Friday, July 29, 2016
real life mommin'
Another post to share the crazy moments that happen day to day as a mom. I always love reading posts like this by other bloggers because I find myself taking a deep breath and feeling relieved knowing I'm not the only one going through these moments, fears or whatever. We all have days where we want our wine at 10am and feel like our neighbor's will think we've absolutely lost our crap if they see us run down the street screaming because the episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Kansas City Mickey where Mickey describes a record player as an old ancient device that played music is on for the 9 millionth time.
1. I'm starting by sharing I'm on night #3 of having both babes in my bed and I'm 9 months pregnant and getting ZERO sleep. Did I forget to mention it's a queen size bed? I’m definitely cranky today and I don’t think I’ll be able to hide it well. I’m even more cranky that I’m cranky on a Friday. I’m just saying.
2. I've been complaining a lot about the heat the last couple weeks. It's bad. Really bad. I've done more laundry than I thought was possible because just with loading the kids in and out of the car to run to Target or a play date, my shirt is drenched in sweat and it's definitely necessary to change. Almost everyday I'm battling swoob, swack & swass.
3. I have a huge fear I won't be delivering this baby at the hospital, but at home or on the side of the road. Please pray it's not a super dramatic delivery and we don't go early!
4. My living room is scattered with toys even though we’ve already picked them up once today and it’s only 8:20 in the morning.
4. My living room is scattered with toys even though we’ve already picked them up once today and it’s only 8:20 in the morning.
5. I thoroughly enjoy browsing through the school supplies at Target and smelling the crayons. Mike thinks all the locker decor is so ridiculous such as the rug and magnetic wallpaper. I secretly love it all and wish I had a locker again because it would be all sorts of cute. I also try and come up with ways to use some of the items in the house, but I haven't found any good ones yet.
6. Our closets still haven't been overhauled with organization and only have one wire hanging rack that goes across the top. I also hate folding laundry because the kids pull it out of our dresser drawers so my entire bedroom floor is covered in clean clothes. I hate the chaos, but I almost hate folding more.
Here’s to the weekend!
Here’s to the weekend!
Thursday, July 28, 2016
shake it off
This week we signed Kensi up for another year of dance classes. She is so excited to dive into her second year and even better that she gets to stay with some of her sweet friends she made. We have yet to get new ballet shoes, but found a pair of tap shoes at a consignment store for under $3. WOOT WOOT. I love finding great deals like that as it always sends me to cloud nine.
Over the last year I feel like so many small shops have been blowing up with the cutest leotards and dance accessories for littles. I’m snagging a few for this year so we have a few different options along with a new dance bag. I’m in love with so many pieces and trying to keep it to a minimum and simple, but it's hard to do with so many adorable choices. Check out a few of my favorites so far and maybe you’ll find a few to fall in love with as well for your little ballerina.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
wanted: pumpkins & cool weather
For the last couple weeks my email had been flooded with blowout summer sale promo codes from my favorite stores and although I love a great sale, I'm so ready to see everyone's seasonal trends, especially fall products. I may be a little obsessed, but I keep checking into Gap Kids to see if they've released their Halloween pajamas yet! I'm totally getting the itch for fall and I’m not at all sorry about it. In fact, we started our Christmas shopping earlier this month just to get a head start.
I'm over this heat and the fact we've literally been hibernating much of the summer. I’m tired of being drenched in sweat just from loading the kids into the car. I’m ready for cooler weather and all I want to do is drink a pumpkin spice latte, shop for fall clothes and put up our Husker flag to signify college football season has begun. I'm so ready to pull out our Halloween decorations and start planning a pumpkin bash for Kensi and her friends. I have a list of of my favorite fall happenings and I just can't wait for it to start!
photo : allamerican-lady.tumblr.com
1. Like I mentioned above, fall and halloween pajamas for the babes. My favorite go to shops are Gap Kids & Hanna Andersson.
2. Candelles Pumpkin Roll candle. Let’s be honest, I can’t wait for their Christmas scents either!
3. Hooray Everyday's ridiculously adorbable fall garlands.
4. Everything that revolves around football season: fall beer, great food and fun attire such as this cute touchdown shirt from Riffraff .
4. Everything that revolves around football season: fall beer, great food and fun attire such as this cute touchdown shirt from Riffraff .
