Pregnancy & Baby

What’s Your Dream Nursery?

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When J was born, we had an adorable nursery set up for him with the CoCalo Alphabet Soup collection, pictured below (a retail pic, not our nursery). When C was born, we added a toddler bed for J and had everything blend together. The walls are colorful (light blue on two walls, green on two walls) and really make for a fun space.

For this baby, we haven’t set up a nursery yet. Right now our third bedroom is a playroom, and we’re wanting to sell our house, so we weren’t sure if it’d be worth all the time and effort to set something up just to have to move it. Plus, our babies room in with us in a bassinet for the first several months after they’re born, so it’s not a huge rush. Still, the nesting pregnant person in me has spent more than a little time looking at nursery ideas on Pinterest!

When I was first looking online for ideas, I found a nursery that’s more extravagant than my entire house put together:

Created by Little Crown Interiors and shared on ProjectNursery.com

Check out the fabric-draped ceiling and the custom dresser! To really get an idea of how custom and extravagant this room is be sure and check it out on ProjectNursery.com. I’m not a big silk and crystals kind of girl, but that changing table alone is AMAZING – the storage solutions will knock your socks off!

I don’t think rooms have to be extravagant to be beautiful, though – you shouldn’t have to invest with the US Money Reserve to line the walls with gold or anything. For us, we tend to like modern, clean lines, and those furniture pieces can be a little pricier, but I think you can also make a really big impact with the paint on the walls and vinyl wall graphics (or by painting a mural yourself with the help of a projector)! I also like the idea of shopping antique stores for unique items to make your baby’s nursery special.

What would your dream nursery include?

Wordless Wednesday: Swagger Wagon

We held off on getting a full-fledged minivan, buying a Mazda 5 in 2010 as a compromise. But now that we’ll soon have 3 kiddos, it was pretty much inevitable we’d need something bigger. Well, I felt that way, and Brian either agreed or got tired of hearing me talk about it. :) Regardless, we traded in the Mazda for a Toyota Sienna on Saturday. And, well, I kinda love it. I think Brian might, too.

Winners Galore :)

Well, I think this is the largest number of giveaways I’ve announced at once – it’s a lot of fun seeing this big list of people that have all won a great prize! :)

Yarnaholics Winner

“Teach My Baby” Kit Winner

Ritmo Audio Belt Winner

Ritmo Advanced System Winner

Signazon Custom Canvas Winner

Universal Organizers Winner

Jason’s Deli T-Shirt Winners

Jason’s Deli $25 Gift Card Winner

Exederm Moisturizer Winner

Cold Stone Gift Card Winner

Cozy Coo Sway Seat Winner

BEABA Prize Pack Winner

The Children’s Place $25 Gift Card Winner

Balboa Baby Shopping Cart Cover Winner

Lansinoh Affinity Double Electric Pump Review

I had no clue about the importance of a good pump when J was born. Of course, some people just breastfeed exclusively and don’t use a pump, but for me it was a really important tool. We ended up renting one from the hospital, and it worked well but was $45/month, which adds up quickly. With C, I bought a single electric pump. Although it served its purpose, I realized quickly that a single pump was not for me – it takes twice as long!

This time around I am excited to have the Lansinoh Affinity Double Electric Pump to use.

Lansinoh is a well-respected name in breastfeeding supplies. Their pump is affordably priced at around $129.99 (depending on retailer – I found it for more and for less at various online stores).

One aspect of the pump I love right off the bat is the capability to plug it in OR use batteries (6 AA). In most instances I’m sure I’ll use the plug, but if you’re traveling then being able to use batteries can be a lifesaver.

The flanges around the pump are a soft material (silicone, I believe) which allows for a much higher comfort level than the hard plastic many pumps have. And as you can see in the photo above, the whole unit is pretty compact – which again makes it great for traveling.

The base is pretty simple to operate with a power button, a let down button, and then buttons to to control the speed and the suction. The digital screen allows you to keep track of settings and the time you’ve used the pump.

