Second Time Around

It has been eleven weeks since becoming a parent of two. Two is such a big number to me now. Everything in life should be referred to by double (or triple if you have three, etc.) when talking about taking care of more than one child. Because it is not just about two, it is about doubling the amount of everything. In my house that means diapers and bottles, colds and night wakings, smiles and cuteness. 

It is not necessarily that much harder as it is that much more intense. Every day is a juggle of who will wake up first, who gets fed first, who takes a nap next, all until the end of the day. Which by the way is around seven and I follow shortly to sleep at eight. Time goes slowly, yet so fast, it is the strangest thing. I heard the best description for this time in life, "The days are long, but the years are short." 

You know you have heard a million times from parents before you that time goes so quickly, but when you are sleep deprived and crazed you think that those people are straight liars. But now you know it is true and they were probably the parents of multiple children. 

Not much of my pregnancy, delivery and postpartum was different from the last. Easy pregnancy, quick delivery, and hormone craziness with the baby blues for a month or so. Now that amnesia that Moms suffer is starting to happen. The memories of how hard it was nine months pregnant to chase after a toddler seem hazy, and the uncomfortable tightness of those crazy contractions seems like something that never happened, and the weird anxiety that I suffer in those first weeks fades from my conscious. It is strange how it is so hard to remember so quickly. But I guess that is what makes us do it again. 

The best part is you start feeling like yourself around three months. Albeit a squishier, slightly crazed, not always out of your pajamas each day self. But more like a human that can function with the outside world. And each month it gets better. For everyone. 

So we are having a good time in our house. Baby girl has discovered her brother and loves watching him. It is crazy cute. Baby boy has some really interesting dance moves that are the highlight of my day (think modern dance meets raver). And date night is happening again. Even if it is wine after the kids go to bed. 

So the second time around has been great so far. I highly recommend it and good luck to those that are also in it. 

xo

Erin 

(Almost) One Year In

I wish I could say that it feels crazy that a year has gone by, but honestly it feels like a lifetime since bringing our little guy home. Those first couple months of complete exhaustion and cloudy hormone-crazy brain seem far in the distance. Yet the time in between really has flown by. Now that he is more like a person and less like a baby, it seems like I have graduated in a sense. 

From endless self doubt on the many details of raising a baby, to pouring over baby blogs filled with crazy women ranting about what I was doing wrong, and now I feel a sense of peace knowing that none of that matters. Maternal extinct feels so much easier to channel once your hormones have settled down, your baby sleeps through the night, shows you his personality, and you finally realize that even if you did a fraction of what you do for him now he would still turn out to be great. Because lets get serious, you are probably doing a pretty bang up job, it just does not feel like that most of the time. Or does it ever? 

For those of you in the newborn trenches, this too shall pass. And I say that in the best and worse sense of it. You will miss that tiny little bundle, that smell of perfection, those first glances of recognition, and the complete excitement of becoming a parent to an actual human being (that actually does not go away completely). You will then pass those milestones that feel selfish, but really just make you a better person. Sleeping through the night for you and the baby, getting on a bit of a schedule, being able to translate every coo and cry, and figuring out how to have a life and baby at the same time.  

We all have a different way of parenting, of raising these tiny humans, and I could not be more glad to be a part of it. Especially with the ladies that I connect with on the subject. My friends, my readers, my long distance Facebook moms, because we all have no idea what we are doing. Even almost a year in and I know everything that I know now will be useless months because he will be a different little guy. But we are making it through, loving the process or at least embracing it, and hoping to laugh a lot together along the way. 

xo
Erin  

Surprise Favorite Things

There are so many things to register for, and many of them are so obvious. But it is that one item that you randomly received or ordered blurry eyed at 2am that became your favorite. I asked some other new moms to share that one item that surprised them the most and could not have lived without. 

Kelly, mom of Eloise (5), Millie (3) & Wells (10m): I am not really into a lot of baby gear, but the car mirror was something I loved. No more driving myself crazy wondering if he was snoozing in his car seat or not. 

