Mother's Day Gift Guide

I am so excited to celebrate my first Mother's Day as a new mommy. I have dreamt of this day and to be honest, all I want to do is relax with family and enjoy a BBQ together. I have never been in to extravagant things and family time is what is most important to me. I put together a little list of gifts that are appropriate for mommies of all ages! My mom usually buys what she wants when she wants so getting some special gifts is what I try to aim for.

From top to bottom, left to right-

1. Happiness Is Being A Grammy Tee: I just love relaxed tees like these and I figure everyone else does as well. I got this for my mom this year and I know she will be so proud to wear it.

2. Bath Bombs: I have never personally used bath bombs but I have heard great things about them. Why not bring the fun back to bath time as an adult? This Achy Muscles Bath Bomb sounds fitting for me as my back constantly hurts from hunching over too much while nursing and also since I'm getting back on the fitness grind.

3. Alex & Ani Bracelet: I am in love with these bracelets and how they tell a person's story. I also like the look of silver and gold combined on a wrist.

4. Mom Life Is The Best Life Tee: Another super comfy relaxed tee which I got for my older sister. We talk all the time about how mom life is tough but definitely is the best life.

And lastly, I will leave off with a gift I got myself for my first Mother's Day...my favorite Mom All Day tee thanks to Katie over at SaSea!

Now hurry on over to get yourself one because the truth is...we sure are mommin' it all day, everyday :)

Have a beautiful weekend!
xo

Weekend Recap

Now that I am on maternity leave I find myself constantly browsing Pinterest for new projects that we can do around the house and how I can redecorate my entire life house. We recently had a leak in our laundry closet that was coming from the guest bathroom upstairs. In order for us to fix this the right way we needed to remove the existing cabinets for drywall repair. Well, I insisted we just gut the entire closet and renovate! Brian agreed and told me to show him what I was envisioning. Perfect excuse to put to use some of my Pinterest finds. Although I wasn't able to help out much on this project since I was taking care of Eloise I did get to paint the cabinets and a couple of the shelves during nap time. We bought new cabinets, a ton of wood to construct the shelves, paint for the room, and of course some new decorations. And wha-la! The finished project.

I am so happy with how it turned out. My husband never ceases to amaze me with his work. Looking forward to the next project which could possibly be repainting the kitchen cabinets with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint :) Stay tuned...

 

And to leave on a fun note- we went to our first luau as a family on Sunday for my great grandma's 90th birthday. It was such a fun party with great catered food, hula dancers and lots of family/friends.

 

I am glad I remembered to get a family picture because it is way to easy to forget all about it and only take pictures of Eloise nowadays. Doesn't she look so sweet in her outfit which is so appropriate for a luau? I think so ;)

 

Hope you're enjoying your week!

xo

 

A Day In The Life

Hope you're having a great week! I thought I would take some time, away from the minimal amount of spare time I have nowadays, to tell a little bit about how life is for us these days. Surely a lot has changed for the better since having Ellie and our days look a whole lot different. So, without further ado...a day in the life for the Welch family.

 

6:00am- This is when Brian heads downstairs to get ready to leave for work. Some mornings Ells and I will be up with him at this time (or maybe even before) and will go downstairs to watch the news and nurse. Depending on how the night before goes, Ells and I will start our day with coffee and breakfast or we may fall back asleep on the couch. Because she is still only 6 weeks old playtime does not really exist yet, or for very long for that matter. Neither does a consistent nap time schedule.

 

8:00/9:00am- If we have fallen back asleep after Brian leaves for work we are back up around 8/9 for another feeding. At this time, Ells is usually awake for a couple of hours and I can usually shower, pick up stuff around the house, we can go for a walk around the neighborhood or she is having a total meltdown where all she wants to do is cry and be held so we don't get anything done :)

 

12:00/1:00pm- We try to make it out of the house each day so we don't feel cooped up so around this time is when we run any errands we may have. Also...you guessed it, time to nurse, again! Breastfeeding is a special bond that I am able to create with my tiny human, but at the same time it can sometimes be really tough. If I am out running errands it can be difficult to find a place to sit down to nurse. I have totally used the fitting room at Target but most times I just go to my car. Depending on what errands I have to run I try to make it back home for feeding.

