Mom Posts: My Favorite Products

I noticed recently that I've been sharing some of my favorite products with my friends who have recently had kids or are expecting. I figure, if I'm sharing offline, why not online, too! These aren't in any particular order, and I do highlight some products at the bottom that I was not really a fan of.

My Top Picks

  First Years Breast Milk Storage   

First Years Breast Milk Storage on Amazon

This product was purchased after a bit of research (though not much) and only a small grasp on the need to freeze and store milk. I have to say this is one of my favorite baby-related purchases to-date! It was quite the unexpected surprise. It's been perfect to freeze/store milk because it has a compression piece on one end that flattens the milk so you can store it more easily, and because it's frozen thinly, it also thaws quicker!

  Lansinoh Storage Bags  

Lansinoh Storage Bags on Amazon

While I did research these enough to know that they didn't work with my pump (Ameda Purely Yours) but that they were the right width for the First Years container, and got pretty good reviews, I didn't realize how much I loved them until I tried using the bags that DO go with my pump.

  Summer Infant Video Monitor          

Summer Infant Video Monitor on Babies 'R Us Website 

(Note that the product we bought is no longer listed at Babies 'r Us, but I believe this is the newer version)

My husband got to pick this product out because he loves electronics! Since we were getting a video monitor, I wanted one that would work with our iPhones for whenever we're away and she's with a babysitter, or if one of us is traveling and we just want to catch a peek at our daughter. I had to travel 2 weeks after going back to work and was able to use it from TX!! For us, this was worth the money. That said, we did get a registry completion discount, and it was on sale, so it made it even more affordable (still not truly "affordable" though).

  Baby Jogger City Mini GT   

Baby Jogger City Mini GT on Amazon

While this stroller is not small, it's one of the smaller jogging strollers I've seen. You can fold it with one hand (there's a pull handle in the middle of the seat to fold it) and it folds pretty flat. It has an adapter for our Peg Perego infant seat and it snaps in and also has a buckle that goes across to ensure it's safe. I use it with a stroller attachment that goes on the handle and also bought the toddler "tray" for later use!

  ErgoBaby Organic Baby Carrier and Infant Insert   

ErgoBaby Organic Baby Carrier on Amazon

Infant Insert on Amazon

This is one of the few carriers that can be used with a newborn and it was perfect! Keep in mind, I had the baby in the middle of the Mid Atlantic Polar Vortex, and I am pretty sure if you have a baby in August, not only will the baby get too hot in this, but so will you. Just something to keep in mind! Now that she's over 12 lbs, we took out the infant insert and this carrier is quite comfortable for mom. I can put it on by myself, as long as she isn't wiggling too much.

  Fisher Price Rock 'n Play   

Fisher Price Rock 'n Play on Amazon

 This rocker was a Godsend in the first couple weeks at home. We tried desperately to get her to sleep in her bassinet, which someone very graciously gave to us (hand-me-down). She hated being on her back even if we swaddled her tight! Those first couple nights I didn't know what to do and just held her so she could sleep. After 2 nights of holding her (and not really sleeping myself!) I tried the Rock 'n Play. Now, doctors advice is to only allow babies to sleep on their back, so do not take my recommendation without making a conscious decision yourself and checking with your own doctor, but it was the ONLY thing that she would sleep in! She slept in it at night and for all naps! Now, at 4 months, she uses it occasionally for a nap or two, but is in her own crib 95% of the time.

  JJ Cole Diaper Changing Clutch  

JJ Cole Diaper Changing Clutch on Amazon

Big diaper bags are great, but when you are sitting with a friend for coffee or lunch, and you need to go change the baby in a very small restroom (or you're lazy and don't want to carry a big bag with you), this clutch is very handy. It is fairly large, has a pocket for diapers and a place to insert a package of wipes. I also put a ziplock bag with a couple newspaper bags for dirty diapers. That way I just grab this and go, without having to fiddle with a big bag. So much easier! It's also great that it matches my diaper bag!