Kristen, mom of Hutton (1): Someone sent me a Mom's one Line a Day that I absolutely love. It is a five year memory journal that only allows 2-3 sentences per day to record a milestone, thought, story, etc. Easy and quick to do so it does not feel overwhelming. Also, Meal Train, a website that friends and family can log into to schedule the drop off of a meal or groceries. It is a favorite since it is hard to feed yourself breakfast/lunch/dinner when you are busy with a newbie!

Betsy, mom of Harley, (2): By far and away it was a bottle holder. I feel like I kept seeing moms propping up their kiddos bottles with burp clothes and anything else they could find, so this "donut" was perfect. 

Rachel, mom of James (3m): The Woombie, it's the swaddle of all swaddles. All you do is zip it up and the babe cannot get out! We tried traditional swaddles and he escaped from them all except this. Plus, it has a double zipper, meaning you can unzip just the bottom to change a diaper and not let his arms free.

Leigh, mom of Reece (7), Chloe (4) & Wes (3): I loved the old school Platex bottles with the plastic liner inserts. They were so easy for the babies to use (and no air bubbles) once they could hold on to the bottle themselves. 

Kate, mom of Lily (5) & Myla (2): The squeezable baby food packets are genius. My two year old still loves them! 

Rebecca, mom of Georgia (1): I'm super embarrassed to admit this but the Nose Frida is amazing! I had panic attacks when she got sick and that little miracle saved me during her first few colds. 

Lauren, mom of Grayson (10m): The old school liquid Neutrogena (with the black pump). It gets out ANY stain, including blood if you rub the soap into the stain and let it sit overnight in a small tub filled with water. The next day I rub the stain area before throwing it into the wash. 

Alexis, mom of Jack (4m): I did not register for the Fischer Price Rock n Play Sleeper, nor did I know anything about it until after 10 tough weeks. When we finally came to grips with the fact that Jack has a pretty bad case of acid reflux, it became invaluable. 

Eva, mom of Jenna (16m): I loved my Itzbeen Baby Care Timer. It is a little gadget that helps track the last feeding, diaper change, sleep, etc. You can also keep track of which side you nursed on last. It really help me make sure I was sticking to our schedule. They do have apps for this as well, but when Dad and grandma take over for a few hours this kept us all straight and was easy to hand off to one another. 

Kristen, mom of Kinsley (1m): I'm obsessed with Aquaphor for baby. with 12 diaper changes a day this has been a must have. It helps prevent diaper rashes and it makes it easier to clean those frequent dirty diapers, no dried mess on baby skin. 

Marita, mom of Emme (10m): Mine has to be the ugly Piano Kick Gym we received (unsolicited). It was amazing and bought me tons of time when Emme was little, but I wanted her to be entertained. Not pretty, but I loved it.   

Lauren, mom of Sloane (1m): Since I am a "pumping exclusively" mama, I am obsessed with the steam bags. Seems silly, but pumping and feeding every two hours lends itself to a lot of bottle and pump part cleaning. The Medela Steam Clean Bags allow me to throw all of that into the bag, throw it in the microwave and everything is sterilized and cleaned. The bags are safe and it saves me so much time! 

Krissy, mom of Charlie (3) & Cate (11m): My best gift was girlfriends! That includes every woman in my life that helped me through the newborn months with advice, meals, support. Everything. My best discovery through these lovely ladies was nipple shields. Charlie was miserable at breastfeeding and during a visit from a friend, she was appalled at the sight of my (mutilated) nipples. She left and brought me nipple shields immediately. I never knew they existed. She literally saved me, or my nipples at least.  

Lindsey, mom of Jake (7), Kate (5) & Jude (4m): My Pronto changer has been great! I hate the big bulky diaper bag and this is really all I need for cruising around. I thrown it in the bottom of the stroller or just clip it onto the handle and it even as a spot for my phone, wallet and keys. 

Me, mom of Tommy (9m): The Organic Ultimate Crib Sheet is awesome. Crib sheets have to be changed so much and sometimes in the middle of the night. This sheet snaps on over another regular sheet, but under the bumper. That way when you need to change the sheet, you just snap it off and a fresh sheet is waiting underneath.

