OMG 60 Days.

Some mums say it’s flown by but I definitely don’t think it has. I think the first 3 months will be the hardest to get adjusted and try to figure out the new member of the family. Sleep deprivation is taking its toll and I’m averaging 5 hours total of sleep which is actually not too bad if it was an uninterrupted 5 hours total (I have #bellabeatleaf for helping me see that). Good thing now I can have as much caffeine as I want and its PSL season too.

Comparing Addison with Abigail, Addison seems completely different. She is needier (wants to be held more so baby wearing has been so helpful!), smiles more at this age, observant and seems to listen to what I’m saying. Is that crazy?

When I say listen to what I’m saying, I mean when I talk to Addison. I’ve never been big on “baby talk,” and will speak in a normal voice with sentences/phrases so when talking to her it really seems like she’s listening to me and responding. Granted it’s only 3 things that I have a question/action for her currently. Can you guess them?

1. Are you hungry? Look at me if you want milk. 
2. Do you want your diaper changed? Look at me if you want it changed. 
3. Stretch your legs. Stretch. 

And it is crazy because she actually does it!!

My 4th which we’re still struggling with is “stop crying…please stop crying.” She’s a 50/50 on this and boy it’s been rough!

😂

Anyhow, a little note to you Addison.

Dear A,

When I pick you up from crying, and you give me a smile it melts my heart and at the same time I think, “darn, I fell for you again for wanting me to pick you up and just hold you for a looong time!” 

At 2 months, you love to be swaddled (but still break free) and enjoy having your muslin blankets in your face. Good thing they’re so breathable I don’t get too worried anymore.

You currently have cradle cap which is driving mama crazy so it’s a good thing you love taking baths since you’re getting a lot of coconut oil in your scalp which seems to be working. We’re also loving the MomME eco natural skincare line for you.  It certainly gets the coconut oil out of your hair so you don’t look like you have greasy hair all day and keeps your skin hydrated and smelling good.  Mum approved and the ingredients are lovely.

I can say you’re averaging 5 hours of sleep from midnight to morning which is bliss if I didn’t have to pump during that time! This is amazing to not have to feed you at this time except you’re in our room and make a lot of noises (e.g. cries, screams, snoring). Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a bedroom for you? At least we have the Sleepyhead for you which has been a savior to getting you to sleep safely and bring in our travels.

If we’re in a car, and you notice there is traffic you clearly voice your opinion to us.

One thing is clear, you love to be out and about in the MiaMily carrier but I can’t trick you that long sitting down or standing still.  I know, I know you want me to burn more calories and show the Bellabeat leaf I’m well above an average person’s activity.

Happy 2 months! Oh yea, you LOVE to look at yourself in mummy’s books. All my books have a mirror in the back. #lovebooksbyAJ

Cheers for now and thanks for reading. xx

First Day of Summer.

Well hello, first day of summer in London & worst morning ever.

I’m not going to make my blogs a rant or vent session, but this one takes the cake as capturing it all with a huge bit of “sweet” in it.

It’s June and yet another pouring rain morning. I had thought of uber – my favorite means of transportation, but thought “hey, it’s not too bad of a downpour and I save £5 which can be shopping money.”

So, we both trek off with our umbrellas and holding hands. I’m also holding her big art folder which serves as a great belly shield from the sideways rain. Good times. 😡

While crossing the street, Abigail trips and takes me down with her. Both of us are sprawled on the gravel! I immediately pull her up and ask if she’s ok. She’s fighting back tears and says she’s wet but ok. She asks me if I’m ok and then proceeds to ask if baby is ok. 😮♥️ Wow, did my 3 year old just ask about her future little sister? In the midst of the dreadful rain while she’s all wet with probably sore or bloodied knees, she thought of her little sister. I couldn’t have had a more proud mama moment and know she’s ready to be a big sister.

Ok, well back to being a 3 year old – she couldn’t hold her pee in for the rest of the walk (.6 mile walk to nursery) and had an accident. Nothing like rain water and peepee to change her out of before 9am.

I, on the other hand, have an swollen left ankle, cut up knees and 31 weeks pregnant. But, I think of the silver lining behind all this – this little bugaboo is ready to be a big sister. ♥️

📷: Current favorite reads & toy (included in GH special edition set – size to scale!). #lovebooksbyAJ side note – thank you for all the orders. Keep it coming to donate more to building a school for Bangladesh children. www.ajangsley.com #giveback 

She’s ready to give hugs. 📷: With her favorite big doggy, Buzz.

She’s ready to push her around. 📷: With her gal pal in NorCal.

She’s ready to play. 📷: With her nursery mate at the playground.

She’s ready to walk to nursery on her own. Kidding!

Product LOVE
📷: Serious love for this shop – peytons lane. This mama from Texas handmade this and it’s adorable. The details down to the stitching and patterns chose are perfect.  Check her out!

Cheers for now and hope your Monday is better than mine!

Walks Around Town.

Even though it was pouring rain this morning and we got drenched (holding 2 umbrellas), I think walks around the town are so amazing to the development of our little and just taking the world in. There is so much to see and you don’t necessarily have to travel far to see it (even though I love to travel and jet set around the world).

My little loves to sing and just chatter away about anything and everything. Some I don’t understand as I don’t think it’s even English or Chinese, but when I do understand it, it is so crazy to hear the things she remembers. They are definitely a sponge and even when we think they are not listening, they are – eek!

