Frankie's (and Mama's) Friday Faves

H-A-P-P-Y Friday y'all!  This has been a particularly long week, as Frankie J. entered leap 5 and Franco was traveling until last night.  I am thankful Frankie J. has learned how to put himself to sleep on his own at this point, because otherwise I think this leap would be even harder/still may be because we are only 3 days in!  He has been waking every 30min-1 hr and just talking/screeching/whining until he falls back asleep for the same amount of time and is then up again.  We have not had to intervene at all, but unfortunately his waking, causes us to wake as well.  Coffee is currently my best friend (although we've been best friends for a long while).

We had our second swim class this week and Frankie J. LOVED it.  He "jumped" in and went up to his mouth and was trying to drink the water.  He was kicking and even loved being on his back floating and swimming around.

In order to get back on track with our Friday faves, this week you are getting a double dose to make up from last week!

Friday Faves

1. Baby Boy Skinny Jeans

• What baby doesn't need their very first pair (or three) of skinny jeans?!  These are my favorite jeans for Frankie J. because they fit him so well and are also super affordable for his rapidly growing body!  

     2.  Easter Basket Liners

• I am obsessed with these Easter basket liners from Pottery Barn Kids!  They add such a cute touch to any basket and can be personalized with your child's name.  I am highly considering buying ones for Franco and I that say "mommy" and "daddy"...but that may be too far!

     3.  Essie Gel Couture

• I tried this for the last time last weekend and LOVE it!  It is really difficult to block out the time to get my nails done right now, and this was super easy to use and dried very quickly.  It has been on my nails for about a week and has not chipped at all.  This is a great affordable option and is carried at Target (or as we call it "The Happiest Place on Earth").  I am excited to get a few more colors to have on hand.

I hope this weekend makes you as happy as Frankie J. is right here in his new activity table!  

What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag

Happy Thursday y'all!  I thought I would talk this week about what to pack in your hospital bag.  I remember feeling extremely overwhelmed by this task and kept feeling like I was going to "forget" something.  I had everything packed around the 36/37 week mark just in case.

Full disclosure, I did not use everything I packed (I will note what I used and what I did not).  I also suggest having the bag in your car (not at home like I did).  I ended up being sent directly to the hospital from a routine appointment and my husband had to leave during early induction to go home and get our stuff.  Here is what was in my bag for Frankie and myself!

Items for Frankie J.

1. Swaddle, Hat, and mittens set

• I knew I wanted a cute set for pictures in the hospital and I couldn't find anything I loved at any mainstream retailer.  Of course, Etsy had exactly what I was looking for.  This ended up being even more special for us because our hospital offered a newborn photo session.  We have the most adorable pictures of him in this set that I will cherish always.

     2.  3-5 white onesies (not needed)

• The hospital ended up providing these for us and we used theirs.

     3.  3-5 outfits

• I ended up having a c-section and was at the hospital longer than if I had had a vaginal birth, so we did use more outfits that most probably would.  Frankie did spend his first days in just the long sleeve onesies the hospital provided (mostly because I could not move to change him and due to exhaustion).  After his first bath, we had the hospital staff put him in his Halloween outfit (it was Halloween) and we changed him into little one pieces after that.  

     4.  Going Home Outfit

     5.  Pacifiers (if you are going to use them)

• Our hospital also provided them, but did not tell us.  I noticed most nurses had opinions on breastfeeding and pacifiers telling us to wait.  We did not wait, and in my experience, Frankie took the pacifier and nursed just fine.  Until recently, he took a bottle fine too.  I do not tend to believe in the "nipple confusion" theory.  Using a pacifier has also been proven to reduce the risk of SIDS.  

     6.  2-3 swaddle blankets (not needed)

• I just knew I wanted the option of using my own swaddle blankets (which I did not really use). The nurses were really great about swaddling Frankie J. for us (we were NOT good swaddlers) and they always had warm hospital blankets on hand which helped soothe Frankie J.

Items for Mama

1. 2-3 Nursing Camis

• I ended up using these more than any of the bras I packed.  They were the most comfortable and I could sleep in them and wear them during the day.

