How am I four months postpartum? How is my little man four months old? It really felt like the first two months took a long time (maybe that was sleep deprivation) but months three and four have just flown. And my gosh, is this kid getting big! I guess because I see him every day and myself every day (in the mirror) I don’t notice changes in us as much. But it’s the little things like putting on an old pair of pants and they are saggy or him not being able to straighten his legs in a 3 month sleeper that remind me we are both growing, changing and living life.

I like to think that I’ve “been there, done that” and in all honesty I probably have. Sure, I haven’t dealt with colic but damnit I’ve seen all these levels in some aspect and thought I’d share my insight.

I can honestly say that I was "that" person when I first packed up for delivering Hannah.  I had like two suitcases and everything under the moon to be prepared for anything.  Since having two babies and going through two deliveries I've refined my packing list a little.  Now getting ready to go in for baby #3; I thought I'd share what's going on inside my hospital bag and what I think are the only real essentials you need for your hospital stay.

I've been on pins and needles all day waiting to share this amazing news!

 

I actually found out we were probably expecting on our halfiversary on March 17th.  As you can see in the video below I was a little overwhelmed when I found out I was pregnant.  We honestly hadn't been trying long at all...like 3 weeks trying so I was kind of stunned in the first part of the video.  I decided to hold off based on my husband's recommendation another week and when we took the second test it was much more clear.  As you can hear my hubby saying in the background "Test number 2, means Baby number 3!" haha he's such a jokster.

Recently the discussion of to have a third baby or not has been a big talking point in our house.  David and I are extremely blessed with two beautiful girls who are bright, full of life and have smiles that make the sun seem dull.  However, we've been wondering if adding a 3rd was part of our family plan.  I don't think we'd ever look back and say "Wow, glad we didn't have that third kid" but more "I wonder if we should have tried just one more time".  David and I really want a boy however we both sit at 50/50 that we'd be happy with whatever gender we are blessed with.

Recently there's been A LOT of controversy over breast-feeding vs formula feeding, I've stayed out of these arguments because honestly, no one can win, no one person is right or wrong.  Like I said in my previous post My 10 Survival Tips for Expecting Moms, you MUST do what is right for your child and you and only you can make those decisions, you can't let what's the new hype or popular argument keep you from doing what is best for your family.

For me personally, I come from the family of the Big Breast Club, breast feeding was not something that came easily to me even the slightest bit.  With Hannah I tried breast feeding probably 3 weeks while supplementing with formula.  Then when I was having problems with my milk production I tried pumping.  Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried or what I did, Hannah was losing weight, she was constantly hungry and my body just couldn't give her what she needed.  So as much as I wanted to be a breast-feeding mommy (cost above all other reasons) I had to make the RIGHT choice for her and me and put her on formula.  I experienced the same thing with Savannah but my milk was even worse off, barely producing 1 oz a day, so Savannah went onto formula much faster than her sister.  Formula was much easier for both girls, they eat well, they are more than healthy and happy and even when Hannah was in daycare it was easier to handle for her provider.

I still remember being in the hospital with Savannah and a family member came to visit, I was feeding Savannah a formula bottle and she said "well, breast is best, that's what I'm going to do when I'm a mom" and I just so wanted to snap and say "well, when your a mom and you realize it's not as easy as it looks, you'll see", but instead I said "research and studies have shown that children on breast milk or formula don't grow any different, they are getting the correct nutrients and that's all that matters".  Regardless of her words or any other opinion both my girls are perfectly healthy, in their correct height and weight percentages for their ages and great eaters, they even sleep better than about 50% of the breast fed babies I know.  

I personally believe that formula was the best decision for me, my girls and my husband.  He loves being able to feed Savannah and I love watching him interact with her during those feeding times.  Having his help made sleeping so much easier as well.  I would get up one time, him the next, because of formula we were able to share the responsibilities of feedings rather than it falling solely on me because of breast-feeding.  Him being able to help with feedings also allowed me to not build resentment or be overly tired and get grumpy which is overall healthier for the entire family....trust me, me and grumpy don't go well together!

Again, this is my own experience and what worked for me and my family, it might not work for you and you might be great at breast-feeding and I applaud that 1,000% but don't feel like formula is the enemy or that you have to exhaust yourself and possibly hurt your child just to not get looked at wrong because you aren't breast-feeding.  Just like picking out the diaper that works for your baby, not everyone likes Pampers Swaddlers but I do, some prefer Huggies but I don't, I feel this debate can go either way, but I don't think there's a right or wrong way to make sure your child is getting everything he or she should be getting nutrition wise.

