Where Has November Gone?!

December is here!! November…came and left – FAST! Didn’t it? I feel like I merely blinked and it was gone. And now the most wonderful time of the year is quickly approaching! 

I have a lot of good stuff to share these days as a lot has been happening and I’ve been making more of an effort to document these happenings and whipping out my iPhone at a moments notice! 😉 I think being a mom has helped me learn to have super quick reflexes! 

Speaking of being a mom – Levi is now a ONE YEAR OLD! Can you believe it?! They certainly don’t stay little for long. It seems as though almost overnight he’s full of sass at times and has all these opinions about things. Not even kidding! He now shakes his head ‘no’ all.the.time. And he’s suddenly become a picky eater! And super independent with things now too. Where did my snuggly little baby go? He’s always itching to go explore 🙂 .

To celebrate his first birthday we drove back down to Matt’s parents. They let us have his party there – which worked out super well because that way he could be with family and close friends. It was a lumberjack themed party – which I thought was pretty perfect for the time of year, Movember and all that good stuff  😉 . It was a full house – I think there was about 26 adults and 12 little ones running everywhere! My in laws are pretty awesome for opening up their house to that many guests!!

 It was so much fun planning this party. It definitely helped me to be more excited about the fact that my baby is now one year old! Pinterest is always a great inspiration and got my creative juices flowing. When I think about my theme “lumberjack” I think about flannel, outdoorsy, camping, roughing it, that type of rustic feel. So I incorporated a lot of natural, outdoorsy elements in my decor and tried to keep it as simple as possible. With this theme, I was able to utilize a lot of our camping gear as well as my winter/Christmas decor, so that helped us to stay on a budget! I had leaves, acorns, and pinecones scattered around, and used more rustic party supplies like birch “ribbon”, twine and burlap.

 

I printed off some fun lumberjack photos from Pinterest as well as some of Levi’s first few months…

Aww, look how little ❤

   
 

The key things I wanted to have at the party was a hot chocolate bar and trail mix favours, so those were fun to have and were enjoyed by both the kids and adult alike 🙂 .

  

  

My awesome sister took all the photos for me as I was busy prepping food/welcoming guests, etc… But sadly there wasn’t a picture taken of the hot cocoa table! I can tell you that it was fully stocked with many goodies! We had out both a vanilla syrup and a peppermint syrup (that I made myself). Then for the toppings there was both chocolate and butterscotch chips, whipped cream, caramel sauce and cinnamon, mini marshmallows and even salt! So people could have a salted caramel hot chocolate or even a peppermint one! There were many flavour options and it was thoroughly enjoyed. This is something I’ll definitely do again at another party 🙂 .

For the trail mix we put out salted peanuts, pumpkin seeds, banana chips and raisins. I had some “sweet timber” out on that table too which was Kit Kat bars stacked like logs and scattered some tootsie rolls to add a little sweetness to all that salty. 

I made everything myself. I wanted a fabric banner and considered buying one on Etsy, but it was cheaper to make it (and was super simple!) I baked “pancake” sugar cookies, and also made both red velvet and chocolate cupcakes (black and red – lumberjack flannel, anyone?!) 

  

    
 I had picked up both the lantern (similar) and the wooden server (acacia) from Chapters/Indigo. The candle was Bath and BodyWorks “Pumpkin Pecan Waffles”! Mmm…it was especially fitting as lumberjacks are known for their big breakfasts! 

We took our own cakesmash/ one year photos of Levi at a conservation area and then had those pictures framed an on display at the party! I was so pleased with how well they turned out. Little bottle brush trees were found at the Dollarstore.

 

Everyone came over for lunch and we served pulled pork on a bun with a side of brown beans and broccoli salad (which I nicknamed “forest of trees” – everything is on theme, of course!) with apple cider punch. There was other little finger foods/ snacks (s’mores kabobs AND s’mores dip!) and by the time we brought out the cupcakes everyone was either stuffed or had indulged in too many sweets already!

 

 

The birch paper straws I ordered on Amazon as well as the wooden utensils! The plates and napkins were from the dollar store.

   

  

  

 

 “Sharp” cheddar and Pepper “Jack” cheeses 😉 . To keep things cohesive, food was placed on either white or wooden serveware. Some things were left to keep warm (pork in slow cooker, beans in a soup pot and S’mores dip in a cast iron skillet). 

 
 

The cute little “log” place card holders are Kate Aspen and fit the party theme perfectly! 

 
    

The cute “Don’t Feed the Bear” printable can be found on Etsy. The bear glass jar that I had filled with Teddy Graham’s was actually Matt’s that he had kept from his childhood! My sister let me borrow the brown teddy bear 🙂 .

  

    
 

I love how hard dad is laughing in that picture above! 

  

He thoroughly enjoyed that cupcake 😀 !

 

You can kind of see the hot chocolate table set up behind us under the window and photo banner.

