How would we have survived the last 2 months?!?!?!?!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Welcome back to my blog and thank you for reading! I appreciate the feedback from last nights post on facebook and on here as well!

As I sit here, with little guy curled up next to me snoozing away, I have been thinking about the things that I couldn't have lived without for Noah in the past 2 months as well as what tips I could give to new moms that are in the same boat as me.  I was one of those Moms who built huge elaborate baby registries including tons of stuff that I have found I didn't really need or haven't needed this far. I spent hours on Pinterest and reading Baby magazines and Parenting magazines to know exactly what to put on my registry. I have come to realize that what some people may see as a necessity may not be a necessity to me or vice versa. While doing my registry, my Mom pointed out several things that I "wouldn't need" and she "lived without" and well she was right about the things I wouldn't need. There are so many baby items out there that it is sooooo confusing and overwhelming. I am hoping that any new Moms who read this blog will get tips from it and may help some. I am by no means an expert on babies and I am learning more each day being a new Mom but I am hoping my tips and experiences can help others. You do what works best for you. All moms are different but here are just a few things that have worked for me.  If any of you have any suggestions for me or additions to this blog, please comment to this blog.

Anyways so here it goes!

What I couldn't have lived without these past 2 months:

1. Baby Swing- Noah's baby swing has been a lifesaver for when you have to walk out of the room to get something or have to take a shower, etc. It gives him entertainment(half the time puts him to sleep) while you are doing things around the house or when you just need to give your arms a rest. If I could hold Noah all the time I would lol.  We have a portable swing that we can move from room to room.  If I am cooking, I can take it in the kitchen. If I am in the shower or bathtub, I can put it at the door of the bathroom.  If I am putting away things in Noah's room, I can transport it in there. Noah loves how it not only swings but it also plays music and has a cute mobile on it to look at! I wouldn't go spending a fortune on one because they only hold up to a certain weight and for some babies, they may not be able to use it but for so long but find one that works for you. Noah has already definitely gotten his use out of his in the past 2 months and its been worth every penny.

2. Muslin Swaddling blankets- My little guy does not like to be swaddled.  You can swaddle him in a blanket from the waist down but he always pulls his arms out if you swaddle his arms. He hates them being covered.  I had bought fleece swaddlers and one piece swaddling outfits for him but honestly haven't used any of them. They were a waste.  I had just figured my little guy would be cold-blooded like me but he is the opposite.  The Adan and Anais swaddling blankets from Target are what I have used and they are the best! I paid about $35 for a pack of 4 and its been one of the best investments I have made. The more you wash them, the softer they become. I love using them because they are so lightweight and I can swaddle Noah in them from the chest down(arms are free) and don't have to worry about him getting too hot.  Also when we are out and about, I use it as a blanket in his car seat because half of the time he gets warm in his carseat but the muslin swaddling blanket provides just enough warmth so he is comfortable but doesn't get too hot.

3. Multiple types of bottles- I have an assortment of bottles in my cabinet: Mam, Medella, Avent, Tommie Tippie. I learned quickly that my little guy only likes one type of bottle which is the Mam bottles.  The Mam bottles are nice because all of them are made to be anti-colic and you can hear the air being released from the bottle while feeding.  Also the bottle can be placed in the microwave to self sterilize. Look it up! Its kinda cool how it does it. Unfortunately when your pregnant and looking at bottles, your not sure what your little one will like. My little guy didn't like the nipples on the Tommie tippie bottles which I had unfortunately bought the most of. I may have another little one in a few years and he/she may love the Tommie Tippie. All babies are different. I would just suggest maybe having 1 or 2 of a few different bottles. Its easier then to go buy more of the type your baby likes. Also even if you are strickly breastfeeding, bottles are good to still have in case you pump or for some reason have to end up supplement feeding.  When my little guy came home from the hospital, we had to supplement feed and I was so thankful to have some bottles laying around.

4. Assortment of a few types of diapers- Lets just say you learn quite quickly what diapers do work and don't work.  In the newborn size, I had Huggies, Pampers and Luvs stocked up. The only diaper that my little guy didn't leak out of was the Luvs diapers. Now in a size 1 diaper, we use the Pampers Baby Dry and he does great with them. I would just suggest having a few different types to try and see what works best for you.