The Items I Wasn't As Thrilled About

  My Brest Friend  

My Brest Friend on Amazon

Some people love this thing and they even had them in the hospital where I delivered, so use your own judgment. For me, this pillow is too cumbersome because it has a piece that goes around the back. I couldn't use it at first because my belly was still too big (uterus hadn't contracted yet) and now I just don't like using it because of the strap around the back. I love that it's a bit more sturdy than the Boppy, but I choose the Bobby over this product (which is unfortunate because the My Brest Friend was a very thoughtful gift from someone!).

  Ameda Store 'n Pour Milk Storage Bags  

Ameda Store 'n Pour Milk Storage Bags on Amazon

They're hard to open and feel a bit flimsy in my mind. They're a bit too wide for the storage container I'm using (but I make it work!). I also decided against using them with my pump because I'm always afraid I'm going to spill the milk if I lean forward even slightly.

Mom Posts: 3 Lessons Learned from Traveling with an Infant

Yesterday we returned from our first travel adventure with an infant, and I must day, it was highly successful! I caveat this blog by stating that we truly do have an easy baby, and are forever grateful and do not take that for granted!!!! That said, there were still things I learned for next time that I thought I'd share. This is what worked for us, but every infant - and family - is different, so do what works.

Everyone on the first flight was incredibly nice and complimentary! The gate agent took us to the "special assistance" area and we were able to take a shuttle to the plane well before other passengers. The pilot (while waiting for the delayed shuttle of passengers!) came out and said hi, and turns out he has a baby the same age!! Then there was a pilot sitting next to us heading home who said "I've been there" very reassuringly. A lady passed by while boarding and said "I'm sure she'll do great!" and many complimented us on how adorable she was. After a stressful day getting everything ready and navigating the ticketing, security, and gate....it was reassuring and calming to hear everyone's comments!

Here are my three lessons learned:

1. When to Nurse: I knew to nurse her during take-off and landing, but didn't think about how they pressurize the cabin when they shut the door. Our super happy and sleepy baby started screaming for what I thought was no reason, then my husband figured it out. I quickly nursed her and she was fine. I put this lesson into action for the return flight with no issues. 
2. Changing Diapers: I changed a wet diaper on the plane at our seats, but since small planes do not have changing tables, I also learned that I have no idea what I would have done with a dirty diaper situation! No advice here, but a definite realization!!
3. Car Seats: Infant car seats can be installed without a base, which we knew, and even practiced before we left. However, it does not seem to be sucre in the slightest because the seat angle, and the angle of the straps just cannot physically stay where they're supposed to be. The foot end of the seat constantly wants to push down and the head end constantly wants to push up, so I readjusted it EVERY time we got in the car. It was also nearly impossible to get an infant into the seat once installed because the lap belt goes across the whole car seat. Lesson learned: I can't wait till we just need a booster or none at all. 

And we did use the advice from Lindsay's Pursuit of Pink blog, and made cute notes from our daughter and included a pair of ear plugs and a chocolate treat. Everyone thought it was cute!

What lessons did you learn after traveling that you'd wished you'd known before?

Mom Posts: Traveling WITH My Little One

In May, my husband and I will be traveling with our almost-4-month-old to Long Island for a family wedding. Originally, we were planning on having my mother-in-law babysit, but my trip without her plus the fact that it's my first ever Mother's Day solidified that we will be taking her with us. Here are a few tips we've accumulated thus far:

TSA/Security and the Airport:

• Infants do not need photo ID unless you're traveling abroad, but always check current policies to be certain
• Know the TSA security screening procedures for children, which can be found here. I would print a copy to be safe
• Know the TSA policies on traveling with formula, breastmilk and juice, found here, and definitely print a copy if you may be traveling with any of those items
• Plan for tons of extra time (in case you haven't figured that out by now!)
• Scope out the family restrooms before you need them!
• Use the pre-boarding option if you happen to fly an airline that still allows early boarding with children

On the Plane:

• Call the airline to notify them you will have an infant with you on your lap
• Plan to nurse or feed your little one during take-off and landing; but know that some airlines do have specific policies and you may want to do your research
• Check out my friend Lindsey's blog, the Pursuit of Pink, on traveling with an infant to see the cute packets she made nearby passengers so they were a bit more forgiving if the baby starts to cry; the packets had a note from her daughter, a pack of oreos, and a pair of ear plugs. The items were cute but her note is even cuter so you must check it out!

