Toes in the Water, Toes in the Sand

We didn't really get Emory out into the sun much on our beach trip. We were trying not to use sunscreen since it's not recommended until 6 months, (who knew?! Thanks, blog readers!) so we just kept her covered until we got to the beach tent or a shady area.

Of course we had to get a few pictures of her actually "in" the sand and ocean, so we did it early one morning and made sure it was really quick. I'm probably the most paranoid mommy around, but with her super pasty skin I didn't want to take a chance.

I'm not typically a big beach person, but there's just something about experiencing everything with a baby that makes it more fun and more exciting. She makes us notice the little tiny details, like the feel of the wind, the bright colors on swimsuits, and the sound of the water. Life through a child's eyes is so sweet...and I imagine that it's only getting to get better as she grows and is able to interact even more. 

I'd say our first family vacation was a major success! 

Datevitation - Father's Day Gift

Father's Day is coming up quickly and of course I've been brainstorming ideas for the perfect gift. I'm a big fan of coupon books and I've made a few for the hubs before, so I was thrilled when I heard about Datevitation. They do all the work for you and you end up with an amazing looking coupon book for a great price. Plus it's all run by a husband and wife team and I just think that's super cute. 

Datevitation is the first online platform that lets you create custom love coupon books, meaning you can pick and choose which tasks and items you want to include, as well as change the text to make it more personal. They have over 350 date ideas for the coupons, from sport type activities to creative date ideas to romantic "adult" plans. The books and coupons can be customized for your significant other, your parents, your child, or anyone.

I ordered a book for my husband's birthday and it was so fun picking out my coupons. I honestly could have included about 50 because they have some really fun ideas. He thought it was really neat and has already used a few of them. I can vouch for the great quality of the books. It is really the perfect gift!

A lucky reader will win a free coupon book today!

Here's a few examples of the coupon designs:

"Fishing"

"Makeout session" ; )

"I'll make my bed"

The great news is that the books only cost around $20 and the great people at Datevitation are offering a $10 discount code to all my readers. Just use the code MACKEYMADNESS at checkout anytime during May and June for $10 off. If you order by June 6, they are guaranteeing delivery in time for Father's Day.

You can enter the giveaway using the tool below.

Don't forget to order by June 6 if you want it in time for Father's Day!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

First Family Vacation - The Beach

We did it - we survived our first family vacation as a family of three. Not only did we survive it, we actually totally loved it and had the best time! We went with the husband's family to Destin, FL. This is hopefully going to become our new little tradition each year. I love that about having a baby, that it makes you want to do more and be more and see more, to establish traditions and things to pass down, to really make family a priority. 

It's about 8 hours from where we live to Destin, but we obviously stopped along the way and took our time making the trip. We left at midnight on the way there and made it in about 9 hours, stopping just a few times for gas/breakfast. Emory slept most of the trip and we only nursed one time. The drive back was quite a bit longer since it was during the day. We stopped every 3 hours to nurse, plus we got stuck in Baton Rouge traffic, so we made it back in about 11 hours. She was such a great car baby and rarely fussed. The trip was what I was most nervous about, so I'm so glad that she made it through it without problems. 

I hadn't been to the beach in years and it was so nice to sit and relax while the waves rumbled. The weather was absolutely perfect and it was enjoyable to sit out in the sun, not too hot. Emory spent most of her time under the beach tent or in the shade by the pool. She obviously didn't recognize the importance of the trip (FIRST VACATION!!), but she seemed to really enjoy watching all of the people and listening to the waves roll in. Plus I'm pretty sure she was excited to show off her swimsuits. 

Why yes, I do have ombre hair. It's unintentional, also known as roots. 

Emory definitely had more swimsuits than everyone else there. She was one stylish beach babe! I highly highly recommend Destin for anyone going to the beach. The water was SO clear and blue, which is pretty major to me, since I am always on the lookout for those dang jellyfish. 

I have a few more pictures where she actually "touched" the ocean and sand, but I'll save those for later this week since I think this post has already reached its picture maximum. 

The Sweetest Sound

I finally managed to get Emory giggling on video and it is the cutest thing EVER.

I'm not even going to lie, I watch this video every single day. I love it. It is just the sweetest sound in the whole world and melts my heart. 

My two sweet bunny loves. I love my family. 

Home Feels Nice

We are back from the beach! It was such a great trip and so nice to relax and unwind. The weather was perfect and Emory did so great through it all. I'll be sharing pictures soon, but today we are unpacking and resting.

Just one sneak peek of my cutie beach baby:

Ask Me

Since I've had a lot of new readers in the last few months, I thought it was time for an "ask me anything" type post. 

