My husband has been on a huge natural product kick recently and got me a nice little gift card to LUSH for our anniversary a few months back. I went into our local store looking for a super-moisturizing lotion or oil to keep the growing belly and booby itchiness at bay. The salesgirl immediately recommended the Therapy Massage Bar because it contains neroli oil, which is supposed to be great for preventing/treating stretch marks.
Just rub this bar between your hands or straight onto your belly and your body heat melts the cocoa/shea butter concoction. I've been rubbing this thing on pretty generously every night for the last three months and am loving how moisturized my midsection is staying! I also just finished up my first massage bar, so your $10 investment will provide you with several months of use. I love that this bar is made of 100% natural ingredients and nothing sketchy!
Once upon a time, I wrote a blog series for the Cannon CrossFit website (my husband's gym) to chronicle my experiences CrossFitting while pregnant with Niamh. Since I now have my very own blog dedicated to all things baby, I figured I would link to it.
Remember, I'm no doctor and my experiences are unique to me and my pregnancy. Please consult with your doctor when deciding how best to stay active during your pregnancy, but feel free to comment with any questions you might have and I'll do my best to help!
Here's a quick summary of how things went after I wrapped up that blog at 6 months postpartum:
I continued to really struggle with my body image and fluctuated 5-10 lbs. over my pre-baby weight despite the fact that I was working out harder than ever! It seemed like the harder I worked, the less I had to show for it and it was heartbreaking. I saw a functional medicine specialist in late September and he recommended that I do what he referred to as a "complete nutritional reset" to wake my body (and my hormones) up. This consisted of 21 days of eating nothing but fruits and vegetables (and no fruit after 4 p.m.). Without caffeine and my usual sources of protein, I was zapped during workouts and limited to about 60-70% my normal capacity. After the first week, I basically quit CrossFitting for the remainder of this little experiment until I could regain some energy (I couldn't even stay awake all day and had to nap when Niamh did).
Around this time, some interesting things started happening. Niamh basically self-weaned when her molars came in and I cut our nursing sessions from 5 times a day to 2 times a day, morning and night. She would latch on and nurse for about 7 seconds tops, then get distracted and want to get down and play. I didn't fight it (ok, I did for a while) and she was basically completely weaned shortly after her first birthday, or around mid-October. For those of you who don't know, we dealt with some infertility issues when we were trying to get pregnant with Niamh and ended up using a fertility drug called Clomid to induce ovulation. Obviously, the drug worked like a charm and we wound up with our little bundle of joy. However, the underlying problem (lack of ovulation) wasn't fixed and I had not gotten a period since Niamh was born. The combination of my little nutrition experiment, backing off my intensive workouts, and weaning Niamh resulted in shedding a decent amount of excess weight and getting my first period in about two years! In fact, I'm now pregnant with baby #2 and it took no fertility drugs this time around, just a good knowledge of what my body was doing!
I'd like to say I got everything back to my pre-pregnancy size and shape, but now that I'm pregnant again those goal posts have been moved! I haven't been quite as active during this pregnancy mostly due to the challenge of having a toddler and trying to squeeze in workouts or battling the fatigue of chasing her around all day. I have managed to break out the jogging stroller and put in some miles here and there to work up a little sweat, but nothing like my last pregnancy. However, I am still feeling great and, at 18 weeks now, this pregnancy seems to be as easy as the last one was! ::fingers crossed::
I promised this review eons ago, but I'm just now getting around to it! The Smith family has had a TON going on in the last few months and it's only beginning...we're expecting baby #2 this July so we're preparing ourselves for the craziness that will be two under two!
Because Niamh was soooooo long, she outgrew her infant carrier well before she hit her first birthday (Chicco KeyFit 30). I knew the arrival of the Chicco NextFit had been much-anticipated within the industry and I really enjoyed the ease of installation and quality of our KeyFit 30. When I spied one at Target during a 20% off Chicco sale, I snagged the NextFit and immediately installed it in my Volkswagen Jetta SportWagon.
