Meet the Shaneyfelts

Lists

The ABCs of Me!

This is the most random thing in the entire world, but thanks for Facebook memories, a link to my old blog popped up and I clicked on it. I had forgotten what my old blog’s url was, so it was a treat to start rereading some old posts! I started my blog junior year of college and my last post was one month before I met Dustin. So I guess you could call me an OG blogger LOL!

Anyway, I found a post I did of the ABCs of me that apparently was very popular for people to post on their blog so tag me if you end up doing this!!!

A-Age: 34

B-Bed: King size Tempurpedic and I love it

C-Chore you hate: Cleaning our shower

D-Dogs: none…we’d love a dog once Harrison gets older

E-Essential start to your day: a cup of coffee while reading my Bible and sometimes listening to instrumental music

F-Favorite color: blue (because my eyes are blue and it makes them stand out when I wear blue clothes) and pink!

G-Gold or silver: I prefer rose gold or gold but my engagement ring is white gold and I do love it. I love mixing metals

H-height: 5’6.5″ but I like to just say 5:7″ haha

I-Instrument you play: I wish I could play an instrument! I’m jealous of any of y’all who can play an instrument

J-Job title: 7th grade English teacher but most importantly, I am a wife and mother and those are my favorite titles 🙂

K-Kids: one little boy, Harrison, and we are in the process to adopt a 2nd baby. And 6 babies in Heaven that I can’t wait to meet one day

L-Live: small town in Alabama

M-Mom’s name: Barbara or Barb for short, and Harrison calls her Babs

N-Nicknames: Miss B, B, Super Sis, Sister

O-Overnight hospital stay: When I was 3, I contracted staph infection from an infected chicken pox so I had to stay in the hospital for a week. I have very vivid memories from that time in the hospital

P-Pet peeve: People who do not follow the rules. I’ve since learned that I’m a Type 1 Enneagram, so that one makes complete sense. I like order, routine, structure, and following the rules.

Q-Quote from a movie: “When you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” from When Harry Met Sally (my most favorite movie in the entire world!)

R-Righty/Lefty: Righty

S-Siblings: Rachel and Stefanie and then a few siblings-in-law 🙂

T-time you wake up: If Dustin is working, I’m up between 4:30 and 4:50 am. If not, I’m awake at 5:30…sometimes 5:15am. But lately, Harrison has been waking up BEFORE 5 AM, so I’m getting up early

U-Underwear: These at night and these daily

V-Veggies you dislike: I pretty much like all veggies except collards or turnip greens

W-What makes you run late: I run late almost always and I think it’s because I’m overly optimistic about the amount of things I can fit in before I have to leave

X-Xrays you’ve had: lots

Y-Yummy food you make: I really enjoy cooking and baking. Harrison would say his favorite thing I make is Taco Pasta and Dustin loves my buffalo chicken quesadillas. I love making desserts the most!

Z-Zoo animals: This was a strange question. I like seeing animals from Africa, so I loved Animal Kingdom in Disney (especially the safari) and I loved that part at the zoo in Birmingham. The elephants are always amazing to watch

How to Have a Great Start to Your Day

I am a firm believer that your morning can set the tone to your day. Now yes, I know that ultimately no matter what, you choose your attitude for the day BUT I believe having a good morning helps that exponentially 🙂

Here are a few ways I make sure my day starts off well:

1. Wake up before Harrison.

I crave routine and alone time in the morning more than ever now that I am a mom. I’m a morning person, so waking up earlier than Harrison has been easy. But this summer, Harrison has decided that sleeping late for him is now 6 AM and he’s up usually before that, so that means I’m having to now get up at 5 AM if I want time by myself–some days that’s easier than others haha. I enjoy drinking my coffee and having my quiet time alone before Harrison is up, which brings me to…

2. Have my quiet time in the morning.

I used to do my quiet time before I went to be each night, but I don’t know why I ever did that because I was always super tired so I didn’t read much or my eyes were tired and I couldn’t read much. Then one day I decided to start doing it as soon as I woke up in the morning and I’ve never looked back. I get up, make my coffee, and grab my Bible to read while I drink coffee.

I also use these highlighters that my mom gifted me at Easter to mark things in my Bible–I love them and will never underline with a pen again!

3. Make my bed.

I make my bed every single morning no matter what. Even if the rest of my house is messy and chaotic, having my bed made feels like something is orderly and clean. My mom required us to make our bed every morning growing up and that has carried over with me to adulthood.

