We Love Boba!

When I first had my daughter I knew I wanted to baby wear her, unfortunately I couldn't get wraps to work so the Boba carrier was my saving grace!  I could snuggle all day with my baby and still get things done.  I still baby wear her to this day!  Just last week we spent the week somewhere else and I thought our Boba Carrier was in the car .. well it wasn't so sure enough I drove all the way home to get it so we could go shopping quickly to pick up a few things.



I love that they make many accessories for our carrier too!  Boba just came out with a new vest that is absolutely perfect to keep my sweet baby girl nice and cozy and I stay warm too!  I have a black fleece jacket so the soft fleece of the Boba

Vest allows me to wear my coat and not look silly while keeping us warm and actually looks perfect together.  It fits right over the carrier and has the ability to be used in front or back carrying.  I adore the front tube pocket that keeps my hands nice and toasty!  It's extremely easy to put on by just putting of your head, then baby's head, and then you just zip up the side zipper.  Happy Baby, Happy Mama! :)



oh and it's official.. Mikaylee has teeth and she knows how to use them!  Just not on the Boba!  I was in the store holding her in our Boba when all of the sudden I saw her noshing away on the strap.  I knew then and there that we needed to get teething pads and fast!



Boba makes teething pads for their carriers, and even more pleased that they made them in an organic fabric.  To put them on all I had to do was snap them around the shoulder strap and let Sweet Baby chomp away!  There's no chemicals or dyes so it's perfectly fine to let her nosh away.  I just never knew she would actually chew on the straps.  So if you're getting a carrier, be sure to get these cause you'll be needing them!



I also love keeping my Boba Carrier in the car, but end up bringing a huge backpack to put it in so it's not laying on the car floor.  Another Boba accessory that I didn't realize I would need desperately is the Boba Carrier Stuff Sack.  It is perfectly designed to hold and protect my Boba when it's not in use.  No more bulky backpack and no fear of it laying around in the car.  I use it daily just simply put it into the sack.  It's made of 100% cotton and it even matches the Boba Carrier 3Gs!  Just roll it on up and tuck it inside!



Now I can make sure that our Boba carrier lasts long enough that I can use it for the next kiddos!  Maybe even pass it on down?   We love, love, love our Boba!  Seriously could not live without ours.  I wear it doing housework, when we're shopping, talking walks, and so much more.  Love baby wearing.

Thank you Boba for sending items for review - all opinions are our own.

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The MoonWalk New York City 2013

In just two months on July 20, 2013 is The MoonWalk in New York City at 10pm.  Did I just say 10pm?  Yep!  How else would you walk under the moon? How fun!  It's being presented by Empire BlueCross BlueShield and will have an estimated 8,000 participants  Thousands of courageous women and men will be present and will power walk a marathon in the streets in NYC.  I find the MoonWalk so empowering - not only will it be at night but people will be wearing decorated bras in support of breast cancer awareness.    It's a recognized charity from Walk the Walk.  It's a night not only to do something you want to fight for but also have fun while your doing it.  Having had two people that are close to me go through breast cancer and beating it has been such a blessing.. not everyone is so lucky.  Bring the man in your life along!  If it's something I'm passionate about I'd want my other half by my side and would be there!  Look at this couple.. So amazing!  This my friends.. is what real love is all about.  

It all started 15 years ago and over hundreds of thousands of people have participated yearly in MoonWalks all over raising over $126 million for breast cancer causes!  If I were to join any walk or marathon this one would DEFINITELY be it.  However we'll be away for Sweet Baby's first birthday.   Are you looking for a great marathon to join or cause to support?  Why not sign up to participate in the MoonWalk?  There's even two options: the half moon which is 13.1 miles and the full moon which is 26.6 miles.   It begins with a participant opening ceremony celebration at Randall's Island and from their you will depart through Manhattan past the city's most iconic land marks which will all be brightly lit up!

They're hoping to raise $2 millions dollars during this marathon and most of that will be granted to Memorial Sloan-Ketting Cancer Center to support Breast Examination Center in Harlem   This center happens to be one of the first screening facilities for breast cancer in the country!  Around 80% of their patients are not insured by they are still welcomed with support and guidance! 

If you sign up - please let me know!  I really hope we can raise more awareness and help those that are in need.  Let's fight the fight and conquer cancer once and for all!


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post from One2One Network and Walk The Walk. All opinions stated are my own. 

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Feeling Helpless

Just one of the worst feelings in the world that I have felt is feeling helpless.  That is how I felt all day today.  This morning started out like any other.. Sweet Baby and I woke up and snuggled right before breakfast.  I made myself oatmeal and decided to try giving her oatmeal again since she's refused it in the past.  I mixed a extremely small amount of organic oatmeal into her banana and yogurt which she usually eats every morning. She really enjoyed it - she even picked up the spoon and took a few bites with it instead of just using her fingers.  We love sensory eating.. if you follow us on instagram I'm sure you've seen our pictures :) 

Once she was finished I cleaned her up and we played with her toys.  About 3 hours go by and she gets fussy - time for num nums! (breastmilk) She's even signing more and started clapping her hands.. oh how I love her!  After she was full she fell asleep in my arms.. then out of nowhere violently threw up not once, not twice, but three times within 20 minutes..and it doesn't stop she was to the point of throwing up bile.  My poor Sweet Baby!  

