Hey y'all!

Today I wanted to talk about breastfeeding. Whoa. And I'm going to share a product that has made the process a heck of a lot easier on me, enabling me a little bit of independence while maintaining my feeding routine. Let me start by saying that with all three of my boys, I have been fortunate enough to be able to breastfeed each of them. That said, breastfeeding didn't always come easy. For starters with my first son, Rhett, my nipples cracked and bled, and I almost quit within a week. But my mom swooped in and encouraged me to stick with it. She told me that if I could give breastfeeding a bit more time that eventually it would become some of the sweetest moments I shared with my baby, as she reflected on those times with my sister and I. So, I took her advice, and persevered through the pain of breastfeeding - nipple bleeds and all. Soon enough, I found that was right. Eventually breastfeeding time with Rhett became some of my most cherished memories.

I nursed Rhett (my first), until he was about fifteen months, which was also about three months into my second pregnancy. So, yes, I was breastfeeding my first son while pregnant with my second son. Then, after my second son was born, I immediately picked breastfeeding up again. And it was a breeze! Vance, my second son, latched like a champ and because there had been only a few months of lag time between nursing my first and nursing my second, there was almost zero pain involved. Breastfeeding was finally easy.

That is, until I encountered postpartum depression and my hormones went crazy around six month postpartum. At this time, I was also retaining about fifteen pounds of baby weight while nursing (which I learned was very common) and it started driving me bonkers. With all of this to consider, I sadly stopped breastfeeding my second babe at ten months. Yes, I was proud of my ability to go ten months!!, but I also share this story to show that breastfeeding - while beautiful - does have its hardships.

One aspect of breastfeeding that has always been a challenge for me is pumping. After I had my first son, I returned to Georgetown Business School, which was a full-time business school program. This meant that Rhett would be with a nanny twenty hours a week. Because I wanted to maintain our breastfeeding routine (and my supply), that meant I would have to pump at school. Because insurance covered a simple Medela Pump, I ended up going with that. This was my first mistake (more on this later). Why was pumping difficult? It took me a pretty long time to pump out ample milk (for a student with not a lot of time). Also, insurance didn't cover the electric version of the pump, which meant that I had to be in close proximity to an outlet when pumping. Needless to say, this pumping experience somewhat scarred me and deterred me from wanting to pump with subsequent children. When I had my second son, I pretty much avoided pumping altogether. I didn't set out to find a new pump, and revolved my days around feeding my baby, and was never away from him for more than three hours at a time.

Yes, I managed to avoid pumping with my second son, and it worked for me. But, by the time I had my third son, Beauden, I realized there were going to be times when I needed or wanted to get away from my baby for more than three hours at a time. For as much as I want to be with him (and each of my sons), after experiencing intense postpartum depression after my last pregnancy, I knew that time away from my baby was important for both my independence and mental state. As such, I started researching breast pumps. After all, it had been some time (almost four years) since I had set out to find and purchase a breast pump.

I didn't know much about breast pumps, but I knew that I wanted certain things out of a pump that I lacked before. For starters, I wanted a pump that was more efficient than one of the leading breast pump brands. In my case, this was the Medela. I also knew I wanted the pump to operate without the need of an outlet; one that could be charged and then used freely. And lastly, I hoped that I could find a pump that would cut down on pumping time, while increasing milk output... because with three kids, who has time to sit and pump for an hour only to yield an ounce or two of milk?

After doing some research and given the space that I work in, (given the opportunity to review the very best, latest and greatest mommy products), I was introduced to Motif Medical, a company who recently launched the Luna Pump. What I found when Motif set out to manufacture the Luna Pump answered one of my biggest problems with pumping. That was, Motif had the goal of developing a pump that performed better than two of the leading breast pump brands. Bingo.

After reading more, I found that... 

• 5 out of 6 moms yielded more milk in less time with the Luna Pump. And,
•  9 out of 10 moms preferred the Luna over their current pump.

Since using the Luna Pump, my view of pumping has changed altogether. Instead of feeling like pumping was a chore and something that literally and figuratively pained me to do in order to gain time away from my baby; now, I feel relaxed and comfortable with the idea and actual exercise of pumping.

The Luna Pump is quiet; it doesn't have that annoyingly loud pumping sound. The Luna Pump also includes a nightlight mode that would allow a mama to pump comfortably in the dark. The Luna Pump is pain free due to the strength of suction and design. And of course, it comes outlet free (also with a car charger) and yields more milk in less time. 

This is BIG NEWS y'all. This not only means that I am happy to pump, but it also means that I have unlocked a bit of freedom for myself. And if you've been following along with my platform, you know how big I am when it comes to mothers taking time for self care. A big part of practicing self care as a mom is being able to take time away from your baby AND being able to do so comfortably and willingly. Investing in a breast pump that allows you to do both is worth gold. Liquid gold.

