5 Tips For Transitioning Your Toddler For A Sibling

Hello Foxy Friends! Just this week we transitioned my daughter from her crib to a big girl bed, queue the tears, on my part not her's. Just kidding I didn't really cry, but really, why do they have to grow up! I want to bottle up this stage of life and remember it always. I was thinking back to the days when her bed was Baby Fox's bed and how we transitioned him to being a big brother. Here is what we did to transition him to being a big brother.

My kids are 2.75 years apart, I got pregnant just as my son was turning 2. Mini Fox was born in September and then 3 months later in December Baby Fox turned 3.

1. Making Being A Big Brother the Most Fantastic Thing EVER

We started off by telling him he was going to be a big brother and that his baby sister was going to love him so much. And when baby comes he's going to get to help out Mommy with baby sister. Getting her diapers and toys and playing with her. We never mentioned anything negative, like he'll spend less time with Mommy and Daddy, just the good stuff. Making everything sounds over the top exciting for when baby sister got here and most importantly he would have someone to play with.

He even helped change a diaper or two...

2. Have Them Involved With Planning

Any chance we got we would have Baby Fox help pick things out for his little sister. He even picked out her coming home outfit. It was so cute, he just loved that he got to make that important decision. The coming home outfit he picked out.

 

3. Let Them Pick Out A Gift Just For Baby

We asked him if he wanted to give baby sister a gift for when he met her for the first time. He happily agreed and then picked out this cute rabbit stuffed blanket thing. He was so proud of it, and was so excited to give it to her when he met her at the hospital. He even asked if we could bring her home that moment, but unfortunately we had to stay the night.

 

We did not do a gift from baby, mostly because we didn't feel like it was necessary. He knew she was a baby and could not really go "shopping" for him but I think letting him pick a gift to give her, was way more fun for him. To have something small to bring his little sister.
 

4. Talk Up Transition to a Big Boy Bed is for Older Siblings

We knew we didn't want to buy another crib, so we needed to transition brother out of his crib before sister arrived. We told Baby Fox that being a big brother was a big deal, and that big brothers got to sleep in big boy beds. Right off the bat we told him that when he becomes a big brother he gets to sleep in a big boy bed, we made this a HUGE deal, telling everyone that would listen that when he's a big brother he gets to sleep in a big boy bed. Totally worked, we talked about it so much that by the time we switched him he was just so stinkin excited. We transitioned him about 2 weeks before Baby Sister arrived (really we wanted it to be about a month, but sister came 2 weeks early).

Helping Daddy to build his bed.

 

His new bed, he was so excited.

He did have some hesitation the first night, but we reminded him that his sister needed the crib when she got here, and he quickly said oh yeah and then happily slept in his new big boy bed.We even let him pick out his new bed, which was a huge deal, we talked about this a lot, what his bed would look like. In the grand scheme of things, yes we paid a lot for a bed that isn't going to last a long time, but we just wanted him to love his new bed, so it was worth the cost. Click here for his whole room tour.

5. Do One-On-One Time

Those first few weeks are difficult on everyone. Make sure that toddler isn't getting left out. I know you're feeding around the clock, but try to plan times that grandparents or good friends can come and pick them up so that they can get out of the house and feel special that only he gets to go and baby doesn't. They don't know that baby can't really get out of the house yet. Also do some one-on-one time with just you and him, alternate between you and your spouse/partner. Even if it's just at trip to the store, any time with you they love.

Mr. planted some bulbs with Baby Fox, he just loved being outside with just Mr. (minus me taking the picture) and being able to dig in dirt, win-win for all.

Those are my tips for helping your toddler transition to having a new sibling. Have any other tips to share?

Linking up here

White Dress On Repeat

Hello Foxy Fashion Friends! Back with my favorite summer dress from Old Navy. I thought it was $12, and I thought well I'll ask Mr. if he likes it and if does I'll keep it, if not then not worth $12. Then I got to the register and it was $4.88!!! What?! I never find deals like this. Definitely a keeper and I've worn it a couple of times already.

I wore this to my cousins baby shower. 

I loved the way my hair turned out, sort of just made it up as I went, this will definitely be on repeat.

 

 

Join The Blended Blog this summer to help you get dressed. Pick one thing from each column and you're done! No thinking involved.

Now on to my hair from the week. I haven't done much. Friday on the way to the mountains I wanted to curl my hair because curls last for days in the mountains, yay for dry air. Then I just threw it half up, this is super easy and stays throughout the day and makes you look more put together.

Saturday I tried to do my braided half crown, but didn't have two rubber bands, so the one side is way loser than I would like, but hey what are you going to do? Just go with it and take a picture anyway. 

Link up with us what you've been wearing this summer!

