life unfluffed

Hana Air Hair Dryer - Review

2013-05-08T20:35:00.003-06:00

A few months ago, I was contacted about doing as review of a Hana Air Hair Dryer.

I had seen them on other blogs, and knew that I wanted one, so I jumped at the opportunity! I mean, I am pretty sure I have had the same exact hair dryer for over six years. My hair has been begging me for an upgrade for a while. And, wooowee, did I get an upgrade.

Look at this beaut!

I love the sleek black look--Don't you? And plus, it's about a million times lighter than my old blow dryer. Seriously. I have been in hair Heaven these last few weeks! My hair has never looked better.

(now is where a normal person would enter a picture of their fabulous hair-- But, sorry! I don't have one due to the fact that I shower and get ready before Hazel gets up...And, by the time Tyler is available to take my picture, spit up is all over...Such is life of a new mama, I guess. Just imagine my hair looking ridiculously amazing)

The best part of this blog dryer is how many different settings there are! You can pick how much air you want to blow out and you can also pick hot, warm, or no air coming out. And! If you click that "cool" button once (none of that holding down business like my old blog dryer), cool air comes out. I love it!

Seriously, this is one of the best blow dryers I have ever tried!

My only beef with this product is the price, though. It is pretty expensive for a blow dryer, in my opinion. But, having used it...I'm thinking I would actually pay full price for one of these. Is that crazy? I'm just really impressed with Misikko products...I really want to save up for a flat iron now.

So tell me...What's the most you'd ever spend on a blow dryer?

__
I was given a blowdryer in exchange for this post. However, all opinions are my own.

Cookies at the cemetery

2013-05-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

I've been missing my dad a lot lately. I mean, I also miss him-- But, it was especially bad these past few weeks.

I just really wanted to talk to him. To get some advice and see him interact with my girls some more. I just needed him to be there for me and it was really heartbreaking that no matter how hard I wished, none of that would happen.

So, we did what any girl in my situation would do. We went and got some cookies from the bakery and stuffed our faces with them at the cemetery. Eating my feelings felt awesome, I'll have you know.

Being with my girls there with the sun shining down on our faces was the best I could ever ask for. Yes, some days they both cry and scream and drive me crazy...But, I am just so beyond lucky to be their mama.

They make me so happy, even in the midst of heartbreak.

When we first got to the cemetery, Eloise ran to her Pop Pop's headstone and gave it a giant kiss. Then, very loudly exclaimed, "I love you!" with no help from me... She is the sweetest thing, and I can't even look at this picture without tearing up.

Cloth diapering update

2013-05-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

We've been cloth diapering a little over a month now, so I thought it was time for a little update on how things are going!

First of all...We found our diaper soul mate. We love love love Sun Baby pocket diapers (size two)...They fit both the girls so well.

I thought we would totally hate the snaps, but I have actually grown to love them. Yes, they are a pain in the middle of the night, but! They stay on Eloise. She is so anti velcro it isn't even funny. Diaper her in a velcro diap and it's all downhill from there!

Anyway, here's a little list of the things I love about cloth diapering:
-Not needing to buy diapers has been amazing! We always have some here and never have to worry about running out.
-Their little fluffy bums are just too cute for me to handle some days.
-They are eco friendly!
-My girls never get rashes anymore! Once I put a disposable on Eloise for convenience (so so so dumb of me), and she had the worst rash for a week straight because of it. Ugh ugh ugh.

Things I don't like all that much about cloth diapering:
-Dealing with poop. Though, the sprayer and inserts do help a lot.
-We had a leaking problem for a little bit, but once we bought the right inserts, things were all okay again! But seriously...Leaks suck.
-Buying diapers is addicting!

Overall, I am so happy we made the switch. I'm kind of kicking myself for not doing it with Eloise sooner (she is half way potty trained...More on that a different day...) because we would have saved so much money, plus I think disposables are gross now (the smell really gets to me, weird, right?)...Cloth diapering has become such a great hobby for me, and I just really love it.

Thank you all for your wonderful tips on brands and washing! I think next I want to try a few more fitted diapers...I just have issues forking out the moola for the fitted diaper AND a cover...But, the one I've tried was amazing. Any suggestions on cheap(ish) ones?

Short life snippets.

2013-04-21T22:09:00.002-06:00

Wow.

I honestly don't know how some mommy bloggers do it. Even thinking about having a posting schedule makes me want to go take a really long nap. Like, reeeally long.

These days, I feel like I hardly ever have any spare time. Which, I mean, is great and all. But, sometimes I miss sitting down and just writing! I know that one day things will all slow down a bit and I can get back at it, but for now? Little posts like this are going to have to do.

So, want a few short snippets of our lives these days?

___

Hazel:

My littlest gal just turned 3 months old. I can hardly believe it.

She is such a great baby and has the sweetest little coo and smile. She is always a great night time sleeper (we're talking 7:30 pm - 6:00 am, a feeding, then back to sleep until 9 am or so. I love her for this), and is getting a little better at napping in the daytime. I'm sure if her sister would be a little more quiet it would go better, but oh well!

Hazel loves to be held and pretty much demands all attention is on her when you're doing so.
I just love her and her sweet little spirit.

__

Eloise:

Oh, El.

She has been giving me a run for my money these days. She has started refusing nap time and being so loud all the time. It is fun seeing her learn (she talks non stop all day...Unless we're around other people. Then she's shy) and become her own person, though. But, I'll admit it's been rough learning how to approach her fits. I think we're figuring it out though...I mean, I hope!

She is hilarious and just a little ray of sunshine. Everywhere we go she has crowds laughing at the crazy things she says and does.

She'll be two next month and I just refuse to believe it.
__

Tyler:

He's pretty much killing it at work lately. Really! He has been ranking super high every month lately in his district. I am so stinkin' proud of him and the hard work he puts into making a living for us girls at home.

He's such a great dad and we are so lucky to have him!

__

Erika:

I've just been busy hanging out with my girls. I've also been trying to grow by blog design business (it's going well, I am so grateful), and I've been blogging on Mod Podge Rocks as an editor. I also started working out super early in the morning to get a little "me" time in. It's rough!

__

So...There you have it! A little mini update of our lives. I'm hoping to be back soon with an update on cloth diapering and such.

Talk to you soon?

Big girl beds

2013-04-03T00:00:00.001-06:00

Eloise moved into her big girl room last week. It's absolutely ridiculous. I mean, the girl sleeps in a full sized bed and its hilariously cute.

But the thing is... Something about her not being in her nursery anymore gives me anxiety. Straight up. She is officially not a little tiny baby anymore and it kind of breaks my little mama heart.

