Life After I "Dew"

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I know, I know, one can never be fully prepared for a new baby, whether it's your first, second, third or so on.  BUT I'm not worried about me, not really anyway, I do worry about Kendall.

I obviously want this transition to go as smoothly as possible and we are trying to avoid too many changes happening around that time.  For example we went ahead and tackled potty training about a month or two ago and it's been a complete success.  She's 98% potty trained, as in she does have a few accidents here and there but they are usually just a little "oops" and she realizes it and we run to the potty. She takes her naps in her panties now but still sleeps in a Pull Up, just in case.  I think it's safe to say she wakes up every morning dry but I just want to be extra cautious because, I mean, it's been like 2 months.

We also transitioned her to the big girl bed last month and so far so good, kind of.  We had a few weeks where sleeping through the night was an issue {I talked about that last week} but now, besides waking up to go potty once a night, she's doing really good sleeping again.  We have had two falling out of bed incidents but other than that she's taking to the new bed really well.  It totally shocked me because she's very much a creature of habit and doesn't really like when things change or are different from what she's used to but she's handled this really well.

The next thing on our list of things to accomplish before James Weston is born is the binky aka "baa-boo".  I swear this is going to be the hardest one for us.  I swore we'd take it away when she turned one but then "awe she's still a baby!!!" and we let her keep it, telling ourselves 18 months would be the cut-off. That came and went and then we were approaching our first family car trip {12 hours with an almost 2-year-old} and I thought "HELL to the NO, we NEED that thing!  But after the trip."  Well, that was August.  So here we are with a 2.5 year old who still takes a binky.  In our defense, she's restricted to only having it in her bed and in the car but she knows and she relies on it in those moments.  So yeah, any pointers there?

Something else I'm trying to do to get her used to the idea of a sibling is getting her involved in all the baby-ness going on in our house.  When we do any kind of projects in the baby's room I let her come in and help me sort through clothes or even just play with her toys in his room {because, YAY!  A new room!  This is so fun {to a toddler}!!}.  If we are shopping for him I let her help pick out some of the things we need and she thinks that is really cool, "yook what I got Baby Brudder!!!".

Now that we can feel movement on the outside I've been trying to get her in on that action but, if you've ever been pregnant before, you know how that goes.  "OOHH come feel!!" KP puts her hand on my belly and nothing, of course.  Last week she grabbed her doctor kit though and said, "let my hear him" and put it up to my belly and in that moment I almost melted into a giant puddle of mommy mush.
We also got a "Baby Brudder" doll aka a boy baby doll, since all of her dolls are girls we thought that it might make more sense to get a boy and start having her "help" do things with/for him.  The amazing people at North American Bear Company sent us a Rosy Cheeks boy along with some fun extras like a changing pad, extra diaper, bib, bottle, toy, and blanket for him.  Kendall has loved playing with him and I really think that it's starting to click that she's going to soon have a real baby to do these things with.  She's gotten pretty good at changing his diapers and if she's not careful I may just put that skill to test when James Weston is born*.

And the fine folks at North American Bear Company would like to help you prepare for a new baby, buy a gift for your current baby or maybe you have a birthday party coming up and would love to save $50 by winning a $50 shop credit to their online store!  The entries are simple and the giveaway will be announced on Friday!  Good luck!
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*But we're trying to keep it fun.  I mean she's only going to be our only child for 4 more months so it's not all baby all the time.

I was not compensated for this review, however, I was provided with the products pictured for review.

27 Amazing Bloggers
1 Winner: $400 Tiffany & Co Gift Card
1 Mandatory Entry + lots of bonus entries There is just one mandatory entry and that is to leave a comment below telling me "what would you buy at Tiffany's with the gift card". The rest are bonus entries and totally up to you!

Dreaming of Dimples | Lemons Avocados and the Bay | The Shine Project

Because Shanna Said So | Gentri Lee | Ramblings of a Southern Belle

Meg O. on the Go | Along Abbey Road | Perception is Everything

Lipgloss and Crayons | A Night Owl Blog | Running in Stilettos

Life After I "Dew" | Her Late Night Cravings | Brunch with Amber

Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife | The Sunshine Diary | lala Lists

The Life of Bon | Oh So Amelia | Choose to be Happy Blog

Travel Babbles | Sparking Footsteps | So Shay

Don't Quote the Raven | Messy. Dirty. Hair | For Lauren and Lauren

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• If you are a new member you will automatically get a $10 gift card once you make your first purchase of $25 or more using Ebates.  
• Use the search field where you can find the best deals on a specific product you are looking for or get access to Ebates only coupons.
• For every member you refer {that spends $25} gets you a $5 credit to your Ebates account.  Refer 25 and you could get $375!  

