Britax Free Ride Event

Hurry! There are only a few days left to scoop up on this great sale from Britax! If you have a little one coming, this is a great deal. We currently have the Britax B-Safe car seat and my little one loves it!

This sale only happens a couple of times a year!

Ends 11/21   Learn More HERE

Kate Spade Surprise Sale

It's that time again! The Kate Spade Surprise SALE! I very rarely jump on items the second they go on sale, but this is an exception. I have the Kate Spade Stevie Diaper Bag and LOVE IT! I mean, LOVE! It is so cute that I don't even mind having a diaper bag as my purse. It has plenty of room to hold everything I need. It also has compartments to help keep my organized. This sale, they are offering a leopard print bag! I have a black and cream stripe one, but I couldn't help but to drool over this one when I saw it.

The bag is 63% off for the sale making it only $149.00! It is on sale until 11/5/14 at 12pm (or earlier if they sell out).

This is such a pretty bag which makes it a perfect gift for someone expecting!

Nursing & Pumping Essentials for New Moms

I always knew I wanted to nurse my children. It sounded like such an easy thing to say. Nursing is all that everyone said it would be, and more. There was a time in the beginning when I struggled and almost gave up, however. I am so happy that I stuck with it and get to experience the beauty of nursing. At 6 weeks I started the task of pumping while I went back to work part time. Any breast milk you give your child is a gift. It doesn't matter if you nurse one time or one year, it is a gift.

Breastfeeding Essentials

Boppy
These things are great. I brought mine to the hospital when I went into labor and I am so glad I did. It got so much use in the two days in the hospital that I knew the Boppy and I were going to be great friends. It has a cut out so the pillow goes around your body, allowing the newborn to lay straight across you. It is also thicker than a normal pillow to hold the baby up higher to your breast. I now use it to prop Aubrey up and for tummy time. The fact that it has multiple uses makes it a great buy.

Lanolin
Please, I urge you to not try nursing for the first time without this. Buy it before you go into labor. Make sure you have it with you at the hospital and at home. The hospital provided me with a different brand that does not even compare to this one. This was crucial in me surviving my first two weeks of nursing. You can use it before nursing, right after nursing or even put it on before you get in the shower so the water doesn't sting. A MUST HAVE!

Nursing Pads
For some reason I didn't think I was going to need these. I was wrong, so wrong. I didn't register for them like I read I should. Luckily, I had a ton of samples that I saved during pregnancy. If you plan on nursing for a while, make sure to get a box.

Formula Samples
You will most likely receive formulas samples in the mail or at the doctors while you are pregnant. I recommend saving them. It may not sound like it, but there may be a time when you just can't bring yourself to nurse. You'll want these as reassurance that baby will having something to eat even if you just can't do it that time. I was so glad I had these in the other room for emergency use. I was so lucky to have my husband cheer me on at the hardest parts, and I ended up not needing mine. I gave them to another new mom who was using formula, but they were worth holding onto for a bit!

Pumping Essentials

Breast Pump

I love love love my Medela Pump In Style Advanced Dual  Pump. I dreaded pumping and I waited until the day before I was going back to work to figure it out. It was so easy to set up and it works like a charm. Check with your health insurance about getting one at no cost after delivery! 

Hands Free Pumping Bra

I don't know why they don't supply these with all dual pumps. I'm not even sure dual pumping is possible without one. With that said, I love the Lansinoh Best Wishes hands free pumping bra. I bought mine at Target in a light pink color. They are one size and you can constantly adjust they sizing if you need to.

Enjoy your journey into motherhood and breastfeeding. There are so many products available to make things easier on nursing mothers! 

 

Ten Items To Have For Newborn

I was constantly scouring the internet for “first time mom” tips when I was pregnant with Aubrey. I would look at a ton of others moms Must Have lists and compare. There were a few things that I saw on most of the lists, so I made sure to register for them. I am so glad I did my research!

Most of you don’t know this: My husband and I had never even held a baby until our own. Yes, I know it is hard to believe! We were so excited about becoming parents, but hadn’t the slightest idea of what we were doing. This explains my abundance of Google and blog searches. I couldn’t be happier with what I learned!

