*I interrupt this month of Fashion, to bring you some real life advice - What you really need for your baby registery. 

Registering for baby products can be overwhelming! So I asked some friends, who are new mothers, to share some of their favourite items from their registry to help you out (and me). 


Breast Pumps 
Medela pump in style breast pump $374.99
I registered for this product and have continued to hear good things about it.

AVENT manual breast pump $59.99


1 Medela Washable Breast pads |  2 Medela Lanolin Nipple cream |  3 OVer cover |  4 Nursing Pillow

Nursing Gear
Nipple Cream: "This is something that really helped me in the first week!"

Dr. Brown's bottles can be purchased in a variety of sizes, glass or plastic, and options for nipple sizes for each stage. A formula dispenser is great for on-the-go bottle feeding! Compartments hold the perfect amount of formula, so you can have baby's milk perfectly prepared wherever you are.
I was talking with a new mom at my last Dr. appointment, and she suggested getting a microwaveable sterilizer rather than electric, for it's convenience. Water tends to calcify over time in an electric version, and also takes longer.

"We purchased this product when our twins were about 1 month old - after a month of mixing formula to supplement along with the breastmilk. The baby breeza is essentially a Keurig for formula. It mixes a perfectly warmed bottle in 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 oz. increments depending what you babe needs. If your a mom of multiples (because 20+ bottles a day is ALOT), or strictly use formula, it is definitely worth the price tag! The only con we have found was if formula builds up around the dispenser it will make a more diluted bottle, but with regular cleaning you won't have this issue."
Kiinde bottle warmer
Kirkland diapers seem to be the top of every budget conscious parent's list. Looks like I'll have a monthly date with Costco!

Aleva natural bamboo wipes 
"They are thick and really easy to pull out of the small packages."
*Money wasters: wipe warmers

There are many books, websites and blogs that you can read to help you prepare for pregnancy, but nothing can really prepare you for what your body is about to go through.


The Good


Getting pregnant is a huge blessing and one that we were praying about for a long time. I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to carry a baby.

Besides our engagement/wedding, I have never experienced so much genuine love and excitement from our family and friends, and even people that I don't know well.

My skin hasn't been this clear and soft for over a year, so I have been enjoying wearing minimal makeup these days. Just enough to cover up the dark circles under my eyes!


The Bad
The unwelcomed commentary.
People suddenly feel like it is appropriate to comment on everything, whether it's my weight, the size of my belly or even how tired I look.

Aching muscles and bones that make me feel like an old lady. Before I knew that I was pregnant, I was having very sore calve muscles (which I do usually get when I am overly tired). I wore compression socks to bed, which did help, but it's definitely not something I expected throughout my pregnancy.


The things no one tells you
You've probably heard that your hair will get thicker and shinier, but you will find that hair will start sprouting all over your body! I remember admiring my growing belly one day and noticed that my belly had some excess peach fuzz growing and I've noticed more facial hair as well - thankfully I am a blonde.

Body fluids will be out of control due to higher amounts of estrogen and increase in blood flow in your body. Runny nose, excess discharge, and a lot more sweating.

You will struggle with accepting your ever-changing body.
I have been trying to remember that the end is in sight, but already at 31 weeks, I am ready to get this baby out ASAP. The weight gain has been something that I am secretly hating, and I wasn't prepared for the huge transformation that my body was about to go through. I have been generally the same weight throughout my adult years, and have always been an active person. I have not had the energy or desire to exercise for the latter part of my pregnancy, which I know hasn't helped with my self-esteem. Let's just say I will be happy once my sweet babe is in my arms instead of my belly and we can go for walks together and I can start to feel like myself again.

