Caleb's One Month Update + Monthly Favorites

I can't believe Caleb is one month old! Josh and I no longer have a little newborn baby. We are enjoying every minute of this new change in our life and it's been both exhausting and amazing at the same time. Josh and I love learning more and more about Caleb each day!

Milky Way Swaddle / Knot Hat

The evenings have been the most challenging so far. We are still trying to get into a good routine with the little guy and I hear it gets a little better around months four to five. Some nights are great and some nights are absolutely tough. Josh used to give me a hard time because I'm a deep sleeper and would always sleep through everything. And on weekends, I would be the one sleeping in. But now, I'm up right away if I hear Caleb stirring around in his bassinet or I'm always checking to see if he's breathing during the middle of the night.

The pups are adjusting to having their little brother around all the time. So far, they've been doing really well around him, they just get a little too excited here and there and don't realize how big they are compared to the baby. Our younger pup, Luna, is a lot more gentle around Caleb than we thought she would be!

Recovering from delivery took awhile but I'm feeling great now and looking forward to getting back into shape. For any mama-to-be's, it's so important to make sure that you're taking care of yourself post-delivery, even if it feels like there are a thousand other things going on. Take advantage of any sleep and/or help you can get. And if that isn't an option, just remember that it will get better! I know that the first few days and even weeks were rough, but I had such a great support system through Josh and our family and friends that it made the transition to mommyhood a little easier.

So far, Caleb has had quite the busy month! We drove up to Maine to visit Josh's family when Caleb was about four weeks old. This was the first time we traveled to Maine without the pups, so I was definitely a little sad that they weren't with us. Caleb was most excited about meeting his great-grandparents: Gumpy and Meme!

Caleb and his great-grandparents. Gumpy recently passed away and we are so 

thankful for the little time he was able to spend with Caleb.

Just hanging out with Mommy and Daddy in Maine!

Caleb's first road trip = success! Moose Toy / Knot Hat / Mittens

With the warmer spring weather we've been having, we've been able to take full advantage of outdoor activities. We've been taking Caleb on so many walks throughout the neighborhood and we've started to visit wineries again! That first time I had more than one glass of wine was ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

 Caleb and his chubby cheeks at Music in the Park. Striped Bodysuit / Pants

We were so excited that Josh's family decided to visit us again during Memorial Day weekend. Usually we only see his family two-three times a year, and we've already seen them three times since Caleb was born! Our weekend started with an early visit to Arlington National Cemetery and then to The Bullpen for a going away party for one of our close friends.

Anthony's moving to the west coast. We'll miss you!

We also went to one of our favorite wineries, the beautiful Bluemont Vineyard. If you live in Virginia and haven't been to this winery yet, go! The views in itself are amazing and worth the trip. Just make sure to get their early if you want to get a table on the upper deck patio - this place fills up quickly when the weather is nice on weekends.

Love this little family of mine! 

On our way back from the winery, we saw a sign for Dirt Farm Brewing that just opened up right next door. So of course we had to check it out and wow - the views might even be better than the winery. We were able to talk to one of the owners and they had only been open for a few days. Definitely check this place out if you want a brew with a view!

A good beer on a beautiful day. Doesn't get much better than this!

As I'm getting ready to head back to work next month, I'm soaking in as many mommy and Caleb dates as I can. I'm really going to miss spending all day with my little man!

Stroller / Diaper Bag

• Has outgrown his newborn clothing (that's my chubby monster!)
• Loves to hold your finger
• Eats every 2-3 hours
• Loves when you talk to him
• Is always stretching his arms and moving his legs
• Is starting to coo
• Is staying awake longer through the day
• Still likes to be swaddled
• Is getting used to the idea of tummy time
• Loves taking a bath!

Daddy's Favorite One Month Moment: Meeting his great-grandfather, Gumpy.

Mommy's Favorite One Month Moment: Celebrating my first Mother's Day! It's surreal sometimes that I've always celebrated my own mother every year of my entire life and for the first time, this is one special day that I get to be a part of. I always knew being a mom would be hard work, but I have such a newfound appreciation for everything that my mom has done for me and my brother and sister.

Looking Forward To: More Caleb smiles!

