Mama Style: PinkBlush Maternity & A GIVEAWAY!!

Hi! Today I'm featuring some of my favorite clothing items from PinkBlush Maternity and wanted to share all about my picks and why I love PinkBlush. Stay tuned for a great giveaway opportunity at the end of the post! 

PinkBlush Maternity has the cutest selection of maternity clothes!  They are so affordable and there are so many great items to choose from.  Normally, when you think of a maternity boutique, you may think of frumpy, loose maternity clothes, but that is not the case with PinkBlush!  From fitted tops to flowy looks, everything is trendy and will make you look your best during your pregnancy.  I love that they have nursing apparel available and lots of postpartum looks that are perfect once the baby is born to keep you confident and feeling good.  PinkBlush also has amazing customer service and they frequently offer discount codes on their website - perfect for shopping and stocking up! ;) There's also a PinkBlush for women, which has so many great options if you're not an expecting mama! 

PinkBlush Maternity Crochet Accent Top

My first item that I chose was this springy crochet accent top in peach and white stripes.  I'm a huge fan of stripes and love the top crochet accent! I'm wearing a size medium and its a great stretchy, light material.  It would definitely work well throughout your entire pregnancy to showcase your growing bump ;)  

PinkBlush Maternity - Pink Lace Belted Dress

PinkBlush has so many great cute maternity dresses for all occasions!  From casual maxi dresses to more formal occasion dresses there's something for everyone and every event.  I chose this pink lace belted dress for Easter coming up and I love the texture of the lace and it's so comfortable!  Again, I got this in a size medium and it could definitely accommodate a small bump to a full term bump. I think it's the perfect spring color and I love the belt accent - pair it with flats and a jean jacket or a cute sweater and you're all set for a stylish holiday. I also love this maternity maxi dress for a comfortable, yet pulled together look and this cute maternity dress - perfect for your baby shower! 

PinkBlush Maternity - Black Leggings

Ok mamas, I feel like towards the end, or beginning ;) of pregnancy, leggings are the most comfortable item you can wear.  These black fleece lined maternity leggings are beyond comfortable!  Did you read that...fleece lined?!?!  Where have these been all my life?! They are not see-through at all, which is a must for me to feel comfortable to wear these outside of the house for errands, etc.  It is one size fits all so they're extremely stretchy and accommodate your belly well.  These would be super cute to be comfy all day (see picture above) or to wear under a tunic or flowy shirt for going out.  

Overall, I'm so happy with my PinkBlush Maternity items and can't wait to stock up on a few more basics!  Thank you so much to PinkBlush Maternity for providing me with these special items!  

Now for the GIVEAWAY part... I'm so excited to offer you a chance to win a $75 gift card to PinkBlush!  Head over to my Instagram (@thebirdsnestblog) to win!! Giveaway starts February 25 and ends March 1, 2016 at 11:59pm EST.  Good luck! XOXO

16 Weeks - Baby Update

Today marks 16 weeks with baby number two.  Tomorrow we're headed to the doctor to check the baby's growth and we'll be able to see if the baby is a boy or girl.  Normally, they would wait until 20 weeks for another ultrasound, but since the baby was measuring ahead of schedule they are checking to see growth progression and if my due date is accurate.  I'm SO excited!  Instead of finding out at the appointment, I'll be asking them to write it down and seal it in an envelope.  Then the big gender reveal plans will get started!  I'm thrilled that Freshly Picked will be doing our gender reveal for us and they'll know what it is before we do!  We'll be having a small get together mid-week next week to reveal blue or pink moccs...super excited!  Can't wait to share with all of you!

With Olivia, I was good about weekly updates and posts...now with baby two it's basically when I get a chance (or remember) #sorrybaby #secondchild oops ;)

How far along:  16 weeks

Gender Prediction: Girl...I've been feeling very similar to when I had Olivia so we'll see!

