New Mom Care Package Gift Idea + Free Printable

I already shared my recipe to my Amazing Dark Chocolate Lactation Cookies earlier this week and now I'm back to share how I packaged up this yummy new mommy treat with a care package full of my favorite postpartum/newborn things.

Let's be real, the 3-4 weeks after the baby is born are overwhelming. No matter how many kids you've had and how many times you've done it, newborns are weird little creatures that literally suck the life right out of you. They are amazing and adorable too, don't get me wrong. But I've always wondered why none of the moms I knew warned me about postpartum.

Oh sure, everyone shares their bloody birth stories, but no one says - "Oh, by the way, you'll have to wear mesh underpants with frozen maxi pads strapped to your nether-regions for at least a week afterward, all while continuing to bleed, and learn how to nurse your newborn on little to no sleep, while you sweat for no apparent reason. Good luck!" Nope, no one said that to me once!

So, if you know soon-to-be first-time mom, give her a little heads up. Don't scare her, but let her know that postpartum isn't a Saturday afternoon picnic at the beach and she might want to reconsider being induced a week early and keep that baby inside for just a little longer. Then, put together a little care package for that new mama to enjoy that will make those first few postpartum weeks a little less overwhelming.

Like I mentioned before, a friend of mine recently had her second set of twins and I made her the yummy dark chocolate lactation cookies to help keep her milk supply up. I packaged them in sets of two in the square zipper snack bags from Walmart and then I added a cute little sticker to the front to cute them up!

I'm sharing the cute cookie printable sticker with you so that you can package them up nice cute as a gift for a friend too. They come eight to a page and they are the perfect size for the square snack zipper baggies. You could make them into a cut file and let your Silhouette or Cricut cut them out for you, but I just cut them out by hand.

Then, it's time to put together a box of your favorite postpartum/newborn/baby things that will make life a little more pleasant for the new mama. I love it when another mom shares a favorite product that saved her life during those first weeks home with a newborn. So, I find a lot of joy in gifting the things that I love to a new mommy.

Back when Grace was born I shared 15 Products Every Mom Needs and I included some of them in the gift box for my friend. I think that everything I included in this new mama gift box comes from that list.

In the gift box I included:

1. HoMedics MyBaby Soundspa On-the-Go

If you use a white noise machine in the baby's room, then this is a must! We all know that unless you're the first baby, most likely you're taking most of your naps on the go. This lets you take the comforting sounds of home with you wherever you need to go.

2. Carter's Just One You Burpcloths

The adorable burpcloths catch all the spit that happens. They have a cute jersey knit print on one side and absorbent terry cloth on the other. They are soft, cute and functional.

3. Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads

If you're nursing a baby, you need these. They are amazing and will save your poor, sore nipples. Yep, I just said nipples.

4. The First Years Nipple Butter

Yep, I just said nipple again. Did you know that if you have a wool allergy or sensitivity that lanolin won't help your sore nipple problems because it's made from sheep's wool? True story. Nipple Butter is a plant based balm that contains essential milk proteins and contains no mineral oil. You're welcome.

5. ergobaby Original Swaddler

I still swear by swaddling. Since babies aren't supposed to sleep on their tummies due to the increased risk of SIDS, swaddling is really the only way a newborn will stay asleep for more than 10 minutes. Also, a true story. Let me give you the deets on why - since I feel so passionately about it.

WHY SWADDLE?

The safest position for a baby to sleep is on her back, but newborns have a built in reflex called the Moro Reflex (aka startle reflex) - read more about it here. It makes sleeping for longer than like 10 minutes pretty hard for a newborn unless you're holding her the entire time. Also, a true story.

So the ergobaby Swaddler - unlike the burrito method with a plain blanket- swaddles the baby with her arms in the "hands to heart" position instead of down by her side. It also has a hip positioner strap to keep her legs in the ergonomic "frog-leg" position and helps avoid hip dysplasia.

So, please don't tell me your baby doesn't like to be swaddled and in the same sentence tell me that she only cat naps for 10-15 minutes. Swaddle your baby with the ergobaby Swaddler and it will change your life. Also, swaddling works best to calm the Moro Reflex if it is introduced at birth. So, if you make it part of your sleep routine, then swaddling will help signal to your newborn that it's time for sleep. So do it. Stop telling me your baby doesn't like to be swaddled. Because I don't believe you.