I think the most important part of this time is that we are in the present (ok, besides the picture taking part) and engaged. We’re not distracted with technology and replying back to something but looking around and just taking life in.

Some of the things we do on walks to keep the conversation and interaction going and help the walks fly by are:

• I spy (something brown and eating)

• What is that? (a little house, little bear’s flat)

• What do you do when… (crossing the street?)

• Do you remember? (being silly with Goofy)

• Tell me (what letter/number that is – houses and license plates are perfect for this! 📷: Pebble Child toy block – part of my G & H limited edition gift set)

• Who is (e.g. relatives, friends, classmates. 📷::that is your buddy baby Cameron)

• Languages (using English vs. Chinese)

Do you have any fun things you do on walks or funny stories to tell?  Would love to hear from YOU.

Cheers for now!

www.ajangsley.com

Love Freshly Picked.

Who doesn’t need a pair (or several) pairs of moccasins? I’m a fan of the show Shark Tank – a show that can give you funding to dream big if you come up with that one idea/product that can make millions. This is also a franchise of the international format, Dragons’ Den from Japan.

How I wish my children’s alphabet books series could get on this show! 

This company called Freshly Picked caught my attention while on the show so I had to get a pair as Susan’s story is truly inspirational. Starting back in 2009 and growing so much since then with a following of 614k on Instagram and probably sales through the roof.  Wow!
I can easily say my 3 year old daughter loves her freshly picked. She currently has 2 pairs in London which she uses one pair for nursery (they switch shoes once inside) and the other is currently used in our flat.  I can’t wait to get the next step (hard soles) once her feet get bigger so she wear them outdoors all day long.

AND get this:

• @10am MST May 25th
  
• EVERYTHING in the shop will be 25% off
  
• Lasts for 24-hours only
  

My thoughts of Freshly Picked. 

Love

• She can put them on herself.
• No left & right to have to worry about. Yay!
• Incredibly soft from the beginning (no “breaking in” involved).
• No stinky feet smell!
• Toddler approved.
• The sole gets her little feet imprints on there. Precious!

A little less love 

• We have the “merci” mocs and the pattern is nice but not as soft as the brown mocs we also have. She definitely has a favorite pair.
• Not exactly city appropriate with all the debris on the sidewalks and streets. Recommend for those living in the suburbs.
• London rain and cold doesn’t go well with mocs unless you’re not OCD like me. 😬

  

📷: my little helper #lovebooksbyaj

Cheers for now and thank you for reading/supporting! Don’t forget about the sale on May 25th.

www.ajangsley.com

May The Force Be With Us.

We (I mean Abigail) are super excited to go to Disneyland Paris for her birthday present this Friday (taking the Eurostar – a faster ride than driving to Vegas from SoCal). We are also to the moon happy this has gotten her to take showers instead of baths.

She’s got her Mouseketeer Scout bag all packed and ready to go with her essentials to the happiest place on earth.

• #lovebooksbyAJ: sneak peek of H is for Hippo about special events during the year
• Daylong sunscreen – my absolute fav’
• Sunnies
• Minnie headband which will get taken off quickly to wear a bow

Recommended product: Salt City scout bag

• Biggest thing about this amazing mama/owner behind Salt Cities.  She’s also a company that gives back like me!  Besides donating their bows to a good cause, they also donate $1 from each sale to this great charity, Cranio Care Bears, that functions off donations from cranio families and good samaritans all over the world, along with the sales of cranio gear from their own shop. They work tirelessly to make sure that any family that wants a care package for their cranio baby gets one free of charge. Wow, can we say awesome?!
• Check out her stylish products from bows, clothes, bags to swaddles – even one of my favorite, gorgeous Instagram mom’s (Amberfillerup) kids rocked her outfits and accessories!

Like before, I like to highlight some fun facts. These are about what makes the Paris park differ from the others. Facts courtesy of Pierre Michonneau from Buzzfeed. Love!

• The Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris is the fastest of the five in operation. It is also the only one that goes upside-down.
• At its opening in 1992, Disneyland Paris had trouble adapting to the local cultural traditions of France and Europe. For example, none of the restaurants served wine, which was quickly corrected. According to Philippe Gas, CEO from 2008 to 2014, the park had to learn to “remain Disney, while integrating with the local culture.”
• The castle at Disneyland Paris is one-of-a-kind. At other Disney parks, the castles take on the appearance of those typically found throughout Europe, but in Paris they might suffer from comparisons with local European architecture. It was decided that the castle at Disneyland Paris would be deliberately fanciful, evoking the imagery of fairy tales instead of historical buildings.
• The castle at Disneyland Paris is the only one of all the Disney parks to house a dragon in its vaults. This dragon, which moves and lets out the occasional roar, is the largest animatronic character in the park, measuring over 75 feet long and weighing over 5,500 pounds.

May the force bring us sunshine and sweet memories. 

📷 loc: Shoreditch next to the park as of May 14, 2016

📷: Copying her buddy – #hangingtough

One more thought, we did our research and decided on staying outside the resort since we would mainly just be sleeping at hotel after a long day at the park. After scouring hotels, we decided on this the Explorer Hotel based on a couple points.

• Nice swimming pool/soft play.
• It was decorated as if we are still the park.
• Free shuttle to/from park.
• More to come whether that be the truth. 

Thanks again for joining my blog and the birthday wishes to my bugaboo.  Cheers for now!