Pink Blush

Pink Blush

     I had a Christmas family photo shoot planned with Velvet Violet Photography and I had nothing to wear! Im so happy I found this adorable plaid dress from Pink Blush. Their clothes are so versatile and go from maternity to motherhood  perfectly. There aren’t very many clothes I bought while pregnant that I was able to wear afterwards so I really look forward to when I can have a do over! Theres so many ways to style this dress, but I chose to throw on some thigh high boots and roll up the sleeves for a semi-casual look. Their styles are also super affordable and everyone knows I love a good deal. I will definitely be wearing a ton of their clothes in the future and look forward to sharing more of their styles with you.

 

 

*Dress was complimentary but as always, all opinions are my own*

Dr. Brown’s Product Review

My 9 month old Emma is at a stage right now where she’s teething like crazy, needs constant soothing, and is learning to transition from a bottle to a sippy cup. As someone who is a self proclamied product junkie, I have been testing out different teethers, soothers, and transitional cups. I wasn’t very surprised to find that one of my favorite brands, Dr. Brown’s, has some of the best products for my current needs.  The products that I will be focusing on are the Coolees Soothing Watermelon Teether, the Lovey Pacifier and Teether Holder, and the Soft Sprout Transition Cup

dr-browns-teether

 As you can imagine, I’ve tried MANY, MANY teethers. I can honestly say that this one is at the top of the list! It costs about $4 dollars and at that rate, its a steal! What I love about this particular teether is that it stays cool for a really long time! Its freezer safe and has no liquid in it so it amazes me that it held up for quite a while. The cleaver shape is perfect for her tiny mouth and was designed to reach all parts of the jaw for maximum comfort. It’s been so hard with a fussy, teething baby and having this product has been a huge help. Emma lights up every time she sees it. These Coolees teethers are designed with beautiful vibrant colors that Emma cannot stop staring at. I’m not a big believer in teething gels and homeopathic remedies as they’ve either been proven ineffective, or dangerous so this teether has been a perfect source of mouth relief for Emma. I also love that I could snap it onto her Lovey pacifier and teether holder. This product has been recommended for babies 3 months and older and is freezer and dishwasher safe.

Recap:

  1. Stays cool for long periods of time
  2. Safely relieves pain in the gums caused by teething
  3. Economical
  4. Cleaver shape reaches optimum surface areas of the mouth

lovey-pacifier-holder

Ok, so pacifiers have been a struggle for us since day one. I held off on giving Emma a paci early on because I was afraid it would interfere with breast feeding. Unfortunately, breastfeeding didn’t pan out for us and when I decided I was in desperate need of something to sooth Emma, nothing worked! Since she was drinking from the Dr. Brown’s bottles, I decided to try a Dr. Brown’s pacifier and she seemed to take to it right away! If you have me on Snapchat, then you know how excited I was. Once we received “Zoey the Zebra”, Emma was thrilled to have her paci attached to it. She loves to snuggle with it and I love how it’s made from different textures and materials. This makes it a great sensory toy. I also love how there are two slots with snaps that you can place with whatever combination of pacifier and teether you’d like. It fit perfectly with her Coolees teether and I’m sure there are other pacifiers and tethers that will fit in these slots. I cleaned it with warm soap and water by hand and it dried fairly quickly. It’s about $16 and includes one pacifier. The pacifier itself is made of medial-grade silicone and is dishwasher safe. 

Recap:

  1. Soft and cuddly
  2. Two snap feature
  3. Easy to Clean

dr-browns-transition-cup

Dr. Brown’s Soft Spout Transition cup is the perfect way to get your little one ready for some big girl (or boy) cups. This cup is priced at about $8 and worth every penny. What I love most about this product is the fact that it has wide contoured handles that make it easy for Emma to pick up and place in her mouth. The spout is made of silicone and perfectly designed for tiny mouths. Emma has been drinking her water from it and I can safely say that it is completely spill- proof! Yes mama, SPILL- PROOF! We’ve tried two other brands that leaked all over her car seat and I was less than pleased. This cup is perfect because it has only one piece that I can take off and throw on the top rack of the dishwasher for sanitizing. Another awesome feature is the lid. It’s attached to the cup so it doesn’t go missing! I don’t know about you, but I have lost so many bottle lids that my husband has had a few words with me about it! If you’re wondering weather it can break off and be gone forever, then I have some good news: I pulled it off myself to test and was so happy to see that I was able to pop it back in with less strength than it took to pull off. This attached lid feature is perfect for all you germaphobe mamas because it keeps the spout nice and clean by covering it when not being used.

