Drafts & Crafts

Lounging with DockATot

January 30, 2018 with Drafts & Crafts

The DockATot was high on my wish list for our second baby. I am sharing my personal review of the DockATot today and why we love it!

PROS

beautifully designed- has handles for transport, firm cushions for baby
high-quality material- material is tight on the cushions and zip together in two pieces
excellent if you choose to co sleep even though that is not what is recommended these days
portable and easy to move around the home for baby to lounge in
the sides make the baby feel cuddled and keep the baby secure from rolling

CONS

expensive baby item
pillow is bulky to store when not in use
not designed to put in crib
my white covers show stains easy (you can opt for a pattern instead to solve this)

We did not have the coveted baby lounger when Tanner was a baby. After hearing awesome things about it, I was thrilled that we were given the opportunity to try the DockATot Deluxe and the DockATot Grand. To start, I’ll talk about the Deluxe (0 to 8 months). I was happy to receive the DockATot Deluxe, intended for up to 22 pounds, before the arrival of our baby girl. I had plans to use this lounger all of the time, especially in the newborn phase! Winnie is now 7 weeks old and we use the DockATot Deluxe for her ALL throughout the day! She takes supervised naps in it, she lays on out couch in it, we lays in it while I entertain our toddler, and she rests in there while I shower so Tanner can not get to her. It is convenient to be able to move it around our home, so I know exactly where Winnie is. I can keep a close eye on her since we have a 20 month old. Even though Tanner has been the sweetest big brother, he is still very young so I do not want him messing with her by accident. Even with the steep price tag, I would highly recommend the DockATot Deluxe for a new baby. We intend to use our Deluxe until Winnie grows out of it.

As for the DockATot Grande (9 months-36 months), it is more of a luxury item than a necessity for Tanner. I think one reason is because he did not have a DockATot Deluxe when he was a baby so he is not interested in napping it in. He loves to curl up and watch TV in his DockATot Grand and also play in it! He loves to climb in it with his toys and we pretend it is a boat! Again, both sizes are sturdy, portable, and beautifully made. A HUGE thank you to DockATot for sponsoring this post!

Keep in touch,
Dani

Tips for Bringing Home your Second Baby (prior prep & first few weeks)

Mommy & Misc

January 17, 2018 by Drafts & Crafts

We felt so many emotions as we prepared to become a family of 4: nervous, excited, overwhelmed, & blessed. I wanted to share some tips that I believe made it a smoother transition on our first child and for myself.

Verance Photography

Since becoming a mother of 2, I have had a few mamas who are excepting baby number 2 to ask me how the transition has been and what they should expect from baby number 1. I always like to preface by saying that I am not an expert and every child is different, but I did want to share some ideas that helped our family. I can promise you I experienced every single emotion while pregnant with Winnie. I believe everyone does, but I think they happen at different stages depending on your current situation and the current temperament of your first child. For instance, from the moment I found out we were expecting baby number 2, I knew my kids would be pretty close in age and it didn’t scare me. Tanner was 10 months old when I got pregnant. He was the best baby so I was not worried at all about having another. Then when he started to become a wild toddler around 15 months, I was a nervous wreck, thinking what did I get myself into, why did I think I was ready for a second baby. BUT we prepared the best we could, I tried to work on the things I was worried about and now Winnie is here and Tanner is a wonderful big brother. I hope these tips can also help your family too!

While pregnant here are some ideas to start preparing child number 1:

tell the child they are going to be a big brother or big sister from the moment you find out you are pregnant
tell them they are getting a new baby, not that mommy and daddy are having a new baby
talk about the new baby every day
have the first child help get the nursery ready for their new sibling
bring the child to a doctors appointment where they could see or hear their sibling
get the child a baby doll of their own to teach them how to be gentle and hold a baby
do your best to save up leave if you will be returning to work
make sure your husband will be able to take a few days or more when the baby is born
plan ahead and see if your family or friends can help you with your first child
make some frozen meals because cooking with 2 kids is a big adjustment
dependent on the age of your first child, work on those daunting tasks that need work (potty training, bed transitioning)
get a gift for the first child and give it to them in the hospital when they come to meet their sibling for the first time.
plan ahead and order some simple toys off Amazon to keep the first child busy when you have to tend to baby. They will be thrilled to have some new items and it will keep their attention for a little while. They do not need to be expensive or fancy. Winnie happened to be born the week before Christmas, which was lucky for us because Tanner had so many new toys to occupy him. If you do want to get crazy, I would get one big item, like a play kitchen or tool bench would be amazing for the first child to play with. Here are some items that we got for Tanner to play with after Winnie was born:
1. Window Markers
2. Coloring Book and Stickers (order a few coloring books and sticker books in their favorite characters)
3. Play Doh and play kit – Tanner loves this Melissa and Doug Kit

