Is This Really a Diaper?

Being a mother of two and having recently learned about some of the yucky chemicals that are added to traditional diapers sold on the market today, it has been important for me to be able to find a diaper that is safe and gentle on my little one's bum. We have tried almost every diaper brand out there so when we heard about a new company that was launching their chlorine-free & hypoallergenic diaper, we were thrilled to be able to put them to the test.

When our Parasol monthly subscription arrived, I was so excited to try them on Roux. After opening our package, one of the first thoughts that went through my mind was, 'Is this really a diaper? No wonder they call them disposable underwear.' These are hands down the softest and thinnest diapers we have ever used! And their bold & fun prints are to die for! Our subscription also came with 2 packs of full-size wipes and 2 packs of travel-size wipes. These soft wipes are naturally scented with cucumber and aloe and smell oh-so-yummy.

Performance wise, these diapers have held up great! After one week of using them, we have not had one leak or blowout. Roux also had a diaper rash that just wasn't going away and after switching over to Parasol diapers and wipes, her little bum finally cleared up.

Parasol has made changing diapers fun and I am really looking forward to all of the adventures and 'firsts' that our sweet Roux will experience in her disposable underwear.

If you'd like to try them out, you can receive $20 off your first month's subscription by clicking here or by using code 'ROUX' at checkout.

And if you have any questions, please feel free to ask us in the comments below or by emailing us at stclair.mia@gmail.com

Hugs,

Mia

Just a Few of Roux's Favorite Things

Whether you’ve got a bun in the oven, already have a little one, or are looking to buy that perfect baby gift for a friend, here is a list of ‘must have’ baby items that I promise you’ll love as much as we do!

Solly Baby Wrap: We are obsessed! If it were up to Roux, she would be held all day so our wrap is an everyday essential. I can wear her and yet my hands are still free to take care of tasks around the house as well as be available for our busy 4 year old. They offer a variety of fun colors and prints and if you’ve never worn a wrap before, they do a great job at demonstrating the different ways you can wear your little here.

Owlet Baby Monitor: The Owlet is a wireless smart sock that fits on your baby’s foot (up to 18 mos.) It uses Pulse Oximetry (the same technology hospitals use when they use that finger clip) to accurately detect your baby’s heart rate and oxygen level while they sleep. The best part: you can view it all on your phone. How cool is that? We put the Owlet sock on Roux at night and while it is not a replacement for safe sleeping practices, it has given both James and I an added sense of security knowing that it is designed to alert us if she were to stop breathing. We are so grateful to have been able to find a product made by a company that we feel we can trust. You can learn more about the Owlet Baby Monitor here.

DockAtot: I have to believe that one of the reasons we have a great little sleeper on our hands is because she gets to sleep in one cozy little bed. One of the main reasons I was originally drawn to the DockATot was because they use the highest quality of breathable & non-toxic material. It is also compliant with the US safety standards. It is machine washable and also light enough to be moved around the house. I love watching our sweet girl drift off to sleep in her cozy DockAtot.

bloom coco go organic 3-in-1 lounger: When Roux isn’t eating or sleeping, she’s hanging out in her big girl seat. This lounger has 3 recline positions and includes a 2 speed vibration unit. The seat pads are machine washable and the base is anti-skid which has been very practical for us since I find myself sliding it around our hardwood floors during the day. What I love most about this lounger is that it is stylish and modern, which means I don’t have to hide it in a closet when Roux isn’t in it. Win Win! bloom also carries a line of stylish cribs, dressers, and high chairs that you can find here.

Kid + Kind blanket: Since bringing Roux home from the hospital, our Kid + Kind blanket has become our 'go to' blanket for almost everything: keeping her warm, laying her on it during tummy/play time, and even using it as a carseat cover. Grey and I call it Roux's "special blankie." This cozy blanket is so soft and I promise you will find yourself wanting to snuggle up underneath it with your babe! Kid + Kind also carries a line of comfy & playful clothing items that you can find here. 

Lorena Canals Rug: Anyone who knows me knows that I am a little crazy when it comes to dirty carpets and rugs so naturally I was more than excited to hear that these high quality rugs are also machine washable. Thankfully I am no longer a stress case when Grey knocks over his messy snack or Roux has a major blowout! They offer a generous selection of beautiful rugs and you'll be sure to find one that goes with any bedroom theme!