Recap:

  1. Spill- proof
  2. Lightweight
  3. Easy to grip

If you’re in the market for any of these products, I’d highly recommend them. Dr. Brown’s has been a trusted company for many, many years and I feel comfortable using their products for my child.

 

*Products were provided free of charge for review. All opinions are my own. This post was sponsored by Dr. Brown’s*

Emma’s Presidential Greeting

presidential-greeting

Having a baby is one of the most amazing moments of ones life, so why not have the President of the United States send your baby a greeting?! When I found out that President Barack Obama and his lovely wife Michelle would send Emma a greeting with their well wishes, I jumped at the chance to have one because I thought it would be such a great keepsake! Of course, they aren’t the ones who are actually writing and sending these post cards, but it’s still so awesome to open your mailbox to see a letter from The White House addressed to your little one. It takes a few months to be processed and sent out, but its worth the wait. The guidelines state that you can only receive a greeting within one year of the baby’s birth. Here’s where you can get yours: 

Baby’s Birth Greeting

Shop Amazon’s Holiday Toy List – Parent Picks

JORD Wood Watches

jord-sandalwood-watchAs a Mom, its so important to look after yourself as well as your family. Before I became a mom, it was all about me and my needs but those days are totally over! Now, I find myself always wanting to take care of, and treat others. I guess its the motherly instincts that have kicked in. When I was contacted by JORD watches for a collaboration, I immediately thought, “Oh great! The holidays are coming up and I can give one of these beautiful watches to my sister or mom”. Once I received the gorgeous Frankie 35 Sandalwood and Mint style, I immediately changed my tune! This is seriously such a chic and unique watch. I love the dark wood and teal contrast which is so easy to style with other accessories and outfits. the dark wood is so appropriate for all of your fall and winter staples. The watch itself is so durable and that to me is so important since I’m on the go everyday. Its made of real wood, but feels so light on my arm! The box that it came in is a work of art all on its own. That too is made of wood and has a little drawer on the bottom where you can keep your other everyday accessories. I love to put things in their designated place so I was so happy to know that my new watch would have a little home for itself. You’ve worked so hard all year, so why not treat yourself to a timeless, beautiful forever piece? JORD and I are here to help you snag one of these beauties for yourself by offering a $75 shop credit to one lucky winner and $20 shop credit to everyone that enters the giveaway! All you have to do is click on the link below and enter your info…THATS IT! jord-wood-watches

Click here to enter the Giveaway!

THIS POST WAS SPONSORED BY JORD WATCHES. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Wooden Wristwatch


Down Syndrome Awareness Month


MomisdrawingOctober is Down Syndrome awareness month, so what better time than now to tell you about my experience. I was 12 weeks pregnant then and totally clueless. I was so excited to be pregnant. A few months back I had a pregnancy end very abruptly and at that point I was just happy to be this far along. We had heard Emma’s heartbeat at 6 weeks and it was loud and strong! I could say that that day if forever stored under the “best days of my life” mental file. I trusted and loved my OB so when she told me that I had to go to a different office for a routine first trimester screening, I happily obliged. All I knew was that they would be checking for chromosomal abnormalities. I wasn’t nervous or worried. I didn’t even take my husband with me. I just got up one day and went to the office, excited that I would get to see the baby in the ultrasound.

The lovely ladies called me in and I practically skipped all the way to the ultrasound room. My tech was very sweet. She began the ultrasound and assured me that the babies heart was good and her stomach and intestines were all in its place and all that was left to do was to measure the nucal fold behind Emma’s head, right where her spine was. For those that don’t know, children with chromosomal abnormalities usually have higher levels of this fold. During the screening, they measure that and combine it with blood tests previously taken by your doctor. After they have all the information they need, they put it into a system that generates a probability for T21 (Down Syndrome) T18 (Edward’s Syndrome) and T13 (Patau Syndrome). Once my tech was done, she assured me that her nucal fold level was very low and that that was great news. At that point we were done and I took my sonogram pictures and went back into the waiting room.