What to pack for 1 week in England

• You'll want a light jacket, and a heavier one for those colder days.
•  Sweaters are the key to keeping warm on those cold damp days that you are walking around visiting the sights. I would suggest to bring sweaters that you can layer so that you get the most use out of them.
• Depending on your itinerary, you'll want at least one nice blouse that you can wear out, and some more casual tees for daytime. 
• Cardigans are great for layering and if you get a day without rain you can venture out without a coat! 
• Footwear can be tricky because you don't want to bring anything too bulky, but keep in mind you will need something comfortable, warm, and practical for the weather.
• Pack neutral bottoms such as leggings and jeans to be able to work with any outfit. And throw in something different like a dress or skirt if you want to dress things up a little.

Other:
Tights, Mittens (hat optional), and Umbrella.
A couple of scarves to keep warm and change up your look.




Want to read more about England, UK? Check out this post.

If you're a first time mom like me, it's hard to know what you'll need during and after pregnancy. So, I wanted to share a few items that I have loved so far during my 2nd trimester.

1. Maternity pj's
I bought myself this set (which is on sale right now), from Thyme maternity and was going to save it for the hospital, but decided I might as well make use of it now!

2. Wireless bra
With my ever expanding breasts, this wireless bra from GAP has been a life saver! It's honestly the most comfortable bra I have ever owned and I even wear it to bed.

3. Sneakers
With lower back aches and tired legs being an every day occurrence, finding a comfortable and supportive shoe is important. And why not take advantage of all those trendy new styles!

4. Stretch mark cream
There are so many options out there for stretch mark prevention, ranging from inexpensive to ridiculously overpriced, but I have enjoyed using Earth Mama Body Butter. They have a range of organic products that I hope to use after pregnancy and for baby as well.

5. Cute notebook
I know we are in the age of technology, but I still enjoy writing down my weekly updates in my "baby journal". I started a new journal while we were trying to get pregnant and have continued through the weeks of pregnancy.

Here is my 23 week update if you're interested.

Size of baby: Grapefruit
Weight gain: 14.5 lbs

What am I wearing: Maternity clothes?
My outfits are getting less and less interesting, and I always end up wearing the same things. My husband has given me "permission" to go out and buy some new clothes, since every morning I end up going through so many outfits trying to find something to wear. Comfort is key!


Movement: Baby is always moving and I love those little reminders each time that we are going to have a baby!

Sleep: Have been getting as much sleep as possible lately to rest my tired body.

What I'm most looking forward to: Getting started on the nursery this weekend!

I know this week's outfit is not very exciting, but it's a typical work outfit for me these days. I'm learning that dressing this belly is all about comfort and whatever fits!

How far along: 21 weeks
Size of baby: Baby bok choy
Weight gain: 12 lbs


What am I wearing: Maternity clothes? Maternity pants have become my friend. I had gone back and forth with still wearing my regular pants but once I put on my maternity pants, I don't know why I would go back. I am just wearing my regular tops but have noticed that my boobs are looking really big in them this week, since non-maternity shirts don't have nearly as much stretch to them (in the right places). Thankfully I can just throw on a chunky sweater and noone besides me can tell that my boobs have grown almost double the size!



Cravings: Last night I was craving chocolate, so my husband made me a delicious cup of hot chocolate. It was the perfect treat for a cold night, rather than indulging in halloween candy. Those mini chocolate bars are dangerous!

Movement: Now that I know what I am feeling is the baby moving, I can feel movement all day and night. I love it! The kicks have not been strong enough yet for my husband to feel yet, but hopefully in the next couple of weeks as our babe grows stronger.

Sleep: Sleeping "like a baby". Although I don't understand how that saying makes any sense, I have been sleeping really well. I am usually so exhausted by the end of the day that once I crawl into bed, I am asleep within minutes and have been able to sleep soundly through the night.

Best moment of the week: Sharing the gender with some of my family! I will be sharing some of those pictures next week.

What I'm most looking forward to: Sharing the news with the rest of the family this weekend! It is also my cousin's baby shower this weekend, and 4 of my cousins (including her) are all pregnant, so it will be fun to see everyone's growing bellies!

