{Baby Style} Smiles and Pastels

cardigan, striped onesie, pants: Baby Gap | sneaker socks: Trumpette 

Easter Sunday is always filled with church and new outfits, dinner at a new restaurant and Easter basket candy. Lots of candy. (In fact, it's one of the only times that Aiden is actually allowed to chew bubble gum.)

And color. Lots of color. It's the first time in the new year that I dress Aiden in something colorful.

This year, I was so excited to add Baby August to the mix.

So when I found these yellow skinny pants from Baby Gap, I had to get them. I mean, a baby... in skinny jeans! Who can resist?!

I paired them with a navy and white striped onesie, Trumpette sneaker socks, and a gray cardigan. It's official... this baby's stylin' on 'em!

Aiden was pretty stylish too, but that another post for another time. In the meantime, enjoy this delicious picture of my blessed duo...

Now you know I can't wait to do more Baby Style posts, right?

Seriously... bring on the cuteness!

Hope you all had a blessed Easter. Stay stylish!

FLY at The New Victory Theater

It's very important to me that Aiden has a knowledge of African American history, which is really just American history when you think about it. We read books and watch movies, listen to music and research things on the online. And we talk about our history. A lot. 

Another great way for him to gain that knowledge is through Theater. Not only is it a magical experience, but it also helps Aiden to really envision and understand a particular place, time, event... and lives of the folks in them. That's why when we were invited to see The Pasadena Playhouse/Crossroads Theater Company's FLY at The New Victory Theater, I jumped at the opportunity.

FLY tells the story of the of the Tuskegee Airmen through the eyes of four young men. The bravery and the determination of the first black military aviators in U.S. history who flew through the skies over Europe and North Africa during World War II is just... inspiring. The portrayal of it all? Equally mesmerizing. The tap dancing that's used to convey a range of emotions? Very, very powerful. 

FLY is brilliantly written and executed. It's equal parts thrillingly what's-gonna-happen-next dramatic and laugh-out-loud hilarious. There are intense moments and light-hearted moments and both of these moments speak to the heart. 

The show definitely made for rich discussions with Aiden about segregation, racism, WWII, and "bad words". There's a bit of strong language at times, which is why this show is best for older children. I was a bit concerned about the strong language (please note: there is use of the N-word once), but I didn't let that stop me from allowing Aiden to see such a powerful performance. In other words, it was totally worth it. 

FLY runs from now until March 27th and is for children ages 10 and up. The show is 95 minutes with no intermission and tickets start at just $15. Visit The New Victory Theater website to learn more information and purchase your tickets. 

Enjoy!

{Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed herein are my own. Thank you for supporting Mommy Delicious.}

August Kingston, Three Months Old

Baby August turned three months last week and I've officially become one of "those" moms. I'm seriously amazed by all the little things he discovers and learns everyday and it excites me. Like, really excites me.

He's changed so much in these past three months and his personality is definitely blossoming. So yeah... I'm one of "those" moms. And I'm proud of it.

This month has been all about his hands. He's discovered:

• How to use both of his hands to try to coordinate to grab onto something
• How to reach for something and actually grab onto it
• How to use his hands to put his pacifier into his mouth. And take it out. A million times.

He's also beginning to learn how to roll over from back to tummy! Go baby!

August likes:

• Waking up smiling. Always.
• Giggling. 
• Giggling at pretty much anything Aiden says or does. #Brotherhood
• Smiling at strangers while on the subway until they turn to him and smile back. (Not even kidding.)
• His bouncer seat. 
• Squeaky toys. 
• Looking at himself in the mirror. 
• Bearing down on his legs whenever someone puts him in a standing position.
• Squirming. All day, everyday. He's busy like that!

August dislikes:

• His swing. (That swing is still trying to win him over.)
• Whenever people take too long to pick him up whenever he no longer wants to be on his back.
• Whenever his pacifier falls out of his mouth and people take too long to help him put it back in
• Cold breastmilk. (ask me how I know.)
• Cutting his nails.
• Whenever someone puts him in a standing up position on the floor. (Again, ask me how I know.)

He's such a happy little guy and I love that I get to be his mom. 

ACURE Baby Care: Skincare Products for the Entire Family

No doubt about it, my kids have super sensitive skin. They get it from me. For the first couple years of Aiden's life, his skin would always breakout or become irritated because some unknown allergen would irritate him. It took a lot of trial and error and years of teaching him how to be gentle with his skin, but I finally found safe, all-natural products for him.

And they've worked. For the most part.

When I was pregnant with Baby August, once again, I found myself on the hunt for great all-natural skincare products. You know, just in case he came out with skin as sensitive as Aiden's and mine.

That's why I was so excited to check out the ACURE Baby Care line. The line features certified organic products that are free from gluten, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, harmful preservatives, and artificial colors.

That alone deserves two claps and a raise-the-roof.

The ACURE Baby Care line includes a 4-in-1 foamer (think: hand soap, bubble bath, baby wash and/or shampoo), lotion, diaper cream cleverly called Baby Buns, Fix-It-Stick that'll treat and protect wounds, Bug Stick that'll keep bugs away, a Sun SPF 30 Stick for skin protection, and, my personal favorite, the All Better Balm.