In fact, I'm totally that crazy mom who sneaks in every night and lays in bed with her. I kiss her chubby cheeks over and over (and over...for good measure) again and whisper to her how beautiful she is and how much I adore her.

Sometimes, I kiss her so much that she pushes me away. Then I laugh and slowly creep out of the room... Missing her with every step.

The mornings have never been better. She plays with her toys and when she is ready to come out I'm greeted with knocks on her door accompanied by "mama!? Maaama! Hello!?" It's hilarious and makes my day... Always!

I also think it's pretty cute when she falls asleep on the floor. This probably has to do with the fact that it gives me a reason to scoop her up and tuck her in again.

Just tonight I found her asleep sitting up in her bumbo with a book.

You guys... I can't get enough of her!
I mean... Except when she's whiney. But even then! I just still can't believe she's mine.

Being a mom is weird. And hard. And just so much fun.

(Ill have to fix the images in this post tomorrow! I'm posting from my phone and it won't let me format correctly! Sorry!

Oh! And don't judge me for her messy room. It was clean before she went to "bed")

Obligatory Easter post

2013-04-01T14:03:00.003-06:00

I'm just popping in real quick to post some pictures from before church yesterday.
The girls wore matching Easter dresses and I could barely stand how cute they looked.

Eloise wasn't that into getting pictures taken (see the picture with me and the girls, HAH!), but I still love how the pictures turned out nonetheless.

Matching froufy Easter dresses are totally mandatory at this age, right?

Alva vs. Sun Baby cloth diapers >>> First look

2013-03-29T16:25:00.002-06:00

I have been wanting to try cloth diapering since before I was even pregnant with Eloise. I was just too scared though. Scared of what people would think (hah!), scared of cleaning up poop (hah, again!), and scared of all the different types, brands, and styles of cloth diapers out there on the market right now.

It was all just too overwhelming.

BUT! Now that I am diapering two kids under two, I realized something has got to change. Not only am I so sick of changing diapers (hopefully Eloise will help me remedy that problem soon), but I was so stinkin' sick of forking over so much money every single month on diapers that would just get pooped (or peed) on and then thrown away.

That's when my real diaper research kicked in.
After flip flopping back and forth about which type of diaper I wanted (flats, fitted, All-in-One, pockets, pre-folds, etc. etc. etc.), I finally decided that it would be easiest for me and my family to start with a pocket diaper. I also decided we wanted to buy a one size diaper, so that no only will they fit Hazel until potty training, but they'll also fit Eloise right now!

After even more research, I picked the two cheapest pocket diapers I could find...Alva Baby and Sun Baby one size pocket diapers. Both diapers are made in China, but they're family run, which made me feel okay about them.

I ordered my Sun Babys (I got 12 because they come in a package deal, and it was cheaper than the six pack in the long run) right from the original site and Sunpei (the owner) was so nice about answering all of my questions really quickly. I also decided to pay for rush shipping, which got the diapers to me in 6 days (compared to the average 20-30 days her site says).

My Alvas came from Super Stash. The seller lives in Idaho and she was so fun to chat back and forth with. I highly recommend getting your Alvas from here because not only are they super affordable, they are in the United States and come quickly and accurately (I've heard if you order directly from the Alva site, you're pretty likely to get sent the wrong diapers). I ordered six of these to start.

Our first batch (the Alvas) came yesterday. Don't they look so cute on the girls?

Our Sun Babys came today and so I haven't gotten a chance to try them out yet. They just got out of the dryer, though! So they're ready to go.

For now, I wanted to let you guys in on my first thoughts about Alva vs. Sun Baby diapers. Ya ready?

First, let's talk about the patterns. I'm not a huge fan of the Sun Baby patterns (the only patterned ones above) and would prefer to only have colored ones. Is that weird? I know lots of people prefer patterns. The only colors Sun Baby offered in size 2 (I got size 2, not size 1, because supposedly they fit chunkier babies better) were red, blue, and cream. Boooring. Those cute colors on the left (above) are Alvas and I could kiss them I love them so much (we also have a yellow and white one, not pictured because they're on the girls right now).

Next, the snap placement!

They are pretty similar, except for the fact that Alva Baby has an extra row in the middle for the rise. I like that, I think? But again, I haven't tried the Sun Babys on my kids yet. So we'll see!

Another difference is the "pocket" where you stuff the inserts.

See how the Alvas have elastic and the Sun Babys have a flap? I don't have a preference about this...Yet. I'll keep you posted!

The insides of the diapers also have a different feel to them.

One is more ribbed while the other is more fluffy like a fleece blanket. The Sun Babies are definitely softer, but I also feel like the fabric is thinner. Maybe it will absorb better? We'll see!

When I got the Sun Babys in the mail, I was surprised about how much thinner the insert was than the Alva one.

This picture isn't that great, but do you see the difference? It'll be interesting to see if the Sun Babys leak more because of this.

And, for my last pictures, here's each diaper with its smallest setting and its largest one.

Pretty similar, right? I think (just by my first look, of course) that the Sun Babys might fit Eloise better on the legs...But, we'll have to wait and see.

So! There you have it. My first look at Alvas vs. Sun Baby cloth diapers.

Do any of you out there in Blogland cloth diaper? Do you have any tips for me? What's your wash routine like? Tell me everything! I got some great tips on Instagram yesterday (see the image and tips here), but would still love any input I can get!

I am so excited about finally starting this.

Tilly girl

2013-03-28T15:29:00.003-06:00

Lately Oscar and Tilly have been digging holes under our fence (because apparently stray cats swat at them under the fence...I'm serious! I've seen it) and trotting around the neighborhood.

They always come home by sneaking right back under the fence, though--It's frustrating..But, I am grateful they don't run far.

Anyway, one night Tilly snuck out under the fence right before bed. We were mad because, with a newborn, all we wanted to do was just go to bed! Finally, Tilly came moseying right back under the fence and into the yard, ready to go upstairs to bed.

Not long after we all got settled in our brand new clean sheets--Tilly threw up. It was the grossest, most vile smell I have ever smelled in my life. I mean...EVER. It was disgusting.

So...Groggily we got up, changed the sheets, and gave Tilly a little pet to let her know she wasn't in trouble.

She continued to throw up all night and we continued to be more annoyed. It didn't really strike us that she could be really sick.

The next morning, we covered all the holes in the back yard and had her stay out there for a while to get the rest of her throw up out. I watched from the window as she paced back and forth, bath and forth, back and forth. I knew something was seriously wrong with our Tilly girl, but still (stupidly) thought it would be okay once she got some food and water down.

As the day went on, Tilly got worse and worse. Finally (around 9 pm, when the regular vet was closed...OF COURSE!) we decided to take her into the emergency vet. When the vet did blood work on Tilly, he found out that she was very sick and needed to be hospitalized at least five days on an IV with constant monitoring.

