Our Favorite Things — A Great Deal

Girls Ballet Flats for $9

While I have no problem spending large amounts of money on cameras, computers, phones and body jewelry, making things like clothes and shoes into expenses is not my style. I hope that my daughter can appreciate this when she is an adult, but if not I can always look forward to borrowing her designer garb.

My thriftiness and love of a great deal is something that can benefit my nieces from time to time. I am by no-means a shopaholic, but if I have a free shipping coupon on top of a killer deal, I might be tempted into some early back-to-school shopping.

Recently, my younger sister and I had the pleasure of picking up my niece from school. After an enjoyable lunch, we stopped into Payless (my old stomping grounds) to check out their BOGO (Buy One, Get One Half Off) deal.

After finding out the canvas Ninja Turtle slip-ons were out of stock in her size, my six-year-old niece found some American Eagle ballet flats in coral for only $9. Running through the store to test out their speed, she was happy with her pick. We purchased a second pair of ballet flats that were also on clearance for only $5, which came out to $2.50 with the BOGO deal. 

I enjoy buying nice things, and by saving money on the less important things, we are able to splurge on what we love. Although I do love to support small local businesses, sometimes I run into deals I can't refuse.

Essentials for a Teething Baby

A Teething Baby will Chew on Just About Anything . . . Watch Your Fingers!

I have only had great experiences interacting with Charlotte's doctor over the past six months. After all, our pediatrician is constantly praising our baby's development, growth and personality—what's not to like about that?

Beyond the bragging, Charlotte's pediatrician has also been great at giving us a timeline of when to expect certain changes in our baby. At our four-month checkup, our doctor shared an observation that Char would likely cut her first tooth before she hit six-months-old. Well, the doc was spot on. I first learned that Charlotte had cut two teeth (bottom front row and center) at my niece's sixth birthday party, while hanging out in the cartoon themed room a local pizza buffet fun center.

Leave it to my sister Lindsey to have her finger fishing around in Charlotte's mouth for something sharp. After her announcement of Char's teeth, there was a parade of immediate family members inspecting her mouth. At the time, I was "shocked" that Charlotte had cut teeth so soon, but looking back, I had been noticing many signs of teething. The most common teething cues include excessive drooling, fussiness, interrupted sleep patterns, clinginess, swollen gums, chewing, etc. 

Teething is inevitable, so familiarize yourself with these essential tools for a teething baby:

Bibs. We had some of the most beautiful, handmade bibs gifted to us at our "Sweet Baby Charlotte" Baby Shower, and for the first five months I was worried these beautiful bibs would never get their well-deserved use. Then teething happened. Suddenly, we didn't have enough bibs. I was digging through hand-me-downs to ensure I had at least two backups no matter where I went, and sometimes that didn't seem to be enough.

Chew Toys. Not only for dogs, a great infant chew toy can make any teething baby a whole lot smilier.  I've tried every teether and frozen gimmick to alleviate little Charlotte's swollen gums, but her favorites so far are the Bright Starts Vibrating Teether and the Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder. Frozen veggies and the soft, vibrating surface each alleviate a lot of her teething pain while keeping her entertained.

Comfort. Once it's 9p.m., past the baby's bedtime, she's fussy and drooling everywhere, and I have had over 12 hours of real work . . . This is my late-night mommy trick. I have a short playlist of my six favorite sleepy time songs. They are by no means baby lullabies. One song is slightly techno, while the rest of the playlist is a relaxing and upbeat mix. It's the perfect motivation to stay positive after a long day of diaper changes and creating new ways to entertain a six-month-old babe. There is nothing better than rocking Charlotte to some of my favorite tunes. I turn them down low, sway in the dark, cuddled to my sweet, while singing and humming along to the playlist that was my mantra to and from work during pregnancy. Even if this trick doesn't lull her to sleep, it definitely calms her down enough to where a little milk wins her over.


What are your favorite mom tricks to help out a teething baby?

Tips For Successful Breastfeeding

A Few of My Favorite Things

Charlotte is very well-fed, and every soft roll on her thighs can attest to that. She is at the breast almost every hour during the day, and she wakes up once or twice throughout the night to chow down. My daughter is six-months-old and exclusively breastfed (aside from the two vegetables she has been introduced to so far).

