My favorite things: preschooler edition!

My oldest daughter Taelyn will be 5 in a little over a month (can't believe it!). I've been having a lot of fun on the posts about my favorite products and I think it is a little overwhelming, with all the products out there, to find things for your family that are both safe and effective. Here is a list of some of my essentials for our preschooler!

 

A good sunscreen is a must, especially when you have a pale strawberry blonde little girl. I really like these two and you can find them here and here.

My poor little girl has bad reactions to mosquito bites. They turn really red and get huge. I really like this bug spray because it is made with all natural ingredients. Find it here.

I love our stainless steel sippy cups. The Kleen Kanteen ones come with either a sippy attachment or a sport cap and the Crocodile Creek ones have a pull up top.

 

 Kids love treats and my child is no different. We didn't introduce sugar until she was 2, but now that she knows what it is, it's hard to keep it away! We usually set treats aside for dessert time which she gets after she eats her dinner. I love the products from Yummy Earth. They are made with organic and natural ingredients. They don't have artificial colors or flavors either!

 

Two things Tae takes every day is a multi-vitamin and a probiotic. We are currently using this vitamin and she really likes them. Probiotics are great for digestive health and immune support. Make sure your probiotic is refrigerated. I really like this one by Garden of Eden because it is vegan and organic.

 

My daughter has a lot of hair and it is pretty long. I've tried a lot of different types of hair products and I really like this shampoo and conditioner by Jason.

Because of her thick and kind of curly hair, I've been using a separate detangler. This one by Little Twig is awesome and smells so good!

Kiss my Face has a lot of great products. They all work really well and smell super delicious. I love this body wash/bubble bath.

Regular bubble bath can cause a lot of irritation and it is just not good for little ones. I like this foam bath from Aura Cacia. It smells yummy and is made with essential oils.

My daughter loves to brush her teeth. She would do it 20 times a day if we would let her. Sometimes we use a fluoride toothpaste from Tom's, but this is what we are currently using and it is fluoride free.

Frontier Order!

Frontier is a natural products co-op. My sister is in charge of one here in the city and she finally convinced me to start buying my products from here. So far, everything that I have ordered has been WAY cheaper than if I were to buy it from the store. I place my order once month and then when I get it, it kind of feels like Christmas! I have a set budget I allow myself to spend because it is so easy to go overboard.

I had so much fun writing the post about my favorite baby products that I thought I would write about my products I get each month from Frontier.

 



This months order included:

• Ecover dishwasher powder
• Dr. Bronner's Castile soap w/ tea tree oil
• Simply Organic Greek yogurt dip mix (in Zesty Spinach and Mediterranean Herb)
• Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning lip balm
• Green Sprouts Cornstarch hand teether
• Yummy Earth organic sour beans, gummy bears, and fruit snacks
• Aura Cacia Organic Lemon essential oil

 

My favorite baby neccesities!

If you're anything like me, you like to see what other people like and what they use for their family. I've gathered a list of some of my favorite baby essentials and decided to list them here for your reading pleasure! None of these companies have paid me or given me anything to promote their products (that would be nice though), I just love this stuff enough to tell everyone about it.

Diaper Duty

A good diaper pail is a necessity if you are cloth diapering. This one was gifted to me by my sister. I also recommend having at least two pail liners that way you always have one in the pail when doing wash.

I love this cloth wipe warmer. You buy these little pillows that go in the bottom and they keep the wipes moist and warm. I just get my wipes wet, roll them up, and lay them in the warmer.

Some good storage for all your diapers. Eventually I would like something a little larger as all my diapers don't fit well in this. I got this at Target and we keep pockets in the top drawer, covers in the middle, and our prefolds in the bottom drawer.

When you cloth diaper, you can't use typical diaper cream because it contains zinc and this can make your diapers not absorb. I've tried several different types of cloth diaper cream and this is the one I love.

I love these little spritz bottles. I have three of them. One for upstairs, downstairs, and in the diaper bag. I put my cloth wipe solution in them to use when we change diapers. Just spray on the booty and wipe!

 

Tee Tree Oil is an essential oil that has a cleansing property. I put a drop in my cloth wipe solution and I also put a few drops in my pail liner. Not only does it help with the stink, but it gets bacteria out of the diapers in the wash.

It is an absolute must to have several wet bags. I really love this one by Kissa. It's a antibacterial one and just the right size to throw in the diaper bag. We have three wet bags that way we always have at least one available.

It's important not to wash your cloth in just a typical wash soap. We have used this brand for awhile. I'm interest in trying some others, but this one is great.

 

Feeding Needs

 

We never had the luxury of giving Tae a bottle because she hated them. Luckily, Hensley is great at the bottle and she has one bottle when I am at work. We love glass bottles in general, but these ones are our favorite!

Of course, if you are going to be offering a bottle, you need a good breast pump. I really like this one. It is really easy to use and it gets a good suction.

These are a definite need if you are breastfeeding. It seems like you are always leaking from one side or from both. I think I leak more with Hensley than I did with Tae. I also have some reusable pads, but those are a little more bulky and I feel like you can see them through my shirt!

