10 Useful Things You Must Add to Your Baby Registry

Saturday, June 30, 2018



I know some people feel like having a registry is like “asking for gifts”. But I don’t see it that way, they help you get what you really need. I’ve noticed people love gifting cute baby outfits; but I’m sure they’ll prefer to know that you will give their gift frequent use (this means, hey not-mommies…if you are looking for useful baby shower gifts, this list is for you too). 

Building my baby registry wasn’t an easy task. There are so many products in the market that it is very easy to get overwhelmed. I started asking fellow moms to see what I was missing, what I should remove, or what I should switch to something else. Now that Nico is 6 weeks, I want to also share some things that have worked for us.

So here are 10 things (all available at Target!) that are not necessarily the typical things you would add to your registry but that you will be glad you did:



If there is something you will use for the next couple of years is: DIAPERS + WIPES! I’m loving the Pampers Pure Collection (which is easily available at Target) for many reasons. The diapers not only have the Pampers trusted leakage, dryness protection, and premium cotton,  but they are free of fragrance, parabens, chlorine bleaching, and 26 allegerns. Plus, they come with the cutest designs.  Nico is already wearing size 1- where is time flying by!!

If you have space in your house, add them in different sizes to your registry to make sure you don’t get only the newborn size. Also, there this cute idea to have a raffle and anyone who brings a box of diapers can enter to win a prize. It's a great way to stack up on diapers- and if they are Pampers Pure, even better.






2) Zipper Onesies
Like I said, you know you will be changing diapers non-stop.  Reason why I recommend onesies that are easy to put on and take off. I got several pants that I haven’t used because of how time consuming it is to put them and take them off every time we have to change his diaper. I also like the zipper ones because Nico (and I’m sure most babies) hates when I put clothes over his head. Win-win for mommy and baby!




This was actually a gift from my friend Erika from Blah Blah Blonde. She had a baby last year and she shared how this was a lifesaver…and she was SO right. It keeps your fingers clean from any baby diaper cream and it makes the process smoother and faster. Another must have in your changing table.




This was one of the things I did not add to my registry and I regretted it. I was like “but I live in a small apartment and the trash can is just a few steps away”; but  when there is a mess at the changing table, it’s very convenient, easy, and sanitary to have a diaper pail right by it.




We have this little pillow by the bed all the time. It’s great for feedings since  it lifts babies to a comfortable position. It is also great when holding the baby, your arms won’t get as tired. It also grows with the baby, I can’t wait see him on to tummy time, sitting, and playing.



 
They are amazing for bath time with the little ones. Before his belly button fell off, we used it flat on the counter and it provided great cushion for a towel bath. Now we use it in the bathroom sink. You just plug the sink drain, insert the flower, and let the water rise to the desired level and temperature. Nico really enjoys it, it’s perfect for newborns.




I was so nervous about clipping Nico’s nails for the first time that we took the set we purchased to the pediatrician and asked her to do it at the one-week mark. She had never seen this clipper and she was pleasantly surprised, so I knew I made the right choice. The blades overlap and they feel very safe for little fingers. It also comes with a small file. I like clipping his nails when he is fully asleep or eating (he doesn’t even notice).




I purchased a fancy crib that we have barely used.  He loves sleeping on this and we have the option of using in the bedroom and living room. I got it in the palm tree print as well as the marble print and they are both really cute (see point 10, get extra covers for everything!!).




I’ll share more of my breast feeding/ pumping experience soon. I got my double pump from my insurance company (so make sure to call!!); however, I added the storage system to my registry because I planned on building up a milk bank. The great thing about it is that the bottle lids have selectable dates so you know exactly when the milk is from and you can keep track of  the content's freshness. It also comes with freezer bags to help prolong the milk stash lifetime.




Make sure to add extra covers for everything (Crib, changing station, infant sleeper, and  nursing pillow) so you can have fresh clean sheets/ covers every time there is an unexpected baby accident, which happens more often than expected. 



