DIY: Month Baby Chalkboard

4:54 PM Unknown 0 Comments

I was looking for a way to record all of The Hipster's stats every month that wasn't the traditional sticker. I searched Etsy and found something similar to these for around $50, but I wanted to be able to customize it according to the month (ie. Halloween, orange theme) so I went to Michael's and bought:
A hanging chalkboard ($15)
Chalkboard markers ($12 per 4 pack, depending on brand)
Stickers (Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July, Halloween and a 2015 one)

Then I just divided everything into sections and erased and re-drew it every month. I love being able to have these as records because I am terrible at recording things on the baby book!! This is just as good and I can see how much A's been growing every month.

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Product Review: MAM Bottles

12:39 PM Unknown 0 Comments

As I was clearing out the dreaded corner in my closet that stores all the "I didn't have anywhere else to put these" paraphernalia I came across a bag my pediatrician gave me during our pre-baby interview meeting.

Inside said bag, I found a MAM bottle and I thought "I could use one more bottle, why not?"

Let me just say, I am actually upset I didn't know about these before. I've been using the Avent Natural Flow bottles, and while they're ok, the MAM one blew me away.

First of all, let me tell you what a pain it is when I look away for a second and the hipster has milk going down her chin, into the no neck crevice. I loved this bottle because there was barely any (honestly, none) milk residue on A's chin/clothes/bib and the nipple didn't collapse during the entire feeding. The nipple had a unique shape (below) which also allows even flow of the milk.

Best part of it for me? The bottle itself can be placed in the microwave for sterilization.

Which is great for traveling because I already have enough crap to lunge around as it is.

Overall, this gets an A+ from me and I have already ordered six more.

**This is a non-sponsored review of the MAM bottle system.

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My First Thanksgiving

9:32 AM Unknown 0 Comments

I knew Thanksgiving was going to be different this year.

I knew it was going to take us hours to get ready to go to my in-laws.
I knew I was going to overpack every possible trinket in the diaper bag to ensure A didn't lose it.
I knew I wasn't going to spend it with my own family this year since the fiancé and I had to evenly split the holidays now.
I knew that 2 glasses of wine would basically mean I would be buzzed after almost a year of not drinking.
I knew I would have to leave earlier than everyone to make sure we didn't over exhaust the hipster.

What I didn't know was that I was going to have the most incredible Thanksgiving.

I am thankful I have wonderful in-laws who took over cooking for Thanksgiving and received us in their home.
I am thankful I am able to provide my daughter with every trinket known to man to entertain her.
I am thankful that A is so loved, she has two families who yearn to spend every holiday with her.
I am thankful I was able to unwind and drink 2 glasses of wine while my fiance's family lovingly took care of the hipster.
I am thankful that I have a beautiful, happy, healthy, baby girl who I have the honor of calling my daughter.

I am thankful to be her mother.

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The Halloween Survival Guide

8:43 PM Unknown 0 Comments

In true FTM (first time mom) form, I am late with this post.

So, we made it through our first Halloween. I put together a DIY Agnes costume, and it was a hit!

Onesie: Carter's / Overalls: Old Navy / Socks & Sneakers: Amazon

The best part of the costume was the unicorn. I bought the official unicorn online and transformed it into a backpack by sewing 4 strings to it.

Here is the finished product on A:

I mentioned before I was going to start a tradition of sorts by making 'Survival Kits' for the Tiny Hipster each holiday. I will break it down in the next post (which will hopefully happen sooner rather than later).

1. Find a place you are comfortable with. I chose an outdoor mall 5 minutes away from my house to avoid a long drive with an exhausted infant. I live in an apartment, so I had to go elsewhere, but if your neighborhood is trick or treating friendly, it's the best option.

2. Bring enough pumped milk/formula for the time you will be there.

3. DON'T FORGET A CHANGE OF CLOTHES! - Costumes are cute, but accidents happen. Thankfully A didn't have one of her notorious poop explosions, but I had a halloween themed onesie and pant set ready to go

4. Eat all the candy :)

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Our First Halloween!

9:07 PM Unknown 0 Comments

''Twas the night before Halloween, a night pregnant (can I say, naive?) me was so excited for.

"The Hipster will be 6 months old! She's going to be sitting up and sleeping through the night. She will start to eat solid foods and life will be so much easier."
Reality? We are going through the dreaded 6 month growth spurt. My once easy going newborn no longer wants to sleep through the night. But she does want to eat. ALL. THE. TIME.
She doesn't care if it's 1am and I've gone to bed 30 minutes ago (from studying for one of my billion exams conveniently scheduled on the same day). She just wants milk.

Sigh. My poor boobs, I'm sorry, her poor boobs.
These things aren't mine anymore. The moment the little hipster latched on to them I lost all territorial rights.

But I digress.

Ever since I became a mom, I am this whole new human being who seems to enjoy fixating on traditions. Bare with me, I am first timer and everything is incredibly exciting to me.
I have decided to make a "Survival Kit" for the hipster, only on major holidays. I have not put this one together yet (procrastination is my forte) but I will PIP (picture in post) and describe it in detail tomorrow.

Also, she's going to be Agnes from Despicable Me, and I cannot wait to see her in my DYI costume.