   
 

Levi was gifted some really cute clothes, a few toys and lots of great books!

   

Levi and I got a few cute pictures with my younger brother and sister. I loved that a few people dressed up in the lumberjack flannel shirts to fit the theme! 

  
 

   
 

Poor Levi had so much fun but was so hopped up on that cupcake and was in dire need of his afternoon nap! He was super tired after all the party festivities came to an end.
It was awesome to be back around family to celebrate the blessing this kid is! Matt and I feel so fortunate that he’s ours and that he has such a wonderful extended family who loves him and  prays for him regularly. We are truly blessed. ❤️

  
  

    

  

  

What’s In My Diaper Bag (& Packing For Labour & Delivery)

Why, hello there! This is actually an old blog post that I was meaning to put up months ago. A few people had been asking me about packing for the hospital/delivery, what to bring and what I keep in Levi’s diaper bag, and I never got around to posting it on my blog because Levi surprised us with his early arrival! I figured I could make a few changes and still post it today, and maybe even help someone out in the process (keep in mind that Levi was born in the Winter, so some items may not apply to your situation).

“I’m currently 35 weeks going on 36, and since our first little one is due at the beginning of December, I’m really feeling the nesting!” — that’s because Levi came the following week, and I never got around to finishing this post! He was born at 36 weeks November 13th!

Keep reading to see the rest of this post pre-baby:

“With Christmas already being such a busy holiday, combined with not knowing how I’ll be feeling after labour, and adjusting to our baby and his routine, I’ve been trying my hardest to get organized! Lists have been made, items have been purchased, nursery is 95% complete, and my mind is swirling with to-do lists.” — I imagine this is how a lot of pregnant mothers feel as their due date approaches!

I like to be organized, and find lists work well to help sort out my thoughts. I’ve been sorting through lately is packing and prepping the baby’s hospital bag and my bag. Now before I share with the world what’s in my bag, might I remind you that there’s going to be girly stuff in there. There’s bras and maxi pads – so be warned! 😀 I also may be more high maintenance than some of you, so you may choose to exclude certain items!

Ok, so I scoured Pinterest for others packing lists, as this is our first! I really tend to be an overpacker and I like to be prepared for “what if” situations as best as I can!

So, keeping that in mind, let’s get started:

– Slippers (not pictured) for walking the halls. They have a rubber sole on them for easy cleaning. These are mine. Love ’em.

– Coins for vending machines (also not pictured). In case Matt or I should want snacks or drinks on a whim.

– Snacks (have yet to be purchased). Likely going to run to Dollarama and Bulk Barn to grab some dried fruit, chocolate bars, granola and gum and drinks. Mmm…maybe some goldfish crackers. 🙂

– Nursing bras (I have 2)

– Nursing tank (1)

– Breast pads (I got free samples of both Aveda and Johnson’s.)

– Nipple cream (This brand comes highly recommended.)

– Travel sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner

– Dry shampoo (this is a ‘just in case’!)

– Razor (this is IF I feel up to shaving – hah! But, seriously, how handy? Lather, shave and lotion in one step!) 😉

– Bodywash (LOVE this stuff. I get the lavender vanilla scent because it’s SO relaxing smelling.)

– Lotion (as stated above – the scent is nice and calming, and I firmly believe in treating yourself! You’re going to be giving birth!!)

– Hand sanitizer

– Kleenex pack

– Face wash and makeup remover – Love this stuff because it’s a 3 in 1 eye makeup remover, cleansing milk and toner.

– Toothbrush and toothbrush holder

– Deoderant (I purchased a travel sized one at the dollarstore.)

– Underwear  (5 pack – I intentionally bought cheap undies so I wouldn’t ruin my own stuff. You need to hold up those maxi pads listed below! 😉 I was happy these actually have cute patterns and colours! I intentionally purchased ones that are high-cut in case of an emergency C-section. Then they still can be worn over the incision.)

– Maxi pads (I was told these offer the best protection and are the closest thing to wearing depends. Which sucks, but it’s necessary after delivering!)

– Wet wipes (flushable. Toilet paper might just not cut it. You never know…)

– Headband (to wear during labour.)

– Hair elastics and bobby pins (for those fly aways.)

– Comb (My hair is wavy and shoulder length, so I’ll likely be letting it air dry or putting it up.)

– Small cosmetic bag (containing Q-tips, compact mirror, Chapstick, mascara and blush. I look like a pale ghost in the Winter, and there’s bound to be pictures taken!)

– Fleecy socks  (I’m having a December baby! Plus, they’re cozy for when I don’t want to have to wear my slippers. I usually feel chilly in hospitals, and I always have cold hands and feet.)

– P.J.’s 

– Outfits (Thinking loose, flowy, warm and cozy.) 😀

• Sweatpants (elastic band – hello!)
• Fleece lined leggings
• Loose tee
• Flannel button up
• Long sleeved shirts
• Open knit cardigan

Some of these items will be worn in the hospital, as well as my “coming home outfit”. Just keeping it comfy!

