I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts

Rant:
Today was very annoying. I called health insurance because they weren't covering Arlo's wellness visits. It turns out they only cover 10 visits in the first year, even though our Dr. and many others out there require once a month visits. So what the hell do you do? The lovely man, named Dan, told me they will cover vaccines. You can have your Dr. not check the child, but come in for vaccines. Does this make any sense? Anyway I paid for the dr visits, but I am now officially pissed off at insurance. Blah Blah Blah they want my son to remain healthy, so they won't have to pay for something serious, yet they won't pay for the wellness visits. Okay I give up. I'm giving in. Take my money. At least I don't have to worry about figuring out the whole mat leave thing again. That was a huge headache. PS if you take a LOA and you get money they don't take taxes out, so be prepared to pay up to the man once again.

Favorite:
So this favorite isn't about babies. It's about you and me. Chances are I have already tried to convince you to drink coconut water, but seriously DRINK IT. I am obsessed and these days they even package it for you in lovely little packages. Here is why I think you should drink it, and I push it on everyone. People who listen thank me.

1. coconut Water is excellent for replacing lost electrolytes from exercise or illness
2. Coconut Water is an all-natural sports/energy drink
3. Coconut Water is a natural isotonic beverage – contains a similar level of electrolytes found in human blood.
4. Coconut Water may help promote smoother, more hydrated skin
5. Coconut Water is non-allergenic
6. Coconut Water is rich in potassium. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure and heart function
7. Coconut Water is an effective oral re hydration medium and keeps the body cool.
8. Coconut Water is More Nutritious than whole milk - Less fat and NO cholesterol!
9.Coconut Water is More Healthy than Orange Juice - Much lower calories
10. Coconut Water is Better than processed baby milk- It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother's milk
11. Coconut water is naturally sterile -- Water permeates though the filtering husk!
12. Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage - The same level we have in our blood.
13.Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries through Coconut IV.

If above doesn't convince you, I have more lovely facts!!!!!

Drink it if you are sick, thirsty, working out, or anytime. Okay I'm done. If you don't want to drink a real coconut, I do suggest the brand O.N.E. I think it taste better and less packaged.




I have some exciting news to share, but I can't jinx it, so you will all have to wait another night or two.

Just keep swimming

Oh Mondays. My mind never works on Mondays. So let's keep this simple! Weekend run down here we go!

This weekend we took Arlo to the aquarium, he actually loved it. He loves animals and he was hypnotized by the fish. It's always fun to see him experience new things. Simple things we don't think twice about.





We also headed up to Hollywood for the day. Great Aunt Barb came to visit and we had a nice lunch at the grove. Before we went to the Grove though we got to visit the new addition to our extended family. Arlo has a new best friend and I can't even begin to tell you how cute and lovable this little guy is. You will have to trust me on this:) The Arlo Townes project is about to begin!


All and all it was a very nice weekend. Now let's get through this week! To start it off here is one of my favorites....

BabyLegs!!!!


We LOVE baby BabyLegs! They have been my go to gift for everyone I know having a baby girl. I have always been in love with them. I had an internal debate about BabyLegs when Arlo was a few months old. I wasn't sure if they could work for a little boy, and Arlo is so boyish. Well it all changed because we were going to IL in November, and I needed layers. I immediately needed BabyLegs and had to have them. Arlo's legs were getting chunkier and he was crawling a lot, so I figured it would be perfect. They would keep him warm under his pants and at home he could wear them when he was crawling around the house. I also realized they were super cute for boys, as well. They work for everything and they are amazing in every way. BabyLegs FTW!

I saw a light shine from a window, and as I looked again, your face came into sight.

Hey look it's mom!
She thinks this is a kiss, but I'm really making funny faces out the window.

Favorites Part 2

Peg Perego Skate
So versatile.
car seat attachments included.
bassinet feature.
convertible.
ONE PIECE!
I looked at every freaking stroller in the world, and the scary part is in 10 months they came out with new ones! I'm so last year. I was at the airport waiting to go to Magic, so of course the entire LB airport is full of hipsters of all types. The guy next to us said, "little dude your boots are fly and your rollin in style. I'm feeling your stroller." I couldn't help but laugh. Everyone, but mom's does not see the stroller craze. It's like putting your child in a Honda vs. a Bentley, you obviously want to ride is luxury and style. Well anyway, I love our stroller. It is so easy to use, once you figure it out. It came with a rain cover, and also a cover to keep them warm. I highly suggest it, and the car seat is amazing, heavy, but amazing. It is leather so it's super easy to wipe down. Now if only he enjoyed the stroller longer then 20 mins....




