Leaf and Steel

motherhood - growth - living

Autumn 2021 Bucket List

There are two things I love in life: autumn and a good list. That’s why I took a moment to write down my autumn bucket list for 2021!

I have been so busy lately and I feel like there isn’t any time left to do all the fall things! Even though the leaves are just starting to change, I feel late.

Since having my daughter, I feel an immense sense of responsibility to celebrate every holiday and make everyday special.

At the end of the day, all my 10 month old really wants is to sit in the backyard with her books and read!

I want to pass on to her some of the wisdom that I’ve learned in my long 27 years. I want her to remember that experiences and being together are way more important than things.

I was in the Target Bullseye section the other day, you know, the one with the $1 and $3 tchochkies and felt like I had to buy her all this crap to celebrate fall.

The girl loves to play with wooden spoons and her carseat manual.

No $3 pumpkin from Target is going to help her appreciate fall.

Taking a fall walk and showing her how to crunch leaves is what she needs to be doing.

So, this year I’m taking the experience route. We’re on our way to checking off our fall list, one by one!

Autumn 2021 Bucket List

  1. Bake a pie
  2. Visit a pumpkin patch
  3. Build a leaf pile
  4. Decorate the front porch with mums
  5. DIY Halloween costumes
  6. Take a scenic drive with this playlist
  7. Drink apple cider
  8. Bake leaf cookies for friends
  9. Take a fall walk
  10. See the harvest moon
  11. Do a fall photoshoot
  12. Make apple crumble

What’s on your autumn bucket list?
Is there anything special that you’ve already done to celebrate the season?

Let me know below!

O.

7 Unexpected Baby Shower Gifts for the New Moms

It begins the moment the pregnancy is announced – it becomes all about the baby. Everyone wants to know what they can buy for the little bundle of joy.

But, what about mom?

Here are 7 sweet items you can purchase for the next mom-to-be in your life!

If your familiar with me or my blog, you know that I am frugal to a fault. I used to think I was exceptionally talented at separating the needs from the wants, but sometimes everything besides food feels like a want.

Now that I’m almost a year into motherhood, I’ve found that there are a few splurges that wouldn’t want to live without! I am so grateful that I received the following items as gifts from loved ones or bit the bullet and spoiled myself.

During my pregnancy I would buy little gifts for myself here or there. I then put them in a bag in a closet and gave them to myself as a “postpartum gift”. Having some new clothes, self-care items and things on this list really helped me feel like a human being again.

I know as a new mom, even the slightest acknowledgement that I was separate than my baby and just as deserving of nurturing love and care went a long way.

1. Yeti 20 oz Rambler

Trust me on this. This is my most prized possession. You will need coffee and you will need a Yeti to keep it hot for hours. I don’t know how this thing works, but I’ll never drink out of a mug again!

2. A Luxury Bathrobe

An extra cozy bathrobe is a must-have. Those first few weeks are brutal and you will not want to be dressed in anything that isn’t super soft and boob-accessible. I wore pajamas and a bathrobe for the first three months and I will apologize to no one!

This one from Barefoot Dreams is worth the hype.

Slippers are up there with the bathrobe. Why be anything but comfortable? You just had a whole baby. I’ve had a lot of slippers in my day and I have to say it’s a toss up between Ugg and Minnetonka for comfort. Uggs tend to be a little more sturdy, so it depends on your needs.

3. Airpods

Airpods are the best for making a phone call while taking care of baby, listening to a show while breastfeeding at night, or slipping in during a never ending crying event. Now that I’m riding the cordless train I’m never looking back. I love using my Airpods when we go on walks and Baby M has fallen asleep – it’s a great time to check in with friends or jam out.

4. Slippers

It’s a toss up for me between Minnetonka’s and Uggs! I’ve owned a lot of slippers in my day and they have been my footwear of choice since becoming a mom. I will say that Uggs seem to hold up a bit longer, but Minnetonka’s are softer. Either way, slippers are a great gift for a new mom.

5. Starbucks Gift Cards

A whole lot of them. I found a drawer that was filled with Starbucks gift cards. I uploaded them all to the app and figured out the point system and online ordering. It would be a special treat for Baby M and I to go out and get Starbucks on Friday afternoons. You can never have enough Starbucks gift cards.

6. Sweatpants

Are you seeing a theme here? Comfort, comfort, comfort. But, that doesn’t mean style has to be sacrificed! Rails is one of my favorite brands and lasts a lifetime. Cozy sweats are a must-have for at least the first 18 years after having a baby.

