Surviving Two Littles

This is the first week I'm on my own with both kids. Andrew went back to school on Monday after being home for four weeks on his winter break. We really lucked out with Olive arriving during his time off. Andrew was able to be on Taylor duty while I fed Olive around the clock. 

With school back in session, it's just me in the parenting trenches. It hasn't been too bad so far, but there is still some adjusting we're all doing. I'm trying my hardest to make sure Taylor is still getting enough attention, but sometimes it's difficult with a crying newborn who wants to be held all the time. It's a good thing she's cute, even when she is refusing to be put down. 

I've been trying out a few things to make juggling two kids easier. The biggest lifesaver so far has been our Nesting Day carrier. I had tried out a few carriers with Taylor, but wasn't able to find anything that I loved. Having the Nesting Day carrier this time around has been a game changer. I can wear Olive close to me and still be hands-free while playing with Taylor. (A little disclosure, I was given this carrier in exchange for my honest review. And I'm being honest when I say that I love it!)

There have been many days when the only time I can accomplish anything is with Olive in the carrier. She instantly falls asleep, especially when we're skin-to-skin. This carrier is actually designed to be worn to increase skin-to-skin contact. That means you wear it like a t-shirt (if t-shirts had kangaroo pouches), and baby wears nothing but a diaper. 

Before having my own babies, I never knew there were actual, scientifically proven benefits to skin-to-skin. I could try to list all the pros of it, but I found this quote on Nesting Day's site that does a much better job explaining the benefits: "Wearing our skin-to-skin newborn carrier boosts oxytocin levels and lowers cortisol (science talk for more love and less stress), and increases prolactin, for better milk production and greater breastfeeding success. It also promotes healthy attachment and bonding, because the nesting days are when these begin. Newborns need help regulating their own temperature (since they aren’t in that cozy womb anymore!), and mom or daddy’s skin is the perfect heater for their tiny bodies. Finally, our carrier aids in learning baby's cues, so feeding, sleeping and awake time can be more fully enjoyed."

Of course, the carrier doesn't have to be used only for skin-to-skin time, it can also be worn over clothing when out running errands. It has already come in handy while I was shopping at Target and when I had to drag both kids along to see the pediatrician.  I probably wouldn't have survived those solo trips without it. 

If you're on the market for a newborn carrier, you can use code SNOWSTORMBLOG to get a $5 discount. You can also choose to pre-order a carrier for shipment in 4-6 weeks and that will knock an additional $10 off. That means all you pregnant mamas can order in advanced for a total discount of $15. If baby is already here and you want your carrier asap, you can choose to ship it immediately and still get $5 off with my discount code. Click here to check out their website.

And any veteran moms reading, what are your must-have products that help with juggling multiple little humans? Share your wealth of knowledge with the rest of us in the comments below!

Olive: A Birth Story

My due date was 12/11/2016. The day passed without any signs of a baby. I was okay with that because my birthday was the next day. I told Andrew if I shared a birthday with my daughter, the two of us would be having a girls trip to Disneyland to celebrate every year. Unfortunately, she didn't come on my birthday either. The next day came and I started to have some real contractions in the morning, but nothing consistent and nothing very strong. That evening the contractions started to pick up again so I decided to go to bed early in case labor really kicked in. I woke up sporadically throughout the night to random contractions, but was always able to go right back to sleep.

At 4 am on 12/14/2016, I woke up to a particularly strong contraction. I decided to stay awake and start timing. They were regular and getting stronger, but I wasn't sure if they were quite close enough or quite strong enough yet. At 6 am, I woke up Andrew so we could start getting everything together. We still had to drop off Taylor with his grandparents and I didn't want to run out of time if things picked up.

