Mommy Must Haves/Favorite Products from a First Time Mom

9 months of Mommyhood... and I can honestly say its been a huge trial and error period. And I know that will be ongoing throughout the next 18 years. My husband and I have come up with a pretty good routine and discovered some god sent gadgets and products for our little one so I wanted to share.

MUST HAVE:

MARPAC WHITE NOISE SOUND MACHINE

This has been a GOD SENT! Brave coslept in our bed for most of her life and at 8 months transitioned into her crib in her nursery and this sound machine is a huge reason why the transition went so smoothly. We discovered when blow drying her hair after baths that she enjoyed the sound of a machine, it was soothing for her. After scouring the internet and doing my best mommy research I found this machine and for us it works so well. She loves it. There is no timer on it but it can run all night with no worry of fire. We can place her down in her crib awake and she lulls herself to sleep. Id recommend this to all my mommy friends... shoot even for my non mommy friends because it soothes me over her baby monitor haha.

MY BREST FRIEND NURSING PILLOW

As a breastfeeding mom this was a must have for me. Thankfully I was gifted it. And as a  mom who struggled with my daughter latching this helped tremendously. Even bottle feeding was easy with this gadget. My husband often used it to help my newborn sleep. 

DOORWAY JUMPER

When your kid becomes mobile this brings so much joy to your little one. And much needed exercise. And youll be able to get things done especially if you hang it in the kitchen like I do.

THE MIRACLE BLANKET

MIRACLE INDEED! Now we had all kinds of swaddles... even the Alex and Anais muslin swaddles which are still awesome and earth friendly which we love. But this miracle blanket is the only swaddle which contained my daughter while she slept. We would place her in it and she would fall asleep almost instantly. I even bought one for my best friend's daughter. I truly believe in this swaddle. 

OUR FAVORITES:

DIAPERS

EARTH'S BEST DIAPERS

We tried a number of the more earth friendly diapers i.e. Babyganics, Nature Babycare, and Seventh Generation. But Earth's Best by far had the best absorbency, the most comfort, and we could find it at Babies R Us. She can make it thru the night without a change so thats really the best part.

WIPES, LAUNDRY DETERGENT, ECZEMA CREME, SUNSCREEN, ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP 

BABYGANICS PRODUCTS

We just love their products. SULFATE FREE, dye and perfume free, and affordable. Highly recommend.

BABY FOOD AND SNACKS

POUCHES, PUFFS, AND TEETHERS

I try to make most of Brave's food, but when we are trying new fruits or veggies these pouches are the best way to experiment. The clear pouches also rest my heart at ease because I can see what she is consuming. The puffs are her go to snacks and are helping with her hand eye coordination as well. The teethers are saviors when she is having a rough teething day and they provide nutrition. I love HAPPY BABY brand foods and so does Brave.

First time parents and loving this rollercoaster ride!

Things I said Id never do as a mom that I fully embrace now...

When I became pregnant last year I started a laundry list of holier than thou things I'd never do as a mom. I touted them about to anyone who would listen. Now 7.5 months into this gig as a parent I've kicked, upper cutted, and Stone Cold slammed myself for all the stupid crap I thought I'd hold myself to as a first time mom. And here is the list and why my life got flipped turned upside down.
- I'm all about Cloth diapering...in an apartment. Just no Ash. No!!!! Now future kids it's still on the table but not in this here apartment with the size of our washer and dryer and the 15 degrees increase every time they run. Nooooope.
- We have a bassinet, a play pin, her own nursery with a crib but where does our sweet Brave Amelia slumber??? Right up against my BACK! yup. I used to talk so much ish about co sleeping but sleep deprivation trumps the need to have my own bed. Give me sleep or give me death. Rolling over to feed was the better choice for me. I tripped and almost dropped my little one far too many times getting her out of her bassinet in the heat of the night in my stupor. Co sleeping for the win!
-Anything that she can reach that won't harm her I let her have. I used to say I'd never let my kid touch my cell phone or the remote or the strap of my purse. Now I'm like frick it! Let her have it! It makes her happy. Happy Baby happy Mom.
- My kid will have a strict bedtime. Pahaaa this one is hilarity. After trying to enforce this and rocking her for an hour straight one night as she clawed at my face I vowed never again. Now I take her cue. She has nap times which ultimately now have gotten her into a routine bedtime but it was all her doing. I am just a lowly chamber maiden anyways.
-Lets talk pacifiers....Now I talked so harshly about them before my spawn's arrival. Didn't even own any until she was 2 months and able to nurse from my breast. That's when I saw their purpose in life because round the clock feedings left my nips used and abused. The irony of it all was after buying 2 different kind of pacifiers it was revealed that my tiny tot REBUKES them. I just had to look to the heavens and proclaim...You got me good this time.

The moral of this all is NEVER SAY NEVER (s/o to my man J Biebs) when it comes to child rearing. Just buckle up and hold on because it's really a crapshoot most of the time.