Here are a list of what my husband and I consider our “things we are glad we bought” for a Newborn. I don’t want to call them “Must Haves” because every baby is different.

Swing

First, I want to say how grateful I am for the Fisher Price My Little Lamb Cradle 'n Swing that my mother bought us. I was deliriously tired the first two weeks and this wonderful, incredible swing put my daughter right to sleep. We didn’t use it for every nap, but when we had no energy left in our bones to sing and rock her to sleep, this saved us!

Rock n Play

No one warned me that some babies (ours) would refuse to sleep flat on their back. Our daughter ended up sleeping on my chest the first week because we could not get her to sleep on her back. This product was our answer. It could have been the incline, or the fact that she was snuggled in on both sides- but she loved it!

Pack n Play

Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones, and your little one sleeps in a crib from night one. These are perfect for keeping next to the bed, just make sure yours has a bassinet attachment. Ours had a diaper changing attachment also that we used constantly (even when she was sleeping in the rock n play). We transitioned her into this, and phased out the Rock n Play around week 9. I bought ours used and gave it a good cleaning with Dreft in the tub.

Snap-Down Sleepers

I can’t stress how much Carters Sleep and Plays saved me! Aubrey seemed so fragile and the idea of having to put onesies over her head terrified me. Especially if she had a overflow diaper and needed a changing. We preferred the snaps instead of the zippers. For diaper changes, baby stays warm since you only need to unsnap the bottom few, instead of unzipping the whole way down.

Burp cloths

Tip: Register for a ton of these if you hate doing laundry like I do.

Diaper Caddy

A neighbor gave me one of these while I was pregnant and I am so glad she did (thanks Bridget!). It holds diapers, changing mat, powder, wipes, diaper rash cream and everything you need. We keep it in our living room so there is no need to take her upstairs to change her diaper (when you have a blowout diaper, you will appreciate not having to carry baby and smoosh it all around!)

Travel system

Put baby in car seat, transfer to stroller. Easy stuff! We have the Quinny Buzz Extra and the Maxi Cosi AP car seat to go with it. We love it! My mom, who watches Aubrey for me on working days, has the Britax B Agile and B Safe system and we love that one also!

Baby Carrier

I found my Ergo Baby at Marshalls for $59.00! Sometimes I use the stroller, but other times I love to put her in the carrier and wear her around the mall. We have also used it a ton in the house when I want to be close to her while I get my household chores done. 

Play mat

You will be so happy to have one of these when your newborn starts reacting to things. I will never forget the first time I put her down on it just to see what she did. Her eyes lit up and I was so happy to be able to have her start learning!

Healthcare Kit, Tylenol & Gas Drops.

We knew to register for the first aid kit, because it was on the list that Toys R Us gave us to register from. What we didn’t think of was buying Baby Tylenol and Little Remedies gas drops. If you have a gassy baby at 4am it is much better to go downstairs and grab the drops than to need to go to the store. The Tylenol came in handy after the first set of shots at the doctors. I am so glad I had it in the house already.

 

Also see my posts about Breastfeeding and Pumping items!

Catching Up with Aubrey

It's time to catch up with Aubrey :) She is now almost 15 weeks old and 14 lbs. She has managed to not only keep her hair, but it has grown!  She is such a happy baby and we are so blessed. We are enjoying watching her learn and are soaking up every minute.

Baby K'tan Review

About the carrier...

The Baby K’tan Baby Carrier is an innovative soft cotton baby carrier that is an ideal blend of a sling, wrap and carrier, providing the positions and benefits of all three. There is no other carrier available like it. It is a ready-to-wear wrap that enables parents & caregivers to comfortably carry infants and toddlers (from birth to 3 years) in multiple positions.

Double-Sling Design:

• Rests on both shoulders
• Multiple wearing positions holds babies 8lb to 35lb
• Double loop provides extra security for baby

No wrapping involved: Watch Video!

