Running thru Life

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Sugar n' Spice- Influenster.com

I signed up for Influenster.com after a couple of friends raved about the experience they had trying out new products.

So I decided to jump on the train!

I signed up and after a couple of emails, was notified I would be getting my first Influenster.com box called Sugar n' Spice.
All products I received for them were free and I was not paid anything for this review.

The box contained samples of:

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture

"It is a continuous spray lotion that moisturized and absorbs in seconds. "

MY REVIEW:
Love this especially as a new mom who does not have time to rub lotion in- I spray and go!

Colgate Optic White Regimen

"Contained all three Colgate Optic White products- toothpaste, toothbrush, and mouthwash together for whiter teeth in five days."

MY REVIEW:
This taste terrible- I feel like it is burning my mouth!
I can not use it- Joe's loves it so he is using it.
Of note, I do have a sensitive mouth when it comes to mouthwashes and toothpastes.

Nectresse

"Sweetener tastes like sugar but has zero calories per serving."

MY REVIEW:
I was not a fan of this product- I tried it in my coffee and on my fruit and I did not like the taste of it!
It left a bad after taste.
Not something I will be buying.

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes

"The soothing blend of Witch Hazel and aloe on these facial wipes rejuvenates your skin by gently lifting dirt, oil, and impurities from your pores while nourishing even the most sensitive skin."

MY REVIEW:
First let me start that I have dry skin- not oily so I felt this product dried my face out more.
I also was not a fan of the smell.
Not something I will be purchasing.
But if you do have oil skin this would be a good product for you.

belVita Breakfast Biscuits

"Are made with delicious ingredients and carefully baked to release steady energy that last all morning. They are a good sources of fiber and B-vitamins, contains no high fructose corn syrup, have 18-20 grams of whole grain per 50 grams serving and taste great- perfect for on the go."

MY REVIEW:
Tasty snack especially when on the run with a newborn but do not if I would go out of my way to purchase this.

All and All the only thing I might purchase myself is the Spray and Go Moisturizer.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

4 weeks!

Today marks Collin's first 4 weeks!

This Saturday he will be 1 month.

This seems crazy to me as it seems only yesterday we were bringing him home.

I plan on a big 1 month blog,

but I went to the New Mommy group at INOVA Fairoaks today and got to weigh him.

9 pounds 9 ounces!

He is a moose!

Or as Joe and I like to call him our little "champion" like the song Hall of Fame by Script.

Here is my Collin version....

Be a champion, Be a champion, Be a champion, Be a championOn the walls of the hall of fameBe a good eaterBe a good sleeperBe a growerBe a reader

Because he is now falling into a normal routine and sleep pattern- waking up between 1-2 am and then5-6 am which means only 1 nighttime feed!

He is our little champion!

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Accessorize.. Baby Style

If you know me, you know that I am very girlie.

I always have been since i was a little girl carrying around my cream and lipstick in my little purse,
and it has continued to this day.

So when it came to picking a diaper bag, I had a very strong opinions.

I wanted something that met the following criteria:

1) It needed to not look like a diaper bag.
I hate animals and kids colors- I wanted something classic

2) Needed to be able to function as a diaper bag and purse so I could only be responsible for carrying one bag.

3) It needed to have lots of compartments to help me stay organized

4)It needed to not cost an arm and a leg

A while ago, I eyed a diaper bag that a woman was using while we were out-

the Kate Spade Diaper Bag.

I loved everything about it!
The neutral color, the size, the compartments, etc- however, the price tag was to high.
I started looking at other diaper bags and just kept coming back to this one.
I was talking to my girlfriend about my love for this bag but I hated the price!
She reminded me of the Kate Spade Outlet in Leesburg, VA.

So one day Joe and I last fall around thanksgiving time, we headed out there to look at a couple of things and i decided to check out the Kate Spade outlet store, it was my lucky day. The had the diaper bag that I had been eyeing at the OUTLET price (which was $140 off the original price) and they were having a holiday special of 60% additional off the bag.
I looked at Joe and stated, "I know what I would like for Christmas."
We had agreed that Christmas presents last year had to be baby related.

So on Christmas Day I opened my gift, the diaper bag.
Joe got his new little camera- whose home is now in the diaper bag so I always have a camera besides the one on my iphone.
Yes i feel a little guilty that my bag cost around $100 but I love it and use it ever day and can you in after as a purse so it is multifunctional.

I have used it for three weeks now and I love it.
Joe has even committed on how he likes how organized it is.

Thing I have in it now
- 6 Diaper and wipes in the black and white bag
- Camera
-Extra change of clothes
-Wubba- pacifier
-Burp cloth
-Bib
-Extra small bag with lanolin for e, extra nursing pads, small tub of butt paste
-3 pads
-Changing pad
-Hand sanitizer
-Wallet
-Gift cards and coupon filer
-When we go out i fit the mini bottle bag that we received in the hospital also in there
-Extra phone charger- this was a life saver in the ER
Also the side has a perfect outside pocket for my water bottle and it also fit the binder that i keep all of Collin's health records in- I take this when we go to the doctors for his visits.