5. A pumpkin spice latte and an apple cider from my favorite coffee shop.
6. I can’t wait to start working on our fam’s halloween costumes. We think we have a theme picked, but it’s becoming more difficult with Kensi’s ever changing mind.
7. Mixing and sharing some of my favorite essential oil diffusing blends for the fall season. Lots of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg!
8. Let’s not forget about all the yummy pumpkin recipes. I may have already bought cans of pumpkin to begin stocking my pantry for fall.
What are some of your favorite fall happenings that you’re looking forward to in the upcoming months?
Monday, July 25, 2016
weekend in pictures
We only have a few short weeks left before we welcome our sweet baby girl into the world. Our weekends are flying by as we try to cram in family time along with house projects and getting ready for her arrival. I feel like time is slipping away and it's hard to designate what needs to take priority. The kids are over house projects and they just want to play all day long or hang at the pool, but regardless of what fills our weekend, we start every Friday with morning cartoons and a fun breakfast which is usually per request of the kids. This weekend they were all about waffles and I wasn't complaining.
Saturday morning I was able to sneak away from the kids and have brunch with my girlfriends who sprinkled baby girl and I with so much love by throwing us a little shower. I’m so grateful to have incredible friendships with these ladies. Plus, girlfriends and brunch are a pretty awesome combination especially when crab cakes and fried green tomatoes are involved, I can't wait to throw a mimosa in there next time.
On top of having some much needed girl time, Mike and I were able to get a date in as well. We don't get to do this very often, but when we do we almost always go to our favorite tex-mex restaurant and eat way too many chips and salsa. We ventured the menu this time and tried an Aloha Quesadilla filled with blackened shrimp, grilled pineapple, crispy bacon, basil & monterey jack cheese. A combination we wouldn't have thought to put together, but it was absolutely delicious!
Sunday afternoon was spent moving everyone's furniture around to their new bedrooms. I hate this part because everything has turned into total chaos and gets messy before it can be calmed and organized. Kensi and Finn were into EVERYTHING; pulling out board games, playing dress up, hiding tools....I was going insane and ended the night by hitting up the summer sales at some of my favorite online shops. I admit, it was my therapy for the moment and I purchased a gorgeous coffee mug from Anthro that will most likely disguise my wine when needed!
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
prenatal exercise
With each pregnancy I've tried my best to exercise and fit workouts around my tiredness and mama duties. I've done several different types of workouts to help stay in shape while pregnant. Truth be told it doesn’t matter what I do, I struggle with my legs while pregnant. It’s the one two places I seem to hold weight & water and lose definition. It doesn’t mean they go ignored, in fact, I tend to work them harder so I can bounce back quicker after I deliver, but during my pregnancies you would never know that.
I really enjoy yoga as it helps keep me flexible and I swear it helps with labor and delivery. When I delivered Finn the nurses would come in every couple hours to check me and the first question asked was if I had a first or second degree tear since he was nearly a 10lb baby. When I told them I didn't tear their next question was what exercises did I do during my pregnancy. I share this and just watch, I'm going to tear so badly with this next one I'll be cursing to no end and I'll never share an exercise post again. Let's all just pray that doesn't happen!
I’m the type of person who gets bored quickly when it comes to exercise and I don’t like long workouts because it’s hard to find a large portion in my day to devote to it. I like to do different types of movement to keep me motivated. Some of my favorite types of exercise are yoga, barre, body weight lifting and swimming. Keeping it simple, fun and relatively short are my goals when finding a routine. I’m also the type of person who gets excited with fun gear I love, it keeps me excited and motivated to stay active which are key for me to look forward to working out. Some fun pieces I'm currently crushing on include this adorable reversible yoga mat, comfy clothes such as these leggings, a comfy top and a great playlist. The best part about working out at home is Kensi and Finn wanting a piece of the action. They love exercising with us and get excited about trying new stretches.
Yoga | I started yoga while in college and actually started by taking a yoga/pilates combo class. I love the results and the fact I wasn’t just doing cardio to move. After that semester I wanted to keep it up, but couldn’t afford to take a class and had limited knowledge about it. I came across Slim Calm Sexy Yoga by Tara Stiles and it’s still my go to source. t really enjoy putting together my own routines using the sequences provided in the book along with the Pop Sugar Active App on my phone.