While at the hospital:

give the first child their gift from baby 2
don’t hold baby number 2 when the first child walks in if you can help it. Sit the first child next to you in the hospital bed and have daddy bring over baby number 2
introduce the second baby as “our baby”
let the first child hold (with assistance if needed) their new sibling
encourage them to touch, feel, smell, the new baby

When coming home:

get the first child excited, remind them of their new role as big brother or big sister
encourage them to help, even if it is simple things like, hand mommy a diaper or throw something away
encourage them to sing to their sibling or bring then toys
whip out one of those new toys if its a day when you need a break or the baby is extra fussy
try to plan at least once per day (for 30 mins) where you give your undivided attention to your first time, color with them, make a snack with them, take them outback and play. This has been a big help for us, but also is very hard some days with all that has to get done.
and last, listen to your mind and body! If you are having a tough time, ask for help. Remember anyone who has a baby knows how tough the transition can be. Ask a friend to pick up your first child if you need a break. Ask someone to come watch the kids so you can go to the grocery store alone. This can be life saving!!

I would love to hear if you have any more suggestions or what worked for your family! Best of luck to any expectant mother out there!

Keep in touch,
Dani

Winsome Rose’s Birth Story

Mommy & Misc

December 27, 2017 by Drafts & Crafts

With Winnie turning two weeks tomorrow, I wanted to quickly get her birth story live for anyone interested in reading it.

I hope everyone had the best Christmas spent with loved ones and relaxing. Our Winnie girl will be two weeks old tomorrow. Time is already flying by so I wanted to get her birth story up sooner rather than later! Most of you may know that I was longing for a VBAC delivery (vaginal birth after c section), but unfortunately that is not what happened. I am resting in the truth that God’s plan is perfect. God knew how Winsome would enter the world way before we ever did.

From the beginning of my second pregnancy I was seeing my regular OB and a high-risk specialist. Due to having preeclampsia/high blood pressure with Tanner, my second pregnancy was considered high risk. Tanner was born via c section at 37 weeks, you can read his birth story here. While I saw the high risk doctor from 20 weeks on with Winnie, nothing was ever wrong. My blood pressure was perfect my entire pregnancy and all of the extra blood work, tests, and scans looked wonderful.

My OB wanted me to schedule a c section from the beginning of my pregnancy, but I was standing strong about a VBAC. I really wanted the experience of having a vaginal birth. I truly believe that is what my body was created for. However, my body had other plans. At 37.5 weeks I went to my last high risk appointment and they did a full ultra sound with measurements and looked at all of her major organs. The high risk doctor was concerned about Winnie’s size. She was never measuring small, but at this appointment they said was she measuring below the 10th percentile for weight. They believed that Winnie weighted 5.5 pounds at 37.5 weeks. The baby was diagnosed with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), and the high risk doctor said that he wanted the baby delivered no later than 39 weeks. They felt that our baby would grow faster outside of the womb.

When I went to my regular OB appointment a few days later, we discussed a plan. The OB told me that if my body did not naturally go into labor or if was not dilated by 39 weeks, then they would do a c section. If I was dilated, they would have induced me. I went crazy for the next 10 days trying to get Winnie out naturally: professional massages, prim rose oil, squats, walking, stairs, sex, breast pumping. You name it, I was willing to try it.

The OB scheduled me for a c section a day before 39 weeks (according to my 20 week ultra sound). This all was happening so fast that I really didn’t share the details with many people. It may have been selfish of me, but I was devastated to hear that I would most likely have to get another c section. When I got to the hospital for my c section, they checked my cervix one more time. The nurse sadly told me that my body was not showing any signs of labor so a c section it was. My c section was scheduled for 4pm. It sucked to have it that late in the day! I could not eat past midnight the evening before and they told me I would not be able to eat until the next morning. The surgery was running a few mins late. I walked into the OR to begin my spinal prep at 4:20pm.

