Modern Momma: Welcoming Baby Owen: Photos by Balee Images

AHHHHHHH, did you miss me?!! I have been so M.I.A lately; busy with weddings, birthday parties, photo shoots, you name it, I've been been doing it!! I have a little free time in the next couple days and my list of blogs to post are about a mile long!

I figured after not blogging in two weeks, this first blog back better be GOOD.... and what better blog than the introduction of our Modern Momma's new sweet babe Owen! 

I am in love with this family, and these pictures from Balee Images are SO perfect, and so true to them! The best kind of photos if you ask me! Its so clear how much Mac is already loving his little brother! ADORABLE!

It was near impossible to pick my favorites, I have no idea how Lauren is going to do it!

Welcome little perfect babe 'Owen Archer McLennan' you are so loved already...

This last one just kills me! LOL, love him!

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DIY Teepee Under $40 #RITDYE #ELMERSGLUE

Recently worked on a project with RIT DYE and ELMERS GLUE... they have partnered up, and created some super AMAZING and INNOVATIVE results! For those of you that don't know, Elmer Glue 'Blue Gel' actually resist Rit Dye, which means you can use the glue to make designs on your fabric before you dye it, and then once its dyed you will still see your designs!! It's a pretty awesome concept!

I decided to make a super easy kid friendly teepee that cost under $40! I PROMISE you can make this, and the kids will have fun creating their own designs! 

DIY TEEPEE UNDER $40

Supplies:

Rit Dye 'Pearl Grey'

Elmers Glue Blue Gel

1 White Bed Sheet 'Queen Size'

5- 1"x2"x8' Strip Boards(Home Depot)

Twine

Staple Gun

Wood Beads*optional*

How To: 

Preparing Your Sheet:

1. Lay out sheet, and use Elmers Blue Gel to draw designs on sheet, and let completely dry.

2. Pour your Rit Dye into the sink(or bucket) and start dipping your sheet.

3. Once your sheet has reached the desired color, remove, rinse, and let dry.

(if using wood beads, throw those in the dye as well, and just let them soak)

Putting Together Your Teepee:(Takes 2 Sets of Hands)

1. Arrange your strip boards in a teepee formation, and with one set of hands holding the sticks, the other set should be wrapping the twine around the sticks weaving the twine in and out of each board make the twine tight and the sticks stable.

2. Lay sheet around the outside of the standing teepee and tie the corners of the sheet together in the front/top of the teepee. If I plan on keeping the teepee in one place for a longer period of time, I then like to reinforce the sheet with a staple gun, but not completely necessary. 

3. For some extra character I strung my dyed wood beads on remaining pieces of twine and dangled from the front of the teepee! 

& ENJOY!

I used my teepee at the most recent #ATECraftNight...

GORGEOUS Teepee photos by Balee Images!

Modern Momma: What to register for: Feeding

The second blog post in our 'What to register for..." series! If you missed the 'GEAR' portion, part one, check it out HERE! Now our Modern Momma is bringing you part two, feeding! From bottles, to breast pumps; who knew there was so much that you would need?!?!

Baby Registry Part 2- Feeding

Medela Freestyle breast pump
Hands down my fave one! On the pump it has a clip to put on your pants while pumping. I used to pump and wash dishes all at the same time. Plus it's hospital grade so you know it's worth the money.

Simple wishes pumping bra
I liked this the best while pumping in stead of getting a normal looking bra for pumping or the straps that come with the pump.

Lansinoh breast pads and breast milk storage bags
Everyone has different pads that they like. These ones are cheap and good enough for what they do. As for the bags I liked these more than my Medela ones. These hold 7oz. When Mac started drinking more milk it was just easier to dump milk into these because the Medela bags only hold 5. I liked the Medela bags because you could clip them right on your pump and they were a harder plastic but the Lansinoh work just fine and lay really flat when freezing them.

Medela bottles
These were all Mac liked at the beginning. I think Mac took really good to bottles right off from the start because we introduced bottles within the first week we were home. I did register for Lifestyle glass bottles but he wouldn't drink out of them until he was around 6 months. You just never know what your baby will like.

Munchkin bottle cleaner
Cheap and no fuss! Enough said.

Boon lawn or grass drying rack with stem and twig
I had the grass with Mac and I absolutely loved it. I upgraded to the lawn for baby #2 for all the pump parts bottles and sippys that will be put on it. The stem and twig hold up the nipples an extra parts. So cute to look at on the counter

Aden and Anais Burpy Bibs
Once you have these regular bibs are a thing of the past. You can use these as burp cloths when your baby is tiny and it has a snap on the back so when they are sitting up eating regular food the use them a regular bibs. Love me a good multi purpose item!

