WELCOME WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP

Happy Hump Day! It is the first day of June! Where oh where does the time go? What better way to start the month then to kick off your heels and do a little blog hopping!




This week's guest hostess is Crystal from Will Coupon for Shoes! How haute is that blog name? We all know what we will do for shoes and she had some darling ones on there that all us haute moms will go a little gaga over!



Blog Hop Rules: This is a low key hop. After all...it is Welcome Wednesday, here to get the inspirational juices flowing and find other blogs we can stalk! Put those feet up, relax, and join the bloggy fun. There are a few rules though:

1. Follow the hostesses, Haute Mom! Be sure to leave a comment so that I can follow you back.
2. Follow our guest hostess - Will Coupon for Shoes
3. Link up your blog for all of us to love.
4. Make an attempt to check out at least two new blogs. Don't know where to start? How about the two blogs above you? If you love the blog, become a follower and leave them a comment letting them know.

So link up! You don't have to post about the hop...but you know how we ladies work, the more the merrier. We would love it if you would help us spread the word and help Welcome Wednesday grow! One of you could be next week's spotlight guest hostess!

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day all you haute moms!  I am sure you are all out enjoying the three-day weekend with your families in one way or another.  You may have some haute plans someplace, maybe you took a trip, or maybe you chose to spend the weekend at home.  Either way, I know none of you just sat around and relaxed because, as I have learned, a haute mom never does.

I am gearing up for a BBQ at our house and find myself wondering the same thing I wonder every weekend, how am I so exhausted?  We have had a great weekend with friends and short outtings and I am so stinkin' tired, I feel like I need one more day off.  How dooes that happen?  I always drag my feet about going out of town because just the thought of all the preparation makes me tired and now, after being home all weekend, I am just as pooped!  Am I the only one that this happens to or is this just part of being a mommy?  To top it off, poor Stella has had a fever since yesterday (I'm thinking teething) so she has been exceptionally needy.  Can I call for a mulligan and take this weekend over again?

Ok...phew.  I am done venting.  I feel much better now, thank you.   On another note, exhausted or not, I would like to thank all of those that have fought for our freedom.  Without them, this day wouldn't even exist.
Hope you all had a haute and safe Memorial Day weekend! 

Haute Mom Dilemma #45 ~ Holding On

The weeks have been flying by since Stella's first birthday and it seems like she is quickly coming into her own. In just two short weeks she is now walking, drinking her milk (both breast and whole) out of a sippy cup, and our biggest accomplishment, sleeping without being held or rocked at both nap and nighttime. More and more words come out of her mouth everyday. She eats what we eat at meals; her newest favorite is artichokes. My mom said to me yesterday that this was a sure sign that she was growing up.

While I look back at the early months and my wish that she wouldn't be so dependent, I now find myself trying to put on the breaks. It is so fun to watch her find herself but I must admit, it is bittersweet. Where did my little baby go? I feel more and more attached to her everyday.

Tonight I am surprising my hubby and taking him to go see Prince (he was an 80's teen) and all I can think about is this tightness in my chest from the little time I will get to spend with her today. Am I normal? Why do I feel like I am regressing as she progresses? Help! My baby girl is growing so fast...is this where moms start wanting baby #2? (Mom, if you are reading this don't panic, it is just a question.)

At any rate, I must say how proud it makes me to see her growing each day. I never imagined how fun it would be! Thank goodness for a three day weekend and one extra day home with Stella! Happy Friday haute moms!

My big little girl

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WELCOME WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP

Happy Hump Day! I am officially a mom still trying to be haute...and my daughter is 1!  I am in serious need for some hoppin' so I hope you join in! What better way to get over the midweek hump then to kick off your heels and do a little blog hopping!





