idea, even if it’s only purpose is to make Mommy’s laugh.

There's a Light for That

Remember back when we were TTC and I kept complaining about my What the F*kc Complexion Syndrome?  Nothing would work.

I tried Proactiv, it bleached my towels. It helped a little bit, but I still looked like a teenager. Next.

I tried Clarisonic, it cleaned my face so well that the products I used absorbed too deeply into my skin, burning the top layer of skin. Try again.

Nothing helped. Until one magical day, I found it. My skin saver. My blue lighter.

My Tanda.

OK, so it's not really just mine, but this handy device’s blue light LED kills acne-causing bacteria. And the best part?

It really works.

Seriously. It works miracles. After two weeks of using it, my skin was CLEAR. If a bump dared to erupt on my face, Tanda would show him who was boss in. One. Day.

I became obsessed.

We’d be vacationing with friends and I would excuse myself to “blue light” upstairs. Husby began asking if he could “blue light” when I was done. “Blue lighting” was done every morning while reading the newspaper and then again at night while watching t.v.

I realize it's pricey, so here's a price comparison of treatments with similar results* - it's the same price as one and a half glycolic facial peels or one blue light LED treatments at a dermatologist office.

The only thing it didn’t help? Any scarring or pigmentation received from previous outbreaks.

But don’t worry.

There’s a red light for that.

*Average of prices offered from two separate offices in New York City. I chose not to include the price comparison for Proactiv and Clarisonic, because I do not feel that either product adequately compared to the results I received from using Tanda.
**Unfortunately, this product is NOT recommended for use during pregnancy. 
***I was NOT paid to write this review nor did I receive any free or trial products from any of the brands referenced. 

The One With the Name

Driving in the car (I'm in the backseat with Babes):

Husby: What's going on back there hooker?

H.I.T.: Lafayette, please, I have a name.

[pause]

H.I.T.: I think we've been watching too much Trueblood.

Husby: Sookie!

M.I.T. Mondays: You Know It's Time...

Babes Age: 19 weeks or 4 months

You know it’s time...

to baby proof your home when your little one begins scooting on her back in pursuit of toys.

to stop using the crockpot when you go to use it in the morning and realize it still has last night’s leftovers inside.

to get a pedicure when you little one spits-up at the sight of your toes.

to have a glass of wine when the clock reaches noon. just kidding, you should be able to wait for happy hour. still, just kidding.

And, finally, you know it's time...

to remove the blue tape when you husband barely remembers what you look like anymore.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

What’s a gal to do when the dead of summer hits with no end in site?

Makeover her blog of course!


Next month marks my two year blogoversary and to celebrate, I’ll have some exciting announcements.

Not enough dirt to hold you over? Here’s a sneak peek of what to expect:

• One giveaway, two giveaway, red giveaway, blue giveaway!
• What is white and blue and gray all over?
• No more little monkeys jumping on the bed!
• Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.

Confused?

Good.

Grandma always said its best to keep ‘em guessing...

The Answer Is Rum. What is the question?

We had a great time in the British Virgin Islands. Babes traveled beautifully and the weather was perfect.

Who could ask for more?

Besides how to travel with Babes, we learned a few other things I thought I would share*:

How to properly air guitar

How to play Plants vs. Zombies (instead of enjoy the beautifully sunny weather)

How to "strong arm" your beverage

How to sleep like a baby

But, mostly, we learned how to have fun as a family!

*Some faces were blurred out to protect individual identities.

M.I.T. Mondays: Three Bags And a Baby

Babes Age: 18 weeks or 4 months

Did you really think that I would post while on a sunny beach vacation? With my family?!

I guess I was a little misleading when I said I would be blogging via iPad. What I really meant, was that I would write one post via iPad...

I know, how typical. Hopefully you still love me.

Before when Husby and I would travel, we each had one carry-on bag and nothing else.

What else did we need?

This time, we had our carry-on bags, a diaper bag, and 3 HUGE suitcases.

Yes, 3. HUGE. Suitcases.

One for Babes’s toys, one for her diapers, formula and other necessities, and one for us. That's right, the youngest member of the H.I.T. household had the most baggage.

Our efficient packing skills went out the window the minute that cute baby girl entered the picture. We used about half of the items we brought along, and created this list of real necessities for the next time we travel out of the country:

Diapers
Wet Wipes
Aquaphor (or whatever diaper cream you use)
Formula/Breast Milk/Solids
2 Bottles (and any other food-related items - spoon, sippy cup, etc.)
Small Dishwashing Soap (if staying in a hotel vs. villa/condo)
Burp Cloths/Bibs
Medicine (Fever Reducer, Pain Reliever, Antihistamine, Saline)
Sunscreen
Pajamas
Weather-appropriate clothing (plus one extra hot/cold day outfit)
Comfy from home (we used a blanket that she loves)
4-5 toys that can be rotated throughout the trip (number depends on how long you are traveling)

That’s all Babes needed. Is there anything you’d recommend?

