Moms, In Need Of a Great Diaper Bag? The Skip Hop Versa Is on SALE!

Moms to be and moms looking for a GREAT diaper bag look no further because the Skip Hop Versa is it! I have this diaper bag and it trumps my 2 other diaper bags (one being an expensive Coach bag). Its super roomy, has lots of pockets and looks like a big purse which I love!

It also comes with a change pad and has a stroller attachment so you can hang it on your strollers handles. Its easy to clean and is also expandable.

Its regularly priced at about $84.00 but is on SALE right now at Amazon.ca for $59.99!!

Notes For First Time Moms To be From A First Time Mom Part 2

To read part 1 where I give you my notes on Pregnancy, Delivery & After the birth please click here or scroll down ;)

Part 2 is all about your first 3 months of mommyhood... again this is mainly based on my own findings, thoughts and experience.

ready? Here we go!

After you have the baby you may still be super swollen, have cankles, a pouch and your rings may not fit.... it will take a while but your body will even itself out. (in my case the swelling and weight went away after 1 week)

Getting discharged from the hospital at 10pm is NOT the best idea so try to see if you can leave earlier.

Its wise to install your car seat before you are even close to your due date just in case...

You will be slightly freaked out when placing your newborn in the car seat for the first time... Its totally different than the doll you practiced with.

Once you get home your first thoughts will be.... now what?!

All you will want to do is sleep but chances are you will spend all night (perhaps for the first week or 2) making sure your baby is breathing....

Before your baby arrives you may think getting up every 1-3hrs to feed will be the most annoying thing ever.... its annoying but you wont care because your motherly instinct to take care of your child will get you through it.

If your mother (or motherly figure, close friend or any family member for that matter) offers to come stay with you for the week say YES! Even if they are there to just hold the baby so you can eat or shower you will be SO thankful for the help.

SITS baths are helpful, needed and give you an excuse for some me time.

The Peri bottle they give you at the hospital will be your new best friend.

You may think your 7 pounder will fit newborn sized clothing because they are a good size... they will be swimming on them for a while to come.

The sleepers (or mittens) that cover the hands are a godsend for babies that love to scratch themselves

Have baby mittens so your baby wont scratch but they keep slipping off? Use baby socks instead ;)

You don't have to bath your newborn everyday at this stage

Newborn bedtime routine?... huh? 

If you plan on breastfeeding.. a good BF'ing pillow is a great thing!

Sometimes you wont know what the heck your baby wants or why they are fussing/crying and thats ok you are just getting used to each other

You and your baby WILL get to know each other in the first few weeks and things will seem a bit less foreign 

Having a few ready made or concentrate formula cans (go online for samples before your due date) at home even if you're planning to breast feed is a good idea because not all babies are BF'ing champs right away.

Same with bottles (make sure the nipples are stage 1) and newborn pacifiers don't hurt either if you want to introduce them.

Those freezer meals (or fresh cooked meals ppl bring over) really will come in handy in the first few weeks.

Everyone and their mom will want to come visit you and baby right away... pick and choose who will come visit and its ok if you need some time to adjust before you let the rest of the world in.

When you do get to take a shower.... take 2 minutes to yourself... breathe deep and smile because you were so brave and so strong to have brought a precious life into this world and its the most amazing feeling in the world!

Every time your baby grabs your finger it will melt your heart.

You will look down while holding baby and think WOW we made you... often

You will become a diaper changing pro because your baby WILL poop as soon as your put a fresh diaper on, do up all the buttons on their sleeper, take them downstairs, sit down and start to relax.

The first few times you bathe your baby you will be scared shitless even though they gave you that 5 minute demo in the hospital.

Every week your baby grows your will find yourself saying "I cant believe she's a week(2,3..etc) old already"

Getting newborn photos is such a great memory even if its a photoshoot at home.

Baby acne IS normal and will usually go away by itself

If you don't clean under your baby's neck properly it will have a funky smell so be sure to really get in there. (a bit of diaper rash cream can help too)

You will be told a 100 different things by a 100 different people on how to raise, bathe, feed, sleep train & parent your child... DO do whats best and what works for you and your baby.