Not a sermon, just a thought (I've always wanted to put that in an post!!! eeekkkk!)

First and foremost, any and everyone you know can give you advice, you don't have to take it and every story and experience is different for each person based on their situation so anything I have to share is definitely based purely on my own experience both as a first time mom and a 2nd time mom.

Tip #1: Expect the Unexpected! I can't stress this enough...no one and I do mean no one, not even the doctors can tell you exactly what's going to happen from your labor and delivery to your first days, weeks, months even years as a parent.  Again, each person experiences something different.  Be okay with adapting in the moment and taking each day as brand new, babies have a memory of seconds, not minutes, hours or even days.  Every day you get a clean slate to try again.

Tip #2:  Do what you believe is best for your child.  You and only you know your baby, your bond is stronger than anyone else.  I received a lot of flack for a long time about not breast feeding my children however I KNEW that I couldn't give them that type of feeding so I went with what I KNEW would give them the nutrition they deserved and needed.  You have to do what's best for you and your baby and stand firm on it, don't let anyone tell you you are doing it wrong.

Tip #3:  Take lots of pictures!  They are only this small once in their lives, no matter how annoying it might seem to everyone else around you, you will want those memories and one day your baby will thank you for that snap shot (or hate you) but either way they will also have that memory on print.  

Tip #4: Don't Invest in Expensive Clothes.  I mean besides your nursery furniture and car seat don't go crazy on outfits or shoes or blankets. Clothes will get dirty (or outgrown very quickly), so while they are cute they aren't always worth the pricey investment.

Tip #5:  Take help! I mean this one in the most serious manner...if someone offers help, take it! Let your family and friends be there as a support.  I can't tell you how many days I was so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open but ignored hubby's requests to take a nap while he watched the baby....man I wish I could get those hours back.  Let people cook and clean and help all they can, because when the newness wears off they will back off and you'll be wishing you had those helping hands.

Tip #6:  Take care of your health.  I know this is important in pregnancy but it's vital as a new mom too.  Eat well, get sleep (revisit Tip #5) and take care of yourself because if you aren't okay then baby won't be okay.  This little person depends on you for everything so you have to be at your best to give them whatever they need.

Tip #7:  Get out at least once a day.  I don't care if it's a walk or just sitting on the porch but get out.  Being cooped up in a house is very hard and I know so many new moms are scared to bring their baby out into the world but trust me you have to do it sooner or later so definitely try sooner.  This will also help you with feeling good and positively taking care of yourself.

Tip #8:  Find a mommy and me group.  I can't tell you how vital this one was for me.  None of my friends had kids when I did so I felt really alone in everything I was dealing with, once I reached out to a mommy group it was an amazing feeling to finally have other people who knew what I was dealing with.

Tip #9:  Be in the moment.  Enjoy those moments at bath time or even those little gas smiles after a feeding, you'll never get those back. 

Tip #10: Make time for you and your significant other.  SO IMPORTANT! Not only are you both new parents but you are still partners and your bond needs to remain strong.  It's easy to get wrapped up in all things baby but make time for dates or even small gestures of romance. You'd be amazing at how much easier it is to make it through a rough night of a colic-ridden baby when your partner is there to support you through it rather than upset because he/she isn't getting attention they need as well.

Overall I would say that my biggest tip is just to go with the flow, enjoy it, be in the moment and relish this time, it flies by so quickly, you'll blink and it's gone.  This is sometimes hard to do as a new mom but I know you can!  I hope these tips helped and if you need any additional tips or have questions about anything I'm just an email, tweet or Facebook post away!  :)

I remember being pregnant with Hannah and watching literally 100's of videos on "What's in my Hospital Bag" or "What's in my Diaper Bag"...I watched them constantly comparing the bags, what was inside them and which items I could afford or already had from my baby shower.  I'm still slightly obsessed with these videos, but that's just the nosey in me :)

I always felt with Hannah that I over packed my diaper bag, I literally needed a bottle, diapers and some formula and I would have been fine so when we had Savannah I tended to under pack which made it easier to use one diaper bag for 2 girls.  Hannah's almost 2 now (2 in 2 weeks *sad face*) so all she really needs are diapers and a couple changes of clothes so most of what I keep in the bag now is over packing again for Savannah.