A few minutes later, the tech, along with the receptionist came to call me in. I knew something was wrong at that point. They had very sad faces! They sat me down and said that “I tested positive for T21, Down syndrome”. I was shocked to say the least! The tech then explained that I had a 1/49 chance of having a baby with Downs. Her exact words were, “So basically 50/50”. Now, for someone who’s in utter shock, my math was not on point! 1/49 is not 50/50, but of course that’s all I could focus on. After that, they became very business like and began to quote a ton of dollar amounts that I needed to pay in order to meet with a genetic counselor. I sat there staring into space. Like the whole world had stopped for a few minutes. I then decided to leave. I politely said no thank you and that I would like to consult with my doctor before seeing anyone else.

I stormed out and called my sister and husband and of course my doctor. I cried in my car for a while and all I kept thinking was 50/50! It took my doc a whole day to call back and we talked about my options and we decided against an amniocentesis (where they insert a huge needle into your belly to retrieve amniotic fluid for testing). This would have been the most accurate 100% form of testing, but posed a small, 1% chance of miscarriage. This life within me was so incredibly precious I couldn’t live with myself if I lost her. Another option we were given was to do a simple blood test that would be able to tell us if there were any chromosomal issues and also tell us the sex of our baby. We chose this option since it posed no threat to Emma. It’s a fairly new type of test and only has a 98% accuracy rate. It was good enough for me! We went in on a Friday, had my blood drawn and had to wait 1-2 weeks for results. By that time, 3 days had passed since my initial visit for the screening. Each day that passed, while we waited for the results, was like a million years crammed into one day. I was afraid. I was afraid for her future, for my future. For how she would have to live in a world that isn’t very accepting of people with special needs. How she would possibly have to deal with a slew of health issues and if I was strong enough to be a mom of a child who needed lifelong care. I was extremely ignorant of people with Down’s syndrome and that made it worse because I only thought the worst. I now know differently. I see Insta friends with beautiful babies who happen to have Downs and all I get from them is that these children have brought more joy and love then anything else. It’s true that they are more alike then different. I wish I knew these things back then.

After a week, I got a text message from my doctor telling me that all was ok and Emma had a typical chromosomal count. We held off on knowing the gender so that we could have a reveal party. I was so happy I cried! I called my family in tears and told them that everything was going to be ok. The thing is that it was going to be ok anyway. I now know that having a child with Down syndrome isn’t a deathly diagnosis. It’s a tough one for sure but there are far worse things that can happen to you as a person. In some ways it’s a blessing and a calling from God.

I carry a bit of guilt with me now. I think of how blessed I am to be Emma’s mom and sometimes I remember how ignorant I was with what I thought I knew. We live and we learn though. I’m hoping that by sharing my story, I can help another Momma who’s in the same shoes as I was back when I revived such news. These are the things we sign up for as mothers. From the moment we conceive, we are faced with choices and options and worries and joys. It’s a roller coaster for sure but there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t thank God for blessing me with motherhood.

If you’d like to donate to the National Down Syndrome Society, you can do so here: http://www.ndss.org/Ways-to-Give/Ways-to-Donate/

THIS BEAUTIFUL DRAWING DEPICTING A MOTHER WITH HER CHILD WAS DRAWN BY @MOMISDRAWING

 

Pumpkin Patch 2016

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      So, If you know me, then you know that I hate the summer time! Yes, thats right…I hate the sun! Unfortunately, living in southern California really puts a damper on my love for cold weather and rain. With it officially being Fall, I was so excited to welcome all the pumpkin loving, PSL drinking, and sweater wearing, but what I was most excited for was to finally take my little one to a pumpkin patch. Last year, I was super pregnant with Emma during this time of year and I longed for the day that I would be able to have her in my arms while running through a field of pumpkins, and since God is so good, I finally had the chance to make this dream a reality. 

       We planned to go on a friday hoping that it wouldn’t be too crowded, but of course it was filled with field trips and schools of children running a muck! Before hand, I thought about what I would dress Emma in and after a million different outfit choices, I decided to keep it simple with a really cute fall floral onsie from Old Navy, along with some adorable brown moccasins, also from Old Navy. Since Emma has become infamous for her head bows, I had to snag a cable knit style from Baby Bling Bows (can find it at Nordstrom). 

