From Baby to Toddler

Days like today make me miss those days when my little Sophia was crawling around and contently playing with her toys. I could throw a load of laundry in the wash and do some things around the house and she was so good and easily entertained. Its hard to believe that just a few short months later she's walking EVERYWHERE. Oh and not just walking....but also climbing everything. I miss those days when I could contain her by blocking in our living room with our furniture! (I know we can't be the only ones who do that right?) Now when I'm home alone with her, she goes everywhere I go. Gotta run to the bathroom? Better bring a toy or two along or she'll be digging in the bathroom cabinets, pulling trash out of the trash can or unrolling the toilet paper. 

Sophia's vocabulary is also expanding rapidly. She can say mum, daddy, ki-ki (kitty), ow (ouch), baby and her newest addition.......No! And believe me...the child knows how to use it! Today everything I told her she responded NO! Its like a glimpse at what teenage years will be like! This momma is definitely not ready to think about that! 

Her favorite thing right now is to climb on the couches. Today she managed to knock over a cup of orange juice. I grab paper towels and I'm sopping it up when I hear this giggling. I peek up over the couch and there she stands naked with her diaper in her hand hold it up like she's showing me what she did. I grab her diaper and toss is and grab her a fresh one. By the time I come back into the room, she's running through the house naked. I get her diaper back on her and take her back into our living room. About 30 minutes later, I step in something wet in the floor.....it was right in the same spot she was standing naked with her diaper. Yep.....my child yanked her diaper off and peed in the floor. 

Today has definitely been one of those days. One moment you want to laugh and the next (stepping in pee and sopping up OJ) you want to break down and cry. My little bit definitely keeps me busy now but I wouldn't trade it for anything in this world!

Love With Food | Review & Giveaway

Eating healthy can be tough, especially when the prices of those healthy snacks can be high for a small package. When I stumbled across Love with Food, I couldn't wait to check it out. When connecting with them, I was thrilled to be offered a collaboration and giveaway! Shortly after contacting them, I received my review box in the mail! I was sent the deluxe box to review.

I couldn't believe how loaded this box was with these yummy snacks! Each deluxe box includes 16-20 snacks. Each box also donates TWO meals to hungry children in America. All the snacks includes are either organic or all natural, GMO-free, gluten free or free of artificial junk. It also includes FREE shipping and you can cancel at anytime!

I decided to share a few of my favorite items here! I love that I had the opportunity to try some new and unique foods! My favorite had to be the plantain strips!

Though they looked a little like a banana slice, they tasted just like a potato chip! The bag was also a really great size and this snack last me a few days!

These delicious pumpkin seeds were my next favorite! This was my first time trying out pumpkin seeds and they were delicious! I loved the maple sugar flavor! They are also loaded with protein!

These items were also some of my favorites! Yummy Gluten free peanut butter cookies, organic strawberry shortcake oatmeal, and dark chocolate & bing cherry popcorn!

Did you know that with every box purchased that at least 1 meal is provided to hungry children in America?? There are 3 boxes available to choose from when starting your subscription- Tasting Box, Deluxe Box & the Gluten Free Box. There really is a perfect box for everyone.

Ready to purchase your box?
Shop Here at our special link for 40% off your first box!

Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovewithfood/
Follow them on Instagram: @lovewithfood 

Soother Sidekicks Retractable Paci Clip- Review & Giveaway

Website

Facebook

Instagram: @soothersidekicks

I'm excited to share with you moms an amazing company that I stumbled across a few weeks ago! 

Say hello to Soother Sidekicks! Soother Sidekicks is the home of the amazing retractable paci clip. I couldn't wait to receive our clip to review! As a mom, I hated being out and about and her paci dragging around and touching all of those icky surfaces! A paci clip that retracts was a dream come true! Soother Sidekicks sent us one of their paci clips in Floral Tye-Dye to review.

This paci clip has an easy to use clip and is made using an athletic, stain resistant material. 

Its Retractable! With just a little pull, your little one can pull it strait to their mouth with no fuss! When not in use it will retract!

We're excited to share that Soother Sidekicks is giving away one of their retractable paci clips to one of our lucky readers! You can enter the giveaway by visiting this link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1615506188683770/ 

Joining the Subscription Box Club

Have you noticed recently how there's pretty much a subscription box for everything??? I recently saw where there was one for "that time of the month!" Ummm.... 

There are so many different ones that offer similar products but how do you know which one is the best value? At The Mommy Room (and previously The Married Life Blog) we were fortunate to review a few different subscription boxes. We're here to share them with you! We'll also be updating this as we review more in the future! Have you tried any? We'd love to hear your feedback and quote you here in our guide! Email us at ashleyparkerphoto@hotmail.com to share!

For Baby

The Baby Box

I was able to review this box last January, a few months before baby Sophia arrived. The Baby Box came full of organic wash cloths & burp cloths. The back side was a fleece cotton. I didn't know right away just how amazing these things would be! They were the most absorbent burp cloths ever!

