Mae's Garden Themed First Birthday Party

I already feel emotional writing this post. I LOVE planning my children’s first birthday parties. Like, I’ve-considered-planning-parties-as-my-job level love it. I enjoy the challenge of choosing a unique theme and finding a way to tell a story to create a world of wonder and joy where we can celebrate with our nearest and dearest.

Note: Mae’s party was in November 2019, it’s just being shared a year later!

I start the planning process months in advance because I enjoy it and because it helps me emotionally and mentally prepare for the milestone. Every Momma is different, this is just part of how I’m wired to do it.

Developing a Theme

Early on, a garden party idea inspired me for Mae, all sprouting (see what I did there?) from the classic rhyme I personalized for her: April showers bring Mae flowers, Join us as we celebrate Twelve Months of Mae.” (insert my giddy smile here). I loved it.

My first iteration was a very colorful and classic take on a garden including clay pots and white picket fences. But as I got further into the process, I was drawn to a whimsical, fairytale approach. Once I landed here, the floodgates opened and I was off to the races.

I knew I wanted to work with an illustrator to create an invitation and a few printable pieces for the party to make the theme really shine. My friend Kayla, who also did Fox’s first birthday invitation, created the sweetest “Twelve Months of Mae” design for the special day. It featured happy flowers, a pretty pink bow, and a few sweet little butterflies!

In addition to the invitation (which is still hanging in Mae’s room because I love it so much) she designed a display for me to share Mae’s monthly photos. Since the party theme was based on the twelve months of her life, I wanted to give it a grand display!

Party Decor

I enjoy setting the tone for a party and creating a special experience for guests as soon as possible. This starts with the invitation, and at Mae’s party guests were welcomed with a heart-shaped balloon-lined walkway and paper lantern porch. I loved how special and celebratory it felt. And most of all, Mae was a fan, which is enough for me!

Fox helped Woody secure the balloons along the walkway. He was such a happy helper, and I love this sweet photo of him.

The runner on this table was from our wedding reception! I love reusing pieces that are beautiful and meaningful.

The inside felt like walking into a colorful, oversized garden, and I was pretty touched when one friend got misty-eyed upon entering! For me, a celebration is an opportunity to transport guests to a memorable place that we share together. By breaking up our everyday life, a party gives us a moment in time to experience and remember collectively.

I started creating paper flowers in the summer, and I was captivated by the art of it. Before I knew it, I was special ordering tissue paper from Etsy and clearing out space in our small historic home to store all my creations! I followed a video tutorial, and made my own tweaks as I learned the technique. Friends and family jumped in on the fun when they could, and Mae’s garden really started to take shape!

I have a thing for making birthday hats, and these were surprisingly easy to do! I used a mix of white, ivory, and blush cardstock paper and painted them with watercolors. Then, I rolled them, hot glued the edges, and later added the elastic band. They were a darling touch!

A “Mae”mosa bar? I couldn’t resist.

I saw the idea on Pinterest to add butterflies to a paper lantern, and I knew I had to incorporate it. I love the light and airy, fanciful touch they give to the dining room. I found two floral garlands on major sale at Michael’s (I guess that’s one perk of buying springy florals for a party happening in a fall month!) and ended up winding them around our chandelier, which turned out really pretty. I was also thrilled to find two Land of Nod butterflies at a clothing consignment sale. The colors were perfect and added a nice three-dimensional element!

the cake + Treats

I used my favorite local baker, Bec’s Cakes, for the cake, and since we were doing such a springy party in the middle of fall, I decided to give a slight nod to the actual season we were in and do a pumpkin flavored cake. It was DIVINE. I chose to do a cupcake for Mae instead of a larger smash cake, and I’m so glad I did. She enjoyed it, and I didn’t have to stop her from eating the whole thing—which she did quite happily! I also splurged on some gorgeous cookies by Rea Bakes, and she did a stunning job using the invitation as inspiration for these sweet treats!

I’ve seen so many cute high chair banners like this, and while I was feeling crafty, I decided to try my hand at it! Turned out really sweet!

Mae sharing her cupcake with Daddy melts my heart every time.

