Raphael - 1 Year Old

Dear Raphael,

I can't believe that you are a year old. This year has gone by so fast. It's been a wild ride, but we are all so grateful. You complete us.

We had a few challenges, but we overcame them. We never expected that you would make your arrival at 35 weeks. You really gave us a scare when you arrived and when you had to stay in the NICU for a few days. My little prince, you are such a fighter. You are so strong.

You are the sweetest little boy. Everywhere we go, you have a smile on your face. Everyone loves it and always ask us if you are always so happy. Your laugh brings us so much joy. Your father and I love when your older brothers try to make you laugh.

Even though you are only a year old, I love that you and are your brothers are close. They love to play with you. I pray that you and your brothers are always close. I hope the bond that you boys have will always stay strong.

You are doing so well with your physical therapy. Your physical therapist is always surprised and happy when she sees how well you are doing. You're crawling, sitting up, and we can tell that you are going to start walking very soon.

I've been reflecting so much over the past few days. There's so much to look back on this past year. The beginning was an emotional time for me. I will admit that there were days when I cried. I was so worried because you came early. I thought I did something wrong even though the doctors said that I didn't. I felt like I failed to protect you. We took you to the doctor so many times that you might as well say that the doctor's office was our second home. Honestly, I think I was just worried because you were a preemie. This year was definitely a learning experience for me.

When I look back on this past year, I think about how much you've grown. I think about how much joy and love you have brought into our lives. We have made so many wonderful memories as a family. We have enjoyed watching you experience things for the first time. I think that may be one of my favorite things. Watching you experience things for the first time has been amazing. The way your eyes light up when you see something for the first time. Whether you're trying new foods, playing with a new toy, or exploring someplace new...I can't tell you how much it brings me joy that I get to watch you experience new things and make new memories.

It is truly an honor to be your mommy. I'm so glad that you are in our lives and I'm grateful that you are my son. I can't wait to celebrate more milestones and birthdays.

Happy birthday my wild boy, my sweet prince, my little man. We love you so much.

Raphael - 9 Months

Happy Tuesday! It's been a while since I posted an update about Raphael. I meant to post this a couple of weeks ago, but better late than never.

I can't believe that he's already 9 months old (he'll be 10 months soon)! In just a few months he will be a year old!

Size: I can't believe how much my baby has grown. Raphael is still continuing to gain weight. At his last appointment, he weighed a little over 17 pounds. His length/height is 26 inches. He's wearing 6-9 and 9 month sized clothing and is in size 3 diapers!

Sleep: Raphael still wakes up at least once during the night to feed. However, for the past few days he's woken up at least twice during the night. I think he might have a cold and I think it's been making him a bit fussy.

Loves: He loves playing with his brothers. It's so cute how much they love spending time with one another. Michael and Gabriel just adore their little brother so much. Raphael also loves to eat! Everyone is amazed when they see how much he's grown and how much he loves to eat. He loves to meet new people, but is hesitant when someone new wants to hold him. He also loves bath time. I think it's one of his favorite parts of the day.

Dislikes: He hates waiting for his food. He can be very impatient. I wonder where he got that from? He hates being strapped into anything. If he's in his high chair, he'll get excited when he sees his food. He gets upset when he's in his stroller, but once it gets moving...he gets so excited. I think he just loves being in motion.

Things I Want To Remember:

• His babbling and how he tries to "talk" to us.

• His laughter and squeals.

• How his eyes light up when he sees his brothers. It melts my heart seeing all three of them together. Cuteness overload!

• Our little adventures at Target and the grocery store.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Raphael - 6 Months

I can't believe Raphael is now 6 months old! My plan was to make an update every month on the blog, but I think I'm going to make updates every couple of months.

Size: Raphael is continuing to gain weight. We were taking him every two weeks or so for weight checks. His doctor was so happy with his latest weight check. He is now 13 pounds and his length/height is 24.5 in. Raphael is wearing 3-6 months clothing and is in size 2 diapers.

Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is still going well and it's still Raphael's primary source of food. He still gets two bottles of fortified breastmilk. We also started solids! Raphael has tried baby cereal, applesauce, and banana (baby food).

Sleep: Raphael is still sleeping more at night, but he does wake up at least once during the night. I am also still pumping at night.

Loves: He still loves bath time. He loves playing with his toys and brothers. We bought Raphael the Fisher Price Sit Me Up Floor Seat and he likes it. It's one of my favorite baby purchases.

Dislikes: He still dislikes the car seat and not being in motion. He hates when we take too long to feed him.

Things I Want To Remember:

• We started solids! We tried baby cereal, applesauce, and bananas.

• The face he made when he tried baby food for the first time.

• He is babbling and cooing even more!

• His first Fall and Halloween event! We went to his brothers' fall festival and we had a blast. 

• His costume is Max from Where the Wild Things Are.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Bringing Raphael Home

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that being a mom can be so freaking scary. I guess you could say that I'm a natural worrier. Sometimes I overthink stuff and I tend to think of worst case scenarios when I have to make a decision, but isn't that "normal"?

Most people just assume that since Raphael is my third son that I know everything there is to know about being a mother and parenting. However, this time is different. My two oldest sons were full term babies and Raphael came five weeks early. He is considered a late preterm baby. Raphael had some feeding issues and jaundice so he had to stay in the NICU. When I was told that I was being discharged and he was staying in the hospital, I felt like someone just ripped my heart out. I felt light headed and out of breath. Walking out of that hospital without my baby was one of the hardest things that I ever had to do. That first night being home without Raphael was brutal. I don't talk about that night, but I can tell you that I cried so hard. A million thoughts and questions ran through my head.

"What if he bonds with one of the nurses and thinks that she's his mommy?"

"What if he doesn't remember who I am?"

"What if he gets scared?"

"What will we tell his big brothers?"

Some of those thoughts may seem a bit silly, but it's what I felt. Thankfully, we had amazing NICU nurses. They always kept me up to date and were so incredibly kind. I called almost every hour. I went multiple times a day to the NICU to visit Raphael and bring breast milk. And it was so hard to leave every time.

Raphael stayed in the NICU for about four days. When we were finally told that we could bring him home, my heart felt like it was going to burst. I was so excited and couldn't stop smiling. We watched videos, like how to do CPR on babies and we showed the nurses his carseat.

Then when it was finally time to leave, I stopped dead in my tracks. I remember just looking at Raphael and being so worried and afraid. One of the nurses noticed and asked me what was wrong. Once again a million thoughts ran through my head, but this time I blurted them out.

"He's coming home!"

"He's so tiny. Are you sure he's ready?"

"What if I mess this up?"

The nurses immediately comforted me and told me that I could take my time. They even offered us to room in for the night. We decided not to and after my nerves settled down, we finally decided that it was time to go home with Raphael.

Once we got home, we settled in before John went to pick up Michael and Gabriel from my mami's house. We had a very eventful night and I barely slept. I smiled and realized that a new adventure was beginning.

Raphael is now five months old and he is doing so well. He is gaining weight and growing. I love seeing how he is changing and developing. There were a few days where I would worry, but everything has been okay. Bringing Raphael home was quite the adventure. I'm looking forward to the days ahead and experiencing new adventures as a family of five.


Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Raphael - 3 Months

Oh my goodness! Raphael is now 15 weeks old! I can't believe that he will be 4 months old soon! I'm a bit late on giving an update on him, but better late than never.

Size: Raphael is about 10 pounds. He's still wearing size 0-3 clothes and is also wearing size 3 clothes as well. He is also still wearing size 1 diapers.

Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is going very well. Raphael is still eating every 2-3 hours. I'm also still pumping milk. He is still doing much better from his reflux.

Sleep: He is starting to sleep more at night and is awake for longer stretches of time during the day. It looks like he is starting to have a schedule.

