Little Nurslings – a review!

Little Nurslings has been one of my favorite shops for awhile now.  Offering natural, high quality products, it is a shop you need to visit!

Being a nursing mom, I was loving  all of the nursing necklaces from Little Nurslings.  Especially because my little girl likes to pull my hair!  She’s getting big enough now that she immediately finds my hair and plays with it while she nurses.  Fun for her, not for me!

So, Sarah sent me this nursing necklace:

“This simple little necklace works great for keeping little hands occupied while nursing, bottle feeding, during diaper change or when being held/carried.. ♥

Natural, non toxic, high quality wooden beads are smooth and calming for babies/toddlers to touch and admire... at the same time being functional and beautiful for mama to wear everyday!

Beads are secured at the ends to keep them in place, please do not allow your little one to chew on the beads, this necklace is meant to be enjoyed through tactile and visual stimulation..

The satin cord is adjustable so you can wear it shorter when needed... I can make this necklace with either black or brown satin cord... please comment in notes to seller which one you prefer.. :)

Your necklace will come in a lovely organza bag for gift giving and storage.... “

I LOVE this!  Such a great idea and wonderful gift for new mommas!  With an adjustable cord, you can make it long enough for baby to easily grab onto.  Eliana certainly enjoys having something to hold onto!  What I love most about this necklace is that it is stylish enough to wear out.  So, while we are out and about Eliana can entertain herself with this instead of my hair!  Even when I’m not wearing it, Eliana likes to hold onto the beads. 

Here are a few other options from Little Nurslings:

Something for everyone! Visit Little Nurslings!  You won’t be disappointed!

Thank you, Sarah for allowing me to review this necklace!

Camping!

We went camping with some friends a couple weeks ago and had so much fun!  Eliana was so good, just loving the outdoors!  It always seems to rain when I’m camping, and this time was no exception.  We woke up in the morning to a down pour.  We were supposed to rent a boat and go out on a lake for the day, but the rain delayed us a few hours.  When it stopped it was beautiful!  We had lots of fun being on the water!

Family time is the best!  What does your family do for fun?

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Life is busy.  SO busy!  Having a baby really does make you feel like there is not enough time in the day.  Eliana is 4 months old already and it is unbelievable how much she is changing every day!

At 4 months:

-Eliana loves to stand!  I swear if she had the balance she would be walking, she is so strong!

-She still refuses to roll over – it scares her, her arms fly out to the sides.

-She smiles all of the time!  All I have to do is make eye contact with her.  She smiles at strangers in the store.

-Sleeping on average 5 hours through the night, although sometimes 7.

-Can sit up on her own for a couple of minutes, after a few minutes she is leaning so far over her face is almost on the floor.  She’ll be there soon!

-Everyone thinks she is 6 months old…she loves to nurse!

-Takes on average 4 naps a day.

-Talks and talks and talks!  All of the time!

-Chews and sucks on anything she can, but still no teeth.

We laugh so much during the day at the little personality that she is developing.   This is such a fun age.  I am so thankful to be able to stay home with her!

Little Lady

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Eliza Rae who said:
“I have some little washies and I love them. I also think the little shoes you make are ADORABLE!”
You are the winner of the set of Bamboo Washies!  I will send you an email with details. 
To thank everyone else that entered, I am offering you 40% off a single set of Bamboo Washies.  Use code 40GIVEAWAY at checkout.  Good until next Sunday, May 29th.

Giveaway - Bamboo Washies!

New in the shop!  These Bamboo Washies are SO soft!  The backing is a bamboo terry cloth that is 70 % bamboo, 28% cotton and 2% poly.  Perfect for washing babies and toddlers! 

I’m giving away a set to one lucky winner! (Winner can pick their favorite set out of the shop.)  All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your favorite item is from My Bella Baby.  Giveaway closes on Sunday, May 22nd. 

Baby Giggles

Little miss Eliana discovered herself in the mirror…and she thinks it’s funny!  I love baby giggles!

Being a Mother Means…

Experiencing a kind of love you never knew existed.

Talking in the most annoying voices just to see your baby smile.

Seeing a different side of your spouse…and falling in love with the person they have become.

Taking pictures of your baby every time they move.

