Baby Play-Outdoor

A simple post today because the weather is just too gorgeous to sit and write. Plus, my little girl is begging for me to play with her :)

The weather is finally turning into Spring here in Rhode Island and we are enjoying every second of it.

Today Will gets to have play time on the porch. He is going nuts "talking" and kicking his arms and legs around!

Don't forget that a simple change to your baby's normal playtime area can spark big things!

And we won't forget the big girl! It is hard to pull her into the house these days. 

Have a wonderful weekend!!

XOXO Sarah

Baby Bump

I am 15 weeks today :)

Enjoy the very bad iPhone picture!

Liza Has Something to Tell You!

She is going to be a big sister sometime in late January!

Yes, this is an iphone picture...and she would not sit still! Oh well!

We are so excited that our family is growing!


XOXO Sarah

P.S. Do you like Liza's shirt? My cousin's shop is called Monkey Stitches and she loves to do custom orders. Check her out here !!

An update on my boy

Happy Friday!

We finally got a little break from the heat here. It is in around 73 degrees, so this morning we took a walk to Starbucks.  I love that place!! 

I just wanted to give a quick update on Baby J. Here is the first post when he was 10 months and

here is an update when he was 14 months. 

14 months in this picture

Baby J isn't really a baby anymore, he is now a full blown toddler. This makes me sad! This past week he had a doctors appointment and now weighs a little over 19 lbs and is 29 inches long. The doctor says he is a peanut and is not too concerned. I just hope he ends up taller than his sisters.

He started hobbling around our house at 14 months and a few weeks ago on vacation he started really getting the hang of walking.  So now at 16 months he is a normal curious toddler into everything. 

This whole experience has taught me to go with your instincts and take what the doctors say with a grain of salt. Remembering it is ok to get a second opinion. I have also learned that breast milk was best for us, and I was not going to let the doctor bully me into giving my son formula. It has proven that my little boy was just fine the whole time. You can't just go based on the growth charts, it is necessary to look at the child as a whole.

My boy loves the beach

I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Hugs,

Katey

Baby Wearing Love

A Note From Sarah:

As I talk to moms around me, it seems like baby wearing can be a little intimidating to some people. For whatever reason our society has gotten away from baby wearing as a norm.

I remember sitting in a professional development workshop while I was still teaching and the keynote speaker addressed the issue of how children of all ages need to be touched to feel loved and safe. As a teacher, it meant that I would pat a students back or shoulder or place my hand on their arm while talking to them. A touch that makes the child feel connected to you. I remember her explaining how sad it made her feel to see babies in their infant seats for good amounts of time without their caregivers touch. I made a vow to myself that I would always be conscious of that and that I would carry my babies whenever possible.
It wasn't always the easiest thing to do, but it meant a lot to me and I don't regret that promise to myself at all. Luckily, I discovered baby wearing soon after Liza was born. Once I started wearing Liza, my life became a little easier. Liza was happy and content to be snuggled up against me which meant that I could relax and take my time at Target or the grocery store. It meant cry-free walks with my husband and even yard work.

A Note from Katey:

I never knew about Baby Wearing until my sister started with her baby. Even then I tried different carriers like the Eddie Bauer sling and the hot sling. I never loved them and they were so uncomfortable. My husband was skeptical when I had my third baby that I wanted to try it again. He knew I had gone through a few carriers already and he thought baby wearing was just not for me. However, I was determined considering I needed to have both hands free when I had my boy, because I also had a two year old to run after. When Baby J was newborn I used the Moby. It was hard at first to wrap until I did it a few times. I was so relieved that this carrier worked for me! I started researching others, and knew I would want something easier to put on, and since the I had success with one carrier maybe my hubs would be on board for another?? Hehe! My sister recommended the Beco and I went with it. I am happy I did! I used it all the time with my little guy and put my toddler in the single stroller. I preferred this method over a double stroller. I was also lucky enough to have a good friend of mine lend me her ring sling. I loved that as well and wished I had it when Baby J was a newborn for nursing. It was so easy to put on and off, and to nurse in.
Remember, it is never too late to start baby wearing, whether its with your 1st or 3rd baby!


Since we both fell in love with baby wearing, we have spent a lot of time researching carriers and will share some basic styles with you today. There are a million brands and types available to you and it can be a little confusing.

Here are some of the more well-known safe and sturdy carriers:
 
The Moby Wrap is easy to find since can be bought at Target and Babies R Us. We both used the Moby with our newborns until about 7 or 8 months old. We love how secure your new baby is to you and how hands free you are while wearing your little one. It almost feels like you are pregnant again.

 

The Baby K'tan is similar to the Moby, but doesn't require as much wrapping. Neither of us have ever used the Baby K'tan, but it's popularity is rising and we won't deny that we'd like to try it!