<center><a href="http://kelleyhautemom.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f301/csulbdelta/welcomewednesday2.jpg"/></a></center>  

Blog Hop Rules: This is a low key hop. After all...it is Welcome Wednesday, here to get the inspirational juices flowing and find other blogs we can stalk! Put those feet up, relax, and join the bloggy fun. There are a few rules though:

1. Follow the hostesses, Haute Mom! Be sure to leave a comment so that I can follow you back.

2.  Link up your blog for all of us to love.

3. Make an attempt to check out at least two new blogs. Don't know where to start? How about the two blogs above you? If you love the blog, become a follower and leave them a comment letting them know.


So link up! You don't have to post about the hop...but you know how we ladies work, the more the merrier. We would love it if you would help us spread the word and help Welcome Wednesday grow!  One of you could be next week's spotlight guest hostess!

Stella's First Haircut

Somewhere I had read or heard that it was bad luck to cut a child's hair before they turned 1 year old. I know how incredibly ridiculous this sounds but being the crazy superstitious lady that I am, I waited, subjecting Stella to look like the shaggy dog.

This past weekend I took Stella to my stylist for her very first haircut. She was able to sit on my lap but cried as though she was in the doctor's office getting a shot. Bless the grandmother -type woman in the chair next to us who tried everything she could think of to cheer Stella up. In our new life with a 1 year old, I knew that Stella would stop when she was good and ready, which ended up being about 5 minutes before my stylist got done. This was partially due to the fact that she thought a comb made a wonderful teething tool. The good news is that her haircut is darling and we can now see her eyes again.

Before

During

After

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New Haute Mom's Club Member

Haute Mom's Club has its newest Haute Mom member! Welcome Ashley D. from The Mommy Hood Adventure! 

We couldn't have found a better haute mom out there!  She is a wife, a mommy, a writer, and has no clothes dryer!  That's right!

Click here to read more...

Stella's First Birthday - A Haute Mom Never Does It Alone

I know all us haute moms dream about the grand 1st birthday party that we are all going to throw our little ones.  It is natural for us since, as haute moms, we thrive on party planning.  And not just any old party planning, but THEMED party planning!  Secretly, I started months ago when I bought a hot pink zebra birthday banner for Stella from Bannerparty.  I couldn't draw myself away from the sassy hot pink and zebra print in the banner - I felt it was a definite match for Stella's personality.

After the theme was decided, I just couldn't help myself.  My hubby thought I was "getting a little nuts" with the zebra print and hot pink but I shrugged him off as we haute moms do and continued on my merry planning.  We decided to have the party at our tiny little house even though we were expeting about 40 people to come.  My hubby was in charge of cleaning and I took care of the rest.  We invited friends and family and were shocked at the turn out! 

Etsy was a HUGE help in finding matching decorations and items.  Kenzy Bug supplied hot pink zebra gift bags, matching tutus, and even a matching tank top and bows for me and the family.  Her stuff was DARLING and reasonable!  I bought matching cupcake toppers from Get The Party Started that were seriously one of the greatest things I have spent money on in a long time.  The toppers had different messages on them and, of course, fit right in with the theme.  She had so many cute things to buy for themed birthdays but I had to restrain myself.  They came super fast too!  Last but not least, I have to mention the cupcakes.  I got them from Delightful by the Dozen, a local cupcake maker who has the most delicious cupcake AND they deliver! She had a fantastic choice of flavors and she even dyed some of the frosting hot pink to go with the colors!

All in the all, the party was fabulous and we were surrounded by our closest friends and family.  Stella even got to meet her great-grandfather for the first time which, to me, was the best present yet.  Take a look at some of the pictures, and pay close attention to Get The Party Started who has generously agreed to give all Haute Mom followers 15% off a purchase if you enter the code "HAUTE" at checkout!  Kenzy Bug will give all followers a 20% discount if you mention Haute Mom at checkout or send a conversation prior to ordering mentioning this blog. How haute is that?  Party planning anyone?

The birthday girl

Stella and her great-grandpa greeting the birthday zebra.