I have written down a list of items to grab (like my pjs, slippers, and comb)as I’ll still be wearing them/using them up until we leave for the hospital. I am also still on the fence a bit about grabbing a towel of ours for showering with, as hospital ones are usually quite small and have been washed 200 million times, and possibly flip flops for wearing into the shower.

Then I have a list written for Matt to pack as well, which includes our laptop and iPad /charger and our cell phone chargers. He can also fit the snack items in his duffle bag.

We’ve preregisted at the hospital, so I’ll have a copy of that with us, as well as our provincial health cards.

I’m glad I had all of this stuff with me, and 95% of it came in handy! 

Now, for what we have in baby’s bag:

• Sleepers with beanies (2)
• Onesie long sleeved (2)
• Pants (2)
• Take home outfit (it’s warm & fleecy!)
• Receiving blankets (2 – good for swaddling and spit ups.)
• Change pads (2)
• Wipes and wipes case
• Kleenex pack
• Disposable diapers (for those lovely merconium poops.)
• Hand sanitizer
• Soothers (2 different kinds in order to see which ones he prefers.)
• First aid kit
• Toothbrush (this is just for the future.)
• Teether (again for in the future.)
• Nursing cover
• Wash cloths
• Diaper rash cream
• Baby powder
• Baby oil
• Shampoo
• Bodywash
• Book
• Teddy bear (last two items are more for when he’s older too and won’t really be necessary right away for his arrival at the hospital.)

Car seat and car seat cover will be brought to the hospital and left in the vehicle. I will grab our nursing pillow on the way out the door as well. I also have a ziploc bag in there for dirty/wet clothes (should the need arise to use it).

I still need to get and will be adding:

• Grooming kit (including nail clippers and comb)
• Bottles (for the future.)
• Toy wipes (good for cleaning teething toys, bottles and soothers.)

“I’ve been having a few episodes of Braxton Hicks, so having our bags packed has helped to reassure me that we could leave quickly and in an organized fashion should I go into labour early. “ — which ended up happening and I’m so glad I was packed and ready to go!

Now that Levi’s 8 months and eating solids, I’ve added a few things to his diaper bag so that I can always have certain items handy. For example, I never leave home without snacks as he is the type of boy to get hangry if his lunch is a little later than planned! 😀 I also have stuff for teething should we be out and his little gums are inflamed!

I also always have:

• Tooth & Gum Wipes
• Bib
• Sippy cup
• Snack bag 
• Snacks (usually a baby mum mum, some rice rusks, & yogurt bites)
• Spoon
• Baby Tylenol & syringe
• Teething gel
• A couple toys!

And now that we’re in the warm Summer months:

• Sunscreen
• Baseball hat
• Swimsuit
• Swim diaper (should an impromptu splash pad day trip should ever arise!) 😉

I hope this was helpful to some new mamas! What do you keep in your child’s diaper bag that you would never leave home without?

 

 

The 3 of Us

The last few months have been really fun. Matt’s been off on paternity leave, and I have been off as well, so we’ve really been enjoying bonding as a family. Having your first baby is quite the transition – and in our case specifically, to go from being a married couple for 6 years and then having your first baby and now being your own family – it was so wonderful to both have time off to adapt to these changes together!

We have been visiting friends and family in the Niagara region every month or so, which is awesome because Levi has some grandparents, GREAT grandparents, aunts, uncle AND sweet cousins (also boys 🙂 ) to interact with! We went to check out the local zoo, and have been on many walks exploring different parks. He’s just at such a fun age and his personality is starting to shine through. He loves to giggle and explore absolutely everything around him! He just started this drag crawl (army crawl? 🙂 ) and is starting to get around the house. I’m both excited and slightly terrified to see him as a fully mobile toddler 😉 .He is now drinking a bit from his sippy cup and eating some solids – he always seems so eager to try new things! I’m quite proud of our little guy 😀 .

The other week we got some wonderful family photos taken by Laura Fretz Photography, which was perfect as I wanted some updated shots for our gallery wall!

I am definitely looking forward to what Summer brings and we are excited to introduce Levi to activities like picnicking, camping and going to the beach.

I hope you all are enjoying the sunshine this weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Nautical Nursery For Levi

I can hardly believe Spring is almost here! Seems like we barely had much of a Winter around here. Levi turned 3 months on the 13th and he’s cooing and smiling so much now! He loves bath time and kicks and splashes – can’t wait to get him in a pool this Summer :D.

