November Habit: Daily Gratitude and an October Habit Recap

+ Yay! It’s a new month, er was, which means a new monthly habit and a recap of last month’s. These monthly experiments help me build healthy habits, break unhealthy ones or just learn more about myself so I can figure out what’s really essential!

We didn't do a November experiment last year because I was pretty sick. I’m really excited about this year’s and looking forward to the benefits. Every day, as a family, we’re going to record something we’re grateful for. And we’re going to write it on our pumpkin squash from Halloween! Thank you internet for the idea of a Gratitude Pumpkin! We feel so blessed and it’s never too early to share healthy habits with Peanut.

(Our Gratitude Squash so far... and yes, that's "cocktails to go", inspired by New Orleans. ;) 

I understand that gratitude is a pretty obvious theme for November. The daily practice of gratitude has popped into my morning or evening routines on and off over the last few years. It gets renewed every time I reread the benefits somewhere and then I eventually lose the habit. Through my obsession with Oprah, and her obsession with Brené Brown, I know for sure that gratitude is the surest path to peace and joy.

I woke up the day after the election and felt heartbroken and scared. A new, underlying layer of stress entered my world. Recently I had been feeling new things: joy and lightheartedness. Now those feelings seem overshadowed by fear. I’d like to have another option. I am genuinely concerned about the future of the country and the world and time will tell how fearful we need to be. For now, though, I’m going to choose love over fear. I’m going to try to stay open-minded and hopeful.

One way I've learned to lift my spirits is to practice gratitude on a daily basis. Whenever something is bothering me, I try to stop and find something to be grateful for instead. “I’m exhausted and therefore everything sucks.” “Wait, I get to wake up to this little angel every day. How amazing. <3” I know my little mind game isn’t going to make everything better. I’m thinking it will help us start the day with a positive mindset and even change our outcomes for the day as a result.

+ Finally, I want to share my gratitude for you, dear friends. I don't really promote the blog and I love that I have at least a few dedicated readers. You are my favorite and thank you! <3 What a great way to share my 100th post!! It also happens to be my 2nd Blogiversary! I love how that worked out. Oh, how life can change in a year. 

Reflections on our October Habit: 5 Things A Day... Again:
Oh boy. So, it takes time to find items to get rid of if you don’t have a lot to begin with. And it’s harder to get rid of items when life is constantly changing, like with a child. I get it. Finally.

When we took the time to get rid of 5 Things A Day, it was great. Most baby and parenting items from the first six months have been passed on. We’re back to Lean Closets. And we’re finding empty shelves and floors again. We just didn’t take the time to do this daily. Womp.

Perhaps more importantly, the intended habit did act as a reminder to stop bringing new items in. Our home and our credit cards are thankful. ;)

Baby Essentials Update: 3-6 Months

Last week, I posted an update to the original Baby Essentials post. I discussed the baby stuff we actually used from 0-3 months. But a changing baby has changing needs! Here's what we've been using for months 3-6. 

3-6 MONTH BABY ESSENTIALS:
1. Diapers and a Changing Pad: We've continued to do everything the same but added in an overnight diaper at around 4 months so we could prevent nighttime diaper changes and wakings. (Ooh, plus a swim diaper!)
2. Feeding: We got into more of a pumping/feeding routine and bought a couple of larger bottles and nipples that will hopefully last us until Peanut is done with breastmilk. Although I think it’s more work, I’ve loved having the flexibility of breastfeeding and bottle feeding. I wouldn’t be able to go on dates or work for extended periods of time without the bottle. I also wouldn’t have been able to go to all-day festivals or travel as easily without breastfeeding. Now we’re on to Baby-Led Weaning… wish us luck!
3. Carrying: Although Greg used our Ergobaby 360 with Infant Insert some in the first 3 months, it’s the carrier we have both exclusively used since. We ditched the insert and have taken Peanut all over the US and even Japan in this thing. He prefers facing out but when it’s nap time, we just turn him around, bounce a little and he can catch his z’s like that! I have friends who breastfeed in this thing (!!) and that’s a goal of mine. (Update: Goal achieved over the weekend in New Orleans!)

4. Strollering: We’re still using the car seat and stroller as we did in the beginning but we can also use the stroller on its own now since he can almost sit up. I’m trying to use these less as carrying them around with a bigger baby is getting heavy.
5. Sleeping: So Peanut has been in his crib since 2.5 months maybe. He sleeps in there and takes most naps in there. We are very happy with the crib and mattress! We ended up getting two sheets and one mattress pad which have certainly been enough. We now use a sleep sack and introduced a lovey at around 4.5 months.
6. Clothing: We’ve started to differentiate sleepwear from daily clothing so while we still love the footed pieces for nighttime (and like to have four or five in his current size), Peanut is starting to wear onesies and shorts or pants (with socks!) during the day. We do laundry a little less often and he continues to wear one to three outfits a day so we have a few more items now than we did to begin with. Plus, gifts…

7. Wrapping: Although we no longer swaddle, we still use the same blankets and added a few more burp cloths for travel.
8. Entertaining: After 3 months, we started using a simple activity gym as a playmat and Peanut started looking at, then touching, then grabbing for and rolling over toys. At this point, when he’s not rolling all over our floor, we spend a lot of time hanging out on a quilt and interacting with books, balls, mason jar lids and fuzzy things.
9. Toting: Once we started going on longer outings (hello, Japan and music festivals!) and Peanut’s items started to get bigger, we placed the travel changer in a backpack with a wet/dry bag, a hat, sometimes a bottle and an outfit or two... that’s how we roll for now!
10. Bathing: We’re still bathing together or Peanut sometimes showers with one of us. The same few towels are working and we’ve moved on to small amounts of California Baby Sensitive Shampoo.

+ Peanut spends a lot of time on us, in the carrier, on the floor, in the crib or sometimes in the stroller. We’ve liked having a seat for him so he’s safe while watching us cook or shower. For the most part, though, we’re not real fans of swings/rockers/bouncers. He’s pretty happy hanging out on the floor with a mason jar ring and someone watching him. <3 Now, time to start baby proofing!!