Baby Z: 3 & 4 Months Old

I’ve been doing such a terrible job lately of recording milestones! I swore to myself that I would not be one of those mom’s who did everything for their first child, and then, their second had nothing. No surprise, but I’m eating my words once again. Isn’t that so typical of parenthood though? 

I was doing so well about taking photos of Baby Z each month for his birthday, until month 3. Although I captured a photo for his 3 month birthday, I never posted it. Why? Kept running out of time until it just became outdated news, and then, there was the fact that the pictures didn’t turn out as I’d hoped.

My loving toddler decided he needed to be in the photo too, and the crushing love was a little too much for the baby.

3Months

But, I think this month’s photo definitely made up for the last one, AND I’m actually posting about it within a week of his birthday. I think that’s an accomplishment!

4Months

4 Month Stats:

almost 16 lbs. (62th %)

25.25 inches (59th %)

17.2″ head (96th %)

New Talents:

clasps hands together frequently, lots and lots of drool (which I assume means there will be teeth soon!), sleeping is irregular (typically down by 9pm & up twice a night), loves to laugh and smile when we make funny faces, makes a cute velocirapter noise when he laughs, loves bath time; especially with Brother, nursing like crazy right now (which I’m hoping is due to a growth spurt or teething) 

Of course, all of this remind me that I’ve also become the parent I said I’d never be. It’s hard to not constantly compare #1 to #2. From their sleeping habits to their doctor’s appointments, they’re so completely different in every way.

I have a lot of people telling me the opposite. We’ve had several comments that Baby Z looks a lot like the Little Man, but I have to disagree. Baby Z is a spiting image of my side of the family, and M takes after Tim’s side of the family. They definitely both have my eyes, but I don’t see Hurst when I look at him. (Sorry Hursts!)

4Months2

Here’s my Little Man at 4 months.

What do you think; similar or different? 

Returning from Vacation: To Reality & Blogging

I’m finally getting back into the groove of life post vacation. And yes, it’s taken almost 4 days to get there.

Normally, I’d spend a whole post telling you about everything we did on our vacation, but this time, there’s not much to be said. We literally spent 4 days sitting around a pool. This was our first vacation (just Tim and I, not for alternative reasons) since we went to Hawai’i almost 4 years ago, and man, did we need it!

So, to make you just a tad jealous . . .here’s our trip to Cabo!

Cabo9

Cabo1

Cabo2

Cabo4

Cabo3

Cabo11

 

Cabo6

Cabo7

Cabo8

Signature_zps120fcc0f
Signature_zps120fcc0f

From SAHM to WAHM

Dallasmomsblog screenshotYou may have seen me hinting about it over Twitter and Facebook this week, but today officially marks a new beginning in my life. As of late last night, I’m now Krystal, small business owner. 

Since last August, I’ve been in-training with Dallas Moms Blog. As time has gone on, it was undecided whether I would be a partner with the current owner or if  I’d take over the blog completely. It all hinged on her husband’s plans after seminary and how much of a working mom she wanted to be. But in the end it was decided (through lots of prayer) for her to move on from the blog and hand it over to me.

“Hand over” is a very, very loose term because there was a lot of logistics and legal and financial obligations involved before I officially became owner.

So, what does owning a blog mean?

It means that I no longer blog as a hobby, but instead it’s a career path for me. And one that I’m really excited about!

Since I left teaching, I wasn’t sure what the rest of my life would look like from a working perspective. I knew I wanted to go back to work one day… I’m too antsy not to, but I didn’t know where I would fit in with the business word.

From one answered prayer to another, Dallas Moms Blog was placed into my lap, and although owning a business is always a gamble, I knew it was meant to be. I’m good at it, and I know it can be successful!

What about this blog?

The whole time I’ve been employed by Dallas Moms Blog, I struggled with running The T-Shirt Mama and trying to actively grow this site, but also putting my heart into DMB.

Do I write this awesome find on Dallas Moms Blog or do I save it for my blog? Do I pursue this sales opportunity for The T-Shirt Mama or do I let DMB have it? Do I spend 3-4 days writing for The T-Shirt Mama or do I use that time to make the backside of DMB better for SEO? 