 

3:00pm- We are usually back home around this time anxiously awaiting daddy's arrival home from work which is around 4. I will nurse Eloise again and try to figure out what we are going to have for dinner. Ellie will usually fall asleep for her 3rd nap of the day so I frantically run around the house putting dishes away, giving the dog attention, checking the mail and continuing on with the backed up laundry we have going on :)

 

4:00pm- Brian usually gets home from work at this time and he will spend some time with her. I either relax alone on the couch, continue with house things or make dinner.

 

5:00pm- We try to eat at this time since the evening can be hectic if Eloise is having a witching hour. During her witching hour we just have to hold her and try everything possible to calm her down. I've heard this will go away eventually and that around 6 weeks it is the worst so please pray for us and our sanity!!

 

6:00pm- We like to go out for a walk around the neighborhood some nights and especially with it being lighter out later it doesn't make us feel so tired in the evenings. Or, we catch up on shows :) Oh, and I'm most likely nursing Eloise again.

 

7:00pm- Quickly clean up the kitchen from dinner time and fold laundry usually. We try to have bath time around this time as well.

 

8:00pm- Relax on the couch, play with the dog, soothe Eloise, pick up things around the house...you know...homeowner things.

 

9:00pm- We usually head upstairs around this time to get ourselves ready for bed and I will nurse Eloise again one last time before I try to fall asleep.

 

10:00pm- We are ready and settled in bed after a long day of good and bad :)

 

I'm not sugar coating it here...being a parent is not easy business. But like they all say...it is very much so worth it! The days are long but the years fly by is what I try to remember.

 

 

 

Enjoy the rest of your week!

xo

Newborn Must Haves

After a month of being broken in as a new parent, there are definitely some items that save my life throughout the day. With Brian back at work the past couple of weeks, I've come to find some go-to items when things get just a bit hectic.

 

-Solly Baby Wrap-

 

What.a.lifesaver. Eloise wants to be held a lot during the day. I know people say to enjoy every minute of it because they don't stay little long, but for me it is tough to sit on a couch all day holding my baby. There are things that still need to be done around the house so this is where the Solly comes in handy. Eloise loves being close to her mama and the Solly allows her to snuggle up tight to my chest. I think part of her snuggling is because she was born a month early.

 

 

-Nose-Frida-

 

When I first saw this at my sister's house I thought it was so gross. I just knew there was still a chance that the baby boogies would get into her mouth. Well, as an expecting mom and the raving reviews on this "snotsucker", I decided to add it to my gift registry. And let me tell you- I am so glad I did. Eloise seems to get congested during the night so we use saline spray to loosen up what is in her nose and then whip this baby out to clear the way. Who would have thought sucking boogies out of your baby's nose would be such a relief?

 

 

-Boppy Newborn Lounger-

 

The lounger was another item I was hesitant on adding to my gift registry because I wasn't sure if I needed this along with the regular boppy pillow. Well, again, I am so glad I received this gift. It is easy to grab and move around anywhere in the house that I may be. Eloise is comfortable in it and usually falls asleep. I love that it props her up slightly because she has reflux at times so this gives me piece of mind knowing she is not just lying straight on her back.

 

 

 

-Homedics Sound Machine-

 

Thank goodness for this noise maker! It soothes not only Eloise during the night but even Brian and I. We usually place it on the white noise setting which seems to be Ellie's favorite, but she is also soothed by the sound of the ocean. Maybe this little girl will end up being a beach lover ;) We even have the portable one of these attached to her car seat so it can be used on the go.

 

-Soothie Pacifier-

 

I know not all babies take a paci, but this little girl loves to suck. She has tricked me many times into thinking she is hungry by signaling with her mouth, but really all she wanted to do was suck on something. We introduced her to the paci just before she was 4 weeks old. I was hesitant at first because I didn't want it to conflict with breastfeeding. It didn't and I am very happy we gave her the paci when we did. We use the Soothie pacifiers. It is so cute to see her learning to hold it...she even knows how to take it out, but then again that could be her hitting it on accident.

 

 

My Top 5 Favorites

Anyone who has kids, or even a new pet for that matter, knows that it is impossible to stop taking pictures of their every move. As newborns grow each day, we as parents want to be sure to capture special moments, cute outfits and those funny faces.

