The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a Second Time Mom

This Thing I Call My Blog!

2012-02-01T20:52:00.000-05:00

So I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about my blog, and where it's going and why I started blogging in the first place. I originally created my blog as an online journal of my life as a new mom. Noah was only 6 months old when I started blogging. I have always enjoyed writing and recording my thoughts in a journal so I thought, why not give blogging a try.

Not quite a year later I started doing my first reviews and giveaways. I loved providing my readers with reviews of products that I loved and was given the amazing opportunity to review! As my blog began to grow so did offers to do reviews and sponsored posts, etc. And I would see other blogs with high value giveaways or even cash giveaways and keeping up with numbers and stats and I felt the need to keep up almost and so I looked for more reviews and giveaways to do and signed up for giveaways with other bloggers and just tried to keep up with the growing trend!

While I do still enjoy doing reviews and giveaways very much, I miss the personal aspect of my blog. I LOVE writing about my family and my boys and my life! I don't have the most interesting life, but I think it's a pretty good one and I enjoy telling my readers about it. I know some of you just follow for the giveaways or have only started following during a giveaway, and that's understandable. But I do hope so of my readers enjoy reading about my life.

So I have decided to continue to keep my blog a personal one. I have decided not to worry about the stats and numbers or how many giveaways I have going, or how BIG my reviews/giveaways are and just write about what I love-my family and my life. I want to share with you how my boys are growing. I want to write about my new workout routine. I want to share recipes with you! I just want to share my life with you! That doesn't mean I'm not going to have anymore reviews and giveaways. In fact, I have two to post within the next week! But they won't be as often and might not be as HUGE as other blogs. I will review products I feel that my readers would enjoy and benefit from. If it's not a product my followers would be interested in, I won't review it. I want my blog to be somewhere you can go to read about a fellow mommy or woman and relate to.

So I hope this doesn't totally turn you off to my blog and I hope you'll continue to follow me on this journey I call life! Without my readers I might as well just write in a diary with a lock and key! :)

Fall In Love With Fluff Cloth Diaper Giveaway Event!

2012-01-31T23:59:00.000-05:00

Are you ready to fall in love with fluff
and win $500 of cloth diapers and accessories?!

Welcome to the Fall In Love With Fluff Giveaway Event presented by Daily Mothering and Eco-Crazy Mom! Over 100 blogs are coming together to celebrate our love for fluff with this awesome Valentine’s Day giveaway! We are giving away a Cloth Diaper Prize Pack valued at $500 to one lucky winner!!

Fall In Love With Fluff is sponsored by Sandbox Lane and Kissed By The Moon!

Sandbox Lane is your one stop shop for affordable & stylish eco-friendly baby products! This family-owned business is known and loved for their great selection of affordable cloth diapers and cloth diaper accessories in a wide variety of styles and brands. They also carry a variety of stylish baby clothing and accessories, breastfeeding supplies, mama cloth, eco-friendly laundry products, swaddle blankets, toys and other earth friendly products to help get your little one off to a great start. Be sure to check out the Sandbox Lane Blog, and follow them via Facebook, Twitter, and Newsletter for information on sales, events, new products & more! Free shipping is offered on all purchases over $30, and all orders under $30 ship for just $3. *Shipping is only offered within the US and Canada at this time.

Sandbox Lane is offering a special 10% off coupon code for giveaway participants during this event! Use code Fluffylove10off at checkout to receive your discount! Excludes Bumgenius, Grovia, Flip, and Econobum.

Prizes Sponsored by Sandbox Lane:

BumGenius Freetime One-Size AIO Diaper
(Snap closure, winner's choice of Print/Color)

BumGenius 4.0 One-Size Pocket Diaper
(Snap closure, Winner's choice of Print/Color)

Flip One-Size Cover & Stay-Dry Insert
(Snap closure, Winner's choice of Color)

Econobum Trial Pack: 1 One-Size Cover and 3 Prefolds
(Winner's choice of Color)

Fuzzibunz Elite One-Size Pocket Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color)

Charlie Banana One-Size Pocket Print Diaper
(Winner's choice of Print)

GroVia One-Size AIO Diaper
(Vanilla)

Sweet Pea One-Size Pocket Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color)

ones & twos One-Size AIO Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color)

Incredibum Bamboo One-Size Pocket Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color)

Incredibum Small Wetbag
(Winner's choice of Color)

Rockin' Green Hard Rock 2.0 Detergent
(45/90 Loads)

Rockin' Green Funk Rock
(9 oz.)

Incredibum Bamboo Wipes
(2 packs - 8 wipes total)

Sweet Pea Cotton Velour Wipes
(2 packs - 10 wipes total)

BabyLegs Leg Warmers
(Rainbow)

Kissed By The Moon was created out of a passion for cloth diapering and eco-friendly living. This mama-owned shop is a favorite of many, well known for their cloth diaper rental packages, kissed cash rewards program, user-friendly gift registry and awesome weekly specials. They offer a wide variety of new and pre-loved cloth diapers, cloth diaper accessories, laundry solutions and everything needed to make your cloth diapering experience a success! Be sure to sign up for the Kissed By The Moon Newsletter and follow on Facebook and Twitter to be the first to know about sales, promotions, giveaways, and upcoming events. Shipping is always free for orders over $25 (US Only), and international shipping is available!

Kissed By The Moon is offering a special 10% off coupon code for giveaway participants during this event! Use code LOVEFLUFF at checkout to receive your discount on orders over $25! Excludes sale items, GroVia, Flip, and Bumgenius.

Prizes Sponsored by Kissed By The Moon:

Oh Katy One-Size Pocket Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color)

Rumparooz One-Size Pocket Print Diaper
(Winner's choice of Print and Closure)

Bummis Tot Bot Easy Fit One-Size AIO Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color/Print)

Green Line One-Size Cover
(Winner's choice of Print)

Green Line Soaker
(Bamboo/Cotton)

SoftBums Omni One-Size AI2/Pocket Diaper
(Aplix, Winner's choice of Color/Print)

SoftBums Snap-In Pod
(DryTouch)

itti bitti tutto One-Size AI2 Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color/Print)

Swaddlebees Simplex One-Size AIO Diaper
(Winner's choice of Color/Print)

Planet Wise Flannel Wipes
(Set of 10, winner's choice of Color)

Leslie's Boutique Pail Liner
(Winner's choice of Color/Print)

Rumparooz Print Wet Bag
(Winner's choice of Print)

Changing Diapers: The Hip Mom's Guide to Modern Cloth Diapering
(by Kelly Wels)

THiRSTiES Booty Luster
(4 oz.)

2 CJ’s BUTTer Samples
(1/2 oz. each)

And now for the giveaway!

ONE WINNER will receive this ENTIRE prize pack:
(most colors/prints will be winner's choice as listed above)

This giveaway ends at 11:59 EST on February 7th, 2011.

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

If you have not yet signed in to the new Rafflecopter forms, use either your Facebook account OR your name and email address to sign in. Click "Do It" for instructions on how to complete each entry. There is no mandatory entry.

The more entries you submit, the better odds you have of winning!

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada* contestants only.

*If a Canada winner is drawn, some prizes will be substituted with other products
or store credit of retailer's choice due to shipping restrictions on certain brands.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jack Be Natural Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-31T00:01:00.009-05:00

Today I want to tell you about another one of my favorite cloth diaper stores- Jack Be Natural!

Jack Be Natural was created by a mom, Stacy, in 2010 after she was fed up with disposables and all the chemicals that were in them. Like many moms, she had been discouraged by friends and family when it came to using cloth diapers. But after she found out what was really in disposable diapers she switched to cloth right away and created Jack Be Natural. Jack Be Natural not only sells cloth diapers but they work to educate moms on cloth diapers so they can find out for themselves the many benefits of cloth!

Jack Be Natural sells cloth diapers but also natural detergents and lotions, natural toys, and even natural bedding!

I love Jack Be Natural! They have free shipping to the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska! They also ship super fast! I purchased some diapers from Jack Be Natural when I was cloth diapering Noah and I always loved how quickly I got my diapers! I purchased a diaper from them when I was pregnant with Isaac and received the diaper super fast once again! I received a GroVia newborn AIO to review from Jack Be Natural and once again..super fast shipping! Jack Be Natural also has a rewards program! For every $15 you spend you get $1 in rewards that is credited to your account. So next time you make a purchase that credit is used toward your purchase! How cool is that?!

Check out my GroVia Newborn AIO review HERE!

My not so happy little guy in his owl print GroVia Newborn All-in-One from Jack Be Natural!

Overall, Jack Be Natural is a great resource for cloth diapers and all things Natural! Not only can you purchase products like cloth diapers, natural detergents and lotions, and even shampoos and soaps for yourself and your baby, but you can also learn about the benefits of cloth diapering and other natural products with Jack Be Natural!

Buy It!

www.jackbenatural.com

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a GroVia Newborn All-In-One in their choice of color/print from Jack Be Natural!
Be sure to visit So Easy Being Green today to enter to win a Tiny Tush Elite Mini Pocket Diaper!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

My New Life as a Mommy of 2!

2012-01-30T00:01:00.000-05:00

I knew life would change when our second child arrived, but I didn't realize how much! While things are very much the same, things are very different now also! A good different though! I'm stretched a little bit thinner than I was, and I don't get near as much sleep as before, but I have two adorable boys who love me and love each other and make me smile on a daily basis!

I really love the age difference they are now and I'm sure I'll love it even more later. Noah is old enough to be fairly independent and knows what I'm talking about when I explain to him that babies cry and Isaac needs help getting dressed, etc. but he's still young enough to want snuggles with mommy and need me to chase away the monsters in his closet.

Isaac is such a good baby. He's such a snuggle bug! He only cries when he's hungry or his belly hurts, and he sleeps so well already! At 10 weeks old he is sleeping 7-8 hours almost every night! Naps are a bit of a challenge sometimes but he usually does well with those too. He is a very smiley and happy baby most of the time and for that I am so thankful!

Splitting time between the two can be a challenge sometimes, especially when Brian is working and I'm all by myself. Sometimes one of them has to wait for a minute while I get the other food or change a diaper or something. Usually Noah is pretty good about waiting while I'm doing something for Isaac. When Isaac is napping sometimes I have to let the housework go so I can spend quality time with Noah. Sometimes that's hard because I think about all the things I need to get done like dishes and laundry, but quality time with my little guy is more important.

So yes, there are some challenges to being a new mommy of 2, but just like being a mother or one or ten, there are so many rewards as well!

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop! {FACEBOOK!}

2012-01-29T21:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a Mommy blogger?

Do you blog about your kids?

Do you blog about great things for Mommies?

Do you wanna meet other Mom Bloggers?

With the announcement that Google will soon be pulling the plug on GFC, Mom Blog Monday is beginning to evolve! We will be rotating Social Media Outlets each week, featuring different ways to follow some of your favorite {and new} Mommy Blogs!
The rotation will follow this sequence: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, RSS/Email

All we ask is that you follow the 3 Co-Hosts: The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom, Luxury Living Frugal Style, and So Easy Being Green… the first three blogs on the linky! Then follow Spot #4 which is the featured blog of the week!

We would LOVE it if you’d grab our button and put it somewhere on your blog or in a blog post! This would help us spread the word. However, you aren’t required to. Please be sure to link up to the correct Social Media of the Week and leave us a comment so we can follow you back!

This week’s Featured Media is Facebook!

This week's featured blogger is…

Are Butterflies Ticklish?

Fuzzibunz One Size Cloth Diaper Review! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

Today I want to tell you about one of my favorite types of cloth diapers! I loved it when I cloth diapered Noah and I love it even more now that I’m using cloth on Isaac! I am talking about the Fuzzibunz one-sized pocket diaper! Why do I love it even more now you ask? Because this is the first one-size diaper I was able to use on Isaac! Even when he was under 10 pounds!

The Fuzzibunz One-Size cloth diaper fits approximately 7-35 pounds. It is a bit different than most one-size diapers in that it uses buttons to adjust the waist and thigh area. Since the diaper is so adjustable it is easy to get a perfect, snug fit for your baby’s unique shape!

Like I said, this is the first one size diaper I was able to get on Isaac. A lot of the other one-size diapers I have are just now fitting him well at their smallest setting. The Fuzzibunz one-size I was able to get a good fit on him at about 3 weeks old! That just added to my love for Fuzzibunz cloth diapers! I have always loved my Fuzzibunz because they are such well made diapers. They are made with a PUL outer layer and a soft microfleece inner layer, and I’m talking soft! They come with two microfiber inserts that are super absorbent! I don’t think I’ve ever had a leak with a Fuzzibunz diaper on Noah or Isaac! Another thing I love about the Fuzzibunz one-size diaper is how durable it is! ALL of my Fuzzibunz one-size diapers I used the 17 months I cloth diapered Noah and are still in great condition now that I’m using them on Isaac! What’s great is the one-size diapers come with extra elastic just in case the elastic does get a little worn and needs to be replaced. But to be honest, I haven’t even had to replace the elastic on any of mine!

A lot of mamas wait to use cloth diapers until baby can fit in to one-size diapers because they don’t want to worry about newborn diapering. My suggestion to you if you are one of these mamas is to get some Fuzzibunz one-size cloth diapers! You’ll be able to put your little one in cloth sooner and start saving money and helping the environment sooner too!

