Top Must Have Items for Your Baby Registry as A Mom of 3
Having done this three times, I can honestly say that there is very little baby needs and oh so much the world has invented and created and marketed that will make you feel both like you need it all while also feeling completely overwhelmed. Couple my experience with this relatively new found passion I have for Waldorf education and its ideology, and I now have, what I believe, is the ‘real’ baby registry list.
Having done this three times, I can honestly say that there is very little baby needs and oh so much the world has invented and created and marketed that will make you feel both like you need it all while also feeling completely overwhelmed. Couple my experience with this relatively new found passion I have for Waldorf education and its ideology, and I now have, what I believe, is the ‘real’ baby registry list.
I will not be including nursery furniture. None of my kids had a nursery. None of them slept in a crib. We bed-shared with all of them until they transitioned into a floor bed. And FYI, the cost of those crib mattresses … just as expensive as a full mattress. And for the rest of the decor like a changing table with dresser or a glider / rocking chair, just pick what works best for you! You really can’t go wrong with a set of drawers or a comfy chair to rock your babe in.
Now let’s get to it!
CAR SEAT AND STROLLER
You need this. It’s as simple as that. I have had expensive, top of the line infant car seats and I have had not-as-expensive, more accessible car seats. And ultimately, I found that the more high end ones just less clunky, in aesthetics, functionality, and features. My top faves for infant car seats are the UPPAbaby Mesa V2 Infant Car Seat, the Bugaboo Turtle Air by Nuna Car Seat, or the Nuna Pipa™. And for those that are on baby #2 (or 3 … 4…) who may already have the infant car seat from a previous baby and now are in the market for a convertible car seat, I LOVE the Baby Jogger City Turn Rotating Convertible Car Seat or the Nuna Rava (non rotating).
As for a stroller, you’ll need to figure out what is important to you when it comes to features and functionalities, and I would stick to:
Bugaboo
Nuna
UPPAbaby
Features and functions you will want to consider when doing a stroller comparison chart:
How many potential kids do you want? How soon do you want another baby? How easily do you want to make your stroller convert into a double?
City or rural? Think about your wheels. Cobblestones, pavement, wooded areas. Is hiking part of your every day? The BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Jogging Stroller may be right for you if you are an avid hiker / runner / plan on being outdoors primarily.
Your size. Your partner’s size (if applicable). How heavy or compact of a stroller can you handle? What car are you driving? Is it easily foldable? Can you lift it on your own?
Do you want an all-in-one stroller that may be more compact so you can use it for travel? Do you want a separate travel stroller?
Any other features you are interested in like a bassinet?
HIGHCHAIR
The Stokke Tripp Trapp High Chair is going to be your favorite item! It’s not just beautiful — it’s functional and developmentally sound for your growing baby. Plus, you can get the newborn seat add on so your little one can be at dinner time with the rest of the family.
BABY SWING
This was a must for all three of my very different babies — and all of them loved the Graco DuetSoothe® Swing and Rocker — and I’ve tried all the swings! We had three different ones in the house at one point. But the Graco was consistent. It rocks side to side and front to back. You can detach the swing and take it with you (to the bathroom, lets say, when you need to shower / bathe) and it can rock. It’s on the clunky side, but worth it. My babies used it until they were about 9 months old.
ACTIVITY CENTER
I was told to stay away from activity centers that allowed the baby to bounce — to be extra alert on hip placement and how things you buy for baby may or may not affect their hip development. Which is why I fell in love with the Skip Hop Baby Activity Center. We have had it since Thea was born and it is still in pristine condition. It’s easy to clean and it’s easy to grow with baby. This is a top favorite item in our home.
BABY CARRIER
I am a fan of soft and structured baby carriers. I have had self-wraps and the Original Baby K'tan Baby Carrier, and prefer the K’tan time and time again. I uses this when baby is a newborn and I am around the house.
I also love the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Mini (in cotton) for more outings with my newborn. It provides more structure and is the easiest thing to use! This was around when my baby borther was born (in 1997) and is tried and true.
And once your little one gets bigger, my all time favorite baby carrier is the Happy Baby Revolution Carrier. I am not too sure what else to say — it’s just the best thing ever made.
SAFETY
We love our Nanit baby camera. We’ve had it since Thea was born and have never had an issue in 5+ years. We also bought their travel system and it works seamlessly. In addition to the baby camera, we also love our Hatch white noice machine. But it does so much more than that! It’s an alarm clock, night light, helps with toddler sleep wake times, and has a backup battery for those power outages.
SWADDLES + CLOTHES
The only thing I really want to share here are some brands to look into. The bamboo, stretch material will be your best friend when it comes to swaddles. I hated all the velcro “easy” ones and found that learning to swaddle was easy and sweet moments in my day. My top faves are:
Lou Lou and Company — Swaddles, Gowns
Posh Peanut — Swaddles, Gowns, Matching Family PJs
And for clothes, you can’t go wrong. Tiny clothes are cute. I don’t care if it’s from Target, Old Navy, Zara, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Tea Collection. It’s all cute. But do keep in mind that they grow fast and explosive newborn poop does not discriminate and it does stain. With all of that in mind, I also highly recommend Magnetic Me baby clothes.
Self-Care in a Box
We all know how important self-care is, especially as parents. And I feel like often as the primary parent, I will put my me-time on the back burner, usually to be forgotten until my fuse has run out. Well, the good news is, Brit has found a way to not only make sure my mental health and wellbeing are taken care of but has figured out how to present it to me in my love language: gifts!