I worked really hard to try and make both a success, but at most, I can only give 50% of myself to each site which isn’t fair to either one. So, after a lot of careful consideration, I’ve decided it’s time to give 100% of my time to Dallas Moms Blog and let this blog be what it was intended to be;  an outlet for my thoughts and a connection to my family.

Where can I stalk you now?

As of this weekend, I’ll no longer actively be using my The T-Shirt Mama Facebook page. It’s just one extra medium to be in charge of and “ain’t nobody got time for that!” Hopefully you’re already friends with me on Facebook, and you can always find me there. I also love being random on Twitter and Instagram.

And of course, I’ll still continue to blog on this site, but it might not be as frequent and it might only be about my adventures with my boys (and hopefully not my failing business!) 

How can I support you?

Why thanks for asking!!

If you want to help support me (and my family) in my new business adventure, make sure to follow Dallas Moms Blog! One of the way blogs thrive is through the relationships they make with the community and the followers they gain. Even if you’re not a mom, Liking our page or following our feed is supporting the businesses!

And look, I’ve even made it easy for you! Just click below!

Dallas Moms Blog on Facebook

Dallas Moms Blog on Twitter

Dallas Moms Blog on Instagram

Dallas Moms Blog on Pinterest

Dallas Moms Blog on Google+

So, with the beginning of May marks a new adventure, and it’s one I hope you’ll join me on! I couldn’t be more excited for what lays ahead in the future. I’ve got some amazing people helping me along the way and together, my hope, is that we’ll continue to make Dallas Moms Blog a source of knowledge and inspiration for the city of Dallas!

Interested in starting a Moms Blog in your city? 

Email me at Krystal(at)dallasmomsblog(dot)org and I’d love to tell you more about this amazing network of moms and women! 

A Mother’s Day Treat at Massage Envy :: Giveaway

I feel terrible. Almost.

This year, instead of waking up on Mother’s Day to breakfast in bed or having a brunch in my honor or even having Tim buy me a card in the boy’s honor, I’ll be sitting on a beach in Cabo. . . kid free.

I told you…I almost feel terrible, but not quite.

When we booked our trip to Mexico, it didn’t even dawn on me that it was Mother’s Day weekend. Thankfully, my boys are no where near old enough to understand what this means, so for this Mother’s Day, I’ll be doing what this Mama wants to do. Sit on a beach with a book in one hand and a margarita in the other.

The only other activity that could possibly get in my way of being beachside would be to take an hour or so to get a massage. But! I no longer have to worry about that!

Thanks to my good friends at Massage Envy, I’ve gotten the massage out of the way!

MassageEnvy1 This week, I was given a complementary massage to try out Massage Envy DFW. You can find your nearest location HERE, but I made an appointment at the Prestonwood location where my husband goes for his monthly massage. (Seems totally fair huh?)

My masseuse was Marta, and all I can says is for a little woman she has some STRONG hands. She spent almost an hour working out the 9 months of knots I’d accumulated on my back from carrying around a heavy toddler, a car seat carrier, and bouncing a newborn 24/7.

MassageEnvy2

Tip suggestions appreciated since my nursing brain can’t do math!

Do you know the phrase, hurts so good? Well, my back is still sore from my Thursday appointment, but in this case, pain is good! I’ll take a little soreness over bulging knots any day.

I am a little sad though. I arrived one day too early to take advantage of their Mother’s Day special. Between April 26 and May 12, Massage Envy has a special $99 gift card offer. Buy a $99 gift card during this time, and the recipient can get two 1-hour massage sessions, each with a Sugar Foot Scrub, at a Massage Envy clinic, or one 1-hour massage session with a Murad® facial and Sugar Foot Scrub at a Massage Envy Spa.

So, since I’ll be sitting on a beach in Cabo instead of enjoying a Mother’s Day massage, I’ve helping out Massage Envy and giving my massage away to 1 of you!