 The Ellaroo wrap is well-known in the baby wearing community. It is a reasonably priced wrap that is much more durable than the Moby. You can also use this wrap through toddler hood so it's very useful. You can read our friend Nichole's review of it here.

The Ergo can also be found at Babies R Us and is a very popular carrier. Sarah has one and likes it although she finds it a bit bulky on her small frame, but it's been very useful and has been used tons.

 

 Beco is a wonderful brand. They have three variations of their carrier and offer some gorgeous patterns. Katey loved her Beco Butterfly 2. It is pictured below. It was easy to put on and off and you can wear baby on the front or on the back when they are able to sit up.

Sakura Bloom Ring Sling is Sarah's favorite sling. They are beautiful and super simple to use for infants and toddlers. You won't be as hands-free using this type of carrier, but it is still a very worthwhile investment.

Here are some helpful resources:

*** Here is a great article about choosing the carrier that is right for you.***
BabyWearer- Huge baby wearing forum where you can find everything from used carriers to a babywearing community.
Wikepedia- Baby wearing isn't anything new...even Wikepedia knows that.
What is Babywearing?- Dr. Sears
Adventures in Babywearing Blog- A really nice description of different carriers.
Abby's Lane- Used baby carriers
FrogMama- Used Carriers
KellyMom- If you have ever breastfed a baby, then you know this wonderful website! Check out her info on baby wearing.

There are so many carriers to choose from. What is your favorite carrier and why? Please share with us!

On Bedsharing

If you know me then you have probably figured out that my little one sleeps in bed with us for at least part of the night. Some people think I am crazy. Heck, before I had Liza I thought people were nuts for sleeping with their kids. I also had the misconception that it was super unsafe to have your baby in your bed, but that is another post for another day.

Source and a fabulous article to boot.

Today I want to share with you a little about our bedsharing journey.

 But first, the basics.

What is co-sleeping?

Co-sleeping does not mean that you are sleeping with your baby in your bed. It means that your baby is sleeping near you. Maybe in a bassinet or a co-sleeper. They are somewhere in their own space, but they are still close to mom. In the same room so that baby can hear the rhythms of mommy's breathing and so that mom can easily comfort baby.



What is bed-sharing?

Bed-sharing is when your baby sleeps right in your bed with you. In the curve of your arm and snuggled up against your chest. Best feeling ever. Especially as a new mom. Especially if you're breastfeeding. Especially if you are as paranoid as I was. I never thought I'd do it, but it worked for us.

Now, a little about me.

The night we brought Liza home from the hospital was the same night we ended up bringing her back to the children's hospital. I could not get her to eat and I was worried about dehydration. The on call doctor was worried that she might have a virus and sent us to the ER. We spent almost three days there watching our new baby get poked and tested and were thankfully sent home nice and healthy.

The days that followed consisted mostly of me nursing Liza. Like all brand new babies, she nursed a lot. I remember being so tired. And she slept. Unless I put her down. If I put her down, she would wake right up. I thought babies were supposed to be happy sleeping in their bassinets and swings.

Liza wasn't.

She needed me to hold her. When I put her down, she'd wake up. I tried the pack-n-play, the swing, the bassinet, the crib, the bouncy seat, everything we had. Nothing worked.

At night, I would always put her to sleep in the bassinet on the side of my bed and I would sleep with my hand on her chest. She'd wake, I'd feed her. I can remember sitting on my bed with the boppy nursing and then all of a sudden I'd wake up still sitting up holding Liza. It scared me. I was so worried that I would nod off while holding her and she would fall.

It seemed to me like no one believed me when I would talk about Liza not being a good sleeper. People would see me holding her during her naps and would say things like, "Why don't you put her down. You have to just let her cry." That didn't make sense to me and I felt like no one believed me. No one except for my sweet hubby. I thought I was doing something wrong. So, I went online for help and I found Dr. Sears.

Dr. Sears changed my life. He gave me sleep. He gave my baby sleep. He gave me my sanity back.
I will be forever grateful to him for sharing the story of his son, who was not a good sleeper. I read this article and cried.

It made me feel normal. I wasn't doing anything wrong, Liza just needed me a little more than some babies need their moms (when it comes to sleep).

I also learned from his wife about the side-laying nursing position. It seemed much safer for me to lay down and nurse Liza in the middle of the night. I figured that if I fell asleep nursing, we would both be laying down and there was no way I could accidentally drop her in my sleep.

This is how we began bedsharing. It was so much easier to have Liza sleep right up close to me. We all slept better and we developed such a natural rhythm that it was almost like we could sleep through our nursing sessions. It was amazing to feel how in-tuned to my little baby I was. I knew when she flinched or sighed and I could hear her breathing with me. It just seemed so natural. I could rest knowing that even in my sleep I was aware of her breathing.

