Nursery Tour

pink and white nursery

Good afternoon! I can’t believe that it has taken me four months to give you all a tour of Katie’s nursery. This room has become my favorite spot in our home. The cozy space provides a sense of calm even on the craziest of days. When Bo and I decided to transition my home office into a nursery, we decided that the gray walls would remain, as well as the large white Ikea closets. Otherwise, we decided that we would use fabric, prints and other decor to create a peaceful, soothing nursery for our daughter. When purchasing furniture for the nursery, we had to keep in mind that the space of our Brooklyn nursery is only 7 x 12 feet. Many cribs or gliders were too large for the space, so our consideration set quickly reduced. Due to our space constraints, there are some things that aren’t ideal; but overall, we are very pleased with the space.

We decided, from the beginning, that we didn’t want to go overboard with a theme for our nursery. We chose Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit as an overarching theme as both our childhood nurseries had this theme. These prints and this adorable mobile are the main Peter Rabbit items in the room, while there are also some smaller touches like the switch plate and a few books.

Nursery 1

nursery book shelves

We placed the mobile above the changing table versus the crib as a book recommended this as a great way to help babies enjoy diaper changes more AND sleep better when they go down in the crib. We also placed a round mirror over the changing table to open up the room and provide a fun activity space as we read that babies love mirrors beginning as young as two months of age.

nursery changing table

Instead of buying bedding and accessories that tied into the theme, we chose pastel prints and a few stuffed animals and books while letting the rest of the nursery have a pastel tone. My friend Amy gave us this beautiful framed print which fits perfectly over the glider.

Once we found furniture and items we thought we liked, we added them to our registry and then, for the items we bought on our own, waited for sales. Luckily, we were able to get most of the larger Pottery Barn items 40% off during a sale!  After spending two different evenings looking at furniture in their Upper West Side store and taking countless measurements, we settled on the Kendall Dresser & Topper set and the Kendall Low Profile Convertible crib. We liked that once you remove the topper from the dresser it can easily be a dresser in a child’s room and the Kendall crib was more compact than many other styles while still being a convertible crib. We decided to use a gray Keekaroo Peanut on top of the changing table instead of a cushioned, covered diaper pad after having multiple friends recommend this. We have LOVED the Peanut and have even given it as a gift to a friend!  Since the room does not have any windows we wanted to use lots of white and color to lighten the space and ensure it didn’t feel like a cave. However, since the French doors do let in quite a bit of light, especially during the morning hours, we chose to invest in black out roman shades which block the light while also adding a pop of color. The found the fabric for the shades, Zoey’s Garden Fabric by Tanya Whelan Pink Green and White Faux Plaid, on Etsy. We then worked with SewLovelyByKelly to bring our vision to life!

pink and white nursery

The most difficult item to find was a glider that fit the dimensions of our room, was comfortable and could hopefully be used in a living room or family room in the future. There were so many lovely gliders that were WAY too large for our space as the corner dimensions were quite tight. A few of the smaller “NYC size” gliders we tried out in show rooms were either uncomfortable or way too narrow. In fact I remember basically getting stuck in one glider which is crazy since, before giving birth, I had average hips! We were thankful that a few of our friends and family gave us money for our baby shower which we put towards buying the Monte Designs Como Glider. When my mom sat down in the glider for the first time she said “Oh my gosh this is the most comfortable chair ever!”

We wanted a bright, soft rug that would bring color into the space while also being a comfortable place for us to play with Katie. As soon as we saw the Haper Rug we knew that this was perfect for the nursery and love the vibrant pink color. Another way we incorporated color into the room, while also saving some money, was to buy a poof in a light, mint green instead of ordering the ottoman that matches our glider. We found a poof on Etsy which was only $50!

Last but not least, the sheets for the crib are a fun pink and white bunny print which weave together the Peter Rabbit and pink theme.

If you have any question about our nursery, feel free to let me know!