We got to the hospital and I was checked in slowly. I mean painfully slow. I don't think the lady at check-in was aware that I was in labor. It was around 7 am when I was finally allowed into triage. I was terrified that I wasn't progressing or far enough along. I did not want to be sent home. A nurse checked me and I was at... 8 centimeters! I couldn't believe it. My contractions were completely different this time around than they were with Taylor. I remember shaking and crying through contractions with Taylor at only 6 cm (that's when I called for the epidural). Here I was at 8 cm, maintaining my composure. Yes, the contractions were painful, but I was able to breathe through them and then immediately snap back into a happy conversation once it was over. I guess that's why I was so unaware of how far into labor I was - I expected it to be the same as it was with Taylor. The nurse was astounded and quickly told me I would be wheeled into my delivery room (they were afraid my water would break and the baby would come sliding out if I walked).

I made sure that it was known that I wanted an epidural before it was too late and I was hooked up with the magical drugs by 8 am. Again, the epidural experience was completely different this time around. I think with Taylor, I was so focused on the contractions that I didn't feel any part of the epidural process. Since I was able to handle contractions a lot better during this labor, I felt every part of the various epidural needles. It was not enjoyable, but worth it once it kicked in.

Once I was nice and comfy, Andrew and I were both able to get a nap in. My nurse checked me again and I hadn't really changed much so it was decided that I would start pitocin. This was about 10:45 and I immediately started feeling the contractions pick up (not the pain, just the feeling of them happening). At this point my water was still intake, so the doctor that was currently in the hospital came in to break it. As soon as that happened I knew it was go time, but my doctor wasn't quite to the hospital yet. The urge to push wasn't too strong so I was able to relax until Dr. T got there around 12:15. Everything was prepped and I got ready to push. This baby was ready to come because it only took a few strong pushes and Olive was out. Just like our last delivery, Dr. T let Andrew pull baby out and set her on my chest. 

It was 12:46 when I saw my perfect Olive for the first time. She looks just like her big brother did as a newborn. Unlike her brother though who just cooed when he entered the world, Olive decided to let us know she was here by screaming. I enjoyed skin-to-skin time while getting stitched up. (Following in the footsteps of her older brother, Olive made her own episiotomy on the way out. Thanks kids!) She was weighed (7lbs 7oz) and measured (20 inches) and passed her newborn screening test. In all regards, she's perfect and we're in love. 

Taylor has taken quite a liking to her as well which we are so grateful for. He always wants to check on baby sister, points out her nose and toes, and gives her fist bumps. Being a family of four is wonderful.

Introducing Olive Blake Snow

She kept us waiting for 3 extra days, but she was so worth it. Born on 12/14/16 at 12:46 pm. Olive weighed in at 7lbs 7oz, 20 inches long, and is absolutely perfect in every way.

A Letter To My First Born

My Dear First Born,

You, poor thing, have had a lingering cough that keeps you up at night. Usually you handle it just fine, but around one this morning you were a little upset after a coughing spell. I decided it would be best for me to check on you and bring you some water. You refused the water and simply wanted me to hold you. I sat with you in our rocking chair far longer than necessary. You took advantage and fell asleep on me. I couldn't help but notice how much you seemed like a newborn again (albeit a very large newborn). Your head was tucked under my chin. Your legs were bent into the frog position. Your little hands were clenching and unclenching involuntarily. And I felt you get heavier and heavier as you slipped deeper into sleep. That has always been one of my favorite feelings in the world - the weight of a sleeping babe on my chest. Eventually I knew I should put you back into your crib. When I stood up, your eyes fluttered opened and looked at me. I stood and bounced you back to sleep. Do you know how long it's been since I was able to bounce you back to sleep? It works great on 6 month olds, but not so well with 19 month toddlers. Yet tonight, you allowed me one last baby moment with you. One last time for me to bounce my sole baby to sleep.

Soon your baby sister will join us and you will have to be a kind and understanding toddler who shares your mama. I hope you don't think I love you any less when I have to divide my time and attention. And I hope you know that we will always have a special bond because you made me into a mama.

via

As I laid you down in your crib, you didn't roll into a new position or readjust yourself like usual. You simply stayed asleep right where I put you, as if you were still my swaddled newborn. I stayed a little longer and stared at your peaceful sleeping face. This over-quoted book popped into my head as I slipped out into the hall: "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be." 