    We visited the Irvine Park Pumpkin Patch which was set up so nicely. Admission to the park was $3 and admission to the patch was free. There was a lot of activities for older children, such as face paintings, carnival games, and a haunted house. The only thing Emma was really able to participate in (exept for all the picture taking) was the train ride. It was so sweet to have all three of us crammed into one seat on the train while cruising around the park. We got to see some turtles, peacocks, and even went through a haunted tunnel. All in all, Emma had a great time. It was a day I will surely never forget! 

Diaper Bag Essentials

Ok, so I really wanted to call this post “Whats all that crap you’re carrying around”, but soon decided that its not crap and I would be lost without these things. Some people may ask, “Do you really need all that stuff?” and the answer is YESSSS. If you’re a first time mom expecting a baby, this post is specifically for you! Here are all the things I use on a daily basis when leaving the house with Emma.

  1. Diapers- Ok, so its not the cutesy Honest brand diapers that cost an arm and a leg but hey, they have these at Costco and they work just fine! They’re Huggies brand and I love them. I try to keep at least three in my bag at all times cause you never know if its going to be a poop explosion day! These Huggies diapers are soft and have Micky Mouse on them…what more can you ask for?!
  2. Wipes- Also Huggies brand and what I love about them is that they’re the “one and done” kind where its for face, hands and bottoms. Its nice for when they decide to stick their little hands where they don’t belong and you need something quick to wipe them with. Seriously make sure you have enough or else you’ll be elbow deep in shit (literally) with no help in sight. This may or may not have happened to me…
  3. Thermometer- You never know when a fussy baby might be coming down with something or might be teething, so its nice to keep a thermometer handy in case you want some peace of mind. This one is the Rite-Aid brand and works great. I find that the electronic ones that you swipe on the forehead can often be incorrect so I’d rather use this old school one and know for sure!
  4. Formula Powder (or your boob if you’re breastfeeding)- Yeah this is a no brainer…don’t forget the babies food! Not going to lie though, its happened to me and the best thing to do is to pop into a drug store and buy a few “ready to feed” bottles. I use Enfamil Gentlease.
  5. Bottles- I like to pre fill my bottles with water so that its easy to just add the powder when I need. If I’m super lazy (and I usually am!) I make the milk at home and put it in a small cooler with icepacks and take it with me. If I don’t have a chance to even fill the bottles with water, i just buy regular bottled water and fill when needed. Some of you may be thinking, “OMG why doesn’t she use nursery water” and the answer is because I don’t have too! Pediatrician said its all really the same thing and I trust him enough to go with it! The bottle pictured is by LifeFactory.
  6. Sweater- Ok, so we live in Southern California and its always a million degrees here but sometimes at nigh it gets a bit chilly so I always keep a little sweater or cardigan for Emma. This one is from Zara but Baby Gap has really cute ones as well.
  7. Bibs- I hate when Emma’s clothes get dirty. I know she’s a kid and its only going to get worse but I found that if I make the bib a part of her outfit then I won’t feel so bad when it gets dirty and I can just take it off. I love these Aidan and Anais bandana bibs. They have them in a few neutral colors as well so you can accessorize with a lot of things. The yellow bib pictured is from Tommee Tippee and I loved these when Emma was an infant. They have a dribble guard and I found that it was the best at keeping the milk from running under her little double chin. As most of us moms know, its really hard to clean under their chins so this was a life saver.
  8. Hats- I like to keep a sun hat in my diaper bag, just in case I want to take her out of the stroller and put her in my carrier. Heat exhaustion is a thing and you definitely don’t want it happening to your baby. I also like to keep a beanie in case it gets cold at night. 
  9. Extra outfit- This is mainly for any poop explosions that get past the diaper. Its such a relief to be prepared in that moment and know that you can change your little one out if needed. I love these basic Carters onsies!
  10. Pajamas- I never know how long we might be out or who we might be going to see so I like to keep her P.Js with me at all times. If its approaching bed time, I change her into those and cross my fingers that she’ll go to sleep on the way home and I can just transfer her straight into her crib. The ones pictured are by L’ovedbaby and they’re oh so soft!
  11. Butt Cream- I can safely say I’ve tried every kind of butt cream this world has to offer and my favorite is Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. I found that it was the most effective at preventing and treating diaper rash. 
  12. Teether/Toy- Emma is currently eight months old and is teething on and off. She loves to chew on things and this is her new fave. Its by a small shop called Feltman + Co based out of Houston, TX. The textures and materials used in this specific teether are great for sensory play as well.