Wash with Water Bath Products: We all know how sensitive that newbie baby skin can be so we were thrilled to be able to get our hands on a bath product that didn’t include all those yucky & unnecessary chemicals. These organic products have exceeded all of our expectations. They leave both our kiddo’s skin feeling oh-so-soft and let's not forget to mention how yummy they smell after bath time! There’s not a night that goes by when Grey doesn’t ask for his "favorite lotion." You can read all about Wash with Water’s ‘Promise’ to their customer’s here.

Plum + Sparrow Moses Basket: One of my favorite activities with the littles right now is taking them out back to play. I love letting Roux lounge in her Plum + Sparrow moses basket while big brother runs around. These beautiful baskets are sturdy, yet light enough to travel with you wherever you go. Not only are these baskets well made, they stand behind a great cause. With every basket sold, Plum + Sparrow donates 10% to help take care of African families in need. We are so excited for all of the fun adventures and memories that Roux will experience this year in her moses basket.

Nuroo Swaddler: Our sweet girl loves to be swaddled but is a little wiggle worm so we were pretty excited to have found a swaddle that kept her secure and snug! What I love most about this swaddler is that it is designed to grow with your baby until they are able to roll over so there isn't a need to purchase multiple swaddles in various sizes. Roux prefers her Nuroo swaddler over any other and it is so sweet to watch her body relax while placing her in it. 

Finn + Emma Playgym: We just adore this fun playgym! It is so hip and modern and adds the perfect touch to any home or nursery. Roux instantly lights up when playing underneath it. She just loves hanging out and chatting with her sweet friends. Finn + Emma has also created a play mat that pairs great with the play gym but can also be used as a changing mat or stroller liner. I promise you will love this fun line as much as we do. 

Find out how you can enter to win some of these amazing products by visiting our Instagram page here.

Welcoming Roux

As I sit down to reflect on Roux’s birth story, I am overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude, thankfulness, and joy as I think about the calling that has been placed on my life to mother my two littles. Although it has only been a little over a month since our sweet baby’s arrival, we can’t even begin to imagine our lives without her.

On the morning of March 10, we walked into the hospital to be induced. For months, we had talked about this day but I couldn’t wrap my head around the thought that we would finally be meeting her! After checking in and getting settled into our room, we met our nurse Katie and I was feeling pretty excited that we had scored in the “best nurse” department. ;) At around 8:30AM she started me on Pitocin and within a half hour, I began having consistent contractions. She let us know that our doctor would be coming by the hospital in the next couple of hours to check on me and would likely be breaking my water. James and I relaxed and watched some TV while our sweet baby was having hiccup parties in the womb. Although I wasn’t experiencing pain with my contractions, I started feeling nervous about the timing of my epidural (I unfortunately waited a little too long while in labor with Grey) and my instinct told me that I needed to get it before having my water broke. After receiving my epidural, my doctor came in to check on me (I was dilated to 3cm) and also broke my water. I thought it would be a good time to take a nap while we waited for my body to progress. About an hour into my sleep I woke because I was feeling a bit uncomfortable so my nurse decided to check me. I was hoping that at this point I would be dilated to a 4, maybe a 5 and I heard the words that every mama who is in labor is dying to hear: “You are a 10.”

What?

My doctor had just checked me a little over an hour ago and I was dilated to a 3. I was in so much shock and I started to cry as it finally hit me that she was coming! Our doctor arrived quickly and after having me push once, she asked if I wanted to feel her head. This was not something that I was able to experience with Grey but I wish I had because it was probably one of the sweetest moments during my labor with Roux. She asked me to push again with my next contraction and before I could push, I heard the words “... or just have a baby.” Our little Roux James was here! And she came fast! They laid her on my chest and I took one look at her sweet face and instantly fell in love. Words cannot even begin to express the amount of joy that I felt in that very moment. This tiny 6 pound 12 oz baby that I had carried and nourished for 40 weeks was finally here. Every little feature on her face was so perfect and beautiful. We had James' mom bring Grey to the hospital to meet his sister. Seeing my two babies together for the first time is something that I will never forget. Grey held her and giggled as he talked about all of her small features.

