My Top 5 Must Have Items for a Newborn

When you're a new mom, you receive tons of items that sometimes don't necessarily work for you. I'm glad that my little blueberry isn't entirely picky and she didn't have a problem being comfy or sleeping anywhere, but I decided to list a few of the baby items that made a huge difference for us.

5 Baby Products that worked for me by hurrayimamommy on Polyvore

1. The Summer Infants Swaddle Me Swaddle- These  have helped me immensely. Not only do I not have to worry about swaddling my baby the right way but I don't have to worry about her getting loose from the blankets and the blankets covering her face at night. It's simple and keeps my baby calm.
2. Boppy Designer Nursing Pillow & Slip Cover Owl Forest- This was a great help when I was struggling with breastfeeding my baby, then it was still great support when giving my baby her bottle. Additionally we have been able to use it to prop her up a little bit, for tummy time and even as neck support for my husband.
3. Lansinoh mOmma feeding bottle- Since my baby didn't breastfeed, we were able to pump and feed it to her in a bottle. We struggled with finding the perfect bottle that would help her stay latched on, reduce colic and reduce any milk spilling out while she was drinking it. Funny enough, I had received one of these bottles as a gift from Target for signing up for my gift registry there. We ended it buying way more because these really worked best for us, by a long-shot.
4. Bright Starts Portable Swing- This was a gift from my mom and has really been a blessing. We had other swings but strangely enough, I felt like they went way too fast to the point where I felt like my baby was going to blast into orbit! This has 7 speed settings and is super light weight, which makes it easy to transport. The only thing I would have loved would be for it to have a reset button to re-inciate the swinging motion without turning it off and on again.
5. Taggies Soothe and Snuggle Me Sleeper- This sleeper has been a perfect place for my baby to nap during the day. Although it doesn't rock, it still is super comfortable and snug for her. It also has the availability of vibration but my baby for some reason doesn't really care for any of that. This is also super lightweight and easy to store which is great for someone (like me), who has a smaller space.

Of course there are many items that have worked for us but these are the ones that have made a huge difference and well they made these first time parents a tiny bit more comfortable when it came to bringing home a newborn.

Story Time + Children's Christmas Book Bundle Giveaway

My husband and I both really enjoy to read. He is currently finishing 3 majors so his books are a little different than what I enjoy, but nonetheless you can usually find us reading. We spend much time reading on our phones, computers or with an actual book in hand. Reading was a pretty big thing that we wanted to make sure and incorporate when it came to raising our baby girl. Though she is only 3 months old, we are already creating little habits, besides the fact that the more you speak to babies, the faster they learn and speak themselves. So almost every night and as often as possible, my hubby takes the time to create some daddy-daughter reading time. We are currently reading just a few pages to our baby girl from a gift given to us from our church but soon enough we will move up to bigger books!

Thinking back on my childhood book memories, I remember my parents always took the time to read to me and I really do cherish and appreciate those memories. Once I began to read on my own, one of my favorite books was Corduroy by Don Freeman. I loved the fact that he was a bear, (because I love cuddly teddy bears). I also loved the rest of the stories and cannot remember the number of times I read this book.

My mom & dad reading to me as a child!

Reading is definitely a great hobby and something great to teach to your children.

GIVEAWAY TIME

I have teamed up with a great group ladies to give away a bundle of Christmas children's books. Enter below to win the bundle of 8 lovely books for you to have just in time for Christmas. You can keep these for yourself or have them as gifts. Either way, reading is always a great tradition and books will always be great gifts! The giveaway will close Monday, November 17th.

