10 Things to do in Your Third Trimester

Whether it's your first time, your fifth time or any time you're having a baby, there are a few things you might want to put on then check off the ol' to-do list. Pregnancy brain is real and if you're already a mom then doubled up with mom brain it's so easy to forget these things. No, it's not the end of the world if everything or even nothing is checked off before baby arrives BUT it probably would make the crazy readjustment period easier for everyone. So with the help of friends, because #mombrain + #pregnancybrain right here, I've compiled a list that hopefully will be helpful for those of you in the home stretch of your pregnancy. All you have to remember is to use it!

Order A Breast Pump

If you plan to breastfeed you will need to contact your insurance company to find out how to go about ordering yours for free! While you're on the phone with someone there, make sure to ask if there is anything else you need to do before baby's arrival if he or she will be covered under your plan. 

Install Car Seat

If this is your first rodeo you want to make sure that the car seat and/or base is installed correctly. YouTube videos can be really helpful or your local fire department can show you! Even if this isn't your first baby I'd still advise having the car seat installed and ready to go because it's one last thing you have to worry about in the whirlwind of going to the hospital and having a new baby.

Contact Your Pediatrician + Pre-Register

First time mamas,  you need to pick a pediatrician and make sure the practice is accepting new patients. If you already have another child and will continue to see your current doctor it's still nice to let the office know you are nearing your due date. Also, most hospitals allow you to pre-register either online or by phone. One less thing to worry about when you're in labor!

Gather Supplies + Pack Bags

Make a hospital bag packing list and have everything you need for you and baby. Depending on your situation, you may want to pack those bags around 36 weeks. But if you at least have everything then someone should be able to go back home and grab anything you forgot in a rush to get out the door. 

Confirm Maternity Leave & Childcare

If you are a working mama you've already talked to HR about your maternity leave plan. But it's a good idea to do a final check-in to ensure everyone is on the same page and you are aware of how the payment schedule and insurance coverage will work while you're gone. You will also want to have your childcare situation taken care of whether it's choosing and setting up daycare or just confirming with whoever is going to be caring for your baby. 

Spend One On One Time

Go on some final dates before it's no longer just you and your hubby or your family dynamic totally changes again. If you already have kids make it a point to do something fun with them individually. 

Baby Registry or Wish List
I highly recommend completing or at least starting your baby registry in your second trimester. It can be so daunting as a first time mom and the more time you have to consider the massive variety of items the better. If you aren't having a shower this go round someone may still be throwing you a little sprinkle or you at least need a few new items for baby. Go through what you have and make a list of what you want/need so you can share the list with family + friends or use it yourself to shop. If you plan to nurse make sure you do have everything you think you'll need including some nursing friendly clothing items. Possibly you didn't like something you used or wore the first time around and want to go a different route so do that now! It's also a good idea to have a few different types of bottles to see which your baby prefers but also not a big deal if someone needs to run out and pick a few up after baby arrives.

Wash Clothes + Bottles

Mamas using hand me downs or a few new things for babe, break those out and throw in a load. First timers, don't rip the tags off of everything just yet! Your baby may never even wear newborn sleepers and you actually don't need 25 receiving blankets. Go ahead and wash 0-3 and up and pick your favorite blankets, nursing pillow cover and accessories (socks, bottles, hats, mittens). If you get one round done and ready to go you're ahead of the game. The rest can wait. Same goes for bottles. Get enough bottles and pump parts if you're nursing clean and shiny then you can see how things go with certain bottles and/or breastfeeding is working out. 

Set Up Baby Gear

Put together whatever baby will be sleeping and/or lounging in, learn how to use any carriers you plan to and make sure the baby monitor is working properly. Not only is this helpful because these are things you won't be trying to do under the pressure of a screaming infant, but having them out can also help prepare older siblings and/or pets for baby's arrival.

Birth Plan

If you feel strongly about anything you are able to control during labor and delivery, write up your plan and share it with your doctor. It's also necessary to have a plan in place for siblings while mom and dad are at the hospital. Then there's the conversations you never want to have put probably should. Talk to your partner about the what ifs and how you think you'd want things handled should those unfortunate situations occur. If baby has to go to the NICU will dad go with him or her? 

