Moments in the week of a Mom | 1

I realized last week that the majority of my weekly highlights involve mommy moments so I figured I would embrace it and start a Friday series specifically for them.

By the way, if you're a mom, want to be a mom, or know a mom, check out my giveaway.

1.

It was warm enough to bundle CT up on Monday and take him for a walk.  Now I just need to send a petition around my town to get the sidewalks fixed!!

2.

Poor picture quality, but Tuesday night marked CT's first snowfall!!  Obviously we couldn't go out and play in it, but we did watch the dogs.  

3. 

I haven't been able to wear my wedding rings since roughly 25 weeks pregnant due to swelling.  I have tried them on every single day since CT was born and they finally fit yesterday!!  I missed them.

4. 

I was struggling with feeling so disconnected each time I closed the nursery door to nurse or pump, but we are trying to keep the dogs out of the nursery (mainly because of cleanliness - they love the baby).  So, I purchased a self-closing baby gate and installed it myself!  It keeps the pups out much to Football's dismay and we can still close the door when we have company.  This makes me feel better about transitioning CT to his crib soon, too.

5. 

I saw this floating around Facebook and thought it was perfect.  

Hope your week was as good as mine!  Linking up for H54F

ED Mobiles || Review & Giveaway!!

mobile EDMobiles c/o

If you've never looked for one before you may not know this, but finding a mobile for a nursery is no easy task.  Particularly if you are wanting to watch your expenses and you aren't purchasing a cookie cutter nursery bedding set.  (Disclaimer: there is nothing wrong with the bedding sets - I just couldn't find one I loved enough to spend that much money on)

As I was searching Etsy, I came across EDMobiles and fell in love with this elephant mobile.  I love that Lizzy was so personable when I contacted her about the mobile.  She catered to my color scheme and even went so far as to paint the wooden dowels white so that they matched the rest of the nursery decor.  She actually started creating these mobiles when she was pregnant with her own child and found herself in a similar predicament.

After creating her first mobile she got so many compliments that she decided to open an Etsy shop where she could make mobiles for other moms.  She decided to name her shop EDMobiles using her initials and enjoys the fact that she has a creative outlet where she makes her own rules.

Crib: Graco, Blanket: Kittlings Katadazery c/o, Pirate: EEK's Creations, Bedding: me

Lizzy is generously gifting one reader a shop credit valued at $30.  Just sign up below!

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Hospital Bag: What you really need.

So...since CT surprised us 5 weeks early, there were many things that I still had to cross off my to-do list.  When I woke up and realized it was all happening at that moment, I quickly scurried to throw together a hospital bag for me and for my husband.

I had actually packed CT's bag earlier that week.  However, I threw the outfit we wanted to carry him home in into the washer before leaving the house - you'll hear more about that when I share his birth story.  What a whirlwind that day was!

Anyway, since I had been over-thinking the whole hospital bag thing for weeks and hadn't put one together yet for myself or hubby (don't forget to pack him a bag, ladies - he needs one!) I literally threw one together for each of us in less than an hour.  I didn't really have time to stress about whether or not I had everything necessary - I just threw in what I thought was needed.

This is what I learned:

hospital bag essentials by coachgaines featuring a neck pillow

All those lists and graphics I found on Pinterest didn't actually come in handy when it came to packing my bag.  I threw in what I could think of while I was waiting for hubby to get home from work to take me to the hospital.  Turns out, I had everything I needed with the exception of a few things he ran to Target for while I was in the hospital.

1. Neck pillow: I grabbed this at the very last minute on our way out the door totally unsure of whether or not it was necessary.  It was a life saver!  I used it up until it was time to push.

2.  iPad: I actually read blogs up until I was about 5 cm dilated.  It kept me entertained and occupied while we played the waiting game.

3.  Slippers: You want something that slips on and off easily.

4.  Hair ties: Need I say more?

5.  Yoga pants and sweatshirt: To go home, you want something stretchy and loose.  You can't be sure what your body is going to be like when leaving the hospital and if you're anything like me, your body will retain so many of the fluids they pump into you.  (I would suggest some really loose fitting shoes - my feet were so swollen I couldn't tie my sneakers.)

6.  Moisturizer and Cleansing wipes: The hospital is so dry.  I think I moisturized my face at least twice a day.  And even after showering, you don't feel clean for long so the wipes (hubby picked these up for me while I was there) really helped me to feel semi-clean.

7.  Water bottle: This is probably the most important thing to bring.  Blame it on the dryness of the hospital, the lack of sleep, or the breast feeding, but you are thirsty.  The staff at my hospital was awesome at keeping my water jug full and this water bottle helped to keep it cold and prevented me from spilling on babe or myself while laying in bed.