Babo Botanicals for Baby

Around here we change A LOT of diapers. With my first born, Blair, I was able to use cloth diapers but with twins nobody has time for that! We go through a lot of diapers, wipes, and diaper cream as well. I prefer to use organic when I can and lately I have been loving Babo Botanicals for the twins (and even Blair!). 

The oatmilk calendula soothing diaper cream smells divine and really gets the job done. I use it at every diaper change for Evie since she tends to get diaper rash easily. I use it on Cal at the first sign of redness and it soothes him immediately. And I actually have been using the cream on Blair when her skin gets irritated...sometimes five year olds aren't expert wipers yet! ;) 

I love that Babo Botanicals diaper cream is natural and has a ton of organic ingredients. It's also free of gross things like Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates, Synthetic Fragrances, Dyes, Sodium chloride, Formaldehyde, MEA, DEA, TEA, or most common allergens. This makes me worry less which is always a good thing! Plus, omg how cute is their packaging?! Love that little bunny! 

Their wipes are great for sticky hands, bottoms, and messy mouths too. I like that they are a three in one product...makes my life easier! 

When companies send me products I don't always commit to buying them but I can honestly say I'll be switching over to Babo Botanicals. I really love their product and feel good about using them on my kids. Plus they sell on Amazon and can arrive right at my doorstep. Easy peasy! 

WIPES 
DIAPER CREAM

Now that I've had a taste of Babo Botanicals I'm dying to try out their other baby products like the shampoo and wash and the swim and sport shampoo and wash for Blair with all the swimming she does. They also have great sunscreen so I'll be grabbing some for summer.  In fact they are already in my cart ready for check out! Thanks Babo for introducing me to your great line of products! 

Hairburst

Does anyone else have tumbleweeds of hair blowing across their floors? As a mom of twins my post-partum hair loss is out of control. Twice the hormones, twice the hair loss I guess! I had been looking for something to help combat this and Hairburst offered to send over some of their vitamins that help prevent the loss of hair pre, post, and during pregnancy due to hormonal imbalances. 

I was excited to find out that my hair can still be beautiful and healthy after having twins! When I decide to actually style it, ha ha. Hairburst is full of vitamins such as biotin that help maintain healthy hair. As a mom it's important that I feel good about myself and having healthy hair certainly boosts my confidence. Thanks Hairburst! 

Easter PJs

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on its way! I'm swooning over the cute Easter pjs I've been seeing everywhere. And while I already have the kids pjs picked out for Easter (I always get them on clearance the year before) there are some super cute ones that I'll be adding to my cart for next year!

From top to bottom: Cotton On, Gap, Old Navy, Gap

I just die when they have matching boy girl ones for the twins! Gotta dress them alike while I can! 

Breast Feeding Diaries

I wanted to take some time to share/document how we feed our twins. I'm always interested in hearing other people's stories about what worked for them and I like to share my story in hopes that it could help other mamas out.

All photos by Jen Wertman Photography

For the first 3-4 months I was feeding the twins my own breast milk. They were super tiny and not gaining weight (hello, they had to share!) so the doctor suggested supplementing them with formula. At the time my best friend happened to have a HUGE stash of  breast milk in her freezer since her baby refused to take a bottle and she only took one side at a time. She gave it all to me and I began giving the twins 2 ounces of extra breast milk before bed at night.

As the months went on she wasn't pumping as much and it was looking like we were going to need to start supplementing them with formula. This time around I told myself that I would do the best I could but if I needed to use formula it wouldn't be the end of the world. I was not that open minded with Blair. As it turned out I found another friend who was able to give me a TON of her breast milk and to this day we still supplement with both mamas milk! Talk about bosom buddies... ;)

Fast forward to now and the twins currently take 3 ounces of breast milk in a bottle (from my friends) at their 11:30 and 3:30 feedings and four ounces at their bedtime feeding. We make sure to give them the bottle before they breast feed from me so that they end their feeding session on me feeling full and satisfied. My lactation consultant said they will associate a fully belly with mama and this will prevent them from refusing to nurse and only bottle feeding. During their first feed of the day (7:30 am) they don't need a supplement because I'm so full from not nursing overnight. Each baby takes 10 ounces a day...20 total (on top of what I provide them). It's a miracle that we've been able to find friends who can, and are willing to, pump this much extra for us!