7. Crock Pot

I have been loving my Crock Pot lately because I can just toss all the ingredients in, set it and forget it! It makes the house smell amazing and one pot = one thing to clean. This one has 6 settings including a roast and sauté setting. Throw in some ingredients and cute paper plates for a thoughtful, easy gift!

So, there are the things I wouldn’t want to live without in early motherhood.

Although it’s so much fun to spoil a new baby, it’s easy to forget that moms need some immediate spoiling too!

Do you have something you splurged on but now can’t live without? Anything you’d add to this list?

Let me know below!

O.

Our First Autumn

It’s her first autumn.

We walk. She turns her head back and forth, watching the wind blow through the trees. I show her how to crunch leaves. She shows me how to eat them.

I see now that it’s my first autumn as well.

We bring the blanket outside. She points to the house. She points to the bushes. She points to her swing.

We bake pumpkin rolls. We listen to fall songs. We read fall books. She turns the pages.

These moments are borrowed.

Sometimes I feel as if she’s on loan to me.

The rational science part of me leaves and I really feel like we were placed with each other, rather than her being the result of conception.

She is the constant reminder to be here now.

Halloween Books for Infants and Toddlers

Halloween is just around the corner! Here are 10 Halloween books for infants and toddlers to welcome the spooky season!

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

1. Find Spot at the Halloween Party by Eric Hill

2. Spooky Little Kitten by Rosa Vonfeder

3. Corduroy’s Best Halloween by Don Freeman

4. Babies Love Halloween: A Lift-a-Flap Book by Scarlett Wing

5. The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin by Little Simon

6. Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle

7. Froggy’s Halloween by Jonathan London

8. You’re My Little Pumpkin Pie by Natalie Marshall

9. Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

10. Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton

Did you have a favorite halloween book as a child? Let me know below.

O.

Baby’s First Fever

Well, we made it this far.

At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

We made it 10 months without Baby M getting sick.

Apart from a freak allergic reaction to formula (a story for another day), she hasn’t been hit by more than a inconsequential sneeze.

It makes sense given that we are still pretty isolated and we have all taken masking and hand washing so seriously. I know that if this was “normal” life she would have gotten sick much earlier.

One of my greatest long term fears about Covid and my daughter is that she won’t have a strong immune system. Obviously, exposing her to germs right now isn’t worth the risk of her catching the virus or the RSV that has been running rampant.

I grew up with a very relaxed attitude around sickness, that you use your common sense and that getting sick isn’t the end of the world. Stay home if you’re contagious. Sunlight, fresh air, and sleep are the best medicine.

Parenting during a pandemic has made me a bit more cautious about illness, especially with my daughter.

The other day she was making a light oinking noise while nursing. I don’t know how else to describe it but she sounded like a rooting piglet. Within a few hours she had a fever and was entirely congested.

She cried all night. She cried when I put her down and she cried when I held her. We spent most of the night in her nursery chair, holding her upright to help her congestion.

She was so frustrated because she couldn’t drink from the bottle or nurse efficiently. I ended up giving her cold water through a syringe, which I think helped her stay cool.

What brought her the most relief was sitting in the bathroom with the hot shower on. We read books and sang until her nose cleared up. Every few hours I’d bring her back into the steam.

Her fever would shoot up to 102 and then back down to 98, then 99, then 102, and so forth. I didn’t know a little baby could get so hot to the touch.

I felt so sad for my little girl! She was clearly miserable. The next morning I called the doctor a few minutes after they opened and got the last appointment. I forgot that back to school means a ton of sick kids!

We spent that day trying to sleep and playing quiet games. I made sure that the baby was taken care of and that the cat was fed and that was IT. I have to remind myself that it’s okay to do the bare minimum on days like that.

We brought her to the doctor and she got her very first Covid test! There’s nothing quite like the anguish of having to hold your child down to get a cotton swab all the way up their nose.

Again, I feel grateful that we made it this far without her having to be tested.

When we got home I gave her as many orange slices as she wanted and she got to watch some Richard Scarry.

We tucked her into her crib after a big bottle and kissed her goodnight. I went to bed at 9 because I thought I’d be in for another long night.

That night she slept all the way through the night (very out of character for her) and woke up happy and fever-free.

Although it felt like a really big deal that she was sick, it wasn’t.

Being sick is part of being a kid.

And taking care of a sick baby is just part of the deal. It’s what I signed up for. I find solace in knowing that I am able to be a source of comfort and calm for my daughter.

I handled the situation better than I thought I would. I always pictured myself as the “freakout parent”. When push comes to shove, I’m calmer than

How did you react the first time your little one got sick? Let me know below.

O.

