What's in my diaper bag?!

I tried something new. While I was pregnant I watched oodles and oodles of videos and this was one of my favorites . So here you go..  

http://youtu.be/dV6-5I7JG-8

Larkin loves: Sleeping <3

Larkin loves sleeping! Just recently he's been sleeping then eating. I think it might be a growth spurt. So during the day he sleeps in his bouncer which I'll show down below. We currently all live with my mom ( I loveeeee) so its a bit tight. Even if we did have room for Larkin to be on his own, he wouldn't be sleeping in there at night. I really enjoy having him right beside me as he's snoozing. He doesn't sleep thru the night by a long stretch . I'm not a schedule junkie so he sleeps when he wants and eats when he wants. Right now he's 8 weeks old and he sleeps in 2-3 hour stretches still. Most nights he falls asleep at 10 and is up by 12-1. Then he wakes again at 3-4. These usually last around an hour. So it's still been tough. 

This is my first must have for sleeping. The first month of his life he slept in babies r us sleepers. I loved this one because it has a zipper and that makes nights easier. Now he simply can't sleep in them because we live in florida and it's way to hot. But for the first month he was comfy.

Now this thing is amazing. I know that everyone has an opinion on how baby should sleep at night but this works for us. We do use the pack n play bassinet but most of the time he sleeps in this. I put it right beside my bed and just rock him to sleep . 

This is the set larkin has and we use every piece. Now last week if you would have asked we never used the swing but he's found an interest in it this week. During the day he sleeps in the swing or the bouncer. I would pay so much for that bouncer. He loves it so much.

I don't think we could have a blanket on him as much as we do without this company. Aden and Anais have the best blankets.they are breathable and light weight ( great for florida )  Now I do let him sleep with the blanket but I tuck it all the way around his bottom. Like swaddling his bottle half. 

This last one is hit and miss. Sometimes we use this to put him to sleep. He only likes nuk brand or tommee tippee pacifiers. 

 That's it for my sleeping must haves for my little guy! 

 What's yours? 

Larkin loves : Feeding!

 Ahh, eating one of babies favorite things. It's such a controversial topic as to what is best for baby and yourself. When I was pregnant you couldn't even get me to look at formula choices. I had my mind set. No matter how hard everyone said it was going to be I was going to breast feed. I got books about breast feeding and got all the gear. I knew it was what my body was designed to do and what was best for Larkin and I. At one point I even remember thinking why wouldn't every mom breast feed? 

 Then I had a c section. Not to say that a c section is the complete reason for me not being able to breast feed. I was just in a lot of pain from the surgery. Larkin also didn't latch well. In the hospital for three days all we did was breast feed. Besides one night of giving him the formula supplement. I pumped in the hospital as well as expressed. Spoke to a lactation consultin for over two hours. She told me this wasn't going to be easy but I was still determined. 

  When I got home and was alone all day with larkin I tried latching all day. Positioning the boopy in every way possible. Looked up crazy techniques and usually it ended up with him and I crying. I kept trying but he had a jaundice problem and I didn't want him to have to be admitted again. So we supplemented . I had bought bottes for pumping so luckily we had that gear. We also purchased a breast pump and had all the free formula. We were armed and he wasn't going to starve. I became a pumping machine . I pumped every two hours every day for twenty minutes at a time. That almost made me crazy. I never got more than an ounce and a half out of one side. For around four weeks I did this. I also tried fenugreek, a nipple shield, and drinking so much water I threw up. None if these things worked for me and it was stressing me out. 

  

   Enough about my failures and let's move on to Larkins feeding essentials.  He is now seven weeks old and these are things that we couldn't live without for the first seven weeks!! 

The boopy! Now larkin isn't a small guy. At birth he was 9.7 and had a strong neck. If you have a tiny one this might not be a huge help yet. We had the original boopy along with two extra covers. I use this a lot during the day. I can put him in it and feed and after he's done we talk/play. He loves it. 

 

Ah, steam bags. Super easy, space saver and fast. Takes two minutes cost around five dollars. They last way more than 20 uses each. We use these at least once a day. 

The bottle. We had bought Tommee Tippee everything. I had starter kits and bottle sets. I really liked the look and the feel of that bottle. Because of Larkins latch issues the tommy tippee nipples just didn't cut it. Since I had the avent breast pump and I could pump into these I tried them . Immediately less leakage. He really is doing well with these. They are easy to clean and aren't too expensive. 

The food. This wasn't an easy journey. First it was breast milk along with emfamil that came from the hospital. He always had bellyaches and I didn't like that. So around three weeks we found gerber gentle for breastfeeding supplement. He used that up until last week. Last week I had to go to the store to buy more and read about this. So far his digestion is better and he seems to like the taste as opposed to emfamil which he is not a fan of.  [momny note : at seven weeks larkin still takes two ounces a feeding but feeds every two hours sometimes more. I'm no an OCD mommy he eats when he's hungry. 

Formula dispenser for on the go! This one is from tommee tippee and it came free as an extra inside my steamer I returned . You can find them at target. I love how convient it is. They don't fit inside my bottles but I put them in the pockets of my diaper bag. It's cheaper than buying on the go formula.

Last but my life saver. As I said our little guy had latch issues which also is a problem with bottle feeding. He spits up as he eats. I love these guys. I don't like using bibs so we slide this under his chin as he's eating and boom less of a mess. They are from carters and I see them at kohls all the time. 

 That raps up my feeding post did I miss anything? 

Join us in learning all about this new world

Hello! I'm glad you found us. Let me start off by saying if you are the grammar police might as well find another mommy to follow. If you're still here fantastic. This blog is being started because on April 14, 2014 a little boy joined the world. Now I'm a 24 year old former nanny. I've always been the kid person who never wanted kids . I swore for a long time that they just weren't for me. I'm so glad I met the man that changed my mind. 

I wanted to start a blog so I wouldn't forget a moment. Even though I was a nanny for a very long time having your own really doesn't prepare. Now I was more prepared on how much work it was going to be but I didn't know how much greater the reward would be. 

Everyone tells you "at one month he should do this" and "this bottle is better because do this". Now I'll take reviews from family members any day but I know when I was pregnant I was always looking for full reviews online and looking for honest opinions. I'm a believer in learning while you go. So here I'm going to post things that work for us and what I couldn't live without and just about our lives. 

Right now I'm at the six week post traumatic birth experience . If I do get a following I might post my birth story. I am staying home with him everyday and his daddy works about six days a week. We also currently are staying with my mom and she also helps as much as she can . I am so happy with all of the help I have. I never feel alone or like I need extra help. Maybe I'll spilt up the post on here with my recovery and his life. For now I'm out . Can't wait to start posting!  For now here's a picture of my little family! ( Larkin is one week in this picture )