Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts

BABY BOY SHOWER + 32 WEEK PREGNANCY UPDATE ❤


Sorry for the lack of posts on the blog these days! I swear I have been starting every post with an apology lately. I have been very active on social media just not so much on this blog anymore. But I had to check in and share some pictures from the adorable baby shower some of my friends put together for me. It was such a sweet gesture, something I wasn’t expecting at all, and I was really touched by the whole thing. I didn't think second baby showers were a thing but I am actually really happy about because I have felt like this baby hasn’t had nearly as much attention or “celebration” as Ella had. We have just been so busy over here, too busy honestly, we are functioning at a rate that isn’t sustainable. At least not sustainable for good health! Haha It was just nice to take a minute and focus on him. 

I did do a little vlog on the shower as well as an update on the baby if you want to watch that below. Vlogging has kind of taken over what blogging used to be for me. Video medium is something I really enjoy and I love having those memories saved in that way. Anyways, back to the shower, my friends out did themselves. They are the dynamic duo behind The Confetti Creative and they are the ones who helped me with Ella’s First Birthday. I say helped when really I just gave them the theme and they did everything else! Haha They have so much talent and if you are local you should really utilize them! They are the best of the best. I am kicking myself that I forgot to get a cute picture with them at the shower :( BAH.  Oh well, they took some gorgeous shots of the set up before the party started so I wanted to share those!

The Baby Cubby - Must Haves + My Favorites

I have talked about The Baby Cubby several times on my social media channels and blog, and that is because it is my favorite place to shop for all things baby. This isn't just another baby store, they are unique in so many ways. First off, it is family run, by a couple who are parents themselves, everything they offer feels like a recommendation from a trusted source. They are truly a resource for you mamas! They take pride in offering the best and safest baby gear and providing it to parents in a fun shopping experience. You can test strollers on their stroller track, they actively engage with parents via social media and on their own cubby community blog where they discuss some of those hard topics of parenting.

They offer the best of the best brands, and often are the first to showcase new and upcoming companies and businesses that are making waves in the world of baby must haves. For example I fell in love with everything Little Unicorn when I was pregnant with Ella, and it was so nice to have an actual store front I could go to, to see and buy the product. They often host pop up shops with the brands they work with, offering amazing deals to their customers. They even price match! If you can find it, even on amazon, for a lower price, they will honor that. They also offer free shipping on orders over $49 for those who don't live here in Utah who want to take advantage of their awesome selection. You can read more about their passion behind what they do HERE.

I have put together a little round up of some of my favorite picks from their site, I know you guys will love all the different brands represented on their site!


Little Unicorn Blankets and Sheets // I am such a huge fan of the Little Unicorn designs, and have a ton of blankets and sheets for Ella. I plan to get some for little brother too!

Nuna Pippa and Nuna Rava // I have both of these car seats and am obsessed. I love all Nuna gear! Not only does it look good, it functions with such ease. Everything makes sense, is easy to use, and I just can't say enough about this company and brand.  

Tubby Todd // I have tried the shampoo and love it! The scents are scrumptious, and knowing what I am using on my little one is completely safe is the best. I have been dying to get my hands on the rest of the products in this line, I have heard so many good things.

ComoTomo
// I have become a HUGE fan of these bottles. Ella loves them, and they were the perfect transition from breast to bottle.

Happy Baby Wrap // I mean, it is kind of a newborn must! Not only does baby love being close to mama, but what mama doesn't want the constant snuggles of their little one right on their chest?!

Freshly Picked Moccs // I mean, are you surprised? These are everywhere, and for good reason! They are adorable, comfortable, and the perfect first shoe!

Petunia Pickle Bottom Outlet Sale


I have always been a fan of Petunia Pickle Bottom's Diaper Bags, even before I had a baby! They are known for their bold patterns and smart designs, making them one of the most popular diaper bags to have. I have talked about how much I love my Boxy Backpack from their line before on the blog, which is why you are getting the cutest throw back of little miss Ella. I love color and Petunia Pickle Bottom does color and pattern justice - I love my backpack in the Electric Citrus color! 
 