Sensory Activity for Infants: DIY Rice Tube Rainmaker

Here’s a simple craft you can make for your baby with items lying around your kitchen.

What You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own rainmaker!

  • Uncooked rice or small uncooked pasta
  • A clear plastic tube (I used a pretzel container)
  • Food dye
  • Paper plates or Ziploc bags
  • Stickers

Putting it all together

  • Remove the label by soaking the jar in water
  • Add uncooked rice or pasta to a plastic bag and add desired amount of food dye
  • Pour the rice into the container
  • Apply stickers

And that’s it! It comes together in just a few minutes.

Recommendations

  • I would have used Ziploc bags instead of paper plates.
  • The glue doesn’t entirely come off – if you know how to get this off let me know!

Have you made your own baby toys? How do you keep your little one entertained?

Let me know below.

O.

Our Experience with Baby Led Weaning

“Dadadada!” Baby M babbles excitedly. I pass her another quarter of a turkey meatball. She smiles wide as she pinches off pieces and puts them into her mouth.

“Dadadada!”

I have never seen someone so fired up about a meatball. Baby-led weaning has led us to countless moments of captivation between Baby M and new foods.

Baby-led weaning is one of the most convenient and nutritious way to move to solids!

Always consult your pediatrician before beginning solids with your child.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

Baby-led weaning is the process of letting your baby eat and explore finger foods in their natural form, as opposed to purées. Not only can it enhance hand-eye coordination, speech skills, and finger dexterity, it can create a healthy relationship with food.

Every parent should look into baby-led weaning because of the many benefits it can offer your child.

Our Pediatrician’s Advice

I was told we could start giving Baby M tastes of solids starting at 4 months. I would give her a few bits of purées and moved onto BLW at 6 months.

I also waited until she could sit up on her own and was no longer pushing food out of her mouth with her tongue (the extrusion or tongue thrust reflex).

Our Experience

The hardest part about BLW is the anxiety around choking. I watched a lot of “choking vs. gagging” videos to prepare myself. I learned CPR and always have my phone on me in case of an emergency. I do have to say, nothing prepared me for the wave of panic that swept over me the first time my baby gagged.

As soon as I heard the gagging noise I picked her up and ran towards the bathroom where my husband was showering, to tell him to call 911. Of course, within those 10 seconds, Baby M had puked up whatever she was working on and was giggling.

Now, when she starts to gag I watch her closely and so far she’s been fine. By giving her the space to work it out calmly, she is able to cough up everything thus far.

Learning to cut food items the proper way as well as creating a safe feeding environment has been the most beneficial to me. I also don’t feed her foods that I’m not comfortable with yet, and definitely not ones that aren’t safe yet.

She started with huge wedges of food and has now learned to take small, controlled bites. It’s amazing to see her progress!

The Payoff

Watching my daughter explore and enjoy food has been one of the greatest joys of motherhood so far. Seeing her delight in her first piece of penne or savor a slice of avocado gives me pride. As someone who has struggled with eating disorders in the past, it’s important to that my daughter has a respectful relationship with food.

I let her decide how much she eats and how. Some days she eats like a linebacker, other days she just wants to eat off a pinch of her baby-sized omelette. She tells me what tastes good. She is in control. It’s amazing to see her choices.

Baby M abhorred broccoli the first time she tried it. But, we kept serving it alongside food she already loves, like it was no big deal. On maybe the sixth or seventh time she took the tiniest nibble. She was hooked. She wanted more, more, more.

I was so proud of her for trying something again and enjoying it.

These little moments of discovery are so precious and exciting.

Another great perk to BLW is making cute little animals out of food, of course.

Tools of the Trade

My favorite tool has been the Mini Spoon and Fork Set from Babeehive Goods. Their set spoon and fork have grips that make them perfect for little hands! They come in seven colors and are super affordable.

Mini Spoon and Fork Set from Babeehive Goods in Sage

Spoon and fork set.

Our high chair.

Kitchen shears (more efficient than a knife).

Thanks to Babeehive Goods for sponsoring this post, as always all opinions are my own!

There’s no one way to feed your baby. Baby-led weaning has worked for our baby and our family. I don’t hesitate to give Baby M a puréed pouch when we are on a road trip or pressed for time.

Have you tried baby-led weaning or do you prefer purées? Maybe a combination of both?

Let me know below.

O.


References for Baby-Led Weaning:

Autumn Themed Books for Infants and Toddlers

Fall is here!

My baby and I are so happy to ring in the new season with autumn themed books!

We love bringing a pile of books outside, plopping down on a picnic blanket, and reading in the fresh air.