One of my closest friends is expecting a baby girl in a little over a month. She also plans on exclusively breastfeeding her baby for at least the first year, and I couldn't be more excited to share helpful tips that aided Charlotte and me in breastfeeding.

I already shared my early breastfeeding experience in a previous post, but I figured it would be best to list additional breastfeeding tips here. Hopefully I can help other mothers have a more successful, enjoyable and convenient breastfeeding experience. After all, not only has breast milk been called a perfect food for babies, it can also be the perfect convenience for mothers. 

Tips for Successful Breastfeeding:

1. Hold off on introducing the pacifier—be the pacifier. Sitting in as a human pacifier doesn't necessarily sound like a fun gig (and it's not), but it proves to be great for your breastfeeding success. Our lactation consultant at the hospital following Charlotte's birth gave me so many amazing tips. One of the best pieces of advice she shared was telling me to withhold the pacifier until the baby was at least three-weeks-old. Especially during the first couple weeks, the time your baby spends at the breast is what my lactation specialist would call, "Placing the baby's order." The more my newborn fed, the more she signaled my body to produce more milk. I followed this advice, and in the end I had so much milk, my body had to decrease the supply. That was a great problem to have.

2. Invest in a Great Pump. Having an electric single or double pump is absolutely essential for breastfeeding moms that dream of having lives outside of motherhood. If you work out of the home, go to school or would simply enjoy the freedom of a couple hours away from the baby here and there, then you are going to need an electric pump. A nice pump will cost you, so I recommend registering for it for you baby shower, renting it or inquiring with your insurance about getting a free or discounted pump. 

3. Pump Often. I'm not sure if all mothers despise the task, but pumping is not something I enjoy. The process isn't difficult, painful or time-consuming . . . it is just a nuisance. However, it is absolutely necessary. You'll be surprised how often you will have to pump just to feed your baby for a couple hours. I pump one breast every morning while my baby empties the other. I will get anywhere between one and five ounces each session, depending on how often she ate the night before. By pumping everyday around the same time, you're telling your body when to produce the "extra" milk.

4. Familiarize Your Baby with More than Just Breast. Breastfeeding can be your best friend, but sometimes it can also feel like your worst enemy. Breastfed babies are notorious for being clingier to mom, but don't fret. Be sure to introduce your sweet little baby to the bottle around five weeks to avoid nipple confusion. Also, be sure to have your babysitters practice feeding your baby to ensure you get a little free time now and again.

5. On Demand. While a new baby should not go longer than three hours without eating, trying to get your newborn on a feeding schedule is very outdated. Instead, breastfed babies should be fed on demand. I remember the first week of breastfeeding being very exhausting. I was constantly in a sleepy haze, because Charlotte decided to eat every hour throughout the night . . . 1a.m., 2a.m., 3a.m. . . . and so on. Just remember that if you're exhausted, there is nothing wrong with letting dad give the baby a bottle so you can get some sleep. (I wish I had taken my own advice!)

6. Stay Hydrated and Well-Fed. It seems like growing a human outside of your body requires just as much water and food as it did when you were pregnant. This is because you can burn between 500-1000 calories a day breastfeeding. That means you need additional water for all the extra work your body is doing, as well as extra calories so you can keep some energy for yourself. I weigh 10 pounds less than I did before I got pregnant, and breastfeeding is one of the biggest reasons for it.

7. Baby Hunger Cues. The easiest way to keep your baby happy and not crying is by anticipating his or her demands before they have to cry about it. It is a lot easier said than done the first couple weeks, but before you know it, you will be able to decipher the differences in your baby's cries. When it comes to feeding, it is a lot easier to breastfeed a happy, hungry baby than one who is starving and frustrated. Typical hunger cues of a new baby are smacking of the lips, rooting around (opening their mouth, looking for a nipple), licking or sucking on lips, tongue, hands, toys, etc. Remember, a baby should never have to cry in order to communicate that they are hungry.

I hope these breastfeeding tips help. Please consult with a lactation consultant if one is available at the hospital, and don't be afraid to reach out to great breastfeeding support organizations like La Leche League.

Please feel free to ask questions or share any additional breastfeeding tips that I missed below.

Click HERE for more early breastfeeding advice