We are having so much fun at the beach in the Outer Banks with Isla and Brody! As predicted, Isla loves eating sand and Brody cannot get enough of digging in the sand.

Here is some of my favorite gear we have been using!

One of the first pieces of moving advice I received was to make sure we set-up the kid’s rooms first. Making them feel at home would help ease the transition. After a few weeks in our new home, I could not agree more.  

Isla’s nursery was one of my favorites spaces in our home in Arizona. The morning light filtered in her room magically. The space felt so calming and fresh. Most days it was the only room in our home where I was not tripping on toys.

Baby sunscreen—this time of year it is quite literally a hot topic! As a mom to a very fair skinned baby, sunscreen is something I think about constantly. It is one of those things I never leave home without.

We love spending time outside, but Isla’s skin is so sensitive to the sun—a trait she for sure received from her momma! With splash pad and beach season upon us, I have been on the hunt for the best sunscreen.

Bittersweet. I cannot think of a more fitting word for this chapter of our lives coming to a close. The tears of excitement. The tears of sadness. The anticipation of new hellos and the anticipation of those dreaded good-byes. I’m feeling all the feels.

Confession: We have been on the sleep struggle bus with Isla since birth—now almost 9 months ago. In all honesty, I would cringe every time I would hear someone talking about how their tiny newborn or three month old or six month old or now nine month old slept through the night like a champ. I was envious of the solid sleep the moms were getting. I was frustrated by how our nights looked. I was waking up cranky and exhausted.

At some point in your pregnancy you may look down at your bump and realize that your uterus has a whole other job than just carrying around your little one. It has to help get that baby out of your body!  Moms and pushing may get all the glory in the birth scenes of movies but uterine contractions are the real star of the show (ok, you’re pretty awesome too).

So let’s give contractions a little bit of love and run through all the things you could possibly want to know about them.

There is nothing that fills me with more joy as a mom than watching my little one’s faces light up with excitement. Brody’s 3rd birthday bash at the Phoenix Zoo was one of my favorite days we have had in a long time. An afternoon surrounded by our closest friends and family, sweet treats, and a very happy toddler will forever be what I remember Brody’s 3rd birthday by.

My biggest fear of traveling internationally with two kids was the airplane ride. I dreaded the thought of the 12-hour flight to Tokyo so much so that we almost forgo buying tickets initially.

Was it really possible for a 3-year old to not go nuts sitting for that long? Heck, was it possible for me to not go nuts sitting for that long? Spoiler alert: It was. I am grateful I did not let that fear keep us from our Japan adventure---it was a truly magical trip.

We have been back a week now and everyone seems to be curious how the airplane ride went.

Are you transitioning from milk or formula to solids? Look no further, because I’ve rounded up some of my favorite accessories for your little eater! From bibs and sippy cups, to plates and storage cups — i’ve got you covered!

I vividly remember entering my third trimester when I was pregnant with Brody and wondering how I would ever know if I was in labor. I was a first time mom and I had every worry in the world. What would contractions really feel like? Was my body prepping for labor as my due date approached? When would I feel confidant to going to the hospital once labor started? Contractions and labor were so foreign to me.

Even now as a certified childbirth educator and a second-time mom, I had some of the same feelings as we awaited Isla’s arrival. The one thing I wish I would have had? A peek inside my body.

With the craziness that comes with two kids, I actually find myself looking forward to nursing Isla these days. It is the much-needed quiet time where I am forced to slow down for a few. Moments where I can stare in awe at this little blue-eyed babe that JD and I have been blessed with. Time where there is not a care in the world but my sweet Isla. We are 7 months in and it has been a beautiful journey. I feel relaxed. I feel confident. Not a day goes by that I take for granted the ability to nourish her. 

We went back and fourth on whether of not we were going to have a birthday party for Brody this year. We were leaning towards a Disney trip instead of a birthday celebration, but with our big move coming up, we decided we wanted to take advantage of every chance we have to hang out with our wonderful friends before we have to say good-bye. And let’s be real, I love planning birthday parties and Brody loves going to birthday parties.