Mommy's Favorite Things

When I was pregnant, I was constantly searching "registry must-haves" and "registry checklists" on Pinterest. I did so much research on what items were the best on the market and the best for my little baby! In honor of Lola turning three months this week (where is time going?!?!), I decided to create a list of my own! This is not a complete checklist of what you'll need to buy or register for, but it is definitely a list of products that I LOVED, products that work wonderfully for newborns (or at least mine), and products that just make life a little easier! Hope that you find something on this list that you will love too! (P.S.-There is no special order to this list... I'm never been too organized!)

1. Fisher-Price Cradle 'N Swing, My Little Sweetie

          This thing is AH-MAZING!!! I am currently able to write this post solely because little Lola is swinging peacefully in this swing. When we are in the living room and she needs to take a nap, we put her in this, turn the music and mobile on, and she falls asleep pretty quickly. She LOVES it. Every once and a while when I need to set her down for a second if I need to do laundry or dishes or even just eat lunch, I'll stick her in there. Even if she's still wide awake, she will stare, smile, and sometimes giggle as she watches the mobile spin. It is seriously awesome, and I definitely recommend!

2. Crane Drop Shape Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

          I never understood what humidifiers are for... and then I had a baby. I can actually tell a difference in the days we do use it overnight and when we don't (specifically in the winter). Lola Jade always has more issues with congestion and dry skin when we forget to use it. Buy this, and use it!

3. Gerber Printed Pre-Fold Burp Cloth

          "What's so special about burp cloths?" you may be asking yourself. Let me tell you... burp cloths are special. Very special. Baby spits ups? Burp cloth. Baby drools everywhere? Burp cloth. Milk spills? Burp cloth. Baby snots everywhere? Burp cloth. I'm thinking you're getting the picture. You never know what kind of other scary messes you might be cleaning up. Babies specialize in getting all kinds of bodily fluids everywhere. Burp cloths for the win. And... the cheaper, the better.

4. Boppy Bare Naked Nursing Pillow

          The famous Boppy pillow. At first, this thing felt totally awkward. I didn't understand it. A few times experimenting with body placement and this thing will be your favorite prop when you and baby are getting the breastfeeding process down. Also, it makes a great prop to sit them up (as long as mama is still present and monitoring). Girl, go getchu a cute cover, too! Boppy Slipcovers

5. Tommee Tippee Travel Bottle and Food Warmer

          This was a whopping $13. If you are breastfeeding and pumping exclusively, you aren't supposed to microwave the milk for a few reasons. I heat breastmilk up in hot water, so this was perfect for us. It works for any brand of bottles, and you don't need batteries or electricity to use it when you're out and about!

6. Infant Optics Digital Video Baby Monitor with Night Vision

          If you want a video monitor that won't break the bank, check this one out! It's right under $100 and works like a charm. I love the fun, bright blue color of it, too! Amazon never fails me.

7. Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Newborn Starter Kit

          Tommee Tippee is supposed to be one of the best to prevent "nipple confusion" (yes, that's a thing) when breastfeeding. Every baby is different, so I'm going to pass on the advice my sister-in-law gave me: try one bottle before you buy the set. Lola did well with this bottle, so we bought this starter kit complete with four bottles, a sippy cup, and a bottle brush. These bottles are so cute and pink too, so of course that's a bonus!

8. Marc by Marc Jacobs "Pretty Nylon Eliz-A-Baby" Diaper Bag

          I don't have this diaper bag personally, but it was one of the most requested and highest recommend diaper bag when I was working in a Nordstrom's handbag department. Any good quality, nylon diaper bag is the best option because they're lightweight and won't weigh 50 lbs by the time you get all your crap in there! I prefer neutral colors so it matches everything and can go with baby boy or girl stuff. This Marc by Marc Jacobs diaper bag in grey is perfect!

9. Philips Avent Soothie Pacifiers, 0-3 months

          This is the only pacifier Lola would take, and it just so happens to come in a variety of fun, bright colors! I waited until the advised 6-8 week range to give one to her though, in order to prevent the nipple confusion mentioned earlier. P.S.-these work great with pacifier clips!

10. Bandana and Infinity Bibs

          Lola got an infinity bib (=infinity scarf+drool bib) from her cousin for Christmas, and it is amazing. We love that thing! There are both bandana and infinity bibs that are great for babies prone to drooling and spitting up. I'm convinced Lola could win the gold in an Olympic drooling contest, but if I put one of these on her I spare myself a lot of outfit changes! Totally worth the money. Etsy is loaded with cute options!

11. Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack

          We find ourselves hand washing bottles often, and this drying rack and the accessories that go with it are life savers! It has such a simple, appealing design too so it's not an eyesore in your kitchen.

12. Soft Gear My Deluxe Changing Mat

          Spare yourself the difficulty of buying and washing multiple changing pad covers. Buy the one in the link above! It is impermeable to fluids and therefore can be easily cleaned by wiping it down which prevents any bacteria growth. It is worth every penny!

13. Loved by Sophia Braided Leather Pacifier Clip

          If your baby is going to use a pacifier, you're going to want (need) a pacifier clip! My personal favorite is these adorable ones from Loved by Sophia on Etsy! Even if your baby doesn't use a pacifier, these work great for teethers and other toys and keep them from getting lost or falling on the floor. They are such great quality and also come in lots of pretty colors and different shaped clips!

14. Insulated Water Mug 

          I think these are pretty standard issue when you give birth in a hospital. If for some weird reason you didn't get one or lost yours and are breastfeeding, I highly recommend investing in one of these! I'm pretty sure most moms who still use theirs could rant and rave about how awesome these are all day... I am definitely one of them. These help you stay hydrated all day which is important for milk supply!

15. Fisher-Price Newborn Rock n Play Sleeper

          My friend Danielle introduced me to this thing. I bought one for her to sleep in while traveling or hanging out around the house because it folds up nicely, and this ended up becoming her bed for nighttime too! We swaddled Lola until just recently, and when we laid her in the bassinet swaddled, she would roll over. Obviously that's not safe for a swaddled newborn, so this was perfect for keeping her upright overnight! I love this sleeper, and I am going to be so sad when she outgrows it!

16. SwaddleMe Muslin Blankets, 3-Pack

          If you can't tell already, we are all about that swaddle life. These were the best swaddle blankets! This was the first swaddle blanket we used when we were in the hospital. We got them in the color "Lavender Diva" and they were perfect for my little diva-child. Animal print is always the answer.

17. HALO SleepSack 100% Cotton Swaddle

          Once again: Swaddle. Life. Lola has been a pretty good, sound sleeper, and I think it has to do a lot with us swaddling her. Newborns often deal with the Moro reflex (AKA startle reflex) and can wake themselves up because of it. The HALO SleepSack worked so well and kept her perfectly swaddle all night. This is better for babies' safety than letting them sleep in swaddle blankets overnight. I would get a few because we used ours every night!

18. Nuk Reusable Nursing Pads, 8 count

          If you're going to breastfeed, leaking milk is going to be something you'll experience for a while (yes, it's a glamorous life we live). They have disposable ones as well, but these have worked well for me, and I don't have to keep buying them! I just throw them in with the baby laundry and then they're ready to go!

19. Medela Tender Care Hydrogel Pads

          Another great one for breastfeeding. These were LIFESAVERS! Whoever said "breastfeeding doesn't hurt if you're doing it right" either: A) is full of crap, B) haven't breastfed a day in their life, C) breastfed and for some odd reason already had calloused nipples of steel. Breastfeeding is so painful when you're getting started for a variety of reasons. The first two and a half weeks was so hard. These were one of the products that got me through that time. I highly recommend them, despite the high price! If you're lucky, the nurses might have samples to give you in the hospital. USE THEM!!!

20. Lansinoh HPA Lanolin for Breastfeeding Mothers

          Buy this and use this immediately! Use it often. Save the nips.

21. Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump


          My starter kit wasn't this elaborate, but I love my Medela pump! Either most or all insurance cover you getting a free pump, so call your company while pregnant and get more information. Mine was completely free, and I use it all the time! These help especially when you are producing too much milk and need to pump a little off to prevent engorgement, or when you are producing too little and need to up your supply by pumping between breastfeeding sessions.

22. Women's Nursing Seamless Bra

          I promise... last breastfeeding product!! This bra, y'all. I love it. Inexpensive and good quality! This makes life so much easier when breastfeeding and is way comfortable to sleep in.

23. Aveeno Baby Daily Bathtime Solutions Gift Set

          I have always loved Aveeno skincare products for myself, so I knew I wanted to try their baby skincare line for Lola. It has worked great and helps keep her soft little skin moisturized in this dry winter weather! I love the smell, too! She smells so clean, and it's not loaded with unnecessary fragrance.