So FINALLY Levi’s nursery is done (almost). Well, I still would like to make a gallery wall above his changetable/dresser. But more about that later. Let’s get to it, shall we?I want to share the details in this nursery reveal! The whole thing was budget friendly. And SO fun to do. The room is pretty small so the layout could really only a certain way.The door and dresser are on one wall, with the closet and crib on the other. The the window and rocking chair are on a wall, while the nook, and bookshelves are on the fourth. I say “nook” as if it’s this endearing little nook and cranny but in REALITY it’s just this awkward space because room is over our front hall closet. So it was kinda a thorn in my side to say the least.

This was the inspiration…

Here’s the little peanut napping as I click away. He’s pretty accommodating like that 😉 . The one stuffed bear was given to me from my grandmother, and the other one is a vintage TY beanie baby one that was my husbands when he was a baby.

The ‘L’ is cardboard and I mod podged over it with some vintage maps.

This rocking chair and glider were a steal of a deal. A $40 Kijiji find! I was thrilled. It’s great for nursing him in. We bought new fabric from Fabricland and had it reupholstered. I wanted to attempt to upholster it ourselves, but Levi surprised us with his early arrival! I opted for the quicker option :).

The “bookshelves” are Ikea spice racks that we painted and hung!

And there’s that quaint little nook I was telling you about. I tried my best to incorporate the theme into that space so it wouldn’t stand out like a sore thumb.

The rustic mirror was a shower gift from one of my dearest friends. It fits perfectly.
And I love all the classic books we included in here. It’s so nice rocking and reading to him.

My 2 sister-in-laws created the banner for the baby shower they threw for me. I wanted to include it! The wooden fish were made by my hubby, and painted by moi. The curtains we already had before we moved into this house. I love how light and airy they feel. The room does have blinds on the window, so the curtains are more for texture and décor. I may still decide to tie them back with some jute rope, but for now they are left hanging adding another textile element and adds to the coastal vibe ;).

The change table is actually a dresser. Another awesome Kijiji find! It was originally white with these gaudy knobs, so we painted it this bright turquoise, beachy colour. We found cool, vintage looking hardware that contrasts with the blue, and updates it nicely.

Matt made the swing shelf and I love it! It’s my favourite feature. Although, to be completely honest, I was growing incredibly impatient with this project and his NUMEROUS coats of urethane (like 10. Not evening kidding) :P. But I am happy with how it turned out. He also made the wooden sailboat. I attached the muslin linen sail and painted it to look more rustic and worn from the long days at sea ;).
The mason jar holds Levi’s soothers. My sister had dressed a bunch of these jars up to fill with wildflowers for centrepieces at my baby shower! I decided this one was too pretty not to be reused.

We keep our reusable cloth wipes in a case in the basket on the change table.
Matt’s aunt and uncle made the growth chart for Levi. They did such a good job! It was the perfect addition to this small space between the dresser and closet. We actually received two beautifully made growth rulers and the other will go in our family room in the play room.

I love how it all came together and hope he’ll grow to love it too!

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The Complete Nursery List:

Crib – Babies R Us

Crib sheet – Babies R Us

Oar/paddle – Kirklands

Fishing net – Hobby Lobby

Change table/Dresser – Kijiji

Dresser knobs – Hobby Lobby

Growth ruler – Gift (similar here)

Swing shelf – DIY

Jute rope – Hobby Lobby

“Shelf hardware“/boat docking cleats – Home Depot

Wooden sailboat – DIY (similar here)

“Message in a bottle” – Hobby Lobby

Rocking chair & glider – Kijiji

Fabric – Fabricland

Bookshelves – Ikea

Wooden whale toy – HomeSense (similar here)

Wooden fish – DIY

Canvas storage bin – HomeSense

Anchor wetbag – Etsy

Mirror – Gift (similar here)

Wooden ships steering wheel – Hobby Lobby

Wooden school of fish – Kirklands

Curtains & curtain rod – Ikea

Paint colours can be found here

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed the tour. Happy Weekend!

 

 

 

DIY Cloth Wipes

 

So our order of cloth diapers just came in and so far I’m liking them. We have a good sized stash and now that Levi is beginning to outgrow his newborn disposables, we’ve started to implement these bad boys. We came up with a plan to cloth diaper while I was pregnant, and I’m glad we’re deciding to stick with it! We didn’t want to order numerous sizes (can you say “expensive”?! 😛 ) so we wanted to wait until he was at least 8lbs. Having been born a little premature, it has taken a little while to reach this point but he’s finally surpassed that! Babies always lose a little at first, and getting him up to his birth weight was a small feat of its own (having had difficulty with his latch in the beginning 😥 )!