What did I miss? Share with a fellow mommy below!  XOXO

STINKY BOOTY DUTY- Father's Day Special with Pampers Pure

Saturday, June 16, 2018



OMG! I still have my “pinch me” moments with Nico and I can’t believe it’s Gabe’s FIRST FATHER’S DAY! It’s true what they say, you fall in love with your husband even more when you see him bond with your child.

The first few days at the hospital were a bit hard for me. I was in a lot of pain to stand for diaper duty; and Gabe definitely took over like a pro. The nurses even joked asking if he was sure this was his first kid since he was killing it. Maybe he paid a lot of attention at the pre-baby classes we attended at the hospital…maybe he is a natural- I think he is a natural. 

At first Nico hated to be changed, we think it was because he would get very cold. So Gabe still makes sure he has everything in hand: the Pampers Pure Protection diaper and Pampers Aqua Pure wipes, the diaper rash cream, and a change of clothes.  But besides making it efficient, this new dad has found his unique way of making the “dirty work” FUN : Gabe sings to him. You might think he signs cute lullabies but no, Nico actually enjoys 80s and 90s tunes!! I think someone is going to be a rockstar and steal many many hearts! “Living on a Prayer” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” are on repeat at the changing table and I love seeing them bond. Even though Nico is just a month old, it gives me a glimpse into their relationship…and it makes me even more excited!

I was looking forward to try the Pampers Pure Collection at home. The diapers are free of fragrance, chlorine bleaching, lotion, parabens, natural rubber latex and other 26 allergens; and the Pampers Aqua Pure Wipes have carefully selected ingredients like 99% pure water and a touch of premium cotton. We always want the best for our babies, right?


I’d love to know from our the moms and dads out there, how do you make "Stinky Booty Duty" fun.



______________________

Todavía tengo mis momentos que siento que me tienen que pellizcar con el pequeñito - y no puedo creer que es el primer Día del Padre de Gabe. Como les dije en el post del parto, es cierto que dicen que te enamoras más de tu esposo cuando lo ves con tu hijo.

Los primeros días en el hospital son definitivamente difíciles para toda mamá. Yo personalmente sentía bastante dolor y Gabe de una se portó como todo un PRO- las enfermeras le echaban broma y preguntaban si tenía más hijos porque cambiaba pañales como si lo hubiese hecho toda la vida. Puede que haya aprendido bastante en las clases pre-bebé a las que fuimos hace unos meses, o tal vez el sale natural. ¡Yo creo que le sale natural!

Los primeros días, a Nico no le gustaba mucho cuando lo cambiábamos; yo creo que le daba mucho frío. Esto hizo que Gabe fuese aún más rápido: se asegura de tener todo lo que necesita a la mano: los pañales y toallas húmedas de Pampers Pure, cambio de ropa, y la crema para prevenir la pañalitis. Pero aparte de ser eficiente, Gabe ha hecho de esta rutina algo divertido y un momento que ellos han hecho para compartir. Nos hemos dado cuenta que a Nico le encanta que le cantemos; pero no las típicas canciones de cuna, a Nico le encantan las canciones de los 80s y 90s. Si los ven en el cambiador, es probable que Gabe esté cantándole algo como "Living on a Prayer" o alguna de Queen. Aunque Nico solo tiene un mes, me emociona mucho verlos juntos y como se nota que van a ser mejores amigos.

Estaba muy emocionada de probar la colección de Pampers Pure- y nos ha encantado. Tiene unos diseños muy lindos, la tecnología de Pampers, y es libre de fragancia, parabenos, 26 alergenos, látex de caucho natural y más - lo mejor para el chiquitín.

¿Ustedes como hacen que la hora de los pañales sea divertida? ¡Me encantaría oír de todas las mamás que me siguen! Y ¡Feliz día a todos los papás que hacen que cada momento sea divertido!










NICO'S NURSERY REVEAL: Minimalistic zoo nursery

Sunday, June 3, 2018


This is probably one of my favorite posts ever! Doing the nursery was challenging due to space but so much fun. 

We live in a one-bedroom apartment with a den. When I found out I was pregnant, we decided not to move to a bigger place for a little bit.  And I don't regret this decision; this helped us downsize, organize our apartment, and invest in smart storage for our things. Also with all the added costs of a baby, adding a bigger mortgage wasn't ideal.

