Parker Time Potions Review & Giveaway

I'm not going to lie.  I rubbed the Parker Time Relax Potion on myself more than I did my infant.  The last month has been NUTS.  We got married (MARRIED!), finished up a school year, and are going through all the processes involved in selling two starter houses and buying one big forever house.  Anything that helps anyone in this house relax is priceless!

Parker Time Potions Pediatric Massage Oils showed up at my door at the right time!  It's specially formulated, all-natural body care that offers numerous moisturizing properties.  I love that it's a mom-created product born out of necessity, and also that a portion of all proceeds funds autism research.  

Each bottle contains a blend of sunflower oil, jojoba oil, calendula oil, and Vitamin E that work to safely moisturize even the most sensitive skin.  The gift pack comes with three varieties: Original, Play  (infused with sweet orange essential oil to not only promote the parent child bond but to also promote play) and Relax ( with Lavender Rose essential oil to promote calmness). 

    

And now you have a chance to win a set of your own to try out.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

**Disclosure: Park Time Potions sent me products to review and is providing products for the giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Feltman Brothers Review & Giveaway

(Don't worry.  We lowered the mattress after we showed him how to do this the pics.)

K3 is ready for Fleet Week!  And his cousin's First Communion.  And any other occasion that calls for more than his usual onesie and sweats.  

His fancy new threads are thanks to Feltman Brothers and their handmade,  heirloom-quality baby clothes.  Since 1916, this family-owned business has been designing special occasion wear that can be passed down through generations.  Their special embroidery techniques are still performed on machines that are almost 100 years old!

K3's knot romper is 100% cotton and machine washable. I found it true to size, soft, and snuggle-able.  I can't wait to have a reason to buy a friend with a baby girl one of their precious dresses.  

Find more beautiful designs from Feltman Brothers by visiting their website.

And you can win an outfit of your own for a sweet little one in your life.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway
**Disclosure: Feltman Brothers sent me a free outfit to review.  All opinions are my own.

It's A Boy!

Introducing Keith Alan III!

And after 3 weeks of survival mode, we are back in the swing of things.  I have a full drafts folder, so I'm hoping to post a bit more frequently this fall.  But for now, I'm back to baby duty, so enjoy a video of Keith sharing the news!

Because I really need a refresher

It's been almost four years since I've had a newborn, and that doesn't sound like a long time, but it feels like FOREVER.  It might have something to do with the insanely dramatic ways in which my life is different now, or that having two babies 15 months apart left it all a blurry mess in my memory, but I am incredibly anxious about having a little baby in the house again.  Umbilical cord care? Cradle cap? Diaper rash? Are newborn diapers really that nasty? And itsy bitsy? It's like I'm doing it for the first time all over again. 

Four years ago, I reviewed Dr. Carey's Baby Care Kit, and loved it.  Fast forward to 2014, and I was pumped to see an email in my inbox asking me to review a new, updated version of the book, Dr. Carey's Baby Care: First Year Baby Care Guide. Like the original, the updated version is full of helpful color photos and is a manageable 80 pages.  

This time around, I'm setting a goal for myself to keep notes (on the the convenient blank, lined pages throughout the book) of my own on what works for us, and I really really really hope that I stay on top of filling out the milestone chart in the back of the book.  I did not write down (nor do I remember) things like when JD first clapped or when O started banging two blocks together.  I could probably piece it together by going through the 18 gazzilion photos left unprinted on my computer, but having a simple place to jot things down makes so much more sense.  

Not only did Dr. Carey send me the updated edition, but he is providing one for a lucky reader as well as two swaddling blankets!  Enter below!

These babies obviously love the blankets!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our 1st Video Review! 2 New Fisher Price Toys

My parents visited yesterday to celebrate my dad's birthday and an early Easter.  Of course they brought new toys for the boys: Fisher Price's Little People Wheelies Stand 'n Play Rampway for JD, and Lil' Zoomers Spinnin' Sounds Speedway for O. (What's with the super long names & all the apostrophes, Fisher Price?)  My dad is a big NASCAR fan, so he was very excited to put these together and play.  


This morning we recorded our very first video review. Please ignore my screeching toddler, barking dog, and dirty hair!

We hope you enjoyed it!


**Don't forget to enter the NotFindingOut giveaway! 

What's in the Basket?

I've been picking up things for Easter baskets for the last month, and I kept thinking I didn't have enough for JD. I was wrong.  It is O's basket that is a little light, but I'm sure he won't notice.  And there is nothing major or expensive in JD's basket, so I'm keeping it all.  I also make a basket for hubby, but I can't post it here in case he decides to read- but it is full of healthy things (and a little junk so he can share it with me).

JD's basket: construction paper, stickers, small shovel & rake toys, Annie's Bunny Graham Friends, Annie's Bunny Fruit Snacks, egg shaped sidewalk chalk, Play-Doh Spring Eggs, mini Mrs. Potato Head, orange jelly beans in a carrot shape, small Remo drum, Little People Wheelies, Goldfish Colors, and a small stuffed bunny.

