GIVEAWAY!!!

As I mentioned earlier this week, the good stuff is hosting its first giveaway today! One lucky reader will receive the QuickZip essential bundle (pictured below) to help make your life so much easier! This awesome starter set includes 1 starter set (zipper base and zipper sheet), an additional zipper sheet for convenient changing, and 1 zipper mattress pad. The QuickZip sheets made our 3-6 month favorite list for its innovative design allowing super easy and quick sheet changes. I'm so glad we were referred to these because they have helped make middle of the night bedding changes sooooo much easier!

*sleep sheep not included*

If you are expecting, all ready have a baby, or have baby showers in your near future, you will want to enter this giveaway! All you need to do is pin your favorite product from the QuickZip website and then post a comment below on why you would love to win the giveaway + the link to your pin! Super easy! I will pick a winner at random on Monday, March 17th. Hope everyone has a great Thursday!

OUR FEEDING FAVORITES

I didn't think this blog would turn into all baby stuff with an occasional design post, but it seems that it has. Taking care of a baby and designing are what I do and that's all I know right now. So, that's what inspires me at the moment! Maybe the tides will change and I will post on a variety of subjects again. I'm still working on Melrose and making changes here and there, but nothing major since Gray's nursery. 

So, on to my post! When Gray was approaching the time to start baby food, I was clueless on the entire topic. I knew I wanted to make my own purees and I needed some feeding essentials. I looked on a few of my favorite baby blogs and I browsed Amazon's top feeding products until I purchased what I needed to start trying food. I know I can be picky about stuff (even silly things like baby utensils and bowls) but I was looking for durability, easy to store, and aesthetically pleasing ... a.k.a. super cute! I made a "baby drawer" inspired by this pin that houses all of my bowls, containers, sippy cups,  etc. so that eventually one day Gray can get what he needs on his own and he can dig through the drawer while I'm making dinner! Here are our top used products to hopefully help you and your baby get started in the right direction -

ONE: Beaba Babycook - I know making baby food isn't for everyone, but I enjoy food so it's been a fun experience making Gray new foods and seeing how he likes them. We received our babycook as a gift and it has been such a breeze to make the purees. It is pretty much a one stop shop - you steam and puree in the same machine. You simply add your diced fruits or veggies to the steamer basket with the right amount of water, steam them, dump them into the processor, and puree! You could also do this with a simple food processor and steam/roast your food beforehand. 

TWO: These are on the pricier side of baby spoons, but I love that they are entirely silicone (BPA free!) and easy to maneuver with a long handle. Gray also loves to chew on them after his meal, ha. 

THREE: I looked at several different types of bowls to serve Gray his food and finally decided on these from Re-Play. They are FDA approved, BPA free, the right size for holding 2-3 purees, and fun colors!  I typically hand wash these, but I have not had any issues with dishwashing them either. Another plus for me was the matching divided plates that we will invest in once Gray is eating more table food. I like everything to match! 

FOUR: OXO Storage Block Set - These have been great for storing our pureed foods. I haven't put any in the freezer yet, but I don't see any issues. I have tossed these in my diaper bag on the go and there have been no leaks or spills so far! They're the perfect portions for his baby food so I know exactly how much he is eating! 

FIVE: Bumkins Bips - I actually "researched" bibs (I know, I'm crazy!) and these had the highest rating. I ordered a 3 pack of these and they have been fantastic. They are easy to rinse or wipe clean and collects any drops of food! Plus, they have lots of super cute patterns to choose from! 

SIX: These look really similar to the Beaba freezer trays, but are 1/2 of the price! I use these to freeze his baby food and pop out a "pod" to defrost when I'm out of fresh purees.

SEVEN: I read that the Nuk sippy cup is a good transition for babies from the bottle so I have been testing this one out. Although, he doesn't seem as interested in this sippy as compared to the Nuby (below). Maybe it is the spout? I think he will eventually use it though so we keep trying it!

EIGHT: Nuby sippy cup - Again, another talked about sippy cup that we are using. Even if he doesn't get much out of it, he loves to chew on it! 

Gray was not too pleased with his first try of peas! 

 Gray loves butternut squash, prunes, sweet potato, apples, and pears ... and really most anything these days!

***AND, STAY TUNED BECAUSE THIS WEEK I AM HOSTING A GIVEAWAY OF ONE OF OUR 3-6 MONTH FAVORITE PRODUCTS!!! YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS OUT!***

OUR 3-6 MONTH FAVORITES

Hello readers! I'm back with some more favorite products over the past 3 months. I can't believe Gray is all ready 7 months old! He is growing and learning so fast, and we are enjoying every bit. We had some 6 month pictures taken by a lovely Birmingham photographer so I will have to share those so you can see how much our little one has grown since his newborn pics. Anyway, here are some of our favorite items that have made our lives a little happier and easier! 