Thanks you for being my baby one last night. I'll try not to take it as an omen that baby sister will be joining us in the next 24 hours.

The Not So Fun Side Of Childbirth

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WhatsInYourBabyBag #CollectiveBias

Let's be real; there's nothing glamorous about labor. Is it empowering? Yes. Is it worth it? Totally. But glamorous? Not so much. I don't think I was really prepared for the whole recovery that comes after birthing a human. If you've pushed a baby out of your nether regions, you know what I'm referring to. I'm talking about tearing (and the stitches that come with that), endless bleeding, hemorrhoids, that darn breastfeeding curve, and wearing those flattering mesh panties as you hobble around to care for your newborn. No amount of research could have prepared me for all that comes with the birth of a child. Thank goodness for cute tiny babies, or no one would go through childbirth.

Thankfully, I've done it once; so I'm a little more aware of what to expect. They say each labor and subsequent recovery period is a bit different, but I feel I'm much more prepared nonetheless. I shared how I'm preparing for baby #2 already, but this post is more on how I'm going to make my postpartum recovery more bearable this time around (and hopefully that will mean bouncing back quicker).

A suggestion I give to everyone is steal from the hospital. No, don't literally steal medical supplies or equipment. What I'm referring to is the fact that they will provide you with some basic items that you will need and you can take them home without feeling bad. This includes the giant mesh panties and maxi pads. Those things are amazing, even if they look awful. If there is a pack of them in your room, put them in your bag to take home. They are way better than wearing a basic pad in regular old underwear when you are bleeding heavily for the next two-four weeks or so. Along with the mesh panties, the hospital provided me with a squirt bottle (called a peribottle) to fill with warm water for cleaning downstairs (again, glamorous), some numbing foam that helps with swelling and discomfort, witch hazel pads, a donut pillow to sit on, and Dermoplast which is a pain relieving spray. You can request things like nipple shields, nipple cream, which you will need if you're breastfeeding, and things as simple as chap stick. The hospital won’t reuse any of these items for another patient, so you are practically throwing them away if you don't stash them away in your bag for home use. (You can also take home diapers, wipes, Vaseline, pacifiers, swaddles, and more for baby, but that's a whole other post.)

I plan on purchasing beforehand all the things that I can’t steal from the hospital at Walmart. I live right across the street from Walmart and it always has everything on my shopping list. Some of the things I've purchased already are Epsom salt for sitz baths (which are definitely necessary), Colace, and Preparation H® Medicated Wipes for those darn hemorrhoids. No one likes to talk about hemorrhoids, but they do happen. I got some on my last go-around and I plan on being prepared this time. Preparation H® Medicated Wipes provide effective hemorrhoid relief, are convenient to use, and soothe as they clean. Also, did you know that 1 out of 3 women get hemorrhoids during pregnancy? If you manage to avoid them during pregnancy, make sure to have Preparation H® Medicated Wipes for Women on hand for post-partum recovery. They are the first and only women's hemorrhoid wipes infused with chamomile, aloe and refreshing cucumber, plus a soothing medication that cools on contact. Make sure to use as directed.

Even though postpartum recovery isn't the best thing ever, you know what is? That sweet newborn phase. A lot of times people will stop by with gifts for baby. While that is sweet, I can guarantee that baby has more than enough (and they're too little to even realize they're getting presents). The person who really deserves a gift is mom. I have a few friends due around the same time as me and I've started making gift baskets. I want to help make those first few weeks as a new mom as wonderful as possible.

Here's some of the fun things I'm including:

Lotion and Chap Stick - Who doesn't love some new lotion and chap stick. It's nice to have on hand, and mom can place it next to the chair she uses most to breastfeed baby.

A Cute Water Bottle/Tumbler - Breastfeeding requires hydration. Mom needs to be drinking water constantly. A nice new water bottle will remind mom to take frequent sips and stay hydrated.

A Good Book - There are lots of idle hours while nursing baby. Sometimes mom gets stuck in a chair with a sleeping newborn on her chest. A good book comes in handy in those situations.

Chocolate - There are going to be days when mom needs some chocolate. I'm going to make sure I provide that.