O's basket: Sophie la girafe (JD never had one, and I want to know what all the hype is about), spoons (because someone will be starting some solids after Easter), Kevin Henkes' Owen's Marshmallow Chick, more Sock Ons, tiny maracas, shaker eggs, a cage bell, Oball set, and a stuffed peep (my favorite Easter candy- Hubby always stuffs my basket with them).


What do you put in your kids' baskets?


PS: I planned to decorate the baskets and take really pretty pics outside with them, but it's been rainy and my baby doesn't sleep, so I took them inside, in the dark, with a flash.  I know.  I have to pack everything up and take it to PA for Easter anyway, so assembling them perfectly to take them apart seemed silly.


PPS: Don't forget to enter the giveaway from Not Finding Out!

Nursery Tour

The post sharing JD's big boy room is one of my most-viewed, so I thought it was a good time to share JD's old/O's new nursery.  There are no pictures of the windows because they are pretty boring- just white wooden blinds.  (There is not a single curtain in my entire house.  I have curtain commitment issues.)  It's not a very big room, and there isn't much craftiness, but I think it's still a pretty sweet room for a little guy  :)

I'm a big fan of getting a dresser instead of a traditional changing table.

Baby hands & feet

O is catching up!

I never realized how bare the walls are until I see all the empty space.  I do like this rocker overall, but I don't like that I can't fit in it with the boppy unless I really smoosh it in.

O loves playing in his crib; we're still working on the sleeping.  And we are BIG fans of sheet savers!  (I usually have a green one on to match his sheets, but they were all in the laundry.)

I was a huge Aerosmith fan in middle school (maybe because the boy I liked listened to them- but that is beside the point), and I loved this quote.  Last week I saw a wall decal set that said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed," which would have fit the theme better, but no regrets.  PS: Sorry about the creepy dog eyes, but he was so cute posing there, I couldn't crop him out  :)  PPS: I know we have to mobiles. The monkey one stopped working, so it's just for show.

A peek in the closet.  I assembled & installed this all by myself, so I am super proud.  The other half of the closet holds their halloween costumes, baptism outfits, and other fancy stuff.  The rainbow blanket towards the top was made by my great-grandmother, so it is super important (which means I will probably never let my kids actually use it).

One of my best friends painted these to match the bedding set, and I use them to organize the clothes that hang in the closet.  I'll admit I used them much more when JD was a baby- probably because I received a variety of sizes at my baby shower and didn't already have a baby when I was setting up the closet.  I only keep O's current size in the closet now, and the rest are stored in the attic.

I really wanted a bookshelf in the room, and this ladder style one worked perfectly here because a regular one would have hidden the light switch.  The quote framed on the top shelf reads, "Enjoy! Life is good."  It's a nice reminder when I'm rocking O to sleep for the fifth time.  This shelf is also where our baby monitor and iPod dock live.

And there is it.  It's not perfect, but we love it  :)

Bright Starts Comfort and Harmony Cradling Bouncer

While Hubby was away last week, I stayed at my parents' for a couple days.  Even though they have a crib, toys, and highchair for JD, there was still a ridiculous amount of packing to do for the boys. (I was reminded that before they were born, the dog used to have an overnight bag. Now she's lucky if I remember her leash and food.)  My mom asked what else she could get for their house that would be a big help as far as future visits.  We decided on sippy cups and Little People Blocks for JD (and they also got him a Cozy Coupe to tool around in- but that's just them spoiling) and something to put O down in when he wasn't in a carrier.  Mom picked up Bright Starts Comfort and Harmony Cradling Bouncer, and it was a hit!  

Yes, we are still loving the sock-ons!

The adjustable toy bar was within his reach, and we spent a lot of time watching him successfully grab at the giraffe.  It reclines in 2 positions, it's 7 songs have volume control, and it automatically bounces itself if he's being too lazy to kick his legs!  This is yet another baby item that I wish came in adult size.  It looks super cozy!

Happy With our Baby Trend Double Sit & Stand!

I've been putting off this post because I didn't want to rush it, but we are three months in now, and it is safe to say that we love our double stroller!  It handled great on the snowy sidewalks this morning, so I knew it was time to post this.
I'm not going to torture my kids with a cold, snowy photo shoot (and I'm not carrying it in the house.  It's light for a double stroller, but it's still too heavy to carry around for no real reason), so I dug up these pics from Halloween.

I LOVE that the baby doesn't have to be in the front.  Because the back seat is higher,
I can reach into his carrier while walking without bending at all.