• Easy to put on with no wrapping!
• Less fabric than a wrap
• Comes ready to wear
• Simple to remove

100% soft cotton carrier:

• No buckles, rings or snaps
• Multiple positions
• Machine washable and dryer safe

My thoughts on the carrier...

I was lucky enough to be able to work with Baby K'tan and review on of their carriers. I was provided with an Organic Baby K'tan in a size XS.

First of all, sizing was really easy. There is a chart that tells you what size carrier you will need based on your size or pre-pregnancy size. I was a size 0 before pregnancy, so the XS was perfect for me. I also really loved that they offer an organic carrier. I try to keep as many baby items as I can organic for my little girl.

My daughter was born at 7lb 9oz, so by two weeks she was over the 8 lb starting limit....ready to use the Baby K'tan! The picture above was our first time using the carrier. We went on a walk around the neighborhood and hug out with our neighbors. It was really great to not have to strap her into the stroller just to get some fresh air. She really enjoyed being close to me, falling asleep almost instantly!

We also ventured to the beach when Aubrey was 3 weeks old. We pulled out the K'tan again for a walk on the beach! She was super comfortable during our walk. The carrier is 100% cotton which allowed her to enjoy the weather without getting hot.We walked for about a mile and it was great.

(it may look like baby is covered by fabric, but the fabric was plenty far away from her face. I had it pulled up higher to prevent sunburn on her)

What I loved...
I love that this carrier is easy to use. I do not need to worry about how to wrap.
I love that the K'tan is 100% cotton. This was super important for our summer baby!
I love that I could use this almost from the time I brought her home, and can use it up until she is 35 lbs!
I love how comfortable me and Aubrey were!

Want your own?

Shop for your own Baby K'tan HERE

Find Baby K'tan on Facebook HERE
Follow Baby K'tan on Twitter HERE

Introducing Aubrey Nicol!

My sweet little girl has finally arrived! Introducing my perfect Aubrey Nicol...

She was born on July 7th with an adorable head of hair!

My husband and I couldn't be happier that she is finally here. We are very excited to be mommy and daddy! She is the best thing to happen to us!

Munchkin Wipe Warmer Giveaway

What does Munchkin have to say about the Warm Glow Wipe Warmer?

"Do ice-cold wipes trigger unhappy cries during diaper changes? The Warm Glow Wipe Warmer by Munchkin will soothe baby's bottom and warm mom's heart. Help make diaper changing more enjoyable for your little one with the comfort of a warm wipe. This convenient wipe warming system stores up to 100 standard baby wipes and dispenses them conveniently from a flip-top lid. Its low-voltage, top-down warming system ensures a warm wipe every time without the risk of browning, drying, or discoloration. It also features a soft glow night light that helps with nighttime changes and automatically shuts off after 10 minutes of use. A built-in window allows you to keep tabs on your wipes supply without opening the unit, while the tightly sealing system keeps wipes moist over time."


Features

Low-voltage, energy-efficient wipe warmer with soft night light
Flip top lid allows easy access to wipes
Night light features 10-minute auto shut-off
Holds up to 100 standard sized baby wipes (wipes not included)
Dimensions: 7.25" x 5" x 10"

My Opinion

This is one of those products that you get mixed reactions about. Not about the product itself, but about the idea of it. Half the people who have seen this in Aubrey's nursery say, "That's great! I wish I would have had one of those." The other half take the "Is that really necessary?" approach. No, not a necessity. It is something that you could technically live without, but why? Anything that can make a 4am diaper change easier, the better!

I love that this wipes warmer warms from the top. With use, the wipes on the top rotate out quickly, therefore not drying out. Wipes also don't turn brown with this warmer. Less wipes in the trash is always a good thing!

This warmer comes with a night light built in. This is really great for late night changes when you want a little extra light to see what you are doing at the diaper station.

The only thing I don't love, is the color. I would love to see one of these in plain white.


Giveaway

This is where we get to the good part! One of you is going to win your own Munchkin Wipe Warmer!

RULES: This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years or older. Giveaway will end July 18th at Midnight EST. All entries will be via Rafflecopter widget below. One person entering per household please. Winner will be contacted through email and have 48 hours to reply to claim the prize. Good luck!

