2-3 Month Favorites and a 5 Year Giveaway!


Happy Monday friends! Sophia turned 3 months old this past Friday and I can’t even tell you how quickly it feels like this time has gone by! She’s been doing so many fun new things, figuring out her hands, giggling and cooing more! She’s so full of wonder with the world around her which is just the coolest thing to experience and see! It actually makes me see things in a completely different light and I can only imagine that as she gets older, teaching her things will be bring the same joy to me! 


A few months ago I shared our one month favorites and I wanted to keep that going every few months! If this isn’t your thing, no worries because there is a giveaway for my 5 year anniversary of starting the blog at the bottom of the post! 

  • As a parent I think you’ll buy just about anything marketed as giving your little one a great night’s sleep. Whoever does the targeted ads for Nested Bean wins because after reading the reviews I couldn’t buy this fast enough! It’s lightly weighted to mimic the weight of your hand on your baby so that they can potentially rouse less during the night since they feel like you’re still touching / holding them. While this hasn’t completely given us wonderful nights, it has helped reduce wakings unrelated to needing to eat in the middle of the night and for that it’s a winner in my book!
  • Sophia had a bit of cradle cap and after trying a variety of things, the Musetla Cradle Cap helped clear up the flakes! Along the same lines, we’ve been battling some dry skin and slather Aquaphor all over a few times a day which has helped so much! 
  • As she’s started to see colors more vividly, this Baby Einstein’s primary colors book has been a big hit! There are crunch pages which make it fun for her to hold and play with and the bright colors really engage Sophia. Her favorite is the yellow page, she get’s this wide eyed look and you can just tell she’s taking it all in! 
  • We would not have been able to live without our yoga ball! We usually park it in the kitchen so we can run the fan to calm her during some fussier moments and also if she’s having trouble falling asleep, we bounce with her on the ball while she’s swaddled and the movement helps her fall asleep. The bonus is that you’re also getting a bit of a workout in!!
  • I absolutely love the Carter’s fleece footie PJ’s! Not only are they warm, I use them as another layer as it’s gotten a bit colder here. I’ll put a onesie on underneath and then layer with the fleece jammies followed by her bigger coat. The bonus is that there are no buttons and it zips right up!
  • One of the best things I registered for what this SkipHop activity playmat. The colors are a bit more muted, but still catch her eye enough. The different shapes make noises, play sounds and is great for tummy time because it’s very plush and soft. I also love that she’s started to grab at things so the rattles that it has are perfect for that. 
  • After registering for what I thought was a great “tub” I quickly realized the PUJ was only good for a few weeks at most. It wasn’t comfortable in our kitchen or bathroom sinks so I ordered the first years tub for $20 on Amazon and with almost 3,500 reviews and almost 5 stars it’s probably one of the best purchases for Sophia I’ve made! It goes from a newborn tub with sling, to an infant tub where you remove the sling to a perfect tub for toddlers. We use it every single night for her bath time and have had zero issues with it! Highly recommend this tub! 
  • Finally our biggest favorite this last month was the Lansinoh bottles! After trying what felt like every single bottle out there to have Sophia take one, this finally worked. We had a bottle consultant come by – yes this is a thing and something I would gladly pay for again because she gave me and Gary the tools necessary to get Sophia comfortable with a bottle. We had tried introducing bottles starting at 4 weeks, but she just wasn’t having any of it. At around the 8 week mark I started to get nervous and finally at 10 weeks I hit the panic button and was praying that when I went back to work she’d figure it out. We practiced with the tips that our consultant gave us and it felt like the first thing we were teaching her which was pretty cool. I’ll never be able to convey my relief when Gary called me on my first day back to work and told me how well she ate from the bottle. We haven’t tried any others and probably wont for another month or so, but these were a life saver! 



a Rafflecopter giveaway 



Now onto the giveaway!! This coming Saturday marks my 5 year anniversary in this little space of mine! I honestly can’t believe that I’ve kept up with this blog consistently since 2013! To look back when I first started, I was a newlywed looking for a creative outlet and today I’m so incredibly fulfilled in both my personal and professional life! I am grateful that I have this blog to go back to trips we’ve taken, weekends we’ve spent in the city and every holiday in between. Having this blog has afforded me some really fun and interesting opportunities, introduced me to some incredible women who are some of my very best friends & pushed me out of my comfort zone – so much so that I started my own business! All of those words to simply say – I’m so thankful that I have kept up with my blog, I’m thankful that I’ve created so many meaningful relationships and I really look forward to the new content that I will be creating. Whether you’ve been a friend and reader since the beginning or are a newer follower, as a thank you for following along on this journey of mine, I’m going to be giving away a $50 gift card to Amazon. A few simple entries below and I’ll generate the winner over the weekend – announcing on Monday, November 19th. 