Photo via Pinterest
Yoga | I started yoga while in college and actually started by taking a yoga/pilates combo class. I love the results and the fact I wasn’t just doing cardio to move. After that semester I wanted to keep it up, but couldn’t afford to take a class and had limited knowledge about it. I came across Slim Calm Sexy Yoga by Tara Stiles and it’s still my go to source. t really enjoy putting together my own routines using the sequences provided in the book along with the Pop Sugar Active App on my phone.
Barre | I actually stumbled upon this prenatal barre DVD while I was pregnant with Finn. I was getting bored with my exercises and needed something that wouldn’t be too harsh to keep up with since I was huge. I danced for several years and it brought back so many memories. It's definitely hard work and a definite burn, but I feel so good afterwards since it's a great workout. The workouts are simple and not too long and I can choose what I really want to work on.
Body Weight Lifting | In January Mike and I began looking for a simple, easy program for both of us to follow and motivate each other. We looked into Sweat with Kayla by Kayla Istines as her program is a combination of cardio, body weight lifting and stretching. We really enjoy her program and although it’s more directed towards women, Mike has really seen a difference in his body and health. I stopped keeping up with her workouts in May because I was having to modify quite a bit with the belly and for the safety of the baby, but I’m looking forward to getting back into it as soon as I have the green light after giving birth in a couple short months.
Lastly, with our crazy heat and humidity we try and spend our evenings at the pool. This is very relaxing for me and I love being able to swim with the kids and do a few laps or water exercises.
Body Weight Lifting | In January Mike and I began looking for a simple, easy program for both of us to follow and motivate each other. We looked into Sweat with Kayla by Kayla Istines as her program is a combination of cardio, body weight lifting and stretching. We really enjoy her program and although it’s more directed towards women, Mike has really seen a difference in his body and health. I stopped keeping up with her workouts in May because I was having to modify quite a bit with the belly and for the safety of the baby, but I’m looking forward to getting back into it as soon as I have the green light after giving birth in a couple short months.
Lastly, with our crazy heat and humidity we try and spend our evenings at the pool. This is very relaxing for me and I love being able to swim with the kids and do a few laps or water exercises.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
shared girls room inspiration
Last weekend we started to paint the nursery a light pink. We began on one wall and after painting it and letting it dry, the color was much darker than our sample we tested, so we knew we needed to start over. Later that same night Mike and I were hanging on the couch and began discussing moving the baby into Kensi's room. We want to do this eventually, so why not just do it now? We know the new babe will be in our room for the first several months since I'll breastfeed, but it makes more sense to design one shared room rather than focusing on two separate girls room at this time. So we're going for it!
I'm a little obsessed with the BabyLit books by Jennifer Adams & Alison Oliver. We're adding new books from the series at nearly every birthday & Christmas and I often add them into our baby gifts for friends and family. Earlier this year we added Midsummer Night’s Dream to our collection and I was completely head over heels in love with the colors in each illustration. I love muted colors of pink and turquoise mixed with black and white patterns and decided to use this book as inspiration for our shared girls room.
We decided to use the largest bedroom for their shared room and needed to start with a blank slate. We’re priming and painting the walls with Sherwin Williams Eider White (we love love LOVE this color and have used it in every bedroom) and deciding what shade of pink to paint the ceiling.
We currently have both beds in the Jenny Lind style and purchased a convertible crib for Finn. We also have the Swiss Dot bedding for baby girl and still searching for the perfect sheet set for Kensi. I love this over dyed turquoise rug as it perfectly compliments the colors from the board book, and Baby Jives' cloud and star mobile adds the perfect touch of whimsy to the little girls' room.
I can't wait for all this to come together and then we can start on Finn's new room.
Monday, July 11, 2016
sweet cherry ice cream
There’s always lots of ice cream in our house and whenever we’re feeling inspired we make homemade. It’s very simple and we love mixing up different flavors and seeing how it 'churns' out. Kensi is dying to make sprinkle ice cream and I’m a little sprinkled out after she used nearly an entire container of multi-colored sprinkles on our batch of Rice Krispies last week. At least they were jimmies and not the crystallized sugar sprinkles that are crunchy when you chew. Give me another week and I’ll probably be ready to make a batch of vanilla bean with added sprinkles.
