Fed is Best!! I highly stand by every mother's decision on whether to use breast milk or formula. For some breastfeeding is incredibly difficult and sometimes their baby does not latch well. I was extremely lucky that Mia took to it like a pro! (I was really hoping breastfeeding was going to be easy for me because the pregnancy was definitely not, post for another day). And in the oh so accurate words of Ali Wong (if you haven't seen her netflix special and you are pregnant or a mommy, DO IT NOW!! It will definitely cheer you up), "I do it because breast is free… local, organic, free range farm to mouth milk squirting out of my titties… I wasn't about to let that go to waste. If you shat out juicy hamburgers, would you ever wait in the line at In-and-Out Burger again?" -Ali Wong "Hard Knock Life" And being a teacher in the middle of summer, FREE is BEST for ME!! Hahaha. So began my adventures in to breastfeeding and preparing for when I go back to work.
If you have ever search for a breast pump bag you will quickly get sticker shock. I just couldn't justify spending upwards of a $100 for a bag that was for a specific purpose. Especially with all the other costs of raising a baby. The ones that you could get for $50 were cheap quality in the reviews and were very plain. If I was going to spend that much money on a bag, I wanted to like it.
also looked cute! So why not give it a shot. When the bag arrived I was even more happy with my decision. It was cute, sturdy, and fit everything I needed into the bag.
When I ordered this bag I was worried about the size, whether it would be too big or too small. But I was very pleased with the size and the amount of stuff it fit. In the photo you can see there are a ton of pockets in the outside to fit whatever you need. There are also two side pockets, a front pocket, and the entire bottom is a separate compartment.
continue breast feeding once I go back to work that much easier. The Fit & Fresh Tote/Commuter Bag also comes in different styles and different sizes. You can easily find one that fits your needs. Below I linked the one I chose and that best suited my needs. If you follow the link you will be able to see the other sizes and styles to find the best one for you.When I am done breastfeeding I will be able to reuse this bag as a work bag, instead of being stuck with a bag that is strictly for breast pumps. I highly recommend this product if you are looking for a bag to carry your breast pump and are looking for a cheaper option. I give it 5 Baby Mia thumbs up!! Fit & Fresh Travel/Commuter Tote Bag
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Lake Adventure
with a beach near our home. So off the the Lake we went!! The beach was completely empty which made it easy to pick out the best spot near the water. Everything was perfect. However, an unfortunate side of effect of being at any beach is the lack of trees and shade. With a newborn it is super important to keep them in the shade and from being sunburnt. Our solution... a recent gift of Fisher-Price's On the Go Baby Dome. My hubby and I were able to stick our feet in the water and wade in a little while still keeping an eye on Mia through the screen walls. We only waded up to our knees and were still withing 5 feet of her at all times, but it was nice to be able to do something I haven't been able to do since I was pregnant. While wading we were able to talk, spash around, and relax. My hubby was also able to catch a minnow in between his toes. He sure does have some super human strength in toes. Though too small of a fish for dinner. Hahahaha.
easy transport. One half of the dome is a permanent shade, while the other half is mesh and slides up and down. The bottom part hangs slightly off the ground so that it is not sitting in the dirt or sand. Pretty awesome, right!! Now my baby can lay down and nap without me having to worry about sand or dirt getting in to the dome.
home I sprayed it with baby detergent (Cool tip fill up a spray bottle of baby detergent and spray it on clothes or baby items that get spit up on or that have accidents in them. When you go to wash it later the stain will come right out.) and then put it in the wash. The stain came right out.
If you are looking for the perfect gift or if you are looking for something to make your busy outdoor life easier, look no further. I highly recommend this product and give it 5 Baby Mia thumbs up!! On the Go Baby Dome
Dad Dad's are truly heroes, of course I'm going to say that as I am definitely a daddy's girl (and my mommy's best friend). They have a tough job raising children, especially the first few months when mom and baby are constantly feeding. It can be super easy for them to feel left out, yet there are still there right by your side at 2 in the morning when the cries begin. So here is a shout out to all the Dad's who step up to be a part of their child's life.
away at the wedding or watching me get ready to have my own kid it wasn't easy, but I will always be your little girl. Love you mostest, toastest, bestest, westest, and the mostest and bestest in Texas.
looks at Mia makes my heart melt. This little girl has him wrapped around her finger and I am excited for her to get to spend time with him. Now I am going to take this post to brag about my amazing husband, a first time dad.My husband has been my rock throughout pregnancy and this first month of Mia's life. I honestly do not know how we would have survived without him (huge props to single mothers who go through it alone!). My pregnancy was not always the easiest, from constant morning sickness day and night, to pregnancy hives, and raging hormones. The poor guy could not catch a break, but he stepped up and was there to comfort me but also support and make my life easier.