Thank you again for coming back regularly!! Hope you have a wonderful start to the week!


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38 Comments

  1. Andrea Nine
    November 12, 2018 / 11:05 am

    5 years and going strong!! You were one of the first blogs I regularly read and love reading each and every post still today especially with the addition of Miss Sophia! You are a true doll, talented, sweet and oh so beautiful! Here's to 5 more and exercise balls to keep those abs toned, lol! I need to work that! Happy Monday babe! xo

  2. Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams
    November 12, 2018 / 12:04 pm

    It's so fun to see how your blog has evolved with the addition of Sophia now! I always love all your trips, style and Boston favorites. Plus becoming friends from this platform is icing on the cake! Happy 5 Years girlfriend!!
    xo
    Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams

  3. Meditations in Motion
    November 12, 2018 / 12:04 pm

    Happy blog-iversary! 5 years is amazing. I just began blogging in January and still feel like a newbie. I have enjoyed reading your posts this past year, especially with you and your family celebrating the birth of your daughter Sophia! Here's to another 5 years of happy and fulfilling blogging!

  4. Sarita @ it's my girls' world
    November 12, 2018 / 12:11 pm

    Yay for five years!! So happy to have found your blog!!love this list and yay for the bottle consultant! I really didn't know it was a thing

  5. simply styling
    November 12, 2018 / 12:17 pm

    Happy 5 years ! And little miss Sophia is already 3 months old ! Time does fly cherish every minute.

  6. Katherine
    November 12, 2018 / 12:17 pm

    These all sound great!! And happy blogiversary! That's so awesome!

    Katherine | oneswainkycouple.com

  7. Life as the Mrs.
    November 12, 2018 / 12:23 pm

    I'm so amazed at all of the creative, new stuff they come up with in such a short amount of time! Just 2.5 years ago, the Rock N Play was relatively new and now a weighted little swaddle — genius! 🙂 Congratulations on your blog anniversary!

  8. Rachel F
    November 12, 2018 / 12:25 pm

    I can't believe the 5 year is coming up!! Time flies!! And all hands up for Sophia taking a bottle!!!!!!!! What a relief I am sure!! XOXO, R

  9. Rosy Outlook - Fashion & Lifestyle by Kelly Rose
    November 12, 2018 / 12:48 pm

    Where does time go?! 5 years of blogging and Sophia is already getting so big! Those little PJs are so precious!

    Rosy Outlook

  10. Kate at Green Fashionista
    November 12, 2018 / 1:00 pm

    Happy Blogiversary girlie! SO glad to have met you through this space which led to some fun and memorable moments in Boston! And oh my goodness – 3 months already?! It's so exciting to watch them grow, and those activity mats are the best <3
    Green Fashionista

  11. Rachel Emily
    November 12, 2018 / 1:04 pm

    Congrats on your 5 year anniversary and thanks for the awesome giveaway!! I've never heard of those nested Bean blankets and am RUNNING over to that link!!

  12. Tanya
    November 12, 2018 / 1:10 pm

    Congrats on 5 years and thank you for the giveaway! Have a wonderful week!

  13. Christina Lea Loves
    November 12, 2018 / 1:16 pm

    Cheers to five years! Aquafor is a lifesaver especially as these cold winter months come up! Last year I was constantly putting it on Tatum's cheeks.

  14. Amanda Elizabeth - Meet @ the Barre
    November 12, 2018 / 1:34 pm

    I’m so glad she is taking a bottle now for you!!!!! I can’t believe it’s been 5 years. Blogging has really changed over the years right?

  15. A Dash of Pretty
    November 12, 2018 / 1:52 pm

    Aquaphor is the best for EVERYTHING and yay for taking a bottle!! Happy blogaversary! Five years has flown by!!

  16. Zelle B.
    November 12, 2018 / 1:53 pm

    Happy 5 years! And definitely sharing this post with my mama-to-be friend who is expecting her first in the next couple of weeks!

  17. Kay R.
    November 12, 2018 / 2:00 pm

    5 years is amazing and I think Ive read you for the entire 5 years. So cool seeing you grow. Speaking of growing … how is Sophia so grown already hehe. She is beautiful!

  18. Melissa
    November 12, 2018 / 2:04 pm

    Congratulations on 5 years, B! That's such an amazing accomplishment, and I'm pretty sure I've been following along the past 3! Also, thank you for sharing the Nested Bean! I need to look into that for when this babe comes along. Happy Monday!

