Dressing her up

If you've met Lucy girl in person, you'd understand my pure enjoyment of dressing her up and taking her pictures. We've had some beautiful spring like days and I've been going through her spring/summer clothes (think adorable smocks and bubbles) and couldn't handle how cute this outfit was. I also can't get over this chick's hair. It's getting long and thick, she's such a little lady! With Easter right around the corner, we got this adorable pink headband from Sweet Babes Bridgeman to match her Easter dress (yes I am crazy and have multiple Easter dresses for her already). Lucy girl has a few other bows from Sweet Babes and I can't tell you amazing they are. They are the softest things I've ever felt, even the band is super soft which is good because Lucy wants to rip anything right off of her head these days. And y'all... this headband is $5.99! Stock up for Easter and spring mamas. And any of her bows can be made into bow ties for your little Mister. 

Head over to my Instagram for a Sweet Babes Bridgeman giveaway!

And use the code RUTHIEHART for 20% off your purchase of $10 or more. 

Eating with Lucy

If you read any of Lucy's most recently monthly updates, you'd know that we had previously struggled with her liking actual food. Not just table food...purees and basically anything but milk. So we started Ford on baby food at 5.5 months and by 7 months he was no longer eating purees and eating 3 solid meals a day. So you can see why I was shocked that at 8 months Lucy was not interested in anything but a boob, bottle, or occasional puff. I know Ford was an early eater (and a good eater!) so I was trying not to stress about it but I can't lie, She would gag on even the smoothest of mixture. I tried homemade, store bought, pouches, everything. I was worrying about her possibly having tongue tie or issue with her palate. I had heard of mamas having to take their littles to therapy at a year when their kiddo wouldn't even eat purees so I said I would talk to her pediatrician at her 9 month appointment. Lo and behold, the week before she turned 9 months old, something clicked. Here we are a few weeks later and girlfriend eats full grilled cheeses, quesadillas, yogurt, cheese sticks, potatoes, and so much more....with no teeth. So how did I do it? I really can't say much but don't give up. Again... I really wasn't going to get worried until we had hit the 3 month mark of her not eating (and I was worried about her gag reflex, not the fact that she wasn't interested), so I kept trying. I was surprised to see so many moms in a forum talk about how their babes didn't start eating food until 10, 11, and even 12 months. You may be thinking I'm nuts for even worrying because "they" say that food before 12 months is just for fun but I plan on weaning Lucy right at a year like I did Ford.

So mealtime now is fun and messy with Lucy girl. She is very independent and wants to do everything on her own. I try to give her an array of options on her tray and she almost always gravitates towards the dairy and carbs. She still has an empty mouth so I make sure things are soft enough for her to chew, although I am shocked by how she can gum the crap out of foods. I also try to give her something to gnaw on like an apple slice or pepper to soothe her gums. I still do offer her purees once a day to get veggies in her. Her favorites are sweet pea/apple and pumpkin/sweet potato/carrot. And because a girl has always gotta look cute, I got a new set of Lemonade bandana bibs and we LOVE them! We've tried a few different brands of bandana bibs and these are the biggest and softest. They are fleece lined which means her precious little outfits won't get ruined and the patterns are cute! You can get them in a 4 pack for $14.99 on Amazon...killer deal! Head over to my Instagram for a giveaway!

Lemonade Bibs

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Buffalo Check {giveaway}

If you're a girl mom then you understand the fact that I can't stop adding to Lucy's head accessory collection. She is pretty darn fun to dress and I love putting together her outfits and she never leaves the house without a bow or headband. So today I am back to share with you my new favorite shop for my Lucy girl. Jessica is a mama friend of mine here in Austin and coincidentally has all boys but makes the most beautiful handmade headbands and bows in her shop, Thread Enthusiast. It's probably good she has boys because if I was good with a sewing machine, I'd be in deep trouble. Thread Enthusiast offers knotted headbands and knotted bows in the cutest of patterns. I am kind of obsessed with Buffalo Check this season and I couldn't wait to get a bow for Lucy. One thing I am loving lately is the one size nylon headband that allows the headband to grow with my growing girl (and her big noggin'). Jessica has adorable holiday prints so be sure to make your holiday orders asap! Most of her fabrics are organic and I am obsessed with the rounded edge bow... yes you can be obsessed with a bow ladies. I can't wait to add more of these to Lucy's collection! Visit my Instagram page for a giveaway from Thread Enthusiast!