We were crushed, but knew we needed to let her stay.

The next morning, we went to pick Tilly up to transfer her to her normal vet. She was there a few hours when they called us to say that since it was the weekend, we had to transfer her to yet another vet who did overnight and weekend care. Talk about frustrating.

It all turned out for the best, though, because this new vet was absolutely wonderful. She was so nice and I knew the second that she grabbed Tilly (she cuddled her in her arms and whispered in her ears that she needed to pull through this...It was so sweet), that she was in good hands.

As the night progressed, we found out that Tilly had been having seizures (that the other two vets failed to tell us about..What!)... The vet said it seemed as if Tilly had gotten into poison of some sort, and that things could go bad very quickly. And they did.

She continued having seizures all night long and into the next day. Some were within the same hour, and one even lasted for seven minutes. We were heart broken. Our vet even told us to start thinking about making "hard decisions"...So, Tyler and I knew what we needed to do. We were going to put her down. We didn't want her to suffer any more.

When the vet called the next time, we told her that if Tilly had another seizure, we wanted to come in and say our goodbyes.

After we hung up the phone, Tyler and I finally let ourselves cry. Tilly brought so much happiness into our lives. She was our baby before we could conceive a real one. And now, just like that, she was going to be gone. It didn't seem fair, but we knew we were making the right decision.

Just as we were about to leave, we decided to say a family prayer. Tyler said it and he asked that Tilly would be comfortable and that obviously we wanted her to get better, but that we would understand if it were her time to go.

After the prayer, we both felt so much peace. We knew that no matter what happened, we would be okay.

Tilly didn't have anymore seizures. In fact, she did a complete 180!
This was amazing to me. It was so cool to see first hand my prayers being answered.

So many times I have felt like prayer hasn't really worked (maybe because things don't always go the way I plead them to go)...But, after this experience, I have realized that everything really is in God's hands, and that if we are willing to trust Him, everything will work out how they are supposed to.

This story may seem silly to some, but I really wanted to document it because I am still in awe about the miracles that happened that day. We could have easily lost Tilly because of the poison (strychnine, used for killing coyotes and gophers) that she got into. In fact, most dogs don't pull out of something like that.

But... Tilly is healthy as can be. She has no long lasting problems from her seizures

and we are so happy.

--If you're in Utah County and need a good vet, seriously, go to Dr. Erickson at Park Animal Hospital... This isn't a sponsored post...We just LOVE them. love love love. Dr. Erickson was honesst, but at the same time compassionate. She had no issue letting all her weekend plans go, and becoming one of Tilly's favorite people. She even fed Tilly little "meatballs" out of the palm of her hand, I mean...Really!--

Hazel's Birth Story in Photos

2013-03-26T00:06:00.004-06:00

Now that Hazel sleeps fairly well at night, I'm back to not being able to sleep. Funny how that works, right?

Tonight thinking about her birth is what is keeping me up. It was just so beautiful. I am so grateful to have that girl in my life. She already has brought so much happiness into our family.

And because I felt like my heart might burst just thinking about her as I laid in my dark room letting the silence waft around me, I decided it was finally time to share my favorite birth story photos with you.

For some reason, I have been keeping them (selfishly) to myself. They are just so special to me. Every image brings back the exact feeling I had that night. The night I met my second baby.

Be prepared for an image overload, because Harlow Moon Photography did an amazing job, and it was impossible to narrow it down to just a few.

Sorry the spacing is so wonky!

__

El got woken up at 12 am to come meet her new sister. This was her face when she saw her. I can't get over it.

And last, but definitely not least, our favorite picture.

Harlow Moon Photography really captured every single emotion we felt that night. We are forever going to be in debt to them for capturing these moments for us.
Plus? They got to the Hospital in recors time. Really, the nurses thought for sure they'd miss the birth because my labor was going so quickly.

If you are looking for a birth photographer (or ANY type of photographer, for that matter!) and you are in Utah, I definitely recommend Harlow Moon Photography.

Not once did they make me feel awkward or uncomfortable with them in the room. In fact, I felt like I was with old friends the entire time. They were funny, personable, and so incredibly talented.

Be sure to visit their website and see more of their great work. You'll be amazed, really!

LeanMoms - Week 1

2013-03-17T21:14:00.000-06:00

Lately, Tyler and I have been really wanting to get our butts in gear and adopt a healthier lifestyle.
We both have a lot of weight to lose, but in addition to that, we really just want to be healthy so we can be the best parents we can be to our babies.

I feel like right now, we are stuck in this funk where we are so exhausted, lazy, and constantly eating fast food. I do not want my girls to remember us that way. I want them to remember us as parents who played an active roll in their lives (and didn't just veg on the couch because they were too tired to play) and who strived to feed them good, wholesome food, while introducing them to a healthy lifestyle. I want to set them up for success so that they can love their bodies and be proud of the strong women they will become.

----

As I was searching online for ways to become healthier, I came across a program (LeanMoms) developed for mamas just like me. Women who know they need to become healthier and be the best they can be. I was reading reviews, looking at before and afters, and just overall, being in awe at the empowerment and self confidence the LeanMoms program seemed to give every mom who tried it.

Basically, I wasted no time contacting the founder and CEO, Lacy, and begging her to let me try it out. Really, I begged and even promised before and after pictures...That's how desperate I was.

I had Tyler take my before picture today and it was really depressing seeing my body there in all my post partum glory. I haven't been bouncing back as fast as I had hoped I would, so I am so excited to get started on Lean Moms tomorrow! I'm hoping that will be the last "before" picture I ever have to take.

Want to follow me on my journey to becoming a healthier version of myself? Be sure to follow me on instagram (erikasenneff), and check back here for updates every once in a while.

---

Do you want to go on this little journey with me?
If so, you're in luck because right now they are doing their Lean Summer Body Challenge to help ladies get swimsuit-ready by summer.
Anyone can sign up before March 25th to be eligible to win prizes, such as swimwear from Albion Fit and Essential Swimwear. Participants must have a current LeanMoms membership, but the 6-month membership is currently half price until the 25th.

So, go on and sign up! Summer is fast approaching!

---

Disclosure: I was provided a free 12-week membership in exchange for a review. All opinions on LeanMoms are my own and I will definitely be working hard to see some great results.

Whoa

2013-03-14T14:12:00.003-06:00

Time sorta flies, right?
I can't believe I have so much to blog about but just haven't gotten around to it.

Such things include:
-The Tilly incident.
-Hazey girl growing up at lightening speed. Smiles. Coos. The works.
-Eloise and her silliness.
-Crafts (really!)
-and a photo birth story

...To name juuust a few.