Since becoming a mom, I've gone through ups and downs with my ability to take care of myself. But now that I have my third baby, I've realized that taking care of myself is imperative. And one way that I like to treat myself is by taking good care of my skin. However, I don't like to use just any products. I am actually quite picky. First and foremost, I prefer products that are tested and safe for both pregnancy and breastfeeding. Anything that isn't, I try and steer clear of. Second, I like products that are effective. Truth be told, it has been hard to find products that are both safe for breastfeeding, but are also effective.

That is, until I came across Amar Botanica. 

You know what kinds of companies are my favorite? Ones that are started by completely normal women, who are trying to solve a need that ALL of us women share. This is how Amar Botanica was started. It was developed for two mothers. One, a Mount Sinai New York Board Certified Dermatologist, Dr. Mikhail, and her mommy bestie, AnaLiza Alba's, a beauty industry veteran, knowledgable in organic and cruelty-free products, when they realized the stretch marks were a huge concern amongst women during pregnancy. Not only that, women also wanted to take care of their skin, preventing things like acne while also maintaining a youthful glow. But as I mentioned and as we all know, it is difficult to find products that are both safe for use in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, and are also effective.

With their knowledge and desire to fill this void, they created Amar Botanica, and us mamas are LOVING it.

Amar Botanica is a skincare company that produces a stretch mark cream and daily + nightly acne treatments that are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mother. The products are 100% pure, organic, vegan-based formula backed by science with proven and all-natural ingredients.

The stretch mark cream is amazing. Lucky for me, I didn't get any new stretch marks while pregnant, however, I DID get some while yo-yo dieting throughout high school. Bummer. I figured there wasn't much that I could do to fade the scars they left behind, but boy was I wrong. 

Amar Botanica's Anti-Stretch Mark Cream can be used DURING pregnancy as a preventative measure against stretch marks, but it can also be used after stretch marks appear (as in my case) to help them fade over time. Not only that, you can also feel GOOD while using the cream, knowing that it is completely safe to use while pregnant and breastfeeding. In addition to using the product to help fade stretch marks, I also use it to help keep my skin moist and hydrated, especially during the winter months. It has been a lifesaver, and is now a staple beauty product in my regimen.

As if I didn't think I would love anything more than the Anti-Stretch Mark Cream, Amar Botanica proved me wrong with the creation of their Anti-Acne AHA Cream Kits. This includes two products (one for daytime use and the other for nighttime use) that help to brighten skin and reduce redness, inflammation and discoloration. Think a healthier version of Retin-A that is completely safe and effective during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Similar to Retin-A this product has a variety of uses including the treatment of acne, rosacea and hyper-pigmentation (me!). Don't be fooled with the word "acne", either, because these two products have a plethora of uses beyond acne (if so desired). Also, don't be fooled into thinking that these products are ONLY for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. Wrong. They are effective (and free of nasty chemicals) for anyone who so desires to use them, and once again, they are just as effective (if not more) as leading skincare brands.

Simply apply a pea-sized amount both morning and night, and you'll be hooked. Since using these two products, my skin has become more supple and radiant; my hyper-pigmentation has faded; my skin is softer and more even-toned; and my skin has a more youthful appearance to it.

I am thrilled to be sharing Amar Botanica with y'all! Us mamas deserve the best AND the safest for ourselves, and for our littles ones.

Take care! xoxo


This message has been sponsored by Amar Botanica.

This being my third baby, I have gone through my fair share of baby products. Whether it be different kinds of diaper bags, bottles, blankets, swings, cribs... you name it, I feel like I'm a baby gear expert at this point. One product category in which I feel I've only gotten more and more preferential with has been in the category of baby monitors. Getting the right baby monitor can be difficult. And it's something that I feel is very important. Not only does a baby monitor allow mama to get things done around the house while baby sleeps, it also ensures the safety of your little one.

When deciding upon a baby monitor this time around, at first, I thought I wanted a baby monitor connected to my phone through WiFi. I mean, it seemed like the simplest option, right? But ultimately, I realized that I didn't like having the baby monitor on my phone. What if I wanted to use my phone for something else, like Instagram, but I still wanted to watch the baby? What if the WiFi signal dropped? Yep, the WiFi baby monitor was a flop.

Then, I tried another name brand baby monitor, which I won't name here for the sake of name dropping. I thought that given the reputation of the name brand that this particular baby monitor would be the Bentley of baby monitors. But what I found to be disappointing was the quality of the picture shown on the monitor. If you're anything like me, picture quality is important. I want to be able to see if Beauden's eyes are open or closed, instead of having to guess if he is truly awake or asleep.

Because I have my Instagram platform, I am lucky in that I've gotten to try a few different types of baby monitors. The most recent baby monitor that I've tried out is called the VAVA Baby Monitor. You can purchase directly on Amazon here for $159.99. I am being super, duper honest when I say that this baby monitor is my favorite baby monitor that I've ever tried and here is why...

