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

Fashion Week: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Anyone who knows me at all, knows how obsessed I am with Marc Jacobs. I have to say it was a little sad watching the end of the runway show and not seeing his handsome self walk out onto the runway. However, I have to say that Luella Bartley and Katie Hillier did a fantastic job. It was all about the girls (and there's nothing wrong with that). In the past Marc also had male models on the runway. I have to say I didn't really miss them that much this year. What I love most about MBMJ shows are how they are a little theatrical in how the looks are styled. The overall feeling I got from this collection is Tokyo high fashion meets menswear with a feminine touch. It might not be my favorite collection from the brand but it's not the worst either. Some of the looks were a little out there (even for me) but I just enjoyed watching this show (online) so much. You can see the entire collection here.
*Images via Style.com

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

My Maternity Photos

I'm so excited to finally be able to share my maternity and newborn photos. I would have had them sooner, however the maddness of having a newborn has taken over my life. I really enjoyed my experience with both maternity and newborn sessions and think that if you have the opportunity to do it during your pregnancy and when you little one is born-go for it! My greatest piece of advice is to make sure your photographers are personable and professional. My photographers, Brian + Amanda Photographers, were everything I hoped they'd be. I worked with them for both sessions and I'm happy that I did. Especially since they actually care about the client and their little one. Being a new mommy and a newborn is tough stuff, you shouldn't get stressed and overwhelmed when you are trying to create memories. They are also very creative when it comes to newborn poses and that's one of the main reasons why I chose them. You can see my newborn photos in my post here.

My maternity session was done when I was 32 weeks pregnant, and I'm happy I didn't wait to do it later than that because walking on the beach was exhausting. I liked the fact that Brian was fast and got the shots done quickly (I knew it was to make sure we had enough daylight, but hey being pregnant is tiring) He made us feel comfortable and not feel stupid when we were posing. I am so happy that we picked to have them done at Laguna Beach, and the photos came out amazing! It's bittersweet for me taking them at the beach since me and my husband are both New Yorkers who met and fell in love in California.


I am so happy with my experience with Brian + Amanda Photographers. They take high quality photographs and they know exactly what they are doing. There is not one shot I did not approve of. You can check out their work on their Facebook page and find out more information on their website.
Now I just need to finish hanging all my pictures up!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Fashion Week: Kate Spade New York

I am actually surprised to say that I was impressed with this collection. When I think of Kate Spade, I do not automatically associate them with clothing. I know them for their handbags and accessories. I heard that the company has been undergoing internal changes and I like it. I love that this collection is filled with bold colors, and prints, with hints of sequins and fur. The silhouettes are very clean, chic, and feminine. See the entire collection here.