We all know how important self-care is, especially as parents. And I feel like often as the primary parent, I will put my me-time on the back burner, usually to be forgotten until my fuse has run out.
Well, the good news is, Brit has found a way to not only make sure my mental health and wellbeing are taken care of but has figured out how to present it to me in my love language: gifts!
Enter TheraBox! TheraBox aims to inspire happier lives through practical joy-boosting activities and thoughtful self-care products! After all, self-care = self-love. With over $120 worth of retail value in every subscription box, you can now receive a monthly present as low as $30.99. Or perhaps you just need a little pick-me-up every now and again. TheraBox has one-time gifts and past boxes that ship immediately from their Happy Shoppe. From mindful activities and journals to soothing aromatherapy and essential oils, you can expect curated boxes that will leave you inspired, relaxed, and taken care of!
And the best part? You, my friends, can get 10% off your first order with promo code THESHARONMOMS10. To take advantage of my summer box, which ships ASAP, or to explore the other boxes, be sure to head to TheraBox.com today.
My Summer Box has everything I need — and then some! Living in SoCal, it is summer 75% of the year. And this summer, we are struggling with mosquitos. SO between the scorching sun and extra yucky bug bites, this box has kept me feeling refreshed and calm.
Why California Cryobank
When Brit and I first began actively planning for our family, our first hurdle to overcome was figuring out the who, how, and where. Who would be our sperm donor? How would we find him? Where do we look?
When Brit and I first began actively planning for our family, our first hurdle to overcome was figuring out the who, how, and where. Who would be our sperm donor? How would we find him? Where do we look?
Should we ask someone we know? Should we use a sperm bank? Although we did toy with the idea of using a known donor, we both felt strongly that using an accredited sperm bank would ultimately be in the best interest of us and our future kids. Why? Because we knew going third party would mean that the donors would be medically vetted and that all parties would be legally protected.
The next hurdle was finding the right sperm bank. Surprisingly, there was a lot to choose from. There isn’t one universal bank for all. And luckily for us, living in Los Angeles gave us access to some very reputable ones quite literally at our fingertips. After hours of Google searches and phone and text conversations with our familial network, choosing California Cryobank (CCB) was one of the easier choices we would ultimately be making.
CCB has been around for more than 40 years and is an internationally known and reputable sperm bank. Their donor database is more than extensive, with only 1% of donor applicants being accepted. That means 99% of potential donors get rejected - they only offer the best of the best! Furthermore, CCB’s customer service team was always available and understanding, compassionate, and warm. They held our hand and made us feel “normal” in what we were anticipating being anything but.
Okay…so far we had figured out that we are going to use an unknown donor through CCB. The next obstacle for us was finding our perfect match. CCB has one of the largest and most diverse selection of donors in the world, giving us a plethora of options. So how did we narrow down the hundreds of options? We filtered donors based on height, hair color, and blood type. We are both 5’7 and the men in our family are all over 6’, so height was important to us. We all have brown hair and knew that we wanted our donor to match that, too. And most importantly, we wanted our donor to have the same blood type as one of us, in case there were ever circumstances where our children would need medical attention. This was the biggest factor for us. This narrowed our search to less than a dozen potential donors. We understand that there are a billion possibilities of DNA sequences and nothing was guaranteed, but that’s where we started. From there, we reviewed their medical histories, flipped through baby photos, and found our match.
Once we agreed and picked our donor, we had to figure out how many vials we wanted. We were advised that the average vials needed per successful IUI with a fertile and healthy woman, was 5. And if we were committed to having the same donor for all of our children, that we would multiply 5 by the number of potential children we wanted. Well, in our dream world, we would have 4 children. That means 20 vials – and vials are not cheap. Thanks to our family and friends giving us a generous nest egg as wedding gifts a few years prior, we knew we saved specifically for sperm.
Fortunately for us, CCB is located just a few miles away from our fertility doctor. On the days leading up to each of our inseminations, we were able to call CCB ahead of time and pick up our vial of sperm and bring it to our doctor to prepare.
Between CCB’s global reputation, applicant screening process, and customer support, it was a no-brainer for us to choose them as our sperm bank. And now that we are on the other side of this parenthood journey, we are so excited and giddy to share with you access to a 90-day Level 2 subscription to CCB’s donor profiles with the promotion code SHARONMOMS.
Do you have more questions for us about our journey to motherhood? Send us a message! We’d love to hear from you and use your questions to help guide our next post.
Let’s Go There with Channel Q & RADIO.COM
We had an amazing opportunity recently to be interviewed by Shira Lazar, host of Let’s Go There on Channel Q & RADIO.COM, about our journey to parenthood. We spoke about how and why we chose the California Cryobank as well as what we were looking for in a sperm donor.
We had an amazing opportunity recently to be interviewed by Shira Lazar, host of Let’s Go There on Channel Q & RADIO.COM, about our journey to parenthood. We spoke about how and why we chose California Cryobank as well as what we were looking for in a sperm donor.
If you are looking to explore which cryobank is right for you or you already know California Cryobank (CCB) is your choice, use our promo code SHARONMOMS to receive a 90 day Level 2 Subscription access to donor profiles.
Baby Registry Must Haves and Other Things to Know for the First Time Mommy
We have compiled a list of all the baby registry must-have items, including a few other good-to-know items, for first-time mommies. From strollers and car seats to baby food brands and our favorite places to shop for clothes, we’ve got you covered!