Maternity Clothes:  Not yet, still wearing my regular jeans and tops...although that may change soon as I'm starting to pop out a little

Cravings:  Nothing too crazy... still loving grapefruit and anything shrimp related.  Although I did start texting Rob at work around 8am yesterday to decide what he wanted for dinner...as if I was starving and would never eat again. 

Aversions:  I can't even look at/think about anything Asian based.  The thought of lettuce wraps literally makes me gag.  I can barely type the words! Random, I know but some of you have asked for my lettuce wrap recipe and I just can't even think about it.  Also, anything with ginger, stir fry, literally anything like that I can't even stomach the thought.  

Missing the most:  Probably a good deli sandwich and some sushi... and sleep.

Sleep:  I feel like I'm more sleep deprived than when Olivia was a newborn.  I don't know what is wrong with me?!? I wake up for hours and hours at a time throughout the night and I'm up between 5 and 6 for the day, which makes for a loooong day with a toddler!

Overall health:  Overall, feeling pretty good.  I've had a sore throat that will hopefully be on it's way out soon and very tired, but feeling much better than first trimester.  

So excited to share our gender news with you soon!  Be sure to follow along with me on Instagram (@thebirdsnestblog) for all of the updates! XO 

Olivia: 19 Months

I cannot believe Olivia is 19 months already.  That is so close to two that I don't even want to think about it!  She is constantly on the move and is learning so much everyday.  Her current phrase of the day is "no, no, no, no…" whenever I ask her something.  "Do you want yogurt?" "No, no, no, no…" "Do you want to go outside?" "No, no, no, no…"  It's hilarious, while mildly towards the end of the day stop-saying-no-to-everything-before-I-go-crazy style.  She is just the sweetest little girl, constantly saying I love you or "I ya you" - Livvy style.

Favorite Phrases (Livvy Style):

No, no, no, no…

 I ya you (I love you)

Dis? Dis? Dis? (This, pointing at everything)

Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy…

Daddy, daddy, daddy...

Yeahhhh

Good girl

Tank you 

Ho, Ho, Ho

Peas (Please)

Animal Sounds:

Cow

Duck

Dog

Cat

Fish

Sheep

Monkey

Favorite Foods:

Raspberries

Green Beans

Olives

Avocado

Whipped Cream

Yogurt

Ice Cream

Loves to:

Read books

Color with crayons or colored pencils

Dance to music, especially Doc McStuffins & Taylor Swift

Collect rocks

Take baths

Swing outside

Wear Grandpa's giant headphones (Modern Family Phil style)

Play with bracelets and necklaces

Drink out of big girl cups

Clean up (serious baby OCD - like her momma)

Dislikes:

Potatoes

Trains

Chicken nuggets

Brownies (not my child?)

She really is such a little love! She has such a funny personality and constantly has everyone laughing.  I'm so proud of how much she's learning and growing.  I can't wait for this Christmas season to see how excited she is! 

18 Month Favorites

Hello!  Hope you all enjoyed your weekend.  I wanted to share some of our favorite products with you that we use daily.  Some are more practical and some are just for fun!

1. HALO SleepSack - We still use a sleep sack for Olivia during naps and bedtime.  She loves it and I feel comfortable with her sleeping in it, instead of a blanket.  We use the fleece style for colder months and lighter version for spring/summer.  
2. Re-Play Tableware - We absolutely love these plates, bowls, cups, and utensils!  They are dishwasher safe, BPA free, and made in the USA from recycled milk jugs. Super sturdy and there are tons of colors to choose from.
3. Snap Bibs - We have the gold glitter Snap Bib and love it.  It's very durable, wipes clean, big enough to contain the biggest toddler messes and my favorite part - super glittery ;)
4. Stacker Toy - Olivia loves stacking and it's great for her fine motor skills.  Also, great for teaching colors and different sizes. 
5. Foam Bath Letters - A definite favorite are these foam bath letters.  Perfect for teaching letters, colors, and smaller words.  She loves sticking them all over the tub...a must for keeping bath time fun!
6. Story Books - Olivia absolutely loves to read!  She pretends to read to us, turning the pages, pointing out characters.  It's my favorite thing to do with her.  Those books shown above are a few of her current favorites.  I normally use Amazon to order, as the prices are low and shipping is fast.