I’ll follow up once the baby is here and let you know how it’s going using the pump, but for now we just turned it on to see. The pump is somewhat loud, but from my experience with other pumps it’s not much louder than the norm, and in most cases this won’t really matter because I pump at home. I held one of the flanges up to the palm of my hand to gauge suction, and this seems to be a powerful pump especially for the size!

The pump came with a few extras, too:

I’ll be planning to get more of the storage bags – these are great for freezing milk in to have on hand for longer-term use. They also have more of the bottles you can screw on to the pump, and I’ll probably get more of those – it makes it easier to have multiple bottles and not have to wash them each time you want to pump.

Overall I’d say this is a great, affordable pump that is easy to use. Keep an eye out for my follow-up post once the baby is here and I’ll give you some more opinions!

Note: I received this pump to facilitate my review. I was not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions are honest and are my own.

Blooming Bath Review & Giveaway

After having two kids, it’s easy to feel like you’ve seen all the products that are out there. I was completely surprised and intrigued when I discovered the Blooming Bath, a soft insert that parents can use in the sink to easily bathe their babies. It was created by four dads who all noticed how hard it can be to safely bathe slippery, squirming infants.

The Blooming Bath is a good size – I didn’t realize how large it would be, but it really is substantial which provides plenty of cushioning for your little one. Here’s a shot of it spread out on our table – isn’t it cute?

The center is a brown minky fabric that’s really soft for babies to sit on:

Here you can see a shot of the fabric from the front of the petals and then the backing too:

And on the back of the Blooming Bath there’s a tag that also doubles as a loop for hanging it up:

I tried putting ours in the sink to see how it would fit, and it seems like it will be a great setup for our baby to sit in and lean against for bathing:

The Blooming Bath is machine washable, but if it doesn’t get dirty you can just toss it in the dryer after you use it – simple! I mentioned that this is pretty large when you lay it out, but since it’s soft and foamy it’s easy to fold it up into a compact size that makes this a travel-friendly option, too. And wouldn’t this make a great shower gift? It’s adorable and practical, and will make a great impression on the recipient.

One lucky reader will win a Blooming Bath in their color choice (turquoise, pink, or yellow, ARV $40.00)! This contest is open to all U.S. residents aged 18+. Entries will be accepted until the end of the day (midnight Central) Saturday, July 28. By entering this giveaway you agree to the Official Rules.

Note: I received a Blooming Bath to facilitate this post, one is being provided for this giveaway. I was not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions in this post are honest and are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tommee Tippee Bottles

I’ve written a couple of different posts about Tommee Tippee products – their sippy cups are our new favorites, and I’m so impressed with the compact efficiency of their bottle sterilizer (I know this is going to make life easier once the baby arrives). I also got a chance to review some of their bottles, and was especially excited after hearing great things from other friends who use them.

You can tell these bottles are different right from the start – they’re wider than normal bottles, for one thing, and the entire bottle nipple area is wider too (meant to mimic breastfeeding, making it easier for babies to transition between bottle & breastfeeding). There’s also an advanced easi-vent valve that helps guard against air intake, vacuum buildup and nipple collapse, reducing the chances of gas and colic while baby feeds. This is really important to us because C had a ton of issues with gas & spitting up, and we think if we’d had the Tommee Tippee bottles it would have helped.

Features of Tommee Tippee Bottles include:

BPA- and phthalate-free
Unique soft, ultra-wide nipple mimics natural shape, feel and movement of breastfeeding
Ultra-sensitive anti-colic valve lets babies feed at their pace for less air, vacuum build- up and nipple collapse
Seamless transition from breast to bottle
Shaped for a comfortable hold for baby and mom
Nipples are progressively staged to meet baby’s needs from first latch to first sips

The Tommee Tippee bottles (and other products) are available at Target now, did you know? Our Target had an aisle that held a bunch of their products:

I’m really excited to have discovered Tommee Tippee products this time around! Have you seen their products in your Target?

Giveaway Winners Announcement – Batch 2

The fun part about having a ton of giveaways is getting to pick a ton of winners! Here are the latest winners, selected via Rafflecopter. There are still a lot of giveaways open so be sure and enter those… and I have a giveaway coming up later today too, so keep an eye out!