This bag, along with several other beautiful prints and designs are going to be heavily discontinued, up to 60% OFF, because Petunia Pickle Bottom is having a HUGE outlet sale! So if you have been wanting to get yourself a PPB bag for a killer price, NOW IS THE TIME! To give you an idea of how great of a sale this is, my citrus bag here is $60 OFF the original price! I am swooning over the Licorice Blossom print, as well as the Covent Garden Stop print. There are so many amazing bags available!

Get yourself a great deal SHOP HERE --& https://goo.gl/2KuppZ

Sale runs from Wednesday through 10/10 so take advantage and share with your friends! 



Get yourself a great deal SHOP HERE --& https://goo.gl/2KuppZ

ONE YEARS OLD 💛


I never did get around to doing an update for Ella at 12 months. Probably because I was glued to a couch trying not to throw up! haha Did you see the news? Yes we are expecting baby number two! It is why I have been absent recently, but thankfully the second trimester is here and I am feeling SO MUCH BETTER.

So this update will be more of a 12 - 13 months update. I am debating on how often to keep doing these. So much happens in a month that I think I should keep them up monthly, but is that tedious? Anyways, Ella has changed and grown SO much in the last few months.

Ella's Stats at her 12 month appointment
Height: 29 inches 47%
Weight: 18 ' 12 15%

+ Ella started walking shortly after her first birthday! She had been taking steps for weeks prior but September 7th she officially walked. I was actually able to catch it on camera thanks to the fact that our phones are constantly on us! haha I was in the kitchen and she just stood up and walked right towards me all while eating a cracker at the same time. Multi-tasking, that's our Ella! haha She of course has been non stop since, and is getting fast.

+ Ella still loves to talk on the cell phone, and brush her hair. She is imitating EVERYTHING now! It is so funny to see the things she will pick up on. The other day I was blowing on some of her food because it was hot. When I handed it to her she started blowing on it before she ate it, it was so stinking cute. She is learning more and more every day by watching us.

+ Ella is obsessed with dogs. A few months ago she kept making this funny sound and putting her mouth together in a little O. We couldn't figure out why she was doing it. Finally I connected it to when the dogs in the neighborhood are barking. We are surrounded by dogs and I hardly even notice them but Ella sure does! She gets very excited every time she sees a dog, and starts to imitate them by trying to "woof." She can even say Doggy now!

+ Another word Ella says is Baby! It sounds more like Bebe but every time she sees her baby dolls she says baby and will give them a big kiss and hug. It melts my heart every single time. She is so sweet and tender with her dolls and stuff animals. I think what makes me so happy is knowing she has learned to treat them that way because that is how she treated. She is loved and kisses and hugged.

+ Speaking of kisses, Ella will pucker up her lips in the most adorable way to give you a kiss if you says, "KISSES!" It makes my whole day and I often ask her for kisses because it is the absolute best thing ever! :) And sometimes if you are really lucky she will just come right up to you and pucker asking for a kiss herself. *HEART BURSTS*

+ For her birthday my parents got Ella this bike that is used for therapy but also to help encourage babies to walk etc. I don't even know what to call it. Here it is HERE. But whatever it is, we call it her bike and Ella LOVES riding it. We go outside almost every day and she scoots herself all over the front yard. When she gets bored of that she gets off and wants to just go for a walk. We have been taking her on evening walks around the neighborhood and it is the cutest thing.

+ I breastfed Ella for a few weeks past her first birthday. It was hard for me to stop breastfeeding her, but I just couldn't keep going while being pregnant. It was taking all my energy and I was already so sick as it was. Ella was ready and we slowly weaned through the month of August and so it all happened very nicely and naturally. She is now drinking whole milk and I just can't believe she is so big with her sippy cup of "adult" milk haha While I miss cuddling up with her and breastfeeding, we have substituted that with taking her into bed with me and Trevor and having her cuddle with us as a family. It is one of my favorite times of the day!