The bag I'm currently using is an Eddie Bauer diaper bag, I think I got it from Babies R Us or Target maybe, I can't really remember but I've only ever bought 2 diaper bags and they were never over $40 so it probably falls in the $25-$40 range.  Since I have girls obviously I needed pink but the grey makes it more wearable.  The outside of the bag has 3 pockets in the front, 2 slightly larger pockets on the sides and one large slit on the back.


In the front 3 pockets I keep the following...on the right side I have a comb for the girls hair (mostly Hannah's), a squeezable yogurt (for Hannah or Savannah) and if Savannah wants it I have a screw on spoon that attaches to where the yogurt squeezes from, this keeps it a little less messy.  In the middle pocket I have my wallet (Mr. Louis Vuitton - a gift from my husband, I love that man) this is in the middle pocket instead of inside the bag so it's always accessible to me, probably not the smartest safety reason in the world but oh well it works for me.  And in the left pocket I have some puffs for Savannah, these ones are the Sweet Potato flavor which she really enjoys.


The 2 pockets on the side are a little larger, on one side I keep a bottle for Savannah (sometimes I'll fill this with warm water if I know she will be eating shortly after us leaving the house). The other pocket is usually where my keys, phone, lip gloss, lip balm...it's kind of my mom pocket.


The rear slit or pocket houses a diaper changing pad (this one is from a previous diaper bag but it's so sturdy and the right size I couldn't part with it), a receiving blanket that I use as a burp rag or clean up rag, a waterproof bib for Savannah and a teether to keep Savannah occupied and play with (she's mostly a pacifier kid).



Inside the bag looks a little crazy but it's really not, it's mostly clothes (aren't they always the culprit of a messy space?).  Inside I keep a couple changes (usually 2) for each girl just in case of an accident, one of those outfits I keep in this clear bag which doubles as a wet or messy clothes holder if there are any accidents.  When we had Hannah one of the nurses gave me a goodie bag that had this polka dot diaper holder, I keep 4 diapers for each girl in this, keeps diapers from flying everywhere even if it only reads Hannah on the top (when she was in daycare I had to write her name on everything). Also to accompany the diapers you need....wipes, of course! Right now I'm trying some different brands so I've been buying the individual ones but I think I've settled on Huggies Natural Care for now, not too wet but get the job done and softer. A pink 3 portioned formula dispenser is for Savannah, right now she's drinking 6 oz bottles so each slot has 3 scoops of formula in it.  Finally, I have a little Ziploc baggie that I keep some Wet Ones for cleaning up messes or wiping down a table/highchair, some aquaphor, lotion, baby powder, diaper rash cream and lotion from (Aveeno). 



Again, I rarely have to us half of what's in this bag but I'm of the mentality "better safe that sorry".  However, as the girls get older I'm looking into creating a diaper/emergency/family kit in the back of our Jeep like the one below. 

Once Savannah is 1 (in October) I have high hopes of being able to have the Jeep set up so that I can just have some diapers and a couple snacks and FINALLY carry a purse again :)

So tell me...what's in your diaper bag? Post a video, comment, reply with a blog post...I'd love to see, I'm still obsessed with these subjects!!!

Every year since I've known The Chevalley's they've done a Memorial Day BBQ/Fish Fry, this year we hosted at our house. We had about 10-15 people at any given time and even a couple other babies/kids for the girls to socialize with!

Hubby put in work on the girl with burgers, hot dogs and chicken. I plattered it up with veggies, fruits and desserts. All in all we had a good day, the weather was perfect but we were definitely pooped after!

Even tired, we decided to go with another couple we know to see Hangover 3...SUPER FUNNY! Definitely stay for the after credits...I laughed so hard I cried, so that should tell you its good!

Monday we have tickets to the Orioles vs Nationals with my BIL and SIL. Looking forward to hanging out with my hubby for that :) Hope you all had a great weekend!

Well we didn't go to Michigan or Ohio but they came to us. Brandon (Ohio) and Dawn (Michigan) have been apart of my life for as long as I can remember. I met Brandon on Cinco De Mayo years ago and we were just a match from the start, literally the male version of me. Dawn was actually introduced to me by dating Brandon. I always hated Brandon's girls friends but Dawn I fell in love with. She's amazing, smart, funny and so just well, great!