This baby monitor has several things that I love about it. Here are some of my favorite features:

• Crisp & Clear Real-Time Images: Large 5” 720P handheld display is 3 times more detailed than previous baby monitors; it boasts full color by day and greyscale infrared images at night to see all the delicate movements of your little one clearly
• Effortless Monitoring: LED noise indicators and an external thermostat keep you accurately updated on your baby’s wellbeing; set to the highest to alert even the heaviest sleeper or set to low volume to hear only loud noises with 7 volume levels
• Always Feel Connected: Turn on the VAVA monitor in a snap second to instantly check what’s happening when your baby murmurs; features 2X, 4X zoom and an auto-pilot panoramic mode to scan your baby’s nursery, no waiting around for any app or setup
• Up to 24hr Battery Life: Built in 4500mAh rechargeable battery lasts for 12hrs in display mode, 24hrs with the display turned off for full-day monitoring of your baby
• More Stable Wireless Connection: VAVA baby monitor delivers smooth video from anywhere in your house within a 480ft - 900ft range, to always keep your little one in sight no matter you're if you're in the study room or the kitchen.

All of this said, my favorite aspect of this particular baby monitor is the clarity of the image shown on the screen. There is no mistaking whether or not Beauden is awake or asleep or crying or smiling. The picture is so clear that I can see every little detail. Not only that, but the sound is crisp and I can travel pretty far from his crib and still have a strong connection.

I love this baby monitor SO MUCH that I am GIVING ONE AWAY! To enter, please see my latest Instagram Post here, featuring the VAVA Baby Monitor...

• Like my IG post
  
• Comment #VAVA #babymonitor on the post
  
• Follow VAVA's IG @letsvava
  
• I will choose a winner who is based in the USA

That's all for now, mamas! Be sure and check out the VAVA Baby Monitor below! 

For an exclusive 20$ off, use code PITHPFJ6

I'd like to consider myself somewhat well-versed in the realm of health. Like most children growing up, I had parents who understood the importance of exercise and a healthy diet. My mom worked hard to ensure that we ate at the dinner table as a family, which meant the majority of the meals I consumed growing up were home-cooked and wholesome. Further, I adopted exercise at an early age seeing my parents interested in things like running and weight lifting. Thus, the foundation of what it meant to be healthy was pretty straight forward, and instilled in me at a young age: eat healthy, whole food and exercise. The end.

After college, around 2009, however, my father was diagnosed with an aggressive stage of prostate cancer. During his journey to recovery, he became a near expert on the world of holistic health. At that point, our view of what it meant to be "healthy" was somewhat redefined, or magnified, if you will. Our family began to incorporate new, alternative practices. This included things like a vegan diet and eating raw foods. We also became well-versed in the world of supplements. Magnesium was used for calming. B vitamins and fish oil became essential. You could say that I knew more about holistic, or preventative health, than the average person.

One of the things that I have felt very conflicted about when it comes to the health of my children was the over-prescription and use of antibiotics. This was especially important in the early years of my kid's lives in which I felt that it was imperative to protect my baby's microbiome, or gut. I hadn't read studies or even done much research on the human microbiome, but with my limited knowledge of antibiotics it only made intuitive sense that when antibiotics was used to kill off bad bacteria that it would inevitably kill off good bacteria, as well. At the same time, I understood the stance of medical professionals. That in many cases, the use of antibiotics is often necessary. Antibiotics save lives and have been revolutionary for healthcare. But when your back is again a wall and it's necessary to take antibiotics, is there anything you can do to get back that good bacteria?

I'll give an example. Before my son Vance was born, he was diagnosed with inflamed kidneys. What does this mean? I really don't know except that I had to see a specialist, a urologist, and it was concerning as a parent. When it came time to deliver Vance, the specialist AND my pediatrician recommended that he go on antibiotics as soon as he was born to prevent any sort of UTI or infection that may arise because of his dilated kidneys. As you can imagine, I wasn't thrilled about the idea that my son would need to be on antibiotics from birth. Again, I knew how precious the microbiome was, especially in protecting it during the first six months of life, and wanted to preserve all of his good bacteria. The use of antibiotics so young scared me. So I did what all good moms do... I pushed back. I told the doctors I was concerned about the use of antibiotics. Responding to my concern, both doctors told me the bigger concern would be if Vance were to get an infection from the dilated kidneys at such a young age. Ultimately, it could be very dangerous. They said the dosage was extremely small, and that I shouldn't be concerned. I listened, reluctantly.

Following doctor's orders, I gave Vance his antibiotics from birth every single day. Every time I did, I felt guilty. I knew it was necessary, but I also knew what it was doing to his little microbiome and couldn't help but feel bad about it.  Simultaneously, really since Vance was born, I had noticed that he had the world's worst chronic diaper rash that no amount of Aquaphor could cure. I tried everything under the sun! My pediatrician even prescribed me an anti fungal cream. I had no idea what it could be from, until I considered the overuse of the antibiotics. BINGO. Because he had been prescribed those antibiotics, while they were stripping his system of the potentially bad bacteria, they were simultaneously stripping his system of the good bacteria. With the absence of this good bacteria, Vance now had chronic diaper rash. It all made perfect sense.

