The Magnolia Pair

Make-Up Must Have's {New Mama version}

2013-06-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a list of my 'emergency make up kit'. When you are a new mama who has time to apply make up? Not me. But, every once in awhile I find myself in a pickle and need to apply some real fast. It's nice to have to carry a diaper bag around already, so I have a little pouch I keep these things in and just keep it in the bag at all times. These seven items can boost my appearance quickly if I'm in need of a 'face lift'. I left out powder/base because I can't really wear it due to my excessive amount of freckles, so add that to your list if you don't have spots :) I always enjoy reading what others love, three of the seven items above were found from reading other blogs, so I hope to have shared some new things with you that you fall in love with too!

one. two. three. four. five. six. seven.

one: bare minerals brush, simple and versatile for bronzer or powder.

two: benefit's they're real mascara. the best mascara i have ever tried, my lashes get so long/thick when i apply it.

three: clinique's all about eyes serum. best de-puffing serum ever. my most recommended eye serum that works wonders on puffy eyes.

four: benefit's ooh la lift. i apply this after the clinique serum has dried, or just use it by itself. makes your eyes bright!

five: benefit's hoola bronzer. a non shimmer bronzer that looks natural and gives an automatic sun kissed look.

six: honest organic lip balm. it's organic and makes your lips so soft, while keeping them from getting chapped. i can't keep up with lip stick, so chapstick it is.

seven: zara perfume roll stick. {sorry no link} any roll stick is necessary especially if you're breast feeding, you will realize real quick how you automatically get that 'mama smell'

Font used for graphic: Learning Curve and L &C Hairline

Our First Daddy's Day

2013-06-16T14:24:00.004-05:00

We're hanging out with this Daddy all day!

Breakfast at our favorite place.

Going to watch some LSU Baseball and hope for a win in Omaha!

Will treat Joel to some Mexican food.

And snuggle with our girl!

***

Happy Father's Day to all the awesome Dad's out there! This year is our first, so I can't wait to shower Joel with so much love! It will be hard to live up to his performance on Mother's Day, but I will try my best to make it so special :)

Baby Bump Bundle

2013-06-14T07:30:00.000-05:00

Website // Facbook // Twitter //

Before Scarlett was born, Michelle from Baby Bump Bundle reached out to me about testing their products. I chose to try out the newborn baby bundle since I was nearing the end of my pregnancy. Soon after Scarlett was born I was able to start testing out some of the things they sent me, and I was immediately impressed. I've had a lot of fun trying out the products. Baby Bump Bundle offers pregnancy, newborn, and breastfeeding bundles that you can gift to yourself or to a new mama or mama to be. It really is the perfect gift. I really enjoyed the items in the bundle. I received a photo book, monthly sticker set, Earth Mama Angel Baby gift set, Bella B wipes, and the woombie wrap. I loved trying these new items because I knew other moms loved them. That's what is neat about this company, they surveyed over 50 real moms to select the best products to give new moms or moms to be. Some of the products I already loved, such as the Earth Mama Angel Baby line, but Bella B wipes and the woombie wrap are now a new favorite in our house! Baby Bump Bundle is graciously offering a 10% discount to my readers to use towards any of their bundles. Definitely take advantage of this because any new mom or mom to be will enjoy getting this kind of care package!

10% off Discount Code for my readers: MAGPAIR13

Baby Bump Bundle, LLC
What we offer is handpicked pregnancy products geared toward each trimester, to make modern mom-to-be's smile, called BumpBundle’s.
We also have a BabyBundle gift box, with goodies for newborn babies as well and have recently created a BreastfeedingBundle with nursing essentials.
We surveyed over 50 real moms and used my co-founder Maireads (who is a new mom) expertise to put together the gift boxes and that is how the idea was brought to life and the items in the bundle were selected.
We wanted to do something totally different then other baby gift companies. Instead of offering tons of baby products (which is always fun to give at the shower), what about the mother who is going through the most insane (but happy and exciting!!) 9 months of her life; gaining weight, having mood swings, while also celebrating special occasions during that time, like birthday, anniversary, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, etc.
That is where BBB, LLC gift bundles come in, which makes a great gift for any time during or after the pregnancy. What we have is a subscription type service where someone can buy a gift (whether it be a treat for them self or for someone else) with all three care packages. They are then sent to the expecting mother-to-be, spread out through each trimester of the entire pregnancy. But a customer can just purchase one bundle as well or two bundles if they do not want all three BumpBundle's!
From nausea lozenges and tea to body butter, comfy stretchy clothing like a cami tank top, and even some fun fashion finds thrown in there like scarves to jazz up otherwise boring maternity clothing, we are working with a wide range of businesses and include a variety of items in order to provide gift boxes with products that people would love to receive throughout the pregnancy as a gift or to treat themselves with. It’s a company devoted to helping preggers women cruise their way through pregnancy in style, comfortable, and feeling her best.
We can be found on the following site babybumpbundle.com

our little water baby

2013-06-12T21:01:00.000-05:00

Did you see on instagram that I have a little water baby?

During our trip in Louisiana, Scarlett had her first pool experience, and she loved it!

Mommy and Daddy really enjoyed watching our little fish float around in the pool.

There is nothing cuter than a baby in a bucket hat and sunnies!

My Suit is Target

Scarlett's hat is old navy

Scarlett's suit was found on Zulily

Will be recapping the rest of our trip soon! Little miss Scarlett got baptized while we were home, so we are so excited for her and can't wait to share that special moment!

New Mama Essentials

2013-06-05T07:30:00.000-05:00

1. Earth Mama Happy Bottom Spray: This stuff just feels really great on your bottom. It's organic and will leave you feeling relieved. Later on when I didn't want to use dermaplast anymore, this was my saving grace.
2. Yoga Pants: The only thing I felt comfortable in after. Heck, I still wear them most days.
3. Dermaplast: Usually the hospital will give you a bottle, but if not, you may just want to note it. I didn't use it after the first week, but it was a lifesaver that first week. Trust me, you will want to be numb down there at times.
4. Robe: You will want this at the hospital and when you get home. With constant visitors and my body doing weird things, I didn't feel so comfortable in my skin, so hiding behind a robe made me feel comfortable again.
5. Post Delivery Belly Band : I started wearing mine about a week after, and I could tell my stomach was becoming more firm and flat. The Kardashian's rave about some expensive one, but the one I bought did a spectacular job for under $20!
6. Motrin: for when you get home and don't have those good drugs anymore.
7. Ice Packs: The hospital will usually give you some, but they aren't my favorite. I invested in the blue gel flexible kind, and those were great.

For Nursing Mama's

1. Lanloin / Nipple Butter: Medela for Lanloin and Earth Mama for Nipple Butter
2. Nursing Tanks: I bought all of mine from Target
3. Nursing Pads: I use Lansinoh Brand
4. Boppy Pillow
5. Hair Ties/ Hair Pins
6. Gel Soothies for Nipples: Lansinoh Brand

Let's face it, giving birth (the actual giving birth part) is not that pretty, and us ladies go through a lot in those weeks after having a baby. My postpartum recovery was tough up until about 4 weeks. Sure, I felt a lot better at 2 weeks, but I definitely didn't feel myself until right at 4 weeks. I really had no idea I would be in the kind of pain I was in. It wasn't all bad, but I definitely had moments where I didn't know how I could even lift myself up out of bed to stand without feeling so much pain. All women go through different delivery routes and experiences, but today I just wanted to share some of my favorites that 'got me through' those first tough few weeks.