Thank you to all the moms who contributed! What are some things you could not live without?

xo
Erin 

Not on the Registry

Even though it has only been six months since the babe came, it might as well be a lifetime. Those first few weeks and months of having a newborn have slid from my memory quickly. Not the great parts, like first baths, tiny finger grips, and locking eyes for what seemed like hours, but the hard parts like the complete and utter exhaustion, the hardships of nursing, and the baby blues. When you are in it for the first time, it can feel like your life will never resemble what it was before baby. Then as the weeks go on and the baby grows with you as a new mom, you start to get it. Each week, just a little more. We are still adjusting, but it sort of feels like life has settled into our new normal. 

With so many friends in the trenches of newborn-dom or about to embark on them, I wanted to share what resources seemed to help me the most through those first couple months. The internet is a deep dark place filled with crazy people, but somehow during that 3am feeding you will listen to any one's advice or story. Funny since they could be living in scowler and misrepresenting their entire experience. 

A few things that I found the most helpful are not registry items or keepsakes that are jammed in your house right now. They are simple resources to help you through and keep you sane. 

The Similac Strong Moms iPhone app was my favorite tool right from the start. You can keep track of everything. Diaper changes, nursing (length, side, amount, etc.) sleeping, bottle feedings, and growth. Once you start entering, it then helps to predict your baby's schedule. I tend to like data, so it was nice to see patterns emerge a bit (even if they were that your baby only sleeps during the day) and it gave me something to reference each day. 

I mentioned this book in my registry post, but I can not stress enough how helpful Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Weissbluth has been. He started out with no more than two hours of sleep at a time. I followed the book exactly (even CIO) and he started sleeping twelve hours a night at about three months. Some of that is biological, but a lot of it was following the science behind sleeping and this book is a great guide. 

The Babycenter site and apps were so helpful during pregnancy. You can also download their My Baby app to follow along with tips and information based on the birth date. You can also join the Birth Club for that month on the app and follow along with other moms who are right there with you. This can be another breeding ground for crazy, but I liked seeing posts from other new moms with the same questions and problems. Just knowing that someone out there was going through the same things was a relief. 

Other new moms was by far my favorite resource and outlet. No one is as great as someone who is going through the same life experiences that you are. I was lucky enough to have three friends with newborns at the same time. I also connected with old friends from college through Facebook who I might not have gotten close with again otherwise. 

If you are in newborn-land right now or about to be, know that it is a crazy amazing time. You will struggle with some it and at the same time relish in it. Those sweet moments of your tiny baby getting used to the world does not last long. Enjoy, reach out, and know that life will settle into something "normal" once again. 

xo
Erin 

Baby Registry Faves

Registering for your new baby can be so daunting. There are so many products, opinions, and "essentials" that there is no way to know what you are doing or if what you are picking out is really going to work for you. Kind of sounds like the way early motherhood is actually, so kind of a good first step.


Even though I have a baby, I would never classify myself as an expert on what to register for. What works for me could be the opposite of what works for you. That said, I am going to share what has been the most useful for me and what my baby has loved. You are going to receive so much from so many generous people, but really it comes down to what makes your life easier and what makes your baby comfortable.


I used myregistry.com to consolidate my items into one site. That way you can register items in many different stores, but people will only have to visit one site. 


Baby On the Go


Strollers are a very personal choice. My only advice is to go and get hands-on with them and see what you like best. I went with the UppaBaby Vista. It is light, easy to manage, and comes with so much to grow with you and your family. It has a bassinet included, which I used with this Bassinet Stand in the house (turns into a hamper after done using). I got two stands and kept one in my room and one in our family room so I could transport him without waking him. I also loved that you could add a second seat later. The Organizer, Infant Snugseat,  and Car seat adapter are the accessories I actually ended up using most. 


The JJ Cole Bundle Me is perfect for the car seat or stroller when it is chilly outside. 


Diaper bags can be so ugly and not cute. I really love my Marc Jacobs diaper bag. It is functional, holds a ton of stuff, and I like that it could easily not be a diaper bag later on. 


Everyone seemed to love the Chicco KeyFit Car seat and I am glad I went with it. Easy to install, click the seat in, or even carry the baby in the seat itself. 


