This post is sponsored by Hunter Products.

We are heading into the new realm of ballet! My boys all love to dance and two of them are enrolled in Hip Hop classes, but none of them have wanted to try ballet. But little sister, who has been dragged to all the dance lessons, has fallen in love with watching all the little kids dance ballet. And this week the day finally came for her to join the toddler ballet class. She was over the moon…and to celebrate the big day, we went out to buy some ballet shoes, had a treat at one of our favorite tea shops, and opened up a new Ballerina Dreamer Doll.

What a fun day it was to celebrate this milestone. I always dreamt of these kind of days when I found out I was having a daughter. We dressed up in a pink tutu, put on her new ballet shoes and chatted over milk and homemade cookies. Of course our Ballerina Dreamer Doll had to join us…and she fit right in at one of our favorite tea shops in Orange County, Morning Lavender.

The Ballerina Dreamer Doll is a really fun toy. Your little one can watch the Ballerina Dreamer doll dance just like a real ballerina! By pressing its magic tiara, the doll can pirouette, spin on both toes, kick forwards and backwards, do the splits and more!

It’s pretty easy to make her work, even for three-year olds. Just stand the doll up on her toe shoes and hold the special tiara knob. When you slightly press down, she spins and twirls. If you stop and press again, her leg changes direction. She’s like a real ballerina.

Not only does the Ballerina Dreamer Doll spin, she also plays music as she dances, and her tutu magically lights up. It is recommended for ages 3+ and I think that so many little girls around this age would love to play with this doll. Dani hasn’t put it down since we opened her up.

You can play with her like a normal doll, and her legs can do the splits and her arms can move up and down. There is a switch to turn her on and off.

The Ballerina Dreamer Doll is currently available for $29.98 at Walmart in two different styles. The brunette Ballerina Dreamer Doll as shown with my daughter Dani, and the blonde Ballerina Dreamer Doll like this one.

Now Dani is all ready for her first ballet class. I’m sure it’s going to be absolutely adorable with all the little ones in tutus and dance shoes. I will definitely keep you updated. And Morning Lavender made the perfect backdrop to document this milestone in my girlie’s life. What more could you ask for…pink, tutus, cookies and sparkles.

There are also other Ballerina Dreamer Doll accessories to make all your little ones ballet dreams come true. Check out this cute little video that show the Ballerina Dreamer Doll in action. Isn’t she cute!

Thank you Curves® International for sponsoring this post. Ready to get #CurvesStronglast month i wrote about how i started working out at Curves® gym for Women. i’d been in a rut due to work, moving and kids….mostly kids. mom life can be tough at times. i started going to Curves® so that i could finally start taking care of myself. it’s been ten months since the baby was born, and i was and still am ready to get my body back in shape once and for all. now that i have been working out for a few weeks, i wanted to pop-in and give you a little update on how things have been going.

i wish i could give you a miraculous story of how i lost 20 pounds and 4 sizes this past month,….but that is not the case. i actually don’t know if i have lost a lot of weight…probably not. but what i can tell you is that i am so much stronger! my balance has also improved and i am happier when i take the time to get a workout in. i feel like these improvements have made it possible to really start my fitness journey. i am ready to get this body started!!!

for me, getting to the gym is the biggest battle. once i am there…all my stress melts away, and i get to focus on myself. i have really enjoyed my time at the Curves®. the 30 minute workouts are perfect…they work great with my busy mom schedule. and if i have a little more time, i can add an extra rotation or two into the routine.

i have been enjoying the machines. like i mentioned in my initial post, Curves® is unlike any gym i’ve been to. the set 30-minute circuit training routine, and hydraulic workout machines make exercising the proper way really easy. you get really good workout doing this set routine, and as you get stronger, you can increase the intensity.

because of this, you can get a great workout at any level of fitness or age. if you are having an off day, you can go slower and the equipment is easier, if you want to have a hard workout, just go a little faster and the resistance increases. i can say i’ve gotten a good sweat every time i have gone….but so far, i have never gotten sore. the machines were designed to do this.

the photo is blurry….because i am working out! AND HAVING FUN.

it’s such a treat that you can get personal attention from fitness experts at no extra charge…anytime you need it. they’re there to help you reach your goals whether in weight-loss, strength training or balance. it really is a boutique gym…everyone is so sweet and nice. they remember your name, ask you if you need help, and give you pointers if needed. you feel like you belong and don’t have to worry about not fitting in.

i am definitely going to continue my fitness journey at Curves@. i have found it to be a great place to clear my mind and strengthen my body. i am going to take my workouts to the next level and add the meal plans that at Curves Complete provides. it’s a complete fitness plan – Fitness, with the 30-minute circuit that combines cardio and strength, meal plans that show you how to eat on any budget, and coaching that will help you keep on track. i gonna keep going and hopefully by this time next year, i will be a different me!

if you are interested in Curves, don’t forget that they are offering free month-long memberships to their gyms. for just $49 per month, you get access to all the equipment, the workouts, the fitness coaches…everything!