I've gotten a lot of positive feedback on here and on my instagram with how appreciative y'all are of these posts, and I just wanted to say thank you for letting me know that. I wouldn't put so much effort into these kinds of posts if I didn't get your feedback, so thank you! And I am so relieved to hear that my posts are helping some.

Ps. I am a bit back logged on responding to comments from last week. I respond every one, so I am sorry for the delay. Promise I'll be getting to those shortly. I had a bad allergic reaction and ended up in the emergency room this week, so I've been resting up and taking care of myself. No need to worry, I am fine and doing well.

Have a great day y'all!

the most popular question

2013-05-30T07:30:00.000-05:00

How did you get Scarlett to sleep 8 hours?
And let me be honest, I really have no idea. I wish I could tell you, but I am almost positive it is genetic. My mom told me that at 3 weeks my brother and I both slept through the night for 8 hours as well. My mom's simple answer when I asked her how she got us to sleep was, "I fed you when you were hungry and held you when you cried." You will soon learn that my mom and I used different methods to get our babies to sleep.
Those first few weeks are rough on every new Mama, I never thought it was possible for her to sleep straight through the night this early until it happend. It was the night of Mother's Day when Joel and I were at a loss of what to do in regards to sleep. Scarlett slept in a bassinet (this one) for the first 3.5 weeks until one night we moved her to her infant seat/bouncer (this one). She would nap so well in it during the day, that we figured we would let her hang out in there at night and see what happens. Well at 10pm we put her in there, and 9 hours later, we realized she slept the entire night. I immediately panicked and checked to see if she was still breathing. She was. And then I got nervous that she hadn't eaten in 9 hours (which the pediatrician said is normal and okay). Joel and I had a pretty rough set of nights leading up to Mother's Day. So, we were so exhausted we slept the entire time too.

The 5 nights before she slept 8 hours, Joel and I were up around 3am during Scarlett's witching hour(s), and started googling baby sleep, how to get a baby to sleep, why is she crying, and why won't she sleep. Then I got on pinterest and pulled up some articles that I had saved. Well, some time later Joel and I found the perfect article that put our minds to ease that we could possibly do something to help the situation. We found a post from a blogger that used Baby Wise concepts lightly, and that is exactly what we were looking for. We don't follow the method strictly or even follow it all the time. What we did do was to try to use some of the suggestions.

In a nutshell, we tried to get her on a feed and sleep schedule by mainly keeping her awake after 7:30pm, so that way she was ready to go to sleep by 10 or 11.
As a side note... Joel and I do not have a bedtime right now since he is mostly at home during the day, and well I am too. If he had an 8-5 schedule, we would probably keep her awake starting at 5.
Joel takes the trophy home on this one, because around her "awake" time, I go take my sits bath and soak in the tub for an hour plus, so he has her for this time. He is great at entertaining her and making sure her eyes are open the whole time. And, he loves this time because it is his time with Scarlett. If he is doing his research most of the day, he doesn't get to really relax with her until the night, so he begs me to go take a shower. I am very lucky, he really is an awesome daddy and husband. As soon as I get out of the shower and ready for bed, I feed Scarlett and just wait until she goes to sleep. She usually can go to sleep and be in her 'deep' sleep after she is done nursing and we place her in her seat to sleep. Other times, we may have to swing her or wait till she goes out.

We found that when we fed her on demand and whenever she cried, she got more stomach aches. So I wouldn't necessarily say we follow the "parent directed feeding" for the baby wise reason. I didn't realize I was feeding her too much, and once I started spacing out her feedings to at least 2 hours, she did not have as much gas or acid reflux. It seemed like a win-win. If she is persistently fussy after trying all methods, I of course will feed her.

Now, we live by the Happiest Baby on the Block methods. The five S's are a lifesaver, and Scarlett responds to all five, so incredibly well.

+swaddling

+shushing

+side/stomach position

+swinging

+sucking

The ones that work the best for her are swaddling, shushing, and swinging. The Halo sleep sack has been so helpful in keeping Scarlett asleep. She broke out from a blanket swaddle the first night at the hospital, so we quickly found Halo to be our best friend. The Halo is essentially a swaddle, just more controlled. By keeping Scarlett in a swaddle she is not able to use her hands to hit herself in the face and wake herself up. I know Happiest Baby on the Block says to swaddle because it helps them feel like they are still in the womb, which I am sure helps, but for Scarlett it is more important for her to keep her arms covered since she wakes herself up by moving around.

Many of you may wonder or pass judgement on the fact that we let her sleep in her infant seat, but when we realized she was no longer having acid reflux and wasn't spitting up in her sleep, we were glad to know she was much more comfortable in there. After a week of her being in her seat, we moved her back into her bassinet and are trying to get her re-adjusted to it. It was not the easiest transition, she really struggled with 'liking' it again. We then slipped back to an average of 6 hours of sleep per night, maybe more maybe less.

Where we went wrong... We should have bought a Rock n Play the day she got home. At 5 weeks old, we decided to head to Babies R Us and purchase the Rock n Play. Since we bought it, Scarlett has slept 8 hours and has actually started a schedule. It is amazing. This is one of those items I wish we would have bought earlier. It is essentially a bouncer, but more secure and has the feel of a cradle. We love that we can rock it too.

Hopefully you could read through my babble and this was helpful. Honestly, I can't really tell you everything we are doing, so many things go into how a baby sleeps. Hopefully our techniques helped y'all, and while our method may not work for everyone, maybe some of the tips will help. I am not a baby expert and don't claim to be, but I am always up for sharing my experience and what has worked with others, especially since I've gotten so many emails and comments asking me about it.

Thanks for reading!

My Hospital Bag Checklist

2013-05-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've found that Pinterest was extremely helpful in this department. I've pinned several posts about what to bring/not to bring, etc. Well, I took a little bit from each one and made my own hospital bag guideline to follow. I hope this checklist helps the expecting mama's out there. I know how hard it is to find a reputable list that says what you really need. For any who may ask, I packed our bags at 36 weeks and had all in order by 37-38 weeks. I wasn't taking any chances :)

For Mama:
+ Printed Birth Plan (which I don't even think I took out my bag)
+ Robe
+ Soft/Warm Socks
+ 2 Pairs of Yoga Pants
+ 2 Pairs of Button Down PJ's or Stretchy Sleep Tops
+ Flip Flops for Shower
+ Slippers
+ 2 Pairs Granny Panny Undies/Men's Boxer Briefs (I didn't care for the hospital ones).
+ Make Up
+ Hair Tools
+ Bottom Spray (this is what I used...and the hospital usually gives you dermaplast)
+ Chapstick (Aquaphor)
+ Pads (in case you don't like hospital ones).
+ Going Home Outfit
+ Tic Tacs
+ Hair Ties/Head Bands for Labor
+ 1-2 Extra Pillows from home

