Mommies With Style

Another product we brought along on our trip was the GoPillow! My son and daughter loved the Go Pillow! so much that they actually fought over whose turn it was to have it! The GoPillow! is a portable pillow that has a built-in blanket tucked away inside. My kids loved snuggling with it on the airplane (of course taking turns), since it is super soft and cozy. The portable pillow consists of an inner core of soft, pliable cushion/foam and a soft outer fabric covering.

The Go Pillow! reminds me of a cylinder type pillow that you can place your hand on up to your elbow inside to securely cradle your child while feeding them. The built-in blanket tucks neatly inside, providing easy access to pull out while on the go to allow for mother and baby privacy while out in public breast feeding.

Besides being great for snuggling and breast feeding, it also makes a fabulous nap blanket since your child can rest their head on the pillow while lying on the blanket. Additionally, it makes for a nice place to change your child’s diaper. The GoPillow! is washable (we were thrilled since we took it on the plane) and is available in pink and blue. Check out the GoPillow! where you can see pictures of the fabulous ways it can be of use!  Receive a free breastfeeding guide with every purchase-no code required.

I’ve been a fan of NUK since my first child was a baby, 4 years ago. He loved their orthodontic pacifiers — and would only use them. They’ve been updated for 2010 and are now called Genius^TM pacifier (around $4.50 -$4.99 ). Designed by orthodontists, they’re BPA-free and go up to size 3 (which is for 18 months plus). It allows additional space for the tongue, enabling better oral development.

Besides the redesigned Genius^TM pacifier, Nuk is introducing many more products for 2010. They’ve got breastfeeding support products, like a Gentle Moisturizing Balm, breast milk storage bags and containers, and reusable nursing pads (as well as disposable ones).

I liked their EZ-to-Hook Pacifier Carry Case. Just stash your child’s pacifier in it,  hook it onto a diaper bag, purse or stroller. It will hold up to 2 pacifiers and it has ventilation holes to prevent moisture build up. Looking for a great first cup –  NUK’s Learner Cup (between $9.99 and $10.99) is suitable for ages 6 months on. This BPA-free cup features a spill-proof soft spout, easy-grip handles, and an extra wide neck make for easier filling and cleaning.

Gerber’s Graduates line of cups, utensils, and tableware are also made by NUK, as well as the Gerber First Essentials line.

I attended NUK’s 2010 Preview Breakfast in and received a gift bag containing samples.

I have been so impressed with Bravado Designs while wearing their bras the past month. They sent me samples of the Sublime Nursing Bra and Panties and the Allure Underwire Nursing Bra and Panties and I have to tell you that all the Bravado bravo is completely warranted. There’s a reason this nursing bra line has such a reputation: it looks good, feels good, works well with baby and (best part) holds up well through multiple washings.

When Bravado offered to send me a set of each of these lines (both the bras and the panties to match) I was happy to try them out. A little skeptical, I wondered how much I would enjoy these bras more than others? For all the reasons above, Bravado bras have been fantastic.

And, whewee!, are they sexy! I was  never a lacy-unders wearer and wearing the lacy-little-Sublime necessities I know I look sexier than when in my bulky old nursing bras. So this Valentine’s Day, I’m sure I’ll wear my Sublime Nursing Bra and matching panties and I’ll feel sexier.

I’ll also share that I was very skeptical about wearing the Allure Underwire Bra when breastfeeding. As I’ve shared in the past, my boobies have become alternately known as my saggy baggies, and I know that underwire lifts those bags and adds shape. Still, as a breastfeeder, I worried that the underwire would inhibit my flow. Not at all. I’m not a professional fitter, but I can easily compare bras with bras and tell you that if the bra is made well and fits right, its not going to bother you when feeding.

