Life Via Instagram {5/22}

Shaun is still getting lots of big brother practice with his 'Finley plush'. Some days he'll pay no mind to the doll at all, but others he wants to treat her just as he would his real sister...which of course means taking her to Target!! What a sweet boy I have...I'm certain he's going to make a wonderful big brother!!

Shaun learned to climb a tree this week, and he could not be happier with his accomplishment! Unfortunately, we don't personally have a good climbing tree in our own yard, so he snuck over to the neighbors' to borrow theirs...thankfully, they are super nice and understanding and didn't mind a bit. 

Why yes...I may just be a thrift store/yard sale addict...but when you find amazing deals like this, can you blame me? These clothes (about 40 pieces plus robe and swaddle blanket) cost me just $10...lots of great stuff too...mostly Carter's brands and look brand new. (A few have some minor stains, which I'll attempt to remove, but honestly at that price they're great for around the house anyway, right?) The basket was a Goodwill find...Honestly, I rarely go to our local Goodwill anymore...their selection and prices just aren't as good as my preffered thrift store, but I'm on a mission to find the little man some more overalls (his favorite thing to wear) and happened to stumble onto this big storage basket while I was there...$7...not too shabby!!

My poor boy had a rough week last week...on Tuesday, we noticed a few bug bites that just didn't look right...so after consulting with the school nurse, we took him to the doctor and got him an antibiotic creme. It was nothing serious, he'd just been over scratching and gotten them infected. Over the next few days we saw more and more spots popping up until Friday when he woke up with a rash on his face...so, back to the doctor we went! Turns out, it was impetigo...all that scratching had not only gotten the original bites infected, but spread the infection all over!! So more medicine and a few days off of school...but I'm happy to say that he is on the mend and much less itchy! Whew!

Did I mention that we chose a theme for the nursery finally? Well, to be honest, Shaun chose the theme...and now you can see his choice! He said, "Finley is a girl. Girls like princesses." And so, a princess room it is!! We picked up this adorable pink crown on sale at Hobby Lobby and Shaun picked out this wall vinyl from a lovely little Etsy shop (review/giveaway coming soon)...he's being a big help with all things baby sister! I know the princess theme isn't very original, but I'm hoping we can make it our own and I'm pretty satisfied with how its coming along so far...but still lots to do!!!

These are Shaun's favorite shoes...they're falling apart but he insists on wearing them all the time anyway!

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to win some gently used baby girl clothes from a blog giveaway. These are just a few of those...how adorable! Finley is going to be one stylish baby girl, that's for certain!

Shaun in his most natural state- playing trains!! Mommy adores watching him!

What do you do when you want to play wooden trains but don't have a wooden Diesel 10? You take a pipe cleaner and a couple Legos and create your own of course!! Yes, I'm pretty sure my kid is an absolute genius!!

Conversations with Shaun {The Trouble With Speech Is...}

As most of you already know, one of the big, early signs of Autism is delays in speech. For some, that means they are completely nonverbal. For others, like my son the words are there, but aren't functional and conversations are a struggle. While most typically developing kids naturally learn to carry on conversations on their own, kids with Autism often need to be taught.

For Shaun, that meant teaching him how to respond to specific questions when asked by modeling the response. For example, we would ask him, "How old are you?" and then tell him how to answer, "I'm five"...and he would repeat that back. Of course these were questions to which there was only one correct answer, but the idea was that eventually he would learn to answer other questions, such as "What's your favorite food?" on his own. And after some time, it really worked...he started answering those learned questions without the prompt, and eventually did learn to answer more questions independently. (Though it's still something we work on...)

So, then why the title of this post? While this little trick worked well for him, he also picked up on the pattern- ask a question, tell them how to respond. So lately, our conversations have gone a little like this:

Shaun: Mommy, say 'what happened?'

Mommy: What happened?
Shaun: Well, you see there was this Marine bullying me... Now say, 'Daddy, stop bullying Shaun.'
Mommy: Daddy, stop bullying Shaun.
Shaun: He did it on purpose.

(For the record, Daddy was not bullying Shaun- one of his favorite Thomas youtube videos lately has been about bullying. He's also been throwing around the phrase, 'they did it on purpose' frequently as well. I'm not certain where he picked that up, but if he trips, the floor did it on purpose and I am to yell at the floor...silly kid!)

Or another example:

Shaun: Mommy, I want a new Thomas train.
Mommy: No, not today.
Shaun: Don't say no. Say 'sure'.

