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Sometimes the bathroom just gets the best light ;).
So you know how me and P adore Mama & Little. Well now they have paci clips that match all your favorite teething necklaces and bracelets! Which is perfect because P just so happened to lose her clip recently, and you know she can't go anywhere without that thing nearby. Oh, and these tees are available, too! I'm completely obsessed matching with my little. My little Mama heart could just burst when we wear these together.
If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, then this isn't new. But I realized I forgot to post here. My new shop - Nelly Lou - is now open! I've switched gears and have decided to venture into baby and toddler nothing and accessories. I've started this first collection with just two style t-shirts in 5 available prints. There are also turban hats and headbands for your little girls! Aerated I still have a few things for women, including sleep masks and hair ties. My hope in the future is to also add matching turbans and headbands for women, too!
I'd love for you to check it out:
find us on Instagram and Facebook under @shopnellylou
Remember when I told you about Bookroo? P just got her second box, and we are even more in love with it than the first! Penny was so excited to see it delivered at the front door, she sat down right there to open it.
If you have kids and haven't checked out Bookroo yet, you definitely should!
Subscription box c/o Bookroo, but thoughts are all my own.
You know all of your beauty and food subscription boxes that you're obsessed with? Admit it, you are ;). Well did you know that there is a subscription box for your little ones too? If you haven't heard of it, it's called Bookroo, and they sends you a curated monthly collection of 2-3 books. You can choose board books or picture books, depending on what level your child is at (they even just added a junior box for ages 7-10!). We all know reading with your babies is important, and Bookroo is making it so easy and simple to build their library.
Not to mention, they go one step further and gift wrap each individual book. Because you know how much kids loose wrapping paper. Plus, it makes it more of a special event, having a gift arrive for them. Penny ripped these things open like it was her job. I'm pretty sure she'll light up when she sees the next box arrive.
P.S - her favorite one from this month is the 'I Can Dance' book. She loves the little holes for her fingers. I can't wait to see what comes next month!
Ok, so this post might be a little over due. When I was pregnant, I loved reading other blogger's baby essentials posts, and seeing what else everyone loved. It felt a little weird writing my own too soon, though. Being a new mom and everything. How much did I really know? But now that I'm over a year in to this motherhood thing, I feel like I'm finally able to truthfully tell you what items we honestly couldn't live without during that first year.
This list could be a lot longer. Of course you need a good carseat, stroller, swing, diapers (we love Target's Up&Up, btw) and a lot of other things. But these are the smaller items that have gotten so much use over and over during her first year (and some still!).
And P.S - this is in no way a sponsored post. Just items that I really love <3.
1. & 2. Beaba Babycook and WeeSprout Reusable Pouches - I was determined to make P's baby food from then start, and this made it so simple. Even though she no longer needs purees as her main food source, I still use it almost daily to make smoothies and fill squeeze pouches.
3. Freshly Picked Moccasins - Obsessed. They were her first shoes, and still almost the only the only ones she wears. We've had other shoes for her from big name brands. But no shoes stay on her feet like these do. And they're soft soled, which is better for her developing feet.
4. Owlet Baby Monitor - this may actually be my #1 most recommended baby item. Love love love. They wear it on their foot and it monitors their oxygen level and heart rate while they sleep, setting off an alarm if their numbers get too low. P never had any scary sleep incidents, but that doesn't mean I didn't have some major anxiety about it. Especially with her sleeping in her own crib in a different room from so early on. She actually JUST stopped wearing it every night.
5. Nest Cam - Honestly, I've never tried any other baby monitors, so I can't compare. But we love our Nest Cam, and that we can access it from our phones and iPads. Wherever we are. When I was hospitalized last September and P was at home at night with Zach, I was able to tune into her bedtime routine from hospital bed and actually slept with my phone next to me with the camera pulled up.
6. Tubby Todd - P has some mild baby eczema that flares up every now and then. Their all over ointment helps with it a lot. We also use their every day lotion (omg smellsI so good), their hair and body wash, and their bubble bath. They just released bath bombs that I can't wait for P to try!
7. Mama & Little teething jewelry - P started teething early and chewed on eeeeeeverything. Some teething jewelry is kinda.... eh. But Mama & Little's is so stylish. And i found myself wearing it even when P wasn't with me.
8. & 9. - Solly Baby Wrap and Sakura Bloom Sling - Baby wearing. A LIFESAVER. Seriously. I love wearing Penny. The Solly wrap was our go-to when she was smaller. I got the sling secondhand, and have been using it a lot now that she's bigger. We also have an Ergo carrier that gets a lot of use, too.
10. Nested Bean Swaddle - Penny was a little finicky when she was really small. She liked to be swaddled, but that little beast would break out of almost every swaddle and then get really mad. Except for Nested Bean. It was our go-to. And the weighted center that felt like a a parent's touch is a bonus.
11. Baby Deedee Sleep Sack - She's been in a sleep sack from the moment she outgrew the swaddle. She loves her Baby DeeDee (we use the lightweight one in warmer months, and the heavyweight one in winter). But Nested Bean makes a sleep sack tonal would love to try that as well!