     2.  2-3 Nursing Bras (did not use these)

     3.  Bathrobe

     4.  2-3 sets of pajamas/lounge clothes

• I was SO happy I did this.  I was not allowed to shower for a few days after my c-section and once I was I remember the feeling of showering and putting on "real" clothes.  Lounge clothes are preferred just because you will be sore and uncomfortable for a while after giving birth.  I did splurge and buy myself some new sets so that I could feel good and give myself something to look forward to.  I made sure they would be nursing friendly because my plan was to nurse.

      5.  Hair ties (you will not want your hair down in your face while giving birth)

      6.  Non-slip socks

• I knew I didn't want to rock the tall hospital provided socks once I was able to be in lounge clothes.  I still wear these and they were a good/affordable option on amazon.

      7.  Slippers

      8.  Phone Charger

      9.  Laptop (did not use)

     10.  Kindle (did not use)

     11.  Pregnancy Pillow 

• This was something I needed to help me sleep pre-delivery and I knew I would need it to help me during labor.  It ended up being invaluable during my stay and I also used it to help me nurse.  

     12.  Diaper Bag (for ride home)

*** Make sure you take any diapers, wipes, and ointments from your baby cart in your room if they are opened.  The hospitals aren't allowed to re-use them and they end up getting thrown away.  We used these diapers and wipes for our downstairs diaper basket. ***

     13.  Toiletries

• The hospital does provide you with some, but I knew I was going to want my own from home just to make me feel more like myself.  I packed my own razor, toothbrush, and makeup too.  I didn't do full makeup while there, but just a little to feel a little put together.  I realize everyone is different and this might not be important to you.

     14.  Water bottle

• This allowed me to drink plenty of water and avoid the little hospital cup fulls that they give you. 

     15.  Breast Pump (did not use)

• I had brought it because I wanted the nurses to show me how to use it, but I ended up not really needing it while there.  They also gave me a hand pump, which I highly recommend taking home with you to have on hand.  I am obsessed with this breast pump and cannot suggest it enough.  It is rechargeable which means you can travel around the house with it or take it with you in the car/airplane if needed!  

I am sure I have missed something and it will come to me after I hit "publish."  If that is the case I will either edit the post or add the additional items in the comments section.  I'd love to hear from you guys on what you found useful in the hospital that I may have missed!  Leave a comment below and let's help some future mamas out!  

Melissa's Monday Must-Haves

Hi Everyone!  It was a busy week/weekend over here at the Casagrande house!  We started swim school this past week and Frankie J. loved it until they wanted him on his back with ears in the water...he was not a fan of that!  He also had his first "school" pictures even though he is not in school quite yet!  My sister-in-law was extremely thoughtful and asked if we wanted the opportunity to get some pictures taken at the preschool she owns.

Frankie also got his first real fever Thursday afternoon, but after a dose of Tylenol it returned to normal and did not come back!  I think it is definitely teething related and we are still patiently awaiting their arrival!

Yesterday, Frankie J. and I traveled to Connecticut to shower my cousin and her sweet baby to be!  Frankie J. was a dream and slept the whole car ride both ways (it did pose an issue at bedtime though!).  With all these activities, I did not have a chance to post Frankie's and my Friday faves!  So we are retitling for this week calling it our "Melissa's Monday Must-Haves."

Melissa's Monday Must-Haves

1. Bun Maternity Cozy Nursing Hoodie

• I love this hoodie!  It is exactly as described....cozy and comfortable.  I also love that I can wear it out in public and it does not scream "THIS MOM IS NURSING."  It has a snap on one shoulder and pulls down so that you can easily nurse.  I am going to invest in another one for sure!  I got this on Zulily for 49.95 I believe.  If you sign up on their website, you will receive a code for 20% off your first purchase.

     2.  Baby Moccasins

• I just got two pairs of these for Frankie J. and I am loving them!  They are exactly what I had been looking for and at a fraction of the cost!  I got a gray pair without laces and a tan pair with the laces.  The best part....THEY ARE $10!  