The Hubster is all about chocolate ice cream. Anything with chocolate is always a go for him and I’m the odd one out who likes to try exotic flavors. Sweet cherries have been on sale all month and we’ve been eating them like M&M’s. Finn loves them and kept sneaking them and eating the pits so I had to purchase a cherry pitter so he wasn’t growing cherry trees in his little belly. We had part of a bag left and I was worried they were going to go bad quick so cherry ice cream came to mind. This is sweet and delicious, my only add in would be chocolate chunks for the really cherry chip experience.
Homemade Cherry Ice Cream
1-1/2 cups Sweet Cherries, pitted
3/4 cup Whole Milk
2/3 cup Granulated Sugar
Pinch of Salt
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
1-1/2 cups Heavy Cream
1/2 cup Dark Chocolate, chopped
Pulse the pitted cherries in a food processor until finely chopped and set aside.
Using a hand mixer on low speed, combine milk, sugar and salt until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream, vanilla and almond. Stir in chopped cherries with all its juices and chocolate. Cover and refrigerate 1-2 hours.
Using an ice cream maker (Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker), pour the chilled mixture into the frozen freezer bowl and mix until thickened, about 15-20 minutes. This can be served immediately and will have a softer texture or it can be placed in an airtight container and freeze for a couple hours.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
the ultimate baby registry
I have learned so much from my first, second & third pregnancy and the products we love to use everyday and the ones we can go without. With our third baby arriving soon we have decided to clean out our baby stash to simplify and replace certain things with better products.
I have so much fun catching up with my sweet friends who are expecting or have littles of their own. We often swap advice, share tears and chat about our favorite baby items that make life a little easier for the chaos of parenthood.
My hubby encouraged me to write an ultimate baby registry post since we are often asked our opinion by friends and family. We are no experts, but we do quite a bit of research and enjoy testing different products. Together, we cannot stress enough to register for items you truly want. Do not settle. If you don't get everything you want, several stores offer completion discounts. We settled on a couple products and neither one of us can stand them whether it's due to style or function. Yes, we recommend some products that are a bit more pricey, but we do so because they truly are awesome products that make everyday tasks more enjoyable. So, today I'm sharing our ultimate baby registry filled with products we have used, love and recommend to our family and friends.
*None of these products are sponsored, just one set of parents sharing what works with the world*
Nursing & Feeding
Boppy Nursing Pillow | This pillow helps support your new babe while you breastfeed or bottle-feed. Placing it around your waist as you sit down makes this experience more comfortable and enjoyable. We also recommend the Boppy Lounge Pillow which is filled in the center. Both of our kids love this pillow, even today. It works great for baby and prevents them from sliding down too far like the regular Boppy Pillow. Our kids today, 4 years & 19 months still use their pillows for watching movies and playing on the floor.
ComoTomo Bottles | Initially we used Born Free bottles and to this day still enjoy & recommend them. Kensi was great about transitioning back and forth between breastfeeding and bottle feeding which made it nice for Mike to feed her. Finnley refused to take a bottle, period. We recently came across the ComoTomo bottle which resembles and mimics breastfeeding. Our friends who currently use the ComoTomo bottle love it and we are so excited to try it with our third babe.
4Moms High Chair | Earlier this year I shared a post on high chair comparisons while we were searching for a free standing chair. After much research and reading through numerous reviews on six different chairs we purchased this one by 4Moms. We adore this chair for many reasons such as the ease of attaching the magnetic tray one-handed, adjustable chair height to accommodate our dining table and countertop and the ease of cleaning. If you are searching for a countertop chair, we recommend the Inglesina countertop chair. This chair is machine washable, folds up easily and is great for traveling or taking to a restaurant.
Boon Squeeze Spoon | This spoon is ideal for smooth baby food eating. The colored top comes apart and allow you to fill the spoon with pureed baby food. Gently squeeze the handle and the food dispenses onto the spoon tip, allowing a less messy feeding time.
Medela Breast Pump | We first purchased this pump before our oldest was born and it’s still going strong four years later. The accessories are very compatible and the pump itself is a breeze to use. I love the stylish bags they’re installed into making it more discreet. Before registering for a pump call your insurance company and ask what type of voucher they provide for a breast pump. Some have restrictions on specific brands, but all companies are now required to give some sort of voucher for you to purchase one.
