My PB + J

Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 party along with fourteen other great women to learn about this revolutionary car seat. Did you know that The American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending that babies sit rear-facing until two-years of age? Yep! That’s right and I am a guilty mother who turned baby #1 to forward facing before the age of one. In my defense, until a few months ago infant carriers had height and weight limitations. If you’re worried about baby’s legs getting squished or lying on angle they are still five times safer sitting rear facing versus forward facing. 


At the party we were given a demonstration of the Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™40. This carrier is the first of it’s kind, as it allows babies to be rear facing from birth to age two. Another awesome feature for mom’s is that this seat does not require re-threading as the baby grows! I know my husband would have appreciated this feature with our previous carrier for both of our children. 


If you’re thinking to yourself, how can a two-year-old fit into the same seat they did at birth? Graco® has literally thought of everything with this seat! It has eight reclining positions to allow for additional leg room as your baby grows. As an added bonus or a selling point for me was the adjustable kick plate! Yes, it has a kick plate to eliminate scuffs and marks from your cars upholstery. This plate also slides up and down to accommodate the growing baby, did I mention it also has cute footprint impressions?

Graco® is known for their gorgeous prints and this infant carrier comes in Moonstruck for boys and Mena for girls. They did not miss a beat when it comes to the detailing and safety of this carrier!  

Product Features 

  • The only newborn to two-year infant car seat from 4-40 pounds on the market. 
  • The Graco® SnugRide® Click Connect™40 has one-click technology easier transition from car seat base to stroller.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends babies be rear-facing until two-years-old. 
  • Simply Safe Adjust- no more re-threading harness straps when the seat needs to be adjusted. Winner. Winner!! 
  • Available at Babies “R” Us and retails for $219.99

The Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 – the first and only newborn to two-year infant car seat that actually grows with your baby from four pounds all the way up to 40 pounds. The car seat is designed for a parent on the go. The infant car seat can be easily removed from the base and used as a carrier when the infant is small, providing portability and convenience so you can easily move your infant in and out of the car without disturbing them.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently made the recommendation to keep all children in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2. Graco set out to make this product so parents can keep infants rear facing longer while still keeping them comfortable.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Graco. The opinions and text are all mine.

happy birthday, sweet boy

One year ago we welcomed you into our arms. It seems so surreal that an entire year has passed. All the worries we had before you were born have come and gone. You are my angel baby and every time you look into my eyes with that inevitable sparkle I am reminded why you were given to me. Our bond is so special and I don’t think I can describe what you mean to me. Your even keeled personality, deep bellied laughs that sometimes sound like a goat, your gorgeous blue eyes that strangers stop to talk to us about and the journey you’ve overcome is remarkable. You’re turning into a little boy and I wish I could just bottle you up and keep you this small forever. I miss those first few months where you could only sleep with me holding you tight in my arms. Your love for your sister melts my heart and how you already play so well with another. You both make eachother laugh when one is sad, you throw a ball to one another, and yes, you’ve already got one heck of an arm. I dread the day where you tell me you’ve found “the” girl. It’s silly that these worries already race through my mind but you’re my baby and will be forever. Thank you for making me a stronger person this past year, if you would’ve asked me thirteen months ago I would have said I couldn’t do it. Today, I stand a proud momma and laugh at our minimal struggles. Bugs, I love you with all my heart and I wish you the happiest first birthday.

brayden’s birthday bash giveaway event!

It’s here! Brayden’s first birthday is this Thursday! In honor of his birth and his cleft lip journey we have partnered up with great brands to bring My PB+J readers a fabulous giveaway!

As many of you know our son, Brayden, was born with a cleft lip. He was given the gift of cleft repair surgery through our amazing insurance plan provided through UPS and by Dr. Jordan Sinow and his team. While we find ourselves very fortunate we also feel very blessed. Our family has made a pledge to help other children in need of cleft repair surgery through awareness and donations. We have partnered with Operation Smile to Share Brayden’s Smile by raising enough money for four surgeries. While this may sound like a lot, it isn’t. One surgery costs a minimal $240 and with your help we hope to reach our goal by his repair anniversary on February 1st. If you wish to donate to this life changing cause please visit here.

The birthday bash giveaway is brought to you by these amazing brands:

One My PB+J reader will win this amazing giveaway package valued at $300! 

                                                                                                             

           


The giveaway begins today and will run through Sunday. The winner will be announced Monday morning. To enter the giveaway please use the rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

               

tegu magnetic wooden blocks {review}

I was first introduced to Tegu magnetic blocks while sitting at the Martha Stewart keynote luncheon at BlogHer. I fell in the love with the magnetic blocks right away and knew that our children would soar with the endless imaginative possibilities that playtime would bring. 

Tegu is one of those feel-good for-profit companies that is bringing positive social impact to the country of Honduras. The toy business was founded to address unemployment, neglected natural and human resources and the need for entrepreneurship in Honduras. The wooden blocks encourage imaginative play, where some toys leave children without this developmental tool.

We were sent the 22-piece Tegu Tints set. I was initially impressed with the colors of the blocks, as we all know children respond to colorful things and these blocks were no exception!  Payton got to playing right away and immediately started telling me how she was building a bridge to keep the sea monsters away and then moved on telling me how the pirate ship sank her boat. She sat quietly playing for a while. Now, my child loves toys like every other child out there but she will usually lose interest after about thirty minutes. She played quietly for over an hour and when she joined me during my adult craft time she sat next to me explaining the colors and what each blocks role was in her ocean. The block set encouraged her and it didn’t end with just her! Our little man got into the action as well, stacking the blocks and figuring out how to rearrange the magnetic ends. The company states the blocks are perfect from anyone from ages 0-99 and they are spot on! I ditched my craft and we all sat playing together, I couldn’t ask for a better toy for my growing children! 

Tegu doesn’t stop at just blocks. They also offer mobility pieces which bring that car to life, travel totes, pocket pouch prism which would be ideal for the car or while dining out. If you wish you can also make a donation to schooling or to planting trees in Honduras. It just makes me happy thinking about this company and it’s mission. I know we will be adding to our collection! 

I encourage you to follow Tegu on Facebook and on Twitter for exciting news and offers. Make sure to let them know that My PB+J sent you!

Win a Tegu Block Set!

Tegu has so graciously offered one My PB+J reader a 22-Piece Tegu Tints block set in the first birthday giveaway bash package! 

This giveaway will begin on October 15th and will run through the 21st. Make sure to come back during those dates for your chance to win!




Disclaimer: I received a Tegu 22-piece block set for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally use and believe my readers would enjoy. 

payton’s big girl room

I have one more room to check off the completed list! I am happy that our little girl has a place to go that she loves and is proud of the transformation. There are days when we go in there and she thanks me for painting her a tree or for hanging pretty curtains. There is so much love and attention to detail within this little girl. I cannot wait until we can add the final piece of this zig zag aqua rug to her room.
Welcome to her room… 
Her room has double doors, which creates a great breeze throughout the house since her room is in the front of the house. I love the light this room gets during the day and cannot wait to replace the (one) can light with ample lighting for the evening. I can see her growing in this room, studying late at night, having sleepovers and hopefully never sneaking out the front window! 

While I wish she had white furniture her nursery was black and apple green so we worked with her crib (headboard) and dresser. 
I painted the tree and made a simple pennant banner with ric-rac. Her tree mural would not be complete without a birdhouse and her initials carved into the tree.  

abc & 123 artwork from Ink Tree Press. I also purchased and painted embroidery hoops white and placed the same fabric from the pennant banner to coordinate. 
Overall, very happy with her room. It’s a cheery place for me to go and she loves it which warms my heart.