Lady Family Photo Shoot- Saunders Photography

Here is the latest photo shoot from my photography business, Saunders Photography


The Lady Family

No photo shoot is complete without a funny shot :) 

If you enjoyed these photos please follow Saunders Photography, here. If you live in my area and would like to schedule a photo shoot please message me on Facebook to set up your next photo shoot!

Toddler Transitions: From Crib to Toddler Bed

Recently we  (my husband and I) decided to take the plunge and transition our little guy from his crib to a "big boy" bed. Luckily we purchased a crib that transforms into a toddler day bed, so there was no extra purchases needed (I'll also share an added plus to that in a minute). I wanted to share some tips and tricks that we found helpful in making this transition.

Let me provide some small background to this choice first. Our son is 16 months old. On a recent trip he got VERY close to climbing out of his pack and play and thus the conversation of when to make this change began. Personally I wasn't sure if he was ready or not but we figured it was worth a shot and if it went horribly wrong all we had to do was put the front of the crib back on. So here are some things we considered and did during this transition.


1. Make sure YOU are ready, and your little one.
            Most blog posts about this will start off by saying something like "make sure your toddler is ready for this change, don't rush into it". And while that is completely correct, it's a lot more making sure the parents are ready than the toddler. I'm betting my son would have slept in his crib until he was 2 if we didn't bother. He never tries to climb out of the crib, just the pack 'n' play. However, in order to make going on vacations work without that bulky thing, he had to be use to sleeping in a bed, with accessibility to get in and out.

           About a month ago J (little man) figured out how to get on and off the couches by himself, so at this point he is a master at knowing how to get on and off of things without falling face forward. To me, that is when a toddler is really "ready". Make sure they know well how to get on and off of furniture before exposing them to a bed without a rail.


2. Toddler Proof the room!
          This is a big one, not only because of safety but, well okay it is all about safety. Make sure the room your toddler is in is toddler proof. That nothing is in the room they could get hurt on, or could fall on them. We had a small bookshelf and moved things around to make it fit in his closet. All that he has access to are his dresser drawers (with nothing in them) and a small toy box with only stuffed animals in it. We do have a full size bed and recliner in the room but both are taller and he can't reach to get on them at this point. We decided to leave stuffed animals in the room since they are not "overly stimulating" toys and he sleeps with several anyway, not like they are some big fun toy to play with.


3. Have a plan, and stick to it!
           We decided to take the crib front off and make it a day bed the afternoon we got home from a trip to san diego, a 9 hour drive. The nice part of that was that J was tired from traveling so when bed time rolled around, he was ready to crash. We also picked a night where we had no plans the next day, just in case he decided to wake up and play all night long. To our surprise he didn't, and still hasn't. But make sure you decided when to do it and are prepared, what is that saying again? "prepare for the worst and hope for the best"...yeah, do that!


4. Keep your routine!
         Stick to your normal bed time routine. just because the bed has changed doesn't mean the whole routine needs to as well. I still walk around the room for a couple minutes holding J and then lay him in bed. I don't let him climb into bed. That way it's not this production of "hey look, you can get in and out now!" (we did show him he could when we first set it up, but that was several hours before bedtime). Whatever the routine is, stick to it and act like nothing changed.


5. The extras (that are just as important)
       some other things to consider are...

                  -Lay them down when they are tired, not before. If they are ready for bed that means less times you have to put them back in bed when they get out.

                 - If you do have to go back into their room to place them back in bed, don't make it a big thing. Pick them up, put them back in bed, say a VERY quick goodnight and leave! (Super Nanny suggests the same)

                 - Placing a pool noodle under the sheet at the edge works much better than a guard. those guards are made for big (twin and up) beds. A pool noodle is just high enough so they do not roll out but low enough that they can still get in and out of the bed with ease.