Makaboo Giveaway Winner:

Spiffies Winner:

Children’s Place Gift Card Winner:

Huggies Diapers & Wipes Winner:

Tiny Love 3-in-1 Rocker Winner:

HALO Sleep Sack Winner:

School Zone Software Winner:

Lamaze Toys Winner:

Fisher Price Calming Waters Vibrating Tub

Fisher Price is a brand that I’m sure most people are familiar with, whether they have kids or not. I think most of us can probably remember a Fisher Price toy we played with a child – it’s been around for a long time, and it’s a brand I associate with quality. Of course, they don’t just make toys – they also have great baby gear.

We’ve been keeping an eye out for a good infant tub to use this time around. I knew I wanted one with a sling in it because it makes it comfortable for the baby – and easy to bathe in. I discovered the Calming Waters Vibrating Tub, and knew it sounded like one we’d love.

This tub has all of the features we loved about our last Fisher Price tub – and more. The most noticeable of all the features is the vibration. It’s something we all know is soothing to babies, which is why it’s included in so many infant rockers, bouncy seats, and swings. So it makes sense to have it in the tub, too, to help babies relax.

Aside from the vibration, this tub is still top of the line and has a lot of smart features. Another of my favorites is the hook that they’ve attached, making it easy to hang out of the way. I love this because that was one of my biggest pet peeves with our old tub – where to put it when it’s not in use.

It also includes a (removable) sling and headrest, allowing you to make the tub extra comfortable for newborns, but easy to modify for older babies to sit in.

There’s a stopper in the tub too, so even when you want to stop using the sling it’s easy for your baby to recline in the tub without slipping. It’s removable too, but I can see using it for quite a while until our baby is stable at sitting up.

The tub fits well in most single and double sinks, and of course you can use it in an empty tub, too. It has a drain plug to make it easy to drain. I can’t see any negatives about this tub! I love that it’s nice and neutral but still stylish – it’ll fit in well with any bathroom decor. The tub retails for $42.99, which is just $10-$12 more than other Fisher Price tubs without the vibrating feature. This would be great to add to your registry or perfect for a shower gift!

Note: We received a Fisher Price Calming Waters Vibrating Tub to facilitate this post. I was not compensated monetarily. All opinions are honest and are my own.

Carter’s Watch The Wear {Giveaway}

Carter’s Watch the Wear is a brand that has been around for over 150 years, having started out as the premier manufacturer of denim overalls and ‘work wear’. Their overalls were famous throughout the United States. Throughout the years they expanded to include boy’s overalls, coats, jumpers, painter coats, and shirts in their line. Now they have adorable newborn, infant & toddler clothing, which is what we got to review. I had never heard of the brand before (I mistakenly thought they were a part of Carter’s – they’re not) but was excited to try out an affordable option for baby clothes!

We were sent four items for review. My favorite outfit we received would fit our baby at the wrong season, so I gifted it to my friend Amanda‘s daughter Rea. Isn’t it cute?

It was a three-piece set that also came with a sleeveless onesie – here’s Amanda kindly showcasing it for you. :)

We also got a two-pack of sleepers and a single sleeper, along with a four-pack of blankets. Everything is cheery & bright (without being too bright, if you know what I’m talking about):

The products from Carter’s Watch the Wear are very affordable – for instance, the blankets above typically retail at $9.99, and are on sale right now for $6.99. The material on the clothing and the blankets is noticeably thinner, in my opinion, but with the low prices these items make great options for day-to-day use.

Two lucky readers will each win a $25 gift card to Carter’s Watch the Wear – and trust me, that’ll go a long way with their affordable prices! This contest is open to all U.S. residents aged 18+. Entries will be accepted until the end of the day (midnight Central) Friday, July 20. By entering this giveaway you agree to the Official Rules.

Note: I received clothing from Carter’s Watch the Wear to facilitate this post, and they are providing the gift cards for this giveaway. I was not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions in this post are honest and are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contours Options 3-Wheeler Stroller {Giveaway}

Since finding out I was pregnant, I’ve been on the hunt for a great stroller – and once we found out we were having a girl, I knew I wanted to find something pink! We were thrilled to discover the Contours Options 3-Wheeler Stroller and all the versatility that it provides.