And here are the necessary items:

Preparation H® Medicated Wipes - We've discussed this already. Mom is gonna need them.

Nursing Pads - There are some really cute ones out there and they come in handy.

Dry Shampoo and Face Wipes - Let's face it - as cute as those newborns are, sometimes they don't give mom a chance to shower. Dry shampoo and face wipes can at least help mom feel a little more put together.

What are some things you love for postpartum recovery?

What items do you give to new moms?

Have you ever had to purchase these before?

Preparing for Baby #2

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FreeToBe #CollectiveBias

The good thing about being on my second baby is that I feel I have a lot better understanding of what's to come. I've already done it once; and while everything might be a little different this time around, I generally know what to expect. Something I'm doing so much better with this second pregnancy is preparing for baby. A month before Taylor was born, we were moving into a house and Harley just had a litter of puppies. It was hard for me to prepare for him when I was preoccupied with packing, moving, cleaning, painting, unpacking, caring for brand new puppies, etc. Taylor was lucky to have a crib set up in his room and the carseat installed.

Experiencing such a busy time before Taylor was born has helped me make a list of things I want to have done before the second baby arrives. Yes, a place to sleep is really all that is necessary, but there's a lot of things that can be done to make baby's arrival a lot less stressful. This is my checklist for the next few months (and who doesn't love making a checklist and marking things off?)

1. Stock up on essential household items:

This includes things like toilet paper, soap, cleaning supplies, etc. When you have a newborn in the house (and your recovering from birthing said newborn), the last thing you want to do is make a trip to the store for something as simple as toilet paper. You can either make one giant run to get everything you might need, or you can do it gradually as you buy things regularly. I've been doing the latter. When I run to the store and grab some deodorant, I'll pick up two extra ones for my stockpile. When we run out of window cleaner, I'll make sure to pick up an extra bottle the next shopping trip. Doing that slowly makes it less overwhelming as well as spreads out the extra costs over several months.

2. Make some freezer meals to have on hand: 

We are lucky enough to have family nearby to help us with meals, as well as a church that usually provides a week of dinners after someone has a baby. I know that eventually a day will come that I will have an ornery toddler and a newborn that won't want to be put down, and it will be impossible to get something put together to eat. I can only imagine that having a few easy meals on hand that I can pull out of the freezer and throw into the crockpot or oven will be a lifesaver. Anyone have any tried and true freezer meals they love?

3. Pre-wash and put away all of baby's clothes:

Newborns have sensitive skin so it's important to pre-wash all of their teeny tiny clothes to avoid possible irritations. It's also important to use a perfume-free, dye-free hypoallergenic detergent formula in case of sensitivity. all® free clear is a brand that meets all these criteria. I used it with Taylor and I plan on using it again with our second Snow baby, since it's the #1 recommended brand by dermatologists, allergists, and pediatricians. I love that I can run one big load of baby laundry with the help of all® free clear to I can worry a little less about my new arrival's comfort and care. all® free clear detergent fights tough stains, whitens whites, and brightens colors (which is great when dealing with those unexpected blow-outs).

Last time I was at Walmart, I decided to pick up all® free clear Mighty Pacs® to try. I realize that measuring out detergent isn't that hard, but these detergent pacs are so convenient! Whichever method you choose, just make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging!

Once all that laundry is done, I need to buckle down and put it away! How do these little humans have so many clothes? I'm the biggest procrastinator when it comes to putting away laundry, so this time around I plan on folding and organizing all of baby girl's clothes before she arrives. Hopefully this will encourage me to keep up with putting that laundry away.

4. Spruce up the nursery:

Taylor and new baby are going to be sharing a room. That means most of the decorating is already done, but I still want to add a few feminine touches for baby girl. Since we moved in a month before Taylor was born, the nursery was my main focus and I managed to pretty much finish it before he was born (Do you remember the before? That orange wall color was awful!). There are still a few paint touch-ups that need to be done though, plus new artwork needs to be hung and some rearranging is in order. I know if I don't finish all of this before the baby gets here, I'll most likely put it off (like said paint touch-ups from over a year and a half ago).

