10 Baby Products for New Mamas

Over the long holiday weekend, I got to hang out with my dear friend Laurie, who recently became a new mama. Her sweet girl Miri is about to turn 5 months old, so it was fun getting to know the babe and spending quality time with her little family of three. Laurie and I have been friends since college, and we like to joke our lives have always taken similar paths—from dating, careers, marriage and now kids. We each got married three months apart, so it was no surprise I got pregnant soon after she did (not orchestrated, either!). Walking this journey with her has been such a joy and comfort!

During our time together, I took full advantage of asking loads of parenting questions in hopes I’d get the inside scoop, and secret sauce to what makes a good Mom. Perhaps it’s the laid back SoCal influence, but Laurie and Brian (her hubs) are easy-going parents I hope to emulate. As a new Mom it can be overwhelming to decipher between necessary baby products, and those that are just nice to have (only left to create clutter in the house!). Therefore, getting advice from someone you trust is invaluable and extremely helpful. In today’s post, Laurie is sharing her top recommended products for new mamas.

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Red, White & Blue Overalls

This weekend I’m channeling my festive holiday spirit and paying tribute to the American flag by wearing red, white and blue. We have close college friends in town from L.A. with no real agenda other than to relax, picnic in the backyard and enjoy some good food. Last year I shared a 4th of July inspired tablescape on the blog, seen here, which will come in handy for this year’s celebration as well. But given that I’m 37 weeks pregnant, I’m trying to take it easy—so this July 4th will be pretty low key. Thankfully our friends are super laid back and I don’t feel the need to “entertain.” In fact, tonight we grilled burgers, ate off paper plates, and nibbled on potato chips straight out of the bag. Nothing fancy here, but we’re happy campers in good company.

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Summer White

There is something classic about an all-white ensemble that transcends all seasons. Especially in Summer, white exudes an effortless ease and sophistication I love. One can easily throw on a little white dress, and call it a day! I’m a sucker for dainty eyelet details, so when I saw this dress on sale I knew right away it would be the perfect addition to my summer wardrobe. Given the loose, shift-style fit, it also accommodates my growing bump (which has been a huge decision factor in shopping these days).

Tomorrow marks the first official day of summer, and let me tell you, it’s hot in the Bay Area! Temperatures reached a record high in the triple digits. Pregnancy and heat are not a good combo, so it’s been a tad uncomfortable. Thankfully, it’s expected to cool back down in a few days, but until then we’re staying indoors close to blowing fans and AC. With these warm days, I’ve been rotating through white breezy dresses to stay cool. So, to kick of the sizzling season of Summer, I’ve rounded up a few white pieces I’m eyeing—all under $100!

Stay cool out there, and don’t forget to hydrate!

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My Garden Baby Shower

This past weekend my friends Tamara and Taylor (author of Simply Silicon Valley) co-hosted a baby shower to celebrate the impending arrival of our little girl. Every detail was divinely and beautifully thought through, leaving me overwhelmed with gratitude, to say the least. Perhaps it’s third trimester emotions, but the outpour of love and generosity from family, friends and co-workers has been a humbling experience. From the east coast to the west coast and a few stops in between, we’ve received countless words of encouragement, expressing excitement for our soon to be family of three!

After we moved into our new home this past December, I dreamed of one day throwing a garden party in our backyard as it lends the perfect setting for such a soireé. Unbeknownst to me, Taylor latched onto this idea and brought the garden party vision to life, in honor of our baby. How lucky am I to have such sweet and thoughtful friends!? Because I can’t resist sharing all the pretty details, and documenting the festivities so that our daughter can one day see how we joyfully celebrated her birth, below are a few photos from the day. Further down the post I share a short update on my third trimester and what I’m learning about motherhood.

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Our Baby’s Gender Reveal

IMG_4262We are having a girl!!!

During a visit back home we gathered both sides of the family for a luncheon and some very, nerve-racking cake-cutting. The anticipation continued to build over weeks of carrying a sealed envelope from my doctor, with the baby’s gender enclosed. When it finally came time to cut the cake my heart furiously pounded. I was so nervous—nervous with excitement! Nobody knew the gender (except for the cake baker) making it a special surprise the family could share together. Below are a few photos from the Gender Reveal and a short video of us cutting the cake.

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