An InLinkz Link-up

 
Linking up here

Talking To My Younger Self

Hello Foxy Friends! You probably didn't notice, but didn't post yesterday. I brought my laptop to the mountains with us, but forgot my mouse, and of course I turned off my track pad so I had no way of doing anything on my computer. Oops. Today I'm linking up with Shelly and Katy for Spiel the Beans with the Queens. Todays topic is school day memories and what I would tell, my younger self. I just recently did a whole post on my high school days, showed some embarrassing photos of me with bangs, my one year of cheerleading, and my band days.

Today I'm sharing some advice for all of those starting high school, going back to high school or even as a Freshman in college.

Tip 1

If I could go back, knowing what I know now, I would tell my younger self, don't worry so much! I worried about everything, friends, school, after school activities, you name it I worried about it. Life will still go on, and the world will in fact not end.

Tip 2

Speaking of worrying, I wanted everything to be perfect all the time. I didn't want to skip any school. My parents almost begged me to relax and take a day off, of course I never would. Everything doesn't need to be perfect, if something isn't right, there is no need to lose sleep over it. Life goes on, and no one will remember it next week.

Tip 3

Participate in school activities. You might not think you are a participator, but do it, nothing is better than getting ready for a dance or a football game and having no worries other than seeing friends and hanging out, talking about boys/girls and just having fun.

Tip 4

Do things in groups. Yes you might have a boyfriend or girlfriend, but most likely you are not going to be with that person in 5 years or married to that person. Except a select few of course, which I find amazing. So don't segregate yourself from your friends just because you have someone else.  Remember who was there before that person and you want those same people to be there if you don't make it.

Tip 5

Last but not least, be yourself. Don't try to be who you think other people want you to be. There are people out there that will like you for who you are. I still talk to all of my core group of friends from high school.  We might go years between seeing each other, but when we do get together it's like no time has passed. So be yourself, find your group of friends and have fun!

Most of these girls I have known for 24 years, and the one of them I've known for over 30...crazy right?

What would you tell your younger self?

Also linking up with Andrea and here

Friday Favorites #82

In Case you missed it on the blog this week



Monday: One Swing Dress Three Ways
Tuesday: Kids Behind the Blog
Wednesday: Brownie S'mores Recipe
Thursday: Picture Perfect Project

Since I didn't a changed to post my hair styles this week, I thought I would add it here.  Gotta keep myself accountable. Last Wednesday I actually got my hair in a bun, I was so happy it actually worked. I didn't use a donut, I used this twisty thing, and it never worked before but the heavens above and it worked for the very first time.

Thursday night I went out with my friend and did some simple curls and left my hair down. I was trying out a new lipstick called Lipsense, Foxy Friends, amazing! It's long lasting, only comes off with make up remover and doesn't budge...at all!

I did my hair super cute on Saturday, but forgot to take a picture of it, oops. Sunday Mr. needed to study so I took the kids to the mall for a while.

Monday tried something new...needs a little work, but I think if I had more time I could tweak it to be better.

Tuesday was another up do...dirty hair...ya know.

5th day hair...I did this so when I got home I could whip it up in a pony tail. I should have taken a picture of that. This is how I wear my hair to the gym. The worst is when I get those baby hairs in my face while working out, this braid prevents that from happening.

Last weekend I celebrated my cousin and her baby to be. I'm so excited for her, she is one of the younger cousins of the group and we got to finally see her new house and celebrate just her. She's the one that we went to see graduated back east when we went on our back East road trip

How cute are these party gifts? So adorable!

Some other randoms from the week.

Well this happened last week, a friend at work knew I was ending the 21 day fix and brought this as a prize...totally worth it! Don't worry I only ate a tiny little bit and shared the rest.

Baby Fox went to his first time to VBS camp, he loved it!

These two, Mini Fox was having a rough time in the car so Baby Fox held her hand for a bit.

Mr. had to stay home one day because we didn't have anyone to watch the kids...thumbs up from this one.

Sunday I had a ton of stuff to return at the mall, bribery goes a long way.

 

Neither one wanted to take a picture with the Nordies bag...haha.

I'm loving all the Olympics, and this video, wow, she is just so amazing. It breaks down one of her floor tumbling passes, so freakin' cool.

 This would be so fun to do for a kid birthday party right?

Linking up here

Picture Perfect Project: August

Hello Foxy Friends! I'm back linking up with  Whitney,  Courtney,  Beth  and  Elizabeth,  Stephanie  and  Desiree for another month of The Picture Perfect Project. Click here for the previous months.

This month is my birthday month and usually I try to get one of us on my birthday, but since this is happening before my birthday I figured I would try to get another. This past weekend we were all in the pool and my mom was over so I had her try and get some photos of us jumping in the water. We're all jumping at different times, but I just love this picture so much. Perfect picture for the calendar.

Maybe we can try again without the pool cover, but you know that's real life. Us having fun in the pool in our backyard.

Linking up here