Baby’s First Easter

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Hooray! We survived! Honestly it wasn’t that bad. But it wasn’t that easy either.

I’ve taken on hosting Easter brunch for our family for the past two years and I really love “owning” this holiday. We’re not a religious family but I love Easter as a celebration of the start of spring. Especially in New England and especially after this winter, tulips and pastels and fresh fruit and veggies are a most welcome sight.

Easter prep started about a month ago taking out my Easter decor, checking out my party supplies from last year (cups, plates, etc.) and thinking about the good and the not-so-great from last year. I decided to ditch two of the hot dishes I served last year and ask my Mum to make one more hot dish. With my aunt bringing her famous quiches, Mum taking care of cornbeef hash and potatoes, “all I had to do” was fruit salad, spinach dip, and store bought pastries. I say “all I had to do” in quotes because anyone who’s ever hosted even a cocktail party knows that it’s a lot more behind the scenes than people think- the cleaning, the decorating, the shopping, the prep, the actual hosting, and the clean up. Throw in a 3 month old and all I have to say is thank the lord for Dada and naptime.

But the day was just lovely. There was just enough food, plenty to drink, lively conversation, and everything looked… welll, blog-worthy.

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Little man was an absolute gentleman. He rocked a vest and snappy suspenders- until some spit up and other bodily functions got the best of the outfit.

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He really was a trooper having so many people invade his turf and they are not exactly a quiet group. I think his face here and his pudgy hand flipping me off really says it all- seriously Momma, when can I nap?

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His naps were intermittent but he slept well overnight so I have a happy boy once again. I don’t regret hosting Easter at all but I am so so happy to have my house back to normal. Routine is essential for babies and (as we’re discovering) for parents too. I’m looking forward to a spring and summer filled with the normal schedule and small, manageable outings. Doesn’t that sound wildly exciting?

My cousin Alex grabbed this shot of me smooching on my boy. It’s my favorite shot of the whole day. Just goes to show that no matter how Pinterest-worthy my brunch table is, this is what holidays are all about Charlie Brown. So good to see my family and share this precious little dude with everyone.

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Baby Gear Essentials | 4-12 Weeks

So I dropped the ball on the every four week baby stuff posts so you are getting four all the way to 12 weeks today. These are the things we have not been able to live without!

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  1. I ‘grammed this a couple weeks ago but I’m completely in love with this Tadples Ash Wood Playmat. I saw it in another blogger’s post here and I have to second her sentiments that those giant primary color ABC mats are just not my style. I understand that babies and kids need colors and stimulation but don’t you think a neutral playmat helps make the toys themselves pop? Makes sense to me. Eli has really been finding his independence on this mat with lots of wiggling and even some rolling attempts!
  2. This Bright Starts Start Your Senses Sensory Plush Pals Dragonfly was one of the first toys that Eli has really responded to. I know I bought it from this link that clearly states “Dragonfly” but for some reason I’ve always called it “The Bee” and Eli just loves checking out and grabbing at The Bee.
  3. At some point I looked around and said, “I have a boy. We need to get him a ball or two or five!” And this Sassy Developmental Sensory Ball Set is the coolest. One ball is soft with tons of colors and polka dots with that crinkle material. Another ball is blue with all sorts of bumpy textures. It’s super lightweight so Eli can pick it up on his own. And the third is a noisy ball within a ball. The outside has openings that Eli can grab and wrap his little fingers around and the thing rolls like crazy. He wacks it and that thing goes across the room which is just hilarious to him!
  4. The drool in our house seems to be increasing daily. Instead of leaving little man in a damp onesie all day, he’s accessorizing like a champ with these Matimati Baby Bandana Drool Bibs. They are so cute and super soft around his neck. Plus there’s two snaps on the back so they grow with your baby. Love these.
  5. Thank the lord- Eli is a great sleeper and sleeps through most of the night. We’ll put him down between 6:30 and 7p and he’ll sleep until 3ish. Great stretch of sleep for Momma and Dada! And after a quick bottle he usually goes right back to sleep until 6a. That 3a bottle needs to be done quickly with as little light, movement, and sound as possible so he’s aware that it’s still the middle of the night and we’re not getting up to play. This Munchkin Light My  Nightlight is the perfect amount of light and Eli loves staring into his big eyes. It’s quite romantic actually.
  6. For that same 3a feeding, I don’t want to have to trudge downstairs to the kitchen for a bottle and back up again because then I’m awake! So every night I bring a bottle with pre-measured water up and then use this OXO Tot No-Spill Formula Dispenser to fill it. The dispenser holds 3 scoops of formula in three different compartments. I just have to swivle the opening to one compartment and dump the contents into the bottle. No muss, no fuss. And then I just refill the whole thing every three days. I have a second one that I use in the diaper bag and I’ve read that a lot of moms keep these for little snacks as baby grows.