Meet Jon

Jon Jon that is…
I had enough of you ask what as Jon Jon was that I had to explain.  And Sadly I don’t have any pictures of some of my favorites.  The summer jon jon without a shirt on underneath. 

I just have a thing about dressing little babies like babies.  Especially boys.   Girls are easy to dress as babies.  But boys… it can be harder.  Personally, I don’t think a baby under 6 months should touch denim, or sweater vests.  That’s just me though.   (if I see your baby dressed in jeans and sweater I will probably swoon all over him just the same)

But for me…I just think this is what a baby should look like.   Swoon. 
Now, don’t get me wrong, my child will wear plenty of carters outfits and shirts and pants….but before 1 year old, I am all about soft cottons and dressing them like a baby.  And the Jon Jon.   

Some call it a shortall, or a longall (if it is long).  Sometimes they are kind of like overalls.

Or sometimes they are more like a romper one piece.   Oh my word.  I believe everyone needs a blow up picture of their children at 1… because they were SO darn cute then.

 

Yes, I admit we wore these outfits more for church and nice  events, but we also had some great casual  ones we played in all the time.  And for some reason I can’t find any of those pictures…probably because we were playing and getting dirty and not really taking pictures.

If I could get away with dressing them in Jon Jons forever, I would.  But alas, we don’t live in Alabama or Arkasnas and where we have always lived people look at you a little strange if your child is in a Jon Jon past 3 years old… and Dave kind of gave the veto at 2. 

I think this might have been one of our last Jon Jon outfits before we retired into cute polo collared shirts, button downs, sweaters and khakis. 

I also have a thing for funky and fun cotton layettes.  I know, such a contrast from the traditional smocked or appliqued jon jons.   But a fun Zutano outfit is adorable, and oh so soft to cuddle up to.

Or something super cute and soft like this…  which I may or may not have bought the other day to start off our baby’s wardrobe (when I found it on a super deal site). 

And one of the last things I love for a little baby boy is the sleeper gown.   Yes, a gown for a baby boy.  For at home, for sleeping, for those days when all you do is swaddle, cuddle, nurse and change diapers every hour.  And for when their legs are permanently in a bent position. 

Double Swoon…. Especially when it is Zutano and a gown.
I love gowns for newborns.    

So there you go.  You all now know what a Jon Jon is, my aversion for baby boys dressed like grown men, and my love for the infant gown.  And my strange twisted style of traditional and trendy.

Have No Fear…

The South is Near….

There once was a mom…
who dreamed of Bo-Berry biscuits, and cajun fries, and chicken,
and sweet tea so sugary you could rot a tooth on one sip….

And then that mom took her kids on a trip to Union Station….

Where she saw this sign in the Union Station food court.

 

So, she paused for a moment listening to angels rejoicing in heaven, and she thanked the Good Lord for being so gracious as to bring a Bojangles to DC just seven blocks from her house. 

And then she prayed a little prayer reminding Him that she had also requested a Chick Fil A, a Krispy Kreme and also a Target to come to Capitol Hill.  You know, just in case He forgot.  
Because the prayers of a righteous man do availeth much.

So, dream with me tonight of Bo Berry biscuits and cajun fries…
And rest easy knowing that my dream will soon become a reality.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

--- of you have no idea what a Bojangles is, then I am so sorry.
I will pray for you tonight. 

--- if you think Carson was just wearing that shirt… he was. Wearing it yesterday, and the day before, and probably tomorrow.  Thanks mom… He loves the Frog Lake Shirt. 

-if you are concerned that I might die of a blocked artery from eating too much Bojangles, do not fear.  It’s all in moderation. 
I probably won’t even eat there once a month... but just knowing it is there will be a comfort. 

Loving my Swagger Wagon

I have seen this spreading like wildfire…  If you are a mom who drives a mini-van Swagger Wagon, you will LOVE this!

 

I have shared in the past about my love for my van… I once said “I would never drive a mini van” .  But, oh the times have changed.  

I have converted my SUV loving neighbor and mom of 3 children to a Van… and she is thanking me.  And I am currently working on my newest Mini van convert…it might just be you.

 

So what’s your favorite thing about YOUR Swagger Wagon?  The multiple seats, enormous amounts of storage, the automatic doors?
Are you SUV drivers drooling yet? 

Oh, but you SUV drivers taunt your “third row seat” is SO great… Really?  Really???  Keep telling yourself that… especially when you only have room for a gallon milk in the trunk and 1 bag of groceries.   Oh…you will dream of a Swagger Wagon tonight my friends.  

I love my van. 
And I am proud to say that.

And am I avoiding the fact that I am moving in 4 weeks?
Yes. …More to come on that.  But for right now…
A little laughter is sometimes needed to heal the soul.

 

~~Make sure to enter by Tuesday to win a $25 Giftcard to Sewplicity for an AWESOME highchair cover~~

Llama Loves--I am a Lover of Baby Wearing.

I will be the first to admit that I am far from 
an attachment parent.  I don’t do extended breastfeeding, I don’t co-sleep, I do believe in spanking….

 

Charlotte at 7 months
In the New Native
(too big on me, but it was our first sling)

 

 

 

 

However, one thing I LOVE is baby wearing.

 
Carson at 4 months in the New Native
(it worked better in the cradle position for me)

  I branched out and bought a ring sling – which I LOVED
(FYI—the shoulder of a ring sling really should be spread out over your shoulder more, and not so far up on my neck)

And then I bought a 2nd hand buckle tai for $20 as I knew I wasn’t going to be into the tying of a regular mai tai.   
It was a great little carrier…  but not super easy for me to use.

Then against all odds I won an Ergo in a raffle. 
I remember entering my $5 thinking… that was just a waste.
And then I won!   I wish I had video taped my response.
Not that I endorse gambling of any sort.

 

  

With Baby #3, I was grabbing carriers left and right. 
But my trusty ring sling is my favorite for newborn froggy holds.

But it didn’t take long to be able to pop Helen in the Ergo
(With big babies like mine, I passed on the infant insert and just froggy’d their legs until they could pop them out)

We still occasionally grab the ring sling,
though the arching of the back tantrum is not too compatible
with this sling

For now, we love our Ergo and it is like
calming waters to this restless little llama.   
At 14 months I am milking the baby wearing as long as I can

I will be SO sad when my Baby Wearing days are over.

If you are new to baby wearing,
I would recommend you check out the following sites:

Peppermint.com – Guide to Baby Wearing is a great site with information as well as slings to buy

The Baby Wearer—is a forum with information on ALL kinds of slings and carriers.  But also a For Sale Forum where you can usually find
a used carrier, and sell your used carriers.  (but I warn you…there are some SERIOUS baby wearers on that site…it is overwhelming to me at times.  So I recommend going in with a carrier in mind to ask about.

Friends and strangers—the best way to learn about a carrier is to ask someone who is wearing it and see if you can borrow it, or try it on.  I remember when I had just had Charlotte I was in Walmart and I asked a stranger about her sling and she asked if I want to try “it” on…  Babywearers are usually very excited about their slings.  So ask them! 

What is your favorite Baby Carrier??

 

*I am linking up with Things I love Thursday over at Diaper Diaries and Just for the Joy of It over at Good, True and Beautiful!