5. Extra Soothie Pacifiers- In the hospital, if you choose to use a pacifier, they use Soothie pacifiers and they only give you one(unless you ask for more). Walmart, Target, and Babies R Us sell those soothie pacifiers. They are more expensive. My little guy only likes the Soothie pacifiers so we were glad we had extra when we lost one of the ones we brought home from the hospital the first night. Plus they are soft so if they fall out and your little one ends up laying on it, it is soft.  Noah has what is called a WubbaNub.  It is a soothie pacifier attached to a small stuffed animal. His is a frog and he loves it.  He likes to grasp the frog even at 2 months old and hold it while he is sucking on his pacifier.  It also makes his pacifier alot easier to find lol. They come in a variety of animals.

6. Cheaper isn't always better- I am the kind of person that likes buying the off brand of things. The UP and Up brand from Target is my favorite and there are several things that I have bought in that brand of baby stuff. We like the Up and Up refills for our diaper genie especially because it is cheaper than the name brand and does the same thing. We decided to try the Babies R Us brand of wipes because it was alot cheaper and seemed like a bargain. The wipes fell apart in our hands and they were thinner. Some like that brand but it didn't work for us.  We tried the Up and Up brand and liked it.  They also come in sensitive. I know Pampers makes sensitive wipes too.  All I'm saying is that we all want to save a buck(being a couponer that how I am) but there are some things that may not be always better cheaper. Just try it and see what works for you. I would suggest having a few different types.  Babies bootys are so sensitive and you don't want more on your hands than on the wipe.

7. Medella Microwavable Steam it bags- I love love love love love love love love these things!! They are so easy to use and quick.  As soon as I wash my bottles, I put them in the bags and microwave them for a minute 30 seconds and then my bottles are sterilized! So quick and efficient! You can also use them for pacifiers and breast pump items! They are multiple use as well so you get multiple uses from 1 bag! These have been a life saver when your too tired to sit and watch a pot boil on the stove to sterilize.

8. Smaller diaper bag in addition to larger one- I have a nice diaper bag from Babies R Us that is very large. I love it and I can keep everything I need in it but sometimes its better to use a small one. When I go in the mall and use my stroller, its nice to have a smaller bag that doesn't take up as much space so that you can store more shopping bags in the storage area. When I go to church, its nice to have a smaller bag because in the short time I am there, I don't need everything in that big bag. I have a small utility tote from Thirty One that I use for Noah and its such a lightweight bag that I can store just what I need and its small and not bulky and has plenty of pockets.

9. Arm and Hammer bags- These bags are the Munchkin brand and can be found at Walmart and Target. We have had to change Noah's diaper in the back of the car and other places that there wasn't always a trash can right there or it was someones personal trash can that we didn't want to stink up. The bags smell really good and are small enough that you can fit a few diapers in them. They are disposable and trap the smell from going out of the diaper.  Also if you for some reason are traveling and have nowhere to dispose of the diapers and they are in the bags, they wont stink up your car. These bags also come with a cute clip dispenser that I have clipped on my diaper bag. 

10. Johnsons and Johnsons hand and face wipes- Looove these! Everyone for some reason just has to touch a baby when they see them and as much as you try to stop them or make them wash their hands sometimes they get to the baby first. Unfortunately they always have to touch a babies hands which is of course the first thing they put in their mouth. These hands and face wipes say on them that they kill 96% of germs.  They don't have alcohol or anything in them so they are safe for babies soft skin. I mean we cant use Purell hand sanitizer on our babies but this does the same thing. You can also use them to remove formula from the baby's face and neck as well. It comes in a small pack that you can carry in your diaper bag.  It doesn't take the place of making someone wash their hands but if your in a pinch and need them, they are good to have.

11. Onesies with Mittens attached- The brand we have of these is Gerber but I know other brands make these too. Sometimes the mittens that you buy are too big and/or like my little guy, always finds a way to pull them off. The onesies with fold over mittens are great because you can wear them with the mitten folded over or without them! 

12. Waterproof pads for crib, bassinet, changing table- Having a little boy, we had no clue just how far he could pee. We were amazed!! You almost feel like you need a rainjacket when you change them. Our little guy even managed to pee on the wall somehow one night! The waterproof pads are great because it keeps the urine from staining your crib mattress or possibly seeping into your changing pad. We have a waterproof pad in our crib, packnplay and changing table and honestly its been a life saver. You can also wash them if they become soiled. 

