The Diaper Bag Confessions

As an exclusively breastfeeding mom, I realized very quickly how much co-sleeping was a blessing to my sanity. Especially as I had more children. The ability to roll over in a groggy, half awake, barely functioning state of mind to reach my baby to nurse them in the middle of the night, then quickly return to my own blissful state of sleep was critical. Coffee only does so much as far as giving moms the required amount of energy to function.

Co-Sleeping, though, is not always easy. Not always safe. Not always as convenient as it sounds. The bed-sharing environment isn’t ideal, especially in regards to safety. Some bedside co-sleepers are bulky and hard to access from the actual bed. The co-sleepers that sit in the bed are hard and not convenient either. That’s why when I saw the new Halo Sleep System Bassinest, I knew it would take the co-sleeping world by storm. It has ease of use. It’s safe. It’s convenient. It’s brilliant.

The Halo Bassinest gives you all of the benefits of bed-sharing while still giving baby their own, safe, space to sleep. It allows you to pull baby right to you without getting out of bed, reach over the flexible lowering side of the bed to pick up baby while you’re still laying down and then place baby back down after nursing. (Added note: a friend of mine loved these features for ease of baby care after her c-section!) It sits up high enough to keep baby in eyesight from your bed, it can be used away from your bed as well, it’s stylish and doesn’t take up much room. It’s the perfect solution for implementing safe sleep practices while still having the convenience of co-sleeping. Pair it with Halo’s Sleepsacks and you’re sure to have created a safe and comfortable sleep environment for your new baby.

As part of Halo’s commitment to safe sleeping, whether or not your baby co-sleeps, they want to remind parents about safe sleep practices.

ALWAYS
•Place baby to sleep on his or her back at naptime and at night time.
•Room-share, but don’t bed share; the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend against bed sharing as it can lead to an increased risk for accidental suffocation.
•Use a crib or bassinet that meets current safety standards with a firm mattress that fits snugly and is covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet.
•Remove all soft bedding and toys from your baby’s sleep area (this includes loose blankets, bumpers, pillows and positioners). The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using a wearable blanket instead of loose blankets to keep your baby warm.
•Offer a pacifier when putting baby to sleep. If breastfeeding, introduce pacifier after one month or after breastfeeding has been established.
•Breastfeed, if possible, but when finished, put your baby back to sleep in his or her separate safe sleep area alongside your bed.

NEVER
•Never put your baby to sleep on any soft surface (adult beds, sofas, chairs, water beds, quilts, sheep skins etc.)
•Never dress your baby too warmly for sleep; keep room temperature 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
•Never allow anyone to smoke around your baby or take your baby into a room or car where someone has recently smoked.

Note: This post is sponsored by Halo Sleep Systems. They provided me with a Sleepsack in exchange for this post. The opinions expressed are my own and no other compensation was received.

There I was, shopping at Target. Desperately trying to get the shopping done within the baby’s window of contentment. Before I knew it.. His lip was quivering.. His brow wrinkled. Then it started. Smiles had quickly turned to impatient crying. Holding him in my arms, I started the “mom shuffle and sway” along with the “rhythmic shushing” lullaby. In that very moment, it hit me. Motherhood is pretty much a constant musical production.

The Choreography – I mean, think about it. You never stop moving. There’s not a single moment that doesn’t involve walking, running, bouncing, swaying, jumping, or lifting. Be it to calm a child or keep up with a child. The dance is never ending. Not to mention, every move you make, especially if you have multiple children, needs to be choreographed or a mess of chaos results. “Okay.. Shuffle, shuffle, grab your jackets, step ball change, put on your shoes.. Now everyone two step your way to the car!”

The Soundtrack – There is a musical number for everything. From “whhhhhy on earth won’t you sleeeeeeep!!!!” to the reprise of “525,600 Legos!” You’re also now a composer of the top shushing ballads. You can, and do, sing your way through anything.. anywhere. Not to mention, the numerous songs your children will sing continuously. (More soundtracks should include 5 year olds singing songs like Starships and Roar.)

Improv! – Just when you think you’ve rehearsed enough to conquer the public stage.. Inevitably, in front of a large audience of people.. Something will go horribly wrong requiring you to react quickly while throwing your script out the window. Take for instance that time when my child’s diaper exploded during take-off on an extremely cold plane. Naturally, I’d packed diapers in our carry-on. What didn’t I pack? A change of clothes. Of course. Time to wing it. That sweater I was wearing? Voile! Oversized toddler bunting. (The only thing less attractive than that outfit was the replacement we bought at the only airport shop on our layover. A Tie dyed romper declaring a love of Arizona.. Fabulous.)