Originally we were going to turn the den into a nursery (This small den has been an office, an extra closet, a "guest" room, and more). Later on, everything changed. The corner where my vanity was turned into a nursery corner- and then his nursery corner took over half of our room. We  even changed the layout of my bedroom...but I have to say I am in LOVE. 



______________________________


Creo que este ha sido uno de los post más divertidos que he hecho. Decorar "el cuartito" del bebé fue un reto pero increíblemente divertido.

Como les he dicho, vivimos en un apartamento con un cuarto y un pequeño estudio sin puerta ni paredes. Cuando nos enteramos que íbamos a ser papás, pensamos en mudarnos a una casa pero después de pensarlo bien decidimos quedarnos en este apartamento por un tiempo más. No me arrepiento de esta decisión: esto nos ayudo a organizarnos, deshacernos de cosas que no usábamos y aprovechar el espacio al máximo. Aparte con todos los gastos de un bebé, añadir un alquiler más costoso no era lo ideal.

Originalmente íbamos a convertir ese estudio en el cuarto del bebé (ese espacio ha sido una oficina, un closet extra, un cuarto de visita y más). Pero como pueden ver, cambiamos de opinión mil veces y el cuartito de bebé se terminó apoderando de la mitad de nuestra habitación. Por eso quisimos que el tema fuese bastante neutral y moderno. Yo estoy encantada de como quedó y espero que a ustedes también les guste y las inspire si viven en un espacio pequeño.








Like you can imagine, the inspiration started by pinning and pinning on my Pinterest Board. 

My first purchase was the 4 little animal prints you see above the bassinet.  I got them on ETSY.   I'm going to link to the exact one I got HERE. But you can find absolutely any size and any animal you want on Etsy; with flowers for a girly girl vibe, forest animals, and more. It comes without the frames,  I found these white ones on Walmart.

The second purchase, and definitely the big investment in the room, was the basinet. It's called the SNOO by Happiest Baby. I kept seeing their ads everywhere- yes, it's pricey but they have big sales frequently. I got mine during President's Day and it was 40% off + I ended up getting a partial refund because it took a while to ship. Let me know if you guys want a full review of it but so far we love it (and Nico loves it too)!  It boosts the baby's sleep with white noise and gentle movement. Plus, it's adorable!



______________________________



Como se pueden imaginar, y como todo, mi proceso de inspiración empezó en Pinterest donde escogí que la temática del cuarto fuese de animalitos, pero como les digo: moderna y minimalista.

Mi primera compra fue hace muchos meses y fueron los 4 animalejos que ves encima del moisés. Los conseguí en ETSY y les dejo el enlace exacto acá. Pero en el buscador pueden encontrar de todo, el animal que quieras, del tamaño que quieras, y como lo quieras.  Estos me encantaron porque son animales bebés. Dependiendo de los que pidan, vienen o no con los marcos. Yo conseguí estos marcos blancos en Walmart mientras hacía compras para el Baby Shower.

La segunda compra, y definitivamente la mayor inversión del cuarto, fue el moisés. Se llama SNOO de la marca Hippies Baby. Me salía y salía la publicidad de ellos en todos lados y terminé averiguando mucho al respecto. Sí, es costosa pero tienen rebajas frecuentemente. Por ejemplo, yo la conseguí por el Día del Presidente a 40% de descuento y luego me devolvieron parte del cost porque se tardaron mucho en enviármela. Si quieren después les puedo dar una reseña más completa pero por ahora nos encanta *y a Nico también*. Ayuda a que los bebés duerman más con un movimiento suave que detecta si el bebé se está despertando y ayuda a que vuelva a dormirse. Aparte el diseño me encantó y me inspiró a añadir un poco más de madera al cuarto.










The corner came together with the ladder, the neutral blankets, and the plush animals (the giraffe and the elephant). Then I thought it needed some greens/plants. I started researching about nursery-safe plants but I ended up getting these two artificial plants from Ikea and the macrame plant hangers from Amazon.  The original idea was to hang them from the ceiling, which was a total fail because of the cement ceiling. We found this corner shelf at Target that was perfect to put one of the plants and hang the other one from below without making holes in the ceiling. Final touch, the white round fur rug. I love the texture it added to the corner.