For Nursing Mama's
+ Boppy (nursing pillow)
+ Nursing Pads
+ Gel Soothies for sore nipples
+ Nipple Creme
+ 2 Nursing Bras
+ 2 Nursing Tanks

For Baby:
+ 2 Swaddle Blankets or 2 Sleep Sacks
+ 2 Onesie/Gown Outfits
+ No Scratch Mittens
+ Hats
+ Booties
+ Diapers & Wipes (if you have special brand)
+ Going Home Outfit
+ Car Seat

For Dad:
+ 2 Pairs of Shorts/Pants
+ 2 Shirts
+ Flip Flops for shower
+ Snacks (most hospitals don't feed Dad)
+ Toiletries (shampoo, deoderant, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, lotion)
+ Razor (in case he forgot to shave)
+ Going Home Outfit (if you want Dad in pictures)

Un-Categorized:
+ Change for vending machines
+ Phone Chargers
+ Camera
+ Video Camera
+ Laptop
+ Notebook to keep track of feedings (in case hospital doesn't provide sheet)
+ Pens or Sharpie to put baby's name on items
+ Hand Sanitizer for Visitors
+ Door Sign (if you want something for the outside of your hospital door)

$30 GIVEAWAY from Kate Pixley Designs!

2013-05-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today, I have an amazing giveaway going on from Kate Pixley Designs! Kate's shop is so addicting, y'all! I seriously wish I would have known about her shop when I was picking out bedding for Scarlett's nursery. She has the cutest patterns and fabric in her shop. Kate also sells diaper clutches, sippy cup leashes, sophie savers, and more. I know most of you will just swoon when you see her items! Kate has graciously offered to giveaway a $30 shop credit to her store AND is offering my readers 15% off their purchase (see below for code). So, go ahead and enter, I am super jealous and wish I could enter too!

A little about Kate Pixley Designs...

I am Kate and I started the company in May 2010 after my grandma gave me a sewing machine and told me to start sewing. My real name is not Kate.... lol it is Kati, but I always loved the name Kate... Pixley is also not my name, but my dad called me pixley instead of princess because I was so small as a child he said I was like a pixie, it then turned into Pixley and he still calls me that to this day addressing all of my cards and mail to Little Pix.

I am a mom to three, Joshua 7, Peyton 4.5 and Greyson 1, married to the most amazing man Chris who lets me destroy his kitchen with fabric even tho I have a studio!

Kate is so generous she is offering my readers 15% off their purchase!

Use the code: kate15

Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Southern French Toast

2013-05-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today, I am sharing one of my favorite breakfast recipes, french toast. This is a pretty frequent meal we eat since I think french toast in general is pretty simple and easy to whip up. I often get overwhelmed with flour, baking soda, and other ingredients that make me use an awful lot of measuring cups. I love to cook and bake, but simple is also really good too! I know there are many recipes out there, but I enjoy this one because I am a firm believer that sourdough bread is the best kind to use when making french toast, and there aren't many recipes out there that use this type of bread. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

10-12 Slices of sourdough bread

1 cup of milk

4 eggs

2 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of vanilla

a pinch of salt

Prep

Mix in all ingredients except for bread in a bowl

Take a loaf of bread and dip it into the mixture

Place dipped bread onto a frying pan

Flip until golden brown on each side

Add some maple syrup

Some fresh fruit

and powered sugar?

Enjoy!

Baby Scarlett, One Month Old!

2013-05-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Weight: We are not sure. She was born at 6 lbs 15 oz, then at her two week appointment she was at 6lbs 12 oz. So I am guessing she is somewhere in the low 7 pound range.

Health: Very healthy! She has had some tummy issues lately, so we've given her 'Little Remedies Tummies' a couple of time to ease her pain. Her umbilical cord stump fell off at 12 days old, so that was great!

Sleep: The first week she woke somewhere between every 2-4 hours. Second week was about every 2 hours {growth spurt?}, the third week she woke up about every 4-5 hours, and at 3.5 weeks old she is SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT! She has been sleeping on average of 8 hours per night ever since, we are beyond thrilled!

Social: Scarlett has let Mama and Daddy be pretty social this past month. At two weeks old we went to our first Baron's Baseball game, and that was a ton of fun. The following week Mama and Daddy got to to go a matinee movie {we saw Mud} and that night we met friends for dinner. Mama has also been able to run to Target three times on her own! Mother's Day weekend we took our first little road trip to go shopping, and Scarlett did pretty well in the car. Also, we've gone to church the past two Sunday's and it has been a success each time!

Diet: All Breast Milk! I am pumping at least once a day, trying to get to two times per day so I can stock up. Scarlett was introduced to a bottle late last week and is doing great with it! We are trying to give her a bottle every couple of days just to get used to it.

Clothes: Newborn clothes are the only things that fit her. She is barely fitting into those. We have an itty bitty baby!

Baby Gear Love: I listed all of my favorites in this post. But to list a few are: Halo Sleep Sack, Wubbanub, Noodle & Boo baby wash, Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets, and our Ergo Carrier.

Crying: The first three weeks she barely cried, especially the first two. She only cried when she were hungry or when we bathed her. Week three and four she started crying more. We think this was due to growth spurts and tummy pain mostly.

Likes: She loves to be held, rocked, and loves to nurse!

Dislikes: She is not a fan of taking car rides in your car seat, we've tried to time it right where she is asleep before we leave to prevent upset. She also is not a fan of being naked or getting bathed.

Postpartum: At one week I was back into my jeans/pre pregnancy clothes and weight. I was really happy about that! But, my recovery has not been the easiest. I did not have any 'injuries' from delivery, so I was lucky there as well. But, the overall pain from giving birth has followed me throughout the month. I'd say at 5 days postpartum I felt okay and able to walk around. At two weeks, I felt almost normal and could walk around a bit more. At four weeks, I feel almost back to my normal self, except I still can't take long walks and stand too long. I am just still trying to stay off my feet as much as I can right now. I take a sits bath every night just to ease some body aches and to soothe my bottom, I believe this has really helped my recovery tremendously!

Milestones: I'd say sleeping through the night and Mama and Daddy getting 8 hours of straight sleep per night is a huge milestone, especially at 3.5 weeks old :) Scarlett is also becoming more alert and awake during the day which is really neat! Right at 4 weeks Scarlett gave us her first SMILE! As seen in her one month picture above. We are just so excited, and you can imagine the faces and voices we put on just to see her smile! Also, we're pretty excited she is taking the bottle so well.

blogging with a bebe

2013-05-19T11:53:00.002-05:00

pic from my instagram

Is hard. Very very hard.

As I sit here and type this post, I have baby Scarlett in my arms and I am trying not to press the keyboard letters too hard so she doesn't wake from her deep sleep. I've got her in a cradle position and I placed her just right so I could get two hands out to type. My arm muscles are strained and it's surely a balance act to keep her from waking.

I started this blog initially as a way to share my recipes and life in a new city living as a newlywed with my medical student husband. I found other blogs and realized blogging was 'cool' and that there were many realms of topics I could cover, and hey I could attract more readers. I enjoyed very much doing outfits, beauty, recipes, lifestyle posts, DIY, and more. The evolution of this blog has come a long way in a year and a half, and I've enjoyed every bit of it. This blog is my creative outlet to share all my inspiration and things that make me happy.