Stroller. I have two for this category: one for the first time mommy and one for the mommy with the second one on the way. First up, is the UPPAbaby® VISTA V2 Stroller. It comes in MANY different colors to appease all mamas and has the sweetest bassinet to either push your new babe in or to attach to the UPPAbaby® Bassinet Stand. It is one of the pricier strollers on the market, but their safety standards, designs, and flexibility to turn into a double stroller + an attached skateboard for kiddo number 3 makes this the ideal all-in-one stroller. The other stroller, a current staple, and favorite in our home, is Zoe’s The Twin Stroller. We have the Luxe version for a whopping $345. It is a side-by-side stroller that folds with one hand, weighs less than 20 lbs, fits through standard doorways, and also comes in a slew of colors.
Stroller Accessories. I am a huge fan of the UPPAbaby® VISTA/CRUZ Reversible Seat Liner. It creates that extra barrier between your kiddo and the stroller seat, keeping your stroller looking a little bit cleaner and a lot easier to clean. I also fully swear by the UPPAbaby® Snack Tray. 10/10 your babe is going to want to eat and snack and drink while being pushed around.
Car Seat. Did you know that you are going to need two of these? No, not two of the same thing (although you totally could do that if you know multiple people are going to be driving your little one around). You will need an infant car seat and a convertible car seat. Granted most convertible car seats are safe for infants, you will want one of each. The infant car seat lets you transfer your sleeping baby from riding in the car into the stroller or the house without having to physically remove him/her. So for the infant car seat, I recommend the one that is compatible with the stroller mentioned in #1. the UPPAbaby® MESA Infant Car Seat. Similar to the way how all Apple products are simpatico with one another, so is the UPPAbaby® brand. For the convertible car seat, which you wont really need until your little one is closer to 1 year of age, we are huge fans of the Nuna RAVA™ Convertible Car Seat. We bought ours at Nordstrom during the Anniversary Sale. It goes on a great sale and it’s worth jumping on, even if your babe is still a newborn.
Car Accessories. You will need to install a backseat mirror so you can keep an eye on your babe while driving. I recommend either one of these. We (my wife and I) each have one, purely to match the interior of our cars. If you have a beige or gray (or other light colored interior), then I love the BRITAX Back Seat Mirror; if you have a black interior, go for the SKIP*HOP Style Driven Backseat Mirror. The only other carseat related accessory we recommend is a seat protector. It’s another one of those little things that adds a barrier between the car seat (aka, your kid, snacks, feet on the seats, etc.) and your car’s interior. We love the Prince Lionheart® 2-Stage Seatsaver, and it comes in black, beige, and gray.
Playards & Portable Beds. There are definitely a handful of must-have items in this category. For us, co-sleeping with our babies was a priority, but that’s a whole other blog post. In short, we knew having our babies in bed with us was important, so we wanted something to accommodate that. WIth our first, we had and used the DockATot® Deluxe+ Dock. It worked great for us and Thea. When it was time to transition into the larger size, we just couldn’t rationalize spending another $300 for the DockATot® Grand Dock, when their competitor, SnuggleMe, had the same thing for half the price. The Snuggle Me Organic Toddler Lounger is super yummy and comes in beautiful, earthy colors. We wound up selling our smaller DockATot® when we had Nathan and bought the Snuggle Me Organic Infant Lounger. It also helps that the Snuggle Me loungers are 100% easier to clean and buying additional Snuggle Me covers are significantly cheaper than DockATot® options. The other lounger we invested in and LOVE is the Boppy® "Hello Baby" Newborn Lounger. It’s portable, easy to clean, affordable, and babies love it, making it a double win-win. Moving right along, when it comes to having a playard, I do suggest having one. They fold up to nothing if you aren’t using it, but it gives you that extra changing table or bassinet or play area in your home that is confined so you know your child is safe. It’s definitely a ‘luxury’ item, but this is what your registry is for! We have some variation of the 4moms® Breeze® Plus Playard, as this is their newer model. The 4moms® brand has really carved a space in the babysphere for sleek meets tech baby gear. I love that I can change my baby’s diaper, put them to sleep in the bassinet as a newborn, and have them sit and play in the larger section as they get bigger. It is one of the pricier items on a registry, but it also grows with your family. I think it’s worth the investment.
Baby Carriers. Oh boy! This is one of my favorite categories. I didn’t wear Thea as much as I thought I was going to and I am for sure carrying Nathan around what feels like 100% of the time. Because I have to wear Nathan so I can still be hands free and available to Thea, I have FINALLY mastered using the wraps. It takes patience. A lot of patience. But once you get it, it just makes sense and feels like second nature. So when it comes to baby carriers, I recommend three…maybe four. It sounds crazy, but hear me out.
First, I think you need a wrap. I found Behold Baby when I was visiting my best friend in Phoenix. We stumbled on a handmade market in Gilbert, Arizona. They have the softest baby carriers (and swaddles) and you are supporting a women owned small business.
The next carrier I swear by is the BABYBJÖRN® Baby Carrier Mini. It’s beyond easy to learn to use, can be worn when your little one is an infant without any inserts, and is sleek and the complete opposite of bulky. This company and carrier has been a staple for decades, and I truly believe this is a must-have item.
The third carrier I recommend is the Ergobaby™ Four-Position 360 Cool Air Baby Carrier. It’s the bulkiest of them all and can be worn beyond your kid’s first year of life. I prefer the Cool Air line as this is the carrier I use on hikes. The added breathability does wonders for both the kiddo and the one doing the carrying.
Those are three we have and use all the time. The fourth type of carrier is a sling. Many mamas swear by it. I, myself, have not yet figured it out so it’s not one I use, although I do own one. The one I have is the Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Ring Sling. I like that it provides extra padding on your shoulder. The other brand that my friends swear by is the WildBird Ring Sling.