The baby blues is totally normal for the first 2-3 weeks after baby.. any longer and it may be post partum so chat with your dr about it.

Crying for no reason what so ever means you are totally normal...

You may not think your baby is "fun" at first because all they do is sleep, eat & poop... just wait because one day soon they will become more than that and it will be wonderful.

Your bedtime may shift from midnight (pre-baby) to 8pm (post-baby) and thats ok :)

They grow so fast that by the time your baby is 3 months you will look at newborns as if they are SO tiny forgetting you were just there.

Now that you are on mat leave and home with the baby... your baby will be your best friend and you will find yourself having full conversations with them.

You will have a million questions everyday about your baby & parenting... Join an online forum such as babycenter.com (.ca) so you can chat with other moms who have babies the same age as you. Its been one of the best things ive done.

I'm sure I'm missing a lot but this is just some of the notes I could think of in my mommy brain!!

I want to end by saying be sure to enjoy your new miracle... they are the best little thing(s) in the world.

Mommy Talk: Presidents Choice Supreme VS Pampers Swaddlers Diapers

Baby Sienna is now 8 weeks old and since her birth I've tried 3 different brands of diapers. Since we got a few packs of Huggies newborns at a great deal ($5 per pack) from the hospital we only used these during the newborn stage and really liked them.

Since our princess has gained weight and we have had to move into size 1 diapers I've been between Pampers Swaddlers which seemed to be the standard for some of the moms I know and a new discovery, Presidents Choice Supreme Comfort Diapers which baby and I were introduced to thanks to the amazing PR people for the brand.

I don't feel there is much of need for me to go into detail about Pampers because we know it's been tried, tested and approved and I really have nothing bad to say about the brand, it's diapers or it's performance.

That being said I do want to open more mommies eyes to other comparable brands such as the Presidents Choice brand. After having used both Huggies and Pampers by the time I opened my pack of PC diapers I was beginning to think how any mom dealt with diapers that didn't have a wetness strip indicator because it was making my job of knowing when baby needed a change a lot easier. I was kind of worried that the PC brand wouldn't have this feature (being a most cost effective brand) but I was happy and I'll be honest totally relieved to see it did!

Shown below are two size 1 diapers, on the left the Pampers brand and on the right the PC diaper. The Pampers has the yellow line that turns blue when baby is wet and the PC has little blue images in circles that totally disappear when baby is wet. Both make it VERY easy and obvious to see when baby is wet.

My thoughts on PC Supreme Diapers:
These diapers were super soft and stretchy, fit Sienna really well and in fact were more snug on her than other brands. There were no leaks and it contained all blowouts well. I like that they are hypoallergenic, fragrance free and that It's infused with aloe and vitamin E so it kept her skin balanced and rash free.

My only issue with these diapers is that I found they ran a bit small, so while they fit my then 9lbs baby well and the package stated they would fit up to 14lbs I'm just not sure they would. I like the fact that they were snug a lot so my solution to this would be to move up a size a bit faster.

PC Supreme Comfort Diapers come in sizes 1-6 in packs of between 84-136 at approx. $24.99 which can save you a few bucks each time you purchase diapers which I'm starting to find out is a lot!

Mommies next time you are at Superstore/Loblaws doing groceries or getting your fashion fix in the Joe Fresh section head on over to the baby area and check out all the PC baby products such as their wipes and these true, tried and now tested Stretchy Fit diapers!

Mom Approved!!

Baby Talk: My Birth Story.....

(Photo was taken in Sienna's nursery as part of our maternity shoot by Strokes Photography)

I've been meaning to share my birth story but baby Sienna has been keeping me busy so it's been a bit delayed but here it is....

Late October at 38 weeks I went in for what would be my final Dr's appointment where I was told that I would be getting induced the following week. After checking my Dr's schedule we decided on Tuesday November 6th for the induction but I was told that I would need to go in on Monday to have the induction gel put in.