Hotels:

• Call the hotel (in our case, hotels) to request a crib. Ask if there's a charge so you're aware. In our case, we had to get a larger room to fit the pack'n'play they're supplying us because the room we'd booked only had room for 2 people
• Also ask if you can get a fridge in the room, if it doesn't come with one. If you have a medical need, it's usually free of charge (breastmilk counts, and you can research if formula does)

Rental Car:

• If renting a car, decide what you'll do about car seats; we plan to bring a spare we happen to have so that our good one isn't accidentally damaged; many companies now rent car seats but be aware that you may not know how to install it if it's a different brand from your own

Packing:

• A few days before traveling, start taking note of:
• how many diapers you go through in a day and multiply by the number of days traveling (remember you can always buy more though!)
• what toys/books you use; I only bring one book and one toy since she's so little
• any special items you need for the bedtime routine (e.g., we used a giraffe that makes white noise for a while, though she no longer needs it)
• Gear:
• We plan to gate check a stroller, check a car seat (under the plane) and I'll use the Ergo carrier while walking around most of the time. Check out these cases I bought at Babies'R'Us to protect them from getting dirty
• Feeding:
• We plan to bring one bottle, a hand pump, and some sanitizing wipes just in case, but I plan to nurse exclusively
• A nursing cover if you wish to have one
• Burp cloths and bibs (our baby spits up... sometimes not at all, sometimes literally ALL she eats)
• Other items to think about:
• Swaddle if your baby uses one at night (our's does!)
• Pacifiers if your baby uses them (our's does not...she can't figure them out)
• A blanket for the plane and car
• Medicine (if you need Tylenol, vitamin D, any other medicine they regularly take)

What are your tips? I'd also love to hear success stories or mishaps!

Mom Posts: Traveling WITHOUT My Little One

This week, I had to travel to TX for work without my 3 month old baby girl. I'm not going to lie...it sucked. To those who don't yet have kids, this may be TMI, so....fair warning!

Luckily, I love the work I do and while I was meeting with and interviewing the clients for the project, I was fully distracted. However, in addition to missing her little face every day, since I am nursing exclusively, that meant every 2 hours I had to find a place to pump. That was not easy!

The worst part was that every time I would get close to the two hour mark (or sometimes 3-4 hours!!!), I would start to feel a strong sense of panic. It was worst when we landed at 11:30, had to get bags, rent a car, grab lunch at a deli, and race to the client for a 1:30 meeting. I was lucky that the 1:30 meeting ran a bit late and that my boss was willing to start the meeting without me if need be, but I went for almost 4 hours without pumping and I was freaking out.

All that aside, as I left for the airport at home I told my husband that as long as I had to go, I was going to enjoy myself as best I could. I was going to "rock this" and not dwell on the fact that I was sad to leave my little one (and by sad I mean I couldn't stop crying the day before!).