So, there you go! Thats what I normally take with me on a daily basis. Some days I throw in a few extra things, like sun screen, blankets, or a cooler for her milk, but this is my usual jam. If you’re wondering what I put all of this in, you’ll have to wait for a future post to see! Don’t sweat it if you forget something. It happens to everyone and sometimes less is more!

Four Biggest Fears of a First Time Mom!

Okay, so you got pregnant and carried your baby in the womb for nine whole months and now they’re finally here! You meet your little love bug and take a huge sigh of relief. You think to yourself, “Yes, she’s finally here and I can stop worrying about all the things that could have gone wrong with my pregnancy and baby”…..WRONG! Sorry to break it to ya mama, but all the psychotic worrying during pregnancy pretty much follows you right into official motherhood. Now, don’t get me wrong. Some moms-to-be are more relaxed than others, but the majority of friends and women Ive talked to have shared the same pregnancy and new mom anxiety that I’ve experienced. Heres the thing though, all the worry is really for nothing. From talking with my fellow mamas, Ive gathered the top four irrational fears that all moms come to face and am ready to reassure you that the things you are having anxiety over are totally normal and the chances of these worries becoming reality are very slim.

*Now with all that said, I must mention that if you feel like your new mom worries are a bit out of hand and are starting to take over your everyday life and perhaps interfering with your ability to take care of your baby, please make sure to talk to someone you trust. Although postpartum anxiety can be fairly normal and mild, it can also turn into a very serious condition that needs to be dealt with. If you feel like this is the case, make sure to mention it to your OB and try reaching out to a friend or your significant other. If you don’t feel comfortable talking with them, there are many support groups that you can join through social media and if that fails as well, you can always email me and we can hash out the details together. The great thing about being a mom is that you are now a part of a very special group of women who will understand where you are coming from. If you’re unsure about weather what you’re feeling is normal, click on the link to get more in depth information and check to see if your symptoms match with the ones provided http://www.postpartumprogress.com/the-symptoms-of-postpartum-depression-anxiety-in-plain-mama-english   

FOUR BIGGEST FEARS OF A FIRST TIME MOM (or any mom really)