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Deen Austin Threads

Any time I get the chance to work with a handmade shop run by a mama, I jump on it. I'm really amazed by the talents given to certain women and am even more amazed that moms can balance motherhood and running their own business. Moms are the queens of multitasking, amen? I actually met Abby from Deen Austin Threads through my local moms group and I couldn't wait to get Lucy in some of her products! If you know anything about Austin you'd know it is known for hipsters and eclectic living (and it is the best city in the USA, duh). It isn't rare to see toddlers dressed in skinny jeans, TOMs, and Bob Marley t shirts. Austin is cool and I love it. Deen Austin Threads offers handmade modern rompers, shorties, loveys, headbands, and more! I love that most of the items Abby makes are organic fabrics and gender neutral (because you know the Hart family will grow and this mama love hand me downs!). Sure I love dressing my babes in Target and Old Navy but I love even more, dressing them in unique, one-of-a-kind outfits. Okay enough talking, time to overload you with pictures of my gorgeous little lady sporting her hipster swag. After you've oogled over these pictures, head on over to Deen Austin Threads and outfit your little one!

Lucy is in this gray romper, hexigon bloomers, and matching knotted headband. The romper is so soft and stretchy for sweet baby skin and the headband is flexible in size (I make babies with big heads so it can grow with her!). As you can see, Lucy girl was very happy to be sporting her new Deen Austin Threads items.

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Little Elle Boutique

Glitter, sparkles, bows. Never did I think I would have this much fun accessorizing my baby girl. It's funny how excited I was when I found out I was having a girl because dressing little ladies is so much more fun than boys! Sure they make boy clothes ridiculously cute these days (I love that I can dress Ford exactly like Jon!) but girl clothes take the cake. And the accessories! I told Jon the weekend before Lucy was born that he couldn't send pictures of her to people unless she was wearing a cute bow or headband. When they are so teeny, newborns all look the same and I wanted to give Lucy a feminine touch. So now that Lucy is a few weeks old, Jon knows the drill. An outfit, even if it is a sleeper or gown, isn't complete without hair accessories! I cannot tell you how obsessed I am with Lucy's Little Elle Boutique headbands. The shop owner Alli, is mama to the sweetest baby girl who hand makes each of these headbands and sells in local salons and now on Etsy. It's easy to find a million options of the same bows and headbands online but Little Elle Boutique's are different. Sparkly and glittery and each with unique and adorable elastics. Lucy has got to stand out! Okay enough talk, look at these headbands! They are definitely Lucy's most worn hair accessory.

Little Elle Boutique

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Use the code RUTHIE20 for 20% off your entire order!

Giveaway

1 lucky winner will receive 2 Little Elle Boutique items of their choice

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sweet Babes Bridgeman

People warned me and I didn't listen. Having baby girls does something to you and you can't control it! Once one finds out they are having a baby girl, you instantly get the urge to buy anything and everything in sight to outfit your little lady. Bows, headbands, shoes, hats, bibs. They just don't make the same accessories for baby boys! A few days into Lucy's life someone asked me just HOW many bows she owned and it got me thinking. I am actually too embarrassed to count because I know it is a LOT (50 would be a conservative guess). I love being able to dress my baby girl how I myself would want to dress, just in mini size. One of my favorite hair accessories in Lucy's collection is her aqua tie headband from Sweet Babes Bridgeman.  Jessica is the owner if this adorable shop and mama to 2 sweet littles. Each piece is handmade (not sure how she has the time!) and she makes more than just headbands- bandana bibs (Ford lived in these when he started teething), pacifier clips, leggings, and infinity scarves. I love supporting mamas who are working hard to support their families, especially when they use their talents to make the most adorable baby items!

Everyone needs a fancy headband for your night gown (especially when you wear a night gown all day)

Jessica made a bandana bib to match Lucy's headband and it is about the size of her whole body right now! I remember having to keep a bib on Ford from 4-8 months all the time while he was a drooly teething monster and I can't wait (well I CAN wait for teething hehe) to put Lucy in this bib!

These are just a few of the prints available for the headbands and bibs, talk about stylish babies!

Right now Sweet Babes Bridgeman is offering all headbands for $5 on Instagram  ! You don't want to miss this sale ladies! 

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Giveaway
1 lucky winner will receive a Sweet Babes Bridgeman headband or bandana bib of their choice

a Rafflecopter giveaway