Citrus Lane Box :: September

We just got our fifth Citrus Lane box and it is gooood. I only signed up for six months so next month will be our last box (that is if I decide not to keep subscribing). Decisions, decisions. Well I’m just popping in to show all you all what we got in our box over here.

BOX CONTENTS

BODYSUIT from TEA COLLECTION This beautify bodysuit is to die for. We loved our first piece from tea collection and I’m so glad they put another one in for us. This 100% organic cotton fabric is gorgeous. Seriously, I love this company.

RAINBOW RATTLE from HAPE How adorable is this rattle? The wood has a soft finish and the pieces can rotate. This one is great for encouraging fine motor and cognitive development. Emma has been loving this one. And by love I of course mean, shoving it in her mouth. 

RADISH DISH SOAP from MRS. MEYERS I’ve always loved this brand! This soap smells fantastic is made with natural soap bark extract and is one of nature’s best degreasers. Oh yeah! 

GRIPE WATER from MOMMY’S BLISS This all-natural supplement eases gas and stomach pain. Fortunately Emma hasn’t had too much gas pain, but when she starts eating solids, watch out! 

Emma absolutely loved her lamby chime ball from last month’s box. I love the baby and mom treats we get every month. Check out other months here!

I’ll miss getting these boxes every month. Because you know, Emma does not nearly have enough toys. ;] 

Baby Emma | Four Months

It’s here! It’s the best post of the month! I’m going to talk about that delicious sandwich I had the other da… oh wait no, that’s not right. It’s Emma’s four months update! (but seriously, that sandwich was amazing)

Look at that face. LOOK AT IT.

Emma turns four months old today. That means she is about to start driving. Guys, just kidding, she’s a baby. Although, I am getting glimmers of her future teen self. I have a feeling a lot of eye rolls are heading my direction. Oh wait, she already does that. 

The last month has been pretty stinkin’ great. Emma has been blossoming into her own little person. (Ew I said blossoming, cool it there Judy Bloom.) But seriously, it’s been so wonderful watching her personality develop. She is happy, playful, and determined. She know what she wants and when she wants it. She reminds me of someone… 

She was doing some interesting mouth-breathing here. Grunt grunt.

She is still getting over her first cold. Currently, she sounds like a purebred pug during allergy season. She yells at me every time I go after her snot, but wouldn’t you? Oh you’d like that? That’s cool too… mmmkay. Also, I am also convinced that she’s teething. But I have been saying that for a while. She has all the signs and symptoms. Plus, she keeps requesting that I make her steak, because you know, she’s going to have teeth soon. 

Not to brag or anything (really, I am), but Emma is a hit! She is just so adorable. If you’re perfect and you know it clap your hands! Welp, there go the eye rolls again. She is just a really sweet baby. Except when she decides to drop a volcano in her diaper, then she’s just being mean. 

Emma, your feet are HUGE. The better to eat your toesies my dear.

Emma is an expert at the whole rolling thing now. She’s working on sitting up on her own and she can stand when supported. *cough* THUNDER THIGHS *cough* Who said that? She has a great laugh going on and loves to babble. I think she’s trying to recite a monologue from Hamlet. But I’m like, jeez, too heavy. 

This past month, she has been in daycare. It was TOUGH to drop her off that first day, but I am grateful that she has such a fantastic place to go to during the day. She gets to play with other babies (and by play, I mean roll around near one another and drool on the same toys) and the caregivers are truly sweet women. Emma is already becoming quite the favorite. Obviously… 

Emma is beginning to recognize family and friends and knows when someone is a stranger. Meaning, she’s comfortable pooping on her friends and family but not on strangers, she waits for them to buy her drinks first.

OOO, I am super jazzed about all the Disney movies on Netflix right now. Emma loves them! (well, mommy loves them) I think Emma loved my rendition of I’ll Make A Man Out Of You from Mulan - complete with arm movements and tap dances. Please don’t leave me. 

Hi my name is Samantha and I am addicted to baby chub.

Tomorrow, we are heading to Lake Tahoe. Emma is insisting on packing her skies, but I told her it’s the wrong time of year. Summer in Lake Tahoe is amazing. I hope she will enjoy swimming in the lake while mom and dad hit the craps table. Paul and I went to Lake Tahoe around the same time last year while Emma was swimming around in my tummy - doing somersaults and making me throw up. Gosh, I do not miss the first trimester. BARF.

ANY WHO… month four was absolutely wonderful (besides the 17 poop explosions and the snot wads). Emma is completely in love with her daddy and she always brightens up when she sees him. She likes me too, sometimes, except when I’m sucking up the snot wads (ew, I say snot a lot, SNOT). No really, she loves her mommy and daddy. She has us wrapped around her little fingers and toes and every other body part. 

As always, you can find Emma goodness over on Instagram.

Check out all updates here. 

Emma got sick and the ground parted

Okay so I can’t guarantee that the earthquake on Sunday morning had anything to do Emma getting sick, but let’s just say it sure felt like the gods were trying to say something.

Basically, miss Emma over here decided to get her first cold. And of course, by cold I mean, OH DEAR LORD, SHE’S SICK, ALERT THE AUTHORITIES, CLOSE THE ROADS, CALL IN BACKUP! The official diagnosis was an upper respiratory virus.

To all you moms and dads out there, I have a feeling you remember the first time your child got sick. But you probably also know that he or she subsequently got sick twenty million more times in those early years, so you’re all - meh, all in a day. But as this was my first child’s first illness, it felt like a pretty stinkin’ big deal. I probably cried 30 times, offered up incense to God, did a rain dance, and prayed 20 Hail Marys.