Extras

If you have time and are of a mind to care, make some freezer meals to have on hand for those early crazy weeks. Have someone come to deep clean the house or do it yourself because #nesting. Organize baby's supplies so you aren't fumbling around looking for things when you get home from the hospital. If baby has siblings maybe consider big bro/sis gifts "from baby". 

Hopefully this list is helpful but not overwhelming. Having a baby is a big deal. Don't stress if you don't check everything (or anything) off the list because I promise someone will step in to help. But definitely don't feel bad for making it a priority to cross off everything either. Wishing all you mamas to be a safe and easy delivery + healthy babes!

How We Transitioned Our Toddler Out of The Crib

I want to start by saying this is not a "how to" post. I'm no sleep expert and I believe timing is everything on this kind of thing. Fallon has always been ready for the next step well before she's either able to be or before other people think she should be. Chris and I have learned this as her parents and 100% are not trying to push her to grow up too soon. But we do follow her cues and try to help her get to where she wants to go as we feel it's appropriate. Sometimes I could swear she cried all through her first year of life because she just hated being a baby! She's been consistently trying to climb out of her crib, obviously craving more independence and the timing was perfect to give this transition a shot before she becomes a big sister. We went in with positive thoughts but low expectations. And really that, above anything else, is my best advice. 

Regardless of transitioning out of the crib we had planned to upgrade Fallon's room from nursery to toddler bedroom this year before the new arrival. The first thing we did was arrange the room as it would be with the twin bed in it but moved the crib there for a week. I'm not sure that it made a difference but her bed had not arrived yet and it just made sense to see if she would be okay with suddenly sleeping on the other side of the room. She could have cared less. 

Once the new bed was assembled and in place we showed her, acting very excited and calling it her big girl bed. We made it all up with bedding and a brand new furry pillow (her favorite!) and let her get in and check it out. This was during the day and not being known for her consistent napping habits, we definitely planned to try sleeping in the new bed at night. Maybe if your kid is a better napper than nighttime sleeper it would make sense to try during nap time first!

I've shared about how our DockATot did help Fallon to nap more consistently, although she just is not the nap for several hours at the same time every day kind of kid and very well never will be. But she also just loves to lounge, hang out with her buddies and snack in it. So we put it in her new twin bed and that is actually what she's been sleeping in on the bed. 

And maybe most importantly, we kept everything else the same. We have a very established bedtime routine that has worked well for us for quite awhile. You can read about it here but the overview is bath (every other night), brush teeth + oils, relax and watch TV/read books then upstairs to turn on the heater (or fan) and diffuser, rock for a few minutes and then go to sleep. We use 3 rollers made of essential oils, Thieves for immune support on bottoms of feet, Lavender + Cedarwood on toes for the sweetest dreams and Peace & Calming behind the ears to wind down for the night. We typically diffuse Lavender + Peace & Calming + Gentle Baby as we've learned that's her favorite blend to fall asleep to! 

The first night I was prepared for her to protest when I put her in the new bed. She didn't. I came downstairs and turned on the monitor fully expecting her to get up and out of bed. She didn't. She went to sleep as she normally would and I went to bed expecting to be woken up in the middle of the night because she was scared or confused or just missed the familiarity of her crib. Nope. She woke up around her normal time and did get out of bed but did not try to get out of her room. I made a huge deal when I went in to get her, acting very excited and praising her for being such a big girl and sleeping in her new bed. Then we ate donuts. The rest of the week, including daddy being home a couple nights (he works nights so usually I put her to bed solo) and even a sleepover with her aunt, went just as smoothly as that first time. 

We are still shocked. And still expecting problems to arise. But right now we are celebrating this as a win. A big win. 

A few things to note. We decided to go straight to the twin bed because with Fallon, you just go big or go home. The DockATot will stay for a little while until we are sure this first week wasn't just a lucky fluke. It keeps her from falling out and is comforting to her and if we have to leave it there for awhile, that's fine! There are some toys in her room that she's been playing with when she gets up, exactly what we hoped for instead of her trying to just leave the room. Currently there isn't anything stopping her from escaping but we will make adjustments if necessary. 