Lately, I've slacked on here for obvious reasons, and I've really missed writing. Did I ever tell y'all that English was my favorite class and journaling was my favorite activity I looked forward to? Well, that is what this blog is to me, a journal, and when I don't write in it, I miss it. You may find many typos here, I never claimed to be a grammar queen, just a lover of writing from my soul.

So back to the evolution of this blog... My blog has changed drastically since I began blogging. I know you've seen that as I took on weekly pregnancy posts, and then onto baby essentials & guides. Can you tell the direction this blog is going in? I never claimed that this site was anything but a lifestyle blog, meaning I could go in any direction I wanted to. So, I am just here to say today that I appreciate my readers who have stuck around and continued to show support for my blog through all of the changes. I really cannot thank you enough. It means so much to me to read your comments and see that people are reading my posts. I know many have lost interest and left, which is fine too. I can't promise to stick to everything I've done in the past, but I will try to, because I still love all of those posts and topics. Having a baby didn't change who I am and what I enjoy. Scarlett will forever be a part of my life, but I will make sure to still to the things I enjoy doing.

So, cheers to this blog, my readers, and having a creative outlet. I am not going anywhere, and I cannot wait to share more with y'all as time goes on!

***

And as a side note... Does anyone know if I can change the name of my domain before I renew? I want to change the blog name slightly. I will keep MAGNOLIA, but want to change the PAIR to something different. Anyone know if that is possible through godaddy?

And if I change this, will it change automatically on bloglovin too?

Thanks y'all :) Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

BIG Giveaway from Lauren

2013-05-16T08:51:00.001-05:00

Today, we have the sweet Lauren from Our Little All American Family, giving away some awesome items! Lauren is my feature advertiser this month, and I am so excited to be showcasing her and her blog! This is a great giveaway, so be sure to enter below and go check out her blog!

1 winner will receive:

Leopard Print makeup bag

Rose gold and Silver Floral Bracelet

No Place Like Chrome Essie Nail Polish

2 Softlips Pearl chapstick/gloss

$50 voucher to KellyHughes.com (www.shop.kellyhughes.com)

+++

Enter Below and Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Snap Bean Artichoke Caserole

2013-05-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to share with y'all today one of my Mom's famous recipes! This is her all time go-to dish when making something for any party. People often beg her to make this dish because it is so delicious. It may not be the heartiest recipe on my list, but I will guarantee that it will make your heart happy eating it :) It is really so simple and takes very little time to cook and prepare.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

1 3/4 Cups of Italian Bread Crumbs

1 Cup of Parmesan Cheese

1 Can Delmonte French Style Cut Green Beans (28oz)

1 Can Artichoke Hearts cut up quartered (14oz)

1 Lemon Sliced (optional)

4-5 Toes of Fresh Cut Garlic

1 Tsp Garlic Powder

1 Tsp of Tony Chachere's
Add Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Mix all the above ingredients in a 9x11 pan.

2. Add greens and artichokes (cut into small pieces) Last

3. Sprinkle bread crumbs over mixture.
4. Place Sliced Lemon on top (optional)

5. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes

*Save small amount of artichoke juice for taste and moisture and add to the mixed ingredients if it is too dry.

Please let me know if you make it, I'd love to hear how you liked it!

my first mothers day!

2013-05-13T20:45:00.003-05:00

1. daddy dressed scarlett...he wondered why her bonnet wasn't cute.

2. the first sight i saw when coming out of our bedrooom :)

3. eating breakfast with my sleepy girl

4. beachin it with my handsome hubby and sweet girl

so happy to be this little girl's mama.

so blessed to be this handsome man's wife.

lots to be thankful for.

i had an incredible first mother's day, and i'll never forget it.

being a mama is so beautiful and i love my new role in life.

a few more from the beach!

i hope all the mama's out there enjoyed their special day !

Our Newborn Essentials

2013-05-10T21:27:00.001-05:00

1. Halo Sleep Sack: Scarlett broke out of her blanket swaddle on the first day she was born, so we quickly grabbed the Halo sleep sack to fix that little issue. We also have these, and while we liked them, Scarlett also figured out how to roll over on day three, so we switched over to the Halo again since we were nervous of her being on her side in the middle of the night.
2. Infant Seat: She is not a fan of her swing yet, so this seat is perfect for her to lounge in. It also plays music and vibrates, she loves it. It is perfect for when we are trying to eat dinner or fix a meal and need a free hand.
3. Infant Carrier: This is the only way we can leave the house. Scarlett is so snug in her moby wrap and ergo carrier, that she just sleeps the entire time. We are big fans! We may be an even bigger fan though of the ergo carrier with the infant insert. Scarlett seems to like being in there a bit more than the moby. Plus, I'm still learning how to properly wrap the moby.
4. Avent Soothie (wubbanub): We got her on a pacifier the 2nd night in the hospital when she was not sleeping and didn't want to nurse. With Scarlett, we didn't have any nipple confusion and this soothie is great for calming her between feedings. We especially love the wubbanub because even though she's a newborn, she already holds onto the animal.
5. Boppy: If you are nursing this is super helpful. Even if you aren't breast feeding, the extra arm support is great. Trust me, those arms will get tired. I know this is a 'grow with me' product, so we're excited to use it as she grows.
6. Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets: Best blankets ever. They are so light and keep Scarlett warm and cool at the same time. They are quick to wrap her in and the adorable patterns they offer are a definite plus. Having a newborn in the summer and still needing to keep her warm is challenging, but I always know she is comfortable when I wrap her in these.
7. Honest Diapers + Wipes: We chose to go with natural, plant based, hypo allergenic, and chlorine free diapers for Scarlett's little bottom. Joel and I try to promote a healthy eco friendly lifestyle when we can, and this was definitely a biggie for us. We love the diapers and wipes so far and they've held up during her "blow outs." Plus, how cute are their patterns?
8. Play Mat : Mama's arms get tired quick, and if we are just lounging on the couch, this is super handy to have on the chaise lounge. I don't always have a blanket handy, so it's very nice to have this permanent mat on the couch.
9. Burp Cloths: Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, we have these all around the house. Scarlett definitely has her fair share of spit up, so we use these multiple times a day.
10. Puj Flyte Tub: We love this tub so much. It is perfect while Scarlett is so little and isn't big enough for her bigger tub. Plus, it's versatility of being able to put in the kitchen sink or any sink is so wonderful.

other favorites:
+ Noodle & Boo: Probably the sweetest smelling body wash and lotion I've ever smelled. It literally smells like a sweet little baby. I even love the line for myself.
+ Cloud B Sound Machine: We are really loving our lamb sound machine. It soothes Scarlett in the car, on walks, at night, and during the day. We love our on the go lamb too, and take it everywhere!
+ BabyGanics Hand Sanitizer: We have these around the house and always on hand in her diaper bag and car. It's easy to grab and have out when guests come over that way it's not too awkward to ask them to just squirt some on their hands.