Here’s a collection of ten autumn themed books for infants and toddlers.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

1. The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri

2. Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

3. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak

4. Little Acorn by IglooBooks

5. The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night by Peter Spier

6. I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson

7. The Roll-Away Pumpkin by Junia Wonders

8. Autumn in the Forest by Rusty Finch

9. Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell

10. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson

Do you have a favorite children’s book for autumn?

Let me know below.

O.

Autumn 2021 Playlist

Yesterday marked the first day of Autumn!

To celebrate, we made a Thanksgiving dinner and lit some candles to make the house nice and cozy. The finishing touch was the perfect autumn playlist.

Some of these are older, but every fall they’re all guaranteed to put me in the mood for crunching leaves and pumpkin spice lattes.

Autumn 2021 Playlist

  1. Idaho – Gregory Alan Isakov
  2. This is the Only Time We Have – Ryan Miller
  3. Cardigan – Taylor Swift
  4. All For You – Damien Juardo
  5. Blood – The Middle East
  6. All My Days – Alexi Murdoch
  7. Where We Gonna Go from Here – Mat Kearney
  8. His Master’s Voice – Monsters of Folk
  9. And It’s Still Alright – Nathaniel Rateliff
  10. Gracious – Ben Howard
  11. Like Real People Do – Hozier
  12. Box of Stones – Benjamin Francis Leftwich
  13. Wonder – The Lone Bellow
  14. Temptation of Adam – Rachel Summer

Do you have music that you associate with fall? Any suggestions? Let me know below.

O.

Daytime Activities for 10 Month Olds

My sweet baby girl is officially 10 months old! She has always been a busy baby and is showing no signs of slowing down!

As a former early childhood educator, I know how important it is to hit on all sections of baby’s development. And, as a stay at home parent, I know how quickly I can feel burnt out and unaware of what to do to keep my baby busy.

When I can’t figure out what to do next with my baby, I reference this list. It ensures that all areas of development are being targeted.

This post is a breakdown of the PDF that I use to help my child’s development. You can download the PDF here.

daytime-activities-for-10-month-olds-1Download

Fine Motor Skills

Baby M is loving the Color Snake Clutching Toy from HABA! It has elastic running through it so it can be manipulated by little hands in so many ways. It’s made from beech wood and we love that it’s durable, because my daughter is strong.

Thank you to HABA Toys for partnering with me on this post #gifted.

Another great way to encourage fine motor skills is through mealtime. We’ve been doing baby led weaning and I’ve found that it’s a natural way for baby to practice the pincer grasp. Puffed rice cereal is an easy way to encourage eating and fine motor too!

Soft blocks, rattles, and flap books are easy ways to sharpen little one’s hand coordination too. My daughter’s favorite thing right now is ripping up napkins. Although it’s messy, I know it’s helping her build that finger dexterity and muscle!

Color Snake from HABA Toys

Here’s the fine motor list:

Gross Motor Skills

My baby isn’t crawling yet, so we’re still working on tummy time to strengthen her arms and trunk for crawling. This is a start where you’re at section, whether your baby is still just pushing up or waddling down the hall!

  • Tummy time
  • Crawling
  • Pulling Up
  • Walking

Music

Right now, my focus is songs we (well, I) can clap to. I clap very slowly and clearly, to encourage her to do the same.

  • B-I-N-G-O
  • Five Little Ducks
  • If You’re Happy and You Know It
  • Yankee Doodle

Sensory

Baby led weaning for the win again! Squishing avocado or banana is an easy sensory activity and healthy snack!

I also love to put baby M down on the lawn so she can feel the blades of grass under her feet. Here are some more activties:

  • Water play
  • DIY Rain Tube
  • Touching different textures
  • “Walking” on grass/sand/outdoor materials
  • Baby Led Weaning
DIY Rice Rain Tube

Language

This one is the same since birth! Labeling, narrating and reading are the best way to develop language skills in your little one. Instead of passing a toy when your baby motions to it, try “you want your blue truck, so I am passing you your blue truck”. For me, the constant talking is one of the more exhausting parts of parenting. Taking pauses and “listening” for my daughter’s response turns it into a conversation and can make it a little less isolating.

  • Having a “conversation”
  • Narration
  • Reading
  • Descriptive language
Some of our favorites right now!

There’s no perfect parent out there, and it can be difficult to feel like all this can be crammed into one day. I print out the PDF and hang it in my nursery so I have something to reference when I can’t figure out what to do next!

daytime-activities-for-10-month-olds-2Download

How do you play with your 10 month old? Do you find this list helpful?

Let me know below.

O.