  19. Lisa
    November 12, 2018 / 2:38 pm

    What an accomplishment! Congratulations! Sweet Sophia looks like a precious pink teddy bear in her little sweater. How was I not following you on Insta and FB? So happy you did the giveaway just for that reason alone. Have a great week!!! XO

  20. Gold Coast Girl
    November 12, 2018 / 3:09 pm

    Such a great round up! We love Aquaphor and still use it!
    ~Samantha
    goldcoastgirlblog.com

  21. Rebecca Jo
    November 12, 2018 / 3:13 pm

    I would have never thought about a yoga ball! SMART!
    What a nice giveaway!!! Congrats on 5 years. I think I must have been with you from the start because I feel like I've been following you for over 5 years 🙂 haha

  22. JMO
    November 12, 2018 / 4:00 pm

    Cheers to 5 years (and 3 months!) 🙂 Love it!

  23. Cat Chat With Caren and Cody (Caren Gittleman)
    November 12, 2018 / 5:09 pm

    Happy Happy "Almost" 5 year blogoversary!!! The best news? Your blog was back in my inbox this morning!! The feedburner devils must have finally gotten their act together! Happy 3 Month to Sophia!! I LOVE that you shared your favorite baby items (keep doing so!) because my new granddaughter is the same age as Sophia (and between you and me, not NEARLY as advanced)……it gives this Grandma good ideas!!! xoxo

  24. Kristin
    November 12, 2018 / 5:58 pm

    Aw, 3 months is a big milestone! It's after that that they really start to interact (I've noticed anyway!).
    We got lucky and Wells took the Dr. Brown's bottles right away…I agree that anything with a mobile for them to look at will be a success!

  25. Missy
    November 12, 2018 / 8:52 pm

    Congrats on 5 years! What an accomplishment! I am so glad I got to meet you in person because of your blog. I cannot believe she is 3 months already! I love the photo of you and her!

  26. Carly
    November 12, 2018 / 9:54 pm

    Congratulations on 5 years of blogging! I'm so glad you're one of my blogging friends I've been able to meet!

    I wondered if the nested bean worked/made a difference! If I knew how much aquaphor we were going to use I would have put like 20 tubes on our registry, lol. We ended up having to buy a second tub after getting the one we registered for too. first time mom problems… haha.

  27. LHWinstead
    November 12, 2018 / 10:11 pm

    Cannot believe Sophia is already 3 months, time is flying!! She is such a doll! We still use that play mat – it's wonderful!! Aquaphor is amazing too! I put it on Brooks every night before bed since he sleeps through the night (most nights haha)

  28. Unknown
    November 13, 2018 / 1:24 am

    Congratulations on 5 years of helping Bostonians, visitors, new moms, aspiring entrepreneurs/momtrepreneurs etc! You’re an incredible influence and I’m so glad you let all of us share in your experiences with you! I can’t wait to see what the next 5 years bring! 🙂

  29. Sarah Shaneyfelt
    November 13, 2018 / 12:21 pm

    I'm glad you mentioned that about the PUJ tub because now it looks like I need to look into the one you ordered from Amazon!! And glad she's taking a bottle now! Win for all haha!
    Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts

  30. Unknown
    November 13, 2018 / 4:06 pm

    She is 3 Months already?! How did that happen? Time is flying! I cannot wait for you to experience all the Holidays with her for her first time! It's so exciting and fun! xo

    Lisa @ Mom Wife Design Life

  31. Beautifully Candid
    November 13, 2018 / 5:38 pm

    Happy 5 years!! It's crazy how fast time goes by. I've always loved your space and you will always be one of my first blogging friends. I remember how happy my sister and I were just to get a comment, and it was you! Sierra Beautifully Candid

  32. Lindsay's Sweet World
    November 13, 2018 / 5:57 pm

    Cheers to FIVE YEARS! I'm so glad that I was able to meet you through this blogging world!

  33. Straight A Style
    November 13, 2018 / 6:33 pm

    I loved those onesies too! I hadn't heard of that weighted thing. Sounds awesome!

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

  34. Kelsey Bang
    November 13, 2018 / 6:58 pm

    this is a great post! thanks for sharing all this great info!
    kelseybang.com
    4allthingsdisney.com

  35. Emily @ Martinis | Bikinis
    November 14, 2018 / 2:33 am

    Baby Sophia sounds like a joy and I'm so happy for you to have this princess in your life to enjoy every stage of her growth with the coos and extreme cuteness which I'm sure melts your heart! Emily @ Martinis & Bikinis

  36. kerri @ cheshire kat
    November 14, 2018 / 1:40 pm

    is it not crazy how 5 years flies by in a blink of an eye! also 3 months for baby girl – wow! she's so cute I love seeing new photos of her. anyway happy 3 months and happy 5 years!!
    xoxo cheshire kat

  37. Tanya Dufour
    November 14, 2018 / 5:06 pm

    Happy 5 Year Anniversary! The yoga ball trick is genius! Gotta remember that for the future.

  38. Sparkles and Lattes
    November 15, 2018 / 3:50 pm

    Yay for a giveaway!!! I definitely entered. We loved Mustella. We used it on the girls all the time. That stuff is amazing!!!