Gift bags from Kenzy Bug

Cupcakes and those FABULOUS toppers from Get The Party Started

 A closer look

The start of it all - the zebra print banner by Bannerparty

"Going nuts" according to hubby

Stella - The First Year : homemade banner (can't you tell?)

This wasn't me "going nuts" - this was from grandma (I guess that's where I get it)

Stella was a little...uh...overwhelmed when we sang "Happy Birthday"

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Haute Mom Dilemma #44 ~ How Time Flies

It is so amazing how things seems to be full speed ahead now that Stella is 1 year old. Her speech is developing more and more, steps coming with more confidence, and actions becoming more daring. What wasn't babyproofed before definitely must be now. I feel like my little girl is 1 going on 10.

We have been lucky enough to have a fantastic babysitter for Stella who will be starting to work towards her own career goals on the days that she is not with Stella. Her main goal is to be employed at the end of her six month internship which puts us at November. She has watched Stella full time since Stella was 7 months old.

For us this means finding another person to watch Stella or put her in day care. Day care would obviously have to start before November so that Stella could have some transition time, right? Is Stella too young for day care at 15 months? If we found a place we loved and had to put her there now to hold a spot, is she too young? What do all you haute moms think, especially those of you with older ones? I have some great recommendations and know that many of these places have waiting lists so I am feeling a little pressure but want to be sure Stella is not too young. Can you tell I'm a nervous mommy? Any input would be wonderful! Now off to finish my list of questions for the doctor today for her 12 month wellness visit...

Where oh where has my little girl gone?

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WELCOME WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP

Happy Hump Day! I am officially a mom still trying to be haute...and my daughter is 1!  I am in serious need for some hoppin' so I hope you join in! What better way to get over the midweek hump then to kick off your heels and do a little blog hopping!




<center><a href="http://kelleyhautemom.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f301/csulbdelta/welcomewednesday2.jpg"/></a></center>  This week we have our Guest Hostess- Confessions of a Vi3tBabe. She is a fellow mommy blogger with some great stuff. Not to mention a mommy of a 6-year-old and a baby girl! If you didn't visit her last week, be sure to stop on over and say hello!


Blog Hop Rules: This is a low key hop. After all...it is Welcome Wednesday, here to get the inspirational juices flowing and find other blogs we can stalk! Put those feet up, relax, and join the bloggy fun. There are a few rules though:

1. Follow the hostesses, Haute Mom! Be sure to leave a comment so that I can follow you back.

2. Follow our guest hostess Confessions of a Vi3tBabe.

3. Link up your blog for all of us to love.

4. Make an attempt to check out at least two new blogs. Don't know where to start? How about the two blogs above you? If you love the blog, become a follower and leave them a comment letting them know.


So link up! You don't have to post about the hop...but you know how we ladies work, the more the merrier. We would love it if you would help us spread the word and help Welcome Wednesday grow!  One of you could be next week's spotlight guest hostess!

What to Expect Book Giveaway

It has taken a lot to make it through Stella's 1st year. As a first time mom, I was discovering everything for the first time and hanging on to ecvery word that I heard and read. I was in unchartered territory, experiencing a lack of confidence, which was a feeling I was not really used to.

 

One of the books that helped me make it through was the What to Expect series. So I guess we are talking books no just one. I bought the What to Expect When Expecting as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I can remember sitting in bed at night with mu hubby, reading each week what crazy things were going on inside of my body. We loved the comparisons to the size of our growing baby each week. I got much of my needed information about pregnancy from this book; it became my bible.

 

Weeks before my due date, I ordered What to Expect the First Year. I say ordered because at that point, I was laying in bed with my kankles raised and doing all of my shopping online. Again, I found another winner and cherished this book. It still sits by my bedside where I kept it to use as reference and to read what to expect with each month of Stella's first year of life.

 

As Stella turned one, I have now graduated from the 2nd book in the series, but still know that there is so much more of the unexpected to come. So, I am off to read the next NEW book, What to Expect: The Second Year. I opened to first chapter and jumped right into the familiar layout. Right away it talked about weaning, a place you all know I am visiting right now.