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Our Favorite Item for Newborn Babies

katie thriving

There is no doubt in my mind that Katie is thriving. She’ll be four months old on Friday and is growing like a weed. While we owe her happiness in great part to the support system we’ve had, we also attribute it to the fact that thankfully, our baby is a strong sleeper. But, she wouldn’t have slept nearly as soundly those first few months without one of our nursery essentials – a swaddle. In fact, we are so in love with swaddling that we are giving swaddle giftsets to all of our friends who are expecting babies!nursery

During the first three months of a babies life, they are actually in their fourth trimester of life. In fact, according to Harvey Karp, the author behind the book The Happiest Baby on The Block, all babies are born three months early. Swaddling, or tightly wrapping the baby in a muslin or cloth blanket, makes the baby feel secure and snug like they did in the womb. It decreases their startle reflex since their arms can’t wriggle around. In addition, it has been found that babies who are swaddled during sleep and fussy periods experience less anxiety and colic symptoms.

Until a few weeks ago, when Katie started rolling, we swaddled her for her naps and nightime sleep. In the beginning, we used the large, muslin square cloths but as she grew older, swaddles that provided assistance through zippers and velcro helped us keep her strong limbs swaddled.

That’s why SwaddleMe products are perfect for infants as depending on the style, they feature zippers or velcro to ensure the baby feels secure. They just introduced five new additions to their SwaddleMe line of safe sleep products for infants and man do I wish we’d had these a few months ago.

SwaddleMe 4

While we used their SwaddleMe Original, their new innovative swaddles would have been so helpful especially as Katie entered month two and three, when she was starting to grow more mobile and we were trying to have her sleep in places other than her bassinet, such as the swing or car seat.

swaddle me kicksie and footsie

Their new SwaddleMe Kicksie is a legs-free swaddle which is perfect for warmer weather, such as the summer months and allows the baby to feel cozy in a 3-point harness such a swing. The snap bottom also makes diaper changing quick and hassle free, which is greatly appreciated during those middle of the night diaper sessions.   They also just launched the SwaddleMe Footsiea legs-free swaddle that features pajama-like footies which make it great for cooler weather or even homes with strong air conditioner.

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Like the Kicksie, the Footsie can also be used in a 3 point harness. This would have been SO helpful last month when when we flew down to Savannah, keeping her warm on the plane, or once she started discovering her feet and kicking them during her naps.

SwaddleMe 2

In addition to these new swaddles, SwaddleMe has launched three new gift sets, which are perfect for every mom-to-be. In fact, I’ve already ordered a few of these since I have FIVE friends who are expecting babies this Spring. The Essentials Gift Set includes muslin blankets, bandana bibs, burp cloths and a SwaddleMe® Original Swaddle. The adorable Baby Bath Gift Set includes muslin and terry bath towels, washcloths and a cute hooded wrap. My favorite set, The Little Lovey Gift Set, includes not only the Original Swaddle and muslin blankets but also an adorable natural shape pacifier with a lovey attached!

This post is sponsored by Mom Trends, Meredith Corporation and Swaddle Me but as always, all opinions are my own. Thank you to MomTrends for the professional photographs.

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Katie’s Three Month Update And Favorite Items

katie diamond 3 months

It is hard to believe that yesterday our sweet little girl turned three months old. She and her parents both survived the “fourth trimester.” In case you haven’t heard this term before, the fourth trimester begins when the baby is born and lasts until they are three months old. This term is used to describe the period of enormous change that takes place during these first three months as newborn babies adjust to the world outside the womb. Until they reach three months old most of their senses, such as sight are still developing. Now that she has completed the fourth trimester, she is more active, aware, social and independent.  She has learned to smile, giggle and self soothe as well as track movements.

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I can’t share her latest stats with you as we no longer have a baby scale and her next pediatrician visit isn’t until next month. But, suffice it to say, Katie is growing like a weed. As of Monday she has outgrown most of her 3 month clothing, especially footies, due to her height. She is still a size 1 in diapers and, since many people have asked, we have loved the Pampers Swaddlers diapers thus far as we haven’t had any leaks and only one blowout over the course of three months.

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This month Katie traveled to two new states, Vermont and Georgia via plane and car. She was a trooper on both, making friends everywhere she went. Thanks to many of the tips that you all shared with us, while I was a bundle of nerves leading up to both trips, we survived them without too much stress.