At this point I'm riding the gravy milk train as far as it will take me. I was hoping the twins could be solely on breast milk for six months and here they are still on breast milk at seven months! I'm thankful for this but not obsessing over when/if it will end. No matter what the twins will get fed whether it be from me, friends, formula or solids. I'm doing what works for us, and this set up happens to be best for our situation with twins.

It takes a village to raise kids and apparently 3 mamas to feed 2 babies. ;)

Super Bloom

Over the weekend we went to see the wildflowers that are blooming all over southern California. We found some in Lake Elsinore off of walker canyon road. We went in the evening so they were starting to close up but it was still beautiful.

Cal was actually hating life in this picture but it sure does look pretty, right?! ;) 

peekaboo! I see you! 

Dining Room Before and After

Our dining room is done (minus new flooring/rug)! We just got the chandelier in the mail over the weekend and installed it on Sunday. M worked his hiney off installing the board and batten and I helped a smidge caulking and painting it. It was tedious but we are so pleased with the results. It updates and brightens that room a ton and it's the first room you see when you walk in the front door so I'm happy it looks good. Here is the finished product...

chandelier: shades of light, baskets: target, table: made by M, chairs: yard sale, curtains: BBB, runner: target

And before...

I love how the board and batten molding gives the room more character and texture. Slowly but surely we are turning our track home into something more personal. It's something M and I enjoy doing together which makes it more fun. Happy Monday!

St. Patrick's Day Ideas

You haven't planned anything yet for St. Patrick's Day? Good, me either. I scrolled through my Pinterest board for St. Patty's Day and found one easy treat to make and one easy craft to make with Blair. She doesn't need anything grand...just some quality time with her Mama. :) I think she will like both of these ideas!

via HERE

Now I will promptly be ordering some Lucky Charms on Amazon Fresh because I'm lazy genius like that. ;)

via HERE

Pretty sure I can scrounge up some colored construction paper and cotton balls. My motto this year is the easier the better! Hope this helps other busy mamas out there too. :)

Disneyland for "big" little kids

Ah, Disneyland how I have missed you! On Blair's birthday we hauled our crew to the happiest place on earth because we're crazy. We decided to get a three day pass to Disneyland since it was such a good deal and was a much safer bet than an annual pass. Maybe when the twins are two we will consider getting passes again.

We ended up having an absolute blast and I can't wait to go back two more times! The corn dogs were just how I remembered them and I found a new love at Ghiradelli...their chocolate chip cookie was divine! 

For the first time Blair rode cars and LOVED it! She also went on Big Thunder Roller Coaster TWICE! Who is this kid? I took a video of her while riding it...priceless. 

sweatshirt from gap

She fell asleep in the twins' infant car seat/stroller but never stopped gripping her birthday pin. :) It was such a fun day and going to Disneyland with a "big" little kid was so awesome. I just loved showing her new things. Sometimes parenting can be so fun! ;) 

Under the Sea Party

When I asked Blair what kind of party she wanted she said, "A mermaid, unicorn, fairy party!" All things fantasy for that girl! I told her she could pick one of those and she decided on a mermaid theme. Tiny Prints helped us set the tone for our underwater adventure with scalloped invitations printed on thick shimmery card stock. I added a message inside the envelope as an extra detail. There's just something special about getting an actual invite in the mail versus a digital one. Plus I love keeping an extra one for her baby book. 

Honestly this was the easiest party I have ever thrown. Probably because I had friends helping me. ;) It was also the least expensive party I've ever thrown too. Since we only invited a handful of girls this may be why. I ended up using decor I already had or borrowing items from friends. I think the only decor I spent money on was the balloons and helium. Everything else was pieced together from stuff I had lying around from previous parties. 

my blouse from urban outfitters 

mermaid gown from Nordstrom

shirt: vintage old navy skirt: currently at target

All of my party inspiration came from Jessica over at Garvin and Co. No point in reinventing the wheel! I borrowed the table cloth from a friend and cut the letters out myself. All the food was made by myself and friends. Thanks for swimming by!