Infant Activity. This is another one of those multi-categories that covers everything from activity centers, swings, and bouncers, to playmats, walkers, and play gyms. As someone who registered for just about everything under the sun with my first, I have come to know these products and found all-in-one items that check many boxes.
First up is the SKIP*HOP® Explore & More 3-Stage Activity Center. Really anything SKIP*HOP® we trust. This activity center has everything you’ll need and is another one of those toys that grows with your kiddo. Next up is the swing. We have tried just about every swing under the sun; from the fancy, expensive brands, to the old but true. Our top pick is the Graco® DuetSoothe™ Swing and Rocker. If you get nothing else, this will be a game changer. It swings your babe in two directions and can also become a portable rocker. We like to pair this with the Ingenuity™ DreamComfort™ Pemberton™ SmartBounce Automatic Bouncer™. Its bouncing features had made both my kiddos very happy.
Moving right along, you will want to have a play gym for your home. We have three. Do you need three? No. Of course not. It’s again the beauty of a registry. You put what you want and see what you get. We happen to love all three of ours for very different reasons and have them placed throughout our home. First up, the Fisher-Price® Deluxe Kick and Play Piano Gym. It’s yet another grow-with-your-kid must have. Next, is the SKIP*HOP® Vibrant Village Smart Lights Baby Play Gym. The black and white contrast with bright, bold colors is perfect for your newborn. Plus the arch lights up and plays music. This third one is an over-the-top, expensive, unnecessary item. BUT, we are the biggest fans of the Lovevery company. This is definitely a want and not a need. Their Play Gym is simply beautiful!
Lastly, we have the walker. This is to help and aid your kiddo along as they transition from a crawler to walker. This is a no brainer, must have. The Radio Flyer Classic Walker Wagon is beautiful, made of real wood, and acted as a portable book and toy chest. It’s sturdy and will last you a good, long time.
Diaper Bag. This is a fun one. The diaper bag will most likely take over your life and become your new purse. You want something durable, with lots of pockets, washes easily, and has tons of room. As you may begin to see, we are big fans of all things SKIP*HOP®. So it should be no surprise that our number one pick is the SKIP*HOP® Mainframe Wide Open Backpack Diaper Bag. We love the structure it provides, making it easier to be holding your baby with one hand while opening the bag with your spare hand. It’s easy to wipe and clean with a baby wipe and comes in sleek, beautiful colors. And just to give you another option, the RUVALINO Diaper Bag is a top choice among our friends and is an Amazon Top Choice.
We love the Costco Kirkland Diapers. You just cannot beat their pricing. They don’t make newborn sized diapers, so we used the Huggies brand — specifically their Little Snugglers or Special Delivery.
For wipes, we love, love, love, Water Wipes. They are so clean and you can use it on your baby’s face and booty to cleaning up messes else where.
Baby Furniture. This one is a personal choice. Although we registered for and were gifted a crib and dresser for our first, Thea used her crib only a handful of times since we co-slept with her. When we transitioned her out of our bed, we put her straight into a full sized bed. Aside from needing a changing table for sure (a design and element choice that should make you feel happy and complete your nursery), I highly recommend a rocking chair. For Thea, I wanted something super traditional — a wooden rocking chair with a matching ottoman. It looked so cute in the nursery. Then when it came time to use it, I hated it. It was too narrow for nursing and obviously didn’t recline, which I think is a must-have capability for those super late night feeds. We sold the rocking chair and bought the Baby Relax Addison Swivel Gliding Recliner. It rocks, swivels, and reclines. It’s comfortable. Regardless of what you choose, try to find one you can see, feel, and experience in person.
Feeding. This is a big category, and for good reason. There is a lot of stuff here! The things that I feel are the most important for a registry, though, come down to a high chair, dishes and utensils, bibs, and baby food.
We love our Graco® Blossom™ 6-in-1 High Chair in Studio™. It’s not the most beautiful or aesthetically pleasing one out there on the market, but it’s also reasonably priced for all that you’re getting. It’s easy to wheel around the house, it comes with a booster seat (which is great if you are planning on having more than one kid), and most importantly, it easily wipes clean!
For dishes and utensils, I am obsessed with BEABA®. You can buy individual items, or you can buy a set. The silicone makes it easy to heat food up in the microwave and equally easy to clean. It’s also the best product with suction that we have found. Thea only has just now started using the cup that came with the set and she is just about to turn 2, so it’s great to grow with your kiddo. Thea also never used a bottle as an infant, so while I have heard great things about Comotomo Bottles and Tommee Tippee Bottles, we used the Munchkin Latch Anti-Colic Baby Bottle as her water bottle at night. Transitioning from the bottle, we loved the OXO Tot Transitions Straw Cup with Removable Handles. It was great for the house and on-the-go trips. Once she got a little older, we relied on the Hydro Flask 12 oz Kids 2.0 Water Bottle for going out and the Elk and Friends Kids & Toddler Cups from Amazon. We. Are. Obsessed. They are so easy to clean and come with silicone straws that the kiddos can’t pull out. It’s great for water, juice, and smoothies! And to round out the feeding needs, a bib! When Thea first started eating solids, we loved using the Bumkins Sleeved Bib, especially when it came to eating foods that had colors in it (think marinara sauce!). Now that she’s a toddler, we love the Simka Silicone Waterproof Bib Set.
Baby food! We are fans of organic, pure, simple foods with no additives, colors, or flavors. Although I had always envisioned making all of the baby food at home, I was simply too tired. Our favorite brand of baby food is Beech-Nut. Their packaging is great and is marked by Stages based on the age of your kiddo and is easy to find on Amazon, grocery stores, and Target.