This is what has been working for us. It won't work for every kid. I stand by the belief that the biggest factor is in this success was the fact that she was clearly ready. We just followed her lead!

The Bed Time Routine

Even just a few months ago I never would have believed I'd be writing this post. Although Fallon has been an A+ nighttime sleeper basically since birth, getting her to sleep at night was not always so easy. In fact, many nights it took so long I was ready for bed myself by the end of it all. But consistency was key and FINALLY all our efforts to maintain a routine paid off. I can honestly say that at least 95% of the time we take the same steps before bed time within the same general timeframe and Fallon goes right to sleep without so much as a fuss. She wakes us up at the crack of dawn but I can still count on one hand the number of times Chris or I have had to go to her room after she's gone to bed in the last year. We may be failing in all other parenting aspects but at least we've got this going for us! So many people have asked for our nightly routine specifics and honestly I haven't shared because it's nothing fancy and maybe even a little boring. But there must be some kind of magic to it for us so we go.....

6PM - Bath Time

As soon as Fallon was old enough to get sink baths we started doing them every single night around the same time. I can't say for sure that it helped to serve as a base for understanding a nighttime routine but it certainly didn't hurt. We now just do baths every other night unless it's necessary and sometimes baths happen in the morning for a variety of reasons. But mostly we stick to bath time after dinner.

6:30PM - Calm Down

Lotion, jammies and oils immediately follow bath time or we start the routine now if it's not a bath night. We've been using essential oils consistently for over 6 months with Fallon and I think they've made huge improvements. She has a rollerball of Lavender + Cedarwood for the bottoms of her feet and one with Peace & Calming to go behind her ears for all the winding down for bed time vibes. 

7:00PM - Relax

By this time Fallon has to either sit with me or Chris to read books or watch a movie/TV show. No more playing, just quiet chill time. Sometimes she does protest or even scream if she was doing something she thought was really fun. But generally we do not waiver and she will comply fairly easily. 

7:30PM - Bed Time

A drop of Lavender or Gentle Baby on her lovey or stuffed buddy of choice and upstairs we go. We make it a point to tell her it's time to go Night Night and I'm still shocked when she shakes her head yes as she rubs her tired little eyes. Occasionally she will even get up and walk to the steps. In her room we turn on her diffuser, which has already been filled with water and a sleepy time blend. My go to for her is Lavender + Gentle Baby but we will add Frankinsence if it's been a really rough day or switch to RC + Lemon if she has the sniffles or some congestion. We rock for a minute or 2 in the rocker even though it's completely unnecessary at this point, just a nice way to end the night with her. Then in her crib she goes, we cover her up + give her a kiss and quietly leave the room. I cannot tell you how many times I've come downstairs, looked at the monitor and she's already asleep! 

These are steps we've fallen into with trial and error and learning how our child responds. Essential oils obviously now play a large part in our nightly routine and I am happy to share more if there is interest. But if that's not your thing they can certainly be left out! We are still novice parents over here but when you discover something that seems to work well continuously, it's nice to share.

Sweet Dreams!

True Life: I'm A Social Media Influencer

Let me begin by explaining exactly what a social media influencer is. Contrary to popular belief, blogger and influencer are not interchangeable terms. While most of the time you will find that they are one in the same, it does not always hold true that a blogger is an influencer and an influencer is a blogger. Bloggers may simply blog as a hobby and influencers may use just one or several social media platforms but do not have a blog. Today we are talking specifically about influencers. "A Social Media Influencer is a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific industry. A social media influencer has access to a large audience and can persuade others by virtue of their authenticity and reach." - Pixlee.com

I've only been an influencer for a few months now but I have begun to receive questions almost daily about how the whole gig works. So I thought it was time to go behind the scenes and I've asked a few friends to contribute with their personal experience as well. While being a social media influencer may look like an easy way to get free stuff and make a few extra bucks, this insider information will quickly let you in on the secret that it's not all that simple. If you've been curious about what we actually do, how we do it, why we do it or how you can do it too, grab your coffee and start scrolling. 

