Getting Ready For Baby

How is it possible that my baby is almost 3 months old!?

I am sorry to have had to take a maternity leave from my website. It pained me to do so, since this is how I share all of my projects with you all. Having a new baby, going back to work on Home and Family at 5 weeks postpartum and trying to survive the holidays, I had to attempt to manage my time. Unfortunately that meant that my site had to sit on the back burner for a bit, BUT I am hoping that I am at the point now that I am able to give it the love it deserves!

Everyone always has said to me that having a second child changes everything, and I never believed them....enter child #2. JJ is the sweetest little guy, but goodness he is high maintenance. My oldest son, Grant was a breeze, and JJ has given be a run for my money. He has had digestive issues, a trip to the pediatric ICU (in the ambulance nonetheless), and really just hates to sleep. I am in the process now of reading a couple books to help me get on track in terms of a schedule and sleep. I may have to bite the bullet and do some sleep training (gently of course) in order to survive. I average about 3-4 hours of interrupted sleep a night. Soooo you can see how I have had to prioritize my time by putting work on Home and Family and taking care of my family at home above my beloved site. I see the light at the end of the tunnel though!

With that said, I wanted to share some of the things I have been loving so far with my second baby!

DOCKATOT; This is buzzing all over social media! Everyone is loving the dockatot, and for good reason. I really like this cozy little bed. The dockatot can be used as a co-sleeper, although I do not co-sleep with my baby, but I use the dockatot when my baby was sleeping on the couch, and even in the crib to make it a smaller space for my baby to sleep in. I love that I can take it with me anywhere to create a comfy space for him.

Guava Family's Lotus Bassinet and Playyard Bundle; When I was pregnant I went on the hunt for a bassinet! With my first son, I had a pack n' play and used the bassinet that was part of it. Well, that would have been fine for traveling, but it was terrible for what we needed. I realized I wanted something that was able to rock smoothly, not take up a ton of space, and not cost a million dollars. I cannot get over how expensive some bassinets are! I came across the Guava Family's site and immediately found the bassinet I was looking for. It comes in a bundle with a playyard, aka pack n' play and this great bassinet that rocks and has a great mattress. It can also be packed up for traveling. I LOVE it!!!

Halo Sleep Sack; Every mother's worst fear after giving birth is SIDS. Unfortunately a friend of mine lost a baby to SIDS when he was 3 months, and it has scarred me for life. I can't imagine going through something like that. With that said, the "back to sleep" theory started that when babies sleep on their backs, as opposed to their bellies, that the risk of SIDS drops drastically. With that said, in order for your baby to get adequate sleep, a swaddle is a must. This allows them to have the comfort they need, because otherwise their "falling reflex" will prevent them of sleeping. I have been using the Halo Sleep Sack, and what I love about this is that it zips up underneath the arm wraps. The zipper makes it much easier for late night diaper changes and feedings. Swaddles are a MUST!

Lille Baby Carrier "Complete All Seasons"; I have yet to use this carrier, but every review I have heard is amazing. I will post more about this soon. We have a trip coming up next month, and I fully intend on using this all of the time. Stand by!

Medela Breast Pump; When it comes to a pump, I highly recommend the Medela. You want something that is going to get the job done. If you have a pump that doesn't work well, you will get engorged and it will mess with your entire milk production. I cannot say enough good things about this.

Hand Pump; I had no idea what mastitis was when I had my first baby, so I learned the hard way that if you don't pump for a certain amount of time that your milk ducts can get infected and cause havoc on your body! It is something I never want to go through again, and don't have to with a hadn't pump. If you intend on breastfeeding, then this is a MUST. I would keep it in my purse in case of emergencies. It is also really helpful in those first few days that your milk comes in and you need to ease the engorgement a bit.

BLANQI Leggings and Tank; When it came to pregnancy clothes, all I wanted was something comfortable. I lived, and am still living in, these amazing BLANQI leggings. I seriously wear them all of the time, because they are thick enough to not be see through, but thin enough so that I don't get claustrophobic.