The Experience

My friend Rachel is a pro at thinking through the practical ways people experience a party. Things like, “does everyone have a seat?” and “is the food easy for children to eat?” and so on. I often stop at “is it pretty?” and go from there! ha! But she has taught be that an event can (and should!) be pretty and functional. So for Mae’s celebration, I cleared out some of our living room furniture and added bistro tables to accommodate more guests. I also put the food on a long folding table in the kitchen (I usually display it in the dining room) to allow guests to sit at our dining table. Additionally, I had a ball pit for the kids to play in as well as the most precious picnic basket lunches for the children, which were inspired by an adorable party I found online!

Sentimental Touches

I am about as sentimental as they come, and there are a few extra-special details from Mae’s party that still make my heart pitter-patter! First of all—Y’all. She wore the same dress I wore to my first birthday party! I cannot even get over this! Props to my Mom who thought to save it and who preserved it so well (wonder where I get my sentimental side from?!). Mae looked absolutely precious in it, and it just happened to fit her party theme to perfection.

One of my favorite elements from Mae’s nursery is her custom curtains from Fireflies & Fairytales. When I chose the garden theme for her party, I soon decided to incorporate the same fabric from her curtains into the decor. I worked with the precious team of Fireflies & Fairytales to have a runner made, and it even had the same pink-check ruffles as the curtains. It’s a beautiful keepsake, and I love that it’s connected to her nursery, where we spent so much time her first year.

As I did for Fox, I created a birthday plate for Mae with her hand print on the back and thumbprints as part of the design. I plan to use their birthday plates to serve them a special birthday meal every year, and I just love it!

Photography

As with any party, it’s the people you get to share it with that make it mean the most. I’m so thankful for our family and friends that love us well and celebrate these special milestones with us. As I look at the photos and see the happy faces and moments of conversation and interaction, my heart lights up.

One of the best decisions I’ve made for both my children’s first birthday parties is to invest in photography. My dear friend Mary Margaret is the QUEEN of capturing the details of an environment, and she helps preserve the sights and memories of a party with excellence. I can’t sing her praises loud enough!

These three babies were all born just weeks apart! We shared our pregnancies and their first year together, and it’s really special to see them all together here.

Toward the end of the party, we made the impromptu decision to let Mae open gifts on a quilt outside. The day was ideal with the warm sunshine and cool fall temps. As she opened, it was also the perfect spot to tell our guests goodbye as they began to depart (nap time was calling for many!). Mae was delighted and the kids loved playing outside. It’s one of my favorite memories from the day.

Thanks for sharing in these special memories! Whether large or small, I hope you gained some sort of idea or inspiration to help you enjoy your next celebration to the fullest. I love getting to share party fun, and I’m happy to answer any questions I may not have covered in the post!

xoxo!

A Mother’s Lullaby

We have our bedtime routine
And I wonder if you’ve waited for this moment all day.

You’re talkative and engaging—you laugh and cry and whine and cheer
All day long it’s a give-and-take figuring out exactly what you want or need.
But in our quiet nighttime moment, you give in, and it all ceases
And I think to myself that you’ve waited for this moment all day.

We put on your lotion which you try to eat.
We change your diaper, a process which you despise.
We put on pj’s—always struggling to get your little arms and hands through the sleeves.
We brush your hair and your mouth full of teeth
Signaling we’re almost to the moment for which you’ve waited all day.

You get a kiss and energetic hug from brother
An embrace and prayer from Daddy
And then into my arms for the moment you’ve waited for all day.

We walk into your room, the steady roar of the sound machine welcoming us
I hold you upright, just how you like, your head help up, very aware
And sometimes even still a little fussy as you give your last bit of energy to the day.
The door is pulled to
Your pacie is in your mouth
And I walk over to turn out the light.
The moment is now.

Your body melts as you relax heavily into my arms
You lay your head in your favorite spot just under my chin
Resting in that place near my neck and collarbone.
You breathe easily and hum with me as I sway and sing,

“You are my sunshine
You’re Momma’s sunshine
You make me happy in every way
You’ll never know, Mae,
How much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine girl away.”

I feel the warmth of you,
The tender way you’ve let the day go and embraced the night
I hold you and sway
hold you and sway
hold you and sway
and in that quiet, dark moment—our moment—I realize
that I, too, have waited for this moment all day.