It’s been just over a month since we brought her home and we are more in love with her today then we were when we first met her. I am so proud of how well Grey has adjusted and how sweet and gentle he is with his sister. My husband James has been unbelievably helpful with not only managing both littles but also helping around the house. Seeing him love and care for our children has made me love and appreciate him in a whole new way. Being a family of 4 just feels so right and I am grateful for my new ‘normal.’

Hugs, Mia

Where our value comes from

I decided to write on a topic that really resinates with me and hits close to home. In my early childhood years, I remember wanting to belong and be apart of something. I wasn’t sure what that ‘something’ was but I spent a lot of those years looking to things that had little or no value. In high school I remember a friend telling me that if I had ‘just lost 15 pounds,’ I would be ‘so cute.’ I did well in school but I was consumed with my physical appearance and struggled with a lack of self confidence. Fast forward to my early and mid 20’s and I found that I was constantly comparing myself to other women. I could share about some of the bumps and struggles along the way but I will wait until another blog post for that.

It has been a process but God has allowed for me to see where my true source of security & value come from. Not from others, my physical appearance, material possessions, or even financial status. And when I feel myself go there - when I start to compare myself to others or find myself wishing my life looked differently than what it is now, God gently reminds me that He is enough and I am able to shift my mind to what I know is true.

I know the struggle we have as women to compare ourselves to others and to chase after things that only bring temporary happiness and joy in the end. Unfortunately, we live in a world that tells us that being prettier, thinner, and richer equals success and value. Don't allow your joy to be stripped from you because you are consumed by what you think your life should look like. I felt compelled to share part of my journey with you and my hope is that you are able to find encouragement in some of these truths.

Love & Hugs,

Mia

Growing Our Family

We are so excited to share the exciting news that we are carrying another little babe! We feel so blessed and honored that God has once again given us the opportunity to love and care for another child! Earlier this year we shared some sad news that we had miscarried in January. I wasn't particularly looking forward to the months of August/September, as I knew it was when we would have been expecting baby #2 but we are so grateful to be carrying another little one during this time and are experiencing so much joy and peace in our hearts. 

We decided to tell Grey pretty early on, since I have been experiencing such bad morning sickness and we wanted him to know why mommy wasn't feeling well. He is beyond excited and so giddy about the idea of there being a baby in mommy's tummy. I don't think there is a day that goes by where he doesn't talk about his new baby brother/sister (it changes each day). He has also told everyone that he and my husband James are also having a baby. Silly boy. This pregnancy feels a lot like when I carried Grey in that I have had all day morning sickness but I am showing about 3x quicker than I did with him. Yikes! I found the questions below in a pregnancy journal and I thought it would be fun to take note of how I am feeling throughout this pregnancy. 

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How far along: 13 weeks 

Energy: Non existent! Poor Grey. We have spent a lot of our days at home having pajama parties. I hope that changes with my 2nd trimester approaching and also my favorite season of all - Fall! 

Mood: I don't feel as emotional as I did with Grey but I still feel pretty irritable. Yikes.

Appetite: I feel like I have a love/hate relationship with food. I am hungry 24/7 but there are a lot of foods that are more prone to make me feel sick (sugar and dairy) so I try to stay away from those as much as possible. 

Cravings: I am craving carbs like crazy (pastas, french bread, fries). Yum! But I also crave those foods when I am not pregnant! Who doesn't? 

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With our family growing we thought it would be fun to shift our Instagram account into more of a blog. I want to share all things family - the good, the not so good, the exciting and tough moments that come along with raising a family. I am also excited to share some of our favorite recipes (we love to cook and bake). And with my growing passion for children's fashion and photography, you can definitely count on seeing some fun style posts as well! Sadly I think there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to the social media world - one of them being that there are all these put together and perfect families. We are so far from that and I really hope to be able to share my heart with you as you walk this crazy journey with us!

Hugs,

Mia

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Teepee: Little Foot Clothing Co.
Baby Wrap: Solly Baby

Photography: Gina Brown @browntowngirls

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