Sorry, I didn't mean to get up on my swaddling soap box, but it just had to be done.

Now, my friends new twin babies have three older brothers. And there is nothing worse than being the oldest child and everyone is obsessed with the new babies and you feel like no one remembers that you're even around. I'm not speaking from experience at all.

So, whenever I give a postpartum gift, I always include something for the older siblings. It's kind. Just do it. And include some of these Big Brother Stickers from Lil' Luna while you're at it!

So enjoy making the dark chocolate lactation cookies, packaging them with cute stickers, and then putting together a box of your favorite things to gift to a new mama. It will brighter her day - I promise!

Parent's Choice Diapers and Being the Third Baby

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BabyDiapersSavings #CollectiveBias

Hi. This is Grace.
She wants me to tell you all about what it's like being the third baby.
Some people think it's all about late night feedings, diapers, and pacifiers,
but she knows that it's about so much more.

By the third baby mom and dad have wised up a bit and are much more
conscious about prices and products.
Gone are the days when you just buy something because it's cute or popular.
When you're the third baby, mom and dad want value, quality, and savings
all wrapped up into one product.



Enter Parent's Choice private label diapers from Walmart.
They are now more absorbent, have the rad wetness indicator, and will save you
$240 per year versus other national brands.
Find out if your local Walmart that carry the new and improved Parent's Choice diapers
by checking out this list!

When you're the third baby, you have to learn to roll with the punches.
Big brother and sister are busy little people, not to mention a social media mama,
so diaper changes could happen at any place,
at any time, and most of the time and most of the time not at home.
So, we have to make sure the diaper clutch is stocked with diapers at all times.



When you're the third baby, a diaper change can happen on a blanket,
on a park table at the park while waiting for big brother to get out of school!

When you're the third baby, a diaper change can happen while your big sister 

is putting a Merida wig on you so she can involve you in her dress-up extravaganza.

When you're the third baby, a diaper change can happen while you're

still in your jammies at 11:00am and it's time to leave for kindergarten pick-up.

When you're the third baby, a diaper change can happen on your mom's lap

at a media event because that's how we roll.

 When you're the third baby, it also means most days

 you go to kindergarten drop-off in your PJs.

When you're the third baby, you take a lot of naps in your stroller or car seat on your

way to dance or water polo and it feels like you always wake up some place different.

But being the third baby doesn't just mean diaper changes in strange places or naps on the go.

When you're the third baby, it also means you get extra snuggle time with mom

and naps in her arms while big brother and sister are gone to school.

When you're the third baby it means sister bonding time over movie

while mom makes dinner instead of chilling by yourself because there's

no one else around like when your brother was a baby.

When you're the third baby, it also means fun games with your awesome big brother.

He even lets you pull his hair just to hear you giggle!

Being the third baby comes lots of on-the-go diaper changes, 

but it also comes with perks for the baby and the mama.

There is lots and lots of love to go around and never a shortage of people

around that want to hold you.

And there are great money saving products like Parent's Choice diapers from Walmart

to make having a third baby in the home even more awesome than it already is!

So, if you like saving $240 a year, then print your Parent's Choice diapers coupon,

head to your local Walmart, and join the 3 out of 4 moms that agree that

Parent's Choice diapers are better than their current diaper brand of choice.

See for yourself: save money, live better!

Grace Michele Armstrong: The Real {Birth} Story Part Two

Don't miss
{PART ONE of Grace's birth story}

Easter 2014 - sister matchy-matchy Easter dresses

So by 12:30PM on my birthday I was all checked into the hospital,
Isabella was safe with Grandma, my wonderful friends
were going to make sure JT made it from school to Grandma,
and we were ready for the baby party to start.

Except it wasn't going to be much of a party.

Since I was going to have to be induced again, I was worried I was
going to have a repeat of what happened with Isabella.
However, my nurse called my OBGYN and they had a new plan.

(Oh! Along the party lines, I did get popsicles, so that was awesome!
Since my blood sugar was low and I had gestational diabetes,
I got a couple of popsicles with REAL SUGAR to boost it up.)