ONE: This may be my favorite product on this list. I follow the Moms on Call schedule and from the start they recommend sleep training your baby with a sound machine. Before Gray was here, I started researching sound machines and I found this one by The First Years. MOC recommends staying away from ones geared for babies (because they aren't as loud and usually have lots of lights), but this one is pretty loud and has a great white noise option. But, my favorite part is that it can play music from your ipod/iphone! Laurel-Dawn and I created modern day playlists for our babes so I love to turn it on for his bedtime bottle or if he is having a fussy night. Also, I like that it can play from batteries or be plugged into an outlet. Definitely a plus when your power goes it -- it has happened to us! We use this sound machine for all naps and nighttime. 

TWO: Gray loves these flimsy books by Indestructibles. He can wad them up, chew on them, pull on them ... I promise, they don't get soggy or tear! We were gifted these and now they are one of our favorite toys. 

THREE: At 3 months we sleep trained Gray and transitioned him out of the swaddle. Once he was sleeping okay with both arms out, we decided to start using these aden + anais sleep sacks. I love the aden + anais brand for their soft and breathable fabrics, plus they're super cute! They provide a little bit of warmth without having a loose blanket in his crib. 

FOUR: I know Sophie is a favorite for most babies, but Gray really got interested in Sophie at about three months. He loves to chew on her legs and ears and whoever designed Sophie, made her perfect for tiny hands. And he can't get enough of her squeaks! 

FIVE: If you follow me on instagram, you have seen how much action this Fisher-Price Go Wild Jumperoo received once we introduced it to Gray. Gray has always enjoyed standing up and being in the action so I knew this contraption would be a hit. It was ideal for getting stuff done around the house. 

SIX: I ordered 2 of these Hanna Andersson sleepers because they were on sale before Gray was born and now I'm so glad! They are so soft (and stylish!) but the best part is the front zipper. I never realized how annoying ALL those snaps would be and if you get one off ... you're done. So, this zipper is a life saver and makes diaper changes a breeze (if only). Plus, if you catch it right, Serena and Lily puts some styles on sale and they run 20% off discounts pretty often!

SEVEN: Now that Gray has outgrown his puj tub, we bathe him in this Fisher-Price whale tub. I think bath time is his favorite time of day. He loves it. He would kick and splash all day if he could! Since he's still too little for a true tub bath, we put the whale in the tub and just fill it with water - pretty easy!

EIGHT: We had a little difficutly with Gray taking a bottle. He started out just fine, and then one day he hated them. We tried several different brands until I desperately read a forum online and tried these Playtex Drop-Ins Nursers with the latex nipple. Not only are these way (and I mean way) easy to use and clean, but I read that the latex nipples are a little more soft and pliable and resemble a mother's breast. Either way - Gray likes them and I'm glad we discovered them!

NINE: Several of my friends mentioned these quickzip crib sheets and swore by them so I decided to give them a try. Well, they are fabulous - especially if you use bumpers. The sheet zips off of the base without having to take the entire sheet off or move the bumpers and mattress. I bought this starter set and it was perfect. If baby spits up (or more!) at 2 am, simply zip off the dirty sheet and zip on a clean sheet; takes about 2 minutes! If you've ever tried changing a sheet without taking the mattress out of the crib and maneuvering around bumpers, you understand how much of a time saver these are. 

TEN: We made the decision to start sleep training Gray at 12 weeks to help him start sleeping through the night and establish a good nap routine. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was extremely helpful without being too overbearing. I read several baby blogs that praised this book and although it was tough, I followed the guidelines and we ended up being successful! It took lots of patience and consistency, but we are at a good point of sleeping 6:30 pm - 7 am and regular naps. Yay! I strive for routine and predictability so knowing when and for how long my baby would nap, allowed me to plan my day and look forward to my "mommy time." Granted, not every day is the same, but I have a rough idea!

ELEVEN: Fisher-Price B&W High Contrast and Sleepy Sounds. These apps are so great for entertaining a baby in the car, or calming a fussy baby or just making it though dinner with friends ... regardless, they always seem to capture Gray's attention! I know there's a ton of other options but these have done the trick so far! 

TWELVE: This milk storage organizer is perfect for keeping your milk packed neatly and legibly in the freezer. We don't have a lot of freezer space and seeing bags spread all over just annoyed me, so this organizer made my day! You can see the dates easily and it fits pretty much every brand of bag! 