These are just a couple of examples that we hear fairly frequently, but truly he will use this in any conversation! After all, that's how he was taught, right? It's absolutely adorable...though not so good at the same time. Still despite his struggles, I am still completely astounded at how far he has truly come since day one on this journey. So, it is something we continue to work on with him, and I know one day soon, he'll figure it out and conversations will be much more natural...we just have to be more careful about how we teach him.

Ah, life with Autism- you never know quite what to expect!

Lucy Darling Review + Giveaway {A Preparing for Baby Giveaway}

Time for another Preparing for Baby review and giveaway! For today's review, I was sent some onesie stickers from an adorable little Etsy shop, Lucy Darling, in exchange for this review!!

When my son was a baby, I did not do a great job capturing month to month pictures. Don't get me wrong, I took an abundance of photos of him during his first year of life- just nothing to specifically document his month to month progress. Perhaps this was because we didn't have a great camera, but honestly the thought never occured to me until a few years later when I started seeing all the adorable milestone photo ideas on Pinterest and various blogs. When I became pregnant with baby #2, I knew this was something I definitely wanted to do a better job at doing. There are a lot of great ideas out there, but a cute and easy way to do this is with onesie stickers! There are a lot of companies out there who offer these types of things, but in my search the most adorable I found were hands down from Lucy Darling. They offer a TON of various styles for both boys and girls that are trendy and cute! For this review, I received these girly lace monthly onesie stickers (plus a bonus newborn sticker as well).



Let me start by saying that I absolutely adore anything super girly and lacey...so these were beyond perfect for our baby girl! How pretty are they!? I loved the variety of colors as well...I figure we can mix them up with fun legwarmers or headbands each month to keep them fresh and new...adorable!

In addition to the monthly onesie stickers, Lucy Darling also offers milestone, first holiday and birthday and even pregnancy stickers! They were kind enough to include these lovely milestone stickers for me to review as well.

You can't see well in this picture, but these have a gray chevron print in the letters...and I'm sure I've mentioned before my love of all things chevron!! Cute! I love this idea of taking a photo to document these important milestones rather than just writing it down. How fun- and especially great for all those mommies like myself who are addicted to sharing such things via instagram or Facebook!

So how do they work?

Easy! All you need is a plain onesie...peel off the sticker when you're ready to use and stick it on! That's it, these aren't iron on...no heat or any special instructions required..just peel, stick and snap your pictures. The stickers are high quality stickers, not flimsy or easy to rip in the least. The colors are stunning, the designs are fun...and most importantly, they're extremely affordable...just $12 for a set of 12. You can generally pick up plain white onesies for fairly cheap as well...I bought this one for $1 at Once Upon A Child, but if you check yard sales I'm sure you can find them even cheaper. Still, at $1 for the onesie and $1 each month for the sticker, you're looking at $2 or less each month (and that's assuming you buy a new onesie each month). Not bad at all for a fun way to document your baby's growth! And once the photo is done, you can remove the sticker and have the onesie for the next month or milestone, or whatever else you might need a plain onesie for!!

So, if you're looking for a fun, inexpensive way to document your little one's monthly photos- I highly recommend looking into Lucy Darling's onesie stickers. They are truly the cutest...I love ours and cannot wait until our baby girl is here to use them!

Want to see more from Lucy Darling? Check out the links below:

Visit Lucy Darling on Etsy
Like Lucy Darling on Facebook
Follow Lucy Darling on Twitter

If you're looking for fun, trendy nursery decor, you can also check out the Lucy Darling Prints shop!

And guess what? One very lucky winner is going to win a set of stickers of their very own, in their choice of style! Enter using the Rafflecopter form below! (Please be sure to complete all mandatory entries to be eligible, and come back for extra entry options as well. Entries will be verified and anyone found to be cheating will be disqualified.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will be contacted via e-mail after giveaway ends, and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Odds of winning depend on valid entries received. Open to US only. A Modern Day Fairy Tale is not responsible for prize delivery. 

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product in exchange for review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

26 Weeks.

How far along? 26 Weeks

Baby's size: Head of Lettuce (1.5-2.5 pounds)

Maternity clothes: Still a bit of a mix...really loving my maxi dresses right now as it's starting to get hot out!!

Best moment this week: Getting more work done on the nursery. Attending a cloth diapering class. Getting our newborn cloth diapers ordered...we'll still need to get a lot of one size (which makes up the bulk of our registry), but we're at least covered for a bit!! More great weekend yard sale finds.

40 pieces of clothing, 1 robe and Kiddopotomas swaddle blanket- just $10!!
Yay for yard sales!!!