With my husband by my side, Winsome Rose Colding was born at 4:44pm. Our little girl weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces. While pulling Winnie out, my OB yelled this baby weighs a lot more than 5 pounds!! She is a little peanut, but she was by no means IUGR. It stinks that ultra sounds can be way off! After all of the back and forth, my husband and I were just so happy that Winnie was here and healthy!! The second c section was much more scary. I don’t know if that was because I knew what was coming and it made me more nervous. The first time was beautiful, the spinal tap did not make me nauseous at all! This time, I threw up and it felt like someone was sitting on my chest and I couldn’t breathe. During my c section with Tanner, my hands were tied down to the operating table. This time they said they no longer do that. It was nice to be able to have my husband hold my hand this time around.

After 2 days we were discharged and headed home! Post surgery has gone well. I am recovering fast and things are beginning to get back to normal. I was most nervous about coming home and being no help with Tanner. How was I going to take care of my 19 month old son that weighs 30 pounds if I can only lift Winnie?? Luckily my parents were here to help me and Jason was off work for a few days around Christmas. Winnie has been a dream boat baby. She is sleeping 3-4 hour stretches at night and we are doing our best to get her on a schedule. Tanner has been the sweetest big brother. We feel beyond blessed to be a family of 4! Thank you for everyone’s well wishes, kind words, food, help, calls, texts!!

Keep in touch,
Dani

2017 Gift Guide List

Craft Box, Mommy & Misc

November 21, 2017 by Drafts & Crafts

Gift giving is my love language so I was excited to create this post to share with you guys. My goal was to cover a gift idea for everyone on your list that you have to shop for this holiday season! The majority of the gifts are well under $100, with just a few around the $100 price point.

***All of the above images were borrowed from each company’s website, they are not my own.

GLDN personalized jewelry – for ANY lucky lady in your life
GLDN’s jewelry is dainty, timeless, perfect for everyday wear. I think any women would love! Add a special touch and personalize a gift for your wife, friend, mother, MIL, grandmother, or aunt. use code “DCCOLD15” for 15% off of your order until 12/31/17!
Hillflint College Sweaters – for the sports fan
These sweaters are the bees knees! I love the vintage, retro feel of Hillflint. College sport fans would appreciate one of these high-quality sweaters.
Fox Hollow Studios Prints & Calendars – for the homemaker
We all have those people who make their home feel like our home. Fox Hollow paints beautiful images that would fit into almost any home style: from spice plants, to cool cacti, to beautiful barn scenes.
Aviate (airport abbreviation) Hats – for the jet setters
You may have seen these hats by now, but if you have not, then you are welcome. Rep your favorite city, place to vacation, or where you are from with these causal ball caps. Plus, we all have bad hair days!
Bose Sport in-ear Headphones – for the person who likes to workout or run
A person who likes to jam out while they get their workout on will appreciate good speakers that are sweat resistant. In my opinion, Bose always produces the best sound.
Artifact Uprising Photo Gifts – for ANY body special to you
I have ordered photo gifts from many companies, but Artifact Uprising is the only company up to par. From the quality to the modern design, anyone would enjoy a special photograph keepsake. My personal favorites are the wood block & prints and the wooden calendar. Great gift for a grandma or grandpa!
Homesick (state & city) Candles – for the person who misses home or loves to travel
We all love where we are from, right? These candles are the sweetest reminder of home or they could represent a memorable trip or favorite destination. I love this NYC based company!
The Art of Shaving – for the classy man who appreciates good products
I have a few fancy boys in my life so this is a cool gift idea for a guy who likes to stay looking fresh.
The Night Sky Art Prints – for the sentimental person or a loved one
These posters are really neat! You choose a date and location of which a special occasion took place and Night Sky generates the stars from that night! Perfect sentimental gift for an engaged person, newlywed, or family who just had a baby.
Bose Waterproof Mini Speaker – for the music lover and adventurer
My husband and I got a portable Bose speaker last Christmas and we love it! The only thing that would make it better is if it were water proof and had a hanging clip like this one! You could really take this mini speaker anywhere!
Roku Portable Streaming Stick – for the entertainment center king and queen
Endless TV and movies at your finger tips, can’t go wrong with this small piece of technology for a good price!
Mark & Graham Leather Wallets and Moneyclips – for ANY lucky dude in your life
I’ve learned over the years that most men like a small wallet. These leather Mark & Graham wallets are classic.
Gathre Leather Bonded Mats – for the family or outdoor person
Anyone who has been around me knows that I am an huge fan of these mats. Beautiful colors and patterns to choose from, high-quality, wipeable leather mats! They come as small as changing mats for babies and get as large as fitting 8 people for a picnic.
Promptly Childhood & Adoption Journals – for the expectant mother
Perfect gift for someone who is expecting or about to adopt. Record memories from being pregnant, through age 5.
City Map Glasses – for the entertainer
These glasses would be a great addition on a bar cart. Gift someone their favorite city map on their favorite cocktail glass. I am thinking my husband needs a set of DC maps on a bourbon glass.
Boon Pipes for the bath – for the toddler boy
Affordable toddler gift! Tanner has a set of these and let’s just say they are so cool that he is not the only one around here who enjoys playing with them!
Dainty Cheeks Doll or Purse for Anthropologie – for the toddler girl
Affordable toddler gift! Dainty Cheeks is a company that hand makes one-of-a-kind stuffed toys. Well we are in luck, Dainty cheeks did an artist collaboration with Anthropologie and created an affordable line of dolls and purses. A normal Dainty Cheeks doll is $150 and you can get one at Anthro for $28 and a purse for $14.
Circuit Cubes, boxed project – for the middle age child (age 6 to 12)
It is tricky to buy for an adolescent. To play it safe you can give a fun and educational type of gift like these boxed projects. I know I loved a gift that involved me doing some type of crafts when I was younger.
Jan handwoven blankets – for the homebody or Netflix binge watcher
Know a homebody or someone who likes to binge watch through the latest hit on Netflix? Gift them a beautiful hand-woven blanket to cozy up on the couch with, designed by one of my best friends! Comes in three beautiful colors, you can e-mail, hello@jan-studio.com for an order.
Yarning Made hand knitted blankets – for ANY special baby or baby coming soon
Hand-knitted blankets are the sweetest heirlooms! My mother kept my hand-knitted blanket and it was so sweet to pass it down to our son. My favorite blanket for a baby girl is the heart print and the “ZZZZ” for a baby boy. Love the modern twist on these timeless blankets.