But, for now I'm just going to say how super sad I am that Google Reader is shutting down. Ahh. What a day ruiner, right?
Luckily, there are other great methods to follow blogs. But really. It doesn't make the hurt any better!

I think Google Reader officially closes its doors sometime in June (correct me?), but I recommend switching over your bloggity blogs that you read now so that you don't get stuck without them foooreeeever.

So... What are some fun ways to follow Life Unfluffed, you're wondering? Well, there are a few!

Like, check out Blog Lovin', for instance. Find us here.
Or! Hello Cotton (I like this one lots)...Find us here.
(whoa, I need to update my name on both of those!)

Or! Find us on Facebook here.
and Twitter here (but I still don't really understand twitter...sooo...)

Orrrr...Find us on Pinterest!
Erika here.
Tyler here.

And, the social media top pick, Instagram!
Find Erika (that's me!) with username erikasenneff (or click here).
Or, find Tyer (that's...well, Tyler. Duh.) with the username tsenn23 (or click here).

Phew!
That's a lot of places. I just don't want us to lose each other, ya know?

Hazel's baby blessing

2013-03-03T23:14:00.000-07:00

Oooh my goodness, this weekend was absolutely nuts. There was so much going on and so many emotions. I definitely have a lot to blog about.

But. for now, I just wanted to leave these pictures of Hazel from her big day today. She got blessed by her daddy at church today. She looked absolutely beautiful in her thrifted vintage dress.

I am so in love with this girl and the amazing spirit she has already brought into our home. I feel such a strong connection with her and just can't believe she is all mine.

We are so lucky to have such amazing friends and family (fam pictured above) to help us celebrate such a big day for Hazey girl. The day couldn't have gone any better than it did.

(Also? I'm only semi sorry for the picture overload this is this post!)

E + H

2013-02-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

It's naptime and I have so much work I need to get done (so grateful to all of you ordering blog designs lately...f'real)... And, a lot of cleaning to do.
But instead, I am kind of just sitting here thinking about how lucky I am to have my girls.

As many of you know, Eloise wasn't the easiest baby to conceive. We tried for just about 3 years (and I had 3 miscarriages in the process, one of which was twins) for this little gal to come into our lives. The wait was horrible. I remember feeling angry every single day because it seemed so easy for everyone else to get (and stay) pregnant. But it just wasn't happening for me... I felt like a big fat failure.
Those were, for sure, the worst years I've had so far.

Then, our sweet little Eloise came into the world and suddenly, I was just so happy. I was happy to finally have a baby and to finally be a mom. I remember staying up late into the night and just staring at her, in awe that she was really here and that she was mine.

I still find myself doing that some nights. Just cuddling El and memorizing every little detail about her. I don't ever want to forget how she feels laying in my arms as she strokes my face and giggles with me.

Now that Hazel is in the mix... I find myself loving her just the same. I find myself memorizing and trying to soak in every little bit of her newborn-ness. She is such a sweet little baby... And again, I just can't believe she is mine.

__

But, with change comes hardship. For me, anyway.
I haven't been shy about the fact that having two kids so close in age is hard. Somedays I feel like the worst mom in the world. And somedays I just want to sit there and cry because I cannot get both of them under control. It is so overwhelming sometimes. Being a mother to two has really made me doubt myself more than ever before.

At moments like that, I really just need to remind myself that we wanted this. We prayed for this. These girls are exactly what we wanted. They are exactly who we needed.

So, although some days I may just be completely over this whole motherhood thing (not really, just sometimes it feels like it)-- I just have to remember that right around the corner is sweetness. And, I just need to remind myself that I'm capable of caring for these two sweet gals, no matter how hard it seems sometimes.

(El loves to accessorize these days)

InGenuity Washable Playard -- Review

2013-02-23T17:16:00.002-07:00

When we first had Eloise, we knew we wanted her to sleep in our room with us--But didn't want to waste our money on a bassinet. We also didn't want to put her straight into a big crib. So... We bought her a Playard.

It worked well until her first blowout.
Even with a sheet on the mattress, it still stained and looked horrible.

As she got older, the playard gathered more and more stains. It even endured the stomach flu from one sad little toddler.

Needless to say, the thing reeked and no amount of scrubbing seemed to get the stench or stains out of the poor thing. It was, in a word-- Disgusting.
There was no way we were going to let poor Hazel use it after the wrath her big sister put it though.

___

Then...THEN! When Hazel was about a week old, we got asked to review the first ever washable playard (You heard me! WASHABLE!).
I may or may not have jumped up and down when I found out, because one, Hazel now had a comfy place to sleep, and two? It's (have I mentioned?) washable...Which means no more disgustingness all over our playard because all the fabric is removable and can just be thrown in the washing machine.

When we first received it, I was seriously dreading lugging it upstairs and putting it together. The box was super heavy and I thought for sure there would be millions of pieces. But nope! I was wrong. All that putting it off for nothing, because when all was said and done, the set up took me less than ten minutes! All I had to do was put on the napper and changing table at the top. The rest was pretty much already assembled. Easy peasy.

Since having the playard a few weeks, I've come to a few conclusions. Are you ready for them?

-How did I live without this thing? Hazel sleeps a million times better in the little bassinet thing than she ever did in the cradle next to our bed. Need proof? Here.

-The changing table is just the right height for me... And, it's so nice having the diapers and wipes right there for middle of the night changes. I don't have to stumble around in the dark wondering where I last left them!

-The music and sounds are super soothing to Hazel (super annoying to me).

-The fabric is a little tricky to remove the first few times. I think it's because it's such a new concept and I just didn't know what I was doing (here's a video to help the process, though)...But, I mean, a little bit of a hassel removing fabric is better (a lot better) than having a barf smelling playard until the end of time. Right?

-I'm not a huge fan of the price ($179.99 at Babies R Us)... In fact, I would probably have a really hard time throwing down that sort of cash for a playard. It would be painful. Really painful. But, knowing what I know now about how great the product is, I think I'd be willing to pay up.

And, for your viewing pleasure, here's a video I made featuring the InGenuity Washable Playard!
(a few things to note: that heater vent doesn't let out any air, don't worry!... My voice is obnoxious. And, yes! I did think that joke was funny)

Want to learn more about this product?
Check it out and purchase on the Babies R Us Website.
You can also find out more on InGenuity's site.

Also! Be sure to stop by the InGenuity Facebook page and tell them what a great idea this Washable Playard is! Also tell them I sent you. Who knows? Maybe if enough of you say hello, we'll have a washable playard giveaway in the near future? Seriously, go say hi!

__

This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Kids II. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

identity

2013-02-22T13:47:00.002-07:00

Lately I've been feeling like I need to push myself more.

Push myself more as a wife.
Push myself more as a mom.
Push myself more as a friend.
Push myself more as a blogger.