Thursday night she didn’t seem completely like herself - she seemed a little more needy. Friday evening she was very warm, had a lot of congestion, and was quite fussy. But Friday night/Saturday morning she woke up and I knew something was wrong. She had a high fever and was very upset. Of course, I had 15 panic attacks until I figured out how to breathe again. We let her sleep with us so I could monitor her. 

Poor baby was so brave at the hospital.

When morning came her fever was even higher so we decided to take her in. OF COURSE, being early on a Saturday morning, her doctor’s office was closed and there was no open Urgent Care. We took her to the Children’s Hospital ED. 

Although she didn’t appear to have anything more serious going on, I am glad we went. It was nice to have the reassurance. Plus, I have asthma and as a child I would get flare ups whenever I was sick. Thankfully, Emma appears to be healthy in that department. Thank goodness for Paul’s genes. 

We spent the rest of the weekend just taking care of her symptoms. She took lots of snuggly naps and we had some interesting times sucking all that glorious snot out of her nose and sinuses. If you have heard of the Nose Frida, you know what a life-saver that is. 

It’s Monday evening and she is feeling a lot better. She’s her normal, happy self again and besides residual sniffles, she is almost back to tip top shape. Now mommy can breathe again, WHEW. Should I stop doing the rain dance yet? 

It’s exhausting taking care of a sick one.

Paul stayed home with her today so that gave me great peace of mind. Dear Emma, let’s not get sick again any time soon, mmkay?

How do you deal with your child’s illnesses? Do you have any tricks of the trade to soothe your little ones?

Citrus Lane Box :: August

Our August box from Citrus Lane arrived a couple days ago and it was a goodun’! We always love getting these in the mail and Emma was very excited about it. She insisted on opening it, but gnawing on the corner of the cardboard would have taken too long so I had the honors.

BOX CONTENTS:

PAPER STRAND MOBIL from PETIT COLLAGE This is a beautiful paper strand mobil with a modern, two-sided design. We hung it near the changing table. 

CHIME BALL from SKIP HOP This plush chime ball is a perfect toy for a little one. It’s cuddly soft and chimes whenever it is tossed, shaken, or rolled. It’s already a favorite around these parts.

GLASS CUBES from INNOBABY These are great for when baby is ready to start solids and is great for storing purees. They are made of stain-proof, odor-free, and leak-proof glass. 

SNUGGLY LOTION from EPISENCIAL Baby skin can dry out easily, so it’s important to hydrate and nourish. This one is made of organic ingredients too!

You just can’t separate a girl and her toys.

Emma's first post

Hey everyone, Emma here. Mom is knee deep in bottle-washing and laundry-doing so I decided to take over her blog today. She’s also pouring herself another glass of purple stuff. She gets much louder when that happens. It’s tough taking care of her. She’s a mess.

So life is pretty good over on these parts. I am almost four months old now so I feel like I pretty much have stuff figured out by now. I mean it’s not like I’m two months old or anything. I started school a few weeks ago so that’s been cool. Not to brag or anything, but I m really good at laying there and playing with my toys. I can also hold objects and drool all over them. I’ll start calculus in a couple weeks. No autographs please.

Dang it you puffy owl you. Stop rolling away.

I don’t want to sound like a square or anything, but it’s been cool living with my parents. They don’t charge rent and the milk flows free. They mostly smell good and pick me up whenever I “cry”. Don’t tell them, but I’m not always serious about it. What does a girl have to do to get some attention around here?! My favorite drink is milk straight from the tap, but domestic bottles will do. Seriously, have you guys tried it? It’s fantastic. 

I’ve been doing all my workouts lately. I roll back to front and front to back. I do some push ups and leg raises. I’m working on some good muscles. Now if only I could coordinate my arms and legs at the same time. Then I could start crawling…and maybe be the next ninja warrior. Fingers crossed guys.

Check out these leg muscles. Don’t tell me you’re not impressed!

I think there is some serious wizardry going on over here. Mom covers her face with her hands and disappears. I’m totally serious. It’s wild. Something about peak-a-b…or whatever. But it’s crazy. I also like this game where dad throws me up in the air and then mom yells. It’s HILARIOUS. Mr. Seahorse and I laugh about it all the time.

OH. Have you heard about these things called baths? Holy sweet pumpkins, they are heavenly. I love to splash in the water and they always have nice smelling soap for me. Plus, you can just pee whenever you want. It’s not like I don’t do that all the time anyway…

I was attempting my best batman impression. Mom said I looked more like Professor Snape.

My hobbies include watching sports, keeping up with current events, and eating my own toes. I have many and varied interests. I obviously have to start thinking about my college applications. I figure I will probably be walking by then so I’m good. Mom keeps saying she can’t wait to move away to college with me and live in the dorms together. I keep telling her she’s insane. I’ll let you know who caves first.

My toys and I have a pool going for when Auntie Grace is going to give me a cousin. My bet is on 6 months. I wish I could see my Auntie Mariah more. She keeps saying she is going to take me to get my first tattoo. I’m thinking a Socrates quote, you know, something classy.

Yes! My feet almost touch the floor! …And I may not have best spatial awareness.

We are going to Lake Tahoe next weekend. Good thing because I am in need of a vacation. I am exhausted and moody. Mom says that I’m teething. If that means gremlins are punching my gums from the inside and making me want to gnaw on everything I see, then yes, I’m teething. Semantics.

Okay, I need an opinion. What is funnier? Spit up in mom’s hair or all down dad’s back? I mean they are both pretty classic, but I am going for the evil genius baby award.

This woman is so clueless to my master plans. Mwahahaha.

Welp, it was fun chatting with you guys. I think mom is wondering where I’ve snuck off to. She probably thinks I’m “sleeping”. Speaking of sleeping, writing this post was pretty exhausting. I think I’ll take a nap.