Loves: He still loves bath time. He loves sleeping on me and John. He loves his brothers! He always smile when his brothers make funny faces and talk to him.

Dislikes: He still dislikes the same things as last month. He's not a fan of getting out of the bath. He really doesn't like his car seat. It seems like he hates being strapped in anything. He still likes/dislikes Tummy Time, but is definitely getting used to it.

Things I Want To Remember:

• His first 4th of July

• How much he is growing

• Michael and Gabriel's excitement when they check on Raphael. 

• All the faces that Raphael makes. 

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Raphael - 2 Months

My goodness...another month has passed by. Little man is now 10 weeks old so I thought it was time to give you all an update on how he is doing.

Size: Raphael is 8 lbs 4.5 oz and I'm so excited that he is gaining weight. He's now wearing size 0-3 clothes and is in size 1 diapers!

Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is going well. He is eating every 2-3 hours, but I do think that he might be going through a growth spurt.

I'm also still pumping milk since he has to take one bottle of fortified breastmilk. I've also been pumping to store some milk for the future.

Sleep: We don't really have a schedule, but he is sleeping so much better at night. He wakes up maybe 2-3 times a night.

Loves: He loves bath time and he still loves everything else from month 1.

Dislikes: He hates being cold, being taken out of the bath, and hates getting his nose suctioned.

*I think he also likes, but dislikes his pacifier as well as tummy time.*

Places He's Been: Target, Walmart, Publix, and Babies R Us.

Things I Want to Remember:

• He is smiling so much!

• He is cooing a lot.

• Michael and Gabriel love helping me with their little brother. My boys are so sweet. 

• He is starting to become more alert.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

May Designs Newborn Notes Journal

Happy Wednesday! A few weeks ago, I briefly mentioned that I received a May Designs Newborn Notes Journal and promised that I would post a full review. Today, I am going to share that review.

I've said it before and I will say it again- I am a huge fan of May Designs. I was so excited when I found out that they have a Newborn Notes Journal as well as a Pregnancy Journal.  This journal is amazing and I love that you can customize the cover.

The Newborn Notes Journal has a section where you can put your baby's first footprints as well as his or her height, weight, and date of birth. There is also a section where you can put information about the pediatrician and check-ups. There are several different prompts in the journal such as Hospital Memories, Baby's Homecoming, and Birth Story.

The journal contains many pages to keep track of a newborn's feeding schedule, wet/dirty diapers, and sleep schedule. Keeping track of a baby's feeding schedule is so important. When I was in the hospital, I received a few sheets of feeding and pumping logs to keep track of my son's feedings. However, I wanted a book where I could keep track of all this information as well as have a place to list any concerns or questions that I may have for his doctor. I think having this journal makes it so much easier to track all of the information and it's so much more organized. You don't have to worry about losing papers and the journal is so cute.

Check out the images below for a look at the prompts and feeding logs.

This journal has been incredibly useful. I have been taking this journal with me to Raphael's doctor appointments. Whenever his pediatrician asks about his feeding schedule, amounts of wet/dirty diapers, and sleep schedule, I just show her the journal. There's so much to keep track of when you have a newborn and I'm all for products that makes things easy. And May Designs has definitely made things just a bit easier with this journal.

I highly recommend the Newborn Notes Journal from May Designs. You can check out all of their products here.

Have you used a journal to keep track of your baby's feeding schedule? 

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Disclaimer: I received the May Designs Newborn Notes Journal complimentary for review, but all opinions are my own.
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Raphael - 1 Month

Wow a little over a month with our sweet boy has already passed! The past month has been emotional  and we are all just feeling so lucky and blessed to have Raphael in our lives.

John was able to take 2 weeks off of work to stay with us. My mami has been amazing. She's made us  meals and has helped so much.

One of my favorite photos of him

Nicknames: Raph, Raphi, Sweet Boy, Mi Nino

Size: Raphael is slowly gaining weight. At his one month appointment, he weighed 5 lbs and 7 oz so he is now past his birth weight. I'm really happy about this because I was worried about his weight and how much he was eating. His preemie clothes are getting a bit snug and he is starting to fit in his newborn clothes. He is also still wearing newborn diapers.