+ Ella has six teeth! She has her two front teeth, and her four bottom front teeth. She is honestly such a trooper with teething. She always sleeps through the night but when she has a tooth coming in she will sometimes wake up for a little relief. Its been interesting not being able to breastfeed her to comfort her which was her go to if she ever woke up, but now I just give her a bottle for a little bit, hold her and put her right back down. So grateful for such a great sleeper! This next baby will probably make up for it haha

+ Now that Ella is getting older she is so much more expressive. She can tell me when she wants something by signaling to the fridge or bringing me her sippy cup. I love when she does this! It is exciting to see them learn and progress. 

+ Ella has had a runny nose here and there but has never really been sick. Well that finally caught up to us when there was a pretty nasty bug going around the community. I felt so bad for Ella, she was throwing up and had a really high fever. Ella already runs warm, and so when she gets a fever apparently it will always be really high (she has had two now and each time she climbs up to 104.) We ended up having to take her to emergency because she was doing so bad and her heart rate was really high and they were worried. We ended up being sent to Primary Children's and it ended up being a really long night all for nothing haha. I say nothing because they were trying to figure out what was wrong because she wasn't showing symptoms yet for a bad flu and they were worried it could be a number of other scary things. She had to get tested for UTI and a bunch of stuff to basically have them tell us to wait and see if these other symptoms show up in the next few days... which they did. Blah. We were just happy she was fine and they were able to get her fever and heart rate down. But man she sure made up for not being sick her first year in that one night! haha 

+ Another really cute thing Ella does right now is throwing herself back on the large ottoman of our couch so that I will tickle her! haha It is her signal to me she wants me to tickle her and she let's out the largest laughs when we do this little game. She will also throw herself down into pillows or blankets so we will shake her and shove her more into them. It is really cute seeing her play and initiate these games with us. She also does peek a boo, and high and seek.

+ Ella loves music and dancing! She does a mixture of head banging and swinging her arms back and forth. She really is such a joy, she is always smiling, clapping, and dancing when there is music or something going on that she likes. She also just chatters on and is being super vocal, laughing, and squealing. We just love it.

Crowley Party of FOUR ❤️


Do you follow me on Instagram? If you did you saw the news! On the first day of fall we shared a little pumpkin surprise. We are expecting baby number TWO. YES, TWO! We are so excited that our family is growing and we can't wait to see Ella with a sibling. Ella has changed our world for the better and we can't wait to expand on that. The due date is April 3, 2017. I will share more details behind the pregnancy and the last few months soon! ❤️ 

My Breastfeeding Experience - Tips for Successful Breastfeeding


Did you know August is breastfeeding awareness month?! August also marks one year of me breastfeeding Ella. I wanted to share my breastfeeding experience for several reasons. Mostly because when I was starting to breastfeed Ella, I spent hours searching the internet for answers, experiences, anything to keep me going. Some people are lucky enough to have no issues from the get go, but I would say most women experience some kind of learning curve. I would even go as far to say, although I know I can't speak on the behalf of everyone's experience, that a lot of us found it very stressful. When you add a bunch of crazy changing hormones on top of that stress... it can lead a lot of women to stop breastfeeding basically right away. I totally relate to those feelings, but I urge you if you are reading this and you want to just quit because it is all too much right now, YOU CAN DO IT and it is SO WORTH IT.  

The benefits of breast milk are undisputed. This stuff is liquid gold my friends! It is amazing and nothing can fully substitute its benefits. I won't go into all the reasons why it is amazing in this post, but I urge you to do some research on what it does for your sweet little one. Not only is breast milk amazing, breastfeeding can be an incredible bonding experience. It creates such a unique and special relationship between mother and child from the beginning. It builds an incredible trust between the two of you and some of my most cherished memories with Ella have been while breastfeeding. I am actually starting the weaning process and have already cried several times about it coming to an end. I have to laugh when I think back to the beginning of our breastfeeding experience because I would cry when it was time to breastfeed again, HAHA.

Since it is breastfeeding awareness month, I have teamed up with Munchkin to share with you guys the different things that have worked for me. My best advice based off of personal experience! So glean what you will, and hopefully something that worked for me will work for you too.