***

On Thursday little miss Scarlett turned 3 weeks old! Where is the time going? You mama's weren't kidding when you said time flies. I feel like I just blinked. I'm no pro yet on Mama stuff, but this blog is my creative outlet and I enjoy talking about motherhood and how it's changed my life. Some things I'd like to start doing on this little blog of mine is to talk about motherhood and provide helpful guides, favorite products, and more. So, I hope you enjoy my reviews and favorites!

And if you have any suggestions or requests I am all ears! Thanks y'all!

Meet Brandi

2013-05-09T09:47:00.000-05:00

BLOG I FACEBOOK I TWITTER

***

Hey y'all! I am so excited for y'all to meet Brandi, today! I just adore this girl. Not only is she so incredibly sweet, but she has one of the warmest hearts of any blogger I've met. She has a beautiful baby girl, and writes all about their fun and exciting life! Her and her sweet husband just celebrated their two year anniversary and their pictures are just so beautiful! Her year has been all to exciting, because she also celebrated her daughters first birthday this year as well, and wrote her the sweetest note! Brandi is always keeping things interesting and funny on her blog too. In this post, she shares some mama musings about embarrassing Brooklyn and children in general.

Be sure to go say hello to Brandi and show her some blog love!

Stick around and enjoy her posts, I know you will just love her too!

***

And in celebration of us welcoming baby Scarlett, enjoy 50% off ALL Ads! I will run this promo code until Sunday at 6pm!
Code: welcomescarlett

Scarlett's Birth Story

2013-05-06T18:17:00.002-05:00

Scarlett Isabel came into this world on April 18, 2013 at 2:51pm. Her birth was nothing like I ever imagined. It was more beautiful than I could have ever dreamed of. Sure it wasn't easy and those few days after were really hard, but it was the most amazing experience I've ever had. Even though recovery was tough and I was in a lot of pain, I found myself wanting to go back in time and re-do it all over just to feel that moment of seeing her for the first time again, it really is a beautiful thing and I will never forget it.

Let the story telling commence...

At my last doctors appointment, my doctor and I went over the possibility of an induction. I had been pre-laboring for about 2 weeks straight and had a lot of shortness of breath and irregular heart beats. After much thought and realizing that Joel would be traveling twice before and after my due date, we decided to go ahead and induce at 39 weeks.

At 11:00pm on Aril 17th I checked into the hospital and got put into a room. After three IV sticks from three different people, they finally got it in, and I was finally set up to be seen by my doctor. I wasn't ready until about 12:30, and as soon as they paged my doctor she was walking into a C-section, so Joel and I watched a tv show, then got some rest till about 1:30. My doctor came in shortly after and got things going. She suggested I get my epidural right then and that they would start pitocin shortly after, and boy am I glad I did. I did not ever feel a thing, and when I felt the slightest bit of discomfort I just pushed my button. It was heaven. I got lots of rest and just waited to hear of my progression.

Let me back up to the epidural... AKA the thing I should have never even sweated about. Getting an epidural was something I freaked out about my entire pregnancy. I was so nervous about it and dreaded getting it. I laugh at myself today, because in all honesty, the IV was 5 times worse than the epidural. All I felt in my back was a bee sting that lasted about 2 seconds and then it was over. I just sat still for a few minutes until it was over.

There is not much hype between 2:00am and 12:00pm, I basically got checked every two hours and progressed quickly from 2cm, 4cm, 6cm, and then to 10 +1 cm by noon. I woke up so often though because the blood pressure machine went off every 15 minutes, and then once I'd fall asleep someone would come in and check me. Around 6am my doctor came in and broke my water and started internally monitoring baby. When they last checked me at noon, I was 10cm + 1, and the doctor told me I could start pushing. We said our goodbyes to our parents, and I began to push around 12:30pm.

Pushing was weird. For the longest time, I had no idea if what I was doing was even right, and after an hour of pushing and not having much progress, they told me that Scarlett was stuck on my pelvic bone and that I wasn't pushing hard enough to get her to move past it. I labored/pushed with a sweet little nurse who was great. Then she took a lunch break, and a new nurse took her place for a bit. This girl was exactly what I needed to get the job done. She must have been a cheerleader in her past, because she was the best labor nurse. I finally knew what I was doing and was making progress! The doctor came down and was still a little nervous that it was taking so long and said, "we won't talk about the C word just yet, I have faith that you can move her." So at that point I realized I needed to just give it my all, and I did. I got her past my pelvic bone, and they called the doctor back in. Scarlett had passed meconium early, so they put me on oxygen at the end to help her for when she arrived.

The last 2 sets of contractions were the big ones, where I felt A LOT of pressure. Something no one told me I would feel. It was painful and I think I screamed a few times. I thought that since my epidural was working so good the whole time that she would just slide out, hah I was wrong! Since Scarlett had went to the bathroom early, the doctor explained that the pediatric team would be coming in soon, and that she would have to hand her off to them very quickly after she was born, but that Joel could go with her. Luckily everything would be done in our room so I could see her while they were checking her out. The doctor put on her blue scrub outfit and then I had another contraction and started pushing again.

I remember Joel saying, "You are doing SO great babe, I can see her, we're about to meet our daughter!"

And at 2:51pm, Scarlett Isabel was born and she let out a big cry! I immediately started bawling crying and was just so happy she was finally here. The doctor let me get a quick glimpse of her and had Joel cut her umbilical cord, then they took her to the other side of our room where a team of pediatric physicians waited to check her out. Joel went with her and took pictures of everything as I watched from the other side of the room. I remember just crying for minutes on end. My doctor and a few nurses stayed by my side while I finished the birth process. I just stared at her the whole time and couldn't wait for them to tell me she was okay, and that she could be put on my chest for some skin to skin time.

It wasn't till that moment that I realized how many people had gathered in our room. There were about 12 people there at that point. It was a blur, I didn't care, and I was glad that so many medical professionals were there to support us.

Some minutes later, they brought her to me and told me she was perfectly fine. They put her on my chest and Joel and I finally got to spend time as a family of three. I remember she was so beautiful, tiny, warm, was crying, and moving her little fingers. I had an audience at this point because all of the nurses wanted to watch her naturally latch. I can remember hearing some of them in the background saying it's just the most amazing thing to watch and see. Scarlett needed a little help, but once she was there, she nursed so well. It was beautiful.

That moment seems so surreal now that it's been almost three weeks since she arrived. I had an amazing birth experience that went so incredibly smooth. I could not have asked for a better experience. I was so nervous about the pain during my pregnancy and even while I was pushing, I was still scared. But, that moment that she was born made all of those feelings go away. She was worth every ounce of discomfort and pain. I found myself 5 days later wanting to re-live it again because I just wanted to feel that moment again. The moment where I pushed her out and saw her for the first time. Nothing could ever describe how amazing it really does feel. I am so glad I had the epidural and that I was able to be in that moment and enjoy it.