Eating: Raphael is primarily breastfed, but he does take one bottle of fortified breastmilk (breastmilk and formula). He has to take a bottle of fortified breastmilk because he was born early and had some trouble with feeding. However, he is starting to eat a lot more which is great.

Sleep: He is doing so much better with sleeping at night.

Loves: He loves sleeping on John's chest and he loves laying on me. He loves looking at his brothers.

Dislikes: Raphael is not a fan of baths or being cold. He also doesn't like getting his diaper changed.

Things I Want To Remember: 

• He's already spit up, peed, and pooped on me. 

• His facial expressions are just so cute!

• He is such a sweet baby. He loves cuddles from John, his brothers, and I.

• He is strong...it runs in the familia.

• Raphael makes the cutest sounds and noises. 

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...
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A Collection of My Favorite Parenting Memes

I love memes especially the funny ones. I have found so many new parenting memes that I love. Now that I have a newborn again, I thought it'd be fun to share a few of my favorite memes. I even included a few that made me remember when my older sons were toddlers. Check out the memes below.

I love this meme so much! I think I might have to write this down in my journal or frame this near my craft/work area. 

This meme has always been one of my favorite parenting memes. 

I have done this so many times. In fact, I did this yesterday while I was talking to my mami. 

I always feel bad when I see a mom or dad with a screaming baby or toddler in the store. I definitely know how it feels. I'm also that person that will defend parents from people who has something to say about a baby or toddler screaming in the store. Seriously, no one wants to hear a kid screaming...especially the parents. Give the parents a break and understand that babies and toddlers will scream and cry...sometimes for the most random reason.

I have also done this so many times. 

I'm always exhausted after putting my boys to bed. Then I have to decide whether to go to sleep or try to catch up on a show or two. Usually, I end up choosing to go to sleep.

This is also something that I have done several times especially when Michael and Gabriel were younger...except it wasn't Frozen that I was watching...it was Jake and the Never Land Pirates.

Yes! Yes! Yes! This is so important! So many people don't realize that you have to take care of yourself in order to take care of your kids. 

This is so true. 

What are some of your favorite memes?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

My Favorite Maternity and Nursing Products

I can't believe that Raphael is 3 weeks old! Over the past few weeks (and even before Raphael was born), I have been loving several maternity and nursing products. Some of these products were recommended to us and some I found on my own through research. These products have become my favorite maternity products and I thought it'd be great to share them with you.


1. Gilligan & O'Malley Women's Nursing Seamless Bra (2 Pack)

Oh my goodness! These bras are amazing! Even if you are not nursing, these nursing bras are perfect! They fit very well and the fabric is so soft. Even though the bras are labeled as sleep bras, they are great for wearing during the day.

2. Boobease Organic Healing Nipple Balm

This balm has been a lifesaver for me. I love that it's organic and you don't have to wash the balm off when it's time to feed your baby. It's also not sticky and it works fast. It is a bit pricey, but it's so worth it.

3. Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump Starter Set

I heard great things about the Medela pumps and after doing a lot of research, I decided I wanted one. After hearing about some insurance plans that either cover (or partially cover) the cost of a breast pump, I decided to contact my insurance and find out which pumps they cover. Luckily, they did partially cover the Medela pumps and I only had to pay just a small amount of money for the pump.

4. Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads

These nursing pads are really great. They are very absorbent and stay in place very well. I can't even tell that I have them on. I highly recommend these nursing pads.

5. May Designs Newborn Notes Journal

Whether you are breastfeeding or giving your baby formula, it is so important to keep track of how much your baby is eating as well as the time of day that your baby is eating. It's also important to keep track of how many wet and dirty diapers your baby has throughout the day. When I was in the hospital, I received a few sheets of pumping and feeding logs to keep track of my son's feeding. However, I wanted a book where I could keep track of my baby's feeding schedule.