5. Pamper myself:

This is the last and final step. Once everything is taken care of, momma needs some TLC. When that baby arrives, there's not going to be time for hair appointments, spa days, massages, etc. There's hardly going to be a spare minute to shower. I plan on getting a pedicure, my hair trimmed, and; if I plan on splurging a bit, some eyelash extensions. Labor isn't the most glamorous thing, so anything you can do to feel better about yourself is a good idea!

How are you preparing for your babies arrival?

(or have prepared for babies in the past?)

Do you have any great freezer meals to recommend?

Have you ever used all® free clear?

Exclusively Pumping - My Experience

Disclaimer: Every person's experience with breastfeeding, pumping, bottle-feeding (essentially caring for a child) is different. This was my experience. I share because I know when I was in the thick of things, reading other's stories helped me.

Before I was pregnant with Taylor, I never thought about breastfeeding. Of course, I knew well enough that breastfeeding comes with the territory of birthing a tiny human, but I had never thought anything beyond that. Growing up, I heard lots of things about pregnancy symptoms, labor, hospital stays, sleepless nights, and child rearing. However, breastfeeding never really came up in any conversation. Once I was, indeed, pregnant, I started researching all of the above topics and more. I quickly realized that breastfeeding was sounding less and less like a "natural," "instinctual," walk-in-the-park like I figured it would be, and more like a painful and difficult skill I would have to master.

I know that for some breastfeeding is a cinch, and that just as many have all kinds of difficulties. For me, traditional breastfeeding didn't happen. It was extremely painful, and I was not able to deal with that pain, having just come from labor. So, I made the decision to pump exclusively. Pretty much from day two of Taylor's life, I have been pumping.

It was not an easy choice to make. I was on a rigid schedule of pumping every 2.5 hours, to make sure I maintained a supply. So even when Taylor was sleeping soundly at night, I would wake up and have to pump. It was especially difficult when Taylor was also awake. I had to hold, feed, and burp him, all while awkwardly wearing my pump (not to mention the times when he would kick or knock one of the pumps off).

There were times when I felt cabin fever setting in, as if I was chained to my pump. The day seemed like a revolving loop of bottles, burping, and producing milk. If ever I needed to go somewhere, the prep work involved sometimes made me re-consider: By the time I had finished packing up my child, the diaper bag and driving to my destination, it felt like it was time to turn back around. Eventually, I started bringing my pump with me, but that required even more prep time before we left the house. Once I got where I needed to go, I then had to find a private area to pump, as well as washing it out wherever I was. Maybe it's not as big a deal to some people, but I had a hard time with that.

I remember after about two months I found an "exclusively pumping" mom group online. It was really helpful to read other's experiences and I was able to ask questions and get advice. Some of the topics said things like, "I've made it 6 months!" or "I'm finished with pumping forever after a whole year!" Two months had already felt like eternity and I couldn't fathom making it a whole year. It was so much work and so time-consuming! There were times when I would cry from frustration as I pumped (because #hormones). Sometimes, I just wanted to go to bed, but I couldn't - not until I got my pump session in. Once I finally hit that six month mark, I was able to drop the middle of the night pumping. That made a world of difference in my attitude. I could finally sleep more than a 5 hour stretch. That first night I got a full night sleep, I felt amazing. Then by 10 months, I was down to only needing to pump 3 times a day and still producing enough for Taylor. The more sessions I could drop, the more I felt like my life was less controlled by my pumping sessions.

Eventually, pumping became part of my routine, but that still doesn't mean I wasn't extremely excited to hit that year mark and pack up my pump for good. My pumping app I used to track my sessions says I've pumped for a combined total of 20 days and have produced over 70 gallons of breast milk over the past year. And you know what, I am so proud of myself. It was a lot of hard work and effort, but I was able to feed my child and put big chubby rolls on his thighs. I'm so lucky that I was able to keep up my supply for an entire year. If it hadn't worked out and I had to do formula, that would have been fine too. #fedisbest

This whole posts sounds a little like it was all doom and gloom for me, but it wasn't. Motherhood is hard and trying to figure out how to feed your child can be overwhelming (especially with the pressure out there that only traditional breastfeeding is acceptable). That's why I'm sharing my experience. If pumping is something you're going through right now, I want you to know you're not alone if you get discouraged.