                                 

sure, just sleep in the Jacuzzi

Weekly Updates: 30 weeks pregnant

Today, im 31 weeks 2 days but here is an update of the past 2 weeks.

Cravings:
Dr Pepper and Candy! YES MY CANDY CRAVINGS HAVE FINALLLLY RETURNED! and its been a sweet reunion.

Movement: Baby girl now rolls around, BIG ROLLS,  back and forth trying to find a comfy spot. Torin can even seen her rollin. Im tempted to play "Ridin Dirty" every time she gets going.

OB News: I have switched my obgyn and have left GBMC. Which wasnt a sweet parting, my ob at GBMC was legit upset at me when I told him I was switching to deliver at St Joseph's in fact he discharged me from his practice and said I could never return. HARSH. But I know the midwives at St Joseph's and St Joseph's are just a better option for us so yea oh well.

Comfort level (scale 1-10 comfiest):  Im at about a 4, yea my comfort is dwindling. As my stomach gets rounder Im disabled from doing certain things, like tying my own shoes. I sorta just slip in and out of them. Torin has to help me out of bed and if he isnt home I have to roll to the left like a cow or horse. Cleaning is difficult no more getting on my knees to scrubs floors or sweep with the hand brush.

Baby Prep: We have decided to forgo childbirthing classes, we are going to let my body do what it does. We will be taking a lactation class though. We have been given a breast pump and lots of clothes and gadgets by an old friend, S/O to Courtney, an amber teething necklace and squeeze system from the Dunhams, cute clothes from Torin's mom, and a baby swing from Torin's classmate. The baby shower is the 19th, after then we will kick it into full gear with accumulating baby items.

How im feeling: Sadly nausea has returned and its super random when it happens. Usually I can just eat something and feel better... which really means im constantly eating. Im sure I've gained a considerable amount of weight since my last ob visit. Its been almost 4 weeks since my last visit so I anticipate that Ive gained about 5 lbs at least. I feel stretching and pulling periodically down below and in my tummy. She is growing at record pace these last weeks. And Im tired on a whole new level. Body tired, mentally tired, just overall tired alll the time. Im amazed that I can make it through full work weeks still! (pats self on back)

Current favs: Shea and cocoa butter baby oil on my tummy, boobs, and legs (NOT A STRETCH MARK YET), cotton boy shorts instead of bikini styled underwear (they just feel more comfy and I always feel covered), and lemonade (Baby girl dances all about when I drink it and its super refreshing!)

How Im lookin:

28 weeks!

30 weeks!

27 weeks pregnant: Beginning of 3rd trimester

Soo the 2nd trimester was....MY ENERGY HAS RETURNETH...still hate most foods though...baby girl you are kicking my ass all day and night, but its magical though...Prince concert rock out baby!....ugh high blood pressure...doctors appointments every other week, waaaaahh...HEARTBURN, ARGH...purchased a mommy mobile aka a minivan...throws up...wait did I just throw up in 2nd trimester?....morning sickness returns...NOW WAIT ONE GOT DAMN MINUTE NOW....im sooo frickin emotional, get me a kleenex...belly stretching my Oprah my belly button is burning!!!....awwww baby has hiccups...uh ok baby still hiccupping....5 hours later...ok now cut it out...yay I actually look pregnant now...HAZAAA...

So 2nd trimester definitely was exciting. I lost another 9lbs, Doc wasn't too pleased but hey Ive been working out and eating healthy. Plus I had no business being that large in the first place. I feel strong, at peace, and capable of delivery now. We only have 13 weeks to go before our spawn is unleashed onto the world. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and we plan on enjoying our last days as a family of two. Good Things.

Ise Married Now! 6.5.15

Im Mrs Ashley Lauren Matthews now

20 weeks. HALF WAY THERE!!!! 4.22.15

So after our awesome Reveal Party... btw Bobwehadababyitsagirl! We hit the 20 week mark!!!! woot woot! yasssss.

Im no longer losing weight, sorta leveled off. My blood pressure was pretty high for 2 months straight but Ive finally gotten that under control. 

I was on a mission to tour other hospitals because I wasnt sure about GBMC, but now as I write this I am 22 weeks. I love my OB so I think Im going to stick with GBMC. Next time Ill do a water birth at another hospital. This time Ill just push her out and catch her like Kortney Kardashian.... (hey not all references of their family are bad)

LOOK AT THAT ROUND BELLY!

Symptoms... none really... food aversions, random bouts of nausea still, boob pain... well I guess I do have symptoms haha. Of the 14lbs I lost I have gained back 2. So here comes the weight gain!

 

Whats Next??? Birthing classes, more prenatal yoga, and more walking. Its a waiting game now. I do plan on getting a belly cast done around the 30 weeks mark. 22 weeks today. 

COUNTDOWN TO SEPTEMBER! I can see the finish line!

Our Engagement Shoot!!!

Photos taken by Stephanie Michelle Photography

Location: Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Druid Hill Park and Reservoir in Baltimore City.