I'm sure her favorites will be changing shortly as she gets older.  Do you have a favorite product you can't live without for your toddler? I'd love to hear!

Olivia || 18 Month Update

I cannot believe my baby is 18 months old!  It sounds even older saying 1 and 1/2, right?!   She is at such a fun age and she has such a fun, loving personality.

{Being a little ham while Mommy is outside}

18 Month Stats:

Weight: 21.6 lbs {11th percentile}

Height: 31.5 inches {49th percentile}

Favorite foods: 

Raspberries, greek yogurt, olives, cheese, green beans

Favorite books:

Ghosts in the House || Time for Bed || Five Little Monkeys || The Velveteen Rabbit || One,Two, Boo!

Loves to:

- Play outside & collect leaves, rocks, etc

- Help Mommy cook

- Read books

- Play with her baby doll and stuffed animals 

- Clean {She knows exactly where things belong and puts things where they go - especially Daddy's shoes, hats, etc...ahem Daddy}

- Listen to music, especially loving Taylor Swift "Shake it off"

- Brush her teeth {She gets so excited to brush her teeth before bed, then it ends as if I'm brushing some sort of squirming animal with 18 arms and legs}

- Loves to make ghost noises while reading Halloween books

- Loves finding boxes {aka even tissue boxes} to sit in...the smaller the better...she's insistent on sitting in anything resembling a box

Knows:

- Hair, eyes, nose, mouth, tongue, ears, belly button, hands, feet, legs & butt 

- Can repeat back how to spell dog... learned D-O-G with foam letters in the bathtub

- Says "thank you", "more please", "no way", "good girl", various names, etc

Dislikes:

Parades, Broccoli, Getting her diaper changed "no,no,no"

Olivia is such a little love bug!  She is just the sweetest girl and this is definitely a fun age! (Minus the toddler meltdowns over sharing...)  Coming up: 18 Month Favorites.  Do you have products you love for your toddler?  I'd love to hear. 

We Painted || Baby Safe Finger Paint

I've been seeing recipes for baby safe finger paints popping up all over Pinterest and I decided to make my own for a day of painting with the munchkin.  Ok, maybe 4 minutes of painting with a toddler...even so, it was fun!  Here's how to make the paint:

1 cup of greek yogurt (I chose to use greek so it's not too runny)
Food coloring
Canvas or large piece of paper

That's it.  Seriously, so easy!  I chose to make pink and purple, but you could easily make tons of other colors, mixing and matching to your little one's bedroom or playroom if you're planning on hanging their masterpiece ;)  You can basically eyeball the 1 cup, using more or less depending on what size canvas you're using.  I highly recommend keeping baby wipes or paper towels close by.  It is definitely a messy project, but oh so yummy for yogurt loving babies.

We painted with her cousin, Brynn, and both babies were excited to start.  First time painter fail:  Painting on the grass.  Why did I think this was a good idea? Next time, I would definitely put down a sheet or paint inside.  Rookie move.  Although, props to myself for putting Olivia in one of my old t-shirts to protect her clothes.  Would recommend:)

She was very proud of hers.  Brynnie was hesitant at first, then sampled some and got into it ;)  *Look past the painting clothes* 

Once the painting was done and interest was lost, both babies continued to sample the paint...

I'd say it was a tasty little project ;)  Once they are finished painting, I went over the thicker areas with my finger, removing excess paint, to make sure it dries evenly.  

This was a fun, tactile activity for little one's. I'd love to know if you try it yourself!  Off to hang this little masterpiece ;) 

Bathtime Favorites

Livvy has been seriously loving her bathtime lately.  Every night she has a bedtime routine and it includes a bath, book, and bottle.  She's had the same routine since she was a newborn, but now it's even more fun because she loves to play with bath toys and loves "washing" her own hair, which entails dumping a little bucket full of water over her hair all by herself.  She's such a little ham!