Instagram is a social media platform I've been using for several years. My account used to be private, just for family and friends to see, and I had no idea there was a whole other world beyond my little bubble. I made my account public about 2 years ago when my blog, that was just a fun hobby at the time, started to grow a following. When your account is public is means that anyone can find your page and follow along without asking permission. Followers started coming in as I tracked my pregnancy and became a first time mom. But I wasn't introduced to the world of social media influencing until Fallon was about 6 months old. I had started to have pictures where I tagged items from small shops reposted on their pages. Accounts I followed who seemed to be posting similar pictures to mine started following me back. And then one day I was asked to join a group of mamas in a chat group and that's where my influencer life all began. 

I quickly learned that these women were all moms who were getting free items from shops in exchange for posting pictures featuring these products on their Instagram pages and/or blogs. I was intrigued with the concept and wanted in! Around this time I received a message from a small shop requesting to collaborate. I had just learned this meant they wanted to send me free items for Fallon so that I would post pictures of her wearing/using them aka marketing for the shop. After that first collaboration I started asking more questions of my friends. We all began chatting about shops we liked and researching their pages and websites to get contact information for collaborations. I had no idea that many shops actually have specific e-mails for social media influencers! This is where things just sort of took off. 

I began to e-mail and message shops I wanted to work and I was receiving invitations simultaneously. It all seemed kind of glamorous and exciting at first, but I quickly realized that there is a whole lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. Different companies have different requirements and requests for each collaboration. There can be negotiations as far as how many posts will be agreed upon and if payment is a factor in addition to free product/services. Pictures have to be taken in a professional looking manner featuring the gifted items then edited and captioned in a way to market the product. Blog posts are even more involved with additional photos and reviews. Of course all of this adds up to a lot more time and effort than I ever imagined. And we all know how unpredictable baby models can be, so sometimes even if the sun is in just the right spot for a picture, your kid just wants to run away screaming instead of smiling for the camera. 

As influencers we have to wear many hats: photographer, editor, marketing specialist, account manager. Essentially you create and build your own personal brand. And that can become overwhelming when you find yourself staring at deadlines with a cranky, teething baby, a mountain of laundry and hardly a second to catch your breath from running around all day. The hardest part for me has been managing my time since I'm not always promised nap time. What I've learned is that at the end of the day, I'm my own boss. And although I do mostly have fun taking pictures of Fallon, seeing the end result of my editing efforts and sharing products I love with my social community, I have to keep my priorities in line. It was a hard lesson biting off more than I could chew when I was captured by the allure of free things I wanted and monetary compensation. But when I was trying to do all the things all the time I was starting to fail (in my mind) at everything. So I took a step back to reevaluate. And now I feel confident with where I stand. When presented with an opportunity I take time to decide if the offer of just product is worth all my efforts or if I will only take it on with the addition of payment. I only reach out to companies I truly love already or feel would be a great fit for my brand. 

In the beginning it's a little difficult to be choosy because you're at the bottom of the totem pole. I certainly don't recommend representing any brand or product you do not support, however sometimes you have to get your foot in the door. So promoting products you may not have had interest in using otherwise is like paying your dues. Once you have proven yourself as a successful influencer, then it's appropriate to be more selective and make your own demands. I may spend 2-4 hours, sometimes more, on a single collaboration. So I factor all of that time and effort into my conversations with potential partners. You have to be your own advocate, know what you want and not be afraid to ask for it. 

Honestly, being a social media influencer can be a really fun and rewarding side job. I've found some amazing brands I'll continue to support, met truly good people I call friends and found something I can do to save money and/or earn money for family that I enjoy. But it is a JOB, one I take seriously. And it always has to come second to my single most important role, being mom. 

Some friends have generously shared their own personal experiences working as influencers. You can find their social information below if you'd like to learn more about them. Enjoy!