Baby Einstein 2-in-1 Lights & Sea Activity Gym & Saucer™ + GIVEAWAY!


Once Ella got out of the sleep all day newborn stage, it became pretty clear very quickly that she needed some kind of entertainment if I wasn't going to be holding her. Seeing that I couldn't hold her all day long, I needed something that could do that for me! We started off with a playmat, which was great because she could roll around and play with the toys above her. However she would often want to sit up, or have the feeling like she was upright. This only increased as she got older and she was bored of being on her back or stomach. When we got the Baby Einstein 2-in-1 Lights & Sea Activity Gym & Saucer it was a game changer! This was the crème de la crème of activity!

Ella was instantly attracted to all the different toys, lights and music going on. There is so much variety within the saucer that your little one stays entertained. For example, each toy on the saucer offers a deeper dimension of play. They are unique and require her to do different tasks; for example having her lift the clam up to find the pearl, and then having the pearl be a button she can push and it makes a sound! She loves that. The tray table offers an oceanful of activities to keep little hands busy, including a whale popper with beads that spin, a clamshell toy and bead chaser, spinning crab, bendy leaf stalk toy, and a fish bead spinner.  

Lunaby Baby - Vintage Baby Rompers


I wanted to give a little shout out to something I have been working on. These adorable vintage rompers from Lunaby Baby! These baby rompers are a nod to the past; with a classic romper cut, and touch of lace. They can be paired with overalls, leggings, tights... or simply bare legged for your little one to cool off during the hot months. The light, breathable fabric is perfect for summer! They come in gingham, and polka dots.

The rompers are only $14.95 and I wanted to let you guys know about it in case you wanted to pick some up for the 4th! These colors just scream Fourth of July and Summer.

Fall in Love with Carter’s - Giveaway + Coupon Code!

   This post is sponsored by Carter’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

After having Ella, Carter's quickly became my favorite place to shop for her. First off, everything was absolutely adorable, secondly you can't beat their prices. They have everything you would need for every stage making sure all your baby essentials are covered. I have also found Carters to be the best fit for Ella! We are coming up on a year with our little girl and I can say that Carter's is that trusted brand that I know I can get something I don't have to worry about. I thought I would put together some of my must-have pieces from Carter's that I love and use all the time!

CARTER'S PAJAMAS
Ella typically wakes up early in the morning and plays for about an hour and a half to two hours, before going back down for a long morning nap. Because of this little routine, I typically keep her in her pajamas, or some type of comfortable lounge wear. Carter's is by far our favorite place for pajamas! I find the fit is great while often leaving the perfect amount of room to grow into; she has a pair of pajamas that I swear worked for her for months because of this! The durability and longevity of Carters clothing is the best! Besides the great fit, and being comfortable, Carter's always has the cutest designs. There is a store right by my house and I always have to restrain myself from getting something from new cute line releases. I couldn't help but snatch up this gorgeous spring looking number from the Carter’s Little Baby Basics Collection.

Mommy "Must Haves" Giveaway!


It has been awhile since I did a segment on TV here in Utah, so it was fun to get back on the air but this time with my little Ella! Me and my friend Michelle were on Fox 13 The Place this morning and talked about some of our all time favorite Mom products from brands we love! We are also hosting a huge giveaway on Instagram where one person gets to walk away with it all... 

 Quinny Stroller of choice, Fawn Design Diaper bag of choice, Solly Baby Wrap of Choice, Freshly Picked Moccs of choice, Gigi Pip Eve Fedora, and some darling rainbow tights and bandana bib set from Lunaby Baby!

Check out our segment to learn more about these great products!


Nine Months 💛

 We spent the long Memorial Weekend down in St. George! Here is Ella at the splash pad.

NINE MONTHS! Ella has officially been out as long as she was in. Ella is showing so much personality and sass right now. She is such a happy girl, and she has more energy than we can keep up with sometimes. Here are some updates on our girl...