First things first: the fabric on the NextFit feels almost like workout wear; not too hot for our Houston climate and like it would wick away moisture pretty well. I really preferred the feel of the NextFit fabric over the velour-like material found on many other convertible car seats. The NextFit has a very long life-span as well. It comes with an insert to use with babies from 5-11 lbs. should you choose to bypass the infant carrier. The rear-facing weight limit is 40 lbs. to keep your child in the safest position for as long as you both are comfortable (there is no height limit other than ensuring your child's head is at least one inch below the top of the headrest when fully extended). The forward-facing limits are 65 lbs. and 50 inches.
When I installed this car seat, it was just as fast and easy as my KeyFit! The combination of the 9-position ReclineSure and bubble level indicators make it a cinch to know that your seat is installed at the appropriate angle. Speaking of cinch, the latch connectors feature an exclusive force-multiplying strap system that get your car seat installed as securely as possible without having to practically climb into the seat yourself while pulling with all your might. Snap your latch connectors into place, pull the strap labeled "Pull 1st" then pull on the Super Cinch strap 2nd to get things tight and secure with minimal effort.
I have installed this car seat in various vehicles using both latch and a regular seat belt installation and have never had a problem. The seat also fits as well as any other seat that I tried in the rather small backseat in my Volkswagen. I recently purchased a Nissan Armada in anticipation of baby #2 and having two rear-facing car seats as well as a double stroller and the NextFit fits with plenty of room leftover. I have yet to use it in forward-facing mode, but the latch slide path makes it a breeze to convert.
Niamh clearly loves her seat and seems comfortable whether she's awake or asleep. I've been so happy with it, I bought a second NextFit for my husband's car as well. The NextFit retails for $279.99, but there is no good reason to pay full price when you can get it 20% off ($223.99 plus tax!) with a Chicco sale or a BuyBuyBaby coupon.
**Update: There is a new Chicco NextFit model on the market with a zip-off fabric liner. Check it out here.
Ok, so I've been promising a review of my UPPAbaby G-Luxe for quite some time now. Like I said in an earlier post, I purchased the G-Luxe because we would be traveling with our little one for the first time and didn't want to risk the airline destroying our Baby Jogger City Select or mess with hauling that thing around the airport. While shopping for umbrella strollers, I came across a nice, used G-Luxe on Craig's List and took the plunge.
First of all, the quality of the G-Luxe is impeccable. I prefer the quality of almost every part of this stroller to my other umbrella stroller, the Chicco Liteway Plus. The fabric is soft and plush, the extendable canopy is large, and the buckle is trim and secure. That said, I do not like the recline (although my model is older and this has been improved for new models) and I'm not wild about the storage basket. Due to the construction of the storage basket, it is very difficult to get anything in or out with the seat back reclined at all. I can't really fit a diaper bag into the basket, so I end up pulling out my essentials and putting them directly into the basket; it works, but it's not ideal. However, I love Love LOVE the seat itself; the cushion is super padded and easy to remove and clean. It is also AMAZINGLY light weighing in at only 11 lbs!
All in all, I bought this stroller used on Craig's List when I determined that I needed a lightweight stroller for traveling and got a great deal on it. In hindsight, the Chicco Liteway Plus is more versatile when traveling with an infant (and Keyfit 30 carseat). While the G-Luxe is an absolute piece of cake to throw in and out of a trunk, the convenience and versatility of having an umbrella stroller that easily converts to a travel system is worth the few extra pounds and I'm willing to overlook a few of the less-than-ideal aesthetic issues and go with the Liteway Plus. (Check out my review of the Chicco Liteway Plus here.)
Another option for parents that want a higher-end umbrella stroller that will also double as a travel system is the Bumbleride Flite. It has a luxurious bamboo blend fabric and is very lightweight. Check out this in-depth review from babygizmo.com:
I think we ended up settling on using cloth diapers fairly haphazardly. When my husband was a baby, he was allergic to EVERYTHING and had unbelievably sensitive skin, so he was raised with cloth diapers. When we were planning for Niamh, he mentioned something about using cloth diapers and (surprise, surprise) I started doing some research.
At first, I was so overwhelmed by all the options and what a daily routine would actually look like with cloth diapers rather than disposables. Luckily, I have two friends who chose to go with cloth and could bounce questions and ideas off of them when I needed to. I started watching YouTube videos on the cloth diapering process and decided to try a few different types to figure out what worked best for our family.
