November 24, 2020

HOLIDAY DECOR ROUND UP

 With Thanksgiving coming up later this week, it's time to start getting into the holiday spirit (although I know many people started extra early this year!) We plan to decorate for Christmas & put up our tree this weekend after Thanksgiving. I am so excited! The decor alone makes me feel so happy & spirited for the holidays. Sharing some holiday decor below...

XO

Michelle Paige

November 18, 2020

WHAT'S ON OUR BABY REGISTRY

Today I'm rounding up what we are registering for! We decided to register at Babylist since I loved that you could add items from any website to add to your registry. It made things so easy & convenient!! 

My type A personality did a TON of research on almost everything below. Not only did I want the best and safest for my baby, but I also want items that are functional and easy to use for mom & dad. Also, we live in an apartment building so it was important to me to register for items that could do double duty/grow with baby as much as possible to save space for us. 

Unfortunately, with everything going on right now, we have decided not to have a baby shower but friends & family have been SO supportive and generous by sending us gifts & gear for the new baby. We are so so so appreciative to all of them and plan to host a sip n see in the spring once things are safer and so everyone can meet our baby! 

Now on to the good stuff...

XO 

Michelle Paige

Gear:

4Moms Playard - We have chosen the 4Moms Breeze Plus Playard since it includes a changer & bassinet option in addition to the standard playard. It's also truly a one handed set up which will be so easy when traveling!  I'm considering using the playard as our bassinet the first few weeks/months when baby is born & sleeping in our room. Is a bassinet really worth it for those first few months???

Fisher Price Cradle Swing - I chose this swing because you can change the direction to swing baby back & forth or side to side. Most other swings that I found swing in one direction or the other. I like that this swing gives me options! I will say, it does take up a good amount of space, but it's so cute & has lots of functions (music, nature noises, etc). I hope baby loves it!

Snuggle Me Organic Lounger & Boppy Lounger - I went back and forth between the Snuggle Me & Dock a Tot and opted for the Snuggle Me. It seemed to have better reviews overall IMO. I ALSO registered for the Boppy Lounger. Most reviews recommended getting both since the Boppy props up the baby more and the Snuggle Me lays flat. 

Moms - do you have one or more and which do you prefer? 

BabyBjorn Bouncer - I love this bouncer for a few reasons. 1. It folds flat so it's easy to bring to family's house or on vacation with us in the summer. 2. No plugs or batteries so baby is able to bounce himself just by wiggling and moving his feet.

Lovevery Play Gym - While a play gym is great for tummy time and stimulation, this one is especially great since it's designed to grow with your child through different development zones (sound, colors, etc). I'm looking forward to using this play gym from birth until baby is 1 year or older! PS. It comes with a little book that gives you ideas of how to use this gym from birth until age 1.

Transportation:

Doona Infant Car Seat/Stroller - I heard about this car seat/stroller before we were even thinking about getting pregnant and once I did some research, knew I wanted it once I had kids. We live in an apartment building currently so I think this car seat/stroller combo will be so helpful going back and forth down the hallways, elevator & garage or running errands or going to doctor appts without having to disturb baby. So far it's been super easy to maneuver. One downside - it is heavy, but obviously you don't need to carry it much; just while taking it in and out of the car.

Graco 4Ever DLX Convertible Car Seat - This car seat technically could have been the only one we registered for since it can be used with babies as small as 4 lbs! We won't be using it that early on but I do love that it grows with baby from birth until they are 100 lbs or 10 years old! This seat is highly rated safety wise and goes from infant rear facing to forward facing to booster seat. The nitpicker in me also wanted a car seat that had cup holders attached to hold baby's drinks, snacks or toys while on the road.

Baby K'Tan Carrier - Jody and I have both gotten baby wearing carriers. I think they will be so helpful especially in the newborn stage when baby wants to be held and cuddled all the time :) This one seemed much easier to use compared to some of the other baby wraps on the market.

Infantino 4 in 1 Carrier - For once baby is bigger, we chose to register for the Infantino carrier. I loved the price point on this one (under $50!) but it got great reviews and allows for 4 carrying positions. Baby can face inwards as a newborn then once he is a little bigger, he can face inwards, outwards or be carried on your back. 

Mockingbird Single to Double Stroller - Quite a few people recommended the UppaBaby Vista stroller however we are opting to try out the Mockingbird stroller. For a fraction of the price, they seem EXTREMELY similar and based on reviews, the Mockingbird actually has some features that I prefer. For example, the Mockingbird is a single to double so we can get a second seat once we have a second child & both seats hold children up to 45 lbs. The Mockingbird also has a one handed fold which will be super convenient. It arrived a couple weeks ago and putting the stroller together literally took less time than Jody's shower LOL (& I did it myself!). There are also lots of great functions and accessory options.