Instead of just starting pitocin and trying to start labor from nothing,
and it was pretty much nothing -
I was dilated to maybe a 2 and my cervix was high and firm,
they were going to do something I hadn't heard of before.
They decided to insert a Foley balloon catheter into my cervix and inflate

the balloon with saline.

The balloon simulates the pressure of the baby's head and helps make the

cervix dilate.

They told me to it could take anywhere from 3-8 hours for the cervix to

open enough (to about 6cm) for the balloon to fall out

and then my cervix would be at a good point to start pitocin.

Ocenview from my L&D room taken by JJ - March 21, 2014

Fast forward to about 2 hours later and bam, my water breaks,

I take a trip to use the bathroom and the balloon catheter falls out!

Woohoo!

I was so excited, because this means things were rolling along at a great pace.

I was already at 6cm, they were going to start the pitocin, it wasn't even 3 o'clock
 and I was going to have this baby quick and easy.

Ha. Pride cometh before the fall.

Fast forward to about 5:30PM that evening and I'm still at a six.

I was having contractions, but they weren't really organized or at regular

intervals. Blech.

My nurse comes into tell me that if I want an epidural that I need to do it now,

or the anesthesiologist won't be available until about 7:00PM because

he is going in to do a cesarean and we won't be available until after it is done.

I was still trying to be strong and do it au naturale,

so I waved the nurse away and told I would be fine!
I could do it.

I should have taken the epidural.

First pool day - April 15, 2014

Fast forward to about 6:45PM and I was DYING.

The contractions were fast and hard.

I couldn't do it. I was beat and I wanted my epidural!

I kept asking JJ what time it was, hoping it was 7:00PM.

At 7:00PM on the dot I had JJ call the nurse and tell them I was ready.

Of course, it was shift change, so a new nurse rolled on.

When Brittney walked into the room I thought,

"Oh my heck! Are you even 20 years old? 

What can you know about delivering a baby?"

Lucky for me, she knew a lot.

Since it was a shift change, a new anesthesiologist rolled on too

and I was first in line.

HOLLA!

Even though I had been nervous to have an epidural because 

last time it is where everything started to go horribly wrong, I didn't care.

I wanted the drugs and I wanted them NOW!

Bright eyes - April 5, 2014

Fast forward and the quirky and hilarious anesthesiologist gets me all hooked

up with the epidural and I am feeling fine.

And then everything started to go wrong.

Again.

I had to stay on my left side because Grace wasn't tolerating my contractions very well.

My blood pressure was bottoming out and Brittney seriously spent over

an hour getting it stabilized.

The "chills" and chattering teeth from Isabella's labor returned.

And to add insult to injury, I was still hanging out around 6cm. Boo.

Then, I was finally stable, but Gracie wasn't fairing quite as well.

She was already on an internal monitor because the external wasn't cutting it.

Brittney kept having to turn down the pitocin or turn it off completely, 

because she just couldn't handle my contractions.

I started thinking in my head - Ok, time for a cesarean.

Baby in distress - Mama don't play that.

But the amazing doctors and nurses had a plan.

They were going to do a amnioinfusion to replace the amniotic fluid

I lost when my water broke over 6 hours ago.

They thought that maybe she was resting on the umbilical cord

since there wasn't was much amnio fluid inside and that was causing

the problems with her heart rate and my contractions.

Instgramming that baby isn't coming tonight - 10:25PM March 21, 2014

The amnioinfusion worked!
So I was finally stable and she was finally stable,
but I was still only dilated to about 6cm.
They decided to leave the pitocin off because they wanted
to see how Grace responded.
By now it was about 10:30PM and Brittney tells me I'm probably
not going to be having this baby on my birthday.
So I Instagram a picture of all my lovely bags fluids and say:

"Baby Watch Update: No baby yet. We probably won't share the same birthday. 
We're both doing fine. #stubbornlittlegirl #justlikehersister #nowihave4bags #babyfpg"

And then I started feeling uncomfortable.
It wasn't unbearable, but it wasn't as sweet as when I'd first gotten the
epidural about 3 hours ago.
I asked Brittany if she could push my button so I could get some more drugs.
I didn't realize it at the time, but Brittany had taken my button away.
I was supposed to be able to push my button and get just a little bit of happiness.
However, when the problems with my blood pressure happened,
Brittany stealthily took my button away.
She said she would, but she was afraid to give me too much because
she didn't want to start all over with my blood pressure.