12.31.19 at 11:31pm

I’m sitting downstairs in our basement. It’s the last day of the year—the last day of the decade even—and I’m by myself. Fox is almost three, Mae just turned 14 months yesterday, Woody is 40, and they’re all sick. Coughs, runny noses, and headaches.

A decade ago, if you’d described this night to me—in my pjs ringing in a new decade “alone,” I probably would’ve felt like it wasn’t enough—not exciting enough, not special enough, not meaningful enough. And if I’m honest, I was tempted to feel that way tonight when Woody started to feel so badly he had to just go to sleep.

But as I heard the word “alone” ring in my mind and felt sadness in it, I realized I’m not alone at all. My home is full of the three people who make my life unendingly rich, meaningful, and full of love. I may be the only one awake, but I am in no way alone on this New Years Eve.

And sitting here now, with the clock close to midnight, I’m content, peaceful, and happy—letting me know this decade has brought me exactly to a place I want to be, and it is more than enough.

Happy New Year and New Decade, friends.

The Gift of Time + Eleven Months of Mae

The day you turned 11 months old (September 30, 2019) I felt totally calm and peaceful.

The next day was the first day of October, your birthday month, and as I realized you were turning ONE this month, I started to feel just a little bit overwhelmed. You’ve mostly felt like the age you are to me throughout this first year, but with the one year mark approaching, my sentimental heart started to race just a little.

Then I remembered something I’ve been learning and embracing with you this year.

We’ve all heard the saying and had the feeling of time being a thief, but with you, my darling girl, I see it differently.

Time is not a thief. Time is a gift. 

Time has given me 11 months with you in my arms.
It’s because of time that I know you hate having your diaper changed (almost) every time.
Time has taught me how you like to be held upright, your head right under my chin as you hum along as you and I sing you to sleep together.
It’s because of the time I’ve had with you that I know how soft your skin is, how you light up when you see people, and how you’re just like your Daddy and your brother in your love for raisins.
Time has helped me appreciate your blonde hair and how it’s beginning to get the slightest curl on the ends.
It’s because of time that I know you’ve always had small feet and the most delicate features—even in the pictures we saw of you in the womb.
Time tells me that you’re not crawling yet, but that puts you right on track with where your brother was at this time in his life.
Time has let me watch you learn to play peek-a-boo on your own and develop determination to get your hands on whatever you’re reaching for (people’s noses and glasses are recent favorites).

It’s the time I waited for you that has made my time with you so indescribably rich.
The time we’ve spent nursing and cuddling and not sleeping have been the roads by which we’ve come to know each other.
The times I’ve listened to your cry have taught me how to pick out your voice, and the sight of your tears splitter splatter on my tender heart time and time again.
The more time I have with you, the more time I want, and the more time I get, the happier I am.

So you see, my love, time is our friend. Time gives you to me and me to you over and over again. Day by day, moment by moment, year by year—the first of which we’re about to celebrate. Time, please keep on giving because together we’re ready to receive you.

The Work of Motherhood

As the mom of two young children, my work is very physical. Functioning on little sleep, holding babies, toting around at least a dozen bags, carrying car seats, cleaning up messes, sitting on the floor, rocking babies to sleep until my arm is asleep too—it’s safe to say that motherhood is physical work.

But on some days, the physical demands fade into the background of the emotional work. On these days, my heart has an actual ache for my babies. It’s the days when they don’t feel well or I can’t quite tell what’s wrong, only that something is “off.” It’s the days that just don’t seem to go right, no one is happy, everyone is crying, no one is sleeping, and we get weary.

It’s the days when I want to be everything to both of them, but feel like I’m giving nothing to either of them. On those days, I feel defeated, inadequate, and exhausted. It's also true that those days almost always end the same way—with me being completely wiped of my own strength and abilities. After laying it all on the table and still feeling like I’ve come up short, I settle in to hold them a little longer before bed. I let their breathing get deeper and their eyes slowly fade to closed, and it’s then that I realize my touch, my presence, and my love have been enough all along. My weariness gives way to rest, heaviness gives way to relief, and in a moment’s time I’m intimately reassured that I have the best job in the world.

This is the work of motherhood.