...You get the idea.

But, besides those obvious things that I do every single day, I've been feeling like I just need to be more. And do more for myself so that I can have my own identity outside of the things above.

Something inside of me keeps telling me I need to start a business or something. Which is almost laughable, because I am so not a business-y kind of gal.
I mean, yeah, I have The Fairy Blogmother (my blog design "company")...But, I'm still feeling that void like I need to do more. Something like an Etsy shop. Which is silly because what would I even sell?

This is such a weird feeling.
And, I know, it's such weird timing, too. I mean, I just had a baby.

But, I feel like this intense feeling to create something bigger than myself would help me feel more like "me" again.

Now... I just have to figure out what I'm supposed to even do.
Which leaves me here having an identity crisis, ya know?

(I tried to find a picture to add to this post, but I couldn't find one of just me... Without any kids. See? Major identity problem here!)

__

What about you guys? What do you do with your spare time (besides nap! I love to nap). Do you run your own business from home? Tell me everything!

Hazel - 1 month

2013-02-21T20:08:00.000-07:00

This has seriously been the fastest month of my life. I seriously cannot believe that sweet little Hazey gal has been with us for that long.
Despite all the lack of sleep she's throwing at us, we absolutely adore her and think she is just so great.

Here are a few pictures of her today celebrating her big 1 month birthday.

(I'll explain allll about the quilt in another post. Isn't it amazing?)

Milkies Milk Saver -- Review

2013-02-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Warning all you men out there! This post is about breastfeeding. So basically, my boobs and their milk production. Um, awkward for us, right? Feel free to skip this post if you want.

Another disclaimer: I love breastfeeding and am a huge bfing advocate. However, I won't judge you/think you're a bad mama if you choose (or can't physically) breastfeed. I know that you made an informed decision on what was best for you and your baby.

K...Moving on!
__

I'm one of those lucky gals who doesn't have a problem with milk supply. Most days I'm grateful for it... Other days I curse it.
Soaking through bras and shirts isn't my idea of a great time. In fact, it can be downright embarrassing. Seriously, if I even think about a baby I start to leak. Add a crying baby into the mix and you might as well just start a wet t-shirt competition. Really! It's bad.

In the past, I would usually just stuff burp cloths in my bra to catch the letdown of my other side when I feed. It worked well, but the thing seriously got drenched. Plus, it grossed me out and I always wondered just how much of that precious "liquid gold" I was wasting.

Then, I saw Milkies Milk Saver on a deal website and I knew I had to have one!

Basically, it's a little bag you put in your bra that catches your letdown and makes it easy to store your breast milk without even pumping. Aaaamazing, right?

When mine came in the mail, I was so excited to try it out. I ended up getting 4 oz of milk to freeze the first feeding. I was amazed, but sure that it wouldn't be like that every time. But I was wrong. I have consistently been collecting 3-4 ounces of milk to freeze each feeding, just by replacing those darn burp cloths. I love that I don't have to pump to maintain a freezer supply, it's just effortless. Just how I like it!

The only complaint I have about the product is that it's bulky. I don't feel like I could use it anywhere but at home, just because it doesn't fit flush with my boob. Then again, that might be my boob's fault (too big for its own good, ugh). Who knows!

To find out more about Milkies Milk Saver click here.

*I couldn't help but rave about the product on Instagram, too. Check out that post here.

(I received product in exchange for this post. However, all opinions are mine. I really do love this thing!)

a year

2013-02-19T00:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday sucked.
Plain and simple.

Yesterday marked the almost-year-mark of my dad's death.
(He passed away on February 20th, so tomorrow is the official date, but last year it happened to be on President's Day...So, unfortunately, two days mark the day for our family. Rough).

I don't really have much to say about yesterday... Besides that it was really emotional and I couldn't eat anything until I literally forced myself (for Hazel's sake (milk production))... Luckily, my Tyler was home because I spent a good portion of the day lying in bed crying. I didn't want to move. So, I laid there cuddling my littlest love and just let myself cry. It felt good... Most of the time, I don't really let myself cry about missing him. I'm not sure why. Maybe because I am around Eloise most of the time and don't want her tender little heart to worry about me. I don't know.

I'm sure tomorrow will be the same way. Only, Tyler won't be home to watch the kids... So I will have to just try and move along like it's a normal day. But it's not. We'll see how it goes.
__

Right when I found out I was pregnant with Hazel, I knew she'd be his special bud. I knew she'd have a bond with him even though they wouldn't be meeting in this life.
I also knew that her birth would be a really great experience for me because she would be fresh out of Heaven (where my dad is!).

And, I was right.

The moment she was placed in my arms, I could feel his presence. I could feel his unconditional love for me, for Hazel, and for my whole family. In that moment, I knew that my dad was okay, and that though it's unfair he isn't here with us on Earth, he is still with us every day in Spirit.

photo by Harlow Moon Photography

I'm so grateful that I got to have that experience and to know without a doubt that everything will be okay...Even though days like yesterday, today, and tomorrow (and tons of other days of the year) suck.
__

I miss him. So so so badly.

mothering two

2013-02-16T19:42:00.000-07:00

This whole mothering two thing has been kicking my butt. Between late night feedings (Hazel), poop paintings (Eloise), and endless tantrums (that'd be Eloise again...Oh girlfriend...)... I'm feeling a little defeated!

Some days, I just feel so incapable of being their mama.
But, then-- I talk to someone (like our tax guy, random) and they remind me that it's normal to feel overwhelmed with two kids so close together. And that it's normal to not feel like superwoman and be able to do all of the things I was able to do when it was just Eloise and me.

It's so easy these days to feel like you just aren't measuring up to every other mom out there. All you have to do is log onto Pinterest for a few seconds and you will be bombarded with images of moms who actually get ready when they aren't leaving the house (seriously, it's mind boggling to me!), moms who cook three course meals every night, moms who never ever ever have to discipline their kids because they follow these quick (and easy!) "six steps to have the perfect child who never whines, cries, or plays with poop". And on and on and on.

What we aren't seeing is the entire truth. And, I think that's so hard to keep in mind. Everyone doesn't have perfect lives, despite what their blog or Instagram may portray. We're all just real people with real life issues just trying to get through this whole mothering gig on the hard days.

Yes, motherhood is wonderful and beautiful and such a great gift...But, let's admit it. Some days, it's exhausting and can make you feel like the biggest failure in the entire world.

For more frequent updates, be sure to follow us on Instagram (Tyler's here) and Facebook!

Friday's Letters... again.

2013-02-08T15:33:00.003-07:00

I was going to try and for real blog today... But, now that Elo is napping and Hazel is asleep on my chest (best feeling ever!)... I feel like I'd rather nap, too. So...Sorry y'all.