Intermission– At long last! After a good dose of dancing and musical numbers, you find yourself at intermission. We moms have dubbed this glorious mid-performance break “nap time.” A much needed moment to catch your breath and prepare for the next act. Is it just me, or is intermission never long enough?

Wardrobe Changes – One must never expect to wear only one outfit during an entire performance! Never. Especially in the musical of motherhood. There will obviously be at least 2-3 wardrobe changes, courtesy of pee, poop, puke and some form of mashed vegetable. Likely these outfits will involve yoga pants and a ponytail.. Though at times you may be lucky enough to wear the nice costumes… Those may even involve heels and a shirt that isn’t covered in snot and spit up!

The stage – Naturally, it’s not quite enough to simply star in this production. You must also care for all of the props and make sure all is returned to its proper place before the following day’s performance.

Take a Bow – When the performance is over for the night, obviously you appreciate the round of applause for a job well done. Even if you’re clapping for yourself. The stage lights are out for the evening. You worked hard and put on the best show you could. Now it’s time to unwind and prepare for your next performance tomorrow! Bravo!

Motherhood, coming to a stage (or grocery store, mall, local park..) near you!

Three years ago, at this time, I was playing Sudoku in my hospital bed. I had been admitted to the hospital after 2 days of contractions every 5 minutes. I honestly couldn’t believe I was in labor… even at that point. My previous two babies were both induced. I’d never even had a Braxton Hicks contraction. There I was, though, 38 weeks and 2 days pregnant.. About to have our third baby.

That night was very calm and so much fun. (How many labors have you described as fun? LOL) I spent much of the evening trying to convince my OBGYN that Taco Bell really wasn’t a suitable name for a baby while laughing hysterically about the woman in the delivery suite next to mine laboring to “Rolling in the Deep” very loudly. Then, at 1:17 am on July 21st.. He was born. Little did I know then just how much that little boy would change our lives.

He has taught me so much in the last 3 years. About life, determination, patience. He’s the sweetest, most genuine little boy you will ever meet. He’s also quite stubborn. I am so lucky to have him in my life.. But even more lucky to be his mom. Happy 3rd Birthday, PhiePhieMonster!

It never fails. Anytime our family goes out, someone will stop us and say “Four boys? Bless you!” I smile and make a comment like “I’m definitely out numbered!” or “They sure keep me busy!” The truth is, though, raising boys is fun! With four boys, I am never bored and my days are almost always eventful.

My boys are definitely big balls of energy. They run non-stop. I’m fairly certain that my husband and I are the only people that walk inside the house. Up the stairs, down the stairs. Bedroom to playroom, playroom to bedroom.. Sprint to the bathroom. Like little roadrunners.

This high energy life makes summers fun. We live a block away from our community park (complete with water splash pad!) and our suburban neighborhood is full of sidewalks and laced with trails. Active kids keep us active, which hopefully keeps us young!


Even our son with physical limitations pushes himself to be as active as his brothers. It usually means he’s limping by the end of the day and unable to walk easily up and down the stairs, but he has fun with his brothers, so who am I to try to stop him? (Okay.. Honestly, I used to try to stop him.. but – have you ever tried to stop a two-year-old from doing what they want??)


I definitely don’t know what it’s like to have calm, relaxed kids. While they enjoy movies and television, my boys rarely ever just sit to watch. They usually watch out of the corner of their eye while running and jumping around. (I definitely don’t mind this!) Even family game nights, where we are typically all sitting in our living room on the floor playing a card or board game, isn’t very calm. They usually involve victory jigs that resemble touchdown dances and a whole lot of “booyah!!” commentary.

So yes, four boys is definitely chaos. It’s busy. It’s all sorts of insane. It’s peed on toilet seats, smelly feet, dirt, bugs and a lot of talk about butts/farts/burps. It’s 5-mile family walks, Saturday morning runs, jumping off the stairs and I’m sure eventually it will be many many broken bones. It’s my life, and I love it.

If there is one thing you learn from being pregnant a few times, it’s that comfort always triumphs over style. Ultimately, what you want is something that is going to fit right, breathe well and support your growing belly – if it happens to look good at the same time? That’s just a bonus.