• There is NOTHING better in the world than baby snuggles (puppy snuggles is a close second)
• We call Caleb by so many random nicknames more than his real name
• I've never hated my dogs more than when they bark and wake up a sleeping baby
• If I get to shower before 8pm, then it's been a good day
• I've perfected eating while holding a baby (Josh: "What's that on his face? -Me: "Oops, that's some of my chicken panini")
• We stopped using those plush changing pad covers because Caleb basically peed on them (and us) everyday
• Somehow I've managed to be a functioning human being on 1-2 hours of sleep
• Baby socks never stay on!
• I'm still wearing my maternity jeans and don't plan on stopping! How is this not a thing now?!
• I'm 100% positive that I constantly smell like breast milk
• There are no words to describe how crazy/beautiful it is to be a mom

Aquaphor Baby Diaper Rash Cream

Love love love this cream. When Caleb's cute little butt gets irritated or red, we just apply a small amount and it usually heals within a few hours.

Dreft Stain Remover
I use this religiously on all of Caleb's clothing! If the stain is really bad (insert: poop explosion), I'll spot clean with hot water right away before it goes in the washer.

Johnson&Johsnon Hand and Face Wipes
I keep these in Caleb's diaper bag at all times. Perfect for cleaning him up after feedings if we're not at home!

Lamaze Mortimer the Moose
Caleb sure loves his moose! This goes with us everywhere and keeps him busy when we're traveling in the car. It's so cute and colorful! He likes to chew on his antlers right now.

Munchkin Arm & Hammer Diaper Bag
So these are basically dog bags but for baby diapers. Someone gave this to us as a gift and we seriously use this all the time when we are on-the-go.

Nursing Bras
I've used so many different nursing bras and my favorite one that I'd recommend for daily use (which I exclusively wear now) is the Motherhood Maternity Wireless Full Coverage Nursing Bra. It offers great support and is so comfortable! But really, I loove the sleep bras so much more! My favorites include the Motherhood Maternity Nursing Sleep Bra, Basics Women‘s Stella Maternity & Nursing Bra, and Basics Women‘s Emma Maternity & Nursing Sleep Bra.

Favorites / Baby Registry

Once we started to put together our baby registry, I was a little overwhelmed at how many baby things were out there and how many things babies needed. I also didn't know what we would end up using or what the baby would even like! So now that we've been doing this parenting thing for about two months now, I wanted to round up a list of some of our favorite and most used baby items. What are some of your registry favorites?

Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets
Love the size for swaddling our newborn. Also love that these are soft, lightweight, and breathable - so we know that baby is comfy when he's swaddled. We also use these as blankets for when little guy is in his stroller or in his car seat. It's also perfect to toss in your diaper bag on the go because it doesn't take up that much room. I'm also obsessed with all of the beautiful designs and prints! Highly recommend these swaddles.

Baby K'Tan Baby Carrier
You will realize how much of a lifesaver this is when you are trying to run a quick errand or get something done around the house when baby refuses to be put down! I'll pop Caleb into this and he'll fall asleep right away. I've only been wearing this carrier in one specific way, so I have yet to try other baby wearing options - but so far, it's great! I've also used this to go on walks with my two crazy pups and we all survived. If you're planning on getting one, make sure to follow the sizing guidelines. You need to buy this in your original size because it's meant to fit the person wearing it.

Boon Lawn Drying Rack
Many of the mommy blogs that I read had mentioned how amazing this drying rack was, so definitely thought it'd be worth adding to the registry! This drying rack is awesome and holds a lot of baby's things, along with my pump parts. I also got the twig accessories to hang bottle nipples and pacifiers on. I love knowing that little guy's essentials are not getting mixed in with our other kitchen things - and it looks cute in the kitchen, too!

Boppy Newborn Lounger
This is easily one of my top five favorite baby registry items. We used this since day one when we brought baby home and it's perfect for when we want to hang out with the little guy. It offers great support for baby and Caleb often would nap on this. We have put this on the couch or on the table numerous times - makes for great face time with your little one! I'll be so sad once Caleb outgrows this!

Boppy Pillow
Great for breastfeeding! I brought this to the hospital and used this to help with getting baby positioned well for breastfeeding. This made nursing a lot more comfortable for myself and I wasn't worried if the little guy was getting enough support. Now I can see why everyone gets one of these! I also liked that you could toss this in the washer and dryer. As for a slipcover, I ended up getting this cozy, soft chamois one from Pottery Barn Kids.

Britax Backseat Mirror
Perfect for keeping an eye on the little guy while we are on the road. I like how large the mirror is and how easy it is to attach to the headrest.

Carter's Receiving Blankets
Along with the Aden + Anais swaddle blankets, we use these receiving blankets just as much. These are thicker and similar to the receiving blankets used in hospitals. I've used this as a burp cloth or as a place to change baby, too. I also like that these are durable and wash great (it has survived a massive blowout when we didn't have Caleb in a diaper). Love that there's a variety of prints to choose from and we have this one and of course, this one!