As a Contours Mom, I get to bring you all the latest on Contours products and host giveaways for them, too! If you remember, a while back I won a Contours Classique 3-in-1 Bassinet from another blog, so I was a fan of Contours even before being accepted into their bloggers program. Their products are not only well-made and great to look at, but they all serve multiple purposes or work in multiple ways, which adds even more value to them!

Brian put the stroller together pretty soon after it arrived because we were eager to see what it looked like – he said it was a really quick & easy process, which started our opinion off on the right foot! Our baby isn’t due until September, but we babysat our friends‘ daughter Rea and let her try the stroller out.

As you can see in the photo above, the seat of the stroller reclines nicely for younger infants (it has three options – fully reclined, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees), and there’s a nice (removable) cushion around their heads for when they’re especially little. I also love the print on this stroller – it comes in red & black, too, but we loved the brown & pink combo of the Blush stroller.

Another thing we love about this stroller is that you can use a car seat attachment to use your baby carrier with it. When your baby is asleep, it’s nice to be able to just move the car seat and not have to disturb her. The attachment works with most car seat brands – visit the stroller page for a full list of brands.

This attachment allows the car seat to clip in at the back, and also has a strap that buckles over the top of the car seat giving you even more stability.

You can have your baby facing toward or away from you as you push the Contours stroller. Another unique feature is, of course, that it has 3 wheels instead of 4 like many strollers. The front wheel is 8″ and swivels, allowing for easy maneuvering, and there are two 12″ wheels in the back.

We were impressed with the amount of storage the basket underneath the stroller provides – and how easily accessible it is. There’s a tray by the handles with two cup holders and a tray perfect for your phone and wallet, and then there’s a cup holder for the baby as well.

By far my favorite part of the stroller, though, is the versatility I mentioned above. It’s so easy to switch between the three different options (car seat attachment, forward facing, and rear facing). How easy, you ask? Well, I enlisted Brian to help me make a video to show you. It literally takes seconds to switch out between options:

The stroller is easy to fold with a trigger, and folds up to a nice compact size – that’s important for us because with soon-to-be three kids our space will be a valuable commodity!

The Contours Options 3-Wheeler Stroller retails for $169.99, which is a very competitive price, especially for the quality this stroller provides.

I know you’ve got to be excited about this stroller after seeing all of its amazing features, right? Well, get ready to be even more excited because here’s your chance to winone of your own!

One lucky reader will win a Contours Options 3-Wheeler stroller in their choice of print (ARV $169.99)! This contest is open to all U.S. residents aged 18+. Entries will be accepted until the end of the day (midnight Central) Saturday, July 28. By entering this giveaway you agree to the Official Rules.

Note: As a Contours Mom, I received a stroller to facilitate this post, and one is being provided for this giveaway. I was not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions in this and the other post are honest and are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Quality Wooden Toys for Baby from HABA

HABA is a brand I discovered when J was little – we love their wooden toys, and the boys both have loved them, too. HABA baby toys stimulate sensory perception and convey experiences that fit with babies’ age. With HABA, babies learn to comprehend the world through play.

We received the Little Sparrow & Little Sheep rattles to review – aren’t they adorable?

Both of these toys feature smiling faces, easy-to-grasp shapes, and chunky wooden legs that make a clicking sound when you move them around. They each retail for $11.99. We’re excited to have these for the baby and know she’ll love them!

Note: I received the HABA toys to facilitate this review. I was not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions are honest and my own.

Pregnancy & Baby Extravaganza Giveaway Winners

Five of the giveaways have ended, and these are the lucky ladies that won – Jessica actually won TWO! Congratulations to all of the winners – and don’t forget there are still many giveaways live in my sidebar on the right!

Mombo Pillow Winner

Inchbug Labels Winner

Diaper Cake Winner

Exederm Flare Cream Winner

MyBabyClothes.com Gift Card Winner

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