Ubbi Snack Cup | We have gone through so many snack cups it’s not funny. So far all of them have either broke, lost pieces or our kids have figured out how to dump the snack and pull the lid off leaving a messy trail wherever they go. Late last year we came across the Ubbi cup and seven months later we have not broken them, lost any pieces or made a mess. Our kids love the easy to hold handle and flip lid. Mike and I especially love the removable spill guard allowing it to be used for a large variety of snacks.
Boon Drying Rack | One more item to register for is a drying rack to hold all your bottle parts, breast pump accessories and snack cups. We started with the small Boon Grass and are now moving up to the Boon Lawn. This drying rack is easy to clean and the accessories do well for drying bottle rings, pacifiers and medicine syringes.
Bathing
Puj Grippy Bath Treads | Bath treads are ideal for babies, toddlers and littles. They’re not something I’ve seen a lot of expecting parents register for. We didn’t register for them simply because everything we found was splashed with characters and we hated them. Luckily, Puj makes a beautiful, fun and gender neutral set perfect for any bathroom. Also, they are easy to clean and don’t collect mildew or build up mold.
Shampoo & Body Wash | We really like the natural bathing products for our kids. We tend to buy what’s on sale and product hop between Honest, Babyganics, Mustela & TubbyTodd.
Thirsties Cloth Wipes | These cloth wipes are actually made for cloth diapering and recommended by one of my sisters, but they make for awesome bath time washcloths. They’re thick, absorbent and don’t roll up. They keep their shape and wash very well.
Bean B Clean Scalp Massaging Brush for Cradle Cap | When we had Kensi in Nebraska we were given one of these brushes by the hospital and by the time we had Finn it somehow got lost in the move and I was so excited to get a new one when Finn was born, but the hospital where we had Finn didn’t have any. This cradle cap brush works wonders for their little heads when they get all dry and start flaking. Pair this with Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns and you won’t be dealing with anymore cradle cap.
Angelcare Bath Support | Like snack cups, we’ve also tried a few different bath tubs. We don’t like big, bulky ones that never fit anywhere except for the tub and you have to remove it every time you need to use it. We’ve also tried what was suppose to be easy and collapsible which turned into a pain in the butt because it wouldn’t collapse or open and the baby kept sliding down. We’re hoping third time is a charm and we’re trying this Angelcare Bath Support. It fits into our linen closet and seems easy to clean, but we will update this item once our sweet babe arrives.
Diapering
Healing Balm | We keep both of these in sets in the house and in the diaper bag. The Honest Healing Balm has worked wonders on our kids and their rare diaper rashes, baby acne & eczema. The Zoe Organics Everything Balm works awesome for cuts, scrapes, sunburns & bug bites.
Diaper Bag | I like a functional diaper bag that is also stylish and Skip Hop makes great diaper bags. I have this Kate Spade bag, but once we had Finn, trying to fit more into it made it difficult. I currently use and love my Day Bag by Nena & Co.
Changing Pad | There will be times where you will have to do a diaper change in unthinkable conditions such as a bathroom floor, dressing room or the grass. Having an easy foldable or rollable changing pad is ideal. I’m currently crushing on this Micro Mat by Gathre because it’s lightweight, fits easily into a bag or purse and waterproof.
The Honest Company Diapers | We usually tell our friends and family to not register for diapers because there are several different brands and everyone has their own opinion about them. With that said, when we’re asked what diapers we use or swear by it’s Honest. We’ve tried other big name brands and have not had very good experiences with them. We’ve found our babies’ sensitive skin to be irritated by the chemicals used in most ‘big name’ brands, along with leaks and the fact we were going through more diapers on a daily basis. We love Honest diapers because they don’t leak, they’re safe for our babies’s skin and they offer adorable prints. They are more per diaper up front, but we go through less Honest diapers than any other diaper and highly recommend everyone to try them.
Diaper Pail | Having a diaper pail near the changing area or whatever room you plan on doing most of the diaper changing is a must. Depending on the type of diaper you choose to use will make you want a diaper pail for sure. We like our Munchkin Diaper Pail by Arm & Hammer. The bags are easy to install, don’t break the bank and baking soda helps alleviate the stinky diaper smell.
Health + Safety
Samsung Baby Monitor | We are about to embark on the baby monitoring world for the first time. We didn’t feel the need to have one with our first two babies, but we’re opting for one this time around. I know with trying to keep our older two entertained during baby’s nap time might require us to be on the porch or in the backyard and having a monitor is a must.