For now, we'll just do a quick little Friday's Letters and call it good...Yeah?

Dear Diet Coke: Thanks for getting me through these last few weeks. I tried to tell Tyler I was quitting you this week and he laughed at me. He's right. I could never quit you. In fact? I'm sippin' a 32 oz. right now. Life is good.

Dear Eloise: Thanks for loving me again. You kind of broke my heart when you went on a mama strike. I'm glad I have my buddy back. Also? You are such a great big sister. It amazes me how sweet you are to her.

Dear Bed: I wish we had more time together! I miss you.

Dear Tyler: Thanks for being such a great husband and dad. You are always willing to help out and never judge me for sitting in my underwear all day long. You couldn't get any better. Really. Well...Maybe if you learned to close the cupboards after opening them.

Dear Hazel: Whoa. Big two weeker, eh? You are the greatest eater (really, you gained almost a pound since birth--Plus all the stuff you lost the first few days. Whoa) and all around just a way good baby. I am one lucky mama. I can't wait to see your personality start to show. I'm so glad you're here!

Dear lovely blog readers: Thanks so much for all your love these past few weeks. Man, I like you guys.

Dear nap I wanted to take: Sorry, not gonna happen today. El just woke up. Bummer. Same time tomorrow?

Life with two kids

2013-02-01T21:03:00.002-07:00

I'm so glad you guys enjoyed the guest posters I had on here this week. They're all just completely lovely, right? I'm so honored that I get to call each and every one of them my friend.

Anyway...It's good to be back.
My fingers have been itching to type. Which is funny because I have gone way longer that five days without blogging before. But, whatever. Just roll with it.

__

Life with two kids is nuts.
I never imagined I could be so exhausted and so stretched to my limit every single day.
I never knew how overwhelming it would be trying to make sure both kids' needs are met.
It never even crossed my mind that being a mom of two was so rough.
But, I also never knew the amount of love my heart could feel.

__

Things have been rough this past week... With Eloise, mainly.
She is having a really hard time with this whole "sharing mama" thing. She is mad at me and doesn't really want anything to do with me unless we're alone (no dad or grami here to help out)... It kind of breaks my heart seeing how hard she is taking this whole baby thing. But, I love when I can see little glimpses of love coming from her.

Like, look at these pictures I posted on Instagram.

Holding hands? Ahh.
And, look at this one.

Does it even get cuter than that?

I'm hoping in the next few weeks we can have more moments like that, and less throwing herself on the floor and kicking her legs in a tantrum. I miss my sweet girl. And sometimes? I just want to sit there and cry with her because I just feel so guilty for rocking her world so hard.

__

As for Hazel...She is a dream baby. She is a great eater, a great sleeper, and hardly ever cries.
I know, right? I lucked out. Really really lucked out.

It's times like this that I just know Heavenly Father has got my back. Because I probably (okay, 100%) couldn't handle a fussy baby right now on top of a sad Eloise. That would be way too much for my heart to take right now.

I find myself staring at her and just feeling so much gratitude. Gratitude for the fact that she is here and also for the fact that she is just so great to be around. It's already hard for me to imagine how our little life would be without her (I hate when people say stuff like that, but it's true!)... She really completes our little family and we are so content with my little family of four.

__

So, there you have it.
A little update for ya on life with two kids.

Does anyone have any tips on how to make this all a little easier for my El girl? I try to spend one on one time with her daily, respond to her cries first (if they're not whining/tanruming), and include her in little things (like bringing me diapers and such)...But, nothing seems to ease her little broken heart. So really, any tips would be so appreciated!

__

OH! And one last thing.

Harlow Moon Photography posted a little sneak peek of our birth story on their blog. The photos are absolutely beautiful! Once I get the disk I will show you more.
For now? Ignore my chubby face... I was super swollen, apparently!

Talk about talented, right!?

Guest Post -- Pollock Potluck

2013-02-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy that Ashley offered to guest post while I'm away kissing Hazel and Eloise (probs Tyler, too... I'm on cloud nine with this newborn baby thing).

Ashley's blog is one of my favorite daily reads, and she has an awesome way of making me feel like a good mom--Even when I find myself wanting to rip my hair out. I love people like that.

Be sure to go check out her blog and say hello!

___

Hi sweet readers! My name is Ashley, and I blog over at The Pollock Potluck.

(that's me, my supercute baby boy, Luke and my handsome hubs)

I am thrilled to be guest posting for Erika today while she's loving on her little nugget of newborn goodness. I'm presuming many of Erika's readers are moms so I'm going to share a post about moms. and snowflakes. enjoy!

---

This week I posted a question on my Facebook status asking my Mom friends to give their input on two-year-old preschool. Let me give a little background behind my question.

My son Luke was diagnosed with a developmental delay at six months. We've remediated his physical delays, but now we're entering the realm of communication delays. At 17 months, Luke still isn't saying words. He has just recently started to blabber his own "baby talk," but nothing other than "Mamamamaaaaa" is anything understandable. His inability to communicate also causes Luke frustration on a daily basis; when he can't communicate with me effectively he loses it and throws a fit. Consequently, our days are filled with mini meltdowns, or "meltys," as we lovingly refer to them.

Luke's case manager told me that if he wasn't talking by the end of January, she would recommend a speech evaluation before our IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) expired on February 3rd. I would agree that he needs some sort of therapy to spur his verbal communication. However! I am amazed at how verbal he becomes once in the company of peers his age. It's like he's a different child.

So where does a new mom turn when she doesn't know what to do?

To Facebook, naturally.

I used my status to ask for input from other Moms who had experience with preschool at the two-year-old age. I got mixed responses. Some people were all for it, sharing their wonderful experiences and listing the benefits their child had as a result of pre-k at such an early age. Other moms were outspoken in the other direction, telling me to appreciate my time as a stay-at-home mom, and don't send him too soon for he has his whole life to be in school.

After reading the comments of my friends who were against the thought of sending a two-year-old to preschool, I felt defensive. I felt like they had attacked my thinking-- not my DECISION-- but my consideration of sending my little tyke to school. In my mind, they thought I was a bad mom and I wanted to fight back.

They disagreed with my parenting decisions,

decisions that were different from their experience.

And in my mind
disagreement equated with bad parent

17 short months of being a mom has taught me a lot. One of the most valuable lessons ~~I've learned~~ I'm continually learning is that I'm not designed to fit the mold of someone else's box. Just like every snowflake is unique, so to is every parent, every parenting style. And that's ok. I just wish that understanding was common knowledge that they taught in kindergarten, along with snowflakes & fingerprints.