This wasn't the first time.. she has the same exact reaction to chicken and soy.   The first time it happened we thought it was some sort of stomach bug.. but then we tried chicken again and the same reaction.  Also with Soy.  So like any other person I turned to google.. Then I found something called FPIES: Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome.  

 She has all the symptoms of this.. and so I called her doctor and he also thinks it's highly possibly.. while extremely rare he said from what I told him it could be it.  Unfortunately he's not familiar with it at all so we'll be going to an allergist and possibly a pediatric gastroenterologist.  

Thankfully she hasn't eaten enough of the trigger food to have a really bad reaction.. but I don't want to know how bad that could actually be.  She's had a nibble here and a nibble there.  There was maybe a drop of oatmeal in her yogurt that she had about 3 bites (more like licks) total. 

Now she's fine aside from being tired.  I have noticed it can go on and on if we put anything in her stomach so I just want until she has a bowl movement.. she has a bowl movement about 2 hours after throwing up and then she's done vomiting and also extremely hungry.. we start off slow letting her stomach ease into getting full.  All along I thought this is normal.. babies throw up.  Then today that mother's instinct came out and I just knew that this wasn't what I thought to be normal, that this is more than just some texture issue since it's 3 hours after eating, and most importantly that I have to be the voice for my baby.  She hurts.. I hurt.   Now we start the search for answers.. FPIES may not be it, but I won't stop until I do find out what it is.

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Berry Baby Popsicles!

Sweet Baby absolutely loves to eat fruit and could eat it plain all day (like her mommy and daddy!) but when it comes to puree foods she turns her head away now.  She's finally realizing.. that's not what mommy and daddy are eating!  She can't handle a big piece of food yet so we're still doing chunky puree in the Vitamix and most recently since she's teething we've been making popsicles!  She gets so excited when I pull out the popsicle molds and pour in her baby food.  Yup I use the same as I would to feed her!  She loves it :)

What I love about using the Vitamix for her food and even her popsicles is that it actually allows me to give her RAW food.  I don't want to break down and destroy the nutrients.  She even likes to have smoothies with mommy.  Good morning Kale Smoothie is our favorite!  We add a few berries in too :) All organic of course!

So for the pops we've been enjoying couldn't be more simple.. Just a few ingredients and your taste buds and tummy will be happy :)  Plus we even use this as baby food   

Berry Baby Popsicles

1 Cup Water
2 Carrots Peeled
1 Cup Blueberries
1 Large Banana

Put it all in your blender and let it blend until the mixture is smooth.  Put into popsicle molds and reserve some for baby food if you'd like.  Freeze and enjoy!





They're a favorite in this house!



Hubby makes a great hand model - don't you think? ;-)

Check out our full review of the Vitamix that we were sent to try out!

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My First Mother's Day with Sweet Baby

Just last year I was doing one of the most important things I'll ever do.. I was making my Sweet Baby girl!  Mother's Day has been a bit of a tough holiday for me since losing my own mother.  Last year I lost the two women I would wish Happy Mother's Day - I lost my grandmother on both sides of my family within a month of each other.  Mother's Day just wasn't easy for me.  I know nothing I do will ever bring my parents back, and really I should move on and be happy.. but it's just so hard and easier said than done.

Last year I knew that Mikaylee being here would help me .. not only to make Mother's Day a little easier, but give it more meaning.  She's made every holiday easier for me.  I used to spend every holiday crying for a bit and would just think about how they used to be.  It was almost like torture to see people celebrating their mother's and even hurt when Chris asked me what we should get his mother.



Now they're  more bearable, more meaningful, and almost just like they once were with them here.  I was once missing pieces of me.. but my baby has filled in those gaps.  Sweet Baby has given me so much happiness and my heart keeps growing with love for her.   There are things I miss.. Like my mother telling me she wanted jewelry (she had so much jewelry haha)  and I wish I could get it for her now and forever.  Like smelling her Jovan Musk or Design perfume.   I'm so blessed for having her in my life the amount of time I did, and I'm so thankful that she made me the woman I am today, the mom I am now, and the best friend I'll always be to my Sweet Baby.

I can't wait to spend my First Mother's Day with my Sweet Baby tomorrow.  We're going out and playing all day.  It is OUR day.  I am so thankful to be the one she calls mama!

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Balboa Baby High Chair Cover and Bib Set

Sweet Baby is getting so big.. seriously.  So big that she can actually fit in the highchairs when we go out!  We never use a stroller and always babywear or carry her around.  However when it's time to eat she likes to touch everything and put everything in her mouth too!  The last thing I want her to do is gnaw on a highchair that a bunch of other babies already did.  

We love to go to Whole Foods and get a soup and split it - so cute seeing her eat with mommy!  Now she's teething so we picked up a few teething crackers and put her in her in the highchair for the first time using our Balboa Baby high chair cover!  It's compact and fits right into our diaper bag with it's matching drawstring bag. 