 

 

Bath Time

 

 

This stuff is amazing. For one it's organic and two, it smells so good. I put some in the bath at night and it is just part of our routine.

 

I love Burt's Bees stuff. Not just for myself, but for baby too. Their products don't have all the yucky ingredients some of those other baby products have. I try to keep my family as chemical free as possible!

Now I could write a blog just on Dr. Bronner's soap alone. I love this stuff. You can clean with it, wash with it, among so many other things. Hensley seems to be a yeasty baby, so occasionally I will use this on her, especially in her neck rolls!

Coconut oil could also go in the diaper category because it makes a great rash cream, but it can also be used on the scalp to help with cradle cap or just on dry skin in general.

 

 

Random Goodies

 

A good baby monitor is important, especially if baby regularly sleeps in another room or on another level of the house. I really like this one by Angel Care. It has a movement sensor along with the normal sound monitor.

I was so happy when we learned that Hensley loves to suck on a pacifier. Tae never did and she never really learned to self soothe. I originally bought Wubbanub's because I thought they were super cute, but they turned out to be Hensley's favorite. She loves to cuddle the little stuffed animal and it is adorable!

Diaper bags are definitely a must in any situation. I wanted something that was fashionable yet functional. I absolutely love Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags. They have great prints and they are well made. They also are chalk full of pockets and great accessories.

 

A good carrier is a staple in our family. I have this ring sling made by a local mama, but I also have a Boba carrier that I usually use outside the house. A carrier allows me to have two hands and I can almost do anything while wearing a baby.







Hensley: 3 Months!

 Oh how I just love her little squishy face! Three months have zipped by and this little lady has changed so much. She has personality, silliness, cuddles, and so much more.

Weight: At her 2 month check up she was almost 14lbs and I think she is sitting at about 15lbs now. She seems to grow and change a little every day. She has got the cutest roly poly thighs and rolls on her rolls.

Food: Mommy's milk is where it's at : ) Of course she doesn't know anything else and I wouldn't have it any other way. I went back to work this month, so Aaron is offering her a bottle of breast milk at about 10am and then I come home for lunch to feed her. She took the bottle the first 2 days, but now she has just been chewing on the nipple and not drinking any. I think she is just waiting for the stuff from the tap. Aaron says she isn't cranky, so that's good.

Clothes: She can still fit into a few 3 month outfits, but not many. 6 months is fitting her really good with a little room to spare. I think cloth diapers definitely make a difference, so I don't think it's all her chub. All her summer clothes go up to 3 months and the winter clothes start at 6 months. We are down to just a few outfits that still fit and it has still been in the 90's. We are hoping for some cooler weather in the coming weeks, especially before she grows out of the winter clothes I already bought her!

Sleep: We have successfully transferred Hensley to her bassinet this month. She was getting a little too mobile and making it hard for Aaron and I to get a good nights sleep. She typically goes down in her bassinet at 11pm, and then wakes up at 3:30am and 6:30am to nurse. I have been bad and have not been putting her back in her bassinet when she gets up to feed, but we'll get there :) She has been mostly a cat napper during the day. I can usually get her down for a long nap from about 3ish to 6ish, but not always.

 



Movement: Speaking of mobile! She is starting to get around! She can roll in almost all directions except from back to tummy. If she is on her back though, she can kick and kick and usually end up moving several inches! She has also started trying to sit up. If she is reclining, she will strain and grunt until she is sitting upright, it is super funny! She also LOVES to stand. She'll stand on my lap and just smile and talk.

Product: We are really liking her activity mat! She has started rolling from her tummy to her back and can also roll from her side to her back and from her side to her tummy. She can roll best when she isn't wearing a diaper and is usually pretty content to play on it for a good 15-20 minutes or so, especially if Taelyn is down there talking to her.

Highlight: There seems to have been a lot of things going on this month. She has started smiling ALL the time. You just look at her and she smiles a huge grin. She also started rolling over, which is bittersweet. She is cooing more and more, but she is still pretty quiet compared to Tae. When Hensley wakes up in the morning she will lay there and kick her legs and scream! Not cry, not upset, but just screaming. It is really funny!


Taelyn: Big sister is such a big help. There have been times I have been in another room and Hensley will start fussing, Tae is always right there and will put the pacifier in her mouth and calm her down before I can even get there. She also loves to talk to Hensley and (be still my heart) Hensley just absolutely adores her big sister. Her eyes will follow her around the room and when Tae is playing, Hensley will sit there with the biggest grin on her face just waiting for Tae to look at her.

Blessing: I am so thankful and blessed that we don't have to put our girls in day care. I love that our schedules are so easily adjustable that we can shuffle them between the two of us. I also feel blessed to have such a great husband that is so helpful with the girls. He has gotten the hang of the cloth diapers and is even taking Tae to her home school co-op once a week. I am truly blessed with these two healthy girls. Hensley has yet to be sick and Taelyn hasn't been sick since last winter (other than one quick moving cold). Yah, for good immune systems!

 

 



August Happenings

Hensley trying to watch some cartoons on Netflix!