(This is not a sponsored post)

Guest Post- Preparing an Older Child for a New Sibling! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2}

2012-01-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone I'm Darlene from http://youngmammatales.blogspot.com I'm so excited to be here today! I'm going to share with you guys today a little bit about preparing for baby number two!

Everyone says your older child is in for a big change when number 2 comes along, and for us I think that will be even more so the case when baby girl comes along at the end of April. By then, our son Jasper will have had almost FIVE years being an only child. Almost five years of staying home with me every day, never having to share me, his dad, our attention, his personal space or toys. When grandparents come to visit, it's just to see him and he knows it. He was the first grand child on both sides, and has been spoiled from day one.

Soon he will have another person here that he has to share his mom and dad with, and since he is old enough to know and remember how things used to be, I'm imagining this change will be much more difficult than if we would have given him a sibling while he was just one or even 2.

We want to make the transition as smooth for him as possible and we are doing everything we can do help him prepare. How could we not? His life is about to be completely turned upside down!

I've read books, blogs and online magazine articles and talked to parents with multiple children to try to figure out what will work best for our family, since every child and every situation is different.

Here's what we have come up with.

1. Since he will be sharing a room with his sister (around 5-6 months when we transition her in there) we have already bought her crib, and as soon as we get back from Christmas we will put the crib in there and start preparing him for the invasion of his space. We think it will be better to do this before she gets here, to give him more time to get used to the idea.

2. Involve Jasper with as much baby stuff as possible. So far he has been to both ultrasounds, and that really got him excited and made it more real. We had a 4D ultrasound and they gave us a DVD to take home and he always asks to put the movie in to watch the baby.

3. Get him involved in the shopping- so far he loves picking out baby outfits to buy- we think this gets him excited about it instead of feeling left out and that shes the only one that is getting new things, now he actually gets excited and has even bought an outfit with His money!

4. Get some big brother books- he loves having us read to him, so I think he will love this.

5. Get him around some babies! We are heading back to Iowa for 2 weeks of Christmas fun and I have a brand new baby niece and two friends who just had babies so getting him around babies will help him visualize what is coming in April!

6. Talk (a LOT) about how important big brothers are. We have already started this and he already realized what an important part of her life he is going to play. I think we will come up with a few special big brother jobs- he is always such a great helper and it makes him feel important so he needs to have some big brother jobs to concentrate on!

7.After baby gets here, we plan on having separate Mommy Jasper, and Daddy Jasper dates. We do those now, and it's something fun and special, and I don't want that to stop when she gets here. They will be pretty short in the beginning, like going down the street just the 2 of us for ice cream when I'm able to leave her for a little while, but continuing this special ritual is very important to me. I grew up in a family with 5 kids and my parents would make the time to take us out one on one and it was always So special to have mom or dad to ourselves! And hopefully this will make him feel like he isn't being replaced at all.

Anyone else have any great tips to getting the older child to adept to a new addition? I know it won't be easy, but hopefully these steps will at least help prepare all of us for the changes that are going to come this spring!

Bummis Easy Fit Diaper Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

Bummis diapers are another brand of diapers I had always heard great things about but never actually tried myself. I always preferred pockets over all-in-ones and snaps over Velcro so I just wasn’t sure if I was going to like Bummis diapers. But when I was pregnant with Isaac I decided this was another diaper I really wanted to try.

I received the Bummis Easy Fit diaper in chocolate (brown). The Easy Fit fits approximately 8 to 35 pounds. You could consider the Easy Fit an all-in-one but it works like a pocket diaper really. The insert is just attached to the diaper. But you have the choice of stuffing it in the pocket or laying it over the top. The connected insert is made of two layers- rayon from bamboo and polyester microfiber. The rayon from bamboo absorbs moisture 70% quicker than cotton. The rayon from bamboo is also super soft against baby’s skin!

Here’s a great video to show you how the Bummis Easy Fit works!

I am happy to say Bummis Easy Fit diapers are one of my favorite diapers now! I really like that the insert is attached yet I can still fold and stuff it to my particular needs. I absolutely love the fit on Isaac! I honestly think I get the best fit from the Bummis Easy Fit than any other diaper I have! It fits perfectly around his chunky belly without giving him any red marks or rubbing him and the legs are just tight enough that nothing leaks out but it’s not super tight around his legs leaving little red marks. I have never been a big fan of Velcro but the Velcro on the Bummis Easy Fit makes me reconsider! It holds great! It hasn’t gotten pilly at all and it doesn’t stick to all my other diapers in the wash!

My Bummis Easy fit is seriously the first diaper I grab every time now! I just love how it’s built like a pocket but really an all-in-one! I love the fit on my chunky boy! And I love how absorbent and well made it is!

Buy It!

http://www.bummis.com/us/en/find-a-retailer.php

Win It!

One lucky reader will win one Bummis Easy Fit diaper in their choice of color!

Be sure to visit So Easy Being Green for a chance to win an Applecheeks cloth diaper!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Applecheeks Little Bundle Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

One cloth diaper I never tried when Noah was in diapers was the Applecheeks Two-Size Diapering System. I always really wanted to but never had a chance before he potty trained. So when I was pregnant with Isaac I knew I wanted to give Applecheeks a try!

I received the Applecheeks size 1 little bundle to review in Little Echo(black). The size 1 fits baby’s weighing approximately 7 to 20 pounds. The little bundle comes with an envelope cover and a one-size rayon from bamboo insert. The envelope cover is made from an outer layer of PUL with a soft inner layer of microfleece. It has two rows of snaps with soft elastic for a snug fit around the legs and waist. It has a wide envelope opening for easy stuffing and there is no need to unstuff it; the insert comes out in the wash! The insert is made from 70% rayon from bamboo and 30% organic cotton fleece. It is 12”x15” and folds into thirds to give six layers of absorbency!

I was so excited to receive the Applecheeks little bundle. I had never seen a diaper insert like the rayon bamboo insert. Rayon from bamboo is twice as absorbent as cotton and I could tell just from feeling the insert. I love that the website has lots of tutorials and videos. After washing the diaper I was very excited to give it a try on Isaac. The envelope cover is so nice and soft and it was pretty easy for me to get a good fit on Isaac. The insert really is super absorbent! We never have any poopy blowouts or leaks! As Isaac grows the diaper does seem a bit tight around his big belly so he will probably move up to size 2 sooner rather than later. He’s my big chunky monkey though so I’m not too surprised. I have no experience with size 2 but I think with a skinny baby or even a chubbier baby the Applecheeks diapering system would truly last from infant to toddler!

I really love the Applecheeks little bundle size one diaper! It’s soft, absorbent, and easy to use. They are unique and a bit different from most cloth diapers, but work so well! The price is a little higher than I like to pay for cloth diapers, but the quality of the diaper is well worth the money, in my opinion. I also love that there are so many great colors to choose from! Overall, the Applecheeks Little Bundle is a diaper that works great!

Buy It!

http://shopapplecheeks.com/shop/home.php

Win It!

One lucky reader will win an Applecheeks Little Bundle in their choice of color, size, and insert!

Be sure to visit So Easy Being Green for a chance to win breastfeeding accessories from Pumpease!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Abby's Lane/Kissaluvs Fitted Diaper Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Abby’s Lane is one of my favorite cloth diaper retailers to shop at! With their free shipping, freebies for spending a certain amount, giveaways, and reward points they are one of my go-to stores for all my cloth diapering needs! I received a Kissaluvsfitted diaper from Abby’s Lane to review, and like always it shipped to me super quick! One of my favorite things about Abby’s Lane is their shipping! Most of the time they ship my order the same day I place the order and it always gets to me super fast!

I received the Kissaluvs fitted diaper in lime green in a size zero for Isaac. The size zero fits approximately 5-15 pounds. They have soft elastic to keep any messes in and are made with super absorbent materials!

Kissaluvs Fitted without Cover

I was able to use the Kissaluvs fitted diaper on Isaac right away! He fit in it well at almost 7lbs and about one week old. I like how soft they feel. Nothing scratchy or itchy to bother my little man. When I first tried it he was still pooping every diaper change and the diaper held up well, without any leaks or blowouts. It wasn’t too bulky either even with a cover! The price is pretty comparable to other newborn diapers at $13.95 a diaper. At Abby’s Lane though, the more you buy the cheaper they are!

Kissaluvs Fitted with Thirsties Cover.

Overall I think the Kissaluvs fitted is a great diaper! They fit my newborn very well and did a great job at containing mess! And I can’t say enough great things about Abby’s Lane! They have tons of cloth diapers, cloth diaper accessories, and mom and baby products to choose from! With free, super fast shipping, and even a rewards program, they can’t be beat!

Buy It!

www.abbyslane.com

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a HUGE cloth diaper prize package from Abby's Lane!

(This is a joint giveaway between Lindsey and I! Please only enter once! Any duplicate entries will be deleted!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sneak Peek: Fall in Love with Fluff- $500 Cloth Diaper Giveaway!

2012-01-24T14:00:00.000-05:00

I know we are right in the middle of the New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 event but I wanted to let you know of anther event I am participating in right after this event, starting February1!! Here's a sneak peek!

Do you want to win $500 of Cloth Diapers and Accessories?!

The Fall In Love With Fluff Giveaway Event hosted by Daily Mothering and Eco-Crazy Mom is right around the corner! Over 100 blogs are coming together to present this awesome Valentine's Day giveaway from February 1-7, 2012. We will be giving away a Cloth Diaper Prize Pack valued at $500 to one lucky winner!!

This giveaway event is generously sponsored by
Kissed By The Moon and Sandbox Lane,
two super awesome cloth diaper retailers!

Come back February 1-7 to enter this amazing giveaway!

This giveaway will be open to both US and Canada.
Some items will be substituted if a Canada winner is drawn
due to shipping restrictions on certain brands.

For now, here is a sneak peek at what you could WIN!
(Winner will get to choose colors/prints for most items!)

Smartipants One Size Pocket Diaper Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-24T00:01:00.003-05:00

One-size pocket diapers have always been my diaper of choice, but I was a little bit unsure of how they would work on an itty bitty baby. Were they truly one-size? I knew they truly did fit until potty training since I used them on Noah until he potty trained, but I wasn’t sure if they worked right at the beginning from birth. So when I was given the opportunity to review a Smartipants One Size Pocket Diaper, I was excited to put these questions I had to the test!

Smartipants One-Size Pocket Diapers fit babies 7-35lbs and are designed to grow with your baby. With adjustable snaps this makes it possible. It comes with an absorbent insert that fits snuggly into the pocket. You don’t even have to pull it out after the diaper has been soiled, because it comes out in the wash! The diapers are free of any chemicals or irritants and breathable to keep away diaper rash!

I love how Smartipants one-size diapers are made. I love that the insert comes out in the wash so I don’t have to get my hands all yucky trying to pull the insert out, like most pocket diapers. I love the gentle elastic on the legs so they don’t leave red marks on my baby, yet they still keep messes in and provide a snug fit! I love all the bright colors the one-size diaper comes in! I just love them! But do they work on my newborn??

The answer is yes! Granted I didn’t try it on him right away, but once he hit about 7lbs I gave it a shot! It was a little bulky, but that’s expected of a one-size diaper on an itty bitty! But it did the job, and well! It fits a lot better now, with Isaac at 2 months and 12lbs, but when they say 7lbs and up, they really mean it! We’ve only had one leak with the Smartipants one-size diaper and that was during a nap. But all other times, even when he’s napped, we are leak-free! And no poop blow outs either! The insert is super absorbent and really holds up to newborn poop explosions!

Smartipants One-Size Pocket Diapers are truly that, one-size! They fit newborns up to toddlers and are a great diaper to use on your baby all the way until he/she is potty trained! At only $14.95 a diaper and bundle packages available I believe the Smartipants One-Size Pocket Diaper is a great diaper to add to your stash!

Buy It!

www.smartipants.com

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Smartipants One-Size diaper of their own!

Be sure to visit So Easy Being Green today for a chance to win a gift card from Three Happy Trees!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Safety 1st Sink Snuggler Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-23T00:01:00.008-05:00

Bathing a baby is not a very easy task! Especially when baby is teeny tiny and slippery and wiggly! It can be a nerve wracking task for any parent! The Safety 1^st Sink Snuggler makes bathing your baby a little bit easier by providing an alternative to the typical infant bathtub!

The Safety 1stSink Snuggler is designed to fit in your kitchen sink for easy bathing and ideal comfort for your baby! It is made of all foam so it contours to your kitchen sink perfectly. It adjusts with Velcro to fit different size sinks. When you’re done bathing the baby it lays out flat for easy drying.

I think the Safety 1^st Sink Snuggler is a great idea! It makes bathing your baby much easier because you aren’t bending over the tub trying to wash your slippery baby. When Isaac and Noah take a bath together in the tub I always have to bend over to wash Isaac and keep my hands on him so he doesn’t slip and by the time bath time is over my back is killing me! When I bathe Isaac alone in the Sink Snuggler my back doesn’t hurt and all because I can bathe him right at my level. It’s also easier to keep hold of him while washing him at the same time.