"I think the number one thing I hear when people read or talk to me about my blog or Instagram is how cool all the 'free' stuff I get is. I totally agree with them on how cool the product is that I am receiving. However I wish I could tell them that sometimes that has meant hours of work about a 10 dollar product. Especially as I was just learning.  So product isn't free, it's just at times the form of payment I get for my job.  

I have really enjoyed diving into the influencer and blogging world this past year, and love the community and world it throws you into. I think there is a balance that I need to learn and that all people doing this have to learn. It's 24/7 if you let it become that, and that is exhausting, but like with anything else with time you learn to set boundaries and gain balance. 

If I were to give people looking at doing this as a hobby or career one piece of advice it's to know that it's going to be A LOT of work, and a total rat race.  So if they are looking at it as a quick or easy way to earn money, it's probably not the right place to look.  But it's also an amazing place to look if you're looking for a way to help your family and work from home with kids!!"

XO Arin

Instagram

Blog

"So you want to be a blogger huh? Seems easy, you post pictures to social media, post on your blog, take pictures. All seems easy to some people. To be an influencer it takes time, lots and lots of time and dedication. When it comes to being an influencer people don't understand how much time is put into just one post. The amount of time it takes to take pictures, edit them, type up the perfect post, submit it for approval if you're collaborating or working on a sponsored post, it's time consuming. I work full time and blog on the side all while caring for my family. I set time aside in the evening after my kids go to bed and on the weekends to get as many posts done and scheduled as I can for the week. Not to mention going through emails, responding to emails, trying to balance social media and at the same time making sure you post on a regular basis, maintaining engagement with your followers so they stay interested, it's exhausting. Some days I ask myself if it's worth it or not but I love being an influencer. But being an influencer is hard af."

- Shelby 

Instagram
Blog

"I started blogging as a means of documenting milestones in our family as we began having children. I loved doing my ‘chalkboard’ updates, recapping holidays, and sharing little shopping guides here and there. I remember when I received my first commission check through an affiliate link program; I felt like I had hit the big time! And when I was first asked to do a collaboration, I was so excited I could barely contain myself. What I have learned since then and how I have grown has provided me with quite a bit of understanding as to what goes into being an ‘influencer’.

First things first, I had a ‘if you build it, they will come’ mentality when starting out. I thought if I put out good, quality content, people would just find it! Of course, that was not the case. I am sure there are those accounts out there that get lucky or catch a break and take off with little to no work, but for the vast majority of us, we are talking hours a week, if not a day, to truly grow an engaged following. Engaging with other accounts, finding likeminded brands to collaborate with, all the while continuing to be innovative and professional in the content you create is hard work. I truly never understood quite how much actually went into all of those collaborations, sponsorships, and ‘free item’ posts I saw other people putting out.

I have also quickly learned that, while a year ago, if I am being honest, I jumped at nearly every opportunity that came my way, it really is important to only take on work that is consistent with the message that you want to convey to those who follow you. I am a young mom who works full time, and I think that is what draws people to me. I sprinkle in things like fashion and home décor, but if I suddenly started taking on working with companies to promote weight loss supplements, or sharing landscape photography mixed into my family themed space, I would likely lose interest. I don’t believe a person has to fit into ONE niche entirely. I love fashion, I love motherhood, I love decorating. These are all different, but I present them in a way that goes together and makes sense. Consistency is so important, as is authenticity. As much as it may be appealing to get paid to promote pantyliners (yes, I have had this opportunity presented), I would feel so inauthentic doing it and have decided some things just aren’t worth the money if it means losing myself and why I started doing this along the way."

- Mackensey

Instagram
Blog

"Why did you become an influencer?

It honestly just fell into my lap, some moms that have been following me will ask questions on where Aleia's dress was from until one day the boutique owner asked me if Aleia and I wanted to represent her mommy and me line. From then on, shops will ask and at times I'll email some shops that I really love to see if they would love to work together. 

How did you go about becoming one?

It all sort of just happened one day. 

How much time do you spend a week doing this?

A LOT. I plan photo shoots, edit a ton as well as constantly emailing back and forth negotiating. 

How do you get collaborations?