Monday I arrived at the hospital at 10am for my first dose of gel at 1cm dilated. I was monitored for about 30mins and sent home but told to come back around 4-5pm for another dose. I went about my day not feeling any different so I assumed it didn't work and I'd need the second dose for sure. Well I was right! I went back to the hospital and was reassessed at 5pm at still 1-2cm so they gave me the second dose and sent me home with instructions to come back at 8am the next morning for my scheduled induction.

We went home made sure our hospital bags were ready and then went to bed. Well I could hardly sleep because I started getting mild contractions. Nothing too unbearable, more like mild cramps which lasted all night. At 5:30am I was again woken up by a contraction but this time it hurt way more than the other ones so we called the hospital and they told us to come in.

When we arrived at 6:30am they agreed to keep me only because I was scheduled that morning anyways. I later found out that I got the last birthing room and all other ladies coming in after me would be sent to another hospital (I got lucky!). I was 4cm at this point and in a lot of pain so even though my birth plan was to go without an epidural I couldn't take it anymore and asked for one.

Around 9am the anesthesiologist came in and administered the epidural which hurt but not as much as I thought it would, probably because the contractions hurt more. After 20 minutes I could still feel intense pain and it was determined that the epidural would have to be reset. Lucky me! So I had the first epidural removed and another one put in. Thank god this one worked and I was feeling a lot better however this is when I started feeling nauseous... My poor husband, mom and doula Kristin really took care of me.

Around 4:45pm I began feeling a lot of pressure that began to get painful so I asked to be checked. The nurses words were "no wonder it's hurting the head is right there!" it was time to push.  Any thoughts of wanting just the Dr and my husband in the room went out the window as I didn't care at that point. I had my OB, the resident DR, my midwife, my doula, my husband and a few NICU nurses on standby in the corner.

I began pushing and felt the "ring of fire" (google it) for pretty much the entire time it was so painful and the worse part was the nurses couldn't tell me when I was having a contraction because the monitor wasn't picking them up so I had to tell them when they were coming. Anyway after 1 hour and 45 mins of pushing my baby was born!

She let out 1 yelp and was placed on my chest for me to see. I bawled like never before and was instantly in love. They cleaned her up and as I talked she stared up at me so awake and alert with her big grey eyes as if she knew my voice. It was such a surreal moment to go from feeling her in my tummy to seeing and feeling her.

(At the hospital)

Nothing can ever prepare a woman for what childbirth feels like. Since everyone's experience is so different there is no normal and though I felt prepared having heard stories from all my friends and having taken the prenatal classes I felt like that all went out the window once my labour started.

(Wide awake with daddy)

Looking back I wouldn't say my experience was horrible or even bad. Was it painful? Hell yes! Did it go as planned? No, but how can you really plan childbirth?! Would I do things differently? nope, I have no regrets!

(In daddy's arms)

My baby girl Sienna is now 5 weeks old, changing and growing every day into her own little cute personality. Ive had the same challenges as any new mom but we are getting through them together day by day.

(Happy 1 month to me!!)

It doesn't hurt that my mom helped out for 4 weeks though! Plus my husband has been really great with her and in helping to give me a break when I need it. I feel so very blessed :)

Baby Talk: Welcome Our Newest Family Member...

Sienna Noor born November 6th at 6:43pm weighing 7lbs 1oz

Its been over a week now and we are finally getting into a groove. Both Sienna and I are doing great! We could not be more in love with our little princess :)

Birth story to come but in the meantime I will be taking a short blogging break to fulfil my new role as a mommy!!

Thank you for all the well wishes I have never felt more blessed or been any happier :)

Baby Talk: Baby Girls Nursery Tour!

We will be meeting our precious baby girl in just days and since our nursery is about 90% done (finally!) I wanted to give you guys the tour :)

We went with a soft grey colour on the walls before we found out if it was a girl or boy because I knew either way I wanted a colour I wouldn't get sick of and that they could grow into and I LOVE Grey! So the dark blue walls of my husbands "guitar/music room" were painted over.