1 Reader will win a FREE 60 minute massage courtesy of Massage Envy DFW. To enter, all you need to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below, and the winner will be selected on Friday, May 3rd at midnight. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

At Massage Envy, an introductory one-hour massage session (a 50-minute massage and time for consultation and dressing) is just $49. Memberships are available for $59 per month and include a one-hour massage session. Members can enjoy unlimited additional one-hour massage sessions at the $39 member rate. All clinics are open seven days a week.

*This post was compensated through a free massage; however, I’ve been to Massage Envy many times and would recommend them anyway! All opinions in this post are 100% my own.

A Day at SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium

We have a new favorite place to take our kids!

SeaLifeGrapevine1

If you live in Dallas, or you’re coming here to visit, this is now the first place I would recommend to any family with kids!

You’d never guess based on the fact that it’s in Grapevine Mills Mall, that SEA LIFE Aquarium would be as exciting (if not more than) the Dallas World Aquarium.

To be honest, I was a little hesitant about taking the boys last Saturday because of our more recent experience at the Aquarium. We survived the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park without any problems, but the size of the Dallas World Aquarium was a little much for me when trying to wrangle a toddler. You know, convincing him to not pull the sloth’s tail or jump off the fence into the penguin pond. 

SEA LIFE Aquarium is a parent’s dream. 

SeaLifeGrapevine2

A School of Fish swimming in a never ending circle.

They’ve laid out the aquarium into rooms that all have a different focus or feature. For us, this was perfect because it captured the Little Man’s attention before he realized there was another room. And unlike some other exhibits that save the best for last, each room had something amazing; from beginning to end.

SeaLifeGrapevine3

Almost everything was at eye level for little people to easily see.

SeaLifeGrapevine7

SeaLifeGrapevine4

There were some really unique tank rooms that I’d never seen done before like the one above where you could sit “inside” the aquarium or even walk on top of it with a clear floor. But my favorite was probably the 360 degree tunnel!

SeaLifeGrapevine5

SeaLifeGrapevine6

The whole place just felt like it was designed for kids, and the company took that role seriously. By the end of the tour, when you thought there wasn’t much more to see, SEA LIFE added a big open room for you to wind down your visit with a little area to get hands on and touch some of the sea life you may have seen along the way and . . . a play space!

Tim and I were able to stop, take a breath, and I was able to nurse Baby Z while the Little Man got more of is energy out on the play area.

We’ve already decided that we can’t wait to go back! It’s definitely the type of place you could visit several times a year and never get sick of it!

Have you visited Sea Life Aquarium? 

What were your thoughts with your kids’ ages? 

 

*This post has not been sponsored and I haven’t received anything for writing this review; however, if SEA LIFE wanted to thank me in some way, I’d be more than happy to accept! ;)
Signature_zps120fcc0f
Signature_zps120fcc0f
Signature_zps120fcc0f

Shot@Life: Interview with a Champion

Today is the official start of World Immunizations Week created by the World Health Organization; an opportunity to bring awareness to the benefits of children receiving immunizations and vaccinations worldwide.

1655_wiw_logo_en_colorYesterday I introduced you to the United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign and Shot@Life Champion Cindy Levin. Today, she’d like to share with you how she became involved with Shot@Life, and how you easy it is for you to get involved as well!

How did you hear about Shot@Life, and what inspired you to get involved? 

Shot@Life had asked RESULTS – a grassroots advocacy organization that I work for 1/2 time and volunteer for as well – for recommendations of individuals to help make up the 40-50 original Shot@Life champions for the campaign launch. RESULTS recommended me as a candidate because of my years of advocacy work on global health issues – including vaccines to reduce preventable childhood deaths – and because I am a mom of young children take joy from involving my kids in my advocacy and charity work.

I don’t have a medical background. In fact, my professional background is in mechanical engineering, although I currently am a stay-at-home mom working 1/2 time for RESULTS as a fundraising coach. RESULTS has taught me quite a bit over the years about global health issues like child mortality, AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, so that I can be an effective citizen advocate to lobby my own members of Congress.

What is your current role with Shot@Life and what does this role call for you to do?