{This post was sponsored by Curves International but the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. }

This post is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente Orange County.

i know it seems like after 4 kids i should be an expert on how they develop and grow, but you’d be surprised how many things as a parent you forget with each kid. having Dani almost seven years after Vann is almost like being a first time mom again. at least in the sense that i am forgetting the baby stuff…like at what age she should hit certain milestones. on top of that, so many things have changed since i had my fourteen year old…even since my seven year old. so i was happy to be able to have a one-on-one chat with Kaiser Permanente Orange County pediatrician Julia Castillo, M.D.

Dr. Julia Castillo was able to go over baby’s first year of milestones with me to refresh my memory. she updated me on things that have changed and also what to look for as Dani grows and develops. it was very nice to have this refresher course, and Dr. Castillo was very helpful and knowledgable. she answered even the simplest questions informatively and put my mind at ease with any concerns i had with Dani. she had all the qualities i would look for in a pediatrician.

i’m sure a lot of moms would also like a little refresher course on baby milestones, so i thought i would jot them down here. these are just the major ones, and if you have any specific questions, be sure to ask your own pediatrician. it’s a good idea to write down all questions on your phone and present them at your baby’s well visits. it’s very easy to forget things you want to ask when you are in the moment, so Dr. Castillo reminded me to keep a running list between each visit of any questions you may have.

2 months

at 2 months, baby should make eye contact with you and others, be able to smile, and to turn their head toward sounds. at this age, they should also be getting tummy time every day and lifting their head up for 30–60 seconds during this time.

4 Months

at 4 months, baby should be able to coo…making vowel sounds like ooo and ahh. they can now laugh, reach for objects or toys with their hands, track people and objects well, and keep their head steady. they may be able to roll….at least to one side, and look to sounds they hear.

at 4 months, your baby may be ready to introduce to first foods. you will know they are ready if they have moved past the kick out food reflex. the reflex where the tongue automatically pushed food back out of their mouths. if you give baby food and they push it back out, then wait a few weeks and try again.

it is a good reminder that once baby starts to roll, do not leave them alone on the bed, changing table or couch ever. this is when falls start to occur. 

6 Months

at six months, your baby should be vocal, like to play, talking to sounds, transferring objects from hand to hand, roll back forth from each side, babbling, and sitting up. once baby is mobile, make sure to baby proof your home. this is the time you need to lower the crib mattress, block off any stairs and make sure there are no objects around that baby can choke on.

when it comes to feeding, you can start to introduce foods if you haven’t already done so. the  kick out food reflux should be gone by now. at this age and up to 12 months, there should be no juice given to baby. they should have the same milk intake with food being complimentary.

9 Months

at nine months, baby should have reached all of the six month milestones as well as being able to sit well, grabbing table food, standing to feet…especially in the crib and on the furniture around the house.

12 Months

at 12 months, baby should have reached all of the nine month milestones as well as be able to cruise or crawl around the house. baby should be able to say three words such as mama, dada, one other such as bye bye. they may already be walking, but if not yet, no worries.

18 months

at eighteen months, baby should have met the twelve month milestones as well as being able to say 7 words. they do not have to say the words perfectly as long as they are consistent with each word they use to address a person or thing. They should also be able to point to things, hold a  fork, and follow simple directions.

2 Years

at two years, baby should have met their eighteen month milestones as well as being able to say 20-50 words. they should also be able to help around the house doing simple chores such as picking up their toys.

Dr. Castillo reminded me that these are just generic guidelines for when baby should meet these milestones. baby’s that are born premature may reach them later. also, if baby has not met certain milestones that are recommended, it should be brought up to your pediatrician at your baby’s well-visit. make sure to talk to your own pediatrician about any concerns that you have and also make sure to discuss any vaccines that baby is due for. use your mother’s instinct when you sense a problem. you know your child better than anyone. don’t be afraid to ask your pediatrician even the simplest questions. being a parent is not always easy and it is always a good thing to have a little extra advise to help navigate on our journey of raising kids.

it was refreshing to get to talk to Dr. Castillo to remind myself of all the things babies do. even after four kids, i am still looking for advise. i can tell that Kaiser Permanente Orange County has a great team of doctors that have made me feel comfortable as a parent. the great thing about Kaiser Permanente Orange County, is everything is under one roof. most Kaiser Permanente Orange County locations include pharmacy, lab, X-ray services and more. plus, there are locations throughout Orange County, as far north as Brea and as far south as San Juan Capistrano, including Tustin Ranch, Foothill Ranch and the new Radiation Oncology Center located at the Anaheim Medical Center. wow…this is the kind of service i look for in my healthcare.

if you have missed the posts i have written about them, here they are:

My Trip to the Kaiser Orange County Farmers Market
Tips for Having a Healthy Pregnancy
Our Family’s Visit Thrive Walk at the Orange County Great Park
Great Tips on Mens Health
Tips for Helping Families Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season