LeeAnn is giving away: A Donkey's Little Tale, The Manger Mouse, and Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands
Gennie is giving away: The Polar Express
Ashley is giving away: The Berenstain Bears - The Joy of Giving
Susana is giving away: What is Christmas?
Britta is giving away: The Adventure of Christmas - Helping Children Find Jesus in Our Holiday Traditions
Nelle is giving away: The Story of the Nutcracker Ballet


One lucky person will win them all! To have a chance to win, enter using the rafflecopter widget below. (Click here to enter if you can’t see the widget.) a Rafflecopter giveaway

Having a baby vs owning a puppy

Recently my husband mentioned to me how a mutual friend of ours tried to compare and relate owning a puppy to having a baby. Keep in mind this friend is married but does not yet have children. I still remember the face I made when my husband began to tell me about the conversation, (I'm sure I have pretty prominent frown lines now).

His friend owns a puppy
We have (parent) a baby

The conversation came about when my husband mentioned that many new fatherly duties have made him extremely tired yet incredibly happy, to which his friend responded that he could relate (you know, with his puppy and all). My husband tried to explain how the two didn't compare, but his friend insisted that the two are quite alike...

*Full Disclosure*

I own a very very spoiled Yorkie whom I had since she was 6 weeks old, so I am definitely not hating on puppies here.

How can the comparison exist?

• You CAN leave to work and leave your puppy at home with a bowl of food and pee pad.
• You CAN'T leave a baby unattended...ever! Not to mention that babies need to eat every 2 hours, more or less. 

• You CAN leave a pee pad for your dog to pee on periodically throughout the day.
• You CAN'T leave a baby sitting in their own pee or poo. Not to mention that the cost of diapers is it's own conversation considering that on occasions our baby will go through a little less than 100 diapers in one week.

• You CAN indulge in at least 5 hours of interrupted sleep while your puppy sleeps comfortably on their own bed. If you are unlucky, you might have the OCCASIONAL puppy crier who just want to come on the bed, but once they're up on the bed...all is well.
• You CAN'T always have 4 hours of straight sleep. Babies wake up because they're hungry and well I'm the pumping food supply. My husband warms and prepares a bottle and I get to pump...at any given hour of the night. Baby's diaper also needs to be changed at this time and calming songs may come in handy while she waits (cries hysterically) for her milk to come. 

I could really go on and on, but instead, I'll highlight a few of the perks of being a parent (even with bags under my eyes)

• Our daughter is the result of the love between my husband and I.
• It is incredible to realize that this being grew within me and now as she is before our eyes, we can see little characteristics that completely resemble both my husband and I.
• I went through a rough pregnancy, labor and delivery just to be able to hold this miracle and that's only the beginning of things I would do for her. 
• I praise God for the gift of being a Mommy and accept the huge responsibility of shaping this tiny human into a warrior, teaching her to take on life and fulfill her dreams.

All in all, there is just no comparison and I know that when this friend decides to start a family...He too will realize why I would take offense to his comment.

My heart is outside my body

I read the above quote once or twice before I had my daughter. I connected with it then. I continue to connect with it now...but things are different now.

Don't get me wrong...the feeling of life growing within you is intensely incredible and sometimes even unexplainable. But having your child before your eyes and between your arms completely knocks the pregnancy away.

“Making the decision to have a child - it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ”- Elizabeth Stone

I understand this quote now. I don't only sympathize with it like I did before, or think it's beautiful. I feel it. This feeling is way more intense than feeling her kicks in my belly. This feeling is terrifying!

As I sit here and type away with my baby sound asleep in her bassinet, I look over to her and just feel....VULNERABLE.

I am so scared. You love something so small, so much, yet you have no control of many things that affect her. If she were to cry, she wouldn't be able to talk to me and tell me what is wrong. I have so many hopes of happiness for her life but all in all, I can only do so much. I can pray, wait and see what decisions she makes on her own throughout life.

It makes you reflect.

We are so selfish, we always want to be in control. Parenthood has brought me back to the thought and fact that I am nothing without God. I won't always be able to protect her in the way I'd like or follow her everywhere she goes.

She is me, my blood, my tears, my love.

I doubt this feeling of vulnerability will go away so this is where true faith and trust comes in....