OUR 0-3 MONTH FAVORITES

Hello friends! I know I've been MIA, but what can I say? Raising a babe is a lot of work (and fun!) and any free time I get right now I devote to design projects, household duties, or simply propping my feet up for a few minutes. So, I apologize for the late post of Gray and I's 0-3 month favorites.

One of my best friends is expecting and I started to think about our favorite registry items and I decided to make a post out of it. I've always been a researcher and enjoy reading other mom's lists and reasons so I figured somebody may enjoy mine! I was pretty clueless on baby gear so I loved reading recommendations based on experience. I didn't register for a lot of "gear" (i.e. swings, rockers, chairs, etc.) and I'm glad because Gray just wanted to be close by our sides. Here is what we got the most use out of for the first few months --

ONE: Fisher-Price Rock n' Play - For the first three months of Gray's life he pretty much lived in this bassinet. We could easily tote it around the house - our bedroom, the living room, the nursery - to make his sleeping location convenient for us. I loved that it had the option to rock, was inclined to help with any reflux, and was high enough to access from my bedside. Also, the price beats a lot of the high end Moses baskets and is more compact than setting up a pack and play.

TWO: Miracle Blanket - I wish I would have stuck with these from the beginning but I was a little intimidated by the excess fabric when Gray was teeny tiny. Once I committed to using these, Gray slept great and could not bust out like some of our other swaddlers. We used them for all naps and nighttime sleep. I even swaddled him with 1 arm out when we were weaning him off the swaddle.

THREE: Boppy pillow + slipcover - This pillow is great for nursing and helping baby get that perfect angle. It is also perfect for guests who may be overwhelmed by a newborn and need that extra arm support. Now, Gray is practicing sitting in his and puts me at ease if he happens to fall over. I like the slipcover option for the ability to remove it for a fresh wash. Babies are messy!

FOUR: Boppy Changing Pad Liners - A good friend recommended these to me and boy am I glad! These save you from washing your changing pad cover daily.

FIVE: Mam pacifiers - Gray wasn't too keen on the pacifiers from the start, so we tried several different brands and Mam was the winner. Now that Gray is grasping objects he can hold onto the button end and eventually get it back into his mouth. We recently bought the glow in the dark ones and he is starting to be able to find them in his crib at night.

SIX: BOB Revolution SE jogging stroller - I used this stroller with the car seat adapter for all my walks during the first few months. Since Gray was born in June, it was so nice to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. I would meet friends and we would catch up on walks and it was an instant soother for him if he was fussy. This is still my main source for exercising!

SEVEN: Chicco Keyfit Caddy - This may be the most underestimated item on my list. I almost didn't register for it but after hearing how much a friend loved hers, I was convinced. It definitely made getting out and about during the first 3 months doable. If Gray was asleep you could easily snap the car seat into the stroller frame without waking him and he would also catch many naps in it while out shopping. I would use it even if I was running in the grocery store or Hobby Lobby for just a few items. The basket on the bottom is perfect for those few items and it folds up easily and compact.

EIGHT: Puj Tub - Since we live in an older house, storage space is pretty limited so I knew the Puj tub was perfect.  Since it lays flat we could easily hang it on the back of bathroom door and it was out of the way. It also fit our small sinks nicely and was easy to travel with.

NINE: Solly Baby wrap - This wrap is similar to the Moby, but I like it better for it's thin, breathable fabric and pretty colors and patterns. I researched all the brands and fell in love with this option. The ties may seem tricky, but you get the hang of it quickly - I found, the tighter, the better. Gray wasn't much of a swing or chair baby and loved being cuddled so this helped me get things done around the house while letting him sleep and remain content.

TEN: Target nursing camisoles - Whoa, I wore these tanks just about every day (and still do!) and they are the perfect mix of style, comfort, and convenience. Not to mention pretty affordable. I own four of these and just rotate them out. 

ELEVEN: Summer Infant SwaddleMe - This was the other swaddler I loved and used quite a bit. The velcro tabs make it easy to pull it tight to prevent arms from popping out. It is also easier to maneuver for grandparents, dads, and sitters who may be intimidated by the Miracle Blanket. 

TWELVE: Target nursing bras & Medela Hands Free Pumping Bra - If I didn't have on a nursing camisole, I wore/wear one of these comfortable nursing bras. This pumping bra is also key when it comes to pumping. It is so boring just sitting there so I like to have my hands free to scour the world wide web, blogs or play on pinterest. 

That's our favorite products for the first 3 months of Gray's life! He's now 5 months old (yes, time flies!) so I will post our favorite 3-6 month items shortly! Were there any products not on my list that you couldn't live without or made your life much easier? Please share!