I registered at Diapers.com and they have a decent selection of cloth diapers. The first diaper I received was a gDiaper. These things are adorable! They're size-specific, just like disposables, meaning you will have to stock up on different sizes. They have a reusable shell with a disposable insert. In theory, you can toss a wet insert and replace it with a new one in the same shell. As soon as I got my hands on a gDiaper, I wasn't particularly impressed with the quality. They felt thin and the fabric seemed scratchy. Plus, I was beginning to think a one-size diaper that grows with your baby would be a much better (and more cost-effective) option. That said, I decided the gDiaper wasn't right for us and returned it for another option.
This Flip diaper is a similar set-up (waterproof shell with cloth liners that you can replace when necessary). Like the gDiaper, you can buy disposable inserts as well. I originally tried two Flip diapers and found that they were pretty even in the pros and cons. I like that they are a one-size diaper that works with a child 8-35 pounds. However, once I started using them, I wasn't wild about replacing the inserts. When there was only a wet insert, the inside of the liner was still wet and I didn't like putting a clean insert into a shell that already had pee in it...I could be wrong, but it just seemed like it would never be clean and fresh. Plus, I found that the inserts retained stains more than some of the other diapers I had used.
Moving on, I tried FuzziBunz one size Elites. I was convinced that I would love these based on personal reviews I had heard and YouTube videos. With that expectation, I wound up with about 10 or 12 of these diapers. Big mistake. The sizing was difficult to pinpoint; I had a notebook where I would record every combination I tried for leg elastic, waist elastic, and snaps. Every combination I tried resulted in wet rings on Niamh's pants right around the leg openings. I eventually got so frustrated that I sold them on eBay and used the money to purchase a different type of diaper.
Another good friend had recommended BumGenius 4.0s, another one size diaper (featured in the YouTube video above). I purchased four of these pocket style diapers - which means the diaper itself has an insert that has to be stuffed into a slit every time you do your diaper laundry. These are nice because you can double up your inserts for bedtime or older babies who are heavier wetters. However, I found them to be a bit of a pain to stuff and unstuff all the time. Plus, Jeff was not a fan and had a bad habit of throwing the whole dirty diaper, with insert still inside, into the diaper pail...meaning Mom gets to pick that nasty insert out when it's time to do diaper laundry. Not pleasant.
FINALLY, I found the solution to all my cloth diaper needs: the BumGenius Freetime! This diaper is very similar to the 4.0s, but it is an All-In-One (AIO) rather than a pocket diaper. This just means that the inserts are semi-attached to the diaper itself, so it doesn't require any stuffing. Just toss the whole dirty diaper in the pail and fold the inserts over themselves when clean, viola! These are super easy to use and Jeff thinks they're just as convenient as disposables!
I have about 20 Freetimes with snaps (I've read that toddlers have an easier time undoing velcro diapers than the snaps and that the velcro wears out more quickly) and we use those throughout the day. At night, I double stuff my 4.0s with hemp inserts and use those because Niamh sleeps 13-14 hours at night and we need a little extra absorbency! So far, this system has worked out perfectly for us and I couldn't be happier with the decision to go with cloth. We have never once had to run out to the store on an emergency diaper run. Granted, cloth diapers are a higher cost up front, but it doesn't take long for them to pay for themselves. I do use disposable wipes (I tried cloth wipes with my own solution but Niamh's skin seemed a little more irritated with the cloth wipes, so I went back to disposable).
I always keep a package of disposables on hand and use them occasionally overnight to fend off any diaper rash (diaper rash ointments should never be used with cloth diapers!) or if we're on vacation, have a babysitter, etc. Any questions on cloth diapers? Send 'em my way!
I decided that I wanted to make my own baby food long before Niamh arrived. Jeff and I stick to a mostly "paleo" diet - meat, veggies, some fruit, nuts, and seeds. Basically, grains, dairy and sugar are a no-go. While it is possible to purchase prepackaged baby food with simple organic fruits and veggies, the process that makes them shelf-stable for so long removes a great deal of the nutritional value. That said, I've had pretty good luck with my Beaba Babycook but there are a few things worth mentioning:
I could not figure out how to use this crazy Swedish thing for the life of me. In the picture above, the main body of the machine has a twist-off green lid. When steaming veggies, you fill the plastic pitcher with water up to the appropriate measurement and then pour the water into that main reservoir. Somehow, even after being a huge dork and reading through the instruction manual multiple times, it wasn't clear to me that you measure the water according to the lines on the plastic pitcher, but don't actually cook with the water in there. Once I opened that green lid, poured my water in, and switched on my Babycook, it was smooth sailing.