Once we found out it was a girl we decided on the theme of grey, white and bling :) This was the theme on the main day of our wedding at our reception and since baby girl was originally due ON our 1 year anniversary I thought it was only fitting.

I custom ordered her bedding from Etsy.com, her crib came from Sears, the frame is from Ikea but we DIY'd it by painting it white and will hang a blinged out initial once we decide on a name, the diaper cake was a special gift from my BFF who used the hand made flowers I made for her DIY bouquet at our wedding as an added touch and the side table was actually made with love from scratch by my handy husband 8 years ago!

It was originally a dark brown and sitting in his parents basement for a very long time. He brought it home, sanded, painted and added the crystal knobs to make it fit the nursery and it could not be more perfect!

Our glider was a custom order from a local baby boutique and up above it you can see the DIY tulle tutu mobile I made :)

Here's a close up of the mobile made with love!

We actually found the dresser below when we first found out we were expecting on kijiji and I knew I had to have it for the baby's room. We decided that instead of buying a separate a change table we would use this and just add the change pad on top.

We changed out all the knobs to crystal and I added some bling rhinestones to the drawer pulls to add sparkle. The soft minky change pad cover was an Etsy buy and the 3 beautiful cutout mirrors were purchased at Pier 1 Imports.

This corner unit was purchased from the same person we bought the dresser from off kijiji for an amazing combo price. We switched out the knobs once again and it will house all of babies books below. For now Ive added some ultrasound images, wedding pics and a print from our first maternity shoot at 28 weeks.

One of my favourite things in the nursery has got to be this rug. I had originally purchased a grey and white rug online to go in this room but when it arrived it was much darker than I had wanted and it just wasn't working in the room. I happen to be at Home Outfitters one day and noticed a pile of rugs marked half off. I was immediately drawn to the grey shade of this rug and once I saw the pattern I knew it was perfect :)

And here is the DIY tulle tutu door hanger from my last post on baby girls closet door! The bassinet (borrowed from a friend) will be where she will be sleeping for the first little while in our bedroom.

I still want to hang a few more things on the walls such as some DIY artwork I've designed and there are a few other things that need to be added but for now we are so happy with how it turned out.

We are ready and waiting.....

Baby Talk: Nursery Decor - DIY Tulle TuTu Wreath!

For my wedding last year I did a bunch of DIY projects from making all the bouquets by hand to adding 4000+ crystals to my shoes so when I was thinking about nursery decor I knew I wanted to add a few DIY touches to my baby girls room.

I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do until I saw this inspiration pic on Pinterest.

Since our nursery "theme" is grey, white and bling I knew I wanted to create something like this wreath even though I wasn't sure where exactly I would hang it.  Although I didn't find a tutorial on how to make this exact wreath I figured out my own way and I think it turned out great :)

I bought some silver tulle, string of pearls and a embroidery hoop and went to work. It took me about an hour or work until the wreath was done however I was stuck on ideas on what to put inside the wreath until I saw a small unfinished wood cutout of the word LOVE and knew it was perfect.

I painted it white, added some white iridescent glitter, silver thread to hold it up and got my final product.

VOILA, Baby girls new DIY Tulle TuTu Wreath hanging on her closet door!

What do you think??

I've also made her a tulle tutu & crystal mobile that we have hung over her glider.... will post pics soon of that!

Baby Talk: Prenatal Massage At 33 weeks Thanks To My Girls!

With only 6 weeks left to baby my life is VERY consumed with well, everything baby so it was nice to take a morning off from appointments, running around, work and packing my hospital bag to go get a prenatal massage courtesy of 2 of my amazing girlfriends N&S.

First Ill start by saying that these 2 downtowners came all the way to the burbs to visit me which is a huge deal because it involved renting a car and driving about 40 mins each way! That in it self was sweet but then they presented me with one of the funnest baby cards Ive seen!