Miss anything?  Basically the same as last week, just being able to get anything done without being sore and exhausted!!

Movement: Still lots...I think she's practicing to be a gymnast in there!

Food cravings: Nothing new really...fried pickles, Rally's ice cream cones, slightly frozen/slushy water.

Food aversions: Same- Drinks- I still cannot drink anything but water or Starbucks (decaf) frappucinos. I've managed to drink orange juice a couple times, in small amounts, but that's it. No real food aversions though. 

Gender: GIRL

Labor signs: Been having a bit more contractions over the last few days, not sure if its the heat or if I just need to rest even more, but still trying to take it as easy as possible...again, nothing super regular or worrisome at this point...keeping a close eye out until my next appointment on Wednesday.

Sleep: Still eh...definitely tired all the time, and finding it harder and harder to get comfortable at night.

Symptoms: Again not much change- Back/hip/leg pains. Sore and slightly swollen feet (and hands too), which seems to have gotten worse this past week- due to heat, I hope. Having to pee ALL the time (but then that could be all that water I'm drinking as well!). Just general exhaustion.

Belly button in or out? Not quite out, but not quite in either...it seems to change from day to day as well depending on how she's positioned I think!

Looking forward to? Appointment on Wednesday (though that also means the dreaded glucose test which I don't look forward to at all...yuck!). Getting everything checked off my to do list. Finishing the nursery. Baby shower. Next ultrasound (3D!?)


(Psst...if you love the dress I'm wearing in this week's photo, it's another great buy from Pink Blush Maternity...make sure to enter my giveaway for a $25 Gift Certificate!!!)

Flashback Friday {Baby Shaun}

Shaun absolutely loves looking at his baby pictures. He'll randomly get his baby album out and go through each one over and over...this is how he has discovered things such as babies need a Fisher Price swing and love their Boppy! It's adorable. Since finding out he had a baby sister on the way, he's loved looking at them even more!! He says baby sister will look like him...we can only hope to be blessed with another ridiculously adorable baby, that's for sure! Today, I thought I'd share a few of our favorites from the first few months of his life with all of you! Enjoy!



One of our very first photos...so adorable!

This still remains one of my all time favorite photos of Shaun...taken when he was just a few weeks old, and already quite the charmer!

Seriously, those eyes!

Shaun and Mommy

Honestly, the majority of our baby pictures feature the Boppy...he used it ALL. THE. TIME.

 Love.

This particular picture is Shaun's absolute favorite (or perhaps tied with his just born, naked baby photo!). Just after this was taken, Shaun had a poopsplosion all over daddy! (I'm sure those that have breastfed know exactly the kind I'm talking about!) Shaun has heard this story, and thinks it is absolutely hilarious!! He cannot wait for baby sister to poo on daddy too!!

Maternity Fashion with Pink Blush Maternity {Review + Giveaway}

It's time again for another great review and giveaway in the Preparing for Baby Event. Today, I am excited to share with you a wonderful trendy maternity clothing company, Pink Blush Maternity! For this review, Pink Blush Maternity kindly sent me the Teal Crochet Top Maxi Dress.

How absolutely stunning is this dress!? From the moment I saw it on their website, I was in love! Seriously! I love lace and feminine details, so the 'crochet top' was right up my alley. Mix in my love of maxi dresses, and the beautiful colors it came in...I had to have it! I chose the teal version, but there are a few other color options available as well- plus a strapless version and a shorter version too! Needless to say, I had high expectations before it even arrived...and I was NOT disappointed! The lace detail was even more stunning in person, and so soft and comfortable! Personally, I wore this out and about doing my shopping, but I could certainly see it working for a summer wedding or baby shower with the right accessories! The fit was absolutely perfect and still has plenty of room to grow! (Though I will say it may not work as well on taller mommies to be- I'm just at 5 foot and the length was just about perfect for me!) The fabric is lightweight and ideal for summer and spring. It's also quite modest, which I've mentioned in previous reviews is a huge plus for me! I will admit I was a bit worried about how well it would look after being washed with the lace detail, but I washed according to instructions (using the hand wash cycle on my machine and hanging to dry) and it looks absolutely perfect. This will definitely be a favorite throughout the remainder of my pregnancy. (And perhaps beyond, if I can make it work with nursing!) I absolutely ADORE this dress!