On the day Mia was born he could not have been more excited. He was with me every step of the way and even got to cut her cord. He was there for Mia when I couldn't, due to still being on the operating table (c-section woes). I watched him change her first diaper. Poor guy it was a doozy, of course it couldn't be just pee (newborn poop is like black tar) it was everywhere, and I mean everywhere. So MANY WIPES!! Hahaha. I have continued to watch him change diapers, comfort her, and snuggle her. I truly have fallen more in love with him everyday. I love hearing him tell stories about her birth or her life. He gets this look in his eye that makes my heart melt. A supportive husband who loves and takes care of his baby is probably one of the best things in the world to have. I look forward to seeing Mia and her daddy play and grow up together. I know she has him wrapped around her finger. Mia and I are completely blessed to have this man in our life. Diapers and Babies, enough said Right? Ha ha ha. As any parent knows diapers and wipes are an essential part of having a baby. On average a a newborn baby can go through 10 diapers a day. However if you have a baby that is going through a growth spurt or is cluster feeding, you know you are going through more than that. And don't get me started on wipes, especially if there is a blowout, or as we call it, a poopsplosion. One great thing about baby showers is everybody gets you diapers, ranging from newborn to size 3. It is an easy gift to just throw in, plus what baby doesn't need diapers. Awesome!! But....(knew that was coming didn't you)... not all babies will be able to wear all diapers. Some are allergic to certain brands. Biggest piece of advice as a new mom: Mommy Tip: NEVER PRE-OPEN BOXES OF DIAPERS!!!!
size you do need without a receipt. At the return desk you can explain how you got them, and they will simply have you switch them out or give you cash in exchange. Mommy Tip: Double check which box goes to what store; just because a store sells that brand does not mean they sell that box with a specific amount.Though if it is an open box they will not. Although you may be able to find someone else with a baby and be able to trade them (we did for brownies, TOTALLY worth it!!). So before getting too excited and opening your Diapers to load up your diaper bag or changing table, WAIT! Go buy a small bag of that brand to test first and go from there. You might be lucky and have a baby that accepts all diapers and then again you might not.
Silver Dollar CityThis past weekend we decided to go on our very first mini family vacation to Silver Dollar City. They have this wonderful deal for educators this year, known as Teacher Recognition. Teachers can receive a free one-day admission from now until June 30, 2018, as long as they bring in their School Photo ID and a May or June Pay Stub. They can also purchase half-price tickets for up to four members of their family (Click here to read more). Being as my husband and I are both educators and children under 3 are free, we got a FREE trip to Silver Dollar City!! Whoohoo!! In June they also have a concert series on Saturdays where you can attend the evening concert for free as long as there are seats available after the preferred have been seated. Part of what prompted us to go on this vacation was on Saturday, June 9th, Blood, Sweat, and Tears was performing with Bo Bice. Who doesn't want to see Blood, Sweat, and Tears for free?!?!
times throughout the day, bathrooms, and my personal favorite NURSING STATIONS!! The nursing stations are marked with smiley faces on the map. There are four of them with one right at the front entrance and the one I mostly used in front of the outdoor concert area. These rooms are air-conditioned with a fan, rocking chairs, and a changing table. I felt comfortable and I got to bond with some other nursing mommies with kids aged from two weeks to a year. I am extremely thankful that Silver Dollar City thought about the needs of mothers who breastfeed, as it made the experience ten times easier. Silver Dollar City also has this program called Rider Swap where one person can get on the ride with kids and one adult can wait with the kids who cannot ride the ride when the ride is over the next adult can get on. All you have to do is let the guide know at the front of the ride and they will help you out. We did not use this service as I am still healing from a C-Section and didn't think it would be smart to ride. However, we are excited to use this in the upcoming years as Mia gets older and we hopefully have more kids.
The only problem with bringing our stroller is that I wasn't comfortable leaving it outside of buildings or the train unattended. My mother already scared me with her horror story of having her stroller stolen from the zoo. This really did limit us on the concert buildings- Riverfront Playhouse, Silver Dollar Saloon, and Red Gold Heritage Hall- we could enter or riding the train. In the future, our plan will be to rent a stroller (which they highly recommend reserving ahead of time as the strollers are first come first serve) or just use my Lille Baby Carrier. We were able to visit a lot of shops, see many demonstrations, and a couple of the concerts-Dockside Theater, McHaffie's, Gazebo, and Boatworks Theater (as they were outside with easy access for the stroller). It was a very enjoyable day and we loved being able to spend time together out and about.
day at Silver Dollar City. Overall the day was fantastic and we look forward to doing it again, especially now knowing what we really need, what is extra, and how to get the most bang for our buck. Must Have Items
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Hello and welcome to my blog, Melodies and Babies. I'm a music educator who recently had her first child. Here I would like to share some tips, tricks, and whatever else I have learned that makes parenthood a little easier.
Before I jump to far ahead, I want to introduce myself and my family. I have been teaching music for five years. I love encouraging my students to create and explore all opportunities. It has been a joy teaching my students and sharing my love of music. In my spare time I love to paint designs on my nails, play around with photography, and create and try out different crafts and Pinterest ideas. Now enough about me, let me introduce the others in my family. I have one fantastic husband, who is also a music educator, a high school band director in fact. As a band director, his schedule is pretty hectic and with lots of travel. We met as drum majors from two separate schools and later met up at college. The timing was never right, as one of us was always in a relationship. Until my junior year in college where we finally had our shot and fell in love. It has been a wonderful adventure ever since. He has been my rock through our relationship, this pregnancy (was not easy. lots of puking and pregnancy hives BLEGH), and now as a parent. We have two medium/large sized dogs, Bentley and Riley, who love their little sister and naps. My husband and I said hello to our beautiful baby girl in May. Since then we have been navigating the wonderful and confusing world of parenthood. There is so much information and so many items out there, it is enough to make your head spin. Join me here on our adventure with baby Mia as I sift through all the information out there in this technological age! |
Author-SamanthaMommy and Music Educator all wrapped into one. Navigating the joyous world of motherhood, music, and education. Archives
October 2018
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