Here are a few bath time toys and products I'm loving for her:

Arbonne products are great for babies who have sensitive skin because they're fragrance free and very moisturizing.  I was given the Hair and Body Wash, the Herbal Diaper Cream, and the Body Lotion, all part of their ABC product line, to review and I'm really pleased with the products.  All of the products were very gentle on Olivia's skin and hair, and I love that they're tear-free as well.  The Herbal diaper rash cream includes zinc, avocado and peach as the key ingredients...so cool, right? I think this gift set would be the perfect present for a mommy to be or as part of a baby shower gift basket.  

(via)

Another bathtime essential is a big fluffy bath towel.  I don't know about you, but it drives me batty when Olivia can't fit in her bath towel, leaving me with a squirmy, wet baby.  These animal themed bath towels are perfect for her.  I absolutely love the bunny one! 

(via)

I'm also loving these non squirt bath toys by Boon.  Seriously, how gross is it that most bath toys grow black mold inside when your little ones are sucking out the water. Olivia is certainly known for that on occasion, whoops... These are called Odd Ducks and they are adorable, and hole free so no chance of slimy toys! 

I think it is so important that babies have a bedtime routine and I love ours.  I'm so happy that Olivia loves her bath time so much and it's so fun to watch her splash around and play!

Note to self: clean the mirror...

What are some of your favorite bathtime toys and products? What is your bedtime routine with your little one? I'd love to hear! If you are interested in purchasing Arbonne products, please contact Katie at katie.parsells@gmail.com.  

Feeding Essentials: Baby Registry Ideas

Last week, I shared some items that I would recommend registering for in my diapering essentials post. This week, I'd like to share some of my favorite things that we've been using with Olivia as far as feeding goes.  She was strictly breast-fed for the first four months, and then we began incorporating cereal and fruits and veggies.  This was her first time eating cereal...not quite a fan...

How cute is she?  I could eat her up!  She loves eating now and her favs include sweet potatoes, pears, carrots, and butternut squash. She's not crazy about bananas...she does a little wiggle-gag move just to show me she's not a fan. Lately, Olivia has formed her own baby sign language and twirls her hands around to tell me she's hungry or wants more - super cute!  On to some of our favorite things for feeding time! 

Earth's Best Organic Multi-Grain Cereal - We started Olivia on Earth's Best rice cereal and she hated it.  Then we tried Earth's Best oatmeal cereal and it seemed hard for her to digest so we switched to the multi-grain cereal and she's been loving it ever since.  I mix it with a little bit of pumped milk and she eats it every morning.  Sometimes I mix it with some pureed fruit, but I'm trying to keep her food separate so she can get used to different flavors and textures.  Earth's Best can be found at Target and Babies 'R Us.

Baby Bullet - I was going back and forth between whether to purchase this system or just use a mini food processor and I'm really happy with this so far.  I love the silicone freezer mold to freeze excess food.  It's super easy to pop one out and microwave it in a small dish.  Other pros include: easy to clean, comes with two blades, two cups, cute little cookbook, and the little containers make me happy with their smile on the front.  Some cons are that it's not dishwasher or microwave safe and you need to steam the food really well beforehand.  I would definitely recommend if you're planning to make your own baby food.  Side note:  super easy and you know exactly what your baby is eating!

Boon Grass Drying Rack - Love this grass bottle rack!  I would recommend getting the "lawn" as it is bigger than the "grass."  Super cute and stylish in your kitchen! Accessories are sold separately and are equally as cute.

Pureed Food Pouch - In a pinch, these are great for on-the-go.  I buy the organic brands and she seems to love them.  So far, I've gone with Plum Organics and Ella's Kitchen.  I also bought little spoons that attach right to the packet of food for easy feeding and cleanup.  Whoever invented those is a mom who was tired of carrying around random, food dried spoons a genius.

Medela Pump Accessory Set - Definitely get the accessory pack if you don't feel like washing pump parts every day and night...or contemplating throwing all of the parts out the window because you can't stand to wash another suction cup.