Outfit details:
Sweater: Jacob | Tank: Liz Lange for Target (maternity) | Skinny pants: H&M (maternity) | Flats: Crown Vintage from DSW

I can't believe we are halfway to meeting our little babe! I have a timeline where I mark off each week, and I remember looking at the 20 week mark when I first got pregnant, thinking it was so far away. It has been somewhat of an emotional few days thinking about how far we've come and what we have to look forward to. I will be writing more about our story and the journey to getting pregnant soon.

How far along: 20 weeks
Size of baby: Length of a banana



What am I wearing: Maternity clothes?
Usually when I woke up in the morning, my belly was fairly small and wasn't very round. Then, I woke up one morning last week, and my belly had just popped! So, needless to say, my regular pants have gotten a little snug. I bought another pair of maternity pants and leggings, and have been wearing them for the most part lately, but I can still wear all of my regular shirts since I usually wear them a little bigger anyway.



Movement: I had been noticing more and more quick movements but they were far and few between. This week I had an early morning meeting at work, and I guess the baby wasn't ready to be up quite so early. I was sitting in the boardroom quietly and for about 30 minutes could feel baby moving around so much!

Sleep: Lately I have been waking up at 4:30am, I'll go to bathroom, and then can't get back to sleep. I usually just lay in bed rubbing my belly and thinking about what it will be like to have a baby to wake up to. I'm sure I'll regret saying this, but I'm actually looking forward to early morning feedings/ cuddles in bed while my husband sleeps beside me and probably the cat on the end of the bed.

Best moment of the week: Feeling the baby move!

What I'm most looking forward to: Taking some maternity pictures this weekend that we will use for our gender reveal!

Outfit details:
Top: Old Navy (non-maternity) | Vest: New Balance | Jeans: Old Navy (maternity) | Sneakers: Converse

I have always enjoyed reading other bloggers pregnancy journey's and especially seeing what they are wearing as their belly grows. Now, it's my turn, and I'm so excited to share my experiences with you as this babe continues to grow.

How far along: 16 weeks
Size of baby: Baby is the size of an avocado
Weight gain: 6lbs, since I ate my way through the first trimester nausea. I feel like I am on track, but it's a little scary gaining weight so quickly.
What am I wearing: Maternity clothes? This outfit is all non-maternity, but I did buy a few maternity pieces that I am already loving! The difference in comfort in so worth it.

Gender: Our next ultrasound is scheduled at 19 weeks, when we will get to find out the gender!
Movement: Sometime's I have thought that I've felt movement, but it's so early and I really don't know if it was or not.
Sleep: I can usually sleep well, until I have to get to go to the bathroom that is... and then I have a hard time getting comfortable again and can't fall back asleep easily. I know it's only going to get worse so I won't complain about the 9-10 hours of sleep I typically get. I'm enjoying it while I can!

Best moment of the week: Feeling like I actually look pregnant and not just like I have a food baby. I have gotten some double takes and it's quite funny because I am still in that awkward in-between stage.
What am I reading: What to Expect when You're Expecting, Common Sense Pregnancy, Hypnobirthing Book.

Outfit details:
Sweater: Joe Fresh | Tank: Kenneth Cole | Necklace: American Eagle | Leggings: H&M | Slip-ons: Old Navy

We are packing up to move to our new place this weekend, so I thought I'd give you some tips on how to pack up your wardrobe efficiently.

1. Make sure you label every box!
     - Number each box and have a corresponding list for what is in every box

2. Pack your shoes in a rolling suitcase
    - pack all boots at the bottom


3. Keep your clothes on the hanger
    - Tie a rubber band around hangers and wrap in a sheet
    - Fold clothes into a large plastic tote

4. Packing jewelry
    - Keep your expensive pieces in a safe place. Make sure you know where it is at all times
    - Tightly wrap all jewelry boxes
    - Pack costume jewelry in small zipper pouches
    - Use a travel-friendly jewelry carrier with multiple compartments for dainty jewelry

5. Pack all denim together in a sturdy box
     - Denim is heavy, so keep it in a small(er) box, and make sure the bottom is taped up well!