Companies and shops will email and ask and I email the shops and companies I'm interested in. 

What would you want to tell someone who is interested in becoming an influencer?

It takes a lot of time, and at times you are glued to your phone. But try to schedule it with your children are napping and or are busy engaged in something else. These days I have taken a step back and have scheduled my times."

- Jay

Instagram

"When Payton was around 4 months old, I entered her in a couple of brand rep (enthusiast) searches for small Etsy shops on Instagram. We ended up brand repping for several bow shops, as well as baby clothing. It was fun for awhile but Payton didn't always want to cooperate and the pressure was sometimes too much. I have 2 other kids as well and I missed being able to post pictures of them and our daily life. I wanted to take a step back from solely brand repping and focus more on being a "lifestyle instagrammer". I created a blog 5 months ago (April 2017) and started writing about different motherhood topics and DIY projects. I started networking more with fellow mommy instagrammers who introduced me to the world of being an "influencer". Before creating my blog, I had already had a few companies direct message me about reviewing their products. However, I really feel that establishing a website/blog was what really changed everything. It was at that point, I started being contacted by more companies wanting collaborate. I have found that a lot of the bigger name companies would like a blog post in addition to an instagram post. I love reviewing products and sharing my finds with friends. I do love baby products but my kids won't be little forever, so I have recently branched out into reviewing all types of products...including household items, beauty products and adult apparel! Some collaborations have even started to pay me, which is something I never would've expected! I originally started this journey for fun and as an outside hobby. I have met so many amazing moms through this new venture and love the supportive community!"

- Jackie

Instagram

Blog

"Influencer. I'd have to start by saying that I still don't consider myself one. I mean by no means am I a big blogger or have a huge following. I started doing this and by this I mean making my profile public, using hashtags, tagging pictures and caring more about the quality of pictures I was posting because I thought it would be fun to branch out and meet more moms. Today, this is still why I do it. As I've grown I've had companies want to work with me, changed how I take and edit pictures and loved sharing products or things I love with what I consider my friends. If I were to share with you all something behind the scenes it would be the time I spend taking pictures and posting. I now see walls or places differently. I look for great places to take pictures, and look for how the lighting is. Once taken I then will edit and create a caption to post. The time spent curating a post sometimes takes hours. My only advice would be to do you. Nobody can do you better and that's what people will love."

- Xo Caroline 

Instagram

"I'm Stephanie, a wife of nine years and the mother of two. I became an influencer to help bring in a little extra income for my family and because I thought it looked very glamorous. When you're on the outside looking in, it looks so amazing and exciting, and although I do enjoy it and find it to be a lot of fun, it's hard and stressful too. Companies can be very demanding and particular about photos and sometimes they promise payment that never comes. I typically spend anywhere from 2-4 hours on each collaboration post taking photos, editing, emailing, posting, keeping up with comments, etc, so it's devastating when I do all that work for nothing. I've found that although being an influencer really is a great opportunity for stay at home moms to make a little extra income for their families, not all that glitters is gold. There is a lot of pressure that come along with being on social media, especially when you put yourself out there everyday and share your life with the world. If you're considering jumping into the world of social media marketing, make sure that you've weighed the pros and cons carefully and aren't going into it with rose colored glasses." READ MORE

- Stephanie

Instagram

Blog

Nap Time With DockATot

It seems like forever ago and just yesterday somehow that I was making up my baby registry. One of the first items I added to the list was a DockATot Deluxe. I had read so many rave reviews about having one of these cute little portable cots for babes that I just had to have one for mine. We used it all the time to lay Fallon down in and it was so easy to tote around the house with one hand. Chris and I would joke that they should make them for adults because they're so cozy!

Fast forward to 10 month old nap boycotting Fallon. She had outgrown her Deluxe and I jumped at the chance to actually work with DockATot using the Grand. As soon as we put it on the ground, Fallon climbed right in. And we figured out that the key to the dock is that it does double duty for playtime AND sleeping. When we have it downstairs she is free to crawl in and out, bring her toys in it and watch her shows while eating snacks. But when we bring it upstairs she can snuggle up to sleep in it. Throw in some favorite essential oils, crank up the sound machine with a buddy to cuddle and who wouldn't be lulled to sleep in a cushy bed? The positive association Fallon has made with her DockATot has been invaluable to her learning that naps aren't so bad. And we are so grateful! We are at the 1 year mark and finally at the point where naps happen a lot more days than not without a fight. 

