With my first born I was a typical, crazed mom, who over thought everything.
There were certain things that I said that I would NEVER do.
*Let's all laugh together*
Now, of course a lot of that went out of the window once the sleep deprivation set and it and things got  a little desperate around here, things changed. But, some of them I did stick too. I don't know if that makes me a good mom or just stubborn or what, but I did stick to my guns on a few things. My oldest daughter slept the long stretches of the night in her crib from the first day that we brought her home, in her own bedroom, while I stalked her every breath on the baby monitor.
​Second, no pacifiers.

The sleep decision I still stand behind, we all actually slept from the time she got home. I knew she was in a safe environment, up away from the dogs, tighly fitting sheets, swaddled, on her back. Plus, when she woke up I went into her room and nursed and my husband slept because he was still working there was no point in both of us getting up. This kept our sanity. We plan on doing the same with our second.

With the pacifiers I had other less rational fears. She'll be addicted until she is five! They will mess up her teeth! I will be constantly running to the sink to clean it when she chucks it across the room! It will fall out of her mouth in the middle of the night and she will scream bloody murder because she can't find it!

See what I mean? New mom = not the most rational person. I researched baby bottles to death for a brand that is best and eases the transition from breast. This time around I have both feet firmly planted on the ground, realize that every baby is different and I put on my research hat to reconsider the pacifiers. Because, I can now be reasoned with and I know that I can not be this child's only source of comfort (sorry poor second baby). Also, I don't know if it was luck, or me projecting my fears on to my first born but, she is thumb sucker, which, depending who you ask is far worse that giving a pacifier, all bets are off this time around.

In my quest for answers and finding the latest greatest and best in a category of baby gear where I am a complete novice. MAM pacifiers fit the bill. They pretty have an answer to all of my irrational concerns and I really don't have an argument left. 

"A recent independent study by Dr. Yvonne Wagner, a pediatric dentist at the Jena University Hospital (GER)* examined the effects of the MAM Perfect pacifiers on the development of the teeth and jaws. The study shows that switching from a conventional pacifier to the MAM Perfect minimized the risk of developing an open bite and an increased overbite.:"

Boom! NO extra dental bills.

They also just release a GLOW IN THE DARK pacifier! Now they can spot it in the middle of the night in the crib!?

In my older, more experienced, rational state of mind I realize this new baby may take a pacifier, and hey, thats ok! I don't want to be caught empty handed when the time comes around so I will be keeping some on hand for a rain day. We all know "when it rains it pours."

Anyways, I am sold, and I want you to be too! Head over to my Instagram to sign up to win a $30 MAM assorted gift package. Just follow the instructions on the post to enter.

If you don't want to win free baby stuff, they have a sweet deal going on right now where you will receive a free pack of MAM pacifier wipes with the purchase of two MAM Perfect pacifier packs so you should definitely take advantage of that.

Bonus:
After you enter the Insta Giveaway, come back here and tell me what you call pacifiers in your house(nuk, paci, bow bows?)  for an extra entry, please leave your @instagram handle so I know who to give the extra entry to!

This is a activity box that comes with games and activities that use augmented reality on your iPad through the use of a free downloadable application.

This was right up my tech loving alley! We let our daughter have access to a tablet for educational activities and just fun little games and shows. If you don't let your kids have screen time or you don't want them using devices this is not the box for you.

There is a small bit of assembly in the way of cutting out the masks and attaching the elastic to them. Not a big deal at all and the hard part of cutting out the eyes and making holes for the elastic is already done for you. But, I did do this while she was asleep as well as downloading the app onto the iPad and scrolling through so that when we sat down to play I knew where to direct her, I recommending doing that if your littles are one the smaller side. 

 My daughter's favorite part of the box was where you wore a mask, scanned your face on the iPad and it produced a little character to match the mask that would repeat everything you said. A tiny creature, mocking you is apparently hilarious. 

There are maps in the box that you can color before or after you go on your treasure hunt so it isn't solely based within the iPad app. She also took and interest in the cards that you scan through the camera to use for the other activities (building a story and a spaceship) and wanted to match them up and name the items on them.

Everything in the box was very high quality and the colors and designs grabbed the attention of my little right away.

Definitely a winner for me and I am excited to see what they came up with in their Nature Box that just came out. Sounds perfect for my little dirt magnet!