 

As I was transferring photos from my phone to the computer the other day, I couldn't help but fall in love again with so many pictures of Eloise. I want to post them all of course, but I will have a little self-control and post my top 5 favorites. Ready, set, go!

 

This is Ell's 1st St. Patrick's Day. You can see how little she really is when she is in daddy's arms.

Family photo on Easter. Her outfit lasted for a couple of hours before she peed all over herself.

Hanging out in her crib while mommy scrambles to get laundry folded and put away. Who knew a tiny being could create so much more laundry!?

Late night feeding with mommy. I tried rocking her back to sleep for an hour but this little girl wanted to stay up to party. Can't you tell by the look on her face?

Finally, a headband that fits her head besides the same white and pink one she wore almost every day! I love her sweet innocence in this photo.

 

Hope you all are had a happy Monday!

 

xoxo

Newborn Photoshoot

When Eloise was about 2 1/2 weeks old, we took to her first photoshoot. I was nervous about the whole thing...not knowing how she would behave, but overall she did a great job. The session took about 3 hours to complete which according to the photographer is typical for a newborn session. We were able to look through all the photos and choose the 10 we liked best. Here they are, finally! I cannot believe how much Eloise has already changed since these photos were taken. I feel like she has definitely started to fill out in her little face.

 

Now off to finish the laundry before the babe wakes up.

Hopefully you're staying dry in the rain.
Have a great day, friends!

 

xoxo

Happy One Month Eloise Mae!

How has one month already gone by since Eloise was born!? I feel like it was just yesterday that we were in the hospital having our baby. These past 4 weeks have been some of the best of our lives. We fall in love with her more each day and take in loads of coffee while doing so.

 

Brian was able to take 3 weeks off of work for baby bonding. I am so thankful for that because he was a huge help. Although I could tell he was getting a little stir crazy some days, he kept busy between helping me, the baby and doing things around the house. We enjoyed every moment, knowing it was time we wouldn't ever get back.

 

Here are some of the weekly updates of Eloise as well as her one month- enjoy, friends!

 

Today I am o n e week old. I love to eat, sleep, and have my mommy & daddy change lots of diapers. I like to be swaddled and held in the Solly wrap. I dislike diaper changes that involve cold wipes and bath time. I eat like a champ and have already gained back 4 oz of the 8 oz I lost after birth. 💕

 

Today I am t w o weeks old. I love to lift my head up and rest on mommy's or daddy's chest. I like to be soothed by sucking on pinkies. I dislike bath time and wardrobe changes. I get hiccups many times a day which is frustrating. I gained back all of the weight I lost after birth- back to 5 lb 5 oz. 💕

Today I am t h r e e weeks old. I love to have my back scratched. I like to look at ceiling fans and stretch a lot after naps. I dislike sleeping at night so I sleep during the day instead. I am becoming more alert and now stay awake for longer periods of time. 💕

 

Today I am 1 month old. Mommy and daddy cannot believe it! I love tummy time and holding my head up. I like my pacifier now. I dislike falling asleep unless I'm in someone's arms. I am starting to get very fussy in the evenings. I make the cutest baby giggles while I am napping. I now weigh 6 lbs 12 oz and measure 20 inches long 💕

 

Happy one month to our Ells! Your mommy and daddy love you so!

xoxo

Eloise's Birth Story

Here we are, exactly one month after Eloise's debut and I am finally getting around to writing about her birth. It has been crazy adjusting to life as parents. We "knew" what to expect before she was born with everything we read and were told by friends and family, but I don't think we actually "knew" until it was a reality of her being here with us. Who am I kidding? We are total rookies at this whole raising a child thing!

 

First of all, we are absolutely smitten with our little Eloise Mae. She brightens our lives and has shown us how much love we have to give. She already keeps us on our toes each minute of the day and we would not ask for anything different. It is very special being able to watch her grow and develop more and more each day.

 

 

In my previous post I shared my story about pre-term labor at 33 weeks. My midwife had me on medication to control the contractions which was working. Here and there I would feel a contraction but it was never more than 6 in one hour. Because I was on bed rest, I took the time to study each day for my interview for graduate school.

