Monday, October 6, 2014

We are having a ....

We are VERY excited and happy to announce that Baby #2 is a BOY! We are having another boy!! AHHH! I'm excited for Easton to be a big brother and the fact that my two boys will be so close in age is amazing! I'm also happy because Baby #2 can share some hand me down clothes so we don't have to buy an entire new wardrobe. (just matching outfits for the both of them haha).  We are so blessed to have Easton and we cannot wait to meet our newest edition.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Weeks 18 & 19

I'm a little behind on posting weekly updates. I've just been so busy between work and being a mommy. Hopefully I catch up soon... So here's 18 & 19

How far along? 18 & 19 weeks
Gender: finding out at next ultrasound
Maternity clothes:  some, actually need to get a belly band since I can't zip my jean shorts anymore :/
Stretch marks? no
Sleep: better than last week, but still waking up throughout the night
Best moment of the week: Easton holding my belly (even though I know he's too young to understand)
Worst moment of the week: not being able to fall asleep from the pain in my back
Miss Anything? drinking a ton of coffee to get me through the day
Movement: lots of kicks after meals and while I'm relaxing on the couch
Food Cravings: Rocket Pop fro yo from Yogurtland ! 
Food Dislikes: turkey 
Symptoms: hip aches, back aches
Belly button in or out? in
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: touch and go with my emotions this time around. the day can start off happy and anything can just set me off and then I'm in a horrible mood for the rest of the day. I hate not being able to control my hormones or emotions ughhh
Looking forward to:  finding out the gender of baby #2 at our next ultrasound

Monday, September 29, 2014

Skeletons and Mini Pumpkins

I can't believe this coming week starts the last week of September! When did that happen?! But I'm so excited my favorite time of the year has finally arrived - Fall and HALLOWEEN! I just LOVE this holiday, always have since I was a little kid. I am so exciting about dressing up Easton for his first Halloween. I'm still brainstorming ideas for his costume and I can't wait to get started on making it. But until then I'm going to stock up on some seasonal items for him!

I cannot get over how cute these skeleton pi's are on him. Right now, Old Navy has a baby sale going on (score) everything is really affordable and great deals. I like the sizing on the baby clothes at Old Navy. He seems not to grow out of it as fast as some others. He most likely won't be wearing these too often even though I would like him to wear these to bed all October long, it's just too hot still here in So Cal.

Here are some of my other favorites for baby's first Halloween style. I know that he would ruin his costume if it was in it all day. Knowing me, I will probably change him into multiple Halloween outfits.  I hope everyone's ready for October!

Friday, September 26, 2014

Baby Brey #2 Coming Soon!

Here we go again! I am glad to announce that we are going to be a family of FOUR! That's right, I'm still in shock that this is happening again so soon but we couldn't be happier. So here's to baby bump updates and mommy survival posts! I'm so not ready to be a mommy of two UNDER TWO but bring it on!! (Can we also talk about how cute Easton's face is!? I can't take it!)


Since I'm a little behind in sharing the news and posting bump pictures, here is my update of week 16 & 17!

How far along? 16 & 17 weeks
Gender: don't know yet! ekkkk!
Maternity clothes: started wearing some of the same tops I wore when I was pregnant with Easton but still wearing my normal clothes
Stretch marks? no
Sleep: sleep is harder this time around having a newborn who either wakes up in the middle of the night or at the crack of dawn
Best moment of the week: cuddling with Easton and feeling some movement from baby #2
Worst moment of the week: back aches at night all week!
Miss Anything? sleep (but that's been long gone since having Easton)
Movement:  I felt movement a lot sooner, I was probably 14 weeks when I felt it a bit. Now I can feel it here and there
Food Cravings: mexican food
Food Dislikes: I feel like I don't have an appetite this time around
Symptoms: hip aches, back aches
Belly button in or out? in
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: I'm very moody this pregnancy, hormones are all over the place
Looking forward to:  The start of Fall (which feels like it is NEVER coming), and feel the baby move around more

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Summer Came and Went...