Lansinoh Nursing Pads - These nursing pads work really well and save you from the embarrassment of walking around leaking everywhere.  Slightly annoying, but better than other brands and you definitely get used to them.  Trust me on this one...better safe than sorry.

Aden + Anais Burpy Bib - Ahh...burp cloths, spit rags, whatever you chose to call them - you will need them!  We personally like the thick cloth ones from Babies 'R Us or Target.  We also use cloth diapers as burp cloths, just plain, tri-fold rectangle ones.  I also love the Aden & Anais wearable ones, basically one big bib when snapped on, which we got from my hubby's cousin.  Perfect for eating time too.

Eddie Bauer High Chair - I registered for this high chair because I wanted something to fit into the house decor and I love it.  It has three adjustable positions for the tray and really good back support for little ones just learning to sit up.  The only thing I wish it had, were shoulder straps instead of just a belt.  Super easy to clean too.

Medela Pump - Our insurance covered this pump.  Highly recommend calling your insurance to check if you are covered - saves some serious cash!!  Would definitely recommend the Medela...has worked consistently from day one and have never had a problem.

Nuk Milk Storage Bags - If you are choosing or able to pump, these bags are perfect for storing milk in the freezer.  Cheaper than other brands and work just as well.  Milk can be frozen for six months in a freezer/fridge combo and up to one year in a chest freezer.  Just write the date and amount and you're set.

Boppy Pillow - Definitely a big help when you need extra support while nursing and I use it a lot now to plop Olivia down in while getting dressed, etc.  I actually found I used it more when she was able to hold her head up and I could leave her in it on the bed, supervised, of course.  Also, super cute covers.

Hope this gives you some suggestions while registering!  We're so enjoying this new chapter with our baby girl!

Diapering Essentials: Ideas for Registry

After a six month short break, I've decided to start blogging again!  Our little Olivia was born in April and we've been enjoying her greatly!  She's such a good girl, always making us laugh and adding so much to our lives.

Over the past six months, I've really gotten the chance to figure out what I like and don't like, therefore, I'd like to share with you what I would register for again.  As a first time mom, it was slightly overwhelming trying to decide what to register for.  I blame pregnancy brain for searching high and low for flat crib sheets. Anyway, I created a list of items I would register for again and divided it into different posts.  The first post I'd like to share with you is all about diapering essentials. 

One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine

Changing Table/Dresser We've been so happy with this dresser that has been serving as a changing table as well. We wanted something that could transition from changing table to dresser and this is perfect.  It is slightly taller than a conventional changing table, but honestly you get used to it.  It has a wide space for a changing pad, wipe warmer, and a basket for diapers.  

Summer Infant Changing Pad This changing pad has been great, easy to clean, comfortable for baby, and inexpensive...would definitely recommend.

Carter's Changing Pad Cover Super soft, nubby material, washes very well and does not show wear.

Changing Pad Liners Whoever invented these, is a genius.  Perfect for when you can't get a diaper on fast enough, spit up, diaper blowout messes...so nice to not have to change and wash the entire cover...probably one of the best things I registered for.  

Pampers Swaddlers We started with Pampers Swaddlers and have been happy with them.  I've heard of using other brands to save money, etc, but we chose to go with Pampers.  Love the wetness indicator and fit of them.  Where we buy them varies from Diapers.com, Amazon, Babies 'R Us, and in a pinch the grocery store.  

Wipe Warmer This is really nice to have, especially with the colder weather coming or during the night.  Really does make your little one more comfortable. We like Pampers Sensitive Wipes. 

Travel Wipe Case Super thin and cute for your diaper bag.  

A & D  This ointment is what we use after every diaper change and Olivia has never had a diaper rash.  Definitely less smelly than other diaper ointments and less messy too. 

Diaper Genie Elite Our good friends gave this to us (mommy of our headband model from previous post!) and we love it.  Really contains the stinkiness! Super easy to use, as well. 

Hope this gives you some ideas to consider when registering or giving a baby gift.  Next up: Feeding Essentials!