I understood, but it sucked.

First Outing - March 26, 2014

She said she was going to leave me for about 20 minutes and then
we could ask the anesthesiologist about more happy meds.
She said to let her know if I started feeling pressure, but that I was still about 6cm.

Brittany left and I was uncomfortable and then about 10 minutes later
 I start to feel REALLY uncomfortable.
It wasn't like with JT, like I need to take a big dump, and I need to take one now.
It was a weird sensation. A painful sensation. A something is happening sensation.

And it was ALL me baby!!!!
The pitocin had been off for almost an hour.
I'm not even sure I was receiving much of the epidural and since
Brittany had taken away my happy button pushing privileges.
Since I had to stay on my left side, I couldn't see the monitors, but I was sure
I was having major contractions, so I say to JJ,

"AM I HAVING A CONTRACTION???!!" - through gritted teeth.

He's like, Oh, yeah. You are.
I told him to push that call button and get Brittany in there.
He pushes the nurse call button and sweetly tells them
I'm feeling some pressure.
I'm ready to shout, "Get that freaking Justin Timberlake lovin' nurse in here!"
But Brittany appears with the baby nurse and they both check me
and I am almost complete.
They both agreed I was like 9.5cm, so the baby nurse
sticks her hand WAY UP THERE, and helps me become a 10.

YOWIE!!!!

First Photo Shoot - April 4, 2014

I am now back curled on my left side, gripping the bed,
and I exclaim,

"I DON'T WANT TO FEEL ANY OF THIS!"

I am feeling the contractions and the pain and I want it to stop.
Brittany stops what she's doing, gets down in my face and says,
"The more you feel, the quicker this baby will be born. Got it?"

So I shut up and get ready to have this baby.

They grab Dr. Flora, who is just about to go home,
because Brittany has just told her that it's going to be hours
before I am ready to deliver, and she isn't on call the next day.

They break that bed down, Dr. Flora walks in and says,
"I'm here. I'm ready. Push whenever you're ready."

And boy do I push.

One push, two pushes, and JJ says,
"You did it! I can see her face!"
I give one more little push and at 11:09PM on my 35th birthday,
 little Grace Michele Armstrong LITERALLY comes shooting out.
(It's funny because we had a whole conversation with the anesthesiologist about how
babies do not just come shooting out.)

Grace Michele Armstrong - March 21, 2014 11:09PM

 They shout at me to stop pushing!!!!!!!
The cord is wrapped pretty tightly around her neck a couple of times.
JJ didn't get to cut the cord, because Dr. Flora acted quickly and cut it to
get it off of her neck.
She later apologized and we both said in unison, WE'RE GLAD YOU DID!

They immediately laid her on my chest and she was purple/blue
and she hadn't cried yet.
I kissed her and then the baby nurse said,
"I'm just going to take her and get her cleaned off
and get her to make some noise."

JJ and I both exclaimed, "PLEASE DO!"

Five seconds later and she was screaming and pink and my
body relaxed and my soul rejoiced.

Grace Michele Armstrong - 7lbs 2oz - 20 inches

She is the best birthday present I could have ever imagined for myself.

In the weeks leading up to her birth, JJ and I were divided on her name.
I wanted her to be Charlotte Grace and JJ wanted her to be Grace Charlotte.
I wanted Charlotte Grace, not because I liked Charlotte better than Grace,
quite the opposite, Grace was actually my favorite of the two.
But I felt like Charlotte Grace flowed easier off the tongue than Grace Charlotte.
I had even told all my friends and family that she would most likely be
Charlotte Grace, because after labor, JJ always let me pick.

But as JJ and I sat in the hospital in the early afternoon waiting
for things to get started, JJ said,
"What about if we give her your middle name since you'll share the same birthday?
She can be Grace Michele."

And in that moment, I knew that was her name.

All ready to go home - March 23, 2014

I am so grateful for amazing doctors, attentive and fantastic nurses,
a super star husband, and a loving Heavenly Father
that made having this little miracle possible.

Thank you for joining me for Grace's birth story.
If you missed {PART ONE} you can find it here.

Grace Michele Armstrong: The Real {Birth} Story Part One

Well, since my little Gracie Loo is now five months old,
I've shared her birth announcement,
and today is Labor Day,

it's about time I get around to sharing her birth story before I forget

it completely and the details runs together with the stories of her brother and sister.