We have a double kitchen sink so Isaac wasn’t able to lay out in the sink snuggler as much. And since he can’t sit up on his own yet, I had to somewhat support him. I think it would work great if we had a single kitchen sink! It would work just like a bath tub! And once Isaac can sit up it will be even easier, even with the double sink! And I absolutely love that it hangs up flat to dry!

The Safety 1^st Sink Snuggler Baby Bather is a great product for bathing your baby! It makes it possible to bathe baby at your level, making it easier and less nerve wracking! It works for infants and toddlers! I think it is ideal for single kitchen sinks, but also works if you have a double kitchen sink. If you get nervous about bathing your baby in the tub, or need something to prevent back pain, the Sink Snuggler is a great alternative to the typical baby bath tub!

Buy It!

http://www.safety1st.com/usa/eng/Products/Child-Care/Bathtubs/Details/2724-BA054-Sink-Snuggler-Baby-Bather#Description

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Sink Snuggler of their own!

(This is a joint giveaway between Lindsey and I. Please only enter once! Duplicate entries will be deleted!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop! {RSS/Email}

2012-01-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a Mommy blogger?

Do you blog about your kids?

Do you blog about great things for Mommies?

Do you wanna meet other Mom Bloggers?

RSS/EMAIL

The rotation will follow this sequence: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, RSS/Email

All we ask is that you follow the 3 Co-Hosts: The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom, Luxury Living Frugal Style, and So Easy Being Green… the first three blogs on the linky!

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED MEDIA IS RSS/EMAIL!!

Please subscribe to each blog via RSS or EMAIL, NOT Google Friend Connect!

Baby K'Tan Review and Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-22T00:01:00.027-05:00

I purchased the Baby K’Tan baby carrier when Noah was just an infant. It was my first experience baby wearing. I knew absolutely nothing about it but knew I needed to get some things done and Noah wanted nothing more than to be held all the time! The Baby K’tan carrier is like a wrap but without all the wrapping. It’s like a ready-to-wear wrap, which was perfect for me because I was clueless when it came to baby wearing.

Baby K’Tan was started by two couples, the Chesals and the Wernicks, who were close friends and each has a child with special needs as well as two other children. Not finding the specific type carrier or sling they wanted to use to carry their babies, they began to create different designs to meet their needs. Once they created something that was easy to use, stylish, and comfortable, Baby K’Tan was born!

The Baby K’Tan can be used with babies 8-35lbs. It is a unique double loop system that requires no wrapping and can be worn in a number of different positions. It’s machine washable and dryer safe. It makes it possible to breastfeed discreetly while wearing your baby and can help calm fussy babies and still allow mommy to get things done! Check out some other great features of the K’Tan and compare it to other popular carriers in this Comparison Chart!

Like I said earlier, I got this with Noah and didn’t really know anything about baby wearing but needed something so I could get stuff done without constantly having to hold Noah. The Baby K’Tan was super easy to use and figure out. After watching the instructional videos I was able to easily get Noah in the carrier and wear him around the house! Noah was about 2 months old when I started wearing him and didn’t care much for being worn like I had hoped so I didn’t wear him as much as I would have liked. With Isaac I started wearing him right from the beginning and he seems to enjoy it very much! I wear him all over the place!

I first wore Isaac in the Baby K’Tan when he was 3 days old. I wore him to his first checkup and it was great! I love that the K’tan is so easy to use and get baby in. It’s simple to just slip on and put baby in even from the car! I love that he was so close to me and I could even cover him slightly so he wasn’t exposed to all the germs out there. I love that I can nurse him while he’s in the Baby K’Tan and can even do it discreetly! The Baby K’Tan makes it easy for me to wear my baby wherever I need to go! I can slip it on for a trip to the grocery store, or wear him around the house when he’s being fussy and I need to get stuff done!

Buy It!

http://www.babyktan.com/shop1.html

Win It!

One lucky reader will win their own original Baby K'Tan Baby Carrier!

Be sure to check out So Easy Being Green today for the chance to win some nursing pads from LilyPadz!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Daddy Scrubs Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Mommies, New Babies of 2!}

2012-01-21T00:01:00.005-05:00

When a new baby is born the baby and mother get a lot of attention. But everyone forgets about the new daddy and how important he is and how he’s just been through a huge change also! He wants to feel proud and accomplished just like the mother does! That is where Daddy Scrubs comes in to play! Daddy Scrubs has the perfect gifts for a new, proud dad including scrubs he can actually wear in the delivery room!

Daddy Scrubs was created by Robert Nickell who was about to become a new father but didn’t want to wear regular street clothes to coach his wife during her labor. So he created scrubs with the words “I’m the Daddy!” on them to separate himself from the doctors. Now Daddy Scrubs not only carriers scrubs for new dad to wear in the hospital but also has t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, bags, and more!

We received a Daddy Scrubs Certified New Daddy Gift Set and a set of Daddy Scrubs for my husband to review! The gift set comes with a New Daddy t-shirt, a custom frame magnet with a punch out middle, custom pen protector, and pens! Brian loves this gift set! He wanted to wear the t-shirt as soon as we received it! He took the frame magnet to work with a picture of Isaac and he has it in his locker at work. And of course the pens are very useful for Brian and myself!

Since Isaac was born a few weeks early we didn’t receive the Daddy Scrubs for Brian to wear to the hospital in time, but they are still really awesome! I took a picture of Brian in the scrubs so you can see how awesome they are! He was really disappointed he didn’t get to wear them in the hospital and show them off! He’s such a proud daddy!

I really think Daddy Scrubs are a great idea and make the perfect gift for a new dad! If the new dad isn’t too keen on wearing scrubs, then the selection of hoodies, shirts, and other items are a great alternative as a gift! New dad’s should feel just as proud and special as new moms, and Daddy Scrubs gives them the opportunity to tell the world “I’m the Daddy!”

Buy It!

http://www.daddyscrubs.com/

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a set of Daddy Scrubs for the new daddy in their life!

Be sure to visit So Easy Being Green today for a chance to win a nursing pillow and accessories from My Breast Friend!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Guest Post: Stacey from Getting Through The Day! {New Years, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-20T00:01:00.001-05:00

My husband always said he wanted three kids and I always said I wanted four. It was never a big disagreement, just part of our discussions when we talked about the future. After our second child was born, we both said we were ok if the next one came along sooner rather than later. However, we would never think the next positive pregnancy test would pop up when our daughter was only four months old. Then, four months later, we found out it was twins!

We went from one child to four in 12 months and it has been quite a joyful, exhausting whirlwind. People ask me all the time how I do it. I just do what I have to do. We've had to figure out how to manage with the children we've been given in the hours of the day we've been given. It has been a bit of a crash course in parenting, marriage, and home management. Here are the three of the biggest lessons in this course.

Maximize space.

Once we found out twins were coming, we immediately went into prep mode of figuring out where to buy and how to fit 3 cribs, 3 highchairs, 4 car seats and all the other gear that comes with not one, but two infants and a 12-month-old, not to mention our almost 4-year-old. We purged a lot of stuff from every room. I knew we would be adding a lot of baby gear again, two more wardrobes, double the bottles, and of course two more people. I hate to feel cramped and I don't like clutter so clearing out unnecessary and unused things in our home opened up our space a lot. The other thing we did that had a huge impact was close in our small, one-car garage and buy a shed for the backyard. It was the most cost effective way to add space to our house. It served as the twins' room initially and now it is a great playroom.

Communicate well.

The workload in our home took a huge jump when the twins were born with so many bottles to prepare and feed and having three in diapers that need to be changed along with the rest of the normal work that it takes to manage a household.

I am a stay-at-home mom, so I do most of the housework, shopping, cooking, and care of the children since I'm home all day. However, I could no longer get everything done during the day and just rest in the evenings when my husband came home from work. It has been crucial for me and my husband to have consistent, honest communication. We have to interact a lot about who's been changed, figure out who is doing what task, and how to get them in bed with as little chaos as possible. The days are over of one of us taking care of the baby while the other rests or does something else. So communication is key to maximize time and minimize frustration and confusion.

Love each child individually.

Each of my children are so very different and even from the youngest age, I have seen the value of spending time with them individually and relating to them in light of who they are, not who their siblings are. This is key in bonding with each of them and showing love to them, but it's also important to recognize how they are each developing socially, physically, and emotionally. Now, I am not yet at the place in availability to take each of my children out on little weekly dates and spend quality time with them. So, I may spend longer playing with one of the twins after I change their diaper or spend more time with my 2-year-old as I put her down for nap or having a portion of the little ones' nap time to do something special with my oldest.

I have to work to consistently apply these principles and I know they will continue to be crucial to the joy in my household, my parenting, and my marriage. There are so many other lessons I am in the middle of and so much I need to grow in. I'm just trying to take what I've been given and do well with all of it, all of who I am and all of who they are.

Thank you Stacey! Be sure to visit Stacey at Getting Through the Day!

Be sure to visit So Easy Being Green today for a chance to win a Birth and Baby Kit from Earth Mama Angel Baby!

Isaac is Two Months Old!

2012-01-19T16:09:00.000-05:00

My sweet Isaac James turned two months old yesterday!

He is approximately 12lbs (haven't had his well check yet for this month).

He JUST started sleeping through the night!! (about 7.5 hours)

He is cooing and squealing and smiling all the time!

He breastfeeds like a champ! (As you can tell with those chubby cheeks!)

He hates tummy time. He says it's for the birds ;)

He is all around a happy guy and we love him so much!!

Koala Kin Hands Free Nursing Pouch GRAND PRIZE Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-19T00:01:00.004-05:00

One of my biggest challenges as a new mommy of two has been juggling Noah’s needs and Isaac’s needs at the same time. For some reason (sometimes I’m convinced he does it on purpose hehe) Noah always seems to want or need something while I am nursing Isaac. He needs to go potty, or he wants a drink, or he can’t reach something and wants me to help him. And if you have a toddler you know they don’t just wait. So when I discovered the Koala Kin Hands Free Nursing Pouch I knew that it would be perfect for times when I was nursing Isaac but Noah needed me too!

The Koala Kin Hands Free Nursing Pouch is a pouch that makes it possible for moms to breastfeed their babies hands free. It positions baby perfectly so that baby can eat and mommy can get thing done, or in my case, help another little one with something. It is made from 100% breathable cotton canvas. The Koala Kin is adjustable to fit different sized mommies and babies and it eliminates back and shoulder pain by evenly distributing your baby’s weight! It also folds up compactly so it’s easy to slip in the diaper bag!

The Koala Kin is not a sling or carrier. It is designed to mimic mommy holding baby while nursing. It makes it much easier to get your baby in a good position for breastfeeding. And you don’t even have to take baby out of the Koala Kin to switch sides like you would a sling or carrier!

Here's a great video on how to use the Koala Kin Hands Free Nursing Pouch:

The Koala Kin Hands Free Nursing Pouch has been a lifesaver for me! It makes it possible for me to nurse Isaac on demand but still spend time with Noah and help him do the little things he can’t do on his own. This really helps me get my quality time in with Noah and helps with jealousy issues. It’s really easy to use too! When Isaac was brand new and we were still getting working on breastfeeding it was a bit difficult because he liked to latch on and off a lot so getting him back latched was a bit of a challenge but once he was latched on good it was great because I had two free hands! It’s even nice to use when Isaac is cluster feeding in the evenings for two to three hours straight because I can get on my laptop or read a book while he nurses. My only issue with the Koala Kin is that it takes a minute to get on, since there are two parts, and when you have a hungry baby screaming at you that minute seems like forever! But other than that I absolutely love my Koala Kin!

Buy It!

http://www.koalakin.com/Default.aspx

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Koala Kin Hands Free Nursing Pouch!

Be sure to visit So Easy Being Green for a chance to win a video monitor from Mobi Technologies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Exederm Baby Wash Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-18T00:01:00.001-05:00

As most everyone knows, newborn babies have very sensitive skin. They are so new and their skin isn’t used to all the different chemicals and products that are skin is used to. Babies delicate skin can also get very irritated by different lotions and soaps. Exederm Baby Wash is a gentle , non-irritating baby wash that is perfect for a newborn’s delicate skin.

Exederm Baby Wash contains no fragrances or dyes and doesn’t have the ingredients other soaps have that cause skin to be irritated and dry. With both Noah and Isaac I always worried about detergents and lotions and soaps irritating their skin. So knowing Exederm Baby Wash was free of all these irritants gave me a great peace of mind that it would not irritate Isaac’s skin. I was able to use it on him right away and it didn’t irritate his skin at all.

Not only is Exederm Baby Wash great for newborn babies, but it’s also great for babies and kids of any age! It works well for children with eczema or really dry skin. Noah tends to get really patchy, dry skin in the winter months. So I have been using the Exederm Baby Wash on his as well because it keeps his skin from getting so dry and irritated. I also use the Exederm Baby lotion on him to keep his skin moisturized. Paired together they work really well at keeping his skin from getting so dry and itchy.

If you are looking for a natural, toxin free, irritant free wash that is gentle and safe to use on your new baby OR if you have an infant or child that suffers from dry skin or eczema than Exederm is the way to go!

Buy It!

www.exederm.com

Win It!

One lucky reader will win one Exederm Skin Care product of their choice!