This month has been busy! I have had 12 glorious and beautiful weeks off with my two girls and with September comes going back to work. I only work part time, so I will still get loads of time with my babies, but it is still tough having to leave them. Of course, I know they will be in great hands, as my sweet husband will be with them when I am at work. I know it will take some adjusting, but I know it will be okay : )

Sunning diapers!

We have had some great weather so far this summer and I have taken use of the sun to rid our diapers of stains. I am amazed at how wonderful the sun is at getting out stains. One afternoon outside and our diapers are as good as new!

Oh how sweet little Hensley is. She has the most precious sleeping positions and I just can't get enough of them. She is truly an angel, we are blessed!

Angel

Touchdown!

Wedged into the recliner

 

Of course, we can't leave Miss Taelyn out of things! Tae loves watching Phineas and Ferb with her daddy. They love to cuddle up on the couch...sometimes I think daddy likes the show more than Tae does ;)

 

Tae loves to have her toes painted. Usually she wants something different than mine, but this time she told me she wanted our toes to look the same. I just love having girls!

 

Hensley has been working on her tummy time some. She is getting so strong and can hold her head up for a long time. She loves being naked and is usually content without a diaper on.

We are going on a family cruise in January and since Hensley's summer clothes she's wearing now wont fit her then, I have been going through the clearance racks at Target. I found two outfits and a swimsuit for only $15! I love finding good deals!

Science Museum

Of course we have just been trying to spend as much time together as we can. We have been visiting family, going on little day trips, cooking together, among other fun things. I am so blessed to have this wonderful family!

Hensley: Two Months!

 Can you believe this sweet little lady is already two months old? Time has gone by WAY too fast. Hensley is definitely developing a personality. She is such a calm natured baby and hardly ever cries. She is learning what she likes (baths) and what she doesn't like (being put down). It has only been two months, but it seems like she has been in our family the whole time.

Weight: This girl is a chunky one! I was looking at one of her newborn pictures the other day and I was shocked at how skinny her legs and arms were! She now has some nice rolls on her thighs, chin, arms (wrists!), and belly! We unofficially weighed her the other day and she is about 13lbs! I think she looks even chunkier because she is so short : )

Food: Mommas milk is the only way to go! She is such a good little nurser. We have never had a problem and she has only ever had breastmilk. She has finally gotten used to my forceful letdown and never chokes anymore! She nurses about every 3-4 hours during the day and at night sometimes it stretches to 5-6 hours!

Clothes: We have said goodbye to all of our newborn clothes and are going to be doing the same to the 0-3 clothes very soon. The 3 month clothes seem to fit her the best and she also fits well in 3-6 month close. I think the cloth diaper has a lot to do with the fit of her clothes since they are so bulky!

Sleep: I don't like talking too much about her sleep because I don't want to brag : ) Hensley has always been a great sleeper. I was afraid that it was just a "newborn" thing, but so far, nothing has changed. She takes about 3 naps during the day. They usually last about 2-3 hours. We put her to bed about midnight and she sleeps until about 4-5am. She then nurses and sleeps until about 9-10am. She is still sharing our bed. I don't want to rush putting her in the bassinet because I absolutely love this time. We will probably switch her to the bassinet at about 3 months. We did this with Tae and it worked so well.

Product we love: I am so thankful to finally have a baby who loves her pacifier! Tae never took hers (I mean never!), so we worked with Hensley more. Now, she's not like other babies I've seen that have that thing in their mouth ALL the time. She mostly takes it in the car and when she is going to sleep. The only paci that she will take is this one. She has even gotten to where she will hold on to it (although this is not always good because she will jerk it out of her mouth right as she is drifting off).

Highlight: Oh my goodness she is developing so much. This month has brought on the social smile, the giggle, and the nervousness around strangers! We were at the gas station today and a lady stopped us and commented on how cute Hensley was. She reached out to touch her thigh and Hensley started crying. Taelyn did this same thing, but I didn't think it was this early. Poor girl!

Taelyn: Be still my beating heart....seeing my two girls interact with each other is one of the most amazing things I could ever imagine. Hensley just adores her sweet big sister. No matter where Taelyn is in the room, Hensley will find her. She will just stare at her and smile, coo, and giggle. Taelyn has also become very protective and helpful with Hensley. She wants to help wipe her butt, put the diapers in the pail, and help put her paci in her mouth. If Hensley starts crying, Taelyn always says, "Don't worry mommy, the babysitter has her" (meaning herself).

Blessing: I do have to brag on my handsome husband for a minute : ) I am so blessed to have him in my life and for him to be the daddy to my little girls. He is such a good man and is helpful in so many ways. He works a full time job (sometimes 50-60 hours a week), but he still makes me coffee every morning (and brings it to me in bed!), does the dishes, cleans the bathrooms, not to mention taking care of the girls. He fully supports me breastfeeding and is getting to be a champ at the cloth diaper changes. Even though I can be a little crazy with my "crunchiness", he always has my back.

I had twins....four years apart!

 This picture below is my sweet Taelyn when she was 3 months old!

And this picture below is my precious Hensley at almost 7 weeks old.....

 

Isn't it amazing how similar they look! I am so blessed to have two beautiful and healthy girls!