Hi friends!

George is here! He is already a month old, but over here I lose track of time and most days forget what day it is. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you saw he was born on December 28th weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces! I was induced, which is what I was for both Dylan and Parker, so I felt a little more calm knowing what to expect. The labor went a bit faster than with my first two girls, which may be normal the third time around. Shortly after arriving to my room around 8:00 a.m., I had George at 1:03 pm! Due to COVID, no guests were allowed so it was nice to just have Chad and me in the recovery room with George during our stay and not stressing about a lot of visitors coming by.

Once we got home and the girls met him, we pretty much hunkered down until their daycare started up again. I will say, the first 2 weeks were really, really, really rough. The kind of rough that I seriously doubted having a third so soon. Chad and I were on edge with each other, I was suffering from pretty horrible back pain, we were not sleeping and my two toddlers were a lot to keep up with. And it didn’t help that it was too cold to go outside and since there is the pandemic, we did not have outside help (but when the girls’ daycare opened back up from winter break, having them there a few days a week helped soooo much!). Okay that is a lot of complaining, but that is the honest truth. I kept telling myself “it gets better” because I know it does. It’s just a lot to handle - recovery plus toddlers - all while trying to nurse and care for a newborn. There were a lot of things swirling around my head - doubt, guilt, worry, sadness, happiness, joy - it felt overwhelming.

But George on the other hand has been great this entire time! I find the newborn stage is EXTRA special and to be honest, it is the easiest part compared to my two other kids. Now, when I had my first, it was all SO new, so that in and of itself is so hard! So for first time parents that newborn stage is so hard. But once you go through it and have another, and now with my third, the newborn is my easy little angel. Sleeps, eats, poops and just lays in my arms without making a peep. I have also seen Dylan and Parker really bond and play more together which has been super sweet to watch. And they love their baby brother which also is so heartwarming! Overall, I know all the great things overshadow any hard thing we go through in these early years of having children.

10 NEWBORN FAVS.

This time around, I definitely have found items we have literally used with all three kids during the newborn stage! You don’t need much the first year. I wanted to take this post to round up my go-to items I recommend for new moms!

I have sworn by these things again with George this past month.

• Sleep sacks. I never was a great swaddler, so I have loved the adjustable sleep sacks when they are super small and it keeps their arms in. As they grow and start to move a lot, babies sleep with their arms out so we have a lot of these sleep sacks. George is already in ones with his arms out, because that is what he has preferred it seems. But do what your baby likes best!

• Onesies - This is literally all my newborns wear for their first few months of life. Because onesies are SO easy. I love the ones that zip from the top so you can just unzip the bottom during the night for quick changing. The two affordable brands I use the most are Carters and Old Navy.

• Hatch sound machine - We registered for this sound machine with Dylan and I love that you can control from your phone. We bought another one for Parker and it will be the one George will use when we move him into his own room. Safe to say I 100% recommend this sound machine!

• OXO Pull Out Wipe Dispenser - we go through soooo many wipes and have two of these containers. Makes getting them SO easy! I recommend them in your child’s room on the changing table.

• Beautycounter All-Over Protective Balm: I swear by this balm to rid your baby’s face of baby acne or cradle cap, and put on any dry skin, even use as a diaper cream! A little bit goes a LONG way. It’s the only moisturizer I’ve used on George in his first month. I always have one on hand at all times for all three kids. If your baby gets a bad diaper rash, I would lather this balm on first and then top with a white diaper cream and it will solve it!!

• Baby Swing: We have used some version of this baby swing for all three kids. It’s so helpful those first three months, we keep it in our living room. All three of my children used it daily in the first few months.

• Halo Bassinet - I bought this bassinet with my first and keep it by my bedside for the first few months. It’s kind of large and it’s not cheap, but I have liked it because it swivels, so you can easily pull close to your bed and then away from your bed. Any bassinet is helpful, this is just the brand I have!

• Burt’s Bees Diaper Changing Covers and Crib Sheets - Again, another item we have had since my first child! We registered for Burt’s Bees crib sheets and changing pad covers with Dylan and they are in such great shape, we still use them and will use them for George. I recommend getting them if you want soft sheets that will last forever…

• Nook Sleep Mattress - When I had Dylan, I didn’t know to look for organic mattresses because regular ones are made with harmful chemicals and materials. When I had Parker, this Nook brand was recommended by one of my friends, so I bought one for both girls and really LOVE them! Organic is a lot more expensive but totally worth the investment because you feel good that your baby is sleeping on a safe surface.

• Copper Pearl Blankets/nursing cover ups: I was gifted this blanket for Parker and couldn’t believe I didn’t know about it before! Soooo stretchy and soft. I love the nursing cover up if you’re out and about and nursing! It doubles as an infant seat cover up.

• Zarbee’s Saline Mist: Okay this is a bonus item! Because we have a winter baby now! Dylan and Parker were both summer babies. With the dry winter weather and colds, George has been so congested. This saline mist is easy to use for a squirming baby and helps relieve congestion!

Okay, I think that’s it! With my first I had little outfits and baby shoes and things I didn’t use because I did not realize how little they need. A few places to sleep, diapers, wipes, onesies, sleep sacks and a sound machine and you’re golden.