As I said, I tried everything to get Vance to recover from this terrible diaper rash, but after nothing worked, I went back to my holistic roots and considered the use of probiotics. I knew that using probiotics would help some of that good bacteria to grow back and proliferate, and his private area needed that good bacteria if I ever wanted to see the diaper rash go away. So, I headed to Whole Foods and sought out the most potent, expensive probiotic that money could buy. I used the probiotic as directed and what I discovered is that Vance's diaper rash slowly began to fade over time. True story.

I share this story about probiotics because today I am working with a company called Evivo. Evivo is a pediatrician recommended probiotic that has over a decade's worth of research and clinical trials behind it. Now, I am not a doctor. I have not thoroughly studied probiotics, however, after speaking with highly educated, experienced and credentialed physicians, I believe that the study of  probiotics and its positive impact on the micobiome are making significant headway within the medical community. In fact, MIT now has an entire center dedicated to the study of the human microbiome. It is called the MIT Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics. Similarly, I recently had a conversation with my sister-in-law, an infectious disease doctor, who is at the epicenter of where research on the human microbiome is currently taking place. She concluded that her pediatrician, whom she respects and trusts, supports the use of probiotics in babies and children.

I was diagnosed as Group B Strep during pregnancy, which means that during labor, my doctor required me to have a steady dose of antibiotics in hopes that it would go straight to my baby to prevent him from contracting the strain of bacteria, which could be harmful and even deadly. These antibiotics are often deemed necessary, and yes, they were given to me during labor. Thus, Beauden was likely exposed to antibiotics in utero, which makes him an ideal candidate to recieve probiotics. 

Our children need good bacteria! What is being uncovered is the fact that the first month's of a baby's life are crucial to immune and metabolic development. And because of the high rate of C-sections and antibiotics given, 9 out of 10 babies lack B. infantis, the key good bacteria that digest special nutrients in breast milk and protects baby's gut. What's the solution? Probiotics! Probiotics are living organisms and their purpose, whether in food or in supplement form, is to help improve the amount of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

When Vance was going through his diaper rash issue, I wish I had a trusted brand like Evivo for use as a probiotic. And here's why. Evivo is the only baby probiotic clinically proven to restore the good bacteria, B.infantis, reducing bad bacteria in baby's gut by 80%. Evivo is the result of over a decade of research and clinical trials at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. Further, Evivo's breakthrough findings about the baby gut microbiome and infant probiotics have been covered in well-respected publications around the world.

If you are curious about your baby's gut health and to see if you are a candidate for Evivo, I encourage you to first and foremost talk with your pediatrician! Doctors have a wealth of information when it comes to the use of probiotics. After doing so, I then encourage you to take the baby gut check quiz on Evivo's website - only three questions, that's it!

.
MYTH #1: Baby looks healthy so baby's gut is healthy too.  
FACT #1: 9 out of 10 babies born in the US have a low functioning gut microbiome due to the lack of good bacteria needed for a healthy gut.
​
MYTH #2: Babies will grow out of tummy troubles as they get older.
FACT #2 : The first 6 months are critical for proper immune and metabolic development.  Too much bad bacteria in the gut early in life is linked to metabolic and immune disorders such as asthma, eczema, allergy, Type 1 Diabetes and obesity down the road.

MYTH #3: Baby probiotics are only needed when symptoms appear.
FACT #3: Probiotics are not just for fixing symptomatic conditions. In fact, Evivo is the only probiotic clinically proven to repopulate baby's gut with the good bacteria they are missing 100% of the time, every time.

MYTH #4: There’s not enough science to prove probiotics are really helpful.
FACT #4: Evivo is the result of over a decade of research and clinical trials studying the importance of B. infantis in the gut, and the many benefits it provides to baby's gut health.

MYTH #5: All probiotics are the same.
FACT #5: Strain does matter. Evivo is the only baby probiotic clinically proven to be 100% effective in restoring B. infantis to baby's gut while reducing bad bacteria by 80%.

Decisions, decisions. When it came to how big Ryan and I wanted our family to be, we have pretty much decided as we went along. Or I guess, let me start by saying we knew that we wanted to have kids, first and foremost. To our surprise, we became pregnant with our first before we planned, although he was totally welcomed! Having one child was a joy. Then, when it came to having another, we assumed that we'd have two. I come from a family of two and Ryan comes from a family of five. Ensuring that our little Rhett (first born) had a sibling and buddy was a decision we made on auto-pilot. 
When Rhett was one and before we could even think about the timing of adding a second, we found out that I was pregnant again! Our second son, Vance, was born and we went from having one child, which we thought was difficult to having two, which was an entirely different ball game. 
How does the saying go? One is one, two is twenty. Yep. That is basically how we felt. Adding a second child to the mix felt like total chaos. I had just gotten the hang of managing one child, now I had to manage two and it felt like I was herding cats on the regular. Not only that, but Rhett was a Lone Ranger when Vance was a baby. What I mean by this is that because he was the solo older brother, he needed mommies attention still. Thus, I had the constant push and pull between giving Rhett my undivided attention and giving Vance my undivided attention; they were both babies after all! What I am trying to say is that the transition from one to two was hard. It was hard because I have two babies to raise; one twenty-two months and the other a baby; neither had a sibling to occupy them, so they needed me all of the time and were used to getting all of my attention. Further, I was still in that "new mom phase" where I felt like I had to give 100% of myself to my children. I felt like I had to be there at every moment, entertaining them, watching them, paying attention to them. This went hand in hand with the fact that they were young and didn't have a sibling to play with at the time (because a young toddler simply cannot play with a new baby), but also that I put a lot of pressure on myself to entertain my kids 24/7. 

