This will also be Ryder’s first time flying on a plane so please cross your fingers for us for a smooth flight. The first time I flew with Chase we flew by ourselves to Denver when he was six months old so a short flight to Jacksonville feels WAY less intimidating, especially with a younger — and hopefully sleepier — baby in tow. Let’s hope I’m not shooting myself in the foot with that statement!
I’ll be sure to recap Leslie’s baby shower on the blog soon but until then, let’s stick with the usual around here and dive into my weekly Things I’m Loving Friday favorites. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
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Garage Shoulder Workout
A small miracle happened in our house on Wednesday afternoon. Ryder and Chase napped at the SAME time. It was amazing and fantastic and I took full advantage of TWO HOURS of napping children to do ALL the things. I worked on this blog post, responded to emails, did some laundry, prepped dinner and squeezed in a quick garage workout. Woop! (Oh and before you think things were easy breezy over here all week, let’s just say Wednesday was a bit of an anomaly on the productivity front. Ooph.)
Wednesday’s garage workout was definitely a highlight for me and I focused on strength training my shoulders in a superset format so it would be a fast and efficient workout. I am so excited to get back into semi-regular workouts and cannot wait to share more of them with you guys in the coming weeks and months. I’ve missed my workouts a lot and really enjoy sharing them with you guys here and on Instagram!
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Getting a Jump Start on Ryder’s Baby Book
It took me weeks to complete Chase’s baby book when I was in a mad dash to get it done before Christmas one year and I am determined to not let myself get so behind this time. I am hoping that by working on Ryder’s baby book in little segments and setting aside a little bit of time every month, it won’t feel like such a daunting project where I have to sift through hundreds of photos at one time. (I’m using the Hand Painted Baby template through Mixbook for his album.) This may be wishful thinking, but I hope I can stick to this plan and have a wonderful book filled with some of our favorite photos of Ryder when he turns one!
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Swapping Out Plastics
I’m sure a bunch of you guys read about the latest report from the American Academy of Pediatrics related to plastics and children that cautioned against reheating certain types of plastic in the microwave or dishwasher. I’m not sure why I never thought about the dishwasher being an issue but the latest report served as a bit of a scare to me! It also motivated me to go back to hand washing our favorite plastic sippy cups and plates and encouraged me to begin swapping out some of the plastics we use for Chase’s food and drinks in favor of glass or stainless steel options. (FYI, the AAP recommends completely avoiding plastics with recycling codes 3, 6 and 7.)
I ordered four stainless steel tumblers + straws from Amazon (the same ones Tina‘s son loves) and a few more of the stainless steel snack containers we use all the time from EarthHero. (I order the large size of the Sidekick containers and think they’re perfect for carting around freshly sliced fruits and veggies, cereal, nuts and other snacks for our whole family. They’re $7 via EarthHero — nearly $8 cheaper than I found them on Amazon.)
And if you guys happen to have any glass or stainless steel kid-friendly water bottle recommendations, I’d love to hear them. I’m in the market for a water bottle for Chase that has a built in straw so he doesn’t have to tip it over to drink it.
A couple of you noticed the personalized blanket Ryder was wrapped up in on my mom’s chest in a picture of him on the blog a few weeks ago and I’ve been meaning to mention it here ever since! It’s a beautiful and incredibly soft blanket we received from the kind people behind Audrey’s Bear! We’ve been loving our Audrey’s Bear blanket for snuggle time with Ryder but what I love even more is the fact that Audrey’s Bear participates in swaddle4swaddle, a program dedicated to supplying swaddle blankets and “bringing smiles and comfort to NICU babies and their families.” For every swaddle blanket purchased through Audrey’s Bear, they donate a blanket through swaddle4swaddle. I am already planning to buy one of their gorgeous blankets for my sister’s baby once her little boy or girl arrives in September!
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Friday Flashbacks
10 Recipes To Make for Your Summer Cookout (With summer winding down, I wanted to share this flashback post just in case you have a fun cookout on the agenda before everyone is all about the fall!)
