Category: baby

What is Natural Childbirth Really Like? A Mom’s Perspective

The two most common reactions I get when I share that I had an all natural birth with my daughter are, “Why would you choose NOT to have pain medicine?” and “That’s cool, but I could never do that.” As her birthday draws near, I’m reflecting on the choices I made surrounding her birth and the beautiful experience it was. I’ve only birthed two children, but because of the choices I made each time I’ve experienced both a very clinical, controlled, medicated birth and an all natural, no medication, no intervention birth. Spoiler alert: the all natural birth was by far my favorite for many reasons. Because of these experiences, today I’m sharing what all natural birth was like for me and why I preferred it to the medicated version. No two births are alike, and you have the right to choose what is best for your body and your baby. I’m just a mom sharing my experiences.

What is Natural Childbirth Really Like A Mom's Perspective

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Easy Ways to Give Your Kids a Green Childhood

Easy Ways to Give Your Kids a Green Childhood - Natural Parenting Hop

Raising kids to appreciate and care for the world around them isn’t easy in our society that loves instant gratification, constant entertainment, and disposable everything. We want our kids to become adults who appreciate the earth, take responsibility for their effect on it, and work towards conservation for future generations. We believe that it is our responsibility as their parents to teach them about nature and how to love it and care for it. Today I’m sharing a few easy ways we work to give our kids a green childhood.  April is Earth Month, so this year I’m joining with a group of bloggers for a series on Natural Parenting and Green Living. Join us we celebrate Earth Month and help each live a greener, more environmentally responsible life. We are far from the greenest family on the block, but we are working to become more eco-friendly every day.

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A Babies Don’t Keep Poem for the Modern Parent {Free Printable}

Babies Don't Keep Poem for the Modern Parent - Mint BackgroundMy mom always had a plaque hanging on the wall with the last lines of the poem “Song for a Fifth Child” by Ruth Hurlburt Hamilton. You probably know it as the “Babies Don’t Keep” poem. Knowing that our Pearl Girl is probably my last baby has given me a new appreciation for the sentiment behind Hamilton’s poem. Rocking her fifth child became more important than all that other busy work of keeping house.

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The One Baby Product We Use the Most

Tracking PixelAfter almost 4 years of parenthood, we’ve come to know exactly what products we love and don’t love. When I had the sponsored opportunity to share the Graco® Pack ‘n Play® Playard Portable Napper & Changer™ with y’all I knew I had to. Why? Because our  Pack ‘n Play® is the #1 baby product we’ve used with our kids, and will continue to use.
The One Baby Product We Use the Most #AtHomewithGraco Playard

We’ve used it with both kids from birth through toddlerhood, and are still using it with our daughter (almost 2). It is so practical, functional, and affordable for use on the go and at home. Find out more about why we love it and all the great features below. Bonus: We’re hosting a Graco® giveaway here valued at $105!

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Graco® Baby Giveaway ~ Win the Graco® Simple Sway Swing + an Organic Onesie {$105 Value}

Graco Simple Sway Swing and Onesie Giveaway $105 Value Ends 317If you have a new baby or one on the way, we’ve got the giveaway for you. In our Graco® Baby Giveaway I’m sharing the love by sending one of you the awesome gear Graco® sent to me. Get ready for pure baby bliss when your little is gently swaying in this awesome swing. A baby swing will help soothe your little one, become the perfect place for naps, and allow you to eat dinner with BOTH hands. That, my friends, is a luxury when a new baby comes along. I promise you, I would not have been able to feed myself if it hadn’t been for this swing when my kids were babies. My second child would nap in the swing in the living room while her big brother ran circles around her. This thing is AWESOME. Be sure to visit our sponsored post from Graco® here featuring the Graco® Pack ‘n Play® Playard Portable Napper & Changer™ here, then enter to win below.

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Handmade Snuggly Swaddle Dolls from Designs by MSusan ~ Festive Family Gift Guide Review

designs by msusan snuggly swaddle dolls handmade

Is there a precious wee one in your life who would to receive love a snuggly friend as a holiday gift? Our Pearl Girl got her first handmade swaddle doll from Designs by MSusan last year for Christmas, and she still snuggles her daily. This year we are reviewing a super cute set of blonde baby dolls just made for playing. Read on to find out what we thought about our set of Snuggly Swaddle Dolls.

Designs by MSusan collage

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Freshly Picked Moccasins Review ~ Festive Family Holiday Gift Guide

freshly picked reviewToday’s Festive Family Holiday Gift Guide brand review is all about the stylish wee ones. My sweet Pearl Girl helped me review a gorgeous pair of gold Freshly Picked baby moccasins and we can’t wait to tell you all about them. If there is a child on your holiday shopping list, these are a hot ticket item. Handmade in the U.S.A. from 100% genuine leather in sizes 1-10 (baby-preschooler), these shoes are durable, super cute, and won’t come off. Read on to find out what we thought about these precious shoes.

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Mum + Bub Bath Products for the Whole Family from Aden + Anais ~ Festive Family Holiday Gift Guide Review

mum and bub bath products from aden and anais review

I am so stinking excited about what the next few weeks have in store on this little old blog. I’ve teamed up with fabulous brands and amazing bloggers to create the Festive Family Holiday Hop and Gift Guide Giveaway. We’ll be giving away over $1800 in prizes plus bringing you creative ideas for the upcoming holiday season and reviews of our favorite gift ideas. Today I’m kicking off the review series with a product line from one of my favorite baby companies, Aden + Anais. We have long loved their burpy bibs and muslin blankets, but had yet to try their Mum + Bub line. We reviewed them as a family and fell in love.

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Eleanor Pearl at One Year

eleanorfirstyearonquiltcollage

Our darling girl turned one this spring, and I can’t believe how quickly the time has flown. I photographed her each month on a quilt made by my great grandmother, Alice.  The color looks a bit different with changing lighting and effects, but I love how you can see her grow with the pattern of the quilt. Our Ellie Pearl girl is a delight and a challenge and a dream. She is fiesty and full of energy, and a girl who knows her mind. She has no fear and no sense of self preservation. She keeps us on our toes and keeps us laughing. She is such a gift and blessing to our family, and it is pure joy to be her mama.

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Play Outside: Tips for Taking Your Kids on a Nature Walk

This play idea is brought to you by Knoala – Raise Happier Kids. Knoala is a free app that offers activities for parents to enjoy with infants to preschoolers.

naturewalkswithkidsknoala

 

We love to go on nature walks with our kids. Playing outside is a daily activity at our house, and we try to make everythine we do an adventure and a learning experience without making it complicated. Recently I downloaded the new Knoala app and used it to take our nature walks to the next level. Don’t worry, I wasn’t on my phone during our walk. I clicked on to Knoala before we left and found a few ideas for our walk to get the kids to notice everything around me. They responded really well, and we felt like super fun parents.

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