Be sure to visit So Easy Being Green today for your chance to win a Boba Baby Carrier!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

BumGenius XS All-In-One Review! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

I purchased a few BumGenius XS AIOs because they were a great price and I was beginning to think I’d give newborn cloth diapering a try. I did not expect them to be my FAVORITE newborn cloth diaper! But they are! They are so easy to use and work so well! I wish I would have purchased more!

BumGenius XS All-in-One cloth diapers are made to fit newborns 6 to 12 pounds. They have low rise so not to interfere with the cord stump. They are all-in-ones so no stuffing or folding. These are by far one of the easiest diapers to use, in my opinion. Even new daddy’s will have no trouble using this diaper. With the Velcro they are even quicker to get on baby than snaps! And any parent knows time is of the essence with a baby!

These were my favorite newborn diaper because they were so easy to use and worked so well. They fit Isaac good right from the beginning (at 6lbs 14oz) and fit him right up until about 11 pounds at one month old. From there I was able to go straight to BumGenius size small and BumGenius 4.0 One-Size Diapers. They are soft and hold up good! We had a few wet leaks but never any poo leaks! Another thing I really like about these diapers is they don’t leave marks on his legs or belly. A lot of diapers I have tried tend to do that and I always wonder if the diaper is too tight or hurting my little guy when that happens. With the BumGenius XS I don’t have to worry about that!

The picture above is Isaac in a BumGenius XS at 8 days old. As you can see it fits him really well and there is plenty of room to grow!

So overall I would definitely say the BumGenius XS All-In-One diaper is my favorite diaper for newborns. It’s so easy to use, so easy to clean, works great, and is super affordable!

Buy It!

www.cottonbabies.com

(This is not a sponsored post.)

Be sure to visit So Easy Being Green today for a chance to win a newborn cloth diaper from Red Barn Cloth Diapers!

Aden+Anais Sleeping Bag Review! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

Noah was an infant in the middle of summer. So I didn’t have much to worry about as far as keeping him warm. I would just put a sleeper on him and he’d sleep in that. I didn’t have to put a blanket on him or anything like that. But with Isaac being born in November, I knew it would be a bit different having a baby in the winter. I was worried about keeping him warm, because I knew I’d be told at the hospital not to put blankets on him in his bed to reduce the risk of SIDS. So I was on the hunt for a warm, but safer alternative to blankets.

I had first heard of Aden + Anais from fellow mommy friends who loved their swaddle blankets. They loved the muslin cotton Aden & Anais used for their swaddles because it kept the baby from getting to hot or too cold. Muslin cotton is very breathable and light, so it’s perfect for the summer months but warm enough for the winter months also. Both my boys only slept well with the swaddle the first few weeks, so when I was given the opportunity to review the Sleeping Bag from Aden & Anais I knew I’d get good use out of it fairly early.

I received the Star Bright Sleeping Bag in size small to review. The Star Bright sleeping bag is part of the Cozy Sleeping Bag collection which is made with four layers of muslin to provide extra warmth during the cold winter months. I love how soft the muslin fabric is. I want a blanket for myself made from muslin cotton! The sleeping bag makes it super easy to keep baby warm but also is convenient for diaper changes or middle of the night feedings! It’s not baggy or thick so I can nurse Isaac while he’s in it and it unzips from the bottom to make diaper changes very easy!

I love my Aden & Anais sleeping bag! I know that when I put it on Isaac it is keeping him nice and warm and I don’t have to worry about him pulling it over his head and suffocating or anything scary like that. It’s super soft and easy to keep clean! The Aden & Anias Sleeping Bag is a safe, affordable product that is a great baby shower gift or perfect for your own sweet baby!

Buy It!

http://www.adenandanais.com/shop/default.aspx

Be sure to visit So Easy Being Green today for a chance to win a car seat from Diono!!

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop! {Google+}

2012-01-15T21:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a Mommy blogger?

Do you blog about your kids?

Do you blog about great things for Mommies?

Do you wanna meet other Mom Bloggers?

GOOGLE+

All we ask is that you follow the 3 Co-Hosts: The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom, Luxury Living Frugal Style, and So Easy Being Green… the first three blogs on the linky!

This week’s Featured Media is Google+!

Be sure to link to your blog's GOOGLE+ page, NOT your blog. This will ensure that hoppers get to the right page to follow you!

Double the Trouble, Double the Fun! Guest Post by Deanna of Everything and Nothing of Essex {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-15T00:01:00.002-05:00

I have the distinct privilege of being the mother of two children...under two. In fact, the oldest won't be 2 until February and my new lil' guy is already 3.5 months old.
Added to that, my oldest is blessed with an extra chromosome, so there are significant delays with her development. So, in all reality, it's like I have two children 12 months and under- twins if you will. Neither walk, talk, speak etc.

And honestly? I.love.it.

But with the tagalongs (that must both be carried everywhere) every little event is a HUGE hassle.

Going to the grocery store- it takes a couple hours of prep time and an afternoon of recovery.
Going to the mall- forget leisurely shopping...it is an in and out type of situation full of fear and hasty prayers for good behavior
Going over to someone else's house- I usually take take cookies and a pre-written apology letter
Going on a long trip- yikes. this involves some pretty serious self medication

But I think the thing that irks me the most is that adults who have DONE this bit in the past totally forget how much effort it is just to step out that front door with TWO well stocked diaper bags and TWO prepared bottles (here it is one of breast milk and one of formula) and TWO babies (not good if you forget one) and carry them all out to the car (through strong wind, sleet and of course, uphill)

You're given grief if you don't come to every little event (99% of them happening during naptime, of course...or after bedtime) and are expected to carry around the weight of the world as if you weren't awake all night feeding one infant and soothing one cranky toddler who woke up because of the infant's screams.

But lest I give you the wrong impression, I DO love my job as stay at home mommy to two beautiful babies. A lot of work? yes. All consuming? yes. Exhausting? you bet.

Because at the end of the day, I get to say that I did this:

and this:

and took care of this:

Yep, I would do it all over again. (-: Now if you will excuse me, I hear some ~~gentle murmurs~~ cries of absolute terror coming from the blue nursery. Time to get back to work.

Thank you Deanna!
Be sure to check out Deanna's blog Everything and Nothing from Essex! It is truly one of my favorite blogs to read!

Be sure to visit So Easy Being Green today for a chance to win some postpartum mama cloth from Lunapads!

How Big Brother is Handling Having a Little Brother! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-14T23:18:00.000-05:00

After Isaac was born, one of the main questions I got from people was how Noah was handling it all. Luckily Noah has handled having a little brother very well!

We prepared him as best we could for Isaac's arrival. We talked about "baby Isaac" and " baby bubba" and we included him in the preparations and tried to explain to him that babies cry and sleep a lot and things like that. I really think that helped. I would also tell him that baby Isaac was going to be coming soon and baby Isaac will be here in a few weeks, so when it was time for Isaac to arrive, Noah was pretty excited to meet his little brother.

I remember the first night home was a little stressful. Noah had some mixed feelings I think. Noah was excited to have his little brother home, but was learning that little brother took up a lot of mommy's time. It didn't help that he hadn't had a nap that day and would get upset about everything little thing. On top of that he wanted me to hold him often, which I couldn't do much of after having just gave birth. So I was pretty emotional myself seeing my big boy get upset so easily. But the next day, after some much needed rest, he was doing much better.

First day home with Isaac

Noah does really well with Isaac now. He asks to hold him almost every day and is always talking to him. He's very helpful too! If Isaac starts to cry Noah will come running to his aid yelling "I'm coming Isaac!". He loves to me by handing me things and getting things for me while I'm busy with Isaac. His favorite thing to do with Isaac is take a bath! He absolutely loves taking a bath with his little brother.

Noah still has his moments where he gets jealous or wants us to give him some extra attention. He hates for anything to be "Isaac's" and he'll fuss for an hour that no it is his. But we are working on those things. And more often than not he is kind and loving to his little brother.

It is a big adjustment for everyone in the family when a new baby comes. Thankfully the adjustment has gone well for Noah. I know my big boy loves his little brother to death and I can't wait too see that bond grow even more as they get older.

Breathable Baby Breathable Mesh Liner Review & Giveaway!

2012-01-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

Every new parent worries about the safety of their child. There are so many risks out there in this scary world that give parents good reason to worry! Unfortunately, where and how your newborn sleeps is a big chunk of that worry, at least it is for my husband and I. When I heard about Breathable Baby Mesh Crib Liners I was very excited because I knew it would put some of my worries at ease!

Breathable Baby was founded by Dale and Susan Waters in 2002 after they discovered there weren’t any products to keep their baby girl from getting her arms and legs stuck in between the crib rails, but that didn’t pose a threat of suffocation. The Breathable Mesh Crib Liner is an affordable and safe alternative to crib bumpers that can be dangerous and cause children to suffocate in their own beds! A major elements in the Breathable Baby liner is the patented A.C.T.- Air Channel Technology. It is virtually impossible to form an airtight seal even when the liner is compressed. It is pediatrician recommended, keeps arms and legs from getting stuck in the crib rails, and fits all cribs!

We received the Sage/Blue Strip liner to review for Isaac’s crib! It looks so good in his room because his whole bedroom is bright blue! It comes in a wonderful variety of colors and prints to match just about any nursery! It was very easy to put on the crib. My husband got the whole thing on the crib perfectly in less than 10 minutes! The liner is see-through so that is the first indication that it is breathable and safe for my baby. Isaac can’t roll over yet, but when he can I know I won’t have to worry about him getting his arms and legs stuck in the rails, or him suffocating against bumpers that aren’t breathable!

This product really takes away some of my worries and fears of something happening to my sweet baby boy. Our children are everything to use as parents so we want to do everything to keep them safe and healthy! Breathable Baby Breathable Mesh Crib Liner is a product that gives parents the opportunity to do that!

Buy It!

http://www.breathablebaby.com/

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Breathable Mesh Liner in their choice of available color or print!

Be sure to go visit So Easy Being Green for a chance to win a pair of car seat strap covers from Red Charlotte!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Milkies Milk Savers Review! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

If you’re a nursing mother, you know it can sometimes be messy. I have a pretty decent supply, as well as a fast letdown so I always have to wear breast pads because I leak very easily! I leak the most when my milk lets down while I’m nursing. I can literally soak a breast pad completely in just one nursing session! This is why I am so thankful I found out about Milkies Milk Savers!

Milk Savers are little devices that slip discreetly into your bra while you breastfeed your baby and save the milk that leaks from the opposite breast you are nursing on! You are able to save the milk that leaks to use for a bottle or with cereal! Milk Savers give you an alternative to disposable products such as nursing pads and are safe and simple to use!

I’ve heard breast milk called “liquid gold” from a number of different breastfeeding mothers. We don’t want one drop to go to waste. I think the Milk Saver is an absolutely genius product because it makes it possible to literally save every last drop! I leak a LOT and the Milk Saver is so much easier to me than pumping all the time. I can usually get an ounce, sometimes two, in the Milk Saver at every nursing session! And instead of having to go pump at times other than when I’m nursing I can just use the milk I collected in the Milk Saver and store it for when I need a babysitter! It slips in my bra easily and discreetly so I can save my milk wherever I am nursing! It’s easy to clean and small so it is easy to store in the diaper bag or in a cabinet at home. There aren’t any parts I have to put together, or keep track of, which I love because I always seem to lose small parts.

I think MilkiesMilk Savers are awesome! They make it so much easier for moms to store every drop of milk to use later for baby! It’s great for mom’s who are going back to work and need to store milk for a caretaker to feed baby, and it’s great for a stay at home mom to store milk for when she needs a break or has the occasional date night! I find it much easier and a lot less time consuming than pumping, and time is of the essence with a little one! If you are a nursing mother I highly suggest a Milkies Milk Saver so you can store every last drop of the best thing for your baby!

Buy It!

http://www.mymilkies.com/shop

Be sure to head over to So Easy Being Green to enter to win a newborn diaper from Strawberries N' Sunshine!

Guest Post- Helpful Tips for a Mum with Two or More Children{New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-12T23:59:00.000-05:00

After having one child, most women establish a routine that meets her needs as well as the baby's. Naturally, when a mum has a second or third child that schedule needs a few adjustments. The following are some tips for new mums who are welcoming their second or third child into the household.

First, it's important for a new mum to schedule time for herself. Generally, when new mums hear this proposal they shrug it off. After all, there are always tasks to accomplish whether it's washing dishes and clothes or preparing for a feeding. However, a mum can become extremely weary if she doesn’t allow herself some free time. A mum shouldn't feel guilty about calling on a family member or a friend to watch the baby for an hour or so. It's likely that a mother or a friend with children will be especially understanding of a new mum's need for a break.

Next, a mum with several children should try to put aside individual time with each one. For instance, if a mum has a new-born, a toddler, and a five year old, then she may play games with the five year old when the new-born is asleep and the toddler is at grandma's house. Obviously, it's not always possible to schedule time alone with each child. But, if a mum can try to accomplish this a few times a week she will be showing all of them that are equally loved.