4. Start a load of laundry.

Even during the school year where mornings can tend to be rushed, I like to get a load of laundry started in the washer so I can feel like I’m ahead on chores for the day.

5. Open up the blinds.

This only applies if I’m home during the day, but I like to open the blinds to let the sunshine in so the house can feel bright and airy. Even if it’s rainy out, I’ll still open the blinds and turn on all the lamps. If it’s a school day, I don’t open the blinds until I get home from school–and that is literally the first thing I do when I walk in the door!

What about you?

What are some things you do in the morning to make sure your day starts off well?

Favorite Newborn Baby Items!!

Happy Friday, y’all!!  Today is a post that I’ve been thinking about for a long time, but I just haven’t dedicated the time to doing it 😂🙈

Since we spent the first three weeks of Harrison’s life living in hotel rooms in Texas, we basically lived with the bare minimum when it came to newborn baby items.  Just the essentials.

I’m going to share what my favorite items were in Texas and then I’ll share what we used when we got home (and what would have made life much easier in Texas).

And you’ll have to click on the links to see pictures because Momma doesn’t have time to post pictures, too ha!

What we used in Texas…

UppaBaby Vista Stroller— Yes, this is a pricey item, but it was the one baby item I knew I wanted when we first realized that we had to seek fertility help.  I waited until after we were matched (with our first one) and on a Nordstrom triple points day (lol) to order this!  We took this with us to Texas and it was the best thing we did!  Harrison slept in the bassinet every night and we set it in the stroller and rolled it next to my bedside so it would be level with the bed.  We took him on walks using the stroller, too, while we were there.  I will soon be transitioning him to the toddler seat with the infant insert.  Also, the things this stroller company thought of with this stroller and all of the accessories is amazing!  (We have the Gregory Blue Melange color)

UppaBaby Mesa Carseat— Love this for many reasons, but mainly for the fact that I can take it out of the car and pop it into the stroller without any added attachments.

Jujube Diaper Bag—  I thought this was really small when I first got it (and it was too small for all of the stuff I had to take with us to the airport haha), but honestly, it’s perfect for us right now.  It holds everything we need when we go out, and it comes with a padded changing pad.

Boon Grass— This was a lifesaver in Texas drying bottles with the limited room we had, and now we use two at home!

Carseat Cover— This is a MUST!!!!  Ours was gifted before we left, but I kept Harrison covered 24/7 when we went out in TX because he was premature and flu season.  I haven’t covered him much lately, but I do keep him covered at church.  Basically anywhere there’s a large group of people.

Dr. Brown’s Bottles—  We used these because they had preemie size nipples and that’s what he used, but we have kept using them with his reflux and it’s been fine!

SwaddleMe swaddles— These keep Harrison’s arms down (as long as we first swaddle him with his arms straight by his side).  He really sleeps well in these swaddles.

Lou Lou and Co Swaddles-–  These are so soft!!  We used these a lot in Texas and they are huge, soft blankets.  I know we’ll also use them when he takes naps as a toddler and needs a blanket.  (Harrison has the color linked)


What we used when we got home…

UppaBaby Bassinet Stand— See how useful that stroller is?  Harrison sleeps in the bassinet from his stroller in our room and it pops in this stand.  When we move him to his nursery (soon 😭) then this piece of furniture will transform into his laundry hamper!  UppaBaby for the win!

Changing Pad— With having a boy, we’ve had a few many times of being peed on, and I love this changing pad because I can just wipe it off and quickly sanitize it without having to strip it and wash the cover.  It’s huge too so it will grow with him, and it just sits on his dresser!

Sound Machine—  Love that I can control the type of sound, volume, and color from my phone!

Favorite Footed PJs—  Love this brand for his little body right now!  So, so soft!  **I don’t do the crazy prints because that’s not my style.  We have solids, neutral stripes, and one pair in honor of the British royal family.

Boppy Lounger—  I wish we had this in Texas because it would have been so useful.  I tote this around the house and lay Harrison in it and let him watch the ceiling fan haha!  I’ve even put it on the kitchen counter while I’m cooking so I can having him right beside me.


I know this isn’t a huge list and there are things I’ve left off like a bottle warmer or baby brezza or monitor, but those are things we either don’t use (bottle warmer) or made do without until recently–so they aren’t necessities in my book.