Laboring with Joel was an unforgettable and amazing experience. I made the best decision of my life in marrying that guy. Joel counted to 10 for EVERY contraction I had and coached me through everything, even from the start in getting my IV. He was so proactive in making sure I was being well cared for and was comforted if I was in any pain. At times he was a pain too, but in a sweet and funny way. Most of y'all know he is a medical student, so this life event excited him to no end. He had just finished the reproduction block in school, so to say he was excited to see all the things he learned in action, was excitement overload. He often peeked at the end of the bed to see what was going on, and after I gave birth he told me how he looked when I closed my eyes during a contraction (sneaky sneaky). But, as much as I thought I'd care, I didn't. He was so excited about meeting his daughter and just wanted to be in the moment with me, and this was his way of doing just that. Seeing the joy on his face was the most amazing thing. He took to her right away and even got to be the one to check her vitals. It was such a sweet moment.

Well, that is her birth story! I hope you enjoyed it. I wanted to keep it short and sweet while also still keeping it private. It is important to keep her birth story positive and enjoyable, because that's what it was for me. There are a lot of scary ones out there that freaked me out to read during my pregnancy, and yes those things can happen, but it's also important to know there are good and positive experiences as well, and that's what I hope you can take away from it. Giving birth is a beautiful thing.

***

If you have any questions, feel free to email or comment below.

I love talking about my birth experience and am happy to talk to others about it via email.

Thank you for reading! :)

feliz cinco de mayo amigos

2013-05-05T14:32:00.001-05:00

Mama Dress // Mama Shoes

Baby Bubble // Baby Shorts // Baby Shoes

Cinco de Mayo is probably one of my favorite holidays to date. I mean... margaritas, chips & salsa, and other spicy goodness is just one heck of a way to celebrate! I decided to put together a little outfit inspiration after I saw my good friend (or amiga) Jennifer post this gorgeous dress on her blog. Then, I realized it'd be cute to do a mama and baby outfit post too. This may be a re occurring thing so I hope you enjoy it!

But in actuality, this is what Miss Scarlett and I are wearing today :)

Scarlett's outfit is from old navy (no longer online) & mine is old old from H&M!

I hope y'all have some margarita's on me today!! I can sort of have one if I plan it right, but we will see if I can time that properly :) Anyway, happy Cinco de Mayo friends!!

our first two weeks

2013-05-03T17:26:00.002-05:00

W E E K ... O N E

+ Lots of sleeping, lounging, cuddling, and snuggles

+ Went to the doctor 4 days after your birth to get you weighed. You went down to 6lbs 5oz.

+ After we got home from the hospital, we slept with Lovie (my mama) for a week so that Daddy could stay on his study schedule and do well on his test.

+ Went on our first walk and got ice cream.

+ Went to the doctor again to get weighed, and you went up to 6lbs 7 oz.

+ Gave Scarlett her first BlaBla doll, Nicki the frog!

+ Mia and Papa (joel's parents) left to go home.

W E E K ... T W O

+ Daddy finished his Step 1 exam, and Lovie and Popsi (my parents) left to go home.

+ We got to experience life as a family of three!

+ Your umbilical cord fell off on 4/29, so we celebrated by giving you a first 'real' bath.

+ Went to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

+ Ate mexican food in celebration of Joel finishing his exam

+ Went to the doctor for her 2 weeks check up, and Scarlett is at 6lbs 12 oz, almost back up to birth weight, yay!

+ Attended her first Baseball experience @ the Barons game!

+ Mama took Scarlett to Target by herself for the first time.

***

Thank you to everyone for all the sweet comments and messages over the past two weeks, we are so blessed to have so much love and support during this amazing time. We just got Daddy 'back' on 4/29, so we've been spending lots of time together as a family of three and enjoying each moment. I hope you enjoyed my guest posters while I was out, if not, be sure to scroll down and check them out.

I will have some posts ready for next week, but I will still be slowly getting back into blogging while we are adjusting. Next week I hope to get her birth story up and some newborn and mama essentials posts!

Thank y'all again & much love!!

Mama... Natasha Schue!

2013-05-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to introduce Natasha from Schue Love today! Natasha is one of my favorite's! Her blog is definitely one I read daily and is so informative! She does a great job highlighting pregnancy and baby necessities at every stage. I really value these posts of hers. So, today she has put together a very clever post on necessities for the first 48 hours with a baby! I hope you enjoy it! Thank you Natasha for guest posting for me while I am adjusting!

***

First, before I begin this post...a HUGE congrats to Britt and her husband on their precious angel Scarlett. She's such a beautiful little blessing and I am so happy for her! :)

I'm Natasha from Schue Love and I welcomed my first baby into the world this past June...Ethan's coming up on a year! Time sure flies!

But in the beginning, it's all about establishing a routine...especially those first 48 hours! I remember how surreal those first hours home with the baby are. Without the help of the hospital nurses, you feel a little vulnerable as first-time parents. I found the following items to be particularly helpful in those first days at home with my little one:

Swing: The swing was a lifesaver in the beginning! It's like a little cocoon for baby and the swinging would lull our little guy to sleep...which would allow me to get some things done around the house. I definitely recommend making this investment.

Boppy: Whether you plan to breastfeed or not, the Boppy is a great tool for keeping baby close while you nurse or bottle feed. I still use it almost 10 months later.

Camera: You simply cannot take enough photos in the beginning...keep the camera and your iPhone close by to catch all the milestones and sweetness.

Lanolin: If you are breastfeeding, this stuff is gold. I never had any issues with bleeding or cracking and I 100% attribute that to Lanolin. Apply it every time after you finish nursing and you'll be in good shape.

Itzbeen Timer: Another lifesaver in the beginning is this timer. Everything is such a blur with lack of sleep and endless days, so this helped me and my husband stay on track of when he was last changed, nursed, had medicine, slept, etc. I know a lot of iPhone apps accomplish the same thing, but having one central tool that both the husband and I could use, was super helpful.

Mittens: Baby nails can be a nasty thing in the beginning...our little guy scratched his face a ton! These mittens were a huge help...not only are they organic and super soft, they actually stay on!

Swaddle Blankets: Oh Aden + Anais, how I love this company! These blankets were great for us, especially having a baby in the beginning of summer. And NOW they make swaddle wraps...I would have killed for these when we had our baby. Can't say enough great things about these blankets!

I hope this helps you navigate through those first couple days. You'll be a pro before you know it and will look back on this time and wonder how you did it! ;)

Thanks to Britt for having me today! Hope you're taking in all of those sweet snuggles.

xo natasha

Mama... Natasha!

2013-05-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

I am really excited to introduce y'all to a blogger I just adore, Natasha! I found her blog when she was pregnant with her first baby, and she's been a daily read of mine ever since. I just love her honest posts about life, love, and happiness. I relate to almost every post of hers, so I know y'all will enjoy her :) Thank you Natasha for helping me post while adjusting to life with Scarlett!

***

Hello! My name is Natasha and I blog over at Hello! Happiness. I am a 29 year old southerner from Nashville, a SAHM to an adorable 1-year old, Miss Caroline, and we are expecting our 2nd daughter, Carson, at the end of June...things are hectic over in our part of the woods these days, but I thrive on stress and my husband and I love a full schedule-can you tell?
Britt asked me to help her out while she is MIA these next few weeks settling into life with Scarlett, and of course I told her I was happy to do a guest post. I thought this would be helpful to her as she figures out this whole new world of mommyhood, and also to other ladies out there learning the ropes...I know I needed a lot of help and advice this time last year.
So here it is, my lessons learned...my first year as a mom!