Now, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with disposable diapers, nor do I have any judgemental thoughts about exclusively using disposables (or cloth). To each their own! But we decided to use disposables at first while newborn babies excrete meconium. Also the added expense of purchasing the newborn sized cloth diapers was a tough pill to swallow. We also received quite a few packages of disposables at Levi’s baby showers, so having taken that into account, we opted to use those overnight as well as when we go out. That being said, we finally placed our order and I actually found myself EXCITED to receive the shipment in the mail! There’s just so many cute colours and patterns – a mom could really get carried away! 😉

http://www.bumgenius.com/

http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/

Cute, right?! And it’s great because diapers really do add up, and although cloth are more of an expense up front, you’ll get your monies worth out of them. Especially if you reuse them on more than one baby! We opted for more gender neutral prints for this reason. 😉

So we basically had no idea about cloth diapers, so we read reviews and asked friends. Upon discussing the diapers, the topic of wipes came up. I began searching for a do-it-yourself wipe “recipe” . There were disposable ones (think paper towels), but I figured why not do cloth wipes as well?! We may as well go all. the. way :D. We snatched a couple packs of cloths (10) and emptied a case of Huggies disposables wipes. Figured it could be reused to store my cloth ones and – voila! Now, you can always use whatever material you want, be it flannel or heck – even bamboo! And it’s on my to-do list to eventually mod podge over the container with some scrapbook paper or fabric. 🙂

Now, don’t go reading this and dismiss the idea yet! I wouldn’t steer ya wrong. I know how precious your time is! But, they’re actually pretty fast and simple to make. It literally takes me maybe 5 minutes every 3 or 4 days to make a new batch! Pretty good, if you ask me.

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Cloth Wipes Mix: 

Dry washcloths

1 c. Hot water

1 Tbsp. Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile liquid soap

1 tsp. Aloe Vera gel

1 Tbsp. Coconut oil

1). Mix your tablespoon of coconut oil with your cup of hot water. Add soap, and the aloe gel. Mix thoroughly.

2). I add just a few cloths to the wipe ingredients at a time. Wring them out slightly before placing on a flat surface. Now we fold them so they’ll fit into our wet wipes container.

3). Place one cloth down flat, and lay another on top of half of it…(see below).

4). Bring the bottom half (that’s been tucked under the top cloth) up…

5). Place another wet cloth on top of the bottom part you just folded up…

6.) Now you can fold the top half down. Continue this pattern until all your wash cloths have been soaked in the soap mixture and folded.

7.) Place them inside your emptied container. If you have a wipes warmer these would work well in that too! Pull the first wipe out of the top slightly so it’s ready to be used when it’s time. 😉 All your wipes should come out after one another if they’ve been folded correctly.

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Super easy! Now you know exactly what’s going on your baby’s delicate skin. They’re reusable and eco-friendly, and you don’t have to worry about those dangerous chemicals that are found in disposables! And I tell, ya – they make clean up a cinch. It may seem like a hassle at first, but once you’ve tried them and you see how much better they work than disposables, you might decide to make the change a permanent one in your home as well. 🙂

 

Just Can’t Live Without…

Hey bloggy friends! How was your weekend? Ours was relaxing, which was nice after the whirlwind of the holidays and so many jam-packed weekends.

I mentioned how I’d likely be posting more about maternity, pregnancy and all things baby related now that I’m a new mom. 🙂 Today I thought it appropriate to blog about baby items that have been making things a heck of a lot easier when you have a newborn!

1. Sophie la Girafe –  Every child loves Sophie! She’s a toy, she’s a teether, and she’s so cute! A squeaky, BPA free that is durable, fun and engaging and easy for little fingers to grip. Levi is still too young to REALLY appreciate miss Sophie, but in a few months he’s bound to love her.

2. Ikea Krama washcloths – Cotton, and soft for your babies skin. We use them under Levi’s bum (on top of his change pad cover) in an effort to keep the change pad clean longer! So far they’ve been working great. They’re cheap too – a 10 pack for $5.99.

3. Nose Frida Snot Sucker – Made in Sweden, doctor invented and recommended, it’s a hygienic baby booger buster! It’s proven to be highly effective when Levi has his first cold a couple of weeks ago.

4. Huggies Clutch and Clean – Refillable, hypoallergenic wet wipes. I keep these in our diaper bag. Even though we are making cloth wipes, it’s great to have this carry case for wet wipes when we’re out and about. The case comes in fun prints and patterns and hangs anywhere too, which is handy 😀 .

5. Ikea Tutig Baby Care Mat – Easy to keep clean, easy to store, easy to fold…it’s a large surface and great for changing dirty diapers on. It’s a large surface, and machine washable, and has a waterproof backing. Love it.

6. Medela Pump In Style Advanced Electric Breast Pump – Great for daily use and easy to clean parts. It’s electric and has a double pump, so it cuts pumping time in half – which is convenient! The pump is in a bag that’s portable and discreet and you can choose the style of bag that suits you. It comes with a cooler and freezer pack, BPA- free bottles, freezer bags, and quick clean micro- steam bags. Definitely worth checking out for sure! Love mine.

7. Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets – They’re soft, a great size and durable. Plus they’re multi-purpose – use for swaddling, as a receiving blanket, and/or nursing cover. Plus, makes a cute pashmina for your outfits if you choose to wear it. They come in numerous patterns and colours.