Hi friends! Happy Thanksgiving week, which also means happy kick off to holiday shopping! Let the the Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas shopping craze begin. I want to begin by saying, the meaning behind Christmas is FAR GREATER than gift giving. Gifts do not have much to do with it, but we do take gift giving serious in my family (for all occasions, not just Christmas). I spent a lot of time creating this gift guide, thinking about unique gifts for the loved ones in my life. You see, my husband is a music buff, while my dad and brother are huge sports fans. I think most people have a wide range of “personalities” to buy for and some are much harder than others. One thing I am really passionate about is supporting small businesses, so I have included several of my favorite small shops in this list. I know you will love their products as much as I do! My goal was to cover everyone on your list so I hope you find some new, awesome ideas for the lovers in your life. Please share any fun gift ideas that you have!

Keep in touch,
Dani

Our Baby Girl’s Nursery

Mommy & Misc

December 9, 2017 by Drafts & Crafts

With 6 weeks left until we meet our little girl, I am happy to finally share the finishing touches of our her nursery.

Photo credit: Verance Photography

Crib: Babyletto Hudson 3-in-1
Dresser: West Elm
Wallpaper: St. Jude’s Fabric, Harvest Hare
Rug: Lorena Canals (c/o)
Moses Basket: Bloomingdale’s
Maeve Blanket (draped over crib): Max + Moose (c/o)
Baby Bird Hoop: Urban Pigtails
Wooden Basket (holding the stuffed animals): Ikea
Leather Mat (in reading nook): Gathre
Rocking Chair: a family heirloom
Book Shelf: Ikea
Rabbit Hook: Anthropologie
Robe: Pink Blush Maternity

It is hard to believe that in just 6 weeks we will be a family of 4. Tanner will no longer be an only child, he will be a big brother, and we will have another newborn to love on. It feels surreal, but the closer it gets, the more excited I am! My nerves about turning our world upside down are starting to subside. After lots of praying, my heart is content and I only have sweet feelings about bringing our baby girl home just in time for the holidays (fingers crossed I don’t go past Christmas)!