I thought it was really funny and totally "them"! Thanks girls!

Inside were details of a place called Sante Group which they then explained was where I was to go Friday morning at 10am. Yes they even made the appointment for me, how organized :)

So off I went Friday morning to Sante Group Healthcare for my prenatal massage. I wasn't sure what to expect a spa or an actual clinic so when I saw it was a clinic I felt like I was in better hands that would heal my sore back and not make me go into early labour (my fear!).

I walked in and was greeted warmly, taken to a room and introduced to my RMT. She did a great job and was super friendly. I will admit it was really strange for me to lay on my tummy again (even with the support pillows they provided). I think if I do go in for another massage Ill ask to lay on my side because even though it didn't hurt it was a bit uncomfortable because I was worried about baby the entire time.

Regardless, I walked out of there with the tension in my back relieved and feeling good about taking an hour our of my day to remember me! I had wanted to go in for a prenatal massage for a while but never got around to booking so its awesome to have friends that want to pamper a mama to be :)

Now my thoughts are back to baby because its already October! Where did the past 8 months go?

Baby Talk: Testing The Britax Stroller Organizer On Our New Stroller!

So we finally decided on a stroller that would fit all our present and future needs. We chose the Baby Jogger City Select and the Maxi Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat to go with it. Its been sitting in our hallway for a while now and every time I pass it I smile thinking that our baby will be here soon :)

For now though we have Lambie the Lamb strapped in and keeping the seat warm! This stroller has many many great qualities but ill admit the cup holder attachment (purchases separately) isn't one of them. I knew I had to have a cup holder but was a bit disappointed with the one made specifically for this stroller so there it sat in the packaging and will probably never be used.

Solution?
The Britax Stroller Organizer!

This organizer fits most strollers with handles 13"-21" wide which is a huge range. It comes with Two insulated beverage holders keep your cold drinks cold and warm drinks warm and big centre compartment that's magnetized where I will likely keep things like keys, pacifiers and my wallet and three outside pockets where you can keep your cell phone, keys or any other small nicknack you may need while out.

(can you spot Lambie the lamb strapped in?)

Love the magnetized compartment!

It holds my Starbucks Cool Lime drink quite well :)

The only down fall I had with the organizer was that because no matter how I strapped it on (perhaps I'm doing it wrong) it never sat perfectly up right so when I tried to place my very full Timmies cup in the cup holder some of it did spill out. It could just be the wide handles on the stroller or that I had it in the wrong spot but it wasn't a big deal after taking a few sips of my drink.

Since our stroller with organizer attached is sitting in our house we get asked about it quite often from my mommy friends. It seems that every mom is looking for something like this!

Well my mommy friends, look no more! no more reaching down to the basket of your stroller, no more pushing with 1 hand while you sip your coffee, no more fussing to find your cell when its ringing. The Britax Stroller Organized has got your covered!!

A Gift Basket For Baby From President's Choice!

This baby girl is spoiled already!

She and I received a lovely gift basket from Presidents Choice with some of their new baby products which included 2 cute Joe Fresh bibs, some fun PC feeding accessories for when shes on solids, a box of PC fragrance -free & hypoallergenic sensitive baby wipes and a some of their NEW supreme stretchy fit diapers.

I'm actually so excited to test out the diapers because they claim to be super absorbent and come with a wetness indicator everyone has been telling me is a must for my diaper choice.

More great things about these New! PC Supreme Diapers is that they are available in sizes 1 to 6, have a back waistband that helps prevent leakage, include a hypoallergenic and fragrance-free liner, have a size indicator on the diaper and are made of Soft and lightweight material that won’t slow baby down!

Did you know that Loblaw launched a Baby & You program across Canada to help make things easy and convenient.  The Baby & You program includes an active online forum and new parents are invited to join the Baby & You Facebook group as a venue for parents to talk and learn about new PC®  products. Such a great resource for all parents new and old ;)

Stay tuned after baby girl is born for a battle of the diapers post! I have a few different brands that Ill be putting to the test to see which ones hold up and which just don't cut it for my baby.