Boy Mom

They didn’t have to tell me you were a boy. I knew. I mean, I could see. Right there on the ultrasound screen, before the tech could get the words out of her mouth, I exclaimed,

“It’s a boy!”

Perhaps even before seeing I already knew. A boy. It felt both unfamiliar and completely right all at the same time.

You are the adventure I never knew I needed. Even before that “it’s a boy” moment, I felt God prompting me, preparing me, telling me that YOU were exactly what I needed.

All I felt like I knew were girls. I am one for starters. My only sibling is a girl, and I’ve always had a majority of girl friends. Girl seemed familiar. Girl seemed known.

There would come a time that the familiarity of a girl would be right. But right then, it was only you, my boy.

I felt a tug—a silent voice whispering that the unknown was best. That the adventure you’d bring was just right for me. For us. You, Daddy, and me.

---

And, boy oh boy, did I need you. Even from the time my body was your only home, I felt it—new things starting to sprout. As I was preparing to give birth to you, you were birthing something in me. It’s hard to exactly pinpoint what it was, but I felt it—new parts of my heart opening up, new curiosities surfacing, and a new kind of love starting to form. A love for a baby, yes, but even more than that, a love for you, my son.

---

Now you’re here, and oh the sense of wonder you bring. Your boyish grunts and heavy-as-lead footsteps. Your love for balls and outside. Your sweaty head and ruddy cheeks. There are so many classic boy things about you. These things feel both new and oh-so-precious to me.

And beyond the things that make you a boy, there is the intricate design, the intentional weaving together of the things that make you you. These are the things that are becoming “classic Fox.” Your sensitivity, your kindness, your desire to be with us. Your curiosity and hunger to learn. Your love for books. Your focus on people. Your memory! Your sensitive heart and spirit.

I’m so glad you were chosen for me and I was chosen for you, and that being a boy mom is part of my story in spite of how unfamiliar it seemed or all the experience I felt I was lacking.

So here we are beyond reason and planning, a perfectly suited pair handpicked for each other, and it’s crystal clear that we were meant to be, my boy, you and me.

---

Photos by Rachel Coffey Photography | Fox at 2 years old

Motherhood 001

The first time I saw you after your sister was born there was a moment I didn’t expect. I wish someone had warned me, but they didn’t. It’s always easy to look back and wish for a warning; one that I probably wouldn’t have understood or heeded until I experienced it myself.

I wish someone had told me that once your sister arrived I wouldn’t see you as my baby anymore. I mean yes, in my heart, you will always be my baby. But there you were, all just-shy-a-day-of-21-months-old and your big head and heavy toddler steps were all big boy compared to the squishy little newborn I’d just met.

I just wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t prepared to tell my baby goodbye yet. As I sit here with my eyes and nose tingling the way they do as tears start to form, I realize how silly this might sound. After all, everyone was safe and healthy and nothing was really lost. You weren’t that different from the night before when I’d tucked you in bed not knowing it would be the last time to do that common yet sacred act before baby girl joined us.

And yet that was the hardest part for me. Feeling like I’d lost something I didn’t know I would lose and that I could never get back. You as my baby. You as my little squishy one. You were the only one, and so however big you may have been (notably a stocky and heavy almost-two-year-old) you were still the smallest child of mine and you felt like my little baby.

Maybe its better that these things happen with a bit of a surprise. Maybe I was better off without the warning. I didn’t make any fanfare out of putting you to bed that night before she came. It was normal, not especially memorable, and maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be. It was just us, not something we tried to make into something. It was just the reading, hugging, lights out, kisses routine that we’d settled into in your almost-21-months of life.

And again, little puddles fill the rims of my eyes daring to spill down my cheeks, as I think that maybe life will always be like this. Maybe you’ll always surprise me as you slowly yet suddenly move from one stage to the next without warning. I suppose every Momma knows the feeling. You change right before our eyes so subtly, little by little every day, and then a day comes when it feels like something changed overnight. You say a new word, you show affection in a new way, you express an opinion with more passion, you kick a ball with new skill, you like a new food or don’t like an old one, you recite part of the book we’re reading, and the list goes on.