+ Ella is crawling everywhere! We have to watch her carefully and chase her around the house to make sure she isn't getting into anything. Right when she turned 8 months it was like a magic switch went off and she started crawling everywhere, which was pretty funny because before that she had shown no signs of being interested in crawling!

+ Ella is also pulling herself up on everything. We had to lower her crib because she can pull herself completely standing. She does this on anything she can get her hands onto. I think her favorite is coming up to me and pulling up on my legs! She is even trying to do it without anything and I am sure before we know it she will be standing on her own. Just tonight as I was holding her she started putting one foot in front of the other (like walking while I held her!) because she wanted to get to something.

+ Ella has become very attached to me. I am very obviously her favorite person haha and it kind of makes me feel bad because often when Trevor is holding her she lunges for me and tries to get out of his arms! Don't get me wrong she loves her Daddy and no one can make her laugh more... but she knows who feeds her! haha She is also getting a little more cautious around people she doesn't know, some of that stranger danger that I know is normal right now. But she warms up quick!  

+ Besides breastfeeding, Ella has been getting solids for a few months now, but this past month she has been eating a lot more non pureed food. I did kind of a blend of baby led weaning, where I did purees and actual whole foods. I can do a whole blog post about that another time but on this note it has been so funny watching her eat the food we eat. She loves anything and everything and Trevor has given her some pretty spicy things and she doesn't even flinch! She has had salsa, jalapeño Cheetos (she sucked on them), very spicy cajun crawfish, and more! She loves it all. She looks like such a big girl picking it up and feeding herself. If you aren't careful she will swipe a fry from you! haha

+ Ella's nine month appointment is coming up in a few days, so I will have to come back and add her measurements, but she is still a pretty petite little thing. She can still fit into clothes as small as three months, but can also actually wear her own size at 9 months. She is still in a size 2 diaper.

+ Some little things Ella loves to do right now is clap, blow bubbles, press her lips together and make a buzzing sound, play with her ears, and suck on her lips! haha


It still just blows my mind how fast babies grow and change! It really is daily! We feel blessed to have such a happy light and spirit in our home with Ella. 💛 
 

Seven/Eight Months 💛


Ella wore one of my old dresses for Easter Sunday, and she was just adorable! I love having these vintage dresses for her to wear.

I have been so busy over here with personal projects that I totally spaced on putting together Ella's seven months update! And guess what, she turned eight months old today! How does this happen?! I have decided to kind of lump these past two months together in one update to catch up. She has grown so much, so here we go...

4Moms High Chair Giveaway!


I am incredibly excited to share this amazing 4Moms high chair with you guys! Yes, I said amazing, and I am not exaggerating. We had a different high chair for Ella, but after getting this one it blows it out of the water. Seriously. It covers all the issues I had with my previous high chair, and even covered things I hadn't thought about. We are big fans of 4Moms over here, Ella couldn't get enough of her MamaRoo the first six months, and this high chair is turning out to be no different. Sometimes Ella just likes to sit in it and play next to me while I work. Today I am doing an Instagram takeover for @4moms_hq so you can hop on over there throughout the day to see the things I love about it. But I will also be covering all of that here... So here we go! 

One of the first things I noticed about this high chair was how comfortable Ella was in it compared to her previous one. The bucket seat helped her sit up properly, and the adjustable tray placement creates a perfect fit; making it so she could reach for her food with ease with no spills on her lap. Her confidence in this chair was soaring and for the first time she wasn't moving all over the place while I tried to feed her!  


First Time Mom Fail + Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers


I had my first mom fail a few weeks ago when I went out for the day and totally forgot to put some diapers in my diaper bag! Oh man, I couldn't believe it. I was in a time crunch and wasn't going to be able to be at a store for the next several hours. Thankfully a Smiths (Kroger) and grab some Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers. We have tried a few different brands and so far Huggies have been the best fit for Ella! She is kind of in-between sizes right now, just starting to get too big for the 1's but not truly at a 2. I didn't want to buy another whole size of 1's when I knew she will be out of them by the time we are done with the box we have, so I went ahead and got the size up hoping it would work. Again I was impressed with the fit, they cinched up great, and left no room for leaks!