**Update after several months in a toddler bed:

Around night 5 or 6 J got down on the floor and slept and winded up under his bed some how, after that we took the bed apart and left the toddler mattress on the floor. After several nights J started sleeping on the floor...we debated constantly going in and putting him back in bed and after a while just decided he will eventually get back in bed. He slept on the floor for a good while (few weeks) but now he alternates and sleeps all over the room it seems. He still gets a good night sleep and we don't need to constantly go in and reset him in bed (we don't go back in his room unless he is really crying). He normally plays for a few minutes and then finds his pillow and blanket and goes to sleep. Overall the transition has gone very well and I am pleased that he now is able to sleep in a bed with no issues.

Until Next Time...

Citrus Lane: August Box Review

Another great month with Citrus Lane. I have to say we are always pleased with what this company sends us. I am always looking forward to the next box and what will be inside. So let's get right to what was in the August Box and my thoughts on each item.

1. Woodland Growth Chart from Petit Collage: This growth chart is a cute cardboard chart to hang on the wall that can easily be moved (huge bonus for this military family!). I was really excited to get this because we recently have been on the hunt for a growth chart that we could move easily with us. I am so glad I held out and didn't buy one yet since we got one this month in the box. Score! It is a really cute woodsy theme that has a tree as the actual chart and little animals spread out among the branches. It also comes with leaf stickers to track your child's growth. Retail cost: $20-$60 depending on style. petitcollage.com






2. Animal on Wheels by Green Toys: If you read my reviews of Citrus Lane you already know I am happy with this product. Green Toys has some seriously awesome toys, and very durable. My son is 18 months and just loves throwing things (we're working on fixing that) but these toys hold up to toddler boys very well! We got the little pig on wheels which is so cute. You can also find a turtle and elephant on their website, shop.greentoys.com Retail cost: $12.99








3. Reusable Cool It Buddy by Me4Kidz: A month or so back we got a medi buddy (same company) and I was very happy to get it. While we haven't used it yet (kind of a good thing to not use a medical kit I guess) it is perfect for the diaper bag, purse or stroller. I love this little ice pack as well. It is about the size of my palm, a little bigger. Very soft material for little ones to place on a bump or scrape, and very cute designs on them. Retail cost: $4








4. Snuggly Lotion from Episencial: This lotion I will say I haven't tried on my son yet but have myself and I like it. I like that it is a natural lotion (my son has very sensitive skin). It smells good too (cherry scent)! Retail Cost: $10












5. Care.com offer: I haven't used care.com (haven't needed to) but have heard several good things about the company. The coupon offered a 25% off deal.


6. Citrus Lane also included a 15% off coupon to use on their online store.



I will say I was slightly disappointed to not see a book in this month's box. We love books in our house and I always love the books Citrus Lane puts in the boxes but overall I am very pleased with the box this month. Citrus Lane really does a great job at finding age appropriate toys and goods for your child and yourself. If you would like information about citrus lane and their monthly boxes for your child or children visit their website at the link: Citrus Lane


* These opinions are my own, I was not given this product in exchange for my review.*


Until Next Time...

Citrus Lane: June Mystery Box Review

Yay! Another mystery box from Citrus Lane has arrived today! I was so excited that it came in the mail before we left for camping fun this weekend! I wasn't planning on getting this review done so fast but I got several questions about the items so I figured I would put a review together quickly for readers.

For your enjoyment....the review!!!

1. Skip Hop elephant bib: This is the item everyone saw that came in the box. With a toddler, it is fair to say you can never have too many bibs and I love this one!! Not only super cute, but super compact. It has this nifty flap at the bottom back that you can fold the entire bib into itself...and it doesn't unfold!! I mean it folds into a ball the size of my palm! So nice when I already have an overstuffed diaper bag!


2. Farm Animal Qubes (yes, Qubes) from Hape: Another great company in my opinion. Love their past toys we have received in the Citrus Lane boxes and really love how cute these little farm animal wood blocks, or Qubes I should say, are. My son loved them and has been playing with them non stop. Win!

3. Race Car from Green Toys: Ok so I wasn't too thrilled to see this in my box. Not because it isn't an awesome toy. It really is...but we have this exact car already. However I knew that (citrus lane does warn you may get duplicate items if you order monthly boxes and mystery boxes) so I was warned and knew in the back of my mind it would happen at some point. Anyway, this little car is really cute and fun. My son loves his and it rolls really well! I plan to hold onto this one and gift it since we already have one.