We made it friends! I guess I mean I technically made it, but I feel like we're all in this crazy thing called life together so this is an accomplishment for all to celebrate...I made it through one WHOLE year of being a mommy. Just like I've said before "the days are long, but the years are short"-amen! I've been brainstorming this post for some time, taking notes and jotting these items down every chance I got, for I wanted to pass on helpful tidbits of wisdom I've learned these past 12 months. It seems there is an influx of babies coming into the world in the next few months so I am hoping this will help ease some of those worries for some of you mamas in the making.

1. Never be afraid to ask for help. It took me months to learn this, but once I did, it helped tremendously. When your friends and family ask if there is anything they can do to help, LET THEM! Don't feel the need to take the weight of the world on your shoulders, but rather ask for help or take it when it's offered. If someone wants to bring you dinner those first few weeks, let them! Your husband will be thankful for a warm meal and you'll be thankful for leftovers you can heat up when you're exhausted or sitting down to have dinner at 11PM. If a friend says they will babysit so you can have a date night out, let them! These small, but oh so kind gestures, is what made me feel like an adult again...an actual human, rather than just a zombie surviving on coffee, mojo, and adrenaline.
2. When you get stressed out, take a deep breath and walk away. Let's face it, babies cry...it's what they do (other than the occasional eat, feed, sleep, poop routine). If you have reached wit's end and are feeling overwhelmed, sit the baby down (or in it's bassinet, pack n play, crib, etc) and simply take a 5 minute breather. This will allow you time to gather your thoughts, and focus on the issue without letting your emotions get the best of you. Yes, I've been there and done this plenty of times...it's OK!
3. You can never have enough pictures/videos. I know Jeff gets perturbed because I always seem to have my camera with me and I am always snapping shot after shot of Caroline because I don't want to miss one single sweet moment. I can't be there for everything because life happens and she'll probably do something spectacular when I am not around, but I try to bookmark our daily lives, significant events and holidays, and everything in between. These are moments we will never get back and I want to be able to look back on these pictures and videos someday and see just how remarkable she was, even as a baby. These little snippets of life bring SO much joy.
4. Find someone you can tell EVERYTHING to and don't hold back when the going gets tough. For me, I have two of those people...Jeff (naturally) and my Mom. They are the single two people that understand me better than anyone else...the good and the very not so good. They know my weaknesses, strengths, and when I am shutting down and need a big hug. There is nothing I could ever tell either one of them that would make them think less of me (trust me, they know the deep dark secret stuff) and yet they still love me unconditionally. That being said, it can be your spouse, someone in your family, a best friend, or a confidant you have found elsewhere, but what I am saying is have an outlet for you to air your frustrations, to celebrate with when your child reaches a milestone, etc. I can't reiterate this enough!
5. Savor the little stuff. There are times when I would complain when I was the one that had to rock Caroline to sleep because she was sick or fussy, yet in the back of my mind, those are the instances that stand out as some of my favorite moments from her first year in this world. She wanted me and nothing else would do, and as a mother, there is nothing better than knowing you are the comforter, the nurturer, the one they want when things aren't going their way. I wasn't a sentimental person before I had Caroline, but now I am one big bowl of jello when it comes to her. That gorgeous girl has me wrapped around her finger and I can't say no to her sweetness (isn't that obvious??). Remember what they say, enjoy the small things in life, for one day you'll look back and realize those were actually the big things.
6. Realize you're going to mess up...a lot. It's inevitable. You can read all the books, take all the childbirth and infant care classes you want, and spend hours polling your mommy friends for their best advice, yet it's best to go into this crazy thing called parenthood knowing full well that you're going to make mistakes-we all do. I wish I hadn't been so hard on myself when I did something wrong. I'd spend my time beating myself up about it rather than trying to find a solution or learning from whatever the issue was. Now, I realize I'm not a perfect mom, nor will I ever be. There will be times when I won't have the answer or when I'll have to figure it out on the fly, but that's life and it's a constant learning process. And that's OK.
7. People judge you...yes, they really do. In this world of social media, it's easy for us to judge others-especially with so many outlets like Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. If you're crazy enough to put your life out there for others to see, you will be judged. Whether people admit it or not, I think we all have a tendency to judge at one point or another-not saying this is a good thing, but stating what I think to be true, if only out of human nature. As a mother, I feel like we get judged more so than a lot of other "groups" out there. We are constantly judged for the parenting decisions we make, for whether or not we decide to breastfeed, for how much TV we let them watch, for what we buy our children, for what values and morals we teach them, for whether we stay at home with them or return to our careers... the list goes on and on. At the end of the day, as long as you're happy, and your children are content and know they are loved, I say let the haters hate and forget about them! If they were to walk a mile in your shoes, I have a feeling they would think a lot differently.
8. The days are long, but the years are short. This is my favorite quote...and it's true in so many ways. We can't wait for a significant event/milestone to get here (sitting up, crawling, walking, etc), yet when it comes and passes, we realize just how quickly life passes by. Don't spend so much time looking to the future that you miss out on the present.
9. Babies don't really need THAT much stuff. Sure, we all go nuts when we're pregnant...stocking up on baby essentials (smocked clothes and monogrammed dresses, yes I am just as guilty as the next person), but let's be honest with ourselves and make it known that most of the items we buy are for ourselves, not actually a "necessity". A necessity would be a bed to sleep in, though a bassinet is a luxury to make our lives easier. See my point? It's funny with this pregnancy I am putting off so much of the things I made sure I did right on time the first go-around. My best advice is to ask for the necessities when it's time for the baby showers and such...diapers, wipes, bottles, etc. Then, if you decide you NEED something later on, you can hop on over to Target or log on to Amazon and get it ASAP. Trust me, when you look around your house and realize it's turned into one massive playpen with endless toys, you'll wish you had listened to me.

Most of all, my best advice is just to enjoy the ride...it's a roller coaster and I'm not sure you ever get off the track, but that's the fun part of it-parenting is a constant challenge, but it is the single most rewarding thing I have ever done, and I doubt anything in this world could ever top this experience. I am so lucky to have Caroline, and am beyond happy to know I have learned A LOT so I can move on to other uncharted territory once Carson arrives.
Best of luck to all of you mommas out there...I am always here if you need someone to talk to!

Mama... Julie!

2013-04-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

So, I've got some pretty exciting guest posters this week while I am adjusting to mommy hood! Here to kick off my guest posts is one of my favorite bloggers, Julie! You will adore her and her precious baby Hudson, I promise! I especially love her DIY posts, Breastfeeding series, and Life posts! Thank you so much girl for helping me during this time, you are the sweetest!
So, take it away Julie :)

**

Hello The Magnolia Pair readers! My name is Julie and I blog about decorating my home, life as a new mom, love, and everything in between over at The Girl in the Red Shoes. I am so honored to be guest posting for the beautiful Britt today! I am absolutely thrilled for her to become a mommy. Scarlett is one lucky little girl!

I'm a new (well, 7 months in to it now) mama to my little man Hudson. Motherhood sure has changed me for the better. Without even realizing it, that little bundle of love completely stole my heart the instant his eyes locked with mine. I've never known this type of love. It is all consuming, amazing, exhausting, and heart-breaking all at the same time.