I have done two FAQ posts, so here's the link in case you missed those:

FAQ #1         FAQ #2

So go ahead, throw them all at me...baby questions, mommy questions, nursing questions, whatever you would like to know. 

Be sure to follow me on Instagram (@MackeyMadness) to see pictures from our beach vacation! 

Emory - Three Months

Emory turned three months old on April 29. I'm not even going to say the whole "it's going so fast" like I usually do, but just know that that is still true three months in. I love watching her grow and change and getting little peeks at her personality. I see pictures of people with their new babies and that's when it really hits me how much E has grown. She's definitely not a smushy little newborn anymore. 

- At three months, Emory is 12 pounds, 10 ounces and 24 inches long. She's in the 75th percentile for both. I think she's going to be a little chunker, for sure. Those thighs are starting to fill out! She can still fit in some 0-3 month clothes, but she's mostly wearing strictly 3 month clothes now. The only reason anything is too small is usually because of length. She is in size 2 diapers now. 

- She's still not a great daytime napper, but she is a great great sleeper at night! She usually falls asleep around 9 pm, then I wake her up when I go to bed around 11 pm for a quick feed and she falls right back asleep until 6-7 am. I am tempted to cut out that last late feed, but I'm a little scared it will mess up our schedule. And mama loves sleeping all night. : )

- We are still breastfeeding, about every 3 hours during the day. She had a little bit of fussiness right around the three month mark during nursing, but I think it was just a growth spurt because it stopped after a few days. Who knows, though. I'm just glad that is over! 

- She loves her hands and has them in her mouth ALL the time, usually the whole fist! 

- She noticed her feet this month and is always looking at them. She loves to grab them during diaper changes. She hasn't quite gotten one into her mouth yet, but I think it's coming soon. 

- She is talking and cooing and making sounds ALL the time. It's so cute because I can tell that she is really wanting to say something! She's also super smiley and overall just a happy baby! 

- The drool is now happening in full force, dripping everywhere. No teeth yet, though! 

- She laughed for the first time on April 4th. It was the absolute sweetest sound and I thought that my heart might explode. She did it when daddy and mommy were both there, so that made it even sweeter. It's a little tricky to get a laugh out of her. I can usually get about two a day doing a silly movement with her hands, but then she's over it. Haha.

- We accomplished several things this month just mommy and baby: we took a road trip to see my college best friends, we went to Target alone, and I wore her in a wrap while grocery shopping. She did so good with all of it. I keep waiting for the hysterical screams while we are out and about, but so far, so good. She is much better in the car now and rarely cries. 

- She is rolling from her stomach to her back all the time and also from her back onto her side. She loves to wiggle around and roll. It's so cute to see her look of surprise when she flips over. 

- We are still co-sleeping and when she wakes up in the morning and sees me next to her, she starts smiling and acting so silly. We just smile at each other for a few minutes before we get up. It's the best way to start the day. 

- She is obsessed with the television. No matter which way I lay her on the floor, she twists around to try and watch it. Time to bust out the children's shows!

- She loves loves loves being sung to. She will stop whatever she's doing, even crying, to listen. 

- One thing that was not so great this month: she pooped in the bath tub on me for the first time! It was a big fat hot mess and I couldn't stop screaming and laughing all at the same time. I called for the hubs to come help and he just busted into huge belly laughs. Whew. And lucky me she's done it several more times since then...but not once to daddy. No fair. 

- She has really started noticing toys this month and she loves to play. I hold toys up in front of her and she reaches out to grab them. She has grabbed hold of several toys and even brought a few to her mouth a couple of times. She loves anything that makes noise or has bright colors. 

- I can definitely tell that she knows and prefers the hubs and I over other people. She is constantly looking for one of us and watching us when other people have her. It makes my heart happy. 

- I went back to work this month for the first time and it went pretty well. I am working one night a week and keeping her during the day. So far, so good! She and the hubs have enjoyed their time together. 

- Nicknames: all pretty much the same. Pumpkin, muffin, bunny baby, Emmy. 

- We went on several play dates this month and she does so good on them. She loves watching the older babies play. We have nursed in public (covered up!) and we are slowly getting better at that.  

- Loves: mommy and daddy, ceiling fans, the swing, the play mat, play dates, pacifiers, sucking on her hands, kicking and wiggling on the floor, watching the dogs, splashing at bath time, noisy toys.

- Does not love: having to wait to eat, the bright sunlight. 

- Tolerates: tummy time, mommy taking pictures.

Stop mom, just stop.

Oh Emmy girl, we love you so much. You make every day brighter. You make me a morning person, even though I don't want to be, just because I love seeing your smile when I wake up.