13. Dreft pen- We learned the need for this when Noah decided to poop up his back which ended up getting all over his white onesie that we loooooved because it said "handsome like daddy." The cute onesie went with an adorable outfit.  We used a Dreft pen(its like a Shout pen) on the stain and it came out! As soon as we changed his clothes(in the back of the car because we were in a restaurant when this happened) I put it on the onesie and put it in a ziploc bag until I got home. When I got home the stain was already coming out. I added some more too it when I got home, washed it, and now there is no sign that there was ever a stain! Its wonderful!!!!!

14. In the car mirror- I learned the need for this when Noah started screaming bloody murder in his car seat while I was driving down a back road with no where to turn off. When I came to somewhere to pull off, I found that he was just hot and wanted his blanket taken off.  He was kicking his little legs trying to get it off. From the drivers seat, I couldn't see him. If I could have seen him kicking the blanket, I would have known he was hot and could have easily pulled the blanket off. Now we have a mirror that
  clips on the headrest.  The one we have is large(from Target) and plays music and lights up. Noah likes to look at himself in it and look at the colorful lights that come on. Now I can see exactly what he is doing lol.


I know some of these things are obvious and your probably like "DUH!" but honestly these are some of the things that have been so helpful to me over the past 2 months! Hope this helps you as well!


Upcoming blogs: What do you really need for the hospital?, What to stock up on for baby?, Diaper bag necessities, Baby room organization, Whats in that small tub in Natalie's car? 

What I have learned as a first time Mommy...

For my first "official" post(WooHoo!), I wanted to share a few things that are on my mind and have learned since I have become a Mommy. I am by no means a "baby expert" or "baby charmer", but this whole experience has taught me soooooo much and I feel as though even though I don't know everything, I know more than I did and I continue to learn every day along this journey. I have grown so much in the last 2 months and I  honestly cannot even remember my life before Noah. He has given meaning to my existence and is the piece that makes our family whole. He is the anchor that holds me together and whenever his tiny fingers wrap around mine and looks up at me, I honestly have to catch my breath. Thats just how perfect it is. You never quite know how much love you can have for someone, until you hold that small little bundle in your arms for the first time. In that moment, your whole world stops and you are entranced as you stare at that perfect little miracle that you hold on your chest close to your heart. In that moment, all the sleepless nights, kicks in the ribs, shortness of breath, swollen kankles, and inability to last 30 min without having to pee are worth it. Ok so enough of my rambling, on to the good stuff, the stuff I am actually wanting this post to be about:

What I've learned(in no particular order lol):

1.  Let it be- Anyone who knows me knows I am an organized neat freak. My house is always clean and picked up. When people come over my house they always comment it is "so clean" and "always smells like Yankee Candle" and well thats how it is all the time. Everything has its own place and  you probably can run a white glove over surfaces in my house and it comes out clean.  Thats just how I am and have always been and well I thought that would never change. Of course my husband just loves me for it. Since I have became a Mommy Ive learned to just "let it be", meaning who cares what my house looks like anymore. If I have 5 burp rags on the floor, a weeks worth of dishes in the sink, baby items strewn everywhere in places I could trip,  and laundry that hasn't been done in 2 weeks I dont care. At the end of the day, Noah could care less what my house looks like. He could care less if the pictures on the wall are hung perfectly or the cabinets remain organized. He could care less if I dont do my "Cleaning ritual" that I do every thursday.  Its thursday right now and I havent cleaned, dusted in 2 weeks or swiffered my floors or vacuumed which is completely out of the norm for me as these are things I do weekly. At the end of the day, my focus is on him and his needs and some things just have to go to the wayside like my household chores and I have had to learn to just let it go. I can go 2 weeks without my thorough house cleaning, right?!?