But you know, Foxy boy, for whatever it feels may be lost as we move ever so naturally from one stage to the next, there is so much more gained. For the real treasure, my boy, is YOU. It’s always been you. Whatever phase, mood, age, season you’re in, the fact that it’s you is what matters. The fact that its those same clear blue eyes I’ve always stared in reminds me of what won’t ever change. You’ll always be you, and to quote Taylor Swift “you’re the only one of you, baby that’s the fun of you.”

And if this is a letter to you, then I’ll end it the way I feel I always end your notes and that treasured bedtime routine. “I love you.”

YOU. My boy, my baby, my son. I love YOU.

A Bunny Themed Baby Shower

One of my favorite parts of hosting a party is developing the theme. I love thinking about components such as who we’re celebrating, what the occasion is, what time of year it is, and what would make it memorable to help me decide the right direction to take. I usually toss around a few ideas until the right one just sticks. And when that happens, it’s one of my favorite moments because then I can start fine-tuning the vision and bringing it to life!

When it came to planning Katherine’s Baby Shower with my friend Rachel, we knew we wanted to really get the details right. Katherine is someone who appreciates sweet touches, beauty, and design, so we knew putting our energy into these areas would mean a lot to her.

As Katherine was designing her nursery, bunnies emerged as a subtle theme. It wasn’t over-the-top or even that intentional, I don’t think. She was just drawn to a few bunny elements and it started to develop from there. So, this is where we ended up landing for the shower theme, and I just love it!

As with any theme, we wanted to steer clear from a cheesy or overdone approach. We wanted it to feel classic and “baby” as well as special and attractive. Also, Katherine was planning to incorporate a surprise gender reveal at the shower so we couldn’t be too gender specific in our decor. But, I do feel like there is always a little room to have feminine touches at a baby shower because after all, the Momma is a girl!

The sweet little bunnies, greenery, and linens made for a perfectly charming and meaningful day. I’ll share a few details as we go, too, in case you want to replicate anything you see! Enjoy!

Photos by Mary Margaret Smith

We found these adorable little bunnies at Michael’s, and they were a subtle surprise in our flower arrangements.

Rachel found inspiration for the greenery bunny online, and we used floral wire wrapped in paper, floral tape, and fresh greenery from Trader Joe’s to create our own! Then, we accented it by using floral hoops in different sizes with ribbons hot glued and greenery wrapped with floral tape. It was whimsical and sweet.

Y’all. This cake! I can’t even. I loved it so much! It was delicious for one, but also so perfectly lovely I could squeal. Our favorite local baker, Bec’s Cakes, created this wonder and took the bunny ears we made to finish it off! We saw the idea online and shaped these bunny ears out of the same paper-wrapped floral wire we used for the large greenery bunny.

The bunny cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches were as tasty as they are cute! A perfect touch for our mid-afternoon celebration.

Katherine loves to read, so when we found this antique bunny made to rest on books, we knew we had to get it for her. It doubled as shower decor and a gift, which is always fun!

Sweet Katherine. This image just gets me. We were all so excited to celebrate her and Baby Stone, and to see the look on her face when she walked into her shower was the best. There’s nothing like putting your heart into a celebration for someone and them receiving all the love you hoped they would through every detail.

surprise gender reveal

Katherine and Scottie had been keeping the gender of their baby a secret for her whole pregnancy. Then came the idea to reveal it at her baby shower. I love gender reveals and baby showers so this was so exciting to me! We gathered everyone outside for a group photo. After the photographer took a couple “test shots” she said, “Alright on the count of three everybody say…” and at that moment Katherine yelled out,

“IT’S A GIRL!!!”

You can see the delight and surprise on everyone’s faces as they heard this exciting news! It was such a special moment and such a special shower for such a special friend.

A Bunny Themed Baby Shower

mattyewoodcock.com

Our Favorite Books for Babies and Toddlers

We love books in our house! We’ve been reading to Fox since he was a baby, and one of my favorite parts of motherhood has been watching him experience books with such delight. I also look forward to sharing the joy of books with Mae as she grows, and I hope she will love them, too! We typically read 1-3 books at night before bed and often at other times throughout the day. As Fox has gotten older, it’s been fun to see which books he loves most and watch him interact and recite parts of the stories.

