Beautycounter For My Beauties!

As a mama who has kiddos with very sensitive skin, I'm always on the hunt for baby products that are more on the natural side, and won't make their skin rashy. Baylee has eczema, so I have to be especially careful about what I use on her skin. Recently, a friend of mine introduced me to a line of baby care products (and products for mommy too!) called Beautycounter and I immediately got excited about it. They are a completely honest company when it comes to what kind of ingredients they use in each of their products. They also abide by a list called "The Never List" which are potentially harmful ingredients that are still legal in the U.S. (but banned in other countries) that they vow to never have in any of their products. And the best part? Nothing is ridiculously expensive. With Beautycounter you are getting a safe, high quality product for around the same price as you would spend on a similar product completely full of potentially harmful chemicals. I was sold, so I decided to give their baby bundle a try! The bundle includes baby wash, balm, and oil, and so far I LOVE them all!

 

The wash is very gentle, and we follow it up with the oil after I dry them off. The balm is perfect for any dry skin or eczema flares, and I also use it when Natalie has diaper rash! It's so reassuring to know that I can go on the website and look up exactly what I am putting on my kids. 

 

As you can see, Miss Natalie is definitely a fan! :) 

We love bath time with Beautycounter! 

If you want to try out these amazing products for yourself (or any of the other products they have!) just click here to place an order. You can also contact me with any questions you might have. There is a 60 day money back guarantee, so trying it out is completely risk free, which is SO important when it comes to sensitive baby skin. I am also hosting a giveaway on my Instagram for one of my followers, so make sure you click here to enter!

 

Until next time! XoXoXo

 

 

 

Parenting A Spirited Child

 

If you have a “spirited child” you know exactly everything I’m about to say. The preschool age is hard no matter what, but a spirited child takes it to the next level. When Baylee first became a threenager I wrote this post talking about how rough things had suddenly become with her. A few months later, it dawned on me that she was no ordinary 3-year-old. She's as defiant as a 14-year-old and is completely fearless of consequences for misbehavior. I discussed her behavior with my mom who proceeded to tell me that my middle sister was the exact same way and that her preschool teacher referred to her as a “spirited child”. Yes! That was the exact way to describe Baylee! 
 
A spirited child is not bad, in fact quite the opposite. They are good-hearted kids who just have major opinions and an eye for things being fair and in the order that they perceive to be correct. When things are going Baylee’s way and according to her norm (the biggest creature of habit it have ever met) she is the sweetest most compassionate kid around. She’s loving, playful and an absolute motor mouth who tells funny stories that go on forever. When something breaks her norm or doesn’t go according to the way she anticipated though, forget about it. She’s about to take the poor victim (usually me or Brian) on a roller coaster ride. She’s sassy, and knows just what to say to hurt feelings. She’s relentless and stubborn and won’t take “no” for an answer. (We have had a temper tantrum that lasted 90 minutes before...not exaggerating...)
 
It has honestly been so hard to learn how to keep my cool when punishing her. She makes me want to fly off the handle when she stamps her little foot and screams at me the way she wants things to go. And when she tells me that I’m the meanest mommy ever, I want to take every toy she owns and chuck it in the trash. She knows just how to make me feel terrible and unappreciated. I have to remind myself on the daily that she’s only been on this earth for 3.5 years, and she’s just very well spoken. And I have to learn her, I still have a lot to figure out, but it’s getting better.

 
So, here is what I have learned so far about parenting a spirited child:
 
1. Spirited children need consistency. It’s okay to break their norm when out and about, but at home or at school they need a schedule and to stick to it as much as possible. Baylee has a night time routine and if I do anything out of order or skip a step she is sure to remind me.
 
2. Spirited children like to know what’s coming next. You know what I’m talking about if you’ve ever had the “...and then what are we doing?” conversation with your child. When Baylee asks me exactly what we are doing all day long I have learned to just tell her. It makes her happier if she has an understanding of how her day is going to go.
 
3. Spirited children NEED to play. I am sooo very guilty of giving Baylee too much screen time since Natalie was born, but I am learning how to keep her entertained through play. She does so much better when we go to the park, play in the backyard, or when she just has time to play with her toys. Creative outlets make her a way happier kiddo.
 
4. Spirited children need one-on-one attention. When Natalie first came home from the hospital, Baylee was acting up like crazy. It didn’t take me long to realize that she was just trying to get my attention even if it was in a negative way. I have been learning to remember to give her some time every day for just us while her sister naps.

5. Spirited children need to be listened to. Baylee gets so frustrated if someone interrupts her or doesn't respond to her. I have learned to be patient and let her take her time to say what she needs to say, and if I can't respond to her right away, we are working on her having patience and waiting for her turn to speak.