24. Britax Back Seat Mirror

          Having a rear-facing carseat for infants is of course the safest for the baby, but being a new mom, it's so hard being in the car and not able to check on your newborn! That is what these are for. I promise you'll want one! 

25. Summer Infant Complete Baby Care Kit

          This kit has everything from a thermometer, to baby nail clippers, to a pacifier medicine dispenser. It's loaded with great stuff to take care of your newborn! 

26. Britax B-Agile and B-Safe Travel System

          After seeing tons of great reviews on safety and having heard even better things about it from friends, I decided to register for this travel system. I absolutely love it. It's not only one of the safest ones on the market, but also has a nice, sleek design. If you end up getting this travel system, I highly recommend going ahead and getting this Britax Stroller Organizer as well!

27. babyletto Madison Swivel Glider

          I'm all for functional, but style is just as important in my book. I found this perfect little glider with awesome reviews, and it is SO comfortable! I am so happy with how it looks in Lola's nursery and how functional it is for feeding her or rocking her to sleep.

Thanks for reading! If you have been through the newborn stage and have additional product recommendations, please feel free to add in the comments below! Also, what products would you recommend for our next stage, 3-6 months? We would love to hear about the products that make your life a little easier!

The Birth of Lola Jade

On November 12, 2014, my precious Lola Jade Moor was born! (If you have a short attention span and are just here for the "birth" details... skip to the last paragraph. You're welcome.) One thing I never understood before I had Lola was why people wrote about their "birth stories". I totally get it now. Birth is such a unique and memorable experience that deserves to be remembered! I also love reading others' birth stories because it allows you to hear about some of the most exciting and special times in their lives. I think sharing such precious experiences really promotes the special "sisterhood" between all mothers. (If you're confused as to what sisterhood I'm referring to, please watch this adorable new Similac commercial if you haven't seen it yet!)

Perfect, right? Such a great message! 

 For those who know me or have at least read my previous blog post, I thought I would get married at quite a bit older age. Plot twist! God had a way better plan for me than I could have ever imagined. I was blessed to marry the most amazing man (better than I could have ever dreamed of) at the age of twenty-one! We had a beautiful wedding surrounded by all of our loved ones. I still had about a year and a half of college left after that, and we both had decided we would wait a few years before we started trying to have children. 

My mom had a difficult time trying to get pregnant. Her and my dad had started trying right when they got married, and it took five years! If you have met my mom, you know I'm a lot like her (thankfully so). That being said, I figured fertility issues would be one of those things I inherited... so, you know, like a really responsible, intelligent young lady, I was not so consistent with taking my birth control. Well, about nine months and one Christian conference getaway (conveniently named "Passion" and scheduled Valentines weekend) later... guess who got pregnant?! LOL. (I'm not sure if "LOL" is blog-appropriate but I think it's clear appropriateness isn't my strong suit). As huge of a surprise as it was, I felt relieved, at peace, and most importantly--blessed. I felt relief that I hadn't inherited fertility issues. I felt at peace because I knew God had (and still has) His hand on our little family. Children may be surprises, but they are never accidents! And I felt blessed because I knew I was going to receive one of the most perfect gifts that only God can give... a child. I also felt blessed that I was getting to experience all of this with my amazing husband, who I had absolute no doubt would make the best father! We went out to dinner with both of our parents and had our server bring out baby shoes (one boy shoe, one girl shoe) on a serving platter. It was so amazing to see the looks on their faces when they realized what it meant! After we told them, I wanted to tell my brother who was currently at  YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Australia. It took a while for our schedules to match up, and finally we were able to FaceTime him and tell him the news! After our immediate family knew, we decided to announce our pregnancy before the recommended time of thirteen weeks (which is another topic I might cover in a future post). We got our two fur children up on their dog couch and posed them with this sign, aiming for a bodyguard theme. It turned out pretty adorable, if I say so myself! I believe I was about five and a half weeks along at this time.