Bath and Diapering. This is another category that has a lot of personal choices. However, when it comes to a diaper pail and bath tub, I do happen to believe that the Ubbi Diaper Pail and the Fisher-Price® 4-in-1 Sling 'n Seat Bath Tub are the best ones out there. The diaper pail is made of stainless steel and does NOT require any special bags. We also throw in a bag of potpourri before putting in a trash bag to help minimize the smell. I do also recommend download the app ‘ThinkDirty’ if you are interested in learning about the potentially toxic ingredients in your personal care products. We used it to determine the kids bath time soaps, lotions, and household products. Some of our favorites are: Bubbsi (for shampoo/body wash and body oil/lotion); Burts Bees Baby products; Seventh Generation laundry detergent for babies.
Health and Safety. When it comes to your baby’s health and safety, you want the best.
We are a family that relies heavily on all things Fridababy. Out of everything they have genuously created, we cannot live without their NoseFrida® Snotsucker Saline Kit or their NailFrida the SnipperClipper Nail Clipper, and those two items should absolutely be on your registry, you can also splurge for and essentially get one of everything with their Big Bundle of Joy Newborn Care Kit. Another essential item you will need is a thermometer. We are living in a precarious time where temperatures are being taken daily. We have tried so many brands and types, and the one that works best for our family, from infants to toddlers, is the Braun Thermoscan 7. It’s an ear thermometer, which will give you the best accurary with a wiggly, unhappy happy, and it only needs two seconds to get a reading.
The baby monitor choice, for us, was also a no brainer. We use Nanit to keep eyes on our kiddos. You have a choice of either getting a wall mount or stand, and for an extra $50, you can get a travel mount. It works with an app and is set up through your WiFi. The camera itself also has a sound machine built in, and you can speak through to the app to calm your little one.
For your cleaning needs, we believe in non-toxic ingredients, which narrow downed our list of what we wanted in our home, around our children. For all our cleaning, we use and swear by the Method brand, which is readily available on Amazon. We use their all purpose cleaner and wipes, dishwasher packs, dish soap, and kitchen hand soap (which is also in our bathrooms). Every scent they have is better than the next. You can’t go wrong.
Toys and Learning. Every parent I have ever met, older ones, newer ones, and all those in between, have all made some sort of comment about how their home is/was full of toy clutter. It happens, It’s also hard to find some restraint for your first kiddo. I get it. The toys are cute. And you want to be able to provide the world to your child. We discovered Lovevery. It’s a monthly subscription that brings you thoughtfully crafted, Montessori-inspired play kits. It takes the guess work out of figuring out what toys are best suited for your baby. And — the real wood, cotton toys are beautiful and long-lasting. In addition to the play kits, we also love their Block Set, the Pull Pup, and the Play Tunnel.
Clothes. This is a huge category. There are so many personal preferences when it comes to clothes. So, here is what I have to share. First, ACCEPT HAND ME DOWNS. Second, here some of my favorite kiddo brands:
L’ovedbaby
Lou Lou and Company
Zara
Target - Cat and Jack, specifically
Janie and Jack (pricey, but so stinking cute!)
Old Navy
Gap
Have I missed a category that you would like our recommendation on? Drop us your question in the comments below and we will add our answer to this post.
And remember, at the end of the day, all your baby NEEDS is your unconditional love, food, diapers, and warmth!
We Won a Family Photoshoot with Neide B Photography
An experienced photographer, although new to her own business, was looking to expand and diversify her portfolio. She is committed to showing all people and families of all colors, genders, sexual orientations…the works! Pretty awesome, right?
You guys … I am pretty sure we can all agree that 2020 isn’t quite what any of us expected or anticipated. There have definitely been more downs than ups and more uncertainty with what the future holds and looks like than ever before. However … Brit and I have done our very best with trying to find the silver lining when things get tough. And although we have had some profound moments of appreciation during this pandemic, we have also enjoyed some super random wins for our family.
Case in point? An experienced photographer, although new to her own business, was looking to expand and diversify her portfolio. She is committed to showing all people and families of all colors, genders, sexual orientations…the works! Pretty awesome, right? Well, she took to her Facebook community and asked a handful of the mommy groups to nominate a same sex couple with kiddos. Not only did strangers and acquaintances alike nominate us, we won! She actually chose us!
Now, of course our initial plan was to meet at the end of March in a beautiful National Park near where we live. But alas, COVID-19 had other plans. We stayed in touch and kept up to date with the most recent laws, regulations, and safety precautions, and FINALLY found a day, time, and place for her to capture our family. It was actually rather perfect. We went to an open park where not a sole was in sight and I was much further along in my pregnancy, making our moments with Thea even that more special.
Neide, of Neide B Photography, came prepared. She was masked and ready to go, along with her camera and cute lady bug fixture that squeaked to get Thea’s attention. And it worked perfectly. I don’t think the three of us have had such belly laughs before. I feel super fortunate that we have had so many opportunities to work with some of the most talented photographers and videographers in Los Angeles during this pregnancy.
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Dining Nutritional Information
So I figured I’d put this post together because this information isn’t really out there and I feel like it should be. Gyu-Kaku is one of my favorite restaurants to go to. First off, Sydney loves to “do the cooking” which is nice on my end. Secondly, as someone who has been tracking her macros (macronutrients: Fats, Carbs, Proteins), I am usually always looking for ways to make sure I hit my protein goal, Gyu-Kaku, a Japanese BBQ restaurant is a great place when protein intake is needed. I also enjoy eating out but it’s common knowledge that eating out can be tricky while dieting. You could get a salad that you think is “healthy” but walk away having eaten an entire day’s worth of calories and then some! At Gyu-Kaku, I know if I pick a lean meat, I should be good.