So, the giveaway: Enter to win an Ultimate Nursing Bra Wardrobe like mine. One winner will receive one set of Allure Underwire Nursing Bra and panties and one set of Sublime Nursing Bra and panties. Please comment to this post on Mommies with Style telling us why you want to win. Make sure to include your e-mail address because if we can’t contact you, you won’t know you won. Winners will have 48 hours to respond to our e-mail before forfeiting the prize. Winner’s name will be drawn through random.org on Sunday, February 14, a gift for one lucky Valentine.

Bravado sent me samples of both of these bra sets for this review. They are also providing the giveaway prizes, which will be shipped from their location. Completely separate from writing this review and hosting the giveaway at Mommies with Style, Bravado Designs invited me to be a Bravado Mama Ambassador on my personal blog, Just Precious.

Having a baby and kids means a lot of scheduling and record keeping. Losing sight of those schedules can be cause for a rausous of a child, and, often, a stressed and frustrated spouse. Over a baby’s uncalmable screams, there’s nothing more frustraing than screaming “when was she last fed?” and receive the response: “I don’t know… maybe about an hour ago? or three?”

So its really helpful to find a recording system that will work for you, your spouse and your babysitter. One system that’s working well is Lullaboards, a dry erase board that can be posted on your refrigerator. It offers space for tracking feedings, diapers, naps and milestones. We’ve found that listing these accomplishments each day, and keeping it on the refrigerator in the same spot all the time, helps to keep everyone sane, and in the know at the loudest and most stressful times. Its also been so helpful to have when calling the pediatrician with questions and preparing for a babysitter.

Lullaboards are available for tracking newborns, babies, pumping and toddlers withcolorful border options. (I’d love to see a “sickie” Lullaboard for tracking fevers and medications in the future.) They can be personalized, which I imagine is perfect for daycares and twins.

Edited to add:  Julie received a sample of Lullaboards to assist in this review.

Nursingwear is hard enough to find, let alone find some that isn’t frumpy. Expressiva is an entire site dedicated to nursingwear, and a great place to shop prior to having your baby. You’ll find an excellent selection of bras, catorgized by use.

I was sent a sample of their Smocked Tunic Top (in brown) which looks good and works so well for breastfeeding. The organic cotton shirt ran a little big (I recieved size XS) but that’s usually a good thing when you’re breastfeeding. Also on their site are dresses, swimsuits(!) (you have no idea how long I looked for nursing swimsuits in years past!), sleepwear and accessories.

Check out their post-holiday sale event for items off to 70% off.

Since the week before I even knew I was pregnant, I’ve been hungry.  I’ll never forget begging my mom to take me to a diner the day before I took my pregnancy test.  After inhaling my meal and part of hers, she was convinced that I was “with child”.  She was right…and I haven’t stopped eating since.

For someone who has always had a small appetite, I’ve had a lot of fun eating while pregnant.  However, it has been a challenge to answer my cravings while simutaneously fulfilling all the nutritional requirements of growing a baby.

Recently, I was sent a free copy of Feed the Belly: The Pregnant Mom’s Healthy Eating Guide, and man…I wish someone had handed me this book months ago!  Frances Largeman-Roth, RD – a dietician, mom, and Health magazine editor – wrote the book so that it was completely understandable, totally skim-able, and well worth the read.  It covers everything from what nutrients a pregnant woman needs to how to combat a caffeine addiction.  The book discusses the best diet for morning sickness and the healthiest options for dining out.  The guide also includes:

• a 7-day tear-out eating plan
• stay-fit secrets with yoga poses
• pointers on when to choose organic
• advice on the safest seafood selections
• how to pick foods to get the nutrients you need most

My favorite part of the book is the last section – 65 mouthwatering recipes organized by the cravings a typcial pregnant woman has: Sweet, Meaty, Salty/Savory, Spicy, and Thirst-Quenching.

My tastebuds have been screaming for “sweet” since the end of the first month.  So, the first recipe on my list to try was Chunky Monkey Muffins.  They certainly did not disappoint!  How could you go wrong with a chocolately banana and peanut butter muffin?  As an added bonus, the muffins are loaded with protein, fiber, and also pack in some omega-3’s.  The Peach and Blackberry Crumble is next up in my kitchen.