There is no timer or alert when the steam process is complete. Granted, this isn't a huge deal, but when I'm multitasking it would be nice to know once my baby food is ready to move onto the next step.
I recommend making things in bulk and I've discovered that the Babycook just isn't big enough to allow me to cook large batches of food the way I'd like to. It works well for whipping up some simple fruit and veggie purees, but now that I'm making meat and veggie dishes I need something larger. I end up braising some meat with vegetables on the stove top and pureeing with my food processor (although the consistency isn't as smooth as with my Babycook).
Easy to clean! I throw all the parts in the dishwasher and don't think twice about it.
Basically, the biggest downfall to the Babycook is size and, wouldn't you know they've now solved that problem? Meet the Beaba Babycook PRO...
And if you need even more space, here's the Babycook PRO 2X...
In my humble opinion, go with the PRO 2X. The three prices are approximately $115, $150, and $200, respectively. You get twice the capacity of the PRO for $50 more and I'd say it's worth the upgrade.
**For those of you interested in my homemade baby food process, I try to keep it as simple as possible. Ditch the pricey little OXO Tot containers and stick with regular old ice cube trays. I puree my food, spoon it into ice cube trays, and later store all my frozen cubes in labeled freezer bags. Each cube is approximately an ounce, so it's easy to measure. I recommend Annabel Karmel's Top 100 Baby Purees to get started making your own food. After a few batches, you'll get a good idea of what you're doing and start making up your own combos! Good luck!
Check out the Chicco Liteway Plus - a lightweight umbrella stroller with a seat that flips forward, allowing a Chicco Keyfit car seat to clip right in!
We've got our first trip with Niamh coming up at the beginning of May and we'll be flying with a baby for the very first time! With a seven month old, I knew that we would need both a car seat and a stroller during our trip, but I was reluctant to have the airline throwing around my (rather pricey!) Baby Jogger City Select in the cargo area. I initially searched for a light umbrella stroller that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg and settled on buying a used UPPAbaby G-Luxe (review to come) on Craig's List. As luck would have it, I learned about this little gem from Chicco a couple months after buying the UPPAbaby.
After dreading the thought of managing a stroller, a car seat, a carry-on, and a seven month old in an airport, I decided to give in and buy the Liteway Plus. After all, I could always resell the UPPAbaby on Craig's List. I managed to find the deal of the century at Babies R Us and bought the floor model for $69.90!
While I love my Baby Jogger, I'm realizing that I could have made it all along with just this one stroller. I already owned the Keyfit 30 and it's actually quite easy to convert the stroller from umbrella stroller to car seat caddy. Why buy a Snap N Go or Keyfit Caddy PLUS an umbrella stroller when you can kill two birds with one stone for under $200?
The biggest selling feature on this stroller is the convenience. It will be a breeze to push Niamh in her car seat through the airport while I manage our carry-ons/diaper bag. Once we reach our destination, we can drop the car seat in our hotel room and have a fully reclining umbrella stroller for our outings.
So far, my list of cons is pretty short and easy to forget with such a convenient stroller. I'm not wild about the quality of the fabric or how well the stroller handles - it's not as nice as my UPPAbaby G-Luxe, but it doesn't feel particularly cheap. It's also about 19 lbs. whereas my G-Luxe is an amazingly light 11 lbs. However, the Liteway Plus locks closed and has a carrying handle, so it's easy to get in and out of a trunk. The extra weight comes from the solid seat back that serves as the locking mechanism when the car seat is attached. Again, these complaints absolutely disappear when you take into consideration the double-duty nature of this stroller. I even prefer the Chicco's basket and the recline mechanism to the UPPAbaby's due to ease of use.
If you're thinking about the Chicco Liteway Plus and want to snag a deal, keep your eyes peeled for a 20% off sale. The stroller is listed for $179.99 just about everywhere, but you can frequently find it on sale. Babies R Us offers 15-20% one item promotions occasionally and Buy Buy Baby sends out 20% coupons like it's going out of style. Target also offers 20% Chicco products from time to time.