I love my fur babies! Two and a half weeks later, we had our first ultrasound and got to see our precious peanut wiggling around on the screen. I also had discovered the "BabyBump" app (definitely recommend!), which gave us weekly updates on our growing little babe. It was so special to read about the growth our little baby was experiencing in the womb! I loved to read them with Jason so we could share those exciting moments together. I believe it was week thirteen and hearing that our baby was the size of a peach that made my big, manly husband cry like a little girl... And yes, it was the sweetest thing ever. We had our second ultrasound at thirteen weeks, and our third at eighteen weeks, when they told us the sex of our baby! I had a feeling early on in pregnancy that I was having a girl... And I was right! We knew we wanted to do a gender reveal, and being the last-minute and fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants couple we are, we planned it for just a few days later. My creative mother came up with the idea of putting pink food coloring in water guns and shooting it at our friends and family! We opted to shoot all the guys because I didn't know how many women would show up to a party knowing they were going to be shot by water guns. We decided to do the announcement shortly into the party in fear I would slip up and spill the secret before the grand reveal. Well, turns out we know me well because I still ended up spilling the secret early to half the party guests! It still was so much fun, and I was so excited to announce we were having a little Lola!

Second trimester was my favorite. My belly wasn't huge yet, I wasn't dealing with first trimester fatigue, and I had just found out I was having a girl so of course I was doing lots of shopping. Also, I graduated from college the last week of second trimester, so although I was not enjoying waddling in heels all over and around the stadium in hot Texas weather, I was so happy to finally be done! Then third trimester rolled around. It drug on... and on... and on. I was so ready to meet my little princess. I was convinced I would give birth early. CONVINCED. And since I was right about having a girl, I pretty much knew I was right about when I would go into labor. I am here to tell you I was wrong. Very, very wrong. I decided to be induced five days after my due date if I hadn't yet gone into labor. Those were the longest five days o f  m y  l i f e . I was huge, and I was miserable. And more than anything, I wanted to meet my precious baby girl. 

I was getting induced on a Wednesday, and since I wasn't effaced, I had to come in Tuesday night so they could get that taken care of. As open as I am on social media, I didn't tell many people when I was getting induced because I didn't want any surprise visits for my super-irritable self. Plus, I think birth (especially the first child) is a very special and intimate time for a husband and wife, so I wanted space to enjoy it and go through it all with just Jason. So Tuesday they gave me the cervix-softener and a little bit of the inducing drug (Pitocin) and the contractions came pretty quickly. They were extremely painful, as you've probably heard, but they didn't want to give me the epidural right away. Tuesday night I didn't sleep much because I was too busy gritting my teeth and squeezing the crap out of the bedrails. They finally gave me some pain medication that put me to sleep for three or four hours. Thank Jesus for that stuff because I don't know if I could have functioned for what was ahead without a little sleep!! When I woke up, I was fully effaced, dilated, and so they gave me the epidural, but the nurse informed me they were having a hard time finding and keeping her heartbeat. They decided to do an internal heart monitor, and realized we couldn't find it because with every contraction, it was dropping significantly. The nurse told one of the other nurses to get ahold of my doctor and tell her to get there as soon as possible. My mom and Jason were in the room with me, and I am so thankful for their support in those moments! Although it was a scary situation, I had a supernatural sense of peace that everything was going to be okay. Thankfully my doctor lived in the neighborhood next to the hospital, so she showed up within minutes. Her hair was still soaking wet since she was just getting out of the shower when she got the call! She monitored Lola's heart rate and we watched as it was dropping more and more every contraction. She said, "Here's the thing. I don't know what is making her heart rate drop, so we can wait a little longer to see if it works itself out, which could turn into an emergency, or we can just go ahead and do the C-section." I said, "Let's just get her out!" So, within an hour of that conversation I was wheeled into the operation room and in surgery, with my wonderful husband by my side holding my hand. Let me just tell you... C-sections are super weird. The fact that someone is cutting you open and operating on you while you are awake is weird, especially when your husband and all the doctors and nurses are watching! It seemed like all of thirty seconds before they pull out this messy, swollen-faced, but BEAUTIFUL dark-haired little baby girl. I was able to watch the nurses as they weighed her, measured her, wiped her down, and swaddled her up. They gave her to Jason, and he brought her close to my face so I could see her for a few minutes and kiss her before they took her to the nursery to check vitals. Within twenty to thirty minutes, I was stitched up and returned to my delivery room, and Jason comes walking in with our little Lola! I was able to cuddle her and feed her for the first time, and I fell more and more in love with her by the minute. Was it a rocky experience? Absolutely. But I wouldn't change the outcome for the world. Love you, Lola Jade. XOXO Mommy.