I am a Shot@Life champion, but because I’m in my second year with Shot@Life, I help coach new Shot@Life champions in some aspect of their activities.

Shot@Life Oscar PartyUsually, I’m coaching and encouraging them in advocacy as that is my specialty, but I also help advise and support them in fundraising efforts and public speaking. I also write blogs, talk to my members of Congress about global vaccines, fundraise, generate media in newspapers, and create public awareness events.

My favorite awareness event that I did with my fellow champion, Jen DeFranco, was an Oscar party where moms and daughters dressed up in formal gowns and fancy princess costumes to walk a red carpet. We had a professional photographer take our pictures with signs saying what we wanted to give kids a shot at in life.

Did you choose to travel to Uganda, or were you sent there by Shot@Life?

Both! It was a great opportunity they presented to me. I received an email from our director, Devi Thomas, inviting me to participate in an observation trip to see child health programs in Uganda run by UNICEF.

CindyLevinUgandaI’d been trying for years to find a way to go to a developing nation in Africa to see some of the programs I lobby for daily, so I was excited to go. This trip had everything I could have wanted
- meeting real mothers and talk to them about their experiences
- visiting primary schools and worship services to experience Ugandan culture and talk to children
- speaking to many UNICEF employees at several levels from frontline health care workers to leadership in the national office
- meeting with the Ugandan UN Secretary

It was inspiring to see our foreign aid programs working so well. Uganda is a developing nation that is on track to meet it’s goals of reducing child mortality. I met mothers and fathers who are thrilled to have service like vaccines brought to them in remote, rural areas of Uganda.

They have so many challenges in life trying to get access to things we take for granted – like clean water, school for children, and regular meals – that it is a relief to them to have vaccines provided to them. The mothers we met know that these vaccines save their babies’ lives and leads to healthier communities. Just a tiny bit of our nation’s help goes such a long way in the places we visited to literally save lives.

Were there any families or stories from Uganda that stuck with you?

Shot@Life Ugandan ExperienceI think a lot about a young mother I met because, to me, she embodies who I am helping through Shot@Life.

Eighteen-year-old Samina lives in the rural district of Mubende in central Uganda. We met at a Family Health Day hosted by her mosque. She was dressed in her best headscarf and proud to be at the Eid celebration with her only child, one-year-old Shamira, who got her first immunizations that day.

It’s difficult for Samina to travel to a hospital, but the UNICEF Family Health Day program brought life-saving services to her and many other Ugandans living in poverty. She was very proud and very happy to be able to get Shamira her vaccines. Her love for her daughter showed in her every move. Samina and I live 8000 miles apart, but we’re both mothers dedicated to giving our young daughters the best start in life we can give them.

What milestones did you experience with Shot@Life during their first year?

There have been many, but I’ll share my top 3:
1) Definitely going to Uganda was a milestone for me. Despite having been an anti-poverty advocate, I had never traveled to visit people in extreme poverty in person before.
2) I helped coach many champions through their first meetings with Congress in Washington D.C. I never tire of seeing the elation in people’s eyes after their first lobby visit. They feel so empowered and delighted that they can go into a senate office and have the power to change world events.
IMG_11923) I helped my own children achieve literal milestones with Shot@Life when we all ran races at the Disney Princess 1/2 marathon weekend. While have been a long distance runner, my girls had never run races before. So, we all ran races of different lengths to inspire donations to Shot@Life. My 9 year old ran her first 5K, my 7 year old ran a 1/4 mile, and I ran the 1/2 marathon. My husband was our support crew, so it was a real family effort. We raised enough money to vaccinate 107 children against measles, polio, rotavirus, and pneumococcal virus.

 

Why do YOU think vaccinations are so important both here in the States and in other countries?

Vaccinations are what stand between our children and massive senseless deaths. Most people alive today have no concept of what horrors measles and polio caused in our country’s past which still plague other countries. Our society tends not to think about diarrhea from rotavirus as fatal, but in areas without clean water, it can be a death sentence.

Twenty thousand children are dying from treatable and preventable diseases every day.

Simple, cost effective immunizations can protect millions of children from suffering painful deaths and prevent the grief of mothers mourning the loss of their little ones.