Finally, any mum will admit that there are times when nothing seems to go right. For instance, her toddler wants attention or just go into the toddler bed just when it's time to feed the new-born. Or, her five year old wants to practice letters when she's diapering the baby. Instead of crying, she can opt to bring a dose of silliness into the situation. For instance, a mum who is changing the baby's diaper while being pulled at by her five year old can start to sing a silly song accompanied by goofy expressions. A silly song is an effective attitude-changer for a five year old. Not surprisingly, they grab at any opportunity to giggle. A mum could make up a song about how she is diapering a baby with a silly little boy or girl pulling at her robe! In short, silliness can lighten a tense atmosphere and give both mum and children the laugh they need.

My name is Nisha Sharma, I represent a site called BabyPlanet.biz I love to write about parenting, children and give advice to moms.

Hot Mama Gowns GRAND PRIZE Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

Is it just me or are the gowns they make you wear at the hospital super ugly? I mean really?! Just because we are giving birth doesn’t mean we have to not be stylish doing it! But with a Hot Mama Gown, you can be stylish WHILE giving birth in a beautiful, hospital approved gown!

Hot Mama Gowns are made in the USA and are 100% organic cotton. They are designed to fit any size mama and baby bump and have a full snap down back to keep mama covered. They are designed for breastfeeding and come in a great variety of colors and designs!

When I first received my Hot Mama Gown I was so pleased and excited! The gown even comes in a gorgeous box! When I pulled out the gown I think I lost my breath for a second. The gown is gorgeous! I received the beautiful LeAnne gown to review. The gown is soft and so well made, I almost put it on that night to sleep in!

So I’ll admit, I didn’t wear it while actually giving birth because it is so gorgeous I didn’t want to get it all messy with bodily fluids and all that goes with giving birth. But I did put it on after I showered and got settled in. My favorite part of the gown is how easy it makes for breastfeeding. The drawstrings are super easy to untie or loosen on the sides so you can just move over the top to breastfeed baby. It’s nice not to have to worry about pulling a shirt up or down and trying to keep it up or down and out of the way. Even now that I’m home with baby, it works great as a nightgown for those middle of the night nursing sessions.

Overall I really love Hot Mama Gowns! They are a great alternative to the plain Jane hospital gowns and make you feel beautiful even after labor and delivery!

Buy It!

www.hotmamagowns.com

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Hot Mama Gown of their choice!

(This is a joint giveaway between Lindsey and I! Please only enter once! Duplicate entries will be deleted!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

GroVia Newborn All-In-One Review! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-11T00:01:00.003-05:00

When doing research about newborn cloth diapering and getting opinions from fellow mothers GroVia was a popular brand that was brought up. A lot of moms recommended the GroVia Newborn All in One. So I was very curious to give it a try! When I looked them up, the colors and prints alone sold me! They are so bright and cute! I just had to try them!

The GroViaNewborn AIO fits babies 5-12lbs. The inside layer is organic cotton with a cotton lining and the outside layer is water resistant. They come in a variety of colors and prints. There is no stuffing and no need to use a cover with these diapers.

The GroVia Newborn AIO was one of the first cloth diapers I was able to get on Isaac. They fit right from the beginning. He was 6lbs 11oz when we left the hospital, and the GroVia’s fit him great. I like the the thick cotton inner even though the actual diaper is super trim. It absorbs well, although you need to wash it quite a few times for it to reach its full absorbency. It does take a little longer than my other diapers to dry but that just goes to show how absorbent it is. I received the diaper in the color “surf” which I think is so bright and pretty! At the very beginning we had a few leaks through the legs but once Isaac got some meat on his little legs we didn’t have that problem anymore. It also has a lower rise so you don’t have to worry about the diaper irritating baby’s cord stump, which was a big concern of mine when I was researching newborn diapers.

The GroVia Newborn AIO was one of the first diapers I reached for in our newborn stash. Isaac has already outgrown the diaper, which saddens me because it was such a good diaper! I’m so glad they have GroVia One-Size AIOs! If you are looking for an affordable diaper that works well and is a diaper you can use on your baby right from the beginning I highly recommend the GroVia Newborn All-In-One!

Here's little man in his GroVia Newborn AIO at 4 weeks old:

Buy It!

https://www.gro-via.com/usa-retailers.html

Be sure to head over to So Easy Being Green for a chance to win some diaper inserts from Babee Greens!

Bamboobies Nursing Pads Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-10T00:01:00.002-05:00

If you are expecting and plan on breastfeeding, nursing pads are a must-especially in the beginning. But there are a lot of kinds to choose from. You have your disposables, which come in a number of different varieties and brands. Then you have your washable pads, which also come in different varieties. But cloth or disposable, most are not very comfortable and usually show through your clothing. But Bamboobies nursing pads are not only super soft, they are super thin so they don’t show through you clothing!

Bamboobies nursing pads are made of organic cotton and bamboo. This creates a very soft fabric that has been compared to cashmere. Which is exactly what sore nipples need! They are heart shaped so they cup around your breasts creating less wrinkles and don’t show through you clothing. Bamboobies also has an overnight pad which is also super soft, but is thick and larger to give you that extra coverage you need!

My Bamboobies nursing pads have been a lifesaver! The softness felt so great on my sore and raw nipples those first few weeks. I had a few different kinds of cloth nursing pads to try and the rest always felt itchy and uncomfortable. It was the exact opposite of what I needed for my sore nipples. But the Bamboobies were so soft and felt so comfortable I didn’t even notice they were there! They also have never leaked for me! I have had a good supply from the beginning and leak every time my milk lets down, but the Bamboobies absorb the milk and never soak through to my clothes! And the best part is, I never feel the wet! The fabric wicks it away from my skin! My breasts are a bit on the smaller side, so I still get a few wrinkles in the fabric, but not enough to be noticeable through my clothing. If you have a bigger bust I don’t think the Bamboobies pads would wrinkle at all! The heart shape is great for cupping around the breast so it doesn’t show through clothing. I find it wrinkles less when I wear the pad upside down so the bottom of the heart is facing up.

If you are expecting or currently nursing and looking for nursing pads that are comfortable, washable, and affordable then Bamboobies is the nursing pad for you!

Buy It!

http://www.buybamboobies.com/Breast-Pad.html

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a store credit of $16.99 (price of two pairs of regular Bamboobies or one pair of overnights)

This is a JOINT giveaway between Lindsey and I, so please only enter ONCE on the Rafflecopter form!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

2012-01-09T00:01:00.007-05:00

If you are a cloth diapering family, I’m sure you have heard of Rockin’ Green Eco-Friendly cleaning products! Rockin’ Green laundry detergent is a big hit in the cloth diapering community! But the great thing about Rockin’ Green is that it isn’t JUST for cloth diapers! It can be used on your every day laundry as well! And it’s great for washing baby clothes because it is dye-free, enzyme free, phosphate free, and has no optical brighteners! It’s great for baby’s sensitive skin!

I have been using Rockin’ Green Laundry Detergent since I cloth diapered Noah. But I’ve never used it on our clothes. I always wanted to save it for my diapers and we never really had any skin issues so I just never tried it. But once I started to prepare for baby Isaac I wanted to find something other than the expensive Dreft that everyone buys to wash new baby’s clothes in. I knew I had heard others used Rockin’ Green on their clothes so I wanted to give it a try!

I love that it is great for sensitive skin AND green! I also love that I don’t have to use much per load so it lasts a really long time! I can use about two tablespoons on a large load and it does the job perfectly! I have been using it on Isaac’s baby clothes since before he was born and he doesn’t get any kind of rash or have any kind of sensitivity to it! So now I can use one detergent for our cloth diapers AND our clothes!

It’s great for other things besides just laundry! I’ve used it at a carpet cleaner to get spots out of my carpet before! The stuff is amazing! I’ve heard of it being used as an all purpose cleaner, and even in the dishwasher! A friend of mine rocked a soak with her husband’s Army uniform and the water was black from all the nasty! But the uniform came out clean and all the yucky smell was gone! It works great for laundry and any other part of your house!

If you’re expecting and looking for a safe, cheaper alternative to expensive baby detergents or you just need something that’s going to get the stains and gunk out of your clothes, Rockin’ Green Laundry Detergent will do the job!

Buy It!

www.rockingreensoap.com

Win It!

One lucky reader will win one 45/90 load bag of Rockin' Green Detergent in their choice of formula and scent!

Be sure to check out Lindsey's great giveaway today from Undercover Mama!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop! {Twitter}

2012-01-08T21:00:00.001-05:00

Are you a Mommy blogger?

Do you blog about your kids?

Do you blog about great things for Mommies?

Do you wanna meet other Mom Bloggers?

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED MEDIA IS TWITTER!
DON'T FORGET... PLEASE LINK UP YOUR BLOG'S TWITTER PAGE RATHER THAN YOUR ACTUAL BLOG!

For the first few weeks, we will not have a Featured Blogger just to get everyone used to the new format.

Be sure to give a BIG CONGRATS to Lindsey, from So Easy Being Green! She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl this week!

Beco Butterfly 2 Baby Carrier GRAND PRIZE Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

2012-01-08T00:01:00.006-05:00

If you missed my Beco Butterfly 2 Baby Carrier review be sure to check it out HERE.

The Beco Butterfly 2 is an awesome product!
It can carry 7-45lbs, front or back!
It's machine washable!
Comes with a head rest and infant insert!

Buy It

http://www.becobabycarrier.com/index.asp

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Beco Butterfly 2 Baby Carrier!

Be sure to check out Lindsey's great giveaway today for the chance to win some cloth wipes from Two Sweet Potatoes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Tiny Tush Elite Mini Pocket Diaper Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

2012-01-07T00:01:00.006-05:00

Tiny Tush Elite One Size diapers were one of my favorite diapers while cloth diapering Noah. I loved how well they worked! When I heard about the Tiny Tush Elite Mini Pocket Diaper I was so excited to try one on Isaac! A teeny Tiny Tush Elite sounded awesome and I was excited to compare them to the one size Elite!

Tiny Tush was created by Charlene Foster. She was searching for a better option to cloth diapering and developed Tiny Tush! The Tiny Tush Elite Mini Pocket diaper is made from an outer layer of PUL and an inner layer of polyester micro-fleece. They are designed to fit babies 4lbs to 15lbs. They are available in snaps and aplix.

I was able to get the Tiny Tush Elite Mini on Isaac when he was 8 days old. The wings were actually a little long, but that is a good thing! Isaac is growing out of a lot of his newborn diapers already because the wings are not long enough and I can’t get them around his big belly! So I was very much pleased with that. I also liked how low the diaper was so I didn’t have to worry about it irritating his cord stump while it was still attached.

The diaper comes with a 9x12 microfiber insert. This insert folds to fit in the diaper. I really like this feature of the diaper because, unlike your typical microfiber insert, it is easy to clean and quick to dry. It also keeps the diaper on the thinner side and doesn’t create as much bulk. But even though it is thinner than your typical microfiber insert it still does the job! We haven’t had any blowout poops or leaks with the Elite Mini diaper the whole time we’ve been using it! And that is a big deal with a newborn diaper. I’ve heard a lot of mother’s complain about leaks with skinny little legs, or blowout up the back and legs. But with the Tiny Tush Elite Mini you don’t have that problem at all!

The Tiny Tush Elite Mini Pocket diaper definitely lives up to its big sister’s legacy. I love the Elite Mini almost as much as I love the Elite One-Size! It is easy to use, easy to clean, and super durable! And with the snap down setting that makes it possible to go all the way to 15lbs Isaac still has plenty of room to grow before he grows out of it! As usual, Tiny Tush once again proves to be a favorite cloth diaper brand of mine!

Buy It!

www.tinytush.com

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Tiny Tush Elite Mini Pocket Diaper!

Be sure to check out Lindsey's great giveaway today for the chance to win a gift card to Milk Nursingwear!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Diva Diapers GRAND PRIZE Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

2012-01-06T00:01:00.006-05:00

Diva Diapers is a family owned business dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in cloth diapering! They carry a huge variety of cloth diaper brands, including BumGenius, Fuzzibunz, GroVia, and Happy Heineys, just to name a few!

Some great perks that Diva Diapers has includes a layaway plan option with an order of $50 or more, FREE shipping on any order $50 or more, and their rewards and affiliate programs!

Buy It!
www.divadiapers.com
Use code "newyear" for 10% off your purchase through 1/31/12
Win It!

Diva Diapers is graciously giving away a $75 gift certificate to one lucky reader!

(This is a joint giveaway between The Not-So-Secret Confessions and So Easy Being Green. Please only enter ONCE one the Rafflecopter form!)

javascript:void(0)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Motherlove Herbal Company Nipple Cream Review {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event}

2012-01-05T00:01:00.001-05:00

Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing, but it’s not always easy. The first few weeks are usually the toughest. You’re tired, and your breasts are adjusting to this new way of life. I would consider Nipple Cream a must have if you decide to breastfeed your baby. Motherlove Herbal Company’s Nipple Cream is a great, affordable, effective cream that will help make your breastfeeding journey a lot easier!

Motherlove Nipple Cream has zero toxins and is a safe and effective salve for relieving cracked, sore, and dry nipples. All of the ingredients are safe for indigestion so there’s no need to wipe off before nursing your baby. Ingredients include extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, shea butter, marshmallow root, and candela flower. All these products are certified organic products.

