Creating A Water Baby

This post was sponsored by SwimWays as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own

Oaklyn was a winter baby. She was born in February and I knew that we still had some cold Utah months ahead of us, but my heart ached for summer days outside. I hated being cooped up all day and craved sunshine. When summer arrived, I was SO excited to take Oaklyn swimming for the first time. (Learn more about teaching your little one to swim on the Tach Me To Swim website.) I bought her a cute little bathing suit, made sure she had a swim diaper, packed the towels and snacks... I mean seriously, I thought it was going to be the best day ever. Oaklyn really liked her baths so I thought for sure she would love the pool. Turns out... she hated it. She stuck her little legs up when we tried to dip her in, she cried even if we held her, she hated the water hitting her face, the bathing suit kept falling down, and I was so sad! However, I should have stuck with it and continued to expose her to water. Instead, I just assumed she hated swimming and we hardly went the rest of the summer even though I LOVE swimming. 

Growing up, we swam a ton! My parents put us in swim lessons early on to ensure we were safe around large bodies of water and then we spent tons of time on different vacations where swimming was always on the agenda. We went to Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Hawaii, beaches in the South of France... I remember spending tons of time in the water. I was so bummed when I thought Oaklyn didn't love water as much as I did. After that summer, it took several other trial runs to get Oaks to like being around the water. She still pretty much hates when it is in her face and I had to bribe her to play in the splash pad last summer... but we have definitely made progress.

I decided that I wanted to expose Cam to water in a positive way early on. We started with baths in a baby bather, moved to sink baths, and also let her play in the big bath. I always smile at her and show her how to splash and she just loves it. With summer on the way, I knew it was time to start introducing her to the pool. I wanted to create a positive water introduction experience with her and started trying to find ways that would help excite her. I knew I had found baby gold when I saw the SwimWays Infant Baby Spring Float. Not only is SwimWays an industry leader in helping children learn to swim, but they also promote water safety. The Infant Baby Spring Float is the most creative baby float I have seen yet. It has a sun canopy, it is fabric-covered, has a soft seat that cradles baby, and a 3-point harness to keep baby secure. To make mothers even more comfortable with bringing their babies into the pool, there are additional security features that include dual inflation chambers, child safety valves, and a wide base with an inner spring around the outside edge of the float for stability. I tried not to get my hopes up, but with this float, I was almost positive Cambria would have a really great experience. 

So, we loaded up the girls and took them to the pool with everything but the kitchen sink in the stroller... #momlife. I got the SwimWays Infant Baby Spring Float all set up and was shocked how easy it was. Then, it was go time. I got Cam in her little bathing suit and we stuck the float in the water. I passed her off to Hunter who securely buckled her in and she was in heaven. She sat back and lounged while loving looking all around. She was also shaded by the removable and adjustable canopy with UPF 50+ sun protection. But the best part, was that I was having fun too! The float has built-in handles making it possible for me to swim and enjoy myself while also knowing she was secure and safe. Once Cam found the water with her feet, she was loving splashing and moving all around the pool. I didn't hear her cry once even though it was past her nap time. Not only did I have a great experience, but I know Cam did too! I was so excited to have the SwimWays Infant Baby Spring Float because I know it was key in helping create my little water baby. Now I'm so excited for summer and all the pool days we have ahead of us!

Where is your family swimming this year? Backyard, beach, community pool, lake, or a vacation?

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

0

Loving Every Little Thing

Thank you Carter's for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

I remember every minute of my pregnancy with Oaklyn. I remember the restless leg syndrome, the first kick, decorating the nursery, buying her first dress, every ultrasound, the heartburn... ohhh the heartburn! I also remember all the nights I couldn't fall asleep because of the anxious anticipation of her arrival. No one prepares you for what's to come once the bump turns into a bundle of joy. No one can prepare you for the new forms of emotional and physical exhaustion that come from parenting. The thought of that overwhelmed me and consumed me. The day I had Oaklyn, a wave of fear had swept over my entire being and suddenly I felt like the captain of a sinking ship. To be honest, the whole first year felt that way for me. I am so glad I took so many pictures of her, otherwise the whole year would forever remain as a cloudy blur to me.

When I found out I was pregnant with Cambria, I immediately knew that I wanted to do everything possible to enjoy the first year instead of jumping aboard that sinking ship again... There are so many amazing firsts that happen in the first year. From taking a bath to eating solid foods, and rolling over to pulling up onto furniture, every day is an adventure. I wanted so badly to be present during Cambria's first year and I desperately wanted to love every moment. I wanted to love the way she smelled after a bath and snuggle with her in a soft blankie. I wanted to enjoy the newborn sneezes and feel joy at the first belly laugh. More than anything, I just wanted to remember that it all goes by so incredibly fast so every moment is worth cherishing. So many people told me that same thing when I had Oaklyn, but it took me experiencing it to understand.