As a mom who isn't the biggest fan of having my house cluttered with baby gear, I also

 love that the docks have nice cover options that don't scream BABY. And of course washable gets every parent's vote. The covers zip right off to toss into the wash and they really aren't difficult to get back on. So if you're looking for a baby gift or desperately trying to get your toddler to nap, DockATot is where it's at! Click here for $10 off your purchase.

Packing The Pool Bag

Summer has officially begun and I don't think I've been this excited about it since I was a kid. Having a baby I can do all the fun summer things with has me giving this season all the heart eyes. We joined our local swim club and it's my first time packing for the pool with my own kid. So the first couple trips were a a chaotic mess of me running around finding things I thought I'd need and trying to shove them into multiple bags. But after a few weeks of trial and error and buying a bag strictly for the pool, I think we have it down. Now my bag sits mostly packed and ready to go, just the way I like it. So I thought it might be helpful to pass on my ways of wisdom. Kidding. I am still totally winging it. But here's what's in my pool bag and where you can find it.

I planned to get a fully water-resistant wipeable bag with lots of pockets. But then I saw this adorable straw bag at Target and the pom poms were just calling my name. It has no pockets so I took my friend's genius suggestion to use my bag organizer and it's been working like a dream. There is plenty of room for our smaller essentials like sunscreen, wipes, swim diapers, lip balm, sunglasses and Fallon's snack container in all the pockets. I also bring a regular diaper and change of clothes for baby girl in case she falls asleep on the way home. I wipe her down with a full body wipe and toss her bathing suit into a little plastic bag. I can still easily fit a few pool toys + our Gathre mat (for concrete picnics), towels, blanket (for nursing/napping) and a small variety of chips/crackers. Now just imagine me carrying this with a baby on my hip and pushing a stroller with a cooler in the seat and a float on top. 

Towels / Gathre Mat / Muslin Blanket / Solly Wrap / Mama's Sunscreen / Fallon's Sunscreen / Snack Container / Baby Sun Hat / Hand + Face Wipes / Full Body Wipes 

Happy Summer!

The Amateur Editor

I've always been amazed by photography. The fact that you can literally capture a moment in time and have it forever is so amazing to me. And while I've slowly learned a little bit about lighting and camera angles, I am so far from being a pro it's not even funny. 

I don't have a real camera so I call myself an Iphotographer, but really I'm just a momtographer, trying to snap all the fun and happy times of Fallon's childhood in the prettiest way that I can. The iphone 7 plus has a pretty great camera so that's half the battle, but paying attention to backgrounds, shooting in the most natural light available and learning just a few ways to edit photos can make a huge difference in your pictures. Mostly I've figured out what I know through trial and error, a few pointers from pros and a YouTube video or two. I'm honestly shocked that people ask me how I edit my photos because mostly I'm just winging it and trying to sound like I know what I'm talking about. But if you still want advice from me, here it is. 

Taking a good photo is the first step. Editing can only do so much so if your picture is good to begin with, you don't have to worry as much about edits. Try to get straight lines by using something in the shot as your guide. The grid overlay is a great way to do this! Pay attention to your background. If you want your pictures to have that light + bright look to them don't take pictures inside dark rooms of your house! Natural light is always best so just see which rooms of your house have the best lighting at different times of day and try shooting near a window or glass door. And of course, getting outside gives you lots of natural light. Cloudy days are your friend!

After you've deleted 500 outtakes and have chosen the picture you want to edit, use the same apps every time for a cohesive feel. My favorites are Lightroom, Snapseed, VSCO and Facetune but I also like A Color Story and AfterLight. These are not all free to download and may not be available to Android users but you don't need to use them all! Instagram has editing tools you can work with as well, I just typically choose to edit with these apps. 