My nipples became sore quickly after we started breastfeeding. After checking with an Lactation Consultant to be sure he had a good latch, I just credited the soreness to my nipples not being used to breastfeeding since it had been so long since I last did it. The first two weeks were the worst. They were super sore and every time Isaac latched on I nearly cried for the first 15 seconds. So after every nursing session I would let my nipples air dry and then apply the Motherlove Nipple Cream. They would instantly feel better. After about two weeks of doing this my nipples felt so much better! All the irritation was gone and they were dry and cracked either!

I absolutely love my Motherlove Herbal Company’s Nipple Cream! It has been a lifesaver during these first few weeks of breastfeeding. Even though my nipples don’t hurt anymore I still apply it after I shower to keep them moisturized. If you are expecting and plan to breastfeed I highly recommend Motherlove Herbal Company Nipple Cream!

Be sure to check out Lindsey's great giveaway today for the chance to win a skincare product from Exederm!

Being a Parent Of Two-Guest Post by Jennifer at Two Is Purrfect! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

2012-01-04T00:01:00.001-05:00

I became a parent of two in June of 2009. A lot of people i had talked to said the transition from one to two children might be difficult however, i found it just as easy as being a parent of one. My two children are three and a half years apart so my oldest was potty trained already and pretty self sufficient. Kelsee is my oldest, she was a happy big sister from day one, and she has always been such a big help with Tyler. Speaking from our experience i think their age difference has been perfect for our family, she is old enough that she can teach Tyler things from her perspective that we don't necessarily think about.

When Tyler was first brought home from the hospital all Kelsee ever wanted to do was hold him and coo over him, she was so in love. She enjoyed helping mom with things like getting diapers or picking out Tyler's clothes. When we were in the car we always knew what Tyler was up to because, Kelsee always kept us informed! LOL As they grew older Kelsee was always trying to teach Tyler something new. when it came to sitting and crawling it was so cute to hear her talk to him about it and try to get him to progress. She was so excited when he started crawling and they would chase each other up and down the hallway, very funny to watch. We have never had any jealousy issues with Kelsee when Tyler was an infant but, then he started walking and understanding more. When he started getting into her toys and wanting to do everything sister did, she started to get a little distressed over it. We had to set some boundaries with them and let Kelsee know that if she didn't want to share then she needed to play in her room with the door shut. That is still a rule to this day, except that Tyler learned how to open doors so we had to put child locks on all the doors!

Kelsee started Kindergarten this year and those first couple weeks were a little rough on Tyler. He would follow mom around everywhere because he wasn't used to not having Kelsee to play with. As the weeks went on though, we all adjusted and i think now he welcomes the time to spend with mom without anyone else.

As Tyler grows we run into certain times that Kelsee will get jealous and we have to remind her that Tyler is still young and he needs a little more attention at times then she does. We try to separate our time with each child evenly and as parents I'm sure you understand that can sometimes be hard. We all do the best that we can do and hope that our children understand in the end. Kelsee would never trade her brother for the world, she loves having him around for a playmate and it is so nice to see them play together and share the bond that they do.

I wouldn't trade having my two kids for the world and i think two is the perfect number for our family. I have seen quite the difference between having a girl and having a boy, my kids are total opposites as far as personality so far. Kelsee was an excellent baby and as she grew older she got more and more needy and high strung. However, Tyler was a clingier baby (not sure if nursing had anything to do with that) and as he gets older he's so mellow and laid back. We did have a phase where he was biting everyone that came into site and I am oh so glad we are through that and he's back to being mellow and laid back. Kelsee was talking in sentences by a year and a half, Tyler just started talking a lot a month after he turned two but, he is already talking in sentences five months later! I am excited to see what the future holds for my family and our two children!

Thank you Jennifer! Visit Jeniffer at Two Is Purrfect to keep up with her beautiful family!

Be sure to check out Lindsey's great giveaway today for the chance to win a personalized sketch from Baby Themed Artwork!

Comfy Joey Ring Sling Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event}

2012-01-03T00:01:00.008-05:00

I had heard from many fellow mothers that babywearing was a must with two kids. So I knew it was something I wanted to learn more about and try. I didn’t know much about babywearing or even about the different types of carriers there were, but a friend suggested a ring sling to me, so I was interested.

Comfy Joey is one of the types of ring slings my friend suggested to me. Comfy Joey was started by Ayesha Ghatala Shoaib. She is the mother of four and founded Comfy Joey after having her second child and discovering babywearing. The Comfy Joey baby carrier can be used from birth to 35 pounds, can help soothe a colicky baby, is compact enough to fit in a diaper bag, and is great for nursing!

I received the Aruba Surf Blue Linen ring sling to review and it is such a beautiful color! It’s so bright and pretty I love wearing it around! I was able to start wearing Isaac in the ring sling at one week old. I was able to watch the instructional video and figure out how to use it very quickly. It is super easy to use! It’s also very comfortable to wear! Isaac loves the Comfy Joey ring sling too, because every time I put him in it he falls asleep! I’ve used it many times when he was fussy and wanted to be held but I needed to fix dinner or do something with Noah. He usually calms right down and falls asleep. I also figured out how to nurse Isaac in the sling last week, which makes things even easier!

Here I am when Isaac was less than a week old trying the Ring Sling for the first time.

I absolutely love my Comfy Joey ring sling! I wear Isaac in it all the time! I wear him at home, at church, and out and about! It’s so easy to use and so comfortable for both of us, and I am able to have him close to me and also have my hands free for doing other things such as holding Noah’s hand while we walk around the store. Like my friends told me, babywearing is a must have with two kids, and Comfy Joey makes babywearing easy and enjoyable!

Here we are at a Christmas event with Isaac in the Ring Sling.

Buy It!

www.comfyjoey.com

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Comfy Joey Ring Sling of their own! (winner pays shipping)

Be sure to check out Lindsey's great giveaway today for the chance to win a Kawaii Baby cloth diaper!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Breast is Best Nursing Bra Review & Giveaway { New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

2012-01-02T00:01:00.010-05:00

Right away I knew I wanted to breastfeed Isaac. Things didn’t go so well with Noah and I supplemented with formula a lot and quit breastfeeding all together at around 4 months. One of the things I knew I would need was a good, comfortable nursing bra. It’s essential, especially at the beginning when your sore and engorged and uncomfortable. I was given the opportunity to review the Mama’s BestNursing Bra from Breast Is Best and I will just go ahead and tell you now…it’s my favorite nursing bra!

Breast is Besthas everything you need for your nursing and maternity needs! Not only do they sell nursing bras and undergarments but breast pumps and pump accessories, maternity clothing, nursing pillows, and nursing clothes! They also have a Breast Is Best forum which I think is super cool!

The Mama’s Best Nursing Bra comes in a variety of colors and is super comfy. I kinda compare it to a sports bra or sleep bra because it doesn’t have any underwire and is nice and stretchy and soft. It comes in four different colors and four different sizes. The website has a size chart that makes it super easy to figure out what size you need.

I absolutely love my Mama’s Best Nursing Bra! It has seriously been a lifesaver during these first few weeks of breastfeeding. It’s soft, breathable, and comfortable. It doesn’t have all the underwire of a normal bra but still gives me the support I need. It’s comfortable to wear out and about and to also sleep in! And at the very reasonable price of about $34 I plan on getting more of my favorite nursing bra! Maybe one in every color!

Buy It!

www.breastisbest.com

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Mama's Best Nursing Bra!

Be sure to check out Lindsey's great giveaway today for the chance to win some Postpartum Mama Cloth from GladRags!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop! {Facebook!}

2012-01-01T21:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a Mommy blogger?

Do you blog about your kids?

Do you blog about great things for Mommies?

Do you wanna meet other Mom Bloggers?

This week’s Featured Media is Facebook!
Don't forget... please link up your blog's FACEBOOK page rather than your actual blog!

For the first few weeks, we will not have a Featured Blogger just to get everyone used to the new format.

BabyLegs Review & Giveaway {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

2012-01-01T00:01:00.013-05:00

When I found out I was pregnant with Isaac I was a bit nervous. Not just about having two kiddos, but about having a winter baby! Noah was born in warm and sunny April so I wasn’t sure how I would need to dress a winter baby, especially with the unpredictable weather we have here in Georgia! I mean how would I dress little man with his cloth diapers and still keep him warm?! Noah was just in onsies all the time. I was at a loss.

Then I remembered a well loved product among cloth diapering parents and non-cloth diapering parents alike- BabyLegs!

If you have never heard of BabyLegs, they are legwarmers for babies and toddlers and can even be used by kids and adults! They not only keep legs warm, but they make diaper changing and potty training easier, and protect little knees when babies start crawling! They come in so many prints and colors and are super adorable! There are even Newborn BabyLegs!

We received some newborn BabyLegs to review on baby Isaac as well as some baby socks! I love these newborn BabyLegs because they fit Isaac’s skinny little legs very well and aren’t too long or too short! They are 21cm long versus the original size of 33cm. They are great for this colder time of year because I can stick him in a cloth diaper and onsie, and put some BabyLegs on him so I know his legs are warm also. There’s lots of wonderful prints to choose from in the newborn size as well!

Here's Isaac in his Newborn BabyLegs at 2 weeks old!

BabyLegs has so many great products to choose from including newborn legwarmers, regular sized legwarmers, socks, and even tights! They are great for these cold winter months and even during other seasons as well!

Buy It!

www.babylegs.com

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a BabyLegs grab bag!

Be sure to check out Lindsey's great giveaway today for the chance to win a Breathable Baby Crib Liner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented these sponsors with the expectation that they will fulfill their duties as sponsors in a timely manner. In most cases, the sponsors are shipping prizes directly to the winner. If you do not receive your prize in a timely manner, we will be make every effort to contact them and assist you in obtaining your prize.

New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 starts tomorrow!

2011-12-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

So the BIG event starts tomorrow and I just wanted to give you a few details before it starts so you know exactly how everything is going to work!

The entire month of January will be devoted to this event! So every post on my blog will have to do with new babies and new mommies! There will be some reviews, giveaways, guest blog posts, and my own accounts of being a new mommy of 2! So here are a few specifics for you:

Each giveaway I will be using the Rafflecopter entry form.
Each giveaway will begin at 12:01am EST and last for two weeks. The giveaway will close at 11:59pm EST the last day of the giveaway.
All winners will be announced on the Rafflecopter form and emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email or another winner will be chosen.
You may win as many times as you get lucky!
Some giveaways will be open to US only, US and Canada only, or worldwide and will be clearly stated on the Rafflecopter form.
There will be a few Joint Giveaways between Lindsey and I and we will be using the same Rafflecopter form, so no need to enter on both blogs. Any duplicate entries will be deleted!
I will be linking back to So Easy Being Green each day with what she is giving away so you can easily visit and enter the giveaways!

Good Luck!!

Any questions?? Feel free to email me at mommyferg02(at)gmail(dot)com

Our Year In Pictures!

2011-12-29T19:07:00.000-05:00

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

It's been an amazing year!!!

Our Christmas Weekend!

2011-12-27T14:06:00.000-05:00

We had a great Christmas weekend, as I hope you did too! It's so fun to see Noah get excited about Santa and presents and baby Jesus!

Friday we spent the day with my mom, sisters, and grandparents. We had a delicious ham dinner, that I cooked myself (go me!) and exchanged gifts and enjoyed each other! It was very nice!

Saturday Brian had to work, so most of the day was spent cleaning, entertaining my toddler, and nursing my 5 week old. Neither kiddo had slept well the night before so I was pretty exhausted. But later that evening once Brian was off we went to his dad and stepmom's for dinner and exchanging gifts with his side of the family. It was a great time had by all.

Then that night when we got home, I got the boys in their Christmas jammies! We read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and left out cookies and milk for Santa! Noah was very excited, even though he didn't understand why he couldn't eat the cookies we were leaving out haha!

Christmas morning was nice and relaxing! Both boys slept until 9! (I know that won't happen every year!) We opened presents and hung out and played with Noah's new toys all morning! That evening we went to Brian's mom's house and ate dinner and opened gifts! Let's just say Noah was spoiled this year!

We had such a great Christmas! Noah and Isaac were both spoiled and we loved being with family! How was your Christmas?!

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop!

2011-12-25T21:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a Mommy blogger?

Do you blog about your kids?

Do you blog about great things for Mommies?

Do you wanna meet other Mom Bloggers?

This blog hop is hosted by The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom,Luxury Living Frugal Style, and So Easy Being Green!

Rules to Hop?

All we ask is that you follow the co-hosts: The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom, Luxury Living Frugal Style, and So Easy Being Green... the first three blogs on the linky! Then follow Spot #4 which is the featured blog of the week!

We would LOVE it if you'd grab our button and put it somewhere on your blog or in a blog post! This would help us spread the word. However, you aren't required to.
Be sure to leave us a comment so we can follow you back!

This week's featured blog is...