When I started going through all the old clothes we would be passing on to Cambria, I quickly discovered we needed A LOT more of the basics. All of the white onesies and neutral colored pants of Oaklyn's were clearly used the most. The fluffy dresses and cute rompers were always fun, but I knew immediately a trip to Carter's was in order to grab some darling pieces from the Little Baby Basics Collection. Carter's makes cute and comfy pieces for newborns and babies from sizes preemie to 24 months! I've heard form several different people that Carter's is one of the only places that actually carries preemie sized clothing too! I learned pretty quickly with Oaklyn that quality clothing is very necessary. It'll be used a ton and you want your baby to feel comfortable in it. Clothing from the Little Baby Basics line is soft, hold up during all of baby's adventures, and the prices are just right. 

When it comes to the basics, here are my favorites! First up is the bodysuit! Otherwise known as the onesie. Or, basically all babies wear in the first year, ha. It’s the ultimate basic for wearing by itself or layering under other outfits. They have expandable shoulders and snaps made to last. I also really love the easy outfit sets. It helps build baby's wardrobe with different pieces that all match! The tees also have expandable shoulders and the pants have a soft elastic waist. And lastly, I love all the bundles! They make it so easy to give shower gifts, and for mom to buy several pieces at once. You really can't go wrong with this line, so make sure to stop in to your nearest Carter's asap or check out the selection online! You can even get 20% off $40+ now through June 30th with code CART4342 online or 066944 in store!

From one mom to another, spend less time worrying and more time cherishing during the first year. By shopping the Little Baby Basics collection, you'll be able to spend more time loving every little thing and less time trying to figure out which baby clothes to get ;)

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

2

Save Some Money On Your Favorite Baby Products With Parents Choice

This post is sponsored by Walmart. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone. #ad #walmartbaby

When I had Oaklyn, I only used the expensive brands of pretty much everything baby related because I thought they must be better if they cost more.

I wish I would have known what I know now, because we would've saved ourselves a whole lot more money!

I remember the first time I swayed away from a few of those pricey brands... I was sure it wouldn't go over well.

Like I had said earlier, if it costs more it must be better... right??

WRONG!

One brand that I tried was Parents Choice and I was SO happy that I was able to still get some of the best quality at a fraction of the price!

It felt so refreshing to know that I would be saving money for our family while still getting exceptional products for my little baby.

By using the Parents Choice brand, I realized I had more money to use in other areas of our lives such as going out for date nights, doing activities as a family, and getting a mid day treat with my little one!

Parents Choice is a line with over 275 different products from bedding to diapers, and wipes to baby snacks. 

Parents choice is new and improved and I can assure you, it is as good - if not better - than those top brands you've been using.

A few of my favorite Parents Choice products come from their line of bedding.

I love options, and they have plenty!

The line includes receiving blankets, crib sheets, changing pads, baby blankets, and nursery sets that are all made with super soft materials and come in trendy patterns!

My sweet little Oaklyn had a problem almost right from the start with wetting through her diapers at night.

We tried all different types of diapers and nothing seemed to help the situation. 

With that being said, I needed to have several different crib sheets on hand at all times to ensure she always had a clean one when the others were being washed. 

All items in the Parents Choice line are priced at $40 or less with majority being priced at less than $13!!

That meant I could easily stock up on sheets without a worry.

I was able to find several different styles that matched or complimented her nursery.

I loved that there were so many options between nine coordinating colors so I could mix and match to create a customized look for my baby. 

Now that I'm on my second baby with plans to have more, I'll definitely be shopping the Parents Choice brand more often! 

I also love the receiving blankets for tummy time. 

They are soft and lightweight which are perfect for her to lay on, roll on, or use in the carseat. 

I chose a neutral pattern and color scheme to match any outfit.

So now you all know one of my best kept secrets ;)

Okay, so it's really not a secret at all that I'm a total bargain shopper.

I love getting the most bang for my buck!
I also love that I have the option of heading to my local Walmart to shop the Parents Choice brand, or I can stay in my jammies and have everything shipped right to my door!
How else do you save money on baby items??
I'd love to hear!

All my love,
Aleigh Joy

1

Double Strollin With The Austlen Entourage

So I've learned something about myself since becoming a mom...

I've learned that I'm kind of a "gear snob."

Now that's not to say I won't put my child in a cheap umbrella stroller to get around from here to there, but it is to say that I understand the importance of good baby gear and I'm willing to splurge.

When I had Oaklyn, I had no idea about strollers, car seats, diaper bags... or any other gear really.

I found a good deal on a travel system and we got it that day. 

I remember when it arrived, I made Hunter put it together immediately.

When he finished I looked at it and thought, "that's a lot bigger than I pictured it would be..."

Sure enough, the thing ended up being the biggest pain.

The wheel would literally pop off as we were on a walk, it was so heavy I literally felt like I was gonna throw out my back putting it in the trunk of the car, Oaklyn was never comfortable in the seat, and the "shade cover" hardly blocked any sun from her face... Needless to say, I totally regretted that purchase!