As Rhett and Vance got older... I'd say when Vance hit two years of age, they finally started playing with one another. And let me tell you, there is nothing that makes your heart happier than seeing your two kids play with one another. Sure, they fight like cats and dogs because they are close in age and the same gender, but because of this, they also play like champs together. They are the best of friends! (and the worst of enemies) we like to say. Regardless, parenting two kids finally got easier around this time. That is because the boys had each other and could go off with one another and entertain themselves. This was not only fun for them, but it made my life so much easier! Now, I felt like I didn't have to entertain each one 24/7 because they had each other. I could finally get a little break or let them run off on the playground together and do their thing, while I stood back and relaxed. For me, this is when having two kids became fun.
Around the same time, this is when Ryan and I discussed having a third child. I think that me coming from a family of two prompted me to want to have one more kid in the mix. I loved having just one sister growing up. I loved that we were the same gender, and I also loved how close we were in age. That said, there were moments that I felt like it would be fun to have another sibling to play with. As the youngest child, my sister was often off and doing her own thing. She went off to school first and I was home with mom (which I LOVED, don't get me wrong). She also went off to college and I was alone. Again, I loved my upbringing and I wouldn't change it for the world. I think because my parents had only two kids, they were able to give us the world. They coached our teams, they came to every event, we could go on amazing family trips, they were abundant in giving us nice things. There were so many perks to just having the two of us... but again, maybe because I had this growing up, I wanted to make the decision to try something different.
So, Ryan and I had the talk; the big talk about whether or not we were going to add another little munchkin to the mix. And I say that we had "the talk". I think that we kind of assumed we'd have a third, but it more was a matter of timing about when we were going to start trying. Anyways, when Vance was almost two and Rhett was almost four, we decided that would be a good time to start trying. And it wasn't something that was preconceived. Our decision was made when I finally realized that I was ready... and it took me some time. I didn't want to do the 22 month gap again as we did with the other boys. I needed more time. 

It took a few months - maybe three or four months, and we finally became pregnant with our third child. Being pregnant this third time was a bit different than in time's past. The first time you are pregnant, you have no one to worry about but yourself. You think it is SO hard, but really, it's just your perspective making you *think* that it's hard. Looking back, my first pregnancy should have been a walk in the park, but I *thought* that it wasn't. Fast forward to my second pregnant... and my second pregnancy was a breeze (so is my second child).
This third time, was a bit different than the other two times because you really are carrying on with your life. You have two other children to care for and life pretty much resumes as-is. There were moments that I had to slow down and have TV days during the first trimester, but other than that, we really just carried on per usual.

When we finally had our third child, the newborn phase gave us a run for our money. Life was forced to slow down after we had Beauden. I had been so used to running off on adventures with my boys; so slowing down has been a bit of a change. But, what I like the most about having a third kid is that my older boys have each other. Unlike, going from one to two, I don't feel like I have to entertain them because they can entertain each other. Likewise, I don't feel that massive guilt pang because I don't feel like I am needed by three kids and pulled in so many different directions. Sure, I am being pulled a bit, but it hasn't felt as bad because again, my two older boys have each other. And giving them a little bit of independence has been fun for them! In fact, when I'm not always on their case about getting along, it's felt like they've been forced to figure it out on their own. Sure, they have their moments when one of them comes into the nursery crying because the other one did something mean. But overall, I've totally loved hearing my boys laugh and play as I rock sweet Beauden to sleep. I know that they are taking care of each other, and that has been the best thing of all.

To celebrate sweet Beauden, our third little boy, I have partnered up with Perry Mackin! I've been loving all of their baby accessories and essentials... so much that I am giving away some of my favorites! That includes everything you see in the photo - their organic bib, organic neck support pillow, silicone bottle (that easily transitions into a toddler cup), and silicone teether. Check them out by clicking the button below! They've got some amazing baby goodies. 

There is no doubt about it: Motherhood is hard. For some women, the hardships begin as early as conception. This includes the mere act of trying to get pregnant or possibly the length of time it takes to get pregnant. More than that, some women try for years or worse, experience heartbreaking loss. Then, comes the difficulties of pregnancy. Your newfound body, the constant aches and pains, and the first real introduction to anxiety... is baby okay? Next, comes the challenges of labor and delivery. The pain, the trauma, the recovery, breastfeeding. And subsequently, the newborn stage. Sleepless nights and the loss of independence. Your world is flipped on its head as you scramble to care for this tiny human being. And just when you thought you got the hang of motherhood, your precious baby somehow turns into an opinionated toddler. Where did my baby go? You wonder.