When I say “our” children, I do mean the global “our” as I feel that in this globally connected age, we are all responsible for children in need everywhere in the world. But in the instance of polio especially, I do mean our children and grandchildren here in the United States, too.

Polio is a terrifying disease and quite contagious. Even though we see little of it here, polio anywhere is a threat everywhere. We are 99% of the way to eradicating it from our planet. (Did you know that we’ve only successfully rid our world of one other disease, which is smallpox?)

Vaccines are the only way to eliminate polio so that it never threatens humankind again. Letting up on it could mean a resurgence, which no one is prepared to encounter again.

If there was one message about global vaccines you could relay to the average American sitting at home, what would it be?

YOU have the power to save hundreds and thousands of lives…even from sitting right there in your home.

In our world, a child dies every 20 seconds from a treatable or preventable disease. But, working together, we can SAVE a life every 20 seconds by mobilizing everyday people to raise money for global vaccines and to tell their elected officials to support exceptional vaccine providers like UNICEF and the GAVI Alliance. You can start by saving one child right now by joining us at www.shotatlife.org .

You could even donate $20 today to save just one child from four deadly diseases. That might even lead you to host an awareness event or even apply to become a champion like me and save hundreds of kids in a year.

It’s going to take a lot of us and everyone is invited to join this party!

Happy 1st Birthday Shot@Life!

* * * *

To find our more about Shot@Life and how you can get involved, click below!

shot_at_life_badge_250x100

*My interview with Shot@Life Cindy Levin was not compensated. It was an opportunity I signed up for to bring you this information! 

Signature_zps120fcc0f

 
Signature_zps120fcc0f

An Introduction to Shot@Life

Tomorrow marks the start of World Immunization Week (April 24-30) initiated by WHO; the World Health Organization.

I stand in an uncomfortable position because a large percentage of my family doesn’t believe in vaccinations for their children and another large percentage does. It’s hard to stand in the middle of that controversial topic and explain my reasoning for why I chose to vaccinate my own children.

But what I think no one can deny is the overall benefits of immunizations across the world; specifically in third world countries. 

When I was at Blissdom, I was introduced to an organization with the United Nations Foundations called Shot@Life.

Shot@Life

Shot@Life educates, connects and empowers Americans to champion vaccines as one of the most cost-effective ways to save the lives of children in developing countries. By encouraging Americans to learn about, advocate for, and donate vaccines, the United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign will decrease vaccine-preventable childhood deaths and give children a shot at a healthy life. 

This year, they’re celebrating their first birthday, and to celebrate they’ve started a movement.

Tens of thousands of letters have been sent to Congress over the last year, and they’ve gathered over 190,000 followers. For their first birthday, they’re recruiting communities to help spread the word even more through events, parties, and screenings. They’re also encouraging everyone to spread the word through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Another way they’re spreading the word about Shot@Life and its benefits is through the blogging community.

And to help you understand a little more about this organization from a personal perspective, I’ve been chosen among a few to interview a Shot@Life Champion who’s been in the “trenches” helping to advocate for these children.

Meet Cindy Levin.

CindyLevin

Cindy, is a stay at home mom (with a background in mechanical engineering) who lives in Chicago. And what started as a goal to be a role model for her children has turned into a part-time career with RESULTS – a grassroots advocacy organization, and years of advocacy work for global health issues.

What I love about Cindy is that she’s a mom just like me.

She chose to make a difference in the lives of others and followed through with it.

Join me tomorrow when I interview Cindy. Find out how she got involved with Shot@Life and simple ways that you can get involved and make a difference in children’s lives (including your own!)

Shot@Life Power of Vaccines

 * * * * *

To find out more about Shot@Life, and how you can become involved by making a difference visit Shot@Life.org 

Signature_zps120fcc0f
Signature_zps120fcc0f
Signature_zps120fcc0f

A Toddler’s Dream: Meeting Thomas the Tank Engine

I’m not sure how other moms feel, but I feel truly blessed living and raising my family in Dallas. Some might claim that Dallas has no culture or unique qualities, but having lived here almost all my life, I completely disagree. It seems like every time I turn around, the city constantly evolving and changing.