Frugal and Coupon Crazy

I am a wife and mother that lives in Ilinois. I work nights and sleep during the day so, I stay busy between keeping house, couponing, keeping up with my blog and having a life with my husband and son. Everyone looks to me at work for coupons and I teach everyone about couponing tips. I love being the coupon guru at my work. I have had this blog for almost a year. I enjoy saving money by couponing. I have started a stockpile of my own, and love saying to my husband when he says he is out of something, "I will go get it, there is more downstairs." I try to post coupons, frugal living tips, interesting things about my family and free or cheap family activities for the family in the St. Louis area.

Busy Busy!

2011-12-22T22:43:00.000-05:00

The holidays are here and boy have we been busy, as I'm sure you are too! I'm very excited to be spending Christmas with my sweet boys and my family this year! It has been a wonderful year for me and it feels great to celebrate!

I might be a bit scarce these next few days, but I will be back full force next week in preparation for the BIG event!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas Cash Giveaway!

2011-12-21T00:01:00.004-05:00

A group of bloggers have gotten together to bring you the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Cash Giveaway! This giveaway runs from 12:01 AM on Wednesday 12/21 and will run until Saturday, 12/24 at 11:59 PM (all Eastern times). One winner will receive $80 from Paypal or Amazon - winner's choice!

Just use the form below to enter. If it doesn’t appear after a few minutes, refresh your browser window. If there as an action that you already do (like following me on Google Plus), you’re still eligible – just fill out the space with the requested info. If you are new to Rafflecopter and are unsure of what to do, check out this video to learn how to enter.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop!

2011-12-18T21:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a Mommy blogger?

Do you blog about your kids?

Do you blog about great things for Mommies?

Do you wanna meet other Mom Bloggers?

This blog hop is hosted by The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom, Luxury Living Frugal Style, and So Easy Being Green!

Rules to Hop?

All we ask is that you follow the co-hosts: The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom, Luxury Living Frugal Style, and So Easy Being Green... the first three blogs on the linky! Then follow Spot #4 which is the featured blog of the week!

We would LOVE it if you'd grab our button and put it somewhere on your blog or in a blog post! This would help us spread the word. However, you aren't required to.
Be sure to leave us a comment so we can follow you back!

This week's featured blog is...

Good Girl Gone Green

I am the Good Girl Gone Green…..
Seeing garbage cans overflowing with recyclables breaks my heart.
Therefore, I’d much rather store my compost in the fridge than see it in the trash.
Seeing plastic bags and disposable plastics wash up on the shores of our oceans, rivers and lakes makes me sad.
Therefore, I’d much rather pick up trash along the shore lines.
Seeing rows of cows bring force-fed corn makes me sick to my stomach.
Therefore, I’d much rather know where my food comes from than bite into a McMeal.
Seeing people turn a blind eye to the multiple harmful chemicals lurking in their everyday products around them makes me cringe.
Therefore, I’d much rather scrub my tub and toilet with water and vinegar than pollute my family’s lungs with toxic chemicals.
Hearing people say that global warming is a myth makes me twitch with anger.
Therefore, I’d much rather be the voice of change!
To say I am passionate about “all things green” and environmentalism is an understatement!
I am a tree hugger; I am almost vegan; I am an environmentalist.
I don’t have a filter. I am not sure if I was born without one or if I lost it somewhere along the way. Living without a filter creates interesting situations – some good and some bad.
That is what you will find at my blog – the unfiltered truth about the ups and downs of living the green life.

Isaac is One Month Old!

2011-12-18T16:15:00.000-05:00

Here's my little chunk! He's one month old today! They seriously grow up way to fast! Wish my kiddos would stay little forever!

New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 - Official Sponsors!

2011-12-16T14:30:00.001-05:00

We are less than 3 weeks away from the kick-off of the "New Year, New Babies, and New Mommies of 2" Event and honestly, Lindsey and I are just so excited that we can't keep quiet any longer! We're ready to show you ALL of our fabulous Sponsors and give you a few opportunities to earn Extra Entries into each giveaway during the Event!

In addition to offering some great Giveaways for you, we'll be sharing Reviews of some of the best Baby and Momma items on the market!

Sponsors:

Here are The Not-So-Secret Confessions there are nearly $1,000 worth of products! There are some amazing products I will be reviewing and some really awesome giveaways! All thanks to the wonderful sponsors of this event! You can see the full list of confirmed sponsors HERE.

Extra Entries:

Some of you have already grabbed the Event Button and posted it on your blog and we thank you! It's not too late to do so and by sharing with your blog readers, you'll earn an Extra Entry into every Event giveaway.

There will also be 7 Grand Prize Giveaways during this Event... Prizes valued at more than $75! We have made specific buttons for this Prizes, which can be found here. By posting them, you will also earn you an extra Entry into that specific Grand Prize Giveaway.

We'd love it if you'd start sharing and spreading the News about the "New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2" Event... and get ready to win BIG, starting January 1st!

If you have any ?'s, please don't hesitate to ask!

Beco Butterfly 2 Baby Carrier Review & Giveaway! US & Canada!

2011-12-15T15:07:00.000-05:00

When I found out I was pregnant with Isaac, I knew right away there were some things I wanted to do differently this time around. I sometimes feel like I was completely clueless with Noah and didn’t do a lot of the things I now know about and wanted to try. One thing I wanted to do this time was wear my baby. I have so many friends who love to wear their baby and I had heard of all the wonderful benefits of wearing my baby, so I knew it was something I wanted to try. One of the many carriers I had always heard great things about was the Beco Baby Carrier. Quite a few of my friends owned one and always had great things to say about it. When I was given the opportunity to review a Beco Butterfly 2 in metro black I was over the moon, and couldn’t wait for my little man to get here to try it out!

The Beco Butterfly 2 can carry newborns all the way to toddler (7-45lbs). You can carry baby on your front or your back and the carrier can be adjusted so mommy or daddy (or even grandma!) can wear baby! Each carrier comes with a head rest, removable infant insert, and instructional booklet and DVD! It comes in a variety of prints and colors for you to choose!

I received the Beco Butterfly 2 in metro black! I love this color because black goes with everything! Another great perk about having my carrier in black is hubby doesn’t think it’s too girly looking so he will wear the baby also! One of my favorite features of the Beco Butterfly 2 is the built in infant insert. It’s super nice not to have to buy another piece just to use on my smaller baby. With the infant insert the Beco Butterfly 2 really is capable of carrying newborn to toddler!

I love how easy it is to use the Beco Butterfly 2! The instructional dvd is very thorough and very helpful! I was able to learn how to wear Isaac in just a few minutes! It’s very easy to get Isaac in and out of the carrier which is great for those fussy times of the day when he just wants to be held and I need to get something done or help Noah with something. The Beco Butterfly 2 is great for the outdoors too and folds up nice and small so it’s easy to take with me when I am out and about! And with the removable hood, I can still wear Isaac outside during these cooler days!

The Beco Butterfly 2 is perfect if you are looking for something that will be able to use all the way until your baby is a toddler! It’s great for mom and dad to use and it’s super portable and easy to take along on outings and trips! Even hubby enjoys babywearing now! We love our Beco Butterfly 2!

Buy It!

www.becobabycarrier.com

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Beco Butterfly 2 (in stock item) of their own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This item was provided to me to review by the sponsor, but the thoughts expressed in this blog post are my own. It is the sponsor's responsibility to send the winner their prize. The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. However, we will make every effort to assist the winner in obtaining their prize.

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop

2011-12-11T21:00:00.003-05:00

Are you a Mommy blogger?

Do you blog about your kids?

Do you blog about great things for Mommies?

Do you wanna meet other Mom Bloggers?

This week's featured blog is...

Mama's Baby Cupcakes

My name is Michelle. I'm 23 years old.
I've been with my husband since 2004 and together we have two little girls, 2 and 4, with another little girl due in February.
I began entering givaways in December 2010 and joined a friend to co-blog with in April 2011. Mama's Baby Cupcakes was founded after I decided to leave the co-blog and venture on my own. I officially opened October 1 and so far it's been easy going and a bigger success than I could've imagined! I love sharing my life, both as a wife and mother, with my followers as well as doing reviews and giveaways for cloth diapers, and other kid related and home accessories.

Time Management

2011-12-10T22:15:00.001-05:00

This is something new I am learning with two kiddos. Now that hubby is back to work and family and friends are back to their own lives, I am on my own with two kids, a house to keep in order, and a blog. I find myself getting stressed about what I should do during the two short hours I have between nursing Isaac. I tell myself "I need to spend time with Noah, but I need to fill the dishwasher before there are no clean dishes, and the laundry is becoming an insanely large mountain in the laundry room, and at some point today I need to blog or write that review that I need to post next week!"

I am learning to prioritize and let things go, which is hard for me, but I'm doing it. Isaac and Noah come first, no matter what. I had company over today and I was so busy with the boys before they came, I didn't have time to do anything with the house. But it just had to wait. I wanted desperately to clean it, but my boys needed me first. And then once Noah napped I used that time to rest, because let's face it, I don't get near the sleep I used to anymore. So the house had to wait.

And ya know what? It was ok. Because since I took the time to nap with the kiddos today, I felt much better afterwards and was able to spend some quality time with them, and then get most of my house straightened up! So having to learn to manage my time isn't a bad thing at all...it's just an adjustment. One I'm definitely willing to make for my sweet boys!

As far as blogging goes..well I'm learning to type and nurse...so maybe soon I'll be back to blogging on a regular basis! :)

Pearls and Whirls Jewelry Coupon Code!!

2011-12-08T18:27:00.000-05:00

Did you enter the Pearls and Whirls giveaway that just ended, but didn't win? That's ok! You still have a chance to get their beautiful jewelry, but at a discount! If you use code "christmas2011" at checkout you will save 25% on ANY size order!! This coupon code is good through this Sunday at midnight Eastern time!

Click the link below to start shopping!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pearlsandwhirls

Cloth Diaper Blogging Opportunity

2011-12-08T09:34:00.000-05:00

If your a cloth diapering mommy and you have a blog, Kebbie's Diaper Bag is looking for bloggers to review some cloth diapering products! This is a great opportunity! For more information go HERE!

Wordless Wednesday- Family of Four

2011-12-07T09:55:00.000-05:00

Orange Diaper Co. Newborn Fitted Diaper & Cloth Wipes Review & Giveaway!

2011-12-06T19:28:00.000-05:00

When I cloth diapered Noah I was strictly a pockets girl. I loved most all pocket diapers and never strayed far from that love for pockets. So when I was building my stash for Isaac I decided I wanted to venture out and try some different kinds of cloth diapers! I even took the plunge and decided to try some prefolds and fitted with covers! So when I was given the opportunity to review an Orange Diaper Co. Newborn fitted, I was very excited to be trying a fitted diaper for the first time, and a newborn one at that!

Orange Diaper Co. was created by Jen, who started making diapers for her new baby and some friends in 2008. By 2010 the word had spread all over the world and she started Orange Diaper Co. Orange Diaper Co. is a family owned business and the diapers are all made in Virginia. A portion of all their sales goes to a local charity called ForKids, that works to help break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in families and children.

The Orange Diaper Co. Newborn Fitted is made to fit 7-15lbs. It has two rows of snaps for a good fit and a belly button snap down so baby's cord stump doesn't get irritated. The outer layer is cotton knit, the hidden layer is organic bamboo fleece, and the inner layer is natural bamboo velour. Needless to say, it's super soft and absorbent! Isaac was 6lbs 14oz at birth and only lost about 5oz by the time we went home and I had the Organge Co. fitted diaper on him at 8 days old! So I feel sure he wasn't quite 7lbs yet, and it still fit. Which is so nice, because a lot of newborn diapers don't fit until 7lbs and neither one of my boys have been 7lbs at birth. I love how soft and squishy the diaper is and it is very absorbent too! After about 10 washes it is at its most absorbent state and could almost be worn without a cover if your just hanging out at home. I still use it with a Thirsties Duo Wrap which works perfectly with the fitted diaper. We haven't had any poopie blowouts or leaks at all!

I seriously love my Orange Diaper Co. newborn fitted diaper! I don't know why I stuck to pockets with Noah because these fitteds are so great! Not only are they adorable, but they work great too! And Jen not only creates newborn fitteds but one-size fitteds and cloth wipes as well! I received some cloth wipes with my diaper and those work great too! I think I've been converted to not only a pockets gal but an Organge Diaper Co. fitteds gal as well!

Here's Isaac in his Orange Diaper Co. Fitted!

Buy It!

http://hyenacart.com/stores/orange/

Win It!

One lucky reader will win the Orange Diaper Co. newborn fitted and cloth wipes bundle pictured below:

Easy Rafflecopter Entry!

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop!

2011-12-04T21:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a Mommy blogger?

Do you blog about your kids?

Do you blog about great things for Mommies?

Do you wanna meet other Mom Bloggers?

This blog hop is hosted by The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom, Luxury Living Frugal Style, and So Easy Being Green!

Rules to Hop?

All we ask is that you follow the co-hosts: The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom, Luxury Living Frugal Style, and So Easy Being Green... the first three blogs on the linky! Then follow Spot #4 which is the featured blog of the week!

We would LOVE it if you'd grab our button and put it somewhere on your blog or in a blog post! This would help us spread the word. However, you aren't required to.
Be sure to leave us a comment so we can follow you back!

This week's featured blog is...