  • SIDS SIDS SIDS!!!! A.K,A. Sudden Infant  Death Syndrom- Before I ever thought about becoming a mom, I had never heard of such a thing. SIDS is basically when a baby stops breathing and dies with no real explanation. Its so terrifying to think about! Although new studies emerge each year about infant death, scientists have not been able to find a definite answer. Some infant deaths are contributed to suffocation from blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals, Others have been attributed to co-sleeping in an unsafe environment. Overheating has also been a contributing factor. As a new mom, its very important to follow basic rules for infant sleep. Heres a link for more information and all the Do’s and DONTs : http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome/basics/definition/con-20020269 When Emma was first born, my husband and I would stay up and watch her sleep. We would count her breaths to make sure she’s breathing enough and even panicked and called her pediatrician one time when we thought that she was breathing “funny”. We soon learned that infants breath “funny” all the time. We were told that they might even stop breathing for a few seconds and that was normal! From then on, we made sure to follow some of the basic sleeping rules (no sleeping with bumpers, blankets, stuffed animals or pillows…no co-sleeping, no overnight sleeping in swings or rockers etc..) and tried to put our fears behind us. It was also very helpful to know the statistics of SIDS and how rare it was. According to the US Department of Health and Services, almost four million babies were born in 2010 and only 2000 babies died of SIDS. Now, if you’re like me and you like percentages, that translates into a 0.0005% chance!! I don’t know about you, but that made me feel a lot better. The odds are definitly in your favor. If you follow the rules for infant sleep safety, then you should rest easy.
  • “I won’t be able to breastfeed”- Throughout my entire pregnancy, I thought about weather or not I would be able to breastfeed my baby. I had seen many women struggle with it and I only knew two friends who were successful at it. We all know that breast is best! Of course it is! Breastfeeding helps build baby’s immune system and provides antibodies to fight off illnesses and has a long long list of benefits including the fact that mother and child develop a special bond during the process. With all that said, we are living in the 21st century and thank God someone invented formula!!! Formula is the closest thing to breast milk and the only thing missing is the antibodies. Thankfully, the baby is born with tons of antibodies to begin with so don’t feel bad about giving your child the much needed nutrients from formula. There are lots of options in the supermarket from all organic and non-GMO to run of the mill generic store brand formula which are all great. Here is my take on this subject and you might not agree with me and I know that its a hot button issue but these are my opinions and we are all entitled to our own. If you’re having a very hard time with breast-feeding and its beginning to give you anxiety and you’re losing significant amounts of sleep over it, then I suggest you think about your options. For me, after meeting with breast-feeding consultants, having a newborn admitted to the hospital with jaundice, not having enough milk, having inverted nipples (sorry, total TMI), and also having physical complications from childbirth, I felt it necessary to end my struggle with breastfeeding in the first month after giving birth. All the pumping and sleeplessness mixed with the postpartum hormones was not working well with me. I felt that it would be better for everyone if we switched to formula. After the initial guilt, I started to feel like myself again. I wanted to be able to be the best Mom to Emma and that was what I was going to do. I started to notice that she was happier (cause she was feeding enough) and I was also going back to being who I was. For the first time since giving birth, I felt like I can finally bond with my baby because I was in the right state of mind. My point in all of this is that its ok to fail at something. There will be tons of other things we fail at as moms and its always a learning experience. The important thing is to try your best (super cliche but its the truth).
  • “Ill drop my baby on her head!”- You always here the phrase/insult, “Were you dropped on your head as a child?” and I guess it sticks with you. In the first few months of life, babies are so fragile. They still have a soft spot on their head, indicating that their skull has not fully formed yet. I remember being fearful of other children approaching Emma and “loving” her too hard on her head, or tripping over a cord or toy while carrying her and accidentally dropping her. Well folks, I haven’t told too many people but it happened…I dropped her…ON HER HEAD!!!! She was 5 months old and hadn’t showed signs of mobility yet and while she was in her stroller for one second (seriously, one second!) I got distracted by something and took my eyes off of her. She was not strapped in because I was a rookie and I thought, “She can’t move yet, and I’m right in front of her…she’ll be fine”. Boy was I wrong! Next thing I knew, Emma did a summersault and I heard her head make contact with concrete! It happened so fast and even though I was right in front of her, I couldn’t stop it from happening. I immediately picked her up and she of course was wailing at this point. My husband was at work and I immediately dialed 9-1-1 and could barely tell the lady my address because we were both wailing together. Once the paramedics got there (took them two minutes!!), she was all smiles and after running some tests, they reassured me she was fine. I was so overcome with fear and shock that I demanded they take her to Children’s Hospital for further testing. I remember being in the ambulance thinking, “Ive ruined a perfectly healthy child because I was so careless”. I felt like the worst mom in the history of moms. Thankfully my sister and my husband were both able to meet me in the E.R. and it was nice to know I wasn’t alone. Doctors came in to evaluate her and again assured me that she was okay and that they couldn’t even find a bump. I was amazed at how resilient she could be. The doctor then gave me a lecture about how incredibly awesome the human body is and how easily babies can bounce back. Each time a new member of the health staff came in, they would tell me a story about mothers who brought their babies in for a fall such as this and that it was very common. Emma has been doing great after that (the Armenian in me says “knock on wood” and pinches her butt for good luck…yes these are THINGS! LOL). Moral of the story: you might drop your kid. Accidents happen and no one is perfect. Babies are resilient but we must ALWAYS be careful and for God’s sake, strap them into everything!!!
  • “My baby isn’t reaching his milestones at the same time as other babies”- Ok, I gotta admit, I’ve been thinning about this one in the past few months. Emma is officially 8 months old and has no interest in crawling. I see friends from my mom groups who have almost 9 month olds who can practicaly running! I was a bit concerned at first but after talking to some seasoned moms and some super rational friends (Love ya Jen <3) I was happy to realize that all babies do things on their own time. Some children skip crawling all together and go straight to walking and other don’t walk until their well into their terrible twos. As long as its in a reasonable timeframe, I’d say that you probably don’t have anything to worry about. With all that said, if you ever feel like something is off and your child is for example: three years old, and not saying one word and your pediatrician is concerned, thats when you should seek guidance. I mean, that goes without saying right?! If you’d like more information, its always best to reach out to your Regional Center for more information. Just google: Regional Center Los Angeles, or Seattle…whatever city you are in. A number should come up and its a free service there for everyone to take advantage of.