From that moment forward, I vowed to myself that I would fully read reviews on baby gear before making a purchase.

That being said, I have a review to write today! On a very new stroller to the market...

The Austlen Entourage!

So let's start from the beginning... my initial thoughts on the stroller.

The first time I ever saw this stroller was on an instagram story.

I looked it up online immediately and was blown away by all the different functions it has. 

I kept thinking to myself, "How can it possibly do so much?? It has to be too good to be true!"

I desperately wanted to see it in person and was so excited to receive it in the mail.

Hunter took it out of the box and put it together. 

I'll be honest in saying we kind of struggled putting it together.

Luckily though, they have really great informative videos on their website that helped tremendously.

Once it was put together I wanted to test out all the different functions.

Right off the bat, I LOVED how beautiful it looked.

It is such a pretty design and has some really great touches like the leather handlebar and the great quality of the seat and shade cover.

We took it out for a test walk and quickly discovered some pros and cons...

Pros:

-We love how easy it is to extend it into a bigger stroller! You guys it's crazy... You literally press a button and it expands to being like twice as long! The reason for this is being able to carry more cargo if you're going somewhere like th beach or on a picnic. It also makes it possible for both seats to recline.

-I'm obsessed with the tote! I think the tote is an amazing touch! It has the ability to be removed and has several pockets to add anything and everything you need while pushing the stroller.

-It has the ability to add a car seat, a second seat, or a sit and stand seat. There are so many options for your kiddos and it really can grow with your family

-It can lug around up to 150 lbs of stuff. That's two very big kids with the opportunity to out suitcases or something on the stroller!

-It's very easy to fold. Like really easy! It is also really easy to stand up making it super easy to stow.

Cons:

-Unfortunately we had a problem with the wheels at first. Luckily the company did take care of it pretty quickly, but it was a pain at first. The stroller was very difficult to push until we got it fixed.

-It is a large stroller. With the ability to tote around all that cargo, all those kids, and the ability to expand to being even bigger... comes the the con of it being pretty massive. It folds down pretty well but it is pretty hefty.

-It's not really my stroller of choice to keep in the trunk and put my kids in every time I have to run a quick errand. It's just a little too much work for that... But, it is a great stroller to bring somewhere like Disneyland where you want your kids to be comfortable and have the ability to bring all the stuff you need. 

The below image is from their website where you can see all the different functions it has. This stroller was definitely VERY well thought out and has just about everything a mom could think of. 

Overall I think I'd give this stroller 4 out of 5 stars. I'm so impressed with the design and all the different functions it has, but the price point is really steep and it's not really ideal for daily quick errands.

However, it is absolutely worth looking at because you probably will love all the different functions it has!

If you have anymore questions on this stroller, feel free to ask!

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

0

Up Your Baby's Sleeping Game With the Ollie World Swaddle!

Hey Everyone!

Since having Cambria, some of my most frequent asked questions are about what baby products I think are must-haves. 

Every single baby out there is different and will like different things, but there are definitely a few products that I will always recommend to people and one of them is The Ollie World Swaddle!

I'm a huge believer in swaddling my babies and I'm obsessed with this one!

Babies, all of them, are born with a startle reflex that can easily wake them up.

Oaklyn had to be swaddled insanely tight when she was a baby or else she would wake up several times a night thanks to this reflex.

Cambria was definitely born with a more mild temperament and probably doesn't "need" to be swaddled like Oaklyn did, but I'm positive it is still one of the main reasons why she is such a good sleeper.

Not only does a swaddle prevent the startle reflex, but it also just keeps your baby nice and cozy. 

I mean think about it, they were in this warm and cozy womb for 9 months and then suddenly they're expected to be okay with learning to fall asleep without that same environment. 

That's why I love swaddling my babies right from the start... it's a nice little transition for them to the real world.

So why did I pick the Ollie World Swaddle over all the others on the market?? 

Well because this one is simply the best, and trust me, I've tried them all!

The Ollie World Swaddle looks like a regular old blanket, only it has velcro to keep it secure.

It is SO easy to use. I literally just stick Cambria in the middle, pull one side over, then the other and boom, she's ready for bed. 

Some of the really cool features of this swaddle are...

 -The patented moisture-wicking threads interwoven into the fabric which reduce the risk of overheating.

-Velcro that helps keep the Ollie secure and allows the fit to be individualized meeting the need and size of each baby as they grow!

- And the opening on the bottom that makes middle of the night diaper changes a breeze. You can also securely close it with the elastic band.

Basically, this swaddle has everything you need and keeps your little one sooo cozy!

The second I put Cammy in her swaddle, she instantly calms down and will just lay there happy as a clam.

Come to think of it, I wish they made them in my size ;)

All my love,

Aleigh Joy 

0