Gypsy Ju Blog

Gypsy is a hip, free spirited Melbourne pugX who loves her city. 'Keeping her Eye on Melbourne' started after Gypsy had one of her eyes removed. Rather than focus on negatives, Gypsy & her family have embraced her new 'look' & are celebrating all the adventures she goes on in her hometown Melbourne. Her blog features funny photos, videoclips, photographs of great food with the goal of making you smile when you visit! It will appeal to anyone who loves dogs, great food and/or a good belly laugh.

We Did It!

2011-12-04T17:22:00.000-05:00

So Brian went back to work yesterday. I was a bit nervous about caring for both kiddos alone but it hasn't been too bad! I do have to multitask quite a bit and I'm still trying to figure out how to fit things in between nursing sessions, like laundry and cooking dinner! But other than that we are doing quite well.

So after being stuck in the house for the past few days and barely having the time to shower yesterday, I was seriously getting cabin fever. So this morning I decided to get us all ready and go to church. I figure, what the heck, gotta do it sooner or later. So I got Noah, Isaac, and I ready and loaded us all in the car and headed to church! It was my first time going anywhere with the boys alone, and we weren't even late!

It was quite refreshing to get out of the house and I am proud of myself for doing it. It really wasn't as hard as I thought it would be either. I wore Isaac in my ring sling and he slept the entire time. Noah went to the nursery and had a blast! I'm sure he was extremely happy to get out of the house too! I'm sure trips to the grocery store or doctor's office won't be as easy, but one step at a time, right?!

Earth Mama Angel Baby Birth & Baby Travel Kit Review and Giveaway!

2011-12-03T13:20:00.000-05:00

Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics is all about providing products for mothers and babies that are natural and safe. There products are trusted and recommended by hospitals and pediatricians! So when I was given the opportunity to review the Birth & Baby Travel Kit, I was not only excited, but I knew right away that it would be great!

The Birth & Baby Travel Kit includes:

For mama:
New Mama Bottom Spray - 1oz
Mama Bottom Balm - 4 samples
Organic Monthly Comfort Tea - 4 samples
Organic Milkmaid Tea - 4 samples
Natural Nipple Butter - 1oz

For baby:
Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash - 60mL
Angel Baby Oil - 1oz
Angel Baby Lotion - 2oz
Angel Baby Bottom Balm - 1oz

I brought the kit in my hospital bag with me but I only really used the nipple butter in the hospital. The nipple butter has been a lifesaver for me since I am exclusively breastfeeding. It is such a soothing relief for my sore nipples and it's safe for mama and baby so I don't have to wipe it off before I nurse Isaac! It's even safe enough to use as a moisturizer on baby's little cheeks!

When I got home and got moving around is when I started to feel sore and really went looking for my Birth and Baby Kit! I had a small episiotomy and the dreaded H word (hemorrhoid), so my bum was not feeling so great. The New Mama Bottom Spray and Mama Bottom Balm were both a great help for the pain. They provided a cooling relief to the sore area and the balm helped with swelling as well. What's great about the bottom balm is not only is it for new mamas but anyone who is suffering from hemorrhoids can use it!

A few other favorite products of mine from the kit are the Angel Baby Lotion and Angel Baby Bottom Balm. The baby lotion is super soft and has a light scent of Vanilla and Orange. It absorbs easily so it's great for baby massage but also works well for dry adult hands too! The Baby Bottom Balm is recommended by many pediatricians and hospitals! It has antibacterial and antifungal pure essential oils which is very effective on Candida, the most common cause of thrush.

I truly believe these products helped speed up my recovery after giving birth and continue to help me with breastfeeding and caring for my baby! I love that Earth Mama Angel Baby products are natural and safe! If you are expecting or know someone who is, I highly recommend the Birth and Baby Travel Kit!

Buy It!

http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/gift/birth-baby-kit-travel-size.html

Win It!

One lucky reader will win an Earth Mama Angel Baby Birth & Baby Kit!

PaigeLauren Baby Review!

2011-12-01T22:41:00.000-05:00

PaigeLauren Baby is a baby clothing line, designed by Paige Lauren, that she created after being frustrated with not being able to find simple and classic baby clothes for her friends. The clothing is made from luxurious fabrics and is modern yet classic.

I was sent the PaigeLauren Baby- Classic Sac in emerald to review on little Isaac.This gown is super soft and perfect for a newborn's delicate skin! I really love the pattern on this gown also. Normally I wouldn't think polka dots and stripes would look good together but on this gown it looks very nice. I love the style of all the clothing. It really is a classic yet modern look. We received the newborn size for Isaac and it fit him very well at his 6lbs 14oz. It wasn't too baggy or long, but there is still some room to grow.

Overall I love the PaigeLauren Baby clothing line. These clothes are well made out of fine fabrics. They are adorable and classic. They are perfect for your little one or as a shower gift for someone else expecting a new bundle of joy!

Here's little Isaac in his PaigeLauren Baby gown!

Wordless Wednesday- Brotherly Love!

2011-11-30T14:57:00.000-05:00

2011-11-27T21:00:00.000-05:00

Are you a Mommy blogger?

Do you blog about your kids?

Do you blog about great things for Mommies?

Do you wanna meet other Mom Bloggers?

This blog hop is hosted by The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom, Luxury Living Frugal Style, and So Easy Being Green!

Rules to Hop?

All we ask is that you follow the co-hosts: The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom, Luxury Living Frugal Style, and So Easy Being Green... the first three blogs on the linky! Then follow Spot #4 which is the featured blog of the week!

We would LOVE it if you'd grab our button and put it somewhere on your blog or in a blog post! This would help us spread the word. However, you aren't required to.
Be sure to leave us a comment so we can follow you back!

This week's featured blog is...

Another Day in Paradise

My name is Nykki, and I’m a 23 year old massage therapist, but am currently a stay at home mommy! I am happily married to my husband, Kevin, and we recently welcomed our first baby girl, Olivia, on January 11, 2011. Expecting our second bundle on May 25, 2012! We live in Columbus, Ohio, and are trying to figure out this whole marriage & baby thing! I like to coupon and DIY, and am a pinning fool! You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest!

Newborn Fluff! {Photobomb!}

2011-11-27T14:24:00.000-05:00

So Isaac is a week old and I've decided to give cloth diapers a try! I have a few to review for the New Year, New Babies event in January so I won't reveal any of those but I will show you a few that I bought myself for Isaac! I am really enjoying it and it's not near as hard as I thought it would be. The hardest part is you have to change newborns so often, but that's the case with disposables too, so it's no biggie!

Above is Isaac in a Lil' Joey. These fit preemie -12lbs. Isaac is a little over 6lbs and they fit him well, but I don't think it will fit for very much longer. I have a hard time believing it goes all the way to 12lbs. But we shall see.

Above is Isaac in a BumGenius Newborn AIO. These fit 6-12lbs. I really like these diapers! There is still plenty of room for him to grow. Plus it's an AIO so super easy to use, even for daddy!

Above is Isaac in a fitted diaper with a Thirsties Duo Wrap size one! I have a few of these wraps to use with prefolds and fitteds and I really like them. They fit 6-18lbs. I have to snap down to the smallest setting right now but they still work really well. The leg gussets are great so no leaks!

I'll have more pictures and reviews to come! I am excited to finally be using cloth again! Did you use cloth on your baby when they were a newborn? If so, what was your favorite newborn diaper?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2011-11-26T18:15:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to write a quick post while little man is content for the moment! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with lots of fun, family, and good food! I know we did! We have so much to be thankful for this year! Two beautiful boys are on the top of that list!

Here's a family picture from Thanksgiving day! Now I am super excited for Christmas! We plan on putting our tree up tomorrow!

Just a reminder, now that I have baby Isaac here I have lots of great products to review for baby and mommies! (Including cloth diapers!) So be sure to keep checking out the blog for the latest reviews/giveaways!

Home Theater {Guest Post}

2011-11-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

Contribution by Kennith Griffin

Who out there loves a good movie? I absolutely love a good one- and I love even more going to the movie theatre. However, with movie prices like they are now, it’s hard for me to justify taking my three kids to go see anything! By the time my husband, kids, and I leave two hours and 16 minutes later it has cost us over forty dollars! Plus, I always want to buy popcorn and a soda which leaves you at least twenty dollars less rich, too! I never thought that just going to the movies would cost me sixty bucks! Then if my husband and I want to go and hire a babysitter it’s even more (plus we don’t get to spend time as a family). Even though it’s so nice to be able to do the whole ‘theatre’ thing every once in a while, what I’d rather do is just turn on the television at our house, turn off the lights, pop some one dollar popcorn, and spend time together at home. That’s why I went to direct tv deals for new customers to research how to get movies delivered right to our television. It’s saved us so much money, and we LOVE IT!

Pearls and Whirls Jewelry Giveaway!

2011-11-22T22:13:00.000-05:00

I have a great giveaway for ya'll! If you love jewelry or know someone who does you are going to love Pearls and Whirls!

Pearls and Whirls is a jewelry store that specializes in metal stamped pieces, custom work, and whimsical earrings. Pearls and Whirls was created by Shauna, a single mother of a 2 year old little boy. She always wanted to be a stay at home mom, but being a single mother made that difficult. So she created Pearls and Whirls to help make that possible.

Check out some of the beautiful jewelry!

Win It!

One lucky winner will win a $15 gift certificate to Peals and Whirls Jewelry!

The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a Second Time Mom

This Thing I Call My Blog!

Fall In Love With Fluff Cloth Diaper Giveaway Event!

And now for the giveaway!

Jack Be Natural Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

My New Life as a Mommy of 2!

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop! {FACEBOOK!}

This week’s Featured Media is Facebook!

Fuzzibunz One Size Cloth Diaper Review! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Guest Post- Preparing an Older Child for a New Sibling! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2}

Bummis Easy Fit Diaper Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Applecheeks Little Bundle Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Abby's Lane/Kissaluvs Fitted Diaper Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Sneak Peek: Fall in Love with Fluff- $500 Cloth Diaper Giveaway!

Come back February 1-7 to enter this amazing giveaway!

Smartipants One Size Pocket Diaper Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Safety 1st Sink Snuggler Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop! {RSS/Email}

RSS/EMAIL

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED MEDIA IS RSS/EMAIL!!

Baby K'Tan Review and Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Daddy Scrubs Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Mommies, New Babies of 2!}

Guest Post: Stacey from Getting Through The Day! {New Years, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Isaac is Two Months Old!

Koala Kin Hands Free Nursing Pouch GRAND PRIZE Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Exederm Baby Wash Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

BumGenius XS All-In-One Review! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Aden+Anais Sleeping Bag Review! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop! {Google+}

GOOGLE+

This week’s Featured Media is Google+!

Double the Trouble, Double the Fun! Guest Post by Deanna of Everything and Nothing of Essex {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

How Big Brother is Handling Having a Little Brother! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Breathable Baby Breathable Mesh Liner Review & Giveaway!

Milkies Milk Savers Review! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Guest Post- Helpful Tips for a Mum with Two or More Children{New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Hot Mama Gowns GRAND PRIZE Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

GroVia Newborn All-In-One Review! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Bamboobies Nursing Pads Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop! {Twitter}

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED MEDIA IS TWITTER!DON'T FORGET... PLEASE LINK UP YOUR BLOG'S TWITTER PAGE RATHER THAN YOUR ACTUAL BLOG!

Beco Butterfly 2 Baby Carrier GRAND PRIZE Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

Tiny Tush Elite Mini Pocket Diaper Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

Diva Diapers GRAND PRIZE Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

Motherlove Herbal Company Nipple Cream Review {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event}

Being a Parent Of Two-Guest Post by Jennifer at Two Is Purrfect! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

Comfy Joey Ring Sling Review & Giveaway! {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event}

Breast is Best Nursing Bra Review & Giveaway { New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2!}

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop! {Facebook!}

This week’s Featured Media is Facebook!Don't forget... please link up your blog's FACEBOOK page rather than your actual blog!

BabyLegs Review & Giveaway {New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 Event!}

New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 starts tomorrow!

Our Year In Pictures!

Our Christmas Weekend!

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop!

Busy Busy!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas Cash Giveaway!

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop!

Isaac is One Month Old!

New Year, New Babies, New Mommies of 2 - Official Sponsors!

Sponsors:

Extra Entries:

Beco Butterfly 2 Baby Carrier Review & Giveaway! US & Canada!

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop

Time Management

Pearls and Whirls Jewelry Coupon Code!!

Cloth Diaper Blogging Opportunity

Wordless Wednesday- Family of Four

Orange Diaper Co. Newborn Fitted Diaper & Cloth Wipes Review & Giveaway!

Mom Blog Monday Blog Hop!

We Did It!

Earth Mama Angel Baby Birth & Baby Travel Kit Review and Giveaway!

PaigeLauren Baby Review!

Wordless Wednesday- Brotherly Love!

Newborn Fluff! {Photobomb!}

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Home Theater {Guest Post}

Pearls and Whirls Jewelry Giveaway!

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED MEDIA IS TWITTER!
DON'T FORGET... PLEASE LINK UP YOUR BLOG'S TWITTER PAGE RATHER THAN YOUR ACTUAL BLOG!

This week’s Featured Media is Facebook!
Don't forget... please link up your blog's FACEBOOK page rather than your actual blog!