And this isn't the only gorgeous piece that Pink Blush Maternity has to offer. They have a huge selection of trendy maternity clothes that is ever changing. New items are constantly being added day to day, which I love. At the same time, it also means that if you see something you love (particularly on clearance), grab it while you can because they sometimes seem to go pretty quickly! And did I mention the prices are fantastic? I know I personally hate spending a ton of money on maternity clothes since they are worn for such a brief time, but with Pink Blush Maternity, you can have a wonderful, stylish maternity wardrobe without breaking the bank...particularly when you shop their clearance and sales, which always seems to have a great selection. And I love that their items are actually current with what's on trend as well- we should not have to sacrifice style just because we're pregnant- and with Pink Blush Maternity, we don't have to!

Overall, I absolutely am in love with this company. Since receiving this dress, I have placed an additional order as well and plan on ordering again soon and have already been recommending them to my expectant mommy friends...great selection, great prices...I love it!!

And guess what!? One lucky reader will have the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Pink Blush Maternity!! Enter using the Rafflecopter form below! (Please Note: If you have won a Pink Blush Maternity giveaway from another blog within the last 6 months, unfortunately you are not eligible to win! Sorry!) Please be sure to complete all mandatory entries to be eligible, and come back for extra entry options as well. Entries will be verified and anyone found to be cheating will be disqualified. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will be contacted via e-mail after giveaway ends, and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Odds of winning depend on valid entries received. Open to US only. A Modern Day Fairy Tale is not responsible for prize delivery. 

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned product in exchange for review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Baby On A Budget {Inexpensive DIY Cloth Wipes}

Another way we intend to save money on baby #2 is by using cloth diapers...we all know diaper prices can be ridiculous, and while the startup of cloth diapering is a little overwhelming, in the long run it can save thousands of dollars...well, worth it if you ask me! Besides that, since my un-potty trained almost 6 year old is actually in underwear, not diapers/pullups- we're already used to washing out poo and constant laundry (two big complaints I seem to hear most about cloth diapering). So, cloth diapering just seemed to make sense to me. After growing tired of buying wipes after wipes after wipes for my son, and finding that they just weren't getting the job done, I started looking into cloth wipes as well...and I am so glad I did! Not only has it already saved us money, but they seem to work much better on my hard to clean little man. Today I am going to share with you a very simple, very inexpensive way to make your own cloth wipes and wipe solution.




Cloth Wipes

Supplies Needed:
Scissors
Flannel Fabric/Old Receiving Blankets

Seriously, that's it! For our first set of cloth wipes, I purchased a cheap little blanket at the Dollar Tree...it made about 20 wipes, for just $1...not too horrible, but I knew I could do better. For our latest wipes, I went to our local thrift store and found some old receiving blankets...they regularly mark them $1 for two, but I buy when they have the 'color of the week' tag, making them half off- 25 cents per blanket. Each made about 16 wipes...much better price! You could also just buy a flannel fabric and do it that way, but I found this way to be cheaper and easier for us. After you have your blankets, all you have to do is cut them into little squares...see, how super easy is that? Of course you could get fancy and sew the edges so they look more uniform and pretty, I've even seen some who sew two sides together to make the wipes thicker...for us personally, these simple wipes work just fine. I don't have a sewing machine and the way I see it- they're just being used to wipe my child's tush anyway, so they just need to be functional, not pretty!! Of course, if you want to go an even easier route- baby wash clothes work well as wipes too. They cost a little more (we bought a 4-pack at the Dollar Tree), but no cutting required!!

Wipe Solution

There are many great wipe recipes out there, using various essential oils, etc...just Google 'homemade cloth wipes solution' and you'll find a ton! I intend to experiment more in the future, but for now we use a very simple mix using ingredients most of us with little ones already have in the home. And you can really fit this solution into any budget depending on brands/products used!

Supplies Needed:
1/2 cup oil (we use baby oil)
1/2 cup baby wash (any kind works!)
2 cups water
Spray Bottle

Add water first, then oil and finally soap to your spray bottle. When you are ready to use your wipe, simply spray onto the wipe. For particularly tough changes, I spray directly onto my son's tush as well. You can also soak the wipes in the solution (using a traditional wipes case or wipe warmer to store), but I've heard this can lead to mildew if not used quick enough, so we found for now this spray bottle method works perfectly!

(And in case you're wondering what to do with the wipes after- we simply rinse them out if needed and toss into the wet bag with the soiled underwear until laundry time!)


So there you have it- a super easy, super inexpensive way to make your own cloth wipes. I cannot believe how much money we wasted on store bought disposable wipes! So glad we finally made the switch!

Do you use cloth wipes? Why or why not? Any go to wipe solution recipes you care to share?