8. Phillips Avent Natural Bottles – The New Philips Avent Natural bottle is the most natural way to bottle feed. They say that this bottle comes closest to feeding at the breast, and can be combined with breastfeeding. The bottles are BPA free and come in 4oz. and 9oz. sizes in a 3 pack!

9. Board book & Stuffed Bear “I Love You Through and Through” – An adorable rhyming story of unconditional love with adorable illustrations of a toddler and a teddy bear. The book has sturdy cardstock pages and a padded cover with rounded corners for safe handling by little ones. And the little bear is super cute and is little enough to be toted around in baby’s diaper bag without taking up too much space! 🙂

A few other favourites…

Carseat Canopy

There is a website (I’ll share it below) that offers free car seat canopies – you just pay the shipping! It comes in various patterns and is lined with warm minky fabric. I love my chevron one :D. Great when your baby is born in the colder months.

Udder Covers

These are great if you’re nursing. Cute patterns offered here and this product also is free if you pay the shipping (link below).

Nursing Pillow

Great size nursing pillow – perfect for travel. I take ours with us wherever we go, and it’s great to have. Free also if you opt to pay shipping. And, again, lots of fun colours and designs! 🙂

*CLICK HERE FOR THE WEBSITE THAT OFFERS PROMO CODES FOR THE ABOVE 3 products* 

Ingenuity ConvertMe Swing-to-Seat

I love that this is not only a bouncer, but a swing too! Levi loves his and it was given to him by 2 of his aunts and uncles 😀 . It plays soothing tones (crashing waves, crickets chirping) which are more like white noise, as well as more upbeat lullabies.

Skip Hop Grab and Go Stroller Organizer

This item is perfect if your stroller is in need of cup holders. I use it when I’m shopping as I can zip up any cards I take in. Plus that part is detachable and can be worn as a wristlet. The middle section between the cup holders is perfect for smaller parcels.

Skip Hop Duo Diaper Bag

I LOVE my diaper bag! I’ve had my eye on Skip Hop diaper bags before I was even pregnant. One of my many favourite shower gifts – isnt it beautiful?! I feel as though I should be vacationing in the French Riviera 😀 ! I didn’t choose it completely based on its appearance, however. It’s as functional as it is stylish. It has enough room for all my baby necessities, plus a shallower section that I can use instead of my purse. It also has sections for bottles, an adjustable shoulder strap, and a travel change pad is included! I’ll be doing a blog post in the next few weeks sharing about it more specifically 😉 .

City Select Stroller by Baby Jogger

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the city select, and it has stood up to it’s good reviews! For one thing it’s extremely versatile as it grows with family, and has numerous seating options and positions. We have a compatible car seat and the car seat adapter so it can pop right onto the stroller. It’s easy to fold and unfold, as well as easy to lock. It maneuvers beautifully. The handlebars are adjustable making it very ergonomic. The storage basket below is quite large too! My number one top reason for picking this stroller is the fact that it converts to a double when the time is needed 😉 !

 

So there ya have it! My favourite baby products that are out there on the market. And I’m sure as he continues to grow, there’ll be new items that I’ll use and learn to love. Hope you have a great week!

*What are your favourite baby products?*

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He’s Here!

Happy New Year, friends and followers! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. We were blessed with our early arrival from our new bundle of joy! We happily spent the holidays celebrating the birth of our Savior with our families and close friends.

This little one is the main reason for my silence in the blogging world. Most of my time is spent with frequently nursing, changing and loving on him – and thankfully so! Add the usual busyness of the holidays and you can see how I’ve been a tad bit preoccupied! 🙂 Any free time seems to be spent tidying and, let’s be honest – napping! Yes, naps are my new favourite pastime. 😉

Levi James was born 3.5 weeks premature. He’s super sweet, has dimples and the cutest smile. We feel so incredibly blessed! 😀

We had newborn photos taken by the talented Laura Fretz Photography when he was 21 days new 🙂 Here are some of my favourite shots:

So great being able to capture all his tiny features!

The next few blog posts in the new year will be likely maternity and baby related. Just want to offer a fair warning of what’s coming your way! 😉

As for right now, Matt and I are going to enjoy Chinese takeout and watch the ball drop later tonight. A bit of a different way of ringing in the new year this year than what we’ve done in the past, but we couldn’t be happier! 😀

HAPPY 2016! Here’s to a fantastic year!

 

 

A Rainy Day Calls For Some Blogging

Happy Wednesday, friends and followers! I hope the weather is nicer where you are… it’s pouring here, and cold and WINDY! But, nevertheless, it’s Fall ❤ – which I know a lot of you love – and it’s another day on earth. A great day to be alive, and there’ll be sunnier days ahead for sure!