 

What to Expect.com has generously team up with me to host a giveaway to celebrate this wonderful book series. In honor of Stella's 1st birthday, I am giving away the first three books in this series; the same ones I have used and raved about!

 

One lucky follower will receive:

• What to Expect When Expecting
• What to Expect the First Year
• What to Expect the Second Year

 To enter this giveaway you must follow Haute Mom publicly, and leave a comment telling me which book you will enjoy the most. Please include your email. You must do this before you complete any of the extra entries! Even of you are entering for yourself and your little one is almost a year, remember, all haute moms know someone who is expecting. Enter for yourself and a girlfriend!

 

Extra entries – leave a comment telling me you have done each of these:

 

-Like Haute Mom on Facebook

-Follow Haute Mom on Twitter

-Follow What to Expect on Twitter

-Follow Haute Mom on Networked Blogs

-Tweet about this giveaway up to once a day (leave the link in your comment)

-Post this giveaway on your blog (leave the link to your post)

 

This giveaway will end Monday, May 30th at 9 PST. Good luck to everyone!





Haute Mom Dilemma #43 -Where's the Party

Boxes have been arriving for weeks, full of gifts, favors, and decorations. I haven't seen my UPS man this much since my husband and I got married. As of Thursday, various guests have been coming into town. The invites were sent out weeks ago.
We have all the ingredients for a large event but nobody is getting married. It's Stella's 1st birthday party.

Her big day was actually yesteday (yes I know, Friday the 13th, I thought about that minutes after she was born). We took her to Disneyland and then had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants with grandparents and even her great grandfather. She got a sandbox from us, a "big girl" car seat from my parents, and fun sand toys from her Uncle Jordan. The best gift was my grandfather driving out from.Arizona to meet Stella for the first time.

The rest of the family and friends will be celebrate today at her birthday party. This is definitely a bittersweet feeling for me. A combination of pride for all her accomplishments and sadness that my little baby is growing up with such speed it makes my head spin. I am so happy and melancholy I don't know whether to laugh or cry. So I've been doing both.



I have some great giveaways in honor of Stella's 1st birthday and will be posting them soon, along with all the details of the fiesta in the next couple of days. Since I have family in town (you all know how that is) my time seems to be more limited than usual.

Have a great weekend and happy birthday to my Stella!

Crown 1 year old for the weekend!

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Giveaway Teaser

Happy Thursday haute moms! In celebration of Stella's 1st birthday tomorrow I will be celebrating with all of you by launching some giveaways! Be sure to check in tomorrow for the 1st birthday giveaway celebration!

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WELCOME WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP

Happy Hump Day! I am so excited - my daughter is turning 1 on Friday!  I am in serious need for some hoppin' (and escaping from birthday details) so I hope you join in! What better way to get over the midweek hump then to kick off your heels and do a little blog hopping!



<center><a href="http://kelleyhautemom.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f301/csulbdelta/welcomewednesday2.jpg"/></a></center>  This week we have our Guest Hostess- Elaina from A Time Out For Mommy. She is a fellow mommy blogger with some great stuff. If you didn't visit her last week, be sure to stop on over and say hello!


Blog Hop Rules: This is a low key hop. After all...it is Welcome Wednesday, here to get the inspirational juices flowing and find other blogs we can stalk! Put those feet up, relax, and join the bloggy fun. There are a few rules though:

1. Follow the hostesses, Haute Mom! Be sure to leave a comment so that I can follow you back.

2. Follow our guest hostess A Time Out For Mommy.

3. Link up your blog for all of us to love.

4. Make an attempt to check out at least two new blogs. Don't know where to start? How about the two blogs above you? If you love the blog, become a follower and leave them a comment letting them know.


So link up! You don't have to post about the hop...but you know how we ladies work, the more the merrier. We would love it if you would help us spread the word and help Welcome Wednesday grow!  One of you could be next week's spotlight guest hostess!