Having a messy house…and not caring about it.

Running around trying to get things done as quickly as possible during naptime.

Unending laundry.  (Especially cloth diapers)

Not having a sleep schedule.

Finding joy in the happiness your baby brings to others. 

Listening to how other people think you should take care of your baby.  (And sometimes ignoring it)

Staring at this tiny baby, unable to comprehend the blessing that they are.

Praying A LOT!

Being thankful for family.

Thinking your baby is the cutest baby in the entire world.

Not having much of a schedule.

Spending way too much money on baby things,  just because they are cute.

Feeling so proud when strangers tell you how adorable your baby is.

Learning to be completely selfless.

 

Thank you, sweet Eliana for showing me what it means to be a mommy.  I love you, dear daughter!

2 Months Old

Eliana’s First Easter

Eliana had a great first Easter.  She may be a little spoiled by her Grandma and Grandpa as well as her aunt and uncles.

Opening her Easter basket.  Can’t you tell she’s thrilled?

Taking a morning nap after some excitement.

Loving time as a family.

With her new Easter presents.

In her little Easter dress.

My baby giggled for the first time on Saturday.  Her uncle must have been pretty funny.  He got her to giggle and it was so cute.  We can’t wait to hear that little giggle everyday! 

Happy Easter!

“He is not here; He has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay. “

Matthew 28:6

Asleep At Last

I finally got Eliana to sleep longer than 20 minutes!

She likes to sleep on her belly…not her back.

Diaper Cream & Lotion

I found this great recipe for a diaper cream from Passionate Homemaking for Miss Eliana.  I noticed her little bum getting red and immediately turned to this.  It didn’t even take a full day for the redness to go away.  A week later the same thing happened…worked like a charm again.  So, I thought I’d share this with you because it is natural and inexpensive to make.

First, gather your supplies: coconut oil, shea butter , arrowroot powder or talc-free cornstarch (to thicken) , a container to store it in and a hand mixer to blend together.

         

{I purchased my coconut oil and shea butter at Mountain Rose Herbs.}

Next, place 1/4 cu. shea butter, 1/8 cup coconut oil  and 3-4 Tbls. arrowroot powder in a bowl.  Blend until cream resembles a whipped icing.  (You may need to soften the shea butter before blending…I didn’t today because it is warm in my house, so it was soft enough.  When it is cooler inside, I soften the shea butter in a pan on the stove.)  Place in container and store. 

This recipe is so simple and quick to make.  We use it as a hand lotion too!  It is a little greasy because it is made with coconut oil, but it absorbs into skin very quickly. 

*Read Passionate Homemaking’s original post here to learn of the great benefits of coconut oil and shea butter.

Win $25 to My Bella Baby!

Upload a photo of your little one to the My Bella Baby Facebook fan page using/wearing a My Bella Baby product (washies, baby shoes, etc.) and you will be entered to win a $25 credit to my shop!  Giveaway closes Friday, April 22nd.

    

