{he's here + newborn/new mommy necessities}

Hello, sweet Eat.Pray.Love.Run readers! I'm Jen from Down with the Dearmore's.

 

 

Leslie and I have been best friends since the 5th grade {yes, a waaaaay long time ago}! She is just as beautiful {inside and out} as she appears on her blog! I can't even put into words how excited I am for her and Chris as they welcomed their precious little miracle, Connor Christopher, into this world yesterday! There is no feeling quite like it! I was thrilled when Leslie asked me to guest post after his arrival {I'll let her give all the fun details about his birth in a later post}!

 

Meet the newest, most adorable little boy in the world, Connor Christopher.

 

 

Speaking of newborn, I wanted to share some of my most very favorite necessities for not only baby, but for mommy as well. I am {in my mind} still a new mommy, but had to go back 20 months ago to remember life with a newborn at home! Yikes, time flies {when you're having fun}!

 

 

I know everyone has their own "must haves", but I remember appreciating and loving getting to see what others considered a necessity!

 

1. My Little Lamb Cradle 'N Swing - this was an absolute life saver in our home. Our little one slept in this pretty much all of the time initially and sometimes even at night as she dealt with reflux, so it was a great way to keep her elevated {yet still comfortable and secure}.

 

2. Moses Basket - We had a Moses Basket similar to this one, but it fit into the actual bassinet. I loved having a basket that was easy to take out and move around. I remember using this many times during the middle of the night once we got her to sleep and taking her into our room or into the room connecting to our bedroom. Very convenient!

 

3. Aden + Anais swaddle blankets - I cannot recommend these enough! We still use them to this day {not for swaddling, but for a comfy/light blanket at night}. They are the perfect shape and size and are very lightweight and airy. In my opinion, THE perfect swaddle blanket around!

 

4. Baby Mittens - Not something I had thought about until we were in the hospital and doing everything we could from keeping our baby from scratching her little face! Their nails are so tiny, brittle, yet so sharp. These were a must-have for us initially!

 

5. Cloud B Sound Machine Soother - Our little one loved noise {and still does} to help her go to sleep and relax. I loved the different sound options on the Cloud B Sound Soother. It was easy to turn on and off and didn't make too much noise when you wanted to re-start it after she had just fallen asleep! Isn't that the worst?!?!? We also really loved the Jewel Lullaby CD. Such sweet music and her voice to could put ME to sleep!

 

6. Medela Tender Care Lanolin - Nipple cream for breastfeeding mommies. It is safe for both mom and baby. I know for some, breastfeeding is very painful, especially in the beginning! I mean, come on, you now have something sucking on you 24-7!! You will be sore! I loved this cream - thankfully, it was the first and only one I had to try and it worked for me.

 

7. Nursing Tank - Ahh...makes nursing SO much easier! This particular top is a bra and cami all in one. Perfection! It is not only comfortable, but supportive {both on top and in the tummy}.

 

8. Last, but certainly not least....hook a new momma up with some caffeine! We all know the days and nights can be long as sleep-less. For me, gift cards were perfect so I could use them whether I was going through a drive-thru or at the grocery story that had a Starbucks! A small and easy gift!

 

Thanks for letting me share today, Leslie! For those of you reading, I would love for you to stop by and get to know me and my little fam a little more! Hope you all have a wonderful week!  

  OXOX, Jen