My First Mother's Day

Exactly one year ago yesterday I was counting down the days to my due date with only two more to go. My feet so swollen that not even my flip flops fit and my ankles had permanently disappeared. I was anxious and had no idea what life had in store for me.

Almost one year of broken sleep, dirty diapers, and loads of laundry later, I celebrated my first Mother's Day. Stella was so excited that she woke up at 6:30 in the morning. This was fine with me because we were off to Disneyland for the day.

We were able to beat a lot of the crowds and get some popular rides in without too much of a wait. The sun came out mid-morning which made for a beautiful day. Disneyland even handed out carnations for all us mommies. How haute is that? Note to Disneyland: very sweet but plain pins to pin the flowers on are not handy for us mommies who carry our babies.
Back at home, I was even to take a little nap with Stella before heading out to dinner. Hubby even got me a darling little dress that I had seen in a store window a few weeks ago! Points for hubby!

I felt so lucky and honored yesterday to be a mommy thanks to my wonderful family who sent cards and my loving friends who flanked me with phone calls and texts. This will be a tough Mother's Day to beat!

Stella playing peek a boo with me while taking a break at Disneyland

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Haute Mother's Day Deal!

Udder Covers has a great deal to honor all us haute moms...they are giving them away for free this weekend!

It's as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Go to UdderCovers.com.
2. Click on "Shop Now" and select any nursing cover you like.
3. Once you have made your selection, you'll automatically be directed to the shopping bag.

Enter the promo code "MOTHER" and they'll deduct 100% of the of the cover - all you pay are the shipping fees. You can use it more than once - just open a new browser window each time you do.

Happy Mother's Day!

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Haute Mom Dilemma #42 ~ Forever a Mommy

10 days old

I have been a little emotional lately.  Melancholy, reflective, wishful have all been moods that have come and gone.  I am not sure what has caused this; perhaps the fact that in one short week, my little baby girl will turn 1-year-old.

In the middle of all the crazy birthday party planning, I have had so many feelings jolt through me as I watch Stella and think about the year that has gone by.  My hubby keeps asking me, "What happened to our baby?" and I am wondering the same thing.  We now have a spunky, outspoken little girl on our hands who is now walking up to 4 steps all one her own!

2 week shy of her 1st birthday

Last night after I put Stella down, my hubby and I sat down and selected pictures from each month of her first year to display at her birthday party.  We had TONS to go through because I vowed when I was pregnant that I would take a picture of her every day of her first year.  I have not only kept that promise but I have done more than that.  I have over 1,200 pictures of Stella's first year of life, with at least one picture a day, and for the most part, more.  I can't believe that changes that I have seen in her with so many more to come.

I have had such a hard time lately with not being able to be a stay-at-home-mom.  I love my job to death and being in education, am more than fortunate to have my job but ladies...it has been TOUGH to go to work each day.  My  heart aches when I leave in the morning and I can't wait to see her at the end of the day.  I feel sad that I cannot be with her all day long and I am constantly wishing for money to fall from the sky so that I can be at home with Stella.

At any rate, I am thankful for where I am at in life and SO THANKFUL for a happy, healthy baby girl.  It feels like yesterday that I was bringing her home and I pray that year two slows down...just a bit. The good thing is that I will be a mommy forever, and a haute one at that!

 HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND TO ALL OF YOU!

Thrifty Thursday - A Great Site for Some Mother's Day Shopping!

I know that each week I give you sites that offer good deal and most of those sites are for children's items.  Well in honor of the u pcoming Mother's Day, I will share a site that I have used for a long time that offers deals for all us moms, our little ones, and even our hubbies. 

Ideeli is a site that offers specials categorized by store or brand.  Click on the brand and find yourself in a world of discount.  I like this site because I can shop all items of my favorite designers without having to jump from dresses, to shirts, to shoes, etc.  I can click on one designer like Miss Sixty (who is currently featured right now) and view all of the great deals for that one brand.  This is the way it works for all the categories, men, children, home and...wait for it...travel!  A great little deal for a weekend in good ol' wine country Napa caught my eye today!