12. Gathre Mats - these things are genius. We have a medium mat that we take with us everywhere, from the park to the beach to camping, etc. As well as a high chair mat for underneath her chair. Water just rolls right off, and they wipe up and clean up so easily.
13. Comotomo Bottles - I know this is one of those things where every baby is different. There are a lot of different options out there and different babies take to different bottles. P would only take to these ones. I would recommend giving them a try if you're trying to find the right one for your baby!
14. & 15. - Muchkin 360 cup and Lollaland Lollacup - P didn't really like sip cups at first, until we tried the 360 cups and now she's hooked. They don't spill, and she'll be better prepared when its time to drink out of a regular cup. And The Lollacups we use for her smoothies. They're so cute! Plus the two-part straw is weighted and easy to clean.
Zach and I have been making a couple of trips each summer to Acadia to camp (see previous years), but this is the first time taking Penny. I was a little nervous about it, you know, tent camping with a 14 month old. But it wasn't quite as bad as I thought! Girl looooooves being outside. And could just play with and collect rocks all day long. And she did great hiking.
Sleep was.... ok. She didn't take naps. Only quick cat naps in the car and carrier. And man, I know why we don't co-sleep (props to those that do!). P moved around so much, and would wake up and just want to play with us in the middle of the night. I mean, at least there was no screaming and crying. So it definitely could've been A LOT worse. But when we go back next month, we will be trading in our tiny little tent for a larger one that fits a pack and play.
But really, it was an awesome quick little trip. Take your baby on adventures! Even if it seems impossible or like too much work. Do it. I promise it will be worth it.
If anyone has any questions about what we used for her or how we did things, let me know!
You guys, I am so in love with this bag. As much as I liked the look of our last diaper bag, it just wasn't working for us like I wanted it to. It was always a hot mess. Everything was just shoved in there wherever there was room. Bottles were in one pocket, formula was buried in the bottom of the main compartment under diapers and toys and blankets, burp cloth in another pocket. Bla.
Enter Pacapod. They have this brilliant design that involves two small pod bags inside the main bag. One insulated pod for feeding, another designed for diapering. They fit perfectly inside the main bag, but easily come out and can also be used individually (even have their own straps so they can be attached to your stroller by themselves!). Out to eat and need to head to the restroom to change a diaper? Just grab the changer pod instead of lugging the whole bag with you. Genius!
When Pacapod offered to send me an Oban bag to try out, I literally squealed with excitement! I've been desperately wanting a diaper backpack to be hands-free. Since I actually usually wear P in a carrier when we are out, a backpack made so much more sense. The Oban can convert from a messenger bag to a backpack. So its nice to have that option. We've been out a handful of times now with this bag, and I'm loving it so far! We're staying a lot more organized and efficient than we were before.
If there is one negative I've found (and it might just be with this style. They offer so many great options!), its that there isn't much room in the bag for extra items with both pods in there. You can put an extra outfit in the changing pod. And small toys, keys, wallet, etc. fit well in the front pockets. But there is no where to put, say, a light blanket or my Solly Baby wrap. It hasn't been too much of an issue yet, though. Especially since we've been trying to pack lighter and lighter as P gets older. So maybe it's a good thing, haha.
Here's a breakdown of what we are actually able to fit in there, though:
Feeding pod - two (Comotomo) bottles, formula/snack dispenser, squeeze pouch, spoon, and bib.
Diapering pod - handful of diapers, wipes case, change of clothes, diaper cream, travel size hand sanitizer. (changing pad is included, too!)
Other pockets: Covered Goods cover, Sophie, wooden toy, paci and clip, mittens, baby sunglasses, my wallet, phone, and keys.
Pacapod offered me their product in exchange for a review, but all thoughts are my own.
bonus, here's a happy baby in a swing:
I'm only a little obsessed with this teething jewelry.
And oh heeeeeeey mama friends - did you know you can use code HOLLY at mamaandlittle.com to get 15% off your order? Hint hint :). Treat yo self. And your baby.
necklace and bracelet: Mama & Little (use code HOLLY for 15% off your purchase)
top: thrifted
cardigan: Loft
jacket: c/o Sheinside (old)
jeans: Urban Outfitters
Completely obsessed with this eShakti bomber jacket! I usually think of their customizable dresses when I think eShakti, but I branched out and found a real gem.
And my baby looks pretty cute underneath it, too :)
jacket: c/o eShakti
jeans: Loft
socks: Loft
booties: DSW
glasses: c/o Francis Drake Eyewear
baby wrap: Solly Baby
baby's hat: c/o The Seam Designs
cute baby: made by me ;)
If you follow me on Instagram, this is old news - baby girl is 3 weeks old now! But in case you missed it....
Introducing Penelope Flora Darling! Born May 29th at 10:31pm. Weighing in at a whopping 9 lbs 13 oz and measuring 21.5 inches long.
She's a dream :)