 
In the end, having a spirited child can be very fun and entertaining. Baylee is so funny and can keep me laughing all day long with the things she comes up with. I love her to pieces and wouldn’t ever want her any other way! I know this kid's strong-will is going to take her far in life, I just have to survive her in the meantime. ;)

Until next time! XoXoXo

0-3 Month Must Haves

 

I did posts on all my "must haves" when Baylee was a baby, and it's amazing how many things are different just 4 years later! Here are the main things I couldn't live with out the last 3 months with Natalie: 

1. Dock-A-Tot: I love this thing with a passion. Every time I need to do something around the house (or, you know, pee...) I can plop her in the DAT in any room of the house! She also just loves to hang out in it next to me while I blog or drink my coffee in the morning.

2. Rock'N'Play: When I registered for the RNP for my baby shower, I had no idea just how much it would come in handy! Natalie had terrible reflux issues her first 3 months (they're finally getting better) so I had to have her inclined after every feed and during sleep. She recently started napping in her crib with a reflux wedge, but she still sleeps in the RNP every night like a little rock. Most nights she sleeps a 6-8 hour stretch and it is SO amazing. I also love that I can take it in any room of the house! I have taken many showers with her chilling in the RNP in the bathroom. ;)

3. Ollie Swaddle: The Ollie is, by far, the best swaddle I've ever owned! It keeps Natalie so cozy without overheating her, and it's so easy and fast to put her in it! I will definitely use these with any future babies!

4. Boppy: I used the Boppy 80% of our nursing sessions when I was breastfeeding Natalie. It made it so much easier to hold her and get our positioning correct. We also use it for tummy time and to prop her up while on her back.

5. Play Mat: We had a different play mat for Baylee, but this time around I wanted something super small that wouldn't take up a lot of space in our house that is already covered in toys! This play mat is adorable, and Natalie loves looking at all her toys and swatting them.

These two things aren't in the picture but they are definitely on the list:

6. Solly Wrap: This is the best wrap I have ever used! Its so comfortable and lightweight, and Natalie loves being snuggled up next to me in it!

7. Owlet Baby Monitor: I shared my love for the Owlet in this post, so you all know that I think it's pretty much the best baby product ever! I don't know how we ever lived without one!

My little buggie is already getting so big! 

I'll have a new round up of 3-6 month items in a few months!

  

Until next time! XoXoXo

Three Months With Natalie

 

Natalie is 3 months old today, and time is just flying! I can't believe a quarter of her first year is already over. My heart already misses my tiny newborn who only fit in preemie clothes at the hospital, but I am so excited for how much fun she is about to get! We haven't had another doctor's appointment recently, but according to our scale shes around 12 pounds and is wearing 3 month size clothes and size 1 diapers (but we will probably be moving up to size 2 in a couple weeks if not sooner!). She is getting super chunky especially in her cheeks and thighs and I could just eat her up! :)

 

This month, Natalie rolled tummy to back for the first time! She's the mostly smiley baby ever and has even giggled a couple times. She's completely chill, goes with the flow, and rarely cries. As of right now she sleeps for 8-9 hours at night before she wakes up to eat and then goes back down for another 2-3 hours. It. Is. Amazing. :) I can only hope she stays such a good sleeper as she gets older! We are starting the process of moving her from her sleeper to her crib, so that might be a bit of a game changer. Fingers crossed!

We took Natalie for her first visit to Disneyland this month and it was so much fun! She, of course, slept through most of it, but she loved all the colors and being pushed around in her stroller. She's definitely going to be raised a Disney girl just like her sis!

 

If you follow me on Instagram (@coffeeandgraceblog) you know that Natalie's reflux has been giving us a world of problems. Her doctor wanted her tested for pyloric stenosis, so I took her for an upper GI and some X-rays, but so far everything has been inconclusive. I decided to take matters into my own hands, and realized that she was taking in an awful lot of air while she was breastfeeding. I thought maybe we just had a funky latch and I was unaware. I bought her some anti-reflux bottles and started pumping. She took to the bottle almost instantly, and her vomiting practically stopped overnight. If you have ever pumped, though, you know how much work and how painful it is. I truly wanted to breastfeed until 6 months, but trying to pump, take care of Natalie, and chase Baylee around all at the same time was wearing me paper thin. I made the very tough decision to start her on formula, and as of a couple days ago she's is 100% formula fed. I know a happy mommy is a good mommy, so my sanity had to come first; as did her health. I loved breastfeeding her, but now I know she will be healthy and won't puke half her feeds. 

 

Natalie's favorite person in the world is her big sister Baylee. They completely adore each other and Natalie saves her biggest smiles for Sis! So far they have had their first movie camp out together and recently shared Natalie's first bubble bath. :) 

 

Happy 3 months my little peanut! 

You are so loved and we can't imagine this life without you in it! 

 

Until next time! XoXoXo