Favorite tips
Ice trays! So this applies now, since Arlo is teething. We make smoothies and fill up the ice trays, stick the cubes in his mesh feeder and a nice cool treat. We have also made chamomile tea ice cubes which is a natural pain reliever. It helps and he likes it. Frozen fruit is also easy, but I love the cubes.

Favorites

What are your favorites? Favorite baby food, clothes, stores, gifts to give, high chair, bottles, diaper rash cream, websites, car seat, stroller????? I want to know! Why, because that is all us moms talk about? That and what our babies are doing now. So in honor of me wanting to know your favorites, I will tell you mine! Although, only 3 people will probably respond to this. I still want to know!

Tonight I will give you two, because I am feeling generous. I even gave my mom a box of girl scout cookies, and if you know me, I don't like sharing cookies.


I found this website after I had Arlo and immediately bought new bedding. I fell in love and I fell in love hard. It was the kind of love that knocks the wind out of you. Besides bedding, they have adorable dresses. I almost thought about putting Arlo in one, but didn't think it would compliment his hair.

Arlo has the noggie nature with the tweety brid sheet. We don't use a bedskirt, since we have to lower his mattress to the bottom, and bedskirts don't fit right. Does anyone have a way around this? Also I would love one of the quilts and/or the brown bark sheet. Just incase you feel like buying us stuff.
and drumroll please.......

Tasty Baby! I defenitly use Earth's Best, but I wish I had the time to make his food everyday. Especially now that he has more options. Before we started on solids my mom sent me info on Tasty Baby food. I looked for it at the Wholefoods in Hollywood, but they didn't carry it yet. When we moved to Belmont Shore I found it at our local Wholefoods(it's in the frozen section). Arlo loves the Mamamia, a blend of Butternut squash, zucchini, quinoa pasta, parmesan cheese & sage. It tastes so fresh and I feel good about feeding it to him. (yes, I taste all his food) Don't worry mom's it is organic!


And this is just because...
Arlo's first trip to the beach

Shadow

Today we went to visit my Nonna. This women means everything to me. She has been there for me when everyone turned their back on me. She has been my rock and my heart. I love her more then she will ever know. When I was a kid, my grandpa use to call me her "shadow." I would follow her around the house while she cleaned and mopped her house with vinegar. She picked me up from school everyday and she made sure to always bring me a snack, it was usually cinnamon bread from Lucci's.
Today things are different. She is 88 years old, and she is sad. She is sad that she can't hold Arlo by herself, she is sad that she can't babysit him, like she did me. She is sad that her body doesn't work like it use to and that she can't live in a house and cook everyday, but today her face lit up. She loves Arlo more than anything, and I am so happy that she gets to see me as a mother. She gets to see me as a women, who created life. What she doesn't realize is that she has created this family, that she is responsible for all of her children, grandchildren, and now all 5 of her great grandkids.
She is a fiesty women, but you can't help but love her for it. She has shown me so much, and I only hope one day I will be half the women she is.

She also bought Chris a brush. He humored her and let her brush his hair. She is something else that women!
3 years ago

*The first picture is Arlo at 3 months. He is such a little man now!

It's happening to fast

Arlo started walking this week. We were in vegas for magic, and he took his first steps in the Venetian hotel and I thank him for waiting for me to take his first steps after I got home from work. I have always worried that I was going to miss important moments because of work, and slowly I am realizing I can make being a mom and having a career work(I guess taking him on business trips helps. Some might think I'm crazy, but it's the only way I can do it.) Up until this point, I have spent hours and days trying to find a way not to work. Any way I crunch the numbers, I have to stay employeed full time. Good thing I like buying shoes for aliving. Otherwise, being a working mom would be even harder.
Arlo at the park. Some boy didn't want to play with him.

After returning from Magic, Arlo had his 10 month check up. He is right on track and healthy as can be. I have been avoiding sleep training him for some time now. He still gets up to eat 2-3 times in the middle of the night. I told the dr. I was finally ready to stop bf him at night and work on getting him to sleep through the night. He was all for it, until he saw that Arlo was FINALLY getting his first tooth. We didn't believe him because we always feel like one is coming in, but then this morning it happened. The kid was finally cutting his first tooth! Frozen fruit is a life savor so far! Poor baby is handling it like a champ.

This is his new favorite place to play hide-n-seek.

I hope everyone has a good weekend, we are keeping it mellow and I'm starting to plan for his first birthday. Stay tuned for that post!
I don't know where the time has gone. Arlo at 6 months...