My choices for Luke are going to be different than your choices for your kid. But that doesn't mean that I'm wrong. or you're wrong. Rather I think it actually means that we're in tune to what our children need, and not just catching the tide. Going against the current? It's not easy. And having a child that's been "unique" in his development has taught me that lesson first-hand. But you know what? I'm thankful for the challenges that have taught me that all important lesson:

I'm Luke's snowflake,
the one designed uniquely for him.

Trust your instincts.
Seek wise council when making parenting decisions and then trust your mama gut.
You're the unique fingerprint, the one-of-a-kind snowflake designed just for your baby.
You're a great mom.

Guest Post-- Today:Begin

2013-01-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited to introduce you to today's guest blogger. Her name is Amanda and she blogs over on Today:Begin. She knew Tyler growing up... And I'm so stinkin' grateful because through him, she found our blog. Which meant she started leaving comments and emailing me. She is phenomenal at writing, and always knows just the perfect thing to say.

Don't believe me?
Keep reading!
____

When Erika posted that she was looking for guest bloggers for her maternity leave from her blog, I jumped at the chance.... to post on one of my favorite blogs- what a dream come true! Congrats to Erika and Tyler on their beautiful baby girl... and thanks for letting me drive the Unfluffed bus for a day!

The topic I was given to share with you lovelies was "Motherhood". Wow... that's not broad or anything. So I was trying to think of a funny story I could tell about my little boy (like the time he smashed his face at the library), or some helpful advice I could offer (like how to make new mommy friends), or a review of some handy baby gadget that every momma needs to have (maybe something you could make from Pinterest)... and I was coming up completely blank. With a little pep talk from the hubby, I realized I was over thinking this. Motherhood. Being a mother.... what does that really mean to me? During different stages of my life, my viewpoints about being a mother have evolved and changed.

When I was a little girl I wanted eight kids. I had all their names picked out and knew there would be four girls and four boys. I would be rich and dress them up in super cute clothes and my dashingly handsome husband and I would live in a big house with our huge family. Oh, and I would drive an Escalade when I hauled them all to soccer practice. So basically motherhood meant picking out cute names, playing dress up, and driving an expensive SUV.

Then reality sunk in.... and during my late teenage years I wasn't sure if I wanted kids at all. I had a handful of terrible babysitting experiences and saw just how much WORK being a mother is. I also came to see just how important a mother can be, because I had such a wonderful mother and I needed her so much during those pivotal years. I just didn't know if I was up to the task. I realized motherhood meant work, patience, and a TON of responsibility.

Then I met my husband... and his eight siblings. Daniel really changed my mind about being a mother. First and foremost, I loved him.... and I knew, being the oldest of nine, that he really wanted a family. So right away I knew that if we were going to work, I had to change my tune about having kids. It gave me a lot of comfort knowing that he had so much experience with kids, and yet he still had so much confidence in my abilities despite my lack of experience. And I knew that with him, I'd never be alone in the whole parenting world. With him, motherhood meant teamwork, trust, and doing the impossible.

Then I got pregnant....and motherhood got real. I was working in the corporate world at the time, and really enjoying my job. My career was climbing... promotions and raises were definitely in my future. I wasn't sure if I wanted to give all that up to be a mother. I thought... oh I'll just take a six week maternity leave and get right back to work. Not to mention, being pregnant was AWFUL! It took a toll on my body and my mind. I'm ashamed to say it, but I thought of motherhood as inconvenient, difficult, and a big sacrifice.

Then I had my son, Logan... and my world was changed. I was a mother. Suddenly, everything that mattered before didn't matter at all. Everything that I thought I knew had changed. Now all I knew was that I loved that little boy more than I had room in my heart, and that I would do ANYTHING for him. It was crazy, but although I had never even held a newborn, I magically knew just what to do to care for my little man. Motherhood meant love. Love, love, and more love. Also instinct. But mostly love.

Then 12 weeks later.... my maternity leave was over. 10 hours a day, Logan was with my wonderful mother in law. But he wasn't with me. And my life turned into pumping, staring at pictures of him, and watching the clock. This was by far, the most difficult time of my entire life. The first year of my son's life was a mixture of the most joy I've ever felt and the most sadness as well. Motherhood was heartbreak, tears, and raw emotion.

Then the day finally came.... and I became a stay at home mom. Now my days are filled with park dates, listening to the same (annoying) song from that one (annoying) toy over and over again, and watching Logan spit out a different food every meal. To say I learned a lot would be an understatement. It's not always fun. Sometimes you have one of THOSE DAYS. But I really feel like I'm making a difference in my son's life. He's learning so much, which is so rewarding and fulfilling. And the older he gets, the more fun being a mother becomes. And my life is filled with so much joy, it's really overwhelming at times. Motherhood is trying, yet worthwhile. It's boring, yet fun. And it's bliss, pure bliss.

So basically, I was right all along. Motherhood is all of these things. Yes, you get to pick out cute names and outfits. And motherhood is DEFINITELY work and responsibility. Parenting is a team sport for sure. Being a mother can absolutely be inconvenient and is always a sacrifice. There is nothing in this world like a mother's love. Motherhood and emotion go hand in hand, which can often lead to heartbreak. Being a mother is the greatest thing you will ever do. In fact, I believe I was put on this Earth to be a mother. I thank God everyday that He trusts me with such a special little boy. This is what Motherhood means to me.

You can catch my blog over at http://today-begin.blogspot.com

Guest Post-- Whimsy-Ma

2013-01-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Janice has been my go to mama since she first started commenting on my blog a long time ago. She always seems to know just the right thing to say to me to make me feel like I'm a good mom (even on the worst days)...And, she's always so encouraging and honest. I love that about her.
So, when I started rounding up guest bloggers for Hazel's grand arrival, I knew I wanted to beg her to participate.
You can find her on her family blog or on her writing blog.

___

There are things I desperately want to remember about mothering.

Unfortunately these are the same things I am guaranteed to forget the instant I stop reciting them to myself.

Note: This is NOT me. I NEVER look that relaxed while knitting.
Also, a TINY GIRL and a CAT that close to balls of yarn but snuggling instead of
grabbing the yarn and tangling it across the entire room?
This painter has never been a mother.

Four things about mothering to NEVER FORGET (which I ALWAYS forget.)

1. I ~~probably~~ have unreal expectations.

This is a given for me.

For instance I have expectations about how long a task (with three young children in tow) will take.

“Ohh! Let’s run to the store right now for cheese! That should take less than an hour!”

Why would I ever expect such a thing?

Do I not know it will take 45 minutes just to put on shoes and coats?

And let's not even talk about getting into the car and fastening seat belts.

It’s self-destructive to have unrealistic expectations. I just end up frustrated and crabby.

Expectations should be analyzed daily. Maybe hourly. Ooh! Let’s do it now! I expect it should only take about 5 minutes….