The All Better Balm? One word: amazing! The all-in-one quick fix balm works for babies, big kids, and adults alike. It's great for calming itchy areas of irritation, moisturizing cracked hands, and leaving your skin soft and smooth and without residue. Oh... and it smells good too!

After being introduced to these products last week, I've been using them everyday... single... day... on baby August, on Aiden, and on myself. And I ain't ashamed to admit it either.

The line is seriously yummy and I love that it's a one-stop shop for this blessed trio.

Visit the ACURE Organics website in order to learn more information and get you some. (You're welcome.)

{Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions herein are my own. Thank you for supporting Mommy Delicious.}

The One You Never Have to Worry About

I've never been the person that people worry about. Not in front of me anyway. I always have it fairly put together and always find ways to deal with whatever I'm going through. And whenever a hard situation comes up, I always suck it up, buckle down, and grind through.

Always.

So much so that it became the way people began to describe me. And define me.


It's a blessing, being this resilient.

But it's also a curse.

Because... I'm never the person that people worry about. If I'm sick... if I'm trying to fight to figure out a way to help Aiden get through a rough patch... if I'm expecting a baby... if I'm stressed with work and motherhood and, well, life...

People don't worry about me. Not in front of me anyway.

I'm never the person that people worry about. Like, ever.

But here's the thing about being the person people don't have to worry about: it's a pretty lonely way to go through life.

It's partially my fault because I always tell people that I'm "okay" or that I'm "fine". Even if I'm not okay, not fine, or feel like I'm falling apart on the inside.

Everything is not always fine and, I'm starting to accept that that's okay. After all, that's what it means to be full and complete and whole and flawed and... human.

And so. I'm challenging myself these days. To be flawed. To allow people to truly see me, worry about me, care about me, love me.

Because I deserve it.

It's taken me almost 32 years to figure this out. But hey... baby steps.

A Moment in Time

Last night I walked into the living room to see this:

Aiden, leaning over August's playpen and reading to him. Totally unprompted. And totally digging it. 

He just picked up one of the board books and started reading to the baby. And August, smiled and cooed and kicked in excitement as Aiden read him not one, but two books. 

When the story was over, Aiden turned to me and said, "Mommy, each day I'm gonna read him a different book so he could get smarter and smarter." Totally unprompted. And totally digging it. 

I've been reading to Aiden every single day since he was, well August's age. (He's got two bookcases overflowing with books and I still don't have enough space for all of them!) Even now that he's in the second grade and fluently reads chapter books on his own, I still read to him. It's our thing. I pick a book one week, he picks a book the next week, and I read a couple chapters of the book to him every single day. I love it because I have his undivided attention, he loves it because he gets to cuddle up with me and listen to my best storytelling voice, and... it's our thing. 

Last night, I got to witness him passing on the tradition to his baby brother. 

And then my heart exploded. 

There are moments when I just want to freeze time... when all is right in my world... when, no matter what else is going on with me or around, that one moment makes everything okay... when I can take a second to not think of all the times I screwed up or all the things that I need to "fix"... when I can take a second to not worry about life and the future and goals and grinding... when I can honestly say -- with confidence -- that everything's gonna be alright...

Last night, I experienced was one of those moments. Because, right there, in that moment, I felt like I was pretty good at this motherhood thing. 

Ever have a moment like that?

August Kingston, Two Months Old

I can't believe it's been two months since I gave birth to Baby Delicious! Not gonna lie, the days have been long. Very long. And tiring. And emotionally draining at times. But it's been absolutely amazing. And he's just... perfect. And sweet and cuddly and lovable.

I'm in love.

So in love.

August's likes:

• Smiling, cooing, and "talking" with me, Aiden, HEB, and his mobile animals
• Ninja posing
• Breastmilk. Lots and lots of breastmilk 
• Taking naps in his stroller
• Playing with his tongue (he discovered it and can't get enough of it)
• Making raspberry sounds
• Sticking his tongue out like a little lizard
• His pacifier (which is weird because he refused to take it for the first month of his life because he would only suck at the breast)

August's dislikes:

• Taking long naps. (I don't know what long naps ever did to August, but he seriously has something against them.)
• Whenever I wipe his neck or face with a wash rag
• Extended tummy time

He's now sleeping through the night, going to bed at around 10/11pm and waking up around 5am. During the day, he's a pretty chill baby -- alert, active, taking in his surroundings, cooing, smiling, and "talking" nonstop.

Right now, I'm knee-deep in trying to figure out his childcare situation for when I go back to work next month. I'm meeting with families and interviewing nannies for a possible nanny share and Aiden is not here for it. ("Mommy, I don't feel good about leaving August with somebody else. What if they're a bad guy or something? Can't you just take him to work with you?)

Right now, he's nursing less and drinking breastmilk from the bottle more. Because I'm trying to mimic the schedule we'll have when I get back to work.

But as much as I'm trying to prepare things for when I get back to work, I'm trying to cherish this time with my baby.

I'm trying to soak it all up. To remember the curve of his lips when he smiles, to remember the sounds of his coos, to visualize his favorite ninja pose or how his eyes widens when he's studying his hands (or anything else that he finds interesting).

Because the days may be long, but the time is flying by so quickly. I mean, he will never be two months again. And, as much as I wanna see how he'll grow into who he's called to be, I kinda wanna freeze time. And bottle it all up. And give him all the hugs and kisses and cuddles I can get.

Because he's just that precious.