     3.  These Pom Pom Earrings

• I just bought these in white and I love them!  They are lightweight so they don't weigh down my ears and they are a perfect length so Frankie J. can not reach them while I am nursing (trust me this is huge)!  

I hope you all have a great week!  My Fabletics leggings arrive today so I am hoping to get a blog post up this week about them!

Friday Faves

Hi y'all!  It's that beautiful time of week again...Friday!  Although, as a full-time mom I have discovered that Friday is really no different than any other day of the week.  It does mean, however, that my husband is free for the weekend to have some quality family time!  I am going to take a few mommy time outs to run some much needed errands.  I have learned that these times away are important and actually let me "mom" that much better the rest of the time.

Here are this weeks Friday Faves!

1.  The Wonder Weeks app

• This app has been a lifesaver!  You enter your child's due date and it tracks all the developmental and cognitive milestones your child will go through.  It gives you the dates your child is expected to enter this leap and the duration of the leaps.  Once your child is in the leap it gives you the signs, what you can do to help your child, and games that will help foster the milestone they are working on.  If I notice Frankie J. having several "off" days I often open the app to check if he is entering or in a leap.  You can also sync it with your calendar!  

2.  Nose Frida

• I was convinced I would never use one of these upon becoming a mom....well boy was I wrong.  I tried the "bulb" that they give you at the hospital and that come in many of the "baby kits," but it didn't have enough suction to get the gunk out of Frankie J's nose.  This tool is a must-have for new moms.

3.  Zulily

• It took me awhile to jump on this train, but it's pretty amazing.  This is a shopping app that has different deals every day.  I often go on and search for high-end baby products I see or have purchased at various boutiques.  I have purchased brands for Frankie J. on here such as KicKee pants, Hannah Anderson, Milkbarn, and Caught Ya Lookin' at a fraction of the cost you can buy them for on their websites or in the boutiques that often sell them.  They also sell adult clothing, home items, and baby gear.  The only downfall I find is that you have to pay for shipping and shipping takes a long time because of the way their process works.  In order to get the deals they place a bulk order from the retailer, then it is sent to Zulily, and then it is shipped to you.  If you make a purchase, you "unlock" free shipping for the rest of that day.  

That's it for this week friends!  I hope you all have a great weekend and Frankie J. wants to share his new trick with y'all!  He has now decided to boycott tummy time by simply rolling over...every.single.time!

Baby Stockpile Items

Hi Everyone!  Happy Thursday.....we are almost there, Friday is right around the corner.  It is starting to feel more and more like spring may be approaching here in Massachusetts.  Frankie J. is changing by the day and is starting to become more and more independent.  He really wants to sit up right now and sometimes gets frustrated when he cannot do it on his own (cue Bumbo seat).  Still no sign of a tooth, but teething symptoms are in full effect....yesterday his bibs were SOAKED and he couldn't stop chewing on his hand.

I wanted to mention some things that I found extremely beneficial to stockpile before baby arrives.  These are a mix of things I did stockpile/things I wished I had stockpiled more of.

Baby Stockpile Items

1. Diapers

• We chose to use Honest diapers and bought tons of diapers to get us started this first year.  I liked Honest just because of their commitment to safe ingredients for Frankie J. and the adorable prints.  I am super curious to try the new Hello Bello line at Walmart which share the same dedication to safe ingredients and cute prints, but at a lower price point.  I think when we are done with what we have I am going to buy a package to try.  We waited until they were running some good promotions and stocked up on diapers all the way through size 3.  I used this diaper stockpile sheet I found on Pinterest, and overall it was spot on for us as far as how many diapers to use for each size.  

      2. Burp Cloths

• I use these and love that they are organic and super soft, but also absorb really well.  I initially had about five and a dear friend told me I really needed many more.  I probably have about 15-20 and I highly recommend having at least that many just to cut down on laundry those first few months.  We actually didn't need them in the beginning, but around month two Frankie J. started spitting up a ton.  The pediatrician assured us this was normal and that it would continue for a few months.  I always keep at least two in my diaper bag just in case!