Grace Michele Armstrong - August 31, 2014

It all started on the morning of my 35th birthday - Friday, March 21, 2014 - 

just one day before my due date.

 I had seen my OBGYN on Monday of that week and we both agreed that it

was about time to have that baby.

I had been insistent during this entire pregnancy that I did not want to be

induced, unless it was absolutely necessary, as my elective induction with

Isabella had gone terribly wrong.

Trying to blog - March 16, 2014

My doctor said she would let me get to my next appointment (the next Monday),

but with my blood pressure not behaving itself during the last few appointments,

she said that I wasn't doing myself or the baby any favors being

pregnant any longer that.

I wasn't dilated much at all, and my cervix was still pretty firm and high,

so I didn't have high hopes that I would go into labor before my last appointment.

So, back to my birthday.

JT went to school like usual and Isabella and I headed over to

the Hoag Fetal Diagnostics Center for my 9:30AM fetal monitoring appointment.

I had fetal monitoring off and on during my pregnancy due to high amniotic fluid

numbers and wacky blood pressure.

Fetal Monitoring - March 11, 2014

My doctor had me back going twice a week to make sure everything was staying

status quo. I had never taken Isabella with me before, but I had lunch

plans with a college friend that was in town from Boston that I hadn't seen

in over 5 years, so I decided to take her to avoid having to drive back

and forth to a sitter's house before going lunch about 10 minutes away

from the hospital where my appointment was that day.

I should have known better.

I thought it was going to be a good day at fetal monitoring.

I got a room with a view and not the closet room that gave me a panic attack a month

or so earlier and I had a nurse that I'd had before.

Not my favorite nurse, but still a nice nurse.

My nurse got me hooked up to the fetal monitoring machine and right away

I knew things were not going to go nice a normal like I had imagined.

Grace's heart rate dropped just as she was getting me settled in, like seriously dropped.

The nurse was a little bit worried, but since it popped right back up,

she decided to watch it and see if it was just a fluke (like the monitor was picking me up)

or if something was really going on.

Well, something was really going on.

Little Grace, that had performed beautifully at every other fetal monitoring appointment,

just was not cooperating

From what I've come to understand, they want the baby to move, move, move

at fetal monitoring so they can see how the baby's heart rate responds to movement.

If the baby is moving, her heart rate should accelerate and then settle back down

once she settles down again.

If I have a contraction, her heart rate should accelerate and then settle again.

You get the idea.

Usually Grace was all over the place. Since I had high amniotic fluid levels,

the nurses told me it was like a giant bath tub in there and she could move around

and have a jolly good time.

Her heart rate readings were just like they should be at every other appointment.

Now, my blood pressure was another story . . .

Today, however, she refused to move around. Her heart rate was even steven.

Drinking ice water didn't get her going. The baby shocker thing didn't get her going.

I could tell that this, combined with my high blood pressure, and Grace's

heart deceleration at the beginning had put my nurse on edge.

Fetal Monitoring - March 21, 2014 9:47AM

 Isabella was starting to get antsy too.

 My 20 minute appointment that was supposed to be in and out

so that we could meet Heather for lunch at Cafe Rio and celebrate

my 35th birthday and a reunion of old friends, was now getting close to an hour.

Isabella had drawn in her notebook, played on my phone, and was ready

to get the heck out of there.

But it was not to be.

My nurse announced that it was baby day.

Isabella got a horrified look on her face and when the nurse left

the room she announced,

"You can't just take off your underwear and have the baby here!"

I assured her it would be quite sometime til that happened and she would

be safely at Grandma's house and far away from the situation.

The nurse came back and said she was going to do an ultrasound

to check my fluid levels and see if Grace was using her lungs to practice breathing.

She told me Isabella could stay in the fetal monitoring room while we went to ultrasound.

I was like - You obviously don't know my nervous Nelly 5 year old very well.

So we all trekked down the hall and she started on the ultrasound.

Of course Grace didn't cooperate.

I started to get nervous. 

But I could hear her heartbeat and see her moving around on the monitor,

so I couldn't figure out what was going wrong.

Isabella started to get really nervous. She started pacing and worrying.