I promised myself I would blog more and I'm beyond guilty of pushing it aside all summer. I still can't believe it is already close to the end of September! When did this happen?! I hope everyone enjoyed their summer. Ours was a VERY HOT one, so hot that half the time I didn't want to do anything. But the summer didn't go totally unnoticed. We had trips to the park, afternoons by the pool, days at the mall (when it was just too hot), and of course Easton's first trip to New York. So I guess it wasn't that much of a bust. Being in California, it feels like summer never ends (especially with the heat wave we just had the past two weeks!). Here are some pictures that sum up some of the fun we had this summer. I'm just more upset that we didn't get to everything on my list! My goal is to get some more of that stuff done before October.










Monday, June 2, 2014

Happy June!

It's already June! I'm so ready for summer and it is sooo close now! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. We spent our time by the pool and it was Easton's first time outside by the pool. He was so cute watching all the kids running around, you could tell he wanted to do the same! The pool water was still a little too cold, so I didn't go in with him. Plus I haven't purchased any swim diapers yet. (on the to do list this week!) However, there are tons of pool days ahead this summer, we can't wait!
bathing suit from Gap (last year)





Now that it's June, I'm thinking about all the things that I want to do this summer, especially since it's our first with Easton. I am excited to start crossing things off this list and sharing with everyone! What's on your summer to-do list?

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Workout Wednesday: Lose the baby weight!

I have to say I was very surprised how quickly the weight came off right after I had Easton. Even though I felt like a lot of it had to do with not sleeping and/or eating very little at first. However, these last couple (not really a couple, more like 15lbs) of pounds seem to be a little harder to shake off. Not going to lie, I haven't done much exercising since I had this little guy, but I feel like I am lifting weights now every time I pick him up. I am well aware that it is going to take time shed these last pounds, but I am just getting a little annoyed that none of my clothes fit (still!). I still don't feel that comfortable telling how much weight I gained total during my pregnancy, all I will say is that it was A LOT. It was a little more than what my doctor felt comfortable with me gaining, however I was very healthy throughout my pregnancy.  So now that I am 6 months postpartum, I really want to try to get myself back in shape.

Most mommies might say that they don't have the time to get a work out in, and I feel like that shouldn't be the reason why I don't work out. I'm sure I can find the time somewhere, somehow. Easton is sleeping better through the night (fingers crossed) so aiming to have a good night sleep and work out early in the mornings before he wakes up or after his morning bottle. Now all I need to do is find a workout that works for me!!

I am addicted to Pinterest, so I started there. There are a lot of pins on postpartum work outs and getting fit after baby. I'm trying to weed out the ones that are actually "healthy" workouts and not the ones that are just a quick fix and tough on your body. I've found that there are a lot of quick exercises that involve you hold your baby. They are better than buying weights! haha It is a workout in itself to get Easton to and from the car in his carseat and carrying him around. He is now at the stage where he wants to try to stand and when I hold him up he bounces up and down; my arms should be tone in no time! I am still trying to find what is best for me, but until I find that perfect routine, I'm going to start off with this.

I can't wait to get back to my pre-baby body! and to be healthy of course! Each week I am going to be posting about workouts I have found and ones that I may create on my own, along with healthy eating tips. Super excited even though I know I won't get passed the 40 crunches!

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Mommy Monday: Organic Products

I hope that everyone enjoyed that nice three-day weekend. I spent my weekend taking care of Tank because on Friday night I accidentally spilt boiling water on him since he got under my feet when I was trying to dump the water into the sink. Poor guy is doing ok, only first degree burns, but he is not happy with mommy. We go tomorrow to take his bandage off. Hoping that he is all healed. I am happy that I did get to at least lay out in the sun for 45 mins while Easton was sleeping even though I would have loved to be at the beach. (sigh).

I wanted to start a new blog series called "Mommy Mondays" where I talk about all things mommy related, including products that I'm loving, articles that I have come across that seemed interesting, and pretty much anything that can help us mommies. Anyway I realize today is Tuesday but who wants to "work" on a holiday. (not me!)