There are so many books out there, and our favorites ebb and flow in seasons, but there are a few that stand out to me right now that I think are worth adding to your child’s collection or selecting as a gift. I’m sharing our top picks by category, and I hope you find a new book to love on this list!

Also, I’d love to know—what are your favorite books for babies and toddlers? Which ones do we need to add to our bookshelves?

Nighttime

Goodnight Moon
Where the Wild Things Are
The Goodnight Train
The Going to Bed Book

interactive

Dear Zoo
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Farm
Where is Baby’s Belly Button?

Fun

Little Blue Truck (we also love Little Blue Truck Leads the Way)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
But Not the Hippopotamus
Dr. Seuss’s ABC’s

holiday

The Sweet Smell of Christmas
This is the Christmas Story: A Kids Read Truth Story & Scripture Book
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas

momma’s favorites

On the Night You Were Born
Oh, the Wonderful Things You Will Be
You Belong Here
Will You Be My Sunshine?

Affiliate links are used in this post!

Newborn + Postpartum Faves

The birth of Mae began my second adventure into “newborn life,” and I’m learning so much. I knew it was true, but there is nothing like having two babies of your own to prove to you that every baby is different!

Mae is her own person, and being a little more relaxed this time around is allowing me to enjoy learning her and figuring out what she needs with more ease and confidence than I had as a brand new mom. Part of this process has included identifying some key items that have become “must-haves” for us, and when I find something I love, I gotta share it. There are SO many items out there for Moms and babies, and sometimes it’s helpful to have a friend help you wade through the masses to pick out a few treasures.

This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of ALL the things you need in newborn/postpartum life (although here’s a little tip—what you actually need is most likely less than what you think you need); I simply want to highlight the items that are either new favorites or have become trusty go-to’s with both babies for us. I’ll say it again, every baby is different, so you have to figure out what works for you, but my hope is that each Momma will be able to find at least one gem from this list!

newborn

Vava Nightlight

I think I will get this nightlight as a baby shower gift for people from now until forever. This thing is amazing! It’s chargeable (and the charge lasts for days/weeks depending how often you use it), portable, and touch-activated making it incredibly convenient. It has two different light temperatures and is dimmable, too. It’s wonderful for late-night feedings and diaper changes when you might not want to make a lot of noise or have a lot of light. It’s also great to travel with if you’re unsure what kind of lighting situation you’ll have.

baby lounger

We have loved the Boppy Newborn Lounger with both babies. It’s lightweight and has a handle so it’s easy to take from room to room or on a trip. It’s a cozy spot for baby with a slight incline so their head is lifted and they can see what’s going on around them. Mae sits in it happily while I’m getting ready, cooking, pumping, you name it! Because it’s so easy to put anywhere, it allows me to be close to her when I’m not able to hold her, and that’s something we both love. I really can’t imagine newborn life without it.

I also wanted to give an honorable mention to the Dock a Tot. We’ve used it with Mae, and so far it’s been great. It’s a pricier item, so we were thankful when a friend offered to loan us theirs. It’s lightweight and easy to transport just like the Boppy lounger, and it’s nice when you need a portable, convenient sleeping spot or to let the baby lay flat and kick around. I don’t think I would pay full price for one, but since we got to borrow this one, I am glad we have it.

covered goods four-in-one cover

This four-in-one cover is one of my favorite items. Both my babies were born in cold weather months, and this is wonderful to put over their car seat to protect them from the cold air and germs. I imagine I would use it in the summer too because it would block out light and any hands that want to reach in to touch baby. Also, it’s a lightweight nursing cover that I take everywhere. It took me a while to get used to using it with Fox, but with Mae it’s been so helpful. Someone actually referred to it as my “magic striped blanket” because every time I pull it out she gets calm (a.k.a. she gets to eat)!

burt’s bees burp cloths

These burp cloths are so soft and ideal in size. With Fox, I had all different kinds of burp cloths, and I ended up only wanting to use my favorites. This time, I have 12 of the Burt’s Bees and I never have to question if I’m getting a “good one” or not. It removes any decision making and keeps me well stocked with burp cloths (a MUST in those early months!).