Baby Talk: Updated Pic 32 Weeks 6 Days :)

Taken at my in laws place :) The bump is taking shape finally!!

33 weeks tomorrow... 7 more to go! Come on November :)

Baby Talk: 32 Weeks & In Full Nesting Mode!

Weeks Pregnant: 32 weeks

Weeks to go: 8 weeks

How I'm Feeling: A lot more preggo!
Not only am I showing way more (finally!) but baby is now head down and therefore kicking my ribs often. I'm still having sleep issues but I'm guessing it will be like this now until the end. Ive started to feel nauseous at time again which isn't fun but its no where near as bad as first trimester. 

What I'm Feeling: Excited, anxious and nervous all at the same time! I still feel like we have so much to do before baby arrives and with only 8 weeks left (if she is full term) every weekend is spent running around getting things done.

Craving: Nothing in particular at this point.

Projects on the go: Still working on the nursery! I think I'll be doing this right until the end. Her bedding came in after a minor set back of getting the wrong set but we don't have a mattress yet so we are still waiting for that to set up the crib. Most of her 100's of clothing items are washed and put away but I do want to organize the closet a bit better.

We are still waiting on the glider to come in, and because we want to make sure spacing is right in the room we are waiting to hang any mirrors or art until we settle on where everything will go.

Ive been nesting this week! I organized most of the cupboards in our kitchen that were over flowing and cleared 2 shelves for baby's items such as bottles, formula and a bottle sanitizer. 

We were in Orillia to spend a relaxing weekend by the lake with my parents and headed out to the local Zellers on its last day of business. We spotted an Philips Avent Bottle Sanitizer (second shelf on the right) reg. $45 for $8.99!!! Too good of a deal to pass up and after searching the Internet for reviews most were positive so I'm pretty happy with my bargain shopping ;)

Tomorrow is one of my baby showers woohoo! Cant wait to see all my friends before baby girls arrives!

Counting down the last few weeks... here we go!

Baby Talk: Keeping Baby Girl Organized In Style!

I had been on the search for an over the door, clear pocket accessory or shoe holder like this and I've finally found the perfect one!

Its not for over the door but I suppose if I place a hook on the back of the door it can be.

It has pockets on both sides and fits socks, infant shoes and hair accessories perfectly. I love that it goes with the Grey/white these of the nursery too even though its tucked away in her closet :)

Now even daddy cant mess up where her tiny socks will go!

Baby Talk: 29 Weeks Down, 11 to Go!

(Pic taken at 28w 5d)

Ok so I guess its really 28 weeks down because Im 29w today!

Weeks Pregnant: 29 weeks

Weeks to go: 11 weeks

How I'm Feeling: Like I cant breathe!
Baby is still in the breech position so her head is jammed right up under my chest making breathing difficult especially when laying down. I am starting to feel a bit more pain or discomfort in my lower belly now which gets worse on some days and not so bad on others. 

Gotta love 3rd trimester!
What I'm Feeling: Feeling more pokes, jabs, kicks, turns, more so now on my right side and in the ribs area.

Craving: Fruit and lots of it!

Projects on the go: Still working on the nursery! Hubby has now finished all the painting and Ive set up the nursery with a few main pieces (crib, change table/dresser and a corner shelving unit.) Ive organized most of baby's clothes that Ive gotten so far and started to pack her hospital bag.

Trying to decide: Nursery accessories, crib mattress, a name for baby girl...

Decided on: Crib, Glider, Dresser/Change table, Monitor, Nursery area rug, Stroller, Diaper bag, clothes storage

I cant believe there are only 11 weeks until her due date and that's IF she makes it to her due date! Starting this week Ill be going back to the Dr's every 2 weeks and the midwifes every 3 weeks for check ups, ultrasounds and non-stress tests whatever that means. 

September & October is so packed with clients, events, showers and a conference that I have no plans to slow down until after the 3rd week in Oct which I'm sure is a good thing. Less time to sit around means more worrying right?!