I remember when the Little Man was around 6 months old, I began to discover this whole new city I’d never known as a DINK (duel income no kids). We went from enjoying meals as a couple in Uptown to spending days at the Children’s Museum in Fair Park.  And now that he’s in a new toddler phase, Dallas is opening itself up again to another world of possibilities.

Last weekend, we experienced one of these unique opportunities thanks to The Nerd’s Wife when Thomas the Tank Engine came to town.

Thomas1

For two weekends, once a year, Thomas the Tank Engine will roll into town and attach himself to the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. For 30 minutes, we took a ride on Thomas while we listened to music from Thomas & Friends, sang, and danced.

Thomas3

Thomas5

 

I have to admit, my favorite part of this experience was that I was able to turn it into a Mommy & Son Day with the Little Man. Where I once spent all my time with this guy, opportunities are far and few between now. I love Baby Z to death, but a part of me still misses the one on one time I used to have with the Little Man.

 

Thomas4

Thomas7

There were a lot of activities for the kids to do while you waited on your train ride. They had clowns and bubbles, a room with toy trains to play with, and a story time read in the train station. There was also an opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt.

Thomas2

Thomas6

This was the one bad thing about being solo with a toddler is that we had to miss out on some of these opportunities. I realized after one scare that he wasn’t going to let us stand in line to take a professional photo with Thomas or Sir Topham Hatt. We also barely made it out of the gift shop without a tantrum, but thanks to an overpriced Pez dispenser we were entertained all the way back to the car!

Thomas8

I think the highlight for me was when I became a cool mom after deciding to go and track Thomas down. I realized that although we were riding on Thomas in theory, there wasn’t any way to tell that Thomas as actually driving. So, after we loaded up into our car, I followed the railroad tracks through neighborhoods, and parked.

I was only guessing, and hoping, that Thomas would drive by soon and wasn’t on his thirty minute interval. But within 5 minutes of parking, luck was on my side!

Thomas9

Out from behind some trees, the Little Man and I watched as Thomas came rolling down the tracks; complete with steam and a whistle.

We had a blast in Grapevine that day! And the Little Man is still talking about how he rode on Thomas and wants to “do it again.”

These are the moments when I feel so blessed to live in a city where he can have these awesome opportunities to let his imagination come to life!

*This isn’t a sponsored post! Just my personal opinions about my time with Thomas & the Grapevine Vintage Railroad!

Signature_zps120fcc0f

Lovin’ on Lizards: A Friday Find

Dallas Moms Blog‘s DFW Moms Night Out was last night, and it was a HUGE success!

Almost 200 women braved the cold temperatures to be with us as we partied on the Green of Watters Creek.

Moms Night Out has taken up the last 2 months of my life, and I’m actually relieved it’s over.

Before we begin to plan #4, it’s time to step back, take a break and get back to life a little.

So, today, I’ll be cleaning my house and catching up on all the things I’ve been missing!

Like moments like these. . .


Lizard4

Lizard1

Lizard3
Lizard2

Lizard5

That’s right…he kissed the lizard.

Have a Wonderful Weekend! 


Signature_zps120fcc0f

Mowing the Yard: A Friday Find

Last Saturday, I caught a glimpse of our old life when we were just a family of 3. I wasn’t having to isolate myself inside because I was nursing or it was too cold for Baby Z.

We were all outside, enjoying the beautiful weather, and I was able to stand back and watch the men in my life.
Mowing1

Lately, it’s hard to just sit back and watch without some kind of interruption. So, I’m thankful for these moments of peace and simplicity when I can notice the little details that I’ve been missing.

Mowing4

Like how BIG he’s getting!! Mowing2

Mowing6

Mowing5

It wasn’t until today when I made this little discovery on my camera that I’d even remembered I’d taken these shots.

They help remind me that life doesn’t always have to be chaos, and to enjoy even the simple moments.

So here’s to you enjoying your simply moments!

Have a Great Weekend! 


Signature_zps120fcc0f