my brest friend nursing pillow

As cheesy as the name may be, this has truly been a good friend for me with both my babies! I like this nursing pillow because the firmness of the pillow gives me and my baby quality support, the buckle helps it stay in place, and its soft. The pad around the back is so comfortable, and especially as my babies have gone from newborn to bigger babies, the My Brest Friend gives me much needed relief for my back, shoulders, and neck during nursing.

solly baby wrap

There are many baby wraps out there, and I’ve heard positive reviews of many of them, but the Solly Baby Wrap has been the winner in our home. I wasn’t very confident using it with Fox so I only used it a handful of times, but I’ve already used it dozens of times with Mae. It calms her down when she is fussy, and she takes a nap in it almost every day. It’s also really helpful as a mom of two because it gives me free hands to love on and care for my toddler while also keeping Mae content and getting little newborn snuggles. I love getting to be near my girl while having the option to have my hands free.

Sleepers with hand covers

Newborns tend to have fast-growing, sharp fingernails that are hard to cut, and these sleepers make protecting them and you so easy! I especially love using these at night when she might scratch her face the most, and they’re also nice when nursing so she doesn’t poke me with those sharp little nails.

zutano baby shoes

After two months of tiny little socks falling off Mae’s feet constantly, I finally bought these Zutano booties with an Amazon gift card we were given, and they’re fabulous! They stay on her feet so well and keep them warm. I got the fuzzy style for her first pair since it’s winter, and I plan to get the cotton ones for spring/summer.

Spectra Pump

A friend recommended this pump, and I was very intrigued because she said it helped her express more milk and was quieter than other pumps. I still had my pump from Fox, and figured if I wanted this new one, I’d have to buy it or receive it as a gift. Then, a friend who saw it on my baby registry told me she got the same one and it was covered by insurance. After looking into it, I was so delighted to see that my insurance covered it, too. With her recommendation, I ordered it through Aeroflow, and it was a pleasant, streamlined experience. I love this pump for many reasons: it has a massage mode and expression mode to help simulate how your baby eats, a handle for easy transport, a timer to see how long you’ve been pumping, a nightlight, and two options for adjusting the frequency and intensity with which it expresses the milk. Also, it doesn’t hurt that it comes in pretty colors.

postpartum

gilligan & o’malley nursing bras

In my second season of nursing, I have been much more savvy with my nursing bra situation. I have lightweight bras to wear at nighttime and more structured bras with better coverage for daytime. But, my favorite one by far is this one by Gilligan & O’Malley of Target. It is comfortable enough to sleep in, but also has enough coverage and structure to wear with clothes (and I think the color is pretty!). It appears they have limited quantities remaining, but I’d recommend this brand overall for comfort and price point.

Witch hazel

A friend and fellow Momma who happens to be a nurse gave this Witch Hazel to me at my baby shower for Fox, and it’s been a staple for me both pregnancies and postpartum. Its very helpful for postpartum healing (specifically for a vaginal birth), and it’s an overall great way to clean and soothe sensitive areas. I have used both the bottle and these pads (which are the same ones they gave me in the hospital).

rainbow light prenatal vitamins

These are an obvious item on a pregnant and postpartum woman’s list, but I just love this brand so much I wanted to share. I have used them in both my pregnancies and postpartum, and they’ve worked well for me.

no bake lactation bites

I think I ate my weight in these lactation bites after I had Fox, and I’ve loved them with Mae, too. They taste delicious, have ingredients to help with milk production, and are great snacks when you’re starving but don’t have time to eat much or its the middle of the night and you need something small and quick.

gap-fit maternity leggings

Postpartum clothing could be a post in and of itself, and honestly, its so subjective. It depends on how your body changes, if you go back to work or stay home, what climate you live in, what time of year your baby is born, and plenty of other factors! But for me after having Mae, these Gap leggings have been my uniform. I like them because the fabric is comfortable and breathable and nice enough to wear out and about. The maternity panel isn’t too big so it provides good coverage and support postpartum without falling down. I ended up getting two pair, and I’m so glad I did because I haven’t managed to get back in my regular laundry routine just yet. ;)

So, there’s my list! I imagine it will be ever evolving, but I hope it’s helpful. I’d also love to hear any favorites you have that I should try!

Affiliate links are used in this post!