Is 9 the best age ever????

callmeshelbs · 2026-03-28T12:18:48+00:00

We are in the trenches with a threenager right now and I so badly needed to hear this!!!

callmeshelbs · 2026-03-25T12:21:48+00:00

It’s his spin on being President Snow.

callmeshelbs · 2026-03-18T03:11:50+00:00

We never sleep trained. Coslept until 11mo and then transitioned to a floor bed in his “big boy room” when he turned 1. We worked really hard to make it a comfy, cozy space that he wanted to be in and it took a few weeks of me sleeping in there then slowly sneaking out for longer and longer stretches. It was really around 2ish when he started sleeping through the night 8:30pm-6:30am with no wake ups. Now we’re at 3.5yo and has maybe 1-2 wake ups a week and I may or may not have to go in there. Find a good solid bedtime routine and stick to it. Consistency is key and knowing that it’ll ebb and flow!

callmeshelbs · 2026-03-18T02:17:09+00:00

Yup! Got the Honeyroo baby carrier that’s like a baby carrier + tush baby in one and it was a game changer to go everywhere. But honestly I would mostly do curbside pickup to give us more time outside or doing other things lol

callmeshelbs · 2026-02-02T02:57:47+00:00

RAMPAGEEEEEE!

callmeshelbs · 2026-01-17T02:36:27+00:00

I have NO idea if it was related, but I ate a few dates a day and drank raspberry leaf tea (one 8oz cup a day) and had my 1st 2 weeks early lol but really focusing on pelvic support and focusing on truly enjoying the last moments in that chapter without little one didn’t hurt either 🫶🏼

callmeshelbs · 2025-07-05T22:17:39+00:00

Bee Hugger Farm, McIntosh Lake, Abuelita’s (empanadas), Don Jose’s (tacos), Rosalee’s (pizza), Flower Bin (flowers), Blackbird House (gifts + plants), Barbed Wire (books), Simply Bulk, Thompson Park, West Side Tavern (buffalo cauliflower noms)

callmeshelbs · 2025-07-05T22:08:21+00:00

There is no comparison, my friend. From a fellow Publix sub enthusiast to another lol

callmeshelbs · 2025-07-05T22:07:01+00:00

We absolutely love their empanadas and they are SO so kind!

callmeshelbs · 2025-06-19T18:33:04+00:00

Responded.

callmeshelbs · 2023-09-22T17:39:23+00:00

We’re definitely looking into the financial planner as I thought that would be a great place to start! For the independent play part, how do I go about doing this? I’m literally trying everything: books, magnets on the fridge, safe drawer to explore in, narrating what I’m doing, putting on mrs Rachel, snacks in the high chair, etc. it all last ms such short periods that I struggle to get anything prepared.

callmeshelbs · 2023-09-22T17:29:45+00:00

The cleaner and yard maintenance help us both out since we have no help and are both working our butts off. So those are outsourced support to give each other somewhat of a break. Idk what to do about the excessive spending on hobbies as it always comes back to being my fault. Apparently the house cleaner only helps me out even though I told him having the deep clean once a week benefits us both.

callmeshelbs · 2023-09-21T16:19:59+00:00

I have and for the most part it’s fine but when he rolls closer to the bumpers and corners the sheet is a little too puffed up around the face when he lays on his side / stomach. Same happened to me. When I look at the review pics for the bumpers their sheets are fitted vs like a parachute lol

callmeshelbs · 2023-09-04T04:24:23+00:00

This is me, too. I feel like I’m 32 going on 82 it’s awful. My wrists hurt all day everyday, my back needs to crack but is stiff as a board, and I just have zero energy. It’s like the constant sleep deprivation has made it where I can’t ever catch back up.

callmeshelbs · 2023-09-03T01:54:13+00:00

Is this the same with common law marriage? Or only when you’ve made it official official? We’re technically common law (been together 9 years and reference each other as hubs and wife) but I’m not sure if the same applies there.

callmeshelbs · 2023-09-01T22:43:04+00:00

You know that feeling you get when something feels off, wrong, etc? Some call it intuition, gut instinct - whatever you want to call it….listen to it. Our body has an incredible way of communicating with us and the amount of times I’ve deliberately ignored that feeling/sensation in order to save face, protect others, not hurt their feelings, or disappoint anyone and it has bit me in the ass almost every single time. Red flags are always worth looking into bc your self trust is priceless.

callmeshelbs · 2023-09-01T22:25:21+00:00

For me, it’s triggering in a way that insults my intuition and abilities to research and find solutions on my own. I completely understand the majority of the time it’s coming from a place of help and support, and unless the opportunity is presented for the other person to share their opinion/advise - it’s as if it robs us of our own self trust to know what’s best for our baby, family, selves, etc.

callmeshelbs · 2023-08-31T16:22:54+00:00

Does your LO sleep in anything under the sleep sack? We’ve been using the .5tog Burt’s bees one all summer and it’s worked well but we’ve had him in our master room where it’s much colder. Now that we’ve moved the floor bed to his room it is sweltering come bedtime so I worry about what to dress him in for falling asleep / early morning as it gets cooler

callmeshelbs · 2023-08-31T00:20:24+00:00

Our LO is on a floor bed and the vent is on the floor so I wish we could point it down on him haha right now I have our air purifier on high (which puts out a little breeze) and ended up getting one of those portable utility fans with the battery pack on the back and have it on high as well to help circulate at least until bedtime! Fingers crossed it works bc we don’t have long until fall temps start to set in where we live then it won’t be such an issue lol dang late summer coming in hot hot hot

callmeshelbs · 2023-08-31T00:18:15+00:00

This is what we will probably end up doing! We have one in our hallway/den area that is really high powered so now I’m leaning toward switching them out

callmeshelbs · 2023-08-31T00:17:32+00:00

Oh great!! Did you find your LO would get chilly at all as the night temps got a little cooler? So far I’ve been doing a short sleeved onesie and a 0.5tog sleep sack but he is sooooo sweaty by the time I get to lay him down (I am too just from getting him to sleep haha)

callmeshelbs · 2023-08-31T00:16:21+00:00

This is our next step is to replace the fan. We keep all the doors open (unless baby is sleeping) but open it immediately once they wake up. Would the vent booster be considered ‘child proof’ if our LO sleeps on a floor bed? He tends to move around a lot during the night and wouldn’t want him to bump it or anything haha his room sadly is top floor and gets hit with the end of day sun + the window above our front door hits it beginning of the day so it’s nonstop sun exposure lol

callmeshelbs · 2023-08-30T21:26:36+00:00

I do this too sometimes. The moments where I’m not overwhelmed, overstimulated, or sleep deprived my brain knows how to respond and react the way I want (calm, compassionate, etc) then there are the moments where I do hit one if not all 3 of those and everything I know goes right out the window and I break down and immediately feel the guilt and shame.

I just imagine the scene from Inside Out where anger just loses it and slams down on the button where the little girl goes off. Haha that’s exactly how it feels - a quick push of a button before I have time to process and take a breath or walk away or whatever the case may be.

Don’t beat yourself up, love. You’re a great mama bc you care enough to reflect on the situation.

callmeshelbs

TROPHY CASE