Feeding:

Joovy Foodoo High Chair - To be honest, choosing a high chair was tough for me. I originally thought of getting the Stokke Tripp Trapp but after testing it in person, it was a harder to maneuver than I had hoped (even the guy at the store couldn't get the tray detached). I went back to the drawing board and found the Joovy Foodoo. So far, I'm loving it for all of the great features;  this highchair reclines so we can use from the time baby is a newborn to when he is able to sit up and feed himself. It also has various different heights for feeding ease & comfort no matter where we are sitting. I'm a big fan of the wheels so I can roll baby from the dining area to the kitchen so I can keep my eyes on him while cooking or eating. Lastly, it has a dishwasher safe tray & machine washable cushion for easy cleanups!

Boppy Nursing Pillow - Boppy pillows have been recommended over & over & over again. I'll definitely be using one to help with nursing as well as for baby to lounge against.

Baby Brezza Formula Pro - While I am hoping to nurse, I'm also trying to be realistic and not put pressure on myself to do it exclusively. In the case that we do use formula, I love that this Baby Brezza product prepares the bottles for you from start to finish in only 10 seconds. 

Comotomo Bottles & Dr Brown's Bottles - I've heard/read that babies are actually pretty picky LOL so there are a few areas of our registry where I've chosen more than one brand of something to test out. Bottles is one of those areas. I plan to start with Comotomo & Dr Brown's bottles to see what we & baby prefer. 

Bathing:

Stokke Flexi Bath Tub - Living in an apartment, we have only one bathroom and limited space. As soon as I saw that this baby bath tub folded up, I was sold. It comes with a newborn insert for the early days and then can be used for toddlers up to age 4 so we don't need to fill up the entire bathtub for bath time, just this little tub! I also love the temperature plug feature which lets me know if the water is too hot for baby.

Burt's Bees Organic Towels - I love Burt's Bees baby products. They are really great quality and I love that they are organic. We chose cute hooded towel & washcloth sets from Burt's Bees that will be great for bath time. 

Diapering:

Bumbo Changing Pad - This changing pad doesn't require a cover and can easily be wiped down in case of big messes.  I am all about ease & functionality when it comes to choosing baby products and this one means less laundry.

Diaper Pail - I was originally going to register for the Uppi diaper pail until I was in store testing them out and realized I would need to bend over to open and close the lid every time I wanted to throw something away (not convenient).  I ended up going with the Dekor Diaper Pail; I love that it allows me to use regular trash bags and also has a foot pedal for easy throw away access. 

Diaper Backpack - Both Jody & I are choosing to get backpacks to use as diaper bags. Not only can you fit more inside them, but it's more comfortable to carry around and hands free. Jody opted for this backpack.

Sleeping:

Newton Crib Mattress - This was a tough choice to narrow down; there are SO many crib mattress options and we wanted something that will be comfortable but also extremely safe. After lots of research, we are opting for the Newton crib mattress. It is 100% breathable and 100% washable so safe for baby & easy to keep clean for mom & dad.

Motorola Baby Monitor - I ended up choosing this baby monitor because of the options and features it offers. First, you can watch baby via an app on your phone or on the camera unit it comes with. You can zoom to see the baby or the baby's room and it has two way audio so you can comfort baby from another room. 

SwaddleMe Swaddles, Love to Dream Swaddles, Halo SleepSacks, Burt's Bees Wearable Blanket - We are trying ALL the swaddles in hopes of finding baby's favorite for sleeping. When baby is first born, we plan to use the SwaddleMe swaddles which wrap baby tight into a little cocoon. We also registered for the Love to Dream swaddle which allows baby to keep his arms up near his face to self sooth (in lots of the sonogram photos, he has his hands up by his face and/or has been sucking his thumb!). As baby gets older, we registered for a Halo Sleepsack to transition him from a swaddle to a wearable blanket and finally once he is able to roll over, we registered for the Burt's Bees Wearable Blanket.

Hatch Baby Night Light & Sound Machine - This little gadget will be a must for baby. Even as an adult, I love my nightlight & sound machine so I have no doubt it will be comforting to our baby as well. This one is great because I can control the lights & sounds from an app on my phone.

