MILK SAVERS & LIFESAVERS

When I was pregnant, I did my research for all the essentials that would make nursing easier. I discovered a local company, Milkies, that makes a variety of useful products that I want to highlight.

1. This catcher

Oh my goodness, if you have an abundant milk supply, this will be your BFF. It fits into my bra and catches and saves all the milk from one side, that drips like crazy when I nurse the opposite side and otherwise soaks my clothes. It's truly a lifesaver and I save ounces each time I feed.

2. These cloths

My favorite kind of burp cloth. These are so soft, and made of bamboo which I like better than polyester. I love the smaller size compared to the standard burp rags/cloth diapers because they're easier to navigate and they take up less room in my diaper bag. They're also super absorbent! Big win here for burp cloths.

3. This freezer organizer

If you're pumping, this is a great way to store frozen milk. It organizes milk by date so there's no guesswork of which one to use first.

4. This balm

I like a really soft, meltable balm for the least amount of irritation and most amount of protection when nursing. This one is fantastic.

5. These nursing pads

I like the washable ones over the disposables because they're softer and less irritating. These are contoured so they fit better, in addition to being so soft, plus they hold so much milk that they work for both daytime and overnight use. (If you're looking for something with extra padding, these are a cool concept and you can squeeze them out and reuse on the go.)

Such great products! Hope this helps someone else as they learn to nurse too.

HE'S HERE

Announcing the arrival of our son, Trey James Seidel, born June 4th, 2016 at 6:54 am, weighing 7 lbs 9oz and measuring 20.5". It's been a great four weeks. Just popping back in to say that I will be posting content still here on the blog but less frequently.  We are very much enjoying this sweet season with baby Trey, and I'm finding a new normal and daily routine with him. I plan to share his birth story at some point and more updates and musings on motherhood and our overall adjustment. Thank you for all your well wishes! We are overjoyed.

STATE THEMED TOYS AND BOOKS

We had such a great trip to California last weekend, and it was so fun to introduce Trey to my home state. I love having a collection of state-themed toys, specially with California and Washington items, and wanted to share some small shop favorites I've recently discovered. Most of these can be customized to other states and cities as well.

1. City Blocks by Globe Totters

Love these soft, squishy City Blocks. Made with organic cotton and water-based inks, these are perfectly grabable for tiny hands and safe for teething babies. They have little loops on the edges that can attach to a mobile or baby gym, and feature fun city-related illustrations and a jingle bell inside. Handmade in NYC and a variety of cities are available. Use code "july20" for 20% off your purchase this month.

2. Celebrate California Chunky Flash Cards by Bright Eyed Baby

Such a cute discovery! These are thick, grabable, flashcards with fun illustrations and a nod to all things Californian. Some of them crack me up like "earthquake" "sushi" and "freeway." The back is a super cute palm tree pattern, and they're printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

3. State Rattles by Bannor Toys

How cute are these personalized state rattles? The color of the three beads, name, and state are all customizable. I love the quality of these toys and that they're wood, not plastic. This rattle is also a favorite.

4. Hello Word San Francisco book and Good Night Seattle book

Two board books representing the cities. The Hello World one has beautiful, modern looking illustrations and follows a numbers theme, and the Good Night Seattle one features famous landmarks and attractions. How fun when Trey is a bit older and can recognize some of the places pictured.

Love these state and city themed toys and books! Excited to grow our collection.