Here are some tips that helped me maintain my supply:

1. Drink lots of water.

I think this is one of the most important things you can do to keep your supply up. It's also probably the easiest thing you can do, but since it's so simple it's often overlooked. ALWAYS have a water bottle with you. I promise, you will notice a difference on the days you don't get enough water.

2. Drink Gatorade.

I read this on every discussion board post about upping supply. I didn't really think anything of it, but the few times I had a Gatorade, my supply sky-rocketed.

3. Try lactation cookies.

There are a million recipes online for lactation cookies. I usually just modified my favorite normal recipe and added in a little brewer's yeast, flax seed, and rolled oats. If you do it right, you can't even tell they're not normal cookies. If you aren't able to find a good recipe, email me and I will hook you up.

4. Eat oatmeal for breakfast.

Maybe I should say first: eat breakfast! Sometimes it's hard to get yourself a meal when dealing with a newborn, but it's important. Oatmeal is a great breakfast food to help with your supply.

5. Continue with your prenatals.

My doctor told me to keep taking my prenatals. They help you get the extra nutrients you need while also helping out your production.


Some things I wish I knew beforehand:

1. You're milk coming in is the worst.
No one really warned me about the pain that comes along with your milk coming in. My milk came in about day two. I had managed to get through my pregnancy without getting any stretch marks, but my milk came in so fast (and in such a large amount) that it caused me to get stretch marks on my boobs overnight. No one told me this was possible, so I'm telling you.

2. You don't always leak.
Some people leak constantly, some only leak when their milk lets-down, and others don't leak at all. I only leaked on rare occasions. As in, I could probably count the times on one hand (mostly at night when I waited too long between pump sessions. I'm counting myself extremely lucky). Don't be too concerned that you'll never be able to go out in public without soaking through your shirt.

3. If your supply decreases, it's not the end.
There were so many times when my milk supply started dropping and I was convinced I was drying up. There are lots of things that affect your supply (periods, hormones, what you eat/drink, how much you sleep, etc.) That doesn't mean all hope is lost. Usually it just corrects itself. If it doesn't seem to be going back to it's normal production, you can pump more often or try some of the tricks I listed up above. You can even usually increase your supply with some work.

4. Getting your body to stop producing can be tough.
I thought when I was finished pumping, I could easily stop my production. When we were in the hospital, the nurse made it sound like if I put cabbage leaves in my bra, my supply would dry up overnight. Not so. It was an intense week of pain as I tried to make my body realize that I didn't need to make milk anymore. There's a lot of tips on how to dry up your supply, but it seems that each suggestion only worked for certain people. Some people swear by cabbage leaves, drinking tea, consuming peppermint in any form, and so on. For me, cabbage leaves seemed to do nothing, but Sudafed helped some. I think it really just takes time (sometimes months!) Hang in there, the pain (and milk) will go away eventually. Pop some ibuprofen in the mean time.

+What are some of your tips, tricks, or 

advice for those exclusively pumping 

(or breastfeeding, bottle feeding, etc)?

+What are some challenges you faced?

Baby Travel Basket With Huggies

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HuggiesForHolidays #CVSHuggiesHeroes #CollectiveBias

I can't believe it's already November which means the long awaited holiday season is upon us! I am so excited that this year we get to celebrate with Taylor in tow. People have always told me that holidays are much more fun once you have kids, and it's so true!

As thrilling as it is to now have a kid to share in all the excitement, it can also be a bit challenging. One of those challenges we will be facing this Thanksgiving. Holidays often result in traveling to celebrate with family and friends, but having a baby in the car for any length of time can be a nightmare.  We are headed to California for turkey day which translate to an 8 hour drive to reach our destination. We've already taken a few long car rides with Taylor and have learned some tricks along the way. The trick that has helped us the most is to always have the car stocked with the needed essentials. We keep everything Taylor might need in a basket that stays in the car. Here is everything we have in our travel basket.

