Pretty Nursing Friendly Finds

I was out to dinner last night and realized there was no way I could nurse Ralphie without giving everyone a show.  So I went on a hunt to find more nursing friendly apparel- but nothing boring,  stuff that's still pretty for spring and summer!  I just ordered this top (a friend's recommendation!) in two colors, and I have my eye on this pretty dress and this everyday tee.

click the pictures to shop the rest of my finds!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

1. Did you know you can Amazon Prime a bouquet of flowers?? It's an amazing discovery.
2.  Such a cute mama tee.
3. I LOVE this simple mama ring.  Hint, hint, husband!
4.  The prettiest tote bag- perfect for the farmer's market.
5.  The Anthropologie smell candle that everyone raves about.
6.  A perfect bath salt to help mom relax.
7.  Best mom ever stemless wine glass.  Kind of the perfect gift!  It's budget friendly too.
8.  Pretty pjs.
9.  A cute card.
10.  Perfectly simple mama necklace.
11.  She believed she could, so she did.  I love these mantra bracelets!
12.  A floral tea kettle- so pretty in any kitchen!

The Best Mom Diaper Bags

I am rocking this backpack.  

One of my best mom tips?  The mom backpack.   Apparently we have to pack up our entire house now in order to leave the house. I'm talking more than just diapers and wipes-  sun hats, sunscreen, a ball or two, chalk, sand toys (these are so cute!), bug spray... and of course, a variety of snack options. It's necessary to keep those hands free! I rounded up the very best mom backpacks- and as a bonus they all still look cute after baby grows up too!

click the pictures to shop!

Gifts for New Mamas

Welcome home, baby!  Ahh, postpartum.  I talked about it here too, but those first few days (okay, weeks) after having a baby are quite possibly the craziest time in your life.  And all people want to do is come into your space and hold your baby!  Nothing made me more hormonal and mama bear angry than seeing someone hold my baby in the beginning.  Like, seriously I had to sit on my hands.  My husband and I did a great job (we were well prepared by our midwives and doula!) of making our home a sacred space and didn't allow any visitors right away.  Well, except my mom, who mostly just made food, ran the dishwasher, and did laundry.  But once the visitors are welcomed, here are some ideas for the perfect gift.  

 First of all, tell her "YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB!" Because she is.  Shower her with compliments.  "I've never seen such a cute baby!" "What a glow-y mama!" The constant thought running her head is "Can I do this?" and a little support can be so affirming.

1.  The perfect postpartum cardigan- access to the boobs, roomy for the belly.

2.  Nursing friendly, cozy pajamas or a cuddly robe- when you re getting up multiple times a night its nice to have something nice to wrap around yourself.

3.  Fuzzy socks.

4.  Make sure she has a Netflix subscription! Entertainment is key.  I remember watching The Office every night with baby Ophelia and laughing at something lighthearted was so comforting.  And maybe bring a copy of Us Weekly!

5.  I was thinking a gift card for a massage would be nice (and it totally would be!) but I know how hard leaving the babe can be, especially in the beginning.  So some home beauty products would have been amazing!  This at home facial (I love the name!) has caught my eye, and this dry shampoo has rave reviews!

6.  A gift card for Bite Squad!  We got one of this with Ralph and it was perfect.  If you want to bring food, takeout is good, especially if you know a place she likes.  Don't text a bunch of questions, just bring something wholesome (something like fruit or good chocolate would be amazing!) Energy bites are perfect for eating one handed- and good for nursing!  Even better would be dropping it at the door and texting Dad that it's there.  Don't ring the doorbell! 

7.  Offer to clean while she  just snuggles with her babe.  This was my absolute favorite thing my mom did for us- every time she came over, she was doing laundry, emptying the dishwasher, or bringing me food.  She'd tell me to go snuggle with baby, and it made me feel so much better about just laying around.  If you ask what you can do to be helpful, and she can't think of anything, offering to run errands for her would be sweet too. Put gas in her car! If she has older kids, take them to the park while she gets a chance to bond with the new babe. 

AND if you really do need to hold the baby- wash your hands.  Without the mom asking you to!

Spring Wishlist

dreamy warm weather scene via

Just a little spring wishlist on this blizzarding April day.  I hear amazing reviews about this mascara and this facial treatment.  And this top is both breastfeeding friendly and cute!  Daydreaming about wearing a pretty cotton midi skirt, this perfect straw bag, and these pretty bow slides on a warm spring day.  PLEASE, SPRING, COME SOON! 

Toddler Art Favorites

 

Ophelia's absolute favorite thing to do is art, so we've tried a lot of projects.  Here are some of our top picks!

1.  Kwik Stix:  I could write an entire post about these awesome paint sticks.  They are in Ophelia's hand basically from sun up to sun down.  The texture of paint with none of the mess!

2.  Color Puzzle: This helped her learn all her colors and shapes. 

3.  Wood Letter:  Painting a new object is a total game changer from paper, so we love switching it up.  She had a blast painting her "O" and we also did flower pots the other day!

4.  Kinetic Sand:  One of our favorite sensory bin activities- this stuff is awesome!

5.  Paint:  We're on our third set of these paints. 

6.  Water beads:  Another awesome sensory bin filler!  I'm not sure how to explain the draw to these, but she seriously loves them. 

Random Thoughts for the Weekend

1.  I LOVED this article on raising a boy in today's society.
2.  Pretty eyelet tops that have caught my eye:  this one, this one, and this one.  Eyelet is my favorite.
3.  I am so happy to be nursing again.  Breastfeeding is one of my favorite parts of motherhood- the way they look up at you with this little half smile, and the appreciate little noises they make?  It's the sweetest. And there is nothing better than the smell of a breastfed baby.  It's something I'm already nostalgic for while it's happening.  I know that nursing is something I will miss when I'm old and grey.
4.  For all the people who give me strange looks when I take my little ones outside in the cold- outdoor parenting in Sweden and what they can teach us.
5.  My skin is totally wonky right now- postpartum hormones and midnight wake ups can do that, I'm sure.   I hear rave reviews about this face mask.
6.  This piece about being "cool" was refreshing. 
7.  In case you missed it- a review of my favorite baby carriers.
8.  This instagram account has been so helpful during this endless winter.  Ophelia has been blowing me away with how smart she's gotten!
9.  In my dreams, I would have a reason to wear this dress, the budget for it, and the weather for it.  So dang pretty!
10.  Ophelia's favorite item of the week, and Ralph's favorite.

Dressing A Baby Boy- Round 2

Ralphie is wearing this outfit and these booties.  

Wanted to share some more baby boy finds- it's tough to find cute stuff for the little dudes! 

Stripe one piece// Splatter sweatshirt// Henley bodysuit

Shorts // Sandals// Jungle pants

Tank bodysuit// Navy pants // Star slippers

Stripe one piece// Plant sweatshirt// Feather footie

Suspender bloomer set// Sweater// Navy bodysuit

Baby bird tee// Reversible pants// Cotton shorts

Nursing Friendly Tops for Spring - Under $50

Throw on your favorite nursing bra or tank and a pretty top and you're good to go!  I particularly love this button down tee with a fun little ruffle detail, and this pretty eyelet top. 

click the pictures to shop!