That covers most of our must haves! I'll be doing a separate post on our nursery furniture and decor as that begins to arrive!  I can't wait to decorate baby's room!! I'll also be rounding up some of my favorite baby clothing brands in a separate post so keep your eyes peeled for that :)

November 10, 2020

MATERNITY JEANS REVIEW

If I had to pick one maternity clothing item to purchase, it would be a good pair of jeans! I am such a jeans gal especially in the fall/winter so finding a pair of maternity jeans was a must for me. I went through a LOT of pairs to find a pair I wanted to keep so I'm sharing a review today in hopes that it helps someone else in the same boat as me.

A few notes before I jump in... I prefer my jeans to hit at the ankle rather than be full length. I like the look more when I pair my jeans with booties or sneakers (it's a personal preference) so I was looking for a pair that was the right length on my 5'4 frame. Also, I typically wear a size 25 jeans so for most of these jeans, I ordered my usual jean size in the maternity version. 

Articles of Society - Sarah Skinny Maternity Jeans 

Color: Crystal w/ distressing (medium wash) 

Style: Over the Bump

Size: 25 

Review: So these actually fit pretty good (when I order jeans online, I always get nervous since fit can be so risky). I was happy with the fit in the legs & the belly but my personal preference is jeans that hit at the ankle so these were a smidgen too long on me. They came right to the top of my foot. These are great and would have been kept me if I was looking a full length pair of distressed jeans (inseam is 29"). 

Verdict: Return

Articles of Society - Maternity Skinny Jeans 

Color: Carson City (very dark blue)

Style: Over the Bump

Size: 25 

Review: Same brand as above. This pair was the shorter inseam (27") that I was looking for but didn't fit as great down the leg. They were more of a slim fit from the mid thigh to the ankle, rather than a tight, skinny fit. This pair may be better for someone with athletic legs. On the bright side, this pair of denim was super soft & the belly panel was very comfy.

Verdict: Return

Articles of Society - Maternity Skinny Pants 

Color: Black 

Style: Over the Bump

Size: 25 

Review: Similar to the other AOS jeans in terms of comfort, but this pair was too long for me; it says inseam is 28" on the website, but there is NO WAY (see the bunches of fabric at my ankle???). I am 5'4 and would recommend these for someone who is at least 5'6 to avoid the bunching at the ankles.

Verdict: Return

Articles of Society - Maternity Distressed Skinny Jeans 

Color: Black w/ distressing

Style: Over the Bump

Size: 25 

Review: The last AOS pair of jeans that I ordered & I finally found what I'm wanting in a pair of maternity jeans! This pair has a 28" inseam (hit at my ankle), was super soft denim, comfortable over the belly and was pretty tapered down the leg. I also liked the distressed knees on this pair since it adds a little casualness & edginess to any outfit I wear them with.

Verdict: Keep!

Madewell - Maternity Skinny Jeans

Color: Black Sea (looks more like a dark gray in person)

Style: Over the Bump but lower back panel

Size: 24 

Review: People rave about Madewell jeans and TBH, I had never tried them but decided to give a maternity pair a try. Unfortunately, these were one of my least favorite pairs, mostly due to the fabric that goes over the bump & up the back. The back panel was much lower than the belly panel and I found it to be bothersome and uncomfortable. The legs of the jeans also weren't my favorite fit; these weren't short enough or tapered enough for me from the knee down. 

Verdict: Return

Madewell - Maternity Full Belly Jeans

Color: Orland Wash (dark blue wash)

Style: Over the Bump with denim back panel

Size: 25

Review: I liked this pair of Madewell jeans SO much better! They had a full panel over the belly with a denim panel in the back which was different but I was OK with when I initially put them on. The legs & butt fit great and they were just a little long, but I wanted them to work so I decided I would just cuff the hem to make it slightly more cropped. These were SO close to being keepers until I sat down and the belly panel elastic starting digging into my ribs. It was so tight on me! I think it's because it's only a half stretch panel and the back is denim which didn't stretch. I'm not sure if it would stretch out over time but I recommend these jeans if you are mostly standing.

Verdict: Return

DL1961 - Emma Power Legging Jeans

Color: Strobe (medium wash) & Flatiron (dark blue wash)

Style: Side Panels

Size: 24 & 25

Review: So because I wasn't sure what size I was in DL1961 (I've worn 24 & 25 pre pregnancy), I ordered the Emma jeans in a 24 and 25. Weirdly, both pairs fit VERY similarly in the waist & butt. The legs on both pairs , however, was the worst fitting of the bunch; they barely felt like a slim fit, and almost looked more like a straight leg on me.  They were also supposed to be ankle length but on me, they weren't.