Carter's Short Sleeve Bodysuits + Long Sleeve Bodysuits
Baby clothes are adorable and we have a ton of them, but we honestly don't put Caleb in anything but these white onesies most of the time. These onesies seem pretty true to size and they're easy to clean (because I basically end up doing baby laundry every other day). We tried some other onesie brands and these seemed to be the ones that we ended up liking the most. We go through a few of these a day!

Cloud B On-The-Go Sleep Sheep
This has been great so far for background noise while the little guy is sleeping. We hooked this onto our bassinet and it seems to soothe Caleb when he is falling asleep. And because this is smaller than the original size, it's easy for us to pack in his bag and bring with us wherever we go.

Diaper Genie Elite
So necessary for getting rid of dirty diapers! It doesn't take up too much space and also love that it's white, so it goes well in any room without being an eye-sore. I also like how it has the foot pedal so you don't need to touch anything when tossing in a diaper. There's no indicator that it's full, but you'll be able to tell when you can't jam anymore diapers in. Make sure to add a bunch of the refill packs to your registry, too.

Ergobaby Four Position 360 Carrier
I had researched a few different baby carriers and kept coming back to this one. The Ergobaby line has great reviews overall, especially this specific carrier. I loved the versatility of this one and how we could wear it with baby in a variety of different ways. If you're planning to use it with your newborn, make sure to pick up the newborn insert. Another plus: this also looks great on dads!

Fisher Price Rock 'n Play Sleeper
If you ever want your newborn to nap in something besides their crib or just a place to put baby in for a minute while you do something (like go to the bathroom), then you need to get one of these. I'd have one on every floor if I could! Caleb loves hanging out in his Rock 'n Play and takes amazing naps in it. And if he's being fussy, all I need to do is turn on the vibrations and rock him in it for a little and he'll calm down. It's super light and easy to transport, so perfect if you are heading to someone's house and want to bring something for baby to hang out in. Definitely a must for your registry!

Guava Family Lotus Bassinet
I can't say enough good things about this bassinet. We used this the first night we brought the little guy home. I keep this beside my bed and love how I can see him through the mesh sides. He also seems to be pretty content at night when he sleeps. We haven't switched over to his crib yet, but we are hoping it'll be a smooth transition. Should be interesting next month when we officially move him to his nursery! Another thing, this bassinet packs up easily for on-the-go and we brought it with us to a hotel when we stayed overnight with Caleb.

Little Lamb Wool Dryer Balls
Instead of using dryer sheets (which I didn't know they don't recommend using on baby clothes), I read that you can use wool dryer balls instead. I love these! I've used them a dozen times already and they keep little man's clothes nice and soft. The dryer balls come in a handy little bag so perfect for storing after you're done using them.

Primo Eurobath
This bathtub is legit. It has two different options for you to wash baby and you can begin using it with  a newborn. We used this right away and the little guy did great in it. Even though he was just a newborn, he was comfortable in it and didn't slide around in it. The downside is that this tub is large, so if you happen to be sharing a bathroom with baby, it might be a little too bulky. We have a separate guest bathroom with a tub, so we just leave this in there.

Skip Hop Duo Signature Diaper Bag
We love our Skip Hop diaper bag! It's stylish, reasonably-priced, and also comes in a variety of colors. We ended up getting this bag in Heather Gray, but I also love Chevron and Triangle. We take this everywhere we go and it holds a lot of little guy's things. I also like how you can either carry this as a cross-body bag, shoulder bag, or just by the tote handles. It also isn't girly, so Josh has no problem carrying this around. I also got the Skip Hop Chelsea Satchel Bag (if we need to pack for more than a day trip) and love that this looks like a purse more than a diaper bag!

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottle Warmer
At first I wasn't sure if we'd actually be using a bottle warmer because it seemed like one of those items you put on registries that you never end up using. But surprisingly, we are using this all the time! It only takes about 3-4 minutes on the highest setting to evenly heat up the milk.

Under the Nile Burp Cloths
One of our favorite burp cloths! Definitely a baby essential because you'll find out that you always need to keep one within arm's reach at all times. These cloths are thick, soft, and really absorb all of those baby messes. I also like that these are bigger and double-layered. Other burp clothes that we really like are these and these.

Wubbanub Pacifiers
We love these pacifiers. These soothe Caleb when he's being a little fussy. I also like these because they'll sit right on top of him when he's using it and it'll stay in his mouth as long as he doesn't move around too much. Caleb isn't holding onto this yet, but I'm sure he will soon!