Carseat/Cart/High Chair/Breast Cover | We love how multi-functional these covers are now. Not just the bulky grocery cart and high chair cover, but they can cover the carseat and be used as a breastfeeding cover. They’re made from cotton knit fabric which keeps them light weight, breathable and easy to store in your diaper bag without taking up too much room. There are several different small shops who make these today including Native Wilds and Milk Snob.
Digital Thermometer | You’ll be surprised how often you use a thermometer once your baby arrives so investing in a good one is worth it. We recommend a digital thermometer that takes the reading from the ear or across the forehead. You can also talk to your pediatrician about what he/she recommends to get the best reading to ease your mind and racing heart at night.
Nose Frida | Everyone thinks this contraption is gross when they first hear about it, but we promise it’s not. Yes you are sucking mucus from your baby’s nose, but no it’s not going to go into your mouth. There’s a foam filter located inside which prevents anything from traveling into the mouth piece. You will love the Nose Frida after the first time you use it and your baby can breath again. Be sure to read all the instructions and follow them so you don’t use it too early on your baby or cause harm.
Crane Humidifier | When the babes, Mike or I are sick and can’t breathe we pull out our humidifier. It’s a little bulky, but it really does help us sleep better when we’re all congested or dried out and need some extra moisture in the air.
Nursery
Rock’n Play Sleeper | We recommend this over a bassinet due to the coziness of cradling your baby and the incline it provides. It’s light weight, easily folds up and is great for traveling. Our babies slept in their Rock’n Play for the first 5 months and then transitioned to a flat surface such as their crib.
Crib | Do register for a crib. There are several different types including ones that can convert into a toddler bed and even a full size bed. We first opted for a basic crib that did not convert because we knew we wanted to have more than one baby and would be using the crib again. We recently purchased a crib that converts to a toddler bed for our newest babe on the way since Finn is not ready to transition into a bigger bed at this point. Training your baby to sleep in their crib will help make bedtime routines and sleeping in their own room easier as they become older.
Sound Machine | We feel like a sound machine becomes more practical with the more babies we have. When we had our first, we used it but not consistently. Because she was the first she was use to the quiet and noises would wake her up. Our second can sleep through quite a bit of noise and uses the sound machine every day for nap and at night. He’s a little scream monster so this baby will probably need as much noise as possible to sleep.
Hangers | This seems like a simple item to register for and it is. You will use baby hangers a lot. Regardless if you have a dresser there will be plenty of clothes you will want to hang especially if they come in a set with a onesie, pants or skirt. Make your closet space as functional as possible and invest in some organizational boxes such as these to help keep things simple and clean.
Changing Pad | If you have a dresser in the room a changing pad helps make diaper changes easier by not having to sit on the floor every time. Having the baby at your standing height is much easier.
Muslin Blankets | Our kids love snuggling with muslin blankets and call them cozies. We have cotton ones, bamboo ones, some are from Aden + Anais, Oh Joy! Target line and Little Unicorn.
Play Time
Board Books & Art Cards | Reading to the baby while pregnant and while they’re an infant is important. Just because they can’t quite understand the pictures or hold the book doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy listening to the sound of your voice when you read aloud to them. We love the BabyLit series, which is a twist on classics, but there are so many great books. Some of our other favorites include Duck & Goose by Tad Hills and You Are My Cupcake by Joyce Wan. Contrast art cards are also great for infants as they continue to develop their eyesight. Babies can see black and white patterns very well unlike colors.
Playmat | Activity mats are fun to have for a baby. They’re soft and cushioned, and usually have different textures attached to the base for sensory play. We especially love the design of Land of Nod’s Be On the Sea Floor Mat.
Teethers | Some of our favorite teethers include Sophie the Giraffe, Zoli Sticks and natural wood teethers.
Bumbo Seat | This chair is ideal for helping and supporting baby while learning to sit up. It’s great to use for play time, meal time and outside time.
Travel Gear
4Moms Play Yard | We actually have the Aprica Haven play yard we purchased four years ago, but the 4Moms play yard functions in the same way. We love the ease of the push down/pull up to collapse the play yard. Unlike several others where it can be challenging just to set it up, this one is easy and doesn’t leave us with a migraine.
