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! 

my CHRISTMAS WISH LIST

I know that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but so is Christmas! It really is my most favorite time of the year. I enjoy thinking about gifts for other people and seeing their reaction when they open a present they love. Here is what is on my wish list this year and maybe it will inspire some ideas for you as well. 

ONE: Your Child and Your Baby in pictures - These seem like great resources for photography and I'm always looking for pointers and tips - especially now that I'm shooting my own baby boy!

TWO: Personalized brass bracelet - This would be so special with our wedding date engraved on it, 02.26.11

THREE: Marc Jacobs "Henry Dinky" watch - I love the black face on this watch and it will be a nice contrast to my everyday, gold chronograph watch. 

FOUR: Tory Burch "Miller" sandal in vanilla - My beloved white flats broke this past summer and I've been on the search for a replacement pair ever since. This yummy vanilla cream color seems perfect to pair with any outfit. (size 8)

FIVE: Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy and Modern Calligraphy books 

SIX: Wooden SmartBox - I've been looking for something to store and organize my calligraphy tools in and this looks perfect - small nooks for nibs, a handle for carrying, 2 layers for depth, areas for my pens ... sold!

SEVEN: Winsor and Newton gouache - This primary or set of 10 would be ideal for introducing watercolor into my calligraphy. I need to break away from the standard black and walnut ink! 

EIGHT: Tory Burch "Thea-Mini" Crossbody - I have a similar one that I got in New York (hm hm chinatown) that I have loved using so upgrading to the real deal would be sweet. It is great for a day on the go when you just need a few items and you don't want to fool with keeping something on your shoulder or arm. 

NINE: Professional Guillotine - Now that I'm doing more and more freelance work, my old paper cutter just isn't cutting it (literally!). This would be awesome for cutting multiple invitations, stationary, etc. and not to mention, save me time! 

TEN: Green studs - Emerald green is a very trendy color right now and these would be perfect for everyday wear or a fun, holiday party.

And if you still need ideas, check out my wish list or gift ideas boards! 

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! 

GRAY'S NEWBORN SHOOT

Like I mentioned in the post on Gray's birth announcement, we had the wonderful Johanna Cosby capture Gray as a newborn when he was 10 days old. Again, he was not too stoked about being arranged and posed while he was trying to get his beauty rest, but the picture's still turned out beautiful. After looking through some of Johanna's past work and seeing her gorgeous, airy family portraits, I decided I wanted to take the majority outside of our new family of three. I'm so glad I decided to do so since Gray didn't love the posing! I'm a huge fan of candid photography so these are right up my alley! I'm in the process of framing some of these for Melrose. 

Here are just some of my favorites -- 

WEDDING SUITE: kristen and aaron

I recently designed a wedding suite for some sweet friends, Kristen and Aaron, that got married over the summer at Lake Martin, Alabama. The bride sent over the pictures from her photographer, Leslie Hollingsworth, and I wanted to share these beauties. We used a classic photograph of their ceremony venue, Church in the Pines, as the focal point on several of the pieces. Paired with pretty turquoise envelopes and a fun script - it was the perfect combination for a lovely, lake wedding! 

If you are interested in custom design work, please contact me!