Sophie: Taylor is a teething monster right now. He loves Sophie the Giraffe so she goes with us pretty much everywhere. If you're wondering if she's worth the hype (and money), she is. I was skeptical in the beginning too, but I'm glad I decided to make the purchase.

Sippy Cup: Taylor doesn't really drink from it yet, but he loves chewing on the spout. I figured it's good practice for the future and an easy-to-hold teether.

Blanket: We love our Aden + Anais swaddle blankets, so one always goes with us in the car for naps.

Extra Outfit: We haven't suffered from too many blow-outs just yet, but I know as soon as I don't pack an extra outfit, it will happen.

Diapers: Obviously these are needed.

Boudreaux Butt Paste: This is the best diaper rash ointment out there in my opinion. If his bum starts getting a little red, this clears it up instantly.

Huggies Clutch N' Go: This is my new favorite thing. I've always been a fan of Huggies, but this is a game changer. I like the Clutch N' Go for two specific reasons. The first one is rather silly, but I love looking through the different clutches to pick out a new design. Second, the convenience. I think I have one of these in every room of the house. In fact, I like these so much that I made Andrew take us to our local CVS last night in the middle of Halloween festivities to pick up some more when we ran out of the ones in the diaper bag. Plus with Huggies being the number one, dermatologically tested, brand choice for moms, you can't go wrong.

I would love to know how you survive road trips and the holidays with kids, so please share in the comments! You can click here to see how others are using Huggies to survive the holidays and don't forget to visit Huggies website for coupons, parenting tips, and more!

Finding Joy in the Sleepless Nights

It's 1:57 in the morning. Baby boy's cries wander down the hall. I force my tired eyes open and make my way to his room. His squirmy body is always so warm when I scoop him out of his crib. I press him to me, but he won't let me cuddle him just yet. He demands food so I grant him his wish as we settle into the rocking chair. He guzzles down his milk contently while I try to keep myself from nodding off. Sometimes these night feeds are hard. I yearn for more than a 5 hour stretch. What energy I would have if only I could get to that seemingly distant 6 hour stretch. He is blissfully unaware of my struggle as he drowsily eats, cooing in satisfaction.

Eventually, he slowly drops off to sleep, belly full and milk dripping down his chin. Instead of immediately laying him back in his crib, I can't help but hold him a little longer. I stay and stare at his face despite my heavy lids and common sense telling me to get some sleep while I can. I savor the weight of his body on mine and breathe in his sweet milky skin. His little hand clasps my finger and he dreams without worry. I watch as his chest rises and falls with each little breath and soon I hear his baby snores. As much as I ache for a full night of uninterrupted sleep, I realize that I love these quiet, still moments with my little boy. It's just the two of us, rocking without a care during the calm night.

My mind wanders and I'm quickly reminded how fast these first six months have gone by.These moments are fleeting, and I mentally log this night time feeding away into my memories. These sleepless nights may be hard, but oh how they fill my heart until it's bursting at the seams with love. Someday I won't have these moments. Someday he won't rely on me for everything anymore. Someday he will think he's too big to hold mama's hand or to sit on my lap. Someday my boy will rather run and jump and explore instead of snuggling into mom's arms. Those days will have their own moments, but as for now, I am content with my sleepless nights and late night feeds.

Taylor's Nursery: The Details

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When we moved into our house, I was 35 weeks pregnant. The house was in desperate need of maintenance and the nursery was my first priority, as you may have guessed if you saw the "before" shots of the room I shared last week. I may have overestimated my abilities to tackle projects (figuratively, not literally) being so largely pregnant because the nursery wasn't totally finished until Taylor had been here for a few weeks. So it sure makes my heart happy to see these pictures of the nursery completed.