      3.  Bibs

• I am STILL stockpiling bibs!  In the beginning I used them for spitting up to protect Frankie J's neck and clothes, but now I am using them more for the immense drool from teething.  We honestly go through four to five bibs a DAY and that's on a good day.  You really need to change the bib every time it becomes soaked in order to keep your baby's neck dry and protected to avoid a rash.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Neat Solutions

Vuminbox teething bibs

Nuby teething bibs

I also just ordered these KicKee pants bibs but have not tried them yet.  I ordered them from Zulily (which I have become obsessed with) and their shipping takes a bit of time.  

    4.  Wipes

• I use the WaterWipes and am obsessed.  They are the perfect wipe (for me).  They are the perfect thickness and wetness to clean up any blowouts that may (will) happen!  As part of our Honest diaper bundles, we got some of their wipes as well and I am not a huge fan.  They have the thickness down, but their wipes are too dry in my opinion.  We stockpiled these using our Amazon registry (which I highly recommend) baby bucks program.  Basically, a percentage of what people bought for us (up to a certain dollar amount) was credited to our amazon account and you can access that money to buy certain products (diapers, wipes, creams, etc.).  We chose to use them solely for the WaterWipes.  

I would love to know if there was anything else you found helpful to stock up on pre-baby!  Let me know in the comments section below!  

Frankie's (and mama's) Friday Faves

Happy Friday y'all!  This week has been brutally cold here in MA.  I just realized we have not left the house since Frankie J's four month appointment on Tuesday...eek!  That needs to change today.  We all need some fresh air.

I am nervous to even say this, but fingers crossed, sleep seems to be on the up and up in the Casagrande house.  Frankie J has decided he is done with four naps and is down to three.  I think we will continue to offer the fourth if his last nap ends super early, but he has told us (through his crying) that he does not want it most days. 

Without further ado, here are this week's Friday Faves!  If you have not entered the #frankiesfrifavesforfree giveaway on my instagram make sure you do!  Don't forget to tag three friends!

1.  Fisher-Price My Little Snugapuppy Deluxe Bouncer.  Frankie LOVES this seat.  It is a part of our morning routine and he goes there after his first wake-up in the morning while I make coffee.  He really likes the vibrating feature.  I like it because it is portable and I can move it around the house as needed.  We have the fancier 4moms MamaRoo which is also great, but that is much more difficult to move because it requires an outlet.

2.  Genuine Kids from OshKosh.  I am currently obsessed with this line of clothing Target has to offer for kids.  I am a sucker for Oshkosh in general, but find this line more trendy, while the OshKosh store tends to be more of a classic vibe.  The only down side is it only starts at 12 month sizes (which in this case it is great that Frankie is so tall!).  

 **pants only are OshKosh**

**tops only are OshKosh**

3.  Matimati Baby Bandana Bibs.  These are currently in my cart on Amazon.  I am such a sucker for cute, trendy bibs.  I need them to match Frankie's outfits and this company offers SO many pattern and neutral options.

Have a great weekend everyone!  Stay tuned for next week's blog post on what to stockpile before baby arrives!

Skincare routine

Happy Tuesday y'all!  My husband and I last night looked at each other and said "wow, it's only Monday!"  Five days left in this awful fourth leap for Frankie and I can honestly say this has been the worst one yet!

I thought I would share my new skincare routine with you today.  Since Frankie J, I have been blessed with the best gift of motherhood, large dark circles under my eyes.  I know I am probably late to the skincare game, but I also wanted to stop the signs of aging as well.  I did some research and read countless reviews online and this is what I came up with.

(Discussed from left to right)

1.  Amorepacific Treatment Cleansing Foam.  This is the first step in my morning and evening routine.  I have been looking for a new face wash for awhile, but I have super sensitive skin which is tricky.  I had been using this Clinique cleanser and it did the job, but my face always felt dull.  I got this Amorepacific cleanser as a free sample at Sephora and used it for about a week and loved the results.  It left my skin feeling clean but also looking brighter than usual.