Check out this article on Co-Sleeping. There are links in this article to some of Dr. Sears' more scientific research on how co-sleeping and/or bedsharing are not as horrible as our society would lead you to believe.Unlike those horrific ads that show babies in danger while in adult beds, it can be and should always, always  be done safely. 

I'll stop now before I go off on a tangent, but let me just say one more thing.

 Please know that this is just my experience. I am not trying to start a debate or tell you that the way you might do things is wrong. We're all just trying to do the best we can.

Here are two other helpful links:
SIDS Research
Infant Sleep Safety

Have you ever let your littles into your bed?

XOXO Sarah

Car Seat Safety

Happy Friday!

We are having a heatwave! Is it sweltering hot where you live? 

Today we wanted to share with you a post that  Melissa from Lissy's Two Cents wrote. She happens to be Katey's little sister (except the stinker is taller than us both!) and a mother of two little boys. Melissa has a passion for car seat safety and she enjoys sharing her knowledge with others.

We feel that is important to share her post with our readers because there are still many people who are not aware of how to keep their child(ren) safe while in the car. 

Please read THIS and share with your friends and family!!

Be safe and stay cool!!!

We love you all,

Liza's Necklace

I get a lot of questions about the necklace that Liza wears and today seems like the perfect day to tell you about it.

I don't know if you are like me, but I hate to take medicine. I really do. I have no reason why I hate it, I just do. This has trickled down to me as a mother. I avoid giving Liza medicine unless I really have to. 

If you're a parent, then you know how much teething sucks. These poor babies are in this constant state of misery! Their gums are swollen and razor sharp teeth are cutting them. If I gave Liza Tylenol every time I knew she was teething then she wouldn't have a very good liver. 

I have never tried teething tablets because they were recalled once when Liza was younger and I just cannot bring myself to buy them now. Thankfully, I came across this necklace and it has been a life saver!

 Liza has worn this Baltic Amber necklace for about a year now, but I wish I had bought it sooner.

I just love this kid!

It is not a necklace that your baby can chew on. That's not how it helps the teething pain. 

The Amber beads are worn against skin and the warmth of your baby's skin causes the beads to release trace amounts of healing oils. These natural oils are used more commonly in other parts of the world and they can help ease teething pain and boost your immune system. 

Check out this page for a lot more detailed information. Inspired by Finn is the most reputable place to find the necklaces. Apparently, there are a lot of fakes on the market. If you are in my area, check out Bellani Maternity. It is an awesome store and they carry neat stuff that Babies R Us doesn't. Like these necklaces and cloth diapers!

I really do believe that Liza's necklace has helped to ease her teething pain. I give her much less tylenol than I did before she started to wear it. 

If a baby wearing a necklace makes you nervous, then you can always wrap it around an ankle and cover it with a sock. Same benifits, but out of reach.

Well, naptime is over so I have to run.

XOXO Sarah

UPDATE: Boys can wear these too and adults!!! Check out the link to the website that I wrote about. There is tons of information there. 

DIY Photography Indoor background

Hello there!!

I would like to share from time to time some photography tips and tricks I have learned.
First, let me start with a short disclaimer. I am by no means a professional photographer. I call myself a photography enthusiast. I have taken two photography courses which have taught me to take a better than average photo, and to be creative while utilizing the tools around me.  My goal when I started out was to learn how to use my fancy DSLR camera in a different mode other than auto, and to take better pictures of my children. I believe as a mother (or father), you are your child's best photographer!!

You already know I have a fancy camera, but I also have a canon powershot! I love my canon powershot, especially because it is so compact and takes awesome pictures! I love that I can carry it in my purse and take it out at any moment! Sometimes I find my fancy camera to be rather bulky.

My DIY background can be done with either camera. I had to do an assignment for my class, so what better way than take this opportunity to photograph my Jacob. I began to contemplate what I could do in the house, because it was too cold outside. I remembered I had bought a twin size black sheet a few months ago and this was the perfect time to utilize it. I went into Jacob's bedroom and tucked the sheet into his crib, draping it over the rail, and onto the floor. I placed Jacob on the floor on top of the sheet, then I propped myself onto the floor to his eye level and started snapping pictures.

His sister was entertaining him next to me, making him laugh which was an added bonus. I find taking pictures when the children are having fun is key to getting great photos!

You can  definitely do this with any color sheet or blanket. Duct taping it to a wall is also another option. Just let your creativity flow! :)

I found this blog to be great for tips on creating your own at home mini studio. You really do not have to spend a lot of money & it can be so much fun for little ones who love to dress up!

Do you have a photography tip or trick you would like to share with us? We would love to hear from you! 

Cheers,

Katey