If you’ve got a bun in the oven, Feed the Belly is the only healthy eating guidebook that you may need.  It would also be a great read for any dad who enjoys cooking…or better yet, enjoys having a happy wife.

Times are busy with a newborn, a preschooler and a Kindergartner. After a speedy visit to the grocery store this morning, I had little time to unload my groceries, feed Baby A and pick up the preschooler. So I was searching for anything I could do to help me multitask.

I grabbed the Snugli Sway Soft Carrier by Evenflo, which keeps babies warn and supported as a parent slings him or her. It was created to support a baby while she breastfeeds with an elevated, cushioned pillow area that remains open enough so that baby can easily feed.

Its also a great beginner’s sling. With an Interior Safety Harness, babies are placed inside securely and correctly, and it provides a lot cushion around your shoulders as well as around the baby. Plus, with the open head area, parents aren’t concerned about baby being covered too much.

So, pressed for time, I put Baby A in the Sway, tossed all my groceries in the fridge and the pantry and bagged lunch for a picnic, all the while breastfeeding my 9 week old. Multitasking at its best.

These toys are just adorable and such an easy toy to teach babies to play. I love tossing the Farmyard balls into the air and rolling them around baby A. With a few different textures and each animal making a different sound, its a great baby toy.  We also have the Animal Chime Ball (we have the pig) which my 4-year-old enacts as the Mommy ball to all the baby balls (there are 3 big balls available, to match each of the small Farmyard balls.) Another Skip*Hop toy we’re enjoying is the Funny Face Mirror. The squeak grabs her attention every time and then she loves smiling at herself in the mirror.

Also from Skip*Hop, I’m so glad I now have the Splash Drying Rack. I pumped the first few weeks and there were bottles and pumping pieces drying all over the kitchen. I couldn’t stand the mess. I was sent the drying rack, set it up (takes about 2 seconds) and was relieved by the order it brought to my kitchen. And added bonus–it has a bottle brush creatively centered into the rack so even that has a place and isn’t littered in the kitchen with no where to go.

When we first heard of the latchOn by The Button Barn, Whitney and I were skeptical. We weren’t sure why one would need a ribbon with clips when you could just use one of the many other breastfeeding tools–one that actually has a ribbon attached to a blanket or sheet for privacy when you’re breastfeeding.

About 20 minutes later, baby A needed to eat. I opened my diaper bag to find I’d left my cover in the dryer at home. As I tried to drape a blanket over me that kept falling, I longed for a latchOn. The latchOn, which clips onto any blanket and makes it a nursing cover, folds up small so that carrying it in your diaper bag takes up little space. Its easy to always have with you. If you are using a nursing cover and baby spits up on it, or if you only have room in your bag for a breastfeeding cover or a blanket, you’ll grab the blanket and know you’re covered.

latchOn sent me a sample and its turned out to be a useful accessory. Definitely and item to keep in the bag–at all times. It attaches with ease to any blanket, towel, or sheet. Its now a ”must carry” in my diaper bag.

Use code button15barn to save 15%.

If you’ve been reading my recent reviews, you know I’m not a fan of pumping. And I’m looking for anything I can do to make pumping easier and, when possible, a little more enjoyable.

I received a sample of a Pumpin’ Pal and, with hope of relaxation, strapped it on to try it out. It took a little adjusting and getting used to, but once set, I was able to use my electric pump and have 2 hands able to do other things.  Having my hands free lets me enjoy pumping a tiny but more as I’m able to distract myself with something else. I’m still not running around, chasing the kids or working out, but pumping hands free lets me type, write, and, if I’m lucky, maybe even fold some laundry.

Pumpin’ Pals make pumping life a little bit easier. When I’m pumping, every little bit helps.