Verdict: Return

After all that, I only ended up keeping 1 pair of jeans, but I'm really happy with them and have been wearing them every week since purchasing! Finding maternity jeans was such a journey and a lot of a trial and error but hopefully you found this post to be helpful!

XO

Michelle Paige

November 05, 2020

BABY DEROY IS A....

 

We are so excited to share that baby DeRoy is a...BOY!

To be honest, we have known since August - even before we announced that I was pregnant but it was nice to be able to tell our some of our close family & friends first and have a little secret for ourselves for a bit. 

OUR GENDER GUESSES: Early on in my pregnancy, I think most of my family along with Jody & I thought I was having a girl. We spent so much time talking about girl's names and I could not stop looking at baby girl clothes. Not too much because of old wives tales or anything, but just because we are surrounded by our friends with little girls and the women on my mom's side of the family have had girls for generations. 

HOW WE FOUND OUT: We knew from the get-go that we would find out what we are having. There is no way I could wait 9 months to know if our baby was a boy or a girl. Although to those of you who do wait, that is AMAZING and I wish I had that kind of patience to be surprised! We did a blood test around 12 weeks and then impatiently waited for all of our results to come back. A nurse called me over the phone to give me updates on our genetic screenings & my overall blood work and then asked if I wanted to know the gender. At first, I asked her to put the results in the mail so we could plan a fun little gender reveal with our families but after about 30 seconds of knowing that she knew the gender and I didn't, I couldn't focus on anything else. I put her on speaker and sat down with Jody and told her we changed our mind and wanted to know the gender right away!!! She told us we were having a LITTLE BOY and we were both so happy & surprised!!! 

Now that the surprise has set in, we are having so much fun shopping & planning and can't wait to meet our boy!!

XO

Michelle Paige 

October 28, 2020

PREGNANCY MUST HAVES (SO FAR)

While sometimes the days or weeks seem long, I also can't believe I'm more than halfway through my pregnancy at this point & halfway to meeting our baby! I've been so so so lucky to have a relatively easy pregnancy; I had no sickness & have had very few cravings/symptoms during the second trimester so far. Below are a few of my must haves thus far...

Water Bottle - Confession: I have never been one of those people that drinks enough water, but now that I'm pregnant, it's extra important to be drinking extra water. I've gotten a few tumblers and reusable water bottles to keep with me throughout the day and make drinking water easier.

Pregnancy Apps - I have 4, yep 4, app that I check daily for updates/articles about my body & baby. I like each one specifically because they allow me to do different things. I have Ovia which allows me to track various symptoms, feelings, etc. Baby Center where I take/store my weekly bump photos. What to Expect which has daily tips and The Bump which allows me to track my doctor appts. 

Pregnancy Journal - Especially since this is my first pregnancy, it's been interesting/fun to track all of my symptoms and emotions month to month. When I found out I was pregnant, I ordered a pregnancy journal on Amazon and have been writing down my monthly updates in the journal. It will be fun to go back and read about my journey one day and remember this time.

Prenatal Vitamins - To be honest, I chose these prenatals bc I only had to take 2 pills and because they deliver to my door haha. Some prenatals require that you take additional supplements to make sure you are getting all the nutrients needed to keep yourself & baby healthy but the Ritual vitamins have 12 essentials for during pregnancy. They also smell like lemon and have a no nausea capsule to make taking them everyday extra easy. (They also just released a post-natal vitamin that I plan to switch to after I give birth).

Belly Oil - I've heard stretch marks are heredity but an itchy belly when your skin is stretching bc baby is growing is not. I've been applying this belly oil since July and love it!! It keeps my belly and skin feeling so soft and hydrated. It's pricy but you get a large bottle; this one bottle has lasted me since I started using it & is still about a quarter full. Bonus - no stretch marks, yet ;) 

Belly Band - One of the symptoms I HAVE had over the months, is back pain and round ligament pains (growing pains). These don't happen everyday but when they do, they can be pretty uncomfortable. I got a belly band to help with both and it works wonders to support my back and belly when I'm having aches & pains. 

OPTIONAL: Pregnancy Pillow - I got a pregnancy pillow early on in my pregnancy since I heard it was a must have but it actually is a little claustrophobic for me to sleep with since it's so large. Nowadays, Jody actually uses it to sleep and loves it and I just sleep with an extra pillow in between my legs hah

As I continue to grow, I'm sure there will be some other items that I end up needing but for now, these have been my must haves!

XO
Michelle Paige