M.I.T. Mondays: The One With the Raspberry

Babes age: 17 weeks or 3 months

At the dinner table with Husby’s parents:

Husby: So H.I.T. called me at work today.

[silence]

Husby: I say hi and get a [raspberry sound] in my ear.

H.I.T.: I was trying to get Babes to laugh...

Husby: Then H.I.T. says, ‘She won’t [raspberry sound] laugh! She never [raspberry sound] laughs when I [raspberry sound] call you.’

H.I.T.: But, she doesn’t...

Husby: [raspberry sound] I think you [raspberry sound] just like [raspberry sound].

H.I.T.: And I think you’re just jealous that you haven’t heard her laugh yet [raspberry sound].

Vacation All I Ever Needed...

Vacation had to get away...

to the British Virgin Islands for our first family trip. Wish us luck!

Don't worry, I'll be blogging via iPad.

Gap Striped long racerback dress, $25
K Jacques St Tropez Valerie T-bar leather sandals, $245
Hermes enamel bracelets, Hermes enamel bangles | Hermes.com, $660
Women's accessories - belts - Metallic leather belt - J.Crew, $35
Longchamp Le Pliage Grey, $145
Amazon.com: The Red Queen: A Novel (The Cousins' War) (9781416563723):..., $13
Amazon.com: Fodor's U.S. & British Virgin Islands, 22nd Edition..., $13
iPad - iPad WiFi - iPad WiFi + 3G - Apple Store (U.S.)

Call Me Corny

Every summer, Husby and I devour corn. It’s delicious. It’s sweet. And it’s cheap easy on the grill.

Every summer, except this summer.

The corn in our area just isn’t sweet this year. Canned corn is better than this crap. So instead of eating it straight off the cob, we’ve gotten creative.

It’s become the champion accompaniment. It's perfect on fish. It’s perfect on chicken. It’s perfect with pork kabobs. It’s the perfect accompaniment to just about anything.

Our favorite style for serving the yellow accompaniment goddess? In a delicious black bean salsa.

It’s going to be hard going back to the cob after this yummy creation.

H.I.T. Arsenal Recipe #16: Corn and Black Bean Salsa with Grilled Tilapia

3 cups of fresh corn kernels (about 4 ears worth)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 avocado, diced
1 red bell pepper, thinly diced
2 medium-sized tomatoes, thinly diced
4 green onions, only the green part thinly sliced
2 TBS fresh cilantro, chopped
1 lime
4 tilapia Filets
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

1. Add 1 cup water and corn to a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes or just until kernels turn bright yellow. Drain. 
2. In a medium bowl, combine cooked corn, black beans, avocado, red bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro. Carefully stir.
3. Cut lime in half. Squeeze half of lime in bowl. Stir. Squeeze second half of lime in bowl. Stir again. Refrigerate at least 1-2 hours before serving.
4. Heat grill. Place each tilapia filet in an individual "packet" of aluminum foil. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Close up packet.
5. Grill tilapia packets over medium heat until cooked thoroughly, about 5-7 minutes.
6. Spoon corn and black bean salsa over each serving of tilapia. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Husby May Kill Me For This...

But these were taken* at six weeks by Victoria Souza Photography - they were amazing to work with and captured Babes beautifully. Thank you so much Vicki and Erik!

Photos by Victoria Souza Photography.
Flower Applique Crochet Hat by Jamie Rae.
Muslim Swaddle by Aden + Anais.
Hand-Knit Blanket by Sheep to Shawl Knitting for the LAMB blogger.
Glider by Serena and Lily.

*If you live in my area and are looking for a good photographer, I would highly recommend. They are AMAZING. 

M.I.T. Mondays: Wake Me Up Before You Go Girl

Babes Age: 16 weeks or 3 months


Lately, Babes has been sleeping through the night - 10-12 hours of nothing but sleep. (and maybe a little thumb sucking).

It started at once a week. Now, it's twice a week. I'm hoping that next will be seven days a week since she's a bad counter. So what's the problem, you ask? How can I complain about that?

I'm not.

I'm complaining about Husby.

On the nights that Babes decides to let Momma rest, this scenario will inevitably play out some time between 3 and 4 a.m.:

Husby, urgently shaking me awake: Hun, I think you need to check on the baby.

H.I.T., groggily: Why? What's wrong?

Husby, pulse quickening: She hasn't made a sound all night...!

H.I.T., looks at the clock and gives Husby the look of death: That's because she's sleeping. Something I should be doing now, too. Good night.

Now what's that saying about a mother never rests?