I have been a fan of May Designs for a while and was so excited when I found out that they have a Newborn Notes Journal. This journal is awesome and I love that I can customize the cover. The journal includes so many useful things like different journaling prompts (i.e. Hospital Memories, Birth Story, etc.) and of course pages to keep track of a newborn's feeding schedule and wet/dirty diapers.

*I'll be posting a full review of this journal soon.*

What are some of your maternity and/or nursing must have products?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

*Disclaimer: I received the May Designs Newborn Notes Journal in exchange for a review, but all opinions are my own.*

Introducing Baby Raphael

Happy Monday! I'm back...well kind of. I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks because baby Raphael has arrived! April 9 has been added to our list of the best days of our lives.

My family and I are so very excited that Raphael is here. I still can't believe that he came 5 weeks early! I had a feeling that he would come early, but I never thought that it would be this early. The day before Raphael was born, I remember telling John that I could not wait for our little angel to arrive...and here we are.

I'm hoping to get a chance to work on his birth story soon especially since I never did write a second or third trimester update. Until then, check out my Instagram for more updates.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...
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Babies R Us Great Trade-In Event

Hooray! It's here! The Babies R Us Great Trade-In Event finally started! You guys have no idea how excited we were for this event.

For every eligible baby gear or furniture item that you trade in, you will receive a 25% off coupon for the purchase of a new item. If you have a "R" Us credit card, then you will receive a 30% off coupon for the purchase of a new item. Also if you do not have an item to trade in then you can get 15% off any one baby item with the coupon. This year, Babies R Us is even allowing customers to receive 25% off eligible clothing purchase if customers donate gently used baby clothing.

Below are the baby gear and furniture items that you can trade in:

• Bassinets
• Bouncers
• Car Seats
• Car Seat bases
• Cribs
• Crib/Toddler mattresses
• Entertainers
• High chairs
• Infant seats
• Infant swings
• Jumpers
• Playards
• Strollers
• Toddler/twin beds
• Travel Systems
• Walkers

On Friday, John and I decided to trade in some items. We traded in two convertible car seats and purchased the travel system that we wanted as well as a nursery center (playard). The playard that we purchased comes with a mattress pad, full size removable bassinet, changing table, and an electronic soother. In addition to using the 25% coupon on each of the baby gear, we were able to stack our 15% off completion coupon (from our baby registry) on every item that we purchased on that day. So we basically got 40% off our travel system and the playard. 

There was also a really good baby sale going on that was not related to the trade in event. If you make a $75 baby purchase (i.e. diapers, wipes, etc.) then you can receive a $20 Babies R Us gift card. We bought two boxes of The Honest Company diapers, two boxes of Babyganics wipes which were already buy 1, get 1 50% off, and two packs of Pampers Swaddlers diapers. We used several coupons on the baby items and we also received 15% each item that was purchased. 

We saved almost $300 and only spent a little over $500! Since every item we purchased was on our baby registry, we will also receive cash back about 12 weeks after our baby's arrival. 

If you or someone you know is currently expecting a baby, I highly recommend that you check out the trade in event and take advantage of all the baby registry benefits that Babies R Us offers.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

*This is not a sponsored post. I just really love Babies R Us and I was so excited with how much we saved and thought it would be great to pass on some information.*

Buy Buy Baby Registry Gift Bag

The past couple of weeks, I have been sharing the items that I received in my baby registry gift bags. You can check the Babies R Us registry gift bag here and the Target baby registry gift bag here. Today I'm excited to share what I received in my Buy Buy Baby registry gift bag.

It was my first time going to Buy Buy Baby so I was really excited to see the store. I was really impressed with all of the things that I saw in the store. There were several products that I saw that are not available at Target or Babies R Us. Making a baby registry was really easy and I loved that Buy Buy Baby has registry consultants that are available to help you with any questions. Another really cool thing that I found out is that many Buy Buy Baby locations has a Picture People studio! You can get professional portraits and the photos will be ready on the same day. You can find out more about Buy Buy Baby here.