i love this smile…

           She must have been having a good dream…

My Birth Story

On Monday,  February 28th I woke up at about 6:00 and called the  Dr. about minor complications I was having. (I’ll spare the details)   The Dr. said to head to the hospital to get checked out…just to be safe.  So, we got everything together quickly and ran out the door.  The roads were icy and we almost slid into another car at a stop light...that would have been lovely. 
We ended up getting to the ER at about 6:30 and went up to a room.   As soon as the Dr. got there he came in and checked me.  I was only at 2 cm. dilated, almost 3.  So, he wanted to monitor me for awhile.  I started having small contractions about 2-3 minutes apart.  They were very inconsistent in strength though.  Some just little cramps and some stronger.  So, at about 10 the nurse checked me again and said I hadn't changed.  The contractions weren't putting me into labor. She was almost sure the Dr. would send me home so my husband started getting our stuff together to go.  She came back in and said the Dr. wanted to break my water because he's not comfortable sending me home at this point.  We were pretty surprised. 
The Dr. came in at about 12:45 and talked to us about what was going to happen.  He broke my water and said if labor doesn't start on it's own they would have to give me something to get labor started.  We weren't thrilled about that because I was envisioning a LONG labor.  Well, labor started immediately and came on strong.  The nurse offered for me to labor in the jacuzzi or shower and I decided to try the jacuzzi.  After about 20 minutes she took me to the jacuzzi down the hall and I got in and felt immediate relief.  (Except for the contractions that were getting really intense.)  I almost fell asleep between contractions I was so relaxed.  It was getting bad so I told my husband that I needed some kind of pain medicine (that wasn’t in the plans…I intended on having a natural labor).   He called for the nurse and when she came I was feeling like I had to push.  She looked down and said "oh, we can't have this baby in the tub!"  She called about 3 other nurses along with my husband to get me out and ran back to my room.  I felt so out of it, I could have been running down the hall naked and wouldn't have cared.  Haha!  I got into bed and they got everything ready as I'm sitting there pushing because I couldn't help it.  Needless to say, it was too late for any pain medicine.  They of course wouldn't deliver her without the Dr. so they just let me push for about 10 minutes until the Dr. got there.  He sat down and Eliana Kathryn was born within a minute, first push.  2:41 p.m. 8 lbs. 21" long.  And she looked just  like her daddy!  Especially his baby pictures. 
I have to say, it was a very fast labor.  I'd like to say it was easy because it was so fast, but it was pretty intense.  Would I have another natural labor?  I say yes now because I think it’s easy to forget about the pain, but I don’t know how I’ll feel next time.  I wasn’t to the point of wanting an epidural, but I sure wanted some kind of relief.  Hopefully next time is just as fast.  That way I won’t have a choice again.  I am happy that I got to do it naturally.  I felt so good immediately after she was born.  I don’t think things could have gone any better.  We fell in love so quickly with this sweet little girl!  She definitely stole our hearts…

Sleepy Girl

{Taggie Blanket from Alexandra Rose}

My little lady doesn’t like to sleep without being held.  Even though I would love to sit and hold her while she’s napping (because she’s so cute and cuddly!) I know I can’t get into that habit.  She sleeps for 20 minutes at a time when I’m not holding her.  It’s like she’s her own little alarm clock…. 20 minutes hits and she’s up!

Does anyone else have babies that sleep like that?  Or any tips on how to get baby to sleep longer?  I think I’ve set a record for the amount of stuff I can get done in 20 minutes…

Life Lessons

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's okay to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's okay to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

My Happy Girl

Eliana is 6 weeks old already.  She is starting to smile a lot.  It has been so much fun spending all day with my baby.  I’m so thankful that I can work at home.  I love to see these baby smiles!

Little Eliana

Almost 4 weeks have gone by since our sweet Eliana was born.  It has been a joyful 4 weeks and we feel extremely blessed by this little girl that has stolen our hearts. 

We’re still adjusting to Daddy being at work all day.  It's difficult to get things done because I have a snuggly girl.  She only sleeps without anyone holding her for about 20 minutes at a time.  She will sleep on your chest for 2 hours though!  So, my baby wrap has been a lifesaver.

Eliana is already a Daddy’s girl.  He reads to her and she listens so intently.  She sure is an alert and curious baby.

She hates bath time!

We think she is the most darling baby.  She sleeps for about 5 hours at a time through the night and is a happy baby.  Really only cries when she’s hungry or tired.  From day one she has had such a strong neck and she is really starting to learn to use her legs.  She kicks and kicks when she’s upset. 

Motherhood is the best.  Life certainly has changed but only for the better.  We thank God every day for this sweet little miracle.

Eliana Kathryn is here!!!

Eliana Kathryn

Born Feb. 28th. at 2:41 p.m.

8 lbs. 21” long

Nursery & 39 Weeks!

Here are some pictures of the completed nursery!  We are so excited about how it turned out and can't wait for Baby to come so we can finally use it instead of just looking at it.  :)  I had a lot of fun making her bedding and curtains and my husband was a great help with painting and putting furniture together. 

Notice the blurred out nursery art.  ;)  We still haven't told a single person her name!  I thought for sure I would have slipped and said it, but it has remained a surprise for her birth.

And here is my 39 week belly!  Wednesday is my due date and I'm thinking Baby will come right around there... I haven't been having any contractions, so I'm not sure if that means anything or not?  All I know is I am ready to meet this little lady!