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That being said, I have no desire to go on a flight or road trip with Katie solo anytime soon. I was thankful for the extra pair of hands when we needed to do quick diaper changes, gather our things at the airport and soothe Katie during traffic jams. I also rode the subway with Katie three times, most of which were calm and uneventful especially since I chose to wear her in the carrier for the trek. On Sunday I had a pretty stressful hour with Katie when the subways were down due to a power outage. While I was super anxious and stressed in the moment, afterwards it was a great learning opportunity and taught me how important it is to stay as calm as possible beause my anxiety only stresses Katie out.  I am going to do a dedicated post sharing our tips and tricks for traveling with an infant, and am also sharing a few of our favorite things later in this post. While we were in Georgia she also had the chance to enjoy her first baby pool with her grandparents! We weren’t ready to take her to the neighborhood pool due to the chlorine, crowds and her young age but the blowup baby pool was perfect!

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When we were in Vermont she went on her first hike and spent LOTS of time outside on the large deck since the weather was cool.

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We are still following the Moms on Call method which is working out very well for us. Katie has thrived and gained weight while also napping well and has been sleeping through the night since six weeks.  While the Moms on Call method isn’t perfect for everyone and there are many different opinions on schedules, we have been pleased with it thus far and would have changed if it wasn’t working or if she wasn’t gaining weight. We of course use the schedule as a guide, but provide ourselves the flexibility to ensure we are living life and adjust it to accomodate both our needs and Katie’s. As of now, based on her age, she is eating between 5 and 6 ounces, for a total of around 28 ounces per day,  and her schedule is as follows:

  • 7 AM Wake and feed
  • 7:30-8:15 Playtime
  • 8:15-10  Nap
  • 10 Wake and feed
  • 10:30 – 11:15 Playtime
  • 11:15-1pm Nap
  • 1pm Wake and feed
  • 1:30-2:15 Playtime
  • 2:15 – 4 Nap
  • 4- Wake and feed
  • 4:30-5:15 Playtime
  • 5:15- 6:30 Catnap or chill time in stroller or swing
  • 6:30 Bath
  • 6:45 Calm time (reading book, listening to mellow music, rocking in dimly lit nursery)
  • 7 Last feed
  • 7:30 Bed

Our goal is for Katie to have at least two naps per day in her crib to ensure she gets proper sleep. Unfortunately, as of now, she isn’t napping well in her stroller as she enjoys looking at everything when we are out and about. At least three days a week the 11:15-1pm nap time is done out and about as this is the time I go for a long walk with fellow moms or go to a workout. Luckily both the Carroll Park workout and Crossfit allow for the babies to nap in their stroller if she happens to fall asleep. 

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Last week she caught us off guard by rolling onto her stomach! It is recommended to unswaddle a baby’s arms once they start rolling to reduce the risk of them getting caught face down in their crib. She has adjusted well to having her hands out in her swaddle. However, since this transition, we have found that she needs a few extra minutes of calming before she falls asleep, especially during afternoon naps. Though she sleeps through the night, sometimes we have to go in one or two times between 7:30 and 8:30pm to help her settle down a bit. In addition, a few times a week she will wake up around 4 am with a very wet diaper. If she does this, I quickly go in, change her diaper and put her back down without turning on the lights. She has been able to quickly fall back asleep or, better yet, barely wake up during the process.

I am thrilled that I was able to make it to my goal of providing breast milk for Katie for the first three months. As you know, I haven’t been able to exclusively breast feed due to insufficient glandular tissue. For the first three months she would breast feed then have a supplemental bottle of formula. In addition, I pumped three to four times per day and would add the 1-1.5 ounces of breast milk to the bottle for her following meal. As of this weekend I stopped pumping in the evening due to the stress and anxiety it was causing and as of yesterday, her three month birthday, I stopped pumping altogether.  I am going to continue taking supplements and encouraging her to breastfeed during every meal as long as my milk supply will allow. It was a challenging journey but I am thankful that I was able to make it three months though, as I’ve said many times, I believe that a fed baby is best regardless of whether they are fed from breast milk, formula or a combination.

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Since I’ve received a few questions regarding the items we’re loving now that she is no longer a newborn, here are her favorite things this month:

I’m sure I forgot to mention a few things so if you have any questions, as always please feel free to email or leave a comment. In addition, if you want more frequent updates, I’m sharing lots on InstaStories and Instagram. Also, in case you missed it, here are our favorite newborn items!

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