Halloween Ideas

September is almost here, which means we're that much closer to October. HALLOW'S EVE! Fall time, baby! Too damn excited. & having a child to enjoy it with makes it that much more exciting. :)

I've been planning a lot of things in my busy mind. I have so many ideas. Ari will only be 6 months around Halloween, but that doesn't mean I can't make it special, or have an adorable photo opp. You feel me? Each year will just get better & better.

So we have decided that little miss Ari's costume will be:

 A CUPCAKE! She's as sweet as a cupcake. Suits her.

It was on sale at Old Navy. Couldn't resist. I feel like her first costume is a big deal. I thought for months about what she should be. & this just hit the nail on the head. My cute little cuppy cake. I already know that when she's older & mobile, I want her to be a Starbucks frappuccino. I've seen designs & DIY on Pinterest. & I just noticed I've mentioned two foods, sweets at that. 

Cupcakes & Coffee. hehe

 I also purchased this at Old Navy for her to wear around the house & be comfy but also be in the spirit at the same time.
Did I mention it glows in the dark, too? ;)

I've been thinking about special traditions to do & things to get for the home. I want her to look back one day & think about the good times she had with mommy & daddy during the holidays.

 A Countdown to Halloween

(You can purchase this at Pottery Barn. But I think I could make a cuter version.)

I will be using this idea for Halloween AND Christmas. My own mom did this for Christmas when I was younger & I loved waking up each morning & changing the date :)

And of course, you gotta have some holiday reads! A perfect gift for a little baby. She LOVES when I read to her. She sits back, kicks her feet up, and smiles.

Some of these books are old classics with a Halloween twist. How cute?

(Also can be purchased at Pottery Barn)

Ari's 4 months, solids, etc.

Boy, have I been a busy bee. We got back from our trip a few days ago... (Gulf Shores)

 it was AMAZING. 

 A little stressful with a 4 month old ;) but well worth it. We got the cutest home videos of her on the beach. She was an angel on the way there & back.
The day she turned 4 months I looked back at all of her pictures since birth. Each month her looks change drastically. And her little brain :) She has started to make these grunting noises...even when she's not taking a #2. She's rolling all over the place! 

When we took her for her 4 month checkup she was rolling over on the doctor's weighing table. She tore up all the paper. She was making a game out of it. Speaking of her appointment, baby girl is 24 1/2 inches & 13 pounds & 4 ounces. She is the perfect weight for her height. 

 Tell me it doesn't look like she's flexing?! "the exit is THAT way, mom. Let's get out of here!"

(She did amazing when she got her shots, by the way. Only cried for a short while. Daddy held her the entire time.)

The doc did say she has a noggin on her. Big ol' head. He said eventually their heads stop growing & their bodies catch up! Good to know ;) 

  If you're wondering why her hands are ALWAYS blurry, it's because she is a wiggle-worm!

Starting solids soon! I'm a little nervous.. We're going to start with oatmeal cereal. I've heard it has a little more nutritional value. 

We're going to start with these bottles for her solids:

But Dr. Brown's will ALWAYS be used for plain ol' formula. They're miracle bottles.

& now, random pictures of miss girlfriend this past month :)

Nakey in her BUMBO seat. I wish I was her.

 She spent 9 months ON THE INSIDE. Tough ass kid.

 Yes mommy, I know I'm pretty.

 Constantly sucking her thumb. Refuses to take her paci anymore.

 My mom's birthday is coming up. (Ari's noni!) She has no idea I took this picture. I'm putting it in a frame & giving it to her for her birthday on sunday. It was Ari's idea ;)

By the way, whose excited for FALL??? I'm counting the days.

My Minnie.

Just 3 more days until we leave for the beach!! I'm beyond excited to see how Little Ar-Star reacts to the water & sand. And I'll be sure to take her 4 month pictures on the beach, 

as it seems we will be gone on the 20th :)

XOXO

Upcoming Plans

Exciting news!! I'll be taking a week trip on August 16th-22nd. Starting off with Memphis, TN (Seeing Graceland!) I'm a big Elvis & Priscilla fan :) ... Followed by Mobil, Alabama for my man's bodybuilding competition, then heading to Gulf Shores & stopping off in Pensacola, FL :) All of this while taking care of a baby. It should be quite a journey. & as soon we get back on the 23rd, Baby girl has her 4 month shots & check up. NOT looking forward to that. It breaks my heart. So I'm pretty anxious about this! I've never been to any of these places. Have any of you been?! Know of any fun activities we can do?

Other than that, I have been watching Ari's milestones & enjoying every moment I can. She's been having so much fun when she's on her tummy, exploring everything around her, and she found her FEET... :) It's the cutest! She brings them up to her mouth & likes to chow down on her toes. I've also noticed that she has been watching me eat. Very interested in every little bite I put to my mouth. Can't wait to ask the doc at her 4 month checkup about starting solids & what not. We purchased the Baby Bullet. I've heard amazing things about it.. And I love the idea of making fresh food for little girlfriend!

& now to overwhelm you with some cuteness!

Christmas Decor.

I know what you're thinking, Christmas? It's August. It may be bad but I'm already planning on how I'm going to decorate our cute little apartment for my FAVORITE time of the year :)

I found some awesome ideas via Pinterest. (The God of all websites)

The decorations in these pics don't have a touch of red or green, which is a bummer to me. So I would definitely be adding my own special touches. Christmas just isn't Christmas without those special colors :) But, everything else is just perfection. It's modern, WHITE, A gold tinsel tree, ornaments filled with confetti, SPARKLE, pink, Carnations mixed with Peonies, A cute deer! (including a hunting decoy painted white and covered in lights) I'm not into hunting, but if you are, that is the coolest idea.

& check out the Pink Hunter Boots, gotta have.

 Hubby?! If you're reading this... lalalala ;)

You can check out more of their amazing ideas here.