So I figured I’d put this post together because this information isn’t really out there and I feel like it should be. If you’ve never been to a Gyu-Kaku BBQ restaurant, you should. Gyu-Kaku is one of my favorite restaurants to go to. First off, Sydney loves to “do the cooking” which is nice on my end. Secondly, as someone who has been tracking her macros (macronutrients: Fats, Carbs, Proteins), I am usually always looking for ways to make sure I hit my protein goal, Gyu-Kaku, a Japanese BBQ restaurant is a great place when protein intake is needed. I also enjoy eating out but it’s common knowledge that eating out can be tricky while dieting. You could get a salad that you think is “healthy” but walk away having eaten an entire day’s worth of calories and then some! At Gyu-Kaku, I know if I pick a lean meat, I should be good.
That being said, I still wanted to know the macros I was consuming and hated I had no clue except for their calorie count printed on their menu. So I reached out to their corporate office and asked for a nutritional breakdown…and they came through! Woohoo!
When I go to Gyu-Kaku my typical order is a house salad and 2 orders of Bistro Hanger Stake, maybe a side of rice if it looks like I have room in my macros for the day. When going into the restaurant all I knew was that the salad was 180 calories, the meat was 180 calories per portion and the rice would vary as I would weigh it out and enter into MyFitnessPal (because yes, I carry a pocket scale in my purse and I’m a bit cray..but that how I fit it into my macros for the day).
So is it healthy? Lets look
The salad breaks down as 15 grams of fat, 9 carbs, 2 protein. That comes to 179 Calories.
The Bistro Hanger Stake breaks down as 10 grams of fat, 0 grams of carbs, and 21 grams of protein. And remember I get 2 orders so lets double all these numbers to equal 20 grams of Fat and 42 grams of Protein.
In total, we are looking at 35 grams of fat, 9 grams of carbs and 44 grams of protein for a total of 527 calories and this is without my rice option.
To me, 527 calories are pretty low but those fats are really high. I usually have around 50 grams per day so this is more than half in one meal. I tend to swap my carbs and fats as needed and keep my proteins the same. So if I knew I was going to Gyu-Kaku I’d probably plan to swap my carbs for some extra fats that day.
Here is the nutritional breakdown for you to look at. Anything shock you in a good or bad way? And remember, each location might have a slightly different menu so you might see something on this menu not offered at your restaurant.
My Year In Review: 5 Things I Either Did or Did Not Do.
Something happened this year that I’m pretty disappointed about. I usually sit down with Sydney and create how our year is going to look. It’s our goals written down on paper vs just living in our heads as “nice thoughts”. Well, for the first time in about 8 years, we didn’t do it.
Something happened this year that I’m pretty disappointed about. I usually sit down with Sydney and create how our year is going to look. It’s our goals written down on paper vs just living in our heads as “nice thoughts”. Well, for the first time in about 8 years, we didn’t do it. Thea was born in December and we kept saying we would do it but never did. Now it’s the end of the year and I have no idea if I accomplished what I wanted to or not. Did I achieve some awesome goals? Yeah. Sure. Did I leave anything on the table? Maybe! I have no idea how to track it. That’s a breakdown. So in order to not dwell on what I can’t control anymore, I’m just gonna apologize to myself (and Sydney) and move forward.
Even though we didn’t write anything down, we were still taking things on and building our future.
Flying from Los ANGELES to Boston
1. We were aggressive with our savings and were able to save over $80,000 (between cash, 401k, Roth IRA and Brokerage) while still enjoying life. I’m not sure what others save, but this was a huge accomplishment for us. I started listening to the ChooseFI podcast and was literally taking action by Episode 4. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who has debt to pay off or saving goals to reach.
2. We traveled ... a lot! We went to Portland, Boston, San Francisco, Rhode Island, Kansas City, Arizona, Las Vegas (twice!), Utah, and New York City (twice!). We are definitely cutting back on travel this next year as Thea has become much more mobile and curious making us even more exhausted, and with a second baby on the way, it’s time for us to just relax at home. Well, except for the few road trips we already have planned and our trip to Toronto we have already booked, which we did through travel hacking. If you’ve never heard of travel hacking before, listen to Episode 9 of the ChooseFI podcast. It explains everything, but, to summarize what it taught us, we booked 2 first class, round trip tickets on Air Canada for $180 (including travel insurance) and we plan to travel hack our hotel stay once we figure out all the details.
2018 vs 2019 at 4th of July, Exact same weight but with weight lifting and macro counting.
3. I wanted to lose weight and get strong. This is kinda funny because I switched my training from a mostly cardio based routine to zero cardio and instead went to 100% weight lifting and something strange happened. My scale didn’t move. But my clothes started to get really big on me, my muscles started to have definition, and my face looked skinner in pictures (cause that’s what is really important 😆🤷🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️). What I learned was when you lift weights (and eat right—I tracked my macros), you will burn fat but the scale might not move if you’re putting muscle weight on. I’ve always known that. I’ve seen the 5 pounds of fat vs 5 pounds of muscle display a million times but to see it in real life, was eye opening. The holidays have thrown me a bit — a lot — off my track but I plan on hitting the new year running ... or well, lifting.
4. I wanted to make more YouTube videos. I have SOOOO many video ideas in the notes app of my phone and we just have not done it. It goes back to not putting it existence — aka writing it down and making a plan. I feel like that’s something I need to schedule into my week because if it’s not there, it’s not going to be managed. Moving into 2020, I want to be more active on our Sharon Moms channel.