While we have been big fans of Huggies Diapers for awhile now, this was our first experience with the Snug and Fit. They were great while we were out all day, and I have found they are ideal for overnight. With a new 12 hour protection, Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers have triple layer protection to help stop leaks. They absorb quickly and the amount these diapers can hold is pretty impressive!

Why I wanted an unmedicated childbirth...


Not the most flattering picture I forgot how swollen my face and arms got, yikes! but a very sweet and tender moment captured. It was taken in a dark room, in the middle of a contraction. Holding onto Trevor like this was one of the only things that made me feel better and got me through contractions. He was an amazing support, even if he thought I was crazy for wanting to forgo an epidural, haha!

Just by getting pregnant I quickly learned about the world of "Mommy Wars." I had obviously heard about it, seen it, but had never really been an active participate in the world of motherhood, so it didn't really matter to me. What are Mommy Wars? Basically it is the "Us vs. Them" mentality in regards to parenting. You know, stay at home moms vs. working moms. Breastfeeding mothers vs. formula feeding mothers. Cloth diapering mothers vs. disposable diapering mothers. Homeschooling moms vs. traditional school moms. You get the idea?

I have always said that if you stand by your choices and decisions, it shouldn't matter what anybody else thinks. Yet sometimes I find that just by sharing your opinion and why you want to do something, people with a different opinion will automatically think you are judging them and their choices. Why do we do this?! It drives me insane! We don't just do this with parenting, but in a lot of aspects in life. Sometimes I find myself having to be so politically correct all the time that I really just shouldn't even have an opinion, because someone is going to get offended by it. And the most red hot button when it comes to this is parenting styles and choices, and that is probably because when discussing YOUR children, you are always going to be more protective and more sensitive. I digress...

When I would tell people I planned on having an unmedicated childbirth, I would typically get one of three responses:

1. What?! Are you crazy? (Shock.)
2. Sure, you say that now, just wait. (Sarcasm.)
3. Good for you! I could never do that. (Pat on the back.)

After actually having now gone through an unmedicated childbirth, I find that the responses are still the same, minus number two of course. Yet I still get the feeling with certain people that they feel I am judging them. That somehow me choosing to have an unmedicated child birth means I am judging the fact that they chose to have an epidural. Let me just say, after having gone through labor, I know exactly why women say yes to epidurals! haha I also don't think epidurals are necessarily "bad", and know that there is a time and a place for them. With that said, I had very specific reasons for wanting an unmedicated child birth, and I would 100% do it again. 

You might be wondering why I feel the need to share why I wanted an unmedicated childbirth. To put it simply, I am writing this blog post to help give perspective on the choice and help anyone interested in it to learn that it is not an archaic, or irrational goal, which unfortunately seems to be the perception these days. People have seemed to forgot that birthing is a natural experiencthat, in most cases, does not need medical intervention.

From the responses above you can tell that having an unmediated childbirth is more of an unpopular choice today. In fact I was told that out of all the natural births, only 1% of those are planned. So being in the minority here, I was more often than not made to feel crazy or stupid for wanting an unmedicated child birth. Simply because someone didn't understand my choice, they assumed I was dumb or naïve about it. I have heard it all, even people saying things like, "You wouldn't have a limb amputated with no pain relief, so why have a child that way?" No, I would absolutely NOT get my arm amputated without pain relief. Do you know why? Because there is absolutely no benefit to it. There is NO benefit except feeling pain if I am getting my arm cut off. Add the fact that I don't think the pain felt during child birth is anything close to the pain of getting your arm cut off!

Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack Review + Giveaway + Promo Code


Long before I was even close to having kids, I loved Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bags. The beautiful patterns, and smart design made me put one of these bags on the top of my list to get once I had a little one of my own. Because of this long love affair, I was pretty tickled when they reached out to me for a collaboration! I am excited to also be able to offer YOU the chance to win one of your own diaper bags, more specifically one of the Boxy Backpack Diaper Bags! You can enter by checking out the giveaway details on my Instagram, @alyciagrayce

And if that wasn't already awesome, if you enter code: PARTY at checkout on Petunia.com and receive a FREE Wanderlust Wallet in London Mist + free shipping with a $75 purchase. Good through the month of March!


