SUMMER TRENDS

I am by no means a fashionista, usually choosing comfort over style, but I do love looking at the instagrams and blogs of those who are! And I can't help crushing over what seems to be some of this summer's biggest trends: poms (you know I love me some pom poms based on my shop!) and tassels! Here are a few things that I am loving.

Baby Pom Pom Romper//Pom Dress//Tassel Top//Tassel Sandals

 

Also, if you know of any shops with baby clothes that have tassels, let me know! :)

MILKING IT//BREASTFEEDING + PUMPING

Before Hadley was born, I knew that I wanted to breastfeed. Not only for the convenience- at 2 am, sticking a boob in their mouth sounded a lot easier to me than mixing formula and getting the correct water temperature- but also the nutritional benefits and bonding experience. So when she latched right away after our skin-to-skin time, my mama heart rejoiced. But I was totally unprepared for just how much it would hurt. Like, don't give me even the softest hug because it felt like you were rubbing sandpaper on a sunburn kind of hurt. When the baby cried for her next feeding and it felt like I just fed her, I wanted to cry too. The Medela Sensitive Lanolin is a lifesaver during this time. If you can fight through the first 5-6 weeks- it sounds like forever, but you have a newborn so it will go by fast- then it gets SO much better, REALLY! 

I am returning to work (I'm currently a sixth-grade teacher) at the beginning of August, while that seems like a long ways off, I know it will go by way too fast (cue the waterworks)! So I have already begun building my milk bricks stash. I contacted my insurance provider about three weeks before my due date asking about a free breast pump since a friend of mine received one from her insurance company. They pointed me in the direction on their website for obtaining information on approved providers to contact. I found 'A Breast Pump and More' and filled out a quick online form, it was easier than checking out on Shutterfly (does anyone else have this problem? #FOMCC... fear of missing coupon codes!). I had a double breast, electric pump before the baby came! The pump I got is the Hygeia Enjoye, and they sent me four accessory kits that I know I will be so thankful for when it comes to pumping at work!

Right now, I pump one breast at a time into the same bottle so I don't have to clean two every time (yes, I'm that lazy), but when I have to pump at work I will pump both simultaneously.

To help with all of the feedings, and now adding additional pumping sessions, I've been eating some really yummy lactation recipes that I thought I'd share! Also, make sure you're drinking a lot of water. I can totally tell a difference in my milk supply when I don't drink enough, to the point where it seemed like my boob was tapped out and then I drank more water and was able to pump a bit more! When I pour a good pumping session into a storage bag I can't help but do a little happy dance as I'm writing down the ounces...and mayyyybe I draw a happy face on there as well. :) Celebrate the victories!

Power Cups:

3/4 cup flaxseed meal

2 tbsp. brewer’s yeast

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup chocolate chips (I use minis)

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2/3 cup honey (raw if you can get it!)

2 tsp. vanilla

1-2 tsp. cinnamon

*Optional: Add one cup of cran-raisins/shredded coconut/raisins (or all three!)

Mix this all together with a stand-mixer or spatula, press into baking cups, refrigerate for an hour, and then enjoy! I love putting some Greek yogurt on them and topping with Craisins for a yummy breakfast! It's like a breakfast cupcake if you're against eating real cupcakes for breakfast.

Fruit Smoothie:

2 cups ice

2 cups frozen berries

1 banana

½ cup flaxseed meal

2 tbsp. brewer’s yeast

1 cup Greek yogurt

1 cup almond/regular milk or orange juice

The great thing about smoothies is you can basically add anything you want to them and they will taste great! I’ve made a green smoothie too where I subbed out the berries for kale and added 1/3 cup of raw honey and a tsp. of vanilla.

Tried and Ture Chocolate Chip Cookies (or the 4-hour cookies, according to my husband):

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 tbsp. water

2 tbsp. flaxseed meal

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour (I used whole wheat flour)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup mini chocolate chips

2-4 tbsp. brewer’s yeast (I used three in this batch)

*Optional: Add a half cup of cran-raisins/shredded coconut/raisins/crushed walnuts (or all of them!)

Preheat oven to 350°, mix flaxseed meal with water- let sit for 5 minutes, beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar, add eggs one at a time and mix well, add flaxseed mix and vanilla and mix well, sift (may you have more patience with this than I did!) together flour, brewer’s yeast, cinnamon, baking soda and salt, add dry ingredients a little at a time, stir in oats a little at a time, add chocolate chips and any other goodies you are putting in (I put cran-raisins in and hoped I had coconut with no such luck..)! Scoop onto well-oiled baking sheet or parchment paper in tablespoon size, bake for 10-12 minutes. Then just try not to eat all of them in one sitting a day! ;)

As mamas, we do the best we can, or what's best for us and our babies- if breastfeeding/pumping is not for you, that's okay too! Having a happy and healthy baby is what's most important! Speaking of happy and healthy, I'll leave you with this smiling babe!

Please share any of your favorite recipes, I know I will want to have more in my repertoire! :)

HADLEY'S NICKNAME

After we first found out I was pregnant, we were at Disney Springs for dinner and just enjoy walking around. We always make our way into the art shop that they have there and on this particular night they had one of their artists selling and signing his work there. My husband saw this Winnie the Pooh painting and thought it would be great for the new baby's nursery.

The artist asked if we would like a character, that wasn't in the painting on the front, to be drawn on the back so we would have a one of one piece of art. I immediately called out, "Roo!" He looked at me a little puzzled and said, "Roo!? No one asks for Roo...maybe Eeyore or Owl?" But I explained that Roo is so cute and he is the baby of the group and we were planning on putting this in the baby's room. So Roo it was! Even though we didn't go for a "Winnie the Pooh" themed nursery, we still incorporated it into the room's décor.
This led to us calling the baby Roo for the duration of the pregnancy, even after we found out we were expecting a girl, and because we were not revealing her name until after she was born!
The nickname has stuck even after welcoming Hadley into the world- and I still think it's adorable! :)

Do you have any stories about how your little one got their nickname?!