Before the trip I did a ton of research and here are all of the tidbits I compiled:

• First and foremost, just accept that you may have to pump rather than eat or use the restroom. While it sucks, you don't want to risk a blocked duct or worse. I brought granola and Lara bars with me just for that reason!
• TSA / Airport:
• Read and print the TSA policy (here) - know they cannot open it, make you taste it, etc - and know that you can travel with as much as you need even if you do not have your infant with you
• Before you go through airport security, notify the TSA agent that you have ice packs for medical reasons; if you have milk, notify them of that as well (it's required)
• You can choose not to have the milk go through the x-ray and they will conduct other tests. Have the policy with you so you can politely point to it if need be
• Have your cooler ice packs frozen solid before you leave
• Scope out the family restrooms; all four airports I was in had them and each had outlets and a large enough countertop to lay everything out
• Flying home, I brought a soft sided cooler and three larger ice packs (not dinky ones for your lunch size). I put all the chilled milk in bags like these, put those into a double layer of gallon freezer bags, wrapped it one more time in a grocery bag and then into the cooler. That cooler went in my CHECKED luggage, because I already had two carry-ons (laptop bag and pump bag). Make sure you have two coolers if you do this because you need a small cooler with the pump for while you travel
• Try to book a non-stop flight. This wasn't in the cards for me since our flight was booked 6 days before leaving!
• Hotel:
• Call the hotel in advance to request a refrigerator for medical reasons - make sure they know that the mini bar fridge may not work because sometimes they don't get cold enough
• My fridge had to cool down because it was just plugged in when I arrived. My husband had the brilliant idea to get ice from the ice machine to chill the milk while it cooled, AND I filled my larger cooler with ice and stuck it in the fridge to cool the fridge down faster.
• The hotel will usually allow you to freeze your ice packs in their fridge. Mine asked me to fill out a form so they don't lose anything. I had a cooler with a bag tag that had my name on them
• I pumped into bottles but every night put the milk into bags like these, so I could label them and I would have the bottles cleaned and ready for the next day
• Timing:
• Think in advance about what times you'll need to pump. It's different for every mom because every baby eats on their own schedule. Try to stick to that schedule so your body doesn't get confused
• Be flexible when you can. As my lactation consultant said, as long as you keep up your supply, everything else is okay. If you have to throw milk away, don't stress about it! Just keep it coming
• Don't forget that if you have night time feedings, you need to do night time pumping. My husband said before I left "at least you'll get more sleep" and I reminded him that I still needed to get up every night. That said, I didn't have to set an alarm...my body told me to get up!
• Cleaning:
• Buy Medela Quick Cleaning Wipes; you should assume you won't always be able to clean everything
• You can also use Medela Quick Clean Microsteam Bags (thanks Jenn Whitaker and others for the recommendation)
• Bring a small container of soap (I used a free trial of Honest Company soap - it was all natural) because you'll want to rinse/wash everything thoroughly every night with steaming hot water
• If you can, refrigerate your pump accessories/parts in between sessions (I didn't have the luxury)
• One friend suggested bringing a microwaveable container to heat water in for sanitizing, but I didn't have the room (I used the wipes instead)
• General:
• Make sure the pump has batteries and pack an extra set of batteries
• Always have the hand pump with you, just in case
• Remember that if you're away from your little one, you may want to have a drink; for information on nursing + alcohol, check out this link from my friend Jenn Whitaker (a Doula) from a post by KellyMom.com
• Use FaceTime or Skype when you can!
• Bring pictures and videos. I had them on my phone but couldn't bring my phone into the client's location, so it would have been nice to have a hard copy photo with me

Do you have any other helpful hints for traveling without your little one?

I'll have a new post in May about traveling WITH your little one! After this trip we've decided to bring her with us on our trip to a family member's wedding.

Prepping for Baby's Arrival: Turkey Cutlets

Today I tackled turkey cutlets. We'll eat a couple for dinner and freeze the rest. They make great turkey parmigiana, could be splashed with fresh squeezed lemon, or put onto a sandwich.

For this recipe, there aren't really amounts because it just depends how well you coat the cutlets, and how many cutlets you have.