I really love that I can do it one handed as we often go out together without my husband as he's working during the day.  The high chair cover creates a 360 degree germ free environment for baby.   We had no issues fitting it on the wooden high chair and Sweet Baby really liked being a big girl!  We love the Black Camellia Pattern, although we wish the black was a little more bold as it has a faded appearance.   We really love the pattern and got matching bibs to go along with our cover!

I'll be honest.. at home we rarely use bibs unless she's drinking or having an ice pop ( for teething and homemade of course!)  We just love that these match the cover and we really make a fashion statement while keeping baby free from germs and her clothes free of food!  

Best of all when we come home I just toss it all into the washing machine and then get it ready for our next outing together.   Sweet Baby really loved the fabric as it's nice and quilted!  We just love our lunch dates and that's what we'll be doing on Mother's Day too!  I can't imagine anyone more perfect to spend my day with than the one who blessed me by letting me be their mommy. 

We hope all you mommies have a happy and healthy Mother's Day and hope you have some quality time with baby too so we're giving one lucky reader a High Chair Cover and Bib Set of their Choice!  Enter using the form below :)

Balboa Baby High Chair Cover and Bib Set

Disclosure: We were sent a high chair cover and bib set from Balboa Baby for review, no compensation was received.  Opinions are my own.

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Swingin' Smart Keeps Baby Germ Free

As soon as the sun started shinning and the weather started getting warmer I couldn't wait to take Sweet Baby on the swings at our local park!  However after seeing how populated our area is and seeing over 10 kids on one swing within a half hour I was kind of concerned how dirty the swing is.  Day in and day out it's rained on, used uncountable times, and how much poo and pee has it since?  Don't forget drool and boogers - sure I don't mind all that stuff as long as it's my child's.  No need to share the wealth there.

So I started looking for something to keep baby germ free while she could swing and enjoy without me having to sanitize the seat and rusted chains.  Then I found the Swingin' Smart by Baby-Bee Haven.  I LOVE that it not only covers the seat but also covers the chains so baby can hold on.  It's even nice and cushioned - so no burning fingers on the metal or plastic!  Sweet Baby enjoyed going on the swing and I had a few people even ask where I bought my cover.  I told them and they were so thankful!

There's really no way to be too careful when it comes to you baby.  They put everything and anything in their mouth - it's our duty to keep those hands clean, at least from germs :)  It's easy to clean (throw it right in the washer) and comes with a reusable tote so it's easy to take-along.  While the Swingin' Smart has toy rings I do not find them to be in a good spot and will not use them as the toy will hang and touch the swing.  Thankfully the swing is entertaining enough and baby loves to enjoy swinging without the
need of a toy.



Don't you just want one for you baby? Well, we're giving one away :)  Just enter using the form below!  Good luck!

Swingin' Smart (Swing Seat Cover) Disclosure:  We were sent a Swingin' Smart for review.  All opinions are our own.  No compensation was received.

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Vitamix Really Does Do It All!

I can't believe Sweet Baby is to the point where she's eating.  In the beginning she wanted nothing to do with food and we pureed a lot.  We still do.  She has a thing for textures and if she doesn't like she's not eating it - smart girl.  She really enjoys pureed peas, pears, and popsicles!  She loves eating fresh food too!  Like carrots, apples, strawberries, peppers, broccoli, and even frozen raspberries!

We had a bit of a hard time pureeing things in the beginning since things needed so much liquid.  Then we received the Vitamix 5200.  WOW.   Not only does it handle anything you toss in there it does it RIGHT. Everything is evenly blended to the perfect/desired consistency.

High or Variable Speed - Gives you total control

She really enjoys anything frozen since she's teething!   I love that I can toss together frozen berries, fresh bananas, and raw carrots and have a lunch for her and dessert ice pop for later.  She loves it too :)  While blending things like peas I steam them and add a little breastmilk and they're silky smooth!



Vitamix is in almost every restaurant you've ever visited and even most smoothie places!  It's durable, built to last, and can be used in so many ways!   You can chop, cream, blend, heat, grind, churn and so much more. To clean you simply put a drop of dish liquid and warm water, run on high for 30 seconds and rinse!  They also come with a 7 year full warranty.  Vitamix 5200 comes with a 64 ounce tall container but you can get counter-top friendly models or separate jars that are available for purchase.  We have a 32 ounce container for baby's food since it's perfectly sized for her meals.





Vitamix systems all come with a tamper that helps process thicker mixtures like peanut butters and frozen desserts.  It never comes in contact with the blades thanks to the special collar design.   Also fits every jar so no need to have more than one tamper.

We also really like the Filtration Bag that you can use for filtering nut or rice milks.  It makes perfect juice without pulp too!  More on that in another post!  We're huge fans of our Vitamix and use it daily!  It may be an investment but it's worth it!  Be sure to come back and see all the yummy creations we've come up with like Apple Strawberry Juice and Baby Food Popsicles! 

Thank you to Vitamix for providing a 5200 for review - All opinions are my own.  No compensation was received.

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