Lord,

Please watch over her. Your reach is beyond mine and your strength surpasses all strength.
From her baby feet, to tiny steps to adult leaps...stay by her side.

It's true, you don't understand what it feels like to be a parent until your flesh and blood is in your arms and you feel vulnerable, scared, in love, amazed and happy all at once.

Why I Chose NOT to Read Pregnancy Books

I did a quick search on an online retailer and found roughly 49,000 pregnancy books and I read 0.

It's been 2 months now since I delivered my precious bundle of joy and as I look back, I do not regret the decision I made early on to not read any pregnancy books. The reason I chose to do this is really quite simple.

Early on in my pregnancy it was determined that my pregnancy would be considered "High Risk" due to the fact that I have a history of high blood pressure and after running some early blood tests, this was further confirmed. The results of the blood test showed that I was at a risk of pre-eclampsia.

time 18830944 of being admitted into Labor & Delivery

Being that this was my first pregnancy, everything was completely new to me. I must admit, it was also pretty terrifying to be told that you we're already at risks and would need to come to twice as many check-ups as other pregnant women.

I've heard that many pregnancy books touch base on things that "might" occur to you while you are pregnant and things that might not. You know, how to prepare for this and that.

I had a fear of literally not only having an even worse pregnancy because of the fears of thinking "what if this happens to me next " - but also fear of fearing my child. I mean, really, besides the first night home from the hospital, she hasn't been bad at all (do all parents say that?). Some books literally scare the life out of you with things your baby might do, or additionally side effects of the pregnancy and I wanted to hear none of it.

Unless my doctor told me it was something to worry about, I tried to just go with the flow.

I am an incredible over thinker. Is it a woman thing? You can sit there with one idea and literally overthink it in every way possible. I mean, when it comes to DIY projects and things such as that, it isn't that bad. But when it comes to overthinking something like an itch in my throat or the hiccups while pregnant, you can get weird and crazy ideas in your mind.

I mean, when it came to delivering my daughter, I felt mentally prepared and ready. Even with the almost emergency C-section scare, I remained calm. I really have to give all the credit to the fact that I was sure that God was taking care of me and his will was what was to happen. I knew he sent angels to watch over me and I had no need for a book (besides the Bible) to keep my A-game strong.

For my next pregnancy, I doubt that I'll read these books either. But for now, it's too early to tell...you know since you have all these intricate plans and well, babies just kind of show up and do what they want lol

Til next time :)

The Most Important Audition of My Life

My audition began the day my daughter was born.

I am auditioning for the role of my daughters’ best friend. Now that seems a little odd and some might throw the “You need to be the mom not the friend” stone at me. But truth is you can be both. 

My mother is my best friend. She has been an incredible example of an amazing and strong woman and I am incredibly grateful for her life. I have such an incredible relationship with my mom. As years have passed and as I changed from child to young adult to a wife and mommy, I have grown closer and closer to my mother and have realized how all along, she has been my one true friend. My mother always listened without judgment, but the Mexican mother that she is; she always had some good and strong advice to give me. Maybe during my teenage years, I might have been bothered by her opinion or advice but still I came to her whenever I needed guidance. I have such great memories of hanging out with my mom and to this day, I enjoy going out to a mall day with her or just hanging out at her house.

My amazing mommy and I on my wedding day.

 I pray and hope that my daughter considers me for the role of best friend. It would mean the world to me. And though I might not seem like the coolest person at the time, I will always make her my #1 priority. I will wipe every tear and cherish every smile. I will always have her best interest at heart. 

So to my daughter:

I promise to always be there
I promise to take you to swim, piano, voice, ballet and dance class and sit there through the whole class cheering you on.
I promise to drop you off at school and help you with your homework
I promise to kiss your boo boos when you fall and hold you tight when your heart is sad
I promise to teach you everything I know
I PROMISE TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CREATIVITY AND SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR DREAMS
I promise to love you more and more each day
I promise to be here to listen even when you don’t want to talk
I promise to strive to be the best mother possible and above all else, In a time when it has become harder and harder for parents, I PROMISE TO BE PRESENT.