Positives:
1- It is narrow (actually narrower than JD's single stroller) and light compared to other doubles.  Eventually I may want to get a side-by-side jogger, but I love that I can fit through any door or narrow store aisle with this stroller!
2- My Graco infant carrier fits in either seat.  Right now, I like it in the higher seat closer to me, but someday it will be nice to put Baby O in the lower seat facing JD so they can look at each other.  Or I can keep it in the back so JD doesn't kick the back of his seat- let's be real.
3- When JD is older, the back seat can be removed to convert it into a regular Sit & Stand, so hopefully we will get many, many years of use out of it.  And if we don't, it was under $200, so I won't feel too bad.
4- There really is a lot of space.  I saw negative reviews about the leg space in the back seat, but I haven't seen a tandem double with more.  It seems pretty generous to me.  Any more leg room, and it would be longer, which would be a bigger negative.  Now that Baby O is in the infant carrier, it is super easy to get to the huge storage basket underneath, and I also use the step to hold things when I'm shopping.  There is a covered storage compartment and two cup holders on the handle and cup holders on each seat's snack tray.
5- The fabric is easy to clean.  JD loves to eat and is a bit of a slob, so this was very important factor for me.
6- I don't even remember putting it together, which means it must have been easy to put together.  I'm pretty sure it came mostly assembled except for the wheels and snack trays.
7- It folds easily with one hand as long as the front wheels are straight.
8- When we tighten up the 5-point harness, JD can't climb out.  Super bonus since he twisted around in his old stroller all the time!


Negatives:
1- It folds up surprisingly flat, but long. In order for it to fit in the trunk of my Nissan Altima, we have to take the canopy off the front seat.  I leave it in the trunk and snap it in when we need the shade.  
2- The wheels don't have "real" tires.  This worried my hubby, but so far I haven't even noticed.  It handles turns very well, and I haven't had a problem pushing it- even through snow.
3- I miss having a stroller that reclined all the way for naps, but this reclines just enough for JD to sleep!

This Bed is Juuuuuust Right

We were scared.  We wanted to be prepared.  We have a lot of beds for babies.  

When my hubby and I were gearing up for life with two under two, we set out to simplify life at home.  Knowing that I was having a winter baby and would be stuck inside more than I was with JD, I envisioned losing my mind.  I feared that we would be struck in one part of the house with the new baby and JD would just bounce off the walls.  To break up the days, I set up a few different areas to hang out in that have everything a baby needs: my boobs, clean diapers, and at least one cozy place to plop down for a nap.  

In the living room, we have the Moses basket and a swing.

In the playroom, we have a portable crib.

When we play in JD's room, he shares the monster bean bag.

In our bedroom, another portable crib.

In this room, we also have to count our bed, where he ends up most nights, and good sleep spots like on top of dad.

I can't forget the crib in Baby O's nursery, which for most of his life has been covered with a sheet to keep out the dust.  That's how much he loves it.  Figures, since it's one of the most expensive pieces of furniture in the whole darn house.

Another favorite is the bouncy seat, which accommodates sleeping in the dining room and bathroom.  Mobile sleep is accomplished in Maya sling and Moby wrap.

But his favorite place to sleep...

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My Boys Have New Favorite Footwear

JD loves his skidDERS.  I love that they are easy to pull on and are washable!  The floors in our house are slippery, and JD has gotten many bumps from slipping and sliding.  I've been trying to keep shoes on his feet to eliminate the danger, but whenever we put JD's regular shoes on, he thinks he is going somewhere, and it's so sad to tell him he isn't.  These solve the problem by feeling like socks but offering more traction than even his shoes do.  I'm going to have to get more so that I can wash these :)

I am angry at myself that I did not believe in Sock Ons the first time I saw them.  I thought they were a big hoax.  JD never kept socks on, but because he was a summer baby, I was never too concerned.  Baby O has been kicking his socks off in record time since the day he was born.  He even had little blisters on the backs of his heels from rubbing his feet on his blanket.  

My mother-in-law gave us Sock Ons for Christmas, and I thanked her and threw them on the pile.  But when baby O was sockless again, she slipped a pair on, and his socks stayed firmly in place the rest of the day!  I couldn't believe it and was slightly concerned that there were going to be red marks on my baby from what must be tight elastic keeping his socks on.  There were none.  He has not gotten his socks off since.  This is one of my top must-haves now!  I can't wait to get some colorful ones and the sneaker ones!

You can get both of these here!

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The Magic Bullet is not as "magic" as I had hoped

DH and I have used the Magic Bullet for a while to make smoothies, dips, etc., and we were very excited to start using it to make our own baby food.  This past weekend we took a trip out to a local organic farm and stocked up on veggies before the winter and set up shop in our kitchen.  Making baby food- at least in this early stage- is relatively easy.  Cook the food (I used recipes from www.wholesomebabyfood.com), puree it, and plop it into individual serving sizes.

The Magic Bullet surprisingly required a lot of time and energy.  It may be because we filled the cup almost to the top, but it wasn't mixing well.  The food by the blade pureed well, but the bottom of the cup didn't move down.  I had to keep taking it off, shaking, banging, and stirring.

It was a long night, but in the end, the Magic Bullet did the job.

Anyone out there have a processor they love?

Here is the squash as it came out of the oven.  mmmmmmmmm

These trays are great because they have covers, stack well, and you can write on them with dry erase markers.  HOWEVER, it was VERY hard to get the frozen food out.  I had to get DH to do it.

This is a soft mini muffin tray I usually use for baking.  The frozen food popped right out, and it stores well in freezer bags.

The freezer is filling up!  The containers with the purple tops are small reusable containers I had ordered from Tupperware.  They are the "Freezer Safe" containers.  As you can see, we started with the oranges.

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