I am all about easy set up and the Aprica pack and play took about ten minutes. Plus, it takes even less time to pack it back up. 


You can't go wrong with the classic Baby Bjorn carrier. 


Video monitors are great for spying on your kid who does the cutest stuff when you are not around. Not the easiest things to set  up, but we use the MobiCam. 


Play and Lounge


The Mamaroo looks like a baby spaceship. Essentially it is a bouncer that plugs in and has a bunch of settings to take your baby for a ride. My baby did not love this right away, but others do. He liked it much better after a couple months in. 


He loves the Baby Bjorn bouncer. Easy seat to sit him in while cooking dinner or folding laundry as it is light and easy to move around. Also packs up flat to throw in the car. Only down side is that you have to bounce it for them. 


The Nap Nanny is fantastic. Great for babies that have reflux or just those that want to hang out in something soft and comfortable. 


Things you convince yourself will get your baby to sleep through the night


While nothing really helps right away, there are certainly things that make babies more comfortable and more apt to do so. Swaddling is universally the go-to trick. I used a few different kinds. At first these Swaddling blankets from Giggle worked best because they were soft and stretchy. I also loved how soft and light these Aiden + Anais bamboo swaddles were. I still use those.


If your baby busts out of swaddles there is a straight jacket in your future. Looks crazy when putting it on your baby, but the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle is the best. I used these for months. 


The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD is magic. Watch it before the baby arrives. 


Babies love white noise and a noise machine of any kind works great. I got the Graco sound machine and I like all the different sounds as well as the iPod jack to play music. 


Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Weissbluth from Children's Memorial in Chicago is a great sleep book with legit science behind the methods. If you do not have time to read it page for page, there are some fast references for bleary eyed parents. So far, it has worked great for us. 


Some babies do not even take pacifiers. Mine did from the get go and uses it for soothing. Get a bunch of different kinds, because he will have a preference. We landed on Avent Soothie and that is all he likes. 


Hungry Baby


It is amazing how a breast pump quickly becomes the most important appliance in your life. I used the Medela Free Style and was strapped to this thing for months. I loved the bustier bra so I could go hands free, which is the funniest thing for your husband to come home to. The freezer bags are great and I loved the sanitizing bags for quick cleaning bottles and pump parts. 


There are a ton of brands that make nursing pillows, I got the bare naked pillow with the organic cover. It also made a great little seat for him to hang in the nursery. 


Aiden + Anais burp clothes are cute and super soft after washing. Get a ton, they work as bibs when the drool starts and for feeding. 


Babies also dictate what they want to use when it comes to bottles. I tried a few and had success with Dr. Brown's bottles. The parts are annoying, but I have a few sets and then throw everything in the dishwasher to sanitize. That way I only have to do that once a day. 


Diapering, Bath, Etc. 


Though babies can survive without it, a 

wip

e warmer makes for a happy baby. 

A diaper pail with a lid works for any nursery. The Diaper Dekor has been successful in that the nursery does not have a whiff of dirty diapers. 

Everyone loves the smell of a baby and I worship Noodle & Boo for lotion and bath items. They smell amazing. I also love 

Muestela which cleans really well and the bubble bath is fun. 

  

Wrapping your little guy up in hooded towels after baths keeps them cozy. 

This Safety First Deluxe Health Kit has everything to get you started health wise. Including a pair of finger nail clippers that will be the hardest thing you do as a new mom. Just make to make anyone else feel better, I have drawn blood on a few occasions. 

Clothes


When we got back from the hospital I pretty much dressed him in Snap t shirts, diapers, and a good swaddle to keep him warm. Then we moved onto kimono onesies, which are easy to get on and off. Hanna Anderson sleepers are super cute and great for bedtime. So are these sleep gowns since they make changing a diaper a lot easier at 2am. 


Another great book I want to share is The Best Birth. It has a ton of information on what to expect for your delivery, things that no one tells you, and a great approach of doing what is best for you and your baby. It is great for all moms because it covers delivery for those going all natural, to those who want drugs the second they walk in the hospital door, and everything in between. 


I hope this list is helpful for those expecting and if you have any questions, just email me Erin@ImperfectPolish.com. 


xo
Erin