Second to comfort, the next thing you tend to prioritize is cost efficiency. Unless it’s your third (or more..) pregnancy, chances are you don’t really start needing maternity clothes until about week 12-18 depending on how you carry. Why do you want to spend a lot of money on clothes you’re going to wear for 20-28 weeks?

When I was asked to glance over the Envie de Fraises Maternity Clothing site (A maternity brand from France, just making it’s way here to the USA), I loved what I saw. I also appreciated that it wasn’t unreasonably expensive! While glancing around, another thing caught my eye – numerous pieces were multi-functional! Not only were they made for maternity wear, but also for post-pregnancy breast feeding. This meant they lasted longer, making it even more worth the already affordable cost.

They asked me if I would review a couple items for them.. I am slightly embarrassed to say this made me extremely excited.. and a little nervous. If there’s one thing I don’t do much of, it’s post photos of myself. Especially in swollen pregnant form. The excitement over their line of clothing won, and I anxiously awaited the items they had chosen for me.

First was an adorable top, the Fiona long-sleeved maternity and nursing top. It was perfect. It hugged in all the right places on my baby bump. I wore it to my pre-baby spa and high tea day out with my friends. It never got too hot or uncomfortable. I loved that I actually looked pregnant in it! It washes well and you can’t tell (unless you know..) that it’s also a nursing top!

In addition to the Fiona top, they also sent me their Homewear Kit. From the moment I put this set on, I didn’t want to take it off! It’s so comfortable and super cute! It comes with a comfortable, loose pair of pants, a short sleeve cross-front maternity and nursing top (very similar to the look of the Fiona top..) and a matching loungewear cardigan. I was completely in love with it. I knew instantly the perfect use for it. The hospital. It was so relaxed and comfortable that it would be a great post-delivery option. The pants were loose and breathable. They would hide the post-delivery swelling and not over heat me. Add in the fact that the top was a nursing top, it meant I could easily nurse the baby while still looking decent when guests arrived.

The fit and sizing, I found, to be incredibly true-to-size. I’m on the smaller side of the size they sent me and it wasn’t too loose, wasn’t too tight. I found them to have the perfect amount of give, but I never had to worry that they were too big and they definitely weren’t too small. The material used allowed them to just fit which is rare for maternity clothes.. At least most that I’ve worn!

Even postpartum I can honestly say I still love these clothes, just as I thought I would. I brought the Homewear Kit to the hospital, where it did not disappoint. It was the perfect, most comfortable outfit to put on and actually feel presentable while still comfortable. The cardigan has also come in handy as a great coverup while nursing, in addition to the nursing top that is amazing! It doesn’t get in the way or impede the nursing process at all. Plus- it’s cute and inconspicuous. (Warning.. Unflattering postpartum pictures. This is what real people look like after delivering babies.. Haha)

Every piece of clothing has gotten much use in the weeks before and now after, the birth of my baby. That alone makes them well worth purchasing!! None of my other maternity clothes are as accommodating after baby! I am not at all disappointed by Envie de Fraises, and I hope you will all love it as much as I do!

Note: I was provided these products from Envie de Fraises for review.

There are certain parts of motherhood that are less glamorous than others. Especially if you’re a nursing mom. Sure, you got this amazing instant boob job – but wait too long between feedings and your boob job will spring an obvious leak. You’re frequently covered in spit up and you hope that the explosion you heard coming from the diaper stays contained within it long enough for you to get to a changing table before it leaks all over you.

With all of these new “accessories” now adorning our wardrobes, wouldn’t it be nice if other, often bland and boring motherhood accessories could be more stylish?

Take the breast pump for instance. Working moms have to tote their pumps to and from work, along with all of the pieces and collected milk, every day. Any mom traveling that is pumping has to bring their pump wherever they are going. These pumps often come with these bland black bags that scream “Why yes, I do have a breast pump and a collection if milk in my bag.” They think by making them shoulder bags or backpacks they are helping.. It’s not. The bags are still obviously containing a breast pump.

Well, what if you could make that piece of motherhood a little (okay, a lot!) more stylish? What if I told you that you can now take your pump to and from work, on trips, etc.. Without the world instantly knowing what was contained within it. Not to mention, while adding a cute and fashionable bag to your outfit. Nurse Purse has changed the way we pump! By taking the trend of cute and modern diaper bags and blending it together with the less-than-attractive breast pump bags.. We can now transport our pumps with ease and style.

