baby gear

Dear N: 3 Months Old

May 5, 2015 by Danielle 1 Comment

Oh my little nugget! You make our lives brighter every single day. From your cooing to the unending smiles and expressions you share with us, I couldn’t imagine not having you in our lives.

You are so fun to be with and love watching your brother and sister play around you. You also love when they give you hugs, kisses, and lots and lots of love (including a bit of petting and smothering). And you take it all in stride even if they go a little overboard in their afffection.

You’ve come to love your hands and I find them in your mouth just about 24/7. You’re also starting to use your hands to bring other things to your mouth like Daddy’s fingers, your toys, and your blanket and clothes. Anything you can chomp on is as good as soaked.

We recently got you two new things to help keep you entertained: the exersaucer doorway jumper to put outside so you can watch as I garden and take care of the chickens or when your sister and brother play outside, and the jumperoo (below) so you can stay happy and play as I make dinner before Daddy gets home or when I try to get a little extra work done when you’re awake.

Being the size of a 6 month old at 3 months really helps with this! You are holding up your head like a champ (tummy time isn’t a problem) and love practicing to sit. We call you our little weeble wobble.

And when we put you down on the ground for some playtime you manage to move your body in big circles on the blanket. You’re definitely learning to move and explore and we can’t wait to see what you explore and learn next.

We love you baby girl!!

Unofficial 3 Month Stats:

16lbs 8oz (with clothes/diaper on)

Filed Under: Baby, Life, Uncategorized Tagged With: baby, baby #3, baby gear, Dear Norah, Milestones

Take 15 Minutes for You with the Graco Little Lounger

November 13, 2013 by Danielle 12 Comments

This post is sponsored by Graco.

When my children were infants there was barely a moment I wanted to put them down. I was quite selfish and literally wanted to hold or wear them all day long. But looking back that may not have been the best decision as a new mom. I needed those few minutes I could have put them down. I needed to take just 15 minutes for myself to do the things I needed to do for myself. Like shower. But being so in love with those little bundles made me crave them in my arms.

Now that we’re done with kids and my brother is expecting his first two (yes… his girlfriend is pregnant with twins! Squee!) all I want to do is make sure I give that gift of just 15 minutes to them so that they remember themselves as their in the midst of caring for their newborns.

So when I was invited to attend an event my friend Chelsea of Someday I’ll Learn was hosting to debut the new Graco Little Lounger and learn how to take 15 minutes for mom I knew I couldn’t miss out on the opportunity. Not only would I get to see the Little Lounger up close but I would also get to learn more about updating my wardrobe from a personal stylist with my friends. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Baby, Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: baby, baby gear, baby products, baby shower gifts, Graco, Little Lounger

Finding Our Daily Groove with the Joovy Groove Umbrella Stroller

June 17, 2013 by Danielle 11 Comments

This summer our family is on the move. From big family vacations, to trips to the beach, to days at the fair, we have a lot on our summer bucket list. Since retiring our double stroller for the past few months we were not looking forward to getting it back out for the events we have coming up.

So we decided to research and find a great lightweight umbrella stroller that the kids could take turns using when we go out on our adventures. When the Joovy Groove arrived at our door for review we knew that we had found “the one” for our summer traveling needs.

Not only did our Groove come in a snazzy Orangie tangerine color perfect for summertime, it also had all of the features we needed in a lightweight umbrella stroller: large shade cover, large basket for storage, drink holder for the kids. Plus this stroller folds up compactly and has plenty of other great features to talk about!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: gift ideas, Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: baby gear, Joovy, Joovy Groove, Stroller, umbrella stroller

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! We’re Off with the Joovy Zoom 360

September 8, 2012 by Danielle 9 Comments

Ever since I found out I was pregnant with my first child I’ve wanted a quality jogging stroller. Before finding out I was pregnant, I started running with a group of co-workers. I would run about 12 miles a week, up to 6 miles each run, in an effort to lose weight and stay in shape. When I found out I was pregnant I stopped running as much and eventually stopped all together.

I assumed that if I got a jogging stroller I’d be able to pick right back up and start running again. But life got in the way, I didn’t purchase a jogging stroller, and the strollers I borrowed from neighbors and family just didn’t make the cut.

So here it is,4 years later, and I finally have my jogging stroller, the Joovy Zoom 360. And boy was it worth the wait!!

As soon as it arrived in the mail, I opened it and had it assembled in less than 15 minutes. Then my daughter and I started playing with it. We’ve had a lot of fun testing it out!

What I love about this jogger is that I didn’t have to purchase any optional accessories.

What the Joovy Zoom Includes:

Parent Organizer – Includes a neoprene parent organizer that holds 2 cups and has a zippered storage container.
Rain/Wind Cover
Wheel Pump
5 Point Harness
Reflective
Safety Tether
Shock absorbing suspension

That means that the Joovy Zoom 360 is not only very affordable at $269.99, you also don’t have to purchase a lot of accessories after you purchase the stroller. They all come with it!

Weather Coverage
The first thing I noticed about the Joovy Zoom after assembling it is the large canopy. None of my previous strollers have the coverage that this stroller does. Not only does it completely shade my daughter and son when they’re in full sun, it’s also adjustable to fit perfectly with any situation.

The Zoom also comes with a rain cover that easily covers your child from the weather and keeps them nice and dry as you enjoy your workout. That means no excuses!

Easy Fold & Compact Storage
The Zoom is also very easy to fold. With the simple push and lift of two items, the Zoom folds compactly and securely together with the help of a latch. The Zoom fits perfectly in the trunk of my small compact car and our family station wagon.

The Zoom is also very light weight. It’s very easy to lift up into the trunk of my car and to carry from one place to another when storing it.

Swivel Wheel

This stroller is built for running, walking, and everything in between.

For serious runners, the front wheel has an option to lock the swivel wheel in a straight position. It’s lightweight, steers easily with one hand, and includes a safety strap to wear while exercising. While walking around and more casual jogs, I’m able to unlock the straight wheel and use the swivel wheel for even easier mobility.

The Ride

As I’m running, I don’t want to struggle with steering a stroller. The Zoom simply glides where I push it. I steer with one hand and hardly feel any resistance when I’m on the go. I can run at my own pace, change up speeds, and switch from one terrain to another without affecting the performance of the stroller.

When my daughter falls asleep on on walks and runs I can easily adjust the seat by pulling on the straps in the back. There isn’t just one or two positions, I can recline the seat back as far as I’d like until I reach the fully reclined position. This is perfect for when I know my daughter is sleepy but she refuses to lay back when the seat is in the reclined position. I just recline it a bit so she doesn’t even realize she’s reclined a bit. Then 5 minutes into our jog, she’s passed out!

Optional Infant Car Seat Adapter

Joovy offers 3 optional car seat adapters for the Zoom 360:

Graco
Peg Perego
Chicco

And the cost of these adapters are very affordable! The fact that this is the only optional accessory you’ll need to buy is amazing.

Her baby fits perfectly in the snack/cup holder

If you’re looking for a stroller that will not only create a comfortable ride for your child as you exercise, but also act as your go to stroller for any occasion, the Joovy Zoom 360 is for you! We take ours everywhere! From the beach to the zoo to the amusement park, I’ve found the perfect stroller in the Joovy Zoom. And I have no excuses when it comes to exercising!

Since my Joovy Zoom arrived in the mail I’ve used it 5 out of 7 days in the week. And I now run 3 days a week! I know that this stroller will be key in keeping me on track and making my way towards my goal weight.

Disclaimer: I received a Joovy Zoom 360 for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.