 Te amo mi princesa.

Simple & Cute Baby Accessories

As far back as I remember, I have always worn accessories. As a child I always had bows, headbands or hats on my head. Later on I added tons and tons of necklaces (I never thought 2 we're enough).

Naturally I was super excited at the thought of having a baby girl! A chance to create embarrassing moments for her when she's older by putting insanely huge bows or flowers in her hair. (see below)

Usually, I make my baby's headbands and to be honest, she might have more than she should (considering she is only 8 weeks old). Yet still, I will continue with my hair accessory obsession.

I had been looking to possibly make my baby some knotted headbands for a while but I never found the time to go shop for material or to really sit down and give it a go. I recently came across a cute local SoCal Etsy shop that sells hair accessories, creates custom orders and is totally affordable. The name is Dimpled Cutie Creations

I went ahead and purchased a total of 4 headbands from this shop and totally love them all! To top it off, the seller was super friendly and responded quickly to any questions I had. My most important concern was making sure that the headbands would be comfortable and soft for Ariana's head, since I've come across some very uncomfortable looking hair accessories for babies.

Another super cute and awesome thing this shop offers is Mommy and Me headbands, how cute is that? I'll probably be looking into that next!

Here is my baby girl with one of the headbands!

And here are the other styles I purchased!

If you want to check them out, you can find them through the following links

https://www.facebook.com/DimpledCutieCreations
http://instagram.com/dimpledcutiecreations
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DimpledCutieCreation

Breastfeeding & Pumping Struggles

This is a post to continue to encourage myself and hopefully encourage anyone who is having struggles similar to mine.

I decided I wanted to breastfeed Ariana from the moment I found out I was pregnant. Actually, it was never really an option as much as a given. You have a baby, so you breastfeed (or so I thought). I went throughout my pregnancy just having that in mind.

With the precious arrival of my baby, I did not expect to have issues with breastfeeding.

While in the hospital, all was well. My baby only needed very little amount of colostrum at that time and I managed to squeeze and hold on tight while she latched on. At this point, baby seemed to be content. It's as if she was waiting for us to leave the hospital to really express how hungry she was.

The first night home was incredibly insane!
She cried a cry that was quite terrifying and she wouldn't latch properly! I could tell she was hungry by the way she would try to find the source of milk (colostrum) at any cost but it wasn't good enough. I believe the term is hangry (lol). We finally gave up and called the helpline from the hospital and they ok'd for us to give her formula. My hubby rushed to buy her formula before the sun was even out and she finally calmed down once she ate.

Then 2 days later my milk supply came in, which was quite unpleasant. If I ever had a thought in my mind to get breast implants, that pain quickly got those thoughts way out and to never be brought up again. Anyway, I thought once my milk supply came in that all would be well with the world. Nope, baby was still quite unhappy and I was engorged and in pain.

We went to her doctors appointment and there I found out that indeed a mix of my breast/nipples and her mouth were having a misunderstanding when it came to latching. This was quite devastating due to the fact that It's a big deal for myself as a woman to be able to provide for my baby and for someone to tell me that it might look like it won't happen unless I just sit there in pain and almost bleeding every time. Gladly I decided to look at my options and try the next best thing, pumping.

Pumping was like magic to me. No pain, super quick and you can store it for later. Now that I have been pumping for almost 2 months I must admit, I have lost the momentum! It's pretty exhausting to wash everything every 2-4 hours and sterilize it, store it, freeze it (milk), warm it up, on and on. I see why the people that choose to give formula decide on it. Its much easier (in my opinion).

I mentioned a thing or two to my lactation consultant at my last appointment with her and she said something to me that really stayed with me. It's also very true:

 If I haven't done anything else in my life to be considered "an achievement", with this, I think I'm doing pretty well!

Hang in there!

-Susana