Hi there! I am Shauna Hyler, I have been a Hair Designer and Makeup Artist for 10 years at Neroli Salon and Spa, Aveda lover, and mom of one crazy two year old girl and one on the way. I am 29 weeks along now and starting to prep my hospital bag. Having been through this once I have an idea of what I used, what I wished I had, and what I could have left at home. These are some of my favorite products from Aveda, some I had with me last time and some weren’t event launched yet at the time of my first child’s birth! Take and look, you may just want to toss a couple of these essentials into your bag before you head off to meet your new addition!

The most important thing your baby will need is you. Keeping a few things close to help you feel your best can make those long days in the hospital feel more bearable.
You got this!
-Shauna

Well, for starters you just had a human come out of you. A HUMAN! You have given life! Now, strap on your ice diaper momma because it is about to get messy.

Do not pack anything to wear on the bottom half of body in recover besides black. Did I say grey? Did say floral pattern Etsy designed gauchos? No. Black momma. Black. I have said this before but I promise I will get a post up with what you MUST had in your hospital bag before I have this second baby!

Think you are gonna be prancing your ass around your recovery room singing sweet lullabies to your sweet,  shriveled new bundle like Snow White? Think again. If you had an epidural it will be several hours before you look like anything less than drunk gumby. C-section= surgery, proceed with caution. Natural birth? Your feet wont touch the ground because four muscular men will be carrying you around like the goddess beast you are. Roar momma, roar.

Nursing, yes? Great, snap that uterus back into place with natural contracting, and a complete emptying of all the blood inside of your body as a reward everytime you get a good latch. You're welcome. But don't forget it is soooo good for baby.

So now that you have cramped worse than your most horrifying period, lets talk about your nipples. Someone snuck in and replaced them with razor blades? Yes? No? Just stay the course and call the lactation consultant, and get some good cream! My favorite is medela, non greasy and safe for baby. It is worth it momma!

My body felt similar to a night after a double work out, wearing wrist and ankle weights in 105 degree weather without a sip of water. Ok fine I have never done that but you will be sore, sore all over really. Get your rest when you can.

I don't know why no one told me that I would continue to look 6 months pregnant for atleast 72 hours, and then the skin that used to cover my taught tummy will be a jello jiggler. You won't feel like you are in your own body for a quite a while, compression camisoles help and I did wear a sort of corsetty thing for a while. Not a waist trainer. I like my organs where they belong.

Did I brush my teeth today?.....it's 4pm.... Whatever I haven't left the house in days I'm sure the baby doesn't mind my breath, or this outfit I have been wearing for 3 days.

Do yourself a favor and stock your house with more coffee than you every thought you could drink in a lifetime. Trust me. 2 hours of sleep at a crack just ain't gonna do it. And that whole sleep when the baby sleeps thing is a totally fantasy, there is so much to be done when you have full use of both arms.

Numbing spray is a must for vaginal birth. If they give you some in the hospital put it in your suitcase and ask for more. The cool mist to your undercarriage is nothing short of euphoric, especially if you have a few pesky stitches. Picture a scab healing on a knuckle....ouchie. The peri bottle is also a close personal friend of mine, I like the water about room temp, then aim and fire.

I had the fortunate problem of my milk coming in fast and furious, luckily I had plenty of boobie pads on deck. Do not sleep without these puppies in your bra. Que me waking up to my husband looking confused and pointing to my soaking wet shirt and uttering "uh you have milk on your shirt" oh really? And then it dried like crispy, which bears a risk of crusting your nipple to stuck your bra. Not cool.

Gimme them king size pads and keep em coming. I took all of the disposable undies from my hospital room and then some. This was all I wore for 2 weeks. Why I am gonna mess up my own undies with who knows what is coming out of me? And I don't know what you but I don't own panties that are capable of the heavy lifting that is needed for super, jumbo, extra absorbent pads, and an ice pad underneath. That is a big job.

Sleep is a distant memory. Somehow, you function without it but never really know if it is day or night and it doesn't matter because baby wants to eat every 2 hours round the clock so it is all the same to you.

While you are busy worrying your pretty little head about every possible thing that could happen to your precious new little mini you, don't forget to take care of yourself. Yes they need you, but you are healing too. You need to eat good real foods and hydrate. Especially if you are nursing because you are passing it to baby, but even if you aren't. You are no good to anyone if you are dead to the world, exhausted and depleted.

Ask for help and accept help when it is offered. Ain't no shame in my game if people we coming over to meet baby and I needed something I asked if they could pick it up.
They are offering, Venmo them the money for the wine and move on!
(do you know how hard a target run is as a new nervous mom, plus that involves changing from plaid pj pants to yoga pants.)

Ah, I can't wait to do it all again.

Good luck momma, 
xoxo
You Got This!
Shauna