She's my little worrier and has anxiety issues, so I knew this dark room with her

mom hooked up to a machine with a nurse that wasn't talking wasn't doing her any favors.

I had her come stand next to me and I held her hand.

Hand holding always calms her down.

What seems like forever later, the nurse told me what she was doing.

She had to get some many seconds of Grace using her lungs and she couldn't get a 

good angle and just when she would, Grace would shift.

I failed to mention this nurse wasn't a talker.

In my experience there are three kinds of nurses:

(1) nurses that like to talk TOO much and you're like - stop telling me things!

(2) nurses that talk just the right amount

(3) nurses that don't talk enough and you're wondering - WHAT'S WRONG!

This was a - SAY SOMETHING! - kind of nurse.

So, she says she's going to have someone come down from L&D and get me

and have me admitted to have the baby that day.

Happy Birthday to me!

So I text JJ and tell him it's baby day and tell him to have his mom

come and pick Isabella up before she has an anxiety attack.

Then I text my friend Heather and tell her that I won't be making lunch.

Then the little girl with the wheelchair shows up and I feel like a weirdo

being wheeled through the hospital up to L&D by a teenager, 

with my Nervous Nelly 5 year old having a panic attack walking next to me.

Hoag L&D Room - March 21, 2014 12:21PM

 So fast forward - 

By 12:30PM I get admitted, JJ arrives, 

Isabella gets picked up by Grandma and we are ready to get this baby party started.

Phew!

{END PART ONE}

Come back on Wednesday for {PART TWO}.

15 Baby Products Every Mom Needs

Last week I shared my tips for creating your own birth announcements

and today I'm sharing some of my favorite baby products.

Some are products I've used with all three of my kids and some are

products that are new to me and I'm so glad that I found them.

All of these make great baby shower gifts for friends,

so even if you're not expecting, Pin this post for when you need a great

baby shower gift for a friend.

So, the 15 baby products every mom needs (in no particular order) are:

1. HoMedics SoundSpa On-the-Go

This is a new-to-me item and I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

Now you can take your white noise with you wherever you go.

When Grace was first born she loved the heartbeat sound and now the ocean

sound lulls us both to sleep every night.

2. Ju-Ju-Be Be Spicy Diaper Bag

I bought this beauty at a Ju-Ju-Be warehouse sale when Isabella was a toddler.

Since I already owned a Be Spicy in Black and Silver, it never got used and 

just got tucked away in the craft room closet. I love the Be Spicy because

it has lots of great pockets, a shoulder strap, and handles, and since it's made of the

great Ju-Ju-Be fabric, you can wipe it clean!

3. Aveeno Baby

I love the gentle, fragrance free soap and lotion option.

Isabella had sensitive skin and the Aveeno Baby products were great!

4. Carter's Just One You Burp Cloths Set

I'm always looking for the best burp cloths. Right now these are my favorite.

They are a cute jersey knit print on one side and absorbant terry cloth

on the other. There large size is great for catching projectile spit up too!

I've only been able to find them at Target,

but let me know if you see them some place else.

5. The Diaper Clutch

When JT was little I swore by my Diapees & Wipees case,

and even made a few of them myself for gifts and boutiques.

But The Diaper Clutch is so much cooler!

When you open the flap the wipes are just right there ready to use.

Plus, it comes it super cute fabric options.

6. Huggies Clutch 'n' Clean Refillable Baby Wipes
This pairs great with The Diaper Clutch!
It's a travel wipes container that opens like the disposable wipes
packs and fits perfectly in The Diaper Clutch.
This way I don't have to keep buying disposable travel wipes
and I can refill the Clutch 'n' Clean with the giant box of wipes
I get from Costco. Economical and Green :)

7. Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads
I remember being a desperate first time mom at the breastfeeding clinic
at the local hospital with cracked, bleeding nipples and the lactation consultant
telling me that she had a product that would make me want to kiss her.
She was right - and I've been a Soothies lover ever since.
All my babies are super aggressive nursers that want to suck 24/7 and I
have extra sensitive nipples, so that doesn't make for a great combination.
When JT was a baby, Soothies were made by a different company and when I heard
that Lansinoh had taken over manufacturing when Isabella was a newborn I was really
worried that they wouldn't be the same. THEY WERE!
This time I took them to the hospital with me. They are the best ever.
Pop them in the fridge - even better!