Total Body Pyramid Workout (Pyramid workouts are some of my favorite workouts to complete because once you finish one level and move onto the next, it feels like a mini victory within the workout.)
Questions of the Day
Tell me about something you’re looking forward to this weekend!
What is one thing that is making you smile this week?
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Please share on the blog if you find a kid-friendly water bottle. My son is starting PreK 3 in September and I’m looking for a bottle to send with him to school. As a boy mom of two little ones myself you have a beautiful family. Enjoy your weekend!
I absolutely will! I’ve seen the LifeFactory glass water bottles but they have mixed reviews regarding leaking so I’m still on the lookout!!
Greens Steel has a very good bottle for the little ones we like at our house. They are stainless steel and keep things nice and cold with a built in straw…also eco friendly too…on amazon for $10. When my daughter was switching from our Life factory bottles to a cup we also like the fogo thermos stainless steel cups with built in straw too. Have a safe and lovely trip to Florida!
Thermos cups are seriously the best. Each of my kids have one, totally leak proof for lunch boxes and keeps water cold.
The coordinated nap time is the best miracle when it happens – makes me feel like a super hero! (I have a 3 year old and 6 month old.) If you find some suggestions for cups with built in straws, will you please please post about it? Ive been unsuccessfully looking for a while! Good luck on the flight and enjoy the shower and family time!!!
Sounds like an exciting weekend! I hope you and your family have a great time in Florida celebrating your sister’s baby shower!
Good luck on the flight, and have a wonderful time celebrating your sisters baby! I’m loving genuine baby smiles and longer stretches of sleep at night 🙂
So happy you’re getting longer sleep stretches!!! That makes such a HUGE difference! <3
Definitely look into the kids hydro flask! It’s a straw cup and is totally sweat proof. I just bought one for my niece who is starting kindergarten! Enjoy Leslie’s shower!
Oh Julie, I am keeping my fingers crossed and sending prayers your way for smooth flights for you and Ryder! I can’t wait to read all about your weekend with your family, it sounds like it is going to be fun! Enjoy!! Xoxo
We love the contigo stainless steel straw cups!
I have heard great things about these too! Apparently they can leak a little if the water gets hot (like if you left it in the car) but no spills.
https://www.gocontigo.com/contigo-thermalockr-spill-proof-kids-stainless-steel-tumbler-with-straw-12-oz.html
We love Thermos Funtainers for our kids! I fill them up with water in the morning and both kids drink out of theirs all day. Its also nice that when we go somewhere I just grab their thermos’ and it’s ready to go! I hand wash the straw pieces using a straw cleaner and it’s pretty quick and easy. Hope this helps! Ours are 3 years old and still like new as well.
We love these too!
My sister-in-law gifted us a personalized swaddle blanket from Audrey’s Bear when our son was born in June (a few weeks before your little guy!) and I just love it! I had never heard of the company before but think it is a great gift with a great mission!
we love AUTOSPOUT® Straw Striker Chill by Contigo. They are very durable, don’t leak and keep water cold.
Hydroflask kids! They’re amazing, perfect size for a 3 year old, haven’t leaked on us yet, and keep water cold for hours! And they have fun colors! On the expensive side but I highly recommend!
Perfect!!! I LOVE my HydroFlask and totally should have thought to see if they make a kid’s cup!! Thanks for the recommendation, Allison!
First of all my apologies for not congratulating you and Ryan and saying Hi to Ryder. Congratulations and Hi Ryder!
I did on IG but that’s not the same as on here. The past few months have been crazy and I haven’t had much time for my own blog let alone reading others. I have a lot of catching up to do! I have however been wanted to tell you on the Monday (late afternoon Spanish Time) Ryder was born I was thinking about you. We’d been away with little internet and travelled back that day so I had no idea if you had or not. Thinking she’s given birth, I checked your IG stories for an update. You had, an hour earlier!