5. And in November we bought a house — cue the panic attack and pop the bubbly 😂! It basically means we’re real adults now. It’s nerve-racking and exciting and we’ll have more to share about it in the future. But basically this is one of the goals we created and set out back in 2018 when we chose to rent out our amazing condo and move in with Sydney’s parents.
In May of 2018, Sydney and I were having lunch in Brentwood and I randomly thought “What if we just move in with her parents and save as much money as possible?” I remember immediately thinking, “Do I want to say this out loud? What if she likes this idea and it actually happens happens?”. Then I said it. And Sydney liked it. That night she had dinner plans with her parents and I had an event to go to. When I got home she excitedly told me “my parents love the idea!” and my response was “what idea?”. So apparently Sydney hadn’t stopped thinking about what I said and by June we were packing up 10 years worth of stuff into boxes.
Originally my biggest concern was we were going to move and have nothing to show for it at the end. If we spent the $1,200 to move (yes, we used a moving company), spent 2 years living with other people in their house and weren’t able to save any money, I’d be really disappointed. This was a generous opportunity and I didn’t want to blow it. Well, in October the interest rates dropped and we made our move (10 months ahead of our 2 year schedule!) and we are now proud first time homebuyers!
2020 is going to be a huge year. I can’t wait to see what’s to come. I plan to create my year with Sydney (maybe post it here just to share how we do it). What are some of your 2020 goals? Do you have a goal creating structure you use? I’d love to hear about it!
'Tis The Season: Time for Holiday Cards
Aside from the pumpkin spice lattes, the 31 Nights of Halloween movies on TV, and sweater weather creeping in, another fall favorite for my family, or me rather, is prepping for, creating, and ordering our holiday cards. This year, we are super excited to be using Basic Invite for our personalized holiday cards.
Aside from the pumpkin spice lattes, the 31 Nights of Halloween movies on TV, and sweater weather creeping in, another fall favorite for my family, or me rather, is prepping for, creating, and ordering our holiday cards. It was one of the small and silly things I always had been looking forward to most once I was married. Well, 3+ years in, and we have used a few different resources. This year? Well, this year, we are super excited to be using Basic Invite for our personalized holiday cards.
Unlike the other platforms we have used in the past, Basic Invite has unlimited colors (almost!). Really! It’s one of the few sites that allows its users with 180+ color options with an instant online preview.
In addition to the plethora of color options and designs, Basic Invite also provides custom samples of the finalized card before placing an order.
Once you have crossed your T’s and dotted your I’s, your card is done. Almost. Basic Invite has more than 40 different envelope colors to choose from, ensuring a beautiful, seamless match to your card. The best part? Their envelopes are peel and seal so no more wet sponge hacks or paper cuts on your tongue!
For me, my least favorite part of sending out holiday cards is addressing each one. Basic Invite offers an address capturing service that allows you to share a link on your social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) to request friends and family’s addresses. The addresses are then stored in your customer account and can be selected during the design process. What’s more? All of this plus printing at no additional cost.
For some festive fun additions, you can add foil to your cards in gold, silver, and rose gold in either flat or raised foil.
We are so excited to be working with Basic Invite this holiday season and can’t wait to debut our cards with you in a few weeks. Stay tuned for our reveal and in the meantime, get to shopping. Right now Basic Invite is offering 15% off your order with coupon code: 15FF51. If you use Basic Invite, be sure to share your cards with us, too! We’d love to see what you create with your family.
Want to learn more about Basic Invite or find some inspiration for your own holiday cards or holiday party invitation? Check them out on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.
Amber Teething Necklace
We all know teething sucks for all parties involved in a babies life. Whether you have kids or not, we can all agree that teething’s a bitch. Or is it…?
We all know teething sucks for all parties involved in a babies life: the baby, the parents, fellow patrons dining at the same restaurant with said baby, grandparents, outings with friends with (again) said baby…you get the idea. Apparently, they say that teething is the worst pain anyone can go through and that if we as adults had to teethe, we wouldn’t survive. I’m not sure who “they” are but seems about right. Regardless, we all can agree, whether you have kids or not, teething’s a bitch.
Or is it…?
One of the best gifts we received for our baby shower was from my sister-on-law. Inside a bag full of amazing goodies we opened a Lolly Llama Amber Teething Necklace. What we quickly came to learn is that her two girls wore these necklaces very early on in life and rarely, if ever, complained or cried about teething pains.
We were definitely hesitant at first. As new mamas we didn’t know how to feel about the mystical baltic amber or how to feel about putting a necklace around our new baby’s neck. Here is what we have come to know and realize: it works! It’s really that simple. I don’t know if it is voodoo magic or merely the placebo affect, but we notice a drastic difference with Thea when she wears the necklace versus doesn’t wear the necklace.
So what exactly is a teething necklace? And what’s the science behind why it works? Amber has been thought to have healing and health benefits for thousands of years. Amber contains succinic acid which is what provides the amber with healing, immunity enhancing, anti-inflammatory, stress and pain relief properties. When babies wear the necklace, the natural heat from their bodies release the succinic acid which is then released into their bloodstream.
P.S. We waited until she could hold her head up on her own and had full control over her neck before we let her wear the necklace, which was around 3 or 4 months.
P.P.S. Also, for safety reasons, Lolly Llama’s baby necklaces are 12" in length specifically so that they wont fit in the baby's mouth.
P.P.P.S. Lolly Llama also has amber bracelets for little one’s too.