8. The First Years Lanolin Free Nipple Butter
Others swear by lanolin - I now swear by Nipple Butter.
Did you know that lanolin comes from sheep's wool? Um, neither did I.
And since I am allergic to wool, that would be a good indicator of why lanolin
never helped my nipples heal when I was breastfeeding JT!!!!
Enter Nipple Butter. It's a plant based balm that contains essential milk
proteins and contains no mineral oil. It's fantastic.

9. Ergo Swaddler Set
I swear by swaddling. Swear by it. 

Since babies are not supposed to sleep on their backs since the Back to Sleep campaign,

swaddling is the only way newborns stay asleep for longer than 10 minutes.

You see, newborns have something called the Moro Reflex which makes it pretty

hard for them to sleep by themselves, in a large open space, on their backs -

which is everything they say makes a safe sleep space.

The Ergo Swaddler keeps your baby's hands close to their heart,

and nice and snug so sleeping on her back isn't as obnoxious.

I love how the Ergo Swaddler keeps the hands up by the chest, and not

plastered to the side, so they are really in a fetal position.

10. Pampers Swaddlers
Speaking of swaddlers . . . I love Pampers Swaddlers!
They are perfect for little newborn bums. They are the perfect size
and are oh, so soft.
Plus, the color-changing wetness indicator helps you avoid the side
peek at 1am to see if the diaper is wet.
I like Huggies when my babies are older and mobile, but I swear by swaddlers
for newborns and little babies. Tell your friends.


11. Triple Paste Medicated Ointment
If I love a product, I tell everyone about it.
So, when I was at the park at 37 weeks pregnant and the topic of
diaper rash came up with a friend and her mom who had recently had twins,
I told them I swear by Triple Paste.
I've tried them all - Butt Paste, Aquaphor, Desitin, burnt flour . . . what?
And hands down, Triple Paste kicks all of their butts.
No joke, a week later, my friend's mom grabbed me in the hall after church
and said, "You were right! That Triple Paste is amazing!"
One of the twins got a really bad diaper rash and nothing was working,
so she ran to the store to get some Triple Paste. Cleared up in 24 hours.
It's pricey, but worth every penny.
Plus, since it works, you don't have to use very much for very long.
You're welcome.



12. Petunia Pickle Bottom Sashay Satchel
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking,
"But you just said that you love your Ju-Ju-Be diaper bag."
Oh, and I do. But I have something of a diaper bag problem and
I'm glad to say that Petunia Pickle Bottom is part of that problem.
They are gorgeous and lovely and you can shop their outlet sales and save
yourself some change on these gorgeous bags.
I've had the Boxy Backpack, Cross Town Clutch, Wistful Weekender,
and I am currently carrying the Sashay Satchel.
I want them all in every print.
Someone stop me. Please.



13. 4 Moms mamaRoo
When I asked on Facebook what you mamas were loving on,
my friend Rachel chimed in that she loved her mamaRoo.
And since Rachel is super cool and her baby is too big for it now,
she let me borrow this super cool piece of baby gear.

The mamaRoo bounces and sways like you do and has built in white noise

nature sounds and an MP3 hook up.

Gracie loves it and so does my arm.

14. Joovy Scooter Stroller

It's called Purpleness - how could you not love it?!

When I asked on Facebook what stroller I should get, all of my 

friends and readers said JOOVY!

It's gorgeous, it's well made, and it's tall!

When you're 5'11" - a little umbrella stroller isn't going to cut it.

Plus, it's purple.

15. Feed Baby Pro App
You know how they send you home with that sheet where you're supposed
to keep track of feedings and wet diapers and which side you need to feed
the baby on and you do it for a couple of days and then you lose the paper and
start asking yourself - when was the last wet diaper?
Well, this app will keep you organized and on point.
As a breastfeeding mama, I'm hyper-vigilant about the wet diapers because
I want to know if Grace is eating enough.
Feed Baby Pro helps me keep track and remember which side I fed her on last.
You can also keep track of when you pumped, bottle fed or gave medicine.

I hope you found a new product that you'll love and cherish
and will make your life just a bit more fantastic.
Do you have something you love that you want me to know about?
Leave a comment and let me know all about it!