Ingredients:

• Thin sliced turkey cutlets (or pound flat some turkey or chicken)
• Flour
• Eggs (about 2 per lb of meat)
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Progresso Italian Style breadcrumbs
• Grated Parmesan (or the real stuff, parmigiano reggiano)
• Salt & pepper
• Garlic powder
• Oil for pan frying

Directions:

1. In bowl #1, put flour and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. In bowl #2, put the two eggs with a bit of salt. In bowl #3, put your two kinds of breadcrumbs, cheese, and season with salt, pepper and garlic if your breadcrumbs need extra seasoning.
2. Set up a drying rack with a sheet pan and a cooling rack on top (instead of a sheet pan, I used a silpad, or you could use paper towel).
3. Place each cutlet, one at a time, in the flour and flip over to fully coat. Place each cutlet onto the drying rack. I do this step first with ALL the cutlets so that the flour can have a second to absorb any moisture.
4. Before the next step of the breading, pour some oil (use Canola or Olive Oil) into a large flat bottomed saute pan. The larger the pan, the more you can cook at once. Heat over medium heat.
5. After you finish with the flour coating, go back to your first cutlet and one at a time, dip them into egg, let the egg drain off a bit, and then dip into the breadcrumb mixture, and then place onto the drying rack. Go through each cutlet until you've finished all of them.
6. Test your oil to make sure it's hot enough with a tiny drop of water. If it sizzles, it's ready!
7. Carefully place about 3 pieces into the oil. Do not crowd the pan. Cook until the first side is browned. I personally like them pretty browned but some people like them a little lighter, so that's up to you. Timing completely depends on the heat of the oil, the thickness of your meat, and how browned you like them, so you'll just have to watch.
8. Flip the cutlet over (carefully!) using tongs. Finish cooking on the second side. Once cooked to your liking, place the cooked cutlet either on a plate/pan covered in paper towels or onto cooling rack.
9. Repeat until you're done with all the cutlets.

Here's a what the cutlets should look like after being fully breaded and ready to cook, atop a drying rack.

Below is a picture after I flipped the cutlets over to show you how brown they should look. YOu should constantly see little bubbles around the cutlet or your oil isn't hot enough. I keep a cover nearby just in case the oil starts to splatter too much, or (god forbid!) a fire occurs. If one does occur, cover the pan completely and turn off your stove immediately.

And below is the final product, cooling off. This lets the cutlet drain off any excess oil, while keeping the Panko crispy. A paper towel will work if you don't have a cooling rack, but it may steam the underneath and make them less crispy.

Another trick if you have kids or need to stretch the meal a bit. You can also bread and fry up slices of bread! I wouldn't use the first coating of flour, just the egg and then the breadcrumbs. They end up tasting like amazingly delicious breadsticks. My brother's and I used to fight over the fried bread!!

And with that, I'm up to at least 3 weeks of meals prepped for when baby arrives!

Prepping for Baby's Arrival: A Network of Support

We have had incredibly generous friends and family who have all given us hand-me-downs for Baby Chickpea! It got me thinking about how something about motherhood creates a network of support that doesn't exist in other ways.

It started when I became pregnant. I had family, friends and even one acquaintance from a certification course, who had recently had babies and wanted to lend or give me maternity clothes! I was shocked that so many people recognize that maternity clothes are only used for a short period of time, and some things you don't use the same season of maternity clothes. My sister-in-law let me borrow a few sweaters and a pair of jeans. A friend and coworker gave me two business casual dresses, a fancy dress that I used for the holiday parties I had to attend, a maternity coat, and a few other odds and ends. The biggest shock, however, was that a classmate from a certification course, as soon as I told her I was pregnant, she got excited and then said "I have tubs of maternity clothes I want to get rid of!" I barely new her, and here she was giving me two large tubs of clothes! Granted, not everything fit well, but those two tubs meant I only bought a couple shirts, a pair of dress black pants, and a couple pairs of casual pants.

Then came time for baby gear and clothes!

I had so many people shower us with love and gifts and got some great clothes from those baby showers, as well as various gear like a Fisher Price Rock 'n Play, a Diaper Genie, an Ergo carrier, and a Crib. And while I probably had more baby showers than most folks (you have no idea how appreciative I am of that fact!), there is now way that is enough for a baby. I did make a run to a Goodwill and found some practically new (and some ACTUALLY new) baby clothes - 20 pieces for about $20.

