Babies require a lot of gear! I can’t even guess how many of these checklists I’ve read over the last five years—probably an embarrassing amount. For first-time parents, dipping your toes into the overwhelming amount of gear is tricky. I had no idea where to begin and what we’d really need. There are so many things to choose from and they come in so many varieties. And then it’s fairly inconvenient that newborns and babes are a very particular bunch (as are the parents that come with them!). Some babies take a bottle or pacifier, some don’t. Some love the swing, others scream.
The products you try to guess will be the favorites might end up in the giveaway pile, so there can be some guesswork. But I thought I’d take time to get down the items that have been so helpful to us. This is our comprehensive must have checklist 🙂 And I’ve created a printable registry checklist that’s at the bottom. Happy preparing! Continue reading “Ultimate Baby Registry Checklist!”
It’s time to think about packing for the hospital! With every baby, we’ve learned something new. We have certainly brought some really odd and or unnecessary items over the years. Our first stay was unexpectedly long and came complete with too-short nightgowns, halfway packed toiletries kits and James with his fancy button-shirt and no pajamas! Continue reading “My Hospital Bag Checklist”
Mealtimes can be a marathon with small children, especially anyone under five (which is 100 percent of our kids at this current moment, ha). Our two oldest are coming to the age where they can are readily helpful around mealtime, and are interested in doing it! I love to have their help in the kitchen; they are some of the sweetest moments. They are Continue reading “How to Involve Toddlers in Mealtime Prep”
We’ve had some rough parenting days. The long days that test, challenge and nearly break you; the weeks that try your spirit; the ones that cause you to remember that you are merely mortal, not superhuman and certainly not the perfect parental specimen.
There are evenings I sit down after bedtime is complete and I am rushed with thoughts of moments I could have managed better—been more understanding, gentle, kindly instructive, spontaneous, played more, prayed more, etc. Sometimes I come across an inspiring reminder or hilarious feed that brings levity. These days can be hard, but when you step back, they can also be sweet, ridiculous, precious and fleeting. Continue reading “Inspiring Parenting Quotes”
This is not much more than to say that sometimes, eating out with kids is the most humbling, obnoxious, expensive, ridiculous act you could possibly conceive. And then, Continue reading “Sunday lunch”
I am full in my heart today. Full of bacon, sweet memories, taking my time to wake up and only hiding in the bathroom once. Full with the wonder of each day with children, their new rush of energy and joy in the mornings, their purity, perspective, half-eaten meals, dirty fingernails, thousand-watt smiles and many injuries (them and us). Continue reading “Mother’s Day notes”
I feel like all the posts I read before having our third child (Emma!) centered around how crazy you are for having a third child, ha! Really, it was not the most encouraging information I’ve found. Even separately from that info, going from two to three had caused me to encounter all of those emotions.. you know—terror, fear, excitement, freaked out, scurred, elation, super scurred, more.
As you may have surmised, many of these feelings were perpetuated by these small people outnumbering me, their ages at the time (3.5 + 1.5 + newborn), etc. This is all we’ve ever wanted to be sure, but there were some practical points to it all that freaked us out a bit. Because I couldn’t find a ton of positive content about welcoming a third kiddo, I thought I’d share a few saving tips that have kept me functioning and—dare I say—totally loving this ride!! Down below, I highlight some gear that has literally saved my life every single day. Continue reading “Tips / gear for life with three children”
We had the best trip to the aquarium last week—any chance for a 45 minute trip, drive through espresso en route and quiet time (forced naps) along the way is good with me! The kids were super pumped about the penguins, sharks and the “fishies” (Kate especially). I personally love the jellies, I could spend my entire time in that exhibit! And the sea turtle! Well.
I’ve noticed the kids have been a bit needier as of late. I think our initial weeks with our third baby, Emma, were pretty seamless, everyone adjusted pretty well actually! But as things have settled, both of my older children have expressed their need Continue reading “Tips: navigating needs in times of change”
We are now three deep in this babies and sleep thing. And now with Emma here, it’s kind of NUTS to remember how much stress I was under in the beginning! Managing my personal stress having to do with my child sleeping was like a full time job, with a ton of overtime. I have not figured anything out necessarily but I wanted to take down a few things that have helped me relax through it all.
I remember those initial days and nights with Luke, so anxious and unsure of how to handle his wake ups, and shuddering at the idea of nursing him again (it was really painful first time around). Long story short, we figured out nursing and found our groove. After his newborn days had passed Continue reading “Newborn sleep survival guide!”
So as the days rolled by and I was coming close to our due date (September 4, Labor Day). I was figuring out ways to relax and give my body high levels of oxytocin, especially at night since I knew my body liked to go into labor at night (which is super common I guess!)—so lots of cuddles with the kids, James, shows that made me laugh or cry, long evening showers.. Two days before my due date Continue reading “Our birth story–Emma Genevieve”
Our little Emma is here!—she arrived last Monday, just about an hour or so into her due date of 9/4/17 (aka Labor Day)! Ha. Ha.
We are all in love and soaking in the baby scents and sweetness because gah, in my happy place! We just LOVE this newborn phase 😍
These pictures make me so happy. I love watching this brother-sister relationship unfold. Oh Luke and Kate. Sometimes they totally play together—sharing, hugs, cuddles, basically the sweetest moments that make you wonder how in the world there’s that much love inside their hearts Continue reading “Sibling love”
We have a preschooler! A junior scholar to be exact. We are so excited for Luke’s new adventure .. he is totally ready for this!! But we also had no idea what big balls of emotion it would make us! Geez! And it’s only been one day HA. Continue reading “First day of preschool!”
Holidays have taken on a whole new level having kids in the mix. I love seeing how the kids (okay well Luke so far, ha) interpret special occasions and it’s made us think a whole lot more about how we celebrate. Actually, it was still totally special before kids too, I probably was much more rested and possibly (certainly..) better dressed 😉 But as a child rearing, less rested and less well dressed person, this is our new world to explore. Continue reading “Five sweet Easter traditions with littles “
mrscaseyann 