Baby Talk: Recent Baby Fashion Buys!

I really don't need much in the way of clothing as Ive been so very blessed to have a few close friends and family give me all their hand me downs from their baby girls. Look at this baby's closet already and this isn't even all of it!

BUT.... there was a sale....

Oh Baby GAP you lured me in with your email that screamed 40% off 1 items and 30% off all other items..

I went in for 1 specific item and walked about with a "I couldn't help myself" item..

First up the item I had my eye on and specifically wanted.

This Grey Favorite quilted one-piece which was Reg. $44.95 but at 40% off a steal at $26.97!

Then came the splurge because well... just look at it! So adorable :)

An Ivory Striped cable knit dress reg. $39.95 at 30% off Sale price of $27.96!

Why do kids clothes have to be SO damn adorable?!

Quick DIY Chalkboard For My Maternity Shoot

Tomorrow Ill be doing one of my maternity shoots, ill be 28 weeks and cannot wait to work with the amazing photographers & friends behind G&H Photography.

I wanted to bring along some props and was having a hard time finding cute chalkboards last minute SO I stopped at my local dollar store and picked up a multi-coloured one. With an hour and a half to spare (most of that drying time) and a few supplies we now have our blinged out prop :)

Its nicer in person I promise lol.

What do you think?

Baby Talk: 24 Weeks and Feeling Bigger...

Weeks Pregnant: 24 weeks

Weeks to go: 16 weeks

How I'm Feeling: Bigger!
Insomnia has set in! I also find that my hips hurt when I wake up from sleeping on my sides because I was always a side and tummy sleeper... I think it may be time to add another pillow to the mix because the Snoogle just annoys me.

What I'm Feeling: Still feeling the pokes, jabs, kicks, turns... baby is a bit more active these days.

Craving: Fruit

Projects on the go: Still working on the nursery! Hubby has finishes the paint and trim but since we are painting a guest room as well we wont be setting up the nursery until that room is painted as well.

Trying to decide: Nursery accessories, crib mattress, bassinet vs play pen for baby's first month in our bedroom, accent colour for nursery (why is this so hard to decide!!)

Decided on: Crib, Glider, Dresser/Change table, Monitor, Nursery area rug, Stroller, Diaper bag, Baby in car decal :)

Picked this up in Vancouver for the hubs :)

Baby Talk: 22 Weeks and Feeling Baby Wiggle!

Today marks 22 weeks pregnant!

I'm still getting the "you haven't even popped yet" remark a lot even though I think the belly is growing, perhaps its more noticeable to me because I can feel her. I feel her moving or turning, punching and kicking me, although its soft it is there and I couldn't be happier! I am however waiting for my big round "I'm obviously preggo" belly.

You always wonder what having a baby inside you feels like and everyone describes it different. Some say you feel little flutters or butterflies but to me it feels like bubbles popping in my belly. Does that make sense? Its so cool and it really does make me feel so much more connected to baby. Hubby felt her move for the first time last night and it kinda weirded him out which I'm sure is natural when the baby isn't growing inside of you lol.

(Taken at 21 weeks)

Weeks Pregnant: 22 weeks

Weeks to go: 18 weeks (over half way there yay!)

How I'm Feeling: Pretty good although I can tell I'm getting tired quicker and am slowing down faster these days. Slight pain in my lower abdomen from time to time. Allergies still bothering me but not as bad as before.

What I'm Feeling: Pokes, jabs, kicks, turns... baby isn't always active but does let me know she's there which I love!

Craving: Nothing really.. perhaps 3rd trimester?

Projects on the go: Nursery! So far we have chosen the paint colour and painted the 1st coat. Working on the second coat and trim this week then we can move a few items in.

Trying to decide: Which stroller we want to go with (its harder than I thought to decide), which accent colour we want to compliment the light grey & white nursery. Don't want it to be over the top girly so no hot pink but deciding between a really pale pink, pale aqua or pale blue.