4. Octopus Opposites book by A Barefoot Boardbook: Such a cute book! We love books around here (if you have read my other blogs you know!) So we love it when Citrus Lane includes a book (they do every time!) Great illustrations and cute story about opposites.

5. Munchkin brand sippy cup 2 pack: Just like with the bib, you can never have too many sippy cups with a toddler. We were actually just talking about leaving a cup in the car clean so if we ever forgot J's cup we would have one...well thank you Citrus Lane...one of these babies is going to fill that spot! I like these cups because it has a nice "click-lock" feature where the cup "clicks" when the lid is locked. Very nice for rushing around to ensure the cup lid is on fully!


6. Snack bag 2 pack by Bumkins: Love reusable containers...less waste and less trash for me to find later. The bags are big enough to hold plenty of fishy crackers or little snack or even half a sandwich. cute designs, and several designs to choose from on amazon and other sites.


7. dishwasher-safe stickers from Goodbyn: These stickers are cute. One side has all kinds of images and the other has several sizes of letters to form names. You can use them on cups for kids, or whatever you wish. I really liked how there were a few "special" stickers for kids with allergies that you could place on things like lunch boxes or cups. Awesome idea!





             






8. Melissa & Doug Animal Board puzzle: cute, cute puzzle. Loved it and my son loves it (I guess that is the idea right?) this board puzzle has images of "parent and child" animals grouped together. Really cute and perfect size for little hands.

Thank you Citrus Lane for another great mystery box!! I have to say that This company really does pick out some great quality toys/products for kids. 

*As always if you are interested in these boxes please visit the Citrus Lane website...Here to find out more information about ordering these products and future boxes for your child/children. And as always, Enjoy! 

*the opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone, I was NOT given these items in exchange for a review nor was I paid for a review of them. 

Citrus Lane: June Box Review

Here I am once again to review the Citrus Lane subscription box. This month (June) like everyone we have had so far has been a great box. I will say that when I first opened the box I was sad to see that it wasn't "full" (normally the items are big and fill the box, this month they were smaller items but in no way less fun or of value).

Let's jump right in to the review of the products shall we.....


1. Wet Bag from Bumkins: This item was the one you got to choose the design of (the last 2 months Citrus Lane has been letting customers choose a design of one of the items they are getting as a "sneak peak" of the box...i'm loving that btw). Needless to say, I knew this item was coming and was so excited for it! I have been wanting to get a wet bag for J for when we go to the pool and lake for his swimsuit and rash guard but just haven't yet. I choose the Mickey Mouse one (we are a little bit of Disney fans at our house, ok a lot!) I am so excited to use it, especially on our disney cruise coming up. This one is quite large and could hold a couple of swim suits if you have multiple children, no need for more than one. Added bonus...they roll up super small so no wasted space when not in use.


2. Little Vehicle from Hape: At first I was bummed to see yet another car, truck, vehicle in the box but to be honest...it isn't for me, it's for my son and he LOVES vehicles...so of course it was a huge hit with him. He loves the fact that it is loud bagging on the kitchen floor and I love that its wood and won't break while he is banging in on the floor. Cute design, cute vehicle...he's happy, I'm happy!


3. Taro Gomi Book (Hide and Seek) from Chronicle Books: I am always happy with the books Citrus Lane picks out! This one was a cute Hide and Seek book featuring animals with different things on them. (see picture for example) About 8 pages in all, which is good since my one year old doesn't do sitting still very long.