Have a great weekend in Florida with your family and I’m sure Ryder will ace his first plane ride 🙂
Thank you, Nat!!! I appreciate it a bunch and love hearing from you here again! <3
My daughter used the Kid Basix stainless steel cup and liked it: https://www.amazon.com/Kid-Basix-Sippy-Stainless-Bottle/dp/B002DND57M/ref=br_lf_m_jy632sh5rzon7q2_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&s=baby-products&th=1
That pyramid workout has always been one of my favorites of yours! That + one of your 30 min HIIT workouts that I have done so many times that I have it memorized.
That’s so awesome!! Thank you for taking the time to let me know! 🙂
I’m also interested in what water bottles you find! Please share! We have used the kids camelbak for years, which I loved but think I am ready to switch to stainless for my 4yr old twin boys!
I hope you have fun at your sister’s shower!
Ah have so much fun on your Florida trip and good luck with Ryder’s first flight, he’s going to do great!
Hydro Flask makes a kid’s cup! https://www.hydroflask.com/kids/color,mint,a,92,o,52
Contigo makes a good stainless water bottle similar to the plastic ones!
Yasssss: to naps being a the Same time. I tried to make that happen very early when I had my daughter. Luckily I started with it so early she has been very adaptable to needing to sleep when my son sleeps. It will get easier and easier as Ryder drops to two naps and then one. It is amazing what an hour or two to yourself during the day will do.
We love the Thermos water bottle. Both of my kids use one and it’s nice because it has a lid attached.
And can you link the snack containers directly? I’m having a hard time finding them on their website.
Hope you have a great weekend in Florida! I’m excited to hear how the shower goes!
I second the kids hydro Flask! It’s especially good for the park and the beach since it stays cold.
Any recommendations for kids plates? I’ve been trying to find some with the 3 sections that are a little safer.
Could you link the snack containers you use… nothing comes up when searching “sidekick” on EarthHero. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions!
Have fun in Florida! We are going to the local fair this weekend. Can’t wait to eat all the yummy food!! I’ll have to do one of your workouts on Sunday to balance it out haha
I use a HydroFlask tumbler for my 2 year old. Not the kids sized because he would just steal mine rather than use his but it’s worked well for us at home! If I traveled more I would get the kids sized for him.
A little late in getting you this list, however, besides Daniel the Tiger, I have found that many of the shows listed on this blog are fantastic! My son, who just turned 4yo, has been watching a handful of these shows since 2-3yo and he is highly advanced. Granted, he does go to a Bright horizon daycare FT, so only watches these shows to relax in the evening or occasionally on the weekend (we also try to limit TV). He is obsessed with Wild Kratz and Super Wings! We try to avoid shows that are too stimulating, bright or too many things happening at once and we find these shows are pretty safe. https://raisinglifelonglearners.com/preschool-home-netflix/
Thinkbaby makes a great stainless steel waterbottle! It’s great because you can use it as a bottle, then a sippy cup, then transition to the straw. ?
thinkbaby Thinkster Steel Bottle, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VXV94JS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vQIBBbHFQ7BAZ
Hope you guys have a safe, fun filled trip together! Thanks for the shoulder workout…Now that I’m seeing a little baby definition in my shoulders I’m even more encouraged to train them on their own.
I just did a review of food and drink containers! For drinks we love the Thermos Foogo straw cup. It’s stainless steel and keeps drinks cold for hours. The lid is easy for my toddler to open and she’s been using it for about a year. 🙂
hey! love your blog and seeing your favorites! i have a six month old and am breastfeeding (but pumping and giving bottles since i’ve gone back to work). what are your thoughts on plastic bottles? have you used glass or stainless steel bottles? i’ve thought about it but glass makes me nervous with a baby and stainless seems like it would be hard to measure the right amount of milk.
I just did a review of food and drink containers! For drinks we love the Thermos Foogo straw cup. It’s stainless steel and keeps drinks cold for hours. The lid is easy for my toddler to open and she’s been using it for about a year. 🙂
Can you share a bit about the baby book you are doing? I’ve book looking for a good option. Can you show a little about what the book offers, like some sample pages? Thanks!!!