2. Relationships change- I have also learned through being a Mom that you will grow apart from people(friends in some instances) for the simple fact that you may no longer have things in common with them. When you have a baby, naturally you are drawn to other people who have kids because you have something in common. I had a friend that I was very close to that we grew apart after she had a baby. For a while, I was upset with her, but after having Noah I realized exactly how she felt when she was going through the changes of becoming a Mom and really realizing what relationships with friends were worth keeping and which would require more effort. I am glad that now our friendship has taken off again because now we do have things in common again.   I am also thankful for those  that have been there every step of the way through pregnancy and have remained close even after Noah was born(Shoutouts to my relatives, church family, Parents, Inlaws, Amy Crites, Amy Carlineo, Brandy Jones, Megan Loucks and Bethany Jordan). You learn to distance yourself from those who are filled with "drama" and in the end that means letting go of those friendships.  It may hurt to let them go but in the end, you are a better person. I am happy with those in my life right now. I'm thankful that I am fostering friendships and relationships with people that I want to be in my son's life. Those that have chosen to stick around even after this new journey has started for me as being a new mom are the ones I want to call friends.

3. Advice vs. Opinion- As a new Mommy, you get tons of advice as well as opinions. You learn to listen to the advice but chose carefully when you listen to opinions because sometimes opinions can belittle you. When someone gives me an opinion, sometimes it causes me to question myself and decisions for my child. I had someone tell me I was "dumb" for deciding to not take my baby out in public for a few weeks after he was born and that "I cant keep my child in bubble".  I was also told that I need to stop being a "Germophobic overprotective mother" because I asked someone to wash their hands before holding my baby. That kind of hurt even though it was said in a completely nice way. I dont need that person's judgement or opinion. Honestly at the end of the day, I am my childs mother and I know what is best for him and if I didnt want to take him into a crowded mall, store, etc for a few weeks that was my choice. If I want people to wash their grimy hands before touching my child thats my choice. I don't need anyones approval and don't have to answer to anyone. What you chose to do as a Mom is your decision. Yeah, you will make mistakes along the way as your learning. I know I have made mistakes but I know that I have learned from them and won't do them again.  Its nice to hear other Moms share techniques that have worked for them and I love learning from other Moms. I have some Mommy friends that I look to as mentors as well. I've just learned to steer clear of opinions and take them with "a grain of salt".  Eleanor Roosevelt said that "Noone should make you feel inferior without your consent" which in this case I've learned to not let peoples opinions or criticism make me feel as if I am not doing a good job as a mother. At  the end of the day, the most important critic to how good of a mother I am is my sons and believe me if Im not doing a good job he will let me know lol

4. I Will or Wont do that!-  I get tired of people saying "When I become a mom I will or wont do that".  Honestly it makes me laugh because the exact things you say you wont do, you end up doing. Sorry but its the truth. There are plenty of things I said that I would not do but I have already done some of those things. Good thing the only person who knew about those things I said I wouldn't do and have done is my hubby and he hasn't called me out on them yet. I said I would never let my baby be a co-sleeper but he slept in our bed in his little bassinet til he was a month old and now he sleeps in a bassinet in our room because we havent fought the battle yet of trying him in his own crib at night.  I said I would never ever change my baby's diaper in a bathroom in a store and well I've changed diapers in Sears, Kohl's and Target. I said I would still be close with certain friends after Noah arrived but I'm not close with them anymore for various reasons.  You make these things in your head that you will or won't do and you do them anyway so just save yourself the heartache and don't make opinions on what you will or won't do. It makes it less disappointing when you actually do what you swore you wouldn't do

In conclusion, I want to include some advice from a good friend/mentor/coworker of mine Megan Loucks.  When I was pregnant and constantly worried about the kind of mother I would be, she would always remind me that "as long as I give my baby lots of love nothing else matters." Yeah I have made mistakes and will continue to and thats part of being a good Mother. As long as I love him above all else and all things are done out of love thats all that matters. All things considered, my little guy thinks I am perfect and flawless(if he only knew) and relies on me for love, comfort, safety and to meet his needs and ultimately that is what is most important to me. That is my priority above all else. He is teaching me sooooooo much and each day I look forward to learning more from him. 


Tomorrows Topic: Those Baby items I couldn't live without these past few weeks!

Welcome to my blog

Welcome to my blog!

        I may or may not be the most interesting person, I may be quite plain, small town, and ordinary, a little quirky, unconventional and random but I do have things to share. First off a little about myself, my name is Natalie Holthouser and I hail from the small town of Prince George, Va where I have lived my whole life and just may never leave.Something about living on a one lane road in the middle of nowhere where one commonly gets stuck behind a tractor which we consider a" traffic jam" that I call home. I have been married for 4 years to the most amazing husband and have a newborn named Noah at home. In this blog are my random ramblings, advice, concerns, rants, confessions, etc.