When I first starting planning, I knew I couldn't afford everything I wanted if I were to have my dream nursery, which I was fine with. I enjoyed finding good deals, diy-ing what I could, and then investing in a few pieces (with gift cards we had left over from our wedding). My advice, if you're in the process of starting a nursery, or will be in the near future, would be to plan as far in advance as possible. Then, find the furniture pieces you want and the other items that will make your nursery special as soon as possible; that way you have time to wait to see if it goes on sale or to hunt down a coupon. You might even be able to find a cheaper price somewhere else (or find something similar for a better price). Plus, the more time you give yourself, the less stress you'll be. We want happy mamas.

Grey Crib | Tall White Dresser | Oversized Rocker

Polka Dot Sheets | Orange Accent Pillow | Blackout Curtains

World Globe | "Live Brave" Print | Wooden Letter Blocks

Faux Succulent | Custom Calvin and Hobbes Art | Lost Boys Watercolor Print

Taylor's Nursery

When we moved into our house, there was an interesting color scheme going on. Every wall was a lovely pink salmon color with a few muddy red accent walls. Taylor's room was the exception to that. The previous owner decided neon orange was the perfect bedroom color (I'm not sure how anyone slept with that glaring color).

Since I prefer when babies sleep at night, we decided it would be best to paint. And having a baby is a great excuse for buying stuff at Target to decorate (I mean, he needs a whole room to himself to sleep in, and I know he appreciates great accent pillows). On Monday, I'll share more detailed pictures as well as where everything came from (update: here's the post!) , but for now, here is the before and after shot.

I'm pretty thrilled with how it turned out. You might remember when I posted my inspiration for the nursery and I feel like I stayed with the theme I had envisioned. One of my favorite things about owning a house is being able to make it exactly how I want. Eventually, once we finally get around to finishing all of our projects, I'll post more of these before and after pictures of different rooms in our house. In the meantime, look out for next Monday posts where I post the details on where everything came from! (Update: here's the post!)

Newborn Products I Can't Live Without

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When I used to browse baby products online back in my days of gestating, I would get so overwhelmed. There was tons of stuff that a baby seemed to need and I never knew what would be best to buy for Taylor. Well now that Taylor is here, I can tell you that babies don't need much. As long as you have some diapers and can provide food for them, they're set. 

Of course, there are some things that make life with a newborn easier. I'm sure I'll discover many more products that I absolutely love along the way, but I wanted to do a post of a few of my favorite products thus far. If you have items that you couldn't live without, please let me know in the comments so we can all discover new products that need to be in our lives asap.

1. Baby Swing- This has been a lifesaver at times. When I can't get Taylor to take a nap in his crib, I can almost always get him to sleep in his swing. He's also pretty content in it while he's awake too.

2. Boon Grass Drying Rack- I almost exclusively pump. That leaves me with endless bottles and pump parts to wash. Trust me when I tell you this little drying rack is perfect. Plus, it looks really cute on my counter.

3. Ergo Carrier- Taylor loves the Ergo! As soon as I put him in it, he conks out. I use it whenever we go on walks or grocery shopping. It's also great to use around the house when I need to get things done, but baby wants to be held.

4. Boudreaux’s All Natural Butt Paste- We've been lucky in that we haven't really had to deal with diaper rash yet, but the few times Taylor's little bum has been red we've used this. Within a few hours, the redness is gone.

5. Aden and Anais Swaddle Blankets- We acquired a lot of blankets and swaddles as gifts. We quickly discovered the best ones to swaddle with are the Aden and Anais blankets, hands down. Taylor is much less likely to break out of his swaddle in the middle of the night when we use these.

6. Play Mat- Over the past month, Taylor has started to enjoy looking up at all his toys and kicking his legs while laying on his mat. He even started reaching for things this week (it's super fun watching him trying to figure out his hands). Taylor stays entertained for about 20 minutes allowing me some baby-free time to get stuff done.

7. MAM Pacifiers- When Taylor was first born, he was an expert at getting his fingers inside the pacifier rings and pulling them out of his mouth.These ones are perfect for him since they don't have the little ring most pacifiers have. Plus, I like all the cute designs available.

What are your baby product must-haves?
Is there something you and baby can't live without?