Below is a list of things that I received in my Buy Buy Baby registry gift bag:

• Chicco Natural Fit pacifier (Size 0m+)

• Chicco Natural Fit disposable nursing pads

• MAM pacifier (Newborn size)

• Lansinoh sample (2 disposable nursing pads and 2 breastmilk storage bags)

• 2 samples of Boogie Wipes

• Sample of Aveeno Baby Lotion (1 fl oz)

• Sample of Noodle & Boo hair and body wash

• Sample of Noodle & Boo lotion

• 2 Seventh Generation Free & Clear diapers

• 2 Honest Company diapers (Size 1)

• Honest Company wipes (10 count)

• Baby on Board window sign

Coupons

• $1 off Aveeno Baby product

• $2 off a $10 or more purchase of MAM products

• 20% off a single item at Buy Buy Baby

• $10 off Babyganics essentials gift set

• 10% off Philips Avent bottle warmer or steam sterilizer

• $3 off any Philips Avent multi-pack of bottles

• 50 cents off any Philips Avent trainer cup

• 20% off portrait purchase by Picture People

• Free Maternity Portrait by Picture People

• $20 for 25 birth announcements

• $20 credit towards a purchase at Shutterfly

I also received a baby registry book that has information on lots of must haves for a baby and a Fit Pregnancy and Baby magazine. I really love the baby registry book because there was a lot of useful information like a registry checklist, recommendations on the amount of things to get for the baby, tips on picking specific items, additional guides and more advice for mothers who are preparing for their second baby (or third, etc.).

Even though Buy Buy Baby is a bit of a drive for me, I definitely plan on shopping there for my baby. Overall, I was very impressed with what I found at Buy Buy Baby as well as the items and coupons that were in the baby registry gift bag.

Do you have a Buy Buy Baby in your area? 

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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Babies R Us Baby Registry Gift Bag

A little over two weeks ago, I shared a post about the Target baby registry gift bag that I received so today I thought it would be fun to share the Babies R Us baby registry gift bag. Before I get to the gift bag, I'd like to note how easy it was to make a registry at Babies R Us. Babies R Us has registry consultants that can help you with any questions on baby products that you may have. They even have baby registry events where consultants show you how products like strollers, swings, and car seats work.

Below is a list of things that I received in my Babies R Us baby registry gift bag:

• Philips Avent Pacifier (Size 0-6 months)

• MAM anti colic bottle (4.5 oz)

• Sample of Draft Blissfuls In-Wash Scent Booster

• Sample of Babyganics sunscreen

• Kiinde Twist Direct-Pump Breast Milk Collection, Storage, and Feeding System Sample Kit

• Small Pampers clutch with 1 newborn diaper and 6 Pampers Sensitive wipes

Coupons

• $1 off coupon for Babyganics purchase of $4.99 or more

• $1.50 off coupon on any 2 Philips Avent pacifiers

• 2 $5 off coupons on one Pampers box of diapers and one Pampers value box of wipes

• 2 25% off coupons on any 1 Kiinde item

• 2 $5 off coupons on a baby purchase of $25 or more at Babies R Us

• 2 $25 credit towards a purchase at Shutterfly

• Pampers coupon booklet filled with coupons for diapers, wipes, and other baby products

I also received a bunch of pamphlets with information on some baby brands and products. I loved that they included a Registry Guide book and a book with information on caring for a baby (i.e. feeding, swaddling, sleep, crying, tummy time, milestones, etc.).

This was a great baby registry gift bag. If you ever need to make a baby registry, I recommend that you make one at Babies R Us.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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Seventh Generation Baby Sample Kit

Happy Thursday! At the beginning of this year, I became aware of Seventh Generation and their products. You may remember this post I made about the Seventh Generation Healthy Baby Home Party box that I received. Today, I'm excited to share that I received a small box with a few goodies including a sample of their new Coconut Care lotion.