Originally, I wanted to get a changing table with little wheels on it so we could move it from the den to the room easily. However, it made more sense to get a dresser that we could use as he grows older (we just added the changing cover).  The dresser we had was too tall (especially for my petite self) so we got this one from Target ( I love the white drawers and the wood accent that matched the basinet perfectly). Even though it is beautiful, it was a nightmare to put together. My husband was very patient and it took him a full day to built. The first two drawers are filled with baby things while the other four are half Gabe's (my husband) and half mine. It's working great, so far!

* a random parenthesis: the den ended up as an office/storage and our original dresser is there and became the perfect storage for all the baby things that will be used later on*




______________________________


La esquina agarró forma con la escalerita, las sábanas neutrales de animalitos, y los peluches (la jirafa y el elefante).  Luego sentí que le hacía falta un poco de verde (es decir matitas). Empecé a buscar como loca en Internet sobre que plantas son seguras para bebés pero preferí comprar unas artificiales. Estas que guindan son de Ikea y la idea era guindarlas en el techo con estos tejidos de macrame. Nos dimos cuenta que iba a ser imposible en el techo y la solución fue comprar una repisa de esquina. Así no tuvimos que abrir huecos en el cemento del techo y pudimos ajustar la altura fácilmente. El toque final fue la alfombra redonda peluda, me gusta mucho la textura que le dió.

Originalmente también quería que el cambiador de pañales fuese móvil- vi varios con rueditas para poder pasarlo del estudio al cuarto fácilmente. Pero preferí comprar un mueble y añadir el colchón para cambiarlo- así la compra era más versátil y se puede usar cuando Nico crezca. El gavetero que teníamos era muy alto, especialmente para mi tamaño. Este de Target me encantó. Es una belleza e iba perfecto con el moisés. Lo único malo es que viene en 2000 partes y se necesita todo un día para armarlo. Las dos primeras gavetas tienen cosas de Nico y las otras 4 son de nosotros. Por ahora este sistema esta funcionando bastante bien- ya iremos viendo.

**un paréntesis para las curiosas: el estudio es ahora mitad oficina, mitad depósito (con ropa grande de Nico y cosas que va a utilizar dentro de unos meses. Los gaveteros que teníamos antes quedaron perfectos ahí**





For the changing table/dresser, I got this round mirror (it's very well mounted, don't freak out super moms). I wasn't sure if I should add more wall art beside the mirror or to add a shelf.  The shelf is still an option but, at the moment, we are fine with the diaper caddy and a basket for all the things Nico needs when changing his diaper and/or grooming needs. The N is made of cardboard and I painted it gold.

This little plush dog you see on the changing table is called "Noah the dog" and it's from Cuddle and Kind; all their hand-knit dolls are made in Perú and for every doll, the company provides 10 meals to children in need. It's such an amazing cause, and the dolls are adorable. Check all of them out by clicking HERE.

Let me know what you thought of Nico's Nursery


_______________________________

Para el cambiador/mueble, conseguí este espejo redondo (Super mamás preocupadas, les prometo que no se cae por nada del mundo). Del otro lado no estaba segura si agregar una repisa con decoración o más marcos. La "N" que ven es de cartón y yo la pinté de dorado, fue un mini proyecto tonto pero también divertido. Por el momento estamos bien con estos marcos y frases lindas. En el caddy tenemos todo lo que necesitamos: los pañales, las cremitas, peine, cortaúñas, todo lo que el necesita.

También quería mencionarles del peluche de perrito que ven en el cambiador; se llama "Noah the dog" y es de una compañía que se llama Cuddle and Kind; son todas hechas a mano en Perú y por cada muñeca que venden les dan 10 comidas a niños que lo necesitan. Es una causa muy linda y todos los peluches de animales son una ternura..

¡Espero que les haya gustado el "cuarto" de Nico!  ¡Les mandamos muchos besos!