2.  Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx Peeling Gel.  I use this exfoliant as a second step about 3 times a week.    You put it on your face and massage it around to get rid of any debris that may be clogging your pores.  I was very skeptical about using this product because with my sensitive skin, exfoliants tend to irritate my skin because they are harsh.  So far this product has been great and has not irritated my skin at all!

3.  Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Deep Sea Collagen Super Serum.  If it is not a day where I have used the exfoliant, then this becomes the second step after I wash my face.  This is a collagen oil that helps reduce wrinkles, makes your skin more firm, and brightens!  I take a full draw from the syringe and I rub it all over my face and neck.  I love Tarte products for many reasons but the biggest for me is that they are cruelty-free, meaning they do not test on animals.  

4.  Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel.  After I apply the Collagen Serum, I apply this to my under and upper eye areas.  Out of all of these products, this is my favorite.  I noticed a dramatic difference in the puffiness and darkness of my eyes almost immediately.  The woman at the store told me that and I did not believe her, but after a few days I thought the difference was quite noticeable.  

5.  Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream.  I got this product for Christmas but was not using it daily until now.  I think combined with the eye gel, this also helps to reduce the puffiness and combats the wrinkles of aging.  I read somewhere that you should start using eye cream in your 20's before the signs of aging begin....whoops!  At least I'm starting now right?!

6.  Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream.  This is the final step of my skincare regimen.  I used to be really great at applying moisturizer to my skin and then I started having a hard time finding one that didn't irritate, but also one that didn't leave my skin feeling heavy and greasy.  I have been seeing the push of hyaluronic acid everywhere and wanted to give it a whirl for myself.  Hyaluronic acid is something that your skin naturally produces to hydrate your skin, but this is an extra dose to help stop the signs of aging.  This cream is light and fluffy (thus the name cloud cream).  I apply it to my face (not eye area) and neck twice daily.  

I hope this has been helpful and I am going to end this by saying, I am not an expert in skincare in any way, shape, or form!  I am just a tired mama trying to look less tired and young!

Frankie's (And Mama's) Friday Faves

Hi y'all!  It has been another LONG week over here!  I am not sure what is going on....I know Frankie J. is in the middle of a month long leap, teething, and the four month sleep regression (I'm guessing that's what is going on 😂).  If you are reading this saying "What is a leap?" I highly recommend you download the Wonder Weeks app.  It is spot on and has been a lifesaver in our house (even my husband reads them).  I am SO happy that the weekend is finally here and am even more excited that Spring will hopefully be here soon.  I am looking forward to the warm weather and many walks outside with Frankie J.  Don't get me wrong, I love a good mall walk, but I think warm weather will be better for my wallet.

Here are this weeks Friday Faves:

1.  My Brest Friend Deluxe Nursing Pillow.  This nursing pillow has truly been a saving grace for me.  I struggled a lot in my early nursing days trying to get Frankie J. in a comfortable position and one that was comfortable for me as well.  I tried using pillows to prop me up (not supportive enough) and the Boppy.  The Boppy is great for floor time, however Frankie kept rolling into the crevice because it didn't hug tight enough to my body.  The Brest Friend pillow has an adjustable strap that adjusts to your body and is made of a more durable foam that doesn't squish down when your baby is placed on it.  I bring this thing everywhere to the point I have considered buying another one just to keep in the car (see my previous post on buying multiples of your most used items).

2.  Talenti Gelato Mediterranean Mint.  This stuff is heaven on earth.  If you know me at all, you know that I am not a huge ice cream lover at all.  I am a sucker for a good mint chip and this stuff is amazing!  I tend to crave more salty foods, but this is the exception.

3.  Sophie la Girafe.  This is one of Frankie's favorite toys right now.  I was always skeptical about the hype of these, but Frankie J. is obsessed with his.  He loves the sound she makes and also loves to put her in his mouth (I have read that babies love the taste of the rubber).

Happy Friday!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  We are expecting some snow here and I am excited for a comfy weekend!