The Kavanaugh Report

A half-year. Time moves so fast with a baby. I can't believe my sweet Nora girl is already 6-months-old.  This past month has been a challenge with her, to say the least. Nora has struggled to sleep during the day and night. Our once awesome sleeper started sleeping in 40/50 minute stretches and getting up as many as 11 times in a night. It's been a struggle to cope, especially figuring out how to take care of two kids and work with almost no sleep (let alone blog). A friend finally suggested reflux and a lot of symptoms clicked. I think because Nora was so content during the day -- even while exhausted -- that reflux hadn't really crossed my mind. But, sure enough we had her evaluated and she was officially diagnosed. She was put on Prevacid and her sleep improved immediately...then she got the flu (which we are still getting over and it's all gone down hill again.) Despite the sleep set backs and reflux, Nora is amazing.

What is it about cameras that make 3-year-olds crazy? Seriously? Have you tired photographing a 3-year-old lately? They either get so completely goofy that you can't get a decent picture, they completely forget how to smile, or are just downright awkward.  Some classic 3-year-old "smiles" include  The Buck Teeth The Vacant Stare  The "I'm-smiling-so-hard" The Bored The "Where-am-I-looking-now" The "What?" Then, every now and then the 3-year-old surprises you. The charm come out, the love shines through and you get the perfect Christmas card {from Tiny Prints }. So, instead of "Merry Awkward Christmas" you get "Merry Everything Because I am Beyond Blessed!" 

Looking for an easy way to incorporate some Montessori inspired learning into your home? Try using beads! I love beads. Because they come in so many varieties, you likely have some already and they are super cheap. So, here are 8 ways to learn with beads ! I used a bunch a beads in this post, but really you can use whatever you have. Depending on the size of the beads, these activities can work for toddlers or preschoolers.  This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you. Spooning  For this, all you need is two cups and a spoon. Have the child transfer the beads from one cup (from left to right) to the other. Use smaller beads and spoons for older children and larger ones for toddlers. This is great for learning skills needed for eating and other fine motor work. I used glass cups, a glass spoon and small glass beads .  Counting Use beads as counters! They help children learn that numbers represent actual amounts. This might be best saved for pr

Friends! I am so excited to announce that I recently made it to 1,000 followers on Instagram ! To celebrate, I've teamed up with HABA USA and their Take Time To Play Campaign to bring you this Ball Track Starter Set Giveaway! HABA is a company that I have loved for a long time. Not only are their toys Montessori-friendly, they are beautifully crafted and sustainable. Made in Germany, these toys are meant to last a lifetime. Nora is obsessed with every HABA baby toy we have. The quality is evident in every single wooden HABA toy we own. This HABA marble run is no exception. This toy is amazing. Each block is sturdy, yet beautiful. They are made with beech wood, and even the biggest blocks -- while solid -- are lightweight enough for Henry to use with ease. I also love that they are made to be compatible with unit blocks so they are the perfect companion to our larger block collection. The HABA Ball Track Starter Set is the type of toy I don't