Seventh Generation is a brand that strives to make plant-based products that are safe and effective. I love that they are sustainably sourced and they are a certified B corporation. You can find out more about Seventh Generation here.

Below are the products that I received in my sample kit.

• 2 Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers (Size 2 diapers)

• Sample of 2 Free & Clear Wipes

• Sample of new Seventh Generation Coconut Care moisture lotion

• Coupons for diapers, wipes, and coconut care products

Seventh Generation Free & Clear diapers does not have chlorine bleaching, lotions, or fragrances. Their free & clear wipes are also fragrance free and does not contain alcohol, parabens, and phenoxyethanol. I loved that they included the ingredients on the packet of wipes. The coconut care line includes moisture lotion, foaming shampoo and wash, and diaper cream. The coconut care line is made with pure coconut oil. It contains no sulfates, phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde donors, mineral oil or petrolatum. 

I can't wait to try these products. The designs on the diapers are adorable and I have heard such great things about products made with coconut oil so I can't wait to try out the coconut care collection.

Have you tried Seventh Generation products?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...


*I received this Seventh Generation baby sample kit for free, but all opinions are my own.*

Target Baby Registry Gift Bag

Everyone knows that babies need a lot of stuff. Since I found out that I am having my third son, I basically have to start all over again. My two boys are 7 and 5 so as you can imagine, we do not have any baby items. John and I decided to make a few baby registries at a couple of our favorite stores. We made a registry at Target and Babies R Us. We also plan on making a registry at Buy Buy Baby.

One of the perks of making a baby registry at Target, Babies R Us, and Buy Buy Baby is that you get to receive a baby registry gift bag that is filled with products and coupons. You also get a completion discount that ranges from 10% to 20%. We are not sure if we want to have a baby shower this time, but we still decided to make a registry because a lot of the coupons are actually pretty good and the completion discount/coupon is a great deal.

Below is a list of the items that I received in my Target baby registry gift bag:

• Reusable Target tote bag

• Mam pacifier (Newborn size)

• NUK pacifier (Size 0-6 months)

• Aveeno Baby daily moisture lotion (1 fl oz)

• Baby Dove wash (1.8 fl oz)

• Sample of Palmer's Cocoa butter skin therapy oil

• Philips Avent 4 oz bottle

• Lansinoh Sample (2 nursing pads and 2 breastmilk storage bags)

• Sample of Babyganics diaper (Size 1 diaper)

• Sample of Aquaphor healing ointment 

• Small Pampers clutch with 1 Newborn size diaper and 6 Pampers Sensitive wipes

• 2 Honest Company Size 1 diapers 
• There was supposed to be a pack of 10 wipes in the small box, but it was not there.*

Coupons

• BOGO Target Starbucks beverage

• 10% off a nursing bra and/or cami purchase

• 10% off Maternity apparel purchase

• 20% off Cloud Island baby item

• $1 off coupon for Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil

• $5 off 1 Boppy Total Body Pillow

• $1 off any 1 Baby Dove product

• $1.50 off any 1 Aquaphor healing ointment for baby

• $5 off a purchase of Babyganics diapers box (priced at $24.99 or higher)

• $5 off coupon for Munchkin STEP diaper pail

• $2 off Philips Avent multi-pack of bottles

• $.75 off any Philips Avent pacifier pack

• $10 off when you spend $35 on Honest Beauty products

• $25 off any Honest Product when you purchase $50 or more

The Target baby registry bag is my favorite registry bag. I plan to use all of the items that are in the bag. I'm really excited about the Cloud Island coupon. Cloud Island is Target's new exclusive baby brand and their products are just so adorable. You can check the collection here. I'm also excited about the Honest Company's $25 off $50 purchase. I have never tried the Honest Company products so I can't wait to try the diapers and wipes.

This was such a great baby registry bag. If you ever need to make a baby registry, I highly recommend that you make one at Target.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

First Trimester Recap

In just a few days, I will be 16 weeks pregnant and I am so happy that I am now in my second trimester! I am so excited to finally share a recap of my first trimester.