The demands of motherhood are real. On a daily basis, we are faced with challenges, adversity and moments that make us question our livelihood and ourselves. There is no harder job than being a mom, but, in the midst of these hardships, if you were to ask any mother if the juice is worth the squeeze, she would without hesitation answer, yes.

To me, this is the ​magic of motherhood.​ If you look up the word magic in a Merriam-Webster dictionary, you would find this definition: ​

Magic, as it is defined, is the perfect embodiment of how mothers are able to surpass the natural forces, or difficulties of motherhood, which are overpowered by the supernatural love they feel for their children. The minute our children are born, much less conceived, it's almost as if a mother is put under a child's charm, or spell, for life. Nothing can break the spell, and the magic continues to grow as the child grows. And in partnership with aden + anais, featuring their Harry Potter™ Limited Edition Collection, I wanted to capture the magic of motherhood told by real mothers, and also share my own favorite moments that depict the magic of motherhood.

Curious what my followers, thought, I took to Instagram to see what my mamas thought captured the magic of motherhood. Below are the 50 moments they cherished most...

It's hard to put into words what my favorite moments are and have been, but below are some that came to mind right off the bat...

Helping me celebrate the magic of motherhood, I have partnered with aden + anais featuring their Harry Potter™ Limited Edition Collection. Nothing says magic like Harry Potter. And this Halloween season, I love having a reminder that motherhood and childhood alike is full of magic. What are your favorite moments?

Click the button below to buy your own aden + anais, featuring their Harry Potter™ Limited Edition Collection.

 Hey mamas!

Baby weight. Whoa. What a heavy subject, literally and figuratively. Maybe for some of you, you've been able to elegantly and gracefully handle the pregnancy and postpartum weight like a champ. Maybe you have thoughts such as, "I love my body!" or "I just birthed a baby, of course, I have a ways to go." or "My body is rockin'." And maybe for others of you (those who I secretly love to hate - kidding, not kidding), you lose the baby weight within a matter of weeks or even months, so baby weight is a non-issue for you. Go YOU. Seriously. Okay, maybe I'm a little jealous...

When it comes to me, little old perfectionist, overachieving me... the same girl who had weight issues / an eating disorder in high school that took several years to overcome, I will be honest and say that I am not above the pregnancy and postpartum weight. The topic has been a raw source of heartache for me. When I got pregnant for the first time, seeing my body change and the scale go up was hard, and losing the weight? Oh, don't even get my started. Okay, well I'm already started, so here it goes...

My first pregnancy, I gained double the allotted weight requirement. Yes, I gained sixty pounds, and cried about it on a daily basis. Thankfully, I was able to lose the weight within a year without doing much of anything, but it certainly was a journey, folks. Then, my second pregnancy, I was older, wiser, and knew better than to eat for two. I really watched my diet and started exercising regularly over those nine months. I was beyond proud when I had only gained thirty pounds and knew I'd lose the weight in a matter of months because of how little I had gained. Oh, but no. Fate wanted to teach me a lesson, and my body clung to the baby weight for dear life. I couldn't drop an ounce of the 12 pounds I had to lose since I left the hospital. Not just that, I started gaining weight at six months postpartum. I got up to eighteen pounds over my ideal weight and had meltdowns regularly.

Not just that, but I spent thousands of dollars trying to figure out why I wasn't losing weight. What was wrong with my body? Why was I gaining weight postpartum? Even when my diet and exercise routine were still the same, if not even better and cleaner!?

I am the QUEEN of obsessing over post-baby weight loss. For gosh sakes, I started a company surrounding the topic of postpartum weight called the Postpartum Slimdown. If there were a reality show I were to ever be on it would be called “Losing the Baby Weight.” Seriously. I’m obsessed. To say that I've had heartache over pregnancy weight gain would be an understatement. But now that I've gone through this whole gain weight and lose weight thing three times, I have a little bit of perspective that I wanted to pass on from one pregnancy weight gain obsessor to another.

In hindsight, the weight I needed to lose wasn't on my body, but rather was in my mind. So, here are things to keep in mind on your journey....

Okay mamas, only when the time is right and you are ready to hit it hard to lose that baby weight, here are my recommendations. Again, you'll be the most successful after you have stopped breastfeeding and have given yourself at least six months post-baby for your hormones to chill out. The magic time for me is around a year postpartum.

​Here we go:

Some people are anti-scales. I get it. I used to be one of those people. I thought that scales made me obsessive, and in some ways they do. But when your goal is to lose weight, nothing better will hold you accountable than a scale, and not just any scale. What I love about the FitTrack scale is that it utilizes a free app on your phone that syncs to the scale. Among other things, the app tracks 17 indicators including:

• Body Weight 
• BMI
• BFR
• Muscle Rate
• Body Water
• Bone Mass
• Metabolic Age
• Weight History
• Allows you to add up to 8 profiles per smartphone device

​..and several other factors. By tracking your data daily, you will be held accountable. You'll be able to see where you've started and how far you've come with the app's history​ feature. Not just that, but you can add multiple people, so if you wanted to partner up with your spouse for further accountability, y'all can each have a profile.