But it was the hand-me-downs are a godsend! My sister-in-law lent me BAGS of baby girl clothes from 0-12 months, along with some crib sheets and towels. A high school classmate saw we were having a baby on Facebook and mentioned she had a bassinet she was looking to get rid of, and when we arrived to get it she also had a few clothes and a bouncy seat to give us! My husband's brother had a whole mess of baby bottles (a set of glass and a set of plastic because his son only took the plastic version), and an impeccably clean Pack 'n Play. My brother and sister-in-law are loaning us another Pack 'n Play (so one can be at a grandparent's house). A friend had a baby in July and even though it was a different season, I got about 40 pieces of clothing that were mostly sleepers and body suits.

And with all these hand me downs came the realization that there are a lot of people out there willing to help each other out, but somehow it's having a baby that brings it out in people.

Perhaps we should think about helping each other out regardless of our children's ages, or whether someone is pregnant or not. Imagine if you had a sweater you didn't want anymore, or that didn't fit, and you asked your friends if they wanted it instead of just donating it?

I know donating it is a great cause to support, but maybe look around you to see if someone else could use the help too! Think of it as helping locally, just like we're supposed to "eat locally" these days!

Prepping for Baby's Arrival: Easy Meals

I've been known to cook a lot, and I always freeze the extra that I make. That has been in overdrive in the last month or so prepping for the arrival of baby. So that, combined with some shelf stable meals has us covered for multiple nights after baby arrives. Some of the frozen meals took a while too cook, but I just set aside I day I knew I'd be home and had it sit on the stove all day while I went about my cleaning or lounging.

My homemade frozen, ready to cook meals include:

• Chili
• Turkey Bolognese (admittedly, this one takes the longest, about 4 hours, but it's soooooo good)
• Tomato Sauce
• Ham & Bean Soup
• Turkey Pot Pie (just the filling, the topping can be added when you cook)
• Turkey Soup
• Chicken Soup
• Chicken Fajitas (I left the chicken raw and didn't put any veggies in the bag, just chicken & marinade)
• Lasagna
• Portuguese Kale Soup

My freezer trick is that I cool everything, and then load it into gallon size freezer bags. Label them before you fill them! I also stand them up in a big bowl and turn the top over so it doesn't get messy. I try to judge how much 2 people will eat and only pack that much in the bag. I then freeze it flat. That way they stack really easily in the freezer and don't waste much space. To reheat, let them thaw a bit first, then you can break it up and put it in a pan to heat.

I've borrowed a picture from Jamie Cooks It Up to show the freezer bag technique below. Note this is a smaller bag in a cup, and I use gallon bags in a big bowl.

I also have some easy shelf stable (or mostly shelf stable) meals:

• Chili Mac - 1 can of Trader Joe's low-fat beef chili + 1/2 lb pasta (for 2 people), top with cheese and sour cream
• Mac & Cheese - 1 box of Trader Joe's or Annie's mac & cheese + 1/2-1 pk of frozen chopped broccoli + 1 pk frozen butternut squash (I add extra shredded cheddar)
• Amy's Soups - I particularly like the lentil and the thai soups
• Campbell's slow cooker sauce for beef pot roast (I've never tried it but it came with my new slow cooker!)
• Amy's Frozen Pizza

That should be at least 20 dinners (some of them are doubled) and I plan to make some turkey cutlets tomorrow to freeze. I'll bread them, fry them, and then freeze them individually. They can be eaten splashed with lemon, or covered in sauce and mozzarella cheese. They're also great as a sandwich! That'll put me over 3 full weeks of dinners!

I've linked to Jamie Cooks It Up, Meal Survivor, Annie's, Amy's and Campbell's.

What's your favorite go-to meal?