baby – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Mom Talk April 4, 2017

Our New Newborn Favorites: DockATot

The second baby product that we didn’t have when Isla was a newborn (in 2014!) is a DockATot (you can read the first post in the series about the 4moms Tub here). The first time I ever saw one was this time last year, when one of my best friends brought her two kiddos over to our house for us to babysit while they went to a wedding shower. Kirby put Henry in the DockATot and he slept soundly for the entire duration of their visit (despite my efforts to wake him up because I wanted to snuggle!).

Emi napped and slept in our Rock N Play for her first five or six weeks, which we also used for Isla. But about two weeks ago, we started using the DockATot in the crib for her naps and during the night. Just this week, we moved the DockATot to our bed, as I have struggled to stay awake in the glider during nighttime feedings, but for some reason am able to stay awake if I am sitting upright in our bed. I was always too scared to co-sleep given all of the horror stories you read online, but with the DockATot, we don’t have to worry about anything happening to Emi while she’s sleeping. Since moving her to our bed, her sleep has improved a lot and she’s down to one 2:30am feed, which we’re going to try to eliminate this week (per our pediatrician’s recommendation).

Mom Talk February 1, 2017

Introducing Emilia Wilkie Petrovic

Our sweet baby girl is here! It truly feels like yesterday that I was penning Isla’s birth story, and I still am pinching myself that our second daughter is now at home with us (and her due date isn’t until Friday!). As corny as it sounds, I really did worry that I wouldn’t be able to love another baby as much as I did Isla, but ohmygosh, once that baby is in your arms, that fear dissipates. And now that we’re at home as a complete family unit, my heart keeps growing and growing. We are so, so in love with this teensy tiny baby. I wanted to write down Emi’s birth story before forgetting any details, so here we go!

Mom Talk November 17, 2015

Toddler Brunch with Bumbo

Last weekend, our little family headed to True Food Kitchen for post-church brunch. It only opened last year, but has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants in the city (tofu lettuce wraps, fall harvest salad, fun fruity cocktails, delicious beet juice – yes, please). At 17 months, Isla has become increasingly agitated with sitting in uncomfortable, wooden highchairs at restaurants, so we decided to bring our Bumbo chair for her to sit in instead. It’s super light to carry and straps easily onto chairs. Although there is an attachable tray that tucks into the back, it puts toddlers at the perfect height to use the dining table. As you can see from these photos, Isla feels (and acts – reading that menu upside down!) like she’s ‘one of us’ when she’s in her chair.

Baby October 29, 2015

Introducing Baby Lincoln

Last weekend, I had the privilege of photographing sweet baby Lincoln, who was less than two weeks old and the cutest little man. I’ve followed his mama’s blog – Veronika’s Blushing – for years now, but hadn’t actually met her until this newborn session. She is just as gorgeous in ‘real life’ as she is in photos – and sweet to boot.

Some of my favorite photos were those of Lincoln’s older sister, Harper, holding him for the very first time. She softly stroked his head, and it melted my heart. Plus, we let her bounce on her brand new bed, and she loved that too!

I’m sharing some photos from the session below – prepare yourself for some serious baby fever.

Personal July 13, 2015

Week in Review

My three cousins, aunt and uncle from Scotland were all in Durango with us for the past week, so we had a lot of quality family time. In other words, we did a lot of jigsaw puzzles and played ample amounts of Taboo (favorite game ever). I hadn’t seen them since our wedding in 2013, and it was really, really nice to catch up with everyone individually. Oh, and to introduce them to Sonic, of course. We walked two miles to get a diet strawberry limeade one day, then drove-through after ziplining so everyone could try milkshakes, tater tots, teas, etc. It is America’s Drive-In after all! Nothing like some good USA culture.

Other highlights of the week included:

Taking Isla on her first bike ride. We bought a Giro baby helmet, but it was a little too bit and kept falling forward and blocking Isla’s vision, so she hated it. We also had the new baby seat (Yepp Maxi Back Seat) installed at the store we bought it, and they put it very, very close to the saddle. It felt a little suffocating, so we moved it back and bought a new helmet (the Bontrager Little Dipper). Ride #2 was so much better – smiles all around! You can see a video of Isla’s first ride here (I almost fell off my bike at the beginning and had to cut that!).
Playing in the wading pool almost every single day. My favorite day was when Isla grabbed the hose and kept spraying Belle (our dog), who would bite frantically at the water. Isla was dying laughing – short video here. We spend most of our days outside, running around the garden or going on short hikes.
Walking to the Farmer’s Market on Saturday and getting fresh juice from Durango Juice Bar. We normally don’t eat out when we’re in Houston, and have been doing take-outs for many of our meals (since there was 10 of us!) – we are in desperate need of a cleanse! We’re doing juices plus no chemical/preservative foods right now. I’m going to share a recipe for my favorite refreshing fruit water this week.
Going zip-lining for the second time at Full Blast Adventure Center. It is so much fun. Last time I went, they allowed us to do backflips off the ledge, but this time, it was banned because apparently that isn’t safe (greatttt, thanks for the warning the first time). I went with my three cousins and my aunt, and we all had a great time.
Reading The Little Lady Agency, which I’m loving so far. I’m almost done, and I’ll be sharing my 2015 summer reading list on Wednesday or Thursday. I did two last summer (here and here), and want to hear your suggestions on what to read next!
Isla learned that horses say “Neighhhh” this week (a horse and carriage passes our house every evening), and so we’ve obviously prompted her at least 350 times in the last 7 days. Another ‘trick’ she loves to do is put the sole of her foot up against ours (shown below). Every day is such an adventure!

How was your week? What were your highlights?

BBG Jump Rope (1 of 1)-11 Isla Strolling Ailee and Isla