*The picture isn't so great, but I thought I'd share a first "baby bump" photo. I'm currently 15 weeks pregnant in this photo.*

How we found out: I remember I took a test a few days before I expected my period and the test was negative. I decided to try again on the actual day that I should have gotten it and was surprised to see a faint line. I immediately called John and asked him what he thought. He immediately said "That's a line! We're pregnant!" I was a bit shocked so I told him I was going back to the grocery store to buy another test. When I came home, I took the test and it was positive!

Symptoms: The first week I felt completely fine...actually I felt very energized and was exercising a lot. I started to feel sick and exhausted the next week. It was so weird to go from being energized to being so sleepy and nauseous. I also had a bit of heartburn.

We did have a bit of a scare when I was around 8 weeks pregnant. I had a cold, but my entire body was in pain to the point that it kind of hurt to move so we decided to go to the hospital. When I got to the hospital, they checked to see if I had the flu and I asked if they could check to see if the baby was ok. Thank goodness the baby was doing just fine. We got to hear the baby's heart beat and I didn't have the flu. Apparently, I had a really bad cold and I was dehydrated even though I had been drinking a lot of water.

Cravings: In the beginning, I wasn't really craving anything since I've been dealing with morning sickness. Drinking water even made me feel sick.

I've been eating a lot of fruit...mainly pineapple and strawberries. Luckily, the morning sickness is starting to get better. I haven't had any soda in a long time which is great.

How we announced our pregnancy: We waited a few days before telling my mother. Then I told one of my close friends. We decided to wait to tell everyone else until a few weeks after having our first ultrasound (we waited until I was 12 weeks pregnant).

And that's my first trimester recap. I plan on sharing a recap for my second and third trimester as well.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Our Baby Gender Reveal Story

Hello! We have some exciting news to share! Are you ready? We are so excited to announce that we are having a boy! That's right...we are going to have our third baby boy! We are so happy to be welcoming another little boy to our family!

Our Baby Gender Reveal Story

At my last appointment, my doctor asked me if I wanted to get a blood test done to check genetics. She also told me that the test would also reveal the gender of the baby, but that I could tell them not to tell me. I decided to do the blood test and John and I decided that we would like to know the gender of our baby as well.

A little over a week had passed so I decided to call my doctor to see if the results were in. I was so excited when she told me that the results were great. Then she asked me if I wanted to know the gender and I told her yes. She said "It's a boy!"

When John came home from work, I told him about the results of the blood test. Then I told him that I found out the gender of the baby. When I told him that we were having a boy, he was happy and surprised. He actually thought we were having a girl. I was a bit surprised as well because I thought we were having a girl. This pregnancy has been a bit different compared to when I was pregnant with my two older boys. However, a few days before finding out the results, I had a few dreams that we were having a boy which made me start leaning towards boy.

John and I told our boys that they are going to have a baby brother and they were also surprised, but also very excited. They also thought that the baby was a girl. Since we have told them that they are going to have a brother, they have been trying to come up with baby names. Seeing my boys so excited is just melting my heart and I can't wait until the boys meet their little brother.

Here's to you little man! We are so excited to meet you!

*Be on the lookout for my first trimester recap in the next few days.*

Thanks for visiting and being so excited for us!

Until next time...

Life Lately + A Special Announcement!

SURPRISE!!!!

If you follow me on Instagram, then you may have seen my pregnancy announcement on Halloween. John, our boys, and I are so incredibly excited. We can't wait to meet our little bundle of joy.

Lately, I haven't been blogging because I have been dealing with morning sickness and I've been really exhausted. I'm starting to feel a bit better, but some days the nausea is really bad. Since I am starting to feel a bit more energized, I plan to blog a bit more.

I will be sharing a first trimester recap in the next few days (or maybe early next week). Thank you all for being excited and for all of the kind messages that we have received in the past few days.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...