Tender Mercies

4,500 miles. 12 days. Kansas to California.  When we mentioned that we were going to take our 10 week old baby on a road trip out to the Bay Area in California, we received many strange looks and opinions from others regarding our pending trip. My husband and I had already driven the ALCAN from Alaska to Kansas in 2014 , so we were ready to take on another road trip, this time with baby in tow.  My goal for our trip was to pack all of our meals while on the road so that we wouldn't have to eat out during the long days of driving. We were blessed to stay the nights at friends' and family's homes and to receive of their hospitality, which made meal planning a little easier. I have shared what meals we ate during the trip below. I learned so much from traveling with a breastfed infant and hopefully this post will help me remember what worked well for our next adventure (mommy brain is a real thing). Tips for Traveling With an Infant: Sit in the backsea

In honor of my baby turning two months old on May 5th, I decided it is the perfect time to record my six favorite items that helped me keep my sanity during the first 6 weeks after her birth. There are so many wonderful items for mom and baby, but these are the items I used nearly every day during the first few weeks after Adelai joined our family.  These first 6 weeks postpartum are truly a time for healing and recuperation for mama, so anything that can aid in this is much appreciated! 6. Protein Cookies & Healthy Muffins I noticed immediately after birth that I was STARVING. I guess that's to be expected, but what I didn't realize was that I would be so hungry ALL.THE.TIME for the next few weeks. Breastfeeding is no joke. I was more hungry than when pregnant! Luckily I had made up these cranberry protein cookies  from Raising Generation Nourished and my own chestnut buckwheat muffins ahead of time, so when hunger striked (even in the middle of the n

This pretty girl is 2 months old! My favorite thing about this past month is that she has started to smile, coo, and talk to us. It has been so much fun!! Eating:  Adelai eats every ~2-3 hours during the day and ~3-5 hours at night. Sleep:  She still hasn't figured out the whole "sleeping through the night" thing. The longest she has slept at once is 5.5 hours. That has only happened 3 times.  She usually sleeps for 4 hours the first stretch and 3 hours for the next.  She hates being swaddled unless she is drowsy or asleep. She likes:  Getting her diaper changed Having us talk to her Standing up Looking around Sitting in her Bumbo, watching mama cook Going on walks Sucking on her hands, pacifier... She hates:  Having a wet diaper Being cold Being ignored Lots of milk at once People often ask if she is a good sleeper or a good baby. I like to say, YES. Aren't all babies "good" babies? It's not like they know