Citrus Lane

This is a super fun box for your little ones! Its packed full with a variety of products from snacks to toys and is available for $25 a month!

Life/Hobbies

Faith Box

Faith Box has been one of my favorites so far! This box was so full of goodies that I couldn't wait to dig in. As a mom, there are plenty of times when I just need a few moments to relax and when a little encouragement could probably do me some good. This box contained all of that! 

Finger Foods for Infants

Sophia recently turned 10 months. We're at that point where she's still eating stage 3 baby food some (Gerber Lil' Bits), mainly at the baby sitters, but trying to introduce finger foods. She loves to feed herself whenever she can! Coming up with solid foods that she can feed herself can be tough. I've been working to compile a list of creative foods that will be perfect for our little ones and offer a variety. Its so easy to open up a can of no salt or sugar added green beans or peas but that can definitely get old quickly.....

• Grilled Cheese/Cheese Sandwich- this is one of Sophia's favorites! For her grilled cheese I just spread a small amount of butter on each side and toast it in the skillet. After its cooled, I cut the edges off of the sandwich and then cut it into small squares that she can feed herself. I've also tried just doing a cheese sandwich and microwaving it for like 10 seconds to melt the cheese a bit and cutting off the edges. She doesn't seem to like this as much and I think the bread tends to stick to her mouth a bit.
• Vegetable Soup or Chicken & Stars-Sophia loves both of these! I don't add water to either unless I feel its a little thick (depends on the brand you purchase). 1 can can usually make about 2 meals for her. Just microwave it for a few seconds to warm it.
• Fruit- Sophia loves to eat fruit! This is perfect for a snack! She loves blueberries! She can feed them to herself easily. If they are rather large blueberries then I'll cut them in half for her. She also loves bananas. Now they can be a little difficult for them to pick up since they are so soft and slick so thanks to pinterest, there's a much simpler way to eat them! First, cut your banana in half. Then, cut around the peal, just enough to where you can peal it off exposing just about an inch or two of banana. This allows them to hold on to the banana peal and eat it without a mess!

• Pancakes/Waffles- These are super easy to prepare for your little one. Just break them apart into bit size pieces
  
  
  Sophia eats whatever we eat for the most part. On the occasion that we have something that she can't have then we rely on something from above. She also loves to eat ravioli, cut into pieces. Kroger brand, over near the microwave cups of ravioli, has chicken & rice as well as chicken and dumplings. These make great back up meals for them as well and are perfect for the baby sitters! 
  
  
  
  
  
  Pinterest has tons of great ideas as well for great foods for your little ones
  http://humbleinaheartbeat.com/finger-foods-babies-few-teeth/
  
  
  
  We would love to add to this list! If you have something you'd like to suggest please let us know!

Bring it on 2016

Each year I begin the new year with a few new "resolutions" that I unfortunately never end up sticking with. This year, I'm determined that things will be different. This year, I will begin 2016 as a mom. The past few days I've had so much on my mind thinking about what I can do differently this year that could make me a better mom...and wife. 

First off, we need to eat better...so as a wife, I need to cook better meals. Its SO easy to just pick up quick and easy things from the grocery store but really, how good are they for you? Instead of just grabbing things from the frozen section, maybe putting together a menu would be a much better idea? Now that Sophia is eating table foods I'm having to plan ahead my meals and what I can cook that she can eat as well.

Next, we need to be healthier. Of course it starts with eating well but we need to start exercising. I want us to set a good example for our little girl. I also want to be happier with myself as well. 

Lastly, I want my husband and I to be a better team. I want our relationship to be even stronger and for us to grow as a couple and as a mom & dad. 

I hope that everyone who reads this will take the time to come up with their resolutions for this year. Its a great way to start the year off! Happy New Year!

Sophia's Favorite Boutiques

Quite often, I'm asked where I get Sophia's adorable outfits and accessories from. I love to shop handmade whenever possible! I love how it helps to support other moms and allows them to stay home with their little ones! I would love to have the opportunity to stay home myself...maybe one day it'll work out for us!

Here are just a few of our favorite shops that we like to support!

Sophia is also a brand rep or enthusiast for a few of these!

Momma Bear

Etsy

Instagram: @momma.bear.2015

bibdanas, baby infinity scarves, slipper moccasins 

Nina's Modern Mini's

Etsy

Instagram: @ninas_modern_minis

Infinity Scarves (for mommy & baby), headbands, bibs, paci bibs, skirts

Portia's Closet

Etsy

Instagram: @_portais_closet

dazzle onesies/shirts, sequin bow headwraps 

Pretty N Chic Boutique

Etsy

Instagram: @prettynchic_boutique

headbands, headwraps, toddler infinity scarves

Julia Scott Designs

www.juliascottdesigns.com

Instagram: @juliascottdesigns

Custom Children's Clothing

Ryleigh & Rue

Etsy

@ryleighandrue

headbands, dream catchers

Mandi Jules

Etsy

@mandi_jules

Handmade Children's Clothing