Raised Real, Baby!

 

While scrolling through Instagram a couple months ago, I came across an ad for a company called Raised Real. I decided to check them out, and I instantly knew it was something I needed to try for Natalie. We try our best to eat fairly healthy, and we want the same for our babies. Raised Real is an amazing baby food company that makes feeding baby healthy and clean food super easy! 

With Baylee, we did primarily baby led weaning when it came to meal time, but it was a little difficult to always feed her whatever we were eating. I found myself often having to make something separate for her, and wasting a lot of food in the process. Raised Real comes in ready-to-make packets that you just add water to and steam on the stove for a few minutes...instant healthy meal for Natalie! The best part? If you don't do baby led weaning, the food can easily be mashed or pureed for some super healthy baby food with no questionable ingredients.

 

Natalie has absolutely loved every packet that we have tried. Her favorite is the peas, zucchini, hemp seeds, and basil in avocado oil. She has so much fun picking up the food and trying to feed herself, and I love that she is getting familiar with different flavors. With Baylee being back in school, dinner has been even more of a challenge during the week, so it's been great to have Natalie's Raised Real meals to take away the stress of having to make something different for her. We can all eat dinner together at the table at night, and that has made our evenings so much nicer. :)

 

There's no better time to try out Raised Real for your baby, because right now they are offering my followers $25 off their order! Just use the code ASHLEE25 at checkout, and you'll be on your way to getting some amazing, healthy food for your baby that is going to make your life so much easier! 

 

Natalie promises you'll love it! ;)

Until next time! XoXoXo

 

3-6 Month Must Haves

 

I'm so excited about the must-haves for this age range, because so many fun things get added to baby's day as they start playing, learning to sit, and adding in solids. Here are a few of my favorite things I used all the time during the last 3 months with Natalie:

1. Ergo Carrier: By far, this is the best carrier I have ever used. It is so comfortable to wear, and she never cries while she's in it. She loves to face out while we are walking around places like Disneyland, and then I turn her to face me for snuggly naps. The game changer for me has been the attached sun shade and the detachable pouch that it comes with. Super useful to have! This carrier is worth every dime, people!

2. Bumbo: I know this product has had mixed reviews over the years, but Baylee, my two nieces, and now Natalie have all used it starting around 3 months, and they were all early sitters! I never let Natalie sit in it too long, and always supervised. She loved seeing her world from a different angle, and it functioned as a seat for her when we introduced solids. She started sitting up independently at just under 5 months old, and I know the Bumbo helped! 

3. Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit: I now have two girls to show proof that this sleepsuit is a life saver! Both my girls used it to transition out of the swaddle, and they both did amazing with it. Natalie did significantly better than Baylee, but she's been a better sleeper since day one, so I'm not surprised. As soon as I put this thing on Nat she knows its bed time and starts closing her eyes. It helped to keep her from startling awake, and other than the 4 month sleep regression, she has been sleeping anywhere from 9-12 hours straight with it on! As of right now she hasn't starting rolling over in it, but I will be really sad when she does. We have started practicing with a sleep sack for naps, but its just not the same!

4. Logan & Alice Teethers: These teethers are the cutest, and Natalie absolutely loves hers! They come in a pineapple, fox, bear, and teepee in all kinds of colors. Super adorable!

5. Baby Einstein Jumper: Love, love, love this thing, and I wish I had had one for Baylee. Natalie loves to bounce around and play with her toys; it keeps her so entertained! We added our own links to ours and change out the toys every so often to make it fun for her. She loves making the music go off on the little piano, and sometimes I let her bounce before bed to get her super tired. :)

6. Mesh Feeder: These are so fun for beginning eaters and teething! We like to put frozen blueberries, apple chunks, and pears in ours and she goes to town on them. You can also put in a cube of ice or breast milk for relief from sore gums. I throw mine in the dishwasher after use to make clean up super easy!

What are your favorite products for this age range

I would love to try some new ideas or add some to the list!

Until next time! XoXoXo

 

Six Months With Natalie

It's my sweet baby's half birthday! Don't even ask me where the last 6 months have gone because I have no clue! I'm so excited though, because, while I love all the newborn snuggles, the second half of the first year is so much more fun!

Natalie had a big month adding some "big-girl" food to her diet. So far, she has tried and liked pureed bananas, carrots, apples, and green beans. We have also began doing some baby led weaning with her. She has tried a banana, green beans, and toast so far, and I plan on letting her try avocado and sweet potatoes soon. She definitely isn't as big of a fan of food as big sister was at her age. Baylee would practically dance for food, but Natalie can kind of take it or leave it. Because of that, I'm not forcing it on her at all. She only gets food during our dinner time, and if shes napping or just not into it, then I don't even bother. I know in time her love for food will grow! :)

 

For milestones this month, Natalie has perfected sitting up unassisted. She loves sitting on a blanket and chewing on her toys and is perfectly entertained doing so for 20-30 minutes at a time! She has also started to reach up for me to pick her up, which I love, but along with that has come some major separation anxiety. She definitely does not like for me to not be within her range of sight! She also discovered our cocker spaniel, Stella, and is completely thrilled by her!

 

Natalie just had her six month checkup and is a super healthy little peanut! She is 15 pounds 2 ounces and 24.5 inches long, my tiny teapot! :) She is in size 3 diapers and 6 month clothes. She is finally sleeping through the night most nights, but right now she's teething super bad so we have some rough nights here and there still. She's happy 95% of the time, and her favorite things are bottles, naps, mama cuddles, and her crazy sister. She giggles almost every time Baylee walks into the room, and just adores her to pieces!

 

I just love this girl so much! I can't even remember life without her. I am so excited to be able to bond with her even more while Baylee is at school a few days a week and it's just the two of us. 

Happy half birthday my peanut! 

I love you to the moon and back! 

 

Until next time! XoXoXo

 

 

 

Natalie's 6 Month Photo Shoot

It's funny how #secondbabyproblems is totally a thing...

By the time Baylee was 6 months old she was having her 5th photo shoot taken; my poor Natalie though, has had 1..when she was a month old. Oops, sorry baby! 

To redeem myself, I decided to go all out and do a fancy shoot for her 1/2 birthday, & oh my, I am in love with the result! This little babe of mine is just yummy!

 

 

This is literally just 1/4 of all the gorgeous photos that I got from Jamie D Photography! If you are local to the Inland Empire and looking for a photographer to shoot your kiddos, family, wedding, or maternity pictures then make sure you check her out! :) 

Also, can we just talk about how my big girl is starting Pre-K and my baby is turning 6 months all in the same week? 

*Cue mama tears.* 

Until next time! XoXoXo