Ikea Antilop highchair and tray
If you want to be able to wipe down without having to deal with set cushions an food getting stuck in crevasses this is your chair! I take Lysol wipes to it and it comes out sparkling clean each time! We also have a Chicco caddy hook on high chair. I used it when Mac first was able to sit up to eat and food got all over it. It's a pain to take off the seat to wash it so that's when we bought the ikea one.

Boppy Pillow
I really liked mine. Mac used to sleep in it when I curled it and and he would use it as a pillow when he was older. Don't forget to get a waterproof cover for it!

Modern Momma: What to register for...

After Lauren's WHAT TO PACK IN YOUR HOSPITAL BAG post, she had tons of request for what to register for! Because babies are needy;), we decided to break it up in 3 post for the sake of overwhelming you! Starting with the GEAR...

Modern Momma Gear Guide:
Just throwing it out there that I don't personally have these car seats and strollers but I do have them in different brands. I know a lot of people who have these car seats (both the infant and convertible) and love them. They are a bit pricier than some brands but personally I just hate how cheap Graco and Chicco brands look. But they are making them look a lot better now than they did two years ago.

As for strollers I knew I didn't want a travel system. I think they are the most hideous things to look at. Big and bulky no thanks! This Contours 4 in 1 is perfect and is in the perfect price range for all the pieces you get.
I also kinda hate umbrella strollers. Where do you put the baby's snacks and sippy?! This stroller is the next size up which I love. Comes with a shade and snack tray and extra storage! Perfect for get up and go. I don't know what I would do without ours!

The 4moms breeze play yard didn't get used a lot with Mac since we bought it later but I'm hoping with baby 2 it will be put to more use. It comes with a bassinet attachment and did I mention the one handed set up? #winning

 How do you choose between a bouncer a rocker or a swing?! Yeah. You don't. Your baby does! Most annoying thing ever. These things ARE NOT cheap and your baby will probably love your garage sale finds more than your straight off the line rocker. Ugh. But these are what worked for Mac so here's my insight.

4moms mommaroo
This was an I-had-to-have-this-because-Kourtney-Kardashian-has-it! purchase. Mac loved his when he was tiny up until 6 months. You can plug In your iPod and has tons of different swing/motion settings to it and you can have them sitting up or lying in it.

After Mac was siting up he wanted to sit 24/7. So we scored a vintage crank swing so his feet could dangle.  I searched everywhere for a new model like that but it seems they are far and few of them. The only one I found was this Graco one.

At around the same age Mac started using a Johnny Jumper at my parents. He loved it and would jump forever!! Well in our house we have a really open concept and no crown molding/doorways to hang it where we were at most of the day. I caved and ended up buying a jumperoo. Seriously. This kid would bounce the hell out of that thing. We had to cut off the little toys that hung above him because they would smack him in the face. (They were plastic. Who does that?!) Ryan and I would sit an laugh at him because he would laugh so hard bouncing away.

And the good ol' exersaucer. I never wanted one because they are huge and bulky and not my cup of tea. So instead of one of those I got a Go Pod instead. Best Thing Ever!! It's a mix between an exersaucer and a camping fold out chair. It has cup holders and little tabs you can hook toys on and has height adjustments. It's kind of pricey for what it really is but we used the hell out of it!! I seriously can't wait to get it out for the baby!

THE LINKS:

Strollers
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CBSMYWQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1402497306&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40#immersive_view?1402497333143
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0030EH8OO/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?qid=1402497679&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70
Car seats
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00G34TIDW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1402497456&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008KCR7U6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1402497456&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40
Rocker
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007UK1CBY?vs=1
Play yard
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0088JRAFI/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1402497560&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40
Jumperoo
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000LXQVA4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1402497771&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40
Swing
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BHGXWQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1402497864&sr=8-1
Activity seat
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00477ND0Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1402497916&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

...and of course some fun photos of Mac using his gear, I can't believe how little he is in some of these pictures! 

Tattoo Parlor Mini-Sessions

A few months ago Sabrina from Wallflower Photography by Sabrina contacted me and had a super rad idea and vision for a Spring/Summer mini-session! Sabrina wanted to have a whole new take on the classic 'Lemonade Stand' mini-session... her vision was to have a group of kids stumble upon a lemonade stand, and set up shop as a tattoo parlor instead, umm YES PLEASE! 

I met Sabrina at her fathers farm, and immediately fell in love with the backdrop! 

200 tattoos + a bunch of cute kiddos later, and we have these ADORBALE photos...make sure to go like her page HERE, to see the rest! These are just some of my favs...

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