Noonday is a company that sells Fair Trade jewelry for women in impoverished countries. The jewelry is beautiful and the stories behind the jewelry is even more beautiful!

I had never heard from Noonday until Melissa contacted me and when she did I was sold.  The company has an amazing heart and I think that their mission would warm anyone's heart.  Taken from their website, Noonday Collection...

• Providing jobs that create a pathway out of poverty for families. A stable income means a family is less likely to abandon their child.
• Help families raise money for their own adoptions. We give 10% of trunk show sales directly to the adoptive family when they host a trunk show.
• Aside from donating 10% towards qualified adoptive families, Noonday Collection also gives towards orphan care and prevention. Watch the video to see one of our beneficiaries.

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I want you all to meet Laura.
 You may have noticed her button in my sidebar as she's a new sponsor of Life After I "Dew" and I think you're really going to like her.  Why, you ask?  Well she's offering one lucky L.A.I.D. reader a $20 Amazon gift card!  Just because!  Perfect for getting a head start on some of that holiday shopping, right?

Laura and I have a lot in common, like...

• She hates wearing wet clothes.  I can't think of anything worse than walking around with wet clothes, even when the bottom of my pants get wet and I can feel it on my leg it gives me the heebies.  
• She can belch like a trucker and I have the mouth of one.
• She wants to retire to South Carolina.  She had me at beach.
• She loves to cook and I love to eat cook.
• We both have a love/hate relationship with running.
• One thing I cannot get on board with is this chica wears socks to bed and the thought alone makes my skin crawl.  It's OK, Laura, I still love you.

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Big thanks to Laura for offering this to my readers! You rock my socks, girl!

First of all, THANK YOU to all that entered my giveaway! I was blown away but the number of participants. So many of you opted for the 25 bonus points and placed an order and I truly hope you like all of your products! Thanks again!!
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Whoa!  Am I posting on a Sunday?  Yes I am!  Why?  Because I have a treat for you loyal L.A.I.D. readers. In case you didn't know it, I'm an Avon lady.  And for those of you that think Avon is for your grandma, I'm here to tell you, you're wrong!  I admit, I had never tried Avon until I started selling it but now that I have I'll never go back to anything else. Except maybe NARS blush because with a color name like Orgasm, who can resist?  BUT all else I will buy from Avon even if  I'm not selling anymore.  That's how much I believe in and love these products. I have amazing customers and, even better, loyal ones.  As a token of my appreciation I want to give YOU something.   That would be 4 of my all-time favorite Avon products. 1.  Glimmersticks Liqui-Glide eye liner. You'll get your choice of color but this is by far THE BEST eye liner you will ever use.  If you haven't tried it yet I highly suggest hightailing it over to my shop and ordering at least two.  I've had people who have sworn by department store liner convert and I promise you will too. 2.  Foot Works Dual Action Pedi-Peel Pads.  Guys, I have to admit, my feet are gross.  I run around barefoot a lot and my heels look like the cement I walk on.  True story.  These babies?  Cured my nasty feet after one, ONE, use. I swear.  I couldn't believe it either but now I use them nightly and my feet have never looked better.   3.  ExtraLasting Mascara.  I've talked about my love for this mascara before.  Nothing's changed.  I still get asked if I'm wearing fake lashes or using Latisse.  Still. Love. 4.  Glowdacious Illuminating Powder.  I use the Shimmied Up color and I'm obsessed.  Remember that time I wore my giant sunnies at the beach leaving me with the most noticeable case of Raccoon Eyes ever?  Well I swiped this miracle powder right over the problem area and BAM, no more Raccoon Eyes.   One winner will get the chance to win all four amazing products, a $40+ value!

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1. Follow L.A.I.D. via GFC {obviously}
2. Follow Estrea on Twitter
3. "Like" Estrea on Facebook 

1. 'Like' GroopDealz on FB and sign up for the email that notifies you of the deals! 
2. If you already like on FB and get emails, then enter by sharing (blog/tweet/FB, etc) about the giveaway! 

• Follow Life After I "Dew" via Google Friend Connect {mandatory}
• Follow SwimSpot on Twitter {mandatory}
• "Like" SwimSpot on Facebook {mandatory}
• Post about this giveaway on Facebook and mention SwimSpot and Life After I "Dew" Blog {optional}

Leah is a new blog friend and June sponsor of Life After I "Dew' and she's become one of my daily must reads!  She's a doll.  She keeps it real.  She's sweet but has some sarcastic sass {which I love}.  So I was pretty stoked when she wanted to host a giveaway for you lovely ladies.
Giveaway from Etsy store ShopLeah, sponsored by the Lovely Life of Leah blog.