Motherhood can be a challenge at times. There are so many wild emotions that go along with the job and its easy to get wrapped up in our feelings. The only real advice I can give is to try and concentrate on the good feelings instead of the bad. Instead of wallowing in a pool of anxiety and fear, why not consume yourself in all that love thats beaming from your little one? Like my dear friend Sophie says, “Nar, take it one day at a time”. She’s a twin mama and if she can do it, so can I and so can you!

 

DockAtot

img_6448As a new mom, I was super anxious about baby’s sleeping habits. I don’t know about you, but when I don’t get enough sleep, I turn into a monster! In the newborn stage, Emma would wake every 3 hours for a feeding and it would still take me another 45 minutes to an hour to put her back down. Although it wasn’t ideal, I figured it to be normal and sucked it up. Fast forward to her four month sleep regression and OMG I was ready to fly off the handle. Emma would wake up every two hours and it would take me another 45 minutes to put her back down. At this point, I had transitioned her into her crib in her own room and I had a feeling that her mattrass just wasn’t soft and comfy enough. I would watch her through the monitor and see her toss and turn all night. None of us were getting any sleep! She was refusing to even nap in her crib during the day time. I tried to sleep train her as she got closer to her fifth month, but that was a disaster that I will leave for a future blog post! I was at my wits end when I began to do a lot of research. Heres what I was looking for: 

  • Safety- I can say, without a doubt, that this is every moms number one goal: SAFETY. I needed something breathable, non-toxic and lightweight.  
  • Practicality- This product is so genius! Its made to feel like its cuddling your infant! When the baby falls asleep in my arms, I want to be able to set her down in an environment where she feels cozy, and man does the DockAtot feel cozy!
  • Bang for my buck- Being on a one income household, I like to always get what I pay for, and then some! Its true that the DockAtot is a bit pricy ($165-$185 with cover for the deluxe size and $260-$290 with cover for the grand option) but can you really put a price on sanity?! 

Being that Emma was now a six month old, at the time that I was the most desperate for sleep, I decided to purchase the Grand DockAtot. It goes up to 36 months so I was happy to know that I can use it for years to come. It will eventualy go into her toddler bed. Its a great way to transition from crib to bed because she won’t feel much of a difference in space. The Deluxe option is for newborn to 9 months and I wish I had purchased it sooner! The first night we put her in the DockAtot, she slept a full eight hours! I thought to myself, “Just img_6444-2-copya coincidence, can’t be that magical”…WRONGGG! She’s now almost eight months old and sleeps without waking almost through the night. Her daytime naps are heavenly and I get to have some time for myself. Another great feature is that its perfect for travel. It comes in a nice traveling bag that you can take with you on the road or to grandmas and grandpas for sleepovers. Its definitely worth the investment and if you type “10OFF” at checkout, you’ll receive a $10 discount. I WAS IN NO WAY PAID FOR THIS POST OR MY REVIEW. I just love to share all the things that make my life simpler and make being a mom more enjoyable. This worked for me and many many others that have tried the product, but I encourage you to visit their website for a more thorough an detailed explanation of the the DO’s and DONT’s. http://www.dockatot.com img_6449

 

Traveling with a baby!

Emma and I in Paris
Emma and I in Paris
My UppaBaby Vista in Bruges, Belgium.
My UppaBaby Vista in Bruges, Belgium.

Europe has a very special place in my heart! I first visited when I was 21 and I particularly fell in love with Paris (like most people do!). I fell so in love that I visited twice before going there with my husband on our honeymoon in 2014. It’s one of the most magical, romantic, and beautiful places in the world, and it also happens to be a three hour drive from where my best friend (and cousin) lives. My bestie has been there for all my special occasions and I had to be there for her big 25th birthday bash! We visited Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Here are some tips and tricks that will make your trip with your little one a bit less dramatic.

