The best kitchen tools mean less time in the kitchen and less work. Which can mean more time for self care. Ease around homemade food is especially important if you feel determined to eat healthy as you welcome your new little one and say goodbye to long stretches of sleep. Working on that perfect latch, managing mastitis, figuring out how to soothe a colicky newborn, or recovering from a few stitches takes a whole lot mojo. And let's face it - a sugar rush and caffeine high will only get you so far.

Thank-you Owlet for collaborating on this post. Owlet provided us with their new Owlet Smart Sock 2, but all opinions are our own. We only share products and brands we truly love and use.

I love discovering devices and products that make motherhood easier. Welcoming a new baby home is already stressful enough and anything that helps make the transition a little easier is worth every penny. The Owlet is just that. After hearing rave reviews from lots of you, we have given it a try and I can truly say it has been a sanity saver. 

I find it so easy for newborn life to take its toll on me mentally and physically. The late nights and early mornings, the constant tending to others, the feedings and diaper changes--it is exhausting. When Brody was born, I lost myself in motherhood. All of my needs and the things that were important to me fell to the wayside. It took months and months to find myself again. This time I vowed to make sure that did not happen.

There are a few days that will forever hold a special spot in my heart. High school proms with my husband, Auburn football games with some of my best friends, our wedding vows, snorkeling in Belize, sleeping in the Sahara desert under the stars, and the day Brody met Isla. The latter being a day that will be at the top of my list for a long time.

Our little Brody Parker is officially two weeks old today. Between diapers, baby clothes, rockers and baby gear, I nearly forgot about preparing myself for postpartum. Momma requires nearly as much gear as baby! Two weeks later, I am feeling almost 100% healed and back to normal thanks to the essentials below. 

Dear Isla,

The day you were born was one of the greatest of our lives. You came into the world quickly and peacefully, forever growing our hearts. I no longer remember what life was like without you. 

Our Tuesday morning started out just as it had for the past few weeks. I was still exhausted as Brody walked into our bedroom at his usual 6:20am.

Oh hey, 41 Weeks. Nice to see you again.

Still no baby. With Brody arriving at 42 weeks, I am not surprised to see our estimated due date come and go. My belly must be cozy!

Last time, I struggled through these extra weeks. Emotional roller coaster. This time, I feel much calmer. I feel like the excitement has just started to build up. I am embracing these extra few lazy days at home.

Celebrating sweet babies. Is there anything better!? I debated for months whether or not I wanted to have a celebration for our little one on the way. After a big, beautiful shower for Brody and 2+ years of parenting, I felt like we had nearly everything we could possibly need for baby #2.

But a baby celebration is so much more than the registry and the gifts, it is a time to get excited for baby. It is a time to gather with dear friends and family before life gets hectic. It is a time to celebrate the miracle of life. Our celebration was just that. The perfect morning with those I love dearly, those who have made this motherhood gig so rewarding.

I am always on the hunt for fun toddler activities—especially during Summer where anything outdoors is off of the table in Arizona. With baby #2 due any day now, I have been trying to plan fun, one-on-one activities with Brody. Our most recent favorite activity? Cooking together!

We have been going through some major bedroom updates over the past few months at our house. First up was the master bedroom as we prepped it for a newborn and upgraded from a full-sized bed.

Next in line? Brody’s big boy room. After he started climbing out of the crib earlier in the year, we knew we were going to need to make some changes sooner rather than later. Since we liked the layout of the nursery, we decided to keep it as a the nursery for baby #2 move Brody into what was previously my work space.

During my pregnancy with Brody, I took very few pictures to document my growing bump. I never realized how much I would miss the bump after birth. This time around, I have been trying to do a better job at documenting these special moments of our baby girl and I together.

The crisp air in Fall, the cozy holidays that come along with Winter, the sunshine in Spring, and the sweetness of Summer--I feel like I am always declaring each new season as my favorite. With sweet summertime in the air, we've been filing our bellies with popsicles and watermelon, spending our afternoons in the pool, and dressing up in our red, white and blue.