Friday, March 29, 2013

MVP for the 1st two weeks

The first two weeks were rough, mostly complicated by the part that I was re- admitted into the ICU for Pre-Eclamps/HELLP.
There were a handful of things I could have not lived without suing the first two weeks:

1) Pumping Bra

I rented a Ameda hospital grade pimp before we left the hospital the first time and the pumping bra was amazing! Especially when I was in the ICU- I just left it on me and hooked up the pump every couple of hours. I am actually thinking about purchasing another one so I can keep at work when I go back.
It lets you multitask- something that I love!

2) Lily padz

I have had patient swear by these for years and loved the idea as it is a reusable breast pad. I truly loved these. They do not dry the breast out at all and for the most part will stay in place even when I do not have a bra on. I also love that they are "green" and can be used over and over. I got the started kit as a gift with comes with cleaner and wipes for them.
Totally love!

3) Swaddles

One of the only baby books we read was the Happoest baby on the Block.
And let me tell you swaddling works with Collin. We received a couple Swaddles as a gift and purchased a couple more with a gift card we had.

4) Sleep sheep

Also after reading the Happiest Baby on the Block we knew that white noise and carrying on our normal life with noise would be important to help Collin adjust. We place this on each night when we put him to bed and found that it does help calm him.

5) Ibaby log app

OMG!
This app was recommended by a friend and I love it!
I would have paid large amount of money for this app! It basically helps you keep track of everything from feeding to diaper changes to activities, etc. this app is FREE! A must have to keep you sanity!

6) WubbaNub
Yes I thought I would never use this as I was not going to give a pacifier while I was trying to breastfeed, however, this was a saving grace while I was re-admitted with my parents.

So he loves it now... and the rest is history.

7) Bouncers
I received two of these as hand me downs and at the time Joe thought- why do we need 2.
I ended up putting one in the bathroom to use while I am taking showers and one stays on the main level for me to use during the day.
I totally love these as they let me eat while watching him and take a shower/get ready for my day.

8) The best husband ever
He totally became a single parent for a couple days while I was in the ICU because Collin could not come into the ICU so he stayed home and took care of him.
Amazed at how good of a dad he is!
And for the record watching your own child is not "babysitting!"

9) Wonderful family and neighbors
Thank God my parents are local and helped us so much from picking up breastmilk at the hospital, from my mom staying with Joe and helping him adjust so he could come visit me in the hospital.
Our friends and neighbors were awesome from dropping off food, extra newborn clothes, to encouraging emails and texts.

The first two weeks were interesting but I am glad that life is setting down a little bit!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Guest Post- New Addition

My girlfriend came to visit and took some amazing pictures of Collin David.

I thought I would share her blog today...

http://susanclappphotography.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/meeting-the-new-addition/collin-david-03/#main

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Survival of the first week

This was the first week I was home with Collin alone and I set a couple goals for myself.

This might sound silly but I have heard from everyone that you kind of loose track of time when taking care of a newborn and the normal daily things get pushed to the side.

My goals were:

1) Take a shower

For the most part Collin wakes up at 8:30/9 am so I set my alarm to go off at 8/8:30- this let me get up shower, feed Clemson and the next goal- Make the bed.

2) Make the bed

See above

3) Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner

Yes I know this sounds funny, but I am the worst at letting time getting away from me and not eating and now that I am pumping, I am hungry and I get moody when I do not eat- like blood sugar low moody. So I have a standard system- mini bagel and cream cheese for breakfast, turkey sandwich and chips for lunch and then I made a schedule for the dinner meals.

4) Stay hydrated

This is by far the hardest for me. I have a huge water bottle that I make myself down every time I pump. I need to get better at this.

5) Take 1 nap with Collin a day
Collin is starting to get on a routine- during the day eating every 3-4 hours. This mean that after he feeds he is alert for 1-2 hours and then sleeps for 1-2 hours. So he eats at 8:30/9 goes thru this routine and then is due again to eat at 12-1pm so at 2/3pm is our nap time.

This way I can do the 2 am feeding on my own and let Joe sleep since he is working and not getting a nap in. This seems to be working pretty well.

6) Tackle 1-2 outings this week on my own

Last week we went on a couple outings but not too many because of the snow on Monday, and people visiting us all day on Friday. On Tuesday we went to the Mall to have our picture taken with the Easter Bunny which took all of 15 minutes from time out of the car to time back into the car because no was was there at I went at like 11am. Wednesday I had to go to the store to pick something up- again another quick little errand and Thursday we went on a long dog walk with Clemson.
I am ready for the weather to be warmer so I can take Clemson and Collin for longer walks.

7) Laundry Monday and Thursdays

Newborns go thru a lot of clothes and I think it is easy to get into the trap of doing laundry everyday- which I hate! So Joe and I decided laundry days would be Monday and Thursday. Joe is in charge of bring the clothes down before he goes to work and I work on them during the day and put them away. I find so far Monday and Thursdays are perfect because we have enough outfits to last between.

All and all I feel like I am slowly adjusting and feeling like I can tackle a little more each week.

What were your goals the first couple of weeks?

Goals for week two alone:
More walks to get back in shape
More outings to keep me sane
Hospital Mommy and Me Group