Rear Facing Mirror | Having a mirror attached to the headrest in the backseat in order to have a line of sight to our rear facing baby is a dream. We love being able to see what’s going on in the back seat, whether they’re sleeping, trying to reach something or fussy. There are several different ones and not all are compatible with all cars. Do your research and find one that fits snug to your backseat headrest so you’re not struggling with it every time you get in the car.
Baby Jogger City Select Stroller | We originally bought the Baby Jogger City Mini GT which is a three wheel single stroller. We love this stroller and the ease of the one hand fold, but when we were expecting Finn we needed a double. We went with the City Select Convertible because it converts from a single to a double and back again. This stroller design is genius. There are 16 different ways to configure the seats and since it’s stacked front to back instead of side by side it fits through all door ways and on sidewalks. We also like how the accessories are sold separately so we can ‘build’ the stroller based on our needs. We have the parent console and the infant seat conversion kit to snap our infant seat in when needed. Honestly, we should have registered for this one from the very beginning knowing/hoping to have more than one baby.
Infant Carseat | The infant seat is only going to be used for the first year, max. We have the Chicco KeyFit 30. Because it will be needed, also register for a 5 point harness convertible carseat such as this one. Be sure to check expiration dates on carseats as well; most have a five year life. Convertible seats can sit rear facing apporoximately up to 45 pounds and forward facing up to the 65-70 pounds range. Parents are also highly encouraged to rear face their babies until they are at least two and some states here in the U.S. have already begun to make it law for the safety of the child. It’s important to get a seat that’s safe, comfortable and have it installed properly by visiting your local fire department.
4Moms Rockaroo | Almost all babies love to swing, especially ours. We’ve gone through two large swings that take up half the room. When the second one broke on us we went for the 4Moms Mamaroo. We LOVE IT and so did Finn. This time around we’re swapping out our bouncer and bought the 4Moms Rockaroo which is smaller than the Mamaroo and it moves front to back. We’re constantly moving around the house and going outside, so having the Rockaroo will allow us to take the baby wherever the rest of our crew is venturing off to. Both products are compact, light weight and easy to move. We love the 4Moms products and don’t think you can go wrong with either of them.
Solly Baby Wrap | We didn’t get the picture on our design board above, but having a body baby carrier is ideal. We love our SollyBaby Wrap and actually have more than one. They can seem intimidating, but once we used it once or twice it was easy. The material is a lightweight cotton knit that has a little pull and give to make it very comfortable to wear. We don’t get hot wearing it and we love the fact that we can both use it since it’s adjustable. Most of the time it’s easier for us to wear the baby rather than carry the infant seat around.
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
festive fourth + summer fruit salad
Happy 4th from our little family to yours! We hope everyone was able to have a safe, fun and festive holiday weekend. Our weather wasn’t very cooperating most days, but we were able to take advantage of some sunshine while sweating our skin off in the southern humidity. Our babes were so excited to be outside and at the pool {not this mama} so we compromised with our kiddie pool in the backyard. It was so hot and humid the kids only lasted about 20 minutes.
We celebrated with a couple of our close friends and grilled out. I love trying new recipes especially for holidays and tweaked this Red, White & Blue Salad for our family {recipe is below}. I was smitten over the colors and it was delicious. This was my first time trying the whole watermelon & feta combination. I imagine you will either love it or hate it. I really enjoyed the flavors together as it balanced the salad between sweet and savory. The mint was a huge winner in my book, it took this salad from basic to fresh and bright!
Red, White & Blue Salad
2 cups cubed watermelon | 1 cubed apple | 1 cup blueberries | 2 tablespoon fresh mint | 2 tablespoons feta cheese | dressed with juice of one lime, 2 tablespoons honey & a pinch of salt whisked together |
Once it cooled off in the evening we lit off a few small firecrackers. The kids love throwing the Pops! all over the driveway, which is now a mess and will get a cleaning later today. There really aren’t too many firecrackers they can do other than the Pops! and having us help them with a sparkler so we made confetti poppers for them to enjoy. We used THIS tutorial. I really loved this project because it was simple and still made it fun and safe for them. Although, Finn was just not having it.
After a day filled with delicious food, festive actives, firecrackers and a nice cool bath they both crashed out in our bed. I love capturing moments like these; we know they had a great day and we hope it’s something they remember.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