I haven’t blogged in quite awhile, and the inconsistency has been bothering me. I’ve not only been busy working, but lately I’ve definitely been feeling the pressure of prepping as best I can for our baby’s arrival. I’m 34 weeks and he’ll be here before we know it!

We arranged for a day last week to just focus on “Baby K” – and it was so nice. We scheduled a 3D ultrasound in the early afternoon and it was such a cool experience! We only really went because we had heard that the military offered free packages with this one ultrasound clinic…and it just so happens to be in one of the cities we pass through on our way back to our hometown to visit family (I believe God is in the small stuff too 😉 ).

It was SO personal, very comfortable (didn’t have to drink all that water beforehand!) and as non-medical as any ultrasound can be. No gown was required, and we got to view our baby boy on a big screen T.V.! Matt even got to watch from one of the leather couches in the room!

The package we were entitled to included a free 30 minute session (it actually went longer as we were trying to get him to move a bit for a different picture than what she had already taken), a DVD slideshow (set to nursery music, of course 😉 ) of the whole thing! Also, we got 5 photographs (of our choosing) while he rest of the pictures taken were put on a CD. This is great because we can make as many copies of prints as we like! We also could have had an online broadcasting of the ultrasound (if we were posted where family wasn’t so close by) – which is such a nice thing to have in a military package!

The pictures were pretty clear, although a lot of them are quite similar as he was (trying) to sleep! There are subtle differences as we saw him move his lips around ever so slightly in a sucking motion. 🙂 From what it looks like, he definitely has his daddy’s chin. And we saw that he has hair already, too!

We even saw him PEE – SO crazy! – but that was before she “started” officially recording or taking photographs 😛 .

I just can’t wait to meet this cute little guy! ❤

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Later that evening we met up with our talented photographer for a maternity photo shoot! I was really excited to have some Fall pictures, and we planned for an outdoor session at this beautiful picturesque site called Decew Falls. Home to two waterfalls, hiking trails and a historic mill – I knew we’d get some great shots! Matt and I used to hike here before he joined the Canadian Forces, so it was nice to revisit. Our photographer was awesome, and she really was able to capture my vision in all her pictures. I’m so pleased with the lighting and the angles of every shot! She was quick to put up a “sneak peak” of our maternity session with her! Here are some of my favourites:

The trees were in all their colourful glory and Laura Fretz Photography surely did not disappoint! I’m eager to see the rest of the pictures. 😀

Put the “Labour” in Labour Day

Happy Labour day weekend, folks! I hope you’ve been enjoying your long weekend and it’s been full of the perfect amount of sunshine and relaxation. We’ve had more of a productive couple of days rather than relaxing at a cottage, BBQ-ing or chilling by a pool. A weekend that was full of prepping and painting nursery walls, and actually breaking out the Fall décor! We put the “labour” in labour day. 😉

We finally chose the colour scheme for baby K’s nursery on Friday, and picked out the chair rail. We are also going to be painting his dresser & turning it into a change table. Next is a visit to Fabricland to decide on fabrics to reupholster a rocker/glider chair and matching ottoman.

The top half of the chair rail

The bottom half of the room.

These colours are more neutral, and were easier for me to decide on. I knew I wanted something kind of sophisticated and masculine…brown/tan that would work to represent ‘sand’ in his nautical themed room. The other colours, however, were a little trickier for me. Kind of scary because the colours aren’t so quiet – they’re actually pretty bold and bright! “Big Sea” was the shade chosen from the “Deep & Luxurious” CIL paint collection to makeover the dresser. Pretty perfect, if I do say so myself:

CIL’s “Big Sea” – dresser colour

From CIL’s “Deep & Luxurious” Collection we settled on a sort-of navy that we would use to paint some of the accessories and décor in the room:

Navy for nautical nursery décor.

*The rest of the nursery inspiration/décor explained here*

Well off to continue painting as the first coat is likely dry! Hope your weekend is wonderful! 🙂

Little ‘Buoys’ Can Be So Much Fun!

Hey friends! How has the end of your Summer been going? I know…so sad. It always seems to fly by! Ours seemed crazy busy, between our move mid-July, to family parties, zoo trips, a camping trip and all the travelling back and forth (about 2x a month) to our home town – POOF! It’s gone!

It felt like we accomplished quite a bit:

~ Found out our baby’s gender!