Decided on: Crib, Glider, Dresser/Change table, Monitor, Nursery area rug

Moms I need your Help With A "Must Have" List for A First Time Mom!

Here is a list Ive taken from an online birth group Im in but Im wondering whats missing and what on here isnt or is a must?? Especially for a fall/winter baby...

(Image Via infantbabytoddlerandpregnancyadvicecenter.com)

Clothing

• 8 undershirts or onesies (mix of short-sleeve and long-sleeve)
• 5 nightgowns (for use until the cord falls off)
• 8 one-piece stretchy sleepers (go for ones with zippers; new moms swear by them!)
• 5 pairs of pants
• 2 newborn hats
• 8 pairs of socks or booties, to wear with nightgowns and outfits
• 2 pairs of scratch mittens, to keep baby from scratching his face
• 2 cardigans or jackets, more in winter
• Bunting bag or snowsuit for winter baby
• Laundry detergent for infants
• 4 outfits for dressing up (optional)

Blankets

• 3 large cotton blankets
• 8 receiving blankets (they also make handy burp cloths) or more if using for swaddling and major puking

Feeding

 If you’re breastfeeding, you don’t really need any equipment.

• Hooter hider

Some nursing mothers like to have these items:

• Lots of bibs
• Burp cloths (see also receiving blankets)
• Breast pump (I wouldnt reccomend buying this until you need it)
• Milk storage containers
• Nursing pillow
• Nursing bras (if buying before baby is born, buy one cup size larger than your pregnant bra size)
• Breast pads (disposable or washable)
• Lotion for sore nipples

If you are formula feeding:

• Lots of bibs
• Burp cloths
• 8 four-ounce bottles with nipples
• 6 eight-ounce bottles with nipples
• Bottle and nipple brush
• Formula (be sure to check expiry date and note the lot number in case of recalls)
• Thermal bottle carrier

Diapering

If you are using re-usable cloth diapers:

• Several dozen (4 or 5) cloth or re-usable diapers
• 8 waterproof covers
• 1 diaper pail
• Changing pad
• Baby ointment or other barrier cream to prevent rash
• Snaps, Velcro or safety pins to secure re-usable diapers
• Disposable wipes or a couple dozen washcloths for cleaning baby’s bottom

If you are using disposable diapers:

• Two boxes of newborn-size diapers (it’s better not to buy too many in advance in case your baby is large or grows quickly)
• 1 diaper pail
• Changing pad
• Baby ointment or barrier cream to prevent rash
• Disposable wipes or a couple dozen washcloths for cleaning baby’s bottom

Bathtime

• 1 plastic infant tub (or use a large dishpan in the sink, or take baby in the bath with you)
• 12 washcloths, not used on baby’s bottom
• Baby soap or cleanser
• Baby shampoo
• Baby soft-bristled hair brush
• 3 soft-hooded towels

Bedtime

If you are using a crib:

• Approved crib and crib mattress
• waterproof mattress covers
• 2 fitted cribsheets
• 4 light blankets that fit in the crib
• Sleep sack

If you are co-sleeping:

• Firm mattress (not a waterbed)
• 3 waterproof pads to place under baby
• Light comforter (keep away from baby's head)
• Sleep sack

Other necessities

• Approved infant safety seat for car
• Stroller that reclines so newborn can lie flat
• Nail clippers or scissors (or just bite off baby’s nails as needed)
• Bulb syringe for suctioning mucous
• Baby thermometer
• Eye dropper or medicine spoon
• Medication in case of fever

Nice-to-have items

• Change table (or just use change pad on top of dresser or bed)
• Rocking chair for feeding and swaddling
• Playpen
• Sling or baby carrier
• Diaper bag
• 1 or 2 change pads
• Plastic hangers for closet
• Sun shade for car windows
• 2 or 4 pacifiers (if you choose to use these)
• Rattles and other baby toys
• Mobiles
• Night light
• Fish Price Aquarium
• Swing
• Bouncy chair
• Bumbo Seat