The great thing about this scale, especially for athletes like myself, is that you'll be able to see how your weight loss regimen is affecting your body in ways other than the scale. Maybe you've gained more muscle, this may mean more weight, but a higher muscle rate. 

In sum, the weight you may need to lose after baby may not be on your body. For the first year, you'll need to consider any negative self-talk about your body and throw it out the window. Enjoy this time with your baby and try your best to love your body. It gave you the greatest gift of all and should be celebrated, no matter what the size. And then, when the year is up (or whatever time you determine is adequate) and you're ready to hit it hard and lose the baby weight, check out the Postpartum Slimdown Program and purchase a FitTrack Scale, and you'll be on your way to pre-baby weight in no time. You got this, mamas!

Hey y'all!

Our family has been hit hard by sickness this season. This means that both Vance, our three year-old, and Beauden our baby, have been put on antibiotics. Like most mommies, I have a love/ hate relationship with antibiotics. I love antibiotics because they help rid my babies of sickness by stripping the bad bacteria out of their systems. But. While antibiotics strip the bad bacteria, they also inevitably strip the good bacteria, which is where my disdain comes in. As antibiotics strip the good bacteria and if that bacteria is not replaced this is when little immune systems can become compromised. Although antibiotics may be necessary, you can keep you little one's immune system strong and replenish good bacteria with the use of probiotics.

Recently, I took Beauden to Urgent Care after four days of sickness. The doctor noticed that his ears were infected, and suggested an antibiotic to help speed up the recovery process. Like I always do, I asked her if the antibiotic was necessary. She told me that in this case, she felt that it was. I agreed to her counsel. We continued talking about the pros and cons of antibiotics, and being the curious mother that I am, I asked her about the use of probiotics. She responded positively, saying that she absolutely recommended probiotics for use in babies and children, especially while simultaneously taking antibiotics.

The conversation continued and she told me that the best time to give my baby the probiotic was at lunch. He would be taking the antibiotic morning and night and if I gave the probiotic at the same time as the antibiotic that the antibiotic would instantly kill the probiotic. By spreading out the dose of probiotic and by giving it at lunch, it would ensure that my son would be getting that good bacteria into his system without killing it.

As with everything, I only want the best for my children. This is why I choose brands that are highly reputable and have research to back them up. This is a big reason why I choose Evivo when it comes to probiotics.  Evivo is the only baby probiotic clinically proven to restore the good bacteria, B.infantis, reducing bad bacteria in baby's gut by 80%. Evivo is the result of over a decade of research and clinical trials at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. Further, Evivo's breakthrough findings about the baby gut microbiome and infant probiotics have been covered in well-respected publications around the world.

Evivo is simple and easy to use, which is one of the reasons I love it. Evivo will ship the product directly to your door. Immediately put the product in the refrigerator or freeze for proper storage (remember probiotics are living organisms!). Each probiotic comes in a packet with the proper dosage. Simply tear the top of the packet and pour the probiotic into the mixing Tupperware. Mix with breastmilk, and use the syringe to administer the product into baby's mouth.

What I've realized is that if you have children, it is inevitable that they will face sickness. And with sickness, that they will need antibiotics every now and again. As mommies, we don't have to settle for compromised immune systems! The great thing about Evivo is that we can help keep our children healthy, especially our babies, whose first months of life are crucial to immune and metabolic development. To help protect baby's gut, Evivo is the answer! 

​As a mama, it's no surprise that a lot of us survive on coffee and wine. Just like the sign says, "Motherhood: Powered   by love, fueled by coffee, sustained by wine." Am I right? As beautiful as motherhood is, it is demanding and exhausting, and that little bit of pick-me-up or slow-me-down during the day is our little treat! The problem, in my opinion, with all of the coffee and wine consumption is that it can leave your teeth a nasty color. And as an orthodontist's granddaughter, who spent years with braces to achieve an attractive smile, I'll do what I can to protect it.
​

While whitening toothpaste can help to brighten teeth, I really rely on at-home whitening teeth kits to help get that bright white shine that I love. My go-to at-home teeth whitening kit is Snow® , also known as America's favorite teeth whitening kit! Snow® is the only formula engineered to react to the LED technology to accelerate whitening
​

• Fast results! Moms don't have time
• Enamel-safe professional formula; I'm all about protecting that enamel
• No dentist visit or prescription required!
• Recommended by dentists worldwide
• Super fast shipping
• 5x faster than strips
• Apple Watch + Phone compatible! (as well as Android)
• LED-activating light that accelerates the whitening process

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You will receive...