Besides the fact that these diaper bags come in an array of colors and patterns, they have everything you could ever want. There are FIVE things about this bag that really make it a stand out for me. 

The Owlet Baby Monitor Review & $25 OFF Promo


I am really excited to talk about one of my all time favorite baby items, the Owlet Baby Monitor. This is not your standard baby monitor, it is the crème de la crème of monitors! The Owlet Baby Monitor uses hospital technology called pulse oximetry to monitor your child and is designed to alert you in case your baby stops breathing. Owlet acts as an extra set of eyes to monitor your baby while theyr sleep. Owlet is up all night so you don't have to be! 

As first time parents I can't tell you how many times Trevor and I were using the light on our phones to take a peak at Ella while she was sleeping. One of the biggest fears you have bringing this new little life home is something going wrong. The idea of SIDS and suffocation were keeping me up at night worried. This Infant Heart Rate and Oxygen Monitor gives you that peace of mind knowing that you will be alerted if something isn't. We tested it out and trust me, that alarm works! haha It sounds off as well as lights up. You can see how your baby is doing in real time through the app on your phone, which is available for iphones as well as android. This technology simplified for the home user is really incredible.

I am teaming up with Owlet to offer you a $25.00 OFF Promo! Just make your purchase of the Owlet Baby Monitor through THIS LINK

*Since this post, Owlet has expired their discount code. You can purchase the monitor on their site HERE.

Watch my YouTube review to learn even more about the monitor!


Registering with Babies"R" Us & $100 Gift Card



Ella taking a bath in her PUJ Tub, another one of our favorite baby items!

When my friends were having babies and I would need to get them a gift, I always went to the same store. Now I won't name names, but basically this place sells adorable baby stuff, but it is pretty limited and usually is on the higher end of price range. So of course when I was pregnant this is where I started going and was one of the places I registered because it was the only place I really knew of.

After my baby shower I received several gifts from Babies"R"Us that I really loved. It surprised me because, honestly, I had never even thought to go there before. *smacks forehead* I am not sure why I never did, but I guess it probably had to do with it never being on my radar before I was expecting. Well after I had Ella and I needed some extra things I had checked my usual places and no one had what I desperately needed RIGHT THEN in stock. Then I remembered, Babies"R"Us! I was floored with all that they carried. It was, by far, the most variety and largest selection I had seen. I was kicking myself for waiting so long to have gone. Oh and they totally saved my butt and had what I needed in stock! I even found a last minute (perfect) outfit for Ella that I was needing for family pictures there when I couldn't find something anywhere else.

Having had several great experiences with Babies"R"Us it is now my suggested store for all things baby to my family and friends! I recently helped my friend register there, and it was fun to walk around and pick items to add. I think the biggest perk to going to the store, is being able to talk to a staff where their entire focus is on baby. At other places I registered, they sold a ton of different things not focusing on baby, so when I would ask for something specific, or need an opinion, they weren't as equipped to help me. I have been impressed with the knowledge on different products and brands the Babies"R"Us staff had the times I have gone. I also can't say enough about the organization of their stores. They have everything very clearly organized in different areas and sections where you can see from where you are standing at all times where everything is. I can't tell you how many times in other places I have had to walk up and down aisles trying to locate something. Their registry even has an endless earnings option, where registrants earn up to 10% back on purchases made from their registries. No limits! So it is in your best interest to register for everything you could ever want and save some money. They really simplify things for a new mother and have put together different registry checklists depending on your situation, must haves, suggestions from experienced moms, adopting, you name it they have a list for it! They then have everything organized on a baby guide to make it even easier to shop. Right now I am particularly enjoying having the toys organized by age appropriateness so I know what the next best interactive toy I can get Ella should be. Their resources are really endless, I mean, they offer breast pump rentals too!
 