It is free to become a member and like many of the other sites, you can sign up for the daily deals and notices via email.  You all know how I LOVE to wake up to a list of shopping deals!  Check the site out; I know you will find something (or many things) for yourself and your family!  Happy shopping haute moms!

WELCOME WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP

Happy Hump Day! Happy May to everyone!  I am in serious need for some hoppin' so I hope you join in! What better way to get over the midweek hump then to kick off your heels and do a little blog hopping!




<center><a href="http://kelleyhautemom.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f301/csulbdelta/welcomewednesday2.jpg"/></a></center>

This week we have our Guest Hostess- Dawn from Mom-A-Logues. She is a mother of two beautiful girls and blogs about her life as a mommy of a family of 4. If you didn't visit her last week, be sure to stop on over and say hello!




Blog Hop Rules: This is a low key hop. After all...it is Welcome Wednesday, here to get the inspirational juices flowing and find other blogs we can stalk! Put those feet up, relax, and join the bloggy fun. There are a few rules though:

1. Follow the hostesses, Haute Mom! Be sure to leave a comment so that I can follow you back.
2. Follow our guest hostess Mom-A-Logues.
3. Link up your blog for all of us to love.
4. Make an attempt to check out at least two new blogs. Don't know where to start? How about the two blogs above you? If you love the blog, become a follower and leave them a comment letting them know.

So link up! You don't have to post about the hop...but you know how we ladies work, the more the merrier. We would love it if you would help us spread the word and help Welcome Wednesday grow!  One of you could be next week's spotlight guest hostess!

Haute Mom Dilemma #41 - Self Weaning?

This weaning thing has gotten me into a slight frenzy. Not only from the unanswered question of what will fill the void (now I know whole milk and other foods) but also from the excitement of ditching my old ball and chain...the pump!

I attempted to switch Stella's afternoon nursing session with some breastmilk in a sippy cup and that didn't work out so well. Instead of nursing her before dinner she now takes a bottle of breastmilk without batting an eye. The small taste of freedom has my mouth watering for more!

Last week I noticed that Stella was turning her little nose up at her mid-morning bottle so I began giving her whole yogurt instead. She loves it. I think she has chosen to switch out her bottle for some yogurt on her own, making for one successful elimination of a feeding! Yay for Stella!

I have been doing a lot of inquiring about how to wean and what foods should take its place. As I continue to search the answers out, my daughter may decide to help her old mom out on her own.

Next stop - milk in a sippy cup for all feedings except morning and night! I think I can...I think I can...

Stella's excited too!

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Back to Reality

I have had such an amazing week off with Stella. Not only was it amazing to have her visit with her grandparents (who live 400 miles away) but to also spend the days with her without worrying about having to go to work the next day or being tired from being at work all day long. Tomorrow, it is back to reality.

Times like this make me grateful for having a job where I am able to have time off with Stella but also wishing that I could be a full-time mommy. I have felt like I have learned or seen something new each day and wonder what I miss while I am at work. Luckily, I was able to take Stella to new places where I can watch her enjoy the new experiences in front of her. We have been working on her first steps and she was also introduced to the beach where I learned that we have a water baby on our hands! With the help of a good mommy friend, I had to overcome my dislike of being dirty after seeing Stella's joy in the big wide world of sand. Ick.


Isn't it funny how one can always feel as though they can never win? I love being home with Stella without having to worrying about paying for childcare or missing out on a big milestone. If I was a stay-at-home-mom, I would probably miss the working world and being around other adults. Can't a lady ever be satisfied?! I guess in a way I do have the best of both worlds, working on a teachers schedule with breaks and summers off but I can't shake that "she's only young once" feeling especially since the big 1st birthday is two short weeks away!