• 1 mouthpiece with the patent-pending LED accelerating technology for faster results
• 3 whitening wands filled with advanced whitening serum to erase stains
• 1 extra strength whitening serum wand (contains double the whitening power)
• Control how white you want your teeth in seconds
• 1 teeth whitening progress tracker
• Results guaranteed and 5-year warranty

When your Snow® kit arrives, it comes with a brochure, as you can see above, with simple steps to follow.

1. Wash the mouthpiece with warm water.
2. Brush or wipe down your teeth.
3. Apply a thin layer of the whitening gel to teeth using the wand. 
4. Plug the mouthpiece into a device or port.
5. Insert the mouthpiece into your mouth for 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Remove the mouthpiece and rinse the remaining gel.

 I love this kit so much that I am giving one away to my followers! Simply head to my @thesouthernishmama Instagram to check out the terms and conditions.

Rock on mamas! And keep your beautiful smile in check, even with all of that delicious coffee.

xx,

Brooke
The Southernish Mama

Hey mamas! 

It is crazy to think that we now have THREE little boys in our home... and in our hearts. Life is full right now, but also a bit crazy. Having a newborn with two older boys under the age of five means more to do and less time to relax. My older boys still need me throughout the day, chores still need to get done, and I still love to work a little on the side. As much as I am getting one-on-one time with my new baby, I am also having to multitask more. To do so, there are times when Beauden cannot be with me. But at the same time, I need to keep a close eye on him at all times. After all, he is a newborn baby. How can I be two places at once?

​With my favorite baby monitor, of course. 

With three kids, I've owned my share of baby monitors over the years. There are things that I have liked about certain monitors and things that I have disliked.

Some of the things that I don't like include the following:

• Use of WiFi Technology. While WiFi technology on a baby monitor seems preferable because you only need to walk around with a phone that includes the associated baby app, using Wifi also has major drawbacks. Because we live in a 4,500 square foot house, our WiFi range isn't great. Even worse, it is most often the spottiest where Beauden sleeps (in the furthest corner of the house). Because of the lack of range, our WiFi often cuts in and out. As you can imagine this is not only scary, but also can be dangerous. Many things can happen to a baby in moments. And with spotty WiFi, I'm not willing to take that risk.

• In addition to WiFi being spotty, WiFi also opens you up to strangers hacking into the network.  Yes, this probably is unlikely, but you'd be surprised at all the creeps out there! Even though we are on a secure network, there is the ability for our network to get hacked. You've heard the stories. I mean, how scary is that?

• Lack of Range. Another thing that drives me bananas about baby monitors is the lack of range most of them offer. Again, our house is huge and sometimes Beauden is sleeping and the boys are playing in the yard. While I never am further away than safety allows, there is nothing more annoying that a baby monitor that stops working when you go outside or downstairs. Sure, I need to stay close to my baby, but not so close that I can't be doing anything else in the house or in the yard.

With all of these drawbacks, I can happily say I've found the perfect baby monitor. Enter, Panasonic Long Range Baby Monitor. It has taken me three kids to find this baby monitor, but I've finally found it!

Here is what I love about this particular baby monitor...

• Instead of WiFi, the Panasonic Monitor uses Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT). Back to my first points about why I don't love the use of Wifi with baby monitors and the "spottiness" that happens in our house. Using DECT means no spottiness and no outages. That means I can see and hear my baby perfectly at any and all points without the fear of missing a beat.

 

• In addition to perfect shared footage is also the fact the DECT means no opportunity for hacking because it is virtually hack proof. No creepers allowed!

 

• The Panasonic Long Range Baby Monitor also provides 1,500 square feet of interference-free range. That is more than four football fields of range!  Once again, I don't use this feature so that I can go for a run and leave baby at home. I still practice safe protocols when leaving baby on the monitor, but it's nice to know that I can be outside with my boys without the monitor cutting in and out, or worse, not working at all.

 

• Customizable Smart Sensors + Alerts Function detects changes in sound, motion and room temperature and sends a notification to parent unit. I love this feature for many reasons. If your baby is making noise, the unit notifies you. Similarly, if your baby is moving, a little icon on the parent unit pops up so that you can see how much your baby is moving. Additionally, the changes in temperature are reported! I am crazy about keeping track of the temperature of the room that baby is in. Too hot, and the risk of SIDs goes up, so you better believe I am going to monitor that.

​
A few other features I love that don't need explaining...
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• ​Updated color night vision
• Pan, tilt and zoom functions
• Longer Battery Life—13 hours in standby mode (audio on) or 5 hours of continuous operation
  • Compatible with either A/C power or rechargeable batteries
• Built-in microphone and speaker functions for two-way communication
• Minimizes background noise
• 5 lullabies and 5 soothing sounds, including white noise. Who doesn't love white noise for their babies?

All in all, the Panasonic Long Range Baby Monitor has been a must-have baby item, even with baby number three. Heck, I wish I had it with my two others boys. What mama doesn't want the freedom to get things done or attend to her other kids, while also getting the peace of mind of keeping your little one secure.
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