BABY PASSPORT:
1. Gather baby’s ORIGINAL birth certificate and ORIGINAL social security card, along with both parents I.D’s.
2. Take baby to CVS or Walgreens and ask for a passport photo to be taken. Once thats done, make a trip to the post office.
NOTE: BOTH PARENTS HAVE TO BE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF INQUIRY
3. Once at the post office, fill out all the necessary paperwork and present documents. If you’re in a rush and need the passport ASAP, make sure to pay for expediting. They will take your original documents and payment: $80 for regular and an additional $60 for expediting…with added fees of $25. They only accept cash or debit card. Don’t be alarmed if they take your child’s original birth certificate, they will mail it back to you. You should receive the passport in 6-8 weeks for regular service and 3 weeks for expedited.

PACKING: This was such a nightmare for me because I’m a procrastinator by nature. Two days before the trip, I went down to Babies R Us and did a huge haul for Emma. Here’s a list of all the things I packed for our trip including all the brands I love. I won’t specify quantities because we went for two weeks and you might be going for much less or more.
1. Formula (Enfamil Gentle ease)
2. Bottles (Dr. Brown’s & Lifefactory)
3. Bottle Brush (Dr. Brown’s)
4. Bottle Soap (Babyganics)
5. Car seat (UppaBaby Mesa)
6. Stroller (UppaBaby Vista 2015)- most people suggest an umbrella stroller but I wanted Emma to be very comfortable and the Vista has wheels made of steel (not really, but super durable) for all those cobble stone streets.
7.Diaper Bag (Ju-Ju-Be)- comes with changing pad
8.Baby Carrier (Ergo Baby 360 and Boba Wrap)
9. Bottle cooler (JJ Cole)
10. Blankets (Aiden + Anais)
11. Diaper rash cream (Boudreaux’s Butt Paste)
12. Clothes, socks, shoes, p.j’s, bibs, sun hat, beanie (I recommend two outfits per day)
13. First Aid Kit
14. Your “A game”…you’re going to need it lol!

THINGS YOU DONT NEED:
1. Diapers and wipes! Buy them when you get to your destination. Only take what you need for the road/ plane.
2. Inflatable bath tub. Most hotels have regular bath tubs that work just fine.
3. Collapsable Crib. Hotels have these by request. Just take a crib sheet.

AIRPORT/FLIGHT:
I decided to check my stroller (strollers and car seats always check for free!) and take my car seat to the gate. I wrapped Emma in my Boba carrier and went through security. You can pass through security this way. TSA was really nice and they didn’t make me take her out of the carrier. As far as what you can and can’t take through security: everything from water, formula, and breast milk is allowed. Certain airports are leanient with water and others (London Heathrow in particular) will make you throw it out and buy bottled water after you pass security. If you’ve purchased a separate seat for your baby, then leave them in the car seat for the trip. If not, check it at the gate. Most airlines will have a baby seatbelt that attaches to your seatbelt for baby’s safety. Or, if you’re really lucky, they may be able to accommodate an attachable bassinet in the bulk head seating section. Be sure to ask about this either prior to your arrival, or at the ticket counter when you get there. Most, but not all (American Airlines was NOT baby/family friendly at all) have family priority boarding which was such a convenience for us when we were headed back home. We had our flight cancelled with American so had to come back with British Airways which was a God sent! They were nice enough to let us board before anyone else and had ice packs ready for baby’s milk when we got situated. Definitely recommend passing a few hundred dollars extra per ticket for this convenience. Have a bottle ready for takeoff so that baby can distract him or her self from the possible ear pressure pain.  I was afraid Emma would have a hard time, but she just drank her milk and slept most of the way there and back. Talking to most of my friends who’ve traveled with infants and babies in general have had similar experiences so I wouldn’t worry if I were you! 

When you reach your destination, you and baby will be jet lagged and I suggest resting for a few hours before you head out to explore. Unfortunately, Europe was not very baby/ stroller friendly and we ended up taking mostly taxies and Ubers. There WILL be melt downs and challenges along the way but the important thing to do is to remember how blessed you are to be able to take a trip with your family and that you can do anything! After all, you’re a momma and mommas don’t step down to a challenge. Enjoy every moment with your little ones and make sure to take all the photos you can!