2. Every moment counts.

Not in the “your life is rapidly passing you by and every moment counts!” panicky sort of way. But in an “every moment has the same weight" kind of way.

It’s easy to dwell on how I lost my patience (again) during the 45 minute get-ready-to-leave-the-house fiasco.

Will I also remember when I agreed (even though I wasn't excited about it) to cheerfully play that endless nonsense words game with them and how my contribution of “snotnose boogerflicker” sent them into gales of laughter?

If being impatient while they brushed their teeth counts as a bad parenting moment, then my patience in reading them that (dreadfully written) bed time book they adore (complete with silly voices) counts as a moment of good parenting.

It is so important to gauge how well we are parenting, but it’s useless to try it unless we are looking honestly at the whole picture. It’s easy to count the moments we fall short. Are we remembering to count the moments we've done well?

3. Relationships are messy.

No close relationships are neat and tidy They have butting heads and laughter and disagreements and unity. Why don't we expect that from the relationships we have with the littlest people in our house?

Why do we think that we are failing as mothers if our interactions with our children (who have just as many strong emotions as we do but barely any skills to deal with them) aren't constantly blissful?

How many of our adult relationships would even stay cordial if they were conducted 24/7 while we were exhausted, hungry, worried and distracted?

Expecting that we will never see our children’s less-pleasant moods is as unrealistic as thinking they’ll never see ours. It’s how we deal with each other in and after our imperfections that matters. When I lose it with them do I apologize? When they lose it do I try to help them come up with better ways to deal with things? (Realizing that I usually need to try out those better ways myself.)

4. Be kind to yourself.

I have not had any other experience in life that is so rife with opportunities to feel like a failure.

We need to stop judging ourselves by a perfect standard and start treating ourselves like that younger woman who we love and who needs our support. That girl who we’d hug and tell her we have been right there before. The girl we would pat on the back and show her how dirty our own floors are when she’s feeling overwhelmed with her own.

Yes, it’s a fact that neither you nor I are perfect mothers but we need to stop reminding ourselves of this as though it were possible to be perfect mothers. We need to stop rehashing only the bad and learn how to be friendly with ourselves. Make ourselves that person we want to talk to on bad days because we are full of patience and grace with ourselves. Let’s remember we aren’t perfect but encourage ourselves to keep trying our best.

So there you go, four things to NEVER FORGET about mothering.

Yes, four is a weird number for a list and I know there are more, but honestly? That's all I could remember.

How about you? What do you try to never forget about mothering?

Guest Post -- The Perry Place

2013-01-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited that my friend Heather volunteered to guest post while we are busy lovin' on baby Hazel. Heather is the best. Her and her husband have been our friends for a few years now, and it's fun to see our kids get together and love each other. You guys are a lucky bunch of readers to get to hear from this funny gal! Be sure to go give her some love on her blog, The Perry Place!
_____

Hi! I'm Heather. I have a itty bitty blog called The Perry Place. Feel free to check it out and get to know me and my (amazing) little family!

First off, I'm so honored to be a guest poster on this here lovely blog. Erika is the greatest isn't she? I feel so lucky to know the woman. Our husbands used to work together... I'm SO glad they became friends so that we could too.

When Erika was looking for guest posters so she could relax with her precious new girly, I totally jumped on it. She threw out the vast topic of motherhood and I was like ummm, that's my favorite topic! Pretty sure it's all moms' favorite topic. At least I hope it is. Because I believe there is truly nothing greater.

I want to talk about the transition from one to two kids.
I got pregnant when my son was 8 months old. It wasn't a surprise per say, but it happened way quicker than we expected. We were beyond excited. I feel like 8 months is when babies lose a lot of their baby-ness. So bittersweet. I really try to make it a point not to be stuck on the baby phase... but you know what I mean. There's just something about babies. Anyways, bottom line- we were excited. We found out were having a girl and we were like, exponentially excited.

But then it started to get real. I started wondering how the heck I was going to do it. I mean people have more than one kid aaall the time, right? But what about when your toddler is running around wreaking havoc that only a toddler can wreak, and you're feeding the baby? I imagined sitting there helpless as my boy was pouring cereal all over the house, trying to stick his finger into outlets in the other room, or something even worse. Plus, that toddler was already wearing me out to the point of exhaustion. Add no sleep at night? What? Will I be feeding mouths and wiping bums literally all day? How will my boy feel about the baby, after having my attention literally all the time? How will he treat her?
Needless to say, there is a lot to worry about.

But.

Think about how much you love your first child. Now imagine that times two! That's a lot of love, right? That's the biggie that gets you through. But I also have some other tips I thought I would share to help anyone through that transition from one to two. Stuff that helped me, and that I wish someone would have told me.

Don't be hard on yourself. Your house will be a mess most of the time. You probably won't feel like cooking for awhile. That's ok! Don't try to be a crazy supermom. You're better off focusing on the kids. I promise.
Get out of the house. I know you've heard it before. But DO it. Whenever you feel you can part with your babe, leave the kids with someone you trust (a lot) and go on a date with the hubs or out with friends for a couple hours. Or even just go to the store by yourself. I love doing that. It's tough if you're breastfeeding but leave a pumped bottle if you can and you'll be just fine, especially if it's only a couple hours.
Have your older child be a helper. I don't know about your kid but mine loves to throw stuff away. I take full advantage of that with dirty diapers. It's important to make them a part of the new situation.
Set clear boundaries for your older child. We have the rules posted on the wall. We chose three rules that cover a whole bunch of behaviors (respect others, use your words, and clean your messes). Feel free to get specific.
Be clear and consistent in disciplining your older child. I know this seems like a lot of emphasis on the older child, but it is very necessary. If you don't have some semblance of order in the house, you may very well lose your mind. We use time out, supernanny style. (check this clip out to see it in action. Ignore the terrible audio) It has worked wonderfully.
Take time to play with both kids. Separately and together. Your older child will act out less when they feel they've gotten quality time in with you that day, you and your baby need to bond alone sometimes, and playing together shows the older child this new baby is part of the family (note: refer back to the first point about not worrying about your messy house when your thinking, "I don't have time to play!")
Have an emotional support. Mine is definitely my husband. If we can sit down and talk at the end of the day, for even just 10 or 20 minutes, makes my life a lot brighter. Having someone validate you and what you're doing will hopefully give you the strength and empowerment to get through those tough days!

I hope you got something out of those points. Yeah you'll probably feel like a zombie some days. There is no magical secret piece of knowledge that will make life with two kids easy. Just love and enjoy those kiddies. Just keep in mind that a baby is a gift and a blessing. You totally got this!

Our little famfam... my husbands sister also lives with us. I don't have a teenager child! Just want to put that out there...

They for reals love eachother. It's the best.