We have been working on baby girl’s room for some time. It was nice to take it slow and take our time. I would highly recommend this for someone expecting their second or third child. When you are caring for other children, your second+ pregnancy goes by in the blink of an eye. Baby #2’s room was planned around this timeless, whimsical wallpaper. I first saw this wallpaper in a bathroom at one of my favorite local eateries. I knew if we were having a girl, I would have to track down this vintage-inspired, golden bunny and bird beauty to be the focal point of her room.

From there it was pretty easy to pick out pieces that went with the mid-century look that I was going for. I love the warm and happy feeling that I get when I walk into her nursery. That feeling is probably the pop of yellow talking. I hope you enjoy taking a peak into our baby girl’s nursery. My husband and I had so much fun setting it up. Well, I doubt Jason would say the wallpaper part was fun. Putting up wallpaper is a beast! Tanner even helped work on his sister’s room with his dada. I think this is a sign that he will be an awesome big brother!

Lastly, this is a sneak peak of the robe that will be in my hospital bag for delivery! I am loving this floral robe by Pink Blush. Pink Blush has tons of beautiful and affordable delivery robes to choose from! Please let me know if you have any questions about the nursery. Thank you Sindy for capturing our second babe’s nursery.

Keep in touch,
Dani

Steps to a Healthier Lifestyle Series: Part 3: Sleep

Mommy & Misc

October 31, 2017 by Drafts & Crafts

Sleep plays a crucial role in the way we function each and every day so I am concluding my steps toward a healthier lifestyle series by taking about sleep.

For the past two months I have been taking more natural approaches to get my family to move toward a healthier lifestyle. I previously wrote about using less harmful beauty products and replacing some medicine with essentials oils. Lastly, one huge factor that was effecting my daily attitude was the way I had been sleeping. Months had gone by and it seemed like I was tossing and turning all night if I did not take my anti-nausea medicine, which is mostly a sleep aid. I couldn’t figure out why I was not tired. My son keeps me busy all day and I was working out regularly and using all of my energy. I was feeling irritable in the mornings because some days it felt like I had not slept at all. Being pregnant definitely plays a role in insomnia, but as I mentioned in to previous post, I did not want to be dependent on medicine while pregnant so I knew something had to change.

My husband and I slept in a queen size bed since we got married and it begun to feel like we did not have enough room. I was constantly scrunching myself up to feel comfortable on the bed, but really all I wanted to do was spread out from corner to corner. I have been dying to upgrade to a king size bed so I started researching hybrid mattresses that come to your front door in a box. They are affordable and I know a lot of people have been talking about how these hybrid mattresses are the new wave of mattresses. I found the brand Tomorrow and am over the moon to work with them! We have been sleeping on Tomorrow’s hybrid mattress for 6 weeks and it has been amazing!!! We upgraded to a king size and ordered the medium-firm hybrid mattress. It has been truly life changing.

My husband and I were a little skeptical, wondering how on earth a king size mattress that can fold in a box could be comfortable. We like a firmer mattress so we thought maybe it would be too soft for us. We were glad to be wrong!! Each night when we get into bed we talk about how we are sleeping on a cloud! We don’t mean the mushy, overly soft kind of cloud. It is plush, forms to your body, yet still remains firm for comfortable feeling. Upgrading to a king size mattress gave us over a foot more of space and it has been so nice to feel like neither of us our hanging off of the bed or fighting for space, especially being pregnant. We wish we would have made this switch a long time ago!

I am glad that I realized how my restless nights were taking a toll on my life. I know switching mattresses comes with a big financial commitment, but I don’t think you can really put a price on a good night’s sleep. You can use code: “CRAFTS100” for $100 off of a hybrid mattress from Tomorrow. Tomorrow does have payment plans for people who qualify, as well as 100 day trails! If you are uncomfortable at night, I encourage you to look into a new mattress. Since switching mattresses, I went cold turkey off of my sleep aid and began using essentials oils instead. I believe the combination of a new, larger mattress and essentials oils have allowed me to get a restful night’s sleep again. I am still pregnant and not dealing with insomnia, it is a miracle! Thank you to Tomorrow Sleep for designing this hybrid mattress and sponsoring this post. All these opinions are my own and I would love to tell you more about the mattress. If you have any questions about Tomorrow’s hybrid mattress, please don’t hesitate to ask. HAPPY HALLOWEEN AND HELLO NOVEMBER!

Keep in touch,
Dani