Finn and I are hunkered down and have everything we need for what is now Tropical Storm Florence. They’re saying we could get up to 15 inches of rain over the weekend. The wind was very strong today. I squeezed in one last walk before the storm with Finn and the girls and Finn LOVED looking up and seeing the trees moving so much in the wind. I am praying that downed trees are minimal and that everyone being impacted by this storm stays safe.
ICE CREAM IS EVERYTHING
I went out looking for batteries tonight and came home with ice cream instead. I will be so sad if the power goes out before I can make my way through these pints. I’ve never tried these flavors. I’ve decided that I prefer Haagen-Dazs over Ben & Jerry’s. A lot of the Ben & Jerry’s flavors have a little too much going on for me. I also love Talenti but it’s gelato and if I had to pick, it would be ice cream over gelato every time! 🙂
(Thank goodness for Virginia who brought me some C batteries for my flashlight…all the stores in Charlotte are sold out!)
WELCOME BACK SHAMELESS
I am watching Shameless as I write this post. I was so into it earlier this year but have been on a hiatus from watching it for the last few months. I am pretty happy to have Frank, Fiona and Lip back in my life right now. I’m on season six.
A GOOD DAY
I had a good day today and Finn had a great day. I taught a cardio strength class at the Y and then took myself out on a lunch date. I really enjoyed teaching and I’m starting to feel really ready to get back to it on a more regular basis. (Although I could write a whole post about how healthy it’s been for me to take a big, long break from it.)
After class, Finn and I stopped by a friend’s house. Her kids had these giant beanie boos toys and Finn was OBSESSED. I don’t think he’s ever liked a toy so much. He was going nuts and talking like crazy. It was so cute. She texted me after our get together that she ordered one for him. So sweet. He’s going to love it!
BABY TALK
Oh, and while we’re talking babies…give me all of your tips on what to do when baby decides they hate the car seat and screams through car rides. Mamas nerves are like ahhhhh!
One last baby note…I stopped in Gymboree for the first time yesterday and oh my gosh. I got Finn the cutest fall wardrobe, complete with thermals, flannel shirts, joggers, jeans and more. They are having a 50% off all baby clothing sale so check it out. Their fall line is SO CUTE!
AN IMPORTANT REMINDER
Here’s the source and she has a great narrative to go with it.
TO MAKE YOU LAUGH
(Source…this account is GREAT!)
I mean…spot on…yes?
Let’s play Instagram Bingo! Can you make a Bingo out of this? Which one is your favorite? Your most guilty? 🙂
Ice cream or gelato?
Car seat tips?
My little guy started screaming in the car around that age and I realized he was about 3 pounds over the “infant insert” for his car seat. When I took that out, he was much happier in the seat. I think he was feeling crammed.
Finn is too cute with the beanie boos!!
PS, could you credit Mari for her drawing ??
I used to crack the window – the breeze/air/wind would quiet my son down. Also, jingling keys would work or Billy Joel (New York State of Mind always calmed him down- true NYers over here!) lol. Staff safe!
My LO is 4 month. We went through the screaming in the car seat phase a few weeks ago and it was horrid. I try and give him a toy or wubanub to chew on and he does better. Also the happy song by Imogene heap is a game changer! It got better with time for us. Good luck!
I used to sing The Wheels on the Bus when my oldest would lose it in the car seat. For some reason, that was the only song that worked!
I used to love B&J ice cream…but after a long time (i.e. years) of eating Talenti gelato and parlor ice creams, I recently discovered that B&J isn’t as good or as satisfying.
Sounds like suspending a Beanie Boo from the ceiling of your car might be worth trying. (Wink)
Stay safe Jen! Cam was never much of a crier during car rides until last weekend when I took her on a 3 hour ride. She HATED it, and I couldn’t figure out why. Turns out she had the worst diaper rash and I think she was in so much pain. So I have no tips, clearly, just learning as I go. I hook my phone up to you tube and play baby sing a longs and that helps sometimes.
My oldest hated the infant car seat. Always screamed in it from day one. We moved him to a big car seat at 3 months and he never cried again. He did not like the reclined angle. I sang songs. And drove fast to get home. Best wishes.
I second the Happy Song! That always works for us!
Crying babies in car seats are the worst…I have a mirror up so I can see his face and if he looks fine other than annoyed I just turn the radio up and try to distract myself…probably terrible. Anxious to hear your thoughts on that bourbon pecan praline ice cream
I love your blog! My baby is almost the same exact age as Finn (May 26) so I have been following your 4th trimester posts and now this. Just finally commenting and I have to say I love it!
Finn is eyeing that ice cream. So cute! Baby classical music tends to soothe.
My son hates the car seat, too!
Also that seed quote originally came from Ann Voskamp’s book The Broken Way. So good!
I totally agree that sometimes there is just too much happening in Ben & Jerry’s. Sometimes I like all the jazz, but I’m also guilty of enjoying plain old vanilla ice cream.
Stay safe in the storm!!
My son hated the car from 4-12 weeks or so. We got a mirror which helped once he was more aware and could see that distance. It helped me too, to see him and know he was generally ok. It improved with time – not sure there’s much else you can do! Hang in there!!
My daughter hated the car seat from day one and still hates it 20 months later ?
Getting her in and out of the car seat is our most stressful endeavor and often times it stops us from going places. I’m hoping she grows out of it soon. She really hates being confined in any way though. Like never ever wanted to be swaddled, in a swing, a baby carrier, high chair….nothing. So I think we are the exception not the rule lol
I just had to move the straps up one level (near the shoulders) from the bottom level. Before that she would cry when we’d get her in the car seat bc when we tightened the straps it would pull her shoulders down, after we moved it up, she was a happy camper again!
Hmm I love ice cream, but I’d probably have to go with gelato!
I had to laugh at instagram bingo, while I don’t have bingo, a friend just posted a pic of her new shelves! Lol
Stay safe!!
My 9 mo old has hated the car seat since early on. Hate to say it but for us, nothing has worked. We’ve tried music, singing, toys, mirrors, inserts in, inserts out, switch to bigger convertible car seat, etc. Everyone’s surprised we can’t get him to sleep much in the car. We love traveling with our camper so this has been CHALLENGING to say the least. In fact, I’m listening to him crying in the back now as I read your blog while my husband drives us home from a road trip. So, in answer to your question, what do we do… move as quickly as safely possible, turn on his white noise bedtime music (hoping he’ll sleep), take frequent breaks and grin and bear it while distracting ourselves best we can. It’s horrible.