Taro Gomi Book page 

4. Adhesive Bandages from Ouchies Jr. : These are super cute!!! They are designed with the Mr. Men and Little Miss people on them in 4 different designs. While my son isn't quite old enough to have a preference over what bandage he gets...they are super cute none the less and I love them. I don't want to say I'm excited to use them, I mean who wants to wish their kid would get hurt to use a bandage? Super cute and may just help ease the pain when they are needed ;)



5. Mighty 4 Bars from Plum Organics: I really like Plum Organics and haven't tried these bars with my little guy yet so I was quite pleased to see them in the box. Little man had one tonight after dinner and ate the entire bar! (trust me, that is huge for him!) Citrus Lane included a $1 off coupon for the company which I plan to use to purchase more of these bars for J. 2 came in the box this month (blueberry & Strawberry)


6. Special offer from Third Love: Third Love was a company I had never heard of so thankfully there was a nice little note about the company with the offer. This company is founded by a mom with no time to go "bra" shopping (can I get an amen!) and started this co. You can download the app and size yourself and shop online for your bra (Modern technology I tell ya!) The offer is for $20 off a $40 purchase online. I can't wait to go shopping!!!


As with almost every box, Citrus Lane does give discount codes to purchase more of the items you received. If you want to know more about this company or starting a subscription visit the Citrus Lane Link (yup, that one right there) to find out more.  Happy Shopping!!


*These opinions are my own, I purchased the subscription myself and was NOT given the boxes in exchange for a review* 

Saunders Photography: 2 year old Twins

Here are some shots from the photo shoot I did last week for some friend's 2 year old twins. Enjoy!

If you are local to me and are interested in booking a photo shoot please contact me or message me on my Facebook page.... Saunders Photography

Citrus Lane: June Surprise Box

We have been getting the Citrus Lane boxes for a couple months now and very happy with them. Every month they offer what they call a "surprise" box you can buy as well. This month I decided to buy it and see if it was worth it. Here is my review of the June surprise box...

First off, I purchased this box knowing that some of the items may be "above" my son's age range. We are taking a trip in Dec and I wanted to have some fun toys to bring along for the plane ride for him and was hoping this box would aid in the supply of that stuff (It did!!)

Surprise box goodies! 

1. I Took the Moon for a Walk book: This is a cute paperback book that came in the box. It was the first thing I saw when we opened it up. Nice illustrations and basic storyline. Not an overly exciting children's book but cute none the less. We love books here so I always love getting new books for our son.


2. Medi Buddy: I didn't get a pic of this one (sorry) but was so excited to see it in the box. I had missed out on getting this by a month so was bummed and didn't really want to pay the $6 price tag walmart sells them for. It's a cute little first aid kit and comes in a reusable case. It will be great to have on our cruise this december to toss in our day bag while in ports.


3. Puppy Slide Flute: I gave this one to Jackson now since it seemed like he could use it now and enjoy it. It's basically an updated version of those old wooden train flutes you find at Cracker Barrel, just shaped like a dog :)


4. Faber-Castell Wax Crayons and Doodling pad: I was very happy to see these in the box. What better plane ride toy than crayons and paper. Added bonus...they are jumbo crayons so perfect for little hands and have a triangle shape so no rolling!!


5. Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace-Farm Animals: This was the item I knew about in the box (you get to pick one item, the rest are a surprise). I plan to pack these in the plane bag since its a nice quiet game he can play and hopefully not annoy other passengers with ;)


6. Hello Books Build-a-Book: This one I am on the fence about. It looks really cute, basically scrapbooking for young kids. Its a small book that comes with stickers that kids can create and draw on. The package says 4+ for the age range...quite a ways off from the suggested 2+ on the box. Not sure If I will keep this or gift it.


7. Bamboo Race Car: another perfect small item for the plane ride (I told you I got several things for the trip in this box!) It's a cute little blue and wooden race car. What little boy wouldn't love it!


8. Green Toys tumblers: I love this company and so far have gotten something from them in every box I have ordered from Citrus Lane. These will be a save for later item as my son is still on sippy-style cups and will be for a while. But not disappointed, I love this company!



All in all I am very happy with the surprise box we got. Yes, some things are above his age range for using now but again I ordered the one up on purpose with the plan to use it later for our trip. I have to say I feel I really got my money's worth out of this box. It came with several more items than the monthly boxes do and all of them were great quality and nothing I was unhappy with. I try not to expect anything big that way I am not disappointed by what is in the box. So far I guess it's working :)


*Currently Citrus Lane is running a special to get up to 50% off your box if you sign up for a new subscription. Check it out and see for yourself but if you ask me, it is worth it!

Citrus Lane Site Link