 

The Friday afternoon before my school interview (3/4/16), I noticed some liquid after using the restroom. I thought I just hadn't finished peeing so I ignored it. Well, that same liquid kept slowly making its appearance through the night Friday and into Saturday morning. I knew I had to make it to my interview Saturday, otherwise I would not have a chance at being accepted into school! It was an in person interview that went on for 4 total hours! I made it through and even went to Hobby Lobby afterwards. By the time I arrived back at home I told my husband about what I was feeling. I told him that if it was my water leaking I was nervous that an infection could start since it had been leaking for more than 24 hours. I called the nurse's line and they recommended that I come to the hospital to have it checked. Luckily we had our hospital bags packed (thanks to the preterm labor scare), so we grabbed those, texted our friends to cancel dinner plans and headed straight to the hospital that was 45 minutes away. We arrived there around 7:30pm that Saturday (3/5/16) and they admitted me around 8pm once they got results back that, indeed it was my water that was leaking. I was dilated to a 3 at this point.

 

Hanging out in the delivery room...not in any type of pain quite yet ;)

They hooked me up to the IV to keep me hydrated and informed me that I would need Pitocin since my water was leaking for more than 24 hours. Basically, they were telling me the baby needed to arrive sooner than later and that if I didn't want a C-section, then this is what needed to happen. I was fine with it and knew that it would possibly be more painful since Pitocin really gets things going in an unnatural way. I felt ok, laboring for a couple of hours. The doctor came in around 11:30pm asking when I wanted to get the epidural. I told him I wasn't too sure being that I was not in a lot of pain yet. I told him I would wait it out another half hour and see how I felt then. Well, sure enough midnight came around and I was in a lot more pain. I told the nurse I would like to request the epidural at that time. The anesthesiologist arrived in the room around 12:30am. My husband sat in front of me holding my hands and trying to keep me calm because my body would not stop shaking. I could not stop myself from trembling. It was the weirdest thing. The epidural was not painful at all. The contractions were way more painful than having a needle stuck in my back. The only reason I flinched was because I always flinch when I get any type of shot. The epidural fully kicked in around 1am and I felt great! They checked me and I was dilated to a 9. Yikes! Little did I know I was 9cm when I received the epidural. At 2am I told the nurse I felt the constant urge to push. She checked me and I was fully dilated to a 10- yay! Time to start pushing!

 

I pushed for a full hour and then finally at 3:09am on Sunday 3/6/16, Eloise Mae was born! Weighing in at 5lb and 5oz and measuring 17 1/2 inches long, our little E was perfect. What an emotional and surreal experience. First of all, we were in awe that we were capable of creating such a beautiful little human being. Second of all, I did not realize my body was capable of birthing a baby like it had just done. I could not have done it without my amazing husband. I know he was so nervous before it all started, but he was the best coach I could have asked for. He helped me with my breathing and pushing. He encouraged me and was very supportive. I am so happy that we were able to experience this, just the two of us.

 

 

After the "golden hour" (family bonding with mom, dad and baby after the birth), we invited in my parents and sisters. Brian's parents were out of town that weekend so unfortunately they did not meet her until she was a couple days old. Eventually we were transferred to a different room where we would stay the next couple of days. Eloise ended up having a little bit of jaundice so she had to lay under the lights for about 8 hours. It was the saddest part of it all, besides her having blood drawn from her little heels. I just couldn't wait for her to stop being pricked with all the needles.

All we wanted to do while she was under the lamps was hold her.

We were discharged from the hospital on Tuesday afternoon and let me just tell you- we were so ready to go home. The hospital was so uncomfortable and we wanted to get going with our own routine, better food selections at home, and get a better night sleep without nurse interruptions. I felt like once I finally nursed, burped, and got Eloise back to sleep, a nurse was coming in and waking me back up. That first car ride home was nerve racking- having a tiny newborn in the back...we were so cautious. Mama in back with baby while daddy drove.

So tiny! She dropped to 4 lb 13 oz by the time we left the hospital.

As long winded as this post was, I didn't want to miss any details without getting too specific ;) I will post again soon with more updates and pictures, but until then I will leave you with this. Is she not just the sweetest!?

 

Eloise Mae- we love you so.

 

xoxo