Our Baby is A L'oved Baby
We hadn’t discovered L’ovedbaby until Thea was 5 weeks old. It’s sad, really, because we missed out on dressing her in what would soon become her go-to wardrobe. Now, this may seem like a silly post, as it’s about clothes, but it’s really so much more than that.
We hadn’t discovered L’ovedbaby until Thea was 5 weeks old. It’s sad, really, because we missed out on dressing her in what would soon become her go-to wardrobe. Now, this may seem like a silly post, as it’s about clothes, but it’s really so much more than that.
First, it’s a small woman-owned business and is headquartered in our neck of the woods. Second, and perhaps more importantly, it was created and built on a foundation of safety and health, and in honor of the owner’s mother when she was diagnosed with cancer. Cancer has touched us all in one way or another. I am fortunate to still have my mom, who is now 17+ years cancer-free. All of L’ovedbaby’s products are “safe, minimally-processed, 100% cotton garments. That mean[s] no harsh added chemicals, no dangerous flame retardants, and the use of safe and gentle dyes.”
As a first time mom, product safety was my number one priority when it came to what was touching my baby’s body. I also appreciated their customer service — a quality, regardless of being a parent, is always a welcomed attribute.
Lastly, my daughter hates, and I mean hates, when I put clothes on over her head. L’ovedbaby’s onesies and kimono bodysuits are so yummy and delicious, and in involved zero over-the-head nonsense. Their leggings are also to die for…So needless to say, I am a huge fan of this company’s mission coupled with their basic yet trendy and cute unisex clothes. Oh! I almost forgot to mention…Their footed overalls? They cinch at the ankle making the onesie stay fitted around your little one. Pure genius.
Otteroo: A Total Must Have!
Okay, so if you follow us on social, you probably know we introduced the Otteroo to Thea at 8 weeks. And we may or may not have bought it before she was even born. All I have to say, WE ARE OBSESSED.
Okay, so if you follow us on social, you probably know we introduced the Otteroo to Thea at 8 weeks. And we may or may not have bought it before she was even born. All I have to say, WE ARE OBSESSED.
A looooong time ago, I think even before Sydney and I were married, I had seen their Facebook Ads video and thought, “That’s cool, but is it legit?” and just kept scrolling through my newsfeed. Then, once I started to see it again when we were pregnant, I thought, “This is going to be a waste of money — but what the hell, if it sucks, it’s only $35.” I’ve wasted more money on lesser things so I clicked the ad and purchased it.
When Thea was born, I was itching to put her in it but it says you need to wait until they are 8 weeks old. So when she was exactly 8 weeks, we warmed the hot tub up and tested it out with her ... and oh my gosh ... she was so happy. At first she seemed confused. She had never experienced the hot tub before so she was taking everything in. Once she became adjusted, the most amazing part was watching her discover that she was free to move as she pleased. She was moving her arms and legs as if she was becoming reacquainted to her body again outside the womb as Sydney said her movements looked like what it felt like when she was inside. It was so exciting to watch.
Sometimes she relaxed and floated, just enjoying the warmth of the hot tub and at other times she was looking around and curious about the world around her.
At the bottom of this post is a video of her experience that really captures the essence of Thea’s time in the Otteroo. As a new mom and someone who loves the water, I was blown away.
If anyone has any questions about the Otteroo, feel free to leave them in the comments and I’ll respond as best as possible.
*Otteroo and The Sharon Moms have no personal or business relationship. This is just an honest review of a product.
Our Maternity Shoot
Like most pregnant couples, Brit and I wanted to document our pregnancy in as many ways possible. From iPhone shots to professional shoots, I wanted it all, and Brit was more than happy to oblige.
Like most pregnant couples, Brit and I wanted to document our pregnancy in as many ways possible. From iPhone shots to professional shoots, I wanted it all, and Brit was more than happy to oblige. As for choosing our photographer? That, luckily, was also a no brainer, as I had stumbled across Breezy Ann Photography nearly two years prior to even being pregnant. I knew she was the one. And she more than delivered. We booked her for our maternity shoot and newborn shoot, and I am already looking forward to having her shoot Thea’s cake smash for her 1 year birthday!
Our Newborn Shoot
Sydney had found and fallen in love with Breezy Ann Photography (BAP) nearly two years ago and was set on Anna (the magician behind BAP) one day doing our maternity shoot and newborn shoot.
Sydney had found and fallen in love with Breezy Ann Photography (BAP) nearly two years ago. And for those of you doing math, yes, this was before we were pregnant — before we had even begun the process of getting pregnant. Sydney was set on Anna (the magician behind BAP) one day doing our maternity shoot and newborn shoot.
Fast forward to finding out we were indeed expecting, and Sydney booked Anna when she was just 13 weeks pregnant. Well, the months came and went, the maternity shoot was nothing short of beautiful, artistic, and intimate, and Thea’s birth day was celebrated. It was go time!
Now for those of you expecting your first, having a newborn shoot sounds picturesque. All the photos we have seen look serene and picture-perfect. What we didn’t know — or really understand — until we were in the shoes, was that a newborn shoot happens as close to the birth as possible. Why? It’s when the babes sleep the most, allowing the photographer the most leeway into creating all sorts of cute and ridiculous poses. What else does that mean? In the midst and height of sleep deprivation, new parents need to face what will most likely be their first outing … to a photoshoot … where they too will be photographed in all their glory.
Luckily for us, Anna is a warm, caring, thoughtful, creative, loving, gentle, genius photographer. We both felt right at home and captured the beginning moments of our new little family. Here’s a look at some of the awesome images captured…
