What's In My Diaper Bag?

(0-6 Months) Let's see what we've got in here...

1. Diapers are must-have. I am not caught dead without at least 8 diapers. My son loves to pee, and hates to sit in it, so we go through quite a bit. The last thing you want to do is run out!

2. Wipes/Wipe holder. Like the diapers, be sure you have plenty!

3. Boudreaux Butt Paste. A red/sore little booty can happen at any time. Boudreaux can truly save the day! Always have it handy.

4. Fold-away changing pad. Most diaper bags come with one of these, but if not, add one to your bag! It will come in handy when you need to change your baby's diaper in a place you'd rather not put him or her down without one. Choose one with a water-resistant finish for quick clean-up!

5. Hand Sanitizer. It is a MUST-HAVE! I am always touching dirty doors, buggies, etc and constantly trying to keep my hands clean before touching Jace. There are so many germs out there! Protect your little one as much as possible.

6. Burp Cloth. I keep 1 burp cloth in my bag to throw over my shoulder when burping Jace. They're also good for wiping faces and spit-up!

7. Receiving Blanket. These blankets are lightweight and take up little space. They come in handy if you need to put your baby down for a nap, or to put over your baby to protect his/her skin from winds or cool temperatures.

8. Extra set of clothes. You may go weeks or months wondering why you have those extra clothes in the bag? KEEP THEM IN THERE! A day will come when you need to clean up a mess worth of a sanitation crew, and you will be so glad you have them. I pack an extra onesie/shirt, pants, bib and socks. TIP: Don't forget to rotate these clothes out as your baby grows. Carrying around a newborn outfit when your child is 6 months old will do you no good!

9. Bottle. I usually bring 1-2 bottles with me, even though I am nursing I bring bottles in case I am in a situation where I am unable to nurse in public/etc.

10. Formula/Dispenser. I bring along formula to supplement in my handy formula dispenser. It holds 3 feedings worth. It is super easy to pack/fit in my diaper bag and SO easy to pour into the bottle!

11. Water/Snacks. I usually bring 2 bottles of water- 1 for me and 1 for formula. I have learned to also always have a granola bar or snack in my bag because sometimes I forget to eat/don't have time!

12. Binky. Even though Jace usually hates binkys/won't take them I always have one handy just in case!

13. Favorite toy/Comfort Object. As of right now this little guy ^ is Jace's favorite toy. He loves the sounds, and it can always calm him down! I don't know what I would do without it!

14. Bib. I think that no matter what age your baby is, always pack a bib. It can catch spit-up or keep his/her shirt dry when endless drool spills down his chin.

15. MY essentials. I always have my phone near by with Pandora Children's radio usually playing. And of course my wallet/keys/etc. There is no need to carry a purse along with your diaper bag. There are so many cute diaper bags out there to pick from that you don't have to feel bulky/awkward carrying it as your purse as well! 

Being a parent means being prepared! Packing your diaper bag the first time can be SUPER overwhelming, but you really learn what you need/don't need as you go. What items do YOU love to carry in your diaper bag? Feel free to share! 

DIY Baby's First Christmas Ornament

Christmas is right around the corner, and I wanted to make something special for myself and family- I thought what else is better than a homemade ornament?! This project was so simple and fun. I absolutely love the idea of capturing your little one's tiny toes or hands and being able to cherish it forever (as long as you can wrangle your little one long enough to get the foot or hand print!) I want to make as many homemade ornaments/crafts as possible with my children to preserve precious memories.

Items Needed:

- 1 ornament (I used a clear plastic ornament from Michaels- only $1.99)

- Glitter

- Tacky glue

- Ribbon

- Paper to trace baby's foot/handprint

- Scissors

- Paint pen/sharpie to trace print on to ornament

All of these items cost me right at about $10. Super cheap!

Directions:

1.On a piece of paper, draw an outline of your little ones feet (or you can use a ink pad, and stamp an outline).

2. Cut out the outline and trace it onto the Christmas bulb.

3. Fill in the outline with tacky glue and coat in glitter. Tap off any excess glitter and allow to dry for 24 hours.

4. Top it off with a cute ribbon. Write your little ones name/date/etc. Make it your own!

Have you ever made your own ornament? 

FINALLY!

WOOHOO! Jace Finally Pooped!

After five long days of the WORST farts you have ever smelled in your life, constant 'Googling' of is it normal if my baby hasn't pooped in 5 days?, and daily phone calls to the pediatrician Jace finally did the big job! It is a scary thing when your baby goes from pooping about 4 times a day to none at all for 5 days in a row. I thought he was broken! You constantly wonder if it's something you've done? or is he sick? is he eating enough? is he going to be okay? is he hurting? and so on. If anything, the last five days I have learned just about everything there is to know about a baby's poop from Google. 

I tried warm baths, belly massages, the pediatrician had me put Q-tip where Q-tips don't belong, and finally she had told me to try 1/2 of a suppository. I had literally just ran up to CVS to buy a suppository, and just when I was about to try it HE POOPED! Haha, he knew what was coming and he was not about to have it! 

I truly never thought I would be so excited about poop in my life.

One Year

Yesterday Matthew and I celebrated our one year anniversary. This weekend was proof that babies DO change everything. For about 2 months we had our anniversary plans set- we were going to do a wine tour in Grapevine, and were going to stay the night at the Gaylord Texan. We did not want to do anything too crazy or too far because Jace is so young, but we had to do SOMETHING to celebrate our first anniversary as a married couple. However, our plans had to change and had no other choice. We canceled the hotel room and tour. I cried, and cried like a selfish baby. "We needed that". "We needed that night away just us again". "We needed to celebrate our first anniversary". Oddly, things always happen for a reason and tend to work out. We were able to spend the day that we had planned to be at the wine tour with Jace at the fair, and it was SO worth it. And later that night, my wonderful in-laws watched Jace for us while we went to a nice dinner at Seasons 52 and stayed at a hotel at the Shops At Legacy. And you know what we talked about the entire time? Our son, of course! I know that it will not be the first time that having a baby/child gets in the way of our anniversary, date plans, etc. and I am 100% okay with that. 

Marriage does change everything. Marriage is hard. Children do change everything. Children are hard. But trust me when I say this, they change everything for the better. Do not spend your life afraid to get married or have a family because you are scared of getting hurt or are afraid of 'things changing'. When you marry the right person, the two of you can get through absolutely anything together. When we got married a year ago, if you would have told either of us that we would have a 2 month old a year from now we would have laughed in your face. This first year of marriage with Matthew has been extraordinarily life-changing. We have made ourselves a family. I will forever be the mother of his child, and he will forever be the father of my child. There is nothing that can bring you and your husband closer than seeing what the two of you can create together. I have always loved Matt, and I have said many times "I don't know how I could love him any more than I do", but seeing him as a father has made me love him a million times more than I ever have. Don't get me wrong, there are days where he flusters and aggravates the crap out of me, and I know I do the same to him! But we never forget the reasons why we fell in love, and we continue every day to make each other laugh, encourage one another, trust one another, and make each other feel special and loved. I know every girl that is in love thinks they are the luckiest girl on earth, but I truly know how blessed and lucky I am. I have the best husband in the entire world. I look forward to so many more anniversaries together- plans or no plans. 

Jace Meets Big Tex