Lighroom and Afterlight are great for brightening (exposure), adjusting contrast and saturation levels. Lightroom allows you to decrease or increase saturation of specific colors as well as the picture as a whole. This is great for neutralizing skin tone as sometimes we can look slightly orange, green or purple in photos. Or just softening a very bright color that you'd like to tone down. Snapseed has a healing tool that allows you to erase imperfections like a bruise or scratch or a stain on the carpet! There is also a brush tool to adjust only a portion of the photo as well as a selective tool (for a wider area). VSCO has my very favorite filter F2 as well as other great options and I like to sharpen photos in this app as well to give a crisp finish. Facetune has a smooth tool to even out pixelated skin and a details tool to really highlight certain points of the photo that you want to stand out. Most of the apps including Instagram have a shadows tool to lift them off faces and a fade tool that's fun for a bit of soft blurred edges look.

It sounds like a lot and it is very overwhelming at first, I know! But just jump in and start practicing. Seeing how you can transform your photos from good to amazing can be so rewarding and fun! You will see improvement over time and the best thing you can do is to find people whose photos you admire and just ask them questions! I have yet to be "laughed at" or turned away and usually people are beyond flattered. 

Happy snapping!

Vacay Pics + Travel Tips For Tots

Our vacation started early on a Monday morning when we flew to Alabama to leave on a 5 day cruise. It wasn't Fallon's first time flying, but it was my first time flying alone with her. Chris had to stay behind for work so it was just the 2 of us, navigating check-in, security and a connecting flight. So before I get to all the fun stuff, let's talk about a few things that made traveling with a baby easier, especially doing it solo. 

1. Bring way too many snacks. Fallon was only 3.5 months old when we flew the first time so I nursed her during takeoff and landing instead. This time around I stuffed my diaper bag full of all the snacks. And I fed them to her while we waited to board the plane and throughout the flights. If you think you have enough snacks, add in more just in case. 

2. Wait until the very last call for boarding to get on the plane. Walk around the terminal, sing songs, read a book, whatever you have to do while everyone else gets on. Don't even worry about them running out of room for your carry-on bag. You can either check it gate side or a very nice flight attendant will stow it in the closet for you. Just don't be stuck on the plane any longer than you have to be. 

3. Let people help you. I struggle with this. I don't want to be a bother to anyone and I like to think I can do it all by myself. But when someone offers to put your bag in the overhead compartment or grab it off the gate side rack, let them. I cannot tell you how floored I was by the kindness of strangers during our flights to and from our destination. And remember that when you're traveling. The lady with the baby next to you could be me. 

4. It's okay to cry. I mean I'm hoping it's not you that's crying but that's okay too. Life is rough. But if your kid cries, WHO CARES?! The majority of people on the plane are parents or grandparents. They've been there, done that, got the t-shirt and most likely aren't fazed a bit by a little screaming. If it gets really bad, just order yourself a cocktail and buy a round for all the adults on the plane. I joke. But really. Don't stress about it. You'll never see those people again anyway.

5. Forget all the rules. Leave the nap schedule at home for the day. Let your kid eat the cookies they give you on the plane, pull the magazines out of the seat back pocket and let her crinkle the combos wrapper found wedged between the seats. Just do WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep them occupied. Trust me, they won't be scarred for life. 

I'll spare the details but a few things went wrong on the way to and during our trip. But don't worry, none of them killed us, obviously, or put a damper on our vacation. We ate (a LOT), we swam, we went to the beach and even hung out on a trampoline in the ocean! 

We spent our days at sea poolside, breathing in the salty ocean air and soaking up some vitamin sea. Our 2 days in port we beached it and Fallon wasn't exactly all about the sand between her tows, she was happy to enjoy the view from mama's arms. 3 course dinners with fresh seafood and melting chocolate cake were every day affairs and Fallon even went to a Dr. Seuss brunch! Thanks so much to my awesome in-laws for this vacation!!

Now if you'll excuse me I'll be doing the old camera roll scroll through all these pictures as I share them with you. Happy Friday!!