I have been taking a lot of thought in the household products that I use while cleaning the apartment, cleaning Easton's toys, and even Tank's things. I honestly never thought about it before I just would buy the products that I knew worked best, especially since I am guilty of letting things go until they are really dirty. Does this sound like you too? Well, I have been trying my best now, even more so since Easton is starting to move around and I am facing the hard reality that my son is going to be crawling soon, to find products that are safe to use around him. I am one of those people who always say that I am going to go organic and never do. I actually am going to do it this time. I have become that mother who freaks out at everything that goes into Easton's mouth. I know that it's clean but is it safe for him? So I started reaching and I found a couple of brands that I am going to try out. Right now these are finding that I made on my own through research and within the next couple of weeks plan on trying and will post about my favorites and what I will decide to continually use.

First, I found Babyganics. They are two friends who started the company together and listened to other parents, along with their wives to make the baby-safe products that they now have today. All their products are non-toxic, fragrance free, and alcohol free. I actually already started using the toy & highchair cleaner and actually really like it. I want to start using household cleaning products that they have also and they have everything. From hand soap to laundry detergent, to diapers and teething pods. I love the fact that everything is non-toxic so that means if Easton puts something in his mouth that I just cleaned, I know it's safe.

The next brand I found was Earth's Best Organic. I actually came across this company when Easton started rice cereal. This was the one that we tried out first and he LOVED it. He actually would grab for the bowl to try to eat what was left in it. (too cute!) So I decided to look into this company a little more see what they were al about and wanted to see what other products that they offered. Since I was already thinking about going organic once Easton started baby foods (which is very soon), I thought why not see what they have to offer. I was also thinking about making my own baby food, but that will be a separate post :) I am going to start giving him the stage one foods, which are single ingredient puree foods, my pediatrician told us to start off with green veggies, so that's what we are going to do. yay mushy peas! (yuck) They also carry natural baby body care products, chlorine free diapers and wipes, and an all natural nursery cleaner.

I could not finish this search/post without picking The Honest Company as one of my choices. This is the company that Jessica Alba founded and all about eco-friendly products. All the products they offer are all natural and good for the environment (and home and of course baby!).  What I think is pretty awesome that they have "Bundles" for Diapers and Wipes, Essentials (household), and Health & Wellness. These are items that you pay a monthly price and you receive the most items for your buck. They also offer FREE trials for each bundle, so you can pick which ones you want to try out and see what this company is all about. I of course am going to try both the Diapers & Wipes and Essentials bundles and am very excited. They have a very wide variety of products and I think that's why they are going to be at the top of my list!  I also think that the designs on the diapers are just the best! Finally "fashionable" diapers! (don't get me wrong I just love seeing the characters of Sesame Street on every diaper..hehe) You know I'm just so excited for those to come in!!

I hope that in the next few weeks I can write a post about who wins my little quest for picking the best organic, all natural products for my home.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Happy Memorial Day!

I'm hoping that everyone is enjoying their weekend and the kick off to Summer 2014! We are having a relaxing weekend with Easton and Tank. Let's remember the real reason why we have a three-day weekend. It's for all of those who have sacrificed their lives to keep us free. I want to thank all military, those who have died whom we remember today, and the ones who continue to give their lives for us. THANK YOU!

Sunday, May 25, 2014

I'm back...

I can't believe that 3 months have flown by. I also can't believe that I haven't made a post since I went back to work. These past 3 months have definitely been tough, going back to work, Easton starting daycare, my husband starting a new job; it has been a fully packed life and filled with chaos. I promised myself that I would focus more on my blog in the beginning of the year, as I stated here back in January. I am trying to stick to it and fit my blog back into this crazy schedule. So let me get you back up to speed with my life....