Motherhood has made me more patient, less organized, more scatterbrained, more exhausted, yet happier than I've ever been. It has taught me to put someone else above myself. I've learned to give my whole heart to someone....and it's awesome.

When I was pregnant with Hudson I sometimes worried if I would be a good enough mom. Now I just have to laugh at myself. Of course I am good enough! To Hudson, I am perfect. There is nothing quite like your baby looking up at you and smiling. Melts. My. Heart.

One thing that surprised me about motherhood was how much I love breastfeeding my son. It has been very challenging, but so rewarding at the same time. It has also given me more self-confidence and taught me how to advocate for myself and my baby. I've written a series on my blog called The Breast Feeding Diaries, in which I've shared my experience with breastfeeding and have invited other mom's to share their stories too. This series has helped me realize the importance of a supportive community...and I've found tons of support from other bloggers!

(See Hudson's nursery here) Britt: You are going to be an amazing mommy. I am so excited to welcome you to motherhood...it's an exhausting, overwhelming journey....but it is the BEST thing that will ever happen to you! Thanks for letting me guest post!

blog // facebook // instagram

Introducing...

2013-04-22T21:05:00.003-05:00

Our hearts are full and we are blessed beyond words.

We are so excited to introduce Scarlett Isabel.

She is perfect, happy, and healthy.

Mom and Baby are doing great.

We are so in love with our precious baby girl.

Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers for us during this special time.

Last Letter to Scarlett

2013-04-17T12:22:00.003-05:00

photo credit to Heather Chauvin Photography

Dear Scarlett,

I have not written you a letter in quite some time. As you know, your mama has been through a lot since January in losing your Uncle and two cousins. I've been having a hard time and I've lost track of our letters. These letters are so important to me, and I can't wait to show them to you when you get older. This will probably be my last letter to you until you are born, so I wanted you to know a few things before I officially meet you. Scarlett, you are already such a wonderful baby. I can't wait to tell you in person how much I love you. You've been my saving grace through these hard times, and I would not have had the strength to pick myself up if I didn't have you in my belly. You don't even know yet how much of an impact you've had on me thus far. There were days when I didn't know if I could get out of bed, but then I'd feel you move around and realize how precious of a gift you are to me, and that I must keep going for you. You are the reason I found happiness again and the reason I still smile about life. Your Daddy and you are the light of my life, and I am so blessed beyond words to have you two in my life. I may squeeze you very tightly when I first hold you, but just know it's just my way of saying thank you for your life and thank you to God for blessing me beyond words. Scarlett, I cannot wait to meet you! I cannot wait to see what you look like and hear your cries. I've been dreaming of this day since I was a young girl, and since being pregnant I've been looking forward to meeting you. I have many emotions about your delivery, but am confident that you and I will be healthy and have a safe delivery. There are many friends and family members praying for your safe delivery. You are so loved already and there are so many people who can't wait to see and meet you! I have enjoyed very much carrying you for the last 39 weeks {almost} and consider this time so special and precious. I held my belly the other day and realized that very soon I'd have to share you with everyone else, and that made my heart kind of sink. For 39 weeks, it's just been you and I, and as happy and excited that I am for you to come out, I will really miss this time where it is was just you and I. I know now that this is your time to shine and bless others with your warm heart and sweet little movements and I can't wait for you to experience that. Baby girl, you are such a beautiful gift, and so many people are anxiously awaiting your arrival. You will be so loved and adored. I love you so much, and we cannot wait to meet you!

Love you always,
Your Mama

Follow on instagram for the latest on her arrival :)

36 + 37 weeks

2013-04-13T21:09:00.000-05:00

I know, I am way too good at these weekly updates! =P

How Far Along: 37 weeks as of 4/04

Size Of Baby: Baby is the size of a Watermelon. Measuring about 19 to 22 inches long and about 6.5 lbs!

Maternity Clothes: Yoga pants and long tunics. Spring is here, so I've pulling out the maxi dresses!

Weight Gain: About 14-15 pounds. Scarlett is in the 59 percentile, so my OB says she is simply taking everything from me at this point. So, yes she is a very healthy baby :) They are estimating her to weigh 7-8lbs at birth.

Stretch Marks: Nope, still lathering on my earth mama natural stretch oil everyday! I'm almost there!

Sleep: I am keeping up Joel at this point and feel horrible about that :( . I sleep okay, but falling asleep is difficult and I wake up at least twice to pee. But overall, I think it is okay considering.

Best Moment of the Week: Spending Easter weekend with my parents! It was so nice to see them and such a surprise since it wasn't their original plan to come visit. We got lots done in the nursery and my Dad built Scarlett a changing table tray and an organizer for her baskets. We got lots done and my Mom helped me do returns and organize her room. They've been such a big help!

37th week- We had two baby showers here in Birmingham, one from my girlfriends and one from my work! We are so blessed, and Scarlett is one lucky girl to be so loved already! I am seriously so thankful for the sweet girls who threw me a beautiful shower on Sunday! And my co-workers are so sweet for putting together my party on Monday! We are so very thankful!

Movement: Yes, so much movement still. I am convinced she is going to come out ready to kick a soccer ball, haha!

37th week- she has calmed down a bit, I think she is getting snug in there and is having a harder time moving around.

Cravings: Just sweets! I get a sugar rush almost daily, it's weird because I haven't gotten sweet tooth cravings since I was a kid.

Gender: Baby Girl ! Scarlett Isabel !

Belly Button In or Out: It is still very much out! I don't mind it too much :)

Wedding Ring on or Off: OFF... I took it off just because it started to get tight due to the warmer weather making me start to swell a bit. I'm too upset, but it is very weird to not have it on anymore!

Anything Making You Queasy or Sick: Nope, just trying to spread my meals out so I don't feel sick after.

37th week- Eating really fast makes me get nauseated. I think I just get so excited to eat that I over indulge very quickly!

What I Miss: Driving somehwere and not having to pee. I have to take many pee breaks when shopping which isn't really convenient.

What I am Looking Forward to: Going to our OB and finding out my progress! I am excited about being 37 weeks and FULL TERM on Thursday! I need her to stay in a bit longer, but it's relieving to know she will make it through the vital development stages.

37th week- going to our OB appointment and getting checked. As awful as it is, I just love to know our progress.

Labor Signs: Lots of braxton hicks and cramping. Sometimes I wonder if I'll even know that I'm in labor. I have a fear of showing up at the hospital and being 7 cm because I didn't know it was labor.

Symptoms: Still in PT for SI joint pain. Just trying to take it slow since any movement affects my body.

37th week- Less and less pain. I am so very thankful for this!

Nursery: We got lots done this weekend, and are almost done! I've got two more things to get on the wall and then just need to wash her clothes. I'll probably do some more sneek peak's via instagram this weekend :)

37 weeks- We are complete! Joel just needs to finish his art, wash more of her clothes, and I need to put away some things that are lying around her rom. I also need to mop her floors so I can put out her rug!

Emotions: Doing really great! This week I've just been more anxious than anything. I am 'nesting' so, I think I am making Joel crazy!