~ Had my first OB appointment

~ Moved into a new house

~ Went to the beach a handful of times

~ Went camping/had bonfires

~ Visited a new-to-us local zoo

So, yeah, it was pretty busy and quite enjoyable! This coming Fall brings with it more newness. We hope to find a home church in our new city, attend prenatal classes, have a maternity photo shoot, and get the baby’s nursery all set up! Prenatal classes are in September in our town, and with Thanksgiving, maternity pictures and 2 showers October is going to whiz on by as well! So that just leaves the nursery…

Ahhh, yes – the nursery for our wee boy. First of all, can I just say how surprised we both were to find out we are having a boy?! Right from the start we both thought ‘girl’ for sure. So did much of my immediate family! Makes me think my mommy instincts are off or something! Don’t get me wrong, though, we are both thrilled to be having a little boy. We definitely wanted at least one of each (we both would love a big family). So, yeah, I just had to put on my thinking cap in terms of nursery décor. Theme? Colours? It took a week or so to kind of put ideas together and agree on stuff! Now we are set and this is the look we are going for:

Nautical Nursery for Baby ‘K’

Now, I know nautical is pretty popular – I’m seeing it for both genders actually. There’s just so many ways to work with it, keep it more sophisticated and not so “baby-like” and you can easily find pieces/décor/objects that you can incorporate into this theme literally ANYWHERE. The colour scheme we chose is navy, grey, turquoise & cream. The walls are going to be painted two-toned tan/beige (think sand), with a lighter shade up top, and darker below. Matt is going to be putting a chair rail up to separate the two colours. 😀

Hobby Lobby:

This cast iron anchor wall décor is perfect for a gallery wall! The colours will also match our theme nicely. Did I mention it’s only $3.99?

This fabric has the turquoise we want, and I plan to use it to create DIY bunting to hang above the curtains in the nursery. $9.99

I also will use burlap and a solid navy fabric for bunting. 😀

This steering wheel is wooden, and I love the twine wrapped around it. It’s regularly priced at $44.99, however I’ve seen it go on sale for 1/2 price a few times now. So for $22.50, it’s really not bad!

Message in a bottle – Hobby Lobby $5.99

These galvanized metal buckets are at Hobby Lobby, and while I love the rope handles, they’re priced at $12.99/ea. So I may just try to find them elsewhere as I need a few of them. You could just tie your own rope over the handles and voila!

This blogger said she got her particular buckets at Ikea, however, I can’t seem to find them online at neither the U.S. nor Canadian locations. BUT I did see some at Dollarama, and that’s fine by me. They would make for perfect storage on the closet shelf, etc…

The good thing about nautical décor is how versatile it can be. I would consider using baskets for blankets, crates for stuffed animals, etc… and it all goes with the theme!

I envisioned hanging this up and maybe placing some starfish in in. I would also hang a few of his baby pictures, as well. So a type of gallery wall!

Like so 🙂

So far we currently have the crib set up, a dresser that will be converted into a change table, and curtains hung. We also found a steal of a deal on a rocker/glider chair and gliding ottoman on Kijiji – $40 for the set! I am going to be on the hunt for a fabric to reupholster the pair. I also have a couple IKEA spice racks that I will be painting white and converting into bookshelves. They will be hung within arms reach of my rocking/gliding chair. 🙂

Such a cute idea for forward facing childrens books – $6.99

Ikea “Matilda” curtains – sheer, white, $19.99/set. We have blinds as well, to keep daylight out more effectively, but love how breezy and light feel these curtains are.

This crib was just gifted to us by another guy on Matt’s crew at the firehall! It’s a 4-in-1 too, which is pretty awesome.

Pottery Barn (Kids):

Ever since I can remember I’ve had a love of all things Pottery Barn. I just REALLY love their style! So of course, I found this adorable navy, fabric sailboat that is perfect for our baby’s change table! It will corral diapers and other essentials, while it’s adorable grommet ‘port holes’ and canvas flag just scream “cuteness”! 😉

PB Fabric Sailboat Changing Table Storage – $39

Adorable lamp – I prefer just the nickel one. $89

I think I would get 3 navy or 3 white. Perfect for mounting under a floating shelf, and for hanging an outfit on!

…like so! 😉

Etsy:

I found a few cute wooden objects on Etsy that could be hung as well, OR set on the wall shelf (I want above the change table) However, if time allows, my handy husband convinced me that he can make these items for me:

Nautical Nursery – Wooden fish décor – Etsy $24. These are the colours of our baby boy’s nursery.

Perfect colours. Love it and how the paint looks all chippy and rustic looking. $24

A turquoise striped oar would look so perfect hung above Baby K’s crib.
Etsy – $25

These are NOT on Etsy, but Matt said he’d make one for me. If he makes the base and creates a dowel, I can make a sail with left over fabric from the bunting. This sailboat can sit on the shelf above the change table.

DIY:

So along with the possible wooden (see above) pieces Matt is crafting for this, I mentioned painting the spice rack/book shelves. I also want to spell out Baby K’s name (shhh…not telling!!) just under the oar above the crib. Each letter will be different. For example:

&

By using an old map, I plan to decoupage one of the letters in Baby K’s name!

Lots of ideas! I’m so glad we finally settled on a theme. I was being very indecisive about it! Tomorrow we are going out to pick up the paint. I can’t wait to get started on his room. I want Baby K to feel as special and loved as he is! 😀