Easton is SIX months old! SIX! I cannot believe how fast it went! I just remember bringing him home from the hospital that first night and how scared I was. Now, we have our routine, and I just love how he is growing and doing something new everyday. I promise to post about the past couple of months and all of his favorites that have made the these past months easier. We also celebrated his first St. Patty's Day and first Easter and celebrating many other first's this year!
Easton started daycare. I was terrified of this and didn't want him starting so early just because he is so little and my baby boy. I didn't want anyone else taking care of my boy but me. However, the reality is that my husband and I both need to work right now and daycare was our only option since our families are both on the East coast. The only cons so far have been that he has been sick on and off ever since he started daycare. He finally is feeling better, so crossing fingers that he is past getting sick for now.

Working full time and then taking care of baby from the moment I walk in the door until he goes to bed has been a hard adjustment. I give all mommies who work in the fashion industry A LOT of credit because it is anything but easy. Some days have being stressed out all day at work it's hard to put on my happy face for Easton, but somehow his smile just makes everything so much better. Life has been pretty hectic and I think I'm still getting back in the flow of work (didn't think that being away for 3 months would make such a difference).
I'm pretty excited about starting to blog again! I will be having reoccurring posts that will happen weekly and some just monthly. I am really going to try my best to stick to this goal between going to work, taking care of Easton, and running the household. (No one ever said being a mom is easy)
I can't wait to start sharing my life again with all of you! Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

Monday, February 17, 2014

One Month & Two Month Favorites

These past 12 weeks have gone by so quickly. I can proudly say that my husband and I have survived probably the craziest months of our lives so far. Easton has been such a blessing in our lives , but boy has he given us a run for our money. Month one and two was all about all of us getting to know each other and adjusting to this huge lifestyle change. I am able to tell the difference between his cry's and I can change a diaper pretty darn fast (especially when he's screaming bloody murder in the middle of the night) now. The only disappointing thing was that I had to stop breastfeeding due to being really difficult and I wasn't producing enough for my little man. Here are some of our favorite products that got us through the first two months and I am still using most of it still today.

Boon Lawn, I think this is just the cutest drying rack for baby products. The "grass" is perfect for holding all the bottle parts. They also make "flowers" that you can add on and hang things off of them to dry. I am so happy that we have this because it's better to have all baby stuff together. It also is easy to maintain and clean.
Boppy Pillow, When you are breastfeeding, this is a mommy's best friend. However, I still continue to use this pillow as a way to either rest him on or use to lean on. As he gets older we can use as a little sit for him so he's not always laying flat.
Tommee Tippee bottles, I personally really like these bottles. The design is great, the nipple flow works good, and Easton seems to enjoy them. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until Easton developed colic. I still have them to use when he gets a little older. I may even purchase some of the "anti colic" bottles that they now have, they are just on the pricer side.
Aden + Anais swaddles, These muslin blankets are great. They are lightweight and breathable so that baby doesn't get too hot, but is still warm when you have them wrapped up.
Halo SleepSack, When you don't know how to swaddle with a blanket, these sleep sacks are the way to go. You also can rest easy knowing that your newborn won't magically unwrap their swaddle and have their face covered by a blanket. They still feel secure and work great for those cold nights.
Medela Manual Breast Pump, I say don't waste your money right away buying a breast pump until after you know if you will be able to continue breast feeding after leaving the hospital. I only was able to breast feed the first month, so I am extremely happy I didn't spend over 300 dollars on a pump. The manuals still work just as good, it is just annoying to have to sit there and do it yourself. You also need to pay attention to make sure you don't leak every where. Overall, I really liked using this pump.
Medela Contact Nipple Shield, I was giving one of these at the hospital awhile I was still getting used to feeding, and Easton was KILLING my nipples. I really liked using this, however you want to try your best to have baby suck directly on you or you will have to use every time.
Bamboobies, Your nipples are extremely sensitive at first and leaking, I really liked using these. They were a life saver.
Graco Swing & Rocker, This swing is a MUST on your registry. It really does its job, and really helps with keeping newborn calm and relaxed. We would just let Easton takes naps and hang out in it. He really likes it.
Advent Pacifier, I wasn't sure if I wanted to give Easton pacifiers, and luckily he isn't dependent on them. The nurses gave him one without asking me first (and they are luck I was going to use them anyway). Out of all the pacifiers we bought or were given, these are the only ones Easton will use. I think the design of the nipple is just a lot better for newborns and aren't huge like some others. He only uses it at bedtime and sometimes to calm him down when he gets overwhelmed or tired.
Medela Nipple Cream, I was in so much pain at the hospital and the nurses gave me samples. I really liked this cream and it really helped soothing.
Newborn mittens, All Easton wanted to do is grab his face and scratch. He got himself a couple of times too :/ Until you are comfortable cutting your baby's nails, keep the gloves on. And also until they stop constantly wanting to grab their face, these are the best way to prevent baby from hurting themselves.