 

Udderly Smooth Giveaway

Udderly Smooth has been nice enough to offer an Udderly Smooth Prize Pack to one of my readers! In case you missed it, I posted a review on the products they sent me a few days ago. This stuff was amazing! This is what I had to say in my previous post:

I must say, I take advantage of free massages from my husband while pregnant. There is nothing like someone rubbing you down with lotion after a long day in your third trimester. I was lucky enough to receive Udderly Smooth from Twitter and gave it a try.

"Made in the USA for over thirty years, Udderly Smooth® products contain rich moisturizing ingredients. Not your average moisturizing lotion- Udderly Smooth® can be used on Dry Skin, Cracked Skin, forDiabetes Foot Care, as a Facial Moisturizer, as a General Moisturizing Lotion and many other uses."

When it came in the mail I couldn't wait to ask for my foot rub. The lotions have a very slight fragrance which is how I like it. I like to be able to put on lotion and feel nice without walking around smelling up the room. My husband has a sensitive nose and the smell didn't bother him at all! He rubbed the cream into my feet and I could already feel a difference from the lotion we used to use. It felt like the Udderly Smooth soaked right into my dry heels and made them softer. We decided to put more of the foot cream on and put my socks on overnight. It worked GREAT! My feet looked and felt so much better in the morning. No more dryness.

I really enjoyed how Udderly Smooth wasn't greasy either. Previous lotions that we have used leave a greasy sheen after applying, this one didn't. I ended up using the Body Cream on my (oh so large) pregnant belly and legs. I used the Hand Cream on my hands and arms.

My husband isn't lucky enough to have a spouse that is willing to rub his feet down with lotion (sorry hunny!). He however, loves that this is a USA made product. He is a big supporter of USA made products and will try his best to make sure to buy USA made when possible.

I look forward to being able to continue to use this lotion until it's all gone. In a few weeks, I will even be lucky enough to put it on my feet MYSELF! That won't stop me from trying to get the occasional foot rub from DH though :)

WHERE TO BUY

You can buy Udderly Smooth from their WEBSITE OR there is a ton of RETAILERS that sell it near you.

 

Choopie City Grips and Hooks Review

I was so happy to receive my Choopie City Grips and Hooks in the mail yesterday! I have been watching the mail like a hawk for them to come. I couldn't wait to get them and try them out on my new Quinny Buzz Xtra!

What are they?

City Grips

Soft, stylish & comfortable grip covers slip onto any stroller’s handlebars in seconds, preventing and protecting against everyday wear and tear. Avoid grimy, sweaty hands with durable and easy-to wash citygrips.

• Easy to attach
• Made of plush durable material
• Stylish patterns make your stroller stand out
• Machine wash and dry

They come in Single bar, Double bar, and now in Large Single bar! So no matter what stroller you have, there is a City Grip for you!

City Hooks

Cityhooks are the ideal stroller accessory to attach the soho citybag to a stroller, with the added benefit of hooking on anything else a parent might need.

• Easy to attach velcro straps
• Hooks swivel a full 360 degrees
• No clipping makes it easy to slip bags on and off
• Perfect for diaper bags, purses, grocery bags and much more
• Multi-purpose: can be used on wheelchairs, car seats, cribs and more

My thoughts

 This is what came to me in the mail. Already, I knew I was going to love the polka dots on my stroller! Only enough time passed to snap a quick picture before I was ripping open the packaging to try them out! This is what they look like...

 I am in love with my City Grips! I love the look that they give my stroller, plus the protection against grime. My little girl is due any day now and I can't wait to take my first lap around the neighborhood! I can see how the City Hooks are going to come in handy when out with the stroller. I can use them to hold my diaper bag, or even reusable shopping bags if I just need to pick up a few things at the store! There is always the option of holding my shopping bags at the mall too :-)

Want your own? 
You can buy the City Hooks for $9.99 & the City Grips for $12.95 (the large are $18.95).
BUY THEM HERE FROM CHOOPIE
You can also find other retailers, online and in store HERE