The Nurse Purse bags aren’t all form over function, either. They are extremely useful for your day to day toting, with built in compartments for the breast pump and accessories, plus space for other daily items like your laptop/tablet, files, or to use as a diaper bag or purse. No need for carrying multiple bags when you need your breast pump.

The bags are made with a laminated canvas, which makes it water (or breast milk..) resistant. It also makes it easy to wipe down if and when needed. With metal feet on the bottom, your bag will not be directly on your desk or the floor keeping both the bag and table surfaces clean.

There are plenty of pockets, both inside and out. The pockets on the inside are zipped and the interior has a water-resistant lining to keep everything safe from anything that may leak. (If only our shirts were equipped with this feature..)

The Nurse Purse accommodates many different brands and styles of pump, as well. I use my nurse purse with my Lansinoh Signature Pro Duo, but I also have a Medela and it fits nicely. I love that the access to the pump is quick and easy.. And I can keep my pump put together when it’s stored. No need to break down the tubes/cords.

It’s such a functional product that brings style to nursing and pumping! It’s quite comfortable to carry and doesn’t scream “breast pump!!” When you’re carrying it. It can also be quite usable when you have ceased the pumping stage.

I do wish that they made a matching insulated cooler pack for milk storage, but there is plenty of room within the bag to pack a standard insulated lunch bag to transport milk.

I love my Nurse Purse. A great product for stylish moms, especially when we’re covered in milk and spit up.

**Note: I was provided a Nurse Purse to review, but was not otherwise compensated. The opinions expressed are my own honest opinions.**

When it comes to nurseries, and baby products in general, there are those you don’t mind having all over your home. In fact, many baby products have taken the style factor to an entirely new level and strive to integrate products into home decor. I’ll be honest, I prefer the products that fit into my home.

We are room sharing parents. (Okay, we’re co-sleepers.. but baby has his own space in our room.) With the addition of a baby in the room, the “romance” of the room can quickly turn into a baby changing station. (I know, I know. Baby supplies aren’t the only romance killer right after baby.. But your space should still feel like your space!) I prefer to give the baby his space to make our life easier.. But also keep our room looking nice enough to relax into after our older boys go to bed. As much as I try, though, there are items when you have babies and toddlers that are necessary to have around.. But just aren’t attractive. For instance, stacks of diapers and the plastic container of wipes.

No matter how the manufacturers try, those tubs stick out – and often have large photos of babies on them. I don’t have enough photos of my own children.. Why on earth do I want photos of stranger’s children on display in my home? Until recently, you just had to deal with it. For some it isn’t a big deal, but if I can integrate it into my decor, why not?

I was thrilled when Jill, founder if CleverRelish, sent me their product – WipesWraps. A stylish, reusable cover for those plastic tubs of wipes. Now even our wipes coordinate with our baby’s space in our room and don’t distract from the rest of the room.

I had an interesting time getting it on the container of wipes.. But once I figured it out, (ie: read the instructions.. Oops lol) it was simple. It fits nicely on our Pamper’s wipes containers.

There are so many different styles to choose from, I’m fairly certain I could find one to coordinate with any room in my house. I might just challenge myself to this, actually. After all, my house is now baby central.. And there is no telling where I’m going to need wipes.

Go take a look at the WipesWraps and tell me, which is your favorite print? I have many pregnant friends right now.. So if you’re one of them, you might just receive the print you comment with as a baby gift! (Life can’t be all surprises, you know..)

Note: I was sent WipesWraps to review. The opinions expressed are my own and I was not otherwise compensated for my review.

Hello all! Boy am I behind. When my baby arrived earlier than expected, I ended up with blog backlog and I’m slowly attempting to weed through it. You will all be inundated with posts in the next week, so prepare yourselves!

Speaking of preparing.. As parents we realize that part of the process of preparing for a baby is the research. Getting to see and hear about products and birth information. That’s why I am thrilled to be part of the VIP Bloggers attending this year’s Northwest’s Biggest Baby Shower in PDX.

I’ll be covering the even live on Twitter and Instagram and then I’ll bring you an information filled post right here after the event. I’m excited to have the opportunity to interview January Harshe (of Birth Without Fear) and Liza Huber (of Sage Spoonfuls) as well as chat with some amazing brands (like Orbit Baby, Ergo Baby, Britax, Joovy, and Earth Mama Angel Baby!)

I will be giving away 10 standard couples tickets today! Then you can get in on the experience, too! Just head on over to Facebook for a chance to enter!