Dr. Brown's bottles, Since Easton was developing colic (along with his formula causing problems), I had to purchase different bottles and try them out to see if it helped. Dr. Brown's really do work and their was improvement, however, they have so many parts and leak. The cap doesn't snap completely and when you shake the bottle formula leaks out. I'm sucking it up right now until Easton gets out of this phase, since the bottle itself is working for him.
Playtex Vent Aire bottles, I also purchased these bottles after a fellow mommy told me about them. I also like this bottle and Easton seems to also be doing well with it. I would recommend this bottle over the Dr. Brown's.
Gripe Water, My pediatrician told us to start using this when Easton first started having stomach problems and it works for colic and hiccups. We still use this every day. It really does help get rid of hiccups. It seems to be helping so we will continue to use it.
Gas Relief, Easton also has been having really bad gas (which does not help with his colic) and we also give him this with every bottle and at bedtime.
Baby Saline Spray, My pediatrician told us to use this when Easton seemed to be congested, this is great to use at night right before bed.
Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes, My mother-in-law bought this for Easton and told us it worked great for her other two grandkids. Whenever they were crying or fussy, it would help soothe them. This works with Easton to a point, but if he's past the point of being able to comfort him, we are out of luck. But we do play the music for him during tummy time and I bring this with us every time we leave the house.
Gym Mat, Great for letting his mind work and look at objects, along with doing tummy time. It's a great break from the swing and he can stretch out.
Bouncer, This was a god send when my boss gave me a similar bouncer chair that she wasn't using anymore. Easton LOVES it, and all he does is smile the second I put him in it. I sometimes let him nap in it too. I can have him in the kitchen with me while I'm trying to clean up quick, or in the bedroom while I'm folding laundry. The vibrating chair soothes him right to sleep.
Bath tub, Easton loves bath time and I think he likes this tub. We of course had to get him a spa tub (haha) but it honestly is great and affordable, plus as he grows we can still use it until he doesn't fit in it anymore.
The First Years Sound Machine, Mommy's best friend when your baby was colic or trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep at night. If you keep this in your baby's routine at night, it will work wonders. I am soooo happy we ended up buying this. (SIDENOTE: we bought this the day after the night Easton cried for 5 hours straight)


Thursday, February 13, 2014

Easton's Newborn Photos

I am SO happy with Easton's newborn photographs. I of course would have loved to have taken a thousand different poses, but a newborn doesn't really have much expression besides a sleepy face. I again used Brian + Amanda Photographers since I just love their photographs and the creative they have with newborn shots. That was one of the first reasons I became interested in them. And I am so glad I did. The newborn session was done in our apartment and I could never imagine having to travel to a studio with a newborn (madness I tell you). Brian and Amanda were so great and able to get great shots of Easton in a short amount of time. Easton was great and slept the entire time. I just melt every time I look at these photos and I am just amazed at how tiny he was when he was born. I could not have asked for more from my photographers.


You can see all of Brian and Amanda's amazing work on their Facebook page and website. I am just so happy with how my maternity and newborn photos came out and I truly mean that.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Fashion Week: J.Crew

I just love the looks from the Fall 2014 J.Crew collection. Everything from this collection is so chic and simple, not overworked. I love the mixing of prints and adding pops of bold color. The big chunky scarves along with puffer jackets are great accessories to add to these Fall looks to let you know winter is around the corner. The big floral prints are right on trend for Fall and I can't wait to see more of it (as well as adding it to my wardrobe). See the complete collection here.
*Images via Style.com