I really want to reiterate here that while I get approached to work with several companies, I only ever share things I truly feel will benefit or interest my readers, as well as things I have tried and loved. I was thrilled to share my experience with Babies"R"Us because this is something I have already been sharing with friends, and already had a YouTube video in the works to talk about my favorite baby things, resources etc. which included Babies"R"Us! If you or a friend are expecting, you should check out the store and create a registry with the help of the knowledgeable staff as your resource. Honestly, this place is an amazing one stop shop for anything you would need for your babe.

Here are some of mine and Ella's favorite things we have been using these past four months. These items have been life savers!


Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether // aden® by aden + anais® Wearable Blanket // Ameda Purely Yours Double Electric Breast Pump // Oball Rattle // Twist & Fold Activity Gym // Crane Drop Shape Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier // Philips AVENT BPA Free 0-3 Months 2 Pack Soothie Pacifier // 4moms MamaRoo Infant Seat


I'm also giving away a $100 Babies "R" Us gift card!

To enter, comment below with your one must-have baby registry item.
Entry Instructions:
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You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
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  3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 1/13/16 – 2/11/16.

Be sure to visit the Babies”R”Us brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

Ella Four Months! ❤️


Oh my sweet Ella. I can't believe that four months have come and gone. On December 29th Ella hit four months old, and just yesterday she had her second round of immunizations. I was really excited to see how much she has grown because I can tell she has changed so much in the last few weeks. So what were her stats?

12 pounds 7 oz
55% for height
21% for weight

 
Head Band: (Gift) Sweet Goldie Girl Moccs: C/O Freshly Picked

So what has Ella been up to? Here are some fun little facts about our girl...

+ The biggest change Ella has made this month would be her transitioning to her crib overnight. I started last month with naps, and just this past week have put her in the crib overnight. She still gives us a full nights sleep without waking up! Bless her! She has totally spoiled me in the sleep department I don't know what I will do when I have a normal baby.

+ She has the cutest little laugh. It really is more of a giggle! Daddy is still the best at getting laughs out of her, but I have been getting more out of her recently too ;)

+ Ella is still the smiliest girl. If you look at her and smile, she will shoot one right back at you! It is the best :) But along with this she is also becoming more sassy. She let's you know if she does or doesn't like something! haha
 
+ Ella has become increasingly more vocal. She loves to chat, which sounds more like a growl, especially to her toys and mobile. She also blows a lot of bubbles at you while having a "conversation."

+ Ella initially hated tummy time, so I made it a point to work on it with her every day, and she has got so much better! She actually enjoys it for a little bit, but eventually can't keep her head up anymore and then she doesn't love it, as one would imagine. 

+She is constantly putting her two fingers into her mouth, or her whole fist for that matter. Really anything that she can chew or suck on.

+ Ella now has a pretty consistent and firm schedule. She wakes up, eats, then she is up playing and what not for about two hours, and then she goes down for a nap ranging from an hour to two hours. It has been awesome! This means instead of eating every two hours, she eats every three sometimes four depending on how long her nap is. I love nursing, but don't love doing it all day every day so this has been great. 

+ Ella is getting so much more mobile. She can scoot herself around using her legs and pushes herself in whatever direction she wants to be. She has also flipped herself from her stomach, to her back a few times. She also rolls over on her sides a lot. So she is getting close, but she hasn't mastered the complete rolling over yet.

+ Ella loves her toys. She gets bored easily without having something to do, so it has been fun trying new things to entertain her. She really loves sitting in this little activity chair my sister gave us. It holds her up right which is her favorite and gives me and Trevor a break from having to hold her up on our hips all night. While we love her and want to hold her 24/7 it is a little rough on the back! haha 

+She is still in size 1 diapers, and I think it will be a while before she needs a bigger size, haha, tiny girl!

+ Ella is still wearing mostly three month clothes, but can fit into some bigger sizes but only length wise. Basically she doesn't really fill anything out. So most of her things are 3-6 months. In these little "mermaid" pictures she is actually wearing a newborn size! haha