“I can’t wait to read your birth story” seems to be a common remark lately. I had a hard time deciding, as odd as this sounds for a blogging mama, how much of his birth story I want to share. I guess the natural thing would be to just start writing and see where it leads me.

Obviously this means the Diaper Bag Confessions Baby #4 has made his triumphant arrival. He was born a bit earlier than expected.. but we were all ready for him to be here and the dramas of the pregnancy to be over. He was born at 37 weeks 2 days – “early term” is how they refer to him. He was 4 pounds 15 ounces and 17 3/4 inches – “small for gestational age” they say.

Regardless of the labels and terminology, he is a strong, healthy little boy who never needed any additional care outside of the realms of a normal newborn, with the exception of blood glucose monitoring for the first 24 hours.. This is apparently routine for babies of his size.

His labor and delivery took me by surprise and was quite memorable. I had just seen my doctor at 2:00 in the afternoon. By 4:00 pm the contractions had started. I tried to sleep and couldn’t. Decided to take a family walk.. I made it one block and had to turn around. I ate dinner and argued with myself about whether or not I was in labor, after all.. I just had an appointment and it could easily just be cervical irritation. At 7:00 pm, when nothing was helping the contractions subside, my husband put the kids to bed, we called his parents and headed to the hospital. (This was playing out exactly how I hoped.. Kids put to bed as normal by us with little disruption in the routine!)

I wish I could say “then Tada! We had a baby..” But I can’t. Despite the contractions that were occurring every 3 minutes, no progress was being made and the hospital staff wanted to send me home. On the instruction of my doctor, I was sent home at 11:30 pm on “therapeutic rest” — basically a drug concoction to help me sleep. If it was false labor, I would sleep through it and eventually it would stop. If it was real labor, the rest would help with progress and eventually I’d be unable to sleep through the contractions.

We arrived home and I immediately fell asleep on the couch. That “rest” concoction was amazing stuff. However, 1:00 am arrived and I awoke. I woefully stumbled my way upstairs in tears. “I can’t sleep through this!!” I cried to my husband. He called the hospital.. “They sent her home at 11:30.. But now she’s in a lot of pain…” They instructed us to return. So, another call to the in-laws and another drive to the hospital. After a short pit stop for me to vomit in the parking lot (Seriously.. A lot of pain!), we made it back into the hospital around 1:45 am.

“You’ve progressed.. A little.. ” they said. “We’ll call your doctor and see what she wants to do.” She chose to have them give me IV fluids and keep me for monitoring. The intensity of contractions picked up.. But progress was sloooow coming. “We can’t admit you until we know you’re in actual labor.. and labor is defined as regular contractions that cause dilation and effacement..” The nurse said. Frustrated, I pleaded with them not to send me home again. I just knew I was in labor.. I had the regular contractions part.. I just needed the dilation! Fortunately for me, my doctor clearly knew it was actual labor as well. She continued to instruct them to keep me there and monitor me.

5:00 am came. BAM! Progress. FAST progress. “We’re going to go call her, now!” I was relieved. My doctor was on her way, as was my blissful epidural. “We’re going to try and hurry through the admitting process now!” Yeah.. I had yet to actually be admitted and that apparently needed to be completed prior to my epidural.

My doctor arrived, cracked a few jokes about me keeping her up all night and then everything stopped. “You stopped progressing.. Baby turned himself and he’s facing sideways. His shoulders won’t make it through this way.. So we need to get him to spin..”

That process was ridiculous and lasted over an hour. I had some great conversations with my doctor and husband.. Neither of which had left my side. My nurse’s shift ended at 7:00 am – she clocked out and returned to my room. “I’m staying for this.. I’ll go home when he’s here!” she said. Finally, at 7:44 am our little boy made his grand arrival. Much smaller than anyone anticipated, but much stronger than anyone expected.

This pregnancy was a physical and emotional roller coaster. Now that it’s over and I have this beautiful little baby in my arms, I am so thankful to have him and that he’s healthy. Especially after seeing the large bruise-like spot on his placenta – The source of the hemorrhage. This baby may be small, but he is mighty.

He is the perfect addition to our family and his brothers all love him so much. He’s 2 weeks and 5 days old now (today is his official due date!) and while we’re still adjusting to the balancing act of a new baby.. So far, four kids isn’t too overwhelming. Trying to balance adding in blogging is a little more difficult, but I’m figuring it all out. Slowly.